Marlborough Magazine March 2022

MARCH 2022 FEBRUARY 2022

KRISTA FINDS HER

PASSION

Home INTERIOR TIPS

ON THE STREET PLUS: At Home | Saving Jessica | Chef’s choice

March 2022

What’s inside Features 9-11

Saving Jessica

12-13

Winsome Ways

15-19

International Women’s Day

20-23

Krista finds her passion

32-41

Copper Black sets the standard 32-41

9-11

Regular

25

On the Street

29-31

My Home

47

Gardening

49

What’s On

50-51

Social Pages

52-53

Art and Culture

54-57

Food & Drink

12-13

49-53

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It’s harvest time in Marlborough. The grape harvesters (that always remind me of a menacing machine straight out of the terminator movie) will be hitting the roads, towering above the line of cars patiently waiting to pass on the State Highway. Marlborough becomes abuzz 24 hours a day as all hands are on deck to get the grapes off the vines and into the press, ready to begin the process of producing the liquid gold our region is famous for.

Not only is it busy for the vineyards, but many local families and businesses will be caught up in the hustle and bustle, providing support and services to help ensure the best yield is had.

It’s a long wait from the moment the first vines are trained on their wires, destined to become the luscious bushes that twist and twirl down rows that blanket the Marlborough landscape.

Within a little over a month, that long wait is over, and just like that all that patience, care and dedicated work comes to fruition as the last grapes fall from their vines and the sun sets on another Marlborough harvest. Soon the leaves will turn the colour of our hills and we wait for the lush green that had cascaded throughout our valleys to return in another year.

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EDITOR Summa Donald summa@marlboroughmedia.co.nz MARCH 2022 FEBRUARY 2022

DESIGN Patrick Connor and Toni Woolf CONTRIBUTORS Tess Jaine, Catherine van der Meulen, Simone Hill, Paula Hulburt, David James, Amy Russ, Kat Duggan ADVERTISING

KRISTA FINDS HER

PASSION

Home INTERIOR TIPS

ON THE STREET

Summa Donald summa@marlboroughmedia.co.nz DISTRIBUTION Phil and Paula Brown, Wendy Aberthenthy

PLUS: At Home | Saving Jessica | Chef’s choice

PUBLISHER

Cover: On the Street.

Page 25.

David James Photography

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Headliners What made news in our region

Lions award locals Graeme Kendrew and Roy Ramsey were presented the Lloyd Morgan Lions Club Charitable Trust Honour Award at the recent Blenheim Lions Club meeting for their work in the community. Graeme has volunteered at the Salvation Army community garden for four years and Roy is the current president of Drug Arm in Marlborough. Both were humbled by the awards, “it was a bit embarrassing, but a good embarrassment,” said Roy.

8mm search Friends Andrew Strugnell and Felix Jackson made a surprise discovery when they purchased an old camera from a Blenheim charity store. On its 8mm reel is someone’s precious 60-year-old family footage of a little girl dressed in a blue smock and riding a red trike. Andrew who works at Family Films understands how important the footage could be. “It helps you realise your whole family history and gives you a better understanding about your place in the world.” The friends hope to find the original owner.

Swedes honour pine nut pioneer A 500-hectare plantation of Mediterranean stone pine trees in Marlborough produces Pinoli pine nuts, well known to Marlburians and pine nut lovers around the world.

Pine nut pioneer Andrew Wiltshire began the business almost 25 years ago and is now to be recognised for his work with an induction into the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry. “It’s probably a rather obscure organisation for many in NZ but for me personally, I consider it a real honour to be nominated and inducted.”

Heaphy hiatus Trampers and mountain bikers have been disappointed to hear of the closure of sections of the Heaphy Track. The recent torrential rain caused significant damage to the section of track between Brown Hut and James Mackay Hut, which the Department of Conservation says will remain closed for up to several months while repair work is carried out. You can still get your kilometres in by booking a return trip from the Golden Bay end, starting and finishing at the same point.

Wineries take to TikTok

Radiology wait wasn’t humerus

In a bid to appeal to young people looking for work Constellation, who owns the Kim Crawford wine brand, has taken to TikTok. Constellation head of communications Tess Keenan says they’re pulling no punches to try and find vital workers for the upcoming vintage and are “thinking outside the box” to attract staff. They are looking forward to what is expected to be a bumper season, with hopefully some new hands-on deck.

To help tackle patient wait times in radiology at Wairau Hospital the service has been extended to 24 hours a day.

Extra Medical Imaging Technologist staff have been drafted in to help cover the new roster which includes radiology, ultrasound, CT, nuclear medicine mammograms and MRI. The result has seen more convenient and effective care for patients, plus a better work life balance for staff.

Let ’s ce le br a te To celebrate International Women’s Day, Marlborough Magazine and Sydne Lane mind+body would like to giveaway a free facial to ten deserving woman. Send us the name and contact details of your nominated woman by either emailing summa@marlboroughmedia.co.nz or message sydne lane mind+body on Facebook.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“The orthopaedic register came in half an hour after the scan and said they would have to amputate. My mum wasn’t with me yet, so I just said ‘no.’ I told her not to talk to me about it again until my mum arrived. I wasn’t ready to hear it.”

Jessica Simmons Pages 9 -11

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PAULA HULBURT

Jessica Simmons is adapting to life after a recent amputation.

Saving Jessica When Jessica Simmons made the difficult decision to have her lower right leg amputated, it changed her life forever. She tells Paula Hulburt why she made the right choice and how she’s rebuilding her life after surgery.

T

he dull ache in her ankle disturbed her dreams and roused her from her sleep.

Waking in the half light of early morning, Jessica, 32, reached for her lamp before the truth hit; her ankle couldn’t possibly hurt, it was no longer there.

