Avenues, November 2022

Alpine View Serviced Apartments

Alpine View has an 80m2 serviced apartment available and ready for occupation.

The beautifully sited apartment has panoramic views, two living areas and generous storage.

Located in The Lodge, residents have easy access to state-ofthe-art facilities including a bar, restaurant, cafe, library, movie theatre, salon, heated indoor pool and spa, gym and more.

A subsidiary of

For more information contact Louise (027 614 4170) or Jackie (027 397 8226)

YEAH

Christmas mince pie season. Huzzah! It’s upon us; now eat!

Lorde is headlining Electric Ave 2023 – catch us in the front row for that one.

The mute function on group chats. We can’t hear youuuuuuu.

The Remembering Christchurch Facebook page has so many nostalgic gems!

Resene Covert is a desirable soft warm sugared violet, romantic and feminine.

NAH

The obligatory ‘blossoms in Hagley Park’ social media post from everyone.

Bluetooth speakers blaring from cyclists – headphones, anyone? Grr.

Servers who tell you, ‘we do things a little different here,’ and it’s just… sharing plates.

Couples sitting at tables for four – your handbag doesn’t require a seat, Denise!

The daylight savings scramble. Why is it still hard to get used to in November?!

EDITOR’S NOTE

Getting crafty

Talking with creative brains is my jam. I’m lucky it is a frequent experience in the amazing role I have here at Avenues You’d never catch me picking up a paintbrush – in fact, I can’t draw or paint to save my life. Meanwhile, my fiancé is an award-winning pastry chef who designed and painted his logo, takes his own photos, and even delved into crochet as a side hobby. Phew. Yin and yang, they say.

I guess I have, in my later years, come to recognise my work with words as an art form. Reluctantly, I might add. I even won awards for my poetry in my teen years (quelle horreur – it was truly awful prose, as you can well imagine). I love to write, and I have a firm passion for connecting with human beings and crafting up a story that has meaning for the reader, but also the subject. Yet, it’s interesting how you tend to minimise your own abilities when they come so naturally. I bet that’s how Da Vinci felt! Ha.

Enough of me waxing lyrical – the team have managed to compile yet another marvellous issue, packed with creative brains! Kim chats with Lee from our city’s own Encraftment Market, and I speak with Amber, who founded Craft Without Borders. We also have a celebration of Felt – Aotearoa’s online marketplace for Kiwi-made goods, which recently turned 15. Kia ora, Felt!

So much creativity, all in one issue. I’m off to burn my high school yearbooks. I know there’s poetry in there somewhere.

Joshua Brosnahan Editor

2 Novemberlaunching shopping eveningChristmas

Join us for an evening of shopping as we celebrate the launch of our Christmas Publication. Come instore between 5:00PM - 8:00PM to enjoy tastings, demonstrations, inspiration and all things Christmas.

Spend your evening exploring our most-wanted festive fashion, discovering this season’s dreamiest decorations and getting a head start on your Christmas Shopping.

Enjoy spot prizes, learning about our products from local suppliers and some exciting festive-themed demonstrations across the entire store.

Avenues.

THE TEAM

Publisher Lisa Phelan lisa@27publishers.co.nz

Editor Joshua Brosnahan joshua@27publishers.co.nz

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

Deputy Editor Liam Stretch liam@27publishers.co.nz Accounts & Admin Hilary Armstrong accounts@27publishers.co.nz Advertising Shelley Eccleton shelley@27publishers.co.nz

PRINT

Blueprint, Christchurch

CONTRIBUTORS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

Federico Corradi, Centuri Chan, Dr Reuben Woods, Clinton Lloyd Photography, Sarah Rowlands, Wendy Riley, Ali Jones, Lynette McFadden, Kim Newth, Chloe Mundy, Auckland Museum, National Library of New Zealand, Courtney Schimanski, Richard Dalman, Charlie Rose Jackson, Shelley Sweeney, Jen McBride

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

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Morgan & Pollard’s award-winning landscape project at Rolleston School, from above. Shot by Clinton Lloyd.

GIVE US A LIFT

Sick of hitting your head on cupboard doors while trying to put away dishes? Ask for Aventos by Blum. Blum’s Aventos lift systems are an inspiring range of hardware for wall cabinetry in your home. By lifting the cabinet doors up instead of out, Aventos gives users easy access to contents and full freedom of movement without impeding their kitchen space. Best of all, the fronts stay exactly where you want, thanks to the variable stop, keeping the cupboard doors within easy reach for closing. Even large and heavy fronts will open with the ultimate ease, with an uninterrupted, smooth design and close softly again thanks to Blumotion. Find more inspirational ideas for a better quality of living at the Blum Showroom in Christchurch. blum.com/aventos

SCENT CHIC

Frater has boldly taken its place in the fragrance scene with a unique range of luxury scents. From a perfume house in Wellington, the craftspeople behind these unisex fragrances have created olfactory memories of time and place, like the Cherry Pop, reminiscent of fruit cake with a tobacco twist. Its floral heart of sweet acacia, jasmine, and heliotrope is balanced by bourbon vanilla and tonka bean, carrying the gourmand character into the dry down, while the fragrance is anchored by sandalwood. The scents are matured for months in a naturally temperate environment and turned daily, resulting in refined results. frater.com

HERE’S JONNY

Jonny Niesche (@jonnyhonky) is an artist everyone here at Avenues HQ is currently coveting on Instagram. We are obsessed with his abstract, bold works, shown everywhere from New York to Sydney and even little ol’ Tāmaki Makaurau. Check out his website for a laundry list of up-and-coming and current exhibits. jonnyniesche.com

SHOWCASE SOLUTION

Vinylrax is a custom-designed system for vinyl lovers, by vinyl lovers. It’s the ultimate solution for showcasing your favourite albums while leaving them easily accessible for playing. Simply slide them out to use, and the brackets can be removed and reused without marking walls or leaving holes. vinylrax.com.au

BODHI BEDROOM

Upholstered in a flax-hued fabric and resting on deeply-textured legs in a bronze finish, Pottery Barn’s Bodhi Bench is a chic addition to the bedroom or entryway. This versatile piece is ideal as seating or as a perfect spot to stack your current reading list or keep a cosy throw handy. ballantynes.co.nz

PRIMART

The Gorillaz Art Book is here! It’s hard to believe it, but it’s all about celebrating two decades of The Gorillaz, the English virtual band formed in 1998 by musician Damon Albarn (from ’90s indie band Blur) and artist Jamie Hewlett. Contributing artists to the coffee table book include Ruff Mercy, Kim Jung Gi, Robert Smith, Kerbscrawler Ghost, Robert Valley, Craig McCracken, Tim McCourt, and Max Taylor. This latest Z2 partnership sees Jamie Hewlett expand the band’s collaborative vision to fellow visual artists in The Gorillaz Art Book, which rounds out to a stunning visual feast of 306 pages. A conversation starter for the coffee table, for sure. thenile.co.nz

FONTS AND FLORALS

MINA ADJUSTMENT

Kowtow’s Mina skirt (pictured in fuchsia) is a mid-length number with a gathered, elastic waist and a front tie made from crisp organic cotton poplin. There are also side seam pockets and a relaxed design that sits high on the waist. Kowtow positions itself as one of our favourite Kiwi brands, with a focus on ethical, fair trade. nz.kowtowclothing.com

Join The Drawing Room in the gorgeous garden setting of the historic Te Whare Waiutuutu Kate Sheppard House for a two-day illustration workshop with renowned international artist and tutor Belinda Biggs. Create a beautiful floral font reminiscent of medieval illuminated manuscripts but with a modern twist. Beginners are welcome, and refreshments and a light lunch are included in the workshop. Belinda Biggs is an award-winning artist and tutor who teaches workshops around the globe. Her works are treasured in private and public collections worldwide. This workshop runs over 9 and 10 November. thedrawingroom.co.nz

Simplify your life…

Over 20 with short sightedness, long sightedness, astigmatism, or difficulty with fine print in your 40s?

With over 25 years’ experience, trust the care and expertise of Dr Kent and his team at Fendalton Eye Clinic, offering visual freedom with the safety and accuracy of our laser eye surgery.

Book online for your face to face or virtual free laser assessment with a member of our experienced team.

10 Otara St, Fendalton, Christchurch (Adjacent to Fendalton Mall)

Creative is as creative does

Liam Stretch Culture Editor

It was an auspicious day when my parents bought our family’s first (and last) Handycam. When other kids were off filming Jackass-like stunts, their sporty adventures, or family holidays, I took to documenting my creative outlets. I coordinated full puppet operas, made stop-motion clay films with my brother (the screenplays of some are worthy of Aardman), and would film my lip-syncing prowess. I’m so glad I did this. It steered me towards the creative career I find myself in now and instilled unwavering confidence in my sense of self and my creative identity. That’s how many creatives get their legs – most far more capable than I – by just doing what they love, and maybe, just maybe, they end up getting paid for it! Don’t worry, though. I’m not ‘unsporty’. I have a black belt in Karate – so watch out!

THE MILKY WAY

Germany’s Milky Chance, Clemens Rehbein (guitar/vocals) and Phillip Dausch (bass/ percussion), have released their brandnew mixtape Trip Tape II. In this album, the duo takes the listener on a cosmic journey with eleven new indie hits spanning a selection of new original songs, demos, and covers. I fell in love with their covers of Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? and Harry Styles’ As It Was.

UNBELIEVABLY REAL

Gaslit portrays the Watergate scandal and a band of maniacal manipulators. Sean Penn and Julia Roberts play John and Martha Mitchell – US attorney general and his wife. These two give impeccable yet disturbing performances, capturing the discourse of those under the Nixon administration amid war and domestic turmoil. A thriller with black comedy elements.

SELF-IE EXPRESSION

Crying on the Phone is a wonderfully modern and relatable collection of poetry. Penned by Johanna Cosgrove – an award-winning actor, comedian, and entrepreneur – this book perfectly captures contemporary conflicts, confusions, and crushes, in a way that many children of the ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s will identify with. The poems are accompanied by artworks by Darien Fisher. My favourite is Grief in the Garden. Simple. Brilliant.

