La Vita Autumn 2016 by jo dempsey

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AUTUMN 2016

A W H A K A TĀ N E F O C U S W H O I N V I T E S A L L N E W Z E A L A N D E R S TO J O I N I N

$9.95

Your editor gets you ready for

AN EASTER FEAST

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elcome to the Autumn 2016 issue of La Vita.

For me, autumn is always a time of introspection. The Christmas festivities and the balmy days of summer are behind us, and we have settled into the rhythm of the year. I’ve had the time to take a deep breath and look back over the amazing journey that led to La Vita being launched. The response has been overwhelming - and the best part is that I finally got to hold the very first edition of La Vita in my hands! Here in the southern hemisphere, Easter is also celebrated during this season. The Italian household that I grew up in celebrated Easter with ‘amore’ (love), and there are some dishes that will, for me, forever be associated with this holiday. Easter for my house hold is just as important as

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Virginia Jeeves Christmas - it’s a time to gather my family together. In this issue you will find some of my favourite Easter Day recipes - it’s my privilege to share them with you! Buon appetito! I hope you enjoy this issue of La Vita!

24 Editor : Virginia Jeeves Creative Director : Jo Dempsey Creative Writer : Stephanie Holloway Photography : Jane Photography Whakatane Graphics : Chanelle Diverse Graphics Proof Reader : Karla Hammond Sales & Marketing Proof Reader : Lisa Badger

TOP EVENT PICKS WHAKATĀNE MARCH

Live music ‘Carnivorous Plant Society’

Find out more at whakatane.com

Described as a Mexican fantasy band the Carnivorous Plant Society brings drama and fun to their live performances. Venue: Gateway Drive Theatre, 30 Gateway Drive, Whakatāne Time: 7:30pm Cost: Students: $15 - Adults: $20

Stand-up Paddle Board Festival

This new SUP event reflects the Eastern Bay style…relaxed and fun. Categories range from novice to masters, with the premier event held on Sunday. Venue: Port Ōhope Store and Otao Reserve Time: 10am

Venue: Maraetōtara Reserve, Ōhope Time: 9am

ARTHOUSE Market

Whakatāne Society of Arts and Crafts sells only quality, locally handproduced art & craft. Venue: Short Street, Whakatāne TIme: 10am

Jimi Jackson – Keeping it Real Tour

Social media legend, Jimi Jackson returns for his second round of laughs. This time around he’s delivering some of his real life stories and bringing some crazy laughs to continue his run of being the “people’s comedian”. Venue: The Boiler Room, Whakatāne Time: 8pm Cost: $30

APRIL

4-7

National Left-Handed Golf Tournament Come and check out the action at one of NZ’S best links courses.

www.ohopegolf.co.nz Venue: Ōhope International Golf Course

Watch all the action at Ōhope. From Masters through to NZ representatives; surf boat crews to beach sprinters. These NZ championships will see almost 1400 athletes compete over four days. Venue: Whakatāne Surf Club, Mahy Reserve, Ōhope

Te Hui Ahurei o Tūhoe MARCH 25 – 27

Podium Ōhope Express

Run or walk 5, 10 or 21.1km on a picturesque flat and fast road course at NZ’s Most Loved Beach. www.ohopeexpress.co.nz

MARCH 17 – 20

Mataatua Kawenga Kakahu Wearable Fashion Show

Bring a blanket and enjoy an afternoon of fashion, culture and entertainment. Venue: Mataatua Te Mānuka Tūtahi, 105 Muriwai Drive, Whakatāne Time: 10am Cost: Gold coin donation

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National Surf Lifesaving Championships

Tūhoe holds the largest Māori cultural and Wild Food Festival in NZ. Enjoy a weekend of live music, original Māori action songs, battle of the bands, language debates and Tūhoe Rugby challenge to name a few! www.ngaituhoe.iwi.nz Venue: Ruatoki Valley

Oxfam Trailwalker APRIL 2–3

Challenge yourself and challenge poverty. Put together a team to walk 50km or 100km and fundraise to support Oxfam’s important work in the Pacific region. www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.nz Time: Saturday 6am till Sunday 6pm

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Whakatāne to welcome thousands of event visitors Two of this year’s biggest events take place within two weeks of each other and will bring more than 5000 visitors to our District. Let’s give them all a warm Whakatāne welcome and make the most of this chance to showcase out little piece of paradise! This is also a great chance for our local businesses to welcome new customers, so check the event schedules and see how you can become a part of these fantastic events.

