Couple bail on Kai Waka but keen to keep it afloat

The closure of Motueka's much loved Kai Waka Cafe may have left a gap in many bellies – but all is not lost. 

Kai Waka Cafe's owners, Matthew Galvin and Ruth Sicely, announced on social media on July 17 that it would be the end of their Kai Waka reign on July 20.

But he said it was "hopefully not the end of the mighty Kai Waka". 

"We are in talks with a few different people that are interested in buying Kai Waka and continue to run it as Kai Waka.

"The parties, they've got a lot of respect for what we've done and they'd like to continue with what we've started – potentially under our guidance which is a cool prospect."

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The couple have closed their Kai Waka chapter to make time for their second child, due at the end of August, and Galvin starting a new career in real estate.

Kai Waka has been operating for more than three years, offering "food with personality" and "twists on classics", Galvin said.

"We always strived for healthy, locally sourced food with soul."

The menu included gluten and dairy free options, vegan foods and friands which he said they were "pretty well-known for".

Glavin and Sicely moved to Tasman from Sydney, Galvin originally a Wellington boy and Sicely from Whanganui.

Sicely was a head chef in two prominent dining suburbs in central Sydney.

Galvin said the step away from the cafe didn't mean locals wouldn't get a chance to taste her creations again.

"She is wanting to further her food knowledge and she'd like to do an advanced diploma in nutrition."

The Kai Waka gets its name from Sicely's third generation farm in Whanganui.

New Zealand's first culinary school was started up by Sicely's grandmother, Galvin said, so maybe classy cooking was passed through the family.

Being able to chat to regular patrons on the last day was "humbling" he said.

"There are lots of very disappointed people. 

"I hope that the doors will not be closed for too long."