Marlborough Magazine - October 2022

Editor’s note

Living in the Awatere Valley I have plenty of time to listen to the radio as I drive my way into town. Rocking out to a song at the end of a busy day is a great way to unwind – well, it is for me anyway.

And my station of choice? Brian FM. So I was delighted that we were able to catch up with the man behind the station, Blenheim’s own Andrew Jefferies about how the station started, why he did it and his plans for the future.

Speaking of future plans, as the weather gets warmer I’m starting to plan some adventures in the Marlborough Sounds with my family. It’s such a magic spot we try to get there for some fishing and boating at least a couple of times a summer. This

month we speak with a family who have taken that to the extreme and bought a boat last summer and have spent the majority of their time living on it since. Based out of Havelock but cruising around the sounds as they work and home-school, we find out how boat life has been going for them so far.

Finally, this month we say farewell to John Leggett who has been mayor of Marlborough for the past six years. John was extremely supportive of us when we launched the Marlborough Weekly newspaper back in 2019 and I know he is widely respected by the broader community. So go well John and thank you for your service to our region.

EDITOR

Summa Donald

summa@marlboroughmedia.co.nz

DESIGN

Patrick Connor, Toni Woolf and Klint Vicedor

CONTRIBUTORS

Megan Smith, Judene Edgar, Adrienne Matthews, Sarah Brown, David James, Klint Vicedor, Paula Hulbert

ADVERTISING

Summa Donald summa@marlboroughmedia.co.nz

DISTRIBUTION

Phil and Paula Brown, Wendy Aberthenthy

PUBLISHER

TSM Marlborough 52 Scott St, Blenheim topsouthmedia.co.nz

Carolynn Tipene. Finding her singing voice

David James

Headliners

What made news in our region...

Marlborough’s best young winemaker named

The region’s best young winemaker was decided last month after a record number of contestants competed in a gruelling set of challenges at the Marlborough Research Centre. Marisco Vineyard’s Alun Kilby took out the title of 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Marlborough Young Winemaker of the Year. The aspiring Young Winemakers knowledge was tested in a cellar challenge, laboratory tests, blending, fault finding, blind tasting, marketing, wine knowledge and wine tasting, as well as giving a speech at the dinner.

Milestone move for medicinal marijuana

Marlborough company Puro New Zealand is making medical history as it gets the go-ahead for its cannabis crop to be used in New Zealand prescription drugs. The company has revealed Kiwi patients can now be prescribed New Zealand-grown medicinal cannabis, a milestone move as until now, only medicinal cannabis grown overseas could be prescribed. The move will help lower the cost and increase affordability for Kiwi patients.

Marlborough mourns the Queen

Last month saw a significant moment in history, with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The Commonwealth’s longest-serving monarch died at the age of 96, after an incredible 70 years on the throne. Flags across the region have been flown at half-mast and glasses were raised in memory of the monarch. Condolence books have been provided by council at Blenheim and Picton libraries for Marlburians to pass on their well-wishes to the family.

Sounds history book first of its kind

Helen Beaglehole, a renowned historian from Wellington who spent a decade devoted to exploring the Marlborough Sounds has published a book on her discoveries. Helen set out to find out more about the settlement in the Sounds and has subsequently amassed a wealth of information and images that she has published as a 502-page book, titled One Hundred Havens. This is the first ever book to look at the history of the Sounds.

Proposal for Picton’s foreshore

A redevelopment of Picton's main foreshore route plans to focus on pedestrians and “de-emphasise the roadway”. The proposed Marlborough District Council upgrade of London Quay aims to find a solution to the pedestrian and traffic flow in and around cafés and businesses along the town's foreshore. The plan includes more accessible and inviting green spaces with gardens and bollards. The design is now open for public consultation, with an architect’s impressions on display at the Picton Library.

Fabric-a-brac success

The first ever Fabric-a-brac event in Marlborough last month has been labelled a huge success, having raised $4802.60 for Hospice Marlborough. A pop-up cafe and 19 sewing enthusiast stallholders gathered at Connect Blenheim to sell a huge range of fabrics and odds and ends. Proceeds from stallholder fees, the pop-up cafe and donated fabric from the Hospice table went to Hospice Marlborough. Event organiser Tracy Johnston confirmed the successful event will run again next year.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH David Eagle Pages 10-13

“Our life now is full of options. We made a choice to make memories with our family in a different way. There is nothing better.”

If I could...

Tiffany Williams is passionate about helping people to feel and look their best and does so through her local business, Style Sisters. We catch up with this talented creative, business owner, mum, and fur-mum, to find out what she would do if she could…

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

Jen Atkin. She has been one of my ultimate boss babe idols! She is a celebrity stylist who has made her own way to the top through style, connection, hard work, knowledge, and education. She continues to grow her brand and image in new and creative ways. I would love to spend a day with her and get an insight into the way she runs her business and connects with people.

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

Travel while you are young and have no responsibilities. Don’t be so stubborn and really chase those dreams, they are not as far-fetched or impossible as you think.

If I could travel anywhere, it would be…

Egypt is such a massive bucket list item of mine.

As a child, I was always obsessed with Egyptian hieroglyphs, sacred animals and ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses. To see this in person and really relive that history would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

If I could change one thing about Marlborough, it would be…

To create more entertainment places for all ages. In Wellington, there is an amazing place called ‘Brewtown,’ a large divided industrial building that contains an indoor adventure park, ice skating rink, trampoline park and time-out zone in one end. While the other end consists of beer distilleries, restaurants, farmers’ markets and more! It is one of the best places for entertainment and for all ages. We have so many separate businesses in Marlborough, if we all came together, I think we would create something truly magical.

If I could be famous for something, it would be…

Inspiring and educating other stylists and building women in business. I absolutely love my career, but what I love more is to be able to pass on my experience and knowledge and really help young stylists grow into entrepreneurial creatives. This is definitely a long-term career goal of mine, so here’s hoping I can achieve this - with or without the fame.

If I could swap lives with someone, it would be…

I have really thought so hard about this. And honestly, I don’t have anyone I would rather be. It has taken me a long time to go through the struggles I have been through and successfully come out the other side of. I could not give up that success to trade with anyone else.

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

My dog, Rebel. Company is such a great thing to have, we have all seen cast away with Tom Hanks and his friend Wilson. My dog would be the best company, he’s always happy to see me and is a great protector. I know I would feel warm and safe sleeping at night with him by my side.

If I could have a superpower, it would be…

To read people’s minds, although this would be the biggest invasion of privacy, it would also be one of the best superpowers in the world. No one can see, hear or feel what people are thinking and I would love to be able to switch in and out on cue.

If I could be on a reality TV show, it would be…

I have to say, if there was one show I would consider, it would be married at first sight. It is so cringeworthy and dramatic and I can totally see myself sitting back and watching the action unfold at the dinner parties. I also wouldn’t mind dressing up in bridal wear.

S arah Brown

Taking family life to the sea

Living on a boat is the stuff dreams are made of. One local family of two adults, four children, two dogs and two birds turned their dream into reality and say their time living on a boat in Havelock has been an adventure.

Words: Adrienne Matthews

The onset of Covid with its subsequent lockdowns had Haylee and David Eagle thinking harder about an idea that had been brewing for some time. For many years it has been a family tradition to go camping at Bethany Park in Kaiteriteri, but on their last visit the tent ripped and they were faced with the question of what to do next.

A lot of their friends were buying caravans. They’d come and park next to the Eagles and set up in five minutes, while they lost half a day erecting tents and another day packing them back down. So they began looking at caravans, thinking that would be their next thing. But the brutal reality of being in one with four kids, two dogs and two birds was a bit “daunting”.

