Welcome to the Wild Rose Cafe in Tryphena, Great Barrier Island.
It's not a Starbucks and not an Internet Cafe, but Stonewall Store has just added a welcoming corner to keep the winter blues away. The Wild Rose Tea House, serves real tea in real tea cups, "not just white mugs", Eve insisted. 

Fifty people were there to celebrate - nearly the whole Tryphena whanau had turned out. Also Eve's parents - who were Rosalie Bay Farms shareholders - had made the trip across from Auckland. For Eve Woodward-Gray the opening marked a sense of homecoming. Her childhood summers had revolved around the regular expeditions to the walking-access only hideaway on the island, just over the hill from Tryphena. "I really look forward to now becoming part of the community in the years to come," she explained when she had the attention of everybody present.

The excitement of something new in the community, a project that would touch everybody in a small way, was evident in the encouraging comments that were made about her latest project and to Pauline herself. There's been a sense of purpose and innovation present at the Stonewall Store since three years ago the "Bellerby sisters" - that's Joss and Pauline - took over the shop and then a year later, with a little help from friends, dived into mortgage territory to take full ownership of the complex. When Wayne Anderson unpacks his tools, or so it often seems, there will be something new to talk about. And sure enough, the sense of anticipation had grown over recent days as the lights stayed on later and later at night as Wayne and Adam were busy.

When it was Pauline's turn to speak and explain why roses had become the theme of the affair, she shrugged and said, "I am mad about roses. We tried looking for the name of a variety of rose that would sum it up best, but none of the Latin names really did work for us. So it became the Wild Rose - 'Rose' is perfect and 'Wild' is ... well, like the Barrier."

Roses were everywhere - and even when the fresh flowers will have faded, the decor and wallpaper will maintain the atmosphere. The Wild Rose will specialise in tea and healthy food, Pauline explained, but not just vegetarian. "I know where I will be having lunch from now on," Joss said, who with Benny, Adam, and Vanessa had also come to stand in the doorway for the family to welcome friends and neighbours together.

To give meaning to the little ceremony, Rebecca Parks said a few words and then sang a waiata, Amazing Grace, which turned out to be Pauline's favorite song. And with that, the doors were opened, incense was burnt and then, the first cups of tea, made from a blend of Rooibos with Kanuka tea-tree, were enjoyed at the Wild Rose.

The feeling of a family gathering was only briefly broken when some island visitors came looking for a cuppa. But the cash register had not been turned on and the cafe would not be open to business until Wednesday, so Eve just offered to pour another cup of tea. She'll be there to offer that to anybody looking for a quiet corner to find relief from - or to enjoy - the winter blues in the company of some neighbours or just with a book.

(by Rendt Gorter. Originally published in the Barrier Bulletin 18 June 2008)

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• Video: Rebecca Parks sings