Hello, my dear Frankies!

I hope everyone has survived that wild weather over the last few days! I gotta say it was nice this morning waking up to the complete silence of no wind and no rain. Hopefully it stays like this and we have a glorious long weekend!

This week’s newsletter has a proper main-character moment: Max from Café Queen and the wild story of the café fire - plus the even better part…Queen reopening and coming back stronger than ever 💜 I won’t spoil it here because the feature is worth the read, but just know it starts on the most boring day imaginable and turns into one of those very-Waiuku stories where everyone shows up to help 💜

Also: the events list this week is stacked. We’ve got ice cream + coffee in the park with Your Local Coffee, pottery classes with food (at Café Queen and Ed Street), markets, a pre-loved market sale at Represent Boutique (dangerous for the “I’m just browsing” among us), run clubs galore, and even a photography workshop at Stable Light Gallery for anyone who’s been meaning to level up from “accidental thumb in frame” (🙋‍♀️ guilty!)

So check out the events list, and I'll hopefully see you all out there!

Rose and the Dear Frankie team xx

🔥🕊️ The Queen Returns: A Waiuku Comeback Story

There’s “a normal day at work,” and then there’s the day everything changes.

For Max Ranger, from Cafe Queen in Waiuku, it happened on the most boring day imaginable - the first day back after a chill Christmas break, everything smooth, nothing dramatic…until a phone call from her accountant (which is never a good sign, because accountants don’t ring you for fun 😑).

“Someone’s just called and told me Queen's on fire.”

Max laughed. She thought it was a prank.

Then another call came in. Then the frantic attempt to check the cameras. No signal. No loading. And that immediate sinking, oh… sh*t moment when her brain caught up with reality.

By the time Max got there, the side of the building was being swallowed by flame - and in classic Queen fashion, the scene somehow included joking with the volunteer firefighters while everything burned. (“I know some people like their coffees extra hot, but jeez.”)

But the humour only carried so far. Walking through what remained afterwards - water streaming down walls, ceilings caved in, the floor flooded - was a different kind of brutal. The place she’d poured her late teens and early twenties into was suddenly charcoal. It felt super unfair and unreal.

The first 24 hours were particularly rough. Tears. Swearing (internally… mostly). Trying to keep people updated while the messages poured in - caring, curious, and very Waiuku in its “tell me everything immediately” way (🤭🤭). Even making the practical calls to insurance brokers felt surreal: “Merry Christmas, sorry to bother you on your trip, but the café caught fire… what do we do?”

For the first month, rebuilding wasn’t a clean decision for Max. It was a seesaw. Pros and cons lists. Family talks. Reality checks. A crazy mental tug-of-war where she was changing her mind every few days, because both options felt impossible.

But then, eventually:

“Stuff it. You’ve worked this hard to get here. Giving up is stupid.”

Seven months later - after the insurance hoops, the endless admin, and the quiet mental-health battle that comes with running a business solo - Queen reopened!!

Behind the scenes, the opening was pure sleep-deprived chaos. Max was there from 6am every day for a week, trying to get it operational. Friends stayed late (shout out to Isey!!). Her builder stayed later (and shoutout to Isaac the absolute legend). Max may have hit full toddler-emotions levels from exhaustion, but wouldn't we all?!.

And opening day? Affectionately described as an “absolute sh*t show.”

Before 10am: dropped cakes, sliced finger, nearly passing out.

Around 11am: the coffee machine blew an internal part.

There was a moment (very cinematic) where Max just sat sadly on the floor for ten minutes and called the coffee company.

Not the glossy grand reopening she’d imagined…but it happened. And after a proper sleep and a proper feed, Queen was back properly on Monday - and suddenly the thing she’d been missing the most returned: the people.