Whilst that conversation was happening, they were also having another one around their living situation. Their home was bought two decades ago, before children and when the cost of a house was roughly what a deposit for one is now. They had thought of selling it and buying something bigger. In fact, they even attended a few open homes. “But we soon discovered that if we did sell, we’d essentially

be buying a renovation and we’d already done that once,” says David.

At one open home, their eldest daughter Sophia asked her parents why they wanted a bigger home. “We’d just be further apart.”

“The children were happy sharing bedrooms,” says Haylee. “We decided it was time to stop looking at other houses and upgrade our lifestyle instead.”

A bach in the Marlborough Sounds seemed a good idea. They could keep their home in town and have a little getaway.

Properties, however, were dramatically increasing in price and the roads in the area were becoming storm ravaged. “There were some coming onto the market but you couldn’t get into them unless you had a boat,” says David.

Then it dawned on them: Why get a bach when they could get a floating one?

Although David had no experience with life at sea, Haylee’s early years had been spent around boats on Lake Taupo where her father had a marine business.

David and Haylee Eagle with their children Sophia, Max, Alex and Maia on board their boat In Havelock.

Tessa Jaine

“I grew up on boats and that was my happy place,” she says.

The couple researched carefully what kind of boat was going to work for them. “We weren’t brave enough to jump into a sailboat,” says David. “That would have been too big a learning curve, especially with all the children, so we settled on a coastal-rated twelve-mile inshore vessel. We can’t go to the likes of Fiji, but we can go all around New Zealand.”

They had been looking “for ages” but eventually were at the right place at the right time.

“We saw the ‘Oriental Lady’ on Trade Me an hour after the previous owner had listed it. We picked up the kids from school and by 4:30pm we were in Havelock. By 5pm we’d agreed to purchase it,” says Haylee.

The boat has a deep semi-displacement hull. This makes it slow, but very stable and all-weather capable. Built in 1989 it is solid, seaworthy and around seventeen metres in length. There are three cabins for the children which each have a spare bunk, meaning Max, the youngest, can choose which of his siblings he wants to sleep with. David and Haylee’s

cabin is at the other end of the boat and has its own ensuite.

The kitchen and main living area are in the middle of the boat. The kitchen has a stove, oven and standard fridge/freezer so with the help of chilly bins for fresh fruit and veges they can stay out at sea for weeks, says Haylee. “We also have a covered outdoor kitchen and table where we BBQ and eat in the summer.”

The previous owners, Ross and Janet, offered to help David learn to drive and maintain the boat. “They were so gracious,” he says. “We went out together on three trips and Ross taught me everything I needed

to know. I have always been interested in how things worked and am quite practical, which helps.”

The matter of who was going to be first mate soon came up. It couldn’t be Haylee as she is responsible for the children’s safety, but Sophia, then thirteen, was keen. She is about to sit her Day Skipper’s licence and will eventually be able to drive the boat, before she can drive a car.

The first time the family came back into the harbour at Havelock the previous owners came over to help guide them in. “The local community on our pier were there in force as well and were really

David driving the 56 foot trawler style motor yacht.

4

1. Seven year old Alex has gained a new level of independence since living on the boat. 2. Max and David enjoying a cuppa on deck. 3. Maia with dogs Zen and Shiloh. 4. Sophia, Alex, Max and Miai enjoy watching the sunset. Photos: Supplied.

Our life now is full of options. We made a choice to make memories with our family in a different way. There is nothing better.

supportive,” says David. “It is a strong community and lovely to be part of.”

The family now try to spend as much time as possible on the boat. “Covid taught us that our marketing business, ‘The Big Picture’, could still function incredibly well no matter where we were based,” says David. “At the start of lockdown, I rushed to Mitre 10 and loaded up thirteen bags of concrete for a project at home, but the business suddenly went crazy with everyone wanting to know how they could improve and increase their online presence. “I’ve still got those thirteen bags of concrete sitting there,” he laughs.

Each day on the boat starts before sun-up when daughter Maia and David get the tender ready and take the dogs to the nearest beach. Then they are back for breakfast before school starts for Haylee and the kids. Schooling is a very important part of this adventure for the family.

“We have found that the children do really well at online learning,” says Haylee. “They are disciplined and self-motivated and work well wherever we are, so we are home-schooling them this year. It is a great advantage to have them spend more time outdoors discovering their own independence.

“Art, physical education and the natural sciences are easy out on the boat. The kids love learning about the sea, the environment, the weather and all of the technical aspects of running a boat. They bring heaps of crafty stuff and books so are never short of a range of activities depending on the weather, or their mood.”

Around noon the paddle boards and kayaks drop into the water and it’s off the boat paddling, swimming or walking trails until a late lunch around 2pm. “One of our best experiences has been parking up in a bay and spending the day exploring the surrounding bush,”

David says. “Making a fire and cooking dinner on the beach in the rain was really special for all of us and then we even got to see the magic of phosphorescence on the water while paddling back to the boat. What could be better than that?”

Afternoons vary depending on the weather and the season, or even whether or not it’s time to move to

another bay or anchorage. In the evenings the kids will play a game, do craft activities or watch a movie whilst David and Haylee get another block of work done.

“Living this way we do a lot more as a family,” says David. “Even though the days are busy, the time seems to go slower. Being up before dawn we tend to make use of the whole day. There is a lot more teamwork and responsibility required and the children are cultivating a keen sense of independence, as they explore the places we visit onshore.”

Asked what part of the adventure they love best, Alex says “the swimming in summer, building huts and exploring,” while Sophia adds, “the views change every day, but it is always beautiful being on the water.”

“I love that I have my own room on the boat and exploring with the dogs every day,” says Maia, while the youngest, Max, loves it all.

Maintenance is a regular part of living at sea. The boat is over 30 years old, which means it was built to last, but it has also been used in the sea for three decades. The family have kept up with the previous owner’s rigorous maintenance schedule and paid special attention to the power systems, as they say they are a lot more energy hungry than Ross and Janet. They are also learning to do as much of the mechanical maintenance themselves so they are more self-sufficient at sea in the event something blows or breaks. They carry a lot of spare parts and a full workshop.

With the best part of a year at sea living this rich digital nomad lifestyle and still running a business, David says they really do have the “best of both worlds”.

To document their new lifestyle the couple have set up Instagram, YouTube and Facebook pages under Knot Nauti. “We have become obsessed with knots since starting on this journey, so the name seemed appropriate, and we are not particularly nautical… yet!” laughs Haylee.

“Our life now is full of options,” says David. “We made a choice to make memories with our family in a different way. There is nothing better.”

Setting the scene

Marlborough is blessed with a thriving drama scene and an abundance of talent both on and off the stage. Paula Hulburt talks to the backstage volunteers that help make theatre magic.

Behind the scenes, huge curtains swing down in elegant swathes, cloaking the sounds on stage. All is hushed as, out of sight of the audience, the volunteers at Blenheim Music Theatre perform their own routine. Their moves are not choreographed, each tread instead a familiar one borne over the years of practice to bring the magic of theatre to life.

Set manager Lloyd Bush is in his element, his carpentry skills having helped create some of the theatre’s most admired sets.

Standing still for a minute, he smiles as he listens to the voice of the young Gavroche ringing out on stage. The audience is entranced and it’s a proud moment for the former funeral director, for it is his youngest son, Jasper, who is bringing the Les Misérables character to life. “Les Misérables is his first big show. I took him to Auckland in 2018 to see it and on the

plane on the way home he said he would apply for the part. I was working behind the stage and could hear him every night he performed.”

While the main barricade was a hired set, the huge construction was supplied in two parts, Lloyd explains. “It takes around 40 plus people backstage every night making sure that stuff happened when it was supposed to.”

Blenheim Musical Theatre was formed in 1918 to promote and foster the study, production and performance of musical theatre in Marlborough.

