Novembersavvy

NOVEMBER 2013

INSPIRED BY NORTHLAND

JESS SAYER

STAR OF THE STAGE

LOCAL HOSPITALITY

IN GOOD HANDS

PLUS: 8 PAGES OF GARDENING & HOME TRENDS

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1. BANGKOK THERAPIST

GROUP MASSAGE NOW AVAILABLE Come to Whangarei’s only MASTER THAI THERAPY for customised, affordable and convenient Thai massages, facials body treatments and pedicures. Our fully trained team is here to guarantee you the best results with convenient weekend hours!

97 Hatea Drive, Kensington. Open 7 days.

Ph 437 7559 • 021 0257 9262 www.bangkoktherapist.co.nz

2. HIMALAYAN TRADING POST

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SIDE WALK SALE IS NOW ON TODAY OUTSIDE THE SHOP Check out the new gorgeous summer dresses, Dream Catcher necklaces and earrings, Moroccan lanterns plus large recycled sari rugs (limited stock).

New Stock Arriving All The Time!

Mon–Fri 9.30am–5.00pm, Sat 8.00am–2.00pm.

Ph 430 2040. 25 Bank St, Whangarei. www.himalayantradingpost.co.nz

3. LONGVIEW ESTATE WINES

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WHITE DIAMOND 2013 – NOW $28 A sweet, fragrant, fruity wine with an intense grape flavour. This wine tastes like nothing else – ask your friends – once tasted, never forgotten. Special $28. Limited quantities available.

Longview Estate, 5 mins south of Whangarei on SH1.

Ph 09 438 7227. www.longviewwines.co.nz

4. LASTRITE FOOTWEAR ICONIC FOOTWEAR MANUFACTURER QUALITY DRESS AND RECREATION FOOTWEAR MADE IN WHANGAREI, NEW ZEALAND New Multi coloured sandals. All leather straps in bright beautiful new season colours. Comfortable day wear.

Made to order only $127.00 View our range of colours and styles instore.

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Lastrite Footwear, 48 John Street, Whangarei.

Phone 09 438 8907. www.lastrite.co.nz

5. COMMUNITY EDUCATION WHANGAREI

CLASSES FOR ADULTS @ KAMO HIGH SCHOOL Expand your creative potential! Join our Pastel workshop.

Explore styles & pastel painting techniques. Learn how to mix & blend colours directly on the working surface. Basic painting experience required. Samples can be viewed at the CEW office or online www.cew.ac.nz. To enrol email cew@kamohigh.school or ph 09 435 0889. Brochures are available from your local library or Kamo High School.

6. TUTUKAKA SURF

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CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS Christmas gift ideas for the surfer in your life!

Surf Art at Tutukaka Surf.

TUTUKAKA SURF BEACH SHOP, Marina Road, Tutukaka. Ph 4344 135 www.tutukakasurf.co.nz TSbeachshop Find us on Facebook

7. NZ FUDGE FARM

INDULGE SWEET TREATS Indulge yourself or someone special with an array of both NZ and overseas hand-made chocolates, creamy, mouthwathering old-fashioned fudge, ice creams, coffees and an array of other sweet treats. Gift baskets available in store.

Shop 3, Town Basin, Whangarei, phone 09 438 3327 www.nzfudgefarm.co.nz

8. RED RUBY

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR RACE WEAR Check out our exiting range of handpicked dresses for the race day. Size range from 8-18. Plus a great selection of hats, fascinators and stunning accessories are in store.

Red Ruby Luxury Fashion Boutique, 71 Cameron Street, Whangarei. Phone 09 438 7770 or email whangareiredruby@xtra.co.nz.

SAVVY

contents

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november

Food & wine 15 Six in the City

2013

P15

16 Apprentices budding masters.

17 Thai on a grand scale.

Our people

4 Hughie Blues is pleased he followed his father’s advice and embarked on a career as a chef.

5 Jess Sayer is revelling in ‘‘the best job in the world’’, working as an actress, playwright and screen writer.

Fashion

Home trends 18-20 Leigh Bramwell visits a show-stopping family bach at Taipa Beach.

21 Take a seat outside.

6 European fashion on show in Kerikeri.

22 Turning trash into treasures.

8 Dressing for the beach need not be torture. We show you some simple steps to summer holiday chic.

23 Add a touch of luxury to your home.

9 An easy wardrobe rule: Don’t keep anything that makes you miserable.

24 Nothing beats homegrown tomatoes.

Giveaways

Health & beauty

29 Free for all!

10 Kids’ confidence and cold sore fixes.

Art

11 Think appearance medicine is scary?

A team of Whangarei specialists say it’s time to change your mind.

28 The Selwyn Te Ngareatua Wilson Collection in Te Tai Tokerau

12 Mum’s support helps epileptic kids thrive.

14 Embrace your inner ballerina with some simple, classic styles.

P23

Motoring

30 Car buying? It’s a woman’s world.

P14

NOVEMBER 2013

INSPIRED BY NORTHLAND

CONTACT US EDITORIAL: Leigh Bramwell, Phillipa Mannagh, Colleen Thorpe. email savvy@northernadvocate.co.nz ADVERTISING:Yuan Zhang. email yuan.zhang@northernadvocate.co.nz PHOTOGRAPHY: Michael Cunningham, Ron Burgin, John Stone, Alice Alexander Produced monthly by: The Northern Advocate, 88 Robert St, Whangarei

JESS SAYER

STAR OF THE STAGE

ONLINE

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Cnr Bank & Cameron Sts, Whangarei 09 4382025 • Kerikeri Rd, Kerikeri 09 4017208

HOSPITALITY IN GOOD HANDS

PLUS: 8 PAGES OF GARDENING & HOME TRENDS

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LOCAL

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our people

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Dad points top chef in right direction I

t’s not often young people listen to the words of wisdom from their parents, but NorthTec’s recognised chef and Hospitality tutor Hughie Blues found his direction in life thanks to his dad. ‘‘Initially I was all set to follow my father and work in the building industry, then one day he said to me ‘why don’t you become a chef, you’re always cooking’’, the awardwinning Northland chef says. ‘‘In fact in my last year at school I was doing technical drawing when I listened to what dad said and found my true calling.’’

Originally from England, Hughie enrolled at the Scarborough Technical College (at the time the second-best culinary school in England) to learn his trade which has now evolved to the point that his forte in cooking is in modern New Zealand styles with Asian influences. ‘‘I hate it when people ask me what my signature dish is, I just have to keep telling them it’s modern New Zealand mainly.’’

Hughie came to New Zealand from England in the early 1990s and set up the highly successful Waikokopu Cafe´ on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in 1998.

‘‘ It takes a special kind of person to love a career in cooking

In 2010 he was voted Northland’s hospitality ambassador by his industry peers in the Matariki Hospitality Awards and in 2011, after a number of years of being runner-up, the cafe´ took the supreme award for being Northland’s best.

When his lease ran out, after 15 years at the picturesque Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Hughie decided to cement his relationship with NorthTec, where he had previously mentored students competing in culinary competitions.

‘‘The best thing about tutoring is watching the students grow. I get school leavers through to more mature people up-skilling, and I love extracting the best out of them.

Obviously part of that is to feed some knowledge in as well,’’ he says. ‘‘It takes a special kind of person to love a career in cooking. There’s nothing better than a full-on service that’s going well, and part of the appeal is knowing that it can fall over at any time. ‘‘I chose NorthTec because there is a new group of people here keen to lift the benchmark when it comes to training quality chefs in Northland. NorthTec has a big role to play in the growth of Northland as a destination place for people to work and stay. It interacts with a lot of industry and I help with that in hospitality.’’

And, an extension of his commitment to training quality chefs is that he sits on the executive of the New Zealand Chefs’ Association, has done extensive industry judging and he is the Salon Director for Northland Salon Culinaire. ‘‘My job is to help grow our industry and NorthTec is a perfect base to do that from.’’

our people

SAVVY

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Hannah Norton talks to Whangarei lass Jess Sayer: actress, playwright and writer for the screen

J

ess Sayer has gone from selling horse poo and avocados from the side of the road in rural Maunu to writing award-winning plays.

The Whangarei 23-year-old is now based in Auckland, working as an actress, playwright and writer for screen.

The former Kamo Intermediate and Kamo High School student was in her final year studying a Bachelor of Communications at AUT University when she met actors Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Cameron Rhodes. ‘‘Those interactions really sparked my interest in the acting/playwriting world,’’ Jess said. ‘‘I never wanted to be an actress. I always knew I’d write — I have had dreams of being a journalist for as long as I can remember — but the thought of getting up on stage in front of heaps of people terrified me.

Now I just feel a bit odd if I’m not on stage.’’

After watching August Strindberg’s’ Creditors, she wrote her first play FIX in 2011, winning the 2011 Playmarket Playwrights b4 25 competition. ‘‘And that was it. I was hooked.’’

At the end of 2011, with Cameron’s encouragement, Jess auditioned for and got into The Actors Program, a one-year intensive actor training course based in Auckland. ‘‘Auditioning for TAP was probably the best decision I’ve ever made.’’

Jess has been going from strength to strength ever since. ‘‘Getting two of my own plays on Auckland stages this year has been pretty amazing.

ELEVATOR was the first one I put on in The Auckland Fringe Festival and then WINGS recently in August. They have been vehicles that have allowed me to work with some pretty incredible and inspiring people — people I will continue to work with and learn from for the rest of my life.’’

And that’s what she enjoys most about her job — the people. ‘‘I meet the best people. With each new show you kind of make a new little family. You get so close to people because you spend a lot of time together and you are often working with material that takes you on a pretty intense journey. You have to have a lot of trust in your team. It’s great, because it means I am constantly growing as a person, performer and writer.’’

She also likes the fact that work itself is always changing. ‘‘In the last two months alone I have been a sardonic hippy, a scantily clad cabaret singer, a chaste nun and a dim princess.

Plus you get to travel a lot, which is excellent.’’

She doesn’t plan to slow down any time soon. ‘‘I have three new plays I want to put on next year, one is already set in stone and the second is almost there. I’m looking forward to just focusing on the writing and producing aspects of those, as opposed to acting in them as well. I wrote, acted in and co-produced both

‘Best job in the world’ for former Maunu girl

‘‘ The thought of getting up on stage in front of heaps of people terrified me.

Now I just feel a bit odd if I’m not on stage

ELEVATOR and WINGS which nearly killed me.’’

