Lou Hau, a long-time Te Kaha resident of 19 years, is the creative force behind Cakes by Lou NZ – a cake-making business that has gone from a single homemade creation in 2023 to producing more than 200 cakes a year for customers across the Eastern Bay.

Ms Hau, who also works full time as a kiwifruit orchard manager in Waihau Bay, first discovered her passion for cake decorating when her grandson turned one. After seeing the price of themed cakes online, she decided to make one herself.

“I told my daughter I’d take care of the cake,” she said. “I’d made cakes for my own kids before, but this time I really went all in.”

Armed with YouTube tutorials, plenty of research, and a self-designed plan, Ms Hau created a three-tier Cocomelon cake for her grandson. Photos of the cake shared on Facebook quickly caught attention, leading to requests from friends and family.

The turning point came in October 2023 when a last-minute cancellation left a friend without a cake for a 21st birthday. Ms Hau stepped in, creating a detailed mafia-themed cake that sealed her confidence in turning her passion into a business.

“After that, I realised could make a business out of this because there was no one in the area making cakes,” she said.

Demand quickly grew. In the final months of 2023, Ms Hau made around 30 cakes.

Last year, she produced more than 200, not including the thousands of cupcakes she has baked for birthdays, events, and fundraisers.

Orders now come mainly from Ōpōtiki through to Waihau Bay, with occasional deliveries to Whakatāne. Some weeks are quiet, but others can see up to nine cakes leaving her kitchen.

Despite the workload, Ms Hau remains committed to keeping her prices affordable. Cakes range from $60 for a small bento cake up to $450 for large, three-tier designs.

“I live in a small community, and a lot of us are related,” she said.

“I don’t want to charge the earth. I want people to be able to afford a cake for their celebrations.”

Behind the scenes, cake-making is carefully scheduled around her full-time job and time with her two grandsons. Cakes are baked two nights before delivery and decorated the night before, with larger cakes taking up to nine hours to complete.

Her work has become known not only for its flavour, but also its presentation, right down to the boxes they come in.

“I do some online ordering, but anything edible, or anything to do with cake tins, I'll always buy from New Zealand,” she said.

Some of her most challenging creations have included a 3D horse and unicorn heads, while her favourites are designs for children. She admits multi-themed cakes – especially those trying to include every hobby under the sun – are ones she now avoids.

“I can do them, but I don’t enjoy them,” she said. “I prefer one clear theme.”

As the business has grown, so has her workspace. What once overtook the family kitchen has now moved into a purpose-built butler’s pantry, recently completed by her husband. A quality mixer was one of her first major investments, upgrading to a Kenwood as demand increased.

Beyond business, Ms Hau often donates cake vouchers to school raffles and community fundraisers.

For prices, updates, and new designs, follow Cakes by Lou NZ on Facebook, or to order a cake email [email protected]