Marlborough Magazine June 2022

JUNE 2022

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June 2022

What’s inside Features 8-10

The power and potential of volunteering

11-13

Digital pioneers

15-17

Bringing the birdsong back

18-21

Healing with heart

37

Joinery and Design Awards

44-47

Healthcare

8-10 11-13

Regular 24

On the Street

25-27

My Home

28-35

At Home

43

Gardening

48

Health & Beauty

51

What’s On

28-35

44-47

Editor’s note

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Anyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about our region; I’ve even been accused of being slightly too passionate.

But as a proud Marlburian, I loved putting together this month’s edition of Marlborough Magazine because it showcases so many positive things about our region. We have feature articles on some of our incredible volunteers, a little tech company making Blenheim home, and the wonderful folk at Picton Dawn Chorus.

On top of that we showcase 14th Lane Urban Hotel who picked up a national award for their stunning building.

These people are living that, and our region is so much better for it.

Finally, would you like a copy of Marlborough Magazine delivered to your home each month? We now have a subscription service, for just $49 a year you’ll receive 12 editions of the magazine delivered to your letterbox.

Just email hellomarlborough@ topsouthmedia.co.nz and we can get it organised for you.

My favourite of these stories was the piece on volunteers. Volunteers are so critical to any well-functioning community and we’re so lucky to have hundreds of wonderful volunteers in

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our region. A colleague of mind brought my attention to this wonderful quote by Greek philosopher Aristotle: “What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good.”

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Headliners What made news in our region Excitement for border opening

Youthline opening Marlborough centre

The government has announced the international border will open to all tourists and visa holders from 1 August and local tourism and hospitality businesses are thrilled. “The full border reopening is a great opportunity for Marlborough businesses,” Destination Marlborough general manager Jacqui Lloyd says. Although it’s not expected to be like a tap turning on immediately, tourist numbers will hopefully steadily grow, giving businesses time to adapt and recover.

Youthline is setting up a centre in Marlborough.

Historically, Youthline operations have been run out of Christchurch, but as working remotely has become more feasible, the organisation can branch out to Marlborough and Nelson Tasman. Blenheim-based Youthline helpline counsellor, Meg Martin, is excited about the opening and says the team of councillors they’re putting together for the Marlborough centre will have first-hand experience of the typical challenges facing local young people.

Tussock Run returns

Barking drones

The Tussock Run, Seddon School’s major fundraiser was cancelled for the last two years due to pandemic restrictions. But to the delight of students and staff at the rural school, the popular event, a hybrid walk/run across the picturesque Awatere Hills, is back on 17 August 2022. In the past, the event has net up to $30,000 for the school, which allows for fun extras for the kids, like mathletics and new books in the library.

Drones are growing in popularity for use in farming and more farms in the Marlborough region are implementing the technology. Drones can even be fitted with speakers that bark for mustering, Nelson Federated Farmers dairy chairperson Steven Todd says he finds the technology relatively effective in shifting stock on hills, saying it scares the cattle enough to move them without having to send a person or dog up the hill. His neighbour has also used it to shift sheep.

Preferred site for Bohally revealed The current site of the hockey turf and rollerskating rink, College Park, has been earmarked for development. The Ministry of Education has confirmed the park is the best option for the new Bohally Intermediate School as part of Te Tātoru o Wairau. Bohally Intermediate School principal Nicky Cameron-Dunn says the school is very happy with College Park being the preferred option for the new school rebuild.

Brick trick Put a towel over your toilet bowl and a brick on the seat, is the warning Marlborough District Council is giving residents as work begins on the region’s wastewater pipes. A high-pressured hose will be used throughout the pipe system with the potential of sewage “blow-back” coming up through toilets.

Work will begin soon in Picton and be carried out throughout the region over the next few months.

Things we love Having live theatre back on the big stage in Blenheim is definitely something to love. Les Misérables has been captivating accidences at the ASB Theatre, the first major show since the Covid pandemic broke out. It’s been a stunning success, which is certainly something for Marlborough to get excited about.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“You need to understand empathy. You need to be genuine. You need to be warm and accepting. That’s basically all it takes because most of the time youth just want to be heard. ” Nathan Hanson Pages 8 - 10

7

A passion for her community is the driving force behind Georgia Richardson’s dedication to the Rarangi Volunteer Fire Brigade.

The power and potential of volunteering To help inspire and celebrate the work of our region’s many volunteers Frank Nelson speaks to three people who share their stories of hope and experiences in cultivating good.

Frank Nelson

A

t the ripe old age of 26, volunteer fire-fighter Georgia Richardson is already a 10-year veteran with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ).

Born and raised in Kaikoura, she joined the township’s fire brigade as a raw 16-year-old and for a while was the only female “with a group of about 24 blokes”. But that didn’t bother the teenager.

“Kaikoura is a small community and I knew most of them,” she laughs. “They were like dads and uncles, and we’d just give each other a hard time!”

After moving north about five years ago, she joined the Rarangi Volunteer Fire Brigade where she is now a crew leader. There was already one woman there when she arrived and today females make up about a third of the 18-member team.

According to the latest annual report from FENZ, this country has 653 stations and around 15,000 fire fighters. Almost 12,000, or 80 percent, of them are volunteers, including roughly 2400 women. “FENZ has been such a big part of my life for so long now.

It’s something I’ve always been really passionate about. I’ve always just loved it.”

Rarangi has one fire engine and a water tanker, and Georgia says most callouts are to vegetation fires, medical emergencies such as heart attacks, and to vehicle accidents.

The Blenheim brigade would normally take the

8

June 2022

lead on house fires and serious accidents but in those situations Rarangi still plays a crucial role; for example, preventing fire from spreading to nearby property or providing initial medical assistance to crash victims. “Our first priority is always life,” she says.

At about the same time everyone in Rarangi hears the fire siren, Georgia and her colleagues are alerted by a phone app that sends details about the emergency which could be anywhere in Marlborough.

She has become used to the app demanding attention at sometimes inconvenient moments. ”Just as you sit down for dinner, or get in the shower, or you’ve just got comfortable in bed… It’s Murphy’s Law!” While their main patch is in and around Rarangi they will go further afield if needed. Georgia estimates they get 60 to 70 callouts a year of which 80 to 90 percent are local to Rarangi. “To be in the fire service you really have to be in it for your community. You’ve got to have that passion for your community and want to help them.”

Georgia, who comes from a farming background, now works as a sales consultant for heavy-duty agricultural, construction and forestry machinery. She and husband Kane, both keen hunters, are expecting their first child in October. She’s not sure how that will affect her role with FENZ: “I’ll probably take a week’s break but then I’ll be back into it,” she laughs.

“

You need to understand empathy. You need to be genuine. You need to be warm and accepting. That’s basically all it takes because most of the time youth just want to be heard.

Nathan Hanson

A

special empathy and affinity towards young people has led Nathan Hanson to volunteer as a helpline counsellor for Youthline Wairau

and act as a facilitator for the Rainbow Group at the Marlborough Youth Trust.

Two or three times a week Nathan helps Youthline handle texts and phone calls from people all over New Zealand ranging in age from as young as eight to 24.

“You need to understand empathy. You need to be genuine. You need to be warm and accepting. That’s basically all it takes because most of the time youth just want to be heard.

“Just being able to listen to them and empathise and validate their feelings does a lot for their self-esteem.

It does a lot for the situation they’re in.

“We’re having a chat with them. We’re making sure they’re okay. We’re not advising them… we’re trying to help them find their own solutions.”

Callers may be dealing with such issues as depression and anxiety, eating disorders, relationship problems, bullying and abuse. Hearing their stories and being able to help them is “tough but rewarding”, says Nathan. If more serious situations arise, perhaps involving the possibility of suicide or self-harm, cases are taken over by experienced, professional counsellors.

