The Volkswagen Polo is returning to New Zealand, so we’re teaming up with the Volkswagen Polo to meet some little legends of our own: the people behind the places that make Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch special. We handed each of them the keys and asked for their favourite spots. I’m Philippa, owner and florist at Pick a Posy in Newtown. I’ve been running the business since 2014, although its history goes back much further than me. It was originally established in 1952 as Scheherazade Florist, so there’s a lot of history behind our little flower shop! I got into floristry because I’ve always loved being creative and working with my hands. What I love most is seeing the seasons change through the flowers. There’s always something new to get excited about. I also genuinely love owning a business, from coming up with ideas to making decisions and thinking about what we could do next. I feel really lucky that I get to combine the creative side with the business side. Wellington feels like a city and a little village at the same time. You can be right in the middle of town, then 10 minutes later you’re at the beach, walking through the bush or standing on a hill with an amazing view. Getting around in the Volkswagen Polo was a treat. It was so smooth to drive and really fun zipping through town. These are some of my favourite spots in Pōneke.

The Volkswagen Polo is returning to New Zealand, so we’re teaming up with the Volkswagen Polo to meet some little legends of our own: the people behind the places that make Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch special. We handed each of them the keys and asked for their favourite spots. I fell into hospo through my brother-in-law. It started as ‘helping out for a summer’ nine years ago, and I never looked back. I love people, I love eats and I love drinks, so naturally it became an industry I loved being part of. I co-own Glou Glou, a local Wellington café by day/wine bar by night, and event space all year round. We’ve been running it for two and a half years now, in a cool little part of Wellington that’s moving into a new era (after historically being known mostly as a nightlife strip). I also co-own the catering company Food Envy, the older sibling of Glou Glou. What I love about hospo is that it relates to everyone. Everyone’s got a favourite place to eat, catch up with friends, hang out. Participating in a service that has that kind of direct place in people’s lives is pretty special. Plus I’m the biggest advocate for Wellington. I LOVE my city. We’ve had our tough times, but there’s so much to feel positive about. It’s a 10-minute city: 10 minutes to the beach, 10 minutes to the bush from pretty much anywhere. Where else can you get that? I also love what I call our bump culture - walk around for long enough and you’re bound to bump into someone you know! The Volkswagen Polo suits a 10-minute city perfectly. It’s compact on the outside, surprisingly roomy on the inside. I loved the sleek black and digital interior too. It’s got a very luxe feel. Here are some of the Wellington spots that make me love this place.

The Volkswagen Polo is returning to New Zealand, so we’re teaming up with the Volkswagen Polo to meet some little legends of our own: the people behind the places that make Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch special. We handed each of them the keys and asked for their favourite spots. I’m the founder of Sully’s, a small clothing boutique on Ghuznee Street (which I reckon is the best street in Pōneke)! I started Sully’s because I wanted to bring different women’s fashion brands to the city I grew up in. Over the last four and a half years, it’s grown into something I’m really proud of. We now stock a range of New Zealand makers and artists, alongside a small selection of international brands and a consignment section that changes every week. The best part is the people. I love the connections I’ve made with the brands we work with and being able to share their pieces with customers (many of them have become good friends)! I also have a three-year-old, so having a small, supportive team around me means everything. That’s part of what I love about Wellington, too. Everything is so condensed that you can experience so many different sides of the city within such a small radius. There are brilliant cafés and stores literally everywhere, and you’re never more than a few minutes away from the bush or the sea. I was surprised how easy the Volkswagen Polo was to park on Ghuznee Street, which is a win in itself! If I had to choose, these are a few of my favourite places around the city.