Junction February 2017 by Junction Mag

Junction

ISSUE 16

PEOPLE & HAPPENINGS

FEB 2017

PUHOI TO WAIPU

• VALENTINE’S DAY

FREE

• FISHEYE FILMS • FREE RANGE WINES

ITION

E EC O

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Junction

CONTENTS

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N E W & N OT E D

S P OT L I G H T 0 6 f is h e y e f ilm s M A N AG I N G D I R E CTO R / P U B L I S H E R Bianca Howlett +64 21 117 2833 bianca@junctionmag.co.nz G U E S T E D I TO R Christine Sheehy hi@junctionmag.co.nz A DV E R T I S I N G Sophie Carew +64 21 028 393 44 sophie@junctionmag.co.nz DISTRIBUTION Clinton Howlett +64 21 024 04015 clinton@junctionmag.co.nz https://github.com/konsav/social-icons https://github.com/konsav/social-icons GRAPHIC DESIGN Teina Smith teina@junctionmag.co.nz GENERAL ENQUIRIES hi@junctionmag.co.nz | ads@junctionmag.co.nz CO N T R I B U TO R S Kathy Hunter, Kaye Mueller, Cath Lewis, Sophie Barclay, Louise M Photography, Sue Donkin, Roberto Buzzolan, Katherine Norman, Kim Hewitt F R O N T C OV E R : Photo by: Roberto Buzzolan Model: Kiri Sutherland Location: Hungry Elephant P R I N T E D BY I N K W I S E N Z P U B L I S H E D BY J U N C T I O N M E D I A LT D All content featured in Junction Magazine is subject to copyright in its entirety and may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the Publisher. Views expressed in Junction Magazine are not necessarily those of the Publisher. Any material supplied for publication is at the owner’s risk. All information is believed to be true by the Publisher at the time of printing.

OUR PEOPLE: The Junction family is made up of local freelancers and creatives. Each month we’ll share a profile on one of them with you.

CHRISTINE SHEEHY Our guest editor is local writer and author Christine Sheehy. She settled in Matakana almost by accident eight years ago, fresh from the London corporate scene. She and her husband Simon (and now three children) planned to settle in Auckland, but after falling in love with the relaxed vibe and gorgeous coastline, there was no going back. “I became fascinated by the many ways people create a living in the place they love. Getting to know so many creatives and entrepreneurs has been one of the best things about our move.”

PROFILE 0 8 be van wo o dwa rd - s k ypat h 10

C O V E TA B L E S h e alt h y liv i n g e s s e n t i a l s

12 14 16 18

H E A LT H Y L I V I N G t h e pr o ble m wi t h p l as t i c santo sa nat u ra l p ro d u c ts t h e f ut ur e i s z e ro e ag le s r e s t - t he eco e n t re p re n e u rs

19 20 2 2 25

DESIGN bar e fo ot bu i l d i n g t h e ins and o u ts o f he a lt hy ho m e s co ntain yo u rs e l f lo o k bo o k

2 6 2 8 2 9 30

H E A LT H Y L I V I N G t h e h o us e t hat lov e b u i lt us e yo ur no ggi n ! f inding m idl i f e co u rage h e alt h and we l l b e i n g

S AV O U R 33 r ecipe - r av i s h 34 h ung ry fo r he a lt h 36 g iv e a f r app e 37 plum e - h ig h t e a 38 f r e e r ang e wi n e s 4 0 4 2 44

VA L E N T I N E ’ S DAY sw e e t and se n sat i o n a l lo cal lov e cov e table s fo r hi m & fo r he r

4 6

MASTER CRAFTSMEN ke r ry s t r o n gm a n - t e ha n a a rts fac to ry

ARTS paul m as o n - a m a k e r

CHERISH 50 wo m e n’s ce n t re ro d n e y 52 plays pace fo r wa rk wo rt h s us tainable s o p hi e sw im o f t h e m o n t h 5 3 m atacar niva l 54

REVIEW h e alt h y r e a d i n g

HAPPENINGS 5 6 m atakana fo o d wi n e a n d b e e r f e s t i va l 59

GIG GUIDE

Nature’s Nest Where learning and discovery are nurtured by nature. Phone: 09 425 0511 33 Glenmore Drive, Warkworth www.natures-nest.co.nz 100% NZ family owned & operated

SPOTLIGHT - FISHEYE FILMS

PROFILE - BEVAN WOODWARD - SKYPATH

THE PROBLEM WITH PLASTIC

22 DESIGN - CONTAIN YOURSELF

30 HEALTH AND WELLBEING

38 SAVOUR - FREE RANGE WINES

42 VALENTINEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DAY - LOCAL LOVE

48 MASTER CRAFTSMEN - KERRY STRONGMAN

MATACARNIVAL

NEW IN STORE ANNUKKA casual wear from Byron Bay Penney+Bennett Linen REAL WORLD plant based skin care from Hawkes Bay FEBRURARY S A L E 20% off Klaylife + Wall Art CODE | FEB17

NEW & NOTED MATAKANA BOTANICALS New special guest amenities. All hospitality operators in the region will be thrilled to know that Matakana Botanicals has a new refillable amenities range utilizing there eco – lux Macadamia and Wild Fig products for guests to enjoy. Line up includes: Shampoo / Conditioner / Bath & Shower Gel / Hand Wash in 360ml bottles. The range is formulated with locally grown and harvested Olive oil , Macadamia Oil and Manuka Honey. All the smart looking bottles are refillable making these very economical. Also they are helping save the environment as you are no longer disposing of lots of small plastic amenity bottles. As an option wall mounted racks are available to secure bottles and can be accessed with a key. We feel this is a great way to add to a vistors experience to our wonderful region sales@matakanabotanicals.co.nz 09 422 9216

FROGPOOLFARM INTERIORS Frogpoolfarm Interiors has finally opened a new store in Warkworth, at 15a Neville St, in the old Unicorn book shop. Designed as a shop window to the other two larger stores in Wellsford and the Dome Valley, showcases their range of beautiful leather sofas and chairs in classic styles. Their huge lighting range covers a wide range of styles from Tiffany to New York Chic studio lamps and desk lamps. They’ll also be stocking wooden cabinetry in recycled woods, display cabinets, kitchen islands, coffee tables and entertainment units, consoles and barstools, sideboards and dining tables. There’s a superb range of throws and cushions in fur, faux fur and cowhides. 15a Neville St www.frogpoolinteriors.co.nz

SPECIAL STAFFER

LEIGH TENNIS CLUB

We all know that special someone in our community who deserves a little recognition. Sotheby’s Real Estate Matakana and Pricilla’s Floral Boutique Warkworth are on a mission to say thank you to one Special Staffer each month with a bunch of flowers.

The two courts have a new high quality Tiger Turf Tournament 1000 playing surface and are available to members from 7:00am to 9:00pm using access security cards.

Nominate an employee or co-worker by emailing the following details to hi@junctionmag.co.nz by 4pm Monday 13th February. Full name, contact details, employer and the reason why they are so exceptional. This month’s winner Alex Hunter, was nominated for her work at Old School Inc, Matakana Cinemas and Wixii. On receiving her prize Alex felt there were others more deserving than her so has graciously donated her flowers to the staff at the Warkworth Birthing Unit.

Membership for the period ended 30 Sep 17 is Family $75, Senior $35, Junior under 18 $20 and Social $15 Open day on Sunday, 29 January from 2:00pm Thank you to the generous support from Rodney Local Board, Pub Charity Ltd, Leigh Community Club and local citizen donations.

13 Albert St, Leigh leightennisclubinc@gmail.com.

MATAKANA POP-UP SHOP Matakana Country Park 1151 Leigh Road, Matakana T: 09 425 5324 Open weekends fri-sun

SNELLS BEACH SHOP

Snells Beach Shopping Centre Mahurangi East Road, Snells Beach T: 09 425 5324 If the weather is mint - we are open! dive gear + hire • dive bottle air fills + testing • bait, fishing tackle + ice

WWW.FISHNDIVESNELLS.CO.NZ 4

NEW & NOTED IN LOVE WITH LOCAL Junction Magazine is spearheading ‘In Love with Local’ a networking and buy local initiative. The monthly events hosted by a different business each month will give attendants the chance to meet their business neighbours and learn more about the products and services they provide. Through these events and the facebook page the group aims to create a supportive business community which encourages positive discussions and feedback. The Facebook page is another forum in which customers are welcome to leave positive experiences, comments and referrals for others. The first networking event on Thursday 23rd February, is hosted by Matakana Cinemas the winners of the 2016 Observant Awards. Email to register your interest and join a positive discussion about business on the Matakana Coast. Membership is free. www.facebook.com/inlovewithlocal hi@junctionmag.co.nz

STUDIO 85

POWERHOOPING

CLEARYAK

The old Dough Puncher site on Omaha Flats Road is now Studio 85, the working studio of local artist Belinda Barnao. Belinda uses all kinds of exciting, non-traditional techniques to put paint on canvas and create fresh and exciting detailed work. Using resins, shellacs, French inks and oils, her works are abstract, evolve as she creates them and are open to the individual’s interpretation.

Powerhooping is a fun way to build a strong core, strengthen your back, support a good digestive system and strengthen pelvic floor muscles. It tones up the waist and hips with many people transforming their body by simply hooping for minutes a day. In the 45 minute workout at the class, people will do a mix of Powerhooping and all-over body exercises using the Powerhoop.

Clear kayaks, known as a ‘Clearyak’, are a new way to explore the marine life up-close at Goat Island Marine Reserve. The vision beneath you is amazingly clear and detailed, “it is a great way to see what’s under the water without getting in”. The experience connects you with what’s underneath, such as your local tamure (snapper), parore, rays and kelp forests, with young children particularly loving it.

The back of Studio 85 still houses the mini golf and families are welcome to play while taking in Belinda’s art. The pop up Pizza Pod will be serving wood fired pizzas there until mid-February, making it a great spot for a summer evening.

Classes are held at the Mangawhai Domain.

Brook & Sarah McRae are proud to launch this local family-run business in their community, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of Ngati Manuhiri, Auckland Council, Rodney Local Board, Auckland Transport, DOC and the local Whangateau and Leigh communities.

b.barnao@xtra.co.nz 027 222 7136

6.15am Tuesday and Thursday, 1pm and 8pm Tuesday and 7.15pm Thursday.

021 170 1267

www.clearyak.co.nz 021 141 1704

SPOTLIGHT

FISHEYE FILMS WORDS

CHRISTINE

SHEEHY

Photo by Camille Seaman

It was a knock on the door that set filmmaker Peter Young on a decade-long journey. On Peter’s doorstep was an American photographer with an intriguing invitation: travel to Antarctica to film wildlife and help save the world’s last pristine marine ecosystem, the Ross Sea. Peter, who now lives in Point Wells, said he wasn’t really a greenie but he was excited at the prospect of visiting Antarctica again. He’d spent a summer at McMurdo Station in 1985, washing dishes and falling in love with the place. He studied the Ross Sea at broadcasting school before spending almost two decades making documentaries for Country Calendar, the BBC’s Blue Planet National Geographic and Natural History New Zealand. Once back on the ice, Peter again fell under the spell of the Ross Sea. He calls it the “Serengeti of the South” because of the abundant wildlife: penguins, Weddell seals, killer whales, and the bottom-dwelling, antifreeze-producing Antarctic toothfish, about which little is known. It was a living laboratory, the last opportunity for scientists to study a healthy marine ecosystem without pollution, over-fishing or invasive species. But the integrity of that ecosystem was under threat from commercial fishing, in which New Zealand was — and is — a major player.

matakana coast 6

“When you’re down there, it’s so compelling,” said Peter. “It just struck me that it was pure unadulterated nature. Protecting it was a no-brainer.” So Peter became a trustee of the Last Ocean Charitable Trust, alongside the American photographer, John Weller, and US-based ecologist Dr David Ainley. Their mission was to have the Ross Sea internationally recognised as a Marine Protected Area with a complete ban on commercial fishing. So began his foray into the world of campaigning, geopolitics and big business. “The issue was never sustainability or how well we fish,” says Peter. “It’s about what we value. So much is still unknown about the Ross Sea. It has far greater value as an intact ecosystem than as a commercial fishing ground.” Despite his political pedigree—his father Venn Young was a minister under Muldoon, brother Jonathan is the MP for New Plymouth and sister Audrey is the political editor of the New Zealand Herald—Peter never had political aspirations. He, John and David travelled the length of New Zealand and right across the United States, from community halls to the finest New York restaurants, talking to scientists, policy makers and people on the street about the Ross Sea.

local branch now open

Peter captured the journey in the self-funded documentary feature film, The Last Ocean . He and his wife Tracy Roe, with whom he runs production company Fisheye Films, were then living in Christchurch and running the campaign from their garage, while producing back-to-back series of Coasters and Hunger for the Wild with restauranteurs Al Brown and Steve Logan, for TV One. The city was in post-earthquake chaos in 2013 when Peter took the film on a crowd-funded tour of international film festivals across the US and Europe, ahead of a meeting of the 25 Antarctic nations. Along the way, it collected a slew of awards and attracted the attention of then US Secretary of State, John Kerry. Returning to their central city home after weeks on the road, Peter was struck by the remarkable creative spirit emerging from the urban rubble. A Dance-o-Mat, guerrilla gardening initiatives, peddle-powered cinema and open-air bars had popped up in derelict spaces, while street artists were transforming exposed concrete walls into vivid murals. So he picked up his camera and started filming. The result is The Art of Recovery, an awardwinning feature film and a portrait of a city in transition, the healing power of creative

phone 09 425 8682 www.carltonpartyhire.co.nz

Baby Weddell Seal coming up for air, photo by John Weller

Adelie Penguin, photo by John Weller

expression and the desire of the people to influence the re-creation of their own city. “It was urbanism unfolding in this really organic way,” says Peter. “Thank goodness we took the time to make the film, because it was so transitional and before long the collective memory will have been forgotten.” In 2015, Peter, Tracy and their boys Matai (9) and Harper (8) made a long-planned move north to be closer to family, exploring in a campervan before settling in Point Wells. “We love it here, the community is fantastic,” says Peter. “It’s been great to share our work and receive such local support.” Late last year, The Last Ocean project took a massive step forward when the 25 Antarctic nations created a 1.55 million kilometre Marine Protected Area—the world’s largest—in the Ross Sea. The couple celebrated with sold-out screenings at Matakana Cinemas in November. It wasn’t a complete victory—the sanctuary excludes the sea’s most productive and heavily fished areas. But Peter is pragmatic about the diplomatic challenges involved in convincing countries like Norway, China, Russia and Japan to come to the marine conservation table. There’s a catch in his voice as he describes the MPA as “an awesome result”.