Her ultimate goal is to ‘‘make this my life’’. ‘‘It’s a hard career and you never quite know where the next pay cheque will come from, which is a bit worrying for my poor cats. But it almost doesn’t matter. I think I honestly have the best job ever — I wish everyone could feel that feeling; that moment when the curtain goes up, the audience holds a collective breath and you step out into the lights.’’

She’s not sure if she’ll ever move back to her hometown of Whangarei. ‘‘I am from rural Maunu — used to sell horse poo and avocados on the side of the road. ‘‘I think — in terms of my career — I need to be living where I am [in Auckland] now.

But I have dreams of lots of cats, a horse and a bach near Whale Bay.’’ ‘‘I love how people react when I say I’m from Whangarei. A lot of people seem to think New Zealand suddenly stops after the

North Shore. The amount of times I’ve heard: ‘Whangarei... wow... do you, like, have roads and stuff?’’’

It’s her Whangarei family that she gets much of her inspiration from, especially her mother, Deb. ‘‘She has literally read and reread every draft of everything I’ve ever written. I also don’t think she’s missed a single one of my shows. She’s an incredible woman.’’

Playwrights Edward Albee, Caryl Churchill and August Strindberg also provide inspiration. ‘‘Their plays continually give me the courage to tell the stories that I want to tell.’’ ‘‘Then there’s my writing mentor Stuart Hoar — I can’t imagine fighting with anyone else over full stops, commas and who has the better sense of humour. Ben Anderson is ever inspiring, Michele Hine, Sara Wiseman (just as animal mad as me), Darlene Mohekey never ceases to amaze me — there are so many wonderful people that I have met these last two years who just get me. And I get them.

And that’s when sparks fly; when magic happens,’’ she said. ‘‘And then there’s life in general. That’s pretty inspirational.’’

fashion

SAVVY

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European style in Kerikeri Lace, florals and linen are next big trends

S

canning the internet and flicking through magazines reveals the latest fashionable trends but there’s nothing quite like being there.

And when it comes to couture, the world’s chic soul lies in Europe.

Anne Corbett is a longestablished Kerikeri clothing retailer specialising in lingerie, swimwear and outerwear. She has just returned from Italy and Greece and is brimming with excitement over with the hottest tips on the latest trends. ‘‘Everything has lace on it,’’ she says. ‘‘And what I call ‘tattered’ lace, the heavy lace. It could be a full lace top, or a top with 100 per cent linen on the front and lace on the back, or lace on the collar, cuffs, on the hems of skirts, everywhere. ‘‘There was even a shirt with just one lace cuff. I thought it looked as if they had one piece of lace left over and were working out how to use it, almost as if they were running out of it!’’

She says Europeans wear a ‘‘helluva lot of white’’ and will add the de rigueur colours of bright orange, yellow, electric blue or (occasionally) purple in the shape of hand bags, shoes and scarves. ‘‘The tote bags, the larger shoulder bags, come in these very bright colours, too, and so do the clutch bags whether they are small or large. And they say it’s fashionable again to match shoes and hand bags although I didn’t really know it had gone out of date.’’

Swimwear this season is the tankini where the pants and top can be mixed and matched as, for example, plain pants with a floral top or vice versa. Indeed, floral is the theme with all outer clothing, not just swim wear.

Her visit to Positano allowed her to make contact with an established Amalfi Coast retailer who creates for her own shops from fabrics she buys

from Milan, one of Europe’s top fashion-oriented cities. Ms Corbett brought some pure linen dresses back to Kerikeri and she is discussing the possibility of importing from this source in the future so it means Northland is neither missing out nor lagging behind. And fashion is a total look — with underwear flattering outerwear. ‘‘All lingerie must fit properly,’’ says Anne Corbett. ‘‘It’s always best to start with the bottom and work up from there because if your underwear is not in good shape then the outer

EXCLUSIVE

SHOPPING

EVENING

We are here in Whangarei and ready for you to shop and stock up for the new season. Grab your friends, colleagues or family and book a private shopping night.

Let the girls take you on an inspirational shopping journey filled with fashion tips, style guides, lots of laughter, fun and colour advice all packed in together with some vino and nibbles.

CALL 09 438 9697 NOW!

wear won’t be in good shape either.’’

The Anne of Craicor store in Kerikeri Road has been established for nine years. In fact Ms Corbett is the longest-serving corsetiere in Northland and the only stockist of Fantasie brand lingerie in Northland. Moreover, the six different swim wear labels she stocks means her shop offers the largest range of swim wear north of Auckland’s harbour bridge. Not even Whangarei can compete, she says.

— Sandy Myhre

LOVE SHOES love The quintessential MINX shoe is fun, feminine and resonates to the individual a woman who can be either overtly or quietly confident, adventurous and loyal.

Above anything else, she would be happy to stand strong and let her MINX shoes say it all!

fashion

SAVVY

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Update your summer wardrobe

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s Northlanders we welcome summer and with it the chance for a fresh new wardrobe bursting with colour and the lovely cotton linen and silk fabrics.

The new season is full of promise — parties, weddings, barbeques, social gatherings and, of course, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. The list is endless and you need the wardrobe that is up to the task.

Gaabo stocks the stylish Dutch label Sandwich exclusively in the North. Their clothes are perfect for all these special occasions, with colours, patterns and fabrics that are unique, comfortable and flattering.

Other European labels at Gaabo are Noa Noa, from Denmark and Annimale from France.

These styles have come straight from the European summer lines,

meaning they are current and on trend while remaining stylish.

They offer a fresh and exclusive range of colours, shapes and fabrics to the New Zealand wardrobe.

To-A-T is a new label at Gaabo, also held exclusively by us in the North. The styles are timeless, classic, and elegant with stunning fabrics that are fabulous to wear in our Whangarei climate.

A trans-seasonal wardrobe is very important cost-wise and easy to achieve with our mild Northland temperatures. By adding and subtracting different items you have a lot more versatility in your wardrobe especially between seasons or from day to night. Floaty florals are equally good with jeans as they are with evening wear, extending the use and value of your purchase. Start your collection today and enjoy a stunning summer with Gaabo.

TIME WITH FRIENDS REINVENTS LIFE

celebrating summer with GAABO

15% OFF SHORTS & 3/4 PANTS

2 weeks only Sale must end 16th November 2013

15 Rathbone Street | Whangarei 09 430 0339 | www.gaabo.co.nz

fashion

SAVVY

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Beach chic is a breeze

ADVERT

by STEVE HAYWOOD

Colour at your fingertips

You want to relax at the beach. You want to feel good. You want to look as if you don’t have a care in the world. Here’s how . . .

I

t only takes a little bit of effort to appear so effortless.

You want to make smart choices, but not overthink it, says swimwear designer Shoshanna Gruss. ‘‘The bottom line with swimwear, especially if you are buying it for holiday purposes, is for the fantasy. Think of it like a sundress, and remember you are getting it for fun,’’ she says. ‘‘You want to feel comfortable and sexy, but, yes, that’s a little hard because you are basically walking around in your underwear.’’

BUY FOR BODY TYPE

Karen Walker Jewellery has just released the first design in the new Rock Garden series.

Ornate, highlycrafted and modern, the ring is a standout piece, using three large colored stones in various cuts (baguette, pear and square princess), alongside gold or sterling silver cast flowers, joined in an arrangement of considered chaos (sounds like my life!).

We love the vintage look and feel of this ring but it also carries a distinctive Karen Walker modern flair.

Colour is at the heart of Rock Garden and the ring is available in a selection of five different gems: Garnet, topaz, citrine, peridot and amethyst.

Although they’re an investment, they are also an investment in your own happiness.

Don’t buy for trend, buy for body type, Gruss says, and a little ruching and distracting detail never hurt anyone.

And, she adds, keep reminding yourself that soon you will feel the sand between your toes.

BE PLAYFUL, NOT FUSSY For the rest of the ensemble, be playful, says Los Angelesbased designer Trina Turk. ‘‘With a colorful tunic, a wide brim printed hat, sunglasses, sandals and sunscreen, I’m ready for the beach,’’ she says. ‘‘Summer style should be sexy and confidently sophisticated, but not fussy.’’

COLOUR IS IMPORTANT Coral and pink lipsticks set the mood right away, says New York-based makeup artist Elle German. Apply the lip colour with your fingertips to get a more natural stained look.

The eye is instantly drawn to bright hues. Put them where you want everyone looking, whether it’s the racing stripe down the bodice of your swimsuit, a

Rings

Out Now

Introducing Karen Walker’s latest foray into fun things to put on your fingers: the Rock Garden collection combines signature Walker-quirk with fancy, grown-up gems.

Phone 09 438 2161 • 10 Quayside Way, Town basin Whangarei 0110

jewelled collar on your cover-up, neon polish on your toes or the sun-kissed canvas of your bag.

LEATHER WORKS Oh, and leather works, too. It’s what Banana Republic creative director Simon Kneen uses to carry his towel, sunscreen, hat and iPod. ‘‘It is so much more stylish,’’ he says. A leather tote in a tropical shade does doubleduty for business and pleasure, he adds.

A FEW MORE TIPS If you don’t know where to start at the store, try a 1950s-style suit that helps create a pinup silhouette or a crocheted fabric that pays homage to the relaxed 70s, Gruss suggests.

There is an 80s scuba-inspired Body Glove moment happening now that also can be flattering, but takes a little confidence to pull off.

Transition pieces such as a maxi dress or resin bracelets keep you going all day, says Turk, who collaborated with Banana Republic on a limitededition summer collection. ‘‘If you are going from pool to dinner, you must be on vacation!’’ she says.

Take good care of your swimsuit, including rinsing it with clean water as soon as you can.

The combination of sun, surf and chlorine causes fabric to fade and stretch and elastics to crack.

Since you should be wearing your SPF on your skin, you can fake the glow with a water-based tinted moisturiser and bronze powder, applied with fingertips along the perimeter of the face and along the cheekbones, says German.

Another fake-it tip is for the ‘‘wet-head’’ look. ‘‘There’s a difference between actual wet hair and the appearance of wet hair,’’ she says.

While your hair is still wet, apply a leave-in conditioner all over and add a waterproof protective product, especially if you have colour-treated hair.

Use a blow-dryer on the ends but leave the remaining hair damp.

Pull the hair into a low, side ponytail.

— AP

Don’t let clothes make you unhappy S

ome people love nothing more than to shop for and wear new clothes. But for on-and-off dieters, clothes can be a real source of misery.

