March'12 - PONSONBY NEWS

OUT IN KINGSLAND... ENJOY THE FESTIVITIES ON ST PATRICK’S DAY

MARCH 2012

Viva Italia – Italian influences in and around Ponsonby

ponsonbynews.co.nz

JONNY RUDDUCK ’S AWARD-WINNING

Roman Pizza al Taglio at il buco!

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– 20TH OF THE MONTH March 2012 PONSONBY NEWS Published 2 March, 2012 EST: OCTOBER 1989 DEADLINE – CELEBRATING 22 YEARS OF PUBLISHING HISTORY!

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WHAT’S INSIDE THIS MONTH 034

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From left: DENIS WOOD accepts the donation cheque for Mercy Hospice from BOB HARVEY at last month’s TAKE FRIDAY OFF golf day; VIVA ITALIA: the many Italian influences in and around Ponsonby; KINGLAND FESTIVAL celebrations on St Patricks Day; Below: Two happy winners of the HOME GROWN VEGETABLE COMPETITION.

008 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 009 FROM THE PUBLISHING TEAM 010 SHALE CHAMBERS: WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD

014 JOHN ELLIOTT: SOAPBOX 016 PIPPA COOM: GREY LYNN 2030 026 SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY 030 PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE

034 VIVA ITALIA: ITALIAN INFLUENCES 042 THE MISS JONES INTERVIEW 048 JAY PLATT: WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT 050 DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW

052 OUT IN KINGSLAND

058 HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY 060 ANGELA LASSIG: LETTERS FROM MAUDIE

061 FASHION + STYLE 065 LIVING, THINKING + BEING 068 HOROSCOPES: MISS PEARL NECLIS 072 JOHN APPLETON ON HEALTH 074 PLANET AYURVEDA: ASK DR AJIT 078 DENISE L’ESTRANGE-CORBET:

084 102 UPCLOSE AND PERSONAL 110 THE BOYS BOOK CLUB 111 PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS 113 PONSONBY PEOPLE & THEIR PETS 114 ARTS + CULTURE 122 PONSONBY PINK PAGES

THE DUCHESS OF HAMILTON

080 FUTURE GENERATION 086 FIONNA HILL: THE PONSONBY GARDENER

088 HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS 096 STREET NAMES

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Michael McClintock

PONSONBY NEWS+ is published monthly, excluding January ry byy ALCHEMY A MEDIA LIMITED P.O. BOX 47-282 Ponsonby, Auckland T: (09) 378 8553 or (09) 361 3356 www.ponsonbynews.co.nzz

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Editor/Publisher

MARTIN LEACH; M: 021 771 147; E: martinleach@xtra.co.nz or martin@ponsonbynews.co.nz

Associate Publisher

JO BARRETT; M: 021 324 510; E: joannebarrett@xtra.co.nz

Deputy Editor

JAY PLATT; M: 021 771 146; E: jayplatt@xtra.co.nz or jay@ponsonbynews.co.nz

Business Development and Fashion Editor

JULIE ROULSTON; M: 027 211 7169; E: julie@ponsonbynews.co.nz

Contributing Editor

DEIRDRE ROELANTS; M: 021 261 8439; E: deir@orcon.net.nz

Contributing Editor

JOHN ELLIOTT; M: 021 879 054; E: johnelliott@ihug.co.nz

Proof Reader

RICHARD GRAVENOR

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photography: Jo Barrett

photography: Michael McClintock

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LETTERS + EMAILS

PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO info@ponsonbynews.co.nz

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HERNE BAY PHARMACY The old adage “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”, was far too close to the truth as it pertained to Geraldine, Julie and the Herne Bay Pharmacy team. With only two weeks to establish new premises, and gain a licence, we as a community were on the verge of losing a Pharmacist who has, with such diligence attended our daily ailments, fulfilling scripts, administering sound advice, and with such compassion been party to some families darkest days. We as a community are judged by the treatment of our most vulnerable; Herne Bay Pharmacy is an oasis of calm and often in the case of our elderly neighbours, many of whom live on their own, this may be their one point of contact for the day.

SOHO SQUARE MURAL Good on you Progressive Enterprises, Auckland Council, Ponsonby businesses and local artists for getting behind and generously supporting such a heart warming project.

The murals around the old Soho square are fabulous - what vision! and what a boost for our community; not forgetting the positive opportunities this is potentially creating for some of our youth.

Given the depth of these relationships, cemented over many years, it should have come as no surprise that the community rallied as it did, and with such intensity and commitment. I do know that Geraldine continues to be amazed and grateful at the level of support that has flooded in, but I think we as a community should be grateful to still have a Pharmacist of this calibre.

These works of art truly sum up our community; colourful, innovative, creative and daring to be different... and long may we be! JEN BROWN, Grey Lynn

So to Geraldine and her wonderful team, I know I speak for many in the community when I say we do appreciate you and are so grateful to have you back to full strength – and some. Wishing you every possible success. JILL CORY, St Mary’s Bay HERNE BAY VILLAGE I enjoyed your section on Herne Bay Village in the February issue. You state that pretty much anything you could wish for is to be found in Jervois Road. I believe that there are some amenities still missing.

Public Toilet: why is there no public toilet available and are there any plans to provide one?

A T M machine: why is there not one available in the Village? I know there is one in the BP service station but this is a long way from the shops.

The Outer Link bus is a great service but the seat at the bus stop faces the shops not the street and you cannot see if the bus is coming because of the placement of the telephone kiosk.

How lucky we Ponsonby / Grey Lynn people are to have such talented artists in our midst. I for one really appreciate seeing this creative visual brightening up the ‘long time’ troubled location.

VERY IMPORTANT NEWS FOR DOG OWNERS Dog Registration Fees are set to increase by more than 100%. Anyone who owns a dog should be aware of the proposed increase and see where if fits in Auckland’s Long Term Plan as it is NOT good for dogs or dog owners.

Council’s plan identifies that 80% Animal Control problems and costs are caused by unregistered dogs. That means responsible dog owners are being penalized for the recalcitrant ones. DON’T STAND FOR IT! Make a submission before 23 March or start paying for someone else’s lack of responsibility!

Read Page 109 Plans Policies and Fees under Animal Control Long Term Plan found at the council’s website www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz JENNIFER BUCKLEY, Grey Lynn YOUR PONSONBY NEWS EMAG I lived in Freemans Bay for five years before setting off on my O.E. and just wanted to say how much I enjoy my monthly dose of Ponsonby News. I catch up on all the local news by reading the eMag on your website. What a great resource for us expats in London who dream about some of our favourite places - The French Art Shop, Prego, SPQR etc. Thanks so much for letting us keep in touch with what is going on back at “home”. You continue to inspire me to thing about coming back one day!

RICHARD SMITH, London W14 PN

There is only one box to post mail in and this is around the bend in the road. I know this is outside the postal agency shop but shoppers in the main part of the village do not know it is there – It should be by the bus stop and phone booth.

JUDITH PARLANE, Herne Bay A FEBRUARY ISSUE FAN! Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the February issue.

I confess that I always turn to the ‘Living, Thinking + Being’ section first to see what discount vouchers and specials are available (I am a bit of a facial and massage addict).

There don’t seem to have been quite so many lately - please tell your advertisers to keep them coming!

Really liked the way the Valentine’s Beauty guide had something for everyone, from Havaianas for couples who aren’t yet too serious, to sexy Brazilian vouchers.

Rapt to learn that Kate Sylvester is finally coming to Ponsonby and yes, I’m off to the first night of New Zealand Fashion Festival. Keep up the good work.

PAMELA GREIG, Grey Lynn

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FROM THE PUBLISHING TEAM

DESPITE TOUGH TIMES THE GREATER PONSONBY AREA HAS SEEN A FAIR BIT OF businesses coming and going of late…and next week we are off to see property developer Andy Davies’ new plans for the site on the corner of Ponsonby and Richmond Road. This development, along with the Soho Square site will bring more people to this area, which has to get the thumbs up from local businesses.

SOME SAY THAT ALL WE DO AROUND HERE IS DRINK COFFEE AND GO TO EVERY party we can…the proverbial opening of an envelope and it’s true we do go to as many events as time allows. On our last deadline, Martin was invited on a tour of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth which was to be moored at Princes Wharf for most of the Monday. Joining the tour were several locals Chris Rupe, Colin Mathura-Jeffree, Denise L’Estrange-Corbet and Kathryn Wilson. Rachel Hunter was also onboard and was a load of fun.

ONE COUNTRY WHICH CONTINUES TO BE A HUGE INFLUENCE ON US IS ITALY. Think cars, fashion, food, design, furniture and wine. There are around 50 local businesses offering a little Italian experience in this month’s VIVA ITALIA! KINGSLAND’S NEW NORTH ROAD HAS MUCH TO OFFER IN TERMS OF BARS, smart eateries and ambience, along with several quirky and interesting shops. This month they are holding a community celebration - the Kingsland Festival - on St Patrick’s Day. AT LAST MONTH’S ‘TAKE FRIDAY OFF’ AT CHAMBERLAIN PARK GOLF COURSE WE were blessed with mainly clear, sunny weather with 180 locals enjoying a day of golf.

Combined with food and drink and live music, the event included an Auction to raise funds for Mercy Hospice, College Hill. As we went to press, Harcourts Ponsonby, the organisers indicated approximately $21,000 was raised. Thanks to all the Golfers and everyone who participated. The only downside was the theft of a marque from the grounds. If anyone noticed anything suspicious please give our office a call.

LAST MONTH THE PONSONBY NEWS TEAM HELD OUR FIRST HOME GROWN VEGE competition at the Grey Lynn Farmer’s Market. The entries were judged by two local chefs Sid Saharwat and David Schofield. The winners received a certificate and our thanks to the Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop, Glengarry and Spa Ayurda for their support with prizes.

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JAY PLATT, MARTIN LEACH, JULIE ROULSTON, + JO BARRETT

photography: Jane Blundell @ kloser

THE TEAM RECEIVED GOOD NEWS RECENTLY WHEN NIELSEN MEDIA CONFIRMED we have a staggering 67, 000 readers perusing our pages each month. For a tiny community publication this is indeed an excellent endorsement of our reach.

WE ARE PLEASED A NEW HERITAGE COMMITTEE FOR WESTERN BAYS WAS formed to advocate for protection of heritage buildings in our area. The meeting, held at the Grey Lynn Community Centre began with an impassioned speech, “Defend our Neighbourhood” by Geoff Houtman. Chaired by local businessman Gerry Hill of the Ponsonby Art Hotel, the meeting attracted about 60 vocal and articulate speakers.

The meeting was partly in response to the demolition of the historic house in Paget Street.

There was a general feeling that the Mayor and Councillors either had not enough legislation with teeth to ensure adequate protection, or that planners at the Council were out of control.

If we are to avoid wholesale demolition of our built heritage, we need to act now.

NEXT MONTH CAR DEALERS, JERRY CLAYTON BMW PRESENT A PONSONBY NIGHT of Fashion at Longroom with 10 exciting fashion labels - Andrea Moore, Carly Harris, Cybele, Egoist, Juliette Hogan, Robyn Mathieson, Storm, Taylor, Yvonne Bennetti and Zambesi will show highlights of their Winter 2012 collections. www.iloveponsonby.co.nz CORRECTION: Interesting Facts about The Cavalier – February issue. In 1990, The Cavalier was leased to Tony White (of Tony’s Restaurant) and John Banks - with Ray Wilson as Manager. In 1991 Ray Wilson bought out Tony White and in 1993, then also bought out John Banks. In 1994 Ray and Marilyn Wilson then purchased the Freehold from Lion Breweries. PN

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CHAIR’S WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD REPORT: SHALE CHAMBERS WHILE THE 18 PAGET STREET DEMOLITION OF AN 1880S HERITAGE HOME MAY be out of the media spotlight, within the bowels of Council much has been afoot. The Internal Review of the resource consent clearly said ‘a different conclusion could have been reached which would have equally been defensible’. That’s Council speak for ‘we fouled up’. The system of ingrained ‘secrecy’ that helped the developer obtain the demolition away from ‘public eyes’ let heritage and our community down.

In a win for more ‘public eyes’ the Review gave the Waitemata Local Board a new role and we will be briefed now on any proposed demolition in Residential 1 and 2 zones and our views will be included in the Planner’s Report. The more eyes overseeing the management of the resource consent department, and making them accountable for elevating the importance of assessment of relevant character heritage in planning decisions, the better! A newly formed local heritage group, the Western Bays Community Group, that had its inaugural meeting in late February will be a welcome additional set of eyes to help preserve our heritage.

After what must seem like an eternity our Waitemata Local Board Agreement, with its 10-Year Plan budget proposals is out …in draft of course as part of Council’s overall first draft 10-Year Plan awaiting your comments. Our initiatives focus on upgrading our parks and facilities for our growing inner-city population; identifying, protecting and promoting our heritage; making our city centre a more accessible child and family friendly place to be; and protecting and enhancing our natural environments with a focus on clean water, carbon emission reduction and better management of waste.On the transport front we are advocating for the delivery of initiatives by Auckland Transport that improve pedestrian and cyclist safety through slowing traffic, improving intersections, increasing cycle infrastructure and developing masterplans for two of our local roads.

We are advocating to ensure good local governance of our assets – like our parks, the waterfront and ports, swimming pools and streets. Policies must be developed that improve connectivity of decision-making responsibility and budgets between local boards, the governing body and council controlled organisations.

TO PUT OUR PLAN IN EVERYDAY ‘DOING’ LANGUAGE, BELOW ARE SOME OF OUR 2012/13 AND BEYOND LOCAL BOARD PRIORITIES: • Provide Western Park lighting • Provide drinking fountains in parks • Identify and signpost historical buildings and sites • Develop and support events that are locally specific and environmentally responsive • Restore Symonds Street Cemetery through enhanced maintenance • Develop the Waitemata coastal walkway from Parnell to Meola reef • Enhance Pt Erin Pool • Improve signage of public spaces • Upgrade Myers Park • Support an urban food economy through fruit trees in parks • Upgrade Grey Lynn Park Athletics Clubroom • Provide two all-weather turf fields at Seddon Fields • Develop a localised plan to cut carbon emissions • Explore the development of a community-led waste minimisation and resource recovery programme and centre • Renew the Pioneer Womens Hall • Improve cycle infrastructure through an increase in connected, dedicated cycleways • Conduct a need assessment of community facilities in the city centre and provide recommended facilities • Advocate with Auckland transport to develop masterplans for Ponsonby and Richmond Roads; upgrade Franklin Road; install advance cycle stop boxes with feeder lanes and slow traffic on residential streets and local shopping centres • Advocate with Auckland Council Investments to ensure the Ports stay in full public ownership and follow a socially responsible investment.

• Advocate to Watercare to develop a medium and long term approach to resolve the issue of non-separated storm water and waste water in Cox’s Bay • Advocate to the Governing Body to develop an approach and related budget for local boards to support economic development and ensure that a strong position on Heritage is reflected in the Unitary Plan.

Please tell us what you think. The draft Long Term Plan and Local Board Agreement and a submission form can be accessed on www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/longtermplan or in libraries or the local board office. We would love to see your submission and remember it has to be in by 23 March 2012. Lastly find your sunhat, don your lava lava or colourful Pacifica shirt for Saturday 10 March (with the opening the night before) in Western Springs Park where the people, music, food and dance of the annual Pacifica Festival will make you believe that the sun has been shining all summer. (SHALE CHAMBERS) PN Contact me: shale.chambers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

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We are proud to have a 1978 M1 on display in our Jerry Clayton BMW showroom for a limited time only. This pristine example has only travelled 13,000km and not only is it the only one in New Zealand, but it’s also one of only a handful worldwide. It was developed for BMW by Lamborghini, has a rear mounted engine and shares the same power-plant as the original M6.

Special guests: RACHEL HUNTER, CHARLIE BROWN and LULU WILCOX.

SUMMER WITH BMW IS FULL OF EVENTS. On Sunday 19 February, The BMW NZ Polo Open was held out at Clevedon. VIPS were picked up from the Hilton Bellini Bar, where they were presented with a ‘goody bag’ and a refreshing tall drink to start the day.

This year the BMW Polo Open was thought to be one of the most successful ever with Polo enthusiasts from all walks of life coming to enjoy a fun day out.

A fashion show in front of the BMW and Veuve Clicquot marquees was a highlight.

After the Polo, guests were offered chauffeur transport back into the city to the balcony of FISH Restaurant at the Hilton, showcasing spectacular 180 degree views of the harbour. It was the perfect ending to a special day, with Veuve Clicquot champagne and delights from the FISH menu complementing the view perfectly.

The All New BMW M5.

If we have not seen you in a while and you would like to know about upcoming events with Jerry Clayton BMW please help us to update our lists by emailing kate.coveny@jcbmw.co.nz Our next JC BMW event is the launch of the All New BMW 3 Series. We have hinted at a look back through history and in this spirit, we are the first to be holding an event at the newest shopping and dining jewel in Takapuna - The McKenzie Group development.

The complex connects Hurstmere Road to Takapuna Beach and no detail has been spared when preserving the historic nature of the building. We are looking forward to showing off the new 3 Series in style. PN

A member of the BMW POLO TEAM.

JERRY CLAYTON BMW 445 Lake Road Takapuna, Phone 09 488 2000 www.jcbmw.co.nz

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photography: Carmen Bird

photography: Carmen Bird

photography: Norrie Montgomery

We invite you to come and have a look at other classic models over the next few months as we celebrate our history. You may be able to take a drive down memory lane.

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JOHN ELLIOTT: SOAP BOX NEW HERITAGE COMMITTEE FOR WESTERN BAYS A meeting to form a new incorporated society to advocate for protection of heritage buildings in our area was held at the Grey Lynn Community Centre last week.

It began with an impassioned speech by Geoff Houtman - “Defend our Neighbourhood”.

Chaired by local businessman Jerry Hill of Ponsonby Art Hotel, the meeting attracted about 60 vocal and articulate speakers. The meeting was partly in response to the demolition of the Historic house in Paget Street. There was a general feeling that the Mayor and Councillors either had not enough legislation with teeth to ensure adequate protection, or that planners at the Council were out of control.

Shale Chambers, Chairman of the Waitemata Local Board, called on those present to give the board a plan and tell them how they can lead. Chambers reminded the meeting that under the new Auckland Plan intensification is going to be a reality, and it will cause tensions as in-fill occurs.

Luke Neuie from the Parnell heritage group, urged locals to identify really significant buildings and write their history.

It was pointed out to the meeting that the Government intends to introduce the second stage of amendments to the Resource Management Act later this year. This will be an opportunity for submissions to tighten controls around heritage issues, and have another attempt at better tree protection which was made more permissive in last year’s first R.M.A. amendment. Labour M.P. Jacinda Ardern told the meeting she strongly supports better heritage controls, and urged people to make a submission and ask to appear at the hearings, possibly in a group, to give greater emphasis to the points made.

Heritage consultant Allan Matson told the meeting it was important to get all the facts marshalled and on the table at decision making time. He also said careful research must be done on every building to identify what we need to keep. “We are all affected by our collective heritage,” was how Matson explained it.

Sherry Reynolds, District Manager of the Historic Places Trust spoke eloquently on the need for collective action. Reynolds told the meeting, “For the protection of heritage places to be successful everyone has a role to play and no one player can do it on their own. Heritage protection involves understanding a complex system and layers of interactions with many players.”

“The first step to protection is early identification. Last minute efforts to “save” a place after plans for substantial change or demolition have been agreed inevitably creates conflicts, and costs time and money for those involved. Being proactive and identifying heritage places worthy of protection before the wrecker’s ball is looming is far better and more effective.”

With the help of the ASB Trust, the Historic Places Trust has produced a booklet “Auckland City @ Risk”, setting out the issues which need addressing.

The meeting was addressed by a number of local residents, several planners, Councillor Sandra Coney, and Board members Rob Thomas, Trish Reid and Christopher Dempsey. It seems clear there is sufficient interest to set up an Incorporated Society to advance the ideas promoted at the meeting, and form a group who can focus closely on the early identification of significant buildings and bring the relevant information to the attention of the Local Board, to Council, and to Government.

Sherry Reynolds told the meeting that the Historic Places trust welcomes the initiative, and says the new group will have an important role in identifying significant heritage places and areas within the Bays, advocating for protection, and promoting wider enjoyment and appreciation of that heritage.

If we are to avoid wholesale demolition of our built heritage, we need to act now.

(JOHN ELLIOTT) PN

TO HELL WITH THE TREES — WHO NEEDS TUI AND FANTAILS? Unfortunately there are still a few cowboy developers out there.

That’s why the Resource Management Act used to give good legal tree protection.

But last year the current Government decided to loosen a number of measures in the Act which made it easier for developers. One of those was tree protection.

No longer can the local Council give blanket protection to groups of trees, and individual trees have to be inspected and added to the schedule. This is costly and time consuming. It has resulted in a number of beautiful trees being hacked down, so developers can add another unit or two to a site, and make more money.

It may well be that this new owner has kept just inside the law, but strong laws are needed because there are some people for whom the almighty dollar is the only consideration - poplar, kauri, pohutukawa just don’t feature in their thinking. Their minds must be as barren as the landscapes they often create.

I would urge all Central City ratepayers who value our heritage, including heritage trees, to make a submission to the second “loosening” of the Resource Management Act, and seek reinstatement of better tree protection. Some dear old bloke’s home has become someone’s development opportunity - money making at the cost of the environment. (JOHN ELLIOTT) PN

Take a drive down Hackett Street, St. Mary’s Bay, turn right into Swift Avenue, and you will see what was a lovely tree-filled section looking ugly and bare. There used to be three huge poplars, but someone poisoned them, and only one survived. That one has now been attacked by the new owner of No. 1 Swift Avenue.

A lovely old man used to live there, but has now gone into a rest home, and his house has been sold. Neighbour Rae Field showed Ponsonby News around her suburb. She agreed the section was overgrown and needing some TLC, but she and husband John were devastated when the sole surviving poplar was attacked last week. They called the Council who came very promptly and the desecration stopped. The poor old poplar may survive – the tui who lives in it will be hoping it does.

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photography: Jay Platt

Most urbanites now understand the importance to urban amenity of trees - native or exotic. They give shade, harbour lots of animals and birds, help with the water cycle, shield from noise, and mostly look calm and attractive. The tarseal jungle would be barren indeed without them.

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PIPPA COOM GREY LYNN 2030 NEWS

PRACTICAL POSITIVE ACTION THE PROJECTS WE ARE GOING TO GET STUCK INTO THIS YEAR TO CREATE the community we want to live in were the focus of our first community meeting of the year in February. We came away with an amazing range of ideas that are currently getting started and renewed enthusiasm for what a small group of committed volunteers can achieve.

Grey Lynn 2030 is the umbrella organisation for a number of different focus groups. Our newest group is all about reducing our reliance on non-renewable energy. The first local project of the ‘Energy Group’ is to build a solar powered water pump for the Wilton Street Community Garden to help carry irrigation water from the tap to the plants. We hope to have many more future community projects focused on local renewable energy solutions. Projects on the horizon include creating a home energy audit system and initiating a bulk purchase scheme for energy efficient products and home energy generation. The group welcomes new members. Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month. Contact Chris Olson at chris.letter.box@gmail.com.

2012 will be the fourth year the Green Screen team have been presenting environmentally focused movies each month at the Grey Lynn Community Centre.

At the March Green Screen on Sunday 25 March at 7.30pm, Auckland University psychology lecturer Niki Harré will speak about her research into the psychology of sustainability and her new book ‘Psychology for a Better World’. The evening will include a screening of the short documentary ‘Cities on Speed’ about the transformation of Bogota, the Colombian capital. Entry is only $2.

The Wilton Street Community Garden is also into its fourth year bringing a huge amount of joy to the locals who gather every Sunday for a working bee. At this time of year there is an abundance of produce to share among the volunteer gardeners. In February a reciprocal visit was held with the Pt Chevalier Community Gardeners to share ideas, tea and cake. It was an invaluable exchange of energy, food swapping and planning for further meetings once a quarter. It was wonderful to see the range of entries by home gardeners to the inaugural vegetable growing competition in February hosted at the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market and sponsored

by Ponsonby News. Home gardeners are also taking full advantage of the Market’s unique community trading table. Free for friends of the market.

Another opportunity to join a working bee is provided by Soala from the Grey Lynn Business Association who is coordinating a tidy-up programme throughout the year to beautify Grey Lynn and maintain the work that was carried out in preparation for the RWC. The schedule starts on Sunday 1 April 10am- midday. Meet at The Works Hair Salon, 142 Williamson Ave. Bring garden tools and gloves.

More ways to get involved can be found on the Grey Lynn 2030 website.

You can also subscribe to Grey Lynn 2030’s monthly enews of local events via greylynn2030.co.nz (PIPPA COOM) PN Contact suzanne.kendrick@gmail.com for more information www.facebook.com/greylynn2030

ANY PAGE IN PONSONBY NEWS IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE SEEN

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LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE ROELANTS

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LET’S STOP THE SEA FROM BECOMING A SEWER Uninhabited pristine wildernesses are essential for our collective sanity. Even those among us who have never climbed the highest mountain or crossed the widest desert have an image of them in our mind’s eye and take comfort from the fact they exist.

Siu i Moana by ROBIN WHITE – a collaborative effort with Tongan tapa cloth maker Ruha Fifita.

Just imagine how awful it would be if every inch of the planet was tamed, inhabited and exploited to death.

Or if the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, that huge rotating morass of plastic detritus, covered the entire ocean. This of course is an extreme case scenario but we need a wakeup call to prevent human greed from doing further irrevocable damage to our environment.

Thankfully there are efforts being made to ‘stop the rot’. The Pew Charitable Trusts consist of seven individual charitable funds established between 1948 and 1979 by two sons and two daughters of Sun Oil Company founder, Joseph Pew. The Pew Environment Group focusses on the destruction of oceans, the loss of wilderness ecosystems, and the buildup of greenhouse gases. Presently WWF-New Zealand and Forest and Bird are working with the group to raise awareness of the need to protect The Kermadecs by extending the existing reserve into a massive sanctuary in order to protect its extraordinary diversity of marine life.

On Tuesday, 14 February the Maritime Museum hosted the opening of an inspiring exhibition ‘Kermadec- Nine Artists Explore the Pacific’. Phil Dadson, Bruce Foster, Fiona Hall, Gregory O’Brien, Jason O’Hara, John Pule, John Reynolds, Elizabeth Thomson and Dame Robin White travelled to the Kermadecs on board the HMNZS Otago to create a body of work from their impressions of the “last pristine sites left

in the ocean”. Pew Environment Director, Bronwen Golder joined the artists in the journey and said, “The exhibition shines a spotlight on this incredible, untouched place in our ocean. Their works of art remind us that our ocean is precious, yet fragile.”

More than 300 people thronged into the Maritime Museum where the proceedings kicked off with a performance by the Oto’ota Fahina Cultural Group. The Museum CEO, Murray Reade gave an opening speech, emphasising the great honour it was to host the exhibition “because it complements a primary tenet of the Museum, that is to pursue and protect the sustainability of our seas.”

There were further words by Peter Buttle, Deputy Chair of the Edmiston Trust, who gave the museum funds for the event, Jay Nelson, Director of the Pew Global Ocean Legacy, and Bronwen Golder, “we encourage the Government to demonstrate New Zealand’s true commitment to the planet by establishing a Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary for this unique area.” Last, but not least, Dame Robin White spoke on behalf of her fellow artists. “It was more than a journey, more than an adventure - it was an experience where we united in our commitment to the purpose of the journey and the cause associated with it.”

The exhibition is a knockout and a must to view. It was first displayed in the Tauranga Art Gallery and there are hopes it will travel to London, the Hamburg Book Fair and Washington. Should the Government come to the party and sanction the proposal, it would surely do something for our somewhat flawed clean, green image.

Along with the exhibition a beautifully produced book, edited by Bronwen Golder and Gregory O’Brien is for sale. It contains stories by all the artists that tell of the wondrous sea images they observed and vivid descriptions of the flora, fauna and birdlife on Raoul Island. Amusing anecdotes are included about the not always comfortable journey on the Otago and best of all, fabulous photographs of their artworks.

Apart from scientists, to whom the region is invaluable for their research on the extraordinary sea life that exists in its waters, the majority of New Zealanders have very little knowledge about The Kermadecs, or even that they are part of our territorial waters. The exhibition remains with the Maritime Museum till Monday 2 July and will awaken the consciousness of all who view it, on how important it is to protect this national treasure.

Jacques Yves Cousteau has said, “A lot of people attack the sea, I make love to it.”

Let’s do the same! (DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN

ANY PAGE IN PONSONBY NEWS IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE SEEN

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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 LOCAL NEWS

BEAUCOUP DE FUN FOR A GOOD CAUSE DO YOU HUNGER FOR A GUILT-FREE SLICE OF CULTURE AND A TOUCH OF glamour? The French Film Festival, sponsored by L’Oréal Paris, will be in Auckland until March 11 at Newmarket’s Rialto Cinemas. A special charity screening of Hunting and Gathering will take place on Wednesday 14 March.

LISA STEARNS-MIGONI, TRENT RULE and GAYLE MCCOY.

Starring France’s national treasure Audrey Tautou, Hunting & Gathering is a “story of human connection and the nurturing spirit of human relationships” - it’s both moving and quirky.

Tickets cost $30 with all proceeds going directly to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) for the benefit of New Zealand women. And as if feeling good about doing good weren’t enough - a L’Oréal Paris gift bag valued at more than $200 and a glass of champagne on arrival are included in the ticket price. PN Charity screening tickets can be purchased from www.ticketek.co.nz or 0800 842 538. For more information on the 2012 French Film Festival visit www.frenchfilmfestival.co.nz. For more information on OCRF please visit www.ocrf.co.nz.

