Capital 74

CAPITAL TA L E S O F T H E C I T Y

GIFT GUIDE DECEMBER 2020

LIGHT KEEPER

ISSUE 74

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Best design

Best columnist

Th e C h r i st m a s issue

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CAPITAL

The stories of Wellington

I

t’s the end of an eventful year, and although some uncertainty remains as we approach the holiday season, there have been high points we have thoroughly enjoyed.

Winning the Best Design award the first time we entered the magazine publishing awards was indeed a highlight. And the highly commended award for columnist Melody Thomas brought more excitement. Both Shalee Fitzsimmons, our lead designer, and Melody have been with the mag since its inception more than seven years ago. My congratulations and great thanks to them both, and to all the team who help get each issue to the printers. Publishing truly is a team effort. And thank you to our readers who have written to congratulate us.

It’s Christmas, a season to enjoy and we have pulled together a bumper issue.

Ho! Ho! Ho! said the Capital team and selected The Holly and the Ivy as this year’s play on traditional Christmas references. And we have Holly and Ivy generously sharing their special Christmas dishes with us. If you are usually too busy wrapping the presents and finishing work but wistfully longing for the smell of home baking to drift through the house, then the Shearers have the one-pot solution so you can say smugly “Oh yes, homemade” as you offer their treats around.

Sarah Lang has collated the interesting book choices from interesting people. They will help simplify the last-minute shopping.

Lockdown this year has maybe taught us that our home is indeed our castle. We show you two very different “castles” in this issue, both of them very Wellington.

Rachel Helyer Donaldson revisits the local housing issues three years after our earlier assessment. Sadly the problems are not resolved.

Lighthouses have lost their human keepers, but retain a fascination for Claire O’Loughlin, who looks at those around the region.

Ian Apperley is back with his regional A to Z of highs and lows. This year Ian moved from city living to a small-holding in the Wairarapa. Has it changed his perspective? We shall be interested to see what you think.

Merry Christmas and see you in 2021.

Subscriptions Subscription rates $89 (inc postage and packaging) One year

New Zealand only To subscribe, please email accounts@capitalmag.co.nz or visit capitalmag.co.nz/shop

Contact Us Phone +64 4 385 1426 Email editor@capitalmag.co.nz Website www.capitalmag.co.nz Facebook facebook.com/CapitalMagazineWellington Twitter @CapitalMagWelly Instagram @capitalmag Post Box 9202, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 Deliveries 31–41 Pirie St, Mt Victoria, Wellington, 6011 ISSN 2324-4836 Produced by Capital Publishing Ltd

This publication uses vegetable based inks, and FSC® certified papers produced from responsible sources, manufactured under ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems

Alison Franks Editor

The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Although all material is checked for accuracy, no liability is assumed by the publisher for any losses due to the use of material in this magazine.

Copyright ©. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of Capital Publishing Ltd.

6

CITTADESIGN.COM

Staff Managing editor Alison Franks

Featured contributors

editor@capitalmag.co.nz

Campaign coordinators Haleigh Trower haleigh@capitalmag.co.nz Emily Wakeling emily@capitalmag.co.nz Ava Gerard ava@capitalmag.co.nz Olly Campbell oliver@capitalmag.co.nz Factotum John Bristed

john@capitalmag.co.nz

Art director Shalee Fitzsimmons shalee@capitalmag.co.nz Designer Luke Browne

design@capitalmag.co.nz

Writer Francesca Emms

journalism@capitalmag.co.nz

Publishing assistant Callum Turnbull hello@capitalmag.co.nz Accounts Tod Harfield

accounts@capitalmag.co.nz

O L LY C A M P B E L L C amp ai g n c o ordi n ator

S HA R O N G R E A L LY Writer

From Brooklyn, New York, Olly has returned to Brooklyn, Wellington. After years away from the city he has come home to nest. The newest member to join the Capital team, you can find him drinking flat whites or having a few too many pints wherever there is a happy hour.

Sharon has been writing reviews and freelance articles over the last few years.

She is also an artist, mother, wife, arts tutor at Inverlochy Art School, blogger for the International Arts Festival, and musician in a couple of local bands.

She's a veritable Renaissance chick.

IAN APPERLEY Writer

LUCY WORMALD Intern

Contributors Melody Thomas, Janet Hughes, John Bishop, Anna Briggs, Sarah Lang, Deirdre Tarrant, Craig Beardsworth, Griff Bristed, Dan Poynton, Sarah Catherall, Chris Tse, Claire Orchard, Freya Daly Sadgrove, Harriet Palmer, Sharon Greally, Jess Scott, Claire O’Loughlin, Annie Keig, Chev Hassett, Joram Adams, Sanne Van Ginkel, Rachel Helyer Donaldson, Matthew Plumber, Fairooz Samy, Lucy Wormald, Isabella Austin

Stockists Pick up your Capital in New World, Countdown and Pak‘n’Save supermarkets, Moore Wilson's, Unity Books, Commonsense Organics, Magnetix, City Cards & Mags, Take Note, Whitcoulls, Wellington Airport, Interislander and other discerning region-wide outlets.

Distribution: john@capitalmag.co.nz.

Submissions We welcome freelance art, photo, and story submissions. However we cannot reply personally to unsuccessful pitches.

Ian is a freelance writer and prolific blogger. He blogs on local issues, and writes for the National Business Review.

After living for the majority of his life in Wellington's Eastern Suburbs, Ian and his partner Karene exchanged the city life for a farm in Wairarapa where they train horses, grow chillis, experiment in horticulture, and spend a good deal of time working from home.

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Lucy is an aspiring writer and storyteller.

Originally from Australia, Lucy came to our fair shores to complete a Bachelor of Arts at Victoria University of Wellington – and has no plans to leave. She has a lot of love for toe-tapping tunes, daydreaming and peanut butter. Bringing one of her daydreams to fruition, she joined Capital as a general helper-outer-er.

C O N T E N T S

14 LETTERS 16 CHATTER 18 NEWS BRIEFS 20 TALES OF THE CITY

24 The great Wellington gift guide for special gifts, stocking fillers, and secret Santas

32

35

Wellington A-Z

The Holly and the Ivy Special Christmas dishes shared from Holly and Ivy

Ian Apperley’s 2020 round up

27 CULTURE

40 Stuck Home Revisited

Three years on.

Has anything changed in local housing supply?

48 House of Fraser A musical stronghold in Aro Valley

H O L I S T I C T H E R A P I E S , O R G A N I C H E R B A L T E A , N AT U R A L S K I N C A R E , A R O M AT H E R A P Y, B E S P O K E B L E N D S & W O R K S H O P S OPEN

7

DAYS

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CUBA

S T R E E T,

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W E L L I N G T O N A P O T H E C A RY. C O . N Z

C O N T E N T S

57 Crafty Christmas Lucy Wormald’s upcycled and eco-conscious ideas

60 LIFESTYLE BRIEFS

84

64 BUG ME 66 EDIBLES

New beat to an old tune

A stately home revived

70 The keepers of the light Claire O’Loughlin looks around our lighthouses

80 Novel suggestions Book choices from a singersongwriter, a swimmer, and a sculptor

77 68 Shearers’ table Brittle and spice and everything nice

Reverse Ursula Robinson-Shaw’s Sermon from a Bombshelter introduced by Freya DalySadgrove

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94 WELLY ANGEL 96 WĀHINE 98 CALENDAR 100 PUZZLED

What’s your story?

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thriving IT industry in post-COVID world NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO CHANGE CAREERS OR UPSKILL INTO TECH

The demand for IT professionals has grown exponentially, particularly in Wellington, but employers are finding it harder to source talent. According to Absolute IT’s 2020 report 44% of Wellington employers say it is harder to source tech and digital talent compared to a year ago.

Wellington ICT Graduate School, an initiative lead by Victoria University of Wellington, was setup to combat this and provide a diverse supply of industry-ready graduates.

Most of their postgraduate programmes are ‘conversion’ which means they are aimed at people from non-ICT backgrounds and open to anyone with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. This allows people to change career directions without having to start from scratch. They build upon people’s existing talents and skills, providing hands-on experience and real-world projects.

The top two IT skills in demand in Wellington right now are software development and business analysis which are two of the Wellington ICT Graduate School’s (WICTGS) programmes. According to NZ Tech there’s currently 505 software developer roles in the NZ market and they are forecasting an additional 1,050 new jobs in the next

“I have no doubt that the industry is much better placed for growth, innovation, value realisation and ultimately greater success because of the efforts made by the WICTGS to educate their graduates.”

- Simon Ferrari, GM Datacom System Ltd

two years so it’s a perfect time to study. WICTGS offers a Masters in Software Development, Business Analysis, User Experience Design, and Design Technology. These programmes often collaborate together on group projects which is a great opportunity to learn from different disciplines and experience what it’s like in the industry.

There’s a diverse range of students coming from varied backgrounds like vets, linguists, and musicians. 17% of domestic students are Maori or Pasifika and WICTGS has achieved a gender split of 54% female students.

WICTGS partners with local tech businesses to provide guest lectures, workshops, mentorships, projects, and more for their students so they can gain the experience needed to hit the ground running. Some of their partners are Weta Digital, ANZ, Spark, Catalyst IT, Wellington City Council, Ministry of Education, and Chorus. They also offer professional development opportunities, like CV workshops and one-on-one advice from job interviews to LinkedIn profiles with help from their industry partners.

WICTGS has been very successful with their employment rate post-graduation with 90% of students having secured full-time employment within their chosen industry within twelve months following programme completion.

ENROL TO STUDY AT WELLINGTON ICT GRADUATE SCHOOL NOW FOR FEBRUARY OR JULY 2021 AT WWW.WELLINGTONICT.AC.NZ

L E T T E R S

ST O P W R E C K I N G T H E WAT E R F R O N T Thank you for the piece about what KiwiRail are trying to do to our beautiful waterfront (Pier Pressure, Cap #73). I had no idea. Hopefully others are taking note. Between that and the Chinese garden at Frank Kitts park there’ll be no areas left for the public.

Tina Wilson-Grant, Te Aro ST IC K AROUND I picked up a copy of your magazine in a cafe and came across a story about stick insects (Cap #61).

Your readers may be interested to know that in Otari Wilton’s bush, if you visit at night, you can easily see dozens of them.

Nature lover, Karori (name and address supplied) B E E RY GOOD Great to see your beer tasting is back. I thought Covid had killed it so was stoked to find it in the new issue (Cap #73). I was really pleased to see a good gender balance in your panel of tasters. Cheers!

Michael Granger, Strathmore FA N C LU B What a dude Bill Hunt is! (Tales of the City, Cap #73).

He looks a bit freaky but seems like a good bloke – anyone who runs away from America probably has their head screwed on. I saw his list of horror films on your website too and have given a couple of them a try. I like movies about trains, so if you’re keen I can give you my top five. Maybe we can collaborate and do horror films with trains in them!

B Wilson, Mt Victoria

Send letters to editor@capitalmag.co.nz with the subject line Letters to Ed

14

L E T T E R S

M AG A Z I N E W I T HOU T B O R D E R S Nick Leach is a Wellingtonian abroad who hopes he’ll be home for Christmas. He wrote from Australia to tell us what it feels like to be away.

The world just got large again.

I am a Wellingtonian who has been living in Singapore and Sydney for the past six years. Right now Wellington has never felt so far away.

Before Covid-19, with greater access to international travel, the world as we knew it was shrinking!

Not any more.

I long to walk through Wellington city, feeling the brisk southern wind on my face, for a flat white from the Hangar or one of the new coffee shops which have opened since my last visit. I miss not being able to catch up with family, friends, and the city.

Over the past few years it has been great to see the progress in Wellington; Willis Street and Cuba Street have been transformed. Now there’s a new brewery on every corner serving beautiful fruity and hoppy IPAs. Oh, and I cannot, cannot wait to get back to Havana for some chilli prawns and smashed potatoes, accompanied with a central Otago Pinot Noir, Surveyor Thomson, or Amisfield.

Wellington culture is something to celebrate: fabulous cafes, restaurants, and great people who understand and enjoy the wonderful things in life. If you are a Wellingtonian reading this, don’t take your city for granted. I know the weather is less than ideal but everything else is wonderful!

I am planning to come back at Christmas and stay, even though it will mean hotel quarantine. I am looking forward to seeing the progress of Transmission Gully and seeing what else has changed since last Christmas.

Recently I was thinking about Peter Brock, the king of the mountain, and it got me thinking of the Nissan Mobil 500 street race of the 1980s and early 1990s. I

am showing my age, but as a teenager I lived to go to the race around the Wellington waterfront. You can still watch some of the races on YouTube. They are fabulous to watch, not just for the racing but to look at how much the waterfront has changed. Racing on the wharf which is now Te Papa. The Museum Hotel on the other side of the street, and back then it was called the Michael Fowler hotel. Only in Wellington would they put a building on rails and push it to the other side of the street.

The way Wellington continues to evolve is fabulous.

For the past four or so years, I have had the pleasure of receiving Capital – getting my fix of what’s happening in Wellington and anchoring me to home. As a car guy it’s great to read Wellington legend Roger Walker’s car reviews. Like me, he has petrol running through his veins! What I love about Capital is it celebrates local writers and photographers, giving them a place to publish.

I remember signing up for a subscription, and Tod from Accounts wasn’t sure he would be able to get it to me in Singapore and how much it would cost. We agreed to give it a go. Since then every month I have received a A4 envelope sellotaped along each side, with my name and address hand-written from Tod. He makes the effort every month to get me a copy, regardless of where I am in the world!

Awesome to see Covid-19 hasn’t taken Capital away from us. Thanks to the team for continuing to get the magazine out! We all need more than ever some light relief and escapism.

PROPER LOOK I loved the feature on the Athfield house (Cap #72). I went to a party there once and have wanted to take a proper look around ever since. Please do write about more of the well-known buildings around the region.

S Smith, Manawatu

S E C TCI HO AN T TH EE RA D E R

Poinsettia What's in a name?

Poinsettia are named after an American chap, Joel Poinsett of the US of A, its first ambassador to Mexico. He fell in love with the enchanting red leaves and soon started shifting good numbers back to South Carolina. In North America 70+ million poinsettias are now sold every year.

Season’s greetings.

The Franciscan monks of Mexico were the first to associate the poinsettia with Christmas folklore. They used the shrub in their Nativity processions and it became known as “Flowers of the Holy Night”. Legend suggests a young girl called Pepita did not have enough coin to buy a present for the baby Jesus, so gathered some roadside weeds and made a bouquet.

The weeds miraculously turned into a bouquet of beautiful red, which were known in Mexico as Cuetlaxochitl if you can pronounce it… something like quoi tlax cheetli.

