Former Black Cap Matthew Hart and his wife Sheree have moved to
Matamata from Auckland, and took over the store ownership on
Monday.
The retired all-rounder played both semi-professional and
professional cricket from 1990 until 2005, including 14 test
matches and 14 one-day internationals for New Zealand.
The move is a welcome return to the area for the couple, as
Matthew was raised in Te Puke, and Sheree grew up in Hamilton, it's
also a shift they hope will benefit their young family.
"We have two little ones (Tayla 6, Josh 2) and raising them in
the countryside versus the city made sense, and from the minute we
arrived everyone has been very welcoming and friendly."
Hart, who previously owned New World Papakura, spent six months
working in the Matamata store in 2010 as he completed the New World
Trainee Operator programme and says nearly three years later many
of the staff remain.
"'There's a lot of familiar faces here which is great, Ewan
(Atherton) the previous owner has done a great job, I've got big
boots to fill but we'll do our best to follow in his footsteps and
add value where we can".
As for the possibility of a New World Matamata Cricket team in
the next inter-provincial tournament? "Not just yet" says
Hart, but he has confirmed that a coaching role for the Matamata
College First XI may be on the cards.