Her heart beat a hurried tattoo of alarm before she carefully slowed her breathing and lay back down.

After the amputation of her lower right leg, surgeons had warned her about phantom feelings in the limb that had gone. She recalls brushing their concerns aside.

“I didn’t think much of it to be honest but it’s true. It’s a very weird feeling and I guess it’s just going to take time for my brain to catch up with reality,” she explains.

It is a bright sunny Marlborough morning and Jessica is all smiles as she uses a wheeled chair to move around the kitchen making breakfast. Back in Blenheim after 26 nights in hospital, Jessica is delighted to be home.

“I cooked tea properly the other night so I’m feeling particularly proud of myself,” she explains as she grabs a small plate.

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The hem of her floral dress flips as Jessica swivels to and fro. With her auburn hair sitting in a top knot and colour in her cheeks Jessica looks happy and healthy and, in the main, she is. A thick, white bandage is wrapped carefully around her knee, the only visible indication of the huge surgery she underwent in January.

After three bouts of the potentially life-threatening blood infection septicaemia followed by sepsis Jessica has endured much but remains strong and optimistic about her future. She hopes that by highlighting the symptoms of the dangerous condition, she can help others get help sooner.

Septicaemia is when a bacterial infection enters the bloodstream. It is dangerous because the bacteria and their toxins can be carried through the body causing sepsis, the body’s immune response to infection.

The orthopaedic register came in half an hour after the scan and said they would have to amputate. My mum wasn’t with me yet, so I just said ‘no.’ I told her not to talk to me about it again until my mum arrived. I wasn’t ready to hear it.

“It got to the point where I really thought I was on the homeward stretch,” she remembers with a small sigh.

Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes when she was 20 years old, Jessica also suffered with Charcot foot, a rare condition that affects the bones, joints, and soft tissues of the foot or ankle.

A padded moon boot she was given to wear rubbed, causing a blister which made an existing ulcer worse, ultimately leading to the amputation. At its worse, the pocket of infection in her foot measured 2cm wide by 4cm deep.

Doctors had fought hard to clear the poison, packing the cavity with antibiotics and foam so it could heal from the inside out.

“The foot just ballooned and blood tests showed my infection markers were going up every day. I was airlifted to Nelson and had hardly landed on the tarmac when I had an MRI. There was no mucking around.

The MRI results were not so great, there were pockets of infection everywhere.”

Jessica pauses here, her gaze drifting to where her lower leg had been. There are moments when the enormity of what she has been through catch her by surprise.

“It happened really fast. My foot just started swelling up and was really painful, especially considering as I had little feeling in my feet anyway.

“I felt absolutely awful, my temp was more than 39 degrees and I kept vomiting.”

Each admission to hospital meant intravenous antibiotics and surgery as surgeons cleaned out her badly infected foot. Each time, the infection flared up again, each time Jessica remained stoical and brave.

Admitted to Wairau Hospital for a third time on New Year’s Eve, Jessica says she had been hopeful the infected foot was starting to heal. “I’d felt a bit funny the day before, but I thought the foot was looking good. The ulcer on the bottom was greatly healed.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

Type 2 diabetes and a diagnosis of Charcot foot meant Jessica’s foot got badly infected.

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March 2022

“The orthopaedic register came in half an hour after the scan and said they would have to amputate. My mum wasn’t with me yet, so I just said ‘no.’ I told her not to talk to me about it again until my mum arrived. I wasn’t ready to hear it.

She arrived and I was crying, mum was crying and the registrar was trying to talk to us but we weren’t really listening,” Jessica explains. The distraught pair asked for more information and another opinion.

The head of department spent time talking Jessica through her options, one of which included further surgery but with no guarantees.

“There was only a five percent chance that I would have a healthy, functioning foot and I knew I just couldn’t keep doing all the surgeries. I knew there was a chance if I waited that I’d have to have an above knee amputation.

It was a really big decision and a hard one but I knew what I had to do. I hadn’t really thought about the after, just the now because it was making me so sick.”

Eyelids heavy with the groggy sleep of anaesthesia, the former Early Childhood Education teacher says she felt happy when first coming around after surgery.

“I was quite bright, it was good to know it had been done, I was fine with it and it certainly helped that it had been my decision.”

But just days later, reality arrived, hitting Jessica hard.

“I didn’t take long and my little pity party was over,” she smiles. Her strength in the face of so much adversity is inspirational yet she is quick to downplay her achievement.

“I just got on with it,” she explains.

An assortment of pills sit on a table next to where Jessica has quickly manoeuvred herself on to the couch. She has adapted well to her new normal.

Jessica’s thoughts are firmly on her future now, a future she is determined will be as bright as possible.

An ECC teacher for seven years, she has been studying online through Open Polytechnic for her Early Childhood Teaching degree. Once she is well enough to do the practical side of the course, she hopes to return to work.

In the meantime, her sights are set on getting her prosthesis fitted in Wellington in three to four weeks’

time. While Nelson Marlborough Health will pay for her travel costs, she will face paying most of her accommodation costs. She also has her heart set on a mobility scooter.

“It’s got to look cool,” she laughs.

“I know I made the right choice. I feel much more like myself; I feel pretty much like me again and there’s no keeping me down.”

To keep up to date with Jessica’s journey and to make a donation visit givealittle.co.nz/cause/ please-support-my-amputation.

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Big game fishing in the Bay of Islands on the Winsome II when it was owned by Andy Donovan.

SUPPLIED

Winsome ways They may not have been looking for a boat, but a motor launch with a rich history has become a special part of Chris and Julia Knowles’ family.

The couple chat with Paula Hulburt about how Winsome II came to be.