One And the winner is…

Excuse us for tooting our own horn, but we’re over the moon that our Art Director Shalee Fitzsimmons has been named Best Designer at the 2020 Webstar Magazine Media Awards.

Judges said, “Capital is capital! The covers of this magazine are intriguing, powerful, and clear – perfectly pitched for the visually savvy and discerning Wellington market.

Shalee is clearly a highly intelligent and imaginative art director, one who understands not only typography, but the power of imagery and how to obtain it.”

Melody Thomas received Highly Commended in the Best Columnist category for her regular Wāhine column (page 96). Judges said, “Melody has a clear voice and offers a fresh perspective in her current affairs commentary. Her engaging columns have a gentle rhythm, asking ‘what if?’ of her readers, rather than lecturing.” Aw shucks.

Tell us something we don’t know.

Montezuma was really into these plants. He had them shipped up from the lowlands of the Aztec Empire to his fortress Teotihuacan. The Aztecs used the leaves of Cuetlaxochitl for purple and red dye and it seems to have cured a few ailments.

Where should I plant it?

Treat them as a houseplant in the capital. Our climate is nothing like Mexico.

What's the best thing about this plant?

Poinsettia scream Christmas time! Ho, ho, ho!

Our plant of the month has been chosen by James Cameron from Twigland Gardeners World.

Two U p c yc l e d We are delighted to hear that some of our favourite shops are recycling the pages of old Capital magazines for gift wrapping.

Anne from Minerva on Cuba takes the pages and stitches them together to make big sheets of colourful wrapping paper.

And the gift shop at the Sarjeant Gallery in Whanganui folds the pages into little boxes that are then used in the store. For more crafty Christmas ideas check out page 57.

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C H AT T E R

New in town

Ho-ho-home baking, delivered Wellington-based online baking delivery service Home Baked has just released their Christmas range and it looks cracker. Make some space in those tins for mince pies, truffles, shortbread and more classic Kiwi delights.

Vegan, gluten free and low sugar options too.

Three S we e p m e u p Welly’s wind takes centre stage in Capital’s 2020 tea towel design. In a jaunty red on calico, Rachel Salazar’s design (titled Windswept) was inspired by, you guessed it, Wellington breezes. “Most Wellingtonians could relate to getting moved around by the wind at some point or another. I liked exploring the idea of fluidity and how the movement gives a playful energy to the figures.” All new subscribers to Capital will receive a limited edition Windswept tea towel with their first magazine (while stocks last). Visit capitalmag.co.nz/shop to purchase.

Rare Sightings

Four

Over 150 little spotted kiwi live just 10 minutes from town, nestled in the lush forest of ZEALANDIA in Karori, along with many other nocturnal wildlife. Take a special twilight or night tour with expert guides to see some of NZ’s rarest native species in the wild. visitzealandia.com

S a i l a wa y The Interislander’s Bands on Board programme is popular again this summer. “In return for performing we give free travel to help musicians get between islands on tour.

This happens year round but summertime is our busiest time as it’s gig season,” says Ella Street, Tourism Brand Manager. As we went to print the programme had already received more than 100 applications.

It's cool to kōrero Ka rawe kia huihui anō tātou te whānau hei te Kirihimete

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It’ll be great when the whole whānau gets together for Christmas

N E W S

FINE FREE Overdue fees have been scrapped at Upper Hutt Libraries.

“Fining for overdue library items creates a barrier preventing people from accessing the valuable resources available from libraries,” says the aptly named Libraries Manager, Marion Read. International studies have demonstrated that removing fines does not have a negative effect or increase infringement, she said. Overdue reminders will continue to be sent and borrowing privileges will be suspended until the overdue item is returned.

VET TECH

SUMMER BLUES

DESERVING DEVELOPER

Porirua Cemetery now sports QR codes that, when scanned with a smartphone, take the user to a website where they can find out about the person buried in that grave. Sixteen codes have been installed telling the stories of some of the veterans at rest in the cemetery. Manager Daniel Chrisp hopes that more QR codes will include pioneers and settlers. The stories have been compiled by historian Allan Dodson who runs the Porirua War Stories website.

Slips on dangerously unstable land mean that access by road to the popular Ōtaki Forks camping area and Tararua Forest Park is unlikely over the summer. Ōtaki councillor James Cootes says geotechnical advice is that further slipping could occur at any time, and may be sudden and extensive on Blue Bluff, a section of Ōtaki Gorge Road 12km in from SH1.

Wellington property developer Mark Dunajtschik is this year’s Property Council New Zealand Members’ Laureate.

Properties he is or has been involved with include Environment House, the James Smith Building, the Harcourts Building, HSBC Tower, the Asteron Centre, and the new $50-million Children’s Hospital being built in Newtown, which he developed and is gifting to the city. Property Council chief executive Leonie Freeman says Dunajtschik is a “truly deserving property entrepreneur and philanthropist.”

N E W S

TRAFFIC WOE S B R E W Businesses in the upper Tory St area are worried about council and Let’s Get Wellington Moving plans to restrict vehicle access in the city.

Prefab, Acme, and Moore Wilson’s have created a formal group, The Neighbourhood, to discuss planning ideas for the “Golden Mile.”

Its primary initial concern is a proposal to limit or close access to Tory St from Courtenay Place. Prefab founder and owner Jeff Kennedy says “The businesses here have built a pleasant neighbourhood” for living, working and shopping. “The council doesn’t even talk to the ratepayers concerned, and this has the potential to destroy it.”

WETTER IS BETTER

CRUSHED

FIND THE MARAE

A project to alleviate flooding and improve the harbour’s health is underway in Porirua. Last month Norfolk pines alongside Titahi Bay Rd were removed to clear the way for a large stormwater pipe. The multi-year project includes the creation of a wetland area, adjacent to the hockey turf on Elsdon Park. This will provide a natural habitat for birds, help capture excess water, and filter stormwater before it runs into the harbour.

A group of Featherston locals are alarmed at a new quarry and proposed stone-crushing site in the same area as the “shovel ready” cycleway and suspension bridge project, linking the popular Remutaka Cycle Trail to Greytown. Tourism, large trucks, and road safety are just some issues raised by the group about the Underhill Rd project. Consent for the quarry was granted by Wellington Regional District Council. The group has asked South Wairarapa District Council to request a judicial review of GWRC’s consent process.

Some Waikanae residents don’t know they have a marae, or where it is, says Kāpiti Coast District Council’s Infrastructure Services Manager Sean Mallon.

The Cultural Thread project aims to change this and “help celebrate our iwi heritage and connection.” Part of the project is the installation of “distinctive paving of cultural significance with inspiration drawn from the marae wharenui” in Waikanae town centre.

The paving work is expected to be finished by the end of December.

www.bicyclejunction.co.nz

TA L E S

O F

T H E

C I T Y

Always take the weather

BY F R A N C E S CA E M M S P H OTO G R A P H Y BY I SA B E L L A AU ST I N

TRANSPORT

DINNER

HOBBY

WALK

Bike

Rasa

Photography

Skyline track

CLOTHING Jeans

What goes into predicting the weather for Christmas day?

L

ewis Harris works for MetService (not MetLink) and he’s a meteorologist (not a meteoricist), so he can’t tell you what time the bus is coming, and he doesn’t study meteors. Lewis did a Bachelor of Science (Physics) at Otago University, and then moved to Wellington to do a Master of Meteorology at Victoria University. Now he’s a Communications Meteorologist, working at the top of the Botanic Gardens. “We undeniably have the best office view in Wellington. Fantastic location aside – I get to work with a group of talented people who care about providing a weather service that helps keep people safe and prepare for the impacts of the weather. We help people make informed decisions: gumboots or jandals, bike or bus, camping or motel?” Lewis says the time he got to chat with John Campbell live on TV was pretty cool. “But it wasn’t nearly as nervewracking as doing a weather forecast for a friend’s wedding day.”

As someone who enjoys bike riding, Lewis finds having a good understanding of the weather is a bonus – it helps with planning. “I’m trying to do more bikepacking trips this summer. After riding BMX almost my entire life, I have bought a bike with suspension so I will be riding a lot more trails soon.”

Photography is his “chosen creative pursuit and if it’s ever foggy in Wellington chances are I’m out there with a bag full of cameras and too much film.” He says he spends a lot of time “and money” at photography business Splendid. If he’s not on his bike or behind the camera, you might spot Lewis at a gig. His favourite local bands include Mystery Waitress, ONONO (Cap #50), and Mermaidens (Cap #12). “Being able to see these bands live is a selling point for me.”

Predicting the weather for Christmas Day is pretty much the same as any other day, he says. “Ten days out, the models give us a first calculation as to what may happen. Then six days out, our ‘extended range’ forecaster will analyse the available information and have a first attempt at pinning down the details.” He explains that New Zealand’s location surrounded by sea in lower latitudes (the Roaring forties) means our weather changes rapidly, so at this time there’s a large spread of possible outcomes. “As the big day gets closer, we home in on details as the computer-generated weather models come in line.” MetService meteorologists will still be poring over the data on Christmas Eve, overnight, and into Christmas Day. “I’ve got 20°C, blue skies, and a light northerly for Wellington on my wish-list but all three is a big ask.”

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ADVERTORIAL

Great journeys Andra Matoi is a Customer Service Specialist for Interislander, so she knows how to have the best time on board. We chat to her about why she loves her job, and get her to spill the beans on a few perks you might not know about.

What’s your best Interislander memory?

My first time was exciting, I remember taking a lot of photos of the views. I travelled personally so I liked seeing the experience like our customers do. My favourite part was the journey back from Picton on our Aratere ship. We sailed in the Plus Lounge and the crew in there really looked after us. The food was delicious and I felt really proud to be part of the team.

What do you like best about your job?

I love my team, we have really good communication and lots of fun together. When things get busy we are great at dividing the work. I also love the satisfaction and adrenalin in the lead up to busy times like summer.

We have great guests who are kind and excited about their holidays with us, it’s great to be a part of that. I look after a lot of our Nautical Miles customers – Nautical Miles is our loyalty programme so we get to know some people really well.

We have some great regular Nautical Miles customers, Joe is one. Whenever he calls, we have to catch up on everything

22

that has been happening, it feels like he is an extended part of our Interislander whānau.

What are some things people might not know about taking Interislander?

• We now have high tea available in the Plus Lounge on Aratere, our crew are always looking for ways to try new things and test what guests like.

• Bookings can be changed up to one hour prior to sailing!

There is a small fee for our Saver fares but its free for our Flexible and Refundable fares. Really helpful when you’re going with the flow on your roadie.

• Two of our ships are drive on, drive off. Lots of customers ask about this, especially those with Motor Caravans as it can be a bit nerve racking (but exciting) navigating a vehicle inside a ship.

• How friendly and helpful our crew are. If you’re someone who may feel unwell the crew are great at knowing the best place to sit, what to eat, and how to make sure you enjoy the journey.

Best Interislander activities Family fun There’s so much fun to be had on Interislander, you’ll have trouble getting the kids to disembark!

Over the summer holidays there’ll be a bunch of dedicated children’s entertainers, from magicians to face painters, and all year round there are family movies playing in the on-board cinema. Bring some slippery socks so they can whizz down the slides in the massive two-storey playground on the Kaitaki ship, and don’t forget to grab a free activity book or enter the colouring inn competition.

Adults only Imagine the koru longue, but you’re on a ship!

“Interislander Plus” lounges are special child-free areas with comfy seats, a buffet, and a bar. While the excited hordes mill around outside, you can sit back and relax with a magazine, sip upon a coffee or wine, and help yourself to a butter croissant. There’s easy access to the viewing decks where you can breathe in the ocean breeze and take in the views.

Movie buff Personal Cinema headsets make you feel like you have a whole movie theatre to yourself! Choose from a range of old and new blockbuster movies in 2D or 3D, then settle into the best seat in the house and enjoy an immersive cinematic experience. The headsets are incredibly lightweight and comfortable to wear. Inside your Personal Cinema, you’ll find a full-width cinema screen and closed-back circumaural headphones delivering unbeatable sound.

23

F E AT U R E

The great Wellington gift guide Dewit Planting Trowel

Coffee Subscription Box

Quality craftmanship, handmade in Holland and created from forged, hardened steel with a solid ash handle. As sharp as a razor blade from the top to end. Our favourite tool!

Enjoy hand selected coffee delivered to your door each month.

Featuring a new roaster and single-origin, your taste buds will not be disappointed.

miramar@palmers.net.nz

fernweh.nz

Wellington Treats

Don’t be an Idiot Tote Bag

Curated gift boxes with local products from 50+ small NZ businesses in Wellington, Kāpiti, Wairarapa and Horowhenua.

A reminder for 2020 and beyond!

Don’t be an Idiot. Fairtrade, organic cotton canvas tote bag, designed and hand printed in NZ.

welovelocal.nz

ifeelnatty.com

Skeppshult tree stand

Kawakawa + Hemp Balm

Stylish, sturdy and so functional, just like their magnificent cookware. Check out our full homewares range for your special gift. Knives, glassware, throws and more. Treat yourself and the whānau.

Kawakawa, widely known for its natural healing properties, when combined with New Zealand hemp oil is a powerful must-have to include in your beach bag, picnic basket and first-aid kit.

newtownhouse.co.nz

behumblenz.com

Stoneleigh Organic

London blue topaz leaf pendant

New Zealand’s number one wine brand has created a premium range of 100% certified organic and vegan wines. There’s a delicious varietal to meet every taste and occasion.

This unique sculptured leaf shaped pendant features a beautiful London blue topaz (10mm diameter). The pendant is handmade in sterling silver and hangs from a 1.6mm sterling silver snake chain.

$62.99

$85

$30

$55-$250

$240

$45

$19.99

$525

stoneleigh.com

rosshydejeweller.co.nz

24

F E AT U R E

Zealandia Membership Gift

Christmas Fizz Pack

A gift that gives 12 months of free entry to walk amongst over 40 rare native species at ZEALANDIA ecosanctuary, while making a positive contribution to help the wildlife flourish.

Everyday Wine is a Wellington based Natural Wine store focussing on organically farmed unfiltered vegan wines. This pack contains three bottles of our favourite bubbles delivered free to your door.

visitzealandia.com

everydaywine.co.nz

Rescue & Renew Detox Scrub

Now Breathe, into 2021

Designed to gently polish away dry skin to reveal a more radiant, brighter complexion. The special blend contains coriander seed oil and avocado oil to support the skin’s moisture barrier.

Join the magical NOWBreathe.

Studio this December with a 1month membership at $129 for unlimited yoga, and get an amazing Valka cork Yoga mat for free ($120 value)!

arbonne.com

nowbreathestudio.com

Tohu Rewa Rosé 2016

Capital curates

Raise a glass in celebration with this elegant Méthode Traditionnelle rosé - voted New Zealand's best sparkling wine at the 2020 NZ International Wine Show.

