BB#53-Jul-Aug-2020 by BayBuzz

N 53 • JULY / AUGUST 2020 • HAWKE’S BAY UP CLOSE, IN DEPTH

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Recovery: Food. Farming. Arts. Events. Entrepreneurs. Sport. Health. Education. Social Services. Councils.

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53 BayBuzz July/August 2020 Recovery. Businesses shutter, contract, pivot, or thrive. Our health system contains Covid, but flaws exposed, as Bridget’s bout with cancer reveals. While humans are distracted, our planet keeps on warming. Our ‘social safety net’ protects those struggling. Kay Bazzard takes the temperature of HB arts community, Andrew Frame looks at tourism, Geraldine Travers at education, Damon Harvey at sport. Kim Thorp, Bruce Bisset, Maxine Boag, David Trubridge, Phyllis Tichinin, Dom Salmon, Alexandra Tylee, Louise Ward and Paul Paynter address the future. And Dr Libby Smales (End of Life Choice) and Mark Sweet (Cannabis) take on the referenda, also in our future. Cover photo: Benny Fernandez at Georgia on Tennyson, Napier. This page: Common Room, Hastings. Photos: Florence Charvin.

Featured Contributor Follow us at: baybuzzhb Articles online at: baybuzz.co.nz Editorial enquiries editors@baybuzz.co.nz Advertising enquiries Nick Lewis nick@baybuzz.co.nz

Kay Bazzard

Reach BayBuzz by mail BayBuzz, PO Box 8322, Havelock North

BayBuzz Team EDITOR: Tom Belford ASSISTANT EDITORS: Bridget Freeman-Rock; Lizzie Russell SENIOR WRITERS: Kay Bazzard; Bridget Freeman-Rock; Keith Newman COLUMNISTS: Andrew Frame; Mary Kippenberger; Matt Miller; Paul Paynter; Jess Soutar Barron; Hazel Thomas; Pat Turley; Louise Ward EDITOR’S RIGHT HAND: Brooks Belford PHOTOGRAPHY: Tom Allan; Florence Charvin ILLUSTRATION: Brett Monteith; Israel Smith DESIGN: Unit Design Max Parkes; Giselle Reid DISTRIBUTION: Nick Lewis ONLINE: Mogul, Liz Nes BUSINESS MANAGER: Charleen Downie PRINTING: Blue Star Group

Photo: Florence Charvin

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Home by Cinzah Merkens and Yoshitaro Yanagita. Photo: Tom Allan

Over the weeks of Covid-19 Lockdown I was researching the arts sector for my article, [Investing in Art, page 70]. We still don’t know how Covid-19 pandemic will unfold but as the statistics grow and the worldwide economic implications become clear, it is evident that the arts will suffer. Artists have a low profile and as I listened to their fears and hopes post-Covid, I felt concerned that this community did not appear to have a strong collective voice and I so value this opportunity to share my findings with readers.

Photo: Tom Allan

Photo: Florence Charvin

Bee in the Know

Ideas & Opinions

4 6 8

12 Building The ‘New Normal’ On Bedrock Kim Thorp Food is our future – from production to experiences. 52 Education In The Pandemic Age Geraldine Travers 54 Hold The Applause Paul Paynter 56 Time To Pivot To A Circular Economy Dominic Salmon 58 Sport Struggling To Compete Damon Harvey 60 Re-Boot Or Revolution? Tom Belford ‘Cage rattlers’ look to the future. 64 Normalising Cannabis Mark Sweet 67 End Of Life Choice Dr Libby Smales

From the Editor The Swimmers Florence Charvin Did You Know? Improving your HB IQ

Features

Photo: Florence Charvin

14 What Changes Ahead For HB Economy? Keith Newman Business outlooks differ across HB. Councils pumping economic development. 22 Jump Starters Giselle Reid & Lizzie Russell Businesses successfully making the pivot. 28 Getting It Right On Cancer And Covid Bridget Freeman-Rock A personal journey through the health system. 34 Lockdown Social Needs Met Abby Beswick The ‘safety net’ worked .... for now. 40 The Environment Can’t Wait Tom Belford Global warming pushes on, and so do dam advocates. 48 Hawke’s Bay Tourism Knocked Down, But Not Out Andrew Frame Adaptation and resilience seem to be the watchwords.

Culture 70 Investing in Art Kay Bazzard 76 The Bookshop Is Back Louise Ward 78 Something Has Shifted Alexandra Tylee 80 Lockdown’s Lessons Mary Kippenberger

JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 3

F R O M T H E ED I TO R TO M BEL FO R D

Recovering As you have already noticed, BayBuzz is back! Actually, because of the generous efforts of my BayBuzz team, donating their work over the past few months, plus some generous donors, we never went away. Within a week of Level 4 lockdown, we launched our much-expanded online service, The Buzz. Since early April, we have posted articles each weekday on the BayBuzz website, plus sending a round-up each Saturday. Substantially more BayBuzz coverage on all aspects of our community and local issues is now delivered on a timelier basis. The same range of topics as BayBuzz magazine, delivered in more ‘bite-sized’ doses. The second reason we’re back is because of the early help of some key advertisers willing to support our ‘recovery’. Please take a look at the page opposite to see who they are. Each of our sponsors wishes to communicate via a premium-quality platform that reaches a discerning audience, whether they are marketing a product or service, or promoting the arts and events that nourish our community spirit. But their support is also a reflection of the high importance they place on healthy, well-informed debate in a vibrant community – and BayBuzz’s contribution to nurturing that debate – even when our coverage and analysis rattles some cages. They appreciate the need for quality local journalism. BayBuzz will always be independentminded. I am certain – indeed hopeful – that each reader of this edition – and each advertiser – will find something to disagree with! The focus of this edition of BayBuzz is Recovery. For individuals, recovery could mean altering lifestyles or workstyles, getting re-employed, receiving

4 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

deferred healthcare, or overcoming serious hardship. For businesses, as you will read, Hawke’s Bay’s enterprises run the entire gamut, from those permanently shuttered or drastically compromised to those who have actually thrived. But it’s likely that no HB business will be immune to the effects yet to fully play out as nations and economies less fortunate or less competent in dealing with coronavirus suffer the consequences. For councils and other public bodies, recovery will mean a fresh re-juggling of finances and priorities, struggling to minimise burdens on ratepayers, yet benefitting from millions in government (i.e. taxpayer) stimulus spending flowing to HB … to be used wisely (for long-term benefit and sustainability), or not. All of the in’s and out’s of these changes, challenges and opportunities are explored in this Recovery edition of BayBuzz. How well have our businesses and councils coped and what are the futures they foresee? What gaps or weaknesses did coronavirus expose in our healthcare delivery? Did our social ‘safety net’ work for the most disadvantaged? How have different sectors like hospitality, education, sport and our arts community managed through the various stages of lockdown? While our focus has been on coronavirus, what’s been happening – inexorably – to our environment? Nature doesn’t wait. In all of these cases, what next? You’ll find suggestions for building on the core strengths of our region, centered on food in its many aspects. But other voices reject the entire premise that more ‘growth’ as conventionally pursued is desirable; instead, they

see such growth and the systems that support it as the core problem. All change comes down to individuals – how each one of us views the need for it, and how comfortable each of us is (or is not) with its pace, scale and disruption. Is the surgery required cosmetic or radical? And possibly, whether we are by nature optimistic or pessimistic. At a national level, this year we’ll make choices about the Government, cannabis and End of Life Choice. And in the region, fundamental policy choices around water quality and management, and whether we have a serious role to play on climate change. At a personal level, our choices might be about learning new skills, ‘down-sizing’ our consumption, rebelling against the system, or deciding that ‘business as usual’ is just fine. Wherever you wind up, hopefully our articles will provoke your thinking.

Tom Belford tom@baybuzz.co.nz P.S. I cannot resist emphasizing, we have been addressing all of these issues daily online over the past three months via The Buzz and will continue to do so. Sign up on our website – www.baybuzz.co.nz – if you aren’t already receiving our weekend updates.

Tom has been a two-term HB Regional Councillor. His past includes the Carter White House, building Ted Turner’s first philanthropic organisation, doing heaps of marketing consulting for major non-profits and corporates.

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B E E I N TH E KN OW

The Swimmers by Florence Charvin The swimmers stopped in Level 4. For people who rise in the wee hours and head to the beach to commune with the salt and the sand and the stones and each other as the sun comes up, the lockdown was a shock to the system. When we made it to Level 3, they were back. Every morning. Skin reddened and raw, eyes bright, blood pulsing under cold skin, swimcaps bobbing in the still water.

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Did You Know?

4 Cinema Italiano Festival

4 1 Through June, Hawke’s Bay has been earmarked ‘on paper’ for about $117 million in Primary Growth Fund support. So far about $46 million has actually been contracted. What’s up councils?

2 In New Zealand, we use about 2.3 billion beverage containers each year and it’s reported only 40% get recycled.

8 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

3 HB businesses have been accessing support from Regional Business Partners (RBP) whose business continuity scheme has been funded by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. The RBP scheme supported 470 businesses in its first eight weeks. RBP’s normal annual businesses engagement is 200 companies.

Events are back on the calendar in HB. Between the Lines writers and readers events will take place in Central Hawke’s Bay July 23 – 26. Cinema Italiano Festival will be at the Globe Theatrette July 29 – August 7. The HB Marathon will now be run on September 19. The Enchanted Ball has moved to September 26. And still going ahead as planned later in the year: The Hospice Holly Trail (November 11–13) and the Wildflower Sculpture Exhibition (November 11–15).

5 The Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction is also full steam ahead for September 19. Tickets are on sale now. Painter Anna Jepson has been announced as this year’s feature artist.

HB-raised filmmaker Hunter Williams has produced an excellent short film on rural mental health issues. View it at: https://hunterwilliams.net/ themonkeysonourbacks If someone you know might need support, contact the Rural Support Trust (www.rural-support.org.nz), whose local contact is Lon Anderson at 027-249-5713.

10 Make sure you’re enrolled to vote in September by visiting vote.nz

Local author Gareth Ward’s new book The Rise of the Remarkables: Brasswitch and Bot will be released in early August.

Consultation is open on the Keirunga Gardens Reserve Management Plan. You can have your say to impact the next ten years of Keirunga by visiting myvoicemychoice.co.nz.

8 July 31 marks Red Nose Day. The Red Nose Appeal is Cure Kids’ biggest fundraising campaign and aims to raise over $1,000,000 to fund New Zealand-based research into a wide range of health conditions to improve, extend and save the lives of children in Aotearoa.

9 Rogue Hop is now open on Napier’s Hastings Street. The new beer bar also serves an extensive range of wines and spirits, and fresh food. Currently it’s open Wednesday – Saturday, 9am to 9pm.

The waiting list for social housing totals 15,495, with more than 5,000 households isolated in transitional or emergency housing.

13 Scientists estimate that CO2 emissions declined 17% in April globally (relative to the mean level for 2019) as a result of Covid-required lockdowns.

JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 9

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Recovery / K I M T HO R P

Building the ‘new normal’ on bedrock The future looks so obvious in hindsight. This is being written while we are at Level 2 – along with 3 and 4 – the ‘tumble drier’ months. Everything is turning upside down and we just have to hang on and get through it. Good decisions we make now will hopefully help with the survival of our businesses and jobs. However, many of these decisions will probably end up simply being about how we manage through the current weeks, rather than providing us with bold and long-lasting insights into building sound platforms for future years. Meantime we are being inundated with sweeping headlines like ‘get ready for the new normal’, ‘this changes everything’ and ‘things will never be the same again’. But really? Are we sure? I think there is as strong an argument to say that we humans will simply revert to type after a few months of ‘normal’, as there is to say that we will rethink our entire way of living, working and interacting with each other for generations to come. Let’s not confuse the now with the next. So, with that great unknown, perhaps we are better to consider – and to mangle a famous JFK line at the same time – ‘Ask not what coronavirus might do to our community. Ask what our community might do with coronavirus.’ There is no question that this has been an unprecedented time. Everything familiar to us has been challenged. Nothing about our day has felt normal. It seems most businesses – and in fact most families – have used this as a time to focus on the necessary, to go back to basics, to simplify life and to prioritise only what is important and valued. Perhaps Hawke’s Bay as a region could do the same? Perhaps we should use this upheaval

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as the opportunity for a reset. The opportunity to get the basics right and start to build our ‘new normal’. Perhaps we should stop asking ‘What impact will it have?’ and start asking ‘What impact can we have?’ So here’s a thought on how we could build the bedrock of the new Hawke’s Bay.

What’s our bedrock?

Yes, visitors, art deco heritage, the arts, the port, sports, the tech industry, etc are all important and hopefully growing assets for our region. But what’s our bedrock? What’s the one fundamental thing above all others that could help us prosper if we embraced it or devastate us if we destroyed it? I would suggest it is our ability to grow and produce food. Let’s start there and then let’s start adding the layers that would be vital for our reset. Food needs a few things, but one of the most critical of those is water. So we’d better get that right. In a potentially increasingly dry eastern region, how do we capture it, store it, value it, distribute it and keep it clean? Another thing food needs is land. So this layer needs some big decisions too. If we’re going to continue to put crops and animals on it, how do we keep houses off it? Is this a golden opportunity for our cities and smaller towns to gain a population and therefore a pulse and a night-time vibrancy they in truth have never really had? (I am old enough to remember the buzz of Friday night shopping in Hastings – but even that was done, dusted, dark and deserted by 9pm.) Next layer, we should not just be early adopters, we should be recognised internationally as drivers of the future of food. What will that look like? Should Hawke’s Bay look to become entirely organic? Perhaps. Or should it become a giant hydroponic,

genetically-modified glasshouse? Perhaps not. Could EIT and other local educational and scientific institutions focus their sights even more closely on what the world might desire from premium producers of food in the future? Is there an opportunity to hold on to our bedrock of apples, stonefruit, grapes, sheep and beef, but also explore exciting new options that would also suit our drier warmer climate as well as the changing diets of the ever-demanding consumer? And in doing so, is the future of food also where we look to unlock opportunities for employment and empowerment to help address the tenacious deep inequalities that still exist in our region? Next layer. As well as water and soil, food also likes sunshine. Co-incidentally so do visitors. Yes, we have a number of strings to our visiting bow from interesting buildings to beaches to bike paths. But what if we were genuinely and famously one of the world’s most authentic and exciting growers, sellers, preparers, cooks, educators and orators of world-class food and wine? We would not only attract new and interesting artisan growers and producers, but also chefs, writers, hospo training facilities and, most importantly, visitors with a passion to experience us at our authentic best. The valuable thing here is that they would be visiting to see, taste and experience the very thing that is at the bedrock of our economy. We would not need to turn ourselves inside out, sacrifice our land or resources or add a bungy jump or a gondola to make ourselves worth a visit. If we started with the bedrock of our reset being our ability to grow, export, prepare and present high quality, world respected, sustainable food, it would not only keep us real and faithful to our past, it would help guide and clarify some very big decisions for our future.

Photo: Florence Charvin. Image courtesy Hawkeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bay Wine Auction.

Recovery / K E I T H N E W M A N

Forging a new future What changes ahead for Hawke’s Bay’s economy? Story by Keith Newman Fortitude, determination and time will be required for Hawke’s Bay businesses to recover and refocus after being smacked over by circumstances beyond their control during the New Zealand and global lockdown. It’s been an unsettling and disruptive time and while the mist is clearing there’s a collective sense of uncharted waters ahead and the need to prepare for a prolonged period of uncertainty. Businesses, and by implication the region, had to make difficult decisions more rapidly than ever and now face a unique opportunity to re-position with new strategies, supercharged leadership and tools, including automation, e-commerce and smart technologies. For those who hadn’t already subscribed to the digital age of more open and fluid communication, the Covid lockdown surely signals the close of the industrial age and with it the era of dense box-ticking bureaucracy. The Hawke’s Bay Regional Recovery Plan is supposed to deliver a big bright inclusive Hawke’s Bay vision, based on collaboration between the region’s five councils, iwi, businesses and government agencies. While each council will continue to do their own thing, ‘the Plan’ aims to grow jobs, increase household incomes and raise our economic performance.

Daunting task ahead

The task of charting the course ahead for business and regional recovery is daunting. We’re only just beginning to steel

ourselves for the inevitable fallout and how to get beyond mere survival. We’re frequently told we’re more fortunate than other regions because of our baseline primary sector performance; however some farmers received a double portion of misery with drought on top of the slowdown, which will reduce cashflow across the region. Social distancing took a big toll on traditional customer-facing outlets, impacting their capacity to serve and slowing production cycles and productivity from kitchens to manufacturing, orchards and farms to all kinds of food processing. Early predictions by Infometrics suggest total regional earnings will plummet by around $380 million for the year, with 7,000 of our 83,600 jobs lost. That might prove conservative when job support grants and industry assistance wear thin. The analytics firm, commissioned by BusinessHB, expected a 6.2% decline in GDP compared to 8% nationally, but agreed we were in for a rough ride, with senior economist Rob Heyes saying local leadership will be essential for recovery. BusinessHB chief executive, Carolyn Neville, and the various partners at the HB Business Hub who rallied to support regional businesses, were inundated with inquiries around strengthening digital capability, downsizing, restructuring and realigning for changed circumstances. Every business was reeling from the

Left: Zane Townshend, Aramex Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne regional manager. Photo: Tom Allan

impact with “heart, guts and passion on display,” said Neville, as we came to terms with Level 2 and beyond. For now, there’s a cushioning effect from Budget 2020 with a $4 billion business support package, $3 billion for ‘shovel ready’ projects, and $10 million for small-to-medium businesses to improve e-commerce capabilities. Increased support for research and development (R&D) was factored in along with short-term government loans to help new businesses plan, and $216 million for New Zealand Trade & Enterprise to expand its support, specifically for digital services.

Stay close to customers

Business advice from Hamish Whyte, managing director of Furnware, is be cautious and optimistic, keep cash tight, get to know your customers better and “go deeper in a more empathetic rather than in a sales or business way”. For him that means treating customers as partners and looking for ways to help each other; “everyone’s in this together and that’s the way to build great businesses”. Whyte says Hawke’s Bay businesses should look at the health of their distribution and supply channels and let their customers know as clearly as they can ‘we’re still here’. “In many parts of the world business will not return to the way it was.” Furnware is now reconsidering its international strategy and struggling to get up to capacity after facing “a fair bit

JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 15

of grief” particularly as its South East Asia market for educational furniture was decimated, down 80% on the previous year. With over 75 years’ experience, Furnware now runs five welding robots at its Hastings production line, and Resero its parent company recently acquired another furniture manufacturer in Sydney employing 100 people. Whyte agrees it’s time to rethink the role of robotics and automation, work smarter and make better use of the communications tools to reduce travel. “There’s always opportunity even when the world’s falling apart, but of course you also have to make sure you get paid.” “We’re an optimistic company... we’re always half full ... right now there are so many paradigms you can’t control ... the whole global market is very reactive,” says Whyte. As for Hawke’s Bay, he reckons we need to step up our profile and be more confident of our products and the New Zealand brand. “Maybe we need to be a bit more aggressive ... stand a bit taller... go out and be more authentic ... and just push.”

CBDs remain hopeful

Our central business districts, already struggling to compete with online commerce and being redesigned to attract more foot traffic, will likely see more ‘For lease’ signs up before the spark of revival shines. Anita Alder, general manager of Hastings City Business Association, says Covid-19 was tough on all 500 businesses it represents. In the CBD some are down and out, some are downsizing and others changing ownership. Two buildings were leased, including a Ministry of Social Development call centre that will employ about 80 people focused on job opportunities. The Common Room bar underwent a refurbishment and initiated a collaborative promotional approach with other East Side Heretaunga St businesses, but all eyes are on the Tribune development, other Hastings developments and growth plans, and the council-funded CBD recovery strategy which kicked off in July. “Many of our local retailers are seeing positive returns from including online sales,” says Alder who remains “focused and optimistic”. Napier City Business manager Pip Thompson says about five businesses closed, including national chains,

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just seeing a burst of pent-up ‘relief’ spending as lockdown has ended? A Napier City Council campaign to restore vibrancy back to the main streets will aim to further boost the ‘buy local’ spirit.

