Threads of the Yard
This story comes from guest writer Tyrone Biddle of P&P Flooring Ltd.
We are P&P Flooring. Our business is whānau owned, female led, and based in the Norti Norta, Te Hiku o te Ika, the Far Far North of Aotearoa. With decades of experience carried across generations, flooring for us is more than a trade. It is our legacy: we honour those who came before us while laying foundations for those who will follow.
Earlier this year, I shared a blog called Turning a Page. It told the story of leaving behind the corporate world and stepping into something closer to home, our business, our whānau, and The Yard. The Yard is where we work, create, and connect. It holds not just our mahi but the stories of other businesses alongside us.
Part of our why has always been about stories. Stories of people, stories of home, stories of land, stories of sea. From the tail of the fish to the tip, we are all threads weaving our way through time. Together, those threads form a beautiful whāriki of life. And there are moments in time when those threads meet. In those moments, you find the comfort of community, something that can feel distant if you are not part of it. But here in The Yard, that community lives in every business, each with its own why.
Sands of Time
Tyrone Biddle | P&P Flooring
Take Drop In, for example, a family owned surf and coffee shop in the Far North. The lives of Adam, Kelly, Lennox, and Juno are led by the tides. Born from Kelly’s deep relationship with the ocean and the surf industry, and Adam’s love of surf, coffee, and people, Drop In came into being surrounded by the many loving hands of the community.
For Drop In, water is the biggest stakeholder. Every decision begins with a question: How does this impact the health and wellbeing of the water? Could we do it better? That is why their products fall into two streams: 100 percent natural fibres that are compostable, or 100 percent synthetic that is recyclable. Their coffee loop is just as intentional: organic beans, local milk in glass bottles, and no single use cups.
But Drop In is more than its products. It is a place for slowing down. For pausing. You might run your hand over the lines of an Aotearoa shaped board, discover beautifully made wares, ride the half pipe, or simply take a few breaths of fresh air in the sun. It is a space where locals and travellers alike can connect.
Their investment in the future of surfing is equally intentional. They run small wāhine surf trips, a monthly wāhine surf group, and contribute their time to Ahipara Boardriders and their initiatives. Drop In is a thread in our community whāriki, woven with purpose, care, and aroha for both people and the moana.
Another thread in The Yard belongs to Steve from Northstitch Upholstery. Steve moved to Kaitaia in 2011 with his wife and six children, bringing with him 15 years of upholstery experience. Not long after, he opened Northstitch on Empire Street. Two years later, he shifted to his current workshop at 153 Pukepoto Road, where his mahi keeps growing.
Steve’s work covers nearly everything upholstery related: automotive repairs, veranda curtains, tarpaulins, furniture, marine jobs, and one of a kind custom pieces. From tool belts for bush gangs and orchard workers to restoring the well loved and tailoring the unique, his hands breathe life into both need and idea.
His story, like ours, is one of resilience and creativity. Piece by piece, project by project, Steve has built a business that shows up for the community with heart, with craft, and with purpose.
And that is just a glimpse of The Yard. Each business here has its own journey: the hard weeks, the breakthroughs, the waves of success, the moments of doubt. But together, we have built a community that supports one another. We confide in each other, we are vulnerable with each other, and we help each other.
Sands of Time
Steve | Northstitch Upholstery
Because at the end of the day:
Nāku te rourou, nāu te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi
(With your basket and my basket, the people will thrive.)
Flooring might be our mahi, but people are our heart. Drop in anytime for a kōrero, a coffee, or a new cover for your boat and share your story with us. Nau mai haere mai! 153 Pukepoto Road, Kaitāia.
Ngā mihi nui to guest writer Tyrone Biddle of P&P Flooring, and to Drop In and Northstitch Upholstery for sharing their stories of The Yard.
Do you have a local story to share?
Whether you're a blogger, photographer, writer, or vlogger, we’d love to hear from you!
Share your unique perspective and help showcase the heart of our Te Hiku community.
