Avenues, May 2023

The Brewery Bar and Restaurant cassels.nz/brewery-bar | Cosi Fan Tutte New season Eribe cosifantutte.co.nz

Grassroots Yoga and Health Confidence, calm, control grassrootsyoga.co.nz | Bolt of Cloth New season Marimekko boltofcloth.co.nz | Lightroom Rejuvenation at The Lightroom lightroom.co.nz | The Filing Kabinett Contemporary jewellers @filingkabinett | Te Ara Teatea Whare Hauora Hapūtanga/pregnancy massage tearateatea.com

HAPA OKU kawakawa tea range, $24 hapa.co.nz | Nori Table Sushi Bar noritable.co.nz

The Tannery is a proud partner of Matatū and champion of all wāhine toa in sport and business.

HAPA hapa.co.nz | The Apothecary theapothecary.co.nz | Fabric House fabrichouse.co.nz

Bolt of Cloth boltofcloth.com | Matatū Marcelle Parkes, Leah Miles and Amy Du Plessis matatu.co.nz

The Filing Kabinett @filingkabinett | Katerina Boutique katerina.co.nz | Mrs. Bottomley’s Flowers mrsbottomleysflowers.nz | Te Arateatea tearateatea.com

YULIA KATERINA BOUTIQUE

SUZ BOLT OF CLOTH

MAUREEN HAPA

HANNAH & LIZ MRS BOTTOMLEY’S FLOWERS

AMY, MARCELLE & LEAH MATATŪ

SIMONE THE APOTHECARY

HANNAH TE ARATEATEA

LYNN THE FILING KABINETT

NIKI FABRIC HOUSE

Willowbank’s baby capybaras. Christchurch just got cuter.

A makeover set for New Brighton’s Mall. We can’t wait!

Trees That Count. A New Zealand charity planting for the future.

The return of the A380 to Christchurch skies. An iconic scene.

Resene Aroha is a deep red, full of heart and loyal. Aroha mai, aroha atu – love received, love returned.

NAH

Charity box rubbish dumpers. Uncharitable!

Tornadoes are now becoming a common scene! Can we catch a break, please?

Excessive wait times in our hospitals. This needs to be sorted.

Midnight burnouts on suburban streets.

The passing of S Club 7’s Paul Cattermole. Reach for the stars.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Wāhine toa

We have an amazingly talented team of wāhine here at Avenues. Our creative director Lucy crafts each and every issue with her incredible design flair and innate eye for detail. Our General Manager, Shelley, lovingly and tirelessly looks after all our wonderful clients and works with our community to help them tell their stories within our pages. And then there is Lisa, a publisher who knows how to get things done and has an eye for a layout like nobody I’ve ever met.

These wāhine toa, all of whom have been with Avenues since we published our first issue back in July 2018, have helped shape my professional journey, and I owe many life lessons to them. I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge their quiet determination to meet every deadline, their unwavering belief in this magazine, and sense of professionalism.

I have been brought up and always surrounded by strong women. My wonderful mother, a teacher, has always displayed to me the value of compassion and that often-forgotten ability to listen. It is because of her, along with my dad, that I was able to exercise my creative muscle and venture away from convention.

So, this month, we celebrate the wāhine toa (warrior women) in our community. Artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, craftspeople, businesswomen, teachers, and caregivers, who are unashamedly themselves and have made their spaces a little brighter.

I welcome your feedback, email editor@avenues.net.nz

Yours,

Liam Stretch Editor

YEAH

There’s

Avenues.

THE TEAM

Publisher Lisa Phelan lisa@27publishers.co.nz

Editor Liam Stretch liam@27publishers.co.nz

Art Director Lucy Arnold lucy@27publishers.co.nz

GM Advertising Shelley Eccleton shelley@27publishers.co.nz

Accounts & Admin Hilary Armstrong accounts@27publishers.co.nz

PRINT

Blueprint, Christchurch

CONTRIBUTORS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

Charlie Rose Jackson, Corban Tupuo, Dr Brigid Lee, Denise Prosser, Jenna Ingram, Dr Reuben Woods, Lynette McFadden, Kim Newth, Stephen Goodenough, Mick Stephenson, Hannah Harte, Wendy Cunningham, Centuri Chan, Sarah Mankelow, Neil MacBeth, Xanthe Jane, Lois Parmenter, Avi Cohen, Sam Parish, Kate Underwood, ChristchurchNZ, Meg Huston, Jennifer Smart, Sarah Rowlands, Amanda Robb

Photography, Sachie Nomura

CONTACT US

hello@27publishers.co.nz

Facebook.com/avenuesmagazine

Instagram.com/avenuesmagazine

Avenues.net.nz

Produced by Twenty Seven Publishers Limited PO Box 36753, Merivale, Christchurch, 8146

Avenues is published 11 times a year, and is a registered trademark. While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this publication, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretations of the subject matter contained herein. The reader assumes all responsibility for the use of these materials and information. Any perceived slight of any person or organisation is completely unintentional. Avenues asserts copyright on all material published within, and none of it shall be reproduced, wholly or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher. Avenues reserves the right to edit or abridge all letters or other material, whether solicited or otherwise, prior to publication.

THE MAGAZINE CHRISTCHURCH LIVES BY

Artist Alice Spittle wearing the first kākahu she created in her class at Te Wānanga O Raukawa in 2001. Photo by Charlie Rose Jackson.

Albatross Encounter

KIWI CRAFTSMANSHIP

Lucy Arnold started Felt in 2007 as a platform for Kiwi makers. From jewellery and art to homewares and toys, shoppers can browse thousands of items, connect with local makers, and feel good about investing back into the community. Shopping on Felt is a chance to find something truly unique and original. felt.co.nz

HEALING TOGETHER

EARTH FRIENDLY

Untouched World founder Peri Drysdale wanted a brand that not only championed responsibly made clothing with enduring quality, but had a bigger reason for being. She established the Untouched World Foundation to educate young people through UN-recognised ‘Leadership for a Sustainable Future’ programmes. untouchedworld.com

Chelita Kahutianui o-te-Rangi Zainey, Waitaha/Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Kahu/Ngāti Haua. Chelita has spent the last decade healing herself and providing Rongoā Māori services throughout Ōtautahi. She recently launched Hau Tapu Breathwork, a fusion of breath and Taonga Pūoro, that encourages people to empower themselves to be their own healers. “Our breath is the first thing we do when we enter Te Ao Marama and the very last thing we do. Every Hau Tapu, every sacred breath is an opportunity for a deeper connection to both our inner and outer worlds.” Chelita records her journey and shares resources online. She encourages people to get in touch to learn more.

@chelita.zainey

LOCAL SHOE QUEEN

New Zealand shoe and accessories designer Nicole Rebstock is known for her feminine designs and bold colour palettes. However, the story behind her label is arguably just as bold. The designer bravely stepped away from a legal career to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams in the fashion industry. In just five years, Nicole has established three successful boutiques, including one here in the heart of Christchurch city at The Crossing. When asked what she enjoys most about being a female in business, she says, “It’s not just about the shoes; it’s looking at what we as women can achieve when we push boundaries and take that leap of faith in ourselves”. nicolerebstock.com

LEADING FROM THE FRONT

Whitney Hansen has guided teams to win the Rugby World Cup, the Farah Palmer Cup, and the Super Rugby Aupiki title. She’s just accepted a role as Matatū Head of Rugby, helping to create the next generation of professional female rugby players. The women’s game is huge right now and it is destined for greatness. matatu.co.nz

CITY ON SHOW

Dr Jessica Halliday, director of Te Pūtahi Centre for Architecture and City-making, leads the country’s largest architecture festival, Open Christchurch, which is set to return on 6 and 7 May with its biggest programme to date. 52 buildings, four guided walks, and 30-plus activities feature in this celebration of Ōtautahi Christchurch’s architecture – a chance for residents and visitors alike to rediscover the city for free. Jessica hopes to encourage more people to think about the value of good design by having a nosey behind closed doors and experiencing it first-hand. Bookings are now available for Open Christchurch 2023. openchch.nz

CREATING TREASURES

ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

Tui Johnson is a Ngāi Tahu illustrator, artist and potter. Born into an artistic family, Tui’s inspiration to paint and create has culminated in a series of functional yet stunning tableware. Tui finds that by digging and processing the clay herself, she develops a deeper respect and connection to the whenua.

tuijohnson.com

At 27 Essex Street, just off Fitzgerald Avenue, you’ll find a collective of businesses that provide a one-stop shop for everything pottery and ceramics. Keep, run by Emma Turner, hosts a shop that is a platform to showcase locally made ceramics and art. Clae is a working studio and teaching space headed by Tatyanna Meharry, and General Pottery, with Gwen Parsons at the helm, is where you can get everything you need to create your own projects – clay, books, tools, and more. The trio encourages anyone to come along and experience the spaces; they’ll answer any questions and help you create something that will become your personal treasure.

@clae.nz | @keepceramics | @generalpotterynz

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ROMEO AND JULIET

Experience the passion and tragedy of Romeo and Juliet with the Royal New Zealand Ballet as the company tours the show in May and June this year. Choreographed by Andrea Schermoly and designed by James Acheson, the production features Prokofiev’s sensuous score and the splendour of Renaissance Verona. This timeless story of youthful romance will sweep you off your feet! Get your tickets for the Christchurch shows 25–27 May now to experience this unique performance at the Isaac Theatre Royal. Don’t fret if you miss out on the local shows as there are other dates throughout the country.

