focus magazine August/September 2020 by focus Magazine

focus LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. INSPIRE. EMPOWER. MOTIVATE.

ISSUE 23

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2020

DIVERSITY IN BUSINESS RESOLUTION RETREATS

CHANGING WOMEN’S LIVES

TUTBURY & ASSOCIATES INNOVATIVE VOICE IN ACCOUNTING

NORTHLAND’S BIG TRIO

DR ANUYA DESHPANDE

PERFECTING THE ART OF COSMETIC MEDICINE AND VARICOSE VEINS TREATMENTS

ome Take me h I’M FREE

WIN

FANTAST

IC PRIZES

focus | CONTENTS

24 CONTENTS

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER2020 COVER STORY

LIFE

On challenge, opportunity and honest self-reflection

Addicted to fishing

DR ANUYA DESHPANDE

NICKY SINDEN

HEATHER STEMBRIDGE

REGULARS 8

FOCUS ON BOOKS Cosy winter reads

ASK THE EXPERTS Post-lockdown business

BEAUTY Skincare for relaxation and de-stressing

And the challenges of change

RESOLUTION RETREATS Women's wellness retreats

THE BIG TRIO OF NORTHLAND Cape Reinga, giant sand dunes and 90 Mile Beach

DEHYDRATING FOOD Get ready for your next wilderness trip

RECIPES

Comfort food

BUSINESS

THE LAST PAGE

Kelly Bouzaid, CEO, Cambridge Business Chamber

KELLY TUTBURY Tutbury & Associates

GIVEAWAYS

INTERSECTIONALITY For diversity

NUTRITION ON THE GO

DO THE HARD THINGS FIRST focusmagazine.co.nz

ONLINE IN August/September FOCUSMAGAZINE.CO.NZ

MISTAKES EVERY FREELANCER MAKES

WHERE TO GO IN NEW ZEALAND IN SPRING

FOOD TO SUPPORT HEART HEALTH

YOUTUBE.COM/FOCUSMAGAZINENZ LOOK OUT FOR NOT ONE BUT TWO VIDEO UPDATES ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL IN AUGUST. AFTER FILMING OUR TRADITIONAL BEHINDTHE-SCENES VIDEO FROM THE COVER PHOTOSHOOT, DEE COLLINS CHATTED TO DR ANUYA DESHPANDE TO DISCUSS ALL THINGS COSMETIC MEDICINE AND VARICOSE VEINS IN AN INFORMATIVE AND FUN VIDEO INTERVIEW.

FOCUSMAGAZINE.CO.NZ/SUBSCRIBE CHEAPER THAN EVER! Purchase your annual subscription to focus magazine for only $38. The first five new or renewing subscribers will receive a copy of The Heart and Flow of Motherhood: A Memoir of Textbooks, Tears and Tiny Little Fingers by Angelena Davies with their first edition. Flip to page 9 to learn more about the book.

4 | focusmagazine.co.nz

focus PUBLISHER Align Publishing (an n-Gon Group facet) EDITOR Dee Collins dee@focusmagazine.co.nz CREATIVE DIRECTOR Alex Spodyneiko ONLINE EDITOR Kseniia Spodyneiko kseniia@focusmagazine.co.nz SALES advertising@focusmagazine.co.nz COVER IMAGE Tracy Stamatakos Photography FEATURE WRITERS Millie Freeman, Jenny Argante, Dr Liza Schneider, Diana Anderson, Renee Norman & Jenna Smith, Rhema Nantham PRINTING Sanyati Print CONTACT DETAILS 62 10th Avenue Tauranga 3110 (n-Gon Group Head Office) P O Box 14004, Tauranga, 3143 Tel: (07) 578 6838 Mobile: 021 535 770 focusmagazine.co.nz facebook.com/focusmagazinenz DISTRIBUTION 5,000 free copies are delivered bi-monthly to high traffic areas such as high-end cafés and restaurants, hairdressers, fashion boutiques, waiting rooms and professional offices across BOP, Hamilton, Cambridge and surrounding areas. DIGITAL focus is available to view online 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 officers 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”.

Editor’s Welco me Well, that was certainly a blip on the radar of life! The April/May edition of focus was ready the day before we moved to Level 4, which meant it went into lockdown along with everything and everyone else. As a magazine that, at its very core, inspires, motivates, encourages and educates women, it was important to us that we led by example and soldiered on in the virtual world. We published a vast amount of online content, and held bi-weekly live Zoom interviews with women on a range of topics, including communication in relationships, mindfulness, financial wellness and decluttering your household. And, of course, as lockdown continued, it meant that the June/July edition didn’t happen. Thankfully, here we are in our ‘new normal’ with our health and wellbeing issue, hot off the presses, especially for you. The incredibly talented Tauranga cosmetic and veins doctor Anuya Deshpande graces our cover in this edition. With a long string of letters after her name and a few yet to follow, this gracious woman always has time MAKher for a quick chat, even though E A BIG services are in such demand. IMPACT When lockdown resulted in our cover photoshoot having to be rescheduled a number of times, Anuya was endlessly accommodating, and we’re delighted with the results of photographer Tracy Stamakos and hair and makeup artist Sophie Garth.

Image by Vanessa Laval-Glad Hair and makeup by Sharyn Butters Outfit by Magazine Clothing

We also meet Nicky Sinden, who followed her passion to host and produce a TV fishing show – not easy in such a male-dominated profession – and we’re shining a light on accountant and CEO Kelly Tutbury. And, because someone had to do it, I write about my four-night stay at Resolution Retreats – a 5-star women’s wellness centre in the Waikato! There’s much more too, so I hope you can sit back and enjoy the read. Till the next time! With gratitude,

Dee

Editor & Founder dee@focusmagazine.co.nz

focus LIFESTY LE AND BUSINE INSPIRE. SS MAGAZ EMPOW INE. ER. MO TIVATE .

WITH OU R FORMAT WIDE SOLUTIO ROLL ME NS DIA AN D SOLID SU BSTRAT E

Bay of Plenty

POSTERS LABELS SIGNAGE

COMPAN Y STATIO NERY INVOIC ES STATEM ENTS DOCKET RECEIPT BOOKS BOOKLE TS PROGRA MMES INVITAT IONS TICKETS PRESEN TATION FOLDER BROCHU S RES FLYERS PADS ENVELO PES LABELS POSTER S … AND SO MUCH MO RE!

OFFSET

PRIN

TING Producin g efficientl top quality print ing y and cost manuals, effectively to suit any large invo run quality orde ice/statements . Ideal for catalogu print job … , quote book es, newslett rs. ers, s and othe r higher DIGITAL PRIN TIN Solving quick turn- G needs … around, solutions cost-effe ctive shor from small and t-run large book business card s, brochure printing lets. s and flyer s to FINISHING Presentin g trimming the optimal finish to to creasing numbering and … options from bind perforatin ing and jobs from , padding, folding g, business and/or die-cfoiling and emb ossing cards to utting and A2. laminatin g

lable at focus are avai FREE copies of fice. our of Tauranga 62 Tenth Ave, n-Gon Group, stocks last) le (whi 62 Tenth Ave, Taur Phone: 07 anga, 3110 578 6838

info@sany sanyatipr atiprint.co.nz int.co.nz

and Waika to

ISSUE

AUG SEPTEMB UST ER 2020

DIVERS IN BUSI ITY NESS

TUTB ASSOCIURY & ATES INN

RESOLU RETREA TION TS CHA NGING

WOME

N’S LIV

OVATIV IN ACC E VOICE OUNTI NG

NORTHL AND’ BIG TR S IO

DR A U YA DESHPN ANDE

PERFEC TING TH E ART OF AND VA COSMET RICOSE IC MEDIC VEINS TR INE EATMEN TS

Take me home I’M FREE

WIN

FAN

TASTIC

PRIZES

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | OUT & ABOUT

1 KITCHEN TAKEOVER

Oooh, the excitement and intrigue! We knew the theme for the Kitchen Takeover pop-up restaurant – Hunter Gatherer –but we didn’t know where we were going until we received a text an hour before the event. Stacey Jones, the founder, works closely with Chef Shane Yardley to produce an intriguing event with first-class food. It’s no surprise that these events sell out fast. Images ERIN CAVE, ILK PHOTOGRAPHY

3 6 | focusmagazine.co.nz

1. Pete McLeod, Justin Scholes, Rachel McLeod, Rachel Scholes, Michelle and Johnny Calley 2. Bryce and Julie Simpson, Trudi and Brett Kerrisk 3. Anton and Jo Franks 4. Michelle Calley and Rachel Scholes 5. Julie Simpson, Stacey Jones and Trudi Kerrisk 6. Matthew, Nila and Judith Bell 7. Danielle Cubis and Stacey Jones

OUT & ABOUT | focus

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | WHAT'S ON?

WHAT'S ON? AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 PAINTVINE PAINT AND WINE NIGHT 4 August The Freeport Bar, Bayfair Dining Lane paintvine.co.nz. It’s as simple as it gets – with a paintbrush in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, it’s an evening of friendly chats and inspiration. No previous experience needed. Professional artists will run you through step-by-step instructions on how to create your very own Mount Maunganuithemed masterpiece.

'ALLO 'ALLO – LE DINNER SHOW: 'THE FALLEN MADONNA' 1, 7, 8 August The Raft, Tauranga primeproductions.co.nz

YOU SHOULD BE DANCING – NEW ZEALAND TOUR 14 August Totara St, Mount Maunganui youshouldbedancing.co.nz If you like ABBA, Cher, Diana Ross and The Jackson 5, don’t miss a big night of disco hits. Dress up or dress down – your choice. Boogie Wonderland is a happy, safe, non-judgmental space for you and your friends to shake off stress and dance to your favourite tunes.

8 | focusmagazine.co.nz

Image by ArthurHidden / Freepik

A date night you’ll never forget! Join actors and comedians as they recreate the nostalgia of the much-loved 1980s British sitcom 'Allo 'Allo, while you’re enjoying a delectable three-course authentic French meal.

WHAT'S ON? | focus

MINI MINDFULNESS RETREAT 15 August Hardy Training Centre, Waikato actcounselling.co.nz Learn more and practise new exercises; observe from a distance or dive straight in – there are no rules or expectations at this retreat and newbies are welcomed as much as those who have practised mindfulness for many years. Jo Wall will share her strategies for coping better with physical illness or emotional distress.

SERIOUSLY GOOD FOOD SHOW 5-6 September Trustpower Baypark Arena, Mount Maunganui seriouslygoodfoodshow.co.nz Celebrate your love of food and support local at the biggest food show of the year. From craft beer and wine to artisan pastries and mouthwatering sauces – so much to stock up your pantry with. Cooking demonstrations will help to put your purchases to good use.

ROTORUA GLOW LAB TOUGH GAL TEAM CHALLENGE 23 August Lakes Ranch, Rotorua eventpromotions.co.nz Up to 750 teams of women are about to challenge themselves on a 6km unique off-road track full of made and natural obstacles, such as swamps, nets, barbed wire, tunnels, hurdles and climbing frames. Register your team of three and get ready to get down and dirty!