Manawakura

RAW! ASMR

If you’ve been anywhere on the internet, you’ll know of ASMR (Automatic Sensory Meridian Response). ASMR refers to the scientifically recognised ‘tingling’ sensation some people experience from seeing or hearing certain ‘triggers.’ These can be whispering, the tapping of wood, the crinkling of paper, or even factory machines’ rhythmic beat. Award-winning theatre-maker Amy Atkins takes her most loved ASMR videos and adapts them for theatre with the help of her ASMRtist persona Letitia Lickkit, live on the Little Andromeda stage. This is set to be a brain-tickling comedy.

3 & 4 November, Little Andromeda littleandromeda.co.nz

RENT

How do you measure a year? RENT is finally at the Court! RENT is an iconic late 20th Century musical. This ground-breaking Pulitzer and Tony award-winning production follows a group of artists struggling and striving to follow their dreams in New York City against a backdrop of poverty, looming gentrification, and the AIDS crisis of the 1990s. Featuring the hits Seasons of Love and Take Me or Leave Me

19 November 2022–21 January 2023 Court Theatre, courttheatre.org.nz

THE KILLERS

The Killers are coming back to New Zealand for nine incredible shows with their Imploding the Mirage Tour 2022. They are set to blow off the roof of Christchurch Arena this month. Led by frontman Brendan Flowers, the Killers are an American indierock band hailing from Las Vegas. Sing your lungs out to tracks like Somebody Told Me, Mr Brightside, and Human

25 November, Christchurch Arena frontiertouring.com

A DAY AT THE POLO

Ronald McDonald House and the Port Hills Polo Club are delighted to bring back A Day at the Polo, presented by Miles Toyota. This highlyanticipated event is set in a stunning garden marquee in Tai Tapu, where guests will enjoy a day of exciting polo, beautiful food, and the traditional stomping of the divots. All proceeds raised will go towards supporting the families that stay at Ronald McDonald House Charities. 3 December, Port Hills Polo Club Tai Tapu rmhsi.org.nz/events

Tel: 03 351 3241

RNZB Soloists Katherine Skelton and Kirby Selchow

photographed by Ross brown.

Background image Guiding Light to the Stars by Mark Gee.

Take a trip to 1990s New York this summer

O

nstage, the magic that is created within The Court Theatre is easy to see in the talented people who create memorable characters. But creating the world that these characters inhabit are many talented artists and craftspeople working behind the scenes.

The Court Theatre is the largest producing theatre company in New Zealand, meaning that it creates all of its production elements itself. Costumes are sourced or sewn on-site, props are foraged or created from scratch, and sets from 18th century France to 1960s Ohoka are constructed into the same small space.

Currently, the team is building the world of the East Village of 1990s New York to transport people in time and place for RENT, the summer musical.

RENT follows a group of artists struggling and striving to fulfil their dreams in New York City. Set against a background of poverty and looming gentrification, this beloved musical is a pop-culture phenomenon that celebrates love, friendship, and living life to the fullest every day, despite (or because of) life’s challenges and tragedies.

Leading the creative team are Lara Macgregor (director), Richard Marrett (musical director), Mark McEntyre (set designer), and Tina

Hutchison-Thomas (costume designer). The Court’s resident creatives are helping to bring their collective vision to life with bespoke costumes and props, and intricate sets.

Having lived and worked as an actor in New York in the 1990s, Macgregor notes that the city itself is a major character in RENT – a place where punk, performance art, and drag performance grew and flourished, and which was a vital social environment as much as a physical one.

Her vision, developed with McEntyre and brought to life by his designs, is inspired by the iconic club CBGBs. Theatre-goers will experience first-hand the multi-layered vibrancy, rawness, and emotion of this unique time and place.

Practically, this means that The Court creatives must build a world that moves through multiple places, as well as a range of seasons, all within the confines of the theatre’s small stage. Those who have seen Court productions before know that they will deliver and, quite possibly, surprise. Step inside a 1990s New York winter this summer, and live “La Vie Bohème”.

RENT plays at The Court Theatre from 19 November 2022 – 21 January 2023.

Book at courttheatre.org.nz

Farewell your museum favourites

What’s your favourite exhibit at Canterbury Museum? The horse in the Christchurch Street? Ed Hillary’s tractor in the Antarctic Gallery? The Huia in the Bird Hall? One of the taonga in Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho o Ngā Tūpuna? Whatever your top pick is, the time has come to visit it before the Museum closes for its long-awaited redevelopment. The Museum’s $205 million revamp will see the heritage buildings protected and enhanced, the earthquake-damaged 20th-century buildings replaced, facilities modernised, and most of the site base-isolated to protect Canterbury’s taonga against future quakes. The Museum will be closed for up to five years, although a smaller, temporary Museum will pop up in the central city next year. Staff have already started packing down the galleries, and some of the upstairs galleries, including Geology, Discovery, Our Mummy, and Ivan Mauger Speedway King, have closed. November will see the remainder of the upstairs section close, with the pack down starting on Asian Arts and Living Canterbury on 7 November and the Antarctic Gallery closing on 21 November. Work on the downstairs galleries will begin in December. Many of the Museum’s much-loved taonga (treasures) will return in the new Museum, so this isn’t goodbye – just ‘see you later’. Visit the Museum’s website for updates.

canterburymuseum.com/redevelopment

Dolphin Encounter

Swimming with & watching Kaikoura’s Dusky Dolphins!

Enter the world of the dusky dolphin and experience the grace and beauty of the most acrobatic of all dolphin species.

miss these world-class tours... advance bookings essential.

Albatross

Kaikoura is the best place in the world to see multiple species of albatross. Enjoy close up views of these majestic wanderers of the Southern Ocean just minutes from shore.

WATCH THIS SPACE

High Pressure / Low Pressure Artist Josh O’Rourke

Date January 2019

Location Marine Parade, New Brighton

Created as part of Re:Activate New Brighton, a creative activation initiative between SCAPE Public Art and then Christchurch City Council entity DCL in early 2019, High Pressure / Low Pressure transformed New Brighton artist Josh O’Rourke’s process-driven studio practice into a stretching public wall painting along the Southern walk ramp entrance to the iconic New Brighton Pier. The painterly abstraction, created by masking sections and dragging paint across the twenty concrete panels, is evocative of the surrounding area. The organic curves that emanate across the design echo meteorological maps and the winds that shape the waves and dunes. The shimmering colours, blues and greens with flashes of yellow and magenta, are gestural and suggest the alternatively roaring and serene ocean just beyond the wall. These elements define not only the surrounding landscape but also the artist’s own experiences as a lifelong surfer of the local break. High Pressure / Low Pressure exemplifies the power of abstraction to create a meaningful reflection of our cherished environments.

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/799

Timeless treasures

Youngs Jewellers is a New Regent Street institution with respect for the past and a forward focus. As curators of exquisite and fine pieces of antique and contemporary jewellery, the range is characterised by a sense of flair and love of the unusual.

Rebecca Stewart has noticed an increasing trend towards an awareness of where jewellery comes from, something not considered as much a decade ago.

“People are very aware of ensuring their pieces have longevity. They want to buy something where the carbon footprint is a lot smaller. They also understand that the quality of the workmanship in older pieces is a lot higher than the mass-produced pieces of today. So they’re getting value for money in that respect as well.”

Those familiar with the store would know that the collection at Youngs is everevolving, ranging from Victorian to Art Deco and beyond, precious gems and fine

diamonds, Autore South Sea pearls, antiques, collectables, timepieces, and other objects d’art. A full range of jewellery services is also available, including valuations, restorations, repairs, and restringing.

A common misconception around vintage jewellery, such as the range at Youngs, is that it originates solely from estate purchases, inferring that the original owners have passed on. According to Rebecca, this is very much a rarity.

“Most sellers are elderly, yes – but often they just want to see their pieces enjoyed by someone else. They, in turn, will use the money gained from the sale to visit family or something similar. There’s no bad history there at all – these pieces just need new homes.”

There’s plenty in store at varying price points. Eighty per cent of Youngs’ stock is new – timeless pieces ready to become new family heirlooms. With Rebecca’s discerning eye, every piece has been hand-selected and meets the Youngs Jewellers’ standards for being unique, well made, and most of all, cherished.

youngsjewellers.co.nz

CARRIED AWAY BY NATURE

EXPLORE

Elmwood

ONE CLINIC

With the motto of “becoming one with people and nature,” One Chinese Medical Clinic practices traditional acupuncture, Tuina (therapeutic massage), and herbal medicine. They believe that the body and mind are not separated and influence each other. Hence they focus on both of them when treating clients. oneclinic.kiwi

THE CLOCKS BOOKSHOP

An independent bookshop specialising in crime, cooking, and children’s books, with a terrific general fiction and nonfiction range too. There’s plenty for the young reader to browse, with more than 2,500 books. Foodies can choose from 100s of cooking titles, and for the crime and mystery enthusiast, there’s the classics to the modern masters. theclocksbookshop.co.nz

BRIARWOOD

HEADLINE

THE ELMWOOD TRADING COMPANY

Having taken over the reins four years ago, publicans Marty and Naomi Fuller have made the Elmwood Trading Company, or ‘ETC’ for short, one of Christchurch’s most enjoyable and friendliest taverns. They serve up top grub and drinks with Canterbury hospitality to a loyal community of patrons and new faces alike. They’ve made such an impact, in fact, that The Elmwood Trading Company’s mantel is quickly being filled with awards, having won ‘best local’ at Lion Hospitality NZ Awards for Excellence two years in a row. They’ve also won awards for their gaming. It’s worth a visit for a pint, lemonade, one of their famous quiz nights, or a chat with Marty and Naomi.

theelmwood.co.nz

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Created out of a desire to bring the fashion of Europe to New Zealand in the 1990s, Briarwood is now an icon of the national fashion scene. It boasts creative collections of everything from bags to clothing and accessories. Business partners Ange and Jayne have guided the business to what it is today. The Christchurch branch found its place here in the Elmwood Village shops, with the local team feeling very at home there now. The spring/summer range has arrived in store, and Briarwood is bursting at the seams with so many beautiful prints and gorgeous vibrant colours that they are so well known for. Kirsty, Tracy, and Chrissy are looking forward to showing you the collections and helping you with your summer wardrobe.

briarwood.co.nz

NEW ZEALAND MADE GIFTS ON FELT.CO.NZ

Hand blown glass mini ikebana vase studioaandco.felt.co.nz | Little Stem Microgreens growing kit littlestem.felt.co.nz

Voyager ceramic sculpture by Jane McCulla claycreation.felt.co.nz | Handpainted rimu saddleback/tieke earrings ifeelnatty.felt.co.nz Kaleidoscope ring with green tourmalines and rhodolite garnets adelestewart.felt.co.nz | Buttercups, the River and Aoraki original linocut print shapesbysal.felt.co.nz | Prehnite pendant in sterling silver tresortrouve.felt.co.nz | Blue Skies Sunburst fused glass sculpture clarityglass.felt.co.nz | Sterling silver hydrangea necklace juliabanks.felt.co.nz

GOOD KIWI CRAFTSMANSHIP

For 15 years, Felt – Aotearoa’s largest online marketplace for locally made goods and gifts – has ensured that thousands of New Zealand makers have a platform to connect with customers, and in turn, their own businesses are thriving.

