Forward 50 March April

50+lifesTyle 50+lifes 50+ lifesT lifes Tyle maga magaZine magaZ Zine march

2013

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11/03/13 1:50 PM

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FORWARD 50 march/april 2013

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

From the editor

Contents

I don’t know whether it’s because I’m also the editor of a gardening magazine, Weekend Gardener, or because I’m genuinely interested in the insects in my garden, but lately, I’ve been noticing a common trend – some of them are missing.

First it started with the monarch caterpillars. The butterflies were about three months late laying their eggs on our swan plants, and it was a good day when they finally fluttered back into our garden. But, it’s the honeybees I’m most concerned about. If there’s one thing I learnt from the Bee Movie, is that these are the good guys, and we really can’t do without them.

These are our pollinators and I want to know where they are, so I got our writer Peter Oakes on the case to find out what’s going on. Read more on page 9. We also have a great article about attracting insects to your garden on pages 24-25.

Thank you for all your letters and feedback about the new look Forward50. We’re so pleased you like it.

Kineta Knight Booker kineta@mainlandpress.co.nz

4-5

–

Opinion

6

–

Technology: Twitter

7

–

Law/Finance

9

–

Feature: Bees

10 - 11 –

Crossword & Sudoku

12 - 13 –

Travel: Garden tour

14

–

Travel: Gold Trail

15

–

Piece of NZ: Golden Bay

16

–

Travel: Norfolk Island

18

–

H&B: Done, dusted and busted

19

–

H&B: Recipes

20

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H&B: Denyse Saunders

22 - 23 –

Gardening: Autumn roses

24 - 25 –

Gardening: Flowers for insects

26

David Hartnell: From roller-rinks to Hollywood

–

Contacts: Editor:

Kineta Knight kineta@mainlandpress.co.nz

Advertising:

Robert Fortune robert@mainlandpress.co.nz

Letters to the editor: PO Box 39177, Christchurch, 8545

Published by:

Mainland Press Limited, 540 Wairakei Road Harewood, Christchurch, 8053.

P. 03 384 0600 ISSN 2324-3805

Publisher:

Charlotte Smulders charlotte@mainlandpress.co.nz Cover image: Shutterstock Looking after bees. Page 9 & 24-25

Letters to the editor Dear Kineta, Forward 50 is an excellent publication with interesting articles.

Norma McLaren, Rangiora Kia ora Kineta, Just perused your Sept/Oct edition.

Good work, some interesting stuff especially seeing David Shearer surfing!

But I do have a problem with your "50+" claim. Much of the content seems, er, 70 up!

I'm 52, and honestly almost nothing in the magazine remotely reflects my life, or my peers' lives for that matter.

I realise you have to scope a broad demographic to lure advertisers, but come on! Truth in advertising "Older&Bolder 65+" - maybe!

See you at the Toy Love tribute show at Real Groovy this Saturday, so long as Piha Bar isn't breaking that is...

John Dickson Auckland Hi John, Great to hear from you, and thank you for your feedback. We hope you enjoy the new look and shape of

Forward50.

Best regards, Kineta I was very disappointed you did not have a contribution from the Green Party (did you ask?)

The Green Party is the the third party in New Zealand and I would argue their policies are more in tune with the needs of older Kiwis Winston Peters' column really did not address the needs of older folk!

Ashley Robinson Woodend Hi Ashley, Thanks for your email, but we do share the columns around all political parties, and in fact have featured members of the Green Party in our magazine too.

Regards, Kineta Keeping up Appearances...

We hear a lot about the rapidly growing aged demographic, and what a financial drain we all are on the country (actually, the 'retirement fund') - but

what about our contributions? I am sure I am not alone in having an impressive curriculum vitae in the 'real life' stakes never mind the balance sheets!

Reared four children, all good people, all working. They have eight children between them and the ones of working age are all working. The smallest looks like qualifying for the next dictator vacancy, but we can't have everything.

I served 12 years (free!) in various roles at Play Centres, several years on PTA committees (free!). If I was to divide the years of daily physical work in marriage into paid working days it comes to $3.75 per day.

I contributed to the successful transition in a troubled university department (paid). Made a significant contribution to scholarship in my chosen field (free), and cared for a sick man until his sudden death (on my pension).

Gravity is against me - as my eyelids descend to my knees - but a bright smile and cheerful greeting is required as social exchange.

In all of the above, and more, I am not alone. Many of us in my vintage, as Marilyn Waring has said, were 'counting for nothing' - but were not aggrieved -

we loved our families to bits.

All this while we continue to pay taxes, even from superannuation. With escalating health costs, food costs and charities to support, it is a fortunate 'oldie' who can just tread water!

The capital I had two years ago has dwindled at frightening speed, and with two more tooth crowns it will be gone. So don't pile guilt onto us - just remember all the loving care and sacrifice that got you where you are!

Jo Murphy, Waikanae Hi Kineta, Many congratulations on the new style. A big improvement on the look, which was very much needed, and a great selection of articles.

Ian Bywater, Christchurch

We’d love to hear from you.

Drop us a line: Forward50 PO Box 39177, ChCh 8545 Or email our editor kineta@mainlandpress.co.nz

FORWARD 50

march/april 2013

OPINION

4

Don’t change marriage Colin Craig, leader of the Conservative Party

D

oes marriage, an institution that has stood for thousands of years, and underpinned ordered society, matter that much? Is it time to rewrite the basic order of things so that homosexuals can marry?

family will succeed.

I am really encouraged by the “Young Conservatives” which is the youth wing of our party. Unlike the National, Labour, Greens and the New Zealand First youth wings who have all publically declared that marriage should be redefined to include same-sex relationships, the Conservative Party youth wing believe that marriage should remain defined as one man and one woman. They are exceptional young people considering issues of society a lot more seriously than many of their peers.

I don’t think so, and neither do a vast majority of New Zealanders over the age of 45 who seem to have a pretty good grasp on the fact that ordered and successful society comes from careful rules and social codes that are adhered to. It does not happen by accident.

Words such as discipline, self-control, respect, faithfulness, loyalty, hard work and service are not just ideas; they are a way to live, in order that you and your

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to our research), but it is surprising how little thought some supporters have given this issue. I was talking recently to one young woman who was supportive of the change. I asked her whether she really thought a child adopted by two homosexual men was getting as good a deal as a child adopted by a mum and dad. “Are you telling me that a mum can be replaced by a second dad?” After some thought she conceded that having a mum did matter, and that she could not support the proposed law change after all. Good of her for being openminded enough to at least discuss the issue.

This debate is also showing us something about our politicians. John Key, for

example, is prepared to vote for the law change even though his electorate (Helensville) clearly wishes him to vote against the change. Helensville only has one representative in parliament and that is Mr John Key. If he won’t vote the way they want him to, then how is that representation? They are saying “No” but he is voting “Yes”. It is exactly this lack of politicians willing to do what New Zealanders actually want that got me into politics and saw the start of the Conservative Party.

It really is time politicians remembered that they are our servants. We pay them to listen, and do what we want them to, not to assume some divine right and ignore what we the people want.

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FORWARD 50 march/april 2013

OPINION

new Zealand First, putting Kiwis First Rt Hon Winston Peters, leader of NZ First

I

f one thing is certain in New Zealand politics today it’s that we are facing a leadership crisis.

Prime Minister John Key has spent the past four years doing dodgy backroom deals to help a select, wealthy few.

As if that’s not enough, he then starts flogging off the country’s silver by listing shares in Mighty River Power.

In the face of overwhelming economic and financial logic the Key Government has ploughed on with this absurdly damaging project regardless of the cost to the country.

New Zealand First is opposed to the sale of the shares and we will use our influence after the next election to buy back the shares at no more than the value they were originally sold.

It is time New Zealand got political leaders who recognise they are the trusted servants of the people who will protect our interests and our assets. But political leaders also need to address the issues facing the country – and one of the biggest problems is unemployment.

It is almost criminal that the Government is doing next to nothing to boost employment by growing Kiwi

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businesses.

New Zealand First has had enough of the economic treachery going on within Government circles. We are drafting policy to make it compulsory for government departments, state-owned companies and local councils to give preference to Kiwi firms over foreign competitors.

