'It’s very hard to be a business person at this time'
After nearly 15 years sweetening the lives of locals, Theobroma Chocolate Lounge at Chartwell has closed its doors - unable to weather the pressure of rising costs and a sharply declining market.
Co-owner Balaka Malhotra, who ran the business with her husband Ian Roberts-Thomson, said she fought to keep it going, but the odds were stacked too high.
Theobroma’s Centre Place café in the CBD, which the couple also owns, is still running - for now.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
Waipu Lifecare & Village
The sun through the skylight, a tui singing in the garden and a fresh batch of scones on the kitchen bench... that’s what ‘A Better Everyday’ feels like at Waiapu Village. Just minutes from Havelock North Village, Waiapu is a smaller village where you’re never just a number.
To discover how good life can be at Waiapu Village, visit our Open Home or call Jude on 027 215 8156 for a tour. We can’t wait to show you around!
Poll: Are you a Te Huia fan?
All three Hamilton MPs appear to be united behind the retention of the Te Huia passenger rail service between Hamilton and Auckland, as well as potentially expanding it to Tauranga.
But whether Hamilton East’s Ryan Hamilton, Hamilton West’s Tama Potaka and soon-to-be Labour list MP Georgie Dansey have the combined power to shunt transport minister Chris Bishop and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon onto their line of thinking remains to be seen.
Are you a Te Huia fan? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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80.9% Yes
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19.1% No
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