Four Square Karamea owners mark 25 years of supporting community

You can tell a lot about a community by looking at its local store. In Karamea, that store is the Four Square, owned for the past 25 years by Jason and Juliette James. 

Sitting at the top of the South Island’s rugged West Coast, and the gateway to local attractions including the Heaphy Track, Four Square Karamea stocks everything from fresh fruit and bread to 50 varieties of freeze-dried meals for trampers, cyclists and adventurers.  

“We’ve always tried to reflect the place we live,” says Juliette, who celebrates 25 years at the store next week (11 Sept). “Locals need their everyday essentials, visitors need fuel for the trails – so our shelves tell the story of Karamea.” 

Originally from Christchurch, Jason and Juliette met at school through a shared interest in Irish dancing and contributing to their local community. They went on to represent both the region and New Zealand at Irish dancing championships, collecting a number of awards along the way. 

When the couple moved to Karamea to raise their young family, they knew they’d found home. “We were never going anywhere else,” says Juliette. “Karamea has that old-time New Zealand feel – it’s a place where people still wave to each other when they pass on the road.” 

Since taking over the store in 2000, the couple have kept their community and the many visitors to the town supplied and connected. Six days a week, Jason used to start his day at 4.30am, doing a 200km round trip to Westport to collect grocery supplies trucked over from Foodstuffs South Island’s distribution centre in Christchurch, so customers have what they need when the store opens at 8.30am. They’ve since hired a driver to pick up the daily run so Jason fills in occasionally when required.  

As well as groceries, the store provides postal services and Lotto, gas bottle swaps and specialty products for those mountain biking or hiking the Heaphy Track, or former gold mining trail, the Old Ghost Road. 

Over the years, the James’ have curated an offering that reflects the town’s unique place as the gateway to the West Coast. The store has more than 3,000 product lines, and serves around 300 customers daily, with numbers doubling during the busy season, which coincides with the start of the whitebaiting season on September 1 and ends in autumn. 

Jason and Juliette’s contribution extends well beyond their store. Jason has given 30 years’ service to the Karamea volunteer fire brigade and is the current fire chief, while Juliette has chaired the local information centre for over 20 years, taught Irish dancing to local children free of charge for 25 years, and served on the local RSA.  

Together, they’ve coached sports teams, organised community events, and played a big role in securing the future of the local petrol station, right before fuel supply to the town was about to be shut down.   

“We’ve always seen our role as more than running a shop,” says Jason. “It’s about supporting the community we’re part of and being there for people when they need us.” 

Their dedication was formally recognised last year when Four Square Karamea received the Community Spirit Award at Four Square’s 100th birthday celebrations. 

Foodstuffs South Island Four Square Group Manager Eugene Ruane says the award recognises their community spirit and commitment to going above and beyond for customers in one of the most remote locations in the South Island. 

“After 25 years running Four Square Karamea, Jason and Juliette really understand what makes the town tick. They know their customers well and make sure the store has exactly what people need, when they need it. They’ve made the store an important part of life in the town, a meeting point and lifeline for local people.” 

As they celebrate 25 years in business, Jason and Juliette remain as committed as ever. “Living here is like taking a step back in time,” says Juliette. “We love that balance. You can be as quiet and laid back or as busy as you want to be.  

“For us, it’s always been about people. Karamea isn’t just where we run a business – it’s where we raised our family, built friendships, and put down roots. After 25 years, we’re still as proud as ever to serve this community we love.”