Nelson Magazine - March 2023

Head over the hill

Binge on the Fringe

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During the first lockdown I was living in Brightwater and did what many others did during those six weeks – I walked. It was on those walks that I discovered the Ernest Rutherford Memorial. I grew up in Nelson, so of course had heard of Rutherford – it’s a hard name to avoid, there are streets, buildings, awards and more named after the man. I knew the basics of why his face was on our $100 note, but I didn’t know that along with being a scientific superstar, he also was a champion of women’s rights and a handy rugby player.

So, when local writer Alistair Hughes pitched the idea of a profile on Nelson’s most extraordinary person I thought it would be a great chance to remind ourselves what he achieved, and why he was so important to our young city in the early 20th century and his legacy on his place of birth.

Of course, Rutherford is far from the only notable Nelsonian. Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Bill Rowling both served as Prime Minister, Toss Wollaston delighted thousands with his incredible paintings, Rod Dixon showed a generation of Nelsonians that we can complete on the highest sporting stage, Dame Suzie Moncrieff took an idea from the Spring Grove Hall to world-wide recognition, and over recent years we’ve produced our fair share

But Rutherford sits above them all as a global change-maker.

I hope you enjoy the article, along with the rest of our magazine

EDITOR

Sarah Board | editor@nelsonmag.co.nz

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Tessa Jaine | tess@topsouthmedia.co.nz

DESIGN

Kara-Shay Manson, Patrick Connor and Kylie Owens

CONTRIBUTORS

Adrienne Matthews, Alistair Hughes, Britt Coker, Judene Edgar, Amy Russ, Matt Lawrey, Mackenzie Charleton, Ray Salisbury

ADVERTISING

Kirsten Ammann | kirsten@topsouthmedia.co.nz

Kara-Shay Manson | kara@topsouthmedia.co.nz

PUBLISHER

Top South Media

563 Main Rd, Stoke topsouthmedia.co.nz

issuu.com/nelsonweekly

Binge on the Fringe

Head over the hill

Wharariki Beach, Golden Bay Pages 68-78

Sarah Watson

Pic Picot! He changed the peanut butter game forever. Now lots of brands are trying to do what he started. Pic’s peanut butter is an absolute icon of NZ.

Who do you think is Nelson’s most notable Nelsonian?

Paul Williams, the comedian. He probably won’t recognise me, but I went to the same school as him.

Has to be Minuit a local electronic band from Nelson formed in 1998, awesome!

Thomas Cawthron. He’s contributed massively to Nelson’s infrastructure, historic places and developments in science.

We have three copies of Be Your Best Self to give away. Local author Rebekah Ballagh shares brilliant exercises, tips and practical strategies to help people transform the way they see themselves and create lifelong change.

To be into win, send your best photo to editor@nelsonmag.co.nz.

Congratulations to Simon Barnett who won nine 950ml tubs of Appleby Farms frozen yoghurt.

Bridget Crouchley

Bobby Nijssen

Jess Van Arendonk

Peter Kinane

Pakawau, Golden Bay.

Simon Barnett.

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Headliners

What made news in our region...

A masterplan for Māpua

Māpua’s future will be more streamlined with the creation of a masterplan for the town. The masterplan combines five separate plans for Māpua, consolidating both the work of council staff and community and iwi consultation. “It’s about pulling together all of these projects,” says TDC project manager of environmental policy Anna McKenzie. “The idea is that we effectively coordinate this, and decision-making is cohesive for Māpua.” A steering committee will oversee the development of the masterplan which will include extensive community consultation and recommending a final plan for adoption by council.

Service animals remembered

A new memorial dedicated to the animals who were lost in battle was unveiled at Marsden Valley Cemetery last month on Purple Poppy Day. The annual day acknowledges the animals that served alongside our men and women, during times of war. During World War I alone, 16 million animals, including horses, pigeons, cats and dogs, were deployed with eight million perishing in the conflict. Nelson RSA’s Brian Ramsey says, “we want this project to be able to go on through the generations to acknowledge the animals.”

Haere mai Nelson

Two new bilingual signs now welcome travellers to Nelson. The new signs, reading ‘Welcome to Nelson –Haere mai ki Whakatū’ have replaced the older signs which only included the Māori welcome. The change was requested by Mayor Nick Smith following his election last year. “I was concerned that as a tourist destination with very few international or national visitors being proficient in te reo Māori, the welcome signs needed to be in both official languages of New Zealand,” he says.

Raymond makes Rough Island home

‘Raymond’ the stingray is still very much at home in the estuary next to Rough Island. Sightings of the stingray were first reported to Tasman District Council in January after he entered the water reservoir in the Rough Island area. He was spotted recently still swimming around his Rough Island pond. The Department of Conservation and TDC continue to monitor the situation with a view to helping him relocate back to open water, however, for now there are no immediate concerns for Raymond’s welfare, infact, he appears to love his new home.

The race to retirement

The baby boomer generation and out-of-towners are beginning to put pressure on the region’s retirement villages and Nelsonians are being warned they need to get their name on a waiting list. With Nelson being a popular place to retire it is becoming increasingly important to plan in advance for those wanting to live in a village as they age. Ernest Rutherford Retirement Village has a two-year wait for some of its accommodation, while some of the designs at Nelson’s Coastal View Lifestyle Village have a waiting time of a few years.

Our Treasure Island super fan

Nelson has one of our own to support on screen in TVNZ’s Treasure Island: Fans vs Faves. Nelson super fan Dave Ward, aka Wardie, says he was in tears when he got the call to say he would be one of the 16 contestants competing in Fiji for the hit show. After watching Survivor for years and applying several times to be on it, getting the news was a dream come true for the Nelson dad of two. With filming now finished, Wardie is back in Nelson, although must remain tightlipped about what the outcome of the show is, as it is streaming now.

Things we love

The once under-utilised Branford Park in Nelson is being revitalised with the instalment of a new 18-basket disc golf course. The course is taking shape through the park and will add to Nelson’s collection of top disc golfing locations. Exciting times ahead for the sport that is growing in popularity in the Nelson Tasman region.

“(I

have) broken the machine and touched the ghost of matter.”

If I could...

If I could swap lives with someone, it would be.. David Attenborough. I grew up watching “Our World” and was in awe of his bravery and knowledge. He has seen more of the earth than almost any human, and has encountered so many species it boggles the mind. Imagine how many creatures he has seen in the flesh that do not even exist anymore. If we are swapping lives, I would undoubtably be getting the best deal. Poor David… he would at least end up in a life where he wouldn’t need to leave the house to find some incredible ecosystems forming.

If I could spend a day with anyone, it would be..

My mum, Robyne O’Rourke, who is the same age as David Attenborough and who also has the best life stories and an incredibly positive outlook on life. She was born and raised in Motueka, but has lived in Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Foxton Beach (exotic, right?), Dunedin, Christchurch and Timaru. In her working life she was a teacher, but when she retired she became a Buddhist Monk based in Taiwan and Malaysia. She is 86 now and back in Motueka. Mum’s life has been actionpacked, and she hasn’t run out of stories to tell me yet. Mum has set the bar high on a life full of great yarns.

If I could only eat one meal for the rest of my life it would be..

Are you serious?! Who would EVER want to do that? I am a total foodie. I have taught myself to cook over the years by trying out at least three new recipes a week. The recipes for the week ahead are chosen at random on a Sunday night, from three shelves of recipe books in my kitchen. So, one night it might be Indian Pakora, the next Pad Thai, the next German Potato Salad (best potato salad ever, by the way) and the next night I could be using Dame Alison Holst’s 1966 recipe for Soused Trout. And you want me to imagine eating just one meal for the rest of my life?! I will never surrender!

If I could tell my younger self one thing it would be..

Never stop singing, never stop dancing, never stop talking to strangers.

If I could only take one thing to a desert island, it would be..

My large lollipop lilo. I have a ridiculous love of pool inflatables. My current collection includes a sloth, a donut, a giant turtle and an enormous lollipop. I would take the large lollipop lilo to the desert island so it could double as an airbed (no one likes to wake up with sand stuck to their face or coral sticking into their back!). It could double as a shade sail (to protect my pale and easily sunburnt Celtic skin from the desert island sun), work as a collector of rainwater (for drinking and bathing) and, of course, for riding in style to the neighbouring island for happy hour!

If I could donate $1m to any charity it would be..

That’s easy! Age Concern Nelson Tasman. There is no doubt that “older people” are our future. The world is changing fast and our increasing numbers of older people (that’s you and I one day, by the way) are going to need more support than ever before to navigate the changes. Age Concern is a notfor-profit organisation who help older people with everything from helping to stay tech savvy, to staying connected to our community (not isolated or lonely), staying safe from elder abuse or scams and so much more. I worked for Age Concern a few years back and was jaw-dropped to discover that Age Concern wasn’t fully funded by the government. One million is a drop in the bucket really, but if I had it to give, it could get Age Concern a step closer to being sustainable for all of us to benefit from as we age.

If I could have any job, it would be…

The job I have now at Coastal View Lifestyle Village, but with a side hustle making a TV/online docuseries about retirement in New Zealand. I would love to share so many of the stories that I have seen and heard from our over 65’s. I went on a roadie once talking to retirees living the gypsy life in campers and buses in New Zealand. It is years later, and their stories still make me laugh or have my jaw hitting the floor when I think of them. That group of adventurers alone is waiting for their own TV show. I would love to make that happen.

Breffni O’Rourke, salesperson at Coastal View Lifestyle Village and budding actress, shares with us her love of lilos, David Attenborough, her mum Robyne, and dreams of starting a docuseries.

Tessa Jaine

Particle Lord: The importance of being Ernest

A portrait of Sir Ernest Rutherford taken by a photographer from Herbert photograph studios. Alexander Turnbull Library.

Ernest Rutherford is Nelson's most accomplished person. From his early years in a Brightwater farmhouse to the top of the scientific world, Ernest lived a life that made his hometown proud. Alistair Hughes takes a look at 'Ern's' miraculous life.

At primary school, two great Kiwi heroes were always impressed upon our young minds with patriotic fervour. Astonishingly, neither were All Blacks, but both had rural beginnings and were given unassuming names beginning with ‘E’, as they began their long journeys toward embedding New Zealand in the awareness of the rest of the world.

The spectacular accomplishment of Sir Edmund Hillary was easy for us to grasp; ‘conquering’ the world’s highest mountain immediately conjured exciting and heroic images. But the achievements of Ernest Lord Rutherford seemed far more esoteric. Being confidently told that he was the first man to ‘split the atom’ certainly sounded important. A statue in Shanghai depicting a very muscular and golden man, (wearing only a moustache), resolutely forcing a giant atomic sphere apart might be close to what we tried to imagine. Or even the equally literal banner from 1923 showing a burly arm wielding a tomahawk about to cleave an innocent glowing orb cowering on an anvil.

Today Ernest Rutherford is known more simply and accurately as the ‘Father of Nuclear Physics’. He was the first to understand and prove that atoms, (named after the greek word for ‘uncuttable’), were themselves made of even smaller particles within a nucleus.

On later putting his revelation to the test, (the famous ‘splitting’), where he transmuted nitrogen into oxygen by bombarding and fissuring its nucleus with alpha particles, Rutherford was quoted as exclaiming: “(I have) broken the machine and touched the ghost of matter.”

Ern, as he was familiarly known, was born the fourth of twelve children near Brightwater, in 1871. Unlike most children, when Rutherford received his first school science book it didn’t remain in his desk, but the actively-minded boy quickly put the experiments within its pages into practice. He was soon found dismantling and reassembling the family clock, or outside during a thunderstorm calculating the distance from the storm centre by counting between thunderclaps. A statue of him as a very young schoolboy, with this book tucked under one arm, stands at Brightwater today.

On turning eleven, his family moved to Havelock and he received further education in a small schoolhouse with over ninety other children. The converted building still exists now, with hopefully less occupants crammed inside, at the Rutherford Backpackers hostel.

Rutherford excelled at school, but his family were financially unable to help the promising young researcher continue his education. However, winning a student scholarship, (on second attempt), allowed him to board at Nelson College for the next three years.

In wonderfully typical Kiwi fashion, he not only became Dux, but also played for the First XV Rugby team.

Another scholarship allowed Rutherford to further his studies at university in Christchurch in 1890. This was an especially busy time in the young man’s life. His mathematical ability granted him an honours year, which enabled Rutherford to develop his reputation as an outstanding researcher in the new field of electromagnetism.

But his continuing education apparently extended beyond the laboratory. During this period he boarded with the young woman who he would later marry, Mary Newton. Mary’s mother was secretary of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, which played a crucial role in New Zealand becoming the first country in the world to grant women the vote in 1893.

Rutherford had come from a family of six sisters and a schoolteacher mother. In the year that he had won his University scholarship four of the other nine nation recipients were women, and he studied with them in an academic environment which had always fostered gender equality.

In years to come he was to mentor several women research assistants. Eventually campaigning for England’s stuffily entrenched Cambridge University to afford the same equal rights to women which he had experienced back home, this ‘great booming bear of a man’ and former First XV player also proved himself to be a pioneering feminist.

At 23, Rutherford left New Zealand in 1895 with three university degrees and a science scholarship which

LORD OF THE AT M

Ernest Rutherford grew up in rural New Zealand in the late 1800s, progressing from the first XV to such lasting scientific achievement that Einstein called him “a second Newton”.

The ancient Greeks believed that all matter was composed of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms (meaning ‘cannot be cut’). More than two thousand years later a rurally raised New Zealander, now known as “the Father of nuclear physics”, proved that this fundamental building block was itself made up of even tinier particles –establishing the atomic model (electrons orbiting a dense nucleus) which we all know today.

Years after Rutherford was awarded the Nobel Prize came the achievement for which he is most recognised. Knocking particles out of the atomic nucleus of nitrogen, he converted it into an isotope of oxygen. Scientific alchemy had been achieved by “splitting the atom”.

The young Rutherford enrolled at Havelock School in 1873. The building has been preserved as the Rutherford Backpackers hostel.

(Alistair Hughes)

In choosing his coat of arms, Rutherford utilised New Zealand elements. The motto means “To seek the first principles of things”.

Ernest Rutherford is born at Spring Grove, near Nelson. He was the fourth of 12 children of James and Martha Rutherford.

Attending university in Christchurch, the young Rutherford first met his future wife Mary Newton, the daughter of his suffragette landlady. (Supplied)

Rutherford attends the University of New Zealand at Canterbury College on a junior scholarship, where he meets his future wife Mary Newton and graduates with double first-class honours in maths and physics.

The Rutherford family move to Havelock, Marlborough, where Ernest attends school before being awarded a scholarship to Nelson College.

Rutherford accepts Professorship of Physics at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and marries Mary.

After some postgraduate research, Rutherford wins a scholarship to the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, England. He begins his research into radioactivity.

