Fringe Festival returns to the stage

from Nelson Magazine - May 2021

by Top South Media

Gardening

Fraser Hooper is set to entertain Nelson crowds with his show and clown workshops.

Nelson Fringe Festival, back to sideways

Nelson Fringe Festival returns to the stage, revamped and refreshed on the back of last year’s virtual festival.

Words: Erin Bradnock

Clowns, comedy and cabaret, alongside first class theatre, are among this year’s line up with new festival director Giles Burton at the helm

“This year, we’re focusing on using the time to think about what a Fringe can do, and what we want to be. We’re bringing back some fantastic theatre shows and alongside that, we’re creating space for the growth and development of the next wave of Fringe shows,” says Giles. It’s not just live performances on the line up, there’s also a range of immersive workshop experiences on offer, including physical theatre, lighting and clown workshops. Fraser Hooper is the clown behind one show and two workshops, one designed for families and the other for adults. The internationally award-winning funny man has taught clowning in over 20 countries and for 12 years was the resident clowning tutor at The National Institute for Circus in London. “I love teaching, it’s a chance to share my passion and help others discover and research their own creative practise from a clown’s perspective,” says Fraser. Those interested in the art of clowning can exercise their funny bones in workshops with Fraser as part of Nelson Fringe 2021. The renowned clown is also looking forward to tickling the funny bones of Nelsonians at his show and promises the performance will be a unique experience. “At best it feels like a jazz concert to me, where the rhythms of what I’m doing on stage cause ripples of happy noises from the audience, which in turn feed my next moves. I improvise around my favourite routines so they feel fresh, and I can find new things to work with,” he says. Giles says the Fringe Festival workshops are for anyone curious about performing and expressing themselves through theatre. “The workshops aren’t aimed at performers, they’re aimed at the general public. It’s about connection and for families, a different way they can interact with their kids and break down any barriers. It’s always very exciting.” The team at Fringe, alongside performers, are eager to take to the stage following last year’s virtual festival. “We’re bringing back performers who participated last year virtually, it’s going to be a totally different experience seeing them live,” he says.

Nelson Fringe Festival runs from May 6-15. For more information and to see the full programme visit nelsonfringe.co.nz/programme.

Lucinda Blackley-Jimson with a JollyBoy Doll from the 1930s. It is one of the more than 200,000 objects from the Nelson Provincial Museum archives.

Museum’s hidden treasures

The Nelson Provincial Museum has no doubt wooed you with an exhibition or two, but a bit like Narnia, you need to step behind a much older door to find the real magic. Britt Coker explains.

Well, there’s good news and there’s bad news. The good news is that Nelson Tasman residents have a collection of early photographic images that are second to none. The bad news is that they are housed in a 1970’s building in Stoke stored alongside sandbags that aren’t there because they’re part of the collection.

Less than 1% of the collection is on display at the provincial museum in Nelson’s upper Trafalgar Street. Most of it is housed at the storage facility in Isel Park which is ironically, a relic not worth saving. Museum Chief Executive, Lucinda Blackley-Jimson explains. “We are in a building that has earthquake issues, and it has been strengthened as much as it can be. There are issues of weather tightness, it’s flood prone, and there is asbestos in the roof (which is stable, but deters renovation). There are huge issues with this site, and that’s why it is so hugely important that local councils do support us to move into a new collection store.” The museum’s had made some first steps with the successful purchase of a piece of land that backs on to the city’s museum. Now they wait for support to build, appreciating that there are many financial pressures on the local councils, but hoping a ‘sooner rather than later’ strategy is adopted.

The Nelson Provincial Museum began way back in 1841. Early UK settlers, not yet off the boats, were already planning an institute for the ‘new colony’. This forward planning has resulted in the oldest museum collection in the country with equally notable numbers. Two hundred thousand objects across social and natural history, taonga Māori, fine and decorative arts, as well as 1.2 million photographs, and 150,000 original documents.

The Tyree Studio photographic collection takes pride of place on the mantel. This highly lauded collection stretches from the 1860s to the 1940s and is significant enough to have been included in the prestigious UNESCO Memory of the World New Zealand documentary heritage register. Much of

I’m really excited every time I come here and look at the textiles because we’ve got a beautiful collection of fashion, so that’s something I really gravitate towards and I have those ‘wow moments’ when I come through.

the credit for the preservation of the early photos must go to a woman called Rose Frank. Born in 1864, she was one of New Zealand’s first professional woman photographers. The Tyree Studio was started by Fred and William Tyree who photographed many Nelson Tasman residents from the 1860s onwards. Rose joined the business in 1885 aged 21, became manager in 1895 and bought the studios in 1914. She held onto all 150,000 glass plate records during that time, finally retiring at the age of 82 years old.

Bathing suit, woman's. Nelson Provincial Museum Collection NPM2020.60.2. This swimsuit from the 1970s was part of a larger donation of textiles from local Nelsonian, Anne McEwan.

