Junction October 2016 by Junction Mag

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Junction

o cto b e r 20 1 6

• FOCUS ON LEIGH • NEW VINTAGE WINE • PEARLS + GUMBOOTS WWW.JUNCTIONMAG.CO.NZ

People & Happenings | Puhoi to waipu

CONTENTS - ISSUE 12

www.junctionmag.co.nz

managing director/Publisher Bianca Howlett +64 21 117 2833 bianca@junctionmag.co.nz Editor Kathy Hunter +64 21 103 0526 kathy@junctionmag.co.nz Advertising Cola Larcombe +64 27 225 5050 ads@junctionmag.co.nz Sophie Carew +64 21 028 393 44 sophie@junctionmag.co.nz distribution Clinton Howlett +64 21 024 04015 https://github.com/konsav/social-icons https://github.com/konsav/social-icons https://github.com/konsav/social-icons clinton@junctionmag.co.nz Graphic Design Tracey Stimpson design@junctionmag.co.nz Contributors Writers: Kathy Hunter, Kirsty Millar, Cath Lewis Sofía Bejarano-Gallardo Photography: Louise M Photography, Sandy Meharry, Sam Mothersole Photography, Gavin Matheson, Diana Langton Styling: Kate Arbuthnot Front Cover: Josephine Dancey wears Adrianna Papell gown and Crochette Collections hat from Katya Maker Boutique Photo Credit: Sam Mothersole Photography Printed by inkwise nz 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.

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.

SPOTLIGHT The African Touch.. ................................................................................................................4 PROFILE Jenine Arbarbanel.................................................................................................................6 NEW & NOTED......................................................................................................................8 TREND Pearls + Gumboots. . .............................................................................................................11 Fashion Week Locals........................................................................................................... 14 discover Welcome to Leigh............................................................................................................... 15 Leigh Central....................................................................................................................... 16 Future Positive.................................................................................................................... 17 Leigh Locals. . ....................................................................................................................... 18 What’s next for Leigh Sawmill Café. . .................................................................................. 19 feature Matakana Wineries - The New Vintage.............................................................................. 21 Winemakers........................................................................................................................32 Wine Trail - Map . . ............................................................................................................... 24 Wine Options - The Vintry + Lothlorian Winery.................................................................25 Product Spread.. ..................................................................................................................26 Farewell to Mahurangi River............................................................................................... 27 design house The Manse on Bertram.. ......................................................................................................29 Master Craftsmen - Solid Composites.. ............................................................................. 33 savour ................................................................................................................................ Honest Chocolat.. ................................................................................................................35 Authentic Cambodian - Baih Khmer.................................................................................. 36 Mangawhai Meats.. ............................................................................................................ 38 Café Donna. . ....................................................................................................................... 39 Jin Jin. . ............................................................................................................................... 39 Amber Rose Recipe............................................................................................................ 40 cherish Sustainable Sophie + Walk of the Month........................................................................... 41 Matakana School Gala....................................................................................................... 42 Hospice Tour. . ..................................................................................................................... 43 arts Capture the Castle - Patrick O’Connor.. ............................................................................. 44 property Floating above the Clouds................................................................................................. 45 OUT + ABOUT - Social pics. . ...............................................................................................47 happenings.................................................................................................................... 48 gig guide.......................................................................................................................... 51

cath lewis

Cath is world famous in Matakana for her culinary capabilities. Many remain in mourning for her Mexican marvels but there is comfort to be found at the Farmers Market on Saturday’s in her “tres, tres delicieux” crepes and gallettes. Cath’s a capable and compulsive communicator with a background in the creative industries. She lives in Leigh with a couple of teenagers (hers) and putting digits to keys for Junction is her first foray as a writer.

spotlight - the african touch

profile - jenine abarbanel

The Junction Handbook is your complete insider guide to the magnificent Matakana Coast and beyond.

HANDBOOK 2016/17

PUHOI - WAIPU

OUT NOW Grab your FREE COPY from your Junction stockist

CONTENTS - ISSUE 12

trend

discover - leigh central

21 feature - the new vintage

design house - the manse on bertram

savour - amber rose

43 cherish - hospice tour

arts - len castle collection

happenings

new + noted

NEW unique Furniture + Matakana Coast Stockist for NODI Rugs + cushions

spotlight

the african touch words

kirsty

millar

photos

supplied

Karoma and Tasha with their boys, Shaka (left) Tembo and Zuri.

The Kimani brothers attend Mangawhai Beach School; you couldn’t get a more local trio. Mum was a Wintle – one of the first families to settle in Mangawhai. They’re a big family with a proud history and strong links to the community. But here’s where it gets surprising, the lads are local in another village too – Nakuru, Kenya! Tembo, Zuri and Shaka might be Mangawhai originals, but Dad is Kenyan born and keeps the African connection alive and well for his young family. Karoma and Tasha Kimani blend their love of two countries by running ‘The African Touch’ safari tours of East and Southern Africa. Home base is Mangawhai, but the heart is definitely in two camps. Their story unfolds a little differently to your average romantic hook-up. Tasha had lived and worked in London doing a typical Kiwi OE. Not ready to return home, she applied for a tour-guiding job with Absolute Africa. Soon she met a plucky young bloke who, through sheer determination and persistence, had become Absolute Africa’s first-ever Kenyan-born truck driver. The pair were thrown together on tour. Karoma knew his stuff and wasn’t afraid to share it; Tasha thought him arrogant and requested to work with a new driver in the future. The battle of wits finally turned a corner, evolving into a love story worthy of its own article. Eventually, family and Mangawhai lured Tasha home, with Karoma

following shortly after – an exciting and nervous time for the pair. To this day, Tasha acknowledges her husband is a bushman at heart. Bringing him to New Zealand was one thing, but straight to Mangawhai where the theme is water at every turn – fishing, surfing and beach life? Alien to say the least. The couple established backpacker’s accommodation, The Coastal Cow, which they ran for seven years. Locals often asked the pair to take them to Africa. What started out as banter over drinks eventually got them thinking – could we do this, could we throw a crew together and tour like the old days? Tasha says, “I rang the local papers to drum up publicity for our crazy African dream and boom! – we had a story published immediately. So we had to walk the talk. We got a little formal at this point, setting up an info evening at our backpackers. I remember holding up a glossy brochure from our days with Absolute Africa and saying, ‘see this truck – we’ll have one of those, it’ll look a little like this’, pointing enthusiastically at the picture, while not having a clue where we’d get one!’” The inaugural tours in 2005 saw 36 people take a leap of faith in The African Touch, mostly Mangawhai locals. Tour life continued, itineraries were fine-tuned and bums on seats grew – the concept was solid and business life thrived. Unlike bigger tour

operators, the Kimani’s have created something unique; travellers are guided every inch of the way and can meet Karoma, their guide, before they even depart NZ shores. Karoma reckons it’s great to snub big company pomp, hidden costs and shallow itineraries; “I love showing the real Africa, the path less trodden. Yep, we cover the major attractions, but I can share a deeper level, drawing on my Masai/Kikuyu heritage.” Guests are taken to Karoma’s Mother’s village where they meet his Mama Wainaima, crowding into her modest home for goat stew. In 2007, the couple took a further plunge into local Kenyan life and bought 10 acres of land. The vision? A campsite. The timing was right for Tasha’s parents who were looking for a new challenge, so together this enterprising family built a camp. Punda Milias is now a mature and busy campsite, and a regular stop on The African Touch itinerary. When Tasha fell pregnant with their first son, people in the guiding industry thought they were mad touring with a youngster in tow. Perhaps the crazy African mentality hit a higher gear, but they were determined to continue. Tembo became their youngest overlander at just seven months. Tasha adds; “We adapted. Yes, it was full on, but we threw two more into the mix – then we knew what juggling was really like. Ranging from a baby to school-aged, our passengers have been

incredibly kind to our boys, with many saying it added richness to the tour. I think that’s why they’re so confident today, this year alone they’ve had about 22 grandparents. We know it’s not everyone’s ideal to have kids on board, so we’re pretty strict at keeping them out of the way, and we don’t take them on every tour.” Quizzing the kids about life in two places throws up interesting comments. Tembo says; “It’s cool because we don’t have to pay and we sleep in tents.” While at five years old, Shaka has his priorities straight, “I love seeing all the animals.” Karoma realises his kids are blessed, “It’s fantastic to share my home with them, it gives them a balance between modern NZ life and Africa’s isolation, wildlife and culture.” Perhaps the nomad life was always in Tasha. But she also feels connected to this part of the world – the Wintles have always been big on the outdoors and community. Tasha’s great-great-grandmother gifted the Mangawhai Heads campground to Mangawhai – it can never be sold. Her late grandmother is the voiceover at the local museum, and her children are Kiwi kids with African spirit. However, she does believe ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, and for this lucky family that’s a dynamic mix of two very special villages. www.africantouch.nz | www.facebook.com/theafricantouch

DREAMING of africa? WE MAKE IT HAPPEN! The African Touch is owned and operated by Kenyan-born Karoma and his Kiwi wife, Tasha. They run affordable, personalised safaris in Eastern and Southern Africa and have over 35 of years combined experience. “Karoma’s extensive experience in guiding, his focus on a safe and professional safari, and his passion to share his country was extra special.”

WWW.AFRICANTOUCH.NET E: info@africantouch.net | T: 09 4315 444

profile

Jenine Abarbanel words

kathy

hunter

Jennie with The Pipi Pickers in full swing.

Jenine Abarbanel is a familiar face around Leigh. She has her fingers in many community pies. She’s usually at local fundraisers and events, often as an organiser or volunteer. With her partner, Nat Torkington, she has two teenagers; they have a huge extended family in the area on Nat’s side. But there’s a bit more to this picture than a local cookie-baking committee mum. Jenine also has a degree in Aerospace Engineering and, with Nat (a banjo player of serious renown), she travels New Zealand and Australia playing the double bass and singing in their bluegrass band, The Pipi Pickers. Jenine was born in Chicago and raised in California. She’s a statuesque Amazonion who grew up hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains. She has a big voice with a solid American ‘y’all kinda’ twang. She doesn’t beat around the bush, and she really likes to laugh. At school she was very academic, particularly in maths and science, which explains why she did that Bachelor in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Southern California. “Yeah – so there I was in LA in the 80s, and … truth to tell, I don’t really remember a lot of it,” she admits. But she made it through and got to grad school (Masters) at Colorado State, doing research funded by NASA.

“I was completely convinced that we’d be living on the Moon and Mars by the middle of this century, so I was part of this programme designing inflatable living quarters,” she says. “We’d write these papers, and travel to conferences to present them. Then we’d go home and write papers and go to the next conference. And so on, and so on. Nothing happened. I lost interest.” Meanwhile Nat had arrived. They met online – in 1995. Before the World Wide Web was available to mere mortals, Jenine and Nat, in very different parts of the planet, had been taking part in discussion groups via the net’s precursor, UseNet. They were both members of a creative writing group called talk.bizarre. “So every year, we would have a huge party called the Talk.Bizarre Outrageous Blowout – T-BOB for short. They were pretty amazing parties,” says Jenine. “One year it was at a huge ranch in New Mexico, and Nat came all the way from New Zealand. We had been talking online for quite a while but suddenly there he was in person, sleeping on my couch. We were married six months later.” Both of their brainy and beautiful children were born in Fort Collins. But New Zealand was calling Nat – he wanted his kids to run wild on the beaches of Leigh. Then in 2004, just as the Torkington homesickness

was peaking, George Bush was elected for a second term. They packed their bags and left America. In Leigh, Jenine was shell-shocked. “I left a very close-knit bunch of friends in Fort Collins, and I couldn’t seem to make it work here. And all the poor Leigh folk just had this, like, rhino appear in the village – with a loud American accent, crashing round. Everyone was just kinda… bruised.” Describing herself as ‘generally a happy optimist’, Jenine nevertheless grew depressed and bored. But as she says, “desperation can be really motivating.” During this time, she’d sometimes go with Nat when he went out to jam with his musician mates. She’d always sung but never played a musical instrument. However, one night, about ten years ago, she looked at the huge double bass in the corner and asked, “So how do you play that?” Garry Bigwood, one of the band members (he plays exceptional mandolin) loaned her the instrument, Nat’s dad Barry (who rounds out the foursome on guitar) lent her a couple of ‘How to play the double bass for bluegrass’ videos – and the rest is history. The Pipi Pickers played their first gig at a birthday party two weeks later, and have been in hot demand ever since. Hot Diggity turn it on at Whangateau Hall for a 50th birthday party. Below: Jenine in her happy place at her beloved Whangateau Hall.

Three years ago, Jenine started another band, an all-girl bluegrass group called Hot Diggity. They’re a talented bunch, with some most excellent vintage frockage going on and classic bluegrass instruments which get a damned good work-out: mandolin, fiddle, guitar, double bass and banjo. Most of the gals do vocals as well. If you like bluegrass music, you’ll want to see Hot Diggity live. Jenine spent eight years as the beloved but slightly scary Mahurangi College computer technician; she and Nat run an annual ‘Kiwi Foo Camp’ (an invitation-only ‘un-conference’ where a bunch of very clever people from very different backgrounds – nanotechnology, politics, art and psychology for example – come together with no agenda to see what happens); and they run a similar thing for Spark (bright young Sparks brainstorm with experts in say, law, education, medicine or politics to fuel creative futures within different industries). The extracurricular activity that really feeds Jenine’s soul however is the Whangateau Acoustic Music and Social Club she founded a couple of years ago. It’s held at the beautiful, historic Whangateau Hall (great acoustics) on the last Monday of each month and usually comprises an open-mic first half, followed by guest artists who may come from anywhere: Matakana, Wellington, America, the UK. $10 gets you in, ($15 if it’s an overseas act – plane tickets don’t come cheap) a cup of tea and a bikkie or two. Some very magical things often happen at these friendly gatherings.

‘

she looked at the huge double bass in the corner and asked, So how do you play that?

It certainly seems that this all-American girl has found enough to do to be going on with. Check out her various web pages below and see if you can keep up. www.hotdiggity.nz | www.whangateau.co.nz www.pipipickers.com | www.unconference.co.nz

new & noted Floorwise and Windowwise A fantastic new flooring and window furnishings concept store will open on October 3 at The Grange. The Floorwise Style Centre is a huge (400m2) showroom, designed to showcase an exceptional range of products for all styles and budgets. “We’ll be setting up a full bedroom to feature floorings, blinds and curtains. There’ll be a lounge area to sit down and talk through design options, plus a kitchen for the coffee!” says Stephanie Harrowell, the Sales and Marketing Manager for Floorwise. Owner Seamus Lynch has over 30 years experience in the flooring industry, and Floorwise has a 22-strong team of carpet, vinyl, timber floor and ceramic tile layers across Auckland. Robyn Kellian, Windowwise curtain specialist, has 20 years of experience behind her and clearly adores her job. The company is keen to empower customers with their unique online Floor² Quick Quote system, so check out their website today. www.floorwise.co.nz | 0508 202122

ZEFFER CIDER Zeffer will release their Apple Crumble Cider on 1st October. This cider was so popular after a keg release they decided to bottle it for spring.

