Nelson Magazine - October 2023

To quote poet Mr Dylan (the current), “The times, they are a changing”. This is more true now than ever, with changes to technology, the cost of living and our thoughts about the climate. The way we move around the region is also changing. The new investment into the public eBus system means more of our community are choosing to commute into town using these services. The Toyota Mobility Project adds a whole other layer to this mix, with an easy mobile phone app based system that allows you to access a range of brand new, highly efficient and safe Toyota’s from the Bowater Toyota demonstrator fleet. Most on the app are hybrids, or you can chose to use the Lexus Ux300 EV, the 7 seat hybrid Toyota Highlander (as shown in the photo towing the boat), or even a Hilux to get those big jobs done. Prices start from just $17/hr and you can use any of the vehicles for an hour, a day or even a week, with prices capped for longer periods. It’s very easy to use. Video’s are on our website.

Learn more at our Mobility Hub: www.bowaters.co.nz/toyotamobilityproject

The Toyota Mobility P roject is for everyone. Access the right vehicle, at the right time, for only as long as you need it .

Integrated Care

The Coastal View Lifestyle Village in the Tāhunanui Hills, overlooking Tasman Bay, offers seamless integrated care. All care suites are large, at ground level, with personal outside decking.

• Award winning Spritely technology for monitoring health vitals in independent houses

• General resthome care in the contemporary care centre

• Hospital level care in the care centre

• Specialised dementia care in the separate Te Ara House

Cultural diversity enriches our society.

It makes a positive difference to work environments, sports teams and social interactions. Diversity brings different points of view, different strengths and different ideas, which means we can get the best of each to create a better way of doing things.

This month we introduce our latest regular feature, New to Nelson. It celebrates those who have made Nelson their new home and shares the challenges and highlights they’ve encountered since settling in the top of the South Island.

As someone who has lived in Nelson my entire life (except for two years spent in the UK), I don’t know what it’s like to walk down the street without recognising anyone and have only really experienced other cultures when travelling. So, reading Karolina Serrano’s story made me more aware of how I can help to make people new to Nelson feel welcome and more a part of our community.

Have a read about one of the many people who is making Nelson Tasman a more interesting place to live. Even though we may have different ways of expressing ourselves through music, food, celebration and worship, we have more in common than we might think.

Sarah

EDITOR

Sarah Board | editor@nelsonmag.co.nz

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Tessa Jaine | tess@topsouthmedia.co.nz

DESIGN

Kara-Shay Manson, Patrick Connor and Kylie Owens

CONTRIBUTORS

Britt Coker, Felicity Connell, Judene Edgar, Matt Lawrey, Amy Russ, Adrienne Matthews, Marissa Kelaher, Kate Dyer, Mackenzie Charleton, Gordon Preece.

ADVERTISING

Kirsten Ammann | kirsten@topsouthmedia.co.nz

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

PUBLISHER

Top South Media 563 Main Rd, Stoke topsouthmedia.co.nz

issuu.com/nelsonweekly

What advice would you give someone who is new to Nelson?

Immerse yourself in the culture… Go to the exhibition openings, the free events, the dog beach. Climb that hill, eat, drink and be merry. Soak it all up with a smile and you’ll be making new friends in no time!

It’s a great place for families. It’s nice and small, and not far from everything you need. It’s easy to walk everywhere and with the new bus network, transport and getting around is easy.

Embrace everything Nelson has to offer. We’ve got great beaches, rivers and lovely places to walk. Get out and explore on foot!

It’s good here, get out enjoy the sights and the beach. Plus, there are heaps of work opportunities here and it’s good for young families.

Tāhunanui Beach at dusk

Congratulations to Jenna Lyall who won a double pass to Ladies Night.

New Zealand’s original gin festival brings you an afternoon of total Gindulgence on 18 November at the Trafalgar Centre. With 50-plus gins to try, great local food and live music, this is a boutique event not to be missed.

To be in to win a double pass email your best photo to editor@nelsonmag.co.nz

Jenna Lyall

Catherine Potton

Russell Rogers

Josh Murray

Jules Crompton

Founders refresh

Headliners

What made news in our region...

A $50,000 upgrade to the playground at Founders Heritage Park is underway, funded entirely by proceeds from the Founders Book Fair. The upgrade will include a stage and seating area for performances, as well as makeovers for the mini windmill, heritage carousel and the slide. The park is free to visit for locals and is a favourite spot for families, the work is expected to be completed by this summer.

Local ice cream makers scoop awards

The recent 2023 NZ Ice Cream and Gelato Awards saw local ice cream makers Appleby Farms Ice Cream, Motueka Creamery, Deep South, Gelato Roma and Penguino Ice Cream Cafe represent our ice cream-loving region well, taking home a flurry of awards between them. Highlights included Appleby Farms scooping two golds for its original chocolate chunk cookie ice cream sandwich, a collaboration with Cookie Time, and a gold for its strawberry and cream variant. Motueka Creamery was awarded the Hawkins Watts Champion New to Market Award and three gold medals for its Bark Bay Belgium Chocolate flavour.

A ‘butt-ugly’ fence

A place known for watching the sunset from and to view Motueka’s Janie Seddon boat wreck has been compromised with a wood and mesh fence. Motueka residents were left scratching their heads as to why the ‘eye-sore fence’ was put there, with Tasman District Council’s communications officer Darryn Palmer even agreeing it is ‘butt-ugly’. It does serve a purpose, however, the granite blocks that provide structural integrity are starting to tumble out of place. While a reconstruction plan for the area has been proposed, funding is yet to be ascertained.

Tāhunanui good sort

Alastair Cotterill has spent the better part of two years tidying up Tāhunanui – to turn the place where he lives into a tourist hot-spot. Alastair began with cleaning up the beach, removing bag after bag of debris, from there he turned his attention to the tennis courts. He provides his labour for free and says Nelson City Council has helped with new paint, two new nets and a storage facility for his equipment. With grand ambitions of continuing his march of steady progress and improvements into Nelson City, Alastair says he’s just one man doing what he can for his community.

Five decades of McGlashens

The for sale sign has gone up at Royce and Trudi McGlashen’s renowned studio in Brightwater. Royce, who has been potting for 56 years, has been an integral part of the arts community since establishing the studio nearly five decades ago. After meeting at a pottery exhibition, the couple went on to travel the world together before setting up roots in Brightwater and building their successful pottery business. While they have enjoyed every step, they say it’s time to do other things they want to do.

Denser housing plan forges ahead

Nelson City Council’s proposed planning changes will remain out for public consultation until the end of the month after a vote to withdraw the plan failed. The plan could see six-storey buildings built in certain locations across the city without a resource consent, sparking backlash from many residents who fear losing daylight access and Nelson’s character. However, most councillors agreed that the consultation process is the right time for residents to make their concerns known and could result in changes being made to the proposal.

Things we love

Congratulations to local designer Gill Saunders, who has taken out the 2023 World of WearableArt Supreme Award, with her garment, Earthling. Earthling is the third and final piece in a wearable art trilogy by Saunders and takes its inspiration from the rising popularity of adult colouring books. Promoting mindfulness in a “world under increasing stress”, Earthling celebrates earth’s natural wonders in a fun, vibrant, and beautifully crafted garment made from EVA foam, acrylic paint, and wire.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“It’s really personal for each person but we’re grateful that they are there and genuinely wanting to do something to help. The feedback that we get is that it’s life changing.”

Louisa Hawkes Pages 18-21

Getting to know... Douglas Brooks

Actor, insect expert, tuba player and outdoor survivalist, Douglas Brooks is a man of many talents. One of which is directing the Top of the South Film Festival happening on 28 October in Blenheim and 3-4 November in Nelson.

At the weekend you’ll find me...

Hanging out with my two lovely tweenagers, Nate and Alice, trying to coax them into doing something character-building like clearing gorse.

I will never shut up about...

The importance of storytelling to humanity and yet how commercially undervalued and exploited it can be. The Hollywood writers’ strike demonstrates that the people creating our entertainment can suffer precarious and dehumanising working conditions.

I’m a real nerd about...

Insects and forests. I wrote my science honours thesis on using beetles as an indicator species for forest disturbance. I still love turning over logs to find shiny carabid beetles.

As a child, I was really into...

Outdoor survival. The SAS Survival Handbook was my obsession and Wakefield’s Faulkner Bush my training ground. When the apocalypse comes, I can collect water from the air, make a deadfall trap and set rodent snares. We might not eat but we’ll stay busy.

My useless skill is...

Playing tuba and euphonium. My father was a top national brass player and still plays regularly. My brother and I also competed – the high point of my music career was winning bronze in the E flat tuba at Junior Nationals, although I should mention there were only four people in the competition.

My real-life superpower is...

Digging. I’m hand-carving a 1km bush track for my wife Naomi’s 40th birthday, which we’ll plant up. She’s nearly 42, so it’s taking a wee while.

My simple pleasures are...

I love getting a new script and working with actors. I am happiest when in costume, ever since I was a six-year-old directing and acting in plays for my class at Wakefield School.

I get myself out of a funk by...

Tramping, running, and weightlifting – non-negotiables for mental health.

I hope in ten years Nelson will...

Still be embracing its arts, including the Top of the South Film Festival. It’s now in its ninth year and is entirely volunteer-run with all income supporting local filmmakers. When Aaron Falvey and I co-founded Top of the South Filmmakers in 2014 we could only dream of the film community network we have now. It’s a privilege to showcase local creativity in our own festival and connect our filmmakers with their national colleagues.

Directing my short film ‘Kōkako’ at St Arnaud.

Tramping up the Travers Valley.

With Nate, Alice and our dog Dusty.

on the couch

with Mason Fitzgerald Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve CEO

Can you tell us what it means to now be in your CEO role?

Mason Fitzgerald plays a major part of the Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve (KRR) legacy as CEO of the non-profit organisation. With a family connection to the region that spans generations, Mason talks to Nelson Magazine about what the Reserve means to him and the phenomenal work KRR undertake to preserve it for the future.

The Reserve has been the centre of my family holidays for as long as I can remember, right back to when my grandparents started coming here in their younger days. It’s a surreal feeling to now be entrusted with leading the Reserve and continuing to build on the potential of this amazing place and ensuring it’s here for generations to enjoy, just like I have experienced.

As an outfit that is strongly focused on the community what are some challenges of being a self-funding, crown-owned entity?

As a 100% self-funding model, the Reserve is completely reliant on the support of our locals and visitors. Every dollar that is spent across our many offerings goes back into preserving, protecting, and improving the area and environment we all love. Being crown-owned is a challenge as we have restrictions on financial lending. This is where our incredible volunteer network chips in and there is no doubt in my mind that we wouldn’t be what we are without these amazingly generous people.

What underpins the values of Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve, and why are these important?

These primarily speak to the responsibility we have to provide guardianship, protection and the preservation of our taonga for the land and sea we are blessed to care for. The other significant purpose

is whanaungatanga, and that is simply sharing our memorable experiences, strengthening each other and our community for the benefit of generations to follow. What upcoming projects does the team have planned?

For the last three years we have been working with our local WSP firm on a Destination and Spatial Master Plan in terms of improving our visitor experience, carparking, spatial layout, recreational areas, cultural representation, and storytellingwatch this space.

How can we help to continue protecting this precious commodity?

The Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve covers more than 250ha of land and includes the campground, apartments, On the Spot store, Waterfront Restaurant, mountain bike park, surrounding forestry, beach/ foreshore, Kākā Point Historic Reserve and island, and the estuary. The Reserve is such an incredibly special and unique place to be enjoyed by everyone. People can support us through volunteering, tree planting donations, fundraising, staying in our many accommodation offerings or simply getting a pie and an ice-cream from our store, every bit counts and helps us keep this Reserve the beautiful slice of paradise it is!

Jonah and The Whale Project

We love seeing whales in the ocean about as much as we hate seeing them stranded on our shores. Britt Coker talks to a local charity with the selfdesignated task of getting the beached mammals back where they belong.

It’s a record we’d rather not have, or ever exceed. In February 2017, about 650 pilot whales stranded on Farewell Spit. The third largest stranding ever recorded in New Zealand. On one hand, the spit with its long and sandy outstretched hook is, yes, a unique and fragile ecological ecosystem, but also, a pesky pain in the neck for whales. Their use of echolocation to navigate their way through the ocean means they don’t get great readings from that long sandbar until they’re stranded on it. We think. This geographical anomaly is generally accepted as the main reason strandings happen in this part of the country and the same reason Project Jonah HQ relocated to Nelson from Auckland, six months ago.

The charity has been operating for almost 50 years, its name taken from the biblical story of Jonah and the whale, though in that tale it is Jonah who is stranded (in the whale) and not the other way around. Perhaps surprisingly, considering the vast number of volunteers involved, it is just a three-person ops team that manages strandings and their 24/7 hotline (0800 4 WHALE). They’re a busy trio too, with an average of 1-2 strandings a week nationwide, totalling around 300 whales stranded a year. Except, of course, for years like 2017. Louisa Hawkes, communication and volunteer manager, recalls the Farewell Spit experience.

“Ït was a massive community effort and it tested our systems … Six hundred and fifty whales is just nuts. It was in the peak of summer before Covid when we had tourists everywhere. And the community came together, our people came together. We called people from Wellington and Christchurch as well as the locals. It took two and a half days working with everybody there and we got most of them out, which we’re pretty proud of.”

Bare Kiwi

One third of the whales died overnight but over the following days they were able to refloat all of the remaining animals, bar twenty. Without human assistance, the story would have been very different. Approximately 1000 volunteers a day, plus 650 whales. Not just people working with whales, but logistics around traffic control, food donations, portaloos, communications and first aid. Essentially in just a matter of hours the team oversaw a spontaneous community event begetting an extraordinary sight and an extraordinary experience.

People gravitated in their droves because of an endearing human quality to feel compassion for another living thing that we do not relate to, or even coexist with. But there is bittersweetness in a whale stranding because while the compulsion to help is strong, you are walking into a situation that promises no happy endings. It is an experience that is asking you to invest your time, but not your emotions - which is nigh on impossible as you sit with, and talk quietly to, a stranded animal.

“I think everybody’s experience at a whale stranding is different and it really depends on what’s happening for them at the time. For

someone who may have lost someone significant in their life, whether it’s an animal or a relative in the last year, a stranding can be quite difficult, or it can be really freeing because they get to assist something that is distressed and help it get back into its natural environment. For others, their experience can be overwhelming because they’ve learned about it in the classroom environment but when it comes to real life it can be a little bit confronting, but within 10 to 15 minutes we tend to see them going from standing offside to talking to everybody with the knowledge that they have, and leading,” says Louisa.

“It’s really personal for each person, but we’re grateful that they are there and genuinely wanting to do something to help. The feedback that we get is that it’s life changing.”