All the makers on Felt, from hobbyists to fulltime professionals, have one thing in common: the joy of selling their creations to an evergrowing audience of appreciative buyers. The item you buy on Felt could very well be made by the passionate artist next door or a work-athome parent. It could be the side hustle of a selfemployed designer or the project of a retired carpenter with intricate woodworking talents.

Jeweller Adele Stewart completed an apprenticeship in gemstone setting straight out of school and set gems for New Zealand’s top jewellers for the following 18 years. Eight years ago, she started a shop on Felt. “Felt has been there from the start of my business. They have helped me grow to be full-time, making my own designs.”

Founded in 2007 by Cantabrian creative Lucy Arnold, Felt is still proudly New Zealand owned and based in Christchurch. Makers on Felt collectively make more than $1 million in sales every year, showing that Aotearoa clearly backs the ethos of buying beautiful, high-quality products direct from the maker.

Designer Cat McKay, owner of Wellingtonbased shop Natty, did a happy dance when she made her 1000th sale on Felt. “Felt has been so great at championing NZ made, it’s a one-stop shop for anyone, and you really get the feeling that customers who buy through Felt are big supporters of NZ creatives. It’s so encouraging as a small business to get that support.”

Lucy and the team behind Felt believe that craftsmanship should be nurtured and valued. “Felt supports makers in making an income from their work and continuing to develop and hone their skills. By buying on Felt, you’re nurturing local creativity, investing in your community, and celebrating Kiwi ingenuity. That’s an epic way to shop!”

Browse the Christmas Gift Guide at felt.nz

JENNY BURTT FLORIST

Jenny Burtt Florist has long been considered one of Ōtautahi’s leading florists, and it’s easy to see why. This Fendalton stalwart has graced homes internationally and locally with its resplendent floral artistry for decades. The team can cater to any event you may need a touch of meaningful love for – from birthdays to weddings and funerals. You can even complement your arrangements with thoughtful, considered gifts from their beautiful range of homewares in-store. jennyburtt.co.nz

MARC BENDALL JEWELLER

Everyone deserves to make a statement, and every piece from Marc Bendall can be as unique and individual as the wearer. Specialists in bespoke rings, clients’ own materials and stones can be used to create an iconic heirloom. Also, in-store is the MB designer collection range of rings and jewellery, crafted to the highest standards by Marc, who has been perfecting his art for the past 40 years. Marc Bendall has relocated to a studio in Sumner! Phone 384 5156. marcbendall.co.nz

SKIN REJUVENATION CLINIC

The newest treatment available exclusively at the Skin Rejuvenation Clinic is the EndyMed Minishaper. It is designed to contour the jawline by stimulating collagen production to leave the skin firmer, tighter, and lifted. It uses radiofrequency to heat the tissues, which stimulates the production of collagen with an instant tightening effect. It can also be used to tighten and firm the loose, saggy skin on the arms and around the knees!

skinrejuvenationclinic.co.nz

THE FITTING ROOM

A great-fitting sports bra is just as essential as good sports shoes. Expert assistance makes all the difference in finding the exact right size and style. The Fitting Room can help! With a fabulous range of high-impact sports bras in D–K cup sizes from leading international brands, including Shock Absorber, Panache (pictured), and Elomi, let them ‘support’ you with their expert in-store fitting service. Book online at thefittingroom.co.nz. thefittingroom.co.nz

Cosi Fan Tutte Stahl Ceramics from Sweden cosifantutte.co.nz | Mrs Bottomleys Flowers You’ll find the perfect festive florals at Mrs Bottomley’s mrsbottomleysflowers.nz | Katerina Boutique Lilliana dress from brand Sabina Musaev katerina.co.nz Events at The Tannery For intimate weddings to show-stopping galas and everything in between functions@thetannery.co.nz thetannery.co.nz/functions | HAPA Ceramic Kia Ora mug hapa.co.nz | Smith’s Bookshop New and second-hand books, ephemera, rare and antiquarian titles. Specialising in NZ non-fiction books books@smithsbookshop.co.nz | Morgan & Page Haven, Saba Sundowner tiered maxi morganandpage.co.nz | Christmas Shoppe Danish Christmas ornaments cosifantutte.co.nz Bellbird Bakery Authentic French pastries bellbirdbakedgoods.co.nz

Elegance you can wear

Willow Collective started when Christchurch local Chantelle Symons had a dream to create a jewellery brand that could be adorned by women all around the world. Creating simple yet eye-catching designs that add a splash of colour to any outfit.

What began as a small jewellery brand selling in a local beauty salon, Willow Collective is now stocked in over 60 boutiques throughout the country and several international stockists.

Willow Collective produces handmade pieces with care, striving for the best quality possible. Finishing every piece here in Christchurch, Willow Collective is a sought-after jewellery brand made for you.

willowcollective.co.nz

FEATURE

In the name of craft

“The artist is not a special kind of person; rather, each person is a special kind of artist.” – Anon

Creativity cannot be exhausted. It is something that needs to be unleashed, explored, and expressed. Here are three stories on creatives keeping the art of crafts alive in the 03. From ceramics to communities of crafters to local events – nothing compares to something made with hands and the heart.

DREAMING OF A CRAFTY CHRISTMAS

WORDS Kim Newth PHOTOS Centuri Chan

Apopular seasonal highlight on the Canterbury calendar is the Christmas Encraftment Market, coming up this month at Pioneer Stadium. A celebration of all things handmade, this festive craft bonanza featuring over 120 stalls is an ideal opportunity to stock up on crafted Christmas gift items for your loved ones.

Local makers and creators have been presenting their inspiring work at the Encraftment Market since it began in 2011 as a vehicle to help support the city’s craft movement after the February 2011 earthquake. The twice-yearly market – the other one is held in winter – is eagerly anticipated by the craft community and public alike. North Canterbury silversmith Lee Arthur, who makes contemporary silver jewellery, has been a stallholder at the market from the beginning and joined the market’s management team three years ago.

What she loves about this unique market is that all the wares showcased are made with love by hand.

“To me, a handcrafted product is just so much more meaningful than something that has been mass-produced,” says Lee, a mother of three who juggles her silversmithing business (Pretty Birds Jewellery) around family commitments.

“When you support one of our stallholders, you’re supporting a whole family – more often than not, the makers are mums or people building their own small businesses. We’re a good community of people who are supportive of each other, and the products we’re making keep getting better and better every year.”

People heading along to this month’s market can expect a high-quality handcrafted

line-up ranging from jewellery and art, homewares, kitchen spices and other artisan food items, toys, clothes for kids and adults, natural health and beauty products, candles, outdoor items, and more. “We are a curated market, and what that means is that we’re always very careful in the kind of products we have. We only choose the best of the handmade products available – the standard we are seeing has really gone up over time.”

Last year’s Christmas Encraftment Market was cancelled due to Covid, but fortunately, the organisers were able to run a winter market again this year. A silver lining of Covid lockdowns and periods of isolation has been a renaissance in craft activity, with more people than ever getting crafty and making things at home. Their endeavours are now flowing through to the market.

“We’ve had a heap of new people wanting to be involved, and it’s amazing to see what they’ve been producing as they’ve rediscovered their ability to do crafts or have acquired new skills. It’s really good to see people using their creativity. Having these new people making stuff who haven’t been around before is great for us because we like to keep it fresh and not have the same things every year. The feedback we had from our winter market was overwhelmingly positive. In spite of the pandemic, we’re stronger than ever.”

New crafters share their proposed stall setup when they apply for a space. Organisers provide help and advice if required, so every stall will be impeccably presented.

Christmas Encraftment Market is at Pioneer Stadium on 19 and 20 November from 10am to 4pm. Entry is free. Hot food and refreshments are available over the weekend.

CREATING COMMUNITY THROUGH CRAFT

WORDS and PHOTOS Joshua Brosnahan

Craft Without Borders is a free monthly community craft class connecting migrants and former refugees with the wider Ōtautahi community through creating, run by three talented wāhine.

Founded by Amber Johnson and currently run alongside crafters Andrea Looise and Darion Oram, these women volunteer their time to their crafting cause and have nurtured a network of like-minded people who attend their monthly sessions.

The trio are busy people – Amber also volunteers at Christchurch Bull Breed Rescue and works in I.T. Darion works in insurance, and Andrea is a nurse and mother. Amber affectionately sings her friends’ praises. She mentions Andrea hasn’t met a “craft she cannot do” and that Darion is a “hardcore weaver” with one loom so large it takes up her garage.

Hosted in Sydenham at the Latvian Community Hall, the Craft Without Borders team offers crafting sessions where all equipment and the sessions themselves are provided free of charge. Latvian House generously provides their space free of charge, which in turn keeps the crafting sessions free. Although the sessions are free, a koha is much appreciated and goes towards the upkeep of Latvian House.