The Government Procurement – Buy New Zealand policy would be triggered whenever public contracts and products go to tender. The policy would also incorporate measures to ensure central and local governments put their business

through New Zealand-owned banks. The difference in cost between a local product and an identical foreign product must exceed a certain percentage and benefit before foreign bids would be accepted.

The government spends $30 billion a year on procurement and too many of these contracts are going offshore even though a study in 2010 showed that for every $1 million spent locally, about 10 jobs are retained or created.

Mr Key’s politics involve secret deals to help a few. We are focused on sound policies to grow prosperity for all New Zealanders.

Craving Compulsion Mike Yardley, writer/broadcaster

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H

ave you noticed the creeping propensity of coroners to recommend broad-brush, knee-jerk, mandatory crackdowns on all manner of potential hazards?

The latest cab off the rank from the Coroners Court has been the call for it to be compulsory for all cyclists to wear hi-visibility vests. In the past few months, coroners have also called for the compulsory wearing of hi-visibility clothing for motorcyclists and the compulsory wearing of helmets when riding a quad bike, ice-skating or skiing.

But the most fatuous coronial response to top the lot was the recent recommendation for compulsory warning labels about the excessive consumption of fizzy drink. I think we need a warning label slapped on the Coroners Court, alerting people to the hazards of overdosing on compulsion.

website advises that the role of the coroner “is to establish when, where, how and why a death happened. A coroner speaks for the dead to protect the living”. But is it really the role of a coroner to try and protect seriously dysfunctional people from their own extreme stupidity?

Southland coroner David Crerar rashly blamed the death of mother of eight, Natasha Harris, on the grasping multinational greed of Coca Cola. Crerar gullibly seems to think compulsory warning labels on fizz drink would have dissuaded Harris from guzzling up to ten litres of Coke a day.

Yes, she was clearly addicted to Coke. But she also was hooked on tobacco, sucking back 30 cigarettes a day – despite the warning labels. And her capacity to breed rivalled the productivity of a bubble-gum machine, popping out eight babies before she turned 30. Natasha Harris was sadly the author of her own extreme and stupid misfortune.

Our nation’s coroners have morphed into becoming our front-line social engineers. Coroners need to knock-off their cravings A cursory browse on the Justice Ministry’s for pointless compulsion.

FORWARD 50

march/april 2013

TECHNOLOGY

6

TwiTTer The tweets are uploaded instantly and anyone who is following you can read them instantly. Anyone who is searching for a particular keyword, or information can receive it instantly. If you have a question you want answered you can put it out there for the world to see and pass along (retweet). If you add hashtags to your tweets, anyone searching for that particular keyword will come across your tweet. a guy living in my apartment block in Indonesia. He thought using Twitter would be a good way to promote New Zealand travel. He created an account for me, searched for anyone who had ever tweeted or mentioned New Zealand, or travel, and had me follow them. To get followers, first you have to follow others, I remember him saying.

Sure enough within a few days I had quite a lot of followers.

By Tania Butterfield

S

HIGA, JAPAN: It’s just before 4:30pm on a Monday afternoon when I receive a text from my friend who lives in Gunma, about two hours out of Tokyo.

“How’d you find that out?” she asks, amazed at how quickly I was able to get the specifics.

“Did you feel that earthquake?” she asks.

So what is this mysterious ‘Twitter’ that you often see quoted in magazine or newspapers, particularly when it comes to celebrity news or breaking news?

“No,” I reply.

“Twitter.”

“It was pretty big here. They have the TV on in the staffroom but I don’t understand It’s a social networking site, kind of like Japanese so I’m not sure where it was, Facebook, but you are limited to 160 how big it was or what’s going on.” characters so messages (also known as tweets) are short and sweet. Unlike Not to worry. I pull out my smartphone Facebook where people generally have to and log on to Twitter. Sure enough at be accepted as your friends in order for the top of my newsfeed are the details of them to see your messages, anyone can the earthquake – a 6.3 magnitude quake follow anyone else on Twitter. located in the Tokyo area. I text her back the details.

I was introduced to Twitter in 2009 by

From

For any news junkie, Twitter is certainly the place to be. All journalists these days are on Twitter and are jumping at the gun to be the first to break news so they will tweet news before it appears on the online news websites.

I remember everyone logging into Twitter to see who would be the first to announce the Ewan MacDonald verdict – which of course appeared on Twitter before the news bulletins.

Twitter proved a godsend following the Christchurch earthquakes. Cantabrians would tweet about road blocks, how bad the road was, whether malls had been evacuated, traffic congestion, how bad the quakes felt. The Christchurch City Council, GeoNet, Civil Defence and other emergency departments were constantly updating Twitter with the latest developments. If you wanted to get the information direct rather than waiting for it to be filtered out by journalists and newsmakers, Twitter was the way to get Fast forward two years, and as a working it. journalist on a daily newspaper, I find myself living on Twitter and Facebook Of course there are those Twitter obsessed and getting some very good story ideas people who tweet about what they had for breakfast, but you can avoid being from these mediums. bombarded with their every move by not Twitter in particular has become a following them in the first place. My one crucial part in fuelling the age of citizen caution in using Twitter would be to be journalism. On Twitter, anyone can careful what you tweet. So if you don’t break a news story – it is not limited to want the world to know about it, don’t tweet it. journalists.

After getting your initial followers, the key is to keep tweeting in order to retain them, and have your ‘fan base’, so to speak, grow. Back then, the technology was lost on me so that particular Twitter account did not go very far. Although Cory Monteith who plays Finn on Glee did start following me recently, and I have had a message from Candace Cameron-Bure of Full House fame once so it hasn’t been a complete loss.

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FORWARD 50 march/april 2013

law

Asset protection revisited

P

rotecting our assets from whatever challenges that may threaten them has been a challenge for lawyers for centuries. The family trust has been an integral part of a majority of asset protection and estate planning initiatives for a very long time and reached a height of popularity in the 1980s and 1990s.

With the change to gifting laws discussed in the last edition of Forward 50 and the tighter new policy being applied by The Ministry of Social Development in relation to asset tested senior care benefits in particular, many advisors who have been strong advocates for trusts are doing an about face and advising some clients to wind up their family trusts.

While the family trust still unquestionably has a place in estate planning and asset

protection plans for some people, it may be that for others, there is in fact merit in not having assets in a trust. As with all things, each situation should be considered on its own merits.

In the last edition of Forward 50 we looked at the fact that the Ministry are now treating any gifts in excess of $27,000 ‘per application’ as being excessive gifting. The Ministry stance on this was upheld in the recent High Court case of B v The Chief Executive of The Ministry of Social Development.

Let us consider the situation of a couple with a freehold family home and few, if any, other assets. If one of a couple in such circumstances goes into care and a spouse or dependant child is living in the family home, the home is exempt and is not considered among your assets. In

addition, you are allowed to have ‘other’ assets of $116,806. If you had transferred that same home into a trust and been gifting at the previously accepted rate of $27,000 per person up to the change in law in 2011, then the Ministry will now look back into your gifting history as far as it likes and would consider such gifting as excessive under the application of its new and recently tested policy interpretation.

For those who own their family home jointly there is also the opportunity to tinker with the way in which you own the home and look at the option of a tenancy in common where each of a couple owns a distinct share of the home. With a tenancy in common, what happens to your share of the property on death is dictated by what is in your Will. A common estate planning strategy is to leave your partner

or spouse a life interest in your share of the home and not to leave it to him or her outright.

Now there are rules around you divesting yourself of assets with the specific intent to qualify for a benefit which otherwise would not have been available to you, so timing and intent are important. The vital consideration is to take legal advice from someone well versed in dealing with these complicated matters. At Harmans we have decades of experience of dealing with estate planning strategies and we have specialist department to deal with your query. Give Fleur McDonald a call on 03 352-2293 to arrange an appointment to discuss your situation.

Brent Selwyn is a partner of Harmans Lawyers and supervises their specialist senior law team.

finance

NZX50 back to its 2007 high, so is it different this time?

H

aving risen 80 per cent since March 2009, the NZX50 is now back at its all-time high from May 2007. We look at some key reasons why today’s market is fundamentally different to the exuberance of 2007.

1.

New Zealand shares aren't as expensive as they were in 2007. The generally accepted valuation measure for shares is the price-earnings (PE) ratio, which simply compares the price of something with how much earnings it generates. In May 2007, NZ shares were trading at a PE ratio of 16.9, 21 per cent above the 20-year average of 14.0.

