Meet Teresa & Phil From The Office

Get to know the duo behind The Office, Waihi Beach.

We recently had the pleasure of catching up with the team behind The Office, a warm and welcoming coworking space in Waihi Beach. We chat to Teresa and Phil about why they set up their beachside workspace, what they love about it and the type of residents who work from there.

View The Office listing

 Teresa, Phil and their resident dog, Louie.

What inspired you to set up your coworking space?

A convergence of ideas, personal needs, and the right location coming up for lease brought about The Office. I had worked at several coworking spaces overseas and enjoyed being part of each one. Phil and I both work remotely and want to be able to go to work each day to get out of the house. We were also keen to start a business locally that would bring a unique offer to the mix of companies here at Waihi Beach. 

What is your favourite part of the space and why?

Many people love the plants, but it’s all about the light for us. The walls are lined with ply, warming the natural light from all the windows and skylights. We think this is what makes it an instantly welcoming place to be.

Why do you think working from a coworking space helps people thrive?

So many ways! For our casual members, it’s often just about having access to the practicalities of good internet and a proper workstation. With Waihi Beach being a holiday destination, we also offer people a quiet place to step away from their holiday to check in at work when they need to. For our local members who come regularly, it’s the social factor. It’s a productive space to work, but people naturally find themselves chatting to each other throughout the day, which is good for the soul. Sometimes those conversations even end up leading to collaborations.

Who has been the most exciting resident in your space? 

This was tricky as we’ve had several members with unique roles over the last three years. I was going to use this question as an opportunity to name drop, but Phil said that would be inappropriate. So, let’s say that we’ve had an MD from a well-known accounting software company frequent the space, another who was navigating mapping ships located in the North Sea and a news producer for Al Jazeera. 

Can you describe the community and types of businesses within your space? 

We’re all cool and exciting! Seriously though, most of us are working parents, and our average age would be late 30s to early 40s. We have web and app designers and developers, architects, sales and marketing people, a podcaster, an online tutor, several types of planners, policy analysts, lawyers, and a few accountants.

If you could pick any three people in the world to work in your space, who would it be and why? 

I have never thought about this before… How about Margaret Attwood, Keri Hulme’s ghost and Trevor Noah. (I have a thing for writers).

What are your must-have snacks in the office?

Coffee. And Tim-Tams.