ROTORUA HOME & LIFESTYLE SHOW 18-20 September Energy Events Centre, Rotorua homeandlifestyleshow.co.nz After spending that much time at home this year, you’re probably not opposed to some upgrades and refurbishment. Over 150 companies will present their appliances, heating systems, artisan goods, lifestyle products, new cars, gourmet food and so much more at the Expo.

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | BOOKS

COSY WINTER READS Words DEE COLLINS

MY DARK VANESSA, KATE ELIZABETH RUSSELL Alternating between the present and past, My Dark Vanessa explores the psychological dynamics of the relationship between a naïve 15-year old, Vanessa Wye, and Jacob Strane, her 42-year old teacher who reeled her in with books, poetry, compliments and attention. The relationship never really ends as it has repercussions throughout Vanessa’s life, and when Strane is accused – not for the first time – of sexual abuse by a former student, Vanessa remains silent but begins to analyse what happened to her. She acknowledges that

he kept asking her permission before moving further – as if her consent made her the guilty party and that she wasn’t manipulated or groomed by him. She’s also aware that, even as an adult, she is still like a devoted dog as Strane continues to take and take: “I just feel I can’t lose the thing I’ve held on to for so long…I just really need it to be a love story.” Although I felt the book was too long, it is certainly intense and thought-provoking, and does raise necessary questions about consent, complicity, victimhood and all its implications.

THE GLASS HOTEL, EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL THE GILDED CAGE, CAMILLA LACKBERG If you’re after a page-turner for a rainy, cold weekend, this one ticks all the boxes. Faye Adelheim is married to the man of her dreams, she has everything she needs, millions in the bank, status, everything she ever wanted. Her life is perfect, until it isn’t. No spoiler alerts here and without going into too much detail, it’s a story of love, betrayal, friendships and revenge. It does have a few raunchy bits so it might not make the best gift, however, it certainly put Camilla Lackberg onto my radar and I can’t wait to read some of her other psychological thrillers.

10 | focusmagazine.co.nz

It’s initially unclear what the actual storyline is or who the main characters are in St. John Mandel’s latest book but we discover how Vincent, a young female bartender at the Hotel Caiette – a fivestar hotel on an island in British Columbia – meets the owner, Jonathan Alkaitis, and settles into a relationship with him. Thirteen years later, Vincent disappears off the side of a ship. The novel ultimately weaves together the lives of its main characters but essentially it’s a story of greed, guilt, fantasy, the ghosts of our pasts and the effects and destruction that Alkaitis’s Ponzi scheme has on some of its contributors.

THE CREATIVE SEED: HOW TO ENRICH YOUR LIFE THROUGH CREATIVITY, LILIAN WISSINK SEED – Skills, Experimentation, Evaluation and Discovery. Whether you’re a beginner and don’t think you have an ounce of creativity in you, or an established creator, this is the perfect book for anyone interested in exploring their creative expression. It will help you identify your creative interests and help you overcome any limiting beliefs with case histories, exercises and strategies to assist you in gaining selfawareness and practical skills.

BOOKS | focus

YOU ARE NOT ALONE, GREER HENDRICKS AND SARAH PEKKANEN The lonely and insecure Shay Miller is looking for a new job when she unexpectedly witnesses a young woman take her own life by jumping in front of a subway train. Haunted by her proximity to the incident, her inability to stop the act, and the emptiness Shay saw in the woman’s eyes as she jumped, leads Shay to become preoccupied with the victim’s identity – Amanda Evinger. She decides to attend her memorial where she attracts the attention of Jane and Cassandra Moore, the self-assured, stylish career

INTUITION, DR CATE HOWELL Most of us, at some time or another, have experienced ‘sixth sense’ or intuitive insight – that gut-feeling or inner voice. In her book, Dr Cate Howell explores how, throughout time, intuition has played its part in psychology, religion and spirituality, and also looks at the scientific aspect and how it can enhance our lives. She has learnt that intuition is accessible to all of us and is a blend of our five senses, our life experiences and values, and can be enhanced through training. In the book, Dr Howell sets out a seven-step plan to develop and use it in everyday life. There are short, beautiful meditations, practical exercises and guidelines aimed at unlocking the door to our intuition and helping it to flourish.

women, whose inner circle included Amanda. On the surface, the Moore sisters are everything that Shay wishes to be and she is easily drawn in by the illusion of friendship. It’s only after things take a dramatic turn that Shay begins to question the motives behind the friendship. Her love of statistics and recording them in her ‘Data Book’ makes her highly observant and, when there are a few too many coincidences, she soon begins to question their intentions. As Shay finds herself tangled up in a web of deceit and manipulation she goes on the offensive to clear her name and, quite possibly, her life.

SHEERWATER, LEAH SWANN Ava is escaping her husband, Laurence, with her two young sons, Max and Teddy, and is driving on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road to a new life in Sheerwater when a light plane crashes in front of them. Ava feels compelled to stop and help and leaves the boys in the car with instructions to stay inside. Another passerby assists Ava to pull the pilot and two children out of the wreckage moments before it explodes and, once the emergency services arrive, Ava turns her attention back to her car and finds her boys missing. The story is told from multiple points of view and it soon becomes clear that Laurence is manipulative, unhinged and violent. It’s 9-year old Max’s chapters that are absorbing as we see abuse through a child’s eyes. Leah Swann’s writing flows beautifully and her descriptions are stunning. Make sure you have time to read this book in one sitting – once you start, you won’t be able to put it down.

THE HEART AND FLOW OF MOTHERHOOD: A MEMOIR OF TEXTBOOKS, TEARS AND TINY LITTLE FINGERS, ANGELENA DAVIES With seven years of study behind her, two young children and a fisherman husband who is away for weeks at a time, Angelena Davies decides to apply for, and is granted, a scholarship to do her Masters. The memoir is of her time spent studying and covers snippets of her journaling and reflections on these at a later stage. She writes straight from the heart about sex, friendships, perceptions, other people’s opinions, external validation, guilt, fear, motherhood, hospitals, breakdowns and other personal stories. The theme running through the book and through her thesis on Appreciative Learning (for which she was awarded a First Class), is the importance of using your Voice – your personal power and inner knowings to say out loud what you are feeling internally. The book also includes steps to doing an Appreciative Inquiry on yourself and exercises and activities to become more resilient to others’ judgements and to expand awareness. focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | ASK THE EXPERTS

Image by Alex Spodyneiko

LOCKDOWN BUSINESS AS A DENTAL PRACTICE, WERE YOU ABLE TO OPERATE DURING THE LOCKDOWN? We had to close down. Dentistry is by nature a job with very close interpersonal contact and most dental procedures produce aerosols – think hand pieces for drilling, suction and spraying. For our patients’ and our own safety we use gloves and masks anyway, however, the regular type of personal protective equipment (PPE) and hygiene protocols sufficient during normal times do not conform to requirements during a pandemic. There was also a general shortage of PPE in the market. Not being able to look after our patients the way they deserve was a huge challenge. We had to address tooth aches over the phone and offered an emergency option for critical and emergency cases. While we couldn’t treat patients, we spent a lot of time during lockdown re-inventing our business and working on systems, as well as enjoying family time. We never thought it would be possible to close down for eight weeks, but we did survive and are glad we pulled through with all our staff retained. Everyone in the team made some sort of sacrifice to enable us to keep everyone on board. It was amazing to see what a great team we have.

PYES PA DENTISTS 07 577 1478 pyespadentists.nz

12 | focusmagazine.co.nz

MILA ARENA V ON WHEELS vonwheels.com

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU OWNING A FOOD BUSINESS DURING THE LOCKDOWN? It was certainly quite an adventure. It all started so abruptly and, totally unprepared, we struggled with the demand at first. We had way more orders than expected because people couldn’t really order food from anywhere else. The couriers were too busy to deliver orders in time and there’s only so much time frozen food can survive outside the freezer. Getting our hands on all the ingredients was also a challenge – supermarkets and stockists ran out of fresh produce before we could get in and buy what we needed. Everything was so unpredictable. But looking back on it now, I can see more positive than negative outcomes. I see our wonderful community supporting small businesses by buying our products or sharing a message on social media with the #supportlocal hashtag. I also see other businesses reaching out to work together and help each other. I was personally contacted by a handful of businesses and we came up with some cool ideas. It wasn’t always about buying something from each other, it was about raising the community spirit, being friendly, cheering each other on. I’ve always loved the social part of my job the most, and the lockdown period really let this social spirit emerge and grow into something beautiful and inspiring.

ASK THE EXPERTS | focus

QUESTIONS VETS GET ASKED ABOUT PETS Whether you’ve got a cat, dog, canary or other loved animal roaming around your home, one thing is true – we all want our pets to be as healthy as possible. We asked Dr Liza Schneider from Holistic Vets what questions petowners often ask her.

WHY DOES MY PET’S BREATH SMELL SO BAD? Smelly breath is usually a sign of dental disease or it could be coming from lower down the digestive tract because of a gastro-intestinal disturbance. A visit to the vet will help to identify the source of the problem. You can do a preliminary check of your pet’s mouth at home: If you see pus, loose teeth, broken teeth, inflamed gums or ulcers, or your pet won’t let you touch their mouth, dental disease is likely the problem. Your vet will advise on what needs to be done to restore health.

IS IT SAFE TO GIVE MY DOG BONES TO CHEW? Appropriately sized raw bones are usually safe for your dog to chew. They can be wonderful for entertainment, exercise of their jaws and promoting

dental health, BUT they can be dangerous. Here are some tips on how to keep bone chewing safe: • Never feed cooked bones as these can splinter, shatter and get stuck. • Never feed a sized bone that will get stuck if swallowed whole. Chicken necks are usually safe, otherwise large cannon bones or vertebrae. • Ideally, get bones from a reputable supplier to help minimise the risk of harmful bacteria. • Avoid bones with a lot of fat as this can cause tummy upsets for some dogs. • If your dog’s main diet is high carbohydrates (many commercial biscuits have these as their primary ingredient) then the hydrochloric acid in their stomach will likely be depleted and they need this to digest bone. Ideally feed a meat-based diet, or use bones that your dog won’t swallow. • Don’t give them too many bones that can be swallowed when chewing as this may lead to constipation.

SHOULD MY PET HAVE FLEA MEDICATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR? From a conventional perspective, we fear parasites like fleas, and most commercial flea control products recommend regular use through the year to ensure fleas are kept at bay and their life-cycle is halted from progressing. From a holistic perspective, we often find that when pets eat healthy

diets, their immune systems are supported, and when they live in a clean environment they are less susceptible to parasites like fleas, so the regular use of chemical products is unnecessary.

WHY DOES MY DOG EAT GRASS? Grass is high in some beneficial nutrients that some pets crave, especially when they aren’t getting enough nutrition from their usual diet. From a herbal medicine perspective, grass may be beneficial to animals with digestive upsets.

DR LIZA SCHNEIDER founded Holistic Vets with the view of integrating both conventional medicine and surgery with complementary therapies to achieve excellent results for animals. holisticvets.co.nz focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | BEAUTY

Dream Town EXPRESS

NEED SOME SOOTHING AND RELAXATION AFTER A HARD DAY? THESE PRODUCTS WILL SPRITZ, ABSORB AND WASH AWAY ALL YOUR ANXIETY AND STRESS.