KLeuR GLASS

the business collective

Kleur Gallery is a new space in Warkworth filled with light, art, glass and the ability to make your own unique artistically inspired creations. The Gallery is the culmination of owner Inge Chappell’s strong vision and desire to bring something special to the re-surging community of Warkworth. “I wanted to create a place where locals, tourists and visitors from further afield can come and enjoy the work of many talented New Zealand artists and artisans”. The gallery will also feature local artwork and teach budding art enthusiasts by offering a variety of different applied art classes in the new makerspace. The glass workshop allows students to make glass beads, sculpture and glass fusing. Open 6 days 10am-4pm. 2A Kapanui St, Warkworth E: inge@kleurgallery.com | 029 562 2511

There’s a new networking group in Warkworth for younger business people (mostly under 35 but they don’t discriminate!). One of the founders, Julia Lockwood of Webster Malcolm, says she and others (Eleanor Trueman of LDE Engineering and Cara Postlewaight of United Real Estate), “noticed a gap in what was professionally on offer in the Warkworth area, so we decided to start our own group.” Named The Business Collective, the group aims to help members develop and shape their businesses, as well as just meet others and socialise. Julia says, “The Business Collective is a free and relaxed group to be a part of.” Meetings are towards the end of each month. Anyone interested can email julia@webstermalcolm.co.nz for more info.

EXPERIENCE THE GOODNESS OF

MATAKANA BACON Lovingly hand made with only natural ingredients and happy free range, cage free, New Zealand pigs.

Zeffer’s ciders are fermented in small batches and made with minimal intervention that allows the natural flavours and true character to shine without the use of any artificial colours or sweeteners. There will be a pop-up Weekend Garden Bar running all summer in Matakana from Labour weekend. The bar wll be conveniently located just outside the Matakana Market Kitchen. www.zeffer.co.nz

blush BEAUTY LOUNGE

Free from additives like nitrates, nitrites, sugar, gluten or added water. Find us at WWW.MATAKANABACON.CO.NZ Saturday – Matakana Village Farmer’s Market Monday to Saturday – The Village Butchery Matakana

New premises - above Matakana Pharmacy www.blushbeautylounge.co.nz | T: 09 422 9007

new & noted EDUCARE The new pre-school at The Grange is settling in since opening at the end of June. Chloe Stone, the manager, has over twelve years of experience and is keen to talk about Educare’s direction. Our programme is inquiry-led learning based on projects that the children are interested in. “The children themselves lead the way in what they want to play with, draw or study, based on creative prompts we set up, or on what’s around them,” says Chloe. “At the moment it’s all about construction and gardening!” The environment is beautiful – lots of wood and natural resources, with plenty of space. A full kitchen provides homecooked food, with a hot meal at lunch. And because Educare is passionate about education, owners Alan and Jackie are looking at providing special subsidised childcare for parents who are going back to study. Educare is located in the new Grange Business Park off the main highway through Warkworth providing a central location and easy off street parking. Call in or phone for details. Unit 17, The Grange Business Park, Warkworth 0800 4 EDUCARE info@educare.co.nz www.educare.co.nz/educare-centres/warkworth

elle + riley

Rekindled warkworth

BLUSH beauty lounge

Elle + Riley is a mother and daughter business based in Omaha Beach, which specialises in luxurious cashmere. Yolande Ellis has a background in business and Elle Pugh, her daughter, in fashion and PR. Elle + Riley began six months ago with a small collection of classic wardrobe items in cashmere, and is now starting to expand. Their gorgeous clothes are available online, (although Two Boutique in Matakana Village is now stocking selected items). Its featherweight softness makes it great for cool spring evenings – and perfect for travelling. Our faves: a cashmere tee with French lace trim, or the glorious knee-length, fringed poncho. Yum.

We are a new home-based business focused on restoring and creating individual pieces of furniture. As a team of two we lovingly restore all items here on site with enthusiasim and passion, attempting to bring life back into what we call ‘yesterday’s treasures’, with a uniqueness to each item. We are constantly restocking as we complete each project. Pop in and find your treasure.

After nine years next to Noir Blonde in the cinema complex, we’ve moved! Still within the Matakana Village complex but now located above Matakana Pharmacy. Our premises are larger and brighter and we’re sharing this new space with Essential Remedies Homeopathic clinic. We specialise in Environ skin treatments and Jane Iredale makeup consults with a few new services, including Dermal Rolling, as well as our usual beauty treatments and services. At Blush we stock Environ Skincare, Jane Iredale mineral makeup, Coola suncare, Revitalash, Blinc Mascara, Gehwol Footcare and Leighton Denny Hand & Nailcare. We look forward to showing you our new space!

www.elleandriley.com www.facebook.com/elleandriley

50 Wilson Road, Warkworth. Sarah 022 4261568 Sharon 021 02214731 Open Tuesday - Sunday Facebook- Rekindled.warkworth

www.blushbeautylounge.co.nz

Luxury Pet Apparel With summer on its way it is time to think about summer wear. Our Lycra sun tees provide protection from the sun and dry grass rash.

PRECISE PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE WITH INTEGRITY

Omaha’s Number One Sales Agent *

Visit us most Saturday mornings in front of Finishing Touches, 38 Matakana Valley Road, Matakana.

Shop online: www.mrsofttop.com Phone: 021 419 888

Di Balich AREINZ +64 21 917 080 | www.precision.net.nz |di@precision.net.nz 41 Matakana Valley Road, Matakana Licensed under REA Act (2008) *June 2015 - July 2016

Omaha’s #1 Agent Comes to Matakana Precision Real Estate’s Di Balich has set up a new office in Matakana, at 41 Matakana Valley Road. “The new office is a discreet and central location for potential buyers and vendors alike to come and have a no-obligation, confidential chat about the sales trends and the current market,” says Di. Di also offers a successful property brokerage service to vendors who want a low-key sales process. The Matakana office provides a stylish and quiet location to discuss property transactions. “Though selling a property with a well thought out marketing strategy certainly works, sometimes you don’t need a high profile campaign to deliver outstanding results. Some vendors prefer to see their property marketed ‘under the radar’ exclusively to my pool of qualified buyers – no fuss, no high marketing costs and no stress.” Di, who is currently the number one sales agent in Omaha and also specialises in coastal property in Point Wells and Matakana, says the market

remains buoyant. There’s a strong demand for high quality properties, with those looking to buy into the market prepared to pay firm market value to secure their future investment. “My message to buyers is that if you do see a property that sparks your interest, seriously consider making an offer on it, as there is never a better time to buy than now.” “Omaha has traditionally been a holiday home destination for a lot of Aucklanders. But I am seeing increasing numbers of 'Auckland Refugees' contacting me looking to buy nearby lifestyle property or in Omaha as their new permanent residence.” “After all, Omaha and its coast is just 55 minutes from Auckland City, meaning you can still work in town, but enjoy the quieter lifestyle that Omaha provides.”

E: di@precision.net.nz T: +64 21 917 080 www.precision.co.nz

TREND

pearls + gumboots PHOTOS SAM MOTHERSOLE PHOTO G RAPHY + k a t h y h u n t e r STYLED B Y OUR LO C AL C LOTHIN G STORES

Local women on lifestyle blocks know what it is to be out in their paddocks one minute and have to frock up and be gorgeous the next. Junction brings you the essence of their flexibility in our ‘Pearls and Gumboots’ fashion spread – our models are well-known, real-life, fabulous farming types, photographed on the land they love.

Vintage Vault: Amber Davies wears 1960s Russian fur hat, 1950s pearl necklace and red velvet opera coat, 1940s black pleated skirt, reproduction white crinoline petticoat, retro black top. www.facebook.com/thevintagevaultdept

two boutique: Amanda Jennngs wears Sylvester Conchita Dress, pearls by The Jewel Box www.facebook.com/twomatakana

DESIGN POD: Katherine Norman wears reversible vintage lace print dress. www.facebook.com/designpodmatakana

TREND

pearls + gumboots PHOTOS SAM

MOTHERSOLE

DE LOVELY: Jenni Francis wears wears Amalfi dress with Rossetto soft jacket both by Loobies Story; Jewelarto baroque pearls and earrings. www.delovely.co.nz

PHOTO G RAPHY

kathy

hunter

Bach surf: Sophie Hauser from bach wears Tigerlily Carriacou dress. www.bachsurf.nz

Elle + Riley: Suzanne Struijck wears cashmere and French lace tee shirt; pony, Prickles, wears Elle + Riley cashmere reversible scarf - vicuna/cream. www.elleandriley.com

TREND

pearls + gumboots PHOTOS

SAM

SUMMER SESSIONS: Maddy Hunter wears All About Eve Farrah dress. www.summersessions.co.nz

MOTHERSOLE

PHOTO G RAPHY

kathy

hunter

KATYA MAKER BOUTIQUE: Josephine Dancey wears Adrianna Papell gown and Crochette Collections hat. www.katyamaker.com

McDonald Adams Optometrists: Kate Arbuthnot wears Paul Taylor 1010 round leopard print sunglasses. Dress modelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own. www.mcdonaldadams.co.nz

TREND

5 REASONS WHY YOU’LL NEVER PICK UP A RAZOR AGAIN

brijano cato + sophie crean at nz fashion week

Dedicated to your razor? You may want to re-think this relationship. Shaving can have a number of surprising effects on you and your skin. Read on to find out why you may need to “breakup” with your little hair removal tool. You’re damaging your skin each time you shave: Regular shaving puts stress on our skin; showing itself in ingrown hairs and razor burn. Plus, ever noticed those little red bumps that appear after shaving - that’s caused by a bacteria ridden blade! Yuck! When you shave, hair grows back quickly and prickly- there’s another way! We’ve all experienced just how much of a short term solution shaving can be when we notice hair re-growth a few days after a time consuming shaving session! Laser hair removal is a long term solution for unwanted hair, delivering lasting results, so you don’t have to constantly shave and deal with prickly re-growth! Laser Hair Removal works by passing a light beam through the unwanted hair area which generates heat to loosen the hair and disables the hair forming cells.

Junction is proud to showcase recent work at Auckland Fashion Week from some of our talented locals. Photographer Briana Cato has shot some of our most memorable fashion (at Fashion Week she photographed for 62 Models). Red 11 talent Sophie Crean (who's modelled a number of times for Junction) hit the catwalk for fabulous NZ designers including Hailwood and Kendall Watt.

Treat two areas for the price of one until Oct 31 with Caci’s laser hair removal plan.*

Our warmest congratulations for their fine work.

Guess how much time you’re wasting shaving your legs? On average, women spend a whole day every year shaving their legs! We all have busy lives with work, kids, and friends, and can definitely think of better ways to be spending this time!

Say goodbye to hairy situations! Whether it’s lifting your arm to grab something on the supermarket shelf, or waving them around the dancefloor on a Friday night; there’s no need to be self-conscious or worry if unwanted hair is under control! Laser hair removal delivers silky, smooth, hair free skin so you can be confident no matter what situation you’re in.

✃

You’ll also never guess how much money you’re spending on constant shaving? Razors can cost up to $25 each and dermatologists recommend replacing them after a few uses! That could set you back over $300 a year! With laser hair removal, you can ditch razors (and its costs!). On our laser hair removal treatment plan, we offer payment options and plans starting from only $22 a week!

WITH THE NEW DAY COMES NEW STRENGTH AND NEW THOUGHTS. ELANOR ROOSEVELT

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

WE’RE FOR YOU 14

Puhoi Beauty Local beauty, your way Book now: 021 137 2757 • www.puhoibeauty.co.nz

d iscover

WELCOME TO LEIGH photo

gavin

Straight through genteel Matakana and out the other side is Leigh – a historic fishing village surrounded by beaches, with a deep water harbour. There are fantastic views wherever you look; Hauturu, Little Barrier Island, dominates the horizon. There’s stacks of history, with early settlers colonising the area from the 1830s onwards. The village was named after Rev. Samuel Leigh, a missionary who visited the area in 1858, but there are centuries of Ngati Wai and Ngati Manuhiri history here. At the time of European arrival, the Maori Chief Te Kiri ruled the district. Boat-building and farming were key in the early days. The Matheson family were the most well-known builders. Their homestead is still there, well looked after – last on the left on

matheson

the way down to Matheson Bay. Boatbuilders also plied their trades at Leigh Cove and Whangateau Harbour. Leigh Fisheries was established in 1957, and the Goat Island Marine Laboratory in 1964. The marine reserve at Goat Island was set up in 1975; the first in New Zealand. And in 1996 the Leigh Sawmill (which had been moved from its original site by the water to its current site on Pakiri Road in 1939) was reinvented as the Leigh Sawmill Café, delighting party people ever since with a constant flow of entertainment in its eclectic bar and gardens. It’s a busy, friendly community and although it’s only ten minutes from Matakana, it’s retained its laid-back, seaside vibe. Welcome to Leigh.

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leigh central WORDS

and

photos

Alan and Jasmin Macdonald have got a tiger by the tail with their massive refurbishment of the old Leigh Pub. They’re exceptionally upbeat about it though – excited even. It helps that they’ve been joined by longtime Wellington friends Ian and Heather Johnson–Lee, who will be lending a big hand with the project. And locals seem pretty happy that the horrible eyesore that was the derelict pub is now going to be a busy working hub – henceforth to be known as Leigh Central. Stage One – the ‘Coastels’ – will be just about ready by Labour Weekend. “They’ll be like motel units but with a laid-back, coastal kind of vibe,” says Jasmin. It will still be a building site, so they’ll be trying out friends and family in them for a bit, but enquiries for future bookings will be welcome from that time. There are five Coastels: two studios, two with one bedroom and a sofa bed, and a bigger, two-bedroom unit which will be wheelchairaccessible. All will be fully self-contained, with privacy screens on the deck, and steps down to lawn below. The Macdonalds have re-used and recycled wherever possible. With his experience as an engineer and builder, Alan was surprised and gratified to find that the bones of the old pub were mostly sound. The existing

KATHY

HUNTER

floorboards will polish up a treat, and they’ll be up-cycling original ply wall panels with a funky whitewash. Alan and Jasmin are reassuringly realistic about how much they can do in any timeframe. They’ve involved the community at every step of the way: they know that locals will want to have a say, and they want to hear it. But they’re determined to boost the economy of Leigh – “we don’t want to compete, but complement,” says Jasmin. With this in mind, in the next few months they’re hoping to be well into Stage Two: the Function Centre. There’ll be two spaces available. One is an intimate room for about 50 people with an outdoor courtyard; the other is huge, with seaviews and cool retro features which will be freshened up with lots of glass and decking. This should hold up to 150 punters. Both will adjoin an enormous commercial kitchen. “This will be a build-your-own-event scenario,” explains Alan. “Weddings, celebrations, corporate getaways, anything. We’d love people to start registering their interest now for future events.” Stage Three? Landscaped parking for up to 15 motorhomes with an ablution block, shared kitchen and lounge. And Stage Four – a Sunday market specialising in seafood, produce and arty crafts. Watch this space, or like their Facebook page for more updates. www.leighcentral.co.nz | E: enquiries@leighcentral.co.nz T: 027 4393 886

‘To help you on your way... Let’s start this journey together. Selling out or buying in the area, contact me for an informative, no obligation conversation.’ Marie-Dominique Third most successful salesperson for the LJ Hooker Group Nationwide 2016

021 490 039 | 09 425 8589 mlennan.warkworth@ljh.co.nz Broadbents 2001 Ltd – Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008)

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FUTURE POSITIVE photos

Most people think of Leigh as a cute village with a cruisy beach vibe. But scratch the surface and you’ll find a thriving community of passionate, creative people, many of whom own nice little businesses (or not so little: come on up, Leigh Fisheries). And more are on the way. Deen Hall is a local who has his finger on the pulse of Leigh’s current and future directions – he’s the Treasurer of the Business Community. Deen is well aware that Leigh is attracting a lot of new blood these days. “There are successful and energetic business people about to put Leigh on the ‘must do’ map through the strategic plan crafted by the Leigh Business Community,” he says. “The new accommodation and function venue of Leigh Central will open this summer – it reflects real confidence in Leigh and this significant investment will transform the old hotel site into a thriving hub for tourists and locals alike.”