Their wardrobes may be packed with clothes to fit every size as they travel up and down the scale. Yet on any given day, few items may be wearable, much less appealing.

For these women, clothing is a burden right up there with the continual struggle to lose weight.

A casual observer might assume these women have a lot of clothes because they enjoy them.

Not so.

Instead, frequently buying and storing clothes shows how out of control they feel, often experiencing anxiety, shame and frustration at their weight fluctuations.

Frequent and significant weight shifts are a common result of ‘‘get thin quick’’ approaches to weight loss. Each diet may cause temporary weight loss, but soon it’s time for a different set of clothes. This perpetual up-anddown cycle is costly in terms of money, wardrobe space and mental and physical health.

Smart dieters accept reality and change their lives one step at a time through increased activity and nutritious eating as a lifestyle, not a temporary fix.

By definition, a healthy lifestyle change takes time. While you’re undertaking that process, here are some of the best ways to approach clothing and differentsized wardrobes.

Get rid of clothes that are too big. Keeping them sends the message that you could easily get back to that size, weakening your confidence in changing.

Get rid of clothes that are too small, especially if you could wear them only during a fleeting and unrealistically rigid dieting period. Such items only clutter your wardrobe and cause anxiety.

Deep inside, we know it’s ridiculous to expect that we can

O N E R T N A AT S Barbara

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Magic

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Ministry

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get to that size and stay there. But keep the clothes that are just a bit tight right now and that you really like. You’ll need them as you continue your long-term lifestyle changes.

Get rid of clothes that fit but are unflattering.

A key part of your lifestyle makeover is to feel good every day.

There’s no room in your wardrobe for clothes that give negative messages. Don’t wear anything that does not make you feel happy, full of fun and comfortable.

When you shop for new clothes,

allow enough time in the fitting room to carefully decide how the clothes feel and look on you.

Nothing should pinch. Tight clothes make you constantly focus on your body and its discomfort.

What good is that?

As you try on each item, put the ‘‘no’’ clothes on one side of the fitting room and the ‘‘yes’’ or ‘‘maybe’’ clothes on the other side.

Then retry the ‘‘yes’’ and ‘‘maybe’’ clothes, selecting only the most flattering items. Trust your first impressions. Or, if that’s hard for you, take along a friend who can be truthful and tactful.

— AAP

Flaxen

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These machine washable shoes are comfortable and fashionable for shopping, heading to the gym, running errands, travelling, weekend casual outfits, anywhere. And they come in lots of cool colours. Even people with corns on their pinky toes should feel comforted in a pair.

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health

SAVVY

10

BABY TALK

Little things lift kids’ confidence

HERBAL HEALTH

Cold sores a painful problem

Baby consultant ANNA WILLIAMS offers advice to parents of little ones Some years ago, I remember reading a parenting magazine that had a simple definition of true self-esteem that went: ‘‘It’s when you’re happy being you.’’

Building a child’s self-esteem starts right at the beginning. When babies are loved and cuddled, kept safe and secure and can trust the person or people who care for them, the building blocks of selfworth and confidence start to grow.

Those children form close relationships more easily, can deal with stress better and are happy and cooperative. When they feel good about themselves, they cope with life more competently.

Young children need to be told they’re loved and valued, but we can also show it in so many ways. Spending time with them, doing things they want to do, giving praise when acknowledging their successes, but also supporting them in their disappointments and encouraging them to share and express their ideas are all part of the mix to help their selfesteem grow.

When there’s a new baby in the house, even a young toddler can be called on to help. Fetching a clean nappy at change time, or finding a special toy for baby to play with makes the older child feel important and needed. Catch them when they’re being good and praise them. It’s so easy to focus on the negative stuff and we often forget to say anything when they’re behaving themselves.

When we stay involved and interested in our children’s school, sports activities and friends, we’re showing them that we care and believe it’s time worth spending.

We often talk about ‘‘windows of opportunity’’ in a young child’s development and establishing that close, supportive parent/child relationship early on, forms strong bonds that aren’t so easy to attain when children are older.

I often quote this following article that sums up what I’ve written.

When you thought I wasn’t looking When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the wall. I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you smile at my new friend. I wanted to be kind to people too.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favourite dinner when I’d failed a test. I found out supporting people is important.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I felt you kiss me goodnight. I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I did look. Thanks for all the things that have taught me how to live.

■ From S.K.I.P magazine (Strategies With Kids/Information For Parents) anna@parentingsupport.co.nz www.facebook.com/backtobasicsparentingsupport

Osteopathy Osteopathy can treat a wide range of conditions, from acute pains caused by injury or trauma, to the chronic pains from occupational stress and repetitive strains, including: • Lower and upper back • pain • Neck pain • Disc injuries • Arthritis • Sports injuries

• Tennis Elbow • Headache and migraine • Sinusitis • Digestive disorders • Stress, depression, and fatigue

Our 9 practitioners are all members of the Osteopathic Council of NZ and registered ACC providers Satellite clinics at Pumping Iron Gym, Whangarei, Waipu and Dargaville.

“Leaders of Integrated Healthcare”

Herbalist LES helps address health issues the natural way I get cold sores on my lips every couple of months usually when I’m stressed or when I’ve been out on the boat a lot. I hate them because they’re so unsightly and they can sometimes take a week to go. I don’t want to go out when I’ve got this big scabby thing on my lip and feel very self conscious. Can you give me any advice — nothing I’ve tried seems to work.

Mandy, Kerikeri Cold sores are small, painful, fluid-filled blisters or sores that occur on the lips, nose or mouth and they’re caused by the herpes simplex type 1 virus.

This is a very common virus which infects most people for the first time in childhood.

The virus stays in the body for life and can be reactivated by, for

example, stress, sunburn or windburn.

Interestingly, around 70 per cent of people carry this virus in their bodies, but only 10 per cent will get cold sores.

Cold sores are very contagious and for this reason it’s never a good idea to share things like lipsticks and chap sticks or water bottles.

A marvellous remedy, actually called ‘‘a miracle for cold sores’’ by a top British health writer, is Themba herbal skin cream.

Themba is formulated from the fruit of the Kigelia Africana tree with the added healing benefits of aloe, evening primrose oil, calendula and Vitamin E. If you use Themba at the first sign of a cold sore (when you get that tingling feeling) it can often ward the cold sore off. If it goes on to develop, apply Themba every hour or so and it will cut down on the severity and duration of the cold sore.

Available from www.littleherbalcompany.co.nz

Some studies have shown the amino acid lysine can help to prevent cold sores — lysine can be found in foods such as cheese, eggs, fish, red meat or taken as a natural supplement.

Take the vitamin C-rich rainforest fruit, Camu-Camu, which provides around 30 times more vitamin C than an orange. Available in powder form from Lifefoods.co.nz Ph: (03) 335 0268 Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (spray free if possible).

Eating natural, live yoghurt, with acidophilus, can also be beneficial.

Avoid too much coffee, chocolate, nuts, wholewheat products and oatmeal which are high in the amino acids arginine.

Arginine aids the growth and reproduction of the herpes virus while lysine inhibits it.

Always replace your toothbrush after an attack.

Themba herbal skin cream and lysine supplements are available from Hardys in Kerikeri and Whangarei.

If you have a question for Les please e mail her on: herbalist@littleherbal company.co.nz www.littleherbalcompany.co.nz

health

SAVVY

11

Appearance medicine broadens appeal

Think treatments are expensive and scary? It’s time to think again.

G

one are the days when appearance medicine procedures like Botox® and dermal fillers were only used by the rich and famous.

Many of us are now turning to these measures for a quick beauty fix ourselves.

Botox® is by far the most common of all non-surgical procedures globally and Caci are one of the largest appearance medicine providers in the Southern Hemisphere. They have treated more than 10,000 people in the past three years in New Zealand.

The most popular treatment areas are the frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet (the lines around your eyes). The medicine works by temporarily reducing the action of the treated muscles, softening the lines and wrinkles in the overlying skin.

The treatment is quick and simple, the pain is minimal and there is no downtime. Results are remarkable, and are apparent within a few days and last up to several months.

The cost of Botox® varies depending on the amount of product needed to achieve the desired results and the areas being treated. The treatment is also affordable, particularly at Caci. Caci offer affordable payment plans with their appearance medicine program, Amerase, that allows clients to spread the cost of treatments throughout the year.

Botox® has a long and well-established safety history. It is one of the most widelyresearched medicines in the world.

Caci’s advice to those looking into appearance medicine procedures is to do your research, understand what is possible and find a qualified treatment provider. Caci offer no obligation complimentary consultations so that anyone interested in appearance medicine can talk to a Caci Treatment Co-ordinator about their concerns, and understand what results are possible. All Caci clients are only injected by Registered Cosmetic Nurses who have undertaken full training at Caci’s Academy.

To find out more about anti-aging

treatments at Caci book in with appearance medicine expert Jolene for a complimentary consultation to receive a Murad skincare gift, valued at $85. Caci Whangarei can also hold events in our clinic for small groups interested in finding out more information. Caci Whangarei, 110 Bank Street, Whangarei. 094381942 ■ Botox® is a prescription medicine containing 100

units of clostridium botulinum Type A toxin complex for injection. It is used for the treatment of frown lines, crow’s feet and horizontal forehead lines. It should be administered only by trained medical professionals.

Cautions: People with defective neuro-muscular transmission disorders, presence of infection at site of injection, glaucoma, pregnancy and lactation. Possible side effects include headaches, pain, burning or redness at injection site, local muscle weakness including drooping eye lids, lack of feeling and nausea. Note: Botox® treatment lasts about four months and after this time further courses of treatment may be necessary.

Juvederm® injectable gels are prescription medicines containing 24mg/ml cross linked hyaluronic acid. They are used for the filling of medium-size and deep facial wrinkles by injection into the skin and for creating definition and volume in the lips. Cautions: Use in an area that has been treated with another dermal filler. People with autoimmune disease; or who are pregnant, breastfeeding, age under 18 or have increased susceptibility to keloid formation and hypertophic scarring.

Possible side effects: Injection site inflammatory reactions (redness/swelling/itching/pain on pressure). Induration or nodules; discolouration; weak filling effect.

These procedures should be administered only by trained medical professionals. Talk to your specialist about your own situation and about the benefits/risk of these procedures in appearance medicine or if you have concerns or side effects. Allergan Pharmaceuticals, Auckland NA 6764

Join us for the evening and find out for yourself why more New Zealanders trust Caci for appearance medicine.

