14 minute read
On the Street
Angela McIntosh, also known as Angel Blush @angelblushnz, is Nelson’s own pinup star, having been a finalist in the Miss Pinup New Zealand Pageant and soon to compete in Miss Vintage Australasia. Angela shares with us her vintage style secrets.
What are you wearing?
My dress is a mid-century vintage reproduction by pinup couture, purchased pre-loved from Trademe. My hat is 1940s halo style, bag and gloves are true vintage and shoes are vintage reproduction by B.A.I.T Footwear.
What is your style?
Vintage pinup, the 1940s and 1950s era.
What is most of your wardrobe made up of?
Vintage reproduction dresses.
What is your approach to shopping?
Quality over quantity and trying to find pre-loved items whenever possible.
What is your all-time favourite purchase?
My dark blue velvet evening dress that I wore in last year’s Miss Pinup New Zealand Pageant. It is a mid-century reproduction from La Femme En Noir and has a vampy, film noir feel. The length (just below the knee) means that I get a surprising amount of wear out of it, rather than a floorlength gown that would sit neglected in my closet!
What has been your worst clothing disaster?
I am a Burlesque performer, and last year at a local showcase right as I was about to go onstage, the zip on my 1950s evening gown completely, irreparably burst, and I was unable to go on stage. Luckily I have an amazing local seamstress, at Grey Door Clothing Alterations who was able to replace the zip.
What wardrobe item should everyone invest in?
A winter coat in your preferred style that is flattering and makes you feel amazing.
Do you have a style rule you always obey?
More of a preference than a rule, but I only wear skirts/dresses that fall on or below the knee, which keeps my look more authentic to the time period, and is more practical.
If you could raid one person’s wardrobe, who would it be?
Rita Hayworth, specifically her 1940s era eveningwear.
Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…
Anything that doesn’t make me feel amazing!
Jens Hansen 320 Trafalgar Square, Nelson jenshansen.co.nz
Experience the luxury and warmth of merino, possum and silk knitwear this season.
Cruellas 155 Hardy St, Nelson cruellas.co.nz
Your new go-to bag
Designed with utility in mind, this clean and simple design is beautiful and practical. Perfect for work, a park trip with the kids or a load of groceries, Juno bags are sturdy and easy to clean.
Little Beehive 123 Bridge Street littlebeehive.shop
Easter isn’t just about chocolate
For a gift that is perfect the whole year round, delight the senses with a treat from Living Light. No calories - guaranteed!
Living Light Shop 2A, 219 Trafalgar St, Nelson Central Arcade livinglight.co.nz
Groovy baby
Inspired by the 1970s, Australian brand Rolla’s are the masters of retro revival. Offering a modern take on vintage classics, these are made from a comfy stretch corduroy and expertly shaped for the perfect peach.
Trouble & Fox Shop 4, Bank Lane troubleandfox.co.nz
Blend – the hardest workers in denim since 1993. T-shirts for the mainstream guy who sometimes dares to Blend out.
Made for Men
219 Queen St, Richmond madeformen.nz The chrysanthemum flower represents happiness, love, and longevity. Choose from sterling silver or solid gold with a gemstone of your choice. Prices from $225
Louise Douglas Jewellery
191 Hardy Street, Nelson louisedouglas.com
Beautiful lingerie
Whether it’s something bold and adventurous, dainty and sweet, or wild and sexy, Be Adult promises that every piece in their collection is unique, beautiful and inspiring, just like the women who wear them.
Be Adult 117 Hardy St, Nelson (Montgomery Arcade) bkinky.co.nz
Stylish jewellery created just for you
Handcrafted and custom-made designs from the RoCS studio and workshop in Richmond.
RoCS 238a Queen St, Richmond rocs.co.nz
Be exclusive
Stacey is the exclusive stockist for several high-end fashion brands, including Bittermoon, Gaard, Jason Lingard, Joseph Ribkoff and Once Was. Support local, be exclusive and unique.
Stacey
249 Queen St, Richmond stacey.co.nz
Unique designs
Offering boutique gel nail enhancements in the Nelson CBD. Personalised one on one service, flexible bookings and the newest trends
The Nail Room Nelson Bookings via Facebook or Instagram - or thenailroomnelson@yahoo.com
BEAUTY Report
Keep fresh with treatments set to leave you looking and feeling your best this autumn.
Designer permanent makeup
Enjoy fabulous longlasting eyebrows or eyeliner without the hassle of applying makeup every day. With 29 years’ experience in the industry, you are in safe hands with Kathy Basalaj.
Ph: 027 435 8336 designerpermanentmakeup.co.nz
Profhilo only at enhanceskin
Profhilo stimulates collagen and elastin, attracting moisture into the deepest layers of your skin. Ideal for treating fine lines, loose and wrinkled skin. Patented slowrelease technology offers long-lasting benefits.