The statue of young Ernest Rutherford (‘Ern’), in Brightwater. Stolen in 2022, the memorial was quickly recovered by local police and returned. (Alistair Hughes)

As New Zealand’s greatest scientist, Rutherford’s face adorns our most valuable bank note, the $100 bill.

Rutherford gave a highly successful speaking tour when he visited New Zealand in 1925.

(Alistair Hughes)

Made Head of Physics at Manchester University, Rutherford generously mentors many younger scientists.

Rutherford’s reputation grows and he is appointed DSc at the University of New Zealand, becoming ‘Dr Rutherford’.

His research leads to the concept of the atomic nucleus, and the ‘Rutherford model of the atom’ is born.

Rutherford becomes the first New Zealander to be awarded the Nobel Prize (in chemistry) for his investigations into radioactivity.

He is raised to the peerage, becoming Lord Rutherford of Nelson, and insists on a New Zealand title and imagery in his coat of arms.

Knighted in 1914, Sir Ernest Rutherford ‘splits the atom’, causing a nitrogen atom to emit a proton and transmute into an isotope of oxygen atom.

The’ Father of Nuclear Physics’ dies on October 19, in Cambridge. His ashes are interred at Westminster Abbey.

1911: Rutherford (back, left) in distinguished company, including Albert Einstein (far right) and Marie Curie. (Alexander Turnbull Library PAColl-6238-32)

enabled him to work as a research assistant at Trinity College, Cambridge. Using the magnetic detector he had invented as a student to set the world distance record for radio wave transmission, Rutherford’s abilities were quickly recognised. Turning to the study of radiation, Rutherford established that there were different forms which he named after letters of the Greek alphabet. So even Marvel comics owes our most famous scientist a debt for their legendary green, gamma-irradiated character, the Hulk. Offered a professorship in Montreal, Canada, it was here that his further work into the nature of radiation and the atomic transformation of heavy elements led to world recognition and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. But more importantly, before taking up his post in Canada, Rutherford first came home to New Zealand and married his student sweetheart, Mary.

Eventually returning to Britain in 1907, the nowacclaimed world changer was on something of a roll, inventing a device for the measurement of radioactivity with his assistant Hans Geiger, (which would lead to the famous Geiger counter), and developing his groundbreaking model of the atom. Becoming director of the Cavendish Laboratories where his own career had begun, he was widely acknowledged as an inspiring and generous leader. With further discoveries, honours began firing at him like his own experimental charged particles. Knighted in 1914, he was then awarded the Order of Merit a decade later. When made Baron Rutherford of Nelson in 1931, Lord Rutherford ensured his coat of arms included a kiwi and a Māori warrior in its design. But it is important to note that, like fellow Kiwi Edmund Hillary, he remained the humble and honest man he had always been. Conscientiously ensuring that his assistants always received due credit, he mentored and guided many future famous scientists towards their own successes. Remaining active until the end, the former New Zealand farm boy, who the New York Times called “the leading explorer of the vast, infinitely complex universe within the atom,” passed away suddenly after gardening at his weekend cottage in 1937.

It was his ‘everyman’ relatability amidst the sometimes abstract achievements which award winning children’s author Maria Gill wanted to highlight in her new book Ernest Rutherford: Just an Ordinary Boy.

“I could see there was a great underlying message within Ernest’s life story about not giving up on your dreams. I wanted readers to realise he was just an ordinary kid like them, who worked hard to get where he ended up and persevered even when he encountered ‘roadblocks’.”

Maria’s book, a richly illustrated retelling for younger readers, launched at the beginning of the month at the Christchurch Arts Centre. She recounts that this is also where the project began: “I was lucky enough to get an Arts Centre residency and to immerse myself in the Rutherford Den Museum, soaking up the atmosphere where Ernest Rutherford went to university. His story came easily, it just flowed from my fingers.”

Ernest Rutherford: Just an Ordinary Boy, Upstart Press. RRP 24.99

To be into win one of two copies of this book email editor@nelsonmag.co.nz

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His happy place

We can all relate to hatching bold plans at one time or another. Then they fall away. No one holds us to them, not even ourselves. But this is a story of a guy who had an ambitious idea that he followed through with and lived to tell the tale. In a book that he wrote. Britt Coker got the scoop.

Have you ever gone to a restaurant where one of the waiting staff told you that you had a nice arse? Me neither. But in Denver, Colorado, there was a guy who said it regularly to the customers in a diner where he worked. One of the other staff finally pulled him aside, curious to know the logic behind his brazen compliments. Was he hoping for bigger tips? Nope. Turns out he was a just a Kiwi guy with a funny accent. Sweet Ass. Sweet As. And what was Hap Cameron doing in Denver anyway? The answer once would have been ‘not anything for very long.’ For nine years he worked dozens of jobs and visited 34 countries across all seven continents. It’s in our Down Under DNA to travel the world when we’re young, but Hap had taken this plan one step further. His global travels were at the heart of a challenge, that sprung from a challenge.

Hap had a conventional life growing up in Richmond. Australia was the first country he worked in, aside from here, doing a summer job during university break. The seasonal job sucked, but not being in another country. “I remember just loving that experience. No one knew who I was, and everything was new and I just really loved that kind of feeling. I came back to my third year at Otago Uni with this edge to see the rest of the world. I thought, if I loved Australia so much, imagine what the rest of the world would be like?”

Hap scratched the idea of a postgrad diploma and once his final year at Otago was complete, he found himself on the quintessential New Zealand adventure of self-transformation, Outward Bound. A component of the Anakiwa programme is a 3-day solo stint in the New Zealand bush. Quiet panicking out the way, what do you fill the rest of your time with? Thinking. In Hap’s case, he hatched a plan which was to be the focus of the next nine years of his life and shape the decade that followed them. He was going to live and work in all seven continents before his 30th birthday. "It's expected [in New Zealand] that you're going to finish high school or uni and then go travel, whereas in America it's kind of frowned upon. In New Zealand it's very much encouraged, and I think that's really special and I hope we can hold on to that because I think that travel helps you grow as a person and gives you more perspective and just makes you a better person.”

“I worked a total of 32 different jobs ranging from being a dive master in Thailand to a volunteer in an orphanage in Mexico, to working oil rigs in Canada, to teaching English in Korea. My favourite one was in the Outback of Australia. I was a field assistant doing exploration in the mines. Sleeping under the stars, cooking on the campfires each night, that was one of my favourite jobs.”

Richmond man Hap Cameron is now living in Colorado and has opened two Happy Cone Co stores selling real fruit berry ice cream.

1. Entering Zimbabwe after cycling 2500km unsupported through Southern Africa. 2. Filming in Namibia for his Bikes for Africa documentary. 3. Traveling his favourite country Brazil. 4. Taking a break from cycling with Zambian locals. 5. Celebrating arriving in Antarctica.

Not surprisingly, Antarctica was the hardest place to get a job. He applied for years to do basic cleaning jobs on most of the bases. In the end, he went to the end. In the city of Ushuaia at the very bottom of Argentina, he spent a month trying to get work on a pole-bound ship. Eventually he got word of a job on a small cruise ship through a friend of a friend. Seeking an experienced silver service waiter (definitely not him) necessitated a slight tweak to his CV (don’t try this at home) and a small sacrifice for his sins (his hair).

“I loved my dreadlocks but I ran to the barbershop and had them cut off and I went from being this dreadlocked hippy to the next day being this six-star waiter in a tuxedo penguin suit. But that was the worst job because I've never had any experience and it was like 6-star service, so I remember lining up in the front of the dining hall with my little white gloves and suit thinking oh sh*t, we're going out to sea for 2 1/2 weeks. I’ve never been shouted at so much in all my life.”

Finally, on the 11th of the 11th 2011, Hap achieved what he’d set out to do. The pinnacle celebration was quite fittingly, on a pinnacle. Mt Kilimanjaro. All the places, all the people, the highs and lows, the interesting, tedious, challenging, wonderful jobs. Now he was all set to celebrate the milestone achievement and enter his thirties on top of the highest view in Africa. He gazed at the world from the mountain top and felt… nothing.

“What should have been this amazing moment that I had worked towards for nine years, I was just buried, like depressed and lost. I didn't know what was next for me because all of a sudden this thing that had given me direction in my life had gone away and I didn't know what I was going to do next. And also, my identity was Hap Working The World (his book title), who am I going to be now? So I went into depression.”

“I always say our hardest moments are our best teachers. I definitely learned a lot at that point. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with things and what I need to stay in a positive mindset, and to this day, if red flags pop up, I need to get back to what I know. All those little things that we know we should be doing, but having gone through that, yeah, it was an eye opener for me.”

On the upside, one of the people he met on his travels was his future wife, Amanda. Their fortuitous meeting in Mexico is the reason he settled nine years ago in her hometown of Denver. In that time, Amanda gave birth to their two daughters and Hap gave birth to an idea. Real fruit berry ice cream. Not a new idea to us Nelson folk since we can bathe in melted berry ice cream every summer if we want to. But in the States, it’s a rarity. It was a passing comment on a trip back home that got him thinking. He was visiting friends, Dennis and Pip, who were long time berry orchardists who also make an ice cream machine called the Little Jem.

“They said to me, ‘all the Americans love this’, and that was the first light bulb moment. So I was thinking about it and I got to Denver and I realised they don’t have this kind of ice cream here and I’m like, alright, I'm going to bring it over and start an ice cream truck and sell this real fruit ice cream - which I later rebranded as New Zealand-style ice cream.”

Hap started selling his ice cream at fairs and festivals, kitting out a short bus with his Little Jem. Orderly queues soon formed as people gathered to get some New Zealand-style ice cream from Happy Cones Co. Just as Dennis and Pip had said, the American customers loved the taste of the creamy ice cream with the real berry fruit. So much so that Hap has since opened two Happy Cone Co stores in Denver with flavours that include hokey pokey and orange chocolate chip. It wasn’t a seamless expansion. Covid lockdowns were a massive challenge financially, but they managed to get through it. And now, that’s it for a while.

“I lost money the first year and I'm like, holy sh*t, what have I done. It’s been a challenging last three years with opening two shops through a pandemic and now I want to enjoy the fruits of my labour, spend time with my family the next couple of years, and after that see how I feel, maybe another shop, but for now just appreciate what I have.”

Hap by the way, is short for Happy, and very occasionally, he goes by Mark. Obviously, with a nickname like Happy he was a bundle of joy and pleasure before he could walk. Wait, that’s not it. He was a grizzly babe with a good-humoured father who gave him the moniker as a joke. As it transpires, the joke name lasted longer than the miserable temperament and although being happy is quite a thing to live up to, the adult version of Hap Cameron turns out to have a natural aptitude for it, especially when he’s making ice cream for people. The Happy Cones philosophy is Everyone Leaves Happier, him included. It’s his happy place, and maybe yours too. Hap is keen for some real Kiwi staff to go with the real Kiwi ice cream during the busy summer months.

“I'd love to be able to give some Nelsonians the same experience I had travelling around the world. To bring them over here and give them an experience of living here in Colorado. It's the coolest place as well and would just be so awesome to have that Kiwi sound and it gives me a bit of a connection back to Nelson as well, which I cherish.”

So email him if you’re interested. And if you happen to be someone who makes it behind a Happy Cones counter, by all means, amuse them with your gidday mates and yeah nah, no worries, but – and this is totally up to you - you might want to keep your sweet as to yourself.

hap@happyconesco.com

Monarchs of the skies

Seeing a Monarch butterfly is a sure-fire way to bring a smile to anyone lucky enough to see it. But for a small but dedicated group of hobbyists, breeding the butterflies is much more rewarding, as Adrienne Matthews discovers.

Monarch butterflies with their vibrant orange wings laced with black are a favourite of gardeners the world over. Not only do they feed on nectar to gather up energy to lay eggs and create new generations, they are an important part of the ecosystem, pollinating plants as they go.

They are the most recognised and studied butterfly anywhere and have been lauded in literature and music throughout history, not only for their beauty but their extraordinary flying powers.

Unlike the North America Monarchs who are famous for their migrations of three to four weeks from the Canadian/USA border to Mexico where they overwinter, many of the last of the season generation of New Zealand Monarchs find places close to home to spend the winter months.

Washbourn Gardens, Isel Park and the Queens Gardens are some of the many places that provide safe havens, as one of New Zealand’s major butterfly breeders, Ian Knight, explains.

Ian began breeding the butterflies over fifteen years ago when his youngest daughter told him about the release of butterflies at a wedding she

was conducting. Finding only one major breeder in the country, he researched what was required and constructed a lean-to on his and wife Jill’s house to begin the process himself. This soon morphed into a major venture with a number of tunnel houses built to manage every stage of the butterflies’ development, protecting them from the Asian paper wasp which is their biggest predator here and the South African praying mantis.

“Critical to our success was the production of large numbers of the Monarch’s specific food source, Asclepiadoideae, commonly called milkweed,” he says. Whereas there are many different varieties of the plant in the Americas, thought to be where the Monarch butterfly originated, New Zealand only has the swan plant and the tropical version Asclepias curassavica.

“The great thing about swan plants is that even when they have been stripped of leaves, in three to four weeks they will sprout again so it is vital not to pull them out,” says Ian. “If you have a continuous supply you can keep up to five generations of butterflies breeding in a season. You need to keep up a planting regime as well. With each female able to lay up to four hundred eggs you can run out of food

Tessa Jaine

very fast. Fortunately, the plants are very easy to grow and the seed from one pod will provide enough plants for a suburban garden.”

Covid put an end to the demand for Ian’s butterflyfor-ceremonies business but with a great love for the creatures he still raises many hundreds a year. “I get out into the tunnel houses in the morning when the sun is just up. The butterflies are waking up and starting to fly around and I say to myself ‘that is why I do this,’” he says.

Fortunately, many people in the region have become passionate about raising Monarchs. Gabi Bedufurtig in Atawhai first heard about the damage Asian paper wasps were doing to butterfly populations seven years ago and decided she had to do something to help. “I started with a small netted area over a group of potted swan plants, and as the plants spread throughout the garden along with an array of mosquito nets.”

Four years into the project her partner Norbert Hennings built a butterfly house for her birthday. “I was so excited,” she says. “It was a proper sanctuary safe from predators and it has raised beds so I am

Helping Monarch butterflies to flourish

Robin Cooper who lives in Tāhunanui is one of New Zealand’s experts on Monarch butterflies.

Paper wasps

“The best way to eradicate Asian paper wasps is to spray their nests in the evening when the worker wasps have come home,” he says. “Always be careful as, although they normally won’t harm you, the nests have a guard wasp which will go for you and can provide a nasty sting.”