Oxfam Trailwalker comes to Whakatāne After 10 years in Taupō, Oxfam Trailwalker is heading to a new home in sunny Whakatāne. More than 2500 people will take part in the event on 2 and 3 April 2016, as either participants, supporters or volunteers, and the new trail will take in the best of the Eastern Bay of Plenty region. Nicola Smallwood, Oxfam’s Operations Coordinator, says that, “For the first time ever in New Zealand there are two distance options, either 100km in 36 hours or 50km in 18 hours. The course traverses beach and harbour trails, farmland and forestry tracks, and the result is sure to keep walkers happy with its diverse

mix of landscapes. Smallwood says that money raised by teams taking part in Oxfam Trailwalker has lasting impact on the lives of people struggling in the Pacific. The event is part of an international series held in 11 countries, with the Whakatāne event beginning and ending at the Mataatua Reserve, traversing Ōhope Beach and Ōhiwa Harbour, the Whakatāne hills, Tāneatua, and the Whakatāne River in between. For more information visit: oxfamtrailwalker.org.nz. Follow the event on Twitter or Instagram with #otwnz or on Facebook facebook.com/ oxfamtrailwalkernz

Left to right, Zeb Stone and Nicola Smallwood of Oxfam New Zealand and Casey Box of Whakatāne District Council celebrate finishing the mapping of the new course.

Surf Lifesaving Nationals Return The New Zealand National Surf Lifesaving Championships return to Ōhope from Tursday 17 march to Sunday 20 March 2016. The pinnacle event for this sport’s season sees Masters (over 30s) through to NZ representatives, surf boat crews and sprinters competing in a great event right here on our favourite beach. Steve O’Connor of the Whakatāne Surf Lifesaving Club says it is always an honour to host the Nationals and was looking forward to having the event back in Ōhope. “This will be the fourth time we have hosted the event in the last eight years or so,” he says, “and it is a great four days not only for the sport in general but also for our District. We are expecting around 1500 competitors this year, and combine that with officials and spectators and we are looking at around 3000 people being a part of it.” The Whakatāne Surf Lifesaving Club celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2008 and Mr O’Connor says that while the club is going strong with over 80 senior members and 200 juniors they were always looking for new members to join up. “It is a great community service,” he says, “but it is also a great way to boost your fitness and general wellbeing as well as learning some important social and life skills.” Anyone wanting more information on the Club or wanting to help out at the National Championships could contact Steve O’Connor on 027 499 5183 of find the Whakatāne Surf Lifesaving Club on Facebook.

Steve O’Connor, centre, with Campbell Reid, left, and Courtney Moir, right.

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WORK, PLAY & STAY ON THE BEACHFRONT Are you looking for a venue with a difference. Book early and be rewarded! Hold your conference or event with us between June and August 2016 and receive 25% off venue hire for booking ahead. Enclosed by 5 acres of beautiful, tranquil park like settings, you will ďŹ nd your only disturbance the sound of the waves rolling in on New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite beach. We are located at Ohope Beach on the edge of the Ohiwa Harbour, just 15 minutes from central Whakatane and only 25 minutes from the Whakatane airport.

For bookings or enquiries please call or email today surfandsand.co.nz | venue@surfandsand.co.nz | (07) 312 4460 * Valid only for new bookings and must be booked by 31st May 2016. Subject to availability.

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Make your own Mozzarella cheese! We always start our Easter with antipasto. It goes without saying. It’s very easy to prepare and anyone can put one together - but have you ever made your own Mozzarella (bocconcini) cheese to go with it? Well then … this will be sure to impress! It takes a little to master, but it doesn’t have to be perfect - it will taste the same no matter what shape it turns out to be. I have taught cheese making for years and this recipe was one that my mother Rosa taught me to make. When she came to New Zealand, she taught lots of Italian ladies how to make this cheese, and also showed a young cheese maker in Wellington how to make it - he ended up with gold medals at the awards! All you need is a little practice. 1 bag rock salt 2 L water 2 L full cream milk (silver top) 1 tsp citric acid 15 ml Renco Rennet One large glass dish that can go into the Microwave

VIRGINIA JEEVES

Method First you will need to make the broth, as this will flavour the cheese. Mix 2L of water with one cup of rock salt and reduce down until the salt has dissolved. Allow to cool completely before cheese making. In a large glass dish, place the full cream milk with 1 tsp of citric acid, stir well and place in the microwave for 6 minutes (on High).

