Good - Issue 74 - The Spirit of Rachel by SCG Media

For conscious-living people who love life, style and the planet

Made in New Zealand

FINDING PEACE & CONNECTION WITH

Rachel Hunter RITUALS + MINDFUL MANTRAS

RECIPES THAT

USE IT ALL

$10.90 Issue 74 May–June 2021 good.net.nz NZ made

The spirit of

Rachel

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Skin Boosters Recipes that nourish the skin from within

Good For You Claire Chitham on Crohn’s and her new book

Happy Hormones The low-down on perimenopause

WELLBEING

HOME

32 Good People The women behind All Is Calm and the Becca Project

64 Visible Mending A step-by-step guide to the Japanese art of sashiko

36 Financial Wellbeing Tips for making your money work better for you

GOOD FOOD

26 Dealing with Death Why talking about it more is a good thing

Rituals with Rachel Hunter And why health is her word for 2021

House Boat A sustainable floating home in Amsterdam

Mini-break A guide to Rotorua’s hot spots.

100

37 Headcase How to be more direct without causing offence 38 Nutrition How to change our habits and make them stick

BEAUTY

42 Skin Food What to eat for healthy glowing skin 46 Beauty Buzz Brands that are closing the loop with better packaging solutions, and products to try

62 DIY with Resene Uncovering the beauty of an antique table

80 Use It All Clever ideas that make the most of each recipe 90 Green Glow Juice A health-boosting drink made from local ingredients 92 Premium Producers Villa Maria, Korure and Greenlea are doing it right

TRAVEL

104 Island Hop Wake to the dawn chorus on Tiritiri Matangi Island 108 Wonderful Walk Step back in time in the Waiorongmai Valley

@samanthabluemel @cornersmith

Editor Carolyn Enting Digital producer Hemma Vara Art direction Archie Blohm and Lisa Lodge Contributing editor Sarah Heeringa Sub editors Síana Clifford and Jennifer van Beynen CONTRIBUTORS Monty Adams, Nikki Addison, Vanessa Austin, Kylie Bailey, Helen Bankers, Dr Alice Boyes, Lara Briden, Holly Jean Brooker, John Burns, Rodrigo Carmuega, Kevin Courtney, Bridget Daulby, Kahu de Beer, Anna de Leeuw, Jaimee Edwards, Clarissa Hirst, Alex Elliott-Howery, Conor Fox, Cameron Gibb, Charles Goodwin, Rachel Grunwell, Marlies Huisman, Lisa Lodge, Kristen Lunman, Aimee Magne, Krisztina Moricz, Cath Muscat, Belinda Nash, Amanda Reelick, Craig Rodger, Grant Schofield, Hemma Vara, Ben Warren, Lara Wyatt, Tennille Ziegler and Dr Caryn Zinn. ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS Contact Sam Bluemel +64 21 294 6274 sam.bluemel@icg.co.nz

@hatch_invest

Contributors Sam Bluemel After a tumultuous year that brought her home from London amidst the global pandemic, Sam has recently reassessed what living sustainably means to her. Now, she considers herself someone who is on the journey to a more sustainable lifestyle and is passionate about making small changes that add up to a bigger impact. She has recently joined the Good team as commercial manager and brings with her an enthusiasm for fitness and love of a good rosé.

Kristen Lunman Introducing Kristen, Good’s new financial wellbeing columnist. Kristen is the co-founder of Hatch, Kiwi Wealth’s digital investing platform. Her goal is to empower women to invest with confidence in order to help close the wealth gap. When she’s not working, you’ll find this CanadianKiwi raising two teens and surfing around New Zealand. You can read her first column on page 36.

Alex Elliott-Howery and Jaimee Edwards Friends since their twenties, when their kids were small Alex and Jaimee realised the question ‘what’s for dinner?’ had bigger implications. They noticed that kitchen knowledge was being displaced by packaging and so-called convenience. Troubled by the state of the food system, they set out to figure out how to feed their families affordably and sustainably. Turn to page 80 for recipes from their book Use It All: The Cornersmith Guide To A More Sustainable Kitchen.

WIN!

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Editorial director Sarah Tuck Publisher services manager Monique Bulman Events producer Weronika Elantkowska Distribution Ovato Retail Distribution NZ ICG Print David Ashton +64 21 951 403 Proudly made in New Zealand Good is subject to copyright in its entirety. The contents may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. All material sent to Good (including emails) will be assumed to be publishable unless marked ‘not for publication’. The opinions represented in the magazine are not necessarily those of ICG Media.

Find Frank

Frank is hiding somewhere in theeditcosmetics.co.nz this issue. Find him and go in the draw to win The Edit Cosmetics Miracle Worker C-Serum, $140, which boosts and protects the skin. To enter go to good.net.nz/competitions Good is printed on Sumo offset stock from BJ Ball using FSC-MIX source pulp from well-managed forests and other controlled sources. We print using BIO-inks that contain materials which are based on renewable resources including wood resin (rosin, colophony), and vegetable oils linseed oil and soy bean oil.

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Good humans

Carolyn Enting, editor

carolyn@good.net.nz

STAY IN TOUCH

good.net.nz @goodmagazinenz goodmag

On the cover Photography by Monty Adams, styling, hair and make-up by Krisztina Moricz using Aleph Beauty. Rachel Hunter wears a dress from jetsetbohemian.co.nz and Wisdom necklace from zoeandmorgan.com.

Behind the scenes See the video of our cover shoot

goodmagazine.co.nz

Editor’s photograph Suzanne Delarue

s editor of Good one of the best things about my job is meeting so many good humans: people who are kind, care about stuff and make a positive difference to the world around them. Beautiful humans in this issue include Jessica Brown, co-founder of climate change collective Co-Benefits (page 11); Pamela McIntosh of All Is Calm and Bec Frankham and Carlie Hogan from Becca Project, whose products help create calm moments (pages 32-35); Claire Chitham and Kylie Bailey who share health wisdom from their book Good For You (from page 22); and Rachel Hunter who is helping people find peace and connection through her new platform Rituals with Rachel Hunter (pages 12-18). We had a great day shooting the cover for this issue with Rachel, photographer Monty Adams and stylist Krisztina Moricz. Spending time with Rachel, you quickly realise her spirit is filled with light. She emanates kindness and empathy and is a great listener, as well as being super fun and a simply gorgeous person. Something Rachel said to me during our interview rang true, in response to some bullying she has encountered and her perspective on it, which is a perspective the world needs more of, I think. When someone lashes out remember that “that person is a beautiful human being. They might be angry, they could be in fear…” Another poignant thing Rachel said was, “The more connected we are with ourselves, the kinder we will be externally – it starts with yourself.” It’s a beautiful reminder to pause and be mindful, and to look within.

Letters

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@shapingstyle

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@whatkatiedug

Your feedback

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Our readers take the time to share their thoughts. I would like to thank you for a wonderful read in March/April’s Good (issue 73). My house has settled in for the night. All is quiet and it’s finally me time. I reached for your magazine and read it cover to cover. I cried and laughed, shook my head and wondered how the heck did they know I needed to read this. During the day I wear so many hats – wife, mum, nana, cousin and teacher. That was just today. Tomorrow could be easy, but then it could be tough. There are many demands to work miracles here in the Hokianga, in the middle of nowhere. But I escaped and found peace, forgiveness and understanding within your pages. I have had personal battles to face ... and I’ve won. So thank you for a wonderful magazine and keep up the GOOD work. Kathy Rose Your magazine is awesome to read. My favourite article in the March/April issue is the ‘Art of the Written Word.’ I also enjoyed ‘Pausing with Poetry’ and ‘Creative Illuminations.’ Your magazine is so inspirational. As a creative person I love to read and

write and journaling has helped me express my emotions and creativity. I love op shopping and recycling. We are reusing items and saving them from going to landfill. I also prefer to use bar products to help reduce plastic usage. Keep up the good work. Amy Hayward ‘Ode to Insects’ (issue 72) was so inspiring for me. They play a critical role in the Earth’s ecosystem, keeping our planet alive for us. My favourite would be the spider, as they are always around the place, and it’s great to watch their antics as they spin their webs. I think my favourite thing about them is their unbelievable patience. Their divine message to me is to start being more patient. And finally, the ‘Good Thought’ is going on my bedroom door for summer! Audrey Shepherd Hi there, I found Frank. I had to read the whole magazine to find him. Such a good issue (73), so good in fact that I’m tucking it into a parcel for my daughter Carolyn in Melbourne! Robyn Welsh

WRITE AND WIN

Every letter published in the next issue of Good will receive one SugarBaby A-Firm-Ation Age Defying & Skin Recovery Mask, $32. This moisture-rich slumber mask comforts, firms and replenishes your skin while you sleep. Email letters to letters@good.net.nz, or write to Good letters, ICG Media, PO Box 77027, Mt Albert, Auckland 1350.

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Art works for downunder

Robyn Malcolm adorned the cover of the first-ever issue of Good magazine back in July 2008, and we are loving her latest project – Robyn’s Undies! They’re nothing like the ‘Hoochie Mama’ lingerie she peddled as Cheryl West on iconic Kiwi television series Outrageous Fortune, though. Malcolm has partnered with New Zealand artist and friend Karl Maughan, to create gorgeous undies printed with Maughan’s paintings of brightly coloured garden-scapes.

All profits from the first batch of undies go to The Aunties Charity in South Auckland which helps vulnerable people, primarily women and children, who have experienced domestic violence. Each pair, $59.95, is made in New Zealand from eco-certified bamboo and printed with water-based inks.

robynsundies.co.nz

For those overwhelming moments Modern life has many of us feeling increased levels of stress, worry, fear and self-doubt. New herbal remedy brand BraveFace has developed three products that can help those suffering at the mild-to-moderate end of the spectrum to manage overwhelming moments including stress-related sleep disturbances. CoolHead day spray, $45, to calm and focus; HeadRest, $45, to help quieten racing thoughts; and LiveCalm, $40, to manage everyday stress. braveface.com

Good stuff People, happenings and things, locally and abroad, that we applaud.

ORGANIC EARTHGARDEN

Two Worlds Paella Not only are these ready-made meals delicious but all profits made from the sale of Two Worlds Paella, $7.50, help The Wellington City Mission support more people and families in need across the region. Each paella meal is manufactured in Petone and the packaging is biodegradable. Options include Chicken, Beef, Vegetarian, Lamb and Seafood. twoworldspaella.com

If you love wine, seek out Villa Maria’s first organic wine range EarthGarden which includes a sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, rosé and merlot cabernet sauvignon. We have taste-tested them all! They range in price from $20$25, which is excellent for great-tasting organic wine. villamaria.co.nz

Good Stuff

EARTHWISE HAS THE SCOOP Laundry lovers can rejoice as the team at Earthwise have invented a new eco-friendly laundry scoop. The cardboard scoop is fully recyclable (like the box itself) with zero impact on the product’s footprint. Simply open your Earthwise Laundry Powder, tear away the scoop inside, fold it together and dig in.

Inspired by nature We love Michael Steele’s Indian ink drawings and paper cut collages of fruit and flowers. The Lower Hutt artist has launched an online gift card shop and artwork business called Day Dreamer, which he has dedicated to his late mother. Many of the flower illustrations are drawn from blooms he grows in his garden. The cards are printed locally on environmentally friendly paper and sealed in natural cellophane which is biodegradable. daydreamershop.net

PRE + PROBIOTIC SODA Touted as the world’s first pre + probiotic soda, Good Sh*t tastes like a sweet, satisfying soda but minus the nasties. It’s low-sugar, coeliac-friendly and according to Good Sh*t every can contains a third of your daily fibre. Cola and Ginger are our faves. goodshitsoda.com

Introducing AirRobe A huge round of applause for Wellington B Corp Duffle&Co, which has merged new circular economy tech with online retail to offer shoppers a real solution to fashion waste. Duffle&Co are founding partners of AirRobe, which is creating a circular economy by building a network of designers, retailers and consumers who are transitioning e-commerce into re-commerce. Simply visit Duffle&Co (duffleandco.co.nz) to buy your favourite wardrobe staple. At the cart select “Add to my Circular Wardrobe”. Upon confirmation, you’ll be directed to finalise your profile account on AirRobe’s site (airrobe.com). AirRobe sends you a confirmation email with a link to your Circular Wardrobe, with all the product information saved. You can then rent or resell your items when you’re ready.

Good Stuff

TEABAGS YOU CAN COMPOST Fairtrade organic Clipper Tea gets another big tick from us because the tea bags themselves are plastic-free and unbleached, and even the string is 100 per cent certified organic material. clipper-teas.com

LUXURY WITHOUT COMPROMISE New innovative Paseo 360° toilet tissue is luxurious 3ply softness in recyclable paper packaging. Paseo 360° supports the creation of a 360 circular economy. Its 360 sheet toilet tissue is made with rapidly renewable fibre, harvested every six years and replanted within a year, so it’s a good environmental choice. Paseo 360 is also available in a Hypoallergenic variant which has tissue that is ink dye and fragrance free and independently tested as “excellent on sensitive skin”.

Organic milk delivery New consumer dairy brand, Ours Truly, has launched its first product – A3, full cream, organic certified milk, $4.25, – for door-to-door subscription delivery to many parts of the North Island. Ours Truly is Organic Dairy Hub’s (ODH) consumer brand and is a 100 per cent farmer owned co-operative. ourstruly.co.nz

Everybody Eats founder Nick Loosely and chef Al Brown

Doggy bags with purpose As part of its ongoing effort to feed vulnerable Kiwis, not-for-profit Everybody Eats has created the Goodie Box, a cleverly reimagined “doggy bag” for restaurant diners who don’t finish their food. Filled and placed on tables at the end of meals, the boxes will enable diners to make an instant $5 donation with Apple or Google Pay if they choose to, driving the idea that “when you’ve got too much, help those with too little,” says Everybody Eats founder Nick Loosely. Championed by well-known restauranteur, Al Brown, the initiative is kicking off in 37 of New Zealand’s top restaurants including Brown’s restaurants’ Depot and The Fed, with more signing on every week. Each $5 donation will provide a nutritious three-course meal at an Everybody Eats kitchen. everybodyeats.co.nz

DOES THE JOB, CREATES A JOB You can’t help but feel great using Will & Able cleaning products. These high-performing eco-friendly formulas come in bottles made from recycled milk bottles, and there is a closed loop system for the packaging. Will & Able is also creating equal opportunity jobs for Kiwis with intellectual disabilities. Its goal is to create 100 new jobs by 2022. Look out for them in New World, Countdown and Pak n Save. willandable.co.nz

Wholefood mince Bean Supreme’s brand new plant-based mince, $8, is packed with wholefood ingredients including shiitake mushrooms, quinoa, puy lentils, buckwheat and chickpeas, and is plant-based, gluten-free, and rich in protein. With a 4.5 Health Star Rating, this recipe has been designed for versatility to be able to make a variety of meals with different flavour directions easily and quickly like spaghetti bolognese and vege nachos. or Italian-style ‘meatballs’.

Be part of the collective change Meet Jessica Brown, 33, co-founder of New Zealand climate change collective, Co-Benefits. She was inspired to take action and set up an organisation that makes meaningful change after working for a time in the climate change industry and witnessing government inaction and corporate greenwashing first-hand. Her lightbulb moment was when she discovered low-carbon and green technology projects that help others reduce their emissions and need funding to go ahead. Bringing these projects together under the Co-Benefits banner she is enabling others to also become part of the solution by choosing a project and signing up to donate $5 a week.

Projects Co-Benefits support include agro-forestry protecting endangered wildlife whilst creating jobs in Panama. “Helping reduce emissions through our fund is an act of self-care for those feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis, while also being an impactful act of caring for people and the planet,” says Brown. “Our goal is to get everyone making smart emissions-based climate choices. If 5000 people sign up for a year, the collective can save 52 million kg of CO2e from the atmosphere. That’s the same amount of CO2e that would be saved in a year if 17,800 Kiwis swapped to electric cars. “With climate justice in mind, we’re helping people and the planet. It’s a win-win.” cobenefits.org

Cover Story

Rachel Hunter

aligned Introducing Rituals with Rachel Hunter and why health is her word for 2021. Words Carolyn Enting. Photography Monty Adams. Styling, hair and make-up Krisztina Moricz

achel Hunter was resident at Sadhguru’s ashram in India when the Covid-19 pandemic began gathering international force. She’d completed 19 days of silence, and 10 days later India went into lockdown. It was four more months before she was repatriated to her home in Los Angeles, but Hunter was philosophical about it. “I ended up spending the first lockdown in an ashram,” she laughs. “It was amazing. I was very safe there. There was a lot of yoga and meditation. My nervous system is quite relaxed so it was okay. I didn’t buy into any of the drama – ‘OMG, the planes have shut down’ – it was just where I was meant to be, where I was meant to deal with things. I thought, ‘this is where I am, and this will work out.’” And it has worked out for Hunter, 51, though it has also meant she has spent most of 2020 and part of 2021 alone. “I’m obviously single, so I’m in a bubble by myself and because I was forever moving I couldn’t connect to anybody’s bubble as such,” she explains. After four months in India and another four months in California she desperately wanted to see her children Renee and Liam who live in London. When the United Kingdom opened up, she booked flights but on arrival the landscape changed quickly. This meant she could wave to them and go for socially distanced walks but strictly no hugs, which was tough. “I wasn’t going to break any of the rules because you are putting healthcare workers at risk, your own daughter at risk – you just don’t know, so it is always living in the unknown,” she says. The UK then entered Tier 2 lockdown and after that there was no seeing anybody. On her recent visit home to New Zealand she admits she found it strange to adjust to Level 1 after a

year of lockdowns and being mostly solitary. “I will still step back from people when they are too close. It’s just a natural reaction, it’s very different,” she says. “And I know people will always box me in and have opinions about masks and wonder ‘why are you wearing a mask out in nature?’ It wasn’t about me getting it. What if I had it and didn’t know and gave it to somebody? So there’s a huge responsibility there with that and it is a very different world out there to be moving in, compared to here.” New Zealand has also gone into Level 3 and Level 2 lockdowns during her recent stay, but it’s a terrain she’s familiar with. Over the past year she’s learned to use her body differently, opening doors with an elbow or foot. “I know there are loads of conspiracy theorists and I’m all for what anyone’s opinion is, but there are some things that I just do. You just function a little bit differently.”

Keeping it simple Personal rituals she has followed through all the lockdowns and periods of quarantine and isolation include a daily mediation practice – “it’s good for stabilising the nervous system”, yoga training sessions and keeping a routine – going for walks and doing the grocery shopping – “just keeping things simple”. She’s an advocate of self-care rituals that can be as simple as making a turmeric latte each morning. Her 2021 wish for humanity is ‘health’ – or heal-th – in all aspects. “There is an irony of what is always in our words and I think we are in this place right now and all I can say is from my own experience of it. What has really come out of it for me is that health is the priority for humanity because without that the world, as we have seen, stops.”

Online bullies

Rituals with Rachel Hunter For the past few years Hunter has been running yoga retreats and community events.

“ I think the more connected we are with ourselves,

the kinder we will be

externally so I think it all starts with yoursel f.”

She has recently launched Rituals with Rachel Hunter online at rachelhunter.com. The platform covers meditation initiation, hatha, chakras, koshas, pranayama, rituals and Japa, knowledge she has gathered and embraced in India over the past few years. She has kept the subscription model at US$10 a month or US$108 for the year because she wants to make it accessible. Those who sign up to the platform have the option of joining a Zoom session once a month for a Q & A and short practice together, and where Hunter will answer any questions or address any topics that people want to talk about. There are also free videos that anyone can access on the website including one where Hunter guides a So Hum meditation. “So Hum is a beautiful entry point into meditation,” she explains. “It means, ‘I am that, that I am’ and has a beautiful natural frequency and settles the system. “I’ve been doing this for some years now and I can still fall out and be restless. When the mind wanders it’s about bringing it back to the mantra. Go with the mantra. Inhale and exhale at your own speed. Don’t attach to the inhale or exhale, just listen to the mantra and let that be. And then slowly come out and you’ll find yourself.” Hunter performs the ritual of meditation twice daily – 10 minutes in the morning and at night. “So Hum is a beautiful way to settle our systems for a bit to reconnect, realign and to be able to go into our day very joyfully and fully, with strong, stable foundations,” she says. Her approach to spirituality is “an integrated

This page: Leave Her Wilder ‘Santana’ gown. Previous page: Oneteaspoon embroidered ‘Gypsy Roamer’ dress. Make-up Aleph Beauty

In February Hunter returned to New Zealand to fulfill commitments that were cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19. One of those commitments was presenting at the NZ Spirit Festival, which was postponed due to the most recent lockdown. On her first day in a managed isolation facility she shared a quote on Facebook and was shocked when a woman reacted with a rant about Hunter coming back to New Zealand. “I’m not someone who has left New Zealand and hasn’t been back for 10 years. I come back every year. That scrutiny, especially after a year away, was a shock to the system and it really hurt. It was like ‘f*ck, man, where is your sensitivity?’ And everyone’s opinions about MIQ (managed isolation and quarantine) and this and that,” she says. “These frontline workers are the most amazing people. Everybody was amazing in MIQ. And the food was great. I never ordered anything from outside, and I know you can, but I just ate what was there. I also didn’t know where I was going when I arrived. “People were like, ‘oh, you got special permission.’ I didn’t. I sat online, resetting my computer and finding my space last October. But everyone has their opinions, and you can’t please everyone. There’s going to be left, right and in between and I can’t satisfy all of that and basically f*ck it. I’m just being me and there’s a lot of opinions and comments out there right now and rightfully so. “If you want to be in public eye then you are going to have scrutiny and I’m totally fine, so yell and rant, do whatever you want. It’s okay. I’ve realised that it is an interesting time online right now because there is such a heightened amount of opinion with all this stuff that is going on with Covid. “People should do this, they should do that, they shouldn’t come home. I mean it doesn’t stop. But the world is going through this, not one country. The world. Like I said, sometimes it’s better to just stop and listen and let it be.” There were also a couple of times in 2020 when Hunter was bullied online. The experience was obviously unpleasant, however, Hunter comes at it from a unique perspective. “This person is a beautiful human being. They are angry, they could be in fear, they could be in grief or whatever. How do I manage the situation? It’s all very well to have compassion but there is also time to be really backed by the truth but never by making anyone feel weak. Power should not be a force of ‘I’m right and you’re wrong.’ No, I don’t want to be treated like that, but it’s not about making that other person feel weak.”

