Meet the People - 5

Another in the series Meet the People - Ordinary and Extraordinary New Zealanders doing Interesting Things - There can’t be too many New Zealanders who can claim to have hosted over 15,000 house guests – Bruce and Carol Hyland are two who can. As the owners of three top rating NZ B&Bs over the last sixteen years they’ve notched up an enviable record as fantastic hosts and many of their returning guests are now personal friends. They were the original owners of two leading Devonport B&Bs in Auckland and they now run the very delicious Maison de la Mer in Akaroa, an hour from Christchurch. And when they’re not pampering others, they’re usually giving in to their own passion for travel, spending three months of every year exploring France, Italy, Britain, Canada, Australia, USA and Asia. Back in the eighties they spent three years living aboard their sail boat in the Bahamas – complete with three young children and family dog! These days you’ll find Bruce yacht racing every Sunday on Akaroa Harbour. www.maisondelamer.co.nz