Today, NZ shares are trading at 15.7.

2.

Unlike 2007, dividend yields on shares are well above bank deposit rates. Back then, a six-month term at the bank was paying 7.5 per cent, while NZ shares offered a gross dividend yield of 4.9 per cent. Today, the same term deposit pays under 4 per cent while NZ shares today are paying 5.8 per cent.

With such a strong investor focus on income and against the backdrop of low

interest rates, it’s very hard to argue that shares look overpriced when measured on dividend yields.

3.

Earnings forecasts are realistic, rather than optimistic. In May 2007, analysts were expecting NZ companies to grow their earnings by 11.4 per cent over the following 12 months, then again by 11.5 per cent in the 12 months after that. Today, we expect earnings to grow by about 10 per cent this year and next year.

4.

The economy is growing (albeit slowly), rather than shrinking. Our companies and our sharemarket can only be strong if our economy is strong.

While things still feel tough in many ways, we’re in a lot better shape than we were in 2007. In 2013 and 2014 we expect growth of two to three per cent.

While this is partly due to the Canterbury rebuild, it’s much easier for companies to succeed when an economy is stable or growing, rather than shrinking.

5.

Company debt levels are lower today.

Whether it’s governments, households

or corporates, having too much debt was a huge part of the problems in 2007. So it’s comforting to see that, on average, our listed companies have lower debt today than they did back then.

6.

Finally, despite a good performance from shares in recent years we haven’t seen the “herd” flock to shares as much as some might think. According to Reserve Bank data, we collectively have $48.6b invested in NZ direct shares and managed funds, 8.3 per cent less than in the middle of 2007. In NZ dollar deposits with the banks we currently have a whopping $108b. This is a 52.6 per cent increase on mid-2007 levels. For those wondering if there’s

enough demand out there for new companies coming to market, that last statistic is probably your answer.

Mark Lister is Head of Private Wealth Research at Craigs Investment Partners.

His disclosure statement is available free of charge under his profile on www. craigsip.com. This column is general in nature and should not be regarded as specific investment advice.

9

FORWARD 50 march/april 2013

FEATURE

Where have all the honeybees gone?

They filled our backyards wiTh Their acTiviTy, compleTing a Task we humans, wiTh all our ingenuiTy and progress, cannoT fulfil. we Took iT all for granTed, ofTen passing by wiTh liTTle inTeresT in Their acTiviTy or Their welfare.

Bees arrive and depart a golden tray of honey among young grape plants on the roof of the Alice in Videoland’s building in central Christchurch.

by Peter oakes

T

hey are the common honeybee, Apis mellifera, found throughout New Zealand, providing honey and pollinating a wide range of commercial crops and garden plants. But they are under attack, and in the last few summers have disappeared from our home gardens and rural landscapes.

The major cause of bees disappearing is predator mite, varroa. First discovered in New Zealand early this century, after infecting hives elsewhere in the world for many years, varroa has entered hives from North Cape to Bluff, burrowing into the brood bees and destroying the hives. The bees have no answer to the mite and now their survival is entirely dependent on humans. It is a symbiotic relationship because the majority of our plant food depends on bees foraging for the nectar and pollen they need. Without their efforts, humans would starve as the production of commercial crops diminished; it is only the effort of commercial apiarists, and a wide range of beekeepers, including backyard hobbyists, that is keeping bees buzzing.

The maintenance of hives overseas has become fraught with another problem

– Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). In Europe and the United States there has been a disastrous decline in bee numbers, with beehives simply being abandoned as millions of bees just disappear. The reasons for CCD may be many, but no-one has found the answer.

Pesticides and huge acreages of monocultural crops are also implicated, as well as the movement of large numbers of hives over vast distances to pollinate commercial crops. There are no easy answers, but with losses continuing unabated, it remains imperative humans assure bees remain healthy.

New Zealand has not got the disorder yet, but since we always seem to end up catching a metaphorical cold when the rest of the world sneezes, it must be only a matter of time. In the meantime, hive and bee numbers here seem healthy.

However, urban dwellers have noted the honeybees' virtual disappearance from backyards. The (backyard) field has been left to bumblebees and although they are good pollinators (they are not affected by varroa), their numbers are too small to totally take over.

New Zealand’s 28 types of native bees have also been hit by varroa. Professor Jason Tylianakis of the University of

Canterbury, who studies the effects of environmental change on bees, says the diversity of bees determines the success rate of pollination. Even moths play a part, being the night shift of the pollinator world.

Federated Farmers and the National Beekeepers’ Association (NBA) have undertaken an education programme for rural dwellers and a campaign called Trees for Bees, encouraging the planting of species for a wide range of nectars and pollens to ensure bees get enough protein for healthy hives.

Federated Farmers Bee section chair John Hartnell urges farmers when “choosing what to plant in waterway margins, windbreaks, field edges, under pivots and along roadsides” to “look for bee friendly trees and shrubs”. Urban dwellers have been encouraged to do the same in their gardens, including varied floral species, native plants (flaxes) and willows (not cracked willow which damage drainage).

The NBA’s co-CEO, Daniel Paul, points out the importance of bees to farmers: “They have a vested interest in making sure bees survive; the agri-business sector is worth about five-odd billion dollars.” He says the association is also

concerned about the deleterious effects of importing Australian honey, which the Government has considered: “It would bring a range of diseases.”

Worldwide, urban hives on buildings have arisen partly filling the loss of inner-city bees. In New Zealand there are hives on rooftops; notably, in Auckland, the Town Hall is one of these locations. There are rooftop hives also in Wellington and Dunedin, while Christchurch has bees kept on the Christchurch Polytechnic’s Food and Hospitality block and also on Alice in Videoland’s premises at the edge of the earthquake-damaged red zone.

Beekeepers must be registered, and there is a movement to lease out hives to people wishing to place them in backyards, on rooftops, in lifestyle blocks, anywhere there is suitable space and the range of plants to let bees forage. Many such keepers eschew pesticide controls for varroa, preferring natural, or organic methods.

The message remains: Without humans, bees will not survive; without bees, humans’ access to a wide range of plant foods would be severely diminished.

It’s a no-bee brainer.

active couple?...retire to a place by the sea 1 WHERO AVENUE

DIAMOND HARBOUR - $589,000

RV $614,000

First time on the market for over 25 years in sought after waterfront location right above the beach.

Stunning harbour views. Sunny, sheltered and above all private & secluded. Kitchen & bathroom are of the very latest designs. Two living rooms both opening onto a private sheltered sunny deck area. Spa and woodburner. Featuring two double bedrooms with views overlooking the harbour...also third room in the basement easily coverted to accommodation or studio. The other notable feature of this lovely property is the garden on a 830m2 site. A woodland sanctuary, it features an abundance of shrubs & plants, including numerous rhodos and roses, criss-crossed by meandering pathways, one of which leads directly to the beach below. Enjoy the frequent native bird visitors - bellbirds, fantails and wood pigeons as they feed in the garden. Two excellent cafes and ferry a short 10 min walk away. Friendly community with plenty of outdoor pursuits for the active, golf, yachting, tennis, bowls or try your luck at a spot of fishing off the rocks below. There are also numerous clubs and organisations to get involved in if you wish or just sit and enjoy the yachts, boats and ships on the harbour. Motivated vendors have purchased To view contact Min of Min Sarginson Real Estate - phone 027 432 0327 or 328 7273

Diamond Harbour beach - not from property

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PUZZLES

crossword No. 5007 CRYPTIC

10

sudoku No. 5106

Medium

Fill the grid so that every row and every 3x3 square contains the digits 1 to 9

Down 1. Where the tourist looked a right one with a short skirt on? (6). 2. Got blazing, due to the bad editing (7). 3. Show the marks on the skin (6). 4.

“The Guest” is a good bet over a long distance (6).

5. He’ll be candid with you (5). 7. Is there about a pint of it in the tin? (5). 13. The Asiatic got about a British pound fine (3). 14. Worn down? That’s bad dear; you must change it (7). 15. Sounds like “Be careful! Could go up if you step on it!” (5).

17. That funny gag of the man’s about what the Scotsman had (6). 18. Hurled from the North West in short (6). 19. Like a fish - like a jelly-fish?

