BayBuzz#27-JanFeb-2016

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Issue No.27 • JAN/FEB 2016 • $8.00 Including GST

9 772253 262016

01

HB’s Rising Stars 40 under 40 Climate Rescue

Recruiting Online

Heart for Hastings

Colon Cancer

Water Meltdown

Growing Apples

Peek at Te Mata

Wine Stories


Jeff Gray BMW

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Issue No.27 • JAN/FEB 2016

THIS MONTH Meet 40 achievers under age 40 who are making their mark in Hawke’s Bay and beyond. What’s the significance of the Paris climate agreement? Will Hastings ever get a civic heart? Dam advocates plowing forward, while Heretaunga Plains water policy-making coming up dry. Plus upcoming events, food, travel, arts and culture, and headlines to amuse.

FEATURES

22 HB’S RISING STARS – 40 UNDER 40

Jessica Soutar Barron

A new generation is already making things happen in Hawke’s Bay.

36 ONLY A ‘CHANCE’ TO SAVE THE PLANET

Bridget Freeman-Rock

Paris climate agreement sets high aspirations. What’s at stake?

42

SQUARE HEART NEEDS ARROW Keith Newman Yet another effort underway to fix Hastings’ cultural centre.

50

POLITICAL BUZZ Tom Belford Latest on the dam. Bigger water drama on Heretaunga Plains. Page 1 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


Issue No.27 • JAN/FEB 2016

JESS SOUTAR BARRON Jess is a wordsmith and project manager whose past gigs have included time with Sky TV, Hastings District Council and Band, as well as three years as a communications managerwith the Metropolitan Police Service. She also produces Fruit Bowl Craft Jam.

KEITH NEWMAN Keith is a journo with nearly 40-years’ experience across mainstream and trade media. He’s won awards for writing about hi-tech, produces Musical Chairs programmes for Radio NZ and has published four books, one on the internet in New Zealand and three others on New Zealand history.

> BEE in the KNOW 08 New Cranford CEO. Wellness index. Hot/Not. Billion $ wine vault. Chinese super goats. Astronauts wanted. East Coast LAB. Old age health costs. Mike Joy writes on rivers.

MARK SWEET Napier-born, Mark worked overseas in Hong Kong and Scotland, before returning to Hawke’s Bay, and establishing Pacifica restaurant. Re-creating himself as a writer, Mark’s first novel Zhu Mao was published in 2011; an extract from his next novel, Of Good and Evil, has been short-listed for the Pikihuia Awards, will be published soon.

NZ wealth concentration. Toilets needed. Arts Fest metrics shine. Summer ‘must-haves’. Lecretia Seales honoured. Smart farms. Valuable crap. Solar innovation. Trye money. Gobbledygook. Events not to miss.

> IDEAS & OPINIONS 82 KEEPING TE MATA PARK IN PEAK SHAPE Bruno Chambers 86 FINDING A SUPERSTAR EMPLOYEE Matt Miller 88 SMART FARMING: PROSPECTS FOR APPLES & GRAPES David Cranwell

BRIDGET FREEMAN-ROCK Bridget is Hawke’s Bay grown, and a bookworm by vocation, or a ‘literary scientist’ to borrow a German term for the ubiquitous arts degree in English. She freelances as a writer, editor and translator (German), and proofreads BayBuzz, alongside postgrad study and ventures in poetry and fiction.

90 COLONIC CRISIS A KILLER Keith Newman 92 THE LOUIS VUITTON OF FOOD Paul Paynter 94 GETTING MORE ACTIVE, MORE OFTEN Mark Aspden

> CULTURE & LIFESTYLE 58 THE SCENE Jessica Soutar Barron

Caravans. Floral affair. Romantic Bronwen Evans. Casting call. Steampunk. Jess Mio shows off MTG. Lily Baker remembered. Trubridge on art.

MANDY WILSON Mandy Wilson manages advertising and store sales for BayBuzz. She’s worked in print media in the Bay for 20 years or so (Wow!). In her leisure you can spot Mandy walking or cycling one of the numerous tracks throughout Hawke’s Bay or sipping hot chocolates in any number of cafes. 027 593 5575

Hawke’s Bay Chefs. Trampoline competition. Book reviews. Rose Mohi’s quest. Judy Hausler remembers Clive. 70 TASTE SUMMER GARDENS Prue Barton 78 A LIFETIME OF TRAVELS John Newland 80 WWOOFER MEETS A WARM EGG Mary Kippenberger 96 HEADLINE HUMOUR BayBuzz articles are archived 30 days after publication at: WWW.BAYBUZZ.CO.NZ For editorial enquiries contact Tom Belford: editors@baybuzz.co.nz For advertising enquiries contact Mandy Wilson: mandy@baybuzz.co.nz, 027 593 5575

ISSN 2253-2625 (PRINT) ISSN 2253-2633 (ONLINE)

THE BAYBUZZ TEAM EDITOR: Tom Belford. ASSISTANT EDITOR: Jessica Soutar Barron. SENIOR WRITERS: Bridget Freeman-Rock; Jessica Soutar Barron; Keith Newman; Mark Sweet; Tom Belford. COLUMNISTS: Anna Lorck; Damon Harvey; David Trubridge; Matt Miller; Paul Paynter; Sarah Cates. EDITOR’S RIGHT HAND: Brooks Belford. PHOTOGRAPHY: Tim Whittaker; Sarah Cates. ILLUSTRATION: Brett Monteith. CREATIVE, DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Ed. MARKETING: Mel Blackmore. ADVERT ART MANAGEMENT: TK Design. ADVERTISING SALES & DISTRIBUTION: Mandy Wilson. ONLINE: Mogul. BUSINESS MANAGER: Bernadette Magee. PRINTING: Format Print. COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH CATES Page 2 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

This document is printed on an environmentally reponsible paper produced using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) pulp sourced from Sustainable & Legally Harvested Farmed Trees, and manufactured under the strict ISO14001 Environmental Management System.


A new showhome for the new year

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If you’d like to see the plans and find out more please get in touch with Scott Taylor on 027 600 7521

A home built around you www.designbuilders.co.nz

Ph 0800 456 456 DBHB0001


FROM THE EDITOR TOM BELFORD

Provoking Debate As I contemplate producing another year of BayBuzz, I feel … stressed … and exhilarated. We have a great team, each of whom stretches beyond the call of duty and compensation, if any. Our main reward is the notes like this we receive: “A Happy Christmas to all and another productive year to you, being the most appreciated ‘Watch Dog’ for Hawke’s Bay.” That from a CHB reader who’s generously given twelve gift subscriptions to BayBuzz. It’s also rewarding to sense that we’re generally succeeding at our core mission, which is to make people think about the issues, thereby provoking debate. That’s a role often critical of the status quo, which leads to the occasional charge of ‘negativity’. As, for example, when we question the long-term viability of Wattie’s. But as we see it, asking people to think about and address risks and dangers ahead is anything but negative. Much of the feedback we get comes to me personally, not intended for publication, especially if it’s critical. I regret that, because it reflects an entrenched reluctance amongst people of the region to speak out … more on that another time. Debate is important because widely disparate views exist in the community, and these must be navigated if positive change is to be made. Take these two comments on our recent article lamenting the prevailing culture at WINZ.

Reader 1: “The benifit system needs to be changed. 1st of all.. All woman on a benifit should be made to have a rod in there arm so they do not get pregnant again. 2nd of all.. All on a benifit should require regular drug testing. And lastly why give them cash. “All those stories sound wonderful don’t

Page 4 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

they.. but cut to the chase .. Most on benifits will not get off them. They are dragging up out next generation teaching them to inspire to the benifit.. iv seen it.. woman so happy there kids got pregnant.. woo hoo.. Then there’s the kid getting the bendy posting on Facebook woohoo 150 bux in my bank and I did nothing to get it.. “Where in the world do they have a benifit system like ours.. Our country’s in debt.. needing another loan.. but dnt worry benifit people.. us workers got you.. just kick back relax buy your booze dope and keep playing the pokies.”

Reader 2: “I cried when I read your article. In August my husband was diagnosed with brain tumours (not curable). My husband & I have worked all our adult lives & contributed to NZ society. “I then had to care for my husband after neuro surgery, then spending 6 weeks in Palmerston North having Radiation & Chemotherapy. Thank goodness for the wonderful support of accomodation from Ozaman House. “The most stressful part for me was having to apply to WINNS & go through the demoralising process of screeds of paper work, meetings, incorrect appointment times, given & more paperwork, waiting in queues to give in yet more paperwork. IRD numbers from our tax agent (an accountant) which I had thought is government approved, would not be accepted. It had to come from IRD. 0800 numbers were not accepted on cell phones & I ran out of credit trying to organise IRD to send our numbers to WINNS. “It was a total nightmare & I would gladly have given up persevering with the process without some supportive friends. I have no respect for this government agency, & fully

understand the desperation of people having to be put through this stressful process. “It would cost more for my husband to be cared for in a hospital or rest home situation and yet we have this continued stress while he has only months of life to live for $200 each of assisted living. We have no mortgage, so therefore we are not entitled to rates, power or any other assistance. “It’s a sad day when New Zealanders have contributed to society with full time employment to find themselves in this situation.” Two rather different views that underscore we indeed live in a diverse community here in Hawke’s Bay, one that is not all café lattes and concerts under the stars. Let’s all, BayBuzz included, try to do better in the year ahead.

TOM BELFORD Tom’s past includes the Carter White House, building Ted Turner’s first philanthropic organization, doing heaps of marketing consulting for major nonprofits and corporates. Tom writes an acclaimed blog for professional NGO fundraisers and communicators in North America and Europe, and is a HB Regional Councillor.


Thanks Hawke’s Bay for supporting the inaugural Harcourts Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival Because of your amazing support, we’ll be back next October with a new and exciting line up of acts. To our funders, corporate sponsors and supporters, we thank you for your trust and belief - we couldn’t have done it without you. Become a ‘Friend of the Festival’ and get early-bird ticket buying options. Scroll to the bottom of our homepage to sign up for our e-newsletter and you’ll be the first to hear about next year’s festival. www.hbaf.co.nz 13 DAYS > 49 PERFORMANCES > 30 SOLD OUT SHOWS > 16 STANDING OVATIONS > 9000 TICKETS ISSUED


BayBuzz

Needs You! And Yours. Of course, anyone can just read BayBuzz. And we’re delighted that you want to ‘bee in the know’. But here are some other ways you … or someone you know … or your organisation or business … can help inspire content for the magazine. Foreign Correspondents Hawke’s Bay sends a steady stream of emissaries out into the wide world beyond our region. We’re not talking Dannevirke, but rather Dubai, London, Shanghai, California, New York … even that weird place called Oz. And they’re both taking in the world, comparing it to home (pluses and minuses), and representing Hawke’s Bay to the ‘unwashed’ who live beyond our borders. Can they write? If so, we’d like to read their stories and observations. Can they shoot a photo (or even a video) or take a selfie of something we need to see to believe? If so, we’d like to view it. In short, BayBuzz is looking for ‘foreign correspondents’ who can show us the world as seen by Hawke’s Bay expats. And either make us envious of their good fortune, or make us happy to be right here! Maybe one of those emissaries is your daughter, son, sister or cousin. Get ahold of them. Tell them BayBuzz wants to hear from them. We have a magazine and a website eager for their dispatches.

Returnees Some Hawke’s Bay expats have ‘seen the world’ … and seen enough!

Page 6 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

And home they’ve come. We’d like to know about them too, and hear their stories. What was their overseas experience? Why are they back? Just back from Sydney? We’ve probably heard that one … but give it a try. Just back from Uzbekistan? We’re all ears! Generally, we’ve published ‘returnee’ stories in groups of three or so, under the rubric … They’re Back! We’d like to do this, with your help, with more regularity. Again, they could be your daughter, son, sister or cousin. If they’ve returned to the motherland in the last year or so, get them on our radar screen. By ourselves, we can’t monitor all the borders all the time.

Spies Finally, we need domestic spies. The BayBuzz team is pretty good at scanning the local scene and knowing who’s who and what’s what. But we have blinders just like everyone else … our network needs constant expanding and refreshing. We need BayBuzz readers to alert us to upcoming events, identify individuals and organisations whose special achievements deserve recognition, clue us in to new and

innovative businesses that will help put Hawke’s Bay on the map … and yes, share juicy gossip of community relevance. Naturally, we can’t cover everything and everyone. We’ll leave the ‘normal’ stuff – like hatches, matches and dispatches – to Hawke’s Bay Today. Instead, BayBuzz is looking for the bold, the brash, the brilliant … the undiscovered, unnoticed and unusual. We think our readers have the inside scoop on this kind of stuff. And we hope you’ll share it with us and your fellow readers.

How? It couldn’t be simpler. Whatever kind of content you might be able to share – Foreign Correspondents, Returnees, Spies – all it takes to get our attention is an email. Our computers are never turned off! Of course, we can’t promise that you’ll see each and every submission in print. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. Don’t be shy.

We’re at editors@baybuzz.co.nz Or: PO Box 8322, Havelock North And we’d love to hear from you and yours.



BEE in the KNOW

New Cranford Chief A warm welcome to Janice Byford-Jones, the new chief executive officer of Cranford Hospice in Hastings. A nurse by training, Janice also had a stint as a professional rugby player and represented England in the 1998 World Cup. Originally from the UK, Janice has been in New Zealand since 2001, working for the NZ Page 8 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

Nursing Council and for district health boards in Wairarapa and Wellington and recently in a national role as clinical leader for Green Cross Health, Medical. She has had various roles in nursing, leadership and management and has a particular passion for workforce development, patient safety and sustainable service delivery.


BEE in the KNOW

Hawke's Bay Wellness Index Jobs on Seek.co.nz

Homes For Sale

[20 December 2015]

[Realestate.co.nz]

220

Lamb price at Stortford

20 December 2015

1,186

AVERAGE

Drunks Taken to Detox/Home

Dwelling Assualts

[REINZ]

[ 16 Dec 2015 ]

[ Down 88 from October]

Homes Sold

263

$47

124

in November 2015 [Up from 195 in Nov 2014]

46

in October 2015 [ Down 6 from Oct 2014 ]

in October 2015 [ Up 26 from Oct 2014]

311

HB Hospital Emergency Department presentations

Giant jaffas given away by Pipi’s in Havelock North in November

[ 18 Oct – 16 Dec 2015]

[ Up from 2,120 in Sep 2015 ]

Burglaries

[Family violence indicator]

7,404 2,250 94 % 2,796 1,458 UP 5 October 2015

[ Up 98 from Oct 2014 ]

[ Up 763 from same period in 2014 ]

Visitors to MTG

94 gigabytes of data downloaded, in November, on average, by NOW GB residential customers.

Admissions, November

Bay Espresso coffee sold [Nov 2015]

[ Including FREE children – up 937 from Sep 2015 ]

[ Up 241kg from September ]

Visitor Nights Commercial & Private

kg

[ Over YE September 2014 ]

What's Hot

What's Not

Coconut milk

Cow milk

Paris agreement

NZ 'commitment'

Irrigating

Water bottling

Early detection

Sitting on it

Hastings exports

The rest

Hilltop

Beachfront

Under 40

Past your prime

Santa Monica Pier

Napier ramp

Carbon neutral

3°C+ increase Page 9 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


BEE in the KNOW

Wine Mother Lode Where do the rich and famous store their best drop? Under their beds? In the garage? Out in the shed? How about 30 metres underground in an old munitions dump in the English countryside? Perfect!

GMOATS

China is embracing genetic modification to breed new types of animals, by tweaking DNA. Although the science originates from the US, China has been an extremely rapid adopter boosted by a booming research budget. The result is new kinds of sheep, monkeys, dogs and pigs, as well as goats with bigger muscles and longer hair than normal. The goats are ‘created’ through directly manipulating DNA, with the goal of increasing goatherd income by boosting the amount of meat and hair each animal produces. BayBuzz calls them gmoats. Hundreds of Chinese institutions, from research hubs in Beijing to far-flung provincial outposts have undertaken genetic modification of animals.

Astronauts Wanted The Octavian's Corsham Cellars holds about UK £1 billion worth of wine from all over the world in a vault of 93,000 square metres. The oldest bottle is from the mid-1700s.

NASA is looking for astronauts and has placed a situations vacant ad online with applications closing in mid February.

If life in Hawke’s Bay is too slow-paced and you're a US citizen, have a suitable degree and flying experience then this might be the job for you. You will need to be able to swim and the ad reads "frequent travel may be required." Spacewalks mean applicants must meet the "anthropometric requirements" for spacecraft and spacesuits - so height and weight restrictions apply.

During the global financial crisis investors looked for alternatives to traditional assets, and wine investing rose. But wine needs special care and handling. Octavian provides the perfect solution for storing bottles, some as valuable as UK£120,000 a case.

East Coast LAB

The temperature in the vaults is naturally 13 degrees C, the ideal temperature for storing wine. Humidity is kept at 80% and checked hourly. Filters cover light fixtures to reduce damage from ultraviolet radiation and there are motion detectors at the mine entrance to protect against theft.

East Coast LAB (Life at the Boundary) includes scientists, emergency managers, experts and stakeholders from across the East Coast and around the world in a joint project working on research to increase understanding of the colliding offshore tectonic plates and associated natural hazards. A new website – eastcoastlab.org.nz – aims to inform East Coast communities about the research, including citizen science projects, and hazards involved.

Page 10 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

The pay scale is US$66,026 to US$144,566 – Apply here: http://1.usa.gov/1NP337Z


:

Health Costs A recent Otago University study confirmed that health care costs are indeed skewed toward end of life. General health costs per person-year rise modestly from $535 for 10–14 year olds to about $1,000 for 39 year olds. The rapid increase in costs starts occurring from the age-group 40–44 years, when the costs increase almost five-fold from $1,025 at age 40 to $5,600 at age 85. But ironically, the cost of caring for a person in the last year of their life decreases as they get older. The cost of care for a dying 60 year old is $35,000; for those aged 90, it's $10,000. The ‘lowest cost’ deaths occur amongst the 13-30 year olds, explained by mostly sudden injury deaths, which, as the study notes, “don’t leave much room for the health system to respond”.

BEE in the KNOW

TOP 1% Academic and journalist Max Rashbrooke’s latest book is Wealth and New Zealand. In it he gives a picture of the wealth of the 'Top 1%', based upon figures from 2010. Bottom line: the wealthiest 1% of Kiwis (about 35,000) own 18% of the country's wealth, with an average worth of $4.5 million each. The wealthiest 10% own 54%, and the wealthiest 50% own 96%. To frame it differently, looking from the bottom up, the least wealthy half of the population (1.7 million people) have 4% of the wealth. Around 8% of the population, that's 271,000 people, have negative net wealth (meaning they owe more than they own; their average debt being around $27,300 ea). Rashbrooke argues that any conversation about poverty needs also to look at affluence and inequality. He looks at how changes in the balance of power in the workplace over the last 30 years, coupled with relatively low benefits, mean those living in poverty are losing ground. Meanwhile the wealthy are pulling ahead, thanks in part to untaxed portions of their income such as inheritances and asset sales.

Return of the River

Max Rashbrooke writes about the initial response to his book in The Guardian, you can find it here: http://bit.ly/1Z9CiPl

Dr Mike Joy has a new book, published by BWB Texts. BayBuzz has featured Joy's work in past stories. His focus is fresh water and the implications of contaminants on water quality and on species living within that environment. Polluted Inheritance: New Zealand’s Freshwater Crisis is called "an alarming wake-up call". Joy looks at the issues plaguing fresh water in NZ and how those problems came about: short-term thinking and failures in legislation are major themes, as is the pursuit of profit over sustainable practice in food production. Joy uses his scientist’s facility with numbers to back up criticism of government, past and present. His overriding call-to-action advocates for strong policy and practices to bring back a clean, green NZ "in which swimming and

Published by BWB Texts, available at:

bwb.co.nz/books/ wealth-and-new-zealand

fishing in rivers are non-negotiables rather than 'nice to haves'". Joy's position in the book comes from a place of scientifically trained observer rather than eco-activist, but the material is vital fodder for all those who have a passion to see the return of healthy rivers. The book is available at:

bwb.co.nz/books/ polluted-inheritance Page 11 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


BEE in the KNOW

Toilets for all Water.org is an international nonprofit organisation that works to transfrom millions of lives around the world by providing access to safe water and sanitation. The organisation's vision is: Safe water and the dignity of a toilet for all. Here's some numbers from water.org on the scale of the issue. 1. 663 million people - 1 in 10 - lack access to safe water. 2. 2.4 billion people - 1 in 3 - lack access to a toilet. 3. More people have a mobile phone than a toilet. 4. Women and children spend 125m hours each day collecting water. 5. Women and girls living without a toilet spend 266 million hours each day finding a place to go. 6. In Africa and Asia, women and children walk an average of 3.7 miles a day to collect water. 7. Every 90 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease. 8. 160 million children suffer from stunting and chronic malnutrition linked to water and sanitation. 9. Globally, 1/3 of all schools lack access to safe water and sanitation. 10. Every $1 invested in water and sanitation provides a $4 economic return.

Page 12 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

ARTS FEST NUMBERS The inaugural Hawke's Bay Arts Festival was a success and will be back in early October this year. Here's the numbers from 2015: + 13 days

+ 500 students

+ 49 shows

+ 16 standing ovations

+ 29 different acts

+ 125 artists and crew

+ 30 sell out shows (advance sales)

+ 19 international artists and crew

+ 27% tickets from Napier

+ 930 volunteer hours

+ 25% tickets from Hastings

+ 258 accommodation nights

+ 46% tickets from Havelock North

+ 120 meals

+ 8,502 tickets

+ $27.70 average show price

+ $247,000 worth of tickets sold

+ 3,000 pieces in the Spiegeltent

+ 5 school shows

+ 15,000 programmes


Summer Must-Haves

BEE in the KNOW

A summer of meals alfresco and fun with family needs the right accoutrements of leisure and laziness. Here's our top four:

Bareknuckle BBQ is new in Hawke's Bay. It's the brain child of Jimmy Macken who has moved his family and his business

KUBB The teasmade Bareknuckle BBQ

The Teasmade is a classic 1950s piece of kiwiana kit. It was a kettle and alarm clock in one that woke you up with a lovely cuppa in the morning. Now the Teasmade has been brought into the 21st century by the people behind the XBox360 and the Kindle Fire. They've linked a "machine-learning brewing device" with a mobile phone app to make a tea-robot, meaning you can now relive the lazy days of the Teasmade. The Teforia teamaking machine will set you back $1800. A classic retro Teasmade can still be found on Trade Me from about $30.

from Auckland where he spent many years catering for the film industry and feeding rock stars on international tours. Jimmy and his wife Tam arrived in November and set up shop immediately with a series of pop-up BBQ nights at Smiths in Ahuriri, carting their trailer-sized authentic Texan BBQ pit there for the occasion. They do weddings and other events and are about to open a true-blue red neck cook-out shack on their Hastings property. Bareknuckle BBQ serve up short ribs, brisket and pulled pork, much of which has been cooked for up to eight hours, with all the trimmings. Chantal's Organic Fruit Shop on Norton Road between Hastings and Havelock is a great way to show off our rustic side to urban visitors. With its corrugated iron facade a worn red and its hand painted signs listing the produce on offer, this place is quintessential Hawke's Bay. The quick drive off Havelock Road delivers you straight into the countryside, something we take for granted but for visitors makes a trip to the fruitshop a great holiday experience.