Italian Cooking Classes are back! Whakatane & Tauranga - with La Vita’s Editor Virginia Jeeves. Starting April 2016

BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW! Register your interest by e-mail virginia@cucinaamore.co.nz or phone 0800 LAVITA

Remove from microwave and stir in the Renco. Place back into the microwave for one minute. When you remove the mixture from the microwave you will see the milk is now firm. With a wooden spoon carefully place the cheese in a colander and remove all the excess liquid. Then place back into the microwave for another minute. When you remove it again drain all excess liquid. You now have cheese. Place the cheese back into the glass dish and pour over a small amount of boiling water. With the back of a wooden spoon start to work the cheese so that it forms a shiny coat. Press the cheese up against the dish and fold over; repeat this process several times. Form a ball or a bread roll shape. Place in the salty water for 30 minutes. Remove and serve. This cheese will last only a few days in the fridge - until it turns a yellow colour. The older, yellow-coloured cheese is still okay to use for pizza topping.

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VIRGINIA JEEVES Berry Delight Tart by Virginia Jeeves Ever wondered what to do with that leftover pastry and the few frozen berries that are sitting abandoned in the freezer? Here is what I do. This recipe is so easy you could make it with your eyes closed; it looks impressive and it tastes even better! (You can use fresh or frozen berries). If you have fresh berries chop and place in a container, soak in some red wine icing sugar ¼ of a cup leave overnight in the fridge. This is your topping. The next day, before placing on the cake, drain excess liquid. If you have frozen berries you will need ¼ cup white sugar - place berry/sugar mix into a saucepan on the stove top and reduce down until nice and thick. Leave this mixture in the fridge overnight before placing onto the tart.

Ingredients 1 sheet sweet pastry 1 cup of frozen or fresh berries ¼ cup of icing sugar for fresh berries ¼ cup of white sugar for frozen berries ¼ cup of red wine for fresh berries Add amount of sugar needed for fresh berries to cook Lisa is the same amount of sugar see above Method Heat oven to 180 ° C. Bake the pastry sheet until golden. Make up your favourite custard recipe and pour over the top of the pastry. Once cooled place your berries on top, dust with icing sugar and serve! That easy! It looks impressive and will surely impress your guests!

Roast lamb slowed cooked with Marsala wine by Virginia Jeeves

3 large garlic cloves 1 cup of Marsala wine salt and pepper

This is where I love to mix Kiwi and Italian - we start off with a few Italian traditions and also bring some Kiwi traditions to the table on Easter Day. Roast lamb slowed cooked in Marsala wine - It might sound odd but the end result is divine. It comes out sticky and full of flavour. You can find Marsala at most bottle shops or specialty food stores around NZ. Ingredients 1 large Kiwi lamb roast 1 handful of rosemary

Method Pre-heat oven to 160 ° C, dress the lamb roast with rosemary and garlic, season with salt and pepper. Place in a large roasting dish and pour over the Marsala. Slow cook the lamb brushing with Marsala over every half hour. If you see the Marsala start to evaporate add a little more. Once the lamb is cooked to your liking remove and serve, pouring over any excess juices.