Peter and wife Tracy in Antarctica

So what’s next for Fisheye Films? They’re busy creating promotional and music videos and working with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise to help exporters share the stories behind their products. And they’re excited about the possibilities of virtual reality and 3D technology to take viewers to previously unreachable landscapes, like the Ross Sea.

Director Peter Young, photo by Fisheye Films

Tracy and Peter also see other feature films in their future. Ideas are always percolating, but there’s no rush. As Peter says, “you only make the stories that you want to tell.” Besides, you never know who is going to knock on the door. www.fisheyefilms.co.nz info@fisheyefilms.co.nz

Big Green chairs, Christchurch, photo by Fisheye Films

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PROFILE

BEVAN WOODWARD - SKYPATH WORDS

CHRISTINE

SHEEHY

Bevan Woodward on top of the Harbour Bridge, photo by Andy Smith

Matakana commuters take note: If you’re driving back from Auckland in the evening, don’t be surprised if you get a text from Bevan Woodward. The sustainable transport planner and “professional badgerer” has spent the last nine years hitching lifts from his Point Wells home to the city, knocking on – or more accurately, banging his head against – political and institutional doors in a bid to make Auckland a more cycle and pedestrian-friendly city. Chief among his projects was his role as director of SkyPath, the $33.5 million pedestrian and cycling pathway to be suspended below the eastern clip-on of the Auckland Harbour Bridge from Westhaven Marina to Northcote Point. After more than a decade of campaigning and protesting, resource consent for the project was finally granted in November. Bevan didn’t even own a bike back in 1999, when he spent his daily commute pondering why it wasn’t possible to ride over the Harbour Bridge. He sent a “naïve” handwritten inquiry to the forerunner of NZTA, Transit New Zealand, whose nice idea can’t be done response sparked a decade-long mission. “The scoundrels fobbed me off completely,” says

Bevan. “It really triggered me. I knew that it was wrong on a high level, so I began to badger them.” He bought a bike, joined Cycle Action Auckland, and the Get Across campaign was born. While Auckland Council was supportive, Bevan would spend the next decade promoting the “huge benefits” of walking and cycling to NZTA and other government organisations. “I attended so many meetings and just got nowhere. We needed a flagship project and that was SkyPath.” Still, the fob offs continued. “They said it wasn’t possible, we couldn’t afford it or it was a waste of money,” says Bevan. “It was a contrast of aspirations really. They were big institutions, focused on motorway building and network efficiency.” In 2009, after a third proposal was rejected, Bevan organised a public demonstration. When NZTA denied permission to cross the bridge, the 5000-strong crowd broke through police barricades on foot, bicycle, unicycle and even stilts, closing all four northbound lanes. “It was one of the best days ever,” says Bevan. “I was almost ready to give up, but the support was really inspiring and motivated me to work as hard as I could to see it through.”

SkyPath spans across harbour, artwork by Reset Urban Design

The protest brought NZTA back to the table, along with welcome media attention. Engineers and other consultants offered support, often deferring fees or donating time. “I’d never organised a public demonstration before, but I think we need more civil action.” There is, Bevan says, a huge amount of institutional resistance to walking and cycling initiatives. “It’s all about the business case. I come from an accounting and finance background, but it sickens me because that doesn’t adequately consider the social or environmental aspects. How do we put a value on destroying the planet? “If I raise carbon emissions or climate change, I just get a smirk. It doesn’t carry any weight, nor do the social effects of roading projects, like traffic noise or the impact of a road that severs a community.” Bevan says the dichotomy of economy versus the environment is redundant thinking. “We need to start thinking about what’s good for both the economy and the environment.” Bevan inherited his sense of social justice from his mother Pam, a solo mum and a strong advocate for her peers back in the day. “She couldn’t get a mortgage in her own name. I saw that struggle…

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SkyPath observation deck view, artwork by Reset Urban Design

Now when I see something in society that’s wrong at a high level, I want to do something about it.” Watching his Mum take in children from the local orphanage for the weekend, deeply affected the young Bevan. He and his wife Gera Verheul have fostered over 40 children and while on the whole it has been a “great experience”, he admits it’s a roller coaster. “When the kids leave, I feel down for a couple of days. We don’t hear about them again. But the highs come from giving what you can.” With the delivery of SkyPath now in the hands of the professionals, Bevan has switched his focus to other transport-related projects. He was a key player in the creation of the cycleway between Point Wells and Omaha, and he’s now working with local board member Allison Roe, the Matakana Coast Trail Trust and community groups to create a network of walking trails from Puhoi to Pakiri. He’s keen to develop more paths, and is currently working on safer speed management across the country. “I do love Auckland, but I struggle with the traffic. Living in a community that is safe for walking and cycling is really important to me.” www.skypath.org.nz Bevan Woodward cycles his local trail from Matakana to Omaha

CO V E TA B L E S

HEALTHY LIVING ESSENTIALS

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1. GroBot™, www.eaglesrest.co.nz 2. Blue Planet Eye Wear, www.katyamaker.com 3. Honey Wrap Reusable Food Wrap, Black Shed Waipu 09-432 0318 4. Real World Hand & Body Soak, www.mooimooi.co.nz 5. Earth Botanicals Salt Scrub, www.matakanabotanicals.com 6 .Pure Pouch Water, www.hungryelephant.nz 7. Lemurian Springs Face & Body Mist & Structured Colloidal Silver Spray,

www.hungryelephant.nz 8. Merino Wrap, www.katyamaker.com 9. Blue Earth Lip Care, Kakiriki Mangawhai 09-431 4070 10. Glassware handblown from recycled glass, www.mooimooi.co.nz 11. Santosa Hand Wash & Good For Everything Spray, Tea & Tonic 09-422 9083 12. Eco Surf Wax, www.oceangypsy.co.nz

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19. 13. Milly J Design Organic Wheat Bag, Kakiriki Mangawhai 09-431 4070 14. Luscious Shave Soap, Kiera May Boutique FB @kieramay.boutique 15. Wash Bar Soap For Dogs, Animal Natural Health 09-423 0574 16. Taster Pack Blend10, www.coffeecapsules2u.co.nz 17. Zuperzozial Bowl, www.hungryelephant.nz 18. Bamb U Watch, Urban Industrial 09-422 3045 19. Zuperzozial Salad Server, www.hungryelephant.nz

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H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

THE PROBLEM WITH PLASTIC WORDS

RAQUELLE DE VINE

Matakana local Raquelle de Vine is on an expedition to clean up plastic in the South Pacific Gyre. This is her account of the voyage so far.

PHOTOS

ALGALITA

MARINE

RESEARCH

tiny, barely visible to the human eye, yet cause enormous damage to the marine ecosystem.

I am writing while at anchor aboard the oceanographic research vessel the Alguita, in Hanga Roa Harbour on Rapanui, Easter Island. We arrived here from the Galapagos Islands just before Christmas, seven weeks into an eightmonth expedition focused on plastic pollution in the South Pacific Gyre.

This expedition is facilitated by the Algalita Marine Research and Education Organisation, based in Long Beach, California. Algalita has been at the forefront of marine plastic pollution advocacy and science since 1997, when one of its founding members Captain Charles Moore sailed through the North Pacific Gyre and discovered the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’.

The South Pacific Gyre is a system of circular ocean currents formed by the earth’s wind patterns and rotational forces. It stretches from Australia to South America. The circular motion of the currents sucks in rubbish and debris, causing it to settle, trapped and concentrated, at the centre of the Gyre. Many of the fragments are

Algalita’s primary focus is on expeditions to gather scientific data and research material to teach the world about the plastic pollution epidemic. Crews venture out beyond any nation’s exclusive economic zone, far away from civilization and at the mercy of the sea, to chase and catalogue the impacts of our existence.

AND

EDUCATION

All seems pretty far away from Matakana though right? So how did I get here? It was a whirlwind combination of events – and I suddenly woke up and realised I am living my dream. Years ago, I saw a three year-old boy at the beach with his family, watching a plastic bag floating in the shallows through his goggles. I remember looking at crabs and juvenile fish when I was young… not plastic. Are the next generations going to grow up thinking this is the norm? After completing my Bachelor in Sustainability and Outdoor Education at Christchurch Polytech (now known as ARA), I couldn’t get the issue of plastic pollution out of my mind. The oceans are important to all of us, yet every year 8,000,000 tons of man-made, non-biodegradable plastic are discarded and enter the ocean.

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ORGANISATION

This plastic causes obstructions, is changing ecosystems, altering the food chain at all levels and creating aesthetic pollution everywhere and is 100% caused by humans. There are many fights to be fought: climate change, deforestation, mining, overfishing, starvation and war. I want my voice to be for the ocean, and the cancerous infection that plastic has become on the ecosystem. It is not easy, nor feasible for everyone to address these issues but I am blessed enough to live in a country and a generation where I have all my needs met over and beyond, so why not ensure I do something more with the time I am given? So in 2014, I wrote to Algalita’s education director, and then travelled to the USA to volunteer at the organisation’s International Youth Summit. Then in April last year, I received a random late-night phone call asking if I would like to crew aboard the next expedition. I jumped at the chance.

As I write, it has been 64 days since we departed Long Beach, and every single day of our voyage we have seen evidence of plastic pollution. We put down 333 micron nets to collect trawl samples and within 30 minutes, multiple plastic fragments have shown up. Other times we pull in debris floating by: ghost nets, Coca-Cola and Pepsi plastic bottles; buoys; a Talley’s fish bin (a New Zealand sustainable seafood company); buckets and fragments (a total of 36 macro pieces so far). Then there are the tiny plastic particles we find in the stomachs of the fish we catch to eat, or as we scan the shores of the remote places we have visited. These including both the Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Area with an established Marine Protected Area since 1998 and Rapanui, Easter Island, one of the most isolated places in the world. The beaches here are littered in micro to macro debris, all weathered from its time at sea, travelling from far and wide to reach these beautiful places which are undeserving of the world’s trash! The day-to-day journey that this expedition holds is pretty epic. Being out on the big blue at the hands of Tangaroa, we see and experience a lot that few get to see: the sunsets, the storms, the calms, the companionship, the isolation and the confinement, all while learning about the issue of plastic pollution. Each week I share accounts of our findings on the Algalita blog. I hope to bring more awareness to what is going on not so far from New Zealand shores.

www.algalita.org raquelle@algalita.org Instagram: RaquelleD

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H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

SANTOSA NATURAL PRODUCTS WORDS CHRISTINE

When Katie Higgins’ friends threw her a baby shower just over a year ago, she was happy to receive several gifts of eco-friendly baby products. But when she turned over the bottles, she discovered each one had a long list of ingredients she couldn’t pronounce. “I’d been interested in natural living and detoxifying life for quite a few years, but becoming a Mum made me very conscious of what we are breathing in and putting on our skin,” says Katie. “I wanted to be able to look at the ingredient list and understand it. “Lots of natural products are positioned as being good for the environment. I wanted products that were good for me and the people I love, as well as being good for the environment.” Katie, a former health coach, had been “tinkering around” with her own lotions and potions for years, concocting homemade beauty products, soaps and an all-purpose cleaning spray. “Friends would come over and say ‘Mmm something smells nice.’” So when baby Cohen was just eight weeks old, she decided it was time to get to work. She whipped up batches of all her all-purpose cleaning spray

SHEEHY

PHOTOS

KATHERINE

and foaming hand soap in the kitchen of the family bach at Omaha and booked a stall at the Matakana Vintage Markets. Santosa (pronounce san-toe-sha) is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘contentment’. It’s a key element of both the Ashtanga yoga system and Katie’s personal philosophy. “It’s about being content with you who you are and where you are.” That’s why Santosa bottles bear inspirational labels designed by Katie’s sister Grace O’Hara. One reminds the user to “Surrender to what is, release what was”; another that “You are capable of incredible things”. “I wanted the bottles to be pretty enough to live on the kitchen windowsill, just like a candle or a room spray,” says Katie. “The quotes on the bottles are designed to encourage you to slow down and appreciate the small things in life.”