The Project Jonah team try to minimise the risk of attachment. Asking people to move into different roles, to not stay with one whale for too long. They try to be as empathetic towards the saviours as to those they are trying to save.

“We’re really mindful to talk to people when they are with the whales and to pre-empt what’s going to happen next, so before the refloat happens we will go an hour beforehand and let people know the water is coming in, this is what’s going to happen.

Project Jonah’s communications and volunteer manager Louise Hawkes and general manager Daren Grover are both based in Nelson.

‘At some point you’re going to have to step away from your whale so now is your time to say goodbye’, because people do get attached. … If the whale ends up being euthanized it can be quite confronting for people.”

Saying goodbye at dusk happens for everyone regardless, as there are strict protocols in place when it comes to staying overnight with stranded whales. The mammals attract sharks and stingrays, and while rare, the flick of a whale tail has necessitated a few ACC claims over the years. So they are left to their own devices and sometimes when everyone returns at sunrise, the animals have vanished like magic, returning to the sea on the night’s high tide.

When the team isn’t managing whale strandings, they are busy travelling to coastal towns and cities, running training courses for people interested in becoming a Project Jonah volunteer. They have seven rescue trailers based around the country with an especially big one here in Nelson which includes training gear and all kinds of things you need to get whales off beaches and back into the water. Inflatable rescue pontoons, for example, which were invented by a member of Project Jonah and are now used for whale strandings all around the world. So, what do you do if you come across a stranded whale or dolphin? Call Project Jonah or DOC. Keep calm, keep it cool, don’t pour water down it’s blowhole, and stay away from the tail. Yes, 10% of their calls are for an orca that turn out to be a seal, or – at Tahuna Beach this year – a whale that turned out to be a marker buoy. But they’re happy to run with that old adage, better safe than sorry, and an optimist would see the misidentifications as a good test of the charity’s response process, which can be lightening quick.

They work closely with DOC but the government department has limited human resources, while Project Jonah can call into a conch shell and 5000 volunteers around the country will lift their heads and stare into the distance. If you want to be added to their volunteer database, Project Jonah will be holding a Marine Mammal Medic Course in Nelson in February. After a couple of hours of theory, you’ll head to the beach for a practice drill.

“We have life-size, life-weight training animals, so we have a pilot whale that we fill with water and it becomes two tonnes, and we have an inflatable dolphin that we fill with water and it becomes 200 kilos. We get everyone in their wetsuits practising how to use the equipment that we’ve taught them about, usually on Tahunanui Beach, and despite having flags up and volunteers in hi-vis talking to people, we still sometimes cause a bit of a traffic jam with cars driving along Rocks Road and seeing a whale in the water and lots of people working around it.”

Project Jonah relies heavily on donations from the public and business community, and they are grateful for support from trusts and grant bodies that assist them with the larger operating costs like the education officers based around the country (there’s one here in Nelson) to visit schools and kindergartens. Children are, Louisa says, ‘tiny sponges’.

“The feedback that we get from teachers and parents in the days after is they won’t stop talking about whales, and they remember to stay away from the tail. We do some singing with them, so the kids will sing the songs around the house. Probably one of the nicest bits of feedback we had recently is a child now picks up three bits of rubbish on their way to school each day because we talked about how litter has an impact on the marine environment. It’s really encouraging to see how curious children can be when you phrase something that, to adults is absolutely terrifying, but in a way that enables them to be creative and innovative, it allows space for them to come up with some cool solutions.”

Louisa thinks there is a curiosity around cetaceans that attracts us to them.

“Not many people will get to interact with them in their lifetime.…If you do see dolphins or whales out on a boat or at the beach, there is an element of mystery around them, and people are intrigued by that. So, I think when we can see that they are suffering we know that it’s unnatural and uncomfortable for them and so we want to help. It’s a real driver for people to travel two hours over Takaka Hill to a scene that might be devastating, but they turn up anyway.”

changing.”

While accurately predicting a whale stranding is impossible, not so long ago they did have a greater sense of when one was likely to happen based on the seasons. But the planet is not so big on being predictable these days.

“Things are changing and so we have to have our systems prepared for everything, all the time. Massey University is doing some really interesting studies to look at trends and overlaps. And in the current study they’re looking at solar flares, working with NASA and the stranding history to see if there’s any overlapping with that, but there’s no results today.”

What is certainly more predictable however, is that whenever and wherever that next mass whale stranding takes place, humans in their numbers will be heading there to help in whatever way they can.

Find out more about the Nelson Marine Mammal Medic course on 17th Feb 2024 - at projectjonah.org.nz/medic

“It’s really personal for each person but we’re grateful that they are there and genuinely wanting to do something to help. The feedback that we get is that it’s life

650 whales were stranded at Farewell Spit in 2017. Bare Kiwi

Produce foraged fresh

We’ve come a long way from our hunter gatherer roots, but Britt Coker met one local who still spends time seeking wild plants in the woods.

Tessa Jaine

Cynthia van de Loo hasn’t bought fruit, leafy greens or herbal teas from a supermarket for about 25 years. Instead, almost every morning she gets up early and forages on the Grampians or other nearby green spaces. She’s not looking for wild lettuces or broccoli, but uncultivated plants that have existed pre the agricultural revolution. Plants like dandelion, puha, chickweed, plantain, and cleavers (bidibid). Greens most of us would term ‘weeds’ and treat as such. But that’s not a word Cynthia ever uses, she sees them more as super-foods rather than super-annoying. She says they are all full of vitamins, minerals and medicinal properties and harvesting them fresh ensures you are getting the goodness of live enzymes rather than the less-than-live enzymes in supermarket options. The tidy, well-lit aisles don’t satisfy us the way a hunter gatherer lifestyle does either, or offer a peaceful moment in leafy solitude.

“Foraging connects me deeply to the plants. It allows me to be quiet and spend time in nature and listen and really get a better understanding of what their needs are. I get really excited if I find a lush patch of chickweed because the simple act of seeking and finding creates happy endorphins. It’s highly important for our well-being actually, to be doing that. That’s what we did years ago, and being self-sufficient is empowering.”

Cynthia’s plant knowledge in the early days came from a combination of in-the-field workshops with experts, and plenty of reading. She has now been taking her own half-day workshops for over two decades for locals keen to confidently identify wild plants for eating.

“We i.d between 50 and 60 plants and I am really interested in sharing more knowledge of the indigenous worldviewof how to be with the plants and the land and all the beings that we live amongst. Sharing the importance of really honouring the plants and being able to communicate and listen to them. The importance of reciprocity is really one of the key things for me because every time I take, I ask myself, what can I give back to this being?” (Her answer is compost, sending loving energy and chanting).

If you’re keen to forage locally, keep in mind public places are sprayed with herbicides. Cynthia says there is no public record of what places are safe in Nelson, but you can call the council to find out. She looks after a no-spray zone community area near her house and has plenty of wild plants populating her garden. She’d love it if there were more herbicide free areas but recognises this will only happen if more people ask for them. She was living in Lyttleton when the 2011 earthquakes hit and found her daily foraging was a useful skill to have when you are in survival mode, as everyone was during Covid lockdowns. Being self-sufficient offers some sense of control in your life if reliance on supermarkets for fresh produce is not an option. Foraged crops are also free, a stark contrast to the heavy price paid by us all as we live through the current economic climate.

Cynthia also has a vegetable garden and fruit trees, so supplements them with her foraging of nuts, fruit, mushrooms and greens. New Zealand does have its share of poisonous plants so it’s important to know exactly what you’re collecting and if in doubt, don’t harvest it. “I’m very cautious of berries and mushrooms. You only want to take them if you absolutely know what you’re looking at.”

For most of us, it’s easier to begin in our backyard as there’s usually plenty of wild plants there, or soon will be if you give them a chance. Start by looking twice at your dandelions. “You can use every part of the dandelion, from the flower to make honey, the leaves that you can use in salads and smoothies, and the root can be roasted to make dandelion coffee.” And there’s plenty more options where the dandelion came from.

“Plantain, cleavers, chickweed, puha, nettle, miners’ lettuce, speedwell - oh there’s heaps. They all have a massive amount of medicinal properties; there’d be between 10 and 20 different medicinal properties for each plant. My two favourites are probably the miners’ lettuce and the chickweed because they’re just sweet and succulent and have a milder flavour.”

Spying something tasty and unloved in a friend’s place generally elicits the same response from all benefactors. “Oh, take as much as you want.”

Translation: That’ll save us a weeding job later.

A vegan for two decades, it was a book published 50 years ago that changed how Cynthia felt about eating greens. The Secret Life of Plants by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird reveals unconventional results from scientific experiments on plants.

“It showed that plants are sentient beings, the same as humans and animals and they have feelings and emotions and a pulse. Different experiments have shown that when, for instance, you’ve got an indoor plant and you know if you’re really loving and caring for it and then you go away, that when that person came back, that plant got all excited; it changed its whole energy.”

She’s an advocate for talking to your plants. Though telepathic communication works too. “You open your heart and actually love and care for them like you would for an animal or a human.”

While communicating with your plants is not unanimously supported by the scientific community, it is widely accepted that plants at least communicate amongst themselves. Mycelium (thin white strands of fungi) create a wood-wide web, connecting plants together to transfer water, nitrogen, carbon and other minerals. And possibly messages. For instance, in a greenhouse experiment, it was reported that tomato plants infected with the disease Early Blight

(Alternaria solani) sent signals to their healthy neighbours, which responded by producing defensive enzymes to help protect them from infection. But caring for plants and seeing them as sentient beings comes with its drawbacks. “I really want to be as conscious as I can around them. For a while after I deep dived into reading that book, I didn’t want to eat at all. I just became really sensitive. It was always about honouring the plants, but I didn’t realise the extent of how much plants are the same as us. For me now, I’m not feeling any hierarchy. I’m not superior to any plant or animal or any other being, and so for me cutting a limb off a tree is just as painful and hard for me as to be asking you if I can cut your arm off.”

Cynthia recognised that not eating greens was counterproductive and spent a bit of time making peace with the idea. This has brought her to a place of ‘an honourable harvest’ which means among other things, thanking the plants, minimising harm and only taking what she needs. “While meditating I put a lot of energy into the plants, allowing my heart to open and just feeding them universal energy. I want them to feel me as much as I feel them, and how I care for them.”

Forage your way to well-being

“I get really excited if I find a lush patch of chickweed because the simple act of seeking and finding creates happy endorphins.”

Cynthia picking puha from her home garden.

For the love of ART

Karolina Serrano moved from Columbia in 2018 and planned to stay for a year, but fell in love with the place, and a man, so never returned. She has developed a passion for art and is the first migrant to share their story as part of a regular feature.

I’ve been living in Nelson since 2018. We came to New Zealand because my then 14-year-old daughter Sofia wanted to practice her English by going to a local school. We chose Nelson because my mum and my younger siblings were already here. The plan was to stay for a year. The rest of my family followed the plan and returned to Colombia after a year. But I’d fallen in love with Nelson, and my partner Marcos, so I decided to stay.

Living in Nelson was a big change from cities where I had previously lived - Bogotá, Madrid and New York. In the big cities you’re always rushing, there are so many people, so much traffic. Here, the rhythm is a lot slower, and life is calmer. You’ve got more time to think. The first thing I remember that really impressed me was feeling safe. In Bogotá you’re always on high alert for your personal safety. You’re always thinking that someone might steal your phone or your wallet, and it’s really exhausting.

I appreciate that in Nelson we are surrounded by nature. From where I live, I can walk to The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, or I can walk along the river to town. I love the sound of the river –it is very calming.

I miss my mum’s soup! Colombia is well known for its soups but it’s hard to find the right ingredients for our traditional dishes here. Sometimes you can buy some things that are frozen, but it doesn’t taste the same. I also miss fresh tropical fruit and juices –at home we’d eat fresh fruit for breakfast, snacks and dessert –basically all day!

Colombians and Nelsonians are both warm, friendly and helpful – but Colombians are noisy and loud. We’re also very tactile– we’re huggers and kissers! New Zealanders are much more laid back – I’m still trying to find the balance!

I had to reinvent myself completely when I arrived in Nelson. In Colombia and Spain I

had a career as a TV soap opera actor, but that wasn’t really an option in Nelson! So, I had to think deeply about what was important to me and how I could contribute. My first job here was being a disability support worker, so completely different from what I used to do as an actor and an artist. It was physically demanding, including cleaning and helping people with toileting and showering. No matter what I was doing, I always thought how I would want to be treated, so I would do everything with all my heart, love and empathy. And when I could, I would bring my creative side too, dancing and singingbringing some happiness.

I discovered how powerful art can be to improve or positively impact people’s lives, especially migrants, former refugees or people who are struggling or vulnerable. It’s therapy and a fantastic tool. Living in Nelson has completely changed the way I see art. I grew up surrounded by art and artists

As told to Felicity Connell

Karolina with two of her artworks for upcoming exhibition, Beauty has no borders.

– in my extended family there are over 60 artists. I always enjoyed painting but wasn’t sure if it was just because it was a big part of my family. But living here, I’ve found my own passion for art.

Coming into a different culture and not knowing the language is stressful. It’s particularly tough on teenagers. Art – whether it’s dancing or painting, can help people feel more relaxed, and able to show something they’re good at. I love events, projects and spaces that bring different communities together like the Multicultural Festival, Cultural Conversations or Diversity Day. It gives everyone the chance to share their cultural traditions with others. When local people support events and projects involving migrants and former refugees it makes a big difference. We love to share our culture, and when locals get involved, it helps us feel welcomed, supported and respected.

My advice to others moving to Nelson? Just enjoy the calm and the nature. We are blessed here. We have the river, the mountains, the ocean – we have everything. It can be hard when you miss the place you called home and familiar things, but be open to new things too.

People from different cultural backgrounds can share the same challenges, and projects like Cultural Conversations can help people. I’ve seen a woman from Pakistan and a woman from Colombia bond even though they don’t share a language or culture, and neither of them speak much English. Yet they have created a special connection – they say “She’s like my sister, she is an important person in my life,” because they were in a space where they felt safe and they could be themselves.

I was surprised by how often women compliment each other here. Often women will say ‘you look so beautiful’ or ‘I like your dress.’ In South America there is a lot of pressure for women to follow a certain stereotype of beauty and they tend to be judgmental – both on themselves and one another. I’m learning to be kinder to myself, and be a positive role model for my daughters, too.

There is a different style of dressing in New Zealand. In Colombia, women dress up, wear high heels and full make-up a lot of the time –even to go to the supermarket. Here I see women go to the supermarket in their pajamas and bare feet. It’s so much more relaxed!

The beauty of women from different cultural backgrounds has inspired my new solo exhibition. It’s called Beauty has no borders and is on show now at the Refinery ArtSpace until 14 October.