Food always sells

“Everyone’s in this together and that’s the way to build great businesses”. HAMISH WHYTE, FURNWARE

while others decided to operate online from home. Many engaged with e-commerce and alternative offerings to survive. Thompson says an important lesson from lockdown was the importance of maintaining a shopfront presence. “Human interactions are vitally important for our health and wellbeing.” She insists business is booming with the ‘buy local’ commitment making a difference. “Shoppers have gone hard and fast since lockdown lifted”. The question is, will this sustain or are we

Automated harvesting.

The supermarket chains, considered ‘essential services’, experienced consistent Christmas-level sales and often had to advertise for staff to keep their shelves stocked. Some product shortages were evident early on as supply chain issues were sorted out, with some traditional suppliers and transport and logistics firms not considered essential and warehouses backing up. Although smaller suppliers, butchers, bakers, some greengrocers and the majority of retailers had to close during Level 4, the adaptive ones compensated with online ordering and home deliveries. Boutique suppliers and a selection of Sunday Farmers’ Market artisans created a collaborative approach to online sales. Holly Bacon became Holly Fresh, offering complementary meat, dairy products, fresh fruit and vegetables in a move owner Claire Vogtherr and others believe will continue to create demand. She used her customer database to upscale from 30 products to 150 immediately and remains surprised at how many businesses don’t know how to keep in touch with customers if they’re not coming through the door. The pressure eased when fast food

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Peter Richards and Andrew Hall at CR Automation working on new systems for Taylor Corp. Photos: Tom Allan

outlets opened in Level 3 and we showed just how addicted we were to McFood, with cars lined up around the block for drive-in and then socially-distanced dine-in’s.

Agri-automation

The horticultural sector was in peak export season during lockdown, although social distancing in the field, packhouses and meat processing reduced output in some cases to about 65% of capacity. Tasks were redesigned so workers weren’t so close together and the spotlight was shone on automation, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision and the uncertain future of the Recognised Seasonal Workers Scheme (RSE). In the past, the main drivers have included health and safety and reducing repetitive tasks, but staffing issues and pressure to perform added new incentives for automation, particularly in the horticultural sector. Peter Richards, managing director of Hastings-based CR Automation, says big players like Turners & Growers, FreshCo, Freshmax, and Mr Apple are continually looking at their processes to prepare for a ramped-up growing and processing environment. CR Automation, delivering automated and robotic processes for Heinz

18 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

Wattie’s among others, is one of the suppliers to the new Taylor Corp packhouse south of Napier, which Richards believes is one of the most advanced in the world. He’s provided three self-driving forklifts to Kelvin Taylor at Taylor Corp. “He’s is the first cab off the rank and a lot of people will be watching what he does. He’s got robot palletisers, automatic guided vehicles and pallet scanning to reduce the amount of labour getting off and on and around forklifts”. Richards says automation is one way to provide resilience at a time when Agriculture minister Damian O’Connor is trying hard to clamp down on the RSE labour forces, leaving “growers and packhouses very exposed”. While grape-picking machines are becoming mainstream, Richards says apple harvesting is also evolving, with Turners & Growers, for example, working with kit from the US that uses computer vision technology. That requires a change in planting techniques to a 2D format with apples trained on vines with less foliage so automation can more readily identify and pluck the fruit, doing away with the use of ladders. The race to keep pace with increased production across a range of industries requires a constant supply of pallets so CRA in conjunction with Tumu Timbers

is now delivering its second Rambo, rapid-fire robotic pallet producer. The first delivered three years ago and trebled Tumu’s output, although someone still needs to feed timber into the system and replace the nails in the guns.

The virtual world

During the Covid containment our technological dependence was evident across all sectors. All but daily newspapers closed, and major magazine titles were lost. The web and social media became the go-to places for news, Covid updates and the latest conspiracy theories. Streaming media, online learning and video conferencing technology sent Internet consumption on an exponential gigabyte curve. That included a huge surge in the use of Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Team collaborative and conferencing software for councils, real estate companies and businesses for decision-making and staying in touch with staff and customers. Local software developers mostly carried on as usual with Sportsground and WebFox releasing their own Covid contact tracing apps around the country before the Government got into the game. Many businesses who hadn’t taken the time to embrace e-commerce

“Christmas, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are peak times for us and recent levels far surpassed those volumes to the point that it was almost impossible for us and other courier companies to keep up with the backload.” ZANE TOWNSHEND, ARAMEX

capability either stepped up during the Covid lockdown or realised they needed help to make that transition. Webfox director and developer James Simmonds says “get around to it one day” is here, and those struggling with ‘how to’ or affordability questions are being thrown a lifeline. Webfox is signing up to help businesses take their existing processes and services online through Hawke’s Bay Regional Business Partners ‘digital enablement’ which offers funding and resources to get people up to speed. Workshops are offered to determine

what can be done to automatically plug components into Xero or some other system. “They don’t have to understand all the technology just tell us the end result they want,” says Simmonds. Generally, things are a lot simpler than they were a few years ago. Most software has an application programming interface (API) to communicate with, and automated processes “to do the heavy lifting behind the scenes”. Part of that might be connecting an inventory system into point of sale systems, and then sucking everything through into a website. And he says there’s a whole virtual marketing side including the use of social media. “We’re all geeks and love using new technology to solve problems,” says Simmonds. Even if there aren’t standardised approaches, he assures “there’s always some kind of work around or technique to get the job done.”

Couriers cream it

NZ Post-owned CourierPost was only starting to get through the 150,000 parcels accumulated at its warehouses by the end of May, while concurrently dealing with 300,000 new parcels a day. Aramex New Zealand (formerly

Fastway Couriers) expected demand to stay high for months and was scaling up with courier franchisee recruitment and Blu Couriers, a new crowd-sourcing Uber-style platform. Zane Townshend, Aramex Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne regional manager, says the initial impact of Covid-19 played havoc. During Level 4, business dropped back to nothing but by level 3 it was bigger than Christmas. “Christmas, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are peak times for us and recent levels far surpassed those volumes to the point that it was almost impossible for us and other courier companies to keep up with the backload.” Townshend called up friends and family to man the vehicles and help sort the parcels. A big part of the demand was orders from supermarkets, pharmacies and other outlets that had an online presence. Based on the current demand and international trends he believes demand will continue based largely on new habits of online purchasing encouraged by the Covid-19 lockdown.

Training for the future

The job market is in huge disarray, with “massive change and upheaval” in the

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JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 19

James Simmonds, Webfox. Photo: Tom Allan

Recovery requires resilience Where does this leave us? From dozens of interviews with HB business leaders, it all comes down to these principles: • Stay closely in tune with suppliers and customers. • Embrace the new tools of the digital age, from online marketing to robotics. • Differentiate, add value, tell your story. • Identify and eliminate obstacles to new ideas and creativity. • Collaborate, cooperate and communicate. Seems like prudent advice – not just for pandemic recovery, but for any season or business cycle.

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working lives of New Zealanders. The high level of uncertainty means many employers have little appetite for hiring full-time workers. And many are still sorting out office versus work-athome arrangements. Donna Lynch, general manager of employment agency AWF, says in an uncertain environment, while the market adjusts, the trend is toward contract work, plus existing employees retraining and possibly taking on jobs they’ve not previously done. Budget boosters for employment include the $1.6 billion Trades and Apprentice Package for people of all ages; $50 million for Māori Apprentice and Trades Training and a $320 million Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund to subside student fees and courses. How much of that makes it into the region is yet to be seen, but the bulk favours construction, manufacturing and primary industries.

Science and technology are notably absent and yet all the evidence points to technology being the enabler of efficiency and creative differentiation in just about every industry. Luke Irving, chief executive of Havelock North-based Fingermark, says Hawke’s Bay needs to decide whether it is serious about supporting innovation and moving with the hi-tech times. Instead of tinkering around the edges, he says we should be backing ourselves and “going deep” with technologies that will really matter to Hawke’s Bay and the global market in 3-5 years. He says EIT needs to be empowered to home in on degrees in robotics, computer vision and deep learning which can be applied in horticulture, agritech and retail, rather than mainstream computer coding which can be studied anywhere. “We’re going to need optimisation and efficiency through all industries, especially if they’re going to struggle in the next 3-5-years.” Fingermark, produces AI-based solutions to streamline ordering and customer service for some of the world’s largest fast food chains and has previously offered to help move this region forward. Irving’s original vision was to help fund a hi-tech laboratory in Hastings in the midst of a Heretaunga Plains vineyard to focus on leading edge technologies and assist next level of computer science students. EIT, international companies and philanthropists were on board, and while local councils liked the idea, the project ran afoul of rules designed to protect irreplaceable, high value productive land. He claims Fingermark planned to double or triple its local computer vision team through the proposed development base, which would have attracted talent from overseas and helped EIT develop in those areas. “Maybe I was a couple of years too early? We still might re-approach it and rebuild the idea.”

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Ultrella founder, Mel Lewis. Photo: Florence Charvin

Recovery

Jump Starters There’s nothing like the whole world shutting down to refocus us on the benefits of buying and supporting local. BayBuzz talks to three Hawke’s Bay businesses who have moved swiftly to turn a crisis into a positive, and found strength in community spirit along the way. Story by Giselle Reid and Lizzie Russell.

Ultrella From small beginnings selling jars of natural deodorant at the Piecemakers Pop-up and Hereworth Christmas markets, Mel Lewis soon realised she had to take her business to the next level if she was going to compete with a growing number of competitors in the personal care space. The new business was over a year in the planning. “My customers had told me the products they wanted to be using, but I didn’t have the technical skills to create them.” Through the Hawke’s Bay Business Hub, she applied for, and won, a Callaghan Innovation R&D grant at the start of 2019. That financial support enabled her to work with a leading product formulator to bring her ideas to fruition. Ultrella Natural Deodorant is the first deodorant in NZ and Australia (“and the whole world, as far as we know”) to be able to reduce sweating naturally. The hero ingredient is a natural Botox alternative called IBR-Snowflake®, a plant extract made from Summer Snowflake bulbs. This ingredient has been clinically proven to reduce sweating by 36% ... up until now you’ve had to use an antiperspirant to get results like this. Ultrella was launched the Friday before lockdown. “It was a completely surreal day,” says Mel. “I very nearly didn’t go ahead, but then I kept thinking, ‘If I don’t do it now, when will I do it? There’s never a perfect time to launch a business, so I just leapt in and went for it.” Prior to lockdown, she had been in negotiations with four major NZ retailers, but those conversations halted immediately. In this instance, being small worked in her favour, quickly pivoting to focus

entirely on online sales. Fortunately, Ultrella already had an online store, built by Aimee Stewart’s team at Connect Plus. “When it looked like we were going into lockdown, I made a dash up to our warehouse in Napier, and loaded up my car with as many boxes of products as I could fit in so we could dispatch from home if required. It was such a lucky move.” There were a couple of nervous weeks as Mel waited to find out if Ultrella was included on the MBIE’s register for Essential Goods. Once that was established, Ultrella was good to go. “Having the population at home, spending a lot of time online, actually worked in our favour during those first few weeks. It gave us a chance to connect with potential customers and educate people about our ethos and our products.” The groundswell of ‘buy New Zealand’ made sentiment on social media, and in particular the now 500,000 strong New Zealand Made Products Facebook page, provided a huge kick-start for Ultrella. The response to one unsponsored post on that Facebook page was “mental”, says Mel, “I had over 1,000 comments and questions to respond to. It took me days to go back to everyone. I posted on the Saturday night. By Sunday lunchtime it was obvious we were going to run out of courier supplies. It was really stressful trying to get more down from Auckland. The support from other local businesses was incredible.” Mel put out a call for help and Steve Christie from Blackroll NZ, Tom Ormond from Hawthorne Coffee, Nathan from Blackbird Goods and Shaz and Garon from Ecokiosk were among the

JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 23

businesses who stepped in and offered to lend her bags and labels until more arrived. Networking and problem-solving are all in a day’s work for this savvy entrepreneur. Mel is grateful to be living and working in Hawke’s Bay. “There is a great deal of support and a ‘We’ve got your back’ sentiment amongst small businesses at the moment, and I really hope it’s here to stay. I love that in NZ you can have a query about something, send a CEO a LinkedIn message to ask how they deal with it, then they’ll make the time to have a chat with you the next day. Having worked in Ireland, the UK and Australia on my OE, I’ve never experienced that anywhere else.” ultrella.co

Reid Produce Co. Over the last 26 years the Reid family business has evolved from a small local producer to one of the region’s largest fruit and vegetable processors. Glen Reid stepped in as general manager in 2003, after the sudden passing of founder Alan Reid. Glen’s sister, Fiona Gunn – company accountant, and brother Michael Reid – sales and procurement manager, have also joined the business. The Hastings-based company (rebranded as Reid Produce Co. last year), employ up to 50 staff, with many long-serving employees. Classed as an essential service, they continued operating throughout Level 4, but restrictions created a lot of inefficiencies. Staff were split into teams operating in three separate areas of the business. Each team had different start, break and finish times. Distancing measures reduced productivity, and some key staff were not available to work whilst following Covid protocols. On top of that, they lost a large portion of their turnover when service to the hospitality industry was halted and some export contracts cancelled. The company’s modus operandi is to constantly strive to find new, innovative ways to meet diverse customer requirements, as well as adapting to the constraints of produce seasonality. So, when lockdown

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hit, they quickly formulated a plan to redeploy staff. Delivering fresh produce boxes to residential addresses was their first foray into a customer-facing business model. Consumers were online and looking for home delivery options as an alternative to the stress of queuing to get into the supermarket or sitting up until midnight with their finger hovering over the keyboard to get an i-Shop timeslot. The generous, well-priced boxes offer a wide variety of fresh produce and were enthusiastically received. Getting a retail offering off the ground at short notice wasn’t easy however. Fiona points out, “Everyone says ‘you did so well selling all those boxes’, but it takes time to get it right and understand the pit-falls along the way.” The boxes “tick a lot of boxes” for the family business, who want to showcase healthy, nutritious food at a great price. “It shows what can be achieved, and also eliminates food waste,” says Fiona. The siblings understand that a lot of people prefer to choose their own produce, but by covering the basics and including a few “different” fruits or veges, they strike a good balance to please most. The boxes appealed to a cross-section of the community during the time of crisis, but longer term they are really targeting those in the community who simply appreciate affordable fresh food. It was heartening to see that there were some incredibly kind-hearted community groups purchasing boxes to get fresh food to families in need during lockdown. Reid Produce Co. see their role during the time of displaced supply chains as “connecting growers with people who need fresh food most.” This need is likely here to stay and the company will continue to offer the service locally and across the North Island for as long as there is reasonable demand. The siblings are upbeat about prospects for the future. “Due to Hawke’s Bay’s focus on primary industry production, the provision of food products and the desirability of the Hawke’s Bay as a place to live, we feel there is a bright future here.” reidproduceco.nz

Above: Ultrella’s recyclable pouches are light and compact, making them easy to use as well as enabling huge carbon savings all the way through the logistics network. Ultrella is working towards compostable pouches once scale permits, but in the meantime they have set up an easy recycling scheme to make sure no pouch ends its life in landfill. Photo left: Erica Boyd White. Photo right: Florence Charvin.

Right: Second-generation business owners, Fiona Gunn, Glen Reid and Michael Reid at Reid Produce Co. Photo: Florence Charvin.

The boxes “tick a lot of boxes” for the family business, who want to showcase healthy, nutritious food at a great price. “It shows what can be achieved, and also eliminates food waste.” FIONA GUNN, REID PRODUCE CO.

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Connect & Conquer When the directors of marketing outfit Connect & Conquer went into lockdown, like the rest of us, they didn’t know exactly what that meant. For Carlee Atkin and Tracy Pope, the first part of 2020 had already been a time of transition as they moved from a previous iteration of their partnership to their newly-branded, re-focused offering. “No one knew what was happening, or how long things would take to recover, so we saw an opportunity to both use our skills to help, and to build our new brand in the new, strange climate,” Carlee says. “The lockdown was, for many people, a time they could work ON their business – with strategy and planning and all the things there is often not time for. So, we worked hard and fast to step into that space.” And they really were fast. Within the first couple of weeks of Level 4, Connect & Conquer had published a free marketing survival guide, and were running free webinars for small businesses, teaching operators how to look for opportunities, how to get online and to stay on brand, and how to connect and communicate effectively with audiences during the tough, uncertain weeks. Carlee states that the focus of Connect & Conquer is strategy. Their wheelhouse is working closely with small businesses to get to the heart of their business, define their unique position and offering, and suss the best specific techniques to connect with the right customers and to grow their brands. “So that’s what we did with our own business. We’re into social media, we’re into people, we’re new and in a position to help others, so we got cracking,” says Carlee. “People were online so much more, so our social media marketing had really effective reach, and our market was ready to hear from us.”

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The uptake for the webinars was great, “They all filled up quick, so we ran more. Just 6–8 people at a time, to keep it meaningful.” And from all the freebies and activity in the lockdown came actual new business for Connect & Conquer.

“The lockdown was, for many people, a time they could work ON their business – with strategy and planning and all the things there is often not time for. So, we worked hard and fast to step into that space.” CARLEE ATKIN

Carlee and Tracy have been flat-out on marketing strategy sessions since they hit level 2. Some of the work has come as a result of the MBIE-funded Regional Business Partners Scheme, which has offered government grants to businesses working to beat the Covid-19 slowdown, some has come via word-of-mouth, and some has come from the webinars and online tools offered in April. “We’ve created full marketing strategies for a number of small businesses ranging from a beauty business, chocolate company, to a leadership coach and loads of others in between, as well as coaching clients through these difficult times to ensure they stay on track and on brand, all since Covid!” “Things are feeling pretty buoyant at this stage,” Carlee says. “Just goes to show, respond quickly and invest in planning, and you can find plenty of opportunities, even in 2020. Perhaps especially in 2020!” connectandconquer.co

Tracy Pope and Carlee Atkin published a free marketing survival guide and ran webinars to help small businesses get online and stay on brand during the tough, uncertain weeks of lockdown. Photo: Florence Charvin.

Getting it right on cancer and Covid Story by Bridget Freeman-Rock Photo: Florence Charvin

In November last year, freshly 40, I was diagnosed with bowel cancer. I spent the first 12 days of 2020 on the fourth floor of Hawke’s Bay Memorial Hospital recovering from major surgery – a laparoscopic anterior resection, to be precise, removing 38cm of colon, a third of my rectum, and a tumour the size of a nectarine. Australia was burning, and some days all I could see of the sky from my hospital bed was a grainy haze, and later smoke from the fires in Tangoio. In those long, dazed evenings I read Paul Kingsnorth’s Savage Gods, his midlife crisis of words (it felt fitting), while by day, step-by-step I reclaimed the essential functions of my body. It was not a gentle experience. But on the seventh day, wheeled outside for the first time, I held my face to the sun and the sun felt soft, miraculous. Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in New Zealand (more than prostate and breast combined), and internationally our rates are high. But it’s not one we like to talk, or even think about; it’s a squeamish, not-exactly-dinner-table topic. Over 90% of all cases here are diagnosed in folks over 50, mostly Pākehā, mostly male (though Māori and Pasifika have worse outcomes). But New Zealand women have the highest female incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the world, and the number of young-onset patients (under 50) is rising. No one really knows why. Lifestyle (obesity, red meat consumption, alcohol) might heighten the risk, but it’s not a conclusive answer, and at the micro-level of a person, this person, it’s no answer at all.

The chance factor of being human in this time, this world, means a 50/50 likelihood (by 2050) of cancer in your lifetime, but like death and corona, statistical probability never feels like real risk.