Weds October 23rd & Weds November 13th - 5.30pm onwards Plus book an appearance medicine consultation on the night and receive a Murad skincare gift pack.

Caci Whangarei, 110 Bank Street Call us on 0800 458 458 to book your place today.

health

SAVVY

12

Rachael Snook describes living with epilepsy to SAVVY reporter Philippa Mannagh

need to know ...

Seizure Support is a registered charitable trust working for Northlanders in Northland. Their vision is that no one living with seizures in Northland should ever feel alone. Therefore they aim to support families through the bad times and celebrate with them during the good times.

This month Seizure Support is putting on a swimming event to raise funds for Seizure support and teach people about buddying those with epilepsy in the swimming pool.

Held at the Whangarei Aquatic Centre on Sunday November 10, from 11am to 2pm, there will be several competitions with prizes and an opportunity to be sponsored for a good cause. Sausage sizzle and cup cakes will be available for lunch, a fun event for the whole family.

The aim is to have a safe fun event for all, to raise awareness of buddying, for those with active epilepsy, when in the water and to raise funds in order that vital education and awareness work can continue.

1. Sponsored teams of 3 swim for 20 minutes in one lane.

Prizes for the teams who complete the most lengths in the 20 mins. (Under 8’s + Over 8’s) 2. Sponsored teams of 5 slide down the waterslides for 20 minutes. Prizes for the team who completes the most slide rides.

3. Teams of 5 under 8’s splash for 3 minutes. Prizes to the teams who splash the hardest.

Contact Elaine Goldthorpe on 09 432 0532 for further details and sponsor forms or email: Northland@seizuresupport.org.nz.

Mum’s fight to help kids love life When speaking to Rachael Snook, I was overwhelmed by her positive attitude, her deep strength and bright personality amidst years of trials and heartbreak as a mother. In true mother spirit, Rachael stands strong for her family and with the support of friends and family as well as the seizure support group she explains to me that life goes on and many positives can be drawn from what life throws at you.

This is Rachael’s story . . .

O

ur experience with epilepsy has been frightening at times. I am a registered nurse and have worked in the disability sector, supporting children and families who have disability and medical needs for around 16 years. This has included many, many children with severe seizures and epilepsy; however, it is so very different when it is your own child.

My first daughter, Ashleigh, born in September 1999, died aged five weeks from a neuromuscular disorder. She was born at 32 weeks gestation and was in National Woman’s Hospital on life support for her short wee life.

We had Nikita in January 2002.

About four days after her first birthday, Nikita had a febrile

‘‘ Tamsin is learning to raise awareness of people who have a disability based on what she has learnt from her life so far.

convulsion. Two weeks later she had a 40-minute seizure and then several more in hospital.

A year later she had a seizure that lasted two hours and

required ventilation in ICU for 18 hours.

After this, paediatricians decided to place her on Epilim.

Epilim works well for Nikita.

She had two years being seizurefree, so the doctors trialled her off meds believing she had grown out of the complicated febrile convulsions.

However a few months later she began having one-hour long seizures again. This continued every two years. While on Epilim Nikita was seizure-free, when they weaned her off she fitted for lengthy periods of time.

Eventually after many EEGs and MRIs, in 2011 Nikita was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy and requires medication.

Our next baby, Tamsin was born in May 2003. She has never had a seizure and is an amazing child

who supports her sister and brother with love. Tamsin is learning to raise awareness of people who have a disability based on what she has learnt from her life so far. She is kind, caring and so very thoughtful of others.

Following Tamsin, Alfie was born in April 2009. He had his first febrile convulsion about a week before his first birthday.

He presents somewhat differently than Nikita as he does come out of the seizure after about six to 15 minutes, however he has a postictal period of about an hour where he is confused, upset, restless and hard to console. He also takes Epilim.

The key things we have found we would like people to be aware of: ■ People with epilepsy can live a

fantastic life as long as they look after themselves and educate the people in their lives about their needs.

■ It is vital people who have epilepsy take their medication on time as prescribed. By doing this the body maintains the level of medication in the system which should minimise the risk of seizure.

■ It is important that people with epilepsy get enough good quality sleep. Being over-tired can heighten the risk of having a seizure.

■ Good nutrition, lots of water with exercise is brilliant and when swimming, it is vital that people with epilepsy always have a buddy who is with them in the water. The buddy should be aware that they have epilepsy, and know what to do to support them should they have a seizure in the water.

We adore our kids. They are all gorgeous and very much loved. We are so lucky we have fantastic family close by and amazing friends all over the world, who provide support, love and strength.

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beauty

SAVVY

14

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SAVVY

food & wine

15

i IN THE CITY SEX

Split to an after-work winner We’re six Savvy girls who meet on the last Friday of every month at 5pm for a couple of wines and snacks.

It’s just enough to catch up . . . and then get home in time for Corrie! Each month we’ll let you know where we went and what we found . . . and if you’re keen, join us!

We went to: Split Bar & Restaurant, Rathbone St, Whangarei; 09-438 0999 Lunch — 11am till 3pm; dinner 5 till late. splitrestaurant.co.nz

Parking: Farmers’ carpark offers endless parks after hours and there are parks on the surrounding streets.

First thoughts Very busy and loud out the back as workers congregate for their after-work drinks but by seven it had died down and made it a lot easier to talk across the table. Food out fast and hot… great presentation!

The menu Tasty bar snacks menu. We went for the $13 salt and pepper squid with tartare and aioli dipping sauce – yum! We also ordered the potato skins with sour cream, which were thin for a nice change and cost us a reasonable $14. The menu sounded delicious, including a Mezze platter, chicken wings and mini burgers and this was just the bar snack menu.

Split also offer a late night menu for those staying on into the night.

What was on our mind?

Work memos, running away from home and young love, significant birthday party planning, wearable arts and the best laugh we have had yet… why has no one come to meet us yet??

The staff:

Were very friendly, making dining comfortable and always checking tables.

What would we change?

The table was sticky however Split had already organised to have them stripped of the old varnish and recoated with a different urethane a couple of days after our visit. One of the house reds was a bit rough around the edges that night but the Pinot Noir was lovely.

Overall: A fun and lively place to meet. Very impressed with the food and service and loved the tabletop decorations. We’ll be back!

y our r t d n a e Com enu m r e m m new su

★ Casual Northland dining ★ Fresh, locally sourced seafood ★ Tasty NZ beef & lamb ★ Hand picked selection of local & NZ wines ★ Garden Bar with big screens for sports entertainment ★ Book your Christmas function early at Split

Ph 09 438 0999

splitrestaurant.co.nz | 15a Rathbone St, Whangarei Open Monday – Saturday | 11am till late

BRUNCH | LUNCH | DINNER

food & wine

SAVVY

16

Northland hospitality in good hands I

f the quality of the food we experienced at the Apprentice Restaurant at NorthTec is anything to go by, Northland is in for a talented crop of new chefs in the near future.

A quick drink at the bar where the staff fumbled ever so slightly over our order before being guided gently by the tutor gave us a few minutes to study the menu before moving through to the dining room. While functional, with tables beautifully laid, it could benefit from softer lighting and a little

music, but I am quibbling here.

We were served bread and spreads before our entrees arrived. My companions had the pea soup, while I had the herbed chicken terrine which had an orange mesculin salad on the side which was the perfect accompaniment. The table beside us remarked that their trio of seafood was delicious as well.

For our mains, one of my companions (we shall call him ‘‘David the lonely’’ but he is still managing to eat out all the time while his long-suffering wife is

out of town — don’t feel sorry for him at all) had the honey and rosemary pork belly accompanied by parsnip puree, carrots and ribbon courgettes.

He pronounced it tender and flavoursome with perfect crackling. So much so, that we had to wrestle a piece off him to verify it.

The roast Angus fillet was substantial, tender and beautifully cooked with mustard mash, spinach and a red wine jus to finish. Once again the presentation was careful and precise.

Often a vegetarian option is something of an afterthought but

my aubergine and ricotta moussaka was obviously made with care and delicious to boot and the salad of leaves, walnut and parmesan it came with, lovely.

Desserts are always a highlight and here they certainly were a standout. My gingerbread with praline parfait, blueberry coulis, lime and cre`me anglaise was worthy of any restaurant I have eaten in.

The rhubarb crumble with all the accompaniments and the crepe suzette, flambe´ed at the table were also outstanding.

The Apprentice is open on Thursdays for lunch, and from

6pm on Wednesdays for dinner.

It is closed over term breaks and can be booked for private functions of up to 40. The menu changes every six weeks and on the night we went, was prepared by level four students with level three students helping out. The courses came out promptly and the cost for our four-course meal was $35 per head — unbelievably good value.

This is an excellent opportunity for the students to hone their skills in readiness for life in a commercial kitchen and the bonus for us is a delicious meal at a very reasonable price.

— Linda Ross

““This course is full of surprises.

They encourage us to enter competitions and I went in an individual and a team competition.”

Kerrie Ann Mason, Hospitality

HOSPITALITY Whether it’s in the kitchen, front of house, or in a restaurant, there are great employment opportunities for chefs and trained hospitality professionals. Our training facilities here are world-class, with a working café, bar and restaurant and a fully outfitted barista training room at the Apprentice Restaurant. Learn from some of the top chefs in Northland who will teach you what it takes to make it in the real world. Our hospitality programme pathways cater to all aspects of the industry from a solid grounding in basic cookery, to acquiring the skills of a chef, to owning or managing your own restaurant or boutique hotel.

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food & wine

SAVVY

17

Grand dinner fit for a queen W

here to go on a Friday night? It seemed a lot of the restaurants were quiet, unless we had missed the dinner rush.

Thai was on our mind so we wandered down to Grand Thai for a pleasant change, in the Grand Hotel building on Bank St. The atmosphere was warm and inviting — and grand of course, as you enter the large dominating front doors. I hear that this is where the Queen stayed on a visit to Whangarei.

Top marks for service. There was never a moment throughout

our meals that we did not feel like we were being given the special treatment. Napkins were laid over our laps upon arrival, the water promptly filled and friendly welcomes came free.

The menu was extensive and reasonably priced. We found it similar to the other Thai restaurants around town with options such as soups, curries, stir-fries and noodles with the choice of meats, seafood or vegetables.

We shared the coconut prawn soup for a starter but maybe we should have ordered one each— that would have been perfect.

I went for the yellow curry with the extra option of rice and Mr Mannagh opted for the stirfry squid that left him wanting more.

Orders were taken, checked on and cleared politely and efficiently as other diners came and went throughout the evening.