NORMAN

sprays uses lavender oil, which is calming and grapefruit oil, which is cleansing and uplifting. ” Does this mean cleaning my kitchen could actually be good for me? Katie laughs. “Yes!” Katie explains that even when we don’t apply products to our bodies, ingredients can still enter the bloodstream through our skin and our lungs. The chemicals contained in many cleaning products can linger in the air for hours. So what’s next for Katie and Santosa? She has a few new products in mind and she’ll be continuing with the markets. She’s also exploring retail, with Santosa products now stocked by Matakana’s Tea & Tonic. She’s mindful though, that it’s still early days. She’s proceeding carefully, in keeping with the Santosa philosophy and her other primary focus – self-care.

The words also relate to what’s in the bottle: specific blends of essential oils, witch hazel, filtered water, and Castile soap to lift dirt and cut through grease.

“It’s so important to take the time to slow down and nourish yourself,” says Katie. “Taking care of your health is vital, so put yourself first. It’s worth the extra little investment.”

“The oils have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antiseptic properties, as well as nourishing qualities. One of our multi-purpose cleaning

www.santosa.co.nz FB: Santosalifestyle

Fossick & Find .

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41 MATAKANA VALLEY RD, MATAKANA VILLAGE Tel: 021 764 183 or 09 423 0125 E: fossickandfind@xtra.co.nz , See more at website: www.fossickandfind.co.nz 15

H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

THE FUTURE IS ZERO WORDS

Rifling through the bins at the Matakana Markets has became a favourite pastime of Market Manager Fiona McGeough. However, with the markets now a zero waste event, the mixing of plastic-lined coffee cups with their compostable cousins will soon be a thing of the past. When the Matakana Village Farmers’ Market first welcomed curious locals way back in 2004, waste warriors and Rainbow Valley Farm stall holders Trish Allen and the late Joe Polaischer put zero waste firmly on the agenda. All compostables were taken back to their farm and turned into compost, and the market was proudly plastic bag-free. When Trish and Joe stopped running their stall and the market doubled in size, the spirit of zero

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waste got lost under the mounds of corn-based cups, bamboo plates and stained napkins. When Fiona joined the ranks last May, she wanted to bring it firmly back. By making the markets an official zero waste event, 90 per cent of waste is kept out of landfill (with the aid of friendly bin-side rubbish guides); waste is weighed and audited regularly and vendors serve their delicious market food on compostable serveware. “We’re just returning to the original ethos. That’s what the market has always been about.” Assisted by viticulturalist, General Manager of Brick Bay Wines, co-owner of Tuck Shop and Matakana Cinemas, and mother of two, Anna Didsbury, the duo decided to look past the bins

and tackle the wider waste issues in Matakana. The first step was to find someone to deal with green and food waste. “It’s a problem city-wide, because everybody that has a conscience is starting to move to compostables, but the Council isn’t providing the infrastructure,” says Anna. Most commercial operators send organic waste to EnviroFert in Tuakau, however the 250 kilometre round trip from Matakana seemed a less suitable option. A solution came in the form of Red Beach business Compost Couriers. Headed by 20-somethings Matt Hanson and Harrison Burt, the duo started very small, with their own compost bin in their backyard. They are currently looking at setting up a commercial composting site in the Rodney

region. Matt, who used to work for compostable serveware makers Innocent Packaging, says that working in the industry opened his eyes to the issues of infrastructure. “There are a lot people who create the packaging, but not a lot of people who collect it.” As the market’s waste-savviness grows, (thanks to a $15,000 funding injection from the Waste Minimisation Fund), Anna and Fiona will spread the ‘Zero Waste Matakana’ ethos out to retailers in the village. Anna’s latest commercial venture, Tuck Shop, will act as a trial business for new initiatives. Other ideas include creating a short, zero waste film to play at the Matakana Cinemas (co-owned by Anna and her husband Dan); an educational waste showpiece in the car park; and fixing the current public bin set-up. “Everyone is recycling so much more at home after getting our new yellow-top bins,” states Anna. “And a lot of people in this area compost. People must feel horrible when they go into a public space and just see one bin.” Given the other environmental initiatives in the village (the compost-creating, organic community garden; Torea Road’s free stall; and the local Four Square who will soon offer soft plastic recycling and whose food waste is collected and divvied out to pig farmers), Anna and Fiona hope that Matakana will become a leader in the zero waste space. But for now, Fiona and Anna have set their sights on perfecting the systems at the market, so Anna can get back to her day jobs, and Fiona can find a new hobby. FB: Matakanamarkets markets@matakanavillage.co.nz

H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

EAGLE’S REST - THE ECO ENTREPRENEURS WORDS

CATH

LEWIS

Cathy and CJ Wolfenden in their workshop, photo by Cath Lewis

We all know families that cycle together but the Wolfendens are a family that up-cycles together. Whilst others pile bicycles onto their tow bar racks, Cathy, Tom, David and CJ are hooking the latest prototype of their ‘Bin Towa’ onto their tow bar and testing it by hauling wheelie bins up and down their gravel driveway. This family is taking upcycling to new heights. Cathy and CJ (14) do most of the peddling in the pursuit of their goal to be professional upcyclers. At times, standing amid piles of shattered glass, it must have felt like it was all uphill but they now have a range of innovative, functional products that are packaged so well as to be worthy of a triumphant return to the top shelves of upmarket retail stores. CJ is home schooled, but one can’t help thinking that the most valuable part of her education is

this ‘hands on’ experience designing, testing, developing, manufacturing, packaging, marketing and selling products that are made from re-purposed materials. This apparently once-shy teenager proudly demonstrates their product range and talks of “sustainability partners” and a preference for upcycling over recycling. Eagles Rest’s flagship product is GroBot™, a self-watering hydroponic plant pot made out of two halves of a glass bottle. It uses a wick made from recycled plastic bottles to draw water up into the soil. To make things super easy you can buy a GroBot™ Herb Planter Kit to get your GroBot™ up and growing. There is a range of soy candles set into wine bottle bases (the top sections are made into very

attractive tea light covers) and a recent addition to the line up is the ‘Oil Torch Wick’, which are made from a flexible fibreglass. These very simply and safely enable you to upcycle any bottle into a citronella or oil torch and last forever. These eco-entrepreneurs have done the hard grind in low gear getting to the top of the recycling pile. They are well deserving of a strong tail wind, though I doubt they will ever take their feet off the pedals. Available online and at local markets (Matakana Creamery, Coatesville)

www.eaglesrest.co.nz info@eaglesrest.co.nz 021 257 1230

DESIGN

BAREFOOT BUILDING WORDS

Forget treated timber, fancy equipment and rigid housing plans. The ancient art of cob building is making a comeback, and all you need is teamwork, guidance and muscled calves. Cob, also known as adobe, is a natural building material made from just four ingredients: sand, clay, stones and straw. Used for centuries to construct houses in the Middle East, Northern Africa and Central Europe, these strong, solid (built to earthquake-proof standards), inexpensive and sustainable buildings use chemical-free, locally available materials and allow for curved lines and creativity. The owners of Mangawhai’s Tara Retreat, Glen Crofskey and Nicola Bradburn, first discovered cob houses through YouTube. Whetting his appetite at a one-day introduction run by the Earth Building Association of New Zealand (EBANZ), Glen met natural builders Rosa Henderson and Brento

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Freeman. They provided guidance (and the secret recipe for the cob mix) at a group workshop held at Tara Retreat last November, when would-be cob builders came together to learn the craft and build an earth cottage in the grounds. Creating the beautiful clay guest-house was no mean feat and took some 1500 hours. The majority of the building was carried out at the workshop, with 21 people stomping six hours a day for two weeks. This was followed by more building at the hands (and feet) of Hans the German WWOOFer, and help from Glen and Nicola’s children, Matisse and Riley. Complete with recycled doors, windows made from multicoloured glass, and untreated macrocarpa beams that provide structural support, the house will have a final rendering in March - once it has dried.

Despite the workload, Glen and Nicola are keen to repeat the process, with plans to build a pizza oven and a sauna. “If you can rustle up enough people to help, they come to represent a strong and unique building, crafted with love by many hands - and that’s a beautiful thing!” THE ART OF COB: Take 4m3 of clay; 4m3 of aggregate (3mm stones); 2m3 of sand and 4 bales of barley straw. Stomp generously (with the aid of music) over two weeks. Add organic food, yoga, dress up competitions and beach breaks. Leave to dry for three months. Render. Repeat. www.tararetreat.co.nz FB: tararetreat

DESIGN

THE INS AND OUTS OF HEALTHY HOMES WORDS SOPHIE

Whether building or buying, we rarely think about creating a house fit for our children’s children’s children. But Susanne Brutscher, a German building biologist, is on a mission to change the way we think about our homes - inside and out. Building biology emerged in Germany in the 1970’s, and spread to Oceania into the late nineties. Focusing on chemical-free, ‘green’ building styles (including wooden houses, mud brick and cob), the science includes aspects of medicine, chemistry, biology and psychology. “Building biology looks at the life and health of the building, the life of the people in the building, and the connection between people, their habitats and nature,” Susanne explains. The age-old adage ‘it’s what’s on the inside that counts’ also holds true for homes, insists Susanne. She suggests that before anything is purchased a whole host of factors should be considered, from

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the durability and maintenance of the product, to the production components and their disposal, as well as the health impacts of a product or material. “The more natural the better. There is almost always a natural alternative for every product in the house.” The building biologist Growing up in Bavaria among a family of architects, engineers and builders, “the general conversations were always around building houses,” says Susanne. She trained as a nurse, and found a number of patients suffered health problems due to materials used in their houses. Moving to New Zealand in 1994, she set up an eco health retreat in Nelson built to European standards (double glazing, woollen insulation, non-toxic building materials, and wooden ceilings and floors). “Everything was designed to be

healthy. We thought about the end of life of the project, making sure everything could integrate back into nature at the end.” During a period of ill health, Susanne studied to become an interior designer and a building biologist. She now runs her own consulting firm, Greenhome Designs, which focuses on building biology (including a ‘healthy house’ test) and interior design. Now based in Matakana, Susanne runs her own consulting firm, Greenhome Designs.

www.greenhomedesigns.co.nz sales@greenhomedesigns.co.nz 09 422 7372

Subscribe at www.junctionmag.co.nz Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/junctionmag

INTERIOR DESIGN | FASHION DESIGN | GRAPHIC DESIGN & MORE Booking Deadline - Tuesday 14th February Artwork Deadline - Wednesday 15th February Publication Date - Thursday 23rd February

To advertise your business in the next edition of Junction Magazine contact Sophie Carew at sophie@junctionmag.co.nz 20

NO NASTIES Some products contain hazardous materials. Keep an eye out for: Formaldehyde; a known carcinogen. Found in: Pressed wood products like medium density fibreboard (MDF), paints, wood finishes, and foam insulation. Polyurethane; a major irritant and asthma-causing agent. Found in: Foam, seating, bedding and insulation. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC); PVC production creates dioxins which interfere with hormones and are a potent carcinogen. Dioxins are also persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that stick around and bioaccumulate up the food chain.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs); these carbon compounds evaporate into the air we breathe creating longterm health impacts. Found in: Most paints. Flame retardants; very toxic chemicals added to products to reduce their flammability. They also persist in the environment. Found in: Fabric, furniture, electronic equipment and foam cushions. Choose: VOC-free paints; secondhand or natural alternatives to foam pillows (e.g. down or feather), and mattresses (especially baby mattresses). Hold onto your old foam cushions - the longer you have them, the more they have emitted over time and the safer they are.

Found in: Plastic PVC wood flooring.

Bamboo dual purpose towel rack/window security rail

FOCUS ON: MOULD

TIMBERS

Mould is a cause for diseases including asthma. Check under the carpets, inside the walls and around windows for dampness.

Treated pine contains copper chrome arsenic, a toxic material that leaches into soil and groundwater.

Choose: Bare wood, concrete floors or tiles instead of carpets. Cover with mats or rugs that can be sun-cleaned each year, and kiss goodbye to secret mould growth and chemical carpet cleaners. COOLING/HEATING Windows are key for airflow. If a house is too airtight the costs saved in insulation will be spent on air conditioning. Choose: Small panel windows to allow cross ventilation for fresh air flow. Use passive heating from the sun to heat your house, and natural shading from deciduous trees to block the sun in summer, and let winter light in when leaves drop.

Choose: Natural timbers such as macrocarpa, douglas fir, and recycled native hardwoods. Never burn treated timber. ELECTRONICS There’s plenty of research questioning the safety of Wi-Fi, says Susanne. Some policies issued by insurance giant Lloyd’s now exclude cover for illnesses caused by longterm exposure to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones and Wi-Fi, and the World Health Organisation has classified exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields – such as Wi-Fi – as a ‘possible carcinogen’. Choose: Cables over Wi-Fi. Keep routers away from children and turn off at night.

498 Leigh Rd; When You Need A Difficult Job Done – Get Angela To Do It! This unique property needed an agent who could see past the difficult entrance, steep windy drive and the work needed to capitalise on one of the most stunning views in the area. That’s probably why it was on the market for several years before Angela was enlisted to sell it. The result? Sold for the asking price!!