Chantal's Organic Fruit

KUBB is like petanque but better, and more laid back (it's Swedish where the latter is French). The coolest sets are made in Hawke's Bay by brothers George, Sam and Freddie Coltart from NZ elm. The rules are a basic toss and score type arrangement and it's best played with a chilled beverage in one hand. Sets can be purchased from kubb.co.nz

Page 13 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


BEE in the KNOW

Smart Farms

Back to the Future

In our September 2015 edition we covered the growing need for farmers to use smart technology in their farm management and processes. Southland farmer Richard Conroy and his company Electronic Specialists have developed a mobile phone app that illustrates such smart farming practices. NZ farmers are more and more taking on technologies to help them in their work. This includes devices for automation and remote monitoring. Electronic Specialists stands out for the number of options it offers for on-farm monitoring of effluent systems, bores, water troughs, electric fences and more. Tech like this is helping farms operate more efficiently and also more sustainably with monitoring of water and other resources and inputs.

Now in a world-first a solar pumping system has been developed in Hawke's Bay that pumps water to remote areas without the need for conventional power. Gavin Streeter and Shane Heaton of Isaacs Electrical in Central Hawke's Bay are the men behind the innovation. Hawke's Bay farmers have embraced the technology and interest in the system has also come from DOC, a number of Pacific Islands and a South African aid organisation.

VALUABLE CRAP In our April 2015 edition we reported on CHB's waste water woes. Now there might be gold in the 'poo ponds' if a pilot programme in Rotorua is anything to go by. A collaboration between Scion (a Science and Technology Crown Research Institute) and Rotorua District Council has come up with Terax, a groundbreaking proprietary waste treatment technology and an outcome of Scion's Waste-2-Gold programme. The average Kiwi produces 160kg of sewage biosolids per year and landfill costs for disposing of them amount to $2,200 per dry tonne. Terax is a hydrothermal deconstruction technology. The process breaks down the physical structure of sewage, and transforms it into commercially viable byproducts. These can be on-sold for

Page 14 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

industrial and agricultural applications across a number of sectors including nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers, feedstocks for industrial process, and electricity and transport fuels.


BEE in the KNOW

Bringing you up to date on previous BayBuzz articles ...

Assisted Dying In our July 2015 edition we wrote of the campaign of cancer-stricken Lecretia Seales for assisted dying legislation. From her deathbed Lecretia sought a judicial decision giving permission for her physician to assist in her death; that relief was denied. Lecretia was named New Zealander of the Year, posthumously, by the NZ Herald. Her effort has compelled parliament to look at the issue of assisted dying for the first time in twelve years.

GOBB LEDY GOOK

Tyres Also in our November 2015 edition we looked at the 'tyresome' business of getting rid of old tyres. The Government is seeking solutions to this problem by focusing its latest round of waste minimisation funding on innovative ideas to use end-of-life tyres. Four million tyres are retired each year. A quarter go offshore where they are recycled. The rest? Landfill. The Government’s Waste Minimisation Fund was established in 2009 and is funded by a levy of $10 per tonne that is charged on waste discarded at landfills. Over $60 million has been awarded to more than 100 projects to date. Sucessful fund applicants will be announced at the end of Feb 2016.

In our November 2015 edition we wrote about the current situation at WINZ and in that story listed some changes we would like to see at that government organisation. One of these was for forms and instructions to be written in plain English. Now the WriteMark Plain English Awards 2015 – with 140 entries – has been announced. “Writing information in plain English makes clients happy and helps your bottom line. More than that, it helps people understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens and consumers,” says Gregory Fortuin, chair of the WriteMark Plain English Awards Trust. Winners include ANZ, Careers NZ, Inland Revenue, Beef + Lamb, and (drum roll please) the Ministry of Social Development (WINZ's umbrella agency). Page 15 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


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Just want to gift a BayBuzz subscription? Gift subscriptions are a terrific way to help your friends understand the issues challenging our region and stay abreast of the ‘buzz’ around Hawke’s Bay. For $25 you can give a gift subscription for our new, bigger and better BayBuzz magazine. Just fill out the adjoining Gift Form.

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Reasons Why You Should Subscribe to BayBuzz

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The BUZZ around the BAY Summer Cycling Carnival 7-17 Jan

Waimarama Beach Day

Ten days of serious bike fun, from crazy kid events through to seriously competitive cycling races. A celebration of Hawke’s Bay's cycling craze with its more than 200 kilometres of on-road and off-road trails, Pump Track, Junior Cycling Track, and world class road rides, including the celebrated iWay network.

Waimarama Beach Day 10 Jan Relax and enjoy the beach while raising money for the team at Waimarama Surf Lifesaving Club. There's something for everyone including: Miss & Mr Waimarama, Beach Dig, Dash for Cash and Sandcastle competitions.

Wairoa A&P Show

Fat Freddy's Drop

Page 18 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

Wairoa A&P Show 14 Jan

Sunday Sessions 17 Jan - 14 Feb

A great community day with top class competition from sections including equestrian, shearing, dog trials, rodeo, home industries, sheep and wool. The popular fencing competition and rural ironman challenge are back as well as bumper cars, children's zoo and Lulu the Clown for the kids.

Rod McDonald wine, with music, food and an all-ages vibe. Summer in Te Awanga at its finest. Bring a picnic rug, relax and tuck into the ‘world-famous-in-Te-Awanga’ pizzas and platters. At Te Awanga Winery.


The BUZZ around the BAY Ali Campbell

Paul Ubana Jones

Bridge Pa Wine Festival 23 Jan

Fat Freddy's Drop 23 Jan

Wineries in the Bridge Pa wine triangle come together for this full day of fun. All wineries are connected by hop on/ hop off buses meaning people can visit multiple wineries and enjoy a wide range of wine experiences.

New Zealand-based seven-piece tour to launch their new album BAYS. A journey from slow burn funk through a hybrid of reggae and jazz with techno rhythms underpinning horns and soulful vocals and crooked blues.

National Youth Band 23 Jan

PAUA 27 Jan

Technical wizardry of a top-class brass band in the first half contrasting with the laid-back Latin inspired programme in the second. The concert features tuba player extraordinaire, Phillip Johnston, as guest soloist. At Century Theatre.

Paua's boutique sound and unforgettable tunes bring out feel good vibes. At the Cabana.

Hastings Family Fun Day in Civic Square 27 Jan Fun activities and art experiences in collaboration with Hastings District Library and HCAG.

A Night of Acoustic Soul from Paul Ubana Jones 29 Jan An insight into the world-traveled heart of Jones with his own songs and interpretations of other's from Brit Folk to Folk Blues to Original Acoustic Soul. At Playhouse Theatre, Hastings.

Page 19 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


The BUZZ around the BAY Tremains Art Deco Weekend 17-21 Feb 17 Feb Powhiri Official opening of the biggest celebration in Napier's year. The Powhiri will feature Te Matau a Maui (traditional designed Polynesian sailing waka) being welcomed into the Marina by local kaumatua and kapa haka groups.

The Clash of the Titans: The Angels / Dragon / Mi-Sex 21 Feb Three of the biggest bands in Australasian rock & roll history join forces at Black Barn.

Horse of the Year

Ben Harper

Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals 27 Feb Ben Harper is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist playing an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music. Harper tours with long time band the Innocent Criminals (Leon Mobley, Juan Nelson, Oliver Charles, Jason Yates and Michael Ward). At Mission Estate Winery.

Piano in the Vines 27 Feb

Sol3 Mio 2 March

A new HB fixture event - a light classical/ jazz crossover concert under the stars at Black Barn Amphitheatre.

Tenor brothers Pene and Amitai Pati and their baritone cousin Moses Mackay will present material from their new album along with favourites from their eponymous debut album and beloved classics. All delivered with their trademark wit and humour and the larger-than-life personalities that have seen them become superstars both home and abroad.

Horse of the Year 1-6 March Australasia's premier equestrian event, with over 2,500 horses and 1,800 riders competing. The week-long show has plenty of thrills and entertainment with numerous different equestrian disciplines from amateur to professional levels.

Sol3 Mio Page 20 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


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HB’s Rising Stars

40 40

Dan Browne

UNDER BY JESSICA SOUTAR BARRON

Setha Davenport

Freeman White

Hawke’s Bay problem solvers often lament a ‘brain drain’ when discussing our region’s challenges. They perceive that we’re losing our ‘best and brightest’ to bigger places. Optimistic pragmatists say that’s a good thing. People of a certain age should move away, perhaps they’ll come back and add greater value when they’ve made something of themselves.

Beverly Te Huia

Page 22 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

But Hawke’s Bay has a wealth of people under 40 who are making a difference, right now, in our community. Some have done well in business, others in sport, some were born into their roles and others snatched great opportunities when they came along. In this issue of BayBuzz we profile some of those people. 40 under 40 is a collection of faces who together present a bright, positive, future-focused side of Hawke’s Bay. There are stories of commitment to community, brave business moves, carrying

the mantle of family endeavours, setting bold goals and reaching them. Many were bred here, a few are recent implants. For many, success means finding ways to live here but work elsewhere, for some being here and working in this region is paramount. A theme across all is a personal desire to stick with the Bay, to find ways to balance the ‘lifestyle’ we enjoy here with growing the community, the economy and themselves as individuals.


Dan Browne

25

Dan Browne is the president of Hawke’s Bay Young Professionals and director of Indelible, a screen production company where he employs three people. He is also keen to attract more young entrepreneurs to the region and create an environment that is inviting for them. While at school he was a self-proclaimed audio/visual geek with passion in equal amounts for the arts and tech. Straight out of school he worked as an apprentice to legendary cinematographer Tom Burstyn. At 20 he started Indelible with two partners. “I just thought it would be cool to have a company and make the stuff I wanted to make. When we started we were told it was a stupid idea to do it in Hawke’s Bay. For the first two years I lived in the office and ate pasta every day to keep costs down.” From humble roots Indelible has grown into a big player in the corporate video market. “We’ve just started moving into the Auckland market. The idea is we keep all production in Hawke’s Bay. It’s a region with so much potential – well placed halfway between Wellington and Auckland. I’m a believer in finding a place you like for its qualities that are less changeable then making changes where you can to make it a place you want to live.”

Setha Davenport

34

Setha has a couple of strings to her bow – or should that be banjo, the instrument Setha plays in bluegrass/country/ americana/roots/folk band Cabin Fevre. “We call ourselves unconfineable. We tell people who ask us about genres: ‘We sing and we play these instruments, come along and figure it out yourself ’.” Setha is also the woman behind Setha’s Seeds, a growing business producing heritage and heirloom seeds for sale in a sector where it’s difficult to find home grown seeds that are truly grown here. “People don’t think about where the seeds come from and it’s often from the open market world-wide. It’s unusual to find a company that grows seeds in the country you’re in, so there’s more demand than we can supply.” Originally from Pennsylvania, Setha is keen to stay based in the Bay. “I like the Bay for multiple reasons: it’s a great climate for the seeds, for maturing and curing them, and there’s an amazing bustling music scene.”

Freeman White

36

Freeman is a highly acclaimed, awardwinning painter specialising in landscapes, principally of Hawke’s Bay. “My greatest

Nick Stewart

impact in the Bay would be creating artworks that can in some way immortalise, iconicise and document the region’s multifaceted beauty.” Collections in the USA, Europe and Asia all boast Freeman White’s Hawke’s Bay landscapes. Freeman is committed to staying in Hawke’s Bay where he lives in a Victorian villa he has saved and restored. “I’m very proud of that as when I bought the house it was advertised as ‘renovate or detonate’... but that’s another story.”

Beverly Te Huia

39

Beverly is hard to put in a box, there’s no box big enough or with enough sides. She’s a midwife, head of Choices (Kahungunu Health Services), and chair of Nga Maia (professional body of Maori midwives). She’s run ultramarathons, holds two post-graduate diplomas, is a licenced pilot and represented (with her two sisters) New Zealand in beach handball. She is also responsible for writing strategy in Mongolian aimed at improving breastfeeding rates among indigenous women. In 2003 Beverly completed her first marathon and in 2008 she did an Iron Man. “I came away from that thinking I had more in the tank. I googled ‘hardest race in the world’. It came up with the Sahara Endurance Event, that did take me to the edge, every year someone dies in it.” After completing that, Beverly did other similar events in deserts around the world including the Gobi. That’s how she ended up involved with mothers and babies there. She’s going back in May. Beverly’s role model is her mother, also a midwife, among other things. “We’re driven by finding unfairness and addressing it – people tell her ‘No’ but she goes for it more – she’s a good role model.” Beverly knows that careers can morph, change, multiply. “You can swap roles. You don’t have to pick one. There’s a lot to do out there. Personally, I can’t stop, I have to reach the top – maybe a PhD next.”

Nick Stewart

39

Nick had an early start in finance: “I’d take a 20c coin to school, phone my broker at lunchtime, make some trades”. He was 12. He’s now CEO of Stewart Group, established by his father in 1974, and an authorised financial advisor. He took over the reins at age 28. “I had my own stock portfolio from eight when I sold some sheep. I still remember my first shares in the oldest listed company in NZ, Donaghys. They were a rope maker so when we re-did the cray pots I was adamant that we used Donaghys rope, because it was ‘my’ company.” From 12 Nick and his father discussed the young Stewart’s role in the family business. He was always keen and after a gap year that “rounded off some of the square edges” he went to Massey. “I wanted to be close to home because I wanted to surf and duck hunt – all those neat things we can do as Hawke’s Bay citizens.” As well as heading a successful business there are two more prongs to the work Nick does, and they both involve giving to others. “I think the philanthropy we’re involved in is an extension of who we are – we like helping people.” Nick is also involved in international study groups across the financial sector, sharing information and intelligence. “If you live in a place like this you can become isolated in terms of knowledge. I am very much part of a global community but I still live here.” In terms of business growth, Nick is working hard to make Stewart Group a tech leader. It’s a business model proponents of NZ Inc would like to see more of: big on brains, low on air miles. “Our business is purely IP. I would like to see us being a national player based in Hawke’s Bay. We can create a business here, grow it, do that all from the Bay. Then we’re taking services out of the big city and putting them here. We can do the work just as well but we can also have a happier team and be really invested in this community.”

Page 23 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


Tom Wallace

27

Tom brings together skills built in a family business with cutting-edge tech and entrepreneurial drive. He owns Re-leased, a software company specialising in managing property. He spotted the gap in the market while working for his father’s company, Wallace Developments. Conversations with Xero’s Rod Drury cemented his idea as a good one – now Re-leased holds a coveted position as certified Xero add-on partner. Tom says one of his biggest achievements is “creating hi-tech, high quality, high paying jobs. My age group needs to leave the region to get those kind of jobs so we’re proud of creating them here.” Tom now splits his time between Hawke’s Bay and Auckland. He has twenty staff and handles a billion dollars worth of client property portfolios. “We have customers in 12 countries and we don’t need to have people on the ground, we don’t have to ship anything, we just have smart people working hard and building cool things and we can ‘ship’ that around the world.”

Nic Magdalinos

34

Nic heads Paris Magdalinos Architects, established by his late father, Hawke’s Bay’s largest architectural consultancy. He is currently involved in the project leadership of a wide range of builds across the country with a construction value in excess of $500 million. “It is incredibly satisfying to be able to work on some of New Zealand’s largest and most exciting projects and bring a Hawke’s Bay connection to these.” ‘Live’ local projects of note include the Hawke’s Bay Airport Terminal Redevelopment, the redevelopment of the Marine Parade from the Sunken Gardens to the former Marineland site, and the design and master planning of the redevelopment of the former Napier Hospital site. Nic is also involved in building the new Refugee Resettlement Centre in Mangere.

Tom Wallace

Josh Lynch

“As the son of a refugee, I feel honoured to be working on this significant piece of New Zealand’s social infrastructure. To be able to provide a world class facility for new migrants, and to be at the coal face of nation building, is something that pulls on my heartstrings.” Nic is also heavily involved in Napier City Business Incorporated and the Hawke’s Bay Chapter of the Property Council of New Zealand, as chairperson of both.

Abbie’s focus is continual improvement and she thinks strategically about how to make her family business a forward thinking one. “It’s been bred into me: do risky things that your gut tells you are right. When they all come off it’s rewarding.” Abbie’s father John ran the business before her and she learnt her craft working beside him. “He thinks outside the box and I won’t let a problem stump me – there’s always a way to fix it or improve it.”

Abbie Single

Josh Lynch

38

Abbie is managing director of MR Labels after buying the business eight years ago. She’s worked there since her early 20s. “Over the years I’ve filled every role there is!” Now she’s at the helm and cranking the whole business up a notch. MR Labels produces self-adhesive labels to a wide range of NZ industries – food and beverage, meat processors, bakeries, confectionery, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and general manufacturers. “We’re in the middle of a significant growth programme with new equipment arriving that will grow capital ten-fold.”

35

Josh is the business manager at Trubridge Studios. “ My job is to run everything so David doesn’t have to!” Where David Trubridge is the face of the company, travels widely showcasing products and initiates new lines and designs, it is Josh who holds the fort in Hawke’s Bay, ships stock around the world, meets customers in the showroom at Whakatu. “So much of our biz is David’s story, and people want the story behind the design. But behind the scenes, there are 22 other people grinding away to make it all happen.” Abbie Single

Nic Magdalinos

Page 24 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


alive in New Zealand. “In a world where most clothing is made in China, we strongly feel it’s vital we don’t lose these skills. Our factory is providing career and training opportunities right here in the Bay.” Kilt recently won Supreme Business of the Year at the Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

Adam Satherley 32 & Troy Morgan 31

Melissa Williams The company has grown four-fold in the last five years and in the next five Josh would like to see it double again, but stay firmly in the Bay. He himself has been here for six years, a refugee from Auckland. “We’re a great Hawke’s Bay story. It’s showing the capability and the design that can come from NZ. And it’s a value add that happens in the rural end of Whakatu with cows in the paddock next door.”

Melissa Williams

39

Melissa is the founder of Kilt, a women’s clothing line based in Hawke’s Bay, but with stores and stockists across New Zealand. “We create lots of employment opportunities here in an industry that’s not normally based regionally.” Melissa recently opened a clothing factory; doing her part to keep locally-made clothing

Adam and Troy run Your Solutions, an interior fit-out company they established in 2010. They have 14 staff and clients across NZ. “We’re the next generation of business in Hawke’s Bay. Having companies like ours invest in the region we are sending a strong message: Hawke’s Bay is a great place to do business.” Adam and Troy’s focus is on innovation, safety and sustainability and they manage to weave all those future-focused priorities into a thriving business. They also invest back into the Hawke’s Bay community through sponsorship and philanthropy. They represent a new wave of Hawke’s Bay business, based here, with clients across the country and with the environment and community as much the priority as the financial bottom-line.

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Page 25 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


Josh Woodham

Josh Woodham

Adam Satherley & Troy Morgan

32

Josh started app development company Snapp Mobile with Mark Dekker and Steve Butler in 2013 after setting up then selling Hawke’s Bay’s first social media company, Social Kiwi. He returned home to Hawke’s Bay after five years in the UK where he’d worked at the social network Bebo. “We have developed over 200 apps for organisations around New Zealand in 18 months. Our goal is to build a business that allows us to maintain a favourable work/life balance here in Hawke’s Bay.” Snapp is now the go-to for schools wanting to build apps for their communities to communicate and receive notices. It’s a growing market that Josh is cornering from Hawke’s Bay.

Elizabeth-Marie Nes

21

Elizabeth-Marie runs social media profiles HB Born and Proud, and HB Events. She actively gleans information across social platforms then feeds them out to her audiences. She does it off her own bat with the objective of growing community, raising awareness of the good things happening here and connecting people together. “I am positively promoting the goodness of the region and what it has to offer by keeping people in the loop with what’s going on in Hawke’s Bay, from breaking news to changes that could be of interest to residents, ex-locals and tourists.” Elizabeth-Marie has turned her passion into Strictly Social, which helps clients, like BayBuzz, get to grips with their personal and professional online profiles. In 2016 she will launch HB Jobs, collating work opportunities from a range of providers in a one-stop-shop online.

Adam & Matt Harris

Elizabeth-Marie Nes

32

Twins Adam and Matt Harris have made a two-pronged attack on the business world in Hawke’s Bay. Adam runs NZ Digital; Matt, Navigator Accounting. They are both involved in Young Professionals networks in the Bay. As well as running his own business

Page 26 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

Adam & Matt Harris Adam is involved in a number of start-ups in the fashion, property and accounting industries, all promoting the use of the internet to streamline processes. He’s growing his interests into Auckland, where he’s in the early stages of establishing a hub for HB businesses who want to hold a base in the big smoke; but at the same time he’s committed to educating and encouraging businesses to set up offices in Hawke’s Bay. Matt runs Navigator Accounting with Simon Griggs. “We’re disrupting the accounting industry in Hawke’s Bay by using innovation and technology to offer

more value to clients.” He too is focusing on growing his business into Auckland, however the work will be completed locally, adding value to the Hawke’s Bay economy and lowering costs for clients. Both brothers see the huge potential larger regions hold for businesses like theirs, but they want to find ways to take advantage of that while still working primarily from the Bay. On top of that they want to improve the business environment and networks in the Bay to encourage other young professionals to join them here. “It’s a great place to live and work.”


Liv Reynolds

29

Liv Reynolds

Liv is one of a group of partners behind restaurant Mamacita, bar Hugo Chang and cafe Wright & Co., all in Havelock North. “Essentially, one of the main driving forces behind our current three establishments is to create more reasons for people to come to the Village. My business partners and I all love Havelock North and have strong connections here.” Liv is keen to see more young people base themselves in the Bay. “I am constantly trying to recruit young couples to move here. I love being part of this new emergence, which is bringing youthful ideas, new perspectives and fresh energy to Hawke’s Bay.”