Feeding the caterpillars

Never feed them anything except milkweed (swan plant and Asclepias curassavica). There is a common message often spread that it is okay to feed them pumpkin. It is definitely NOT safe for them. It causes deformity as the butterfly is developing, and usually death.

Feeding the butterflies

Butterflies need an abundance of nectar to feed on in the few weeks before they lay their eggs. Examples of favourite flowers are those of the swan plants, alyssum, dahlias, echinacea, marigolds, zinnias and marigolds. Most flowers that bees enjoy, butterflies will as well.

able to plant many swan plants and am not so reliant on the ones in pots. Monarchs are in decline the world over due to predators and the loss of habitats,” she says. “We try to be good to nature here and look after our corner of the world. To get them to the stage where I can let them go is something very special. I still can’t believe that out of that tiny little egg the whole process that evolves creates these beautiful butterflies.”

Mike Evans in Tāhunanui was at one stage the largest breeder of Monarchs in the region and raised up to three thousand a year. “It was a fantastic experience,” he says. “It was a huge commitment. When you are growing large numbers, you can get disease outbreaks. There are twelve diseases Monarchs can get and only three you can identify with the eye, so you have to be on the ball and quick to deal with any outbreak.”

Aphids are a major problem for swan plants, but some years ago the biocontrol Aphidius parasitic wasp became available from Bioforce in Auckland. “They are well established now in the Tāhunanui

1 & 4. Monarchs emerging. 2. A Monarch caterpillar. 3. Gabi Bedurftig in her Dodsons Valley butterfly house.

Ian Knight on the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly

The eggs are laid on the swan plant leaves where they remain for two weeks.

The eggs hatch into caterpillars. Over a two-week period, they grow from 1mm to around 50mm, consuming large amounts of food. The caterpillars grow so fast they can shed their skins up to five times before they reach the chrysalis stage.

The chrysalis forms – these can be seen hanging and are initially green. Within the chrysalis the caterpillar completely dissolves into a goop before a butterfly begins to form. This takes two weeks.

The chrysalis then changes colour to a dark brown and the butterfly emerges. The butterfly then feeds on nectar from flowers before mating and laying eggs so the whole process can begin again.

area at least,” says Mike, where there are a number of people raising the butterflies successfully.

Gabi, on the other hand, spends an hour each evening in her butterfly sanctuary, squashing by hand the bright orange aphids and washing the plants down.

Gail Devangh Farah breeds Monarchs in Golden Bay. “I started during the Covid lockdowns,” she says. “I saw the first butterfly hatch on a neighbour’s plant and it was so amazing I just had to do it myself. I started with three swan plants and it has grown from there.”

She now releases around three hundred Monarchs a year on a suburban section near the beach at Pohara.

“As soon as I see eggs on the swan plants in the garden, I put them in the butterfly castles that I purchased from the Moths and Butterflies Trust of NZ,” she says. The four castles stand over a metre tall and are covered with fine netting. “I pop the swan plants in and the caterpillars can munch away undisturbed until they hang on the top as chrysalises. When they hatch I release them into the garden.”

“I have never seen so many butterflies as this year. For the first time I brought the castles inside during the winter so they weren’t exposed to any frost and had a head start as soon as the warm weather came.”

“The biggest problem I have had raising the Monarchs, apart from the predators which included hedgehogs, has been getting enough spray-free swan plants,” she says. “You have to be so careful that the plants you buy have not been sprayed or they will kill the caterpillars.”

Raising the butterflies in Nelson has become a passion for those of all ages. Betty Salter at eightyfive has loved them since she was a child. “My garden is a jungle of swan plants and I raise around four-hundred-and-fifty a year,” she says. “It is awful that predators are decimating the species and I am doggedly determined they won’t win.” Betty has even begun a Monarch butterfly blog on her Facebook page to help people who want to learn more.

Mother of toddlers, Jodie Simpson, is completely inspired by the transformation of egg to butterfly. “When I see the chrysalises turn clear I know they will hatch that day so I open the window for them. It takes about a day for their wings to dry out. I have hatched around a hundred in the last few months and my little girls love to watch them. I think it is so important to show them kindness toward living things. It teaches them compassion and care and connection to Papatūānuku (Mother Earth).

All new Nissan X-Trail Prepare to be moved

Getting into the new Nissan X-Trail E-Power e-4ORCE felt like I was living in the fabled story of a last-minute upgrade to a business class seat on a long haul flight. Coming with all of the bells and whistles you’d expect from a modern vehicle, everything about this car is a touch of luxury without being overbearing.

With its fully electric drivetrain, the Nissan X-Trail E-Power e-4ORCE feels like an EV behind the wheel, but the hybrid engine is quietly working to keep the battery charged so you have the range to get out and explore without the anxiety of running out of juice. Boasting a 360 degree birds eye camera for backing or parking to all the modern safety features, like lane assist and intelligent blind spot intervention, this car has everything you could ever dream of.

The modern touchscreen display has seamless integration with your phone, with wireless charging as well as Apple CarPlay for the 10-speaker Bose premium audio system. User profiles allow multiple drivers to customise their drivers seat and rear vision mirrors preferences, while the holographic heads up display projected on the windshield is integrated with the built in sat-nav.

I almost should be getting a commission on my conversations with friends and family about the new Nissan X-Trail E-Power e-4ORCE because I’ve become a de facto salesman for it, but only because of how good the car is.

Your Nelson Tasman Nissan dealer

Test drive now

Cnr Collingwood St and Halifax St, Nelson

Ph: 03 546 9232

daymans.co.nz

Jack Malcolm

SPORTS JOURNALIST

Get set to binge on the Fringe

For ten glorious days Nelson will be buzzing with theatre, comedy, improvisation, dance, music and puppetry. Nelsonians will be able to see an eclectic mix of regional, national and international acts as part of this years Nelson Fringe Festival. Judene Edgar takes a look at the line up.

The Nelson Fringe Festival is back, bringing Nelson the new, the unique, the unexpected, and the experimental. “It’s like a smorgasbord – you can start with a bit of theatre, then try some dance, and then finish off your evening with some comedy,” says Nelson Fringe Festival director Giles Burton. And like any good smorgasbord, Giles says that it’s the perfect opportunity to try something you’ve never had before – and better yet, “you don’t have to travel the world to see great shows”.

With festivals and shows impacted by Covid, Giles says that many artists have used the opportunity to try different things, adapt and re-think shows and plays, and rework existing stories into new and light-hearted formats. “For the audience, it’s a great opportunity to take a risk and try something new, because even if you think you know a play, odds are, you’ve never seen it done this way before!”

Piece of Work Productions is putting on not one, but two adaptations – Metamorphosis and Woyzeck. “I’m quite excited as they’re two really interesting shows,” says Giles, “and Woyzeck is one of my favourite theatre pieces.”

Mike O’Malley joins Michaela Sheehan and Keith Marshall as the cast of three in each of the two plays. In Woyzeck the cast take on 18 roles, creating music and sound effects live, while piecing together a fractured story in this fast-paced mix of comedy, tragedy and song. Woyzeck tells the story of a lowly soldier who agrees to become a medical experiment – but is it his diet of peas that leads him into the forest with a knife, or the rumours of what his wife has been doing with the peacocking Drum Major?

In Metamorphosis, the cast of three take on 13 roles, presenting a delightful, comical, physical theatre adventure that asks – “are you normal?”. In the play, Gregor Samsa is a normal man. He has a normal job, a normal family, lives in a normal house, and has normal dreams … until the day he wakes up to discover that he’s turned into a giant insect.

Along with director Anton Bentley, it’s a reunion for Mike, Michaela and Keith, having first performed together in the 2016 Fringe Festival in Bananaruma, which won audience favourite. They then reunited later that year in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown for Nelson Musical Theatre. “It’s great working with

Weird, Dark & Scandalous!

1. Sajeela Kirshi performing Free Speech & Rah-Rah Skirts! 2. Glenn Cousins has partnered with Akiko Miyamoto to create Jack and the Beanstalk

3. Mike O'Malley, Michaela Sheehan and Keith Marshall perform in Metamorphosis. Supplied.

people you know and get on well with,” says Mike.

“The plays are fast-paced, full of physicality and a bit off the wall, so it’s going to be lots of fun.” And having not acted for a few years, Mike says that he’s looking forward to “coming back home to the stage”. Also looking forward to returning to the Nelson stage is Wellington-based improviser Dylan Hutton who last performed here in the 2018 Fringe Festival show, Don’t Push the Button. Along with co-conspirator Austin Harrison, they are performing their comedy improv show Pudgy Mediocre White Men Solve Your Problems. Brian (Dylan) and Dave (Austin) are, as the title suggests, here to solve your problems with their “pretty unconventional ways that you wouldn’t think would work – and probably won’t,” says Dylan.

“These two blokes have coasted through life with lots of privilege and lots of confidence, and feel very qualified to give people their advice. But there’s also the underlying story of friendship and the value of male friendships … but mainly there will just be laughs,” he says.

Also bringing the laughs is Sajeela Kershi from the UK with her show Free Speech & Rah-Rah Skirts!. Combining themes such as cultural identity and feminism with light-hearted delivery, multi-awardwinning comedian Sajeela first found fame with her politically-fuelled show Immigrant Diaries. She performs regularly on BBC, Comedy Central and Free Speech Nation, and runs her own comedy club in the UK which, until it outgrew it, was run in the back room of a pub run by a Kiwi.

Not one to shy away from a difficult subject, in her latest show she will be delving into post-pandemic geopolitics. “Humour can lighten social and political tensions,” she says. However, her show does come with a warning message: “contains a pinch of cultural guffaws and generous sprinklings of jokery wokery. Hearts and snowflakes may melt.”

A regular performer at comedy and fringe festivals, Sajeela is looking forward to coming back to New Zealand. “I love Fringe Festivals. They unite communities and they bring an array of interesting, diverse talented people to a town,” she says. “Making people laugh, entertaining them, making them think from a different angle, is the payoff for all the late nights missing social events with family and eating rubbish on the road!”

Joining Sajeela is fellow British comedian Charmian Hughes with her show She!, a homage to bond-girl Ursula Andress, Te Papa’s colossal squid and her big sister. Described as a “mad aunt on acid”, Charmian studied clowning but says that she was unable to

uphold the mime vow of silence so ran away to play stand-up comedy clubs instead.

Charmian was last in New Zealand in March 2020. Yes, then! She was scheduled to perform She! in the Dunedin Fringe Festival when New Zealand went into its first lockdown. She was stuck in the North Island for over a week before finally making it home via Canada. But now she’s back and keen to bring her brand of obsessively-silly comedy to New Zealand audiences once more.

Local comedian Glenn Cousins is involved with three different shows, but he says that they’re not all comedy. “The Fringe Festival is a great opportunity for both performers and audiences to try new things,” he says. “It’s great to have a platform for local people to host small productions that have great quality that people can afford to see.”

He’s partnered with Akiko Miyamoto to bring her adaptation of the classic tale Jack and the Beanstalk to life, using puppets. “It’s a Japanese-infused version of Jack and the Beanstalk with a blend of puppets and real characters,” says Glenn. “Akiko makes her own puppets and has created a fun, family-friendly interactive show which is a unique take on a classic story. She does amazing work and plies me with Japanese food after rehearsals,” he laughs.

When he’s not playing the giant chasing Jack down the beanstalk, you can also catch Glenn in Backroom Comedy Presents The A Team, a night of Nelson’s comedy “big guns” for some shameless shenanigans, tomfoolery and jocular hijinks. His third show is No Clue, a classic who-done-it improvised theatre show based on the board game Cluedo. “If you like a little murder with your improv then it’s the perfect show for you,” laughs Glenn.

Giles says that each year they try and have a mix of shows including performances for younger children, to give them opportunities to see and experience theatre. Along with Jack and the Beanstalk, younger audience members and their families might also like magician Steve Wilbury’s Ahoy Me Farties magical adventure or Nikkie Karki’s interactive theatre show The New Tales of Quinn.

With 84 performances, 20 regional shows, 15 national productions, 10 days, 5 international acts, 3 venues and 2 workshops – what are you waiting for?!

Nelson Fringe Festival runs from 23 March –1 April at Red Door Theatre, Studio One and the Refinery Artspace. The full programme is available online at nelsonfringe.co.nz.

The Lawrey Story

Journalist and former Nelson City councillor Matt Lawrey loves unearthing the wonderful things Nelson has to offer. In between penning cartoons, managing Bike Hub Nelson and exploring the region with his whanau, Matt writes a monthly column for Nelson Magazine, where the topic is simply - Nelson.

There’s nothing like finding a cat crapping in your garden to make you ponder the strange freedom society grants our feline friends.

That was my experience this morning when I found a tabby squeezing one out on some freshly laid bark. My howls of protests were met with a look that said “fool” and it wasn’t until I actually threw something that the moggie took off.

I get why people love cats. They’re cute, they feel good in your lap, and they have some entertaining quirks. I also get that, in a tolerant society, you have to accept that your neighbours’ pets will occasionally do things you don’t like.

What I don’t get, however, is why we are so reluctant to do anything about the damage that cats do, particularly when you consider the amount of rules we have for dogs.

Forest and Bird estimates the nation’s pet cats alone kill at least 1.12 million native birds a year. In 2021, a cat in Alexandra made headlines when it regurgitated 28 dead native lizards that scientists said it would have caught and eaten in just several hours.

Our political paralysis when it comes to cats seems particularly absurd in a place like Nelson-Whakatū where nature is a big part of our identity and where we’re spending millions on bringing back our native birds and lizards through the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary

Believe it or not, Nelson City Council has no rules about how many cats a person can own. Nelsonians need permission for more than two dogs but, even if you live right next to the Sanctuary, you can have as many cats as you like.

This year, however, our elected representatives should have an opportunity to take a significant step that won’t just be good for birds and lizards, it’ll be good for cats as well.

Last term council voted to look into options for making the microchipping and desexing of cats mandatory and, in the months ahead, our elected reps should get the opportunity to make a decision. The SPCA says ‘snipping and chipping’ is one of the key things we can do to make a real difference for animal welfare and reduce the large number of unwanted litters and lost animals we see.

That’s because desexing helps pets have happier and healthier lives and ensures the cycle of unwanted litters is broken. Should a pet ever become lost or stolen, microchipping gives their owner the best chance of being reunited with them.

Not surprisingly, Forest and Bird and the Sanctuary are supportive of the concept as well. When the time comes, I’m hoping our elected representatives do the right thing by our cats, birds and lizards. It’s a pretty small step in the greater scheme of things but, over time, it would make a meaningful difference.