“There aren’t really many crafts out there we haven’t offered! We often run sewing classes, cardboard loom weaving, beginners crochet, and embroidery. But we have also had sessions in kokedama (moss ball planters), basket weaving with tī kōuka leaves, painting, and even life drawing.”

“The idea is that, while craft is a mindful practice, it is also a great way to bond with strangers. It’s a chance to sit and create together. We work on something and help each other out. Being part of Craft Without Borders

means you get the joy of meeting new people, as well as going home with a skill learned and something you have created yourself.”

Amber mentions that language has never really been a barrier within the community they’ve fostered.

“You don’t need to speak the same language to craft together. It’s about breaking down barriers between people and giving the wider community a chance to get to know someone who they normally would not connect with.”

The sessions are mutually rewarding, according to Amber.

“It’s great to see people who have never attempted a craft before and are just so proud of themselves afterwards,” she says.

“When we ran our beginners’ crochet class, a participant came back the following month to show us all the toys and beautiful things she had crocheted. Because of her session at Craft Without Borders, she became hooked on crochet! People love coming back because this is their happy place. It’s time they have just for themselves, where they get to meet new people and make something.”

Amber says the team would love other crafters to donate their time to teach skills at a session.

With two more sessions booked in until the end of 2022, embroidery and candle making, Amber looks to the future of the community the three have been instrumental in creating and encourages Avenues readers to join in.

“It really fills our hearts to run these sessions. We have fun, and we have the pleasure of helping people learn more skills and make new friends. It really is magic for the soul!”

To learn more about Craft Without Borders or to volunteer your time, talent, or resources, reach out to the team. They’d love to craft with you.

PLAYING IN THE MUD

WORDS and PHOTOS Joshua Brosnahan

Phillipstown’s 27 Essex Street is home to three bespoke creative businesses specialising in pottery, all sharing a philosophy of respecting the materials used in the production of ceramics, treasuring materials that go into each item, and passing on this knowledge to others who want to experience clay.

Tatyanna Meharry fosters this concept with General Pottery’s Gwen Parsons and Keep’s Emma Turner.

General Pottery makes an age-old craft accessible to anyone who needs some more mud creativity in their life. They stock a variety of sustainable and locally-made tools and materials and provide helpful advice to novices and professionals alike.

Keep Ceramics is a carefully curated collection of unique and special treasures. Emma’s pottery features fun graphic lines and celebrates quirky moments in life to enjoy with your new ceramic object.

Tatyanna evolved Clae out of ideas formed alongside her sister Natasha. Both have been working within the arts industry for over 20 years while bringing considerable knowledge of design, teaching, ceramic art, and technology to Clae. Together, they help makers understand the fantastic geological history that comes with working with their materials.

Tatyanna mentions that one of the benefits of working together as a creative collective is that there’s always another ear to help problem-solve. The shared premise works in their favour in more ways than one.

“It means that having a space like our Essex Street location isn’t out of reach for smaller creative businesses. We share costs, and also, especially over the past couple of years, there has always been a pair of hands available to keep the doors open. It always

provides a unique space that is busy and vibrant when you can work as a collective. I think the trick is to respect each other’s space but being prepared to share and support if needed.”

Clae runs classes in the Essex Street warehouse space – these are designed to suit anyone from the complete beginner to the seasoned professional looking for more technical input.

Tatyanna says the classes are always a “total pleasure” and that many fun and unique personalities come together to share a couple of creative hours.

“It is always rewarding to hear students say that they were amazed that they could achieve something that they thought they would be rubbish at and to say how much they needed that small piece of time to get away from all the stress in their lives.”

“We often have students from quite technical jobs come to courses, and it is hysterically funny to help them experience letting go of control as they embrace the creative. So much angst is cured by clay that flops, handles that won’t stay on, and teapot spouts that look rather anatomical!”

Coming up at Clae are term four classes specially designed to make “delicious seasonal projects” as the festive season approaches. A late night is on the cards, too; Fridays in December will be ideal for “creative goody shopping”. An annual Open Studio is also planned for the 10 December – a great option for those wanting to experience Clae before taking the plunge.

Tatyanna encourages Avenues readers to give creativity a go.

“Whether it is making for yourself or supporting another local maker, come get a little more mud in your lives!”

Definitively daring

Alocal business is creating some of the country’s most innovative and striking lighting products from its studio in the centre of Christchurch.

Nightworks is situated on the banks of the Avon and offers a range of ready-made lighting and bespoke solutions. These are all constructed from the finest stone, glass, and metals, with leading LED technology. The in-house studio is a creative hub for definitively daring designs.

The studio and production workshop is a calm and considered space that forgoes the norms of a traditional lighting showroom. Set within architect David Allen’s Poynton House, the natural textures, light, and warm tones provide the perfect backdrop for their latest lighting collections.

The showroom effortlessly flows through to the design studio and onto a production and meeting space, creating an immersive environment for visitors. Retractable linen curtains separate the spaces, which can be drawn to provide private meeting zones or opened to allow visitors to move freely.

Husband and wife directors Ben and Kiri Wahrlich’s joint vision for Nightworks started on their return to Aotearoa in 2017. After running a similarly-lauded Sydney lighting studio, the duo wanted to refresh the brand to echo a modern Kiwi lifestyle. Nightworks came into being in 2019 and, since then, has won multiple awards.

Two designs have recently won at the 2022 Best Awards – a gold and silver for their designs ‘Tasman’ and ‘Offcut’. The judges discussed the designs’ beautiful balance of elegant form and precision manufacturing processes. High praise was given to the well-resolved lighting system. The gracefully arced form and slim profile create an elegant silhouette that would add interest to its environment.

Tasman, a poetic and sculptural design “expressed to its fullest potential”, is a family of modular LED pendants created with components that simply connect for a gentle waving form.

As a minimal and sculptural alternative to traditional linear pendants, it is designed to harmoniously integrate into any interior environment.

With the studio’s winning design of Offcut, every iteration of the lighting design is unique. The natural stone is hand-selected from local suppliers, then carefully and intently ‘broken’ in-house. A customdesigned glass dome sits delicately on the stone surface. It emits a soft glow via the LED module housed within, meaning these juxtaposed elements combine to create a bold contemporary aesthetic. The textural form is intended to be a welcome break in the formality of modern construction. The Nightworks team can also work with clients who may provide their own stone to create a more personalised version of Offcut.

One definitive local project the team worked on was the centrepiece of the Public Trust Building’s lobby – an immense and impressive bespoke chandelier called ‘Code Cascade’. The minimalist chandelier was created by combining stunning Sydney sandstone with precision brass fixings interlaced with glowing glass spheres. Drawing inspiration from the dots and dashes of Morse code, material elements were drawn from the building’s original construction to create a contemporary centrepiece that complements the heritage character of the building.

The Nightworks team has an original design approach, ensuring a project will stand out from the ordinary and is engineered to last.

Craft + care

WORDS Kim Newth

Two award-winning Canterbury homes by Three Sixty Architecture artfully balance a reverence for nature and the environment with functionality goals and modern liveability.

‘Wildwood’ in St Martins and ‘Whitecaps House’ in the small fishing community of Motunau, north of Christchurch, both won housing awards at the 2022 Canterbury Architecture Awards as well as Silver Pins at the Best Design Awards. ‘Wildwood’ also won the 2022 Resene Colour Award for clever and playful use of colour. ‘Wildwood’ is the home of Tom and Hollie Norman and their three children. Tom, an Associate at Three Sixty Architecture, says the design grew out of their desire to live sustainably in a warm, welcoming family home. The journey started with selecting a site close to the hills with good access to sun for solar energy and within biking distance of city amenities and local schools. The simple yet seismically robust two-storey rectangular home is anchored to the earth with hollow timber piles and strengthened with highperformance SIPs panels. There’s not a scrap of concrete anywhere and very little steel.

Internally, this cosy home really does feel settled, as though it has been standing in place for a long time. Warm and airtight, it keeps a nice even temperature year-round. A central double void is a showstopper that brings life and light into the home’s main hub, including open-plan kitchen, living, and dining areas. A plush curtain off the living area opens into a delightful, book-lined snug. It is easy to see why Wildwood won a colour award: downstairs, there is a pleasing interplay of white tiles and timber, while upstairs, a pink-tiled bathroom

and a blue-tiled bathroom pay homage to gorgeous sunrises that tint the heavens here. The upper bedroom level is carpet tiled in pink and blue too.

This award-winning four-bedroom home, complete with solar panels and rainwater harvesting tanks, certainly packs a lot of impressive detail into its comparatively modest 170sqm footprint. Everything down to naturally coated Douglas fir cladding and double-glazed aluminium joinery feeds into this special family home’s sustainability story.

In creating the award-winning design for ‘Whitecaps House’ Three Sixty Architecture Associate Nick Wortelboer took his lead from a dramatic cliff-top site and the client’s brief for an easy-care holiday home, where family could gather and enjoy magnificent ocean views over Motunau Island and beyond.

At the heart of this gorgeous four-bedroom retreat is a sheltered, north-facing central courtyard seamlessly connected with the interior. With the central living and dining space glazed on both sides, it is easy to see what’s happening within the house while soaking up ocean views from the courtyard. Social activities inside naturally spill out, with easy flow in both directions.

In this coastal home, prevailing sea breezes are harnessed for cross-ventilation while generous soffits and steel features provide shelter from intense sun in summer (as well as bringing sun inside over winter).

With raised gardens producing a bounty of homegrown fruit and veggies, it would be hard to better the health and well-being qualities inherent in this award-winning easycare home, made for outdoor coastal living.

Fun is on the horizon

Located near many natural Fiji attractions along the Coral Coast of Viti Levu, Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay offers the perfect home base for exploring Fiji. This resort hotel provides direct access to a secluded jetty, world-class dive sites, and Fiji’s vibrant coral reefs. Catch some of the world’s most challenging waves at the renowned Cloudbreak near Tavarua and Namotu Islands, just minutes away from the Fiji Marriott. Lounge in the sun on the soft sands of nearby Natadola Beach, or go ziplining on one of the longest ziplines in the world.

