Make that eight.
Queenstown bar baron Pete Jefford has added Blue Kanu to Wolf Hospitality Group’s stable — it’s his second business purchase in three months, and third new venture this year.
It takes the company’s total interest in the resort to eight hospo ventures — the others are Brazz, The London, Boardwalk, Pier, The Crown Pub & Beer Garden, Baja and Pub on Wharf.
Church St’s Blue Kanu was established by Hattaway Hospitality Group nine-and-a-half years ago.
Outgoing owner Karen Hattaway jokes Jefford ‘‘clearly likes Hattaway restaurants’’ — she and her ex-husband, Grant, started Pier, and sold to Jefford in 2017.
Karen tells Mountain Scene Blue Kanu wasn’t for sale, but after Jefford made a quiet approach about six months ago, she decided the time was right to move on.
Importantly, she says, nothing will change, and all 33 staff will be kept on, with the same conditions, ‘‘which is wonderful’’.
‘‘What we’ve created is super-special and that’s why I look at Peter Jefford and say he’s a custodian for something really beautiful, and I just know it’s my time now to begin and see something else.
‘‘Peter is a good man with good business sense — this is a great restaurant, a great concept, it works and my old saying is that you don’t have to fix something if it’s not broken.’’
Reflecting on the legacy she’s created, Karen says Blue Kanu is ‘‘more than a restaurant’’.
‘‘It’s manaakitanga — the way we believe hospitality should be given and received.’’
She says since the doors first opened she and her team, including long-time staffer, GM Warren Ratana, have experienced first-hand ‘‘what it’s like to think bigger and to be told it wouldn’t work’’.
‘‘We have shown the doubters we are a wonderful, positive force, we have silenced the negative talk with the beautiful korero of kai and happiness.
‘‘I am proud of this waka of kai, aroha, dedication and whanau.
‘‘We’re so grateful people have loved what we’ve done, but more importantly what we stand for.
‘‘It has been my honour to have been part of something so special.’’
Officially taking over Blue Kanu on October 2, Jefford tells Scene the company plans to ‘‘continue the amazing experience that is Blue Kanu’’.
