A fine taste of China
Establishing a business, and with it a better life, in New Zealand had appealed to aunty and nephew duo Hong Li and Kun Hong for some time. The start of their new Chinese restaurant Phoenix Tree in Remuera has been a dream come true with the help of Gilligan Sheppard and Director Yi Ping Ge.
Hong Li, founder of Phoenix Tree NZ Limited is a well educated single mother with past work experience as an industry agent at television giant Panasonic. She chose to make New Zealand her home since October 2011 to provide her son with a better education.
The Chinese restaurant is her first family-based business. With help from her nephew Kun Hong he too has made the move into the food industry, admitting this is something new for him. Hun says according to his aunty, the Phoenix Tree is believed to be a symbol of love. He has been in the country for around a decade now and previously worked as a manager at an internet company
“New Zealand is a good environment,” he says. “It is easy to start a business and immigration policies are good for overseas investment.”
Since arriving last year, Hong Li was able to sample the taste of her local competition. Her belief that she could produce better quality food prompted her to start her own business.
Providing customers with a taste of China, the new Remuera restaurant is something that both aunty and nephew are proud of. They both say they couldn’t have done it without Gilligan Sheppard and Yi Ping’s help.
“Yi Ping was introduced to us by our immigration advisor. We are from the same hometown in China” says Kun Hong. “She used her professional knowledge and has helped us a lot. Her team has a very good work ethic. They are excellent.”
Phoenix Tree in Remuera will open in the middle of the year.
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