I’d like locals to know that newcomers might not necessarily understand something, even if it is quite straightforward to you. They might feel shy, ashamed or vulnerable, particularly if they have experienced fear, trauma or violence in their home country. When you are new to a culture, something that might seem easy and simple to a local can make you feel so overwhelmed and stressed. Making a connection can be as simple as smiling at someone. Take your time, speak clearly and use body language to build trust and a connection.

Colombians and Nelsonians are both warm, friendly and helpful – but Colombians are noisy and loud. We’re also very tactile– we’re huggers and kissers! New Zealanders are much more laid back – I’m still trying to find the balance!

LEFT: Colombia’s traditional dress is colourful and vibrant. CENTRE: Karolina painted the cabinet on Waimea Road as part of the Chorus cabinet art programme. RIGHT: Karolina with her daughters Sophia (left) and Macarena.

Care Suites available now, at Green Gables in Nelson

Our Care Suites are designed to feel like home, with a kitchenette for hot chocolates with the grandkids and an ensuite bathroom for comfort and privacy. Suites have either a balcony or patio, which offers an outdoor space for enjoying a spot of gardening and the sounds of nature.

Experience quality care with a personal touch, thanks to our highly trained team who will help you with anything from everyday tasks to personalised activities. With our dedication to care, you’ll always feel right at home at Green Gables.

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By Louise Henderson

“My job has me on the road for a good part of the day and I spend more time in my car than the average person. It is super important for me to have a comfortable and spacious interior, and the MG4 certainly delivered on that, especially with its ergonomically designed seating and plenty of leg room both front and back.

I like a car that is of appropriate quality to my line of work, and it meets that criterion too, being beautifully styled

yet fully functional and with some really useful storage spaces. Being an electric vehicle adds so much value. I loved how quiet it was, super smooth and turning was so easy. Being on my hands-free Bluetooth phone so much, this feature is invaluable as it is quiet enough to take professional phone calls while I am out and about.

The acceleration was not only seamless, but it was also instant, which is another great benefit of a fully electric vehicle.

THE HOT HATCH IS BACK FROM $46,990 + ORC

Eligible for $7015 clean car discount

The savings from not having to buy increasingly pricey petrol is fantastic and the vehicle has a phenomenal range of up to 530km. The advanced MG Charging Hub significantly reduces charging times, another bonus. The tech features are brilliant and include an excellent state-of-the-art infotainment system with a floating 26cm digital touchscreen complete with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MG Pilot active safety suite. The MG4 really is an absolute pleasure to drive.”

MG has swung into a new era with the launch of the MG4, packed with great features that make it hard to resist. Busy Harcourts’ real estate agent Louise Henderson had the time of her life putting it through its paces.

Return of Mask Carnivale completes exciting arts festival

Along with the fun, colour and thought-provoking performances about to hit the region for this month’s Nelson Arts Festival, is the return of the much-loved Mask Carnivale. As Judene Edgar discovers, the carnivale will add to an already stellar line up for this year’s festival.

After a three-year hiatus, the return of the Mask Carnivale, a spectacular celebration of creativity, community and colour, is sure to be a highlight of the Nelson Arts Festival. This year the Carnivale will ring in the final weekend of the festival season with schools, groups and individuals from across the community joining in the bright, highly-visual parade donned in hand-crafted masks and costumes. The nights’ celebrations include pop up performers, world class dancers, music, and of course, some fabulous kai.

For Karl Wulff from Community Art Works (CAW), the mask parade has been a key part of his life, having first entered over two decades ago. Under the tutelage of mask-master and Mask Parade founder Kim Merry, Karl has gone on to win the best individual mask award more times than he can count, but his proudest moment was winning the inaugural Kim Merry Supreme Award.

“Kim was really good and encouraged people to try different things, but it was always more about

The Mask Carnivale returns for 2023.

just getting people involved in the arts,” says Karl. “Wearing a mask you can take on a different persona, be anyone you like, or just be anonymous.”

CAW is a treasure trove of masks from mask parades gone by, Christmas parades, theatre shows and workshops. From group activities to exhibitions and public performances, CAW provides a pathway for people with less advantages through the language and inspiration of art. “Mask making takes a lot of different skills and working with kids and seeing them bring their skills to life is so much fun,” says Karl.

Spoken word poets Talia Stanley and Sheldon Rua also use the arts to inspire rangatahi. The talented duo both started spoken word poetry while at high school. Spoken word is a powerful, high-energy form of expression that takes poetry from the page to the stage to make it more accessible, more powerful and more inspiring.

A big reader growing up, Talia says that her journey started with lyrics and short stories. “A teacher at Westlake Girls High School introduced me to spoken word poetry,” she says. “It was amazing the way people could share their thoughts, their truth and themselves through metaphors and similes. I’d always been passionate about speaking up, but spoken word poetry provided a filter and a safe space for me to express myself.”

Talia and Sheldon are running a poetry slam workshop on the morning of 23 October followed by an afternoon of rhythmic pummelling in the Victory Boxing ring. “We like to say that it’s like being in a boxing ring, but I never thought we’d get to perform in one, so it’s very cool,” says Talia. Also bringing the page to the stage is internationally renowned author and literary icon Witi Ihimaera. His most well-known book The Whale Rider was adapted into the eponymous critically acclaimed film in 2002 starring Keisha Castle-Hughes.

This time the stage is the Theatre Royal, and Witi is being joined by six fellow Māori writers to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his first novel Tangi. Published in 1973, it was the first book ever published by a Māori writer. “50 years ago, New Zealand was a different place. It had been written into existence by some great Pākehā writers, but I’d read that no Māori had published a book and I’d always been a bit of an opportunist, so a year later I published my collection of short stories Pounamu, Pounamu, and another year later my first novel, Tangi,” he says. “50 years later, I look at the huge number of wonderful Māori and Pasifika writers

appearing on literary prize lists. New Zealand has been on an amazing bicultural journey.” Witi has also appeared on a number of literary prize lists himself including winning the James Wattie Book of the Year Award for Tangi.

Part of the Pukapuka Talks programme, Witi and Friends Gala Night is a celebration of Witi and of Māori writers. “It’s going to be a fun night of music and reading. I’m tremendously humbled that people want to help me celebrate,” says Witi.

“I’m using this year to close off the first 50 years and to prepare for the second 50,” he laughs. Despite an already prolific career he’s not slowing down anytime soon. He has two anthologies being released this year followed by two more novels, a picture book, a sequel to The Whale Rider, plus a feature film planned. “My career seems to be revving up rather than slowing down,” he says. “I’m profoundly proud to be a New Zealand writer and to add to the stories we tell about ourselves.”

Photographer Melissa Banks is telling the story of her three daughters through photography at the Nelson Museum. Te Ara o Hine Rēhia – A journey into the world of kapa haka pays homage to the kapa haka journey from preparation to performance. The powerful exhibition takes us behind-the-scenes to share the pride, the tears, the laughter and the community, that brings kapa haka to the stage. From the beauty of the poi to the power of the haka, the stunning exhibition is as much about whānau as it is about performance.

“It’s a celebration of kapa haka in Te Tauihu, and of the whānau who support them,” says Melissa. “I like capturing interactions and feelings and documenting those moments.”

“Wearing a mask you can take on a different persona, be anyone you like, or just be anonymous.”

Victory Poetry Slam, Sheldon Rua.

1. Girl, in a Savage World, Theia x Te Kaahu. 2. The Savage Coloniser Show, Tusiata Avia 3. Jazmine Mary. 4. Rise of the Olive, Laser Kiwi.

Fusing visual and audio, the exhibition follows the journey over the past six years of four kapa haka groups – Te Tauihu rōpū kapa haka Tamariki Toa (Nelson Central School), Te Pītau Whakarei (Nelson Intermediate School), Pūaha Te Tai (Nayland College) as well as the adult group Te Kura Tai Waka – framed around the metaphor of the seven different items that make up a kapa haka performance. “I really wanted people in kapa haka to feel seen, and for people to see the hard work and dedication required,” she says. “Kapa haka is so important for Māori to stand strong in their identity.”

Tight-knit family trio Laser Kiwi are bringing their irreverent, funny, world-class circus skills to the Theatre Royal with their latest show Rise of the Olive. Starting with a street show in 2014, their bizarre brand of comedy circus was an instant hit. In fact, Nelson audiences got a sneak peek of some of their antics when they were in Nelson in 2018 as part of the Buskers Festival.

“When we started, our show didn’t really fit within any one genre,” says acrobat Imogen Stone. Despite this, they’ve been touring together all over the world for the last 10 years, and Rise of the Olive has won the FringeWorld 2023 overall circus award and was a finalist in the best comedy show award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 (out of thousands of shows).

The olive-fuelled surreal sketch circus troupe promises to deliver audiences a unique theatre experience. Expect upside-down juggling, Jenga stunts, sketch comedy, aerial ropes, and, of course, olives! “We’re really looking forward to coming back to Nelson. We really loved it when we were last here.”

The Deville Music Hub is back again this year with some awesome late-night sounds. This years’ line-up includes KITA as part of their Love lives here EP-release tour, featuring Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant, Ed Zuccollo (ZUKE) and Rick Cranson (Little Bushman). Lead singer Nikita says that the six-track EP is about what we’ve all been through over the past few years. “We’re in a storm, but despite everything we’re still here, we still live and love here.”

A must-see live band featuring folk, soul, pop and psychedelia, KITA has wowed crowds on the main stages of Splore and WOMAD and now it’s Nelson’s turn. “We’re all very eclectic artists in our own right, but together we’re a band with a massive sound,” says Nikita. “We’re really looking forward to sharing our sound.”

Festival executive and artistic director Lydia Zanetti says that working on the programme is a mammoth undertaking, but “getting to launch the programme is always such a moment of joy”. As well as providing a range of free events across the city, they have brought back the popular ‘Pay What You Can’ ticketing. “Pay What You Can enabled younger people and people who hadn’t engaged with the festival previously to be able to go to shows,” says Lydia. “So, with thanks to the support from Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage and NBS, we’re really stoked to be able to bring that back.”

With more than 50 events over 11 fun-filled, inspiring and captivating days, the Nelson Arts Festival is rewilding Whakatū from 19 to 29 October. For more information go to nelsonartsfestival.nz

Mask Carnivale street party.

Movement of the Human, Tōrua.

52 Lansdowne Road, Appleby

www.hoglundartglass.com VISITORS WELCOME

Unique glass art made locally by the Höglund family since

Te Kura Tamawāhine o Whakatū

won second overall in the Solo-Duo Section at the National Finals of the SmokeFree RockQuest, with her cousin Kahu, in their band, Jola Burns. This is a huge achievement for a Y10 student. Congratulations – definitely one to watch for the future…

NCG orchestra recently played at Hampden Street School and Victory Community Centre as part of the NCMA-led Music Mix programme bringing music into the community. They played a few of their usual pieces, but also played some sound stories for children to demonstrate the various instruments in the orchestra. Children were able to both see and feel the instruments and also try them out.

Members of the NCG Boarding House travelled to Murchison Area School in September to take part in a sports exchange event. This is the first time in many years this event has taken place, and NCG were delighted to provide sporting opportunities to our boarding house students and athletes from Murchison. The girls played volleyball, football, basketball and netball, and created lasting bonds with their peers from Murchison Area.

NCG House Performing Arts Competition invites students to become involved with drama, dance, visual art and music and enjoy performing for whānau and friends at an evening where they can experience the excitement of full lights, costumes, makeup and sound. This year's themes of PIXAR movies and emotions gave student leaders the opportunity to create great scripts with an NCG flavour. We congratulate all those involved who have fully embraced this opportunity and produced an excellent HPAC 2023.

Alyahna Sanson-Rejouis

Quirky creator Kerri-Ann Gray’s style is all about colour, ‘me-made’ pieces and a love of ruffles and frills. Nelson Magazine finds out what inspires her look...

What are you wearing today?

I make most of my clothes. Today, I’m wearing overalls made from canvas from The Fabric Store, a blouse made from quilting cotton from Spotlight and a patchwork vest which is part of a range of clothes I sell online under the label KABIN. I’m also wearing my favourite Studio Soph’ grumpy cheetah earrings.

What is your style?

DIY, colourful and quirky! Bold prints with simple silhouettes and plain colours with voluminous layers, ruffles and frills. Sometimes I feel like I’m dressed like a toddler – but they have the most fun clothes, so I’m okay with it.

What is most of your wardrobe made up of?

Mainly me-made clothes, some op-shop finds, and the odd ready-to-wear piece. There is a huge range of stuff in there, lots of dresses, jumpsuits and overalls, a few excellent vintage woolly jerseys, and quilted jackets. It’s a versatile mix of things that I have collected over the years and almost everything can be dressed up or down.

Where do you buy most of your clothes from?

I started sewing because I could never find the clothes I wanted to wear in shops, and if I did, they were well above my budget. I like to visit fabric stores when I’m away, my favourites are The Fabric Store, Drapers Fabrics and The Fine Cloth Company. When I’m in Melbourne I like to have a look around Gorman and Obus. I can’t really walk past an op-shop without going in, you just never know what you might find.

What is your approach to shopping?

Usually, I’ll have to be really drawn to something to buy it. Whether buying off-the-rack or making my own, I will make sure I’m going to wear the piece more than a few times –ideally more than 30 times – and if it’s something I really love then it’s not a problem. I try not to follow fashion and go with my gut instead.

What has been your worst clothing disaster?

I can look back on many fashion choices and cringe, but I don’t think there have been any disasters.

Do you have a style rule you always obey?

No, I try not to have any rules with clothes – I just wear whatever makes me feel good!

What wardrobe item should everyone invest in?

Buy the best quality clothes you can afford that make you feel confident and amazing, I feel like I can do anything when I’m wearing clothes that I love.

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

Aussie fashion icons Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson. Their vibrant exhibition at Powerhouse Museum in Sydney in 2019 was incredibly inspiring. I’d love to find a Jenny Kee jersey one day! Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…

Never say never! My style is always changing and evolving and adapting to my life and my surroundings.

kabin.threads

Tessa Jaine

Spring Sparkle

Spring is the time to sparkle. Whether it’s a dinner party, a holiday away or even a wedding, sparkle with blue hues, with the help of these local jewellers.

1. The Jens Hansen Marquise sapphire ring in yellow gold, from $4290 jenshansen.co.nz

2. Beautiful remodelled ring by RoCs jewellers featuring sapphires and diamonds, POA rocs.co.nz 3. Show-stopping mixed metal silver and gold Bloom Ring with dark blue sapphire centre, $450 louisedouglas.com 4. For a truly unique piece of jewellery featuring a stunning New Zealand blue pearl, visit the goldsmiths at Jewel Beetle jewelbeetle.co.nz 5. “Pearl loves flying her kite” in a diamond sky! Turquoise; by Christine... The Artist Goldsmith, $4850 theartistgoldsmith.com

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Take care of yourself

Relax and Reset Retreat

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Angelic reiki and past life healing

Focusing on ourselves encourages a feeling of self-worth and balance within the psyche and promotes a sense of calm, important for navigating everyday stresses of life. It is vital to take some time out for yourself, whether it be in an emotional, spiritual or physical sense. 1 6

Including a 20 minute back, neck and shoulder massage to help integrate your session. $99 for the month of October.

