"What I’ve noticed is how happy people are when they come in with their family to get an ice cream"
Ollies family fun for true classic kiwi ice cream.
THE BEGINNING
Our history
The Story of Ollies Ice Cream Parlour
New Zealand’s Original Ice Cream Institution Since 1973
Back in 1973, something special arrived in Royal Oak—Ollies Ice Cream Parlour, New Zealand’s very first and biggest dedicated ice cream shop. But the real story starts a few years earlier, when Carolyn and Colin Haines were living in Vancouver, Canada.
Carolyn was snapped up as a schoolteacher straight away, while Colin took on a mix of jobs, eventually ending up managing a fast food place. After years of travelling around North America—eating at diners, exploring drive-throughs, and visiting ice cream parlours—they returned home with a big idea: New Zealand needed an ice cream revolution. Fast food was catching on, but proper ice cream? Nowhere to be seen.
One evening, walking their baby daughter Natalie around Royal Oak in a pram, they came across a small drapery store with a “for lease” sign in the window. The shop came with a story—loss in the family, illness—and before long, they’d moved in. They didn’t even know what they’d call it yet. It was a leap of faith.
With a lot of help from friends, they stripped the place out and opened the doors on 14 February 1973. (Not for Valentine’s Day—it wasn’t really a thing yet—they were just ready.) There were no posters, no flyers. They just opened. The uniforms were hand-sewn by Carolyn—bright, wild patterns with big flared sleeves and even chickens printed on them—and the flavours? A wild dozen to start, including one called “Tootie Fruity.”
From day one, Ollies was more than just a place to get a cone. It was a hangout, a first job for thousands of local teens, and a proper community spot. High school students from all over Auckland learned everything from wiping tables to cutting buns. Colin worked double shifts for years—seven days a week. Carolyn juggled babies, staff, and supplies. Their own mums pitched in with babysitting. It was all hands on deck.
MIDDLE AGES
As the years rolled on
Ollies Ice Cream Parlour became more than just a local dessert spot—it evolved into a cherished community hub. The original 12-flavour lineup expanded to around 30, introducing classics like cookies and cream, which became a customer favourite, while hokey pokey remained a Kiwi staple. Some experimental flavours, such as black licorice, made brief appearances before making way for more popular choices.
The menu also grew to include American-style diner fare, featuring items like the Ollie Dog—an American hotdog with cheese and bacon—and ham and cheese toasties, catering to a broader range of tastes.
Ollies became a rite of passage for local teens seeking their first jobs. Many high school students learned the ropes of customer service behind its counters. Some families saw multiple generations work at the parlour; one woman who started in the 1980s had all five of her daughters employed there over the years.
The parlour’s nostalgic charm attracted not only locals but also notable figures. Former Prime Minister Sir John Key visited Ollie’s shortly before his resignation in 2016, engaging in a lengthy chat with owner Colin Haines. When Key resigned two days later, Colin humorously recounted, “When he resigned two days later, everyone said to me, ‘What did you say to him?’”
Despite the rise of fast-food chains, Ollies maintained its unique identity. The red formica counters, vintage lampshades, and bold signage remained untouched, preserving the diner’s original aesthetic. Even as the business faced challenges like the Global Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, it continued to thrive, offering a comforting treat during uncertain times.
By the 2010s, Ollie’s had firmly established itself as a multigenerational gathering place. Customers who once visited as children began bringing their own kids and grandchildren, sharing stories of 65-cent floats, late-night scoops, and the ever-entertaining view of near-misses at the Royal Oak roundabout. The parlour’s enduring appeal lay in its consistency—a place where, amid a rapidly changing world, some things remained delightfully the same.
MODERN DAY
A New Chapter
In 2023, Ollies Ice Cream Parlour entered a new chapter as Colin and Carolyn Haines passed the scoop to their son, Matt, and daughter-in-law, Leigh. Both Matt and Leigh have deep roots in Ollies—Matt rolled his first cone at 14, and the couple first met while working behind the counter as teenagers in the early 2000s. Though Leigh initially thought Matt was a bit “bossy,” their shared love for the parlour eventually blossomed into a marriage and, in 2023, the birth of their first child, and now second child.
Taking over the family business was a full-circle moment for the couple. Matt fondly recalls doing a primary school speech on ice cream, with his dad bringing sundaes for the class—a sweet memory that now fuels his passion for the shop. Leigh, meanwhile, strives to maintain a beloved community institution, noting the importance of preserving the loyalty of customers built over the past 50 years.
While committed to keeping Ollies classic—right down to the red formica counters and vintage lampshades—Matt and Leigh have introduced thoughtful updates. They’ve modernised the till and EFTPOS systems, streamlined accounting, and installed a new sound system. Looking ahead, they’re considering eco-friendly initiatives like replacing single-use plastics with reusable dishes and bringing back glass banana boats for sundaes.
Ideas for the future include launching an “Ollie Trolley” food truck and offering branded merchandise, with slogans like “Loyal to the Royal since ’73” capturing the spirit of the parlour . Despite these innovations, the heart of Ollie’s remains unchanged: a place where generations gather for thick shakes, banana splits, and that unmistakable sense of nostalgia.
One of Auckland's best-known restaurants Ollies Diner in Royal Oak has been serving up ice creams, thickshakes and hotdogs since opening back in 1973. Not much has changed at Ollies. We pride ourselves on keeping it classic, right down to the spacey machines.
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Ollies celebrates 52 years scooping ice creams. Royal Oak’s iconic North American-style ice creamery and diner, Ollies opened on Valentine’s Day 1973.