The Rainbow Group aims to provide a safe environment for LGBT youth to hang out together; about 20 people

”

usually meet each week to talk and enjoy shared projects such as art or drama. “It’s quite a hard life for an LGBT kid here,” says Nathan, who, as a gay man, can empathise with what they are going through. “I understand a bit more because I’ve lived it.”

Nathan, 31, is originally from Christchurch but grew up in Melbourne before returning to the garden city in 2012 to attend Cashmere High School. After 10 years working in hospitality management in Christchurch and back in Melbourne, he was ready for a change of pace so moved to Marlborough in early 2019. He began volunteering at the Blenheim Citizens Advice Bureau a year ago and within a few months was appointed to the paid part-time position of manager/coordinator.

Besides his youth-related positions, Nathan is a member of the Volunteer Marlborough board of trustees and sits on the board for Top of the South Neighbourhood Support. He’s also a paid Blenheim representative on the Nelson/Marlborough Consumer Health Council.

In addition to all these commitments, Nathan is in the third and final year of a BA degree in politics and international relations which he’s working towards online through Massey University.

Nathan has a clear vision of his future. “I want to be at grassroots level in the community making subtle changes that improve people’s lives. I’m realistic, so achievable goals are what I aim for.”

Nathan Hanson offers a sympathetic ear and open-minded attitude when troubled young people call asking for help.

9

“

I don’t think I could live without being involved in some way. You receive so much more back in personal satisfaction and it lifts you up too.

Ted Ellens

”

Advancing years and a handful of health issues are not stopping Ted Ellens doing something he finds really worthwhile volunteering in the Blenheim community.

B

y the age of 77 many people would likely be slowing down a bit. And if they also had asthma, heart issues, roughly 50 per cent hearing, and two replacement hips, nobody would blame them.

For the past couple of years Ted has also been

But that’s not the way Ted Ellens does things. He has two active volunteer roles, is training for a third, and is on the board of trustees for Volunteer Marlborough. And just for good measure he also has paid casual work as a truck driver collecting rubbish bags and recycling around the streets of Blenheim, sometimes as often as three days a week.

hard part for me is that my wife actually passed away

Ted happily offers his time and expertise to the Blenheim Riverside Railway which takes kids of all ages along about six kilometres of narrowgauge track roughly following the Taylor River. The journey, crossing several bridges along the way, runs between Beaver Station, close to Blenheim town centre, and Omaka, with a midway stop at Brayshaw Heritage Park.

marked patrol vehicle watching for criminal activity,

Ted has been involved with the railway since moving to Marlborough in 2004 and was on the committee for several years. His roles now include train driver and station master, plus he’s always ready to help with repairs and maintenance when needed. “I’ve always had an interest in trains and machinery,” he said. “I was a locomotive trainee in Dunedin when I was 18. Those were the days of steam!”

doing okay and counts himself lucky to have the time

driving a van to pick up and drop off members of the Alzheimers Marlborough Wither Road Club where they go to enjoy activities and entertainment. “The with dementia,” said Ted, who is also saddened by the deterioration he sees in the health of two former colleagues from the Riverside Railway.

His latest foray into voluntary service is with Community Patrol which will involve driving around Blenheim, Renwick, Spring Creek and Seddon in a suspicious behaviour or potential trouble. “We act as the eyes and ears of the police,” says Ted, who is still undergoing training. “There must always be two of us at a time and we don’t get out of the vehicle.”

Ted has four children and eight grandchildren scattered around the country but now lives by himself in a Blenheim council pensioner unit. He reckons he’s and ability to lend a helping hand to others.

“I don’t think I could live without being involved in some way. You receive so much more back in personal satisfaction and it lifts you up too.

“And it keeps me out of mischief,” he says with a chuckle.

Co-founders of Vanishing Point Studio, Charles Anderson and Allan Walker.

Digital pioneers Friends and business partners Charles Anderson and Allan Walker are breaking new ground in immersive storytelling. The award-winning duo at Vanishing Point Studio are getting global attention for their work.

They talk to Paula Hulburt about their rise to recognition.

A

mid the background chatter of fellow wedding guests, old friends Charles Anderson and Allan Walker are deep in conversation. An idea they first batted between them as 15-year-old schoolboys is again up for discussion. Wine glasses are set down and forgotten as the chat takes a more serious, weighty turn as the dream of digital storytelling finally waivers on the brink of becoming reality. The pair grin at each other as they shake hands. With Charles, now an award-winning journalist and Allan a celebrated interactive designer and developer, Vanishing Point Studio was born.

Fast forward five years and behind a nondescript door on a small Blenheim street, a flight of stairs delivers visitors to the hub that is home to Vanishing Point Studio. The space is bathed in morning sunshine and Charles and Allan are bouncing jokes and good-natured barbs across the desk as the smell of coffee lingers. The setting somehow seems too pedestrian for a duo who are setting the standard in digital storytelling across the globe.

Digital storytelling can be used to explain a concept, to reflect on a personal experience, to retell a historical event, or to make an argument. Digital stories can combine audio, images, video, data, interactivity and gamification to immerse audiences in an experience. For award-winning journalist Charles, the move to digital platforms was a natural one when it came to storytelling. It was a way to bring a fresh approach to narrative, he explains.

Their first project came in the form of an interactive documentary on New Zealand’s growing housing crisis. Funded by NZ on Air, the challenge was to tell the story in a fresh way, to capture interest. “Duncan Greive [founder and publisher of The Spinoff] wanted to do something in-depth on the housing crisis and wanted to know what we could do to make it less of a dull affair,” Charles says.

“What could we do to make it interesting for people who don’t want to read more about the housing crisis?”

11

The Living Flowerwall was an interactive memorial allowing users to place digital flowers into a 3D wall that would live on in perpetuity.

Give Kate a Voice, created for Suffrage125, brought prominent New Zealand women together in an interactive historical experience reciting Kate Sheppard’s words.

12

Mana Moana was an immersive digital art exhibiton that transported users to a 3D digital ocean to view artworks despite launching in the height of Covid-19 lockdown.

The answer was a clever meld of video, using personalised data visualisations and interactive design that breathed new life into a well-worn subject. The result was informative, attentiongrabbing and fresh and Vanishing Point Studio began to catch the eye of others eager for a new perspective.

Charles leads the development of content and building

Now they have had clients ranging from global fashion house Giorgio Armani to multinational NGO Greenpeace. Charles and Allan, the technical and design genius behind the company, are using their respective talents to create something special. It is a partnership that is working well with their work placed alongside Vanity Fair, CNN and Fortune at the Oscars of the internet - the Webby Awards.

traditional Māori storytelling.

They have also created an interactive memorial to the victims of the Christchurch attacks where users could place digital flowers into a living wall that would live on in perpetuity, as well as immersive art exhibitions where users found themselves floating over a digital ocean to experience multimedia artworks.

created an interactive digital history of Te Tiriti o

Their most recent project, launched in May, saw Vanishing Point build a package of digital content for nine different publications across the South Island – all visualising what a predicted Alpine Fault earthquake might do.

pragmatic about what they’ve achieved, juggling

Allan looks after all things technical, leading a team of developers and designers across the country.

possible for each of our clients. As we’ve matured as

June 2022

talented teams capable of doing extraordinary things.

Their first ever hire Arpo Deer (Ngāi Tahu, Koukourarata) is still at the company, based in the Blenheim studio and is passionate about bringing his developing innovative skills to “It’s an area that has huge potential – especially in reaching younger rangatahi in understanding where they came from,” says Arpo.

Arpo’s role in the company has led it to form a partnership with his rūnanga, Koukourarata. This was solidified when Vanishing Point, led by Arpo, Waitangi’s journey through the South Island, which was launched on Waitangi Day this year.