Casatiello by Virginia Jeeves Casatiello is a savoury-filled Neapolitan Easter bread. It is symbolises faith. The word Casatiello derives from case, which in Neapolitan dialect means “cheese”. The rising dough means the promise of new life. The shape of the bread symbolises a crown, and the eggs mean rebirth. There are many variations of this stuffed bread, and it is one of those heirloom recipes not usually made at home anymore; Neapolitans are likely to buy it at their local bakery. My sister has a bakery in Italy and they sell hundreds at Easter time. The following recipe is her husband’s original recipe which has been passed down through the generations. Ingredients 1 kg flour 200 g lard 400 ml water 20 g salt 1 tsp pepper

50 g yeast 80 g salami - cubed 80 g bacon - cubed 50 g cheddar cheese – grated? 50 g parmesan cheese – grated? 50 g ham - cubed 4 eggs Method Dissolve the yeast in the water. Add the yeast to flour, lard, salt and pepper. Stir and knead. Once you have a nice soft dough, let it rise for 1 hour. After 1 hour roll out the dough until to a 1cm thickness and sprinkle over all sliced salami, bacon, cheddar, parmesan, and ham. Roll into a tube, form the tube into a circle and put into a buttered tin Make a hole in the dough and add the eggs. For decoration purposes roll out 8 stripes of dough to cover the eggs. Bake Casatiello at 180 ° C for 40 to 60 minutes.

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New Stand Up Paddle Board event for Ōhope

New Zealand’s Best Loved Beach – Ōhope – is to become the venue for a brand new Stand Up Paddle Boarding Festival on 12/13 March 2016. Hosted by the Ōhope/Ōpōtiki SUP Club and the Port Ōhope General Store and Cafe, it will feature both flat water and surf events at Ōhope and Ōhiwa Harbour and organiser Greig Dean says there is something for everyone. “We have divisions for men and women, and categories for over 40, 45, 55 and 65 years of age as well as a Novice event for those new to the sport”. Mr Dean first started a windsurfing school in Ōhope thirty years ago so he knows the waters well and believes the combination of the beach and harbour is world class. “It is unique here in that we have a pristine harbour - described as the Bay's ‘jewel in the crown’ just 60 metres from New Zealand's Best Loved Beach, so we have the best of both worlds, both flat water and surf. SUP is the world’s fastest growing water sport and the great thing about it is that it is accessible to all ages. You can go at your own pace and it just involves a board and paddle.” The premier event of the Festival will be the Howan Trophy which has been created by the Ōhope/Ōpōtiki SUP Club. A team relay event, taking place on Saturday on Ōhiwa Harbour, six person teams representing clubs from around New Zealand will race for the coveted trophy. “In addition to the individual, relay and novice events on Saturday," says Mr Dean, "a combination flat water and surf event is scheduled for Sunday with the Port Ōhope General Store and Cafe putting up $1500 in prize money over the weekend.” For further information contact Greig Dean on 021 711 500 or find them on Facebook, enquiries can also be made to Port Ōhope General Store and Cafe, 311 Harbour Road.

Club pe/Opotiki SUP Hosted by Oho pe ho O Port Otao Reserve, ion from: More informat fé eral Store & Ca Port Ohope Gen 711 500 Greig Dean 021 eneral Port-Ohope-G é af -C nd -a re -Sto entbrite.co.nz Tickets from Ev

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Born to Fish I’m sure that I was ‘born to fish’! When I am out fishing with my Poppa I am very happy.

Meet Marley Orr, one of Whakatane Sport fishing Clubs youngest catch.

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A new approach to pharmacy Meet Katarina – a pharmacist taking on new challenges If you have ever wondered what happened to Super Woman, wonder no more - she is alive and kicking in Whakatane and goes by the name of Katarina Ngamoki! ‘Sitting still’ is a term that Katarina, pharmacist and owner of Ohope Beach Pharmacy and Kawerau Medical Centre Pharmacy, does not relate to. With unbridled energy, and always on the lookout for a new challenge, Katarina dived in headfirst and bought Ohope Beach Pharmacy when it came up for sale. A new challenge it certainly was for the then 30 year old Katarina, who had never owned a business, and was a new mum to one year old Te Raina. This endeavour obviously didn’t faze Katarina, as a month later she said “yes”, when the opportunity arose to establish a new pharmacy in Kawerau. Katarina says that everything just seemed to happen at lightning speed. Almost two years on, Katarina now has another daughter, Rareka (9 months old), and successfully divides her time between her home, her family, and her businesses in Kawerau and Ohope. So…how, I ask, does she do it?

Katarina, husband Rob, and their daughters Te Raina and Rareka.

