Lee Tepuia

Founder | Box On Boxing Blenheim

Lee Tepuia, founder and driving force behind Box On Boxing Blenheim, has effected a remarkable turnaround from his past as a high-ranking bikie in Australia and as a person subjected to section 501 deportations. Four years ago, Lee faced a tumultuous period marked by depression and suicidal ideation, which led him to renounce his former life and seek solace and redemption through boxing. This sport not only became his personal beacon of hope but also the foundation upon which he built a sanctuary for the youth and community in Blenheim.

At Box On Boxing Blenheim, Lee has created a space where authenticity is celebrated, and individuals can openly discuss their life's challenges in a safe and supportive environment. His commitment extends beyond the ring as he takes on the role of mentor, guiding the youth with wisdom drawn from his own experiences. Lee's philanthropic efforts are exemplified by his involvement in initiatives such as 'I Am Hope Gumboot Friday,' championing causes that resonate deeply with him.

What resonates most with Lee is the sense of unity and unconditional acceptance that he fosters within the community. He believes ardently in connecting people from all walks of life, nurturing a judgment-free zone where everyone can recognize their purpose and savor the essence of life. His dedication to community work and his ability to inspire change not only in himself but also in others is a testament to his belief in the power of transformation and the human spirit.

Corey Hebberd

General Manager | Rangitāne o Wairau Group

Corey Hebberd (of Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Kuia, Te Ātiawa, and Ngāi Tahu descent) is the General Manager of the Rangitāne o Wairau Group. Appointed to this trusted chief executive role within his iwi at the age of 26, Corey has overarching responsibilities for the operational activities of the iwi. This includes balancing iwi aspirations, investing for the future, and ensuring a high-functioning team that can support outcomes from a social, cultural, economic, and environmental perspective, while working in a complex stakeholder environment.

Since his appointment, Corey has championed diversity of the Rangitāne Group’s asset portfolio, increased service delivery, and led major new investment initiatives. When not serving Rangitāne, Corey holds leadership roles within the community, including as the Marlborough Regional Skills Leadership Group’s co-chairperson, as a Director of Manu Ora, as co-chairperson of Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Trust, and as a member of the Lottery Distribution Committee. Until recently, Corey also chaired the Wellington Division of the Cancer Society and sat on the Cancer Society’s National Board. He was also a Future Director for Utilities Disputes Ltd and sat on boards pursuing housing outcomes, particularly in the social and affordable housing sector. He brings a strategic focus to his work, while keeping his eye on the future and ensuring that social, cultural, economic, and environmental outcomes are balanced.

Krista Coningham

Owner | Caci Blenheim

After 18 years working in the corporate sector in Auckland, Krista relocated with her husband and two baby boys to Marlborough in 2016. This was an opportunity not only for a better family lifestyle but also a chance for Krista to reinvent her career and pursue her true passion.

Having always been allured and inspired by the Caci brand, Caci Blenheim was a dream come true. Krista has been part of the brand since 2019 and took ownership of the business in April 2021. Since then, Caci Blenheim has been recognized as the top performer out of 83 clinics in New Zealand two years in a row, and Krista was also recognized as the Westpac New Zealand Franchisee of the Year Supreme Award winner in 2022.

Krista’s passion and strength are building and growing a strong team culture based on expertise, high performance, and superior customer experiences that improve the lives of customers by empowering them to feel confident in their skin.

Jared Morris

Owner | Motorworld Group

Jared Morris is the owner and director of Motorworld, steering the company through strategic rebranding and expansion to stay at the top in the Marlborough automotive market. His direction transformed the former Wadsco Motorworld into the diverse Motorworld Group. His leadership skills are evident in his ability to navigate the market and secure repeated recognition, such as the Holden Grand Master Dealer Award, for five consecutive years. His business now encompasses several franchises and services, enhancing its reputation as a one-stop automotive provider.

Jared's commitment to his community is just as strong as to his business. He lives by the principle of reciprocal generosity, and his company's sponsorships, including support for Hospice Marlborough, sports teams like Tasman Mako, and community foundations such as the Inspire Foundation, reflect this ethos. His balanced approach to business success and community support makes him a leading figure in the Marlborough business scene.

Mike Newman

Owner| Meaters of Marlborough

Mike Newman, esteemed owner of Meaters of Marlborough, has been recognized with two prestigious Rotary awards, celebrating his extensive support for community initiatives in Blenheim. Renowned for his unassuming generosity, Mike frequently donates his products to aid local events and charitable causes.

Favouring a low-profile approach to his philanthropy, Mike embodies the spirit of community assistance, inspiring other businesses to contribute to the collective good in whatever ways they can. His long-standing commitment to the Marlborough Boys’ College through consistent fundraising efforts has also earned him a life membership to the Old Boys Association.

A true community pillar, Mike has seamlessly woven his business endeavors with a deep dedication to local welfare and progress. His substantial impact on the community, marked by both direct support and the enabling of further fundraising, showcases the ethos of a distinguished community business leader.

Sandy S Daithaisong

Owner | The Snack Shack

Sandy Daithaisong is a single mother and the dedicated owner of a thriving business in Riverland Estate. With a commendable mix of hard work and smart financial management, she managed to pay off her mortgage within seven years of her start-up. Sandy starts her day early, opening her doors at 7 a.m. and cooking from 6 a.m. until late, Monday to Friday. Her weekends are spent ensuring everything is clean, tidy, and ready for the week ahead. She's known for providing fresh and healthy food options to her customers consistently. Notably, Sandy supports her regulars by offering a weekly tab system to help ease their financial stress, demonstrating trust and kindness by serving even those who can't pay at the time.

