Focus Magazine issue 7 by focus Magazine

focus

Lifestyle and business magazine. About women. By women. Bay of Plenty and surrounding areas

focusmagazine.co.nz

ISSUE 7 | OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2017

n o i t i d e y a hd

t r i B 1 st

The cancer journey

from the carer's point of view

Prepare yourself for positivity the Steffi August way!

Kayaking on Doubtful Sound Fabulous prizes to be won! See page 75 for details

Breast cancer awareness

three breast cancer survivors tell their stories

– page 18

M TA – I E H KE 'M OM FR E EE

2018

Focus on Women Lifestyle and Business Expo

– It's new and it's coming soon to the Bay of Plenty Featuring: exhibitors, workshops, seminars … and a health and wellbeing hub. Like our magazine, the Focus on Women, Lifestyle and Business Expo will inspire, empower, educate, connect and entertain women in our region. Step up, get moving, live your best life! Whether you're exhibi ng or visi ng, at the Focus on Women, Lifestyle and Business Expo you can: Get networking! Meet, greet and chat with visitors and other exhibitors. Stay tuned for more info on special expo networking events. Get mo vated! Learn new business ps, tools and ideas at expo seminars, led by successful women in our region. Get interac ve! Step out of your comfort zone and try something new – you might just discover a new passion. Get shopping! Visit a range of exhibitors and ﬁnd out more about their products and services. Get pampered! Pull up a chair and take a break – we'll have some relaxa on delights in store for you.

Business owners – don't miss this opportunity to promote your fabulous business to women in the region.

ASB Arena | 5-6 May, 2018 Contact Dee Collins for further informa on: dee@focusmagazine.co.nz Mobile: 021 535 770 | www.focusmagazine.co.nz

focus Publisher

Align Publishing (an n-Gon Group facet)

Editor

Dee Collins dee@focusmagazine.co.nz

Feature Writers Millie Freeman Peter Chin Liza Schneider Rebecca Jenkins Rebecca Tereu Mary Parker Trish Rae

Creative Director Cath Hartley Savant Creative

Printing

Sanyati Print

Cover Image

Nikki South Photography

Sales

advertising@focusmagazine.co.nz

Contact Details

62 10th Avenue Tauranga 3110 (n-Gon Group Head Ofce) P O Box 14004, Tauranga, 3143 Tel: (07) 578 6838 Mobile: 021 535 770 advertising@focusmagazine.co.nz www.focusmagazine.co.nz www.facebook.com/focusmagazinenz

Distribution

5,000 free copies are delivered bi-monthly to high trafc areas such as high-end cafés and restaurants, hairdressers, fashion boutiques, waiting rooms and professional ofces across BOP and surrounding areas.

Digital

focus is available to view online www.focusmagazine.co.nz and is supported by social media sites including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. focus is a free magazine (subscriptions are available) and is published six times a year by Align Publishing (a facet of the n-Gon Group). focus is subject to copyright in its entirety. All rights are reserved and reproduction in whole or in part, without the written consent of The Publisher (Align Publishing), is prohibited. Align Publishing and all its related companies and ofcers hereby disclaim, to the full extent permitted by law, all liability, damages, costs and expenses whatsoever arising from or in connection with information or other material in this magazine, any negligence of The Publisher, or any person's actions in reliance thereon. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and correctness of the information contained within this magazine and inclusion of any copy must not be taken as an endorsement by The Publisher. Views expressed by contributors are personal views and they are not necessarily endorsed by The Publisher. Any dispute or complaint regarding placed advertisements must be made within seven days of publication. All material sent to focus (whether solicited or not) will not be returned unless otherwise agreed beforehand, and all rights, including copyright in such material will be assigned to Align Publishing upon receipt. The Publishers presume all letters and other material submitted to focus and related social media sites are intended for publication unless clearly labelled “not for publication”.

Ed or's Welcome

Pop the champagne! We're celebrating our rst birthday! What an incredible year of fun, learning and creativity we've had … and a wee bit of stress too! The best part of all has been the opportunity to meet so many wonderful women in our region – we have felt privileged to share their stories, and hope you have enjoyed reading them. We really do live in a truly awesome part of the country!

Personally, I can't believe how quickly the months have gone. I've been icking through our past editions and can see how far we have come in such a short time. You'll nd in this edition we've tweaked things a bit and introduced some new sections. We're delighted to welcome new advertisers – without them we wouldn't be able to bring you this magazine for free so we hope you, in turn, will support them too. October is breast cancer awareness month and we're delighted to feature three amazing women – Emily, Rebecca and Kathryn – on our cover and to share their inspiring stories. Their journeys have been long, emotional and hard but they have come out the other end stronger. We don't usually feature articles on men in the magazine but felt it was so important to highlight the unprepared journey that they also have to go through when their spouse or partner is diagnosed with cancer. Everyone seems to focus on the 'cancer patient' and the carers are often overlooked. Our thanks to Kelvin Clout, Nik Tereu and Mark Collins for opening their hearts and responding to our questions. We also meet ovarian cancer survivor, Kaz Weatherley, who focused on the positives of her situation to get through her health challenges. Robyn Cotton and Stef August, recent book publishers, also share some of their life challenges in this edition. AND, there's more exciting news from our team … in this edition we launch the Focus on Women Lifestyle and Business Expo, taking place 5-6 May, 2018 in Tauranga. Read all about it on the opposite page. Like our magazine, the expo is set to inspire, empower, educate, connect and entertain women in our region. There'll be plenty of time for laughter, fun, shopping and networking. Watch out for more details soon. Well, I'm certainly looking forward to the next 12 months. Until next time, enjoy this edition of focus – I'm off to have a celebratory glass of bubbles! With gratitude

Dee Editor & Founder

dee@focusmagazine.co.nz

FREE copies of focus are available at our ofce. n-Gon Group, 62 Tenth Ave, Tauranga (while stocks last)

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What’s On?

Out and About

First novel ends an unﬁnished story

Zilch Plas c! – Taking the plas c-free challenge

Three breast cancer survivors tell their stories

Breast Cancer: Choosing between breast conserva on or mastectomy

Kaz Weatherley – ramping up the good things in life

Helping others along The Right Path – The Ara ka Cancer Trust

Look Good, Feel Be er

The cancer journey – from the carer’s point of view

HEAVEN! – A new role for massage in cancer care

Our right to a healthy future

Prepare yourself for posi vity – the Steﬃ August way!

Where’s your focus?

Fireworks and your pets

Opening minds to science at Café Scien ﬁque

Sugar and spice and all things….evil

Style pages

Product reviews

Changing faces – transforming iden

Crea vity in the Bay of Plenty

A mul -day kayaking expedi on on Doub ul Sound

Liked! Social Media op ons for business

Overcoming distrac on when you work from home

Herbal Poten al – pu ng down roots

Compe

The Last Page

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ons

es through theatre

contents

Follow this link

to see behind the scenes of our photoshoot www.focusmagazine.co.nz/photoshoot-focus-oct17

Find us at: focusmagazine.co.nz facebook.com/focusmagazinenz @focusmagazinenz #focusmagazinenz

Cover Photo

Image: Nikki South Photography Hair: Hair to Train Makeup: Sharyn Bu ers Clothes: Augus ne by Kelly Coe

What's happening on Insta? #focusmagazinenz

@alexeyspodyneko

@colouringbookcity

@downsouthnz

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@kendraeden

@sara.willaert.photography

@sportbayofplenty

@taurangacoﬀeefes val

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What's on?

WIN a VIP package to see Auckland Theatre Company's LAST LEGS by Roger Hall at Baycourt Theatre. Prize includes two tickets on Friday 13 October at 7.30pm and a VIP Invite to the pre-show function from 6.45pm with Roger Hall. The prize also includes two tickets to Roger Hall's talk about 'The One's That Got Away' on Saturday 14 October at 4.30-5.30pm. Entries close 8 October. See page 75 to enter.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER/EARLY DECEMBER 14 October The Fleetwood Mac Experience – Dreams ASB Stadium Lounge 8pm

An award-winning show (Top Group at the VAC Benny Awards 2017) is coming to Tauranga. This is a fundraiser with all proceeds going to the Cambodia Charitable Trust. Prize for Best Dressed Stevie. Merchandise, food and bar available.

Tickets: $42 Available at www.eventspronto.co.nz/FleetwoodMac (or phone Devon 022 155 3994)

13-15 October Last Legs Baycourt Theatre 13 & 14 October 7.30pm; 15 October 4pm Last Legs, by Roger Hall, is a lethally funny comedy about sex, death and politics with an irresistible appeal to the bold of heart. Starring Louise Wallace from Housewives of Auckland, Mark Hadlow from MAMIL, and Alison Quigan from Shortland Street. "Guaranteed to deliver a fun night out." — Theatreview www.ticketek.co.nz

19-29 October Tauranga Arts Festival Over ten days and nights the Tauranga Arts Festival will bring the city alive and the community together with music, theatre, dance, community events and thought-provoking talks for grown-ups, kids and all those in between. Events will take place at venues throughout the Western Bay of Plenty and in the Carrus Crystal Palace situated on the Tauranga Waterfront.

For more information and ticket prices visit www.taurangafestival.co.nz

20 October Tauranga Daffodil Race Day Tauranga Racing

4 November The Great Kiwi Race Day Tauranga Racing

Get on-course for a good cause. Racing Tauranga is proud to be supporting the Daffodil Race Day initiative this year. Entry to the course is by donation with all proceeds going to the Cancer Society. Don’t miss out on this great day out for a great cause!

A ‘sweet as’ and exceedingly Kiwi afternoon of racing, entertainment and food.

www.racingtauranga.co.nz 4

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Brydie Photography

Tickets: Adults $10; children under 18 free.

Rotorua Festival of Gardens 10-12 November Visit over 40 gardens, from large rural properties to town plots, at the Rotorua biennial Festival of Gardens. Time and effort is generously donated and, this year, will help raise funds for the BayTrust Rescue Helicopter and St John New Zealand.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.rotoruagardens.org.nz

Tickets: The $30 price provides you with an ‘all-in-one’ booklet/map/ticket outlining the gardens. Each ticket allows entry to all of the gardens at any time over the three days of the Festival.

13 November Dublin’s Irish Tenors and The Celtic Ladies Baycourt Theatre 7.30pm Two of Ireland’s best-loved groups, Dublin’s Irish Tenors and The Celtic Ladies are combining to present one beautiful concert. Moving tirelessly from opera to pop, jazz to classical, each member of Dublin’s Irish Tenors and The Celtic Ladies will showcase their unique talents — from lively ddling to marvellous melodies, to perfected piano pieces. www.ticketek.co.nz

18 November Christmas at the Races Tauranga Racing Soak up the party atmosphere with a range of hospitality options to choose from. It’s the perfect chance to treat your guests to thrilling thoroughbred racing action mixed with a whole lot of festive fun! Make sure you book early as packages sell out fast! Tickets: General Admission $10; children under 18 free.

2-9 December Blood Brothers Baycourt Theatre Blood Brothers is the much loved story of the Johnstone twins who were separated at birth. Written by Willy Russell, this award winning show takes the audience on a journey lled with laughs, energy and some more serious moments. Tickets: www.ticketek.co.nz 0800 4 Ticket or Baycourt Box Ofce.

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Out & about

Jenny Barre (The Wri ng Room) and Nicky Molloy (Callaghan Innova on)

The Business Women's Network: Rockets, Robots and Resilience As part of the Groundswell Fes val of Innova on three remarkable women – Sinead O Sullivan (NASA aerospace engineer), Chris Duggan (House of Science) and Juliet Ansell (Zespri) – debated the ques on on how to get more women working in the science, tech, engineering and maths industries.

Lyndsay Hayward (Euroﬁns Bay of Plenty) and Rebecca Jenkins (Livewire HR)

Amanda Barker (Pillar Consul ng) and Ka e Douglas-Cliﬀord (Craigs Investment Partners)

Michelle Urquhart (Sharp Tudhope Lawyers) and Jan La e (Melaleuca – Go Green at Home) Kathryn Overall (Engage Communica ons) and Catherine Harris (TBWA Auckland)

The sun was out for the opening of the new gallery space at Jo Tricker Glass studio. New ranges of vases, pla ers and jewellery were for sale and guests celebrated to the beau ful sounds of 15 year-old vocalist, Alyssa Oxenham.

Paula Harrison and Dr Hilary Bradley 6

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Lara Le

Jo Tricker

The New Zealand Associa on of Registered Hairdressers held its Bay of Plenty Awards at the Tauranga Yacht Club. Photographs by Karina Smith. Angela Thomson (Vivo, The Strand) won The Cut – Live Event, Senior Stylist Award. (Model Caitlin Thomson).

Sarah Tait (Salon One) won The Day Style – Live Event, Next Genera on Stylist Award. (Model Estelle Tunoho).

Jessica Jordan (Hair to Train) won The Colour – Presenta on Event, Senior Stylist Award. (Model Chloe Jordan).

Grace Nisbet (Mphosis Salon) won The Cut – Live Event, Next Genera on Stylist Award.

Angela Thomson (Vivo, The Strand) also won The Hair by Night Live Event, Senior Stylist category. Angela is part of the team going to the Supremes this month. (Model Tatjana Fucher).

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The Tauranga Arts Fes val celebrated its 10th Fes val launch at Baycourt Community Arts Centre. The programme reveal gave a taste of what arts and performance will bring the city alive from the 19-29 October. Images by Brydie Photography.

Bob Tulloch, Anne-Marie McCall and Leeann Sandlant

Jane Kirtley Jan Hunt and Kristen Donovan

Kiri Diamond and Christa George Marilyn Cleland, Kimberley Cleland and Jillian Li le

Vivienne Quinn and Emily Mowbray-Marks

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First novel ends an unnished story Words Millie Freeman

So tight was the attacker's grip, Robyn struggled for breath and felt herself drifting into unconsciousness. A rush of adrenalin urged her to ght back and the man let go, giving her a chance to break free. Issuing a threat on her life if she went to the police, the attacker took off, leaving Robyn bewildered and traumatised.

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Now living in Tauranga, Robyn recently published her rst novel as a way to nally put an end to this episode in her life. She has returned to the town several times and the spot where the incident took place, and while it no longer has any hold on her, she wanted an ending to this unnished story.

While on her OE in 1981, Robyn Cotton was enjoying a walk in the hills above the village of Lesmahagow in Scotland when she was brutally attacked from behind and strangled.

