Introducing: BeauRegard

An authentic touch of the French countryside has made itself at home in Matakana.

BeauRegard is a boutique accommodation business, which opened on Matakana Road this month.

It is run by Laurette Macky, who grew up on a farm in Montigny, in north-central France. BeauRegard is also the name of a village in the Vendee region where her father was born and raised.

Although Laurette considers herself a Kiwi – she is married to Bayleys of the North principal Mark Macky and has a son and a daughter at Matakana Primary School – she was keen to acknowledge her French heritage in the name of her business.

The three individually-decorated cottages that make-up BeauRegard also have a French touch – they are called Bel Air, Voltaire and Bastille. The landscaped grounds include a waterfall walk, petanque pitch and croquet lawn.

“We moved from Orewa to Matakana a year ago, and at first I was worried that I would miss my corporate life in Auckland,” Laurette says. “Although I was raised on a farm, I love cities, and have lived in Paris and London.

“But I have to admit that I love it here in Matakana.”

For more than 14 years, Laurette worked as a legal executive, specialising in intellectual property, managing trademarks and brand portfolios.

“Matakana has a lot to offer visitors so the need for a range of accommodation types is growing. BeauRegard offers something a little different, something a little French.”