11d • General discussion
The Keepa Story – Where Cups of Love Began
Kia Ora – Kaya – G’day mate – Hello – Ciao ❤️
My name is Keepa.
I grew up in Rotorua, New Zealand. My family has connections to Whakarewarewa, and much of my upbringing was centred around our marae in Horohoro.
Growing up around the marae, I learned something early in life — the importance of manaakitanga. Caring for people. Making people feel welcome.
When visitors arrive at a marae, the kitchens come alive. People cook, prepare food and serve others with care and respect. There is so much love in those kitchens that even a simple piece of toast can taste like it was cooked by a Michelin-star chef.
That spirit stayed with me.
Life then took me in many directions.
I’ve worked on tuna processing boats, pearl farms and fishing vessels.
I’ve worked on farms, in factories and warehouses.
I’ve driven trucks and forklifts.
I’ve worked in kitchens across many cultures — African cooking, Chinese wok kitchens, Italian cafés, Māori cooking and European cafés.
I’ve worked in tourism, landscaping, resorts, and even at a special needs school.
Different jobs.
Different industries.
Different people.
But through all those experiences I noticed the same thing again and again.
People want to feel seen, heard and valued.
In 1998 I left Rotorua and landed a job on Rottnest Island in Western Australia. Because New Zealanders and Australians can move and work between the two countries fairly easily, the opportunity was there.
That’s where my coffee journey really began.
Coffee became a craft for me, but more importantly it became a way to connect with people.
Years later, around 2006–2007, I was back in Rotorua working as the head barista and manager at Lime Café when it first opened.
The café ended up winning Best Café awards, but something happened during that time that really stayed with me.
We organised job interviews with young people through Work and Income New Zealand.
Ten interviews were booked.
Only four people showed up.
All four were Māori youth.
They didn’t know what to say in the interview.
They didn’t know how to prepare.
Some didn’t know how to dress.
But what I saw wasn’t a lack of ability.
What I saw was a lack of guidance and opportunity.
These were my people.
And my heart ached.
That moment stayed with me.
It made me realise that sometimes people don’t need more criticism or judgement.
Sometimes they just need someone to show them the way and believe in them.
So I wrote a proposal to teach young people how to prepare for job interviews and to give them some basic barista and hospitality skills so they could step into the workforce with confidence.
The proposal didn’t go ahead at the time.
But word got around.
A private hospitality training school heard about the idea and offered me a position as a barista and hospitality trainer working with at-risk youth.
I jumped at the opportunity.
And that’s where the idea of Cups of Love really began.
Over time I realised something simple.
Coffee isn’t really the main thing.
What matters is the intention behind making something and offering it to another person — sometimes someone you may not even know.
That idea comes from the way I was raised.
And it’s the spirit I want to share here.
This community is simply a place where people can connect, share stories and learn from each other.
Welcome.
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The Keepa Story – Where Cups of Love Began
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