A Skylark Flies tells the story of Rose, a ctional character who shares Robyn's experiences. It also tells the story of Tommy, a young man who attacks Rose. Robyn knew nothing about her attacker, yet wrote the story to make sense of why he did it, and in doing so has created a novel offering hope, strength and positivity. “I had the freedom to write the ending I never had,” says Robyn. “Through the book I could say things to my attacker that I never had the opportunity to say face to face, which was a really positive experience. “Tommy's story is totally made up. I started out writing just from Rose's point of view but it morphed into more of a novel because I always wondered why he did it. There were no other

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crimes committed in the area around that time, so I do believe it was a oneoff. I forgave him a long time ago and wanted to tell him that. “I also wrote it for my family, especially my daughter because I was always telling her how to protect herself and wanted her to understand what really happened. Through the writing I was able to pull all those feelings back. I'm very grateful to the publishers, DayStar Books. They believed in me; otherwise it might still be sitting in the bottom drawer.”

The turning point Back in London, during those rst few weeks after the attack, Robyn was fearful of being outdoors alone – even in daylight – and was always looking behind to check she wasn't being followed. One day on the bus she realised she could either spend her life as a victim or do something about it. “I was always a pragmatic person but had never been tested like that. That day on the bus was a turning point. If I was going to live a normal life I had to focus on the positives not the negatives.” There were positives. Firstly, in the heat of a terrifying experience she could trust herself to keep her wits – her automatic reaction was to ght back and not give in. Secondly, she counted herself lucky because, statistically, what were the chances such an experience could happen twice in someone's lifetime? So well did Robyn bolster herself that within a few months she was hitchhiking alone through Europe before returning home to New Zealand! Admittedly a little reckless in the beginning, she says, but Robyn's courage turned into a permanent resilience which has helped her face up to challenge and adversity across all areas of her life. She says it gave 10

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her the sense that, 'I can do anything and I'll be ok'.

Pragmatism and positives On returning to New Zealand she put her maths and science degree to work in the eld of food technology in the dairy industry, both here and in the UK. In 2002 she established her own consultancy, advising companies how to run effective R&D programmes and improve their innovation performance. During the last two years she has reduced her workload as she learns to live with Parkinson's, a neurological condition that causes fatigue, lethargy and shaking in her left arm and leg. Robyn is relatively young to have the disease and is applying her pragmatism to look for the positives. For now, every day is a good day as long as she's walking around and doing things, and every achievement makes her feel that this condition – which deteriorates over time and has no cure – has not beaten her yet.

organisations throughout the world. Partners work alongside countries in the developing world to help with community projects, such as rescuing girls from the sex trade and getting them back into school. She has been a board member since 2008, is a member of its Governance Council, represents the NZ organisation at international congresses and chairs the global Governance Capacity Building Committee. “The West does not tell the developing world what they need. There are lots of talented people in these countries already and all they need is someone to come along and help. Everybody is equal and I really believe in that. I love it.” n

“When I launched the book I had the feeling of 'take that, Parkinson's'! My mantra is PEP – prayer, exercise, positive thinking. I've found that if I push through the lethargy by walking in the hills or playing squash, I get to the other side and feel better. I don't allow myself to have rests during the day. “It hasn't slowed me down and doesn't dene who I am. But I am more appreciative – I take time to smell the owers and think about how good life is. There is always hope of a cure in my lifetime.” While she has scaled back her paid work, Robyn has ramped up her voluntary contribution. She offers her time and expertise to International Needs NZ – a Christian aid organisation with 34 partner

A Skylark Flies is available in Tauranga at Books a Plenty, Paper Plus, Sonshine Books and Welcome Bay Stationery. It was published by DayStar Books, Auckland.

We have two copies of A Skylark Flies to give away – see page 75 for details.

Zilch Plastic! – Taking the plastic-free challenge Autumn Falk and Jenni Werth were already committed to reducing unnecessary plastic in their lives but earlier this year they decided to ditch it completely for an entire month as part of the Plastic Free July initiative. Throughout the world people were challenged to 'Choose to refuse single-use plastic during July'. Autumn and Jenni wanted to focus on making their business plastic free. Herbal Potential provides a range of organic, hand-made therapeutic herbal teas, and through their mobile Tea Bar, which they take to weekend markets, they sell their teas as well as café-style, seasonal snacks and lunch foods. They say it's not until you commit to going plastic free for a month that the pervasiveness of plastic hits home – it really is everywhere, and some things hadn't even been on their radar. During the month Autumn and Jenni scored several wins and found some awesome alternatives. They also encountered some surprises and a number of difculties, and perhaps most of all, learnt about their own thresholds for change. focus talked to Autumn and Jenni about what they learnt, what they changed and how they coped with challenges along the way.

Why did you get involved with Plastic Free July? Jenni: Our aim with Herbal Potential is to be very environmentally conscious so it made sense to be making those changes in the business as well. It ts in with my philosophy and beliefs around what is a sustainable and environmentally fair way of living and I saw it as a challenge to see how good I was at 'walking the talk'.

We also wanted to put it out there that, as a business, it is possible to be more environmentally aware. I wanted to nd out where my hands are tied, for example, how do I nd an alternative to courier bags? That was something we hadn't considered before. So, partly we did it for the challenge, partly to check in and see how well we're doing, and partly to raise awareness.

What things did you need to change in the business? Jenni: We already use reusable cups for the Tea Bar and we never use lids anyway. The hardest thing was sourcing the salad greens without plastic wrapping. It was ne buying a head of lettuce, but for other greens, if we didn't have them in the garden then we just didn't buy them. So we picked lots of wild weeds for salads, or managed to buy spinach without the plastic wrapping. Over the winter we made a lot of soups. Autumn: It does take a bit of organising. We had to remember to bring our containers and bags everywhere, otherwise we just had to say no. And we had to ask our suppliers for a different way to receive our vegetables, without the plastic. I found it makes life harder, but only because you have to set things in place. After that it's a lot easier.

The big 4 single-use plastics Refuse, reduce or nd replacements for those singleuse disposable plastics that get used for ve minutes but last forever: l Shopping bags l Disposable cups (even paper ones are usually lined with polyethylene plastic) and lids l Drinking straws l Drink bottles

What challenges did you encounter? Jenni: One of the big challenges for Herbal Potential was buying the herbs in bulk because they come packaged in plastic. We haven't yet found a solution for how our suppliers can deliver them without plastic. Ultimately we would like to grow our own! Courier bags were also a big challenge and we are still trying to nd paper courier bags, which apparently don't exist, so I'm going to ask a packaging company to see if they would consider making them. It's frustrating that the plastic courier satchels cost a lot less focusmagazine

than other packaging so our customers would have to pay more than twice the price to not have plastic, which is completely bizarre! And it's a one-time use – you cannot open a courier bag and reuse it for anything. Autumn: It's also quite hard to nd non-plastic, leakproof containers, so we've had to compromise by buying glass containers with plastic lids and they work well. We also have stainless steel containers we use if we're getting takeaways and we take glass jars for relling at Bin Inn.

What were your wins? Jenni: Bin Inn Papamoa has been really awesome because we've been able to get things there using our own containers, like the Eco range of washing powders, detergents, shampoos and conditioners. We've also been able to nd nutritional yeast and gluten-free ours there that aren't packaged in plastic so we can use our own containers for those too.

Did you know? l

l l

Every piece of plastic ever made is still in existence. In one week we go through 10 billion plastic bags worldwide. In the US an average of 2.5 million plastic bottles are used every hour, and of that, it is estimated only one in six make it to the recycling bin. The US uses over 500 million straws each day. Recycling is important but will never be the solution to rapidly expanding consumption. Plastic microbeads used in beauty products get into our oceans and are ingested by marine life. In August, the government announced that microbeads in all 'wash-off' (exfoliating and cleansing) products will be banned in New Zealand by May 2018.

We've also found out there are bins in Waikato and Auckland, at supermarkets, for recycling soft plastics, like our herb bags (see www.recyling.kiwi.nz), so if we're going over to Hamilton, we'll take the plastics with us to drop off.

was, but if we couldn't get it at the market, I just had to go without. We had a few arguments over it, because I would say 'I can't wait for August', whereas Jenni was determined this would be how we were going to continue. Initially I saw it as a short-term thing and it felt like a sacrice to me; like a diet.

Autumn: People have been really supportive. One time I brought a mug from home to get a takeaway coffee – I got some strange looks but it was no problem. Another time I took our own containers to get Indian takeaways and when it was ready the man even brought them out to me in the car.

Jenni: If we forget to bring our cup then we don't get the takeaway coffee and I'm ok with that. Not having crackers and cheese doesn't bother me but for Autumn it feels like more of a sacrice.

What did you miss most of all? Autumn: We already bought most of our food from the Farmers Market, but I had never avoided food because of plastic before. I realised how addicted to cheese I

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How did it make you feel, going plastic free? Jenni: I get a kick out of saying 'I didn't create any rubbish this week.' It doesn't bother me to have to go out of my way, like if I forget my shopping bag so all the groceries roll around in the back of the van – I would

Do your bit … Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Replace, Repair, Rot Autumn: Make a list of where you start to notice the plastics because you notice them more and more in areas you didn't think about. You can't change everything at once – like the courier bags, we are still trying to nd a solution to that n For lots of help and info to get started, visit http://www.plasticfreejuly.org/ More great information on going plastic free at http://therubbishtrip.co.nz/ Or, contact Jenni to talk things through, 027 459 5898; herbalpotential@gmail.com

Plastic-free living – what Jenni and Autumn now use (see photo):

Autumn Falk (left) and Jenni Werth

rather have that than use a plastic bag. It just doesn't occur to me that it's an inconvenience. I think it's really inconvenient for the environment that we use plastic bags!

l l

I'm a bit of a geek, because I love taking my little calico bags to the supermarket and lling them with nuts or whatever and then having to remember all the numbers because I can't write them on the bag.

l l

Autumn: It doesn't bother Jenni if she doesn't get her drink, but to me it feels more like a sacrice and I'm working on that! In this world, anything is available anytime, at the click of the computer, which I nd attractive in some ways.

So, are you planning to continue living plastic free? Jenni: Absolutely. We avoided plastic completely in July, but we are being a bit more relaxed now. We're ok with recycling the '1' and '2' plastics if there's not another option for replacing something. We're trying to do more and more and there are lots of things to work on, to nd alternatives.

What's your advice for others to get started? Jenni: Start with refusing, like saying no to plastic supermarket bags, straws and other single-use plastics. It feels complicated at rst but just knock off one thing at a time. You can take your own bags to the supermarket, and use your own takeaway cup for coffee. Start small and create new habits. If you start somewhere it's going to make a difference.

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Bamboo toothbrushes (gobamboo.co.nz; grinnatural.co.nz) and metal tubes of toothpaste Natural skincare in glass jars Bulk-buy shampoo, conditioner, washing powder and detergent, using their own containers Nut butters and coconut yoghurt in glass jars Home-made oat milk, or nut milk made from nut butters Recycled clothing in natural bres Beeswax fabric food wraps Paper-wrapped 'Smartass' toilet paper (smartass.co.nz) Reusable takeaway coffee mugs (Earthbottles hotdrink cups available at Wild Earth Organics; other 'keep' cups available at many shops and cafes) Reusable drink bottle (sauchasoul.com.au, available in NZ at markets) Reusable glass containers with plastic lids (K-mart and other outlets) Fabric bags (rematerialise.co.nz; rethinknz.com, and others – these are all available at various local shops and Bin Inn; favourites are from Remmady Upcycled, facebook.com/remmadyclothing) Metal straws (caliwoods.co.nz, also available at Paper Plane Store, the Mount) Bamboo straws (The Last Straw Co) or paper straws (from aardvarkstraws.com) Stainless Steel tins and lunchboxes (from mealsinsteel.nz) Metal spice tins and glass tea asks (herbalpotential.co.nz) focusmagazine

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Breast cancer awareness - three breast cancer survivors tell their stories

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Breast cancer affects one in eight women and is the third most common cancer in New Zealand. Each year, focus shines a spotlight on this insidious disease and reminds us that we need to be vigilant about checking our breasts. Thankfully, many women who travel the cancer journey carry on to lead wonderful and fullling lives. With Pink October ahead, we bring you three amazing women who share their uplifting stories with us.

EMILY'S STORY Dear Boobs letters helping to heal

When Emily Searle was having neo adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer in 2016, every day was a challenge –'bad', 'very bad', or 'even worse' were her descriptive categories. She was very unwell, and several times ended up in hospital when her depleted immune system couldn't cope with an infection. It was at this time she began writing a journal; essentially letters to herself that she could read back on those really rough days when she needed to hear that good days would return. “I just let it ow; a stream of consciousness. I could hardly hold the pen and I couldn't see properly but just wrote whatever came. I didn't judge it, didn't censor myself and didn't share it with anyone. Some letters did have a positive effect and still do when I read them, and now when I have bad days, I can put it into perspective to what it was like in those rst three months.” Before surgery Emily wrote again – this time a 'Dear Boobs' letter. When she found out her friend had written a similar letter while she was also going through breast cancer, she decided to compile stories from other women into a Dear Boobs book. “I was looking forward to getting on with the surgery, but a week before, I was struggling. Looking at my saggy 'post-breastfeeding' boobs I wondered why I was sad about losing them but then kept thinking they weren't

going to be there next week. I sat with my journal and wrote 'Dear Boobs' and the words owed. After that it felt easier; I felt ready for surgery. “I talked with my friend about how the writing was really benecial when we didn't expect it to be. I realised that if I had read other Dear Boobs letters, it would have helped me to progress through that next stage. “The idea for the book is also about body image because I continue to meet women who daren't touch their scars; their whole self-esteem has hit rock bottom. I nd that really tragic because this is what you're working with now. Writing, or reading, a Dear Boobs letter might help women have a conversation about what is happening, or has happened, and use that narrative therapy to heal a bit more in whatever way they need to.”

A long, hard year Emily's experience began in July last year. She felt a lump but as she was still breast feeding, thought lumpy breasts were fairly normal and didn't think much of it. She gured the doctor would say it was nothing, but things escalated quickly. Five lumps were found, including in the lymph nodes – the diagnosis was stage three, and aggressive.