Tom Ormond

38

Tom is the man behind Hawthorne Coffee Roastery and Cafe. “Hopefully I have played a part in making truly world class coffee available to the homes, offices and cafes of Hawke’s Bay!” Tom sees equal importance in creating first-class coffee and providing great hospitality. He’s one of a few boutique food and bev makers based here, blending good service and a good product then shipping it across New Zealand. On top of that his cafe is the heart of Havelock North.

“We’ve provided a unique space for locals and travellers to come and shoot the breeze and share ideas over a quality cup of joe.”

Matt Smith

30

Matt is the Brave man among HB’s booming brewing scene. He runs Brave Brewing with wife Gemma. He’s the unlikely hero of a Hawke’s Bay success story. As the craft beer market here takes off, Brave is at the forefront. “I’ve never considered myself to be an

influencer. I’ve never pursued a traditional career path or gone for the more lucrative options. I have just pursued things that I have passion for, and that I feel have some real value.” Matt is testament to the ability of Hawke’s Bay’s environment to nurture fresh - brave - ideas. “There’s so much creativity out there that’s suppressed because people feel trapped by their busy lives. If I’ve made an impact here, it would be showing people it’s possible

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Page 27 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


Tom Ormond

Matt Smith to bow out of the rat race and have a go at something you’re passionate about, to share your creativity with others and enjoy what you do.”

Charley Crasborn 27 & Jack Crasborn 24 Charley and Jack are giving their family tradition of orcharding a new twist, making cider under the Three Wise Birds label. It’s a well-received drop and gives the brothers the opportunity to do their “dream job”. “We have a special connection to this place and the quality fruit it can produce. We use the apples our old man and his brothers grow to extend their legacy in a new direction.” The brothers have a strong desire to continue creating a high quality Hawke’s Bay product to present to the rest of the country and in time to global markets.

Lauren Swift

26

Lauren is head winemaker at Ash Ridge. Rather than making an impact on HB, Lauren feels it’s the opposite: “Hawke’s Bay has made the impact on me...” She moved here in 2009 to study wine marketing at EIT, then moved on to a degree in wine science and a job at Ash Ridge. She was recently named NZ Young Winemaker of the Year. She is proud of being part of the wine industry in HB and says she’s a “product of EIT”.

Charley & Jack Crasborn In the future Lauren wants to start her own label as well as continue making wines for Ash Ridge, getting some good medals behind her. She’d also like to contribute to the learning of the next generation of winemakers, “to give back to this cool creative industry”.

Caleb Dennis

Lauren Smith

Page 28 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

28

Caleb is a viticulturist at Craggy Range and has just won Young Horticulturist and Young Viticulturist awards, highlighting the impact and quality of young people in the sector.

Caleb’s role includes ensuring the vineyard is up to date and making use of the latest research and information to make the best decisions it can. New innovations are a big part of the picture Caleb sees for himself in the future. “I want to be at the front of the pack using technology, research and knowledge to ensure the wines and grapes grown and made in the Bay are the best they can be so the Bay continues to be known for producing the highest quality wine.” Alongside this is Caleb’s commitment to ensuring this is done in an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable way.


Caleb Dennis

Julianne Brogden

Julianne Brogden

35

Julianne is HB born and bred and a graduate of EIT’s wine science degree programme. After a decade abroad she came home to start her own wine company, Collaboration Wines. “I thought that I’d never return to the Hawke’s Bay due to a perceived lack of opportunities. However, the pull of home and a realisation of the immense potential of the region for producing fine wine, eventually won out.” Collaboration Wines is a young company, but Julianne’s wines are already being served in many of the country’s trendiest restaurants. A major milestone was cracked this year with the first export market being established in Japan.

Ben Bostock

30

Ben Bostock

Ben runs Bostock’s Free Range Organic Chicken employing 13 locals and one of only two organic chicken farms in New Zealand. His venture provides the Bay with the only chickens produced in the region. He farms his chickens without the use of the antibiotics found throughout the meat industry and grows feed that’s free of herbicides, chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Ben’s father John is a pioneer of commercial organic apple production. Ben worked for a time in meat processing and came out of that determined to raise his chickens on a healthy diet, in turn meaning they make for healthy eating. Welfare and quality win out over quantity.

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Page 29 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


Lydia

26

& Sean Baty

27

Sean and Lydia have brought dairy goat farming to Hawke’s Bay and in so doing have created a hive of interest from both farmers and investors. In the future they aim to be milking 2,000 goats and be in a position where they can help others wanting to get into dairy goat farming. BayBuzz featured the Batys in a recent story on the Goat Milk Industry in Hawke’s Bay, you can find it online at http://www. baybuzz.co.nz/archives/8137/

Ngaio Tiuka

35

Ngaio helped set a new standard in case law for water quality when he led the Ngati Kahungunu Inc challenge against Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and its plans for the region’s aquifers. A policy analyst with a Bachelor of Science degree, he led the team challenging council managers and scientists over two days, winning the case in the Environment Court last March. “It’s become case law nationally in how to maintain water quality. It was the right thing to do.” Other iwi and environmentalists are already using the precedent. Tiuka says he’s motivated by his wife and children, who live with him at Waipatu marae, and a desire to make a difference in protecting and advocating for the rights and values of Te Ao Turoa (the long standing world or environment) for future generations.

Lydia & Sean Baty

Te Kaha Hawaikirangi 28 & Hinewai Hawaikirangi 34 Te Kaha (TK) and Hinewai, on returning from overseas in 2009 were disturbed at the condition of the Tutaekuri River and the Ahuriri river mouth. They decided to do something about it. TK and Hinewai, who have a range of skills and qualifications in education, science, health and the environment, observing the poor health of the river conferred with their wider whanau and hapu, and with the

The plan to improve the health and wellbeing of this “precious resource” was adopted by HBRC’s regional planning committee and includes riparian planting, cattle fencing, erosion management, spray drift, water takes, water quality, and improving biodiversity. There are clear conditions for ongoing consultation with mana whenua and a mandate for councils and government agencies to act on those recommendations. The group now holds environmental kaitiaki of the river, including Te Whanganui ā Orotū (Ahuriri Estuary) where the Tūtaekurī originally opened into.

Te Kaha Hawaikirangi & Hinewai Hawaikirangi

Ngaio Tiuka

Page 30 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, on a plan to end this “degrading of the mauri” or life force of the river. They formed representative group Ngā Hapū o Tūtaekurī and created the Tūtaekurī’ Awa Enhancement and Management Plan 2015 with the full support of the four hapū that have lived alongside the river for over 600 years.

The cultural monitoring programme alongside the Napier City Council includes mitigating against contaminants discharged from the Ahuriri Industrial park. The couple are determined to return the river and estuary, previously managed sustainably by their ancestors, to optimum health, reversing the effect of 80-years of negligence.


Annette Brosnan

Olivia Nysse

Eve Vernik-Taaffe

Annette Brosnan

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Annette is a Napier City Councillor. During the election campaign that saw her voted in, she knocked on every one of the 4,402 doors in her ward. “I’ve made a difference in my community because of the different demographic I represent in council. Being a bit younger and having a young family I bring a different perspective.” Annette began thinking about running when she was 22 but she comes from a family dedicated to public service. She has a double degree from EIT and worked at Hawke’s Bay Regional Council before moving into local body politics. She was raised in the ward she now represents. She is also on the Local Government New Zealand Young Elected Members committee. “If you’re right for the job then I’m very pro mixed demographics on council – our society is not a static line so neither should our elected representatives be.” Key projects led by Annette include $200,000 upgrade of Pirimai Park beginning

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early 2016, working with Foodstuffs to upgrade/incorporate Tamatea Park into the new supermarket development, and initiating a long term project to plant all of Napier urban drains.

Olivia Nysse

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Olivia has spent the past five years travelling solo and since 2013 has regularly visited Cambodia where she volunteers in a Khmer orphanage run by the Children’s Improvement Organisation and home to 38 children. She is home in Hawke’s Bay this summer to work on raising awareness and funds for the orphanage, a place she’ll return to this year. She is working with the CIO on the goal of raising enough resources to buy land and build a new home for the children in their care.

Eve Vernik-Taaffe

Eve is a former Estonian Airforce helicopter pilot who is now proud to say she’s a Kiwi. She arrived here in 2002 and now works behind the scenes on a number

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of projects, events and initiatives. “Every organisation will have people like me working for them doing the logistics, problem solving, very much in the background and not searching for limelight.” Among other things Eve is event assistant at Art Deco trust; coach, mentor and current chair of the Bay City Rollers Roller Derby squad; and is involved in horse riding and the Positive Ageing Trust. She’s a skilled horse and dog handler. Her quiet productive reach into the Hawke’s Bay community has brought life to many initiatives and projects. She pins it on her communist era heritage. “In a way I am coming from a background that is probably fairly socialist – that’s my upbringing. Everyone is part of something bigger. I have an idealistic position on everyone getting involved to make something happen. (Communism) did have some real values in regards to us all working for the wider community as well as working for ourselves as individuals.” Eve quotes an Estonian proverb to sum up her ethic: “Kes palju teeb, see palju jõuab.” (The one who does a lot, can get a lot done.)

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Page 31 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


Lee Kershaw-Karaitiana

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Lee is the Māori and Pacific Liaison Advisor at EIT, helping provide a safe and smooth transition for people entering the tertiary world from high schools and other community groups and backgrounds. Being on the student council at Victoria University where he completed his Masters in Te Reo and at EIT where he did his postgraduate honours degree in 2014, helped equip him for his current role. Lee believes the Maori worldview of love for one another including the concepts of manaakitanga (hospitality/generosity) and whakawhanaungatanga (kinship and respect) bring value for all people on campus. Lee is determined to bring his management degree, his passion for te reo and love of entrepreneurship together for Ngati Kahungunu generally and as an advocate for those who might not otherwise consider te reo a worthwhile asset.

Lee Kershaw-Karaitiana

Rebekah Dinwoodie

Michael Sisam

Michael Sisam

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Michael has been principal at Heretaunga Intermediate since early 2014 having come from a similar role in Wellington. He’s turning HIS around after a number of years of bad rap. “For me a big thing was working on relationships and engaging the kids. There was some bad publicity about the school but some very good things happening here.” Michael says his focus on staff flows through to the students. “My classroom is the staffroom. While I have energy on the kids, I also focus on the staff because that enthusiasm and engagement rubs off on the kids.” His efforts have paid off with a lift in attendance rates at the decile 1 central Hastings school. There were 180 students in May 2014; the school starts 2016 with 270. “Our kids are still children: some have been exposed to things they shouldn’t have, so while they are here we try to show them a world that is positive for them.”

Michael and his staff aim for a culture that brings the whole family into the life of the school. He is also big on providing as wide a range of opportunities for the kids as possible, while still focusing on literacy and numeracy.

Anna Pierard

Anna is an accomplished opera singer with a stellar international career who has now settled in her home town of Napier. She is creative director of Festival Opera, billed as Opera with a Conscience, and the dynamo behind Project Prima Volta, a training ground for school-aged up and coming opera singers. Anna has worked tirelessly since she established PPV in 2013 and has coached and mentored a number of promising singers, providing opportunities for them to sing in a professional context. She continues to sing soprano roles here in Hawke’s Bay as well as in productions around New Zealand.

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Rebekah is head of EIT’s Schools of Business and Computing. She has worked at EIT in a number of roles including coordinator of Veterinary Nursing and Equine Studies, advisor in the Academic Quality Team, and programme leader in the School of Applied Science. In 2012 she began managing campuses across the country for an agricultural training centre while continuing to chair the EIT Animal Ethics Committee. In her current roles at EIT she also oversees business and computing qualifications at the Tairawhiti campus in Gisborne and international students at the Auckland campus. She’s recently completed a Master’s degree in Management and her first marathon.

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Rebekah Dinwoodie

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Anna Pierard


Richard Wood

Craig McDougall

36

Richard is one of Hawke’s Bay’s most noted photographers and one of only six in the country with the title of Grand Master of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers. He has won countless awards and accolades, and is a sought after wedding photographer. Richard teaches and mentors amateur and professional photographers and judges photography competitions. Richard’s particular talent lies with illustrational/creative photography and fashion portraiture. He would like to grow this area of his practice in the future. He has twice been named NZIPP NZ Photographer of the Year: “Every year I strive to do it again as each time I push my imagery further. That keeps me from getting stale and it means I’m always improving.” Richard Wood

Craig is a NZ light heavyweight boxing champion who established Flaxmere Boxing Academy run by the U-Turn Trust and has now set up Giants Boxing Academy where he’s head-coach and mentor to 100 kids from 8-24. “Our team has helped a number of young people to feel like they belong somewhere in our society, a feeling of encouragement through sport but impacting on all areas of their lives. We have enabled them to believe in themselves and become something they want to be.” The work of the boxing academy involves a ‘whole of whanau’ approach and Craig has seen people make some big changes in their lives, including in health and exercise and exploring personal talents. He is also an advocate for individuals making positive contributions to the community and is a White Ribbon ambassador.

Eva Bradley

Eva Bradley

39

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Eva is a photographer and writer with a full client list during the wedding season and a weekly newspaper column to keep her busy. It’s the good life compared to her 20s when she was working in the big smoke in a high pressure newsroom. “When I was younger all I wanted to do was be a journo because I wanted to change the world, then when I became one I realised covering these big stories for national news was just about providing entertainment to people, so I adjusted my dreams.” Now Eva brings happiness to the couples and families she photographs and laughter to her readers and in so doing changes the world in smaller but still significant ways. “Some people thought it was a strange choice, but I feel I make more impact doing this and I’m incredibly happy doing what I do.”

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Bobbi Gichard

Regan Gough

Georgia Hulls

Paora Winitana

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Paora is using his international basketball success to motivate young people to upskill and become leaders through the Paul Henare & Paora Winitana Academy. He too has recently been made a White Ribbon ambassador. Paora will continue his 20-year association with the Hawke’s Bay Hawks, but isn’t renewing his coaching contract in 2016, focusing instead on the Academy he co-founded in 2011 to mentor aspiring young athletes for “life on and off the court”. Graduates of the course have moved into higher education, the Army or Navy, the trades or professional sports; eight are now part of the Hawks’ development roster. Winitana has played seasons with the Breakers, the Adelaide 36ers, Christchurch Paora Winitana

Cougars and internationally with the Tall Blacks. He and his wife have five sons and the ordained Mormon Bishop chooses not to play basketball on Sundays.

Bobbi Gichard

16

Bobbi is an aspiring swimming champ with her eyes on the Olympics. She won bronze at the 2014 Youth Olympics in Nanjing and in 2015 participated in the World Championships in Russia. A few weeks later she took part in the Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa bringing home gold. Her next goal is to qualify for the Olympics in Rio this year.

Regan Gough

16

Georgia is a sprinter from Hastings Athletics Club and one of our youngest inclusions. She has already notched up a number of impressive National and Australian titles. Georgia is in the NZ relay squad currently training to qualify for the 2016 World Junior Championships. “I hope the impact I have had is to show that people can succeed at athletics from Hawke’s Bay.” Georgia is one to watch for in future Commonwealth and Olympic Games and is committed to staying in Hawke’s Bay to train.

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Regan represents Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand in cycling. He has gained national and international success wearing Hawke’s Bay colours and the NZ fern. “I have a lot of pride for this region, and wouldn’t change where I’m from for the world.” Regan won gold in the team pursuit at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 2015. He was first on stage two of the 2014 Tour de Vineyards. He won two titles at the 2014 UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships.

Aimee Fisher

20

Aimee has helped her team qualify for the Rio Olympic Games this year in kayaking. She currently trains in Auckland and her big goal currently is to become an Olympic champion. “I am incredibly privileged to be a full time athlete and to have some of the best sports minds in New Zealand helping me pursue my dream.” Kayaking is a huge part of Aimee’s life and at the moment her studies are on hold, but she does have a vision for how she can turn her sporting achievements into creating initiatives that help disadvantaged children. “ I’m not sure what form that help will take, but I have a few years to sort that out.”

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Georgia Hulls

Aimee Fisher


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Only a ‘Chance’ to Save the Planet BY BRIDGET FREEMAN-ROCK

Welcome to the Anthropocene: the epoch in Earth’s history where humans became weather makers, future eaters, planet gamblers. Globally, 2015 was the hottest year on record; 2011-15, the hottest five-year period, with ice melting at both poles at unprecedented rates. The planet’s warming, seas are rising; the weather’s growing more volatile, extreme. The scientific verdict: humans are to blame and our survival as a species requires concerted global action. On 12 December at the 21st UN Climate Conference (COP21) in Paris, following decades of stalled negotiations, 196 nations reached consensus on the need to shift from a carbon-based energy system and a commitment by all to cut greenhouse gases. While the agreement, only parts of which are legally binding, is being hailed as a momentous achievement for global diplomacy and heralds a crucial turning point for climate action, in terms of actual delivery, it only “marks the floor, not the ceiling” of what must be achieved.

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Tipping points Until the 19th century, 278 parts per million had been the steady volume of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for hundreds of years. With the Industrial Revolution and the discovery of fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil), that figure began to shift. By 1990 it had risen to

Laurent Fabius, Francois Hollande and Ban Ki-moon announce draft agreement

consistent with the observed rates of ice loss in Antarctica and Greenland today. 450ppm is deemed cataclysmic, and we’ll reach that within 25 years if we carry on our present track of adding, annually, 10 billion cubic tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere. In such concentrations, CO2 and other

"On the Keeling curve of acceleration we’re tracking to reach a 4-5C increase within a century – much too warm for habitation as we know it." 350ppm (what climate scientists classify as the safe upper limit), and in 2015, according to the World Meteorological Organization, we crossed the 400ppm red line. The last time this happened (3 million years ago), sea levels rose 10-20 metres;

gases like methane produce a ‘greenhouse’ effect: trapping heat and moisture. Earth’s roughly a degree (celsius) warmer than in pre-industrial times, but most of that rise occurred in the last 50 years alone. On the Keeling curve of acceleration we’re tracking


to reach a 4-5C increase within a century – much too warm for habitation as we know it. Even if all of the mitigation pledges put forward at the UN conference truly delivered, the planet will warm another 3C. World leaders agree, however, that we must keep well below a 2C rise if we want to avoid catastrophic consequences. Low-lying vulnerable developing nations who stand to be most affected argue that we can’t risk going above 1.5C. And climate science concurs. If it seems marginal, the difference between a degree or two is pressing home. Since the (failed) Kyoto summit in 1997, weather and climate disasters worldwide have increased 42%, with deadly heat waves, unremitting droughts, monster storms and aberrant floods attributable to climate change, while lowlying Pacific countries, like Kiribati and the Marshall Islands, already face the stark fact of disappearing homelands. As the COP21 Paris talks got underway, Cumbria, in England, was deluged with its third 100-200-year ‘weather event’ since 2003, while Beijing was brought to a standstill by smog. In what is essentially a gesture of recognition, 1.5C has been written into the Paris Agreement as an aspirational limit. As it stands, to keep below a 2C rise will take superhuman effort. A critical review on the feasibility of a 100% renewables world (Scientific American, 2014), found “deep energy system decarbonisation”, which climate campaign groups say is ultimately what’s needed, “is likely to require an ambitious, focused agenda of rapid innovation and improvement in every critical technology area… as well as substantial ‘demand pull’ efforts and policies.” The reality is, it’s going to be costly and difficult, and we’ll need to move fast.

pay into this, but so far, despite the US, for instance, doubling its existing budget to support adaption and increasing its financial promise, that goal too is aspirational … and far from being met. While compromise and a certain convoluted vagueness – “common but differentiated responsibility in light of national circumstances with respective capability” – was the trade-off for Problem: CO2

What the agreement does and doesn’t do In part to bypass the obstructive US Senate, the agreement’s not a treaty. Nations have committed to cutting GHG emissions as quickly as possible with the aim of achieving carbon ‘neutrality’ and net-zero emissions between 2050 and 2100. But it’s a bottom-up design of voluntary selfresponsibility; they are not bound by their targets under international law. A ratchet mechanism commits countries to come back to the table every five years to review their emissions reduction targets and make new, more ambitious cuts. This “ratcheting up of ambition over time” could help close the gap between policy and science, it’s hoped, and the peer review process – shaming the laggards – may be potentially more effective than a top-down demand. The agreement includes a climate fund worth US$100 billion a year after 2020 to help developing nations take the substantial leap forward. Developed countries must

through no fault of their own. And there are huge gaps that will need addressing: the fact that shipping and airline emissions are exempt for now, yet rapidly growing, for example. One of the agreement’s most scathing critics, George Monbiot, points out the disconnect between carbon consumption and production. “In Paris delegates have solemnly agreed to cut demand, but back home seek

Effect: Disappearing island nations accommodating all, the finer detail of how the agreement is ultimately interpreted and applied is still to be hashed out. Countries are being asked to review their pledges in 2018, so new commitments are ready to go in 2020 when the agreement comes into effect (ratification will need at least 55 countries, covering 55% of global GHG emissions). Critics see too many loopholes in the agreement allowing nations to avoid serious action, and say there’s little in it for climate justice: for recognising irreversible effects, such as land loss and migration; for supporting vulnerable indigenous communities or acknowledging the gender inequality of those most affected. There’s no notion included of historic responsibility: the rich nations who’ve built their wealth on burning fossil fuels, causing the predicament, versus the poor countries who bear the brunt

to maximise supply. Until governments undertake to keep fossil fuels in the ground, they will continue to undermine the agreement they have just made.” Notwithstanding, the agreement’s widely welcomed as a ‘better than hoped for’ outcome that takes a significant first step in the right direction. As one of America’s most ardent advocates of action, 350.org’s Bill McKibben, says, “the agreement won’t save the planet, it may have saved the chance to save the planet.”

The real work begins at home So, after 20 years of diplomatic tussling, we have a universal agreement that signals “the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era”, both Greenpeace and US President Obama proclaim, but on its own won’t solve the climate crisis. Physicist and Nobel-prize winner Bill

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One solution

Deforestation a major cause of warming

Hare from Climate Analytics (Berlin) says, “The challenge now is for civil society [and] governments to maintain political pressure on improving ambition” and putting in place “real policies” that translate into meaningful, effective action. Although New Zealand’s climate change broker in Paris, Tim Groser, says we’ve made a “solid contribution to the global effort”, Hare contends “NZ has basically played a game of accounting tricks ... It hasn’t really addressed the growth of its emissions”,

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whether from agriculture, industry, or transport, all of which continue to rise. NZ has one of the weakest targets of developed nations (a pledged 11% reduction on 1990 emission levels by 2030, conditional primarily upon carbon trading), and one of the poorest reduction records, despite being one of the highest per-capita emitters in the world. According to the latest international Climate Change Performance Index, we’ve slid to the tail of the league table’s ‘poor’ category and sit among the bottom five countries

globally for our overall climate policy. Professor James Renwick, climate scientist at Victoria University, believes “For New Zealand, as a developing nation that should be leading the way, we need a national-level strategy in 2016, one that will see our actual emissions reduce, rather than us buying our way out with carbon credits.” Following Paris, however, it seems pretty much business as usual. The Government says we’re on course to meet our targets and they won’t be seeking further changes. On RNZ Morning Report (14 Dec), Prime Minister John Key emphasised there will be no cutbacks made on the mining of oil, coal and gas in NZ, and that he’s confident a technical solution to agricultural emissions will eventually be found. More tracts have just been offered for oil and gas exploration (even as Shell Oil announced a ‘strategic review’ of its NZ presence). Whether anything we do or don’t is insignificant on the grand scale of things, as John Key rationalises, and whether this position damages NZ’s reputation and trade relations, as the Green Party claims, is debatable. Climate analysts, however, predict countries that get on with the difficult, colossal task of deep-reaching mitigation and climate change adaption will be better placed in the future, if only because they have embraced the latest innovations. The longer we hold out the more we stand to lose.