TAMAKI SPORTS ACADEMY – FREE METAL COLLECTION SPORTS ACADEMY OFFERS MENTORING, COACHING, AND WORK experience to South Auckland youth who have dropped out of the mainstream school system but show some sporting talent. A major fundraiser for the academy, and an excellent source of work experience for our members, is the free metal collection service we offer. We will pick up any old metal - computers, whiteware, roofing iron, metal piping, venetian blinds, batteries, car panels, cars, metal shelving, filing cabinets, machinery, lawnmowers, engines, and so on. If you do have any metal rubbish to get rid of, we are keen to pick it up for you. It is a win-win for both of us. PN

JO HERBERT and MALCOLM TEMPLETON – Momentum Gallery framers.

LISA STEARNS-MIGONI, KIRSTY PILLAY, SHANE HANSEN and GAYLE MCCOY.

CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF DEB STEARNS MOST LOCALS WILL BE AWARE OF THE SAD AND UNEXPECTED PASSING LAST month of Debra Stearns, the owner of Momentum Framing Gallery in Herne Bay. Her siblings, Gayle McCoy and Lisa Stearns-Migoni arrived from the States and Mexico to handle their sister’s affairs and the pair arranged a little event on the Sunday over the Waitangi Weekend to allow friends and business associates to pay their respects.

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photography: Jo Barrett

Contact Tricia on M:021 510 5890 or T: 09 276 0328 www.facebook.com/tamakisports

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photography: Cunard

photography: Martin Leach

 LOCAL NEWS

QUEEN ELIZABETH AT PRINCES WHARF Some of our friends tease us and say that all we do on the Ponsonby News team is drink coffee and go to every party and event we can…the proverbial opening of an envelope and it’s fair to say we do try to attend as many events as time allows.

On 20 February, our March issue deadline, I was one of 40 invited on a whistle stop tour of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth moored at Princes Wharf for most of the Monday. Joining the tour and a buffet lunch were several locals - Chris Rupe, Colin Mathura-Jeffree, Denise L’Estrange Corbet and Kathryn Wilson. Rachel Hunter was also onboard and was very down to earth and great company.

Franklin Road’s “Mayor” Ross Thorby was also on board having joined the ship in San Francisco. We missed him as he was off having lunch with his Mum at the Hilton. His next destination was Wellington and then Dunedin before sailing to Sydney, where he would disembark. Was I envious? Hell yes! Even though I’m more casual these days and not over keen on wearing black tie for dinner EVERY evening, life at sea has a real attraction and is very relaxing! My last journey by ship had been in 1972, when as a young teenager, I sailed from Auckland to Southampton on the Australis!

Later that day Ross emailed me this great photo of himself (pictured right) enjoying his favourite local read and explained he was standing by the lifeboats - just in case!

II knew my inbox back at PH-HQ would be jammed with emails on my return and I’d need to work late into the night, but what a magnificent ship and a great way to spend part of Monday, my least favourite day of the week! (MARTIN LEACH) PN

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LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE ROELANTS

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THE COLOUR OF OUR COMMUNITY What better way to demonstrate the creative energy that flourishes in our suburb than what is happening on the hoardings around the ‘Soho Square’.

Long term resident and owner of the French Art Shop, Mark Castles has been the motivator behind this singular project, a mural stretching 428 metres that when completed, will be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. A couple of years ago Mark started importing a particular brand of aerosol cans in response to suggestions from some of his local customers who are mural artists. Marketing them was the next step which became the genesis of an idea that morphed into something other than Mark trying to sell his paint, but instead, a worthwhile community project.

The original Soho Square development was very divisive and Mark’s vision was to turn the Progressive Enterprises operation into something the community could work on together. A business plan was presented to the Local Board who agreed it was a great idea and immediately “The Colour of our Community’” proposal gained momentum.

The Western Bay Community Board, The Art Station, and the Ponsonby Business Association all weighed in behind the idea, and Resene came on board as the major sponsor, supplying most of the materials needed to complete the mural. Mark says he couldn’t have made this happen on his own but with a group of five pushing the concept, it’s become a reality and he is more than happy in his role as project manager and director.

Contributing artists so far are Daniel Tippet, Otis Frizzell, Carl Maugham and Askew who have all grown up in this area. The brief is “What does the community mean to you?” which is asking them to think outside their normal square. For instance Carl Maugham’s vision of street art is to paint flowers over words or graffiti so they are washed out but still remain in the background. Askew is a well known street artist and has collaborated with Carl to produce this effect. Otis has photographed people in the area and has drawn portraits measuring two by two metres on his mural. A number of other local artists, who are less recognised, are keen to get involved as it’s good advertising, particularly if their work is seen alongside a notable’s.

Mark has also received phone calls from out of work artists and teachers volunteering to lend a hand to community groups such as the Tia Ora Trust given they’ve had experience in painting murals. There are three Alternative Education schools within cooee of the site and the teachers regard the project as a godsend. Giving kids, who are likely to tag, an opportunity to paint a mural will teach them a different way of expressing themselves. A police constable in Mount Roskill, Glen Green has seconded two reformed gang members to help with mentoring children in his neighbourhood.

A group of 120 boys turn up at the community centre every Thursday night to play games, have something to eat and chat about life. They also look for projects they’d like to be involved in and have chosen this one.

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Progressive Enterprises have spent a great deal of money on the hoardings. Three coats of primer have been applied to 21 ml plywood sheets that are screwed to 150 ml posts driven three feet into the ground. Because all the bracing is behind, they are an ideal surface for an artist’s work. Mark is hoping Resene will supply a sealant that Civil Contractors use as a graffiti guard. It has a five year life so if applied to the murals they will be well protected for the two years they are in situ. At the end of this period they will be unscrewed, auctioned and the proceeds donated to local charities.

The project has taken on a life of its own and Mark sometimes feels he’s hanging onto the reins of a runaway horse. There’s still a fair bit of sponsorship to raise which is not what Mark is used to doing so he’s pushing his own boundaries further as well.

All things considered, the mural should be completed by April this year and will be an amazing sight to behold. So, Mark, keep seated on that bucking bronco!

(DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN

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The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY

A DECADE OF WAITING IS ALMOST OVER SIR PETER BLAKE, GRANT DALTON, TONY RAE. WHEN YOU HEAR THOSE sorts of names bandied about the thought of red socks and Steinlager, champagne, rough seas and yachting success spring immediately to mind. But as the pressure continues to build on Team New Zealand’s round the world ocean race campaign the glory that kiwi sailing once basked in looks to be losing some of that gloss.

Some costly decisions on where the wind may or may not be have cost Camper dearly to the level they continue to sit second well behind fleet leaders Spanish syndicate team Telefonica.

I’m sure the formerly named Whitbread around the world yacht race is vastly different to the now Volvo ocean race. Having to keep a look out for pirates in the Arabian sea or dodging the myriad of cargo ships outside Singapore as if they were sailing the wrong way up Britain’s M5 must be tricky enough without having to try and beat the other five boats into the next port. But for some reason Telefonica’s crew are doing it with ease.

Despite Team New Zealand’s (Camper’s) trouble so far the enthusiasm back in New Zealand and the return of the great race to Auckland has seen the volunteer registration for the Auckland stop over well and truly over subscribed. Or maybe the fact it’s been over a decade since Auckland was a stop over is the reason there is so much interest here in the city of sails.

“Just fewer than 500 volunteers have registered on the database and we’ve been blown away by the quality and commitment,” says Port Director Tom Mayo. “Professionals and superannuitants, students and yachties from all over New Zealand and overseas have gotten involved.”

The majority of volunteers are kiwis but applications also came from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Indonesia, Italy, Lithuania, Russia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The age range is from 16 to 78.

The volunteers are filling roles both on and off the water including accreditation, information services, media operations, Volvo Experience assistants, backstage positions, drivers, dock marshals, Try Sailing, spectator services and much more. One will be dressed as Wisdom the Albatross, the official mascot of the ‘Keep the Oceans Clean!’ initiative. Others will be assisting with the Air Balls, the Grinding Challenge and the model Volvo Cars and Trucks. Groups will work in spectator services, shore team support, event operations, container storage and other support areas.

The boats are due to arrive into the Viaduct Harbour on 8 March – finishing off the fourth leg from Sanya in China and head back out to sea bound for Itajai in Brazil ten days later on 18 March. Amazingly enough Telefonica is one of the only boats not to have a kiwi as part of its crew so maybe, just maybe the fourth leg into Auckland can be the one that gets Team New Zealand’s Camper back on the straight and narrow.

(GEORGE BERRY) PN

DOING IT FOR HER COUNTRY WHEN THE CALL CAME IN TO ASK MELODY COOPER TO RETURN HOME to New Zealand and try out for the Olympic bound Black Sticks women’s hockey team the answer was always going to be yes. Despite two failed attempts at competing at an Olympics games Cooper is putting her life in South Australia, where she lives with husband ANBL star Luke Cooper, on hold and shifting to Auckland. There she’ll join 24 other girls in an attempt to make the final cut of 16 and represent New Zealand at this year’s London Olympics.

Early in the new year sitting at home in Adelaide, Melody answered an early morning phone call, “I saw it was a New Zealand number so I thought it was one of my mates ringing to say happy new year, but to my amazement it was Black Stick’s coach Mark Hager’’ said Cooper. “I had no idea why he was ringing, but when he explained that two girls had decided to retire from international hockey, I knew right away what he was about to say.”

“I said yes, I said yes I said yes,” laughed Cooper. “I have a lot of work to do to get my fitness up to that sort of level but for the chance to play at the Olympics I’m ready to do whatever it takes. I have been playing here in Australia for the Southern Stars and did play back in New Zealand during the National Hockey League so I shouldn’t be too far away.”

After a promising start to her career, for one reason or another Cooper has been unable to crack the starting side on a regular basis, but now the 28 year old feels she has what it takes to grab the opportunity with both hands. “I was a little bit too young to go to the Olympics in Athens, and just wasn’t quite on the pace for selection to go to Beijing, but now I have matured and have my work life balance in order I’m confident I can be part of the side to head to London,” reiterated Cooper.

There has been quite a number of issues for Cooper and her family to sort before the move back to New Zealand including finding both a place to live and some part time work. Melody currently works as a sales manager in the radio industry, and her employer has been kind enough to put her job on hold in Adelaide but admits to needing and wanting to find what ever sort of work will fit her training schedule. “Whilst we are looked after by Hockey New Zealand and their sponsors the sport is a very long way away from being financially supported in such a way that I could play it full time and live off the money,” says Cooper.

“We have two mortgages back home, so while Luke is super understanding about me wanting to play for my country I have those sorts of things to think about like how this will affect us in the future, but for now I know I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t come home and give it another shot.”

Black Sticks coach Mark Hager is also said to be wrapped with Cooper’s decision to come home and join the squad. “Her leadership and understanding of how we play will be invaluable, we’re very lucky to have her available to fill the gap left by, Anna Thorpe and Jan Burrows.” (GEORGE BERRY) PN

BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN THE POSSIBILITY OF RIDING FOR NEW ZEALAND’S ONLY PROFESSIONAL cycling team is a dream still alive for young kiwis after BikeNZ and Sheppard Cycles Ltd (Avanti) found the courage to step in and team up with financially embattled PureBlack Racing. When PureBlack Racing (PBR) announced in January that its plans to race internationally in 2012 were on the rocks due to a shortfall in funding that dream looked destined to crash as quickly as the evolution that was PBR. PureBlack received an out pouring of support when it announced its possible demise which looks to have given Bike NZ enough of an encouraging push to do something about it and assist New Zealand’s up and coming road cyclists. The bulk of the team has returned from the squad that competed in 2011, now known as Bike NZ/PBR the ten man team will get the chance to race as a national team in a range of international races as the New Zealand road development squad.

Adding to the make up are two new cyclists joining the team – Dion Smith who steps up from the 2011 Development squad and the experienced Joe Cooper who competed in Europe last year. Cooper can’t wait to link up with PBR, “I’m the kind of guy that thinks when one door closes another opens and that’s what’s happened

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with PBR, they’re back on the road and I have a team. It is great to be able to make it to the next step up and I’m looking forward to racing with a New Zealand team in different parts of the world.”

The first race for the team is the Tour of LangKawi in Malaysia next month. The team is likely to compete in Europe and Australia after racing in Asia. “PureBlack Racing did an amazing job representing us on the world cycling stage last year and we’re looking forward to seeing Team BikeNZ/PBR race this year,” said Avanti’s founder and Managing Director John Struthers.

“Even after 25 years of being involved in road cycling here the quality of cyclists our country develops with its limited resources still blows me away. One of the things that has always underpinned our business is to do what we can to help young kiwis race and compete on the word stage.

“I think the evolution of this team with the Bike NZ and PBR teams behind it will provide not only another step forward for road cycling but also a great incentive to all those young riders out there to remain committed”. (GEORGE BERRY) PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY

NEW LEASE ON LIFE SEES VICTORIA PARK BACK WITH A VENGEANCE Whilst Victoria Park is a long way from London’s Hyde Park the new developments both in and around the park look to have been met with enthusiasm by park goers, sports people, and others looking to maximise their lunch hour out in the sun.

Whilst still not finished I’ve been impressed by the diversity of people coming back and utilising what the park space is actually there for.

I’m sure with all the talk of housing shortages and the lack of council funds to give Auckland the transport system it deserves, the easy answer would be to build some multi storied housing block and or the continuation of spaghetti junction suspended way up in the air. But thankfully so far Len Brown and his merry men (and women) have in fact gone the other way.

The newly built skate park is very rarely unoccupied, even into the wee small hours there is someone getting their kicks from attempting their next move or trick to show their buddies.

If the boundaries aren’t littered with parents watching their sons or daughters play cricket the fields are crammed with people playing touch rugby and enjoying the evening sun.

Dads and kids flying their kites, frisbees being tossed about and even early morning boot camp sessions; Victoria Park is winning back the people of Auckland.

Fingers crossed the soon to be upgraded Victoria Park Market across the road will have an added spark for the people that inhabit the spaces under the trees or out in the sun the way so many are predicting. Coffee shops, ice cream parlours and boutique shops should only help to reinvigorate the space and seal the future of Victoria Park for many years to come. (GEORGE BERRY) PN

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photography: Michael McClintock

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TAKE FRIDAY OFF! CHAMBERLAIN PARK GOLF COURSE, Friday 17 February We were blessed with mainly clear weather with 180 golfers enjoying a day of golf, with food and drink and live music followed by an Auction to raise funds in aid of Mercy Hospice, College Hill. As we went to press, the organisers, Harcourts Ponsonby, indicated a figure of approx $21,000 subject to audit sign-off was raised. Thanks to everyone who participated! The only downside of the day was when a marque was stolen between 4.30pm-6pm. If anyone noticed anything suspicious please let us know. (MARTIN LEACH)

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1. SEAN JACOB demonstrates perfect technique; 2. A very happy HARCOURTS PONSONBY team enjoying refreshments between auctions; 3. SAM BLUEMEL and MAZA WHITE taking a seat in a golf cart! 4. Live music from PHIL STOODLEY; 5. SAM BLUEMEL models Zesty Lemon top from TK STORE; 6. Some of the lads discussing technique; 7. The Auctioneers, SHAUN LUYT and SIMON DEW; 8. CHRIS and ANN-MAREE from THE FRIDGE, with friends; 9. Bidding for charity is its own reward; 10. Players enjoying a game; 11. CHRIS DUNN, MARTIN LEACH, DENIS WOOD, BOB HARVEY, and Richard White, announce the donation for MERCY HOSPICE. The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE

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PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE DEAR READERS Please keep sending us your holiday snaps reading your favourite magazine, we love getting them! Photos need to be in high resolution (300dpi), so please email them to info@ponsonbynews.co.nz without reducing the size.

1. Herne Bay resident BARBARA GORTON sent us this photo of her husband TONY taken during their trip to the Falklands and ANTARTICA over Christmas and New Year.

“It was snowing and extremely cold for both us and the penguins, as we landed on the Antartic peninsula for the first time,” they told us.

2. JEAN LUC and ALLYSON GOFTON were photographed at the Bale Banjar Ubud Kelod at the Children’s program of the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, BALI last year.

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3. STEVEN KAVANA, Captain of Captain Moko’s Fishing Charters was photographed with his copy of Ponsonby News at the Avana Fishing Club, Avana, Ngatangiia in RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS. PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

TRAVEL BREAKS: THE NEW THERAPY! 

APT RIVER CRUISING IN 2013 AT 2012 PRICES APT’s Europe River Cruising 2013 is offering 2013 cruises at 2012 prices, free airfares including air taxes on a variety of suite categories as well as savings of NZ$1,000 per couple for April-September departures on all Balcony suites. All offers relate to pre-30 April bookings when new fares will be introduced.

Among the cruises are the new Rhine-Rhone itineraries as well as the 15-day Magnificent Europe (Amsterdam to Budapest), 21-day Magnificent Europe with Prague and Paris, 25-day Eastern Bloc and Magnificent Europe, 30-day Alpine Wonders and Magnificent Europe, 31-day Italy and Magnificent Europe, 26-day France and Magnificent Europe, Spain and Portugal, Croatia and Magnificent Europe, Turkey and Magnificent Europe and Anzac Dawn Service. PN For more information contact HARVEY WORLD TRAVEL, 293 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 0443 E: ponsonby@harveyworldtravel.co.nz www.harveyworld.co.nz

ENCHANTÉE – FEMININE ADJ, ENCHANTED, DELIGHTED; PLEASED TO MEET YOU EVERYONE LONGS TO VISIT PARIS AT LEAST ONCE BUT THE REALITY OF travelling alone, negotiating the metro, finding the best restaurants, the best shops and making best use of limited time without a working knowledge of French can be a daunting prospect. As a long-time francophile and regular visitor to Paris, Carolyn Campbell of Enchantee tours can ensure your Paris experience will leave you breathless with amazement rather than exhaustion.

Enchantée Tours offers an all inclusive introduction to the magic of Paris without unwanted frustrations and with plenty of time to relax in stylish home-away-from-home apartment accommodation. The apartment (share twin) is very chic and perfectly located within a ten minute stroll of the Louvre, Tuileries Gardens, Garnier Opera, Pompidou Centre and some amazing food and clothes speciality shops. An evening at the Paris Opera and out of town trips to Versailles and Giverny are special highlights of the tour.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

You will visit the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Pompidou Centre, Montmartre and other must see destinations and you will become acquainted with those indefinable things, the je ne sais quoi, that make Paris so appealing.

The colours and aromas of the food and flower markets, the chic boutiques, the general joie de vivre; indulge in Lapsang Souchong tea at the Ritz; linger in the favourite street cafes of Hemingway and Scott Fitzgerald on the Left Bank and be transported back to the Golden Age of the 1920s.

A voyage of discovery and enchantment awaits you so pack your comfy shoes and a posh frock and come along. PN For full details www.enchanteetours.co.nz carolyn@enchanteetours.co.nz M: 021 475 566

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4. Intrepid travellers MARK and MARGARET JENKINS from Herne Bay carried their copy of Ponsonby News through Bangladesh, West Bengal, Sikkim and Bhutan. One highlight they mentioned was the climb to the Tigers Nest Monastery near PARO. 5 – 6. ANNA HOFFMANN and a friend eating out at Solo City, CENTRAL JAVA. The second photograph was taken in BALI, sitting at a portable food stall full of delectable delicacies such as deep fried frogs, buffalo skin crisps, chili-flavoured chicken claws etc etc - treats galore, all deep fried in coconut oil followed by a cup of delicious ginger tea - and all for under $NZ1!

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7. BENN HANNS sent in this shot of NICK HOPMAN and HANA OLSON taken in Marsala, on the western point of SICILY. PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

TRAVEL BREAKS: THE NEW THERAPY! 

VIVA ITALIA!

by Kate Gohar, Director, World Journeys Sipping a chilled limoncello in the shade of crimson bougainvillea, I contemplated how life could possibly get any better! For one usually drawn to exotic Arabian destinations, I surprised myself by falling in love with “la dolce vita” on my recent trip to Italy.

What is there not to love about the Cinque Terre? These five charming villages cling to cliffsides backed by hills so steep that a coastal road was impossible. The villages are connected by train, a good option on a hot day when walking is out of the question, but my favourite way is by ferry, permitting spectacular views of the coastline and its chaotic sprawl of villages. The best time to go is in May/June or September as travel any later, as was evident last year, comes with the risk substantial rain. Two villages were particularly hard hit by flooding last year, but a massive clean-up aims to restore the villages in time for the coming season. Depending heavily on income from tourism, what they need most is for people like us to return.

Lake Como is another place best explored by boat. With beautiful villages, stunning palaces and homes of the rich and famous dotting the lakeside, you can buy a ferry pass and hop-on-hop-off at your whim. Bellagio is my favourite for its beautiful Alpine setting, but I also love the old walled town of Como itself, with its fantastic cafes and opportunities for people-watching.

Staying with the ‘exploring by boat’ theme, it goes without saying that a gondola is the only way to go in Venice. Motorised water taxis may be faster, but even the most jaded traveller cannot help but be caught up in the romance of gliding peacefully along one of the lesser canals, with picture-perfect scenes of ancient bridges, tiny balconies jutting out from centuries old palaces, and locals going about their every-day lives. I always stay close to St Marks Square to fully immerse myself in the pulse of the city.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Rome was not built in a day, and certainly cannot be explored in a day either! The wonderful art, the Vatican City, the Trevi Fountain, and some of the most famous cathedrals in the world deserve all the attention they get. A touch of window shopping amongst the high-fashion boutiques of Via Condotti is also a truly Italian experience.

The fashion hub of Milan, the characters of Sicily, and a drive along the Amalfi Coast are more of my Italian delights, but let’s not forget the food! The Italians love their cuisine, and take great pride in regional specialties. Mamma’s pasta is always the world’s best, matched perfectly with the local vineyard’s latest harvest.

One way to see and experience it all is on a cruise – an exciting new port every day – and add on some touring. We’ve done just that with our ‘Best of the Med’ journey in August this year – join us for a taste of ‘la dolce vita’! PN

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VIVA ITALIA

CASA DEL GELATO

CRUISEABOUT PONSONBY CRUISES TO SUCCESS Cruiseabout Ponsonby manager, Sue Grigg, has been named Cruise Consultant of the Year at the prestigious International Cruise Council Australasia (ICCA) annual awards ceremony, held in Sydney last month.

Voted as the New Zealand winner by the cruise line members of the ICCA, Sue’s twenty years of experience in the travel industry and extensive cruising knowledge put her above the rest and she is ecstatic about the win.

As she told Ponsonby News, “To be recognised by New Zealand’s cruise industry is very rewarding. I love helping my customers book their dream holiday and to be rewarded for doing something I love is fantastic.

photography: Digipro

Few other countries have had a more profound influence on us than Italy. From cars, food, fashion, furniture, wine and general style. There are over 50 Italian influences around Ponsonby.

ACCIDENTO: Remember which side of the road you’re supposed to be driving on and you won’t need Adam’s local panel beating business. 18 Pollen Street T: 09 376 6449 www.accidento.co.nz ALESSIO: Located in The Ponsonby Foodcourt this is a genuine Italian eatery. Owned and run by Alessio Vicini, an experienced chef from Milan and his partner Elisa, they offer genuine Italian food - pizza, pasta, sweet and savoury crepes and of course the popular Saltimbocca. Finish your meal with good Italian coffee with delicious Italian tortes, baked on site by Alessio. 106 Ponsonby Road T: 361 6398 ALLPRESS COFFEE: A unique retail store on Ponsonby Road showcasing the Allpress specialty coffee selection. They spend a great deal of time roasting and tasting samples of best quality fairly traded Arabica beans from annual harvests to evaluate flavour, acidity, body and aroma of each unique crop. One of the best coffee businesses in the hood. 266 Ponsonby Road T: 376 4726 www.allpressespresso.com ALLPRESS ESPRESSO: The Allpress Roastery is located in Freemans Bay and is home to every part of the Allpress coffee operation, including green bean selection, roasting, packing, distribution, administration, technicians workshop and a barista training class room. Roasted beans are hand packed for despatch to cafes, espresso bars, restaurants and offices five days a week. Handcrafted La Marzocco espresso machines from Florence, Italy line the red brick walls within the spacious warehouse.

Cnr Drake and Adelaide Streets T: 09 307 5555 www.allpressespresso.com DIDA’S

The demand for cruising from Kiwis continues to grow year on year and I’m very proud to be part of one of New Zealand’s leading cruising teams.”

photography: Martin Leach

Fifteen awards across seven categories were presented to the industry’s top travel consultants and agencies at the gala event, with Sue beating out four other finalists to be named as the winner in the Cruise Consultant of the Year category. Cruiseabout Ponsonby also featured as a finalist in the New Zealand Cruise Agency of the Year award. PN Cruiseabout Ponsonby, 298 Ponsonby Road T: 09 361 6297 www.cruiseabout.co.nz

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VIVA ITALIA ANDIAMO: So ‘let’s go’ and enjoy a taste of Lemon infused Linguini: chorizo, marinated prawns, vine ripened tomato, basil, rouquette (DF).

Be spoilt for choice from the vast dessert menu offerings including Vanilla bean panna cotta, or the Affagato: two scoops of Kohu Road vanilla bean ice cream with a shot of espresso, Frangelico and hazelnut biscotti. 194 Jervois Road T: 09 378 7811 www.andiamo.co.nz

ASKEW: They have a comprehensive selection of Alessi’s innovative design products, for the home or as a special gift. The LaStanza bowl is a stylish addition to the kitchen table, and the Cico Egg Cup is a popular christening gift at Askew. Planning a trip to Italy? Then travel in true Italian style with luggage from the Mandarina Duck range, with a range of travel solutions from suitcases to briefcases, fashion bags and wallets. 2b Jervois Road T: 09 378 1414 www.askew.co.nz B+O CASA: Though b+o Casa’s focus is trade sales, the showroom has bits and bobs for everyone from home-ware items including candles, platters, exotic spa products to gorgeous linens from Italy. 302 Great North Road T: 09 361 1103 www.brasellojala.com

Illustration: Anna Creighton

ARTEDOMUS: New Zealand’s Leading Stone Boutique, supplier of stones like marble, limestone, natural stone, and ceramics. The range of products are chosen not only for their appearance but selected also on quality. The Artedomus products are specified by leading architects around the world. 302 Great North Road T: 09 361 1567 www.artedomus.co.nz

All washed down with a sumptuous Tuscany red. Mamma mia, bel cibo! 147 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 4528 www.chapel.co.nz CLOONEY: Boast a Tasting, Set, and A la Carte Menu. Try the Potato Gnocchi: sweet pea salad, 60/61 egg yolk, cauliflower and taleggio, or the Hawkes Bay Natural Lamb: aubergine, chickpea, milk curd and pistachio. With an extensive wine list, choose from one of the red varieties, such as a glass of Prunotto ‘Occhetti’ Nebbiolo d’Alba 2007. Clooney are open for dinner MondaySunday from 6pm. 33 Sale Street T: 09 358 1702 www.clooney.co.nz

COOK THE BOOKS: They are as passionate about food and dining as anyone could be. These days you will find them on Richmond Road where they stock a wide range of Italian cook books; ‘Made in Italy’ by Giorgio Locatelle, ‘Pizza Modo’ by John Lanzafame, ‘Cucina Napoletana’ by Arturo Lengo, ‘Two Greedy Italians’ by Antonio Carluccio & Gennaro Contaldo, ‘Italian Home Baking’ by Gino D’Acampo to name a few. If they don’t have the book you are after in store they will soon get it in for you! 139 Richmond Road T: 09 360 6513 www.cookthebooks.co.nz COVO PASTA PIZZA BAR: An authentic Italian restaurant, serving good Italian fare. Choose from the array of creatively named Pasta dishes such as the Benny “Bullet” a hearty dish of meatballs, mushrooms and tomato sauce, or a pizza such as Rita “Rocket” tomato, mozzarella and rocket. 137 Richmond Road T: 09 378 4500 www.covo.co.nz

BAMBINA: (Baby) Meet up with friends at this casual, relaxed breakfast and lunch café and enjoy simple food, using the freshest ingredients. Pop in and treat yourself to the Risotto – prawn, broad beans and lemon, or the Insalata caprese salad, a delicious pairing of Mozzarella buffalo with tomato and basil. If you’re on the run you can grab a coffee and a treat from the well presented counter food options. 268 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 4000

DANTE ALIGHIERA SOCIETY: Auckland’s Italians and Italophiles alike have a local meeting ground offering Italian language classes from pre-schoolers to adults, and further classes on varied topics like Italian cuisine and singing. The society also offers an interesting calendar of regular Italian events, concerts, parties, and festivals throughout the year. Membership is an affordable $15 for students/senior citizens $30 for individuals and $40 for couples/families, and a warm Italian welcome is guaranteed for all. Freemans Bay Community Centre, 52 Hepburn Street T: 09 376 3853 www.dante.org.nz

CAFFETTERIA ALLPRESS: Located within their Roastery, Caffetteria serves coffee prepared with expertise and a small offering of tasty Italian style sandwiches.

Their selection of freshly roasted blends and single origin coffees are poured down from the Roastery upstairs through ceiling to counter top hoppers and are available to purchase for home brewing. 8 Drake St, Freemans Bay T: 09 369 5842 www.allpressespresso.com

DELICIOUS: This Grey Lynn eatery offers Italian cuisine, an espresso bar, and dine in and takeaway. Their concise menu offers all things Italian and delicious ranging from the selection of Italian breads, Gnocchi and Pastas to Italian cakes and tarts.

472 Richmond Road T: 09 360 7590 www.delicious.co.nz

CASA DEL GELATO: Offers Italian - style gelato and sorbet. They have honed in on some imaginative flavours, with a variety of flavours and 12 sorbets. The staff are happy for you to sample as many as you like, as you make that all important decision of what cold treat to select on a hot summer’s day. 288 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 8457

DIDA’S FOOD STORE: Among the many exciting culinary curiosities brimming this local store are the finest Italian meats, breads, oils, pasta, cheeses and more. There is a huge array of exciting, innovative and inspirational products out there and the team at Dida’s bring them in for you to take away, or they cook breakfasts and lunch with them, or they package them up for you to enjoy using in your own kitchen.