(6). 21. Catch a girl with nothing on (5).

ACROSS 6. Boxing expert at the circus?(4-6). 8. Open jam container (4). 9. I am to repeat her name backwards (4). 10. A fitting attempt to deceive one 3-2). 11. The benign variety (4). 12.Piece of furniture the barber disposed of? (9). 16. Does it give the woodman a wan smile? (9). 20. The name of the poster? (4). 22. Bust the range in a fury (5). 23. What made the coconut pale? (4).

24. Vegetables the queues are after, we hear (4).

25. They may lead to a lot of washing up! (10).

easy

ACROSS

Down

6. Puzzles (10) 8. Brier (4) 9. Incentive (4) 10. Commerce (5) 11. Midday (4) 12. Toy (9) 16. Bird (9) 20. Gemstone (4) 22. Flower (5) 23. Applaud (4) 24. Layer (4) 25. Fruit (10)

1. Drive (6) 2. Birds of prey (7) 3. Change (6) 4. Appoint (6) 5. Tree (5) 7. Ladle (5) 13. Sick (3) 14. Jug (7) 15. Country (5) 17. Choice (6) 18. Mended (6) 19. Seats (6) 21. Big (5)

The solution for this puzzle will appear in our next issue

SOLUTIONS for Crosswords No. 5005 EASY PUZZLE Across - 6, Consequence. 7, Fake. 8, Designer. 9, Stream.

10, Astute. 12, Hectic. 15, Sinner. 17, Governor. 19, Soak. 20, Independent.

Down - 1, Interest. 2, Seldom. 3, Russia. 4, Snag. 5, Relent.

6, Chant. 11, Tungsten. 13, Exotic. 14, Canopy. 15, Strand. 16.

Exact. 18, Eddy.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across - 6, Not all there. 7, P-i-er. 8, Theodora (anag.). 9, Re-buts. 10, M.O.-Rose. 12, S.-Cone-s. 15, Decode. 17, Landsman. 19, Vice. 20, Rest assured.

Down - 1, Star T-urn. 2, Plates. 3, Stream (anag.). 4, Lead.

5, He-art-’s. 6, No-i-se. 11, Re-covers. 13, C-la-ire (rev.). 14, S’am-pan. 15, Danish (anag.). 16, Diced 18, Dish.

The solutions for these puzzles will appear in our next issue

Do you have a tax refund owing?

Find out in 3 easy steps.

1.

2.

3.

37-234-12

Visit nztaxrefunds.co.nz

Have your IRD and Drivers’ Licence handy.

Do you have a Fill out the quick and easy form.

waiting?

11

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PUZZLES

crossword No. 5006 CRYPTIC

easy

Down 1. What the child had named Leo, perhaps (8). 2. Walk like a dancer? (4). 3. Horse meat at the pork butcher’s (7). 4. How whales talk to each other? (5). 5. The boss is held by the police (2,6). 6. An examination of the mouth (4). 11. Is very anxious to get to the pinnacle as a cricketer (4-4). 13. That woman in trousers you saw at the zoo (8). 14. What made the front door fall down?

(7). 17. Does she believe in togetherness? (5). 19. Collar that golfers don’t like the sound of! (4). 21. Give the kid the key to carry (4).

ACROSS 7. Dear Sir, a useful object for your desk 6,6). 8. The little darling needs a drink, dear (6). 9. Such a row as church bells wouldn’t make! (6). 10. Agreed everybody was bound to come round (7). 12. To lengthen the journey by a quarter makes nonsense (5). 15. Write to New York for money (5). 16. Where one sees examples of aquatic birds and impounds them (7). 18. Jail that is seen in “The Quiet Man” (6). 20. Such a song as “Fever” is? (6). 22. How you new, immediately, someone was surprised? (4,3,5).

The solutions for these puzzles will appear in our next issue

ACROSS

Down

7. Underground (12) 8. Besought (6) 9. Agreement (6) 10. Scrap (7) 12. Bird (5) 15. Poet (5) 16. Thief (7) 18. Foam (6) 20. Animal (6) 22. Barrow-boy (12)

1. Money (8) 2. Remain (4) 3. Vessel (7) 4. Dance (5) 5. Cutting (8) 6. Unite (4) 11. Predict (8) 13. Musical instrument (8) 14. Highest (7) 17. Short (5) 19. Coy (4) 21. Stopper (4)

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The 2013 influenza vaccination is available now, and it’s FREE for people 65+ and children under 18

Influenza is a very serious illness. When you protect yourself, you’re also helping to protect everyone you come in contact with. Take care of your loved ones – get flu strong.

For an influenza vaccination call your General Practice team CDHB/5061/F5

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tRAVEL

THE REAL DIRT

We met Wilf in the lost Gardens of heliGan, that astonishinG Cornish estate WhiCh fell into utter neGleCt after World War 1.

12

By David Hill

W

hen the War began, nearly all of Heligan’s younger gardeners volunteered for active service. Sixteen of them were killed; how appalling.

Suddenly, there was almost nobody left to maintain the garden.

Wilf was the great-grandson of one who survived the War. He began at Heligan during the 1990s, as volunteers slowly cleared away 80 years of neglect. Tenmetre-high trees had filled the ponds, walls had collapsed, and paths vanished.

Now there’s a classic Edwardian English garden once more, famous for its early rhodos and camellias, and Wilf works there.

Wilf was about 1.70m tall and 1.75m wide. He wore an old tweed cap, old tweed trousers and old tweed jacket. He kept touching every plant he showed us; his voice grew soft as he talked about them. You couldn’t imagine Wilf being anything other than a gardener.

He grew prize-winning onions. Fair enough; he was built a bit like an onion himself. He shyly pointed some out to us, along with the other XXOS vegetables watched over by Diggory the Scarecrow.

He showed us Heligan’s century-old

glasshouses and its pineapple bed fuelled by horse manure. He led us to a brick wall part-covered by a sheet of modern Perspex. On the wall are scratched the names of those boys who went off to be killed nearly a hundred years ago. As Wilf ran his big hand over the Perspex, a fair few tissues were fished out of the pockets of our tour group.

We met a lot of Wilfs and a lot of Heligans on our Calder and Lawson tour of The Gardens of England and Holland with Floriade. No, Floriade isn’t a fruit drink; it’s a colossal, once-a-decade, 66-hectare floral exhibition in Eastern Holland.

We met people like Wilf at Keukenhof near Amsterdam, where they showed us blazing tulips in scarlet, gold and deep purple. At the Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn, with its kilometres of clipped yew hedges, so full of arcs and whorls, you felt they could be played like a musical score.

We met them at Sissinghurst in Kent, with its wonderful White Garden of wisteria, roses and carnations. At Somerset’s Cothay Manor, where we found a glorious 70m yew walk, and also found one of horticulture’s ruder owners (“Don't park there! We can see you from the house!”).

journey where the

becomes a destination

Thursday 25 April 2:00 pm at the Air Force Museum, Wigram, Christchurch Tickets $20. Book at www.dashtickets.co.nz or post a cheque to Woolston Brass, PO Box 8187 Christchurch

To take advantage of our special rates for seniors phone us on 0800 802 802 or visit www.interislander.co.nz

The Museum Café is open Stunning views and sublime coffee - two great reasons to relax and unwind in the Café.

Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm (4.00 pm after 1 April) Saturday and Sunday, 9.30 am to 5.00 pm (4.30 pm after 1 April) Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch • Phone 03 366 5000 • www.canterburymuseum.com

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tRAVEL

There was something about these carefully maintained gardens that lures out one's contemplative side.

Garden tours attract a different sort of traveller. People wear sensible shoes.

They walk slowly, contemplatively.

They point a lot, pronounce six-syllable botanical names correctly and get into lengthy conversations with folk like Wilf.

lakes flanking the estate. On one path, I came across a series of striking earth sculptures by contemporary artists, swelling out of the ground in different places. There’s a recumbent giant, a plant maiden and a rearing torso.

Our Heligan Wilf couldn’t be with us for Serving the needs of older people all our visit. He had to go and hoe his onions – and croon to them, I suspect. He directed us to the terrific walking paths that take you all around the woods and

And there’s a massive human head, solid as a rock, studded with grass and ivy, that looks as if it’s grown straight from the earth. It reminded me instantly of Wilf.