25–27 May, Isaac Theatre Royal rnzb.org.nz 25-27

DUO ENHARMONICS

Beth Chen and Nicole Chao make up the New Zealand classical music team Duo Enharmonics. The pair put a dose of energy into classical music through their virtuosic and emotionally thrilling programmes. They are part of Christopher’s Classics 2023 season at the Piano Centre for the Performing Arts. Christopher’s Classics puts on intimate performances of classical music throughout the year.

4 May, The Piano christophersclassics.nz

TINY RUINS

Celebrating the release of their latest album, Ceremony, award-winning band Tiny Ruins is travelling the country playing intimate venues. The lead singer Hollie Fullbrook and her band cross genres from uniquely Kiwi folk through to dream pop and psychedelia. They will be stopping off at Ōhinehou Lyttelton’s Loons early this month. This is not one to miss.

11 May, Loons tinyruins.com

MELANIE BRACEWELL

Rising to fame for her perfectly hilarious impersonations of former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Melanie Bracewell is a star on Australia’s The Cheap Seats comedy panel show and Have You Been Paying Attention across the ditch and on her home turf in New Zealand. She takes her comedy around the country with her tour Forget Me Not. A night of snappy one-liners and an amazing stage presence.

27 May, James Hay Theatre livenation.co.nz

A HOME FOR URBAN ART

Located in the vibrant arts hub of Sydenham, Fiksate is an urban contemporary art gallery and artist studio space with exclusive print releases, fine art printing, and custom framing.

Jenna Ingram, a Canadian-born, Otautahiraised artist, mother, and snowboarding enthusiast, is at the helm. Her love for street art and graffiti was evident throughout her studies where she completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in painting at the University of Canterbury in 2007, but it wasn’t until after the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes she began to put passion into practice through the placement of paste-up Band-Aids around the then broken city. Her practice has since evolved into a five-year development of her iconic character ‘Jen Heads’.

“I see my ‘heads’ as a reflection of me, somewhat self-portrait in the sense they evoke my passions, obsessions, and state of mind. They have softened to a more Papatuanuku style now, which came about after having my son.”

Fiksate Gallery was founded in 2015 by Jenna and her now-husband Nathan, following Spectrum, a street art exhibition by Oi YOU! held

at the city’s YMCA. The team that would become the initial Fiksate were those behind the giant paste-up room installation: Jenna, Nathan, Dr Reuben Woods, and Clint Park. Fiksate Gallery has had three locations and hosted over 20 solo and group shows featuring the work of local, national, and international urban contemporary artists who draw inspiration from graffiti to street art and post-graffiti.

“There is a sense of freedom within urban art that I was drawn to, and through our participation within the culture, I’ve found a real sense of community and a huge respect for the artists involved and what they do, both in the urban environment or in their studios”.

Fiksate is committed to providing opportunities and a professional platform for urban artists often marginalised by other entities. Their exhibition openings are always busy, and the monthly risograph print releases with MK Press sell out regularly.

In addition to exhibitions, Fiksate also offers custom framing and printing, mural design management and installation, individualised commissions from in-house artists, and artwork delivery.

Jenna’s artwork at Shift, 2023.

Always

INNOWOPEN MERIVALE

Enriching

+64 3 366 5445 design@dalman.co.nz

The Graci Foundation

Well-constructed research is the cornerstone of providing the answers to a variety of health issues. It propels us towards greater health outcomes and treatments to enhance and extend countless lives. Cancer research, in particular, has the power to transform and save lives, but generating vital funding can be an enormous struggle. The Graci Foundation was established in 2010 as the first organisation to focus on gynaecological cancers in New Zealand’s history.

Speaking with Bryony Simcock, one of the founders of Graci, the vital role of research and how it impacts women’s gynaecological health is clear. Gynaecological cancers continue to greatly affect the lives of a growing number of women in Aotearoa, sadly taking many well before their time.

Endometrial, vulval, and ovarian cancers are less well-known and discussed in the public eye but urgently require more visibility as their prevalence increases in the population – particularly endometrial cancer. There is mounting evidence that lifestyle and eating habits can greatly affect the

gynaecological health of women, but more data is always necessary in order to bring about change.

“We set up the Graci Foundation so that there would be a fund where researchers across New Zealand can apply… to help Kiwi women through local and international trials. We are supporting homegrown research – New Zealanders are so good at this – so entrepreneurial, resourceful, and so much excellent science – but there is no money... for so many reasons. We’ve got the lowest per capita research funding ability. So, that’s why we set up the foundation, and we’ve gotten bigger and bigger. Now, people are able to look out for the Graci grants and apply for those.”

The amazing volunteers at The Graci Foundation continue to work incredibly hard behind the scenes to create life-changing and life-saving opportunities through their devotion to raising money for essential research. There will be a fundraising event this June at The Christchurch Art Gallery, so make a note in your diary and come out to support the health and longevity of the women of New Zealand.

graci.co.nz

WORDS Hannah Harte

The Challenge of the Lioness Artists Sophie-Claire Violette and Tyler Kennedy Stent

Date January–April 2023

Location Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Central Christchurch

The Challenge of the Lioness is a powerful mural created for SHIFT: Urban Art Takeover at Canterbury Museum. The result of an ongoing collaboration between Ōtautahi-based artist Tyler Kennedy Stent and anthropologist Sophie-Claire Violette, the painting confronts how we perceive and objectify women, challenging us to shift from the passive act of looking at women to the active practice of looking with and alongside them. The portrait of Polynesian Māori takatāpui artist and creative Shauva Zilda Thoms (Ngāti Kahungunu kī Wairarapa Iwi) is based on a photograph by Nika Glover. Shauva’s intense gaze, expressing both strength and softness, challenges the viewer: “Who do you see, and what do you tell yourself about me when you look at me?” The annotations covering the painterly textures of the watercolour add layers of context to understand Shauva’s journey and, by extension, that of many women, raising issues of identity, colonisation, vulnerability, tenacity, and self-acceptance.

Explore more of Ōtautahi’s urban art on a Watch This Space guided street art tour! Email tours@watchthisspace.org.nz for booking information.

watchthisspace.org.nz/artwork/1069

WATCH THIS SPACE

Empowering women to embrace their beauty

The Skin Rejuvenation Clinic has cemented itself as a Christchurch institution in the almost 20 years it has been around.

It all started when Dr Brigid Lee attended a cosmetic medicine conference in Napier and met aesthetician Denise Prosser. At that time, most of the cosmetic medicine practices in New Zealand were run by men, and these two women thought they could offer something different. They knew that many clients interested in anti-ageing and looking fresher were women; generally, women feel more comfortable discussing their insecurities with another woman.

“I think women just get women better! We understand how our confidence is closely related to our appearance. We all feel better on a good hair day; when our clothes fit in all the right places, and we can confidently stride out and defeat the world! There’s no embarrassment in chatting to another woman about a little crinkle or acne scar that is really getting you down that probably no one else can even see.”

From those initial ideas, the Skin Rejuvenation Clinic was founded – a simple name that reflected what they were all about.

“Our goal has always been to help our clients to achieve fresh, youthful skin and to boost their confidence. We live in a society where we are often judged on our appearance, so it is empowering to help someone achieve the look they want to portray to the world. Often that’s just having glowing, healthy skin, but it could also be softening frown lines that make them appear

worried or turning up downturned mouth corners that make someone look sad.”

Both Dr Brigid and Denise feel privileged to have met all the amazing women and men who have visited them for assistance with their appearance – and are proud that they have made it accessible.

“Cosmetic medicine is often viewed as something that’s only available to wealthy people who are obsessed with their image, but this couldn’t be further from the truth for our clients. Our clients come from all walks of life and widely varied occupations. What is similar is that they want to feel better about themselves and how they portray themselves to the people around them.”

“We want the best outcome for every one of our clients, and that’s why we like to offer prescriptive treatments so that each client receives an individualised treatment plan. We are all ageing in our own way, so we need treatments suited to our individual needs. It often starts off with just recommending a good skincare regime, and sunblock, of course! From there, we need to identify the issues and decide on a treatment plan, a budget, and a time frame. We have so many options available to us, and technology is always improving. The fact that you can now contour your body by freezing away unwanted fat or lift and tighten sagging jowls without needing surgery seems unbelievable!”

Brigid and Denise offer thanks to all their clients for their ongoing support. They will continue striving to be at the forefront of the cosmetic medicine industry to provide the best treatments available worldwide.

skinrejuvenationclinic.co.nz

Timeless, twenty years later

Julianne Liebeck opened the first Mods Hair Salon in Australasia on Aikmans Road in Merivale twenty years ago.

After working for Mods (started by Frédéric and Guillaume Bérard in the 1970s in Paris) while living in Greece, Julianne felt the call to come home, and with her, she brought a new dimension to hair styling in Christchurch and New Zealand.

“When we opened Mods, we wanted hairdressers to go to another level of professionalism, and I wanted them to earn good money with their craft.”

This meant training her staff in the French style, which focuses on the hair’s natural movement and its relatonship with fashion, meaning it remains timeless. Julianne began sending small groups of her staff to Paris to learn the techniques from French stylists.

“Back then, it was important that the people in the building had a sense of the French essence. They walked the streets of Paris to learn what that French style looked and felt like.”