Angela Wain 09 422 7067 • 027 493 6800

Mike Pero Real Estate Ltd Licensed REAA (2008)

0800 Matakana | www.mikepero.com 21

DESIGN

CONTAIN YOURSELF WORDS CHRISTINE

What are budding bach owners to do, when they’ve bought the perfect piece of land, but the bach itself is a few years away? Such was the dilemma faced by Anya and Mark Brighouse at the tail end of 2014. After several years holidaying in the area, they’d finally became the proud owners of a little plot of paradise in old Point Wells. But with the Christmas holidays fast approaching, they realised they had no way to enjoy it - and just four weeks to come up with a plan. Mark, a camper from wayback, thought tents would be the go. Interior designer Anya decided he could perish that thought. Glamping was far more her style. So a compromise was born. Anya found a company supplying modified shipping containers, and purchased a container that opened completely at the front. This would be the kitchen and dining space, and store all their belongings when they were back in the city. They had the container painted (Dulux Orakito for the interior and Dulux Black for the exterior). “We left the ply floor as it suited our purposes perfectly,” says Anya. “I had a three-metre turquoise canvas awning made for the front

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of the container, and this became our outdoor living area.” Then she set to work on the “glamping” factor. “We tried to use things we already had, or buy them locally,” says Anya. “Crates from an op shop in Mangawhai became our shelves, and we bought a lantern from Old School Inc and put a torch inside for lighting while we ate our dinner.” A garden table served as the dining table, with stools grabbed from around their Auckland home. An old pine table was repurposed as a kitchen bench, with a plastic bucket for a sink and a gas camping hob, while a freestanding pine cupboard made a fine-looking pantry. Next came the sleeping quarters. Well if it had to be tents, they were going to be lovely ones. Anya settled on two large canvas bell tents from Wildernest. One held a king-sized bed for the grown ups, the other, mattresses for their three children still at home. Then came the pretty bits – strings of fairy lights and bunting, funky shapes from the Vivian Gallery, fabric and wire lanterns, vintage jugs of flowers, a retro couch covered in bright floral upholstery fabric, crocheted rugs, colourful bed linen and a well-shaded dog bed for Ludo the labradoodle.

RESOURCE PLANNING INC At Resource Planning Inc we provide quality environmental planning and resource consent advice. We have a proven track record in assisting our clients achieve positive outcomes and pride ourselves in providing timely, accurate and cost-effective planning and urban design. As well as offering comprehensive planning appraisals and assessments, we can help with all your resource consent requirements.

Phone us on 021 618741 or email katherine@resourceplanninginc.com

SHEEHY

BRIGHOUSE

“We picked up dahlias from the market, and vegetables from the farm around the corner. A chilli bin filled with ice each morning was our fridge.” Ah yes, those practical but nonetheless important details. “Our long suffering neighbours gave us water for our first year, and in our second we had a small water tank put in place that we used for the entire summer. Our toilet was a portaloo serviced weekly. Not ideal – but we managed very well thank you!” That second summer they also upgraded the parents’ bedroom to a shed from Ecosheds, giving the teenagers more space in the bell tents for visiting friends. Now the builders have broken ground on the Brighouse’s plot of paradise, there’ll be no more glamping. The container is up for sale for someone else to enjoy and everyone’s a little nostalgic for summer days gone by. “I can safely say that the time in our container home was easily the best holidays we have spent as a family,” says Anya. “There was an easiness and an uncomplicated feel to our six weeks up there each year.” www.beautifulbedlam.co.nz

DESIGN

LOOK BOOK

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H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

THE HOUSE THAT LOVE BUILT WORDS

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Antara Retreat, photo by Sophie Barclay

Fifteen minutes from Wellsford is one of Auckland’s greatest secrets: a haven for 18 to 30 year old’s on a 22-acre, bush-fringed property where money has no value. The Antara Association was formed in 1988 by a philosophical group based on the shared kaupapa of helping others without expecting anything in return. “It’s all very easy to sit there and be new-agey and spiritual and do absolutely nothing,” says Josephine Marsden, member since the trust’s inception. “So we decided to set up an organisation to create projects that puts helping others into practice”. First came the Antara natural health clinic in Te Atatu, offering free, alternative health treatments to the poorest of the poor. Using pooled resources and donations (including $50,000 from Woolworths), the Association purchased the clinic within 18 months of its formation. The idea behind Antara Retreat was to address the lack of youth support, coupled with the shocking rates of youth suicide. “My observation is that when a young person reaches 18, the welfare system steps back and they are on their own,” says Josephine, who used to work for family support service Homebuilders. “Our philosophy

is that we all come here to help each other, and by helping each other we are helped”. With the land purchased in 1995, the 320 square metre dwelling opened its doors in 2002. Built over nearly eight years with the blood, sweat and tears of dedicated volunteers, the house uses 5000 Muriwai earth bricks created by a team of seven over three days, with a business owner offering his machinery and guidance for free. There are recycled and native timbers, an entire recycled kitchen and recycled doors too. The building also boasts solar and wetback heating systems, worm farms, a thriving orchard, a composting loo and a nettle bath - a key food source for the caterpillars of red admiral butterflies. There are no septic tanks on the property, with sewage undergoing a series of complex systems including aeration, and being pumped out (almost cleaner than when it went in, I am assured) to the shelter belts. The Retreat holds six weekends a year for small groups of young people, covering topics such as yoga, art (one was facilitated by artist Max Gimblett), meditation, and preserve-making using the figs, feijoas, plums and citrus from the property. Accommodation, attendance and food

ANIMAL NATURAL HEALTH CENTRE PET FOOD Meat: Pet Deli - great selection, suit all diets Bulk Meat Buys at great rates Fresh wild game meat - your answer to allergies No nasty chemicals or preservatives, Dry Food: Addiction, Orijen, Ziwi Peak, Organix, Acana, Mighty Mix Biscuits, Tukka Thyme Muesli. Matakana Country Park, off Omaha/Leigh Roads, Matakana. Phone 09 432 0574 10.00am - 4.00pm Mon-Sat

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is provided for free. The space is also used by groups aligning with the ethos of the Association, including Rainbow Youth and Youthline. Open weekends take place throughout the year, acting as a chance for individuals and organisations to scope out the centre, to garden, and to stay and indulge in some wholesome, whole food cooking. Operating in a money-free sphere poses its challenges, explains Leigh McIntyre, former caretaker at the Retreat. The Association cannot borrow money or rent premises. No one is paid a salary, but rates and insurance bills still need to be paid. Funds are raised through events, donations and small grants - however some grant funding could be lost due to Antara’s refusal to charge attendees. “Organisations think that if people don’t pay, they don’t appreciate what we offer,” says Josephine. “But that is the very thing we want to change in society. It’s about giving, and that giving is highvalue. So for us it’s worth it.” antara.org.nz info@antara.org.nz 09 423 7070

From top left: Attitude is everything, photo by Sophie Barclay, Yoga workshop, lunch preparation and bounty, photos supplied by Antara Retreat

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SUMMER DESTINATION Relax & unwind at the Morris & James Pottery this summer, your quintessential Matakana destination. Browse new & traditional pottery ranges created with locally harvested Matakana clay. Take shade under a tree in the courtyard & enjoy a coffee at the on-site cafe. Keep the kids entertained in the nearby playground. Plenty of parking available. Open 9am - 5pm 7-days.

M ATA K A N A C O A S T

26th February 2017

BOOKINGS CLOSING SOON!

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H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

USE YOUR NOGGIN! WORDS

Ten years ago, Janis Grummitt had a lemon-sized tumour removed from the frontal lobe area of her brain. The good news was that it was benign, the bad news was that it left her with a damaged brain. And to cap it off, during recovery she battled with major setbacks; infection, deep vein thrombosis and a massive reaction to antibiotics. People told her to accept that she’d never be the same again. Janis baulked. She threw herself into researching what she could do to rebuild her grey matter and, in the process, found not only her mind but her calling as a rewiring mentor. “The brain is notoriously lazy,” says the dynamic Matakana resident. “The grey cells are happy to marinate in old habits and patterns. Everything you do, say, think and feel is programmed into

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the fabric of the brain. Negative thoughts and emotions produce harmful chemicals that ‘rust’ the mind, positive experiences and self-talk create good chemicals. So, every time an ingrained bad habit and thought crops up, take charge, change the record.” Janis knows firsthand that it’s never too late to rewire the upper story, regardless of age. “As we age we become a caricature of ourselves, our brains become hardwired. To avoid this, cross training and change is the key,” she advises. For sharpening the cognitive abilities, the selfproclaimed Wiring Warrior shares some practical tips: “Do crossword puzzles, brain games like Sudoku and Lumosity, make music, learn a language. Laughing releases a tsunami of good chemicals.

“To develop mind-body coordination, try balancing on one leg while brushing your teeth, take up table tennis, yoga or dance lessons. The secret is in the mix of physical, emotional and cognitive change – a single activity is not enough.” Social connections are also vital for a healthy heart and brain; so are sleep and physical exercise, a healthy diet and, most importantly, a reason for being. To help build a stronger brain, Janis Grummitt offers workshops, seminars, a monthly newsletter and one-on-one sessions. Seems a no-brainer really. www.wiringwarrior.com FB: wiringwarriors 027 565 0070

H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

FINDING MIDLIFE COURAGE WORDS

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offering counselling and childbirth education, she spotted an article about life coaching and it resonated, loudly. After intensive training, her own GPS was set and in 2012 she launched her company Midlife Courage. “Counselling is like archaeology, you dig into the past,” claims Sharleen. “Life coaching is like architecture, you create something new, a space to explore and to ask ‘where to now?’” “Women are often all things to all people,” explains Sharleen. “The first half of life is often spent on marriage, kids, career, making ends meet; around the mid-forties women often start to reflect and can sometimes feel a little lost. If you ignore your inner whisperings in the forties, by the fifties they’ll be roaring for attention. Don’t wait until you’re forced into change by one of the big four; divorce, disease, death or redundancy,” Sharleen urges. Sharleen Greer has plenty planned for 2017: a workshop to set your GPS for the year (Jan 31st), a retreat in early April at Warkworth’s luxurious Kourawhero Estate, as well as one-on-one sessions where she provides the space to discover who you were/are/want to become. For Whangateau local Sharleen Greer, turning a half century proved pivotal. She had dedicated the previous decade to raising her four teenagers and now they were flying the coop. But instead of falling into a crisis, Sharleen decided to turn life’s second act into a midlife chrysalis.

Wellness had been a common thread throughout her career, initially as a nurse dispensing drugs, then as a naturopath handing out herbs and vitamins. “But something was missing with this approach,” says the expressive redhead. After some years of following a more holistic path

Treat yourself to a second wind for the second half.

www.sharleengreer.co.nz sgreer@xtra.co.nz 021 145 6432

FEIJOAS CERTIFIED ORGANIC Healthy for all your family, rich in Vitamin C and grown with Love. Available fresh daily at the kiosk, 61a Omaha Valley Rd and at Matakana Village Farmers’ Market on Saturdays March to June plus Feijoa Chutney, Jam and Jelly and Frozen Whole Feijoas available year round. Quinta Feijoas “the juice on everyone’s lips” Contact Helen 0274 364 948 | facebook.com/quintafeijoas | www.quintafeijoas.co.nz

H E A LT H Y L I V I N G

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

INGRID YOGA

SURFYOGI

Ingrid has been teaching yoga since 2000. She is a certified Yoga teacher, Yoga Health coach and Louise Hay workshop facilitator. Ingrid teaches weekly classes and runs courses for Vibrant Health and wellness with the principles from Yoga, Ayurveda and Louise Hay philosophies. With a strong belief that vibrant health is our true potential, Ingrid loves inspiring others to reach their potential.

Surfyogi is a new studio for relaxed, soulful fitness at the Omaha Beach Surf Life Saving Club - a collective of resident and guest teachers sharing land, water and air yoga and wellbeing.

3 Elizabeth St, Warkworth www.ingridyoga.co.nz 021 707 486

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday classes start 7 February with Slow Flow, Dynamic, and Broga. Workshops on Aerial Yoga, SUP Yoga, Play for miniyogis, Mala Making, and much more. $5 donated to the Omaha Beach S.L.S.C. with every pass. Studio is fully set up – so come along and enjoy yoga by the surf. www.surfyogi.co.nz bookings@surfyogi.co.nz

KIRI SUTHERLAND ASHTANGA YOGA Yoga classes and retreats in Matakana, Raglan, Gisborne, Queenstown, Hamilton, and Rarotonga. Kiri has over 15 years of experience and teaches with a gentle individual approach to improve your health and wellbeing. All levels welcome including beginners.

www.kiriyoga.nz kirisutherland@hotmail.com 021 027 89225

E’YOGA

YOGA AT OASIS STUDIO

Kelly lived in Australia for over 10 years working in the health care industry, along with studying and teaching yoga. Returning home to NZ, and pursuing her passion Kelly now runs a mobile studio on the Matakana Coast - E’yoga. E’yoga offers more than just familiar poses and breathing techniques, it offers a way to face life with renewed personal strength. Yoga styles include Power, Vinyasa and Yin with an element of mindfulness too. For lovers of the outdoors, beach yoga is on the summer timetable. Kelly has studied and trained with Duncan Peak (founder of Power Living Australia Yoga) and Keenan Crisp, Tammy Williams (founder of YOGA-NRG + Mindfulness Australia) and Bryan Kest (founder of Power Yoga).

Melanie Eade started her teacher training at Ashram Yoga Parnell in 2006. After pursuing additional Ashtanga yoga training in New Zealand and overseas she now teaches Ashtanga classes in Point Wells. Through developing her own personal yoga practice and years of massage and bodywork, she works holistically with hands on adjustments. Melanie believes that yoga is for everyone. The poses and transitions can be modified to suit all levels and limitations, from injuries to pregnancy, for younger and older students. This attentive style of teaching allows for mixed levels, to all share space in the same class, which connects a wider yoga community.

