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A sports fundraiser that turned into an Auckland business venture eight years ago is expanding to the Mahurangi area this month.
Chris and Lucie Hawkins, who recently moved to Point Wells, began delivering fresh fish in Kumeu in 2007, as a fundraiser for their son Zak’s school trip to the world cross country championships in the Czech Republic.
The home delivery service proved popular.
“When we stopped, people started asking, ‘where is our fish?’” Chris says. “I was winding up my advertising agency at the time so decided to give the business a go.”
It started as Fresh Fish Deliveries in 2008, but about a year ago, teamed up with Oceanz Seafood and has re-branded as Oceanz Direct.
“Oceanz has partnered with a major fishing company, which means we have a secure supply of seafood, summer and winter, which is really important.”
The door-to-door service currently operates in Auckland and the North Shore, but from Friday September 18, it will also deliver to Warkworth, Matakana, Point Wells, Omaha, Snells Beach and Algies Bay, plus addresses on the main roads in between.
Bookings and payments are made online, and the orders are delivered direct to homes or workplaces on Friday afternoons. Lucie says most people leave a chilly bin outside their home where their order can be left, regardless of whether or not they are at home.
“We send out an email earlier in the week to let customers know what’s available. As well as fish, there is a wide range of seafood including crayfish, scallops and whitebait.”
Recipes are included for less common fish.
“It’s our way of trying to educate the Kiwi palate that there is more than snapper, gurnard and tarakihi in the ocean! Our focus is on quality and service.”
As well as helping to run the business, Lucie is a qualified Montessori teacher who plans to continue to offer hourly one-on-one sessions for children preparing for school.