STRESS NO MORE BATH TONIC, ESSENTIAL KIT $32 Nothing beats a hot bath with botanical salts. Well, maybe, a hot bath with botanical salts in the Maldives can but let’s be realists here, shall we? Infused with soothing cornflower and healing calendula, and stirred with an intoxicating essential oil blend, this calming cocktail does wonders both for your skin and your tensed muscles.

ROSE WATER, ARTURE $39.99 Use it in the morning to set up your makeup, and reapply during the day whenever you feel like a breath of fresh air. Fresh air delivered straight from a stress-free, beautiful rose garden.

B3ADAPTIVE SUPERFOODS STRESS RESCUE SUPER SERUM, DR. DENNIS GROSS $119 Milky goodness packed in a skyblue jar prevents and combats stress signs like worry lines, dullness, compromised skin and flare-ups, thanks to scientifically engineered microcapsules of superfoods, adaptogens and niacinamide. Find it at MECCA Maxima – one application is better than a thousand smart words.

R+R MASK, SUMMER FRIDAYS $83 CHOOSE SLEEP, THIS WORKS $21 This pocket-sized aromatherapeutic duo is the answer to all your good night’s sleep prayers. Stifle stress and anxiety with a pillow spray and pulse points roll-on enriched with lavender, vetiver, patchouli, camphor and other natural ingredients sweet dreams are made of.

14 | focusmagazine.co.nz

Skin replenishing mask with one of the world’s most precious essential oils, Bulgarian Rose, and a whole mix of other restorative oils. Disney princess-worthy petal-rose skin guaranteed! Available at MECCA Maxima.

BUSINESS, SHOP AND PACKAGING SUPPLIES

supply

62 Tenth Ave, Tauranga 07 578 7637 contact@ezysupply.co.nz

focus | PSYCHOLOGY

5 REASONS why daily brain breaks are important

Image by diana.grytsku / Freepik

DAILY BRAIN BREAKS ARE KEY FOR YOUR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH. THIS IS BECAUSE GIVING YOUR MIND A REST THROUGHOUT THE DAY ALLOWS IT TO RECHARGE AND STAY FOCUSED.

ental brain breaks are key to keeping a positive attitude and a positive mind. When there are days that you wake up feeling sluggish, it might be because your brain is overloaded by thoughts and emotions. So many people tend to push through the day

16 | focusmagazine.co.nz

and just “get through,” but all they’re really doing is causing themselves to get even more tired and stressed. Taking a few moments each day to yourself is perfectly fine. Believe it or not, your brain welcomes a daily break to reboot and recharge!

PSYCHOLOGY | focus

CONSIDER THESE IDEAS:

Your brain can only handle so much. Have you ever been so stressed out that suddenly you had a headache? This is your brain telling you that it’s overloaded and needs you to stop. • Take this as a serious cue to slow down and rest. Take a walk, take a nap, or just remove yourself from the stressful conversation or thought.

2 3

When your brain is tired, so are you. If you allow your brain to get weighed down, it’s going to trickle over to the rest of your body and have the same effect overall. • Once that happens, it’s really hard to climb back up that emotional hill. Mental exhaustion is a real thing that people battle with and once it happens, it can start to become a trend if you don’t turn it around quickly.

4 5

You can program your brain. If you’re giving in daily to the constant gossip and chatter, your brain is going to be programmed to crave that kind of stimulation. • Instead of filling it with those kinds of ideas, try to put some good stuff into your brain as well. Read positive articles, have meaningful conversations, and put a good book in your bag to read and learn from.

Everything needs a break. Ask any successful person and they’ll tell you that taking a brain break is key. Walking away from whatever you’re working on to recharge and reboot means that you’ll come back with a fresh mind and perspective. • This is huge when you’re working on a project or something that is relying on data-driven facts. You can only stare at numbers for so long before your body and brain are going to send you signals that they need a break.

If you don’t get enough sleep, your mind can start to play tricks on you. People who are overly exhausted tend to have trouble thinking correctly, functioning, or even deciding the difference between what is true and not true. • Research has shown that most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep each night to feel and think at their best. If you have trouble meeting that minimum, try taking a short nap during the day to give your mind and body some much-needed rest.

Understanding that your brain deserves to be treated carefully is the first step. Then, you can take the steps towards getting a schedule of brain breaks set up for yourself daily. The moment you feel as though your thoughts and emotions are becoming too much for the day is a huge

signal that it’s time to walk away from whatever you’re doing and give yourself some peace. Your brain deserves to be the centre of your attention, since it controls all your decisions, thoughts, emotions, and bodily functions. So give your brain a break. It deserves one!  focusmagazine.co.nz

LIFE 19

NICKY SINDEN

ADDICTED TO FISHING

DR ANUYA DESHPANDE THE ART OF COSMETIC MEDICINE

RESOLUTION RETREATS CHANGING WOMEN'S LIVES

Plus COMFORT FOOD RECIPES, NORTHLAND ITINERARY ... AND MORE

LIFE | focus

NICKY SINDEN ADDICTED TO FISHING MOTITI ISLAND HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SPECIAL PLACE FOR NICKY SINDEN, HOST AND PRODUCER OF PRIME TV’S TRADEZONE ADDICTED TO FISHING . Images VAN LIEFDE PORTRAIT STUDIO + SUPPLIED

he first episode of her now immensely popular fishing show, which Nicky has single-handedly produced, directed and hosted for the last seven years, was filmed on Motiti’s shores. And the forthcoming final episode will soon return to those same shores once more. Motiti has always represented stability for Nicky, whose parents separated when she was three years old. Her early childhood was an unsettled one of shared custody. But her Aunt Gail and Uncle Don’s avocado farm on the island was a place she could really feel at home.

“Motiti was my saving grace,” says Nicky. “The house that my Uncle Don built there was like my second home. It was the most amazing place to grow up.” It was at Motiti that Nicky experienced her first kiss. But while puppy love quickly faded, it was her first fish – caught off the breakwater at Motiti on a handline given to her by her Uncle Don – that blossomed into a true lifelong love. “Every morning at Motiti I’d leap out of bed knowing it was time to go fishing down at the breakwater,” says Nicky. Uncle Don would share his fishing

wisdom with the keen young girl, setting her challenges, and teaching her to be patient and gentle. “He’d say, 'If you can catch blue maomao with little hooks on light line, you can catch anything',” recounts Nicky. “I lost a few before I caught one, and I’m pretty sure that was the moment I became addicted to fishing.” It was an addiction that spawned a radical idea while Nicky was working in an unfulfilling corporate role in Auckland. An idea to follow her passion, and start her own fishing show. “It was incredibly rare to see a female on fishing shows,” says Nicky. “They might have an appearance in a focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | LIFE

bikini from time to time, but not one woman had hosted her own fishing show. It just wasn’t a thing back in those days.” She’d already bought her own boat, because she was “sick of relying on other people to get on the water”. She named it ‘The Kitchen’ – a tongue-in-cheek play on where a woman’s place should be. Her big break came when established TV fishing personality Matt Watson ran a competition to become his Fishing Apprentice. Nicky made the cut, but her first experience of TV stardom was an unpleasant one. “At the time I thought it was an amazing experience, but they edited it to be something very different,” she recalls. “They

Nicky with her world record 361kg broadbill swordfish

22 | focusmagazine.co.nz

LIFE | focus

focused on me in a bikini and made a huge deal out of it. I watched the episodes in tears. I was mortified.” Seeing how badly women were portrayed on the show left Nicky feeling there was a gap in the market for a fishing show with a female perspective. “One where it wasn’t about everything being pink, and where women fish hard just like the guys.” Armed with a new understanding of how a TV show is produced – the one positive she could take from the Fishing Apprentice – Nicky took a leap of faith. She quit her job, set up a desk in her bedroom and started cold calling to find sponsors for her new show. Visualising her success long before it became a reality helped Nicky push through a raft of refusals. “I called hundreds of companies. I would get 'no' after 'no' but I didn’t let it stop me. I kept visualising seeing my fishing show on TV for the first time.” But there were those who had faith, and in just a few months she had signed a deal with Prime TV, and secured several sponsors. Seven seasons and 91 episodes later, Nicky Sinden is one of New Zealand’s best-loved fishing personalities, with a social media following of over 130,000 people. But being in the public eye isn’t always easy. Especially for someone who has battled with low self-esteem. As Nicky’s social following grew, so did her fears about the judgements being

cast upon her by strangers. “It used to cut me so deep,” Nicky admits. “One day I read a thread on a fishing website about an article I wrote. It turned nasty and ended up being all about my body. Some of the comments were atrocious.” But the power of positive thinking helped Nicky change her mindset. “I made the decision to be my own best friend. I’d ask myself, ‘what would you say to her if she was going through this?’” The forthcoming season of her show will be the last, because after seven years, Nicky says she is happy with what she’s achieved, and wants to end the show on a high. “I think seven years is a good amount of time,” she says, “and I’m ready for the next challenge in life. I’ll never put down the fishing rod. I’ll always be a fisherman, wholeheartedly. But I’m just going to take the pressure off myself and do it for fun.” Where life will take her from here, Nicky isn’t yet sure. But what we can be sure of is that it will be doing something she loves. “We owe it to ourselves to step outside our comfort zone and do something you love. If you can’t stop thinking about something you're passionate about, then you should follow that. It's going to take you somewhere that you are meant to go.” TradeZone Addicted to Fishing returns to Prime TV for a 7th and final season, 5pm Saturdays from 25 July.  focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | PEOPLE

Heather Stembridge

and the challenges of change

AS A YOUNG WOMAN BORN INTO AN ACADEMIC FAMILY, HEATHER STEMBRIDGE DECIDED SHE’D PREFER ‘THE UNIVERSITY OF LIFE,’ EXPERIENCING THE DIVERSITY OF HUMAN INDIVIDUALITY AND CULTURES. SO BEGAN FIVE YEARS OF TRAVEL THAT INCLUDED CANADA AND EUROPE, ENDING UP IN LONDON. CONTACTS WITH SOUTH AFRICANS LED TO WORK IN JOHANNESBURG, MAINLY IN SALES AND MARKETING. Words JENNY ARGANTE Images CHRIS STEEL

he suburb she knew best there was predominantly wealthy and white, and here she met and married her first husband. A creative man of Afrikaner descent, he suffered intermittently from bouts of depression. Some time after the premature birth of their son, Heather’s only child, he killed himself. Of that tragedy, Heather says, “Disaster and extreme hardship are terrible things to go through. We can only recover when we’re able to learn from such tough lessons and allow them to contribute to our growth. This isn’t easy, and

24 | focusmagazine.co.nz

PEOPLE | focus

it is essential if we’re to find peace within and the ability to keep going and discover our own potential strengths.” She compares this to how bamboo meets harsh winds; it sways and bends, but rarely breaks, surviving to put out new shoots of tender, vital green. “So-called failures,” Heather asserts, “are often the medium by which we make helpful discoveries about ourselves and others. If we are actors on the great stage of life, let’s make a game of it and play the best we can. Let’s abandon superficiality, and become bringers of light.” That certainly sounds like a good thing to be, and Heather has spent years studying how to do this for herself, and how to teach it to others. The aim is learning to build bridges to the universal energy that’s there for us all; to become who we’re truly meant to be, within family, at work and in the wider community. “I had to reinvent myself,” says Heather. “I needed solid friendships with others, and to create a sense of personal well-being and be true in my own heart and in my dealings with others. I needed to learn how to be happy and how to achieve what I needed to do; make a contribution and encourage others to do so, creating individuals and communities with the power to confront the challenges of change, and flourish.”

