Last month, the Matakana App celebrated its first birthday. So we thought it was finally time to introduce you to the team of locals behind the screen.

Ruby Garner, Journalist

I grew up on the Matakana Coast, and have spent many years exploring the beautiful place that we call home. I’m in the final stages of a bachelor's degree in communications, majoring in journalism. Reading and writing have always been huge passions of mine, and working for the Matakana App gives me a chance to do what I love for a job, while getting to know the place where I live on a whole new level. I also work part time at the Matakana Village Preschool, hanging out with the little rugrats there.

In my spare time you are likely to find me lying on the beach devouring a good book, bending myself over backwards attempting to do yoga, sipping coffee at a cafe, and dancing the night away at local gigs. 

Rachel Ellis, Editor

I’m a wordsmith with over 25 years of working closely with words. I have moved between teaching English to writing online materials for English students and teachers to proofreading and writing web copy and web content. 

What do I do in my spare time? Well, as you’ve probably guessed, I do love to have my nose stuck in a good book. When that’s not happening, I enjoy travelling, at the moment that is discovering wonderful New Zealand, socialising, cooking, eating, fishing, walking, cruising on my new orange E-bike and enjoying the breathtakingly beautiful place where we’re lucky enough to live: Mahurangi West.