Grand Thai was a very pleasant and affordable place for dinner. I liked that it wasn’t overflowing with other diners so we could eat and talk in peace but it was still buzzing enough to give a warm atmosphere.

— Philippa Mannagh

Grand Thai Restaurant inside the Grand Hotel “It’s not just about fresh, tasty and local food, it is about eating healthy too!”

At Grand Thai Restaurant, we hope to offer Northlanders a true taste of Thai cuisine at affordable prices. Our chefs use less fat, a variety of vegetable, cholesterol free soya bean oil and the freshest ingredients. All our dishes are monosodium glutamate free.

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SAVVY

home trends

18

1

W

hen Adele and Grant Lendich bought a section at Taipa Beach on which to build a holiday home, they didn’t muck about. ‘‘We just wanted to get moved in’’ Adele says, ‘‘so we sourced a suitable plan from local company Coastal Homes’ range, and adapted it to suit our requirements.’’

Because it was to be a family bach, they wanted open plan, easy living, indoor-outdoor flow and low maintenance. ‘‘No housework,’’ Adele laughs. ‘‘Bach requirements are different from a permanent home and I just wanted to be able to sweep and wipe and that would be it.’’

Having built five houses from new, they had the experience to put the project together reasonably quickly without compromising their needs. They wanted to keep the house low to the ground so they would have direct access to the outdoors, without handrails obstructing the outlook. But at the same time, it had to be high enough to maximize the views.

A bright, airy, spacious interior was on the list, and the end result is a long, open plan kitchen/dining/living area, opening to the expansive decks via bi-fold doors. Adele and Grant added high louvre windows to the living area to keep it cool when the breeze stops them opening the doors. ‘‘The louvres are stainless steel, because we thought glass would be too glaring,’’ Adele explains.

The master bedroom has an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe, there are two additional bedrooms, a main bathroom, and a double garage with its own bathroom and laundry. ‘‘When people come back from the beach covered in sand they tend to use the bathroom in the garage,’’ Adele says.

The design of the house worked out even better than they expected, and Adele is flattered that when they’re

• • • • • •

A bright and breezy Leigh Bramwell talks to a couple who have built a bright and fun family holiday home. sitting out on the deck during summer, they often notice passers-by stopping to take photographs of it. ‘‘You can be more creative and have more fun designing a bach,’’ Adele points out. ‘‘I wanted it to be colourful. When I decided to have red in the kitchen the builders were horrified. They said it would look awful. But once it was in they were always pointing out the fantastic red colour as if it

2

was their idea’’ The window seat is upholstered in the same red, and there’s also a red sofa and cushions.

Adele and Grant were both born in Kaitaia and were determined to source as much as they could from local businesses.

They decided the de´cor would

continued ➦

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home trends

SAVVY

19

3 1: The Cape Cod chairs were a TradeMe find, and the wide arms are ideal for holding a drink.

2: The bright red sofa picks up all the red accents throughout the living area.

3: Low maintenance and easy living were the family’s main requirements.

4: The outdoor living areas have been kept simple and uncluttered.

5: The master bedroom captures sun and sea views.

6: The private garden, where the table seats 15 people, has a real party atmosphere.

7: A window seat is a must in a Kiwi bach, and this one is a real sun trap.

8: Because it’s just off the main road, Taipa Beach remains a best kept secret.

bach in Taipa

9: Grant and Adele designed the bach to be just high enough to maximize the views.

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continued ➦

home trends

SAVVY

20

have a Pacific theme with lots of shell and frangipani shapes in the mirrors and artifacts around the house.

The green Cape Cod chairs in the living area were a TradeMe buy and were destined for the deck, but they turned out to be so comfortable they never quite made it outside. ‘‘They’ve got those nice big arms to put your drink on,’’ Adele says.

Most of the living here happens outside on the decks.

Adele and Grant sit in different areas depending on whether or not they want a breeze, and there’s plenty of room for outdoor entertaining and dining.

The table in the enclosed garden area is 3.5 metres long and easily seats 15 people. Raised planter boxes with wide capping provide extra seating and Adele says the space has a real party atmosphere.

“The other great thing about this place is that the beach is often deserted,” she says.

“People driving through don’t bother to swing off the main road, and that keeps it private.”

She, however, has always known about Taipa Beach, following in the footsteps of her grandmother, who had a bach on Taipa River 60 years ago.

And even though she and Grant are selling the bach now, they won’t be going far. They’ve bought another one a bit further along the beach, and have plans to give it a major renovation.

7

8

the best thing about summer...

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...is enjoying your new swimming pool

now is the time to make plans for your new pool

The Deep End Spa & Pool Centre Ltd 59 Hannah Street, Whangarei

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home trends

SAVVY

21

Your own outdoor seating ...

MATERIALS

STEP 2

75x50mm H3 treated timber x 2 lengths @1.2m (for framing) 75x50mm H3 treated timber x 3 lengths @ 180mm (for ends and middle support of framing) 250x50mm H3 treated timber x 2 lengths @ 450mm (for the legs) 90x20mm H3 treated decking or a hardwood decking (for the seating) x 3 @1.4m

STEP 3

90x20mm decking x 2@ 1.350 x2 @ 350mm (mitre cut) Stainless screws 75mm Stainless screws 45mm Galvanised decking nails 60mm

STEP 4

Paint/stain

TOOLS Skill saw or sharp hand saw Screw gun Hammer Paint brush Ear muffs WARM GLOW: Everyone gets the benefit of the heat with a corner seat.

Nothing beats an open fire, and this corner seat is the perfect spot for enjoying a get-together. GREIG MORGAN shows us how

W

E HADN’T caught up with some of our friends for ages — you know what it’s like, everyone gets busy with kids’ sport and so on. You end up keeping in touch by text. I decided any time was a good time to get together with friends, especially if you can all sit round a fire in the evenings.

We have an outside entertainment area but its

seating was old and on its way out.

We needed new bench seats.

These two didn’t take long to make, and the trim around the outside makes all the difference, giving them that professional ‘‘finished’’ look.

Now we have the perfect corner to sit with friends.

Have a barbie, get a fire going, toast marshmallows and your evening’s made.

30

Step 1:

On a flat surface, place the two 1.2m lengths of 75x50mm framing, separated by the three 180mm lengths of 75x50mm.

Screw together using 75mm screws. You should now have a frame ready for the decking seat.

Step 2:

Fix the 250x50 legs that have

been cut to 450mm to the outside of the frame at either end. Attach using 75mm screws. You can also use glue for added strength.

Step 3:

Take your three lengths of decking cut at 1.4m. Nail or screw down the decking, making sure it is flush at one end, then cut off the overhang at the other end. Both ends should now be

30 % BEDS

off

from

flush.

Step 4:

Take your 90x20mm mitre-cut decking — this is your border around the outside of the seat.

Attach it using 45mm screws, keeping it flush with the top of the seating. I finished my seats using a stain on the top decking and an exterior black paint on the border.

SERENITY RANGE

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SWISSTEK RANGE

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home trends

SAVVY

22

Bathtub sofas — why not?

W

E HAVE come through generations in which clothes, furniture and accessories were deemed ‘‘preloved’’ and repaired or handed down to others who put them to good use. Some of those items were even remade into other useful things. Somewhere along the line, this act of generosity has slowed, or simply stopped, as our lives became busier — or it became just too hard.

I’m of an era when we exchanged our empty glass milk bottles for full ones, definitely recycling there. Cloth nappies were washed and reused.

Disposable nappies were just coming on to the market and the thought of wrapping up human waste in plastic and putting it out with the rubbish rather revolted me, so I think I only ever bought one bag and that was enough. We could raise funds by collecting bottles and aluminium cans that served two purposes: kids were keen to collect them for money and we didn’t have unsightly bottles and cans dumped everywhere. It was just something that was done.

But then that all stopped and it became easier to send it all to the landfill without even sorting out what could be reused.

We have two sides to our dumping situation — unwanted items just end up in a huge pit and get smashed and crushed then sent to the landfill. Some of these items will take years to break down completely.

The other side to our dumps are recycling depots and green waste, encouraging people to sort their rubbish.

Technology has changed over the years, allowing unwanted plastic and paper to be made into other useful items. But at what cost are we recycling these old items and saving our planet? Is

FORK OUT: Cutlery makes talking-point coat hooks.

ADAPT AND REINVENT: An old bathtub, left, has been given a new role — as a couch.

Recycling? Done that. Upcycling is hot now, and it’s packed with home decor potential writes Terry Lobb.

AFTERDARK RANGE

the recycling of items into new items even more toxic for our environment and once the ‘‘new’’ item has passed its use-by date where does it then go?

In 1996, German evironmentalist Gunter Pauli came up with the ‘‘upcycling’’ concept. He is an entrepreneur and lecturer in culture, science, politics, sustainability innovation and the environment.

Pauli is also an accomplished author having written Upcycling in 1997, among his many other books on sustainable living.

Upcycling is the re-use of old or discarded materials to make new useable products. It doesn’t involve breaking down existing products but reusing and putting them to new uses.

We all know the saying ‘‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’’. In developing

countries, this concept is often necessary to survive.

However, in Western countries, it has become fashionable to buy often overpriced second-hand materials and transform them into luxury items with huge price tags.

I recently saw a design story from America in which ‘‘scouts’’ looked for old car chassis to make furniture from. Every item was taken from scrapyards back to a workshop where someone put the pieces together in a oneoff sofa for an exclusive apartment.

Upcyclers are using their environmental credentials to resell their wares. But bear in mind the true term ‘‘upcycling’’ does not tie in with breaking down the products, but rather reusing them. There is a difference. We have all seen such items on the internet: vintage suitcases made into pet beds, bathtubs made into indoor and outdoor sofas and so on.

Upcycling has induced an urge in people to be more creative via embellishment or paint finish on furniture. This is something we have all seen in

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the past, with the likes of folk art, but now often new techniques are introduced, in laser cutting overlays to give furniture a new lease on life.

Products for the open market tend to be innovative and styles use good second-hand furniture.

Upcycling is drawing out people’s creativity and creating job opportunities.

Is it here to stay? In some respects it has always been done but now we are looking at why we should upcycle instead of just discarding.

As technology changes and products are manufactured with the environment in mind then maybe there will no longer be a need to upcycle. But we have a long way to go before all raw materials and products that we manufacture can be reused in their complete form or remanufactured into something completely new and useable without a huge impact on the environment.

