Junction April 2016

ISSUE 0 6

Junction

A P RIL 2 0 1 6

M ata k a n a Coa s t | P e o p l e & H a pp e n i n g s | P u h o i to Pa k i r i

• • • • WWW.JUNCTIONMAG.CO.NZ

puhoi a u t u m n g e taway s t h r e e s m a l l s pa c e s honey roundup F REE

CONTENTS - ISSUE 06

www.junctionmag.co.nz

SPOTLIGHT Puhoi Valley Cheese................................................................................... 4 General Manager/Publisher Bianca Howlett +64 21 117 2833 bianca@junctionmag.co.nz Editor Kathy Hunter +64 21 103 0526 kathy@junctionmag.co.nz Advertising +64 21 225 5050 ads@junctionmag.co.nz Graphic Design Tracey Stimpson design@junctionmag.co.nz

PROFILE Wilfried Mueller......................................................................................... 8 NEW & NOTED..........................................................................................10 TREND . . .................................................................................................... 12 discover The Charm of Puhoi . . ................................................................................ 16 Autumn Getaway Guide............................................................................18 MOTHER’S DAY COVETaBLES . . .............................................................. 24

https://github.com/konsav/social-icons https://github.com/konsav/social-icons https://github.com/konsav/social-icons

Contributors Writers: Kathy Hunter, Luke Williamson, Kaye Mueller, Elizabeth Allan, Monica Mead, Clinton Howlett, Alex Hunter Photography: Brijana Cato, Louise M Photography, Roberto Buzzolan, Sandy Meharry, Tracy Bennett Styling: Pamelinhia General Enquiries/Distribution hi@junctionmag.co.nz Front Cover: Model Gracelyn wears Wixii Prairie Dress outside Puhoi Church.

Photo: Brijana Cato Styling: Pamelinhia Printed by Horton Media Published by Junction Media Ltd 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.

DESIGN Three Small Spaces.................................................................................. 26 Master Craftsman.................................................................................... 29 SAVOUR Honey Roundup. . ...................................................................................... 30 Honey Cake............................................................................................... 31 Smith Bar.................................................................................................. 31 Ravish. . ..................................................................................................... 32 cherish Sustainable Sophie . . ................................................................................. 33 ANZAC Story............................................................................................ 34 ARTS Liz Sharek................................................................................................. 36 Brick Bay Folly. . .........................................................................................37 happenings Acension Bridal........................................................................................ 38 Social Pics................................................................................................ 39 Aldous Harding Review............................................................................. 41 Delaney Davidson Preview. . ..................................................................... 42 gig guide............................................................................................... 43

our people: There are a number of us in the Junction family, all locals. We thought we’d tell you a little about each of us every month.

Louise Munro has a background as a food copywriter who crafted ad campaigns and engaged with some of Sweden’s most talented chefs and foodies. Moving to NZ, she took up food styling and worked with Simon Gault for the Sunday Herald.

Now a Matakana photographer, she’s rarely without her camera and loves capturing food, people, animals, homes, landscapes and everything in between.

www.louisemphotography.com

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04 PUHOI VALLEY CHEESE

08

WILFRIED MUELLER

CONTENTS - ISSUE 06

10

12 trend

16 the charm of puhoi

18 autumn getaway guide

24

26

design - three small spaces

30

33

36

arts

new & noted

savour

mother’s day

cherish

homeware | wall art | lighting | furniture | gifts 650 matakana rd | thursday to sunday 10-4pm or by appointment fb. facebook.com/mooimooinz | i. instagram.com/mooimooinz | w. mooimooi.co.nz

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clay bead chandeliers + Clinton Friedman Collections

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S P OTLIG H T

say cheese WORDS kathy

hunter

|

PHOTOS

s u pp l i e d

by

G ood m a n

fielder

Puhoi Valley is operated by up to 90 employees, and most of them live in or near Puhoi. Some of them are descendants of original Bohemian families. The land the café and factory stands on today was a goat farm, making goat cheese, many decades ago. It feels like a family-run business. However, it’s no secret that Puhoi Valley Cheese is owned

by Goodman Fielder NZ Ltd. And they’re in a global market now, as a major player.

It’d be cute if it was a cosy little family company, but Franck says that the awards the team has won this year would probably not have been possible within one of those. “It’s about the management, the structure, and definitely about consistent quality assurance. All of this gives me the freedom to experiment and come up with the best cheeses,” he says.

“And the team I work with is fantastic, it couldn’t happen without them.”

It’s clear that Franck loves it here. “In France the industry is so big,” he says. “As a cheesemaker, often the best you can hope for is a job making the same camembert every day of your life. Here I can work with this huge range of different cheeses. It’s much better for me – it’s exciting!”

Franck’s favourite cheese? “Well, it’s like asking which of your children is your favourite, really – impossible!” But his decision would probably be based on what the weather was like at the time. Hot summer day?

Maybe a light camembert, or fresh goat feta in a Greek salad. Winter evening? A punchy blue with a glass of red by the fire.

Franck Beaurain remembers his grandparents’ farm in Normandy, and his mother’s cooking. He was always extremely interested in what went on in the kitchen. He says, in his strong French accent, “Making cheese requires the cheesemaker to be extremely meticulous, very precise, yes?

Fifteen degrees is not thirteen degrees. But you know, you also have to have that passion, the love of the soul of the food, to make it work.”

A tasting platter arrives. “Every platter should have at least four cheeses from different cheese families,” instructs Franck. cont’d on page 6

Franck has both. His microbiology background, specialising in milk science, has stood him in good stead: for 30 years, he’s made awardwinning cheeses in France, in Tasmania and Victoria, and of course in Puhoi. Interestingly for a Frenchman, he’s passionately committed to ensuring that the best cheeses in the world do not have to come from France. And now that the Puhoi Valley Cheese team, under Franck’s lead, has officially created the best cheese in NZ, they are “discussing the possibility” that Puhoi Valley could take it to the world.

If they do, it won’t be the first time Franck has been on a world stage. A cheese he created in Gippsland, Australia, was named best blue on the planet at the World Championship Cheese Contest in Wisconsin in 2010.

He seems reasonably keen to repeat the experience. But for the moment he’s content with Puhoi Valley’s record haul of awards this year: 11 gold medals, 16 silver, and five bronze, with category Champion awards for their Fresh Goat and Washed Rind – and the Champion of Champions award for their Kawau Blue.

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Part of the team, left to right: Franck Beaurain, Tasha Cromby, Kim Fowler and Kama Gilmour.

Below left and right: A fine selection from Puhoi Valley Cheese.

Serving suggestion

PUHOI VALLEY KAWAU BLUE GORGONZOLA STYLE — CHAMPION, BLUE CHEESE AWARD

PUHOI VALLEY FRESH GOAT’S CHEESE — CHAMPION, EXPORT CHEESE AWARD

At the recent NZ Champions of Cheese Awards Puhoi took home 28 awards, including Champion of Champions. Judges praised the skill of our head cheesemaker Franck Beaurain.

You can try some of his best work at Puhoi Valley Cheese Café, 275 Ahuroa Rd, Puhoi or at any good supermarket or food store.

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The NZ champion cheese, Puhoi Valley Kawau Blue.

There are eight families: fresh unripened, white mould, blue, washed rind, semi hard, hard, goat, and processed. He continues. “And like the French and NZ flags, there should be three colours – red, white and blue.” The red is represented by a washed rind cheese, the white by a soft brie or camembert, the blue – well, here of course, it’s Puhoi Valley Kawau Blue, and it is indeed extremely delectable.

year, but it’s still made on site at the café in small batches – four litres at a time. Now that’s cute. But there’s no mistaking the fact that this company is on a big roll. As Franck would say, they seem to have a certain “je ne sais quoi”. www.puhoivalley.co.nz

Washed rind cheeses are much misunderstood here, says Franck, whereas in France, they’re a cheeseboard staple. The soft cheese is washed with a saltwater solution (or sometimes wine) to encourage the growth of a specific bacteria. This envelops the cheese in an orange/red rind which is delicious, and has a robust aroma. Puhoi Valley Washed Rind has an aroma of caramelised cauliflower, according to Franck, and the creamy texture is exceptional.

But we go back to the blue. This cheese has two different names – sold as Kawau Blue to restaurants, it’s marketed to the public under the name of Puhoi Valley Gorgonzola Style Blue. The company has other high-end vs supermarket cheeses – there are ‘Cellar’ versions available exclusively at the Puhoi Valley Café or supplied direct to restaurants.

Puhoi Valley have added ranges of yoghurts, custards, icecreams and milks in recent years. Their Chai Latte ice cream won best in show last

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Inside the Puhoi Valley Café.

Body care inspired

by New Zealand

MANUKA HONEY • OLIVE OIL • MACADAMIA OIL

www.matakanabotanicals.co.nz established 1998

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profile

wilfried mueller: the driven man WORDS kathy

hunter

It was 1974 and Wilfried Mueller was 20 years old when he went to Le Mans for the first time.

He was walking through the forest with a friend towards the 6km Malsanne Straight, when he heard the heart-pounding, full-throated roar of the race cars.

Not long after this experience, he was at the historic Spa Ice Rally in Belgium and was struck by the psyches of racing drivers who were (and still are) compelled to ‘walk the line’ of extreme sport. Wilfried remembers these two events as contributing factors to his long-term fascination with sports cars and their drivers.

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p h o t os l o u i s e

m

p h o t ogr a p h y

At that time, Wilfried was in his home town of Cologne, Germany, studying “every useless thing” he could find: medieval German literature, geography, philosophy. Not knowing what else to do after graduating with an MA, he began to teach, supplementing his income with articles about cars in local publications.

Fast forward to 1987: he was feeling disenchanted with his teaching career, whem he had a phonecall out of the blue from Reinhard Klein, the renowned rally photographer. Klein offered to pay all expenses, plus 1000 Deutschmarks a month, for Wilfried to follow the World Rally Championship and write a book about it. “It took me about a tenth of a second to accept,” he smiles. One week later he was on a plane to Nairobi.

Wilfried reminisces about those first months. “I was hurtling around remote places in Africa in a van full of wheels and hundreds of litres of AvGas [Aviation Gasoline]… it was a little bit crazy.” There was money about, rather a lot. “Taking the helicopter to breakfast was always fun.”

In 1990 he was poached by huge German magazine Auto Zeitung; Wilfried’s new job was Senior Editor, Motorsport – his one and only fulltime job. He covered all the big names: Maserati, Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche. He was in Perth in 1991 when he met his wife-to-be, Kaye.

She became part of the team, travelling with them and translating Wilfried’s German writing into English, effectively doubling their output.

It was in 1993 that Porsche came calling. Wilfried became the freelance Press Officer for the Porsche Supercup, a race series which supports Formula 1. He was soon spending up to 30 weekends a year on race tracks globally, more often than not accompanied by Kaye.

“I was hurtling around remote places in Africa in a van full of wheels and hundreds of litres of AvGas” There was a break from the track in 2000 when Kaye had their first baby. Wilfried took on the job of Press Officer for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix – Ladies Tournament. “I was quite proud of that actually – we were awarded Best Press Office by the WTA!” 2007 saw another change in direction: not only did the family move to New Zealand, but Wilfried became involved in the Porsche Museum.