“My passion is to empower people to embrace their uniqueness, and live a happy and healthy life to their full potential, through the practice of yoga + mindfulness both on and off the mat.”

kelly@eyoga.co.nz or visit www.eyoga.co.nz 0210 420 920

Melanie teaches weekly beginner led and mysore style classes, with private sessions available for one-on-one and for groups. Her brand new yoga studio in Point Wells, is also complimented with treatment rooms for massage and beauty therapies. Treatment information and the class timetable is available to view on the Oasis website.

292 Point Wells Rd, Point Wells www.oasis.net.nz 021 960 225

ALIGN ME

MANGAWHAI PHYSIO

LIGHT MATA MASSAGE

Pain and Injury Clinic. Combining Bowen Therapy and Emmett Technique to gently and effectively treat pain, discomfort and restrictions. Results can include profound and long-lasting relief from pain as well as dramatic improvement in flexibility, balance and strength.

Specialists in Musculoskeletal pain and treatment. We are able to register ACC claims, assess, treat and refer for specialists or scans. No GP referral necessary. With over 45 years combined experience in physiotherapy you are in expert hands. We also provide massage and acupuncture. Village clinic opening in February 2017.

Enjoy a deeply relaxing, therapeutic, hot stone massage. Smooth volcanic stones are heated in an ultraviolet sterilising cabinet. The warm stones and massage increase blood flow, relieving muscle tension and pain, releasing stored trauma from your body, allowing the mind to let go, clearing negative emotions, balancing energy flow and restoring wellbeing.

4a Wood St, Mangawhai Heads. www.mangawhaiphysiotherapy.co.nz www.facebook.com/MangawhaiPhysio 09 431 4476

320 Govan Wilson Rd Matakana nick.merwood@gmail.com 022 601 4075

Release – Restore – Revive 1213 Whangaripo Valley Rd dianne@alignme.co.nz www.alignme.co.nz 09 423 9445

BOOST CHIROPRACTIC Boost Chiropractic are an innovative team who view health differently. Our vitalistic philosophy sets us apart; we incorporate all facets of your life which have led you to your current state of health. We are a family focused, results driven, award winning practice. We believe your body is designed to serve you in optimal health for a lifetime. When health leaves us there is often some type of dysfunction which results in dis-ease within the normal balance of your body. Chiropractors look to the master controlling system of your body – the brain and nerve system. When your nerve system is functioning well your body has the best opportunity to return to health and higher function in a timely manner. Chiropractic is a safe, gentle and effective lifestyle choice for the whole family. Winner of NZCA Best Emerging Practice & the David Awards Best Lifestyle Business 2016. Mention Junction Mag when you book and get a 50% discount off your initial consultation. 16 Alnwick St, Warkworth www.boostchiro.co.nz reception@boostchiropractic.co.nz 09 425 9888

TRINITY CHIROPRACTIC Dr Lindsay Best graduated from New Zealand College of Chiropractic in 2013, with her Bachelors of Chiropractic and a Diploma in Applied Science. She has recently relocated to Matakana after working in Canada for two years. Lindsay’s focus is the health and wellbeing of her customers, and she has a comprehensive approach to pain relief and wellness. Her main objective is to help restore the body to a natural pain free state by using proven chiropractic techniques, and tailoring each session to the individual’s needs. The initial examination includes a postural analysis and assessment of the nervous system, as well as a recommended treatment plan with payment options. Family wellness plans are also available. Contact Trinity Chiropractic to discuss how Lindsay and the team can help you.

lindsay@trintychiro.co.nz 09 422 7917 021 980 852

NIA

DIAMOND ROLLERS

Interested in dancing and working out at the same time? Try Nia!

Experience the world’s most advanced skin technology at the Matakana Community Hall on Mon 13 February, 2017 6.45pm - 9:00pm

Nia is a sensory based movement practice combining dance, martial arts and healing arts. Each workout brings mindfulness to your dance experience leaving you energized, mentally clean and emotionally balanced.

info@niamatakana.co.nz

General Admission $5 or Group Admission (3 seats) $12. A skin hydration system that actually works! *Natural, Vegan, Gluten Free, Halal Certified, Cruelty Free, All Ages and All Skin Types. If you are serious about your skin, you don’t want to miss this. All tickets sales will be donated to a local charity. Tickets online or cash at the door. www.eventbrite.co.nz 021 187 8014

WARKWORTH NATURAL THERAPIES We provides a truly integrated range of osteopathy, physiotherapy, massage, naturopathy, cranio-sacral therapy and specialist animal osteopathy and acupuncture. As Therapists we all believe in the power of teamwork and collaboration – and that by working together we create a caring circle of natural therapies, which embraces and supports each and every client. 12 Brown Rd (SH1), Warkworth 09 425 9045

WAIPU NATURAL HEALTH

CANDI SOO FITNESS

In 2014 - Clinical Nutritionist, Jan van der Lee purchased the run down historic, solid kauri building then operating as a second hand shop in Waipu’s main street. Jan had a vision – to offer a full spectrum of the very best Holistic therapies by local therapists and practitioners under one roof in the popular Northland town. After extensive renovations the creation of a gorgeous, harmonious, healing space - Waipu Natural Health provides just this. Therapies available include, Clinical NutritionNutritional Consulations, Hair Analysis for Masked Allergies, Crainiosacral and Reflexolgogy therapies. Ozone Therapy by Naturopathic Physician, Acupuncture and Cosmetic, Contact C.A.R.E Flinchlock Release Therapy, Counsellor, Hypnotherapist, Massage Therapies; Remedial – Deep Tissue – Sports – Cultural Body Work – Deep Relaxation and Thetahealer Change Catalyst.

At Candi Soo Fitness we recognise that not everyone enjoys working out with a crowd, waiting for equipment or being just another number in a large gym. So we are different. For a start we are in a private local countryside setting away from prying eyes and crowds. Then you get your own, fully equipped, private studio to exercise in, on your own or with a friend. You have your choice of friendly professional group classes, at your convenience, in a purpose built facility that will amaze you. And when the hard work is done, there is a private heated spa to relax in before heading on back to the real world. But don’t think it’s all easy. Your progress is monitored, motivated and recorded to ensure you are rewarded for your efforts with strong, consistent results. Guaranteed.

Our therapists are qualified, registered and hold current practising certificates. ‘Kids Day’ every Wednesday - affordable, alternative options for your child’s health www.waipunaturalhealth.co.nz 3 Cove Rd, Waipu 09 432 1325

www.candisoo.co.nz 120 Goatley Rd, Warkworth 09 422 3412

SAVOUR

RAVISH - SPICY PEANUT, TAHINI KUMARA AND QUINOA SALAD WORDS KERRI JOHNS

AND

SARAH

WILLIS

PHOTO

AMANDA

STEWART

(GF,DF, vegan) INGREDIENTS: Cup of red quinoa 500 grams red kumara oil and flaky salt 1/4 cup tahini 1/4 cup peanut butter (preferably sugar free) 1 garlic clove 1cm grated ginger 1/2 tsp chipotle powder 1 tbsp rice vinegar 3 tbsp water 1 tbsp pure maple or agaveÂ Baby spinach Handful of coriander Chopped peanuts METHOD: Boil quinoa in water as per instructions on packet. Leave skin on kumara and cut in to wedges then toss in oil and sprinkle with salt and roast at 180 degrees for aprox 30 mins. To make dressing mix all ingredients together and use the water to get desired consistency. Then toss quinoa, kumara and dressing together. To assemble put baby spinach on plate, top with the kumara/quinoa salad then sprinkle with coriander and chopped nuts.

SAVOUR

HUNGRY FOR HEALTH WORDS

Wandering through The Hungry Elephant grocery store is like exploring a modern day curiosity shop. You’ll find everything from soy cheese to noni juice, vegetable spiralisers and kits for composting pet waste. “I can’t believe I used to drive to Albany for this stuff,” says one local shopper, eagerly piling goodies on the counter. Owner Shouri Khosravi smiles. The café and store has been her dream since moving to Mahurangi

CHRISTINE

SHEEHY

five years ago. Certainly her glowing skin is a fine advertisement for the raw foods lifestyle she has observed for more than a decade.

easier to digest and you can add superfoods like acai powder or maca powder. It’s also a fun way to get the kids on board.”

So where should one start when adopting a healthier diet? Shouri heads straight to the seeds and glass jars at the back of the shop. “Sprouting is an easy way to supplement your diet with fresh, raw, green foods and it doesn’t take up a lot of space or require a lot of maintenance.”

She glides on to the supplements section. “If you choose only one supplement, go for probiotics. Gut bacteria is so important for digestion and so many processed foods destroy our intestinal flora.

Next on the list is smoothies. “Blended greens are

“You can take probiotics as a liquid, a powder, or simply add them to your diet with kefir coconut yoghurt, kombucha or sauerkraut.”

Shouri admits preparing raw foods does take time, but she sees it as an investment in her health. “When I’m 100% raw, I feel like I’m walking on air instead of earth. I have this heightened awareness, I’m all happy and ready to challenge the day.” She’s also keen to challenge ideas about the costs of raw food living. “I don’t believe it’s expensive to live this way. You’ve got to set your priorities in life. I don’t drink alcohol, go to bars, eat meat, eggs or dairy. I live simply.” Shouri is adamant that the Hungry Elephant’s prices are competitive with similar stores in Auckland. “Our freight costs are higher, but we

keep the prices low to make it affordable for locals. It’s a passion for us.” As well as being a fantastic spot to pick up all your vegan, organic and environmentally-conscious products, the Hungry Elephant is a beautiful space to meet for lunch. The outdoor areas are perfect right now for alfresco eating, and the river and waterfall (pictured on our front cover this month) make for a soothing and cooling backdrop to your dining experience. www.hungryelephant.nz FB:hungryelephant 09 422 9176

SAVOUR

GIVE A FRAPP WORDS SOPHIE

BARCLAY

PHOTOS

LOUISE

PHOTOGRAPHY

Latte fans around the world are ditching coffee shops in favour of the mystical ‘coffee capsule’ machine. These machines whip up cafe-quality coffee from the comfort of your own home (no polite pre-morning-coffee conversation required) using ‘capsules’, small plastic containers filled with coffee. However, these oomph-giving capsules are becoming increasingly controversial - the German city of Hamburg has even banned their usage and purchase in government-run buildings. Why? The packaging is complex; a cocktail of aluminium foil tops, scrapings of coffee in plastic containers and individual plastic wrapping. In short, a nightmare for recycling plants so it mostly ends up biffed into landfills. Enter Warkworth residents, and market gardeners, Patrick and Louise Cole. Their company, Coffee Capsules 2U provides nationwide delivery of Nespresso-compatible capsules, and, for a small fee, the collection and recycling of capsules, undertaken by the pair in their own home. This recycling marathon involves: hand-shucking of coffee grinds from the capsule; cleaning and recycling of the capsules and aluminium foil lids; and using coffee and paper packaging as compost in their spray-free, Warkworth Growers’ business. The residual individual wrap from each capsule is squashed into chicken feed bags (1,000 wraps fill a bag) which are used to make raised garden beds. Patrick was told to expect a three percent buy-in to the recycling program, but an impressive 15 per cent of their customers (including local residents and businesses like Withers accountants, Flight Centre and Rococo Hair) have opted in. This amounts to some 10,000 capsules and their packaging saved from death-by-landfill in the six months since Coffee Capsules 2U began. Patrick and Louise hope this number will increase, meaning more and more coffee fans can enjoy their daily cup of joe, with a lower impact on the planet.

www.coffeecapsules2u.co.nz pcole@coffeecapsules2u.co.nz 027 480 9507

MATAVINO wines

Matavino is a small vineyard, nestled on gentle north-facing slopes in the famous Matakana Wine region. Our vision is to grow a variety of wines to match the local food and produce. This includes some red Italian grape varieties such as Barbera, Dolcetto and Nebbiolo as well as Viognier and Chardonnay. The Matavino Cellar Door is open 11am to 5pm every Saturday & Sunday until Easter. Matavino wines are best matched with food but also taste great out on the deck or around the BBQ with friends and family. After all, that’s what Italian life is all about – great food, great wine, great company!

6 Hamilton Road, Warkworth | T: 021 621 124

SAVOUR MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE TEAM AT JUNCTION MAGAZINE

PLUME CAFE - TAKING AFTERNOON TEA TO NEW HEIGHTS WORDS

PHOTOS

CATH

LEWIS

Atesh, Plume’s head chef has put a creative spin on the classic high tea and has fully utilized the talents of Plume’s in-house bakers. The intricacy of each item and the vibrancy of the colours are all classic Atesh. My savoury scone was spinach, sundried tomato and feta and my sweet, a vanilla and rosewater. The gluten free savoury ‘scone’ was made with almonds and feta. It was unlike anything we had tried before and we absolutely loved it and the sweet GF scone was coconut and vanilla flavoured with a lovely light texture. We moved up a tier to the puffy miniature brioche filled with pumpkin puree and goats cheese (the best chevre I’ve tasted since my chevrè obsessed trip to France last year) and the smoked salmon and citrus crème on a slice of Turkish pide. The tender roast beef on melba toast with a delicious grainy horseradish cream was my favourite until I tried the creamy chicken curry filled baby chiabata. Delicious! I was greeted at the top by vanilla panna cotta with berry coulis, blocks of chocolate parve (stepping stones to heaven), a red velvet cupcake and classic wee fruit custard tart. Silvana’s top tier included some of the same but also chocolate dipped strawberries, a spicy light carrot cake and a beautifully moist orange almond cake.