She now brings a European trainer to her Merivale salon.

To Julianne, this is all about creating energy and originality – valuing the craft of hairdressing.

“If something’s executed and communicated well, you can see the difference. When I train hairdressers and other stylists, the results excite them.”

She says this energy is passed on to the client.

“When a customer comes into our building, they feel we’re in that zone and making sure we’re performing at the best level we can in everything we do within the building. That makes the customer loyal and excited. It makes our staff energised.”

Adding to client comfort is a touch of further European excellence – Mods was the

first licensed champagne bar salon in New Zealand. “Guests can enjoy everything from a bottle of Belle Epoque Champagne to a $12 glass of rosé.”

This sense of pride in place is reinforced by the philanthropy the business has been a part of over the years.

This all started when they worked with WorldVision to help fund microfinancing for women in impoverished nations to help women get into work.

“World Vision set up a fund called Vision Fund. We donated funds, and then Vision Fund would go out to the women in these communities. These women would ask for a loan to set up a business. In a third-world country, this might have been something like a sewing machine; it might have been a loan for her first row of potatoes.”

“It basically was a way to give women the ability to use their entrepreneurial spirit to be able to feed their families.”

Currently, Mods is supporting vulnerable people in Greece, a place close to Julianne’s heart. They are working with a group based in the United States called Move 92, which is set up to use philanthropy funds to direct them to traceable international initiatives.

“We fund housing for homeless people on the street, asylum seekers, and refugees. These smaller, direct philanthropy facilitators mean we can really be having an impact.”

Over these two decades, one thing has stuck out for Julianne.

“One of the best things is training and teaching people and seeing young stylists become great at their craft and earn a great living from it. That’s always been one of the things that we wanted to achieve.”

Cheers to the next 20, Julianne and Mods!

FOR EVERY BODY

Deborah Lewthwaite, owner of The Fitting Room, shares her picks for a holiday in the sun.

Prima Donna Solta One Piece, $309 | Elomi Magnetic Plunge Bikini Set, $175

Freya New Shores Bikini Set, $150 | Seafolly On Vacation DD Bandeau One Piece, $255

Seafolly Amnesia Kaftan, $95 | Prima Donna Kea Plunge Suit, $291 Fantasie Ocean Cove Bikini Set, $180

All available at the Fitting Room, thefittingroom.co.nz

Wāhine toa

Wāhine toa translates to warrior women. The wāhine that Avenues spoke to define that spirit. They are businesswomen and artists, teachers and crafters, all with strength in their character and their practice.

We learn about an artist connecting with her tīpuna through her projects, a granddaughter continuing her grandmother’s legacy of gifting, educators with their minds on the future, a jeweller creating heirlooms, and a designer shamelessly herself.

A CRAFT CONNECTION

Ko Ngāi Tahu tōku iwi

Ko Ngāti Huirapa, ko Ngāti Irakehu ōku hapū

Ko Rawiri Te Maire, ko Hine Te Marino ōku tipuna

Ko Alice Spittle ahau

Ōtautahi-based maker and artist Alice Spittle says, “A walk with me takes longer than expected and is like taking a toddler to the park.” It is because she is always stopping to take in the small things along the way.

“I appreciate the beauty that is all around us and often goes unnoticed,” Alice says. “I wonder how this may have inspired our tīpuna (ancestors).”

This thinking underpins and influences her art practice. Above all, as a Māori artist, Alice’s work is rooted in tikanga.

“Tikanga is imbued in everything I do across all art forms and everyday life. It’s what keeps me connected, safe, and grounded.”

She draws from all her life experiences to create works of art that are both deeply personal and share a unique perspective.

Alice currently has a working studio space at Toi Auaha. For her, it is an opportunity to have a designated space to get creative and where she can delve into her painting, fibre, and weaving work. Having access to a studio with other artists allows her to connect with likeminded creatives and draw inspiration from a diversity of styles and techniques. This has become an important home for her creative energy and is a place where she can continue to grow and evolve as an artist – hopefully with an exhibition outcome in 2024.

“My art has a Māori lens because my life has always been focused on my connection to my whakapapa.”

Alice is currently reinventing old canvases and imbuing them with new life. She is combining old ideas and techniques with her new knowledge and influences.

Painting is where she gets “to be explosive and play with traditional and contemporary techniques on a canvas.”

She will always seek to deepen her knowledge of who she is, where she comes from, and her place in the world. Alice says her role as an artist and weaver goes beyond just her. She is passionate about traditional knowledge being passed on to future generations. Alice says she likes sharing her experiences and findings with “my tamariki, my whānau, friends, and wider community.”

She wants to “ensure our knowledge doesn’t just stay with us and that it gets passed on from generation to generation.”

Alice says working with harakeke has helped strengthen her connection to her culture.

“So many of our pūrākau (stories) come back to harakeke. You’ll hear it being talked about on the marae and in many whakatauki (proverbs). So much of our history’s success links back to our relationship with the plant.”

For Alice, art is not just a means of creative expression but also a way of honouring her culture and heritage. She hopes to inspire others to connect with their roots and appreciate the natural world’s beauty.

She has had many influences in her practice and Alice thanks those she credits for getting her to where she is today.

“Ka nui te mihi ki ēnei pou whirinaki; Reihana Parata (Aunty Doe); Morehu Flutey-Henare (Nanny Mū); Rānui Ngārimu; Pip Devonshire; Elaine Bevon; Paula Rigby.”

Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei.

alicespittle.co.nz

CREATING HEIRLOOMS

Among the many pieces of art on the walls of Vanessa Stower’s home overlooking Christchurch City from the Cashmere Hills hangs a painting of her first shop on High Street.

This one stands out. It is a chapter of her life that she stumbled upon in a gallery almost two decades after she opened her business on the central city street. It wasn’t sought out – it came to her. A way to tell her story to her children.

Stories are important to Vanessa. She recalls the creativity of her childhood, afternoons spent making peg dolls with her grandmother and crafting with her friends. Through these experiences, the seeds were sown for her future as a jeweller and designer. And what she aims to tell at her business Filigree.

“I’ve always made things in one way or another. I’ve always been a maker.”

After originally majoring in metalwork during her tertiary studies, she was working for herself and based in one of the Art Centre’s chemistry block’s famous ‘glass-windowed studios’. Following this, she took on managerial positions with high-end jewellers in the city.

“I learned the two ends of the business; then I thought I would go out and start my own business.”

She then opened Filigree on High Street and moved to a new premise just down the street around a year later.

Vanessa was a bit of a rarity, with the jewellery trade of the time being a bit of “a gentleman’s game”, and it was uncommon for a jewellery business to be owned by a woman.

“It was nice for me to go out on my own and be a businesswoman in the jewellery trade.

I’ve always had women jewellers as well, which is quite unusual because there’s not a huge pool of them.”

Vanessa opened her current location following the Canterbury earthquakes.

Filigree’s flagship boutique store is now on Colombo Street in Sydenham. Here, in a stunning ‘extension of her personality’, she and her team of consultants, jewellers, and gem setters create and continue stories for their wearers.

They craft bespoke engagement rings, wedding bands, and designer jewellery throughout New Zealand and worldwide.

In order to create a piece that matches the wearer and their narrative, a design approach for bespoke jewellery begins with a consultation, where Vanessa takes her time to get to know the client.

This is followed by several sketches; computer-aided design renders can be made for clients to get a three-dimensional perspective.

From there, it will be taken to the jeweller, but the wearer can continue to be involved. This is made easier by the fact they have a workshop on-site.

“We’re really lucky that we’ve got the workshop on-site. So there’s nothing lost in translation from what you’ve talked to me about. Those small nuances are important because as it is something so little, its own artwork, every tiny detail makes quite a big difference.”

Vanessa believes this bespoke approach and the time they take to understand the wearer make them stand out.

“It is really important because jewellery, especially rings, they are the one thing you constantly wear. You change clothes and shoes daily, but jewellery is part of your identity.”

filigree.co.nz

TO THE NEXT 150 YEARS

Professor Cheryl de la Rey led the University of Pretoria, South Africa’s largest university, for almost 10 years before moving to Ōtautahi to take up the top job as Tumu Whakarae | Vice-Chancellor of Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | the University of Canterbury (UC) in 2019.

She was known for her visionary, strategic thinking, which she developed as she moved up the academic ranks to Professor of Psychology, followed by 18 years of higher education leadership.

These skills were evident when soon after taking up her new role, she initiated a new Strategic Vision to focus the university’s 4000 academics and professional staff on priorities for the decade 2020 to 2030.

“Central to our vision is strengthening our relationships with local leaders and communities through our leadership and engagement in cultural and social domains, alongside the more traditional educational and economic realms,” Professor De la Rey says.

The region’s second-largest employer, UC, is key to Waitaha Canterbury’s social inclusiveness, economic prosperity, and success, which was underlined in an independent Community Impact Report released in March.

“It’s clear from the report that UC is a pillar of our community. As a locally engaged university, we go above and beyond to connect with our communities and to support and build the capabilities of the region.”

The university’s new Te Kakau a Māui scholarships are an outstanding example of an innovative new way to capture and develop local potential. The scholarships were offered to 150 students from lower decile South Island schools and cover undergraduate

course fees for those who are keen to make a difference in their communities. Another 150 scholarships are available for 2024.

