Help Me Protect Her Dream - Mini Misfits Cafe
After unexpected heart-related medical costs wiped out our savings, we need help funding resource consent to keep Mini Misfits Café open.
Waitoki, Auckland
I’m Fighting to Keep the Café My Partner Built Alive 💛
My name is Damion.
Over the last year, my heart condition has rapidly declined. It’s been frightening and life-altering. At the end of 2025, after long delays in the public system, we had no choice but to enter the private medical system. In just three months, unexpected health costs drained all the capital we had worked so hard to build.
Jess has spent almost half her life serving coffee to the Waitoki community. Mini Misfits Café isn’t just a business — it’s where people feel seen, heard, and cared for. Even while my health worsened, she kept showing up with warmth and strength.
We had finally started turning a profit and were staying afloat at a time when many small businesses were failing. Things finally felt stable.
Now we’re operating under an abatement notice and must complete the resource consent process properly. We are committed to doing this right — but the costs for planning, reports, and council fees total around $20,000, and we no longer have a financial buffer.
We have hundreds of locals supporting us and asking us to stay.
If you can help, even a small amount makes a difference. If you can’t donate, sharing means everything.
This café exists because people care — and we’re hoping that care can carry us through one more hard chapter.
With love and gratitude,
Damion
Mini Misfits Café ☕💛
Damion-Jay Leach's involvement (page creator)
Jess is my life partner and the rock who has stood beside me through every step of my medical journey.
Use of funds
Funds will go towards:
Resource planner & AEE report,
council application & processing fees,
required technical reports,
updated site plans & drawings,
and compliance guidance to meet all resource consent requirements properly.
Other page links
Latest update
Where the Funds Will Go (for transparency) 14 February 2026
To continue operating, we are required to obtain Resource Consent. The estimated total cost is approximately $20,000, which covers the professional and council fees involved in the process.
Planning Consultant – $6,000–$8,000
A qualified planner prepares and manages the entire application, liaises with council, responds to requests for further information, and guides us through the process.
Council Application & Processing Fees – $3,000–$5,000
These are the official lodgement and hourly processing fees charged by council while assessing the application.
Specialist Reports – $4,000–$6,000
Depending on council requirements, this may include traffic/parking assessments, noise reports, drainage or engineering input.
Surveying & Site Plans – $1,500–$2,500
Updated site plans, boundary verification, and compliance documentation as required.
Contingency & Additional Requests – $2,000–$3,000
Councils can request further information during processing, which often requires additional professional time and amendments.
This isn’t a cosmetic upgrade or expansion — it’s a regulatory requirement for us to continue operating. Every dollar raised goes directly toward meeting these compliance costs so we can keep serving our community.
Latest donations
Thank you so much for your generosity Sandy!! 💛✨
Aw Billie, you are such a sweetheart and also a pleasure to talk to! 💛✨ thank you for your kindness, support and generosity! Especially in such a short time of knowing us and getting your coffee fix! Shows the impact we have 💛✨ appreciate you so much thank you again - Jess
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