CHAPEL BAR & BISTRO: Try any of the range of crispy Italian style thin crust pizzas.

A favourite is the Prosciutto with tomato, parmesan, roquette and balsamic reduction.

The Pan-fried Gnocchi with sundried tomatoes, olives, pancetta, spinach and white truffle oil is delissimo as is the Confit Tuna Bruschetta with white bean puree, cherry tomato, green olives, pimento and basil!

While the sun is still shining, head to Dida’s and they’ll help you select the right ingredients for your next alfresco occasion. Two local sites - Victoria Park - 118 Wellesley Street, T: 09 361 6157 and Jervois Road 54 Jervois Road T: 09 376 2813 www.glengarry.co.nz/didas CONTINUED P36

photography: Digipro

photography: Digipro

NOSH METRO

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VIVA ITALIA CONTINUED FROM P35 FORZA WORKS: A luxury European vehicle service for performance and exotic cars, conveniently located at new modern premises in Grey Lynn. The specialist team is trained to work on Ferraris, Maseratis, Lamborghinis, Fiat and Alfa Romeo. Forza Works’ Flying Doctor service New Zealand and Australia-wide means they can go anywhere you are. A highly experienced team, specialising in all mechanical repairs and servicing of European cars. 255 Great North Road T: 09 361 3657 www.forzaworks.co.nz GLENGARRY: For over sixty years Glengarry have been supplying the country with the best in wines, beers and spirits. Looking for an Italian wine? The list at Glengarry is

extensive, and they also stock Peroni beer. There’s an Italian section in each month’s wineletter (the Glengarry newsletter) and Glengarry staff are regularly trained about and taste Italian wine.

Then there’s the range – two of the team at Glengarry spent time in Italy last year sourcing the best of the best – check out the first of the new wines that have just started to arrive. 139 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 378 8252; 54 Jervois Road, T: 09 378 8555; corner Wellesley and Sale Streets, T: 09 308 8346; and 164 Garnet Road T: 09 360 4035 Williamson Avenue T: 09 360 0134, www.glengarry.co.nz CONTINUED P39

ESPRESSO ENGINEERS – THE COFFEE EXPERTS Espresso Engineers located close to Ponsonby Road, based in Grey Lynn, have been specialising in espresso machinery for over 14 years.

The team are passionate about helping customer’s create a perfect cup of coffee, learning every day the engineering idiosyncrasies that make this possible.

As Director Mike Gerbic says, “as well as looking after individual customer accounts, we contract service to most coffee roasters nationwide. We pride ourselves on the re-engineering of espresso machines for the New Zealand market in particular for the la vibiemme models.

“The New Zealand consumer has a taste for steamed milk, this adds new dimensions to the engineering designs of espresso machines. With our experience in multiple brands of machinery we can see where Italian manufacturers succeed and fail in component design. This experience enables our technicians to answer any questions you have about your own machine or advise on any new machines.

Our dedicated and passionate staff are here to help you with knowledgeable expert advice. Please call to see us anytime”. PN ESPRESSO ENGINEERS, 28 Crummer Road T: 09 361 2500 www.espressoengineers.com

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WHAT’S HOT AT SABATO

INSPIRED BY ITALY A celebration of all things Italian (or of anything, in our book!) would not be complete without food. Embedded within Italian culture, cooking and eating are daily rituals that bring people together. For Italians, food is just as much about pleasure as it is nourishment. With this in mind, below are a few Italian-inspired recipe ideas perfect for sharing – sure to satisfy the palate as well as the soul.

Our traditional basil pesto alla Genovese, a renowned Ligurian regional specialty, has recently been joined by two new additions to the range.

Our new pesto all’arrabiata is a silky blend of tangy sundried tomatoes, garlic, fresh herbs and a kick of chilli – Italy in a jar! Use as a base sauce for pizza, or fold through hot pasta with cherry tomatoes, pitted olives and capers. Or add a dollop to lift your next risotto, braise or pie filling. Gluten and dairy free, and vegetarian.

The other is a pesto with sweet peppers, sharp Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and chunky cashews, almonds and pine nuts. An ideal spread for crostini or crackers – or add to hummus or white bean dip to boost the flavour and texture. Mix with mayo or aioli and use as a spread for sandwiches. Add a splash of extra virgin olive oil, and use to dress steamed potatoes, roasted veges, or a simple green salad. Vegetarian.

If you’d like to learn more about Italian cuisine, Claire Aldous of Dish magazine is holding a Sicilian-inspired cooking class here at Sabato on 6 March – see the website for details.

And closer to home, another cause for celebration is the inaugural Cuisine Artisan Awards. Congratulations to all the winners and local artisan producers (many of whose products you’ll be able to find on our shelves) nominated – aren’t we lucky to be able to share in the delicious fruits of their labour! PN SABATO, 57 Normanby Road T: 09 630 8751 www.sabato.co.nz

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VIVA ITALIA CONTINUED FROM P36 GPK: We welcome Italian born, Davide Lovison, who has recently joined this popular eatery as it’s new General Manager. A world-wide inspired pizza menu, the Italian contingent has much to offer. Try the thin base Sicilian, traditional pepperoni, red onions, tomato, mozzarella, capers, anchovies & chilli oil. GPK also has an express lunch menu with some Italian favourites such as Spaghetti: squid, lemon, chili, and fresh basil. 262 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1113 www.gpk.co.nz

SPQR

GUSTO: The name means ‘taste’ in Italian and the owner has established a great name over the years. Choose from a selection of Antipasto and Starters, such as the Scamorza Al Forno: oven baked Italian Scamorza cheese topped with black truffle pesto, served with garlic bread on the side. Look out for the blackboard specials which change daily. Open 7 days from 5pm, and open for lunch Thursday-Sunday. Bon appetito! 263 Ponsonby Road T: 09 361 1556 www.gustoitaliano.co.nz

photography: Digipro

iL BUCO: (The hole!) A traditional Roman Pizza al Taglio (Pizza by the Slice) you’ll be spoilt for choice with a huge variety of pizza, using only the best ingredients. One slice, four slices, six slices 10 slices... it’s up to you! Il Buco also make Lasagne, soups and sweets. 113 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 4414 www.ilbuco.co.nz iL FORNO: (The furnace) Excellent local bakery/café with handmade ravioli, lasagne and nice pasta sauces, this is the place all the food writers can’t stay away from.

55 Mackelvie Street T: 09 378 0264 www.ilforno.co.nz CONTINUED P40

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PHIL PARKER: WHOSE WINE IS IT ANYWAY? DIDA’S

ITALIAN REDS

Having said that, Italian wines tend to be a bit of a mixed bag. Even the quality control system is fairly random; with the DOC (Denominazione de Origine Controllata) appellation not much of an indication of how good the wine is. It just says ‘the name of the area where these grapes were grown is controlled.’ DOCG is a bit better: (Denominazione de Origine Controllata e Garantita) - ‘the name of the area where these grapes were grown is controlled and we guarantee that’s where they came from.’

Italy has for many years been predominantly a bulk wine producer (second only in global output to France), pumping out gazillions of litres of fairly mediocre wines into Europe and beyond.

As a general rule, any wine produced south of Rome is probably not going to be of very high quality. Regions like Puglia and Sicily are hugely productive hot climate areas producing the bulk of Italy’s easy drinking lightweight wines – often simply called ‘Vino di Tavola’ – table wine, made from blended varieties. These wines are generally pretty good value, but nothing remarkable.

Having said that, there are some interesting wines worth seeking out in New Zealand.

Here are a few I randomly sourced locally: SAN CRISPINO CHIANTI 2002 $21.95 Sourced from the Auckland Fish Market’s wine ‘Cellar’. This one was a gamble – being ten years old, despite its DOCG label. Realistically, it’s pretty well over the hill age-wise but carries echoes of nice Chianti which should have been at its peak about five years ago. Has some nice raisiny and Sherry characters with medium tannins.

FARNESE MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO (DOCG) 2010 $17.00 The Abruzzo region of Italy is synonymous with the Montepulciano grape variety – and this wine is a very good example. Soft, extremely ripe and fruity – this is a great value wine which delivers the goods. Black currant, prunes and dark cherry flavours and spice with silky tannins.

SAN MARZANO PRIMITIVO PUGLIA 2010 $18.00 Primitivo is a robust wine which grows well in southern Italy. It is rumoured to be the same grape variety as Zinfandel – the mainstay of California’s blockbuster reds.

Similarly, this is a big wine with fairly assertive tannins but it is very ripe and drinkable, with cherry, spice and toasty vanilla oak influence. (PHIL PARKER) PN Phil Parker is a wine writer and operates Fine Wine Tours in Auckland. www.insidertouring.co.nz

CONTINUED FROM P39 INDICE: The home of Driade Italia in Ponsonby, which has been the wild child of the Skinners for over many years, along with the best of Italian design. Think Enzo Mario, Marco Zanuso Jr, Antonia and Miki Astori, Eduard Samso, Mario Bellini, Paola Navone and V Locatelli. And the good news is they’re on sale right NOW. You can beautify your home with a ‘Daphne’ vase by Giuseppe Chigiotti, these retail at $725 for grey and $545 for blue. 4 Rose Road T: 09 376 9167 www.indice.co.nz LAMBORGHINI: Don’t have a mid life crisis. Go out and invest the $350,000 + equity in your Ponsonby pad and buy the Gallardo. (Ga-yardo). Go on. You know you deserve it. Or looking to play big? then how about the Aventador LP 700-4. You’re only young once. At 60, at 50, at 40 and at 30! Independent Prestige, 120 Great North Road T: 09 360 3202 www.iprestige.co.nz LA PORCHETTA: Eat, live love Italian in Three Lamps. There they offer a great selection of pizza, pasta steak seafood and chicken dishes. You can dine in or take away and they are fully licensed. 304A Ponsonby Road (corner Pompallier Terrace) T: 09 360 0318 www.laporchetta.co.nz MAG NATION: Style lovers are regularly in here for their monthly dose of Italian ‘Vogue’ along with ‘Architecture and Design’. And the fashionistas are never without the bible of Euro fashion ‘Collezioni’. This is the bible of runway and directional high-end fashion.

123 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 6933 www.magnation.co.nz MALONEYS: Local ‘Barbershop Boy’ Julian Maloney kick starts his day with a flavoursome brew made from his very own La Pavoni coffee machine, and of course using Allpress coffee beans. A great rev up to get on with the day ahead. 192 Victoria Street West T: 09 379 3060 www.maloneys.co.nz MEA CULPA: With a real European feel and cosy back courtyard this place has THE BEST cocktails in town. 175 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 4460.

MEI MEI: Get along to Mei Mei to try on stylish Italian made shoes from the Fiorentini & Baker range. New stock available NOW! For the cooler months, you’ll find quality boots in leather, nubuck and suede. 282 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 0201 www.meimei.co.nz MILLY’S: Create a little taste of Italy in your own home and visit this supplier of quality kitchenware. Check out the new Italian cookware range, Essteele. These are world class products made from stainless steel with copper bases. The range includes pots, frying pans, steamers and stockpots. 273 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 1550 www.millyskitchen.co.nz CONTINUED P42 FORZA WORKS

photography: martin leach

DIDA’S

photography: Digipro

For all its distance - the wine, food and culture of Italy seem to have an endless fascination for Aucklanders. And not unlike the rest of the world, we have been eager to embrace panini, espresso, cappuccino, pasta, pizza, Chianti, Prada, and a whole bunch of other stuff ending in a, e, i and o.

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VIVA ITALIA FORZA WORKS - A LOVE AFFAIR WITH ITALIAN CARS Who better to keep your treasured prestigious, classic, or high performance vehicle in top condition, than a European trained performance vehicle mechanic?

Forza Works are a young and dynamic company lead by Sandro Zanforline and are highly experienced in all mechanical repairs and servicing, from engine, gearbox and carburettor overhauling to performance upgrading and tuning and all auto electrical repairs. They also have a Flying Doctor Service which means you can go anywhere in New Zealand knowing that professional and specialised mechanical help is not too far away.

Their specialist team is trained to work on Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Ferraris, Maseratis, Porsches and Lamborghinis and they are happy to look after your other European classic or race cars. Each specialist receives ongoing training carried out in Europe every year with current and new Ferrari and Maserati models.

At Forza Works they live and dream the astonishing craftsmanship of these cars. Together they take pride in making sure your vehicle is repaired, serviced, or restored to perfection. Sandro, an Italian, born in Germany, has worked at the Ferrari and Maserati service department at Continental Car Services in New Zealand, and Mille Miglia Motors – a specialist Ferrari and Maserati dealer in Munich Germany.

Italian cars have been and will continue to be a big part of his life, in and out of his prestigious Grey Lynn workshop. The world of European, especially Italian, cars is what drives Sandro. Book your vehicle online and enjoy the complimentary collection and drop off service. PN FORZA WORKS, 255 Great North Road T: 09 361 3657 www.forzaworks.co.nz

TANGO – FOOD THAT MAKES YOU DANCE ALEX ESCALANTE IS ONE OF PONSONBY AND GREY LYNN’S ‘UNDER THE radar’ entrepreneurs. He first appeared on the Ponsonby business scene when he opened his first business, El Framo in Mackelvie Street in1993. Frame makers of perfection. Then in 1996 he opened one of Ponsonby’s most iconic cafes Santos with his good friend Marcello. But not happy with their coffee supplier, Alex decided to take on larger premises in Mt Eden where he started Santos Mt Eden and Santos Roasting.

Alex is married to an Italian and this drew the couple back to Europe, Valencia, the Americas Cup, and their cafe specialising in local fare. Alex’s Argentinean birthplace is predominantly of Italian decent. Mix this with the Spanish, Croatian and Kiwi influences and Alex’s love of food and entertaining, it is easy to see why he needs to be in hospitality.

At Tango they have a range of delicious Italian inspired dishes and below are just a few examples of what you can expect to find on their menu.

BREAD: Rustic bread – home-made sour dough; Pizza bread – their own freshly made.

ANTIPASTO: Fangio – arancini, manchego cheese,olives, grilled eggplant, chorizo,hummus; Tango – arancini, meatballs, grilled vegetables, Spanish manchego, chorizo dips, tuna pastry, potato salad, quince paste, sundried tomatoes.

PIZZA: Salmone – smoked salmon, mozzarella, capers, cream; Quattro Formagio – tomato, mozzarella, provolone, gorgonzola, feta cheese.

PASTA: Cannelloni Spalato – made with crepes, tomato sauce, minced beef béchamel, mozzarella, grana padano; Lasagna di verdure – vegetarian lasagna with layers of pasta, tomato sauce, grilled courgettes and eggplants, mushrooms, silverbeet mozzarella, ricotta, grana padano.

Alex’s new Tango – Pizza Pasta and Wine Bar has been developed from a culmination of 30 years in and around food, wine and fun. Come and enjoy. PN TANGO PIZZA PASTA AND WINE BAR, 2A Surrey Crescent T: 09 378 7888

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THE ‘MISS JONES’ INTERVIEW CLOONEY IN FREEMANS BAY HAS BEEN QUIETLY BUILDING A CULTURE OF consistency for almost six years. Tony Stewart had an idea to create something we hadn’t seen before in Auckland, something unique, with its own individual personality, perhaps something you might see in New York or London. Part of Clooney’s success is owed to Tony’s vision. He’s the owner and Maitre d’ and you will see him most nights working the floor. He’s passionate about his restaurant, about the food, the wine and the service. He genuinely wants every customer to have a memorable experience.

CLOONEY

Tony had a bar called Match and one day he wrote down everything he wanted in a restaurant and nine months later Clooney opened its doors. It’s basically a concrete warehouse with leather banquets shaped into circles, with long black fringes hanging from the ceiling dividing the room and really low lighting creating intimacy. It is a simple formula and perfectly executed but Tony says the room can polarise people, they either love it or hate it. Fine dining restaurants tend to have white tablecloths and soft lighting leaving the food to be the focus of colour and style. At Clooney you get ambience too.

The food at Clooney is created by Des Harris and his team. Des has been Head Chef for four years and was previously at the Martinborough Hotel. Prior to that, he had spent six years working his way up to Head Chef at Logan Brown in Wellington.

He says “I had never thought about the aesthetics of a place before I came here.

We spend a lot of time and effort making our food taste great and looking fantastic so having great lighting and a beautiful setting does it a whole lot of favours. It adds to the overall experience.”

Both Tony and Des agree that the current team at Clooney is one of the best they’ve ever had. Des says his kitchen team are very involved in the menu process and he believes this is part of their success. “When you get the whole team involved, their passion flows through the food, they come together in the kitchen to make sure the whole service goes off without a hitch. I think this is the best team we’ve had at Clooney, front of house, kitchen and bar. Everyone works together to make it a worthwhile experience for the customer. Everyone is a winner then.”

The kitchen team has been together now for about a year and a half and have created what they call ‘Clooney’ dishes. These are menu items you won’t find anywhere else. Chefs have been inspired enough to come up with their own creations and have worked together to put them on the menu. This is an enviable situation as many kitchens don’t have the longevity with their staff for this to happen.

Des says “food is subjective, not everyone is going to like what I like and to keep the team interested my base philosophy is, it has to eat well. We make twists on classical themes but we follow rules e.g. Meat has to have jus, everything has to have the correct lubrication.”

CONTINUED FROM P40 MOTOMAIL: There is no better way to get around the city than by scooter and with a scooter from Motomail you can do it in style with the best Italy has to offer. They sell quality scooters from staple brands such as Piaggio, Gilera, Aprilia and the world famous Vespa. For all bike and scooter enthusiasts, the spacious showroom features a huge range of riding gear, equipment and accessories, offering the best quality helmets, clothing, boots, gloves, luggage and much more. 41 College Hill T: 09 379 9050 www.motomail.co.nz

Clooney is also fortunate to have Sommelier Natasha Parkinson overseeing the wine list. She puts forward a wine, it is tasted to see if there is an ideal food match and if it won’t make it, it doesn’t go on the menu.

The old world philosophy that wine is made to go with food is also the philosophy at Clooney, food comes first and when there is a new dish, wine is found that goes with it. Because there are a couple of different degustation options as well as a la carte, there has to be a wide variety of wine styles available to suit all the food and customer’s palates. Tony thinks Clooney is adventurous in its wine selections and says all their staff are well versed in the menu and wine list and can talk you through them with ease.

Clooney is involved in our community with Catherine Bell in the Garden to Table School Programme, which gives children a better understanding of vegetable growing and sustainability. “We hope to do things on site with the school, teaching skills in the kitchen, growing, picking, cooking and eating with the children. The programme will help to bring through a new generation who will have an appreciation for these things and even if only a handful gets it, it’s worth it,” says Des. Tony and Des are both passionate about food, wine and service and Clooney is a superb setting to showcase their passion. Their personal philosophies are reflected in their work ethic, Des says “be the best that you can be. If you don’t want to strive to be the best, why do it”? And Tony says “play to your strengths, you can’t be everything to everyone so be true to yourself.” (REBECCA JONES) PN CLOONEY, 33 Sale Street T: 09 358 1702 www.clooney.co.nz VALERIA AT STUDIO ITALIA

NEW WORLD: The only consistently well-stocked supermarket around with lots of Italian food products. What more can we say? They leave the competition standing.

2 College Hill T: 09 307 8400 www.newworld.co.nz NOSH METRO PONSONBY: This European inspired food store has a good selection of Italian bread, cheese, meats and more. Visit their deli section and put together a platter of Finocchiona, a fennel infused and salami, a selection of cheeses such as the Aged Pecorino, Tonini, a soft cow’s milk cheese infused with herbs or truffle, and Taleggio – it’s smell is bigger than its bite. 254 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 5557 www.noshgourmet. co.nz OCCHIALI OPTICAL: Like all good things Italian, Occhiali is a celebration of form and function. Stockists of Marni, this stylish eyewear is by the Italian fashion designer Consuelo Castiglion. You’ll also find a great range of Fendi sunglasses, to keep you looking cool for the rest of summer. 303 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 3073 www.occhiali.co.nz PANE E VINO: Owner Tito promises to deliver a number of regional dishes originally cooked by his grandmother. The crispy and thin pizza here is very authentic and there’s nothing better than sitting outside when the weather allows. 20 Williamson Avenue T: 09 360 0263 www.paneevino.co.nz CONTINUED P43

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LIZ WHEADON: WINE, GLORIOUS WINE

PIEDMONT – NORTHERN ITALY THE AREA OF PIEDMONT IS HOME TO MANY TREASURES, FIATS (MY NEW one was made in January 2012 in Turin – red convertible roof!) It’s the world white truffle Mecca. Then there’s rice, vitello tonnato, more delicacies and of course a range of amazing wines, including Barolo.

Last year I travelled to Barolo with our Wellington regional manager to visit existing producers and look for new opportunities. Arriving there, we both confessed to loving Barolo, but not really understanding the region all that well, four days in this beautiful part of the world sure did change that – I’ve now fallen completely in love with the region and can’t wait to get back there.

Barolo is a village in the heart of the region; it’s also a red wine, made from the Nebbiolo grape variety. Nebbiolo grown in Piedmont has similar characteristics in some aspects to Pinot Noir, with of course the noticeable addition of acidity. It is this acidity that ensures Barolo wine’s ageing potential.

We learnt a lot whilst there, importantly that there are key sub region differences in Barolo. There are eleven municipalities in the Langhe Hills, southwest of the town of Alba, within this area is the village of Barolo itself. When standing back and looking at the land, it forms a bowl with many different growing areas. For this reason, wines labelled Barolo, whilst all being made from the Nebbiolo grape variety and grown in the Piedmont region are often very different in character.

THERE ARE A FEW MAIN SUB REGIONS THAT TOOK OUR ATTENTION: LA MORA – The wines from this part of Barolo tend to be very perfumed, graceful, supple and can be drunk earlier than some of the other parts.

AROUND THE VILLAGE OF BAROLO – the wines are quite plush, supple, smooth and often quite easy going.

SERRALUNGA D’ ALBA – these are Barolo for the long term, Tannic, powerful and for lying down in the cellar.

MONFORTE D’ ALBA – this is home to the dark, rich, deep styles of Barolo, whilst the Barolo from Serralunga age well, the wines from this area are some of the longest lived.

CONTINUED FROM P42 PREGO: Try the Spaghetti Agilo: olive oil, black olives, parsley, garlic, chili and feta, truly Italian flavour. Prego offer monthly and daily specials, be sure to look out for these.

We envy all those outside eaters and drinkers. Those are the days! Long long lunches and dinners. Bring them back! 226 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 376 3095 www.prego.co.nz PURE RESTAURANT: On the menu, five entrees, five mains, five desserts, with some menu changes weekly. The pasta and gnocchi are handmade on site. Try the Gnocchi with goats’ cheese, olive and candied lemon, or from the entrees the very popular slow cooked octopus.186 Jervois Road T: 09 360 0714 www.purerestaurant.co.nz SPQR: (Senatus Populusque Romanus) At this iconic Ponsonby eatery you can enjoy a brunch, a great value lunch from the express menu, a pizza (think fresh tomato and basil with truffle oil pizza), or the Italian fish stew, simply Italian, uncomplicated and consistently good. 150 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1710 www.spqrnz.co.nz SALE ST: A great local bar and restaurant, where you can enjoy one of the delicious pizza’s on offer. Try the Calabrese: salami, gorgonzola and caramalised onion, or the Margherita: vine tomato, basil, and balsamic reduction. Open from 11-30am Tuesday-Sunday till late, and Monday 3pm-til late. 7 Sale Street T: 09 307 8148 www.sale-st.co.nz CONTINUED P44

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Following on from the time that we spent there last year, we have new and exciting wines arriving on our shelves, including new Barolo. HERE ARE A COUPLE OF MY FAVORITES: GAGLIARDO BAROLO 2006 – this is a new release from this family company, traditionally their Barolo are wines that you would want to pop into the cellar and leave for many years. This new release – affectionately called GG – is a Barolo made for drinking earlier, they have released it a little later, at an attractive value proposition and with a blend of sub regions, leaving out Serralunga – they feel that the strength of the fruit off this sub region does not add in the early appreciation of this wine.

FONTANAFREDDA SERRALUNGA BAROLO – featuring distinctive stripes – the same ones that feature on the buildings of the winery, this is 100% from the sub region of Serralunga, a strong powerful wine, one you would want to cellar, or decant and breathe before trying. PN Viva Italia! Check out more of what I did and tasted in Italy in my blog.

(LIZ WHEADON) www.e-liz.co.nz www.glengarry.co.nz

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VIVA ITALIA CONTINUED FROM P44 SCIASCIA BROTHERS: A local corporate identity and packaging design business.

Owner Ben’s great great grandfather emigrated here from Trani, married and had 11 children. Tragically his life ended being mauled by a bull. Amazing, but true. 56 Brown Street T: 09 360 0559 www.sciascia.co.nz SKIN INSTITUTE: The medical spa above the old Ponsonby Post Office is where you will find Pier Marzinotto, a doctor from Udine in Friuli, north east of Venice. 3 St Mary’s Bay Road T: 09 376 8888 www.skininstitute.co.nz TANGO PIZZA & PASTA BAR: Serial entrepreneur Alex Escalante has just opened, Tango, his latest enterprise late last month. Alex is married to an Italian and this new business has developed from a culmination of 30 years experience in and around food, wine and fun. This new Italian inspired restaurant is a welcome addition to Grey Lynn’s neighbourhood. 2A Surrey Crescent T: 09 378 7888.

photography: Jo Barrett

TESSUTI: (Fine linen) Create ambience in the home and be transported to Italy with the beautiful fragrant candles in the Tocca range. Freshen up your home ith fabulous throws, cushions and blankets from the Missoni range. 224 Jervois Road T: 09 376 4802 www.tessuti.co.nz VIDEO EZY: Complete your Fellini and Pasolini DVD collection with one of the finest selections of art-house and foreign movies in town. 160 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 6450

MEET THE LATEST LATIN AT GPK THERE’S A NEW LATIN LINK AT GPK PONSONBY. ALONG WITH ITS LEGENDARY pasta and pizza dishes, the iconic restaurant now has an Italian general manager, Davide Lovison – the one who’ll greet you with the widest smile on your arrival.

Davide brings an abundance of international hospitality expertise to his new post. He was born into the business, and has been in it ever since. His parents ran several bars and cafes in his birthplace, Padova, Italy. “I started in the kitchen when I was six years old,” he says.

It was a good training background: Davide went on to complete hospitality and business studies at university in Italy, before moving to London and working in key bar and restaurant roles in a number of top-notch spots. While he was in London, he discovered another love – a New Zealand woman - who is now his wife. The pair moved back to these shores in search of a better life for them and their two children.

Davide joins GPK Ponsonby after a stint at its sister restaurant in Albany. He’s also spent some time at the Millennium in Queenstown, but now he and his family are back in Auckland for good.

He has a way of keeping the customers satisfied. “There’s a simple formula to get people coming back: Consistently good food and service that is attentive but not intrusive,” he says. “The best waiter is almost invisible - the one you almost don’t remember visiting the table - but who gets everything done exactly when you need it.”

As general manager he’s responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the restaurant – and he’s got very exacting standards. With him now at the helm, diners can expect to continue to enjoy all the things they love about GPK, with some added polish. “I want to inject some laughter and passion – and to make sure everyone has a good time.”

Away from work, Davide is no slouch. One of his out-of-hours passions is ultramarathons. He’s also a keen cook. But don’t put a recipe book in front of him. “I’m a very bad person in following recipes. I just follow my instincts and my palate.”

GPK owner, Dominique Parat, says Davide is a valuable new member of the GPK Ponsonby team. Dominique also promises more change at the 17-year-old restaurant.

“It’s time to remodel,” he says.

“We are planning a major renovation: one which maintains appeal to our local and loyal clientele – but recognises the needs of 2012.” That means you can be assured that all the menu favourites will remain. But expect a few changes in décor and direction too. PN GPK PONSONBY, 262 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1113 www.gpk.co.nz

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WORLD BEAUTY: A little slice of heaven right in the heart of Ponsonby central.

Pamper yourself with Carthusia perfumes, Marvis toothpaste, Aqua di Parma candles and fragrance, and divine Nasomatto perfumes. The store is now stocking the new Fornasetti homeware range, and you’ll find various Italian objets d art, Italian books, Ceramics, Jewellery, Leather goods and lots more. 175 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 4544 www.worldbrand.co.nz

DEGUSTATION DELIGHTS AT DINE – THE UNCORKED WINEMAKER DINNER SERIES SKYCITY Auckland’s premiere fine dining restaurant, dine

by Peter Gordon is teaming up with the legendary Family of Twelve to bring the food lovers of Auckland the dine Uncorked Winemaker Dinner Series.

With events held every two months, dine by Peter Gordon will be hosting two different wineries from the Family of Twelve collective at each event.

Knowledgeable speakers from the hosted wineries will be present at the dinner to enlighten guests on the winery and answer any questions.

Degustation menus for the event have been specifically created in collaboration between the chefs and the winery adapting dishes to work alongside the featured wines, bringing out the flavoursome nature of both the food and wine.

The Family of Twelve is a collective of 12 family-owned New Zealand wineries that came together as New Zealand’s Wine Family. Since 2005 the group has worked together in key export markets to promote the high quality and regional diversity of New Zealand wines.

Danny Bucalo, SKYCITY’s General Manager of Food and Beverage says, “The combination of dine’s famous fusion menu created by Peter Gordon and our highly skilled chefs, mixed with the award winning wines from the Family of Twelve will create a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience for diners.”

