Happy camper

RESTAURANT Aunty Mena's

Six pack

BY SOPHIE CARTER PHOTOGRAPHY BY SANNE VAN GINKEL

MUSIC Zoe Moon

FILM

The Addams Family (1991)

HOLIDAY Vietnam BOOK

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

What has 26 legs and wanders Wellington’s wilderness?

You’ve got your hands full!” is a groan-worthy line dog handler Izzy Baarspul has grown used to hearing. But with up to nine well-behaved dogs by her side, it’s hardly surprising passers-by have something to say.

While she’s comfortable with a big canine crew, Izzy says her “sweet spot is around six” – but it’s not the same for everyone. “Some people are capable of managing large numbers, while others may struggle with one or two. We all have our own niche talents!”

Izzy wasn’t always a dog whisperer. As a tween she regularly walked (“was dragged”) around the block with her neighbour’s dog Woofa for a couple of dollars, but that was it, for a long time.

Petone-born, Izzy moved into Wellington city for university, to study Educational Psychology. After completing her degree in 2017 she felt a little lost. “I thought I would end up in teaching, but I’d had enough of student life, and didn’t want to be a teacher anymore.”

A friend of a friend offered her a casual dog-walking job and reluctantly she accepted. “Much to my dismay I was dragged around the block again – this time by a great dane-boxer cross and a Hairy Maclary lookalike.”

However, she soon met others in the dog community, who passed on their wisdom, and her confidence grew. She discovered the joy of building relationships with the dogs, overcoming training challenges, and spending her days exploring. Within the year Izzy set up The Happy Dog NZ, and the pack’s been expanding ever since.

Now, rain or shine, armed with eight different house keys, treats, and a roll of poop bags, she chauffeurs a van of excited pooches to a walking destination. Preferring walks with plenty of shade, she lists the Botanic Garden and Mount Victoria among regular routes; but the group’s energy levels and the weather have to be assessed before deciding the best spot. “I also have to consider the impact of a bouquet of dogs on shared public tracks. Nobody should be squeezed off the path.”

While they are enjoying their stroll, the dogs are taught leash skills, and how to sit, stay, improve their recall, and socialise calmly with their packmates. “These basic skills are a critical part of setting a dog up for success in a busy human world.”

Spending each day with lovable pups has its challenges. Cleaning up after them is a major party pooper, along with people who incautiously pat the dogs before asking her. “I know it is tempting, but not all dogs are friendly.”, she explains.

And of course, the job can be short of human interaction, so, whenever possible, Izzy joins forces with fellow dog handlers to chinwag, share training tips, and give the dogs a welcome break. “If we’ve planned ahead, one of us might pick up a donut and have a thermos of tea or coffee to share.”

Currently Izzy is “Aunty of many, owner of none” when it comes to dogs, but an Italian greyhound, Border terrier, or shiba inu would be among her top choices if one were to join her family. For now, as many, many people tell her – she’s got her hands full.

Pals Joe & Mike have been making delicious real-fruit syrups from their Wellington soda kitchen for over 10 years, but now they’ve launched a snazzy soda maker to go with them! Here’s your chance to win a Six Barrel Soda Vanilla Cream Sparkler set (worth over $240!), a low-waste way to make sparkling water at home.

Still In First Position

The New Zealand School of Dance is celebrating long-serving director Garry Trinder’s world-class reputation. The Mount Cook institution is celebrating Trinder’s 25th year of leadership. In that time the school has been endorsed by leading dance establishments abroad, and its alumni are appearing in top-tier dance companies around the world. In 2013 Trinder was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to dance.

ALL A’TWITTER ABOUT GLITTER

Two giant glitter paintings, each 2m square, form the centrepiece of a retrospective exhibition at City Gallery. Reuben Paterson: The Only Dream Left is the largest exhibition to date of Reuben Paterson’s work. Often using lavish colours, and harnessing the shimmering properties of glitter, Paterson has carved out a career in the contemporary art world. For 25 years he has used painting, sculpture, installation, and video in his practice.

Inspiring ideas to embrace a new season at home. Beautiful bedlinen, the best selection of plump feather-filled cushions, quilts & cosy throws, Designers Guild fabrics for curtains, blinds & upholstery, handmade ceramics, & ideas for making your home beautiful.

Mansfield Matters

The life of Wellington-born literary export Katherine Mansfield will be celebrated around the motu this year. The short-story writer, poet, and journalist died in 1923 so centenary celebrations are afoot. Among the commemorations, NZ Post has released a series of stamps with quotations from her work; a new biography is planned (the first since the 1980s); and, closer to home, Victoria University is organising a conference for July.

Out In The City Turns 35

Out in the City is celebrating its 35th birthday! Wrapping up Wellington Pride Festival, you’ll find the annual queer fair at the Michael Fowler Centre on Saturday 18 March. This year’s theme “Ka mua, ka muri”, is a whakatauki meaning “walking backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on the past”. Expect stalls selling local art, all your fave food vendors, and a host of drag performers and entertainers.

Choral Passion

The Tudor Consort, New Zealand’s premier early music choir, is presenting J S Bach’s oratorio the St Matthew Passion in the Alan Gibbs Centre at Wellington College on Saturday 25th March from 7–10pm. They’ll be accompanied by the Chiesa Ensemble, with musical director Michael Stewart conducting from the harpsichord. It will be performed in German with English subtitles. Expect solo performances, a double orchestra, and double chorus.

TIDY-UP TIME

The Dowse Art Museum is having a spring-clean of the 3,500 items in its collection. Don’t worry, they'll be rehoused in refurbished collection-storage spaces. In the meantime, 1,000 of them are displayed in Unhinged: Opening the Doors to the Dowse Collection (25 March to 13 August). They include curiosities such as Paul Rayner’s ceramic portraits of Split Enz and Carmen –and a headdress worn by Sir Jon Trimmer in the Royal NZ Ballet’s 1985 production of Swan Lake. You may have to visit twice to see everything.

TIKTOK FAVES HIT TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA

If you’re on TikTok, you’ve probably been bombarded with videos of Matty Healy, frontman of English rock band The 1975, making out with fans left, right, and centre while on their world tour. Well, pucker up Welly, because they’ll be in town for one night only on 19 April. Expect bright lights, synth sounds, and perhaps a smooch or two.

Latenight Art

If you’re a fan of art and live events accompanied by food and drink, then the City Gallery Tuatara Open Late (5–10pm) is one for your diary on the first Thursday of the month. March’s event includes a late-night tour of the Sour Grapes exhibit, a discussion of Emily Hunt’s sculpture ‘Hand of Sabazius’ (2015), poets responding to Ana Iti’s work, live music, and a ceramic class in making pinch pots.