Vanishing Point also had a clean sweep in the ‘Innovation in Digital Storytelling’ category at last year’s the Voyager Media Awards. While it would be easy to let the success swell heads, the pair remain family commitments and work to best effect.

Choosing projects that are a good fit is important, Allan explains. “We set our boundaries early on to figure out how we can create the best project a business, we have learned to really pick our battles

Allan Walker, Charles Anderson and Arpo Deer (Ngāi Tahu, Koukourarata), Vanishing Point’s first ever hire.

with that and tell the story with a wow factor. You want a really good, high-quality result all the time.”

A recent success for the pair was their tribute marking 125 years of women’s suffrage in New Zealand. The project, Give Kate A Voice, was an interactive video project featuring well known Kiwi women, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, reciting from parts of speeches given

by Kate Sheppard, a leading light of the suffrage movement. Set against a backdrop of different drawing rooms as they would have been seen over the passing decades, the piece features modernday women in period costume. The audience was able to flip between videos and uncover deeper context for the speeches as they were unveiled.

The overlay of classical music and simple direction is striking and emotive; the viewer cannot help but be drawn in.

It is the immersion that makes digital storytelling so effective, Allan says. “Our goal is always to create digital immersive projects that leave the viewer having had a great experience.”

With Charles based primarily in Nelson and Allan in Blenheim, the very nature of their work lends itself well to remote access. But the pair do meet up most weeks in Blenheim, keen to catch up in person.

From a local Marlborough-based winery to clients on the global stage, distance is no object in the digital age, says Charles, with their reputation for creativity

slowly spreading across the world. “People find us.

We’ve had requests everywhere from Los Angeles, New York and Europe.

“At our heart we are about helping various brands and organisations rise above the online noise, by creating digital content experiences that audiences love to interact with.

“But at the start of our venture, that was a bit of a hard sell because people didn’t always understand what was possible and you were trying to convince them of something that wasn’t widely understood.”

The duo, who first met in the same art history class at school in Auckland, have travelled a long way from those early days, with life taking them on divergent paths. The friendship remained however and, meeting up at mutual friends’ weddings occasionally, the spark for Vanishing Point Studio was ignited and burned for a while before they made the dream a reality.

They agree being in business with a friend made their leap of faith less daunting. It is a partnership that works well – with their respective skill sets creating a seamless combination.

The future looks promising for the digital entrepreneurs and expansion is next on their to-do list, says Charles. “They say not to go into business with your mates but for us, being good friends for so long means we had been through a lot already. So, this works too.”

MARLBOROUGH

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James Wilson and Jill Evans checking traps.

Bringing the birdsong back There is something special about awakening to the distinct melody of birdsong, a sound that has long been forgotten in many urban areas around the country. Thanks to a dedicated team of Marlburians, birdsong is increasing in volume throughout our region. Judene Edgar catches up with members of the Picton Dawn Chorus to see what’s changing.

I

n 1770 Captain Cook’s botanist John Banks recorded in his diary that the dawn chorus that would awaken him each morning in the Queen Charlotte Sound was the most melodious wild music he had ever heard, almost as if the birds were imitating small bells. Sadly, with extensive loss of forests and the introduction of countless pest mammals, half of New Zealand’s birds are now extinct and many of our once melodic forests have fallen silent. Picton Dawn Chorus was established in 2016 with the aim of reversing this trend and bringing the birdsong back.

In much the same way that they envisaged the bird population growing, Picton Dawn Chorus started with just two like-minded individuals, and has grown to over 165 volunteers and eight staff in just six short years. But while that was the dream, cofounder James Wilson says that it’s still amazing how far they’ve come in such a short time. “I didn’t dare dream how big it would become,” muses James.

James and Siobain Finlow-Bates had read about the ‘halo effect’ – native birds repopulating the urban areas surrounding sanctuaries – so with the opening of Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary in 2013, they felt something needed to be done to support the native birds. A series of public meetings resulted in a small committee of dedicated volunteers being formed, and it has grown from there.

“Birds don’t understand fences or boundaries,” says James, “so the idea of the Picton Dawn Chorus was to create a predator-free haven for native birds

outside of the Sanctuary. Sanctuaries focus on inside their fences and do a fabulous job, but halos don’t have boundaries, so we’re constantly looking out.”

Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary is separated from the surrounding areas by a 600-metre-long predatorproof fence which acts as the first line of defence, and Picton Dawn Chorus provide the second line of defence. Everyday teams of volunteers are checking trap lines, weeding, and planting, not only in the surrounding forest and mainland areas, but in their own gardens. “I’m chuffed with the way it’s grown and now we have built-in continuity and a good structure, so things are rolling,” says James.

And rolling they are. November last year Conservation Minister Hon Kiri Allan announced a $700,000 grant over three years, enabling them to expand their predator trapping efforts from 415 hectares to a whopping 4,815 hectares. “In just five years this group has encouraged more than 600 people to trap predators in their backyards and has a team of 165 volunteers working in surrounding bush areas,” said Kiri. “The Jobs for Nature funding will mean eight people can be employed across three years to help with the regeneration of native birdlife, lizards, insects and forests.”

Despite applying for the funding, James says that as the months passed they’d all-but forgotten about the application, so the announcement “came as a hell of a shock”. But six months later they have eight new employees in place and a five-year workplan that they need to deliver in three years!

TOP TO BOTTOM: Jill Evans , Annabell Wilson, Mark Altoft and James Wilson out checking traps.

Mark Altoft, Rodger Jones and Trevor Easton at ‘The Rock’.

Annabell Wilson removing a possum from a trap.

16

June 2022

Team member Jill Evans, who was one of the original committee members, says that “most people would be surprised about what we’ve achieved in such a short time. They see a few traps here and there but don’t realise how much we’ve grown and how effective it’s been.” In fact, their pest tally for 2021 was 13,049 – primarily made up of rats, mice, possums, hedgehogs, and weasels – which was more than the previous four years put together (10,602); and that was before receipt of the government grant. They’ve also won numerous awards along the way including the Supreme Award at the 2018 Trustpower Community Awards, recognising the phenomenal efforts of all involved, and the Landscape and Habitat Enhancement Award at the 2019 Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards, in acknowledgement of their trailblazing efforts to remove predators.

“Our Society’s mission is ‘the community working together to restore our native birds by removing introduced predators’, and I think we’ve proven that this is an effective model,” says Jill. “We wouldn’t have achieved what we have without our incredibly valuable members, volunteers and supporters. I feel like we have drawn the community together.” But Jill says that they can’t rest on their laurels, not just because of their new funding, but because there’s still a lot of work to be done to achieve their goal of Picton and Waikawa being predator-free. Project 7220 was launched in 2020 with the aim to be the first pestfree town in New Zealand, and it is hoped that the current funding will help reinvigorate that project.

While the Jobs for Nature fund has enabled staff to be employed, Jill says it in no way diminishes the need for volunteers, and, in fact, they need more than ever. “We need to expand our membership base and our volunteers as we still have a lot more to achieve. But there’s a trend of younger people getting involved now too which is really heartening.”

James acknowledges that they are victims of their own success as less pests can, ironically, be disheartening for volunteers. “There are less rats

to be caught now so it can be discouraging to find empty traps as our trappers want to find pests.”

Despite this, he says that the volunteers still enjoy their time in the bush and know there are still rats to be caught.

While funding also remains a constant need, James says that they are incredibly grateful to all their funders, particularly Marlborough District Council and Port Marlborough who have been two of their key supporters since inception. The council provided much-needed seed-funding from day one, and the port company have provided them a home on Auckland Street alongside Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary and Envirohub Marlborough at Picton Environment Centre.

