CAPITAL The stories of Wellington

Houses, and their warmth, size, and availability, become more important as we move into winter and spend more time inside. We have focused on house and home in this issue, while recognising that property prices and building costs are sources of worry for many.

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ISSN 2324-4836

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Claire O’Loughlin takes us inside an Edwardian treasure in Thorndon. A family house, she is struck by how warm and inviting it is with only minimal renovation over its long life. Photographer Anna Briggs showcases its timeless qualities, enhanced by the owners’ eclectic taste.

San Francisco based a whole tourism campaign on their much-photographed “painted ladies,” a smallish group of tall, colourful Victorian houses retained almost by chance in the city that demolished and replaced much of its early housing stock. Here in Wellington, the commissioners’ report on the district plan hearings now being held will shape our city for decades. A particularly contentious issue is that of character or heritage housing areas. Denis Clifford offers a view on our remarkably large concentration of them.

Poet Laureate Chris Tse marks the Katherine Mansfield celebrations with a look at her poetry, while Jackie Lee Morrison talks to Marlar Boon about her honouring of her Burmese heritage.

Lest you think we are looking back too much, we feature top drag racer Tamara Silk, and Melody Thomas writes about good sex and good relationships.

Our biennial Best of Wellington awards are back in all their full glory. This survey (informal) can only happen with the support of businesses. It gives readers a fresh look at the range and variety of services, activities and products on offer in the greater Wellington area. An important aspect, for Capital, is being able to offer local business of all sizes the opportunity to promote themselves in our pages: read all about them, on page 52.

We’ll be back in July, in time to celebrate our birthday with you.

Alison Franks Editor

Staff

Managing editor

Alison Franks editor@capitalmag.co.nz

Sales manager

Milly Brunel milly@capitalmag.co.nz

Campaign coordinators

Haleigh Trower haleigh@capitalmag.co.nz

Fergus McClellan fergus@capitalmag.co.nz

Factotum

John Bristed john@capitalmag.co.nz

Project manager

Shalee Fitzsimmons shalee@capitalmag.co.nz

Art director

Rachel Salazar artd@capitalmag.co.nz

Designer Elaine Loh design@capitalmag.co.nz

Content manager / writer Sophie Carter content@capitalmag.co.nz

Publishing coordinator Hannah Mahon hello@capitalmag.co.nz

Accounts

Tod Harfield accounts@capitalmag.co.nz

Contributors

Melody Thomas, Janet Hughes, Anna Briggs, Sarah Lang, Deirdre Tarrant, Francesca Emms, Dan Poynton, Chris Tse, Claire Orchard, Harriet Palmer, Jess Scott, Griff Bristed, Claire O’Loughlin, Chev Hassett, Joram Adams, Sanne Van Ginkel, Rachel Helyer Donaldson, Matthew Plummer, Fairooz Samy, Adrian Vercoe, Sasha Borissenko, Courteney Moore, Josiah Nevell, Monica Winder, Craig Beardsworth, Olivia Lamb, Wilson Matete, Bruno Hart, Charlotte Barnes, Bex McGill, Charlotte Fielding, Jackie Lee Morrison, Andy Hansen, Alice Soper, Helen Lea Wall, Flo Allen

Submissions

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

Featured contributors

Claire lives in Wellington, rides her bike, plays her dad’s guitar, writes nonfiction and makes installations and performance. She has an MA in Creative Non-fiction from the International Institute of Modern Letters.

Jackie Lee Morrison is a British-Chinese former pastry chef and former owner of Lashings. She lives in Wellington. After over a decade in hospo, she now spends her days as a writer and editor. When she is not writing, you can find her eating all the noods and petting all the dogs.

Andy is a Wellington photographer who wandered up from Dunedin. His passion is documenting communities. He originally focused on the anonymous ways that people change the world around them, and has now branched out to the people themselves. Find him on Instagram at @andyhansen.nz

Alice has been playing in Wellington women's rugby teams since she was 13 years old. A loveable loudmouth to her teammates, she continues to use her voice to get women’s sports over the advantage line. Alice lives, plays, writes, and coaches women’s rugby in Wainuiomata. Otherwise you'll find her having an oh-so-Wellington beer in her backyard.

Wellington City Council presents