US-China deal smoothed the way

A building momentum Ralph Sims (Centre for Energy Research, Massey) says COP21 may be remembered most for what happened beyond the negotiating table in those first weeks of December: “for the momentum of businesses, cities, NGOs, financiers, bankers, indeed across all civil society, in their intent to move towards a rapid transformation to a lowcarbon economy.” Bank of England’s head, Mark Carney, for instance, announced the creation of a new task force on climate-related financial disclosure, headed by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg: “to rectify the current market failure to provide adequate

information to investors about climate risks” and to up the ante. They recognise climate change as a potentially major destabilising force on the global economy, as do two of the world’s biggest institutional investors, German insurance giant Allianz and Dutch pension fund ABP, who declared they would be divesting fossil fuel portfolios, largely based on the high risks they perceive in the future. At the same time, 350.org released figures on its divestment campaign: US$3.4 trillion has been globally pledged by businesses, individuals and institutions to divest from fossil fuels; up US$1 trillion since September. In a joint presidential statement at

“For New Zealand, as a developing nation that should be leading the way, we need a national-level strategy in 2016, one that will see our actual emissions reduce, rather than us buying our way out with carbon credits.” COP21, India and France announced an International Solar Alliance to mobilize funds “for the massive [global] deployment of affordable solar energy”, while a posse of billionaires – Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg et al – launched the Breakthrough Energy Coalition to fund the development and rolling out of new clean energies. According to the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), global investment in renewables is set to total US$7 trillion by 2040, accounting for 60% of all power plant investment. This against a current global estimate of $1 trillion annually in government subsidies to oil and gas industries. As costs come down – already solar energy has fallen 80% since 2000, and wind energy is becoming increasingly comparable if not cheaper than coal and gas – developing countries in particular, with Africa taking a lead, are investing more in renewables as they seek to expand energy access to their populations and improve economic opportunities while responding to the urgency of their climate situation. Irrespective of how well or poorly national governments honour the Paris Agreement, the shift away from fossil fuels is happening … because it’s good business.

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Climate Change Facts • In a “holy shit moment for climate change”, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet was assessed in 2014 as in a state of irreversible decline, while in 2015 a team of oceanographers discovered the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, long thought to be more stable, is also melting. Sea-rise projections may have to be scaled up considerably. • The Tasman glacier (NZ’s largest and longest) is shrinking so fast, it’s expected to disappear by the end of the century. Diminishing snowmelt and glaciers around the world will hugely impact drinking water and agriculture. • NZ’s coastlines face rising sea levels that are up to 10% higher than the global average – between 0.6-1.5m over the next 100 years. Commissioner for the Environment, Jan Wright, likens it to a “slowly unfolding red zone”, with 9,000+ homes lying less than 50cm above spring high-tide levels. • Oceans, which soak up 90% of the extra heat in the atmosphere, are getting hotter and more acidic due to CO2 absorption (about a million tons every hour, every day). Oceans are about 40% more acidic than they were 200 years ago. Oceanographers warn: “the current rate and magnitude of ocean acidification are at least ten times faster than any event in the past 65 million years… Given that periods of rapid acidification over tens of thousands of years – slow by our current human-driven standard – resulted in mass extinction and ecological collapse, this alone should be reason to act.” • 1.5C warming will lead to 97% of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

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bleaching; 2C spells coral death. Coral and shellfish are particularly affected by the increasing warmth and acidity of oceans. • 1.5C rise will see 25% of Earth’s animals and plants disappear. • NZ’s canary in the mine: our native redbilled gull, subject of one of the world’s longest studies, have been in steep decline (down from 19,000 to 9,000) since the ‘population crash’ of 1994, due mainly to the depletion of the krill they depend on to feed their young and changing oceanic conditions. • Pine bark beetles have chewed through 4 million acres of spruce trees in Alaska since 1997. Milder winters, longer summers means the beetles complete 2-3 reproductive cycles instead of one. With climate change, boreal forests are weakened by drought and more prone to deadly infestations; there are massive forest die-offs already happening in the northern hemisphere. While in NZ, 200-300 native alpine species are on track for extinction due to drier warmer conditions. • Recent Wairau and Waikakaho Valley fires in Marlborough are estimated to cost tens of millions of dollars. Wildfires in the drier regions of NZ are set to increase 400-700% over the coming century. • Lakes are warming globally on average by 0.34C a decade – at a greater rate of increase than either the oceans or atmosphere – with dramatic effects on human health. Algae blooms expected to increase 20% by 2100.

Local Government Leaders’ Climate Change Declaration To coincide with the Paris talks, Local Government New Zealand put forward a Leaders’ Climate Change Declaration, giving support for the development and implementation of an “ambitious transition plan” for a lowcarbon, resilient New Zealand. The Declaration calls on Central Government to make climate change a priority – specifically to lift its mitigation measures and undertake a “holistic economic assessment” of impacts – as well as outlining key commitments local councils will take and recommending a list of guiding principles. This was signed by 29 mayors and chairs from around NZ, including Hastings and Napier mayors Lawrence Yule and Bill Dalton. [Neither CHB mayor Peter Butler nor Wairoa mayor Craig Little replied to the question of whether they intend to support it, while Fenton Wilson, chairman of HBRC, refused to respond to BayBuzz.]


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Square heart needs arrow STORY KEITH NEWMAN


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The dream of transforming Hastings CBD and the cultural and civic facilities east of the railway line has been on multiple council agendas for over a decade, but the big ideas seem to stall, lacking a cohesive plan, adequate budget and determined leadership. The exorbitant costs of earthquake strengthening the Hawke’s Bay Opera House and Hastings Municipal Buildings is the latest catalyst to reimagine the form, function, feel and future of the area. In mid-2015 Hastings District Council (HDC) asked an independent working party (IWP) to shoot for the sky with a $20 million plus budget to revitalise the allegedly unsafe heritage buildings, adjacent art gallery and museum and the central city’s largest open space. The IWP of ‘experts’, chaired by engineering consultant and project manager Richard Kirby, included Peter Snelling ‘property and commercial’; Chris O’Reilly ‘marketing and facility operation’; Genevieve Beech, ‘arts, heritage marketing and branding’; Ngahiwi Tomoana, ‘arts, culture and heritage’; Gary McCalmont ‘property’; and Andy Coltart, ‘architecture and design’. These blue sky thinkers were to bring the best ideas to the table as part of “rethinking connectivity” in a “joined up” city centre solution to deliver a cultural heart to Hastings.

A spark for change A decision of whether council will fully back their report, Tihei Heretaunga – the spark which ignites change, will come at the end of January when supporting documents will be tabled ahead of a proposed public consultation in February.

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The IWP says the inner city lacks heart, fails to reflect the area’s unique identity, is negatively perceived and therefore limited in its attractiveness. “Retaining the status quo and tinkering with small-scale ideas and plans is not an option that will serve anyone’s interests in the medium and long term.” The main obstacle had been the lack of alignment between iwi, hapu, HDC, business, the public and other agencies “limiting our joined-up thinking”. Chairman Richard Kirby, in his December 17 chairman’s report, made it clear, despite the subterranean rumbling from some disgruntled stakeholders, that nothing is set in concrete.

revitalisation projects kept historic buildings, which gave “character, context and architectural ambience”. Demolition, he said, “would be a disaster”.

Costs a seismic shocker Strengthening the Opera House theatre to 70-75% of the Building Code rating was estimated at $10-$11 million with another $5.6-$6.4 million for the Municipal Buildings. That’s on top of the $13.6 million HDC invested back in 2009. While a lower rating would be acceptable from an engineering perspective, the Health and Safety Act recently made building owners, CEOs and councillors

Strengthening the Opera House theatre to 70-75% of the Building Code rating was estimated at $10-$11 million with another $5.6-$6.4 million for the Municipal Buildings. That’s on top of the $13.6 million HDC invested back in 2009. Says Kirby: “We’ve covered off most off the options for those three sites although there is still room for others to come out of the woodwork as long as they are viable and can get council support.” As part of ‘road testing’, the IWP met Christchurch-based urban designer James Lunday who urged them to “be bold” ensuring buildings in the square had “multiple faces” onto surrounding streets to encourage use and draw people into the centre. The Opera House was “a fantastic performance space for an intimate audience experience”; successful international

potentially liable for injury or death, further sensitising an already risk-averse local government culture. The IWP recommends HDC strengthen the Opera House, but hold off on the Municipal Buildings until there’s a commitment for a hotel and retail space. While Kirby believes savings may be possible through more “cost effective design and strengthening”, unless the business case stacks up the IWP recommends demolition and using the savings for the wider project. Supporting documents for the potential return on investment of the commercial


options will be presented to council at the end of January. As another part of the ‘road testing’, a number of focus groups including regular opera house users, the creative sector and iwi, gave “good honest feedback”. Changes were made, including the IWP tossing out its massive Civic Square concept drawing, and starting again. The drawing, says Kirby, was misinterpreted by those who saw it as something fixed rather than representing council’s desire to put a stake in the ground, although some feedback was about “self-interest”.

Back to square one The IWP now recommends revisiting the work done by Mitchell & Stout architects Ginny Pedlow and Professor Mike Austin to see how this aligns with the Tihei Heretaunga concepts. Austin and Pedlow won an HDC competition in 2011-2012 beating 30 entries to redevelop the area in question and continued to work with council, iwi and other stakeholders on integrating an iwi innovation hub and performance spaces with the gallery and library. The winning entry was given a $8.5 million budget over a five years beginning in 2015, but was left in limbo after the bombshell of revised earthquake strengthening costs. Ginny Pedlow says she and Professor Austin evolved their design to a stage where construction could begin, but as of this writing had not been consulted by the IWP. Pedlow, a former Havelock North resident, says it would be a “real waste” for her team not to be involved, even if it was providing advice. “It would be very sad if they went ahead without us. We’re committed.” The IWP is urging further investigation into what else might be included in the long

“It would be very sad if they went ahead without us. We’re committed.”

GINNY PEDLOW

term plan including trialling new ideas. The most visionary proposal in Tihei Heretaunga is branding the area as the gateway to the East Coast, a ‘touchstone’ for Ngati Kahungunu and Tairawhiti (Gisborne region) and the descendants of the Takitimu waka, and capitalising on strong Asia-Pacific trade connections. This should reflect the fact that Hastings is 25% Maori without alienating other cultures. “It’s not just a Maori-Pakeha thing but a Hawke’s Bay thing,” says Kirby. In the cultural-commercial remix there’s potential for Hastings (Heretaunga) to become a national centre for song, dance, theatre, culture and arts with a campusstyle learning environment leading to employment opportunities. Kirby says it will be up to council to firm up the process and work with arts groups and stakeholders. “We recommend leveraging the existing work, modifying it,

branching out and committing to some of those lots as part of the jigsaw.” The IWP report tells us a “joined-up plan” demonstrating “leadership, vibrancy, virility [and] our unique identity” will help create “inner city social, cultural and economic pride, improved use of civic amenities, attract ‘engagement and investment’ and increase visitor numbers.” Initial feedback is that it’s bland, too broad, short on specifics, didn’t identify the problems and failed to produce a compelling overarching vision. For example, mentioning the Hastings City Art Gallery as display space, with little mention of the Hastings Library, left some stakeholders, who refused to be named or quoted, fuming. Delving deeper BayBuzz discovered there are indeed plans for repurposing both as part of a more integrated space. “The general feeling is the gallery and library are

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tim.co.nz

portal for digital innovation and the arts. It would be a natural extension to the pou in Civic Square, representing the whole of Ngati Kahungunu from Wairoa to Wairarapa, with each hapu having space and time to host their own displays of history and art. However, Kirby says some hapu are struggling with Tomoana’s concept and don’t see the vision as he does. “There’s work required to get everyone over the line.” Tomoana agrees, each sees their marae as the bastion of knowledge, but “there’s definitely a positive tension”.

potential for external funding. Kirby says council needs co-investors and suggests some funding for the arts and culture side could come from central Government. The idea of turning the Municipal Buildings into a 100 room ‘4-star plus’ hotel with at least one extra floor and retail space for shared offices and a café style business centre could also bring some relief to the wider spreadsheet. Tomoana applauds it as “a developer’s dream”. To critics, the Tihei Heretaunga report remains long on rhetoric and short on specifics. It tries to be everything to everyone, promising a dynamic, vibrant, ‘once in a lifetime’, future-focused vision that is adaptable and sustainable. Kirby defends the content, saying the IWP was engaged to provide a wider context around functionality, not designs. He’s confident follow up reports and stakeholder and public submissions will fill in many of the gaps and spark creative juices. So what does creating “positive disruption to traditional community thinking” look like? HDC doesn’t want the same old infrastructure solutions. What’s needed, he says, is “a lightning rod … for a step change from what we’ve been doing … a change in the way community works together and how to deliver a vision like this”.

Who’s going to pay?

Blurred boundaries good

By current estimates there’s only around $4 million left from the $20 million budget after earthquake strengthening – a pittance for any visionary development to consolidate the heart of Hastings. HDC CEO Ross McLeod has talked of

Architect Ginny Pedlow says blurring the boundaries between facilities is “interesting, sensible and forward thinking”, but the project needs to look beyond its boundaries to integrate with the bigger CBD picture. She says people enjoy life in public spaces,

“We’ve covered off most of the options for those three sites although there is still room for others to come out of the woodwork as long as they are viable and can get council support.” RICHARD KIRBY disjointed and whatever facility is put there should be combined or…the art gallery pulled down to start again,” says Kirby. Any decision must involve digital age solutions including wifi, so people don’t just come to the library to read books but to talk to each other, gather information, look at art and experience culture, he says.

Innovation hubbub IWP member and Ngati Kahungunu Inc CEO, Ngahiwi Tomoana, says a location is already agreed on for the iwi Innovation Hub which would be the key to integration and the East Coast ‘touchstone’ concept. It would be either beside, in place of or in addition to the gallery and could expand the current gallery space “two or threefold”. There would be room for artists, painters, sculptors, live music and digital technology, displaying the best of current and ancient art. The library, he says, is a cornerstone enabling a flow of experiences and displays to go from “quiet entertainment, archives and research” through the carpark at the back of the Hasting Library into an open foyer area and on to the Innovation Hub as the main

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Richard Kirby


“I get the feeling Hastings never quite knows what to do ... without churning it all around and around again … I’d like to see the council do anything, anything at all really as long as they do something.” JACOB SCOTT but are becoming more discerning. Part of good design is making it comfortable and enjoyable to get from point to point, including dealing with areas that become wind tunnels. While thinking widely is a good place to start, Pedlow says it’s important to marry the pragmatic, financial and functional while “providing a facility, a design, a building or a piece of architecture that is inspiring”. The challenge for any complex project is bringing different voices together. Ongoing surveys and discussions and open and closed meetings with stakeholders about the various options have already set the tone. Architect and master carver Jacob Scott, who has been part of previous planning and on the panel that chose the Austin-Pedlow design, partly blames the distraction of the amalgamation debate for holding things up. “I get the feeling Hastings never quite knows what to do.” He wants to see some action “without churning it all around and around again … I’d like to see the council do anything, anything at all really as long as they do something.” Hastings City Art Gallery director Toni MacKinnon, is keen to see how the process pans out but says having Civic Square as the heart or creative hub “is brilliant”. She says Hastings has a deeply layered and vibrant arts community which has suffered a blow through the closing of the Opera House

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“This is about giving things a prod so we become leaders rather than followers. If we carry on the way we have we’ll remain followers.”

Ngahiwi Tomoana

NGAHIWI TOMOANA

tim.co.nz and dealer galleries over the past few years. “It’s left a real gap and the sector needs to pull together with the council supporting it.” It makes sense that Ngati Kahungunu are active partners through the Innovation Hub. “How great for visitors to be welcomed directly into a centre of creative collaboration ... it puts the arts at the forefront of engagement.” A thriving arts sector contributes hugely to an economy, “as well as serving its community, it can help put a place on the map … I hope the council seizes on this opportunity to create something exciting.”

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Inner city lifestyle Inner city living is hinted at in the report, but the opportunities and the obstacles need spelling out, including how far HDC will go to accommodate zoning, rating and consenting changes to encourage what’s proposed. IWP chairman Richard Kirby agrees planning decisions could have a big bearing on who stays and who goes or whether some aspects of the plan can happen at all. Jacob Scott believes Hastings has the potential to be “a fantastic hub, an exciting place for inner city living as long as it doesn’t become sanitised or clinical”.

Napier, he suggests, is heading in the right direction with new planning manager Richard Munneke looking to revitalise the city centre while keeping the quirks and “cutting people slack to try things out”. He says earthquake, health and safety, insurance considerations and pedantic regulations make it too hard for people who might otherwise re-populate inner city areas like Hastings. An extensive study of Napier and some Hastings buildings by Auckland University’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department offers some hope with claims most earthquake prone buildings “got cleaned out” in 1931. The study led by Professor Jason Ingham, a global expert in seismic assessment and retrofitting earthquake-prone buildings, suggests most remaining buildings were constructed to mitigate earthquake problems. “They claim those design solutions remain state of the art…and most of these buildings are as strong as any,” says Scott.

Traction and action Ngahiwi Tomoana says Hastings has been “very conservative” in past attempts to redefine the CBD and Civic Square. “This is about giving things a prod so we become leaders rather than followers. If we carry on the way we have we’ll remain followers.” He says council, corporates and iwi have been working more closely than in the past. “Barriers have been overcome”. However HDC will have to drive things. “If they find no enthusiasm it’ll be hard to excite anyone else … including corporate investment.” A strong team needs to be given the authority to move things along. While the role of the IWP is technically at an end, Richard Kirby is aware momentum could be lost at council and public consultation stages unless there’s a clear vision and a driver. “Council is keenly aware [they] need to make some sharp decisions.” They’ll never please everyone but “they need to make a call” and “provide the spark to generate activity” before March. He remains quietly confident that there’s a mood for change, and leadership from Mayor Yule and CEO Ross McLeod will “filter down … It has to be an enabling council to facilitate this happening.”


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Political Buzz BY TOM BELFORD

This year will see a shift in the focus of public debate from the fate of the Ruataniwha dam to the management of water on the Heretaunga Plains, and from the perceived threat of amalgamation to the reality (or not) of inter-council collaboration. Water Issues If all goes to the plan of its advocates, the fate of the CHB dam scheme will be decided in the first quarter of the year. The remaining hurdles to overcome are a pivotal legal challenge to the land swap that enables a dam reservoir to be formed, securing the commitment of a suitable major investor and/or bank lender, and selling the requisite water purchase agreements to guarantee adequate cash flow to sustain the project. Regarding the land swap legal challenge, filed by Forest & Bird, all parties expect the High Court to render its decision in early January. That could well have happened by the time you are reading this. Forest & Bird argued that the Department of Conservation improperly downgraded the high classification of the protected land at issue, so that it could then agree to a transfer of that land to HBRIC, to be inundated by the dam reservoir. While Forest & Bird disagrees strongly with the merits of this particular swap, its broader concern is that if such a downgrade of classification, as processed in this instance, is deemed permissable, then no conservation land in New Zealand is in fact protected from economic development, as current law would safeguard. If the Court has ruled in F&B’s favour, the dam is dead. You can skip the next few paragraphs and move on the the Heretaunga Plains issues!

If the Court has ruled in HBRIC’s favour, the last legal obstacle to the dam has been cleared, leaving the investor package and the actual water purchases to be reckoned with. HBRIC has been reporting that three potential institutional investors are seriously interested in the scheme and ‘kicking the tires’. For some time, despite two previous investors walking away, HBRIC has insisted that finding investor money was the least of its problems in getting the project off the ground.

Water purchases Apart from environmental impacts of the proposed scheme, nothing has been more challenged than HBRIC’s success (or not) at getting farmers to contractually obligate themselves to yearly water purchases for 35 years, whether or not they use the water. At its last accounting in December, HBRIC had signed contracts for 30.2 million cubic metres of water (annually), against an indicative requirement (to be financially viable) of approximately 46 million.

“For some time, despite two previous investors walking away, HBRIC has insisted that finding investor money was the least of its problems.” By definition, the selected investor HBRIC proffers to the Regional Council will be one whose financial terms are already agreeable to both parties. So the only remaining sticking point would be if the investor finds something unacceptable as it proceeds with its own due diligence on all aspects of the project. For example, as it dug more deeply, it might not be comfortable with water takeup (i.e., revenue) assumptions. But assuming no hiccups on that score, the paramount challenge that remains for HBRIC is securing a level of water purchase that, from the outset, ensures the financial viability of the scheme, near and long term.

Contracts accounting for another 11.9 million cubes were said to be awaiting co-signing. In this category would fall the 1.5 million cubes that the CHB District Council is considering purchasing for community drinking water. That decision cannot be made until a special public consultation process has been completed. Back in October, the last time HBRIC reported the number of farmers who had purchased water, the figure was 73, with another 54 in the ‘awaiting signing’ category. And at that time, 173 farmers had declined the dam water out of a total prospect pool of 427 properties.

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Photo by Sarah Cates

Mike Glazebrook proposes to augment surface water flows from on-farm storage. tim.co.nz

The Ngaruroro, recharging the aquifer, sustains crops, orchards, vineyards on the Heretaunga Plains.


