Before potter Tim Grocott moved to Kerikeri, he visited another potter called Mac Lewis in Kaingaroa. Lewis has lived there for years, digging his own clay and getting wood from across the road for his firings. He had a small studio by the gate, with a small gallery… and an honesty box for payment.
It’s a charming idea, and one that stuck with Grocott – so in early 2025, he built one for himself just inside the gate at his rural property off State Highway 10. “Combining it with the classic roadside fruit stall you see everywhere in Te Tai Tokerau, building something for my pots at the end of the driveway seemed like a good idea.”
Grocott’s honesty box is charming, built from salvaged materials – rimu pulled out of his parents’ house in Kirkiriroa Hamilton, a plywood cupboard saved from his kitchen renovation, and some old bits of corrugated metal for the roof. He milled the timber down to build the frame, but did have to buy new glass for the doors.
At the time, he was watching a lot of Studio Ghibli films with his kids, an experience that worked its way into the design. “The vibe of My Neighbor Totoro gave me the idea – a magical little shrine to pottery in the forest.” Without magical rocks to use as a foundation, he poured exposed concrete fittings using a bucket as a mould; the cupboard handles are made from lumps of clay, squished into shape.
Inside, you’ll find a rotating, and frequently refreshed, variety of objects. “It’s the perfect place to put my seconds,” he says, “as well as small handmade pieces like dishes and plates. These are the things I like to make by hand and are very different to my more commercial work.”
Isn’t he worried about security? Not really. “We have zero foot traffic here, so people are visiting with a purchase in mind,” he says. “Although I did get an email from a neighbour recently – she was going for a walk, stumbled across the honesty box and left with a pink cup. That really made my day.”
TAUS CERAMIC
166 Waipapa West Road, Kerikeri
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