Because here’s the truth: Queen isn’t just a café. It’s a community magnet. A soft place to land. A space built by a young queer business owner who knows what it feels like to be the “fish out of water” - and decided to create the kind of place where nobody has to feel lonely in a crowd 💜💜

Max describes the vibe perfectly: warmth. Like you’ve walked into your cool aunt’s house, and she’s decorated it with all your grandma’s old pictures - then thrown glitter at them - and somehow it totally works.

And when you walk in now, you’ll notice two things straight away:

1. Lola - the glorious patchwork couch stolen from Mum (a shout out to mum!)
2. A growing gallery wall behind the counter, curated with second-hand treasures and real art from New Zealand artists - because supporting real people is kind of Queen’s whole personality.

Reopening also means Queen can do what it does best: show up for Waiuku.

One of the first big initiatives they’re part of this year is “Good Food, Bright Minds” with Sanctuary Retreat - providing breakfast for school kids. Every Monday during term, Queen will be feeding 50 kids a hot breakfast (eat in or take away), with the goal of expanding to more days if additional funding comes through. It’s practical help, delivered in the simplest way possible: kids show up, choose what they want, and start the week fuelled 💜

And because Queen can’t just be normal about anything (thank god), there’s also a charity board game night coming up in February to celebrate Max’s birthday - a night of games, good chaos, and fundraising for a cause close to her heart.

So yes: Queen is reopened. But it’s bigger than “we’re serving coffee again.”

It’s a comeback built on family support (shoutout Dad, the free-labour MVP and all-round supporter), loyal customers who stopped her in supermarkets and shouted encouragement across the street, mates who stayed late when she had nothing left in the tank - and the stubborn belief that if people loved this “silly little café” enough to miss it, it deserved to come back even better.

And if you need a reason to visit? Two words:

Hash. Melt.​
Hash browns stacked with bacon and drowned in cheese, topped with sour cream, tomato relish and sweet chilli. Pair it with an iced chocolate and tell yourself you’re doing “self care.”

Welcome back, Max and Queen. Waiuku missed you. 💜

lfta hetiw

Unscramble the letters above to find the Franklin-related phrase! Answer at the bottom of the newsletter!

☕ Have you read Coffee News this week? - Pick up a copy in your favourite café or scan the QR code to read on your device

👉 Want a featured note on the notice board? - Simply book your feature here, or just send us a quick email and we'll help you out!

Thursday

🎨 Drop-in Collaborative Painting (Margaret Feeney)​
See event link, 10am–1pm
A relaxed, join-in-anytime painting session. More info!​

🖼️ Local Artist Pop-Up Exhibition​
See event link, 9:30am–4:30pm
Pop in for a browse and a dose of local creativity. Check it out!​

🎱 Monthly Housie​
Pukekohe Cosmopolitan Club, 2–4pm
Classic housie afternoon—easy, social, and a bit addictive. Here it is!​

🍸 Thursday Cocktail Happy Hour​
Little Ed, 6–7pm
All your favourites, just a little bit cheaper.

🧠 Quiz Trivia Night​
Blue Ox Babe, 7pm
Grab a team and test your knowledge.

🌮 Food Trucks at Pukekohe Park Raceway​
Pukekohe Park Raceway, 4:30–8:30pm
International street food lineup (Thai, Asian, Mexican, Indian, Greek/Turkish, hāngī, burgers + more) at competitive prices.

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Friday

🎲 School Holiday Board Game Meet-Up​
Pukekohe Library, 2–4pm
A chill afternoon of games—bring your crew or join a table. Come along!​

🌙 Luna Bites Night Market​
Pukekohe, 5–9pm
Dinner, dessert, wandering, repeat. Check it out!​

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Saturday

🛍️ Tuakau Community Market​
Central Park (George St x Jellicoe Ave), Tuakau, 9am–1pm
Your classic weekend market mission—wander, snack, and leave with something you didn’t plan on.