DATE OF EVENTS: Wednesday 7 March – Villa Maria Winery and Nautilus Estate Wednesday 9 May – Kumeu River and Pegasus Bay Wednesday 11 July – Ata Rangi and Neudorf Vineyards Wednesday 12 September – Felton Road and Craggy Range Wednesday 14 November – Palliser Estate and Lawson’s Dry Hills Wednesday 5 December – The Millton Vineyard and Fromm Winery Spaces are available for the dine uncorked winemaker dinner series and seats for the first event are only $150.00 per person. For more information see www.skycityauckland.co.nz or contact dine by Peter Gordon on T: 09 363 7030 to reserve your space today! PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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VIVA ITALIA LEARN TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE photography: Michael McClintock

Why do Kiwis learn Italian? Apart from the vogue, the peculiarity, the mental exercise and the culture it’s always useful to speak the language of those with whom we have been bewitched.

ROMAN PIZZA AL TAGLIO AT IL BUCO IN 2001 JONNY RUDDUCK WAS ON HOLIDAY IN ITALY WITH HIS FAMILY AND while sitting on a beach south of Rome wondering what he was going to do with the rest of his life, the idea of a making very Italian Pizza struck him as the perfect thing to do. He came back to Ponsonby and nine months later he opened Il Buco making Roman Pizza al Taglio, which means pizza by the slice.

Jonny hired a Roman Pizza Chef and together they spent many late nights perfecting the recipes he had learnt at the Roman Pizza School, but when the Chef decided to go back to Italy, Jonny stepped in and made them himself. “It was hard going in the beginning, I was trying to do it exactly as in Rome and it took people a while to catch on. I just kept building on the solid foundation of providing a really good product, really good service and a really clean shop and now ten years later, we have a really loyal customer base.”

He has a long history of customer service, starting out as an apprentice chef at Orleans Restaurant with Dom Parat and Ray McVinnie. After a year he decided it wasn’t for him and joined the Navy where he learned his front of house skills which took him travelling and working overseas. Returning to New Zealand, Jonny joined KFC as a manager and quickly became their centralised training manager and then did a stint in the liquor industry in sales and marketing. “The week before I opened I had a flashback to every job I had ever had and even though at the time I wondered why I was there, I realised I had learnt something from every one. I had seen all aspects of hospitality from different sides and then it all came together so I could do it for myself.”

Italy is a perpetual fascination from which there is no escape, a country of colour and aromas, of inducements ideal and cultural that can’t be denied. The country ‘condemned’ to manage and conserve about 80% of the world’s archaeological and artistic beauty which, as much as it seems a clichè, renders it a prisoner. It’s precisely the Italian language, seemingly unimportant in a commercial world, that contributes in a very significant way to enchantment. With its richness of inflections and nuances, it’s a language that is applicable to declarations of love as much as tragedy, to complicity as much as humour.

Popular culture, including everything from Roberto Benigni’s filmmaking talent to Eros Ramazotti’s and Andrea Boccelli’s music to the best recipes for pizza margherita, is made even more enjoyable when you know a little of the lingua franca! As Donna Harris says, “I decided to take an Italian language course with Euroasia. During my recent trip to Italy it meant I had a better understanding of ordering food, booking accommodation and arranging transport. How nice it was to be able to talk to the locals and to know they appreciated my efforts to speak their language. Now I’m keener than ever to take more lessons.”

Euroasia Language Academy has been offering Italian classes for over a decade, with over 3000 Kiwis having completed one of our courses in the past five years. Ponsonby -ites will remember us from our years at 100 Franklin Road (with our flags prominently displayed). Now based at the Auckland Domain, we continue to offer European and Asian language courses. PN The next intake starts 5 March. Check out www.euroasia.co.nz or call T: 0800 387 627

Il Buco pizza is fast food, slow food style, using fresh local ingredients. The dough is made fresh each morning and the sausage too. Jonny says, “the secret ingredient is ‘love’ – it’s the attention to detail and passion for food that makes our pizza so good.

When a customer says it’s the best pizza they have ever had, it drives me along and keeps me motivated. When you feed people good food and receive their admiration it makes you feel good.”

Jonny has been asked to franchise Il Buco but he says if he ever did that it would dilute the product. “I don’t have any plans to expand because I think it is pretty special the way it is. People don’t see the effort that goes into this food and I’m not a greedy man. It’s not about being rich, I enjoy being part of the community and don’t want to open up in some other area and take my money out of it. If you want to live in a thriving community, you have to support it. It’s all about thinking local. I moved here about 20 years ago with my kids and I like to support my neighbourhood and they support me too.”

There is a new food venture Jonny is working on, which will be across the road in the new Ponsonby Central development opening later this year. It won’t be pizza and he’s not saying just yet, but if what he’s doing now is anything to go by we can look forward to something very special. He is excited about staying local and likes the idea of a market where people can buy everything they need without going to the supermarket.

“New Zealand has gone too much towards the American and British way of consuming pre-packaged products. I like the market mentality on a daily basis like what you find in Europe and I think this is a really exciting project for Ponsonby.”

Il Buco is much more than a pizza shop; it’s a community meeting place. There is an old school hospitality ethos that imparts flavour into the pizza. Many people connect here, to meet with friends, to say hi to Jonny, to eat pizza, to drink coffee or delicious hot chocolate. Jonny says, “People love to come here because we take care of the little things and that is what has made us successful in our community.”

(REBECCA JONES) PN Il Buco, 113 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 4414 www.ilbuco.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

VIVA ITALIA COOL OFF WITH A FINE DESERT AT CASA DEL GELATO PONSONBY

A LOCAL SLICE OF ITALY ON WILLIAMSON AVENUE

Founded in 2007 by Maria Pilot, Casa Del Gelato was an immediate hit and became a firm favourite in Ponsonby offering an ever changing palate of flavours of gelato and sorbet.

When you visit Pane e Vino, you’re in for a treat! The warm energy, the passion, the fun atmosphere and the delicious food will make you feel as though you really are in Italy.

The Ponsonby shop was the first one to open and is the flagship of all Casa Del Gelato stores in New Zealand. It’s now owned by Joe who took over the business in 2010. Since then Joe has made some positive changes putting his own mark on the store to make it a number one destination for fine desserts in Ponsonby!

At Pane e Vino they serve regional Italian-style cuisine, starting with classic antipasti, pasta dishes that are exceptionally flavourful using fresh ingredients, mains from the original Italian tradition and original thin crusted pizzas. The most popular Italian desserts are also available with different choices every week. Like all restaurants in Italy they serve daily fresh bread at your table and they use extra virgin olive oil from south Italy.

All their food is lovingly prepared on a daily basis and is delivered to your table using only the best ingredients.

The dedication to quality, originality and use of the finest ingredients and flavours direct from local processors makes the Casa Del Gelato product a real winner. Ingredients such as Blood Orange from Palermo, Hazelnut from Piedmont and pure Pistachio from Bronte Mt Aetna (acknowledged for the finest Pistachios in the world).The Gelato made using this type of Pistachio embodies the philosophy of Casa Del Gelato.

They go to great lengths to use all natural ingredients with no artificial colours or flavours, fresh milk and fresh cream, incorporating the best of New Zealand and Italy to create the unique flavours and textures of the Casa Del Gelato brand.

As local resident Michelle Buchanan says, “During the summer months my two young children and I frequent the wonderful Casa Del Gelato in Three Lamps. We have tried almost every flavour and still can’t decide which one is our favourite because they are all so yummy. We love you Casa Del Gelato!

Pane e Vino were voted best pizza in Epicure-Metro magazine 2009 and finalists at the 2011 Pizza Global Challenge competition held at the Langham Hotel.

Pane e Vino is the perfect destination for your next night out, whether an intimate dinner for two or a large group celebration. They serve lunch and dinner seven nights a week. Let the Pane e Vino team know if you are having a birthday to celebrate at your table, they will do their best to make the evening unforgettable.

Thanks to the support of all their loyal Ponsonby Customers Casa Del Gelato has grown into a major success story! PN

Pane e Vino owner Tito is proud to be actively involved with the local schools, Newton Central, Freemans Bay Primary, Grey Lynn Primary and Richmond Road Primary. Tito explains, “Pane e Vino supply these schools with our ‘lunch boxes for kids,’ which are made up with ‘Penne Bolognese’ and ‘Vegetarian Penne with Tomato Sauce’, just like we used to make in Italy. The ‘lunch boxes for kids’ are delivered to the schools in our Fiat Bambina.” PN

CASA DEL GELATO, 288 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 378 8457

PANE E VINO, 20 Williamson Avenue T: 09 360 0263 www.paneevino.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Fornasetti Black & White plates No. 233 Alligator, No.9 Maori & No.288 Skull $350 each @ Design 55 www.design55.co.nz; Alessi ‘Cico’ eggcups with Saltshaker hats $59 each @ Askew www.askew.co.nz; Star Shape Raviolamp $43.50 @ Milly’s Kitchen www.millyskitchen.co.nz; Colonna Granverde Extra Virgin Olive Oil with natural Zest of Lemons 1ltr $95.90 @ Sabato www.sabato.co.nz; Beechwood ravioli rolling pin $29.95 @ Milly’s kitchen www.millyskitchen.co.nz; ‘Daphne’ vases by Giuseppe Chigiotti Grey vase $725 & Blue vase $545 @ Indice www.indice.co.nz; Carthusia ‘Corallium’ & ‘1681’ 100ml EDP perfumes originating from the Isle of Capri $219 each @ World Beauty www.worldbrand.co.nz

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WE CANT LIVE WITHOUT...

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT FT Missoni ‘Meala’ orchid bathmatt $352 each @ Tessuti www.tessuti.co.nz; Alessi ‘Pummaroriella’ Pizza plates (set ( t of 2) $89 @ Askew www.askew.co.nz; Aluminium Ravioli ound $24.95 each @ Milly’s Kitchen www.millyskitchen.co.nz; www millyskit Stamp with ejector Square & Round In pictures 20 years ‘Dolce & Gabbana’ by Sara Mower $250 @ World Beauty ‘Muran Glass’ Gl www.worldbrand.co.nz; Largee Handblown ‘Murano Bowl $595 @ Askew www.askew.co.nz.

STYLING: Jay Platt; PHOTOGRAPHY: Danilo Santana David, Fisher Santanta PN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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DAVID HARTNELL’S ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL GALVIN WHAT DO YOU HATE IN PEOPLE? Bullying.

The talented Michael Galvin lives in the Ponsonby area and was one of the original cast members of Shortland Street, appearing as Chris Warner in the very first episode on 25 May 1992. Michael can also sing, a skill that his on screen alter ego Chris Warner has demonstrated in many Shortland Street talent quests and musicals.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE IN PEOPLE? Kindness.

YOUR BIGGEST CHAT UP LINE WHEN SINGLE? How much?

INVISIBLE FOR A DAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? I would find some rich, powerful figure who claimed to have God on his side and follow him around all day whispering ‘This is God. I want you to give everything you have to charity and work as a missionary for ten years.’

FAVOURITE HOLIDAY TO-DATE? Coming up to Auckland from Wellington with my family when I was little. So tropical and metropolitan. It’s a very big place when you’re little.

FIRST ACTING JOB? A safe sex TV special.

THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED? There is nothing to fear.

WHICH WAS THE WORST? One year instead of going to Auckland we went to Ekatahuna and stayed on a farm. It sucked so much.

ONE THING LIFE HAS TAUGHT YOU. Don’t worry so much.

FAVOURITE STYLISH PLACE? The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

GREATEST REGRET? Worrying too much.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF WHAT WOULD IT BE? Worry less.

YOUR MOST CHERISHED FASHION ITEM? I don’t really cherish any of them.

I’m a bit ignorant when it comes to fashion.

I think I need some advice, David.

WHAT DRIVES YOU? I want to be happy.

Of course, the best way to be happy is not to try to be happy. No wonder I worry.

IF YOUR HOUSE CAUGHT FIRE, WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD GRAB? My daughter. If she was somewhere else at the time I’d grab my phone.

FAVOURITE SONG ON YOUR IPOD? This

by Brian Eno. WHICH FEMALE COMIC DO YOU ADMIRE? Kristen Wiig because Bridesmaids is genius.

NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT? My iPhone. I was very dismissive of them until I got one and now I’m totally dependent.

DID YOU COME FROM A SHOW BUSINESS BACKGROUND? No, I came from a civil service background. My Dad was a civil servant and so are both my brothers.

WHICH BOOK COULD YOU READ OVER AND OVER AGAIN? Anything by Eckart Tolle. I’m an acolyte.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF HUMOUR? Eclectic.

HOW WOULD YOUR BEST FRIEND DESCRIBE YOU? Indecisive.

WHAT STAR SIGN ARE YOU? I’m a Capricorn. We are, apparently, boring and pragmatic and the star sign least likely to believe in star signs, so I’m typical in as far as I don’t believe in star signs.

HOW BIG IS YOUR TV? 40 inches of incandescent love. One is all the love I need.

WHICH TV SHOW WOULD YOU NEVER MISS? Downton Abbey. It is just so utterly awesome.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING YOU’VE GOT FREE? In the early days of Shortland Street it played in England on some obscure channel and they flew me and Angela Dotchin to London to promote it. Awesome. Nowadays I’d be lucky to get a taxi chit.

WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY YOU IN THE MOVIE OF YOUR LIFE? Shane Cortese.

FIRST JOB? A holiday job at the Reserve Bank counting old money before it was destroyed.

WHO WOULD YOU TURN GAY FOR? David Bowie because he’s not gay anymore so I probably wouldn’t have to deliver on my promise as it were, and he was to me, when I was growing up, a kind of God, so if I absolutely have to turn gay for someone it might as well be a God.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE NEW ZEALAND’S PRIME MINISTER FOR A DAY? Sever all connections to ACT.

IF YOUR DAUGHTER WANTED TO BE A COMIC, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE HER? If she wanted to be a comic I would go on and on about what a brilliant idea that was and how much I really, really wanted her to be a comic when she grew up, or at least something else unreliable and unstable in the entertainment industry.

This would ensure that she did the opposite, like being a doctor or a lawyer.

YOUR HEROES. My acting hero is Stuart Devinie, a Kiwi actor who’s done everything.

He’s a brilliant actor and a brilliant person.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF NAKED? Put your clothes back on.

(DAVID HARTNELL MNZM) PN

50 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2012

WHAT IS YOUR MANTRA FOR SUCCESS? Don’t be afraid to fail.

WHAT WOULD YOU CALL YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY? It’s That Guy Off Shortland Street.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE ROELANTS

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THE PONSONBY BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ OUT IN KINGSLAND CHANGES CAN BE EITHER FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE AND IN THE CASE of the former Ponsonby Post Office the change is definitely for the better. The new Post Office is more comfortable, better laid out and has a more cheerful atmosphere than the former’s cavernous interior with its heavy brown linoleum and high windows that didn’t let in enough light. Mind you it had served the community well from 1912 until 1997. At the beginning of this period Post Offices were an important part of most communities. They were usually the only place with a telephone; the place to send telegrams, money orders and of course, mail. Pensions were collected there and all manner of government paperwork such as car and dog licenses were dealt with. Often they were the only banking facility available and so the old Ponsonby Post Office was of immense importance to the community and a source of local pride.

In 1920 the Ponsonby Post Office was also the focus of twenty-five year old, Denis Gunn. He followed the postmaster, Augustus Braithwaite to his house on Shelley Beach Road and shot him dead with a 38 revolver. He then stole the Post Office keys, burgled the the strong room, and disposed of three cash boxes in a ditch which were found later. Use of fingerprinting in forensic science had been developing for some time and was starting to result in criminal convictions. A smudge left on one of the stolen cash boxes matched the prints Gunn had contributed to the nascent New Zealand fingerprint library when he had been convicted of evading military service two years before. Using this connection, a police search of Gunn’s premises turned up a revolver with another matching print and more pilfered goods from the strongroom.

His trial was one of the earliest cases in the world that resulted in a conviction on fingerprint evidence alone and made global headlines. Gunn was found guilty and ended his days on the gallows at Mt Eden prison.

THE RECENT RUGBY WORLD CUP PUT KINGSLAND FIRMLY ON THE MAP as a popular social destination. Keenly patronised by foodies, coffee lovers and a haven for young ones wanting some of the action, Kingsland has much to offer in terms of bars, smart eateries and ambience, not least some of the quirky and interesting shops along New North Road. The Kingsland restaurant and cafe scene is sought out by many of the city’s hipsters and cool young things looking for a place to meet for breakfast, hold a small business meeting or have a great night out. (PEGGY B) PN

WHAT IS OLD IS NEW AGAIN Atomic Café and Roastery is a Kingsland institution. In an era of super-sized lattes and extra-whip frappes, this is a place for people who are serious about coffee. A recent expansion and major redesign has transformed the café into a modern industrial space with long communal tables and floor to ceiling windows which make this the perfect spot to watch the world pass by.

Moving on from tragedy, the building remains a splendid example of Edwardian Baroque architecture. It was designed by Government architect, John Campbell who was responsible for overseeing a great many buildings around the country, including the General Post Office in Queen Street and Parliament Buildings in Wellington. In 2005 it was purchased, refurbished and strengthened by developers, Layne Stephens Properties Ltd at a cost of one million dollars. The Auckland City Council retained ownership of the clock and undertook its restoration because it had been paid for by the local residents, then in April 2005 the ground floor opened as the fourth Belgian Beer Café in Auckland, serving a very different clientele from that of yore.

While corporate coffee giants seem to be popping up on every street corner, a visit to Atomic will assure you that the art of coffee is still alive and well. The shelves are packed with a wide array of gadgets and accessories – everything from tampers and coffee cups to syphons and Hario drippers.

The restoration has retained all the period features. There’s intricate plaster detailing on the walls, wooden panelling, tiled columns, and old fashioned chandeliers. Outside a walled courtyard has small stone tables and wicker chairs shaded by palm trees and umbrellas - the perfect place to enjoy the Belgian Café’s signature fare, fragrant pots of steamed mussels in creamy sauces. There are other Belgian Cafés dotted round the city in interesting locations. The old Mt Eden Post Office, built in 1886 is another wonderful building that now houses De Post and the historic Occidental re-opened in 1999 after a refit as New Zealand’s first Belgian Beer Café.

Bearing a striking resemblance to a science laboratory, the bunsen-fired syphon and Hario drippers are a kind of mixology for the coffee world which allows you to taste the flavours and subtle nuances unique to each bean’s origin.

Martin Read’s Auckland Pub Guide gives the Ponsonby Café star rating for beer, food, outdoors ambience and décor. He describes it as ‘a lovely conversion with a classier feel about it than the others, which does the beautiful building justice’.

(DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN

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The beans are all roasted on-site and they have now opened one of Auckland’s first dedicated Brew Bars. Following the international trend towards softer brewing methods, customers are offered the chance to try a range of single origins through a Chemex, syphon or V60 Dripper.

The brand new on-site kitchen is, quite literally, the icing on the cake. The wraps, salads and savouries are made fresh daily; the fantastic array of cakes and sweets will make even the most dedicated dieter toss in the towel. Atomic is truly a mecca for coffee fanatics. PN ATOMIC ROASTERS, 420C New North Road T: 09 815 4668 www.atomiccoffee.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

KINGSLAND FESTIVAL 17 MARCH

FUN AND FRIVOLITY AT THE KINGSLAND FESTIVAL THIS ST PADDY’S DAY WELL FIDDLE-DEE-DEE POTATOES, THE KINGSLAND FESTIVAL IS ON ST Patrick’s Day this year. You don’t have to be Irish - even those with no trace of Irish ancestry can claim that right on 17 March ‘when the green is worn and the shamrock is wet’.

Kingsland Business Society sees the annual Kingsland Festival as a way to build community and family involvement, plus to showcase local businesses. The fun starts at 2pm with the New North Road car park as a Kids Zone, including bouncy castle, Ferris wheel, face-painters and treats to eat until 5pm.

Auckland’s grooviest handcrafts will be on sale at the monthly ‘Crafternoon Tea’ market from 2-7pm at Trinity Church Hall. This isn’t your nana’s knitting we’re talking about!

Street performers and bands get underway at the rail plaza main stage from 5-10pm, with entertainment continuing inside venues including The Kingslander, Neighbourhood and Toro bars until late. Check for full details on www.kingslandnz.com or facebook/ Kingsland-Auckland. PN

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KINGSLAND FESTIVAL 17 MARCH GO TO THE FRIDGE AND BE AMAZED

IT PAYS TO KEEP IT LOCAL

Since first opening in 2004 The Fridge has become an institution in Kingsland. Ann Maree and Chris purchased The Fridge in 2006 and have managed to turn it into one of Auckland’s Top Cafés.

It’s a challenge they have taken on with passion, enthusiasm and commitment, yes six days a week for nearly six years is saying something!

Whether you’re buying, selling or renting a property in Kingsland the friendly faces of ‘The Locals’ are very familiar around the Kingsland neighbourhood and they know this area like the back of their hand. This enthusiastic and dedicated team, lead by Ruth and Lesley Hawes, continues to deliver exceptional results across the city fringe.

They are both passionate about quality and service, which shows in their extensive range of fresh healthy cabinet food options, excellent service and above all great coffee - thanks Karajoz. The large range of food on offer is astounding, a full breakfast menu, healthy deli lines, amazing salads to tantalise the taste buds, all the old fashioned sweets and of course not to mention the original famous “Fridge pies” These can be purchased frozen to take home. There are several gluten and some dairy free options for those with intolerances.

Their Ray White signage and yellow minis are familiar landmarks through the streets of Kingsland, Western Springs, Eden Terrace, Sandringham and beyond – and their success continues to be built on hard work, unbeatable service and a passion for people.

The Fridge also offers a day-time catering service, supplying a wide range of clients from the corporate sector to film production companies. For those who want to eat in, the many seating options include two dining rooms and a large outside area, with a courtyard that captures the all day sun.

Like Ann Maree and Chris the staff share their passion for excellence and are committed to making your time at The Fridge one to remember… for the right reasons!

Bring in this article and receive a fee cup of coffee with any purchase. PN

‘The Locals’ embodies the continued community involvement Ray White Kingsland has. The business practice continues to reflect their aspiration to add value to the community they are in. It has grown to have a high market share in residential sales as well as their established and highly successful property management business.

For unparalleled ‘local’ knowledge and experience it’s hard to beat these award winning professionals. The thousands of satisfied clients who come back time and again for a genuine and rewarding real estate experience, and confidently refer them on to friends and family, tell the real story. Needing expert advice on all and any Kingsland property matters? It really does pay to speak to a ‘Local’. To find out more about what ‘The Locals’ can do for you be sure to visit them online. PN

Monday to Friday – 7.30am to 4.10pm Saturday and Sunday 8.00am – 4.10pm

photography: Jo Barrett

THE FRIDGE CAFÉ, 507 New North Road T: 09 845 5321 thefridgecafe@gmail.com

RAY WHITE KINGSLAND, 437 New North Road T: 09 815 9008 www.thelocals.co.nz

THE FRIDGE in Kingsland has everything. Great food, friendly staff, two indoor dining lounges and a wonderful sunny courtyard.

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KINGSLAND FESTIVAL 17 MARCH STATE OF GRACE The ‘Sweet Hereafter’ collection - for Autumn/Winter 2012 from State of Grace – looks at feminine styling from a bygone era, from a fresh, modern perspective.

There’s a 1950s feel: nipped-in waists defined by fine fabric belts; full, flared circular cut skirts, three quarter sleeves and scalloped lace hems. Conversely, proportions remain modern – cropped, fitted jackets and flared silk tops work with waisted skirts and trousers. The collection’s dark winter colour palette is punctuated with deep rich red, bright peacock blue and a variety of the beautiful and eyecatching prints in which this label excels, and lace is renewed in bold colours. Can’t get to Kingsland?

You can buy State of Grace from their recently opened online store.

STATE OF GRACE, 509 New North Road T: 09 846 4333 www.stateofgrace.co.nz STATE OF GRACE ‘Admired Alibi’ Jacket, ‘Fresh Embrace’ Dress, ‘True Story’ Slip Dress

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MEKONG NEUA – FAMOUS IN KINGSLAND An institution in Kingsland, Mekong Neua has been serving up delicious Thai food with a difference for many years. It is a licensed and BYOW restaurant located in a 100 year old shop-house. A hip yet welcoming atmosphere is combined with warm service, an inspired wine list and award winning Thai and Laos food.

Positioned in the heart of Kingsland, Mekong Neua is only five minutes from Ponsonby and makes for a popular dinner destination for locals and visitors alike.

Mekong Neua means North Mekong. The restaurant’s theme is based on the love and intrigue of the Mekong River; imagine sitting in a restaurant either on the Laos side or the Thai side of the river, watching the sunset while eating delicious food with either a Beerlao or Singha – this is what this Kingsland restaurant is all about.

Mekong Neua is made up of several rooms that link the Laotian and Thai needs. The menu is a mouth watering blend of Thai and Laos influences with dishes that are designed to be shared. As well as traditional Thai dishes, the specialties of the North Eastern and Laos regions make it uniquely different to other Thai Restaurants.

At Mekong Neua their principal aim continues to be to serve delicious, fresh and authentic food in a clean and simple environment and to provide friendly service and most importantly offer value for money. PN MEKONG NEUA, 483 New North Road T: 09 846 0323 www.mekongneua.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY CARING FOR POST-SUMMER HAIR ALTHOUGH IT FEELS LIKE WE HAVEN’T HAD MUCH OF A summer to speak of, I’m betting that your hair is feeling the humidity, occasional dips in salt water and/or chlorine and generally being fried by hot tools like you wouldn’t believe! So it doesn’t give up the ghost completely as the temperature drops, it’s essential that you show it a little TLC. There are all sorts of in salon and homecare treats out there to get your hands on, as well as a new take on a still-relatively new friend, the Keratin treatment.

It seems a lifetime ago that the Keratin Treatment/Brazilian Blowout treatment first hit the beauty headlines, and boy the process and the time involved has come a long way since then. You can now get a completely safe, ultra luxurious treatment that won’t cost you the earth and involve hours of your time, and one I’ve recently tried – and fallen in love with – is the Blow and Go at Stephen Marr. This baby promises silky smooth, well-behaved, shiny, wavy or straight hair every day, all done and dusted in your lunchtime! Their Keratin formula is not only safe and non-toxic but will make your hair sleek and smooth in no time at all - think 45 minutes to an hour… including a killer blow wave!

I popped in to see my favourite blow out guy, Ivan at the Ponsonby branch of Stephen Marr, where the treatment was kick started with a cleansing Greens & More smoothie shot. Next, a relaxing pretreatment wash was applied to prep my hair, followed by the Keratin formula expertly applied section by section and then dried in. Finally, the aforementioned killer blow out completed the picture and I was on my way in - you guessed it! – an hour. Magic.

Kérastase salons have great In-Salon Rituals on offer for all types of hair, combining a relaxing massage with and intense treatment prescribed by your therapist.

Chantal Landais in Jervois Road are offering free diagnostics and prescription of the Kérastase Paris range, and when you buy the three fundamental homecare products you get a complimentary invitation to experience a ritual followed by a blow wave (valued at $90.00).

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L’Oréal Professionnel salons have an amazing new service called Fiberceutic, which works to restore the condition of chemically damaged hair. Designed to fill and plump the hair fibre (in a similar way to botox) this in-salon treatment fills the hair fibre from the inside, to consolidate and strengthen the hair structure.

Ideal for extremely damaged hair, this is a great alternative to cutting and lasts up to ten washes! To get the most out of the Fiberceutic service and extend the benefits between procedures you just use L’Oréal Professionnel Fiberceutic filling masque at home – too easy.

For at home care, Wella System Professional have After Sun Shampoo and Conditioner. The shampoo will gently cleanse your hair and scalp, as well as remove sunscreen and any traces of salt and chlorine that can damage your hair after being exposed to the sun. The conditioner takes things that much farther again, transforming your hair’s texture from rough and tangled to smooth, silky and super lush.

Joico KPAK Sun Therapy Treatment Masque is another goodie, an intensely moisturizing, colour-safe treatment masque featurings the highest concentration of Joico’s exclusive Hydroxy Sun Complex for the most effective strengthening and moisture replenishment. It essentially fills “holes” burned into the cuticle by the sun, leaving hair looking and feeling significantly healthier, shinier and more manageable.

Lastly, Italian sustainable beauty company Davines have just released OI/OIL, a killer multitasker after my own heart. The company calls OI/OIL “a refined, multi-functional product that offers the perfect combination of treatment and styling for all hair types”, and they aren’t kidding.

A true beauty potion, it’s designed for immediate results via some high performance ingredients, speeding up drying times without weighing down hair, and adding shine and softness. It detangles and fights the frizz while providing a restructuring, anti-radical and anti-oxidant treatment. And it’s ridiculously easy to use, just apply a couple of pumps onto your mid-lengths and ends and comb through if you’re using on wet hair, or slightly less if you’re using it as a finishing product. (HELENE RAVLICH)

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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ANGELA LASSIG: LETTERS FROM MAUDIE The monthly jottings of a free-spirited Ponsonby dressmaker of the 1920s, as imagined by Angela Lassig.

VERMONT STREET, PONSONBY 1 MARCH 1925

Dear Alice

Forgive my chitter chatter. I suppose I’ve been trying to put off the hat incident I know you re dying to hear about but which I inevitable - that you’re er happened. wish had never ment the train brought me home to Auckland I have been Since the moment ar word from William. In fact I can hardly bear to write his waiting to hear all refer only to ‘him’ and ‘he’ from this point on. Oh Alice, name and shall I have been wracking my brain and going through every conversation that ‘He’ and I had to try and deduce what I might have said or done to bandonment. As it has now been more than a month – and warrant my abandonment.

St. Valentine’ss Day did not provoke even a card from ‘Him’ – I have given up all hope of ever seeing or hearing from ‘Him’ again. Alice – please bear witness: From this moment on I do declare myself once again a single woman and plan to devote myself to my work, my friends and my family. udes Tiger and the cat. Did you And that includes receive any Valentines by the way? Good old Tom sentt me a lovely card that was the cover of a box of the most deliciously ourri. Don’t you think that scented potpourri. quite novel! You know Tom has the loveliest brown eyes.