Early 2021 they were fortunate to have a building donated by Rodger James, allowing them to consolidate their trapping activities and equipment.

James says that when they shifted in there was old signage on the building saying, ‘The Rock’, so that’s since become its nickname. “Out the back is a shed we store equipment in, so that’s been nicknamed ‘The Pebble’ – so we now have ‘The Rock’ and ‘The Pebble’,” laughs James. ‘The Rock’ has enabled them to not only build their own traps but to provide free traps to households in Picton and Waikawa to support Project 7220. And they’ve also established a social enterprise, Dawn Chorus Trapping Enterprise, which builds and supplies traps to Predator Free NZ South Island projects and sells them online around the country. “We have refined our trap designs and processes to stay competitive and all proceeds are used to support the work of Picton Dawn Chorus,” says James.

While James says that it generally takes up to seven years before you get a noticeable difference, anecdotally people are reporting seeing more tui, bellbirds and fantails when they go out in the bush, as well as around the town. And whether it’s just an increased awareness of the bird chorus or more birds, Picton and Waikawa residents are enjoying birdsong once more.

Healing with heart As co-founders and life coach educators of the Foundation RESET programme and Keystones for Life Ltd/Life Coaching New Zealand, Laura and mum Noralyn Berwick have a strong bond as family and as business partners. They talk with Paula Hulburt about their journey to helping others.

All clothing and accessories: Thomas’s Styled by: Michelle Bradley Hair: Style Sisters Photographer: David James

T

he laughter and warmth is almost tangible between mother and daughter. Light floods into Laura Goldfinch’s Blenheim home as her dog rolls happily around in sunny pools.

While Laura explains how she was diagnosed with PTSD and her recovery encouraged her to help others, Noralyn nods her head sending blonde curls bouncing. The pain as she recalls what her daughter went through is etched on her face.

For the mum of three with more than 30 years of experience helping others, watching her daughter suffer was a terrible experience, she explains.

“They were dark times; I was working as a support person for community services and somehow, I had a beautiful girl who was vanishing before my eyes.

“There I was, a mum running life skills and coaching programmes, but as a parent I was helpless. All of the skills I had to help others and she was so broken.”

With her warm smile and kind manner, it is hard to imagine that Laura has been anything other than her best self. But going through her own mental health journey makes her real and very relatable.

"From that part of my life in 2006 it put a stake in the ground from the baggage I/we carry that we have a choice to be free. That passion, knowledge, and awareness that you can move forward, has led me in my career to support others, meeting them where they are at.

“I guess I'm saying that so many of us live with our past blocking our future, that they too can live free. I believe our past doesn't define us and that all things can work together for our good if we do the work."

Their online Foundation RESET Programme initiative is there for everyone, Laura explains.

They help with trauma, dysfunctional relationships, personal development, mental health/well-being, dysfunctional relationships (even the one with yourself) and family restoration.

“It helps people right across the spectrum. If we all just had a good foundation then it sets us up, we’re really about the people and people resetting their relationship with themselves.

“What makes us awesome is that we are a mother and daughter duo and our coaching style means we can tap in at both ends. Our oldest client has been 75 years old and our youngest 16.

“The world is a sad place but there is hope.”

The pair are well known in Marlborough for their work, taking on people privately and also those referred to them by Government organisations and community services.

People of all ages, genders and backgrounds have used their programme, Noralyn says. She smiles sheepishly as she admits she’s not a fan of the term “Life Coach”.

“It sounds a bit phony, but it was the most logical name and we had to call ourselves something.”

But it is their “years at the coalface” which make them good at what they do, Noralyn says.

Twenty years ago and working in mental health, Noralyn wrote the framework for the successful programme they run today, adding to it as her experience and wisdom grew.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Noralyn - Blackstone long sleeve top, Levi shaping straight jean, RM Williams Lady Yearling boot Laura - Lollys Laundry Sami dress, Tretorn Clay sneaker white/navy/red

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Noralyn - Taylor extension tank, Shona Joy Priscila shirt, Laing Chaplin pant, RM Williams Lady yearling boot Laura - Ketz-ke peep top, Levi shaping slim jean, Tretorn Clay sneaker white/navy/red

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Noralyn - Taylor Oscillate dress, Alias Mae Rian shoe Laura - Blackstone printed dress, Unreal fur Nord Cape, RM Williams Maya boot

Originally from the West Coast, Noralyn has lived in Blenheim for 28 years. Like her daughter, she is humble about her achievements and putting their course online was a difficult decision to make.

With an online ebook about overcoming anxiety, a Facebook group and the Foundation RESET programme, the future is looking bright for this caring mother and daughter.

But helping even more people become happy with who they are was enough to convince her that an online presence was worthwhile.

But it is helping others that make what they do worthwhile, says Noralyn. “The cry of the human heart is to be loved, honoured and valued, and that starts with us valuing who we are, right here, right now.”

“Deciding to go online was a journey of professional development for ourselves,” Noralyn says.

Listening to the pair talk so openly about their past and hopes for the future is inspiring; it’s clear they truly care about the people they’re helping.

FASHION STYLING ADVICE with Michelle Bradley, Personal Stylist.

Cover up with coats Whether you’re walking to work or need something warm to wear out for dinner, you’ll want to make an elegant and timeless statement, and there’s no better way than by wearing a beautifully cut classic coat to give you that chic groomed look. An elegant coat oozes executive style as well as a quiet confidence. Michelle Bradley shares some tips to master the art of purchasing the perfect coat to make sure you’re happy for years to come.

Buy for your lifestyle

Make it fit

A lightweight, packable waterproof or water-resistant

The fit is paramount, and essential for comfort. Your coat must fit well! Look at the length of the sleeves; the edge of the cuff should reach the crease between your thumb and index finger. Shoulders should fit perfectly, not too wide, or narrow, and the position of belt loops should fall at your waistline. The wrap coat is an ideal multi-fit coat as it is easily tied at the waist in front, or left open and tied back, it is forgiving for most body shapes. Look for quality fabric and make sure it is not too stiff or heavy.

jacket or coat is a must-have for travel, walking, sport, or any outdoor activity. Look for a shape and length that is in balance with your body shape and height. Check that the hardware, like zippers and buttons, are good quality and waterproof. A detachable hood is also a great option. Make sure there is enough room to wear layers under the coat, without going too big. This is easy to achieve with the range of lightweight knits and merino available.

All about the overcoat A wardrobe essential is the overcoat. Options are aplenty with a boxier, oversized style, or a more tailored feminine-fitted coat. Single or doublebreasted, collar or no collar, or a wrap style coat.

Pockets are an absolute must. Choose a style that best compliments your height and body shape, this ensures it will always suit you, and, in doing so will be timeless and never out of date.

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You can’t go wrong with a staple colour By choosing a staple colour, such as black, grey, navy, camel, or olive green, you will have a versatile coat that can be worn over leisurewear, jeans and sneakers, and corporate wear through to evening wear. Ensuring you maximize the wearing of your coat investment.

Finally, remember the perfect winter coat should keep you warm and look good. Have fun and enjoy the process.

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ON THE STREET Hayley Rhind, local fashion designer and founder of Marlborough-made labels, Ruby & Rain, Heidi Frank and RHIND, shares her style with us.

What are you wearing today?

Today I am wearing the Alice skirt and Finn blouse, both from Heidi Frank.

Do you have a usual style?

I do tend to mix it up, it’s all dependant on how I feel in the morning.

What item do you have the most of in your wardrobe?

Currently it would be dresses, this past summer I have lived in dresses, and activewear.

What looks or trends do you like right now?

I currently love the timeless, effortless look.

Where do you buy most of your clothes?

I am extremely lucky that I very rarely need to buy clothes, except if I am needing something we don’t make, like a jacket.