Another significant contributor to Nelson’s photographic records was Frederick Nelson Jones Jr (F.N Jones) who took more than 12,000 photos from 1904 to 1933. His use of a three-legged ladder offered a clear vantage point at key events, though his camera made the ultimate sacrifice. Donated to the museum’s collection, the numerous dents on its rim attest to a few battles lost when gravity came into frame. With 200,000 items in the collection, ‘something for everyone’ is a confident catch cry. For Lucinda it’s the fashion. “I’m really excited every time I come here and look at the textiles because we’ve got a beautiful collection of fashion, so that’s something I really gravitate towards, and I have those ‘wow moments’ when I come through.” At the other end of the fashion spectrum are items synonymous with a regional story of sand and sunshine. “It’s not all very old things and people are surprised that we have something from the 60s or 70s, and actually that’s history, that’s really important. The swimsuits particularly, because Nelson Tasman has such a beach culture. There are quite high fashion, quite risqué little pieces there.” In an effort to declutter, you and I might biff things out. At the museum, it’s called rationalisation or deaccession. Though Collections Leader, Shae Trewin acknowledges their preference is to make the right decision in the first place as it saves a lot of time. Something they are better at doing as systems and processes have improved. “That’s part of healthy collections management but also, what is healthy is having a very good collections policy going forwards.” So they appreciate the offer, but no more old sewing machines please. It can be a difficult choice as to what makes the collection in modern times, though there are clear stand-outs. such as the 2019 fire that devastated large tracts of Waimea. Photos taken by people close to the action, including a few from Tasman Mayor, Tim King have been added to the photographic archives. And what would they like more of? Still photographs, still. And that taxidermied South Island kokako that you have sitting in a box in the garage you were going to let your kids fight over after you’re gone. The museum will take it because the bird is extinct (possibly, ‘data deficient’ is the amended classification).

Shae says in the presence of climate change, these examples of nature are providing insight that sketches in an old book can never replicate. “Scientists are paying more attention to these specimens to look at the size of birds or animals back then; the size of eggs. Seeing the changes that have happened, the acceleration of species becoming endangered or extinct.” She suggests that not even a skilled artist creating the best hand painted illustrations with the closest colour match, nor the latest 3D machine can compare with the genuine article. “That authenticity is still what makes a museum, a museum.” The curators would also welcome greater diversity in their contemporary collection, acknowledging the different ethnic groups and refugee communities that make up the region and whose stories are underrepresented in the archives. When you’re dealing with treasures on a day-to-day basis, it’s inevitable you’re going to hear the occasional shudder inducing

Maes, Nicolaes (1634-1693). The Philosopher. Oil on canvas. Nelson Provincial Museum, Marsden Collection AC1228. This painting, probably made around the 1650s, is part of the Nelson Provincial Museum’s Marsden collection, which also contains a number of other historic paintings bequethed by the Marsden Family.

confession such as, “I was the one that threw out the Lindauer painting”. In this person’s defence, the subject did have scary eyes. And the painting was a bit damaged. And yeah, they didn’t know it was a Lindauer. It’s believed to be in one of the Karori Tip’s Treasurers Under Trash piles. But it was one of a pair, and the other was donated to the Nelson Provincial Museum where it is currently undergoing conservation work in advance of a public outing one day. So, you win some, you lose some. As modern materials are introduced, they bring new challenges for preservation. Shae points to a couple of Proper Crisps compostable chip packets pinned to the staffroom wall inside a plastic sleeve. Will they break down and how long will it take? They need to find this stuff out because who knows what treasures will be made with compostable materials in the future that will require preservation. It might even be a 21st century chip packet.

It’s not all very old things and people are surprised that we have something from the 60s or 70s and actually that’s history, that’s really important.”

RARELY SEEN

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY

CHARLES ANDERSON

Mayor Rachel Reese says the precinct could be a link for the whole city.

Does Nelson need a multimilliondollar Riverside Precinct?

A bold proposal to invigorate Nelson’s city centre by building a new Riverside Precinct, complete with a new $46 million library, has its champions and its question marks. Charles Anderson looks at what could be in store for our CBD.

Councils love a good plan. In Nelson, there are often many of them. There was a plan to redevelop Bridge St. That didn’t happen. There was a plan to build a playground in Rutherford Park. That didn’t happen. There was a plan to redevelop Montgomery Square. That didn’t happen. These plans often take time and often they fall over.

Here is another one that advocates say may take time, but hope will fly. The $46 million proposal to create a Riverside Precinct alongside the Maitai River would encompass a state-of-the-art library, a climatorium, along with a civic square, and multiple spaces for commercial developments. It’s ambitious, expensive and, if you ask its proponents, essential in pushing Nelson forward into a community-minded city that is world-leading. Ask Mayor Rachel Reese and she will say she has thought there should be an innovative development in the space between Burger King and around to Paru Paru Rd since she first came onto the council. That was in 2007. Ask Wakatū Incorporation’s chief executive Kerensa Johnston and she will say the project has a much longer-term vision. It is connected with the organisation’s 500-year intergenerational plan for the region, which it calls ‘Te Pae Tawhiti’ - the distant horizon. “As part of that vision, we have an aspiration to revitalise the Nelson central business district and create a place where people from all over the world will want to work and live, and where they are connected with the natural environment as well as a high-quality built environment,” she says. These are the two women at the centre of this project because they each lead the entities which own the land. Wakatū Incorporation was gifted much of the land along the Maitai as part of its settlement under the Nelson Tenths. This was the Crown living up to its promise that 10 per cent of land sold to them by local iwi would be reserved for the betterment of those who sold it.