I’m not a candidate for cancer. All my life I’ve eaten the rainbow, wholefoods are a staple, I don’t smoke, hardly drink, gave up meat at 15. In medical terms (as I like to remind my sceptical children) I’m “young, fit and slim”. But it turns out health and self-responsibility is no insurance. Part of cancer’s shock is the realisation that it’s not something, as an individual, you can quite control for. The chance factor of being human in this time, this world, means a 50/50 likelihood (by 2050) of cancer in your lifetime, but like death and corona, statistical probability never feels like real risk. Possible links to antibiotics in the gut microbiome have been raised, to nitrate levels in our groundwater, to something (what?) we’ve been exposed to when young which flipped the switch – Prof David Skeggs led a study in England, that found Kiwis living for years in the UK were still substantially more likely than Brits to get bowel cancer. There’re genetic factors too (with heritable cancer syndromes likes Lynch and Familial Adenomatous

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Polyposis a determinant in 6% of CRC cases). As it happens, I’m an accomplished grower of colonic polyps (which can lead to malignancy). “You can thank your Scottish genes,” the surgeon said. I thanked them with whisky.

Pathways to diagnosis and treatment

The national bowel screening programme (rolled out in Hawke’s Bay in 2018, and open to those aged 60-74) was never going to capture a case like me, one of 350 Kiwis under 50 who are diagnosed each year. For that I relied on the traditional primary health pathway. When I saw my GP in October during one of the odd exhaustion collapses I’d have where I couldn’t stop vomiting – my kids called it ‘mum’s stress sickness’ – I listed a raft of other seemingly unrelated symptoms, none of which I would have booked an appointment for in isolation and all of which I had rationalised. I was lucky in my GP, she was thorough and astute, my low iron levels alone enough to cause alarm – “it doesn’t make sense for a long-term vegetarian to have a sudden, unexplained drop,” she said. Though she thought it “highly unlikely”, given my age and lifestyle and lack of family history, she referred me to a gastroenterologist to rule out bowel cancer. Privately I felt I must have overly dramatized things. But the specialist (“to avoid delays”) put me straight on the waiting list for a colonoscopy (I received a letter promptly in the mail). I was lucky because this trajectory, which was textbook effective in my case, isn’t a given in NZ. I’m part of an online CRC support group and almost invariably women such as myself tell of circling through repeat GP visits over months, even years, their symptoms initially downplayed or misdiagnosed, or their GP’s referral for a colonoscopy denied, or simply not prioritised for first specialist assessments. Too young, too healthy, is the erroneous catch-cry. Bowel cancer is a disease that when picked up early, can be successfully treated. But it’s often symptomless, or by the time symptoms are observed, then acted on, already advanced. In NZ, 24% of all CRC cases are metastatic (late-stage) at diagnosis. In fact, more than a quarter are discovered in the emergency department (and Hawke’s Bay’s no exception), contributing to poorer outcomes, with high rates globally of emergency (as opposed to planned) surgery, particularly for Māori/Pasifika, for women, and for people younger than 50 (27%) or over 75. Survival rates are worse in NZ than in countries like Australia and Canada, an international comparative study recently found, and it’s early detection (i.e. screenings), early access to diagnostic tests and timely access to effective treatment that make all the difference, says Cancer Society’s medical director Chris Jackson. When I rang the DHB to ask about timing, I was told to expect at least a 13-week wait (due to demand and a dearth of trained staff) and cheerily assured, “Don’t worry, these cancers are slow-growing”. For the first time I felt worried. Going back to the GP to make an appointment, the receptionist gave counsel: “You have to be the squeaky wheel. Pick a day and ring them every week, it works.” Instead I sought advice from medical friends

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and relations. I took a holiday and chilled, and when I returned, my symptoms worse and clearly wrong, I borrowed money and booked myself a private colonoscopy for the following week at a clinic in Auckland (the $3,000 fee was half the quote from Royston). That it was cancer was obvious: a black, fungating malignancy on screen, in contrast the clean pink of the ilium. I was handed the horror report (and a sandwich), while the clinician stressed urgency. It was a long, quiet drive home. Re-entry back to public treatment took a bit of getting stroppy. The GP who’d initially seen me was now on leave, and things (like the clinician’s phone call and letter from Auckland) got lost in the PHO’s records; the GP I finally saw for the urgent referral the DHB was waiting on was brand-new to the practice and the electronic portal.

When I rang the DHB to ask about timing, I was told to expect at least a 13-week wait (due to demand and a dearth of trained staff) and cheerily assured, “Don’t worry, these cancers are slow-growing”.

But once I had my foot in the door of the hospital’s colorectal department, I was met by a team that exuded pragmatic, unfazed assurance, ‘we’ve got this’. And I believed them. There was never any doubt I was in good hands, the care throughout excellent, professional, compassionate. In the swath of health reports in recent years, that’s never the question. It’s the resourcing, the workforce shortages, the systemic inequities and structural deficiencies that jam those doors. An overburdened system can’t deliver to all. It didn’t take coronavirus for me to realise the value of our public health system, and that’s its functioning is the difference between life and death. Or that its workforce are incredible, hardworking human beings. In my case, it served me, and ultimately well; but while I’m grateful, I know my fortune is privileged. I had, first of all, my otherwise good health (no other conditions to confuse diagnosis or complicate my treatment). I had family and friends in the medical profession I could call on for advice, for support, every step of the way. I understood and could comply with the process. I knew how to advocate for myself in a language that could be heard, and was able to navigate the system, from public to private and back to public, which short-circuited the wait-time. Left on the public waiting list, as the coronavirus began to shut borders in March it’s quite possible, I’ve been told, that I would have either still been waiting for initial diagnostics or turning up at ED with an obstructed bowel. “By getting that colonoscopy,” the theatre nurse said just before I went under, “you saved your own life.”

For not only is there now a backlog in diagnostic services, people haven’t been seeing their doctors. At Alert Level 4, GP consultations dropped by 50-80%, while ED presentations also halved, and although things are picking up it’s still slow.

Coronavirus pause

When the country went into lockdown, colonoscopy procedures stopped. So too the national bowel screening programme. The endoscopy suite in the hospital was reconfigured as a temporary ICU, as part of its Covid-hospital-within-the-hospital adaptation. While Royston halted its elective surgeries, it remained open as back-up assistance for the DHB’s urgent cases – “They saw us as the ‘clean’ site,” explains GM Denise Primrose, in the event of an influx of Covid patients. Breast and bowel cancers were given priority, but while urgent treatment continued in Hawke’s Bay and around the country, there were fewer operations, scans and diagnostic tests. The Cancer Society estimates the three-month pause may cost 400 deaths. For not only is there now a backlog in diagnostic services, people haven’t been seeing their doctors. At Alert Level 4, GP consultations dropped by 50-80%, while ED presentations also halved, and although things are picking up it’s still slow. As Primrose explains, because the pattern of referrals from GPs reduced to a trickle, there was a slowing down of specialist assessments too. Hawke’s Bay DHB is “deep” in its post-Covid recovery, with the surgical wait list (which was already long before the pandemic), a key focus. The DHB says “it’s actively working to the address the backlog with a range of providers.” And hopes to be back

Don’t sit on your symptoms New Zealand has one of the highest incidences of bowel cancer in the world. Each year about 3,000 people are diagnosed with the disease and more than 1,200 die. In Hawke’s Bay it’s our most common cancer, with around 150 people diagnosed a year. Being aware of the symptoms is the first step you can take to prevent bowel cancer. Symptoms may come and go so don’t wait to see your GP if you have any of these concerns, no matter what age you are. They may include: • Blood in stools (often black) or from the rectum (bright red) • Change in bowel motions over several weeks • Anaemia • Persistent or periodic severe abdominal pain • A lump or mass in the abdomen • Tiredness and/or loss of weight for no obvious reason For more information, visit the Bowel Cancer NZ website: bowelcancernz.org.nz

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

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to pre-Covid capacity (some 375 elective surgeries a month) by September. The Government’s one-off $282 million nationwide investment to fund the catch-up (not only surgeries but procedures, scans and specialist appointments) should go some way towards this. The endoscopy suite has reverted (for now) to its original purpose, and colonoscopies and screenings are back up and running, though the hospital will have to stay nimble and adaptive in the event of another Covid-outbreak. For more deeper level resourcing, the DHB is working on its business case for refurbishing the hospital’s radiology and surgical services. While across the road on Canning St, work has started on building a new private-owned elective-surgery facility to help meet burgeoning demand, with the aim of increasing the number of elective surgeries in the region by 5,000 a year.

Healthcare priorities

In December as I was meeting with the hospital’s colorectal team to plan a course of action for my treatment, the government launched a dedicated Cancer Control Agency (budgeted to receive $7.7 million annually for the next four years) to oversee its comprehensive Cancer Action Plan, and ensure consistent, equitable, modern and timely cancer care across the country. In Hawke’s Bay one of the first tangible gains will be an onsite radiation machine (at present patients requiring radiotherapy have to travel to Palmerston North). The 10-year plan (a follow-on from the Cancer Control Strategy 2003), while outlining such aims as addressing workforce shortages, research, public education programmes and better access to diagnostic services, is specifically focused on improving outcomes for Māori and Pacific people, for those in rural and highly deprived areas, and for those with mental illness and disabilities – these populations “currently have worse cancer outcomes that other New Zealanders and this is unfair,” says Dr Ashley Bloomfield in his preface. These are also the priority groups identified in the government’s recent-released Health and Disability Review, which paints a fairly dire picture of a fragmented, shambolic, inequitable health system (“a confusing monolith” says RNZ’s Rowan Quinn), while offering a suite of recommendations for an overhaul. The overarching vision: to generate more diverse, representative and effective governance at the top through structural changes, while emphasising a greater sharing of services across the board, with a targeted, bottom-up approach to healthcare and a shift in all areas from treatment to wellbeing (or prevention) as goal. The proposed reforms are controversial, with many saying they don’t go far enough or address key concerns, although it’s generally seen as a step in the right direction. But with the coronavirus only sharpening awareness of our health system vulnerabilities, there’s appetite for that debate and for change. And there’s been a seismic increase in (overdue) government funding. Highlighted through the pandemic has been the important role of public health (that “fuzzy linguistic” term for health policy and practice that address a

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Highlighted through the pandemic has been the important role of public health (that “fuzzy linguistic” term for health policy and practice that address a population, rather than the individual), an area that has been undervalued and underfunded for years.

population, rather than the individual), an area that has been undervalued and underfunded for years. It’s also exposed the instability of primary health funding (predicated on a private business model) – GPs have faced a significant drop in revenue and are struggling not only with basic overheads but with the radical overnight transformation in their delivery of care on the frontline; they feel they’ve been effectively ignored by the government. These two areas – a public health focus and primary care funding – are inadequately addressed in the review (completed before the country went into lockdown), and will no doubt, be on the table for discussion as we begin to take stock of our Covidaltered world.

Charting change

Bowel cancer is a health crisis of sorts that touches on every aspect of our healthcare system. So, what resourcing, systemic reform and rebuild happens following this pandemic may be charted, in a sense, through how we approach this one example of an alltoo common disease. Bowel cancer is both acute (urgent care) and chronic (living with incurable disease, for some), traversing the spectrum of need, from prevention to end-of-life care. Like coronavirus or clean drinking water, it’s a public, or population health issue, which means it’s also about environment, society, our shared world and collective actions – the health determinants that sit outside the health system. But, equally, crucially, it’s an issue of personal access to medical services (from primary healthcare, like GP visits, to diagnostic testing and the raft of specialist cancer treatments), and the complex integration of multiple disciplines, as well as where they meet at the intersection of public and private care. In the end, the impacts and attainments of our health system’s manifest failures and successes will play out, viscerally, within our bodies. And no one is immune.

Royston Hospital is pleased to sponsor robust examination of health issues in Hawke’s Bay. This reporting is prepared by BayBuzz. Any editorial views expressed are those of the BayBuzz team.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT Thank you for supporting our crews who have been working hard to ensure both our power and fibre networks are kept operational during Covid-19. As we step into winter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and with many members of our community still based at home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we are doing our very best to minimise any impact on your power supply while any essential upgrade or maintenance work is completed. Most of the time we can do our work with the power on, but sometimes we need to turn it off to work safely. All scheduled and unplanned outages are on our website unison.co.nz/outages. We appreciate your ongoing patience and cooperation during this uncertain time.

The Salvation Army Food Bank in Hastings is one of several foodbanks assisting hard-hit Hawkeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bay families. They are very grateful for the support theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had from generous individuals and organisations in the community. Photo: Giselle Reid

Recovery / A B BY B ESW I C K

Lockdown social needs met, but long road ahead When New Zealand went into lockdown at 11.59pm on March 25, the country plunged into severe social upheaval. The impact of Covid19 was felt around the nation, bringing isolation, stress and disruption to everyday life. For even the most resilient, this new way of life was challenging, but how did the most vulnerable in our region fare? At a time when most of us were focused on our own family’s welfare and where our next bag of flour was coming from, others were gearing up to meet unprecedented levels of need in our community. As we entered a national state of emergency, the region rallied to build strong networks, source supplies and support each other. Speaking to frontline workers across key areas including food, shelter, and welfare of the elderly, it appears our community was well serviced even during these extraordinary times. But are these services prepared for what’s to come as we enter an economic crisis?

A network of networks

Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management (HBCDEM) was instrumental in the early stages of the welfare response. In the days leading up to lockdown, the organisation was already preparing to move into emergency response mode, working with

community agencies and organisations to make sure no one fell through the cracks. HBCDEM group controller Ian Macdonald, who led the Civil Defence response, said it was all about reinforcing existing relationships with non-government agencies and helping them respond in a collaborative way as the risk level changed. As part of this HBCDEM’s regional 0800 welfare line was set up in April at the request of the Government to meet immediate basic needs, which ranged from information requests, to food support, emergency accommodation and clothing. The welfare line was staffed by workers from Hawke’s Bay’s five councils and The Development Hub – a local organisation that provides employment, training and education opportunities to people, including young Māori and Pasifika women, sole parents and those returning to the workforce. For people to be eligible for Civil Defence welfare assistance, they needed to meet certain criteria. This meant, due to Covid-19 they were physically unable to access household goods because they were self-isolating because of their age or underlying health conditions; have no family, friends or neighbours who could support them; or be unable to access goods online or have them delivered within a suitable time frame. The uptake for assistance was unprecedented. In fact, after eight years in the job, Macdonald says he’s “never seen demand levels like this”. The majority of requests they’ve had through the welfare line have been for food, medicine and warm clothing. In addition, several agencies worked together to find emergency housing for

The uptake for assistance was unprecedented. “I’ve never seen demand levels like this.” IAN MACDONALD, CIVIL DEFENCE

the homeless. So far, HBCDEM Group has delivered more than 1100 food parcels and close to 170 winter clothing and blanket packages to people in hardship because of the lockdown. They’ve also provided financial support directly to local food banks, which they’ve put towards funding thousands of food parcels for Hawke’s Bay families. The national state of emergency caused by the pandemic has brought new challenges, which the organisation is still working through, says Macdonald. Social distancing, the community-wide impact of the event and sheer length of the response, have impacted an already difficult climate; “And we’re still not out of it yet”. The organisation is also refining how it

JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 35

CLOCKWISE: Kathryn Roma ran online yoga classes during lockdown and is now back at Heretaunga Women’s Centre as part of their women’s wellbeing programme. Pam Kendall, volunteer receptionist. Photos: Florence Charvin. Napier City Council Community Advisor, Jessica Wilson, was redeployed to support the Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group’s Covid-19 welfare team, working as a senior needs assessor.

deals with multiple events at one time – highlighted by the ongoing drought response during Covid-19. Macdonald says their welfare service was only part of the region-wide multiagency effort that’s gone into getting people the help they need.

Safe and connected

Heretaunga Women’s Centre is one of a number of services that helped people stay connected during lockdown. The centre works for and alongside women, providing a safe and supportive environment, social connection and skills development. As the country moved into lockdown, staff quickly adapted by moving resources online, so they

36 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

could continue to provide these services to women, says centre manager Amanda Meynell. A ‘telephone tree’ kept in contact with women they would usually see regularly. Urgent counselling support was available by phone and online platforms, and staff continued to deliver 17 activities, workshops and groups each week via Zoom. Making sure people could access Zoom, download it and use it was the first step. “Our focus was around wellbeing, so specific things to support women during that period,” says Meynell. “We had women delivering mindfulness sessions, yoga classes, and the opportunity for women to come together as

a group online to manage any anxiety they might be feeling a result of Covid-19.” Lockdown brought very different experiences for the women the centre works with so staff had to be able to support a range of needs. For some it was a time for reflection, while for others it meant added anxiety to an already stressful and isolated environment, says Meynell. “We couldn’t assume how people were going to respond and we needed to be able to provide opportunities for people across the board.” Overall, Covid-19 has brought the strength of our community to the foreground, says Meynell, who believes we

“We couldn’t assume how people were going to respond and we needed to be able to provide opportunities for people across the board.” AMANDA MEYNELL, HERETAUNGA WOMEN’S CENTRE

need to keep building on this. “If we work together we can overcome significant challenges that impact the lives of all New Zealanders, and if we could put the same focus and collective effort into eliminating major social issues that affect women and children and families, imagine what an amazing place our community and country could be.”

Taking care of the elderly

The community and volunteers from a number of organisations worked together to ensure our elderly were well-connected and looked after during lockdown. Isolation was a particular concern for elderly residents during Level 4, especially with many living alone. Food packages, shopping and medicine deliveries were made regularly to those in need, as well as a phone call programme to check in with elderly

residents. The service catered for more than 600 people across the region. Due to lockdown restrictions, a number of Meals on Wheels volunteers aged over 70 couldn’t help out as usual, but younger volunteers stepped up to ensure the essential service continued. As the alert level changed, so did residents’ emotional reactions, says Presbyterian Support East Coast Social Services general manager Mary Wills. Initially there was a lot of fear around lockdown and confusion about the rules, says Wills. “But actually, they’ve been remarkably resilient and stoic.” Neighbours kept an eye on elderly residents and helped out where they could. Welfare packages with chocolates and activities were delivered to more isolated communities. One-off government grants and “amazingly supportive” local businesses and

community groups provided the food and other resources. Wills was heartened to see how everyone in Hawke’s Bay had rallied. “I was really encouraged by the ways communities supported each other. We got to a point where lots of organisations were phoning people, neighbours were checking in and we didn’t end up with a lot of people who were lost, and I expected that we would have some people who were missed.”

Family harm

Amid the positivity however, there were also devastating outcomes. Issues like family violence and child abuse were exacerbated by lockdown and continue to impact our community. Police confirmed to BayBuzz that reports of family harm increased at the beginning of Alert Level 4, but these have since stabilised. A police spokesperson says while the number of reports went down over the course of Alert Levels 4 and 3, harm is likely to have still been occurring, but people were not in a position to report it. “Anecdotally police have found that the reporting lines that would normally be available to people, such as schools, were not open. Alongside that

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JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 37

is the fact that people were potentially locked down with the person causing harm, so there were limited opportunities to make a report.” Police continue to work closely with partner agencies to reduce family harm as a priority.

Supporting nonprofits

As we emerge from the grip of Covid19, demand for nonprofit services is expected to remain high. To meet this need these organisations will need ongoing support. An Eastern and Central Community Trust Covid-19 Impact Report identified two key areas of ongoing need: Funding to provide essential or critical services and help keep the doors open. This includes meeting the increased demand that the crisis has triggered. Funding remains the biggest challenge nonprofit organisations face, and they’ve started feeling the pinch, says Meynell. “We’ve already experienced philanthropic funders saying they’re not taking applications at this time, try later in the year, or that they just don’t have the funds available.” Under a new approach, funding practices will need to be flexible and pragmatic. Providing clear and correct information about what is happening will also be essential, so organisations can find out about funding and how funders are operating during the crisis. Connection and collaboration to enable opportunities. Organisations are looking at new ways of doing things as they encounter barriers and uncertainty. They are seeking information, support, and ideas from peers, networks, networks, government, and the community.

