Matariki Ahi Kā

from Capital 89

by Capital

What would Deirdre do?

An immersive journey with fire, projections, performances, and kai

6pm–9pm 13–16 July

Waterfront

Mana Moana

Indigenous short films in a spectacular location

6pm–9pm, weekends 1–16 July

Whairepo Lagoon wellington.govt.nz / matariki

CPotY Snapshots

Title: Te Tokotoru Tapu (The Divine Trinity)

Photographer: Stef Muyco

Category: Society semi-finalist

Behind the camera: Stef Muyco was born and raised in the city of Chula Vista in California. She lived and worked in Los Angeles for a significant portion of her life before moving to Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa. In the five years she’s been living here, she has worked in the film industry, DJ’d for collectives, private events and radio, and set up a photography studio for passion projects and occasional commissions. In her spare time she enjoys eating, sleeping, and boxing.

The snap: This photo, Te Tokotoru Tapu (The Divine Trinity) was taken at the hair cutting ceremony of the daughter of Stef’s friend, Tehani Buchanan, for her fifth birthday. Amid the energy and excitement of the ceremony, she captured her subjects in a brief moment of rest. “Tehani with her daughter, Amalija, and son, Gabrijel, together enveloped in love from their guests. The Buchanans epitomise a modern family, worthy of being depicted like any notable Italian Renaissance painting. I feel like I created a modern version of Madonna and Child.”

One Birthday bash

It’s birthday season. Mojo is celebrating its 20th, Garage Project has hit 12, and Coffee Supreme is turning a massive 30 years old! Cuba Street’s Ombra has just reached double digits, and to mark the occasion has teamed up with a Martinborough distillery to create a limitededition Mediterranean gin. Here at Capital , we have our own special birthday coming up, so keep your eyes peeled for updates.

Two A leopard can change its postcode

Asha and Manju are Wellington Zoo’s newest residents. The two female snow leopards have come over from Melbourne, and after a short quarantine period have been introduced to their purpose-built 700m² enclosure. The enclosure, which took 18 months to complete and cost $6 million, includes grassy, rocky, and sandcovered surfaces to mimic their natural habitat. With fewer than 7,000 snow leopards remaining in the wild, Asha and Manju are part of an international breeding programme to help protect the species from extinction.

Three Slurp

Are you experiencing deja-brew? After the first Capital Slurp pack sold out, it’s back with a second edition. We’ve teamed up with our friends Bryony Puketapu and Good Fortune Coffee Co, to make a goodie box with the perfect blend. Each pack includes a Bryony Puketapu hand-made ceramic coffee cup and a bag of Good Fortune Coffee. Bryony uses the nerikomi method, staining porcelain clay and forming it into blocks of multi-coloured patterns. The mug has a nerikomi body in purple with an orange zebra pattern. Bryony‘s hope is that this mahi is “an idea that makes reo accessible for all, through something as simple as an average kapu kawhe/cup of coffee.” Head to capitalmag.co.nz/shop to order.

Four Georgina Beyer Way

A street in Carterton is to be named after its former mayor Georgina Beyer, who died in March this year. Beyer, also a Wairarapa MP, was the world’s first openly transgender mayor, and the world’s first openly transgender Member of Parliament. Current mayor Ron Mark and councillors have agreed on three names for new roads in a residential subdivision off Kent Street: Peaks Avenue, Kākāriki Crescent, and Georgina Beyer Way.

Five Art in nature

Hannah Schickedanz recently completed her stint as the inaugural Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden Artist in Residence. “Despite being in a busy location, it was a really productive time, with almost seven paintings completed. I enjoyed having people stop for a chat about the work – something that doesn’t often happen when you work from a home studio!” Friends committee member Liz Lander says Hannah generated considerable interest and they couldn’t have hoped for a better start to the programme. “It has encouraged us to continue with the initiative in 2024.”

It's cool to kōrero

I’m looking for a new place. Do you know anywhere that’s available?

Six Check this out

At Wellington City libraries you can check out carbon dioxide meters to monitor the air quality in your home, free of charge. Just like a book, they can be reserved online then checked out for 10 days. Kāpiti Coast libraries are offering something a little different, with Healthy Home Kits available to borrow for one week. These kits include five tools for determining whether your living space is warm and dry, and your home appliances are working efficiently.