Cover Story

person”. Someone who goes out and has dinner and laughs with their friends, but also does yoga and deep meditation and rituals. “You don’t have to be separate from that. You don’t have to be floating around in long dresses with your hands in prayer. A full being is expressing whatever that is in yourself,” she says. “That could be a love of painting or music, being an amazing neighbour who holds space for everybody in the street. It’s not all peace signs and sitting crosslegged. That is something I love doing. I love going to India and being submerged in those spaces. But for me, my perception is that we have to get away from this rigid idea of what spirituality is.” Hunter also takes a practical approach when it comes to physical wellbeing. Over the years she has had her fair share of health challenges: toxoplasmosis when she was 15, and inflammation of the heart when she was 39. She has also had back surgery. “When different illnesses arise, I think there are

that time Sadhguru has also been an amazing teacher for Hunter who now teaches yoga too. While California is her home base, New Zealand is also home and a place she returns to each year. When her mum Jeneen was diagnosed with cancer Hunter felt her life crumbling and spent many months in New Zealand. “She fought hard. She cried. We loved, we laughed, we nursed her, we cried with her. This changed our lives. My mother, the great guardian, had died.” What so many around the world are experiencing through losing loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic has reminded Hunter of going through the grief of losing her mum. “There’s not one person who has not gone through it and for those of us who have lost loved ones and not been able to hug or be near them – all of that is huge.” She recognises that everyone’s process is individual and hers included opening up and talking about it on Instagram. “For me, I was going to be a living example and I

“ You don’ t have to be floating around in long

dresses with your hands in prayer. A full being is expressing whatever that is yoursel f. “

Jetsetbohemian dress and Zoe & Morgan ‘Wisdom’ necklace

meanings to them and there’s also the fact that we are in a human body so I’m very practical when it comes to that,” she says. “My back problem could have been from years of dance or an anatomy problem that is hereditary. I look at all aspects of it as a whole. Being holistic is about the whole. I would say my approach is both medical and holistic (Ayurvedic). The moment we are born we are dying, so live.” What does she hope to gain from the web platform? “I don’t know to be honest. I haven’t even done a full release on it or anything. Whoever wants to find it can find it. I’m a terrible marketing person,” she laughs.

India and working through grief Spending extended periods of time in India has helped Hunter follow her spiritual path, which began growing up in New Zealand where her mum’s regular rituals included burning sage and working with crystals. She discovered her love for India while filming television series Tour of Beauty in 2014, which saw her travel the world looking at beauty and wellbeing in different cultures. During Tour of Beauty Hunter met “an amazing yoga teacher” in Varanasi and she then travelled south to Isha Foundation where she met Indian yogi, author, philanthropist and spiritual leader Sadhguru, and knew she would be returning to India at some point. Since

wanted to move through that grief and that’s what took me back to India to move through it,” she says. “I had had the experience of being in Varanasi on Tour of Beauty where they openly cremated their loved ones, adorned with orange silk and marigolds, with deep prayer and honour ... so I knew that they knew how to process that.”

Transformation After the death of her mother in 2017 Hunter went to Rishikesh in the foothills of the Himalayas to study yoga at the Sattva Yoga Academy. She’d been practising yoga for 12 years and wanted to peel away the grief on a cellular level, and she found this yogic journey life-changing and transformational. “You can’t not, when you are doing these practices. It can be an ‘ahh moment’ about something someone has said to you over a dinner table. And obviously the practices that we are doing are from a Himalayan lineage. You definitely feel the different transformation when you are moving through them.” Part of her website programme is helping people work through will, intention and action. “You need all those areas of activation to create change,” Hunter says. “You are not going to get in great shape if you just sit on the couch.” Being grounded is also very important to Hunter.

Tori

Cover Story

“Infinitely we are everything as far as consciousness, but we are human and we are moving in this body and so we are matter,” she says. “We express ourselves as individual self through this grounded energy, our body and within that mind and soul.” She has created a soon-to-be released Elements module that goes into this in more depth. “The most important connection is to realise that all of those elements exist within us,” she explains. “Earth is the body we live in. Air is the air we breathe – the prana, the life force. Water – that goes without saying. Most of our entire being is water. Fire – that’s how we move, how we activate, transform and how we heat our fuel. And space, we all need space to either meditate or have that moment away from each other. “If we don’t relate or have any connection with our own inner ecosystem, how can we even be thinking of how good we are going to be on the outer?”

Taking up yoga 16 years ago was the beginning of a transformational process for the former supermodel, who began the practice because of a bad back. She found yoga very meditative and felt a beautiful connection, which included coming up with ideas and feeling inspired and creative while she was doing yoga. This moved her to find out more about the spiritual aspect of yoga and Indian philosophy. After some Googling, Hunter applied to Sattva Yoga Academy in India. A self-described school dropout, she didn’t think the school would accept her. (Hunter left school when she got the call up at age 17 from Eileen Ford of Ford Modeling Agency in New York, and following a highly successful international modelling career she has never looked back). So when she was given the news of her acceptance, she freaked out and thought, ‘what have I got myself into’. “I still remember opening the car door when I arrived at Sattva, putting on my biggest smile and holding my breath and hoping that this would go down well. I was completely scared as I walked into that place. I thought I knew yoga because I did the asanas (poses) but I got to understand all aspects of yoga and from there it has kept evolving.

“I didn’t go to India to teach, but here I am,” she says. “Yoga has been an amazing entry point so thank you to downward dog, which has evolved into what I’m doing today.”

Spiritual path Her advice to anyone starting out on a spiritual journey is to follow whatever arises in you and what you are naturally drawn to. “That could be walking in nature, being drawn to a priest or something more pagan. We’re so lucky in New Zealand because we have the ability to be able to explore different religions or any type of spirituality,” she says. “So just connect with what arises. It’s going to unfold because it comes up all of a sudden. You’ll walk past a crystal shop and then you will halt and think, ‘should I go in there?’ Next thing, you might find yourself talking to the person in

there for hours so just allow it to unfold.” So what’s next for Hunter? She honestly has no idea. “Who knows what world we will be living in, but I will definitely be going to England to see my children once it opens up.” One thing that is certain is that she will keep the honesty button on herself. “Whatever life throws at you, or whatever opportunity arises and it helps you evolve – do it,” she says. “Take the step. It’s hard. Going into really embracing full access to your whole, to fully who you are both mind, body and spirit is confronting. “And there’s shit that comes up, and there’s stories that come up and there’s things you need to let go of, and things that you need to bring into your life – but it’s evolving so it’s not one thing that any of us are. And to acknowledge that.” g

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How to control

INFLAMMATION Mastering cellular inflammation to alleviate the symptoms of troublesome and debilitating chronic diseases. Words Kylie Bailey. Photography Helen Bankers

Actress Claire Chitham has tackled her Crohn’s disease by keeping her inflammatory response in check through nutrition, exercise, breathing, sleeping well and connecting to nature.

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id you know making lifestyle choices about what we eat, the way we move, how we breathe and the quality of our sleep can assist us in the prevention of chronic disease? Studies published by the World Health Organization have proven that if risk factors for chronic disease are eliminated, then at least 80 per cent of heart disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes can be prevented and more than 40 per cent of cancer can be eliminated. This is because much of today’s chronic disease is a result of the body’s cells experiencing systemic inflammation. When our cells are over-run with inflammation they struggle to effectively carry out a process called apoptosis. Apoptosis is the way our bodies naturally eliminate cells that have been damaged beyond repair. In chronic diseases, such as cancer, the loss of apoptosis allows cancer cells to survive longer, making them more likely to mutate and increase the invasiveness of a tumour. What science shows us is that cellular inflammation is exacerbated by eating processed foods, consuming toxic high-heat extracted oils, not moving our bodies enough and not breathing efficiently to modulate our stress response. Add other risk factors, such as smoking, the increasing air pollution in our growing cities, and today’s world is ripe with a perfect toxicity storm for overloading cells. Understanding how cellular inflammation impacts our physical and mental health is one of the first things actress Claire Chitham and I learnt when we were unwell. It’s also why throughout our new book, Good For You – A Guide For Good Guts and Feeling Good Inside and Out, we not only discuss our health challenges but we also look deeply at the science behind inflammation. That’s because for both of us, getting our inflammatory response in check through nutrition, exercise, breathing, sleeping well and connecting to nature has been vital for our recoveries. Claire was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 13. Crohn’s disease

“ We’d embarked on our individual

paths to practise how we could reduce the

inflammation in our bodies and brains.” is an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that results from a combination of predisposing genetic and environmental factors. When Claire was playing Waverley on TV2’s Shortland Street in the early 2000s, off-camera she was dealing with the fall-out of not keeping her Crohn’s in check. That included the possibility of having sections of her bowel removed. “There was no cure, no real cause, no dietary advice,” she explains in Good For You. “None of the messages were great, but the message I heard loud and clear this time around was: ‘You will have this disease for the rest of your life’. To this day, I can still hear the certainty of the voice in my head that yelled: ‘I will not, thank you!’” It’s why for the last 20 years, she’s been on a journey to figure out how to create better balance by making healthier lifestyle choices. It’s this passion for practical health that first saw Claire and I orbit each other’s worlds five years ago. I was two years out of a long career in the fast-paced world of weekly magazine publishing and on my own road to recovery. Unlike Claire, my condition wasn’t solely physical. It was mental. Since the age of five, I’ve experienced anxiety chronically. Anxiety is an emotion characterised by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes, such as increased blood pressure. Making healthier lifestyle choices, practising yoga and investigating and writing about the science of human health is a mission I’ve been on for the last 10 years and how Claire and I came together to collaborate and create Good For You.

What I know to be true from my research and my practice is that systemic inflammation not only impacts us physically. When our cells experience inflammation it leads to oxidative stress. This is where an imbalance is caused between the antioxidants and free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules with an uneven number of electrons and they cause large-chain chemical reactions in the body. These can be both beneficial or harmful. In the case of ongoing, prolonged emotional stress, such as anxiety or depression, oxidative damage in the brain causes nervous system impairment. Claire and I are pretty stubborn, which is why (before we’d ever met each other) we’d embarked on our individual paths to practise how we could actively reduce the inflammation in our bodies and brains and live more engaged, healthier lives. The first thing we did to take control of systemic inflammation was to look at what we were eating. You see, food can be medicine or poison, depending on what you put in your body. That’s why today, we’re both still acutely aware of the power of our food choices to either support or deplete us. We choose to eat natural wholefoods that are as unprocessed as possible and reduce the amount of sugary and starchy carbohydrates in our meals. This is because sugar and starch convert to glucose in the body and if we eat too many of these foods, it kicks off the inflammatory response in our cells. For me, I don’t eat gluten or dairy, consume lots of organic veges and choose healthy proteins, such as sustainably

sourced fish. I also drink a cup of fish broth each morning with a teaspoon of turmeric spice (because its known for its antiinflammatory properties). To see what Claire does to reduce inflammation, check out the box opposite. What we’ve learnt along the way is the way we move, breathe and process stress and emotions are also important for keeping inflammation in check. It’s why for the last 10 years I’ve practiced yoga and yogic breathwork (known as prānāyāmā). This is because in the early stages of dealing with anxiety, I realised that the better I could breathe, the easier it was to cope. This has led me to become a yoga teacher and open a studio at Piha called West Coast Yoga. Through my own practice, I know that breathwork and meditation improve my emotional and mental health. Science backs this up. A study published in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal discovered that just 20 minutes of yoga breathing was enough to lower stress-related inflammation markers in the salvia. Along with eating well, moving and breathing effectively, getting good-quality sleep for at least eight to nine hours a night is vital. If we lose sleep often, our body’s cells become more prone to inflammation. Studies have found that ongoing sleep loss can result in the development of metabolic conditions, such as type-2 diabetes, in healthy individuals. Better sleep is enhanced by spending time away from our digital devices and in nature. Whenever I can, I go barefoot on the sand, swim in the ocean, go for a fish or spend time outdoors. Science shows us that whatever we can do in our lifetime to reduce inflammation at a cellular level has benefits to our health and Claire and I know this to be true from our own experiences. Of course, the road to better health isn’t always paved with organic broccoli. Eating well, moving right, breathing effectively and getting enough sleep are

“ I f I’m upset or too busy, I’ ll go for

a walk in nature, the beach, put my

feet in the sand or water. I f ind it

helps connects me to my body, instead o f being too much in my head.”

practices. It’s not realistic to expect that you’ll make good choices every day. We don’t. We’re human. When we fall off the wagon, we encourage each other to get back on. Good health – it’s always a balancing act, right? g

Kylie Bailey is the co-author of Good For You with Claire Chitham, Di Angelo Publications, $40.

website?

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What Claire does to reduce inflammation · No dairy “Stopping dairy was key to feeling much better while I healed. I noticed my digestive system functioned better and with more ease. I’ve opted for alternative milks in my coffee, such as oat and coconut.” · Select sustainably sourced, ethically raised everything “I want my food to come from near where I live and be farmed responsibly.” · Choose organic, whenever it is available and affordable “There are likely to be less toxins for my body to process.” · Reduce acidic foods “If I get lazy and let my moods dictate my food choices, and if I have too much booze or starch, I develop skin rashes, dryness and itchiness. Those are warning signs for me that inflammation is running rampant so I trade starchy carbs for green juice and add more bone broth and veges into my diet.” · Meditation or breathwork “When I start to feel stressed, upset or too busy in life, I turn pretty quickly towards meditation or using my breath to help calm my body down. Big deep breaths can do wonders!” · Go wild “If I’m upset or too busy, I’ll also go for a walk in nature, the beach, put my feet in the sand or water. I find it helps connects me to my body, instead of being too much in my head. It calms my system.” · Strength and movement “I do Pilates, yoga or workouts on the mat at home a few times a week. Building strength is important for maintaining a health posture so your systems can function properly and it is also anti-ageing!”

COMING TO TERMS WITH

death & dying Death is one of life’s certainties but it’s rarely discussed. Is it time to end avoiding the end? Words Tennille Ziegler

ast year, when Covid entered our lives, we all faced the concept of death a little more directly than perhaps we had done before. Whether we’ve lost someone or not, we can probably agree that the thought of dying is scary. However, in many cultures, death is not feared, in fact it’s celebrated. If you look at it logically, it’s something we all have to face in our lives at some point. No one is immune to it. So where did this notion of fear come from? How can we work to overcome it, or at least make the idea of dying or losing a loved one seem a little more comprehensible? Way back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, most people died at home, cared for by family. Changes in those customs arrived along with the 21st century. With medical advancements, more people were dying at a hospital or in a hospice. A fear of death

developed and, in particular, a fear of corpses. And so, the funeral industry was born. This was influential in death becoming increasingly hidden from public view, rather than a familiar part of life. Melanie Mayell, founder of the Death Matters Conference and Death Café in Christchurch, says death was not part of her childhood. Growing up in the 70s, her well-meaning parents felt it kinder to shield her and her siblings from the dying and the dead. From then on, the very idea of death gave her nightmares and she avoided thinking about the subject all together. Sound familiar? “I think we do our children a great disservice when we shield them from death to protect them from feeling sad,” says Mayell. Mayell thinks our physical distance from death created an emotional distance. It became something that was hidden away

Wellbeing

behind closed doors and only talked about (if at all) in hushed tones. “We’d gone from one extreme to the other and became a death-phobic society. Any conversation about death was seen as morbid and unnatural.” So maybe, the thought of being faced with death doesn’t need to be such a confronting concept after all. Let us look to different cultures and how they deal with death.

Māori customs Māori custom has changed very little from its traditional practices. The tradition is to hold a tangihanga – a Māori ceremony to mourn the dead. After a person dies, their body is displayed in an open coffin for a three-day tangi, traditionally held on a marae. People come to pay their respects and the close family stays with the body through the whole process. According to singer Moana Maniapoto, Māori believe the more wailing and carrying-on at a tangi, the better. It’s healthy, it honours the dead, and helps explain death too. Maniapoto goes on to explain tangihana is “the ultimate Māori cultural expression, the most resilient of our traditions. Full of ritual and emotion, tangi are a showcase of oratory, song and storytelling.” (As read on E-Tangata.)

Exploring the East Looking at Eastern philosophies, the Tibetan school of Buddhism places great importance on the place between death and rebirth. They believe this state is a precious opportunity for spiritual awakening. For this reason, a good deal of their spiritual practice is geared towards preparing for death, so the experience itself can be put to best use. Another culture to learn from is Hinduism, a faith centred around reincarnation. For Hindus, Varanasi, India is a place where people travel from throughout the country to come and die. It’s considered one of the holiest cities in the world, with Hindu scriptures saying that dying here and being cremated along the banks of the holy Ganges river allows you to break the cycle of rebirth and attain liberation. There are even ‘salvation homes’ – places built specifically for people to stay while they wait for their death. The tradition in Varanasi is to alight the body and send it on a float down the Ganges river. It is not uncommon to see partially decomposed bodies downstream. Whatever your belief about the concept of life after death, we can learn from traditions that invite death in, and face it front on.

Mayell’s key takeaways · Everything is impermanent This concept comes from Frank Ostaseski in his beautiful book The Five Invitations. He teaches that everything we love has not yet been taken from us. Practise savouring and appreciating what is here right now. · Death reminds us that we are here for a limited time Death encourages us to find out what gives us joy and meaning, and then urges us to shift our priorities accordingly. · This quote by Eckhart Tolle: “A culture that denies death inevitably becomes shallow and superficial, concerned only with the external form of things. When death is denied, life loses its depth.” We cannot be truly alive without maintaining an awareness of death. · When we can honour death as the ultimate ending, I think we’ll learn to look at ALL the endings in our lives more consciously Death has so much to teach us about life. · There are unseen worlds waiting to be explored As Alejandro González Iñárritu said “Life and death are illusions. We are in a constant state of transformation”.