T

he ocean breeze tugs playfully at clothes and hair, whipping around ankles and lifting sunhats from heads. The bright white of Winsome II’s hull gleams under the Marlborough sun as the frothy wake bubbles behind.

It is 36ft of kauri-hulled beauty, lovingly restored over the decades and by both previous and current owners Chris and Julia Knowles who keep Winsome II on a pole mooring in Picton Marina.

She easily catches the admiring gaze of those who spot her smooth lines and the crisp white of The Royal New Zealand Air Force Ensign as it flutters proudly to attention. The Winsome II is an alluring sight, fresh in countenance but with a patina of age that comes with a varied history.

Through the passing of the years and different owners, the boat has not lost any of its original charm, explains Chris, who wryly adds that he never

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March 2022

had any big plans to be a boat owner.

“A friend of ours, Mike Allen saw it [Winsome II] in the North Island and brought her back to Havelock.”

“We had a few friends with boats, and we definitely liked that it was wooden, we are definitely not fast boat people,” Chris adds.

“I was semi-retired and needed another challenge, so we bought it.”

Built in 1922 by boatbuilders Lane and Company in Auckland, Winsome II was soon owned by David Teed, then Mayor of Newmarket. Originally named Maude T after his daughter, the now classic launch has enjoyed many identities.

After Teed’s premature death in 1925, his estate sold her, launching her on a new journey and a different fate, ultimately taking her into the care of the Knowles family.

Chris talks of the motor launch as a loved member

of the family; indeed, Winsome II has played host to many family outings in the Marlborough Sounds over the years.

Looking around its deck, glimpses of memories past make themselves briefly known. Shrieks of delight echo through the years as Chris’s mind’s eye conjures up his children fishing from the stern and jumping off into the cooler embrace of the Sounds. The pop of a cork prised from a pinot and the clink of glasses are there again, then gone. Happy times.

While the children are now adults in their thirties, Winsome II is host to a number of family friends.

Part of her charm for the family is her ability to adapt while maintaining her style and heritage.

“She hasn’t changed that much since her pre-war years,” explains Chris. “The work executed by us, and by a valued boating friend in Richie Browning has been done sympathetically in deference to Winsome II’s great age.”

“She’s almost 100 years old now,” Chris says. “She still looks gorgeous, still got some lovely lines.”

Her history is captivating, an integral part of her attraction. Both Chris and Julia have gone to great lengths to discover and document more about the boat that has come to mean so much to them. Her charms are many and have captured the imagination of others who happily share knowledge of her past online.

“She was bought by a ship’s pilot who came to New Zealand from Shanghai when the British were big traders there. Captain Emanuel was quite senior in the Malaysian Rubber Company, and he renamed her, Latex.”

Winsome II is a piece of history in her own right.

Sitting low in the water, her umber underside almost hidden by the waves as they thwack against the hull, it is easy to envisage some of the journeys she has been on, the people, now long since gone, who also once stood at her helm.

“At the outbreak of war,” Chris says, “she was commandeered by the Royal New Zealand Airforce, ferrying trainee pilots across Auckland and Tauranga harbours.”

SUPPLIED

“It is this service that allows us to fly the RNZAF ensign today.”

From troop ferry to charter boat, Winsome II changed hands again around 1946, turning from duty to pleasure as a big game fishing vessel.

“Andy Donovan had her then and I believe he lived on the boat too,” Chris says.

A well-known boat broker and ships chandler in the Auckland area, Andy was said to be a dashing figure around town who owned Winsome II up until his death in 1989. “At this point he passed her on to his grandson,” explains Chris.

Records obtained by Chris and Julia show Donovan bought her from the Crown in 1946 and made some changes, many of which have shaped the Winsome II the Knowles have today.

The worn-out Stearns Motor Manufacturing Company’s marine motor was eventually replaced with a brand new 1946 Chrysler 8-cylinder marine engine.

Latex got her new name here too, with Donovan naming her Winsome after his daughter. She is now powered by a sturdy Nissan TD 42 diesel.

“He added the II after realising there was another Winsome out there owned by the Picmeres in Whangarei,” Chris says.

Responsible for the development of Blenheim’s Hotel d’Urville in the 90’s, Chris and Julia have a natural flair for aesthetics which they have put to good use on Winsome II, adopting the adage, less is more.

The one thing they haven’t skimmed on though is time, with the pair taking their dream boat out whenever they can.

“We try and go out every week when we can. One thing we have learned to do is recognise the dangers and be very cautious out on the water, especially in the sounds,” Chris says.

Semi-retired and a self-confessed Jack of All Trades, Chris has no plans to give up his sea legs any time soon, or the Winsome II. “We’ll hopefully all grow old together.”

The Winsome II at anchor proudly displaying the Royal New Zealand Airforce flag, a keepsake from the Second World War.

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Krista finds her passion Krista Coningham is a wife, mother, business owner and leader.

She talks to the founder of Entrepreneurial Women with Purpose, Catherine van der Meulen about how experience has redefined her ideas about what success really means.

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Exploring the big question… who are you?

Redefining success through the decades

Living in Auckland and on maternity leave from her corporate career triggered conversations of what Krista and her husband wanted life to look like in the future. When the opportunity to move to Marlborough arose, after the initial shock and fear wore off, Krista knew the move would allow her to redefine her career and provide the lifestyle they both wanted for their family.

As a little girl, Krista dreamt of success. Her childhood dreams of accomplishment featured a fancy home, international travel, a fabulous car and wardrobes filled with beautiful clothes. In her mind’s eye she pictured a pretty ensuite adorned with an array of perfumes and the best of skin care.

Six years on and happily living in Blenheim, Krista says that moment was pivotal. Moving to Marlborough proved to be the change she hoped for to reinvent her career and her identity, she explains with a smile.