“There are over 500 very special cars that have been archived, hidden all over the place in garages and hangars. I researched and wrote their histories, which travelled with them to museums around the world.”

Wilfried at home with Hauturu - Little Barrier Island in the distance.

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Wilfried writes today on a freelance basis for Porsche, with regular contributions to both the official Porsche magazine Christophorus, and four or five big articles a year in Porsche Klassic magazine. However, these days he spends more of his time writing books.

Wilfried wrote his first book on the World Rally Championship back in 1987 and admits, “I actually don’t know how many I’ve written – I think it’s more than ten?” He’s done big, expensive coffee-table books and a number of biographies, including one on Germany’s only World Rally Champion, Walter RÖhrl. He wrote three more books with Walter, one of which (Aufschrieb Evo2) became a bestseller in 2015. His most recent book (2014) is Details - Legendary Sportscars 1965-69 Up Close.

Currently he’s working on two more: a biography on Porsche’s legendary racing director, Peter Falk, plus one for fun – 111 Porsche Stories You Should Know. What’s his best book? “Enzo Ferrari said, my best car is my next car. It’s the same with books.” Wilfried also occasionally accepts a speaking engagement for Porsche NZ – he spoke on the Porsche design philosophy at the Macan launch in 2014 and has done some video work at Hampton Downs.

Wilfried has driven many a Porsche, but amazingly has never owned one. “Well, to be honest, in Germany I was fortunate enough to drive one whenever I wanted – it was all pleasure and no cost. And hey – those are the roads to drive a Porsche on! The fun starts at 180km per hour, you know? Here, in NZ? Hmm…” If he had to choose one? “I would have a 993 from the early ‘90s, before the engine became water-cooled. One that sounds like someone shaking a bucket of nails… low tech. At 4,000 revs – that’s when the music starts!” he grins.

Wilfried with his favourite model 911 Carrera RS 2.7 from 1973.

“I really appreciate the silence.

Sometimes all we can hear is a tui and maybe the surf.”

Global citizen Wilfried was a little nervous about moving to what he first felt was the geographic isolation of NZ, but says, “I was very lucky to find, in Leigh, these people who were so extremely welcoming. Even when I complained about everything, they were still bringing cake!”

He contemplates the view of native bush from his lounge (much of which he and Kaye have planted) with the ocean and Hauturu (Little Barrier island) in the background. “After Europe, everything seems very slow here – in a good way! I really appreciate the silence. Sometimes all we can hear is a tui and maybe the surf. There is freedom, space… a great lifestyle. I go back to Europe a few times a year, but this is really home now.”

Further viewing for fans: www.porsche.com www.porscherennsportreunion.com

African journey, highspeed. “I was lucky they needed a co-driver during filming in Kenya, so I experienced some of the more intense days of my life.”

“You let the clutch out at 5000 revs!”

Instructions from an Alfa Romeo mechanic as Wilfried takes off to some laps at a race track in Italy.

The Cayenne Hybrid which Wilfried test drove around the East Cape.

How much can the car take? Wilfried during some testing in Africa with the later Safari Rally winner, Ian Duncan, 1994.

Photo Credit: Andrew Martin

Fastest way to get from A to B in the Savannah: Wilfried (right) in a helicopter.

Four photos above from Wilfried’s private collection.

Having kids should interrupt your sleep, not your dreams.

The Porsche Cayenne.

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JIN JIN ASIAN FUSION Hold the phone – very soon there’ll be a new restaurant in Matakana. Opening mid-April at 2/44 Matakana Valley Road, Jin Jin will have a modern Asian blend of flavours and interior design by well-known local artist Virginia Leonard. Owners Dan and Nicola O’Donnell can’t wait to get in there. “I spent September and October in Thailand and Vietnam,” says Dan, “and I was seriously inspired.” Jin Jin will be open for breakfast (Asian style), lunch and dinner, seven days a week. It’s a family business–daughter Isabella will be front of house. “The food will be fresh as–nothing fried, it’ll all be wok-tossed, steamed or raw,” says Dan. We can’t wait.

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WHY IS VITAMIN C SO IMPORTANT? Vitamin C is essential in the production of collagen, it helps rejuvenate aged and sun damaged skin. The most effective way of replenishing vitamin C in the skin is by applying it directly to the skin.

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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF RED LIGHT THERAPY? Red Light Therapy is a non-invasive treatment that works with the body's own natural processes to counteract the effects of ageing, for improved skin tone and texture, leading to improved skin tone and elasticity.

Design Collective Evening Markets Local Lauren Henderson facilitated this funky group of designers and creatives to come together and sell their wares this February, and it looks like the concept’s mustering a following. It’s going to be a regular pop-up evening market outside Little & Local in Snell’s Beach on the first Friday of the month.

On sale is designer clothing both new and pre-loved, jewellery, shoes, homewares – and tasty goodness from the aforementioned Little & Local. If you’re interested in a stall, contact Lauren via her Facebook page: The Design Collective.

Little & Local Café, 6/280 Mahurangi East Rd, Snells Beach, Friday April 8, 6.30pm till late.

fancy a stroll?

Exciting news about the fledgling Big Omaha Trail: it now has its own rather lovely website, and interest is growing. The proposed trail is around 20km long and runs from Matakana to Pakiri through farmland and forest, and along rural roads and tracks… the views, as you can imagine, are exceptional.

Trustees include John Bluck, Ian MacDonald, Alister Harlow, Wendy Douglas and Graham Hubble.

There’s art involved as well – artist Billy Apple is keen to put his stamp on the walk by designing kilometer stones and a stairway for a steep section of the trail.

Wendy Douglas says, “I’ve walked the trail and it’s amazing.

I’m so excited to be part of this.

I’m in for the long haul – and I’ll keep you posted regarding upcoming fundraising activities!” www.bigomahatrail.com

MORE AUCKLAND COVERAGE FOR R MATAKANA COAST BUSINESSES! Junction Mag is the ONLY publication in Rodney which is now distributed all over AUCKLAND. We’re found in leading shops and cafés in these locations: PONSONBY | PARNELL | BRITOMART | REMUERA | TAKAPUNA | NEWMARKET

New Zealand’s skin and appearance experts 33A Florence Ave, Orewa 09 426 7423 caci.co.nz

WE’RE FOR YOU 10

See website for all Auckland distribution points. Junction Magazine is committed to putting Matakana Coast businesses in front of Aucklanders!

Pick up your free copy now • Subscribe online at www.junctionmag.co.nz Contact us for advertising and editorial • ads@junctionmag.co.nz FIND US LOCALLY HERE: Art Matakana • Ascension Winery • Bach Surf Shop • Black Dog Café • Blush Beauty Lounge • Brick Bay Winery • Bramble Cafe • Chairs Cafe • Charlies Gelato Garden • Chocolate Brown • Cider Shed • The Dough Puncher • Four Square Matakana • Ginger Cafe • Green with Envy • Guthrie Bowron • Honey Centre • I-Site Warkworth • Katya Maker Boutique • Leigh Eats • Leigh Sawmill Cafe • Little & Local Café • Love Shack • Matakana Cinemas • Matakana Information Centre • Matakana Village Pub • MooiMooi • Morris & James • Old School Inc • Omaha Beach Supermarket • Oob Organic Cafe • Plume Café & Plume Restaurant • Point Wells General Store Puhoi Valley Café • Puhoi General Store • Quince Café • Red Barn • Rummage Matakana • So French Café • Smith’s Bar • The Stables • The Vivian

Junction BUSINESS Awards 2016 Our 2015-2016 guide to bring you the best in the region What makes the the great businesses in this area exceptional? A delicious product, friendly service, a warm atmosphere, glorious scenery, helpful delivery, crafty brilliance?

It could be as simple as a welcoming smile – everything counts towards making a Matakana Coast experience the best it can be.

Vote for your favourite businesses – we’ll count your votes and ensure that the top businesses are given the kudos they deserve. We’re proud to show off the best in the region. It’s time to give a hand to those who work the hardest – let’s applaud and celebrate our businesses. Give them your vote!

Quantum Landscapes Matakana

. M A D .

Q U E E N P A L M . S A L E .

How to get involved Local businesses Register your business - just pick your category and email the business name to hi@junctionmag.co.nz by Tuesday 26th April.

Readers Vote for your favourite local businesses between 28th April - 15th July Go to junctionmagazine.co.nz and vote!

Prizes • The top business wins a year’s media package of advertising and promotion in Junction magazine to the value of $7,000.

• Voters go into a draw to win a weekend getaway at Riverside Matakana.

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE AUGUST ISSUE.

Only 30 minutes from downtown Auckland is the gateway to the Matakana Coast Wine Country – the historic village of Puhoi. It’s famous for its Bohemian history, Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi River Kayaking, the monthly Farmer’s Market, and of course the Puhoi Pub. Just up the road is Mahurangi Regional Park with its beautiful beaches and walks, too.

There are heaps of options for great accommodation in and around Puhoi, and being based here for a weekend – or a week – gives you the opportunity to enjoy what Puhoi sand the surrounding region has on offer.

To plan your trip you can either visit www.matakanacoast.co.nz, pop in and see us in person at the Warkworth iSite (1 Baxter Street, Warkworth), or give us a call on 09-425 9081.

MATAKANA COAST WINE COUNTRY A WEEK LONG GETAWAY APRIL’S SUGGESTED ITINERARY Monday: Discover Puhoi, lunch at the Puhoi Cheese Café Tuesday: Puhoi River Canoes Wednesday: Explore the Mahurangi Regional Park Thursday: Visit the Honey Centre, Parry Kauri Park & Warkworth & Districts Museum Friday: Explore Scandrett Regional Park & Mahurangi East Saturday: Matakana Farmers Market & explore some of the many scenic beaches Sunday: Puhoi Farmers Market – third Sunday of the month

Autumn is upon us so it’s time to plant palm trees for that lush, subtropical look.

Quantum Landscapes Matakana have over 800 in-ground Queen Palms that have to go.

HEIGHT FROM 1.5M TO 6.5M PRICES FROM $50-$250 EACH We’re here to help with extraction, transport and planting if required.

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More information or to book accommodation & tours contact Warkworth i-SITE on +64 9 425 9081 or visit www.matakanacoast.co.nz

0800 030 140

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trend

lingering in puhoi Mod e l s

G r a c e l y n B a l z a t & E t h a n Mo v e r l e y styling pamelinhia p h o t os b r i j a n a c a t o H a i r & m a k e u p s h o n a s t e v e n so n location puhoi

Above: Sabena Poncho $279 Katya Maker, Marilyn Seyb Shirt $160 DĂŠ Lovely, Lee denim $169 Two Boutique, Gianni Zenna Boots $249 Heavenly Soles Below: Grace: Vintage Big Sleeve Blouse $140.00 Wixii, Silver Earings $35 Slow Water Trading Post. Ethan: Scotch & Soda shirt $185 Two Boutique, Vanishing Elephant t-shirt $110 Two Boutique, Volcom Jeans $120 Summer Sessions * Reindeer hide $495 The French Shed

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South western style Suede Jacket $275 Slow Water Trading Post, Lace by Donelle Scott special edition dress $695 The French Shed, Gianni Zenna Boots $249 Heavenly Soles

Lace by Donelle Scott Grey Jumper $225 The French Shed, New London Thames Denim $249 Katya Maker, Sundownea Boots $245 Heavenly Soles

Julia Danger Honey Jumper $410 Two Boutique, Bias Cut Linen Dress $175 Wixii, Maison Scotch Hat $139 Katya Maker

Grace: Coop Coat by Trelise Cooper $289 DĂŠ Lovely, Cooper Shirt by Trelise Cooper $299 De Lovely, Lee Denim $169 Two Boutique, Lux Scarf $79 Katya Maker, Ethan: Vanishing Elephant Jacket $220 Two Boutique, Volcom Denim $110 Summer Sessions, Vans $129 Summer Sessions, Vissla Hat $35.99 Summer Sessions

special thanks to our guest star Malcolm Foster, Pretenders bass player and local resident, for his time and his bike in our Puhoi feature.

