The Wānaka Edit

John Hart — The Little Brewer, Business, Community & Finding BalanceThis week on The Wānaka Edit, Janey and Hannah sit down with John Hart, owner of The Little Brewer in Three Parks.John has called Wānaka home since 2004 and has watched the town change from gravel roads and ski-bum culture to the Wānaka we know today.We chat about how The Little Brewer started with a coffee cart, the leap into opening a café, and what it really feels like to build your own business when the pressure, self-doubt and financial stress start to kick in.John also talks really openly about mental health, losing himself in work for a period of time, the friends who called him out, and finding his way back through some of the simple things — getting outside, spending time with good people and learning to celebrate the small wins.We also talk about the culture he has created at The Little Brewer, why community is such a big part of the business, roasting his own coffee, and how Three Parks is changing as Wānaka continues to grow.In this episode:What Wānaka was like back in the early 2000sHow The Little Brewer went from coffee cart to caféThe reality and pressure of running your own businessMental health, stress and finding balance againWhy having the right people around you mattersCreating genuine community through hospitalityRoasting The Little Brewer’s own coffeeThe changing face of Three ParksJohn’s favourite local Wānaka spotsJohn’s approach to The Little Brewer is simple — create a place where people feel welcome, where conversations happen, and where customers feel more like part of the community than just another person walking through the door.Follow The Little Brewer: @thelittlebrewerThe Wānaka Edit shares conversations with the people, businesses and ideas shaping Wānaka.For the latest property and local market updates, visit Colliers Wānaka.

In this episode of The Wānaka Edit, Janey and Hannah sit down with Rachel Benton, owner of The Green Room Flower Co and Mt Maude Retreat, for an honest conversation about creativity, business, motherhood and trusting your instincts.Rachel shares how a summer job at The Green Room led her to discover floristry and, at just 25, take the leap into buying the business. She talks about growing it into the busy floral studio it is today, building the right team and the privilege of helping people connect through flowers.The conversation also explores Rachel’s newest venture, Mt Maude Retreat — a place created for people to gather, celebrate, slow down and connect. Rachel shares the vision behind the property, the signs that encouraged her to pursue it and her strong connection to the land.They also talk about juggling business and motherhood, mum guilt, support systems and the importance of having the right people around you.It’s a warm, funny and inspiring conversation about following what feels right, building something meaningful and creating a life around the things you love.In this episode:Rachel’s journey into floristryBuying The Green Room at 25Growing a creative business and building a teamThe meaning and connection behind flowersThe vision behind Mt Maude RetreatTrusting intuition and following the signsMotherhood, mum guilt and business ownershipFinding support and building your villageAbout Rachel BentonRachel Benton is the owner of The Green Room Flower Co, a Wānaka floral studio creating flowers for weddings, events and everyday moments.She is also one of the people behind Mt Maude Retreat, a private accommodation and event space near Wānaka.Follow The Green Room Flower Co:@thegreenroomflowercohttps://thegreenroomflowerco.co.nzFollow Mt Maude Retreat:@mountmaude.retreatNew episodes of The Wānaka Edit are released weekly, featuring conversations with inspiring locals, creatives, business owners and people from across the Wānaka community.Looking for your next home, investment property or lifestyle opportunity in Wānaka?Visit www.colliers.co.nz

In this episode of The Wānaka Edit, Janey and Hannah sit down with Wānaka-based hairdresser and Wella educator Mikaela Gallagher for a candid conversation about creativity, career, identity and finding balance between work and family life.Mikaela shares her journey from Gore to Wānaka, building a long-standing career in hairdressing and stepping into the global fashion industry through her work with Wella. From local salon floors to Paris Fashion Week, her career has evolved into a mix of creativity, education and international travel, all anchored by life in Wānaka.The conversation explores what it takes to work at a high level in the fashion and beauty industry while also managing the realities of motherhood, career and constantly moving between different roles. Mikaela reflects on confidence, pressure and the ongoing challenge of balancing ambition with everyday life.They also dive into changing beauty standards, embracing natural texture and the shift towards more relaxed, individual expression in hair and fashion. Mikaela shares some of what happens behind the scenes at international shows, as well as the trends she’s seeing filter back into New Zealand salons and everyday clients.It’s an honest, funny and relatable conversation about the reality behind the glamorous work, juggling multiple roles and finding a way to keep doing what you love without losing yourself along the way.In this episode:Mikaela’s move from Gore to WānakaBuilding a career in hairdressing in WānakaBecoming a Wella educator and working internationallyBehind the scenes at Paris Fashion WeekBalancing motherhood, career and travelConfidence, identity and creative pressureChanging hair and beauty trendsEmbracing natural texture and individualityLife between local work and global fashionFinding balance in a multi-layered careerAbout Mikaela GallagherMikaela Gallagher is a Wānaka-based hairdresser and Wella professional educator. She works across salon life, education and international fashion events, including Paris Fashion Week. Mikaela is passionate about creativity, self-expression and helping people feel confident through hair and style.Follow Mikaela:@mikaela_creativehttps://instagram.com/mikaela_creativeNew episodes of The Wānaka Edit are released weekly, featuring conversations with inspiring locals, creatives, business owners and people from across the Wānaka community.Looking for your next home, investment property or lifestyle opportunity in Wānaka?Visit www.colliers.co.nz

In the first episode of The Wānaka Edit, Janey and Hannah sit down with Wānaka photographer and videographer Sampford “Sam” Cathie.Sam shares how moving from Auckland to Wānaka changed both his work and the life he wanted to build. They talk about his background in fashion and commercial photography, his move into architecture and interiors, and what it takes to create opportunities and build a creative career in a small town.Sam also shares how Wānaka’s light, landscapes and changing seasons influence his work, along with the personal projects that keep him curious and creatively inspired.In this episode:Moving from Auckland to WānakaBuilding a creative career in a small townPhotographing architecture, people and landscapesCreating your own opportunitiesThe influence of Wānaka’s light and seasonsBalancing commercial work with passion projectsPhotography as a way of telling storiesAbout SamSam is a Wānaka-based photographer and videographer specialising in architecture, interiors, lifestyle and commercial storytelling.Explore Sam’s work:Sampford CathieNew episodes of The Wānaka Edit are released weekly.Explore Wānaka property and lifestyle opportunities:Colliers Wānaka

The Wānaka EditWānaka is known for the lake, the mountains and the lifestyle — but the real story is the people who choose to build a life here.Hosted by Janey and Hannah from Colliers Wānaka, The Wānaka Edit is a podcast about the people, businesses and ideas shaping this place.Each episode goes beyond property to explore the stories behind the homes, the decisions and the lives being built here.