The Weekend Lifestyler, March 24th, 2023

The journey of a lifetime

Growing up in Waipū, Laura Andrews was given many opportunities to discover the great outdoors. Upon learning about the Antarctic Heritage Trust Inspiring Explorers Expedition, Laura applied for and was accepted to ski 920km from the Ronne Ice Shelf to the South Pole, celebrating 150 years since the birth of legendary polar explorer Roald Amundsen. She is looking forward to sharing her experience with others at the upcoming Bream Bay Sports Awards.

continued on page 12 …

A

Heartfelt recognition for Kirsty

u by Ann van Engelen

Bream Bay-based photographer Kirsty Joy Halliday has used her photography skills to capture irreplaceable memories for families as part of the Heartfelt charity.

Contemporary

Kirsty recently received her fiveyear acknowledgement of thanks from the team at the charity. Heartfelt is an organisation of professional volunteer photographers dedicated to gifting photographic memories to families who have experienced stillbirth or have children with serious or lifethreatening illness.

“I myself have had 10 miscarriages all up,” says Kirsty.

“I got my first camera when my husband Richard and I had our first son Ryder in December 2012. Prior to him, I lost a baby at 12 weeks and had five more before having our son Fynn in 2016. I had two more miscarriages after Fynn.

We also photograph terminally ill children through Starship and other nationwide hospitals.

“We provide this gift in a caring and compassionate manner, with all services free of charge. Having lost babies myself, it is a way I can give back with the skill I have been blessed with. In that moment of grief, people are not thinking about what they will need or want in days to come as they are understandably engulfed in their grief.

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“When Ryder was born, I was an amateur photographer and loved photographing him. When he was two, I had images done with my dad, and two months later dad unexpectedly died. Those photos were the only professional photos I had with dad, Ryder and I together. I realised how important photos are and wanted to make it possible for other people to have memories captured to cherish forever, and that is how I discovered Heartfelt.”

Kirsty joined Heartfelt in January 2017 after having her second son Fynn.

“I have been with them for six years now. We are available every hour of every day to hospitals across New Zealand and Australia when babies pass away. We capture professional images of parents with their baby.

“Having an amazing hospital team explain Heartfelt, and also hand and foot castings is really special. When we turn up, we explain how important it is to have memories in the future. It’s a moment with your baby that you will never get again, and when those memories start to fade, you want something tangible to look at.

“You find yourself wanting to remember their little button nose, their fingernails and the fuzz on their ears. If you never look at the photos, they are there if one day you want to see them. If you don’t have them, we can’t go back in time and take them.

“To be a part of such a sacred space is so valuable a moment. You can’t put it into words, and for parents to know someone else is helping them to remember their child is really special. It is the same for terminally ill or sick children as well.”

For more information, go to heartfelt. org.au or ask your hospital to make contact for you. ¢

p Kirsty Halliday from Kirsty Joy Photography with her five-year acknowledgement plaque from Heartfelt

“It’s a moment with your baby that you will never get again”

Public have their say on park

u by Andy Bryenton

The public has had the chance to chart the course for the Mangawhai Community Park, with ideas presented this week showing a range of possible futures.

The Mangawhai Community Park Governance Committee decided to reframe the so-called master plan for the centrally located recreational space after extensive development changed the face of the town. Once occupying the area between the Mangawhai Heads and Mangawhai Village precincts, the community park is central to an expanded and fast-growing municipality.

“Given the extent to which the park has been developed and progressed since the master plan was adopted in 2014, the Mangawhai Community Park

More than 100 submissions were made when the public consultation period for the new master plan review was open, late in 2022. Respondents were overwhelmingly full-time Mangawhai residents. Their ideas fell into a few broad categories, suggesting a picture of future investment and growth.

When asked what they valued most about the current park layout and facilities, citizens were most enthusiastic about open space, bush walks and walking tracks, with further votes of support for ‘habitats for native fauna’.

Governance Committee resolved to begin a review of the master plan at its September 2022 meeting,” said Kaipara District Council infrastructure strategic planner Mark Schreurs.

Part of this review may include changing the overall vision statement for the park to better reflect its usage into the next decade and beyond.

‘Mangawhai Community Park will be a visible, predominantly natural public space at the entrance to Mangawhai Heads, used (freely) by the public for recreation and enjoyment of the outdoor environment,’ the existing vision for the park states.