Where to from here?

All of the frontline organisations BayBuzz interviewed said their staff and the community stepped up to meet the needs of our most vulnerable during lockdown. If another unprecedented event happens, they were confident they could do it again. There were other positive outcomes. A Napier Council Social Wellbeing Survey of 800 residents found half of the respondents reported a greater appreciation of life (51%), spending more time with family (50%), and increased physical activity (53%). For Macdonald the pandemic has highlighted our community strengths and opportunity for growth. He is impressed by the way people accepted a compromise of economic wellbeing and personal freedom to keep people

38 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

As we move into an economic recovery phase, it’s time to start addressing some of the social inequalities in Hawke’s Bay to ensure our region not only survives but flourishes.

healthy. “That’s just part of being in a community and sometimes the needs of the community outweigh the needs of individuals and I think this was one of those occasions … we walked that tightrope really well as a country and as a region.” The experience must also be a driver of change, says Macdonald. As we move into an economic recovery phase, it’s time to start addressing some of the social inequalities in Hawke’s Bay to ensure our region not only survives but flourishes. The economic hardship however, is only beginning. The survey showed Covid-19 negatively impacted 57% of the respondents and their families. The most common negative impact cited was financial. The effect on local businesses was also of concern, with 69% of residents worried about small companies in Napier being forced to close. Supporting local businesses is critical, says Napier councillor Maxine Boag. “If our local businesses can pick up, then jobs and livelihoods will be safe, and families supported. Like the message of staying home and staying safe, now the message of ‘buy local’ needs to be seen as critical – to support the ongoing recovery and rebuild of our communities,” she says. Buoyed by Covid-19 relief efforts, there is a sense of cautious optimism among local nonprofit organisations that they can face whatever lies ahead. However, they know they need to do things differently if they’re to survive prolonged economic stress, and a rise in mental stress, food needs and family harm expected to come with it. Philanthropic funding lies at the heart of these organisations and already some of their streams have started to dry up. To adapt, organisations will look at new funding opportunities through different fundraising methods, corporate sponsorship, and foundations. Streamlining internal systems will also reduce administration costs.

Many organisations will continue to offer in-centre and online services developed during lockdown, to widen their reach. In preparation for increased demand, nonprofit groups are recruiting additional staff to ensure they can continue to serve our community. Flexibility is essential for survival during changing times and these essential services are confident they are up to the challenge.

Rosalie Hall, Havelock North (top), and Judith Ellis, Taradale, happy to receive their Enliven day programme biscuit delivery as we went to Level 3.

“Never has the charitable sector been more needed or more vulnerable. They will need our help more than ever before and this fund is a way we can help quickly.” GILES PEARSON, HAWKE’S BAY FOUNDATION CHAIR

LOCALS SHOW HEART IN TIME OF CRISIS When New Zealand went into a country-wide lockdown for four weeks in March, Hawke’s Bay Foundation was contacted by many locals wanting to help those hit with new challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Being unable to leave home meant people couldn’t drop food or clothing parcels into food banks or charity shops, so had to think of alternative ways to donate. Hawke’s Bay Foundation responded quickly by establishing the COVID-19 Response Fund and were humbled by the generous donations received during lockdown. The Fund remains open to receive donations and to date has received more than $60,000.

Hawke’s Bay Foundation Development Manager, Amy Bowkett says she is heartened by the amount of donations the fund has received in such a short amount of time. “The generosity of Hawke’s Bay people during this time of a global crisis is quite astounding,” Amy says. “We are honoured to distribute these funds on their behalf to local organisations who are in dire need of assistance.” The money from the Emergency Response Fund will be distributed to charities hit hardest by COVID-19, during the Foundation’s annual funding round in September. All completed applications will be reviewed by the Foundation’s Distributions Committee to ensure funds are directed to where they will have the greatest impact on the Hawke’s Bay community, with special consideration going to organisations severely impacted by COVID-19. “While we don’t yet know how the effect of this pandemic will be felt across vulnerable sectors in Hawke’s Bay, we do know that job losses and strain on resources will see local charities under extreme pressure,” Hawke’s Bay Foundation Chair, Giles Pearson, says. “Never has the charitable sector been more needed or more vulnerable. They will need our help more than ever before and this fund is a way we can help quickly.”

ABOUT HAWKE’S BAY FOUNDATION Hawke’s Bay Foundation was established in 2012 to provide a long-term sustainable source of funding for the Hawke’s Bay community. The Foundation receives donations and bequests and then safeguards those funds and grows them for the long term. The original donation is never touched – rather it is preserved forever, with the income that is generated used to provide grants to local charities. Hawke’s Bay Foundation Chair, Giles Pearson says one of the key objectives of the Foundation is to build a ‘culture of giving’ in the local community. “Our donors are deeply committed to making Hawke’s Bay a better place to live for everyone,” Giles says. “Through our grants, donors support a wide range of organisations who are working at grass-roots level to make a real and tangible difference in people’s lives.” To donate to this fund, or for more information please visit www.hawkesbayfoundation.org.nz

BayBuzz is pleased to support the Hawke’s Bay Foundation

The Hawke’s Bay community showed their appreciation for essential workers with signs and drawings on fences and footpaths. Photo: Kathryn Bates, Napier News, Facebook.

Estimated change in CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, compared with 2019

January

February

March

China

April

India

-4 EU and Britain

-8

Early January Emissions were roughly at 2019 levels

United States

-12

Rest of the world

-16

Million tonnes of CO2

Source: Natural Climate Change and Global Carbon Project

Early April Global emisions fell by an estimated 17 million tonnes per day, or 17%

Nature won’t wait for humans

May

June

The coronavirus and Covid recovery have so dominated attention that we tend to forget nature moves on, not particularly caring about – in the grand scheme of things – human frailty or waiting for us to recover. Story by Tom Belford Most important to nature is the unrelenting reality of global warming. We are nature’s enemy. According to readings from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the amount of CO2 in the air in May 2020 hit an average of slightly greater than 417 parts per million (ppm). This is the highest monthly average value ever recorded. Scientists say the last time these levels were reached, sea levels were 50 to 80 feet higher. And because CO2 levels are cumulative (the molecules remaining in the air for up to 1,000 years), they will not decrease until substantially altered human activities – or catastrophic ecosystem changes (not favourable to humankind) – remove more greenhouse gases than are going into the air. Yes, there has been a short-lived reprieve in the pace of release of greenhouse gas emissions. The Covid-induced global shutdown decreased emissions by a peak drop of 17% in April. But this is as good as the news gets. This graph shows just how temporary the decline has been. That decline still meant nations had continued to generate more than 80% of their ‘usual’ carbon pollution. The reality of the situation is that the rate of increase is still accelerating. Of interest is that emissions linked to home energy use increased about 3%, not surprising during a time when people are confined to their homes, using more appliances, lighting, heating and cooling. But industrial electricity demand plummeted, leading to net electricity declines overall. Unison tells BayBuzz that its service area displayed the same pattern – residential demand over AprilMay was up 5%, with more people being at home, but business consumption was down by 10-20%

JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 41

Above: a map of the arctic heatwave in Siberia. Right: Trying to save Italian glacier with tarps.

depending on size of customer. Scientists say that at the current rate we’ll hit 450 ppm by 2050, the level at which emissions would need to stop increasing to have any chance of meeting the goals in the Paris climate agreement. A UN report last year indicated that emissions would need to fall globally by 7.6% each year beginning in 2020 to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

How bleak is it?

While we wait for the 2050 tipping point to be exceeded (and it will be, given the current direction of human behaviour and governmental inaction), what are the current manifestations of global warming around the planet? Here’s just a few of the impacts headlined in recent months while we were pre-occupied with coronavirus. The Economist, in an article titled Sea of troubles, just reported on a pandemic of plastic pollution triggered by response to coronavirus. Think about masks, visors, gloves – one estimate says the global disposable-mask market will grow from an estimated $800 million in 2019 to $166 billion in 2020. Consumption of single-use plastic has increased 250300% in the US since the coronavirus took hold. Meantime, e-commerce has boomed, with an accompanying increase in plastic wrapping to protect these precious goods in transit. At the same time, recycling programmes have been shut down. The Economist traces how the result of this is more and more

42 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

waste finding its way into our seas. Australia’s recent second-hottest summer caused the second-worst bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef in 40 years of observation; and of course that nation’s worst wildfires in history didn’t help either. Greenland had its worst drop in ice sheet mass ever recorded. And highest-ever temperatures (38C) have been recorded in Siberia, with heat and massive wildfires thawing permafrost and releasing methane, formerly trapped,

Think about masks, visors, gloves – one estimate says the global disposable-mask market will grow from an estimated $800 million in 2019 to $166 billion in 2020. whose atmospheric warming impact is 28 times more powerful than CO2. Another study, looking at the CO2 absorption capacity of the planet’s two largest forest carbon sinks – the Amazon and African tropical forests – concludes: “the tropical forest carbon sink has already peaked”. And notes rather calmly: “This saturation and ongoing decline of the tropical forest carbon sink has consequences for policies intended to stabilize Earth’s climate. Compounding this, the CO2

absorption capacity of our oceans – another vital carbon sink – may be diminishing too. Oceans have absorbed almost 40% of the carbon dioxide humanity has emitted from fossil fuels since 1750, considerably slowing global temperature rise. Bloomberg cites new research indicating: “As the world attempts to cut emissions to zero by 2050 — which scientists say is necessary to avoid utter catastrophe — the ocean’s ability to store CO2 will diminish with it.” As for human impacts, we’re on the way to one-third of humanity living in Sahara-like conditions by 2070. In fact, global weather station data measuring combined heat and humidity indicate that the Persian Gulf and Indus River Valley are already “flirting” with lethal conditions.

What’s to be done?

Well, on the one hand, we could resort to desperate bandaids like covering our remaining glaciers with giant white tarps, as they are actually doing attempting to save the Presena glacier in Italy, which has lost one-third of its volume since 1993! But I suggest more massive mitigation is needed. At a global and national scale, the gigantic financial stimulus measures – over US$7 trillion dollars so far allocated by G20 nations alone – could be structured to achieve win/win goals – stimulating economies, but in sustainable climate-conscious directions. However, an exhaustive University

A third of Germany’s virus recovery plan could help to lower emmissions Electricity Hydrogen Electric Vehicles Railway Systems EV Chargers Public Transport Building Renovations Others

Source: Bloomberg

of Oxford analysis of these proposals finds that only “4% of policies are ‘green’, with potential to reduce longrun GHG emissions, 4% are ‘brown’ and likely to increase net GHG emissions beyond the base case, and 92% are ‘colourless’, meaning that they maintain the status quo.” The Oxford analysis recommends these spending priorities to achieve economic and climate goals: • clean physical infrastructure investment, • building efficiency retrofits, • investment in education and training to address immediate unemployment from Covid-19 and

structural unemployment from decarbonisation, • natural capital investment for ecosystem resilience and regeneration, and • clean R&D investment. Germany seems to be setting the pace in terms of green stimulus. That nation plans to spend US145 billion on economic recovery, with 30% of that committed to activities that will cut emissions. Here’s what such a plan entails, see graph above. And Danish lawmakers recently agreed on plans to reduce Denmark’s emissions by 70% in the coming decade, significantly bettering the

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ambitious European Union goal of 40% reduction by 2030. Denmark, just a bit larger than NZ with a population of 5.8 million and a GDP about a third larger, is home to home to the world’s biggest turbine maker, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, and to Orsted A/S, the world’s biggest operator of offshore wind parks. New Zealand’s contribution to the global rescue is Fonterra, the fifth-largest dairy emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet. Stuff has compiled this profile of NZ’s carbon emitters and overall emissions profile, see graphs on page 44. Our Government is merely plodding along on climate change, with coalition

JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 43

These 10 companies produced 54.5 million tonnes of CO2 more than two thirds of New Zealand’s total emissions tCO2-e (millions) 20 16 12 8 4 0 Fonterra

Z Energy

Air NZ

Methanex Refinery NZ

Exxon Mobil

Genesis Energy

Contact Energy

Fletcher Building

New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions Industrial Processes 6.1%

Waste 5.1% Agriculture 48.1%

Fugitive Emissions 2.4% Electricity Generation 4.4%

Dairy Cattle 22.5%

Other 5.5%

Manufacturing & Construction 8.6%

Sheep 12.7%

Transport 19.7% Beef Cattle 8.1% Other 4.7%

Energy 40.7% Source: New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2017, published April 2019

partner NZ First dragging anchor and preventing any really significant policy changes – like mandatory auto fuel efficiency standards (NZ being the only OECD nation without any) and requiring agricultural emissions reductions. Bringing this closer to home, here in Hawke’s Bay our regional council declared a ‘climate emergency’ in June 2019 and is chipping away at its own use of energy, and has led an investigation into mitigating the coastal erosion that will accelerate with rising seas. Positive gestures … but not good enough. While claiming in its latest Strategic Plan that “Climate Change is at the heart of everything we do” [their emphasis], HBRC is yet to provide real leadership on the climate issue.

44 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

Councillors are too distracted by coronavirus, a dysfunctional Regional Planning Committee, plotting ‘shovel ready’ spending projects, and searching for irrigation supplements for our worst-polluting farmers. Indeed, it might be more accurate for HBRC to say: “Water Supply is at the heart of everything we do”. So, let’s turn to water, that other nagging Hawke’s Bay issue.

Water ‘security’

What environmentalists want to address is water quality. What municipal water suppliers want to address is water safety. What commercial water users want to talk about is water supply (or the preferred PR-friendly term, ‘water security’).

While most of us have been busy in recent months ordering stuff online, these water issues have been bubbling away, largely out of sight. The current regimes at our territorial authorities seem committed to atoning for the sins of their predecessors. They’ve beefed up their long-term budgets to support needed water infrastructure improvements and the necessary work has begun. They’ve sought financial help from government to get this job done. Yet both levels of government seem more ready to devote energy and money to amenity projects – nice to have’s, but not health protecting or environment restoring. At the Regional Council, everything boils down to water supply. For sure, nestled away in various places are

council references to “Land Use Suitability” information “to inform smarter land use” … and “Land use is managed to ensure pathogens and contaminants are being reduced, and water is being allocated sustainably to highest value use.” And “Transform and upscale land management function to support a greater rate of farm system change to meet environmental, climate and market drivers.” But more and more these look like throwaway lines for councillors far more committed to sprinkling more irrigation water over inappropriately farmed land … “By 2030, Hawke’s Bay has environmentally sustainable, harvestable water identified and stored or plans to be stored if required,” says the strategy. There’s a heap of ‘political code’ in these lofty public statements, but in private conversations the chat is all about how fast water storage can happen … with the political icing on the cake … “It’s our answer to climate change”. Whew … glad we’ve got that problem solved! Who’s the regional councillor prepared to say flat out, in public: “No water storage unless there’s land use change … unless there is smarter land use.” Instead HBRC, as in the case of the Ruataniwha dam, where previous councillors also used voodoo economics (costing ratepayers $20 million), is putting the cart before the horse. This time, with $30 million to spend already earmarked for water storage, HBRC is claiming a dire, economy-saving need for water storage without first examining and determining: a) whether there are land management practices – across viticulture, horticulture and pastoral farming – that could by themselves store and use natural water more effectively; and b) whether alternative land uses would make more efficient and productive use of existing water. While HBRC chair Rex Graham declares the region will become a desert without water storage, the study that is actually supposed to quantify – with appropriate rigour – the region’s future water supply and demand won’t be completed for another year. The biggest elephant is in CHB’s room, where a handful of dairy operations consume the preponderance of that region’s allocated water … water sucked up for unsustainable, heavily polluting land use. The politicians and irrigation advocates know this, but they won’t call the question as to whether this is a warped ‘social contract’ for the people of Central Hawke’s Bay. Instead, advocates pressure to grandfather in these dinosaur users with water storage … the Regional

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Council is spending $15 million on CHB ‘feasibility’ work to justify that ‘solution’. And by calling it ‘water security’, linking it to the politically attractive climate change bandwagon. In contrast, take a look at how the Waikato Regional Council (WRC) is addressing climate change – for real. The WRC has just issued its second regional Community-scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory. This report delineates the region’s emissions by source – agriculture (69%), transportation (14.5%), stationary energy (13%), waste (2%, industry (1%) – as well as across the region’s ten districts. The detailed analysis allows that council and its public to share a clear holistic understanding of the region’s emissions profile, identifies trends, and permits reasoned policy responses to be formulated. • Transportation emissions have increased the most (32.27 %), partly due to better activity data but also change in emissions factors and population increase. • Stationary energy increased mainly as a result of overall population increase by 6.68 % between 2015/16 and 2018/19. • Agriculture is the only sector for which the gross emissions have decreased (4.20 %) – primarily due to a decrease in dairy herd size in Waikato. • Forestry sequestration has decreased, primarily due to afforestation rates being lower than harvesting rate. So, while forestry currently removes (actually, stores for a while) 44% of the region’s emissions, the report measures and notes that current lower planting rates are diminishing the region’s carbon sink. The report also notes that it takes no account of changes in soil carbon (soil is another carbon sink), “in line with the national Greenhouse Gas Inventory that is prepared on the assumption that soil carbon does not change when land use is constant, and changes in carbon are only taken into account when there is a change in land-use.” [Here in Hawke’s Bay, our new HB Future Farming Trust has recently made a commitment to fund a rigorous soil carbon benchmarking project, with the intention of monitoring soil carbon response to future land/animal management practices.] One has to expect that a similar emissions inventory at the same level of detail for Hawke’s Bay would lead

46 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

The facts are that alternative farming practices are already at hand in Hawke’s Bay and elsewhere in NZ that reduce the need for both artificial water (ie, irrigation) and synthetic fertilisers, creating healthier soil and food in the process.

to the same conclusion as reached for Waikato: Waikato Region would need to focus its reduction efforts on agriculture as well as consider options for maintaining its carbon removal potential from forestry. Regarding agriculture, the report urges WRC to: “Consider the development of a longterm strategy for offsetting emissions in order to incentivise land-owners to shift to, and accelerate de-intensification and land-use change.” Maybe that’s an analysis – or takeaway – we just don’t want to hear in Hawke’s Bay. So instead – putting up a ridiculous strawman … what if we do nothing? – HBRC recently commissioned a report telling us that we’ll need a helluva lot more water storage by 2050 or face economic collapse. I must admire chairman Graham’s recent ‘Chicken Little’ press release to that effect. His ‘sky is falling’ warning about water shortages bringing economic Armageddon to Hawke’s Bay sometime after 2050 is the mark of a skilled propagandist. There’s no doubt that the future use of scarce water needs examination, and water harvesting and storage will likely be part of the solution. However the economic analysis used to scare the bejeebies out of HB’s uninformed – already nervous about droughts and recovery – is woefully deficient. Its core faulty assumption is that land and animal management practices – and even our land uses themselves – will remain the same ... as unsustainable, unprofitable and environmentally harmful as some of these clearly are. The facts are that alternative farming practices are already at hand in Hawke’s Bay and elsewhere in NZ that reduce the need for both artificial water (ie, irrigation) and synthetic

fertilisers, creating healthier soil and food in the process. HBRC needs to wake up to that option rather than simply grabbing the nearest shovel. There’s only one valid assumption that should drive any water storage projects in HB – that irrigation is a last, not first, resort, to be considered only in support of environmentally sustainable land uses. On that basis, who can oppose? Perhaps chairman Graham’s hysteria is merely political posturing … a gauntlet to a cadre of storage-resistant Māori adversaries. But the public deserves facts and transparency. There’s some hope that moles buried with HBRC have an intelligent view, as evidenced by this passage from a recent agenda paper on ‘Regional Water Security’. “Climate change will inevitably intensify the competing tensions associated with freshwater use and allocation. Water storage is seen by many as a maladaptation that only sustains unsustainable water use (particularly associated with agriculture and horticulture) in areas already experiencing environmental stress and now threatened by lower rainfall, drought and other climate disruption. “A February 2020 report supported by MPI’s Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change Fund observes how ‘debates over irrigation highlight the deeply held social, cultural and environmental values held by many New Zealanders about their natural environment, privileged groups, and the delays in addressing the lock-in of unsustainable intensification pathways, leading to overuse and compounding nutrient run-off, leaching and degradation of water quality.” Note the phrase “lock-in of unsustainable intensification pathways”. This is code for not grandfathering in place practices like feedlots next to rivers and carrying dairy cattle on gravel soils … for not subsidising outmoded, harmful practices in the quest for ‘water security’. To which one can only say, Amen!