Capital Curates are gift boxes chock-full of locally sourced goodies for the Wellingtonian-at-heart.

Each box is bundled in eco-friendly packaging and comes with a sixissue subscription to Capital.

tohuwines.co.nz

capitalmag.co.nz/shop

Kodak Disposable Camera 27exp

Fur Love Coconut Paw Soak

Remember taking a disposable camera on school camp or the family summer trip? Relive that memory and capture your summer on beautiful Kodak film.

This luscious coconut soak is a perfect addition to your fur baby's summer beauty routine. It cleanses, reduces irritation and redness and keeps those busy paws healthy.

A must!

$88

From $54

$129

$86

$99

$40

$29.50

$27.90

splendid.nz

thefurlove.com

25

Underling, Gillian Saunders, New Zealand

Exhibition at Te Papa

Opening Preview Party FRIDAY 11 DEC 2020 LEARN

SHOP

VIEW

8.30pm - 11pm

BOOK NOW

worldofwearableart.com CORE PARTNER

2 Rutland Street Whanganui 4500, New Zealand

Tel. +64 6 9276803 info@nzglassworks.com www.nzglassworks.com

C U L T U R E

D NA I N P L AY Terri Te Tau (Rangitāne, Ngāti Kahungunu) is excited about her exhibition Whakatau Miromiro at Aratoi in Masterton until February next year. Thirteen pieces of embroidery on linen each depict a life form – or more than one if they share a relation to whakataukī (proverbs), whakapapa (genealogy) and/or DNA. “I was amazed that whales and homo sapiens have one very similar gene!” She developed the artworks speaking to Māori and Pasifika scientists, some through indigenous genomics initiative SING. Terri’s also a member of the four-person Walters Prize-nominated Mata Aho Collective.

SMART ART

STARS IN THEIR EYES

SURROUND SOUND

Wondering what Christmas present to get for that hard-to-please family member?

Check out Toi 3 Hundy: The Residents of Toi Pōneke at Toi Pōneke Gallery (12–22 December). It’s an exhibition of work from 21 of the artists/creatives who have studios in Toi Pōneke Arts Centre on Abel Smith St. Everything’s on sale for $300 or less, including paintings, photography, sculptures, and mosaics. Exhibitors include up-and-coming jeweller Tom Richards (pictured). You can also buy artworks in the accompanying online exhibition.

It’s a big summer for multi-disciplinary artist Star Gossage, as two exhibitions of her paintings open. At the NZ Portrait Gallery is Star Gossage: He Tangata The People (until 14 February). Meanwhile, Page Galleries hosts an exhibition of Star’s new paintings (10 December to 30 January).

“These exhibitions mark 20 years of being a ‘proper’ artist,” says Star, 47. Her paintings often depict female figures, who look like spirits or otherworldly creatures, in the foreground or background. You’re drawn to their eyes.

What can’t New Zealand-Samoan Joshua Pearson do? The sonic/visual artist, vocalist, composer, choreographer, and poet has been this year’s NZSO National Youth Orchestra’s Composer-in-Residence. His new composition – When a pale blue dot breathes, a crowd of cacophony – is inspired by “the 1990 photograph of Earth as a pale-blue dot, taken

by NASA’s Voyager 1 space probe six billion kilometres away,” Joshua explains. Expect a “pandemonium of sound” when it’s played during the NZSO Youth Orchestra concert NYO: Finale on 17 December.

Artists Open Studios Whanganui: Meet Artists in their natural environment

Add it to your calendar and make a weekend of it

20 - 28 March 2021 Studios open throughout the Whanganui Region Catherine Macdonald in her studio

openstudios.co.nz

C U L T U R E

FOR AARON Lower Hutt-raised songwriter-guitarist Aaron Tokona played in bands including Fly My Pretties, ’90s rockers Weta, funk’n’soul outfit AHoriBuzz, and rock band Cairo Knife Fight. Sadly Aaron died in June of a heart attack aged 44. His friends and peers celebrate his life and legacy in “Aaron Tokona: Tribute Buzz” at San Fran (18 December). Performing songs from his bands are 15 musicians including Barnaby Weir (Black Seeds), Ben Fulton (AHoriBuzz), Booga Beazley (Head Like A Hole), and Jimi Kara (Fly My Pretties). “I miss Aaron like a brother,” Jimi says.

FLASH DANCE

SPACED OUT

ROB O-ARTIST

Young dancers from Tarrant Dance Studios will debut a new contemporary dance work, titled UnPreCedenTed, at the studio’s annual end-of-year show at the Opera House on 13 December. “Being a part of history has meant dealing with the challenges of containment, communication, isolation, and anxiety,” says director Deirdre Tarrant. She says this affects people “in different and personal ways and the dancers have made their own dance responses, using music by Eden Mulholland, both collectively and individually, to develop their own 2020 dance.”

Twice yearly, Space Place screens sci-fi films for three Sundays in a row. Catch the last Star Trek trilogy (6, 13, and 20 December) on a screen in the domed planetarium. Ministry of Primary Industries adviser Ryan Scott immediately booked his tickets. “Star Trek is about dreaming of life amongst the stars, so Space Place is the place to do it!”

A senior lecturer from Elam’s Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries is challenging our idea of “the artist”. For many years, Simon Ingram has been making paintings by mechanical and electronic means, drawing on artificial life, brain science, robotics, radio astronomy, and earthsystems science. His “Monadic Device” is a painting machine which responds to electrical activities in the brain, input via an EEG headset. See it in action and look at the results in The Algorithmic Impulse, at City Gallery until March 2021.

O L D S T PA U L’ S

A living historical icon – wedding & event venue www.heritage.org.nz

C U L T U R E

Sci-Fi Sundays

D I R E C T O R Y

The Algorithmic Impulse

Pop-up Exhibition

Experience the Star Trek franchise in Space Place’s state-of-the-art full dome planetarium. Grab your tickets now and cling-on to the edge of your seat and boldly go where many have gone before.

Screened among the stars, join the Enterprise crew as they voyage through space.

Drawing on approaches from artificial life, computer engineering, and robotics, Simon Ingram challenges our idea of ‘the artist’.

Visit on Saturdays and Sundays to witness his painting machine make a new work of art based on a visitor’s brainwaves. Open daily, 11am–5pm. Entry is free.

This festive season Millwood Gallery has popped up on Featherston Street full of the fabulous and new. Paintings and original prints specially created by favourite and new contemporary New Zealand artists hang alongside selected recent fiction, newly published non-fiction, superb children's books, notecards, calendars and diaries.

7pm Sun 6, 13 & 20 Dec 40 Salamanca Road, Kelburn. spaceplace.nz

21 Nov–7 Mar 2021 Te Ngākau Civic Square. citygallery.org.nz

Until 24 December 103 Featherston Street. millwoodgallery@xtra.co.nz

Toi Three Hundy Looking for an opportunity to start your own art collection or expand on your current one? See what residents of Toi Pōneke have been up to in our annual cash and carry exhibition.

Shop NZ Made at Aratoi Aratoi Retail brings you an ever-changing range of NZ and locally made products, from thoughtful books and delightful cards to gorgeous jewellery, imaginative objects for children and unique gifts.

Every purchase made goes towards supporting Aratoi’s work to connect arts and culture with people.

11–23 December 61–69 Abel Smith St Te Aro, Wellington. toiponeke.nz

Open daily: 10am–4pm 12 Bruce St, Masterton. shop.aratoi.org.nz

30

Colour for Christmas Focussing on landscape and still life the work of Jane Hyder is influenced by the Fauve Movement and ‘pops’ with colour and verve. Check out the range of archival prints on offer during Toi 3 Hundy. Cards and artist mugs available directly from Studio 21.

11–23 December, Studio Sat's noon-4pm 61 Abel Smith Street. janehyderart.com

C U L T U R E

D I R E C T O R Y

Collectable Small Works

{Suite} Westra Museum

Celebrating 40 Years

Collectable brings together 30 artists from the Wellington region and over 100 artworks. All pieces will be little treasures, with maximum dimensions of only 30x30cm, and priced between $150 and $500. Gallery open Tuesday to Saturday with New Zealand art, ceramics, jewellery, homewares & gifts.

New Zealand Arts Icon photographer Ans Westra is responsible for the most comprehensive documentation of New Zealand culture over the last 60 years. The {Suite} Westra Museum is a dedicated exhibition space for Ans' photographs. Prints are available for sale.

The Goethe-Institut New Zealand turns 40 and you are invited to travel down memory lane with us, catching up over Christmas goodies and watching project gems from the past and present. Visit our website to find out more.

28 November until Christmas 15 Ganges Road, Khandallah. mitchellstudios.co.nz

Wed–Fri 11am–5pm, Sat 11am–4pm.

241 Cuba St. Instagram: @answestra suite.co.nz

17 December, 5:30pm for a 6:30pm start The Embassy Theatre, 10 Kent Tce, Wellington. goethe.de/nz

F E AT U R E

Wellington A–Z 2020

BY I A N A P P E R L E Y

A

is for Annus Horribilis

B

is for Broken

2020 has been an awful year, with very few clouds showing a silver lining.

Covid has irrevocably changed the lives of everyone in the Wellington region, and we can only hope for a gentle and forgiving 2021.

Pipes erupted like fountains in the most inopportune places, and sewage was dumped into clean waters as the increasingly broken infrastructure of local cities came under pressure and failed, with Wellington’s entire sewage output being transported by truck for months around the southern coast.

C

is for Environment

F

is for Foster

Despite city councils declaring climate change crises, since the local body elections little action has been taken. There are no real plans for managing the selfdeclared crises though the alarm bells ring increasingly loudly.

is for Dairy

With over 250,000 cows in the Wairarapa, the farming community is working hard to get milk into bottles, comply with new regulations, clean up waterways, and contribute to a thriving local community.

I

is for Irrigation

The Wellington region contains vast tracts of rural land that are heavily dependent on water. As climate change continues to alter weather patterns, rural towns and cities are desperately working out how to ensure water supply in the future.

J

is for Jaded

Andy Foster continues to struggle in his new role as Wellington Mayor, polarising the public and politicians alike.

It has been a truly horrendous year for the Mayor and no doubt he will be looking forward to some time off at Christmas to reflect.

A lot of the shine came off Wellington City this year, with the younger generation challenging the “coolest little” moniker. Rising rent and a cooling CBD combined to remove some gloss.

G

K

is for Government

Labour stormed the polls and took a majority win in the general election.

The government probably will seek to change the public sector significantly in the next year as Labour look to make policy inroads while they have a majority mandate.

H

is for Kāpiti

Booming house prices and an increasing population continue to dominate the coast, and will even more so when Transmission Gully comes online.

Caught between long stretches of sand and hilly native bush, Kāpiti is absorbing many new residents.

L

is for Carterton

The self-proclaimed Daffodil Capital has had a bumper few months with the influx of Wellingtonians post-Covid lockdowns. The town’s biggest controversy, the subject of screeds of social media posts, is over what colour the town clock should be painted.

D

E

is for Lower Hutt

The Leafy Suburb became an attractive place for new home buyers, with the population of many suburbs growing.

Nestled at the end of the valley, Lower Hutt is an attractive option given its relative affordability and rail links to Wellington CBD.

is for Housing

Across the Wellington region, house prices have skyrocketed beyond expectations. Values in parts of the Kāpiti Coast and Wairarapa are up by more than 25%. Housing panic will continue into the new year until changes by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand attempt to take the heat out of the market.

32

M

is for Millennials

The average age of city councillors dropped this year as younger people were voted onto councils everywhere.

Already making their mark, and with climate change and social housing atop their list of priorities, the Millennials have arrived in politics.

N

is for Not In My Backyard

O

is for Outdoors

As cities and towns plan for an increasing population, the NIMBY brigade has come out in force. Legal fights, lobby groups, social media warriors, and homeowners have been waving pitchforks over proposed changes to district plans. Debate around the Spatial Plan rages on and is likely to do so for years to come.

As a result of Covid people rediscovered the great outdoors, if only by walking around their neighbourhood once a day. As overseas travel is out, for now, New Zealand’s great outdoors has seen renewed interest from residents.

P

R

is for RMA

S

is for Stasis

With housing the most pressing issue in the region, the finger is being pointed at the Resource Management Act for constraining growth, leading to higher prices. Watch this year as the Government tries to defang the RMA, which still has some fight left in it.

The Wellington City Council has managed to achieve stasis since being elected. With a range of high-priority issues on the table, the most they seem to be able to agree on is what colour to paint a road. In a time that needs strong leadership, this is holding back the city and the region.

is for Porirua

is for Queues

The traffic issues continue to mount around the lower North island.

Frequent crashes and ever-increasing numbers of cars have overloaded roads that are often substandard and unsafe. Congestion, once the preserve of the Hutt Valley and Wellington City, now stretches from Masterton to Otaki.

is for Violence

Over the past few months, the Wellington CBD has seen increasing drunkenness and violence, particularly in the small hours of the weekend. Council and Police are working hard to curb the outbreaks, which may be another sign of the times.

W

is for Working from Home

Regions boomed, and the CBD went bust as lockdown proved to everyone that working from home was possible.

Post lockdown, many companies have retained the practice and downsized their office space. We will never work and commute the same way again.

Porirua gained the tarnished crown of being the most expensive city in New Zealand in which to rent. As people move away from Wellington proper, the prices are now more than those on the North Shore and in Auckland itself.

The city is in for profound changes as the population changes rapidly.

Q

V

T

is for Tourists

U

is for United

Or rather, a lack of them. As borders remain closed, the tourism dollar is sadly missed, and accommodation providers, tour operators, events organisers, and the hospitality industry are all in serious trouble.

The amalgamation of local councils is making the news again. A united super-city for the Wellington region would have some potential benefits; however, it will not happen, because of the level of public backlash and an inability to work together.

33

X

is for X-Ray

Z

is for Zeal

In the Wairarapa, the regional council has engaged a company to look for water under the valley floor. Using advanced radar and helicopters, they will map underwater streams, lakes, and aquifers to manage an increasingly scarce resource better.

Despite our less than optimal year, Wellingtonians remain generally optimistic and have a zeal for the region and what it offers. The endless environment from sea to mountain and everything in between energises us as residents, whether of city, town or rural areas.

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F E AT U R E

The Holly and the Ivy CO M P I L E D BY F R A N C E S CA E M M S

A

nyone who’s been forced to sing The Holly and the Ivy in its entirety will know two things: it’s long and repetitive, and the timing of “the playing of the merry organ sweet singing in the choir”, despite the repetition, doesn’t get any easier. But what is the song actually about?

