“That affiliation is really important to all of us,” Ms Stender says.
“Even though we were brought up in Christchurch, we whakapapa back through our mother’s parents Nikora Crawford and Lily Parker, whose lineage goes right back to Ruatoria, Rangitukia and Te Araroa.”
Despite those links, however, the new generation’s ties were severed. Raised in Tolaga Bay until the age of seven, after her mother died of tuberculosis Ngairima Crawford was sent to an orphanage in Gisborne until extended whanau were able to whangai (adopt) her and her eight siblings.
“So our ties to the Coast were lost and we grew up without knowing or meeting many of our relations,” Ms Stender says.
“But our mum always loved the place and by purchasing the inn we were able to re-establish our connections with our whanaunga and marae, and gain a better understanding of our cultural heritage.”
A family affairWith Mr King now on board as an investor, Ms Stender says it really is a family affair that extends into the community.
“When we took over the pub in October, 2011, half the town was barred — so we cleared the slate clean and set about restoring the faith of the locals, and reigniting the soul of the pub.”
Stage one was a spruce-up of the building but, with water supplies, pumps and wiring all needing attention just to make it functional, their renovation budget was soon used up. But with the support of whanau and friends, they were able to do a bit of work in the public bar, wholesale outlet and garden bar.
Stage two involved engaging the community with live entertainment, monthly happenings like hunting and shearing events, and the launch of a summer icecream parlour.
Truck drivers and contractors are the main occupants of the modest but welcoming accommodation, enjoying home-made dinners and cut-lunches when they stay.
Those initiatives have already had their rewards — the inn won the Connection Excellence Award for “demonstrating collaboration to better the community” at the 2015 Westpac Business Awards, and was a finalist in the categories for Tourism and Hospitality Excellence and Maori Business Excellence.
Now the arrival of her angel investor is enabling Ms Stender to take the inn to the third stage of its development.
“Tony has been working in investment banking overseas but now he’s back in New Zealand, he’s seen our vision and he wants to give back to the community, too,” she says.
“He brings a lot of financial knowledge and will be at the end of the phone for us while we are here making it happen.”
The Tolaga Innployment agencyFor stage three Ms Stender is extending her reach even further, tapping into her background in recruitment to establish the Tolaga Innployment job agency.
Tolaga Innployment has already started advertising jobs — some short-term at the Rhythm and Vines festival, others longer-term to help build the Transmission Gully motorway, in the Wellington region.
She is also keen to work alongside training establishments to help upskill locals in fields including hospitality, forestry and technology, and to provide business incubation services for entrepreneurial individuals.
“Tony King will be of great assistance in that as he shares the idea of supporting an economic growth strategy for our region, and helping our community with better employment and business opportunities.
“That’s why we want to have more of an information centre-focus for the cafe, so we can link with business and tourism initiatives in town and shrink the distance between Gisborne and Tolaga.”
Stage four would be a major renovation of the building itself but, at this stage, “that’s a two-million-dollar dream”.
“We know we aren’t going to make a lot of money through this venture but we have a passion for this place and our people,” Lily Stender says.
“We see ourselves as descendants who have been called back to this area for a purpose, and we aim to fulfil that.”
