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Todd (the drummer) and Fiona (the runner) Hayvice have got a bit going on - a furniture business with two showrooms, a Wellington home on the market, a teenage son and a move to Central at the start of 2026.

The couple are also known as Mr and Mrs YOYO. They run YOYO Design by Kiwis, a business specialising in high-quality Kiwi-designed furniture, homeware and lighting.

Their flagship Wellington premises was established in 2011, and the second YOYO showroom opened in Clyde in April this year.

Aside from managing the design business, Fiona trains at an elite level to represent New Zealand in ultra-marathons. 

She tackled her first ultra in 2010, before her son Spike was born. When he was six-weeks-old, Fiona began incorporating him into her workouts, steadily rebuilding her fitness to compete for New Zealand.

The Hayvice family (from left) Spike, Fiona and Todd at the MASH Backyard Ultra on the Kāpiti Coast in January. PHOTO: Supplied 

Her top finishes in races led her to represent New Zealand across the globe: at the Trail World Championships in Portugal (2016), the 100km World Championships in Germany (2022), and three 24-Hour Championships (two in Taiwan, one in France). She was also on the NZ team for the Backyard Ultra World Team Championships in 2020 and 2022.

“Running is what I’d rather be doing 24-7 if I could,” Fiona said.

Todd’s passion is playing the drums. He’s been focusing on it for the past five or six years and performing in a band in Wellington. 

Since the Clyde showroom opened he has been visiting every month to support their employee, Hana. 

Todd is a third generation furniture maker and retailer. 

His grandfather Maurie Kleist ran ‘Woodcraft’ in Wellington for 40 years; his father Michael Hayvice’s career was in furniture and design (he launched Country Theme in 1991); and his uncle Peter (who did an apprenticeship under Maurie) had ‘The Gentleman’s Cabinet Maker’, a business who designs furniture exclusively for YOYO until Peter retired in 2023. 

Todd said the business partners with designers from throughout New Zealand including from Otago, Canterbury, and the West Coast.

“We’re always looking for new designers and keen to introduce fresh, innovative products," Fiona said.

“A vast majority of what we sell is tailor-made for the customer.”

The Hayvice family said their extended family was one of the main reasons for their move south.

Fiona’s dad is in St Bathans, Todd’s sister and her family are in Roxburgh, and Fiona’s uncle and his family are in Arrowtown. 

The outdoors was another drawcard.

“Our son loves to ski, and we’re into the outdoors in general.

“He has an adventurous spirit and is very sporty.”

The Hayvices said they are very excited about the move and looking forward to more space, spending time outdoors and enjoying a semi-rural lifestyle in Central, closer to family.  

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