Take advantage of one of the many resort amenities tailored for guests of all ages. The Fiji Marriott offers a variety of adult events and supervised activities for children, along with a refreshing infinity pool. Rejuvenate yourself with massages, facials, and other luxury spa services at Quan Spa. Experience Fijian culture with a traditional Kava ceremony, create a stunning shell necklace, or enjoy an evening of crab racing.

Fill your day with fun activities at the Momi Bay resort – try beach soccer, aqua aerobics, cricket, or even touch rugby. Save some of your free time for other on-site activities, including tennis, basketball, volleyball, table football, pool, and chess on a giant outdoor chess set.

Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay is an oceanfront hideaway that delivers spectacular views and turquoise waters at every turn. The Sunset Pool is an awe-inspiring infinity pool designated for adults only. The pool provides a refreshing escape for those looking for secluded peace and tranquillity, and it is the best spot to watch the sunset in Fiji. Families love the kids’ pool alongside the resort’s main pool, a place where little ones can be free to play and have a great time in Fiji. Enjoy the Fijian sun and have fun with your children.

From watersports to cultural activities to stunning views, total relaxation, and beachfront fun – all of these await you at the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay.

fijimarriott.com

retire into your modern, chic and comfortable rooms.

© 20 2 2 M a rr i o t t I n t e r n a t io n a l , I n c A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e d A l l n a m e s , ma r k s a n d l o go s a r e t h e t r a de ma r k s o f M a rr i o t t I n t e r n a t io n a l I n c o r i t s a f f i l i a t e s

DENARAU ISLAND WEST, P.O. BOX 9081, NADI, FIJI

Summer’s arrival

Imagine a getaway where food, wine, scenery, and a touch of adventure all meld into one brilliant experience, where you can find the quintessential Kiwi family holiday as easily as a blissful retreat for two. Where within minutes after arriving in the region, you’re tasting incredible wines at a celebrated cellar door, and by evening, you’re ensconced in a remote waterfront resort, enjoying a gourmet dinner of local produce surrounded by nothing but natural beauty and tranquillity. Welcome to Marlborough, where all the best ingredients for a brilliant holiday are in one amazing, easy to get to place.

marlboroughnz.com

Explore Southland’s picture-perfect line-up of upcoming summer events catering for foodies, musicgoers, beer fanatics, sport radicals, heritage enthusiasts, and more! Take on the Kepler Challenge in Fiordland, enjoy strawberries and ice cream at the Distinction Hotels Te Anau Tennis Invitational, or soak up The Catlins sunshine at Niagara Falls Bluegrass & Roots Festival. You choose! southlandnz.com

Taranaki is humming. You can feel it. Vibrant, contemporary, and buzzing with loads of things to do, see, eat, and experience, Taranaki is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, foodies, families, and artsand culture-lovers. Come for the festival or event, and stay to discover a cranking creative scene, epic surf breaks, a dining scene full of flavour, and award-winning local brews. The two-hour trail up Taranaki Maunga to the iconic Pouākai Tarn is well worth it for an epic photograph of the mountain mirror-reflected in the water. Sunset or sunrise are the best times to capture amazing light. taranaki.co.nz/visit

Summer starts earlier and lasts longer in the coastal Bay of Plenty. Check out the best places to eat (including must-try dishes like Lantern’s tiger prawn toast and cocktails from Miss Gees); find the coolest glamping spots (such as the magnificent Moroccan tent at River Oaks Retreat); plan which epic summer events to enjoy like the Bay of Plenty Garden & Art Festival (17–20 November). Download your Summer’s Here! guide now and get ready to bask in the sunshine. bayofplentynz.com/summers-here

TARANAKI

BAY OF PLENTY

MARLBOROUGH

SOUTHLAND

As a part of Fiji’s largest playground the Sheraton Denarau Villas is perfect for families or small groups. Stay in one and choose to play in any of the resort’s facilities. Take a swim in our lagoon style swimming pool or infinity pool overlooking the picturesque Nadi Bay. Wet Edge has a swim-up bar and restaurant that offers you delicious light lunch or casual dinner option on the deck. For reservations call

+679.910.3900 or visit

Email:

sheratondenarauvillas sheratondenarauvillas

Sheraton Denarau Villas DENARAU ISLAND WEST, P.O. BOX 9081, NADI, FIJI

The makers of architecture

As architects, we have the easy job; we create designs and produce drawings for the real heroes – the builders – to build. I have so much respect for the ‘makers’ of architecture and am always amazed at how they put – often technically complex – buildings together.

crafted buildings. And strong communication skills will smooth the process of explaining and resolving – with the architect, other consultants, sub-trades, and the client – any issues that arise during construction.

Richard Dalman Managing Director, Dalman Architects dalman.co.nz

The art of building is not just about making a building stand up and keeping the water out; it’s about creating spaces and details that are enduring and bring everyday joy.

Architects design in three dimensions but have traditionally drawn in two dimensions for a builder to then construct in three dimensions! Today, architects are modelling their buildings in 3D on computers (CAD), and those models are often now available on building sites to aid construction. This CAD modelling is also in prolific use amongst the sub-trades such as joinery and structural steel.

In my experience, the best builders come from an apprenticeship and trade background where they are taught the art of building. An eye for detail and knowledge of how things go together is critical in producing well-

In my own house, Clive Barrington Builders and his team of sub-contractors gave considerable thought and care to the construction every day to achieve a very high standard of craftsmanship, such that it won several Master Builders awards.

Many houses these days are merely standard designs that are prefabricated in a factory and erected on-site. While I believe there is a role for prefabrication in the housing and building sectors generally, it is hard to achieve in a mass-produced environment bespoke outcomes that meet specific requirements of a site and individual client briefs.

Whether it is houses or commercial buildings, an eye for detail and an inherent desire to deliver outstanding quality are key in delivering an end product that reflects the architect’s vision and the talent of the builder.

‘Doers’ making a difference

Lynette McFadden

Business Owner & Mentor, Harcourts gold @lynette_mcfadden

Ilook forward to my monthly column, and I’ve never failed to be inspired by the editor’s choice of theme. This month it’s ‘Makers and Creators’, and despite this being an enormous subject, I’ve decided to put my own slant on it and write about ‘doers’.

All of us know people who fit into this category. They’re definitely ‘makers’ and invariably ‘creators’, and they have an incredible ability to drive change.

Here’s a story about one such person I have recently met, and I’ll let you decide if they fit your sense of what someone making a difference looks like.

Enter Kate Pauling. Kate contacted me in her position as founder of a charity called Full Bellies. Kate and her small, dedicated team work to help supply children living in our northwest suburbs with lunches. You might ask, why these areas in particular? I did, and this was the answer: the children attend schools that rate as decile 10. For those not familiar with the decile system, it’s a rating structure based on census data for households with school-aged children in each school’s catchment area. The data gathered uses household measures such as income, parents’ occupations, and the number of people in the home, etc. Essentially, it identifies barriers to learning faced by kids in lower socio-economic families. Although decile 10 sits at the top of this rating system, what Kate and many others have recognised is that within these areas, there are definitely families struggling and being a decile 10 school doesn’t preclude kids who have been doing it hard.

With no funding allocation for things like lunches and additional snacks, there was a big gap at some of these schools when it came to helping their more vulnerable students. This is where Kate came in, recognising that need and, having been contacted by schools, she started in March helping eight children, and now this number is 170, twice a week. She and the team make lunches and snacks, which are delivered early morning to the schools, and they are wrapped like everyone else’s, so there’s no labelling or shame attached for the kids receiving this help.

I’m told they are all deeply appreciative; that’s the students, teachers, parents, and anyone else who has the interest of others in mind. Our incredible business, team of consultants, and I are now a small part of Kate’s team, and without her initial approach, we wouldn’t have been able to help – financially and practically.

It’s actually encouraged us as a team to go even further, and that’s involved a large contribution to KidsCan, which I’ve been told by their CEO, Julie Chapman, now feeds 50,000 children a day across New Zealand.

I talked with my dad about this dire statistic, and even though he was bought up in the ‘40s in a working-class family of nine, and there was considerable hardship all around them, there wasn’t the food insecurity there is today.

So, in looking at creators, I’ve looked at the broadest of contexts. I’ve tried to think about what makes someone put their own hand up to make a difference. Is it curiosity? Is it care? Or is it all of that and a big dose of humanity too?

WHICH HUE FOR YOU?

Between the wires of the Ico Traders Orere Sofa from Ballantynes, a landscape mural painted in Resene Sour Dough, Resene Woodland, and Resene Artefact creates a tranquil space.

Creating a relaxing outdoor zone is all about natural colours and textures. Here the landscape mural sets a calm mood with the lush natural textures of New Zealand sheepskin, seagrass, potted plants, and acacia wood. This space invites you to unwind and enjoy the moment in nature without leaving the comforts of your own home.

This New Zealand long-wool rug is an inviting element in this natural setting and is carefully crafted from premium quality sheepskin to add texture, comfort, colour, and style to any space. The versatile Madras Link Sutton Stool acts as a stool or side table and is made from sturdy acacia wood, bringing an extra element of function and style to any space, inside or out. The Grove Cushion Cover is inspired by New Zealand’s beautiful and dramatic landscapes. The abstract pattern reveals scenes from the Waitakere Ranges with waterfalls and native bush. It is made with a natural blend of cotton and flax linen.

A unique plant deserves an equally unique planter. The large Hanover Planter in Avocado makes a statement with a stunning silhouette to connect with the plants and Resene Woodland green in the mural. This natural green planter features a practical drainage hole and deep saucer, ideal for outdoor use.

Combining simple pieces with natural hues creates a space worth relaxing in.