“I was delighted to welcome the first 150 recipients of this landmark scholarship. They begin their degrees with comprehensive, wrap-around pastoral support to ensure they have the resources to succeed, now and into what I am sure will be very bright futures,” Professor De la Rey says.

The scholarships echo UC’s founding commitment to accessible education and celebrate its 150th anniversary with the conviction that education should be available to all who seek it.

The community and the university are more in synch than ever, with the university nurturing start-ups, providing creative inspiration, producing world-class research and, of course, preparing the next generation to make a difference in the world under Professor De la Rey’s guidance.

Working more closely with mana whenua has resulted in positive outcomes, including Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and UC establishing an Office of Treaty Partnership, working directly with the Vice-Chancellor to provide strong Māori academic leadership on a panuniversity basis.

“This is a journey the University of Canterbury began a long time ago. Building a strong relationship with Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Ngāi Tahu is fundamental to continuing our bicultural journey and engaging our Māori community,” Professor De la Rey says.

With 80 per cent of people who responded to a Christchurch City Council survey saying UC was important to them, UC’s future looks to be more connected and more engaged than ever.

canterbury.ac.nz/uc150

A DOYENNE OF DESIGN

New Zealand’s shift in preference from mass-produced to locally made-tolast furniture suits Hildy Kovacs just fine. After all, it’s what she’s always done.

Designer for Ferrymead-based Kovacs

Design Furniture, Hildy and her brother Johnny are the second generation of Kovacs makers. Their father, Stephen Kovacs, opened the Christchurch furniture business in 1959 with an eye for European design and steadfast belief in the talents of local craftsmen.

Hildy remembers making buttons with her brother in the early days; today, she is responsible for Kovacs’ diverse range of over 50 designs. Each piece is crafted entirely at their Christchurch factory with the ethos embedded by her father – that furniture should both inspire and endure.

A hands-on creator, Hilidy’s intimate knowledge of the construction methods is key to her design process – which she says is never an easy one.

“I often sit with an idea for several months, moving backwards and forwards through the construction of it as I think. I have to be sure that the frame can carry the idea, so the skeleton has to be there first.”

Hildy draws her designs by hand, lifesize – “the only way to get true perspective”. She then works alongside a team of skilled artisans, some of whom have worked with her for decades.

After so much time together, their process for building a new design is organic, fluid and highly practical.

“I’m lucky to have so many right hands here. Sometimes they don’t even know what we’re creating until the product is finished,” she smiles. With a design language that’s broad and bold, Hildy prioritises balance in the forms she creates. It’s rare, however, for Kovacs pieces to share the same handwriting, which is perhaps due to her desire for confronting design challenges.

“I love being outside my comfort zone, particularly when I’m trying to do something where the methodology hasn’t been done before. It’s excruciating but deeply satisfying in the end.”

This attitude has moved Kovacs to explore new materials and methods in recent releases, such as steel frames. The use of steel allows shapes that have a fineness to them; furniture with a lighter, more compact form.

While furniture designers can be didactic in their work, Hildy’s pieces sit comfortably in all kinds of settings, thanks to endless options of fabrics and finishes. She thinks of her role as creating a ‘vessel’ – a refreshingly ego-free approach in this discipline.

“I need to leave it a little bit open. The user’s interpretation can change a piece dramatically; a fabric choice can take an informal chair in a formal direction. A looser cover can make a sophisticated piece more practical.”

Hildy is an icon in New Zealand furniture design – whether she likes it or not. This is a woman who, in a world of Karen Walker slacks and flawless makeup, is more at home in her red boiler suit, preferring the creative hum of the family’s Ferrymead factory over glitzy home styling events.

It’s this practicality, attention to detail and commitment to doing things right the first time that underpin a Hildy Kovacs design – and increasingly, catching the eye of younger, more environmentally conscious buyers. They love local, and they love products that last.

As fast fashion approaches its inevitable fate, a renewed appetite for longevity over trends is emerging in furniture too. It’s all about strong bones and classic lines that can be reinvigorated each decade: design that’s intergenerational and built to last – much like Kovacs itself.

PURVEYORS OF HAPPINESS

Crowe & Co, run by Sherry Harvey, is one of New Zealand’s most soughtafter gift providers.

The luxury, affordable gifting business based out of Christchurch began in an unlikely but very Kiwi way.

It started with Audrey Crowe, Sherry’s grandmother and the brand’s namesake. In her humble Auckland kitchen in the 1970s, she baked a fruitcake that was so good that word spread around town, eventually leading to ‘Aud’s Fruitcakes’ becoming a favourite seasonal gift.

In 2013, when Audrey put down her mixing spoon, Sherry, who was working as a television producer in Melbourne at the time, was asked to take on the mantle.

Sherry and her husband kept the business running from their home in Melbourne and would come to Auckland each Christmas season to deliver the cakes. Realising its potential, Sherry’s first step, helped by her expertise in advertising, was to turn it into a legitimate brand; Crowe and Co Foods was born. In 2015 her family moved back to New Zealand.

A move to Christchurch was a catalyst for directing the company towards the broader gifting sector.

Fast forward to 2023, Sherry has grown Crowe & Co into a major player in the premium gift sector, developing a network of clients and suppliers.

She now has a range of around 80 themed gift boxes and the option for bespoke gifting.

This success is down to Sherry’s tailored approach, meaning offerings can be made entirely unique for a client. Whether it’s a

small business looking to impress its clients or a large corporation looking for a special gift for its executives, she has the experience and expertise to deliver exactly what her clients need – including bespoke branding.

Sherry says that the secret to this is “providing happiness” and “creating memories” by including elements that elongate the feeling of joy when being given a gift.

This has been noticed by her corporate clients.

“We pride ourselves in providing a highend corporate gifting service, taking a problem off their hands, and bringing their gifting plan to life.”

Gift boxes contain premium products from champagne to chocolate, health and beauty products, candles, beautiful gold and silver beaded wooden trays and for the Christmas boxes, Aud’s fruitcake – still made to the original recipe.

They have a great range of gift boxes for any occasion – whether it’s a corporate gift, birthday or anniversary, or a ‘thinking of you’ box. There are even popular options for children like the ‘Bath Time’ and the ‘Box of Fun’, or those just for a night out like ‘Margarita Moment’. Also, proving a hit is an option to build your own. In the ‘Build Your Own Box’ section, you’re guided through a range of premium products and everything you need to construct the perfect gift for any person.

As Crowe & Co continues to grow, spurred on by Sherry’s entrepreneurial spirit, one thing will stay at the core of the business – its commitment to quality.

croweandco.co.nz

LEADING AND LEARNING

St. Margaret’s College has a rich history of empowering girls and a strong network of Old Girls globally.

As two Old Girls and current teachers at SMC, Year 7 and 8 Dean and mathematics teacher

Nicole Lloyd and visual arts teacher Lucy Mackie are continuing this tradition by creating opportunities for the next generation of wāhine toa. Programmes introduced by Nicole and Lucy aim at upskilling girls in diverse areas and encouraging them to take on new challenges.

Lucy says, “The girls we see in our senior classes are confident in their decisions, wellrounded, and not afraid of a challenge. The special character of SMC means our girls feel connected to something bigger than themselves, whether that’s helping with Junior and Middle School arts clubs or helping coach sports teams.”

Building connections is part of a programme Nicole has introduced for Middle School girls, The SMC Challenge, which also encourages the adoption of new hobbies, learning new skills, and making a difference. The challenges develop accountability, organisational skills, creativity, and leadership and encourage the girls to motivate one another.

Nicole says, “The first year of the challenge is a learning year for our Year 7s, and by Year 8, the girls are making leaps to find their own individual strengths and passions and to be the best versions of themselves.”

The initiative complements a residential programme that Lucy has set up for Middle School students, Aspiring Filmmakers. This programme prepares girls for changes to the New Zealand curriculum to include film and photography while giving them the space and time to foster creativity and the ability to think critically.

While Nicole is focused on teaching Middle School students, Lucy teaches visual arts across St Margaret’s College’s Senior, Middle, and Junior schools.

Lucy says, “You change your hat when you go from teaching a Year 13 photography class to a Year 5 visual arts class, but the questions are the same; it’s a case of modifying the programme for the student’s age and stage.”

With one daughter at the SMC Pre-School and another in the Junior School, Lucy sees real benefits in her daughters learning from subject-specific teachers, as well as from Junior School trained teachers. The rōpū tuakana-teina (big sister-little sister) culture of the College also means a lot to Lucy.

“Our youngest girls look up to our senior girls as leaders, but there are also benefits for our older girls in spending time with our Junior girls. It’s a truly reciprocal relationship, which we see in our art and sports clubs and the wider life of the College.”

Nicole also sees the power of the big sister-little sister relationships through buddy and peer support programmes, and also as a coach of korfball and netball. She is currently preparing for the Korfball World Championships in October in Taiwan, the second time New Zealand has qualified, and Nicole will represent her country.

Nicole says, “Korfball is a growing sport, and since I have introduced it to SMC, we are seeing more and more girls playing, bringing their friends to practice. It’s a fast-paced sport; it requires everyone on the team to get involved. We have a great mix of competitive and social players.”

Looking for opportunities to help others is something Lucy has taken from her own time at SMC. She is currently training to become a tour guide at the Christchurch Art Gallery, and as well as imparting her knowledge to visitors to the gallery, she looks forward to bringing a new dimension to her classroom teaching as a result.