I don’t think I’ve ever noticed before. evoting myself to my work, I’ve made at least Talk about devoting dren’s party frocks since I’ve been back from a dozen children’s Wellington. Most of the little girls (or should I say their mothers) or little skirts trimmed with overlapping petalled are asking for lle. I’ve made them in snowy white and in lovely soft flounces of tulle. e, yellow and green. And just like their mamas I’m shades of rose, hion wispy bits of tulle to twist around their little having to fashion shoulders. I’vee been making little crepe paper floral sprays of me-nots and daisies to pin to their waist sashes and roses, forget-me-nots ellow daisies for their hair. I had to make fancy wreaths of yellow es for two wee poppets and while they were dress costumes ere a lot of fun to put together. The boy’s tricky, they were ensemble wass based on Gainsborough’s ‘Blue Boy’, ightforward enough. But then I had which is straightforward lue Girl’ costume for to create a ‘Blue d no pattern for this the sister. I had any hours sketching and spent many aking calicos designs, making and drapingg the girl me up with before we came cceptable to something acceptable he fee made it the mother. The le but I do wonder worth my while why parents are prepared to spend such an amount – as much as one of my originals – for children’s party garb.

60 PONSONBY PONSONBY PARISH NEWS+NEWS March+2012

When I haven’t been busying myself with my business, I’ve been diverting my thoughts by indulging my passion for Hollywood. I got many very good ideas for my autumn and winter styles from ‘Manhandled’, the latest Gloria Swanson picture. Have you seen it? Gloria plays a girl with such a talent for impersonations that she gets offered a position impersonating a Russian countess in a stylish fashion emporium. Oh Alice…the clothes are sublime! You should see it for the styles alone! Of course her boyfriend Jimmy (who has been away earning his own fortune) spoils it all – as is the habit of boyfriends – and accuses Tessie (Gloria) of being ‘manhandled’ on account of her wardrobe of expensive gowns. Why she takes him back, after he realizes the truth of the m matter, I don’t know. Who wouldn’t want to be a Russian counte countess with an endless supply too even if it was all show? of silks and furs and jewellery too, I’ve resolved to offer red as oone of my recommended autumn colours although it is presently difficult to pre find fabrics in the shades I prefer.

“Germaine”, in her Paris report for the Evening P Post, reports the growing importance of red in the Fre French modes. While the more cautious are wearing th the colour as collars, cuffs and belts, others prefer it to w white as the most popular colour for eveningwear! I suspect that I shall be t making more accessories than red gowns and have already begun fashioning huge gardenias from a tomato red crepe that I fou found in Wellington. Don’t you think that there is so something quite disarming about the combination oof a strictly tailored frock adorned with a large, u utterly useless, but lovely ga accessory like a silk gardenia!

Please do let me g know if you see a good quality, well draping blood-red silk in N Nelson (I need three yards) conv as I hope to convince one of my loveliest brunettes, Vera, tthat she must add a ‘Le Garcon’* style in tthe newest colour to her wardrobe for the com coming season.

Do you remember the kim kimono crepes that I bought in Wellington? I’ve made m most of them up now into th evening jackets and have them draped decoratively around the studio for my cu customers to admire (and I’v kept a piece of the rose hopefully buy)! Now Alice dear, I’ve sen me your measurements crepe for you so make sure you send as I want to make yours fitted. It sshould be finished by the time you’re back in Auckland.

It will be so nice to see you again in person and to have a good long chat. Perhaps we could ggo for a long walk around o the Domain and see what’s in flower.

Until then, have fun m to Aunty Dot. in Nelson and say hello from me Thinking of you,

Maudie xx illustration: 99designs

I hope that you’re having a wonderful time in Nelson with Aunt Dotty.

It’s been such a long time since I visited her. How is her gout? I hope that she’s found an alternative to that fish paste she was using for it last time I visited. I actually considered sleeping on the verandah on account of the foul stench that seemed to pervade the very walls of the house! I swear that she was immune to it and of course it would have been ill mannered of me to tell her. I sent her a clipping of a new ointment that I found in the Star – hopefully, for your sake, she’s using that now.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE

JULIE ROULSTON

photography: Julie Roulston

Above: MYKEN STEWART and MARILYN SEYB; Below: PIETER STEWART and CHRISTINA SAYERS WICKSTEAD at the MARILYN SEYB opening.

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FASHION + STYLE

JULIE ROULSTON

TAYLOR – WINTER 2012 ENCLOSE COLLECTION This season the Taylor winter collection is designed based on a feeling of being wrapped and enclosed.

The range encapsulates the silhouette with beautiful textures that interplay with translucent volumes. These contrast opaque forms and question proportion. Origami like overlapping, tucked and folded textures wrap and drape the silhouette, contrasting against sharp cut edges and angles creating a unique and personalised look.

Colours are bold and strong and also interplay giving warmth. Papaya Oranges and Blaze like reds burn beautifully together, while Jade like tones create highlights against Navy and electric blues. These colours can be colour blocked together or strategically placed against our beautiful Neutrals and Charcoal Grey bases.

“You only have one reflection, regular skincare (treatments) with active ingredients will ensure its your best one!”

- STELLA WILKINS, FACE POTENTIAL

The forever in fashion Black becomes incredibly textured with beautiful napped Italian wools,Wide Pinstripes and oversized checks contrasting lustrous silk velvets and smooth surfaced polyamides. Textures interplay and create intrigue layered amongst each other giving depth to the outfits.

THE SEASON’S MUST HAVE: The soft silk shirt; The new length long line skirt; a long sheer or split tunic; the jersey dress; chunky yet soft and lightweight knitwear and a cape or coat to be enclosed in.

Vicki Taylor, concludes, “We look forward to inspiring you this season and making winter warm and wonderful.” PN TAYLOR BOUTIQUE, 20 Jervois Road T: 09 376 6544 www.taylorshop.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

DON’T MISS THE APRIL PONSONBY NEWS+ DEADLINE

COPY DEADLINE: Tuesday, 20 March PUBLISHED: Friday, 6 April (Please be on time, as any material arriving after deadline may incur a 20% surcharge)

SPECIAL FEATURES: planning weddings + fashion – autumn / winter + local real estate market TO BOOK ADVERTISING: ask about our special positions!

Jo Barrett on 021 324 510 or T: 09 361 3356 or 09 378 8553 E: joannebarrett@xtra.co.nz W: www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

New advertisers receive 250 words of editorial when booking a minimum of a quarter page advertisement.

BRAVISTA – LINGERIE AND SWIMWEAR MOVES TO THREE LAMPS Our neighbourhood’s one and only lingerie store, Bravista, moved from Jervois Road to Ponsonby Road in late January.

Bravista sells lingerie, swimwear, sleepwear, hosiery, resort wear, maternity lingerie and sleepwear, and men’s underwear.

Many of the ranges are exclusive to Bravista for New Zealand, and a number are European designed.

The new store has been beautifully transformed and Inger and her team of girls offer a personal, relaxed shopping experience. All are professionally trained to fit you into the correct size lingerie, with gift vouchers also available. PN BRAVISTA, 297 PONSONBY ROAD, T 09 376 4334 www.bravista.com

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FASHION + STYLE

JULIE ROULSTON MEET AUGUSTINE’S KELLY COE

photography: Julie Roulston

PONSONBY’S LATEST FASHION ARRIVAL IS AUGUSTINE, WHICH OPENS THIS month at 324 Ponsonby Road (Three Lamps). The three-year-old New Zealand label wholesales to 30 boutiques nationally, and the new Ponsonby store is the 3rd standalone Augustine store. Owner/designer Kelly took a moment to tell us about herself and Augustine Ponsonby…

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO WORK IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY? My absolute obsession with clothes. I get so excited about fashion that I couldn’t imagine working in any other industry.

DO YOU HAVE A FASHION BACKGROUND? Yes, I worked for New Zealand’s largest fashion wholesale company for three years before starting my own label with my husband Nathan. We saw a gap in the market for special occasion wear and luxe daywear at an accessible price point.

JERRY CLAYTON BMW PRESENTS PONSONBY NIGHT OF FASHION

WHAT IS AUGUSTINE’S POINT OF DIFFERENCE? Colour. We are very colourful and in this industry in New Zealand that is quite a unique thing. We also only make about 10 of each size in each style, so our label is unique and individual. Most pieces are between $150-$300.

TUESDAY 27 MARCH WILL SEE 10 OF Ponsonby’s most exciting fashion labels hit the ‘runway’ at Longroom as part of a fabulousness-packed event which will raise funds for Mercy Hospice.

WHAT DO YOU PREDICT WILL BE YOUR BESTSELLER? Our hot pink trench coat with retro floral lining is getting a lot of attention. But it always seems to be our special occasion dresses that sell the best - silk, one shoulder embellished dresses are always a favourite.

Andrea Moore, Carly Harris, Cybele, Egoist, Juliette Hogan, Robyn Mathieson, Storm, taylor, Yvonne Bennetti and Zambesi will show highlights of their Winter 2012 collections.

Kicking off with bubbles and canapes on arrival at 7pm and MCed by Dai Henwood, the fashion show - with Miss Universe New Zealand models, hair by Mods and Kokomo and makeup by Smashbox - will be followed by a Charity Auction. PN

WHAT DO CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT AUGUSTINE? We get amazing feedback, mostly because we are so different and colourful and the store really is a treasure trove of bags, shoes and dresses - what more could women want?! Women often think Augustine is some exotic foreign label, but no – it’s all designed in New Zealand and they like that. PN AUGUSTINE, 324 Ponsonby Road www.augustineinternational.co.nz

TICKETS ($55) ARE LIMITED, SO GET YOURS QUICK! Buy them online at www.iloveponsonby.co.nz or phone the Ponsonby Business Association on T: 09 3092 007.

WIN DORIS DE PONT’S NEW BOOK Black: History of Black in Fashion, Society and Culture in New Zealand has just been launched, and Ponsonby News has a copy of the beautiful hardback to give to a Ponsonby News reader. Simply answer the poll on the Ponsonby News Facebook page and tell us why YOU love black – our favourite answer gets the richly illustrated collection of 10 essays.

BLACK is published by Penguin Group (NZ) and retails at $59.99.

ZAMBESI

64 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2012

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF OMEGA-3 KRILL OIL SINCE THE DISCOVERY THAT INUITS (ESKIMOS) HAVE LOW RATES OF heart attacks, research has established a relationship between eating oily fish and cardiovascular disease. The more oily fish you eat, the lower the risk. Unfortunately most people don’t eat enough fish to get this benefit. Omega-3 supplements, particularly fish oils are one of the most popular supplements in the world. They have been shown to protect the heart by lowering blood pressure, improving the profile of fats in the blood, as well as reducing the stickiness of the blood vessels and platelets.

At the Liggins Institute we are interested in the effects of Omega-3 on how the body processes sugar from food. This is important as problems with sugar metabolism may lead to Diabetes, a major problem in New Zealand. We are looking for participants in a clinical study examining these effects in healthy men aged 35-55 with a body mass index of 25-30 (your weight (kg) divided by height (m) squared). Participants will take Krill oil capsules for eight weeks and placebo capsules for eight weeks. During the study they will have tests including blood pressure, a blood test and body composition.

You can be part of an exciting research trial that will add scientific knowledge about Omega-3 oils and may lead to a new form of diabetes prevention, while you learn about your own metabolic profile. (Dr Ben Albert is a research fellow at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland).

For more information please contact Dr Ben Albert or Christine Brennan (details in the advertisement). PN

SUPER NATURAL BY DESIGN - SUPER COOL BY INCLINATION Your teeth are a vital health and beauty asset. Their power should never be underestimated. If you have been unlucky enough to lose some or all of your teeth, help is at hand. Ron Winter can make you feel fabulous again.

and accurately mimic natures’ vital principles of balance, shape and surface texture, only when this is achieved will they improve both health and beauty.

Ron initially trained at London Universities’ University College Hospital Dental School and The Eastman Dental Institute before establishing his first private laboratory in London’s prestigious Harley Street. A dedicated perfectionist, his high standards are renowned throughout New Zealand and his home town of London.

He has an impressive list of the rich and famous he treated during his London days from film stars, musicians and British and foreign aristocracy.

His skills have been hard earned and honed over years of practice. Every aspect of his work is a celebration of hand and eye perfection. “I am very proud of my abilities and expertise,” says Ron “Having a clear comprehension of the uniqueness of each individual’s teeth is paramount to my philosophy. Being able to apply this knowledge is what sets me apart. It’s not enough to have the knowledge or the skills or even the experience, though without all of that I wouldn’t get far. What is absolutely paramount, is having the determination to achieve a devastatingly beautiful and natural result.” PN

Good looking teeth can make an enormous difference to a persons self esteem and confidence, but they must be carefully made. Teeth need to be precisely positioned

SEASIDE DENTAL LABORATORY, T: 09 489 1623 appt@fabulousteeth.co.nz www.fabulousteeth.co.nz

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HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: HOT NAIL TRENDS FOR 2012 Like your lips, your nails are one of the best places to have a little fun beauty-wise, without breaking the bank or getting stuck with anything permanent that will see you donning a burqa for the foreseeable future!

A great manicure or pedicure can also add that little extra polish to your overall look, and the route you go down can be an expression of your own personal style modus operandi.

Gel-hybrid polishes are the pick of the bunch for almost every woman I meet these days, in particular for pedicures where they go the distance like no other.

The best answer for summer, quality products like Artistic Color Gloss, OPI Axxium and Shellac won’t chip or get damaged by contact with sand, and retain a high shine that has to be seen to be believed. They have to be professionally applied and removed, but for a perfect polish that lasts up to two weeks I’m not complaining!

My personal favourite is Artistic Color Gloss, which is a soak off gel system created

by Tom Bachik, one of the top manicurists in the world (Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham are clients). It really is the ultimate long-lasting non-peeling, quick light-cured, chip-proof manicure that provides a super-shiny finish. It’s fast as well as beautiful looking, and applies almost thinner than a normal nail polish. There is no obvious thickness like some other gel products on the market, and Color Gloss does not fade.

Removal consists of soaking a pad in an acetone-based formula, applying to the nail plate and wrapping in tinfoil for ten minutes. As well as the great features I’ve just outlined above, what drew me to this product was the insane amount of shades on offer, with more arriving almost every week. Need that perfect mushroom-y beige or statement lilac? You’ll find it in the Color Gloss collection, guaranteed.

When I spoke to nail guru Petrina Martin about trends in the industry right now she told me “nail art and blush tones are what we’re really seeing increasing in popularity right now,” two styles of manicure that are most definitely at the opposite end of the aesthetic spectrum. French is falling out of favour, but the likes of stick-on Minx nails are becoming the easiest way to have a little fun.

Minx nails don’t chip and last for about a week and a half to two weeks, and when you’re ready to take them off you just heat them gently with a hair dryer until they are soft and floppy, then peel them off with zero damage to your nails. A hairdryer can also be used if they start to lift, fusing them back to your nail.

Minx is seriously a lot of fun, and if you’re going to have fun with your beauty look then playing with your nails is definitely a safe place to start. Hey, if it’s good enough for Gaga… then it’s definitely good enough for me. (HELENE RAVLICH) PN

I’ve had some great manicures in my time, but none have elicited such a huge reaction from strangers as my first encounter with Minx. Within five minutes of leaving my appointment with a set freshly applied, I had not one but two women stop me in the street and say, ”wow… I love your nails!” Admittedly the Minx nails I had chosen were pretty eye catching – the animal print Golden Lightning Cheetah, the top seller worldwide – but when having nail art applied I don’t see the point in doing subtle!

Popular with the likes of Rihanna and MIA, my cheetah-print nails were applied in less than 45 minutes, mainly because – despite its perfect finish – Minx is not nail polish at all. Instead, foil appliques are applied to each nail and sealed in by a heat lamp after a thorough prep of your nail bed and cuticles etc. They are then filed to fit your natural nail shape and length, which for me is a reasonably short “squoval” i.e. a squared off oval.

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

EMMA FOLEY AND FIXY YOU COULD SAY THAT FIXY WEBSITE FOUNDER EMMA FOLEY WAS BORN TO work with beauty. The seriously glamorous Ponsonby mum describes herself as being “born into the salon, quite literally! My mum was a hairdresser and I spent time in them from a very early age, working after school and watching what was created there.”

Despite this fact, she shied away from a career as a stylist, but soon found herself working in the management side of hairdressing, working her way up to a position as Operations Manager for Servilles after taking care of the day to day business of salons in Wellington and Auckland for several years. “I trained in beauty therapy and makeup as well,” she adds with a laugh, “but soon realised I loved having treatments done on me much more than I loved doing them myself!”

Fast-forward a few years and Emma has just launched her own beauty-based business venture, the website known as FIXY. FIXY describes itself as “your booking site for luxury hair and beauty appointments with New Zealand’s most exclusive salons”, along with being a showcase for talents coming up within the industry and purveyor of insider tips.

She left Servilles – which she describes as “an incredible time in my life, I rate my experience there and the company so highly” – when she fell pregnant with her son Rupert (now five months), and started focusing on creating her own business. “I knew I didn’t want to open my own salon,” she says, “but I did want to stay in the industry and use the skills I had learned in some way, shape or form.”

At the same time as she was brainstorming what she’d like to do, the online “daily deals”-type phenomenon was hitting New Zealand, “and I saw what they were aiming for but thought there must be a better way of offering that type of service for salons, whilst still preserving the integrity of the industry.”

She says that FIXY aims to solve both clients’ and salons’ problems, “as salons have times during the week when they are quiet and not all of us can afford to pay full price when it comes to our hair.” FIXY allows you to gain access to preferential prices during off-peak appointment times, “and is perfect for a new mum like me that loves having her hair professionally styled but has come down to one income – it’s a win -win situation!”

She says that the core purpose of the website is searching for and booking appointments, but she’s working on developing editorial content that gives visitors so much more. “I always wanted it to be a platform for talented people within the hair and beauty industries to showcase what they do,” she says, “so we’ve started putting shoots up for people to get inspired about and hopefully make a booking.”

“The next city we’ll be working with is Wellington,” says Emma, “which is my old stomping ground so I’m really happy to be able to show what stylists there can do.”

The overall feel of the site is like a fashion magazine with a strong emphasis on hair and beauty, “and the benefit is being able to book appointments then and there, in real time.” She’s already working with some great, locally based photographers, hair and makeup artists, and the plan is for FIXY to eventually go nationwide.

“I’m so passionate about the hair and beauty industry in New Zealand and the talented people who work in it,” the brunette dynamo says with a smile, “and I want FIXY to be a tool that they can use to increase their clientele and show what their staff are capable of creatively. It’s a pretty exciting time!” www.fixy.co (HELENE RAVLICH) PN

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EMMA FOLEY with Coco

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HOROSCOPES

MISS PEARL NECLIS

♈

Aries (the Ram): 21 March - 20 April Your concerns about your career certainly won’t improve if you carry on being so controlling. You want to be seen in the best light but that might not happen if you refuse to let others shine too.

♎ Libra (the Scales): 24 September - 23 October You might have a genuine gripe with your other half but you need to lighten up a bit and let it go, constantly criticising isn’t helping. Relationships are complicated but you don’t have to give in to make things better.

♉ Taurus (the Bull): 21 April - 21 May ♏ Scorpio (the Scorpion): 24 October - 22 November You will have an abundance of energy coming your way shortly use it wisely and you You need to have your wits about you as deception comes in all forms especially where will be more productive. You don’t have to make a plan when your future is so fuzzy.

♊ Gemini (the Twins): 22 May - 21 June

There is some activity around you that suggests you might need some time away from home. If you can take advantage of the situation and go away then do so knowing it’s only temporary. We all need time to refresh and restore our lives and yours is about due.

♋ Cancer (the Crab): 22 June - 22 July You dream about getting away from it all and having some serious me time, instead you

will just have to make do with your imagination and let it run wild for a while before you have to get serious and focus.

♌

Leo (the Lion): 23 July - 21 August You shouldn’t find any shame in seeking other people’s opinions especially when good advice is forthcoming. You may think that if you sometimes show signs of weakness then you’re vulnerable but it could also turn out to be your greatest strength.

♍ Virgo (the Virgin): 22 August - 23 September The next few weeks could see you coming into some money providing you are prepared to take risks that are outside your normal working week. Listening to ideas from friends and family are usually where your ideas come from and could end up paying dividends.

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affairs of the heart are concerned. You are usually quite good at spotting dishonest types but some people are quite clever.

♐

Sagittarius (the Archer): 23 November - 22 December You’re very good at taking in the big picture and heading straight for the end result but you need to start filling in the detail a bit more. If this requires a new way of working then take your time and absorb what you’re doing before returning to a project.

♑ Capricorn (the Goat): 23 December - 20 January

The decisions you make where your finances are concerned will surprise many people as generally you make considered and safe choices. However for once you are determined to cause a stir.

♒

Aquarius (the Water Carrier): 21 January - 19 February A too hectic lifestyle isn’t compatible with the life you want to lead. Cancel anything that isn’t considered life threatening. Ruthless as this may be you’re busy enough as it is without adding to your workload.

♓

Pisces (the Fish): 20 February - 20 March Change does not come easily to you and with your horizons expanding it is coming.

You might not be making as much progress as you would like as you’re using all your spare time to do favours for everyone else. PN

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CLARE CALDWELL

THE ART OF LIVING

As children experiencing intense fear, anger, grief, or loss, we feel overwhelmed - out of control. Our instincts drive us into survival mode - avoidance, suppression and denial - with their unconscious subtext and premise: “If I don’t think about it, it’ll go away.” These early defence mechanisms, if developed as coping strategies during childhood, often extend into the teenage years, early adulthood and beyond, as perceived protections against pain and suffering.

Why doesn’t avoidance, suppression and denial of feelings make them go away and allow us to feel better? Very simplistically, negative emotions that haven’t been fully faced and understood in origin, in the moments they arise, don’t completely dissolve and go away. They leave behind an imprint of pain. If not given opportunities to safely and appropriately process these overwhelming emotions as they happen, with a trusted adult or therapist, these unconscious and unresolved early imprints can be re-triggered in all manner of situations throughout our lives.

They can become deeply embedded in our body – psychologically and somatically.

They become our “buttons”.

So how do we access these imprints of pain and begin to understand them contextually in order to begin healing and releasing them? Art therapy can be very useful here. Holding on to negative stuff internally isn’t good for any of us, on any level. Children, teenagers, adults, the elderly – can all benefit from engaging in painting, drawing, etc. as ways of “saying” and releasing for gentle scrutiny what our bodies already know on a deep level but can’t or won’t articulate. (It’s especially helpful for young children who haven’t the developed language skills to express complex overwhelming feelings in words).

By jumping in and engaging with our creativity intuitively and not “over-thinking” it we can bypass years of layered often unconscious defence mechanisms and coping strategies, that have (ironically) contributed to our demise. Externalising raw feelings onto the page takes some of their power away and creates a safe distance from which to observe them. Working over a period of time with an art therapist as witness and guide, a deeper understanding of why we feel as we do can begin to unfold, as new and previously unrealised contexts are discovered, realised and validated. With trust and insight we can begin the journey of slowly revealing ourselves to ourselves. PN CLARE (CLAUDIE) CALDWELL is a Creative Arts Therapist who runs a small private practice from home. She is Voluntary Team Leader of Creative Therapies at Mercy Hospice Auckland, College Hill where she has worked for the last ten years.

She is also a Freelance Artist.

RUBY Autumn / Winter 2012 campaign shots, with hair by the exceptionally talented DANNY PATO.

Enquiries: T: 09 836 3618; M: 021 293 3171; E:clare.e.caldwell@gmail.com

DANNY PATO OF D&M FOR RUBY HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THESE RUBY AUTUMN / WINTER 2012 CAMPAIGN shots, with hair by the exceptionally talented Danny Pato? Ruby designer Deanna Didovich tells Ponsonby News “I wanted something soft and super natural to contrast the strong structured shapes and bold colours in the collection.”

Danny laughs as he says that creating a beautiful, simple healthy hair look is harder than a statement look or an undo. He applied Moroccanoil from the middle to the ends of the damp hair, then blew dry the hair using a round brush, taking big sections and leaving the top flat with movement at the bottom of the style. As he dried the hair he stretched it and twisted it around the round brush. When complete he parted the hair in the middle and pushed it over the face, finishing the entire style with Moroccanoil hairspray - “It holds the shape but it’s not stiff” says Danny. Result: a grown up/girlish hybrid to complement Ruby’s standout collection. PN

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

KEEPING IT SIMPLE …

FROM BIRTH TO BEYOND Simply Chiropractic opened its doors in Grey Lynn last month and looks forward to providing excellent, gentle and effective chiropractic care to its community.

Chiropractor and owner, Ali Postles graduated from the New Zealand College of Chiropractic in 2009. Born into a chiropractic family, she has grown up reaping the benefits of a chiropractic lifestyle from day one and is simply passionate about helping others be the best that they can be from birth to beyond.

The community’s awareness for options on healthcare are expanding … people realise that the “quick fix” is not supportive of sustainable healthcare. Ali is passionate about empowering individuals and their families on making better health choices. The reality is on a day-to-day basis our brain and body is exposed to immense stress. This takes its toll on the nerve system and can impair immunity and proper body function.

Ali’s chosen technique gently addresses the spine and nervous system using cranial work; balancing the pelvis and correcting any interference to spinal function.

Her special interest is to ensure babies and children have the best start in life by receiving the correct brain stimulation for optimum development.

Ali invites you to discover the possibilities that her care can offer. Call to book your consultation and get your brain and body back on track. PN SIMPLY CHIROPRACTIC, 3/29 Surrey Crescent T: 09 360 0280 www.simplychiropractic.co.nz

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JOHN APPLETON ON HEALTH

A FEW THOUGHTS ON ORTHOMOLECULAR MEDICINE AN ARTICLE IN THE NZ HERALD HEADED HEALTH CUT PREDICTIONS IS JUST one of an increasing number of indications that in the not too distant future the money will dry up. Hopefully at this point, those who have in the past been vilified for daring to suggest that there may be another way might be invited to contribute.

One group I would turn to for advice would be those who practice Orthomolecular Medicine. Orthomolecular is a term that comes from ortho, which is Greek for “correct” or “right,” and “molecule,” So it literally means the “right molecule.” Two time Nobel Prize winner, and molecular biologist, Linus Pauling, PhD coined the term “Orthomolecular” in 1968. “Orthomolecular therapy consists of the prevention and treatment of disease by varying the concentrations in the human body of substances that are normally present.”

The ‘Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine’ has led the way for a quarter century in presenting, far in advance of other medical journals, new health concerns and treatments including: Niacin Therapy for Schizophrenia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; Vitamin C and Cancer; Allergies and Behavioural Disorders; Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Orthomolecular Treatment for AIDS and Cardiovascular Disease. Archives of this journal go back to 1967 and all the articles are available free of charge.

The Advisory Board for the journal is made up of Doctors and Scientists from nine Countries including U.S.A. – Canada - U.K. – Sweden – Finland – Netherlands – Australia and Puerto Rico. They have a superb website (orthomolecular.org) which is a gold mine of information that can be used by doctors and the public and what’s more they welcome feedback. Click on the news releases section under the Library heading.

There’s an excellent article by British Researchers Steve Hickey PhD and Hilary Roberts PhD titled ‘Evidence Based Medicine - Neither Good Evidence or Good Medicine’ Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is the practice of treating individual patients based on the outcomes of huge medical trials. It is currently, the self-proclaimed gold standard for medical decision-making – They say ‘Large trials are powerful methods for detecting small differences - EBM fosters marginally effective treatments, based on population averages rather than individual need. Its mega-trials are incapable of finding the causes of disease, even for the most diligent medical researchers, yet they swallow up research funds. Worse, EBM cannot avoid exposing patients to health risks. It is time for medical practitioners to discard EBM’s tarnished gold standard, reclaim their clinical autonomy, and provide individualized treatments to patients’.

And this is where Orthomolecular Medicine comes in. These are some of the principles that define OM. Orthomolecules should come first in medical diagnosis and treatment.

Knowledge of the safe and effective use of nutrients, enzymes, hormones, antigens, antibodies and other naturally occurring molecules is essential to assure a reasonable standard of care in medical practice. Orthomolecules have a low risk of toxicity.

Pharmacological drugs always carry a higher risk and are therefore second choice if there is an orthomolecular alternative treatment.

Optimal health is a lifetime challenge. Biochemical needs change and our orthomolecular prescriptions need to change based upon follow-up, repeated testing and therapeutic trials to permit fine-tuning of each prescription and to provide a degree of health never before possible. Nutrient related disorders are always treatable and deficiencies are usually curable. To ignore their existence is tantamount to malpractice.

When a treatment is known to be safe and possibly effective, as is the case in much orthomolecular therapy, a therapeutic trial is mandated. To deny the patient information and access to orthomolecular treatment is to deny the patient informed consent for any other treatment.

As to whether Orthomolecular Treatment options become mainstream in our time is up to us but we will have to ask for it. Abram Hoffer MD PhD said “The test to determine whether a treatment has become popular within the medical profession is to measure the relative strength of the positive and negative assertions made about the treatment.

The use of antibiotics is so well-entrenched in medicine that side effects and toxicities are recognized but are accepted as the price one must pay for their positive therapeutic properties. There are no physicians who have made it their life’s work merely to attack antibiotics as a crusade. In sharp contrast, vitamins which are safe even in large doses have not been acceptable to the profession, and their negative side effects have been consistently exaggerated and over-emphasized, to the point that many of these socalled toxicities have been invented, without there being any scientific evidence that these side effects are real. (JOHN APPLETON) PN “When in doubt, try nutrition first.” Roger J. Williams, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry 1893-1988 discoverer of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5).

APPLETON ASSOCIATES T: 09 489 9362 www.johnappleton.co.nz

GOOD NEWS AUCKLAND – JOHN KEHOE IS BACK! 21 – 22 April Not only is he back to share his incredible insights on Mind Power but he has all new content as well as a new book: Quantum Warrior – The Future of the Mind.

