Overcoming Bay's isolation factor

Nick Judd says isolation and seasonality are difficult enough without a myriad of constraints put on businesses. Photo / Paul Taylor

Kiwis are renowned for travelling the world and seeking new adventures and Hawke’s Bay people are no exception. Hawke’s Bay Today put 5 questions to Mangapapa Petit Hotel general manager Nick Judd

1. What are your links to Hawke's Bay?
Born in Hawke's Bay, christened at the Puketapu Church and attended Twyford School and Lindisfarne College. Spent most summers at the family bach at Mahia. I have always been attracted to Ocean Beach, Waimarama, Waipatiki and of course our rivers. I have completed many of the walks/tramps of the Kawekas and always loved Waikaremoana and the Mangatutu and Morere hot springs.

2. What did you do outside Hawke's Bay?
I moved to Palmerston North to study at Massey University after college and returned to Hawke's Bay and worked in various roles at Wattie's for 10 years, including product development, packaging development, planning and procurement. I moved abroad in 2005, spent time with friends in London, then took up residence in Glasgow where I worked for a golf club. In 2007 I moved to Burgh Island off the south coast of Devon. The island has a 25 bedroom Art Deco hotel and a 13th century pub, said to be haunted by the ghosts of slain smugglers. I was fortunate to stay in that little piece of British paradise for almost seven years.

3. Why did you return to Hawke's Bay?
I returned to Hawke's Bay because my inner sense of family commitment was screaming!

2013 wasn't an easy year with several family members bearing bad news - not something that is easy to digest when you are halfway around the globe.

So I handed in my notice and contracted Anglo-Pacific Movers which moved my possessions back to Hawke's Bay.

4. What do you do now?
I have been fortunate to be appointed as general manager of Mangapapa Petit Hotel on the outskirts of Havelock North.

Mangapapa has always held a special place in my heart, and it is a privilege and honour to be in a position whereby I can help future-proof the property for generations ahead.

Originally built by Nelson, and home of Sir James and Lady Wattie in the middle of last century, the hotel and grounds ooze benevolence, well-being and earthy contentment.

It has been a pleasure reassociating the property with the Wattie's icon and putting it back on the national, and international map.

5. What do you see for Hawke's Bay's future?
Hospitality businesses in the Bay will endeavour to further leverage the fantastic growing climate more and more, making full use of the array of fresh produce available to them.

Fish that are currently seen as common or undesirable - such as kahawai and red cod - will become more widely seen on restaurant plates as costs and demand for other species rise. We will see many more Asian tourists, a trend that is already increasing.

Hopefully, regulation surrounding food and alcohol sale and supply will be relaxed from current strict levels, to "up the ante" in the race with our global competitors - it's hard enough being geographically isolated and extremely seasonal, without having a myriad of other constraints put on business!