Not surprisingly, HBRIC has stopped reporting the small number of farmers actually taking up the water proposition. The prospect pool has shrunk to a remaining 140 or so properties as HBRIC works toward its 46 million cube minimum (keeping in mind that HBRIC’s business case does not project an operating profit until water uptake is 72%, or about 75 million cubes). Hence the attempt to charge CHB residents, who currently get their drinking water for free, for stored water, and other stratagems to help close the revenue gap. Other stratagems include finding prospective land purchasers from outside the area who might purchase CHB land – and with it, water rights that the current owners have declined. So HBRIC has become a land agent. Another stratagem is to find buyers who would be prepared to purchase water rights only (no land), then bank the water for future sale to property owners who would later ‘see the light’ and want stored water. In the meantime, these rights holders, expecting

decline from 21% to 7%. Dairying of course has become less ‘fashionable’, so now HBRIC claims the land use will shift more toward cropping, orchards and vineyards (see David Cranwell’s article on p88 for the difficulties with that assumption). All the claimed economic benefits of the scheme (apart from the more certain construction-related work that will disappear once the dam is built) arise from these assumptions about what new production gains and value will be generated from the additional availability of water. Deloitte’s initial review commented on the speculative nature of the economic projections. Yet despite the shifting land use assumptions, regional councillors have yet to see any re-projection of the claimed economic benefits of the scheme. Worse still, the council specifically rejected the request of some councillors to have Deloitte review the claimed benefits in its final report to come. So, while HBRIC attempts to tick the boxes, substantial issues remain for councillors

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“It seems a heap of expensive heavy lifting has been done in attempting to supply a minimum amount of occasionally needed water to a small number of actual farmers … maybe up to 150 farmers.” to make an eventual profit, would pay the annual water fee for their banked water, helping HBRIC meet its minimum cash flow requirement. So HBRIC is in the water speculation business as well (although the whole project might be seen as that). All in all, it seems a heap of expensive heavy lifting has been done in attempting to supply a minimum amount of occasionally needed water to a small number of actual farmers … maybe up to 150 farmers. There doesn’t appear to be an enthusiastic stampede toward this dam water, but HBRIC – nothing if not financially clever – remains undiminished in its own enthusiasm.

Dam benefits A further issue arises from the matter of who actually buys the water and for what actual purpose? A ratepayer investment in the dam must be justified by some public good derived therefrom (as opposed to, say, merely increasing farmers’ land values). HBRIC claims that public good to be environmental benefits (highly debatable, you decide) plus economic growth. The extant business plan reviewed for HBRC by Deloitte forecast a land-use pattern where dairying increased from 13% of the existing area to 30%, with other uses remaining essentially the same, with the exception of sheep and beef, which would

and their constituents to consider. However convinced HBRIC might be that it has met the Council’s investment conditions, only the Council can make the final assessment.

On to Heretaunga The Ruataniwha water storage scheme, a $600 million proposition including farmers’ on-farm costs; the Tukituki Plan Change for handling that catchment’s fresh and groundwater, now being implemented; and the sewage treatment installations intended to deal with Waipukurau/Waipawa wastewater, where the verdict is still out, have set the water management context for the CHB. With all this attention to CHB’s water issues, the other catchments in the region, most notably the waterways and aquifers of the Heretaunga region, have been starved for HBRC attention and resources. According to Stats NZ, Hastings District, home to the Heretaunga Plains (and other productive land of course), generates 25% of the region’s $1 billion in annual exports through Napier Port. CHB generates 13%; Napier 5%; Wairoa 6%. The primary vehicle for addressing future water issues on and under the Heretaunga Plains is the TANK stakeholder group and process. Its focus encompasses the Tutaekuri, Ahuriri, Ngaruroro and Karamu (hence the acronym) surface waters and associated wetlands and aquifers.

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Photo by Sarah Cates

Heretaunga stakeholders voted for Cr Peter Beaven’s leadership; HBRC resists.


The group includes about three dozen stakeholders representing all sectors of the community – farmers and growers, Maori, environmentalists, public health, councils, DoC. TANK’s mandate is to recommend the overall approach to be used in managing the relevant waters – in terms of quality, allocation, competing uses, potentially water storage – with these matters then addressed in formal resource management plans to be crafted and adopted by the Regional Council and its Regional Planning Committee. The issues before TANK are complex and monumental in terms of the environmental and economic sustainability of a region that can be fairly regarded as the most significant driver of Hawke’s Bay’s $6.4 billion economy. The stakes are huge. So far the TANK process has consumed nearly three years and about $600,000, yielding some areas of broad and ‘safe’ agreement. But it is yet to tackle the specifics of the tough issues and choices that must be made … and that is a cause of mounting frustration on the part of all participants. Recently, the frustration reached a flash point, with members threatening to abandon the process. A widely endorsed demand was expressed for fresh leadership of the TANK initiative. Regional councillor Peter Beaven (who currently serves on TANK with regional councillors Christine Scott and myself) was put forward as a chairman or

coordinator to provide more strategic and political guidance and impetus to the process. That recommendation was endorsed by all members of TANK, with the single exception of councillor Scott. In other words, some 30-plus TANK participants collectively identified the obstacle to progress and virtually unanimously agreed on a path forward. However, at their December meeting, a majority of regional councillors – Wilson, Dick, Hewitt, Pipe and Scott – four of whom have no involvement in TANK whatsoever, refused to endorse TANK’s action. [Readers are urged to view the video of the 16 December HBRC meeting to get a full flavor of the hypocrisy involved – video available on the HBRC website.] With his role rejected by Council, councillor Beaven resigned from TANK. It remains to be seen how the TANK group will respond to this stick in the eye. If TANK members cannot even organize themselves as they see fit, why should they expect the Regional Council to pay any attention to recommendations the group might make on substantive matters of water policy – like minimum flows, water storage or augmentation options, and priorities for water use? And yet those who run HBRC wonder why the organization has so little trust and credibility in its bank account.

Poor decision-making While TANK struggles to meaningfully exist, let alone design a coherent overall water policy for the Heretaunga Plains, the public sees decisions and actions being taken that affect that region’s water, with no apparent logic or consistency. For example: even while HBRC conducts a large-scale science program to ascertain key facts and understanding about these waterways and their underlying aquifers, the Council has no concerns about granting substantial consents for water bottling. There would appear to be no limit on the amount of aquifer water the HBRC is prepared to give away for water bottling, with marginal economic benefit and no direct income for the region. On the other hand, irrigators on the Plains face bans and must organize group consents so as to better manage scarce water. Another example: while the HBRC’s science team attempts to model the water quantities and relationships in the Heretaunga region, the most experienced well drillers complain that the model will be fatally compromised because too little is known about the full extent of the aquifers, since almost all of the data presently comes from quite shallow bores. Where is the ‘bottom of the bathtub?’ they ask. That answer would come from strategically-placed deep bores expressly

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Page 55 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


Cr Christine Scott

designed to better measure and monitor the full capacity of the aquifer(s). Seems like a no-brainer, and in fact this step was recommended by experts HBRC convened on the matter. But council staff, championed by councillor Scott and satisfied with the data on hand, have resisted the call for deeper exploratory bores. Only persistent pressure from me and councillors Beaven and Graham has forced staff to re-consider and prepare a plan for deep bores. Conceivably, with better and more complete information on aquifer capacity –information that might indicate more water is available than currently assumed – key water allocation issues could become considerably less controversial. The cost of finding out? In the order of $1-$1.5 million. An investment cost that should be weighed against ensuring the environmental and economic sustainability of a productive area generating $250 million in exports per year (and driving substantial additional economic activity in support services and processing). A cost that should also

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be weighed against $20 million spent to advance the CHB dam, where much less economic benefit is feasible. TANK also must address other initiatives and ideas on the table. Fish & Game, Forest & Bird and others propose a Water Conservation Order that would use a different path than the Council-controlled plan change process to protect ‘outstanding values’ on the Ngaruroro River. And water storage schemes must be examined. For example, farmer/landowner Mike Glazebrook believes he could expand his present on-farm storage to help augment summer low flows, while HBRC has suggested dams off the main stem of the Ngaruroro for that purpose. So, as controversy over the CHB dam possibly recedes, expect an even more vexing set of issues to arise as the community begins to deal with water policy for the region’s heartland.

Collaborate & Consolidate One cannot have missed the daily pledges of collaboration, consolidation and cooperation that have been trumpeted by our region’s elected leaders since the amalgamation referendum. In the months immediately ahead, there will be big opportunities to see proof in the pudding. In March, for example, a new regional economic development strategy will be revealed, the product of an extensive, but largely non-transparent, joint effort on the part of our councils’ staff and key voices in the business sector. A key test of the ‘collaborate and consolidate’ principle will be how the strategy proposes to address streamlining our region’s multiple economic development

and tourism promotion efforts. Indeed, it will be interesting to see if the strategy team has even come to terms with identifying the amounts currently spent by five councils in this area (each council does so)! Then, as we move into April and May, the five councils will be preparing and consulting on their annual plans. Again the ‘collaborate and consolidate’ principle will be tested. For example, mayors Dalton and Yule both state support for the idea of joint rating and funding for certain ‘regional’ activities that their councils and ratepayers presently separately pay for – for example, tourism and major cultural and sport facilities. This is an area where the rhetoric could really meet the road. It will be interesting to see if any such proposals are surfaced during this budget cycle. The other high stakes collaborative process underway now involves the examination of climate change impacts on our region’s coastline, with initial focus on the Clifton to Tangoio shoreline. This is the work of a joint committee of the regional, Hastings and Napier councils, chaired by regional councillor Peter Beaven. A wealth of information from this project, as well as interactive graphics showing how sea-level rise might affect your specific area, are available on the project website: www.hbhazards.co.nz. It all makes for provoking reading when considered alongside the new report, Preparing New Zealand for rising seas, recently issued by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. BayBuzz reports from page 36 in this edition on the implications of the recent Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation, and we will follow up with a feature on our regional project and other local climate impact and adaptation issues in our next magazine.


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CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

Rod Naylor's pride and joy

Caravanalia in Hawke's Bay BY CLARE TANTON For many of us, summer means holidaying and holidays mean caravanning. Small, cute caravans, souped-up mobile homes, a caravan simply parked up in the garden, and another you can employ to optimise your party – we’ve got them all here in the Bay. The trusty, musty-smelling caravans of summers passed in camping grounds by lakes, beaches and rivers might seem like a hark back to a simpler time, but as I discovered, there are very different ways of caravanning, and anyway, there’s still something pretty cool about the old school.

Page 58 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

The gleaming Airstream sits among the dusty, dented cars at Hawke’s Bay Towing, a smashed police car reflected in its side. “It’s a work of art,” says Rod Naylor, owner of HB Towing and the Airstream, admiring the 1966 model. Stepping inside is like stepping back in time. “When I first brought it it showed its age.” Rod says “So I’ve done some modern things but tried to keep it a bit retro. It has the original leather-bound manual and every invoice that the chap has spent on it, that’s amazing.” A Teasmade Rod found in a vintage shop

in Waipawa is a reminder of the 1960s. It sits in an overhead cupboard at one end of the Airstream. “I’m going to get a vintage radio to sit next to it, and they’ll both be functional.” Another quirk is the teatowel drying rack hidden away in a cupboard above the fridge. “In the original brochure it says the ‘66 model comes with a teatowl drying rack, warm air comes off the fridge and dries the teatowels. And it actually works!” “I always wanted one,” says Rod, grinning at the Airstream, “And this one is perfect for me because it’s got a history.”


CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

'Darcy' is a bar on wheels

'Tom Thumb' offers family entertainment While the Airstream has kept its vintage feel without major alterations, when Ross and Karine Gardiner bought their Starliner, they had a bigger job on their hands. “It was a wreck,” says Karine, “We had to do a complete rebuild.” Ross counted the days it took to complete the project – 165 from the day they got it to the day they towed it with their own car. Keen Rock 'n Roll dancers and lovers of retro style and culture, Ross and Karine were on the lookout for a vintage caravan to take up to the Whangamata Beach Hop a couple of years ago. When Ross spotted the Starliner at Murray Church’s Hawke’s Bay Caravan Sales yard in Pandora he saw potential. “It’d been parked under the trees there for so long. He wouldn’t sell it because he didn’t want it turned into a coffee shop – somebody cutting it up. He was saving it for someone who would do it up and appreciate it.”

The Starliner matches perfectly with the Ford Anglia, though there’s another towing car project in the pipeline too. It’s just a fun thing to do,” says Ross. “You’ve got to keep doing things, taking new directions.” Linda and Van Howard’s Tom Thumb is a quintessential kiwi holiday caravan, providing a fuss-free home away from home, and giving many kids their first experience of a house on wheels. They’ve had the caravan for about three years and Linda says it’s proven its worth as entertainment for the grandchildren as well as themselves. “The grandchildren play in here all the time, and they LOVE going on holiday. Usually its parked out on the stones, hidden

behind the garage where they can’t be seen so they get cups and stones, they love it!” Linda is an early childood teacher and she’s taken Tom Thumb to both Lumsden and Te Mata Kindergartens. “At Lumsden the kids just absolutely adored it. We had the toaster and the kettle out and so they made their morning tea in here, all sat eating their toast and jam and drinking their milos.” Linda and Van also enjoy the simplicity of their mobile holiday house. “People come and look at it because they’re so fascinated because now everyone’s got terribly terribly smart RVs. There’s something really lovely about learning to sleep on a narrow mattress and cope without having all the modern conveniences, you know?”

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CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

Vintage Starliner Lucy the caravan shares her warmth and quirks without hitting the road at all. Sitting in a green oasis in Hastings, Lucy welcomes people to her, rather than heading out to meet them. After spotting and watch-listing Lucy on Trade Me, Catherine Reeves (enabled by husband Rob) couldn’t shake the idea of bringing her up from Nelson and settling her into the garden. Catherine updated the wallpaper, cushions and curtains and Rob added the necessary stabilisers, and Lucy started to show her true colours. “It’s almost a rule that no unpleasantness can happen in Lucy. I invite people sometimes for birthdays and Rob and I have dates in here. It’s a special place without going anywhere.”

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“So Lucy has become like a friend I suppose because she’s always here. As someone said the other day, she’s like arms around you”. If you can’t have a beautifully refurbished caravan of your own, you can now invite one to your party, wedding or event to help out. Food and coffee caravans are becoming more common, but Darcy the Caravan takes sophistication to the next level. Stacey and Mark Bancroft returned to New Zealand a year ago from Melbourne and brought the idea of a stylish mobile bar with them. “That was the problem,” says Stacey, “We knew what we wanted to do, but how could we do it?”

Some of the work on the caravan (formerly a spare bedroom in Carterton) was undertaken by Mark and Stacey but the major alterations happened while Darcy enjoyed a three month stay at Cedarville Joinery and Building. “Alan did all the timber work,” says Mark, “He was supposed to just be doing the bar, the seat and the window and then we came in under budget so we just said we’ll keep going.” The result is a slick and sophisticated bar on wheels. The client provides the drinks and glasses and Darcy comes with straws, ice, coasters, decorations and two bar tenders. So how are people responding? “They’re all quite intrigued by Darcy,” says Stacey. “You struggle to get someone at a party or a wedding not enjoying themselves,” laughs Mark, “And they’re at a bar so…”


CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

'Lucy' stays at home

And sports a homey interior

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CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

Bronwen Evans

Floral Affair If fairies are real they'll have Sophie Henderson design their hats, shoes and bags, and from the feathers of pheasants, their frocks too. Sophie, her son Mark and his wife Suzie make, then photograph, floral creations from their studio/shop, Golly Gosh. Mark is a commercial photographer who began playing with quirky and cute images when he was working in Auckland and making unique cards for his clients. "Every Christmas they'd look forward to them and say 'Can't wait to see what you'll do this year.'" Their enthusiasm got Mark thinking, and after researching the market, he found a gap: simple, beautiful, cleverly creative greeting cards. At the same time Mark and Suzie were expecting their first child and looked at their options for moving 'home' to Mark's family land in Te Awanga where his studio now is, on land bought by his grandfather in the 1940s. Memories of his grandfather are visible in the studio too in the form of reproductions of photographs he took back in the 1950s, of Hawke's Bay, including early shots of tourists visiting Cape Kidnappers and the gannet colony. The range of images is huge now, four years after Golly Gosh first opened its doors, and available on greeting cards, notebooks, teatowels, aprons and art blocks. The doyenne of creativity is multi-talented Sophie. She has a background in fashion and in floral design and now makes from scratch detailed, imaginative, flights of floral fancy. "We leave her to create, while we run the business," explains Mark, who says wife Suzie does the majority of the marketing and customer service. For Mark the drive to run Golly Gosh runs deeper than simply making beautiful things, it's about living on family land, having a true life/work balance, finding a retreat from corporate life . "The initial concept was getting out of Auckland. We had this idea and we thought, 'We can do this anywhere, so let's do it from Hawke's Bay'." The business is getting bigger with new markets opening up around the world and domestic sales strengthening. The studio/shop is open to visitors with a special meandering path to the door for those arriving by bike.

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A Successful Romance It's a romantic notion: living by the beach, commuting to New York, spending time holed up in a study tapping out a bestseller, then strolling through the grapevines with a matching set of designer pups. It's a fitting setting for romance novelist Bronwen Evans, on the USA Today Bestseller List and working on her 16th novel. She's based in Te Awanga, with an agent, editor and publisher in New York. Her books are gobbled up by readers as e-books, but also make it to romance fans' 'keeper shelves' of books they read over and over. She's been writing since 2009. "I wanted to be able to do it anywhere, any time," she says. Her previous career was in big corporates in senior management roles. Ahead of picking up romance writing, she made a conscious decision to "quit the corporate rat race" then looked for work she could do from somewhere sunny. "I'm not scared of failure, if you don't try something you won't know if you can succeed. I told myself: 'Write a book, then hope the majority of people like it!'." Not only did she write a book, she

went on to write 14 more with titles such as A Touch of Passion and A Kiss of Lies. All but one are set in Regency-era England from 18001830. Bronwen says her personal passion has always been history over English studies, and that writing for her is more about being a good storyteller. Once book one was done she went straight to the US market to sell it. The market for romance is huge, here and worldwide. It's the only genre that can't keep up with the demand from readers for fresh material. Fans of the genre read up to 10 books a week. In the USA it's a $1.4 billion industry. "The literary world says 'It doesn't matter if we don't make money from writing, because it's art' but why can't we make a living from writing? I see it as a job, but one I love." People may say disparaging things about the genre but the writers concerned take no notice of the negativity. "We don't care because the romance genre is the one place making good money." "I like it because it makes readers feel good. It's that up-lifting feeling, it's something people enjoy," says Bronwen. "When bad, sad things happen in the world sales in romance soar." Her latest book A Whisper of Desire is available on Amazon.


Casting Call

Whanganui is big enough to entertain and small enough to keep it real. Enjoy arts, music, the landscape and our rich heritage. Spend a weekend.

TAKE A

NEW LOOK

Auditions take place soon for Eugenia, to be staged this year by the Napier Repertory Players. Among the cast is a call for a 5'4" actor who can play a woman living her life as a man, who can sing in Italian and play the mandolin. Director Anne Corney is sure the right man (or woman) for the part is out there. Eugenia, written in the 1996 by New Zealand playwright Lorae Parry, is the true story of Harry Crawford, nee Eugenia, a woman who lived her life as a man, married (twice), was accused of murder and sentenced to death. The play is set in two time frames: 1916 and 2016. "It's a tragic love story and fabulously challenging," says Corney, who is also president of Napier Repertory. "It's really an actor's play because it give the cast something to sink their teeth into." Auditions take place for four female and two male cast members on 13 March. The play will be presented from 15-25 June in Napier. To audition telephone Anne Corney on (06) 843-9197

RAY GUNS REQUIRED

Steampunk has become a big part of Oamaru, but now the subculture is venturing north with the first ever Hawke's Bay Steam Punk Ball, Steam Quest, taking place in Napier at the CAN on 13 February. It's promising to be an evening filled with mystery and adventure. Steampunk attire is compulsory. If steampunk isn't something you've come across before, here's a good beginner's guide:

For more information visit:

whanganuinz.com

http://theatln.tc/1QFgYyp

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CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

From Private Collections

Passing of a Grand Dame Lily Baker QSM received the Supreme Award recently at the Landmark Trust Awards, postumously. She passed away on 2 December 2015.

Two big shows from private collections kick-off 2016 in style at the MTG, with new curator Jess Mio (26) from Timaru's Aigantighe Art Gallery in charge. Nigel Brown's I Am/We Are is a show Jess curated in Timaru and has brought here. Works come from Brown's own collection.

Richards is a committed and longstanding collector, not just of Lalique glass but also of Asian fabrics and garments.

"It has a lot of high-impact large scale works that haven't been seen in a public gallery context," explains Jess. "Some of the works haven't been seen at all so it is a chance to draw some new connections."

With 140 pieces he holds the largest collection of Lalique in the southern hemisphere; 50 will be on show at MTG in time for Art Deco Weekend.

Opening in March, it promises to be a big, bold colourful show, that's quintessentially kiwi. "His subject matter is drawn from the everyday kiwi environment," says Jess. "There's lots of motifs that people will recognise. Everything he discusses is relevant to New Zealand." The other big show is Lalique, a collection of Lalique vases from the private collection of Professor Dr Jack Richards from Gisborne.

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"Dr Richards has very generously offered us to take our pick and show them," says Jess. "He loves the forms and the colours that Lalique used. He has a wonderful array of them, so you can see progression of the designs."

A lifetime of charitable work in culture, heritage and the arts was recognised in 2000 when she was awarded a Queen's Service Medal. Her service to the community included work with the Hawke's Bay Cultural Trust and Regional Archive, the Historic Places Trust, Heritage Trails, Friends of the Library in Hastings, the Hastings 2000 Millennium Committee and the New Zealand Society of Genealogy. Lily was instrumental in securing historic Stoneycroft homestead and the establishment of the Knowledge Bank. She was an active member of the Raureka Townwomen's Guild and Keep Hastings Beautiful. Lily is fondly remembered and sadly missed by members of the many trusts, committees and groups she was part of. She died aged 81.

Trubridge on Scott Thanks Jacob for a great summary of the state of the arts in Hawke’s Bay. Part of me loves the jackhammer metaphor because I think there are fossilised attitudes that are in dire need of breaking apart. But violence does not generally sit well in the arts community so I prefer the metaphor of ice. Artists are more like water quietly infiltrating every crevice of society - then you just have to wait until the water freezes when it will crack the edifice apart and change the landscape! I have seen granite deliberately split into container sized blocks in this way. Best wishes, David Trubridge.


CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

CHEFS IN PRINT Hawke's Bay Chefs is billed as 'a collaboration of passion of all things culinary' and is available now as a fundraiser to help "trainees, apprentices and youth to successfully compete in National cookery competitions". The book showcases individual recipes, colourful photographs and bios from Hawke's Bay chefs, many of whom have garnered culinary awards over many years. Although most have done time overseas they've all now chosen to return to the Bay to inject their culinary talents into our gastronomic landscape. It's a terrific coffee table book and a great gift, but also serves as a 'must have' in any Hawke's Bay foodie's recipe book collection.