Page 5

Page 5 Auckland

Serving the needs of older people Aircycle is proud to support Arthritis New Zealand Page 5

Auckland

Serving the needs of older people

Self Management for Arthritis and Diabetes Chief Executive of Arthritis New Zealand, Sandra Kirby, commented about self- management in the December 2012 edition of Joint Support, the Arthritis members’ newsletter.

She said, “One of the fundamental principles that our Arthritis Educators teach is that of selfmanagement. There is good evidence that for chronic conditions like arthritis that improvement in a person’s quality of life comes from changes in the day to day activities. The people who attend the Living a Healthy Life courses around the country testify to this on a daily basis.”

Although Sandra is referring to arthritis here, the same message is true for other chronic diseases and in particular, diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be very much affected by life style. A good self- management programme, based around improved diet and exercise, often helps improve a person’s quality of life quite remarkably.

Exercise is part of most self management plans for arthritis as well as for diabetes. It helps boost circulation and keep joints moving and muscles strong. Keeping muscles strong is important to help support and protect the joints – particularly knee and hip joints which often give us trouble.

And keeping joints flexible makes movement easier and less painful.

One of the products sold on the Arthritis New Zealand website, www.arthritis.org.nz is a simple self management tool, which enables people to keep their muscles and joints moving and boost their circulation from the comfort of their chair. The Aircycle exerciser is most helpful in wet or cold weather to enable indoor exercise.

For those with joint and mobility problems who are unable to have weight bearing or strenuous activity, it is an easy way to keep those muscles

and joints moving while you sit.

With an Aircycle it is so easy to exercise feet, legs and hands while watching TV, having coffee or chatting on the phone. They feel soft on feet, are washable and carry a 12 month guarantee. They are registered with Medsafe and cost $35 including postage.

Aircycles are available through Arthritis New Zealand who receive $5 from each order.

For more information on the Living a Healthy Life courses run by Arthritis New Zealand or for information about the Aircycle, check out their website.

Exercise painful hands and shoulders too

This action works the calf and thigh muscles and boosts circulation

website www.arthritis.org.nz or phone 0800 663 463 or 04 569 5013.

Aircycles are also available in pharmacies.

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14

Victoria's gold trail Take an hour’s drive west of Melbourne through Victoria’s roly-poly hills and revel in one of the world’s greatest living legacy towns to the 19th century gold rush.

Craigs Royal

By Mike Yardley

B

orn in the romance and turmoil of the 1850s, the world swooped on Ballarat in search of gold after a few ounces were panned at Canadian Creek in 1851. The staggering wealth generated by gold strikes transformed Ballarat within 10 years of the first find, leaving it boasting the grandest collection of bluestone and brick buildings in Australia.

The nearby town of Benigo is also testament to the gold rush but Ballarat is the rock star, with its sumptuous architecture, stately gardens and broad, tree-lined streets. Ballarat’s cultural legacy is also rich, with Mark Twain and Dame Nellie Melba being some of the first star visitors to wax lyrical about the town. For a hearty dose of local history, lose yourself at Sovereign Hill.

This globally-acclaimed attraction is an open-air museum replicating the sights and sounds of gold-fevered Ballarat in the 1850s. Constructed directly over the site of one of its richest mines, you can still pan for gold and hope for riches. The Cobb and Co coach rides are a big drawer as are the magnificent collection of colonial buildings and the street theatre.

The Redcoat Soldiers perform a variety of drills including musket firing. There’s also plenty of family-friendly activities.

Sovereign Hill also hosts the nightly sound and light spectacular, “Blood on the Southern Cross”, which showcases the 1854 Eureka Rebellion that forced the colonial establishment to recognise the rights of miners and gave rise to the birth of democracy in Australia. To complement the show, take a leisurely walk on the Eureka Trail which meanders its way around Ballarat’s historic sites.

You would be hard-pressed to find a more elegant freeze-framed street than Lydiard Street. The central-city street is richly blessed with a procession of beautifully preserved gold rush buildings. Her Majesty’s Theatre, which was built in 1896 and is Australia’s oldest continuously operating purpose-built theatre, is worth a stop.

Green-fingered aficionados will be enthralled by Ballarat’s 40-hectare Botanical Gardens, established in 1858 and configured in classical style. Historic Lydiard Street is crowned with the glory of Australia’s most prestigious gold rush era hotel. Craig’s Royal Hotel has been on the frontlines of much of Ballarat’s history, and certainly at the centre of the city’s social scene. Some of the famous guests to have graced the hotel include Mark Twain, Queen Victoria’s second son, Prince Alfred, the Duke and Duchess

of York (later King George V and Queen with period antiques, art works and Mary), Lord Kitchener, Sir Don Bradman decorative features. With a proud history and Dame Nellie Melba. as Ballarat’s social meeting place, the variety of bars, restaurants and banquet In 1865, the hotel hosted the Shenandoah rooms adds to its charm. The bluestone Ball, organised by the Confederate Navy cellar is a gem, as is the historic bar. who were in town to enlist recruits Be sure to sample the Mediterraneanto fight the American Civil War. The inspired fare that is served in the Gallery current owners, John and Mary Finning, Bistro. A recent innovation is Craig’s have recently completed a painstaking Coffeeshop & Larder, which stocks all renovation of the property, which is manner of gourmet treats and tailorpositively gleaming, gorgeous and made gifts for loved ones back home. faithful to its authentic Victorian roots. Ballarat is rightly proud of its legendary The grand old dame offers 41 luxury establishment. Be sure to experience it rooms, carefully and skilfully furnished for yourself. www.craigsroyal.com.au

Sovereign Hill

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Piece of NZ

Glorious Golden Bay

Golden Bay stretches, in a long languid curve, from the northern end of the Able Tasman National Park to the thin strip of sand dunes known as Farewell Spit. Sharon Davis investigates some of the not-to-bemissed attractions at the northern tip of South Island.

Getting there

• There’s only one road in and out! Access is from Motueka, on State Highway 60 (SH 60). The 35km drive up Takaka Hill meanders through spectacular scenery before descending through Upper Takaka into Takaka township, the main business and shopping centre for Golden Bay. • From Takaka you can head east to Pohara and the northern entrance of the Able Tasman National Park or continue along SH 60, past the beachside settlements of Rangihaeata and Paton’s Rock to Collingwood, Farewell Spit and Wharariki Beach.

Be prepared to fall in love with the splendor of Golden Bay and all it has to offer.

W

ith plenty of sunshine all year round and long stretches of warm beaches, it’s no mystery how Golden Bay got its name. Whether you’re planning to soak up the sun on one of more than 17 fantastic beaches, looking to paddle some of the best sea kayaking territory in New Zealand, thinking of tramping through spectacular scenery, or aiming for an escape with gentler pass times – Golden Bay, one of New Zealand’s most popular holiday destinations, will not disappoint you.

If you fancy stretching your legs a little, call in at the nearby Ngarua Caves for a guided tour through the limestone caves – replete with moa bones and impressive stalactites and stalagmites.

The glorious beaches, punctuated with spectacular granite rock formations, provide a stunning backdrop for active adventure and simple relaxation alike. All you need do is get yourself to Motueka and head out on State Highway 60 (SH 60) towards Takaka. On the way up Takaka Hill, known locally as Marble Mountain, look out for the sign for Riwaka Resurgence. Less popular than the well-known Pupu (Te Waikoropupu) Springs at the top of the hill, the fresh water from the Riwaka River emerges from limestone caves into a crystal clear pool at this tranquil and secluded spot.

It’s worth the short walk to reach the resurgence – and a great place to fill your water bottle with the sweet-tasting spring water.

Don’t miss a trip further along SH 60 – a must for beach aficionados and birders a like. Collingwood is the last town on the road, but Farewell Spit, a thin crescent-shaped strip of sand dunes and an important wildlife and bird reserve, is your destination. Unsupervised access to this important wetland area is limited to a few kilometres at the base of the spit.

The rest of the reserve is closed to the public unless you go on an organised tour – which includes a visit to the lighthouse (built in 1870), a Gannet colony and the opportunity to see the many seabirds that call the spit their home.