President Phillip Rayner says that without the volunteers who dedicate their time and skills, the trust would not exist. “As an organisation that is amateur, we are all volunteers, in fact, without volunteers we wouldn't exist. We do have some very special people among our ranks.”

Some of the performers with Stagelab are put through their paces ahead of Sour Crème the Musical.

Klint Vicedor

1. Blenheim Musical Theatre Set Manager Lloyd Bush at the workshop where the sets are created.

2. Stage manager Margie Fletcher and props manager Tash Stewart behind the scenes at a rehearsal.

Klint Vicedor

Sarah Brown

Lloyd says he has always had a love of carpentry and volunteering backstage gave him an opportunity to use his skills. His first show with the trust was My Fair Lady in 2011. Since then, he has worked on 21 other shows, including Annie and Phantom of the Opera. The handmade set for the King and I was almost complete when the arrival of Covid-19 and lockdown saw it cancelled at the last minute. “I’ve always worked backstage during shows, buildings sets, I like to build and construct things,” Lloyd says.

For the former funeral director whose time was often devoted to the families he cared for, the chance to switch hats and pick up his tools was a way to relax. “When I was a funeral director, I couldn’t commit to working for the whole show so couldn’t take on a Head of Department role, but now I can,” explains Lloyd who has since turned his craft into a business, working as an artisan upholsterer from his Blenheim residence.

It is a cold Tuesday evening at the theatre rooms on Lakings Road, clear skies and starlight speak of the frosty night ahead. From the workshop, sounds of industry spill out.

With each set taking three to four months to complete, the construction crew meet every week, twice a week as a show approaches. Some of the workshop team have more than 50 years’ experience, a dedication to their craft that shines through their work. “We’re always looking for volunteers to build or who have painting experience,” says Lloyd.

While some of the cast performing on stage may get show night nerves, it’s never an issue for Lloyd. “The creation and design come from the director, and we transpose it. I’ve done my bit and it’s nice to sit back and take the opportunity to see how it looks.”

This year, the crew from dance and performing arts company StageLab also put the BMT rooms to good use. Their sold out run of Sour Crème the Musical was a huge hit with audiences. For friends and volunteers Tash Stewart and Margie Fletcher, it was a culmination of months of work – one that began with cocktails, laughs props manager Tash.

Backstage, the cocktails in question, complete with hand-crafted ice cubes, shimmer under the lights. These props of tropical colour look as good as the real thing but are entirely fake.

Both Tash and stage manager Margie went to Marlborough Girls’ College and were friends there, reunited when both started at Stage Lab.

For Tash, finding the perfect props starts with company founder and director Rose Platenkamp. “Rose and I go through the script and she gives me ideas, and then I get free reign.”

From creating a smoking volcano in Penny’s Dragon last year to a machine that steals children’s tears in Sour Crème the Musical, the props can put even Tash’s ingenuity to the test. Finding solutions is a challenge she thrives on, she explains. “We’re proud of what the team and children achieve. There are some lovely relationships. One little boy stood quietly beside me and said he wanted to thank me for all the props,” she smiles.

Tash has two children, Amiee and Charlotte, who are part of the popular performing arts group. For her, it’s the family atmosphere that makes volunteering backstage so rewarding. “There are a few sets of siblings which makes it a family thing, which is really nice.”

Margie chimes in, in quick agreement, “They’re really nice kids with interesting and different personalities, but they all get on well.”

As a show approaches, both Tash, who is also a Girl Guide leader, and Margie, a full-time water and waste engineer with Marlborough District Council, give up almost all their free time to help. Asked to be stage manager three weeks before Penny’s Dragon in 2021, Margie jumped right in. She had done several children’s cushion theatre with the late theatre director Duncan Whiting.

For a girl who went on to study Engineering at Canterbury, the return to the stage, albeit behind the scenes, has been a welcome one. Supporting and organising the different teams involved in the dayto-day running of Sour Crème the Musical and the cast of 65 children keeps her on her toes. “It’s like herding cats,” she jokes, “except cats listen.”

“They [the children] have so much energy and are so excited to be here. Although it can be hard, it’s so rewarding too. You see the shy kids come to life on the stage.

“It’s such a great team environment and Rose has amazing vision. It’s about the kids, it’s about making sure they have this opportunity.

“People did this for me when I was a kid and it’s fun. Yes, there are times when it's difficult but it’s seeing the kids come out of their shells that makes it so worth it, you’re proud of them.”

The pair are all smiles, and as they talk several small cast members come in to ask one or both a question, it is clear they are needed if the show is to go on.

Would they recommend volunteering behind the scenes to other people? Both nod straightaway. “It can be very busy,” explains Tash, “but if you get the opportunity to come and help out, take it, it’s so worth it.

“Please, please support the local arts, we just couldn’t do it without everyone pitching in.”

Departing mayor says it was an ‘incredible privilege’

John Leggett will leave Marlborough’s top job this month as the region elects a new mayor. The two-term councillor and two-term mayor tells Judene Edgar he’s proud of what the council has achieved.

‘Bloody nice bloke’, ‘professional’, ‘an excellent mayor’, ‘congenial’, ‘incredibly passionate’, ‘caring and determined’ … the accolades flow for two-term mayor John Leggett who is retiring at the end of this term of council.

And while he might be stepping away from the mayoralty, John says that his interest in local government and dedication to Marlborough hasn’t dimmed at all. After 12 years on council, six as a councillor followed by six as mayor, he’s as enthusiastic as ever about the future of Marlborough, and he’s looking forward to being able to spend time enjoying some of the local facilities. “I’ve been a member of Marlborough Tennis Club since 1968. I’ve paid my subs each year, but other than going to the AGM, I haven’t set foot on a court for the past three years,” he says.

And with all three of his children living in the northern hemisphere, he’s also looking forward to some much-overdue travel. But rest assured, he has no plans of leaving Marlborough – he’s a Malburian through and through.

Despite planning for a more relaxed future, John still has both feet firmly under his desk as he continues to deal with the aftermath of the August 2022 storm events. In fact, his mayoralty is bookended by civil defence emergencies. John was sworn in as mayor on 26 October 2016, and less than three weeks later on 14 November 2016 was the devastating 7.8 magnitude Kaikoura earthquake. His first thought was, “what do we do now?”, but upon turning up to the Emergency Operations Centre, he was quickly relieved to see a team of highly-trained skilled professionals running an outstanding civil defence operation. He quickly found his feet using his community connections to support and uplift people, and established a community fund to help people and families in need, particularly those in Ward.

July 2021 Marlborough was hit by, what was then, its largest-ever recorded flood, cutting off homes, hundreds of people were evacuated, and people were rescued from swollen rivers. Unfortunately, the damage caused in the 2021 state of emergency has since been eclipsed by the August 2022 ‘atmospheric

Tessa Jaine

3 5

4

1. Mayor John Leggett volunteered to be a casualty as part of Marlborough’s Emergency Response Team training at the Blenheim fire station. 2. Council reserves officer Rob Dunn and John Leggett at the opening of the Grigg Drive to Rotary Lookout track. 3. The Koru Native Wildlife Centre, run by husband and wife team Brian and Ellen Plaisier, was opened by John Leggett in 2021. 4. John Leggett celebrates winning the mayoralty for a second term with his partner, Anne Best. 5. A new playground at Whitney Street School in Blenheim called for an opening by the mayor.

river’ that created widespread flooding and devastating slips, and cut off access to Nelson and properties in the Marlborough Sounds. Once again John is rolling up his sleeves to get the job done, but he wears his heart on his sleeve. “When you see some of the damage and impacts on people, their homes and livelihoods, it’s heartbreaking.”