It’s a classic pagan/Christian festive mash-up. For the ancient Celts evergreens were a symbol of hope and rebirth, and a common decoration for the winter solstice. Holly and ivy represented men and women, respectively, and spoke to the “battle of the sexes” as the plants both support and compete with each other. In Christianity holly is a symbol for Jesus Christ – the sharp, spiky leaves are the crown of thorns, the red berries are drops of blood, and the shape of the leaves, which resemble flames, represent God's burning love. Ivy, traditionally a symbol of femininity, fidelity and marriage, represents his mother Mary.

With that in mind, it seems fitting that Holly Newsome’s strongest Christmas memory involves blood, and Ivy Padilla is, among many many other things, a wife and mother.

35

F E AT U R E

A nutty Xmas salad

1.

1 big red capsicum 1 big green capsicum 1 red onion Handful of sesame seeds 1 cup salted peanuts 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds 1 cup brown rice Soy sauce Sesame oil Coriander for garnish

2.

3.

36

Cook 1 cup of brown rice in a saucepan (rice is best a little bit crunchy so try not to overcook it).

Prep the two capsicums and red onion and dice as finely as possible. To a frying pan, on a medium to high heat, add a generous amount of the sesame oil, the sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and salted peanuts. Cook until golden brown then remove from heat.

When the rice is cooked, in a large bowl combine it with the chopped vegetables, cooked nuts and seeds. Coat salad with soy sauce, adding a tablespoon at a time to taste.

Mix well and garnish with coriander.

F E AT U R E

Holly

School of Dance for their graduation show Here & Now. “This was an extremely special project for me as this is the first time I have returned to the school (where I trained) as a choreographer.”

December is a time when she can slow down a bit and spend time with her family. Christmas day is always held at her Nana and Pop’s house on a farm in Taranaki. “We have a very large family so it’s always big, loud, and loving. My nana usually makes most of the food (her fish pie is the best) and Pop is always on the meat (it’s not often he lets someone else carve the ham). I am biased, but my mum is an amazing, rustic cook and always brings three or four elaborate salads.” This is Holly’s mum’s recipe, which she now makes herself. “Thanks Mum.”

Holly Newsome’s most enduring Christmas memory is of the year she tripped on a hose and landed flat on the concrete. “I was wearing a lovely white dress and it ended up with blood all over it! I don’t think I’ll forget that for a while.”

Despite this incident, Holly is actually very graceful. She is a dancer, choreographer, and dance teacher. Her career highlights include commissions from Footnote NZ Dance, and her contemporary dance company, Discotheque, receiving “Most Promising Emerging Company” and “Best in Fringe” at the Wellington Fringe Festival Awards. Recently Holly’s been busy working with the New Zealand

37

F E AT U R E

Vegan paella 2–3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 cup paella rice (or short grain rice) 4 cloves garlic 1 cup chopped bell peppers (combo of colours) 1/2 cup canned or natural artichoke 1/2 cup green peas 1 cup mushrooms 1 sprig of rosemary (optional) 1/3 cup frozen cooked beans 1/3 cup crushed tomatoes 1/4 tsp smoked paprika 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth 1/2 tsp saffron threads salt to taste black pepper 1 lemon for garnishing

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Cut the bell peppers into small cubes or strings, with some longer strings for garnishing later. If you're using fresh ones, cut the artichokes in quarters and finely mince the garlic.

Saffron tip I learnt from chef Omar Allibhoy: wrap the saffron threads in foil and place them into the pan to toast it a bit. Leave it there for about a minute then set aside. You do not have to do this if you are using Spanish saffron as they are already toasted rather than sundried.

Add the olive oil to a flat-bottom skillet or a paella pan, sautĂŠ the mushrooms until golden, add the garlic. SautĂŠ for 40 seconds then add the rest of the vegetables and the crushed tomatoes. Stir carefully for 2 minutes.

Add the vegetable broth, saffron, salt, and pepper; gently distribute the rice around the pan, mix it gently or shake the pan, then turn the heat to high and let it cook for 10 minutes. Do not stir.

After 10 minutes, lower the heat to medium-low for 3 minutes, then back to high again for 2 minutes, in order to develop the socarrat, that crispy caramelized bottom.

Turn off the heat, cover the paella with aluminium foil and kitchen towels, and let it rest for 5 minutes. When you're ready to serve, remove the foil and towels, garnish with lemon wedges and the bell peppers you set aside earlier.

38

F E AT U R E

Ivy

frying food every day for my family. Nowadays, I can turn any dish to a sumptuous vegan version without much trouble. It’s not as difficult as some may think and it encourages me to think creatively, which I love.”

The annual potluck Christmas at the Padilla’s Kelson home revolves around food, “it’s a whole day of eating with games in between as breaks”.

It’s a time when Ivy can bust out one of her favourite foods – paella. “It reminds me of the times where we’d get together (salo-salo) to celebrate special moments. Quite a few of us would help prepare it, which gives us the chance to catch up on life while cooking. It’s a very flavourful and filling dish, so there’s plenty of leftovers.”

Ivy Padilla is an international investor, entrepreneur, transformative coach, early retiree, musician, actor, essentialist, environmentalist, life explorer, and vegan who loves the outdoors. “I love challenging myself so I always try different things,” she says, mentioning she used to be part of a competitive all-female paintball team.

Ivy’s interest in cooking developed after she moved to Wellington from the Philippines with her husband Patrick and daughter Denise in 2008. “I couldn’t cook anything when I was younger. I only really learned how when we moved to New Zealand as I knew I couldn’t keep

39

S E C T I O N

40

H E A D E R

F E AT U R E

Stuck home syndrome revisited

BY R AC H E L H E LY E R D O N A L D S O N

In 2017, when Capital looked at “stuck home syndrome” (people squeezed out of rentals and home-ownership, and others unable to find a roof over their head thanks to lack of social housing), then deputy mayor Paul Eagle declared that Wellington was “not in an Auckland-style crisis, but we are staring down the barrel of one”.

House prices in Wellington had risen 20%, with the median price around $530,000. The city was short 3,590 houses. Three years on, what is the housing situation for Wellingtonians now, and what progress has been made?

41

F E AT U R E

A

t the Wellington Women’s House in Mt Victoria, two out of 16 rooms are empty. In each, a magazine, cushions, and a colourful throw add a welcoming touch.

The beds are made up, and toiletries provided.

“That’s what you get for $159 a week,” says Margaret, the house’s manager since 2013. “You certainly wouldn’t get a room in Mt Vic for that.”

The two rooms won’t be empty for long. The Wellington Women’s House offers low-cost, temporary housing to women experiencing homelessness. Margaret says the need to help people into housing has become absolutely urgent. “I have four referrals sitting here, from today. We can easily be full, and have a waiting list, by the end of the week.”

In the past three years, it’s got “far more difficult” to help women get into social housing, reckons Margaret.

She “doesn’t recall” anyone going into social housing this year. “Usually we’d have a few.”

Private rentals are often unaffordable. It’s particularly tough for older women who want a one-bedroom place. “But if you’re on the benefit, $350 or $400 is out of your reach.”

Ultimately, the women’s biggest issue is housing. “It’s all about housing. That’s what gives people their stability, their security. It’s that basic need, it’s housing first. Then deal with the other issues.”

In 2020 Covid-19 overshadows everything, yet the housing crisis is never far from the front pages. “Every month there seems to be a new story of higher rents, record house prices, and demand soaring for Wellington rentals,” notes Infometrics senior economist Brad Olsen.

“To me, these factors indicate that we haven’t addressed the problem yet.”

WCC says it does not have data available on the current shortage of houses. But, in 2017, it determined that Wellington City faces a shortfall of 4,600 to 12,000 houses from 2017 to 2047 based on the current popula-

tion. Add in a projected population growth of 50,000 to 80,000 people, and the city needs up to 30,000 new homes by 2043.

In September 2020, the average asking price for a house in Wellington City rose to $818,400. Renters in the Wellington region pay the highest rents in the country – Porirua currently tops the charts with a record $625 a week, while Wellington City costs $600. Auckland’s median weekly rent, meanwhile, is $570.

Nationally, there were 18,520 eligible applicants on the Housing Register as at 30 June 2020, an increase of 50.4 percent compared with the same time last year (12,311 in June 2019). Wellington City’s wait list has steadily climbed from 226 in June 2017 to 754, three years on.

The entire region is under pressure, as buyers and renters look further afield. As of June, for example, Lower Hutt City’s wait list was at 584, up from 170 in June 2017.

“We have a housing crisis in Wellington, as in the rest of New Zealand, and the situation is clearly getting worse, not better. But we are trying, as a council, to make sure that the future is better,” says Wellington City Councillor Fleur Fitzsimons, who holds the housing portfolio.

That includes, she says, meeting the existing shortfall and planning for forecast growth, as well as making sure that housing is more affordable, particularly for those who need social housing and key workers.

Changes to rules to allow more housing and higher buildings should help the situation, she adds. They include the Council’s draft Spatial Plan, which will be finalised early next year, and the new Government policy statement on Housing and Urban Development.

“But quicker action is needed from both the Council and the Government too.”

Sean Ternent, 20, left Paraparaumu for Wellington “to be close to the city and to friends” while studying for his NCEA level three online. He was forced

42

[Source: Kāinga Ora]

[Source: Housing Register/MSD]

Social housing

18,520

754

317

584

164

number of applicants on the Housing Register

number of applicants on the Housing Register for Wellington City

number of applicants on the Housing Register for Porirua City

number of applicants on the Housing Register for Lower Hutt City

number of applicants on the Housing Register for Upper Hutt City

Up from 5,353 in 2017

Up from 226 in 2017

Up from 88 in 2017

Up from 170 in 2017

Up from 53 in 2017

1,940

2,200

3,178

3,325

754

the current number of units, across 60 locations, in the Council’s social housing portfolio.

the number of units, across 60 locations in 2017

the number of people living in Wellington City Housing properties

the number of tenants City Housing had in 2017*

eligible applicants on the Housing Register for Wellington City

540

[Source: WCC]

the number of new homes currently in different planning, feasibility, or build stages across Wellington’s inner suburbs via Kāinga Ora

These include 300 at Arlington and 80 at Rolleston in Mt Cook. Between March 2018 and March 2020, Kāinga Ora built 192 homes in Wellington

4,600—12,000

30,000

the shortfall of houses Wellington City could face from 2017 to 2047, based on current population

number of new homes needed in Wellington City by 2043, based on projected population growth as well as current population

*The difference is due to current redevelopments which will ultimately see more units built, says Fleur Fitzsimons. In addition, City Housing leases 161 properties to Kāinga Ora and other community housing providers. Combined, these leased properties can accommodate up to 553 tenants.

F E AT U R E

to move from central Newtown to more distant Wadestown. He swapped his $240-a-week room in a damp, cold flat for a place that’s cheaper ($165) and better maintained.

But living in Wadestown is extremely isolating.

His WINZ benefit was recently cut to around $200, leaving him $40 for bills, food, and travel. He’d like to work but “people are unwilling to hire because of Covid. It’s easier to stay home [because] I don’t have to think about spending any more money.”

The renting situation in Wellington is “really urgent and the lack of urgency is worrying”, says Renters United spokesperson Zoe Woodfield. The situation is “much the same, if not worse” since the story in 2017. Rents have “skyrocketed” yet “the quality hasn’t got much better.”

People are being “squeezed out” of the CBD, and beyond, as rents get more expensive, she adds. There have been reports of students leaving Victoria University, or forced to give up studying entirely, due to the cost of renting. New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations president Isabella Lenihan-Ikin says it’s difficult to be exact but estimates that “upwards of 100 students are leaving” this year, because of housing.

Students have to work to meet the rising rent costs. But Covid-19 has made finding work for many students “really, really, hard”, says Wellington Youth Council chairperson Ella Flavell.

Porirua’s price hikes are partly due to “the Aotea effect” – renters can get bigger houses in new subdivisions. But Trade Me Property spokesperson Logan Mudge says heightened demand, coupled with a slowing market supply, is mainly

responsible for pushing rental prices up. It’s the same across the entire Wellington region, he adds. “It’s very pricey if you’re in the market for a Wellington rental at the moment”.

The 2018 Census confirmed that Wellington’s houses are significantly mouldier and more damp than in other cities. Some are “atrocious”, says Olsen. “People are paying high rents in Wellington to get access to comparatively poorer housing options than elsewhere in New Zealand.”

In 2017, then-mayor Justin Lester set up a Mayor’s Taskforce on Housing. It recommended the council act urgently on social, affordable and emergency housing. In 2018 WCC developed and adopted a housing strategy and action plan, one of the first in New Zealand, says Fitzsimons.

The current 2020–2022 action plan’s vision is “all Wellingtonians well-housed”. Fitzsimons says both she and Mayor Andy Foster are committed to progress on Wellington social housing. Planning for sustainability is key to ensuring WCC can offer social housing “well into the future”.

As at September 2020 there were 461 tenancy applications on the City Housing waiting list, compared with 369 at the same time in 2017. The current waiting list is 13 months. Demand for social housing in Wellington is growing, she says.

One reason is rent levels. “Each [application] represents a family who needs a home and we have to do better for them.”

WCC’s 2017 commitment to building 750 social and affordable homes over a decade is “on track” says Fitzsimons. It involves third-party partnerships, and includes the rebuilding of

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Mt Cook’s Arlington Apartments, the city’s largest social housing complex, comprising three sites. “Arlington 2” is now “Te Māra”. Its 104 good quality social housing apartments, finished in late 2018, replaced 57 units.

Progress on the other two sites, Arlington 1 and 3, which originally had 213 units, have taken longer, because of funding difficulties. In 2019 Kāinga Ora agreed to lease the two sites for 125 years. It will build 300 units at Arlington, including 67 affordable homes and 40 “supported living” homes for people with complex needs like homelessness and addiction. Another Kāinga Ora development in nearby Rolleston Street will see 80 new homes, including 20 supported-living units.

It is expected to be finished in mid-2022.

The Council is also building new social housing in Nairn Street and Harrison Street, replacing earthquake-prone council flats vacated by tenants in 2017. They were finally demolished in 2019. In late 2020, work on the Harrison Street flats is now under way with nine 3- to 4-bedroom houses being built, while planning is “progressing” for the Nairn Street site.

This year has, inevitably, seen some delays due to Covid. But Fitzsimons denies progress on housing was faltering before that. “I don’t accept that it’s stalled. What is frustrating is that improving the supply of housing, and its affordability, takes time.”

The Council can’t do it alone, and partnerships with Government, community housing providers and the non-governmental sector are all needed.

“We’ve maintained that commitment to all Wellingtonians being well-housed, that is the council strategy on housing and we stand by that.”

