Our Story The World is Your Oyster

From a young age Phil Morris and his family would often escape to the sheltered bays of the Mahurangi harbour on the family boat - a small thirty foot sailing vessel named Rekohu.

Most weekends and school holidays were spent exploring these tidal inlets, the many tributaries, spearing flounder and watching his father Gary sitting on the rocks devouring oysters - much to a young Phil’s disgust!

Fast forward twenty years - whilst on a break from working on a super yacht in Fort Lauderdale. He found himself at an Oyster Bar contemplating his very real need to move back home to New Zealand and settle down. Having now developed a love of oysters accompanied with a good Bloody Mary the thought of "owning an oyster farm" crossed Phil's mind.

After searching Trade Me and a few emails later, the Cowan Bay Oyster Farm was purchased from long time oyster farmer Dave Morgan - who would come to mentor Phil over the years, providing answers to many questions asked by Phil, over and over again, that quite possibly would have driven anyone else mad.

 With all that being said, owning an oyster farm is one thing, getting to it is another and with no barge, more emails and a plea to his brother, surf board shaper Steve Morris, a plan was made to build the barge ready for Phil’s return to New Zealand in 2015 before the season ended. Steve with his experience in boatbuilding and fibreglass, built the perfect craft that is still being used today for the day to day upkeep on the farm.  

Returning in August 2015, at the height of the season, Cowan Bay Oysters was launched and Phil’s vision of living back in New Zealand while still working on the sea became a reality.

Reminding us all that the saying, "The World Is Your Oyster" really is true.