What is your all-time favourite buy?

A woollen coat that I got tailor-made while in Vietnam years ago.

Worst clothing disaster?

The many outfits I would put together in my younger years when I was trying to find my own unique style.

A wardrobe staple everyone should invest in?

The perfect white shirt.

Which celebrity’s sense of style do you admire?

Sienna Miller.

Finish this sentence. You would never catch me wearing...

Eyeliner, well unless I could master how to apply it as every attempt has failed terribly.

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Home & living

My

HOME A beautiful home on the hill next to Lake Grassmere and overlooking Clifford Bay has been home to the Spence family for the last 15 years. The house started off as a modest pole shed which was later converted into a small one-bedroom home for owners Linton and Petra as they began developing their farm. As their family grew, so did the additions to the structure, creating a fully functional, sustainable home

What four words would you use to describe your home?

Simple, country, rustic, off-grid living.

What’s your decorating style?

Rustic and old country farm style. This works perfectly with the environment we are surrounded by.

What inspired this look?

We both love the simple country life, and we liked the thought of a house that fitted with our sustainable way of thinking. This flows on to how we utilise our land by running our beekeeping and honey business in the most sustainable way we can.

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Where do you shop for homewares?

Antique and second-hand shops are the perfect places to find little gems. This also fits within our sustainability purpose.

What piece would you never part with?

Our old Macrocarpa outdoor table and chairs. They are beautifully solid and natural and there have been many wonderful times shared around this setting.

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

We save. Again, it’s all about sustainability. Where we save means we can put back into our family and the land.

What’s your favourite spot in the house?

On the deck on a beautiful day. Depending on the day, you can hear the waves crashing on the beach, its very relaxing.

Have you done any renovations?

As we have built our house from scratch, it’s more of a work in progress. This works well while our family grows and our needs change over the years.

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What’s your favourite room?

The living room, it’s where we spend most of our time as a family.

What should every home have?

A good fireplace, its one of the luxuries of winter.

Best money spent?

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Our off-grid power system that runs our whole house. This includes our PV Solar panels, solar hot water and wetback and power shed with deep cycle batteries. It’s a great way of living!

What do you love about the neighbourhood where you live?

It is very peaceful and quiet, and the vista of the sea and salt lakes are stunning, especially when we have the most incredible sunrises and sunsets.

Best memory in your house?

We used to have a wind turbine which succumbed to the Grassmere winds after 12 years, it was a great source of power and something we all really enjoyed and still miss.

Luxury in the CBD

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tanding on the steps of the 14th Lane Urban Hotel one would automatically feel as if you were being transported into a New York city centre hotel, with its remarkable contemporary finishes, all stylistically curated. The newlyrenovated establishment exudes purposeful design.

Nobody would think that just beyond the comfort of one of the eight immaculately decorated rooms you were in the heart of the Blenheim CBD. “That’s just the beauty of it all!” says owner Craig Young.

Craig, and his wife Vicki purchased the property in 2017. It is important to mention that the property has remarkable historic significance.

First operating as a coal merchant business in the 1940s, later an overalls factory and then changing hands, and becoming the Builder’s Arms, a traditional local bar. It also held names such as the Dungeon and The Loft, plus operated as one of the only nightclubs in town at times since past.

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Craig, Vicki, and business partner Janet Enright are no strangers to the hospitality sector, for a decade owning and running BV Gourmet a busy cafe/ delicatessen in town and later developing a large catering facility and cafe in Riverlands. With the sale of BV Gourmet, the trio looked to their next venture, a new era was dawning, in the shape and form of 14th Lane Urban Hotel. “We had to take a serious look at what we wanted our next chapter to look like, being involved in some form of accommodation interested us all, there appeared to be a gap in the market for a modern contemporary inner-city hotel and it had to be easier to manage than a busy cafe:” says Craig.

The original owner of the building had planned for it to be turned into a backpackers. When the trio stepped in, the building was merely an empty shell that was then transformed into what is now a gem of the Blenheim CBD. If you are familiar with the show Grand Designs or any other Home Channel DIY show, you would know that it takes a heap of hard work and determination to see a project of this magnitude to the end, and still be left with your sanity intact. That is why finding a construction team that can manage the project from start to finish, plus share the same vision is paramount.

That is where the project manager and lead of construction Neil Hunt (with over 40 years of building experience) and owner of Hunt Construction came into play. Neil arrived in New Zealand with his young family in 2002 after leaving the UK and went straight back to work in the building industry.

He first worked for his cousin, then went on to work for a couple of building companies, then eventually started Hunt Construction in 2008. After so many years in the business, plus the 14 years spent at the helm of his own company, Neil and his team are no strangers to the building industry. All this time spent on various projects has meant that the Hunt Construction team is at the top of their game when it comes to the renovation of historic properties, new builds, renovations, and commercial properties.

Craig had selected Neil to bring their ideas to life due to Neil’s experience, and familiarity with the building. Neil’s cousin once owned the building, and his team had worked on the building at prior intervals over the years. The two also shared the same subcontractors on past projects, another sign that Neil and his team were the right fit. Craig reiterated by saying “we are both like-minded, and value a high standard of workmanship. When we sat down for our first few meetings it was very clear that we shared the same vision, and both wanted to see the project succeed and flourish!”

Well, like anything in life, there is always something that is bound to come up that would see a project fail or take some downtime. Three months into the build Covid reared its ugly head. Yet, the build kicked off in January 2020 and was completed in December 2020 - Still on time and within budget! Craig is quick to mention that there are no problems, only solutions.

Their intensive meetings both before, during, and after the build ensured that whatever came their way, they were both well prepared. It is this type of relationship and understanding shared among them and their extended team that is the reason that such an exquisite build and finished concept feels and looks the way it does. It is important to mention that their mutual respect still stands after what has been a phenomenal two years of unexpected twists and turns.

“We never took downtime over lockdown, though isolating, we remained in constant contact, putting into place the next sequence of events, ordering of materials, and arranging of teams. It is one of the reasons the project was such a huge success!” says Neil From the original polished, hand-poured stone floor in the foyer, through to the distinct alcoves (part of the original building) that is beautifully finished to create features throughout the hotel. There is careful attention paid to honouring the historic building.

The original steelwork still exists, and extensive earthquake strengthening has been undertaken too. Neil mentions that the challenges faced with a build like this were that when laying foundations and renovating they were not allowed to encroach on original precast structures and foundations. The building is in essence interlaced and woven together, a careful fusion of old and new, to create what now is a remarkable piece of artwork in the form of a hotel.

These careful considerations, along with Hunt Constructions’ title of Renovation of the Year 2019 Regional Supreme Winner, inspired Neil to approach Craig with the idea of entering the 2022 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards. The awards recognise commercial, innovative construction and design, and the entire project team who brought to life what is some of the country’s most stunning builds. The awards are open to all project partners on a national scale including architects, quantity surveyors, contractors, and more. Hunt Construction won silver in recognition of excellence in workmanship, construction practices and innovation. Craig reiterates that the building was built and designed with the highest spec you could hope to reach.

The glamorous award ceremony took place on Friday, 20 May at the Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre. This prestigious suit and tie event was an extra special event as Hunt Construction nabbed the silver award in recognition of excellence

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in workmanship, construction practices and innovation. The silver win is tremendously good for business and staff morale says, Neil. “It makes the hard work, late nights and intensive planning all worth it!”

Their relaxed demeanour and ease at discussing the project and passion for design begged to be asked: “What should any, ‘wanna-be’ hotelier or those that are contemplating renovating, take into consideration?” They are both quick to respond that joy for what you do is important. When you undertake to do something, it should ignite a spark in you, then it will never feel like work. Craig adds: “You know something is worth it when you have return customers visiting or making use of your service, it means that they believe in you and your dreams.’