One partnership, Te Kāinga, involves the council and private building owners providing high-quality, family-friendly, long-term rental housing to workers in Wellington. The first apartment conversion, Te Kāinga: Aroha, formerly Freemasons House at 195 Willis Street, was unveiled in early November. Its 52 apartments are aimed at essential workers. It was developed by Ian and Alex Cassels of The Wellington Company and leased by WCC for 15 years.

The sixth-floor showroom apartment is spacious and stylish, with full-length, double-glazed windows overlooking St Peter’s church. Twobedroom flats similar to this will cost around $600 to rent. Delayed by lockdown, the building will be ready for tenants in February 2021. Three similar projects are close to being finalised.

It’s hoped renters will stay long term, creating a sense of community and stability. Fitzsimons calls it a “groundbreaking approach” to increasing housing in the city, and a first for New Zealand. “Covid brought into sharp relief how important essential workers are. People should be able to live in the city to work in it.”

46

[Source: TradeMe Property]

[Source: Real Estate Institute New Zealand (REINZ) & Trade Me Property Price Index]

House prices

14.7%

13.1%

23%

44%

increase in house prices nationally

increase in house prices in Wellington region

increase in listing views for Wellington City

increase in listing views for Kapiti Coast

$528,200

$709,350

average asking price in Wellington region in 2017

average asking price in Wellington region in 2020

[Source: Infometrics.co.nz]

Healthy housing

24.2%

18%

the number of Wellington’s dwellings that are damp, versus 21.5% nationally

the number of Wellington’s dwellings that are mouldy, also higher than the national average

[Source: Tenancy Services]

Rentals

$700

$500

$810

$490

weekly median rent for a threebedroomed house in Brooklyn

weekly median rent for a threebedroomed house in Wainuiomata

weekly median rent for a threebedroomed house in Oriental Bay

weekly median rent for a threebedroomed house in the Porirua East

F E AT U R E

House of Fraser P H OTO G R A P H Y BY A N N A B R I G GS

Some say a spell living in Aro Valley is the rite of passage that qualifies you as a true Wellingtonian. Mention of Aro Valley evokes assorted reactions – a nostalgic sigh, a shiver, or sometimes an activist’s swagger. Or even an assertion that if you don’t know it you don’t “get" Wellington.

We asked Sharon Greally to look into "the valley." She talks to long time resident and friend, Hannah Fraser.

T

he Frasers are known historically for their fighting spirit. At the Siege of Inverness in 1562, Clan Fraser fought valiantly, taking Inverness Castle for Mary Queen of Scots. And during the Jacobite Rebellion, they fought to help the Stewart monarchy regain the throne at the Battle of Killiecrankie.

There’s not a lot otherwise in the history books about collusion between the Frasers and the Stewarts, but in a wee Scottish town downunder, there was a historic meeting of the clans in 2012 at a mega concert in Dùn Èideann, or Dunedin as we know it. Multi-instrumentalist Hannah Fraser played violin in a backing trio for Rod “The Mod” Stewart at Forsyth Barr stadium – “one of the highlights of my musical career.” She has also played with Trinity Roots at the Opera House more recently, “But Rod’s concert was out of this world”.

Fraser was thrilled to be asked to perform with Stewart. She recalls him as a lovely “sunny guy”. As for the performance: “We had to wear short tight dresses, and played I’m too sexy, with transparent chairs and music stands. The whole thing was surreal and seamless.”

Fraser is a quintessential Aro Valley character. A musician, jewellery maker, and signed-up member

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F E AT U R E

of the liberal, artsy community inhabiting the urban enclave, she adorns her surroundings with her artisan style and personalised bike.

Aro Valley is known for its old, quirky wooden houses and colourful characters. It was built by Wellington settlers as a working-class residential suburb around 1860. Over time it developed a distinctly bohemian vibe. The quirky houses attracted quirky people, and the narrow valley is beloved of artists, activists, and alternative thinkers.

Lively embellishments include bus shelters painted by local artists.

The house Fraser lives in is up fifty-one steps, hidden away in a lush garden with a fig tree, camellias, a “jungle fernery garden”, and a swing. The garden attracts birds, especially tui. It backs onto the local dog park, where Hannah’s dog “Lady Lacey of Levina” loves to explore.

“It’s beautiful – you can see the sunsets and the moon rising, and there’s a big community garden too, and then there are the magnificent views out over the city.”

The house is a single-story classic villa, built around 1910. Levina Avenue was named after the wife of an early land-owner of the area, and apparently backed on to the now long-demolished Central Park Hospital. The house is full of surprises, one of them being the original coal range, in good working condition.

Many artists and creatives have lived in the house. “When I first came here to visit artist friend Stephen Templer I thought, ‘I’d love to live here one day’. He had lots of friends come and go and there was a long stream of artist friends renting here over about a decade.

50

51

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Eventually I got a spot and moved into the small room, then worked my way up to having a room that I could fit into with a grand piano, although I’ve still got heaps of giant things that don’t fit in.”

Fraser’s influence is apparent on the walls, in the form of posters for gigs she has played at over the years, and promos for events in the valley, such as the Aro Fair, and the infamous Aro Olympics.

She lives with two flatmates – an electrician from Denmark, and a chef – and her piano-playing dog. They have been sharing the house for about a year. Hannah says they get along well, hanging out around the fire, sharing meals and yarns and entertaining friends. The surrounding area provides pine cones and waste wood to burn in the original brick fireplace, and sometimes friends who pop in for the craic will bring a log.

The neighbours are “artists, writers, scientists, musicians, lots of self-employed people with interesting jobs like a colours consultant, and there’s a great community feel.” Fraser moved from Mt.Victoria to Aro Valley– “all the bohemians live here now” – and finds it a “lively, friendly community.” Favourite local haunts are Aro Bake and Garage Project’s Tap Room.

Fraser teaches piano to some of the local kids, and the house is always filled with music. She always has a craft activity

53

F E AT U R E

on the go – creating her jewellery range, Honey Bee Creations, leather purses, or repurposing clothes.

It wasn’t necessarily the plan to get a grand piano, but Fraser saw the six footer on Trade Me and fell in love. It came from Marlborough Boys High School, where they needed something louder (think a thousand boys’ voices), and more transportable.

But getting a grand piano from the South Island to Aro Valley and up those 51 steps was not easy. Rough weather and cancelled crossings meant a repeat trip to bring the instrument back on the ferry. Then professional piano movers, four of them, had to get it up to the house: “It was hard to watch – a bit bracing!” The piano, which features a hidden drinks cabinet, dates from 1910, the same era as the house. “Meant to be.”

Fraser is from a family of four – “We all play something musical”. Lady Lacey trots out a dog song or two as we sit chatting, tickling the ivories of the new grand with her front paws.

Recently Hannah composed, arranged, and provided the instrumentation for a musical score for a film by local filmmakers Angelo Giannoutsos and Anna Matsis about the Greek Orthodox Church’s involvement in orphanages in the Pacific.

Hannah’s life is permeated by music. She studied at Wellington’s Jazz school, and has a degree in musical composition from Victoria University. Before Covid hit she had a weekly gig playing piano at the Wellesley Club, where she had a group of regular fans.

“I really miss it.”

54

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Most of us have heard the marketing clichés by now, but the reality is, Kiwis are listening. And why wouldn’t we? From the Far North to Fiordland there really is so much Aotearoa has to offer. previous year. It’s going to be a busy summer – and Bachcare can make sure everything is taken care of.

The most recent school holidays saw whole towns sell out; a welcome change for accommodation providers across the country, like Bachcare. Bachcare’s pre-serviced holiday homes saw bookings increase by a whopping eighty-three percent year on year for the July school holidays, and for September school holidays, owners’ rental income was up forty-four percent. This brings optimism to Bachcare Owners like Charlie Dent.

“Covid-19 wiped away most of our bookings but as soon as lockdown was lifted, it was amazing to see how quickly bookings came flying in. Bachcare did a great job of making sure we replaced our lost income and then some!

Our bach is looking busy for the summer season ahead and we love that it is being well cared for at the same time”. Charlie is based in Auckland but owns his bach, The Peaceful Pokohui, in Raglan.

Bachcare helps guests find their Happy Place and enables holiday homeowners to share them with others while they are empty, generating a second income for owners. Bachcare handles over 2,200 properties across Aotearoa, taking care of everything that comes with running a short-term rental. They ensure guests are greeted by one of 100 local Holiday Managers throughout the country, professionally clean the property, manage your nightly rates, and even list your home on other popular booking sites to maximise exposure and booking potential.

Still want to make sure the bach is available for your annual family getaway? No worries - all Bachcare Owners have access to the Owner Portal, giving them the ability to block out dates for personal use, any time.

Bach owners are experiencing just a taste of what’s to come. Recent research by Tourism New Zealand indicates that Kiwis traveling around New Zealand may spend up to eighteen percent more in January than the

Make the most of this opportunity and relax knowing your rental is all taken care of this summer. Contact Bachcare’s team of advisors on 0800 42 22 42, or visit newowners.bachcare.co.nz to get your free Owner Guide.

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Crafty Christmas

BY LU CY WO R M A L D

I

n the week after Christmas, New Zealanders send an extra 50,000 tonnes of waste to landfill. It is a time of excessive consumerism which adds salt to the wound of our exacerbating climate crisis. In an effort to fight waste this Christmas, here are a couple of crafty upcycling ideas that mean the season of giving doesn,t have to be the season of buying.

Wrapping paper

Snow globes

Bad news: normal printed wrapping paper with a shiny inside surface has foil or metallic pieces in it.

This means it cannot be recycled. Throwing away or failing to re-use it can create a lot of waste. To be a little more sustainable this year try making your own wrapping paper using brown craft paper as a base.

A fun activity for adults and children alike is printing your own designs with paints, pens, and glitter. Cut out shapes from halved raw potatoes and dip into paint for a eco-friendly stamp. Get groovy and gorgeous by marbling your paper with ink and water.

There are plenty of repurposing tricks. Ideas include using old sewing templates, maps, and discarded book pages. My grandfather used to wrap all of our Christmas presents in newspaper and it is now a family trick. If you have a little more time on your hands spare fabric can be embroidered with festive designs to be used as a softer gift wrap. If you are gentle with the unwrapping process (I know it can be terribly tricky to control one’s excitement) paper can be collected, folded, and stored to be used again next year.

No matter what the inside scene, there’s something enchanting about watching glitter float down on a miniature dream-world. Containing anything from imaginary friends to festive vignettes, snow globes make charming handmade gifts. Here's what you will need: Figurines / handmade clay characters / anything goes Glitter Glycerine Water Jar with lid Waterproof superglue 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Choose your figurines. You can make your own from oven-bake clay and paint.

Use waterproof superglue or epoxy to secure the scene to the underside of the jar lid. Make sure things are relatively centred or positioned to fit inside the jar. Allow to dry.

Fill the jar almost to the brim with water. Add a few drops of glycerine and as much glitter as you like. The glycerine helps keep the glitter suspended so it doesn’t fall too quickly.

Squeeze a thin line of waterproof glue onto the lid’s inner edge and tightly screw onto the jar. Allow to dry before turning over.

Ta da! Shake up your winter wonderland and watch the “snow” fall!

Source crafting what-nots from local businesses like Gordon Harris Art Supplies, Minerva, Wellington Sewing Centre, and Newtown House.

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COMMONSENSEORGANICS.CO.NZ TORY ST

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1.

2.

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Out with a bang Whether you’re home, at the bach or camping, celebrate in style this festive season.

5.

7.

6.

6.

9.

10.

8.

10.

1. Meri Meri silver tinsel chandelier, $65.99, Small Acorns 2. JS Ceramics large bowl with pencil stripe pink sand, $64.90, Te Papa Store 3. Assorted beach towels, $59.90 each, Citta 4. Romance cushion, $90, Martha's Furnishing Fabrics 5. Krosno Harmony champagne saucer six pack, $59.95, Moore Wilson's 6. 2019 Lele Carbonic Field Blend, $38, Everyday Wine 7. Vincent Sheppard Roy lazy chair, $995, McKenzie & Willis 8. Castle baby pink velvet floor cushion, $195, Small Acorns 9. Kentia palm, $200–$300, Palmers Mirimar 10. Horizon Coffee Table ash, $990, Citta

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L I F E S T Y L E

WA S T E WA I T Kaicycle is a bicycle-powered composting initiative that collects food waste and turns it into nutrient rich soil for growing veges. Wellingtonians are ecoconscious so it’s no surprise that their organic urban farm in Newtown has been at capacity for the past two years – with a 400-long waitlist! But the wait will soon be over. Three new composting sites are set to open over the next few weeks at the Sustainability Trust, Berhampore Orchard, and Hospital Road.

A DAY FOR PLAY

ARE YOU CRAZY?

FULL HOUSE

Wilderkids is an adventure-based school holiday programme for 5–12-year-olds. It costs $56 per day, but there are ten $10 spots available for kids from families with a Community Services Card. The Sustainability Trust, which runs Wilderkids, would like to offer more $10 spots, so they’ve set up a “day for play” donation programme where you can sponsor a child who might otherwise miss out.

Check their website.

Described as “scenic, savage, and social”, the annual Crazyman will be held on 6 December. The race starts in Days Bay, takes athletes around hills, fields, beaches, and rivers, and finishes at Heretaunga Boat Club on the Petone Esplanade.

Participants can enter solo or in teams, in either the full multisport format (13k kayak, 28k mountain bike, 13k trail run) or as duathletes (mountain bike/run).

A new Hutt City Council medium-density housing development of 34 two-storey townhouses in Lower Hutt is completely sold out. Central Park on Copeland, due to be completed in the next few months, uses a combination of greenfield development (expanding housing into areas not previously developed) and intensification. “As well as making better use of land, medium-density housing meets a wide range of needs, is lowermaintenance for those with busy lifestyles, and can be more energy efficient,” says Hutt City Council’s chief executive Jo Miller.

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Toasting the end of 2020

Cheers and thank you Wellington

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Made in Wellington 62

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Petone

The best little suburb by the sea

Style on Jackson Rebels against fast fashion. Our boutique sells pre-loved designer clothing, handpicked for quality and style. On Jackson Street since 1996. www.styleonjackson.co.nz

Light House Cinema Great films, great food, great coffee, great atmosphere! Independent and locally run. Open 9am-9pm 7 days, Beach Street. www.lighthousecinema.co.nz

Neko Ngeru Cat Adoption Cafe

SchrÜdinger’s Books

Relax with cats; drink great coffee and tea; enjoy authentic sushi, onigiri and okonomiyaki and shop for cat related merchandise. www.nekongeru.nz

An eclectic range of books for summer reading and Christmas presents. Enjoy browsing and ask our friendly team for inspiration. www.schrodingersbooks.co.nz

Jewel Classically trained, experienced, boutique jewellery design and manufacturing studio. We specialise in reinventing past treasures into new heirlooms. www.jewel.net.nz

Cycled, bicycle workshop Expert bicycle servicing and repairs.