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“We went away for the weekend as planned for my son's 3rd birthday and didn't tell anyone the news. We wanted to spend time being present with the kids because things were really going to change a lot; I was going to be very sick before I got well again. “Everything began to fall into place when we had a treatment plan; my oncologist told me to write off the next year. I had been running childbirth classes for couples and business was ramping up, but now I had to ramp everything down again. I was also involved in lots of voluntary work which had to stop.” Chemo started in early August and Emily says of all her treatment, it was the chemo drugs that she initially found most difcult to accept. “I realised I couldn't do chemo if I couldn't welcome it. To me it's about making choices and feeling like I had all the information and then deciding myself. I had to welcome chemo and accept what it was. “My husband Tim was an amazing support. Sometimes it feels like it's easier for the 'sick' person as they have an excuse to disconnect from everything, whereas the supporters have to adjust, as well as make 'normal' life continue. He was literally doing his full-time job and another two full-time jobs – me and the children.” Six months' treatment helped to reduce the tumours and Emily prepared for surgery – she chose to have a double

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mastectomy, with immediate reconstruction, after nding out she carried the BRCA2 gene. She then had radiotherapy treatment for ve weeks which nished a few months ago. “Now I'm navigating my way around a whole new normal. It's changed everything really. I work with my body with what it gave me and we get through it together. That's my main challenge – to be ok with what is.”

Dear Boobs gathers momentum News of the Dear Boobs project reached 38,000 people when Emily launched it on Facebook in June and she has now gathered over 50 stories. With funding support she hopes to get 1,000 books onto waiting room tables throughout New Zealand, as well as clinics overseas which international contributors have nominated. A website will share the remainder of the stories. “I expect women will laugh, perhaps cry, but mostly grasp their own experience better, and ultimately feel the hope and healing power of being part of a sisterhood that understands just how it is.” Dear Boobs letters can be sent to Emily Searle: dearboobs@outlook.com or to join the Dear Boobs Facebook page, head to www.facebook.com/thedearboobsproject

KATHRYN'S STORY Travelling her journey with tenacity and celebration

Kathryn Clout was recovering from a broken ankle when she felt a lump in her breast. Initially she thought it was a muscular strain brought on by hobbling around on crutches, but a mammogram told otherwise. Two tiny lumps were discovered in different quadrants of her breast – both so small doctors were incredulous she had felt anything at all.

removed, but this time Kathryn was advised to have chemotherapy followed by six weeks of radiotherapy.

In February 2015 she had a mastectomy with reconstruction, and fortunately didn't require chemo or radiotherapy because the tumours were caught early. She could focus on her recovery while preparing herself for what was shaping up to be a year of medical procedures – ahead lay further surgery on her ankle as well as elective breast reduction surgery following the reconstruction.

The sadness of hair loss

While she had to ease back her busy schedule, Kathryn still had responsibilities to attend to. Her business – The Treehouse Private Kindergarten – employed ve staff and Kathryn managed the centre on a daily basis. She also continued to appear at public events and functions – sometimes heavily bandaged underneath – with her husband Kelvin, Tauranga's deputy mayor. Her resolve was tested however as the year wore on. She lost her grandparents within a few months of each other, and between those events, in October, she found another lump. This one – a rare rogue tumour – was lodged between the implant and her skin. It was quickly

“Chemo is rough but I chose to look upon my treatment as life giving. Still, there were times when I felt I wasn't contributing to life anymore and I found that really hard. I couldn't even get off the bed let alone do anything.”

Losing her long hair was a particularly difcult time for Kathryn, especially happening just at the time her grandfather died a few days before Christmas. The day of the funeral it started to fall out in clumps. “It was just very sad seeing all this hair coming out. Up until then I knew the steps I had to take to come out the other side but the day I had my head shaved was very hard. I sat in the chair and felt massive hot tears coming down.” Kathryn wore a “beautiful” wig for seven months which was cut to the style of her own hair and she remembers a few close calls when it sometimes slipped back on her forehead. “Kelvin and I would have a little code so when we were at functions and he noticed it slipping back, he would signal me so I would know to x it. There were a few funny times but luckily it never actually came off. focusmagazine

“Now my hair has grown back curly and I sometimes look in the mirror and don't recognise myself, but I don't think I'll grow it again. I have a new crown and I'm embracing that.”

Unfailing support Along with her strong faith, it was the support of her family – including the joy of a new-born grand-daughter – friends and the Treehouse staff “heroes” that helped Kathryn get through the tough six months of treatment. “Cancer is a psychological journey as much as a physical one and at times I did feel like I was at the edge of the cliff, but it was my family and my faith that pulled me back. I don't think you can travel a journey like that without resources around you, because you're made buoyant by the people who love you.” Little things made a big difference. Friends would pop into the cancer clinic and sit with her on chemo days, or drop by with a meal or baking. Just having her husband and family near her when she was too ill to get out of bed was reassuring, she says. “Sometimes you don't need words, just companionship, and the peace that comes with that is quite amazing.” Ultimately though, it was her own resolve and decision to focus on the positives that kept her going. “I look for the celebrations in life and treasure relationships because then you're able to keep a positive perspective when you go through trauma and heartache. On completion of treatment my son graduated from university and I cried all day because it was such a wonderful celebration. “Everybody has a story and it's what you make of it and how you chose to live your life. If this is my journey then I'll travel it as best as I can, with tenacity and celebration.” And that means taking more responsibility for her own wellbeing. She now has more work/play balance and works fewer hours in her business, goes to Pilates and gets a regular oncology massage. She's also made some dietary changes. “I'm more energised and I've got a supportive team around me. There are some tough times, but what's not to be thankful for?”

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REBECCA'S STORY Sharing experiences from life's valleys Something like an insect bite on her left breast worried Rebecca Tereu. While her concerns were dispelled by medical professionals, a persistent internal voice kept nudging her to have more tests; eventually she got a scan. The insect bite was nothing to worry about, but the scan showed up a tumour and DCIS – in the other breast. Rebecca could not feel the lump and had no reason to think anything was wrong – after-all she was focused on other health issues at the time – but she did have reason to trust her intuition. “I was so over going back to the doctors for tests, and just about didn't do anything more, because who wants to spend $50 on an insect bite?” she says. “If I didn't heed that nudge I probably wouldn't be here today.” It wasn't the rst time her intuition had rescued her. Rebecca was 18 when her mum took her own life. Struggling with depression and feeling desperately angry at God, Rebecca herself was suicidal, but intuition nudged her to climb a nearby hill – she was in Taupo at

the time. At the top, she took in the stunning view and her perspective changed. “I heard God speak to me and felt myself thinking 'who am I to give up on such a beautiful life?' I had a lot more arguments with God after that and had a lot more struggles, but I knew then that I had help. By getting closer to God, I've become sensitive to my intuition and it's saved me more times than I can count.”

Kicking cancer's butt In 2015 Rebecca started a website called Life and Insights as a way to encourage, inspire and motivate others, through a series of articles or 'life lessons'. After receiving her cancer diagnosis later that year she began blogging to express her stream of thoughts and fears as she came to terms with the news and faced the daunting months ahead. She talked readers through her experience with surgery and reconstruction, further surgery to remove lymph nodes, the gruelling months of chemotherapy and ongoing complications with infections which returned her to hospital after every session. “Chemo was the worst thing physically,” she says. “It felt like being murdered from the inside out, killing all my cells. I've never felt anything so invasive, but I couldn't run away from it. I couldn't move, everything hurt, like something in you getting vacuumed out. By the third round, I almost didn't do it. After a few days in hospital I started to feel better so could continue with my writing.” The Kicking Cancer's Butt blog – honest, pithy and confronting, and often humorous – began to generate viral-like interest and Rebecca decided to keep it going, not just to discuss what she was going through, but to help other women face their fears and walk their own path. “I think other women can relate to it because at some stage we all go through valleys – those deep, dark places. But you can't stay in valleys and wallow; you have to keep moving. There's a start and a nish and

you have to go all the way through. For me, my valley was my diagnosis and the things I had to come to terms with before treatment, which is like the mountain at the end of the valley. “I've met a lot of women who don't know how to move forward and change their perspective when something big like cancer happens. It's the thing they hold onto and they get dragged down. I don't pretend to have all the answers and I'm not the master path cutter, but I'm on my own journey cutting paths, and women who identify with that are able to nd the strength to move forward too.”

Process thoughts before moving on Where her blog offers an outlet for raw expression, Rebecca's new book, Purpose Driven, uses the valley and mountain metaphors to describe her journey with cancer, with explanations of what she needed to deal with along the way and how she did it. Whatever journey a person is on, she says, they have to stop and process thoughts and fears at imaginary 'campsites' and can't move on until they've dealt with stuff. “Eventually you want to bring the valleys and mountains level so that you're not dealing with the ups and downs and crooked paths, and by attening them, you learn to take a different perspective on life. “Cancer will confront you with the fear of death like nothing else and when you spend time considering that, it can either make you crazy or you can get to a place of peace. I just knew that I hadn't done everything in life yet; I still had people to help, and a family who needed me. I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without my faith and trust in God.”

Find Rebecca's blog and book at www.lifeandinsights.org. Purpose Driven is available as an e-book or hard copies can be ordered through the website. focusmagazine

Breast Cancer:

Choosing between Breast Conservation or Mastectomy Words Mr Peter Chin

Being faced with the diagnosis of breast cancer is a traumatic and tumultuous period for anyone. It forces one to think about their mortality and places all life plans on hold while they undergo treatment. As a breast surgeon, I meet courageous women faced with such circumstances each week and guide them through a journey that can be long and challenging. On receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, affected women generally give one of two different responses. The rst is the fear of losing a breast; “Can my breast be saved? Do you have to remove my whole breast?” The second is from women who, at the outset, request a complete removal of the affected breast. “I just want to get rid of it. I don't want the

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cancer to return in that breast”. The fear of the cancer recurring can be overwhelming. An important question that needs to be asked is this: Is removing the whole breast better than conserving the breast? Long-term international research has conclusively shown that preserving the breast (termed “Breast Conserving Surgery”), combined with radiotherapy, gives a similar outcome compared to removal of the whole breast (termed “Total Mastectomy”). After 20 years of follow-up, it is shown that women who have their breast conserved live just as long as those who have their breast removed. Furthermore, these women recover faster, get back to their normal routines quicker and return to work earlier. Today, we aim to perform Breast Conserving Surgery whenever possible, accounting for more than

65% of women diagnosed with early breast cancer in the Bay of Plenty. However, Breast Conserving Surgery can only be performed if the end result is an acceptable cosmetic result without signicant deformity. This is often dictated by the size of the tumour in relation to the breast. Studies conducted in Nottingham showed that breast deformity is likely to occur if more than 20% of the breast volume is removed. The group also showed that good cosmetic result correlated well with body image, self esteem, sexuality and self condence. Therefore, the aim of Breast Conserving Surgery is not only to remove the cancer, but also to avoid deformity and restore the original breast shape as much as possible. In the last 10 years, breast conserving options have expanded with the development of “Oncoplastic

Specialising in women's imaging

Techniques”, which allow for the removal of larger tumours without sacricing the whole breast. For example, a large cancer can be removed using breast reduction techniques (termed “Therapeutic Mammaplasty”) and breast tissue strategically rearranged to avoid deformity (“Volume displacement”). These specialized techniques are being taught to new breast surgeons/trainees through masterclasses conducted by BreastSurgANZ, the representative body that oversees quality and breast training in Australasia. Despite the available breast conserving options above, between

30-40% of women with a new cancer diagnosis will require a Total Mastectomy. The modern standard of practice is to offer these women the option of immediate breast reconstruction whenever possible. In other words, breast reconstruction is performed during the same operation as the total mastectomy. We conducted a review of our experience in the breast service for the last 10 years and it showed that in the Bay of Plenty, immediate reconstruction was performed in 22% of all mastectomies, a gure that is comparable or higher compared to centres elsewhere – for example, 12% overall rate in Australia and 21% in the United Kingdom.

Before Chemotherapy

After Chemotherapy

Dr Deborah McMurtrie - Radiologist l l l l l l l

Mammography Breast ultrasound and biopsies Pregnancy ultrasound scanning Pelvic, abdominal and other ultrasound MSK and Interventional Ultrasound X-rays Bone Densitometry

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Regular mammograms nd what you cannot feel.

2mm

Size of smallest change found by regular mammogram

14.5mm

Average size of change found by rst mammogram

15.6mm

Average size of lump found by checking breasts from time to time

22mm

Average size lump, found by chance

07 5789912

www.medex.co.nz

Tumour in the Left Breast shown on MRI (outlined in red). This patient was given chemotherapy prior to surgery and had an excellent response with the tumour disappearing on MRI after chemotherapy.

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Tumour in the Left Breast (red arrow) removed using oncoplastic breast reduction technique, resulting in a good cosmetic outcome.

Various options of reconstruction exist, such as implants or the individual's own tissue (TRAM, DIEP ap or Lat Dorsi ap). However, a reconstructive option preferable for a particular individual may not be suitable for another. In uncommon cases, due to the aggressiveness of the cancer, urgent priority needs to be given to the cancer treatment rst, and the reconstruction may need to be delayed to a later date (termed “delayed reconstruction”). Another modern approach for treating women with aggressive cancers is to give chemotherapy before any surgery is performed. This means that chemotherapy can be given without delay. It will potentially shrink the cancer and in 20-40% of cases, the

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cancer completely disappears as a result. The surgery is performed only after chemotherapy is completed, usually six months later. Understandably, having chemotherapy rst and delaying surgery can be a very difcult concept for the affected individual to cope with. One would naturally want the cancer gone before anything else is done. However, research has shown that in well selected cases, giving chemotherapy rst can lead to a higher chance of success with the eventual surgery as well as improved long-term outcome. With this range of treatment options, the decision-making process is crucial and much time is spent informing the affected individuals of the options

available to them. In the Bay of Plenty, a multidisciplinary team of specialists, comprising surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, oncologists, nurse specialists and others, meet each week to discuss treatment options and make a consensus decision that will achieve the best result for any individual patient. This is modern practice in action, and women faced with a diagnosis of breast cancer can be assured that they will receive optimal care right here in the Bay of Plenty. n

Peter Chin MBBS(Melb) FRACS is a Specialist Breast Surgeon who works in public and private practice in Tauranga. He has been the lead surgeon for the Tauranga Breast Service and the Bay of Plenty breast screening program for the last 10 years. He is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and underwent subspecialty training at the prestigious Edinburgh Breast Unit. Peter is on the Oncoplastic committee of the Breast Surgeons Society of Australia & NZ (BreastSurgANZ), teaches at Breast Oncoplastic masterclasses in Australia every year and is a lecturer on the post-graduate breast degree run by the University of Sydney. As a highly trained Oncoplastic breast surgeon, he is referred complex cases from throughout the Bay of Plenty and has worked hard to improve the standards of breast cancer management in this region for over 10 years.