You could do a modest upgrade of the existing building, but the site calls for something more. It wouldn’t deliver that connectivity we are after.

Rachel Reese

KATE MACPHERSON

Wakatū Incorporation chief executive Kerensa Johnston says the Riverside Precinct is part of a vision that looks 500 years into the future.

“The site, and particularly the awa is significant to the families of Wakatū, the whānau and hapū who rely on the awa for food as well as spiritual and cultural sustenance,” says Kerensa. “The river, like all of our waterways, is integral to our identity as Māori, and the health of our waterways, in particular, it is intimately connected to our wellbeing as people.” And that site is deserving of something that the city can be proud of, Kerensa and Rachel say. It is also a unique arrangement. For the project to come off in the way they are proposing, Nelson City Council and Wakatū Inc, an entity created in 1977 from the descendants of Ngāti Rarua, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Tama, and Te Ātiawa, will swap land. Wakatū Inc owns the site where Burger King is currently situated, and Nelson City Council owns the land where the Elma Turner Library sits. By swapping land, it will allow the council to build its new library on the Burger King site. “The library has sat as an outstanding project for quite some time,” says Rachel. And as part of that, the council has had several options at their disposal – including refurbishing the original building for a fraction of the cost of this current proposal. “You could do a modest upgrade of the existing building, but the site calls for something more. It wouldn’t deliver that connectivity we are after.” Rachel sees the precinct proposal as about community learning and innovation.

“It’s an inspirational site and deserves to have an inspirational project. As joint landowners, we want to activate this part of the city,” she says. That includes a proposal to build a ‘climatorium’ to bring industry, academia, local authorities, and the community together to educate, identify and solve problems related to climate change. Wakatū Incorporation’s group general manager property and commercial, Iain Sheves, says the organisation “takes a fairly long view of things”. “Obviously, it’s difficult to do that if we don’t take into account the changes that might come down the road, and the big one is climate change … we can sit here and not think about it and hope for the best or we can look at some of the problems and ask how we might generate solutions.”

We think that putting the effort into building resilient and sustainable buildings is the future – not just for Nelson, but worldwide.

Iain Sheves

An artist’s impression of what the new library on the riverfront might look like. Photo: NCC

It’s an inspirational site and deserves to have an inspirational project. As joint landowners, we want to activate this part of the city.

Rachel Reese

The council has gone further than just thinking about the library as a building. Rachel sees the precinct as connecting many different parts of the city. That includes the council’s long-running Haven Precinct – a stretch of land which covers a section from the former Reliance Engineering building to the Boathouse on Rocks Rd. That has been in the works since 2015. And more recently it has come to include a Science and Technology precinct on Port Nelson’s land near State Highway 6. The catalyst for that project was a carrot for the Cawthron Institute, which had been investigating alternative sites for its large research laboratories. So, council is putting up money to get Cawthron to stay in the city. In this way, Rachel says the Riverside Precinct becomes the ultimate connector that might set about giving those two other projects momentum. Amid all that is the library. “It’s about asking what can a library be? They are really important to communities and to city economies,” says Rachel. “They are places of learning across generations.” She sees the library as that sort of beacon that connects parts of the city with the Trafalgar Centre in the middle. “It is ambitious and it should be. These opportunities don’t come along that often.” Kerensa says the specific project is to create a sustainable, high quality, and well-designed development, which opens our city to our river. This is done by creating spaces where people will want to gather – whether in open community spaces or high-quality buildings, which provide a mix of public and private uses. “We are also aiming to use good design to help tell our stories more effectively. There are really good examples of developments around the country where this has been done really thoughtfully and well – the new airport in Taranaki is an example of this approach, where storytelling and particularly the history of that place, underpins every aspect of the development and by doing so helps to connect the community to that place.” Wakatū Inc already has plans approved to move its main headquarters into the edge of the proposed precinct on Paru Paru Rd. Alongside that commercial operation, Iain Sheves says that there are about six or seven other projects that will develop over the years and will be ‘market driven’. That includes a rethinking of the current Countdown supermarket. Those tenants have no plans to move on, but Iain says in time they will want to create something more intensive in that space, rather than a big box store. He hopes the whole project will be seen as a “beacon of sustainable design”. “We think that putting the effort into building resilient and sustainable buildings is the future – not just for Nelson, but worldwide.”

Rachel agrees that the city needs to turn to the river. She points to the success of the pop-up playground, which is on Wakatū Incorporation land, as a way that opening up can create spaces for the community. She also says that the city needs to understand its own story better, including that of iwi. “We are also maturing in our understanding of the place that we live. The awa of Maitahi and its importance to iwi and all of us.” But do people want that? Do they want a gleaming library on the riverside that is among the most impressive in the country? Do they want a best practice, environmentally-friendly building that is built to the highest specifications? And more importantly, do they want to pay for it?