Unison is pleased to sponsor robust examination of energy issues in Hawke’s Bay. This reporting is prepared by BayBuzz. Any editorial views expressed are those of the BayBuzz team and do not reflect the views of Unison.

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2020

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Recovery / AND R E W FR A M E

HB Tourism down but not out Art Deco Weekend 2021: Napier’s Emerson Street lies empty. Shop fronts are dark and shuttered. A sole, art deco-themed tumbleweed rolls down the paving stones, bouncing off bollards and the bronze statue of the lady walking her greyhound, both adorned with surgical masks. Given the level of economic doom and gloom that some are prophesising, you could be forgiven for thinking this might indeed be the reality for our region as we recover from the effects of Covid 19. During the month April 2020, in the midst of Level 4 lockdown, Hawke’s Bay’s MRTE (Monthly Regional Tourism

Estimate) spend was $5 million. The same time last year it was $57 million. International borders are closed and look to be for some time – potentially until a vaccine is found, which could still be 18 months to two years away. Whatever the ‘new normal’ is, we’re in it for some time.

Covid casualties

As the pandemic fallout becomes clearer, more businesses and people are likely to be suffering financially. Given its reliance on international visitors the tourism sector is expected to take some of the biggest hits.

During the first week of the Level 4 lockdown 435 Hawke’s Bay motel units laid empty. The Nimons buses had nowhere to go. Cape Coast winery Elephant Hill closed its restaurant permanently. The Art Deco Trust is scaling back operations and considering a restructure affecting its paid staff. But around 120 volunteers who staff the organisation’s shop and take the CBD tours should help retain some income for them, albeit severely reduced. The Government’s income support subsidy has helped keep many businesses afloat during these uncertain

Clearview Estate. Photo: Tom Allan

48 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

“We have reset the restaurant and cellar door model with reduced days and hours, a smaller, more relevant menu of Mediterranean influence, while lifting the service and hosted seated wine tastings.” HELMA VAN DEN BERG, CLEARVIEW ESTATE

times. Finance Minister Grant Robertson has extended the subsidy, but when this support ends things may get a lot tougher. But for Hawke’s Bay, at least, things are not all doom and gloom.

Shouldering the blow

For New Zealand’s tourism sector things could have been a lot worse. “We were exceptionally fortunate” says chief executive of Hawke’s Bay Tourism Hamish Saxton. “This all happened at the end of our summer tourist season and at the end of a record cruise season for New Zealand. Generally, the Easter to Labour Weekend period is New Zealand’s shoulder/low season for tourism.” Kevin Murphy, Napier City Council’s Events Manager echoes the thoughts of Saxton when he says, “We were very fortunate, while there was obviously lots of disruption, the timing couldn’t have been better – of the 35 events we supported this year only a few were affected by the Covid-19 restrictions.” Winter F.A.W.C!, Winter Deco, The Big Easy (cycling festival), the HB leg of the NZ Rally, New Zealand Secondary School Rugby & Football tournaments, “Super Sixes” NZ primary school sports tourmament, and the NZ Seniors Tennis Tournament were all victims of the lockdown. He notes trades involved in the events industry, like lighting and sound technicians, have taken the biggest brunt of the downturn in his sector, with a large chunk of their year’s work and income disappearing overnight when the restrictions were anounced. “Events are the first casualty and the last to come back in a situation like this. Ninety percent of the events we support would have had to wait until

Level 1. The biggest challenge was not knowing when that would be.” The national event industry is currently waiting for their sector’s minister, Phil Twyford, to make a funding announcement, like the “rescue packages” that have been announced for the arts, tourism, and horse racing sectors. With New Zealand back to Level 1, Kevin is confident things will pick up fairly quickly. “People are wanting to get back to normality. Maybe a bit slowly and cautiously – even under Level 1 there will still be contact tracing that events will have to follow – but things will be getting back to normality. “The event sector drives a good percentage of New Zealand’s domestic tourism, so summer will be full noise!”

The Bay of ‘Plenty Opportunities’ While Covid 19 and lockdown saw a lot of disruption for Hawke’s Bay’s wineries, coming at the height of the best vintage in years and after six months of record trading for Te Awanga’s Clearview Estate, co-founder and proprietor Helma van den Berg still sees positives in the changes and opportunities ahead. “I want this ‘new normal’ to be a ‘better normal’. Covid-19 is a brilliant opportunity to reset,” she says. “We have reset the restaurant and cellar door model with reduced days and hours, a smaller, more relevant menu of Mediterranean influence, while lifting the service and hosted seated wine tastings.” Some of the government-instigated changes around how restaurants must operate under Covid have played right into Clearview Estates plans: “Safe, Seated, Separated, Single Server” has added to the high-end level of service that Clearview Estate targets. From Queen’s Birthday Weekend reactions these changes appear to be working – one online review noting those ‘five S’s create a ‘four W’s’ experience: “Welcoming, Wonderful and Well Worth a Visit!” Helma credits her key staff with getting through lockdown. She also notes the assistance of the Government’s wage subsidy, regular updates from the Restaurant Association of NZ and Hawke’s Bay Tourism, and the Eat Local eat-out-at-home campaign championed by the likes of Bistronomy’s James Beck. Hawke’s Bay Tourism Association chair Hamish Prins is effusive with his praise for Hawke’s Bay Tourism’s work during the lockdown and the positive

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“We were one of the first regions talking about our intentions and developed the ‘Bay-cation’ campaign early on, particularly targeting people from Wellington and Manawatu/ Whanganui.” Photo: Hawke’s Bay Tourism

opportunities the recovery presents. “We were all cut off at the knees when lockdown was announced. But the work Hamish and his team have done and their communication has been amazing. Hawke’s Bay is coming back quicker than other regions because of their work!”

Building on that, HB Tourism is hoping to secure up to $700,000 of $20.2 million the government announced it is making available to NZ’s 31 Regional Tourism Organisations in June for destination management, marketing and planning.

Support in high places

Cruise sector sinking?

HAMISH SAXTON

Adding, “11% of passengers on cruise ships around New Zealand are New Zealanders, so there is market there of Kiwis who want to view their country differently.” And 49% are from our bubble-friend, Australia.

Fortune favours the Bay It’s not just government departments that have been helping out Hawke’s Bay. Our region appears to have some big backers! When travel restrictions were eased, one of the first destinations mentioned was Hawke’s Bay – Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying, “It’s OK to drive from Wellington to Napier to see family”. And indeed on Queen’s Birthday Weekend the PM’s own first holiday stop was Hawke’s Bay – announcing recovery funding for the arts sector at Napier’s MTG, then spending the weekend relaxing and shopping around the region. Says Hamish Saxton, “I like to think the work we put in to make Hawke’s Bay a top destination for domestic tourists during this time was a big factor in the PM visiting. “We were one of the first regions talking about our intentions and developed the ‘Bay-cation’ campaign early on, particularly targeting people from Wellington and Manawatu/Whanganui … Looking at some of the early results from Queen’s Birthday Weekend, it looks like that work has already begun to pay off!”

50 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

One of the biggest points of tourism contention for many Hawke’s Bay locals in recent years has been the cruise industry. Passengers cruise in, dock, stroll around Napier’s CBD, are bussed out to wineries, or pre-organised tours, return to the ship and cruise out again. Nearly 80 ships visited this past 2019/2020 season, with 1,500-2,000 and as many as 4,000 passengers on The Ovation of the Seas, as the port received larger and larger ships. But when Coronavirus was making its presence felt in Australasia one of the first moves was closing borders and banning cruise ships, which were quickly becoming a hotbed of transmission for the disease. A Covid-19 ‘cluster’ of at least 13 people in Hawke’s Bay resulted from a visit by the Ruby Princess on 15 March. With many cruise ships around the world still quarantined in Covid-19 limbo, it would appear the industry might be doomed. Hamish Saxton doesn’t think so. “NZ’s cruise trade isn’t dead. I don’t know what next cruise season will look like, but the port is still holding cruise bookings, so it’s a case of wait and see.”

According to Tourism NZ, Australia is New Zealand’s largest international visitor market, accounting for almost half of all international visitor arrivals. New Zealand and Australia governments are progressing a ‘Trans-Tasman Bubble’, where we open our borders to each other, but no one else. But until then we must rely on domestic tourism. Fortunately, there is still a fair bit of money in that. “People are still flying, having holidays, staying in hotels” says Hamish Saxton. Each year domestic tourists – New Zealanders travelling around NZ, who make up 75% of visitors to our region, spend $500 million in Hawke’s Bay. The closed “bubble borders” overseas provide a much bigger earning opportunity. New Zealanders spend $13 billion each year on overseas travel. That’s billions with a ‘B’ and several more zeroes than has historically been spent domestically. With nowhere else to go but around the country, imagine the potential economic windfall that could boost the economies of regions who promote themselves well enough. Here’s hoping a “Bay-cation” becomes a must-do on many people’s travel plans!

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IDEAS + OPINION GERALDINE TRAVERS

Education in the pandemic age Historically a pandemic inevitably produces change to all aspects of society, and it would be really advantageous to our education system if that proved to be the case. We can look at the change that has happened as a starting point, where there has been a rapid move to online learning, or at the very least blended delivery, that might have otherwise taken a decade to accomplish. We have seen the Ministry of Education attempt to rapidly close the digital divide by supplying over 16,000 devices to students as well as connecting more than 30,000 homes to the internet. Where students were too young to connect, Suzy Cato has been wheeled out to deliver engaging lessons to another generation on television. Interestingly in attempting to close this divide a different divide has opened up. Temperamentally there are some students for whom online learning simply doesn’t work and some homes where the environment is not conducive to any form of learning. Personal relationships have always been at the heart of successful education. Anecdotally the most successful online learning occurred where the students already had a positive face-to-face relationship with the teacher concerned. I would extrapolate from that, that where those positive relationships hadn’t been formed, then the student was further marginalised during the online experience, if they engaged at all. There is always going to be a need for engaging teachers with the power to inspire and motivate students. The move to online learning has a large potential benefit to Hawke’s Bay. As the lockdown has eased, I have seen numbers of former students now engaging in university study from

52 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

home. In the past we have lost our young people to the big cities to study and not many have returned home. For them to study at home has personal economic benefits with cheaper living costs, but also economic benefits for the province as they are a potential source of casual labour. Another huge educational change that has come out of Covid-19 is the recognition that has come for the trades. For decades, trades were seen as the ‘poor relation’ or something that you did if you couldn’t achieve the necessary grades to attend university, despite the many anecdotes about millionaire plumbers in London. Earlier this year a massive reorganisation of the ITP sector (16 polytech institutes like EIT) took place leading to the formation of NZ Institute of Skills and Technology. Our own EIT used to be a stand-alone organisation, which operated with reasonable autonomy in responding to regional perception of the educational needs of Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti. EIT has now become part of a larger national network in which we are now required to respond to national needs and take responsibility for increased trade training, work-place learning, and associated qualifications. As part of New Zealand’s road to recovery post-covid, the Government has identified trade training and our lack of a skilled workforce as a critical impediment to the growth of housing and infrastructure. The recent announcement of free tradetraining is a game changer and removing the upper age limit means that that an important pathway has been created into future work for the newly unemployed. EIT is well placed to respond to this need. What impact should Covid-19 have on education and what we value as essential knowledge?

The pandemic for me has illustrated a huge dichotomy in the attitude of the general public to knowledge and opinion. In this great democratic age, freedom of speech is an important value, but we have moved from the essential truth of this, to a belief that everybody’s opinion is of equal value – ‘my reckons’ are as important as the opinion of a specialist with postgraduate qualifications and many years of experience. I would like to think that the Covid-19 experience has made us value pure knowledge and expertise. I have been heartened by the respect afforded to Dr Ashley Bloomfield and noted a hunger for real knowledge when ‘the chips are down.’ There has been a move in secondary education towards generalism, rather than pure or specialist knowledge. Students have been encouraged to learn what they want to learn, rather than an essential set of skills of benefit to their future job prospects and that are fundamentally useful to society. Science has come to the fore as society has come to appreciate that it is only science that will allow us to safely live at a time of global pandemic. How exciting to know that we in NZ can be part of the quest to find a vaccine and that we have the medical personnel who can provide the Government with the accurate modelling that has enabled us to get ahead of this world-wide crisis. Of particular concern at this time is the growth of conspiracies. Part of me understands that this is a way of dealing with the inexplicable as it arises out of fear. Social media has played an essential role in the dissemination of this misinformation, but the gullibility of some sections of society is truly frightening. Theories around 5G and its supposed role in

Covid-19, vaccination and Bill Gates – all of these are obstructive to rational discourse and the finding of solutions to the problems that beset us. Places of education need to grapple with teaching their students how to be discerning processors of information in an age where they are swamped with theories. A knowledge of history and economics is helpful as well, in order for our future citizens to be able to play a full, discerning role in a wellfunctioning democracy. Can we look back to former pandemics for inspiration? The impact of the Spanish Flu is difficult to discern coming as it did at the end of a global war. Perhaps the Black Death provides greater inspiration as the cultural, economic and social changes that it wrought produced the Renaissance, one of the most creative periods in human history. Let’s hope.

I would like to think that the Covid-19 experience has made us value pure knowledge and expertise. I have been heartened by the respect afforded to Dr Ashley Bloomfield and noted a hunger for real knowledge when ‘the chips are down.’

EIT is pleased to sponsor robust examination of education issues in Hawke’s Bay. This reporting is prepared by BayBuzz. Any editorial views expressed are those of the BayBuzz team and do not reflect the views of EIT. Geraldine Travers serves on the EIT Council and is a Hastings District Councillor. She was principal at Hastings Girls’ HS for 19 years and awarded a MNZM for service to education.

EIT is well placed to respond to the need for more trade training.

Katie

Nimon for Napier

E: katie.nimon@national.org.nz | W: katienimon.national.org.nz Authorised by Katie Nimon, 1 Waitane Place, Onekawa.

JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 53

IDEAS + OPINION PAUL PAYNTER

Hold the applause The public is giving the Government pretty high marks for their handling of the Covid-19 crisis. Certainly the very limited mortality is a relief and at times the performance of Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson has been exceptional. When you’re confronted with a problem you don’t understand, the formula is actually pretty simple. Firstly, you should apply the precautionary principle and overreact. That way if you get it wrong the consequences are less dire. Secondly, you need to remain nimble as the reality plays out. The Government fell at the second hurdle. Early on there was a feeling that emergency services would be overwhelmed and vans with loudspeakers would troll the streets crying out ‘bring out your dead’. After a couple of weeks, to everyone’s relief, it became clear that this wouldn’t happen. At this time they should have started up medical diagnostics and some elective surgeries. I say this because deeming these services ‘non-essential’ is only true if there are greater health priorities. There weren’t. You might be surprised to learn that a local health centre, among other health providers, applied for wage subsidies for its 105 people to the tune of more than $670,000. When your health services have a lack of business in a health crisis, you’ve shut down too hard. Even ‘essential’ businesses were told to limit these activities to that which was essential. So a farmer could milk his cows, but probably not repair the fence. I know a bloke who was painting roofs in the perfect autumn sun and he had to stop. Also a nurseryman who was told he couldn’t propagate fruit trees that would be sold in two winter’s

54 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

time. For the avoidance of doubt, you can only bud these trees reliably mid-January to mid-March. When the sap stops flowing budding won’t be successful. Similarly a plant exporter couldn’t harvest and ship his as it was non-essential. The plant material was all dumped. Many parts of the economy could have kept ticking over, physical distancing maintained and we’d have considerably less pain now. In the rural world, you commonly get only one crop a year so the nurseryman and plant exporter have not lost 6 weeks of income but 12 months. Both are eligible for the wage subsidy throughout and subsequently there will be other assistance for sure. So we have both crippled their businesses and burdened the tax payer. Labour dominate the urban seats so are probably unaware that there are a whole lot of people in rural NZ who work out in the fields and wide-

When your health services have a lack of business in a health crisis, you’ve shut down too hard. open spaces and have no chance of breaching a 2-metre distancing rule. So the Government have created a much larger deficit than they needed to and shut down many more businesses than they needed to. ‘You’re priortising money over lives’ some will say. But economics isn’t about money, it’s about people. People matter and I like the sound of Jacinda’s kinder world. It’s just in terms of priorities that we differ.

I was in Auckland late last year and took a stroll down Queen St after dinner. The experience was shocking to me with at least 40 homeless people in the doorways or the half-light of the side alleys, some clearly under the influence. Auckland didn’t look like that a decade ago. Just this past Saturday, I was walking through Havelock North on a perfect sunny day. My mind was, as usual, in a galaxy far away and I almost didn’t notice a dishevelled gentleman nearby. He walked up to a rubbish bin and delved in, armpit deep in order to recover an drink can. He straightened up and drank the last few drops before dropping the can back from whence it came. I know this isn’t the first homeless person in Havelock North, but he’s the first I’ve seen up close. We know that the vast majority of homeless have addiction or mental health issues and that, with the right investment and expertise, it’s possible to overcome these. I’m very happy for my tax dollars to be spent on a roof, good food and the health services he needs. The alternative is to let him freeze to death in Anderson Park this winter. The truth is that this Government and the last, will let him freeze. So will the Havelock North fat cats, including me. God damn us all. I grow more furious about this by the day because this Government is being so irresponsible with our money. Billions have been spent on wage subsidies for tourism jobs that have no chance of being retained. These continue to be paid to companies whose revenue is likely to be down more than 40% in any given month. I don’t know a business that can survive such a drop in income. They’d be better targeting businesses around the margins, that actually had

I know several businesses around town who now have full-time staff filling out applications for grants from one government scheme or another.

a chance to survive. These wage subsidies have gone to companies like The Warehouse, who were already eyeing up a job slashing restructure. They’ve gone to some local apple businesses who I’d be amazed if they met the criteria. They’ve gone to at least some of the 58 Flight Centre’s who have closed down and have no intention of reopening. Some of these businesses almost certainly meet the criteria, but what is the Ministry of Social Development paying cash to companies for? We already have a welfare safety net that pays money to people. I never signed up to my taxes going to corporate welfare. Now this Government is throwing cash at other rock star businesses, like $4 million to Waitomo Caves, owned by Tourism Holdings Ltd (THL). THL made a net profit of almost $30 million

last year and as a publicly listed company, has access to the capital markets. It doesn’t need saving and Waitomo Caves isn’t going to disappear. Even if the THL can’t afford to keep it, there would be a queue of willing buyers for such an asset. Cash goes to big business, while if you’re a butcher in Te Awamutu they’ll let you sink like a stone. Jacinda says she’s rung the families of every Covid-19 victim. I bet that Te Awamutu butcher won’t get a call. Politics today is about doing what looks good in the media, not what is morally sound. This Machiavellian reality has never been any different, which is why small government with limited powers is the best of all possible worlds. Governments should never fund private companies. I know several businesses around town who now have full-time staff

filling out applications for grants from one government scheme or another. This is a return to the world of the 60s and 70s which created many wealthy families. The best business brains in any community are infinitely smarter than the ministerial mediocrity of the Labour Party. There is a chance that all this irresponsible spending will actually reignite the economy, but the end doesn’t justify the means. That’s particularly so if it saddles our children and grandchildren with debt that will prove a great headwind to their future prosperity. You say this Government got it mostly right. I say they’re getting it badly wrong. Hold the applause. Paul Paynter is our resident iconoclast and cider maker. Sometimes he grows stuff at Yummyfruit.