Lucy says, “SMC looks different from my time as a student, but it feels just the same; it has the same spirit of empowerment.’

stmargarets.school.nz

ON AN IDEA

The idea for Wild Skin Cuticle Oils came to Cinnamon Laubscher when she was talking to her nail technician.

“The nail tech was talking about cuticle products that were in the form of a pen, but she had to import them from the UK, and it was so expensive and took forever. I asked her if I came up with a similar organic product, would she purchase from me. And she’s like, ‘Yeah, sure’.”

So armed with an idea, Cinnamon began researching certified organic products and how to make cuticle oil. She secured a supplier for oils and cartridges and, along with her husband, invested some money into the business to get it started.

While the business had been running successfully for two years, she came across Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu, which offers funding streams for tangata whenua living in Te Waipounamu (South Island), Rakiura (Stewart Island), and Rekohu/Wharekauri (Chatham Island). She saw this as an opportunity to expand her range and reach new customers.

After applying, Cinnamon was accepted for funding and was humbled by the support she

received, with support for everything from IRD sessions to packaging and promotion and well-being checks.

“I feel very privileged to be Māori and supported in growing my business. Serving, being humble and hospitable are predominant qualities in Māori culture. So being able to translate that into my business is incredibly important. If you can establish a pakihi (business) that offers support and well-being to your customers, it makes it a lot more satisfying.”

And that is what the product is all about, well-being. On top of nourishing and ‘taming’ cuticles, she says it helps us take a moment.

“We all have, in some way, wild lives; we have responsibilities, stress, anxiety, and things that we just need to do. All of these things take from us. Wild Skin Cuticle Oils allow us to take a moment for ourselves in the middle of our day.”

Wild Skin is vegan, cruelty-free, and New Zealand made. It is stocked in 10 retailers, including Ōtautahi’s Hapa, and 90 nail technicians and beauticians nationwide, and is available through the website.

wildskin.co.nz

BY DESIGN

A place to savour

Christchurch’s hospitality scene has an inviting new addition for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Elements by IHF at The Crossing combines upmarket ambience with nutritious, contemporary cuisine.

WORDS Kim Newth PHOTOS Mick Stephenson

Exploring The Crossing in the heart of central Christchurch is always a pleasure. Wandering through the laneways, courtyard and upper-level array of shops and eateries, you never know what you might find.

Newly opened on the first floor is Elements by IHF, located just across the arcade from the IHF Health Club. Launched two years ago, the club offers a ‘best of everything’ health and fitness experience to its members. ‘Everyday luxury’ is the tagline, and that same ethos can be seen at play in Elements too, from the warm cedar used in the fit-out to the leather-covered dining chairs, ashtopped tables, fluted blue velvet booths, and green living features. Both club and café, owned by Dan Hood, complement each other very well. Elements is the latest chapter in IHF’s brand of excellence story.

With a design that embraces the arcade environment, Elements by IHF feels welcoming and luxurious. Over coffee with IHF’s Group General Manager Adam Prince and builder Nick Hoogervorst, Adam explains that the thinking behind this new offering was to present a contemporary style of New Zealand cuisine in an inviting deluxe setting.

“Our health club offering is more nutritionfocussed, whereas the emphasis here is a little broader though, of course, it’s still all healthy product too, seasonally focussed and using fresh local produce.”

Open seven days from 8am to 3pm, the Elements menu offers an inspired choice of Kiwi favourites with a twist, starting with breakfast tempters like cinnamon and rhubarb porridge, banana brioche French toast, and butternut squash gnocchi. Glutenfree, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian options are all well covered, and there’s a great choice of nutritious sides, smoothies (raw cacao, berry, green matcha), fresh juices (green, orange, and red) and Allpress coffee.

Designed by Wilson and Hill Architects (Stuart Hay), the café fills a space that was previously vacant on this level. The makeover is elegantly in sync with the surrounds, including the iconic Bubbles façade, preexisting steel framing and the nearby health club with cedar detailing. The café’s curved bulkhead, servery and entry wall are all beautifully finished in cedar.

Hoogervorst Builders’ trademark skill and craftsmanship is evident in the quality of the finish. As Nick explains, a fit-out like this

requires exactly the same level of detail as is required for high-spec architectural housing, along with the discipline to deliver to set project deadlines.

“You’ve got to hit those marks and work together as a team,” says Nick.

“We were fortunate to work with a wellput-together team – it made my job really enjoyable. The team effort was led by Dan and Stuart, who were very involved and particular about the details and what went in. That made everything on site quite easy from our perspective.”

Nevertheless, bringing a project together in a busy central city location inevitably comes with its own set of challenges. “It takes a lot of communication and pre-planning to ensure that things will work. The whole team needs to be well-coordinated.”

Elements by IHF is well set up to attract people passing through, as well as the health club’s members, whose ranks have grown substantially since it opened. The health club’s living walls are echoed at Elements with statement planters, a green corner oasis and tranquil water feature.

“Natural features like this are part of our brand identity,” says Adam.

Natural light and statement lighting has been well-balanced to create a relaxing ambience in the interior.

As well as catering for the breakfast/brunch/ lunch market, Adam says Elements is poised to become a superb functions space. It can be neatly closed off from the arcade for evening functions. Elements comfortably seats 70, and its head chef, who was previously based in Melbourne, leads a highly experienced team.

HALSWELL TIMBER

Local supplier, Halswell Timber supplied the stand-out Western Red Cedar, to the length and smooth finish specifications required by the builder to complete this high-end contemporary hospitality project. halswelltimber.co.nz

MONTREUX FURNITURE

The stunning bespoke dining and lounging inclusions created include steel table bases, American Ash timber tops, and DL dining chairs covered with premium NZ leather from Tasman Tannery, beautifully complemented by fluted velvet booths. montreux.co.nz

“We have an engagement party for 60 people coming up and are also in discussions to hold a winemakers’ dinner in the near future. Looking ahead, we think Elements will be ideal for Christmas get-togethers, cocktail parties, and other such functions.”

This café in the heart of our city, on the first floor of The Crossing, is a lovely find. I suspect it is already well on its way to becoming a sought-after hospitality stop for locals and visitors alike. Another great addition to our ever developing inner city.

Wahine toa: Hūria Mātenga

Lynette McFadden Business Owner & Mentor, Harcourts gold @lynette_mcfadden

As a Māori woman, the prospect of writing on a subject like wāhine toa presented both a privilege and a responsibility – it’s a special topic.

But who to write about or mention when you have an obligation to share stories of great meaning and mana? Is it any of the incredible women that make up our top sportspeople, academics, and community heroes… or someone closer, like my beloved mum or grandmother?

Spoilt for choice, after a lot of consideration, reflection, and advice from cousins and family, more learned than I, I have chosen to share the story of an incredible woman that I proudly whakapapa to. Hūria Mātenga, 1840/’42 to 1909, Ngāti Tama, Te Āti Awa, and Ngāti Toa. She was a woman of great mana and a significant landowner.

Born at Whakapuaka (near Nelson), Hūria could trace her genealogy back to the Tokomaru Canoe. She was known for her significant leadership qualities and her hospitality and was also an exceptional weaver. Her marriage, like many at the time, was arranged, and she and her husband were very active in both Māori and European communities.

Hūria’s name and reputation were to gain national prominence when, in 1863, she, along with her husband and three other men, rescued sailors whose boat, the Delaware, had hit rocks at the foot of a cliff at Whakapuaka. It was recorded that Hūria swam out to the boat at the height of the storm, assisting the

captain in taking a lead line and securing it to boulders, allowing the ship to gain some stability, but this proved unsuccessful.

So, instead, she and the others swam out and individually assisted all the stricken crew back to land. All but one were saved.

It was an incredibly heroic feat in lifethreatening circumstances and was deemed to be a selfless act. It was widely reported in the papers of the day, and this act of bravery was acknowledged at the highest levels.

It’s interesting to note that this occurred at a time of armed conflict elsewhere in New Zealand, mainly Taranaki and Waikato, and was considered to be a much-needed example of shared humanity.

I and all my extended whānau grew up with this story, and at home, we had a calendar with Huria’s picture on it hanging in a prominent position in the kitchen. Despite the years changing, the picture stayed, and I remember the quiet pride my father had when talking about who this incredible wahine toa was.

I also learnt that she was painted by Gottfried Lindauer in 1909, who was commissioned by the public of Nelson to acknowledge Hūria’s passing. This picture now resides at Te Papa and can be privately viewed by tīpuna.

Mana, heroism, selflessness, and a commitment to the land and the community encompassed this wonderful woman, and through the genes that my large group of cousins and I have inherited, I hope a little bit of that has rubbed off on all of us.

COLOUR VISION

The Maison 55 Paxton Etagere Bookcase stands tall against a backdrop of Resene Half Tea with a peek-through pink of Resene Contented behind the bookcase and accessories from Frobisher.

Dusky clay tones bring a quiet, calm warmth to interiors. Here, these soft and earthy wall colours are complemented by the dusky tones in the accessories. The white of the sculptural pieces creates a crisp, eye-catching contrast.

Bringing structural intrigue into the space, the Paxton Etagere Bookcase incorporates clean architectural lines and a versatile neutral colour palette. A sleek frame is crafted from elegant, open-grain silver oak and nickel-finished steel.

Creating further interest for the eye is the classic and timeless crafted ceramic and fine bone china of the Pleated Mini vase and Pleated Bud Vase Crafted Ceramic.

