We salute you Chris Hart

August 2022

Chris Hart, a stalwart of our Flaxmere community, has made a huge contribution over his four years as owner of Flaxmere New World. He is off on a new adventure and we will miss him.

From donating food to school meal programmes and food parcels during lockdown, to being a major contributor to the Flaxmere night markets and supporting local sports teams, Chris’s support for the community had made a huge impact.

Last week, as he prepared to leave town heading to Gate Pā in Tauranga, he said that being an owner-operator enabled supermarket owners to make their own choices about how to support the community.

“You live and breathe the community; you’re here every day and every night, and you know what is needed and how you can make the most difference. It’s been a really important part of my time here.”

Chris was an Auckland boy who, after spending years learning the trade from the ground up, bought Flaxmere New World, his first supermarket. “I’d heard all sorts of things about Flaxmere, but I honestly have not had one bad experience.

“The community welcomed me so warmly and their support has been awesome.”

His team of staff get special praise. “I know they have my back, and that showed during COVID when they really stepped up. Like essential workers across the country, they were right in the firing line, but despite that pressure they turned up every day and kept going so we could keep the doors open. They really are the backbone of the store.”

While he is sad to be leaving Flaxmere, he says it is all part of progressing his own journey. His new New World in Gate Pā provides new challenges.

But he won’t forget Flaxmere. “I’m looking forward to coming back when the developments are all finished to catch up with everyone.”

He has a clear message for the Flaxmere community: “I want to say a massive thank you for welcoming me with open arms; you have been so warm and so loving and for that I thank you.”