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IDEAS + OPINION DOMINIC SALMON

Time to pivot to a circular economy During lockdown we often heard the post-pandemic period was our chance to do things differently – to be greener and kinder, to reimagine our world. Now that we’re at Level 1, how do we balance these objectives with doing business in a time of economic uncertainty? The reality is environmental sustainability makes good business sense, recession or not. The demands from customers, and the planet, for more sustainable practices and products remain and will continue to grow. Having gone through one crisis, we can use the lessons to prepare for the next, harnessing them to do what’s needed for our environment and our climate.

The opportunity is no different for smaller centres like Hawke’s Bay. We know from over 16 years’ experience that any time spent delving into inputs, outputs and processes generally benefits your bottom line. For example, something as simple as not paying to send rainwater to the tip. (As you can imagine, a lid was quickly added to that outdoor bin!) While this might not feel like the time to think about sustainability, in fact there’s probably never been a better time to consider how it could help your business. We’ve put together some of the key actions Hawke’s Bay businesses can take to pivot towards a sustainable, resilient, circular economy future:

Tackle carbon emissions Understanding where you use the most carbon allows you to target not only the carbon but the costs. For example, fleet management offers an opportunity for substantial carbon reductions, and efficiency gains directly impacting the bottom line. The new normal of web or phone-based contact with customers and suppliers can help reduce travel costs, time and emissions. Covid-19 has also shown us how we can influence the emissions our staff create on our behalf. Consider how you can reduce emissions from their commute and increase health and well-being by encouraging people to work from home or use alternative transport.

Having gone through one crisis, we can use the lessons to prepare for the next, harnessing them to do what’s needed for our environment and our climate.

Address your waste Most business activity generates waste in some form, and it could well be costing you. We have worked with businesses to cut costs, often through simple process improvements including reducing product wastage, removing recyclables from bins destined for landfill and removing excess packaging in their supply chain. Hospitality, for example, can make significant gains through addressing food waste – a harmful methane emitter in landfill. According to research in The Business Case to Reducing Food Loss and Waste from leading sustainability organisation WRAP UK, hotels saved $7 for every $1 invested in food waste initiatives, with 70% getting their money back in a year. There are yet more gains to be made if waste can be reused as a resource. PanPac, for example, uses wood waste as fuel, while BioRich turns organic waste, which would otherwise create harmful methane emissions in landfill, into compost to rejuvenate our soils.

Localise your supply chain With our export and tourism focus, Hawke’s Bay businesses recognise better than most that we live in a global economy. However, keeping your supply chain as local as possible is one way to build resilience. Using local suppliers as much as possible bolsters the local economy, builds secure partnerships which can also drive innovation, help design waste out of businesses, and reduce carbon emissions.

Action on sustainability brings measurable benefits like efficiency gains, cost cutting, resilient supply chains, increased sales, and reduced risk. It’s all part of moving away from the linear “take, make, waste” model – where we expect unlimited growth from limited resources – to a circular approach where the use of materials and resources are maximised, and reutilised at end of life. Research conducted by Sapere Research Group with the Sustainable Business Network in 2018 estimated the circular economy in Auckland alone could liberate up to $8.8 billion in additional economy activities by 2030. It would also reduce carbon emission by up to 2.7 million tonnes.

56 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

Procurement By reviewing your procurement through a different lens, can you increase your support of local, sustainable businesses or practices? Consider those companies which provide end-of-life solutions for their products (helping you to reduce your waste bill), companies which manage their carbon, or those which offer sharing or leasing options over ownership. The power of the collective No single company has the power to change the system on its own. In the food and beverage sector, producers

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Freighthub estimated on average nine out of every 20 trucks are running empty in New Zealand – surely an opportunity for local collaboration to create efficiencies and new opportunities while reducing emissions. are labouring under strong consumer demand for more sustainable packaging, a struggling recycling system and a lack of scale to develop effective solutions. Whether collaboration is with competing brands or others who use similar packaging for a different product type, working together is critical to future success. In the Ministry of Transport Future Freight Scenarios Study, Freighthub estimated on average nine out of every 20 trucks are running empty in New Zealand – surely an opportunity for local collaboration to create efficiencies and new opportunities while reducing emissions.

Offer a service rather than a product Of the six actions, the last may sound the most unusual but is key to efficient resource use in a circular economy. Consider how many products are already offered as a service – fleet vehicles, laundromats, lawn mowers, construction equipment, accommodation, the list goes on. If you need to pivot your business or are looking to broaden your service offering, consider how you might offer your product as a service. Benefits can be lower upfront costs for customers, consistent cashflow for the business, less waste from low usage of capital items, and a partnership approach.

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JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 57

IDEAS + OPINION DAMON HARVEY

Sport struggling to compete Sport is at an important cross road in NZ and Hawke’s Bay. Only the brave will survive. For a sports nut, being stuck at home for over a month could have been a blessing, had there been live sport to watch on TV. Instead, due to Covid-19 lockdown, there was no live sport happening in New Zealand or anywhere else across the world. Professional sport competitions such as the Super Rugby, NRL, the English Premier Football League as well as niche competitions such as World Surfing League all came to a screaming halt. Locally, sport grounds were closed and if you didn’t have a team-sized family – then throwing a rugby ball around or swinging a hockey stick in organised sport was for now a thing of the past. We all came to realise that the activities we either participated in – or watched from the sidelines or the comfort of the couch – were on hold for an indefinite period. With no sport being played, revenue streams such as gate takings, sponsorship, Tier 4 gaming funding and player registrations tanked, and the future of national sporting organisations (NSO) such as New Zealand Rugby became very fragile. Professional sports people were being asked by their NSOs to take wage cuts, while massive redundancies were made at many sport organisation head offices. NZ Rugby laid off nearly half of its 180 strong workforce, as it forecast a revenue loss of $120 million. So what does the future hold? Sport brings the community together; it offers a welcome distraction from the day-to-day tasks at work and at home. Over the usual winter months, kids are ferried across Hawke’s Bay to the

58 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

likes of the Hawke’s Bay Sports Park, Park Island in Napier, Central Park in Waipukurau and Lambton Square in Wairoa. Saturday morning sport has been part of Kiwi life for ever and many of us can recall the days of playing rugby, football, netball or hockey on a frosty Hawke’s Bay day, and the excitement of cleaning your boots on a Friday night in anticipation of running out on to the field or court with your friends. Just as Sport New Zealand was about to launch a new strategy aimed at increasing participation at primary and secondary school levels and attempting to stop the growing decline in teenagers playing sport, along came the pandemic.

Locally, sport grounds were closed and if you didn’t have a team-sized family – then throwing a rugby ball around or swinging a hockey stick in organised sport was for now a thing of the past. Sport NZ has now put the strategy on hold and instead will focus on providing extra resources and support to sport organisations so that they can ride out the storm and remain viable. The Government has announced a Sport Recovery Package of $265 million, from which Hawke’s Bay sport organisations will benefit. As part of this, a Community Resilience Fund was initiated with $15 million allocated and to be administered across NZ by regional sport trusts such as Sport Hawke’s Bay. Just under $600,000 was available locally, but surprisingly only $234,000 has been allocated to 46 sport clubs

and organisations. Regional Sport Organisations (RSOs) such as HB Rugby, HB Netball, Central Football and Hawke’s Bay Basketball received the full amount of $40,000 each, while grassroots clubs could receive up to $1000. On top of this, some of the RSOs decided to not charge playing fees for 2020, a great decision as many families struggle with financial hardship. It will also ensure that kids remain in sport, as it could have been much harder to recruit players if an entire season was missed. Sport NZ has also provided a total of $4.6 million to the Wellington Phoenix, Vodafone Warriors, Super Rugby clubs and the ANZ Premiership Netball League and teams to ease the financial impact of Covid-19. The Government might also need to consider how they support the promotion and coverage of sport as media giants such as NZME, MediaWorks and Fairfax suffered major drops in advertising revenue, many sport jocks and broadcasters lost their jobs. Locally, HB Today made their two permanent sport reporters Shane Hurndell and Anendra Signh redundant. The two reporters had been covering sport for many years and know all the key figures, whether that be administrators or personalities within sport. In the mid 90s I was a budding sport journalist at the HB Herald Tribune, covering rugby and rugby league. Back then Shane Hurndell was at the Napier-based Daily Telegraph and every day I would grab his newspaper to see if he had beaten me to a sport scoop. I moved to Auckland to work in sport marketing and PR while Shane has become a doyen of local sport. He’s dedicated his entire career to telling the stories of local sport and

Saturday morning sport is part of Kiwi life. Photo: Giselle Reid

it’s a great shame that he might not continue to be involved. With the loss of the likes of Shane, there’s a potential sport will lose its regional voice, at least to the level it once enjoyed. This could have a massive impact in future years as sport media play an important role in championing sport to the general public and sport fans. Media help promote participation, give sponsors brand association with sport codes and covers the human interest stories, as well as celebrating

the achievements of those who excel. We all know that the writing is on the wall for newspapers and that online will eventually take over completely. Already we no longer need to wait until a Monday morning to find out local sport results; instead they are live via websites and apps. But in a world where we want to know everything as and when it happens, we also still need to have the features and profiles of those involved in sport. It’s the stories that inspire and connect us. Time will tell to who steps up to

provide a local sport portal that picks up this type of content. The codes will need to realise that they will need some skin in the game, if they are to survive and that they can’t think about their sport alone. It’s time for them to take action together. Come on the Bay! Damon Harvey, chairman of Sport Hawke’s Bay, is an advocate for sport, health and wellbeing, practising what he preaches by hitting the gym most days as well as surfing and mountain biking.

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JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 59

Recovery

/ TO M B E L FO R D

Re-boot or revolution? As drafts of the articles you’re now reading arrived on my desk over the past couple weeks, I was struck by two themes – the optimism about the future that permeated them and relatively modest nature of the changes being discussed. Even in an especially hard-hit sector like tourism, our writers were reporting that leaders were upbeat and revving their engines. I had noted a Business HB report that projected 8,000 job losses in Hawke’s Bay as a result of Covid, so why weren’t we hearing pleas and plans for radical change … revolution even?! So I threw this question – We’re supposed to be aiming for a re-set, a ‘new normal’ … but where are the truly revolutionary ideas? – to some people I know to have consistently raised serious concerns about the ‘state of affairs’ in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand and the wide world beyond over the years. You’ll recognise most of the names – ecologist/designer David Trubridge, columnist Bruce Bisset, our own iconoclast, orchardist Paul Paynter, social advocate Maxine Boag and farming ‘radical’ Phyllis Tichinin. Each of these folks has lobbed grenades over the wall of status quo. I think of them as provocative; I’ve heard others say worse. I was anticipating that they would serve up quite specific ideas, like Rod

Drury’s challenge that all NZ domestic flights be on electric planes within 10 years. Or that we might move forward our NZ ‘pest free’ goal to 2030. Or that PanPac might build a local biorefinery instead of letting some upstart called Futurity do it in Gisborne instead. And indeed, some crisp ideas did surface. Soil expert Phyllis was true to form. She proposed making Hawke’s Bay the “World’s First Mycorrhizal Region” – this has something to do with converting pine slash, of which we have plenty, into a high value soil nutrient which we could use ourselves and export. [This probably bears examination on another occasion!] More relatable – I’ll bet – to many of our readers was another of her suggestions, this one to perk up our tourism sector: Becoming a mecca for “End of life awareness experiences, featuring guided psychedelic therapy”. I can see this being a great tonic for our dreary winter season. Do you have to be an out-of-towner … or near death? Seriously, Phyllis offered a comprehensive, thoughtful reform package that integrated ‘grow your own’, waste conversion, food and soil health, transportation, housing and other innovations, all building on this theme: “The vision is to utilise our special regional assets to advantage while improving our environment and

quality of life. We have the sunshine, comparatively clean air, the soils and a spirit of innovation that could pull this off. As concerted initiatives with local government backing, these would not only enhance our personal lives but make great media fodder to foster demand for our unique suite of HB products and services.” We’ll publish her full programme with this article on the BayBuzz website. Maxine Boag was also true to form, focusing on the people and social equity side of Hawke’s Bay. She suggested more adoption of the four-day work week. I can hear some cheers. And she proposed using “Doughnut Economics” as our new model to frame decisions and measure success. She’d like to encourage community connectedness – for example, via housing in the CBD to enliven it, especially as more people are working from home and retailers are struggling, along with removing barriers for communal ways of living like Papakainga and Urban Habitat Collective. But probably her most provocative suggestion: Pressuring all councils “to look at their ‘heroes and statues and take a stand… where does one stop? A worthwhile exercise could be to look at the history of our colonial heroes including Charles James Napier, who helped quash the indigenous people of India;

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Havelock, Hastings, Clive, all named by Dommett after so-called British heroes in the colonisation of India. There were some brutal battles which we now have named streets and suburbs after – for example, Meeanee from the battle of Miani, where Napier’s army won (“I have Scinde”, his most famous pun/ quote after conquering Scinde).” “Maybe it’s time for us to look at those names (none of which celebrates anything local – or even anyone who ever visited here!) and consider replacing or co-naming with Māori names. Even McLean, who in the eyes of many Māori enabled enormous tracts of land to be taken from mana whenua, needs to be looked at by all of us from the eyes of those who he helped dispossess of their land.” Maxine’s key theme: “The current striking inequities between Māori (also Pasifika) and Pākehā in terms of health, justice, education, housing, wealth, well-being are enormous and maybe now is a good time for us to sit down with our Treaty partners and ask how these can be overcome in our ‘reboot’.” But then my request for ‘boldness’ got out of control, reaching far beyond more of us HBers simply working from home more!

Maybe revolution instead?

David Trubridge lit the fire by calling for the ‘taming of capitalism’. “All our ills today, from racism to climate change, from air pollution to ocean destruction, from wars to refugees and migrants, are caused by capitalism. Black lives really matter right now, but it is not just black lives, it is also brown ones and poor ones, and women, and wild animals and trees and coral reefs—LIFE matters. Western lifestyles are predicated on devastating poor countries globally and poor communities locally, on ripping up their land

62 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

for mines, cutting down their forests, hoovering up their fish and enslaving their people in sweatshops. But we are all slaves to capitalism … “It will not happen under any of the western leftish oppositions, such as Labour or Democrats, as they too are part of the system … Only massive change will solve all these problems and that will require a massive fight. ‘They’ own the guns and will not give up easily.” But he eventually pragmatically tones down: “I deliberately said “tame capitalism” not because I have any desire to see it continue, but because I think doing that has the best chance of getting somewhere. To talk of alternatives like revolution, socialism or, god forbid, communism, will scare far too many people off and we will get nowhere.” Paul Paynter then rose in defence of capitalism. In his historical view, “The progress in bringing the emerging world out of poverty is quite remarkable and mostly based on capitalism and free trade.” And he proffered World Bank charts to back it up. “For me the problem is a failure of government in terms of good regulation. Governments start wars, manage immigration, foreign investment, tax law, financial regulation and a whole lot of things that have caused endless problems. We have capitalism for the poor and socialism for the rich … there is no material difference between National and Labour.” His concession to ‘taming’ capitalism: “I agree we can easily become slaves to capitalism until we can quench our desire or abandon it. The same is true of conquest, lust, gluttony and a myriad of other things. We’re not good with temptation. Again it isn’t capitalism, but human nature

reflecting itself in a capitalist domain.” “I don’t think profit or capitalism is inherently evil. Profit becomes bad when the shareholders are disconnected with the employees and the community. Most small business people I know take huge personal risks in starting businesses, are kind to their staff and have broader community interests. They are not the rapacious profit-at-all-costs types. So it’s big corporations, particularly multinationals that are the worry. A shareholder in NY doesn’t care about what impacts a mine has in the Philippines or how many die down the shaft.” His solution: “The most realistic (and I’d say best) solution is to fix capitalism … My worry is that the alternative put up is socialism, which killed off 100-200 million people in the 20th century (Russia and China are cagey on the exact number) and revealed most of the vices of human nature even more viciously as capitalism has.” Bruce Bisset then jumped in bare-knuckled as always: “Capitalism is a greed-based system that relies on a fiction (money) to work ... at the cost of the world’s most precious resources, which are both real and finite.” At the root of it is debt: “…where it went wrong was as soon as someone realised you could use money itself to make more money... and consequently enslave people with debt.” Some support from Paynter: “The ultimate collapse is going to be of the financial system, most likely.” Bisset then utters a heresy that few will admit to, certainly not politicians: “What we need – as a country and a planet, not just Hawke’s Bay – is to re-focus on a ‘degrowth’ economy, one that centralises people and communities and, preferably, does away with the profit motive altogether.” “People see this ‘pastoral fortress

Our panel: ecologist/designer David Trubridge, columnist Bruce Bisset, our own iconoclast, orchardist Paul Paynter, social advocate Maxine Boag and farming ‘radical’ Phyllis Tichinin. mentality’ as somehow bad. On the contrary: it’s a living future, as opposed to a dead one. And New Zealand is one of very few places in the world where it could be successfully done – to sustainable, lasting effect.”

Just how bad is it?

Trubridge says: “Everyone has to accept that we never had it so good as preCovid, and never will again. That is the cost of saving human life as we know it. From here on it gets tough or we go bung — which will be a lot tougher!” And it’s affecting our kids: “If you asked any young person today about how they feel, you would expose an enormous sense of anxiety. It is endemic in schools — ask any teacher. And this is because of the climate crisis and a growing awareness of the instability of human existence. That is a massive black cloud hanging over us! Yes we have never had it so good — but at what devastating cost?” Bisset argues: “The problem with – ‘Yes the system’s bad, but we can fix it if we take more care’ … is that it’s predicated on the basis of endless resources. Driving off the cliff in a Tesla instead of a Chevy. It also relies on another little thing we have no more of … time. Because regardless of the make of vehicle, we are already over the cliff, and falling. All we can do now is try to make the landing as soft as possible.” But instead of “deploying a parachute”, we’re on a path to “hit the ground hard” … “The world’s resources are both finite and rapidly being exhausted through capitalist greed. This makes collapse to barbarism likely within our grandchildren’s lifetimes.” Paynter seems ambivalent. On the one hand: “Capitalism and democracy drive me crazy, but they have delivered the best world we’ve ever had. On the whole this is the fairest, kindest,

richest, freest society in history … this is roughly the best time in history to be alive and the majority of people in most countries would take the deal today over the way it was 100 or 500 or 2000 years ago when short lives and brutal tyrannies were ubiquitous.” But in the end: “I agree that a hard landing and barbarism is the mostly likely outcome eventually. Democracy will ensure it, but the alternatives have limited appeal. The best policies are inconvenient and always get watered down for votes.”

Where does this philosophising lead?

For Trubridge: recommendations that include a resilient independent economy for NZ, taxes that incentivize buying domestically, community control over environmental decisions, transitioning to only renewable fuels (no carbon off-setting) and ban ICE vehicles from urban centres.” Paynter: “I think Technology is our only hope and there are some potentially huge breakthroughs on energy production in the works. “Also the best thing is to make the poorer parts of the world richer fast. This makes them more aware of the environment and much less likely to have so many kids. I think we could have a falling population in 30 years.” And Bisset: Community governance and land use reform: “…the ‘grow more/export more’ corporate model needs to be done away with, by repurposing large farms into sustainable family- and community-based enterprises whose main purpose is simply to sustain those working the land.”

What are they going to do?

Given their rather bleak view of our future, how do these guys plan to proceed?