“My husband and I are very good planners, and we talked at length about the lifestyle we wanted, what we wanted life to look like, and we figured out quickly it didn’t include traffic, juggling careers and the boys in full time care.”

Change didn’t happen overnight. It was much harder and took longer than she thought but it did happen, a testament to Krista’s strength of character and her tenacity to create a better life for her and her family. There were very difficult and lonely times in the beginning she ruefully admits now.

The original intention had been for her to be a stayat-home mum, but while her hopes were high, the reality proved to be less fulfilling, and actually very difficult and lonely.

“Fast forward six years, I now have to pinch myself that I am more fulfilled and have more than I could have ever imagined moving here. We have an incredible lifestyle living in this beautiful region of Marlborough.”

“I have found my people, my identity, my fun, my sense of community, my adventure and best of all I have found my own business.”

“Being a Caci Clinic owner now, the bathroom lined with all the beautiful Murad skin care is an absolute must, but the rest of those ideals are no longer how I define success at all,” she smiles.

“But I did grow up with a deep sense of safety, unconditional love, a huge amount of encouragement and support from my Mum who raised my sister and I. I never connected those values to my definition of success, like I do now.”

Krista now reflects on her twenties and thirties with the benefit of experience. To Krista, recognising that they were a combination of the most painful and experimental years, she explains, they were years that helped shape the foundation for her future self.

“I experienced deep love and deep pain, they were exploratory years and on reflection I look back on those years and see a lot of imbalances. I had a career in the financial services sector and my ideas of success during these years was a combination of progressing my career, earning as much money as I could, buying a house, having fun and deep friendships; just trying to be happy.”

Krista met her husband in her late 30’s and this she says is when she learnt that love didn’t have to be complicated and that life could be quite straight forward.

Success for Krista is now happily balancing family life, business ownership and time with friends. Success is being confident in her own skin, feeling connected with herself and people around her. Moving happily and confidently towards her goals is what matters more than the trappings of success; to Krista, success is more about the smaller, more enjoyable moments.

A successful day in micro moments For Krista, the best analogy for everyday life is a mandarin. Some days are a big juicy whole fruit while others might just be a segment but just as sweet none the less.

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Waking up after a good sleep, feeling energised and getting up to exercise.

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Time for a quiet coffee before the family wake up.

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Getting kids ready without having to repeat yourself 100 times.

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Getting to Caci and seeing her team engaged, sharing ideas and their excitement about the beautiful differences that they are making to their client’s lives.

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Connecting to a friend and having good chats about where they are at, how they are feeling and having a good laugh.

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Being home with her boys, husband and dog, sharing their day over dinner.

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Connecting with her husband and planning their next adventure and house and garden plans.

Redefining the culture of success… a more holistic view Across the world there are significant shifts to focus on the importance of mental health and wellbeing with a lot of changes in the workplace on flexible hours.

Krista explains how for her physical and emotional health is a focus. “At Caci we focus on connected beauty. How you live and feel is connected to how you look”. Holistic success is healthy skin, body and mind”.

Krista’s top three actions for holistic success •

Reach out and ask for help - seek out with courage.

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Figure out who our ‘authentic selves’ are and own it.

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Physical and emotional health, making it a priority.

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ON THE STREET Local craft beer expert, all round cool guy and owner of 5Tapped Beer Bar, Haydn Mearns shares his individual style choices.

What are you wearing today?

Crazy frog shirt by Dangerfield and my trusty burnt cherry RM Williams boots.

Do you have a usual style?

Yes, I’d say it’s the ‘just crawled out of the workshop look’… but there’s always a day for a spruce up.

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

Waistcoats.

What looks or trends do you like right now?

Mixed retro/modern. I can’t get enough of the old 70’s shirts with big collars. Hard to find a good one though.

Where do you buy most of your clothes?

The second hand shops in Wellington are the go, also Dangerfield and Black Friday online.

What is your all time favourite buy?

My silk vintage “Hugh Hefner” robe.

Worst clothing disaster?

Split my pants at work once, that was the end of my tailored brown suit.

A wardrobe staple everyone should invest in?

Matching coat hangers, I use the wooden ones you can buy in multi packs from The Warehouse.

Which celebrity’s sense of style do you admire?

Ethan Hawk, Kevin Bacon and Johnny Depp.

Finish this sentence, you would never catch me wearing...

Crocs!

DAVID JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY

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Jemma Funnell lives on Maxwell Road with her two teenagers Oliver and Tilly, Wombat the blue cattle dog and Vinny the cat. During the four years Jemma has lived at her property, she has used her interior design passion and DIY determination to transform the space into a modern haven for her and her family.

DAVID JAMES

What four words would you use to describe your home?

Functional, homely, quirky, evolving.

What inspired this look?

I wanted to be respectful of our homes character.

The exposed brick wall in the kitchen set the tone for a rustic, neutral theme.

What do you love about the neighbourhood where you live?

Our neighbourhood is convenient to town and the kids’ school. We are very lucky to have space, the classic quarter-acre section, so close to town.

What piece would you never part with?

My original Cesca chairs. I spotted them at an open home and asked the agent if the owner would consider selling them, lucky for me she did. It was a true bargain as I had spent so long obsessing over them.

What’s your decorating style?

Japandi. Simple pared-back design with natural materials and neutral tones, with a little something unexpected thrown in.

Where do you shop for homewares?

Thomas’s of course. I love the brands they stock. I also love a good op shop and the Hospice Shop for second-hand treasures.

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What’s your favourite spot in the house?

My bedroom in the winter, it’s amazing to have the fire blazing while tucked up in bed. In summer I have the French doors open onto the veranda and my little coffee spot.

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

Budget has been at the forefront of all my decisions.