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY To this end, Heather began to study in earnest the teachings of Mahikara, a philosophy that offers spiritual perceptions of human beings as ‘persons of light.’ Eventually, she was involved in the founding of two institutes in New Zealand that teach its principles and practices, one located in Wellington, the other in Auckland. She is still an outreach ambassador for Mahikara and, in addition, Heather runs workshops in the Bay of Plenty that are boldly labelled ‘transformational weekends.’ She’s a skilled speaker at presentations open to all throughout the region and beyond. Regular introductory sessions are held at Heather and her husband Derek’s home, sited high above Katikati within sixteen hectares of native bush and trees, many of them ancient. Spacious rooms offer from every

angle a view of this enchanting woodland, and there’s a warm welcome for enquirers who come here willing to learn the value of becoming and doing our best. Transformation, she believes, comes from a willingness to embrace change, and face the challenges of being human. “We need to develop awareness of how our own inner energy (let’s call it potential) responds to the universal energy of Gaia, this planet we inhabit. It’s our only world, that we must strive to sustain and nourish as we sustain and nourish minds, hearts and, let’s dare to say it, souls.” The coming together of like-minded men and women is joyous, playful and revelatory. In these Game of Life weekends they begin to understand who they are and what they want and need to be whole.

DEALING WITH CHANGE Humans are constantly presented with change, not always positive, for example, the global challenge of Covid-19, whose effects on many countries has been devastating. Prompt action in New Zealand allowed us to escape the worst of it, but lockdown, the strategy imposed by Government, was a novel experience. For essential workers, it’s been a hard slog, especially for those on the front line: doctors and nurses, first responders, carers, checkout operators and truckies. Coronavirus interruptus has impacted and will continue to impact, especially on small businesses, the backbone of our economy, and on the weakest, the poorest and those in rural areas. For others, it was weeks of forced inactivity, the loss of occupation and the social activity that sometimes kept us from studying our self, our family and our community. The release from the 8-hour working day, though it brought problems of its own, gave us a chance to discover that solitude is not the same as loneliness. Solitude allowed for increased observation, the rediscovery of lost joys we ‘couldn’t find time for,’ such as family meals and conversation; time to read and listen to music, for DIY and neglected hobbies. We’d take walks around our immediate neighbourhood for exercise, and discover things we

never saw as we whizzed by in a car. The ongoing message was ‘Be kind,’ probably the best instruction for living life well: be kind to yourself, and to others. Take time to smile and say hello to passers-by. The fairy tale of transformation is about magic – the kiss that turns a frog into a prince. Transformation with human beings happens best through small steps and minor changes, day by day. Until we’re truly who we’ve striven to be: bringers of light and champion players in the eternal Game of Life. 

Jenny Argante is a writer and editor with over 30 years of experience, and a life member of Tauranga Writers, New Zealand's longest-running selfhelp group for writers. focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | COVER STORY

ORDER OUT OF CHAOS

26 | focusmagazine.co.nz

COVER STORY | focus

DR ANUYA DESHPANDE ON CHALLENGE, OPPORTUNITY

AND HONEST SELF-REFLECTION FOR MANY, THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC WHICH PLUNGED NEW ZEALAND INTO A MANDATORY LOCKDOWN FELT LIKE HAVING THE RUG WHIPPED AWAY FROM BENEATH THEM. IT DID FOR TAURANGA COSMETIC AND VEINS DOCTOR ANUYA DESHPANDE, WHOSE “HEART SANK” AS THE ENORMITY OF THE SITUATION BECAME CLEAR. FOCUS TALKED TO DR ANUYA ABOUT WHAT SHE LEARNT DURING LOCKDOWN AND WHAT GOT HER UP AND MOVING AGAIN.

Words: Millie Freeman Images: Tracy Stamatakos Photography Hair & Makeup: Sophie Garth Clothes: Jackets & Shirt by Repertoire Casual clothes: Dr Anuya’s own

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | COVER STORY

p until late March Anuya’s medical career had followed a meticulous and structured path of study, work and more study, with three brief maternity breaks along the way. Come lockdown, chaos and uncertainty suddenly prevailed, and Anuya found she wasn’t prepared, and if there’s one thing she hates, it’s not being prepared. Cosmetic medicine and varicose veins treatments are elective procedures and were therefore considered non-essential services. Dr Anuya had to close the doors of her Tauranga clinic, and her consulting work for a veins treatment centre in Auckland also came to an abrupt halt. Despite the rug being brusquely pulled away, she didn’t tumble – as one might expect following the sudden disappearance of one’s livelihood – but teetered through that first week in a state of mild shock. “As confident as I am in most medical emergencies I felt some rising anxiety with all the uncertainty and so it was a relief to have Suzie, my clinic coordinator, quickly sort out the practical side of how we were going to organise things from home,” she says. “I applied for the wage subsidy for my staff and looked at how we could minimise outgoings, but the uncertainty and confusion of what Level 4 really meant for us caused a real disconnect in how I functioned that first week. “Then it was a real blow having my Auckland veins contract temporarily suspended, even though I was able to help them with virtual skin cancer consultations in the meantime. To keep these worries in perspective, I just kept thinking about the reality for so many other families, including many of my patients, who wouldn’t be offered their jobs back again, and I realised I wasn’t in that bad a place.” With business matters sorted as much as possible, and staff kept on full pay, Anuya hunkered down at home with her husband and their three children – Ariana, 3, Marcus, 4 and Safia, 9 – with several weeks ahead to consider what really mattered in life.

SMALL BUT SAFE Before Covid-19 swept the world, Anuya was pondering New Zealand’s

28 | focusmagazine.co.nz

small size and limited career opportunities in her area. She had considered the pros and cons of moving the family overseas so she could gain more international experience at a specialist hospital, and indulge her love of travel at the same time. She looks back now, happier than ever to be in New Zealand. “Last October I travelled to Seoul for advanced training in cosmetic medicine, which was incredible and made me think how isolated I was in New Zealand. Now I’ve come to realise there’s nothing wrong with being in a smallish pond. My family are safe here and we have our health – what’s more important than that? “And I’ve realised I don’t have to feel isolated in New Zealand after all. During lockdown I took part in several live webinars with people around the world. One was a conversation with Elle Macpherson and her cosmetic doctor on skincare and beauty

tips; another between two leading plastic surgeons on the effects of the pandemic – it was fascinating! Under normal circumstances I’d learn from them by attending overseas conferences, but the pandemic has opened up lots more opportunities to connect with people globally and learn in new ways.” As the lockdown continued, Anuya began to see further opportunities in the situation, with Level 3 providing the impetus for her to refocus her attention on how she could support others. With Suzie she took part in a 100km in 10 days challenge, and would post a daily Instagram Story to promote local tradies and other business people she met while out walking. Improving her social media skills was an added bonus. Anuya also became more and more aware of how much she missed her work, and being able to return to the clinic at Level 3, albeit for just a few

“

COVER STORY | focus

When I perform a cosmetic consultation, I assess a face as a whole. I assess ratios and features which may be creating a distraction or imbalance … there’s an art to this field of medicine but the foundation begins with mathematics.

vein treatments, was “one of the best feelings”. Work was indeed her happy place, and despite regular 12-hour days, she couldn’t wait to be back.

NEW ZEALAND BOUND In 2001 Anuya completed her medical training in the UK, including elective study in New York and the Mayo Clinic, before embarking on cosmetic medical training. Looking for a change of scenery and climate, she moved to New Zealand in 2006 and began working as a GP locum in Gisborne. It was there she met her Kiwi husband, Marty, and set up her first cosmetic medicine clinic, Skin Deep, in 2008. As demand for her expertise grew, she gained further qualifications in cosmetic medicine, dermatology, skin cancer medicine and phlebology (varicose veins treatment). She is currently on the final stretch in her four-year qualification to gain her fellowship in phlebology, which will allow her to mentor other doctors studying varicose vein treatments. A passion for helping others spurs Anuya onwards and upwards in her career. Add to that her love of art and it’s easy to see why she was attracted to the aesthetic side of medicine in the first place.

THE GOLDEN RATIO “I studied art seriously up to the age of 18 and then had to make a choice between pursuing art or medicine as a career. My heart was into art but my head chose medicine. I don’t have any regrets about completing a medical degree and

“

The pandemic has opened up lots more opportunities to connect with people globally and learn in new ways.

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | COVER STORY

now I get to combine the two. “As a cosmetic physician, you need to understand why something looks beautiful, and there’s a large element of mathematics behind that, so the saying, ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’, is somewhat inaccurate.” Anuya explains that cosmetic medicine involves extensive study of the mathematical ratios – known as the Golden Ratio – that make a face particularly attractive. It’s why certain features on one person look amazing but strange on others, even if we can't put our finger on it.

30 | focusmagazine.co.nz

“When I perform a cosmetic consultation, I assess a face as a whole. I assess ratios and features which may be creating a distraction or imbalance. Once I see where an improvement can be made it’s a matter of then working out a plan to help restore balance, to bring it closer to the golden ratios. There’s an art to this field of medicine but the foundation begins with mathematics.” Anuya enjoys working with motivated clients who come to see her because they are looking for a positive result. “I’m solutions-driven. I like being handed a problem and then working out how best to fix it. I feel pure joy when my cosmetic and varicose vein patients return for follow-up appointments and I see their positive reactions to the results – that’s what drives me to continue in this field because what may seem like a small difference can mean the world to someone.” As well as her technical ability and anatomical knowledge, Anuya has also experienced injectable fillers as a patient herself and knows how big a deal it is for a client to trust their face to a physician’s hands. Her focus is on natural-looking improvements to the face and when a client asks for something that won’t suit them, she’ll suggest another solution. Her procedures include: muscle relaxant neuromodulators (Botox® and Dysport®), dermal fillers, collageninduction needling, thread-lifting, deoxycholic acid injections (Belkyra®) for double chins, fat freezing cryolipolysis as well as treatment for raised moles and skin tags. Varicose and spider veins are treated with non-surgical heat ablation and sclerotherapy, all under ultrasound guidance. Services are not restricted to women, and while she’s still growing the cosmetic side of her business for men, she has many male clients coming in for vein treatments.

SAFETY FIRST In regard to any cosmetic or veins procedure, she cautions people to get professional advice from trained physicians. Even spider veins, for example, need a full assessment

to understand what’s happening underneath. “It’s not beauty therapy; it’s a medical condition and requires a medical professional following best practice. Unless the physician follows proper guidelines, any varicose veins condition can become worse, from recurrence or progression of veins elsewhere. Best practice also involves sonographer-guided ultrasound when injecting and this is mandatory for all of my veins procedures.”