BOUNCE

Trampoline gymnasts from around the globe will be bouncing into Napier’s Pettigrew Green Arena October 21 - 25, for the 2016 Indo-Pacific Championships. Trampoline is part of the gymnastics family of sports, where athletes perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline. Inspiration came from the large catch net that circus trapeze artists would fall into, and were originally used as a training tool for astronauts and other sports. The sport is growing in popularity in New Zealand, with a competitive membership of around 400. With international trampoline events currently hitting big numbers, record numbers are expected in Hawke's Bay for the 2016 Championships. Canada, Hong Kong and Australia have already expressed interest in attending. Athletes will compete in age groups from 11 years to adult, in individual and synchronised trampoline, double mini-tramp and tumbling disciplines.

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CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Open Your Eyes, Jackson Ryder Author: Rudy Castaneda Lopez Publisher: Escalator Press Price: $30.00 Title: Waitapu Author: Helen Margaret Waaka Publisher: Escalator Press Price: $30.00 Central Hawke’s Bay writer Helen Waaka has published her latest book of short stories with Escalator Press. In a series of eighteen interconnected stories we follow the lives of sisters Rowena and Ruby as they forge their own paths, leave, return and reconnect. The book details what goes on in any small rural town and is all the more resonant for the feeling that we have been in these places and met these people. The issues that are encountered are such as we come across in our local newspapers, in our families and in the lives of our friends and acquaintances: aging, family violence, poverty and the complexity of relationships. Waaka works as a nurse in Central Hawke’s Bay and it’s clear that she has seen women in all stages and circumstances of life.

Louise & Gareth Ward www.wardini.co.nz Page 66 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

Author Rudy Castañeda López, who is Mexican American, has close ties to Hawke’s Bay. As Head of Art at Hastings Girls' High School, a position he held for eleven years, he forged strong friendships and connections with the local art scene. His artistic background informs his latest novel Open Your Eyes, Jackson Ryder. The eponymous hero is named after Jackson Pollock, and heavily influenced by his art collector mother. This coming of age 1960s road trip novel uses art as its vehicle to navigate the 15-year-old Jackson through grief and upheaval. Leaving New York after the death of his mother, Jackson pitches up in San Sebastiano, California, a world away from all he has known. Jackson is a talented artist but suppresses his talent so as not to remind his father of what has been lost – a difficult task when his new art teacher spots his aptitude and nurtures it. A strength of the novel is its vibrant, multicultural characters. Jackson is of Jewish extraction and quickly makes friends with a bunch of Mexican boys whose sharp wits, good natures and occasional hot tempers make their appearances on the pages come alive. This is a book with wide appeal – young adults will recognise their own issues, and anyone with an interest in the art world will find the references to specific pieces fascinating.

Title: Hastings, Havelock North and Napier: A collage of history Author: Michael Fowler Publisher: Michael Fowler Price: $69.00 Local historian Michael Fowler adds to his collection with this new release - a different take on our local history, with the welcome addition of an in-depth look at Havelock North. Beginning with the subdivision of Hicks’ Block and the subsequent naming of the Karamu area as Hastings, the book tells our history through the stories of its people. Local characters such as Joe the Pieman and The Two Jacks provide fascinating and amusing histories of their own. Jack Jones and Jack Baxter were a comedy duo who in 1942 were recruited by the Patriotic Committee to ‘provide some distraction from the ugly war situation.’ The Fun Sessions were put in place to provide this service and The Two Jacks were an instant hit. The book is neatly organised into regional sections with enticing chapters entitled: ‘No kissing allowed – the 1918 influenza epidemic,’ ‘Havelock gets a “North,”’ ‘Jean Batten’s Napier visit.’ It takes us right up to the present with the inclusion of the 40th anniversary of EIT and the controversial ‘pods’ that decorate (or darken, depending on your opinion) Havelock North. This history is painstakingly researched and populated by fascinating photographs gleaned from a variety of sources including the author’s own collection, local libraries, the Alexander Turnbull Library and Hastings District Council. Michael is currently working on his 8th book, a history of the Hawke's Bay Opera House.


Rose Mohi with a portrait of Karaitiana Takamoana

Miss Mohi on the case Rose Mohi is a modern-day Miss Marple with a touch of Indiana Jones thrown in. She's on an archaeological hunt to track down carvings taken from wharenui Heretaunga III in the 1800s. It's a search that involves all the rogues, twists, turns and conspiracies of any good plot. It started when Rose found carvings listed online that came from a meeting house built for her great-great-grandfather Karaitiana Takamoana at Pakowhai and somehow wound up in the Otago Museum. She went to Dunedin to see them and found 15 in total, most 2-3 metres but one 5 metres. "I thought I was going to look in a display cabinet at little bits and pieces but these things are huge," she says. Rose's grandfather left notes about lost carvings when he died and there were family stories about the pieces that were taken. Rose was raised an only child by her Pakeha grandmother and her mother, who "had a little bit of Maori." "These two women would talk about the family stories and the lost treasures and I had nothing to do but listen." In the 1880s it was Dr Thomas Hocken who 'bought' carvings which started his passion for collecting Maori artefacts. He was in Hawke's Bay when Takamoana died and attended his tangi. There he saw the carvings being done and when the wharenui was lost to flooding, he acquired the works. Those works are now all over the world and Rose has set about finding them all. She's found 68 to date. To do so she's

travelled across the US and has had help tracking down carvings in Europe. There are pieces from Heretaunga III in Adelaide, Hawaii, St Louis, San Francisco, Washington DC, New York, Boston (Harvard), Chicago, Canada and Copenhagen, the UK and Brussels. A few are on display but many are stored away in vaults and basements. As much as Rose would like to see the works repatriated she's realistic. "I don't think that will happen in my lifetime. It is very difficult," she says. "Getting names right is a start, bringing them home is a long way down the list." She would like to see the NZ-based pieces returned to Heretaunga. She is hopeful that her detective work will result in the works being correctly named with their hapu and iwi affiliations. Currently, many are incorrectly labelled due to historic inaccuracies about their origins. The pieces are considered by experts to be some of the best classical carvings in Maoridom and Rose is committed to tracking them all down and identifying them as belonging to Heretaunga III. "There's a lot of poking around to be done," Rose says.

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CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

A Slice of Life in Hawke's Bay

Yes, it does seem like a "slice of life" but it has taken me nearly 75 years to realise that life has slowed down, even though on the other hand "time is flying by"! My first memories go back to about 1945, as a young four year old, growing up in Clive, where I spent the first 23 years of my life. Looking back, I appreciate now how very lucky we were. A great era despite all the restrictions and disciplines. Buses went from Hastings and Napier through Clive every half hour. We attended Clive school, up to Std. 6 and then caught the bus either to Napier Girls' High or Napier Boys' High, at no charge if we were in school uniform. The local butcher came around door to door every Friday, with a van filled with fresh meat. We had a box at the front gate for bread and milk, which were delivered daily. We had a busy blacksmith and of course a post office with a house behind for the post master and his family. The telephone system brings back memories. I do remember the ‘party line’. We were on with around six other families, one of whom was a prolific talker! Sometimes it would take hours to get a free line. Our call was ‘one long and two shorts’. Then we progressed to a dial phone.

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Half of Clive was on the Napier exchange and the other side of the road was on the Hastings exchange - a toll call to ring from one to the other! I do remember the night we had an emergency at home and we had to phone our doctor, he lived just over the road but it was still a toll call. Around the 1950s we actually had two doctors in residence at Clive. I remember the excitement at school when the fish and chip shop opened and they delivered orders at lunch times on Fridays. I can almost smell and see those newspaperwrapped parcels and the passion with which they were devoured! My grandparents built their own home just after the 1931 earthquake, just next door to the Police station, and Gran lived there until her death in 1956. She enjoyed living next to the ‘bobby’ as she always called the policeman! I also well remember the Chinese market gardeners and their huge plots of all sorts of vegetables. They worked so hard with no tractors or special aids to make their job easier. They always had a Chinese lolly to give any children who came … fascinating wrapped toffees with Chinese writing on. Of course we had a village hall, still standing and used today. A school ball was held there every year and I remember the fun we had

sliding up and down on the slippery floors. Then of course we had to do the Grand March and other dances we had learned during the year. We were dressed in fancy dresses, nurses, ballet dancers, fairies, cowboys, red Indians. We were lucky to have a very imaginative aunt who enjoyed dressing us up. And of course the village hall was the venue for weekly pictures (movies). Also the cause of a bit of strife in our family! My "best friend" was always allowed to go. I should have mentioned the pictures were always on only on Thursdays. Fine during the holidays, but I was Never allowed to go during the school week! Oh dear, I was not happy. My ‘best friend’ was also allowed to wear stockings before me and lipstick too as we got older!! Poor me and therefore, I now realize, my poor mother! However, as I mentioned at the beginning, restrictions and disciplines made us into responsible adults with lovely memories to treasure and remember and to pass on to the future generation. Just my thoughts for today. Judy Hausler


If, like me you’ve been watching Rachel Hunter travelling the world on her ‘Tour of Beauty’, you will have possibly come away thinking about what beauty means to you.

Phone: 06 877 4450 - 35 Napier Rd, Havelock North peakappearance@xtra.co.nz

www.peakappearance.co.nz

/peakappearance Advertorial


Prue Barton with Andrew Saxon, executive chef, Terroir.


tim.co.nz

CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

TASTE SUMMER GARDENS BY PRUE BARTON

“Summer time and the living is easy, fish are jumping and the cotton is high” – not cotton in this case, but vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. There is something unbelievably satisfying about eating vegetables picked straight from your own garden and meal planning can be based on what is ready to gather. Many local Hawke’s Bay restaurateurs and chefs are now embracing the uniqueness of having ‘kitchen gardens’ so they can serve daily produce right from their own turf. As early as the 70s a new breed of restaurant such as Chez Panisse in California was experimenting with sourcing vegetables and produce from small specialised growers and dabbling in growing and serving fresh produce straight from their own gardens. Even after decades, Alice Waters’ philosophy was and still is “that the best-tasting food is organically and locally grown and harvested in ways that are ecologically sound by people who are taking care of the land for future generations. Since 1971 Chez Panisse has invited diners to partake of the immediacy and excitement of vegetables just out of the garden, fruit right off the branch, and fish straight out of the sea.” Another treasured cookbook for me when I was growing up was the Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen, which has

inspired vegetarians and vegetables lovers for generations to grow and cook simple, healthy and seasonal food. To read and cook from this old classic still gives me the feeling of cooking with a warm, witty, well-informed friend. Not bad after all these years!! The first local kitchen garden I explore is at Craggy Range on Waimarama Road. The restaurant Terroir continues to be close to my heart because it is here that David and I first fell in love with the Bay and worked for two years back in 2002. From the then empty paddocks to the now meticulously manicured grounds, vines, gardens and lake this is a haven of calm and tranquilty. Catching up with Andrew Saxon, the executive chef at Terroir, he explains that he intends to keep the rustic, 'country provencal' approach to the menu, using as much produce as possible from the garden. The day I visited, beds of globe artichokes, tomatoes, peas, celery, radishes, lettuces and scores of other vegetables were glistening in the sun ready for the pick. This delicious recipe from Andrew illustrates his food ethos of using beautiful seasonal ingredients, perfectly matched “to allow their flavours to sing”.

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tim.co.nz

CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

Chargrilled Baby Leeks, Whipped Fromage Chevre & Toasted Hazelnuts Preparation time: 40 minutes Number of servings: 4 Ingredients • 24 baby leeks • 150g firm fromage chevre • 75g creme fraiche • 100ml extra virgin olive oil • 100g hazelnuts, toasted, skins rubbed off • Wild edible flowers for garnish Instructions Preheat the bbq. Wash and trim the roots off and tops of the leeks to plate size To prepare the whipped fromage, crumble into the food processor, add the creme fraiche and blend until smooth. Slowly add 75mls of the olive oil as for making mayonnaise to create a velvety cream. Grill the leeks on both sides for 30 seconds to a minute for nice charred marks and smokey flavour. To serve, place a spoonful of whipped fromage on chosen platter, and with the back of your spoon create curving smear across the plate. Place on leeks, scatter over hazelnuts, drizzle over the reserved olive oil and garnish with wild flowers.

FG Smith's Eatery

Even in more built-up areas it is possible to achieve high cropping out of comparatively small planter boxes. At F.G. Smith Eatery in Ahuriri, herbs and greens are gathered on a daily basis and used in salads and as garnishes. The garden creates a cool haven to view and enjoy. At Vidals Winery Restaurant in Hastings there is also an established kitchen garden and Nathan the head chef informs me that often specials are designed around what’s been gathered and he particularly enjoys using these herbs when it comes to garnishing the fish of the day. St Georges Restaurant is positioned on the outskirts of Havelock North. Almost ninety percent of the produce is grown, nurtured, handpicked and creatively prepared by chef Francky Godinho

and guests are welcome to explore the garden and immerse themselves in the St George’s experience. Dropping into visit my friend Chris on Lawn Road I found her weeding her extensive home garden and tending her broad beans. Generally there is a lovehate in regards to these little green gems and for me they bring back childhood memories of my grandfather and his wonderful garden at Butterfly Creek in Eastbourne. In those days it was common place to boil the living daylights out of them and then horror of horrors to put them into a white sauce. As children we would struggle to swallow them. Times have changed and nowadays they are fashionable, with chefs removing the beans from their thick grey shells and using in a multiple of ways. Chris


CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

has a great story of presenting a supposed green dip to her family and not disclosing the ingredients. They thought they were eating avocado to find out actually it was made from broad beans. With a bag of freshly dug red skinned potatoes I drive off knowing what vegetable would be on our menu tonight. Try preparing a healthy broad bean mash with garlic, lemon, fresh mint, olive oil and parmesan for a topping on a bruschetta or a garnish to go with roasted lamb or chicken. Talking to Kent Baddeley from Ten Twenty Four on Pakowhai Road, he has tales to tell of being inspired by his grandmother who grew all her vegetables organically. I think it is often the case that family members pass down knowledge that filters through the generations. Kent uses flowers and herbs from his garden, ebbing and flowing the pockets of vegetarian options through his menu. He tinkers daily, but wisely mentions that first and foremost he is a chef and not a “gardener” but enjoys the additional garden aspect. We are with you on that one Kent, and the joy of cooking at Mister D is truly enhanced by the bountiful garden produce that is grown here in the Bay.

"... the best-tasting food is organically and locally grown and harvested in ways that are ecologically sound by people who are taking care of the land for future generations."

Summer at St Georges

LUNCH • PLATTERS • DINNER • WEDDINGS • BOOKINGS ARE RECOMMENDED

Soak up the atmosphere in our sunny new courtyard and choose from a selection of elegant and colourful dishes prepared by award-winning chef Francky Godinho. Conveniently located halfway between Hastings and Havelock North, St Georges is the perfect place to relax and unwind this summer.

452 St Georges Rd, Havelock North 06 877 5356 • info@stgeorgesrestaurant.co.nz stgeorgesrestaurant.co.nz facebook.com/stgeorgesrestaurant

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Wine: Stories from Hawke’s Bay BY MARK SWEET

[Editor: Frequent BayBuzz writer Mark Sweet has written an engaging history of the Hawke’s Bay wine industry, from first vines to today’s worldacclaimed vintages and wineries. His stories of key personalities and events are illustrated by exhaustive archival images and contemporary photography by Tim Whittaker. We hope you enjoy these tastings.] In the Beginning 1836-1920 Grapevines were first planted in Hawke’s Bay by the Society of Mary missionaries at Pā kōwhai in 1851. Their journey, however, was indirect. The ship carrying the mission settlers from Wellington was blown off course by a southerly storm and driven past Napier to Gisborne. There, Father John Lampila, and Brothers Florentin Françon and Basil Montchalin built a small shelter and planted crops, including vines. When they received news their mission was in the wrong place, they packed up their possessions and made their way south on foot. Father Lampila had been ordained at Hokianga in 1842 and headed the Whakatane mission in 1844. Vines flourished in both locations, and it is assumed it was he who brought the first vines to Hawke’s Bay, via Gisborne. The mission was established on seven acres of land beside the Ngaruroro River near Kowhai Pā, and was under the protection of Puhara Hawaikirangi, a Catholic convert. According to historian Patrick Parsons, the cluster of large macrocarpa trees on the eastern side of Farndon Road, about one kilometre from the Pākōwhai Road intersection, marks the site.

The Dark Ages 1920-1975 Dennis Robinson started working at McWilliam’s Wines in 1968 and recalls that strangers were often unimpressed when they learned about his job. ‘You could be shaking hands but when you tell them you work in the wine industry, their hand would go all limp and they’d look away. There was a very Victorian attitude towards drink then. If you drank you were going nowhere.’ But slowly attitudes changed. ‘People started going

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overseas and waking up to the fact that wine was a civilising thing.’ One of Robinson’s bosses at McWilliam’s was Peter Hubscher. Born in Auckland of immigrant parents from Czechoslovakia, Hubscher was brought up in a household that ‘knew about decent coffee and cheeses and interesting foods that most New Zealanders didn’t know about at that stage’. His parents drank wine with meals. He says, ‘Probably the big change was when New Zealanders started doing OE in the 1960s ... and before that soldiers from the Second World War brought back a knowledge of wines. I always say they learned that you could get pissed on things other than beer.’ But, concurring with Dennis Robinson, he recognises that ‘the hugely influential pre-war prohibition-type behaviour still lingered.’

The Renaissance 1975-1995 John Buck identified Hawke’s Bay as the preferred location for his ambition to enter the winemaking business as early as 1966. Aged 24 and ‘bulletproof ’, he was in partnership with celebrity chef Graham Kerr at the time, having returned from two years in Europe working for wine merchants in London and Bordeaux. Kerr’s book and television enterprise was based at the National Food and Wine Centre in Wellington. Part of John Buck’s management role was to visit sponsors, among them McWilliam’s Wines in Napier. ‘It is funny the way life happens,’ he recalls. ‘The desire to invest here and go into production here was growing in intensity from that first visit in 1966.’ After amicably parting with Kerr in 1969, and before opportunity arose in


CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

Villa Maria’s Sir George Fistonich (3rd from left) has nurtured many of HB’s finest winemakers and viticulturists A younger John Buck of Te Mata Estate

Te Mata’s winemaker, Peter Cowley

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CULTURE and LIFESTYLE

Craggy Range Vineyards, building a family legacy

Hawke’s Bay, Buck established a wines and spirits business in Wellington. Beer baron, Douglas Myers, offered to buy him out, and to sweeten the deal offered him a job in Auckland, but ‘at the ninth hour somebody trumped him and paid far too much for the business’. It was perhaps a lucky coincidence: as Buck was ‘liquidating assets and accumulating capital’, he got a telephone call from Hastings solicitor Roger Bate, who said, ‘Look, I’ve got a bit of a problem with a winery.’ The winery was TMV.

Sileni Estates, Hawke’s Bay’s biggest exporter of wine

The Flourishing 1995-Today Evan Ward is confident about the future of wine in Hawke’s Bay, but he says, ‘The way to succeed is either to be very small or very big. The big have economy of scale and the ability to compete, and the smaller boutique wineries can charge higher prices for their uniqueness. In the middle, you’re too big to be cute, but too small to compete.’ In 1995, there were 25 wineries in Hawke’s Bay. In 2015 there are nearly 80, most of which are small and family operated, producing fewer than 5,000 cases a year. Most offer tastings and sales on site, and many complement the visitor’s experience with menus showcasing local produce. The aspirations of wine pioneers to introduce a culture of winemaking and appreciation of fine wine has taken over a hundred years to mature, but is now securely woven into the social and economic fabric of Hawke’s Bay. As Romeo Bragato declared in 1895, ‘Hawke’s Bay Province is, in my opinion the most suitable for growing vines I have visited [in New Zealand].’ His prediction that the wine industry would be ‘an immense source of wealth’ to the nation and the province has been fulfilled.

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Vidal Estate, first NZ winery to create restaurant and bar on-site

Wine: Stories from Hawke’s Bay

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John Newland, a life of travel

A LIFETIME OF TRAVELS BY JOHN NEWLAND

I don’t see travel as an escape from reality, but as an opportunity to expand what I do, see and know and get to meet more people. There are many reasons to travel abroad and I seem to have taken a good range of these when the opportunity has arisen. To be honest, we often have to make the opportunity and I have certainly done that in relation to family holidays. Page 78 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

I

did not do the standard OE on finishing my university studies. In fact my goal at that stage was to do a Pacific cruise before I settled with commitments. My first venture out of the country was to Sydney, working at a hospitality industry trade fair, promoting Leopard Export Lager as part of my role with the local brewery at that time. I did the cruise a year later, over three weeks, on the bottom deck in a cabin shared with five strangers. This was the cheapest option and certainly interesting. From that day I have seen cruising as the ultimate holiday. The nature of my work and family commitments limited my travel to within our own country, for the next few years. I ultimately had the opportunity to travel to the US and UK with a focus on brewery exports and postgraduate studies. While this travel was work-related, I found it of great value and


very enjoyable. It certainly opens the mind and broadens the perspective. Then came the period when I shared wonderful travel experiences with my family. As musical productions from The West End or Broadway were staged in Australia, my wife Carol and I would travel there, for a few days at a time, and enjoy those. It was great to find that our three children had grown to the stage when we could consider travelling with them. This certainly adds complexity to international travel but is a great experience for all. We started with a holiday on the Gold Coast of Australia as so many Kiwis do. Then we ventured to other locations on the East Coast, with Hamilton Island being one of the most memorable. On most of these holidays we took my mother with us so we had three adults and three kids. On one of these occasions we drove from Melbourne to Sydney and spent nights in places like Wagga Wagga, where I had business connections. We enjoyed some great hospitality and it seemed that my mother was becoming everyone’s granny. We still worked to fit this travel with musicals and were able to share Beauty & the Beast in Melbourne and Phantom of the Opera in Sydney.

F

iji then attracted us and we had a few holidays on island resorts. The Blue Lagoon Cruise was a great addition to one of these. Once Gareth, our youngest, was eight, I decided it was time for the ultimate family holiday. Granny was not part of this one, but the five of us went to California for three weeks. To make the budget stretch, we would fit into one room. Gareth never complained about the rollaway beds. I would go to the supermarket first thing to buy juice, milk, buns and the little packets of cereals, so that we could have breakfast in our room. Yes, we travelled with our own plastic bowls and cutlery and a jar of peanut butter.