Will Macdonald

Kaiwhakahaere Rawa me ngā Kaupapa | Rangitāne o Wairau Group

Will has excelled as Kaiwhakahaere Rawa me ngā Kaupapa for the Rangitāne o Wairau Group, gaining recognition for his contributions and relationships in Marlborough. At 23, he's taken on substantial roles aiding the Rangitāne o Wairau Settlement, engaging in project leadership, fisheries and property management, and investment initiatives.

He played a pivotal role in aligning Marlborough District’s economic strategy with Māori perspectives, ensuring the progressive stewardship of Rangitāne o Wairau’s assets, focused on value creation, and ethical governance. Additionally, Will serves the youth as a member of the Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough Board.

Committed to driving positive outcomes, Will is dedicated to upholding excellence in all aspects of his work.

Michael Boyd

Co-Owner | It’s All Good Brew

Michael Boyd's 12-year journey as a coffee aficionado is marked by a deep appreciation for the beverage's rich flavors and the camaraderie it inspires. He's a people-person who values community and genuine connections, and his aim is to infuse joy and happiness into every cup of coffee and every conversation. Michael's relentless pursuit of coffee perfection is powered by a constant thirst for knowledge. He's dedicated to understanding the nuances of coffee, from bean selection to the perfect brew, in order to bring moments of delight to everyday life. His approach to coffee is holistic—it's an art that celebrates quality and creates opportunities for people to come together.

Rosemary Spence

Co-Owner | It’s All Good Brew

Rosemary is the co-owner of 'It's Allgood Brew'. She co-owned her first espresso bar in Auckland when she was just 18 years old and has been heavily involved in the coffee industry ever since. Rosemary studied business management and marketing, creating the fun branding for the café is her specialty. She loves a good laugh shared over a brew. Building a community where people can get together, while strangers strike up a chat and get to know one another has been the highlight of opening the business for Rosemary.

David Swanson

Managing Director | Pure Air Conditioning

Having returned to Marlborough in 2020 following the global challenges posed by COVID, David brought a wealth of business knowledge and skills back to the local community. He is a proud sponsor of Hospice Marlborough and supports various small local community organizations. Among his recent achievements is being part of the winning team at TechStars 2023 with the innovative business concept, ScoreSync, and serving as a guest speaker at the Marlborough Startup Mixer in October. David offers mentoring and support to Marlborough startups and enjoys coaching junior football during the winter. He loves adventuring with his young family in the beautiful Marlborough landscape and meets everyone with a smile along the way.

Campbell Gill

Sales And Marketing Specialist | Bayleys Marlborough

Campbell Gill always knew that the road to university was never going to be for him, and after leaving school, an interest in property quickly led to a position at Bayleys Marlborough. His potential was recognized early, where under the mentorship of Glenn Dick, his ambition and passion saw him achieve the role of a licenced salesperson at the age of 19.

The early days certainly were challenging, with plenty of knock backs, a lot of “Nos”, months of canvassing, door knocking, and a resulting offer from his employer to buy new shoes if he wore the others out! It took some brave people to entrust their biggest asset to a 19 year old, but they did - and since then Campbell hasn’t looked back.

He has built his business from the ground up, embracing an evolving landscape of real estate. Campbell is always looking to improve his processes and practices through feedback and experiences, but his real forte however, lies in forging strong and genuine relationships.

A love of property, people and interaction is a huge advantage, and what he enjoys the most about his job, is helping people to achieve their desired results, whatever their circumstances. With an impeccable work ethic, and a profound respect for honesty and integrity, he applies a high level of professionalism to every transaction. Always guided by a straightforward philosophy in his real estate practice: “Be genuine, work hard; and always do the right thing.”

Outside of work, Campbell actively supports local community groups, as well as local sports teams, including squash and touch. At just 22, Campbell has already been the recipient of the Bayleys Marlborough Rising Star Award (2019-2020), The Bayleys Big Achiever Award (2021-2022) and the 25 Million Dollar Club (2022). He has aspirations of becoming the top selling residential agent in Marlborough.

Brittany Patchett

Founder | Rejuva Beauty

Brittany Patchett is the founder of Rejuva Beauty and has over 12 years of experience in the industry. Brittany’s experience includes working as an advanced beauty therapist at a well-known, award-winning day spa for several years, which then led her into running her own successful business. Her internationally recognized qualifications were completed at the highly regarded National School of Aesthetics, where she then went into specializing in skin therapy and cosmetic tattooing.

Brittany has attended many post-graduate training courses, including training with New Zealand's voted best cosmetic tattoo artist Cheri Ayrton. Brittany’s interest in the industry was sparked at a very young age through observing her mother as a professional hairdresser and also from looking up to her three older sisters. Brittany has a huge passion for skin-correcting treatments and enjoys the instant results she sees following a cosmetically pleasing procedure like cosmetic tattooing. Brittany has been involved with charities such as Look Good Feel Better and Pink Ribbon Breakfast NZ, which ultimately influenced her into the world of paramedical tattooing.

Hannah Lamb

Event Owner | New Zealand Cheese Festival

Hannah launched her career in Marlborough when her family set up Cranky Goat in 2014. She took on the role of marketing manager and helped turn the boutique cheese company into one of the biggest goat cheese companies in NZ. After having her daughter Ella in 2019, she fell into the world of events and launched South Island Cheese Fest, which is now called New Zealand Cheese Festival due to its growth in only 2 years! Hannah has also delivered 3 successful years of Bayleys Friday Night Feast, contracting to Feast Marlborough. Hannah is a strong advocate for small businesses, especially in the food industry in Marlborough.