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Kaz Weatherley – ramping up the good things in life Words Millie Freeman

Meeting Kaz Weatherley, you quickly get the feeling she has that ‘just do it’ philosophy on life. Once she sets herself a new challenge, she jumps right in, and if there are barriers in her way, she’ll knock them down or nd a way around them. It’s this zest for fun, fullment and following her purpose that has led her into some pretty cool experiences – in her 20s she guided tour groups in Europe and travelled the world; later she worked as a radio announcer on the Bay’s Classic Hits. She runs World Vision community concerts to fundraise for an African village, and she is now mum to three young children while running her business as a reexologist in Tauranga. In her ‘spare’ time, she’s a volunteer ambulance ofcer for St John’s. But she concedes we do sometimes encounter unexpected experiences, and when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014, her upbeat attitude was a trusty support. She had to nd a way through this new challenge by focusing on the positives of her situation and looking ahead toward her plans and goals.

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Unexpected outcomes It was April, and Kaz had just completed her rst half marathon in Rotorua. She was t and healthy and stoked to feel so good at the nish line. It was odd then that she suddenly began to put on ‘belly’ weight and struggled to run 3km just two weeks after the event. Perhaps this was her body in recovery mode, she thought. One week later, when running a few hundred meters had left her breathless and in pain, she decided to see her doctor. An ovarian cyst had grown very large, very quickly. It had to come out but wasn’t necessarily a cause for concern, especially as a CT scan had come back clear of cancer. In the worst case scenario, her surgeon would do a complete hysterectomy. Kaz went into surgery aware this was a possibility, but, based on all the results, felt it was unlikely. Later that night, not long out of recovery and feeling drugged and drowsy after complications with high blood pressure, Kaz found out her entire uterus, as well as her ovaries, fallopian tubes and cervix, had been removed, but all she heard was one word – cancer. It wasn’t until she woke the next morning that she was able to conrm and process the news. “I was a little shocked about the hysterectomy because I wasn’t expecting that. One of the scariest moments was when I sat up for the rst time after two days lying at. All my organs moved and it felt like everything was about to fall out. Luckily that only happened once.”

Despite being a large 2.6kg oblong-shaped tumour it was still low grade – unusual for ovarian cancers which are often only discovered at an advanced stage – and the surgeon had removed it intact. Apart from a longer hospital stay and medication to stabilise her blood pressure and ght an infection, Kaz didn’t require further treatment. It was a scary time though, she says, particularly for her children, and her recovery was slow and painful. She also had to get used to the changes brought on by surgery-induced menopause. “The symptoms started immediately and were horric. At rst I didn’t want to take HRT but after a few weeks of feeling absolutely terrible with nausea and mood swings, the surgeon talked me through the pros and cons. I took two pills and wondered why I had waited so long; I felt normal again.”

Fulﬁlling her purpose During her cancer diagnosis and while recovering from surgery, Kaz was able to complete her training in reexology, and set up her business, Feet First Tauranga, at the end of 2014. She treats clients for a range of ailments, particularly back and neck complaints, headaches, and digestion, respiratory, sleeping and hormonal issues. Last year she decided to renew her love for running and redo the Rotorua half marathon – this time without the grim aftermath. It spurred her to sign up for the half in Auckland which encourages participants to align with a charity and raise money. She chose St John and, unexpectedly, found her next big challenge – she wanted to become a trained volunteer ambulance ofcer. She now ts in two or three shifts a fortnight. “I absolutely love going out in the ambulance and it’s a great feeling being able to help people. I also love the varied work as you never know what you’re going to. It’s something that I really want to do so, as a family, we make it work somehow.” Even though Kaz has always chosen the ‘live life to the fullest’ approach, she says her experience with cancer and her St John’s work has ramped that up tenfold.

What is ovarian cancer? There are three types of ovarian cancer: the common epithelial type (90% of cases) that arises from the cells on the outside of the ovary; the germ cell type that arises from the cells which produce eggs; and the rare stromal type arising from supporting tissues within the ovary. Symptoms There are often no obvious signs of ovarian cancer however, you may have one or more of the following symptoms: l abdominal bloating l difculty eating or feeling full quickly l frequent or urgent urination l back, abdominal or pelvic pain l constipation l menstrual irregularities l fatigue l indigestion l pain during sexual intercourse l unexpected weight loss or gain Causes of ovarian cancer Some factors that can increase your risk of ovarian cancer include: l ageing (risk increases for women over 50) l family history l changes in the genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 l being of Northern European or Northern or Ashkenazi Jewish descent l early onset of periods (before 12 years) and late menopause l childlessness l infertility l rst child after 30 l never taking oral contraceptives l using oestrogen only hormone replacement therapy or fertility treatment If you are experiencing possible symptoms of ovarian cancer your doctor may suggest several tests or scans to look for cysts, tumours or other changes.

For more information visit www.cancernz.org.nz or call 0800 CANCER | 0800 226 237

“Lots of us get stuck in our everyday routine and don’t look too much beyond that because we put up too many barriers, like work or money. You do have to nd a way around those things but you also have to live life and do things that make you happy, because you just don’t know what’s around the corner.”n focusmagazine

Helping others along The Right Path – The Aratika Cancer Trust

The Aratika Cancer Trust grew out of a dream to offer hope, choice and empowerment, initially to women with breast cancer. For the last seven years that dream has been operating as reality.

“The best six doctors readily available to us are sunshine, water, rest, air, exercise and nutrition ~Wayne Fields

Aratika has expanded to meet the needs of anyone with a cancer diagnosis, along with their support people, through integrative medicine programmes, and retreats held in the Bay of Plenty. The six trustees, management team and facilitators come from an array of backgrounds including medical specialities, nursing, allied health, business, art, commerce, education and Māori tourism and trusteeship. Our programmes include Meditation training, Nutritional Education, Imagery workshops, Creative Exploration through Art, and culminate in our ve and eight-day residential retreats held at Lakes Lodge, Lake Okataina or the Tauhara Centre in Taupo. Aratika programmes are supported by research in cancer and wellbeing, along with the current neurobiochemical research into the biology of belief 32

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Retreat venue - Lake Okataina Lodge

and healing. A cancer diagnosis brings with it an array of emotions and questions; most commonly, 'what else can I do?' We seek to equip, empower and inform.

Hippocrates said “The natural healing force in each one of us is the greatest force in getting well.” Here is some feedback from recent participants: l I believe the programme was priceless in terms of the knowledge gained. l It was beyond my expectations. I have found this experience life changing and wouldn't hesitate recommending it. l I enjoyed every aspect of the programme, the depth of knowledge gained, the inspiration shown, the care and kindness and love shown. l The facilitators were outstanding, clearly very wise bringing signicant knowledge to this course. l The facilitators were empathetic, genuine and nonjudgmental, they also brought laughter and lots of smiles. Aratika endorses Dr Kelly Turner's research published in her book Radical Remission. Dr Turner uncovers nine overlapping factors that have been helpful to cancer survivors, based on the interviews she conducted. These factors are:

Aratika Cancer Trustees

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Radically changing your diet Taking control of your health Following your intuition Using herbs and supplements Releasing suppressed emotions Increasing positive emotions Embracing social support Deepening your spiritual connection Having strong reasons for living “Aratika” translates as “The right path.”

Our underlying belief is that prioritising our emotional, mental, spiritual and physical health is essential to our wellbeing. Through our workshops and retreats we create a space for our participants to understand and embrace this philosophy. Our next ve-day Cancer Wellness Retreat is in November 2017. Visit www.aratikatrust.co.nz for more details on all our programmes or follow us on Facebook. As many of our attendees are currently not working due to cancer treatment schedules, our programmes are heavily subsidised by donations and funding grants. If you'd like to support someone by helping fund them to attend one of our programmes, you can donate through www.givealittle.co.nz/aratikacancertrust

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Look Good Feel Better

Words Dee Collins | Images Dee Collins + Supplied

Having attended a Look Good Feel Better workshop whilst going through my cancer treatment in Australia, I remembered feeling quite delighted when I was shown how to 'feather' on a pair of natural looking eyebrows – I felt I looked less like an alien. Look Good Feel Better is an amazing free, non-medical service designed to help restore lost confidence and self-esteem to those women dealing with the visible side effects of cancer treatment such as hair loss, including eyebrows and eyelashes, and skin related issues. The aim is literally to help women look good and feel better. Each class, normally 10-12 attendees, is run by a tutor and a team of qualified volunteers who guide the class through a 12-step skincare and makeup regime and give out great hints and tips on how best to apply the products. Special emphasis is given to key areas resulting from cancer treatment, such as re-defining eyebrows and camouflaging skin colour fluctuations. The informal classes also provide an opportunity for cancer patients to escape from the world of doctor's rooms, specialists and treatments. A time to relax, have a bit of fun and connect with other women who may be experiencing something similar…and there's an opportunity to try on different wigs and turbans. Look Good Feel Better classes are delivered in more than 30 locations throughout New Zealand. Last year 167 workshops were held in 23 centres throughout the country, with more than 2,700 women receiving the benefits of the programme. The Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrances Association of NZ (CTFA) donates more than $2.5 million of cosmetics each year to the classes. Look Good Feel Better is a registered charity and relies on self-funding and community donations to help keep the programme operational in New Zealand.

HELPING WOMEN WITH CANCER

www.lookgoodfeelbetter.co.nz 34

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The cancer journey – from the carer's point of view When someone is diagnosed with cancer, their life changes forever. Life also changes for those people who are closest to the patients. They become the carers whilst their loved ones go through the tumultuous cancer journey. We often don't realize or consider what's going on for the carer, who is often overlooked and forgotten, whilst time and attention is given to the cancer patient. To acknowledge how important it is to look after our carers out there and to consider what they are going through, focus asked three Bay of Plenty spouses to open their hearts and share their reactions, emotions and advice with us. Our thanks to Kelvin Clout and Nik Tereu whose wives, Kathryn and Rebecca, shared their cancer journey with us earlier in the magazine and are on our cover, and, our third spouse, Mark Collins, whose wife, Dee, is the editor of focus.

Kevin Clout

Mark Collins

Nik Tereu

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Breast Cancer Bay of Plenty has introduced a Partner Support Group to provide emotional and practical support to partners. www.breastcancerbop.org.nz The Cancer Society runs support groups and programmes and can be contacted on 0800 226 237

K A T H L E E N The Kathleen Kilgour Centre is a radia on oncology facility dedicated to providing interna onal best prac ce in radia on therapy with highly trained, mul disciplinary professionals using state-of-the-art technology.

K I L G O U R

C E N T R E

WORLD CLASS RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENT FOR CANCER

Treatment is available to both privately-funded and public pa ents and covers all adult malignancies.

20th Ave, Tauranga info@kathleenkilgourcentre.co.nz www.kathleenkilgourcentre.co.nz

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HEAVEN! - A new role for massage in cancer care

Orasa Banks

We all know our lives will one day come to an end. Most of the time, we don't let this knowledge affect our sense of hope and possibility. But getting a signicant medical diagnosis, like 'you have cancer', can without a doubt, dent your normal shiny optimism. Many, wonderfully, do escape its clutches. For them, positive attitude and positive action create a whole new lease on life, because, whatever your experience with cancer, it is not what makes the rest of your life Heaven or Hell. Rather, you determine that yourself by how you experience this moment – the one that is right now. 38

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Massage is a wonderful healing technology. It has much to offer everyone in every moment. In the telescoped attention span that follows a cancer diagnosis, its power is profound. However for decades, massage therapists have turned away clients who have cancer. The logic has been: l massage boots circulation l increased circulation may help cancers spread from one part of the body to another. Exercise also boosts circulation. Yet recent best practice guidelines recommend as much exercise as possible for cancer patients 1. Likewise, leaders in the eld are now suggesting cancer patients can gain immense benets from touch therapies 2. Direct massage (including pressure on bones, joints or soft tissues) on sites of active tumours is still thought to

be unwise. But the therapist who avoids sites of active tumours can deliver many benets to cancer patients. Here are some things to consider for massage, in cancer care for friends or family: l Always be guided by your medical professional. They know your own condition and will be able to spot risks that others cannot be expected to know of. l Choose your therapist with care. One option is a hospital-based therapist versed in both oncology care and massage. Another is a commercial therapist truly willing to listen to you. Both will understand the condition of your body and respond with benecial techniques. l Tell your therapist about any active tumours you have. They will avoid direct pressure, stress or strain on that part of your body. l Tell your therapist about recent treatments, assessments and procedures. They can then avoid signicant pressure, stress or strain on other affected parts of your body. At the extreme, you might exclude all parts of your body except, say, hands and feet. Even still, the clinical literature reports profound benets of such simple massage treatments. These include a sense of comfort, of belonging, of relaxation and reduced stress. They include reduced severity of sideeffects of chemotherapy, less pain and improved sleep. Ignore crazy claims that massage will cure your cancer – it won't! But healing is about moving closer to wholeness. Through appropriately cautious massage, you open yourself to a host of wonderful healing benets. You open yourself to a present moment lled with positive touch, a sense of belonging, acceptance and peace. When life is throwing you signicant challenges, massage can gift you focus and rhythm, pleasure, hope and a sense of well-being. Heaven! n 1

- https://www.cancer.org/treatment/survivorship-during-andafter-treatment/staying-active/physical-activity-and-the-cancerpatient.html 2 - Gayle MacDonald, 2014. Medicine Hands – Massage Therapy for People with Cancer. Finhorn Press, Scotland.