I have to confess that I’ve never thought of myself as the High Tea ‘type’. I have a lifestyle that would not be accurately described as leisurely or luxurious, but I was not going to turn down the opportunity to try the High Tea offered at Plume Café. I had invited the ‘Sicilian Si-coeliac’ to join me and so arrived and offered Stephen, the manager, an apology wrapped in an assumption that a glutenfree High Tea was probably not an option.

How wrong I was – and how ready and able Monish, the pastry chef, was to oblige. We were more than happy to wait the little extra time needed to prepare the gluten-free menu (though I recommend and the chefs would greatly appreciate you calling ahead if you require the GF option). Two cake stands arrived (one gluten free) and as tradition prescribes there were scones on the lower tier, savouries in the middle and sweets triumphant and glorious at the top.

We arrived thinking that we were not really High Tea types, we left utterly charmed by the whole experience and resolved to let a little more luxury into our lives. We were particularly impressed by Plume’s gluten free options. We want the recipes so I’ll be sending the Sicilian back for a ‘chat’ with the chefs. Gift vouchers for high tea are available from Plume Café. Prior booking essential. 1335, Leigh Rd, Matakana 09 423 0390

Plume Café High Tea Restarting January 16th 2017 Weekdays only 10am - 2pm & Weekends only for 10+ participants 2pm - 3pm Bookings essential Plume Café located in the heart of Matakana Village is a local favourite for great coffees, delectable pastries, artisan breads and superb food. The Café is now pleased to announce the introduction of High Tea, starting on November 9, 2016. On offer is a delectable array of freshly baked sweet and savoury scones with whipped cream, jam and butter; a spread of sandwiches and sliders, and other delicious and dainty temptations such as cupcakes. All made in-house by Plumes dedicated bakers and chefs. Of course, the High Tea will be rounded off with a selection of the best teas.

Available for a great value price of $59 for 2 people. *Gluten Free/Vegetarian available on prior booking notice only.

Celebrate any event with High Tea at Plume Café

Plume, proudly the house of Runner Duck Wines.

1335, Leigh Road, Matakana | 09 423 0390 Bookings essential, minimum 24 hours in advance

SAVOUR

FREE RANGE WINES : “I FEEL A CHANGE COMIN’ ON” WORDS

Justin and Cynthia Oliver (above) are surfing on the front of the ‘Natural Wine’ wave. This rising tide will expand our knowledge and expectations of wine and will be the greatest driver of change in our beverage choices since craft beers flooded our fridges and swamped our chilly-bins. Justin, might be making a new (but ancient) style of wine but he is not new to winemaking. Twenty plus years ago he completed a horticulture degree at Massey and went on to do a postgraduate diploma at Lincoln in enology (winemaking). Having completed a four year internship with Villa Maria, Justin set off to America to learn from the Californian winemakers. As luck would have it he met Cynthia in an Irish Pub in Sonoma County where Cynthia’s family owns a vineyard. They spent the next eight years as free range winemakers and vineyard workers, vintage hopping between hemispheres, until they settled in Nelson where they set up an organic B&B.

PHOTOS

CATH

LEWIS

Full immersion in the Nelson organic community changed their way of thinking about wine making. The bulk wine producers they worked for used chemical sprays that workers and grapes alike, were exposed to. They machine harvest which meant they have little control over what went into the vats which meant they had to manipulate the wine and use more additives in order to compensate. It was in Nelson that they first became aware of the ‘Natural Wine Movement’, a global movement that is all about hand-harvested, organic wines made with native yeasts (naturally occurring on grapes), minimal manipulation and little or no preservatives. Making wine this way is a more pure expression of the intrinsic qualities of the grapes and the terroir and this approach to winemaking resonated deeply with Justin and Cynthia.

2008 saw them return to Matakana and winemaking for Dave Hoskins and Mary Evans at Herons Flight for four vintages. Dave and Mary have been significant mentors for Justin and when circumstances conspired to give him the option of purchasing a harvest’s worth of organic grapes, they encouraged him to take the leap and jump in. A few vintages later finds Justin and Cynthia leasing several small organic vineyards in and around Matakana. If you happen to have a northfacing slope that you are tired of mowing and fancy having an organic vineyard planted and professionally managed for you, Justin and Cynthia would love to hear from you. In addition to the grapes grown locally, they use organic grape juice from Central Otago and Nelson. This enables them to offer a Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Rosè and Sauvignon Blanc.

WEEKDAYS LUNCHBOX SPECIAL $12

Wake up your taste buds! Serving the freshest modern Asian cuisine

NOW TAKING BOOKINGS

Changes daily, follow us on Facebook for updates RESERVATIONS Taking bookings for half the seating capacity.

Open 11am till late everyday. Take outs available. Facebook: Jin Jin Matakana | 09 945 0909 | 44 Matakana Valley Road 38

One of the great similarities with the craft beer movement is that these natural wines, whilst packed primarily in bottles, are well suited to being stored in and served from kegs. Doing so requires less processing and preservatives, the wine retains life and vibrancy of flavour and it saves huge amounts of packaging. Those of us that are partial to the odd glass of quality vino will soon be having our long stemmed glasses filled from a keg. A glass or two of the 2016 Chardonnay provides a very convincing argument that Justin knows what he’s doing and that we will all be well served if we can keep step with this very talented winemaker. By the time the kegs appear you may well be able to enjoy the first release of Te Rata ‘Pétillant-

naturel’, a sparkling wine made in the ‘méthode ancestrale, producing a rustic sparkling wine that is traditionally cloudy, unfiltered, and bottled with a cap not a cork. Te Rata wines are stepping into the market place with the attitude of a craft beer. They will challenge and change the way we drink wine and what we expect from wine and winemakers in the future. They are going to give craft beer and other local wines a run for their money and any beer that thinks its spot in your fridge is secure should not be quite so complacent. Justin@freerangewines.co.nz terata.freerangewines.co.nz 021 880 864

VALENTINES DAY

SWEET AND SENSATIONAL

HONEST CHOCOLAT

SWISS BLISS

CHOCOLATE BROWN

Why chocolate?

I have childhood memories of stealing chocolate bonbons from my grandmother’s pantry in France, and by chocolates I mean beautiful chocolates made by artisan chocolatiers. Probably too good for a young kid but that’s how I got hooked!

I just love the taste, scent and feel of chocolate. And the versatility and health benefits of cocoa are legendary – it’s a super food!

Des and I were looking for a business that would keep us challenged after the corporate world. We wanted a business that provided a unique point of difference. Chocolate Brown chocolates are hand-made, artisan, made with fresh local products – we knew that this was for us.

How did you get started? I have dreamt of owning my own business for a long time and I made it happen by fitting out our garage with a commercial kitchen and experimenting with different recipes to come up with something different. Most unusual chocolate experience? When I was working in the UK I got the chance to try a blue cheese and dark chocolate truffle. It sounded equally strange and amazing, combining 2 of my favourite things, but it did work. It’s worth trying sometime even if you just put a square of chocolate in your mouth with a piece of cheese. Be open minded! Favourite chocolate creation? Just before Christmas we launched some new flavours, and my favourite is the Manuka Honey and Pear bonbon. I had a lot of fun coming up with the bumble bee design for it too. Best way to eat chocolate? Room temperature is key. Never out of the fridge as this compromises the flavour. Take time to let the chocolate melt on your tongue and for the flavour to develop. Good quality chocolate has great staying power, so you should still feel the aromas for some time after you’ve eaten it.

How did you get started? I started in a kitchen and worked from the bottom up. It was the classic journey – first becoming a chef, then pastry chef, then chocolatier. I collected experiences at every stage and with diverse chocolatiers in Switzerland. I fell in love with my medium more and more. When I got to New Zealand, I developed some new products and started to sell them at farmer’s markets – the rest is history.

We were looking for a business that had an existing base, but also future potential. We were entranced with Chocolate Brown’s history, and also saw the potential to develop new chocolates, new flavours and grow new sectors in the market.

Most unusual chocolate experience?

Having a full-body chocolate bath – sooo beautiful... it smells and feels fabulous, way too good to wash off!

Chocolate tasting with 1000 Chinese at Matakana in 2017? I learnt 7 words in Mandarin to describe our small sample of chocolates – the queues were immense!

Favourite chocolate creation? One of my long-term favorites is the orange and cardamom chocolate. I love to tinker around and create new treats, so my favorite changes quite often.

Favourite chocolate creation?

Best way to eat chocolate?

Like cheese: bring the chocolate to room temperature and enjoy it with a good glass of wine.

Is there only one way? With a cup of tea at night, feet up: my happy place.

Local sweet spot? (ie. favourite place or happy place) A sunny spot in the Parsley Pot Café garden.

Our new NZ fruit flavours – strawberry champagne, mango/lime, blueberry, kiwfruit and feijoa.

Local sweet spot? (ie. favourite place or happy place) Chocolate Brown café would be the best sweet spot café – gotta love the green eggs! Or Sullivans Bay for a lovely walk on the beach, no matter what the weather.

Local sweet spot? (ie. favourite place or happy place) Tawharanui Regional Park. Amazing walks, a stunning beach and important conservation work. Feel very lucky to have this place on our doorstep. www.honestchocolat.com 021 422 971

How did you get started?

www.swissbliss.nz edith@swissbliss.nz 021 501 387 09 420 3387

6 Mill Lane, Warkworth www.chocolatebrown.co.nz 09 4222 677

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2. 6.

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1, 2 Swiss Bliss, www.swissbliss.nz 3, 8 Chocolate Brown, www.chocolatebrown.co.nz 4, 6, 7. Honest Chocolat, www.honestchocolat.com

5. Bennetts Chocolates www.bennettsofmangawhai.com 9. Dark Chocolate, New World Warkworth www.newworld.co.nz 10, 11White Chocolate, Matakana FourSquare 09 4227213

12. Rocky Road, Matakana Liquor 09 422 7099 - Flowers from Twig and Bloom www.twigandbloom.co.nz - White shelf from Red Barn Matakana 0 9 4 25 8960

BLUEBELLE is a newly refurbished boutique holiday accommodation just for two. Available for hire with free delivery to any location on the Matakana Coast.

VALENTINE’S DAY

LOCAL LOVE PHOTOS

MELISSA ANN JOHNSTONE AND JASON MICHAEL REID Together 8 Years We met at a bar in Browns Bay and had an immediate connection. On the anniversary of our first month together I dropped a card in Melissa’s mailbox on my way to work, she loved it. From that day till now I have given her a card on the same day every month. We love our time together with the kids while at the same time appreciate the free passes we give each other.

SUE

DONKIN

NAOMI AND ANDREW GOULD Married – Together 4 Years We met at a Christian camp in Taupo, where we were both leaders. Our secret to a happy relationship is that we have a strong family network around us who want the best for us and have done a lot to ensure that we have the best start to married life. We have our faith which holds us together and did months’ worth of premarital counselling.

FIONA AND JOHN ANGUS

LUISA POLLIO AND TOMMASO BALDASSARRI

Married 23 Years

Married 16 Years

We met at a party, six months later we married with just a three month engagement. We both knew we needed to be together. The key to a happy relationship is patience, tolerance and sticking together in the tough times. It helps to have similar values, morals and interests.

We met in Italy through a mutual friend, as soon as I saw Tommy I knew I was in love and we had our first kiss on New Year Eve 2000. The key to a happy relationship is passion, patience and laughter, speak your mind and talk things through. Never settle for a routine.

IRIS AND EDDIE CURTLING

RACHAEL STAPLES AND PAT MCKAY

Married 60 Years (this June)

Married - Together 22 Years

We first met working for the same company in 1955.

We first met out shopping in Wellington.

We both agree that the secret to a happy relationship is sharing each others laughter and tears.

Our secret to a happy relationship is keeping things simple and lots of laughter.

STEPH AND DAMIAN ROBERTS

NOELENE AND KEVIN PYLE

Just Married – Together 2.5 Years

Married 35 Years

We became friends and realised it was more pretty quickly, in fact 5 weeks after we met, Damian tattooed an ‘S’ on his ring-finger. The rest is history. We both vowed to be each others boyfriend and girlfriend forever, to keep the magic and honeymoon in everyday. And we do! When you don’t agree, breathe, walk away and re-approach it when you’re calm.

We met in our early teens through attending church and youth group activities together - we were teen-age sweethearts from the ages of 12 and 13! We have a selfless love for each other; a love that endeavours to put the other’s needs first, and a commitment to encourage and support each other in all areas of our lives, through the good times and the tough times. As a couple we have fun and enjoy lots of adventures together.

CO V E TA B L E S

FOR HIM

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4. 10.

7. 11.

16. 14.

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1. L asso Slippers, www.mooimooi.co.nz 2. Homestead Mug, www.morrisandjames.co.nz 3. C limbers Pocket Barometer/Altimeter, w ww.fossickandfind.co.nz 4. C heese Knives, www.mooimooi.co.nz 5. Batch10Bourbon, The Vintry 09 423 0383 6. Heirloom Tomato Soap, www.g reenwithenvy.co.nz

7. Bamboo U Sunglasses, Urban Industrial, 09 422 3045 8. S amanthan Lissette Atom Ants, www.brickbay.co.nz 9. Trudeau Cutting Board, w ww.mooimooi.co.nz 10. Matsuo Koii Japanese Rollerball Pen, Black Shed Waipu 09 432 0318 11. Cahier Note Book, w ww.greenwithenvy.co.nz 12. The Great Kiwi Pub Crawl, w ww.matakanavillagebooks.co.nz

MATAKANA LIQUOR CENTRE ‘WE’RE BIG ON SERVICE'

13. Opinel Sovoie France Knife, w ww.g reenwithenvy.co.nz 14. Beatle Paper Weight, w ww.fossickandfind.co.nz 15. Fishy Fingers Soap, Black Shed Waipu 09 432 0318 16. Leather Wallet, Kiera May Boutique fbkieramay.boutique

The Vintage Vault Dept.

