The Warkworth Community Shop opened its doors in May 2018, and has thrived. It was opened by John McEwing and his business partner Christine Hannah as a community op shop from which the funds go directly back into the wider Warkworth community. “People are giving in the area, so the money goes back to other people in the area”.

Since the shop opened, they have donated to a range of different community organisations around Warkworth, including area fire services, the Women's Centre Rodney, Mahurangi River Restoration Trust, local schools. John speaks of how important it was to them that “all of the profits go to our community, and stay in the Warkworth district”. 

John has lived in the region for 12 years and has spent a lot of time working for non-profit groups. He has seen what a wonderful community we have in Warkworth and wanted to ensure that what he was doing would benefit those people directly. “We are here for the local people, and that's the simple concept, for everything to stay local”.

The majority of pieces in the store are donated by locals, and John is often blown away by the generosity. “We get some fantastic donations almost every day, and we want to say thank you to everyone who does donate, or even just supports us by shopping here”. 

The idea behind the shop is simple, and one that John cares deeply about: “The point is that because local people donate, their community should benefit”.