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partner, Doria Joyoue, who’s from St Lucia, to get out of the rat race and start a family. Melissa was motivated to set up the Love Leigh Facebook page to give the community a single point of contact. It’s become the go-to for everyone in the area with well over a thousand members. They buy, sell, chat, organise events, ask for input on things like setting up a no-dig garden and the latest school working bee, or let everyone know there’s a pod of orca – right now! – just off Daniel’s Reef. It’s all part of the feeling of this friendly community where most people know each other.

Last summer the Community set up farmers’ markets on the first Sunday in each month from December to April, with fresh local produce, market food stalls and fun activities for the kids. More markets are coming. Other new initiatives: a new tennis club will have astro-turf courts in action for summer. Leigh Motors have opened a new garden supplies yard with a specialised range of compost, mulch, bark, shell, and equipment for hire. The great little Matheson Bay coffee cart is back already too, getting ready for the summer rush. And rush there will be. Marine tourism is probably the bigger drawcard to Leigh, with it’s surfing, fishing, diving, snorkelling and boating options high on many peoples’ agendas. Melissa Crockett-Joyoue (Ngati Te Rarawa, Ngati Kahu – born and bred in Taipa, Northland) has been in Leigh for four years. She used to own an award-winning Māori tourism company, but moved up here with her

EXPLORE EAT – famous fish and chips

PLAY – by kayaking, surfing, fishing, horse riding

STAY – in B&Bs, apartments, campgrounds or holiday homes LEARN – about marine biology and reptiles while staying dry

Melissa Crockett-Joyoue with her baby boy TŪmanako, Leigh Harbour in the distance.

THE GREAT WEEKEND

GETAWAY

Escape the city, explore LEIGH BY THE SEA just 1 hour north of Auckland

EXPLORE – a range of beach, coastal and bush walks

leighbythesea.co.nz

FOR ALL OUR OPTIONS 17

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leigh locals leigh eats Leigh Eats have just celebrated their first birthday. For owners Michael Wayne Jackson – Wax to his mates – and partner Rachael Aitken, it’s been a good year. They moved back to Leigh after running Catalina Café in Hobsonville Point. Catalina got real busy and the couple decided to kick back and find a new business that would give them more time with their two boys. Rachael’s family have been in Leigh for decades; her Dad managed Leigh Fisheries back in the day. Her mum grew up in Pakiri, has worked at the Sawmill for 20 years. Wax worked there from the start too, back in ’96; it’s where he and Rach first met. They came home. The couple had a traditional (but updated) fish and chip shop in mind, and they finally scored the perfect spot just round the corner from the dairy. They gutted the building and remade it simple, classic and clean. White butcher’s tiles and a sleek La San Marco coffee machine.

Really good fresh fish from Leigh Fisheries just along the road tops a classic menu. Proper burgers, pasties, excellent pies (slow roasted beef, Portobello mushroom and blue cheese, smoked kahawai and more) and fantastic cabinet cakes. Wax and Rach went with 8.30 Coffee– it’s Fairtrade organic, with compostable cups and lids. Same with Leigh Eats’ burger boxes – made of sugar cane, no polystyrene here. Even the juices are thoughtful. Almighty Juices (they donate to a gardens in schools project), and Aotea Tonics from Great Barrier. Leigh Eats is a bit more than just a quick feed. Rach and Wax wouldn’t call themselves eco-takeaways, but it’s hard not to think about the environment in Leigh – you just need to look around. www.facebook.com/Leigheats18 | T: 09-422 6035

andy turner exhibition Artist Andy Turner is a self-confessed bibliophile, so it’s fitting that his new exhibition is being hung in Leigh Library. He’s largely a self-taught painter – even though he managed to spend a lot of time hanging out at Elam in his teens, it was mostly in the library. In fact, libraries around the world have featured largely in his life. Andy is from Scotland originally, but came here with his family (via a couple of years in Dubai) in his mid-teens. His dad was then the world champion Highland Pipe Band drummer – quite the superstar in those circles – and was here to teach. Andy did his last years of high school in Wellington, where he was lucky enough to have a super-inspiring high school art teacher, Rob McCleod, who has continued to mentor him at certain periods throughout his life. He washed up later, a bit of a bad boy, in Auckland. His first exhibition, aged 18, was at DKD behind the Civic in Auckland. Through nightclub contacts, including well-known musician Soane (then a bouncer), he found himself painting murals live in clubs; painting visuals for Salmonella Dub and Pitch Black, painting huge murals anywhere he could (he’s passionate about public art) – and partying hard. He crewed on yachts around the South Pacific for some time out. And spent as much time as he could in libraries. He credits many books with life-changing literary influence – including Zen Flesh Zen Bones by Paul Reps, Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller, Lanark by Alastair Grey, The Time Traveller by HG Wells. All of these spoke to Andy of other worlds and inspired him deeply. Painterly influences include Marc Chagall, Diego Riviera, Kandinsky, Paul Klee, NZ cubist painter Louise Henderson, and cubism generally. Andy’s own art is a wonderful, tumbling melée of colour and form, angles and lines. He sees complex landscapes; he hopes you’ll see another world, too. Exhibition: Leigh Library | Opening 4 October 5pm-6.30pm drinks and nibbles - to end January 2017 www.boosted.org.nz/artist-profile?id=5516

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what’s next for leigh sawmill café

It’s a sunny spring morning in Leigh, and Ben Guinness is on the rideon mower at the Sawmill. He zooms around his recently-finished vege garden which will supply the restaurant and the family, while his parents, Marguerite and Grattan, weed, plant and harvest industriously. The huge garden is bordered by stacked slabs of concrete recycled from the recently-renewed footpaths around Leigh. Must have been hard work? “It’s all in the technique,” he shugs, “but one of my knees is a bit buggered now.” While we’re in the garden, Ben talks of his plan to build a track around the perimeter of the eight-acre property, with some camping or glamping spots – despite the various sweet accommodation options the Sawmill has, it’s never enough for the big gigs. There are always more plans afoot with the Guinness family. Ben’s also keen to set up a little museum collection of original machinery from when the café was a working sawmill – he’s tinkered on them in his non-existent spare time till most of them are going. His favourite – a 1943 Lister crank-start, three-cylinder generator – goes well, and in the case of power cut, can power the tills and lights. “If anyone feels like working up a sweat trying to get it started, come and see me,” Ben invites. “Although again – it’s all technique and I’ve seen a girl start it when a big bloke can’t.” There are plans to expand the conference business – the Leigh Sawmill Café has excellent facilities and can put together food, accommodation and team-building packages for corporates. A high-end outdoor barbecue area will work well with the existing facilities. And of course, Leigh needs a pool. “We thought it’d be fantastic to have somewhere out here when kids can learn to swim, divers can learn to dive, elders can exercise,” enthuses Ben. “After all, we’ve got the land…” The big question currently is what to do with the now-empty brewery building? “We’ve all been mulling it over,” says Ben, whose

gorgeously restored little wooden boat currently resides there. More accommodation? A day spa? Various workshops? Recording studio? There are many options, but brothers Ben and Ed Guinness are hedging their bets. One thing is certain: the right thing will present itself and they’ll casually put something extraordinary together – it’s the usual way of things at the Leigh Sawmill Café. Meanwhile there’s nothing like seeing some live music at the Mill, and music director Susan says the coming summer gigs will include lots of variety. “Expect the return of some crowd-pleasing favourites and a few big names we’re not allowed to announce yet – definitely something for everyone.” www.sawmillcafe.co.nz

w w w. s a w m i l l c a f e . c o . n z MONDAY 03 OCTOBER | 5 - 7:30PM | *$5

BLACK LIGHT DISCO LEIGH SCHOOL FUNDRAISER WEAR WHITE - GLOW ALL NIGHT! GAMES, PRIZES & BBQ RUN BY THE PTA / DOOR CHARGE PER CHILD (UNDER 12’S ONLY) PARENTS FREE :)

FRIDAY 07 OCTOBER | 7:30PM | FREE

SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER | 9:30PM | $TBC

SAWMILL PARTY LINEUP STILL BEING CONFIRMED

BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES!. SUNDAY 23 OCTOBER | 9:30PM | *$10

THE PROF GRAEME JAMES THE KARAOKE FOLK | POP | QUIRKY COVERS NEWS FROM NOWHERE TOUR SUNDAY 09 OCTOBER | 5:00PM | *$20 MANOS DEL CHANGO SUNDAY 30 OCTOBER | 5:30PM | *$45 DELANEY DAVIDSON & NICOLE IZOBEL GARCIA SWEET HABANERO BLUES TRASH DON McGLASHAN FRIDAY 14 OCT0BER | CLOSED FROM 9PM & SHAYNE CARTER CLOSED FOR PRIVATE FUNCTION YAY ITS FRIDAY! GOOD WAY TO START THE WEEKEND!

*PRE-SALE TICKETS $10: eventfinder.co.nz | $15 ON THE DOOR | DOORS OPEN AT 4:30PM

*PRE-SALE TICKETS $20: undertheradar.co.nz | $25 ON THE DOOR |

The Picnic Lounge Georgie Brebner and Jackie Green’s Picnic Lounge is ready for summer. It’s a very popular mobile café housed in a funky caravan on Matheson Bay beach. They serve local, award-winning Rush coffee with freshly home-baked muffins, along with snacks and cold drinks. Open Tuesday–Sunday at 8am FB: thepicniclounge T: 022 120 7727

INDIE-ROCK LEGENDS TOGETHER FOR THIS INTIMATE SHOW *LIMITED TICKETS $45 SEATED | $40 STANDING: eventfinder.co.nz

SATURDAY 15 OCTOBER | 9:30PM | *$10

TROUBLE AT MILL#4

WITH BUTCHA’S & THE GRAVE DOHLS

RADICAL ROCK COVERS

THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER | 8:00PM | *$5PP

QUIZZICAL WITH QUIZZ MASTER PETRUS

$5PP - MAX 6 PER TEAM BOOKINGS RECOMMENDED

POOLED ENTRY FEE TOWARDS WINNING TEAM ON THE NIGHT LINKS & FULL DETAILS ONLINE:

www.sawmillcafe.co.nz

2 P A K I R I R O A D L E I G H . P H O N E : 0 9 4 22 6 0 1 9 HALF PRICE1 4 PIZZA OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO SPLITS OR KIDS PIZZA

OPEN THURSDAY 12PM ’TIL LATE FRIDAY - SUNDAY 10AM ’TIL LATE 19

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matakana wineries: the new vintage words

Winemaking in Matakana can be traced all the way back to before World War II, but it’s only since the 1980s that wine in the area began to be produced commercially. These days there are around 26 vineyards producing some seriously good wines from an extremely diverse range of grapes, and there’s an estimated 80 hectares of vines around the region. Over the last few weeks, as is usual once the wines from the vintage finish fermenting, the local winemakers get together for a tasting session. Richard Robson (above) is an experienced winemaker who works for Matakana Estate, Matavino, Coxhead Creek, The Gabion and Tramcar Bay. He tells us a little about this private annual session. “In the wine industry, there is a very real focus on cooperation among wineries from a particular region. There is always a certain degree of diversity of styles among different winemakers and also characteristics

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between vineyards. Underlying that is the character of the region that is there in all its wines. Vineyards don’t need to compete with each other because most have something unique, so by banding together, we all keep an eye on quality and promote the region together. “Our biannual group tastings help us to discuss the personality of the vintage, and its effects on the many varieties of grapes we grow up here. From this, we identify the main characteristics of each vintage in terms of taste and flavours; issues in the vineyard and winemaking process that may need tweaking; what grape varieties have done well in that vintage, and finally how it relates to previous vintages.” All the vintners benefit from others tasting their wines. It helps to finetune the current vintage, prepares the group for the years ahead, and generally works for the betterment of the whole region – and of course, those who drink the glorious stuff. Cheers!