The world-class skate park area with its Olympic-level bowl complex, new bike tracks, and the Mangawhai Activity Zone, in general, were the next big winners in this poll of existing amenities.

When it came to improvements for the future, the leading concepts centred on five main ideas. The first was better maintenance of what already exists, with close to one in five respondents seeking better weed management and pest control to tidy up the park.

A second group, only slightly less in number, wanted an outdoor concert venue, stage or sound shell built at the park to accommodate community

concerts, theatre and entertainment events. Third on the list was an equal vote for better shade, either by sails, awnings or the planting of trees, and an ambitious call for a Mangawhai swimming pool.

One idea which could see many votes combined is to use the park as the site for a new, proposed Mangawhai library. While many survey answers cited a library as a park priority, others called for a community centre with conference

rooms, a learning centre and multipurpose indoor spaces. It describes the modern concept of a library as a centralised learning and meeting space, something discussed in last year’s KDC libraries’ review.

The park’s governing committee met this week to discuss these ideas, and council staff will compile them into a new draft master plan for consideration after further debate and a public consultation period. ¢

p The Mangawhai Community Park is looking to the future, with ideas from the public discussed at an important governance committee meeting this week

Citizens were most enthusiastic about open space, bush walks and walking tracks

Feedback sought on annual plan

u by Ann van Engelen

The public is being asked for its views on the Northland Regional Council’s Annual Plan 2023/24.

NRC chair Tui Shortland said two years ago, the council had forecast an average rate increase of $45 (9.2%) for the 2023/24 year to keep work going and meet its Long Term Plan commitments.

“That plan laid the path to improve freshwater health, reduce the impact of pests and weeds, and grow our climate change and community resilience work; critical work for our rohe, especially in light of the recent cyclone impacts,” Ms Shortland said.

• More environmental data and monitoring

• Support for on-ground catchment remediation work across the region through its environmental fund

• System upgrades to support its mahi

• An increase in CityLink bus services Chair Shortland says to offset inflation impacts and minimise further rates impacts, the council had combed the budget for savings and reprioritised work where it could.

“However, with the recent rapid rise in inflation, everyone is feeling the effects, and as a council, we’re not immune. Inflation is now nearly double what we’d originally budgeted.”

As outlined in its Long Term Plan, the originally planned 9.2% rates increase was to fund:

• Growing NRC’s climate change adaptation and community resilience work, and upgrades to the tsunami siren network

• More biodiversity and biosecurity work, including predator and pestfree work and kauri dieback

It was now considering three options; sticking to its original plan of two years ago, making some proposed changes, or doing even more. Its preferred option, making some proposed changes, would see an average Northland Regional Council rates bill of $560 annually, enabling it to do what it had originally planned.

Ms Shortland says the world has changed hugely since the council had originally set the budget in its Long Term Plan 2021–2031.

“Meanwhile, the severe impacts of ex-tropical Cyclone Gabrielle have

highlighted the critical importance of our work to support strong, adaptable and resilient communities into the future.”

She says the council is acutely aware of the need to strike the right balance, continuing to move forward while recognising the pressures the region is facing.

“Before the council makes any decisions on changes to the budget, we want to hear from the public, and feedback can be made until Friday, 21 April. You can read our consultation document for more information on the issues and options at nrc.govt.nz/ annualplan2023.”

p Tui Shortland, Northland Regional Council chair

“Inflation is now nearly double what we’d originally budgeted”

A day for family fun

u by Amy Fifita

The Waipū Easter Carnival is back after a two-year hiatus due to Covid on

“The carnival is one of the last events on the summer calendar, and we are really aiming to capture the essence of summer holidays and relaxed family fun,” carnival coordinator Dee Field says.

“It is shaping up to be a great day at the Caledonian Park, and we are so excited to be back in 2023. The carnival is the major fundraiser for Waipū Primary School, and it is an awesome event for the wider community and visitors from further afield.

“While the situation with the road conditions in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle isn’t ideal, we are hopeful the Brynderwyns will be open to

both north and south-bound traffic in time.

“The event is in its 15th year and has proven to be a huge hit with locals and holidaymakers alike. It is run entirely by volunteers and has grown to be one of the biggest events on the Waipū calendar.