Ico Traders Orere Sofa, Madras Link Sutton Stoolm Pottery Barn Potted Fiddleleaf, Potted Berlin Tall Planter Nude; Potted Hanover Large Planter Avocado, Città Design Grove Cushion Cover in Night, Città Design Harvest Silk Blend Cushion Cover Cinnamon, Città Design Linen Cotton Cushion Cover in Thyme, and Città Design Plant Pot Natural from Ballantynes; Round Seagrass Mat from Corcovado; Long Wool Sheepskin Rug Linen from A&C Homestore; Resene Sour Dough, Resene Woodland, and Resene Artefact from Resene ColorShops.

Resene Woodland

Resene

Sour Dough

Resene Artefact

Engaging the senses

As a multidisciplinary team of talented people that specialise in designing, building, and maintaining landscapes, Morgan and Pollard deliver projects efficiently, communicating with clients and contractors to ensure optimum results.

The Selwyn-based company recently won a Premier Award for the Best Construction Project of the Year at the 2022 Master Landscapers New Zealand Landscape Awards for its construction of the Sensory Space in the new Rolleston Town Centre. It also won a Gold Medal for the best construction project over $100,000.

Morgan and Pollard also won the Judges Recognition Award for the Rolleston School basketball courts and sports wall. This project, designed by the Morgan and Pollard landscape architecture team, has created a vibrant and dynamic space for the children to enjoy and provides a wide range of interactive play.

The Sensory Space is an area designed for residents of all physical abilities and neurodiversity. The area engages all the senses with a mix of water features, musical elements, seating, gardens, pathways, and a pergola frame with space to hang art features. Adam Pollard, managing director, says his team thoroughly enjoyed the project and working alongside the Council’s landscape architects.

“It’s not often we get to work on such a large sensory space, and it was one of those projects where we could provide a lot of input, from choosing the materials to placing the mosaics and finding all sorts of sensory items. We’re delighted the judges felt the same way we did about this amazing project.”

The space was designed with input from Waitaha School staff and pupils and Barrier Free Trust and incorporated art from Selwyn primary school students, including painted tiles used in mosaics designed and crafted by Macs Mosaics. It offers something for everyone, like a wheelchair-activated musical timber boardwalk and an individually-placed river stone tactile ‘Rumblewalk’.

Council Major Projects Manager Phil Millar says it was exciting to see the Sensory Space and the work that went into it so highly recognised.

“When we started planning this space, we really wanted it to be a very special area for the whole of Selwyn. Morgan and Pollard put a huge amount of work and care into bringing it to life. It’s been great to see these efforts reflected through the smiles on people’s faces and their enjoyment of the area.”

The collaboration between the contractors, designers, and Selwyn community has created a unique space that is enjoyable for all.

class care World class hospital

This is their home, where they enjoy a sense of meaning, purpose and dignity. They deserve no less. To learn more about the hospital-level residential and respite care

provide

today.

CENTRE OF IT ALL

Our central city is a vibrant collection of diverse shops, hospitality venues, offices, and experiences, most of which you won’t find in malls or suburban shopping centres. There are almost 1000 businesses in the CBD, with new places always opening up!

And now there’s an excellent way to discover what’s on offer. The Central City Business Association and Attraction Studio have launched the Centre Of It All website. This is an ongoing selection of curated experiences to help you plan your next shopping spree or family day. There’s a member highlights section and a detailed map with a filter function, so you can easily search for something in particular. This website will be your new one-stop shop for all things central city related, whatever you fancy. You’ll also find out about upcoming events in the central city and profiles on businesses.

CURATED EXPERIENCE

STATION”

Curated experiences for everyone We love:

The central city of Christchurch has undergone a metamorphosis of sorts and is still transforming. It’s time to embrace this evolution and jump on board with everything happening between the four avenues.

Uncover the hidden gems nestled in the laneways and side streets of the central city. Beautiful artisan products are waiting around every corner, from locally distilled gin to hand-poured candles. If a culture hit is your vibe, take a walk around Ōtautahi’s

music treasures. Whether finding the best sound system, fossicking through records at Smash Palace or New Regent’s The AV Club, or taking a night off to enjoy some live music and great food, the city’s centre has you covered.

Don’t be fooled by Facebook commenters telling you there is nowhere to park because there are now over 10 thousand car parks within the city centre. It’s also just as easy to get on your bike or scooter or take a bus into town.

centreofitall.co.nz

COLONY

Colony of New Zealand represents four generations of beekeepingproudly providing a unique range of honey liqueurs and mead, pure and infused honey, natural skincare, candles, and gifts.

centreofitall.co.nz/explore/colony

SWEET SOUL

Specialising in fine Parisian style desserts, with the best possible taste, experience and aesthetic that you would find on the cobbled back streets of Paris.

centreofitall.co.nz/explore/sweetsoul-patisserie

XGALERI

Guthrey Centre’s very own working art studio and gallery, run by Sheila and Max Brown.

centreofitall.co.nz/explore/xgaleri

Courageous creatives

Kate Underwood, Food Editor @relishthememory @eat.newzealand

It’s easy to forget that cooking is a deeply personal pursuit. Perhaps the most surprising yet important ingredient required to prepare food for others is courage. If you’ve ever taken the time to cook a meal for someone, you’ll know what I mean. That silent sense of vulnerability that comes when you serve up a bowl of love, sweat, and fears.

For some cooks, chefs, bakers, or pâtissiers, their career trajectory stems from a genuine desire to feed people. It’s a gentle and edible form of generosity.

Over the last twelve months, I’ve witnessed many courageous individuals sharing a piece of themselves with this city. Often in ways less conventional than the standard café or restaurant route.

It feels right to start with undoubtedly one of the most successful small creative businesses in Ōtautahi. Known by many as ‘CBA’, Cakes By Anna has become a permanent part of this city’s tapestry. Anna Worthington and her bespoke no-fuss, always moist, absolutely nofondant cakes were pivotal in the post-quake city revival. Last month she celebrated 10 years in business. An insane feat for a single-handed operation that has helped mark precious moments through thousands of cakes.

Kate Grater (nee – Serkin) started The Pierogi Joint in 2014 after missing her comfort food from home. She grew up in Canada with these Eastern European dumplings, thanks to Polish and Ukrainian ex-pats bringing aspects of their culture through food. Kate deeply believes that food is joy, and she gets the

biggest high from connecting with people over her dumplings. With a new pierogi machine, she’s building a strong customer base and pops up at various locations and events.

Jaeju is a Korean-inspired food truck owned by Cian Curtin (ex-head chef of Hali Bistro & Bar) and his partner Yebitna Hong. They spent a year in Korea making kimchi, gochujang, and mandu (Korean dumplings) with Yebtina’s mother. Jaeju (Jeju) means skill or craft in Korean, and their current offering is the first step towards their dream of a restaurant. Hunt them out across the city for a saewoo (shrimp) burger and try the kimari – beer-battered seaweed rolls.

Sarah Chin started Gula after finding herself desperately homesick after the first lockdown. She wanted people to know more about Malaysian-inspired flavours and to approach them with an open mind. On Sundays, Sarah is at The Works Market serving durian macarons, iced pandan lattes, and sambal pork pies with butter spiral-laminated pastry – go early; it sells out fast!

Pastry chef Corentin Esquenet from Butter creates exquisite French treats. His commitment to excellence and engaging Instagram presence helps educate and inspire. Having just moved into a new kitchen on Tuam Street, you can experience his warmth and passion first-hand when you collect your pre-ordered tarts from his cute window.

What all of these creators do so well is allow us to experience their personal stories through the food they serve. Right now, in Ōtautahi, supporting these brave souls – and their edible endeavours – has never been more delicious.

Pastry chef Courtney Schimanski joined Te Pae Christchurch shortly before opening in 2021. With a passion for baking nurtured by her gran, Courtney studied for her Diploma in Patisserie at ARA Institute of Canterbury before channelling her creativity during roles at The George and Christchurch Casino. With a keen eye for detail, the gifted chef has created a dessert inspired by the braided rivers of Canterbury – a nod to Te Pae’s distinctive flowing façade.

The Stones

SERVES 8–10

Curd

66g butter 46g sugar 24g mascarpone

1 egg 1 yolk

1 lemon, juice and zest

1 gelatine sheet

Compote

¼ of a pineapple 50g mango puree

1 lime

Vanilla paste

Apple gel

2 green apples

20g sugar

4 fresh basil leaves

Choc crumb 110g sugar 30g water 37g dark chocolate

Pinch of sea salt

Mousse

215g white chocolate

170g cream

8g gelatine leaf 428g cream

Vanilla paste Grey food colouring

Curd Melt butter and sugar. Whisk together eggs, mascarpone, lemon, and zest, then temper with the butter mix. Return to pot and bring to boil. Add softened gelatine. Cool over an ice bath, then pipe into a small stone-shaped mould. (Once set, if you have a spray gun, you can spray it grey.)

Tropical compote Finely dice pineapple, then combine with mango, lime zest, and vanilla paste.

Apple gel Peel, quarter and cook the apple with caster sugar and basil. Blitz until smooth.

Chocolate mousse Boil cream and vanilla paste, and add in softened gelatine. Pour over chocolate and combine; cool to 40°C. Semi-whip cream and fold into the chocolate mixture with a few drops of grey food colouring. Pipe mousse into the big stone-shaped mould and fill the centre with the compote.

Choc crumb Heat sugar and water until 35°C. Add chocolate and salt, then stir quickly. Cool on tray.

Assembly Scatter chocolate crumb in the centre of the plate. Place one large and one small stone on top of the crumb. Pipe apple gel around the stones.

Craving sushi

There’s something pleasing and whimsical about the aesthetic, design, and flavour of delicious and well-constructed sushi. Our Food Editor Kate Underwood has gathered together a collection of places she returns to for a sushi fix that satisfies.

NORI TABLE

3 Garlands Road, Woolston @noritablenz

Have you even been to The Tannery if you haven’t experienced the sushi selection from Nori Table? I have a theory that this is the best cabinet sushi offering in Ōtautahi, which has been proven true on several visits. From full tables to continuous, fresh refilling throughout the day, those who come here know what’s good. For me, it’s all in the details, from that extra sesame seed sprinkle to the curly lettuce tucked into the inari (tofu) pocket and the special ‘dust’ on the fried veggie balls. This place serves sushi that cares. Demonstrated by cardboard takeaway boxes and packet-less ‘help yourself’ ginger and wasabi. On my latest trip, I overheard a woman tell her daughter it was her favourite sushi in the city. You can’t make this stuff up.