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Qigong teacher and author Dorrie Houtappels is originally from Mayell believes that for too long there has been a culture of The Netherlands and now resides on Waiheke Island. She talks silence around death. Death Café, the Death Matters conference about death in her book It’s Time to View Life with a New Lens. and the Death & Transformation Art Exhibition (all of which Mayell Houtappels says getting to grips with death is a big topic, but established) create more death awareness and acceptance in our it’s worth diving into. “Nobody can give you an explanation or community. Mayell says they help us confront our fears about advice, because, quite literally, nobody has lived to tell the tale. It death, engage our curiosity, open conversations and empower is death after all.” Houtappels was always very interested in death us to re-engage in life. and saw it the same way as being born – a wonderful phenomenon. “People want to talk about death but often feel that it’s morbid, Houtappels’ refreshing perspective is due to her qigong weird or unacceptable to do so. These themed events create a teacher, and founder of Ren Xue, Yuan Tze. His teachings (of the death-accepting vibe and make it easy for people to connect and Ren Xue system) helped her see death from a new lens. In her talk to each other.” book, Houtappels talks about how being afraid of the unknown Mayell loves talking about death because it reminds her that relates to death. our time here is limited. “Death matters for all of us because it “Security is actually an illusion, because everything in your helps us pause and prioritise what is truly important – when we life changes in you and around you. Every day cells in your body accept our own mortality, we make more authentic choices, and change. A disease that you don’t have today could we live more creative, connected and meaningful lives show up the next…There will be events that you have in the process.” Mayell’s mission no control over; everything is actually unknown statement Mayell’s intention with Showing support because nothing is certain.” her work is to help Perhaps one of the biggest challenges around death is Houtappels says you can shut yourself off from this people become less supporting someone who is dying, or going through the and try to build as many certainties as possible into fearful and more process of death yourself. Amicus mortis Sarah Carberry your life, but it’s better to see that everything in life curious about death and to live life with – otherwise known as a death doula or companion to changes and therefore nothing is certain. Therefore, more gratitude, wonder the dying – speaks of her experience in this field. going through life with this awareness can help and enthusiasm. Carberry says her role involves midwifing death as change your thoughts about death. Basically, death is a reminder for us to: you would a birth – with love and support for both the Things are changing – in New Zealand specifically · Not take anything patient and their whānau. This can be anything from there has been a return to centre with an increasing for granted sitting quietly beside the person dying and holding interest in natural funeral practices, and a willingness · Slow down their hand, or listening to their concerns and helping to have a more hands-on role in caring for our dead. · Appreciate the tiny to alleviate the fear they may be experiencing for their Local company, The Coffin Club, hosts weekly delights of each day unknown journey ahead. catch-ups where members can discuss the question · Forgive faster Carberry says all of this helps dissipate the fear that of death. It’s also a place to make your own · Smile more often surrounds death, enabling both the patient and ‘underground furniture’ and plan your final farewell. · Be kinder the family to feel more empowered as they learn and · Be out in nature daily Dealing with death understand death is a natural process we all go through. · Don’t sweat the But how do we actually come to terms with death? In coming to terms with the notion of dying, small stuff Well, in Melanie Mayell’s case – you can experience it Carberry says it’s important to listen to the patients’ firsthand. Mayell says she was always scared of death ideas, fears and concerns and be aware of any and of people she loved dying. That feeling increased dramatically changes they seem to be making as their journey advances. “Their when in 1995, she experienced a series of five deaths over a thoughts may become quite spiritual towards the end, and if they six-week period. Feeling at a complete loss, Mayell did not know haven’t experienced anything like that before, it can be confusing how to process this grief. or even frightening for them.” Fast-forward nearly 15 years and Mayell was introduced to the Perhaps Carberry’s most rewarding experiences are seeing late Dr. Lois Tonkin – one of New Zealand’s top grief researchers families who, at the beginning are worried they won’t cope, but and academics. Tonkin encouraged Mayell to undertake her by the end of the journey have accepted what’s to come. certificate in Grief Support, which sparked Mayell’s journey into Carberry shares some advice on supporting someone going understanding death a little more. through the journey: Mayell was then led to do Deathwalker Training with end-of-life · The main rule is to be present. When being with someone who pioneer Zenith Virago. A deathwalker is someone who is facing death, try and put your own thoughts aside. Let go of the accompanies the dying and the bereaved on their journey, also pressures of the outside world and just sit and listen, be guided known as death doulas or amicus mortis. by what the person who is dying needs from you. Following this, Mayell established Death Café in Christchurch · There are practical things like cooking a meal, cutting the hedge, in 2016. Death Café is a social movement that encourages death walking the dog, collecting the shopping and the like. These are awareness through hosted conversations among strangers. It’s just as important and can help relieve the worry of the person not grief support or therapy. And there’s no agenda or guest dying, but also the people around them who may be feeling speakers, the conversation is led by the group. It may sound like anxious as to how they’ll manage. a recipe for disaster, but Mayell says she always comes out feeling · Be sensitive to the dying person’s needs and always try to be lighter and more optimistic about life. your authentic self. g

Heeding your hormones Five things to know about perimenopause and menopause. Words Lara Briden

leep problems, night sweats and crazy heavy periods – is this menopause already? And you’re only 42? No, menopause may still be a decade away. This is perimenopause or “second puberty”, which is the two to twelve years before periods stop. Perimenopause is different from menopause, which is the life phase that begins one year after the last period. Here’s what you need to know.

Second puberty can start as young as 35

Because the normal age for menopause (periods stopping) is anywhere from 45 to 55, the normal age for perimenopause is up to twelve years before that – as young as 35! That’s why perimenopause is not about ageing. Instead, it’s about the recalibration of your entire hormonal system and the support you may need during that temporary process. 30

Wellbeing

Most symptoms will be temporary

Just like first puberty, the symptoms of second puberty are temporary. Eventually, you will move out of symptoms and achieve the kinder, calmer phase of life called menopause. That’s according to several lines of evidence, including research from the University of Melbourne, which concluded that the majority of women over 60 report feeling “pretty fantastic”, and the observations of US psychologist Mary Pipher, who says that “a woman in her seventies is likely to be the happiest she’s ever been.”

Estrogen has a “grand finale”

During perimenopause, you may experience a slow, gradual decline of estrogen. More likely, you’ll experience up to three times more estrogen than when you were younger. “It’s the ovary’s grand finale”, says Canadian endocrinology professor Jerilynn C Prior. She also describes it as a hormonal “fireworks show”. Symptoms of the fireworks show include symptoms of high estrogen (heavy periods, breast pain and irritable mood) For more information, see the book Hormone Repair Manual: Every Woman’s Guide to Healthy Hormones After 40, Macmillan, $40.

interspersed with symptoms of dropping estrogen (night sweats and depression). Professor Prior recommends treatment with oral micronised progesterone (brand name Utrogestan) to counterbalance the high and fluctuating estrogen of perimenopause.

There are lots of ways to feel better

Progesterone is just one of many ways to feel better during second puberty. Other strategies include regular exercise, especially outdoor exercise (what researchers call “green exercise”), as well as reducing alcohol and taking nutritional supplements such as magnesium. In the paper “Magnesium in the gynecological practice: a literature review,” researchers conclude that magnesium is effective treatment for menopause and perimenopause because it helps to “normalise the action of hormones on the central nervous system.” It works well in combination with the amino acid taurine, which helps to calm the brain and prevent hot flushes. Lara Briden is a Christchurch naturopath and author of the bestselling book Period Repair Manual. With more than twenty years’ experience in women’s health, she has helped thousands of women with PCOS, PMDD, endometriosis, perimenopause, and many other hormone- and period-related health problems.

Hormone therapy is better now

Finally, if you need support, talk to your doctor about hormone therapy. Modern menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is safer with fewer side effects compared to the old “hormone replacement” or HRT from the 1990s. That’s because most modern hormone therapy (e.g. brand names Estradot® and Utrogestan®) are body-identical, which means they are hormones that are exactly identical to the body’s own hormones, and therefore safer. g 31

Finding the light: the power of candles The women behind All Is Calm and the Becca Project are a warming reminder that there is strength where there are struggles. They show that throughout unexpected times, we humans will always be in search of inner calm.

here’s undoubtedly something soothing about lighting a candle. Whether it’s part of your nightly ritual or an act signifying unwinding, what exactly is it about a candle that benefits the mind, body and soul? A candle’s soft illumination is said to calm the mind, perhaps even helping to achieve a meditative state. A candle’s scent may also spark a positive memory or feeling through association. Bec Frankham and Carlie Hogan from the Becca Project and Pamela McIntosh

from All Is Calm will attest to this, as all three found candles were a way to find contentment and uplift their mood while dealing with illness. Friends Frankham and Hogan founded the Becca Project after their respective challenges with auto-immune disease. Hogan experienced sickness and days on end where she couldn’t get out of bed, and was diagnosed with chronic fatigue. Frankham suffers from an auto-immune disease of the joints. Both were introduced to essential oils to help with their energy and mood. While

they were at first self-confessed sceptics, they became intrigued as they used the oils and experienced benefits. “Carlie and I were both fascinated by the potential effects of essential oils – but we felt there was a trick being missed in terms of how they were presented,” says Frankham. “We wanted to combine that element of wellbeing and self-care with something that looked stylish and smelt divine. And that’s what we believe we’ve achieved with our Becca Project range.” All Is Calm founder McIntosh has long been a collector of candles, having always

Photography Andrea James

Words Hemma Vara

Good People

“We wanted to combine that element of wellbeing and self-care with something that looked stylish and smelt divine.”

This page: Bec Frankham (right) and Carlie Hogan from Becca Project. Opposite page: Pamela McIntosh from All Is Calm.

enjoyed the ritual of lighting a candle. After experiencing sudden hearing loss accompanied by severe tinnitus, she sought calm to cope, including connecting with what a good candle can do for the mind, body and home. Her candles are also a way to gift some calm to others. McIntosh’s experience with sudden hearing loss was confusing and scary. Her balance was out, she didn’t know which direction sound was coming from, and there wasn’t much the doctors could do. She didn’t drive or work for a month, and sleep became a distant memory. It was later discovered a viral infection killed a nerve between her brain and left ear, meaning she’s now profoundly deaf in her left ear. “All Is Calm is my way of creating something positive out of a negative situation”, says McIntosh. Finding her centre and staying calm is crucial for herself and her family, including adopting mental and physical health coping mechanisms to reduce the anxiety she now experiences due to her hearing loss. Comfortingly, the simple act of lighting a candle allows McIntosh to be present in the moment. “A remarkable scent and timeless vessel are what lures me in when it comes to a candle. I light candles often, and I love

“All Is Calm is my way of creating something positive out of a negative situation.” Pamela McIntosh the feeling of warmth and occasion – whether that be a cool winter evening or when we have friends over for summer drinks. A quality candle is also a lovely treat for your mind when working from home or to wind down after the kids go to bed”, she says. McIntosh’s advice before lighting a candle is to first trim the wick to 5mm. “This makes the candle burn well: preventing an overly-vigorous flame, reducing black ‘soot’ lining the vessel, and it helps the wax and fragrance burn cleanly while ensuring better scent distribution”. After the candle is lit, it’s time to let the scent gently fragrance the room and influence your mood. The Becca Project range includes body oils, diffusers and solid fragrance. “Our products allow you to ‘layer’ up and enjoy that feeling or mood wherever you are”, says Frankham. It’s also the mesmerising and comforting ‘crackle’ sound of the wooden wick that invokes emotion and inspires

Becca Project customers to reach out to Frankham and Hogan with compliments. The Becca Project’s ‘Wonder’ scent is for rising and shining, mixing the healing qualities of rose otto, ylang-ylang and geranium with the mood-enhancing benefits of sweet orange and a refreshing mix of lime and basil to feel grateful and alive. ‘Giggle’ is Frankham’s favourite scent for its fresh citrus rise and the way it invigorates her mood. The uplifting blend mixed with a mimosa scent creates a ‘happy hour’ feel. Hogan describes Becca Project’s ‘Brave’ scent as one she’s never experienced in a candle before. The woody scent inspires feelings of power and strength. And if you want to relax and destress, Hogan and Frankham recommend floating away with ‘Dreamer’, which includes a soothing fusion of lavender, chamomile and sandalwood, as well as the addition of sweet orange and calming petitgrain to help soothe the nervous system. During last year’s festive season,

beccaproject.com

Good People

McIntosh’s Oakmoss & Pine Christmas Candle was a sold-out hit, recreating the scent of a real Christmas tree for many Yuletide enthusiasts. Her Lychee & Black Tea candle is similar in scent profile to a juicy grape, making it sweet and irresistibly uplifting. The Cherry Merlot candle is a unique blend, adding warmth and intrigue with the sweetness of cherry and currant balanced with the masculine touch of spicy clove and amber notes. And candles don’t need to be alight for enjoyment. Both the All Is Calm and Becca Project candles have an excellent ‘scent-through’ when lit or unlit. “You don’t even need to light our candles to enjoy each scent as they have a great ‘cold scent’ – which means that they fragrance a whole room when they aren’t even lit,” explains Frankham. The candle-making process itself also conjures calm. McIntosh has a candle studio set up in her garage, which doubles as a place for respite after her children are in bed, and where she can “create calm in a jar”. She says a chandler (candlemaker) requires patience throughout the process, so she’ll often have a wine in hand or listen to a podcast to make the most of it. The All Is Calm range was devised after months of testing various waxes, with McIntosh deciding on a natural

cocosoy wax – a palm- and paraffin-free coconut and soy wax blend. “Natural waxes like soy and coconut can be a little bit more temperamental to work with than a paraffin blend (which look perfect but can emit toxins into the air when you burn them), but it’s worth it for a safer, cleaner result.” The All Is Calm candle range uses a cotton and paper wick, and the glass jars can be reused beyond the candle’s life. Natural ingredients are also at the forefront of Becca Project’s candles, which also includes recyclable packaging and reusable jars. All components are organic and locally sourced where possible to lessen the brand’s carbon footprint. Frankham explains that “Using only organic products means we are sure there are no ‘nasties’ used in the growing of the plants or flowers, ensuring nothing contradicts with the pure oils”. As many of us are looking to create spaces of calm in a busy world, as McIntosh reminds us, this sense of respite is also vital. “I consistently seek calm to ensure I am in a good mental space,” she says. “Lighting a beautiful candle is just one way to bring your mind to the present moment and to use the senses of sight and smell to ground yourself.” g

alliscalm.nz Clockwise from left: Becca Project Wildflower Body Oil, candle and diffuser; All Is Calm Lychee & Tea candle; and All Is Calm coconut soywax flakes before they are melted

The biggest mistake women make when it comes to investing. with Kristen Lunman

hen it comes to investing, women’s biggest mistake has nothing to do with how they invest. In fact, studies have shown that women are often better investors than men. The number one mistake is that we’re not investing enough. The modern woman is independent, earns good money and has access to all kinds of investment opportunities that our mothers never had. Yet, many of us stick to playing it safe in savings accounts with rock-bottom interest rates. When it comes to money matters, we often don’t feel as confident as men and we can worry ourselves into inaction, triggering an anxiety loop of “where do I start? How much should I invest? What should I invest in?’ It can become so overwhelming that we might think, “investing just isn’t for me”. Most women feel like they’re good savers, but there’s a big difference between saving and investing. Savings are intended to be used as a safety net when life throws us curveballs or short-term goals like that ski trip in Otago. Investing gives us the ability to take control of our financial future and achieve long-term goals like quitting a job for a career change, or that retirement bach in Northland. What about share market risks? Without some risk, there’s no opportunity for investment return. You can’t reap the rewards of investing without hitting some bumps along the way. Just keep in mind that even with the occasional share market drop, historically, the US and NZ share markets have provided good returns with a long-term average of around 10% growth per year. Say you have $10,000 sitting in a savings account, and you plan to set aside another $500 a month with the hopes of growing your money over the next 30 years. You could put the

money in a ‘high interest’ savings account, like a term deposit, or invest it in the share markets. The best term deposit rates are currently below 2%, and savings accounts only earn around 0.5%. If you add your $500 monthly contribution to your $10,000, you’ll have about $113,582 after 30 years in a savings account. But what happens if you invest your $10,000 in the share markets, and every month you invest the additional $500? If you assume average returns of 10% per year over 30 years, you could have around $665,571 instead. But you don’t have to start with $10,000. Instead, think about starting with something like $100 and look at it as an investment in your financial education. Choose a company that you know well or research a popular exchange traded fund (ETF) that spreads your money across hundreds of companies in one go. You can make automatic monthly deposits to build up your investment portfolio over time. You’re not too busy, it’s not too complicated, and it just might be something you’re good at! Investing has changed thanks to modern investing platforms that use technology to make it more affordable and accessible. If you’re currently doing things like booking flights online or using online banking, you’ll probably be surprised with how easy buying shares can be. All you need to do is open an online account, transfer money into it, and place an order. Voilà: you’re a shareholder in the causes you believe in and the brands you use every day. It’s never too late to start. You work hard for your money, so now could be the perfect time to make sure your money is working hard for you. Kristen is the co-founder of Hatch, Kiwi Wealth’s digital investing platform that simplifies investing to help Kiwis live their best lives.

hatchinvest.nz

Illustration Bridget Daulby

Financial wellbeing

Wellbeing

Headcase How to be more direct. with Dr Alice Boyes

Illustration Bridget Daulby

any people struggle to be direct. We fear making a request that’s turned down and feeling embarrassed. Or, we fear hurting others’ feelings or their angry reactions. However, there are lots of advantages to communicating more directly. How can you do that successfully? Use directness to teach others skills Imagine this: Your friend invites you to their baby shower after you’ve experienced a recent miscarriage, without acknowledging that it might be difficult for you. You’re not sure you’re emotionally up to it. You could go despite your feelings, make up an excuse, or tell the truth. If you do either of the former, your friend learns nothing. If you tell the truth, it may help your friend improve their sensitivity. Your friend may have been oblivious, or they may have wanted to acknowledge your trauma but not known how. Either way, directness can help. Instead of harshly judging an individual for not having sensitivity skills, it’s often more useful to acknowledge that society doesn’t teach people well about how to talk about hard feelings. If you have those skills, or a willingness to give it a go, it helps everyone open up to learning to upskill. When you think of your directness benefiting others, it can help you push through anxiety about doing it. Don’t assume others can read your mind (or your hints) Ambiguous communication can generate stress. For example, you’re considering jumping ship to a new job if your current role doesn’t expand. You’ve hinted to your boss that you’d like more responsibility, with no result. If you try asking directly, you need to trust that you’ll be able to cope with the answer. Try saying to yourself, “I would be disappointed if I get a negative response, but these are the skills and resources I have for handling that....” And list them. Your answer should include your self-care skills and

perhaps your job-hunting or negotiation and persuasion skills. Use extra warmth Directness can go badly if the other party feels judged or your comments spike their anxiety. To prevent this, add a lot of warmth and acceptance. Sandwich blunter statements between nurturing ones. Always start and end with genuine warmth. If you know your communication partner well, get to know what sorts of warm statements soothe their anxiety and make them more receptive to blunter ones. Some people need to be reassured they are in control. Others need to feel they will not be abandoned. See situations from others’ perspectives To be direct effectively, you often need to understand human psychology and how miscommunications occur. For example, you assign a task and the person comes back to you with options and questions. They’re trying to please you, but you just want the task done. How it’s done isn’t important to you. When you understand their motivation is to make you happy, you can empower them to do it their way both kindly and directly. Practice and seek role models Being direct skillfully and sensitively takes practice. Find people whose directness you admire and use them as role models. Pay attention to specific words and phrases they use. Notice when other people communicate directly and you don’t feel insulted by it. Compliment others’ directness to help create a culture of kind directness in your family and workplace. Of course, directness is not always best – subtle communication has its place. When you’ve got the skills to be direct, you’ll have the flexibility to choose whichever communication style best suits the situation. Dr Alice Boyes is author of the books The Healthy Mind Toolkit (2018) and The Anxiety Toolkit (2015).

aliceboyes.com

Wellbeing

Nutrition with Ben Warren

ith all of the changes the past 12 months have dished up, many of us have turned our attention inwards and started to focus more on ourselves and our wellness practice. Naturally, this change in focus means switching out old habits and forming new ones. Most of us would agree we’d rather not nervously bite our fingernails, and how fantastic does it feel when we get organised and prep our weeknight meals ahead of time? But do all habits fall into ‘good’ or ‘bad’ categories? And do we need to ‘get rid of’ all our bad habits? Let’s discuss... Understanding why you have the habits you have Let’s take coffee as an example: Having a coffee from time to time is more than just pep in a cup. It’s a ritual, a chance to sit down, catch up with friends or have a lovely break from our screens – creating a positive reward that we associate with the act of drinking coffee. For most of us, drinking coffee is an emotional attachment. Emotional attachment to food is common and I would argue we all have emotional attachments to food, because if we don’t eat ... what happens? We can die. I don’t know about you, but I’m very emotionally attached to living. The problem comes when we are unaware of our emotional eating or when it becomes a habit. These habits, among many others, easily become ingrained in many people’s daily routines because they often come with a positive reward (yummy food and the brain chemistry that comes with). Finding the motivation to remove habits that are no longer serving us can be hard!

Here are three tips to try: 1. Start small and stack habits We truly believe that it’s all the little steps that help make big changes happen. While going ‘cold turkey’ can definitely work for some people, most people (us included!) will probably find this too much, too quick and far too restrictive. To make changing habits as easy as possible, we love the idea of habit ‘stacking.’ This is where you create a new habit on top of one that is already ingrained in your daily routine. For example, taking your morning nutritional support products (new habit) at the same time you have breakfast (existing habit). 2. Find your why Like almost everything in life, forming new habits is easier when we know – and wholeheartedly believe in – why we’re doing it. Take a moment to write down why you want to make a change. Is it to support your hormones? Do you want to strengthen your immune system? Or need more energy to play with your children? Keeping our motivations top of mind helps us to see the bigger picture behind the change we are making. 3. Track your results Habit trackers can be really motivational. This could look like a daily journal, a sticker chart or an app on your phone – whatever works best for you. Tracking our progress means that on days when things are feeling harder or life is just busy, we can feel inspired by seeing how far we’ve come. Remember, babies don’t learn to walk in one day – falling down, wobbles, it’s all part of the learning process. The more we fail and get back up, Ben Warren is a nutrition the stronger the habit and holistic health expert. pathways will become.

bepure.co.nz

Illustration Bridget Daulby

How to change our habits and make them stick.

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Skin Food How best to feed yourself for healthy glowing skin

Beauty Buzz Innovations that are closing the loop, plus products to try

Happy Pits Why we’re loving Essano’s natural deodorant

Look and feel your best What you eat makes a big difference to your skin. Read more on page 42.

