About Not Now James | About Us

Not Now James was bought by Vicki MacMillan 24 years ago in 1991

BNI 16 June 2015

I live on a large lifestyle property 35 km from town with one or 800 cows 300 sheep 5 dogs who are not allowed to sleep in front of the fire or on our bed like one very spoilt cat.

24 years ago after my two children had gone off to school I decide that isolation was not for me.
After working in a bank pre children I missed the company of others so I started on my path in the hosp trade, little did I realise that this was going  to become my passion in life.

I spent 4years at Puddleducks on the square a few other cafes in between. The next stop was out at Tui Dairy company running staff cafe and internal catering. When Tui closed I went to Wharareta to learn about functions and cafe for couple of years.

After 10 years Im then decide I needed to do it for myself rather than others. I was going to  reinvent the wheel and own my own cafe. So in March 1999 I purchased NNJ Cafe opp Hospital. My story begins from there I was lucky in the beginning, I didn`t appear to have to go looking for work it came to me.

As my empire got bigger with the running of the Cafe at Ezibuy to renting premises in McGregor St for the overflow of the cafe prep work to doing more and more corporate work. we grew to a staff of 15 fulltimers but after 4 yrs I got out of Ezibuy and with the down turn in the economy I lost a lot of my government work, departments closed or spending was cut  our catering work got smaller. I now have 4 Full timers at the Catering and 3 at the Cafe but  can find up to extra 20 when we need as we did for the Ohekea function.


Presentation is very important to us as you eat with your eyes first Then comes taste and texture. Our main points of difference and what we pride ourselves in. We make everything from scratch no premixes or deep fryers in our kitchen, produced fresh each and every day, No number is too large or to small.

Value for money Dietary requirements can be catered for just let us know what to avoid and we will come up with a substitute for you that will be just as delicious.

Our staff is professional and passionate about what they do. Peace of mind that your event is in expert hands. We will take the worry of your shoulders and walk you thru your event to make sure it is  tailor to you ,with want you require  and will flow how you expect whether it's a high tea for a  90th Birthday ,Continuous supper for 700 or a Morning tea for 10 or a dinner party in your own home we will treat you as you are the only one having an event We believe that great food should be anticipated & enjoyed to the last mouth full.


I have a great team behind me, Nothing is too much of a challenge. The Clients we are looking for are any one that eats and doesn`t want to prepare it for themselves, We have a product that taste good Presented with style. If you are having a affair let us cater for you.

What Our Clients Say

We regularly ask Vicki and the Not Now James Team to cater for various occasions. The service they provide is exceptional whether its for group...

Alison and Sam
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Address : 1a McGregor Street, Palmerston North

Caterer of the Year
Manawatu Hospitality Awards

  • 2017 - 2018 Runner up
  • 2016 - 2017 Winner
  • 2014 - 2015 Winner
  • 2012 - 2013 2nd Runner up
  • 2010 - 2011 Winner
  • 2008 - 2009 2nd Runner up