We cater for all occasions, BIG or SMALL. We are big on being local and have something for all!

You’ll find that something special for him or her, so come see us for that ideal gift.

A WIDE SELECTION OF BUBBLES, SPIRITS, WINES, BEERS & LIQUEURS Liquor Centre Gift Cards Available See instore or on Facebook for our SUMMER SPECIALS

Matakana Liquor Centre 993 Matakana Road, Matakana P|F 09 4227099 | matakanaliquor@clear.net.nz

fb: thevintagevaultdept | e: vintagevaultdept@gmail.com | ph: 09 422 3493

CO V E TA B L E S

FOR HER

11. 6.

1. B ouquet, www.twigandbloom.co.nz 2. Kana Candle, www.mooimooi.co.nz 3. Lothlorien W ine, F B Matakana Liquor C entre 4. Ecoya Hand Cream, Urban Industrial, 09 422 3045

10.

12.

5. Metallic Purse, w ww.katyamaker.com 6. Queen of the Foxes Cami, www.t woboutique.co.nz 7. Madeleine Child Popcorn with Kernel, www.thevivian.co.nz 8. Silver Bracelet, www.artmatakana.co.nz

9. Jim Wheeler, Object of Devotion Maquette,www.brickbay.co.nz 10. Salus Lip Moisturiser Balm,www.mooimooi.co.nz 11. Key Chain, www.mooimooi.co.nz 12. Floraged Flora, www.matakanavillagebooks.co.nz

MASTER CRAFTSMEN

KERRY STRONGMAN - TE HANA ARTS FACTORY WORDS

CHRISTINE

SHEEHY

Taking tea with master carver and sculptor Kerry Strongman is a little like embarking on a magical mystery tour. We might be sitting in a dusty workshop at The Arts Factory in Te Hana, but one is never quite sure where the conversation will take us next.

Kerry grew up in the King Country, completely unaware of his Maori heritage until the day his Nga Puhi grandfather knocked on the door looking for the four-year-old boy.

One minute he’s telling of an epic trek to a remote village deep in the Bolivian mountains, of a cave lined with amethyst crystals that fall to the ground as the villagers sing. The next he’s speaking of a Portuguese galleon that pre-dates Captain Cook and lies buried in the sands of the Kaipara Harbour, near Dargaville.

His grandfather taught him to carve and shared his knowledge of plants and herbs. “He was an old-fashioned tohunga, a medicine man. He recognised gifts in me at a young age. I could see things that others don’t see, and help people heal themselves.”

Kerry’s a man who appreciates a little magic and mystery. His large-scale swamp kauri sculptures incorporate mythological tales and ancient symbols. Three intertwining loops for the trilogy of mind, body and spirit; a double spiral to show that “life goes on, both good and bad.”

“My Mum had no idea my father was Maori. But she just accepted that I should go.”

their achievements,” says Kerry. “These sculptures symbolize the huge things done by ordinary people. The mum who raised 10 kids, the old fella who digs the garden because he knows you can’t, the lady who turns up with scones because she ‘made extras’. “My heroes are not the guys who climb high mountains. They’re the millions of ordinary people doing extraordinary things through everyday acts of unsolicited kindness.”

Many of his sculptures take on a pendant form, and these he calls ‘Jewellery for Giants’. Standing three to four metres high, these carvings were the subject of a major exhibition in Amsterdam in 2007.

The 25,000 to 40,000-year old kauri logs are salvaged from swamps around the upper North Island and left to age for a few years before “we break the timber out and see what it is going to become”. Many of the carvings take years to complete; most are now exported to private and corporate collections around the world.

“I believe everyone is a giant, slowly manifesting who they really are through the magnitude of

His 18-year old godson – “an unbelievable carver” - Alex Webster, guides visitors around the gallery.

What’s it like to learn from Kerry? “Learn from him? He’s learning from me,” says Alex, gesturing to his smartphone. “I teach him things of our time.” As we chat, a young Japanese traveller enters the gallery and gasps at the sight of the enormous amethyst in the entrance. “You’re welcome to touch it,” Kerry calls out. “It loves to be touched.” Then he disappears into the workshop, returning to press a palm-sized gift of amethyst into her hand. She is just one of a constant stream of visitors who pop their heads around the door to express their thanks as they depart. A few have tears in their eyes, clearly touched by the experience. Each time, Kerry pauses mid-conversation, as if to acknowledge the giant within. The Arts Factory, SH1, Te Hana 09 423 8069

ARTS

PAUL MASON - A MAKER WORDS

CATH

LEWIS

Stone Sculpture

Paul Mason has never thought of himself as an artist. It is a title he shrugs off, despite his work being held in the collections of both Te Papa and Auckland Museums. Paul, who describes himself very simply as ‘a maker’, grew up in Hamilton and spent most Saturdays at work in his father’s engineering workshop learning how to lathe and mill machine parts. Paul Mason in his studio, photo by Cath Lewis

Aged 13 he disconnected the water pump from the house and mounted it on the back of his wooden trolley. He’d figured out how to build a clutch and so by the time his parents returned home he was circuiting the house at thirty miles per hour. His talents did not go unobserved by his art teachers who encouraged him to pursue a career in ‘graphic design’, at a time software was something you slept in. Paul’s first job was with an advertising agency hand drawing Griffins biscuit packets, Masport lawn mowers and Crown Lynn crockery. Marriage and kids and a move to Sydney saw him working as a surgical theatre technician. He was encouraged by the surgeons to watch them operate but it was not the surgery itself that left him in awe, it was the tools the surgeons used.

39 Omaha Valley Road, Matakana www.thevivian.co.nz | T: 09 422 9995 Landscape Saturday 21 January - Sunday 26 February 2017

Paul purchased his first lathe and began making tools that enabled him to work more precisely. He returned to NZ and started making finely crafted jewellery and small boxes from found materials including bone, stone, feathers and wood.

Inlaid Small Boxes and Jewellery circa 1985

In 1975 Paul took two bamboo steamer trays of small pieces into the Van Helden Gallery in Wellington. Upon seeing his work Leo Van Helden looked at Paul and said “I’ve been waiting for you for 20 years.” Paul’s first exhibition took place at Van Helden Gallery in 1976 and he has never looked back. For more than forty years he has moved with grace and dexterity from one medium to the next. His works have ranged in scale from wearable art to large stone sculptures, resulting in an exceptionally broad oeuvre. It’s one that nestles up against the limits of precision and perfection in every direction.

Crucibles in cast glass and bronze

There is, however, one form that Paul has become best known for: his crucible. He has made this in wood, ceramic, glass, bronze and more recently, cast iron. A crucible is traditionally a vessel in which elements are melted down leading to the creation of something new. Paul has been melting down life’s dharma and dramas in these crucibles for more than 30 years, transmuting temporary trials and tribulations, flaws and frustrations into objects with enduring beauty and deeply satisfying form. Paul may just be ‘a maker’ for whom making things is a meditation, but it is us that his work enlightens. Paul Mason’s work is available at: Masterworks Wallace Trust Arts Centre – Pah Estate Piece Gallery – Matakana Mormors- Kaiwaka

CHERISH

THE WOMEN’S CENTRE RODNEY

The Women’s Centre Rodney based in Warkworth was first established in 1987 by a group of Rodney women who recognised the need for a womenonly space in the community.

values being equality and empowerment. They are actively involved in many different community projects at a grass-roots level to meet the needs of the changing community.

Thirty years on and the charity still focuses on supporting all women as autonomous, selfdetermining, inter-dependent within their families, work, cultures, and communities. They work towards social change, advocating for equality and empowerment of all women.

A variety of support groups and courses are now available for all women throughout the year, held in various locations in Rodney. Courses include computer training, personal & career development, young Mum’s education programme and Mother’s support group. A full programme can be found on their website or Facebook page. Bookings are essential.

Centre volunteers work in support of women to empower and inform with their core

Know a local staffer who has earned a bunch of flowers this month? Nominate someone special by emailing the following details to hi@junctionmag.co.nz Full name, contact details, employer and what makes then exceptional.

SPECIAL STAFFER MARCH 2017

Entries in by 4pm Monday 13th February. Proudly sponsored by Pricilla’s Floral Boutique Warkworth 022 385 6104, Sotheby’s Matakana 021 866 659 and Junction Mag www.junctionmag.co.nz

The drop in centre itself offers a safe and confidential environment to link with others or to find a variety of resources on community groups and services, health and legal issues such as protection orders or custody, budgeting, employment, WINZ & IRD. 10 Morpeth St, Warkworth 9.30am to 2.30pm Monday to Friday www.womenscentrerodney.org.nz FB Women’s Centre Rodney 0800 2DROPIN

SHUCKLE FERRY

OYS T ER FA R M TOU R S A guided tour to harvest, shuck and eat oysters on the Mahurangi River. Leaving aboard The Shuckle Ferry from Scotts Landing, Warkworth.

For all bookings contact Andrew and Lisa Hay PHONE: (09) 425 5652 or 021 746 401 EMAIL: info@mahurangioysters.co.nz

W W W. M A H U R A N G I O Y S T E R S . C O . N Z

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CHERISH

PLAY SPACE FOR WARKWORTH WORDS

TESSA

BERGER

There has been much talk in recent years about the lack of challenging play experiences available in North-Eastern Rodney, so it’s about time there was an outdoor public play facility tailored to teenagers and adults right here in Warkworth. I’m excited to be working with the Warkworth Lions and a small project team to help engage with the wider Warkworth community in planning and constructing a precinct for an advanced play space in Lucy Moore Park. Being out and about, I’ve had the chance to speak with a lot of our young people about this area in particular, and about ways in which we can best utilise it. We’re looking to create an open play space in keeping with the natural surroundings that offers equipment that you can’t access anywhere else in Auckland. Having already identified a few potential pieces, such as a network of in-ground trampolines and big swings, that would see thrill seekers flipping from one tramp to the next or launching meters out, high over the bank. So, if this sounds up your alley, come on down to Lucy Moore Park for our Play Space Open Day, enjoy a sausage sizzle and have your say on the equipment you want to see in this space. www.tessaberger.com

SUSTAINABLE SOPHIE + SWIM OF THE MONTH SHOULD YOU THROW ANOTHER SHRIMP ON THE BARBIE? WORDS

SOPHIE

BARCLAY

Released every year, Forest & Bird’s Best Fish Guide app can help guide your seafood selection at the supermarket. It shows you what to barbeque up for dinner tonight, and which type of seafood to avoid using a colour scheme from green ‘best choice’, to red ‘worst choice’. Criteria includes population numbers and bycatch (e.g. fur seals and seabirds are caught when fishing for squid). 75 different species have been classed as the ‘worst’ - but the app provides alternative seafood choices so your recipes will still be delectable. Fritter fan? Bad news: Whitebait are baby fish and a catch can include up to five different species (four of which are declining or threatened). With increased pollution of our waterways and a general lack of data (we have no idea of the size of the fish stocks, and as the industry has no quota set, we have no idea how many we are taking out), Massey University ecologist Dr Mike Joy says whitebait could become extinct by 2050 if we don’t clean up our freshwater ecosystems.

RITCHIE’S GROYNES WORDS

KAYE

MUELLER

Meet Ritchie Watson. He’s wearing this summer’s latest fashion in men’s swimwear, the ripped-zip-Borat-look with plunging neckline. Ritchie Watson loves swimming ... especially between the groynes. Ritchie’s Groynes, the manmade rocky outcrops at the northern tip of Omaha Beach, are spaced a convenient 210 metres apart – perfect for ocean laps in all tides, sheltered from winds and currents. The seawalls were erected in the seventies to stabilise and protect the spit from coastal erosion, and thanks to the building of a pest-proof fence in 2012, they also preserve the habitat of the threatened native dotterels and fairy terns that nest there. Hence, dear swimmers, there’s to be no shenanigans in the groyne area. To try out Ritchie’s Groynes, park at the northern end of Omaha Drive and enter through the pest-proof gate. You may be in luck. The legend himself might just join you. FB: Matakana Coast Swimmers

Best choice: Green lipped mussels (farmed) Paua (farmed) Salmon (freshwater farmed from Canterbury) Albacore tuna (trolling method) For recipes, alternatives and to download the app, head to bestfishguide.org.nz

Photo by Emma Barnhill

Ritchie Watson and his school of devotees. Photo by Sophie Mueller

CHERISH

MATACARNIVAL

Amanda McLaren and Warrick Mortimer, photo by Roberto Buzzolan

McLaren leaving the workshop, photo by Roberto Buzzolan

Car parking blues will soon be a thing of the past in Matakana Village, if Barbara Souter and Fiona Angus have their way. The pair have teamed up to organise MataCarnival, a three-day festival and fundraiser for the all-weather car park in the paddock next to Matakana School. “We were determined to create a fun family celebration that would bring the community together and raise funds for the parking our village so desperately needs,” says Barbara. MataCarnival takes place from 24 to 26 March. Festivities kick off with a Grand Gala Evening and live auction at Plume Restaurant on the Friday night. On Saturday the entire village will transform into a giant market place, with Cuban music at the Matakana Pub and a live Caribbean steel band performing at venues around the village.