If you have any questions about issues discussed here or product supply call me on 027 602 3298 or drop me a line at terry@terrylobb.com; www.terrylobb.com

7 Gumdigger Place, Whangarei Locally owned & operated

on selected Sleepyhead ranges CHIRO ELITE RANGE

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Phone 09 438 3550 OPEN 7 DAYS

SAVVY

home trends

23

A touch of class for summer Once thought of as reserved for royalty or the church, velvet has become a versatile fabric for all to enjoy, writes REBECCA BOWERING

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hat a difference a taste of summer makes — smiles all around it seems.

Anticipation of the sunny season also stimulates an innate instinct to refresh the home.

One fabric type that we tend to ignore as we come into summer is velvet.

I guess this is because we tend to think of its snuggly textures and a level of decadence that doesn’t sit as well with our New Zealand summer lifestyle.

But I implore you to reconsider. In fact, velvet is a summer material in that it provides a lovely grounding in a room, adding a different texture, weight and dynamic when sitting with linens, cottons and other natural fibres.

Often in the design industry you will hear the terms ‘‘wet’’ and ‘‘dry’’, which essentially refer to the shine or lack thereof.

An interesting decor usually makes use of these contrasting effects whether it be using fabrics, surfaces on the floor and furniture, or even in artwork displayed.

Depending on the particular type of velvet, it offers that extra layer to your decorating because it has depth to the pile and can have shiny silk or viscose, or matte linen or cotton finishes.

Huge strides have also been made in man-made fibre for velvet — now we have Trevira, polyesters, solution-dyed acrylic and more.

Something for literally every application — even outside!

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Luscious Manuel Canovas cotton velvet; mother-of-pearl paste printed on cotton velvet gives sophistication to a room of neutrals in Hanoi by Cassaro; Viscose velvet stripes in summery colours, by Manual Canovas; set against linen furnishings Colefax and Fowler’s Keats velvet looks cool and collected.

Velvet is a fabric with a dense pile of woven tufted threads. The original looms were handlooms and quite narrow, so the maximum width was only 60cm or so. The loop was formed by a metal rod being passed by hand across the warp, and then cut.

Intricate patterns are formed with different yarns of silk or even gold or silver and a combination of loops and cut pile. Simply exquisite.

Historically, velvet was reserved for royalty and the church, resulting in works of art that often took months to make

Contact Brian Now

(09) 438 4651

Address: Northern Glass Tint 21 South End Ave, Whangerei 0110 Email: puttinton@gmail.com

and now grace many of the world’s finest museums. The expression ‘‘looks and feels like velvet’’ or ‘‘velvety’’ began many hundreds of years ago.

Traditionally, velvet was made of silk and the pile was soft, silky and had a high and inherent lustre. Over the years

the manufacture of velvet has moved to impressive electronic looms and myriad compositions all offering a completely different effect.

For example, a linen velvet has a matte and almost antique look, silk and viscose velvets have a fabulous shine, but are extremely precious and must be handled with care, and cotton velvets vary considerably in quality so it is imperative to check the density of the pile (if it is too sparse it will look dreadful made up). Some of the newest cotton velvets are extraordinarily soft and luscious and even iridescent with a changing or shot effect through them.

Then there’s another world of velvets available — printed, hammered, burned out (devore), embossed or gauffraged.

The past year or so more and more velvet has been detailed in this way. Metaphores and Rubelli are brands that have been printed with a soft opaque paste to produce stunning (and still soft) snakeskin, alligator and shagreen effects.

Cassaro and Metaphores have used mother-of-pearl paste to print what looks like tiny pebbles on the velvet, which sits beautifully with a neutral scheme of linens, wools and other natural fibres.

Velvet is extremely versatile, so find the perfect version for your home. Just let your designer know what the fabric needs to stand up to and I can guarantee there is the ideal velvet out there for you.

A bedhead, bedroom chair, occasional chair or simple cushions will create the perfect accessory, in time for summer.

Atelier Textiles owner and managing director Rebecca Bowering explores the latest textile trends and new interior design ideas every week. For more information see www.atelier.co.nz.

Alter-Natives Nursery and Landscaping continues a monthly column of helpful tips on gardening and related topics.

Love tomatoes?

Grow your own

Fancy Flowering Tea Tree

T

ry growing your own tomatoes — the taste can’t be beaten.

To get best results, a nice warm sheltered spot in the garden is best. Don’t be tempted to plant to early, wait till the soil has warmed up — usually October here in Northland. Add compost and Yates tomato food to the soil and dig it in. Then plant your tomatoes 60-80cm apart. Stake each tomato as you plant them.

Some can get quite tall, up to more than 2m, so you will need quite a big stake or support.

pinks, reds, and whites

■ You can grow tomatoes in large pots, 30L-plus is recommended.

Just fill with a quality potting mix, add in Potsorb/crystal rain if you don’t want to be watering every day, and then liquid feed with Yates Thrive liquid plant food or Yates fish emulsion.

■ Re-apply Yates tomato food every six weeks using 1-2 Tablespoons per plant. Or alternatively liquid feed every week or two with Yates Thrive liquid plant food or Yates fish emulsion.

■ Water your tomato plants regularly and deeply, preferably in the morning.

■ Pinch out the laterals as they develop, these are the side shoots that appear above the leaves on the main trunk. They take energy away from the rest of the plant and developing fruit.

Disease and pest management Tomato blight or late blight is one of the main problems you get with your tomato plants. Tomato blight can remain active in the soil for over a year so try and plant your tomatoes in a different spot each year. Good air flow around plants can help, along with watering in the morning so the plants get a chance to dry before nightfall. You can also spray copper oxychloride every two weeks as a preventative and treatment for blight (This can also be used on zucchini and cucumbers to help with powdery mildew.)

Blossom end rot can be caused by several things, one being low levels of calcium. Irregular watering can also lead to Blossom end rot and cracking of the fruit.

Aphids — spray with neem oil or soapy water.

Caterpillars — pick off by hand.

Green vege/stink bugs — spray with pyrethrum.

Whitefly — spray with Neem oil.

Tomato varieties available at Alter-natives Sweet 100, Beef steak, Big beef, Black Krim, Money maker, Grosse lisse, Roma, Tommy toe, Cherry yellow, Russian red.

Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!

If you haven’t already mulched your garden, now is the time to do it. Mulch is a word commonly thrown around which people often interpret in different ways.

Mulch helps to suppress weeds and retain moisture giving you happier, healthier plants.

Mulch can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and costs, for smaller gardens a small grade bark looks best but ideally it will need to be replenished every year or two.

Larger gardens can use a large grade bark or pine chip or post peel which are usually more cost effective options.

Stones and pebbles can also be classed as mulch but will need a barrier between the stone and soil to prevent them disappearing.

Pea straw or barley straw is often used in vegetable gardens.

TIP: Barley straw is great for your strawberries.

Basically, anything that covers the soil to retain moisture and suppress weeds can be classed as mulch.

Mulch can instantly transform and complete your garden while saving a lot of time in weeding and watering in the long run.

Ensure the garden is weed free and well watered before applying mulch. Wet newspaper is a great alternative to weed mat and is beneficial to the soil

By Debbie Oldfield and Katie Hilford of Alter-Natives Nursery and Landscaping

From while adding another weed barrier. If using weed mat is strongly recommended to use a biodegradable product which can breath, as opposed to plastic, which will suffocate your soil.

Bark mulch should be at least 100-150mm thick, you want to prevent sunlight getting to the soil as this is what entices weeds to germinate, so a large chunky bark needs to be thicker to minimise sunlight pockets. If stones are used, throwing a smaller grade over the top of a large grade helps seal up the gaps.

If you don’t have mulch on your garden or would like a top up call us for a quote, prices start from $70+ gst per m3 for mixed bark mulch supplied and spread (Depending on location and quantities).

For more information call our landscape designer Katie 027 346 7271 or (09) 974 8733.

$4.50

each

home trends

SAVVY

25

W

E ALL need a little spice in our lives to bring excitement, blow away the dark clouds and conjure that feel-good

factor.

At home, the easiest way to do that is with an injection of colour — but not just any colour.

Orange, with its palette featuring shades associated with exotic sunsets and sultry settings, is the way to go.

The boldest, brightest shades are full of verve and orange gives an instant injection of optimism. Also, the colour is credited with encouraging creativity and producing a reassuring sense of comfort.

Let orange work its magic in the kitchen — the shade is thought to stimulate the appetite.

For a colour guide, simply look outside at nature’s hues, the russet and burnt orange of falling leaves, which blend beautifully with the fading greens and browns of an autumn landscape.

Though those shades are ideal for an overall decor theme, be inspired by orange’s more punchy tones. Think about using accents of orange — the colour of Halloween pumpkins — in accessories. ‘‘Orange is such a versatile colour, yet many people are afraid of it because they think only of its more bold hues,’’ says Judy Smith, colour consultant for British company Crown Paints. ‘‘But orange accents can bring warmth to a home, especially as the nights start to draw in and natural light fades. ‘‘Also, all colours have a loud and soft side, and the in-between shades can work well in living areas.’’

For a warm autumnal feel, she suggests combining orange with leaf green and yellow to create a strong palette that harmonises with light or dark woods, and natural materials.

Lift your spirits with a shot of undiluted orange in eye-catching accessories or a full dose of the shade for a room scheme.

Muted, more sober tones of orange bring richness and a feeling of opulence to any setting, and won’t overwhelm a space.

Remember, orange is made by the mixing of yellow and red. If red hues dominate your orange shade, it will have a hotter, more intense effect. A predominance of yellow in the shade promises a more mellow aura. ‘‘Burnished orange and copper shades are on-trend this year, and are particularly appropriate for this season,’’ says Liz Cann, design director of Sanderson and Zoffany. ‘‘Orange conjures a cosy atmosphere and teams wonderfully well with grey.

COSY FEEL: Orange conjures up a warm atmosphere and makes for eye-catching accessories, which work well with grey walls.

Try shot of orange to add some zest

Gabrielle Fagan has just the thing to inject the feel-good factor into a home. But do you dilute it or take it straight?

Use the latter for walls and then choose orange and copper shades for upholstery fabrics, cushions and lamps. ‘‘Ensure, though, that you choose a warm grey shade, with undertones of brown . . . to accentuate amber hues.’’

Cann passes on the following tip: gold accessories will enhance a sense of luxury, but use silver frames and details for a more contemporary edge.