“Leaving a legacy is also an integral part of a business. The opportunity to better perfect your skills and establish a thriving business that will stand the test of time – like the projects that Hunt Construction has been rewarded to work on is as important,” says Neil. It is this devotion to his craft and future vision, such as Craigs for the hotel, that has inspired Neil’s son, Elliot (24) to become a fully qualified carpenter and see the succession of Hunt

Construction. A passing of the “hammer” so to say and see even more masterful builds rise up around the Marlborough landscape and further reaches of the country.

Anybody would believe that after seeing this magnificent project to the end a well-deserved break would be on the cards. Though when you look at both Craig and Neil’s successes, they are not the idle kind. Craig’s next big undertaking will be to renovate the family home, Neil’s being the obvious project management and construction thereof!

Neil, Craig, Vicki, and Janet, along with their team, are riding the wave of intentional design. That is greatly reflected in 14th Lane Urban Hotel’s choice to not include a reception desk in the foyer. “Guests should never feel like they are passing through. The space should be made to feel like they have arrived home,” says Craig. All the hotel’s rooms and shared spaces encourage you to linger and appreciate the finer things. From the high ceilings that express the wellsized bedrooms with their waffle-pressed bedding, and soft velvety furnishings, through to the premium coffee machine and linen robes carefully placed in each room, everything entices you to slow down and unwind in an atmosphere that emits opulence.

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Success at JADA for Marlborough

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nce again, the quality of entries for the 2022 round of awards has been outstanding.

Sustainability came to the fore with the use of materials sourced in New Zealand that still provided a global feel.

talented kitchen designer, Aimee Materoa, the team were able to pay homage to the existing character, which included using the existing louver doors and incorporating them into the new design for a modern, yet classic finish.

Philip Thompson who established the awards back in 2015, is proud of the level of craftsmanship being created in the region. “It continues to amaze me the standard of work across the industry, true craftsmen, amazing designers, and such innovative cool stuff being made. The concept behind the awards was to get the local industry to peek their heads over the parapet and celebrate what amazing work they do.

A special mention about this year, is the r enaming of the original Supreme Award to The Myles Sellers Award, which is the most poignant award of the evening.

Hugely talented and dearly loved by all, Myles Sellers was greatly passionate about the industry.

He worked tirelessly to bring much-needed recognition, appreciation and change to the industry. He was involved in developing the concept of the awards.

Winners of the newly renamed Myles Sellers Award award went to Bays Joinery for their kitchen renovation which brought new life to a 15-yearold home, creating visual interest and impact by using a combination of contrasting materials and textures. This kitchen also won the award for Best Kitchen, while another Bays Joinery entry won the award for Best Kitchen under $50,000.

Best kitchen $20,000 - $50,000 - Bays Joinery.

Cantwell Joinery received a Judges Commendation for their entry in the Most Outstanding Kitchen Renovation.

The Customer Journey Award went to The Joiner Shop, Kaikoura. Fraser and Suzanne Syme are thrilled with the recognition for the dedication the team put into this project. “A lot of effort went in to ensure the needs of the client were met” says Suzanne. “The key was to work closely with the clients to achieve their vision for their kitchen design. The best part of what we do is having happy clients.”

Cantwell Joinery also received a Judges Commendation for their entry in the Most Outstanding Kitchen Renovation. Working with

Winner of the Customer Journey Award by The Joiner Shop.

HOME INTERIOR TRENDS With Aimee

Kitchen Designer & Interior Stylist - Materoa Design

Kitchen considerations It’s very exciting when you are building, renovating, or updating your old kitchen. A lot of the kitchens we see in magazines, Pinterest and on the internet are beautiful and inspirational but, are they practical? Do they perform well? Aimee shares with us some things to think about before investing in a kitchen.

Good spatial design is a must.

Tiles make or break a kitchen

Make the layout a priority to suit your individual needs. Spatial design is how people move within a kitchen and the space required for landing zones, work zones, and prep. By getting the space right first, the rest of the design will fall into place.

Tiles provide an opportunity to show off your personality and can create an authentic-looking part in your kitchen to match your style.

Budget, what are you going to invest into your room?

Know your budget, be honest and realistic! This is one of the most important conversations you should have with your designer. Whether you are spending $15k or $80k, a good designer will give you options on what materials are best to work within your budget. Having this conversation at the first meeting ensures no one is disappointed after seeing the design concepts.

Wash-up zone

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If you have a classic kitchen, try herringbone or a subway tile. With a modern kitchen, you can use large porcelain tiles or continue the benchtop up as the backsplash as well. If it’s a mid-century modern vibe why not have some fun with small mosaics, or add a pop of colour – green and orange are good options here.

There are so many choices. Yes, I hear you! Start by creating a ‘My Dream Kitchen book’ to keep all your inspirational pictures in one place. This can be a mood board, scrap book, photo album on your phone, or on Pinterest.

Stick with your chosen style

This is a very important area, which often gets missed. How many of us have a rubbish bin on the other side of the kitchen, hanging on a door, beside the fridge or in another room? Problems that could be avoided if the correct workflow was designed in the original kitchen layout. A good wash-up zone should flow left to right (depending on if you’re left or right handed).

People often go around in circles as more trends and beautiful kitchens pop up, but they usually go back to their start brief. Trends are inspiring and tempting and like waves of the ocean, they come and go, however, ask yourself “How will this look in 10 years?” Admire the new ones that come and go, but stick to your style, create a space for you, that you love. This is your home, your style, your whanau.

Create a space that you love to come home to.

Rubbish bins, sink, dishwasher - scrape, wash, load.

If your space is limited, put the bin under your sink.

And finally, invest in a good kitchen designer who will help create your dream into a reality.

June 2022

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Gardening

Winter garden Winter is officially here, but there is still plenty to do: prep for spring crops, new rose bushes, and new fruit trees to be planted and get winter crops in the ground.

Kitchen garden •

Sow green crops of lupin and mustard in any empty spaces in the vegetable garden for digging into the soil for green manure.

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Refresh soil for crops by adding new compost and sheep pellets.

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Plant seedlings: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, silverbeet, spinach, onion. Protect from the cold while they are young.

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Sow seeds: spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, onions, and peas. Transplant to the garden as the weather warms and when they are showing at least two sets of true leaves.

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Broad beans can be planted directly in to the soil, stagger your sowing for a continuous harvest.

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Feed all vegetables with a liquid general fertiliser.

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Plant new rhubarb then lift and divide old crowns.

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Tidy up old strawberry beds and prepare for new plants.

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Feed citrus with citrus fertiliser and water it in.

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Sprout new potatoes, stand upright in a light dry place for them to sprout ready for planting.

Prepare the beds for when they are ready.

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Feed all winter vegetables every two weeks.

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Get pruning of fruit trees underway as the trees become bare of leaves, remove all debris when you have finished.

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Apply clean up spray to bare fruit trees, use copper spray and winter oil to stop bugs and diseases burrowing in for the winter.

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Plant new strawberries plants, they will show new leaves in the spring. Feed with blood and bone as you plant.

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Garlic can still be planted.

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Plant or replace older fruit trees.

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Spray citrus trees, with copper oxychloride to prevent brown rot and verrucosis.

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Keep weeds under control; attack them when they are small.

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Protect seedlings from slug and snails.

Garden colour •

Plant lily (Lilliums) bulbs, they like a sheltered sunny position - they can be left in place for a few years.

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Sow seeds: alyssum, calendula, cineraria, cornflower, primula, polyanthus, lobelia, nemesia, stock. Transplant to the garden as the weather warms and when they are showing at least two sets of true leaves.