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Stress and food cravings

In today’s fast-paced world, stress has become an almost constant companion for many of us. Dr Marissa Kelaher says that one area we may notice the effects is how stress impacts our relationship with food.

Stress is a crucial survival mechanism, that triggers a “fight or flight” response when we encounter stressors, whether physical, mental, or emotional. It’s kept the human race alive, but in our modern world we are constantly surrounded by low grade stress, meaning many of us end up living our lives in fight or flight mode - which can influence our eating behaviours in some surprising ways.

Food cravings

One of the most noticeable effects of stress is that it can cause intense food cravings. These cravings are often for high-calorie foods, rich in sugar, fat, and salt - such as chocolate, chips, or ice cream.

But why does this happen? Research suggests that cortisol (our stress hormone) triggers off cravings as part of a survival response. These foods provide a quick source of energy needed for our fight or flight response, so our brain drives us to seek them out. When we’re running away from a lion this is a good thing - but when we’re dealing with stress every day, it’s not so good!

Emotional eating

Many of us also turn to food as a way to cope with stress and end up “stress eating” or “emotional eating.” When our brain is stressed it starts to look for ways to feel better - and the dopamine (feel good) hormone released when we eat comfort foods is one of the quickest fixes. Stress also suppresses our prefrontal cortex (the part of our brain that makes rational decisions), making it harder to choose healthy foods. Unfortunately, this can lead to a vicious cycle with stress triggering emotional eating, and emotional eating leading to guilt and further stress.

Altered appetite

Beyond cravings and emotional eating, stress can also alter our overall appetite. Some of us get a decrease in appetite when we’re stressed, while others

get hungrier. Stress alters the hypothalamus-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis in our brain which influences our appetite regulation. Stress also messes with the signals that tell us when we’re full, making it hard to know when and how much to eat. Emerging research suggests that stress may alter our gut microbiome too, with these changes in our gut bacteria affecting appetite and food preferences, potentially driving cravings for certain foods. So when we’re under stress, how can we manage cravings, and maintain a healthy relationship with food?

Mindful eating

Mindfulness can be a powerful tool to reduce stress and make us more aware of our eating habits and triggers. This helps us make conscious choices about what and when we eat

Stress management

Stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, or exercise are great to help reduce the effects of chronic stress on our body and mind, and turn down our stress response.

Balanced diet

Try to eat a well-balanced diet of nutrient-rich foods, and ensure your meals include healthy protein, whole grains, and fresh fruit and veges. This helps keep our blood sugar levels and energy stable, which in turn reduces food cravings.

Seek support

If you’re struggling with emotional eating and feel you need help, counsellors and psychologists can work with you to develop other ways to cope with stress and break the cycle.

Stress and food cravings can have a huge impact on our day-to-day life, but by becoming aware of this connection, we can take the first steps towards understanding ourselves, and gaining back control of our eating habits. Be kind to yourself, start to notice the patterns that are happening in your life, and above all, show yourself rather than criticism - so you can begin your journey to a healthier relationship with food.

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

Unlocking the power of collagen

Navigating the ever-evolving world of supplements can be challenging. New supplements continually emerge, often promising remarkable results with limited supporting evidence. Amidst the marketing claims, collagen stands out due to its solid backing, especially for beauty benefits. Owner of Eunoia Beauty, Kate Dyer, tells us more.

Collagen is essential for our body. It’s a unique protein that makes up about 30% of our body’s total protein content. This protein is fundamental in forming our bones, muscles, skin, tendons, ligaments, and several other tissues. It’s often likened to glue that binds our cells together, giving strength and structure to our body’s major tissues. Because of how ubiquitous collagen is in our system, supplanting with high-quality collagen can offer significant benefits. Read on for some benefits of collagen supplementation.

Enhances skin health

Collagen maintains skin’s smoothness and elasticity. However, with age, collagen production decreases, leading to visible wrinkling in the skin. Studies have shown that collagen supplements, particularly those containing 2-5 grams taken daily for 8-12 weeks, can enhance skin elasticity, hydration, and reduce wrinkles. If you’re aiming for youthful skin throughout life, collagen is worth considering.

Boosts bone health

Aging results in reduced bone density, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Collagen, being a primary component of bones, can counter this. Regular intake of collagen supplements can reduce bone tissue breakdown and promote new bone formation.

Promotes muscle growth

Collagen constitutes about 10% of our muscles and is vital for their strength and efficiency. Research has shown collagen supplements can help increase muscle mass in older adults. Furthermore, when paired with weight training, collagen intake may amplify musclebuilding results.

Alleviates joint pain

Collagen is crucial for our cartilage, the cushion for our joints. Collagen supplementation can combat normal cartilage deterioration from aging, easing joint disorders like arthritis. Collagen supplements have also been shown to reduce joint pain related to exercising in athletes. This suggests that if you are someone who experiences painful joints, then collagen could be an option to reduce some of the normal changes in joint function that occur as you get older.

Supports heart health

Collagen provides structural support to our arteries, the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Without sufficient collagen, arteries can become weak and fragile. Additionally, collagen aids in maintaining the elasticity of blood vessels, promoting optimal blood flow and overall cardiovascular health.

Collagen, often dubbed the body’s “building block,” plays a multifaceted role in maintaining and enhancing our health. As with any supplement, it’s crucial to choose wisely, ensuring you opt for a high-quality product that aligns with your health objectives. Do your own research and consult with a healthcare professional to reap the benefits of this essential protein.

eunoiabeauty.com

Local accountancy firm combines big brand expertise with personalised service

Gilbert Robertson is passionate about helping people to achieve their goals. As a chartered accountant, Gilbert has the knowledge and skills to help clients achieve business growth and profitability – but he takes a more holistic approach.

“When I first sit down with my clients, we talk about what’s important to them – right now, in 5 years, in 10 years. The right now goal might be improving their cashflow so they can stop worrying about paying creditors every month. The 5-year goal might be opening a second branch of the business, and the 10-year goal might be looking to exit the business and retire early,” Gilbert explains. “It’s really important the goals we set for the business align with what our clients want for their personal lives – if my client tells me that spending more time with their family is their top priority, then we have a conversation about how we can structure their business to run as efficiently as possible to allow them that time. “

“Sometimes my role is really just to ask the right questions – often a few tough ones - getting the clients to reflect on where they’re at and where they want to be. Once we’ve made a plan, I push them a bit and keep them on track. My clients really like someone to be accountable to when it comes to putting their action plans in place. It’s too easy to make a great plan, then get busy and the action points get put on the back burner. The way I work with my clients means that we’re regularly reviewing their progress towards their goals and staying focussed on what really matters,” he says.

After gaining experience in a variety of accounting roles in Wellington, Gilbert returned to his hometown of Nelson and bought into a local firm, which later rebranded as Your Success. As the business continued to grow, Gilbert saw the opportunity to think bigger. A serendipitous meeting in 2022 with Alex Barton and Paul O’Donnell, directors of BDO Marlborough at the time, provided the perfect opportunity. Later that year Your Success merged with BDO Marlborough to cover the Top of the South as BDO Marlborough Tasman.

Chartered accountant Gilbert Roberston, BDO Marlborough Tasman.

Gilbert sees real value in getting out of the office and visiting clients.

BDO, one of New Zealand’s ‘Big 5’ accountancy firms, operates in 20 locations across New Zealand, from the far north to the deep south, and in 167 countries around the world. Gilberts explains that joining the BDO network has added the ability to offer a much broader range of services to the Nelson region, “The great thing about the BDO model is that all of the Independent Member Firms are locally owned, but we are able to leverage our relationships and expertise across the BDO network, both nationally and globally, to offer our clients the expertise and specialist services that would be expected of a large corporate firm. The collective knowledge of the group allows us to offer industry insights and information to our clients that we previously haven’t had the resources to provide, and in turn provides clients with a better level of expertise and further confidence in our abilities.”

The BDO Marlborough Tasman team is continuing to grow and has now added a specialist audit team. The strength of the BDO brand and network is having a big impact on being able to attract and retain talent in Nelson. “As any employer or business owner will be keenly aware of, recruiting staff is one of the biggest challenges facing businesses right now,” says Gilbert, “Having the BDO brand behind us makes us a much more attractive employment option - it means our team can have the career and development opportunities that come with living in a big city but with the benefits of the Nelson lifestyle.” Not one to sit still, Gilbert is looking forward to challenging more clients to strive for their own success. “I get a real buzz out of seeing my clients thrive. It’s great to be a part of their journey and provide that motivation and support along the way.”

www.bdo.nz

Gilbert Robertson Alex Barton Paul O’Donnell

Backed by the BDO network, Gilbert and the team can offer all the services of a large corporate, including audit services and specialist tax advice.

Start your journey now with NMIT | Te Pūkenga

Booking a career chat is an engaging way to learn more about NMIT and have any questions answered. NMIT career advisors can even connect your goals with the right learning journey.

Following her career chat, Nina Barbezat, a Whanganui-based high school teacher, plans to enrol in the Graduate Certificate in Career Development at NMIT | Te Pūkenga. Nina found she can study both remotely and in her own time, so she can continue working while she upskills. “I’m looking to future proof my later years.”

Nina already supports ākonga with career advice, but she believes it is time to put some accredited theory behind her conversations. “I’m looking forward to walking the walk, since I’m talking it.”

After discussing her work experience, Nina discovered she will be granted permission to enter the Level 7 graduate certificate, providing her with the learning experience she needs, rather than spending her time on concepts she is already familiar with.

Nina enjoyed the career chat as she was able to talk to a real person and accurately get her thoughts and questions out on the table. “I loved the chat— it felt like I was talking to an old friend. I’m old school, so I don’t want to talk to AI,” she said.

Book a phone conversation or a face-to-face meeting from our website homepage at either our Richmond, Nelson or Blenheim campuses. Conversations last 15-20 minutes with any follow-up information provided via email.

A free career conversation can put you on the right path to meet your career goals.

My HOME

Lloyd and Bridget Harwood have called Mount Street home for the past 26 years. It has been a place to raise their family and for Lloyd to develop his art from the home studio. Inspired by their favourite place, Bali, the couple have made their villa a sanctuary above the city.

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

Mount Street has been our home for 26 years now. It has been a great house to raise our family and the location enabled the children to walk to school and for us to walk to work, which we still do and value. Bridget’s parents lived on the street for over 46 years so there’s a strong family tie.

This connection looks like it will continue for some time as our eldest daughter has now also established her family home on the street. After empty nesting for years, it is truly wonderful to have regular visits and quality time with our grandson, as is the excitement of a second grandchild arriving before Christmas. We moved into our home with three children, five and under, so it is so nice to have the house filled with children’s laughter once more.

What four words would you use to describe your home?

Welcoming, relaxed, personable, surprising, homely and sunny (oops sorry that’s six).

What’s your decorating style?

We don’t really have a style. In the nineties, we liked the Designers Guild aesthetic with bright colour wash walls and distressed fixtures, but we left that behind years ago. Since then, we have gone largely neutral, and largely monochromatic, letting the artworks and fittings come to the fore. I’m sure some people will think our home is cluttered, but it’s what we like.

Where do you shop for homewares?

Absolutely everywhere, from second-hand to highend interior stores. Many of our favourite antique items have been sourced through Indonesian and Indian importers.

Tessa Jaine

ABOVE: Lloyd and Bridget Harwood with their poodles, Ted, Coco and Ivy.

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

We splurged a little on the Italian tiles in the ensuite and saved by hand-painting designs on floors in the family bathroom and outdoor living areas.

What’s your favourite room?

The living room ‘snug’ on colder days, with a lovely indoor/outdoor flow for the many warmer days. It is full of memory-evoking treasures. Like a song can take you straight back to a particular time and place, our collectables are a constant portal back to special moments, places and people. It’s the heart of our home.

Best seat in the house?

Depends on the time of day. Morning sunshine outdoors on our Balinese daybed enjoying the garden and sea view overlooking the haven is very special, but on afternoons and evenings, we often relax and enjoy fabulous sunsets from the living area window seat which we put in about five years ago.

What should every home have?

Personality, friends and family members (which obviously includes a dog or two) and fresh-cut flowers – something Bridget couldn’t live without.

1. A artwork by fellow Mount Street artist Candy Clarke hangs above the dining table. 2. The living room holds a collection of vintage finds and Balinese treasures, with Lloyd’s black and white artwork, titled ‘Eclipse’, hanging above the couch. 3. Bridget’s passion for flower design sees an arrangement in most rooms of the home and on the veranda. 4. ‘Post Chase’ painted by Lloyd in the guest bedroom. 5. Little Ivy makes the most of the window seat views over Nelson.

What is one thing you would change about your home if you could?

Re-instate the open fireplace. The wood burner is great but there’s nothing I like more than a truly open fireplace.

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

Marry a Virgo…

What do you love about the neighbourhood where you live?

Being so close to the city centre yet enjoying a quiet, low traffic and family-friendly environment. We love that we have many friendly neighbours of all ages and enjoy a real sense of a caring community. Occasional street parties and the Mount St app help us to keep in touch and support neighbours we may not happen to come across on a regular basis. Having young families and at least eight practising artists living on Mount Street adds to its feel-good sense of place.

Best memory in your home?

After 26 years this is too hard to call. We have been blessed with so many over the many years we have been here, but family gatherings and celebrations would be among the best, followed by many great parties with friends.

Renovating the classic New Zealand villa

NICK ISON General Manager

The classic New Zealand Villa. Providing safe passage for our gentle south-westerlies through borer holes and drafty sash windows since the late nineteenth century. Woven throughout our bush and beaches, we are lucky to have these architectural icons as an integral part of our unique identity and rich cultural heritage. With their timeless charm we will benefit from their grandeur and the aesthetic sensibilities of their era well into the future.

As we navigate the challenges of urban development to meet the needs of a growing population, the importance of preserving these cultural gems is greater than ever. However, as we aim to safeguard their historical significance, the renovation process can present considerable challenges. Maintaining the villa houses’ authenticity while integrating modern conveniences, comforts and tastes is a delicate endeavour.

Bespoke joinery plays a pivotal role in achieving this balance. With a firm nod to the original aesthetic, there can still be plenty of room to play, introducing personal design tastes and/or contemporary features and materials that seamlessly complement the villa’s heritage.

Wooden features, including doors and windows can honour tradition, regaining their original quality through renovation at the hands of a skilful joiner, even accommodating modern enhancements like draft exclusion and double glazing.