The lines of this bookcase are softened by the Opal Bowl from Kristina Dam, with its soft rounded curves and a minimalist expression made from double-layered hand-blown glass. The design is the ideal combination of form and function, and the smooth opal beige glass gives it a retro look.

Flowerpots are multifunctional, serving as a receptacle for your favourite plants but also, as shown here, a wonderful ornament in their own right. These Serene Flowerpots by Kristina Dam are crafted from terracotta with a beautiful sand-coloured look. With a distinct silhouette, the half-circle foot uplifts the tubular flowerpot from the ground. The flowerpot is glazed on the inside, making it waterproof.

While staying minimalist, you can also throw design convention to the wind and have some fun. The Cobra Mini Bubble and Uno Mini sculptures from 101 Copenhagen celebrate the absurd and playful silhouettes of the Cobra Arts Movement of the 1960s. The Cobra collection challenges the balance between soft and consistent shapes, playing with human silhouettes in contrast to architectural building components.

Rounding off the look with form and functionality, the Weave St Ives Throw in Cloud is a simple one-colour design with a subtle basket weave. St Ives is an easy essential, thick, and toasty, made from 100 per cent wool.

Maison 55 Paxton Etagere Bookcase; Bobble Flowerpot Set of Two; Pleated Mini Vase; Pleated Bud Vase; Kristina Dam Opal Bowl; Kristina Dam Serene Flowerpots; 101 Copenhagen Cobra Mini Bubble; 101 Copenhagen Uno Mini; Weave St Ives Throw in Cloud from Frobisher; Resene Half Tea; Resene Contented from Resene ColorShop.

The legacy of a formidable woman

One woman’s mission to challenge – and then change – the status quo saw two initiatives that would forever change the face of nursing in New Zealand.

The first was to take nursing into people’s homes, starting what was to become New Zealand’s first district nursing service.

The second was her determination to improve and standardise training for nurses, which was the driving force behind the establishment of the Nurses Registration Act of 1901.

The name Nurse Maude is seen by most as the organisation that has been providing nursing and home support across Canterbury for almost 130 years.

The real Nurse Maude, however, was a determined and complex person who devoted her life to the poor and sick and introduced district nursing to New Zealand.

Nurse Sibylla Emily Maude was appointed to Christchurch Hospital in 1893 and she tried to make changes in the way the hospital was run; in particular, she pushed for improvements in the conditions and training of nurses.

Unfortunately, she was ahead of her time.

Rather than continue to battle the establishment, she resigned in 1896 and set out to nurse the most marginalised in society, beginning what became New Zealand’s first district nursing service, working from a converted shop in Durham Street dispensing medicines, treating injuries and illnesses, and giving clothes to the needy.

Behind Nurse Maude’s uncompromising and direct approach was real compassion and empathy for those most in need of her care. “The most cruel thing you can do”, she often said, “is to take away a family’s self-respect.”

In 1904 Nurse Maude set up the tuberculosis camps, and in 1918 led the nursing during the influenza epidemic, which was to kill more people worldwide than the First World War.

Honoured with the Order of the British Empire in 1934, she only accepted it on the condition it was presented to her privately.

Nurse Maude died on July 12 1935, in Christchurch. People lined the streets of the city for her funeral, and she was later remembered in two stained glass windows, one in the chapel at Christchurch Hospital and another in the chapel of the Community of the Sacred Name.

Today the organisation that carries her name continues to be an integral part of the community, with its base in Merivale. From this hub it provides district nursing and hospice and community palliative care. Though technology, training, and services available have changed, the patient has remained at the centre of Nurse Maude’s practices.

Currently, it is raising money to build a new $10 million hospice for the people of Canterbury, where it will continue to provide end-of-life care free of charge to patients and their families. Information on this fundraising campaign can be found on the organisation’s website.

nursemaude.org.nz

Clockwise from top left: Sibylla Maude established a legacy of care; An artist’s impression of Nurse Maude’s new hospice, they are currently raising funds for this facility; Nurse Maude continues to take nursing on the road – every day of the year; Nurse Maude was the first district nursing service in New Zealand and continues this tradition today.

A positive solution

After struggles with their mental health and loss, Zane Tate and Helena Lowe knew they needed to do something to help provide meaningful change to New Zealand’s mental health statistics.

With previous event management experience, the pair set out to create an event unlike any in Ōtautahi, The Gala, held at the city’s Art Gallery.

With an emphasis on extravagance, the pair have created an ethereal experience where all are welcome in a safe and expressive space. All the while, funds raised are sent to mental health advocate Mike King’s charities, Gumboot Friday, and I Am Hope – with Mike providing support and cohosting the event.

The further motivation behind The Gala comes from Mike’s change-making.

Zane quotes Mike, saying, “It’s time to stop throwing negatives at the problem of suicide and to start throwing positives at the solution.”

Mike’s work in the space is leading to solutions. Helena says that “every cent Gumboot Friday raises goes into counselling sessions.”

Zane says, “It [Gumboot Friday] is a tangible thing these kids need. They can be on waiting lists for up to a year to enter the public system. And so if you’re a 13-yearold kid, and you’re struggling, being told that you have to wait a year to go and see somebody, that’s a lifetime. So having Gumboot Friday step in and give them a series of counselling sessions is massive for the kids and their families.”

Helena and Zane held their first event last year. Guests were treated to an event “unlike anything in the city”.

A key part of the event is the theme, with last year’s being Camp, which guests are encouraged to dress to.

Zane says that they allow people to be as extravagant as they want to be, with many choosing to have outfits made specifically for the event. This year’s theme is Higher Love: Fashion +

A Euphoric Embodiment

A key aspect of The Gala is its party atmosphere and live entertainment. The pair are keeping their cards close to their chests but assure guests will be in for a few surprises.

“It’s on a grand sort of theatrical scale. And the entertainment this year is even bigger and more grand than what we did last year,” Zane says.

With guests’ appetite for an extravaganza sufficiently whetted, they will also be kept well fed with high end catering. Canapés and champagne will be served throughout the night while guests interact with each other in a safe space.

Alongside the pair have been a number of people working hard behind the scenes to make The Gala a continued success, including sponsors and people on the ground. Two key women lending their skills are creative Charlie Rose Jackson and Ali Rossiter, from Epic Entertainment – both vital to the event’s theatrical feel and entertainment offerings.

Early bird tickets are currently available for the event on 5 August.

For sponsorship, donations or volunteer inquiries, contact Zane at info@idcollective.co.nz or Helena at helena@helenalowe.com.

@thegalachch

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Charlie Jackson, Helena Lowe, Mike King, Zane Tate, and Ali Rossiter.

PHOTO Charlie Rose Creative HAIR Kelly Shephard

MAKE UP Hannah Wilson SHOES

The Shoe Curator MIKE’S SUIT Kingsman Suit Hire

Kaitorete Spit is technically the best site in Aotearoa for aerospace.

David Perenara-O’Connell talks about Tāwhaki on Kaitorete Spit.

Reaching for the stars

The moment you turn off State Highway 1 and head towards Kaitorete, you immediately feel like you’re in a different place to anywhere else in Waitaha (Canterbury),” says David Perenara-O’Connell, referring to the long finger of land that juts west from Banks Peninsula between Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) and the Pacific Ocean.

This place is home to Tāwhaki, a partnership established between Wairewa Rūnanga and Te Taumutu Rūnanga – the communities at either end of Kaitorete who are mana whenua for this special place – and the Crown. The name speaks to the history of the demi-god Tāwhaki, and the future of people and the planet is at the heart of the partnership.

The 50/50 joint venture is embedded with two key purposes – to heal and rejuvenate the whenua (land) and to advance Aotearoa’s aerospace industry.

Tāwhaki was seeded by mana whenua’s fundamental focus to rejuvenate the land and rebuild communities. That seed grew through conversations between mana whenua, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, ChristchurchNZ, and the Department of Conservation around the site’s unique values – both in the sense of environment and potential for innovation – and in May 2021, the root of Tāwhaki appeared.

The venture is based on Kaitorete as a location: it is technically the best site in Aotearoa for aerospace and space launch activity. Vast skies, clear airways, remote seas

to the south and easy access to international seaports, airports, world-class universities, and Aotearoa’s second-largest city – all of this unlocked the idea of aerospace as our transformational economic opportunity.

Now Tāwhaki has established itself as Aotearoa’s first multi-use aerospace research site, already providing services to some local operators – Dawn Aerospace, Kea Aerospace, Swoop Aero, Aerosearch, and Pyper Vision – to test, research and trial their innovative technologies and gathering invaluable data.

Tāwhaki holds deep values and principles, yet innovation thrives on flexibility and the possible, so it’s a partnership that has a fine balance. David says operators coming to test their technologies understand what the whenua is grounded in, while the rūnanga recognise there’s a realm of innovation they can enable. This approach is captured in a whakatauki, “While we look to the sky, so must we keep our feet firmly in the whenua.”

The aerospace companies involved with Tāwhaki are committed to job creation and environmental sustainability – all of which will provide regenerative opportunities for our communities, city, and region. This commitment is an international drawcard for people who see the connection between our indigenous people, space, and environmental rejuvenation.

Ōtautahi Christchurch is the centre for aerospace in Aotearoa.

“We’ve got all the core ingredients to make this the centrepiece for the country’s space industry in the 21st century,” David says.