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Vintage Jacket - Lace by Donelle Scott $185 The French Shed, Lace top - Lace by Donelle Scott $215 The French Shed, New London Denim $249 Katya Maker

Vanishing Elephant Shirt $149 Two Boutique, Western Vintage Tee $45 Slow Water Trading Post

Ethan: RPM Shirt $109.99 Summer Sessions, Grace: Sylvester Knit $219 Two Boutique, Sylvester Skirt $259 Two Boutique, Pierre Cardin Leather Bag $199 Katya Maker, Zoe and Morgan Necklace $420 Jewel Box, Earrings and Rings $35 Slow Water Trading Post

Matakana’s newest concept fashion store. A gorgeous collection of curated garments across international labels for both men and women.

We stock beautiful brands such as Camilla & Marc, Sylvester, Ioanna Kourbela and Noa Noa, as well as Ben Sherman, Scotch & Soda, Huffer and Politix for our guys. We also carry luxe leather NZ handbag label Saben plus some stunning lingerie. Come and see our exciting AW16 co collection, or try a personalised shopping experience with Mandy!

T: 09 423 0101 | www.twoboutique.co.nz |

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50-acre country estate

50-acre country estate

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• School holiday fun • Mini train rides • Horse and carriage rides • Adventure playground • Animal petting zoo

DRINKS, FOOD TO SHARE, OUTDOOR ART SPACE

www.stablesmatakana.co.nz/smiths www.matakanacountrypark.co.nz | info@matakanacountrypark.co.nz 09 422 7437 | 1151 leigh Road, Matakana, Auckland, NZ 15

discover

the charm of puhoi

Photo credit: Tracy Bennett

THE great melting pot

In good spirits

words

words

i n sp i r e d

by tracy bennett

Ask what springs to mind when people think of Puhoi and you’ll find it’s the pub. It’s an icon for both the locals and visitors, who are fascinated by its pioneer feel and rustic mayhem. The pub is the hub; in summer it’s where everyone meets for a drink and a natter and in winter there’s a fiercely competitive weekly trivia night that involves both young and old.

Luke

W i l l i a m so n

“It’s bullshit, the French saying you should drink champagne with caviar… vodka is the only drink to go with caviar!” So says my host, Alex Kirichuk of Puhoi Organic Distillery. I can’t help but agree, as I am poised with his silky vodka in my left hand and rye bread piled with caviar in my right hand.

The garden bar is packed on sunny weekend afternoons with happy punters eyeing up the rows of motorbikes. It’s a great leveller: a table of hip young things from Ponsonby may be sitting next to one of hard-out westies; a bunch of pensioner tourists chat to gang members.

Puhoi Organic Distillery is a new offshoot of Dr Iryna Kirichuk’s herbal tonic business. Alex explained that, in his native Ukraine, herbal medicine has a very strong tradition–and that the delivery mechanism for those tonics is alcohol.

The village’s Bohemian history and strong community has drawn in a diverse population. Descendants of some of the original settler families live alongside Aucklanders who have left the rat-race to take up small farming on lifestyle blocks. Tourists have stopped here and stayed.

“Not bad alcohol, but excellent quality alcohol, like I distill here.” Now you can sample Alex’s classic gin and vodka at the Puhoi Pub, or try his more specialised products by purchasing from the pub or online.

hip young things from Ponsonby, hard-out westies, Sunday-driving pensioners and gang members...

Puhoi is on the move, style-wise. The corner store has great coffee and a large selection of basic and high-end groceries, and diverse cafés up the road past the pub each have their own points of difference. There’s an eclectic selection of boutiques and of course, the markets on the last Sunday of the month. All of this is just 30 minutes north of Auckland.

Treat yourself to a weekend of rustic NZ charm.

We’ll find Mum a book she LOVES

www.puhoicoffee.co.nz Phone 0274 715 255 or Email order@puhoicoffee.co.nz

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The medicinal philosophy of their business runs right through the Puhoi Organic Distillery product range; Alex assures me his spirits are a mild form of his wife’s tonics, that they are good for you and will not cause a hangover. Hallelujah to that!

The ideal way to appreciate the range and quality of Alex’s handiwork is to book a tasting session, and you too could be poised with caviar in one hand and outstanding vodka in the other.

Puhoi Organic Distillery | www.spirits.net.nz Herbal Tonics | www.adaptogens.co.nz

discover

THE FRENCH SHED

The French Shed is all about lush, girly loveliness. Ironically, it resides opposite the ultimate man-cave–Puhoi Pub, in the very rustic historic Stables building over the road. Owner Tracy Bennett says “It’s so funny when men come in. Just about all of them go, ‘love the floorboards’–but then I do have male customers that come in off their Harleys and buy clothing and gifts for their partners.”

The French Shed is an eclectic mix of old and new, specializing in antique hand selected French furniture from rural France, gifts, homewares and designer clothing.

Tracy’s varied career has spanned design, advertising, marketing and TV. She was a wedding photographer for fifteen years; her camera skills make her social media fun (see above) as her 20,000+ followers will testify.

But a workplace accident a few years ago forced her to find a new strategy.

Being a confirmed Francophile she decided to see if she could combine her passion for French design with clothing created by Puhoi resident and friend Donelle Scott-Lace. They make a great team.

Tracy loves the laid-back vibe of Puhoi. “I met some Australian tourists at the pub who were only in New Zealand because their tickets to Bali got cancelled due to the volcanic eruption. They discovered Puhoi after a day trip and loved it so much they stayed at the pub the whole week. We had them up at our place for dinner – and they ended up staying the night. That’s real New Zealand.” www.facebook.com/thefrenchshed Open Thursday to Sunday 11am to 3pm or by appointment.

accommodation guide

Matakana Outback Accommodation This brand-new boutique cottage is your ultimate country escape. Private, cosy and quiet with serene bush and mountains views, yet only 5 minutes from vibrant Matakana Village. Immaculately presented self-contained accommodation. www.matakanaoutback.nz | 09 4229514 | 021 558514

Kowhai Glen Our intimate, secluded and luxurious accommodation for two. Crafted from natural materials and offering an ecofriendly environment, Kowhai Glen is a place for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. Enjoy a shady bush walk in this beautiful secluded valley. www.kowhaiglen.co.nz | 09 425 7970

BLACK FERN MATAKANA Black Fern looks over Ascension and is perfect for a relaxing holiday, family reunions and wedding accommodations. 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. www.blackfernmatakana.com

PUHOI HOUSE Up a quiet country lane past a well-loved pub lies an oasis of taste and decorum – with a fine twist of eccentricity. Rent as B&B room with a great breakfast, or take the whole house for a wedding or special occasion.

"One of the most stylish honeymoon suites around." www.puhoihouse.nz | reservations@puhoihouse.nz

CASA COYOTE Casa Coyote sits above the water’s edge at Baddeleys Beach on the Takatu Peninsula. Private and peaceful with stunning views across the bay to Kawau. Ideal for a romantic retreat or fabulous holiday with favourite friends. Only 8km from Matakana village.

List #25562 on bookabach.co.nz or search for Casa Coyote.

SAN MARINO Situated right on the shore of Coopers Beach, Doubtless Bay, the San Marino Motor Lodge has 8 self-contained units each with kitchenette, shower, toilet – even cable TV. Linen and towels are provided. This affordable accommodation also welcomes your family pet. www.sanmarino.co.nz | 0800 726 627

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autumn getaway guide

Salty Adventures When it comes to the briney, Lyds and Kirst from Saltwater Eco at Tawharanui are well-seasoned. The pair combines a rich bounty of experience and expertise to get kids passionate about local marine environments.

For young dudes and dudettes, they offer three epic holiday programmes on our region’s awesome coastline: the Snorkel or Surf Junky, each over three days, or a combination of the two: the Saltwater Junky, an ultimate five-day beach holiday adventure.

art MATAKANA

For the wahines, Saltwater Eco runs a ladies-only ‘Girls on Curls’ surf adventure at Omaha Beach (above) on the last Sunday of each month between September and May – for all ages and abilities.

And for the guys? Take your surfing technique to the next level and call the Saltwater Surf Doctor, who’ll give you private tuition without the private price tag. To find out how, check out their website.

Drift on endless summer! www.saltwatereco.co.nz | info@saltwatereco.co.nz Contact Lyds or Kirst on 021 043 3184

*Lessons available for all abilities *Half & Full Day Tours *Group Discounts *Eco Focus *Homemade Treats

SURF & SNORKEL LESSONS & TOURS ph: +64 2104 33184 e: info@saltwatereco.co.nz w: www.saltwatereco.co.nz a: Matakana Coast, Auckland

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autumn getaway guide WORDS

CLINT O N

H O W LETT

Mahurangi Oyster Farm TouR Say hello to my little friends – plump, delicious, natural Mahurangi Oysters. Love them or hate them, oysters are a highly sought-after and valuable delicacy, and high-quality variety worthy of 5-star restaurants are even more in demand. Luckily for visitors to the Matakana Coast, the Mahurangi river produces some of the best-tasting oysters on the planet.

For the past 25 years marine biologist Andrew Hay has been farming Pacific oysters in the Mahurangi river. With wife Lisa’s help, Mahurangi Oysters are delivered to some of the most reputable restaurants in New Zealand and the Pacific Rim within 24 hours of being harvested out of the Mahurangi river.

The newest venture for the family-run business is delivering a guided tour of one of their oyster farms on the Mahurangi river. Mahurangi Oysters runs one of five oyster farm tours in the world, and the only oyster farm tour in New Zealand. Junction staff were lucky enough to be invited along on one of them.

Once our team was on board, fresh bread and oyster mousse provided the perfect starter as an oyster-shucking demonstration was given.

Then came the main event – plenty of condiments and dozens of freshly harvested oysters were spread over the barge’s table, and an oyster shucking free-for-all began with little regard for friend or family – the only attention given was to the delicious spread of oysters in front of us.

This is a tour with a difference: Andrew and Lisa’s first-hand, expert knowledge, a cruise down the beautiful Mahurangi river, some local wines or beers and fresh Pacific oysters. Absolute perfection.

The tour takes approximately two hours and is based around low tide. $95 per person. Minimum group for the excursion is seven people for $665. Maximum group is 16 people.

The

Shuckle Ferry

Oyster

farm tours

www.mahurangioysters.co.nz

www.mahurangioysters.co.nz

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 info@mahurangioysters.co.nz Above from top: Andrew harvests oysters for the Shuckle ferry trip. Andrew and Lisa in shucking mode. The oyster feast laid out. Single spicy shots of pure delight.