Innovative cabinetry design can transform the functionality of your spaces. Engage a talented designer who understands the delicate art of combining classic and modern design and can steer you through meticulous material selection and finish choices, seamlessly integrating into existing framework and utilising the natural light and character or your villa.

Preserving our villas entails more than just aesthetics— it involves honouring their historical importance and ensuring their continued functionality for modern life. By striking the right balance between tradition and modernity, we can ensure that villas remain a celebrated feature of our community for future generations, amongst the changing population landscape, whatever it may look like.

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The Custom Space 150 Vanguard St, Nelson thecustomspace.co.nz

Home Style

ENHANCE YOUR LIVING

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1. Night Bloom, a rich and enchanting oriental fragrance with notes of jasmine, agarwood and tonka bean, spiced with clove and white pepper Living Light, 219 Trafalgar St, Nelson Central Arcade | 2. Traditional Sussex trugs, handmade from locally and sustainably harvested timber in Golden Bay, NZ. Viewing by appointment, Trug Maker, 021 239 6591, trugmaker.co.nz | 3. Glass Tumbler by Flamedaisy, $69, Trouble + Fox, troubleandfox.co.nz 4. Moccamaster KB741 classic in midnight blue, $535, thecoffeecompany.co.nz, 130 Hardy Street, Nelson | 5. Platter, $89.98 and salad servers $49.99, Mitre 10 Mega, 99 Quarantine Road, Nelson. | 6. ivoli Audio model one(R), a modern-day icon of acoustic and industrial design. The addition of Bluetooth allows you to stream your own music, $499, beggsmusic.co.nz, 264 Hardy Street, Nelson | 7. Legacy interchangeable needle set –Lantern Moon is a distinctive line of products and tools for the knitting, fiber and needlework market, $189, Cruellas Natural Fibre Boutique, 155 Hardy St, Nelson, cruellas.co.nz | 8. Handmade blown glass Eclipse vase. Each one unique, from $295, Höglund Art Glass, 52 Lansdowne Rd, Appleby, hoglundartglass.com | 9. Tekapo armchair in navy velvet fabric, featuring sleek black wooden legs, $699, lynfords.co.nz, 675a Main Road, Stoke

Choosing the best window solutions for your home

Brenda Diploma in Interior Design

With over 20 years of experience in the interior design space, Brenda has a passion for soft furnishings, and with the vast array of window solutions offered at HUBBERS you can rely on her expert advice to help you to select the best choice for your home.

What excites you about working with soft furnishings?

The many fabrics! They can transform a home. I love meeting clients and getting to know how they live and then working together to choose the right window furnishings for their lifestyle.

What should you consider when choosing soft furnishings?

First, consider the function of the window furnishing. Are they intended to block out light, provide privacy, or enhance the aesthetics of the room? Depending on your needs we can then choose the right product for the job. Consider the style of your home, is it modern, contemporary, traditional or somewhere in-between? Consider the overall decor of the room and what other furniture or art you are working with. Choose a window furnishing that complements the style. If you’re looking for modern, consider sleek, luxe and minimalist options such as roller blinds, or a timeless look of shutters and drapes.

Choosing the right fabric is about your personality, think about the colour, texture and pattern of the fabric. While neutral colours like whites and greys are always popular and timeless, adding colour or pattern is a great way to add a unique, custom look.

Mix and match and layering

When mixing patterns, have them different sizes. The large-scale pattern will be the focal point with medium or small-scale patterns to complement. Mix in block colours to break up the lines and shapes of your patterns. Whether you like a more maximalist style with big bold patterns and colours, or a more subtle minimalist style, patterns are a key part of soft furnishings.

Layering is a great way to add depth and texture and also improves the blackout capabilities if required. I like to layer in bedrooms and living rooms to add a functional and versatile window furnishing, this could be by using two fabrics on separate tracks, two different blinds or a combination of fabric and blinds.

HUBBERS

8D Champion Rd, Richmond 03 544 8484

hubbersflooring.co.nz |

Designing right; for people, the place and the planet

The LTD Architectural Design Studio team consistently strive to raise the standard of design in the region’s building environment. Design director David Maurice says to achieve this, listening, understanding and identifying what’s at the core of a client’s needs and relating that back to them is the secret to delivering a high level of service to their clients. “It’s often the intangible stuff like needing a peaceful or private space, or connecting to beach or bush, or wanting a place that brings family or friends closer together. Sometimes these things get crowded out by a list of functional requirements, so we try to sift through all that and draw out what really matters.”

Providing extraordinary design for ordinary budgets, one of the biggest levers for controlling building cost is size, which requires a high level of problemsolving to ensure the core of a client’s brief can be fully realised within their budget, says David. “We believe that it’s possible to reduce the size of a house or building without reducing the quality of the spaces within it, which is where good design becomes so important. It means getting every element of the design working as hard as possible so that nothing is poorly or seldom used. The quality of a space is largely defined by the way it feels. However, this can be sabotaged by too much focus on the layout and function of the plan. The proportions of the spaces, the quality of natural light, the texture of the finishes and even acoustic properties should all be considered. These are all items that don’t necessarily add more cost to a project.”

At the heart of the business is designing buildings that help people connect to the natural environment. “We love using natural building materials wherever possible and work on minimising the building’s size and footprint to ensure that the existing ecosystem of the site remains as intact as possible. Ultimately, it’s about designing right for people, the place and the planet. I’ve learned over the years not to rush the design process but rather to sit with ideas for a while. It can be a few days before I’m comfortable that a solution feels like the right fit for a project. I’ve realised that this process results in reaching a good outcome in a shorter amount of time as opposed to needing to rework an inferior option. Inspiration can come from anywhere!”

A visionary, and an award-winning designer, David says he always feels honoured at the level of trust that clients place in his team, particularly with very personal projects. “This has always been a real highlight for me over the years, along with the friendships with both colleagues and clients.”

Receiving the National ADNZ/Resene Architectural Design Award in 2021 was also a huge personal highlight. “Out of the awards we’ve received I’m most proud of this one as it was a house I designed for my own young family. I think it was a building that encapsulated much of what we’re trying to achieve as a practice.”

LTD Architectural Design Studio 111 Bridge Street, Nelson ltdarch.co.nz

David Maurice from LTD Architectural Design Studio at his Bridge Street office.

A Dream Build

You know the building gods are on your side when a dream section becomes available for sale while you’re meeting with your builder. The finished result is an excellent mix of incredible views, smart design and expert craftmanship.

Chocolate Dog Studio

Words: Adrienne Mathews |

Amagnificent plot of land on the Nelson hills had been sitting vacant for many years waiting for the perfect home to be built on it. Russell Bruce of Bruce Design & Build was on his way to show potential clients Di and Ash Webb a house site elsewhere when he serendipitously received a call saying the section had become available. “It had been vacant since I was a youngster and I’d always dreamt of being able to build on it,” he says. Changing plans immediately they went straight there. “We just couldn’t resist it,” says Di. “The views were spectacular.” The resulting house design was a collaboration between Di, Ash and architectural designer Tony Karsten. “We wanted an ‘H’ shaped design with bedroom areas apart from each other and a separate entrance for our adult daughter,” says Di. “We also wanted to maximise the amazing views, have it feel very private, extra parking on site and great storage.”

Some of the most spectacular views in Nelson out to Tasman Bay, the Mount Arthur Range and south to Wakefield are captivated thanks to extensive windows. To avoid any potential loss of view when another build takes place on the northern side, the house was stretched forward by adding a wooden cantilevered addition on the western front which includes a corner slider that opens on both sides to create a large indoor/outdoor entertainment area.

The home is spacious, light and airy. Its kitchen, designed and built by Cooper Webley Ltd, won the national award for “Best Use of Colour” at the 2023 New Zealand National Master Joiner Awards. “We wanted a particular fridge and everything else had to fit around that,” laughs Di.

“The couple gave me a simple brief that included a central gathering area for family and friends,” says kitchen designer Craig Hooper. The resulting 4.5-metre island doubles as a food preparation area and a comfortable place for people to gather. A seamless HIMACS acrylic bench top provides an easy care, hard-wearing surface in perfect harmony with the contemporary, slightly edgy, overall style. Constructed with steel supports to assist with weight distribution, rebated strip lighting installed along the underside of the top section provides evening ambience.

A matt stainless-steel finish was chosen for the other benchtop, which is hard-wearing and non-reflective. The splashback window allows light to flood in, and, thanks to Craig, there is a touch of colour. “If it had been left up to us the whole place would have been black, white and grey!” says Di. Fortunately, the couple loved Craig’s suggestion of yellow which pops up throughout the home.

The plywood ceilings add a light, open feeling, enhanced at night by rebated LED strip lighting and are echoed by the wooden laminate flooring. “We needed a tough floor to suit life with Jeffrey our family dog,” says Ash.

A requirement for a large amount of storage was met with the addition of a storage room, which, along with the wardrobe space in the bedrooms, more than meets the family’s needs. “It was going to be part of the garage, but this is much more practical,” says Di.

The biggest challenge of the build was the multiple angles throughout. “Careful planning was required to accommodate both the inside interior and exterior cladding,” says Bruce Design & Build’s project manager JP. “We had to have aluminium extrusions custom-made to fit with the angles but the whole job was well planned so it wasn’t a problem. I enjoy the attention to detail required to achieve the finished result in a bespoke home like this,” he says.

Interior designer Emma Gale of Frank Design was called in to assist with decisions on finishing touches. Her suggestions for the bathroom wall tiling echo elements of the surrounding landscape, while the Bird of Paradise wallpaper from local company

The Inside is a splash of fun that resonates with the yellow used elsewhere.

Di and Ash are thrilled with their home. “It is very private from the roadside and visitors are always blown away when they walk in and see the space open up, the architectural details and the spectacular views,” says Di.

The Webb’s dream home is a perfect example of what Bruce Design & Build offer people looking to build. Taking care of the whole process; helping find the ideal section, a design with architectural flair, refining design ideas to meet budget, right through to project managing a streamlined quality build.

Gardening with Tim’s Garden

Each month we will be providing gardening tips and advice for your garden. This month we share our observations from the projects we are involved with in the Nelson region.

September weather can bring fluctuations in wind, humidity, rainfall and an increase in temperature. As a result of these conditions, we’ve noticed in some of the gardens we maintain that mould and mildew are prevalent. This is usually a white layer, orange rust, or black sooty spots around the leaves. Some traditional techniques include diluted mixtures of garlic, vinegar, baking soda, bleach or even fire. We find copper or neem-based sprays the most effective.

The hardest thing when applying any treatments for fungal issues such as powdery mildew is treating all the affected leaves to stop it from spreading. A mister or hose attachment tends to get all parts of the leaves, avoid doing this on a rainy day but also (as it’s Nelson) try to avoid applying treatments in the midday sun due to leaf burn. Treatments are a great way to get rid of the issues you can see, but try to identify the cause – is your plant in a shady spot, a corner with low airflow, needing a prune as it has overcrowded branches, closely planted, irrigation spraying the leaves at night, or is it a species prone to fungal issues? Some plants are more susceptible in shady conditions and some plants can be hybrid varieties that are resistant or tolerant of an infestation.

If you are a fan of grapes, melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and zucchini, then consider applying copper/neem to reduce the chance and damage caused by fungal infection. Some flowering plants that are more high-maintenance and susceptible to infection are roses, zinnia, dahlia, and

begonia – especially if in a shadier location. We have a few organic products available on our website. Please remember not to home compost any infected leaves as this can be spread back into your garden. Also, some treatments take a while to irradicate infection completely and just like weeds, may be spreading from your neighbour.

Although you can’t control whether it rains at night, you can control your irrigation timing and hosing direction. Hosing leaves can allow spores to sit and spread around a plant, if you hose the base of the plant you reduce the wet leaves. Irrigation during the evening will kick up spores and keep plants wet overnight enabling the fungus to spread between plants. Changing your irrigation timing to the morning will allow the plants to get the water they need for the day but also dry out during the day – UV and airflow are great at killing spores.

Happy gardening, Tim

Would you like to win a 1-hour consultation with Tim and a report tailored to your garden worth $190+GST? Then simply send us a gardening question and you’ll be in with a chance to win. To enter, email your gardening question to nelsonmag@timsgarden.co.nz with the word ‘competition’ in the subject heading.

Creating a buzz-worthy garden

In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the decline in bee populations worldwide. As essential pollinators, bees play a vital role in maintaining our ecosystem's health and biodiversity. In New Zealand, where agriculture and horticulture heavily depend on pollination, fostering a bee-friendly garden is not only beneficial to the environment but also enhances the beauty of your outdoor space. Here are some simple steps to create a bee-friendly garden that will have your backyard buzzing with life.

Choose native and bee-friendly plants

The first step to creating a bee-friendly garden is selecting the right plants. Native flora is well-adapted to the local climate and will attract local bee species. Focus on plants that provide a continuous source of nectar and pollen throughout the year. Some excellent choices include manuka, kowhai, flax, hebe, and lavender. Additionally, herbs like thyme, rosemary, and mint are also attractive to bees and add a delightful aroma to your garden.

Avoid pesticides and chemicals

To create a haven for bees, steer clear of chemical pesticides and herbicides. These harmful substances not only harm bees but also disrupt the entire ecosystem. Embrace natural alternatives like neem oil, diatomaceous earth, or companion planting to deter pests while ensuring the safety of your pollinator friends.

Provide water sources

Bees need water to drink and cool their hives during hot weather. Create a shallow water source in your garden, such as a birdbath or a shallow dish with rocks for them to land on.

Create bee habitats

Aside from foraging, bees need safe places to nest and lay their eggs. Consider leaving some undisturbed areas in your garden, such as patches of long grass or a small un-mown corner. Alternatively, you can set up artificial bee houses or bee hotels with nesting tubes made from bamboo or drilled wood. These accommodations offer ideal shelters for solitary bees.

Plan for year-round blooms

Bees are active throughout the year, so strive to have blooms in your garden during every season. Choose a variety of plants that flower at different times, ensuring a constant food supply for the bees. By providing sustenance year-round, you encourage bee populations to thrive and improve pollination in your garden. Creating a bee-friendly garden is a rewarding endeavour that not only benefits these essential pollinators but also enhances the natural beauty of your surroundings. As more people embrace bee-friendly gardening practices, we can collectively contribute to preserving the bee populations and safeguarding the future of our ecosystem. So, get started and create a buzz-worthy garden this spring.

Gallery Showcase

Our region’s best creative talent

Protean Art Gallery

20 Tahunanui Drive

Open Tuesday - Saturday, 10am-4pm 027 548 5003

proteanart.co.nz

Natalie Kere Art

Wahine Matike ‘The Tāniko Series’ 027 667 7911

nataliekereart.com

Christine, The Artist Goldsmith

Allow us to refresh your jewellery in our Nelson studio. 021 817 209

theartistgoldsmith.com

Peter Copp

Moutere Bee Hives

Clayridge Gallery

77 Pine Hill Rd, Ruby Bay 027 491 5187, Please phone before visiting petercopp.co.nz

Nelson City Framers & The Gallery

Yes we can frame that for you, we can frame almost anything!