“As in previous years, it is the generosity of Waipū Primary School mums, dads, grandparents, teachers, kids and helpers from the community. They pull out all the stops to man the huge array of entertainment, food stalls and sideshows.

“Proceeds from the carnival will go towards improving resources and

expanding opportunities for children in the school.

“All of which benefit the children. Previous carnivals have funded the structured literacy programme, new chairs and a stage for the hall, scooter tracks, plus a whole range of smaller projects around the school.”

Entrance to the carnival is by donation. This year organisers are focussing on creating a fun village vibe for the community to gather together to enjoy entertaining acts, food, tractor rides and games.

“The day is coming together nicely and as always, local businesses and community groups have been extremely

supportive. The event is a golden opportunity for more major sponsors to get involved as the organisers now prepare for what is going to be the school’s biggest fundraising effort to date.

“We are also keen to find locals who might like to volunteer to help out for a few hours on Easter weekend. The carnival crew promise it will be a fun way to meet new people and get involved in the community.”

For further information, visit waipucarnival.com or search for it on Facebook. To volunteer or offer sponsorship for the event contact waipucarnival@gmail.com.

p The carnival is in its 15th year of bringing the community together

p Carnival proceeds go towards enhancing the learning experiences of children at Waipū Primary School

A perfect twirl

u by Liz Clark

By now, many gardeners would have received their catalogue from their favourite bulb nursery, and this writer is no exception.

The first thing I always flick the pages to is the ranunculus section with all its beautiful rose-like blooms and adorable colours. What’s more, they’re so easy to grow and make an excellent choice for cut flowers to brighten up the decor on a dull day. They’re delightful, while being hardy, coming up year after year if given some tender loving care now and then.

Ranunculus form from corms rather than bulbs, with their claw-like ‘feet’ making it easy to know which way to plant them. Always plant with the claws pointing downwards. Always obtain your corms from a reputable nursery or garden centre. Avoid ranunculus that are wrinkled, dried out, damaged

or have signs of disease. Healthy corms mean strong growth and long-lasting blooms.

The plants will need at least six hours of sunlight daily, so choose a warm, sheltered site, ensuring the soil has good drainage so the corms won’t rot before they sprout. Enrich the planting site with a good amount of compost, bulb food and extra organic matter, then fork in. Soak the corms for six hours in water to hasten the sprouting process before planting.

Make holes or furrows so the soil will cover the ranunculus at twice the depth of their own soil. For example, a three-centimetre corm would need to be covered by six centimetres of

soil. Space 10cm apart with the claws pointing downwards and then cover with soil. Water gently around the corms to settle the soil around them, then mark the row with a stake to avoid standing on them accidentally.

The plants will die back in summer, leave in the ground until the leaves have dried and died back, then lift and store in a dry place until autumn. Then plant. Otherwise, ranunculus can be left in the ground for the next growing season.

Ranunculus come in a wide range of colours, including white, red, yellow and pink in varying shades. Choose your favourite to colour theme your garden, or go wild and have a mix instead. Happy gardening. ¢

A generous community

u by Amy Fifita

Sue Tisdall is an experienced giver who started the One Tree Point Artisan Markets three years ago to help the children’s ward at Whangārei Hospital.

“I have been in Ruakākā for nine years and I have always done a lot of volunteering,” Sue says.

“I have always done work with children, and wherever there seems to be a need, I will step in and help out. It has taken three years to build the markets but we have a good team.

“I have two younger women helping me who help with Facebook and the electronic side of things, and that has really made the market grow. We have a Dj now, which makes it a vibrancy for the community.

“After having my stroke, I learned that the nurses were always putting their

hands in their pockets to help out in the children’s ward and that inspired me.

“In the past, I have given to Starship. I realised that Whangārei is a base hospital that covers the entire north. There is a lot of poverty in the north, and I decided I would do something about it as part of my healing after the stroke.”

Sue uses the money to create care packages for newborns and children up to the age of 16. She fills them with items like wipes, soaps, clothing, toys, books and toiletries.

“At Christmas time, we give the hospital about 80 gifts for the children. There are 38 beds in the children’s ward,

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but there is also a special needs ward. We put toys and what we’ve collected to the nurses to distribute to the children.

“They have a playroom in the hospital and Phil, my husband, made big wooden trucks for them so they can be occupied.