Nelson SPCA Centre manager Julie Jane with a cat available for adoption. The SPCA supports calls to introduce mandatory desexing and microchipping of cats. Wise Dog Studios

Wow what a wrap

We have gorgeous one off hand knits, NZ made possum merino blend ponchos, shrugs and shawls instore now. Lots of inspirational yarns and patterns for you to create

155 Hardy Street, Nelson. Ph 03 548 4016 www.cruellas.co.nz

OPEN: Monday to Friday 10-5pm, Saturday 10-2pm cruellas_spritzeryarns cruellasnaturalfibreboutique

Vintage clothing and streetwear have always been a passion for Josiah Henare, so much so that not only does this style inspire his everyday fits, but also led him and wife Kavell to open their own vintage clothing store, Rack Diggers in Nelson.

What are you wearing today?

Today I am wearing a vintage streetwear style fit consisting of a Suns Records cap, a 90s Janet Jackson Naughty by Nature Tee, an arctic camo jacket, a pair of early 000s Daicock Evisu denims, and on the feet are a pair of off-white Nike Dunks. Mainly all from vintage flea markets or vintage clothing dealers.

What is your style?

My style is a good mix, but if I was to put a name to it it would be vintage streetwear, I grew up skating and listening to rap and hip hop so designer and streetwear has always been a love, mixing streetwear with vintage tees and sneakers.

What are you loving at the moment?

Loving the resurgence of early 2000s fashion, it’s very nostalgic to me.

What are you dressed for today?

I’m dressed for work today, I’m very blessed I can wear whatever I like working in a vintage clothing store.

Where do you buy most of your clothes from?

I buy a lot of my clothes from op shops, flea markets, vintage clothing dealers and vintage clothing stores.

What is most of your wardrobe made up of?

Lots of colour and easy-to-pair pieces that are versatile between the seasons. Mostly op-shop finds with some conscious New Zealand-made buys in the mix!

What is your approach to shopping?

I don’t have a particular approach, but if I like it, I like it, or I know when I see it.

What is your all-time favourite purchase?

A 90s Bone Thugs N Harmony art of war t-shirt.

What has been your worst clothing disaster?

Dry rot! I purchased an expensive vintage Mosquito Head tee that started to rip the first time I wore it due to dry rot, which is a chemical reaction mainly from black dye or bleach and storing in a dry area.

What wardrobe item should everyone invest in?

A good swanny for those cold winter days.

Do you have a style rule you always obey?

There’s not really a rule I have, but I believe you should wear what you want and love.

If you could raid one person’s wardrobe, who would it be?

Yotsapong, who is a vintage clothing dealer from the states. He has great taste in vintage clothing and designer streetwear.

Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…

Modern reprint t-shirts.

Tessa

Take the pressure down

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is very common and has wide-reaching health impacts. Untreated, it can damage our heart, brain, eyes, and kidneys - so it’s not something you want to ignore. Dr Marissa Kellaher shares some proven tips to lower blood pressure.

Lifestyle medicine can be incredibly powerful in treating and even reversing hypertension. For some people, this can mean not needing medication. For others, it can mean reducing medication and improving overall health. Either way, it will be worth it.

A healthy blood pressure is one of the first changes we often see in patients who improve their lifestyle in our clinics - even small changes make a big difference. Blood pressure readings should be 120/80mmHg or below - hypertension is defined as any reading > 130/80.

High blood pressure can be from be a variety of reasons. Lifestyle factors include:

 Lack of exercise

 High stress levels

 Poor sleep (or untreated sleep apnoea)

 Alcohol

 ‘Western’ diets high in sugar, fat, salt and processed foods, and low in plant foods

Other things that can increase blood pressure include:

 Medication

 Hormonal changes (ie menopause)

 Diabetes

 Kidney disease

 Genetics

Blood pressure does increase with age due to stiffening of the arteries, but not as much as we think - in populations that live a traditional lifestyle, blood pressure actually increases only a small amount with age, meaning there is far more we can do for our blood pressure than most people realise.

Some top proven tips include:

 Avoiding highly processed foods, especially those high in added salt/sugar

 Limiting salt, ideally to a maximum of 1500mg/day

 Including potassium rich foods in your diet such as fruits, veges, legumes, nuts and seeds

 Eating a plant-focused whole food diet.

 Including nitrate rich veges such as leafy greens in your diet (these dilate blood vessels)

 Eating foods rich in folate, vitamin C, and magnesium (such as brassicas, asparagus, dark leafy greens, citrus, and legumes)

 Swapping refined (white) grains for whole grains

 Getting regular exercise, aiming for at least 90-150 min/week of moderate cardio, plus resistance training

 Breaking up sitting for long periods with movement

 Not smoking (this doesn’t reduce blood pressure, but improves overall blood vessel health)

 Avoiding or minimising alcohol (max 1 standard drink/day for women; 2/day for men - less is better!)

 Getting enough sleep

 Keeping stress at a maneagable level and practising stress resilience strategies

 Coffee affects blood pressure less than you’d expect - for most people, 2-3 cups/day is OK

It’s worth making special mention of the DASH dietthis is a clinically proven diet that helps lower blood pressure. It’s high in veges (5+/day) and fruit (2+/day), high in whole grains and legumes, low in processed food and added sugar, low in saturated fat, and low in red meat. In studies, it can be as effective as some blood pressure medicines - plus it tastes great and boosts heart health, brain health, mental health, and general health too!

So, if you’re concerned about your blood pressure, why not try some simple changes alongside seeing your doctor for medical advice - they really do help.

Dr Marissa Kelaher is a GP and lifestyle medicine doctor. She runs health courses and offers one-onone consults at yourlifestylemedics.com

Sustainable beauty

Beauty and skincare brands have made an effort in the last few years to create more environmentally-friendly products and packaging. Consumers can help drive ethical practices by being conscious of the products they buy and their sources. Owner of Eunoia Beauty, Kate Dyer, shares some steps for taking an ethical approach to beauty and skincare as a consumer.

Know which businesses and practices you support

It’s important to think carefully about the companies you support with your money when it comes to skincare and cosmetics. Before you make a purchase, make an effort to research the ethical standards of the company. Investigating whether the business conducts animal testing or whether it was designed with the welfare of both people and the environment in mind is one aspect of this research. A sustainable beauty company takes into account how its business practices will affect the planet’s future. Additionally, it makes efforts to lessen its impact along every step of its supply chain, from the procurement of raw materials to the shipping of the finished product using ecofriendly packaging.

Be aware of greenwashing

“Greenwashing” is when a business misrepresents itself as being environmentally friendly or sustainable in order to win over customers who are passionate about those issues. Unfortunately, as more businesses try to capitalise on consumer trends without actually changing their practices, greenwashing is becoming more common in the beauty industry. Do your own research into a company’s environmental impact rather than relying solely on what they claim to be doing.

Support sustainable ingredient sourcing

Understanding the origins of the ingredients used in skincare and cosmetics is also something to consider when making purchases. When a brand uses ingredients that are ethically sourced it means that it also takes into account the people who helped obtain those ingredients and whether or not they were treated fairly, allowing them to support their environment and community.

Choose vegan and cruelty-free products

Purchasing vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics and skincare products where possible is one way to practice ethical beauty and skincare. At present, there are vegan substitutes for almost every ingredient in the formulation of skincare and beauty products.

Advocate for change in the industry

You can influence change by being aware of your own purchasing and supporting businesses that are prioritising these values. There are many ways to do this, including educating yourself on the impact the beauty industry has on the environment, making a conscious effort to purchase ethical and sustainable products, and spreading awareness. Sharing articles or social media posts can promote awareness and bring about change.

eunoiabeauty.com

Denture service comes with a beaming smile

Bringing his highly specialised dental skills to the region for the past four years, director and clinical dental technician of Nelson Denture Clinic and Merivale Denture Clinic in Christchurch, Thomas Gu, excels at restoring peoples smiles, health and quality of life in a caring and compassionate way.

Beginning his career at the University hospital in Otago, Thomas worked his way up becoming head of department in removable oral prosthetics within the dental laboratory, overseeing complex postgraduate and hospital cases for many years. “I worked in a private practice for a few years after leaving the hospital and it’s been over four years since I began running my own business, Nelson Denture Clinic.” As the director of both denture clinics, Thomas prides himself on providing the best possible quality of service and outcome for all of his clients. “We ensure a full and comprehensive free consultation and oral exam for proper diagnosis in finding out exactly what is possible, what improvements are needed, what the limitations may be, and provide a solution that best accommodates every individual’s wants and needs.”

From initial consultations, and producing results, through to after-care and follow-up appointments, Thomas covers all restorative treatments whether it’s partial dentures, full dentures, conventional dentures, implant-supported dentures or oral prosthetic restorative/rehabilitation treatment.

Travelling regularly between Merivale and his Nelson

practice on Waimea Road to treat every patient personally, Thomas brings his years of experience, knowledge and understanding to the industry, making customised dentures for every individual. “Everybody is different and unique and we treat every case as such. I have worked on extremely complex cases over the years working at the university hospital, as well as private practices, and I may be able to provide treatment solutions that patients may not have been given as an option from others, catering for difficult cases as well as high aesthetic demands.” Thomas and his exceptional team go the extra mile for all of the clinic’s clients, ensuring a fully informative consultation is had within a comfortable and caring environment. His down-toearth demeanour combined with his extensive years of experience ensure a service that is second to none. “Dentures aren’t something you can pick off the shelves and away you go. They are oral prosthetics. They should be designed to the specific conditions of each patient’s mouth to adequately restore essential functions such as speech, and the abilities to eat and smile, which a lot of us take for granted.”

Check out Google Reviews for treatment testimonials and get in touch with Nelson Denture Clinic to find out how they can help you smile with confidence. Nelson

Tomas Gu at Nelson Denture Clinic with a happy customer.

My HOME

Anna and Dane Boswell are no strangers to interior styling and decorating, in fact, they do it for a living with their business Styled at Home. When it came to building their second family home, they opted for a modern look and a design that enhances their wonderful views.

Where is your home and how long have you lived here?

We live at Katania Heights in Brightwater. We built through Signature Homes, and we shifted in in March.

What four words would you use to describe your home?

Peaceful, modern, spacious and comfortable.

What inspired this look?

We learnt some lessons from our first build when we didn’t allow for enough windows or natural light.

Our home now has plenty of windows including a huge picture window overlooking the view, plus a generous, covered outdoor entertainment area with a skylight. We also went for scissor trusses through our main living area so the place would feel spacious and modern. We wanted a separate lounge which we have made comfortable through the use of carpet and our Resene paint choice ‘lemongrass’ which adds to the cosy feel of the media room. It is so quiet up here which gives it a peaceful feeling – if you don’t count the noise from our three children!

What’s your decorating style?

I have a mix of styles which include modern/ contemporary, natural rustic and Scandinavian vibes.

Where do you shop for homewares?

We have recently launched a home-staging business Styled at Home, and I have come across some beautiful New Zealand homeware stores online recently such as Capulet, Flux Boutique and Bohzali. Our lounge suites are from Early Settler, and we enjoy supporting Moxini - we have mirrors, art, a lamp and other décor items from there. We also have a beautiful buffet table from A&C Homeware.

What piece would you never part with?

We were gifted a large, beautiful, rimu shelving unit that needed some love. Dane sanded it right back and oiled it and it now takes pride in our living room where we display family photos, books and décor items.

ABOVE: Anna, George, Zoey, Dane, Bonnie and Theo the kitten.

Tessa Jaine

When it comes to homeware, do you save or splurge?

We have learnt to invest in quality furniture that will last, so we do splurge on some items that get used daily. We purchased our outdoor dining table and chairs from 4 Seasons as we wanted good quality outdoor furniture that would last. We do want to replace our dining table and chairs which we purchased ages ago from Nood but will look at doing that once the kids are older.

What’s next on your interiors list?

We would like to fill our walls with more art and family photos.

Which items or fixtures did you splurge on and where did you save?

We put in a ducted heat pump system which was a splurge but worth every cent – it is so nice being able to keep the entire house as warm or as cool as we want. Other splurges include sound proofing all of the bedrooms. We saved on some of the labour costs with Dane able to tile and complete our outdoor area.

What’s your favourite seat in the house?

The green three-seater velvet couch in our living room – best views!

What’s your favourite spot in the house?

Sitting on our green couch looking out at the view from our living room, or on our outdoor couch in the covered area.

If money was no object, what would you get for your home?

Definitely a pool. It is on the ‘to do’ list for sure. What is one thing you would change about your home if you could?

A wider hallway with a skylight or two would be one of the only changes we would make.

Best budget tip?

If there are any jobs you can do yourself, this is a helpful way to save on the initial build cost! We were lucky as Dane was able to do our bathroom and kitchen tiling, decks and fences.

If you had a day to refresh your home, what would you do?

Declutter! With three children we don’t usually have time to have a good chance for this.

What should every home have?

Comparing this home to other properties we have lived in, I would say lots of big windows and natural light. It actually helps improve your mood and its lovely to see what is going on in the outdoor world.

Have you done any renovations?

As it is a new build – no. However, we are planning to convert our garage to include an office space for our business.

Best money spent?

A few things – our big picture window, which makes a statement when we enter the living room. Our kitchen, which has a copper tap, handles and a stone bench top, as well as a very generous scullery allowing for a lot of storage space. We are also glad we added a guest toilet near the entrance way to the original build plan.

Do you have any tips on how to keep your living area orderly?

Put the ‘tidy up time’ song on LOUD and get everyone to pitch in!

Did any of your purchases cause a debate?

Perhaps some tools in the garage. I have to be fair though as Dane allows me to choose any furnishings and homewares that I think fits best!

Best memory in your home?

Since the first lockdown we have had a family tradition every year where we dress up, put music on, have a three-course dinner together, and the children create a menu and table setting. It was pretty special being able to do that in this home after many hold-ups with the build due to Covid.

What do you love about the neighbourhood where you live?

Just how peaceful and quiet it is. We are surrounded by lovely neighbours and it is a quiet cul de sac which is safe for our children who are often out on their bikes and scooters.

1. A favourite piece in the home is the rimu shelving unit, which was gifted to the family. Originally thought to be from a science classroom, it needed some love with sanding and oiling. 2. Dane tiled the kitchen backsplash himself, the birds of paradise tile was initially a bold choice that they fell in love with. 3. The large picture window makes the most of the stunning views of the Wharepapa Range. 4. The beautiful painting in the media room is by New Zealand artist, Jen Sievers. Spot the latest addition to the family, Gus the puppy. 5. Anna mixes prints, warm tones, and different textures to achieve a comfortable and modern aesthetic throughout the home. The media room is painted with Resene’s ‘lemongrass’. 6. The buffet table is from A&C Homeware and mirror from Moxini, two of the couple’s favourite stores for homeware and furniture.