If it’s something I truly want, I’ll go without it until I can afford it. Wherever possible I’ll buy quality over quantity. I’ll never scrimp on quality bed linen, it’s my biggest weakness. Oh, and I do love a good quality cushion.

Have you done any renovations?

Being double brick, renovations have been a big undertaking. Every room in the house has been updated, there has been a lot of white paint used, every room has been painted once, if not twice.

The kitchen layout was very functional in design but wasn’t to my taste. I ripped down the previous red splashback, changing to a textured white tile, adding a huge butcher’s block and very handy bar fridge.

Best money spent?

I’ve never adapted to New Zealand winter’s so double glazing was a must. I pulled down the dark burgundy curtains (bad feng shui) and put up white linen curtain’s throughout the house. I’ve just updated the fire in the living area, I’ve only lit it once, but I know I’m going to love it come winter.

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What should every home have?

Every home needs a soul, it should tell a story of those that live there.

Best seat in the house?

My breakfast spot on the veranda in the morning sun.

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

I can’t handle clutter. I try to have a place for everything, I’m also the queen of decluttering. I’m slowly teaching the kids to put things away rather than just plonking everything on the kitchen bench. Like this house, it’s a work in progress.

Best memory in your house?

Celebrating my fortieth birthday with a big table along the veranda with my kids and family and friends from Australia.

Copper Black sets the standard

Classic lines of our Heritage series – 3D drawing by Yura Danilenko at Voxel

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Living on site during a build is not everyone’s cup of tea, but Marlborough couple Paula Theodore and Graeme Frew embraced a change of plans and appreciated getting to know the property as their build progressed. They, along with guests, now get to enjoy the luxury accommodation and experiences Copper Black has to offer.

Words: Kat Dugan DAVID JAMES AND PAUL JONES

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The kitchen is designed with functionality and elegance in mind. Herb planters are built into the counter bringing the garden inside. Flow is created with sliders leading to the outdoor bbq and lounge area.

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hen Covid-19 tore through the globe, many were forced to rethink their way of living.

For Marlborough couple Paula and Graeme, an event manager and commercial pilot respectively, it meant they had to think quickly about where the coming months, and as it turns out, years, might take them.

We wanted to try to make the best decisions we could at the time,” Paula says.

“When your life is continually changing, it challenges your original thinking and perspective of what is important.”

Plans had already been drawn for their ‘forever home’ in Fairhall’s Bradleigh Park, with construction due to commence shortly after the first lockdown in 2020.

Working closely with architect Alisdair Daines, the couple reimagined their vision, creating a plan that would allow them to share their dream home with others.

In January this year, Paula and Graeme opened their luxury accommodation, Copper Black.

Offering three separate accommodation options for guests; Acer Guest Room, Olive Grove Guest Room and the Jasmine Studio, the home provides the ultimate spot to unwind after a day exploring Marlborough.

“We built Copper Black in two stages, we built what is now called the Jasmine Studio first, and it was as we were building that we started to experience a few of the supply and demand issues that are now widespread in the building industry,” Paula says.

The studio, a self-contained apartment, was initially intended to be used for storage and a studio for Paula’s event and hire company, V-Events Event Management.

However, as plans changed, the couple moved into the apartment and watched from there as phase two of the build, the main house, commenced.

Builder Gary Shields was responsible for the build, after constructing a previous home for Paula in the centre of Blenheim.

With an unusual amount of spare time on his hands thanks to the pandemic, Graeme got his hands dirty as Gary’s labourer for the build.

“That was really cool; one day he would be tidying bolts, doing all the stuff I don’t want to do, the rubbish jobs, and the next day he was doing loops above me up in the aeroplane,” Gary says.

“In my previous build the owner was my labourer, but I’ve never had that before.”

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Stay cool & warm in style

CONTACT US FOR A FREE QUOTE! SALES, INSTALLATION & SERVICE

03 570 2298 | www.mintair.co.nz Proud to be associated with Gary Shields

Sophisticated guest living.

Graeme’s aeroplane, a WWII V12 Yak3 named Full Noise, is one of a range of unique experiences offered

by Graeme and Paula at Copper Black.

Future proofing the home was important, and the couple included a lift to ensure easy access to the first floor master bedroom.

“This business ties in with our other business, Fighter Flights. Some people specifically come down to fly in the warbird with us and they require accommodation.

For golfers, we’ve built our accommodation so that it backs onto the third fairway of Marlborough Golf Course,” Graeme says.

Solar panels and battery storage help with the energy efficiency of the home, with passive heating also playing a part in the design.

“We offer quite a bit other than just a cool place to stay.”

That said, one would be forgiven for not wanting to leave the comforts of Copper Black during their stay.

When planning the home, Paula and Graeme wanted something special to them, a contemporary, edgy and playful house that reflected their personalities and interests, and which would look after them through all stages of life.

Upon arrival at Copper Black, a windowless wall of dark tinted cedar greets guests, adding an element of mystery before they make their way inside.

“As soon as you drive in you know it’s a bit different; there’s this big black facade, and people have no idea how the rest of the house plays out behind it,” Paula says.

“We wanted the intrigue and surprise, and the mystery.”

Once inside, a covered three-metre walkway emanates runway vibes, at the centre of which an acer

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tree makes a statement before one has even reached the luxurious living area or bedrooms.

“The whole place gradually unfolds [once you walk inside], it’s quite fun to see people’s reactions,” Paula says.

“Many people actually don’t see the tree right in the middle of the walkway and then on the way out ask when we planted it!”

Top of the line furnishings and fittings indoors, alongside a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen and tranquil gardens outside, make for the ultimate boutique resort.

Paula sought help from the team at Thomas’s Marlborough to style the home’s guest beds, aiming for a luxurious feel with bedding that tied in with already selected furniture.

