Owners of Four Square Havelock celebrate 25 years serving seaside community

Store owners Grant Fisk and Christine Fisk are celebrating 25 years at the helm of Four Square Havelock, marking a quarter of a century of serving and giving back to their small seaside community. 

The couple took over the store on 9 October 2000, after moving from Wellington to Havelock with their two young children. Leaving behind careers in book-keeping and the corporate world, Christine and Grant were drawn south after Christine’s mother suggested they look at the local Four Square store that was for sale next to her cafe, the Darling Dill (now Rays Place). 

“So, we came down and had a look,” Christine says. 

“I grew up in Putorino, a small rural town on SH2 between Wairoa and Napier. My grandparents had a general store up the road at Kotemaori, so grocery has always been in my blood.  

“When we arrived, the shelves were bare and regular holidaymakers and bach owners were used to bringing their groceries with them on the plane,” Christine recalls. “We worked hard to build up the store and win back the community’s trust, and within 18 months people were shopping with us again.” 

Over the years, the Fisks have transformed the once-rundown store into a thriving community hub, employing a mix of seven part-time and full-time staff, including their son Glenn, who is now store manager, and daughter Sarah, who works part-time after having a child. Their other daughter, Grace, works in dairy farming at Pleasant Point, Canterbury. 

The store is busiest over summer when tourism, the Marlborough Sounds and the nearby Queen Charlotte Track, a part of the 3000km Te Araroa Trail, bring a flurry of visitors, and it remains a cornerstone for locals year-round. The annual Havelock Mussel Festival in March also creates a welcome, vibrant buzz in town.  

With a 200sqm retail space and 4,700 product lines, Grant and Christine make it a priority to keep their shelves well-stocked. They offer a range of local products and services that reflect the distinctive nature and flavour of the region.  

The store provides grocery deliveries via the Pelorus Mail Boat to residents and holidaymakers around the Pelorus Sound, and supports local suppliers including Mussel Magnet fish bait from Mills Bay Mussels, and J Bush & Sons Honey, a longtime pantry staple for many Marlburians.  

It’s also the only Four Square in the South Island to sell some of Marlborough’s finest kaimoana, live greenshell mussels. Bananas and beer are among the store’s top selling items, and greenshell mussels are in the top 10. 

Their team includes students from the neighbouring townships of Linkwater, Rai Valley, and Canvastown.  

“Supporting local youth to get their start has always been a priority for us and, over the years, we’ve offered plenty of opportunities for students to gain valuable work experience.” 

The Fisks’ community contributions have ranged from sponsoring rugby teams and supplying bread rolls for the Pelorus Area Health Trust’s weekly soup run, to giving goods and vouchers for school camps and events. Both have volunteered their time too – Grant as a volunteer for the Havelock fire brigade and Christine with St John New Zealand. Christine also helped start the local preschool and is about to be sworn in as a Justice of the Peace. 

Grant and Christine’s proudest achievements have been giving back to the community. Over the years, they’ve played key roles in several major local projects, including the establishment of the Pelorus Community Preschool (where Christine chaired the organising committee), the development of a new school hall at Havelock Primary School, and the creation of a multipurpose room at Canvastown Primary School. 

“Supporting our community has always been part of what we do,” says Grant. “There’s hardly a local organisation we haven’t supported in some way – from the Lions Club and local schools to the Men’s Shed, sports clubs, and the Havelock Museum.” 

For Christine, Havelock has been an ideal place to raise their family. “It’s a safe, close-knit place, and it’s been really special to see our children grow up in the community.” 

Looking ahead, the couple plan to continue supporting their town, with new freezers arriving instore before Christmas to ensure they’re ready for the busy summer ahead. 

“We love the buzz of summer when our trading trebles, and then the quiet of winter when we can catch our breath. Havelock has been good to us, and we’re proud to have been part of this community for 25 years.”