Sponsored by ChristchurchNZ who support Christchurch’s aerospace cluster.

Women in food

Kate Underwood, Food Editor @relishthememory @eat.newzealand

The last few months have sparked some inspiring moments for women in this country, particularly in food. On the back of Jacinda Arden’s poignant valedictorian speech, International Women’s Day, and the announcement of Cuisine Magazine’s Top 50 Influential & Inspiring Women in Food & Drink (WIFDNZ), I got thinking about the intersection between women and food.

It’s exciting to see a space dedicated to celebrating the collective achievement of women who work across the food sector in New Zealand. When Cuisine Magazine editor Kelli Brett created the WIFDNZ, part of her intention was to build a supportive and connected community.

In my realm of work, I’m lucky to be surrounded by hundreds of inspiring women who are thriving across all levels of the culinary chain. I’d genuinely fill this entire column trying to list them all. But to give you an idea, there are butchers, sheep and beef farmers, hunters, winemakers, distillers, market gardeners, food scientists, food waste heroes, entrepreneurs, chefs, and hospitality legends.

Even the more unseen roles tend to be filled by women, such as farmers’ market managers, event coordinators, community leaders, volunteers, seed savers, gardeners, picklers, and so many more. From my experience observing the food system, these women are often the glue that keeps it all functioning or those with a conviction to gather people together around the table.

Women, and those who identify as women, often embody a deep desire to nurture by providing nourishment through kai. I personally believe the feminine energy that surrounds food is something that can’t always be seen but, instead, felt. It is often affiliated with traits such as love, receptivity, compassion, and care.

Both in and out of the kitchen, our socio-cultural food narrative is entwined in gender roles and identity. Despite a public façade dominated by male chefs, women’s presence in food preparation and home kitchens has existed for generations. There’s a sense of nostalgia weaved into it too. Nothing compares to the comfort of your grandmother’s chicken soup. My nana Merle is that for me. A true nurturer, a woman of World War Two, and a highly successful nurse who loved to cook. Her baking tins were always full, and that was her love language.

In line with a genuine global tradition, many of NZ’s most-loved restaurants are named after women – from Rita to Lilian, Ada to Fleurs Place, Ima and Coco’s Cantina. A nod to mother figures, who are often the first strong culinary influence. Without even setting foot inside, I assume these spaces are innately warm and inviting – where I’ll feel cared for.

I’m looking forward to seeing the depth and diversity of women in the world of food continue to expand. The more wāhine we see represented, the more we can collectively dispel any pre-conceived narratives and focus on celebrating the varied and valuable role femininity plays within food and beyond.

MID-YEAR DELIGHTS

WARM YOUR SOUL

Hearty, beautifully cooked, and full of mouth-watering flavour, the 55-day aged beef ribeye at Earl is a must on any winter warming list. Proving the power of simple foods done perfectly, this beloved dish pairs its expertly prepared meat with smoked potato and charred onions, plus a healthy dose of garlic butter, for good measure. Offset rainy days by cosying up in the warm fit-out of Earl this winter. earl.co.nz

SUPER BREW

With winter upon us, one drink is called for – hot chocolate. Bennetto’s Organic Super Food Hot Chocolate is handmade in Christchurch and packs a chocolate punch but is refined sugar-free, thanks to coconut sugar. It’s also full of superfoods: maca, raw cacao, and lucuma. All are well known to contain a high concentration of antioxidants which can naturally support energy levels. bennetto.co.nz

GRATER RETURNS

Investing in high-growth, sustainable business is good for the planet and your bank account. Private company investment is a great way to diversify your portfolio, as it can provide protection against forces that might impact public shares. Local plantbased food producers, Grater Goods, are offering you the opportunity to be a co-owner as they raise money to expand into the Australian market. Minimum investment is just $300.

equitise.com/offer/grater-goods

CELEBRATE MUM

The Christchurch Tramway Restaurant is a fantastic option for celebrating all sorts of special occasions! The curated dining experience offering local produce is rated one of the country’s top 10 fine dining establishments by Tripadvisor, and travelling through the streets of central Christchurch while dining offers a unique outlook. The team are offering an exclusive Mother’s Day lunch service in addition to their evening dinner service on Sunday 14 May: see their website for details and bookings to treat Mum or someone special. christchurchattractions.nz

Sam Parish @sam.parish.food

Queens of cake

Vintage cake is trending – and CHCH has it sorted. Sam Parish sought out the women of Christchurch embracing the very on-trend ‘Lambeth’/feminine-style cakes – elegant over-piping, garlands, glacé cherries, and lots of hidden details. These cakers have made moist magnificence their mission.

FULL TIME TART

A self-trained lockdown-caker, Sophie (Full Time Tart) made a U-turn post-covid and leaned into the drama of the cake world. She’s now doing seven to eight weddings a weekend, all baked in her tiny domestic oven, and churning out treats for multiple eateries (Six Ounces and General Post being two of them). Based in Prices Valley, Soph uses local eggs, hazelnuts, and fruit for her cakes. Her uniquely moist cakes have all been created to develop in flavour post-bake, meaning by the time it gets to you, it’s even better than when it came out of the oven (genius). She is always channelling a wet element to her cakes, like plums, boiled oranges, raspberries, chocolate, and coffee, then incorporating crunchy elements like pralines for texture and deliciousness.

GULA KATE’S CAKERY

Sarah Chin is the owner and visionary behind Gula. Malaysian-born, Sarah moved to Christchurch when she was 17. At 19 and as a less-than-seasoned baker, Sarah got interested in the science of baking through the infamous show Good Eats by Alton Brown. And it was then that life turned to cake. Gaining a level four bakery and level five patisserie at Ara, Sarah went on to work across multiple Christchurch institutions like J’aime les Macarons, Rollickin Gelato, and Le Bakermen (where she still works parttime). Wanting to share her baking, Sarah started her own food truck in 2022. Her fluffy sponge cake is out of this world, and her commitment to fresh flavoured cream is a Gula trademark.

From Super Mario-inspired fondant cakes to vintage piped Bridgerton-esque pink buttercream showstoppers, Kate’s Cakery can do it all things cake. Established in 2015, Kate has recently had to expand because of demand for her cakes, and she now operates out of a renovated double garage turned commercial kitchen/office laden with pink balloons and a retail space offering everything from cake dowels to sprinkles. Kate trained in Blenheim, then moved to Christchurch to specialise in patisserie. She has worked at both Sweet Kitchen and Sugar Babe Cakery, where she fine-tuned her skills. Tucking into her classic white chocolate and raspberry cake with Swiss meringue buttercream and decorated with local Wildly Wilted dried flowers, I could tell she was the goods.

Sophie Petersen | @fulltimetart

Kate Munt | @katescakerynz

Sarah Chin | @ilovegula

THE CAKE EATING COMPANY

Jamie Prouting | @thecakeeatingco

Jamie Pouting wanted to be “a chef that just does desserts”. Along with her bakerhusband, Kade, Jamie has been able to do just that with Sydenham-based The Cake Eating Company. They create bespoke cakes and run a small café with cake by the slice and other treats Wednesday-Saturday. Jamie is a trained chef and self-trained caker.

Training in Christchurch, she has followed mentors like Clare Clarke, international pastry chef of French Laundry and Kirsten Tibbals, internationally acclaimed Australian pastry chef. The Cake Eating Company has forged a path where the flavour comes first. We’re talking brownie cakes sandwiched between mud cakes with 45 per cent

milk chocolate and ganache spiked with passionfruit and toasted coconut. Jamie is always thinking about tartness, richness, and saltiness – using them to balance a cake. Jamie doesn’t hold back with the decorations; she loves variety and using colour in monochrome, and adding texture with sprays and glazes.

BETTER HEALTH WITH SPROUTS

The naturally nutritious superfood

A rich source of living vitamins, minerals, protein, fibre, and antioxidants

Enhance energy and boost vitality

Support brain development and hormone function

Stimulate the immune system to protect against disease

Economical nourishment for whole body well-being

Lower cholesterol and help increase bone density

Chargrilled Chicken Tacos

Scoundrel, the exciting new bar and restaurant concept from the team (led by Avi and Lois) behind the popular Six Ounces café and bar in Merivale, is set to make its mark in Christchurch. Located on St Asaph Street, Scoundrel will be housed in a converted warehouse space, adding a unique and trendy ambience to the dining scene in the city. Scoundrel is poised to bring a fresh and exciting dining experience to Christchurch. Stay tuned for the grand opening and get ready to indulge in delicious tacos and more at this eagerly anticipated bar and restaurant.

SERVES 4–6

Chargrilled chicken

6 chicken thighs

2 tbsp paprika

2 tsp ground cumin seeds

2 tsp ground coriander seeds

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Cayenne/chilli flakes (optional)

2 tbsp olive oil

Tortilla

4 cups Tio Pablo masa harina

A pinch of salt

Filling options

Black beans

Pico de gallo

Hot sauce or salsa

In a bowl, mix everything but the chicken. Add the chicken and mix with your hands to ensure an even coating. Cover and leave in the fridge overnight.