Trubridge: “The best we can do is build our local communities and work out from there … constantly plug away with our message and try to encourage enough of those in the middle to oppose racism, to not buy sweatshop labour, to just not buy all the stuff that we don’t need and that is killing people and life.” Paynter: “I’m going to start by being as good a capitalist as my nature allows … This is a limp solution I admit.” And, “You can only build a better situation by changing what you can. Then maybe you can inspire friends, neighbours & the ripples can make a difference.” Bisset: “I am still trying to make what difference I can for whatever that’s worth … knowing it won’t last; knowing my children are likely doomed to live lives of unrelenting hardship and despair. What else can I do? Nothing except urge those of you who have some bounce and sway to sew like crazy to make that parachute.” And he gets the last word: “IF you’re at least trying to make a difference, at base, that’s all any of us can do. That, and hold to a smidgen of hope.”

I’ll wager that some readers are responding negatively to the gloomy pessimism of these gents. To that I would say, none of these individuals has given up the fight. They care about matters of consequence to us all. Each is determined to influence change, still trying to avoid the future they fear is upon us. And that goes for Phyllis and Maxine as well. How many of us can say that? Editor’s Note: The full exchange amongst these rabble-rousers will be posted on the BayBuzz website, where you can join the discussion.

JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 63

Election Issues

CA N N A B I S

Normalising Cannabis

Illustration: Israel Smith

Election Issues CA N N A B I S

“Kiwis are going to smoke cannabis no matter the law. Isn’t this a waste of the justice system’s time and money? Haven’t the Police got better things to do? Aren’t we better to face the reality that 80 per cent of Kiwis are going to try this at some point in their lives?” Former prime minister Helen Clark By Mark Sweet On the first Saturday of bar freedom after Covid-19 lockdown, Wellington’s Courtney Place is closed to vehicles, making it easier to keep the 2-metre distance rule while walking the strip. It’s midnight, and as I stroll, the unmistakable smell of cannabis drifts my way. Outside the Malthouse I see a man accepting a roll-up cigarette from his companion. They’re obviously sharing a joint. I catch the man’s eye, and teasingly sniff the air. “Wanna puff, bro?” he says, offering. “Thanks man, love to,” I say, keeping my distance, “Can’t smoke anymore.” I tap my chest, and fake a cough. But it’s true. After forty years of smoking tobacco, often sprinkled with cannabis, my lungs can’t take any more. Coming towards us are two police officers. They will have seen, as I did, the men having a toke, but as the cops pass by, they simply nod their heads and carry on their way, taking the soft approach to enforcing the law on cannabis, as Police have been mostly doing for years. It might have been different, however, if the lads sharing a joint were Māori, who in 2019 data represented 44% of low-level drug offenders, while comprising 16% of the population. The up-coming referendum on the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill is recognition of the current situation. “Kiwis are going to smoke cannabis no matter the law,” says former prime

minister Helen Clark, and, “Isn’t this a waste of the justice system’s time and money? Haven’t the Police got better things to do? Aren’t we better to face the reality that 80 per cent of Kiwis are going to try this at some point in their lives?” she told Stuff on 3 September 2019. Clark is recognising each year we spend around $200 million and over 300,000 police hours on cannabis enforcement and convictions, resources better employed to protect the public from serious crime. The title of the bill reveals its purpose: to control the use of cannabis, similar to the way the State controls alcohol and tobacco, the main features being:

cannabis among people of legal age. • Regulated sale of cannabis plant and seed for home cultivation, “including the requirement to keep children and underage individuals safe”. • Regulated sale of both edibles and cannabis concentrates. It will be legal to make your own edibles at home – but not your own concentrates, because the process is dangerous. • A complete ban on cannabis advertising and restrictions on marketing. • No importation of cannabis unless by a government-licensed wholesaler for the current market “to minimise the consequence of an illegal trade.”

• A legal age of use and purchase of 20. Unlike alcohol, cannabis will not be consumed under the legal age, even with parental permission and it will be an offence to provide it to someone under 20. • Regulation of the potency of cannabis products. • A state licensing scheme for all stages of cannabis production and manufacture. • The restriction of the consumption of cannabis to private homes and specifically licensed premises. • Restriction of sales to licensed physical stores only – no online sales. • The inclusion of health and harm minimisation messaging in the marketing and retailing of cannabis. • Recognition of and permission for “social sharing” of small quantities of

Minister of Justice, Andrew Little, has stated that: “The primary objective of the legislation is to reduce overall cannabis use and limit the ability of young people to access cannabis.” The cynical side of me says: “Good luck with that.” Youth have always been able to access cannabis if they really want to. My first joint was at school on a Sunday afternoon in 1971 supplied by another boy. I was seventeen. All I can remember is laughing a lot, and later pretending to be sick, so I didn’t have to read the lesson at evening chapel. Being more interested in high level fitness and athletics than ‘getting high’ with substances, a few years passed before smoking cannabis became a habit. By then I’d finished uni and was working at Auckland City Council,

JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 65

Election Issues CA N N A B I S

We know cannabis use by youth can ruin lives. There is ample research confirming inhibition of brain development, and young users developing mental health problems, which can lead to tragic outcomes.

and me and fellow trainees, Peter and Richard, would regularly meet on the roof of the council building to share a spliff at morning tea break. Peter moved to Australia and we lost touch, but from afar I’ve witnessed Richard rise to the top of his career, nurture a family, be active in community, and all this time, over 40 years, he’s been a regular cannabis user. He grows his own in a carefully-tended vegetable garden, including fruit trees and vines. And Craig, another friend from the same time, Auckland 1976, who much preferred Buddha sticks to homegrown, is a school principal with an excellent reputation. These days he smokes pot on holidays and weekends, and despairs at inconsistency of supply. He dare not grow his own for fear of losing his job. Normalising cannabis, because it is normal for many, is a positive of the referendum. Craig will be legally allowed to grow up to four plants, as Richard has done for years, now unrestrained to cultivate primo clones. They can gift up to 14 grams to friends but selling cannabis is strictly restricted to government-approved outlets. I don’t know how Richard educated his now adult children about his cannabis use, or if he tried to hide it, as so many parents of my generation chose to do. I did, until I found a bong (cannabis pipe) under a bed, when cleaning up after a sleepover. My daughter was up front saying the bong belonged to a boy, and that she didn’t like smoking weed. One of her friends boldly declared she much preferred alcohol, and cannabis was more ‘a boy thing.’ A discussion followed,

66 • BAYBUZZ • JULY/AUGUST 2020

and the girls talked about the boys they knew who smoked a lot, soon losing motivation to study and play sport, some leaving school as soon as they could, and some becoming depressed and seriously withdrawn. We know cannabis use by youth can ruin lives. There is ample research confirming inhibition of brain development, and young users developing mental health problems, which can lead to tragic outcomes. I have a friend whose routine was to finish his working day with a glass of wine and a joint. He didn’t hide, but he didn’t explain. His son first raided his stash when 14 years old, and my friend didn’t suspect until it was too late. His son was addicted to meth by 18, and dead by his own hand before his 21st birthday. The age restriction of 20 for purchase of cannabis is backed up with harsh penalties for those who supply to underaged – up to $150,000 fine for a business or four years’ jail for an individual. A person under-age found in possession of cannabis will not lead to a conviction. Rather they will receive a health-based response such as an education session, social or health service, and possibly pay a small fee or fine. This is a major feature. Youth cannabis use is being treated as a health issue, not a crime. “We don’t want to criminalise a younger offender, but we do want to criminalise those seeking to exploit or take advantage of young people,” Justice Minister Andrew Little told the Herald. Funding for cannabis education, prevention and treatment will come from licence fees and taxes estimated to be in excess of $400 million per annum. It helps that Andrew Little is on

record as being a communicative parent, so he knows young people have ready access to all drugs, pretty much in equal measure, be it cannabis from a tinny house, booze bought by a mate with ID, or meth exchanged for cash in McDonald’s car park, no ID required. And today’s favourite drug with party/dance culture, youth and older, MDMA, is readily purchased online with the Snapchat app. In New Zealand, only alcohol and tobacco are controlled and taxed, with recognition they cause serious health issues for some users. Advertising is restricted, harm prevention and treatment initiatives are offered. The referendum is about treating cannabis in the same way, with the emphasis on harm reduction to our youth, decriminalisation for adult users, and offering help for addiction, same as alcoholism. Implementation of legislation will be undertaken by the Cannabis Regulatory Authority. They will grant licences to growers and retail suppliers, who can’t be both. And the picture seems to be that retail outlets will be cannabis ‘coffee shops’ where customers can consume, and purchase up to 14 grams of product, as well as plants for growing at home. My fellow pensioner friends who still enjoy cannabis, but no longer smoke, make edibles – costini and cookies – from concentrated butter reduction. Hopefully after the general election on September 19, it won’t be illegal for me to tell them … “It is essential to toast the chopped cannabis in the oven before adding to the melted butter. Then simmer gently for an hour, or more. Sieve, pour into jars, and keep in the fridge.”

Election Issues

E N D O F L I FE C H OI C E

End of life choice: facts not FUDs

Who is eligible for assisted dying?

Is the person 18 years of age or over?

YES 2

By Dr Libby Smales Thinking about where and how we might die is important for all of us. On September 19, 2020 we are expecting an election and a very important moment in NZ history, a binding referendum asking all Kiwis to vote on whether MP David Seymour’s End of Life Choice (EOLC) Act, should become law. Something, repeated polls tell us, that 70% of us regard as necessary. “What you see and hear is influenced by where you stand: it also depends on what sort of a person you are.” (C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew) Our decisions are influenced by our own experiences; the experiences, opinions and decisions of those we respect and trust; by the emotional impact of relevant stories; by relating the issues to our own lives … and by facts and figures.

‘FUD’

A ‘fact’ is a thing certainly known to be true, datum of experience, something whose existence cannot be ignored. And then there’s a ‘FUD’, a term coined by Andrew Denton in his submission to the Justice Select Committee in March 2018. Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt, sow a seed of FUD and reap a whole harvest of hesitation. I prefer to spell it FUDD adding Distortion to the list. In NZ, as in many other countries, these tactics have been used by some of those

who oppose law change, particularly the Care Alliance (CA). This umbrella group includes the very well-funded Catholic Church (approximately 10% of Kiwis are registered as Catholic, about a quarter of these go to church) and several other small faith-based organisations. If your faith precludes you contemplating ending your own suffering by legally ending your life, that is your choice, nothing need change for you when this legislation is passed. Sadly, for the dying, the CA also includes Hospice New Zealand, who have surprised many of us by aligning themselves in this way. The EOLC bill and hospice/palliative care (H/PC) share the same aim, to reduce the suffering of the dying and enable us to live well until we die. Data from USA, Canada, Europe tells us that not only have funding and standards of H/PC improved where EOLC is legal, it has been successfully integrated into end of life care, working with H/ PC services. (Submission Australian Medical Association (WA) to the Ministerial Expert Panel on Voluntary Assisted Dying. Strategy Outline.) What I want to do is to remind you of the FACTS, which will help dismiss the FUDDS, so that anyone who reads this can make sure they are standing in a well-informed place to make their best decision.

Not Eligible

Is the person a NZ citizen or permanent resident?

YES 3.

Not Eligible

Does the person suffer from a terminal illness likely to end their life within 6 months?

YES

Not Eligible

4. Is the person in an advanced state of irreversible decline in physical capability? YES 5

Not Eligible

Does the person experience unbearable suffering that cannot be relieved in a manner considered tolerable to them? This means that the person’s pain or suffering cannot be adequately alleviated through treatment that is available.

YES 6

Not Eligible

Is the person competent to make an informed decision about assisted dying?

YES

Not Eligible

If YES at every step - this person would be eligible to make a request

JULY/AUGUST 2020 • BAYBUZZ • 67

Election Issues

E N D O F L I FE C H O I C E

NZ’s proposed law is one of the most conservative in the world, with strict criteria and multiple safeguards. Our own experience

Between 500,000 and 1,000,000 of us in NZ already know or have known someone who has suffered a truly horrible death (Horizon Polls). Many of us also know someone who ended their life to end their suffering, approximately one Kiwi per week, 50 per year. I know three people, all under the care of H/PC who did so. Those with that firsthand experience need no convincing that this law is long overdue, our job is to vote YES and to encourage others to study the facts and vote YES too.

Experience of others

In NZ we have access to decades of recorded data from other jurisdictions who have already changed their law. I have spent many hours reading, checking and double checking, looking for failings in the laws and breaches of them. I have found no evidence to support the FUDDs list, below. What I have found is a very large collection of well referenced, competent, independent research demonstrating that, as Dr David Leaf has pointed out, ‘Such laws are working well, worldwide … Numerous independent audits of existing laws from several jurisdictions have shown them to be safe.” (Primary Care Lecturer at the University of NSW) I have listened to and read true stories of terrible deaths and lonely ‘self-euthanasia’, a term introduced by historian John Weaver, to distinguish between this group of dying people ending their lives to end unbearable suffering, and those who suicide for other reasons. John spent a decade researching a century of suicide in NZ. (John Weaver, Sorrows of a Century, Interpreting Suicide in NZ) Thankfully, I have also heard and read stories of the immense relief of knowing you are able to end unbearable suffering when necessary, freeing up dying patients and their families to make the very best of the time they have left, of deep and precious conversations, of calm, peaceful deaths supported by the people who

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matter. The following collections of stories are valuable: Andrew Denton, The Damage Done, published by Go Gentle Australia. Jack Havill and David Barber, Dying Badly. Rodney Syme, A Good Death published by Melbourne University Press. The Inescapable Truth, published by Dignity in Dying, UK. This collection of stories details the suffering that even excellent hospice/palliative care cannot address. Warning: these are true, harrowing testimonies from real people about real deaths. In the meantime, laws are working well in ten states in the US, in Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Canada, Colombia, and Victoria in Australia. Western Australia has passed a law which will be implemented this year. NZ’s proposed law is one of the most conservative in the world, with strict criteria and multiple safeguards (see eligibility chart). Similar to the Australian and Canadian laws, it should not be compared with the different, more liberal legislation of the Netherlands.

Figures

The number of deaths, 33,000 annually in NZ, will be unchanged by this law. But for the dying, suffering unbearably, how we die, can be profoundly changed – no more will die, fewer will suffer. Approximately one-third of deaths are under hospice/palliative care, though most do not die in hospice. Research tells us 2-5% H/PC patients still suffer unbearably as they die: ‘Pain and other symptoms can be helped, complete relief of suffering is not always possible, even with optimal palliative care’ (Palliative Care Australia). And that 20% of us experience moderate to severe pain during our last 24 hours (Wollongong University Health Services Unit, collected data from 160 hospices across Australia). Where do we die? Most of us would like to die peacefully at home in our own beds. Most of us do not. Some of us die in acute hospitals, but already more of us die in rest homes than

anywhere else. Rest home staff do an amazing job; however, they are often poorly trained in H/PC, poorly paid, poorly supported, poorly supervised, and overworked.

The patient to staff ratios: Hospice: 3:1 Hospital: 6:1 Rest Home: 20-30 How many of us in NZ need this law each year? We do not have direct figures; we have to work them out. Overseas, the numbers who access the legislation are small: 0.4% of deaths in Oregon, 2% in Belgium. Somewhere between 30-40% of patients who access the legislation/medication do not actually use it. So, in NZ with 33,000 deaths/year and 11,000 of those under H/PC, approximately 2-5% of these suffering unbearably – 200-550 suffer unbearably as they die. (We do not have figures for suffering in other circumstances.) Between 0.4% of deaths in Oregon, 2% in Belgium, are EOLC. Using 1%, approximately 330 Kiwis would access this law. I do not view these numbers as small. They demonstrate that things are not fine as they are. And the clinical reality is that better funding for H/PC cannot remove the suffering that is inevitable in too many cases. At the same time, the overseas experience cited above establishes that access to choice has not been abused. “In the end, I was left to reflect on what I would want in the face of my own death. I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain. I am certain however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this Bill, and I wouldn’t deny that right to others.” (Governor Gerry Brown, in supporting California’s End of Life law enactment) I too wonder what I would do then. What I do know now, is I choose Choice.

END OF LI FE C H OI C E

Election Issues

What are the safeguards under the End of Life Choice Act?

Patient-initiated discussion Doctors and other health professionals are not permitted to raise the issue of assisted dying with their terminally ill patients.

created to oversee assisted dying). Both doctors must agree that the person meets all of the eligibility requirements.

Assessment by a psychiatrist Fully informed consent The End of Life Choice Act requires that the person’s doctor fully informs the person requesting an assisted death of the details of their condition, their prognosis, and their other options for care at the end of their life. The doctor must ensure that the person has had the chance to speak to family, friends and counsellors about their decision. The doctor must also check, to the best of their ability, that the person is making their decision to request an assisted death freely, without any pressure from any other person. If at any time the attending medical practitioner suspects pressure, they must take no further action.

Assessment by two doctors The End of Life Choice Act requires that a person’s eligibility (meeting every criterion outlined on page 67) is assessed by two doctors. The first doctor must be the person’s attending medical practitioner. The second must be an independent doctor appointed by the SCENZ Group (a public body that will be

Smarter Thinking Online.

If either one of the doctors is unsure that the person is competent (able to understand the nature and consequences of assisted dying), then a psychiatrist must assess the person’s competence. This psychiatrist will also be appointed by the SCENZ Group to conduct this assessment.

Change of mind The End of Life Choice Act requires that the person is able to change their mind at any time from the time of the first request for assisted dying. This is up to and including the time that the medication is provided to the person.

prepare standards of care; to advise on medical and legal procedures; to provide practical assistance if it is requested. The SCENZ Group will appoint a review committee consisting a medical ethicist, and two medical practitioners, one of whom practises in the area of end of life care. The Review Committee must consider reports of every procedure carried out. The Review Committee will report its satisfaction or otherwise to the registrar. A registrar will be appointed to make and maintain a register of all prescribed forms held, all reports, and all recommendations made by the Review Committee. The registrar must make annual reports to the minister of health. They must also establish a procedure to deal with any complaints about breaches of assisted dying law.

Accountability and reporting The End of Life Choice Act requires the director-general of health to create a body called the SCENZ Group (Support and Consultation for End-of-life in New Zealand). The group’s functions are: to make and maintain lists of medical practitioners, specialists, and pharmacists who are willing to act in relation to assisted dying (and provide these where necessary); to

The prescribed forms The End of Life Choice Act requires forms to be completed at every step of the process. These will be in standard form and require comprehensive information on actions taken. They will be kept on record by the registrar so that accurate reports can be made on requests for assisted dying, and assisted deaths carried out.

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Artist Rosamund Stewart in her Napier studio. Photo: Tom Allan

Culture

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visiting MTG on 29 May to make the funding announcement. Seen here with Stuart Nash MP, Anna Lorck Labour candidate for Heretaunga and Laura Vodanovich (obscured) museum director.

Investing in Art Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement of a government investment of $175 million was very uplifting news for the vulnerable sectors of culture, the visual arts, music and entertainment, and is the most significant government investment in the arts since 2000. Story by Kay Bazzard The Prime Minister made her announcement on her second visit to MTG in Napier on Queen’s Birthday Weekend, and indicated the Government predicts that the arts

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sector will be twice as hard hit as any other sector. “The arts and culture contributes nearly $11 billion to GDP and employs 90,000 people.” She strongly acknowledged the flow-on effects that a healthy creative sector has for other important parts of our economy. The money will be spread widely over the creative sector to support music, performing arts, creative design and visual arts and includes support of music venues and creative job seekers. It will especially benefit the regions in the wake of the Covid-induced recession. Curator at MTG, Toni Mackinnon says, “I think [the Government] has been pretty smart in their distribution of funding.” In a two-pronged approach, funding has been allocated to ‘umbrella organisations’ such as The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, which have a legislative responsibility to support smaller galleries, museums, archives and artists right across the country. An additional injection of contestable funding is aimed at individual artists and organisations, for logistical

support, innovative projects and job creation. This money is where ground-up initiatives will play an important part in the creative industry’s recovery and will see $70 million spent on a Creative Arts Recovery and Employment Fund over three years.