Mountain, Road, Kids and e-Bikes.

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Planet Retro Ltd

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Offering limited edition, locally made vintage inspired clothing and a great range of Sci-Fi & Geek giftwares.

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We are a natural skincare and giftshop specialising in locally made products, in the heart of Petone. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm. www.orakay.co.nz

Coffee roastery, licensed eatery and coffee equipment sales. Offering a high quality product to match top personal service. Open 7 days. www.revive-espresso.co.nz

B U G

M E

Sandfly

BY M E LO DY T H O M A S

Name: Sandfly or Blackfly Māori name: Namu Status: Far too common Scientific name: Genus Austrosimulium Description: Every person in Aotearoa, and most visitors to our shores, will have their own story about the sandfly. Most begin with a naive human just trying to enjoy the view, feature somewhere in the middle a regretful underestimation of the insect, and end with hours upon hours of itching, and trying not to scratch, as angry, red bumps rise and rage on the skin. There are 19 species of sandfly in New Zealand but only three bite humans – the New Zealand blackfly (Austrosimulium australense), found in the North Island, the West Coast blackfly (A. ungulatum), particularly voracious and found only in the South Island, and A. tillyardianum, found on both islands but in small numbers. They are a rather unimpressive-looking insect – a small dark speck of a thing – but they can cause absolute havoc. In some places in the South Island, scientists have recorded a bite rate of up to 1,000 an hour.

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Habitat: Blackflies breed in running water, so you’ll find them (or they’ll find you) at beaches, lakes, rivers, and swamps and in damp bush areas. On the West Coast of the South Island where sandflies run particularly rampant, locals claim to be able to tell another local from a tourist by whether they’re a “brusher” or a “slapper” (locals brush, tourists slap).

Look/listen: Because the sandfly’s bite is quite painful, most people will feel them before they see them. Where a mosquito’s mouth-parts pierce the skin and draw blood like a needle, a sandfly’s mouth is knife-shaped, slashing the skin so the insect can lap up the resulting droplet of blood (this technique is referred to, rather grotesquely, as “pool-feeding”.) Only female sandflies bite and they do so because, while an unfed female can lay up to a dozen eggs, a female who has had a “blood meal” can produce hundreds.

Tell me a story: According to Kāi Tahu legend, after the dramatic cliff faces of Fiordland were forged by the demi-god Tu-te-raki-Whanoa, the goddess of the underworld Hine-nui-te-po feared that its beauty would cause all who visited to stay forever, so she released swarms of namu to keep those guests at bay!

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E D I B L E S

S AY CHEESE Moore Wilson’s was named one of seven Top New Zealand Cheese Stores for 2020 by the NZ Specialist Cheesemakers association for excellence in promoting local cheese and educating cheese lovers. “Buying New Zealand ensures the cheese is fresh and it reduces food miles. There’s a very good chance cheese lovers will get to meet their local cheesemaker,” says the association’s chair, Neil Willman. Featherston’s C'est Cheese, artisan cheese and deli, was also recognised.

BETTER TOGETHER

BUN FIGHT

EGGNOG ADVENT

Martinborough’s Palliser Estate winery has teamed up with Egmont Street Eatery for the summer. “Egmont at Palliser” offers seasonal lunch dishes inspired by Wairarapa food artisans and made to match Palliser’s wines.

Pull up a beanbag or sit in the newly renovated dining room and grab a glass. Palliser Estate’s viticulturist Guy McMaster says they’re looking forward to “partnering our delicious wines with great food and sharing it all with wonderful people.”

An informal survey of Mt Victoria residents shows they are “gutted” that Burger Liquor has closed their pop-up on Marjoribanks St and moved back to their now earthquake-strengthened Te Aro location.

Not wanting to lose their new local, we hear they tried to convince owner Dan Haycock to start a chain. That’s not on the cards at the moment. For now, the original Willis St premises will keep serving burgers, beers, and shakes.

Hawthorn Lounge is getting into the holiday groove with a creamy, spicy, citrusy cognac eggnog. We wanted “to create a classic Christmas treat for our regular guests to spread some festive cheer,” says Elise Hellesland, co-owner of Hawthorn, Cuckoo, and C.G.R. Merchant. “A focus of Hawthorn Lounge has always been doing our high quality take on classic cocktails.” The eggnog will be available in the two weeks before Christmas.

Direct from the farm.

To your door. Wairarapa Beef, Lamb and Pork

By Dion & Ali

www.homegrownbutchery.online

E D I B L E S

LAMB A N D HA M Lamb is pushing ham out of the top spot as Kiwi’s Christmas meat of choice, according to Retail Meat NZ’s Classic Kiwi Christmas Census. Thirty percent of those surveyed reported having lamb in 2018, and 34% in 2019. Hilary Pearson, general manager at Freedom Farms, notes that customers want meat that’s locally produced. Lamb raised in the high country, Christmas hams from the foot of the Southern Alps, and salmon from Aotearoa’s cool deep oceans are popular Christmas day choices.

ROAST WITH THE MOST

DINNER AND A SHOW

RAISE YOUR GLASS

L’affare’s December Roasters Cup is back with a twist. The Roasters’ Lucky Dip is a limited edition selection of the 2020 Roasters’ cup single-origin coffees, which gives coffee fans a last chance at single-origin coffees they missed during the year. Starting 1 December, all proceeds from every $10 bag will go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association of New Zealand. “Being able to support the great work they do is really heartening. They make an immense difference in the lives of people with motor neurone disease,” says marketing assistant Phoebe Tuxford.

Combining drinks, canapes, fine dining, and our favourite Wellington Drag Queens, World of Wearable Art: Dinner, Drag & Art offers a VIP experience with a chance to get close to the WOW garments being exhibited at Te Papa. World of Wearable Art – Up Close | Ao KākahuToi – Kia Tata features over 35 award-winning garments created with unconventional materials by overseas and New Zealand designers. The dinner is on 18 December and tickets are limited.

Madison Veitch from Customs Coffee Supreme has been named L’affare Outstanding Barista in the 2020 Felix Wellington Hospitality Awards. The Outstanding Bartender award went to Devan Nesbitt from Hawthorn Lounge, and Havana Bar was named Outstanding Bar. Other winners include Justin McKenzie, co-owner of CGR Merchant & Co, Cuckoo Emporium, and Hawthorn Lounge, named Outstanding Hospitality Professional, and Monique Fiso (Cap #53) who won the people’s choice award.

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129 Willis St. burgerliquor.co.nz

S H E A R E R S '

TA B L E

Santa snacks

BY N I K K I & J O R DA N S H E A R E R

S

poil Santa this year with some decadent chocolate-coated brittle, and spicy biscuits!

The one-pot biscuit recipe was passed to the Shearers by Molly Coughlan many years ago, and Nikki has been making them since the kids were babies, 30 plus years! Deliciously simple and full of the spicy fragrance of Christmas. An oldie but a goodie, and oh so simple to whip up.

The almond brittle recipe takes a little more time but is well worth the effort. The almonds

can be replaced with any nut (think macadamia and chilli combo). Just watch the toffee stage as sugar can burn very quickly. This recipe was given to us by the Wilson family and after tasting and sharing, we know that this will be a Shearer tradition for the next generation. Family love, sharing, and blessings this Christmas, best present ever! These are treats we are sure Santa and his reindeer will love.

Makes 24

One pot biscuits 150g unsalted butter 1 cup castor sugar 2 Tbsp golden syrup 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp nutmeg 2 cups flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 cup sultanas

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2.

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4.

5.

Heat oven to 175°C. Heat butter, sugar, and golden syrup in a large pot over a medium heat. Stir until butter is melted and sugar dissolved.

Add baking soda and stir until the mixture froths. Take off heat and stir in remaining ingredients.

Roll teaspoon-size amounts of batter into small balls (it is easier to do while the mixture is still hot) and place on a baking-paper-lined tray.

Bake for approximately 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool on a baking rack. The biscuits will crisp as they cool.

Almond brittle 190g unsalted butter 1 cup castor sugar 70g slivered almonds 200g dark chocolate 70g slivered almonds toasted (extra) salt (optional)

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Place butter and sugar in a small saucepan, and melt gently over a medium heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Stop stirring and simmer for 2–3 minutes.

Stir in 70g of the slivered almonds.

Continue to simmer until the mixture is starting to darken and a small amount dropped into a saucer of cold water is almost brittle (just before the hard crack stage, approx. 4 mins.) Stir occasionally to stop the mixture burning on the bottom. Keep a close eye on it as sugar can burn easily.

Pour caramel onto a sheet of baking paper, spread out to .5cm thickness.

Cool completely. Toffee will become harder as it cools.

Melt the chocolate (we use the microwave by heating for bursts of 40 seconds until melted when stirred).

Spread half the chocolate thinly across the cooled brittle and sprinkle with the toasted almonds.

When chocolate has set, turn brittle over and repeat on the other side with the remaining chocolate.

Once both sides are set, break into pieces using a sharp knife.

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Keepers of the light P H OTO G R A P H BY AT L E Y D U R E T T E

A guiding light, an isolated tower, a beacon of hope, or a weather-beaten warning sign. Whatever a lighthouse represents to you, there’s something intriguing about them. Our region’s lighthouses at Pencarrow, Cape Palliser, Matiu/Somes Island, Castlepoint, and Baring Head are situated at exposed and remote points of our coastline. Claire O’Loughlin looks into these watch towers.

Lighthouses come from a time when the world was darker, when sailors had to navigate at night by the stars and the shadowy shapes of hills in moonlight. On cloudy nights, the world was black. So fires, and later lamps, were lit along the coast to guide sailors safely by.

Lighthouses are an interesting part of New Zealand’s colonial history. Life as a lighthousekeeper was gritty. To live in isolation on desolate, windswept shores, you had to be stoical, handy, and dedicated to keeping the light on – sailor’s lives depended on it.

Before lighthouses, our dark coast was treacherous. Wellington’s South Coast is littered with shipwrecks, as navigators mistook Owhiro Bay and Lyall Bay for the Wellington Harbour entrance at night. In 1852, New Zealand’s first “lighthouse” was a lamp in the seaside window of a cottage at Pencarrow Head, maintained by George Bennett.

When he drowned in 1855, his widow Mary took over the role, while looking after their five children.

In 1859 the first permanent lighthouse was built on the same location, and Mary became the country’s first official “Keeper of the Light”. She held the role for another five years, the first and last woman lighthouse keeper in New Zealand.

In 1935, Pencarrow was decommissioned and Baring Head lighthouse, further along the coast, took over as the guiding light for Wellington Harbour and Cook Strait.

As a child who grew up on a boat, I loved lighthouses. They were the transition points between my life at sea and the land. At night their beams would sweep over the boat like a searchlight, austere and unforgiving. By day they were whimsical, especially the red and white striped ones, like something from a nursery rhyme. And satisfyingly functional. Looking at it from the tumultuous sea, lighthouse-keeping was the kind of steady, responsible job that I wanted. I had no idea what it entailed, but, like those of a firewoman or a zoo keeper, it was all in the name: keep the light on.

In reality people in the New Zealand Lighthouse Service had a hard time, as did their families who lived with them — only married men were allowed permanent keeper positions, possibly because wives were relied on as assistants, and it was thought single men would get lonely, or debaucherous. According to Maritime NZ, keepers were to be “sober and industrious, cleanly in their persons and habits and orderly in their families. Any flagrant immorality will subject them to immediate dismissal.”

The first lamps were oil-fired, and keepers had to stay up all night trimming the wick and doing other maintenance, like winding the revolving lens mechanisms. A lot of time was spent watching the sea and passing ships, and keepers often took part in ocean rescues.

Baring Head lighthouse

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There was little access to schooling, and medical care was weeks away. In the early days, many children died from illness and from accidents on the dangerous terrain.

Close to Wainuiomata, Baring Head was the least isolated of New Zealand lighthouses, with its children able to go to school. Keepers and their families were living there until the late 1980s.

Unfortunately for the many of us who dreamt of a lighthouse keeper's life, the job is no more.

By 1990, all lighthouses had been automated.

There are 23 that still shine every night, including Wellington’s Matiu/Somes Island, Baring Head, Cape Palliser, and Castlepoint, but computers have replaced the keepers.

However, Wellingtonians will before long be able to get a feel for the lifestyle. The Friends of Baring Head, a group of passionate environmentalists and historians, are working to breathe life back into Baring Head station. It’s an opportunity to preserve a slice of New Zealand history – the complex is the only one in the country still in original condition.

An incredible effort in 2010 saw everyone from trampers and cyclists to environmentalists, botanists, architects, and rock climbers raise $1.2 million in one month to buy the land surrounding Baring Head and make it part of the East Harbour Regional Park. With the region secured, the Friends are now restoring the complex, turning the two lighthouse keepers’ cottages into overnight accommodation, and the powerhouse into a visitors’ centre. Colin Ryder, Treasurer of the Friends and the man running the lighthouse project, says they expect the upgraded accommodation to appeal to families and small groups, especially since it will be close to a proposed cycle trail. “We are also converting the former garage to volunteer accommodation so scientists and us greenies can use it for accommodation.”

They’re also working with NIWA to set up a system to monitor the effects of climate change on the coastline. Anyone, anywhere, will be able to tune in to a live feed and, like the old lighthouse keepers, gaze out across the sea.

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Being there

occasion. I have a positive outlook on life and believe strongly that people can change.”

A few years ago Sarah, who describes herself as a “queer Pākeha artist, social entrepreneur and comedian”, was struggling to help a friend suffering from mental-health issues. Sarah realised many people in similar situations to her own didn’t know how to help. So in 2016, Sarah and two friends founded CoLiberate, a social enterprise teaching New Zealanders how to notice when a family member, friend or colleague isn’t okay, how to be there for them, and how to help them access appropriate support services. “It’s mental rather than physical first aid,” says Sarah, 28.

Currently our mental-health system only helps those in serious crises. “Most people can’t access support because they’re not ‘bad’ enough,” Sarah says. So CoLiberate is a safety net, as early intervention can save further distress and potentially government health-care money later.

CoLiberate works with companies, organisations, and government departments (230 and counting) to deliver wellbeing action plans, empathy training for leaders, and its core oneday course that’s seen 1,262 people earn a Mental Health First (MHF) Response Certificate (mainly staff of participatingcompanies, and also including 430 people via public courses).

“We’re hoping to train 1,000 people in 2021.”