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autumn getaway guide - family holidays words

Elizabeth

Allan

trekking pakiri Sharley Haddon has a horse to suit any rider. The mostly part-bred trekkers range from Thoroughbred to Appaloosa, from tiny Timor ponies to the mighty Clydesdale. But of her 87 horses, 27 are Arabians that she has bred and broken herself.

Her passion for the breed led her to travel through Iran and along the Silk Road. In 1980 it was this expensive interest that prompted her late husband, Laly, to say that the horses had to start paying their own way.

Back then, says Haddon, there was a huge depression in the rural sector and the family beef and sheep farm – now owned and run by her son – was not coping. They needed to diversify. With two fat ponies in the paddock, they started out offering rides for $10 an hour.

Nowadays you can ride for one or two hours, half a day, or a full day.

The full day includes a picnic lunch; otherwise you can buy breakfast or lunch from the licensed café, with tables among a mini tropical glade.

You can even ride on the Warrior Trail and stay a night at the marae in Leigh, or there are three and five-day treks, including a coast to coast trek.

The rides run through Maori land known as the Rohe of Te Kiri – the territory of the chieftain Te Kiri – and include cultural history.

On school holidays, kids can sign up for a five-day holiday camp. As well as riding, they’ll learn about bonding, feeding, grooming and cleaning tack.

Sharley also caters to special occasions: you can use her horses for a wedding photo, or create the perfect setting for a proposal. www.horseride-nz.co.nz | T: 09 422 6275

Top right: Sharley with her mare, Taurere Waianiwa, known as Lily at home!

Below: Pakiri beach stretches ahead.

PAKIRI BEACH HORSE RIDES Gift Vouchers Available Daily Rides | School Holiday Riding Camps Accommodation

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL P 09 422 6275 | 317 Rahuikiri Road, Pakiri Beach E pakirihorse@xtra.co.nz | W www.horseride-nz.co.nz

How Much Does A Website Cost? 

 



getspotted.nz



Find out using our easy, free calculator at

HowMuchDoesAWebsiteCost.co.nz 20

discover

autumn getaway guide - family holidays WORDS

KAYE

MUELLE R

Cold-blooded adventure Here’s a school holiday adventure with cold-blooded critters. Slip on your crocs and take the family on a safari through the Reptile Park at Ti Point between Whangateau and Leigh. You’ll discover a fascinating world of dinosaur descendants. Following a looping path through regenerating bush with stunning views out to the Pacific, you’ll explore a treasure trove of native and exotic reptile species including alligators, dragons, chameleons, turtles, tortoises, iguanas, many types of lizards... and, of course, the show-stealer: NZ’s own living fossil the tuatara.

Here’s a ‘did-you-know’ for you. There are currently just over a hundred species of lizard in New Zealand - but here they all come from just two families: geckos or skinks. Skinks’ scales overlap so they look smooth and glossy, while geckos have a matt finish on their tiny hides.

Something more to ponder during your visit: when it comes to courtship, the cold-blooded tuatara takes a while to warm up. ‘Henry’, the legendary lothario from Invercargill, became a father (possibly for the first time) at the tender age of 111.

Another titbit: chameleons don’t change their colour to blend in with the background, rather their skin brightens or darkens depending on the temperature or their emotional state. www.reptilepark.co.nz | 27 Ti Point Road, Leigh | Open daily 10am-5pm

Maritime marvels More than 300,000 people visit Goat Island every year to snorkel, kayak, dive or swim. But before jumping into the waters of New Zealand’s oldest and most popular marine reserve, wander up the path to the Marine Discovery Centre to gain a deeper understanding of what you’re seeing. With interactive displays, BigEye microscopes and touch tanks, the new centre offers a fun way of learning about the world beneath our waves without getting wet.

While mum and dad check out the exhibits, the kids can dive into some of the great activities organised for the school holidays; from creating 3D life cycle models and rock pool art to dissecting a mussel.

Fascinating fact anyone? The Marine Discovery Centre’s recent $10M upgrade was almost half funded by the Edith Winstone Blackwell Foundation. Edith Winstone Blackwell MBE was born in 1877.

She was the first woman to drive a car in Auckland and to attend Auckland Grammar School for boys. She was fascinated by marine science and luckily for Leigh, had a great interest in preserving our marvellous marine environment. www.goatislandmarine.co.nz Open weekends, public & school holidays: 10am-4pm

ADVENTURE OUT TO NEW ZEALAND’S ONLY

New Zealand & Exotic Lizards Tarantulas Tuataras Chameleons & Dragons Tortoises & Turtles Alligators

Check out our School Holiday Programme on www.goatislandmarine.co.nz

Adults $20 School Children $10 Family Pass – 2 Adults + 2 Children $50 Extra Children $5

REPTILE PARK – OPEN DAILY 10am – 5pm 27 TI POINT ROAD, LEIGH PHONE 09 422 6021 WWW.REPTILEPARK.CO.NZ

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK PHONE 09 923 3621

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autumn getaway guide - girls’ weekend

Blush Beauty Lounge

Alegria Beautyfarm

Oasis Beauty

Mu Beauty Clinic

Saundarya Spa

Blush has a ‘back to basics’ philosophy for skincare, but sees every treatment, whether it’s a simple brow shape or a special facial, as precious time out from your busy schedule.

Christine uses Environ skincare, which focuses on beautiful skin for a lifetime, and Jane Iredale, the skincare mineral makeup.

Christine has been caring for her clients in Matakana for over 12 years now and welcomes you for your bit of time out!

Claudia Schenz, trained in Germany, has a holistic approach to skincare, with a keen interest in nutrition.

She uses an unusual range of cosmetics such as Decléor Paris, OCosmedics, Joyce Blok, Circadia and German KLAPP Cosmetics. She’s NZ’s only stockist of Biotulin Skin Gel, a natural alternative to Botox.

Claudia has been the soleoperator of Alegria Beautyfarm for over 15 years. Day Spa and accommodation available.

This relaxed little salon is tucked away behind the Point Wells Store. Mel is an experienced practitioner with a holistic approach. She offers therapeutic and hot stone massage, waxing, facials and organic spray tanning.

Her main skincare range is Nu Skin, which is made from natural botanicals, and includes premium anti-aging products.

Mel used to run Urban Oasis in Auckland before relocating to the calm of Point Wells.

New this year is Saundarya Spa at Snells Beach. Sonya Rusden, daughter Chloe and Robyn Hodges offer the full range of beauty treatments we know and love, but add in their strong belief in Ayurvedic principles, treatments, and philosophy.

For this team, it’s all about the interconnectedness of body, spirit and earth, and about eliminating stress for overall health and wellness. Clients leave feeling cared for and rejuvenated.

www.beautyfarm.co.nz T: 09 422 7211

www.oasis.net.nz T: 021 960 225

Philippa Hood at Mu Beauty Clinic has over 21 years of experience. She offers a full range of classic beauty therapy services and uses Thalgo products from France for specialist, result-based facials. She stocks the NZ brand Nellie Tier as well. Philippa has recently trained with iBeauty, a new, hi-tech cosmetic instrumental device and MCeutic Cosmeceutical peels.

She is also trained in colour therapy, reiki, kinesiology and energy work.

www.blushbeautylounge.co.nz T: 09 422 9007

www.matakanabeauty.nz T: 09 422 9007

www.saundaryaspa.co.nz T: 09 425 5012

HOLISTIC SKIN THERAPY AND PAMPERING

*Biotulin is the world’s first skin gel with botox-like effect.

Escape the stress of modern day living to this Matakana hideaway.

Take in the relaxing combination of beautiful aromas, soothing sights

and exquisite sensations which balance your whole being.

*is the world’s first skin gel with botox-like effect.

Alegria Beautyfarm | Claudia Schenz 180 Monarch Downs Way, Matakana T 09 422 7211 E relax@beautyfarm.co.nz Available at Alegria Beautyfarm For more information visit www.biotulin.co.nz

beautyfarm.co.nz

Saundarya Spa Ayur vedic Skin Care & Beauty Therapy

1/250 Mahurangi East Road, Snells Beach Phone 09 425 5012

saundaryaspa.co.nz

** Book a beautiful treatment for Mother s Day

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autumn getaway guide - girls weekend riverside magic Five minutes from Matakana Village is an oasis of bush, birdsong–and a bunch of extremely stylish baches. Riverside Matakana is utterly perfect for an autumn weekend getaway.

Manager Michael Bolton says, “We get a lot of girls’ weekenders coming here. They can do the Farmers Market in the morning, come back and put everything in the fridge and head off for a beach walk, go to a gallery or do some shopping. Then it’s back to Riverside to relax and indulge in an easy, delicious dinner in front of the fire.”

There’s lots to do here even if you don’t leave the grounds. Manicured tennis courts, a pool, (heated through to mid-May), petanque, kayaks and even a picturesque pontoon you can drag a beanbag to and read. Or with a bit of notice, you can book a massage…

Riverside’s chardonnay vines and olives are all harvesting now. And soon the autumn colours will be magnificent.

Pick & mix girls tours Liz Bays at Matakana Tours can put together a girls’ weekend tour of the Matakana Coast (Puhoi to Pakiri) that will delight a bunch of ladies of any age. “There’s so much to do up here, and because we live here we know everyone and can get behind the scenes a bit more,” she says.

“We are specialists in food and wine of course, but there are many other experiences we can help with.”

win a weekend at riverside!

Riverside is giving away two nights in a gorgeous bach which sleeps up to four, including a welcome bottle of bubbles and a delicious nibbles platter (total value $800). To go in the draw, simply subscribe to Junction Magazine’s free online edition before the 27th April 2016.

Just visit www.junctionmag.co.nz and hit the red ‘subscribe now’ button, or www.facebook.com/junctionmag and hit ‘sign up’.

Enter your details and you’re in the draw.

Terms and conditions: Your weekend must be used between May 1 and July 31, 2016 and cannot be exchanged for cash or vouchers. Cost of travel to Riverside Matakana is at the winner’s expense.

VIVA TOP 5 BEST VINTAGE SHOPS 2015

How about a tailored arts and crafts tour, starting with a nose around the Vivian Gallery, Art Matakana, Piece Gallery or the sculpture walk at Brick Bay? Or get hands-on with short workshops: glaze your own pottery at Morris & James, try some glass fusing at Kleur Glass, or pour a luxurious soy candle at Trio.

You may require some retail therapy in the form of the Matakana Collectables Trail. Take your pick from a fabulous group of new and vintage shops. You might find the ultimate mid-century modern lampshade, a reindeer hide, an industrial steel bedside table, sleek contemporary silver jewellery or a set of vintage suitcases.

Food-wise, Liz is the authority on local gastronomy. And as we all know, a wine tasting or two is essential to decide on the perfect tipple for your luscious, long vineyard lunch.