Katarina is quick to tell me that her partner - a bushman turned stay-athome Dad - Rob’s commitment to their family has enabled her to follow her dreams. Rob’s presence has given Katarina the flexibility to manage her responsibilities outside of her family life. She also implicitly trusts her intuition. If something feels like the right decision to Katarina, she has resolute faith that she will find a way to make it work, and she believes that if you are passionate about something (as she most definitely is with her work) you will succeed. Katarina’s upbringing on the coast, in a beautiful little village called Omaio. has had a very positive impact on her ability to find balance and thrive in a lifestyle that would overwhelm most of us. Her whanau (who she considers to be anyone involved in her life and with her family) is extremely supportive, she knows who she is and where she comes from, and questioning herself is not part of the equation. Having grown up in an environment that nurtured respect for individuals and the importance of relationships with the wider community, spending time talking to people is an integral part of Katarina’s life, and this belief system is borne out in her approach to

people who visit her pharmacies. One of her favourite aspects of the work she does is to get to know her customers, to chat with them, to inform them, and to accord them the ability to make choices that are right for their lifestyle. She has a very different approach to healthcare - there is more emphasis on the personal – “…it’s about looking at the overall picture and not just at the script; that’s why my staff are very involved in all of our patients’ healthcare needs and requirements”. Katarina smiles – a lot – and this obviously has a contagious effect, as her staff do the same, and although they never compromise their professionalism, they can often be caught singing. The locals have even started to refer to Katarina and her staff as ‘The Happy Team’. This atmosphere, for someone who has had a horrible day, or is feeling miserable, must be so refreshing. Although this remarkable woman is difficult to describe with only a few words, if I had to pick just one it would be ‘authentic’. When you visit one of Katarina’s pharmacies you won’t find an impersonal, clinical environment. What you will find is a great selection of NZ made and natural products, awesome advice, long chats and a friendly staff who know your name, and who, if you time it right, just might be singing…

YOUR PHARMACY IN THE HEART OF THE STRAND

Open for your holiday shopping

- Sunscreens, Hats, Estee Lauder, Fine Fragrance, Elizabeth Arden, Prescriptions, Medicines, and a great range of gift ideas HOURS: MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8.30AM - 5PM | SATURDAY 9AM - 2PM

Life Pharmacy Whakatane, 183 The Strand, Whakatane (07) 308 6988 w359st488450-15

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As we move closer to Easter, for me it conjures up the thoughts and images of the special feasts which are celebrated with awesome style, enthusiasm and flair in Italy.

As delighted children, we would crowd around in the kitchen helping Mum and Nonna create our contribution to the community meals. The sense of family, sharing, the laughter (and sometimes the yelling when we didn’t do what we were told!) brings some of the Italian sense of family to reality.

Within each small village the Churches and lanes are decorated, parades are held throughout the streets and there is such a wonderful sense of community, love and festivities – It’s an atmosphere which is almost incomprehensible to the average New Zealander. It brings a feeling of joy, friendship and togetherness, yet it’s not frenetic or crazy – There is a jubilance of care and compassion… and of course the knowledge of plentiful food, mouthwatering tastes and special dolci (desserts or sweets). In the 1970’s Island Bay (Wellington) was a mini village of migrant Italians. While I was growing up every feast or special occasion was looked forward to with great anticipation of the special foods that only got baked once or twice a year.

There was the Torte Caprese (Almond Tart), Torta di crema (Pizza) Italian custard pie, Sfogliatelle (kind of like a custard filled turnover), cannoli (crème filled brandy snap shaped dessert), Deliziose – Cream filled biscuit sandwich wrapped in nuts, and of course Zeppola (our potato based doughnuts). The older I got, the stronger my love of traditional family food became… in so much that I told my wife that she needed to start learning how to cook like my Mum. As you can imagine that went down like a ton of bricks, with my lovely wife telling me that as I was the Italian one I needed to learn!!! The seed was sown and now just on twenty years later I love Italian cooking, making my own mozzarella and sharing my favourite sweet taste of Italy with you all!