17 Ninth Ave, Tauranga 07 571 1923 12 Prince Ave, Mt Maunganui 07 575 0987 www.thaitouch.co.nz focusmagazine

Our right to a healthy future Diabetes describes a group of metabolic diseases where high blood glucose occurs due to problems in processing or producing insulin. Diabetes can affect anyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender or lifestyle. Type one diabetes (T1) is an auto-immune disease associated with children/young adults, but increasingly common in adults, and characterised by a total lack of insulin production; its cause and cure remain unknown. In type two diabetes (T2), a progressive disease, the body does not effectively use insulin that is produced; risk is determined by genetic and metabolic factors but up to 80% is potentially preventable. Worldwide, one in 11 women lives with diabetes. The New Zealand 2016 Virtual Diabetes Register indicates there are currently about 241,463 men, women, boys and girls living with diabetes – about 90% of these will be adults with T2; many will be overweight. Whilst rates of diabetes in men are reducing, those for women remain static, making diabetes the 9th leading cause of death for women in New Zealand (MOH 2016). During World Diabetes Month in November, Diabetes Help Tauranga, a registered not for prot charity, based in the Western Bay of Plenty (WBOP), is encouraging women to take a moment to think about their risk factors and identify potential signs and symptoms associated with diabetes. Signs and symptoms that may be present: • Increased thirst and/or hunger • Frequent urination (peeing) • Weight loss/gain with no obvious cause • Tiredness for no obvious reason • Blurred vision • Wounds that heal slowly • Nausea • Skin/vaginal infections • Patches of dark skin (increases) • Irritability for no obvious reason • Breath smelling sweet or fruity • Reduced feeling in hands, feet and extremities. 40

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“Unfortunately, approximately 50% of women with diabetes remain undiagnosed as not everyone has signs or symptoms of the disease,” says Debbie Cunliffe, Manager and Diabetes Nurse Educator at Diabetes Help Tauranga. “It’s important not to rely on the presence or absence of symptoms, but to talk to a healthcare professional if you think you have any personal risk factors that could mean you are at risk of diabetes or have T2.”

and Wellness Service. If you do have diabetes then the next best thing you can do is book yourself into a diabetes self-management programme and learn how, as a woman, you can journey with diabetes.” Positive health outcomes in diabetes occur when, despite the extra challenges women face, they are able to maintain good glucose control and prevent complications from developing, or slow down the affect they may have on their body, she says. n

In New Zealand, risk factors are often linked to socioeconomic inequalities such as poor diet and nutrition, physical inactivity, tobacco consumption and harmful use of alcohol. Risk factors for women may include: • Being overweight or obese with fat distribution mainly around the abdomen. • Being European aged over 55 years. • Being Maori, Pacic Island, Indian, South Asian or middle Eastern descent aged over 45. • A parent, or sibling with T2. • A parent, sibling or grand-parent with heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular disease. • A smoker, or having quit in the last 12 months. • A diet high in fat, sugar, processed foods and zzy drinks. • A diagnosis of pre-diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. • Gestational Diabetes, having a baby weighing more than 4kg, high glucose levels during pregnancy. • Undertaking little or no physical activity (exercise). • Having other health conditions linked to problems using insulin, such as PCOS. Women with diabetes, or at ‘risk of diabetes’ (prediabetes), commonly face additional challenges which can sometimes make glucose control even harder. These include yeast infections, urinary infections, sexual dysfunction, polycystic ovary syndrome, gestational diabetes, diabetes in pregnancy, disordered eating, and menopause. Other complications, such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, visual problems, foot problems and hearing impairments are complications of diabetes in both sexes and are associated with higher than normal glucose levels. “Taking control, partnering with healthcare professionals, using medication as prescribed, exercising most days, monitoring carbohydrate intake, choosing low-glycaemic whole grain foods and avoiding processed food are key,” says Debbie. “For women who are worried about their risk, speak to your GP, practice nurse, or contact the WBOP Health

diabetes HELP tauranga

Diabetes Help Tauranga – www.diabeteshelp.org.nz. INFOline – 07 571 3422 Diabetes and Eating Disorders Awareness – www.deda.org.nz #WomenandDiabetes International Diabetes Federation – www.idf.org.nz Diabetes self-management education program (WBOP PHO Health and Wellness Services) – 07 571 2100

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Prepare yourself for positivity

– the Stefﬁ August way!

Words Mille Freeman

An hour spent with Stef will have you walking out the door feeling, not just positive, but kinda like you could take on the world. She's known locally in The Mount as the 'Pocket Rocket', and is now blasting her brand of energiser bunny into everyone she meets, whether in the supermarket or at the beach, or through her motivational seminars and one to one coaching. How did she become so ippin positive? In fact, Stef has endured a number of challenging life experiences, but with healthy doses of tenacity and openness, and unconditional positivity she's learnt how to push through her fears and doubts. “For everything that happens in life, I believe there's a reason. Sometimes you don't even know straight away, but later you will nd out why. I had a very challenging marriage but I have an awesome son and I wouldn't have had him without the marriage. I see the positives in every situation.” She also has an uncanny knack of visualising what she wants in life, and getting it. A keen runner, she once entered a half marathon and visualised winning the top spot prize – a trip to Vanuatu – and she did. Later that year she set her mind to winning running shoes at another event – and yes, she scored those too. But it's not magic that helps Stef reach her goals. It's the rock solid belief she has in herself and her abilities. “Many women are scared to take the next step; they ask 'what if'? I say you need to believe in yourself, have passion for what you want to do, and then commit to it; and you will succeed. We must never be afraid of challenges.

'Think positive!' Is that mantra really enough to lift us out of motivation funk for longer than, say, 30 seconds?

It is when you hear it from Stef August.

“When they put up excuses, I come in and kick their 'buts' … and their butt. I push them out of their comfort zones and ask 'what are you waiting for?' Some women think when they reach 50 they go downhill. But no! I have 48 years till I'm 100 – 48 years to do all kinds of things. You just need to change your mindset about how you look at things and go for it!” Watch out world! A lot can happen in 48 years. As well as her seminars and coaching, Stef is a massage therapist, writer, tness freak and former chef; she runs a furniture removal business with her husband and loves driving big trucks. You get the feeling this energiser bunny is just cranking up – fortunately she doesn't need much sleep!

Self-belief

Her latest venture, a new book, was launched in July. That's it! I'm OUT of here! Time for a change is a compilation of inspiring stories from women who wrote 42

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about the moment in their lives they decided to make a change for the better. The book includes two of Stef's own stories when she chose to believe in herself and trust that a better life was within reach. One tells the story of her early life in communistcontrolled East Germany, when living under the Stasi (secret police) often meant constant scrutiny and monitoring. When Stef and her partner wanted to get out to the West, they hatched a plan to visit Hungary, only to have their visas ripped to shreds in front of them. After that the Stasi camped outside their apartment watching every move they made. When they nally got permission to leave – after two years of waiting – they had 24 hours to pack up and say goodbye to their families, unsure when or if they would see them again. Her other story recounts a challenging relationship in her rst marriage, and how, for her children, she chose to stay. But the situation became untenable and she made the decision – that's it, I'm out of here. “That's when I believed in myself and left. For the rst ve months I would wake up in the night and think 'I destroyed my family'. Good friends helped me and after running up the Mount every day for two years, I found myself again.”

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Inspiration for change Rather than recounting just her own story, she decided to gather stories from other women too – some who made the decision to leave abusive relationships or move on from difcult childhoods; others who have learnt to live fullled lives with compromising disabilities. “It makes me so happy when people start taking the next step to achieve something. This book is about inspiring all women to have the courage to make a change if they're not happy. When people say to me, 'I hate my job, but it pays the bills', I go on alert straight away. Come on! It's time for a change.” That's it! I'm OUT of here! Time for a Change is available at PaperPlus in Mount Maunganui, and on Stef's web page. Stef's next plan – apart from starting work on a new writing project – is to take the book and some of the contributors 'on tour' around the country and inspire as many women as possible.

A T

After all, what is it that holds us back from taking action? “In the end it’s always YOU,” she says. n www. stefaugust.nz or nd Stef on Facebook: www.facebook.com/StefAugustmotivationalspeakerandauthor

Prize winners will be announced in December

Stef is giving away three copies of her book That’s it! I’m OUT of here! Time for a change. See page 75 for more details. Enter online to win www. focusmagazine.co.nz/category/competitions

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Words Mary Parker, The Fast Track Coach

When you use your past to sabotage your present, or focus on the future to escape from it, you become entrapped in behaviours that don't serve you. If you don't leave your past where it belongs (mainly those parts of it that have hurt you) it will continue to damage and constrain how you live. If you continually worry about your future you'll miss the things that are happening in your life right now. “Never be a prisoner of your past. It's a lesson, not a life sentence.” - Robin Shama We all have a past that lives within us and helps make us who we are. In any life there are things in our past we aren't happy with, and worries we focus on. However, it's important to remember you have choices about whether your past dominates or defeats you, or whether you use your experiences to become stronger and more empowered. The only thing you can control in your life is your present, and by holding to this you take a more objective view of what was difcult or painful at the time and seek those hidden treasures of learning waiting to be discovered. If you give yourself permission to relegate the pain and hurt to where it belongs – in the past – you take back control of what you are affected by. When I was younger I had a permanent and unpleasant knot in my stomach – I always felt I wasn't living up to other people's expectations; that I was nothing in the scheme of things. I was so used to this thinking I wasn't consciously aware of it anymore; I just knew that I never felt great. When I nally heard the stories I was creating and was shown ways to deal with them I found I had many more choices … I understood that a lot of what I was saying to myself wasn't true, yet the energy I used to hold onto those thoughts was incredibly draining. “You are conned only by the walls you build yourself.” - Andrew Murphy

A calming technique Fear can paralyse, so when I experience a difcult situation and nd my thoughts are overwhelming, unhappy or fearful I immediately use a calming process … this allows me to look at other options, at what is true and what is untrue. One such process is to sit quietly, relax and breathe in, hold and breathe out. After a few of these deep breaths think of a relaxing colour and allow it to surround you and then say to yourself “warm, comfortable and 44

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relaxed”. Do this for a couple of minutes until you feel more objective about what is worrying you, giving you more clarity.

Practicing the 'true statement' These are statements about what you want to reinforce in your life, and that become more real as you use them. In our brain the reticular activating system (RAS) lters incoming information and affects what you pay attention to. For example, if you start saying to yourself 'I am calm and in control', even if you are feeling a little overwhelmed, you will notice your brain looks for ways to conrm this statement. By using your 'true statement' regularly the RAS continues to search for ways to endorse and focus more purposefully on those areas that conrm it. “Life isn't about nding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” - George Bernard Shaw Focused positive thoughts create positive outcomes, and although this sounds a little clichéd it is also very true … try it, you'll enjoy the results.

Mary Parker, The Fast Track Coach … Coaching to Clarity

I work with you to gain clarity about what you want, to explore those things that are preventing you from taking charge of your life. Together we tap into your genius … your strengths, passions, experiences and gifts … so you are able to unlock and realise your potential and start experiencing instant life-changing results. mary@thefasttrackcoach.co.nz | 07 577 1200 www.thefasttrackcoach.co.nz

Words Dr Liza Schneider

Although reworks can be beautiful to watch they can be very scary and sometimes even dangerous to your pets. Responsible use of reworks is important to ensure people and animals aren't injured and you can help by encouraging this. Here are some tips to help keep your pet safe and calm through reworks season: Ensure your pet has a safe and quiet place to hide at home, away from loud noises, where they feel secure and cannot escape if they are frightened e.g. a bedroom or crate. You can help make this environment calming by having some lavender owers or lavender essential oils nearby and even making use of pheromones. These can be bought as commercial products from your vet to help calm your pet. They can be sprayed or plugged in with a diffuser, or collars are available for dogs. Have the radio or TV on with some background noise to help mufe the bang of reworks. Remain calm around your pet to show them they have nothing to worry about. Some dogs benet from a compression jacket or coat that helps to calm them. Take your dog on a good walk before all the activity starts to help tire them out as it may help them to relax. Vitamin B supplements and certain herbs can also be great to help animals cope with stress. Rescue Remedy is often a useful tool to help keep pets calm and alleviate stress – just pop a few drops in their drinking water, in their mouth or even rubbed calmly onto their coat. Repeat as needed. Ensure your pets are micro-chipped and have an ID tag, so if they do somehow run away or go missing they can be easily reunited with you.

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If your pet goes missing contact the pound, SPCA or your local vet. Visit www.holis cvets.co.nz for a comprehensive list of services, informa on and tes monials. focusmagazine

Opening minds to science at Café Scientifique

Julia Banks

Every six weeks in Tauranga around 150 locals ock to their local café. Not your usual coffee, cake and chat kind of café – at this café you nd out about new stuff going on in science. Café Scientique is for anyone with an interest in science, whether you're younger, older, have a science background or no understanding at all. Whatever your level of fascination, you'll learn something, guaranteed! People here have been lling up on the fascinations of science since 2005 when the University of Waikato brought Café Scientique to the Bay. In 2012, Julia Banks and her husband Warren took over the organisation and have steadily built numbers – so much so they've had to move the 'café' out of the CBD and down to the Tauranga Yacht Club at Sulphur Point. focus spoke to Julia to nd out more.

What is Café Scientifique? It's a seminar series where anyone can come along and explore the latest scientic thinking and research. Originally, the French started Café Philosophique where 46

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the public could discuss philosophy over croissants and coffee. The theme has changed but the objective remains the same – to get the public engaging with science in a relaxed, non-academic setting. For the price of a cup of coffee you could come along to hear something new. Well, we grew so much we had to move into a bigger space and now we charge a $5 door fee – mainly for hiring the venue … and a cup of tea.

How does it work? We get academic and industry-based speakers so we have a good balance of themes and lots that are relevant to our region. We could be nding out about the search for new planets one week and biosecurity risks to the kiwifruit industry the next; marine biotechnology, robotics, avocadoes, titanium – there's so much going on here. Presentations last about an hour and then we invite the audience to ask questions – there's always a lot of interest. We also work with the MacDiarmid Institute and The Royal Society to host speakers on a wide range of science topics.

How is it helping the community? People come to café because they want to know what's happening now and what's going to happen in the future. The café earlier this year on Electric Vehicles tied in with a presentation last year on the advantages and limitations of EV technology, barriers to uptake, climate

change policy and what international research tells us about good policy. They were both really popular because the subjects are so topical. People want to understand and nd out how the technology will impact them. Lots of younger people are starting to come along too. A core audience of 40 comes to every presentation and the rest changes depending on the topic. We'll usually get around 150 people and sometimes up to 300 for international speakers.

How to register: Go to www.eventbrite.co.nz to browse events. Registration is encouraged for catering purposes only. Registration is free and you do not need to print your ticket. You pay $5 on the night to cover the venue. To keep in the loop with what's coming up, ask to be added to the Café Scientique email list, by getting in touch with Julia at julia.banks@saffronconsulting.co.nz, or visit, www.saffronconsulting.co.nz/cafe-scientic/

Why did you get involved? We both work in science-based industries and always enjoyed going to Café Scientique anyway. When the café needed a new organiser I decided this could be my community project. Our company, Saffron Consulting Ltd, subsidises the event. It's also a really good way to meet other people, especially in the science community. We've had people come up to us and say it's the highlight of their month. That touched me; I hadn't realised it meant so much to people. We learn a lot too – I've got notes from every lecture.

