Garrick.

From Piha kid to Cones on the Beach - Garrick says there’s no place quite like home.

Garrick Knight surfing South Piha, by Lion Rock on a sunny day, big swell, all the local crew in the water. Shot taken by CPL (famous NZ surf photographer).

Came to Piha at two, left at sixteen, and found his way home again years later — drawn back by the black sand, the waves, the waterfalls and the kind of community that stays with you no matter how far you roam. Today, Garrick runs the two Cones on the Beach trailers and spends his days surrounded by surf, lifelong friendships and the place he reckons still feels unlike anywhere else in the world.

How long have you lived in Piha, and what first brought you here?

My family moved to Piha when I was 2 years old & it was my mother that brought us here. Mum loved Piha, we had family living out here at the top of the hill so we were already visiting regularly & so we made the move.

My sister & I were so lucky to grow up out here in the waves, the bush, the waterfalls, the beach & because of Piha life I have been fortunate enough to have childhood life long bros & broettes that I still love, cherish & spend time with to this day.

We left Piha when I was 16 years old to pursue different things in life & after 8 years being away, I found my way home in 2019 right after the first Covid lockdown. I had been longing to come back for a while & thought this was the right time to return to the black sand, the waves, the bush, the waterfalls & the memories.

Kia mau ki te tokanga nui a noho — there is no place quite like home.

What do you do for work (or how do you spend your days)?

I own & operate 2 small ice cream food trailers that I built with the help of my uncle. Initially this business adventure started with my best bro & 2 other good friends. We had help from others getting started — another friend, my mum & more.

I employ lots of local youth from Piha. I spend most of my days working on the business: admin, maintenance, improvements, training staff, working with staff, strategising — and of course lots of surfing, playing tennis, doing life admin & keeping busy being busy.

What’s something about Piha that surprises people once they actually spend time here?

How welcoming & friendly the community is. Travellers always get stuck living here, because they come for a week or two & fall in love with the people & the place — and end up finding full time work out here & living here for six months or a couple of years.

What’s your favourite thing to do in Piha?

There's a few. Go surfing with the bros. Play tennis with the bros & broettes. Keyhole surf comps & parties. Cycle around on my push bike. Have beers at the beach. Hang out with my bros & broettes.

What do you love most about living here?

Being surrounded by Te Ao, Tangaroa, & loved ones. Being in a small community where people stop to talk & people look out for one another. Being able to go surfing any day I choose to. And I cannot forget about the tennis courts.

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Garrick runs the two Cones on the Beach trailers — one at the south end of Piha Beach, one at the north.