As you crest Takaka Hill stop at Harwood’s lookout to enjoy the views of the glacier-carved Takaka Valley, the distant peaks of Kahurangi National Park and the far-off end of Farewell Spit.

The picturesque town of Takaka, with its reputation for a hippie-like artists’ laidback lifestyle, has a number of boutique shops and restaurants that are worth a visit. You’ll find lots of arts and crafts, a museum, and the kids (or youngat-heart adults) can fish for salmon at the Anatoki Salmon Farm.

For those looking for something more sedate, stop off at the Paddlecrab Café.

Relax and soak in the views out towards Farewell Spit and enjoy a tasty lunch.

Another highlight, along a 6km stretch of unsealed road from Puponga, is the remote and wild Wharariki Beach. It’s a 20-minute walk from the car park to the

Quick facts

• The Te Waikoropupu Springs is New Zealand’s largest fresh water spring with a water flow of around 14,000 litres per second.

• Farewell Spit, New Zealand’s longest sand spit, stretches for 35km from Fossil Bay to the entrance of Golden Bay. The spit is about 800 meters wide and made of moving sand dunes.

beach but likely seal sightings, rolling sand dunes, gigantic sea caves and wave-blasted rock formations more than compensate for a little walking.

If you have more time to enjoy this paradise you can head out on the Heaphy Track, visit the Able Tasman Nature Reserve, take a ride with Cape Farewell Horse Treks, try your hand at kayaking or fishing, or head off to explore some of the remote inland valleys. You’re likely to find that Golden Bay’s great weather and breath-taking scenery has the effect of the mythological Siren – it will entice you to return again (and again).

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16

NORFOLK ISLAND

The Pacific’s Best Kept Secret

By John Nimmo

L

ittle more than 90 minutes flying time from Auckland, winterless Norfolk Island beckons to those who love delving into living history, experiencing an island way of life and enjoy immersing themselves in a world of rustic self sufficiency. It has no natural harbour and its lifeline to the outside world is its airstrip, built during World War II. The airport terminal is the hub for almost all comings and goings.

The island’s dimensions are a mere eight kilometres long and five kms wide, and yet it is crisscrossed with approximately 150kms of roads which lead to many and varied places. A freighter calls on a regular basis but is often unable to unload supplies because of sea conditions.

Open lighters are towed out to the ship, standing off in open waters, and incoming goods are lowered to them in large cargo nets. Cruise ships seldom manage to get passengers ashore because the sea state or adverse weather conditions often The prison saltworks conspire to defeat their best intentions. and he established a humane regime Norfolk has a colourful history. There is which provided a positive approach to telltale evidence of Polynesian seafarers the redemption of many prisoners on the having sojourned there between 1150AD island. Sadly, after four years his good and 1450AD. Captain Cook discovered it work was rapidly undone by his successor, and recommended its Norfolk Pines to and soon afterwards Norfolk Island the Royal Navy for its masts and spars penal colony was abandoned. Thirteen and flax bushes for rope manufacture. years later, the overcrowded residents of He also commentated on its fertility. Pitcan Island petitioned Queen Victoria It was little surprise that shortly after for a new home. She granted them the Sydney Town was established that it was right to occupy Norfolk Island. occupied, in 1788, by the military and a group of settlers with a view to providing The gracious Georgian houses along the bay front, much of the jail’s outer walls food for the Sydney settlement. and a number of preserved outbuildings Darker days were to follow. In 1825 it remain intact to this day. The silent was reopened as a place of secondary graveyard contains a plethora of sad and punishment for criminals and quickly tragic tales engraved on its tombstones. earned the reputation as the ‘Hell Hole of It is not hard to relive the prisoners' the Pacific.’ There was little enlightened repression, hopelessness and despair. governance. Eventually, Commandant Alexander Maconochie was appointed The nearby lagoon is warm enough to

Find out how you can support people living with dementia

The Melanesian Mission's Chapel

The prison gateway swim throughout the year and boasts an excellent nine-hole golf course. St Barnabas Chapel seems somewhat out of place at a first glance. It is an inspiring statement of religious intent by the Melanesian Mission. It was built as a memorial to the first bishop of Melanesia, John Patterson, who was martyred in the Solomon Islands in 1871. The Pier Store, a landmark of considerable dimensions, now serves as a museum and the upper level as a beautiful church.

Burnt Pine is the town centre of the island.

One main street, a couple of arcades and a small side avenue are on offer. There are two small national parks, the foreshore, prison complex and elegant Georgian buildings that overlook the world of 19th century criminality below. Rental cars are cheap and petrol reasonably priced.

There are over 100 activities on offer.

Nature abounds on all sides. The restless sea pounding its way into rugged cliffs and foaming the shoreline, sunsets to die for, the enormous Norfolk pines whispering or moaning in the wind and the beauty of so much unspoilt landscape, linger long in the memory. Cows roam free and have the right of the road. On the island there is nothing that will scratch, bite or tear a limb off.

There are no taxes or rates on Norfolk Island, hence it has its share of wealthy tax refugees. However, the Island Government coffers are getting low and the Australian Government has been partially bankrolling its over-run costs. It is making impatient noises about some form of taxations in the near future.

Norfolk Island is an island paradise well worth a visit.

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2011

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INTRODUCING NEW Blackmores alive!

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HEALTH AND BEAUTY

Done, DusteD anD busteD The 12-kilomeTre ‘A run To remember’ is one i cerTAinly remember, or should i sAy, my body hAs.

by Jo Kane

A

s I lined up at the start line with over 2500 other Cantabrians I realised there are no shortcuts when you haven’t done quite enough exercise and are still carrying far too much weight.

But the adrenaline kicked in, as did the competitiveness, much to the surprise of my poor old knees. Straight into the uphill section with the CTV and Mainland Press team and surprisingly, we all jostled for the leader of the pack status. Of course I won but it was only a courtesy as I was the oldest.

There was no doubting what this run was about, especially as we looked down on our beautiful but battered city and remembered the terror and sadness of February 22, 2011. We took the time

to remember our colleagues and how we have worked with our families, our businesses and communities over the last two years. We also laughed at our own failure to train properly as people started to pass us but every now and then we decided to jog for a little bit which was kind of dumb as it really hurt and achieved nothing.

The hardest part of the walk had to be the steep shingle downhill Rapaki Track.

As much as I admire those pioneers for some reason the equilibrium of my body shape (my large boobs) made me tilt forward and walk a lot faster than I wanted to. And herein lays the pain with the huge realisation that I was underdone in my preparation and that would have consequences.

Bladder Weakness?

I can assure you we were all very happy, linked up and sprinted to the finishing line (well, people were watching us!) but the cramp and the tiredness slowly set in. After the refreshments, prize giving and the stories of our mammoth journey more exaggerated by the minute, I took my sorry self home.

Not a lot else was achieved that weekend as my knees were a constant reminder that they weren’t equipped to carry my excess in such a manner. Torturing something equals pain. Despite all the promises, I have reverted back to sloth proportions but when asked to write this update the guilt then set in. So I am going to try the shame game and starting today found another challenge – the Christchurch Airport Marathon in June.

Yes, you read that right, not the half, the Full Mont! Yes, I have a masochistic tendency but the saddest part is I really want to get fit and lose some weight but obviously in a constant state of denial and the excuses are winning the battle.

Last chance for redemption as 'three strikes and you’re out' was always my mantra. Watch this space– again!

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FORWARD 50 march/april 2013

Recipes

Meatball and Roasted Vege Wrap Ideal for picnics or dining al fresco, this tasty wrap is the perfect portable food. Serve with a side salad for a more substantial meal.

Asian Hoki with Udon Noodles A taste of the orient in the comfort of your own home. Full of flavour and with the bonus of an Omega 3 hit this tasty meal is a winner. Recipe

by Nicola Hudson, Photography by Kieran Scott.

Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

500g Quality Mark lean beef mince 1 red capsicum 1 zucchini 1 red onion 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp fresh thyme 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tsp chilli flakes 1 tub hummus 4 wholemeal flat breads 4 tbsp parsley

Ingredients

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

Cut all the capsicum, zucchini and onion into thick slices. Toss them with 1 tbsp of the olive oil and the rosemary. Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper and cook in oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

Place the mince in a bowl and season with thyme, garlic and chilli flakes.