When and where? At least eight Café Scientique evenings are held each year from February to November, usually on a Monday from 6.30-8.30pm (talks start at 7pm). More information is available on Facebook – Café Scientique Tauranga. Location: Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club, 90 Keith Allen Drive, Tauranga. Coming up: 16 October, Sea Lettuce; 20 November, Cyber Security/Cyber Crime

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Sugar and spice and all things....evil Words and Images Carol Garden, Food Garden

There is a view out there that sugar is the root of all evil when it comes to human health. American writer David Gillespie calls it 'sweet poison'. Australian Sarah Wilson has launched a career on helping people get off the sugar drug. Both see it as an addiction that needs to be beaten, exactly like tobacco. If you type 'I Quit Sugar' into Facebook you'll get hundreds of pages of people trying to live without sugar. David Gillespie believes sugar, or its fructose component, will kill us. “Studies now conrm that sugar consumption leads straight down a path to fatty liver disease, then insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome, Type II diabetes, depression, anxiety and ultimately dementia.”

Carol Garden, owner of Food Garden Catering Company

Fructose is like the evil twin in the sugar molecule. Fructose has been shown to be highly addictive, and this, combined with a massive jump in consumption levels makes it a major contributor to the skyrocketing obesity and diabetes rates in the Western World. But fructose is the half of sugar that gives it its wonderful sweetness. It's 'natural' – the sugar in fruit is fructose, although here its damage is mitigated by the bre and nutritional benets of fruit. (But if you're trying to lose weight, eating a lot of fruit is not a good idea.)

Puts a new spin on that chocolate biscuit with your coffee, doesn't it?

Fructose has crept into food production insidiously, via sugar and high fructose corn syrup. A quick study of almost any item in your pantry will show a percentage of sugar, particularly in sauces, condiments, jams, tinned items and cereals. Inevitably, a huge percentage of this sugar will be fructose, though it is seldom labelled to show this.

Sugar has been linked with inammation of the body, and many people believe it directly feeds cancerous cells and suppresses a key immune response. A broad study conducted in 21 countries in Europe, North America and Asia concluded that sugar intake is a strong risk factor contributing to higher breast cancer rates, particularly in older women.

A lot of health foodies advocate using 'natural' sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup and agave syrup. But these are all extremely high in fructose. Maple syrup and honey are around 40% fructose, while agave is 90% fructose. Natural isn't always the best option, when it comes to fructose. But are there any non-fructose sugars and what about sugar substitutes?

Table sugar is half glucose, half fructose. We need glucose to survive, as it is the main fuel our body uses. Every cell in our bodies uses it for energy and it is the only fuel our brains can run on. Vegetables, meat, dairy, cheese, bread, rice… it is all converted to glucose by our bodies.

The short answer is that yes, there are nonfructose sweeteners. They are not as sweet as sugar, but for treats and occasional food, they are a much less damaging option. Fructose-free sweeteners have another bonus – they are not nearly so hard on our teeth. They include glucose syrup or powder, rice malt syrup and dextrose,

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which is mostly used by people who brew their own beer. Baking with these sweeteners is a bit different, as they don't react in the same way as sugar, and their sweetness levels vary. In trying to make Anzac biscuits with glucose powder and rice malt syrup (instead of the golden syrup) I inadvertently invented a different biscuit, that I'm calling the Anzac Wafer. My teaspoon lots melted together in the oven, and when the timer went off, I pulled out a tray of what looked like golden, crispy, thin pastry. So I cut it up while it was warm and let the squares crisp up on the cooling rack. Anzac wafers turned out to be really good. Thin, crispy, not too sweet – my colleague (who normally refuses sweet food), really enjoyed them.

Banana chocolate Pudding (Gluten free, Fructose free) 1 cup tahini 1½ Tbsp cocoa 1 cup mashed banana (1 large) 3 cup rice malt syrup 1 large egg 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt Preheat oven to 160° C fanbake. Grease and line a 20cm square tin. Combine all ingredients and beat till glossy and well combined.

Fructose-free ANZAC wafers 150g our 65g coconut powder 150g butter 4 Tbsp rice malt syrup

85g rolled oats 170g glucose 3 Tbsp boiling water 1 tsp baking soda

Tip into the tin and spread evenly. (Don’t worry if it doesn’t seem to ll the space – it spreads.) Bake 20 minutes, cool in the tin. This is a dense, rich pudding/cake and can be served warm or cold. It’s great with whipped cream or yoghurt – or if you don’t mind the sugar, ice cream works too. Serves 8.

Preheat oven to 150° C. Line a couple of trays with baking paper.

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Put our, oats, coconut and glucose powder in a bowl. Boil the jug. Melt the butter gently in a saucepan, then add the rice syrup and the water. Bring it up to the boil, stirring, then take off the heat and add the baking soda. Allow it to foam then pour into the dry ingredients and mix well.

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Bake for 22 minutes, (or longer if it’s not golden enough). Slice up into a grid once cooked, and carefully transfer wafers to a cooling rack. They will harden up on cooling. Anzac wafers do not stay hard, they develop a chewy texture overnight. This didn’t detract from their appeal, according to my family. Makes 20-30, depending how large you cut the pieces.

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Product Reviews Honor Body Scrubs

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60ml $18.99 www.no3.co.nz

focus review: Dee: “The directions advise jumping in the shower to use their product. A handful applied in circular motions to wet skin and left on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing gives the best results. I used the Cocoa & Vanilla scrub and although I could still smell this on my skin for a while after, it wasn’t unpleasant. My skin felt deliciously soft and hydrated.”

focus review: Abi: “I’m an avid horse rider so I really put this product to the test. At the end of a weekend of hard work and long rides I still smelt good at the end of each day. A great product that I would recommend to those wanting a natural alternative. You only need a small amount, about the size of a pea. Your natural body warmth will soften the Underbalm which allows easy application.” Pauline: “A really good product that denitely works. It’s light and refreshing and lasted all day. I found it best to apply just out of the shower.”

HZP+Co All Day Hydra-Defence Serum

Clean Living Everyday Hydrating Serum

HZP+Co products embrace a fusion of pure natural and native ingredients bursting with natural actives. Sourced from orchards and forests in New Zealand their products are blended with the very latest innovative formulations from around the world. 30ml $65 www.hzp.co.nz focus review: Dee: “My skin needs hydration so I was unsure whether a serum on its own would do the business. It certainly did! It’s easy to apply, absorbed into the skin quickly and is denitely hydrating.” 52

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The Clean Living Skin Care range was created by a PhD. qualied research chemist with a passion for non-toxic, sustainable living. The serum took over ve years to develop and is made entirely from plant extracts and has a high concentration of Vitamin E, nature’s favourite anti-aging chemical. 25ml $32 www.cleanliving.co.nz focus review: Abi: “My skin just absorbed this product. I needed something that wouldn’t give that oily look and this was perfect. I only needed a small amount. The results were great and knowing the products are non-toxic makes me feel better using it.” Millie: “I love the earthy, natural fragrance of this serum. It feels light and nourishing, and makes my skin feel soft and not at all greasy.”

HoneyBliss Roses & Honey Hydrating Serum

A boutique range of skincare and healing balms featuring active manuka honey, aromatherapy and beautiful botanical ingredients, many of which are locally grown. The products are designed to protect, restore and encourage skin health. 30ml $49.50 www.honeybliss.co.nz focus review: Robyn: “I found this had a lovely light feel and even without applying the HoneyBliss light moisturiser over it, my skin felt hydrated. It’s easy to apply and smells beautiful. There’s been a denite improvement in my skin.” VOYA Angelicus Serratus Nourishing Body Oil The world’s rst certied organic, seaweed-based body oil contains wild, organic, handharvested seaweed sourced from some of the purest waters on earth, off the West Coast of Ireland. The products contain no parabens, dioxins, sulphates, petrochemicals, animal derivatives, phthalates or aluminium, and all its packaging uses recyclable or biodegradable materials. VOYA is the rst product house in the world to receive the ‘Wellness for Cancer’ accreditation. 100ml $89 www.voya.nz focus review: Dee: “I was a bit concerned that this product would make me feel oily all day but I got on with the rest of my after-shower ritual before getting dressed and found my skin had absorbed the oil easily. My skin denitely feels and looks more hydrated and I do love the fresh smell.”

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focusmagazine

Changing faces

– transforming identities through theatre

Words Millie Freeman | Image Supplied

For many of us, public speaking is a sure-re way to set the blood pressure rising, and, to my mind, acting would have a similar effect. Well, introverts amongst us, take note! You too can don a costume and tread the boards up in front of a live audience. You don't have to be an extroverted livewire at all. In fact, says Detour Theatre's Kim Williamson, introverts sometimes make the best actors because they are so attuned to their character, and disciplined. “For them it's all about the character, not the audience, and the stage is like a safety net; it has boundaries,” she says. “So when they're on stage playing a character, they can be as wild as they like because they're within those boundaries.” In August introverts and extroverts alike got the chance to learn the basics of acting in a one-day workshop for adult beginners. Kim runs the workshop twice a year, depending on demand, and welcomes women and men of all ages who have always wanted to give it a try.

Kim Williamson

opportunities to practise those developing skills. Kim and her husband Devon established Detour Theatre Company in 1996, initially as a touring company, which then evolved into a community theatre and drama academy. In 2007 they moved into their current site at the Historic Village in 17th Avenue where work began to transform the former church building into the intimate 70-seat theatre it is today. Kim is a professionally trained actor and accomplished playwright and director. She is a past president of the 16th Avenue Theatre and since 2000 has directed over 25 shows for Detour, six of which she has written herself. She directs two Detour plays each year and when she's not at the helm she's regularly part of the cast, taking on a range of guises, and often with pink hair! Through their drama academy Kim and Devon also run several weekly classes for teens and younger children, as well as adults with special needs.

Workshops teach the foundations of theatre, such as stagecraft, working with character, voice projection and learning how to move on stage. It gets people started, she says, but there's no better training than being up in front of a real audience. “Some people just want to have a go which is great and we really encourage that. But lots of our participants go on to appear in our shows and that's when we see their acting skills take off. You learn so much more while you're performing.” With four productions staged each year at Detour, there are plenty of 54

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Kim Williamson playing Puck in Midsummer Night's Dream, alongside Matthew Roderick as Oberon

Extending ourselves “What we love most of all is being really involved with the community, and taking people from one place to another – to extend them in some way. In the classes, people are scared at rst but soon realise so much more about themselves and what they can do. “In our shows we like to make our audience laugh and think, and feel they've had two hours of pure escapism. It's great to watch people get so involved they're leaning forward on their seat and really feeling a part of it all.”

Nature and Science working together, naturally.

And that's no understatement, as the cosy theatre gets the audience up so close to the stage some people may nd themselves thinking they're part of the cast. One gentleman who had never been to the theatre before told Kim it was 'just like TV, but live!'

What does a sponge have in common with your skin?

Kim is heartened to see more people experiment with live theatre, especially the younger crowd who are seeking out different genres as they get a taste of the array of performing arts staged in the region. “The more live theatre we have in the Bay the more people are aware of what else is going on,” says Kim. “It brings a real vibrancy to a community and I think it's only going to grow. More fringe theatre would be especially good to see.” From Shakespeare to contemporary drama to comedies, Detour aims to cater for all tastes. As well as being good for a laugh, comedies in particular can be a great way to deal with issues around relationships and understanding different personalities, she says. They can also help people confront slightly more delicate subjects in a positive way. Exit Laughing, which runs next month, tells the story of a group of older women who play a weekly game of Bridge. When one of the old girls dies, her friend pilfers the urn of ashes from the funeral home for a nal card game and a crazy night of adventures – it transpires that Mary, who died, has set up a series of pranks to play on her friends. Who will get the last laugh? n To nd out more about Detour Theatre's adult acting classes or to go on the mailing list for info on upcoming shows, contact Detour Theatre on info@detour.co.nz or visit www.detour.co.nz

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021 036 7433 Clinic days (By appointment only) Thursday, Friday, Saturday, late night Thursday. focusmagazine

Creativity

IN THE BAY OF PLENTY Talulah Lautrec-Nunes Talulah Lautrec-Nunes is a professional artist who has worked in the mediums of oil and acrylic paint for 25 years. She has been included in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout the country and has painted portraits, still-life and landscapes. For years she painted mainly landscapes but, feeling unfullled, decided to stretch herself and try abstracts. “The abstracts are very difcult, I love that about them. They force me to think and look at my work and the things around me differently.”

Bridging Xanadu

Living opposite Lake Rotoma and painting full-time in her studio/bach, which she shares with her husband (poet) Keith Nunes, Talulah paints almost every day and, if she's not painting, she's thinking about the next piece, looking at other artists or preparing canvases. It's a job that she takes very seriously and puts everything into. Starting a piece of work is exciting for Talulah. The paint is applied freely with loose gestural brush strokes and a process of multi-layering, mark-making and intuitive colour selections. The textures, colours and patterns of nature constantly inuence her work. After the initial urry of activity it becomes more difcult as she scrapes away and adds in new shapes trying to balance all the elements. “It's often frustrating and sometimes there are tears.” Finishing a piece is fraught with danger and one wrong mark could destroy everything that's come before. When Talulah thinks she has done as much as she can, she hangs the work on the wall and lives with it for some time before deciding whether she likes it or not.

Fused with gossamer through the ambrosial trees

“I am very critical of my work and never satised with what I create. I am continually searching for the perfect mark, striving to make the next painting revolutionary.” Talulah has exhibited her work at the NZ Art Show (Wellington) and at the Kohia Art Fair (Auckland). Last month she held a solo exhibition at New Plymouth's Kina Gallery. Her latest abstracts can be viewed on her website at www.talulahbellelautrec-nunes.com 56

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Talulah Lautrec-Nunes

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A multi-day Kayaking Expedition on Doubtful Sound The Ultimate Wilderness Experience Words and Images Trish Rae

In contrast to the more famous, more accessible and busier Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound – deep in the heart of Fiordland National Park – is secluded, tranquil and remote.

What better way to experience the grandeur, size and scale of this rugged area of incredible natural beauty, dramatic landscapes and pristine wilderness, than paddling a tiny kayak; dwarfed by towering peaks rising steeply skyward from the depths of the ord. Down sheer rock faces, hundreds of waterfalls plunge to the sea below, in a torrent or trickle, depending on how recently it has rained.