D

uring this time we also made the most of some great travel opportunities in our own country. Gemma and I walked the Milford Track when she was 12. I repeated it the following year as tour leader for a group of 40 farmers and did it a third time with our son Gareth. Subsequently he and I did the Queen Charlotte Walk and the Abel Tasman Track. Gemma joined us when we did the Tongariro Walk and climbed Mt Ruapehu. Carol and I did two trips to Europe where we checked our family roots in Scotland, Cornwall, UK and Ireland. We took the opportunity to meet up with people we had met over the years and this saw us in Germany, Austria, Italy and France. We find that being able to stay with people who live at your destination is wonderful. And so we have enjoyed hosting many of these friends, when they have visited Hawke’s Bay. My final opportunity to study abroad was at Harvard Business School in Boston. It snowed while I was there and it felt as if I was on the set of on an American TV programme. In more recent years it is cruising that has once again been my focus. Being able to live for a week or more on a ship that is more like a floating city and visit a range of interesting locations, in different countries, is a great way to travel. In recent years I have enjoyed cruises in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Baltic Sea. My focus now is on river cruising in Europe. And of course there are events such as an upcoming family wedding in Byron Bay, on the Australian Gold Coast that creates a reason for yet another closer destination that I have not visited before. This may seem like lots of travel, but it has been over 40 years. For the last 30 of these, Debby at House of Travel Hastings, has been great in organising all the detail for us.

To see places such as Hollywood Boulevard, Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and San Deigo Zoo, with your children, is an amazing experience for all involved. In the following years my travel to the US mainly involved study tours with suppliers to Farmlands and university studies. Study tours are great in that you get to meet people in their businesses with the chance to talk about things of mutual interest. Suppliers would usually take us to their international headquarters which incorporated research centres and these were great experiences. The ultimate of course is when you finish up spending a weekend in a city like New York, as I did on tour with Du Pont. Eight of us in the tour group went to see Julie Andrews in her final performance of Victor Victoria. This was amazing. On another study tour, a group of us spent the weekend in Washington DC, checking out the museums and galleries there. While some of my study was at Stanford University in California, it was my times at Purdue University in Indiana that gave me an insight into aspects of life in the USA which many tourists to that country do not get a chance to experience. Purdue specialises in agricultural economics and sits in the ‘Midwest’. The nature and dimensions of agricultural business there were most impressive. During my times there, I was asked if my family would be agreeable to hosting undergraduate students over their summer break, so that they could experience agriculture in another country. We did this for students from rural families in Kansas and Indiana and I was able to arrange work experiences for them on a number of farms and in rural service businesses. This turned out being great experience for them and our family. Ultimately we visited these families once these guys had completed their studies and were working from home.

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Page 79 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


A Wwoofer Meets a Warm Egg BY MARY KIPPENBERGER

Over the last few weeks we’ve had five Wwoofers (willing workers on organic farms) staying with us, amazing people full of stumbling English and youthful decency.

S

omething strange comes over my voice when we have Wwoofers, a mixture of camp mother and documentary voice over. I hear myself do it. Maybe it’s the faltering English or the fresh faces that encourage me to think I have important knowledge to impart ... I don’t ... but I don’t let that get in my way. Some years ago we had six Germans staying. It was calving season and a beautiful, curly, red-coated calf had been born the night before. He seemed lacklustre and unwell. My Wwoofer voice made itself welcome as I gathered the young

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people together, filled up a bottle with supplementary milk and led the gaggle down to the river. I straddled the calf both crooning to him and explaining to my attentive camera-carrying audience what I was doing, what I wasn’t doing and what I might do. The calf seemed to be straining so I monotoned that he was clearly constipated, that I would now desist from trying to make him drink and instead give him a jolly good organic massage. I was right in my element. I was right in my element until I noticed that the calf didn’t have a bottom and then

I wasn’t in my element anymore. I gasped. I peered, I peered again. It really was true. He didn’t have a bottom or as my grandson shrilled excitedly, “Grandy he doesn’t have a bum hole!” It was five o’clock on a Friday night. The poor little thing was clearly in agony, an agony not particularly helped by my great Mrs Know It All self forcing milk down its throat. At that moment Peter pulled up in the car. I yelled the situation and he returned in minutes with a razor blade, disinfectant and cotton swabs. Before cameras had time to focus or Germans gasp, the job was done and we were all leaping sideways to avoid the spurting, brown gush. Poor wee thing. The miracle is that he lived and the vet gave Peter a thumbs up. Last week, having still not learned to control my Wwoofer voice, I took the three wonderful Scottish boys down to my garden


and picked up nine singular potatoes. I heard myself drift into an Irish accent as I said the word ‘potatoes’ but undeterred I droned on ... and on. “Take three potatoes each, place the potatoes in a planter bag, a third filled with compost, and cover the potatoes to the top of the bag with more compost.” I paused and wondered aloud if they knew what way the ‘eyes’ went. Robert twinkled ever so slightly and politely as he explained that he came from a farm in Scotland that planted five thousand tons of potatoes every year, supplying all Scottish Tesco’s. “Ah,” I said, “well carry on then ...”

O

ur current Wwoofers have now dispersed. Soliane from France with her nose rings and braided hair has joined a music commune, German Corinna meets her parents and boyfriend in Christchurch, and the three och aye’s head to Auckland for some paid work. Sarah from Yorkshire is last to go. I take this tall, extraordinary woman to the bus. Her laden backpack is heaved into the car. Sarah is thirty years old. She has taught eight times in Ghana. She has flown helicopters and jumped out of planes. She has collected, catalogued, and packaged container loads of textbooks donated to African schools. She has completed a master’s and embarks on her doctorate in the fall. She has roamed

India and the Americas but she has never felt the warmth of an egg just laid. While Sarah was with us I asked her if she would like to feed the chooks with me. I gave the offer nary a second thought so commonplace is it in my world but for Sarah it was a moment full of wonder and exclamation. Her face lit as the chooks bustled busily around her competing for the falling grain. I gave her a bowl and asked her to collect the eggs, she ducked

her head and entered the chook house where the ten hay-filled nesting boxes waited with their bounty. I have had chooks for forty years and I still get a thrill from the tumble of a nest fully laden. For Sarah that thrill was fresh and new. The smile was an ear-to-ear affair. You never know when you are going to encounter a ‘first’ moment, you never know how precious it will be, or that simplicity can be hard to beat.

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Page 81 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


Keeping Te Mata Park in Peak Condition BY BRUNO CHAMBERS, CHAIRMAN OF TE MATA PARK TRUST

Photograph courtesy of Hastings District Council


Bruno Chambers

tim.co.nz

Te Mata Park continues be a fulcrum on which many Hawke’s Bay locals’ sense of place turns. The ever-present silhouette of the Sleeping Giant frames the skyline as we go about our lives, and the Park itself is a magnet for so many of us who enjoy the amazing views, the open spaces, shaded valleys and opportunities to exercise and explore. A visit to Te Mata Park is guaranteed to raise the heart rate as well as the spirit. ‘Ours Forever’

Developing a long term plan

Te Mata Park is unique in many ways. Not only because of its landscapes, ecology and cultural significance, but also its status as private land, managed by the Te Mata Park Trust on behalf of the community. The Park will indeed be ‘Ours Forever’, protected in perpetuity by an Open Space Covenant through the Queen Elizabeth II Trust. This ensures that the land and its open space values are always preserved. Since being gifted to the community by the Chambers family in 1927, the Park has always been managed by volunteers (including the trustees). Apart from receiving an annual contribution from the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council since 1998 to fund a part-time caretaker, the Park has relied solely on donations, grants and volunteer contributions. This funding model is proving increasingly unsustainable as the importance and popularity of the Park as a visitor destination and local open greenspace increases.

Immediately following the Te Mata Park Trust Board’s decision in March 2015 to not proceed with the planned Visitor & Education Centre, we sat down with the councillors from each of HB Regional Council, Napier City Council and Hastings District Council to discuss ‘where to from here’ for the Park. All three councils had made significant capital commitments to the Visitor & Education Centre Project and, through the 2015 long-term planning process, the Trust sought and secured their agreement to retain these commitments for a twelve month period. While the ambitious building project had been halted, many of the underlying drivers for the project (lack of amenities, information etc) are still pressing problems. The Trust committed to presenting a tenyear plan for the Park to each council as part of their 2016 Annual Plan processes and we hope to make a compelling case for the re-allocation of their capital commitments to the Park for planned improvements and ongoing maintenance.

So, over the past six months, we have been working hard on the preparation of a Ten Year Management Plan for Te Mata Park with the involvement and support of the HB Regional, Napier City, and Hastings District councils. HDC have also committed significant resources and expertise from their Parks Management Team to help us prepare the plan. This is proving to be a tremendously positive process. The Management Plan will set the vision, identify priorities and confirm an action plan for the Park to take us through to 2025. Our goal is to provide greater security for the Park into the future – to ensure we have in place a sustainable plan to fund, maintain and protect the Park, and also to identify key areas for improvement and investment.

Key issues & community input Te Mata Park is under significant pressure due to the rising intensity of use. Lack of facilities within the Park, balancing the needs of different groups of recreational users (eg, walkers and mountain bikers), and congestion in the car parks and on the upper sections of Te Mata Peak Road are all issues that must be addressed. The Trust Board consulted the community on these issues during October and November via a weekend of Open Days in the Park and an online survey. We were delighted to receive 661 individual survey responses to help us understand overall user satisfaction with the Park and some of the factors that influence their responses. The survey

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tim.co.nz also provided us with information on the activities undertaken in the Park, the demographics of users, and their suggestions for improvement. The key findings of the survey were that: • 92% of respondents are Satisfied or Very Satisfied with Te Mata Park. • Respondents use the Park for a variety of reasons, most commonly Walking/ Running, with 79% visiting Often or Always for this reason. • Respondents are most likely to use the car park at the main gates (48%) or Tauroa Road (33%) when visiting. • 72% visit with between 1-4 others. Friends make up these groupings 32% of the time. • 83% of respondents visit for 2 hours or less. • Paths and Tracks (28%), Toilets and Drinking Water (19%), and General Maintenance (18%) are the three factors most likely to affect a visitor’s overall satisfaction. However, 30% of all respondents felt a priority for improvement was to add toilets and 26% to provide drinking water. Through January the Trust will be seeking ongoing community comment and suggestions on some of the most pressing capital improvements needed for the Park.

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Ensuring good design Te Mata Park is famous for its inspirational and iconic physical environment and features, and the Trust is committed to complementing these with similarly inspirational design and construction of physical infrastructure within the Park. As part of the planning process, we are developing a Design Vision for the Park which will provide the foundation of the brief and specifications for any ‘constructed’ element such as signage, toilets, bins and park furniture, as well as printed materials and online content. In setting this Design Vision, the Trust is seeking to: • Create a unique identity for Te Mata Park that showcases the best of New Zealand design and innovation. • Complement and reflect the natural beauty and attributes of the Park, rather than interrupt or erode the appeal of the physical environment. • Engage the local and national design and engineering community to produce innovative, functional and sustainable solutions to meet Park user and visitor needs. • Ensure that the Hawke’s Bay community finds inspiration and feels pride in the quality, creativity and sustainability of the amenities provided for them within the Park.

Finalising the management plan We are continuing to gather community input and fully develop the practical implications of the Trust’s vision for creating a unique designed environment within the Park. These will be incorporated into the objectives, policies and plans and a draft of the full Ten Year Management Plan will be finalised by February 2016. The Draft Plan will then be circulated for formal submissions from the community during March and April. The Trust’s intention is to submit the final Ten Year Management Plan in June 2016 for consideration by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Napier City Council and Hastings District Council in their 2016 Annual Plan processes. The Plan will also underpin any and all of our applications to other organisations, government agencies and individuals for support.

Funding the management plan The Trust will make the case for increased support for the basic operation and maintenance of the Park from local councils. This support could be provided through an extension of services already delivered by councils across our many local and regional parks (eg, rubbish removal, servicing of public toilets, weed spraying, etc). For capital projects, local councils are


tim.co.nz

not the only entities from which we will be seeking support. The Trust will apply for project-specific grants from central government agencies as well as charitable trusts and foundations. Concurrently, the Trust will develop fundraising initiatives and ongoing revenue programmes to create a sustainable future for the Park.

The end goal By mid-2016, the Trust’s goal is to have provided a blueprint for the next ten years of the life of Te Mata Park – one that mixes inspiration and excitement with sustainability and functionality, and that meets the practical needs of the Park and its thousands of users. The most important ingredient to this mix is community input

– we have made a great start, and encourage everyone to continue to engage with us over the coming months. For more information about Te Mata Park and the Management Plan process, visit:

www.tematapark.co.nz

www.lookingback.co.nz

Page 85 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


FINDING A SUPERSTAR EMPLOYEE BY MATT MILLER

Talent has always been hard to find, but even more so in today’s economy. The shift to a knowledge economy means that if you’re an employer looking to grow your business, you need to be on the hunt for star employees. So how do you find your next superstar? That’s easy, you might think – you just put an ad on Seek, on Trade Me Jobs, and on LinkedIn and see who applies. Or you could ask around on Facebook and Twitter and see if anyone knows anyone. Or you could enlist the help of a specialist. I interviewed Rachel Cornwall of Red Consulting Group to ask her how recruitment works in the digital age and what the top recruiters do to earn their money. “We deal with the good people. They just aren’t in the right jobs yet”, says Rachel. When Rachel moved to Hawke’s Bay 13 years ago, she saw a huge opportunity in servicing the recruitment needs of Hawke’s Bay. From the start, Rachel saw that there was a gap in the higher end of the recruitment market, that needed a more thorough, personal approach, with a focus on excellence at every level. This came from the insight that the business landscape in Hawke’s Bay is dominated by privately held businesses, so recruitment needs to be much more personal and less transactional than in larger centres where middle management is more prevalent.

Page 86 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ

Apart from hard work, which seems to be an essential ingredient to success (oddly enough), Rachel puts the success of Red down to the company’s positioning, being crystal clear about what you’re offering and who it’s for, and making sure that what you’re offering the market is unique and valuable. In a business that is all about personal relationships, systems are very important.

“Someone might look brilliant on LinkedIn and then on Facebook you can see what they actually get up to in the weekends.” Red commissioned their own custom CRM (customer relationship management) system built on Microsoft technology. An early adopter of technology, Red’s CRM system is finely-tuned and very effective, but technology marches on, and they are due to upgrade to a cloud-based system soon. The new system will have social

media integration, allow remote access, work well from mobile devices and both the Hawke’s Bay and Auckland offices will use it to share data. The sheer amount of data involved and the relationship-based approach means that Red would not be possible without the internet. “It’s the air we breathe”, says Rachel. The job market is global and Red recruits across New Zealand, so real-time digital communication and skilled use of social networking sites are vital. But when everyone has access to the internet, what sets the really good recruiters apart? “Integrity, deliverability, and accountability,” says Rachel. Red has built a successful client base by making sure that every client has their needs met. In saying this, Rachel emphasises the word ‘every’. Rachel places great emphasis on commercial intelligence, which means doing your homework, always increasing your understanding of analytics, what drives company balance sheets, and knowledge across a broad range of business areas, from animal genetics to web development technologies. In other words, “being across everything”. For a long time, many job candidates searching for jobs on the Seek.co.nz website thought that it was owned by Red, due to a large red banner advert at the top of the page. Red has also had a billboard at Hawke’s Bay airport for years, and it provides good visibility for the brand for


“Telling a good and authentic story is essential to attracting talent, especially when you’re looking to attract candidates to a region like Hawke’s Bay.” the travelling executives that the firm targets. But mostly she prefers what she calls “marketing by stealth” and admits that she has no marketing budget. Pretty funny for a marketing graduate! Every job Red places in the paper or online contains Red Consulting Group in the copy, and Rachel says that every contact point with an employer or job seeker is an opportunity to build the brand. Interestingly, Red no longer uses email marketing. Rachel feels that there is already too much commercial email landing in people’s inboxes without Red adding to it. The job advertisement is a crucial part of the recruitment process. According to Rachel, it’s important to know your client’s needs really well, so the ad is attractive to the candidate. The ad must be absolutely authentic and it has to be fun with “spark and spunk”. Telling a good and authentic story is essential to attracting talent, especially when you’re looking to attract candidates to a region like Hawke’s Bay. Not only do you need to sell the position, you also need to sell the client’s business, and the region as a whole, to someone who might not even be aware of Hawke’s Bay, and who might not have considered moving to a ‘province’ at all. The social networks that Rachel favours are LinkedIn and Facebook. “LinkedIn is good when it’s used properly.” Red use LinkedIn for what she calls “proactive approaches” (Rachel prefers the term to ‘headhunting’). Red has a premium paid account with LinkedIn which means that they can search much more effectively than free users. Rachel says that Red is focused on finding the best person who will have the biggest impact on the client’s business. Nearly 100% of management candidates who get placed have a LinkedIn profile. So it’s vital for anyone who is looking for a managerial role that they keep their LinkedIn profile up-to-date and accurate. Facebook, on the other hand, is not so good for finding candidates, but is excellent for cross-checking, where you get to see the real person behind the LinkedIn profile. “Someone might look brilliant on LinkedIn and then on Facebook you can see what they actually get up to in the weekends.” When I ask her to identify the biggest change that Red has needed to respond to, Rachel tells me it’s the smartphone. Rachel immediately accepted that business had to go mobile, and that to be a successful recruiter, you need to be accessible as much as possible. Rachel most admires companies who are honest in their positioning and don’t try to be everything to everybody. She likes online shops Willow Shoes and Vanilla Bloom. She also admires the auction site Trade Me and Alibaba, the global wholesale trading platform (“Jack Ma is a remarkable businessman and they deliver on their promise”). The common traits in these businesses that Rachel likes are that they are all about people, positioning, and providing value in a specific market. A bit like a recruitment company, Trade Me and Alibaba are places where buyers and sellers come together and rely on trust and integrity to achieve results through long-term relationships. She leaves me with some advice for those who are considering a career in recruitment: Listen, and make time for people and process. And pay attention to detail … all the time. Rachel’s known for saying: “i is a letter with a dot on it. Put the dot on it.”

Matt Miller co-owns web company Mogul Limited, based in Havelock North, but serving clients around the world, including BayBuzz. His beat for BayBuzz is online trends and best practice. Page 87 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


Sponsoring insight into smart farming in Hawke’s Bay tim.co.nz

PROSPECTS FOR APPLES AND GRAPES BY DAVID CRANWELL

Proponents of the Ruataniwha dam have projected additional productive investment in orcharding and grape growing as an outcome of the scheme. As a fourth generation orchardist, consultant, apple breeder, export coordinator of apples and wine, here is my assessment of the viability of successfully growing apples and wine grapes on the Ruataniwha plains.

Present situation Traditionally the Ruataniwha plains have been successfully used for beef and sheep, with some cropping – grain and fodder crops, lucerne etc. The soils of the Ruataniwha are currently being suggested as suitable for apple and grape production. In broad terms, it is true that apples and grapes can be grown almost anywhere in NZ, from the humid areas of Northland to the desert-like areas of Central Otago. The Ruataniwha plains saw apple plantings expand from a very small base in the early ‘80s to about 500 hectares. But during the last 20 years there has been no significant or any new planting. By contrast, the Heretaunga Plains has about 5,000 hectares planted in apples, with more being added every year. In fact, currently the commercial fruit tree nurseries have a three-year waiting list for apple trees. In the coming winter of 2016 approximately 1,000,000 apples trees will be planted in NZ. The greater percentage will be on the Heretaunga plains, with virtually none being planted on the Ruataniwha plains. The grape plantings that were first established in the 1980s all have gone, apart from a few niche vineyards in selected areas on the fringes of the Ruataniwha plains where

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some quality wines are produced. The question has to be asked: why has apple production expanded on the Heretaunga plains, and not on the Ruataniwha plains, allowing the former to become the largest apple growing area in NZ and the second largest grape area?

Heretaunga Plains The number one and over riding factor for the investor when considering land purchase and use is the returns risk. Based on the following reasons, the Heretaunga plains arguably has the lowest returns risk for apples and possibly grape production in NZ. Land value – quality horticultural currently selling for $100,000 hectare and rising. Water – strong aquifers. Soil types – generally deep and heavy with great water holding capacity. Hail – Heretaunga, like all horticultural regions, can and has been hit with hail, but in the main, the areas affected are localised and in many instances the damaged fruit can be thinned off. Frost – Spring frost generally are not severe, with many areas not requiring frost protection, while in the susceptible areas frost can be warded off with water or wind machines. Wind – generally not severe enough to damage trees or fruit. Temperatures – Summer temperatures generally under 30C (some seasons a few days over 30C); the sea breeze lowers the temperatures on the more coastal orchards, reducing stress on the trees and fruit.

Harvest dates – almost two weeks earlier than Nelson, which gives the Heretaunga growers a distinct advantage early into the markets of Asia with Royal Gala when the prices paid are the highest. Proximity – easy access to packhouses, coldstores and Napier Port. Now let’s look at Central Hawke’s Bay.

Ruataniwha Plains Comparing some of the same factors for the Ruataniwha plains … Land value – probably 1/3 of that on the Heretaunga plains; 40 hectare blocks would be the minimum size required for a commercial apple orchard, grapes probably double that. Due to the lack of smaller sized blocks, an investor would be faced with buying a sheep farm with horticultural suitable land on it in order to plant apples and or grapes. Soil – generally light and shallow on a gravel base, with poor water holding capacity. Hail – a major threat for both grapes and apples and a fact of life on the Ruataniwha plains. Every year the orchards suffer hail damage from minor to major. One large orchard block was sold for the sole reason that every year it was hit by hail. In its 20-plus year life it never returned an exportable crop; it was returned to sheep and cattle farming. Frosts – there are more of them; they are heavier and last longer by several hours, requiring the largest wind machines available on the market. For grapes, due to the length and severity of the spring frosts, overhead sprinklers would be required, as wind


machines can only cope with frosts to -3C, dependent on the inversion layer. With the grape vines being closer to the ground they are more at risk than apples. Wind – far stronger. The existing orchards are planted in the lee of massive old pine shelter belts. Temperatures – Summer temperatures can be higher; often temps over 30C for longer periods than on the Heretaunga plains. A higher level of irrigation is required during these periods of heat stress good for grapes, not for apples. Harvest dates – at least 10-12 days later than Heretaunga. Hawke’s Bay’s major apple producers have learnt to manage and work to the conditions, producing high quality apples with high brix, pressure and excellent texture. They have the Ruataniwha as part of a production mix which includes Heretaunga and Nelson – by having a spread of locations they can guarantee their customers fruit every year.