In your barbecue, build a wee fire with kindling, and when the wood is properly lit, add a scoop of coal (briquettes, not lump wood as they burn at a more consistent heat). Once most of the coals are lit (they have some grey in them), spread them out and add another scoop of coal. Once most of the new coals are lit, spread evenly again, leaving one side of the grill (about a quarter) without coals. Chuck the grill on top and let it get nice and hot. Add the chicken thighs and get a nice char before trying to flip, as the chicken will stick until then. Flip, get that side charred. Move to the side without coals and put the lid on with some airflow. Cook a further 15–20 mins. Take off the grill and rest for 10–15 mins. Dice.

For the tortilla, mix four cups of Tio Pablo masa harina with just over two cups of warm water and a decent pinch of salt with your fingers. Form a dough. It should be quite sticky and able to form a ball. Rest for 20 mins in the bowl under a damp tea towel. Take a small ball of the mix (if crumbly, add a teaspoon of water and knead again, repeat until slightly sticky and not very crumbly). Between two pieces of baking paper, press in a tortilla press (or under a pot). Place into a hot, flat pan and as soon as there is any colour, flip it, and cook until lightly browned on each side. Remove and place in a stack under a clean tea towel. Flip the whole stack so you’re using the oldest ones first (they will be nice and soft).

Build your taco, starting with some black beans, then the chicken, pico de gallo, and a hot sauce or salsa.

Gion Delight

PINK COCKTAIL WITH SAKE

Sachie Nomura is the founder and chef of Sachie’s Kitchen, Australasia’s largest Asian Cooking School, and executive producer and host of Sachie’s Kitchen TV show. Sachie is passionate about raising the profile of women as she is a female immigrant entrepreneur herself. Sachie believes great food and drinks can transport us back in time to great feelings and can instantly change our emotions for the better.

Having spent a decade being schooled by some of New Zealand’s and Japan’s leading chefs, Sachie’s dream is to pass on her passion for Asian culture and cuisine by demystifying the perceived complexity of Asian cooking, making it easily replicated at home.

Sachie is a Lexus New Zealand ambassador, and Lexus is proud to share Sachie’s Gion Delight cocktail for the perfect accompaniment to any gathering. This cocktail was crafted by Sachie for Lexus with a special nod to Japanese culture with the addition of sake. “I wanted to introduce sake to people who may not have had it before. I wanted to give people inspiration to use it. As for the colour – pink always works well!”

SERVES 1

2 oz (60ml) watermelon water

2 oz (60ml) pink grapefruit cordial

2 oz (60ml) sake (please do not use cooking sake)

100ml lemon lime and bitters

Garnish

Slice of watermelon

Fresh as Sugar Mix (Mix crushed “Fresh As” raspberry or strawberry powder with white sugar)

Mint leaves

Ice cubes

Wet the edge of the glass with little water (I dip the glass edge in a bowl of water), then dip the edge of the glass into your sugar and raspberry or strawberry mix to coat.

Half-fill the glass with ice and add watermelon, pink grapefruit cordial, and sake. Top up with lemon lime and bitters. Garnish with a slice of watermelon and mint leaves on the side. Serve with a straw.

Remove the sake from the recipe for a mocktail.

sachieskitchen.com

Displaying diversity

Hannah Harte Patreon: HRMNZ | @hannah_harte_

Finding a gallery to exhibit is daunting for new and emerging artists, especially those who are self-taught like me. Recently, scrolling on Instagram, following various galleries and local artists, I spotted a beautiful building in the heart of Linwood, full of gorgeous works of art. Clicking on the website, I read an open call for local artists for several upcoming group exhibitions and thought, “Why not?”

Much to my surprise, my pitch was accepted. It is hard to describe how amazing it feels to be included as part of the artistic makeup of Ōtautahi.

A wonderfully diverse array of works from 14 local artists, including myself, currently call Linwood Arts Eastside Gallery home. First Steps 2023, which has been an annual event for over 25 years, features new works from local artists with a particular openness to those who have not shown anywhere before.

Community arts development coordinator Liz Bolt’s dedication to the gallery exemplifies the mission statement of “community development via participation in our three creative spaces and artist development through our exhibition programme”, having assembled many exhibitions with evocative titles such as What Are You Looking At? and Brilliant Vibrant Women.

I met up with Liz to find out more about this wonderful hub of creativity. The building,

constructed in 1909, is exceptionally well utilised, containing a main gallery space that doubles as an area for events such as African drumming, dance, and life drawing, a smaller, more permanent exhibition space, and a large room full of art supplies that hosts various extremely affordable or free art classes for children, adults, and families.

Liz is incredibly warm and friendly, full of passion for her community, and a major figure in the revitalisation of the “inner city East” that has suffered due to earthquakes, social issues, and various economic hardships.

To Liz, First Steps “encapsulates a microcommunity idea, in that we have all these different styles of art on the walls… and yet, if I’ve done my job properly, then they are sitting together, in a kind of harmony. Community, to me, is where a diverse range of people come together with respect for one another. In a way, you have a microcosm of community right on the walls… the community aim (or objective) flourishing and finding realisation.”

We are incredibly lucky to have such a well-curated, extremely accessible space, bursting with exhibition opportunities in Christchurch, and I, for one, can’t wait to attend some of the exciting classes offered and enjoy many more opening nights full of brilliant artworks from the creative hearts of Ōtautahi’s artists.

GOAL

Xanthe Jane, a Year 13 student from Rangiora High School, was part of a squad of 18 talented young footballers in the New Zealand Secondary Schools U-19 girls’ team that has just completed a twoweek tour in Texas.

“The requirements to play [for the NZSS] were that we must play football for our schools XI; we were then selected based on our performance at New Zealand Secondary Schools Nationals, the National Youth and Women’s League, and various other tournaments and games.”

Xanthe started playing club football for Waimak United. She has since played for Rangiora Highschool and currently plays for Coastal Spirit. She says she has found inspiration in the local football scene, family, and school.

“My biggest inspiration is the Canterbury Pride National Women’s League team. I always enjoyed watching their games, being a

mascot, and walking out with the players. This accessibility to a more competitive women’s side helped me to set goals and inspired me for my future in the game.”

“In my time playing football for Rangiora High School, I have been lucky enough to play with some of my idols, such as Gabi Rennie (Football Fern) and Macey Fraser (Futsal Fern). This was such an amazing experience, where I was able to learn a lot from players I continue to idolise.”

She says her teacher Elise Brambley has also been immensely supportive in school football.

After graduating at the end of this year, Xanthe hopes to continue her football career.

“I am hoping to head back over to America for college next year. Fortunately, I was able to use this trip as an opportunity for scouts to see me. I’m not too sure where I will end up yet, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens!”

“I would also love to represent New Zealand; this has always been a big dream of mine.”

Do you know a young person who deserves some recognition? Email editor@avenues.net.nz

“Why blend in when you can stand out?”

PNKGEM

1995 Ford Fairmont V8, 2008 New Zealand conversion to a six-passenger stretch-limousine

OWNED BY Wendy AS TOLD TO Liam Stretch

Who knew simply typing the word ‘pink’ into TradeMe would lead to building a fleet of six limousines?

Arriving on February 14, 2011, we had a week of fun and laughter sharing the Pink Limo with Christchurch, where she turned heads, stopped traffic, and made people laugh out loud, bringing moments of pure joy to those around her.

In the months following the February ’11 earthquakes, we would just go driving, randomly stopping in places where people would come and chat, sit in the limo, and we would take their photos. This led to us meeting their friends and family and taking them for rides – helping to bring their happy back.

When a stretch-limousine rolls up your drive, and the driver rolls out the pink carpet to welcome you, people just laugh out loud. So many people hug our drivers and thank them for the best time of their life.

Do you think limousines are only for weddings? We have 12 years of fabulous memories. School leaving dinners and formals, restaurant rides, wine tours, concerts and shows, or people simply celebrating life in style. My favourites are the children’s birthday rides. Why blend in when you can stand out?

pinklimo.co.nz

Hana

HOON HAY

“When I came here, I experienced discrimination. I accepted it at first because I’d already experienced discrimination in Singapore as an indigenous Malay. I thought it was okay because I’m a foreigner here in New Zealand. But when I left NZ for two years, I came back older and wiser. I was like, ‘No, I shouldn’t take this!’ I’m still human. I still contribute. I pay taxes. I am a resident. I’ve been here for a long time. I have done so much for the community. I have spent more of my adult years in New Zealand, so I’m more Kiwi than Singaporean.

“But I officially had to change my name to Hana to get job interviews. Also, in my culture, women don’t take the husband’s name. We maintain our father’s name. But when I got married, I took my Kiwi Pākehā husband’s name. I asked my parents for permission. I still have both names on my passport because the name given to me is part of my culture. That’s who I am. Nur Farhanah – it means light of happiness in Arabic.

“Changing my name helped. I started getting interviews, but when they are for full-time roles, I won’t get it even when I have the skills.

“That’s why I set up AMWA (Aotearoa Multicultural Women Association). It is already hard enough to be a woman, but then you add other marginalised identities: an accent and looking different. Through AMWA, I organise workshops on CV writing, cover letter, interviews, and networking. I also introduce new activities to help them socialise and feel less isolated.

“New Zealand can only benefit from diversity in thoughts. All these people with great skills want to contribute to New Zealand and should be given the opportunity to.

“When the women join AMWA, one of the first things I teach them is te reo Māori, even if their English is not fluent. They learn their pepeha, mihi, and how to say kia ora. I always tell them that we must respect the people of the land; this is their land, they came first, and they have paved the way for us.”

facebook.com/humansofchch