“Everything’s so accessible here” says the very smiley Liz. “We can fit in quite a few things in half a day, without sacrificing our trademark relaxed pace. Just tell us what you like and we’ll sort it – pickup and drop-off included!” www.matakanatours.co.nz | T: 0800 927 596

Corner Matakana & Anderson Roads

www.rummage.nz 021 442 071

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co v e ta b l e s

mother’s day

Gloves + Gardening Set, Damask

Side Table, Board and Batten

Necklaces, DeLovely

Bouquet, Twig + Bloom

Crystal Bear, Rummage Matakana

Bowl, Abode Furnishings

High Tea and Sparkling Wine Tastings, The Vintry

Chair, Abode Furnishings

Books, Matakana Village Bookshop

Vase, Damask

Clutch, Two Boutique

Honey Pot, Rummage Matakana

Bracelet, Katya Maker

Bouquet, Twig + Bloom

Cushions, Board and Batten

DÉ LOVELY NEW STOCKISTS OF VERGE CLOTHING

ABODE

FURNISHINGS MATAKANA

MODERN INTERIOR AND OUTDOOR We import custom quality furniture.

View full collection and information online www.abodefurnishingsmatakana.co.nz

DFashion É LOVELY for Women Matakana Village Shop 4B Matakana Phone 09 423 0428

Showroom – Opening soon, Main Road, Sandspit Phone 027 425 6311 | abodefurnishingsmatakana@xtra.co.nz

Be inspired this Mother's Day at Board & Batten Interior Design Buy a gift voucher to the value of $250.00 and receive a 1 hour free interior design consultation with designer Carla Lochmann.

Board & Batten offers a complete design service for new builds, refurbishments and renovations, encompassing all your interior and exterior design requirements.

In addition to displaying stunning furniture, fabrics, lighting, accessories and finishes, our showroom features exquisite tropical style ceiling fans, engineered timber, and beaten copper tap and sink ware for kitchens and bathrooms.

Make Board & Batten Interior Design your design destination this Mother's Day

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897 Matakana Road, Matakana | 09 422 7891 Showroom Open: Wednesday - Saturday Design Workroom Open: Weekdays

Ceramic Necklace, MooiMooi

Bowl, Abode Furnishings

Bouquet, Twig + Bloom

Vases, Board and Batten

Foot Stool, MooiMooi

Light Fitting, Finishing Touches

Cross + Bracelet, DeLovely

Blouse, The French Shed

Urn, Board and Batten

Candle, Matakana Botanicals

Bowl, Ceramics by Carl Scott

Throw, Guthrie Bowron

Bouquet, Twig + Bloom

Buddha Statue, Bali Garden

Scarf, Katya Maker

Cards, Matakana Village Bookshop

We’ll find Mum a book she LOVES

bali garden

We’ll find a perfect book for Mum

Inspired by the ‘Islands of the Gods’ Furniture Balinese Pots & Statuary Palms & Cycads Open Friday – Sunday 11am – 4pm Or by appointment 292 Point Wells Road Matakana

www.balihacienda.com Robyn 0274711181

Cooking, Fashion, Interior Design and Fiction Books Greeting Cards

09-423 0091

HONOURING

MOTHERS

Matakana Village Shops Valley Rd, Matakana

Order your flowers from Twig + Bloom this Mother’s’day

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desigN

the window shack words

kathy

Haidee and Craig Dowling found this shed on their property when they bought it.

It was largely rotten and boarded up, and there were no windows, but the beautifully planted, tropical-feel clearing was too good not to try and utilise.

The previous owners told them it had once been attached to the old schoolhouse at the top of the property. They’d towed it, presumably with large amounts of grit and determination, down the hill to sit facing the beautiful stretch of the Mahurangi River at the bottom of their huge garden.

Style-guru Haidee hatched a plan based on an online photo she’d seen of an American cabin in the woods.

She began to look for old joinery; all different sizes and shapes were tracked down.

The Warkworth Buy and Sell facebook page, TradeMe and the Matakana School Fair were all instrumental in getting the cabin glazed. They achieved their goal for the princely sum of $300. But then they had to stitch it all together.

Unlike the inspirational cabin in the woods, many of the windows actually open, and their builder has framed and sealed everything to within an inch of its life.

It’s perfect for sleepovers for their 13-year-old twins, Coco and Texas, and parties will definitely happen.

There’s no power, but as Haidee says, “We quite like it being off the grid–and it’s amazing what you can do with solar fairy lights!”

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hunter

|

PHOTOS

R O BE R T O

BU z z O LAN

design

THE DREAM CABIN words

kathy

hunter

|

PHOTOS

R O BE R T O

BUZZ O LAN

Lucy Scott calls her small space her ‘Dream Cabin’.

Lucy’s creative urges are sated in here. Her personality requires stylistic mayhem at all times and although her house is a fabulous museum for her many collections, she likes a separate space to work in. “I know it’s tiny,” she says, “but it’s actually perfect. I know exactly where everything is, and it’s all within arm’s reach – I can’t be getting up and down all the time after all.”

Lucy’s addicted to everything vintage, but particularly costume jewellery. It’s rare for her to go past an opshop. For commission work, her clients might bring her a jewellery box full of their mother’s old jewellery, or a favourite aunt’s (Lucy had a much-loved one of those) and ask for the bits and bobs to be ‘knitted’ into a single, spectacular neck, wrist or head-piece.

She rents out her work for special events, and it’s been used in TV and film, too. She gives the rental proceeds to charity; it’s very important for Lucy to give back to the community.

She’s delighting in her involvement with grandchildren lately however, and has had less time to create. But her little cabin is always there, waiting, and she’ll often head out there in the dappled light of the afternoons.

“I love to open it up to the garden and work in there with the birdsong around me. But in winter it’s wonderful too–I’ll take some red wine, light my candles and put music on… I can be completely immersed out there till two in the morning!”

At Dreamtime Cabins, we love helping people find space in their lives. Whether it’s a workroom, an office or a teenage hangout, it’s easy to achieve the freedom you need by adding a cabin to your place. And we have some fantastic, cost-effective options for you:

RENT FROM $70 PER WEEK RENT TO BUY FROM $82.80 PER WEEK We also have EZY payment plans available with cash purchase.

Call Shane for a chat about your requirements, and check out some of our cabin configurations online – or come up with your own!

www.dreamtimecabins.co.nz

T: 027 231 5617 | shane@dreamtimecabins.co.nz 27

DESIGN

THE MAN-CAVE words

kathy

hunter

This blokey haven started life nearly 100 years ago as a woolshed. It’s a repository for its owner’s whopping collection of memorabilia, gathered over many decades.

It was converted into a kind of informal debrief zone around eight years ago when the new house nearby was being built. At the end of each day everyone would meet up there for a beer to discuss the next day’s objectives and dish out the jobs.

That was in summer. When winter rolled around it became apparent the woolshed was both freezing and leaky. It was re-roofed, re-floored, and a stove was found… then the much-loved collection came out of storage.

The owner admits, “It was just a massive collection of shit–a bit daunting really. I realised I needed help.” The whole lot ended up being sorted and styled into the ultimate male hangout by John Perry, who owned Second Hand Land in the Regent Theatre in Helensville.

All of the rare, vintage and frankly bizarre items have come from the owner’s compulsive collecting in NZ and much further afield. The sale of a huge Dargaville pioneer collection, and the closing of Houhora’s iconic Wagner Museum supplied many gratifying treasures. A metre-high recycled-steel rooster just had to be brought home on a giggly Air NZ flight from San Fransciso; a massive Millers beer bottle joined the family on a Colorado ski trip with his bemused-but-resigned sons.

“Everything’s got history in here,” says the owner. “It’s a living photo album; each thing represents a memory. It’s the story of my life.”

ARCHITECT

www.abela.co.nz

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Phone 09 423 0413

|

PHOTOS

R O BE R T O

BU z z O LAN

design

master craftsman words

Luke

W i l l i a m so n

|

PHOTOS

R O BE R T O

BU z z O LAN

Entering the Whangateau workshop where Mark Whyman creates his beautiful, hand-carved stone fireplaces, I immediately run my hand across a slab of wintery-grey stone, then quickly withdraw in case it’s forbidden. “No, go for it,” he says. “Hard to resist, isn’t it?” Yes, it is.

A five-year apprenticeship, and refining his skills on architectural restorations of cathedrals and historic buildings in England, led to Mark’s arrival in New Zealand to work on the restoration of the Old Arts Building at Auckland University. “I love the honesty and integrity of working with stone,” he says. “I wouldn’t have lived long enough to see it finished but I would have loved to participate in the building of one of the great cathedrals.”

Mark enjoys running his own business, particularly meeting new clients and getting together with them to discuss a design. “It’s important to me to be authentic, and give clients the best of what I can do and what can be achieved. I love that I get to market it, make it and install it. I see the whole process through from beginning to end.”

Above: Mark Whyman in his workshop. Below: A selection of Mark’s craftmanship.

Mark produces his own modern designs, as well as traditional ones that have been around for hundreds of years. He has an excellent website that shows beautifully the range, quality and elegance of his work, the scope of which encompasses architectural stone m ​ asonry​ as well as fire surrounds. “These fireplaces will last a lifetime – several lifetimes,” he assures me.

Mark is the only carver of stone fireplaces with his level of expertise in New Zealand. So if you’re in the market for some stunning stonework, grab the opportunity to work with a true craftsman.

The Natural Stone Fireplace Company www.naturalstonefireplace.co.nz Below: The steady hands of Mark Whyman.

INDIVIDUALLY HAND CARVED FIRE SURROUNDS IN NATURAL STONE

Mark Whyman STONEMASON

09 422 6364 OR 0274 837 892

www.naturalstonefireplace.co.nz 29

savour

local liquid gold words

kaye

mueller

Terroir, varietals, a lingering long finish, floral notes, subtle or complex tones... no, we’re not referring to wines or even olive oils. Honey, too, comes in diverse colours, aromas and flavour profiles that truly reflect the region.

Like a fortified wine, manuka honey can be dark, thick, even medicinal tasting. Amber-coloured Rewarewa honey has a rich, complex palate, with Tawari resembling a full-bodied chardonnay, floral and strong.

Rata and apple blossom honey is packed with citrus and sunshine, while transparent, runny Pohutukawa fare can taste like a dessert wine.

Autumn is the perfect season to get together with friends and host a honey-tasting party. Choose a selection of honeys from one of the local producers, pair it with figs and walnuts, Pecorino or blue cheese, local olives and wines, and enjoy trying to identify the complexities of each honey.

A few of our local honey experts: The new-look Warkworth Honey Centre on SH1 between Puhoi and Warkworth has an expansive range of honey, pollen, propolis and royal jelly and the largest display of live bees behind a glass viewing wall.

At the Matakana Honey Merchant in the heart of the village, visitors can watch the honey factory in action. The boutique honey crafters export much of their liquid gold to Europe, but the shop is laden with goodies.

Local beekeeper Roger Alexander from Matakana Honey can be found every Saturday selling his sweet produce at the sFarmer’s Markets.

Puhoi Honey gives you the chance to do more to sustain the bee populations with their Adopt a Hive programme.

By backing local beekeepers and honey merchants, you’re also supporting an industry that is vital to us all.

Albert Einstein once prophetically remarked: “Mankind will not survive the honeybees’ disappearance for more than five years.”

Sitting pretty, Whangaripo Valley hives.

www.honeycentre.com | www.nzhealthnaturally.com www.matakanahoney.co.nz | www.puhoihoney.co.nz

Heron’s Flight Matakana 49 Sharp Road Matakana Just north of Auckland Bookings phone 09-950 6643 contact@heronsflight.co.nz On Easter Friday we picked the first grapes of this season...dolcetto for our Dolcetto Rose 2016.

This was the first day of our 25th vintage so we vividly recollected our first harvest in 1991.