D A O R U R P A U P AR

CARPARK

CARPARK OFFICE BUILDING

RIVERSIDE PARK RIVERSIDE ESPLANADE MAITAI RIVER PLAYGROUND

RETAIL 200m2 MINI MART 1500m2 F & B 320m2

MARKET SQUARE

F & B 100m2 RETAIL 200m2 CARPARK CLIMATORIUM 600m2

ANZAC SQUARE

RETAIL 820m2 RETAIL 660m2 RETAIL 660m2 T T AHAK I ST R E E

CARPARK (A)

COMMERCIAL 335m2 FORECOURT PLAZA

HALIFAX STREET

OP2018-379 A rough plan of how the jigsaw of the Riverside Precinct Precinct - Halifax Street, Nelson SCALE 1:1000 might fit together. Photo: NCC 06 November 2020

RIVERSIDE PLAZA

LIBRARY T STRE E A F A L GA R T R

After all, $46 million (inflation-adjusted) for a 3250m² building is a lot of money. By way of comparison, Christchurch’s new central library Tūranga (built in 2018) cost $95m, covering an area of 9850m². An initial proposal for a new library in Wellington in 2020 was estimated at $167m, with a floor area of 14,000m².

If you judge from Facebook comments that have peppered social media in the last few months, then the verdict is split. Rachel thinks that they will get official feedback that says the council shouldn’t be spending any money, through to that they are not being ambitious enough. An architect’s report commissioned by the Nelson City Council in 2019 says the library delivered a high level of service, the current building was “tired”, unsuitable for contemporary library operations, and not adequate for Nelson’s current and future population. From feedback gathered from various meetings throughout 2019, recurring themes for a new library included a sustainable building that was connected with its surroundings and the river, with amenities such as a cafe, community room, and Nelson archive. “There are 300,000 people coming through the library each year,” says Rachel. “The most frustrating part of it is saying no to community opportunities. The demand is definitely there.” When looked at as a gateway site to open up the whole city, Rachel says the project is value for money. As a capital project, it is not connected to rates – instead council borrows for these sorts of developments and pays them off over a long time. Rachel also sees the site as a potential new civic space for the city. “We love the Church Steps but there aren’t too many other spaces like that. I think this has the potential to be that civic space.” She says if she had the option to build either a town hall, which Nelson does not have, or a new library, she would vote for a library. But it is in the land, not the building, where some issues have been forecasted on the horizon.

Climate lobby group Zero Carbon Nelson Tasman says the site near the river mouth was at high risk from sea-level rise and storms, and the council should hold off on the plan until a national adaptation framework was developed, and community consultation on adaption undertaken. Contingencies for predicted sea-level rise will be built in to the design of the library. The biggest element are the floor levels which could be raised to 4m above sea level. This would exceed the current standard for minimum ground level predictions for 2130. Still, that leaves the streets around the adjacent downtown area and the nearby suburb of The Wood. They would be flooded in a worst-case scenario event in 2130. Then the job becomes having to potentially raise the ground level of the whole riverside area and The Wood to something close to what is proposed for the library. “We are all aware that the way we have lived on this planet has created some big challenges and we do need to address those,” Rachel says. “Humanity has a big task in front of it. Do I think this site is sitting with a high-risk profile in the next 100 years? No I don’t. It’s a resilient site. We have thought carefully about the building design and the land.” Council is this month deliberating on submissions about the project. It will then take those into account when deciding its Long Term Plan. But if Rachel’s enthusiasm for it is anything to go by then planning may soon be underway to create a game changing project for the city. “We would be falling short for the region if we didn’t treat this land with respect,” she says.

Nelson’s favourite outdoor museum free entry ... for locals from Nelson & Tasman*

Investing in the Top of the South

Craigs Investment Partners and Top of the South Community Foundation have recently announced a partnership.

Top of the South Community Foundation (TotSCF) is part of the Community Foundations network of which Craigs Investment Partners (Craigs) are a nationwide principal sponsor. Making a difference to the community TotSCF is a registered charity set up to inspire generosity in the Nelson and Blenheim areas. It was founded with one simple aspiration – to make a long-term difference in our communities. To achieve this TotSCF:

1. Promote and encourage philanthropy - enabling everyone to create their legacy, by establishing or contributing to an endowment fund. 2. Wisely invest bequests and endowment donations to generate ongoing revenue that can be invested into the community in perpetuity. 3. Help donors with their decisions on how they want the income from their endowment to benefit the community. 4. Advocate on issues important to our community. Partnering for growth TotSCF have recently partnered with Craigs Investment Partners. Craigs is one of New Zealand’s largest investment companies with 19 branches nationwide with branches in both Nelson and Blenheim. The Nelson team has local investment advisers, Jason Craig, Tanya McMurtrie and Karl Williscroft and the Blenheim branch has investment advisers, Felix Vavasour and Kent Winstanley. Working together for the long-term Gavin Larsen, Executive Officer TotSCF says, “it is tremendous to have partnered with such a reputable and professional company as Craigs to help manage our funds and provide us with investment advice. Support from organisations, such as Craigs, is crucial in enabling the Foundation to continue to grow.” Craigs Area Manager, Geoff Brown says, “Craigs are long-time supporters of communities throughout New Zealand, and since inception have contributed to numerous community organisations and local events. We are very proud to be working alongside the Top of South Community Foundation to help make a difference to our community.” Geoff said that it was very pleasing to see the TotSCF going from strength to strength. “It is a great asset for our region and we are pleased to be able to work with Gavin and his team.” “We are proud to support charities and community groups in the Nelson and Blenheim areas annually via our grants round. We can’t offer that support to those great local organisations without the generosity of our donors and we are now looking ahead to making an even better difference in the community with the support of Craigs.” added Gavin Larsen. If you are interested in learning more about the Top of the South Foundation visit topsouthfoundation.org.nz