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

21 J002268_Plume Adverts - March.indd 1

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winemakers ransoM wines How did you come to winemaking / winegrowing - and why in Matakana ? The short answer is that we like drinking wine. This also dictated to some extent, the grape varieties planted and wine styles made. We did a couple of vintages in Nelson in 1991 and 1992, at Glover’s Vineyard, and got a feel for the potential of winegrowing. Marion and I both had day jobs in Auckland, so the operation needed to be near Auckland. At the time we planted, The Antipodean and Providence had produced some good reds,so here we are, 23 years later. What’s your favourite wine from your vineyard? Depends on vintage, drinking occasion, mood, company, weather, food being consumed with, time of day... they all have their place. What’s looking like the best of your current vintage? We are particularly enjoying our ‘orange’ wine, Compleat PiG, and all the current release reds are drinking very well. The newly released 2016 Vin Gris, made from a dedicated block of cabernet sauvignon is a ripper. Humourous anecdote? The sartorially elegant local MP, Lockwood Smith, turned up at our place. As he walked in the front door of our winery, his trouser pocket became caught in the curved door handle on one of the glass doors. As the door closed, it ripped his trousers right down the outside seam. To his credit Lockwood just sheepishly grinned and walked off to his car, clutching his flayed trousers. Future plans? We are replanting part of our original cabernet sauvignon block with cabernet franc. Have planted syrah where we formerly had merlot, and chardonnay in part of our pinot gris block. As climate change progresses the whole vineyard will be replaced by pineapples… Marion and Rob Ransom

Varieties at Ransom Wines: Whites: Pinot gris, albarino, chardonnay. Reds: Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec, carmenere, syrah. www.ransomwines.co.nz

MONARCH ESTATE How did you come to winemaking / winegrowing - and why in Matakana ? We searched Matakana high and low, and fell in love with our property the moment we set eyes on it, only we weren’t sure what to do with the 2,500 grapevines that made it so beautiful. Neither of us had any experience with vineyards or winemaking but Rachael, who runs her own marketing business, thought it would be a great idea to create our own wine brand! So we learnt fast how to grow grapes and hired Warren Knudsen to help us make the best wine we possibly could. What’s your favourite wine from your vineyard? Our Kaleidoscope Chardonnay 2015 – it’s our ‘reserve’. We’re lucky enough to be enjoying it now but other Chardonnay lovers will have to wait till it’s released – hopefully some time in October. Interesting fact for the day: we chose the name ‘Kaleidoscope’ for our reserve range because that’s what a group of butterflies is called. What’s looking like the best of your current vintage? Definitely our Monarch Estate Rosé. It’s not too dry and not too sweet, and you can actually taste strawberries and cream. A plus: many of our rosé fans claim it’s the only one that doesn’t give them a headache! Humourous anecdote (rookie mistake / you can laugh about it now)? We wondered what we’d got ourselves into when, at our first Matakana Winegrowers AGM, Bruce Taylor of Contour Estate introduced himself to us by saying “Hi, I’m Bruce, I used to be filthy rich, then I bought a vineyard, now I’m just filthy!’ Where do you sell your wines? Our wines are sold through The Vintry Wine Bar in Matakana and a couple of other local outlets. We have an online cellar door where you can buy our wines direct: www.monarchestate.co.nz Varieties at Monarch Estate: Grapes - Chardonnay and Merlot: Wines - Chardonnay, Merlot, Rose, Sparkling Rose

Rick and Rach Coates Photo credit: Louise M Photography

MATAVINO WINES How did you come to winemaking / winegrowing - and why in Matakana? I was born and bred on a farm in the mighty Waikato, so the soil was always in my blood. That, coupled with a long-held interest in wine, drew me to setting up a vineyard in 2006. Matakana has a similar climate to the Piemonte region in Italy, although not quite as seasonally extreme (diurnal). I’d had a house in Algies Bay for around 20 years then, so it seemed like a logical place to bring all these threads together. What’s your favourite wine from your vineyard? I like all my Italian reds, but my favourite has to be the Barbera. It’s a softer wine with very little tannin and full of juicy red berries. My 2014 Barbera was once described as Pinot Noir on steroids! Bob Campbell gave the 2014 vintage 93/100. Our Nebbiolo is great too – Bob gave the 2014 vintage 92/100 and the 2015 got 93/100. What’s looking like the best of your current vintage? My 2016 vintage reds still have some way to go, so at the moment my Viognier is looking great – it’s got a very aromatic nose this year! Where do you sell your wines? I have a cellar door open on Saturdays and Sundays only from Labour Weekend until Easter, but looking forward I’d like to have it open longer. Providing a wider experience for customers with some local food to match the wine is also on the cards – my Chardonnay and Viognier go extremely well with Mahurangi oysters. Because it always sells out, I planted another 200+ Barbera vines last year, and have another 400+ to plant out later this year. Jim Hight

Varieties at Matavino Wines: Chardonnay, Viognier, Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo grape varieties. www.matavino.co.nz

All of the wines listed here are available by the glass at the Vintry in Matakana, at the Matakana Liquor centre and the Four Square.

TAKATU WINES How did you come to winemaking / winegrowing - and why in Matakana? A happy coincidence of discovering wine while at university at the same time that Lincoln University started its Post Grad Diploma in grape growing and winemaking – it just seemed too perfectly timed not to take advantage of the opportunity. Coming to Matakana was an easy choice, as we preferred living in a region with winegrowing as part of a diverse and varied environment, rather than the monoculture that it has become in some other regions. What’s your favourite wine from your vineyard? The 2010 Merlot Franc Malbec. Made from fantastic fruit in an ideal growing season. It highlights perfectly for me the density, finesse, and elegance that our vineyard and its clay-based soils provide. What’s looking like the best of your current vintage? The 2016 Takatu Rosé. Pale, dry, and beautifully refreshing. Humourous anecdote (rookie mistake / you can laugh about it now)? Many years ago in South Africa, watching a cellar hand turn a newly filled press with the door still open, and ending up knee deep in grapes frantically trying to shovel it all back in. Future plans? 2017 will see our first harvest of Chardonnay to complement our existing wines. Its a very versatile variety that reflects wonderfully where it comes from. Varieties at Takatu: Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec. www.takatulodge.co.nz

John Peterson, James Graham

runner duck estate How did you come to winemaking / winegrowing - and why in Matakana? Farida and I acquired the vineyard estate in Matakana in 2008, with the objective of building a sustainable business producing the best wine possible for consumption solely through the restaurant and cellar door at Plume. To this end we adopted the best practises of the Sustainable Wines programme certification, SWNZ, along with the best winemaker’s advice and facilities available. Only the finest vintage crops are harvested, after rigorous crop thinning. Matakana was chosen for its outstanding beauty and as an established wine region on Auckland’s doorstep. What’s your favourite wine from your vineyard? The 2013 Passion Syrah. Harvested in beautiful condition fully ripened, it is dark, bold, and dense, showing lots of dark fruits and black pepper notes typical of the variety. It is still a young wine with a wonderful life ahead of it. What’s looking like the best of your current vintage? From 2016, the Sangiovese in barrel is looking beautifully lifted and aromatic, with a real charm and youthful appeal. Humourous anecdote (rookie mistake / you can laugh about it now)? Nothing in particular, but I’d hate to think how much time we spend, yelling, and waving our arms like crazy, while chasing birds out of the nets each year. Not something I’d ever want to see caught on film. Future plans? We have a 2014 methode traditional sparkling Rosé sitting on lees in bottle, which we will be looking to release next year. Something special for the many wedding parties at Plume to consider. Varieties at Runner Duck: Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese www.runnerduck.co.nz

Clyde Cooper Owner, James Graham + Peter Watene

BRICK BAY wines How did you come to winemaking / winegrowing – and why in Matakana? Brick Bay vineyard was planted 20 years ago, so I’ve evolved as a winegrower with our vines. It’s such a great feeling to see something I know so well produce something that expresses this land and who we are. What’s your favourite wine from your own vineyard? Our Pinot Gris, because I know what a battle it is to grow, so it’s a triumph to be able to bring in beautiful fruit and still achieve nil spray residues in line with our sustainable wine growing practices. Each vintage the Pinot Gris is unique, and we’ve always maintained quality and the luscious mouthfeel that is our style. What’s looking like the best of your current vintage? Pharos 2013. Pharos is special because we don’t make it every year, only in the stellar ones. The 2013 is made from Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Both James Rowan (our winemaker) and I love this wine, we think its our best Pharos yet. Here’s what we came up with over a few glasses: “Earthy and powerful, with dense velvety tannins, fine, bright fruit and a sturdy structure. A wine for time, evolution and revelation…” Humourous anecdote (rookie mistake / you can laugh about it now )? I came to Brick Bay 20 years ago for a two week job – some fencing work. I’m still trying to get that job done! Future plans? I’m super excited that our first vintage of Chardonnay 2016 is in the barrel - this will be first release, from young vines in very limited quantities. Varieties at Brick Bay: Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay. Rose released late October, Chardonnay released 2017. Brian Breen

www.brickbay.co.nz

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A ASCENSION WINE ESTATE

www.ascensionwine.co.nz Email: info@ascensionwine.co.nz Ph: (09) 422 9601 480 Matakana Rd, Matakana. Open Mon & Wed 11am–4pm; Thurs–Sun 11am– 10pm.

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BY APPOINTMENT ONLY*

OTHER VINEYARDS*

E MAHURANGI RIVER WINERY & RESTAURANT

I RUNNER DUCK ESTATE

K COXHEAD CREEK VINEYARD

O HAWKS NEST

www.mahurangiriver.co.nz Email: info@mahurangiriver.co.nz Ph: (09) 425 0306 162 Hamilton Rd. Open 11am - 4pm Thursday to Monday, daily in January.

www.plumerestaurant.co.nz Email: farida@plumerestaurant.co.nz Ph: (09) 422 7915 Fax: (09) 422 9654 Cellar Door: Plume Restaurant, 49a Sharp Rd. Open Wednesday to Sunday 11.00am - 3.30pm.

www.coxheadcreek.co.nz Email: juanitawhite@xtra.co.nz Coxhead Creek Road, Matakana. Visits by appointment only. Ph: Juanita (021) 148 438

646 Matakana Rd, Matakana. Ph: (027) 217 2588

B BRICK BAY WINES

F MATAVINO VINEYARD

www.brickbay.co.nz Email: wines@brickbay.co.nz Ph: (09) 425 4690 Arabella Lane, Snells Beach. Open daily 10am - 5pm year round.

www.matavino.co.nz Email: info@matavino.co.nz Matavino Cellar Door will be open 11am–5pm, Saturday & Sunday from Labour Weekend to Easter, and at other times by phoning (021) 621 124.

C HERON’S FLIGHT

G OMAHA BAY VINEYARD

www.heronsflight.co.nz Email: contact@heronsflight.co.nz Ph: (09) 950 6643 or (021) 025 88203 49 Sharp Rd, Matakana (down the long drive) Open daily, 10am–5pm. For a warm welcome celebrating our 25th vintage.

www.omahabay.co.nz Email: omahabayvineyardobv@gmail.com Ph: (09) 423 0022 169 Takatu Rd, Matakana (opposite Whitmore Rd) Open Wednesday to Sunday 11am - 5pm (summer) Friday to Sunday 11am - 4pm (winter).

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H RANSOM WINES

www.hyperionwines.co.nz Email: info@hyperionwines.co.nz Ph: (09) 422 9375 188 Tongue Farm Rd, Matakana. Open 10am–5pm weekends & holidays. Summer every day. Hyperion Heights luxury cottage with stunning views.

www.ransomwines.co.nz Email: info@ransomwines.co.nz Ph: (09) 425 8862 Fax: (09) 425 8864 Valerie Close, Warkworth. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–5pm.

J THE VINTRY, MATAKANA WINE CENTRE & BAR www.vintry.co.nz Facebook: /thevintrymatakana/ Email: Thevintrymatakana@gmail.com Ph: (09) 423 0383 Matakana Village - in the cinema lobby. Open 7 days. Wine tasting, wine by the glass and wine ‘to go’.

L GILLMAN VINEYARD www.gillmanvineyard.co.nz Email: toby@gillmanvineyard.co.nz 99 Sharp Rd, Matakana. Visits by appointment only. Ph: Toby (021) 037 3445

M MATAKANA WINES LIMITED www.matakanaestate.co.nz Email: cellar@matakanaestate.co.nz Ph: 0800 568 686 568 Matakana Road, Matakana. Matakana ME, Matakana Estate, and Matakana Limited Release wines available.

P MONARCH ESTATE VINEYARD www.monarchestate.co.nz 150 Monarch-Downs Way, Matakana. Ph: (021) 863 463. Email: info@monarchestate.co.nz Wines available from our website and The Vintry

Q TAKATU www.takatuwine.co.nz Email: info@takatuwine.co.nz Ph: (09) 423 0299 Cellar door: 518 Whitmore Rd, Matakana. Open December to February, Saturday and Sunday 1pm - 4pm.

N SALTINGS ESTATE VINEYARD

W I N E

T R A I L

www.saltings.co.nz Email: wine@saltings.co.nz Ph: (09) 425 9670 or (021) 404 313 Fax: (09) 425 9674 1210 Sandspit Rd, Matakana. Wine tasting by appointment only. Boutique accommodation by the vineyard, Qualmark 4 Star+

*ALL WINES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE VINTRY

MATAKANA COAST WINE COUNTRY – WINE LOVERS DREAM Enjoy your visit to the Matakana Coast Wine Country and explore the Matakana Wine Trail. As you travel along the trail you will experience boutique wines that have been hand crafted and often only available at the cellar door, award winning restaurants celebrating the local produce and on a regular basis you could meet the wine maker themselves. Almost all the vineyards are on north facing slopes, which helps to drain the clay soils. If you don’t want to drive join a tour and enjoy learning about the regions wines in style and comfort.

To plan you visit to the Matakana Coast Wine Country visit: www.matakanacoast.com or call in at 1 Baxter Street and pick up the latest Official Visitor Guide and the Matakana Wine Trail Guide. More information or to book accommodation & tours contact Warkworth i-SITE on +64 9 425 9081 or visit www.matakanacoast.co.nz

f e at u r e

wine options

THE VINTRY The Vintry Matakana has gone from strength to strength over the last year since it was taken on as the little brother to Matakana Market Kitchen. With over twenty of the local vineyards represented and many pouring by the glass, its understandable to see why many of the local boutique wineries use The Vintry as their cellar door. Justin Fokkema, the bar manager, says, “It’s an absolute pleasure to represent the Matakana wine region, and the fact that we can offer the wines to take home at the same price as the wineries’ cellar doors means we can give our guests an overall experience if they’ve only got a small window of time. “It’s hard to pick a favourite with so many great wines available, but I think one of the most interesting ones I’ve tried recently is the Heron’s

Flight Amphora Sangiovese 2015. It’s inspiring to see the passion David puts into his wines.” As part of the Matakana Village Farmers’ Market every Saturday, The Vintry Cellar Door market stand offers tasting with a different winemaker each week, as well as a tasty drop to wander around the market with, and the upcoming wine markets over summer down in the village will bring Matakana wine back to the square. If you do have a bit more time on your hands to relax, The Vintry offers tasting plates and tapas-style dining on the beautiful balcony overlooking the Matakana Village, along with a healthy range of craft beers and boutique spirits rarely found outside of a metropolis. The Vintry also offers the opportunity to take your delicious local drop into one of the stunning screens at Matakana Cinema, so you really can make a day and night of it. www.vintry.co.nz | T: 09 423 0383

Lothlorien Winery You’ll find Lothlorien Winery and their award-winning, sparkling feijoa wines in the pristine environment of Ahuroa, near Puhoi. There’s an impression of gorgeous lushness on arrival here – extensive feijoa orchards are surrounded by beautiful native bush and birdlife. Forty five years ago Dale DeMeulemeester and a bunch of friends (lovely, free-range hippies) came from Michigan to New Zealand, bought a piece of land in Ahuroa and began to plant trees using organic, sustainable principles. About twenty years later, Dale’s son Eli DeMeulemeester established the winery and an exceptional feijoa bubbly was created. Today Lothlorien Winery is going strong and producing award-winning certified organic wine, liqueur and juices. For those that aren’t familiar with feijoas, there are many words to describe them, but none really do them justice: sweet, tart, fragrant, juicy, delicious, tropical… the list goes on. Its nickname, pineapple-guava, sums it up quite well. Lothlorien wine is naturally lighter in alcohol – it has just 9%. Pour a flute of the Medium, Dry or Reserve Bubbly or try their Feijoa and Manuka Honey Liqueur with ice-cream and berries. Lothlorien has recently brought out a 200ml bottle, which has had a great

response from customers who love the convenience of a single serving. And they’re excited to announce their new summer theme: ‘Say it your way, with love.’ Look out for their messages of love instore this October. You can find Lothlorien wines at most New World stores, good liquor stores and on their website. www.lothlorienwinery.co.nz | T: 09 422 5846

F EATURE

WINE SPREAD - PRODUCT PAGE

Black dinnerware MooiMooi; brass wrapped carafé and glasses Green with Envy. Wine supplied by Matakana Liquor Centre and The Vintry. Styled by Kate Arbuthnot. Photo credit: Louise M Photography

buy local from

Warkworth 6 Percy Street, Warkworth : T: 09 425 1040 Monday to Sunday : 7.00am – 9.00pm

C r a f t b ee r now at

New World

From far left:

8 Wired Wild Feijoa NZ Sour Ale Schipperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Black Chinook IPA Garage Project Pernicious Weed Nelson Sauvn and Rakau Hops Liberty Brewing Co Knife Party IPA 8 Wired Hopwired NZ IPA Behemoth Brewing Company Tasty Beverage Extra Pale Ale Garage Project White Mischief Salted White Peach Sour Behemoth Brewing Company In Ya Face Double IPA The Sawmill Brewing Company 12 Gauge Lager

F EATURE

farewell to mahurangi river winery After eight years of winegrowing in Matakana, Shelley Trotter and Gary Heaven are saying goodbye. They’ll be staying local, but following their dreams of building a network of recreational trails in the area. The Hamilton Road vineyard was planted in 1998 in Bordeaux reds and Chardonnay. The restaurant, with its fabulous views, opened in 2009 (previously a café) and many a marvellous meal and event has been enjoyed here. The couple planted a new variety of grape, Albarino, in 2011 – the same time as Warren Knudsen arrived, who became the Mahurangi River winemaker and viticulturist. 2016 will be the last vintage at their Hamilton Road property; the cellar door will close in October, but an online store is now open. They anticipate that you’ll be able to buy Mahurangi River wines online for some time to come. www.mahurangiriver.co.nz

M ATA K A N A L I Q U O R CENTRE ‘WE’RE BIG ON SERVICE' And we’re BIG on being local so let us help you select a perfect drop from our extensive range of wines.

