Dorothy
Born and raised in the South Island, Dorothy spent her youth in the hot, dry landscapes of Central Otago and to this day retains a passion for the region. She was educated in Dunedin and spent a number of years at the Canterbury University school of fine arts under the tutelage of well known New Zealand artists Doris Lusk, Don Peebles, Bill Sutton and Rudi Gopas.
While raising four children, Dorothy worked as an art teacher and tourism marketing manager. In her 25 years involvement in tourism she travelled extensively throughout Asia, USA, Canada, Australia and Japan. Prior to establishing Kokonga Lodge, Dorothy and partner Malcolm managed Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki on the South Island's West Coast. Over the years Dorothy has maintained an interest in art and now uses the down time at Kokonga when there are no guests to pursue her artistic interests. She is currently working towards an exhibition of her water colours.
As a working mother, Dorothy raised four children and worked as an art teacher, a project and conference manager at the University of Otago, tourism manager for Dunedin City Council and chief executive of the regional tourism organisation, Destination Marlborough. In the 25 years she has been involved in tourism she has travelled extensively throughout Asia, USA, Canada, Australia and Japan. Over the years Dorothy has maintained an interest in art and is currently working towards an exhibition of her water colours
Malcolm
The Coromandel was home to Malcolm until he ventured to the South Island to attend the University of Otago. He has worked as an assayer, upholsterer, environmental health officer and landscape gardener. He has held a variety of positions, as an assayer for a gold and silver mining company, an upholsterer, an environmental health officer for a number of local authorities and a landscape gardener for famous wine maker Cloudy Bay Vineyards. Malcolm has renewed his interest in gold panning and for the last two years has participated in the NZ Gold Panning Championships held in Cromwell.
Malcolm's passion is gardening and he is slowly turning the five acres surrounding Kokonga Lodge into beautiful gardens with hundreds of trees and shrubs. He specialises in lilies, roses and paeonies most of which he grows from cuttings and seeds. Malcolm is also responsible for producing the vegetables, fruit and berries Dorothy uses in her delicious meals.
Kokonga Lodge is a dream that Dorothy and Malcolm have had for some years. They have a love of the landscape of Central Otago and a desire to provide a guest haven full of ambience with art, books, music, wonderful food, wine and interesting conversation. They will also assist guests to explore this distinctive and unspoiled area of New Zealand.