Beauty

Beauty from

the inside out

Seven food foundations for looking and feeling your best. Words Dr Caryn Zinn, Grant Schofield and Craig Rodger

Eat more protein

hat you eat and how you live your life can make a big difference to your health, your skin and your wellbeing – and it can delay the ageing process. The experts and authors of What The Face! give their advice on how to best feed yourself for healthy, glowing skin.

consolidation of a solid structure for the

Reduce sugar – it’s your (beauty) saboteur

keratin and elastin are three key proteins

When it comes to your overall health and your skin, sugar is very definitely not your friend. It sabotages your health and beauty goals by luring you in with its seductive taste and addictive properties; often we just can’t help ourselves. All carbohydrates turn to sugar in the body, so this conversation is about more than just the white stuff. Excess glycation, oxidative stress and inflammation accelerate ageing. Sugar plays a big part in this trilogy because it’s sugar that causes glycation, and glycation is what causes oxidative stress. Collagen and elastin fibres live in the dermis, and this is where most of the ageing processes take place. Diets high in sugar can accelerate skin ageing by breaking down collagen fibres. The good news is that you can protect your skin and even reverse some of this damage. Glucose – the basic unit of carbohydrate – has a very important role in the body: it provides a fuel source for certain organs. The human body is clever – it recognises that since these vital organs are so reliant on glucose, they should never be without it. To make sure this happens, the body can make its own glucose in a process called gluconeogenesis. But just because the body can make its own glucose doesn’t mean we need to remove every last carb from our diet. It just means that we can rest easy knowing that if we eat a low-carb diet, our body does

Protein provides for growth and skin, and for features of the face and body, ensuring that these organs are compact, robust, have protection, are resilient and are elastic. Collagen, that play a crucial role in establishing and maintaining healthy-looking and well-functioning skin, eyes, hair, nails, lips and teeth. The building blocks of protein are amino acids, and there are 20 of them. Eight of these are considered ‘biologically essential’, meaning that our body can’t make them and we need to get them from food. We have to eat the right foods or the right combinations of foods to get these eight essential amino acids.

not get into trouble fuel-wise because it’s savvy enough to know how to make its own glucose.

Face up to the fats It’s now scientifically evident that fat is healthy. When it comes to skin, fat has a vital role to play in both the structure and the function of skin. So getting enough of the right types of fat is super important to ensure that we have a healthy and resilient body covering. Every single cell in the body, including the cells found in skin, has a cell membrane containing a double layer of fat, called the lipid bilayer, which has many important functions: · It gives us firm, plump, healthy-looking skin. · It’s the barrier between our inside and outside

Beauty

worlds, protecting us against unwanted microorganisms, chemicals and environmental toxins. · It’s the gatekeeper of our skin moisture. So, we need fat on the inside (from food) and on the outside (from moisturiser) to keep our skin looking and feeling healthy. The essential fats omega-3 and omega-6 are both needed for healthy skin for different reasons. But when it comes to inflammation, they can exert opposite effects. Omega-6s can be pro-inflammatory, especially with exposure to UVB radiation from the sun. This sounds bad, right? Well, not necessarily – without some inflammation, there is no healing, but there is a fine line between getting enough inflammation for benefit and getting too much so that it causes harm. Meanwhile, omega-3s tend to be anti-inflammatory – and dietary supplementation with omega-3 (or even topical application) can help protect against the damaging effects of UVB rays. So, where we get these essential fats from and the balance between them is what matters.

Fasting to feel and look good Fasting has been around since the beginning of time and it’s growing in popularity again because of its health benefits. Fasting can benefit skin indirectly in three ways. Fasting activates autophagy. Autophagy literally means ‘self-eating’ and is an amazing process that happens naturally in all cells of the body, including skin cells. It’s the body’s way of cleaning out damaged cells and debris, in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells and restore function. We know a lot about how autophagy can help the body’s immune system, reduce inflammation and enhance brain function. In the skin, autophagy will: · Support skin cells to be protected from noxious substances. · Help the skin respond to environmental stress · Help the maintenance and turnover of nails and hair, and sebaceous and sweat glands.

Skin ageing is linked to autophagy. Autophagy decreases the rate of skin ageing, but the activity of autophagy declines during the ageing process itself. What we don’t know is whether the enhanced autophagy you get from fasting ramps up autophagy in skin. We think this is what might happen, but we just don’t know yet.

Rethinking your drinking

Love your gut, love your skin

The skin and the gut have a lot in common. They are both body parts that come into contact with the outside world, and are therefore our key defenders against outside ills, and they both have their own microbiome (population of microbes). They also have a bidirectional relationship with each other – changes in the gut affect the skin, and vice versa. This is known as the gut–skin axis. The skin also accommodates bacteria, fungi and viruses, with every square centimetre housing more than a million microorganisms. This is called the skin microbiome. The microbes live on the surface of our skin and also below it, in the dermal layer. Similar to how the microbes in our gut play a major role in our body, our skin microbes have an important role too. They activate and communicate with our internal immune system to protect against invading pathogens, and they fight off infections, modulate inflammation and protect us from outside harm.

In nutrition, what we drink matters but what is promoted around what we should drink and how much we should drink is littered with myths and misinformation. A classic example of this is the ‘Drink eight glasses of water a day’ mantra. Professor Barry Popkin from the University of North Carolina, in a review of hydration and health, identified the lack of any real evidence to justify the claims about population dehydration and health. Some evidence might exist, but because there are no adequate biomarkers for measuring hydration status at the population level, there is no scientific evidence for this one way or another. Popkin goes on to argue that all animals are exquisitely tuned to maintain a stable hydration status. Water is essential to life, it’s systemcritical, and that’s why the human body is so finely tuned to balancing fluids. Our body is constantly adjusting to retain or excrete water to maintain that critical balance. That’s why we have kidneys, and that’s why we have thirst. We do need water, but how much depends on all sorts of factors – like the food we eat, the exercise we do, and more. Fluid coming in as part of our food is a major source of water. Almost all vegetables and fruits are more than 90 per cent water. Broccoli is 95 per cent water. Even beef (60 per cent water), cheese (40 per cent water) and butter (15 per cent water) are sources of water. Our view is that a healthy whole-food diet, along with drinking when you feel thirsty – with water as your first choice – is how you stay adequately hydrated. Always try to go for a glass of water before drinking anything else, especially alcohol and/or sugary drinks. If you aren’t thirsty,

and are urinating regularly, is it even possible to get dehydrated? Well, we don’t think it is – except in extraordinary circumstances such as undertaking a high level of activity in a very hot environment, where the rate of sweating may exceed physical capacity. Otherwise, the thirst-driven system is going to work just fine.

Micro-nutrients = macroimportance Don’t think for a minute that micronutrients aren’t important because we need them only in ‘micro’ amounts – each vitamin and mineral plays a crucial role in the body, and many specifically in skin and organ health. Foods are loaded with micronutrients, and we need to treat our food well to make sure we get the most out of it. Here are six practical things you can do to get the most out of the foods you eat. Grow, pick and eat Growing at least some of your own food is the best way to ensure optimal nutrient content. The longer the food is separated from its nutrient source (i.e. soil, tree, vine), the more likely the chance of nutrient deterioration. This is also a good reason to buy local where possible, such as from a local farm or at a farmers’ market. Go frozen Frozen vegetables tend to be ‘snap-frozen’, meaning that they’re frozen very soon after being picked, so the nutrients are locked in. Good storage matters Store vegetables in the fridge, unwashed, with skin or rinds intact until the day you plan to eat them. Except for berries, store all fruits (including tomatoes and avocados) at room temperature and away from direct light, and freeze chopped herbs in an ice-cube tray fully covered with water or olive oil. Chop food as needed Heat, oxygen and light all cause nutrient losses from food. The inside parts of your food are protected from oxygen and light by their covering, but are exposed when cut, so only get chopping just before cooking. Cook some, eat some raw Cooking increases the bioavailability of lycopene, the beneficial phytochemical found in tomatoes, and the bioavailability

4 5

of beta-carotene, found in tomatoes, carrots, kūmara and spinach. But pay attention to your cooking methods – avoid boiling vegetables, and instead use techniques such as blanching, steaming, sautéing and oven-roasting. Keeping spinach, sunflower seeds, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, avocado, spinach and capsicums raw is better for preserving some of their key vitamins. Maximise enhancers and minimise inhibitors Eating the right food combinations can enhance the nutrient absorption of others: · The addition of foods rich in vitamin C, and combining plant (non-haem iron) and animal (haem iron) sources (e.g. broccoli with lamb), enhances iron absorption. · Oxalates (oxalic acid) found in leafy greens (spinach), nuts, beetroot, potatoes and kūmara can inhibit iron and calcium absorption. Cooking can decrease oxalate content. These foods have other benefits, so we’re not suggesting that you remove them; just be aware. · Phytates (phytic acid) in whole grains, seeds, legumes and some nuts decrease the absorption of iron, zinc, magnesium and calcium. Phytates can be reduced by soaking these foods overnight (legumes/ nuts) and fermenting foods such as bread (i.e. sourdough). Otherwise, it’s a good idea to keep carb-loaded grains to a minimum. · Tannins in tea reduce iron absorption. g

This is an edited extract from What the Face: How to look and feel good from the inside out by dietitian Dr Caryn Zinn, professor Grant Schofield and chef Craig Rodger, Blackwell&Ruth, $35

Beauty

Beauty buzz Skin and bodycare products we’re buzzing about.

Aleph closes the loop

Naturally brightening

The packaging of natural make-up brand Aleph has always featured reusable/ recyclable glass containers. Now it’s gone one step further with ‘realeph’: you drop off five washed jars or bottles to a stockist, or send them back to Aleph. Aleph’s industrial sanitiser makes them as clean as new, and they are ready to go back into circulation. alephbeauty.com

Linden Leaves Porcelain Brightening Serum, $60, contains wild daisy flower which can naturally fade pigmentation. Mulberry and licorice help improve skin tone, plus white tea repairs and protects. Apply before moisturising, or blend with your moisturiser. lindenleaves.com

Illuminating solution Emma Lewisham’s Illuminating Brighten Your Day Crème, $107, comes with a returnable refill pod to ensure it’s kept in circulation. This luxurious crème also contains triple vitamin C action and AHA/BHA which helps brighten skin and boost collagen. emmalewisham.com

LastRound is a line of sustainable pads created by Danish eco-entrepreneur Isabel Aagaard under her brand LastObject. She found that single-use cotton pads consume enormous amounts of water but switching to LastRound can save around 10L per use. LastRound’s reusable rounds are made from 70 per cent wood fibre and 30 per cent organic cotton. They can be washed and reused over and over again. lastobject.com

A drop goes a long way

Transport yourself

The power of antioxidant pomegranate is captured in Weleda’s new Firming Facial Oil, $48.90. It is the hero in this new highperforming facial oil that contains a total of eight nourishing plant oils that work to revitalise skin in a single drop. The fragrance is dreamy and it comes in a glass bottle. weleda.co.nz

Dreaming of Tahiti and wishing you could go there right now? Evolu can help you get a little closer with its Ultimate Goodness Body Butter, $34.95, which contains Monoi de Tahiti (Tahitian gardenia). This fragrant active locks in moisture, helping to shield the skin. Other ingredients include shea butter and avocado oil. Apply generously and inhale! evolu.com

Words Carolyn Enting

Reusable cotton rounds

Essano + Good

Natural deodorant? No sweat! After years of development to get it just right, essano has produced a range of natural deodorants.

@sammydaviesxx

Illustrations by Lisa Lodge. Photo @sammydaviesxx

rmpits are very sensitive parts of the body, and they tend which gently neutralises bacteria under your arms. essano’s natural to put up with a lot – including regular shaving and deodorants are free from bicarbonate soda, aluminium, and drying waxing. The least we can do to keep our pits happy is alcohol, so won’t irritate your skin or clog your pores. You won’t use a natural deodorant. experience dry skin, however body odour will be inhibited for up to A few years ago, essano (known for its #1 best-selling range of eight hours. natural rosehip skincare) took on the challenge of creating a natural “After trialling natural ingredients from around the world, our roll-on deodorant that actually works. It took time to develop a on-site chemists discovered four new-technology, natural actives range of beautifully smelling deodorants that allowed the body to proven to effectively destroy and inhibit the bacteria that cause naturally sweat, while also making sure that the final result was a odours. We then put it to the test with women from around New deodorant that was better for the environment at the same time. Zealand,” says Shane. As the saying goes, good things take time, and the end result Testing was carried out with 70 women from around New is the new range of three natural deodorants – Lily Flower Zealand between the ages of 25 and 75. Half had used natural & Chamomile, Mandarin & Aloe Vera and a Freedom Fragrance Free deodorant before and half hadn’t. Of these women, 89 per cent said natural deodorant – all of which come in a container they’re likely to buy it again, and it was described as made from 100 per cent recycled material. being light, quick-drying, and lasting. Where to get it Shane Young, co-founder of essano, says, “Once our Spending the extra time to ensure they created a essano’s natural team finalised the formula, we could have launched using deodorant they believed in, both in its effectiveness and deodorant range is available from all virgin plastic imported from China, but instead we its sustainability story, was crucial for essano. It wanted good supermarkets decided to spend more time and money to work with a to ensure the deodorant it introduced to its customers and Chemist New Zealand supplier and be the first deodorant in New was something that was sustainable both inside and out. Warehouse Zealand to use 100 per cent recycled plastic.” essano is so confident this natural deodorant works, and nationwide and online. So, what makes essano’s range of natural deodorants users will love it, that it’s offering a 30-day money-back different? Instead of masking smells by using a stronger guarantee should you not be fully satisfied with your smell, or using harsh bicarbonate soda to dry the skin to deodorant (see essano.co.nz/deodorants for essano.co.nz reduce sweating, essano has explored new technology, terms and conditions).

Beautiful, sustainable furniture and homewares

LORE is proud to present a range of collaborations created with local businesses and individuals that reflect the same philosophy as we do. Our collaboration partners are advocates for sustainable fashion and positively lead by example to encourage people to consider how their decisions and daily habits impact their lives and our planet.

With a focus on sustainable, quality fabrics, our collaborations are committed to creating beautiful products that put the environment first, whether that is by using up-cycled fabrics or breathing new life into a preloved item. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about our collabs and our other ranges of homewares and furnishings. www.lore.co.nz or contact us at studio@lore.co.nz

House Boat A sustainable floating haven in Amsterdam

Plant Mom Profile Houseplants and The Kinfolk Garden

How to Compost An easy step-by-step guide to composting

Repair and Wear The art of visible mending

Book Special Good reads and the dress detective

Light living on the water Architects Mijke de Kok and Wouter Valkenier sourced these Eames chairs via Dutch auction website Marktplaats, and inherited the white bucket seats from their neighbours. Teapot from Normann Copenhagen. Read more about their sustainable floating home on page 50.

Water view Amsterdam architects designed themselves a floating home full of sustainable smarts. Words Marlies Huisman. Photography Anna de Leeuw

Home

ijke de Kok and Wouter Valkenier, both architects and owners of design agency Studio Valkenier, designed their own 150m2 floating home, which, with 30 other homes, floats in the Johan van Hasselt Canal in Amsterdam. Mijke and Wouter had to wait a long time for the permit for the plan to form a neighbourhood on the water together with a group of like-minded people. Mijke says, “The entire process from initiation to final construction took 10 years. In recent years we lived with our three daughters in a 55m2 upstairs apartment in the centre of Amsterdam. That was tight, but we had the prospect of this new adventure, so it was doable.”

Sustainable and innovative The floating home of Studio Valkenier has everything to do with sustainability. The house is part of Schoonschip, a floating residential area in Amsterdam. The Schoonschip district was born from a shared dream of 46 resident-developers: living in a floating circular residential area, with a lot of renewable energy sources and as little waste as possible.

Ahoy there Top right: The jetty on which Mijke and Wouter’s floating home is located has five arms from the quay. At the front of the house is a floating south-facing terrace, from which you can swim. The yellow boat is a shared boat and is used by various residents. Above: In the living room, the light enters through the windows from an old office building. The wooden chair and closet behind the sofa are from Mijke’s grandmother.

Mijke: “We used recycled materials as much as possible for our floating home: windows from an office building, leftovers of platowood for the facade, bollards from the North Holland canal as floor parts of the balcony… Almost nothing is new.” In addition to all those recycled materials, more sustainable and innovative measures have been taken in the floating homes: “Every home has a separate flow for the discharge of gray water from the dishwasher and washing machine, and black water from the toilet. In a pilot in collaboration with the Dutch water company, the black water is transported to a biorefinery to ferment it and convert it into energy. In the kitchen we have a Grinder with which we reduce our green waste, the Grinder is also connected to the drain of the black water. In addition, the houses are not connected to the gas network, the houses and water are heated by heat pumps that extract heat from the canal. In the water-saving showers, only hot water is used to keep the water at the right

temperature, they are equipped with an installation to recover heat. There are solar panels on the partly green roofs. They are connected to a smart grid with the entire neighbourhood, so that we can exchange electricity with each other. This grid enables us to exchange electricity in a smart way.” The fact that the sustainable, floating Schoonschip neighbourhood was built is mainly due to the residents of the neighbourhood themselves. “One of the initiators, documentarymaker Marjan de Blok, made a documentary about a floating, sustainable house years ago. With her enthusiasm about this she [inspired] friends and gathered a group of like-minded people who also wanted to live on the water. “During their search for a place where this floating neighbourhood could be realised, Marjan came into contact with people who lived opposite the Johan van Hasselt Canal in Amsterdam. They lived in small workers' houses and had the same idea: if we could live on the water… Those

people are friends of us and so we came into contact with Marjan and the other initiators. Marjan's dream also became our dream, we joined forces and worked out our plans together. We held talks with the municipality and after a whole process of submitting permits, the construction of the floating homes could finally begin after 10 years.”

Floor plan on a placemat “We organised a dinner for all our creative friends and relations, architects, photographers and journalists. We had the floor plan of our house printed as a placemat on which everyone could sketch their ideas. “Of course, as two architects we could decide for ourselves what the layout should be, but we really wanted to know what other people would do, and out of that dinner session we got some very nice ideas for our home.” One of the couple’s wishes was a spacious kitchen, also the relationship with the water had to be central in the design.

Styling Lindividu

Home

During the construction process, the couple was their own contractor and the design was adjusted several times. “That's the fun of self-build: you have the option of making changes during construction. Then you experience the space differently than on paper. For example, we decided to leave the central space downstairs open as a play area and we shortened the wall between the kitchen and entrance, so that we now have a better view of the jetty.” The house consists of three levels, the spaces of which are fluidly connected.