A WIDE SELECTION OF WINES, SPIRITS & BEERS Follow us on Facebook to receive updates on our specials and competitions. Facebook – Matakana Liquor Centre

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

VINEYARD, WINERY & UNDERGROUND W IN E C E L L A R FINE WINES WINE TASTING & SALES GOURMET FOOD PLATTERS AMAZING VIEWS FRI, SAT, SUN11AM - 4PM

design

the manse on bertram words

kathy

hunter

The Manse on Bertram Street in Warkworth is a grand old dame, one hundred and twelve years old this year. It’s one of only five solid concrete homes built by the Wilson Cement Works, back in the day. It was the Church Manse; the Pastor from the Anglican Church just behind the house lived here originally.

louise

photography

really exceptional one more recently in Los Angeles – the Rose Bowl Fleamarket. It’s once a month and it’s jaw-dropping.”

Back in NZ, Sonia worked for the last few years at a vintage shop in Auckland. She was doing the buying for them – going to auction houses and markets was a good way to keep an eye on the things she loves to collect too: vintage signage, trophies, taxidermy and concrete animals. It’s a generous and well-proportioned villa, with some quirky style and Sonia also works closely with Annie O, Botanical plenty of class. Perched on the hill, it would have Stylist. The two of them style weddings, parties, had amazing views to the Dome Valley hills back themed events, bar fitouts – anything you like, then. It still does, to a degree, although there are don’t over-coordinate, but rather more buildings in the way now. The villa definitely do over-accessorise! really. is set in sub-tropical gardens, with some big old More is more – animal hides, She’s now gone out on her own however, with cushions, just go wild phoenix palms dotted about. new business The Magpie Merchant. She can Sonia and Chris Couling bought it seven years ago, moving up from Northcote Point. They have a thing for villas – they saw this one and couldn’t resist. Chris loves some of the classic Australian architecture. “This one reminded us of a Queenslander, with its gorgeous shady verandahs,” says Sonia. Chris is the Operations Manager for Herman Pacific Timber and Sonia’s been involved with vintage sales for quite a few years now. She first got interested in collecting retro memorabilia when living in London over twenty years ago. “Some of the markets and car boot sales in London are just amazing for vintage stuff,” Sonia remembers. “But I went to a

‘

source specific one-off vintage pieces to mix and match with things you may already have, and will consult to create fabulous design in your own home. “It’s all about mixing it up,” she says. “Don’t buy into trends, just mix old with new until you have something you love. If you have too much old stuff going on it just looks like a collection of junk – you have to get some freshness in there. “I like to make little groupings of objects that tell a story somehow… but don’t forget – odd numbers rule!” The large amount of dusting makes her despair a little, particularly when it comes to big collections like her

The Construction Co Built to endure

www.theconstructionco.co.nz 30

0800 wil bld

trophies, but we both agree with the Quentin Crisp philosophy: after the first year, it doesn’t seem to get any worse! Sonia loves to play with colour. Their bedroom is on the south side of the house and didn’t get a lot of light, so she decided to embrace it, painting it in Karen Walker Fuscous Grey. “A dark bedroom is actually really relaxing. It has cosy sanctuary feel… and let’s face, we mostly just sleep in there, anyway! I love Karen Walker colours – she just nails it somehow. And they’re all tonal, so they tend to work with each really well.” The dining room (below) is a bold blue (Karen Walker Shadowy Blue), but she still loves white for busy living spaces – the lounge (left) is in Karen Walker Wan White. She’s big on wallpaper too, but it doesn’t tend to stick very well on the concrete walls, so she’s just done a few feature walls. A standout is the Designer’s Guild wild pink and blue pattern in the second bedroom (below). There’s also a white textured paper in the kitchen, which works well with the vintage feel, and a classic Union Jack paper by Vivienne Westwood in the hallway. Her other top tips for home design? “Accentuate the quirks in your home. If you have something you hate but can’t change – paint it a mad colour, turn it into a feature! Play with scale – if your ceilings are low, get some tall things in there. Throw some unexpected pops of colour around. And get plants – lots of plants!” Sonia’s fiddle figs in the lounge are her pride and joy. “They give a huge lift to any room. And finally – don’t over-coordinate, but definitely do over-accessorise! More is more – animal hides, cushions, just go wild.” Chris and Sonia have done all the painting and building work themselves. Whenever Sonia has time on her hands, she’ll paint something. But Chris is happy – he’s discovered home brewing and now has a man-cave brewing shed he can retreat to. He’s even branded his beer the Meatworks Brewing Company and is making black and red IPAs and pilsners. Perfect for the coming summer on his Queenslander verandah. www.facebook.com/themagpiemerchant

Above: bedside bunny

Lord knows it’s strong! From this ...

... to this

As specified for the new Christchurch cathedral

When the new Christchurch cathedral was built, its design called for much more than cardboard to provide its real strength and character.

Available in lengths up to 7.2 metres, these SG8-verified beams enhance the elegance and aesthetic charm of buildings in ways that can’t be replicated by steel or other materials.

Northbeam timber beams from Northpine are made exclusively from pine grown in Northland because it is stronger, denser and stiffer than pine grown anywhere else in New Zealand.

If you prefer the strength, warmth and charm of timber, insist on Northbeam. It’s the natural first choice for specifiers. Talk to your architect. Or ask about Northbeam at Matakana ITM or TimberWorld Warkworth.

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Clockwise from top left: it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere; naughty gnome; terrariums in the lounge room; the quirky kitchen, Sonia’s collection of silhouttes.

NEW SEASON, NEW LOOK!

This Labour Weekend at Board & Batten Interior Design, all will be revealed!

Saturday 22nd October – Monday 24th October Designer furniture & fabrics, tropical style ceiling fans, bespoke lights, and stunning accessories.

Be inspired!

Board & Batten Interior Design 897 Matakana Road, Matakana T: 09 422 7891 E: showroom@boardandbatten.co.nz

TOTAL WASTEWATER SOLUTIONS Residential and Commercial Systems. Free quotes.

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design

master craftsmen - solid composites more q than p words cath

lewis

Above: the carbon fibre kayak inlaid with teak and gold; Andrew, left and Aaron from Solid Composites. Below: concept design for composite bridge for TOA Architects residential development in Waiheke

My mission was to infiltrate a local operation rumoured to be manufacturing high performance components for the world’s fastest boats and richest people. Turns out, they’re hidden in plain sight on Matakana Road. I followed the No. 8 wire (clearly a clue) all the way to the old wooden cider shed, but what I saw was more like a scene from Breaking Bad than the latest Bond movie. Two gas-masked men in white paper painting suits emerged from between two containers. Suit-peeling revealed Andrew Rhodes and Aaron Hunter who took me into the shed and showed me what they’ve been up to. Solid Composites is a modern business operating globally via an international network of highly skilled collaborators, servicing clients that clearly place more weight on skills than suits, ties and flash offices. These guys are exceptional craftsmen whose skills were honed over multiple America’s Cup campaigns, proving they excel under extreme pressure with no excuses, no second chances. After so many years at the top of their game, Andrew and Aaron now have contacts scattered all over the world who continue to rely on them to translate state-of-the-art designs into reality, using composite (man made) materials. Recent projects include a carbon fibre kayak inlaid with teak and gold (yes gold - above) for a Middle Eastern royal; a one-off shower head worth more than most new cars for a super yacht owner; and handmade, high-performance components for four out of six of the current America’s Cup teams. Prior to the Olympics, Solid Composites were asked to create a carbon fibre harness hook for the Dutch windsurfer, Dorian van Rijsselberghe. Dorian went on to win gold at Rio with what I mistook for a coat hanger lying on the coffee table in front of me. There’s no bread and butter work but it’s not all caviar and carbon fibre. Composites are more affordable than ever and are rapidly becoming a cost-effective construction option for mere mortals. Neighbouring farmers have twigged on to how useful these two are and they’ve just fabricated a new canopy for Mahurangi River Tour’s boat. The technology has limitless potential, particularly in domestic and commercial architecture. The boys are currently collaborating with Auckland-based TOA Architects on the design and construction of a bridge that will span a 30 metre gully, making an otherwise unusable residential section viable. They have several other top-secret projects on the go, but despite being a mother of teenagers with well developed interrogation techniques, I couldn’t crack them… they must be part composite. www.solidcomposites.com | www.facebook.com/solidcomposites

solidcomposites.com 021 818 146

21 - 24 OCTOBER 2016 Visit Morris & James for the annual Labour Weekend Sale. Massive discounts across the showroom on handmade ceramic pots, gardenware & more. Fill your garden and home with colour this season. Open 9am - 5pm. Discounts also applied to items available online.

Handmade Pottery from Matakana

MANUKA HONEY â&#x20AC;˘ OLIVE OIL MACADAMIA OIL

www.matakanabotanicals.co.nz 34

morrisandjames.co.nz

SAVOUR

honesty is the best policy words

kathy

hunter

Before his latest venture, Frenchman Nicolas Bonnaud’s culinary background has been high-end to say the least. His 18 years of experience has been spent with some of the best chefs in the world, including French master chef Pierre Gagnaire and our own Peter Gordon. Nico was Head Pastry Chef to a team of 11 at the two Michelin Star restaurant, Sketch, in London. He was drawn to New Zealand by his love of rugby. He worked at Kauri Cliffs restaurant in Matauri Bay, Northland initially, and it was here he met his English wife Emily. She’s an interior designer by trade, and her keen eye has come in handy putting together the simple and beautiful branding for the business. The recently married pair are now living in Snell’s Beach and working out of a brand-new commercial kitchen they’ve built at home. Honest Chocolat has only been going three months but they’ve already garnered some fervent fans. Their main point of difference is that their bonbons are filled with water ganache. No cream, no butter. And yes, this makes them vegan. “That’s not why we went with water ganache though,” says Emily. “It’s a nice added extra, but it’s really because of the taste.”

The chocolate they use is organic, single-origin and fairtrade – 70% cacao – from the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The growers use sustainable techniques and plant a tree for every bag of raw cacao sold. This makes Emily and Nico happy.

‘

flavour combinations of ... lychee and rosewater, blood orange and black cardamom, toasted fennel seed, and raspberry and ginger ...

‘

Nico agrees. “The technique gives a much cleaner flavour – it has a clarity that really allows us to showcase the flavour combinations that we’re constantly inventing.” With fillings like lychee and rosewater, blood orange and black cardamom, toasted fennel seed, and raspberry and ginger, we can see why they want the flavours to come through.

Sustainability is also one of the reasons they’ve teamed up with Brick Bay’s Glass House Kitchen. Nico is currently using oranges and macadamias from their orchard, and he’s also showcasing Brick Bay’s Martello Rock red wine in a water ganache bonbon. “You may have tried wines in truffles before and not really have been able to taste the wine – but with water ganache the flavour is not masked by cream or butter.” They are looking for more chocolate collaborators, so if you have some exceptional produce you’d like this talented team to work with, get in touch. And where can you buy Honest Chocolat? There’s a limited range at Brick Bay, but for now online sales are the way to go: it’s quick and easy. www.honestchocolat.com facebook.com/honestchocolat

Iconic Carpentry is a local company providing a high level of skilled carpentry and joinery work, regardless of your project size. Bach and property maintenance, subcontracting and renovation works undertaken.

Combining the best traditional construction methods and new building techniques, with reliable, honest service, we ensure our timeframes are realistic and our quotations genuine.

Iconic Carpentry Ltd - Clinton Howlett 021 024 04015 | clinton@iconiccarpentry.co.nz 35

savour

authentic cambodian words S of í a B ejarano - G allardo | photos diana langton

Step into Bai Khmer and you’ll feel as you’re walking into a fisherman’s house by the Mekong River in the Cambodian countryside. Especially when Rodney and Dani ¬– the brains behind the newest restaurant in Warkworth – greet you with big smiles and a menu full of tempting and exciting flavours. After chatting to Dani for 10 minutes I felt as if I’d known her for years. She was born in a refugee camp on the border between Cambodia and Thailand, and it was this that forged her strong, determined yet vivacious personality. Her family moved to New Zealand when she was three, sponsored by a Christian family as part of a UN program to relocate Cambodian refugees after the horrors of the civil war. She met Rodney, the father of her three children, when she was only 12 and she knew then he was the man she wanted to be with. Defying their traditions and families Dani called off her arranged marriage, and Rodney renunciated all rights to claim his family's fortune. Fifteen years later they’d owned several successful bakeries, proving they had food industry know-how. The couple have at last opened a restaurant to offer the flavours they were longing for; the flavours of Cambodia. Lemongrass, fish sauce, coconut milk and tamarind are some of them; they blend together to create the complexity of Khmer cuisine.