Easter Introduction Special 1kg* Small Original Doughnuts with chocolate sauce *Approx 80 doughnuts

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Great, handmade Children’s clothing available for all ages. Available from Ohope Beach Pharmacy 262 Pohutukawa Ave Ohope Whakatane, New Zealand Ph. 07 312 4250

Mr & Mrs Rabbit Ceramic Egg Cups The perfect Easter gift Available from The Good Life Whakatane 196 The Strand, Whakatane Ph. 07 307 2374

DKNY Tried, Tested, and Trusted! Fashion watches of the world! Exclusive to Jewelz 128 The Strand, Whakatane Ph. 07 307 8156

Spoil yourself with some of New Zealand top designers Need I say more? Available from Capiz 180 The Strand, Whakatane Ph. 07 308 8081

Keep healthy all year round with Olive forte Oliva forte “enchant” contains powerful antioxidant polyphenols . Helps to promote skin health and acts as a barrier against the sun Available from Life Pharmacy Whakatane 183 The Strand, Whakatane 3120 Ph. 07 308 6988

Keep that summer glow all year round with Bondi Sands. Our top seller, non-streak, look lush golden tan then get your hands on bondi. Available from Life Pharmacy Whakatane 183 The Strand, Whakatane 3120 Ph. 07 308 6988

Mondays Journal $16 Duskies Eco Eyewear $180 Toms Leather Paseo High Tops $155 Status Anxiety Leather Wallet $110 Available from Navy and Coral Ltd 88 The Strand, Whakatane Ph. 021 022 11258, www.navyandcoral.co.nz

Handmade Belgian Chocolates Available from Scilla Chocolates Ph. 0800 724 552 www.scillachocolates.co.nz

Looking for that something special? Come and see some of what New Zealand has to offer. Available from Sea Breeze Souvenirs 103 The Strand, Whakatane Ph. 07 308 4629 www.seabreezesouvenirs.co.nz

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Team Opus takes on GODZone Pursuit When I was asked to join a group of guys to do GODZone Pursuit my immediate reaction was “YES DEFINITELY”. What a fabulous opportunity. It’s one of those things to tick off the bucket list. I have been called crazy and maybe I am, but for someone who loves the outdoors and adventure, this is the ultimate event to do. GODZone Pursuit is one of two GODZone categories. It is a 3 – 6 day adventure race that covers approximately 400 kilometres. Included in the race is kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking and trekking but may include other disciplines. Next year’s GODZone will be hosted in Tasman with the start and finish at Kaiteriteri Beach – the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park. The Pursuit is an event designed for beginner adventure racers however it is not shy of the big mountains and rivers and will certainly be challenging for all participants. As we are all first time GODZone participants, this was the best option for us. Being competitors from the Bay of Plenty we are very lucky to have such an amazing back yard to train in. We have recently cycled up the Motu Road and down the Pakahi Track – an incredible and picturesque track. It is a great day out training and an enjoyable track to ride. For those who aren’t training so hard a shuttle can be taken up to the top to avoid the big hill climbs. Last weekend we headed over to Rotorua to the Redwoods. We spent 4 hours cycling up and down the trails. What a fabulous day out and the downhill trails are plenty of fun. We came across hundreds of people doing the same thing. Many of them were taking a shuttle up to the top and cycling down before jumping back on the shuttle again. A great day out for all walks of life and a fabulous asset to Rotorua. We have also spent some time on the Whakatane River recently to get some kayaking

training in. This discipline is the one we are least experienced in and we look forward to developing our skills both in flat and white water. We are very lucky to have these GEM sites to train in. If you see us out there, give us a “Hi” and a “Keep it up”. Also any tips would be greatly received. We are first timers just getting out there and giving it a go. We would like to acknowledge Opus our main sponsor and Brady Drainage, also a very generous sponsor.

Fresh and frozen berries Open everyday Oct – March On the Tauranga to Whakatane Highway

generous sponsors and all those who participated to make our very first Food Festival such a success! We are already planning some exciting new events for 2017.

Watch this space! We also sell fresh strawberries and raspberries in season, a range of blueberry products, natural fruit ice-creams, and fresh baking and coﬀee daily.

www.blueberrycorner.co.nz

Hui Bar & Grill Unique ambiance, Great location, Live music, Delicious food and private functions. Open for Breakfast, Lunch, Tapa’s & Dinner, Cocktails, Functions, Birthdays, Drinks, Live Music. A 19 Pohutukawa Ave, Whakatāne T 07 312 5623 W huibarandgrill.com E huibarandgrill@yahoo.com facebook.com/HuiBarandGrill

THANK YOU To our community, our very

Thank you for supporting Hospice EBOP's nursing and support services in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

www.sunshineandaplate.nz

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Stiletto cupcakes

BIANCA’S BLOG

I hope you had a great Christmas and enjoyed the first issue of La Vita! Did any of you make the Christmas Fruit Tree?