Thomas’s Homeware’s Jemma Funnell says the team worked with pictures provided by Paula to source just the right mix of bed linen that would fit the purpose of the rooms.

“Paula had already purchased rugs for the bedrooms, so what we did was look at the colours from the rug and drew from that,” she says.

“It’s not just about colours though, it’s [also] about bringing in that lush feeling with different textures; layers, cushions and throws to achieve that luxurious feel.”

We started by using a white Linen Duvet cover for freshness, our Seneca French Grey bedpread for softeness and a mix of Bianca Lorenne piloowcase and Mulberi cushions to ensure the bed had a real wow factor.

Jemma and the team often work one to one with customers, taking their pictures and vision as inspiration to source products from in store, alongside others sourced especially for the project that are excuslive to Thomas’s.

Another important element to the look, feel and functionality of the property was the Compass Pool, a 9.4 metre Compass X Trainer, was installed by Aquanort

Functional and stylish outdoor lounge and bbq area, perfect for entertaining.

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Superior bathroom style and design.

Pools, who also created a tiled outdoor space using the same tiles as can be found indoors, creating cohesion between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

Careful placement of the pool has not only created a beautiful focal point for the home, but has had the added bonus of creating stunning light reflections that add ambience to all angles of the home.

Landscaping as they went was an important part of the process for Paula and Graeme, who were able to move into a near-complete home in November last year, around 18 months after work commenced on site.

It’s not just about PIPES & FITTINGS

Pops of statement features create intrigue.

“We have built before but this was different. Supplies were really inconsistent, and the cost of supplies kept going up. We were lucky to have Gary to keep the team on track. It took a while but we had to suck it up and just keep going,” Paula says.

Living on site while the build took place gave the couple a unique opportunity to experience such things as prevailing winds and sun traps first-hand, and alter their design accordingly as they went.

“The build was ever-changing, because the environment kept changing,” Paula explains.

Graeme, Paula and Giffon (the Labrodoodle) delight in the ambience of their new home, built with heart and soul.

Such changes were made with support from Gary and Alisdair, whom the couple had also worked with before.

Paula and Graeme have a knack for doing their research and coming up with unique and bold ideas, many of which builder Gary has taken on board for his own home build this year.

“There were a lot of firsts for me in this one, everything in this house is top end, really nice. I knew a lot about it already, but I also learned a lot too,” he says.

To see their vision come to life and the arrival of the first of their guests after a good couple of years of planning, building, and sometimes waiting, has been the ultimate reward for Gary.

“Seeing it all finished, and seeing how happy they are, especially with them having to wait through the lockdowns, and now to have people staying, I’m over the moon that it’s going to work for them,” he says.

Their hope is that Copper Black will offer the perfect place for visitors to base themselves while exploring the region and all it has to offer when it comes to wine, food, the Marlborough Sounds, and the sometimes overlooked aviation scene.

“My passion is aviation, and Omaka has got a world class Aviation Heritage Centre. The attraction for me is the strong links to aviation here and the way it’s celebrated. Marlborough has a lot more adventure experiences than it takes credit for,” Graeme says.

“We offer fights in our WWII V12 Fighter, or you can ride in a twin engined bomber or a choice of vintage biplanes.

We also have golf and wine and food packages.

“We really want to show people that there’s more in Marlborough, and get them to stay longer and explore.

We help them by packaging very cool accommodation and experiences together,” Paula adds.

“They’ve waited a long time to see some guests.”

With their unique interests combined, Paula and Graeme have the insight and the connections to offer the ultimate Marlborough experience to their guests.

Soak up the idyllic atmosphere this home exudes and discover more of Marlborough. Book a stay. copperblack.co.nz

Home Interior Trends With Simone Hill INTERIOR DESIGNER

Go bold with an accent chair An accent chair is a great way to add some serious wow factor to a living area or bedroom.

An accent chair is a single stand-alone piece placed strategically in a room as an eye-catching embellishment with the bonus of offering extra seating as required.

They can be anything from dramatic florals to a glamourous animal print. Even a single yet sumptuous plain colour will work.

If you prefer a more neutral look, a slubby linen weave on a chunky wicker frame will still provide the extra kick you desire while keeping the calming ambience intact.

Busy colourful patterns are lots of fun but can take over the room. A safe way to introduce them is to make sure the fabric features at least 10 per cent of the room’s colour scheme. This will ensure any new addition makes sense and fits in well.

If adding colour is your main goal, make sure to repeat it here and there around the room. Think cushions, an interesting piece of artwork or object.

To me good design always includes repetition.

Of course, it’s important the statement chair is both attractive and functional. Choose something comfortable that invites you to curl up in to read a book or position looking outside to the garden on a rainy day. I often place them in a way that they can be easily spun around to be part of more than one setting.

If recovering an existing piece, be mindful that the fabric works with the original design. A sharp geometric pattern can be at odds on a curvy antique while a blousy floral can bark like a dog on a minimalist mid-century style.

Prefer the instant fix? Premade accent chairs are available in New Zealand now!

Talk to Cinnamon House or your local furniture retailer who can source you favourite one for you.

Africa chair

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Ascot chair

March 2022

Blenheim chair

Bondi grey cream chair

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Lydia Chadfield and Jess Patterson from Apex Accounting.

Not your traditional accountants

L

ydia Chadfield and Jess Patterson are not quite what you think of when imagining traditional accountants studying screens of numbers, filing Inland Revenue tax returns and dealing with people’s financial crises. They do all that but with some extra skills in the mix that are making their clients very happy indeed.

