From long days on film sets to creating one of Auckland’s most thoughtfully designed wellness spaces, Jess Hunt’s path hasn’t followed a straight line – but it’s landed exactly where it was meant to. Raised on a rural farm in Eiffelton before moving to Christchurch, Hunt began her career as a hair and makeup artist working across major film and television productions. While she thrived in the fast-paced creative world, it was the slower rituals like yoga, Pilates, and holistic health that became her constant.
Today, Hunt is the founder and curator of Kenkō Studios, a wellness collective in Uptown Auckland that reflects her deep appreciation for balance, community, and intentional living. Influenced by her travels to Japan and a lifelong connection to wellbeing instilled by her nana, Kenkō is as much a personal evolution as it is a physical space. With its calming Japandi aesthetic and strong sense of community, the studio offers a considered counterpoint to the demands of modern life – an extension of Jess’s belief in returning to what grounds you.
In conversation with Jess Hunt
Let’s get up to speed. Tell us a bit about you and your career to date.
For years I worked as a Hair and Makeup Artist in the film and TV industry, on productions like Our Flag Means Death, Disney’s Zombies, Loop Track, and Netflix’s One of Us is Lying. I loved the creativity of it, but wellness was always my reset. Between jobs I’d find myself running back to yoga, Pilates, and my naturopath to ground myself again, and eventually I realised that was where I really wanted to be. I happened to be living right across the road from what is now Kenkō, and when the opportunity came up it felt too serendipitous not to take the leap. These days I’m the founder of Kenkō Studios, a wellness collective in the heart of Uptown Auckland, and honestly it feels like everything has led here.
What is your earliest memory of fashion?
Living on the farm and waiting for packages from my nana in Canada. She would send the most glamorous little outfits, and I’d pair them with my gumboots and wear them no matter what, even out feeding the cows. I was determined.
How would you describe your personal style, and what influences it the most?
Considered, natural, and a little bit lived-in. My style sits firmly within the Japandi world I love so much. Quiet, earthy, and rooted in beautiful materials. I’ve always had a soft spot for second hand and vintage pieces, and I still weave them through my everyday wardrobe. There’s something about a piece with a bit of history that makes it feel more personal. My travels to Japan have shaped me, both in how I think about design and how I dress. I’m drawn to natural tones, interesting textures, and the occasional statement piece to bring it all to life. For me it’s about quality over quantity, and choosing things you’ll love and reach for again and again. And let’s be honest, running a studio (and being pregnant) means there’s a very high chance you’ll catch me in yoga pants. They’ve basically become my uniform.
What inspired you to create a wellness collective like Kenkō?
It really came out of my own journey. I’d spent years in film and TV working long hours, and while I loved the creativity of it, I was putting my career well ahead of my own wellbeing. Wellness has always been in my life though, something my Nana instilled in me from a young age. She used to say your health is the most important thing in your life, and it stuck. I wanted to build somewhere community-focused and truly supportive of teachers, with everything you could need under one roof. A space that felt welcoming and accessible for everyone. I knew the direction I wanted to head in when I started, but I was really open to learning along the way. Every day I’ve learnt so much by listening to our community and teachers. They are honestly the best, and they’ve shaped Kenkō into what it is today.
How would you describe Kenkō Studios to someone discovering it for the first time?
Kenkō is a wellness collective in the heart of Uptown Auckland. The name means health, wellbeing, and longevity in Japanese, and that really guides everything we do. It’s a welcoming, non-judgemental, friendly space with a real community vibe. Upstairs in our beautiful Move Studio, we host classes taught by the best teachers in Auckland, from yoga and Pilates to meditation, breathwork, and sound baths. Downstairs in our Well Studios, you’ll find independent practitioners including a chiropractor, holistic facialist, and massage therapist. Everyone is welcome and we want you to feel it the moment you walk in.
The space itself feels incredibly special. What drew you to the building, and how did its history shape the vision?
The building has the most wonderful story. It was constructed in 1984 by a renowned Tai Chi master named Patrick Kelly, specifically designed as a dedicated Tai Chi studio. The iconic staircase was handcrafted by Patrick and his students, with each step individually laid during their meditative practice. There’s so much intention baked into the bones of this place, you can still smell decades of incense in the walls. When I first saw it, it was that staircase and the morning light pouring in that did it for me. And the afternoon light is just as magical, especially during a yoga class as the sun sets. It already had this energy of movement and wellness in its walls, and made the vision for Kenkō feel like it was always meant to be.
What was important to you when creating the look and feel of Kenkō?
For me it was always more about the feeling than the look. I wanted Kenkō to be a deep exhale the moment you arrive. We’ve embraced the minimalism of the Japandi aesthetic in everything we do, bringing in natural materials, warm textures, and lots of greenery. The goal was to feel worlds away from the middle of central Auckland. A little oasis.
Are there any New Zealand designers you gravitate toward or that more people should know about?
Penny Sage, Dominic Healy, Marle, and Georgia Jay (one of our lovely local Uptown neighbours).
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“Your health is the most important thing in your life.” My nana used to say that and it’s stayed with me ever since. I also love this one from Paulo Coelho: “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
Quick-fire questions
The book currently on my bedside table is… Honestly, about 7 pregnancy books! My current read is 9 Months That Count Forever by Jessie Inchauspé.
If you could only save one item in your wardrobe, what would it be? My vintage Dolce & Gabbana leather jacket. I bought it in my 20s.
Three beauty products I can’t live without… Bare Minerals tinted moisturiser, Pure Mama belly and body oil (a pregnancy must-have), and a Burts Bees tinted lip balm I won’t leave the house without.
My favourite place to dine… Tempero on Karangahape Road. Such an amazing spot.
My next holiday destination… Japan. Again. Fourth year in a row!
My ultimate day off looks like… Yoga at Kenkō, skiing with my partner, walking our dog Suki up Maungawhau, hosting a dinner party and dancing with friends in the evening. A very big day!