Shape into little meatballs. Heat a frypan to medium with the remaining olive oil and cook the meatballs for five minutes, turning often until golden brown and cooked through.

Warm the flat breads in aluminium foil in the oven for a few minutes. Spread each wrap with two tbsp hummus. Arrange the roasted vegetables on top and then the meatballs. Garnish with parsley and wrap up. Cut in half to serve.

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1x 425g Sealord Simply Natural Hoki Fillets, defrosted and chopped 200g udon noodles 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp garlic, sliced 1 tbsp ginger, sliced 1 cup snow peas, sliced 1 cup red capsicum, sliced 1 tsp chilli, sliced Oyster sauce Coriander Spring onions

Directions

Cook noodles according to packet instructions.

Heat olive oil in a large fry pan over a medium heat.

SautĂŠ the garlic and ginger in the fry pan.

Add chopped Hoki, red capsicum, chilli and snow peas.

Add oyster sauce to taste then toss through udon noodles.

Serve garnished with coriander and spring onions.

Tip: Stir frying is a great way to cook fish. Dust with corn flour beforehand to prevent breaking up.

FORWARD 50

march/april 2013

health and beauty

20

Positively Fabulous 50+

What colour clothes best suit you!

D

on’t you hate going into those fashion stores where all the sales people are girls under 20? They look at you as if you are ancient and should not even be in their store. Personally I find it rather humiliating to be treated as either too old to be there or not to even be acknowledged at all. Luckily I do not have that experience very often as I know exactly what suits me and therefore which fashion stores to go to that make me feel extremely welcome.

Age, like swing-tags on clothes, is just a number. Who cares about numbers anyway? It is how we look and feel that matters! Women today are more attractive, vibrant and youthful than any other time in history. Once we were thought of as old at 40. Now that is the new 20! So that makes 50 the new 30, 60 the new 40 and 70 the new 50! Phew!

Anyway regardless of all of that, we still want to look, feel and be the best we can

be. Quite frankly, it is our right. So with that in mind, over the following issues I am going to share with you my top age-defying secrets that will have you looking and feeling more youthful than ever.

Let’s start off with clothes, with what colour clothes best suit you. Because regardless of what is in fashion, once you know which colours you should be wearing, then it makes shopping so much easier. Sit in front of your mirror without any makeup on. Then drape a piece of white fabric over your shoulders and chest, now look at how your face looks with white against your skin.

Does it make your face look flushed, red, sallow, pale, brighter, or lighter? In other words, do you look better or worse with white near your face?

Now try the same thing with cream fabric. Either the white or the cream will suit you better. No one suits both; it is always one or the other. If you suit white

best then you are considered to be a ‘ c o o l b a s e d person’. If you suit cream best then you are considered to be ‘warm-based'.

If you're 'cool-based' you’ll best suit cool colours such as blues, black, white, pink, red, cobalt, fuchsia, plum, burgundy, charcoal grey, purple, emerald, navy, lavender and mauve. If you are 'warmbased'' you’ll best suit warm colours such as browns, moss green, camel, beige, yellow, mustard, teal, coral, apricot, turquoise, terracotta, salmon, peach, orange, cream and brick.

Does it matter what colour your hair is?

Yes, if you change it dramatically it will change what colours best suit you. If you only change it a few shades then no it won’t. When your hair turns white or grey and you don’t colour it, you need to

Denyse Saunders

do this little test again as it may or may not change which colours best flatter you.

Denyse Saunders Bestselling author of Beautiful You www.denysesaunders.com Award-winning businesswoman Denyse Saunders is 55 years of age. The owner of three successful companies, Denyse has spent her life grooming others for success. Renowned and respected internationally for her outstanding success in the fashion, beauty and modelling industries for three decades, Denyse Saunders’ success is proven.

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FORWARD 50

march/april 2013

gardening

Autumn Rose CARe A

By Hayden Foulds

Blooms, such as this ‘Paddy Stephens’, are smaller but have more vibrant colours in autumn.

utumn with roses in the garden is a case of finishing off one growing season and starting to prepare for the next one. It is also a time to enjoy the blooms on the roses.

There will not be as many as with a spring flush, but they make up for this with more vibrant colours. Continue dead-heading until the end of March then leave for the colourful hips to form. This is a feature often overlooked when growing roses.

The autumn is a good time

to assess the performance of individual roses over the past season. For any that are not up to standard, sometimes shifting them to another part of the garden can give them a new lease on life. However for others they are probably best discarded.

New season’s roses can be ordered from garden centres and also from specialist nurseries via mail order or the internet. It pays to get in early as those varieties new to the market and popular favourites always sell out

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If your medical alarm doesn’t have St John on it, call 0800 50 23 23 and they’ll help you get one that does, or visit www.stjohnmedicalalarm.co.nz

FORWARD 50 march/april 2013

early. Look around public rose gardens in your area to see which varieties are performing the best.

If you are planning on planting some new roses in winter, autumn is the best time to prepare the soil. If replanting into a spot where a rose has grown before, replacing the soil with some from another part of the garden can be beneficial. Add some compost or well rotted animal manure to the hole. For new garden beds, do the same and also add some lime or dolomite lime plus a sprinkling of blood and bone. Do not add any other fertiliser.

Continue to water your roses with a good soaking every few days rather than lighter applications. Also keep the push hoe going to keep the surface loose and the weeds under control.

April and May are also a good time to take cuttings of roses. Select stems that have previously flowered and are about the thickness of a pencil for large roses, smaller

gardening

stems will do for miniature type roses. Cuttings should be 15cms to 20cms in length.

Make a flat cut above a growth eye for the bottom cut and a slanting cut above the top eye, just as you do for winter pruning and remove all the leaves. Plant either into the garden or into containers with sand or pumice and always keep moist. Label and don’t be tempted to take a peak and see if roots have formed.

There will still be some disease around over the autumn months including rust and powdery mildew. If it bothers you and you are into spraying, control with your usual fungicides. Insect pests such as caterpillars and aphids may also be present and these can be controlled with an insecticide.

In May, it is time to start cleaning up around your roses. Hygiene is important as it helps to prevent diseases such as rust and black spot from overwintering. Pick up all fallen leaves and dispose of in the rubbish rather than the compost.

Rose hips provide extra interest in late autumn and into winter.

Rust, characterised by orange spots, can still be present on your roses into the autumn months.

Powdery mildew, characterised by white patches on the leaves, can be present on your roses into the autumn months.

Incorporate lime and blood and bone when preparing new areas for roses but don’t add any other fertiliser.

Don’t change

marriage

We’ve already legislated for civil unions in this country to provide legal equality for same-sex relationships.

There is no need to change marriage.

These sorts of social changes, where no one really thinks about the consequences, have done enough harm in our country already. There are too many liberals, and not enough common sense New Zealanders steering the ship.

Colin Craig Leader of the Conservative Party For a copy of our

free brochure

on this issue, call the office on

(09) 520 2082

or email angela@conservativeparty.org.nz

7

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gardening

24

Friends and Foes Fionna Hill lines up some beneficial flowers.

T

his gallery is a compilation of some insectary plants to attract the good guys to our community garden. We don’t use herbicides and pesticides. We grow beneficial plants that have many roles. Some of these plants will increase pollen and nectar resources required by the natural enemies of harmful or unwanted insect pests as well as assisting in pollination.

The flowers of many umbelliferous plants – coriander, hogweed and dill, shown here - are important food sources for small parasitic wasps, one of the garden’s beneficial insects.

Dahlia ‘Jim’s Passion’ finds favour with insects and bees.

for paSSionate gardenerS & green-fingered beginnerS

Your fortnightly DIY guide

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57 |

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FORWARD 50 march/april 2013

gardening

1. ALYSSUM (Lobularia maritima) is a low-growing annual. It is highly attractive to aphid-eating flower flies and ladybirds.

2. CALIFORNIAN POPPY (Escholzia californica) is attractive to thrips, hoverflies, butterflies, minute pirate bugs and beetles.

3. CLEOME

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

(Cleome spinosa) is a catch crop for green vegetable bugs – and is beautiful to boot. It has fierce thorns, though.

4. CORIANDER (Coriandrum sativum) has white flowers that are an important food source for beneficial insects, especially little parasitic wasps and predatory flies.

Many members of the Apiaceae family are excellent insectary plants.