“Any community service collecting does not pay to be there, such as the 10-year-old girl from One Tree Point School, who sells cupcakes for KidsCan.

“I keep the stallholder prices very low because it is a not-for-profit market. It is $15 for a gazebo or for one table inside and $25 for a double space.

“Many of them will help if they have any spare money or goods. It has great

community involvement. It is a very vibrant market, one lady brings horses and ponies for children to ride — she rescues horses. It is wonderful for the children and people to see, and the end product is, she is able to feed and house her horses.

“If we can see a need elsewhere and I can work out the money, I will give to other organisations. This month we were able to give some money to the Hawke’s Bay Relief Fund.

“The market is my way of giving back because I am a firm believer that we need to look after our children because they are our future.” ¢

p Market helpers Vanessa Joyce and Tina Pickford with Sue Tisdall

p Sue Tisdall puts together age-appropriate care packages for the children’s ward at Whangārei Hospital

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Leaving nothing to waste

u by Andy Bryenton

Off-the-grid living doesn’t mean having to revert to the old ways when it comes to matters of waste; the long drop has been consigned to history by a range of clever ideas.

Even the successor to the ‘thunder shed’ of olden times has passed into history, with new septic and wastewater systems refining the concept of natural waste processing into an art. As living off the grid becomes a lifestyle goal instead of a frontier test of fortitude, some of these ideas are crossing over with other concepts to enhance the self-contained nature of the true eco-dwelling.

First up is the ability to use solar energy to run the pumps and controllers of a modern wastewater system. While these systems harness the power of microorganisms to digest and purify, some require pumps and filters to get the resulting water to where it needs to go. Using solar energy to help with this process makes for a self-contained, gridfree result. Certain wastewater systems also utilise the water they produce to irrigate plants, instead of soaking into a wide expanse of paddock. Enterprising homeowners have adapted this to

irrigate species that support bees and native fauna.

Another more radical idea, involves turning waste into biogas, which could conceivably power electrical appliances. It’s a concept being developed very seriously in metropolitan South Korea, where Cho Jae-weon, an urban and environmental engineering professor at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, has invented a system to turn flushables into voltage.

The mathematics of the BeeVi biobathroom are as follows; every person produces, on average, 50 litres of methane gas daily via fishable wastes. If this is collected, after the waste is processed in an organic ‘digester’, it could generate enough electricity to power an electric car for 1.5 kilometres. That seems small, but multiply it by the population of an entire apartment block, and you can see why populous nations like South Korea are very interested.

On a smaller scale, treatment systems exist which turn methane from the biobreakdown of waste into cooking gas. These can cost as little as a couple of thousand dollars to buy and promise utterly hygienic gas for the kitchen without any comical smells. It’s all thanks to anaerobic bacteria and the way they deal with effluent.

In a way, off-the-grid septic systems are an evolution to a world where each household is responsible for its own

footprint, and some good can be made from a substance that’s traditionally been seen as bad. In another, they are a return to older ways of thinking about waste; in pre-modern times, many of the substances we flush away were collected for various industries and utilised. We can do away with the smell and make the process cleaner and greener with technology, making it possible to live closer to nature without damaging the environment as we do so.

p Irrigation for plants, clean biogas, and even electricity; wastewater need not be wasted, with new, ecological ideas at hand

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The ultimate recycling tool

u by Andy Bryenton

Imagine if you could turn one quarter of your household rubbish into a valuable commodity that’s currently costing you more than ever before, and all without using a single volt of electricity.

That’s the reality for those who own a small flock of chickens. These hardy and industrious birds power through organic food waste, scraps and leftovers, all while producing that most valuable of foodstuffs in modern months; freerange eggs.

It’s not just households doing the arithmetic, either. In 2010, the city of Dienst, Belgium offered three chickens to every homeowner who wanted them and could provide adequate coop and forage space. They were not necessarily thinking about healthy breakfasts and home baking for the 2,000 families who took up the offer; instead, they had their minds on municipal waste. Those chooks could get through more than 500 tonnes a year of organic waste, which didn’t have to be collected by Belgian rubbish trucks or packed into landfills.

City officials added it up and realised that the combined benefits climbed into the tens of thousands of Euros, far more than the cost of the original chickens. Even replacing the hen army

on a rotational basis would be cheaper than the status quo. Chickens normally selfreplicate, but this requires a rooster, and the sound of 2,000 cockerels crowing across the city each morning was deemed a public nuisance in the making.