“Profound….awakening….powerful….groundbreaking…. a light bulb weekend” – J Jelas “I literally hung on every word” – R M London For over three decades John Kehoe has earned worldwide recognition for his pioneering work in the field of Mind Power. He has lectured in every continent and his first book ‘Mind Power into the 21st Century’ has sold millions of copies, becoming an international bestseller.

This new training will teach you further about your conscious and unconscious minds, physical body and soul, and how best to create harmony between all four components.

Ultimately you will learn how to create your new reality. So mark your calendar for this amazing event and be sure to be there!

Spread the word: New Zealand was the first country to release the original Mind Power book, to tremendous success. John is offering $1000 for a copy of the first edition.

Rock Your Life Events is all about facilitating you to play a bigger game in life. They specialise in presenting the best of the best local and international speakers. They care about people in helping to create their best lives possible whether it is in the fields of business, health and wellness or personal development. Join as a member on their website to keep abreast of who they have to offer you next. PN www.rockyourlifeevents.com

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photography: martin leach

Ponsonby News’ “Ambassadors” BUFFY & BIMBO teased Labour Leader DAVID SHEARER at last month’s GET IT ON BIG GAY OUT picnic.

Police estimate 12,000 glbt people, families and friends packed into Pt Chevalier’s Coyle Park for a warm, sunny and fun day.

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PLANET AYURVEDA: ASK DOCTOR AJIT

Q: A:

I’ve been reading your column and think that there’s a lot of common sense in the advice you dispense. However, I don’t know much about Ayurveda so wonder if you could enlighten me. T. Bland, Eden Tce

Ayurveda is a medical system that originated in India over 5,000 years. It is a system of health care developed through centuries of observation and clinical practice which has investigated the physiology of the body and pathogenesis of disease. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that translates as “the science of life,” which reveals that it is not just about treating disease but offers a holistic approach to living a balanced and healthy life.

Ayurveda believes that everything in the universe, including our own bodies, is made up of five great elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. In Ayurvedic physiology, these five elements combine to form three energies or intelligences in our bodies called Doshas. These Doshas are constantly moving in dynamic balance, maintaining all our bodily systems and ensuring they work together in harmony. These energies are called Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Vata means “to move, flow or command” and is a force made up of the elements ether and air. It governs all movement in the body: breathing, blinking of the eyelids, movements in the muscles and tissues, pulsations in the heart and the movement of impulses in nerve cells. In balance it promotes flexibility and creativity. Out of balance it produces fear and anxiety. The qualities of Vata are drying, cooling, light, agitating, and moving.

Pitta is a force created by the dynamic interplay of water and fire. These forces represent transformation. Pitta governs all metabolic functions in the body: digestion, absorption, assimilation, body temperature and skin coloration, the luster of the eyes, intelligence, and understanding. In balance it promotes understanding and intelligence.

Out of balance it produces anger, hate and jealousy. The qualities of Pitta are oily, sharp, hot, light and liquid.

Kapha comprises the elements of water and earth. Kapha lubricates the joints; provides moisture to the skin; helps to heal wounds; fills the spaces in the body; gives biological strength, vigor and stability; supports memory retention; gives energy to the heart and lungs, and maintains immunity. In balance it promotes love, calmness and forgiveness. Out of balance it produces attachment, greed and envy. The qualities of Kapha are unctuous, cool, heavy, slow, smooth, soft and stable.

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According to Ayurveda, every individual is born with a unique combination of these Doshas in their body. Called Prakruti, this basic constitution is fixed throughout our lifetime. The combination of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha that is present in the sperm and ovum combine at the time of fertilisation to create a unique individual. Each of us then has a different combination of Vata, Pitta and Kapha in our bodies. This is how Ayurveda can explain the subtle differences between individuals and explains why everyone is unique and that two persons can react very differently when exposed to the same environment or stimuli. Your Prakruti is unique to you just as your fingerprint and DNA. Ideally, your constitution remains fixed throughout your life. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Every person is subjected to the constant interaction with their environment which will affect the person’s constitution at any time. The qualities in the environment and in our food can accumulate in our bodies and can disturb the dynamic balance between the Doshas.

For example, if your Prakruti is Vata then your body will already be dry, cold, light and active because these are the dominant qualities of Vata. If you live in a cold climate and eat dry, cold and light foods then these qualities will accumulate in your body and cause Vata to become imbalanced. It is these imbalances that can lead to illness.

Ayurveda teaches that these imbalances can be addressed by means of diet and lifestyle to return your body to a balanced and healthy state. The profound promise of Ayurveda is that through changes to diet and lifestyle, not only can we prevent disease but live a long, healthy life in balance and harmony.

Life challenges us with many opportunities. Although there is much over which we have little control, we do have the power to determine our diet and lifestyle. To maintain balance and health it is important to give attention to these decisions. Diet, lifestyle and herbs appropriate to your individual constitution strengthen the body, mind and consciousness and keep us healthy.

In my 35 years of clinical practice, both here and in India, I have seen the profound benefits of this health science help thousands of people achieve balance in their lives.

(DR AJIT) PN PLANET AYURVEDA, 41 Gillies Avenue T: 09 522 5390 www.planetayurveda.co.nz

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING IT TAKES TWO – BUY ONE PILATES CLASS AND BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE GETTING LOST ON YOUR OWN CAN BE A NIGHTMARE. GETTING LOST WITH your best friend can be hilarious. Trying something new for the first time is much the same – it’s always better with a friend. That’s why for the month of March at Return to Form in Three Lamps if you pay to attend their pilates class you can bring a friend for free.

Return to Form’s pilates classes are taken by one of three experienced physios and qualified instructors at different times of the day. “There’s nothing scary at all about pilates, but it’s a whole lot more fun with a friend by your side, and it’s not just for the girls, it’s a real mind body exercise so can be very challenging” says Zee, instructor/owner of Return to Form. “Our classes cater to everyone’s needs and different levels of experience. Regular pilates will improve your posture, flatten your stomach, provide greater strength and joint mobility and much, much more,” she says.

So what are you waiting for? Call Return to Form to book a pilates class for you and your ‘besty’ today.

RETURN TO FORM, Level 1, 334 Ponsonby Road T: 09 551 4460 www.returntoform.com

WELLBEING CLINIC SEEKS MORE TEAM MEMBERS Return to Form health and wellbeing clinic is seeking new health practitioners to join its practice.

If you’re a massage therapist, naturopath, nutritionist, dietitian or homeopath looking to work alongside like-minded practitioners, then look no further than Return to Form. Work with experienced physio Zee Sharif and her team in meeting the health needs of Ponsonby. Join the team on a permanent basis or hire a consultation room by the hour or day. Call T: 09 551 4460 or email info@returntoform.com for further details. PN

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A COMPLETE SKIN CARE SOLUTION AT MORE THAN SKIN WHILE THIS YEAR’S SO-CALLED SUMMER WAS ADMITTEDLY A BIT OF a bust, we tend to forget that we are still enjoying a few days of sunshine, warmer temperatures and a lot more time outdoors. Combine this with the social butterfly season and the perils of air conditioning, and you can find your complexion in need of a little TLC. Cue the return of More Than Skin Urban Spa’s annual mask promotion. Their ‘Complete Facial’ package provides you with the opportunity to indulge in a total facial experience, and you’ll receive one of Joyce Blok’s hero masks as a special beauty-boosting gift…

As effective as it is luxurious, your ‘Complete Facial’ treatment includes a Joyce Blok Signature facial (60min), a lash tint and brow shape, and a FREE Linden Refining Mask – all for only $125 (a total value of over $210!)

Additionally, every ‘Complete Facial’ begins with a skin consultation where a More Than Skin therapist will analyse your complexion and create a facial treatment specifically for you. This offers you the chance to discuss any of your skin care concerns with an expert to gain some valuable tips and advice.

More Than Skin is also the exclusive DECLÉOR stockist in Ponsonby, so here’s a quick reminder about their current ‘Hydrating Aroma Ritual’ which features an Aroma Essence Facial (75min), a lash tint and brow shape, and a FREE Hydra Floral ‘Flower Essence’ Moisturising Mask to take home, all for just $135 (valued at over $270!)

Call the team today on T: 09 361 2231 for more information. PN *These offers are available until 31 March 2012 or while stocks last.

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DENISE L’ESTRANGE-CORBET THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE (NEAR HAMILTON!) THIS MONTH I HAVE DECIDED to give my long suffering trainer at Anytime Fitness in Ponsonby a little respite, and rather than having me talk about me and him, I have decided to let him talk about his favourite client and him. It is frank, it is brutal, it is an expose into the world of the PERSONAL TRAINER! Those of a delicate disposition should stop reading now, R18. Welcome to the world of Armin Auerhammer.

IS A FOOD DIARY REALLY A GOOD IDEA? For some, yes, for others no. Seeing what goes into this fricking hole in your head makes you more aware of what you are doing. On the other hand, it could be a kind of reward, literally feeling all the good stuff wandering down the throat. My client ‘Bernice’ rewards herself when she has not achieved anything, she is really quite deluded, WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING WHEN YOU ARE NOT WORKING? I would enjoy fishing in the Hauraki Gulf to get distracted, but eating a hell of a lot of ginger to calm down my vestibular system is quite hard, so I decided on road cycling. It can be bumpy from time to time depending on the New Zealand road conditions, and whether I have pumped my tyres up adequately, but there is no ginger required!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPORT? Cycling. It takes me miles away from ‘Bernice’.

photography: Martin Leach

WHEN DID YOU BECOME A PERSONAL TRAINER? Seven years ago. I was sick of chasing patients in German rehabilitation clinics around, (to come to appointments after accidents, not because they were causing mini mayhem in the clinic), so I decided to enter the stage in front of a paying audience.

HAS TRAINING PEOPLE LIKE ME PUT YOU OFF THIS AS A PROFESSION? Sorry, it was too late to stop when I realised if I only had clients like a woman I train, whom owing to client confidentiality I shall call ‘BERNICE’, which rhymes with her actual name, then I might have swapped jobs and become a Real Estate Agent.

DO ANY OF YOUR CLIENTS SWEAR? No. My and my business partner’s policies do not allow swearing at all, and if ever one of those naughty four letter words slip out of our mouths, we have a quick laugh about these ‘policies’ and continue. Due to ‘Bernice’s’ behaviour, I started a swear jar. ‘Bernice’ comes twice a week and already I have enough money for a round the world cruise on the Queen Mary for two people.

IS THERE ANY CLIENT IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU FEEL DOES NOT PAY ATTENTION? Only ‘Bernice’. They all try really hard and do not get distracted. I am, however, a little concerned about ‘Bernice’ as she watches television during exercising and does not focus on her achievements and goals. She sees her goal as staying alive till the end of the one hour session, when she staggers out of Anytime Fitness.

DO YOU EVER SEE ‘BERNICE’ REPRESENTING HER COUNTRY AT THE OLYMPICS? I think we need to apply to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) for a kind of sport that would suit her best. I imagine it to be ‘eating and drinking as much as she wants, as often as she wants, her life is party central’. I imagine there will be no competitors, just ‘Bernice’, thankfully.

WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST STORY YOU HAVE TO TELL REGARDING A CLIENT? Almost 10 years ago I held a spine class for a big German health insurance company.

When it comes to Ab (that’s Ab-dominal to you who don’t go to the gym) exercises it could get quite ‘breezy’ spontaneously. We did crunches and as a teacher you need to say stuff like ‘up and down’ etc. When I said ‘up with your body!’ they all came up with their bodies, except for one lady who accidently farted and it smelt like hell. Her neighbour on the next mat just said “Ooops”. Then I have ‘Bernice’ who attends her sessions with splits in the crotch of her cheap K Mart leggings, which she cannot be bothered sewing up. Bernice has no shame. (DENISE L’ESTRANGE-CORBET). PN Contact: Armin Auerhammer, PTC CONSULTING, Personal Training, Communication, Consulting M: 021 277 7636. mail@ptcconsulting.co.nz www.ptcconsulting.co.nz ANYTIME FITNESS, 100 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 5488 www.anytimefitness.co.nz

DO PEOPLE REALLY ENJOY WORKING OUT, OR DO THEY JUST PRETEND? No pain, no gain! Personally, I think the most enjoyable parts of workouts are the breaks either side. Yelling at clients all the time makes me really thirsty.

DO YOU THINK EXERCISE IS GOOD FOR THE MIND AND BODY? In a healthy body lives a healthy mind or leads a healthy mind to a good looking body.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL CLIENT THAT MIGHT COMPLAIN A LOT? Mainly my clients have no oxygen left to whinge, but as you have brought it up, ‘Bernice’ is a shocking whinger. Whinge, whinge, whinge, moan, moan, moan, this hurts, that hurts, I cannot do this, I cannot do that, it’s never ending, she stretches my patience like an elastic band. I find strict German exercising and pushing her boundaries tends to keep her quiet for a few seconds, and gives me time to take another Panadol.

HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE LAZY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TALK AND WATCH TELLY AT ANYTIME FITNESS TO KEEP THEIR MINDS ON THEIR WORKOUT? I threaten them with more exercise and increase their days per week. Most people come because they want to exercise, I only have one really lazy one, and yes, you have guessed it, ‘Bernice’.

HOW LONG DID YOU HAVE TO TRAIN FOR? Besides my professional development, it took me more than 15 years to educate myself to understand what motivates people.

‘Bernice’ somehow has no motivation whatsoever in the gym.

HAS TRAINING ‘BERNICE’ PUT YOU OFF THIS PROFESSION FOR LIFE? No, not really. My life would be quite boring if I did not have clients like ‘Bernice’. She entertains really well, and there is always one student that disrupts all the others.

WHY IS ALCOHOL BAD FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT? The worlds oldest drug (more than 8000 years old) slows down brain activity and makes it forget important things like their body’s own obesity and other issues temporarily. ‘Bernice’ has trouble remembering her own name!

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

LOVE YOUR LEGS VARICOSE VEIN SUFFERERS HAVE A LOCAL RESOURCE IN HERNE BAY – VEIN and Laser at 106 Jervois Road. The medical professionals at the clinic have a passion for their chosen specialty – veins! The experienced team at Vein and Laser spend their days examining, and treating their patient’s problematic veins, from tiny thread veins to large varicose veins. Everyone’s pattern of veins is different and Vein & Laser will offer the most appropriate treatment for you – it’s fascinating and rewarding work! The service provided must be of the highest level without compromise, and people matter.

Approximately 35% of our population suffer with varicose veins. Varicose veins can lead to leg aching, tiredness, heaviness. Often the long-term problems of swelling, itchiness, leg cramps and ulcers are not recognised as being associated with veins.

Treatment, surgical and non-surgical (injections or laser), can greatly improve a varicose vein sufferer’s quality of life.

The Vein and Laser team includes Mr Stan Govender, surgeon, Elisabeth De Felice, vein physician, providing the non-surgical treatments and Bronwen or Daryl providing ultrasound. Registered nurses, Laura, Sue and Rebekah provide laser treatments for facial veins. They all hold a current laser safety certificate. Because the clinic has several laser machines which are capable of performing different treatments, Vein & Laser is also able to offer tattoo removal at the Jervois Road site. PN For assessment of veins or for tattoo removal please call T: 09 410 0990, or visit their website www.veinandlaser.co.nz

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FUTURE GENERATION GIVING YOUR PRE-SCHOOL CHILD A HEAD START Established by Chantel Ashley, Petits Scholars provides three and four year old children with a wonderful advantage and academic foundation before starting school.

She has been involved in education for the last twenty years as a teacher, Associate Principal, mentor to beginning teachers and has also implemented innovative curriculum into many of New Zealand’s top private schools. Chantel has a Masters of Education in literacy from The University of Auckland and whilst teaching she has won scholarships to visit leading overseas schools.

Petits Scholars offers small group classes in literacy/numeracy, also French for pre school children and from term two onwards for school age children using an approach called the Accelerative Integrative Method (AIM), which Chantel went to Melbourne to study.

This method uses gestures, music, dance and theatre to help students learn and retain information. The literacy/ numeracy classes for pre school children aim to build confident readers, writers and mathematicians.

Each lesson is structured using world-class resources in a fun, innovative way, giving your child the best start. Your child will learn new skills, practice these and then end each session by recording and reinforcing their new knowledge in their own portfolio, or by fun songs and interactive I.T activities. Parents are welcome to stay.

Enrolments are now being taken for the Tuesday pre-school classes. You may also wish to waitlist your school age children for the term two classes in French or numeracy/literacy. PN Please phone to enrol now, Chantel Ashley - MEd (Hons) on T: 09 378 7734 or M: 021 648 762

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FUTURE GENERATION GALA AT RICHMOND ROAD SCHOOL 10am - 3pm, 31 March Rain Date 1 April Richmond Road School is one of our neighbourhood schools and enjoys international recognition for its focus on language learning, particularly children’s heritage languages in the Māori, Samoan and French bilingual units.

To get 2012 off to a great start, the school is once again holding its annual Gala.

Proceeds will go towards funding the new school hall and the teacher aides, who support the teachers and enhance children’s learning throughout the school.

This year the Gala is going to be a highlight in the school community’s calendar. There will be a free cooking demonstration and book signing by Peta Mathias a respected and prolific New Zealand chef, author and broadcaster.

This will be a great family event with over 50 fun activities for parents and children, and international food stands to reflect the school’s different cultures.

School principal Stephanie Anich says the school has already received fantastic support from local businesses, including Custom Residential Ponsonby, Plant Barn Mt Albert, Auckland Zoo, The Garden Party Ponsonby, Fullers, Rainbow’s End, Placemakers Cook Street, Pumpkin Patch, New World Victoria Park, Millys of Ponsonby, Lochiel Printing, Storage King Grey Lynn, Kidactive, Ecostore, Top 10 Holiday Park, Team Mc Millan, George FM, Estee Lauder, Once Upon a Trip and Peta Mathias.

With hundreds of people expected to come to the Gala, this is a great way to promote your business or support your local school. If you would like to donate items for raffle prizes or have a stall at the Gala, please contact Johanne Kendall on M: 021 039 7671 or johanne_kendall@hotmail.com Richmond Road School also takes an active interest in caring for our environment and will be working towards making the gala a zero waste event. PN

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BILLY HARRIS: SUPER KIDS EAMON FOLEY’S LIFE IN THE FAST LANE Trying to predict how far a nine year old will go in his sport is a fool’s game, particularly in the sport of swimming.

Any number of things can deflect the young athlete from their target. For swimmers, especially, burnout is a danger that sees many a budding star slip off the radar.

Promising Herne Bay swimmer Eamon Foley, 9, has a plan in place which will hopefully see him competing successfully for many years to come. His parents have him on a training programme of just two training sessions a week – practically a starvation diet compared to the five or six sessions logged by some swimmers his age – as well as encouraging a healthy interest in other sports.

“We thought it was better to hold him back at this stage,” explains his father Michael, himself a proficient athlete having represented New Zealand at the triathlon world champs. “The accepted wisdom is that if young kids train too much, they perform brilliantly for a while but can burn out by their teens. As it is, he sometimes doesn’t want to train, but we’ve offered him five training times a week, and he’s got to go to two of those. So if he misses one, he makes it up somewhere else.”

So far, so good. Eamon recently competed in the Anthony Mosse Classic in Henderson, where he swum in eleven events, achieved eleven personal best times, and took home three gold medals, a silver and a bronze. On top of that, he achieved national qualifying times in the 200m breaststroke, 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley, and he’s ranked in the top ten in the country for boys his age in five separate events. His versatility is reflected in his being awarded the Rita Reed Cup at his club for Best Junior Technique.

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But talent alone is never enough. Success requires the right attitude, and here Eamon also appears to have what it takes, as his coach of five years Alex Boyd explains: “Eamon started swimming at four, and competitive swimming at eight, and has excelled ever since. He is extremely competitive and has been ever since he was little.

He progresses rapidly when set challenges, for example I made him swim a breast stroke set with 10 -11 year old girls (who are faster than boys at a young age) at camp a month ago and he was keeping up with them!

“Eamon is currently growing into the technique that we have spent years building and as he gets stronger he will get faster and faster. He is already starting to see the results of that.”

Swimming is one of the most demanding of sports, but Boyd is far from the sergeant major type coach you see in the movies. “The way we work with the kids is to encourage them to do other sports as well,” he explains. “Eamon plays lots of soccer and I count on that as it means that when he comes to me he just works on skills because he is already super fit! We’ll gradually increase the work load, by one session per week from age 10. So when Eamon turns 10 he will hopefully go to three a week, at 11 to 4 etc, depending on his other commitments.”

As all parents know, children require a large commitment from mum and dad as well! Since the Tepid Baths closed down early in 2010, Eamon moved to the Parnell Swimming club which operates at the Sacred Heart Aquatic Centre. Michael and mum Nicole wanted Eamon to stay with coach Boyd, so for the last two years one or other of them, sometimes car pooling with other parents, have had to drive the thirty minutes to get Eamon there, wait 90 minutes while he trains, and bring him home again. That’s on top of all the other activities – especially, in Eamon’s case, soccer and basketball – that are part and parcel of being a child nowadays.

Despite the large investment of time and energy, his parents aren’t demanding that Eamon be the next Danyon Loader. “Who knows?” Michael wonders. “Eamon’s very keen on his other sports too, and I guess the time will come where he’ll have to commit to one of them if he wants to be serious about it. Swimming’s a tough sport, but at the moment he’s still interested and he’s still improving, so we’ll see what happens. Give me a call in ten years.” (BILLY HARRIS) PN

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FUTURE GENERATION CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW The House that Jack Built, by Gavin Bishop.

Gecko Press, Hardback $34.99, Paperback $19.99 The House that Jack Built, first published in 1999, is written by Gavin Bishop, winner of numerous national and international awards. A quintessentially New Zealand picture book, we congratulate Gecko Press for producing a beautiful revised edition both in hardback and paperback and a first Te Reo Maori edition.

Based on a well known nursery rhyme it tells the tale of Jack Bull who travels to Aotearoa New Zealand as a new settler in 1798. A multilayered story it contains our history told from both a Maori and Pakeha perspective. An important book which helps us remember who we are and where we come from. PN DOROTHY BUTLER CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP, 1 Jervois Road T: 09 376 7283 www.childrensbookshop.co.nz

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FUTURE GENERATION HOME GROWN VEGETABLE COMPETITION Some winners from last month’s competition held at the Grey Lynn Farmer’s Market in our local Community Centre. The entries were judged by two local chef’s Sid Saharwat and David Schofield.

1. Left: CHARLOTTE INNES (aged 7) Winner of Kids’ Grown Vegetable; Right: SAMUEL INNES (aged 5) Winner - Best Salad Greens; 2. LISA LOVEDAY: Winner of largest Vegetable (Tromboncino Zucchini) and Most Unusual vegetable with her black corn; 3. JOHN STEVENSON: Highly Commended for his unusual Albenga Oxheart Tomatoes. Ponsonby News would like to thank Pippa Coom and Charlotte at Grey Lynn Farmers Market for their support.

photography: Jo Barrett

The winner’s received a certificate and our thanks to the Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop, Glengarry and Spa Ayurda for their support with prizes. Our congrats and thanks to everyone who entered! (MARTIN LEACH) PN

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FIONNA HILL

THE PONSONBY GARDENER

PREPARE FOR A SOLSTICE SALAD SALADS IN WINTER AREN’T EVERYONE’S CUP OF TEA BUT I ENJOY THEM with heavy winter meat dishes. The large mixture of greens in the photo is just what was there in my tiny garden so I snipped bits and pieces of everything. I had only one stem of some things but they added variety. The salad was eaten in June last year but you need to have these things in the garden soon to harvest for a winter meal. Some of these had self seeded and been left to their own devices.

There were no lettuces for this June mix but most lettuces work well growing in the cooler months and are often less bitter than they can be over the hotter summer months. Rouge d’Hiver is a winter favourite – lovely bronze/red leaves.

Watercress grown in the garden had a few June stems. So did my hot and peppery Upland Cress; it’s leathery in winter but I don’t mind - I bought some multi bladed herb scissors (that cut strips) for greens like this.

Blood vein sorrel Rumex sanguineus grows perennially in my garden. The tender centre leaves give rich colour to my leaf salads. Seedlings are not common - gardener friend Nigel gave me some. Try the contacts below for plants. I can’t find anyone who sells these seeds.

I always throw a few torn green sorrel leaves in too. I love the sour lemon flavour. It has been in my garden for years, has leaves all year round and is easy to grow – I’ve heard some gardeners curse it. Not me! Take the centre vein of sorrel out – it’s tough.

One little stray rogue of Red Coral Mizuna turned up in my winter garden. Self seeded; I planted it in summer but it’s welcome any time. The spiky red leaves add another leaf shape and the flavour is piquant, mild peppery - slightly spicy.

Mustard is another interloper – green and sometimes the gorgeous giant red one.

I grow them in summer from seed and they turn up as welcome little singles in the winter. For salads I cut tender centre leaves. Mustard Lettuce has a mild to hot mustard flavour and decorative frilly edges. It’s tenderer in winter - in summer, lack of water and heat make it bitter and tough.

Chervil popped up again from the year before. Its flavour is anise and it looks fernlike – a bit like carrot tops – which is not surprising as it’s a carrot family member. Plants favour a cool growing season. It’s fragile so I add it to my leaf salad last. Its one of the traditional French ‘fines herbes’ blend of tarragon, parsley, chives and chervil.

I escape to France when I eat rosette–shaped corn salad (Mache); apparently the French consume 50 million pounds of these leaves a year. Plants are hardier than regular lettuce. It’s a great salad green over winter. I sometimes buy seedlings but also raise it from seed. I harvest outer leaves and keep cutting, but the whole plant can be harvested too.

Ponsonby News garden writer FIONNA HILL was busy creating a potager for Ponsonby resident JILLIAN BASHFORD’S new enterprise the ‘BASHFORDS BARN’ living showroom at Clevedon.

Another seedling I buy is Radicchio. It’s another good looking one – ground level blousy rose shaped clusters of rich burgundy leaves. It’s actually Italian Chicory, slightly bitter and a gorgeous colour. I tend to leave it to grow so I can admire it – not a smart move as the older it gets the tougher and bitterer it will be.

A SNAPSHOT FROM THE REAL ESTATE MARKET

My rainbow chard and beetroot both have tender centre leaves in winter so I swipe a couple of those. I wouldn’t usually chop centre undeveloped leaves from any plants but my chard is unbridled so I’m hard-nosed and my beetroot is almost always unsuccessful below ground but the leaves are a bonus.

THERE ARE ALWAYS HIGHLIGHTS IN ANY CAREER AND I CAN SAY THAT I have just had one in representing a client on the sale of her Kingsland Villa.

A three week intensive auction campaign was agreed on, and the vendor went to work on presentation while I went to work on marketing the property. The two came together with great success and the buyers responded in droves.

New Zealand spinach is a permanent prolific resident in my garden. I nip out some tender top shoots – not such a sin as it has masses of side shoots. I find the mature fleshy side leaves better for cooking than raw.

I use mint in salads all year round and guess it’s really my favourite herb, so tear some of that in too. A simple vinaigrette is all that’s necessary. (FIONNA HILL) PN www.kingsseeds.co.nz www.ginnysherbs.com

After one week it was clear that with the levels of interest I may not get to the auction floor, and in week two when I was up to 106 individual inspections, I advised my vendor that we bring the auction forward a week.

WINTER SALAD GREENS

Before the second weekend was over I had received a very strong pre-auction offer, from an offshore buyer based in Spain, and that set the ball rolling. The vendor was keen to work with the offer and instructed me to call all interested parties. All buyers were then given the opportunity to also present their offers, and a multi offer situation progressed.

Any of these brassicas go well and can be eaten raw - Kale, Mizuna, Misome, Pak Choi, Mustard, Tatsoi, Komatsuna once the white butterflies have done their darndest. Also - Rocket and Arugula, Endive, Chicory, Miners Lettuce, Corn Salad, Italian Parsley and Spinach are useful greens that don’t mind the cold.

There are a few root crops that have edible leaves - beetroot, carrots, radishes and turnips to name a few. PN

Seven cash and unconditional offers were written and the property is now SOLD, above the vendors expectations. The earlier timing on this sale means my vendor can now achieve her travel goals and she has booked a fabulous trip for later in the year. I wish her very well and the purchasers much happiness in their new home.

I now have six cash buyers to place so will get back to my calls. (SUE HATTON)

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS CELEBRATING POLIFORM Poliform is currently a leading player on the international furniture scene. The highly successful result of an adventurous enterprise, the company has always based its vision on the search for quality by updating its lines in keeping with all that is good in contemporary lifestyle trends.

The last 70 years for Poliform have been an amazing journey. In 1996 they added the kitchen division to the already established wardrobes and wall unit division, in 2006 they introduced the soft furnishings range and shortly after that they launched the contract division which has been an incredible success worldwide.

Here are two examples of Poliform’s best selling armchairs the Gaston and Snake.

These have both been very successful designs for Studio Italia, with both chairs sitting comfortably in either residential or commercial environments. PN Gaston chair designed by Vincent Van Duysen Snake chair designed by Roberto Lazzeroni Dama stool designed by Carlo Colombo STUDIO ITALIA, 96 Carlton Gore Road T: 09 523 2105 www.studioitalia.co.nz

AUCKLAND COUNCIL CONSIDERS RATES TRANSITION OPTIONS Auckland Council is to consider seeking government support to ensure the move to a single rating system is fair and balanced.

A single rating system based on capital value was part of the legislation that created the new Auckland Council.

Auckland Council has already agreed on an overall rates increase of 3.6 per cent in the coming year. However the move to a single rating system means that the impact on individual ratepayers will differ significantly. The current transition policy would mean that 190,000 property owners could face rate increases of more than ten per cent.