42A Halifax St, Nelson, Mon-Fri 8:30 –5pm, Sat 10am - 1pm nelsoncityframers.nz

Arty Nelson Gallery

126 Trafalgar St

Open Mon – Sat 10am - 4pm Sun 11am - 2pm

021 022 90996

The Suter Art Gallery

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

thesuter.org.nz

Hawks Valley Sculpture Gallery

190 Williams Rd, Tasman. Open most days, a call is appreciated. 0212671127 lauren.kitts@xtra.co.nz

laurenkitts.co.nz

Nelson Classic Car Museum Museum Store

1 Cadillac Way, Annesbrook

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

nelsonclassiccarmuseum.nz

Refinery Artspace

SENSORY SELF PORTRAITS Bailee Lobb

19-28 Oct | Thurs 19 Oct 5pm-8pm, Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm

acn.org.nz/the-refinery-artspace

Stacey Whale

The modern artisan of fine jewellery

1381 Moutere Highway, Upper Moutere Opening hours change, please check website.

027 975 9204

staceywhale.com

The Coolstore Gallery

Showcasing New Zealand art and design at Mapua Wharf. 10 Aranui Road, Mapua Wharf

Open 7 days, 10am – 5pm 03 540 3778

thecoolstoregallery.co.nz

Gifts galore

The Nelson Classic Car Museum is not only an outstanding world-class visitor attraction, it also has a museum gift store brimming over with carefully hand-picked and well thought out gifts of all kinds for everyone from babies through to adults. It is completely free to visit, seven days a week from 10am to 4pm. Museum staff say that people looking for a gift or a treat for themselves love that there is parking outside and they can whip in easily and find something special and affordable. Customers also love the great range of gifts for men. These include exclusive Nelson Classic car merchandise such as T shirts along with a large range of car books including a reprint fresh off the press of ‘The Tahunanui Beach Motor Racing Years’. First published in 1996, many have been waiting to have this sought after local motoring read available again.

The store is a platform for many local artists and craftspeople whose work is available to purchase. From art prints to sculptural pieces, homewares, candles, soaps, knitwear for babies, small terrariums and even live hanging kokedama plants, there is no end of choice with a range that is constantly changing. The outstanding card selection, with heartfelt cards through to the absolutely hilarious, results in no end of amusement from visitors and there is also a tasteful collection of New Zealand and Nelson souvenirs that are easy to post overseas.

Particularly popular is the selection of locally made jewellery. This includes pendants hewn from local natural gems by Elisha Hobbs, suitable for men or women, delicately embroidered mini pendants from Rosie Horn and striking resin and reclaimed wood earrings by Tessa Turner. Brian Flintoff’s bone carved pendants are available here along with Nick Feint’s Stone Arrow Jewellery range with is made from a wide range of recycled and repurposed materials. You will also find beautiful greenstone, silver and gold pieces from a range of other makers.

Local ceramics have definitely made a comeback. Lynette Hurst’s detailed flowers are magical as a feature on the wall or table and Katie Gold’s coloured leaves are back in stock. Sheryl Field produces beautiful bowls, quirky vases and mugs, while Mandy Garguilo provides delicate porcelain pieces.

The museum store has an excellent selection of books, including many for children. Absolutely delightful are the beautifully illustrated and informative, locally published “New Zealand’s Backyard Birds” and its companion “New Zealand’s Backyard Beasts” by Ned Barraud. Every kiwi kid should have these in their library and they are an easy gift to post.

Before or after you browse, make sure to enjoy some excellent L’affare coffee and delicious food treats from the Little Engine Eatery right alongside.

Nelson Classic Car Museum 03 547 4570 nelsonclassiccarmuseum.nz

Treasured flag made for historic rescue mission

Retired journalist Stephen Freed is an interesting man who has lived an interesting life. Not surprisingly, his favourite artwork has a great story behind it. Stephen talks to Matt Lawrey, about the flag that his seafaring grandfather designed for a historic mission.

Stephen Freed with the framed photo of the flag his grandfather designed and flew from a sledge in Antarctica.

Stephen Freed’s favourite artwork tells a remarkable story of Antarctic adventure. One hundred and 20 years ago, expeditions to the ice were seen as the ultimate in exploration. The men who took on the risks that came with such voyages were, in many ways, seen as the astronauts of their era. One of those brave souls was Stephen’s grandfather, Gerald Doorly, who was an officer on a mission to McMurdo Sound in 1902 to support Robert Falcon Scott’s ship Discovery that had become stuck in ice.

Gerald’s role included driving a husky-drawn sledge and Stephen’s favourite artwork is a framed highquality photograph of the flag that his grandfather flew from that sledge.

Gerald came up with the design with a friend and sent it to his mother in the town of his birth, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to sew for him. The pennant was beautifully made of ribbed silk and prominently features St George’s Cross representing England. The black and white sections of the flag represent Gerald’s history of being a white man born in a predominately black Caribbean country, while the crown symbolises his service in the Royal Navy Reserve.

The flag was sent to New Zealand where it reached Gerald just before he set sail on board the Morning from Lyttelton for Antarctica on December 7th 1902.

The crew of the Morning found Scott’s ship frozen stuck with 17 km of ice between the vessel and the sea. Stephen says his grandfather and his sledge did a lot of “to-ing and fro-ing” over those 17 km.

“That’s where the flag flew,” he said. Eventually the decision was made that the Discovery was unable to be moved and the Morning headed back to New Zealand for the winter. Gerald and the rest of the crew spent the season in Port Chambers where Stephen says they were fêted by the public.

“They were celebrities. It was like going to the moon in those days,” Stephen said.

The Morning, with Gerald onboard, returned to the ice the following summer with another ship, the Terra Nova, and, with the use of explosives, managed to free the Discovery, after which all three ships sailed north to Dunedin.

Gerald spent much of his life after his polar adventures in Australia and his sledge flag is kept in Sydney’s Mitchell Library. Stephen, who spent 29 years living in Sydney, first saw it 25 years ago on a visit to the library with his mother, Gerald’s daughter, Dorothy.

Stephen and his mum were looking through boxes of Gerald’s journals, scrapbooks and photos that are part of the library’s collection, when Dorothy asked a librarian if they also had a flag.

The librarian said, “I think we do,” disappeared and returned with another box.

“She lifted the lid and my jaw dropped. Here it was, the real thing, the flag. It was the first time in my life that I’d seen it and I was quite moved,” Stephen said. He remembers asking why ends of the pennant were so dark and his mum said: “because in my childhood that flag used to hang on the inside of our washhouse door.”

Stephen ended up getting two framed photos of the flag done: one as a surprise birthday gift for his mum and the other for himself.

Stephen was 10 when Gerald died. He never really got to know his grandfather but when he looks at the photo today it makes him happy to think that Gerald had such an interesting life.

After a career as a senior sub-editor for Fairfax Newspapers in Sydney, Stephen retired to Nelson six years ago.

Like his grandfather, Stephen has had an eventful life that has seen him travel the world, including a trip to Antarctica, work as a radio announcer in Bangkok, Thailand, do Volunteer Service Abroad in the Solomon Islands and help former refugees to learn English in Aotearoa.

In the early 1970s he was also arrested, fined $1000 and imprisoned for three years for smuggling “super powerful” cannabis from Thailand into New Zealand. While serving his sentence, Stephen studied university papers extramurally, eventually completing a degree, a move that helped him to restart his working life after prison.

“I guess I’m one of the lucky ones in that I bounced back very quickly. For a large number of guys who end up in prison, their lives are ruined permanently,” he said.

These days Stephen is happily enjoying retirement and actively engaged in Nelson’s cultural life. A regular at the Nelson Film Society, the Suter, NCMA, Nelson Historical Society and the Free House, Stephen also singles out his “wonderful” neighbours as one of the best things about his life here. He’s also become a huge fan of Nelson’s weather and its laidback vibe. “I’ve quickly discovered that it’s the best place in New Zealand to live,” he said.

Our playground –nature’s paradise

Boasting everything one dreams of from a holiday destination – sultry golden sands, crystal clear water, native forest, camping, boating, hiking and biking options, Kaiteriteri through to Mārahau provides some of the most stunning coastline in the country.

Translating to ‘The Place of Many Waters’ Kaiteriteri is regularly featured as one of the best beaches in the world. With a myriad of outdoor experiences on offer, the playground plays host to locals and visitors alike all throughout the year.

A jewel in the region’s crown, Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve encompasses over 250 hectares of land, and features a campground, apartments, a convenience store, a waterfront restaurant, a mountain bike park, adjacent forestry, a beach and foreshore area, the Kākā Point Historic Reserve and island, and the estuary. The Reserve holds a truly exceptional and distinctive charm, inviting people of all backgrounds to savour its offerings. Often filled to the brim with holidaymakers, Kaiteriteri holds a special place in the hearts of countless New Zealanders as a cherished holiday spot, where family memories and traditions are often passed down through generations. Offering a variety of lodging options such as a motel, eco-lodge, and campgrounds, along with a wide range of exciting activities at your fingertips, there’s undoubtedly something to delight every visitor. Kimi Ora manager,

and daughter of the founder, Angelika Mant has grown up with Kaiteriteri as her playground and says, “Kaiteriteri feels so special to me because firstly I grew up here and secondly even though it is so close to Nelson and Motueka, it feels like you are miles away from anywhere. In the morning, the sunrises and the birdsongs are incredible and at nighttime, the stars are just amazing! The words I would use to describe the feeling of Kaiteriteri, Mārahau and the Abel Tasman are tranquil, peaceful, and back to nature.”

The warm summer days can be spent camping with those nearest and dearest, relaxing, barbequing, kayaking, swimming, biking, hiking and boating – and winter is no exception. Kaiteriteri remains vibrant throughout the cooler seasons and can in fact be one of the most splendid periods for discovering the park, both on solid ground and on the water. The ocean exudes tranquillity, the morning breeze carries a refreshing chill, and the indigenous wildlife becomes more active and playful. Kaiteriteri’s calm sparkling waters and glistening golden sands entice even the most stoic amongst us, no matter the season!

Offering guided tours across the waters including stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking or a special trip in a waka. Cruising, water taxiing, or relaxing on the beach. Hitting the mountain bike park, spending the day walking through lush native forest, or a few days exploring the many paths throughout the surrounding region – there are a multitude of ways to while away the days when you are in this stunning neck of the woods. The sunrises alone offer a truly remarkable experience as the sea is exceptionally peaceful, the weather is refreshingly cool yet mild, and the local wildlife becomes more active, creating an ideal opportunity to venture out and discover the pristine natural haven.

Numerous water taxis, bigger vessels, and sea kayak outfitters embark from the secluded bay, offering visitors the chance to delve further into the surroundings. Jane-Maree Holmes, the owner-operator of Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures has been offering sailing experiences in the region for over 23 years and says, “One of the special things, to me, is that I love the way the area has a winter and summer personality. Winter is peacefully quiet and relaxing, whereas summer has a vibrant and lively buzz about it. Kaiteriteri and Mārahau are just wonderful all year round.”

Lee-Anne Jago, co-owner operator of Waka Abel Tasman, has lived in the region since 1998, and says, “I walked the Abel Tasman National Park and fell in love with this place. I came back a year later to train as an outdoor guide/instructor. My husband

Todd and I started Waka Abel Tasman in 2016. We love sharing tikanga Māori while giving people an empowering inclusive experience in this beautiful place.” When asked what it is that drew her in, Lee-Anne says it is the overall vibe that resonates with her. “Our coastline makes me feel relaxed, as soon as I see the sea my body relaxes, this is such a gift. Living and working here is something I feel thankful for every day. We feel fortunate to be able to swim, paddle, and mountain bike together in our backyard, the connections we have together and with the whenua (land) supports a feeling of kaitiakitanga (guardianship). We love what it gives us so much we want to look after it. The area is ātaahua (beautiful) and encourages ora (vitality).”

The options for amazing experiences don’t end in Kaiteriteri, just a short drive from here lies the idyllic village of Mārahau, and the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park. Mārahau is the friendly guardian at the eastern doorstep of the renowned National Park. It is a starting point for all kinds of adventures. At the Abel Tasman Centre located in Mārahau, you can plan your day, whether it be with a water taxi ride, a kayak, a horse ride, a canyon adventure or perhaps a leisurely stroll on the Coastal Walking Track.

The cosy little settlement of Mārahau is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle with plenty of holiday accommodation options on offer. The beach provides safe swimming and an expansive estuary to explore once the tide rolls out. With a sunny café and beer garden and world-famous burgers cooked up from a charming caravan, visitors will be spoilt for choice when visiting Mārahau.

Walking the start of the Abel Tasman.

Waka Abel Tasman.

Abel Tasman Sailing Adventures

A must do experience

Experience the Abel Tasman National Park the peaceful and relaxing way. Explore the beauty and sights of the Abel Tasman National Park and Nelson Bays on a comfortable sailing catamaran. Join with others or enjoy a private tour for a few hours sailing or a multi-day holiday.

Sailing Adventures

0800 467 245 | sailingadventures.co.nz |

Old MacDonald’s Farm

A unique inclusive cultural experience for all age groups and abilities. Book as individuals, or get a group together of family, friends, or workmates. Paddling waka connects you to our rich cultural heritage, it is so special and it’s heaps of fun. Contact us today to book your trip.

0800 925 228 | wakaabeltasman.nz |

Kaiteriteri Beach Lodge

Owned, built and operated by the Macdonald family for 30+ years, Old Macdonald’s Holiday Park is located on a farm/park like setting alongside the Marahau river, 400 metres from the Abel Tasman National Park. There’s secure car parking, affordable and spacious camping and cabin accommodation, river swimming, bookings and information.

Old MacDonad’s Farm and Holiday Park

03 527 8288 | oldmacs.co.nz | info@oldmacs.co.nz

With a stunning location – only 50 metres from one of the best beaches in New Zealand, Kaiteriteri Beach Lodge is a comfortable base to suit all travellers and budgets. Explore everything the spectacular Abel Tasman National Park has to offer, then pop into the Beached Whale Bar & Restaurant to enjoy local cuisine and a nice cold drink, the friendly team will look after you. Open seven days.

Kaiteriteri Beach Lodge

8 Inlet Road, Kaiteriteri | kaiterilodge.co.nz |

Waka Abel Tasman

Beach View Apartments

Stay, Play, Relax and Recharge

Wake up in one of our amazing beachfront apartments with views over the stunning golden beaches and turquoise waters of Kaiteriteri Beach.

Our one or two-bedroom apartments meet all your needs, with a balcony, open-plan dining area, and kitchen to create a refreshing summer salad.