SAKIMOTO

119 Worcester Street, Christchurch Central @sakimoto_japanese_bistro

Sakimoto brings life to the quiet hum of Cathedral Junction. You’ll find prawn and avocado sushi with flaming mayo, tempura oyster mushrooms, and a playful take on crispy salad with three dressings – including passionfruit mayonnaise. Open (and busy!) every night, with Uber Eats orders flying out the door, this wine-only BYO Japanese restaurant is damn good. For those daring enough, the grilled eel and egg sushi is great, or the more familiar double salmon sushi. Their generous menu provides options for all. I fell hard for the perfectly jiggly teriyaki tofu and steamed vegetables (a dying art) and the deep-fried salmon skin, moreish with the most rewarding crunch. If you like things raw, don’t let the sashimi pass you by; served with yuzu soy sauce – it’s brilliant!

TOMI

Edgeware Mall, 76 Edgeware Road, St Albans @tomi_japanese

I love it when a restaurant dish surprises and delights. If you’re a salmon fan, do yourself a favour and order the jumbo flame-grilled Toro (belly) salmon sushi. I felt like I cracked it when I dined solo up at the kitchen counter devouring this dish, with a side of edamame and the grilled eggplant with hatcho (or red miso), a dark, more intense style miso. I’ve returned many times for the generous lunchtime offering, struggling to choose between freshly rolled sushi, the pork katsuni set (a crispy pork cutlet with an onion, egg, and sweet soy dashi broth), or the teriyaki chicken bento box. Part of the Edgeware Mall, this neighbourhood go-to bodes an intimate space that feels special yet casual – perfect for a small crew or treating your mum.

top pick

@kinjirestaurant

Located deep in Bryndwr, Kinji’s incognito location is well-known across the city for serving high-quality and delicious Japanese cuisine. Inside the dimly lit space, the menu includes pages of options from Teppan sizzle, hot pots, main dishes such as wagyu beef and all the usual appetisers, including; edamame, tempura, and karaage chicken. I’m not sure if it’s my body’s subconscious need for the iodine found in seaweed, the omega-3s in

salmon, or that satisfyingly salty soy – but sushi is one food item I deeply crave. The assorted nigiri sushi has become my mustorder here, with its vibrant array of protein carefully draped over pressed pockets of wellseasoned sushi rice. The myriad of toppings includes sweet omelette, topiko (fish roe), groper, octopus, eel, and king prawn, plus two types of salmon, squid, and fresh tuna too. I can’t go past the chawanmushi, a subtle and

savoury silken egg custard with chunks of prawn, seaweed, and a few other surprises. Apparently, their initial restaurant opened in 2007 on Colombo Street, but they were forced to abandon the city post-quake. Since moving out to Greers Road, owner and chef Kinji and his team have continued to deliver impeccable Japanese fare. In their own words, they aspire to ‘meet your expectation’, and every time I’ve dined here, they’ve done exactly that.

Live music venue

Story is a small, intimate restaurant with a focus on local wine and seasonal produce and a daily changing set menu.

@storychch | storynz.com

A NEW ERA

WORDS Joshua Brosnahan PHOTOS Chloe Mundy

Brigittes is an institution with a legacy of providing exceptional coffee, food, and hospitality for almost 50 years.

Building a loyal community, Brigittes is wellknown in Merivale and across Ōtautahi.

When it sprung to life in the mid-1970s, the original café had its foundations not far from its current home. A few years later, in the ’90s, a move saw the café take root in the locale we know today. In the early part of this century, the business was sold by founder Brigitte to an employee.

Fast forward to today, and Brigittes is still standing strong under the helm of new ownership, thanks to co-owners Jeremy Stevens, Michael Rowland-Jones, and Frank Van Schaijik. Jeremy is part of the Aikmans Group, and Michael is the executive chef. You will have likely experienced his expertly-crafted dishes at hot dining spots around the city.

Brigittes is still a place one can meet with workmates, spend a Sunday morning with friends, or simply re-energise with a caffeine hit while on the go. The ethos on site is still very much centred around the patron with unparalleled service and excellent fare.

Something even the most regular of customers may not be aware of is the speciality coffee blend that the roasters, Ozone, has supplied the café for well over a decade – a signature blend with notes of dark chocolate, caramel, citrus cherry, and roasted nut. It’s one of only three companies in New Zealand that have the privilege. It is

part of a long connection with the brand, with the current CEO of Ozone, Craig Macfarlane, tamping his very first espresso at Brigittes.

Ensuring Brigittes stays part of the city’s hospitality scene for the next 50 years, Jeremy and Michael have some planned changes on the horizon. With a revamp and evening dining on the cards to make the most of the café’s setting.

“We’ll definitely be embracing more of a wine bar feel in the evenings. We’re working towards major renovations, both inside and out. We’ll be enhancing the courtyard space to make the most of the sun.”

According to Michael, the menu has been tweaked and improved rather than radically altered. There’s a real sense of keeping the essence of the café true to its reputation rather than trend-hopping or gimmicky offers.

“It’s the same Brigittes, just improved. We are here, and we’re breathing new life into the café you know and love.”

This respect for tradition and the place the café has held in the local community was mirrored in the honouring of its namesake, Brigitte, with her recent passing.

Friends, family, and former colleagues celebrated Brigitte’s life with a wake on-site at the café last month. Jeremy mentions that many patrons often come in with wonderful stories about her, and this will forever be welcomed.

With its past firmly shaping its future, the legacy of Brigittes is sure to continue.

brigittes.co.nz

Setting the standard

The founder of Black Origin brought his expertise to New Zealand in 2015 when he began raising a small herd of Wagyu cattle on a local farm in Lincoln, Canterbury.

He had years of experience with the luxury product gained in his hometown of Kobe, Japan, and had the goal of producing highquality Wagyu beef in New Zealand using time-honoured, traditional techniques.

His experience in the field allowed him to stay true to traditional Japanese methods at every step of the production process. This ancient art, with the help of New Zealand’s enviable natural resources, resulted in top-quality meat.

The Wagyu rearing process has been refined over hundreds of years in Japan, resulting in specific ways of raising and finishing the cattle. The traditional method of Wagyu processing also differs from the processing of common beef cows in New Zealand. Traditional Wagyu butchering respects every part of the animal, resulting in more cuts of meat and less wastage. An example of this is the intercostal cut – perceived as waste by New Zealand standards, but utilised by Black Origin as a premium product.

To achieve the quality of marbling that true Wagyu is famous for, the cattle must be fed a special grain diet and be raised in very specific conditions.

Japanese techniques brought to New Zealand for the first time include feeding cattle a specialised grain diet to increase marbling within the muscles, and introducing state-of-the-art barns commonly

used in Japan. One of the main challenges that Black Origin faced with this product was educating farmers and consumers about grain-fed protein. While grain feeding is very common in the rest of the world, little was known about it in New Zealand.

This adherence to tradition paid off when Black Origin achieved its first 8–9 Beef Marble Score. The BMS score is a standard of measurement used in Australia to score the amount of marbling in beef, which directly correlates to the flavour and tenderness when it is cooked. The scale ranges from BMS 3 (low marbling) to BMS 12 (incredibly dense marbling). BMS 8–9 is the highest marble score ever produced in New Zealand, and was a very momentous milestone to reach.

Ongoing success is gauged by the continual demand for Black Origin Wagyu, and currently, there isn’t enough supply to keep up with demand. Sales go to high-end restaurants and distributors around New Zealand, including supermarkets, independent butcheries, and the competitive BBQ community.

As our society shifts towards ever more mindful consumption methods, Black Origin has found its place as the most premium New Zealand-produced Wagyu in the market.

Wish to try Black Origin’s offerings yourself? Conveniently you can purchase the products and have them delivered through Black Origin’s website. Tussock Hill is also hosting a four course meal with wine pairings on 18 November – you can buy tickets through the Tussock Hill website.

For more on Black Origin, read the full interview on our website.

IN DOUGH WE TRUST

LAYERS

The Village Bakehouse in the Waimari Road shops is a bakery of old with a community feel. While the pies are a big drawcard, do not go past the pastries, like the pain au chocolat. Delicate layers, a little moister than a croissant, with two bars of chocolate pierced through the middle. Perfect with your morning espresso. Say hello to Thierry and the team!

villagebakehouse.co.nz

FILL ME UP

On Ferry Road, beyond an unassuming shopfront, you’ll find Claude’s Kitchen. With the motto, ‘homemade happiness’, you really feel it once walking in the door. Just great café food and truly good coffee – and a sweet treat that makes this month’s morsel section – a brioche doughnut. Light and fluffy, with a perfect dusting of cinnamon sugar, it’s filled with custard cream and lemon curd. Delish.

@claudeskitchen390ferryroad

STICKY BUNS

On Southwark Street in the CBD is Tom’s. This hole-in-the-wall with diner-style seating serves up some great grub. One treat of note is the pink buns, deliciously soft brioche buns stuffed with jam and topped with iconic pink icing. They surpass anything you’ve ever had in your lunch box. Their sandwiches are also well worth a try – we’re big fans here at Avenues

@toms_southwarkst

CANAPÉ THE DAY

Celebrate our region being on show and be the favourite guest when you turn up with this Crisp and Vale box – Show Case. Pictured is The Picnic, a delightful collection of canapés perfect for any event or occasion: a housewarming, your Race Day nibbles, a trip to the beach, an engagement, and the list goes on. You can also build a bespoke Show Case by choosing from a range online. This is fancy fare without the fuss, and it’s sure to step up your ‘bring a plate’ game.

crispandvale.co.nz

A scoop of fun

ith two gelato cafés in central Christchurch, Rollickin is famous for its desserts and has developed a reputation for its unique and whimsical flavours.

W

But how do they come up with these amazing concoctions? Avenues had a chat with the creators behind these creamy treats.