Take a look at these cupcakes we made. Great for the school holidays...Even the boys love eating them!

Method Cut a wee insert on the cupcake so that you can slide the Sponge finger in.

Let me introduce my friends - on the left is Kylah, Bailee is in the middle, and then there is me, Bianca, on the right.

Use your favourite cupcake recipe to make the cupcakes, and then use the following to finish them:

This is a photograph of us at Christmas time; we had heaps of fun and enjoyed the sun.

Ingredients icing of your choice food colouring sprinkles Sponge fingers for the in-step - you will find these at the supermarket by the delicatessen. Chocolate sticks - you can find these at K-mart (they come in a big tin).

Decide how high you would like the heel to be and cut your chocolate sticks accordingly. At the back, and near the top of the Sponge finger, use a spoon to make a round circle to insert the chocolate stick into (see photograph).

When we get together we sometime have ‘high tea parties’ under the trees (or underneath the trampoline if it’s too hot). We eat cupcakes and we love dressing up for the occasion!

You need to press the chocolate stick into the hole so it that will sit flush on the board to balance the shoe. Once you have done this set it aside and decorate your cupcakes. Then decorate the in-step - this is the sponge finger. Once it is dry, slide it into the cupcake and then add your heel!

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SAY IT OUT LOUD Deception. Some of us fear it for the potential havoc it can wreak on our lives. Some of us embrace it – seeing not black or white, but instead, a never ending shade of grey. For those of us in-between, or those of us that believe we are an honest person…I have news for you. The average person lies 9-10 times a day! Sure, we tell ourselves that they are ‘white lies’, and in essence this is what defines a lie – intent. For those that tell a white lie to protect someone’s feelings, protect themselves, or protect someone in a dangerous situation, breathe easy, you are in the

majority. To be considered a lie, the deception must be intentional, it must seek from the outset to deceive, and therein lies the difference. The important thing to remember with deception – like all forms of body language - is that it involves an emotion, and there are usually tell-tale signs that it is happening. There may be physical attributes such as a flushed face or an increase in breathing rate. There are usually ‘leaked’ emotions which manifest themselves in ‘manipulators’, where the person touches their head, hair, or face more often than usual, or uncharacteristically. The slower the body language becomes, the larger the lie may be.

STEPHANIE HOLLOWAY

Some people believe that if you look up to the left or right it signifies a lie – I believe that this is more likely to be a remembrance gesture.

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Women’s Posture New research published by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) suggests that women whose heads lean forward are most likely to be currently suffering from back or neck pain (58%), followed by those with an excessively arched lower back (56%). Women whose heads lean forward are also the most likely to suffer from back or neck pain ‘every day’ (29%). Those with a flat back were the least likely to have experienced pain, with 21 % having remained pain-free. Posture has also been shown to have an effect on many other areas of health and wellbeing beyond symptoms of pain such as mood, energy levels, self-confidence, range of motion, and change in the release of stress hormones. Poor posture can also negatively impact on job prospects, decision making, work productivity and other areas of life. The BCA research reveals that the

average age women start to suffer from back or neck pain is 34 years, meaning that your twenties are a key time for poor posture to really take hold and cause issues. The New Zealand Chiropractor’s Association (NZCA) is concerned that women especially are suffering unnecessarily, with poor posture now appearing to have taken over from large breasts and overall weight issues as the most common cause of spinal problems. The NZCA is promoting an international programme of simple stretches and exercises, designed to improve posture and help prevent back pain by enhancing balance, strength and flexibility of the spine. Straighten Up New Zealand is an easy and enjoyable every day programme to improve spinal health and posture. Consisting of a set of simple exercises and taking just three minutes to complete, these will help improve posture, stabilise core muscle groups, enhance health and prevent spinal disability. Think of it as daily spinal hygiene just like brushing your teeth benefits oral health. For details visit

Welcome to Seabreeze Souvenir & Tourist Boutique. Come and see our impressive and attractively displayed quality gifts and souvenirs for all occasions and budget. We have an extensive range of bone carvings and greenstone plus a huge range of art, paua, jewellery, possum wool knitwear, local maori carvings, T shirts/sweatshirts, native wooden gifts and more. We will gift wrap and mail purchases to anywhere worldwide. Proudly owned by a born and bred New Zealander.