In a proposal to the council’s Strategy and Finance Committee, the Mayor suggests the Minister of Local Government be requested to amend the legislation (by an order of council) to allow a capped and phased approach to the rates transition.

In a report which will be considered by the committee this week, Len Brown seeks a ten per cent capped approach for residential, farm and lifestyle properties offset against those with decreases over a three-year transition period, and a phased approach for business.

“Overall the council is projecting a low 3.6 per cent increase. However, as you move from seven different systems to a single rating system there will be different levels of change for different property owners,” says the Mayor. “I support a system where residential ratepayers face no more than a ten per cent increase as we go to a single system.”

“The decision to move to a single rating system based on capital value was one Auckland Council had no say in,” says Len Brown. “Making sure the transition is implemented in a fair and balanced manner is something we are determined to ensure.

We now seek an amendment to the legislation to make sure this happens. PN

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS KOUZINA FOR THE PERFECT CHOICE IN KITCHEN APPLIANCES When venturing into the design of a new kitchen it is important for people to know what really works for them, and how and what they enjoy cooking. They need to consider the benefits of certain appliances for their different food and cooking styles, choosing steam cooking instead of microwave cooking and induction versus gas. Product functionality and quality should be considered to match both budget and overall design expectations of the project.

Kouzina Appliances are suppliers of top quality European and American appliances with all the latest international brands creatively showcased in a comprehensive retail showroom that is available to designers, architects and the general public. Premium brands represented include Gaggenau, Miele, Sub-Zero, Wolf, Falcon, Bosch and Asko, among many others.

New to the appliance market is the new-model Gaggenau ovens (the 200 Series) which offers the best of everything. Function and form are paramount in the 200 Series, a range that includes ovens, combination steam ovens, cook tops, ventilation, dishwashing and refrigeration.

The new Combi steam ovens cook with steam injected hot air and are one of the healthiest cooking methods and the best way to retain vitamins, minerals, consistency and colour of food. Induction cooking means cooking precisely, this is because an induction hob reacts almost as fast as gas, but generates far less undesirable heat.

The team at Kouzina is knowledgeable and passionate about the products, and will create the perfect appliance selection for clients, as well as provide a high level of service both during and after the purchase. PN KOUZINA APPLIANCES, 155 The Strand Parnell T: 09 377 7822 www.kouzina.co.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS WHERE TO STORE STUFF Managing a storage facility seems a far cry from working in the hospitality industry but as far as Chris Winter is concerned, there’s not much difference.

Some years ago he ran a backpackers’ bar in Lorne Street and after four years felt in need of a career change. He was taken on by Storage King on 300 Richmond Road seven years ago and couldn’t be happier with the move. Both jobs are people orientated and Chris says he enjoys the customer service aspect of his present employment. He gave me a tour of the huge complex that extends from the office premises at the rear of the long driveway right up to the street frontage.

Storage King is a franchise company that started up in Australia about ten years ago and now is the largest self storage company in the South Pacific with one hundred and twenty locations throughout Australia and New Zealand. When Storage King took over the large warehouse space in Grey Lynn seven years ago, it was just the second such storage facility in Auckland. Expansion was rapid and now they have several stores in all North and South Island cities. In the last three years, Chris has seen a huge growth in the business and to cope with this a new building was added to the rear of the original warehouse two years ago. Now between the two blocks the business has a total of 1300 units.

The whole operation is very slick. In the old block, to access storage all a customer has to do is park in the loading bay, swipe a card on the pad at the entrance, grab a trolley, load it up then simply wheel the stuff into his or her unit. The new block is much more state of the art. Everything in it is electronic so when customers key in their security number only the relevant corridor will light up, which saves power of course. There’s even background music played while they are there and every unit has a sensor that will set off an alarm alerting the office should something go amiss.

Now who needs all this storage space and for what purpose? Obvious clients spring to mind like drug dealers, burglars and receivers of ill-gotten goods. Chris admits there has been the odd occasion when police moved in to confiscate the booty from undercover activities but such occurrences are rare. He doesn’t examine customers’ goods but they do sign an agreement that their stuff is legit and he just has to take them on at face value. The units range from one cubic metre up to the size of a garage which can accommodate the entire contents of a house. When prospective clients get in touch, Chris recommends a size, they sign the agreement, get a swipe card, buy a padlock from Storage King or bring their own then come and go as they like. Staff overheads are low with one maintenance man, a handyman, a full time office worker and two part timers. The office also displays and retails cardboard boxes and other packaging material. It’s a seven day operation and through the week the office is open from 7.30am to 6pm.

Interestingly, unlike a lot of businesses, the present economic climate has been to Storage King’s advantage. For instance a company may have to downsize and move to smaller premises so they need storage in the interim. In the case of deceased estates or the elderly moving to a retirement village, storage is often required while families sort things out. Marriage split ups are another example and likewise professionals who take on short term assignments overseas. There are people who are doing renovations and need to clear things out while work’s being done or those who have sold but still looking for something to buy. Presently Storage King does a lot of business with those who are trying to sell houses and want to get rid of clutter in order to create a good impression on potential buyers. Chris says there are sad reasons why people need storage but there are also lots of happy ones. www.storagegreylynn.co.nz (DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

CREATING YOUR DREAM SPACE M&K PROJECTS WAS FORMED AROUND THE LOVE OF THE BUILDING INDUSTRY and search for building perfection. Formed by two work colleagues knowing they could provide the service the public deserves and taking a great amount of pride in creating you that living space, workspace or entertaining space you have always dreamed of.

Using their 32 years international building knowledge they provide the best possible outcome for your investment.

Stewart is a qualified builder of 20 years, working from the UK to New Zealand. With his European building knowledge comes a great understanding of providing solutions for ever changing weather conditions. In his spare time Stewart is an avid rugby fan and player, having played a high grade of rugby in both countries.

Craig is also a fully qualified, time served tradesman having work in Ireland, Australia, UK and New Zealand. In Ireland he worked as a project manager on large commercial fit out projects giving him a great understanding of getting things done to time and on budget. Having traveled the world over in his spare time, he loves seeing how other cultures live and work.

So if you would like to discover a new and easier way of creating the space you need and want, do not hesitate to give the guys at M&K Projects a call and let them make the process of building an organised and hassle free exercise. PN M&K PROJECTS, T: 0800 2736 6335 www.mkprojects.co.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS AUCKLAND WELCOMES ITS 1.5 MILLIONTH CITIZEN

SHORT COURSE – TREES AND THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Early last month the Mayor has welcomed the baby chosen as Auckland’s 1.5 millionth citizen at Middlemore Hospital.

Following on from last year’s success, The Tree Council is again providing this unique and popular course for those interested in understanding more about the value of trees in the urban environment. The issue is increasingly important with the changes in urban tree protection legislation, and with relentless development pressure on urban land.

Ramonah Patience Toomalatai was born a healthy 9 pounds 9 ounces at 4.36am in Middlemore’s Maternity Ward to proud parents Sulia and Tutasi Toomalatai.

“Ramonah may have been four days overdue but she was right on time to reach this significant milestone for Auckland,” says Len Brown.

The Toomalatai family live in Panmure and Ramonah joins her sister to Janelia (6) and brother Patrick (4). Both her parents are Samoan born; her mother Sulia grew up in Tauranga and her father Tutasi moved to New Zealand eight years ago.

Statistics New Zealand determined that the 1.5 millionth Aucklander would arrive today and would most likely be a baby rather than a migrant due to existing growth patterns.

Population growth in Auckland has exceeded that of other New Zealand centres over the last 60 years and reached one million in the mid-1990s. Auckland is now home to 34 per cent of New Zealand’s population according to 2011 figures with estimates suggesting Auckland could reach two million before 2031.

“Our challenge is to ensure that by the time we reach the two million mark we can look back and know we made the right decisions, the tough decisions and built an Auckland that Ramonah will be proud of.”

The Middlemore Maternity Unit is the largest in the country with 6,900 children born each year. PN

Eight sessions will be divided into classroom work and field trips. Sessions include new tree regulations, tree identification, structure and function, environmental value of trees, heritage trees, tree adaptation and selection, health, disease and pruning, and tree planting, maintenance and management. Certificates will be presented on completion of two assignments – one being a portfolio of 10 trees of Auckland, and the other being a presentation on one great Auckland tree.

The course costs $120, and is led by a range of experienced professionals, either academic lecturers, or practitioners in their field. For those not wanting to do the whole course, individual sessions will be able to be booked at $20 a session for Wednesday evenings and $25 for Saturday Field Trips. The eight sessions will take place on a Wednesday evening (6pm – 9pm) and Saturday (9am – 4pm), every other week over an eight week period.

The course will run at the Sustainable Living Centre, EcoMatters Environment Trust, 4 Olympic Place, New Lynn, starting Wednesday 14 March 2012.

This is an exciting and well resourced course. The Tree Council hopes that its format and cost will make it very accessible and popular. For further information, please contact Sherylle Scott, T: 09 523 1647 or 021 652 316; or Mels Barton 021 213 7779 thetreecouncil@ihug.co.nz PN www.thetreecouncil.org.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS MEET SOME OF OUR DELIVERY FAMILIES There are 13 families who help distribute Ponsonby News into local letterboxes. Reuben, Julie, Paige and Daisy Reeves are four Ponsonby locals who, come rain or shine, love to get the magazine out each month.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DELIVERING THE PONSONBY NEWS AS A FAMILY AND HOW MANY COPIES DO YOU DISTRIBUTE? We have been delivering as a family for over three years now and currently deliver 990 copies at a time.

WHAT AREA DO YOU COVER? We deliver from Hackett Street in St Mary’s Bay through to Sentinel Road, Herne Bay; from Jervois Road down to Sarsfield Street and the little cul-de-sacs in between.

WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT THE JOB? Good exercise, it’s a fun family excursion... and we love being some of the first to get the latest issue!

ANY DOWNSIDES? No complaints really, to pick something probably the hills or rainy delivery days! There are not really any downsides.

photography: Martin Leach

WAS THERE ANY REASON WHY YOU WANTED TO DELIVER PONSONBY NEWS? Initially, we inherited a different run from a friend’s daughter and since then we have enjoyed the monthly ritual. The run has grown a bit since we started, as have the issue sizes!

DO YOU GET ANYTHING OUT OF DOING IT AS A FAMILY? Plenty! Competitiveness, efficiency, planning, fresh air and a bit of pocket money for the kids to boot! But most of all, a great family fun time together! Not too many tears... PN

HOMESTAR™ LAUNCHING ‘HOME HEALTH CHECK MONTH’ Month-long initiative set to help Kiwi homeowners make small changes that will make a big difference to home health and comfort this winter.

“This study showed that for every dollar spent on insulating old, cold houses, there is close to a two dollar benefit in terms of health saving from not ending up in hospital, or in less time off work or school.”

A month-long initiative by Homestar - the government and industry backed rating tool for New Zealand homes - is set to make a significant difference to the health of this country’s housing stock, says its Director.

Ms Ferguson says Homestar was created to address precisely these sort of home health issues and help guide improvements to New Zealanders’ existing homes as well as building better homes to begin with.

Home Health Check Month will take place throughout March, when Homestar and its partner organisations will urge Kiwis to review how well their home performs using the online questionnaire at http://www.homestar.org.nz to help them make changes towards healthier, more efficient and comfortable living environments.

“At its core, Homestar aims to provide practical guidance to help Kiwis create healthier, more comfortable and efficient living spaces, and in doing so improve their homes’ performance.”

Krista Ferguson, Director for Homestar (part of the NZ Green Building Council), says the problem of unhealthy homes is still overly prevalent in New Zealand and cites a recent Statistics NZ survey where 36% of respondents said they have had major problems with the house in which they live.

“We know from this and our own findings that New Zealanders are not happy with the health of their homes, and are suffering the effects.”

MS FERGUSON SAYS THAT OF THE 9,000 HOMES ALREADY ASSESSED VIA THE SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST AT HOMESTAR.ORG.NZ: • Half have draught issues • Half don’t have adequate ceiling insulation • Nearly one in ten have clothes dryers that vent directly into the house • One in ten say they have black mould stains in their homes

During March, Homestar will be encouraging Kiwi homeowners who haven’t already done so to use the free online test to check the overall health of their home.

The assessment covers areas including insulation, heating, water-use, waste management, ventilation and other features that are important to healthy, warm, comfortable and efficient homes. It then calculates a value rating, from one to ten stars, based on these factors.

The interactive test uses the information entered by visitors to the website to suggest cost effective improvements, specific to each individual home.

“The Homestar Home Health Check can help you identify what needs to be done to improve your home’s ‘health’ and March will be the ideal time to do this, as homeowners start to look ahead to prepare for the oncoming winter,” says Ms Ferguson.

“These are just some of the issues with our homes that have health implications, and the problems aren’t just confined to the lower socio-economic communities.

Nearly a million of our homes in New Zealand are still underperforming, in terms of health and comfort, so there is still much work to be done.”

“Poorly performing homes cost more to run, are less comfortable to live in and end up costing us all through poor health and lost productivity. However, the savings that you will get when you put some of the Homestar recommendations into practice will be tangible and add to the health and value of your home.”

Ms Ferguson refers to a study by Prof. Howden-Chapman of Otago University that showed that home insulation could provide a health benefit cost return ratio of two to one.

For more information on Homestar, visit www.homestar.org.nz

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*Home health study by Howden-Chapman, 2006 PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS ATTENTION LOCAL VILLA AND BUNGALOW HOMEOWNERS Are you comfortable in your Character home? Do you love the character and style of your Villa or Bungalow? However, feel that the original design is not fitting with the modern day comforts we crave such as a warm and dry home with light, airy and open plan living spaces, indoor outdoor flow, sufficient storage space and modern amenities.

If you’re finding that the layout and design is challenging your comfort at home then there’s no time like the present to transform it into the entertaining mecca you desire.

As Villa and Bungalow renovation experts we excel in keeping the soul and character of your home intact whilst creating a comfortable, luxurious and modern abode.

Haven Building Concepts take the stress of renovating away from you, by project managing every detail of your renovation and ensuring that there are no hidden surprises, with our transparent pricing so you know exactly where every dollar of your investment is being spent.

With over 90 satisfied customers and 24 years experience you can rest assured that Ray and his team at Haven Building Concepts will complete your project on time, to the highest standard of quality and to budget. We 100% guarantee it!

Contact Sarah from Haven Building Concepts today on T: 09 912 8628 for FREE advice on how we can help solve your issues with owning a character home.

Visit our website online at www.havenbuildingconcepts.co.nz to see how we’ve transformed the homes of our past clients, and for more information on how we can help you through the renovation process. PN

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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THE HISTORICAL BOROUGH OF PONSONBY AND GREY LYNN

STREET NAMES: DICKENS STREET ON 7 FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, INSTITUTIONS AND organisations across the globe commemorated the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall led the celebrations. Prince Charles laid a wreath at the author’s grave in Poets’ Corner as part of a service at Westminster Abbey and the Royal couple also visited the Charles Dickens Museum in London. Dr Rowan Williams and Ralph Fiennes made readings at the ceremony, and a 24-hour “readathon” took place in countries from Albania to Zimbabwe. In Portsmouth, a wreath was placed on the door of the house where Dickens was born, and there was a service with readiings by actors, Simon Callow and Sheila Hancock.

His great great grandson, Ian Dickens, told the crowd he was “hugely proud” to see how his ancestor’s writing “continues to resonate with such strength and depth of feeling 200 years after his birth.”

The brouhaha continued with new TV and radio dramas and documentaries, plus exhibitions, theatre productions, and festivals all over the place. UKTV is presently screening a new adaption of Great Expectations and The Mystery of Edwin Drood commences 23 February on the same channel at 7.30pm. Dickens died before he finished the novel and screenwriter, Gwyneth Hughes has come up with a “completion” much praised by the Guardian. Incidentally, according to historian Judith Flanders, the great man of letters would have hated this tidal wave of accolade because in his will he specified no public ceremonies, no statues, no public acknowledgement. Another of his wishes was denied him as well. He wanted to be buried in front of Rochester Cathedral but instead, was interred in Westminster Abbey.

The life and times of Charles Dickens is a true rags to riches story. His father, John was not very good at managing money and fell into debt when Charles was only nine years old. When his family was imprisoned at Marshalsea, a debtors prison, Charles was plucked out of school and sent to work in a blacking factory for three years.

The appalling conditions he suffered there were traumatic and he never forgot the experience, which he fictionalised in David Copperfield and Great Expectations.

Charles first worked as a junior law clerk but the profession didn’t appeal so he became a freelance reporter covering legal proceedings. To qualify as a court stenographer he had to learn the Gurney system of shorthand.

It took most people about three years to master the system but Dickens learned it in three months. His shorthand notes inspired scenes in “Bleak House” and “Nicholas Nickleby”. A stint as shorthand reporter with the ‘Mirror of Parliament’ inspired ‘The Pickwick Papers’ and the rest is history.

Many of his novels were originally published in monthly instalments with cliffhangers to keep readers hanging out for the next one. When he sailed to America to lecture against slavery he was in danger of being lynched by an awaiting crowd for killing off Little Nell in ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’. This incident is of doubtful authenticity but illustrates how widely read he was in the Victorian era. As a member of the pre-digital age Dickens novels kept me and others of my ilk enthralled for hours when we were very young. According to his biographer, Claire Tomalin, children nowadays do not have the attention span necessary to appreciate his works because they are “being reared on dreadful television programmes”. One also wonders about the Xbox and Playstations!

Dickens wasn’t just a novelist. He wrote travel books and plays, administered charitable organisations, was a theatre enthusiast and spent much time travelling abroad. His energy seemed boundless till during a series of “farewell readings” he collapsed on 22 April 1869 with a mild stroke. When he regained strength he took on a further twelve performances making his final public appearance at a Royal Academy Banquet in the presence of the Prince and Princess of Wales. On 8 June 1870 he suffered another stroke and failed to regain consciousness. A printed epitaph circulated at his funeral read, “To the memory of Charles Dickens. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England’s greatest writers is lost to the world.” (DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN

SPRUCE UP YOUR HOME OR OFFICE JAMES JACKSON IS THE OWNER OPERATOR of JPL Timber Floors and specialises in helping local home owners, retail outlets and offices spruce up their look with the supply and installation of timber flooring.

James works with customers across Auckland central suburbs to breathe new life into their spaces. With 10 years experience installing solid, engineered, bamboo and laminate timber floors, James has built up many loyal customers who come back time and time again for various projects. “Many people are looking for cost effective ways to do-up their homes, office, shop or rental units and laminate timber flooring is a fantastic cost effective way of doing so,” says James.

JPL Timber Floors has installed floors in gyms, offices, retail outlets, schools, homes and halls all with different requirements to achieve the ultimate look.

James is personally involved in every client’s project allowing customers to get the best advice, ideas and quality workmanship deserved. Renovating any part of your home is finished off with the addition of a new/reconditioned floor. Timber flooring can be laid directly onto many existing floor coverings and can also help with noise transfer by installing an acoustic barrier.

As preferred installers for a range of suppliers in Auckland, JPL Timber Floors sources the best possible price on the supply of a variety of products and they pride themselves on customer service, repeat business and client satisfaction.

If you’re looking for a way to renovate your rental, revive your office or finish a renovation with a quality touch call James for inspiration and ideas. PN JPL FLOORING, T: 021 930 300 E: james@jpl.net.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS PONSONBY U3A MEETING – FEBRUARY 2012 THE FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR FOR PONSONBY U3A GOT OFF TO A SHAKY and late start when the key for the cupboard containing the essentials was found to be missing. However, after a flurry of phone calls and goodwill all around, the meeting got underway. There were a number of visitors, some of whom had read in the February ‘Ponsonby News’ that the main speaker Jen Birch was talking about ‘Asperger Autism Spectrum’. They were not disappointed.

Jen generously and movingly shared her life story. How she never crawled, walked late just before two years, was very timid and she told of how her mother developed strategies to cope with her daughter’s distress in high sensory situations like brightly lit shops when she would scream. At school she found it difficult to socialise with other children but fortunately went to a small school where she knew all the children by name. Although she had poor motor skills and was clumsy climbing steps she was a bright pupil and an avid reader.

As a teenager she couldn’t understand other girls interest in boys, clothes and make up. At the age of 39 and after a number of jobs and tentative friendships and relationships she decided to go to University where she completed an Arts degree.

This was a wonderful experience and she soaked up lectures and went to all the extra lectures available on Campus. One such lecture on Asperger Syndrome changed her life. After 43 years of wondering why she was different she heard the story of her own life unfolding before her with increasing amazement and excitement.

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Later speaking to the lecturer she discovered there was an association, Autism NZ, which she joined and her life has been transformed. She has written a book “Congratulations! It’s Asperger Syndrome” (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London, 2003), is on the Board of Autism NZ where she is able to provide ‘insider’ insights. She has also developed public speaking skills and is able to share her story and information of the support available. She had a number of useful handouts about Autism Spectrum Disorder/Autism Spectrum Difference ( ASD), including diagnostic criteria for Asperger Syndrome and Strategies and helpful hints. She was a truly inspiring speaker.

Jen can be contacted at: jenbirch@actrix.gen.nz; www.aspergers.co.nz Acknowledgement by Alexa Johnston (daughter of former U3A member Paula Johnston), in her books “Ladies a Plate” and “A Second Helping” brought 10 minute speaker Noeline Creighton the surprise of her life when Alexa rang to tell her of a letter she had received from a Noeline Creighton to ask why she had been acknowledged in the books.

A telephone call revealed that not only did they share two names the same, but almost three, with Ponsonby Noeline Margaret and Opiki (between Palmerston North and Levin) Noeline Marguerite. One had a son, Peter and the other a husband, Peter. When they met some months later they were both wearing red and black and discovered they had many similar interests and were almost the same age. Truth indeed can be stranger than fiction.

The next U3A meeting will be held on Friday 9 March at 9.45am at the Leys Institute.

The 10 minute speaker will be Gill Marris followed by Guest speaker James Thomas, General Manager of Kelly Tarlton. Visitors Welcome. (NOELINE CREIGHTON) PN

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS RENTALS ROCK THE INNER WEST CUSTOM RESIDENTIAL HAS SET UP A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ARM TO cater for a surge in interest from those seeking to rent their properties in Grey Lynn and Ponsonby. Based in Grey Lynn, Custom Rentals is headed up by experienced property manager and former banker Lindsay Allpress. Lindsay has lived in Greater Ponsonby for the past 20 years and currently manages a portfolio of local residential and commercial properties.

Living in the area allows Lindsay to keep a finger on the pulse of rents, as well as preferences and needs of tenants. Custom rentals is already seeing a lot of “walk in” enquiries from both tenants and local property owners.

“People returning from overseas along with those couples saving for their first home has fuelled the demand we are currently experiencing,” says Lindsay. “Recent vacancies have seen 40 to 50 people apply in one day.”

The squeeze on rental properties in Auckland City generally has been well reported.

“This is driven by a number of factors,” Lindsay says. “To name a few: the last few years’ lack of construction activity, people renting rather than buying in an uncertain economic climate, population growth from within New Zealand including migrants from Christchurch.”

Lindsay says the outlook within our area is very positive: “Anywhere that’s 15 minutes from the CBD is hugely sought after and will remain so in the future. The upgrading of public transport generally and specifically rail frequency in the next few years or so should also underpin rental demand in nearby suburbs. There is a great mix of accommodation in the area ranging from apartments for the lawnmower-phobes through to a neat array of classic villas, bungalows and cottages which attract those who seek a bit more outdoor space to wind-down after the daily grind or to provide some space for the kids.” PN The Custom Rentals office is located in Grey Lynn on the corner of Great North Road and Bond Streets. Contact Lindsay on M: 021 190 3710 or lindsay.allpress@customresidential.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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JODIE SCANTLEBURY - MY FAVOURITE ROOM

TURNING JAPANESE “Electrifying and stimulating” - that’s how Citta Design’s Head Designer Imogen Tunnicliffe describes the constant surprises and contrasts of Tokyo. The bustling metropolis inspired Citta’s Winter 2012 Collection ‘Tokyo – Collision of Contrasts.’

Ponsonby News viewed the new collection last month and we particularly loved its rich and varied texture, in play with surprisingly lively (given this is a winter collection) colour.The range encompasses furniture, ceramics, linens and leisure wear; standouts for us were plush and modern towels and bedwear, gloriously playful prints on teatowels and the like, and stunning paper lampshades.

It’s no mean feat to bring the restrained (ceramic, stone, linen, paper) together with the exuberant (prints, brights, metallic) in harmony, but Winter ‘12 from Citta successfully offers a little richness or a little brightness - or both - for our homes. PN

photography: Julie Roulston

www.cittadesign.com

Jodie Scantlebury is co-owner of Miami Jewel, contemporary jewellery hand -made in Miami by an ex-pat Kiwi, available at The W Room on Ponsonby Road and at www.miamijewel.com. Jodie moved to Marine Parade a year ago - previously she and her husband and two daughters Olivia (10 years) and Mia (8 years) lived in Argyle Street for 10 years. They’re boaties and had always dreamed of living on the water. “This house is a major do up” says Jodie “but we love it because it’s like coming home to the bach every day.”

Jodie’s favourite room is the boat shed: “It’s a place of quiet and serenity. My husband and I will often sit down here and have a glass of wine together and watch the sun set. It’s also a great place to have a quiet afternoon drink with friends while the kids play on the kayaks, swing in the trees or explore on the rocks when the tide is out.”

“The boat shed has an ever-changing vista. On windy days the sea’s alive with kite surfers and yachts charging off to enjoy the breeze, and on calm days it’s great to see people out fishing and enjoying the weather on paddle boards, kayaks and pleasure boats.”

Jodie finishes “I love the rawness of the boatshed. It’s very rustic, in its original state and full of character. We look forward to one day doing it up. but for now we all enjoy it exactly the way it is.” PN

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

THE RHINO CARPET Meet Ricko, a 1,200 kg, 12-year-old Black Rhinoceros. Ricko lives a full, active lifestyle, one of plentiful mud baths. If this source of motion were to live in a furnished enclosure, surely the surfaces would be ruined. The flooring in particular wouldn’t stand a chance - right?

We decided to go where all other carpet-makers wouldn’t dare to. For two brutal weeks, Ricko lived on 96 square metres of SmartStrand® carpet.

BETTER CLEANABILITY That dirt your children bring into your home paled in comparison to Ricko’s mud-caked hoof tracks. Remember the accident that your household pet had on the living room carpet? You haven’t seen or smelt anything like the waste left behind from a pet that weighs over a ton.

Results after the challenge: The carpet was cleaned and came up like new thanks to the stain resistance of SmartStrand which is built into the fibre.

So if it can handle our wildlife - its bound to handle yours!

WHY CHOOSE SMARTSTRAND? This next-generation carpet fibre combines advanced stain protection, durability and softness, all in one.

Whether it’s SmartStrand’s exceptional durability, easy cleanability, or incredible softness, we want to show you that this carpet is a cut above the rest. SmartStrand has been put through rigorous testing to ensure top quality, and we’re willing to prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt.

WE STAND BY OUR CARPET 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee - if, within thirty days after installation, you are truly not happy with your new SmartStrand carpet, your Carpet Court retailer will replace it free of charge with another Mohawk carpet style or colour of equal or lesser value. Terms and conditions apply.

So come in and see us to find out about the SmartStrand special offers we have going.

We have plenty of samples for you to take home! PN CARPET COURT, Newmarket 383 Khyber Pass Road, Mt Wellington 70 Lunn Ave, Henderson 153 Lincoln Road.

ARE YOU SELLING? ‘you can’t sell a secret... good marketing makes a difference every time’ www.ponsonbynews.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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WAYNE BULOG UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL UNLIMITED POTENTIAL, HERNE BAY Wayne has lived in Greater Ponsonby for the past 26 years and has been selling real estate here for the past 19 years. “I genuinely still have a passion for this industry” he says. Nine years ago Wayne was involved in opening the UP Herne Bay office, which he says has been a wonderful challenge. “I am very proud of where we are now and the 10-strong team that I am involved with.”

WHO IS YOUR PARTNER? Marlies, who works in the Auckland Hospital Emergency Department.

DO YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN? We have three children, aged 14, 21 and 23. The youngest is at Saint Peter’s College and the oldest two have graduated from University.

We also have a dog called Conrad.

YOUR MOTHER WOULD SAY OF YOU… I have no idea what she’d say, but I love her!

WHAT ARE YOUR VIRTUES? I enjoy life, and hope people I am with enjoy it also.

VICES? A Low tolerance of negative or grumpy people.

WHAT’S YOUR SECRET PASSION? To get back into surfing.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE? Point Chevalier.

WHERE DO YOU SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS? We head down to a beach called Whiritoa, near Whangamata.

WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? I think my parents wanted me to be a lawyer but my only focus as a youth was rugby.

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE A REAL ESTATE AGENT? It’s a long, long story and needs telling over a beer, but my lifelong friend Grant Lynch (who along with Barry Thom started UP) had a big part to play in it.

IF YOU WEREN’T A REAL ESTATE AGENT YOU’D BE? I enjoyed my engineering years - until I spoke to Grant.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PONSONBY CAFE? 5 Loaves & 2 Fish.

FAVOURITE PONSONBY HAUNT? The Herne Bay Local.

FAVOURITE PONSONBY STORE? Fifth Avenue.

YOUR BEST KEPT PONSONBY SECRET? The Ponsonby CD shop.

YOUR DESERT ISLAND DISTRACTIONS: Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen; Cheers (love that show), and Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse.

ONE THING YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT LIFE IS? You have to enjoy it, it is the ultimate gift.

WHAT WAS YOUR STANDOUT SALE OF THE LAST 12 MONTHS? 16 Waitemata Street, Saint Mary’s Bay, for $1,900,000. I really enjoyed dealing with both parties.

WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE TO PONSONBY HOME SELLERS? Come in and talk to us.

We simply have the best people working in our office and the advice and knowledge of the area is second to none. After 19 years in the industry, this team is the best I have ever been involved with. So please, pop in and find out for yourself.