Infrastructure critical Packhouses and coldstores. New growers often overlook this critical need to handle their crop … and just plant. When their first crop is on the trees, they then look for a packer/exporter. For any grower looking at establishing an orchard on the Ruataniwha plains, their due diligence must include who will pack the crop and where. Given the huge number of apple trees being planted in Hawke’s Bay, unless there is serious capital investment in packing and storage facilities, there will be no home for the fruit. In the 70s through to the mid-90s, apples sometimes never saw a coldstore until they were loaded on a ship and it was half way to Europe before the fruit came down to temperature. At its destination, the fruit could be best described as pedestrian but the market took it,

as there was a shortfall of apples. Times have changed with international competition from Chile, South Africa and Argentina. New Zealand was forced to lift its game or fall by the wayside. The cool chain is now so entrenched that the growers of today would never dream of leaving their harvested fruit in bins under a cover over night or longer. Every day the fruit harvested is straight into coldstore; often twice a day pickups are the norm. Packhouses are more sophisticated. The harvested fruit comes into temperature controlled harvest bin stores, then into the packhouse into cartons, then into a packed carton store ready for export … mostly in pre-cooled containers. This all happens under one roof, which means that from the tree to the offshore consumer, the apple is held at optimum temperature ensuring that the consumer purchases an apple that excites them, encouraging repeat purchase.

Sizing up the risk/return For the new entrant to set up their own white-walled packhouse/coldstore complex would cost into the millions. Add the cost of land, tree, posts, wire, irrigation, frost protection and – in the case of Ruataniwha, hail netting – then wait for up to seven years for a profitable crop. A prospective orchardist would need to have done the most rigorous due diligence before the first tree was planted! It could be argued that despite the benefit of cheaper Ruataniwha land, given its limitations, the more expensive Heretaunga land would be a more secure option. The cost, land included, of establishing an apple orchard on the Heretaunga plains is in the vicinity of $200,000 per hectare. The Ruataniwha plains land could be cheaper, but the higher ongoing costs and risks associated with crop protection there may outweigh that establishment benefit.

The real opportunity that we have is early into the Asian market with the improvement in fruit handling and storage areas north of Heretaunga. Apples grow well there and ripen earlier, but under the old laissez-faire approach to handling and storage they had a reputation for poor out turn. This has changed. Maybe this would be a better option for the new grower to investigate. At the early end of the season there is far less pressure on handling systems with existing facilities on the Heretaunga plains and there may be packhouses prepared to handle this early fruit. Take the Patoka area for example – higher altitude, which always gives high quality apples, brix, pressure and colour; some easy country; suitable free-draining soil, in a good rain shadow; and excellent winter chilling. Some risk of hail but probably no worse or better than the Heretaunga plains. Plus good roads to Napier Port, and land prices probably similar to the Ruataniwha. As for grapes, temperature recorders set all over HB by a qualified advisor some 20 years ago came up with the Rissington area as a potential prime growing area. If I were investing in new plantings today, I know which direction my capital would go. The apple industry has gone though highs and serious lows and this will happen again. The industry is riding high at the moment, but it could be best described as a fine balance between modest profit on the orchard to serious loss. In the end it all comes down to the returns risk. Apart from his continuing involvement with apples and grapes, David Cranwell since 1994 has raised money for a conservation trust in northwest India.

Sustainable, healthy and pure Bostock New Zealand grows packs and markets high quality squash, onions, grain and organic apples. We are committed to sustainable growing practices, protecting our land and rivers for future generations. Our apple orchards are 100% organic, free of synthetic pesticides and artificial substances. We believe in having GE-Free land, fertile soils and clean water supplies to produce premium products. If you have cropping land to lease please contact us: www.bostock.co.nz

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Colonic crisis a killer BY KEITH NEWMAN

Bowel cancer isn’t necessarily a pain in the arse. The symptoms may be subtle and not picked up at all unless stool and blood tests identify the colonic time bomb which has become the second largest cancer killer in New Zealand.

challenging. From the 55% response rate, more than 6,000 colonoscopies have been performed. “There was a 20% increase in symptomatic referrals for endoscopy [rectal tests] and in Hawke’s Bay we’ve already had a few positive results from the lab in Australia after people purchased kits from local pharmacies,” says McEntee. If those detection statistics were replicated nationwide it would be “a massive saving”. If caught early 75% of bowel cancer is curable, left undetected there’s a high risk of it requiring extensive chemotherapy or becoming untreatable. There’s no disputing that early detection screening is the most cost-effective way to get to the bottom of the problem before more expensive procedures are required. Already though, existing awareness campaigns, including Bowel Cancer Month in June and the demand for self-testing kits ($60-$70 each – “less reliable than those used in Waitemata”), are stretching resources, including in Hawke’s Bay.

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alk of a national screening programme presents another time bomb, the chronic shortage of specialists, including gastroenterologists and surgeons, the only ones qualified to perform colonoscopies (internal bowel or colon tests). Department of Health figures for 2012, released in October 2015, show colorectal cancer is the third most prolific cancer (3,016), but more die from it (1,283) than breast and prostrate cancer combined. This is the highest rate per population in the OECD; only lung cancer produces more fatalities in New Zealand (1,628 deaths). Despite being given ‘top priority’ and demand exceeding specialist capacity, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has put a ‘business case’ to Cabinet for a staged screening programme from early 2017,

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although Bowel Cancer New Zealand suggests nationwide coverage may realistically take until 2020. Hawke’s Bay general and colorectal surgeon Bernard McEntee and Hawke’s Bay District Health Board (HBDHB) endoscopist Malcolm Arnold have been briefing their peers in preparation for the roll-out after meeting with Minister Coleman. The template is a $31 million, four-year Waitemata DHB pilot which began in October 2011 and detected “a large number” of ‘adenoma precancerous polyps’ in the target age group. Seventy percent were deemed “amenable to cure” because they were caught in the early stages, says McEntee. The pilot, now extended for another two years, generated such a huge demand for colonoscopy that keeping up has been

owel cancer is most prevalent in the 50-74 year age group and looks to be growing at around 20% a year, with increased risk through genetic and ‘environmental’ factors, possibly including high intake of red meat. While the Government is committed to a national roll-out “in some form”, McEntee says the age bracket may be narrowed and the sensitivity of the haemoglobin tests tightened to produce less positive tests. “While this might miss some cancers, it won’t be a significant number according to the modelling.” Urgent cases would still be picked up and through a surveillance programme precancerous polyps could be tested every two years “without overloading the system”, eventually “preventing it happening at all”, suggests McEntee. The trouble is symptoms are non-specific. “Rarely is there pain and only a little bleeding and subtle changes in bowel habits which people can often explain away by their diet or think they’ve got a bug.” There’s also a degree of social stigma and for some the idea of taking a sample of their own faeces, placing it in a zip lock bag and sending it off to the laboratory for testing is not an appealing prospect. “Some don’t want to be screened at all knowing they might be faced with a colonoscopy. You’re never going to get everyone to buy into it.” In 2014 the Ministry of Health agreed


a screening programme would have to be carefully staggered, and urged district health boards to prepare for additional demands as too many were already on colonoscopy waiting lists. A ministerial report that year showed 40,926 colonoscopies were needed in the 2011-12 financial year but 9,397 people missed out because resources weren’t available. The number of colonoscopies has been increasing at an average of 15-20% annually since the 2008-2009 financial year. There are only 608 medical professionals able to perform the operation across the wider health sector; 109 are gastroenterologists, the rest are general surgeons who have to fit it in with other duties. It’s been estimated another 100 specialists would be needed for a national screening programme and the additional 30,000 colonoscopies likely. Current planning only allows for 37 over the next decade. In the 2013 and 2014 Budgets the Government added $11.4 million to help DHBs reduce waiting times for diagnostic tests, including colonoscopies. Just before Christmas an additional $4 million was added for additional colonoscopy services.

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he ministry insists everything is being done to address the skills shortage, including training nurses to perform checks and attracting more gastroenterology trainees. McEntee says even training a nurseendoscopist takes several years. One way of resolving the short-term problem he suggests is to “get some Brits over”. However, Britain is facing its own shortage of specialists. Currently there’s only one endoscopy suite at Hawke’s Bay Hospital although a new suite with two rooms is scheduled to be completed in 2017. “It’ll then be a matter of who’s going to do the extra endoscopies.”

Dr Bernie McEntee

Based on the Waitemata DHB trial that could mean an extra 15 colonoscopies a week — typically day surgery — and around 30 bowel cancer operations a year, each taking half a day. Surgeons might be able to cope with the increased volumes but dealing with the pathology and endoscopy may still present problems. “While surgery numbers drop over time you still need a surveillance programme and to keep on top of what is found.” And says McEntee, polyp testing has to be processed by pathologists who might also be in short supply. “You can’t have histology sitting around too long unread…it needs to run alongside the quality of service to patients and not interfere with that.” There are national guidelines in place to ensure urgent cases are triaged within two

weeks and others within six or 12 weeks depending on indications. Around 60% now receive a colonoscopy within the six-week targeted time compared to less than a third in 2014, although waiting times for non-urgent and surveillance colonoscopies are still slightly below target. GPs can also fail to pick up the signs and there’s variability in how different health boards meet triage guidelines. “We do what we can in Hawke’s Bay and it can at times feel like you’re not doing the best for the patient, but you have to be as fair as possible.” McEntee says accurate and more detailed information leads to quicker treatment, a quality referral with blood tests can make all the difference, and he urges doctors with colonoscopy patients who haven’t been seen in a timely fashion to “stay on the case”.

www.royston.co.nz

500 Southland Road, Hastings 4122 P: (06) 873 1111 F: (06) 873 1112

Ensuring your healthcare needs are met so you can get the very best out of life

Page 91 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


The Louis Vuitton of Food BY PAUL PAYNTER Photo by Sarah Cates

Who needs cow milk anymore?

Ubi ius, ibi officium – ‘privilege with responsibility’. One bit of Latin every young farmer should be taught. What a great privilege it is to have such a key influence on human health, the environment and, in many cases, animal welfare. And it’s obviously a great responsibility too. So it’s worth considering which farming systems discharge their duties admirably and which ones fall short? Which farming sector scores worst in terms of the environment? Worst in animal welfare? I bet 99% of you answered ‘dairy’. The dairy industry is having tough times. Dirty dairying still gets plenty of press. Animal welfare was a more recent body blow as a ‘Sunday’ exposé revealed the appalling treatment of bobby calves. Bobby calves are euphemistically called a ‘by-product’, but today they are of such little worth that they could more reasonably be considered a waste product. The dairy industry solution is to stop the brutalising and ease the neglect, but in other respects the process remains largely

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the same. Annually allowing two million bobby calves a less distressing four or five days before they become dogfood, so that we might sip our lattes, still makes the average consumer queasy. It’s also tough times business-wise down on the farm. The price for whole milk powder has more than halved from its 2013 highs, in US dollar terms. And the competition has never been hotter with the supermarket shelves full of soy, almond, rice and now coconut milk. Some of these alternatives are delicious, nutritious and make a damned fine latte. Hawke’s Bay has not fallen victim to dairy’s economic malaise because the industry is such a small component of our economy. ASB’s Regional Economic Scoreboard ranks Hawke’s Bay 6th out of 16 regions, describing us as ‘perky’. But we shouldn’t feel too smug. While Hawke’s Bay only makes up 1% of NZ’s dairy production, it is on the increase. The proposed CHB dam anticipates significantly more dairying. The cyclical problems of

the dairy industry are sure to become our problems. So what are the big issues and how could they be remedied?

Too many strategies For generations after WWII most rural producers had operated under statesanctioned producer boards – single desk monopolies. The prevailing view was that ‘we need to work together’. This probably made sense for a nation of ‘cottage farmers’, but that is not how farming is today. When Fonterra was formed they secured a 96% market share with only Westland and Tatua opting to have a go independently. Since then Fonterra’s share has dropped about 10%, indicating the ‘rebels’ have done a better job in the eyes of the farmers. In the early 1990s the NZ government paid Harvard business guru Michael Porter to undertake a report on our export industries and how they might become more competitive. For awhile his writings were compulsory fodder for students of economics and commerce.


One of Porter’s enduring ideas was that there are only three broad business strategies – least cost, differentiated and niche. Each of these strategies has merit and may prosper. The ‘least cost’ option is dominated by commodity producers or those that have natural cost advantages – like a Saudi Arabian oil producer. A differentiated producer is like Apple, with their IPad, IPhone and other cool devices. They don’t need to worry about cost so much as they appeal to consumers in other ways. Organics exemplifies the niche strategy; usually commanding less than 10% of market share, but securing a significant price premium from passionate devotees. Fonterra’s problem is that it is trying to pursue all three of these strategies. Mostly it’s a ‘least cost’ producer and heavily exposed to the whole milk powder market. But it also produces differentiated products like anhydrous mild fat and it even does niche organics. In theory a big company can create different business units, each focusing on one of the three strategies. But companies are driven by their culture and trying to create three different cultures is difficult. Usually it leads to unhelpful internal tensions. In practice it’s easier to serve one master than three. “It’s been a distraction,” says Kevin Cooney, ASB’s Head of Agri Capital. He points out that Tatua have done a better job of differentiated products, which dominate their business. And Fonterra, some 20 times the size of Westland Dairy, have milk powder production costs that are almost identical. “They don’t show the economies of scale you’d expect,” says Cooney. It’s just too hard to pursue three different strategies with excellence. Try telling an Apple executive to forget the gadgetry and work on making the cheapest phones and she’ll think you’re mad – it’s not in her DNA! Fonterra’s DNA is confused.

Pipfruit differentiates The pipfruit industry is well on the way to finding a solution to this dilemma. Companies have evolved whose strategy is

to exploit each of the three Porter strategies. Mr Apple and TaylorCorp have not invested heavily in new varieties, but continue to rely on being highly efficient (i.e. least cost) producers of commodity varieties – albeit some that have historically been dominated by NZ. This may be the highest risk strategy long term, but these operators have probably been the most successful over the last decade. ENZA and my own Yummy have adopted a strongly differentiated approach with heavy investment in new ‘IP’ varieties; in ENZA’s case the global development of Jazz and Envy. Bostock’s and Rockit have adopted a niche strategy, with organics and the tiny Rockit apple tubes. Innovation is great, but in any industry it’s not the domain of the biggest producers. For years when ENZA was a monopoly producer board they said there was no demand for organics. What they really meant was that the segment was too small to make a difference to its bottom line. This stance frustrated many, but it was exactly the right call for ENZA – niche was not their strategy. For mainstream industries in New Zealand, the differentiated strategy is the best fit. Our costs of key inputs like labour, land, capital (interest rates) and shipping are high relative to our competitors.

What about dairy? Perhaps one of the few exceptions to this is dairying. New Zealand’s benign climate and relatively abundant rainfall make it paradise for growing grass and milking cows. You could make the case that our industry should be focused on a ‘least cost’ approach. We make up about a third of internationally traded dairy products so we’re forced to be fairly mainstream. Fonterra is mostly aligned to the ‘least cost’ strategy. The downsides? Firstly you’re exposed to volatile global commodity prices. While they’ve been fairly high over the past decade, the price swings have been unusually violent. The other problem with the least cost model is that it’s a bad fit with ‘Brand New Zealand’. A least cost operator will

only be inclined to do the bare minimum in meeting, say environmental or animal welfare obligations. Does that sound like Fonterra to you? Now don’t get irritated. If least cost is their strategy they are doing exactly the right thing from a business standpoint. It’s just not the right thing from a national perspective. It’s not what you want New Zealand to be. The hideously trite ‘Brand NZ’ is personified by other annoying clichés like ‘clean and green’ and ‘world leader’ in animal welfare. If you want to take the lead on such issues then a ‘least cost’ approach is incompatible. Ian Proudfoot, KPMG’s head of agribusiness, has recently called on NZ primary producers to become ‘the Louis Vuitton of food’, targeting the 800 million richest people. He notes that we ‘must be deserving of the premium we need to achieve’. Given we’re not likely to win the price war, this advice is right on the money. The future for Hawke’s Bay has to be a differentiated one. If dairy development here is to supply a ‘least cost’ Fonterra, then we’ll be on the wrong track. Fonterra’s fatal flaw right now is they’re too big to change, and have no intention to change. Fonterra have a gargantuan 13 person board of directors and despite their recent woes, all the standing candidates were just elected to another term. It’s a board of ‘right thinking’ peers with seemingly little tension. This is a company that will give us more of the same. And given NZ is such an efficient dairy producer, more of the same might be good enough. The bumbling behemoth isn’t going to go away. My advice? If you must consume dairy, buy it from a company with a differentiated strategy. One you think admirably represents the values our region should aspire to. It’s going to cost more, but it’s a price worth paying.

Paul Paynter is our resident iconoclast and cider maker. Sometimes he grows stuff at Yummyfruit.

Brett Monteith Mobile 021 1684 381 bretthamiltonmonteith@gmail.com facebook.com/gupillodes

Page 93 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


Getting More Active, More Often BY MARK ASPDEN, CEO SPORT HAWKE’S BAY

Photo by Sarah Cates

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port Hawke’s Bay has been a part of the sporting landscape in our region since 1989. Throughout the years, our role has changed dramatically and we are now seen as the independent voice of sport in the community. Our role will keep evolving in 2016 as we continue working alongside our current partners but also begin a new focus. We will be working to get more people out and about more often, as we strive to improve the health and wellbeing of our region. This new focus will see an aggressive promotion of living a more active lifestyle. There is a critical need to get more people

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more active more often. Hawke’s Bay has more people with poor health, fewer people physically active, more people living in the most deprived parts of the community, and more people dying younger than the rest of New Zealand. A recent Active New Zealand survey found that nearly 66% of adults are interested in trying a new sport or activity. With our region offering not only a great climate to allow us to get active, but also some outstanding natural features and man-made facilities, we have a fantastic opportunity to promote ways of increasing physical activity.

We are committed to delivering this new and exciting project. The support we receive from partners will determine the scope and scale of the project. This collaborative initiative will see the Hawke’s Bay community not only have an increase in physical activity but also create good exercise habits.

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awke’s Bay health statistics are still very poor compared to the rest of the country. The Ministry of Health recommended guidelines for physical activity are at least 30 minutes of exercise


on five or more days each week. According to the latest data, 43% of the Hawke’s Bay population met these guidelines, a decline of nearly thirteen points since 2006. This figure is significantly lower than the NZ average of 53%, with both men (49%) and women (38%) in Hawke’s Bay lower than the NZ averages (NZ men 57%, NZ women 50%). We intend to turn those figures around. Many of us go on a fitness or health binge at some stage, but very few of us manage to keep it going for an extended period, so the aim is to provide encouragement to do some form of physical activity on an ongoing basis, so that exercise becomes a habit. We are lucky with the spaces and places provided by councils here in Hawke’s Bay. There are numerous open areas to exercise, plenty of hills to climb and hundreds of kilometres of cycle trails to cruise along.

Sport Hawke’s Bay for another four years through core funding of $590,000 per year. While this is a slight decrease on previous funding, due to the effects of a population-based funding model, it is great to have secured this ongoing support from the national body to continue our work with clubs, regional sporting organisations and schools. We rely heavily on the support of funders and supporters such as Sport NZ, councils, ECCT, EIT, the DHB, Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, sponsors and gaming trusts to help develop sport in the region and this support is much appreciated. The sporting landscape in Hawke’s Bay is continuing to evolve also. Our sporting success as a region shows that many people are taking up these opportunities and excelling in their chosen field.

“A recent Active New Zealand survey found that nearly 66% of adults are interested in trying a new sport or activity. With our region offering not only a great climate to allow us to get active, but also some outstanding natural features and man-made facilities, we have a fantastic opportunity to promote ways of increasing physical activity.”

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e will work with councils and other partners to match up people who are keen to be more active, with under-utilised natural and manmade facilities. The key to success will be getting community buy-in – if your friends, families or neighbours are exercising, then you are more likely to join them. This new focus will not mean that we reduce the support that we currently provide to the sports’ sector. Sport New Zealand recently committed to supporting

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hese are two great examples of events that have the potential both to boost activity levels across a range of ages while also bringing visitors into the region on a repeating basis. With initiatives such as these, as well as the ongoing success of many of the region’s teams and individual athletes, it certainly is an exciting time to be involved in sport in Hawke’s Bay. But I want to come back and finish with our get active message. We all know we can do a little bit more. Personally, I am targeting the half marathon in May, which will be a good challenge for me. And that’s what Sport Hawke’s Bay wants to promote in 2016. We are committed to engaging with community groups to find out what we can do to encourage greater levels of activity … in every possible context. As a few simple ideas, why not park further away and walk into the Napier CBD, explore the cycle ways in Hastings, walk up Te Mata Peak, walk along the new limestone tracks in Central Hawke’s Bay, or head to the newly renovated Wairoa Community Centre and have a swim in the pool. The key thing is that it needs to be something that works for you. We can all play our part in starting off 2016 by being a little bit more active. Try it, you’ll enjoy it and feel better for it.

On a community level it is great to see events such as the Air New Zealand Marathon coming here in May. This will see thousands of runners traversing a beautiful route from Marine Parade through to Sileni Estate. We also look forward to the second edition of the ‘Super Sixes’ competition to be held at a number of sports grounds and parks in September. This competition for Year 6 students looks to build on a successful initial event held in 2015.

The Ultimate Orchard and Vineyard Choice

For Further Information Contact: www.ecrl.co.nz | Tel: +64 6 876 9835 400 Ellison Road, Hastings 4122

Page 95 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ


HEADLINE HUMOUR

Headlines can be pithy, clever, deceptive, true, false, loaded with innuendo. Here are a few headlines that have captured our attention. Half of them are true; half are not to be believed. Can you tell which are true? Answers below. 1

DATINGAPPS HIT SEX INDUSTRY HARD Breaking Experts Recommendats Into Smaller, Down Crushing Defe ilures More Manageable Fa

4 3

5

Archaeologists Discover First Hominid To Own Tools But Never Use Them Man Mista Mattress Skenly Sells et With Ca t Inside

Area Woman Not Good Enough Artist To Justify Eccentricities

6

NASA Detects Flowing Water On Mars Hands-Off Mom Lets Kids Create Own Psychological Issues 9

7

8

Denmark bans bestiality in move against animal sex tourism

Bribery and corruption d growing in New Zealan 11

10

2

More Elderly People Now Dying Surrounded By Coworkers

More men opting to be in room when wife conceives baby

12

d l O e r A s Nude y o b y a l P t a s New

Editor’s note: No doubt you turned to this page expecting to enjoy Brendan Webb’s latest flight of humour. Alas, Brendan, our longest-standing contributing writer, wants to retire … seriously! At BayBuzz, we’ve only taken that as a plea for a sabbatical. What do you think? Should we turn Brendan out to pasture with a bottle of wine and fond farewells, or implore him to continue to occasionally grace our pages? Send your views to: editors@baybuzz.co.nz Answers: True – 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 Page 96 • Issue 27 • Jan / Feb 2016 • BAY BUZZ




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