Few New Zealanders – and even fewer New Zealand business owners – can say that they attended King Charles’ Coronation over the weekend.
But one who can claim to have been part of the historic occasion is small business owner Tasmyn Roach, 29.
The Tauranga-based entrepreneur says she is still pinching herself over attending the “surreal” historic event, an attendee alongside a small group of high-profile New Zealanders, including All Blacks great Ritchie McCaw, National Party leader Christopher Luxon and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, representing New Zealand.
Roach says she was hand-picked by a panel at the Prince’s Trust New Zealand for an invitation, beating out 62 other hopeful Kiwi business owners. The trust was established by the then-Prince Charles, to support young people in their journey from education to employment.
“They had one spot for one young person that they could choose to be flown across the world to attend the Coronation. I was lucky and privileged enough to be that one young person,” Roach said.
“I honestly didn’t feel like I deserved it – it was kind of hard to accept.”
Roach runs Awhi Company, a start-up which creates and sells Māori-designed pēpi products and throws.