Says Judy Smith: ‘‘If you prefer a sleek finish and a modern style, pair orange with soft grey and white finishes like

aluminium and lacquer. ‘‘These will act as a cooling influence and give a fresh, crisp look.’’

She adds: ‘‘Orange gives rooms a lift and demonstrates that you’re confident in your taste. Have fun with the colour, experiment and you’ll be surprised at the pleasing impact it has.’’

If you just want to add a touch, or shake off the ‘‘room blues’’ that afflict spaces that haven’t had a shake-up in a few years, add a couple of individual items in zingy orange.

Consider an orange ottoman, ceramic table lamp or ornament. A velvet tub chair in a glowing orange fabric can make a room rock. Fans of retro may be drawn to the idea of a swirly orange pattern mural.

Accessorise a bathroom with luscious orange towels. Add orange-patterned tealight holders for a spa effect.

To top it off, match an orange setting with a juicy home fragrance from an orange-scented room diffuser.

— AAP

Classics in Storytime

GAMES, PUZZLES, BOOKS & UNIQUE GIFTS FOR ALL AGES

CLASSICS is now reopening inside STORYTIME, Strand Arcade on Vine.

From its humble beginnings at the back of Storytime in the early 80s to the fire in the mid 80s, we recovered.

The closure in 2012 was unfortunate but we are determined to bring CLASSICS back to life. It is a labour of love.

While it is difficult to recreate the retail ambience that existed at Classics a few years back, we have stocked it in a manner that allows us to present the essence of the store.

It is you the customer that created the buzz and fun with Classics. All of the Classic games, the unique and exclusive gifts from Trade Fairs around the world, to some of the best literature on the market today.

We will begin our task of reinventing CLASSICS as you once knew it.

METAL DETECTOR FULL RANGE From Juinior to Professional

RETRO RECORD & RADIO PLAYER USB

CLASSIC BACKGAMMON

Crafted Teapot Fabulious Range

Tell your friends, bring your friends, and please, come and see us.

Yours sincerely, Water Dancing Speakers

MR BEAN’S FUN RANGE

ORIENTAL CHIMES

SELECTION OF GREAT READS

Calvin Green

IN STORYTIME, UP THE STAIRS STRAND ON VINE VISIT www.storytime.net.nz 09 438 4406 gifts for all the family

9425337AA

GREAT BOOKS, GAMES, PUZZLES

Machines and Me series,

Toucan Can!

A tongue-twisting, joyously energetic rhyming picture book.

by our own Catherine Foreman

Thoughtful design for all those besotted with machines.

$19. $1 9.95 95

$13. $1 3.95 95 ea

Sylvanian Families

Summer reading for all ages

Playmobil

A full range of kites for summer fun Ultimate Magic Tricks and Illusions

Th Little Yellow The D Digger Gift Bag

100 magic tricks for budding magicians.

$29.995 $2 95

C Contains all 5 Little Yellow D Digger stories.

The Book of Impossible Objects

$24.95

Racer Kit (Zoob Mobile)

25 eye-popping projects to make, see and do that will blow your mind!

$24. $2 4.95 95

$34. $3 4.95 95

Squabbles : the game of very cross words Create words in crossword style, 8+, 2-6 players.

$399. $3 9.95

CAT Excavator

Sit-on excavator, 360 degrees turning digger mechanism with locking arm. 3+

$169 69.9 .955

Fashionably Me

Write, doodle, dream.

The Strand on Vine, Whangarei, www.storytime.net.nz

$22. $2 2.9955 2.9

last word

SAVVY

27

Perfect parenting?

We can dream. . .

Wife, mother, journalist PHILIPPA MANNAGH reveals the highs, the lows and the challenges in life

L

ately, I have been thinking that we need to be laughing more about this parenting business and telling each other what actually goes on, in order to feel supported and not as if we are all drastically failing at it. So I want to tell you a story.

A cool summer breeze licks the tips of my hair as the sun beats down like a blanket upon my back. The sweet smell of smoke dances towards the heavens as the barbecue sizzles and cautiously grills our selection of summer kai.

On the neatly-mown lawn, the kids play . . . laughter trying to keep up. The puppy bounds through the trees, happy to be free and taking part in his friends’ imaginary game.

Beads of water from the outside of my wine glass glisten in the early evening sun as the cool liquor touches my lips. The vegetable garden overflows with fresh food, we pick handfuls straight from the ground to plate, to serve with the dinner. Soft music plays in the background as hubby and I talk for hours . . . the sun goes down slowly while we indulge in fine food and wine.

As the warm darkness creeps

in, the fire starts up in the courtyard. Dancing flames call for the sticks topped with the humble marshmallow to be gently warmed before enjoyed as an after-dinner treat. Goodnights are spoken and the children toddle off, hand in hand.

Oayk, so that last bit gives it away right?

Do your evenings pan out like the above —or do they go something like this?

The idea is there. Mum and Dad would like a beautiful night with the family — hunger looms, as dinner is frantically cut up and siblings fight under foot. The cat paws the pantry, successfully finding attention to win his food.

As the cat paws, the dog barks and by barbecue time everyone is walking a fine line. The dog is locked inside because it is easier that way and then the barbie won’t start. The wind does however, and a frantic search for

jumpers is taken out. The youngest drives his train through something disgusting in the garden while high-pitched voices vie for attention over the boom boom bass from the neighbour next door. While this is going on, dinner is burning and Mum and Dad have had enough of the idea.

Smoke engulfs the courtyard, the vegetable garden is dead because all the snails found the seedlings and the kids fight all the way to bed. Exhausted, Mum and Dad sit down to cold tea and are too tired to talk so it is straight to bed, hoping for no interruptions during the night.

Is this more of a reality? Quite frankly, we all have days that can go this way, until we start afresh the next! I was speaking to a mother recently about the facade around perfect parenting and family life. We are all on the same new journey, messing up now and again along the way but trying our best — after all, there is no manual! Shouldn’t we share how hard it can be at times and have another coffee? I think that would help more. www.littlemissfrugalblog.co.nz Philippa owns Liked Media, a Social Media Management Service.

Email her on likedmedia@gmail. com or check out her website: www.likedmedia. wordpress.com.

JO DANILO escaped to Northland from wintry England two years ago and finds the Kiwi way of life refreshingly different.

She shares with SAVVY readers the things that make her stop and smile.

The ultimate beach bum The dog appeared to be looking for someone. It stood one way and then the other, tongue gently lolling, eyes searching the beach. I wondered if he was lost.

Half an hour later, after playing with a nearby family, he stood alone and surveyed the beach again. He was definitely lost.

I called him over and he came, tail wagging. He was young and stout, well-cared for. Someone would be missing him. I asked around on the beach, but nobody claimed him. I thought about calling the SPCA. Maybe I would have to take him home with me. I started to plan my moves... where he would sit in the car... what I could feed him at home. Then I approached an elderly couple who laughed at my concerns.

“That’s the beach dog!”

Small tricks can save a lot DIANNE HARRIS is a budget adviser for the Anglican Care Centre Continuing on from last month, here’s some more ways to save money by shopping wisely.

■ Stock up on staples, such as olive oil, nuts, pasta and canned beans, canned fruits when they’re on sale.

■ The time you shop matters if you are trying to save: Most supermarket reduce ‘‘fresh’’ produce, cakes or bread at the end of the day.

■ Avoid purchasing ready-made meals: they cost more, are less healthy for you, and let’s be honest there’s nothing like homemade.

■ Keep an eye on the scanner. Grocery stores sometimes make mistakes with the setting of their scanners and barcodes.

Make sure you get charged only for what you buy and that the prices are correct.

Did you know, it is estimated that around $50 million dollars are lost by New Zealanders each year (at all stores, not just groceries) by scanning mistakes.

■ And of course the obvious, that I didn’t mention last month and should have been up there with number 1. Set in place a menu plan for the week, making your grocery list a lot easier to compile and

giving you a chance to look at what you already have.

As long as you keep your eye on what you are buying and think carefully about what you’re cooking, you’ll soon find that your budget can stretch further than you think A bargain ain’t a bargain unless it’s something you need. ~Sidney Carroll

The beach dog? I’d never heard of this concept. But much later, after hours of beach dog shenanigans, the owner showed up. ‘‘He just loves to play, with anyone, but especially children. He’s hardly ever at home.’’

Whole days on the beach with a multitude of playmates and new games, and not a care in the world? He has the best life of any dog I’ve ever shaken paws with.

So if you visit a beach and there’s a lost dog, don’t hurry to take him home with you. He might be a beach dog, and the only place he wants to be is exactly where he is.

AdvAnce TickeTs

now on sAle

This month’s recipe RECIPE Bolognaise Sauce Recipe A basic recipe that you can serve with spaghetti, feticcine, penne pasta, ,add mince, steak, chicken if you like. In other words a very versatile sauce!

1 onion diced 2 cloves garlic chopped Heat together in a saucepan with some oil for about 3 minutes or until softening.

Add 1/2 cup tomato paste, cook for about 2 mins then add 1 cup red wine and cook a further 2 minutes.

Add then 1 tin tomatoes (I used a flavoured garlic and onion), 1 dsp soya sauce, 1 tbsp sugar.

Cook for 10 minutes, then add a chopped tomato and cook a further 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. I had a piece of steak which we cooked and added at the end, and then we served this over silverbeet, mushrooms and lasagne cut into strips. Top with your favourite cheese and serve.

in cineMAs nov 21

Book online or in-cinema

eventcinemas.co.nz TBC

art

SAVVY

28

Painting from life

Natalie Findlay’s studies of home and place

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hangarei artist Natalie Findlay was a driving force behind the development of the arts in Northland over the course of two decades from the1950s-70s.

She studied at the Elam School of Arts where she was taught under John Weeks, also receiving tutorage from influential artists Louise Henderson, Garth Tapper and Colin McCahon.

Natalie Findlay, Waiotemarama, 1981, Whangarei Art Museum collection Findlay was greatly inspired by the vast natural landscapes of Northland. Her later work shows a focus on subjects that were significant in her life, including scenes from her homestead in Maunu. In 2008 the Whangarei Art Museum acquired her art work Waiotemarama, 1981, painted as part of her Hokianga studies spent in her holiday cottage there.

Breaking away from her earlier experimentations that used conventional, anonymous subjects, Waiotemarama displays an assured maturity of style, technique and intention, expressed through her bold line work and unique portrayal of the familiar landscape that was most meaningful to her.

Natalie Findlay, Untitled,

c1963, courtesy of the Anglican Parish of Whangarei The new and the old Whangarei Anglican churches shared the site at Regent for almost a year, 1963-64.