Left to right – Jason Craig (Craigs), Tanya McMurtrie (Craigs), Kent Winstanley (Craigs), Anissa Bain (TotSCF), Gavin Larsen (TotSCF), Dave Ashcroft (TotSCF), Felix Vavasour (Craigs), Karl Williscroft (Craigs)

Nelson Branch, 9 Buxton Square, Nelson P. 03 744 0100 E. nelson@craigsip.com

TESS JAINE

A walk of art

If you’re strolling around Nelson’s CBD and find yourself staring at walls, don’t be alarmed, it’s exactly what the organisers of ArtWalk had hoped you’d be doing. The project has seen 21 of our region’s most famous paintings enlarged and installed on various buildings in the city centre.

When John Gully positioned himself on the hills above what would become the Abel Tasman National Park and pulled out his stetch book, the largely self-taught artist captured a scene that helped sell a region and that started a legacy of landscape artists in Nelson Tasman which is now more accessible than ever.

Gully’s paintings of the region found fame in New Zealand, were sent to England in the 1880s and used in promotional material to encourage more immigrants to make Nelson their new home. Gully’s water colours were so popular at the time that at an exhibition in Dunedin in 1865 he sold each of his paintings before the exhibition had even started. His watercolour ‘View of Tasman Bay’ was commission and purchased by Nelsonians in 1885 after a public subscription and was the first painting for what is now the Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū.

So, it’s fitting that it is one of 21 artworks selected to be reproduced, enlarged and displayed on buildings throughout Nelson’s CBD as part of the ArtWalk project. ArtWalk also features work of acclaimed Nelson artists Jane Evans, Toss Woollaston, Rita Angus, William Allen, Leo Bensemann, Laura Herford, Irvine Major, Marjorie Naylor, Ross Ritchie, Charlotte Sand, Cedric Savage, Robin Slow, Michael Smither and Enga Washbourn. It is a collaboration between Make/Shift Spaces and Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū to make the pleasure of viewing Nelson through the brush strokes of our very best artists much easier.

Together, the works in ArtWalk give an insight into this part of the world, and why so many artists have been captivated by the region’s people, history, stories, vistas and industries. ArtWalk was officially opened late last month in time for Nelson City Council’s Tuku21 Heritage Month which saw free guided tours of the project. The idea for ArtWalk germinated during 2020’s Covid-19 lockdown, when Make/Shift Spaces general manager Anne

While we know that many people will recognise many of the artworks, we hope too, that others will be intrigued and encouraged to come and visit us at the gallery to discover more.

TIM CUFF

Each artwork has its own backstory that is related to the region, and we really hope people will be sparked to find out more about them. The ArtWalk website not only has a location map, but we’ll continue to add information and weblinks on each artwork.

Rush was thinking about art and cultural projects that would combat restrictions.

With The Suter on board, Anne was able to draw on Make/ Shift’s network of Nelson’s property owners, approaching them about utilising external walls on buildings around the city. “The initial response from the property owners and tenants confirmed that we were on to something special. From there, it was a gradual process of bringing the various components together – from matching the sites and artworks, getting all the required permissions for the buildings, as well as the artworks, making sure we could print the works at a high quality, and then ensuring that the installation process was as seamless as possible.” The Suter director Julie Catchpole says that they are always looking for new ways to extend their reach into the community so ArtWalk was a natural fit. “The Suter and the Nelson Tasman community has a wonderful collection – especially of Nelson’s rich history of local and visiting artists – and while we know that many people will recognise many of the artworks, we hope too, that others will be intrigued and encouraged to come and visit us at the gallery to discover more.”

The fact that all the works in ArtWalk have a direct connection and meaning to the Nelson Tasman region is a key component of the project says Anne. “Each artwork has its own backstory that is related to the region, and we really hope people will be sparked to find out more about them. The ArtWalk website not only has a location map, but we’ll continue to add information and weblinks on each artwork.”

To find out more about each of the art works displayed, or to find the map on their location, visit makeshiftspaces.nz

Top left: Make/Shift Spaces general manager Anne Rush, and director of the Suter Art Gallery, Julie Catchpole, in front of a copy of Leo Bensemann’s ‘Self Portrait’ as part of ArtWalk. Top right: Western Coast of Tasman Bay 1885, watercolour on paper, 750 x 1320 mm. Collection of The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū: purchased by public subscription in 1885 as the first painting for a public art collection in Nelson. ACC: 66 Left: Charlotte Sadd (1866–1937). Rocks Road in the making 1893, oil on board 375 x 536 mm. Collection of The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū: bequeathed to The Suter by the artist in 1937. ACC: 201

TIM CUFF

Women of wine

Larger numbers of women are seeking careers in the wine industry and are now dominating spaces in the viticulture classroom. So, what’s the appeal of the grape? Tracy Neal reports.