LEARNING FOR THE FUTURE So, what has the Covid-19 response taught Anuya about business preparedness? “Before lockdown I had been reviewing my business insurance but hadn’t actually changed anything. This was an area of risk where I wasn’t prepared, and now I’ve made sure it’s sorted. “My biggest piece of advice to other small businesses is to work smart and lean. I had already cut back anything unnecessary in the business and this helped enormously as we went into lockdown.” Another wise decision that paid off for Anuya early on in her business was choosing not to invest in every big costly medical machine she saw. She prefers to focus on specialist procedures using highly advanced equipment and refer clients elsewhere for other treatments. And to survive lockdown and other calamities as a full-time working mum? “I set myself realistic, achievable goals, and seem to get by on minimal sleep. I also have the most supportive husband who ensures the house runs like clockwork so that I can concentrate on the business. I do have the working mums’ guilt of not always being able to attend school events, but the buzz I get from my work means my children get a mother who is happy and fulfilled. “Feeling elated to get back to work after lockdown confirmed to me that I’m where I’m meant to be.” 

COSMETIC & VEINS CLINIC 0800 372 689 cosmeticandveins.nz

focus | TRAVEL

Resolution Retreats Changing women’s lives THERE’S GOOD REASON THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY AIRLINE STAFF ADVISE YOU TO ATTACH YOUR OWN OXYGEN MASK BEFORE HELPING ANYONE ELSE – IT’S ABOUT SELF-CARE, LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF FIRST SO THAT YOU, IN TURN, CAN TAKE CARE OF OTHERS. Words DEE COLLINS 32 | focusmagazine.co.nz

TRAVEL | focus

o, for me, a visit to Resolution Retreats, a women’s only wellness retreat, came at the perfect time. It meant I could recharge my batteries, switch off and enjoy some TLC and tune into my own needs for a few days. Four days with someone else preparing the meals, yoga and gym sessions, plenty of social interaction with other amazing women, bliss time and, of course, pampering spa treatments to look forward to. The brainchild of Joelene Ranby and the largest health retreat in Australasia to cater exclusively to women, Resolution Retreats is virtually on our doorstep. The fivestar, 35-hectare, purpose-built resort is situated close to Lake Karapiro, not far from Cambridge, and offers health retreats from three-day fresh starts to three-week lifechanger programmes. The entrance to the main building is beautiful – large windows give it an airy and spacious feel. Joelene is there to meet us as we arrive one by one and shows us to our gorgeous accommodation. My chalet is roomy – a lounge,

small dining room and kitchenette, secluded verandah, large bedroom with a desk nestled at one end, massive bathroom with spa bath and shower, and a large dressing room off to the side, complete with ironing board, hairdryer and all the other facilities you need for an away-from-home stay. There are 16 of us on the retreat – women from all over the North Island in all age groups and levels of fitness. PreCovid, many of the guests came from Australia – Joelene was in the middle of a three-week retreat when news of the lockdown came through, which meant urgently getting her Oz clients on flights back home. However, I wouldn’t say too much would ruffle Joelene’s feathers. We’re given a group tour of the facilities and I have to say, I’m super impressed. There’s a whole wing dedicated to the spa part of the retreat where ladies can enjoy a full range of beauty treatments. There’s also a tennis court; two small gyms – one for cardio, the other for weights; two heated swimming pools – the large one is slightly cooler than the smaller plunge pool; two infrared saunas; a lightfocusmagazine.co.nz

focus | TRAVEL

“

Don’t take on too much all at once. Willpower is not an infinite resource. Try putting your energy and willpower into changing or establishing one habit at a time.

filled yoga room; an education room with a library of both educational and fictional reads; a large lounge room and dining room, and a massive kitchen where Joelene prepares our delicious meals.

Joelene reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect to be healthier than we were yesterday, last month or last year. She suggests thinking of ‘health’ as a doing word rather than a destination and, with that in mind, ‘do’ some health every day.

PUTTING YOU FIRST

ONGOING SUPPORT

We have all been given a carefully planned schedule which includes daily yoga, meditation, fitness sessions in the gym, pool or on the deck, cooking demonstrations, educational topics and plenty of bliss time where we can kick back and do our own thing. Many of us gravitate each day to the hot plunge pool for a soak-and-chat and it isn’t too long before there’s a jovial rapport amongst us. You’re also free to drive into Cambridge but are encouraged to take someone with you so you’re not tempted to indulge in anything on the ‘not allowed’ list – alcohol, treats, etc. A number of ladies head off each day to explore Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain and walk through the Maungakawa Scenic Reserve. I imagined the meals would be small and there would be an edge to our hunger but am pleasantly surprised at the abundant servings we have three times a day. There’s also a snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon which we all look forward to. Dietary restrictions are all catered for, effortlessly. Resolution Retreats is the perfect place to refresh and reset your health, and with many of us putting on a bit of ‘comfort’ weight during lockdown, we were able to get away from the daily grind and long ‘to do’ lists, refocus on ourselves and implement realistic changes to our lives and diets.

Many retreats are effective whilst you are staying with them but, once you get home, it’s easy to fall back into bad habits. The Resolution Retreats programmes continue to support guests even when they’ve left. During our stay we each build our own toolbox with sustainable and pragmatic strategies so we can continue what we’ve learnt on returning home. For many women, accountability is a key motivator and the Resolution Retreats support team keeps in contact with guests to help them stay motivated and on track and, if anyone needs a pep talk or a bit of motivation, the team is happy for them to get in touch. The day I get home there is already an email from Joelene with heaps of healthy Retreat recipes. Guests can also join a ‘Squad’ Facebook group – a great community page which lets us stay in touch and encourage each other. The Retreats are very much about YOU and having the opportunity to recalibrate, slow down de-stress and relax. They allow you to recharge your batteries, and regain a sense of balance and wellness in your life. There are a number of Retreat programmes throughout the year but, be warned, they do book out quickly. To find out more, hop onto their website resolutionretreats.co.nz 

34 | focusmagazine.co.nz

TRAVEL | focus

JOELENE RANBY

A vision for health and wellness LOCATED CLOSE TO LAKE KARAPIRO, YOU’LL FIND AN ALL-INCLUSIVE, WOMEN’SONLY HEALTH AND WELLNESS RETREAT. RESOLUTION RETREATS IS THE OUTCOME OF JOELENE RANBY’S VISION TO HAVE A LUXURY RETREAT DESIGNED BY WOMEN TO HELP OTHER WOMEN. FOCUS CHATTED TO JOELENE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HER JOURNEY.

JOELENE, PLEASE SHARE YOUR JOURNEY TO LAUNCHING RESOLUTION It has been an interesting journey indeed! While on my own weightloss journey, I realised there was nothing like Resolution Retreats where women could go to refocus on themselves and have the sort of education, understanding, support and encouragement that I needed when I was improving my own health. In 2012 I ran my first retreats as a side-interest, during weekends and while on leave from my role as a Financial Accountant at a large NZX corporate. It was a lot of work at first, but also a lot of fun as it was something I was truly passionate about. It was rewarding seeing guests get inspired and achieve results. I made the decision to focus on the business full time in late 2015, once the demand for retreats exceeded what I could manage part time. We ran retreats for seven years exclusively from the Bay of Plenty before we outgrew our venue, and, in 2019 finally opened the Resolution Retreats Lakeside Health & Wellness Centre. It’s a purpose-built, 5-star retreat centre providing world-class programmes exclusively for women and is comparable with some of the world’s top retreats, such as Gwinganna in Australia.

WHAT DIFFERENTIATES RESOLUTION RETREATS FROM OTHER RETREATS? Our health and wellness retreats are run by women, for women. Exclusively. We are the largest retreat centre in Australasia catering solely for women’s health and wellness needs. WHAT FACTORS DID YOU CONSIDER WHEN DESIGNING THE PROGRAMMES? All of our team have their own health and happiness stories, and these experiences have helped us mould programmes that reflect what women need the most when they are resetting and refocusing on their health and happiness. We are always learning, and are constantly refining and creating amazing content, and engaging speakers who will inspire and support our guests, no matter what their individual health story may be.

all sorts of reasons: some come for weight loss or to de-stress, some come for time out, inspiration in the kitchen, a health re-set, better sleep, or to break bad habits. Some come for one, or all of those things, and others’ health puzzles are more complex again. It’s our job to help our guests solve their health puzzle, to inspire them with a refreshing approach to overall health and wellness, but also to provide insights into the psychology behind ‘why we do what we do when we know what we know’, and how to work on changing whatever it is which underpins individual health challenges. 

WHAT’S THE CORE FOUNDATION OF RESOLUTION RETREATS? Understanding, support, encouragement; in that order. Realistic and pragmatic solutions for real women. Strive for progress, not perfection. TO YOU, WHAT IS THE IMPORTANT THING(S) THAT GUESTS TAKE AWAY FROM THEIR TIME AT RESOLUTION RETREATS? Guests come on our retreats for focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | TRAVEL

The big trio of

NORTHLAND 36 | focusmagazine.co.nz

TRAVEL | focus

CAPE REINGA, 90 MILE BEACH AND TE PAKI SAND DUNES – THESE SIGHTS ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO EACH OTHER TO VISIT IN ONE DAY BUT FAR ENOUGH FROM THE REST OF THE NORTH ISLAND TO MAKE IT A VERY SPECIAL TRIP. Words KSENIIA SPODYNEIKO Images ALEX SPODYNEIKO

eaving Kerikeri before dawn was the best idea ever. We drive in blissful silence through the densest fog, laced with the first orange rays of the day, soaking in the moist smile of the early morning through the open windows of our car, enjoying the solitude of being alone, completely and utterly alone on this road, taking us up, up and up to the Far North. There is something special about being alone in New Zealand’s least urbanised region, a perfect escape for two FOMO-hit millennials. We glide through the tiny one-street villages, the kind where the library is simply called ‘Library’, the café is called ‘Café’ and the hotel is called ‘Hotel’. We cruise alongside astoundingly huge farms, crossing picturesque bridges and conquering the rather flat, yet stubborn Northland hills. And all that is an adventure in its own.