“Each space offers a beautiful orientation of the sun and water, which makes the relationship between inside and outside very intense. “The light reflected in the water creates a beautiful pattern on the ceiling through the day. Due to the open space and many windows, we have a very wide view. In our previous home, the sky wasn’t even visible, now we look outside to see if there is any rain to come.” The residents realise that it is unique to live like this, in their own dream: “We still say to each other that it’s so wonderful!” g

Sustainable floating house Who Mijke de Kok (40) and Wouter Valkenier (43), both architects at Studio Valkenier, and their three daughters Linne (9), Froukje (6) and Abbie (3). What A sustainable floating house of 150 m2, spread over three levels. Where Floating neighbourhood ‘Schoonschip’ in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

@studiovalkenier

THE CRIB COLLECTIVE – PART 2

Heating & insulation Ice, ice, baby. How we’ll keep our Lake House toasty warm this winter. Words Holly Jean Brooker

This page: Holly Jean Brooker. Opposite: Insulating the Lake House.

uilding a holiday home with friends, a model of collective property ownership, is an exciting venture we are currently on. We are eight months into the part-time build of a lake house. We haven’t killed each other yet and are still great mates, so all is going well. Jokes aside, from the beginning we’ve had similar ideas around the most important things for the build, with good design and sustainability at the forefront. We want to build a beautiful holiday home that looks and feels great, that is energyefficient and made with as many sustainable building products as possible (in keeping with our budget) to keep our impact light. The Lake House is located in the south Waikato near Mount Ruapehu where winters are icy cold, and the wind blows. So insulation and heating were pretty key decisions for us in the design and planning phase. We’ve spent two summers camping on the land, and there is nothing like sleeping in a tent to teach you the laws of insulation; tents equal zero insulation, so it’s suffocatingly hot by day and freezing at night. The caravan, with its thin layer of insulation is surprisingly cool by day and cosy at night (compared to the tent at least). We’re pretty sure we can improve on the caravan’s insulation levels with our pad. During our first summer camping, we identified the positioning of the home in relation to the sun. Solar heating is free, and we wanted to make the most of this natural heating source while enjoying

Illustration Lisa Lodge

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shade and ventilation in the peak of With the framing built and the roof on, summer. Our draughtsman created a it was pretty fun to see the walls packed sun-shade map to help us identify the with what looks like oodles of candy floss. best positioning for the property while The dream is that with the extra blocking wind and optimising views. insulation, capturing the passive heating We chose large sliding doors with from the sun and using double glazing double glazing in every bedroom, and thick window coverings to keep Follow the build lounge and kitchen as well as warmth in, we won’t need much Over the coming few columns generous double-glazed windows extra heating. Holly will share the Crib throughout the house; this creates However, we are realistic – it will be Collective’s build journey with more in-depth insight into indoor-outdoor flow and gives us required at times, especially in a home in different areas of the home they plenty of ventilation for the hotter a mountain environment. were able to make better choices summer months – not to mention We weighed up options with their cost on, which are less harmful for us and the environment. Follow epic views of Lake Taupō. and environmental impact. We were really along on Instagram for regular We’re building a recess into the keen on installing solar panels, but updates on their progress. front lounge from the deck for a considering we won’t be at this property shaded spot to enjoy in the heat of often, it wasn’t a cost we felt we could summer and extending the living invest in right now. @thecribcollective space out the back to create a space We know that all heating options have for lazy hangs in the afternoon sun. an environmental impact. We decided to And in the winter months, the double glazing will plumb in the option for central heating which uses less capture and retain solar heating, while toasty window gas than a car. Hot water cylinders are constantly treatments will minimise heat loss, reducing the need using energy, whereas gas only heats water when you for internal heating and keeping electricity bills down. need it, more sustainable for low residency. Central Of course to keep that natural heat in, and the cold heating is more pricey to install initially but more air out, insulation is high priority. The region gets cost-effective long-term than other heating options. super cold, so we’ve almost doubled the usual external Ideally we will install solar panels to power these wall framing from 90mm (standard) to 140mm long term. thickness to fit the extra thick R4 Pink Batt insulation In the central living area we have a Bosca wood fire in the walls, with R6 in ceilings and 2.6R underfloors – to use when needed, with plantation grown all much higher than building code regulations. macrocarpa timber offcuts from our framing and We wanted to use insulation that had the least cladding to use for firewood, as a way to provide a environmental impact. We landed on Pink Batts, who powerful heat boost. It boasts 76 per cent energy make their insulation bales in Auckland from 80 per efficiency, and a cleaner burn. cent recycled glass sourced in New Zealand and the Trees planted around the home help offset the bale storage bags from recycled plastic. carbon emissions. g

WARM REGARDS

· Research the insulation product that best suits your whānau. Options include recycled glass, wool and recycled polystyrene sheets · Weighing up costs; Sometimes it simply comes down to budget. You may be eligible for a grant through the government’s Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes programme

· Plump it up. ‘R value’ measures how good the insulation material is at resisting the flow of heat from inside out in winter and from outside in during summer The higher the R rating, the less heating energy you will use. Opt for insulation that exceeds the minimum required for the building industry. · It’s important to use insulation in ceilings, floors and exterior walls to create a super cosy dry home. Big thanks to Pink Batts for supplying our recycled glass insulation!

Plant mom is bringing Mother Nature home Monai Nailah McCullough teaches others about the life-enhancing nature of caring for houseplants. Words John Burns. Photography Rodrigo Carmuega

pied piper of the millennial houseplant movement, “Plant Mom” Monai Nailah McCullough has nurtured communities – first in New York, and now in Amsterdam – where watering schedules and wellness rituals are given equal weight. Self-proclaimed “Plant Mom” Monai Nailah McCullough first made the transition from green-thumbed hobbyist to professional horticulturist when she still lived in New York City and worked in visual merchandising for fashion brands. As a native New Yorker, she hadn’t grown up surrounded by greenery; nonetheless, she

felt an intuitive understanding of how to care for plants – most of the time. “When I first started getting into it, I killed a lot of plants,” she admits with a laugh. With each failed houseplant, however, came newfound knowledge. “It encouraged me to keep going and [to learn] how not to do that again.” Fast-forward seven years and McCullough has over 150 plants in her brood – “a lot of children to look after,” she notes. A career in visual merchandising has now been swapped for her own business, Plant Mom, which launched in 2018 when she relocated to Amsterdam. Twice a month, she leads hands-on workshops

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Professional horticulturist Monai Nailah McCullough started out as a green-thumbed hobbyist.

“Caring for plants is the best way to learn how to care for yourself. If you identify why you can’t keep your plants alive, you can also identify a lot of things that may be lacking in your own life...” that introduce her community to the basics of urban plant care, describes the community that has sprung up around Plant Mom from repotting to planting them in upcycled materials. One client, as composed of young professionals, most of whom are interested Soho House, has commissioned a series of workshops that have in improving their wellbeing. Plants, she believes, provide an gradually progressed in complexity; the most recent taught opportunity for self-development. kokedama, a centuries-old Japanese botanical art that places “Caring for plants is the best way to learn how to care for yourself,” ornamental plants into little balls of moss-covered soil. she says. “If you identify why you can’t keep your plants alive, you Alongside these commitments, McCullough can also identify a lot of things that may be lacking in conducts private consultations on the design your own life... Once you begin to collect plants, you make configuration and maintenance of indoor plants. Her better lifestyle choices and more conscious decisions.” previous professional experience has proved useful: one McCullough has proved an appealing poster girl for installation in a private residence saw a quarter of the millennial gardening. Her Instagram account often shows property’s kitchen wall transformed into a lush sheet of her standing amid a jungle of greenery – a hip urbanite greenery, while another project turned an empty space with peroxide-blond cropped hair who has carved out above a staircase into a riotous splash of colour, with a natural existence in a man-made metropolis. Excerpted from locally grown plants potted in recycled milk jugs. “What I try to help people understand is that living in The Kinfolk “I find a lot more joy and enthusiasm when I work a city does not mean you are not in nature,” she says. Garden by John with individuals in their homes, helping people create “Everything we do is nature; we are nature. Having plants Burns (Artisan Books). © 2020. a sacred space with their plants,” McCullough says. She is only an extension of that.” g

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@plantmom.amsterdam

GARDENING

How to compost An easy step-by-step guide to composting. Words Kahu de Beer

n our household, taking the compost out has become the job the kids have to do when they’re misbehaving. You hit your sister – ‘right, that’s it! Take out the compost’. Not listening to mum when I’ve asked a hundred times not to roller skate through the house – ‘here’s the bin’. For some reason, my girls find it the most disgusting job (especially when the bucket tips out while they’re running to the bin). Hopefully we haven’t put them off for life, but at least they’re gaining an understanding of reduce, reuse, recycle. The composting process is nature’s way of recycling organic matter and creating a nutrient-rich environment for new things to grow. It is the best (and cheapest) way of supplementing your garden soil; adding nutrients and beneficial organisms, aerating the soil, warding off plant disease, as well as offering an alternative to putting chemical fertilisers in your garden. You can also feel good knowing that you’re helping to reduce landfill. Organic matter makes up more than half of all landfill and is particularly detrimental in that environment as it releases harmful methane gases. When put into your home compost bin, however, it can be turned into a resource for growing nourishing food. Starting your own compost is a rewarding and pretty simple process. All you need to get started is the bin itself, which you can either make yourself from materials such as untreated wood or

bamboo, or if you’re not into DIY you can buy one. A basic bin will be fine for beginners and can be purchased for under $100.

How do I know when my compost is ready? It will be dark brown/almost black, and sweet and earthy smelling. How quickly your compost will be ready to use will depend on factors such as the internal temperature of the bin and the health of the microorganisms contained within it.

Compostable plastics There is still some confusion around compostable plastics and whether they really do break down in a compost bin. Firstly, there are two types of these plastics: ‘home compostable’ and ‘commercially compostable’. The latter cannot be put into your home compost as it will likely require temperatures of 70 degrees celsius to break down, so make sure you’re putting the right sort into your home compost bin. In my experience home compostable plastics don’t seem to break down quite as quickly as the rest of the contents, I’d recommend chopping the plastic into smaller pieces to speed up the process.

What can’t be composted? Meat or bones, diseased plant material, animal (carnivore) or human waste, plastic, metal, treated wood.

Recipe for a healthy compost The six components your compost needs to be at the top of its game.

Air

Layers

The right pH

Your bin needs to have ventilation. Gaps in the sides will allow for airflow; oxygen is essential for decomposition. Turning your compost will also keep it aerated.

Think of your compost as a lasagne, consisting of green and brown matter, and an occasional sprinkling of additives such as lime and soil. The green and brown layers should be roughly 10cm thick. Green matter is fresh organic matter such as kitchen waste, seaweed, or lawn clippings. Brown matter includes cardboard, dead leaves, ash, or wood chips.

Ideally your compost bin should have a pH of about 6 or 7. Many compost bins become too acidic – a handful of lime every now and then will help to balance it. Ensuring you have similar amounts of green and brown waste will also keep the acidity levels balanced. Fruit flies are a sure sign that your compost has become too acidic.

Moisture Keep a lid on your compost bin, especially in the cooler months when there’s more rainfall, to stop it getting oversaturated. In the warmer months you may need to water it occasionally to keep it from drying out. The ideal consistency should be that of a damp sponge.

Warmth Heat activates compost so position your bin in a hot, sunny spot.

Microorganisms Microorganisms and earthworms will enter the compost bin when it has contact with the ground. This is a good thing! Adding a thin layer of soil to your compost every so often will encourage more activity. g

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Ash (from un-tanalised timber)

Seaweed Kitchen waste

Straw or hay

Paper and cardboard (preferably shredded)

Some weeds best to avoid especially vigorous varieties that have gone to seed

Eggshells

WHAT CAN I PUT INTO MY COMPOST BIN? Fresh plant material Coffee grounds Old leaves and plant material

Light prunings

Lawn clippings

Animal manure (herbivore)

WEEKEND DIY

Turning the tables Uncovering the beauty of an antique table. Words and styling Sarah Heeringa. Photography Amanda Reelick

Home Sweet Home plant stand and JS Ceramics from goodthing.co.nz

For more paint, colour ideas and inspiration, visit your Resene ColorShop or resene.co.nz

DIY with Resene

Before

You will need

estoring antique furniture can be a daunting task – especially when it carries sentimental value. This table once belonged to my great grandparents Mary and John – I imagine the two of them sitting at it, in the late 19th century. Later my grandmother had the table revarnished, but was disappointed that the result was a dark brown coating that hid the woodgrain. As this layer is now flaking, it’s a chance to discover what lies beneath.

Step 1

Step 2

You will need · Wooden table · Resene Aquaclear Satin · Small electric sander (optional) · Sandpaper of various grades · Wire wool, fine grade · Easy Reach Tray · PAL Speedbrush · Face mask and earmuffs · Dropcloth, soft brush and cloths

Step-by-step Step 1 Remove old varnish Electric sanders are fast, but only use a lightweight palm or rotary sander as more heavy-duty sanders could quickly ruin an antique. For delicate pieces or anything not heavily coated you may choose to sand entirely by hand. Lay out a drop cloth. Start with 120 or 180 grade paper, then switch to the lighter 220. Tear sandpaper sheets into quarters and fold over a sanding block or into pieces that are comfortable to hold flat. Wear a face mask, and if you are using an electric sander, also earmuffs. Avoid creating scratches and groves by sanding in the direction of the wood grain, keeping the sandpaper or electric sander pad flat on the wood and applying even pressure while moving back and forth in the same direction. Hand sand any curves or edges. Finish with 240 grade paper. Step 2 Clean up Use soft brushes and cloths to remove all wood dust from the table and surrounding area. Shake out the dropcloth and sweep or mop the floor. Step 3 Apply multiple coats Speedbrushes use lots of fine bristles to create an even paint film. Pour just enough Resene Aquaclear into the roller tray. Dip the pad’s fibred surface into the varnish and spread the varnish using long, smooth movements. Apply multiple thin coats, allowing at least 2 hours drying time between each. As necessary, lightly sand between coats using fine grade wire wool. Clean away any dust. Resene Aquaclear is waterborne so the tray and speedbrush are easily washed each time. Or wrap in a reusable plastic bag to save washing up. Step 4 Add tint as desired Resene Colorwood Enhance is a waterborne stain that adds colour without covering the natural timber grain. Colours can be mixed to create a range of shades. I used Resene Colorwood Enhance – Red Brown in coats three to five to ensure the tabletop better matched the table base. Allow 72 hours for the final coat to cure. g

Step 3

Sarah is a contributing editor for Good and author of two books. Her latest title is Upcycling With Style.

@reclaim_that

Step 4

sarahheeringa.com

PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

The art of visible mending Using creativity to turn mending into something quite lovely. Words and styling Sarah Heeringa. Photography Amanda Reelick

Mending fabric with cotton thread

Gather a selection of thick cotton, embroidery thread, fine wool or crochet cotton so you have options to choose from when mending.

e all have that much-loved cardigan or favourite pair of jeans we’ve been reluctant to toss even though they have several holes. Teach yourself a few basic handsewing stitches and you can make simple repairs on clothes that have holes, stains, or other signs of wear and tear. Try a few visible mending techniques and you can turn your mending into something that is unique and even beautiful. Visible mending is inspired by the Japanese art of sashiko, a form of embroidery where fabric is patched and embellished with a series of small, and sometimes geometrically patterned, running stitches and cross stitches. Visible mending embodies the values of slow fashion. It’s about buying less and better. Instead of seeing clothes as

disposable items, it’s about turning a garment’s flaws into something quirky and personal to you. Visible mending is about working with what you have, embracing imperfection, fixing what is broken, and rejecting the idea that newer is always better. It feels like a very timely thing to be doing as the warm weather comes to an end, autumn settles in and we turn from outdoor adventures to indoor comforts. You will need · Clothing items for sewing or mending · Yarn or thread in various colours: thick cotton (sometimes called sew-all or extra strong cotton), fine wool or crochet cotton, embroidery thread · Large sewing needles in various sizes · Small scissors · Fine-tipped felt pens · Darning mushroom (or alternatives) · Rubber bands Optional: small pieces of fabric for patches

Warp and weft are the two basic components that turn thread or yarn into fabric. When weaving, the lengthwise warp yarns are held in tension on a frame or loom while the weft is threaded over-and-under the warp. You can mend a hole in fabric by covering it with a patch, or by hand-sewing back and forth to catch any loose threads and to re-create the missing warp and weft. You can use matching cotton thread while you practice your technique – or thread of a contrasting colour to make a feature of the patched area. 1 Spread the fabric to be mended out flat using an embroidery hoop or alternative such as preserving jar lid and rubber band. 2 Thread your needle and knot the end of your thread. 3 Starting 2-4cm beyond the hole, sew a running stitch along the lengthwise grain of the fabric. (The warp thread lying in the lengthwise grain of the fabric is stronger than the weft thread in the crosswise direction.) 4 Next sew a series of straight stitches across the hole. 5 Turn 90 degrees and, tilting the tip of the needle up and down, weave the thread under and over your straight stitches. The aim is to create a woven look that lines up the original fabric. 6 When finished, secure the thread by sewing a knot or two on the underneath side.

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Homemade needle book

Embroidery hoop An embroidery hoop is useful for stretching the fabric or woollen garment out flat. If you don’t have an embroidery hoop you can use a metal preserving ring and a rubber band.

Basic materials

By sewing a few squares of fabric together you can create a fabric book for storing various-sized needles. This one was made using woollen blanket scraps and some pieces of calico curtain fabric.

A darning mushroom helps to spread and secure fabric in place.

Flowers and bugs Small mended areas can be covered with circles created using satin stitch. These circles can then be embellished using a series of small running stitches to create outlines of flowers. Another circle has legs and two small dot eyes added to create a bug. Alternatively, use the lazy daisy stitch (see right) to create petal shapes around a circle.

1 If it helps, spread the sock hole out flat using a darning mushroom or an alternative such as a jar or small ball. 2 Use the end of the needle to drag any loose ends inside the sock. 3 Choosing a matching yarn, thread your needle and knot the end of the thread. Pull the thread through the sock, hiding the knot on the underneath. 4 As with the fabric mending, you’re aiming to create a weave to fill in the hole. Start where the sock weave is intact so you can anchor your repair in place. 5 Start stitching back and forth across the hole in long straight rows, using a running stitch. As you do this, take care to loop your thread through any unravelling stitches around the edge of the hole. Aim for rows of stitches that are straight, closely and evenly spaced. 6 When you reach the other side of the hole, turn 90 degrees and start sewing across the other way. Weave through the stitches to close up the hole and catch up any last unravelling edges of the original hole. Note: At Step 5 you may choose to switch to a contrasting colour yarn. Alternatively, use matching thread to close the hole, then switch to a contrasting colour to sew several extra rows of stitches across the hole for extra strength as a decorative element.

Model Courtney Harper

Mend a hole in a sock

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Lazy daisy stitch 1 Thread your needle and knot the end of your thread. 2 Starting underneath, bring your needle up where you want your petal to be, then reinsert your needle back down beside this point. 3 Pull the thread part way through, leaving a loop. 4 Bring the needle up through the fabric where you want the tip of the petal to be. Put the needle through the loop of thread and back down near this same spot to create a small stitch. 5 Gently pull the remaining thread through to secure the petal in place. 6 Repeat as many times in a circle to create a flower shape. g

GARMENT RESTORATION AND

preservation

Mitigating garment disasters with environmentally friendly cleaning methods. Words Carolyn Enting

Kate Mitchell, co-owner of Regal Drycleaners, prioritises being kind to both our clothes and the planet through the company’s environmentally friendly practices.

Home

e all know that sinking feeling when an accidental elbow jab causes red wine to spill down the front of your favourite silk dress. The first instinct is to put water on it and begin desperately dabbing or gently rubbing it in an attempt to get the stain out. Don’t! Even if it’s a white dress just leave it, says Kate Mitchell, co-owner of environmentally friendly Regal Drycleaners. “If you dab things with water it can often leave a watermark ring, which can often be harder to remove than the stain itself,” says Mitchell. “My big tip which I would like everyone to know is to please never touch it. The issue of time delay in getting it to a specialist cleaner is immaterial compared to issues that can be caused from putting the wrong thing on the wrong garment.” Mitchell has played with the idea of changing the name of the business to Regal Garment Care due to the wide range of other cleaning they are actually doing, but has stuck with ‘drycleaning’ for now because that’s what people think of when they have a garment disaster. Regal Drycleaners uses different technology to that of traditional drycleaning, which has become a much smaller portion of what they do in terms of garment care. Up to 70 per cent of garments go through a process called wet cleaning instead of dry cleaning, which is very different from washing a garment at home. Garments, depending on the fabric and/or delicacy, are micro-dosed in a high-tech machine with soaps specific to the garment’s needs such as colour protectant, fibre protectant and conditioning. “It has 30 different programmes and can be used on beads, delicates and wools that you are not traditionally able to put in a wash,” says Mitchell. For garments that do need dry cleaning, Regal uses hydrocarbon technology. The machines from Germany distil the dry-cleaning solution after each clean, purifying it, and the solution is reused. The small amount of waste produced (for example dirt extracted from

the garments) is biodegradable. The hydrocarbon fluid is considered better than other options that can pollute upon disposal rather than biodegrade, however Mitchell knows dry cleaning is not perfect. “The area where it would be critiqued is that it is still hydrocarbon-based which means it is not from a renewable resource, and that is the issue with dry cleaning,” says Mitchell. “With our specialist machinery though, we are able to materially reduce the consumption of fluid through the distillation process, and so we roughly use no more solution in a year than an average car, and that’s cleaning hundreds of thousands of garments. “Unfortunately, perchloroethylene (an alternative solution) has been shown to pollute and contaminate soil, water and air, and is considered a likely carcinogenic.” Perchloroethylene is still commonly used in New Zealand and around the world, though it is now banned in many countries too. It is now illegal to install a new perchloroethylene machine in certain states in the United States. The same law

doesn’t exist in New Zealand. “Because it is harsher, it also makes it a more powerful cleaning agent so of course that’s what most people use because you can throw anything in there and it’ll come out with all stains removed. “What we are using is gentler on the fabric and dyes of the garment, but therefore can be less powerful at stain removal, which means there’s a lot more hand work in it for us to get stains out.” This approach, however, is something that Mitchell is committed to. As a business, Regal Drycleaners supports Dove Hospice by being a collection point for any donations, and offering free cleaning services for any garments requested that the Hospice could get a better resale for but are significantly stained. Regal has also partnered with Auckland clothing rental business Designer Wardrobe. In the two-year period of the partnership Mitchell has seen a decline in the number of ball dresses being brought in by customers, and numbers of gowns being re-worn at Designer Wardrobe spike exponentially. It indicates a change in spending habits

as people choose to hire a dress they would probably never wear again, instead of buying it. “It’s prolonging the life of their garments through gentle cleaning, and reducing turnover of their wardrobe,” she says. “And Designer Wardrobe feel great partnering with us because our delicate cleaning processes protect their dresses and do the least harm to the environment.”