Over the border in France, the municipality of Pince also took up the concept, with mayor Lydie Pasteau following suit and investing in chickens just two years later.

Keeping suburban or semirural chickens is not difficult, but it requires forward planning. A good coop is essential, and one of the more popular ways to handle a small flock of two or three hens is to build a movable ‘ark’ for them, which can be easily repositioned around the yard. It will allow for fresh grass to grow where the chooks have foraged and for them to benefit from pecking up the small

insects and seeds present in a patch of lawn, augmenting their diet. That diet should contain supplementary feed and household scraps, but even factoring in layer mash with extra calcium to promote egg

growth, the amount of eggs you’ll get, and the amount of waste you’ll recycle can make small-scale chicken ownership worthwhile. Of course, like any pet or farm animal, you have a responsibility for the health of your flock, though chickens are quite hardy birds. They may not be suitable for households with boisterous dogs, though strangely, domestic cats seems to shy away from them after an initial period of fascination.

If egg prices are getting you down, and food scraps are filling up your council rubbish bags, there could be a neat solution here. There’s also a big bonus for the chickens themselves; being part of a family is a far nicer fate than being part of someone’s dinner. ¢

p Chickens have personality, and in small numbers, they can be an unobtrusive and powerful tool for recycling

The journey of a lifetime

u by Ann van Engelen

Former Waipū Primary School student Laura Andrews recently returned from completing an Antarctic Heritage Trust Inspiring Explorers Expedition, skiing across the Antarctic to the South Pole in 50 days.

“I was born and bred in Waipū,” says Laura.

“My mum is the deputy principal of Waipū Primary, dad works at Waipū Hammer Hardware, and my brother and his wife are dairy farmers. I was in the Waipū Volunteer Fire Brigade from 16 years old, and when I finished school at Bream Bay College, I went to uni for a couple of years before realising it wasn’t for me.

“In 2018, I was selected for last year’s Antarctic Heritage Trust Inspiring Explorers Expeditions.”

The expeditions honour the legacy of polar explorers from the heroic age in the early 1900s, like Roald Amundsen, Sir Ernest Shackleton, Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Dr Edward Wilson and Sir Edmund Hillary.

explorer Roald Amundsen. It was scary going into a world you don’t know and processing the fear of letting down a team of incredible people. Half of our team is from Norway, and we’d only had a few Zoom calls before meeting.

“I did Camp America and backpacked to Central America. Before coming home in 2016, I gained employment as a firefighter at the Auckland Airport. We do marine rescue in the Manukau Harbour, basic fire fighting and medical events.

“To me, the diversity of the role and the physical challenges are stimulating. I have always enjoyed community service roles. Growing up in a small community gives you the innate feeling of being connected and doing what you can.

“The expeditions follow historical journeys to share the legacy and continue it on for the next generation to gain inspiration and an interest in the polar regions. I’ve always had a magnetism towards Antarctica because you hear of people having been to Scott Base, and there is a romanticism about going there.

“Between November and January, my group of five completed a 920km guided traverse from the Ronne Ice Shelf to the South Pole, celebrating 150 years since the birth of legendary polar

“We spent two weeks at the bottom of Chile getting supplies and preparing to fly to the ice shelf and spend 50 days skiing to the South Pole. We were very lucky that we gelled well because, at times, people are not talking at the end of these experiences.

“It is phenomenal stepping off the plane — nothing prepares you for that moment. You think you are looking at clouds, but its endless ice caps and the cold hits you like a wave. It’s colder than anything you’ve experienced. Our amazing guide Bengt Rotmo kept us safe and passed on his polar knowledge.

“There’s no sign of life, and you realise how small you are. It is daunting when

“You think you are looking at clouds, but its endless ice caps and the cold hits you like a wave”

p Laura Andrews in Punta Arenas, Chile, preparing for the journey to the Antarctic

p Laura credits the positive attitude she has built in life to her experiences at Waipū Primary School and Bream Bay College

you realise how far you have to ski, but every journey begins with a single step. The plane took off, we waved, and that was that — we set off on our adventure.”

Being summer and 24 hours of daylight, the team followed the Chilean timezone.