John has a genuine love for his home town and the people, and he says that joining council was his way to give back to the town that had given him so much. He attended Bohally Intermediate and Marlborough Boys College before leaving to study law at Canterbury University. However, it was thanks to a holiday job at Blenheim Borough Council emptying heavy metal rubbish bins that helped him through university (and he says that he has never been fitter!).

After graduating from university in 1977, John spent a number of years overseas and throughout New Zealand working in corporate and finance law before returning to Blenheim in the late 1980s to be near his parents and join Wisheart Macnab & Partners as staff solicitor (and despite his busy duties as mayor, he still remains active within the firm).

Keen for new challenges and with “something to offer”, he stood for council in 2010, and was one of six newly elected members. “I thought I had a reasonably good understanding of council until I got in,” he laughs. “It’s a massive role and there are so many areas where people don’t realise the involvement of council, like river control and emergency management.”

A second term on council as chair of Community and Finance helped him to strengthen his connections with the community and businesses and deepen his knowledge of council. He also attended committees that he wasn’t a member of to ensure he was across all areas of council. Such is his commitment, over the past 12 years, John estimates that he hasn’t missed more than 10 meetings.

With Alastair Sowman stepping down in 2016 after four terms as mayor, and with the backing of his partner Anne Best, John decided to stand for mayor. He won a landslide victory campaigning on strong balanced leadership and a united council. One of his key promises was “leading an engaged and effective council team” – and looking back, John considers that he has delivered this. “We have a very cohesive team of councillors and a strong management team. If you get good information, you have good debate, and you make good decisions. And the community are more likely to understand why you made a decision, even if they disagree with it.”

Those who have worked with John feel that he has

delivered on his campaign promise of a positive council culture, and can be proud of his contribution to the region. Marlborough Chamber of Commerce general manager Peter Coldwell says that their relationship with the council has got stronger thanks to John’s support. “He’s an excellent mayor that’s made a real difference for the region. He’s really well informed on every topic and a well-considered, collaborative guy to work with.”

Marcus Pickens, general manager of Wine Marlborough agrees. “Under John’s stewardship, our relationship with the council is stronger than ever. He was always so professional and always has a warm smile no matter what the topic of discussion is.”

His colleagues around the council table are also going to miss him. Councillors spoken to acknowledged his professionalism, determination, and commitment to the community and applauded his dedication to community service including former mayor, councillor Gerald Hope, who recognised his outstanding leadership during the Kaikoura earthquakes, two major storm events, and multiple lockdowns.

“John sets the tone and people respect him. He has led a cohesive and productive team that has pulled together and pulled their weight.”

Deputy Mayor Nadine Taylor says that “John has exemplified leadership and he’s done that with such wisdom and dignity. He has the absolute trust of the community because he is so open, and fair and balanced in the way he approaches issues and people. I don’t think that we could have hoped for a better mayor over the last six years to see us through the civil defence emergencies and upheaval we’ve experienced. He has been such a measured guiding hand for council and the community.”

John has nominated Nadine for mayor and is confident that the region will remain in safe hands with her at the helm. “She’ll be an outstanding mayor,” he enthuses.

Typical of his mayoralty, John is reticent to blow his own trumpet, but nonetheless, it is only right that he gets the last word.

“Marlborough has treated me really well and I’ve really enjoyed being mayor. It’s been an incredible privilege and I’ve worked with great people. I’m really proud of our Long-Term Plan with its emphasis on infrastructure, and the way we provide parks and reserves. I’m looking forward to the new library opening later this year – it’s a magnificent site that will change the CBD. I also want to thank Anne for her contribution and for her incredible support of my mayoralty.”

Life of Brian (FM)

Broadcasting from a crappy little building in beautiful downtown Blenheim is a radio station that is making waves across the country. Megan Smith sat down with its founder and asks the important questions like ‘why name a radio station Brian?’

What happens when you throw a bunch of long-standing mates together for a barbeque and a few beers? Anyone would quickly assume that the evening would soon make way for inappropriate jokes, laughter, and negotiating close friends out of sticky situations. Though that very evening, apart from those things, was, in fact, what gave rise to what is now a local radio station that’s unconventional take on broadcasting has some cringing, but for the vast majority of kiwis, delivered a frequency dedicated to providing its listeners with only the best in music, and with no interference of commercials, requests, and DJ’s (their website states that these things get in the way of the music). That radio station is none other than Brian FM. Brian FM director Andrew Jeffries says the night in question produced some of the best business ideas to date, all of which were fervently jotted down. “Naturally, the ideas got more ludicrous as the drinking got more out of hand. The following morning, when I looked among the ramblings, there were some concrete ideas. I remember us listening to music over an iPhone that evening, and the topic kept cropping up that some songs were played constantly, and other epic songs were never played. As none of us could play musical instruments, we thought what better way than to launch a radio station and honour the music greats!”

You see, radio stations do not just appear out of nowhere, though to the general public they seem to magically show up as you scroll through frequencies on a car trip. It takes careful planning and industry know-how. Andrew has been managing radio stations globally for over 30 years and has recently settled back in Blenheim with his family. After all, “it is where Brian FM first started.”

Andrew’s first taste of broadcasting came into play after school when he passed by a local radio station in Wanganui and thought to himself, ‘I would love to try that.’ The rest is history. Not to mention career highlights that include lunching with Elton John, impromptu office shows by Ed Sheeran, rubbing shoulders with Lorde, Alice Cooper, and the Black Keys, being dropped outside your home at 5am by

a band tour bus in the UK, or even getting a police escort to a U2 concert in Phoenix, Arizona. Whichever way you look at it, the man knows his stuff, and when mentioning bands he loves, such as Kate Bush, 21 Pilots, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, and Split Enz, listeners will always be in good hands.

Brian FM is not a commercial radio station, and Andrew says there is no desire to be one either, costs to do so are phenomenal. The name Brian has a mystique of its own.

If you take to social media, there is plenty of speculation about where the term originates. The name Brian FM is a combination of Andrew’s two sons’ names, Blair and Ryan. “The name Gary did not sound right either! There is also a familiarity with a name like Brian. It could easily pass as the name of a farmer having a conversation with a neighbouring farmer at a fence line,” says Andrew.

The mystique of Brian FM is only fuelled by the establishment’s lack of address or contact telephone number. “It does not matter about the people running the show in the background. What does matter is to play what people like, keep up the fun identity, and stick to our motto of playing what we feel like from a crappy little building in beautiful downtown. If you do not like what we play, listen to something else. Variety is the spice of life, and it still beats listening to 5 minutes’ worth of commercials on other radio stations. Think of us as your personal playlist that got out of control.”

The radio station first aired in Blenheim in 2015 and has expanded to include over 12 regions located on both the North and South Island, with plans to expand the network even further. “It takes a lot of planning, logistics, and fully-licensed frequencies are hard to obtain. Plus, the one thing they do not tell you about running your own radio station is that when stuff breaks, you are single-handedly meant to figure out a way to repair it, versus large organisations with teams dedicated to restoring equipment and keeping it running. We have learnt a lot along the way and continue to do so. We still are a bunch of mates, drinking beers and having barbeques, but who now have an accountant.”

It does not matter about the people running the show in the background. What does matter is to play what people like, keep up the fun identity, and stick to our motto of playing what we feel like from a crappy little building in beautiful downtown.

Brian FM is on air 24/7 and run by a few dozen folks. “We are not independently wealthy, so if there are any multimillionaires with a bit of extra cash lying around, we could easily help you spend it (insert evil laugh)”, quips Andrew.