“ We’ve had people bring in their mother’s wedding dress that has been in a box for 30 years and it ’s yellow instead o f white, and it comes back per fect.” Kate Mitchell

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Good tips

box for 30 years and it’s yellow instead of white, and it comes back perfect.” She also recommends bringing in garments to be cleaned before they are put away at the end of a season as invisible stains under the arms or speckles of perfume can cause yellowing. And if your beloved also washed your black silk shirt and it’s faded, and the fabric is feeling a little crispy, don’t despair. The colour can be enriched so that it deepens – this works especially well on navy, black and dark green – and a texturiser will ensure the silk feels silky again. As for unshrinking stuff that you might think is totally ruined, Regal uses a process called steam relaxation. “We can basically reshape it by using steam as it gets pulled in whatever direction it needs to go,” says Mitchell. “We do a lot of work around this including contacting designers if we can, to get the right measurements of what it should be.” This process is also saving garments from going into landfill.

Can’t afford to go to the dry cleaner?

Bringing garments back from the brink Clothing restoration is a big part of what Regal do, from unshrinking your favourite jumper that your significant other threw in the washing machine or dryer, to banishing yellowing with which they have roughly 95 per cent success. “I say it is always worth trying,” says Mitchell. “We’ve had people bring in their mother’s wedding dress that has been in a

Mitchell will argue in some cases, you can’t afford not to. It’s better to invest in a clean rather than ruin a garment by Googling home remedies. Oil stains don’t come out through washing, and saving a garment is better economy in the long run – plus, it stops a garment from heading to landfill. “People often come in and say, ‘I’ve rubbed some of this on, I’ve tried this – and way more often than not it becomes an issue later by loosening the dye in the area. Then when we clean the garment the stain is removed but so is some of the colour where you’ve rubbed at it. Sometimes you can literally see the rub streaks on it.” Of course, if you are not planning to get it dry cleaned at all, then her advice is different. “You know, it’s worth trying, but if you love that dress bring it to us and please don’t touch it or even rub at it.”

Wine spill or oil splatter? Resist the temptation to touch it and get it to a dry cleaner (even if it is days later). Chances are they will have better success at getting the stain out if you haven’t already tried. Avoid using dry cleaners who use perchloroethylene, and choose cleaners who use more environmentally friendly practices like wet cleaning. If budget really doesn’t allow a visit to the dry cleaner, try some of these home remedies from The County Women’s Association of Victoria who have also published a book of more than 1000 budget-friendly hints and tips called Thrifty Household*. Beetroot – Place a saucer of cold water under the stain and a slice of bread on top. The moistened bread will absorb the stain. Then wash the garment in the usual way. Chewing gum – Place the garment in the freezer overnight and the gum will peel off easily. Ballpoint pen – Squeeze lemon juice onto the stain, leave for a while, then wash normally. Methylated spirits can also be rubbed into the stain to remove it. Glue – Soak overnight in malt vinegar. Lightly scrub, then machine wash as usual. Grass – Wet the stain and sprinkle with sugar. Roll up and leave for one hour, then wash as usual. Oil stains – These can sometimes be removed using blotting paper and a heated iron. Place clean blotting paper under the grease mark and iron, and the grease will transfer to the blotting paper. *Do your research on fabric before attempting any of these remedies. For example, you don’t want to use lemon juice or methylated spirits on silk.

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Wardrobe

Purple reign Shades of rose, violet and magenta rule this season.

01 02

03 04 08

Compiled by Carolyn Enting

06 01 Deadly Ponies ‘Mr Wallet’, $339, deadlyponies.com 02 Kate Sylvester ‘Jo’ dress, $469, katesylvester.co.nz 03 Kowtow ‘Relaxed’ tee, $99, kowtowclothing.com 04 Kathryn Wilson ‘Cooper’ loafer, $299, kathrynwilson.com 05 Zay ‘Juno’ bag (medium size), $59, zaybags.co.nz 06 Outliv ‘Qiuie 005’ earrings, $29, outliv.co 07 Mi Piaci ‘Nora’ boots, $380, mipiaci.co.nz 08 Ruby ‘Pascal’ knit tank, $149, and ‘Pascal’ knit shorts, $139, rubynz.com

Reading for release Pick up a paperback and find inner peace. Words Nikki Addison

hen the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, plunging New Zealand into nationwide lockdown, many of us abruptly found ourselves with a lot more time on our hands. To stay busy, we engaged in a myriad of activities. We baked, we knitted, we streamed, we exercised, and we read. As we turned the pages of our respective novels, we noticed our spirits lift a little. Our minds sharpen. Our tensions ease. Was it all in our heads? The answer is no: Reading really is good for the mind, body and soul. Aside from the obvious – providing entertainment – reading boosts creativity, improves brain function and memory, enhances vocabulary, and can even increase empathy. Arguably the most beneficial outcome is stress relief. In an increasingly fast-paced world, reading forces us to pause and refocus. Concentrating on the story before us, we step out of reality and leave everyday thoughts and concerns behind. It’s not surprising, then, that researchers from the United States found health science students experienced reduced heart rates, blood pressure and feelings of distress after just 30 minutes of reading. A truly immersive experience, reading engages and stimulates the mind. Put “Arguably the most simply… it just feels good. There are many ways to consume beneficial outcome is stress books today, from physical objects and relief. In an increasingly fastaudiobooks, to Kindles and apps. Yet as convenient as electronic forms of reading paced world, reading forces (or listening) are, it’s hard to beat the sensation of flipping through the crisp us to pause and refocus.” pages of a hefty paperback novel. Reading printed material provides an escape from the constant flow of visual information we are confronted with daily. We spend a significant interesting. To narrow your decision further, ask friends and amount of time looking at screens, and our minds need a break. family for suggestions. Most bookstores also display staff Reading provides this much-needed respite. It’s better for you, too. recommendations on their shelves. And remember: it’s what’s Because we generally read printed content more slowly and inside that counts – the old adage “don’t judge a book by its thoroughly than digital content, we absorb information better – as cover” exists for a reason. proven in a 2016 study, which found people who read printed Working reading into your lifestyle is another challenge. material could recall more of what they read than those who read Committing to 15 minutes before bed is an effective way to create digital material. a habit, but if that sounds too difficult, make reading your If you’re new to reading, selecting a book can be overwhelming. commuter activity. If you drive to work, read a few pages at lunch A good place to start is to consider your favourite television instead. Or, schedule in a self-care Sunday and relax with a bath shows. Are you drawn to thrillers? True crime? Romantic soak, a hot cuppa and a good book. Pick your poison and give it comedies? Chances are, you’ll find books in the same genre a go. Reading has so much to offer. g

Home

Book shelf Reads to inform and inspire. The Forager’s Treasury Johanna Knox, Allen & Unwin NZ, $45 Knox has produced an essential guide to finding and using wild plants in Aotearoa, including helpful rules, as well as which of these herbs and plants are safe to eat and how best to use them.

Wild Seas to Greenland Rebecca Hayter, Oceansprint Publishing, $40 Yachting journalist Hayter takes you on a wild ride with New Zealand ocean racing skipper Ross Field by joining him as he sets his sights on sailing the Northwest Passage after refitting a 20-year-old aluminium yacht.

Grounded Ruth Allen, Welbeck, $33 This beautiful book explores how we can therapeutically benefit from a deeper connection with nature, finding within it balance, stillness, solitude, resilience, contentment, activity, fearlessness – and your own wild voice.

Fifty Years a Feminist Sue Kedgley, Massey University Press, $40 Kedgley’s frank, spirited autobiography tracks the development of feminism in New Zealand over the last five decades, its intersection with her life and asks, where to from here?

Waste Not Want Not Sarah Burtscher, SJKB Ltd, $40 A cookbook based on the top 10 foods thrown out in New Zealand. With $1.7 billion of food wasted a year, this book gives the general household 80 fridge-cleaning recipes and 40-plus tips and tricks for minimising food waste and maximising flavour.

The Abundant Garden Niva and Yotam Kay, Allen & Unwin NZ, $45 Permaculture farmers from the Coromandel share how to create a productive, regenerative vegetable garden and the latest scientific research on soil health and regenerative practices.

Compiled by Carolyn Enting

Tree Sense Edited by Susette Goldsmith, Massey University Press, $37 A collection of essays by artists, activists and ecologists which discusses the many ways in which humans need trees, and how our future is laced into their roots and their branches.

A Richer You Mary Holm, Harper Collins New Zealand, $37 Sometimes it’s best to learn from the mistakes and triumphs of others. Mary Holm’s new book features 184 of these situations, to help make your financial journey smoother.

BOOK OF THE MONTH

The dress detective Claire Regnault delves into New Zealand’s fashionable history and shares her discoveries. Words Carolyn Enting

Dressed Fashionable Dress in Aotearoa New Zealand 1840 to 1910 By Claire Regnault Te Papa Press, $70.

dresses and fashionable accessories from museums throughout Aotearoa as well as 300 images. It truly is a national treasure that makes a significant contribution to the histories of colonial dress. It shows how New Zealand’s dress history was alive to international trends but also shaped by interactions with Māori, the demands of settler lifestyle and the country’s geography and environment. During Regnault’s research it was thrilling to find an actual image of a garment being worn, such as a 1844 watercolour wedding portrait of Anna Bishop and matching it with the remains of her green wedding dress. She found a letter from Bishop’s 88-year-old daughter referencing the gown in the museum’s old files stamped ‘closed’ and discovered that the poorly catalogued bodice in the collection was indeed a match! g

Book photography Maarten Holl. Photo of Claire Regnault by Norm Heke

s fashionable books go, Dressed couldn’t be better dressed. It features a tactile pillow front and back cover as well as a bookmark ribbon, indulging author Claire Regnault’s love of haberdashery. Produced by Te Papa Press, it is an exquisite tome that will delight both historians and fashionistas. Regnault, known to many as @dressdetectiveagency on Instagram, is also senior curator New Zealand histories and cultures at Te Papa and has worked in the sector since 1994. Poring over the pages, one discovers that dress from 1840 to 1910 in New Zealand shares many concepts with modern-day fashion. For example, Hūria Mātenga of Whakapuaka in Nelson (pictured above) reportedly preferred to buy her fashionable European gowns from England rather than Nelson. The red dress (also pictured), fitted with a bustle pad, was purchased from James Spence & Co in London. The company offered clients around the world an international mail order service along with detailed illustrated instructions on taking measurements to ensure a perfect fit. Not so different to online shopping today! Dressed teems with the fascinating, busy lives of early businesswomen, society women and civic figures, and features

Handy Hints

Life hacks facts Waste not, want not If you buy a shampoo that doesn’t agree with your hair, there’s no need to waste it. Pour it into a pump action bottle and use it as a liquid soap for washing hands. Thrifty Household from The Country Women’s Association of Victoria Inc.

Tips, tricks and remedies that will change how you go about everyday tasks, for the better.

Happy worm farm Unbleached toilet rolls, egg cartons and eggshells are great for adding to your worm farm. They provide pockets of air for the worms to breathe, and the eggshells will later add calcium to the soil. Karen Titulaer head of sustainability at Villa Maria

Just walk Walking outside in good daylight boosts vitamin D, which has a natural anti-depressant effect. Walking lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol, helps you feel grounded, provides a means of gaining inner stillness and its rhythmic movements have meditative benefits. Grounded by Ruth Allen

Buy only in season Buying in season is less expensive and the plant is growing when it’s happiest. It just makes sense – financially and nutritionally. Low Tox Life by Alexx Stuart

Covering beds When a garden bed is not in use, or not going to be planted or sown in a couple of weeks, it is best to cover it with weedmat, tarps or heavy mulch. This helps to protect the soil biology, prevents soil erosion and compaction by rain, and stops the bed from growing a crop of weeds. The Abundant Garden by Niva and Yotam Kay

Homemade condensed milk Whether you like to make things from scratch or want to use your own raw or organic milk, it’s simple to make your own. Ingredients are 2 cups of whole milk and ¼ cup sugar. Put the milk and sugar in a saucepan over a medium heat and bring to a gentle boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce to a simmer. Continue to simmer, stirring every now and then until the liquid has reduced by half and turned a pale yellow. Remove from the heat. The resulting condensed milk won’t be quite as thick as the store-bought version at first, but it will thicken as it cools. The Forager’s Treasury by Johanna Knox g

Drink Yourself Healthy

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Photography Cath Muscat

Use It All Recipes that reduce food waste

Skin Boosters Rejuvenating recipes for healthy skin

Local Goodness A green smoothie made with local kai

Premium Producers Celebrating Kiwis doing it the right way

The Chef’s Table Win dinner for two with chef Jack Cashmore

Whole Pineapple Cake Turn the page 85 for this delicious cake recipe.

Eat well & use it all Clever ideas to make the most of each ingredient so that a little goes a long way. Recipes Alex Elliott-Howery and Jaimee Edwards. Photography Cath Muscat. Styling Vanessa Austin

Less-meat Mince for Burgers (recipe page 82)

Food

Silverbeet Galette (recipe page 82)

Less-meat Mince for Burgers

In this recipe we keep it very simple: a small amount of mince, brown lentils and seasoning that doesn’t get carried away. You could use more aromatic herbs if you want a more sophisticated burger, or enjoy its simplicity and let the condiments do the talking. Makes 4–5 burger patties 1 onion, roughly chopped 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped 1 handful torn parsley leaves 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper 1 teaspoon dried thyme or oregano

1½ teaspoons smoked paprika 200g canned or cooked brown lentils 300g minced meat of your choice 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce ½ cup fresh breadcrumbs vegetable oil, for cooking

Place the onion, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, dried herbs and paprika in a food processor and blitz until finely chopped. Add the lentils and blitz again until roughly combined – don’t let it turn into a paste! Tip the mixture into a bowl, then add the mince, Worcestershire sauce and breadcrumbs. Mix together with your hands until combined. Form the mixture into 4 equal-sized burger patties and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Heat a little vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat or heat a barbecue flat plate to medium and cook the burgers for 5 minutes on each side. Serve on soft buns with pickles, chutney, mayonnaise, chilli jam, tomato sauce, leafy greens, slices of tomato, cheese… the works!

Silverbeet Galette

A galette is a savoury or sweet free-form pie that is easy to assemble, requires minimal technique and is very forgiving for those (like us!) without pastry skills. You can fill a galette with nearly any damn thing you like. Serves 6–8 3 cups sautéed silverbeet milk or 1 egg, beaten olive oil, for drizzling chopped parsley and dill, to serve

Sour cream pastry 1⅔ cups plain flour, plus extra for dusting 1 teaspoon salt 200g cold butter, roughly chopped 120g sour cream

To make the sour cream pastry, combine the flour and salt in a food processor, then add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles sand. Add the sour cream and pulse until the mixture forms a dough ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and set aside in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured workbench to a 40cm circle. Transfer the dough circle to a large lined baking tray.

Spread the sautéed silverbeet over the dough, leaving a 5cm border. Fold the edges over to partially enclose the filling, overlapping the dough as needed. Brush the dough with milk or beaten egg, then bake the galette for 35–45 minutes or until golden. Drizzle olive oil over the top, finish with chopped herbs and serve. Combinations we like Potato, onion and dill: par-cook 500g potatoes, then drain and slice into rounds. Sauté 2 sliced onions, 2–3 crushed garlic cloves and a little salt and pepper in olive oil for 10–12 minutes until browned, then spread onto the dough and cover with a layer of potato. Bake, then top the cooked galette with chopped dill. Caramelised onion and goat’s cheese: Spread 2 cups of caramelised onions over the dough. Scatter 50g goat’s cheese over the top, season with black pepper and bake. Top the cooked galette with fresh herbs or rocket. Tomato party: Quarter 6 tomatoes, sprinkle with salt and leave to drain for at least 1 hour. Sauté 2 chopped onions and 6 crushed garlic cloves in olive oil for 10–12 minutes, then add the tomato and cook for 30 minutes or until reduced. Spread over the dough and top with a few fresh tomato slices. Bake, then top with chopped basil. Apricot: Bake about 12 apricots with their stones removed. Spread ½ cup toasted flaked almonds or a layer of jam over the pastry and arrange the apricots on top. Sprinkle with raw sugar and bake.

Rhubarb and Ricotta Tea Cake

A twist on a simple butter cake, using ricotta instead of only milk and replacing some of the flour with desiccated coconut. This cake is best served warm with cream and compote. Serves 6–8 1 cup plain flour ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ cup desiccated coconut ½ cup unsalted butter ¾ cup caster sugar zest of 1 lemon

2 eggs 185g ricotta ½ cup full-cream milk 2 teaspoons lemon juice 125–150g rhubarb, trimmed and sliced into small pieces

Preheat the oven to 170°C. Line a 21cm round cake tin with baking paper. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and coconut in a large bowl and set aside. In a stand mixer, cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest until light and fluffy, then add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Turn the mixer to low speed and mix in the ricotta, then add the flour mixture in three goes until just combined. With the mixer still running drizzle in the milk and lemon juice. Turn off the mixer and fold in the rhubarb, then pour into the prepared cake tin. Bake for 50 minutes or until lightly golden on top and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. The cake will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 week. Combinations we like Replace the rhubarb with the same quantity of any fresh chopped fruit, and use any type of citrus zest and juice. We love the following flavours: peach and lime; berry and lemon; pear and orange.

Food

The Best Vegetable Slice

Eggs bind other ingredients as they cook, and what you might think are a few random bits and pieces – half a broccoli, a few sprigs of parsley – can become a complete meal when combined with eggs. This recipe is for those occasions when you have a few ingredients left over in the fridge and you want to make them taste great with little effort. Eat it the next day for breakfast, pop it in your lunchbox or gobble it up on a crusty roll with green leaves and plenty of chutney. Serves 4–6 olive oil 140g chopped/sliced veg onion (1 small), sliced leeks and their tops, finely sliced fennel, thinly sliced capsicum 2–3 garlic cloves, crushed 500g grated vegetables (a mix works well) cauliflower and stems, broccoli and stems, courgette, potato, mushrooms

1 cup chopped soft herbs or leafy greens parsley, dill, rocket, baby or English spinach 1 cup grated parmesan 130g self-raising flour 6 eggs ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Brush a 20cm x 25cm baking dish with a little olive oil and line the base with baking paper. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the chopped or sliced vegetables and garlic and sauté for 5–10 minutes, until soft, translucent and sweet. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Squeeze out any excess liquid from the grated vegetables, then add to the sautéed vegetables, along with the herbs or leafy greens. Stir through the parmesan and flour. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until fluffy, then add to the vegetable mixture. Season with the salt and pepper and gently combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the top with the back of a spoon. Bake for 30–40 minutes, until firm to the touch. Serve hot out of the oven or allow to cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Combinations we like These flavours work really well together: Capsicum, cauliflower, potato and parsley; Onion, courgette, broccoli and English spinach; Leek, mushroom and dill.

Pineapple Skin Syrup

Whole Pineapple Cake

There is so much flavour in pineapple skin that it would be a crime to throw it away. Drizzle this syrup over whole pineapple cake, fruit salads and ice cream, and use it in marinades, salad dressings and cocktails. Makes about 350ml Place washed and roughly chopped pineapple skin (along with the core if you haven’t eaten it) in a saucepan with 2 cups water, 1 cup caster sugar, 1 star anise, 4 allspice berries, 2 cloves and ¼ teaspoon black peppercorns. Set over a low heat and simmer for 15–20 minutes, then strain. If you want a thicker syrup, place it back on the heat and reduce further. Pour the syrup into a clean jar or bottle and store in the fridge for up to 1 month.

Food

Green Pockets

The ultimate fast food! If it’s the weekend we’ll make the simple yoghurt dough, but on a week night we’ll pick up a pack of Greek pitas or souvlaki bread on the way home from work. We love this interpretation of gozleme because everything goes into the pocket uncooked. It is truly a 15-minute meal. Makes 8 2 cups very thinly sliced green leaves English or baby spinach leaves, silverbeet leaves, kale leaves, rocket ⅓ cup finely chopped soft herbs mint, dill, parsley 200g cheese ricotta, crumbled feta, grated haloumi, grated mozzarella ⅔ cup grated parmesan ½ teaspoon salt 100ml olive oil lemon wedges, to serve

Spiced onion (optional) ½ small onion, finely diced 2 garlic cloves, minced ½ teaspoon ground cumin pinch of freshly cracked black pepper 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons dried herbs, such as oregano, mint or basil Simple yoghurt dough 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar 1 cup Greek-style yoghurt 2½ cups plain flour, plus extra for dusting 1 teaspoon baking soda

Combine the greens and herbs in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the cheeses and salt. You can leave the mixture here and it will be yummy and family friendly, but if you want to take it up a notch, it’s worth the extra 5 minutes to make the spiced onion; simply combine the ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. To make the yoghurt dough, combine the oil, vinegar and yoghurt in a bowl and mix well. Sift in the flour and baking soda and mix with a wooden spoon until all the ingredients come together to form a dough. Tip out onto a floured work surface and knead for 10 minutes or until very smooth. Divide the dough into eight balls and place under a damp tea towel. Working with one ball of dough at a time, roll the dough into 15cm circles. To assemble, spread 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture over half of each dough circle (or pita bread) and scatter 2–3 teaspoons of the spiced onion mixture (if using) on top. Add ½ cup of the greens and herb mixture, then fold the dough over to make a semicircle. If using homemade dough, pinch the edges to seal. If using pita, wet your hands and dampen the outside of each pocket and seal as best as you can.