5. COREOPSIS (Coreopsis grandiflora) has nectar that is loved by bees and butterflies. Ladybirds also like them.

6. COSMOS Like this dwarf one (C. sulphureus), have stunning fire colours. They are useful in the vegetable garden for attracting pollinating insects, as well as hoverflies, big-eyed bugs, flower bugs and lacewings.

7. DILL (Anethum graveolens) attracts hoverflies and also predatory and parasitic wasps. It repels aphids and spider mites. When used as a companion plant, dill draws in many beneficial insects as the umbrellashaped flower heads go to seed.

8. HYSSOP

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VICTORIA UNIVERSITY STUDY TOURS Paris, Provence and the Painters of Modern Life Friday 6 to Friday 27 September 2013

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Spend 9 nights in Paris, 2 in Normandy and 6 in Provence following in the footsteps of artists like Monet & Cezanne. Explore how the mid-19th-century transformation of Paris into the city we know today influenced the development of ‘modern’ art.

Cultural Heritage of Scandinavia WedneSday 3 to thurSday 25 July 2013

Paris, Provence Immerse yourself in the culture and history of Scandinavia on this and the Painters three-week study tour, which takes in the highlights of Denmark, of Modern Life Norway and Sweden. Led by Martin Boswell, the tour will focus on Scandinavian artists, writers and composers and will include visits to the home-museums of Edvard Grieg, Henrik Ibsen and Carl Larsson, among others.

Visit our website for more information or to enrol www.victoria.ac.nz/studytours or phone 04-463 6556.

VMK435/CFLL

(Hyssopus officinalis) is recommended by the Royal Horticultural Society as an excellent attractant and nectar source for beneficial insects as well as bees. It is relished by bees because of the amount of pollen it produces. Butterflies love it too and it will attract the cabbage white butterfly. It can also be used as an insect repellent.

26 news

From roller-rInks to Hollywood

By Cushla Innes

C

elebrity gossip journalist David Hartnell MNZM is perhaps most famous for his celebrity ‘Best Dressed List’ in the New Zealand Woman's Weekly but he says that his 40-year showbiz career really began at the Deluxe Roller-skating Rink in Auckland. “Roller-skating gave me my entree into show business.”

David was fortunate that when he arrived in LA he had two brilliant contacts. One was his dear friend, the late Phyllis Diller. “I met her in 1965 in Sydney, Australia, and she was wonderful.

She knew wonderful people and was very smart; the first female stand-up comedian.” His second fortunate contact was his friend Edith Head, who won eight Academy Awards for her outstanding David’s grandparents introduced costume designs and had many celebrity him to roller-skating at age 10 and he contacts. excelled at it. “I skated seven days a week and represented New Zealand in “I remember on one occasion Edith competitions. Through roller-skating I invited me to her house for lunch and learnt all about makeup and glamorous Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma were outfits. We would do shows and there. Edith insisted they mustn't know performances and I would do everyone’s that I was a journalist so I was introduced makeup. I still keep in touch with my as her friend. Bette Davis was there too skating friends but not with anyone from and the surprise guest was Greta Garbo. school.”

None of them talked about the business, they were just people. It was a wonderful He grew up in a state house in Mt lunch but my only regret was that there Albert and absolutely hated school. “I were no photos. The reason I always was at school during a time when being have my photo taken with celebrities is theatrically minded was an absolute no- to prove that I’ve met them because early no and I was often beaten up for being in my career people just wouldn't believe different. So I left Avondale College at me when I told them.”

15 without any qualifications and that’s when my education really began.”

David says that many people rubbished his career along the David’s experience with roller-skating way, telling him that he couldn't shows led him to Australia where he make a living out of gossip but became the first male makeup artist three recent milestones have in Australasia working in the major proven to him that he chose the department stores. From there he worked right career path. Firstly in 1998, in Hong Kong, New York, Los Angeles he was invited by his peers to and London. “Writing Hollywood gossip become a Patron of the Variety came about because when I did makeup Artists Club of NZ, an honour for people like Elizabeth Taylor my which he takes very seriously. friends would ask me what it was like to Secondly in 2011, his memoirs meet them, so I started writing a column were published and while the for an English newspaper about my book is out of print now, copies experiences with celebrities.” can still be found in the library.

It is a wonderful read with many Hartnell moved to Los Angeles in the outstanding stories of celebrity late 1960s with the aim of writing encounters. And thirdly, he was freelance and providing more celebrity awarded the New Zealand Order news to New Zealand, Australia and the of Merit in the Queen’s Birthday UK. “I rented an apartment where my Honours list in 2011. “That was a neighbours were Betty White, Roseanne total surprise because as far as I'm Barr and Dustin Hoffman. This gave me aware I'm the first gossip columnist opportunities to speak to celebrities and to be presented with this honour. once I told them I was from New Zealand I’ve written about entertainment they would happily chat away. I think for most of my life and to be they saw me as a bit of a novelty.” acknowledged for my contribution is wonderful.”

David says that what was truly extraordinary about interviewing Now at 69, David keeps himself busy celebrities in those days was that they writing for a website called GrownUps. would invite him into their homes. “It’s one of the best websites out, all free He interviewed Jackie Collins, Betty and they have an extraordinary array of White, Eva Gabor and Lucille Ball at people who contribute. I write a weekly their houses, “and often while I was column and they give me free reign.” He interviewing them a celebrity friend of also prepares the New Zealand Woman's theirs would visit and I would gain a new Weekly celebrity trivia quiz each week. contact”.

David says he doesn’t spend much time

David wearing his gong received in 2011.

Phyllis Diller pictured with David and his partner of 20 years, Somboon Khansuk.

Pictured in Phyllis's Brentwood home in LA. in Los Angeles these days because he can easily work from New Zealand. “I have my little black book and I can get in touch with the right people when I need to.” While these are his only jobs at the moment he recognises that in the world of freelance writing something more will crop up soon.

He has no plans to retire because he loves what he does and despite his awards and exciting celebrity experiences he says he really hasn’t changed from his roller-skating days. “In fact I still have my roller-skates to remind me of those wonderful times. I couldn’t bear to part with them.”

Many women being treated for osteoporosis may not be getting the protection from fractures that they need.

If you’ve been prescribed a tablet but find that you are missing doses, or struggling to take as directed, your bones may not be getting the protection they need.

Aclasta removes the problems of missed tablets because a single treatment will help protect your bones from fractures for an entire year.

If this sounds like you, ask your doctor about Aclasta.

Aclasta is a 15-30 minute infusion you have yearly that goes directly to your bones to make them stronger. It helps prevent fractures in your hip, spine and other bones.

Aclasta is fully funded for most people at risk of osteoporosis, which means that you will not have to pay for the medicine. However, a doctor’s fee and treatment (infusion) fees will apply.

So if you keep forgetting to take your tablets, or worry that you are not taking them correctly, ask your doctor if Aclasta is right for you.

Aclasta® is a prescription medicine for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis and the treatment of Paget’s disease of the bone. Aclasta is an infusion and contains 5mg of zoledronic acid. It is important to have an Aclasta infusion each year to ensure you get maximum treatment benefit. Check with your doctor to see if Aclasta is right for you. Aclasta is fully funded for patients who meet specified criteria. Funding does not include the cost of infusion and normal doctors and prescription charges will apply. Do not use if you are pregnant, breast feeding, have kidney impairment, have low calcium levels in your blood, or if you are allergic to zoledronic acid or any of the ingredients in Aclasta or any other bisphosphonate medicine. Not recommended for children and adolescents. Caution while under dental treatment or if dental treatment is planned. Calcium, hydration status and kidney function may be assessed by your doctor before and after you are given Aclasta. Adverse effects are usually mild and transient. Common side effects are flu-like symptoms consisting of fever, fatigue, chills, and bone, joint, and/or muscle pain; anaemia; headache; dizziness, transient low blood calcium; gastrointestinal symptoms, renal impairment, breathing difficulty and lethargy. Very rarely osteonecrosis of the jaw has been reported. If symptoms persist or you have side effects see your doctor.

Aclasta is the registered trademark of Novartis AG. Novartis New Zealand Limited, Auckland. For further information check the Consumer Medicine Information [CMI] at www.medsafe.govt.nz. ACL 0712-189-0714. TAPS CH3379.

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