Joe Corban arrived at 5 am dressed in a white boiler suit with a whole swag of picking bins and organised us and a troop of volunteer pickers into picking the whole crop of Cabernet Sauvignon in one day. We then took it to the original winery built for the Antipodean at the end of Tongue Farm Road. We had a lot of fun and and a few accidents in our first vintage, making our first wine which won a gold medal and helped put Matakana on the map.

Alex Corban and his wife Gwen were up here to help and Alex showed David how to make wine... and the first one was his. I’ll never forget our first sale and imagining the purchaser drinking it at home. Sometimes people rang us about and told us how much they enjoyed the wine in the middle of their dinner.

This picture shows the ancient art of re-toasting the barrels. We did this in February. It gave me a real thrill when the team came over from Waiheke and did this.

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David Hoskins, Winemaker 021 025 88203 Mary Evans Tours and events 022 075 0344 Trade enquiries to Red And White Cellar Ph: 0800 946 379 sales@redwhitecellar.co.nz

Junction_March_16.pdf

Turkish Honey Cake

1

29/03/16

5:11 pm

smiths.

M A T A K A N A

C O U N T R Y

P A R K

Ingredients 1 cup whole wheat flour ½ cup white flour 2 tsp baking powder ½ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ cup raw sugar 150g butter 2 eggs ¼ cup of your favourite honey 5 tblsp natural yoghurt Syrup for top 2 tblsp extra honey, 2 tblsp rosewater, 3 tblsp chopped walnuts.

THE STABLES

Set oven to 200°C. In one bowl, stir the flours together with the baking powder and cinnamon. In another, cream the butter, sugar and honey together. Beat the eggs and blend into the butter mixture.

Gently fold in the flours. Add the yoghurt and mix well. Pour the mixture into a greased 20cm cake tin and bake for half an hour.

R E S T A U R A N T

&

B A R

Remove from oven and cool a little. Place on serving plate and poke about 20 holes into the cake with a skewer. Warm the honey and rosewater gently together and pour the syrup over the cake. Sprinkle with walnuts and serve with natural yoghurt.

new bar in town

WORDS

Elizabeth Allan

In the heart of the countryside lies a new nugget of urban cool. It’s in Matakana Country Park, tucked in behind the Stables restaurant. The design is a fusion between a blacksmith’s (the building’s original purpose) and a 60s Kiwi bach, says owner/operator Woody Richards. The vaulted ceiling gives Smiths bar an industrial feel, while a vintage bicycle, art by John Mulholland, and candles in sawn-off wine bottles catch the eye.

Woody and his business partners built Smiths “to offer something unique to the area and to have a second venue for our locals to dine at when we host events and functions at The Stables.” Smiths is “more adult and creative” than their adjacent, established restaurant.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

TWO VENUES TWO EXPERIENCES

CY

CMY

K

Style is matched with substance. Smiths is a premium Heineken bar that also showcases craft beer.

You’ll find rare gin, vodka and NZ single malt whiskey, a list of ‘made with love’ cocktails and a predominantly local wine list.

As for the food, come prepared to share Chef Johnnie Martin’s carefully crafted small plates and platters. The dishes rotate from a library of recipes, showcasing around 20 at a time – so you’ll need repeat visits to try them all.

Open: Tuesday to Friday, 4pm–late; Saturday & Sunday 12pm–late www.facebook.com/SmithsMatakana

2 MINS FROM MATAKANA VILLAGE 4 MINS FROM OMAHA BEACH GROUP BOOKINGS CONFERENCES WEDDINGS EVENTS 1151 LEIGH ROAD, MATAKANA COUNTRY PARK WWW.STABLESMATAKANA.CO.NZ 09 422 7360

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SAVOUR

ravish @ OMAHA GOLF CLUB WORDS

monica

mead

‘Overnight success takes 10 years’ they say. Don’t tell that to Kerri Johns and Sarah Willis. Barely one year since launching Ravish Kiosk, they’ve turned the tired mantra on its head with another venue. Don’t fret: their hip, lo-fi corner coffee spot (Sharp & Matakana Rd) is still humming, but now, lucky Omaha, you can get yours, too.

Visit Ravish at the Omaha Golf Club and expect the artful salads and spot-on java stylings (Supreme Coffee à la head barista Phoebe Somers) they’re known for, plus–voila!– Friday night dinners (note to self: make a reservation).

The seasonal menu boasts hearty steak sandwiches and succulent pulled pork on a bun, plus anything that’s “simple, tasty, and family-orientated,” says Kerri. It’s a formula that’s had them rocking since day one. “We were so much busier last winter than we thought we would be,” she says, “and we’ve got a good group of locals who enjoy what we do.”

How did they kick that 10-year mumbo-jumbo to the kerb?

Self-confessed BFFs, Kerri (the cook) was a physio, while Sarah (the baker) was in banking, but both garnered quiet followings for their food amongst friends before spinning hard work and a yen for good stuff into the little Kiosk that could. Sarah, the beaming face at the counter a lot of the time, humbly says they “just make food they like,” adding “I really do feel it’s the person or people delivering the product that makes it mean so much.” We’re inclined to agree. www.ravish-hq.com/ or www.facebook.com/ravishHQ 72 Matakana Rd | Matakana & 1 North West Anchorage Omaha Beach 021 321 346 | Open 7 days

Clockwise from top: Black rice, fig and hazelnut salad, Kerri Johns and Sarah Willis [photo credit: Louise M Photography] Chocolate mud cake with white chocolate ganache and caramel sauce.

SATURDAY 20th AUGUST SUNDAY 21st AUGUST “SHOWCASING THE BEST WEDDING VENUES + VENDORS THE MATAKANA REGION HAS TO OFFER”

The Woolshed Matakana Country Park 1151 Leigh Rd, Matakana www.weddingsmatakana.co.nz Proudly sponsored by media partner

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ch e r i s h

buzzing around

Matakana Wine AND Food Festival WORDS

KAYE

MUELLE R

Delicious aromas of artisan food, the chilled sounds of live music, festival-goers basking under brilliant blue skies sipping regional wines, beers and ciders: around 2,000 folk flocked to the inaugural Matakana Food and Wine Festival on the first weekend in March.

Paul Walker, the organiser of the event created to showcase the region’s very best cuisine and wine said, “It’s been fantastic. We’ve learned some positive lessons and we’ll be back bigger and better in 2017. We’ll definitely be providing a lot more in the shade department next year!”

Held in conjunction with the MWFF, the Fruit Loop run/walk/ cycle fundraiser attracted 460 competitors. Simon Barclay from the Matakana Community Group believes the event raised $15,000 towards community projects. “A huge thank you to all our sponsors, especially to our major sponsor, Gull. Thanks to the landowners for letting us traipse over their properties.”

“And, of course, to the volunteers, marshals and public.”

Right: Ladies in green - Monnie (left) Deborah (centre) and Nicola.

BEE KIND WORDS

S op h i e

Barclay

Bees pollinate one third of all fruit and veggies, and help Aotearoa rake in $281 million in exports (thanks to the cure-all properties of Manuka honey). But bees have it far from easy - battling the parasitic varroa mite, a lack of beefriendly habitat and, increasingly, the barrage of chemicals we douse on gardens and farms.

Neonicitinoids: Bad news for bees. Neonicitinoids like clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidaclorprid are not only difficult to pronounce, but are still available in products like Confidor and Yates Rose Gun Advanced. Their usage has been restricted in Europe.

Round up: Studies show glyphosate (Round Up’s active ingredient) has minor effects on bees. Last year the International Agency for Research on Cancer revealed that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic” to humans, affecting our DNA at a cellular level. It has also been detected in water and food, and has an average half-life of 40 days.

Herbicides and pesticides are designed to kill. Reduce, rethink and research the types of chemicals you use.

Still spraying? Minimise impact on bees by avoiding flowers and spraying only in the late evening.

Plume, the vineyard restaurant, a ‘must visit’ on your journey through Matakana.

Plume, proudly the house of Runner Duck Wines.

For opening hours please call or visit www plumerestaurant.co.nz 49a Sharp Road | 09 422 7915 | reservations@plumerestaurant.co.nz

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ch e r i s h

LOVE & WAR WORDS

M O NICA

MEA D

Modern lovers can be petulant and bratty. Trevor and Jessica Dill thankfully, are thoroughly unmodern. At 95 and 90, respectively, this love has been tempered with the birth of each grandchild and the loss of every sibling and friend. War hangs there, too, an odd spark for good in their lives, but like most that fought and lived, talking about it is the thing Trevor least wants to do.

It was a farm boy’s punt for adventure that found Trevor navigating bombing sorties over Germany in 1942. He shared the plane and the weight of those missions with four others as the Allies bore brutal blows, sometimes losing 40 planes in one night. “It was just awful, absolutely stupid – just smashing things up,” Trevor says quietly.

In the thick of it, Trevor met a breath of sweet English air. “She was just beautiful,” he says of Jessica, a Leicestershire lass also raised with tall grass and dirt, cows to milk and room to roam. Neither could conceive of bombs and blitzkrieg but were nevertheless immersed, with grit and to the war’s end. VE Day came and Trevor was back at Kaipara Flats.

Jessica, with the good will of any sturdy country girl, soon followed.

She giggles now, recalling an eight-month family trek circa 1966 circumnavigating the globe with five kids in tow. Trevor, a prolific diarist, fetches a notebook from the trip, one of hundreds he’s filled over time.

In writing fluid and artful, he talks in “miles,” “pounds” and “pence” over pages-as-odes to Perth, California, and Venice. Berlin was a stop, a place to put to rest old ghosts.

Left: Trevor and Jessica Dill on their wedding day, nearly 70 years ago.

Above: Trevor, centre with his family - 1946. Remarkably, both his father and brother also returned from the war virtually unscathed.

Custom Furniture | Leather | Homeware | Interior Design

New designer store open now.

Just up the road from the village.

More space, more range, more of the classic with a touch of contemporary.

38 Matakana Valley Road, Matakana | 09 422 7339 | touches.co.nz 34

Above: Trevor and Jessica. Photo credit: Sandy Meharry

They’ll mark ANZAC Day with a dawn service and RSA dinner. They also celebrate 70 years of marriage this year. An unfolding legacy of South African and Dutch sons-in-law and Hong Kong-born grandchildren, they’ve patently raised their brood with a global perspective.

Excursions are few and carefully planned now, but they help with goings on at Kaipara Tennis Club where they played. Trevor grouses that Jessica had a nasty habit of trouncing him in match play – but then, he always preferred badminton anyway.

ANZAC DAY LISTINGS Kawau Island – 12.30pm Service, Kawau Boating Club.

Nibbles provided. See Kawau Boating Club on Facebook for more information.

Leigh – 10.45am March and Service, Leigh Cemetery Matakana – 10am Remembrance Muster, Matakana War Memorial This event is a short service to remember the local men who gave their lives and are listed on the Memorial. The Fields of White Crosses will be set up and the public are welcome to place flowers, wreathes, flags and paper poppies during the ANZAC weekend. See Matakana War Memorial on Facebook for more information.

Warkworth – 6am Dawn Service, Rotunda, Church Hill Followed by complimentary breakfast for Servicemen ($10 for the public) at the Warkworth RSA. See Warkworth RSA on Facebook for more information.