The rise of Brian FM without input from large organisations is a testament to the team’s devotion to music and saying and doing what they like in a non-pc fashion, of course. Jokes aside, there is a time when Brian FM can get serious. The station earned an innovation award at the inaugural Emergency Media and Public Affairs Conference for its work with Civil Defence. Civil Defence can override their frequency in times of crisis and transmit any necessary information to the public, a first for New Zealand. An example of this was in 2016, after the Kaikoura earthquake, when essential news needed to be shared with local communities. The radio station frequency reaches areas such as Golden Bay and Murchison, where town folk only

have access to two or three stations, Brian FM being one of them. Thus, you can see why it makes for an essential beacon in times of crisis. “We can get serious, and often it is at times of tragedy and adversity. We will always help where we can. Brian FM will also honour passed music legends for their musical contributions over the years, such as David Bowie, and most recently Taylor Hawkins, drummer of the band Foo Fighters.”

Ultimately delivering what they very well feel like playing, an ever-increasing rise in popularity and the ability to step up and help in times of need implies that Brian (a man doing his thing, apparently) is in no hurry to kick off the jandals, crack a beer open and call it a day. When pressed with what the end game for Brian FM is, Andrew jumps in with a witty comeback, “World domination or to become worldfamous, but in New Zealand!” – I will leave it there. Tune into Brian FM on 100.9 for Blenheim.

Brian FM director Andrew Jeffries and his wife Vicky.

Sarah Brown

Finding her singing voice

Carolynn Tipene has made a name for herself in venues across Marlborough because of her beautiful voice, but it was the journey to music that is what she values the most.

Words: Megan Smith

What does music mean to you? Are you one who can rhythmically move to the beat, sing along to a song, and hit all the right notes, or can you play a musical instrument? If you are like me, then admiring somebody's remarkable ability to get onto the stage and draw a crowd will have to do. However, the view looks a tad different for those who are musically gifted and have stories to tell with their music, as well-known local songstress Carolynn Tipene expresses.

Carolynn was born and bred in Blenheim into a large Māori family of 14, nine of those making up her immediate family; the others were often troublesome teens who needed guidance and a solid support structure. In those days, her sense of success looked different. "I wanted the white picket fence, a beautiful home, and kids running around in the front yard. My dad always insisted on shaping that part of my life. When it was time to leave the house, I headed down to Christchurch to study cheffing, though I was encouraged to be a nurse instead. In those days, Māori were not supported and encouraged, and there were many things I would have liked to be a part of but could not."

Since then, Carolynn's idea of success has miraculously transformed into what she feels on the inside and how that translates to others on the outside world, including her two daughters, and her work as a mentor for Te Kotahi o Te Tauhu Charitable Trust, who are there to guide and place people into work.

In 2000, Carolynn, then in Australia, resettled in Blenheim to help care for her mother who was diagnosed with dementia. Because of this, her progression into music began to mould itself into something that Carolynn is now incredibly popular for. She grew up in a musical family. There were always musical instruments strewn around the house, and her uncles and brother were in a band but she was too shy then to give it a go. The journey with her mum was what cultivated that curiosity. “She loved to sing, so when she was moved into care, I continued to sing to her, especially when she was confused. When she passed, the home asked me to stay on and sing for their residents. After that, I did a cancer

fundraiser when two separate individuals approached me and said: “‘Can I hire you?’ I thought they were joking at first.”

From then on, Carolynn sung at local spots like Bamboo Tiger and Clubs of Marlborough, to other areas such as Westport, Greymouth, and Christchurch. She would stick to what she knew, and before every gig would read the room to establish what the mood and age bracket were. “The beauty of music is that it can transport you to another place. I saw this first hand when I sang at a rest home and saw an elderly couple crying while holding hands. Somebody had mentioned that the gentleman had forgotten who his wife was, and in the middle of the song I was singing, he turned to her and recognized who she was. It is moments like that cultivate and inspire me to sing, with no formal training either.”

Carolynn is a busy woman but recognizes that a holistic approach is most beneficial in maintaining equilibrium in her demanding role in helping individuals, her singing career, and carving out time for herself and her family. "I love aqua jogging at the stadium, connecting with women my age (I am 60 now), enjoying my morning breakfast in silence, and running around after my grandkids. All these things motivate me and provide the energy I need to give and share with others."

"Lastly, it is recognizing and applying the Māori health concept of 'te whare tapa whā', the four pillars or points that emphasize health and well-being, shaping the wharenui/meeting house and its four walls. Each wall is symbolic and represents taha whānau/family, tinana/physical well-being, taha wairua/spiritual well-being, and taha hinengaro/ mental and emotional well-being, and the connection with the whenua/land, forms the foundation of the meeting house. The concept is that if either one of these cornerstones is unbalanced, it can lead to turmoil. If they are all balanced, then we prosper!"

The very fabric of Carolynn is to uplift those around her through her mahi, with her music, and to nurture Māori culture and its essential role in holistic happiness. "Get familiar with your four pillars, do not sweat the small stuff, and do not be shy to laugh, dance, or sing!"

Clothing by: Thomas's Styled by: Michelle Bradley

Photo by: David James

Sills Talia white shirt We Are The Others sunray pleat skirt Nyne Irish black Jacket R.M. Williams Erica boot

Pretty in Pastel

One of the biggest 2022 fashion trends is the Pastel hue colour palette. The subtle, elegant, and dreamy shades from this palette truly give you many fashionable outfit options. It’s incredibly feminine; however, for men who enjoy stepping out of their comfort zone and experimenting a little with their wardrobe – pastels could be a nice change for you too.

FASHION STYLING ADVICE

with Michelle Bradley, personal stylist.

The runways have spoken. Colour will rule this spring/summer. From pastels to vibrant hues and everything in between. And, no matter the colour, the prints and patterns are equally as bold.

Perfecting prints

The key this season is to mix prints. You can layer the prints on your top half. For example, try a coloured checked vest over a floral shirt. Or, be bold and wear patterns from head to toe, try a floral blouse with striped pants. Make the look cohesive by ensuring that the colours in the different pieces you’re wearing have similar tones, or, one common colour. Match one of the colours with your accessories to bring the look together.

Prints this season are a mixed bag. Gingham and checks continue to be a popular choice, as are ‘throwback’ prints, such as colourful 60s motifs and bold chevron stripes.

Love layers

When it comes to spring dressing, go for fuss-free pieces that will slot seamlessly into your transeasonal wardrobe.

Midi dresses that can be layered with a semi-sheer, long-sleeved top underneath, or a blazer over top are a favourite. Wear your jewellery over your layers, for example, a chunky necklace over a turtle neck or your watch worn over a sleeve. These are looks that will take you from day to night, and are suitable for that early evening temperature drop. Dress down with a sneaker, or up with a heel.

The humble shirt dress has made a strong comeback. This is a shape that suits many figures and can be

worn in a number of ways. Wear it done up with a tie or a belt for a more fitted look, or leave it open and wear it with jeans and a top underneath. From silk to linen, you will see the shirt dress available in many textiles and colours this season.

A spring in your step

The chunky combat boots that dominated winter are still very much ‘in’ this month. But, as we head away from the cooler months, more colours are available. Instead of black, opt for a spring colour like cream, white, or green.

The chunky look extends through to shoes. Loafers, mules and even clogs are great transeasonal options, perfect for wearing at the office and for running errands.

When dressing up, the thin strappy stiletto is out. Instead, look out for heels with thicker and fuller straps, knots, twists and even quilt detailing across the foot. Not only are they stylish, but they are also more comfortable – win!

Colour is key for your shoes too. While the classic look of a white sneaker or a tan sandal will probably never go out of style, coloured shoes are trending and there certainly are some showstoppers around. Lilac, pink and gold are great colours for lifting your whole spring look.

Enjoy the longer days and have fun with your fashion this season.

ON THE STREET

Influenced by rock, punk and pop stars from across the decades, Blenheim hair stylist Max Claasen has a unique style that is expressed through custom-made pieces, prints, and of course, accessories.

What are you wearing today?

