The Iconic Games Blog

When people see a business idea, they usually see the polished version. They see the logo, the website, the social media pages, the business plan, the big vision. What they do not always see is the real story behind it — the life that led to it, the reasons it matters, and the long road between having an idea and actually building something real. This is the real story of how Iconic Games began. I grew up in Auckland, and later lived in New Plymouth, so I had grown up with access to a lot more — more entertainment, more activities, more options, more places to go. Arcades, movies, family outings, experiences — those things were normal to me. But when I had my children, I knew I did not want to raise them in Auckland. I wanted a simpler life for them. Something calmer. Something more grounded. Life, of course, had its own path for me. I went through personal challenges, including marriage, divorce, and rebuilding. In 2021, I met my now-husband. We got married in 2022, and in 2023 we moved to Taumarunui. Our first year here shaped the vision. Working with rangatahi reminded me how important it is to create spaces that genuinely support people. In our first year here, I worked at a local primary school as a teacher aide. Before that, in New Plymouth, I had worked at Learner Me, a tech training school helping people prepare for jobs in technology. My role there was in pastoral support, which meant caring for the whole person, not just their study. Then in 2025, during a difficult pregnancy, I decided to study small business. Being at home made something clear: it is incredibly hard for mothers to work around family life. School hours do not match work hours. I knew that long term, I wanted to build something that could work around family life rather than against it. The real turning point came in January during my daughter's birthday trip to a Hamilton arcade. We came home to Taumarunui, and on the drive back I saw a building and thought: that building would be perfect for an arcade. That was the moment Iconic Games was born. I posted in the local Facebook community group to see what people thought. Within 24 hours, the post had around 200 positive reactions. It told me this was not just my idea. It was something the community genuinely wanted. Iconic Games was never just about arcade machines. It was always about connection. It was always about whānau. It was always about creating a place where people could gather, celebrate, have fun, feel safe, and be part of something positive. And beyond that, I always hoped it could grow into something that also supports rangatahi into future pathways — in innovation, in technology, in digital media, in possibility. Iconic Games is still being built. But it is real. It is moving. And we are only just getting started. Let’s build it together.