As with other regions of Southeast Asia, the balance of the four foundational tastes (sweet, salty, sour and bitter) is crucial, but Cambodian food is bolder, more aromatic and with more layers that fill your palate with bursting flavours. A typical Cambodian meal includes a soup, a stir fry, a salad and a protein dish all served with rice and shared at the table. The list of dishes eaten every day is long and sensational, and at Bai Khmer you'll find them all and more. Dani and Rodney together capture the essence of their culture, their heritage and their traditions and bring it to you on a platter. 18 Neville Street, Warkworth | T: 09-425 7778 FB: www.facebook.com/baikhmer7778

Omaio

OMAIO means ‘place of peace, quiet and tranquility’. Just ten minutes from Matakana, it’s a 5-star Garden of National Significance which overlooks Kawau Bay. Designed to be sympathetic to the native bush, the blending of exotic and native plants is most harmonious. Explore the bush walks and relax on the deck to enjoy views across the bay. Refreshments provided on request. B&B accommodation available in the log cabin’s guest wing. Open by appointment, $10 entry.

www.omaio.co.nz

E: liz@omaio.co.nz T: 09 422 7443

Fresh Fish Takeaways, Organic Coffee, Scoop Ice Creams, Groceries, Sandwiches, Rolls, Cakes + Slices Free Range eggs Takeaway Hours Wed, Thurs & Sun 12-6.30pm Fri & Sat 12-7.30pm

Shop Hours Mon & Tues 8am-5pm Wed & Thurs & Sun 8am-6.30pm Fri & Sat 8am-7.30pm Open longer hours in summer

14 Point Wells Road, Point Wells

Like Pt Wells General Store on Facebook

savour

baih khmer - top three dishes

Num Ba Jok

Bai Cha Kroeung Sach Ko

A rice and coconut pancake ball, crispy and golden on the outside and incredibly silky and luxurious on the inside. Eaten with your hands, it’s stacked on top of fresh vegetables to add freshness and served with a powerful fish and chili sauce to enhance its tropical flavours.

An all-in-one noodle dish served at lunchtime and served at room temperature. Thin vermicelli noodles combined with morsels of crunchy spring rolls, pâtè and a generous slice of tender pork belly, all bound together with creamy coconut sauce and a touch of sharp fish sauce.

A classic. Tender pieces of beef cooked with a homemade lemongrass, garlic and spice aromatic paste called Kroeung (there are as many recipes for this as families in Cambodia). Crunchy curry leaves and herbs add freshness, and chillies are present to awaken your palate. Light and full of flavour, this dish is the close cousin of Thai curries, although more aromatic and less heavy as there is no coconut cream in it.

The

Shuckle Ferry

Oyster

farm tours

www.mahurangioysters.co.nz

Num Krok

STRONGER. DENSER. STIFFER. From this ...

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

... to this

As used in the new Celtic Barn, Waipu

When the people of Bream Bay needed to upgrade their community hall to 21st-century standards, they called on Northpine for help.

Available in lengths up to 7.2 metres, these SG8-verified beams enhance the elegance and aesthetic charm of buildings in ways that can’t be replicated by steel or other materials.

Northbeam timber beams from Northpine are made from pine grown in Northland because it is stronger, denser and stiffer than pine grown anywhere else in New Zealand.

A: P: F: E: W:

120 Foundry Road, Silverdale 09 426 4104 09 426 7226 northbeam@northpine.co.nz www.northpine.co.nz

savour

MANGAWHAI meats words

kirsty

Dan Klink can thank his Mum for pushing him into butchery at 16 years old. He’d wanted to be a chef but promised his folks he’d do one summer among the meat and knives – and he loved it. Dan sped through his apprenticeship and worked abroad to fine-tune his skills. Eventually he joined his parents to run the Mangawhai Meat Shop, taking over ownership in 2012. It’s not all blood and guts in the industry, there’s a touch of glitz and glamour. The Young Butcher of the Year Competition is a great example. In the Upper North regional category, Dan took out top spot. “I was a small fish in a large pond, the only independent butcher among a room of supermarket giants.” Next up, the grand finals, working with several proteins - beef, chicken, pork and lamb, while judges, media and public looked on.

millar

Dan walked away with runner-up – an incredible moment, cementing years of hard work. Dan says, “Butchery is a tough old boys network to crack. This award has given me a nudge up, it’s been insane for our business. But I don’t really do it for the awards; I enjoy the diversity of each day. Prepping begins at 5am. People shop with their eyes, so by laying products out creatively we make it more of a deli than just a butchery. Our customers are fantastic, and the shop is always buzzing with interesting people.” A boutique butchery maybe, but Dan’s now attracting attention from the likes of Simon Gault, supplying his popular ‘Sous Chef’ store in Auckland with a range of his best-selling sausages. With the onslaught of summer, Dan’s gearing up for BBQ fever – last season 2.5 tonnes of bangers flew out the door.

www.mangawhaimeats.co.nz | FB: managawhai meat shop

NOMBARDIE barbi

Australian Portable Outback Barbeque

The Nombardie Barbi is a simple effective principal for a barbeque with a grilling mesh that can be adjusted to cook above the flame, or lowered down to the hot coals.

Evoking fond memories of picnics and camping with the delicious flavours and aromas of wood smoke cooking. The perfect Chrismas present for those who have everything!

Call Sharyn for more info 021 245 4773

CITIZENS AGAINST GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE

Sick of council and government interference in your affairs? Tired of stupid rules that take away your freedom? Make a difference: become a member of CAGI and take back your life!

Contact Coll at www.caginz.com

savour

WELLSFORD EATS + THE $10 COCKTAIL words

kathy

hunter

CAFé DONNA - WELLSFORD

Jin Jin Cocktail of the MontH

Emerging from its winter hours, Café DONNA in Wellsford is now revitalised and raring to go. Those fantastic Friday night pizzas are back on the menu.

In case you didn’t know, there’s a small but perfect cocktail menu at the best Asian restaurant on Matakana Valley Road. Jin Jin’s bartender, Lincoln, will be bringing us a fabulous ten-dollar ‘cocktail of the month’ over summer.

Owner Micaela is coming into her third year at DONNA Wellsford. Why ‘DONNA’? “I love the Ritchie Valens song Donna, and also that it means woman,” says Micaela. “And as a side effect of naming the café I unintentionally created an alter ego: a lot of people call me Donna now, which is quite fun,” she says. There’s a lot to like about this funky eatery in the middle of Wellsford (halfway up the hill on the right going north). Micaela has put a sustainable, organic angle on much of what’s in the café. As well as delectable snacks, salads and lunches that are fresh and thoughtful, she stocks local Kombucha, Loveshack Organic Fairtrade coffee, Nice Blocks, Swiss Bliss organic chocolates and wafers, and many Eco-Store products. You’ll find changeable art on the walls, and a great selection of preloved clothes and shoes too – we scored some Diesel boots to die for and the perfect grey cashmere jumper on our last visit! DONNA is fully licensed with local award-winning wines, beers and ciders to choose from. Come along to a Friday night soon – there may be music as well. Bookings welcome.

His inaugural cocktail is a Rogue Society Gin-based beauty which will help us to frolic into spring. The black dots are Thai basil seeds which have been soaked in a sugar syrup, creating tiny pops of sweetness which are balanced by tangy, fresh lime juice. Don’t try this at home. Thai Me Down Rogue Society Gin, Chambord black raspberry liqueur, ginger ale, Thai basil seeds and fresh lime juice – garnished with a lychee and fresh mint. Chai yo – cheers! 44 Matakana Valley Road, Matakana www.facebook.com/jinjinmatakana

FB: DONNA Wellsford | T: 09 423 9291 Open 7 days to 3pm, late night Fridays to 8pm

SPRING

IS NATURE’S WAY OF SAYING ‘LET’S PARTY’ ROBIN WILLIAMS

SAVOUR

amber rose blueberry and lemon cake with kawakawa and citrus blossom tea What could be better than a Victoria sponge laced with citrus and hints of vanilla and speckled with juicy fat blueberries? Not much, especially on a brisk spring day when the sunshine is trying to burst through clouds and there is a cup of freshly-made herbal tea to soothe and refresh. Kawakawa is amazing for digestion and has a lightly peppery flavour, which goes beautifully with citrus blossoms and lemon, both of which have a cleansing effect on the body. A perfect brew to put a pep in your step during spring.

For the cake 250g unsalted butter, well softened, but not melted 250g white spelt flour, sifted 5 medium free-range eggs 2 tsp baking powder 250g unrefined raw sugar 1 tsp vanilla powder 3 tbsp whole milk 1.5 cups of frozen blueberries 1 lemon, zest only

To decorate 150ml thickened cream 150ml whipping cream 2 teaspoons of runny honey 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder 7 to 8 tbsp blueberry or blackcurrant jam Edible flowers (optional) Lightly toasted, roughly chopped hazelnuts

Pre-heat your oven to 180C fan. Line 2x 20cm sandwich tins with butter and baking parchment. Place all ingredients for the cake except the blueberries into a freestanding mixing bowl and beat for a few minutes until thoroughly combined, smooth creamy and fluffy. This should take about 2 to 3 minutes at most. When the cake mix has been thoroughly mixed, carefully fold in the frozen blueberries. Scrape the batter equally into both tins, flatten the mix with a pallet knife or the back of a spoon. Pop into your preheated oven on the middle rack and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cakes are golden and spring back to the touch. Times can vary depending on individual ovens, so just keep an eye on the sponges towards the end of the cooking time. When the cakes are ready, take them out of the oven and set aside to cool for ten minutes before removing them from the tins and placing onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely. When you are ready to decorate the sponges simply combine the two creams in a mixing bowl along with the vanilla and honey and whip until soft peaks form. Lay one of your sponges onto a cake plate and top with the jam, spread the jam evenly over the cake then top with the cream, spreading evenly over the jam. Add the top layer of sponge and dust lightly with icing sugar. Sprinkle with edible flowers (violets and borage are in season now), then sprinkle with toasted hazelnuts. Serve right away with a delicious refreshing kawakawa and citrus blossom tea.

For the tea 1 to 2 medium kawakawa leaves, lightly bruised 4 or 5 citrus blossoms, lime or lemon or even orange work beautifully A few thin slices of lemon

C H ERIS H

sustainable sophie + walk of the month have a good wine

Leigh Coastal Walk

WORDS

words

Sophie Barclay

photo

cath

lewis

New Zealand’s wine industry is toasted around the globe for its strict sustainability policies. Almost all of our wine is certified by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ). New Zealand Winegrowers prioritises continuing improvement of sustainable knowledge and practices.

This is a stunning walk along the pohutakawa-edged coast with magnificent views to Tawharanui and Coromandel. You’ll walk past several small rocky beaches, popping inland occasionally but out again soon enough.

Just seven per cent of NZ wine is organic currently, but it’s estimated that 20 per cent will be by 2020. Organic growers eschew synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, growing plants that work in harmony with the rhythms and processes of nature. They may plant cover crops to both improve soil health and bring in good insects to prey on pests.

If it’s low tide, start from Matheson Bay and rock-hop round to the left all the way to the Daniel’s Reef path that takes you up to the start of the walkway at the bottom of Wonderview Road.

In Biodynamic winegrowing, the vineyard is viewed as an entire, living ecosystem. Each ecosystem works in cooperation with the subtle influences of the wider cosmos on soil, plant, and animal health. The vitality of the soil is given centre stage and eight different types of preparations, including the infamous cowdung-in-the-cow-horn mix, are applied according to the lunar calendar.

It’s important for you to know that you are not walking across peoples’ front lawns, even when it feels like you are. The steps at the bottom of Kyle Street are not for the faint-hearted but otherwise the walk is easy going. Once (if) you get to the top of the stairs, the track continues on your right. Choosing to finish at Cumberland Avenue (you can continue via Harbour View Road to the Leigh Harbour walk), makes a coffee and snack at Leigh Eats the obvious next step.

HOME ON THE RANGE The Range’s husband and wife team Greg and Michele Garnett were (and still are, technically) dairy farming out at Tapora when they felt like a change and started up the business. They’re a sporty family, and Greg has always been an avid golfer. He knew there were a few golf ranges around, so was smart enough to add a cricket range as well – two indoor lanes with bowling machines. A few years later came the two lanes for softball/baseball, also with mechanical bowlers. The rifle range was next up (five rifles), and refurbishing the 9-hole minigolf course was the icing on the cake. All three of the Garnett children have worked here over the years, gaining a great work ethic, a sense of responsibility and of course, pocket money. “We get a real mix of clientele here,” says Michele. “During the week you get your serious golfers and cricketers, at the weekends it’s all about family – just entertainment. We get quite a few corporate groups too – and school groups love it.” The Range has a couple of popular and very reasonable deals to cover all options of sports on offer and concession cards for regulars. For example, for just $20 you’ll get 72 rifle shots, 21 baseball bowls, 40 golf balls and 9 holes of mini-golf. Check out the website for some family fun over the holidays, or to upgrade your skills for summer golfing.

www.therangewarkworth.co.nz 1794 State Highway 1, Warkworth

C H ERIS H

MATAKANA SCHOOL GALA PHOTOS

LOUISE

PHOTO G RAPHY

Labour Weekend will see the Matakana School Gala Day happening as it has for over 20 years. It’s an epic event, operated by a large number of volunteers, teachers and staff. Helena Udjur, School Relations Administrator, says, “The fundraising goal for this year is to consolidate savings for an all-weather surface and dome on a third of our courts “Our gala is a wonderful family event and a treasure hunter's dream! There are so many stalls to visit including our huge outdoor yard sale, clothing and linen, a special gallery for retro/vintage pieces, hundreds of books, plants and produce stalls, an electrical store, hundreds of toys, a huge brica-brac room, and much more! We also have a silent auction and quickfire raffle wheel. “Main stage entertainment has super talent from Matakana School as well as local artists. Matakana School Foodies run the One Day Café - gourmet burgers and sandwiches, waffles, sausage sizzle, bacon butties and lots more. But do get in early for the best take-home cakes at the cake stall. “Children's entertainment on the playing fields includes traditional games like a coconut shy and a crockery smash plus a horizontal bungy, the ‘Terminator’, Disneyland bouncy castle, mini hot-rods, and more. The gates open at 7am on Saturday 22 October. For more information email our gala administration team on events@matakana.school.nz The school thanks the community for its fantastic support, both in donating goods and coming along to enjoy the day. It would also like to acknowledge the exceptional job done by Wendy Douglas in coordinating the entertainment stage – sadly, this will be her last year on the job. See you at the Gala! www.facebook.com/MatakanaSchoolGala

Stalls galore, Declicious food, Entertainment extravaganza

BRAIN FIT for LIFE!

Bronwyn Lane will be leading two series of five-week workshops focusing on the six key memory skills you need for lifelong independence. Keep your brain and memory connections active, alert and growing at any age. All welcome! Tuesday evenings 4 Oct to 1 Nov 7–8.30pm Wednesday mornings 5 Oct to 2 Nov 10–11.30am Club Rooms, Alnwick Street Adjacent to the Old Town Hall, Warkworth Course fee: $150.00 Register and pay at www.brainfit.nz T: Bronwyn 09 425 0014 or 0274 926 493

C H ERIS H

HOSPICE TOUR words

kathy

hunter

Living Every Moment A few months ago, Hospice found something they’ve never found before: a tiny marketing budget. They’ve put it towards a new concept, presenting Hospice shops from the Harbour Bridge to Wellsford as a retail trail. Hopping from shop to shop, it’s obvious that pre-loved purchasing has powered up a gear. There’s never been a better time to support one of New Zealand’s most worthwhile charities. “Hospice gives free care to people who are dying and to their families, mainly in their own homes. It provides physical, emotional and spiritual support – and it’s only possible because of the generosity of its local community who buy at Hospice shops,” says Jan Nichols, the Chief Executive of both Hospices. A fun flyer has been created to showcase Hospice’s new venture. Dubbed the ‘Treasure Road Trip’, it has a rewards scheme for retail therapy at Hospice shops around the region. The flyer incorporates a map of all these shops (fifteen of them!) and a loyalty card which rewards the user with 10% off when they’ve had it stamped at five different locations.