Support for creative sector

At the beginning of lockdown, Creative New Zealand, the national arts development agency, acted nimbly to rearrange their existing funds to provide emergency relief grants for individual artists and an arts continuity grant for organisations forced to halt planned events. The grants were well-subscribed and when taken with the wage subsidy for the self-employed, early losses due to lockdown were addressed. Creative NZ then received $25 million from the Government to support artists in all forms. At the time of writing it is uncertain how much of the funding will come to Hawke’s Bay. Normally, CNZ’s regional funding is allocated through the Creative Communities Fund to which community arts groups apply

Culture

The Hastings City Art Gallery (Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga), after months of not having a director, followed by the lockdown, is now fully in action with newly installed curator Clayton Gibson in place. Hastings City Art Gallery Director, Clayton Gibson. Photo: Tom Allan

by making submissions and receiving allocations. Individual artists and creative arts organisations can also apply directly to CNZ for a range of grants to cover different projects. To fully benefit from the new investment, we must look to our five local authorities to support the arts community to come up with a range of initiatives to draw our share of these funds into Hawke’s Bay arts. It’s an opportunity not to be missed. Ngā Toi Hawke’s Bay is a volunteer advocacy group that lobbies for funding to councils and other agencies, looking to arts communities for initiatives to promote. Until now a lack of funding has prevented them from playing a more effective leadership role in the arts of Hawke’s Bay. Hopefully this will be addressed. Dick Grant is the Ngā Toi Chair. He says, “Ngā Toi’s rôle is to continue to lobby at national, regional, and local levels for ongoing support for the arts, not just broad advocacy work, but also work on getting detailed plans, particularly from the Hastings and Napier councils, for practical outcomes. The councils will

have to consider their arts and cultural spending in the light of restricted budgets. Creative New Zealand has set up emergency funding … but councils too need to get in on the act.” “We need to hear from the sector in what practical ways we can help them beyond our ongoing lobbying,” says Grant. “Amongst these might be ideas like sponsoring/supporting an exhibition for local artists. Another is making Tourism HB aware of the value of the wider arts sector to provide things to see and do to encourage tourism. The biggest problem of all is going to be to find the money to inject into arts and cultural programmes that make this a reality,” he says. Practising artist Rosamund Stewart is a long-time member of the Ngā Toi board (formerly Creative HB) who points to Creative Waikato as an example of what other regions are doing. “Creative Waikato has a budget of $800,000, it employs eight staff and represents all council districts in the wider Waikato region, including Hamilton City. By contrast, in Hawke’s Bay each Creative agency is attached

to its own local authority making it extremely difficult for regional advocate Ngā Toi HB to make headway,” a major reason why the Waikato councils collaborate to fund Creative Waikato. Bowen Gallery co-owner Penney Moir, says, “Lip service is paid to the arts community, but it’s an ongoing battle to get financial support from local bodies. Visual arts, music, theatre, literature contribute hugely to the local tourism dollar take in New Zealand. A small funding contribution in the form of a grant makes an enormous difference to the viability of an arts event. “But to achieve that financial support takes a lot of effort and jumping through hoops,” says Moir, “yet the spend that is generated around arts events supports local administrations and boosts a community’s vitality.” Moir’s view is based on her Wellington experience but is equally valid here.

Galleries of Hawke’s Bay

The Hastings City Art Gallery (Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga), after months of not having a director, followed by the lockdown, is now fully in action with

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Culture newly installed curator Clayton Gibson in place. The proposed interactive (and tactile) exhibition Connect the Dots was postponed until next year and instead, Local Lockdown fills its slot. Here Gibson has invited 16 local artists to present work created during lockdown. This is followed by EAST, the biennial exhibition featuring Hawke’s Bayconnected artwork. Private gallery owners say sales are seriously down, although some report sales to locals redirecting their overseas travel budgets. Napier’s Richard Boyd-Dunlop says his gallery is missing the tourist dollars and his online sales don’t make up the shortfall. The galleries and independent working artists who worked really hard on their online presence did make some reasonable sales though. The transition into online marketing is very pronounced since the advent of Covid-19 and no doubt that is the way forward for the art market, just as it is with other business sectors. Kaye McGarva of Muse Gallery says, “In some ways it is still a little early to see how the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic affects our business. Art projects were put on hold by the restrictions, but in the first two weeks at Level 2 we saw strong sales of art. Our sense now is that is starting to slide a little, but then normally over winter we see a slowing of sales anyway.” Muse presents its first exhibition in early July under Level 1 showing local artist

Richard Brimer, with a full schedule of exhibitions for the rest of the year. McGarva sees the role of her gallery changing. As part of Muse’s new focus, she is working on two projects outside the gallery that will promote their artists and be of benefit to the community. By working more closely with the community Muse is also striving to get closer to their online audience. The upgrade of their website will include the facilitation of online sales.

Upcoming arts events

It is great to hear that plans for the Wildflower Sculpture Exhibition 2020 are going ahead with the wildflower seedbeds prepped and sown and the team at the Russell’s Round Pond Garden preparing for the bi-annual event. Sculptural artists will have their projects underway by now and looking forward to this ever-popular event. Another family initiative for the arts is UKU, the bi-annual ceramics award open to potters and ceramics practitioners from around New Zealand. This year organisers Annette Bull and Natham Crossan have been invited to join the Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival programme in October, with the awards exhibition being the star attraction at the Arts Inc. Heretaunga’s Russell Street gallery. The annual Hawke’s Bay Arts Guide team have announced a studio Arts Trail on Labour Weekend, and Art Guide artists’ exhibition at Arts Inc

Take Our ‘Hawke’s Bay Lives Online’ Survey

Heretaunga July 20-August 1, two opportunities for artists to tap into the domestic tourism spend. Pitsch Leiser of Arts Inc. Heretaunga is the festival director of the Harcourts Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival, the annual celebration of performing arts. “The HBAF stays in its October slot,” he says. “However, the programme format will be focused on national and local productions due to international travel bans,” and he sees it as a unique opportunity to collaborate with a diverse range of performing artists connected to Hawke’s Bay. Also in October, timed with the Blossom Festival, a large-scale cherry blossom sculpture will be revealed in the Landmarks Square on the corner of Warren and Heretaunga Street East. It is designed to be interactive so that it can be climbed through and over, an attraction to children and families. The Landmarks Trust commissioned local sculptor Philipp Meier to design and construct the sculpture as a tribute to the late mayor of Hastings, Jeremy Dwyer. The Prime Minister’s announcement presents our region with opportunities to enhance the quality of life through the arts in the face of Covid-induced economic hardship. Everyone involved in the arts sector needs to step up, offer and share ideas, and to speak up, working together to show our councils and funding agencies what we can do and what we want from them.

BayBuzz and NOW are combining to report periodically on the evolving digital habits of Hawke’s Bay residents. We hope you will participate in our benchmark ‘Hawke’s Bay Lives Online’ Survey. Take the survey online here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ nowbaybuzz2020 Please complete the survey by 31 July. We look forward to sharing the results with you and the entire HB community in the next BayBuzz.

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Culture B O O K R E V I E WS / LO UI S E WA R D

The Bookshop is Back After the shock of going into lockdown we face the weirdness of recovery. In the bookshop, going into Level 4 felt abrupt. Even though we knew what was going on, my mind for one didn’t quite process it in time. Good job I’m not in politics. So, we closed up, put signs of love and community on the door with the now familiar sentiment, ‘see you on the other side.’ Now we’re on the other side and navigating the new normal. I think Wardini Books is going to be just fine. Here’s why. We have spent eight years not only being part of the Hawke’s Bay community, but creating our own. We approach our trade as we approach all parts of our lives: people over profit. It’s an angle that’s served us well – apparently booksellers used to be pretty well-off back in the days when ‘shopping local’ wasn’t a bunch of buzz words but just what you did. Booksellers, like many retailers, have been absolutely hammered by offshore retail behemoths whose margins are greater and who are so huge they can manipulate the market. Modern-day booksellers are used to dealing with this kind of nonsense. We have long valued our local communities and had fabulous local support. We nurture a community of readers who love our social media, our staff, our little comfy chairs and our chats. This community immediately came to our emotional rescue by the simple act of staying in touch. I’ve never had so many heartfelt responses to email newsletters, Facebook and Instagram posts: We miss you, will you be OK? I’ll make a list for when you’re open again. One thing this virus has done is given many shoppers a shock – what if I wake up tomorrow and all the cute little shops I take for granted are gone? Hang on, I can prevent this quite easily! I can support them. If I buy my books from my local bookseller where I know

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Photo: Giselle Reid

the people – those real-life people with families and mortgages – I have directly contributed to the recovery and salvation of my community. Jeff Bezos doesn’t need your support, but we do. It’s as simple as that. Never has the shop local sentiment been so important. Yes, you might be able to get books from Amazon (Book Depository, Good Reads and many other ‘household’ names are owned by Amazon: see the manipulation comment above). You might think you can get them faster, but Covid-19 has levelled the playing field for booksellers a bit. There are few freight flights, everything is coming by sea. You’re going to have to wait, slow down, have patience, all these things we’ve learned by staying home and have vowed not to forget. You can phone your bookseller, pop in now that you’re allowed to, and browse what is already on the shelves. The key to recovery in my trade will be the same as that of the recovery of the team of five million. Patience, kindness, understanding that if your book is taking four weeks to get here instead of just one that it’s because of the global situation. Publishers have delayed release dates, distributors are scrambling to get books out at short notice with no fast, efficient means of freighting; couriers (my heart goes out to couriers) are overworked, under resourced and blamed left right and Chelsea. Our trade industry, Booksellers NZ, leapt into action with the hashtag

#BookshopsWillBeBack and kept in touch with the nation, offering giveaways of book tokens across their channels. The nation responded with epic tales of why they loved their bookshops. I believe booksellers to be a unique breed. We banded together, supported one another practically and emotionally, acknowledging our fragilities and our strengths. #BookshopsAreBack in all their glory and here’s what’s happening at Wardini Books: real life booksellers recommending books in person, by email and phone; book clubs happening virtually and in appropriately spaced out person; schools receiving boxes of books on appro and reading our Adele’s reviews on her website What Book Next; our Nigel and Wardini playing postie and making free local deliveries; our booksellers gift wrapping, writing cards of love, sympathy, joy on behalf of distant friends and relatives. This isn’t just a job or a bunch of transactions for us. There is real connection, a genuine will to provide comfort and help, the providing of a tribe, a place of refuge for readers of all kinds. We’re back. We need our community and our community needs us. That’s why we’ll survive. Editor’s Note: All of our locally-owned book shops can well-use your reading love and support … Poppies, Humanity, Beattie & Forbes, like Wardini, have all been friends of BayBuzz.

FLORENCE CHARVIN PHOTOGRAPHER

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Culture FO O D / A L E XA N D R A T Y L E E

Something Has Shifted All small- to medium-sized business owners – and restaurant owners in particular – are up for stuff. I remember a few months into owning my first business in Wellington, I realized that the nagging feeling I had – which felt like somewhere between having an important essay due and abseiling down a cliff without a safety rope – was never going to go away. So, I placed it somewhere way in the bottom of my belly where it happily hums away at such a regular pitch that I very rarely notice it. But these last few months have tested us all in ways that feel completely new. There are always unexpected things happening, but, in the past, they fell into recognizable categories. Staff calling in sick, equipment breaking down … everyone wanting pizza at 6.30pm! But Covid threw us all into a place where at times it became hard to recognize ourselves or our business. Some of this was positive. Lockdown gave Chris and I the complete break that every business adviser had tried but failed to get us to take. We got to understand what it feels like to have week after week of home-cooked dinners (or in fact a dinner at all) when usually one or two a week is great. And to wake up in the morning knowing pretty much how the day was going to go. I managed to put worrying about Pipi to one side as, unlike every other problem we have faced in the past, this was completely out of our control. There was nothing (for the moment) we could do so I was able to enjoy the bliss of uninterrupted time with our sons in the bucolic Poukawa countryside in autumn. But already that feels like something that happened to someone else. Since the country has moved out of Level 4, we have been in a holding pattern. Level 3 was great for us as we had been using a mobile app in the restaurant for about a year so we could hit the ground running with online ordering. But when we moved to Level 2 and

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we were at last able to have people in our dining room, things did not go so smoothly. The nature of restaurants relies on everyone feeling completely comfortable being in close proximity to each other. This is especially true of a space like Pipi, where diners sit very close together and often end up sharing a table and a conversation. So, by the time we had taken out enough tables to ensure that if someone sneezed or coughed no one else would be on the firing line, our room looked and felt very different.

I feel that one very positive thing to come out of this is that now we have a precedent for dramatic change. If the world can make the huge adjustment it has for Covid, then now we know it can also do this to help slow down and reverse climate change. But it wasn’t just the lack of tables that made it feel different, there was still an underlying unease in the room – no one quite knew how they should be behaving or what was expected of them. I mostly make decisions based on feel. I do allow my head or someone else’s to have some say in the conversation. But ultimately if things don’t feel right then I will not be able to rest until I have changed things until they do. It was lovely having people back in our dining room for the few days that we opened at the beginning of Level 2. However, it felt so odd and once it started to get busy it became impossible to comply with the Government’s spacing restrictions. So, we decided to go back to just doing takeaways and deliveries until we were able to run our restaurant on our terms. I have always been an optimist by nature, but now I am also one by necessity. Every time I turn on

National radio there is someone talking about our industry and it is not always pleasant listening. Especially when the word ‘pivot’ comes up in the conversation over and over again. Business owners are all the champions of pivot. We perfected the art of pivoting when that guy on the radio was still in shorts. And sometimes you run out of ways to pivot or to do so would be too uncomfortable for your business or yourself. And then there are the people who have taken to predicting this and predicting that, but I never understand this. Maybe 50 years ago people behaved in predictable ways, but not anymore. If Covid has done anything it has made an unpredictable market even more unpredictable. But hey, as I said, I am an optimist. I knew what I was getting into when I opened a restaurant and anyway it is not just a restaurant. Well not to me anyway. It is what I do. It reflects how I feel about life and how I want the world to be. And I think this is true of a lot of hospitality people. We are all addicted to the adrenaline that is released during a busy service. The mad crazy dance that is required to make sure everything goes as planned and table 3 get their duck confit and their margherita at the same time and in perfect condition. It is a bit like being in an opening night of a play over and over again … every night is different and you don’t quite know what is going to happen. And now – fingers crossed and well done to everyone – it looks like we are going to be able to open the doors wide … well at least to our fellow country people. We are all just looking forward to being able to run our restaurants, bars and café’s as we like to run them. And as long as the whole country has not gorged itself silly on sourdough and My Food Bag meals during lockdown and are on a nil-by-mouth diet, hopefully things will go back to normal very soon.

C ONSCIENTIOUS R ESPONSIVE INSIGHTFUL SUPPORTIVE P ROFESSIONAL

Photo: Florence Charvin

Actually, maybe going back to how things were is not quite what is required. I began to get a feeling during lockdown and it has been getting stronger as the weeks go on, that it would be a real pity, after this huge thing that is Covid is over, if things returned to normal. Something has shifted and I feel huge pressure to shift along with it. What exactly this will mean for me and for Pipi I am only just starting to find out, but I really hope that countries, and businesses, as well as individuals, feel the same way. I feel that one very positive thing to come out of this is that now we have a precedent for dramatic change. If the world can make the huge adjustment it has for Covid, then now we know it can also do this to help slow down and reverse climate change. And while Pipi is not an oil company, I am hoping we can make changes that will make us more sustainable. A huge part of

what restaurants do is to gather people together, keep conversations going, and allow people to feel part of a community. And this helps us all to feel inclined to and gives us the strength to not only recognize what needs to change, but also to care enough about each other to do something about making this change happen. We are in a position where we can look back with a little bit of perspective. If I were to try and sum up my feelings so far, I would say well the hum in my belly sounds a bit like a chorus of Himalayan monks chanting OM. It will not be settling down any time this year I don’t think. Compared to hospitality operations in some parts of the country that rely on overseas tourists, I think we are lucky and I really feel for them. As for the future; well right now I am concentrating on lots of new dishes for our menu and making Pipi a safe happy, sustainable place to be.

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Culture L ET T E R FR O M T H E C O UN T RY / M A RY KI P P ENB ERGER

Lockdown’s Lessons I need to say this quietly. I need to say this with the knowledge and understanding that for many this has been a frightening, heart-breaking and challenging time, but … For me, lockdown was wonderful. For the past thirty years I have dragged my whānau lurching from event to project to yet another one of my very good ideas. I would look at the calendar and assure myself and anyone willing to listen that after this particular commitment things would slow down and some roses could be smelled. But it never happened. The phone would ring, the request made and the affirmation given. And then everything changed. I was sitting in the carpark, Countdown Waipukurau, 1.30pm on a Monday in March. Jacinda made the announcement and we stepped into history. In 30 years’ time school children will be writing projects on the lockdown. It will be THE LOCKDOWN. Upper case all the way. They will be interviewing my grandchildren and maybe even my children who will be elderly, unlike myself, who will by then have composted nicely. Time stopped. We ground to a halt. Our gigs, events and obligations evaporated. I found myself glued to the 1pm news. Watching as the world imploded. I have unwittingly been preparing for lockdown for decades. I would joke as the toilet paper mountain grew, as the four boxes of surgical face masks bought for 48c a box (same box now selling for $55 in a supermarket near you!) were tucked away in my groaning storeroom. I became the joke. Facebook was my witness. The woman who couldn’t pass a bargain and had to shop in multiples. However lockdown didn’t become the justification I imagined. It made me realise that I was just contributing to the world’s potential demise. Stuff that cluttered, stuff that glittered, stuff that would end up in landfill.

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Lockdown made me realise that pyjamas were comfortable day wear; that not showering every day was okay and saved water; that Zoom couldn’t replace hugs but could replace unnecessary travel; that for many Year 12 and 13 students, self-directed learning was positive; that it was okay for me to insist my mokopuna learned how to garden. Lockdown seemed a kinder time. In a crisis we are good at saying hello and meaning it. I cried a lot. I cried when Jacinda told us that the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny were essential workers. I cried when people gathered at the end of their drives and stood in silence to honour the veterans. I cried at every act of kindness, every innovative decision made to help those who couldn’t. I lost count of the days and revelled in my garden. How lucky was I to have a garden and a husband who was willing to dig trenches, cut down dead willows and transport said willow to my developing hügelkultur bed. I bored Facebook with daily updates of cow poo, leaves, vegetation, compost as I lasagne-layered my new 18-metre bed. Two metres in height this bed will reward us with vegetables for twenty-five years, no watering, no feeding. Magic in our Central Hawke’s Bay drought-prone home.

So where to from here? I want to feel assured that my grandchildren and their children and all the children I will never meet will have a planet able to sustain and care for them. Papatūānuku has sent a clear message. Do we shut the planet down for a month every year, do we cut the working week and increase our leisure industry? Do we have a good hard look at our distribution of wealth? Do we investigate the basic income? Do we redefine the concept of work? What do we really need for a happy life? Do we look at more communal ways of living. Traditional Māori structures could hold answers, the respect for whenua, the balance of what you take and what you return, the sharing of resources, the living together as whānau and wider whānau, the wisdom of tradition and kaumātua. So many questions, so little time. It is not on our side. I promised myself that I wouldn’t leap back into life’s gallop. I’ve had a crack at saying no. It’s not too bad, but I did promise to write a play so must get on. A heartfelt thank you to all our essential workers, to our government, for being lucky enough to live in Aotearoa and a special hug reserved for Jacinda. I thank all the deities and non-deities for this wahine toa.

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21 November 2020

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