KOCo Studio, an eclectic and industrial vibe space in Cooks Corner, was officially opened to the public last Sunday evening.

Kia Orana Collective (KOCo) owners, Amy Kainuku and Claire Wilson, have created the studio for both individuals and businesses to bring their projects to life.

The space is for videography, photography, voice overs, vlogging, podcasting, editing and creative collaboration, the owners said.

Colleagues already using the space are Fave Designs, Angle Cook Islands, Creators Hype and Alex King Photography.

The idea came about when the pair were working on several Government media projects. Their production was inhibited by the noisey roosters and bikes passing by.

Government officials were recorded on carpeted floor and in the heat of the car.

The KOCo ladies successfully applied for the Business Link Pacific Small Business Adaptation Grant and were able to purchase “Whisper” a soundproof product for the walls of the studio.

From there, they completed an Emerging Entrepreneur course led by Ana File and successfully received a monetary prize, sponsored by the US Embassy, for the submission of their video about “Starting a new business” featuring their cute new puppy, Frida.

Established in 2020, KOCo is centred on a wishing of good fortune for many, community, and commercial projects. Their passion lies in production: the production of film, projects, and events.

“People often say to me, ‘we still don’t really know what you do’,” shared Wilson, “And I laugh saying ‘we are still working that out’. If it’s creative, we are in. If it’s for the good of the community, we are in. If it’s never been done before, we are in!”

True entrepreneurs, the pair are always looking for new ways to push the boundaries of what is possible and to assist others in achieving their dreams.

“Anything is possible,” said Kainuku, “if you can dream it, you can do it. We may not always know the technical way to do something, but you can rest assured we will find the person who does.”

KOCo’s most recent work was for the National Environment Service (NES). Seven videos were developed in just five weeks covering the 16 NES fact sheets. These videos were produced in partnership with Creators Hype and Alex King Photography.

“They work 24/7,” said director of the NES, Halatoa Fua, “those videos would usually take a couple of months. What I have noticed with KOCo is that it’s an all-inclusive package. They start from the very beginning; the researching of content, to preparing the scripts and storyboards, directing, producing, and editing the final product. I highly recommend KOCo.”