Findlay’s body of work is not only limited to the natural environment, her interest in painting her surroundings is reflected in the pair of art works owned by the Anglican Parish of Whangarei, depicting the transition between the old and new Anglican church on Kamo Road. Constructed from fine kauri timber, the old church was completed in 1860 and named Christ Church in 1876. Findlay’s painting shows the high roof of the new church, completed in 1963, dwarfing the old church in front. The parish could not afford the cost of moving the old church to another site and put the building on the market, accepting an offer from the Malone brothers of Titoki, who used the timber and windows for a woolshed. Findlay’s

Christchurch, circa 1963; Natalie Findlay Findlay exhibited extensively in Auckland, Whangarei, New Plymouth, Christchurch and Wellington. She also taught at Pasadena Intermediate School and contributed as a founding member of the Northland Society of Arts.

A major retrospective of her work including 80 paintings and 93 drawings was exhibited at Reyburn House in 1985, as a tribute to her life’s work. Proficient in a range of media including oils, acrylics, pastels, and watercolour, Findlay remains one of the foremost artists from Northland, her work contributing to the further recognition of women artists working towards abstraction in the 50s and 60s. Painting from experiences inside her own life, her work reveals an painting and drawing captures the the Anglican community and will intimacy and expression that goes last moments of the old Anglican be loaned to the art museum as beyond the limitations of church before it was dismantled. part of the bicentenary conventional styles; as one The pair of art works commemoration next year of the reviewer commented on her documents a significant part of first mission station established at retrospective in 1985, ‘Here she is the history of Christ Church and Oihi in 1814. out on her own’. — Yu-San Kang

The first glimmerings of a Maori Modernism Nga Kaihanga Uku & beyond

Featuring fourteen highly important historical paintings and drawings of the late Selwyn Ngareatua Wilson restored to their original quality and selected works from Ralph Hotere, Clive Arlidge, Garth Tapper, Katerina Mataira and Pauline Kahurangi Yearbury from the 1950s-70s, curated by Scott Pothan.

Wi Taepa, Ipu, 1992

Collection of Porirua City Council

Maori ceramic works by Baye Riddell,

Manos Nathan, Colleen Waata Urlich, Wi Taepa and Paerau Corneal. Developed and toured by

Pataka Art+Museum in collaboration with Toi Maori Aotearoa and with the generous support of Creative New Zealand, this exhibition of over 45 works is the first major survey of contemporary Maori ceramics in New Zealand.

EXHIBITIONS

OPEN from

Selwyn Wilson, Painting of Figure from Life, 1951

Collection of Whangarei Art Museum

WHANGAREI ART MUSEUM Te Manawa – The Hub, Town Basin, Dent St, Whangarei

11 November 2013 – 16 February 2014

OPENING HOURS: Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 10am-4pm Closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day

For more information phone 09 430 4240 | email: whangareiartmuseum@wdc.govt.nz

SAVVY

competitions

29

1. CHRISTMAS CANDLES

1

The ECOYA Limited Edition Madison Jar Christmas Candles, RRP $$9.95 each .......................................................................................................

ECOYA’s Limited Edition Christmas Collection combines festive fragranced candles and iconic ECOYA scented gift boxes — both artfully crafted to create a luxurious blend of natural products that unleash sensual journeys to past memories and festive dreams. The ECOYA Limited Edition Madison Jar Christmas Candles are unique festive fragrances in a silverdipped glass jar with a mirrored lid.

Fresh Pine Needles; The aroma of freshly cut pine trees is perfectly rounded by hints of citrus and rosewood for a magical seasonal scent that will linger long after Christmas has passed.

Caramelised Plum Pudding; Warm notes of sweet, dried fruit are hugged by rich, plump, pudding aromas, and drizzled with a creamy caramel sauce for the ultimate in festive dessert decadence.

2. SKIN CARE

Manuka Doctor ApiRefine

2

......................................................................................................

The latest range from high performance skincare brand Manuka Doctor — ApiRefine includes a combination of powerful age-defying and skin-refining products, specifically designed to deliver instant effects and long term age-defying results where you need it, when you need it.

Skin is left feeling brighter, firmer and visibly younger. The hero ingredient throughout the new range is Manuka Doctor’s Patented Purified Bee Venom (PBVTM), clinically proven to refine fine lines and wrinkles, and nurture natural collagen formation, increasing skin elasticity.

Combined with this is the moisture and elastin boosting benefits of Certified UMF 18+ Manuka Honey.

3

3. GET YOUR BRONZE ON

INIKA Mineral Bronzer, RRP $49.99; INIKA Kabuki Brush, RRP $69.99 ...........................................................................................

Summer beauty is all about naturally glowing, gorgeous skin, but at the same time, protecting it from the sun. To ensure summer-licious skin, INIKA has released the perfect makeup essential to keep you cool while looking hot!

INIKA’s Mineral Bronzers will deliver a stunning sunkissed glow that looks and feels natural. Available in four shades to suit all skin tones, this wonder product will contour cheek bones or add an instant golden tan if dusted lightly over the face and de´colletage. Buff with INIKA’s Vegan Kabuki Brush and build slowly to create your ideal shade.

4. VIVACIOUS LIPS

Karen Murrell Lipstick — Scarlett Blaze, RRP $29.95 ...........................................................................................

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4

Karen Murrell’s new lipstick colour Scarlett Blaze was inspired by the total opulence, glitz and glamour of the 1920’s. An area filled with endless parties, luxurious lifestyles and women that drank, danced, voted and adorned themselves with rich and vividly coloured lipstick. The new statement colour adds a new offering to Karen Murrell’s current lipstick range. It’s caviar like velvety deep cerise/ plum colour is richer than any of the reds that Karen Murrell has designed before, projecting lips with a showstopping vivacious colour that is on trend to be this partyseason must-have lipstick colour.

5. HAIR CARE

Weleda Holistic Hair Care ...........................................................................................

Weleda’s new natural hair care range has been holistically formulated to provide your scalp and hair with exactly what it needs to nourish, balance and restore beautiful and healthy hair. Instead of using synthetic ingredients which often work as a cover-up by adding a layer of silicone to the hair, giving it an immediate sheen, Weleda’s new range includes cereals — Millet, Oat and Wheat — carefully chosen for their ability to fulfil specific hair care needs. The range includes Weleda Oat Replenishing Shampoo, RRP $19.90 (190ml) ; Weleda Oat Replenishing Treatment, RRP $19.90 (150ml); Weleda Oat Replenishing Conditioner, RRP $19.90 (200ml); Weleda Millet Nourishing Shampoo, RRP $19.90 (190ml); Weleda Wheat Balancing Shampoo, RRP $19.90 (190ml); Weleda Rosemary Revitalising Hair Toni, RRP $19.90 (100ml)

SAVVY OCTOBER WINNERS To enter, write your name, postal address, daytime phone number and your giveaway preference (in order) on the back of an envelope and send it to: Savvy Giveaway, Northern Publishing, PO Box 210, Whangarei or email: savvy@northernadvocate.co.nz .....................................................................................

• One entry per person please.

• Entries close 5pm Thursday, November 28, 2013.

• October winners announced in Savvy on Saturday, December 7, 2013.

• October winners please collect your prizes before 5pm Friday, November 29, 2013 from 88 Robert Street, Whangarei.

Winners • Matrix Total Results Heat Resist products : Polly Barach.

• Green Bean summer picnic set: Janice Gardner.

• Oxygen Teen Soothing Moisturiser: Francesca Fortune.

• Weleda Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash and Body Lotion: Janice Beattie.

• Garnier Anti-Ageing Daily All-in-One BB Cream: Barbara Putt.

local profile

SAVVY

30

Sandy Myhre talks to Tracey Illerbrun, Customer Services Manager at IC Motor Group

S

everal years ago an Australian company conducted a survey on the influence of women in the purchase of big ticket items. The report, pithily entitled ‘‘When I’ve Made Up Our Minds’’ concluded, in part, that any company not adhering to a woman’s viewpoint would struggle to stay in business.

Does the motor industry know this?

Although the car business is still male-dominated, times are changing. Gone are the days of salesmen wearing white shoes and conducting an entire conversation by saying ‘‘mate’’.

In fact, ask any car dealer how often a woman makes the final decision in the purchase of a car and most will tell you it’s around 70 per cent of the time, if not more.

Tracey Illerbrun of IC Motor Group knows a thing or two about the buying and selling of cars because she’s been associated with the company since its beginning more than 22 years ago. She started her working life as a pharmacy technician in Opotiki. She moved to Whangarei and opened a Rodney Wayne Hairdressing franchise before selling that to start a family. Then, because her husband was with IC Motors, she began filling in for staff in a variety of roles and says coming from a predominantly female industry, moving to a vehicle dealership was a complete change. ‘‘Twenty years ago the car industry was very maledriven but now the facts of who really calls the shots in a car purchase have surfaced, the industry recognises the importance of women,’’ she says candidly. ‘‘Referrals are an important part of any business but especially in the car industry. Any business that doesn’t have a good ear to listen to their customers will not be around for long in this current environment and a good dealership measures everything they do.’’

She believes it’s important for women buying a car to ask

Women key to sales success questions and suggests it’s important to extend the shopping parameters since we often don’t know how good cars have become because we haven’t tried them out. ‘‘Salespeople are the experts who can strut their stuff. They are on display, not you, so sit back and enjoy the show! ‘‘I have driven a wide range of vehicles and have enjoyed most of them. I loved the Nissan Pathfinder, really liked the

Murano but now I’m driving the new Hyundai Santa Fe and it has been the best so far. And I’ll be looking to try out a Volkswagen SUV in the future.’’

Industry evidence points to the fact that women buy cars differently from men. In other words, what a woman would look for as a priority for her car purchase is not the same as that of a man. It’s said that women seek safety, economy and value before looks whereas a man will

buy a car as part transport and part fantasy fulfillment, with safety not even making the top four on his list.

Illerbrun says that today, different age groups have different priorities and numerous other factors come into play like the use the vehicle will be mainly put to, whether it’s for family use or for towing, for instance, and finally what the budget is. And she says we are all becoming more economy-

minded and environmentally focused.

This Whangarei motor retail industry expert who doubles as a wife and mother to three children has definite views on the subject of women exerting their influence over what cars will grace the garage both for themselves and for their partners. ‘‘When we decide we absolutely do not like something, it is a brave man to decide otherwise.’’

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