SHORE PEOPLE
Relaxing, reading, watching… love summer! What a fantastic summer it’s been on the Shore. After such a tough year it has been great to relax, do nothing, read a book, watch Netflix or Neon… ahhh bliss! We thought we would talk to some prominent North Shore people about their summer break and provide our readers with some tips for great books and what to watch as this summer drifts on through the challenges of Omicron etc…
Shanan’s holiday at home
Netflix and Michael Cullen’s book have kept Shanan occupied this summer. Shanan Halbert is the local Member of Parliament for Northcote and has lived in the area for over a decade, buying his first home in Birkenhead. The Labour party member chats to Channel Mag about what he did over the summer break including reading Michael Cullen’s Labour Saving and watching the Aretha Franklin biopic on Netflix. Channel Magazine: What have you been up to this summer? Shanan Halbert: I’ve really appreciated spending time at home this summer, getting my garden back into shape, hosting my Mum and making some great food. CM: What has been your favourite read over the last few months? SH: Michael Cullen’s Labour Saving was hard to put down, it’s a great read from a man who contributed so much to New Zealand. CM: Why did you choose Michael’s book? SH: Policies Michael championed when he was the Finance Minister made a big impact on my life, such as KiwiSaver which enabled my partner and I to buy our first house in Birkenhead. All politicians want to make a difference, and Michael certainly did, so I was interested in how he went about translating his values into positive change. CM: Have you read or watched anything else during the break that you could recommend to our readers? SH: I loved the Respect biopic on Netflix. Aretha Franklin was an incredible singer and songwriter whose music I’ve always loved.
Shanan Halbert.
CM: What’s your favourite local bookstore or publication and why? SH: I like to support local, and I find it hard to go past Paper Plus who have just moved into a new larger store in the Highbury Shopping Centre.
heavily invested in her local community. Erica talks to Channel Mag about her recent trip to Coromandel with her husband and kids, and what she’s been reading and watching over the break.
CM: I am looking forward to 2022 because… SH: I signed up to going to Parliament to be part of positive change for our community and after a year spent combatting the virus, I’m keen to get on with delivering more local priorities like better transport, protecting our environment and new trades training opportunities.
Channel Magazine: What have you been up to this summer? Erica Stanford: I had a wonderful break spending time with my husband and two kids on the Coromandel. I managed to get sun, sand, swimming and a pile of reading all done!
Erica’s top watches and reads this summer
Succession, American politics and Hugh Grant’s new film are all high on her list. Erica Stanford is the National Party Member for East Coast Bays, an area she has lived in for over 40 years, having attended Rangitoto College. She is a proud mum of two and says she’s
CM: What has been your favourite watch or read over the last few months? ES: During the last lock-down my husband and I started and finished watching Succession on Neon. It is a brilliant show with thoroughly dislikeable but incredible characters. I also started reading Nikki Haley's book, With All Due Respect. Nikki is a former US Governor and former Ambassador to the United Nations. CM: Why did you choose that Nikki Haley’s book? ES: Nikki Haley is quite likely to be the next Republican nominee for President and potentially the first (elected) woman President. I wanted to read her book to get a better understanding of a woman I greatly admire for her strength and fortitude during her time at the UN. It
www.channelmag.co.nz Issue 127 - February 2022
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