Locally made

locally loved

1 Salt and pepper shakers made with NZ and exotic woods, $96 a set, Creative Laminated Woodturning, 027 547 5451 | 2. Abstrax.on Lamp, small (15x50cm), and large (18x56cm), $260-$360, Abstrax on Textiles, abstraxontextiles.com | 3. “The Lookout” A4 or A3 size. High quality print reproductions range from digital to giclee options, $25-$65, Kate Cowan Art, katecowanart.co.nz, Little Beehive Co-Op | 4. “Slumber” A4 or A3 size. High quality print reproductions range from digital to giclee options, $25-$65, Kate Cowan Art | 5. Assorted handmade unique tumblers, $65 each, Flame Daisy | flamedaisy.co.nz, 324 Trafalgar Square West | 6. Pansy and rose clay candlestick, $200, Katie Gold, bartlettandgoldgallery.co.nz, 1380 Moutere Highway | 7. Steel string acoustic using native NZ timbers, made to order, from $3500, Goldbeard Guitars, goldbeard.co.nz, 34 Ellis Street, Brightwater

547

| 13

8 Little house designs in tan, print on wood 40.5 cm wide, $85, Jackie Ewers, paperscissorsart.co.nz | 9. Luxury bath bomb (6 fragrances to choose from), $11.90, Botanical Skincare, botanical.co.nz | 10. Ruby Bay Beach pebble earrings featuring copper and sterling rings, $55, Earth and Sea Jewellery, earthandseajewellery.co.nz, 22 Aranui Rd, Mapua | 11. Rose and Floral clay candlestick, $220, Katie Gold, bartlettandgoldgallery.co.nz, 1380 Moutere Highway | 12. Trinket boxes made with NZ and exotic woods, $132, Creative Laminated Woodturning, 027

5451

Woven air naturally dyed with eucalyptus leaves merino wrap, $165, Travelling-Lite | travelling-lite.com | 14. ‘Floral Jungle’ limited edition print, from $110, Rebecca Cunningham Artworks, rebeccacunninghamartworks.co.nz | 15. Animal Art series titled ‘photo bomb’, mixed media on 20cm wood panel, Jackie Ewers, Paper Scissors Art | 16. Citrus Flower and Watermint bubble bath, $42, Botanical Skincare, botanical.co.nz

With advancements in technology and a push towards sustainability, more people are considering electric vehicles as viable options for their daily commutes. Specialising in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids, Nelson Kia is asked many questions by potential customers, here are the most often asked.

Charge your knowledge

Are electric vehicles slow to charge?

While it can take several hours to fully charge an electric car using a standard home outlet (that most people perform overnight), there are faster-charging options available, such as fast chargers that can provide a full charge in one hour, or DC fast charging stations that can give an 80% charge in as little as eighteen minutes.

How long does the battery last?

New battery technology in Kia’s range of EV’s means there will never be a requirement to replace the entire battery pack. Multiple smaller battery “modules” now make up the pack. Any problems can be quickly isolated to one of these and can be replaced individually instead.

Nelson Kia’s electric vehicles come with warranties of up to seven years or 160,000 km.

Can EVs do long distances on a single charge?

While it is true that some electric vehicles have a limited range, newer Kia models can go up to 528km on a single charge. This is more than enough for most people’s daily needs. A Kia electric vehicle owner who visits Christchurch regularly from Nelson has approximately 18-20% charge remaining on arrival.

What are the alternative options?

If range concern is a significant issue, alternative electric choices are available such as a hybrid vehicle that merges a traditional combustion engine and a battery to deliver exceptionally fuel-efficient driving or a plug-in hybrid option that offers both a fully electric range and a hybrid range.

Can EVs and Hybrids drive through a ford or deep water?

When driving through water, there is no distinction between electric cars and those with traditional combustion engines. Both types of vehicles are engineered and tested to minimize water damage and must pass rigorous safety standards before being sold.

What happens if you run out of charge?

Plenty of warning is given when a low charge threshold is reached. Kia offers free Roadside Assistance on the 0800 Roadside Assist phone number and will send assistance. Some AA vehicles have chargers on board to provide sufficient charge to reach the nearest charger.

Are EVs and Hybrids difficult and expensive to service?

Compared to traditional combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles are generally less expensive to service and maintain. Nelson Kia offers a three year/45,000km Service Plan at just $598 for their EV6 vehicles. They also have an automotive electrician specialist who is also a master Kia EV technician.

Kia Niro Hybrid also available in electric and plug-in hybrid.

Masterpiece on The Cliffs

Throughout a forty-year building career in the Nelson region, Darryl Gardiner has built and renovated some of the area’s most prestigious homes and light commercial premises. Very used to challenging sites and projects, Lyndsay and Campbell McManaway’s substantial renovation on The Cliffs was a job he and his team relished.

“We are very particular about listening carefully to what clients want and making the process as easy for them as possible, and this renovation was no exception,” he says.

Lyndsay and Campbell first viewed the property when it came up for sale four years ago. “We didn’t actually look in any detail at the house,” laughs Lyndsay. “It was the view that completely blew us away and, on that basis, we purchased it.”

The view is spectacular with its panorama from The Glen to the north across the entirety of the Boulder Bank south to Richmond and the hills and valleys beyond. The whole of Tasman Bay fans out in front with the western Nelson mountain range behind.

“When we came back to the house for another look, we realised we had purchased a dated four-bedroom nineties house with a lot of wasted space but great potential,” says Lyndsay.

The couple’s renovation wish-list included a new kitchen, an extension to the master bedroom and ensuite, an infinity swimming pool and spa linked to the main deck, a games room and bathroom downstairs with steps to the upper storey, a garage and new driveway onto the property.

The brief for the renovation was complex and aspirational and the team at Jerram Tocker Barron Architecture were engaged to produce the concept and plans. Making major structural changes to an existing home on a cliff with streets on three sides was always going to be challenging, but they came up with solutions that the McManaway’s were delighted with, particularly the curved infinity-edged pool two stories up from which to enjoy the panoramic views along with a wraparound terrace, perfect for entertaining.

First to be renovated was the kitchen. Replacing the old-fashioned timber country look was a sleek new contemporary one by Manor Property Services. “We wanted a simplified kitchen that was open to everyone with a great breakfast bar,” says Lyndsay.

The formica bench tops were replaced with highgloss, dark-stained solid oak in contrast to the white walls and lacquered black kitchen cabinetry. The major excavations below the existing house had to be

Tessa Jaine

Words: Adrienne Matthews

done in four stages. “We had to prop up parts of the building as we went, adding large areas of concrete block work and steel before moving onto the next section,” explains Darryl. The pool took a great deal of engineering and steel work.”

“Being on a steep hillside with scaffolding everywhere, and Lyndsay and Campbell still living on site, was a real challenge,” he continues,” but it was a really exciting project to work on. I had four builders on site most of the time and the finished result is a real testament to their skill as well as everyone else involved.”

The new garage sits underneath the extended master bedroom’s ensuite. “The old bathroom had a nasty corner shower which was the first to go,” she says. With the extra space afforded by the downstairs addition there is now a smart, tiled double shower lining one wall which includes sliding doors into a walk-in dressing-room.

A much-loved feature of the alterations is the games room. Along with a fridge, dishwasher and plenty of

bench space, it comes complete with a bespoke pool table with black felt and a white base made to match the room’s décor. A separate toilet and full bathroom with toilet have been added to this area behind frosted-glass sliding doors.

The salt-water pool and spa have been a huge success. “This is such a great extended family area that gets so much use,” says Lyndsay. “All doors onto the pool area are alarmed for safety and there is abundant ambient lighting which makes it particularly lovely at night.”

With all the excavation work carried out, the McManaway’s found they ended up with some bonus spaces which they have variously turned into storage areas and a small movie theatre.”

“It is a terrific house to live in,” says Lyndsay. Everyone who worked on it, including my brother-in-law Wally Horncastle our electrician, did such a thorough job, and Darryl and his team of builders put up with all our questions so patiently throughout the eighteen-month process. We are so proud of the result.”

A passion for light and lines

By nine years old George Guille had a camera in his hands. Growing up in the Channel Islands, he later went on to spend nine years travelling the world on a motorcycle. “I was constantly mesmerised by the beauty I encountered, and developed a compulsion to show that to others through my photography and film work,” he says.

“The first urban landscape I vividly remember that completely bowled me over was in Croatia and I have been obsessed with architectural photography ever since.”

George emigrated to New Zealand nine years ago. “I didn’t originally plan to come here,” he laughs, “but I completely fell in love with the country and particularly the top of the south region.” Recently he expanded his business to include photographer Mia Domenica and editor Paul Goldsmith, and officially launched Exposure Media.

“With great relationships already established with architectural and real estate firms during the years I’ve worked in Nelson, my own photography business had been growing to such an extent that I needed to take some more people on board. “Mia is an outstanding photographer and has a great skill for presenting interiors to look their absolute best and Paul has taken over all the editing work. That means that we have been able to establish a quick turnaround with the jobs we undertake and offer a broader range of services at a wide range of price points.”

George and Mia have carved out a niche as the premium architectural and property photographers in the area. They photograph and film buildings of all shape, size, and value from the West Coast to Nelson and Marlborough. “Through our work we get to see some stunning locations,” he says.

“With our pre-house-sale real estate photo and video shoots that often include virtual tours, there is a lot of responsibility to deliver the best work possible, as it is normally the vendor’s biggest assets. I am often amazed by the emotional responses we get from vendors after we deliver our work.”

I also love the pure architectural shoots and films we do for designers, building companies and architects,” says George. “Showcasing their best work is valuable to architects and construction companies and the trust they put in us is a privilege.”

The company has recently invested in new, stateof-the-art photographic equipment. “We insist on producing the best work it is possible to do,” explains George. “I’ve photographed well over two thousand properties but each one brings its own unique characteristics. We all love the challenge of bringing them to life through the camera lens,” he says, “and it helps when we have the very best equipment at our disposal. That includes highend drone technology which we use to show how buildings sit within the landscape.”

“It is an absolute privilege to be a photographer,” says George, “Establishing this new company is a dream come true.”

exposuremedia.co.nz

#NumberO Working closely with re ensure a se

Nelsons #NumberOne home staging company. Working closely with real estate agents and clients to ensure a seamless process.

Nelsons #NumberOne home staging company. Working closely with real estate agents and clients to ensure a seamless process.

Staging statistically increases sale price, shortens days to sell, enabling the homeowner to move on with less stress and an outstanding result.

Staging statistically increases sale price, shortens days to sell, enabling the homeowner to move on with less stress and an outstanding result.

Staging statistically increases sale price, shortens days to sell, enabling the homeowner to move on with less stress and an outstanding result.

Our experienced, knowledgeable team knows how to maximise the value and marketability of your property

We continually update our furniture, homewares and soft furnishings to keep us your first choice for home staging

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We continually update our furniture, homewares and soft furnishings to keep us your first choice for home staging.

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Gardening

Gardening advice with Daltons

Daltons gardening experts are here to help. Send in your gardening question and you could win a Daltons gardening prize pack! See entry details below.

We have two mature apricot trees (about 15 years old) which are healthy and pruned every year by a professional. At the beginning of the season, they have a lot of buds and flowers, but they only produce a small number of apricots (about a dozen on each tree). What can we do to improve the quantity of fruit they produce?

Over the past fifteen years, have you experienced any decent crops at all? If so, under what circumstances were they successful e.g., weather?

While there is always a certain amount of fruit fall early in the season, this can be far worse if your tree is exposed to strong winds so check there is enough shelter for them.

Apricots are self-fertile, but as a last resort, you could try hand-pollinating your tree next spring. This involves collecting the pollen from one of the trees with a very small paint brush and then transferring the pollen to the other tree. Using a ladder should enable you to reach a fair portion of the flowers.

If you know the names of the apricot varieties growing in your garden, ask the arborist who prunes your tree, local orchardists, or garden centre what other varieties they recommend for the Nelson district.

Win a Daltons Premium Bulb pack!

Whether you’re planting them in the ground or in pots, spring bulbs are the perfect way to add colour to your garden and bring your outdoor space to life! Use Daltons Premium Bulb Mix when planting and feed with Daltons Premium Bulb Fertiliser.

Be in to win an $80 Daltons Premium Bulb Pack! Email your gardening question to nelsonmag@daltons.co.nz with Daltons prize pack in the subject heading. Giveaway entries must be received by 28 March 2023.

As a final option, you could consider grafting proven fruiting apricots onto your existing trees.

Read more helpful advice in our fruit tree gardening guide at daltons.co.nz.

Congratulations to Jenny Tyne who has won a Daltons gardening pack with her question.

The feeling of being there

Ross Lee

Exhibition opening

Friday 17 March 5:30pm

Award-winning investment artist. Art for sale from artist’s private collection. Exhibition ends Sun 2 April. 20 Tahunanui Drive, Nelson. Scan the QR code or see our website for more details. proteanart.co.nz

Home Style

ENHANCE YOUR LIVING

1. Maiko curved vanity with optional floating timber shelf, from $3400, thecustomcreative.co.nz, 48 Vanguard Street, Nelson

2. Bordallo Pinheiro handpainted pheasant mug, $84.95, villarosa.nz, 62 Montgomery Square | 3. White Lily aromastone set delicately fragrances your car, wardrobe, office or any small space, Living Light, 219 Trafalgar St, Nelson Central Arcade

4. Gellerts Calathea Beauty Star, 12cm, 24.99, Mitre 10 Mega Nelson, 99 Quarantine Road, Annesbrook, Nelson | 5. The range of iO lampshades are made from NZ pine and made in Tauranga, storeycollection.co.nz, 65 Collingwood St, Nelson | 6. ivoli Audio model one(R), a modern-day icon of acoustic and industrial design. The addition of Bluetooth allows you to stream your own music, $499, Beggs Musicworks, 264 Hardy St | 7. Duratuf KL3 Kiwi garden shed 3.38 x 1.21m in assorted colours, $2299, Mitre 10 Mega | 8. Naaytu Spiral candle, $18 and Naaytu Ribbon candelabra, $79, Little Beehive Co-Op, 123 Bridge Street, Nelson | 9. Reid armchair in tan leather with brass buckle strap detail on the back, $2899, (2 & 3-seaters also available), lynfords.co.nz, 675a Main Rd, Stoke

Gallery Showcase

Our region’s best creative talent

Nelson Classic Car Museum Museum Store

1 Cadillac Way, Annesbrook

Open 7 days, 10am-4pm 03 547 4570 nelsonclassiccarmuseum.nz

Bill Burke Gallery

15B Ajax Avenue

Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-12.30pm 027 847 0620

billburkeartist.com

Christine Hafermalz-Wheeler

The Artist Goldsmith

Central Nelson

By appointment, come and play! 021 817 209

theartistgoldsmith.com

RED Art Gallery & Café

Gallery open weekdays 8.30am-4pm, Sat 9am-3pm 03 548 2170

redartgallery.com

Nicola

Private tuition available

View paintings at Wall to Wall Art Gallery

112 Bridge St nicolareifnz@gmail.com nicolareif.com

The Coolstore Gallery

10 Aranui Road, Mapua Wharf

Open 7 days, 10am – 5pm 03 540 3778

info@coolstoregallery.co.nz

thecoolstoregallery.co.nz

Protean Art Gallery

20 Tahunanui Drive

Tues-Sat, 10am-4pm Monday by appointment 027 548 5003

proteanart.co.nz

Flick & Co. Studio – Artist

3 Wood Loop, Mariri, Motueka Zappekin Artist’s & Allies

By appointment 021 0885 9482

flickcostudio@gmail.com

Lisa Grennell BVAD – Artist

13 Cheshire Place, Stoke Studio visits by appointment only grennell.lisa@yahoo.co.nz

lisagrennellartist.co.nz

Jonty & Mike Ward

Studio Gallery and Store

3 Morrison St, Nelson 022 035 9175

mikewardofnelson@gmail.com

The Suter Art Gallery

208 Bridge St, Nelson Open 7 days, 9.30am-4.30pm 03 548 4699

thesuter.org.nz

Cathy Jones 4 Art

1/47A Washington Rd. Open Wednesdays 12pm-5pm, and by appointment 027 546 9499

cathyjones4art.weebly.com

Reif (IAPS-MC, DPANZ)

Invoking the nostalgia of childhood within art

Using art as her voice, Lisa Grennell has a spectacular knack for storytelling using simple imagery and immense personal insight. Lisa’s art evokes emotions from its viewers, within each singular piece of work, creating a connection, describing a sense of hope, innocence, joy, purity, playfulness, and loss in its varying forms. Forming a narration, Lisa says her creativity has long been both an escape and a release. “Art was the only subject at school that I had passion for, that I enjoyed. I say to people it is a bit like picking up a book - that’s the escape drawing gave me. I drew and painted all through parenthood, so with each child, I was always sketching them while they were having their naps. I was in my element.”

