Kia ora, I'm Trish
Over the course of my very full and colourful life I braved 17 years of corporate life, then created multiple businesses, including a successful restaurant which scaled to seven figures within two years.
Endurance and resilience are key strengths which allowed me to navigate successfully through economies impacted by the Global Financial Crisis, devastating earthquakes, and long periods of drought. A lot of effort was invested in developing and nurturing a ‘family like’ workplace culture, fostering professional and personal growth, which enabled retention and mostly stability throughout.
Personally, I have experienced depression, infertility and multiple loss of loved ones. Throughout I continued to show up for my businesses and community. The highs and lows of my life have allowed me to explore many aspects of myself and enabled me to meet a wide range of people.
Whether you are a multi-millionaire or just starting out I am comfortable in the presence of most people and find it very easy to relate to people who are facing challenges and/or seeking growth.
My Story
It is definitely one of my unfair advantages to be a Kiwi and to have lived my life in the beautiful South Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Growing up on the West Coast I learned from an early age, along with my sister and five brothers, to pull my weight, as well as how to participate within a predominately masculine team.
Our resourceful parents influenced us positively with a strong set of values, and their polarised spiritual beliefs exposed us to different points of views and perspectives, which I now believe to have been a tremendous advantage. As a teenager the hard riggers of training thoroughbred racehorses with Dad before I went to school each morning, coupled with a burgeoning netball career fostered mental and physical strength as well as discipline.
Entrepreneurship began showing up in my life during my years in the corporate world. I developed side hustles, hair cutting for family and friends and then started a Les Mills Aerobics Franchise. This was the 1990’s! Married at 19, me and Tim were industrious and hard working. We quickly purchased our first home, did our OE to Europe and UK, and on return Tim started a building business with a friend. We built our own home before Tim was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and shortly afterwards opened our first business, Nor’Wester, a restaurant in our hometown of Amberley, North Canterbury.
My turangawaewae (community) is very important to me. Since I was a teenager, I have volunteered much of my time and leadership to help support my local community in sport, and in development. I feel secure and spiritually connected with earth and have a tremendous gratitude for the incredibly beautiful and powerful presence of nature and all of its abundance. This is reflected in my strong feeling of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of the land, sea, air and water. The essence of entrepreneurship has allowed me to contribute to my region, creating employment and meaningful hubs for connection.
Portfolio
1981 - 1997
Corporate Life
17 year ‘apprenticeship’ with Hurunui District Council: honing skills in technology, finance, administration, organisational structure and human resource management
2014 – 2020
The Era of Mumma T
This 5 year journey indulged my passion for recycling and creating sacred spaces. It culminated in the creation and development of a large department type store selling both second-hand and new articles for home and wardrobe, while proving to myself I wasn't a one hit wonder.
