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.