Specialising in silk screen printing and painting on perspex, Lisa says learning the art of screen printing really was a eureka moment. “I could push my drawings further. I could really explore adding hand-painted elements and it was so much fun. I really love the spontaneity of screen printing. I am an impatient person, and it enables me to get an idea across almost immediately.” Receiving welldeserved recognition for her work, Lisa says the road hasn’t been an easy one. Putting in the hard yards to achieve her goal of completing an art degree. “During those years of study I really found myself and this is what continues to drive my love for it today. A visual voice is my medium. It’s the easiest way for me to communicate and, being a mother, it has enabled me to express the journey of motherhood from the perspective of a child who had a child. There is always inspiration. Life was always changing. Never constant. The memories and nostalgia of childhood and capturing all that parenthood brings like the time when a child starts school or leaves home. Having a visual voice to portray those moments of happiness and sadness is something that everyone can relate to. It is incredibly cathartic for me. It’s been 12 years of hard work and lots of knockbacks but holding onto the highlights and the achievements is what has kept me going. Being an artist is not the easiest of careers, but it is how you get back up, brush yourself off and continue to fight another day. I have a passion and a desire to create and I am prepared to fight tooth and nail for it. That is the impetus behind what drives me on my journey.”

Nominated as one of the Top 10 Artists for the Christchurch Art Show this month, Lisa is currently working on a piece that will be voted on at the show. “I have a piece in mind that I am designing which consists of approximately 30 separate screen-printed layers. I am pretty excited about this because it is such a challenge but gives me such a fire in my belly.” Consecutively winning the People’s Choice Awards at both the Christchurch and Dunedin Art Shows two years in a row, receiving invitations to exhibit in Hong Kong and the NZ Art Show, hosting sell-out exhibitions, and showing work in nine galleries across the country including Purpose Gallery in Mapua, life is full-on for the talented artist. “I also have an exhibition coming up in Akaroa, and later one in Hamilton. It is going to be a busy year for sure!”

Christchurch Art Show 17th - 19th March

Little River Gallery 29th April - 30th May

NZ Art Show in Wellington 31st May - 5th June

lisagrennellartist.co.nz

Lisa Grennell hanging her artwork titled ‘Selfie’.

Have your cake ... and eat it too!

Don’t bake it, get someone to make it. Take the stress out of finding the perfect gift by leaving it to the professionals! Adding a sprinkle of happiness to the day, cakes are the perfect way to mark a celebration. Whether it be in the form of sweet or savoury, bespoke cakes are the easiest way to incorporate a theme into any event as they can be personalised and custom-made to suit a small gathering or large banquet, with plenty of attention to detail. Here’s a taste of our region’s top creative cake makers to suit any occasion.

CHEESE, PLEASE!

If your sweet dreams are made of cheese, who are we to dis a Brie? The Cheese Shop have your dreams answered with a variety of cheeses available for your cheese stack, which will be a grate addition to any celebration.

The Cheese Shop

03 528 4242 | cheeseshop.co.nz

CAKE BY THE RIVER

River Kitchen is passionate about creating good food, indulge in a slice of decedant cake baked in house with lots of love and quality ingredients. Located next to the river, a cake and a coffee will go down an absolute treat.

River Kitchen

03 548 1180 | riverkitchennelson.co.nz

SAY CHEESE … CAKE!

Find the best range of cheesecakes at The Cheesecake Shop, including a delectable array of baked cheesecakes, mudcakes and tortes that will leave your taste buds wanting.

The Cheesecake Shop

Richmond 03 922 9834 | thecheesecakeshop.co.nz

CREATIVE CAKES

If fabulous fondant or stylish simplicity is your jam, Linda will bake your day. “I love bringing people happiness through beautiful and delicious cakes. The visual presentation is only the beginning – you really will get to have your cake and eat it too!” says Linda.

Cakes for all Occasions

027 497 9775 | cakesforall.co.nz

A PINT WITH NICK AND VICKI ROSE

SPRIG + FERN THE MEADOWS

Offering a warm and welcoming atmosphere

Nick and Vicki Rose, owners of Sprig + Fern The Meadows, take great pride in the family-type environment they have created at their establishment. Nestled in the heart of Richmond’s newest development, Sprig + Fern The Meadows provide delicious gourmet pizzas, and mouthwateringly tasty bar snacks, along with the range of award-winning Sprig + Fern brews. Located at the new complex since 2021, the couple has had the unique opportunity to see the community grow from strength to strength. “We have really enjoyed watching it evolve and get busier by the day. Our location is fantastic and I think we complement the surrounding businesses really well.”

Jumping at the opportunity to launch the tavern, Sprig + Fern The Meadows has become a hub for locals, and the perfect meeting place to catch up with friends.

“Seeing returning customers is a huge highlight for us,” says Vicki. “And getting to know the regulars really well. We welcome people in as if they are family because that’s how we greet people when they come into our home. Five of our staff are family members, and that’s the type of vibe we want to encourage here.” Nick adds that the strength of the business is

in the quality of the staff that they have. “We treat everyone like family.” The extent of their all-inclusive atmosphere is plain to see with the myriad of plants even having individual names and the well-regarded photo-wall where punters delight in seeing their beloved pooches made famous.

Launching new tap beers on a regular basis, their newest addition comes in the form of a premium lager. The Hum Zinger Premium Lager with Root Ginger is a limited release 5.0% beer with freshly ground root ginger adding a zinginess to its premium lager base, leaving an ‘unmistakable first impression’. Clean and refreshing, bold and balanced. It finishes with a feisty ginger kick to the tastebuds. For Nick, the Summer Chill Hazy is a winner with its fruity, citrus medley of hops, but for Vicki it’s the Grown Up Lemonade, that takes the cake. It is a Vodka-based lemonade for ‘grown-ups only’ that pairs quite nicely with a topping of ginger beer says Vicki.

Making a comeback to the events calendar, the couple are excited to be launching the new season of regular quiz nights once again. Kicking off in March, every Tuesday night will see the fundraising event raise significant proceeds for local charities and good causes. “One hundred percent of the table and raffle fees goes to the selected cause. We take expressions of interest from any not-for-profit organisation that would like to be involved.”

Tuesday to Sunday 2pm-late Closed Monday sprigandferntaverns.co.nz

McCashin’s Tap Room

Summer is here. Come on in with your family and friends, enjoy the outdoor garden area with a mouth-watering menu including platters, pizzas and seasonal plates to savour. McCashin’s Tap Room is your local friendly meeting place with fine beverages made on site at the brewery. Plenty of room inside and out for summer fun.

660 Main Rd, Stoke 03 547 0329 mccashins.co.nz

Alberta’s Café

All day breakfast from 7.30 – 2.30pm, seven days a week. Exceptional coffee and views to match. Come in and enjoy our breakfast menu or a bite to eat from our tasty cabinet of house-made delights. Gluten free, dairy free and vegan options available, we cater for all. Dine in or takeaway. Shed 4, Mapua Wharf 03 540 3933 albertas.co.nz |

Miracle Restaurant

Famous for classic Chinese and signature Thai family dishes, Miracle Restaurant offers rich and diverse Asian fusion cuisine with Yum Cha available all day. Come and meet Mira - Miracle’s friendly robot who will deliver dishes to your table and even sing happy birthday. Popular set menus are available for individual diners, and all menu items can be ordered online for takeaway. Fully licensed and open 7 days for lunch and dinner.

200 Hardy St, Nelson 03 545 8163 miracleasian.co.nz

Mapua Village Bakery

No visit to Mapua is complete without a visit! Open for breakfast, lunch, and snacks through the day, choose from their fantastic menu full of all your favourites. Dinner is sorted too with a family size quiche or pie ready to heat and enjoy or pop into the freezer.

They have a great gluten free range, and extensive pie menu with a different gourmet flavour each month, all topped off with a supreme coffee to add a bounce to your day.

68 Aranui Rd, Mapua 03 540 3656

mapuavillagebakery.co.nz

The Indian Café

With three great locations you can enjoy Indian Cafe’s delicious food no matter where you are. Head in and find out why Indian Café is the favourite choice for anyone looking for the highest quality food and a memorable cuisine experience. All venues offer intimate restaurant dining and courtyard settings and takeaway options.

94 Collingwood St, Nelson | 03 548 4089 266 Queen St, Richmond | 03 544 8979 201 Songer St, Stoke | 03 547 0008 theindiancafe.co.nz

Anchor Restaurant and Bar

Top quality food is best served with amazing ocean views! Blessed with a fantastic spot on the water, you will feel welcomed and won’t want to leave.

Specialising in local seafood and steaks, there are also delectable choices for non-meat eaters, people with special dietary needs and kids.

62 Vickerman St, Port Nelson 03 546 6614 anchorrestaurant.co.nz

Line caught bluefin tuna seared steaks

The perfect tuna steak is seared on the outside and deliciously rare on the inside. Cooked in one and a half minutes, it’s also possibly the fastest fish recipe ever. Serve with rice and green beans, or simply over a bed of greens with an Asian-style salad dressing.

Ingredients

• 2 bluefin tuna steaks

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to taste

• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 1 tablespoon canola oil or olive oil

• green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and lime

Method

Pat the tuna steaks dry with a paper towel. Place on a plate and put aside. Mix soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, honey, kosher salt, and cayenne pepper until honey is fully dissolved.

Pour over the tuna steaks and turn over to coat completely. Allow to marinate for at least 10 minutes, or overnight in the refrigerator. Reserve a spoonful or two of the marinade before coating the fish for drizzling on top after you’ve cooked the steaks.

Heat your pan on medium-high to high until very hot. Add the oil. Sear the tuna for 1 – 1½ minutes on each side for medium rare or 30 seconds each side for rare. Remove to a cutting board. Cut into slices and serve garnished with green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice, pouring over any leftover marinade if desired. Serve with your selected side of choice.

ZUMO Coffee

Nelson local and new director, Tina Fortune and a team of highlyskilled baristas offer fast, efficient and excellent service with the ZUMO personal touch.

Open 7-days. Fresh baking from 7am. Brunches Saturday and Sunday from 8am.

Coffee roasting every Tuesday. Come enjoy the aroma, buzz and great conversation.

42 Rutherford Street

Rabbit Island Coffee Co.

A fully functioning specialty coffee roastery, offering an emporium of carefully curated NZ and local artisan treats that will satisfy your senses. Located at Mapua Wharf, Tasman.

Hop Federation

Simon and the team have been brewing since 2013, creating beer that’s hopforward, fresh and well known for exceptional quality. Visit their Riwaka tasting room for beer, wine and cider yearround. Or find your nearest stockist and buy online at hopfederation.co.nz

rabbitislandcoffee.co.nz

hopfederation.co.nz

Sprig + Fern Brewing Co.

It’s not autumn in Nelson Tasman unless you’ve spent time at a local Sprig + Fern Tavern enjoying a pint of craft beer or cider.

Real beer, real people, really local Sprig + Fern Milton St, Sprig + Fern Hardy St, Sprig + Fern Tahuna, Sprig + Fern Upper Queen, Sprig + Fern The Meadows, Sprig + Fern Brightwater, Sprig + Fern Mapua, Sprig + Fern Motueka

sprigandfern.co.nz

Solander Gourmet Seafood

South Island line caught southern bluefin tuna is available now and so versatile to enjoy. The very best seafood available in Nelson and NZ, accessible to you via online order. Select from the finest seafood and other gourmet products, to ensure that your dining experiences are healthy, delicious, and incredibly well priced.

Tasteology

Tasteology is an artisan store located in the historic Upper Moutere Village. A one stop destination for deli foods, lovely crafted gifts, local wines as well as takeaway coffee and delicious baked treats. Open seven days 9am to 4pm.

gourmetseafood.co.nz

1381 Moutere Highway

Strawberry basil smash cocktail

Try this tasty and refreshing cocktail, made with Smirnoff Vodka, strawberries, basil, lime juice and soda. Who’s ready for a drink by the pool?

Ingredients

• 1 double shot of Smirnoff Vodka per person

• 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped small, save a few big pieces for garnish

•

• 4 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)

•

•

•

•

Method

Add both sugars to a small plate and combine. On another small plate add a bit of water (enough to dip the rim of your cocktail glass in). Dip cocktail glass rim in water then in the sugar until you have a nice coated rim.

Add 3/4 cup of chopped strawberries to a bowl and smash with a spoon. Spoon 1 tablespoon of strawberries into the bottom of each sugar-rimmed cocktail glass.

Add vodka to a cocktail shaker with the rest of the smashed strawberries, lime and 1 cup of ice. Shake mixer to combine. Pour 1/4 of the contents of the cocktail shaker into each glass. Top up the glass with cold Imperial soda and garnish with two basil leaves, lime zest and strawberries.

Head over the hill

Celebrated as one of the most stunning regions in the country, Golden Bay is a paradise that is second to none. The perfect place for a weekend getaway, visitors flock from around the world every year to experience what the region has to offer. Amy Russ takes a look at some of the things to see and do in magical Golden Bay.