John McEwing is the manager of the Garage Sale. He loves the busy morning. “You have to be an early bird to get the best out of it, but some really great stuff is making it over to our newest Warkworth store. Come and check out Shed 29 – it’s stuffed with great buys.” Kathryn Ashworth, General Manager of Hospice, says: “Now more than ever, we’re grateful for the amazing support we receive. Having started construction on a new purpose-built community day hospice – Tui House at the top of Glenmore Drive – we’re conscious of the need to keep raising money for our day to day services.” warkworthwellsfordhospice.co.nz T: Warkworth Wellsford Hospice 09 425 9535

Other changes are seeing some Hospice shops becoming more specialised. There’s the Milford Home Store, there’s ‘Finally…Books’ in Birkenhead and of course Warkworth’s ‘Tickled Pink’, which hand-picks retro and vintage bric-a-brac. ‘Shed 29’ at 29 Glenmore Drive (you can’t miss the big pink signs!) is a new clearance facility for items from the epic Wednesday morning Garage Sale at 51 Woodcocks Road. The Garage Sale is a thrift-shopper’s dream. From 7am every Wednesday, the music is cranking (everything from Barry White to The Supremes) and plenty of jolly, tea-drinking folk are ready to help with your purchases. Recent bargains scored by this writer include: a set of smoky charcoal 60s drinking glasses – $2, a vintage mirror with scalloped edges – $10, a perfect electric citrus juicer – $5, a teal, green and white retro ski jacket – $3, and a set of large, vintage, light-up Santas – $10.

Tess McGregor left, Anete Smith, right became models for the day!

An early morning for Kathryn Ashworth and John McEwing at the Warkworth Hospice Garage Sale.

THE HOSPICE SHOP Retro Collectibles and Cool Junk

HOSPICE HOMES TOUR Exceptional homes & gardens of Sandspit & Warkworth Sunday 13 Nov Tickets $ 50 09 425 9535

Open Wed-Fri 10am-4pm • Sat 10am-1pm 58 Queen Street, Warkworth Raising funds for Warkworth Wellsford Hospice. www.warkworthwellsfordhospice.co.nz • Ph: 09 425 0534

admin@hospicehouse.org.nz warkworthwellsfordhospice.co.nz

Proudly supported by

ARTS

capture the castle words

kathy

hunter

photos

sandy

meharry

Squirreled away in a beautiful home overlooking Scott’s Landing is a collection of New Zealand ceramic art that’s jaw-dropping in scale. Patrick O’Connor has amassed what may be the largest private collection in the country of the work of renowned potter, Len Castle. Len Castle began as a science teacher but became one of New Zealand's most distinguished artists. Pottery was his life for over 60 years, and he lived and worked in both Titirangi and Warkworth. A true pioneer in ceramic art, he won multiple awards for his work, including an Arts Foundation Icon Award in 2003 and Distinguished Companion of the NZ Order of Merit in 2004. His work has been collected by galleries around the world. Len Castle died in 2011, aged 86. Former Prime Minister Helen Clark wrote: "His explorations of geomorphic and geothermal shapes, textures and colours, and his remarkable ability to capture the ‘wairua’ [spirit] of the land, have brought him and his art to a … richly deserved international prominence." Pat first started collecting ceramics when he was about eight, with a piece of Royal Doulton. “I guess it is a slightly unusual thing for a kid to be interested in, but it seemed completely normal to me. I was just influenced by the era I guess – the 70s and 80s were big on pottery! Also by my mother, who was constantly creative.” He loves his art too, and has put together an impressive collection a few of the big New Zealand painters. But his heart is in ceramics. “It’s hard to explain really – it’s a gut thing. Maybe the energy is stronger because it comes from the earth, maybe it’s just that you can hold the pieces – 3D versus 2D. Also, as you collect, you feel you really get to know the artist and their work.” The many huge pieces on the floor all round the edges of the living areas grab the attention as you arrive – slab-form, Japanese-influenced

A small part of the collection including a red ‘inverted volcano’.

39 Omaha Valley Road, Matakana www.thevivian.co.nz | T: 09 422 9995

Still Figuring It Out - Ceramic Exhibition Curated by Bronwynne Cornish Saturday 24 September - Sunday 30 October 2016

Patrick at home with two bowls from Len’s Castle’s last Warkworth firing.

blossom vases feature highly – but soon there’s a dawning realisation that there’s Len Castle pottery everywhere you look. On every sideboard (mid-century Danish), in every cupboard – even the exposed rafters feature lines of ceramic wine bottles. “These used to be used as table carafes at the Deerstalker Inn on Ponsonby Road. They were slung around, quite a few were broken.” Pat also has a couple of waka-shaped ‘inverted volcanoes’; many strangely beautiful, fossil-like ‘hanging forms’; at least 30 ‘pin dishes’ (lovely little glazed and often figurative dishes) and many others stacked

A selection of hanging forms; the 1950’s cabinet; volcanic bowls; pin dishes.

away in storage. But the pièce de resistance is a cabinet stuffed with of Len’s earliest pieces – from between 1951 to 1959. Here there are a number of rare and valuable works that other collectors would gnash their teeth over. Pat has collected from auctions, TradeMe, by trading with other collectors, and occasionally, from op shops. It makes its way to him by other means too: when a friend asked him to take a load of rubbish away Pat found a grubby ceramic dish in there which – yes! – had the magical LC mark on the underside. He uses it now as his dog’s water bowl. His favourite piece? Hard to say. He’d find it very hard to part with his big blossom vases and the rare, incised blue vases from 1952. And a couple of modest bowls – special because they were in the last firing Len made in Warkworth would be high on the list too. He’s always keen for more, however. “I still don’t have a sulphur bowl,” he says (a classic bowl with a bright yellow crackled glaze). “I’m always on the lookout.” A collection like this is never finished.

art MATAKANA

P RO P ERTY

floating above the world WORDS

KATHY

HUNTER

There’s an exceptional property in Sandspit that’s new to the market. It’s a stylish, private and gloriously elevated home above long rural views. And at just two minutes from the new Sandspit marina, or ten minutes from Warkworth or Matakana, it’s also very central. The 259m2 house was built in 2005. The designer, Chris Beswick from Architectural Services in Warkworth, created an entertainer’s dream. The north-facing front of the house has the views, the lawn and the olive grove (with over 70 trees), while on the other side of the house, the spa pool is in a sheltered courtyard sanctuary. Mature native bush frames the house and protects from southerlies. And there are three small paddocks – Steve currently has six sheep and eight lambs grazing them. Owners Sonia and Steve are going to find it very hard to leave. “We’re feeling a bit compromised because we love this place so much but we’re very keen to be closer to our new grandson,” says Sonia. “This home has been such a dream to live in though – I’d say that for a family growing up and for entertaining, it would be really hard to beat.” The open-plan kitchen features a huge curved island bench and the whole front of the house is glass – fantastic in summer. To stay snug in winter there’s heating under the polished concrete floors in the main areas and bathrooms, and a gas fire in each lounge. There’s a compact, functional office. And a second lounge is fully soundproofed – great as a media room, or teenage parties. “That area also has some plumbing extended to it for a kitchenette,” says Sonia. “With minimal work it’d be possible to separate the whole wing and set it up as an exclusive bed and breakfast, or for Air BnB.” The master bedroom has the best views, but the other two bedrooms also open up to the garden. There’s a large raised vege bed, a great composting setup and loaded fruit trees. It’s very quiet up here and birdsong is all around. There are tui, rosellas, many kaka and sometimes kookaburras. Sonia reminisces about Christmases and parties where guests could spread out in various areas. “The whole house opens up really,” she says. “Everyone loves to grab a bean bag and take it out to drink wine in the afternoons under the olive trees – we get incredible sunsets and it’s a great way to watch the sun go down.” There are always projects of course, but there’s very little that has to be done here. The house was built by Steve Noyer (well-known local builder) and it’s low maintenance: cladding is Linea weatherboard and the roof construction is Coloursteel. You can just move in, marvel at those views, perhaps contemplate taking the boat out. Perfect. www.remax.nz/L10390063 | Ben Kloppers 021 425 599 | Nola Kloppers 021 425 597 Auction on site [unless sold prior] 30 October, 2016 @ 2.30pm RE/MAX Realty Group (Northern Properties Ltd) Licensed REAA 2008

OUT + ABOUT

social meanderings beard

Annie Li and Michael Goldsmith from Auckland.

Twins Coco + Texas at Matakana Markets.

theme

Matakana

Markets

Greg Fletcher, local avocado enthusiast.

Chef Jacqui Brown & Rowan Moss, President of Auckland Wine + Food Festival at Ginja’s coffee themed degustation dinner.

Artists from the current figurative ceramics show “Still Figuring It Out” at The Vivian Gallery Kate McLean, Browynne Cornish, Vicki Fanning, Christine Thacker, Hilary Kerrod and Sue Collins.

Josh Borthwick from Auckland.

Mike Reid, GM of Omaha Golf Club with ex-All Black Richard Turner at the degustation dinner.

Simon and Robin Barclay at The Vivian Gallery opening.

More talent re-choired! The Kowhai Singers have been providing concerts three times a year in the Warkworth area for the past 30 years. They’re planning a significant performance of Handel's ‘Messiah’ as a gala event in the new Warkworth Town Hall when it opens early in 2017. They are keen to recruit additional experienced singers to swell their numbers, both for this special event and for the other concerts that they are regularly providing. A wide range of music genres are covered in their concerts and the emphasis is on providing a top quality performance – and having fun! Rehearsals are on Monday evenings. Choir-singing has well-known advantages for both mental and spiritual well-being. If you’d like to be part of something fabulous, get in touch. Enquiries to Bronwyn 0274 926 493.

h a pp e n i n g s

muscular dystrophy fundraiser There’s a special fundraiser coming up on October 11, hosted in the Smoko Room at the Sawmill Brewery in Matakana. It’s intended to raise $4,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Northern Branch camp. This camp is where families who have kids with MD can connect and support each other through the physical and emotional challenges of living with this terrible progressive muscle-wasting disease. The event is organised by Shanelle Fraser Smith, hairdresser extraordinaire, from Ti Point. Shanelle’s two nephews have been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). DMD is an inherited condition which is causing Ethan's (5) and Oliver's (2) muscles to slowly deteriorate. With very rare exceptions, it’s boys who get MD, since the gene for it is on the X chromosome. There’s a shortened life expectancy and currently, no cure. “A year and a half from diagnosis my sister and her boys have moved to our beautiful Matakana coast – it’s an amazing community for them to grow up in. As their Aunty, I want to hold an evening to raise awareness and funds for their condition, and to help all the boys who suffer from this deadly disease,” says Shanelle. The evening will consist of drinks and canapés supplied by Sawmill Brewery, and auctions both silent and live (with Auctioneer Kerry Greenhalgh). Guests will also receive a fabulous goodie bag. To date, donations have come from: Takatu Lodge (an overnight stay with dinner and breakfast included), Mahurangi River Winery, OBV, Matavino Winery (a rare Nebbiolo Magnum in a wooden box), Jones Road Cider, 8-Wired Beer, Zeffer Cider, Rush Coffee, Matakana Pure water, Coxhead Creek Winery and artist Louise McRae.

Tuesday 11th October 2016 7:30pm @ Sawmill Brewery 1004 Leigh Road, Matakana Tickets $40 from Sawmill Brewery and Smith Hairdressing (includes drink on arrival, food and goodie bag).

Beach House Excelsior ACCOMODATION

Guest House Excelsior ACCOMODATION

THE ABBEY accommodation

ARTESiAN SOLWAY WATER WATER DELIVERY

Welcome to our Omaha beach house 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 3 large decks. Sleeps 6. Incl. guest house sleeps 8. 300m to stunning Omaha beach, 400m to Omaha golf course, 100m to boat ramp, jetty & harbour, great for sailing, fishing, SUP, surfing, walking. All day sun and harbour views.

Studio style guest house for couples. Sunny and private, a choice of outdoor living areas so you can chase the sun. Ideal for a weekend or overnight escape. 100m to boat ramp, jetty & harbour. For the more adventurous spend the day sailing or fishing, SUP, surfing. 300m to stunning Omaha beach. 400m to Omaha golf course.

This funky converted church hall is set in subtropical gardens. Modern french inspired décor, sleeping four with a modern kitchen, bathroom and sunny separate lounge which has a big private deck, perfect for entertaining in the evening. Book via Airbnb, BookaBach or HolidayHouses; by searching The Abbey.

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

P: Sue 021 926 920 E: suezanestass@gmail.com

www.thechapel.kiwi.nz

linen 2 go LINEN SERVICE

SUGARLOAF LODGE BED + BREAKFAST

takatu lodge & vineyard

the chapel accommodation

Linen 2 Go has one main aim, to make things easier for you. It’s a linen service which hires sheets, towels and table cloths to all types of holiday accommodation on the Matakana Coast and neighbouring areas. Commercially washing, ironing, folding and delivering them to your door. www.linen2go.nz | T : 021 99 4400

Sugarloaf Lodge is an impeccably stylish B&B Retreat, set on 5 acres of lush countryside, on the slopes of Sugarloaf Hill. Just 4 minutes from Matakana. Romantic and restful.

Slip into the luxury of time and relax, rejuvenate and reconnect. A stay at Takatu Lodge & Vineyard is a unique experience with elegance and comfort. Whether you’re celebrating or simply need a getaway, enjoy one of our 4 romantic suites, each with its own personality and character, providing you with a memorable stay. 09 423 0299 • 021 08299630 www.takatulodge.co.nz

Come and enjoy our unique, converted 1950’s church in the heart of this little village. A gorgeous blend of antique and brand new furniture and appliances and delightful, retro, slightly religious themed decor. Sleeps 6. Book via Airbnb, BookaBach or HolidayHouses; by searching The Chapel.

09 423 0460 | 021 022 69 331 stay@sugarloaflodge.co.nz www.sugarloaflodge.co.nz

T: 09 425 0086 E: info@artesianwater.net.nz www.artesianwater.net.nz

www.thechapel.kiwi.nz

h a pp e n i n g s

Saturday 22 October Agricultural + Gala Day : Mangawhai Beach School Every year Mangawhai Beach School hosts its Annual Agricultural & Gala Day. It has a long standing history and is held on Labour Weekend. This is a great fun family day out for the local community and our many out of town visitors. The event is a day of good old fashioned fun and includes raffles, auctions, competitions, lots of games and activities, food stalls and is also combined with our annual calf and lamb day. All children entering a calf or lamb will be given a goodie bag. This event is our major fundraiser for 2016 working towards much needed on-going support for our children’s learning and educational growth through teacher aides and classroom learning resources. How you can help our school? We need the support from our local and wider community businesses. Any donations of goods or services, gift vouchers or small items that we can raffle, auction or could be used for prizes for our stalls, would be greatly appreciated. Contact daverach@ihug.co.nz 9am – 2pm | FREE entry | 34 Insley Street, Mangawhai.

