+64 9 372 9050 [email protected]
126 Church Bay Road Oneroa, Waiheke, New Zealand
+64 9 372 9050 [email protected]
126 Church Bay Road Oneroa, Waiheke, New Zealand
Co-owner and founder of Mudbrick, Nick is our managing director and still operates the property today. Nick can be found in the Vineyard, at the winery, or testing the produce in the gardens. Being a trained accountant Nick is also our financial controller. Nick is noticeable around Mudbrick as he often is followed by his small black and white dog Bayly!
Co-owner and founder of Mudbrick, Robyn is responsible for the creative direction and vision of Mudbrick. Responsible for the look and feel of almost everything Robyn has an amazing eye for detail and ensure that every little touch is thought of. Robyn spends most of her time behind the scenes tinkering in the garden and is often out looking for more vintage furniture and new finishing touches.
Oscar is Robyn and Nick's son, like Francie he grew up at Mudbrick and spent many of his teenage years doing the hard yards in the restaurant and vines. In fact, Oscar was the first to introduce our now famous Rooftop Bar with a little pop-up of two barrels and a plank of wood, a couple of gins and a bucket of ice (ask him to show you the pics!). Innovation at Mudbrick has always been on Oscars mind, so following a career in finance and accounting he joined the team in early 2022 leading as Operations Manager. Oscar was appointed General Manager in 2023 and now leads our Mudbrick team.
Francesca, AKA Francie is Robyn and Nick's daughter, Francesca's first home was at Mudbrick where she lived in a small room no bigger than a storage cupboard and has been working on and off at Mudbrick since she was 13. Many broken glasses and red wine stains later, Francesca is now in charge of our brand presence, physically and digitally. She works closely with Robyn to ensure the look and feel of the restaurants, accommodation and digital platforms are upheld. Francesca is part-time, as she is also studying towards a degree in natural medicine.
Two-time winner of NZ Young Winemaker of the Year, and winner of NZ Winemaker of the Year, Pat joined us as 2011. Pat spent his childhood working on his family vineyard Cornerstone in the famous Gimblett Gravels. Graduating from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology and eager to gain experience, he completed international vintages in Australia, Germany and the USA. “I’m always trying to produce wines with higher quality than the previous year." Pat believes that minimal handling of the fruit will always produce wine with a strong sense of place. “I want the Mudbrick Vineyards to come through with every wine and the only way to achieve this is through sustainable vineyard practices and minimal intervention in the winery. It’s the most important attribute of any Mudbrick wine.” Follow @winemakerpat on Instagram for regular winery updates!
Holidays on Waiheke as a teenager inspired an interest in wine and vineyards which lead to Nick studying Viticulture after leaving school. After completing his studies he worked in wineries in Marlborough and Auckland gaining experience before heading overseas. He worked the 2005 vintage at Chateau La Tour Blanche in Sauternes, Bordeaux. On returning home Stonyridge beckoned for two seasons as Vineyard Foreman, learning about the unique demands of Island wine production. Then back to Bordeaux for a vintage winemaker job at a small producer and on to the Hunter Valley in Australia. Nick moved back to New Zealand, where he gained experience working in high-quality large scale viticulture in the Gimblett Gravels. Nick loves his hands-on role here at Mudbrick tending to our two vineyards, and ensuring perfect care and conditions for our premium small-batch wine production. Nick has transitioned our vineyards to organic and is in the process of our Biogro certification.
Joining Mudbrick in the summer of 2019 whilst completing his bachelor’s degree of Viticulture and Oenology, Josh came to Waiheke bright-eyed and eager to learn. The Waiheke sunshine and the hands-on style of work made him fall in love with every aspect of the wine industry. Having graduated from Lincoln University in Christchurch. Josh immediately moved to Waiheke to take on a full-time role at Mudbrick as the Lead Cellar and Vineyard hand. After gaining vintage experience Josh travelled to the Rhone Valley, France and Sonoma Coast, California, completing vintages to further develop his winemaking skills and knowledge at world renowned wineries. Now as the Assistant Winemaker at Mudbrick, Josh wants to continually learn, innovate and most importantly keep achieving the award-winning quality of Mudbrick wines.
Mrinal is our creative genius in the Mudbrick Restaurant. Mrinal joined us at Mudbrick after an extensive career in hospitality spanning 15 years. Having worked in NZ’s best restaurants and in Michelin star restaurants across the world, he creates his plates drawing influence from NZ but also Australia, Asia and Europe.
Mrinal is a big believer in sustainability and creating from the natural environment of Waiheke. Mrinal is committed to working with local suppliers and leaving as little footprint possible to help protect a plentiful future for the next generation of chefs.
Mrinal is very experimental with his plates, and his menu is unique in showcasing a creative flair whilst utilising what is all around us, with NZ produce at the forefront and telling the stories of the suppliers behind them.
Outside of work you’ll find him windsurfing or playing with his huntaway rescue puppy!