An oversized charcoal box tee from Hallensteins, white Obey Carpenter jeans from Overflow, Dr. Marten 1460 Pascal boots from CREW. Accessories are a black leather belt with silver eyelets from Glassons, G-Shock watch from Pascoes, Stolen Girlfriends Club silver shark teeth earrings and Scorpio wrist chain from Thomas’s and my Carhart military cross body bag from Farfetch (online) - I love this thing it’s indestructible.

What is your style?

Individualism, loosely based on current fashion trends and styles. I enjoy a wide range of music genres and find my style influenced by rock, punk and pop stars. I really love contrasting oversized garments and form-fitting ones and I enjoy mixing basic neutrals with loud statement pieces.

What is most of your wardrobe made up of?

Neutrals for mostly weaving into my work wardrobe as well as lots of sturdy versatile statement pieces. I have a lot of patterned Cuban-style shirts that are great as statement pieces, or even just to throw over the top of any basic outfit. I have a pretty big interest in shoes and I love sneakers, anything from a hi-top to a slip-on skate shoe. And obviously, everyone needs a good pair of boots. My pant rotation is made up of loose y2k cargo pants, Carpenter jeans and wide-leg black pants.

What are you loving at the moment?

I love a throwback. So anything from the 70s, 90s and early 2000s. I’m also a big fan of anything futuristic or ethereal.

What are you dressed for today?

Mostly work, but also for me. I try to express myself in any situation I can.

Where do you buy most of your clothes from?

I support local businesses as much as I can, but when I’m looking for something special or unique, I go online.

What is your approach to shopping?

If I can’t afford to purchase something I like I’ll usually have a go at making it myself, I’d rather miss the mark and be left with something unique than break the bank just to be like everyone else. I go for quality over quantity, I’ve still got clothes I’ve had for eight years that I wear every day.

Do you have a style rule you always obey?

Accessorise, and accessorise again.

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

Anybody from Måneskin. I love those sexy Italians. Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing… Skinny jeans.

Sarah Brown

Stress and immunity

It’s been a rough winter this year for many of us, with a lot of illness around. And while diet, exercise, sleep and hygiene can all make a difference, Dr Marissa Kelaher says stress is an area that’s not discussed much, despite the fact it has a huge effect on our immune system.

Studies looking at how stress affects immunity are intriguing and give us a better insight into the role of stress and health. Our sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system communicates directly with our immune (lymphatic) tissue via nerve fibres. Even previous stress and trauma can be remembered by our immune system and is part of why there is such a strong link between stress and conditions like autoimmune disease and allergies.

Cortisol (our stress hormone) also impacts immunity by altering our immune response and white blood cells. Plus, stress affects immunity via its impact on our day-to-day life. When we are stressed, we are more likely to do things that are bad for our immune system (such as eating poorly, not sleeping, not exercising, withdrawing from social contact, and smoking or drinking alcohol.

Short and long-term stress affect us differently. Acute stresses (lasting a few minutes or hours) actually help our immunity by boosting immune cell numbers and activity. This is part of our survival response, as it helps our body cope with threat or injury. It’s also how ‘hormetic’ stresses such as exercise, fasting, or coldwater bathing work by creating a short, controlled stressor that stimulates our immune system.

Chronic stress has a very different effect, by suppressing immunity, and making us more likely to catch infections. This is why infections such as herpes or shingles can reactivate during times of stress.

One of the first studies looking at this was in the 1980s, where blood samples were taken from medical students before and during end of year exams.

It showed that T cell and NK cell (white blood cell) levels dropped significantly under stress, and the severity correlated with stress levels.

Hundreds of studies have looked into stress and immunity since and have found similar effects, especially in older people, or people with depression. Another study looked at first year college students and found the higher their stress levels and the more socially isolated they were, the less they responded to a flu vaccine.

Fortunately, there are many proven ways to improve immunity when we’re stressed - they all involve ‘dialling down’ our stress response.

The following have all been shown to reduce stress hormones, and measurably improve our immune function:

journalling

• connecting with others

• meditation and breathwork

• exercise and time in nature

• sleep

In practice, most things that reduce stress are likely to help immunity, the key is having tools you can use, and making them part of your day-to-day life.

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

My HOME

Gavin and Kay Traill moved from Central Otago to their piece of paradise in the Sounds three years ago. With beautiful views, a lovely home, and great neighbours, it’s no wonder the couple have decided this is their forever home.

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

Whatamango Bay, about 11kms northeast of Picton in the Marlborough Sounds. We moved here from Central Otago just over three years ago.

What four words would you use to describe your home?

Unique, special, stunning views.

What inspired this look?

The previous owners had done extensive modernisation to the property. When we bought our home that work was around 85 per cent complete, so we essentially had a blank canvas on which to stamp our own personality. Being our forever home (and a getaway for our son and daughter to escape city life) this is a long-term project for us, and although the

events of the last three years essentially put a hold on the more extensive plans that we have for the house and garden, there is no rush.

Where do you shop for homewares?

We love going to the Nelson Saturday market two or three times a year, just for a fun day out. Sometimes we find something special to bring home. On our last visit, we met local artist Jackie Ewers and now have three of her prints in our lounge. Other than that, we head to Blenheim to the larger homeware outlets.

What are your favourite pieces?

The piece we bought on our journey up to Marlborough having left Queenstown behind. We stopped at a cafe around an hour north of Kaikoura and bought a figurine made entirely of recycled materials called ‘Lucy’ (our daughter’s name), which now sits above the breakfast counter.

ABOVE: Gavin and Kay overlooking the Sounds from their home in Whatamango Bay.

Sarah Brown

What piece would you never part with?

Ooh, difficult question. Probably our Faye Williams custom wooden lampshade. We went to the Saturday market in Nelson shortly after we arrived here, saw the lampshades and just had to have one made for our living area. It is just a lovely piece of art that makes us happy.

What’s next on your interiors list? More seating in the lounge area… a comfy reading chair with a footstool or similar.

What’s your decorating style? Gavin has no decorating style and will usually do anything to avoid decorating. I hate clutter and like neutral colours and a tidy home environment. The second guest bedroom (downstairs) and the main living area have been decorated to become an extension of the outdoor Sounds and bay area themes.

What’s your favourite spot in the house? Our main living area. It’s the heart of the house where there is always laughter, and amazing food, wine and friends.

1. The couple say they would never part with their Faye Williams custom lampshade, purchased from the Nelson market. 2. The splitlevel design of the home creates different spaces for living and dining. 3. Kay keeps the styling tidy with neutral colours, favourite pieces of art and pops of colour.

Have you done any renovations?

Not at this stage. This spring and summer we’ll be concentrating on the outdoor and garden areas, cleaning, tidying and making the garden less labour intensive.

What should every home have? A heart.

What do you love about the neighbourhood where you live?

With the bay being tidal, we love the constantly changing panorama. The wildlife (we are always delighted when dolphins and seals come into the

bay) and birdlife are amazing, as is the sense of peacefulness and relaxation we enjoy when we come home from work. We are also most fortunate to have the most amazing friends and close neighbours with whom to enjoy wonderful dinner parties or just share a beer or wine and set the world to rights.

Best seat in the house? Out on the deck on a summer afternoon, sun umbrella up, with an ice-cold beer or a glass of wine.

Best memory in your house? Christmas with the family all here.

ABOVE: One of the couple’s favourite pieces ‘Lucy’, made entirely from recycled materials hangs above the kitchen.

HOME INTERIOR TRENDS

with Laura Tyser Owner, Indoor Botanicals

The beginners guide to becoming a plant person

Often people will impulse buy plants because they’re drawn to the look of them. But buying a plant isn’t just about picking the one you like the look of – it is best to do your research first to ensure you’re able to give your plants the environment and care they need to enable them to grow happy and healthy.

