Our story
The story so far.
Tides Out Maps started at a Sunday market with a handful of hand-cut coastlines. Almost five years on, we still hand-build every piece — from a small workshop in Auckland, with a team that's slowly grown, and a range that has too.
Here's how we got here.
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August 2021
The general collective market
Where everything began for us — a small stall, a handful of coastlines, and no real plan beyond seeing if anyone wanted them.
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December 2021
40 maps in 2 months
All built from our flat dining room table (with a lot of help). The first sign that this was more than a side project.
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January 2022
First photos from customers
Proof that we were making a small difference. People started sending us pictures of our maps on their walls.
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April 2022
The NZ range grows
Coastline by coastline. Our range of New Zealand coastal maps steadily filling out.
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May 2023
Our first Boat Show
Where we received more orders than we could make. Lesson learned: capacity is a real thing.
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November 2023
A bigger space, and a first hire
Moved into a bigger workshop, just in time for our biggest month yet.
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January 2024
Kate joins the team
…and takes our maps all over the country. From here on it was a two-person show.
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August 2024
A feature in The Press
Flew to Christchurch for a piece in the local paper — a small business letting memories live on through pieces of art.
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December 2024
Christmas rush, take two
The two of us navigating another Christmas rush… just. The busiest silly season yet at the time.
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February 2025
Tides Out abroad
Flew to Tasmania for the Australian Wooden Boat Festival — the first time taking Tides Out overseas.
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April 2025
Bigger commercial pieces
Started taking on more commercial projects, including this huge three-panel Top-of-the-South feature.
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September 2025
Everything changes
Kate and Matt welcome a small human into the mix — the beginning of a whole new chapter.
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December 2025
Sam joins the team
Just in time for our biggest silly season yet. First proper production hire — a game-changer for capacity.
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June 2026
Andre joins, and our own workshop
Andre joins the team, and we sign the lease on our very own workshop. First time we've had a space that's really ours.
And still going
It's not lost on us how much help we've had along the way.
Every map that leaves our workshop still gets designed, painted, cut, and assembled by hand. That's not a marketing line — it's just how we've built things from day one, and it's still the way that feels right.
If you've been part of the story so far — bought a map, commented on a post, sent us a message about your favourite bay — thanks. Really.