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Plant seedlings: calendula, cineraria, nemesia, pansies, polyanthus, poppies, primula, snapdragon, stock, viola, wallflower. Protect while young from the cold weather.

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Lift dahlia tubers and gladioli corms, remove any excess soil and store in a dry place.

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Trim autumn perennials and divide if necessary.

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Finish pruning all roses; give them a clean-up with a general rose insecticide spray. Remove all fallen leaves from the area around the bottom of the plant to help control the spread of disease.

Marlborough Boys High year 13 students and teacher Ben Eustace.

Students build new DOC hut thanks to local support

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t won’t be long before the sounds of hammer and saw fill the air at Marlborough Boy’s College as the year thirteen class begins their most challenging construction project yet. Thanks to the efforts of their inspirational teacher, an experienced builder Ben Eustace, the OneFortyOne Sawmill at Kaituna is providing materials so that a new sixbunk DOC style hut can be built by the boys to go on the school’s piece of land in the Leatham Valley. It will be a base for the major repair work that needs to be carried out on the existing hut in the area that is used by the school for educational purposes.

The project will allow the continuation of flora and fauna study trips, forestry student assignments and leadership training.

Ben is thrilled with the outcome of the school’s application for funding from OneFortyOne’s Community Grants programme. “We needed a decent senior project that could give the boys a really good grounding in building and a head start for those that want to go into the construction industry. The hut will be built at school then trucked through to its final position,” he says. “It’s a chance to give the boys a real taste of the whole process and for the whole school to enjoy seeing the progress. The boys involved are a bit daunted by it, but excited too.”

OneFortyOne has at its business heart a strong commitment to the local community and their Employee Community Grants Committee with its team of six, try to support as many local projects as possible that come within their philosophy of People, Ideas, Nature and Environment (PINE).

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“There are a lot of people doing amazing things in the community,” says their communications and community relations manager Kylie Reeves. “We have handed out $50,000 in grants since last July to help with great projects.” They also sponsor ventures such as the Wasp Wipeout programme, the Young Enterprise Scheme, the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust and the Graham Dingle Foundation to name a few.

This latest project completely fits in with the values of OneFortyOne. It is particularly exciting to know that we are going to help foster the development of young people, some of whom will go onto work in the forestry or building industries and associated roles.”

OneFortyOne has 80,000 hectares of forestry in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough with seventy per cent of their production sold within New Zealand.

Over the next three years, eleven million dollars is being invested in the Kaituna Sawmill on improved processes that will both extract more value from each log harvested but also considerably reduce the company’s carbon footprint.

“We are very happy about the positive economic impacts of the work we are doing on the local communities we are part of,” she says. “It is in the hundreds of millions of dollars by the time you take into account all the contractors we use and customers we sell to. The fact that this allows us to help with projects like that at Marlborough Boy’s College is a win-win for everyone.”

Ben Eustace agrees. “We can’t thank the Kaituna Sawmill enough for understanding our vision and

It’s also a chance for the boys to develop communication, leadership and problem-solving skills.

enabling us to develop a program that is about much more than building,” he says. “’It’s also a chance for the boys to develop communication, leadership and problem-solving skills. Although primarily a project for the year thirteen students we hope to be able to involve the year twelve construction students too.”

“The sawmill also provides offcuts for our younger students to make clocks which is tremendously helpful,” he says. “I have great faith in our students and know that they will come out of their building experiences at the college here with a basic understanding of what being a builder means and what will be expected of them. Those that go onto apprenticeships will be a lot better prepared than I was at their age.”

Meanwhile OneFortyOne’s Kaituna Sawmill works hard at encouraging people into their company. “With on-the-job training provided and four-day working weeks we are trying to make it as attractive as possible to work in this important New Zealand industry,” she says. “After a year with us employees are given access

Refining skills.

to our hunting areas which is an added bonus. It really feels good to be part of a company that understands that people and the community are vitally important to everything we do.”

Marlborough Boy’s College construction department is certainly grateful for the light the company has shown on their own project. “We just can’t thank them enough,” says Ben.

One Forty-One Marlborough Kaituna Sawmill.

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Healthcare Feature

FLOWpresso

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nderstanding the importance of the connection between body and mind, and making a difference in people’s lives, is something that local businesswoman, Heather Wallis holds extremely close to her heart.

Having personally benefitted from the restorative holistic treatments herself, Heather, owner of Lotus and Lillith, is excited to introduce the calming and therapeutic benefits of FLOWpresso to the Marlborough region. “Personal experience was a driving force behind me setting up my clinic.

FLOWpresso not only helps the body to repair and recover but I feel it brings a closer connection with the mind and emotions increasing self-awareness across all aspects!”

An experience like no other, FLOWPresso is a breakthrough, non-invasive, sensory treatment created in New Zealand, and designed by lymphatic specialist, Desiree De Spong. A single session consists of a 40min experience, using sensory, heat and circulation technologies to encourage relaxation, improve sleep quality, help manage stress, assist muscle recovery, reduce joint pain and swelling and support the body’s natural self-healing mechanisms.

“Completed fully clothed, it is one of those things that you really have to experience to understand,” says Heather. “It is a non-contact, extremely relaxing session that creates a beautiful, flowing sensation throughout the body. Most clients do not want the session to end!”

The feeling of warmth, deep pressure and compression is likened to an unconditional feeling of a hug. It is said to improve cellular environment by stimulating the body to rid itself of toxins, and promoting relaxation, muscle recovery, and repair.

Heather Wallis enjoys helping bring a sense of calm and clarity to the region.

Each of the 22 chambers of the suit inflate and deflate sequentially while infrared creates a gentle warming sensation. “It’s like getting a massage with all the extras like infrared, lymphatic and somatic being moved.” Drifting off to meditative music while relaxing in the FLOWpresso suit helps to release stress and clear your head, creating a bubble of calm and a melting sensation in the body, says Heather.

For more information on FLOWpresso or to book an appointment contact Heather on 022 390 2884 or email lotusandlillith@gmail.com

Repair, recover, rejuvenate with FLOWpresso.

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Nelson Plastic Surgery

Dr Greg Taylor has been performing cosmetic procedures for over 15 years.

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ighly respected plastic surgeon, Dr Greg Taylor, has been performing cosmetic procedures in the region for over 15 years.

Extremely proficient in his field, Dr Taylor has performed in excess of 3,750 eyelid surgeries and specialises in cosmetic surgery. An active member of New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgery and Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Dr Taylor is also a published author and was fundamental in the breakthrough of cosmetic surgery and laser skin surgery in New Zealand.

Based in Auckland, Dr Taylor travels to the region regularly, and is available to perform local anaesthetic minor procedures from the Nelson Plastic Surgery rooms for one week, each month. He specialises in eyelid surgeries, management of skin cancers, mole removal, scar revisions, dermabrasion to remove fine lines around the mouth area and correction of prominent ears.

providing a warm and caring environment for her patients, putting their needs first and ensuring full comprehension of a surgical process.

“As a surgeon I am very aware of putting the patient’s interests first. I want to help make them feel as comfortable as possible.”

Based in Christchurch, Dr Mooney travels to the region every month offering consultations at Nelson Plastic Surgery’s Collingwood St rooms with procedures, recovery and initial post-op care taking place in Christchurch. Working with established plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr Jesse KentonSmith at Nautilus House in Christchurch, Dr Mooney welcomes any questions and invites potential patients to book a full consultation to discuss options tailormade to your needs.

Eyelid surgery is Dr Taylor’s most popular surgery, where excess eyelid skin and fatty pads are removed from upper and/or lower eyelids resulting in a fresher, less tired look. It is a day stay procedure, taking one-to-two hours.

Dr Taylor’s expertise, skill and knowledge is an enormous asset to the region, and he offers a friendly, comprehensive initial consultation to help ensure the best course of action and outcome for each patient.