Green Pockets

Whole Pineapple Cake

We love this cake because it uses the whole fruit and extracts maximum flavour from the pineapple’s flesh, core and skin. Serves 8 1 pineapple 1½ cups almond meal 2¾ cups desiccated coconut 1 teaspoon baking powder 6 eggs 250g caster sugar

To serve toasted coconut flakes natural or Greek yoghurt

Preheat the oven to 160°C. Line a 30cm loaf tin with baking paper. Cut the skin off the pineapple and set aside, then cut the flesh and core into small cubes and blitz them in a food processor until smooth. You’ll need 400g of pineapple purée for the batter.

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Working in batches, pan-fry the pockets for 2–3 minutes each side, until golden brown. You can also brush each pocket with olive oil and grill them on the barbecue. Serve with a squeeze of lemon and a salad if you can be bothered, but there’s so many greens inside you hardly need to.

Whisk together the almond meal, desiccated coconut and baking powder in a large bowl and set aside. In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk the eggs and sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy (or you can do this in a large bowl with a hand whisk). Add the pineapple purée to the egg mixture and whisk for another minute. Slowly add the dry ingredients in batches, whisking well after each addition. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 50–60 minutes, until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Meanwhile make the pineapple skin syrup (see opposite). Recipes extracted

Combinations we like Kale, parsley, feta and chilli flakes; rocket, mint, haloumi and lemon zest or chopped preserved lemon rind; baby spinach, basil, mozzarella and parmesan.

with permission from Use it All by Alex Elliott-Howery and Jaimee Edwards, Murdoch Books, $45.

Leave the cake to cool in the tin on a wire rack for 10 minutes then turn out. Serve straight away or keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Serve warm or toasted with the syrup, toasted coconut and yoghurt. g

Skin boosters Nourish your inner and outer wellbeing with these rejuvenating recipes. Recipes Craig Rodger. Photography Cameron Gibb

Powerful Porridge

The hero nutrient of this porridge is omega-3s, the essential fats that help prevent UV-related skin ageing. Serves 2–3 Prep time 5 minutes Cook time 10 minutes For the porridge 1/2 cup LSC (ground linseed, sunflower seed and chia) 3/4 cup almond meal 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 cup water 1 cup cream (or coconut cream or milk) 1/2 cup frozen berries 1–2 tbsp collagen peptides (or protein powder) 2 tsp cocoa powder For the topping dash of cream dollop of unsweetened Greek yoghurt about 1 tsp hemp seeds small sprinkle of sliced almonds small handful of berries (fresh or defrosted) Place the LSC, almond meal, cinnamon, water and cream in a small pot over a low heat, bring it up to a simmer and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring regularly, until everything is cooked through and the chia is soft. Stir through the berries, collagen peptides and cocoa. Pour into serving bowls while still hot and drizzle with a little cream. Dot the yoghurt on top and scatter over the hemp seeds, almonds and berries.

Food

Rich Chocolate Mousse

Vitamin C Crumble

1/4 cup 85 per cent dark chocolate chips (or another 1/4 cup cacao powder) 2 large ripe avocados, flesh only 1/4 cup cacao powder 1/4 cup milk (regular, coconut, almond, etc.) 1/2 tsp vanilla extract pinch of salt

For the fruit 300–400g rhubarb, diced 2 tbsp water 3 tbsp butter, diced 1 cm 1/2 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)

This tasty mousse is rich in healthy monounsaturated fats from the avocado and flavonoids from the dark chocolate or cacao powder, giving it a great anti-inflammatory boost. Serves 4 Prep time 15 minutes Setting time 30 minutes 1–2 tbsp stevia/erythritol blend sweetener To serve 1/2 cup fresh or frozen berries 1 square 85 per cent dark chocolate, grated 1 tbsp flaked or shredded coconut few sprigs of mint or other herbs (optional)

You can use other fruits in this – just make sure it’s high in vitamin C. Soft fruits such as berries can be used directly without cooking. Serve with whipped cream mixed with vanilla extract. Serves 6–8 Prep time 20 minutes Cook time 30 minutes For the crumble mixture 1 cup almond meal 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 cup cold butter 1 tbsp stevia/erythritol blend sweetener 1 egg, whisked

Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with baking paper.

If using chocolate chips, place them in a microwave-safe bowl and soften or melt in the microwave by giving them 5-second bursts, stirring in between.

For the crumble mixture, place the almond meal, cinnamon, butter, and sweetener in a food processor and pulse until the mix resembles crumbs. Add the egg and pulse until the dough clumps together. Press the dough out on the baking tray and bake for 10–12 minutes. If the crumble is still doughy, bake for a further 5 minutes.

Place all the ingredients, including the melted chocolate, in a blender and blend until smooth. Fill small serving dishes with mousse and allow to chill for at least 30 minutes. To serve, dot some berries on top of the mousse, and scatter over the grated chocolate and coconut. Garnish with herbs, if desired.

For the fruit, place the rhubarb, water and butter in a small pan. Bring to a simmer and cook, covered, for 2–3 minutes. Uncover, allow to cool, then stir through the raspberries gently. Place the mix in an ovenproof dish, top with crumble and bake for 10–12 minutes. Serve warm.

Food

Skincare Salad with Salmon Wafers

This salad brings together the big hitters for skin health: omega-3 fats from salmon, eggs and hemp seeds; natural prebiotics and probiotics from sauerkraut; and of course a host of vitamins and minerals from the greens. You can sub the mayo for extra virgin olive oil. Serves 4 Prep time 20 minutes Cook time 20 minutes 4 eggs 200g green beans, trimmed 100g mixed olives, pitted 1 punnet cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced (optional) 2–3 baby gem lettuces, leaves removed 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 500g salmon, skin on (single piece or a couple of fillets) 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup soft herbs, chopped (predominantly dill; parsley and chives are good inclusions) 100g sauerkraut Bring a pot of water to the boil. Using a dessert spoon, gently place the eggs in the water and cook gently for 6 minutes for soft-boiled, 12 minutes for hard-boiled or somewhere in between. Once cooked, transfer to a bowl and cool under cold running water. Prepare the vegetables and set aside. You can eat the green beans raw, or cook them for 2 minutes in the egg pot or once the salmon has cooked in the pan. Heat the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat. Place the salmon in the pan skin-side down and cook for 2–3 minutes. Flip the salmon over and cook for a further 1–3 minutes, depending on how thick your salmon is – the tail is quite a bit thinner than the part closer to the head, so the timing will vary quite a bit. Remove the salmon from the pan and allow to rest on a plate, skin-side up. Carefully remove the skin and return it to the pan over a medium heat. Cook for 1–2 minutes on each side until crispy. Drain on kitchen paper. Mix together the mayonnaise and herbs, and set aside. Peel the cooled eggs and slice them. Arrange the salad vegetables on a platter or large plate. Flake the salmon over the salad and arrange slices of egg on top. Dot sauerkraut on top of the salad and drizzle with the herb dressing. Finish with the crispy salmon wafers on top.

Recipes extracted with permission from What The Face by Dr Caryn Zinn, Grant Schofield and Craig Rodger, Blackwell & Ruth, $35.

Food

Local goodness Make your morning smoothie using top-quality Kiwi kai from local producers. Recipe and words Rachel Grunwell. Photography and styling Aimee Magne

ne positive spinoff of living in a world where Covid is in existence is that it has reminded us to shop local and support Kiwi products whenever we can. But they’ve got to be really delicious, too. This recipe incudes some amazing Kiwi products worth raving about. I’ve discovered a supplier that delivers avocados straight to your door (Waitaha Avocados). Master picker Gary lovingly cradles them into a courier box. By the way avocados are full of good fats that are helpful for gorgeous, glowing skin – hence the name of this juice. Another NZ-grown product I’m loving is Tahi spirulina. This sustainable food is the darkest spirulina powder I’ve used and tastes so earthy and yum. It brings this green juice, and you, to life (aka a great wholefood pick-me-up).

Green Glow Juice

handful of silverbeet 1 orange (the Burnside Trust in Gisborne grows the sweetest oranges I’ve ever had!) ¼ avocado (I used Waitaha Avocados, which are Katikati-based) 1 cup coconut water 1 tsp honey (I used 1839 Mānuka Honey from Tauranga) 1 tsp green spirulina (Tahi spirulina makes it so dark green) 1 banana, peeled Place all the ingredients in a blender (I use a high-quality Vitamix blender), blend until smooth and then pour it into a glass, or bottle to take on-the-go (to work, school or for a romantic picnic… ) g

Rachel is a wellness expert and the author of Balance: Food, Health + Happiness.

inspiredhealth.co.nz @rachelgrunwell

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PREMIUM PRODUCERS

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VILLA MARIA

villamaria.co.nz

A toast to organics More than two decades ago Sir George Fistonich’s nephew Fabian placed a challenge at the Villa Maria founder’s feet: to take its winemaking organic. Sir George agreed, because it was the right thing to do. But it required more than simply letting the vineyard adapt on its own. “We had to really innovate, use new techniques and technology to do it better,” says Karen Titulaer, Villa Maria head of sustainability. “It’s actually been a massive journey for the viticulture team. It’s taken us 20 years of learning,” she says as the 60-year-old winery celebrates launching its first fully organic range, EarthGarden. The range includes a Hawke’s Bay rosé, a merlot cabernet sauvignon, a Marlborough sauvignon blanc and a pinot noir. “The winemakers love it because they’re making wine that really reflects the land the grapes are grown on and has that distinctive flavour.” With a Villa Maria wine purchased every three seconds in the United Kingdom, the challenge was in producing

huge volumes of quality grapes using organic methods. “EarthGarden is so important because we want to show that organics can work,” says Titulaer, acknowledging “it costs us more to produce so we need to show that as humans we value the quality of the product enough to pay for it”. Around a third of Villa Maria’s owned vineyards are under organic management, with a goal to be 100 per cent organic within a decade. Success has come by planting wildflowers and cover crops between vine rows, as much as two tonnes of seeds per year. “What we did with wildflowers and cover crops worked well,” says Titulaer. “Things like lucerne and red clover enhance the soil and make nitrogen accessible for the grape vines.” Titulaer says that by partnering with and gaining certification from organic experts BioGro, consumers can have confidence in Villa Maria’s organic accreditation, with the winemakers and viticulturists gaining access to the most advanced advice.

Food

“What we did with wildflowers worked really well. Things like lucerne and red clover really enhance the soil and make nitrogen accessible for the grape vines.” Karen Titulaer, Villa Maria head of sustainability “Organics is about promoting that natural resilience within the vineyard. The aim is to get the vines to develop deep, good, strong root systems so that they are able to draw the nutrients and the water out, and they’re not so reliant on our pampering.” Understanding that soil health is critical to biodiversity, Villa Maria invested in three worm farms at its Auckland winery. They’re fed with food waste and cardboard to create worm ‘tea’ made from worm excretions “that seed good bacteria in the soil”, adds Titulaer. “The payback’s been bigger than what we thought in terms of, we don’t need to bring in the seaweed fertiliser anymore, which means we’re avoiding bringing things onto the site and we’re reusing the waste that was onsite.” As founding members of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand since 1995 and active members of Organic Winegrowers NZ and The Packaging Forum, Villa Maria’s commitment to sustainability and carbon

emissions reduction extends to its supply chain. Every element of its packaging including caps, seals, labels, bottles and boxes is sourced within 22 kilometres of its Auckland Estate which reduces carbon emissions, something they have been measuring for more than a decade. “Our bottles are around an average of 69 percent recycled glass,” adds Titulaer, which requires less energy to produce. “That’s a big thing for us.” Titulaer, who is also chair of the Glass Packaging Forum, adds that measuring and innovating to reduce emissions has paid off. By working with local glass manufacturers, Villa Maria has reduced its bottle weight from 500 grams to 417 grams, with each step collectively reducing its carbon emissions by 39 percent per bottle of wine. The Villa Maria team are excited that 20 years of hard work has culminated in EarthGarden. “It’s a real validation of their hard work,” says Titulaer. “We’re already seeing a great response to the wines from our customers around the world.”

Change for good Kōrure, meaning to change direction, is a Kiwi business on a mission to change people’s health for the better with its range of green-lipped mussel supplements and topical creams. At its helm is 25-year-old charismatic entrepreneur Ron Park, who has taken mussel powder since childhood. “My mum always made sure we had a healthy diet and supplements, so I’m all for it.” Park, who emigrated to Aotearoa New Zealand from Korea aged 8, was inspired to investigate mussel oil after being asked by family there to send them New Zealand fish oil supplements. However during his research (and while studying accounting at Canterbury University), he was shocked to find that poor quality ingredients were being sold to New Zealand, repackaged and branded ‘New Zealand made’ and sold globally. So Park created his own. Now shipped worldwide, Park backs Kōrure products because of its ingredient provenance, state-of-the-art processing, molecular science and innovative sustainable packaging. “I know the farmers and every aspect of the products, from processing to packaging”. Kōrure products contain lipid oil extracted from sustainable New Zealand

KŌRURE

korure.com

“Omega 3 comes from the algae mussels ingest and Banks Peninsula waters have very high levels of algae compared to anywhere in New Zealand or the world.” Ron Park, Kōrure green-lipped mussels, and contain 30 essential fatty acids including unique omega 3 called ETA along with EPA and DHA, vital for optimal body function, which humans can’t produce. Mussels have been eaten by Māori for health for centuries and researched for anti-inflammatory properties, joint and arthritis care in particular, since the 1970s. “Omega 3 comes from the algae mussels ingest and Banks Peninsula waters have very high levels of algae compared to anywhere in New Zealand or the world, says Park. “Its mussels grow faster, maturing in one year, and have extremely high levels of omega 3.” Unique extraction technology ensures Kōrure phospholipid oil is high quality, consistent and effective. “We transport our mussels straight from farm to factory and freeze dry them live at -40°C to retain the nutrients because heat destroys omega 3. They’re

then processed through a Supercritical CO2 Extraction to extract the oil.” He says the result is “super, super potent” omega 3 oil, backed by science. “One study shows in terms of antiinflammation and joint health, our mussel oil is 100 times stronger than fish oil, 125 times more concentrated than eating a fresh mussel, and more than 1000 times stronger than primrose and flaxseed oils. Essentially, you’re having the mussels live and getting all the nutrients from them.” Kōrure is one of the first Kiwi companies adopting refillable supplements which combines customer convenience with Park’s unwavering commitment to planet earth. “The environment is everything to us. We say, let’s reduce plastic by having a refillable jar and with compostable pouches instead of buying plastic bottles every time,” he says. Along with donating money to Whale & Dolphin Conservation, Kōrure is the first

company in Australasia to create sustainable packaging as part of the 4R EARTH Project. “We helped create mycelium tray packaging made from mushroom roots, which is combined with hemp and wood by-products to create the shape which keeps the products safe, and composts in the garden within 30 days, turning into fertiliser.” Kōrure also gives customers soil tablets and seeds with the packaging that grow into the mycelium tray. Once sprouted they can be planted, which he says happily “completes the circular ecosystem”. Kōrure also produces topical creams that reduce inflammation and soothe muscles and joints “without the stink”, which Park formulated in partnership with Canterbury University. “We used the molecular science of each ingredient to look at what gets absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin,” Park adds. “Many products hide pain with chemicals without actually doing anything good. We wanted to help at the root, so we’ve added ingredients like turmeric, green lipped mussels, glucosamine, chondroitin, winter green and manuka oils, that can be absorbed through the skin and actually help soothe inflammation.”

Food

GREENLEA

greenlea.co.nz

Tonic for life One of the world’s most ancient foods has been given a 21st century makeover and it may be just the healthy tonic Kiwis have been seeking. Alongside popular wellness beverages like kombucha, from May 2021 shoppers can add bone broth tonic to their trolley. Bone broth tonics have taken off in the United States, led by health devotees in California, creating an industry projected to be worth US$600 million by the end of 2021. Aotearoa New Zealand sustainable food producer of 30 years Greenlea, based in the Waikato, is excited to bring this new wellbeing support to Kiwi consumers under the brand Restore Whole Foods. Greenlea business development manager Julie McDade says its bone broth is a beverage and altogether different from soup stock. “We’ve been boiling up bones to make soups and beverages since caveman days,” she says. “It’s an ancient product and process.” McDade quotes In Defense of Food author Michael Pollan, who famously said, “Don’t eat anything your greatgrandmother wouldn’t recognise as food” as a reminder of the importance of consuming real food. “Our bone broth tonics are special products, very simple and very natural. They’re just bones, water, with apple cider vinegar used to draw the goodness out of the bones and marrow, and salt and pepper.” Greenlea launches its range with three

“Our bone broth tonics are special products, very simple and very natural. They’re just bones, water, with apple cider vinegar used to draw the goodness out of the bones and marrow, and salt and pepper.” Julie McDade, Greenlea business development manager

varieties, each comprising up to 97 percent chicken or beef bone broth. The range includes Forever Beautiful, a beef tonic boasting high levels of collagen, the building block protein associated with bone, skin, muscle, tendon and ligament strength and vitality; and two chicken varieties, Super Defence, with ingredients including vitamin C from lemon juice, turmeric, ginger and manuka honey to boost the immune system, and Active Vitality, aimed to enhance energy and performance. McDade says consumers have flocked to bone broth tonic bars in US supermarkets. “Instead of getting a coffee while you do your grocery shopping, you get a bone broth tonic.” While McDade acknowledges people can make bone broth, she says few want broth simmering in their oven for two days, adding with a laugh, “it smells a bit meaty”. “Even for us creating broth on a commercial scale, the chicken takes 24 hours and the beef takes two days.” The bone broth range is an extension of Greenlea’s vision to create a better world. McDade says using the whole animal is important to the company’s

sustainability vision where nothing is wasted. She adds that the company went all in when it created its sustainability framework in 2019 and detailed carbon footprint model – from processing to air travel. “In today’s world it’s not enough to have a few sentences on sustainability so we identified key pillars around people and communities, environmental stewardship, and product quality, safety and integrity. Under each pillar we identified focus areas and targets and we’ve now started measuring against all those focus areas and targets.” Greenlea is an active member of the New Zealand Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and part of a group that created a proof of concept to produce verified sustainable beef, supported by the Ministry for Primary Industries. In her own life, McDade swears by drinking bone broth to ease an upset tummy, saying “it always sorts me out”. “When I grew up, every time I was sick my mother would make me clear chicken broth, and maybe it’s anecdotal but it always made me feel better,” she says with a laugh. g

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Buy a print or full access subscription to Good magazine and be in to win* an unforgettable experience at The Chef’s Table and Blue Duck Station. *Terms and Conditions Be in to win 2 nights at Blue Duck Station including one night at The Chef’s Table with Good magazine Issue 74. 1. The prize is only available for orders of 1 year (6 issues) or 6 months (3 issues) print or full access subscriptions, not the digital only subscription. 2. This promotion commences at 7.00am 22 April 2021 and ends at midnight 20 June 2021. Eligible individuals must, during the Promotion Period, purchase a 1 year (6 issues) or 6 month (3 issues) subscription to Good magazine through one of the below channels: a). Online at good.net. nz/subscribe, icgmedia.co.nz or isubscribe.co.nz; b). Email support@icgmedia.co.nz; c). Call 0800 782 347. 3. Subscription rates are available for delivery to New Zealand addresses only. Offer is not available in conjunction with any other offer. Savings are based off the retail cover price. 4. For the purposes of this promotion, recipients of the gift will be deemed the bill payer of the subscription, not the gift recipient of the subscription. The bill payer must have an address in New Zealand. 5. Offer is also available to existing subscribers, who must opt in at the advertised rates. For existing subscribers, subscriptions will commence at the end of the current term. Conditions of Entry: This competition is open to NZ residents only except employees of ICG Media and participating companies and their immediate families and agencies. Prize will be drawn 21 June 2021. Winner will be randomly drawn and notified by phone or email. Where attempts to contact the winner fail (eg when the winner cannot be contacted by phone after three attempts or mail sent is returned) another winner will be selected. Prize package includes: 2 nights at Blue Duck Station including one night in a luxury cabin at The Chef’s table and degustation dinner, and one night at the Frontier Lodge. Option to do a half day kayak/jet boat experience on the Whanganui River or jet boat history tour, and chance to lay some Goodnature traps. Accommodation booking is subject to availability. The prizes are non-transferable (no name changes), non-redeemable for cash and cannot be used in conjunction with any other special offer. The promoter is ICG Media, 19 Lyon Ave, Mt Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. Travel to and from Blue Duck Station is not included. The winner will be responsible for expenses including, but not limited to, spending money, additional food, drinks, transport, activities, incidentals and all other ancillary costs associated with redeeming the prize. The winner takes the prize entirely at his/her own risk and indemnifies ICG in respect of any claim for any accident, injury or property damage that may occur in connection with the prize. In the event that any prize, or part of the prize, becomes unavailable for reasons beyond the Promoter’s control, the Promoter may substitute a prize of equal or greater value. Indicative value of the prize is up to $3,900 depending on the dates of travel.