The weekend will culminate with a grand parade and concert at Matakana Country Park on Sunday 26 March, complete with carnival rides and a variety of performances on the outdoor stage. “We’ve got Brazilian dancers, samba dancers, Capoeira martial arts performances, drummers, and there’ll be demonstrations by local riders and their horses,” says Barbara. “The Carnival Queen will arrive in a horse-drawn carriage, led by a parade of children, dancers and musicians.”

of Matacarnival). Legendary racing driver Bruce McLaren’s daughter Amanda was there too, all the way from the UK. Mortimers will also exhibit a Toyota Seleca G.T. at the show, and Matakanabased motorcycling legend Graeme (Croz) Crosby will display a few of his exceptional motorbikes. “Locals and visitors can picnic on the lawn while enjoying the authentic food, spectacular entertainment and carnival atmosphere,” says Barbara.

Motoring enthusiasts will enjoy the eclectic display of classic, vintage, muscle, American cars, motorbikes and trucks from passionate collectors across Rodney and beyond. Warwick from Mortimer Motorsports will show a McLaren M8F Canon racecar – a sneak preview of which was spotted in Matakana on January 17.

Tickets for the Sunday parade and concert are $5 and will be available from local outlets from Wednesday 1st February.

Local police consented to the McLaren being driven down the road to Plume Café – and fuelling up at Gull Matakana (another sponsor

www.matacarnival.co.nz FB:matacarnival 021 476 596

REVIEW MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE TEAM AT JUNCTION MAGAZINE

HEALTHY READING

LIVING ROOFS TEXTS BY ASHLEY PENN With mounting pressure on our green space and the fading dream of a detached house with a garden the advent of living roofs is becoming both more important and more accessible. The term ‘roof garden’ can cover anything from a roof terrace with container plants to an intensively planted green roof. Living Roofs showcases private 35 roof gardens and terraces from around the world, with beautiful photos, plans and plant lists.

NEW ECO HOMES; NEW IDEAS FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING BY MANEL GUTIERREZ This stylish book showcases 22 homes from around the world with the newest innovations in environmentally minded home design. There is a wide array of ecological and environmental construction solutions and accompanying each house is a series of photos, floor plans and detailed drawings that illustrate the different sustainable feature of each project.

d 8 weeks $169 After School Surfing Mon or We 2 Hour Surfing Lesson $69 Paddleboard Lesson $49

6+ All equipment provided. Ages

Book now @ aotearoasurf.co.nz 54

09 431 5760

GROWN & GATHERED MATT & LENTIL Matt & Lentil are an amazing young couple who have written a practical guide to traditional skills for modern day living. They can show you how to grow your own vegies, herbs and fruits the way nature intended. They must be doing it the right way as they now supply the top Melbourne restaurants with their beautiful nourishing produce. This book is a joy to read, and Matt & Lentil’s enthusiasm for how they grow their food is contagious.

REVIEW MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE TEAM AT JUNCTION MAGAZINE

BLACK FERN MATAKANA Looking for the perfect place for a relaxing week or weekend in the Matakana area? Look no further, a stay at Black Fern Matakana will exceed your expectations! Your hosts Vern and Jenny have stayed in some of the finest lodges in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, the USA and Europe. They built on these experiences in designing Black Fern to be the perfect place to celebrate your special occasions. Stylish to the max, Black Fern Matakana is a private retreat surrounded by native bush and

vineyard views. Get your friends and family together and bring in a gourmet chef to cater a sumptuous meal. Or DIY at the outdoor kitchen by the heated pool. With a spacious open-plan living area and large fully equipped kitchen, four ensuite bedrooms plus a separate one bedroom cottage sleeping up to 10, there is plenty of space to relax and enjoy your celebration. You deserve Black Fern Matakana! www.blackfernmatakana.com blackfernmatakana@gmail.com 021 912 805

“First Aid- a waste of time until that very moment you need it!” Have you done a course within two years? Are you aware of the new tricks or would you be relying on luck that an ambulance is close? NZQA credits, recognized by Worksafe & ANZCOR. Bartercard. Choose local. Book today, tomorrow could be too late. www.tripleonecare.co.nz | 0800 487 475 0r 021 478 655 | northland@tripleonecare.co.nz

MealbookNZ A MEAL AT YOUR PLACE

BLACK FERN MATAKANA ACCOMMODATION

ARTESIAN SOLWAY WATER WATER DELIVERY

THRIVE PERMACULTURE ECOLOGICAL DESIGN

Earn money while sharing your meal with travellers. Mealbook is looking for locals who love to cook and meet new people. Eating with locals is not new overseas, but it is here. Travellers book, then pay to come and enjoy a meal with you.

Black Fern looks over Ascension and is perfect for a relaxing holiday, family reunions and wedding accommodation. Featuring four ensuite bedrooms, gourmet kitchen, heated pool, covered BBQ area with kitchen and fireplace. The separate self-contained cottage brings the sleeping capacity up to 10 people.

Artesian and Solway Water delivers chemical free water throughout the Rodney District for household water tanks, pools, roads, irrigation, commercial supply and any other bulk water requirements. Our water has a naturally refreshing taste, with a great local reputation.

By infusing natures processes into every stage of our unique design process, Thrive Permaculture is working to enliven our earth and it’s inhabitants. One property at a time.

www.blackfernmatakana.com

info@artesianwater.net.nz www.artesianwater.net.nz 09 425 0086

021 414465 www.mealbook.nz

THE RIDGE COTTAGES IN MANGAWHAI This secluded hilltop setting with five acres of garden and native bush provides wonderful views of the coast and estuaries. Offering quality accommodation with individual self-contained cottages and a magnificent heated swimming pool for your summer fun and relaxation. Get away, unwind and lose yourself in the wonderful atmosphere of Magical Mangawhai. www.theridgecottages.co.nz 09 431 3333 027 431 3338

www.thrivepermaculture.co.nz

JULIE RUSSELL BOOKKEEPING Running a successful small business is a challenge, without adding in endless hours of bookkeeping! Which is why Julie Russell is here to help. Julie is a professional Xero trainer who can quickly improve your bookkeeping skills, so you can streamline your accounting process and have more time to grow your business.

Some of the ways Julie can make your life easier: • Onsite one-on-one Xero training • Sales Invoicing • Purchase Invoicing • Chasing Debtors • Payroll and PAYE • GST Calculations sent to IRD on time • Reports – Cash flow, Profit/Loss, Forecasts • Tidy year-end records for your accountant

021 022 18961 | hello@julierussellbookkeeping.co.nz | www.julierussellbookkeeping.co.nz

HAPPENINGS MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE TEAM AT JUNCTION MAGAZINE

MATAKANA FOOD WINE AND BEER FESTIVAL WORDS

JESKA

With the addition of beer to the Matakana Wine, Beer & Food Festival, changes have been brewing. Now in its second year, it promises to be even bigger and better. Organiser Paul Walker is a man who knows his beverages. Bringing beer onboard was a logical step for him. “What they’re putting into beers these days – the flavours are exceptional. They’re getting so creative with it,” he says. “It’s a really fun industry and we want the festival to be part of it.” Attendees will enjoy sampling delicious Matakana Coast artisan food and drinks from the shade of massive stretch tents assembled over the grass areas. The inspiration for the extra sun coverage comes from last year’s stunning weather. Unlike many other festivals containing alcohol, kids are welcome. The Sunday is scheduled as Family Day. Children enter free and there will be plenty to keep them busy – kid friendly food, face painting, games and bouncy castles. The Omaha Beach Surf Life Saving Club will have a strong presence at this year’s festival, with all fundraising proceeds going straight back into its own pockets. Partnering with a charity is a cause close to local resident Paul’s heart. As is his investment in supporting and developing local businesses through the festival. Paul puts it best – “It’s such a great new story when you can create an event that’s totally local, supports local, and brings outside revenue into our economy,” he says. “Revenue that wouldn’t be there if the festival didn’t exist.” This is definitely one to put in the diary, and for all the right reasons.

March 4 - 5, 2017 www.mwbff.co.nz Matakana Country Park

COOPER

HAPPENINGS

BRICK BAY LOTUS BLOOM Friday 17th February Brick Bay Summer Series Brick Bay Wines & Sculpture Trail are continuing their series of summer events to celebrate 30 years at Brick Bay and 10 years of The Glass House. This is a very special opportunity to experience Virginia King’s Koru, a large scale site specific land art work. The Lotus bloom around the earth sculpture once a year in February. This earth sculpture is located on the private part of the Brick Bay farm and is not usually accessible to the public. There’ll be Brick Bay Picnic Boxes, and a vintage caravan bar so you can linger in this magic space. Friday 17th February, 11am-3pm www.brickbay.co.nz

THE LONG WHITE DINNER Saturday 11th February The Point Wells Long White Dinner came about through the idea to hold an event as a fun community (and wider community) outing. Point Wells has been growing fast & this is one way to entice new folk who are settling in the area to join together in a social enjoyable evening without breaking the pocket. Ticket sales are going very well & with a full moon predicted on the 11th February it should be a magical evening. heatherreid@xtra.co.nz 021 409 100

OPERANESIA Saturday 25th February The Auckland Opera Studio will hold an outdoor concert in the grounds of 144 Jones Road Omaha. The concert – Operanesia - is a collaboration of four young aspiring Polynesian opera singers. This promises to be another great evening of excellent entertainment and the commentary from those who attended last year rank it as an outstanding evening. Bookings can be made at iTicket with limited gate sales on the day. Children under 16 are free. www.iticket.co.nz 0508 484 253

Waitangi Weekend sunday 5 feb 2017 ö from 1–4pm te Whai bay Vineyard, king rd $59pp includes Live Music, 3-Course Lunch, Wine/beer on arrival tickets & more info at eVentfinder.Co.nz

HAPPENINGS

TOP OF THE ROCK - FAMILY FUN DAY Sunday 12th February The event caters for walkers, runners and mountain bikers, both recreational and competitive as there are a range of options: • 5km or 11km walk or run • 10km run + 15km mountain bike ride • 10km or 30km mountain bike route • plus, a fun bike course for under 10 year olds – free! Routes travel through some of Kaiwaka’s most scenic countryside – bush, lakes and farmland. Please note that there will be NO ENTRIES ON THE DAY – the last day to enter is Friday 10th February. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.kaiwakasports.co.nz. kaiwakasports@gmail.com. 09 431 2051

X RUN Saturday 18th February Obstacle runners from around New Zealand and as far away as Hawaii will descend on Action Matakana inside the Matakana Country Park to compete in the summer version of MatakanaXrun. Athletes will choose between the 6 km or 9 km event and battle their way through mud and eel infested lakes. They will climb walls and overcome the fear of an electric shock or the horror of the new smoke filled tunnel. The race has fantastic support from Riverside Matakana, Matakana ITM, Pacific Organics Dog Treats and the NZ Army. The race supports The Puriri Tree Foundation and the amazing work they do supporting our local youth.

www.actionmatakana.co.nz

WAITANGI WEEKEND LEIGH SAWMILL CAFÉ Friday 3rd February at 9.30pm

w w w. s a w m i l l c a f e . c o . n z

L(())ve & Hope - Troy Kingi, Mara TK and Mark Vanilau.

FRIDAY 03 FEBRUARY | 9:30PM | $20*

L(())VE & HOPE

$25 ON THE DOOR

TROY KINGI, COLLABORATE FOR A SPECIAL MARA TK & NEW GROUP MARK VANILAU PRE-SALE TICKETS $20: eventfinder.co.nz

SUNDAY 05 FEBRUARY | 9:00PM | $10*

Sunday 5th February at 9pm

SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY | 9:30PM | $20

Ljebu Pleasure Club - with a massive horn section and tight grooving rhythms, this 11-piece band will surprise and delight – but mostly get you shaking it. Music in the Nigerian funk style of Fela Kuti. Support from DJ Tido.

NEW FARBEN JULIEN DYNE, PARKS & CHRIS O'CONNOR. PLUS: JONATHAN CRAYFORD. GETTING ALL GROOVY ON IT!

SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY | 9:30PM | $10

THE LEERS IJEBU PLEASURE CLUB WITH SUPPORT FROM TWO CARTOONS WITH DJ TIDO. AFROBEAT 80’s POP

$10 ON THE DOOR

ALT POP/ROCK.

/theleers

11 PIECE FUNK BAND IN THE NIGERIAN STYLE OF FELA KUTI. DJ TIDO WILL BE SPINNING FUNK AND SOUL IN SUPPORT. | $15 ON THE DOOR | PRE-SALE TICKETS $10: www.eventfinda.co.nz

CLOSED FOR PRIVATE FUNCTION

FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY | 9:30PM | $20

SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY | 5:30PM |$ 28*

& GUITAR VIRTUOSO

33-STRONG VOCAL SUPERGROUP, SINGING SOUL, BLUES AND COUNTRY-INFUSED GOSPEL PRE-SALE TICKETS $28: www.iticket.co.nz

www.eventfinda.co.nz

FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY

JUBILATION DANIEL CHAMPAGNE CAPPELLA GOSPEL CHOIR FOLK SINGER, SONGWRITER danielchampagnemusic.com

PLEASE NOTE : FROM MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY WE ARE...

CLOSED MONDAY - WEDNESDAY OPEN THURSDAY - SUNDAY 10AM ’TIL LATE