He Hokinga Ki Te Kāinga,He Manaaki i te Ao
How Paula Koot Brennen and Brett Brennen are welcoming the world to Taranaki through Ducks & Drakes
For Paula Koot Brennen (Ngāruahine, Taranaki Iwi) and her husband Brett Brennen, returning home to Taranaki wasn’t part of the original plan. But sometimes life has a way of leading you exactly where you’re meant to be.
After spending 15 years living in Sydney, where they both built successful careers, their children were settled and they enjoyed the anonymity of city life, the couple reached a crossroads.
“We realised there had to be more to life than working Monday to Friday, doing the housework on Saturday and having one day to recover before doing it all again,” Paula says.
When Ducks & Drakes came up for sale in New Plymouth, Brett saw an opportunity. Paula wasn’t immediately convinced about returning to her hometown, but with her parents still living in Taranaki, it felt like the right time.
Within months, they had purchased the business, sold their Sydney home almost overnight and packed up their lives — animals and all — to begin a completely different chapter.
“It was stressful,” Paula laughs. “We went from a beautiful four-bedroom home in Sydney to three of us living upstairs in a two-bedroom apartment above the business. Twelve years later, I still have boxes in storage.”
Neither of them had worked in accommodation before. They exchanged corporate careers for hospitality and quickly discovered they were learning an entirely new industry.
“It was a huge lifestyle change,” she says. “But it’s also brought me back home.”
Returning home has allowed Paula to reconnect to her whakapapa, strengthen relationships with whānau and reclaim what it means to be Māori.
“Being home has been amazing. My brother is here, one of my sister’s is here, and I’m grateful to have spent some precious time with Dad before his passing 8 years ago. We’re also lucky to be able to spend time with and help Mum in her more fragile and feisty years. I always knew I’d come home one day – I just thought it would be later in life.”
Today, with the help of whānau along the way, Paula and Brett own both the Ducks & Drakes business and the property also, a decision that helped them navigate the challenges of COVID-19 and emerge stronger.
Their accommodation offers something different. With 17 rooms, ranging from motel units to hostel accommodation, generous communal spaces and a large shared kitchen, Ducks & Drakes has become a favourite with international travellers looking to connect with others while exploring Taranaki.
“We’ve always believed travel is about people,” Paula says. “Those shared spaces create friendships between people from all over the world.”
As members of the Backpacker Youth Tourism Association, the couple understands the value international visitors bring to regional communities.
“Young travellers stay longer, spend their money locally and often come back years later with friends and family. They’re some of the best ambassadors New Zealand can have.”
Some of the strongest relationships they’ve built are with what they affectionately call their WOMAD whānau as well as those travellers who came and stopped for longer than they expected, falling in love with Taranaki.
Behind the scenes, Paula has also worked hard to build systems that allow the business to thrive. A trusted head housekeeper now leads the day-to-day housekeeping team, giving Paula and Brett the freedom to work on the business rather than in it.
Looking ahead, growth isn’t necessarily about getting bigger but offering additional services to the existing guest base. “We bolted on a shuttle service a few years ago to take people to the Maunga and for the Pouakai Crossing and Pouakai Tarns walks. It’s been a great addition and cross pollinates nicely with our accommodation offer.”
Sustainability is also very top of mind for Paula and Brett as they plan for the next few years.
They envision electric transport, solar energy, improved recycling systems and finding new ways tourism can support both the environment and the local community.
“There is kōrero that tourism is shifting,” Paula says. “It’s becoming more regenerative. We all have a responsibility to think about what we’re contributing and how we can protect this place for future generations.”
Her advice to other pakihi Māori is refreshingly honest.
“I wish I’d learned carpentry,” she laughs. “And never underestimate the value of a great housekeeper.”
More seriously, she believes every business owner should spend time building the business, not just operating it.
After 12 years, Paula and Brett have created far more than accommodation. Through manaakitanga, genuine connections and a deep love for Taranaki, they’ve created a place where visitors from around the world experience the warmth of home.
Because for Paula, welcoming people isn’t just good hospitality – it’s simply who they are.