103 The Strand, Whakatane Tel 07 308 4629 View and buy in our online website www.seabreezesouvenirs.co.nz

DAVID OWEN Koru Chiropractic Clinic Whakatāne http://www.straightenup.org.nz. A regular check-up by your chiropractor will also help keep your spinal movement, nervous system function and posture at its best.

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Why Homeopathy Makes Sense and works The underlying principle of homeopathy is also at the heart of modern physiology. It is commonly understood in medicine today that symptoms are not just something “wrong” with the body, but rather, they represent the efforts of the body and mind to defend and heal itself. The body creates fever, inflammation, pain, discharge, or whatever is necessary in order to heal itself. While these symptoms represent the body’s best efforts to heal, they are not always successful in doing so. Ultimately, homeopathic medicines are some of the most powerful natural drugs available today to help augment the body’s ability to heal itself. The word “symptom” comes from a Greek root and refers to “something that falls together with something else.” Symptoms are a “sign” or a “signal” of something else, and treating them doesn’t necessarily change that “something else.” Just because a drug gets rid of a symptom does not mean

body, it makes less sense to use drugs that inhibit or suppress this wisdom of the body. Instead of using drugs to suppress symptoms, it makes sense to use medicines to strengthen the body’s own defense system so that the body can more effectively heal itself. Here is where it makes sense to use homeopathic medicines. Brought to you by Opotiki Homeopathy www.opotikihomeopathy.com

that the person is cured. In fact, drugs that suppress or inhibit a symptom tend to provide only a guise of success and usually lead to a longer and more serious illness. Using drugs to suppress symptoms is akin to pulling the plug on your car’s oil pressure warning light. Just because the light is turned off doesn’t mean that your car’s oil pressure is “cured.” Once one recognizes that symptoms are important and useful defenses of the

This column is reproduced with permission of Dana Ullman MPH, who TIME magazine described as “the Leading Proselytizer of Homeopathy” and ABC News touted as “Homeopathy’s Foremost Spokesman.” For the whole article: https://www.homeopathic. com/Articles/Introduction_to_ Homeopathy/A_Great_Introductory_ Article_for_Advocates_O.html

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Roller derby for all walks of life Whakatane Roller Derby League (WRDL) has been rolling around (excuse the pun) the Whakatane War Memorial Hall since 2012, and has grown from humble beginnings into a successful powerhouse boasting a ranking of 5th overall in the nationally recognised ranking charts.

The team is made up of women from all walks of life: mothers, wives, business owners, retail workers; you could be waiting in line for a prescription at the pharmacy completely unaware you’re being served by one of WRDL’s finest. 2016 is WRDL’s year: the upcoming season is the largest, highest grade and the most exciting yet with Whakatane set to take on the strongest teams in the country. Not only will the women of WRDL face off against NZ’s top team Richter City (from Wellington), they are also Aussie

bound - set to take on big name Australian teams in the 2016 Great Southern Slam held in Adelaide in June. This massive year will begin with a large scale season opener, as the Auckland Roller Derby League leaves the Big Smoke and rolls into town (yes, another). The bout will be held at the Whakatane War Memorial Hall on the 5th of March, with all welcome to support Whakatane with voices, signs and applause. If you haven’t seen a roller derby game before, this is definitely one to cut your teeth on. So, how can you get involved? If you’re interested in being involved in any capacity, WRDL has got a place for you! WRDL invites you to their open days held for four weeks from the 6th of March These days offer the opportunity

to throw on a pair of skates (possibly for the first time in decades!) and most likely look like Bambi on ice - but don’t fret, that’s how everyone begins! The league members will be available to discuss the ins and outs of the sport and answer any questions you have. WRDL Open Days and Intake Dates: 6/13/20/27 March Skater Intake begins April 3rd 2016 Photo: Kristy Barker of Kristy Barker Photography

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