Award-winning kitchen designer Nicola Cumming is making Whakamarama her home and is planning to expand her business in the area.

Along with her husband Keith, Nicola decided to leave Auckland and exchange their city life for a country life.

'We wanted to feel the fear.

'I've always lived in Auckland and operated my business there for 25 years and it's been good.

'But we fell in love with the Bay of Plenty region and its people, and now I'm expanding my business here,” says Nicola.
The pair decided to move to the Bay during a Katikati Garden Tour where they viewed ‘stunning properties' and discovered an avocado orchard for sale in Whakamarama.

'We decided within 10 minutes of seeing the orchard to buy it.

'I didn't even see the whole property as it was pouring with rain, but it didn't matter because it was so beautiful.”

Nicola and Keith named the property Avomore Haven Orchard, which means 'more avocados.”

Nicola says the environment has a significant influence on her designs, so the orchard provides a perfect setting.
'With an avocado orchard as a backdrop, what better way to be inspired?

'It's an idyllic situation. I love the colours, textures and combinations of colours – the way nature goes together,” she says.

'Being surrounded by this natural beauty makes me feel blessed.”

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce events coordinator Anne Pankhurst says construction is a big industry in Tauranga and bringing design elements like Nicola's to the area is ‘wonderful'.
'New businesses need to expand their networking circles, especially when coming from outside of the Bay of Plenty region.

'It can be very time consuming to meet people and build new relationships, but the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce offers networking opportunities to businesses.

'This helps build their contacts quickly, meaning business owners can get into wider circles,” says Anne.

'Plus, in these financially challenging times for businesses it's more important than ever to spend their dollars wisely.”