CHOCOLATE DOG STUDIO

Lisa Goodson, co-owner of Moutere Hills Vineyard, places bird netting on their ripening grapes.

Trudy Shield was a teenager in the 1980s when a campaign emerged with the slogan, “Girls Can Do Anything”.

“I’ve been telling my father that ever since, especially when he wouldn’t let me berth his fizz boat,” the award-winning winemaker says. Trudy is a key ingredient in the success of Brightwater’s Middle Earth Wines. She is described by Nelson wine writer Neil Hodgson as having exceptional talent, founded on being brought up on a farm, and nurtured by a solid science education. Success might well depend on the influences of practical and intellectual input, but Trudy believes the answer lies in her love of cooking. “I love to cook. When I think about picking grapes, I’m really like a cook walking around the vegetable garden thinking, ‘ooh that’s ready’ or ‘that’s delicious now’ or ‘that’s not going to hang on – let’s use that up’. “I use much more of a cook’s eye, and once it’s in the winery, then I apply the science.” Trudy has a degree in science, several years of hands-on work in medical microbiology, and a post-graduate degree in wine science from Lincoln University. She reckons that women bring a different flair to winemaking, because many gain an appreciation for cooking earlier than men. “I’ve never made a fuss about being a girl in this industry. I just got on and did it. “But I think fine detail of taste, yes, women are stronger at that, but then I feel like winemaking is such a multi-faceted job, and I like what women can bring to that.” Trudy says that is not only the “slow cooking” approach in the winery, but also how women approach managing people - and usually tired people respond better to a more caring approach during harvest. “It’s also just being able to organise pickers and cajole people into doing things ‘now’, and I think women are good at that.” A doyenne of the Nelson wine making industry, Judy Finn agrees with the cooking analogy. The co-owner of Neudorf Vineyards spoke with us soon after this year’s vintage ended, with many in the region having survived frost, hail and worker shortages.

Judy says women and men are equals in the industry, but she has found over the years that women tend to have better palates. “Traditionally more women do the cooking earlier than men. They’re used to tasting and analysing: ‘Does it need this, does it need that, do I like that or is it too bitter or too sour’.

“In a bigger winery you can do that on a computer but at the end of the day Todd (wine maker Todd Stevens) and Tim (Neudorf coowner Tim Finn) would both agree that there’s nothing like going out there first thing in the morning and saying, ‘we’re going to pick this today’, or ‘we’ll leave it another day’.” The chair of marketing group Wine Nelson says there is a romantic notion attached to grapes. Paul Miles, who co-owns Riwaka River Estate vineyard says it goes beyond the fruit, to what it becomes. “Grapes are very beautiful things to deal with, and I’d argue easier to harvest than kiwifruit and apples, but the romance with grapes and the end product of wine has a certain allure to many people.” But it is an industry as hard as any. Paul says farming in any of the primary industries brought its individual challenges.

CHOCOLATE DOG STUDIO

Emmanuelle David, winemaker, Kahurangi Estate.

“Every season brings its challenges, this year especially. We had a frost event late in the year, and then hail in December which affected our block in Riwaka.

“That combined with a wet spring means that our volumes are likely to be down a bit.” Judy Finn says that increasingly, women are advancing from roles as assistant winemakers to become the lead.

“It’s an attractive industry visually, and while that’s no reason alone to get involved, it does seem to be a factor in the numbers entering it.” Judy says picking and pruning is also very social. “If you and I were picking we’d be on either side of the grapevine, chatting as we went down the rows.” She says harvesting grapes is also perhaps less physically demanding than picking other fruit crops. “You’re not climbing up and down ladders, you don’t have sacks, it’s physically a lot easier and very communal, especially in a small family company.”

“We’re now seeing huge numbers of women coming into the industry and they’re making brilliant wines.”

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology has been delivering viticulture (grape growing) and winemaking programmes since 1991. It also offers a Bachelor of Viticulture which can be learned online, with block courses held at the Marlborough campus throughout the year - in the heart of the country’s largest wine producing region.

NMIT marketing services coordinator Charlotte Goodman says more women are entering the industry, judging by enrolments to its programmes.

“We’ve had some pretty good rates over the years.”

Figures provided by NMIT show that three years ago, 61 of the 127 total student intake were female. The following year more

We’re now seeing huge numbers of women coming into the industry and they’re making brilliant wines.

Judy Finn

I use much more of a cook’s eye, and once it’s in the winery, then I apply the science.

Trudy Shield

than half the 131 enrolments were women. In 2020 – the year of Covid, there were 133 students on the course, of which 59 were female.

So far this year, women make up 46 places of the total 106 enrolled.

Charlotte Goodman says the figures include international students, who predominantly remained in New Zealand to find work.

She says many of the female students love the science and innovation aspect to viticulture. “Others just love having their hands in the dirt and on the vines, and the more hands-on side of wine-growing.” NMIT works closely with the industry. Charlotte says programmes stop during harvest time to allow students the chance to support the industry by working in it fulltime.