Karen is “The Mudbrick Mummy” if there is ever a problem, or an issue nobody knows how to solve, Karen will know just what to do! Karen started at Mudbrick in September 2001 and was the restaurant manager for over 10 years. She has enjoyed meeting the hundreds of young people that have chosen to work at Mudbrick while on their overseas adventure. Family is everything to her, and her 3 beautiful daughters make her proud to be a mum - and they have all worked at Mudbrick! Karen is now (fittingly) our Office Manager, and is the go to for many things at Mudbrick!
George left England chasing down a girl, but found much more than he bargained for here on Waiheke Island. His versatility of skills in various sectors of the hospitality industry, and experience of fine dining across the world, makes him for a perfect match for Mudbrick. George makes great use of his classic British charm, creating a comfortable and relaxing guest experience from start to finish. When George gets time away from the restaurant he loves to get a line in the water with hopes of feeding friends at the next BBQ.
Fiona joined the Mudbrick team in February 2012, carrying out a range of roles from running the casual dining area, wedding receptions and a la carte service to conducting wine tours and tastings in the Cellar Door. Eventually moving into her role as Cellar Manager in 2014. Originally from the UK with a degree in French, her wine intrigue started in 2002 when she lived in-between Bordeaux and Cognac. After 10 years of working in the corporate and hospitality world, Fiona ventured to New Zealand in 2011 with her partner Tom for the Rugby World Cup. They found Mudbrick and knew that the wine industry was their true calling in life and Waiheke their home.
Wanda has been part of our Mudbrick family for many years, originally joining the team looking after all Groups & Events bookings. With a keen eye for detail, and wonderful Canadian charm, Wanda now looks after our hiring, HR, accounts and payroll as well as supporting our entire Mudbrick team with her wealth of experience. After falling in love with Waiheke Island at Onetangi beach 10 years ago, she never left! She has two special pet-children Kitty Leo and Sunnie the Cavalier who is part-time in the office for extra support.
Meet Dina! One half of our weddings team duo. Dina started life in a small Canadian town in Saskatchewan. Dina’s first calling was when she studied and worked in the field of Nuclear Medicine Technology. After travelling the world, working in the UK, Asia, Australia, and Wellington, Dina found her little piece of paradise on Waiheke Island. When asked what Dina enjoys most about her role, she says she absolutely loves being able to provide couples with the best days of their lives. “It still brings a tear to my eye during our heartfelt ceremonies. LOVE LOVE LOVE!” Outside of work you’ll find her at the beach, doing yoga, or out in nature. She’s also classically trained in ballet and dabbled in tap, jazz, musical theatre, and even highland dancing. So if you are nervous about your first dance, she might have some tips!
Meet Laura! Laura hails from the Canary Islands, in Spain where she began her study in Interpersonal & intercultural communications before completing further study in the UK and the USA. Laura’s been living on Waiheke since 2011, and boasts an extensive resume including hospitality, PR, corporate communications, event management, and much more. Laura prides herself on her style as a hostess, she will always create a warm and welcoming environment for our guests and her sense of humor makes it fun along the way. Laura loves her job to and is honored to be able to contribute to some of the most important part of people’s lives. She loves the energy, the magic, the rituals and of course the flowers!
Outside of work, you’ll find Laura out and about at shows, theatre, or anything to do with the arts! She loves nature, photography, cats, and travelling on her time off!
From the coastal shores of Devon in the UK, Poppy first joined Mudbrick at The Archive Bistro with the plan to stay in New Zealand for just a couple of months. You’ll most likely find her snapping instas in the gardens, planning Mudbrick's epic events, running the island’s Te Ara Hura trails or scuba diving off Sandy Bay. With a background in all things marketing, business development and event operations; Poppy has now looks after our Sales and Marketing outreach.
Natalie made the call to return home to Waiheke Island after beginning her career in the UK and travelling the world. With a passion for travel and hospitality, she looks after all of our group dining, corporate conferencing, MICE and client events. If you’ve got a big birthday or a special team occasion coming up she’ll ensure everything is taken care of - right down to the smallest details on the day. Outside of work Natalie is a big fan of getting outdoors and getting amongst it. She’s got a passion for travel and exploring global cultures, check out her YouTube!
Bob has been a staple of our tasting room for over 10 years now, and truly loves wine and all its nuances. He will take you through the whole spectrum of our wines and will be able to recommend his favourite vintages, an advantage of long term service! He is not quite part of the furniture yet he says, but knows Mudbrick inside and out, and has extensive knowledge of all things Mudbrick. Bob is also an accomplished photographer and is responsible for many beautiful shots of Mudbrick over the years.
From her position in the Accounts Office, Christine has meticulously kept the Mudbrick finances running to a tee for over 14 years. In that time, she has witnessed the restaurant grow into the multi-faceted operation it is today, never missing a beat. A native of West Auckland, Christine originally worked in the city within the travel industry until romance drew her to Waiheke in 2006 - since then she has called the island home with her partner. Not one to let a glass of chilled pinot gris go untouched, when Christine isn’t sharing a tipple with friends or holidaying on her favourite Hawaiian island amongst the frangipanis, you’ll find her playing fetch with her two dogs (although usually she has to do the fetching!) and taking them for walks in the park.