“We walked nine hours daily, each night setting up camp and boiling water from clean snow to cook, drink and survive with. It was remarkably the cleanest water you’ll ever get, but by the end of the day, it’d be frozen again in the water bottles.

“The ice shelf is a hostile environment and 900km from the edge of the sea, so we never saw any wildlife because nothing can survive there. We ate 4,500 calories daily but burned 6,000, so we all lost weight.

“We did the Messner route, first completed by Reinhold Messner in the 1980s. He wrote a book called Antarctica: Both Heaven and Hell. You can see how it can be the best day or worst day of your life depending on your mindset, weather and conditions. We were incredibly lucky we saw heaven

more than hell thanks to our guide Bengt and expedition leader Nigel Watson.

“Nigel is a former executive leader of the trust. These men are passionate about both the modern and historical polar worlds. I think I was the second Kiwi female to ever ski to the South Pole, and it was a real privilege as few people get to experience it.

“For 50 days, we only saw snow, and we only saw mountains in the distant horizon for 10 days. The historic explorers went for two years with no communication, but we had satellite communication if needed, and daily logistics calls to report where we were and what the conditions were like.

“We had contingency plans for emergency evacuation by plane, but that was weather dependent and not as accessible as people think. There were little things you don’t consider in the beginning. One of our biggest hazards was burns, whether through sunburn or spilling boiling water on ourselves filling the bottles.

“Halfway through, we ran into a team of three Kiwis and one Canadian from

Antarctic Logistics setting up a weather station. They knew people I knew. It was incredible to experience the two degrees of separation theory in the middle of Antarctica.

“We walked for 50 days only seeing snow, and on the last day, the clouds separated, and we saw a huge telescope, Scott Base and civilisation. We went to the Geographic South Pole, which is surrounded by the flags of the original Antarctic Treaty signatory states, and I realised we were at the bottom of the world. Reaching the South Pole marker was incredible. It is a silver ball on a red and white stripy pole.

“We walked to the flag poles and stayed at the Antarctic Logistics South Pole Camp exploring before flying back to Union Glacier to wait for a plane back to Chile. Returning home was certainly a shock after being in isolation with just five people and the complete lack of extreme stimuli with no traffic, birds, or people — all we did was survive to achieve our goal.

“You see pictures of these places but never expect to go there. You are a

product of your community, and I was selected because of the attitudes I built in life.

“These started at Waipū Primary through cross country and triple summit at Bream Bay College, an introduction to mountaineering with our PE teacher Mr Bunting. Those experiences were building blocks that contributed to my getting to Antarctica.

“You realise with a great team, you can be the weak one day but the strong one the next. I learned the contentment of a simple life and existing without clutter. At home, you get pulled in different directions with commitments and external pressures.

“It’s been a real adjustment seeing people again, and you have to give your mind and body time to recover. I am not the best, sportiest or fastest, but I will give anything a go, even if I find it scary. I’d do it again in a heartbeat and plan to attempt the North Pole.

“I will be speaking about my experience at the Bream Bay Sports Awards, on March 31, and I am really looking forward to that.”

“You see pictures of these places but never expect to go there. You are a product of your community, and I was selected because of the attitudes I built in life”

p Laura’s friend and family welcoming her home from for the Antarctic Heritage Trust Inspiring Explorers Expedition

p Expedition leader Nigel Watson using the wind to navigate

Photo: Mike Dawson

p Laura and the team at the South Pole marker upon reaching their destination Photo: Mike Dawson

p Laura preparing for her 920km ski trip in the Antarctic from the Ronne Ice Shelf to the South Pole

Pledging to the cause

u by Amy Fifita

After reading the Woodhull Study on Nursing and the Media, Heart Place Hospital founder Jacqui O’Connor saw the need to advocate and raise funds to give frontline workers their voice.

“The Woodhull Study was an international study done in 2018 that showed, where relevant, that two per cent of nurses’ stories were told in media and news,” Jacqui says.

“It was a relief to know. I’ve sent many media releases around and also co-authored a book with 22 international nurses called Letters to a Future Nurse.

“There was a real challenge to share it. It shocked me because the publication is a book of hope, and Heart Place Hospital is a movement of hope. When I discovered that study, I was relieved — it’s not me.

“I want to raise awareness because these stories are not being shared clearly, and it is also around fundraising.