“We’re looking at ways of ensuring the delivery of what we do fits in with the way our region works.” Judy Finn says that now this season’s grapes are in, they can take a breather. Compared with last year’s harvest, which coincided with Covid-induced lockdown, this year seemed a breeze although volumes are down. “Last year’s vintage was saved by a government decision overnight that we could carry on picking. It looked like we’d have to walk away from about 100 tonnes of grapes, so that decision was a saviour for many of us. “Last year’s vintage turned out to be brilliant. We had glorious weather and it was unusually calm, and the resulting wines were magnificent. “This year it’s much smaller because of a late fruit set due to frost.”

Judy is now stepping back from being a member of the team that produces some of Nelson’s best wines, but the legacy of Finn women at Neudorf will continue. She has passed her side of the business baton to her daughter Rosie, who grew up on the vineyard, but grew to love the New Zealand wine industry after moving away and seeing it from afar.

TRACY NEAL

Nelson wines attracted Royal interest during a visit to the region by Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles in November 2015.

CHOCOLATE DOG STUDIO

Winemaker and co - owner of Seifrieds, Heidi Seifried-Houghton in the laboratory.

Our local favourites

Name: Kate Burley, Co-owner

Must try wine: Our current release ‘Jurassic’ a bright, fresh, red-fruited Pinot Noir. Not only great for those warmer summer months where it can be enjoyed with a slight chill (my go-to) this wine can also play the role of the Winter warmer.

Unkel Wines

53 Bronte Road East, Upper Moutere | unkelwines.com

Name: Robyn Reid, Co-owner

Must try wine: Our 2019 Pinot Gris is love at first taste - made in small batches, it is generous and flavoursome with an elegant sweetness.

St Pauli Vineyard

1427 Moutere Highway, Upper Moutere | stpauli.co.nz Name: Patricia Anderson, known to all as P, Co-owner

Must try wine: I love the style of our Pinot Noir with its classic plum and cherry flavours, mouth-filling complexity and a delicious savoury finish.

Flaxmore Vineyards

24 Flaxmore Rd, Upper, Moutere | flaxmore.co.nz

Name: Rosie Finn, Neudorf’s Global Cheerleader (technically – Global Sales and Marketing Director) Must try wine: Easy! Neudorf Rosie’s Block Moutere Chardonnay 2019 – An organic, single site, elegant expression of a very special piece of dirt, at least I think so.

Neudorf Vineyards

138 Neudorf Road, RD2, Upper Moutere | neudorf.co.nz Name: Trudy Sheild, Winemaker

Must try wine: As the weather gets cooler has to be our 2020 Viognier. The exceptionally long mild growing season of the 2020 vintage suited Viognier perfectly. Perfumed with apricot and orange blossom, it is both flavoursome and textural.

Middle-Earth Wines

97 Livingston Road, Brightwater | middleearthwine.com

Name: Jennifer Dunbar, Director of Operations Must try wine: Our awardwinning, stunning 2018 Central Otago PInot Noir and our delicious 2018 Nelson Tasman Pinot Gris are a tribute to all those who have cared for the vines. They are the ‘Kaitiaki’ - the guardians of the land.

Dunbar Estates

1469 Motueka Valley Highway | dunbarestates.co.nz Name: Lisa Goodson, Co-owner / Grower

Must try wine: Bubbles! Our Moutere Hills Methode Carbonique is a lovely blend of pinot gris and riesling. It’s a crisp, prosecco style sparkling wine that’s perfect for making any occasion special.

Moutere Hills

42 Eggers Road, Upper Moutere | mouterehills.nz

Name: Shona Kelly, Winemaker

Must try wine: My favourite this summer has been our Waimea Pinot Noir Rose. Juicy, delicious, and extremely moreish! Lightly chilled with a picnic or a platter, it goes perfectly with the Nelson way of life.

Waimea Estates

59 Appleby Highway, Richmond | waimeaestates.co.nz Name: Emmanuelle David, Winemaker

Must try wine: Our 2019 Kahurangi Mount Arthur Fumé Blanc provides a different way to enjoy a sauvignon blanc. Derived in barrel version, and made like a chardonnay, the wine becomes softer and creamy with a more refined fruit profile. Rock melon and a hint of nutty oak!

Kahurangi Estate

9 Merton Place, Nelson | kahurangiwine.com

Name: Heidi SeifriedHoughton, Co-Winemaker Must try wine: My favourite wine variety has to be Riesling! A wine that shows a vineyards true expression. Bright and juicy and bursting with minerally flavours. A variety great on it’s own, with a light salad or meal. Super versatile.

Seifried Estate

168 Redwood Road, Appleby | seifried.co.nz Name: Anna McCarty, Winemaker

Must try wine: I’d definitely recommend Tohu’s Albariño. With zesty citrus fruit and stone fruit notes, this wine pairs perfectly with fresh seafood, but on these brilliant autumn afternoons I’m loving a glass with fresh figs and soft salty cheeses. Just divine!

Tohu Whenua Matua Vineyard

Upper Moutere Kono Winery

Upper Awatere | konowines.co.nz

Nelson’s teen crusader

Words: Tracy Neal

Sophie Weenink has become a young crusader for the environment, the impoverished and the poor. But there’s a less obvious message in her young voice and it’s one we should all be listening to.

Sipping a chai latte at a vegan café in central Nelson, the origins of Sophie Weenink’s compassion are revealed.

It is not so much the story of being raised as the only child of a single mother, but the pet rabbits, Cookie and Rosebud which Sophie rescued from certain death that shine a light on who she is.