Ph: 03 548 8216 enhanceskin.co.nz
Share the moment with a loved one
Indulge in a pamper session for two at Mabin House Body & Skin Sanctuary. A combination of treatments are available for couples, friends and family. Nourish and indulge yourself with a personalised pampering session.
Ph: 03 539 0699 mabinhouse.co.nz
Teeth whitening that works
Professional teeth whitening at a great specialprice. Just $169 for your 60-minute treatment (RRP $599). Rose Askin (NZCTWA registered, trained and qualified)
Ph: 0272 462 449 sparklewhite.co.nz
Gentle cleansing
This gel-based cleanser contains gentle, plant-based surfactants. Ceramides and prebiotics nourish the skin as it removes makeup, and it can also be used as a shaving gel.
eunoiabeauty.com
Brighten your day
Colour contour balayage brightens your hair with low maintenance colour. From newlyopened hair salon Solo Style with Mel Brown.
Solo Style – Richmond Ph: 027 335 7274
Dean Palmer of Hinetai Hops checking checking the crop during ‘Hop Training’; winding the bines up the strings which is done during spring each year.
Dean Palmer and father John Palmer celebrate reaching a 1000 bale record last year.
Hop heroes
With its sunny climes and dedicated growers crafting some of the best hops in New Zealand, Nelson has earned itself an enviable reputation when it comes to the art of hop growing. Paula Hulburt discovers more about the ancient craft and the people who make it so special.
Seas of green stretch as far as the eye can see as the bine stems twist their way skyward. An earthy, pine-tinged tang fills the air as the day warms and work gets underway. Voices call out in greeting and slurps of caffeine are hurriedly taken on the go; it is the busiest time of year for hop growers as harvest is underway. It is 7am on a Tuesday morning and the papery, light cones are ready for picking; post coffee and some sleep, the team are ready to swing into action. For Hinetai Hops grower Dean Palmer, it is the busiest yet most rewarding time of the year. He rolls his neck from side to side, shaking off the residue of the six or so hours of sleep he’s managed. From mid-February until the end of March, Dean leaves his home and family behind in Motueka and heads to oversee harvest in Tapawera. This year, he has a caravan on site.
“Just in case I have to isolate,” he explains. Like the rest of the world coping with a pandemic, harvest for the Hinetai Hops team means making some changes. “It’s always frenetic,” Dean explains “but more so this year. There’ve been extra challenges with staff but we’ve been particularly lucky. “We’ve got a great crew.” Worries over possible staff shortages for harvest may have proven unfounded but Dean is nonetheless grateful for those workers whose help is so invaluable.
This year, the industry offered better wages and free accommodation to entice workers in to help, he says, as he pays tribute to the RSE workers and regular local workers who make up this year’s crew. “We even had a Kiwi from Auckland show up because they wanted to help with the labour shortage.” For fellow grower Colin Oldham from New Hoplands, also in Tapawera, harvest is going well. Not affected by staff shortages, Colin says he has kept things the same as always on his 38 hectares of hop gardens. The 50/50 mix of local staff and RSE workers get free accommodation as usual, he says. Colin, wife Alana and sons Hayden and Thomas took on New Hoplands from Colin’s father, David, in the mid-1990s. The hops are an obvious passion and Colin’s voice fills with warmth and enthusiasm as he describes how well harvest is going. “I’m only overseeing though, not putting in the hard yards physically,” he is quick to explain. “I’m only doing around 10 hours a day, seven days a week.” For a man whose relatively small hop gardens once caught the eye of America’s Budweiser beer baron, August Busch III, Colin is certainly humble about all he has achieved.
Like Dean, Colin too is expecting a good harvest. The mix of rain at the right time and plenty of sunshine has been kind to growers he says. “We got plenty of rain at the right time for the hops,” he points out, “just as they were coming into flower. The only problem with heavy rain is a lot of weight goes on the hop garden, but that didn’t happen on my farm.” As the cones and varieties mature at different rates, harvest is naturally a long process, spread out over about five weeks.
Dean and his team are bracing themselves for the most hectic part of harvest as several varietals become ready at the same time. At that point he can say goodbye to his one day off a week. “They become ready between 15 and 25 March and I’ll be working every day at that point.” Dean’s fascination with hops began as a boy when his grandfather and then father grew hops. He has clear memories of running around the hop shed as dust motes spiralled and the air filled with the enticing aroma of lupulin.
Hayden, Colin, Thomas and David Oldham enjoying some of the fruits of their labour.
Some of the harvest crew at Hinetai where teams have formed friendships over the years.
Harvest is well underway at Hinetai Hops where an abundant crop is expected. Colin Oldham with his wife Alana Oldham on the farm.