BY SA R A H L A N G

More than anything, Sarah Tuck loves to make people laugh.

“I'm known for my ‘serious, serious giggle’ approach which is all about backing yourself, taking your dreams and work seriously, and always stopping to have a good giggle with the people around you any opportunity you get. Life is too fun to take it too seriously.”

Last month, Sarah won the $5,000 Wellbeing category at The Impact Awards, run by Inspiring Stories, a charity helping Kiwis aged 16 to 30 to realise their potential. (Wellington had seven of 25 finalists in five categories.) “It’s nice getting recognition, and to share my message of hope.”

Her award-winning Fringe offering in 2016, The Offensive Nipple Show, (with Jess Holly Bates) was described as “funny enough for anyone to enjoy,” and her one-woman-show The Things We Do was “undeniably fun”. Sarah says that since she’s stopped making theatre, she’s brought that energy to the everyday “by treating my work and play as a show and a special

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R E V E R S E

Re-verse I N T R O D U C E D BY F R E YA DA LY - S A D G R O V E

S E R M O N F R O M A B O M B S H E LT E R

The Poet: Ursula and I went to high school together in Wellington, and although she is based in Melbourne now she remains one of my closest friends. Writing, and especially poetry, has always been smack in the middle of our friendship. We first got to know each other co-writing a script for drama – I think it was something about two teenagers killing their best friend, or maybe that came later. At some point we started sharing our poems with each other, and half our lives later she is still usually my first reader, the person who I trust utterly with my work, and who trusts me with hers.

Instead, we will surrender ourselves to the predictive power of the omen, my friends, reducing the amount of punishment we will undergo in the next life’s new chamber of moneytexts be not afraid we will experience luxurious growth potential we will launch lifestyle blogs do not concern yourself with the rats, though often underestimated, they are full of design flaws, remember that bad moods are the author of all storms, fear is calumny, memorise a list of gratitudes, move to a glamorous european city, there will be rats no matter where you open your small business, wherever you desire to be there will be signs of the times, that is their nature, they will be manifest in weather events, party talk, the corner of god will appear just outside the frame of your short-term plans, be not afraid, we will make for ourselves the way, we will make for ourselves these graphs, we will submit to the minister for redemption, we will process, delay is natural, this polity is not conclusion, slip and rally, still the nibbling tooth, use the times wisely, reach the peak of self awareness, sagacity stands beyond, regard your social utility, reject the temptations of contempt, certain urgencies, god loves a technique of survival, the slippage of faith, be not afraid, stop taking shit from losers, be not

The Poem: Sermon From a Bomb Shelter appears in Ursula’s first chapbook, Noonday, from indie Australian publisher Puncher and Wattman’s imprint Slow Loris. The chapbook is filled with absolute bangers, but I chose to write about this one partly for bragging purposes – the title comes from something I said to her once. I was trying to express what her writing feels like to me – how she treats language with remarkable reverence, and how something huge and terrible is always looming behind it. She writes like it’s the end of the world, which, you know, it is.

The poem doesn’t really have a beginning or an ending, it’s just a middle, like your walkie talkie has picked up a mysterious frequency that you’ll never be able to find again. It sounds like it could have been going since the beginning of time and will continue for the rest of it. I have two favourite lines: the first one is “the corner of / god will appear just /outside the frame of your / short-term plans” which feels thrillingly close to the bone as this hellish year draws to an end and a fresh one approaches. The other one is “stop taking shit from losers” – it feels to me like the whole poem focuses to a point here, like it turns its face to look at me directly and it’s giving me such a wink.

Ursula captures the constant ache of fear that we all live with now on our burning world, but she slips you a bit of power with it. She’s like your personal trainer for the apocalypse.

By Ursula Robinson-Shaw From Noonday

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Sing choir of angels

I speak Tongan. I don't know much about my Samoan heritage, and being able to do the dance solo for this piece was a great privilege to share the part of me which I don't express often.”

A year 12 student, she has always enjoyed singing, dancing, and speaking in public, performing in church, at school, and other events. She was competing at the Big Sing, an inter-school choir competition, when she discovered the secondary students choir. “I have never seen such a diverse group of people from all around New Zealand sing so beautifully and look so joyful when on stage.” She quickly decided to audition, and is now one of the 54 high school students from around New Zealand who made the cut. “The last time we sang and rehearsed together in a room was before Covid struck. I’m super excited to get back together and continue our singing as a choir in December. I am counting down the days.”

The New Zealand Secondary Students Choir perform at Lower Hutt Town Hall on 18 December.

BY F R A N C E S CA E M M S

Tate Le Fia Manatua tells the story of a Samoan Princess who was married off to a Tongan Prince, and her village mourning their loss. The choral number is part of the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir’s repertoire, and a special piece for Wellington East Girls College student Lesieli Katoa (centre), who performs the dance solo. It’s one of her favourite pieces because “I get to share something that is a big part of who I am, that being singing and dancing in Samoan, the heritage of my greatgrandparents, and also seeing the smile and happiness that this beautiful piece of music brings to the faces of our audience who come to watch. I am mostly Tongan and

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B O O K

Novel suggestions Mar y Fi sher Mary is a former competitive swimmer who is blind. She won five Paralympic Games medals including two golds, and is currently a Recreation and Volunteer Coordinator at Blind Low Vision New Zealand.

Wondering what to read this summer, or what to give to a

I read audiobooks, Braille, and e-texts, where a screen-reader programme turns text to speech. Some evenings my flatmate reads aloud Zami: A New Spelling of My Name. The late American poet-activist Audre Lorde wrote this book and to describe it coined the term “biomythography” – the weaving together of myth, history and biography. Audre devoted herself to addressing the injustices of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia. What a life!

Over summer I'd like to read Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, a memoir by Haben Girma, first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School turned human-rights lawyer. I've consumed YouTube clips and read articles by her, but am keen to read her thoughts cover to cover.

family member for Christmas?

We’ve asked readers from the Wellington region to choose their favourites.

For Christmas I'd like to give my flatmate’s two-year-old the Kiwi picture book Things in the Sea are Touching Me! by Linda Jane Keegan, illustrated by Stapleton Minky; it’s about a girl overcoming her fears while swimming. I’ll stick colourless Braille acetate labels alongside the print so my young friend and I can read together.

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Wa rren M a xwel l

Max Pat te

Warren is an award-winning musician and member of Trinity Roots and Little Bushman. He’s also Senior Lecturer in Composition & Performance at Massey University Wellington, commuting from Featherston three days a week.

Artist Max Patte’s work spans sculpture, painting and light art. He created the iconic sculpture Solace in the Wind, a naked man leaning forward into a gale, sited on Wellington’s waterfront, which attracts attention from visitors and locals.

I’m currently reading The Woven Universe: Selected Writings of Rev. Māori Marsden.

Compiled and edited by Dr Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal, it provides a generous insight into the fusion and/or collision of Tikanga Māori and Western values and beliefs.

I’m enjoying The Little Book of Colour

by Karen Haller. The science and psychology of colour and its impact on our mood, emotions, and all-round wellbeing fascinates me, as colour is a key component to the experience of my work.

Over summer I’d like to read anything concerned with dragons or Celtic rituals.

I’ve always loved the romance of dragonlore, which is essentially folklore about dragons, and I’m interested in potential ontological (existential philosophy) parallels between my Celtic heritage and my Māori Whakapapa. I’m going to check out US novelist Daniel Arenson’s Dragonlore fantasy trilogy about an ancient kingdom where people can grow wings and breathe fire like dragons.

Over summer I'd like to read The Way We Eat Now by Bee Wilson. I’ve had this book on my bedside table for a while now and have really enjoyed snippets in between reading Each Peach Pear, Plum on repeat to my kids!

It delves into how and why we eat as we do and the impact it’s having both on our health and the environment. It sounds a bit heavy but the writing is really accessible.

For Christmas I’d like to give my kids Song of the River, a new edition of Joy Cowley’s classic picture book about a boy who follows a river from a stream to the sea. The blond boy reminds me of my four-year-old. It’s illustrated

by Kimberly Andrews, a Wellington children’s book author-illustrator.

For Christmas I’d actually like to give two books to the Ministers for Primary Industries: Aquaponics Food Production Systems edited by Simon Goddek mā, and Te Mahi Oneone Hua Parakore: A Māori Soil Sovereignty and Wellbeing Handbook by Jessica Hutchings mā. They’re about sensible, sustainable food production, and soil sovereignty. In Te Ao Māori, soil is the cloak of Papatūānuku, the earth mother.

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B O O K

Ton i Hua ta

Li z Sneyd

Toni is an award-winning singer-songwriter, actor, performer, director and producer who has performed around the world. She’s also Director of Māori Music at SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music Toi te Arapūoru.

New Zealand’s first Music Teacher of the Year Liz Sneyd runs the Virtuoso Strings Charitable Trust and Orchestra which provides free tuition, instruments, and performing opportunities to Porirua youth in low-decile schools.

I’m currently reading Te Ara Puoro: A Journey into the World of Māori Music,

by Richard Nunns with Allan Thomas.

I love this book as I respect the research that has been shared about the world of taonga pūoro (traditional Māori instruments) regarding their making, playing, history, and tikanga (Māori customs). I’ve also been lucky to have artists play taonga pūoro in some of my waiata.

I have at least 20 books piled up precipitously on my bedside table. One is Becoming by Michelle Obama, to further fuel my obsession with US politics.

This summer I’m looking forward to reading The Tenth Muse, a novel by Catherine Chung about an American-Chinese woman determined to stake her place in the misogynist world of mathematics. And Remote Sympathy, a novel by New Zealand author Catherine Chidgey, about a woman living near a Nazi labour camp. Then there’s the novel Partitions by nuclear radiologist and award-winning poet Amit Majmudar; it’s about India being rent into two nations with the creation of Pakistan.

Over summer I'd like to read Taonga Puoro Singing Treasures – The Musical Instruments of the Māori. It’s the first book that comprehensively covers the world of Māori musical instruments, written by master carver and Māori instrument-maker Brian Flintoff.

For Christmas I’d like to give my husband David Attenborough’s new book A Life on Our Planet partly because I can read it too – we unwittingly often buy each other the same book for Christmas! I’d love to be given Aue by Becky Manawatu – about a boy trying to break the cycle of gang violence. It won the fiction prize at this year’s Ockham NZ Book Awards.

For Christmas I'd like to give my brother Toi Apiapi: he huinga o nga kura pūoro o te Māori – the accompanying book to an album which includes 18 tracks celebrating taonga pūoro.

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H O M E

New beat to an old tune P H OTO G R A P H Y BY A N N A B R I G GS

A well-known couple has renovated one of Wellington’s grand old ladies for their modern family life. Sarah Catherall talks to them about their home.

K

ali and Myles Gazley’s stately Khandallah home looks like something out of a fairytale. Resting behind huge iron gates in the suburb’s dress circle, the two-storey 1904 house is nestled in a lush garden on a flat 1,202-square-metre section.The 500-squaremetre house was originally built for Wellington’s royalty – for Herbert Kirkcaldie, the second son of Kirkcaldie and Stains’ founder John.

Myles has been selling cars for more than three decades. He took over the family business Gazley Motors and now employs more than 135 staff.

Kali is multi-talented: she performs as a Beat Girl, teaches yoga and pilates, and runs her own interior design consultancy, along with raising their three children: Cleopatra, 10, Daisy, 8, and Rollo, 5.

Myles roars into the driveway in one of his collectable cars. He explains he was drawn to the home’s size, and the triple garage, which he needs to store his cars, including two Ferraris and a 1972 classic Mercedes CSL they call “Brown’’.

When the homestead Tranby House, came up for sale three years ago, the couple were living in an 1880s house they had renovated in Kaiwharawhara.

Kali wanted a big home with a flat section for their children, within walking distance of a school.

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“Being from Hawkes Bay houses like this are normal to me in terms of size. There aren’t a lot of houses like this in Wellington,’’ she says. “I loved the fact it holds so much history and energy. I didn’t want to come in here and rip everything out.’’

One of the home’s previous owners had added an extension, which includes Rollo’s bedroom. Kali undertook an extensive renovation. Looking around, she says: “Everything the eye can see has been touched’’.

She has always loved beautiful, feminine things, reflecting her personal style. “I pick a theme and try to follow it through the house. I was looking for a romantic luxe look. I like homes that are inviting.’’

“I like things to be beautiful but not over the top.’’

She is also influenced by theatre sets, spending a lot of time on stage singing and performing. One of six Beat Girls who take turns performing gigs around New Zealand, she did 25 shows from October to December last year. “It’s off the wall. It’s a slice of my old life before I had kids,’’ Kali smiles.

Growing up in Napier, Kali was on stage with the Napier Operatic Society from the age of 12, inspired by her maternal aunt, Delia Hannah, who has made a career out of musical theatre. It is as though her home is a stage set she is designing for both her family and a

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potential audience. “In the theatre, you have a blank canvas, and you can create anything out of nothing,’’ she says. “I like coming up with ideas that might not be obvious.’’

When decorating, she wanted to pay homage to the history of Tranby Homestead while modernising it and giving it her personal touch. While the current fashion is to paint wood white, she has chosen to keep many of the original rimu ceilings, staircase features and window sills. She loves to mix old and new – in the formal living room, Starck perspex chairs sit around an old-fashioned dining table. She also likes mixing metals.

Her favourite lime green is splashed through the house. A grand piano sits in one corner of the formal living room, with floral Christian Lacroix wallpaper along one wall. “Myles saw the wallpaper and said we had to have it.’’

She has sourced the accessories through local stores where possible. Gold lamps sit beside the bed in her master suite, while two modern gold Matheny chandeliers gleam from the four-metre-high ceiling in the kitchen and open-plan family room.

A wall in the kitchen and living area is covered with a floral wallpaper from Dutch designer Ellie Cashman.

Gwyneth Paltrow has the same wallpaper in her house.

Of the many plants in pots, Kali says: “I just had this romantic idea of having a greenhouse inside.’’

“Luckily my husband lets me put giant flowers on the wall because some husbands wouldn’t,’’ she laughs.

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The Poggenpohl kitchen with a quartzite stone bench is the hub of the house, opening on to a return verandah and a fake grass lawn. She won’t follow trends. “I had the black kitchen 10 years ago before others did,’’ she says. They added a butler’s kitchen behind the main kitchen. “It was a nothing space. Now we can put mess behind there.’’

The homestead entrance is grand, with a fairytale quality.

A huge 1954 painting by Leonard Mitchell is on one wall.

“It was found rolled up in a rotting shed in Khandallah. It’s probably a museum item,’’ says Kali, who loves art but will only buy what she likes rather than what is collectable.

At the top of the stairwell, huge mirrors reflect light from the windows. “These big houses weren’t built for light. That’s the challenge with any villa – trying to fill them with light,’’ she says.