🏺 Pottery Lunch at Café Queen​
Café Queen, 11am–3pm
Clay + good food = a very good day. Don't miss out!​

🚂 Glenbrook Vintage Railway Steam Train Rides (All Weekend)​
Glenbrook Station (Cnr Glenbrook Station & Farm Park Roads, Waiuku), running all day
Auckland Anniversary Weekend steam train magic, plus upgraded station café menu (pies, sandwiches, coffee, treats) and First Class options. 🎟️ Tickets!​

👗 Pre-Loved Clothing Sale Market Day​
Represent Boutique (212 King St), 10am–1:30pm
Hire a rack ($20) and sell your pre-loved gems—or come ready to rummage and refresh your 2026 wardrobe.

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Sunday

🛍️ Franklin Market (Pukekohe Park Raceway)​
Pukekohe Park Raceway, 8am
UpMarket vibes: produce, handmade crafts, antiques/collectables, car boot stalls, live music, plus food trucks.

🏃‍♀️ STRIDE TRIBE Run Club (Free)​
21 Martyn Street, Waiuku, 5pm
A fun, pressure-free walk/run (3km) with good community energy—all paces welcome. F​ollow along!​

🍹 Lazy Sunday at GLOW​
GLOW, 2–5:30pm
Grazing platter + one cocktail for $35pp (min 2 people). Bookings essential: 09 235 2502

🏺 Clay Date Dining​
Ed Street Bar, 11am–3pm
A clay-and-dine style session—make something, eat something, vibe something. Book now​

📷 Introduction to Photography Workshop​
The Stable Light Gallery Studio (40 Queen St, Waiuku), 12:30–4:30pm
Hands-on workshop covering light, composition, gear, and moving off auto—plus a practical shoot and Q&A. $30pp, book via thestablelightgallery@gmail.com

🎖️ Operation Overlord - Airsoft​
58 Bird Rd Otaua, 8:30am–3pm
A themed game day for history + strategy lovers. More info​

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monday

🧠 Monday Quiz Night​
Appetite, 7pm
Easy laughs, tricky questions, and very confident wrong answers.

🏃 The Wellness Run Club​
Your Local Coffee (Manukau Road), 5:45pm
5km loop, all levels welcome—run, jog, shuffle, you’re in.

🎲 Board Game Evening​
Otakumart, from 6pm
Bring your own or borrow from the collection—free entry and very friendly vibes.

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Tuesday

🏃‍♀️ STRIDE TRIBE Run Club (Free)​
21 Martyn Street, Waiuku, 7pm
3km walk/run, zero pressure, community-first. Follow here!​

🧠 Quiz Night​
Ed Street (27 Edinburgh Street), evening
Prizes, banter, and the classic “we totally knew that” moment.

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Wednesday

🍷 South African Night (Wine + Food Matching)​
Pizzata, 6:30pm
A guided tasting night with matching bites—very “treat yourself” energy. Book now!​

🍦 Coffee + Ice Cream at the Park​
3 West St, Pukekohe, 12–2pm
Midday park hangs with coffee and ice cream (yes please). More info!​

🏊 Jubilee Pools Rangitahi Fun Day​
Jubilee Pools, Pukekohe, 12:30–3pm
Family fun-day vibes—water, games, and summer energy. Free tickets here!​

🐶 Doggy Days at Sunshine Fields Sunflower Farm​
Sunshine Fields Sunflower Farm, 9am–9pm
Bring your best dog-pal for a sunflower-farm day out. Check it out!​

🧠 Malt N Steel Quiz Nights​
Malt N Steel, 7pm
Teams of 2–8 with prizes to be won—book ahead. Here it is!​

😂 Comedy Quiz Night​
The Village Bar (Patumahoe), evening
Free-to-play comedy pub quiz with quiz master Jim—book a table on 09 236 3571.

🧠 Quiz Night at Ed Street ​
27 Edinburgh Street, 6pm
More prizes, more bragging rights.

🏃 Ed Street Bar Run Club​
27 Edinburgh Street, 5:30pm
2.5km and 5km options, spot prizes, and bar menu discounts afterwards.

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Word Scramble answer: Flat white

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