Raumati Village

18/03/2026

Sad news from one of our awesome local businesses today.
We'll miss you! ❤️

Holy Smoke has an announcement!
It’s time to move on!
11 years. Countless sharp outfits. One hell of a ride!!!

Hi, I’m Bede — the bloke behind Holy Smoke Men’s Clothing. And I have some big news to share.

We opened our doors in Raumati Village because lots of men needed help to work on their style. For over a decade we’ve been doing just that, kitting out the men and making women happy in the process!

11 years of helping the men of this community look and feel their best. 11 years of being part of this village — its ups and downs, its weird Covid years, its cold winter mornings and its busy summers. There’s been fitting guys out for dates, big birthdays, work dos, last-minute alterations for weddings & funerals, and great times with all the awesome staff over the years. It’s been an absolute privilege!

But life has a funny way of nudging you in new directions. Standing up for this village eventually pulled me into local government, and last year you elected me as a Councillor. I’m deeply grateful for that trust — and it turns out, trying to run a great clothing store while balancing all the different needs is a stretch too far.

like the song says, “The secret to a long life is knowing when it’s time to go”. So, when our lease came up for renewal, we made the call: it’s time!

We’ve succeeded in bringing the best styles to Kapiti. The men’s clothing scene is richer and more competitive than when we started, and that’s partly because we helped prove the demand was there.

Mission accomplished!

Closing the store means freeing up our energy to pour fully into what comes next — for our family, for the community, and yes, for the village we’ve loved all along. And it frees Trina up to focus more on her true love Paperdoll. It’s not an ending. It’s a pivot.

Our time with Holy Smoke has been an absolute blast! We’ve loved being the men’s anchor down here in Raumati Village - the Coolest Little Village by the Sea. There will be sadness at the move, but we’re confident this is the right decision for the right time.

So now the fun begins…

THE HOLY SMOKE CLOSING DOWN SALE STARTS NOW!

We’ll be open to talk if someone out there wants to pick up the brand or take over the space – just get in touch. But our focus will be on winding down.

We’re going to spend the coming weeks doing what we do best: celebrating great style, connecting with our incredible customers, and making sure our wonderful staff are well looked after on the way out.

There will be SALES, specials, and many reasons to come in and say goodbye properly. But once the stock is gone, the doors close for good. So don’t leave it too long.

Come in. Stock up. Say goodbye in style!

Let’s end this thing with a bang!
— Bede & the Holy Smoke team

29/01/2026

So whaddya reckon Raumati...
Do we want to keep our local services?

Keep in kind the service in the dairies is paid by commissions on sales, and there are NZ Post vans in and out of the village doing doing pickups and deliveries.
So it's it's hard to see the sense from a cost cutting perspective

NZ Post are, once again, proposing to remove our local postal services.
Their current proposal seeks to remove services from the dairies in Paekākāriki, Raumati South, and Raumati Beach, leaving residents with the option of traveling to Paraparaumu for postal services.
Mail delivery services to homes will continue as usual.

The proposed removal of postal services from Raumati Beach, Raumati South, and Paekākāriki would represent a significant loss for these communities.

The current arrangements are financially lean for NZ Post, and the value they provide locally is substantial. For many residents, these services are not a convenience but a necessity.
If the proposal proceeds, it risks leaving many community members effectively stranded.

Older residents and people with disabilities would be particularly affected, especially given the well-recognised limitations of public transport in the area.
Requiring someone in Paekākāriki or Raumati to travel to Paraparaumu by bus or train simply to post a letter presents a genuine and unreasonable barrier.

I have raised concerns directly with NZ Post and requested further information.
Our Community Boards and the local Electorate MP, Barbara Edmonds, have also been made aware of the issue.
NZ Post has indicated it will provide a response.

I trust that, on reflection, NZ Post will recognise that withdrawing these services would undermine community access and do a disservice to the residents who rely on them.

Bede

Paekākāriki Community Board Raumati South Residents Association Raumati Village Bede Laracy for the Paekakariki-Raumati Ward

18/12/2025

Congratulations to the winner 🏅 of the hamper valued at over $1000. Oli Weir, who made his winning purchase at Holy Smoke, was pretty happy when we called to let him know he had won.

Congrats Oli!! 🙌😝💚👍

18/12/2025

Huge congratulations to the winner of last nights Hamper valued at over $1000. Oli Weir was quite pleased when we called to let him know. He made a purchase at Holy Smoke.
Congrats Oli! 🙌✅🎄

17/12/2025

Looking forward to seeing you at the Raumati Village late night event tomorrow night. All purchases made between 4pm and 7pm go in the draw to win this incredible hamper chocked full with goodies and vouchers valued at over $1000! 😍👀✅👜🎁

Note: due to unforeseen circumstances, the Tania Dally Gallery will not be open as previously announced. 💚

12/12/2025

Join us at Raumati Beach Village for an evening filled with festive treats, warm conversation and plenty of holiday cheer.
*All your favourite boutiques and eateries will be open
*All purchases on the night go in the draw to win a generous hamper
*Live music
*Tania Dally Art Gallery will be open (over the footbridge at The Waterfront)

11/12/2025

This looks spectacular - and no fighting over who does the dishes 👌🙌😜🎄🎅🌲

05/12/2025

Ok, as the big day draws closer it’s game time. Incredibly cool stuff for gifting for the men in your life at Holy Smoke. Problem solved 🙌

04/12/2025

One of our local favourite eating and watering holes, Courtyard on Margaret, is excited to welcome you this summer ☀️.
All the usual delicious bites and your favourite tipple are ready to be imbibed and enjoyed in the fabulous courtyard setting. Bookings are advised, as we are now well into the swing of silly season - link below:
https://bookings.nowbookit.com/?accountid=5d60fbe3-9db2-4872-a072-3e11a1e6128c&venueid=11251&theme=light&colors=hex%2C827717

27/11/2025

Well done to Kelly and House of Puck for the nod in the current NZ House & Gardens. A nice little reminder of what a fantastic destination we have at Raumati Village.
🙌💚☀️👏

11/11/2025

To say this is exciting is a massive understatement. So much cool 😎 happening in Raumati Village.
Well done Conrad and Zara, you are making the Waterfront Bar iconic.
🍸🍹🍺🥙🍲🥗

👀✨Here’s a wee peek at how your fave local is shaping up 👀✨

By 22 November, we’ll be serving those good vibes with extras – more deck seating, a retractable screens and roof to let that ocean breeze roll right in.
Until then, come on down, we’re very much open with little to no disruption to your dining experience. We can’t wait to see you soon… bring on summer! ☀️🌊🍹