The Beatles at RSA Sat 8th October - 8pm

If the excellent Beatles ‘8 Days a Week’ movie left you wanting more, here’s a show that will rekindle the memories of the most influential force in modern popular music. Named after the final album the fab four recorded together, the Abbey Road band perform a three-part (3hr 50 minute) live show, with costume changes. The band has been together for 11 years and certainly know what they’re doing. From black suits and ties for the first three Liverpool albums, to the black polo jumpers of mid-career albums including Help and Revolver , and finally outrageous Sergeant Pepper’s outfits for their last four albums (including The White Album, Abbey Road and Let it Be ). This show will also feature a few post-Beatles songs such as Imagine and Band on the Run. Tickets $20 pre-pay or $25 on the night from the Warkworth RSA bar.

sawmill brewery new beer + tacos Labour Weekend will see the Sawmill Brewery showcasing a new beer, Hefeweizen. It’s a cloudy, German-style ale – highly carbonated with banana and clove aromas. A definitive summer drink! Along with the tastings of this sure-fire new favourite, there’ll be delectable tacos on the bbq in the courtyard – these were trialled to rave reviews on the last weekend of September. It’s all goin’ off at the Brewery… 1004 Leigh Road, Matakana

BLAIR MOORE

SUSAN HARDEN

Liscensed Real Estate Salesperson (REAA2008)

Mob Email

021 433 503 blair@prestigerealty.co.nz

021 926 920 susan@prestigerealty.co.nz

A CONVERSATION COSTS YOU NOTHING – CALL US ABOUT YOUR PROPERTY TODAY

09 422 6555

OMAHA half marathon 4th December The Omaha Classic running event, which has been keeping local families fit and focused since 2010, has evolved into the Omaha Half Marathon. The event has a new early summer date and the previous 5k and 10k courses have been embellished with a brand new half marathon which takes in the Omaha causeway, Matakana bike trail and beautiful Point Wells. Registration is now open but with only 300 of the 850 places left at time of writing, you’d better hurry! www.omahahalfmarathon.co.nz

Shane carter + don mcGlashan Leigh sawmill cafe - labour weekend Be quick to book tickets for this heavyweight duo at the Leigh Sawmill at the end of October – it’ll be epic. They first performed together at the Auckland Arts Festival this year, with David Larson at Metro giving it 10/10. Carter has had a huge career with his bands Straitjacket Fits and Dimmer; Don McGlashan started with Blam Blam Blam, the Front Lawn and the Mutton Birds – both artists have won multiple awards. They’ll be performing some of their best-known songs as well as some new material. This will be an intimate gig at one of the best venues around. Sunday 30 October @ 5:30pm - doors open 4:30pm Tickets $40-$45 from www.eventfinda.co.nz www.sawmillcafe.co.nz

“Come & see why we are Matakana’s n0. 1 restaurant” TR IP ADVISOR AUGUST 2016

FUNDRAISER MOVIE NIGHT 18 October @ 6pm Matakana Community Group’s TAMAHUNGA BRIDGE PROJECT Organised by Premium’s Team at Matakana Coastal Realty Ltd this year’s chosen film is Inferno, featuring Tom Hanks in continuation of Dan Brown’s popular trilogy Da vinci Code plus Angels & Demons . All proceeds are for the bridge project and consent has now been filed – work could start within the next 8-9 months. Mix and mingle plus a silent auction starts at 5pm. Show starts at 6pm. MMK/The Vintry will be catering so don’t miss out.

LABOUR WEEKEND - SATURDAY 22nd OCToBER With No.8 Wired, Deep Creek

Breweries & Mcleods Breweries CLASSIC GERMAN CUISINE

DJ Ben Walker (George FM)

playing 2 sets of Music 4-7 on Saturday & 2-5 on Sunday

LIVE

MUSIC FROM

2pm

EVERY

SATURDAY Check out our facebook page for full details

Now taking bookings for both work & xmas functions

$40pp includes canapes, a glass of wine or juice + donation. Tickets available from Linca at Premium or MCG’s Fundraising Team.

Proudly

presents

The 2nd Annual

FUNDRAISING MOVIE NIGHT

Margaret Whitten

Matakana Community Group’s TAMAHUNGA BRIDGE PROJECT

CONSULTANT Communication Marketing Strategy

Matakana Cinemas & Lobby Tuesday 18 October Mix & Mingle plus Silent Auction: between 5 to 5:45 p.m Show Starts: 6 p.m Cost: $40/pp includes glass of wine, canapes & donation Tickets: Available via Linda @ Premium or MCG’s Fundraising Team

Marketing strategy training workshops.* Brand strategy. Campaign management. MATAKANA COASTAL REALTY LTD MREINZ LICENSED REAA 2008 | 09 422 9280

Phone: 09 422 7684

I 021 0235 6020 I www.margaretwhitten.co.nz

11 MATAKAN A VA LLEY R D , M ATA K A N A . T E L 0 9 4 2 2 7 5 1 8

thematakana@gmail.com

www.matakana.co.nz

*Eligible for NZTE Capability Development Subsidy Scheme

october gig guide MARKETS:

Date

Time

Every Sat 8.00 – 13.00 Every Sat 8.00 – 15.00 Second Sun of the month 10.00 – 14.00 Second Sun of the month 9.00 – 13.00 First Sun of the month 8.00 – 13.00 Last Sun of the month 9.00 – 13.00

Date

Time

Mon 26 – 29 Sept Mon 26 – 30 Sept Tue 27 – 29 Sept Fri 30 September 16.00 Fri 30 September 19.00 Fri 30 September 18.00 – 21.30 Sat 1 October 20.00 Sat 1 October 9.00 – 12.00 Sat 1 – 9 October 9.30 – 16.00 Sat 1 October 9.00 – 1.00 Sat 1 October 14.00 Sun 2 October 10.15 Sun 2 October Mon 3 October 10.30 – 12.30 Mon 3 October 13.30 – 15.30 Mon 3 October 17.00 Mon 3 – 7 October Tue 4 October 10.30 – 11.30 Fri 7 October 19.00 Fri 7 October 19.30 Fri 7 October 18.00 – 22.00 Fri 7 October 19.30 Sat 8 - 9 October 9.00 Sat 8 14.00 Sat 8 October 19.00 Sat 8 October 17.30 Sat 8 October 12.00 – 16.00 Sat 8 October Sat 8 October 10.00 – 16.00 Sun 9 October 10.00 – 15.00 Sun 9 October 13.00 – 16.00 Sun 9 October 12.30 Sun 9 October 14.00 Sun 9 October 10.00 – 15.30 Sun 9 October 17.00 Sun 9 October 10.00 Mon 10 October Tue 11 October 14.00 – 16.30 Wed 12 October 20.30 – 1.00 Thu 13 October 18.30 Thu 13 October Fri 14 October 19.00 Fri 14 October 20.30 Sat 15 October 19.00 Sat 15 October 16.00 Sat 15 October 14.00 Sat 15 October 19.30 Thu 20 October 20.00 Fri 21 October 19.30 Fri 21 October 19.00 Fri 21 Oct – 14 Nov Sat 22 October 7.30 Sat 22 October 9.00 – 14.00 Sat 22 October 16.00 – 19.00 Sat 22 October 20.00 Sat 23 October 14.00 – 17.00 Sun 23 October 14.00 – 19.00 Sun 23 October 9.30 – 14.00 Sun 23 October 8.00 Sun 23 October 9.00 – 13.00 Sun 23 October 9.30 – 16.00 Sun 23 October 21.00 Sun 23 October 13.00 Sun 25 October Fri 28 October 19.00 Sat 29 October 18.30

To list your event for free on the Junction Gig Guide email event details to hi@junctionmag.co.nz

Event Venue website Matakana Village Farmers Market Matakana Markets Matakana Vintage Markets & Sunday Sessions Waipu Boutique Market Warkworth Museum Market Day Puhoi Farmers Market

Matakana Village The Old Dairy Factory, Matakana Matakana Village Waipu Coronation Hall Waipu Old Masonic Hall Puhoi Domain

Event Venue website Outdoor Adventure Club – School Holiday Program Aotearoa Surf School Saltwater Eco Surf Junky School Holiday Programs Summer Sessions Holiday Surf Program Omaha Beach Warkworth Music Concert – Tony Lin Mahurangi College Hall Kane Steves Warkwoth RSA Women’s Centre Art Expo 2016 Woolshed, Matakana Country Park The Mermaids Perform The Music Of ABBA Hakaru Hall Mangawhai Planting Day Streamland Suffolk Farm Warkworth Women’s Centre Art Expo 2016 Woolshed, Matakana Country Park Waipu Country Market Waipu Carpark Waipu Asch Rose Matakana Pub Matakana Heritage Walk of Warkworth Township Warkworth i-Site Warkworth and Districts Museum Open Day Warkworth and Districts Museum School Holiday Program - Rock Pool Art Goat Island Marine Discovery School Holiday Program – Mussel Dissection Goat Island Marine Discovery Black Light Disco Leigh School Fundraiser The Leigh Sawmill Café Saltwater Eco Surf Junky School Holiday Program Puhoi Craft Group Puhoi Cottage Tearooms Glenn Carley Warkwoth RSA The Prof Karaoke The Leigh Sawmill Café Spring Winemakers Degustation Dinner Omaha Bay Vineyard Music Movie Night & Supper Kaiwaka Movies Campervan & Caravan Swap Meet Mangawhai Heads Motor Camp Sue Dyson & Damian Hauwai Matakana Pub Matakana Beatles Warkwoth RSA Live Pro Wrestling Wellsford District Community Centre Gulf Eco Charters Boat Launch Party Kowahai Festival ‘Huge Day Out’ Warkworth Rodney Photography Collective Exhibition & Sale The Bridge Club Rodney Photography Collective Exhibition & Sale The Bridge Club Otherwise Fine Mangawhai Tavern Heritage Excursion - Jane Gifford Warkworth Wharf Rodney Marine Pirates of the Mahurangi Raft Race Warkworth Boat Ramp Summerleses Riverside Warkworth Ukulele Mini Festival Warkworth RSA Manos Del Chango The Leigh Sawmill Café Canadian Foursomes Mixed & Men’s Divisions Mangawhai Golf Club 10th Birthday Celebrations Art Matakana Matakana The Show Stoppers Warkworth RSA Dire Straits Tribute Mangawhai Tavern Mangawhai The Warkworth Great Debate Ascension Wine Estate Puhoi Celtic Sessions Puhoi Centennial Hall Klassic Trax Warkwoth RSA Show Me Short Film Festival Matakana Cinemas Kowhai Festival Movie Night – Hunt for the Wilderpeople Shoesmith Domain Warkworth Music Concert – Marimba and Percussion Duo Matakana Village Hall Andy Richards Matakana Pub Matakana Merimba & Percussion Duo Matakana Hall Quizzical Leigh Sawmill Café Brick Bay Pop-up Dinner Brick Bay The Glass House Kitchen Gary Pallett Warkwoth RSA Labour Love Art Matakana Matakana Matakana School Gala Matakana Primary School Mangawhai Beach School Agricultural & Gala Day Mangawhai DJ Ben Walker Matakana Pub Matakana Landslide The Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show The Mangawhai Tavern Mangawhai DJ Ben Walker Matakana Pub Matakana Celtic Fyre Celtic Barn Waipu Waipu Antique & Collectible Fair Waipu Coronation Hall Waipu Goat Island Eco Swim Safari Mangawhai Beach & Country Market New Mangawhai Museum Mangawhai Waipu Antique & Collectable Fair Waipu Coronation Hall Waipu Graham James News From Nowhere The Leigh Sawmill Café Opening Of New Vineyard Pavillion Te Whai Bay Wines Mangawhai Surf Club Open Day Mangawhai Heads JJ Rhythm Warkworth RSA Kaiwaka Fright Night Kaiwaka Sports Complex

www.aotearoasurf.co.nz www.saltwatereco.co.nz www.summersessions.co.nz www.warkworthmusic.org.nz www.warkworthrsa.co.nz www.wonescentrerodney.org.nz 09 636 1469 kaiparaharbour@gmail.com www.wonescentrerodney.org.nz 027 4586144 www.matakana.co.nz 027 484 9935 www.warkworthmuseum.co.nz www.goatislandmarine.co.nz www.goatislandmarine.co.nz www.sawmillcafe.co.nz www.saltwatereco.co.nz jcmylius@gmail.com www.warkworthrsa.co.nz www.sawmillcafe.co.nz 09 423 0022 www.kaiwaka.co.nz 09 431 4675 www.matakana.co.nz www.warkworthrsa.co.nz 09 423 7333 www.gulfecocharters.nz www.kowhaifestival.nz 09 425 8205 09 425 8205 www.mangawhaitavern.co.nz 027 484 9935 0800 969 694 09 422 3023 www.sawmillcafe.co.nz 09 431 4807 www.artmatakana.com www.warkworthrsa.co.nz www.mangawhaitavern.co.nz www.kowhaifestival.nz www.puhoinz.com www.warkworthrsa.co.nz www.matakanacinemas.co.nz www.kowhaifestival.nz www.warkworthmusic.org.nz www.matakana.co.nz 09 422 7590 www.sawmillcafe.co.nz www.brickbay.co.nz www.warkworthrsa.co.nz www.artmatakana.com www.matakana.school.nz www.mangawhaibeach.school.nz www.matakana.co.nz www.mangawhaitavern.co.nz www.matakana.co.nz www.waipugames.co.nz www.goatislandmarine.co.nz 0274 586 144 www.sawmillcafe.co.nz 09 945 0580 www.mangawhai.co.nz www.warkworthrsa.co.nz www.kaiwakasports.co.nz

Kellie Bissett Matakana

Mobile: +64 27 530 6843 Office: +64 9 425 7640 kellie.bissett@bayleys.co.nz Mackys Real Estate Ltd, Licensed under REA Act 2008

O M AHA B E ACH

THE PARTNERSHIP THAT PRODUCES RESULTS People looking to sell in Omaha have now got an area-leading team at their fingertips. Top agents Paul Elsden and Joneen Smith are partnering up to offer vendors in Omaha the combined power of their 23 years experience with Bayleys and in depth understanding of the local market. Having been involved in over $240 million worth of Omaha sales with over 200 satisfied vendors their pedigree is unparalleled. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thinking of selling, make sure you enlist the team who fully understand the value of property in desirable Omaha.

Contact us today for a copy of our latest Omaha real estate market report or to see what your property may be worth. Paul Elsden

Joneen Smith

M 021 936 011 paul.elsden@bayleys.co.nz

M 021 464 557 joneen.smith@bayleys.co.nz

Mackys Real Estate Ltd, Licensed under the REAA 2008