Founded in 2018 by Wilma van den Bosch, the quaint bookstore nestled in Rapuwai Lane has been jointly named the 2024 Nielsen BookData NZ Bookshop of the Year alongside The Booklover in Auckland despite serving a resident population of fewer than 800 people.
The award coincides with Ms van den Bosch semi-retiring and selling the bookstore to employee Sharron Binns next month.
Ms van den Bosch said it was a huge honour to receive the award.
"There are so many good independent bookstores in New Zealand
"I only started six years ago and have just been building up things slowly.
"You do enter [the competition] so you are of course trying to win but then to actually win was a huge honour and a huge surprise, especially with the calibre of the other entries."
The award ceremony was held on August 3.
The judges said they chose Petronella’s and The Booklover for their "business success, place in the community, inviting stores and for their outstanding knowledge of their respective markets".
Petronella’s has also previously received the 2022 South Canterbury Business Excellence Award for small businesses.
Originally from the Netherlands, Ms van den Bosch said she moved to Lake Tekapo for her husband.
"He lived in Tekapo, I was travelling and he picked me up when I was hitch-hiking in Cave of all places and it developed from there.
"I went back to the Netherlands because I didn’t really see a future for myself here but I gave it a go a year later and my husband and I started a backpacker hostel in Lake Tekapo and we did that for over 20 years."
"It was always my focus — in the Netherlands I used to work in bookshops and I always wanted to start a bookshop again.
"I was always looking for the right time to have my own one. I’ve always loved books and always visit bookshops.
"I had quite a vision of what I wanted to do if it finally came to it — it’s been a lifelong dream."
Realising that dream had been very rewarding, she said.
"I’ve had a really good, supportive community around me but obviously I also need the travellers , both domestic and overseas, and that combination has worked really well.
"I have felt huge love and support, especially with this win. It’s nice to feel that a lot of the locals felt that they helped with that."
Ms van den Bosch said she had decided she would be moving on prior to entering the award.
"I’ve done it for six years and I’m reaching retirement. It was always in my plan to give it six years.
"It has been all consuming, so I need a little bit more time for family and friends and I’m still young enough so I thought this was the right time.
"My staff member Sharron indicated she would like to buy it, so honestly things couldn’t have happened at a better time. She has been working for me for two years so it will be a very fluid transition.
"I’ll keep working here for half days because I love it but I just don’t want the responsibilities any more.
"I’m very lucky she was interested. I think it’s nice for Tekapo to have a bookshop and I was very keen that if I passed it on it would stay a bookshop as it could easily just become a souvenir shop.
"She’ll do a good job."
Ms van den Bosch said physical bookstores were still very important, especially for preserving New Zealand culture.
"If you go to Amazon, you wouldn’t be able to find many New Zealand books.
"Here, especially with tourists, they always come in and ask about New Zealand books.
"It’s super important and I know all the independent bookstores around are all advocates for New Zealand culture and reading.
"If you don’t have independent bookshops things on the margin will disappear.
"It’s important for towns to have a place where there are books and New Zealand books."
On October 31, Petronella’s will be hosting television journalist Paddy Gower at the Godley Hotel in Lake Tekapo as he promotes his new book.
Further information and how to secure a free ticket can be found on the Petronella’s website.