CAPE REINGA But the best part about leaving Kerikeri so early is arriving at Cape Reinga before the craziness of the tourists’ rush hour. For another 30 minutes, we have this mind-blowing place all for ourselves (sans the lonely photographer hiding behind the bench with his tripod, who, of course, isn’t much of an issue). People say Cape Reinga is ‘spiritual’. But honestly, saying that is like saying the sun is yellow. Some things are just so beyond our comprehension, describing them in words diminishes their significance a good thousand percent. Instead, we just sit on the grass opposite the lighthouse with our eyes wide open and try to tattoo everything we feel right into our memory. In Māori mythology, Cape Reinga is the place where the spirits of the dead leap off the headland to meet their

ancestors in the underworld. And sitting there, you can’t help but feel the gentle breezy touch of the invisible passers-by. Or maybe that’s the breeze of the water that is literally all around you, far below, at the bottom of the cliff, but also so dangerously close. The northernmost tip of the country is famous for the scene of the Tasman Sea crashing into the Pacific Ocean. Their waters are of a different colour and the easy-to-spot border where they meet is a mesmerising mix of whirlpools and multidirectional waves. We stare into the depth of these waters till our eyes hurt because we know that as soon as we leave this place, it will be pretty hard to believe our sleep-deprived brains didn’t make this whole thing up. At mid-day Cape Reinga is buzzing with tourists from all over the world, so we head to a carpark but notice a walkway sign half-way back. This is the

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | TRAVEL

starting point of Te Araroa – the epic walkway across New Zealand that stretches 3,000km from Cape Reinga all the way down to Bluff. Equipped with just $10 Kmart slippers, we ditch the idea immediately but still take a short 2km detour to a small beach we can see in the distance. The wind on the first part of the walkway that snakes along the narrow top of the cliff is ferocious and the waves beneath us are pure drama queens, but everything calms down as soon as we start descending to the beach. And once again, we’re one-on-one with nature. We stay here for a while and pretend we’re the only human beings on Earth. Or the first explorers of the new planet. Or just two stupid tourists who get their slippers wet and are now forced to climb 2km up the cliff slipping, stumbling and cursing their hearts out.

TE PAKI GIANT SAND DUNES Our next stop is Te Paki Giant Sand Dunes. The fact that something like this exists in New Zealand, not in UAE, not in Namibia, not even in Australia, but in our green pasture land,

38 | focusmagazine.co.nz

is still a big mystery to us. It’s hard to believe the sand dunes were created by nature and are not just another man-made tourist trap. It’s even harder to believe your eyes once you get there. Te Paki Giant Sand Dunes is far from being a single, pitiful hill of sand. It’s a whole 10km long and 1km wide strip of dunes rising up to 150m. A real desert with no beginning and no end. The sand here is very unusual. Despite the wind, somehow, it’s not all in your eyes, mouth and hair. It politely stays where your feet are, allowing you to admire the views with no side effect of choking to death. Though if you do want to add a bit of real-life desert experience, you can rent a sandboard and ride down one of the hills. Picking the sand from your ears for a week is guaranteed. We decide not to do that. We’re not fun. Where it’s fun, we’re usually those boring spectators in the corner, so we do what we do best – just sit there and watch others riding, screaming and laughing. It’s exhilarating and for a moment we’re just two tiny kids in a giant sandpit, watching older kids doing wild stuff.

TRAVEL | focus

90 MILE BEACH Taking the gravel road through the field towards 90 Mile Beach and suddenly being surrounded by at least 20 wild horses, running alongside our car as a single, huge, gorgeous, perfectly synchronised organism, will definitely be that one memory we’ll replay again and again when we’re so old the closest we get to exploring the world is sitting by the window with knitting on our laps. But if you thought it would be hard for 90 Mile Beach to match the bar, just wait till you get there. This place is a dream. On a sunny day, the blue water reflects the clouds, perfectly matching the colours above, and the sand melts into the waves so delicately, you no longer know where the beach or the sky is, where is up and where is down. You’re in this weird bubble of pastel colours outside, and pumping adrenaline from driving your 4WD alongside the water inside. Technically, 90 Mile Beach is a highway and you’re supposed to follow the same rules you follow when driving SH2. But the truth is, no one really cares. There are a few cars parked right by the water, with people sitting on hoods still hot from the long

drive. Other cars pass by at the speed of a turtle and admire the views, while my husband just kicks me out with the camera and excitedly drives in circles, allowing the car to go wild. As journalists, this is the place where we remind you about road safety and the importance of being responsible grown-ups. As people madly in love with our beautiful country, this is the place where we silently advise you to enjoy this unique moment. Our life is pretty dull most of the time, and opportunities like this don’t present themselves too often. Just. Live. Your. Life. And keep an eye on the road while doing so, of course. We stay around for a while and leave 90 Mile Beach through the same entry point but you can actually drive all the way from the Sand Dunes to Ahipara at its southern end. As long as you have a 4WD! It’s not safe to take the sandy highway otherwise. And don’t say we didn’t warn you the drive won’t be that long – 90 Mile Beach is actually only 55 miles (or 88km) long. It was named 90 Mile Beach by the early European settlers, who knew their horses could travel around 30 miles per day. So, when it took them three days to cover the beach, they assumed it should be around 90 miles long. What they didn’t think about at the time, of course, was that it takes longer to walk on sand.  focusmagazine.co.nz

Comfort food

focus | FOOD

FORGET TAKEAWAYS – MAKE YOUR FAVOURITE MEALS AT HOME!

CHICKPEA CURRY INGREDIENTS: • 6 shallots, peeled and chopped • 2 Tbsp vegetable oil • 2 cloves garlic, crushed • 400ml coconut milk • 1 Kallo Organic Vegetable stock cube, dissolved in 300ml boiling water • 2-3 Tbsp curry paste (to taste) • 1 tsp sugar (white or brown) • 480g cooked chickpeas (2 tins, drained weight) • 2 large heads of spring greens, stalks discarded and finely sliced • 200g cherry tomatoes, cut in half • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • A little fresh coriander • Lemon wedges • Plain rice to serve

40 | focusmagazine.co.nz

METHOD: 1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the shallots over a medium heat for around 5 minutes until they are softened and starting to colour a little. Add the garlic and fry for a further minute before pouring in the coconut milk and stock, stirring well to mix. 2. Stir through the curry paste, sugar and chickpeas. Bring up to the boil, season with a little salt and pepper, cover with a lid and simmer steadily for 10 minutes. 3. Add the greens and tomatoes, stirring well to coat them in the sauce. Re-cover with the lid and cook for a further 5-8 minutes, or until the greens are tender but with a little bite. Serve sprinkled with coriander and lemon wedges to squeeze over. Plain rice is the perfect accompaniment.

FOOD | focus

CHICKEN STIR-FRY INGREDIENTS: • 3 chicken breasts, cubed or cut into strips • 1 fresh leek, finely chopped • 1 Kallo Chicken stock cube, dissolved in 150ml boiling water • Red birds-eye chillies to taste • 2 garlic cloves • Slice of ginger • 2 Tbsp soy sauce • 2 tsp fish sauce • 2 Tbsp sesame oil • Rice noodles (fresh straight to wok noodles) • Bag of prepared stir-fry vegetables

METHOD: 1. Cut the chicken into strips and fry in the sesame oil until sealed. Add 150ml of Kallo chicken stock and the fresh chillies to the cooked chicken and simmer on a low heat for 10 minutes. 2. While the chicken is simmering, finely chop the leeks, garlic and ginger. 3. Drain the stock from the chicken into a bowl and save for later. Fry the chicken with the sesame oil, fish sauce and soy sauce. Add the vegetables, leeks, ginger, garlic and fry for 3 minutes. 4. Re-introduce the stock and fry for another 3 minutes. 5. Add the rice noodles and stir for 1 minute, serve immediately.

Kallø is a range of organic, coeliacfriendly and lactose-free stock cubes made with only the finest herbs and vegetables. Add them to your soups, curries casseroles and stews to enhance the vibrancy of dishes. chantalorganics.co.nz

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | FOOD

DEHYDRATING FOOD get ready for your next wilderness trip Words & Images DIANA ANDERSON

s it did for millions of people around the world, the spiralling pandemic emergency resulted in me having to call off two much-awaited trips in March: a four-day hike on the Kepler Track in Fiordland, and a nineday kayak trip around Waiheke Island. And, probably like everyone

42 | focusmagazine.co.nz

else, I grudgingly cancelled flights, accommodation and other bookings while accepting it was the only way to lessen the impact in New Zealand. All my gear and supplies, carefully laid out and organised into precise piles on the living room floor, would have to be stored away for some future date. That’s when I saw the glaring

positive in all the trip upheavals – I now had a tonne of dehy food to get me through four weeks of lockdown! So with the trips called off and a couple of magazine pages to fill, here are some ideas on how to cater for multi-day wilderness adventures, or for global emergencies – whatever comes first.

FOOD | focus

LIGHTER THE BETTER Not so crucial in a kayak, but when you’re carrying a pack for four or five days, every gram counts, and dehydrated food gives you the nutrition and calories without the weight. It also takes up less space and creates minimal rubbish to carry out. Outdoor shops stock a variety of meal packs and single items, like dehy peas, but you can make yummy meals yourself for a fraction of the cost. A dehydrator is an excellent investment if you’re planning on a few of these trips, and will set you back around $100-$300, depending on the brand you choose. Or you could just use your oven on a very low setting with fan.

WHAT CAN YOU DEHYDRATE? Heaps of stuff: fruit, veg, rice, cooked chicken and lean mince, tomato paste, fruit paste, even entire meals. I like to keep things separate and then bring the meal together when it’s cooking, but you can just as easily dehydrate fully prepared meals. A hiking buddy makes a batch of rice risotto with chicken and vegies, dehydrates the whole lot and then breaks it up into separate lunch or dinner bags. TIP: If you’re cooking up mince, go for premium cuts with as little fat as possible. Oils and fat can result in the food not dehydrating properly and therefore spoiling before

you use it. The same goes for cheese in that risotto – better to add the cheese when you eat, rather than combining it with the pre-cooked, meal.

HOW DOES IT WORK? There are different brands of dehydrator available but essentially they all slowly dry the food with a fan, either to the rear or at the base of the unit. Usually 8-12 hours is needed to ensure complete dryness. Numerous stacking trays allow you to dry several different vegetables or different foods at the same time, as long as you’re not bothered by the potential for strong flavours to taint different foods. For example, I wouldn’t dehydrate a beef chilli with apple slices in the same batch! TIP: You can dehydrate raw fruit and veg but preparing dinner is much easier if you steam or blanch them before drying.

HOW DO YOU REHYDRATE? When you get to your hut or camping spot, mix your dehy meal with some water and let it sit until you’re ready to organise the meal as this helps to start the rehydrating process without wasting your fuel. After about an hour, put the pot back on the stove (with more water if required) and add any sauces or spice mixes for flavour. There’s no reason to eat bland food on multiday tramps, and supermarkets

stock various sauce packs or spice sachets, which are lightweight and don’t leave you with lots of rubbish. TIP: Coconut milk powder is your BFF on the trail when it comes to Thai curry dishes! Simply stir into the hot dish before serving.

HOW DO YOU STORE AND CARRY DEHYDRATED FOOD? Dehydrated food can be kept in wellsealed containers in your pantry or in the fridge. It’ll last a good couple of weeks, even months for some foods, but use your common sense and don’t risk eating any food that has been on the shelf or in the fridge for way too long. If moisture gets inside, it will spoil in the same way as normal food. Practise good hygiene measures and make sure your hands are clean before handling the food. For wilderness trips I pack my dehydrated food into small plastic bags which can be washed later and reused for another tramp. If you’re not using plastic at home, you could try wrapping in paper, or wax cloths – just remember to then pack into a hiking dry sack to prevent anything getting wet. As it turned out, my kayak trip got a last-minute reprieve, albeit cut down to seven days and with fewer people. With pandemic food supplies now depleted and wilderness trips back on the agenda, it’s time to bring out the dehydrator again!

