GOLDEN HERITAGE
For such a young nation, New Zealand’s history is as rich as it is diverse. Colony, a new boutique at The Crossing in central Christchurch, tells a part of this saga – of a family that has been retailing in Aotearoa since 1868, the same time as the Wild West era in the United States.
Kris Jansen, the founder and owner, recently uncovered the history of her family.
“It was only during the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 that we really researched my own whakapapa, something us Pākehā are pretty bad at really,” says Jansen.
Her ancestors first arrived in the early 1860s to join the central Otago Gold Rush. Having left Denmark and Prussia – which were about to go to war – Johan and Louisa met on the Bendigo goldfields.
“We discovered this missing generation and the story of how Johan only found enough gold to make a ring for Louisa.”
The aforementioned ring is apparently still in the family.
Johan and Louisa followed the rush and moved north to Thames with the gold miners, but, along with Johan’s brother Lars, decided it was better to sell to prospectors than be one, so their first general store was established in 1868.
Johan and Louisa’s son Waldemar then started farming in the Waikato settlement of Orini, which included beekeeping. All these generations ago, the principles of pacifism, community, and harmony with nature were established and continue today.
Colony represents a journey from pioneering New Zealand to now, which the team aspires to share with the customer, with a range of locally made products from traditional mead and honey liqueurs to modern natural skincare.
“We want people to try quality NZ-made products, but also want them to understand the story. Our history is complex; we should understand each generation and add our own chapter.”