Road Rage

Wairarapa motorists are up in arms about the new lower speed limits between Featherston and Masterton.

Wairarapa MP Kieran McAnulty is advocating reversing the speed limit reduction on SH2 between Greytown and Featherston. An Official Information Act request revealed that Waka Kotahi NZTA had assessed 100kmh as a safe and appropriate speed for the stretch of road. The National Party has launched a petition asking the government to invest in fixing roads rather than implementing blanket speed reductions.

Land Lords

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says the council did not “want to be a social housing landlord any longer,” so has sold Titahi Bay’s Moana Court social housing complex. The buyer is Te Āhuru Mōwai, an entity established in 2020 to carry out the tenancy management, maintenance, and upgrading of Housing New Zealand properties in Western Porirua. Te Āhuru Mōwai already manages 924 homes, and the acquisition of Moana Court adds another 26 units to its portfolio. Ms Baker says, “It’s a fantastic outcome for everyone – we wanted the tenants to have the same or better conditions than they have now."

Hydro Hype

Upper Hutt’s H2O Xtream aquatic centre has closed for approximately 12 months for a major upgrade. The council has advised that to make space for the worksite, they have changed parking and pedestrian access in the surrounding streets. Details are available online. The upgrade includes a new leisure pool and learners’ pool, and new hydroslides and reception. The replacement plant and equipment is intended to make the running of the centre more sustainable.

Simply The Breast

Ralph Highnam (featured Cap#5) has been named Wellingtonian of the Year for 2023. He has been recognised for his work in breast cancer screening. Ralph found his calling while completing his PHD, when his professor’s mother-inlaw was diagnosed with breast cancer. He has been an innovator in the digital breast imaging field for over 25 years, founding Volpara Health. The company’s AI software is used internationally to assess breast density and detect cancer. Ralph also received the business category award for Volpara.

But Olive Them

The olive trees that line Mt Victoria streets might soon be no more. Wellington City Council is proposing to remove those in Elizabeth St after receiving complaints about their unruly roots creating a tripping hazard, and interfering with council services. The council has considered moving the trees to a new spot but this would come at a hefty cost of $25,000 per tree. Residents are angry at the proposal, saying the trees add beauty and the fruit is sometimes harvested. The council has previously harvested and bottled the oil to gift to visiting dignitaries.

Not to be missed

Coronation Celebration

21 April - 21 May 2023

An exhibition celebrating the up coming coronation of King Charles III.

Chief Annie

Taima Anne (Annie) Murray (Te Arawa) will take up the position of Chief Executive Officer at the New Zealand Film Commission this June. Since 2020, Annie has been Head of Sky Originals, having started at Sky TV in 2014 as a Senior Commissioner. Before this she was Head of External Programming at Māori Television. She says, “I have dedicated my career to empowering the stories and storytellers of New Zealand and in this role I can continue to do that.”

Fale Malae

Initial concept designs for a National Pasifika Fale Malae have been released. It will be built on the site of the former underground carpark at Frank Kitts Park. It is planned as a multi-purpose venue for events, meetings, and lectures. The design is a collaboration of minds, created by Jasmax architecture, and Dr Albert Refiti (associate professor at AUT), with guidance from Wellington architect Fa'asalele Malo and Pacific artist Michel Tuffery. Councillors must decide by June whether to move to the next stage of development.

Berlin Ball

Two Kāpiti footballers have been selected to join the Special Olympics New Zealand football team. Cole Bailey from Paraparaumu and Louis Edwards from Pukerua Bay will be among the 60 Kiwi athletes heading to Berlin to compete in the World Summer Games this June. This is the first time that New Zealand’s football team is made up entirely of Special Olympics players in the 7-a-side event. Previously Kiwi teams have competed in the Unified Football competition, which includes players with and without intellectual disabilities.

Toritos de Pucará - Ceramic Bulls from Peru

13 April - 7 May 2023.

An international touring exhibition of unique Peruvian folk art brought to Wellington courtesy of the Embassy of Peru.