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | FOOD

THAI GREEN CURRY INGREDIENTS: • Large can of chicken chunks in water, no flavourings – drained and shredded • Mixed vegies, eg, peas, beans, carrots – sliced thinly and steamed • Rice – cooked • Curry paste (some supermarkets stock single serve brands) • 3 Tbsp coconut milk powder (or more to taste)

METHOD: 1. Dehydrate chicken straight from the tin, and place vegies on different trays. 2. Place the cooked rice on sheets of baking paper, cut to fit the dehydrating trays. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for length of drying time. When completely cool, pack into airtight bags. Rehydrate as above, add spice paste and reheat . 3. Before eating, add coconut milk powder and it’s ready to go.

CHILLI BEEF INGREDIENTS: • Premium beef mince, enough for two • Onion, garlic • Mushrooms • Tomato paste • Can of chopped tomatoes • Can of kidney beans • Chilli con carne pre-mix or any of your favourite herbs/spices • Rice – cooked METHOD: 1. Prepare beef as you normally would but refrain from using any oil. Just add onion, garlic and beef altogether and brown slightly. 2. Add mushrooms, tomato paste, canned tomatoes, beans and spices, and a little extra water and cook until thick and delicious. 3. Cook rice. 4. Spread beef mixture onto sheets of cooking paper that you’ve cut to fit your dehydrator trays. Dry your cooked rice in the same way. Pack into separate bags and bring altogether in the hut or keep rice separate.

44 | focusmagazine.co.nz

BUSINESS

KELLY TUTBURY TUTBURY & ASSOCIATES

INTERSECTIONALITY FOR DIVERSITY

Plus HARD THINGS FIRST, GIVEAWAYS ... AND MORE

NUTRITION ON THE GO

focus | BUSINESS

KELLY TUTBURY Images by Vanessa Laval-Glad

TUTBURY & ASSOCIATES

TUTBURY & ASSOCIATES IS A TAURANGA-BASED ACCOUNTING PRACTICE OFFERING A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF ACCOUNTANCY, FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS PLANNING SERVICES. KELLY TUTBURY AND HER TEAM OF ACCOUNTANTS AND CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS HAVE A PASSION FOR GUIDING AND SUPPORTING SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES THROUGH THE MYRIAD OF ACCOUNTING COMPLIANCE, AND MOST OF ALL, SHOWING THEM HOW TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY BY USING SIMPLE CLOUD-BASED TECHNOLOGIES TO KEEP UPTO-DATE WITH THEIR BUSINESS ACCOUNTS.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO ACCOUNTING? Accounting runs in my family as both my mother and my grandfather were accountants. Wanting to be a bit of a rebel, I had sworn I would never become an accountant – despite all career advice tests confirming I was best suited to accounting! As life would have it, I ended up working for Tutbury Associates in 2007 to help out my mum Sheryl, and then became pregnant with my first child. When Sheryl got sick and couldn’t work anymore, we had to make the decision to sell the business. This meant selling to a third party,

46 | focusmagazine.co.nz

unless I chose to step up and buy it. After seeking advice and doing some deep soul searching, I decided buying the business was the best option. So, here I am five years later, still in the local community, growing steadily and loving it! HOW IS TUTBURY’S DIFFERENT TO OTHER ACCOUNTING FIRMS? Most importantly, we are a dedicated, friendly team of accountants and chartered accountants who have a great sense of humour and like to have a laugh. Clients pick up that vibe as soon as

BUSINESS | focus

they walk into our office and feel instantly at ease. We also pride ourselves with keeping up-to-date with technology, and have been using Xero online accounting software for the last 12 years. We love showing our clients how integrated cloud-based systems can save them so much time, money and stress. What really differentiates Tutbury’s is that we make time to sit down with our clients to talk broadly about their business – not just about accounting or compliance matters but any business issue. We take time to answer their questions, help them get to grips with new technologies and walk them through anything they don’t understand. Visiting your accountant is not supposed to be scary or intimidating, and we want clients to feel they can call us or drop in at any time for a chat. At the same time, your accountant should be the eyes and ears of what’s happening in the business sector and we make sure we keep clients regularly updated on sector news. WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS? Our clients range from sole operators to large SMEs, and while many are local, our cloud-based systems allow us to work with clients throughout New Zealand and even in other countries. We frequently work with clients starting up businesses from scratch, many of whom have no business experience at all. We work intensively with all our start-up clients for the first 6-12 months to help them get on the right track from the very beginning. The most successful of these clients all have business plans in place and review them regularly. WHAT OTHER SERVICES DO YOU OFFER? We offer business advisory services and can help clients with business planning, financial planning, payroll, cashflow management, tax management, quarterly coaching and so on. Our objective is to help them achieve their goals and, as a business advisor, I can bring a fresh perspective, vision and new ideas to their business that they might never have considered before. By working through an extensive evaluation of their business, I can help clients determine where their strengths lie as well as the areas they need to work on. I ensure they have someone they can confide in, brainstorm new ideas with and trust to give consistent, reliable advice to meet their business needs. We also host a series of regular seminars on a variety of accounting and financial topics. These seminars are designed to help people get their head around complicated finance issues in a simple and easy-to-understand manner, so they can be better informed in their business decision making. And the best part is, these seminars are free to attend. Keep an eye on our Facebook page, or ask to sign up to our free client newsletter. You can still attend seminars even if you’re not a client. 

To find out more about our services, please contact the team at Tutbury’s for a free initial consultation. I always offer the first meeting free of charge so we can get to know each other and find out what you, the client, are looking for in an accountant. If you are from out of town, or live offshore, we offer meetings over zoom or skype. Tutbury & Associates is committed to giving back to our community. Through Social Giving, we are proud to support the amazing work of children’s charity KidsCan. tutburyassociates.co.nz admin@tutburyassociates.co.nz T: 07 576 2194 focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | BUSINESS

Intersectionality for diversity DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ARE TWO BUZZ WORDS IN ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT BUSINESS, ACTIVISM, POLITICS, COMMUNITY WORK AND PLENTY OF OTHER TOPICS. THEY ARE THEMES FOR CONFERENCES AND STRATEGIC PLANS FOR VIRTUALLY ALL ORGANISATIONS. RESEARCH AND BUSINESS CASES EMPHASISE THAT ORGANISATIONS WITH GREATER GENDER AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY ACHIEVE BETTER PERFORMANCE, BUT THERE IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE IN ACHIEVING EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITIES AND REPRESENTATION.

Image by rawpixel.com / Freepik

Words RHEMA NANTHAM

48 | focusmagazine.co.nz

BUSINESS | focus

Image by rawpixel.com / Freepik

ccording to non-profit business consultancy Catalyst, as at August 2019, 87% of global organisations have at least one woman in a senior management role but only 29% of senior management roles are held by women. Internationally, New Zealand ranks 33rd out of 35 countries with women in senior management roles, according to a recent Grant Thornton study. Although there has been progress, women are still under-represented and the number of women leaders is increasing at a glacial pace. Stats NZ census data highlights the growing ethnic diversity within Aotearoa but it is also exceedingly obvious when stepping out of our front doors that our communities are becoming more multicultural. However, living in a globalised world and seeing the unique life stories and journeys of different humans, we can see that diversity encapsulates a range of factors that make up an individual and their identities, despite the predominant focuses for diversity being gender equity and ethnic variety. As an Indian-Sri Lankan-Chinese young woman, who is originally from Malaysia, and who grew up in the Philippines before making my way to Aotearoa at 18, I am included in diversity, not solely because of my gender and ethnic makeup, but because of all the other facets and experiences that intersect to form my identity. My gender and multicultural heritage achieve the diversity tick box but there are many other dimensions to my identity that amplify my ability to contribute to diversity. For example: my experiences of spending my adolescence outside of my home country, moving to a new country on my own, making a life here for myself and building a career as a foreigner in a range of industries, being in a hetero inter-racial marriage with a Kiwi man and being a young woman. When diversity expands to be understood as more than a quota and a few visible factors, we start working towards creating a collective that cross-pollinates a wide range of voices, views and lenses that could work inclusively and cohesively to dismantle bias and implicit discriminations in our decision making and how we perceive the world, thus expanding our views on our reality. We are naturally wired

for homogeneity because, historically, we have been exposed to certain patriarchal social constructs and we live with blinders that prevent us from understanding other people’s experiences, continuing a cycle of second-generation bias. We know that individually we are multidimensional and have unique qualities, abilities, strengths, weaknesses, opinions, experiences and so on. So we need to ultimately remember that other people are also multidimensional and, like us, their identities have a variety of factors and facets that intersect to define themselves. These intersecting aspects of our identities are best understood as intersectionality. Intersectionality, coined by the wonderful Kimberlé Crenshaw (law professor at UCLA and Columbia) in 1989, is the vehicle to understanding the multidimensional nature of who we are, and unpacks the effects of different forms of bias and discrimination that we face based on the factors of our identities (e.g. gender, age, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, language etc.) that intersect and overlap. In the last decade, the term is becoming more commonly used by academics, practitioners, politicians and many different diversity allies to highlight that we are more than just our gender and/or our ethnicities. As such, we need to understand and reflect on our intersectionality to include others’ intersectionality in achieving diversity. We need to start thinking of our own intersectionality in the actions we practise and the decisions we make by having enough space in our own awareness of our experiences to create safe spaces for someone else’s experiences to hear different voices and stories. We can’t always

understand everyone’s experiences but we can learn to understand how people process their realities and experiences through their lenses. Our intersectionality is like a fingerprint – no one else has the same intersectionality as us. Let’s start having conversations about our intersectionality and listening to others’ intersectionality to hear and appreciate the diverse stories, experiences, skills and views that will benefit and improve our organisations and communities. Let’s work together by bravely acknowledging and understanding the underlying biases and values that drive our decisions and frame our lenses. So tell me, what is your intersectionality? 

Rhema Nantham is a PhD candidate with Massey University. She is learning from women’s international adolescent experiences to advance leadership development globally. Amplifying the voices of third culture kids for diversity and inclusion and helping women better understand their identities for leadership are her passions.

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | BUSINESS

Nutrition

on the go

LIFE IS BUSY, RIGHT? WORK DEADLINES, FULL INBOXES, CHILDREN TO LOOK AFTER, NEVERENDING TO-DO LISTS – IT’S A CONSTANT PRESSURE. WITH FOOD SO EASILY ACCESSIBLE, COOKING FROM SCRATCH AND EATING HEALTHILY OFTEN FALLS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PRIORITY LIST. YET, BETTER CHOICES CAN BE EASY, EVEN FOR THE BUSIEST OF US. Words RENEE NORMAN & JENNA SMITH

afeteria runs for the most convenient and quickest thing to eat at lunchtime, takeaways or deliveries after work are becoming a part of our reality without us even noticing it. Convenience eating often results in people not hitting all macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein and fats) in their main meals, which causes them to constantly feel hungry, overeat and gain weight. The ‘grab and go’ mentality takes its toll through loss of energy, lack of concentration and increased stress. Nothing can replace what quality nutrition and real food can do for your health. Food is information. It's got a set of instructions that tells every single cell within your body exactly what to do every second of the day.

