Meet Lisa & Vaughn Crowther

People Behind the Space: The Confluence

In this edition of People Behind the Space, we meet Lisa and Vaughn Crowther, founders of The Confluence and The Terraces in Arrowtown. What began as a practical solution to an oversized lease has grown into a thoughtfully curated coworking community in one of New Zealand’s most picturesque towns. Inspired by Arrowtown’s rich history and strong sense of connection, Lisa and Vaughn have created spaces where professionals can build their businesses without sacrificing lifestyle.

From early morning trail runs to shared business advice over coffee, The Terraces at The Confluence are redefining what work-life balance looks like in the Wakatipu Basin.

Lisa & Vaughn Crowther 

What first inspired you both to create The Confluence, and how did the idea take shape?

Vaughn and his business partner took on a lease bigger than they needed, so sharing it with other small businesses was a no-brainer. When a new building was planned in Arrowtown's historic Dudley's Precinct, above a great café, surrounded by trails and the river, we saw the perfect opportunity to create a shared space for local professionals.

As longtime Arrowtown residents, how did the town's character and community influence the way you designed and built The Confluence?

We're right next to Ah Lum's Store, a heritage site from the gold rush era. Ah Lum's store was the community hub for Chinese settlers: a place to do business, share news, and support each other. There's a nice parallel in what we're doing at The Confluence.

The building echoes that history, corrugated iron, schist rock, and corten steel reflecting the old mining ruins. Inside, it's modern and light-filled. We get the first sun in Arrowtown during winter, which makes all the difference.

When you first opened in 2021, what kind of need were you hoping to fill for local professionals and small businesses?

When Vaughn started his own business, he couldn't find a workspace for two or three people anywhere in Arrowtown. The more we asked around, the more people we found in the same position. We wanted to give professionals a space to work without the expense of their own lease, with the flexibility to commit month-to-month or long-term.

How would you describe the kind of people and businesses who call The Confluence home today?

Solopreneurs, consultants, and small business owners who chose Arrowtown for the lifestyle. They're all outdoors people, skinning up mountains before work and noticeably absent on powder days. They're professional, but they work to live.

The Terraces feels like a beautiful evolution of The Confluence. What was the vision behind creating this new, premium coworking space?

The Terraces is a dedicated workspace for professionals and businesses wanting something more purposeful. A separate kitchen, meeting room, and phone booth mean fewer distractions, and the space is designed for people who want a professional environment that reflects their business.

How do you want people to feel when they walk into The Terraces for the first time?

Comfortable, like a home away from home, where everything your business needs is already taken care of. Walk in, sit down, get on with it.

What have been some of the most rewarding moments or feedback you've received from your members so far?

One member told us straight that if he hadn't found a space here, he wouldn't have stayed in Arrowtown. His kids are settled, his wife loves it, but without the office and the connections, they would have moved on.

That's the best example, but there are so many more. Members' kids have become good friends. People have been pulled into the Swimming Club, the Arrowtown Choppers, a volunteer group that removes wilding pines and replants natives on the hills above town. We have a multisport veteran who's coached members to kayak and recently trained a member's child who won the two-day Coast to Coast. People play golf together, go on multi-day bike tours, and share business advice. We even have a mentor in the office who gives his time freely to the rest of us. It's pretty special when you step back and look at it.

You've managed to create spaces that are both deeply local and highly professional. What was most important to you in striking that balance?

We fill the space slowly and deliberately. We look for people who need a workspace and are seeking connection, especially those new to the area. We need people to fit in, because we want them to stay.

Some weeks, the office is humming every day. Other weeks, half the desks are empty because the conditions are too good to miss. That's the culture. If that sounds like you, you'll fit right in.

What do you love most about living and working in Arrowtown, and how does that lifestyle influence the way you approach your workspaces?

We moved to Arrowtown in 2008 after getting married here in 2006. Lisa's parents were already here, and after five years living abroad in cities, the relaxed lifestyle was exactly what we needed to raise our two kids.

That's at the heart of how we run the space. We're not building a corporate coworking brand; we're creating a place where people can be productive, build real relationships, and still get out the door to enjoy everything that brought them here.

Looking ahead, what's next for The Confluence and The Terraces - any exciting developments or ideas on the horizon?

Right now, it's about filling The Terraces and growing that community. Longer term, we'd love to expand into other parts of the Wakatipu Basin. Working from home is great for some, but it doesn't suit everyone. We're a fast-growing region, and people like being around people. That's what The Confluence has always been about.

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