Colin Oldham
“Running around the hop shed are some of my earliest recollections, he smiles. “I’d collect hops that fell on the road, bundles of them, and just keep them, as kids do.”
Decades on and while his passion for the plant hasn’t waned, he no longer keeps the flowers stashed in a bag in his room, he laughs. The romanticised image he built up in his mind as a child has broadened both with time and experience though. While days during harvest can stretch to 10 and even 12 hours long, both Dean and Colin have no qualms about putting in the time. “It’s really full on but genuinely very exciting. The people, the sense of community and the good yields make it worth it,” Dean says. “It’s quite rewarding, working so hard together. You get a real variety of people, and while there’s not much of a chance to chat during harvest, there’s always the after party.” His sentiments are echoed by Colin who says he looks forward to welcoming back familiar faces every year. “If they’re still in the country, they come back. We make sure they have a good time,” he says. For Dean, hops were something he grew up with, a legacy passed down through the generations. From land bought in Waimea West by his great, great grandfather, John Palmer, to the 63 hectares the family use for hops today. Ten varieties include an organically-grown garden of the highly sought-after variety, Nelson Sauvin. Across Nelson and Tasman, the bines have done well this year, both men agree. “We had such a good summer and then rain in early February and that was perfect, the farm is so lush and the hops are looking really good. Everything is on track,” Dean says. At New Hoplands, where the organic gardens now make up 10 hectares overall, there is a buzz in the air, a sense of purpose. For self-confessed beer lover Colin, it is a sight he and his family have worked hard to achieve. Row upon row of abundant green cuts through the landscape in clean lines. From above the fields are a swathe of colours, gently undulating as the bines twist and flex in the breeze. The flowers hang almost ready for picking. It is a sight that never fails to gladden, Colin says. “It’s difficult to put into words, but I’ve always been passionate about hops. I love the way they grow so fast.” A third generation hop grower, Colin believes Nelson is perfect for growing. His sons do too and are coming on board as the fourth generation to turn their hand to the craft. It is very much a family concern. In 1990 Hoplands turned over some of their land to grow organically, and at one point were the only organic grower in the world, before a Belgian business also made the switch ten years later. “Nelson is a great place to grow hops as we’re disease-free here and have very cold winters,” he says. For an Order of the Hop recipient for his work with organics, Colin is a bit shy about what he’s achieved. He does, however, enjoy extolling the many virtues of the gardens. “Social media means people can know more about it than ever before but there are lots of people who don’t have a clue. We had 25 dairy farmers here the other day. “They wanted a break from dairy farms so came to see us and had a tasting, they had a great time and left with smiles on their faces.” Dean too is rightly proud of all that the team at Hinetai Hops have achieved. In 2016, and again in 2018, Hinetai Hops earned the ‘NZ Hops Grower of the Year’ title. “I believe in doing some of the simple things well to develop our industry and produce really great hops,” Dean says. “I’m proud of our family history, too. Over 100 years of collaboration, sharing knowledge, Tasman’s growers working together – that all makes for a strong group of growers, producing a really great product.”
Hip Hop Hooray!
Once they’re off the vine where do they go? Dig a little deeper into the history of hops, or try them where they should be – in a thirst quenching craft beer!
Fresh hop beers
Hop harvest! The one time of year you can drink fresh hop beers. Nelson-Tasman has two on tap at your local Sprig + Fern Tavern. Try our Trifecta Fresh Hop Hazy featuring Tahieke™ Pasifica™ and Riwaka™ hops. Nelson: Hardy St - Milton St – Tahuna
Tasman: Brightwater – Mapua – Motueka – Upper Queen – The Meadows
Hopped Up
Craft beer shindig Saturday 2nd April 2022 Meet four of Nelson’s top brewers. Fresh hop first release beers, live music, great food, beer tent, plus full bar. Tickets include beer! Available from eventfinda.co.nz or founderscafe.co.nz
Founders Café 87 Atawhai Drive, The Wood, Nelson
Heritage hops
A fifth generation hop farm that prides itself on their family values, product quality, innovation, and the development of sustainable farming practices
Mac Hops admin@machops.co.nz
Hop history
The first hundred years of Nelson hop growing and brewing is celebrated in Founder’s Hop and Beer Museum. Explore the replica hop kiln, learn about the brewing process and listen to the arguments for and against prohibition in the brewer's office.
Founders Heritage Park 87 Atawhai Drive, Nelson founderspark.co.nz
Home grown hops
The only hop farm in all of New Zealand to grow and brew their beer, Hop Farm Brewery has beers to suit even the most discerning palate, from lager to dark. Give it a try some time!
Hop Farm Brewery 362 Tadmor Valley Road, Tapawera hopfarmbrewery.co.nz
New brew!
Five fresh hopped Flavourtorium ales arriving in April at The Free House. The Free House 95 Collingwood Street, Nelson thefreehouse.co.nz
