Five on the Fly - Josh Tatu
Five on the Fly — where business meets community
Kia ora and welcome to Five on the Fly, where we sit down with local business people to hear their stories, challenges and hopes for Te Hiku.
In five quick questions, we get to know the person behind the business, what drives them and what they hope for the future of our region.
Interviewee - Josh Tatu
1. Tell us about yourself
Kia ora. My name is Joshua Tatu and I’m of Niuean and Māori descent. Well, that and a few other wild mixes. I’m originally from Mangere down in Tamaki.
My iwi are Ngāti Tamaterā and Ngāti Maniapoto. I am the Kaitāia Pirates U9’s rugby coach and also, the Pirates’ rugby delegate #upthepriates. I’ve been living in the Far Far North for about five years now and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I also have a slight addiction to peanut slabs.
2. Tell us about your business
Well, I own and proudly operate the Legit Burger Company food trailer here in the Far North. I sell a range of burgers with low-carb options, also salads and desserts—all of which I prep at the beginning of each day before service.
I also operate on a 100% sourced locally vibe as I believe in freshness in the kai that I serve. It’s also to keep travel time on the produce and products right down, which is one of the main reasons why I do it.
The second main reason is that I’d much rather put my money back into our local economy/community whenever I can. I make everything from scratch from the prime beef patties and Aiolis to the selection of cheesecakes. The only thing I don’t make are the buns as I just… well, buns are hōhā to make. I also believe I have a bad habit of cooking what I like to eat, but it seems to be working.
3. What’s been your biggest challenge in business so far?
My biggest challenge so far with my business is learning how to take time for myself. Being a sole operator, a lot of my time is caught up in my business, even on my off days. I also own a small boutique catering company, which normally fills in the remaining days of the week. Besides the work-life and life balance, one of the hurdles in owning a small business in the Far North is that there are a lot of “different wakas”, which, at times, are all rowing in different directions or against each other. We all could be in the same “waka” to bring together more community-driven/run events.
Another thing I’ve also found troublesome is the rising diesel price, which has started to annoy me. 😂
4. What’s been a highlight or proudest moment?
A big highlight recently for me would be watching the Kaitāia Night Markets take shape, which I started at the beginning of October 2025 with the help from Kallen at Bridgestone Tyre Service.
It’s a big thing for me to see people out enjoying their time and also, their kai—even if it isn’t mine! Just knowing that people are coming out to support other small businesses or helping other fledgling hospo businesses to thrive. I also receive messages from customers letting me know how much they enjoyed their food. It’s a really proud moment for me reading those messages as it continues as it continues to let me know that what I’m selling is good and it’s a good fuel for the tank.
5. What are your hopes for Te Hiku as a region?
My hopes for Te Hiku as a region is that there are more community driven events not just to do with food or myself, but more for our Tamariki. There needs to be things to keep them occupied either in sports, like holding regular tournaments, or fun days out, not only in our peak seasons where we have plenty, but also on our off seasons to maintain the community vibes. I’m a firm believer that being engaged in positive community activities not only lifts the mana of our town, but also brings our people together.
That’s it for this edition of Five on the Fly. A big thank you to Josh Tatu of Legit Burger Company for sharing his journey with us, and to you for reading.
Every business story adds to the strength and resilience of Te Hiku. If you’d like to hear more, keep an eye out for our next Five on the Fly conversation.
