For Peter and Christine Yardley, the Kaipara Moana is more than a backdrop — it’s been the heart of their life’s work and legacy. In 2025, the couple celebrated 50 years of marriage and 50 years of fishing commercially on the harbour, a milestone marked not just by longevity, but by deep stewardship of the land and sea.

When Rob Ter Veer and Marijke Valkenburg swapped city life for Kaiwaka, they didn’t just find a home, they built a creative, community-focused legacy with passion, purpose and artistry. Read about their journey restoring the iconic Eutopia Café, to protecting 61 hectares of native bush overlooking the Otamatea River.

For Luke MacDonald, business meetings in Mongolia and quiet nights off-grid in Paparoa are all in a week’s work. From a solar-powered home base on 30 hectares of rolling bush, Luke runs an international clothing business, raises cattle, restores classic cars, and replants native trees — all while proving that rural living doesn’t mean slowing down.

From a single box of mushrooms auctioned off for the local fire brigade in 1970 to thousands of tonnes of kūmara feeding the nation today, Kaipara Kūmara is a story of innovation, resilience, and deep community roots. As Ant Blundell sees it, the story is more than kūmara - it’s about whānau, whenua, and the spirit of Ruawai.