New Zealand trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr Kerri Mooney has been performing consultations from the Nelson Plastic Surgery clinic since the beginning of the year. Offering a multitude of cosmetic procedures Dr Mooney brings with her over ten years of experience in her field and provides full consultations and surgery for a range of breast and aesthetic procedures, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), liposuction, facelifts, labioplasty, and rhinoplasty (nose surgery).

Dr Mooney has received a fantastic response from her local patients thus far, is prolific in her skill set, knowledge, and expertise and prides herself on

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Christchurch based, Dr Kerri Mooney, performs consultations for cosmetic procedures from Nelson Plastic Surgery.

105 Collingwood Street, Nelson Ph 03 548 1909 nelsonplasticsurgery.co.nz

Blackmore Audiology

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riginally from Marlborough, Sara Blackmore is excited to return with partner Sam Jones to establish their own independent audiology clinic at 21 Francis St, Blenheim. With a Bachelor of Speech in Language therapy and a Masters in Audiology, Sara has spent the last fifteen years using her clinical experience in different clinics around New Zealand while Sam was in the New Zealand Defence Force.

“It is wonderful to be able to put down roots and do something I have always dreamed of,” says Sara.

“Now with Sam available to run the business side we are excited to be working together to do something really positive in this community that can help many local Marlborough people with their hearing difficulties.”

Blackmore Audiology is the only locally owned and operated independent audiology clinic in the region which Sara sees as a great advantage. “It means we don’t have to stick to any one brand of audio product. We can choose the right one to suit each person,” she says.

She is also thrilled with the new developments coming on stream in the audiology sphere. “It is a whole new world thanks to the growth in technology,” she says. New features include a Bluetooth capacity so that hearing aids can integrate with other technology including phone calls and media which can be streamed directly to them. There are free apps available to help find lost hearing aids, fall alerts and audio reminders.

There are also popular rechargeable batteries now available. “It is so good to see the improvements in

Sara Blackmore and Sam Jones with XXX

sound and clarity too which can really help improve people’s quality of life.”

With the addition of one other staff member, Blackmore Audiology will offer a full range of audiological services including hearing assessments, hearing screens, wax removal and hearing aids.

“Hearing is a very personal thing and when people are having difficulties it can be frightening. They can rest assured that when they come here they will see the same, experienced audiologist each time and, as a small, caring team, we will make it our business to get to know them and support them.

There are so many exciting developments happening in the audiology world and we will be bringing our knowledge and experience of those to each client that comes through our doors.”

Churchill Hospital

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ocated in the heart of Marlborough, Churchill Hospital offers exceptional surgical and patient facilities, attracting surgeons who focus on providing true person-centred care. A team of dedicated and passionate nurses and staff work alongside them to ensure the patient experience is positive and friendly.

General manager Nicki Stretch says she is proud of the teams Mahi tahi. “Collaboration is an important aspect of our culture, ensuring we are all working together to provide an excellent standard of care. Our team genuinely care about you, help you understand what to expect and support you through your surgical journey”.

The hospital’s reputation encourages many outof-town specialists to bring their expertise to Marlborough - meaning many patients needn’t travel out of the region for surgery. Churchill is actively growing their specialist services, says Nicki. “We want to encourage a wide range of specialists to practise in our region, because that removes the barriers of travel and provides locals with more choice”.

Churchill has over 20 specialists covering a wide range. These include internal medicine, general and breast surgery, endoscopy, gynaecology, orthopaedics, urology, ophthalmology and anaesthetics.

Last year over 400 patients had cataract surgery through Churchill. And over 530 patients had surgery approved and paid for by ACC. In total, Churchill cared for almost 1,700 patients in 2021.

The hospital has also seen an increase in colonoscopy and gastroscopy procedures. These procedures use a small camera to look inside you to investigate a wide range of health complaints.

Churchill’s surgeons are also bringing new techniques to Marlborough. One of these is a new approach to hip replacement (the direct anterior approach). This technique doesn’t require cutting through muscles or tendons, resulting in a quicker recovery for patients the procedure is suited to.

Another innovation used by the hospital’s urologist’s is the HoLEP – a modern and effective approach to treating large prostates using lasers.

If you are recommended to see a Churchill specialist, they can see you here in Blenheim. And if you require surgery, your specialist will see you through Churchill Private Hospital, an exceptional local healthcare facility where your care is their priority.

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Welcome to the world of Corneotherapy Karen Black is best known as an expert corneotherapist, she is your secret weapon against skin concerns and the signs of aging. Karen helps her clients achieve a more youthful skin appearance regardless of their age or budget. Her approach is unique in that she doesn’t just focus on the surface of the skin, but on the deeper layers. By working with the skin’s natural functions, Karen can help her clients achieve long-lasting results.

But what exactly is a corneotherapist?

A corneotherapist is a skin therapist who specializes in the treatment and care of the skin, focusing on the outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum. This topmost layer connects the outside world and what lies beneath it, protecting you from irritants like allergens or harmful bacteria that can cause disease.

Karen has so much confidence in this approach because she knows it works. And, time and time again, sees clients who follow this approach getting great results. Corneotherapy is an evidence-based skincare approach tailored to your individual needs.

It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Makes sense to take good care of it, right?

Corneotherapists differ from other skincare providers, such as estheticians and beauticians.

Their goal is to address the cause of your skin problems, not merely treat the symptoms.

Corneotherapy treatments repair the skin, reduce inflammation, and increase hydration levels.

Additionally, they help with inflammation, aging, acne, rosacea, eczema, dermatitis, menopausal and pigmentation issues. Corneotherapy is a more advanced form of skincare that requires more than a quick assessment, but a deeper understanding of the skin’s anatomy and physiology. The focus is on the skin’s function and how to optimize it.

There is a lot of confusion and misconceptions about product purchases, and having a skin analysis sets the record straight on what your skin needs.

People often don’t get the best out of their skincare and rely heavily on advertising and influencers, this can involve a lot of guesswork and comes with trial and error.

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June 2022

If you’re looking for something more than just a temporary fix, get to the root of your skin problems and see real results, then corneotherapy might be right for you. Would you like to be one step closer to a brighter future for your skin? Get in touch with Karen and learn more about this exciting skin approach!

Karen Black @nz_skin_expert karen@skinperfectionnz.com 021 0277 4442

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Check out all the amazing events taking place in Marlborough this Autumn at follow-me.co.nz

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2022 Ploughing Champs Awatere Valley

1.

Christian, Tiaan and Bianca Esterhuyse

2. Jenny Fagan and Donna Gardner

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3. Ken and Lyn Parker 4. Matt Webb and Chris Tricker

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5. MC-Maxene and Johan Tomes 6. Tiffany, Jett and Belle Switalla 7.

Ray Smith and Mike Meldau

8. Ruby, Andrea, and Charlie 9. Melva Robb, Verla Smith and Glenda Robb

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Marlborough Magazine

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Les Misérables Bleheim Musical Theatre

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Carolyn Rodgers and Jude Mair

2. Gaynor and Mel Cooper

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3. Graeme and Kay Barsanti

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4. Judy and Graham Murphy 5. Julie MacKay and Abbie Cornelius 6. Leonie, Thomas and Damien Yvon 7.

Maureen McKenzie and Ann Walker

8. Robyne McKee and Euan Laird 9. Sandy and Jim Findlay 10. Sue Tap and BMT Life Member and BMT President Phillip Raynar

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Marlborough Magazine

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Captivating displays, amazing stories, joyflights and excellent coffee!

Open 9am - 4pm (Last entry at 3pm) 79 Aerodrome Rd, Blenheim Ph (03) 579 1305 www.omaka.org.nz

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