“Mum and I are opposites in some ways but she has always encouraged me to be independent. “She has never left me out of discussions - I am always included which is, I guess, where my love of politics came from. “We do a lot of volunteering and she’s never shy to help a homeless person.” At 15 years-old, Sophie already has an impressive list of Lee-Anne says Sophie is a product of many people's love causes attached to her name. The environment and helping and time. the vulnerable are already solid platforms on which “I'm just a single Mum who she has built a strong knew nobody here, but public profile. I want to enter politics – I don’t Nelsonians have embraced Sophie. “I want to enter politics – I don’t necessarily want to necessarily want to be a politician. “It shows that if you invest be a politician. We live in a world where politicians time in a child then something “We live in a world where can be…not the most authentic really good can happen; kind moments given will escalate politicians can be…not the people. I want to be able to speak and then go on tenfold to most authentic people. I for the people rather than against, influence and help others.” want to be able to speak for the people rather than against, but I know it would but I know it would be a tough job. Lee-Anne says she and Sophie know how lucky they are because without the be a tough job.” support of many in the Nelson It might be the comment community, things could have of a young idealist, but Sophie’s life is perhaps closer to been vastly different for them. reality than that of many who currently make decisions on “Like Sophie mentioned, it has been a very hard journey of her behalf. juggling work and being a good parent and making ends She was born in Wanganui and is of Dutch, Irish and meet on one wage.” Italian ancestry. Sophie, champion for the under-dog, is sometimes labelled The move to Nelson was triggered by her grandfather, who a ‘youth activist’ for the climate and environmental causes later returned north. Sophie and her mother, Lee-Anne she supports via social media and in practical terms. Weenink remained in Nelson. She has been vocal about a homophobic response to a Sophie says she inherited her strong sense of justice and Pride crossing planned for Nelson city. Her beach cleanindependence from her mother. up missions have earned her a national kindness award,

BRENT MCGILVARY

and recognition from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. She raises funds to help feed Nelson’s homeless and is a youth representative for Nelson Cancer Society.

Sophie wants more people in Nelson to know about the growing number of homeless in the city. There are different ways of measuring this, from the hundreds seeking help for temporary accommodation at a hostel or a motel, to those supported by the night shelter, and still others living in tents hidden in valleys and forests.

Sophie volunteers and raises funds for the community group Giving Aroha, which estimates that around 160 people in Nelson are without anywhere to live.

“It’s important that people know it’s not just an Auckland thing or a Wellington thing – it’s an everywhere problem.”

She says many homeless are in that situation because of bigger problems, including special needs which makes them even more vulnerable.

“We should never have anyone in this country starving for food, in a world where we can provide.

Sophie Weenink is on a crusade to help others less fortunate than herself.

“I’m not saying we should cure all hunger issues overnight but there’s a lot more we could be doing for our homeless and those on the verge of being homeless.” It has already shaped a strong view about what Sophie wants for her own future. At the tender age of 15, she is adamant she does not want children of her own. She says the economics of raising them do not stack up. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get a house. “A lot of my friends feel the same. Some whose parents have not been there for them, have been left with serious problems. “We can’t keep going like this. It’s leaving people miserable.” Sophie would like to be part of a political model that could effect change faster. “It’s not saying people aren’t doing anything – they are, but we need to get everyone on board. For example, with the plastic waste problem I like to say we need millions doing zero waste imperfectly rather than a handful doing it perfectly. “These are issues where we all have to be on board with it, not just a handful.”

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Soul by Mariposa

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The Greenstone carver is back from fishing

New Greenstone earrings back in stock and available in store or on their website.

Jewel Beetle

56 Bridge St, Nelson jewelbeetle.co.nz

It’s Mum’s turn to be spoiled!

This year celebrate and appreciate Mum’s strength and love with local heartfelt jewellery. Earrings $170, Ring trio $840

Louise Douglas Jewellery

191 Hardy St, Nelson louisedouglas.com

Take nights up a notch

Beautiful lace high neck chemise with shoulder ties. Also available in burgundy.

Be Adult

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Brighten your skin

Wonderfully fragranced with natural essential oils, the Nude Kiwi skincare range will brighten your mood as well as your skin.

Nude Kiwi

nudekiwi.co.nz nudekiwiskincare

Stylish jewellery created just for you

Handcrafted and custom-made designs from RoCS studio and workshop in Richmond.

RoCS

238a Queen St, Richmond rocs.co.nz The ultimate beauty investment, there’s nothing more comfortable than a 100% pure silk pillowcase. Once you try one, you’ll never want to sleep on anything else! Perfect gift for Mother’s Day.

Little Boutique Lingerie | Swimwear | Sleepwear

51 Bridge St, Nelson | littleboutique.co.nz

Choose your colour combo...

Pale winter hues to lighten up those dreary winter days, or the timeless combination of black and white? Either way, you will be looking extremely chic in these European designed Gioseppo Fancie sneakers.

Tango’s Shoes

247 Queen St, Richmond tangosshoes.nz

Perfect autumn layers

NZ made, luxurious merino possum blend ponchos to keep you cosy, with exciting colours and styles available. Find Cruellas in their temporary location during May.