Things to consider when buying a plant:

Children and pets

If you have a fur baby or a human baby in your life, you’ll want to check the toxicity of any potential plant before bringing it into your home. Some examples of poisonous houseplants if ingested are peace lily, snake plant, philodendrons and pothos. But there are many that are safe to bring into your home such as prayer plants, peperomia, parlour palms and fittonias.

Light

Light is the vital ingredient needed for photosynthesis, without it, growth will be limited, slow or non-existent.

The type of light levels in your home will vary considerably. Observing how the sun moves around each room in your home will help decide what plant will thrive in that area. There is direct light, filtered/diffused light, bright indirect light, medium and low light.

Space

Visualise where you will place your plant and bear in mind the size it will eventually grow. If you have high ceilings you may want to invest in a large specimen to make a statement, rather than buying lots of smaller plants. Do you have hanging space? Room for a cabinet or shelving?

Time

How much time you are willing to dedicate to your plants will help decipher which plant best suits you. Grouping plants together with similar care requirements can not only look great but saves time when watering. Trying to buy a plant that matches your commitment level will help you.

Plant styling

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to styling your plants. Everyone has their own personal style.

Take inspiration from your room colour. It’s a way to pull a room scheme together. Think of a plant as you would a cushion, by mixing prints and patterns together in similar tones or colours.

When grouping together, go for odd numbers – threes or fives, etc. Grouping gives a greater impact, appears more balanced and draws your eye towards them when you enter the room. Mixing textures, colours, shapes, and heights add visual interest, creating levels using various methods. What can look like a rather ordinary plant on its own, comes to life when grouped with other various houseplants. You could, for example, group plants by variety (calatheas, peperomias or ferns), light requirement (low light or bright light) or colour (clustering your pinks and purples together, using texture for contrast).

Think of your plants like artwork. Have fun playing around with different looks until you’re happy.

CONTACT US TODAY TO

A

A labour of love

With an executive industrial loft vibe that exudes style, Haddin Court Apartments are a wonderful meld of old meets new.

Words: Paula Hulburt | Sarah Brown

Eachcarefully curated detail adds to the sense of luxury loft living. For co-developers Jo and Owen Mackley, the apartments are the result of three years of hard work, tenacity and talent.

For former property manager Jo, the development tested her powers of imagination but she was determined to help breathe new life into the ailing apartments. The project captured their hearts right from the start, she says.

“It has been a love hate relationship, ending in a ‘Happily Ever After.’ We are proud of what we have achieved and how amazing it has turned out…we have saved her and that is something extremely special,” Jo says.

The hazy early spring sunshine fills the ground floor apartment which is cocooned from the traffic outside.

Double glazing comes as standard in each of the 15 homes and high spec heat pumps fitted in each.

Each room comes with a deliberately crafted patina of age, a homage to the building’s build date of 1939 for Joseph Haddin. For Jo, respecting the heritage while creating functional and welcoming spaces was important.

From the vintage style hanging pendant lights and the Edison style bulbs within to the aged kitchen benches or the herringbone joist bracing, the building’s past has helped steer the renovation into the future.

Bold, sympathetic and in tune with its surroundings, the building makes a statement from the start. “The whole thing for me is that I want people to enjoy it, to enjoy living here. The new residents are the exciting next stage in her history adding their little bit of themselves to the story,” Jo smiles.

Reusing and restoring what she could from the original building was important to Jo and original timber has been repurposed elsewhere.

“I have a bit of a fascination for reclaimed rimu,” Jo jokes, “I love it. Some of it has old writing and marks on it and I left it like that. I didn’t want it all prettied up. When we do sand the rough sawn exteriors, it reveals the most amazing grain and colour”.

It has been a busy three years for the couple who moved from Christchurch and lived on site to oversee the transformation. Living in the building and doing the work gave them a valuable insight into what works best, even if it wasn’t always easy.

“It took three weeks just to do the stairs, to get rid of 100 years of paint and shellac,” Jo points out. Even the original art deco scrolled handrail has been sand blasted and repainted and put back to its original position. Where possible, the original rimu floors that had been hidden by carpet and lino have been hand sanded with care.

Jo designed a bespoke gallery hanging system for all the apartments so artwork can be rearranged without marking the walls. Given the concrete feature walls were hand plastered by Jo herself, she wants to keep them looking their best, she laughs.”

Vintage luggage, hand crafted chests and refurbished / upcycled furniture make it easy to imagine living in one of these beautifully designed homes. Jo is happy to help recreate the look for future homeowners. “I’m

a bit of a magpie when it comes to collecting things,” she says.

In bringing the apartments back to life, not only have the couple breathed new life into an old and ailing building which was potentially going to be demolished, but they’ve also created a special haven.

Each apartment comes with a private outside courtyard complete with industrial steel awnings and cross bracing which strategically tie the past to the present. Norwegian maple trees and easycare planting behind a digital locked gate creates an oasis. The kwila deck wends its way around the outside, extending the living spaces through large french doors from inside the apartment. Parking spaces are at the rear.

“People walking past have been keen to find out what’s going on,” Jo says, “…and I’ve been happy to show people,” she smiles. “People will come up to me and say, ‘oh, my nana lived here in the 1970s, that history is what excites me and that’s what makes Haddin so special.”

Six of the Haddin Court Apartments along Maxwell Road are being sold through Ben McLennan of Harcourts and will be coming to the market in the very near future.

We love renovations just as much as our clients doour Blenheim Design Studio is currently under renovation. We look forward to sharing our new design experience with our Marlborough clients in the New Year!

If you’re thinking of renovating or are planning a new build, start the process now by contacting our Blenheim Design Studio to make an appointment with one of our highly skilled designers.

Bays Joinery is the largest and most awarded family-owned joinery manufacturer in the Top of the South Island and has been operating for over 30 years. We have a highly skilled team from design through to manufacture and execution on site.

All joinery is manufactured in-house at the Nelson site using the latest technology alongside our Nelson Design Studio. We are the experts when it comes to joinery and kitchen renovations.

Bays Joinery specialises in:

• Renovations and project management

• New builds, architectural builds, and full house lots

• Commercial fit outs nationwide

• Bespoke joinery

• Not just kitchens – wardrobes, laundries, built in storage...

Our award-winning team can work within your budget and bring your project to life!

Your Bays Joinery Marlborough team: Vince, Brittany and Johanna.

October in the garden

We’re into mid-spring already and there’s plenty to do in the garden this month. The crops and flowers planted earlier in the season will be starting to appear, now it’s time to harvest and to plant more to ensure you’ve got a continuous supply through the summer.

In the vegetable patch:

All those quick-growing greens should be producing well now. Keep picking lettuce and spinach to ensure new growth.

Plant spring vegetable seedlings. Popular options are peas, beans, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, courgettes, broccoli, cauliflower, beetroot, eggplants, leeks, and salad greens including rocket, spinach, mizuna, mesclun and lettuce.

Keep vigilant on slugs and snails. They particularly enjoy spring seedlings.

Now that the weather is more consistent, basil and coriander can be planted outside. Other herbs to plant in the garden now are parsley (Italian and curly), sage, rosemary, thyme, rocket, marjoram, dill and chives. Plant them in and around the garden to increase the diversity, this aids as a natural insect repellant.

Labour weekend is traditional planting time for tomatoes, get yours in the ground by then to ensure a bumper crop in the summer. Fertilise with a tomatospecific fertiliser.

In the fruit garden:

Stake fruit trees to protect against spring winds.

Plant blueberry plants. They are relatively easy to grow, make great hedges and the fruit is high in antioxidants.

Keep regularly feeding your strawberries every couple of weeks with liquid fertiliser.

Plant new citrus trees. They prefer a position in full sun with good draining soil.

In the flower garden:

Your spring bulbs will be out now. Enjoy the beauty and take photos, this will help you remember where everything is for next year and you can decide what needs moving.