The team at Rollickin is passionate about where their product comes from, and they only use high-end ingredients and cleanlabel products.

Using fantastic ingredients (seven of which are secret), the chefs whip up fresh gelato each day, churning creamy organic milk into the perfect density. With less air than ice cream, Rollickin’s gelato has a richer flavour. This velvety mix is then introduced to layers of house-made inclusions, like gingerbread, shortbread, vanilla sponge, fudge sauce, berry compote, and even for a recent special in honour of QE2, scone! It’s quite a science to create inclusions that taste great, work in with the creamy gelato, and don’t freeze into hard lumps or turn icy.

On top of serving the masses old favourites like Yogi Bear and Salty Caramel, the team is constantly innovating with seasonal and

special event whips and baked goods. The key to coming up with fantastical flavours is engaging with the ‘Ōtautahi whānau’ and having a lot of fun. Often it can be just a passing customer shoulder-tapping staff to suggest a new option, a comment left on their chalkboard, or even a creation in the name of happenings in our city, like in support of Showbiz’s recent performance of Matilda the Musical, Trunchbull’s Choccy Cake. The team meets weekly to discuss customer feedback and keep up-to-date with what is happening in the local community and businesses.

Alongside the creamy stuff, the crew brew C4 coffee and the cabinet is full of baked goods that constantly evolve – some even make their way into the gelato! The Gerry Brownie is a long-time favourite and there are newer creations like Sticky Date Pudding (the butterscotch sauce is to die for!) and a summer menu on its way.

The team is already concocting kooky Christmas flavours and new summer favourites. Their current seasonal special is Brownie Points, the best bits of Gerry Brownie, creamy Vanilla Bod gelato, and loaded with berry sauciness. Pop in and say hello!

@rollickingelato

WORDS and PHOTOS Liam Stretch

CREATIVE CUP

FESTI-COOL

The North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival returns to Waipara on Sunday, 5 March 2023. The most delicious wine meets the tastiest food, all from our region. Set under the oaks at Glenmark Domain, it’s a little slice of paradise. This truly is the coolest little wine festival in the country. We’ll see you in the late summer sunshine for what is set to be the best festival yet! Head to the website for details. ncwineandfood.co.nz

WINE FOCUS

Vergence is a label by Pegasus Bay for untraditional, alternative wine styles. The Vergence Red MK 11 is an unlikely blend of predominantly Central Otago Pinot Noir with a portion of Cabernet from their North Canterbury home vineyard, now 37 years old. The Cabernet has spent 200 days on skins and provides incredible structure and length, complementing the ripe, juicy central Otago component impeccably. pegasusbay.com

NO FOG GROG

Sawmill Brewing is based just outside of Matakana and is paving the way in sustainable brewing; and is New Zealand’s first B Corp certified brewery. Aside from producing great craft beer, they have also gotten craftier with Bare Beer, a non-alcoholic pale ale. It gives you a full fruity hit like a pale ale would, but without the hangover. Its position alongside traditional beers is well earned.

sawmillbrewery.co.nz

THE FINE LINE

Did you know the Christchurch Tramway Restaurant was recently voted one of the top 10 fine dining restaurants in New Zealand by Tripadvisor – the only restaurant in Christchurch to make the list? The Tramway Restaurant is currently offering its delicious spring menu, with a summer menu set to launch at the beginning of December. The team also offer gift vouchers which are a fantastic gift idea for friends, family, employees, or clients: it’s a great way to spoil someone special with a unique curated dining experience! Contact the Christchurch Tramway Restaurant team for details, or purchase vouchers online via their website.

christchurchattractions.nz

The misleading lady

WORDS Wendy Riley

From 1919 until 1963, New Zealand audiences were guaranteed “snappy scenes, bright singing, excellent dancing, and sparkling comedy” when attending a Stan Lawson Production.

Stan wasn’t just a producer; he could dance, sing, and wisecrack. However, he was arguably New Zealand’s leading female impersonator.

In his youth, he had studied music and performed in Shakespearean, dramatic musical and costume recitals in his home town, Dunedin.

When drafted in 1916, he formed the ‘Digger Pierrots’, a concert party that entertained troops in Northern France. By the war’s end, they had become one of the finest Army troupes, touring leading Europe and Britain theatres before bringing their front-line humour home to New Zealand audiences in 1919.

Hosted by Stan Lawson as the ‘premier danseuse’ and barely distinguishable from a ‘real lady’, the New Zealand Pierrots featured 20 performers and a full orchestra. Described as ‘almost a soprano’, Stan could wear “all kinds of feminine attire, from a bathing suit to a society gown in the most becoming manner”, including costumes given by English aristocrats. He enjoyed

attending fashion parades at Beaths and DIC and would entertain his friends afterwards by cleverly mimicking the catwalk movements of the models.

Stan had opened a dance studio in the 1930s and produced and performed in musical comedies for amateur operatic societies throughout New Zealand. When the newly formed Christchurch Operatic Society needed a producer for its first show, The Belle of New York, in 1938, they called on Stan’s extensive experience and successes to direct a 120-strong chorus and ballet. He returned the following year to produce a larger show with a set and costumes costing over £1200 – the equivalent of $70,000 today.

During his life, Stan staged and toured many successful productions and nurtured the talent of emerging performers. His most famous protege was Rowena Jackson, whom he sponsored to achieve a scholarship with the Royal Ballet in London.

His Christchurch friends remember Stan as “a talented performer, a remarkable producer of musicals, with the ability to foresee the potential future in young actors which he nurtured to become renowned on the stage.”

lostchristchurch.wordpress.com

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Crafting

Ali Jones Writer, broadcaster, and housebus adventurer @housebusdylan @dylanthehousebus

Dozens of first prizes for quilting, many more second and thirds for a wide range of beautifully crafted items, including cross-stitched cushions and upcycled jewellery – these are things I can only dream of. Along with running and drawing, crafting is something I have wanted to be able to do forever.

The problem is that I seem to love the idea of being able to do it far more than actually doing it. My friend Rhondda who is amazing at all things crafty used to run craft nights where friends would bring anything – knitting, felting, making soap – and we would natter and casually glance at the mess of a project someone was doing, cooing at the artistic skill and imagination. None of that in my corner, though. I am an absolute numpty when it comes to crafting, and I am so disappointed in myself.

It’s something I feel I should be good at. It takes focus, exactness, and imagination – I have those things in spades. The issue is, if it takes more than ten minutes to see an outcome, I’m done. As a little girl, I didn’t stick with ballet because we didn’t get to the twirling fast enough; the guitar was a total washout after a few lessons because I couldn’t play a recognisable tune, and as for the recorder – well, we can all be grateful that only lasted a week.

So, here’s the thing – they say it’s not the destination that matters; it’s the journey. It’s not how good you are at something or how it turns out; it’s the socialisation, sharing, nattering, and doing something you’re not naturally good at that matters. Well, I wish I thought that, but I don’t. I see no point in doing something unless you can at least achieve a passable result. I used to take a jigsaw to the craft nights – I can do those quite well. The best bit is being able to laugh at yourself and others which is why I love those cake-fail Facebook pages – hilarious.

I have bags full of crafting projects started and not finished; most are not started. Rhondda often asks me how the advent calendar I meant to make for our daughter, born in 1998, is coming along. Slowly, I say, very slowly.

Harley

1988 HONDA CITY OWNED BY ARAN

AS TOLD TO Joshua Brosnahan PHOTO Federico Corradi

I had been looking for a car for a while, as the first car I got was impracticable and massive. When my father showed me the listing for this one, I knew it was perfect for me. She was fully white when I first got her. I knew I wanted to personalise her, but it wasn’t until around six months later I started painting her in a homage to the Volkswagen Harlequin. I hand-painted every single panel myself using spray paint. Four days and 200 dollars later, she was done. I love that she brought my friends and me together, as they knew what I was planning and wanted to help with the process, so it became a project among us.

My car draws a lot of attention, and I get a lot of unsurprising reactions: kids gawking, drunk teenagers yelling, and old men laughing, but I think the most memorable instance was when a Charlie’s Party Bus full of ladies stopped to ask to take photos in my car. I thought this was funny, so I let them. In the most simple terms, my car is quite literally just a car; it is just painted in a way that is different to what people see every day on the road. This small thing, a tiny break from the social norm, is enough to make people smile and laugh, enough to stop an entire party bus so they can have a photo op, and I think that’s pretty neat.

Jon

“I’m a Māori Fijian-Indian guy who was brought up in Invercargill, in a place that was predominantly European. From a young age, I was constantly thinking about my identity because I looked so different from everyone else. I was not European, I was not Māori, nor was I Indian, as these were communities we had very little contact with. I felt alienated. So, I guess my whole practice, pounamu, and portraiture centres around identity. Ko Wai au? Who am I?

in 2014 I left uni with a Master’s in Painting. I’m now a teacher at Ao Tawhiti teaching senior level Art, and on the odd occasion, I’m able to find the time to carve.

“I’ve been working with pounamu for 18 years and have taught many the art of carving. There’s such an immediacy to the process as after a few hours of work, you’ve got a finished piece. My wife Irihapeti and I formed a trust as we saw a need to develop a kaupapa to deliver and guide whānau about this precious taonga.

“I must have been 24 years old when we (expartner and daughter) moved up to Greymouth. We fell in love with the scenery; I dabbled in landscape painting. I could sit there and paint all day. But then I found greenstone and thought, I want to explore and play with this thing. I spent the next six years in Greymouth carving greenstone. I decided I needed to come here and get a degree. We moved our family from Greymouth to Christchurch, and facebook.com/humansofchch

“The trust is based in North New Brighton; our home base is called Tūhono Taonga Tūhono Tāngata.

“It’s about finding a way to engage with people. We all have stories as to what pounamu means to us intergenerationally. I get to make taonga for people, you know, for events, for key milestones in people’s lives. I’m the pounamu guy.”

NORTH NEW BRIGHTON

“No Whītī taku Papa, no Maniapoto taku Mama. Ko Jon Mahuika-Jeet taku ingoa.”

sheratontokoriki