Each bedroom has a balcony. While the windows drop almost to floor level, none of the bedroom balconies have doors, so you have to climb out a window to reach any of them.

Kali likes to pay homage to her own family and her history: in the formal living room, her wedding dress hangs next to her grandmother Fleur’s wedding dress. Her mother’s family founded the Hannahs surfboard brand,

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and Kali’s extensive collection of surfboards is scattered through the house.

The main entrance looks north-east, with sweeping views in all directions, taking in Mt Kaukau. When she’s not busy with her work or children, Kali loves walking up Mt Kaukau for head space and exercise. She also loves tending the garden, including the succulents from her grandfather’s beach house in Waimarama. “Every time I go there I bring succulent cuttings home. I sprout them inside to get them going,’’ she says.

Above the garage, Kali has turned the loft space into a studio, where she conducts her classes via Zoom when she is not teaching at Hot Yoga Wellington. She also rehearses there with the Beat Girls. “The house didn’t feel very friendly when we first bought it. I tried to make it feel like my own. Fashion and interior design are like an expression of my personality. I like fabulous things.’’

“I would love to be able to slow down a bit and enjoy it,’’ she smiles.

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What would Deirdre do?

you but it is Christmas – be generous of spirit but let her know that your birthday is important to you and you would like to share it with her. It can just be on a different day.

A DV I C E F RO M D E I R D R E TA R R A N T

C H E AT S C H R I ST M A S SP I R I T For the sake of my daughter I’m going to be with my ex-partner and his family this Christmas. I’ve just found out his girlfriend who he cheated on me with will be there too. How am I going to get through this?

Tense with rage, Karori

S TAY HOM E I’m in my first real job after finishing Uni and I’m not sure what’s expected around Christmas time. There are two things I’m particularly worried about and they’re both to do with my finances. First, do I need to get my boss a present? And secondly, is it a bad look if I don’t go to the (pretty pricey) Christmas party?

Feeling tight, Normandale

Tough ask. I suspect I would not go, as I doubt that I could maintain my Christmas charm. Split celebrations are often a way to see the people who matter.

Can this be thought about? Or perhaps more than one Christmas dinner? Or open presents together at brunch? You should be with your daughter but under the circumstances the girlfriend is maybe a step too far.

Up to you entirely — presents are for friends and if your boss has been helpful work-wise maybe a bar of Christmas chocolate? Same with the party – if you would like to join in it is your call, but don’t feel you have to. Lack of funds is a compelling and valid reason not to do things. Happy Christmas!

M O N EY TA L K S I have good friends who routinely ask me how much I have paid for items of clothing, furniture, presents, anything really and expect me to discuss my salary, or whether I have a received a pay increase. Am I right in thinking it’s rude of them to ask and is it okay for me to say I prefer not to tell them?

Privacy issues, Kelburn

SH E D O E SN ’ T C A R E My birthday is between Christmas and New Year and I never really do anything because no one is around.

This hasn’t bothered me until now. My girlfriend is going home for the holiday period. I’m not invited, and I won’t get to see her on my birthday, and I’m sad about it. She says I’m being silly, but I think she should make an effort. Who is right?

I don’t want to be alone, Korokoro

It is rude. It is your business. Don’t discuss. Don’t be snappy, just talk about something else. Friends? Good friends? Maybe rethink your definition.

We have birthdays in our family that fall very close to Christmas too. This is tricky as I find myself feeling for you. Suggest a special dinner/date for your birthday celebration before she goes. It is clearly important to

If you’ve got a burning question for Deirdre, email angel@capitalmag.co.nz with Capital Angel in the subject line.

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Star Gossage: He Tangata The People 26 Nov 2020 – 14 Feb 2021 FREE ENTRY Chris and Kathy Parkin

New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata Shed 11, 60 Lady Elizabeth Lane, Wellington Waterfront www.nzportraitgallery.org.nz, 04 472 2298

Star Gossage, Pā Girls, 2013, Private collection

i

y r i a D r e Cor n Exhibitions at the Sarjeant:

5 December 2020 – 14 March 2021

Te Awa Reo

WAI - The Water Project

This exhibition utilises the New Zealand dairy as a cultural point of contact that represents ingenuity, economy of means, nostalgia and a sense of fun. It brings together works that depict everyday items, for example confectionary, fruit and Kiwiana – the kinds of things found at the dairy, or reference the dairy itself. Curated by James Hope, Sarjeant Gallery.

Fourteen artists respond to scientific research of an 8.75 metre core sample of sediment taken from the Ātene Meander on the Whanganui River. This project has been three years in the making and is a beautiful collision of science and art that is deeply connected to the Awa.

Thirteen New Zealand artists explore fresh water systems in Aotearoa and the cultural, environmental and political stories that surround them. The project was initiated by Ashburton Art Gallery in 2017 and this version of the exhibition has been co-curated by Gregory O’Brien and Bruce Foster.

38 Taupō Quay Whanganui 4500 New Zealand

31 October 2020 – 14 February 2021

Phone 06 349 0506 www.sarjeant.org.nz

Sarjeant Gallery is a cultural facility of the Whanganui District Council

Image: Elisa Barczak, Salad Days are Gone, 2016, installation view.

Courtesy of the artist.

21 November 2020 – 7 February 2021

WĀ H I N E

Goodbye 2020

In her essay Working Through Environmental Despair, environmental activist and author Joanna Macy describes how our insistence on going about our lives as if nothing is wrong (all the time knowing something is dreadfully wrong) contributes to a “psychic numbing”.

Like Kahlil Gibran says in The Prophet: “Your joy is your sorrow unmasked… The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.” Our refusal to feel hard feelings might protect us from despair temporarily, but it does so at the cost of other emotions, like joy, wonder, love, and hope. We go through the motions, we survive, but we don’t necessarily live.

A word being used a lot these days is “resilience”, defined as the “capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness”. We teach it to our children, try to cultivate it in ourselves and our staff. When we think about resilience we may imagine grit, strength and determination – hunkering down and pulling on a protective shell to make us impermeable. But resilience also has another meaning: “the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity.” Elasticity.

What if, instead of closing down, we reacted to despair by opening up? This is after all, as Macy points out, the way that life-forms have evolved with intelligence – not by gaining armour but by shedding it: “Reaching outward to an ever-wider interplay with the environment… [growing] sensitive, vulnerable protuberances – ears, noses, eyeballs, lips, tongues, fingertips – the better to feel and respond, the better to connect in the web and weave it further.”

By allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, to reach out to each other and connect in our collective despair, might we reawaken ourselves to the excruciating, awe-inspiring beauty of the life that remains all around us?

Might the joy of this rediscovery, the throwing off of psychic numbing in favour of feeling, be exactly the thing we needed to live?

BY M ELODY T HO MAS

A

nd so we reach the final month of 2020, the year when time warped so each day dragged its feet as if weighed down by cement blocks, while at the same time, inexplicably, whole months slipped away in a blink. It’s been a year navigated with levels, lockdowns, and QR codes, where political news and satire became indistinguishable. It’s been intense, even here in Aotearoa where competent leadership has shielded us from the worst of it, and it’s understandable that many will be wishing good riddance to 2020. But we all know that, even when this pandemic eventually passes, the big issues of our time – climate change, food security, gender equality, mental health issues and isolation, the rise of white supremacy and so on – will remain. The chances that 2021 is going to be significantly better than 2020 are, at best, slim.

This is not a reason to lose hope. If anything, it’s a reason to invest in it.

I understand you’re probably feeling anxious. I feel it too. Humans are not good at uncertainty, and there are no clear-cut solutions to the problems we face which means anyone offering one is probably a charlatan. Faced with overwhelming dread, panic, guilt and grief, especially over the collapse of our environment and resulting human suffering, our tendency is to turn away. It’s too much to deal with, we’re only one person, we don’t want to come off as unreasonable or emotional, we need to hold ourselves together for our friends and our children, it’s too late anyway, there’s nothing we can do – this is what we tell ourselves so we might continue on with life.

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C A L E N D A R

December MATERIA L EFFICIENCIES Exhibition of works by Marita Hewitt Page Galleries, until 5 December EVERY THING OL D IS NEW AGA IN Celebrating the Turnbull Library at 100 NZ Portrait Gallery, until 13 December L IGHT YEA RS CHRISTMAS Activities for children PlayHQ at Capital E, until 21 December C OL L ECTA BL E SMA L L WORKS Cash and carry exhibition Mitchell Studios, Khandallah, until 24 December STA R GOSSAGE: HE TA NGATA THE PEOPL E NZ Portrait Gallery, Wellington

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C ONTA INING MULTITUDES Exhibition of works by Zac Langdon-Pole City Gallery, Wellington THE A LGORITHMIC IMPUL SE Exhibition of works by Simon Ingram City Gallery, Wellington

1 ASTRONOMY ON TA P Travel from Pōneke into the depths of the universe Space Place, Kelburn, 8pm

3 LOVE, L INDA : THE L IFE OF MRS. C OL E PORTER A one-woman musical about the song writer’s wife, starring Georgia Jamieson Emms Gryphon Theatre, Wellington, 3–5 December

4

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T

CA BA RET JA ZZ Jazz standards, jazz funk, and big band jazz ASB Theatre Marlborough, 4–6 December

473 6275 98

C A L E N D A R

5 SUSTA INA BL E CHRISTMAS MA RK ET Sustainability Trust, Forresters Lane, from 10:30am A V E RY A RO X MAS Arts, crafts, music and activities Aro Valley Community Centre, from 11am CHRISTMAS IN T H E CI T Y Family-friendly festivities Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua, from 12 midday D OW N TOWN SHA K E D OW N Music festival Waitangi Park UPPE R HU T T SA NTA PA R A DE Main St, Upper Hutt,

6 F EAST OF ST. N IC HOL AS F INE SIGN S C R A Z YM A N Multisport event: kayak, bike, run Days Bay Pavilion, Eastbourne, 8am HUT T HE ROE S F UN RU N Special Olympics fundraiser Manaaki Ability Trust, Lower Hutt, 10am

EV E NI NG OF XMAS MUSIC Hosted by Whānau Āwhina Plunket Old St Paul’s, 5pm

PETER PA N & UNPRECEDE NTED Tar rant d ance rs pre s e nt t wo works The Opera House, 4.30pm and 7pm

T H E A BBA SHOW Tribute show celebrating the Swedish pop group ASB Theatre Marlborough, 8pm

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11 T H E TOI THREE HUNDY Work by resident artists, nothing over $300 Toi Pōneke, Te Aro, until 22 December BL AC KCA PS v W EST INDIES Basin Reserve, Wellington, 11–15 December

12 NORT H POL E EXPRESS Festive ride on a heritage steam train Paraparaumu Railway Station, 12–13 December, three round trips per day NAT IONA L DR AG R ACING CHA M PIONSHIP Masterton Motorplex, 12–13 December A K I D-FRIENDLY CHRISTMAS DR AG SHOW A festive and fierce drag spectacular from Hugo Grrrl The Fringe Bar, 3.30pm

T HOR N D ON FA IR Tinakori Rd, Thorndon, from 10am

FA M I LY TREE W HA KA PA PA Artwork by four sisters Aratoi Museum, Masterton

29th WALLACE ART AWARDS 2020 Exhibition of winners and finalists Pātaka Art and Museum, Porirua

S OU ND S OF CHRISTMAS Family-friendly carolling Port Marlborough Pavilion, Endeavour Park, 5pm

NYO FINA L E Classic and contemporary orchestral music performed by the NZSO National Youth Orchestra Michael Fowler Centre, 7.30pm

18 DINNER , DR AG, A ND A RT Te Papa, 7.30pm, bookings essential

19 SUMMER SOUNDS MUSIC FESTIVA L The Queen Charlotte Tavern, Marlborough

20 SCI-FI SUNDAYS Watch Star Trek Beyond (2016) in a planetarium Space Place at Carter Observatory, 7pm HA NUKKA H Begins at sunset

21 SUMMER SOL STICE Southern Hemisphere

22 YUL E/ W INTER SOL STICE Northern Hemisphere

25 CHRISTMAS DAY

SCI- F I SU N DAYS: STA R T R E K The Star Trek trilogy projected onto a fulldome planetarium.

Space Place, 6, 13, 20 December, 7pm

M E S SIA H Performed by the NZSO Michael Fowler Centre, 7.30pm

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10

CH R I STMAS SINGA LONG Orchestra Wellington performs familyfriendly festive tunes Michael Fowler Centre, 2.30pm

NEW YEA R IN THE CA PI TAL Whairepo Lagoon, Frank Kitts Park, from 8pm

TOS S WO OL L ASTON & STA R GO SSAGE Page Galleries,Wellington

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26 B OXING DAY

NEW YEA R’S EVE

P U Z Z L E D

1.

You’re sleigh-in’ it

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12.

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15.

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Crossword answe rs from issue #73 Across 1. Paua 5. Phở 6. Knead 7. Marmite 9. Cerviche 11. Borscht 13. Gorgonzola 15. Sear 16. Baba ganoush 18. Trifle 19. Vindaloo 21. Wonton 22. Jalapeño 24. Snails 25. Haggis

Down 2. Ugali 3. Kawakawa 4. Fizzy 5. Peanut 8. Food coma 10. Mutton bird 12. Coat 14. Testicles 15. Steep 17. Biltong 20. Mojito 23. Jus

Answers will be published in the next issue

Across

Down

1. Lead up to Christmas (5) 3. Rosy nosed deer (7) 6. Birthplace of Jesus (9) 9. Gift for dads (5) 11. Winter solstice (4) 14. Cube for your gravy (3) 15. Shakespearean fuss (3) 17. Traditional Kiwi dessert (7) 18. Sleepy children go to this land (3) 20. Gift on the third day (5,6,4) 21. Oaknut (5) 24. Jesus’ was a manger (3) 25. Santa got stuck here (7) 26. Santa’s laugh (6) 28. Festive greeting, in te reo (4,10) 29. New Zealand pine, in latin (5,7) 32. Father Christmas’ helpers (5) 33. Horned child punisher (7)

2. Welly’s average Xmas-day temp (8) 4. Sacred coastal tree (10) 5. Bing Crosby dreams of this (5,9) 6. 26th December (6,3) 7. Snoopy’s foe (6,3,5) 8. Hung by the fire place (9) 10. Exploding vessel for trinkets (7) 12. Holy gift giver (5,8) 13. German Christmas tree (6,4) 16. Party or event (2) 19. Liquid fizz (6) 22. King who looked out (9) 23. Guiding light (4) 27. Who bears the crown (5) 30: Tamanuiterā: God of the _ (3) 31. Swim in this, in te reo (3)

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