Following several years in the accounting section for a legal firm, along with a spell in management and valuation of property, Lydia became a fulltime accountant twelve years ago. “I was born with a natural aptitude for numbers,” she says. “She must be the only person in New Zealand who actually read maths books in bed,” says Jess laughing. “She is a great clean-up person,” Jess continues. “She is the Marie Kondo of the accounting world. She likes to help people tidy up their accounting lives and get them clean and structured.”

Jess came to accounting via a different route. For seventeen years she worked in hospitality, noticing along the way that she had an aptitude for identifying the things that could help businesses improve their profitability. A complete change saw her transitioning to the role of dairy farm manager. It was during that time she met her husband to be. Together they developed their own very successful business ‘Total Breeding Services’ based on their Tail-mate® product which provided her with an abundance of practical business experience. The decision to study accountancy felt like the right step to bring all her skills together.

“Apex Accounting started over a glass of sauvignon blanc and the ambitious idea to transform NZ business accounting from boring, overwhelming and endlessly

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complicated to approachable and stress-free. At the time we thought this was just a crazy dream, but here we are today making that dream a reality,” says Jess.

The pair makes a formidable team. With complementary skills across a wide range of business and industry types there is nothing more they love than getting to know how client’s businesses tick so that they can develop strategies to help them improve profitability. “Even in very sound businesses there can be ways to do things more easily and to improve results,” says Lydia. “Every business is different,” says Jess. “There is only so much you can see on paper.

The numbers only tell so much of the story and having the opportunity to work with clients to take their businesses to a new level is something we love to do.”

They work across the whole of the top of the south from Nelson to Marlborough and even down the West Coast. “It is a tough time for many businesses at the moment,” says Lydia, “and this is when they need sound accountancy support. We can help them find solutions for eliminating waste and generating income along with planning for tax to avoid penalties and liaise with the IRD on their behalf. Mostly we want them to know that with us on their side and sound financial planning, their stresses can be relieved.”

With so much practical business and accountancy experience between them, Apex clients are already reaping the benefits of Lydia and Jess’s abundant energy and expertise.

Level 1, 218 Trafalgar Street, Nelson P: 03 539 0446 W: apexaccounts.co.nz

Gardening

A change is coming As we move from one season to the next, this month is all about harvesting the last of summer crops and preparing for autumn and winter.

Kitchen Garden •

Keep on top of watering if the weather is still dry.

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Prepare empty spaces for new crops by turning over the soil and adding compost and sheep pellets. Blood and bone can be worked into the top layer before you plant.

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Plant lupin, mustard or oats for green manure if you are leaving the garden empty for a season.

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Sow seeds: carrots, parsnips, kohlrabi, radish, leeks, spinach, silverbeet, beetroot, broccoli, onions, cabbage, cauliflower and brussels sprouts.

Transplant to the garden when they are showing at least two sets of true leaves.

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Plant seedlings: cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, beetroot, silver beet, kale, radish.

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Salad greens can still be planted in warmer regions.

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Onions can be planted now; they can go in the same place year after year.

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Plant peas and snow peas before autumn sets in, the seeds can be planted straight into the ground.

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Early sowing of broad beans in cooler regions, they can be planted straight into the ground. Pinch out the first flowers to encourage more.

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Harvest basil and coriander before the weather cools then remove and compost plants.

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Finish the harvest on your potatoes, onions and kumara. Store in a cool, dry place.

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Continue harvesting pip and stone fruit. Rake up and compost all the fallen fruit.

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Harvest tamarillos before the frosts arrive.

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Continue to harvest feijoas and kiwifruit.

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Finish harvesting passionfruit. Then prune back, feed with citrus fertiliser and water this into the soil. Spray with copper oxychloride and a pyrethrum spray to take care of passion vine hoppers, mealy bug and brown spot.

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Continue to feed vegetable crops with a general purpose liquid fertiliser.

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Finish tidying strawberry beds, remove old or diseased plants. Cut off runners unless you are using them for next season’s plants.

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Feed citrus with citrus fertiliser, water well as the fruit starts to develop.

Plant seedlings: alyssum, carnations, pansies, cornflower, gazanias, lobelia, violas.

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Encourage earlier and better flowers by pinching out the first flowers on your annuals.

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Feed all annual flowers with a liquid flower food, apply with a watering can.

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Plant sweet peas now for winter colour. In warmer areas plant straight into the soil, in cooler regions start in pots or trays.

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As perennials die away prune back the old growth and if you need to divide them this can be done now, once divided plant them straight away.

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Refresh pots with new season annuals.

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Garden Colour •

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Continue planting bulbs, daffodils, tulips, ranunculus, anemone, grape hyacinth, iris, hyacinths, and freesias. In the garden or in containers, feed bulbs with bulb food at the time of planting.

Sow seeds: alyssum, cineraria, calendula, carnation, cornflower, cyclamen, dianthus, flowering kale, lobelia, pansies, poppies, polyanthus, primula, snapdragon, sweet william.

Transplant to the garden as the weather warms and when they are showing at least two sets of true leaves.

Captivating displays, amazing stories, joyflights and excellent coffee!

Open 9am - 5pm (Last entry atat 4pm) Closed ChristmasRd, Day Open 9am - 5pm (Last entry 4pm) 79 Aerodrome 79 Aerodrome Rd, Blenheim Ph 1305 (03) 579 1305 www.omaka.org.nz Blenheim Ph (03) 579 www.omaka.org.nz

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

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Enjoy a drop of Marlborough’s finest Whitehaven Cellar Door and the Gin Room

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Sandie Hogben, Romelia Vala and Candice Simpson

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2.