Grinding another week away behind your desk? Maybe it’s time you paddle downstream instead. In what we value, the aroha is all in the detail. VISITRUAPEHU.COM

Photography Carolyn Enting

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Rotorua’s Hot Spots Discover tranquil bathing springs and geothermal wonders

Bird Sanctuary A night in a DOC hut and dawn chorus on Tiritiri Matangi Island

Wonderful Walk Waiorongomai Valley’s forgotten history of gold mines and tramlines

Explosive history Rotorua’s Waimangu Volcanic Valley has some of New Zealand’s most dramatic landscape, from volcanic craters and geothermal features to enchanting hot springs.

Waimangu Valley’s Frying Pan Lake is one of the world’s largest hot pools.

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Travel

Hot, steamy adventures Good’s guide to Rotorua’s top hot spots. Words Carolyn Enting

ven on a gloomy day the attractions of Rotorua beckon. Luxuriating in a hot pool beneath an overcast sky is a perfectly wonderful thing to do, not to mention deeply relaxing and even therapeutic. National and international tourists have travelled to Rotorua since the 1800s to experience the power of its healing waters and to see the wonders of the geothermal landscape first-hand. If your muscles need a soak after an adventurous day hiking and mountain biking, or you just want to indulge in some pampering, we’ve got your weekend itinerary sorted.

Photography Opposite: Tyler Lastovich

Take a shinny dip Secret Spot Hot Tubs Rotorua is conveniently positioned beside a mountain bike park and is the perfect spot for soaking your feet while enjoying a cold beer after a bike ride. Shinny dips – soaking your shins and feet in a cedar hot tub – are free if you order a drink from the bar, and are a fun way to reminisce with friends after a day on the trails. However, you don’t need to be a sporty spice to come here and take part in a shinny dip. And, if you prefer, you can also put on your bathing suit and luxuriate in one of 12 hot tubs, each thoughtfully landscaped for bathers’ privacy with views looking into paradisiacal dells and native bush. It wasn’t always this way. Secret Spot sits on what was formerly a dusty overflow carpark with portaloos and has been transformed into a hot tub haven on the edge of the Whakarewarewa Forest. It’s the brainchild of brothers Keith and Eric Kolver, who dreamed up the concept while paddling down the Whakatane River in a canoe in a storm. “We were freezing and Eric said, ‘think of something warm’. I said ‘mulled wine’, and he said ‘mulled wine in a hot tub’ and it was the start of three hours of paddling in the rain just talking about warm stuff,” says Keith. Five years since that canoe trip, Secret Spot has become a dream come true. The Kolver brothers have planted more than 3000 native plants and cleared the area

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“Walking through the valley is spellbinding. It features blue lakes, steaming craters, boiling hot springs and beautiful silica formations.” of shoulder- to head-high blackberries to transform it into a little piece of paradise. Walking to your private hot tub along the boardwalk has a sense of discovery and while there you can enjoy bar service with the press of a button. Unlike the geothermal waters of nearby Polynesian Spa, the water source for Secret Spot is fresh forest spring water that is heated and freshly circulated for each new visitor. And its Enviroswim treatment system is friendly on the environment and bathers, without lots of chemicals. We reckon it’s still fun to visit a secret spot even if the secret’s out now. secretspot.nz

Therapeutic waters A world-class day spa as well as legendary hot pools await at Polynesian Spa, a superb place to book in for a massage or geothermal mud wrap and hot pool experience overlooking Lake Rotorua. Polynesian Spa has exclusive access to both alkaline and acidic natural springs, which feed into the 28 mineral pools available at the spa. The slightly acidic Priest Spring is recommended for easing aches and tired muscles, while the alkaline Rachel Spring is where you want to be for fresh, rejunvenated skin. The Priest Spring is named after Catholic priest Father Mahoney who believed he cured his arthritis after soaking in the acidic waters in 1878. Legend has it that after being carried to Rotorua because of his crippling condition, he was able to walk back to Tauranga and declared himself cured of his ailments. The news of his miraculous cure saw visitors come in their droves. The Rachel Spring is named after Madame Rachel, an English cosmetician

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who promised youthful complexions thanks to the purported softening effect of silica water on the skin. Whether you believe the legends or not, it is heavenly to soak in the pools under the sun, clouds or stars (last pool entry is 9.15pm). polynesianspa.co.nz

Hot waterfall Kerosene Creek is 35km south of Rotorua and perhaps the original secret spot. It’s picturesque, free and you get to relax in a stream of running hot water beside a

waterfall surrounded by native bush. A sign to Kerosene Creek points from the Thermal Explorer Highway down Old Waiotapu Road. A five-minute stroll along a bush track will bring you to this serene waterfall pool.

Walk Waimangu Volcanic Valley There’s strictly no bathing here but if you haven’t yet discovered Waimangu Volcanic Valley, you are in for a treat. This area is home to Lake Rotomahana, the site of the world-famous Pink and White Terraces prior to Mt Tarawera’s eruption

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Some like it hot Opposite: Waimangu Volcanic Valley showcases the world’s youngest geothermal system. Left: Kerosene Creek. Below left: Polynesian Spa. Below right: Secret Spot Hot Tubs’ many attractions. Below: Secret Spot’s shinny dip, the ideal way to ease tired legs after a day on the trails.

in 1886. The valley itself was created by the eruption, which blasted Lake Rotomahana to 20 times its original size and extinguished all life within 6km of the lake. Around 1915, bird and plant life began to return to the area. Walking through the valley is spellbinding. It features blue lakes, steaming craters, boiling hot springs, and beautiful silica formations. One such marvel is Frying Pan lake, which covers 38,000 square metres and is one of the world’s largest hot pools. It’s important to stay on the footpaths

at all times here and remember that this area is a living, breathing geothermal valley that changes daily and has an explosive history. Between 1900 and 1904 the Waimangu Geyser would regularly erupt and became a major tourist attraction. On 1 April 1917 Echo Crater erupted, destroying the Waimangu Hotel in front of where the visitor centre is today, killing two people. So, it pays to be mindful while taking a self-guided walking tour through the valley. The scenery is so spectacular you’ll want to make loads of photo stops if

photography is your thing. Options to explore the Waimangu Valley include a self-guided walk along the length of the valley. A free bus will return you to the carpark if you don’t want to walk back. You can also take a guided tour and a Lake Rotomahana boat cruise which offers a 45-minute circle of the lake to view geothermal and volcanic features not visible from the shore including steaming cliffs, geysers and fumaroles. To truly go off the beaten track, discover Lake Rotomahana with a guided tour by kayak. waimangu.co.nz

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ISLAND LIFE

Overnight on Tiritiri Matangi

Tiritiri Matangi

Take time out to hear the birdsong and spot the locals on this island paradise only a short ferry ride from Auckland. Words and photography Clarissa Hirst

here’s a soft rustling in the grass. In the red light of the torch, a distinctive bill and round, stocky body becomes visible. Making its way towards a nearby flax bush, the creature disappears into the undergrowth to continue its nocturnal activity in peace. While not every visitor to Tiritiri Matangi will be lucky enough to see a kiwi, the chances are dramatically increased by staying overnight. There are plenty more enchanting encounters to be had during a weekend on this island sanctuary of greenery and birdsong, and they’ll be sure to stay with you long after you leave.

Encounter native birdlife For those of us who struggle to ground ourselves in the present moment, bird-watching is an exercise as effective as any yoga or meditation class, requiring you to switch on your senses and look around you. Many of Aotearoa’s native birds can be found on the predator-free island. Among its colourful locals

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MORE INFO Getting there Fullers operates a ferry service between downtown Auckland, Gulf Harbour and Tiritiri Matangi WednesdaysSundays (75 minutes). Sailings depart Auckland at 9am and depart the Tiritiri Matangi wharf at 3.30pm. Return tickets $82 (ferry only) or $92 (ferry + guided walk). Call 0800 FULLERS (+64 9 367 9111) to book.

Accommodation The DOC bunkhouse ($30 p/night) offers dormitorystyle accommodation. Book in advance via the DOC website.

are the toutouwai/North Island robin, hihi/stitchbird, korimako/bellbird, tīeke/saddleback, pōpokatea/ whitehead, pūkeko/purple swamphen, tūī, kererū/ native pigeon, kākāriki and the elusive kōkako. More than 100 little spotted kiwi live on Tiritiri Matangi, and DOC provides red cellophane and elastic bands for keen kiwi spotters to put over their torches so as not to disturb the creatures with bright light. The island is also home to several takahē, distant relatives of the pūkeko that were once thought to be extinct. Today there are only 445 of these threatened birds in the world, so it’s a special experience to encounter them in the wild. Those who march around in haste will undoubtedly see many birds, but they’ll miss the magical moments: a quail indulging in a dust bath, a tūī failing to hold on to a particularly defiant insect, and a takahē chick emerging from the undergrowth. Far removed from our world of instant gratification, Tiritiri Matangi is a place where patience is rewarded.

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Explore the island’s walking trails If you haven’t visited the island before, take the 1.5-hour guided walk led by a volunteer from the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi, an extra $10 on top of your ferry ticket. The guides have fascinating stories to share and will introduce you to the island’s flora and fauna. Should you prefer to explore independently, there’s a network of walking trails worth investigating. These aren’t hardcore tramping tracks; they’re easygoing, tranquil walks that are best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. The quietest times are early morning and after 3pm. · Hobbs Beach & Kawerau Bush Tracks (approx. 1 hour): Skirt the coast and pass kororā (little penguin) nesting boxes before entering some of the island’s oldest bush, passing pūriri, whau (corkwood) and pōhutukawa trees. Circle back and finish up with a swim at Hobbs Beach. · Wattle Track (approx. 30 minutes): This track connects the wharf with the Visitor Centre and lighthouse buildings. Pause at the observation areas and watch the birds drink and bathe in the water troughs. · East Coast, Northeast Bay & Ngāti Paoa Tracks (approx. 2 hours): Enjoy splendid early-morning views of Little Barrier and Great Barrier Islands. Continue to the pebbly Fisherman’s Bay and tranquil Pōhutukawa Cove, before passing flax-fringed wetlands and a pā site. Keep an eye out for a family of takahē.

Witness spectacular shows of light and sound Staying overnight means you get to enjoy the island once the crowds depart, with the added bonus of experiencing the magic of dusk and dawn. Sundown is best enjoyed with the pūkeko on the grassy embankment overlooking the DOC bunkhouse. Accompanied by a symphony of birdsong, you’ll be treated to colourful sunset views out to Rangitoto and the Auckland city skyline. As darkness descends, the Tiritiri Lighthouse turns on a different kind of lightshow. First lit in 1865, it’s the oldest lighthouse still in operation in New Zealand. You’ll awaken to the dawn chorus the next day, the sound of the island’s inhabitants greeting the day as mesmerising as the hues of the early morning sky. A curious thing happens upon returning from Tiritiri Matangi. You find yourself more aware of your surroundings; noticing sights and sounds you previously missed. It’s a testament to a place that reminds us to switch off screens and appreciate what’s around us. g

Birds of a feather Opposite: The Tiritiri Matangi lighthouse and ranger station. Above left: Views from the island. Above: The tīeke (saddleback). Below: Takahē feeding in front of the Department of Conservation bunkhouse.

“Sundown is best enjoyed with the pūkeko on the grassy embankment overlooking the DOC bunkhouse, accompanied by a symphony of birdsong.”

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The winterless north is ready for you Ready to try something new? A recharging holiday may only be a hop, skip and a jump away.

t’s known as the winterless north for a reason. No matter the season, the Bay of Islands provides respite and relaxation all-year round, with a plethora of unique activities to explore. With warmer temperatures and tranquil scenary, it’s the perfect place for a rejuvenating minibreak. So if you have yet to visit the Bay of Islands, this is the time to become acquainted with what’s both our cultural capital and a paradise of hidden sandy beaches. Your very own winter island escape!

GOOD DEAL Good readers get a special 10% OFF the Born to Roam, Capture the Cape trip and you can book your trip from $649 per person. To book, simply visit hakatours.com/born-to-roam/ the-cape and enter TNZ10 at the checkout to qualify for the discount. Alternatively you can contact Haka Tours at info@hakatours.com or call 09 520 5593.

hakatours.com/born-to-roam/the-cape

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Born to Roam Haka Tours’ beautiful Born to Roam, Capture the Cape trip provides a chance for Kiwis to pack themselves up for a long weekend and explore from Paihia (the gateway to the Bay of Islands) right to the very top of the North Island – Cape Reinga.

Brought to you by Tourism New Zealand

DAY 2

DAY 1

Once you’re there you’ll enjoy a half-day kayaking trip around the stunning Bay of Islands before you hit the hay for the day, ready to get into day two.

DAY 3

Get set for a big day of exploration, where you’ll venture all the way up to Cape Reinga and 90 Mile Beach. This is where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean, and, in Māori tradition, it’s also where spirits depart this world on their journey to the afterlife. You’ll spend some time taking in these beautiful spots that are sure to bring peace and serenity to your wairua (spirit).

Visit Ngāpuhi, the largest Māori iwi and join in on a waka voyage before heading into the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and learn all about the history of the area and its importance to Aotearoa. From there, you’ll go on a quick ferry trip over to the quaint town of Russell. Did you know this was actually New Zealand’s first capital city? It has a rich cultural history, and it’s also known for its multitude of cafes and calm, relaxing vibe.

DAY 4

Finally, day four is all about you. Choose from many activities the Bay of Islands has to offer, or just kick back and relax on one of the area’s beautiful beaches – trust us, there are plenty to choose from. You’ll head back home feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and you’ll have a newfound appreciation for this special place in our very own Aotearoa. Explore more tours at

newzealand.com/tours

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Wonderful Walk

A solid gold climb Waiorongomai Valley offers myriad tramping tracks including the historic Butler’s Incline. Words and photography Carolyn Enting

tep back in time and follow pack tracks and old tramlines from the Waikato’s gold mining days in Waiorongomai Valley. The former gold mining area, located in Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park, offers up several tracks and walking options that interlink with one another, which means you can tailor the walk you choose to your fitness level and sense of adventure. We chose to conquer Butler’s Incline, an old tramline that can be reached by following the Low Level Loop, a gentler ascent, or the Piako County Tramway. The bush was cleared to make way for gold mines after prospector Hone Werahiko discovered gold in the Waiorongomai Valley in 1881. The subsequent gold mining operation was described as “one long chapter of disaster” by a mines inspector in 1935. One reason for the lack of success was due to low yields from the unexpectedly hard rock. Since that time, native bush has reclaimed the valley and the forgotten rail tracks have been unearthed and restored into a series of trails that everyone can now enjoy. Entering this forgotten world of broken dreams is an otherworldly experience. The hike up Butler’s Incline nods to past toil and sweat of the gold miners. At the equivalent of 845 steep steps, it is definitely a

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bit of a gut-buster for the modern hiker. Allow 15-25 minutes to the top and on the ascent, make sure to take the time to stop and enjoy the view of where you have come from, and where you still have to go. It’s an impressive vista and you will be very pleased with yourself when you reach the top. Butler’s Incline is part of the Piako County Tramway, New Zealand’s oldest known bush tramway. Built in 1882-83, the original rail is still in place and Butler’s Incline is the second incline along the tramway. Here, carts full of ore once descended while empty carts ascended on a pulley system. The difficulties and dangers involved in building the tramway are evident. In addition to all the muscle and sweat involved in removing the vegetation and laying the tracks, those using the incline had to ensure their timing was accurate in order to avoid horrendous accidents. Every day was fraught with risk for the brakeman operating the winch. Today, much of the old steelwork and rails have been salvaged and restored. You can follow the Piako County Tramway back to the carpark from the bottom of Butler’s Incline, or walk it in reverse, starting on the High Level Track which joins the Piako County Tramway. This in turn joins the bottom of the Low Level Track at the bottom of Butler’s Incline. g

Waiorongomai walks Walk time: 2 or 5 hours depending on which route you choose. Track notes: Waiorongomai walks start from the carpark at the end of Waiorongomai Loop Road near Te Aroha. It is important to keep to the trails as old mine tunnels and shafts are very dangerous and can be hidden by vegetation.

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Across

Down

1 Potential 15 30 – Kiwis throw out 13,000 tonnes of these every year (9) 6 Originally described the sound of a bowstring after an arrow's been fired (5) 9 A slogan of non-violent protest coined by Allen Ginsberg (6,5) 10 A user interface such as Windows (3) 11 The subject of the End of Life Choices Act (10) 12 Incline towards, or nurse (4) 14 A parody (usually humorous) (5) 16 An official who can invalidate something (9) 18 “Wide-body” aircraft (especially Boeing 747s) (5,4) 21 “With ___ all sorrows are less” (Sancho Panza) – yet Kiwis throw out 15,000 tonnes every year as 15 30! (5) 23 A shelled marine mollusc, or a dollar bill in the US (4) 25 How we can turn some of our 15 30 into fertiliser (10) 28 A favourite Kiwi pastime – home improvements (3) 29 Renovation – also (UK historical) applied to the reign of Charles II (11) 30 See 15 Down 31 Deficits, as may occur after panic buying (9)

1 People who use weights to improve fitness – or people who steal from shops! (7) 2 A lounge (even when not in the place described) (5,4) 3 A form of theatre derived from the Italian word for “work” (5) 4 To make something comprehensible (7) 5 Where logs and lumber are dressed (7) 6 An invention that made car and bicycle rides a lot more comfortable (4) 7/8 A 28 tool for cutting stone and metal (5,7) 13 “An arm and a leg” ? No, just one of them (4) 15/30 Scraps left from meal preparation, or that have spoiled (4,5) 17 Enumerating; making a list of (9) 18 A bird that appears in “The Magician's Nephew” as “the first joke in Narnia” (7) 19 Conceited and self-centred people (7) 20 City in northern Japan that hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics (7) 22 Marine mammals (known in Kenya as the “Queens of the Sea”) (7) 24 A bottomless gulf – metaphorically, depravity or Hell (5) 26 A literal angle, or metaphorical point of view (5) 27 “I think that I shall never see, A poem lovely as a ___” – Joyce Kilmer (4)

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Puzzle created by Charles Goodwin

good.net.nz

Puzzles

Legends of literature Find the fictional heroines hidden in this fun word find. E W B K O U L Y Z T E L U P A C T E I L U J

L H O L L Y G O L I G H T L Y X S C Y E C S

I N Y M S C N A N A H C U B Y S I A D C B S

Z D R L B P Q E S U O H D O O W A M M E S E

A R C L W T U D A I S Y C L O V E R L Q K U

B E L L A S W A N Y J X S C B P C L M K N W

E M R N N E Z I A E A N I N E R A K A N N A

T A E O N L P S N L N S P Q Y S K O R M Z H

H R K R E R G Y C H E W D B W F P W E O W S

B Y R A S A T M Y S E J C A I H J F H L E N

E L A H H H F I D A Y G N H E B O S C L N R

N E H E I C W L R T R N C L G Y M E R Y N A

N N A L R A C L E T E G I F P S A M A B Y E

E N N M L R P E W E T A W G T W R A L L R E

T O I E E O F R S R Z Y G E C X C Y E O P N

T X M R Y N T M Y B K K L U R B H H B O R I

S C A R L E T T O H A R A O Y D N T A M E R

U K H Y E L A G Y H T O R O D K Y A S I T E

E S T E L L A H A V I S H A M T M C I W S H

W I T T U K L R E I L L E T N O P A N D E T

Q U S S F X S R E D N A L F L L O M X A H A

W E N D Y D A R L I N G R N P W B R V S N C

Puzzle created by Carolyn Enting

Words can appear forwards, backwards, vertical, horizontal, on the diagonal and overlap. Two words appear twice. ANNA KARENINA

EDNA PONTELLIER

MARY LENNOX

ANNE SHIRLEY

ELIZABETH BENNETT

MINA HARKER

BELLA SWAN

EMMA WOODHOUSE

MOLL FLANDERS

BRETT ASHLEY

ESTELLA HAVISHAM

MOLLY BLOOM

CATHERINE EARNSHAW

HESTER PRYNNE

NANCY DREW

CATHY AMES

HOLLY GOLIGHTLY

NORA CHARLES

DAISY BUCHANAN

ISABEL ARCHER

NORA HELMER

DAISY CLOVER

JANE EYRE

OPHELIA

DAISY MILLER

JO MARCH

SCARLETT O’HARA

DOROTHY GALE

JULIET CAPULET

WENDY DARLING

WIN Find the two words that appear twice and enter online at good.net.nz/competitions and go in the draw to win one of 2 copies of Stephanie Parkyn’s thrilling novel Josephine’s Garden valued at $33.

111

Good Thought

“

Time spent amongst trees is never wasted” Katrina Mayer

112

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