Warkworth Civic Ceremony – 10.30am at Rotunda, Church Hill Followed by morning tea and $2 sausages and juice in the car park for children.

See Warkworth RSA on Facebook for more information.

Puhoi – 9am commemorations at War Memorial Gates Followed by 10am parade up the road to Puhoi Hall to read the Rolls of Honour.

Cup of tea for community and visitors to follow.

Puhoi Library – open from 10am to 3pm. Free coffee/tea and ANZAC biscuits will be available all day. World War artefacts, documents, books and DVDs will be displayed for several weeks. Many fascinating items will be on display (more every year), and many of the books and DVDs are available to borrow.

Above: Trevor, 1945 after his return.

Give it a whirl Pearl!

Pearly Whites is a non-foaming toothpaste made with organic coconut oil, peppermint, and baking soda. Unlike other ‘natural’ toothpastes it does contain any foaming agents, artificial sweetners or any other nasty chemicals. It’s a little different at first but you’ll quickly come to love it.

Handmade in New Zealand

KIDS! PUHOI HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANZAC DAY SPEECH COMPETITION Children Year 8 and under are invited to enter a speech (no more than 250 words) in the Puhoi Historical Society Anzac Day Speech Competition.

Email your entry to puhoibohemianmuseum@gmail.com by Sunday 17 April.

The winner will receive a prize of $50 and will have the opportunity to perform their speech at the Anzac Day ceremony in Puhoi.

Now available at • Huckleberry Farms, Glen Innes & Royal Oak • Harvest Wholefoods, Grey Lynn • Warkworth Natural Health Store • Essential Health, Warkworth • Village Health Shop, Matakana • Matakana Pharmacy • Mrs Allsorts, Omaha Causeway Online • Ooooby Auckland • Trade Me Enquiries pearlywhitenz@gmail.com 021 422 673

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arts

liz sharek words

kathy

hunter

“They’re part of the visual lexicon of New Zealand which I think has been missing for a while,” says Matakana ceramic artist, Liz Sharek.

She’s talking about the work which has scooped her latest award – the Waiheke Island Small Sculpture Prize 2016.

Titled ‘The Big Blow’, it’s a group of ceramic volcanoes about 30cm high, their plumes of smoky ash all pointing the same way as if in a strong wind. They’re roughly scored and glazed in muted but fiery tones. Should volcanoes be part of New Zealand visual culture? “I think so, absolutely,” says the artist. With 50 volcanoes in the Auckland Volcanic Field (AVF) alone, it seems fairly obvious.

Liz has been a highly-respected (and multi-award winning) cast glass artist both here and internationally for over 20 years, but has recently moved to clay. Her volcanoes were begun as a happy collaboration with Barry Lett at the Vivian Gallery. She wanted to nail down a simple volcanic form; “one that people could recognise instantly, like a cabbage tree or a ponga.”

As a bonus, the textures she’s discovered with her volcanos have started her off on more new work, creating textured vessel forms that are scalloped and pitted on every surface.

“I’m excited by ceramics now – worldwide, they’re starting to really take off again in fresh directions,” Liz says. “Clay is such a lovely medium to work with, and the process is so much easier. It’s playful– you can start something and if it’s not working, it’s no big deal. I still love glass and always will, but for now this is where it’s at for me,” she says firmly.

Liz Sharek’s work is available at the Vivian Gallery in Matakana.

Above: Liz at home with one of her new vessels. Below: her award-winning volcanoes.

www.thevivian.co.nz

OPEN 10AM – 2PM FRIDAY - MONDAY

FIND US AT GREEN WITH ENVY SHARP ROAD, MATAKANA

THE7THSISTER.COM 36

arts

Brick Bay Folly Award 2016 words a l e x

hunter

|

p h o t os s u pp l i e d

by

brick

bay

‘Daughter of the Swamp’ sits beside Brick Bay’s lily-covered lake – the winner of the Brick Bay Folly Award 2016. Designed by Ryan Mahon, Sacha Milojevic, Edward Roberts and Raphaela Rose, Daughter of The Swamp is a large-scale tunnel structure made of interwoven red, yellow and white steel arches.

When walking through it, the rods initially overlap in a set diagonal pattern, casting diamond shadows, like scales, on the white shell floor.

Progressively the structure evolves and loosens towards the centre. At the end it gets smaller, which will provoke much hilarity as dad ends up on his knees.

The sculpture alludes to the hinaki (eel trap) and the Maori myths surrounding Maui and his wife Hina, known as the daughter of the swamp.

However, above this cultural relevance and clever design, Daughter of the Swamp is so easy to interact with. Art enthusiasts stand in the structure’s airy bend, intrigued by the steel’s fluidity while kids crawl around, wide-eyed at the Alice In Wonderland shrinking exit. And from all angles, the lake and bush are framed by the spaces between the coloured lines.

Brick Bay’s Sculpture Trail is open daily 10am-5pm so be sure to head on down for a bit of wine, dine and ponder. www.brickbay.co.nz | T: 09 425 4690

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h a pp e n i n g s

a wedding amongst the vines

Ascension Wine Estate is a beautiful winery set amongst the vines of Matakana, just 45 minutes north of Auckland. The estate has been designed to accommodate a number of different settings for your wedding ceremony, and many options for the reception. Say your vows in the vineyard, in our formal gardens, under a rustic canopy or within our spacious interior rooms.

Small, intimate soirées or large and lavish celebrations – we’ve created them all, working closely with our clients. We have a wealth of experience and we’re committed to providing a blissful experience on your wedding day – we take weddings seriously! The Ascension Wedding Planning Team will work through all logistics and the fine details that will make your day perfect, from the bride’s arrival to when the last guest departs.

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Weddings are also all about the food – the experience of sharing your first meal as newlyweds, with family and friends. Our world-class chefs work with you and the planning team to create a variety of options, catering for everything from finger food to buffets to a full a la carte dining experience.

Join us on 15 May 2016 for our Bridal & Bliss Wedding Fair. Entry is free, and there are some amazing prizes to be won. Meet with our suppliers, wander through the gardens and experience Ascension first-hand. Save the date – we’d love to see you then!

Bridal & Bliss Wedding Fair | May 15, 2016 Ascension Wine Estate, Matakana Road www.ascensionwine.co.nz

fruit loop and MATAKANA FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL WARKWORTH

EVENTS GUIDE Paul and the fantastic team behind MWFF

Reader Special Receive $5 off the ticket price when you cut out and present the coupon below

Become a 30 day provisional RSA member when you purchase your event ticket

APRIL 2nd Fishing Tourny, 8th Kane Steves, 15th Gary Pallett, 22nd JJ Rhythm, 29th Klassic Trax, 30th Gary Pallett

MAY 6th Blame the Cats, 13th Gerry Lee, 14th Rolling Stones, th 20 Gary Pallett, 27th Kavalliers

JUNE

The most spectacular winning team

3rd Glenn Carley, 10th JJ Rhythm, 17th Gary Pallett, 24th Kane Steves

JULY 1st Klassic Trax, 8th 2S A Crowd, 9th Dennis Marsh, 15th Gary Pallett, h 22nd Kavalliers, 29th John McGough

AUGUST 5th Glenn Carley, 12th Gerry Lee, 13th British Invasion, 19th Gary Pallett Fruity ladies

SEPTEMBER 2nd JJ Rhythm, 3rd Elvis, 9th Blame the Cats, 16th Gary Pallett, 23rd Kavalliers, 30th Kane Steves

OCTOBER 7th Glenn Carley, 8th Beatles, Klassic Trax, 21st Gary Pallett, 28th JJ Rhythm

14th

NOVEMEBER Ever popular Mahurangi Oysters

4th Gerry Lee, 11th Klassic Trax, 2th Tina Turner, 18th Gary Pallett, 25th Kavalliers

DECEMBER 2nd Glenn Carley, 9th Kane Steves, 16th Gary Pallett

RSA WARKWORTH

Boys in blue at Gillman Vineyard tent

28 Neville Street, Warkworth Phone 09 425 8568 www.warkworthrsa.co.nz Search Warkworth RSA on Facebook 39

h a pp e n i n g s

LEIGH CARNIVAL & MATAKANA SUNDAY SESSIONS

Nat Jack and Barry Torkington

Kas Wallace and Greta Gislason

Richie Watson

Toni Newbold and Nell Rowan

Graphic communication

Level 1, Millstream Building, 17 Elizabeth Street, Warkworth

Phone: 09 425 9863

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•

www.halcyondesign.co.nz

Lucy Howlett rides that pony!

Peter and Marcel

Paul Wells, Greg Morgan, Nan Russell and Susan Thompson

4–LETTER

WORD

If you are looking at selling your property in Rodney, I’m keen to get it SOLD for you! Our global RE/MAX connections ensure the highest selling prices possible and my 16 years of selling international real estate ensures a friendly, professional experience to thrill you. Call Debbie for some selling action!

Licensed (REAA 2008)

h a pp e n i n g s

dulcet tones at sawmill café

ALDOUS HARDING WORDS

ALEX

HUNTE R

Folk songstress from the wild port of Lyttleton, Aldous Harding strolls diffidently on to the Sawmill stage. She’s in a long black dress, hair parted down the centre and clipped above the ears in Amish fashion.

She murmers of missing boyfriend Marlon Williams, who’s away touring.

But snaps back into it, strokes her guitar and announces she’s got new shit to play – “let’s make this kitty purr”.

Aldous has collected the sounds, images and even, occasionally, accents from faraway places and archived them. She often leans a focused face against the guitar to scrutinise her own finger work. The pan flute sound she makes with her mouth is ghostly, while the chorus in new song The world is looking for you is exotic, otherworldly but then she’s bittersweet and jazzy in just released track I’m so sorry.

Her last song, also a new one, is Horizon. Aldous puts aside her guitar and her vulnerability, to stand, while a friend sits down at the piano.

She stares out into the crowd with intense eyes and calls: “Here is your princess… here is the horizon”, an arm outstretched to east and west with each proposition. She demands an answer from us – suddenly, there is twisted power behind the curtaining fringe.

Aldous laughs at the darkness of her previous work and talks of lighter tunes still in the works. She admits “I’m sorry I’m so awkward… but that’s not going to change.” And thank God for that because the end of the hour has come, and we’ve all chosen the princess.

CRAIG + PIPER Architecture

Landscape

+ Architectural Design + Residential, Hospitality, Retail + Renovations The Vintry Matakana is hosting a special Mother’s Day treat: high tea with finger sandwiches and cream scones – and a sparkling wine tasting on the side.

You’ll taste six crisp bubblies, with informative notes from Jessie Love of Red & White Cellars. Wines include Laurent Perrier Brut NV, Valformosa Cava, Bandini Prosecco, Spy Valley Echelon Methode Traditionelle, OBV, and Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot Noir.

Tickets $45 for tasting and high tea, or $25 just for the tasting session.

On sale in April at the Vintry and Matakana Market Kitchen.

Sunday 8 May 3.30pm Find The Vintry Matakana on Facebook

+ Construction Management + Landscape Design + Urban, Rural and Coastal + On-Site Consultation + Project Facilitation

CREATIVE PASSIONATE DESIGN www.craigandpiper.co.nz RICHARD CRAIG ~ Architectural Designer P 021 431 522 E richard@craigandpiper.co.nz SARAH PIPER ~ Landscape Designer P 021 888 365 E sarah@craigandpiper.co.nz 41

H A P P ENINGS

MUSIC & FILM

Delaney Davidson words

Elizabeth

A l l a n

Twisted blues master Delaney Davidson brings new project Manos Del Chango to the Leigh Sawmill Café on Sunday 17 April.