Waterfront Restaurant

Cabins & Campground

Waterfront Restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy great food and wine with friends or family.

Positioned right alongside Kaiteriteri beach, sit and enjoy being in one of the best destinations in New Zealand, while having lunch or a simple morning flat white. Open 7 days a week.

Situated right on Kaiteriteri Beach our Qualmark gold award winning campground & cabins have a rich history and are extremely popular all year round.

We have cabins, 400 powered campsites suitable for campervans, caravans, and tents, all within walking distance from the beach.

Kaiteriteri Store

Kaiteriteri convenience store offers a large range of groceries, snacks, drinks, our famous real fruit ice creams, great coffee and food. Our store is open 7 days per week all year round, providing a great service to the local community and our visitors. Open 7 days a week.

European river cruising at its best

Everyone travels to see new things, but many travel to do new things as well. With an exclusive Avalon Active and Discovery River Cruise, you might find yourself leisurely pedalling around an ancient village, peacefully paddling in a kayak down a legendary river, or tranquilly traipsing through a vineyard. From light hiking to speedier strolls, these included excursions mean there is something for everyone.

If biking is your thing, then this is the cruise for you! The adventure host on board is invaluable for the active traveller. You can join them to exercise on the deck in the morning, they can map a trail on the cycle paths that are adjacent to the river or join you for a hike in the countryside. You can’t get lost as the impressive Avalon Go app will guide you back to the boat. There are e-bikes, plus the usual pedal-powered bikes. Take your pick and immerse yourself in the local area. You can even stop for a beer under the shade of a tree in a traditional biergarten. You also have choices of hands-on experiences such as joining a painting class in an art studio, creating your own signature confection at a chocolate factory or tasting fresh oysters at a local oyster farm. There are so many options to choose from.

River cruising is the best way to see the countryside in a leisurely manner, and I say this from experience. Did I mention the fabulous food onboard and the amazing crew? Their service is excellent, and you will be sampling the local food and wine at the table as you glide along the river through medieval towns and villages.

These one-of-a-kind Active and Discovery cruises take place on the Upper and Lower Danube, Rhine and Rhône, Seine and Moselle Rivers, and in Holland and Belgium, so there are lots of choices.

I combined an Avalon River Cruise with a fantastic Gourmet Tuscany Tour by Cosmos which turned out to be a great choice. The town of Montecatini served as our home base where we stayed for seven nights, and from which we explored the surrounding landscapes of breath-taking Tuscany, getting to know its culinary and wine traditions. We indulged in picturesque scenery, world-class local wines, traditional cuisine, cooking classes and cultural discoveries. We visited idyllic spots including the Chianti Valley, well-known for its excellent wines, and sampled local gourmet Tuscan fare. It was truly memorable. Just like the river cruise, we unpacked only once and enjoyed the sights, experiences, and local fare.

House of Travel has exclusive deals for Avalon, Globus and Cosmos and would love to assist you with planning your next European sojourn.

Amanda Radovanovich OWNER OF HOUSE OF TRAVEL, RICHMOND

Open Day provides a ‘window’ into the world of the Moutere Artisans

Touting gorgeous wares, the creatively talented collective that make up the Moutere Artisans are once again excited to throw open their doors and invite the public to their annual Spring Open Day on October 22. Attracting thousands of people across the region the event showcases the very best of what the skilled creators have to offer.

fantastic! We have a little car parking area, at 111 Kelling Road and enjoyed a really good flow of people that came along.”

Celebrating some of the region’s finest crafts and creations, the friendly collective warmly welcomes visitors to explore their special little village of Upper Moutere and its surrounding region.

Spokesperson for the event, Tanya Doty says the Open Day is a wonderful opportunity to meet up with friends and showcase the Artisan’s outstanding talents.

Tanya is the owner of Heartstone Baskets and lovingly creates handmade baskets constructed from cultivated willow and other locally sourced fibres. This year her products will be showcased at the Tasteology artisan store, located at the Old Post Office. She says with many locals making the annual pilgrimage to the event the team look forward to reconnecting with regulars and welcoming new visitors to the Open Day. “To be

able to showcase what we do is wonderful. It is about so much more than just the Artisans. We live in a tiny little town that is tucked away, and we are all really proud and feel very lucky to have landed in such a place. The Open Day is a great way for us as a group to present our products to the region and show people how special Moutere really is.”

First year members, the team from South NZ Honey will be showcasing their wares at 92 Neudorf Road. Lauren Urquhart says, “It is a wonderful day out visiting the very talented, innovative and passionate artisans in their beautiful surroundings.”

Emily McCall from Jo Smith Paeonies looks forward to meeting with people and talking about the business at the Open Day. “October was our first Artisan event, and it was

Jewellery, sculptures, pottery and ceramics will be available on the day, and a pint can be enjoyed at New Zealand’s oldest pub or new season wines sampled from the plethora of award-winning Moutere Valley vineyards, along with some of the country’s finest cheeses, mushrooms, olive oils, black garlic, small goods, charcuterie, jams and preserves.

The Moutere Artisans suggest meeting up with friends at the MHCC, where there is plenty of parking available and carpooling to each stop. There you will find maps, parking, toilet facilities and water.

Michael MacMillan Sculptor & Country Homeware

South NZ Honey

Tanya Doty, Heartstone Baskets

Gravity Winery & Cellar Door

Visit our cellar door team to taste your way around New Zealand’s top wine regions, including Nelson, Hawke’s Bay, Central Otago, and Marlborough, or learn about our wine making philosophies by booking a tour of our gravity-fed winery. We offer tastings, tours, wine sales, a local art gallery, and a delicious lunch menu with stunning views.

gravitywinery.co.nz

243 Old Coach Road, Mahana

Neudorf Black

Come and sample New Zealand’s best range of gourmet black garlic products, including our new black garlic BBQ sauce. Take a tour of the black garlic kitchen and say hi to our alpacas.

021 0806 0150

92 Neudorf Road, Upper Moutere

Thorvald and Little River Estate

Taste award-winning sheep and cow cheese made by Thorvald and Little River Estate. Take some home and create a grazing platter with goodies made by fellow Moutere Artisan producers. If you can’t visit us, you can taste our cheese and find products from local producers at The Junction, Old Factory Corner. A great opportunity to try something new.

226 Neudorf Road, Upper Moutere

Bartlett and Gold

Bartlett and Gold Gallery is situated on a historic property in the centre of Upper Moutere Village. Ceramic artists Katie Gold and Owen Bartlett produce limited edition sculptural clay works and quite cool tableware. Moutere Artisans Open Day is the only time during the year you can watch in the studio where the action happens and wander the rambling gardens.

bartlettandgoldgallery.co.nz

1380 Moutere Highway, Upper Moutere

Flaxmore Vineyards

TASTE - outstanding wines from one of the Moutere’s newest wine labels from an established family vineyard. WALK - explore the vineyard for stunning views across the Moutere Valley to the Kahurangi ranges and beyond.

ART - enjoy a visit to our unique gallery.

flaxmore.co.nz | 027 527 8680

24 Flaxmore Road, Upper Moutere

Moutere Inn

Take a break during your day in the Moutere and visit New Zealand’s oldest pub. Craft beer, quality pub meals and very, very local wine. We’ll have four Peckham’s ciders on tap for what will be our 173rd birthday!

moutereinn.co.nz

1406 Moutere Highway, Upper Moutere

The table is set, the kai is prepared and everything is ready for Feast Whakatū – Aotearoa New Zealand’s newest food festival – to debut in Nelson Tasman from 17–26 November

Feast Whakatū is a 10-day celebration of Nelson Tasman’s incredible culinary diversity, and a welldeserved recognition of the producers and artisans who are at the forefront of New Zealand’s food and beverage scene. Already known for its stunning beaches and sunshine hours, Feast Whakatū is a new way for locals and visitors alike to embrace everything the region has to offer. Through unique, interactive experiences, Feast Whakatū will be a sensory experience like no other. With events hosted

Gindulgence Gin Festival

Trafalgar Centre 12.00pm

everywhere from the streets of the Whakatū Nelson CBD to the charming Māpua wharf and even over the hill in Tākaka, Golden Bay, there is something for every sort of foodie.

“A ‘feast’ is a gathering of people, friends and family enjoying food and drink and conversation together,” says Event Director Shelley Haring. “We really wanted those out-of-the-box, unique events you could only experience by coming to Feast Whakatū.”

Read on to whet your appetite with tidbits about some of the tempting events on the menu.

Dates:

Love a good G&T? Or maybe you’re a gin connoisseur. However you like your gin, come and explore gins from New Zealand and around the world in an afternoon of total Gindulgence.

Up to 16 distillers will be showcasing more than 55 gins. Free samples are included in the ticket price so take your time to find your favourites. When you’re ready, buy a refreshing G&T or specialty cocktail, relax and soak up the atmosphere with lively background music and fabulous local food. Grab your gin-loving friends and join this boutique gin experience.

Dates:

Saturday 18/25 November

Sunday 19/26 November

Price: $80

Saturday 18 November

Price: $59

Long Rosé Lunch with The Jellyfish and Kiwi Journeys

The Jellyfish

11.00am

This is a beautiful way to see the coastal part of the Great Taste Trail during spring. Enjoy a delicious lunch on the deck at The Jellyfish – an essential for any visit to Māpua Wharf. Enjoy a three-course lunch with canapés on arrival and beverages. Either make your own way to Māpua or hire a bike through our partners at Kiwi Journeys.

The Apple Shed x Rimu Grove Wines

The Apple Shed Kitchen & Bar 6.00pm

This event is unique to Feast Whakatū and allows guests to enjoy a collaboration by two of Māpua Wharf’s best outlets: The Apple Shed and Rimu Wine Bar. Enjoy a sumptuous five-course seasonal tasting menu introduced by Keiran Inglis, the owner of The Apple Shed. Patrick Stowe will navigate diners through his paired selection of Rimu Grove Wines. Diners will be greeted at The Apple Shed and enjoy arrival canapés with sparkling wine from Moutere Hills.

Grab a ticket and save yourself a seat

Head to our website for tickets, event info and to sign up to our newsletter.

Dates:

Thursday 23 November

Price:

$165

45ml Lazy Days Lychee Gin

15ml Canned lychee syrup (from canned lychee)

15ml Lime juice or juice of half a lime

60ml Soda water

Pour all ingredients into a glass with lots of fresh ice, stir with a cocktail spoon and enjoy.

Garnish with freeze dried raspberries and one lychee (from a can)

Lazy Lychee Soda Lychee Martini

60ml Lazy Days Lychee Gin

20ml Canned lychee syrup (from canned lychee)

5ml Dry Vermouth

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add gin, lychee syrup and vermouth. Shake until chilled.

Pour into martini glasses and garnish with one lychee (from a can) with a freeze dried raspberry on a cocktail pick.

Celebrating 40 years of brewing magic

An award-winning Master Brewer, international judge, respected mentor and renowned business owner, Tracy Banner has carved out an impressive career in the brewing industry over the last forty years.

Originally from the UK, Tracy left school ready to tackle the workforce with admirable tenacity. Excelling in science and languages, Tracy studied French for five years, German for three, and had an aptitude for typing. “Back then I was keen to either become a bilingual secretary or go down the route of chemical biophysics. I applied and was offered both jobs, but ultimately it was the lab coats and Bunsen burners that fuelled my decision.”

Starting as a lab tech for a large corporate brewery, Tracy’s sensory aptitude fast tracked her in the industry and by age 23 she was already hitting management level. After relocating to New Zealand in 1994, Tracy held various managerial positions across the country, becoming the first female in history to run the iconic Speight’s Brewery in Dunedin as brewery manager and head brewer, before settling back in Nelson where she had previously been head brewer at Mac’s for a number of years.

As the owner and Master Brewer of Sprig + Fern Brewing Co, Tracy says the secret to her success is living and breathing both quality and consistency.

Receiving the Morton Coutts Trophy in 2018, Tracy was also awarded an Honorary Fellowship to the Brewers Guild of New Zealand in 2019, adding to her Honorary Member accolade in 2014, along with a myriad of national and international awards. It is this recognition that drives Tracy’s passion for the industry. “Receiving the Morton Coutts Trophy meant a lot to me as Morton was a true innovator in the industry. It was an honour to be placed alongside someone of that calibre.”

Brewing for a long time, Tracy believes the Sprig + Fern team are leaders and innovators in what they do. “I think our dedication to our craft still shows all these years later – we are continuously evolving, moving with the times and still winning awards.”

Tracy says her choice of beer depends on the type of day. On a cooler day a Porter or IPA would be a go-to whereas when it’s warmer she will opt for a crisp lager, a hazy or a fruity pale ale. “New Zealand hops are some of the best in the world, and we are especially lucky because of our proximity to the hop farms and the great relationships we have with local growers. This means we get to brew with new hop varieties and make an annual pilgrimage in March to hand select the fresh hops being harvested.” sprigandfern.co.nz

Tracy Banner, owner and Master Brewer of Sprig + Fern Brewing Co.

Rabbit Island Coffee Co. more than just coffee

Successful business owners Bryn and Carley Lloyd say family and lifestyle drew them back to their Nelson hometown. One year on from purchasing Rabbit Island Coffee Co. the couple talk to Nelson Magazine about their journey thus far, being based at Māpua Wharf, and their visions for the future.

Bryn, can you share a little about your journey to purchasing the coffee business?

Our story certainly doesn’t begin with coffee roasting, but it’s fast taking over our lives as we grow our new business and live and breathe it daily. Moving back from Wellington, the decision to settle in Māpua was non-negotiable. We’ve always loved it and wanted the kids to grow up in the village. After spending 15 years in tourism and Carley recently launching her own interior design business, Colourbolt, we were ready to take on another challenge. Changing careers is not something that

people take lightly, but for us, it was a nobrainer. What made it easier was the loyal following and quality product that the previous owners of Rabbit Island Coffee Co. had established, so we knew the bones of the business were good. Carley manages the artisan pantry side of the business and I the coffee. The roastery is a short walk from our house, so I tend to roast at 5 a.m when no one else is around. It’s certainly idyllic being right on the water with the sun streaming straight into the roastery and extra rewarding drinking coffee that I’ve roasted!

Being apart of the Mapua community is important to Rabbit Island Coffee Co. owners Bryn and Carley Lloyd.

Carley, what continues to drive your passion?

Being part of the community is important to us. Having the opportunity to offer locals and visitors a specialty product that we love, and an experience when visiting the roastery is really fulfilling. The opportunity to create more balance in our lives has meant we can live and breathe our values both at home and at work. Our gorgeous brick-and-mortar store is the heart of the business. We are fortunate to be considered a destination for locals and tourists

visiting the region. We’re trying to create a multi-sensory experience through the aesthetics of the store, great music, beautiful aromas, friendly and helpful customer service and of course our specialty coffee beans! We have always known that a cup of coffee is more than just coffee. In the past year we have met so many interesting people and love hearing their diverse experiences with it.

