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NGÄ ROHETE WAIPOUNAMUCANTERBURY STAUNCH:CHRISTCHURCH’S CARGO BAREntrepreneur Henare Akuhata-Brown seemed tohave lost everything in the devastating quake thathit Christchurch on February 22 2011, but a weeklater he and fiance Angelique Valentine discoveredthey had gained something – or someone - ofimmeasurable value.“We lost two businesses and our house was redzoned – but then on the February 28, after havinggone through IVF, we found out we were going tohave our first child.”Henare or “H” (Ngäti Porou, Ngäi Tahu) says thecouple got in their car and were soon drivingaround the quake hit city planning where to startagain. With a background in marketing, more thana decade before Henare identified a gap in thecity’s hospitality cafe market, particularly onesthat catered for corporate clients. Bean Scene Cafeopened in the heart of Christchurch’s CBD in 2003and Lyme Cocktail Bar soon after, but both wereleft in ruins after February 22.By April that year, the couple had leased newpremises in Addington and Cargo Bar - the city’sfirst shipping container bar - was born. Not longafter, Bean Scene Cafe reopened. Launchingin time for the Rugby World Cup, Henare saysturnover tripled with corporate tables – at $1000each – quickly sold out. To add to the jubilation ofthe All Blacks RWC victory and the success of twonew businesses, October 2011 also saw Henare andAngelique welcome their baby daughter, Danni.Henare says the backing from Te Puni Kökiri’sMaori Business Facilitation Service was priceless.“Te Puni Kökiri was there for us. Their informationand mentoring help is invaluable, we aren’tstopping and [will] reopen Lyme Cocktail Bar ina couple of months. They gave us the push in theright direction, they were there with support thatat first, just wasn’t there,” says Henare.Crusaders and All Blacks are regulars at Cargo Bar, not long after H hosted afamous first-five-eighth’s birthday bash, PM John Key popped in for lunch.He says relationships and people are crucial to thesustainability of their businesses.“Hospitality, service and product is mostimportant. We were able to hold on to eleven ofour fulltime staff. Our crew, our people are the keyto our success.”In tribute to the fighting spirit of his fellowCantabrians - “so many are worse off than me”– Henare’s also done something he’d never donebefore, even after years of living in Christchurch.“Last year I took off my Hurricanes jersey and worea Crusader’s one for the first time in my life, I’vebeen wearing a Hurricanes jersey since 1998. Butwhen you go through a disaster together you reevaluatethings and yeah, I’m staunch Canterburynow and forever.”TE PUNI KÖKIRI | KÖKIRI | KÖANGA / SPRING 201239