One of the wettest places in New Zealand, but perfect today 58

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Go Orange (previously Fiordland Wilderness Experiences) provides guided sea kayaking trips from one to ve days with a maximum capacity of eight people (in four double kayaks) plus a guide. Stu and I opted for three days to explore this remarkable region, allowing some exibility should we strike unfavourable conditions. Previous paddling experience is preferable, although not essential, however you need a reasonable level of tness to manage 4-6 hours paddling each day. Our group of Australians, Swiss and Kiwis ranged in age from early 20s to mid-60s, with varying levels of experience and one complete novice. Prior to departure, a brieng covered safety and paddling techniques, and we were kitted out with warm, waterproof outer layers. Just getting to the starting point at Deep Cove is an adventure. Twenty minutes' drive from Te Anau you reach the shores of Lake Manapouri – the ensuing boat cruise across the lake at dawn on a still, misty morning was magical and an opportunity to get to know our paddling companions. On the western side of the lake, near the Manapouri Power Project, we board a bus for the journey to Deep

Cove. Turn your back for a minute and cheeky keas swoop in to attack your luggage, while pesky sandies are ever present. Previously a walking track, Wilmot Pass is a 21km subalpine road through dense rain forest over the Southern Alps. It was constructed to transport heavy machinery and equipment, shipped into Doubtful Sound for the Manapouri Hydroelectricity project. Commencing in 1963 it took two years to build a road capable of withstanding loads of up to 97 tonnes, and while supplies can be ferried across Lake Manapouri, Wilmot Pass is still the only way to get heavy equipment to the power project. A quick stop at the 671m summit gave us our rst peek over Doubtful Sound, sparkling in the distance.

No room for luxuries Other than warm clothing, a minimalistic approach is required for personal items. With a stack of communal gear to be split between ve kayaks, there is no room for luxuries. Individual tents, an insect proof communal cooking and socialising tent, cookers, gas bottles, sleeping bags and mats, spare clothing, togs and

It's pretty cosy, but most importantly, free from sandies focusmagazine

towels, footwear, food, wine, a comprehensive rst aid kit – the pile on the beach grew to humungous proportions. As we eyed up the ever-increasing pile, everyone had to jettison some gear. Eventually the mountain of stuff was stashed and squeezed into watertight compartments or strapped to the outer decks of the kayaks. It almost deed belief that one chap managed to secretly stow a cake, which he gleefully produced one night to celebrate his wife's birthday. Cake and candles – wow that was an unexpected surprise!

Wildlife – and sandflies! The guide may mix up the group to ensure even paddling speed, although with such awe-inspiring surroundings, it's no great hardship to lay up and wait for stragglers. In addition to the dramatic scenery you can expect to see dolphins, fur seals, rare penguins and, on occasions, southern right whales, humpbacks and orca. While we didn't see any whales, we did witness frolicking dolphins, seals and penguins.

Doubtful Sound is three times longer than Milford Sound and roughly 10 times larger in surface area. With three arms: First Arm, Crooked Arm and Hall Arm, the guide can choose a route to suit the weather, wind conditions and the ability of the paddlers. An experienced guide is essential to ensure the safety of the group, as conditions can quickly change from calm and benign to wind howling down the narrow sounds, whipping up the surface to a frenzy of white caps. With sheer rock faces, there are limited places to land, so even as experienced sea kayakers, this is not a trip we would contemplate on our own.

Late twilight's are a feature of this region 60

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The only negative aspect is the sandies – sadly there is no escaping them – so the best plan is to be prepared. Sandies are most active on windless, cloudy days, just before rain. As this region is noted for rainfall on approximately 200 days of the year, there's not much chance of avoiding them, especially in the morning and at dusk. Luckily, they don't bother you when you're out on the water, but once you reach the shore, it's game on as they lurk around the water's edge and in the bush. So, invest in good insect repellent, cover up as much skin as possible, wear light clothing, and my best tip – spend $10 on an insect proof headnet. They stop sandies going in your nose, eyes and ears, leaving your hands free to unpack and set up camp. Otherwise you are restricted to using one hand, while you vigorously wave the other hand around your face – the 'Milford Wave' as it is known in these parts.

Stay alert! Looking nonchalant, but ready to swoop at any moment

Awesome views unfold around every corner

Awesome views unfold around every corner focusmagazine

Serene, mysterious, untouched natural beauty The rst job when you come ashore is to put up the insect proof communal shelter, where you gather to socialise and cook. The next task is to put up your tent, spray liberally with insect repellent then close-up until it is time to retire in the evening, by which stage the little blighters should all be dead or asleep.

Kayak sailing Willie, our guide, had mentioned kayak sailing which sounded like fun. The rst two days were calm and windless, perfect for paddling, swimming, and for spotting marine life, but not conducive to sailing. On the last day, we had a good stiff breeze behind us as we headed back to Deep Cove, but as it gathered strength, I

gured it was too windy for sailing, especially for the novice paddlers. So, Willie's instruction to raft up in pairs was met with surprise and some trepidation. The wind quickly lled the sail we hoisted and the next minute we were hooning down the sound unbelievably fast; knuckles turning white as the water surged between the bow of the boats trying to force us apart. As the wind continued to pick up pace, the height of the waves increased and we were ying along – exhilarating and loads of fun. A tremendous buzz to end our adventure. Back safely at Deep Cove we reected on our good luck; the weather gods had been kind. For the adventurous at heart, this is a challenging trip to be sure, but a hugely rewarding expedition and a memory to treasure. n

If you prefer more comfort and luxury, day and overnight boat cruises operate on Doubtful Sound. To read more of Trish Rae's adventures visit www.justgo.nz or email trish@justgo.nz 62

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BUSINESS SECTION

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Putting together your ﬁnancial jigsaw Financial planning is like a jigsaw puzzle. Each ‘piece’ has an overall part to play, and must work with all of the other pieces, in order to provide you with a complete and cohesive picture. Each piece of your nancial affairs should meet (or work towards) your specic goals and desired outcomes, and will ideally ensure as few unwanted surprises along the way as possible. A good nancial plan pulls all of the individual pieces together. It assesses where you are now, explores where you are going (or want to go) and then provides you with a comprehensive roadmap to get there.

KiwiSaver’s 10th Birthday KiwiSaver recently celebrated its 10th Birthday. There are nearly 3 million people in KiwiSaver and over $40 billion in funds under management. They’re impressive gures and way back when Sir Michael Cullen dreamed up the scheme, noone envisaged it would be so popular so quickly. However, let’s take a moment to look across the ditch at our Aussie friends where employers have been contributing to their employees superannuation for over 30 years and currently employers contribute 9.5%, with this set to increase over the next few years to 12%. If you compare this to NZ, where we receive 3% from our employer plus 3%, 4% or 8% which we contribute ourselves, then most people would be contributing 6% in total to KiwiSaver (plus some Member Tax Credit depending on your income and contribution level). The length of time superannuation has been in place in Australia, along with the amount employers contribute, means balances are much more signicant than here and many Australians can retire with a nest egg they can actually live on. I believe New Zealand’s base contribution level of 3% is too low and if we are solely reliant on KiwiSaver, it is possible we will not have enough to fund our lifestyle in retirement, let alone cover our basic needs. Remember there is also the question of whether NZ Superannuation 64

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will still be available when you retire and at what age that might be. We can’t be complacent, and it is important to understand early on how to maximise the full benets of KiwiSaver as part of your overall retirement planning strategy.

Questions to Ask Yourself • Do I know how much I will need, but also how much I would like to have when I retire? These could be different! • Will I have enough in my KiwiSaver to fund my retirement? • Am I contributing enough to reach my goals? • Am I maximizing the benets available in KiwiSaver to get the most out of it, or am I missing out? • Am I in the right fund? • Will I want to use some of this towards a deposit on a home? • If so, how would this impact my retirement savings? • What else can I do?

Case Study Let’s have a look at some comparisons for someone earning $50,000 p.a. before tax based on the different contribution levels, and also starting at two different ages. Here’s what the total savings could look like when they’re 65: Contribution

30 year old

45 year old

3% 4% 8%

$391,000 $456,000 $712,000

$126,000 $146,000 $227,000

(Source: www.sorted.org.nz. Not ination adjusted). You will see from the table that the more you can contribute, the more you will have available at retirement. But also notice that the longer you put off starting or increasing those contributions, the less you will have at retirement too. And for those of you who haven’t started yet, it really is time to think seriously about this and take action – even if you start small and build on it over time – every bit will count.

Next Steps There are denitely some steps you can take to help answer some of these questions: • Work out a budget as if you were retired – how much would you need as a minimum? • Work out a budget for the lifestyle you would prefer to have – it may well be different. • Calculate how much your current contributions will provide you at retirement – is it enough to meet your goal amount? • Review your budget to see where you could free up some money – all those coffees and takeaways add up, and cutting back in areas such as this could be just the difference you need to nd to boost your savings! • Sign up to KiwiSaver if you haven’t already. • Increase your KiwiSaver contributions to 4% or 8% if you can. • If you’re worried about locking it all into KiwiSaver, you might consider setting up another investment to run alongside KiwiSaver providing you with more exibility. • Review your KiwiSaver regularly to ensure you are receiving the maximum Member Tax Credit you can, that you are in the right fund type for your current situation and that your tax rate is correct. • If you have some concerns or you’re not sure where to start, personalised advice relevant to your individual situation is vital and an Authorised Financial Adviser can help you.

“It’s important to realise that what you earn during your working career, also has to fund you throughout your lifetime!”

JIGSAW SOLUTIONS GROUP

Sharon Giblett is a Financial Planner, Mentor and Coach with over 30 years’ experience in the nancial services industry. Sharon’s mission is for every New Zealander to have the opportunity to become nancially savvy today, whilst planning for their tomorrow. 0800 JIGSAW or (021) 566 869 sharon.giblett@jigsawsolutions.biz This article is not intended to provide personalised nancial advice and it is important not to rely on the information in this article as your only source of information when making a nancial decision. It is recommended that you seek professional advice relevant to your individual situation. A disclosure document is available free of charge and on request from info@jigsawsolutions.biz.

Sharon Giblett – Your specialist Financial Coach for your personal and business nancial needs – helping you put the pieces of your nancial jigsaw together. Let us help you: • Be in control of your money with a roadmap and the right tools to get ahead • Put in place strategies to achieve your aspirations • Protect your most important assets • Understand KiwiSaver and ensure you have it set up to get the most out of it • Work out how much you will need in retirement and see if you are on track • Review your estate planning and ensure it is structured correctly for your situation • With a plan to help you manage and grow your investments • Be in a position to enjoy the fruits of your hard work along the way

If you are in business, we can help by:

• Assessing your ACC levies to ensure you are not duplicating your cover • Putting in place a strategy to protect the future value of your business • Ensuring your business affairs are separated from your personal affairs • Providing certainty should the unexpected happen – ensuring your business’s continued success • Assessing your partnership arrangements to ensure you have certainty should the situation change • Educating your staff through our Financial Capability Education seminars and workshops – boosting their wellbeing, lowering stress and absenteeism, and increasing protability • Establishing an Employee Benets package tailored to attract and retain fantastic staff Jigsaw Financial Solutions Limited (‘Jigsaw’) works with you, helping to put the pieces of your nancial jigsaw puzzle together to create a personalised Your JigsawPlan™ which provides only the solutions you need. Your JigsawPlan™ can help reduce your nancial stress and any worry about your current or future situation by providing you with a clear picture of where you are now, where you want to head, and how to get there. Putting in place a tailored Your JigsawPlan™ can set you on the right path to nancial wellbeing and help you to achieve your goals and aspirations. Regardless of where you are at, NOW is the best time to start. It’s never too early or too late. The important thing is to start. Contact Sharon Giblett now to arrange your complimentary initial consultation on:

0800 JIGSAW (0800 544 729) or (021) 566 869 sharon.giblett@jigsawsolutions.biz

Jigsaw Financial Solutions Limited JIGSAW SOLUTIONS GROUP

(a Jigsaw Solutions Group Limited company)

Financial Planning | Financial Capability Education | Workplace Beneﬁts

www.jigsawsolutions.biz focusmagazine

Yes! focus magazine has been created, designed and printed in-house, right here in Tauranga. We are the n-Gon Group and bring together our skills and experience to provide a complementary range of services, including brand design, graphic design, website design and development, including hos ng, oﬀset and digital prin ng, book and magazine publishing, and 3D proof of concept design, development and visualisa on. We are one company with interconnected facets, working together to form an awesome mul -disciplinary team. Our exper se and mul ple crea ve heads, gets the job done!

Thinking differently is what we do!

n-GonGroup L I M I T E D

n-Gon? A pentagon has ﬁve sides or facets, hexagon six, octagon eight, and so on. These can be referred to as 5-Gon, 6-Gon or 8-Gon respec vely. Where there is an unknown number of sides, or facets, we apply the mathema cal 'n' for number. We are n-Gon, an everevolving collec on of facets. 66

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n-Gon Group Limited 62 Tenth Ave, Tauranga, 3110 Phone: 07 578 6838 Email: info@ngongroup.com Web: ngongroup.com

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Landlords: Find out about our three-month money-back guarantee! 267 Cameron Road, Tauranga 3110 0800 333 221 or +64 (7) 213 0826 info@connectrealty.co.nz | www.connectrealty.co.nz Chris Jenkins – 027 443 6152

Liked! Social Media options for business Words + Infographic Rebecca Jenkins

Social media is the new frontier for businesses. With 61% of New Zealanders connected online via Facebook, it's no wonder social media is an important business tool. There are a number of platforms, and depending on your business and target audience, there's at least one to suit you, and you may need to be on several for maximum benet. Options include Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, and Twitter. There are others, such as Snapchat, Flickr, Google+, and many more. So, let's look at the major contenders.

Facebook Facebook currently has the largest number of users – 2 billion users worldwide – ranging from the ages of 13+ through to over 65. New Zealand has 2.9 million users with 1.871 of those users accessing Facebook from their mobile devices, usually smart phones. Around 55% of users are accessing and using Facebook every day, mostly for more than 20 minutes. One limitation is that 68

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posted business content is only seen by 1.5-3% of users, which makes it harder for businesses to engage all their audience with each post.

Instagram Instagram is used for brand awareness and is like an online magazine for audiences, so has a strong visual focus. If a picture speaks 1,000 words, Instagram is the dictionary of images! It has some little idiosyncrasies – you can't upload to Instagram from your computer, only from your phone. It doesn't allow third party apps to post into the site either. The amazing thing about Instagram is that there are 1.2 million users of Instagram in New Zealand (as of March 2017) and 600 million users worldwide. Around 85% of users are younger than 45 – it's most popular in the 18-34 year-old age group – and 57% are female. I personally love Instagram and think it's a great platform for businesses. It's easy to use and you can have fun with it! Plus engagement and impressions are between 30-35% which makes it ideal for growing an audience quickly.