A destination for locals and tourists

What range of services do you provide?

We offer several single-origin beans, two signature blends, a fabulous decaf, cold brew, and our plant based ‘Island Float’ featuring cold brew and coconut ice cream in an edible cup. We provide coffee to several cafes/restaurants within the region, send online subscriptions across the country each day, and our beans are available to sample and buy in-store at the roastery seven days a week. We love sourcing new products for the pantry side of the business. We decided early on that we would offer 50% local products and 50% from around Aotearoa. We saw an opportunity to provide locals with a taste of what else is on offer around New Zealand, and for visitors, a taste of our local artisan products. There are some talented and creative people out there that we feel honoured to support by providing their products. It’s an emporium of goods that we both love including ceramics, candles, pantry items like oils, nuts, salts, so many amazing teas, Frank Green, delicious artisan chocolates, many plant-based and glutenfree options and art.

What is the process for selecting your specialty blends and beans?

We’re forever listening to our customers on their taste preferences and tweaking our offering based on market demand. For a small roastery, we offer a wide selection of ethically sourced coffees. One of our core values is ‘uncompromising quality in all systems, processes and products’. We’ve certainly lifted the hood of the business and made a lot of changes in the first 12 months. It’s been a lot of work, but the positive feedback that we receive daily fuels us to constantly improve our product and service. When it comes to coffee, we roast light to medium which highlights sweetness, retains the perfect amount of acidity and showcases the terroir of beans. It also doesn’t give us any room for error when it comes to roasting, as there’s nowhere to hide when you roast light. This means we need to source the best of the best to ensure consistency in our flavour profiles.

Open seven days, 10am-3pm.

Laura McCone

The retail shop includes specialty local products. | Rabbit Island Coffee Co. beans are enjoyed in cafes and homes across New Zealand.

The Indian Café

With three great locations you can enjoy Indian Cafe’s delicious food no matter where you are. Head in and find out why Indian Café is the favourite choice for anyone looking for the highest quality food and a memorable cuisine experience.

All venues offer intimate restaurant dining and courtyard settings and takeaway options.

94 Collingwood St, Nelson | 03 548 4089

266 Queen St, Richmond | 03 544 8979 201 Songer St, Stoke | 03 547 0008 theindiancafe.co.nz

Moutere Gold

Moutere Gold has been based at The Old Post Office in the small village of Upper Moutere for the last 20yrs. It is here we use traditional methods to make our preserves, always in small batches, from local produce, so as not to compromise quality and flavour.

Wok Thai

Our menu reflects centuries of family cooking, offering traditional and innovative dishes, skilfully cooked to dazzle your senses. Vegetarian and gluten free options available. Dine in or takeaway, with delivery available through DeliverEasy and UberEats.

Open Mon - Sat, 1:30pm - 8:30pm Sunday, 4:30pm - 8:30pm

The Old Post Office 1381 Moutere Highway, Upper Moutere Village mouteregold.co.nz |

514 Main Road Stoke 03 547 8111 wokthai.nz |

Sprig + Fern Brewing Co.

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

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

Eddyline Brewery & Taproom

Discover a taste sensation like no other at the newest taproom in Nelson. A fusion of New Mexican flavours and craft beer! Indulge in a delectable blend of New Mexican cuisine and the freshest craft beer in town. Savour our mouthwatering menu, including tacos, burritos, smoked meats, and green chile cheeseburgers. Enjoy specially crafted dishes, celebrating the vibrant flavors of New Mexican red and green chile. A culinary journey that will leave your taste buds wanting more.

Open Tues - Sat.

sprigandfern.co.nz |

15 Elms St, Stoke, Nelson 03 541 0757 eddylinebrewery.nz

Eight Plates

Nelson’s newest dining experience! Delicious, seasonal small plates for brunch, lunch and dinner, cocktails, coffee, beer and wine.

Open Thu – Mon, 10am - 10pm.

300 Trafalgar St, Nelson 03 546 4300 eightplates.co.nz |

The Views

With panoramic views of Kaiteriteri, The Views vegetarian restaurant at Kimi Ora Eco Resort offers a relaxing dining experience. With locally sourced seasonal produce, chefs delight in creating a fusion of flavours for you to savour. Vegan and gluten free options are available, with a variety of regional wine, beer and cider. Bookings essential. Open Thurs- Sat 5.30pm - 8.30pm

99 Martin Farm Rd, Kaiteriteri 03 527 8027

kimiora.com/restaurant |

Lydia’s Café

After nearly 12 years we have built a loyal customer base with our excellent coffee, food and service. Our food is made fresh on site each day in our warm and inviting atmosphere. We are renowned for our Italian ricotta cake and ginger cream cheese club sandwiches, just to name a few tasty delights.

Open Mon-Fri, 7am - 2pm

NBM Asian Street Eats

Join us on a culinary journey through the streets of Thailand with a symphony of flavours that capture the essence of authentic Thai street food. Choose to dine in or takeaway with a taste sensation from our extensive menu. Our Thai buffet also offers a delicious selection, perfect for when time is short or a lunch on the run. Sit back, relax, and let your taste buds travel!

265 Queen St, Richmond 03 544 1020 |

105 Hardy Street, Nelson 03 539 1426 nbmasianeats.co.nz

Mapua Village Bakery

No matter what you fancy, they’ve got you covered with a fantastic menu full of all your favourites — homestyle baking, a huge pie selection, the famous big breakfast that is available every day until 3pm, and delicious fresh salad rolls to take away and enjoy on your spring picnics. There’s a good gluten free range and a different gourmet pie flavour each month, all topped off with a supreme coffee to add a bounce to your day.

68 Aranui Rd, Mapua 03 540 3656

mapuavillagebakery.co.nz

River Kitchen

Situated on the banks of the Maitai River, at the heart of city centre of beautiful Nelson. You can sit back and relax, away from the hustle and bustle. Specialising in delicious, seasonally inspired food, craft beers, wines from around New Zealand, and locally roasted coffee. Serving breakfast and lunch all year round. Check out the new spring menu!

Open Tue-Fri 7:30am-4pm | Sat 8am-4pm Sun 8:30am-4pm.

81 Trafalgar St, Nelson 03 548 1180 riverkitchennelson.co.nz

Mango

Offering a mix of delicious and authentic Malaysian and Indian cuisine, great service and high-quality food, Mango cuisine is incredibly nutritious and amazingly priced. Using only the highest quality and freshest of ingredients, Mango have guilt-free yummy curries and noodles amongst their unique options. Open for lunch Mon-Sat 11:30am-2pm and dinner every day from 5pm-10pm.

227-229 Hardy St, Nelson 03 539 4916 244 Queen St, Richmond 03 544 3278 2 Scott St, Blenheim 03 577 8781 mangoonline.co.nz

Burger Culture

You guys asked for more room and we now have it! We are so excited to finally have phase one of our extension done and dusted. We’ve got an extra 40 seats so get your booties down here and fill ‘em!

Hogarth Chocolate

Hogarth Chocolate Makers have been crafting some of the world’s best chocolate right here in Nelson for the past 8 years. Creativity and exploration of flavour are pillars of their philosophy. Check out their range at their new factory store and see why they are New Zealand’s most awarded chocolate maker.

Open Tues-Fri 10am – 4.30pm Head to their factory shop to try their range of chocolate products for free.

279 Trafalgar St, Nelson 03 546 9020 burgerculture.co.nz |

Port O’Call Bar

When you need a place to relax, Port O’Call Bar is the perfect spot! You’ll be impressed with the superior selection of local and international beers and wines, along with one of Nelson’s largest whiskey selections.

Open Mon – Sun, 4pm – 11pm.

Level Two, Rutherford Hotel Nelson 03 548 2299 rutherfordhotel.nz

10B Kotua Place, Stoke 03 544 8623 hogarthchocolate.co.nz |

Anchor Restaurant and Bar

Top quality food is best served with amazing ocean views! Blessed with a fantastic spot on the water, you will feel welcomed and won’t want to leave. Specialising in local seafood and steaks, there are also delectable choices for non-meat eaters, people with special dietary needs and kids.

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

Solander Gourmet Seafood

For all your fresh fish and seafood favourites for nourishing winter chowders, paellas and your delicious fish curries, keep it local with Solander.

The very best seafood available in Nelson and NZ, accessible to you via online order. Select from the finest seafood and other gourmet products, to ensure that your dining experiences are healthy, delicious, and incredibly well priced. gourmetseafood.co.nz

McCashin’s Tap Room

With great indoor/outdoor dining areas, bring your friends, family or workmates along to enjoy their mouth-watering menu, which includes their famous steak sandwiches, pizzas, platters and seasonal plates to savour. McCashin’s Tap Room is your local friendly meeting place with fine beverages made on site at the brewery. It’s your local.

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

What’s On

For updated information visit itson.co.nz

11 – 29 October

NSAS’S SPRING EXHIBITION

A curated selection of members’ artworks across various genres, harmoniously transitioning from the McKee Gallery to the Potton Gallery. Opening 5.30pm, 11 October.

19 October

NURTURE@HOME FAMILY FUN DAY

Families and preschool children are invited to a funfilled day with entertainment and activities at Natureland. Hand made products for sale, food, coffee, spot prizes and more. 10am – 2pm. $6 per person, free entry for und 2’s. Postponed until 26 Oct if wet.

Natureland

The CRAYONS The CRAYONS

On now – 4 November TASMAN VIEWS FROM THE 1970S

An exhibition of paintings and drawings by Toss Woollaston. Open Saturday’s 11am-3pm.

27 October KIDS LOVE MUSIC CHARITABLE TRUST FUNDRAISER

The Crayons and Big Papa play hits from the world’s greatest entertainers - Elvis and Elton! Don’t miss your chance to support this great children’s charity. Ticketskidslovemusic.org.nz

30 October

VIVA LAS VEGAS!

Prepare to be dazzled as Operatunity with New Zealand’s most iconic entertainers and band transport you to a glittering night in Vegas! Book at operatunity.co.nz or phone 0508 266 237.

3 - 4 November

TOP OF THE SOUTH FILM FESTIVAL

The festival showcases great local and national films and is a highlight on the society’s annual events calendar. Its purpose is to nurture filmmaking in the region and support growth and education for local creatives.

featuring Craig Allott and Chris Phillips

Hope Community Church

The Suter Art Gallery

The Suter Art Gallery

Atkins Gallery, Founders Park

The Boathouse

20 October Queen - It’s A Kinda Magic

21 October Tragic Mike: Netflix & Chill

30 October - 2 November Te Mana Kuratahi

12 November Bill Bailey - Thoughtifier

18 November Gindulgence

5 January

L.A.B + Sublime with Rome

Big Brothers Big Sisters Dinner and Auction

Rutherford Hotel Nelson

1. Chris Davies and Jodine Twose

2. Shelley Illingworth, Campbell Miller and Chenae Owens

3. Angela Miller and John Everett

4. Gemma Brown and Jane Martin Junior

5. Rachel Boyack and Emma Helleur

6. Anthony McCallum and Hayley Webley

7. Hazel Trethowen, Gill Ireland and Richard Butler

8. Ryan Eddington and Brandon Kay

Sarah Board

Nelson Arts Festival Programme Launch

The Suter Art Gallery

1. Grant Palliser, Esmé Palliser and Colin Bass

2. David Moir, Dana Light, Deb McConochie and Liv Moir

3. Will Murphy and Ruth Roebuck

4. Claudia Turnhout and Cynthia Greep

5. Ramiesha Perera and Nilusha Bandara

6. Scott Burnett and Roger Wilson

7. James Hodgson, Kylie Johnson and Campbell Rollo

8. Maria Gomez, Natalie Gousmett and Matty Anderson

Kirsten Ammann

Theatre Royal Open Day

Theatre Royal

join us

H e a p h y W o n d e r l a n d

Book your corporate Christmas Party with us!

Enjoy our beautiful Heaphy Room, complimentary glass of bubbles and a delicious 3 course set menu.

Starting at $80.00pp. T&Cs apply.

Larger function spaces available - enquire today!

1. Christie Williams and Bryan Pang

2. JR Richardson, Eliane Polack and Jasmine Turner

3. Jane Martin and Pat Clark

4. John and Maureen Skinner

5. Keith Marshall and Giles Burton

6. Sue and Colin Brown

7. Cameron Clelland, Jack Ladley and Aspen Celland

8. Nick Davidsen and Amanda Raine

Gordon Preece

Etiquette by House of Kennedy Launch

Mahitahi Colab

1. Sarah Proctor-Thomson and Kirsty Stark

2. Anne Thoroughgood, Sandy Tuck and Amie-Jo Trayes

3. Kieron and Kirsten Norfield

4. Kate Neame and Jolene Theron

5. Deidre Stewart-Hendrickson and Tamara Orr

6. Kim Odendaal and Michelle Kennedy

7. Kay McQurie, Kathy Basalaj and Karen Foy

8. Maisie Blakeborough and Chris Newth

Mackenzie Charleton

Invincible Art Exhibition

Refinery ArtSpace

1. Kindra Douglas and Steve Molnar

2. Rachel Waddy, Alison Kennedy, Penny Molnar and Clare Williams

3. Claire Williams and Margie Pope

4. Esmé Palliser and Heidi Lucas

5. Rosie Ross and Raven Boss

6. Andy Malcolm and Rosa Coutts

7. Kris O’Leary, Liz Price and Catherine Alder

8. Gill Knight and Anna Knight

Tessa Jaine

WELCOME MR & MRS SMITH

We’re thrilled to welcome Lisa and Richard, affectionately known as Mr. and Mrs. Smith. This dynamic couple bring a wealth of expertise, experience, and enthusiasm to our organisation. We’re delighted to have them on board and eagerly anticipate the remarkable achievements that lie ahead!

Mr & Mrs Smith are truly passionate about ‘all things property,’ and their two-decade journey in real estate, spanning both New Zealand and international markets, attests to this. With a combined experience of approximately 40 years in brokering, trading, negotiating, and nurturing client relationships, when you choose Mr. & Mrs. Smith to list your property, rest assured that your most valuable asset is in capable hands.

Richard 027 300 1764 I Lisa 027 300 9033 thesmiths@thecoopergroup.co.nz mrandmrssmith.co.nz

TESTIMONIAL

“

These guys have got me for life. Lisa and Richard made the selling process a breeze. They were so helpful every step of the way. They had a keen buyer on their radar which meant it all happened quickly and easily, and for that I am very grateful. I would not hesitate to recommend Mr & Mrs Smith, in fact I can’t imagine working with another real estate agent again!”

Amanda, Vendor

Debbie Cooper Real Estate Ltd (Licensed under REAA 2008)