“Food has become very costly, but frybread is cheap to make, so I just want to take that to the next level.”
Simply Kai also runs Friday specials, which alternate between paua pockets — frybread stuffed with creamed paua — and seafood chowder.
While living in Invercargill a few years ago, Te Maro started selling her frybread at the local markets. She enjoyed it much more than her fulltime job and eventually sold enough frybread to buy a caravan to operate out of.
“I felt I was on to something, but I needed to hone my skills and be more professional with what I’m doing,” Te Maro says.
She went on to complete the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery Levels 3 and 4 at the Southern Institute of Technology Te Pūkenga, and the New Zealand Diploma in Cookery (Advanced) at UCOL Te Pūkenga after she moved to Palmerston North.
While studying at UCOL, Te Maro started planning to buy a new food caravan and open a business in Palmerston North. She also completed Māori Women’s Development Inc’s HineBoss programme to help her develop a business plan.
“I learned so much at UCOL that has helped me launch my business — things like how to design a menu, how to register a food business, how to be a boss and take charge in a kitchen, and how to be creative with food. The street food module helped a lot.
“The tutors at UCOL were great and the atmosphere was awesome. You go in there like a rough diamond and they polish you up so you’re sparkly when you come out at the end.”
On top of operating the food caravan, Te Maro has developed a dry ingredient product so people can make their own frybread.
Te Maro says the best thing about running her own food cart is the freedom she has.
“It has its challenges, but the biggest payoff for me is that I changed my profession to do something I really love.”
Simply Kai is based at Te Marae o Hine – The Square Wednesday to Friday and the Albert Street Famers’ Market on Saturday mornings.