YouTube YouTube is a video sharing social media platform where anyone can set up an account and share videos. It has over 1 billion users ranging in age from 18-49 and predominately male, and with 2 million video views per minute, it's the most used video platform worldwide.

only get to see it through the feeds) compared to Facebook and Pinterest. This infographic below is a great way to choose the right social media platform for your business:

LinkedIn LinkedIn is (and has always been) a social media platform focusing on employment and business. Of its 500+ million users, 67% are aged 18-49 years old. More than 50% of users have college or university degrees, making it the best social media platform for professional roles. So, it's no surprise that 35% of users (a mere 106 million users) are employed adults using LinkedIn to market themselves and their businesses.

Pinterest Pinterest is a social network that uses visual aids to engage users – it's about pinning ideas to boards that make people think about what they want to do next. With 175 million users, (85% women) it's the creative hub of social media. While younger users were initially the highest users, older age groups are using the platform more and more each year.

It's up to you what you decide to use for your business, but it makes good sense to use social media and the free advertising it offers in the best way possible. In the next edition of focus, we will concentrate on how to build your engagement on the two major social media platforms – Facebook and Instagram. If you have any specic questions, email me at rebecca@socialmediainc.co.nz and we'll address them in this article. n

Twitter Twitter and 'tweeting' is about broadcasting daily short burst messages (140 characters max.) to the world, with the hope that your messages are useful and interesting to someone. In other words, microblogging. There are 328 million users, predominantly men under the age of 29. Twitter has the shortest longevity (meaning people

Social Media Inc: Your local social media gurus, professional, reliable social media services that make growing your audience a breeze. Grow your tribe. Grow your business. Ask us how!

Stats sourced from: http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/90005751/Facebook-is-New-Zealands-second-favourite-leisure-activity - March 2017; http://fortune.com/2017/06/27/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-userbase/ June 2017; https://www.pureseo.co.nz/facebook-stats 2017/;http://www.socialmediatoday.com/socialnetworks/top-social-network-demographics-2017-infographic; http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/90005751/Facebook-is-New-Zealands-second-favourite-leisure-activity March 2017 and https://www.youtube.com/yt/about/press focusmagazine

Overcoming distraction when you work from home Words + Image Rebecca Tereu

Working from home is no joke. I've lost count of the amount of times I've heard people sigh longingly, look at me wistfully, and even declare I was lucky to have such a cruisy life because I got to work from home.

Every day she must practise kicking stress to the curb, and have thick skin and a strong heart for those times when things don't always go to plan and there's no one around to rant with.

Yes, I can't deny it, working from home has its perks and we'll get to that in a minute, but for the most part, it's damn hard and completely underestimated. It's also extremely fullling and rewarding if that little thing called balance is applied.

She must deal with every facet of business – just like any other business – and staunchly avoid the temptation of the couch, the TV remote or the cosy (still warm) bed calling to her from down the hallway. She must limit the coffee dates with her girlfriends and learn to walk past that hurricane mess her family so thoughtfully left behind on their way out the door, without letting it distract or derail her.

Ahhh BALANCE. Easy to say that word, not so easy to implement, right? I've discovered balance is possible, but we simply cannot have a perfectionist mind-set towards it if we want to thrive. We do however, have to have a nonnegotiable attitude and of course, a plan. Working from home requires a woman to have ironclad discipline, razor sharp multitasking skills, expert time management abilities, limitless self-motivation and the ability to capture elusive inspiration out of nowhere.

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THIS is where the rubber hits the road for a woman who works from home. If your situation is similar to mine, your desk is right in the eye of the storm and you can't even glance to your left or right without seeing something that simply NEEDS to be done. It's like an itch you just have to scratch, and before you know it you're knee deep in that washing pile, or elbows deep in the dishwater, and half the day has disappeared.

Basically you are confronted and tested every single day with not one, but two completely different, equally demanding, time-hungry job portfolios, and if you have a husband and kids, then number two already feels like a full-time job. I know someone out there is nodding furiously right now! So what do we do about it? Because we love our little empire growing quietly (or loudly) in the background we need to work this out and ditch the insane pressure that comes with being our own version of Wonder Woman. Our business brings us a deep sense of fullment, purpose, freedom, and hopefully money. It is a slice of who we are and part of our contribution to life, so learning how to ne tune and work out some of these judder bars is an absolute must if we want to live a balanced, stress-free life.

Here are some practical tips to help you free up some time, boost your productivity and thrive at this balance game.

If you can, don't leave the mess until later when you're neck-deep in your work zone. Otherwise, tell yourself before you sit down that you will be absolutely ruthless in your focus and will not let anything draw you away until you've accomplished what you came to accomplish! Another word for this is mindfulness, which trains your mind to pay attention to the present moment. The art and practice of mindfulness can produce amazing positives in your life, including increased wisdom and decreased stress and depression.

Don't wait until there are only two hands to do everything in the morning. Enlist the help of your family for 15 minutes, either before bed or rst thing in the morning, to do a quick tidy up. Note to self: Tidy – not spring clean! This little exercise can be quite the team building experience, with everyone feeling like they're winning before the day even starts.

Get organised the night before. It sure beats chasing your tail rst thing in the morning. Or at the very least, tidy your desk so when you return in the morning you're not wasting brain space and feeding stress levels trying to gure out where everything is. Make sure that once you have organised yourself for the next day, you switch off and disconnect so a good night's sleep is well within your grasp. Yes that includes turning your cell phone off! *gasp*

On the subject of digital devices, don't reach for your phone as soon as your eyes open. Those notications aren't going anywhere and the last thing you want is to become instantaneously stressed out, because there's at least one in the queue that probably won't be helpful to your mood. Even if you don't get a stressy message rst thing in the morning, if you scroll through facebook and expose yourself to that skippy-bin full of rubbish, you are bound to be affected and inuenced in some way, shape or form.

Start your day right. Take time to be human and spread a little quality love around – remembering that you aren't the only one who has to face the day. Don't let quality time with your partner and kids around the breakfast table be reduced to a quick peck on the cheek as you race them out the door, or leave your kids crying in their cereal bowls because someone replaced mummy with a screaming banshee. Give yourself a little reality check – some things are just more important than those deadlines nipping at your heels.

And last but not least, STOP. Breathe. Give yourself a well-deserved break, and don't forget to celebrate the wins – no matter how small they are. And for goodness sake, apply a little grace to yourself. Give yourself permission to be impressed with how awesome you are. Tell yourself you are amazing just the way you are. Screw Wonder Woman – she ain't got nothing on you! n

Rebecca Tereu is a business advisor, speaker, encourager and author www.lifeandinsights.org | www.facebook.com/LifeandInsights

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Herbal Potential

– putting down roots

Jenni Werth (left) and Autumn Falk with their Tea Bar at Tauranga Farmers Market

Rather than reaching for your tried and true morning tea bag, or that midafternoon coffee x, how about discovering the delights of medicinal herbal teas? Not the regular herbal varieties you nd on the supermarket shelves, but carefully formulated herbal blends designed to make a positive difference to your body. “So many of us drink tea daily, so why not choose tea that's actually good for us?” asks Tauranga naturopath and medical herbalist Autumn Falk. “I'm passionate about herbal teas because they are medicinal but they're not a medicine.” Autumn and her partner Jenni Werth set up their business, Herbal Potential, three years ago. Their eight herbal teas help people treat common ailments and relieve symptoms – from calming stomach upsets and sore throats, to easing hot ushes. Each Herbal Potential blend is made up of ve or six different medicinal herbs, and treats different symptoms – Voice, for respiratory conditions; Puku, for tummy relief; Sandman, for calming; Passion, for increasing desire; Cool Flush, for managing hormonal symptoms; Sweet Tooth, for reducing sugar cravings; Morphosis, for purifying blood and skin; and Buzz, for energising. Drink at least two cups every day, Autumn advises. 72

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In her naturopathy clinic Autumn makes specic tea blends for clients based on individual needs, as well as herbal tinctures. While the tinctures are more readily available to the body, she says the teas are gentler and have a longer-lasting effect. They are also less likely than tinctures to be contraindicated when used with prescribed medicines.

Looking for land to lease Autumn and Jenni source their herbs – mostly organic – from offshore suppliers, but what they really want to do is grow their own, and they're reaching out to the community for help. They're looking for land they can lease, maybe 2-3 acres within 90 minutes of Tauranga, where they can literally put down roots – site their Yurt and plant an expansive herb garden. “Now that we've been blending the teas for three years, we know which herbs we need and how much we would need to grow. It's always been my dream to have my own tea range and now we want to grow the herbs ourselves as well,” says Autumn. “It's important to me because not only are people becoming more and more disconnected from their bodies, they are also disconnected from nature, so growing herbs gives us an opportunity to connect again, to work with the soil and nurture the plants.”

Wanting something different?

Looking for land for their yurt

Autumn and Jenni say a lot of people want to live with nature in this way and are asking landowners to consider the benets of leasing segments of land to people who would take good care of it. “Our house is our yurt, which is easy to relocate anywhere,” says Jenni. “Ideally we would also like to build another structure, or use an existing shed, for processing the herbs. Finding an unused piece of land would be wonderful for us and also, we think, benecial for the landowner.” Around 30 different herbs are used in Herbal Potential teas, and Autumn uses another 30 or so in her clinic as well. Apart from New Zealand natives, many come from other countries, and, depending on microclimates, could grow here quite happily. Some herbs however, such as Guarana – which comes from Brazil and is used in the Buzz tea – and some types of Ginseng, would still need to be imported.

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“It's a huge task because the teas especially take a lot of herbs; the herbal tinctures use less. But now that I'm not working full-time elsewhere, we have the time and are absolutely ready to do it,” says Jenni.

A cuppa at the Tea Bar Once a week Autumn and Jenni make up fresh batches of their Herbal Potential blends, sealed inside environmentally friendly (non-plastic) paper bags. On weekends they pack them into their Tea Bar caravan to sell at markets and festivals throughout the North Island. Glasses of hot tea and a range of exquisite herb-inspired food are also available for purchase. n Look out for the Tea Bar this summer at festivals around the region and sample Autumn and Jenni's delicious herbal blends. To discuss ideas and opportunities for leasing land, please contact Autumn or Jenni on 027 459 5898, or email them at herbalpotential@gmail.com

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WHAT SEPARATES DESIGN FROM ART IS THAT DESIGN IS MEANT TO BE FUNCTIONAL Cameron Moll

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SAVANT CREATIVE - an n-Gon Group facet 62 Tenth Ave, Tauranga, 3110 | P O Box 14004, Tauranga, 3143 | Phone: 07 577 0081 design@savantcrea ve.pro | savantcrea ve.pro

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WIN a copy of Steffi August's book That's It! I'm OUT of here! Time for a change. Have you ever thought, 'This isn't

right. I shouldn't be here. I should get out?' This is a collec on of inspira onal stories from women who have come to that moment and found the courage to act and have never looked back. We have three copies to give away.

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Prize includes two ckets to see the 7.30pm Last Legs Show on Friday, 13 October. The prize also includes a VIP invite to the pre-show func on from 6.45pm with Roger Hall as well as two ckets to Roger Hall's talk about 'The One's That Got Away' on Saturday 14 October at 4.30pm. Enter online for your chance to win. Entries close 8 October, 2017

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The Last Page She was one of the rst women conscripted in the British Army. She was a sergeant (outranked my father) and served in London, manning the radar tubes. She was on duty during the Battle of Britain, plotting the whole thing on a large table as the coordinates were called. It was a very tense time. I have a photo of her marching in the front of the women's unit in the VE day parade in London.

Name: Morag Baruch Organisation: Tauranga DHB Position Held: GPSI (General Practitioner of Special Interest) – Breast Physician; for 8 years

I have always held a special interest in women's health. After completing my medical training, and specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology, my husband and I established a successful medical practice together. In 2009 I was approached to apply for a new position at Tauranga Hospital, as a breast physician with the breast care team. My role involves breast cancer follow-up, genetic counselling for women with adverse family history for breast and ovarian cancer, and managing benign (noncancerous) breast disease. I work closely with the two hospital breast surgeons, plastic surgeons and two breast care nurses. Our team also includes radiologists, pathologists, and medical and radiation oncologists, with whom we liaise regularly.

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1. What book would you reread or what movie would you watch again, and why? I have two favourite movies I love to watch over and over again – Casablanca and Breakfast at Tiffany's. I remember watching these with my mother. The old Hollywood glamour never fades and I have great respect for Audrey Hepburn – her special beauty, but also her life work with UNESCO. 2. What do you love doing in your spare time? I love to cook, to make dolls and quilts and learn languages. I have been trying to learn French for over ten years. I also love to ride my bike – especially in France. 3. What do you wish you had more time for? Riding my bike. 4. Tell us about a woman, anywhere, who you most admire, and why. My mother. She passed away in 2002. It was not until she was gone that I recognised what a special person she was. My mum inspired me by encouraging me to be independent through good education.

After the war ended she was sent to India where she danced with Lord Mountbatten. She then became an Air Hostess, nally joining her sisters and father in New Zealand where they had immigrated from Scotland. Here she met my father – and the rest, as they say, is history. 5. What's next on your bucket list and when are you planning to do it? Finish a Welsh Wedding Quilt for my youngest son and his bride – they get married in January. 8. Tell us about a recent Bay event you've attended. I recently attended the NZSO concert at Baycourt – Alexander Shelley returns. They played the Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo with guest classical guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas. This is one of my favourite pieces. Sadly the venue was half empty. We are so lucky to have this venue in Tauranga – and to have the NZSO visit. To be able to experience a full orchestra in an intimate theatre is something special and we really should continue to support our national orchestra.

Come summer me the Bay of Plenty buzzes with an influx of visitors. That means a whole lot more people will see your great products when you adver se in the December/January issue of focus. Readers will be looking for the perfect Christmas presents and they'll definitely want to know what's going on around town and what restaurants to visit. They'll be searching for family-friendly ac vi es, events, shows, current trends, great buys and awesome coffee. Relaxa on will also be top of mind with visitors looking for spas, massages and beauty salons. Once the New Year kicks in, women will be looking for mo va on and inspira on to get fit, achieve a health and wellbeing goal or simply ck some things off their bucket list. Adver se in the next edi on of focus and get maximum exposure for your product. 5,000 FREE magazines are distributed to high-traffic areas throughout the Bay of Plenty and surrounding areas.

Get out there! Contact us today to ﬁnd out how you can get your business in this issue.

Editorial deadline: 13 October 2017 Adver sing deadline: 18 October 2017 Dee Collins: 021 535 770 dee@focusmagazine.co.nz Abigail Bunker: 021 246 6678 abigail@focusmagazine.co.nz

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