I built the hospital in Mangawhai, and some of the funds will go into fitting that out so we can have more frontline workers come in person. Heart Place Hospital has an online presence as well.

“Creativity is one of my superpowers, and so I stepped into it. I wondered how I could get this revolution out to the masses and decided to do a Pledge Me campaign.”

On Pledge Me, Jacqui has put a collaborative video with her service providers and friend of HPH. Pledgers donate once the page reaches a specific tipping point and receive awards aligned to the hospital within 40 days and 40 nights.

“As the leader of the revolution, I share the Pledge Me. I have been really visible and present and continue to speak up and remain standing for caring for our carers and future carers.

“There are also statistics about our health and education system and then the solution of a centre for caring for our current and future carers. There are epic New Zealand products and services, and many of my service providers have donated their services as well. They are all aligned with our brand, and rewards keep getting added.

“I am excited that I have totally stepped into my purpose. I feel unstoppable and grateful for the support from service providers and frontline

workers around the world. Creating the hospital is meaningful. Last year, I had my first frontline workers come to the hospital from Denver, Colorado and service providers from across the world. I have felt really held and supported.”

To pledge to the cause or find out more information, go to pledgeme.co.nz/ projects/7443-heart-place-hospital.

“You heal one healer, and that ripple effects out. It is a really quick way to get the message out that we are our own best healers and lovers first. We are powerful on our own, and we are potent together. The world is screaming out for us to like a more simple and loving life.” ¢

p Jacqui O’Connor saw the need to care for workers in frontline services and endeavours to help them heal

p Jacqui O’Connor has started a Pledge Me page to fundraise for awareness and care for frontline workers

PUZZLE TIME

ACROSS: 1 Acted, 4 Appeared, 9 Easier, 14 Chess, 15 A frog in the throat, 17 Crush, 18 Run, 19 Attempt, 20 Turbulent, 21 Jersey, 24 Wholemeal, 25 Litany, 26 Enable, 29 Mastermind, 31 Tub, 32 Sullen, 33 Edge, 35 Imp, 37 Memo, 39 Estimated, 40 Satellite, 41 Opens, 42 Amethyst, 47 Eyesight, 51 Virus, 55 Nicaragua, 56 Contralto, 58 Type, 59 War, 60 Year, 61 Detain, 62 Ire, 63 Adroitness, 66 Gamble, 67 Helmet, 69 Enchanted, 72 Atrium, 73 Introvert, 75 Acidity, 77 Gel, 80 Frill, 81 A good job well done, 82 Envoy, 83 Chance, 84 Sayonara, 85 Defer.

DOWN: 2 Cafeteria, 3 Elope, 5 Pate, 6 Execute, 7 Rehabilitate, 8 Droll, 9 Extinct, 10 Sack, 11 Eluded, 12 Ferry, 13 Asinine, 14 Chasing, 16 Impropriety, 22 Depict, 23 Endless, 24 Without, 25 Libido, 27 Bedding, 28 Sentry, 30 Dome, 32 Speed, 34 Erect, 36 Plus, 38 Elm, 42 Annoy, 43 Exclaim, 44 Hurl, 45 Sagged, 46 Drawn, 48 Egotistical, 49 Intoned, 50 Hop, 51 Vacated, 52 Script, 53 Unreservedly, 54 Area, 57 Lariat, 64 Substance, 65 Glorify, 66 Goggles, 68 Mandate, 70 Cartoon, 71 Zurich, 72 Alive, 74 Roots, 76 Dodge, 78 Flan, 79 Ewer.

Insert the missing letters to complete ten words — five across the grid and five down. More than one solution may be possible.

Jumbo crossword

FOR 20 YEARS WE’VE BEEN PROUDLY BUILDING KIWI HOMES FOR KIWIS USING ALL THE BEST STUFF FROM RIGHT HERE IN GOOD OL’ NZ.

Show home: Cnr of Sandford Road and State Highway 1, Ruakaka

0800 A1homes |A1homes.co.nz

TM

Open: Mon-Fri 8.30am-4pm Saturday 10am-2pm

Contact: Steve Hart 09 433 0200

a1northland@A1homes.co.nz

Building COLLIER & JONES CLINICAL DENTAL TECHNICIANS

DENTURE CARE Phone 09 438 8076

Clinton Collier