Melissa Handley and Julia Soares

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Teresa Marshall, Paula Steere and

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Barbara Holt

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John and Jill Van Nortwick

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Sydney and Zee Van Nortwick

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James Ireland and Stella Laird

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Sally and Bruce McGregor-Thomas

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Kathy Tracey and Clive Fenner

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Kelly Troughton and Mandy Matthews

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Dean Matthews and Shannon Chambers

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MARLBOROUGH MAG

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DISCOVER ONE OF MARLBOROUGH’S HIDDEN GEMS Award-winning wines by the glass Make your own platters Family friendly, lakeside setting Visit us at The Vines Village 193 Rapaura Road, Blenheim Open 7 days, 11am-4.30pm 03 577 5177 WWW.WHITEHAVEN.CO.NZ

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The three F’s offer the ultimate cellar door experience Fromm, Framingham and Forrest Wines

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1.

Robyn Gifford and Rod McLeod

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Bob Purvis and Linda Robertson

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William Spear and Nadia Fairhall

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Laurel Rockliff and Bridget Byrne

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Derek and Maria Spurdle

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Maree Spurdle and Lynda Ryan

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Michael Hilligan, Wayne and Bevan Rowe

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Don Mitchell and Annette Stenhouse

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Gary Rout and Sarah Christie

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Ilaria Ugolini and Joshua Sheehan

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MARLBOROUGH MAG

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FROMM WINERY

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Future bright for mussel festival

F

or the past two years, the Havelock Mussel & Seafood Festival has had luck on their side, just falling outside national lockdowns. With a great summer under way, it seemed like the 2022 festival was going to go ahead again, somewhat unscathed.

Unfortunately, due to the current traffic light settings and the ongoing uncertainty around when those settings would likely change, the 2022 festival was cancelled. True to form the committee waited, hoping that the situation would get better, but the decision had to be made and the festival joined the long lineup of cancelled events.

“The Organising Committee and local businesses put a lot of time and energy into getting ready for the festival, so to have to cancel it in the final lead up, it’s a decision that wasn’t made lightly. It’s pretty devastating to have to make the call, especially with only four weeks to go, but ultimately it was the right decision at the time,” says event coordinator Kara Fielding, from Elevated Events.

With lots of people still traveling through the region, the Organising Committee will be looking to work with local businesses to ensure that there is still something for visitors and locals around the time of the festival, supporting local businesses and showcasing local seafood delicacies.

Next year's date has already been announced, and Kiwi legends Jordan Luck Band and celebrity chef Simon Gault are scheduled to take centre stage on Saturday the 11th of March, with more live entertainment to be announced.

Attendees can expect all the festival favourites to be back, such as the MFA Industry Tent, the NZ King Salmon Culinary Tent, the NIWA KidsZone, competitions and of course another crack at the Guinness World Record attempt for mussel opening.

With over 40 stallholders, the festival will look to show case the regions finest products, with a selection of local fresh seafood on offer. Stallholder applications will open the 20th of September.

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The “2023 NMIT Festival Chef” community cooking competition will have its chance to finally debut at next year’s festival. The festival has partnered with local Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) to create a master chef style cooking competition, to be judged by none other than Simon Gault himself and NMIT’s Chris Fortune. For those with passion and talent, this cooking competition will be open to all ages and abilities with the focus on creating a Kai Moana dish that highlights NZ King Salmon and/or NZ Green shell Mussels.

Since 2004, the Havelock Mussel & Seafood Festival has been a vital part of the Marlborough Summer Events calendar, and has received huge support from local businesses and also industry. Due to the considerable amount of support, the festival has been able to grow over the years to showcase other locally produced seafood and bring some great Kiwi acts to the Havelock stage including The Black Seeds and Tiki Taane.

“Some of our supporters have been along the journey with us since the beginning and have been essential to the success of the event and our ability to give back to the local community. We are so grateful for their continued support, as we begin to look forward and start planning the 2023 festival,” says Kara.

The Havelock Mussel & Seafood Festival is a not-forprofit event and has given back over $300,000 to the local community to various organisations through the years, and will look to do so again in 2023 through their grant process.

The 2023 event is shaping up to be another great day and it will be one to mark on the calendar early.

For those out of the region, it’s encouraged to book accommodation in advance and spend a couple extra days in the region, enjoying some of Marlborough’s finest.

Tickets for the 2023 festival go on sale 1 November 2022. havelockmusselfestival.co.nz

Food & Drink

THE STONEGRILL EXPERIENCE If you are a fan of savouring the flavour of juicy meat and seafood morsels, then the Stonegrill experience will be right up your alley. Imagine your mouth watering as you sit at your table, first you hear the sizzling sounds from behind you, then, as your waitperson is about to set your plate down, the smell of flavourful aroma consumes your senses and you are presented with a juicy, tender cut, selected from the menu.

The friendly waitstaff explains the theory of stone grill and even imparts tips and advice to ensure your meat is cooked to perfection. Utilising a hot stone which reaches an optimum temperature of 400 degrees celsius, you, the consumer now has the control of searing your morsel to lock in the natural juices and nutrients, while enhancing the flavour and tenderness.

Weather you like your meat rare or well-done, it’s up to you to cook it to your ideal preference, allowing you to not only dine, but to also cook while enjoying the company of those at your table. With no added fats and oils, you are treated to the perfect meat devouring experience. Accompanied with complementing sides and sauces, the experience really does have it all.

The smell, sound, taste and visual experience as you test your culinary skills, ensures that your senses are captivated during this interactive dining delight.

Chef, Fadia Muhssen says that the sheer enjoyment had by her guests while experiencing the Stone Grill helps inspire her to create the perfect menu selection that helps meet a variety of tastes. Diners can mix the selection of meats and seafoods so everyone can customise their experience.

Book your Stonegrill experience at the Clubs Of Marlborough: (03) 578 1059 Check out the menu via clubsofmarlborough.org.nz

Chef, Fadia Muhssen

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