Whether it be exploring the great outdoors, or soaking up the vast range of galleries, cafes and retail shops, Golden Bay has some of the most remote, wild and wonderful spots in New Zealand. Full of stunning windswept beaches, huge sand dunes, massive wetland areas, tidal estuaries, a vast range of beautiful natural reserves, a myriad of groves, tracks and waterfalls and stunning wild rocky outcrops, there is plenty to see and do.

Boasting incredible landscapes and a plethora of artisan foods and delicacies, boutique suppliers and an unmatchable climate, Golden Bay is a region like no other. Coming over the Tākaka Hill, the landscape unravels as you wind your way down into the valley. Hang a left and you will find yourself in the stunning playground of Cobb Valley, home to a plethora of walking tracks and campsites that border the Kahurangi National Park. Tucked against the foothills of the National Park, you will find clever crafters of traditional wooden baskets, The Trug Maker, who create time-honoured Sussex Trug, Devon Maund and flower and herb baskets.

Staying on the main highway, the road follows the river through Upper Tākaka, past Anatoki Salmon Fishing and Café - where, fresh from the water, you can catch, smoke and eat your salmon – before arriving in the Tākaka township. Whether it is outdoor activities, tramping, mountainbiking, caving, rock climbing, or more relaxed sight- seeing, musing, boutique shopping, vibrant hospitality or incredible vistas you are after, the Golden Bay Visitor Centre is the place to go for all your accommodation, transport and activity needs in the region, while the local museum hosts a wealth of information around the settlement of Golden Bay and its great significance in New Zealand history.

The perfect place to relax or plan out your travels, Dada Manifestó Speakeasy Lounge and Restaurant and the legendary Roots Bar were both built with the vision of providing a space where locals and travellers can enjoy great culture along with fantastic food, high vibes and some New Zealand medalwinning craft beers on tap. Monza Art Gallery on Commercial Street promises to delight lovers of

Tata Beach in Golden Bay. nelsontasman.nz

beautiful art with outstanding works by local artists, as does the art collective of Paper Scissors Rock. Living Arts Gallery on Tukurua Road is an absolute treasure trove of creativity and beautiful things, and the Art Vault in Tākaka is a showcase gallery hosting a range of exhibitions for Golden Bay artists, while StoneArrow Jewellery is a boutique artisan business that creates products inspired by the beauty of New Zealand nature.

Take a right towards Pohara, Ligar Bay and Tata Beach to visit Labyrinth Rocks, stretch your legs at The Grove, or view the stunning artwork of landscape painter Peter Geen at Earth Sea Gallery. Or continue along State Highway 60 to experience the crystalclear waters of Te Waikoropupū Springs, before immersing yourself within the rustic atmosphere of the Mussell Inn.

On your way to Parapara’s historic goldmines and iron mines, make sure to pop into Bacca Bakery and Café, the tiny bakery at the end of the world that is the place to go for taste sensations and is changing the way we eat, before the stunning road will take you into Collingwood, Golden Bay’s oldest and

second-largest town. Once on the cards to be New Zealand’s capital city, Collingwood is an ecotourism destination and home to the coolest little café in Collingwood, Courthouse Café. Built in 1901, the former courthouse now hosts a stunning shop and gallery with work from cafe owner and ceramic artist Sue Dasler.

Collingwood is the perfect base to explore the Aorere Valley with the Rockville Machinery and Settlers Museum, Bainham, Salisbury Falls, the renowned Heaphy Track, the Devils Boots, and the family legacy that is Langford Store. Established in 1928, the general store and post office is now a jewel in the crown of essential places to experience in Golden Bay, a place where collections and connections can be found, and should definitely be on the list of places to visit.

Heading further north and boasting incredible landscapes, you will find Pākawau, the gateway to Whanganui Inlet, the ecological sanctuary of Westhaven and stunning Kaihoka Lakes. From Pākawau you can take a tour along Farewell Spit, visit the natural formations of Cape Farewell or experience the majestic sand dunes of Wharariki Beach.

Mural wall in Tākaka

Te Waikoropupu Springs

Founded by Ben and Sarah Bonoma, Dancing Sands Distillery in Golden Bay has enjoyed phenomenal success both across New Zealand and internationally since its inception in 2016. This dynamic duo combine their strengths to deliver multi award-winning gins. Taking a meticulous approach to creating deliciously robust spirits, the team are also strongly focused on reducing their environmental impact in every area possible, including the launch of a custom-designed bottle, made right here in New Zealand. Their new bottles are made from at least 40% recycled glass, and their labels printed with nontoxic, soy-based inks on recycled paper. By simply having their bottles manufactured domestically, they eliminate the need to import bottles from France and thus eliminate 15,000kg of carbon emissions annually from their production cycle. Managing Director Sarah says, “We hope this may spark others in the spirits business to follow suit in making strides towards cleaner and greener production processes. Taking care of our planet benefits all of its people.” Each of the custom-designed bottles will have Golden Bay, New Zealand, proudly debossed into the top, paying homage to what they consider the best corner of the world. In the spirit of keeping it local, they brought on Nelson-based designer Ben Alden, whose hand-drawn illustrations now adorn each of their new bottles.

Golden Bay

Located in the heart of Tākaka, just behind the Wholemeal Café, the Dancing Sands Cellar Door is open from 10am - 4pm Monday to Saturday. Gin tastings are always free. Pop in to taste the magic for yourself.

For good vibes, great service, delicious food and a range of locally crafted beers, step inside the grungy space that is Roots Bar in Tākaka. Located at the top of the township, the iconic bar plays host to a great music culture within its rustic and welcoming atmosphere. A huge player in the region’s music scene, Roots Bar have cranked up the vibe with the installation of their new, fully-bespoke audio system that was purpose-built for the space. Owner Holly Osmond is also proud of their strong focus on sustainable and ethical foods, saying their meat is 100% traceable and produce locally sourced. “Our menu moves along seasonally, and we are running a lot of exciting specials at the moment.” Showcasing local bands and acts over the upcoming months, follow Roots Bar Facebook or Instagram pages for up-to-date info on their events. Open seven days from 11am until late, check out Roots Bar at 1 Commercial St, Tākaka.

MONZA is the acronym for More Outstanding New Zealand Art. MONZA Gallery was established 18 years ago by painter/owner Philly Hall in a beautiful 1915 wooden building on Tākaka’s main street.

Kayaking through The Arches in Golden Bay. Kane Hartill, Golden Bay Kayaks

Stocking purely Golden Bay art and representing approximately 35 contemporary artists. MONZA is run by a creative local pair – Philly and jeweller/ artist Nic Wooding, who share their local Golden Bay knowledge having been involved with arts in the area for over 30 years. MONZA enriches your notion of what talent lives in Golden Bay with an amazing range of art styles, dimensions and techniques. You stroll into the warmth of the gallery’s rich red walls and find a wide range of jewellery, sculpture, paintings, drawings, ceramics, weaving and more – a must stop-in to view and purchase your next favourite piece of local art.

The Courthouse Café is open year-round and seven days a week for breakfast, brunch, lunch and coffee. On Saturday evenings it opens for pizza nights with delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas made on the premises.

“When my partner Sue and I purchased it in 2021 we quickly came to realise that we are the guardians of a local community institution,” says Jon Fraser. “It’s incredible how many Nelsonians come over for the day,” says Sue. “We are delighted with the surprise they find at the end of State Highway 60, there is a café with high standards of food, great coffee and service that they don’t expect to find,” adds Jon.

Famous for its fish pies and mussel chowder, the café has a menu to satisfy most palates along with an array of cabinet delights and fresh bread baked on site.

“We are so fortunate to have inherited such outstanding staff whose love for their jobs shows in the wonderful response we get from customers,” says Jon.

Sue Dasler’s pottery workshop and gallery sits across the courtyard from the Courthouse Café and is another drawcard for visitors to the site.

Cape Farewell is the most northerly point on the South Island.

Golden Bay

A well-established New Zealand potter, Sue’s work has been widely shown in galleries throughout the country. The move to Collingwood has been a delight. “I love being near the coast with all the inspiration it brings” she says. “The natural environment really inspires me with its range of moods, shapes and forms. I thought it might have been a bit quieter here than at my previous gallery in Wellington, but I have been as busy as ever.”

Working mainly with porcelain clay, Sue favours making pots on the wheel. “I love experimenting with forms and glazes and make a wide range of domestic ware as well as my popular wall-mounted seabirds,” says Sue. “People can try before they buy,” laughs Jon, as the café’s customers experience the delight of eating from her ceramic tableware.

Challenging traditional values, Dada Manifestó Speakeasy Lounge and Restaurant provides the perfect place to relax and share a plate of outstanding food with friends. Oozing coolness, local legend Holly Osmond and her partner Chris Guerrero have created a destination for locals and visitors alike within their relaxed lounge-style setting. Amongst the deluxe décor, you will find plenty of conversation starters.

Retro and vintage pieces sit seamlessly next to exceptionally quirky and inspiring artworks including Salvador Dali, and nods to one of the founding fathers of the Dada movement from poet

Tristan Tzara, alongside tropicana-themed wallpaper and the tropical, vintage tiki-themed side dining room, handy for private functions, complete with bespoke water fountain. Dinner-jazz type music complements the gastronomic local fare consisting of vibrant salads and sides, braised wagyu, local artisan burrata, ceviche, locally speared fish and lamb skewers. With delicious cocktails and food to feast the senses, Dada Manifestó is open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 3pm till late, Saturday and Sundays 11am till late.

Call into Dada Manifestó Speakeasy Lounge and Restaurant at 90 Commercial St, Tākaka, and enjoy relaxed dining with sophistication. For bookings: use the portal at dadamanifesto.co.nz.

Beautiful lodges, baches, camping grounds, motels and boutique accommodations are scattered throughout the region offering much-needed respite from a weekend of exploration, while delicious hearty food awaits at any of the local dining destinations. Golden Bay guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to local galleries, jewellers and artistic creations, as the vibrant region plays host to a diverse community of artists and artisans who call Golden Bay home. Nestled in its own private little corner of the world, Golden Bay is a special place which has a knack for working its way into your heart when you visit, calling for you, and leaving you wanting more as soon as you depart.

Horseriding in Puponga.

Three things to do in Tākaka and Golden Bay

1 2 3

At a whopping 34km long, one of the largest natural sandspits in the world has formed at the top of the South Island, the result of continuous coastal erosion and oceanic drift from the West. The Spit forms the ‘birds eye view’ of Golden Bay into the shape of New Zealand’s very own national bird - the kiwi - and it is home to over 90 wetland and migratory bird species of its own... how’s that for irony? As a dedicated wetland of international importance, Farewell Spit is what we like to call paradise for nature lovers, and is home to gannets, godwits, knots, and waders, as well as playful seal pups and cheeky oyster-catchers.

The picture perfect Wainui Falls can be reached with a short onehour return walk through lush native bush. Wainui River is both a relaxing and mesmerising experience, until your senses are awakened by the sound of the falls as they cascade down granite bedrock into the pool below, curtained in a halo of spray. Labyrinth Rocks Park and The Grove Scenic Reserve offer a spectacular experience as you walk through limestone outcrops, with the lookout from The Grove nothing short of extraordinary and the magical shapes, faces and little figurines discoverable at Labyrinth Rocks sure to ignite the imagination of curious little ones.

Sometimes we wonder if there’s something magical in the air in Tākaka and Golden Bay, or if the diverse community of artists and artisans who choose to call this place home is just a coincidence. The vibrant township, which is adorned with colourful murals, oozes an undeniable passion for the arts; with jewellery stores, boutique stalls, art galleries and glassblowing studios occupying the main drag. Creativity and character is deeply rooted in the Golden Bay community, and the Saturday Village Market is a true showcase of this.

nelsontasman.nz

Spotlight on Golden Bay

Driving over the Tākaka Hill can be like taking a deep breath in - you feel the weight of the world come off your shoulders as soon as you descend from the top. While Golden Bay has been a favourite getaway for people from all corners of the globe, we’re the lucky ones who have it in our backyard. So we’ve compiled a list of some of the bay’s must-do activities and places to visit next time you head over the hill into paradise.

Local history told with flair

Constantly updated displays tell the stories of Golden Bay and its history in a traditional museum setting with a temporary exhibition space that changes twice a year. Open six days.

Helping you with what you need to know

Bookings for accommodation, activities, attractions, transport, flights, DOC sites, walks and souvenirs. All the information you need when planning your stay in and around the Golden Bay region.

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Collectables and home-made goods

With a café and art gallery, this general store and post office that has been providing essentials to the Bainham community and travellers since 1928 is now a jewel in the crown of essential places to experience in Golden Bay, and a place where collections and connections can be found and made.

Stylish gifts

Located centrally in Tākaka, Pohutukawa Gallery has a fabulous range of gifts, clothing, homeware, bags and more. You will surely find something to take home or to the bach. Open Mon-Fri 10-5 and Sat 10-1.

The natural world in acrylic

EarthSea Gallery displays Peter’s original paintings, a range of fine art giclee prints, along with greeting cards. Relax and absorb the perfection and ambiance of his work in stunning Clifton.

Haberdashery and sewing

Stitch ‘n Sew is the home of specialty items. Exquisite fabrics, wools, cottons and so much more. Craft ideas for beginners to experts with friendly advice always on hand.

Crafters of traditional wooden baskets

Tony makes the time-honoured Sussex Trug, Devon Maund and his very own flower and herb baskets. These classical heritage items are formed using traditional wood craft practices from untreated, locally sourced and sustainablygrown timber. They are light, strong and will last you a lifetime.

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Art lovers haven

Art Vault is one of the best galleries in New Zealand. Showcasing 60 diverse local artists, giving visitors a taste of the unique and exceptional talent of what Golden Bay artists have to offer.

Historic house and cottages

Book your next stay at the historic Station House Motel, to relax and recharge while you explore the delights of Golden Bay. Located in the heart of Collingwood township and just a stone’s throw away from the beach. It’s the perfect place to stay.

Art collective in the heart of Tākaka

Paper Scissors Rock Gallery is an art collective of local, established and emerging artists, showcasing a unique range of paintings, jewellery, textiles, printmaking and ceramics, all handcrafted in Golden Bay.

Bodywork with a difference

In beautiful Pohara you will find a unique kind of bodywork; structural integration, which looks at bodywide posture, alignment and movement patterns aiming to reduce structural stress and make you feel more at home in your body.

The Trug Maker 021 239 6591 | trugmaker.co.nz

Structural Balance 027 781 6865 | structuralbalance.co.nz

Station House Motel 03 524 8464 | accommodationcollingwood.co.nz

Paper Scissors Rock Gallery

Stitch ‘n Sew 03 525 8177

Relax and enjoy a world-famous beer

The Mussel Inn is in the heart of Mohua/Golden Bay. The atmosphere is relaxed, fare simple and wholesome; beers, ciders and soft drinks are all brewed onsite and live music features regularly.

