From school memories to laying down the future — this project at Ahipara School brought things full circle for us. What used to be the dental clinic and school house is now a modern learning facility designed for the next generation of tamariki. In this blog, we share the journey of installing soft finishings in a place close to our hearts, the unexpected challenges along the way, and why doing the right thing — even when it's inconvenient — is part of how we work.

From catchphrases in corporate life to the rhythms of a whānau-led flooring business, this post explores how lessons from my tech career are helping shape the way we run things now. It’s a story about trust, clarity, and creating the right moments that matter — all through the lens of a flooring job.

Culture isn’t something you build once — it’s something you live every day. From lessons at Trade Me to learning te reo Māori through full immersion, I’ve come to believe that real understanding begins with listening. As we grow our business, we’re not chasing someone else’s vibe — we’re building a culture rooted in whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, and the values that matter most. Because at the heart of everything, he tāngata — it’s the people.

Leaving a six-figure job to take over a whānau business wasn’t easy—but it felt right. In this post, I talk about what it really costs to chase a legacy, the numbers behind survival, and the tools I built to find clarity in chaos. The early days are tough, but every step toward understanding our breakeven is a step toward building something future-facing.

“Floors are the unsung heroes of a home — the part that takes the most wear, yet holds everything steady. That feeling of grounding and beginning again has stayed with me.”

In this post, Cassandra shares her journey from a childhood off-grid in Herekino to co-leading a whānau flooring business in Te Hiku o te Ika — and the deep sense of purpose that’s guiding her every step.