On the Up: Rāwene’s Boatshed Cafe reopening: Locals set to get favourite spot back

Holli Pellew and partner Storm Tautari are taking over the Boatshed Cafe.

The familiar smell of coffee and fresh baking will soon return to Rāwene’s waterfront, with the Boatshed Cafe set to reopen under new family ownership.

For Holli Pellew, reopening the cafe feels like a full-circle moment, as she returns to the place she and her sisters once worked at as teens.

She and her partner Storm Tautari are preparing to unlock the doors after the former owners stepped away, following liquidation, in December.

“It was an opportunity that came up and we just took it,” Tautari said.

“My partner has been asking for a while if we could buy the Boatshed, and eventually we said ‘okay, let’s go’.”

Having grown up in Rāwene, Pellew said the cafe carried deep personal meaning for her.

“All my sisters and I worked here growing up. I have worked for everyone who’s owned it over the years. It’s always been a part of my life.”

The couple also run a native tree planting business, which mainly operates in winter, and Pellew said it will be a natural fit for their summer work.

“We thought this could balance it out. We will be busy with the tree planting in winter and busy with the cafe in summer.”

She said taking over feels like a full-circle moment.

The Boatshed Cafe is a fixture of the historic Rāwene township. Photo / Jenny Ling

“It’s a bit crazy, I don’t really know how to feel yet. The original owners are still really good friends of mine, and they have created such a cool environment here and we have always loved the place.”

She said the cafe has long been a cornerstone of the community, particularly for young people getting their first jobs.

They have also received very positive feedback on the reopening with a passerby shouting “we can’t wait for you to reopen”, as Pellew responded to questions.

They hope they have the cafe up and running by the weekend and said locals and visitors can expect the same of the old favourites, with some new additions.

“As soon as our coffee machine’s in and our things in, we’re just going to open. We don’t have any plans for any grand reopening. We will just open with what we have and hope for the best.”

“Most things are staying the same, but we’ll just bring a couple of our own things in. One of my sisters is like an amazing baker, so hopefully we will be adding some of her yummy baked goods.”

Locals and visitors are encouraged to keep their eye on the cafe’s social media for more details about the reopening.