Catch your lunch or dinner

You’ll find a magical spot on Lake Anatoki to cast your line and land your lunch. Free use of fishing gear and no experience required. Feel the thrill of catching your own food, then have your salmon hot smoked or sliced into sashimi ready to eat in the cafe.

The Mussel Inn 03 525 9241 | musselinn.co.nz

Memorabillia from the early days

Appropriately sited in the old Collingwood Cheese Factory, featuring all manner of early tractors, farm machinery and implements, vehicles, horse gear and a wide range of settlers’ items, a library, plus a working steam section. Open daily.

Anatoki Salmon anatokisalmon.co.nz. 230 McCallum Road, Tākaka

A Kiwi classic

It’s a holiday must, to enjoy classic Kiwi fish and chips. Bay Takeaway offers fresh fish, massive burgers, tasty wraps and other delicious goodies to enjoy. They have the best fish and chips in the bay. Open seven days, 11.30am to 7.30pm.

Rockville Machinery & Settlers Museum

03 524 8131

869 Collingwood-Bainham Main Road, Rockville

Not just a petrol station

Tākaka Fuels and Fishing is the place to go for NPD fuel, fishing rods, tackle from Shimano, Penn and Blackmagic, ammo and local information on the best fishing spots in the Bay or where to go for a bit of hunting. Open seven days.

Bay Takeaway 03 525 8225

44a Commercial St Tākaka |

Ethical handcrafted jewellery

The beauty of Aotearoa, New Zealand, serves as inspiration for their handcrafted products. StoneArrow Jewellery specialise in creating exquisite jewellery from repurposed materials, each piece reimagined with authenticity and purpose.

Tākaka Fuels and Fishing

03 525 7305

2 Commercial St, Tākaka |

StoneArrow Jewellery 03 525 6232 | stonearrow.co.nz

44A Commercial St, Tākaka |

Celebrating seafood Our people, produce and place

Nelson is home to Australasia’s largest seafood processing port, so it makes sense that we are hosting Seafood Saturday– a celebration of kaimoana and the kaimahi who bring it to us, from sea to table.

Brought to you by Seafood New Zealand, this inaugural event on 25 March places great seafood at the centre of the day.

“Seafood Saturday is a fun and delicious way to celebrate everything great about seafood – from the people who harvest, process, distribute and cook it, through to the amazing range of kaimoana that Aotearoa New Zealand has to offer,” says Seafood New Zealand chief executive Dr Jeremy Helson.

Nelson’s festival quarter at the top of Trafalgar Street will host a ticketed multi-plate seafood and wine experience under two festival marquees, prepared by chefs from Hawker House, Hopgood’s Restaurant, The Vic Public House, Burger Culture, Kiwi Kai and Oceano Restaurant at Rutherford Hotel Nelson.

For those not at the degustation meal, there is goodness to be had in the FirstMate Community Zone, featuring a ‘build your own burger’ bar thanks to Burger Culture and Sealord, and free fish and chips for children, thanks to The Vic Public House and Sealord.

A fish filleting demonstration will be on show, and the Nelson Provincial Museum will host oceanthemed activities. And for those curious about careers, Seafood Saturday will be a chance to meet people in different seafood industry roles and have a chat.

The purpose of Seafood Saturday is also to highlight the importance of fishing and seafood production to the ‘blue economy’.

“Bringing Seafood Saturday to Nelson highlights the importance of the blue economy to Nelson and

the Top of the South – where economic value is created from sustainable marine activities such as aquaculture and fishing,” says Helson.

Fiona Wilson, chief executive of the Nelson Regional Development Agency, welcomes this new event that showcases the region’s fresh seafood produce.

“We are excited to see Nelson host this inaugural seafood celebration. The ocean economy is one of our three key production and processing industries, alongside forestry and horticulture,” says Wilson.

“Nelson is home to Australasia’s largest seafood processing port. Te Tauihu is also the region with New Zealand’s highest share of employment dedicated to food production from the ocean, with around 2,600 jobs in fishing, aquaculture and processing, about five per cent of all employment across the region – let alone the many people who work in industries that support the sector.”

Sealord chief executive officer Doug Paulin says Sealord is thrilled to be supporting an event that recognises the importance of the seafood sector to the Nelson Tasman community.

“The Sealord whānau are everything to us,” says Paulin. “Last year we all worked together to renew our vision, which is now ‘Doing right by our whānau and the environment to bring quality seafood to the world,’ and we do that from right here in Nelson.

“We are looking forward to celebrating with the public at Seafood Saturday on 25 March,” he says.

Seafood Saturday

12pm - 4pm | 25 March 2023

Upper Trafalgar St, Nelson seafoodsaturday.nz

April Nelson Giants vs Auckland Tuatara

April Nelson Giants vs Franklin Bulls

April Top of the South Gymnastics Competition 2 May Don Mclean 6 May Nelson Giants vs Taranaki Airs

May NBS Dancing for a Cause

What’s On

For updated information visit itson.co.nz

4 March

MARCHFEST

Marchfest is a unique craft beer and music festival. Enjoy over 15 specially brewed beers, great music, things for kids and local cuisine, cider and wine.

10 & 11 March BLUES BROTHERS AND COMMITMENTS SHOW BY CAPITAL CITY

This amazing 11 piece band from Christchurch plays all the hits from two of the best soundtracks of all time. Tickets just $30 for show. Show plus 2 course buffet $45.

19 March

MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL

Celebrate ‘Unity in Diversity.’ Choose from a number of tantalizing food stalls that will delight your senses. Check out the arts and crafts and community/educational stalls. Enjoy the music, songs, and dance from around the world.

23 March TOM RODWELL

Cult calypso-blues guitarist plays songs from his witty, sensual and shapeshifting album “Wood & Waste.”

Check out what’s happening in the region!

25 March THE SOUNDS OF STAGE AND SCREEN

Under the baton of Nigel E Weeks and featuring no less than five current national champions and multiple current and past members of the National Band of New Zealand, NBS Nelson City Brass is one of New Zealand’s premier brass ensembles.

On now - 17 March ABUNDANCE

Although Grant Palliser is most well-known for his large sculptures that are scattered throughout the Nelson region, this exhibition features Grant’s paintings influenced by his experiences of the tides, the birds, the everchanging weather and the skies of Māpua.

19 March

TATTLETALE SAINTS IN THE SUMMERTIME

Celebrating their new album, Cy Winstanley and Vanessa McGowan dive deep into old set lists, with fresh takes of everything from old country traditionals and bluegrass to reggae and 70’s pop.

The Playhouse

Theatre Royal Fairfield House

Founders Heritage Park

Quiet Dog Gallery

Founders Heritage Park

Fairfield House

National’s new candidate in Nelson

Blair Cameron, 31, has been selected as the National Party candidate in Nelson at this year’s general election.

Who is Blair Cameron?

I’m aspirational for Nelson and ready to fight for the opportunity to make the region even better as Nelson’s MP in Chris Luxon’s energised National Party team.

Like so many Kiwis, I returned to New Zealand in 2020 after years working overseas. In my time away, I held roles at Princeton University, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Leadership Academy for Development at Stanford University.

A lot of my work has focused on finding ways to improve the performance of the public sector – something I know National is focused on, whether that’s in improving our kids’ education outcomes, delivering better health services, restoring law and order or strengthening our economy to reduce the cost of living and lift incomes.

I set up base in Nelson-Tasman as my mother moved here after several years in Canterbury, where I was raised. I quickly fell in love with the region and everything it has to offer. I’m an outdoors person and enjoy kayaking, going to the beach and tramping in Nelson Tasman’s incredible national parks – whether that’s going for a day trip along the Abel Tasman Coast Track or visiting my favourite tramping hut in the country up at Lake Angelus.

I also enjoy harness racing and rugby, though a knee injury a few years back has stopped me from playing. But there is good news on the rugby front: despite being born a Cantabrian, I’ve switched sides and now cheer on the Tasman Mako.

What will your campaign involve?

My priority is getting out and meeting as many people across Nelson as I can to hear about the issues that matter to them.

I’ll be highly visible, approachable and active in our community. You’ll see me at local events and knocking on doors across Nelson working hard to earn the right to represent our beautiful slice of New Zealand.

I’m absolutely committed to being a strong local advocate for people in Nelson and encourage people to get in touch with me any time. I can’t wait to meet you all.

Authorised by B.Cameron, 544 Waimea Rd, Nelson.

Tasman Asian Night Food Fair

Washbourn Gardens

1. Carolina Candia and Tomás Cabrera

2. Lynda Mortimer, Ian Mortimer and Robert Gerrie

3. Duncan Mountfort and Lotus Meijer

4. Sushma Subba and Tomoko O’Brien

5. Vicky Yuen and Thara Wickrama

6. Samedi Nguon and Storm Bolatuku

7. Jennifer Kereama, Marilyn Russ and Harold Kereama

8. Cian Moloney and Sophie Reed

Mackenzie Charleton

Nelson Jewellery Week Launch

Arden

1. Andy Clover and Astrid Visser

2. Rebecca Leach, Rita Merriman and Tracee Neilson

3. David and Nina James

4. Kayla Mackenzie and Kim Ireland

5. Louise Douglas and Rachel Douglas

6. Nils Pokel and Caleb McCullough

7. Julie Catchpole, David Wheeler and Christine Hafermalz-Wheeler

8. Jamie Chase and Ash Wakelin

Sarah Board

Fringe Festival programme launch

The Loft

1. Áine Byrne and Claire Scott

2. Anna-Maria Mueller, Anne-Marie Richards and Kate Bevan

3. Erica Sim and Nikkie Karki

4. Jasmine Turner and Giles Burton

5. Sally Tohill and Mel McColgan

6. Rom and Olivia Flanagan

7. Donna Chapman, Phil Donlon and Gwen Daly

8. Eliane Polack and Keith Marshall

Mackenzie Charleton

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Charity Golf Day

Nelson Golf Club

1. Sean Riordan, Blair Riordan, Leon Guerin and Ben Douglas

2. Troy Brockie, Duke Climo, Mark Keehan and Paul Brockie

3. Craig Morice and Lisa Charles

4. Todd Buchanan and Bryce Currie

5. Simon Charles and Brad Allam

6. Chelsea Routhan, Sarah Lindup and Yasna Keys

7. Paul Andrews, Craig Lawson, Brendan Rae and Dave Hall

8. Brian, Wil, Tom and Brett Thornalley

Founders Heritage Park

1. Chan and Ru Collin

2. Jocelyn Sim, Tama Nooroa and Moana Davis

3. Jon Gallinagh and Asher Gibbins

4. Yakira Marsh-Wetere and Myah Lister

5. Sharon Wilson and Tina Baker

6. Anne Stanton and Gay Molineaux

7. Lucy Poole, Lauren Moggach and Lauren Widger

8. Matthew and Kay Werner

International Kai Festival

Mackenzie Charleton

563 Main Road, Stoke, New Zealand inkcreative.nz

McKee Gallery in the Suter Art Gallery

1. Paul and Jilly Deacon

2. Ali, Linsey and Ben and Isla Kennard

3. Glenis Ambrose and Kirsten Baldwin

4. Joanna and Scott Hamilton

5. Renate Gramm-Hofer and Nicole Russell

6. Paul Nankivell and Don Ambrose

7. Francie Heathfield, Jill Richards and Roz Speirs

8. Val and Bill Prosser

Redwood Valley 127 Redwood Valley Road

Nelson & Richmond

Tender (No Prior Sale) View: harcourts.co.nz/RC6466

The Best Land Tasman has to offer..

Attention all farmers and land enthusiasts! Are you looking for a piece of paradise to call your own? Nestled in the stunning Redwood Valley, this block of land boasts productive flats, rolling fields with fertile soil and natural water as well as Redwood Valley Scheme. Substantial renovations have been undertaken on the home in recent years, including new kitchen, retrofitting double glazing and some layout changes to utilise the most of this 4/5 bedroom home’s spaces and fantastic outdoor areas. No expense has been spared when it comes to the land either, from fencing, concrete pad Te Pari cattle yards, workshops and implement sheds.

Toby Randall

M 027 233 9170

toby.randall@harcourts.co.nz

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Redwood Valley 77 Redwood Park Road

Seriously Smart Buying

18.3833Ha

Price by Negotiation over $1,570,000 View: harcourts.co.nz/RC6464

Looking for a peaceful country escape? Approx 18.3Ha of rolling hills - 12Ha of forestry, with a second rotation of young pine trees and all the tracks and skid sites ready. There are options to explore regarding ETS for Carbon Credits. The impressive and solid home has been renovated throughout the years, offering 4 bedrooms, 2 living, 2 bathrooms and double garage with lean to. Step out onto the large deck and enjoy the stunning views. The land around the house is an easier contour, surrounded by established trees, with room for the animals. You certainly wouldn’t regret investing in your family and future when it comes to this great piece of Real Estate.

Toby Randall

M 027 233 9170

toby.randall@harcourts.co.nz

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

The Wood 3C Shakespeare Walk

For Sale View: harcourts.co.nz/NN25859

Peaceful and Private in Central City Fringe!

Let your dream come true! If you have yearned to be close to the city in a quiet location where you can walk out the door and be at your favourite cafe or the supermarket in “5”, then take a look at this Riverside recreation area beauty! One owner and built in the 1980’s, the spacious 2 bedroom home is neat and tidy throughout, but if you want to invest in a refurbishment, then it will be money well spent in a great location. Our owner has enjoyed 35 fabulous years, with friendly considerate neighbours, a garden full of fox gloves, hydrangeas, a plum tree and so much more, this has been living the Nelson dream. Immediate possession.

Caroline Fletcher

M 027 453 5885

caroline.fletcher@harcourts.co.nz

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Wakefield 354 Bridge Valley Road

7.00Ha

Tender (No Prior Sale) View: harcourts.co.nz/RC6448

Tasman’s Best Kept Secret - You’re Welcome!

Elevate your lifestyle with this luxurious architectural 3/4 bedroom home. The various spaces are certainly designed to impress and make the most off the all day sun. High end, well executed kitchen, spacious open plan living that flows to a great outdoor entertaining area with inground salt water pool – finished with the addition of a well appointed pool house with own ensuite bathroom. The land is some flat with mostly rolling pasture, good water supply and a 4 bay shed/worskshop and room for all the toys. Enjoy the best of both worlds, with this property only a short drive from Brightwater’s or Wakefield’s local amenities.

Toby Randall

M 027 233 9170

toby.randall@harcourts.co.nz

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Cooper Real Estate Ltd (Licensed under REAA 2008)