PLAN AHEAD We can see eyes rolling and we can hear “but I don’t have time for that!” thoughts, but the saying is so true – if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Taking time to prepare is essential for nailing nutrition.

50 | focusmagazine.co.nz

Write out a meal plan for the week and have it visible, make a couple of meals and save them in the freezer for nights where you know you’ll be running late. Even go as far as pre-chopping your vegetables so they are ready to toss in a pot or roasting tray whenever you need them. Make it as easy as possible for yourself.

COOK ONCE, EAT TWICE Cook extra at dinner time and get out some extra containers to serve up lunch for the next day. Be sure to lock your lunch into containers at the same time you serve dinner; this will help you stick to appropriate portion sizes.

PRE-PORTION YOUR SNACKS Snacking is a habit a lot of desk-bound workers get into. Even when you’re eating well, constant snacking prevents you from keeping track of how much you are actually eating. Use little containers with pre-portioned quality snacks, such as nuts,

BUSINESS | focus

bliss balls or crackers. Having them already broken down into appropriate serving sizes means you won't be tempted to mindlessly eat the whole packet.

QUALITY HYDRATION Always do your best to keep water as your main drink. Avoid fizzy drinks, sugar-laden juices and energy drinks. These are just empty calories that don't provide any nutritious benefit. Buy yourself a big 1.5 litre drink bottle and make a conscious effort to drink at least two bottles each day. Keeping hydrated is incredibly important; when you are dehydrated it’s harder to concentrate and every task becomes more difficult. If you struggle to remember to drink enough water there are some great free apps that can help, such as Aqualet and My Water Balance.

AVOID THE 3PM SLUMP! We’ve all been here, right? It’s like the

productive day comes to a grinding halt and all you can think about is diving into the lolly jar and heading down the road to grab a double-shot coffee. A great way to avoid this happening in the first place is to think about your breakfast and lunch, and ensure you are including quality sources of all three macronutrients – carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Ticking all three macros will leave you feeling satisfied for longer and will sustain your energy levels. If you still struggle around that 3pm mark, then get up and go for a short walk in the fresh air. You’ll boost your productivity for the afternoon and avoid the empty calories.

LAY OFF THE COFFEE Don't worry, there is nothing wrong with the occasional coffee, but it can be damaging to our health if we overconsume it. Try to limit your coffee to one or two a day max, and avoid coffee after lunch. Coffee is a stimulant and when consumed later in the day,

there is a high chance it will impact your sleep. If you're under stress, opt for a decaf. Caffeine releases the hormone, adrenaline, which can leave an already stressed person feeling overwhelmed, anxious and unable to concentrate. Not only this, too much coffee can stop us from absorbing nutrients and puts added pressure on our adrenal glands and liver.

OUTSOURCE There are some incredibly good food delivery options that are available for those who struggle with time and meal planning. They take the thinking out of ‘what should we have?’ They usually do a great job at taking care of portion control and ensuring all food groups are covered. If your nutrition is constantly falling behind and you’re in a position to purchase an option like this, it’s a great investment. To give the best of yourself to the world you can’t put a price on your nutrition! 

REAL HEALTH NZ is an online gym with a whole library of recipes and a great community of like-minded women. Realhealthnz.co.nz

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | BUSINESS

DO THE HARD THINGS FIRST

WE OFTEN DON’T WANT TO DO THE HARD THINGS AND MUCH PREFER DOING THE ENJOYABLE THINGS. IF SOMETHING ISN’T ENJOYABLE, THEN, AT LEAST, WE WANT IT TO BE EASY.

52 | focusmagazine.co.nz

BUSINESS | focus

et, the enjoyable things often aren’t very helpful. And the easy things usually don’t provide a lot of return for our time. The ability to make yourself do the hard things is a big determiner of how successful you’ll be.

FOR EXAMPLE: • Squats are hard. Leg extensions are easy. Guess which is more effective for strengthening your legs?

Background Image by rkues1 / Freepik

• Cold calling expired listings and databases is hard. Holding an open house is easy. Guess which is more effective for making money as a real estate agent? • Sweeping a floor is easy. Scrubbing a floor on your hands and knees is hard. You already know which is going to clean your floor more effectively.

CONSIDER THESE IDEAS: 1. You have more energy and focus early in the day. Attack the hard thing when you’re fresh. It’s only going to be more challenging later in the day. 2. You can spend more time on the hard thing. If you wait until later to do the hard thing, you might run out of time to complete it. Since the hard thing is often the most important thing, you should spend enough time on it to complete it. 3. The rest of the day is more enjoyable. If you have something unpleasant hanging over your head all day, you just can’t enjoy the day as much. Get the hard thing off your plate, so you can enjoy the remainder of your day.

“If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first.” - Mark Twain

Well-known self-help guru Brian Tracy uses this quote as an apt metaphor for effective time management. In his book Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time, Tracy’s emphasis is on tackling the hardest and most important thing on your to-do list first thing every morning. Eating the frog means just do it, otherwise the frog will eat you, meaning you'll spend the whole day procrastinating. 4. It builds self-esteem and confidence. Everyone else avoids the hard things. Be the person who attacks them. You’ll feel great about yourself and know that you can do anything that needs to be done. Your potential increases greatly when you can reliably get yourself to do unenjoyable tasks. 5. It can help your career. Once you’re known as the person who can do the hard things, you’ll be highly respected and considered reliable. Most people have excuses for not doing the hard thing. 6. Avoid thinking too much about it. It’s best to get started on your hard thing without spending too much time thinking about it. It’s like eating the frog. Just eat it. You don’t want to stare at it all day. The frog only becomes bigger and uglier over time. 7. Decide what your “frog” is for the day. The night before, determine what your most awful task is for the next day. Schedule it as early in the day as possible. When the time comes, attack that frog with everything you’ve got. Some tasks are just unpleasant. There are even unpleasant tasks which provide little value but must be done. It’s best to get your unpleasant tasks done as soon as possible. If the unpleasant task is high value, it deserves to be accomplished first. If the unpleasant task is low-value, just get it out of the way as soon as you can. If you can reliably do the hard things first, you’ll find that you’re much more successful. You’ll also be happier, because you won’t have to stress about those hard things more than necessary. 

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | LAST PAGE

KELLY BOUZAID CEO, Cambridge Business Chamber

NO OTHER ORGANISATION REPRESENTS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY LIKE A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THE CAMBRIDGE BUSINESS CHAMBER ENGAGES WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED WITH ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN LEVEL 1. WITH A FOCUS ON ADVOCACY TOWARD A HEALTHIER ECONOMY AND ALIGNING BUSINESS, COUNCIL, AND GOVERNMENT, THE CHAMBER AIMS TO PROVIDE A VOICE FOR INITIATIVES RELEVANT TO OUR MEMBERS.

WHAT’S THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB? The Chamber offers such diversity and opportunity to make a real difference in the business community. Covid-19 brought about a crisis management role and it has been my privilege to guide and support so many businesses during this time. Cambridge is a town of primarily small/mediumsized businesses and I have been inspired by the tenacity, Kiwi ingenuity and resilience of our business owners. Being new to the region, I’ve found the Chamber to be a fantastic way to meet so many talented individuals and businesses. I am blessed to work with two wonderful women who have an incredible work ethic and who so willingly accept my initiatives despite creating so much additional work for them! WHAT DO YOU LOVE DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME? My daughters and I left Waiheke Island to follow equestrian pursuits. During the show jumping season (SeptemberMarch) we travel thousands of kilometres around the North Island to compete. Our horsing adventures allow us to see rural New Zealand in quite an extraordinary way. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE, FAIL-SAFE RELAXATION ACTIVITY? In summer, it would be swimming in the sea and, in winter, it would have to be a long soak in a bubble bath with a good book!

54 | focusmagazine.co.nz

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? With a passion for travel, I started my career in a travel agency and at 23 became national sales manager for Ansett NZ – these were some of the best years in my career. I feel very lucky to have travelled far and wide and I am truly saddened at the impact Covid-19 has had on both tourism and aviation. WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN? I was sitting in Kevin Robert’s office (when he was CEO of Lion Nathan, before his Saatchi and Saatchi days) many years ago and he shared some advice that has held me and others in good stead over the years: When considering a career move, to mitigate risk, you should only change one of these three things at once: role, industry, geography. I have, on occasion over the years, changed more than one of these at a time, and it is certainly more challenging and takes time to excel in your new role! IF YOU COULD HOP BACK 20 YEARS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF? Live in the now and worry less – life is short! 

GIVEAWAYS | focus

GIVEAWAYS ENTER AT FOCUSMAGAZINE.CO.NZ/WIN | ENTRIES CLOSE 13 SEPTEMBER 2020

Forever Mum prize pack

Being a mum is forever and this holistic range will support you with every step, making sure you, your partner and your baby receive essential nutrition before, during and after pregnancy. We’re giving away two Forever Mum prize packs. Each is worth $300 and includes the Fertility Cleanse, Her Conceive and His Health, Pre-Conception + Pregnancy Multivitamins, DHA Baby Brain Builder, Pregnancy Probiotics, Ginger Drops and Milk Supply.

Linen & Stone French inspiration bundle A one-off design cushion using an old French rose tapestry teamed with new floral linen, backed with new herringbone linen and filled with a quality feather inner from Feathers & Co; a Marius Fabre olive oil cube soap – used for everything in the French home. Brocante treasures including an old French pottery cheese mould, wire sieve and an authentic, old embroidered French linen torchon.

SEEDLIP NON-ALCOHOLIC ESPRESSO MARTINO KIT Seedlip is the world’s first distilled nonalcoholic spirit that is also calorie-free, sugarfree and artificial flavour-free. This kit includes the tools, the recipe and the ingredients needed to create a delicious non-alcoholic version of every party’s classic show stopper.

focusmagazine.co.nz

MAKE A BIG IMPACT WITH OUR WIDE FORMAT SOLUTIONS ROLL MEDIA AND SOLID SUBSTRATE

POSTERS LABELS SIGNAGE

COMPANY STATIONERY INVOICES STATEMENTS DOCKET RECEIPT BOOKS BOOKLETS PROGRAMMES INVITATIONS TICKETS PRESENTATION FOLDERS BROCHURES FLYERS PADS ENVELOPES LABELS POSTERS … AND SO MUCH MORE!

OFFSET PRINTING Producing top quality printing to suit any large run print job … efficiently and cost effectively. Ideal for catalogues, newsletters, manuals, invoice/statements, quote books and other higher quality orders.

DIGITAL PRINTING Solving quick turn-around, cost-effective short-run printing needs … solutions from business cards, brochures and flyers to small and large booklets.

FINISHING Presenting the optimal finish … options from binding and trimming to numbering and perforating, foiling and embossing to creasing, padding, folding and/or die-cutting and laminating jobs from business cards to A2.

62 Tenth Ave, Tauranga, 3110 Phone: 07 578 6838

info@sanyatiprint.co.nz sanyatiprint.co.nz