Featuring Davidson alongside LA-based vocalist/keyboardist Nicole Izobel García, (right) expect to hear haunted psychedelica mixed with the older flavours of Mexican folklore.

The pair started working together after Reverend Beatman organised a gig in a cellar in Switzerland. Davidson says fans will note obvious differences from his solo act: “There are two voices for one, and there’s a lot of singing in Spanish. It’s a lo-fi sound with me building rhythm on my Ghost Orchestra loop machine.”

Davidson says they chose the name, meaning Hands of the Monkey, because “monkeys are incredibly good at catching onto possibilities.

To us, it means good luck and let’s go forward. Plus it’s the Year of Monkey.”

Davidson has played the Sawmill numerous times and likes everything from the stage and sound to atmosphere, people and pizza. “There’s a good summertime feeling about making it so far north from our base in Lyttelton. It’s nice to fit in a swim!”

The show will be a last chance to catch the duo in NZ this year before they leave for Europe and the US. And yes, an album is in the pipeline.

Manos del Chango | www.sawmillcafe.co.nz

HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE : review Dan

Paine,

Matakana

Cinemas

Taika Waititi is currently the hottest film-maker in New Zealand and his latest Hunt For the Wilderpeople continues the winning streak. In the follow-up to his unique and hilarious vampire mockumentary, What We Do In the Shadows, the director of the phenomenally successful Boy uses the Barry Crump book Wild Pork & Watercress as his source material for a heartfelt and witty adventure-comedy set predominantly in the native bush of Aotearoa.

Starring Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House, Rhys Darby and Oscar Kightley, the film expertly balances looney comedic sequences and the more weighty emotional scenes so well you may find yourself laughing and crying during the same scene!

Unlike some of Taika’s earlier work, Hunt For the Wilderpeople really does work as a family film and to me has a throwback feel in the mould of The Goonies.

Taika does it again, a future Kiwi classic!

‘OPENING SOON’ - watch this space

28 Baxter Street,Warkworth Follow us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/fullspectrumtrainingfacility/

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H A P P ENINGS

april gig guide MARKETS: Date

Time

Event Venue website

Every Sat

8.00 – 13.00

Matakana Village Farmers Market

Matakana Village

Every Sat

8.00 – 15.00

Matakana Markets

The Old Dairy Factory, Matakana

Second Sun of the Month

10.00 – 14.00

Matakana Vintage Markets & Sunday Sessions

Matakana Village

First Sun of the Month

8.00 – 13.00

Warkworth Museum Market Day

Old Masonic Hall

Second Sun of the Month

9.30 – 13.30

Leigh Summer Markets

Leigh Hall

Last Sun of the Month

9.00 – 13.00

Puhoi Farmers Market

Puhoi Domain

Sat 5 Mar – Sun 10 Apr

The Flower Show

The Vivian Art Gallery

thevivian.co.nz

Fri 1 Apr

18.30

MOA Tap Takeover

The Vintry

www.matakanamarketkitchen.co.nz

Fri 1 Apr

19.00

Glenn Carley

Warkwoth RSA

www.warkworthrsa.co.nz

Sat 2 Apr

7.30

Colliers Coastal Challenge

Fraser Reserve

www.coastalchallengeseries.co.nz

Sat 2 Apr

5.00

Warkworth RSA Fishing Tournament

www.warkworthrsa.co.nz

Sat 2 Apr

19.00

Isabel Rivera Cuenca and Jonathan Crayford

Leigh Sawmill Café

www.sawmillcafe.co.nz

Sun 3 Apr

8.00

Omaha Classic

Omaha Surf Club

www.omahaclassic.co.nz

Sun 3 Apr

17.00

Will Wood

Leigh Sawmill Café

www.sawmillcafe.co.nz

Thu 7 – Mon 11 Apr

Harvest Week

Ascension Wine Estate

www.ascensionwine.co.nz

Fri 8 Apr

18.30

Design Collective Evening Market

Little & Local Café

Search The Design Collective on FB

Fri 15 Apr

19.00

Kane Steves

Warkwoth RSA

www.warkworthrsa.co.nz

Fri 8 Apr

12.00–15.00

Bayleys In The North Charity Lunch

Omaha Golf Club

Fri 8 Apr

19.30

Tiki Taane & DJ Brutus Powers

Leigh Sawmill Café

www.sawmillcafe.co.nz

Sat 9 Apr

20.00

Dylan C with Special Guests

Leigh Sawmill Café

www.sawmillcafe.co.nz

Sun 10 Apr

16.00

Warkworth Music Concert #1 (Trio Eclat)

Mahurangi College Hall

www.warkworthmusic.org.nz

Sun 10 Apr

16.30

White Chapel Jak

Leigh Sawmill Café

www.sawmillcafe.co.nz

Fri 15 Apr

17.00–19.00

Summerleles Riverside Events Monthly Ukulele Jam

Old Masonic Hall

Fri 15 Apr

19.00

Gary Pallett

Warkwoth RSA

Sat 16 Apr – 22 May

Tidal Show

The Vivian

www.thevivian.co.nz

Sun 17 Apr

16.30

Hyperion Wine Tasting

The Vintry

www.matakanamarketkitchen.co.nz

Sun 17 Apr

17.00

Manos Del Chango

Leigh Sawmill Café

www.sawmillcafe.co.nz

Mon 18 Apr

10.30 – 12.30

3D Life Cycles

Goat Island Marine Discovery Ctr

www.goatislandemarine.co.nz

Mon 18 Apr

13.30 – 15.30

Mussel Dissection

Goat Island Marine Discovery Ctr

www.goatislandemarine.co.nz

Wed 20 Apr

10.30 – 12.30

Rock Pool Art

Goat Island Marine Discovery Ctr

www.goatislandemarine.co.nz

Wed 20 Apr

13.30 – 15.30

How do sea snails find food?

Goat Island Marine Discovery Ctr

www.goatislandemarine.co.nz

Sat 22 Apr

19.00

JJ Rhythm

Warkwoth RSA

www.warkworthrsa.co.nz

Sat 22 Apr

20.30

Jimi Hendrix Tribute

Ascension Wine Estate

www.ascensionwine.co.nz

Sun 24 Apr

17.00

Hausmusik NZ – Baroque Music

Matakana Hall

www.hausmusiknz.com

Sun 24 Apr

19.00

Manos Del Chango

Leigh Sawmill Café

www.sawmillcafe.co.nz

Mon 25 Apr

10.30 – 12.30

3D Life Cycles

Goat Island Marine Discovery Ctr

www.goatislandemarine.co.nz

Mon 25 Apr

13.30 – 15.30

Mussel Dissection

Goat Island Marine Discovery Ctr

www.goatislandemarine.co.nz

Mon 25 Apr

ANZAC DAY

See page 35 for full ANZAC Day Listings

Wed 27 Apr

10.30 – 12.30

Rock Pool Art

Goat Island Marine Discovery Ctr

www.goatislandemarine.co.nz

Wed 27 Apr

13.30 – 15.30

How do sea snails find food?

Goat Island Marine Discovery Ctr

www.goatislandemarine.co.nz

Fri 29 Apr

19.00

Klassic Trax

Warkwoth RSA

www.warkworthrsa.co.nz

Sat 30 Apr

16.00

Warkworth Music Concert #2 (Jelly Rolls)

Mahurangi College

www.warkworthmusic.org.nz

Sat 30 Apr

19.00

Gary Pallett

Warkwoth RSA

www.warkworthrsa.co.nz

Sat 30 Apr

19.30

The Hoarsemen

Tahi Bar

www.tahibar.com

Sun 1 May

12.00

Seagull Race

Matakana Wharf

www.matakana.co.nz

Sun 1 May

17.00

James Kenyon & Monty Bevins

Leigh Sawmill Café

www.sawmillcafe.co.nz

Fri 6 May

19.00

Blame the Cats

Warkworth RSA

www.warkworthrsa.co.nz

Fri 6 May

19.30

Lumina – NZ Dance Company

Mahurangi College

www.iticket.co.nz/events

www.warkworthrsa.co.nz

/2016/may/lumina Sun 8 May

15.30

Mother’s Day High Tea

The Vintry

www.matakanamarketkitchen.co.nz

Sun 8 May

19.00

Whantageau Folk Club – Kim and Dusty

Whangateau Hall

www.whangateau.co.nz

Fri 13 May

17.00–19.00

Summerleles Riverside Events Monthly Ukulele Jam

Old Masonic Hall

Fri 13 May

19.00

Gerry Lee

Warkwoth RSA

www.warkworthrsa.co.nz

Sat 14 May

19.00

Rolling Stones

Warkwoth RSA

www.warkworthrsa.co.nz

Sun 15 May

10.00

Bridal & Bliss Ascension Wedding Fair

Ascension Wine Estate

www.ascensionwine.co.nz

Sat 22 May

16.00

Warkworth Music Concert #3 (Cappella)

Mahurangi College

www.warkworthmusic.org.nz

43

S• LT

REA

CH

Peter and Dahnie have an outstanding track record of selling coastal and lifestyle properties in Matakana.

+RESU S LT

When a real estate formula works, it makes sense to bring it back.

A • RE

An Unstoppable Team!

CH

U S +RE

The pair are excited about teaming up again to create a new chapter of bold results and impeccable client service.

To join the success story… give them a call today.

Dahnie Burton

Bayleys Warkworth Top Salesperson 2013/2014

M 021 628 327 E dahnie.burton@bayleys.co.nz

Peter Marsh M 021 772 477 E peter.marsh@bayleys.co.nz

Recent Successes…

Cowan Bay Road – sold at auction for $2.9M with a CV of $1,350,000 Takatu Road – listed and sold in a multi offer in just one week Wrybill Way, Point Wells – listed and sold in a multi offer in just 3 days

Mackys Real Estate Ltd, Licensed under REA Act 2008

WHAT’S ON

Mackys Real Estate Ltd, Licensed under REA Act 2008

CHARITY Auction Evening

April 2016

We would love you to join us for our

BAYLEYS IN THE NORTH LUNCH in support of Make-A-Wish NZ

Our local A&P Show is celebrating its 150th year. Please support this great local cause by coming along for a great night out.

FREE ENTRY

Enjoy lunch, good company and a great cause With guest speaker, Sarah Laurie Meet & hear from Make-A-Wish recipient, Brennan Massey & mum, Vivienne.

Photo: Karen Williamson

Hosted at Omaha Beach Golf Club Friday 8th April 2016, 12pm - 3pm Tickets $80 or a table of 10 for $700 You can help make wishes come true for Kiwi kids with life threatening medical conditions

THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2016, FROM 5pm BACK BAR @ BRIDGEHOUSE st

To secure a table or tickets please contact: bayleys.co.nz Debbie Jones 021 412530 or debbie.jones@b

All money raised goes to the Warkworth A&P Society!!

Our Bayleys offices:

44

Warkworth 09 425 7640

Omaha Beach 09 425 7640

Matakana 09 425 7640

www.bayleys.co.nz