Plant annuals for instant garden colour. Seedlings available now are ageratum, alyssum, aster, begonia, Californian poppy, carnation, cosmos, dahlia, impatiens, marigold, and petunia.

Lightly prune roses to remove dead heads and to encourage new buds.

With the warmer weather and the high pollen levels, bees are active. Plant food sources for them such as pineapple sage, bergamot, lemon balm, blue salvia, coreopsis, echinops, eryngium, gaillardia, alyssum, and rosemary.

As the soil warms, apply mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. As it breaks down it will supply food for your soil.

Churchill Hospital – cultivating better health outcomes

Hospital is Marlborough’s own private surgical hospital and specialist centre. Owned by the Churchill Private Hospital Charitable Trust since 1984, Churchill shares a mutually beneficial relationship with Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough. General manager, Nicki Stretch says having a private hospital in Marlborough helps to attract medical specialists to the region and increases health resources that benefit our community. “Whether patients are covered by ACC, health insurance, or are self-funded, many no longer need to travel out-of-town for consultations or surgery, and it relieves some pressure off the public waiting list too.”

Churchill

The team at Churchill Hospital are committed to delivering excellent, patient-centered care, providing the facilities and staff to enable specialists to undertake private surgery for their patients in Marlborough. They offer a broad range of surgical services including general and laparoscopic surgery, endoscopy, gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery and urology.

Churchill Hospital have fifteen surgeons that consult and operate at Churchill Hospital. Seven of those are visiting surgeons, which enables them to cover a wide range of needs. They have increased their gynaecology services with three specialists available to see patients and also have visiting urologists, an ophthalmologist, an ear, nose and throat specialist and a plastic and reconstructive surgeon working as part of the team. “We are always looking to increase

the medical services available and identifying what people need locally.” Nicki says expansion plans are underway for the specialist centre. “We are definitely seeing a greater need for this. Upon completion, the extra facilities will enable us to further help our wider community.”

As a charitable trust, it is important to the team to give back. Churchill Hospital not only focus on providing the highest standard of health care to their patients, but also support the wellbeing of the Marlborough community. Their community donations programme has provided financial support to many not-for-profit organisations including Marlborough Riding for the Disabled, Hospice Marlborough, The Graeme Dingle Foundation Marlborough, The Creative Kids Trust and various sporting organisations like women’s cricket and tennis.

Churchill Hospital are also passionate about gardening for your health, which is why they have aligned themselves with one of New Zealand's premier gardening events, Rapaura Springs Garden Marlborough. “This ties in nicely with a lot of the things we do here. It is an iconic event that brings many visitors to the region, but also gardening is good! It helps people to keep active and motivated and is generally great for overall mental health and wellbeing.”

Fideua

Celebrity guest chef at the 2022 Rapaura Springs Garden Marlborough Festival, Josh Emett shares with us this Valencian pasta dish cooked in the style of a paella.

PREP TIME: 25 MINUTES | COOK TIME: 25 MINUTES | SERVES: 6

Ingredients:

• 1 medium-sized onion

• 2 squid, cleaned

• 3 tbsp (45 ml) olive oil

• 4 cloves garlic

• 1 1/3 lb (600 g) tomatoes

• 2 level tbsp sweet smoked paprika

• generous pinch of saffron (optional)

Method:

Dice the onion.

• 18 oz (500 g) pasta, such as stortini bucati

• 1 qt (1 litre) chicken or fish stock

• salt

• 12 large shrimp/prawns, uncooked

• 9 oz (250 g) clams

• 12 mussels

Remove the tentacles from one of the squid and cut the body sac into small dice. Cut the second squid into wide strips, removing the tentacles as you go, and set aside.

Place a shallow paella pan over a medium heat and pour in 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the diced squid and cook quickly, letting it sizzle and colour lightly on both sides.

Slice garlic cloves very finely, add to the pan with a little more oil if needed.

Chop the tomatoes, fairly finely, add them and all their juice to the pan, cook stirring for 2 mins. Stir in the paprika, saffron (if using), and pasta.

Let the pasta toast for a minute, then pour on the stock, season with salt, bring to the boil and leave to cook for 8 mins, or until 2/3 of the liquid has evaporated. At this point do not stir again until a fine crust has formed on the base.

While the pasta cooks, warm the remaining Tsp of oil in a shallow pan, add the reserved strips of raw squid and the shrimp/prawns, and cook for 2 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove immediately.

Place the clams and mussels, and the squid and shrimp/prawns, over the surface of the pasta, then make a loose dome of kitchen foil over the pan and leave everything to steam for 2 or 3 mins, till the mussels and clams have opened. Serve immediately.

If you’re a lover of Mediterranean cuisine and seafood, visit the Mussel Pot in the heart of Havelock. This iconic, restaurant is now open with a new twist to their menu! Besides the signature mussel dishes, the kitchen is introducing fresh homemade Italian dishes. Book now for the ultimate dining experience!

www.themusselpot.co.nz

What’s On

For updated information visit www.follow-me.co.nz

Fri 7 Oct

BAYLEYS ‘FRIDAY NIGHT FEAST’

Blenheim’s favourite street party is back for the sixth year running! Head to this food lovers’ festival and celebrate Marlborough food and the region.

Wynen Street Car Park, Blenheim CBD

Sat 8 Oct

SOUTH ISLAND CHEESE FESTIVAL 2022

Enjoy a family-friendly day celebrating cheese from all over the nation, build yourself a picnic from the selection of stalls and enjoy the live music.

Clos Henri Vineyard, 639 State Highway 63, Renwick

Sat 8 Oct

MARINA 2 MARINA 2022

This scenic annual event takes you through the stunning trails of the Marlborough Sounds. A variety of walking and running courses offers something for everyone.

Picton Foreshore, Picton

Sat 1 Oct

CREATIVE KIDSWALK OF LIGHT

Bring your whanau and friends along to enjoy this free lantern walk event celebrating ‘Te Noho Tahi’ - being together.

Sun 16 Oct

THE BICYCLE AND THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER

A lively and entertaining performance that addresses themes of women in leadership, the meat industry, veganism, global food issues and family relationships.

Picton Little Theatre, 9 Dublin Street, Picton

Sun 23 Oct

A BAND OF TWO HALVES: BRILLIANT BRASS

Come and celebrate 160 years of brass band service to Marlborough with a special public performance from the Marlborough Brass Band.

ASB Theatre Marlborough, 42 Alfred Street, Blenheim

Pollard Park, Parker Street, Blenheim

2022

Wed 12 Oct

ROCK FERRY WINE’S TWILIGHT MARKET

Enjoy an evening stroll through the stalls of local artisan producers, with a glass of wine in hand and a bite to eat from one of the food trucks.

Rock Ferry Cellar Door, 130 Hammerichs Road, Blenheim

Dazzle Marlborough

1. Laura Huntley and Leigh Somerville

2. Christoff Pretorius, Hannes van Zyl and Craig Waghorn

3. Lindie and Etienne Hawes

4. Kurt Findlay and Arthur Devine

5. Rachelle Brackenbury and Naomi Nailer

6. George and Sonia Manson

7. Rob Seaton, Rob Lane and Melanie Pierce

8. Ruth and Shaun Thompson

Wither Hills Winery Barrel Hall

Summa Donald

Northspur World

Event Cinemas

1. Amber-Louise Connor and Ben Austen

Daniel and Kathryn Flood, Karen and Alistair Bull

Glen and Carina Dick

Hayley Moody and James Sutherland

Nina Scott and Alex Liu

Rana Moanaroa and Shane Pinker

Chris, Poppy and Jo Lane

Shanti Marrow, Ryan Rosales and Veda Austin

Matthew Croad Photographer