Stretton Unfiltered

At 23, he lost a million dollars.
By 24, he was mowing lawns.
What followed was a rebuild from the ground up,  from liquidation talks, bank meetings that changed everything, and a decision to keep going when most people would have stopped.
In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, we sit down with Matt Stark, property developer behind some of Hamilton’s most recognisable spaces, including Riverbank Lane and MADE in Hamilton East. Matt shares the raw reality behind building a business, the early days of uncertainty, and how a long-term belief in Hamilton’s city centre shaped everything that followed. We explore the $110M deal, the failures that came before success, and why he believes retail, community, and city making are still deeply human at their core.
We explore:
Losing everything in his early 20s and starting again.
The mindset shift from survival to city shaping.
Why Riverbank Lane became a turning point for Hamilton CBD.
The thinking behind MADE and its evolving ecosystem of makers and retailers.
Decisions that prioritised people over profit.
Why relationships, not rent, have driven long-term success.
And what comes next when you’ve already built more than you ever planned.
This is a story about risk, resilience, and rebuilding a city one decision at a time.
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SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖
Rag Trade To Mag Trade:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚
Grit Before Grace:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚
Wise Heart:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚

In Episode 19 of Stretton Unfiltered, we take you inside 12 years of working within women’s prisons and the reality of what it takes to break the cycle of crime. This is the story behind RAW, Reclaim Another Woman. A model built not from theory, but from working alongside some of the most complex, high-risk women in New Zealand.
Women, many had normalised criminal lifestyles and outcomes Since 2014, RAW has challenged that narrative. What started as a response to intergenerational offending, violence, poverty, and limited opportunity has grown into a deeply connected  and successful model of reintegration. One grounded in inclusion, accountability, community, and real pathways forward.
In this episode, we speak honestly about the early chaos, the missteps, and the lessons learned inside the prison system. We unpack the realities of working within prison walls, supporting women inside and at the point of release, and building trust where it has largely been broken. We talk about the transitional homes, the farm sanctuary, and the long-term commitment required to support change beyond the gate.
This is not a polished success story. It is a real account of what it takes to interrupt cycles of crime and create possibility. RAW is more than a charity. It is a lifelong living system of support, shaped by the women themselves, and grounded in pono, tika, and aroha.

Connect with us on socials
🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram
🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook
🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok
🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram
🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook
🌸 Join our VIP page
🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz

SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖
Rag Trade To Mag Trade:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚
Grit Before Grace:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚
Wise Heart:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚

This is not an easy listen… but it’s an important one. In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with Missy Wepper to unpack a life shaped by trauma, survival, addiction, and ultimately, accountability. From early childhood abuse and life in state care… to years inside the prison system… to navigating life on the outside after decades institutionalised, Missy shares her story with a level of honesty that is both confronting and deeply grounding. 
This is not about excuses. It’s about context. It’s about understanding what sits behind behaviour… and what it actually takes to change. What emerges is something many people never see…the long, lonely work of rebuilding a life. The discipline it takes to walk away from everything you’ve known. And the reality that change is possible… but only if you choose it.
A conversation about survival, systems, responsibility… and what it really means to start again.

Connect with us on socials
🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram
🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook
🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok
🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram
🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook
🌸 Join our VIP page
🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz

SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖
Rag Trade To Mag Trade:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚
Grit Before Grace:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚
Wise Heart:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚

In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with New Zealand Silver Fox Modelling Agency owner Rebecca Swaney for a conversation that goes far beyond modelling.
From buying a business on instinct to building a nationally recognised agency representing women 30+ and beyond, Rebecca shares the reality of backing yourself, learning on the fly, and creating space in an industry that historically overlooked mature women.
This is a story about:
Starting with just 11 models and building something meaningful
The shift towards diversity and representation in fashion
The emotional reality behind running a solo business
Why women don’t “age out” anymore
And what it really looks like to close a business with grace
It’s honest, reflective, and quietly powerful.Because this isn’t just about modelling. It’s about visibility, identity, and the courage to evolve.
Connect with us on socials
🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram
🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook
🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok
🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram
🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook
🌸 Join our VIP page
🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz

SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖
Rag Trade To Mag Trade:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚
Grit Before Grace:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚
Wise Heart:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚

What does it take to create a business that people will go out of their way for, and keep coming back to? In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with Haley Bicknell, owner of Punnet, a rural café in Tamahere that has quietly become one of the Waikato’s most enduring and consistently busy destinations. Not because it follows the rules, but because it breaks them. From its beginnings on a strawberry farm to a multi-layered business employing 40 staff, Haley shares what it really takes to build something that lasts. This is a conversation grounded in the realities of running a high-volume, people-driven business, where growth doesn’t always feel like success, and where burnout can sit just beneath the surface. Together, they unpack:
Why “being busy” doesn’t always mean being profitable
The power of defining a clear core purpose and actually living it
What it takes to scale a business while maintaining consistency
The hidden toll of customer-facing roles and leadership burnout
How stepping back, not pushing harder, can sometimes save a business
Why hiring well and building the right team changes everything
Haley also shares her experience of hitting breaking point, putting the business on the market, and ultimately choosing to rebuild it differently, with stronger systems, better support, and a renewed sense of purpose. For business owners and operators, this episode is a reminder that longevity isn’t about chasing growth. It’s about creating something people genuinely want to be part of, and building a team that can carry it with you. A thoughtful, honest conversation about business, resilience, and redefining what success actually looks like.

Connect with us on socials
🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram
🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook
🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok
🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram
🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook
🌸 Join our VIP page
🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz

SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖
Rag Trade To Mag Trade:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚
Grit Before Grace:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚
Wise Heart:
Ebook available here
Order the physical book here 📚