AND YOUR ADVICE TO PONSONBY HOME BUYERS? Again, come in and have a chat with one of the team. There is always a coffee available and you will enjoy the time researching the market with us. PN

ARE YOU SELLING? ‘you can’t sell a secret... good marketing makes a difference every time’ www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

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A NIGHT-IN WITH TIM WAKELY This Month at Civic Video, Ponsonby Emma Stone’s dragon year has started off well; unfortunately the same can’t be said for Rowan Atkinson’s shaky goat legs.

JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN Johnny English Reborn is an espionage comedy that fails to evoke any laughter. The sequel holds no redeeming qualities: the jokes are half ass, the acting is pretty naff, and the characters are non-relatable or remarkable. Personally, before watching this sequel, I knew that this film would have to pull out all the stops for me to like it, as I loathe Rowan Atkinson.

Rowan Atkinson annoys me, his jokes are never funny and his characters are often just too stupid to feel any empathy towards.

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This time round Johnny must rediscover what it means to be an MI7 top agent due to his shameful exit some years ago. However, after being quickly re-admitted to his old force he soon realizes that not all is what it seems. Additionally, Johnny English fails to contain any cool special effects or gadgets for the audience to engage in or to cover up Rowan Atkinson’s off-beat humour.

Johnny English: Reborn contains no redeeming qualities, as there is no real point to this sequel. Honestly I don’t know why they even created a sequel for a film franchise that never needed to be one in the first place.

THE HELP Tate Taylor’s screen adaption of the Kathryn Stockett novel The Help is an emotionally driven piece that examines the lives of African American help in Jackson Mississippi during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Although Taylor’s take feels rather censored at times; its emotionally driven plot makes up for this downfall as the Help’s plotline instantly hooks you into the mindset of each character.

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The Help focuses on a recent college graduate named Skeeter who upon her return finds it difficult to believe her mother’s story in regards to the disappearance of her old black caregiver. In an attempt to discover the truth behind her old nanny’s disappearance, Skeeter decides to interview her friend’s personal black help to uncover the truth about what it means to be a minority in a white ruling town.

Emma Stone’s size eight feet and 1988 birth year perfectly fits the shoes of the naïve strong willed 23 year old Skeeter Phelen. Additional credit must also be awarded to Bryce Dallas Howard as her convincing portrayal of racist Hilly Holbrook made me want to jump out of my couch and slap her.

The Help is a movie that contains a lot of heart; the storyline is engrossing, the acting is impeccable and the setting is beautifully constructed. I highly recommend watching The Help as it is one of the best films I have watched in a long time.

CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE

Crazy, Stupid, Love hits off with a surprising bang when Cal Weaver’s (Steve Carrell) wife Emily (Julianne Moore) asks him for a divorce. After this life changing event occurs, with the help of the mysterious ladies’ man Jacob (Ryan Gosling), Cal tries to carve out a new bachelor image of himself. However no matter how much he tries to embrace his new single status, he cannot help but think about his wife Emily.

The Cast in this film is pretty first grade, with Steve Carrell, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as the headline acts. However, the film’s true spirit lies with Robbie Weaver’s (Jonah Bobo) obsession for his babysitter Jessica Riley, who is portrayed by ex America’s Next Top Model contestant Analeigh Tipton.

Crazy, Stupid, Love is a film that both young and old will enjoy. Also, this quick witted 21st century romantic comedy reinterprets an explosive funny perspective to the old saying “it’s a small world’. (TIM WAKELY) PN

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photography: Martin Leach

Expect the Unexpected with Emma Stone’s second acting cinematic DVD release this month. Crazy Stupid Love contains all the creative nuances that we love about Romantic Comedies; the film is a little bit sad, very funny, kind of uplifting, and best of all totally unexpected. The various unexpected twists placed throughout the film’s multi-layered highly engrossing narrative structure will not fail to entertain.

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ART STATION, PONSONBY Tuesday 31 January 2012

The Spark Centre provide art programmes for people with disabilities and held an exhibition to showcase students’ work recently.

1. PEARL SCHOMBURG beside her work ‘Blue Landscape’; 2. JOHN PENMAN photographed beside several of his unnamed works; 3. ALLYSON HAMBLETT beside ‘Rough journey to new wheels’. www.sparkcentre.org.nz PN

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ASK AN ARCHITECT: PAUL LEUSCHKE Each month Grey Lynn resident and architect Paul Leuschke of Leuschke Kahn answers readers’ property related questions. Email yours to jane@leuschkekahn.co.nz

MARISHA ANSELL of Kohler Design Centre with NEVILLE FINDLAY of Zambesi.

URBIS DESIGNDAY NEWS Designer and showroom pairings for the Auckland design world’s big day out, “Urbis Designday”, were announced on 21 February.

Designday guests will be chauffeured around a showroom circuit to view installations developed collaboratively by over 50 of the country’s creatives, hopping on and off free transport at their leisure and enjoying complimentary, “decadent and interesting” hospitality along the way. Guests may rate each design collaboration on the day and help confer the People’s Choice Award.

Design Room stops in the Greater Ponsonby area are Douglas + Bec (working with Workroom Design), Hafele (working with landscape designer Xanthe White), and the Urbis Designday headquarters at the MINI Garage (designed

by Olivia Harper and Toni Brandso of Material Creative).

The theme for 2012 is ‘Colour in Motion’. Tickets are $30 per person or $50 for a double at www.eventfinder.co.nz. The day runs from 10am to 5pm, and door sales are available on the day at the Urbis Designday HQ, MINI Garage, Ponsonby Road from 10am. Guests will be sent an Urbis Designday map ahead of the event so they can choose where to begin their day. PN URBIS DESIGNDAY, www.urbismagazine.com/designday

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Q:

Could you let me know if I can still do my own DIY around the house once the new building licensing scheme comes in this year?

A:

For those who haven’t seen the advert on TV, the Building Act recently changed on 1 March this year making it compulsory for restricted building work to be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP). The aim of the scheme (which began in 2007) is to raise the quality of design and building work by setting national standards of competence.

Firstly find out if the DIY you wish to do falls under the restricted building work category.

Restricted work includes the design, construction and alteration of the primary structure and the external envelope and the design of fire safety systems. Generally it is work that is crucial to the building and more difficult to carry out which is why it has to be done correctly by a trained person. On www.legislation.govt.nz you can find the full definition of restricted building work.

If you are doing DIY work that is classed as restricted building work but you are doing it as an individual on the house you own and live in then from March 1st you can apply for an exemption in order to do this work. You are still obliged to follow your local council’s resource consent and building consent procedures and comply with the New Zealand Building Code.

If you are hiring someone to do the restricted work they will need to be licensed or have an LBP supervise and sign off the work. There are seven license classes: Design, Site, Brick and Blocklaying, Carpentry, Foundations, Roofing and External Plastering. The Design and Site LBPs are also given a level 1-3 rating.

Category 1 LBPs can work on single household dwellings with a low-medium risk envelope, category 2 LBPs can work on single household dwellings with a high risk envelope up to and over 10m and other buildings under 10m and category 3 includes all buildings over 10m. There is a public register of LBPs and more information about the scheme at http://dbh.govt.nz/lbp.

Drawings for consent which include restricted building work also need to be done by a Design LBP after 1 March so check if your designer has their license or you will need to get the drawings checked by a Design LBP. PN Registered Architects and Chartered Professional Engineers are deemed licensed due to their professional registrations. (PAUL LEUSCHKE) www.leuschkekahn.co.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS GETTING AUCKLAND MOVING: PAYING FOR AUCKLAND’S FUTURE TRANSPORT Aucklanders are being asked how they believe major transport projects should be funded.

This week Auckland Council’s Strategy and Finance Committee will consider a discussion document that seeks input on alternative funding options for transport.

The document highlights that an already congested Auckland roading system will have to cope with a population increase of more than 50 per cent within three decades, to more than 2.2 million people.

It says that if Auckland is to improve its quality of life and grow its economy while absorbing that population growth, we need to find alternative funding sources to pay for fixing Auckland’s transport system.

The projects that need to be funded include the combined Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI) and Onehunga to East Tamaki (East-West) Link, the City Rail Link, an additional Waitemata Harbour crossing, the extension of the Northern Busway, the Avondale-Southdown Rail Link and ferry service improvements.

It is clear that simply increasing taxes and rates will not cope with an estimated $1015 billion funding shortfall. It is also clear that road users should not be the single focus in funding the deficit.

The Mayor says he had an open mind on what alternatives should be considered and that every option should be on the table if we are going to avoid a transport crisis. “We have a three-year window in which to decide what approach to take, but doing nothing will mean leaving a legacy of transport chaos to our kids,” says Len Brown.

“We need the buy-in of Aucklanders and their agreement on the way forward to unclog our roads and unleash the potential of all Auckland. Our top priority is

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fixing Auckland’s transport problems. We know what they are, we know doing nothing is not an option, and it is important that we as a region have open and frank conversation about what options we are going to pursue to fund the muchneeded solutions.

TWELVE OPTIONS ARE RAISED IN THE REPORT: • general rates • targeted rates • development contributions • regional income tax • regional payroll tax • regional sales tax • tax increment funding • regional fuel tax and RUC diesel levy • tolling new roads • road pricing on existing roads • additional car parking charges • visitor tax • airport departure tax The discussion document will be available on the Auckland Council website, at council service centres and libraries. Feedback from Aucklanders will be sought until 23 March. Verbal submissions will be heard from 10 April to 7 May. In June, Auckland Council will decide which alternatives it wishes to investigate in more detail and engage key stakeholders and the public in the design of any system. PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

MILITARY WEEKEND AT MOTAT

SMITH & SONS RENOVATIONS AND EXTENSIONS

MOTAT’s popular annual Military Weekend is back! Round up the troops and head to MOTAT on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 March for an action packed military experience.

SMITH AND SONS ARE PROFESSIONAL RENOVATION BUILDERS WHO HELP clients improve their home to suit their lifestyle and future requirements, increase the value of their home, and feel safe and relaxed throughout the entire process by providing high quality renovations, from concept to completion - on time and to budget.

With interactive activities, exciting re-enactments and live displays and rides, the whole family can experience what military life was like for New Zealanders who fought in the World Wars.

Come and hear the stirring “last post” by a lone bugler at midday on Saturday and Sunday – as a tribute to New Zealand soldiers past and present.

MOTAT’s collection of wartime memorabilia will be on display as well as aircraft restored by MOTAT’s volunteer WWII veterans , and military vehicles dating back as early as WWI. PN MOTAT ENTRY FEES: $14 adults; $8 students/children under 16; $7 seniors; children under 5 – free; $35 family pass; $65 MOTAT Mates annual family pass.

MOTAT, Great North Road T: 09 815 5800 www.motat.org.nz

The local Ponsonby area team is headed up by Mathew who has 20 years of building experience, he is a certified and licensed builder so you can relax and know you are in good hands. Our wider team of trustworthy, expert tradespeople will help to carry out the required work, respecting you and your home and offering the flexibility to make changes if needed.

Contact us today and have a chat about your next project to see how we can help you. From kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, room refurbishments, decks, patios, adding a storey, creating extra living space, a total home overhaul or anything in between, we can do it all, and do it well.

We can involve you as little or as much as you would like, and will always keep the lines of communication open and honest. And, you can be sure our builders are the best in the business, and our builders are committed to seeing the job through. After all, it is YOUR home, and we respect that. PN SMITH & SONS PONSONBY, T: 0800 100 311; E: ponsonby@smith-sons.co.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS AWARD WINNING PONSONBY ARCHITECT PETE BOSSLEY HELPING TO RESTORE SIGHT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS The Fred Hollows Foundation is working with award winning Ponsonby architect Pete Bossley to create innovative, modular eye clinics for the Pacific Islands. The clinics, which will be environmentally friendly and easily transportable to remote communities, will allow The Foundation to reach thousands more people in desperate need of sight-restoring surgery.

The Fred Hollows Foundation has been working in the Pacific since 2002 where more than 80,000 people remain needlessly blind, mostly from cataracts. To date The Foundation has trained over 100 eye health workers from 11 Pacific countries at The Pacific Eye Institute in Suva, a purpose built training facility they established in 2006.

“The challenge now is to provide our graduate eye doctors and nurses with well -equipped eye clinics,” says Andrew Bell, Program Director at The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ. “Too often our graduates are returning home to work in eye clinics no bigger than broom closets. Some have even resorted to setting up small clinics in crowded hospital corridors.”

Adding to the challenge is the fact that building in the Pacific is very expensive and there is a shortage of local tradespeople with the skills needed to construct surgical theatres. With the help of Pete Bossley, The Foundation has found a uniquely Kiwi solution.

Bossley’s modular eye clinics are not only ‘green’ and suited to the Pacific climate – they can be flat-packed for easy transportation to remote communities, can be assembled without the use of heavy machinery and can be tailored to suit any site, large or small. The biggest of Bossley’s three designs incorporates six clinical rooms for screening patients and a two bed theatre, whilst the smallest consists of three clinical rooms with the option of adding on a one or two bed theatre.

“It is a privilege to design buildings which will benefit people in a number of ways” says Mr Bossley. “The combination of New Zealand experience and local input will help integrate these buildings into their communities, and will offer great support for patients, surgical teams, educators, and others in ways which will hopefully expand once the potential becomes more fully realised.”

The Foundation prides itself on its innovative approach to providing eye care in a very geographically challenging part of the world, and is delighted with Bossley’s design.

“Many remote communities in the Pacific have no permanent eye doctor, let alone a permanent eye clinic, and our graduate eye nurses rely on visits from The Foundation’s surgical outreach teams who have to carry in heavy equipment and supplies by boat,” says Mr Bell.

“The modular clinics will also serve as a base for our teams, allowing them to spend less time setting up and dismantling equipment, and more time restoring sight.”

The project is still in its early stages but both The Foundation and Pete Bossley Architects (with the support of the Stanley Group and e Cubed Building Workshop)

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are committed to making it happen and extending The Foundation’s reach across the Pacific region. They are currently seeking funding to build modular eye clinics for Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

“The beauty of the design concept is that it could have multiple applications,” says Mr Bell. “The modular buildings could be used as schools, government offices, emergency centres for disaster relief or as temporary housing for peacekeepers.”

Pete Bossley Architects have won numerous awards for their work, and specialise in residential, art galleries and museums, and the sport and entertainment sector. They recently designed the expansion of the Voyager Maritime Museum in Auckland. Pete Bossley, while Design Director at Jasmax Architects, was the principal jointly in charge of the design of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington. PN To find out more visit www.hollows.org.nz or www.bossleyarchitects.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

KITCHEN, BATHROOM AND INTERIOR DESIGN ASK ROB@BUILDSPACE.CO.NZ We are in the early stages planning a bathroom renovation. We only have the one bathroom in the house and we’re trying to plan around how we will get by with the bathroom out of action. Can you give us realistic timeline for how long a bathroom renovation should take and are there any tricks which might speed up the process?

Q:

There’s no question it’s not easy to live through a bathroom renovation, especially with only one bathroom in the house.

Typically even a simple bathroom renovation will take a minimum of three weeks to have things functional, and you should allow four weeks to have everything complete assuming there are no unforeseen issues which cause delay.

A:

Day One of a bathroom renovation is the strip out or demolition. The plumber and electrician will disconnect the services and the builder will remove all the existing fittings, wall and ceiling linings and tile or lino flooring. Once exposed, any signs of water damage to the framing timber or floor will be evident. With a bit of luck you won’t have a problem but if studs or flooring need to be repaired or replaced this could easily add a day or two to the programme. You may think it’s unnecessary to replace all the linings if they are in reasonable condition, but we recommend doing so to ensure the wall and ceiling linings are all Aqualine Gib or similar plasterboard suited for use in bathrooms and for tiling.

fix to. This is a critical step and should not be rushed to ensure there are no mistakes down the track which will cause delay to remedy. This part of the process will take longer if you are adding or removing walls, windows or doors.

Once this work is complete the builder can start relining and this should be complete by the end of Day Five. The following day plastering can start and should take two to three days to complete depending on drying times which are affected by temperature and humidity.

Painting then follows which should be complete in two days.

This takes us to Day Nine and waterproofing which will require two to three days depending on the system used and drying times. Tiling follows, one day for floor tiles, one day for wall tiles and one day for grouting brings us to Day Fourteen. We’re now ready for the plumber and electrician to connect the new fittings which will be complete in one day and your new bathroom is ready to use.

This timeline has the renovation complete in three weeks with no work taking place at the weekends and no delays. There will always be some issues along that way that slow the process and we would generally allow at least a few days contingency when planning a client’s timeline. It may be possible to make up time by working late or over weekends, but you may prefer not to have tradesmen in your house after hours.

Most houses move and settle over time and so it’s important to ensure the walls are square and true, particularly if you are tiling walls with large tiles; it adds time and expense trying to work with wonky walls and the tiler will not be able to achieve the same level of finish. Replacing the linings also means you can visually inspect all the structural elements of the bathroom to ensure there’s no sign of rot or damage which may otherwise be missed.

At most stages only one trade can work at a time and in a predetermined order. It is therefore critical to make sure all tradesmen are clear on when they will be required and that any delays on site are communicated to everyone affected. Project managing a bathroom renovation is no easy task and if timing is critical to your project then you are best to engage a bathroom specialist that is used to dealing with the issues and has the experience and resources to keep the project on track. (ROB HOOK) PN

Days Two to Four will have the plumber and electrician running services to the correct positions for the new fittings while the builder installs timber nogs which the fittings will

BUILDSPACE KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS – Design Build Install T: 0800 455 556 info@buildspace.co.nz www.buildspace.co.nz

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THE BOYS’ BOOK CLUB ‘THE DEVIL COLONY’

by James Rollins (Orion Publishing)

WHAT WE’RE READING Books us blokes on the Ponsonby News team are reading, or have recently enjoyed. We LOVE reading in the bath, or in bed. A real stress buster!

MARTIN LEACH ‘740 PARK: THE STORY OF THE WORLD’S RICHEST APARTMENT BUILDING’

by Michael Gross (Broadway Books) During the 90s Jay and I were lucky enough to get a two for one return deal on the Air France Concorde from Paris to New York. When we landed at JFK we were whisked through immigration and customs and were in a cab within 20 minutes of landing! This must be how the rich and famous live we joked as we drove to the Royalton Hotel in Manhattan.

Since it was built in 1930, 740 Park has been Manhattan’s richest apartment building, and one of the most lusted-after addresses in the world. One apartment had 37 rooms, 14 bathrooms, 43 closets, 11 working fireplaces, a private elevator, and his-and-hers saunas; another at one time had a live-in service staff of 16.

To this day, it is steeped in the purest luxury, the kind most of us could only imagine, until now.

Deep in the Rocky Mountains, lies a discovery – hundreds of mummified bodies – stir international attention and intense controversy. Despite doubts to the bodies’ origins, the local Native American Heritage Commission lays claim to the prehistoric remains, along with the strange artifacts found in the same cavern system: gold plates inscribed with an incomprehensible writing of some kind. During a disturbance at the dig site, an anthropologist dies horribly: burned to ash in a fiery explosion in plain view of television cameras. All evidence points to a radical group of Native Americans, including one troublemaker, a teenage subversive who escapes with a vital clue to the murder and calls on the one person who might help, her uncle, Painter Crowe, director of Sigma Force. To protect his niece and uncover the truth, Painter will ignite a war across the nation’s most powerful intelligence agencies. Yet, an even greater threat looms as events in the Rocky Mountains have set in motion a frightening chain reaction, a geological meltdown that threatens the entire western half of the US From the volcanic peaks of Iceland to the blistering deserts of the American southwest, from the gold vaults of Fort Knox to the bubbling geysers of Yellowstone, Painter Crowe joins forces with Commander Gray Pierce to penetrate the shadowy heart of a dark cabal, one that has been manipulating American history since the founding of the thirteen colonies. But can he discover the truth about the government and stop it before someone else does?Another action adventure book that I liked, it’s good to get lost in someone else’s imagination. PN

740 has been home to an ever-evolving cadre of the wealthiest and most powerful families, some of America’s (and the world’s) oldest money - the kind attached to names like Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Bouvier, Chrysler, Niarchos, Houghton, and Harkness - and some whose names evoke the excesses of today’s monied elite: Kravis, Koch, Bronfman, Perelman, Steinberg, and Schwarzman. All along, the building has housed titans of industry, political power brokers, international royalty, fabulous scam-artists, and even the lowest scoundrels.

At its core this book is a social history of the American rich, and how the locus of power and influence has shifted haltingly from old bloodlines to new money.

But it’s also much more than that: filled with meaty, startling, often tragic stories of the people who lived behind 740’s walls, the book gives us an unprecedented access to worlds of wealth, privilege, and extraordinary folly that are usually hidden behind a scrim of money and influence. This is, truly, how the other half - or at least the other one hundredth of one percent - lives.

JAY PLATT

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‘I, PARTRIDGE: WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT ALAN’

by Alan Partridge (HarperCollins)

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I, Partridge We Need to Talk About Alan is the autobiography of the former BBC, former Radio Norwich, current North Norfolk Digital presenter Alan Partridge “TV Quick ‘Man of the Moment’ 1994” — written “with help from” his creators, Steve Coogan, Armando Iannucci, Rob Gibbons and Neil Gibbons. It delightedly skewers the conventions of the form. Here are the difficult beginnings, the steady rise towards showbiz success and the whistle-stop tour of career highlights, complete with sentimentality “we stood at the window, me and my son …

I looked up at the starry night”, score-settling, clumsy attempts to appear plugged -in “I’m a firm friend of Dale Winton… one of the gayest men in Europe” and cut -price wisdom “Wikipedia has made university education all but pointless”. This man really knows how to put his foot in it stamp about and carry on. A hilarious read that I thoroughly recommend.

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photography: Growler

Its always nice to read celebrities’ memoirs and especially from people I admire. However lately I have found it difficult to get past the first few pages of some of them. With one exception. I, Partridge by Alan Partridge is a hilarious memoir of Comedian Steve Coogan’s hilarious alter ego Alan Partridge. Certainly not an ‘A’ lister or b,c or even d, he would be at the end of the alphabet celebrity list. It is a great relief to read the pages of a memoir of a fictional celebrity, whose shallowness and egotism are all part of the joke.

GET IT ON BEAR NZ WEEK 2012 OPENING SURREY HOTEL GREY LYNN, Monday 13 February Around 60 locals and visitors were in Grey Lynn last month for the official ‘Meet and greet’ of GET IT ON BEAR NZ WEEK arranged by the owners of Urge Bar. 1. Ron Vereen, Brian Smith and Arthur Milne; 2. George Forgan-Smith, Marc Smith and Ash Unicomb; THE SUNDAY BBQ AT GROWLER’S: 3. George Forgan-Smith, Mo Sowerby and Leif Wauters; 4. Alan Granville and Paul Heard. PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

GOT A LEGAL QUESTION? ASK MICHAEL@METROLAW.CO.NZ

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS Email Michael with your question and include PONSONBY NEWS in the subject line. Michael Hemphill, a partner of the firm will answer one topical question each month.

Q:

We have just taken out a business loan for our company which we have guaranteed so that it is secured against our house over which we have a small mortgage. Is this something that we should be concerned about? Should we try and separate the business and personal lending?

A:

There are a number of issues to address with this. The bank may not be prepared to make the loan to the business without the security provided by the house. Banks in New Zealand often seem obsessed with getting security over land because in their mind it is easier to realise and less likely to be degraded than business assets. Even if the bank was still prepared to make the loan then it is likely that they would want to charge a higher rate of interest to reflect the lack of or reduction of security. Would the loan for the business be sustainable at a higher rate of interest?

Would your home loan stand alone or require a cross guarantee from the company?

Would you be able to maintain your home loan payments if the company was in difficulty? Sometimes you have to accept that you may not be able to limit your exposure to the bank now and have this as a goal for the future. It may be more worthwhile to do a review of what the real risks to the business are and to focus on those risks instead.

You should review your borrowing and see if there is any opportunity to convert non -deductible personal borrowing for deductible business borrowing. As an example; if you are owed money by your business, the business borrows to repay you and you use this money to retire personal debt. The interest costs on this lending may then be an expense that is paid from revenue rather than from tax paid income. This opportunity may not be available where your personal and business borrowing are from two different banks.

Banks are often reluctant to release the security that they have. When guarantees are released this is often done on a conditional basis so that if payments made by the company are called back into an insolvency then you may still be liable to the bank.

Often the only way to get rid of your guarantee obligations entirely is to change banks.

Finally, if you are seeking to split the borrowing make sure you go to different banks.

This may sound trite but currently ANZ and National Bank are the same entity and there have been a number of mergers and acquisitions of banks where the securities of one bank have been acquired or merged with another. PN METROLAW, Level 2, 36 Williamson Avenue T: 09 929 0800 www.metrolaw.co.nz Disclaimer - This article is for general information purposes only. If you have a legal problem you should seek advice from a lawyer. Metro Law does not accept any liability other than to its clients and then only when advice is sought on specific matters.

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PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

ALT GROUP WINS PLATINUM AT GRAPHIS PONSONBY MULTIDISCIPLINARY DESIGN COMPANY, ALT GROUP’S QUIRKY Xmas gift of a chocolate computer keyboard has gone Platinum in the New York based Graphis 100 Best in Design 2012 awards. Graphis is the New York based International Journal of Visual Communications and its annual awards celebrate outstanding work in design, advertising, photography and illustration. Each of the Annuals published by Graphis represents the best internationally produced work for the discipline for the previous year and only the most impressive work is selected for inclusion in the Annuals.

Alt Group’s XMAS keyboard design was one of only nine international designs to be awarded Platinum in the Graphis 100 Best in Design 2012 awards. The XMAS gift, the design company’s own Christmas gift for clients in 2011, took the form of a full sized Belgian chocolate keyboard and was designed and packaged to visually explain the origin of the design company’s name.

Alt Group also won two Golds in the Graphis 100 Best in Design for the Auckland Museum LATE Neons AND for its Print Counsel postcards. The Auckland Museum LATE posters were selected for the Graphis Poster Annual for 2012.

Alt Group also heralded in the 2012 international awards season with further wins for typography design in the Type Directors Club Design 58 and in the Tokyo Type Directors’ Club Annual Awards. In the Tokyo Type Directors Club Annual Awards, Alt Group’s Year of the Rabbit poster was selected for the annual which includes the year’s best wins.

In the Type Directors Club Communication Design 58, Alt Group won a Certificate of Typographic Excellence for their identity campaign for the newly refurbished Auckland Art gallery. PN

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

ASK ALEX

ANIMALOSOPHY: DR MEGAN ALDERSON

COMMITMENT AND THE SINGLE GIRL THEY SAY A DOG IS MAN’S BEST FRIEND. THEY ALSO TELL US THAT TOO many cats breed a single spinster existence. But in 2012 with ‘superwoman syndrome’ now the new norm for the professional career woman, is choosing a four legged friend as your companion with your already overcrowded day planner really such an ill-fated decision?

Consider the positives – a pet is not going to object to your passion for your work, keep you up all night with their post boys-night-out snore or leave the toilet seat up.

For women who walk the path less trodden the traditional single girl labels such as ‘tragic spinster’ or ‘heavenly sister’ have thankfully evolved into the more delectable ‘sexy singleton’ or ‘sumptuous sparent’ (those fabulous ‘aunties’ who help out with the kids) Embracing self-reliance, emotional security and confidence enables a bypass of Prince Charming and his progeny. Plus it can also offer the more complimentary commitment to a four legged friend, the type that offers relaxing company and the security of never being alone in your own home. But with work, travel, fitness and social engagements making the logistics of owning a pet increasingly impossible, are we ready to commit to a species that comes with way more responsibility than our struggling indoor plant?

Niggling doubts placed by well-meaning family members and friends can often fuel the self-doubt of a commitment phobe. However commitment becomes healthiest not when it is without doubt, but in spite of doubt and with the booming pet care industry help is always at hand. All of us need to share our lives with someone special.

Extravagantly stretch out on the couch with your cat after a hard day’s work. Run bare foot on the beach with your dog on weekends to re-energise for the upcoming week.

Each month Dr Alex Melrose answers readers’ pet related issues. e-mail yours to: alex@vetcare.net.nz I need some help please with my English Bull Terrier Trek. She’s got multiple issues going on at once, as you well know. Her hormonal urinary incontinence is much better on the Propalin liquid which is great for me (her nurse) and for the carpets! Since we dropped her dose by half the leaking has come back slightly but it’s not causing significant problems.

I’d been worried by the apparent episodes of excited trembling and am glad to report these seemed to have stopped on the lower dose.

Q:

She also finished the meds last night for her skin and feet which I’m pleased to report have improved a great deal. I feel reluctant to just wait for three weeks or so after they have ended, for the paws to blow up again given the amount of pain they can cause her (and me). Your advice is welcomed. MICHELLE, Mt Eden.

If it’s any consolation you are far from alone in owning a physically and psychologically complicated bull terrier! With Trek’s history of exposure to severe toxins and her multiple health problems it really does become a management scenario and I feel like significant reduction in the urine leakage may be the best we can safely achieve in her. She is just so sensitive, ironic considering her imposing 30kg physique. The over-excitement reaction disappeared so that’s a big win.

A:

A pet is a wonderful thing to commit to. If you decide to choose a set of friendly paws to kiss goodbye as you leave for work each day, contact us at The Strand Veterinarian for details on how we can help take the stress out of the ‘commitment’ of living with a pet with our extensive network of pet services. (DR MEGAN ALDERSON) PN

Moving onto her long standing skin cysts and infections. What we will do rather than try stopping her antibiotics again (and just wait for these painful swellings to return) is use pulse therapy. We will treat two days on, five days off each week, long term. Giving her skin meds every weekend and watch closely to monitor control looking at skin redness, swelling and for signs of limping. We are juggling plenty of different organ systems with Trek but I’m confident we are keeping her as happy, comfortable and mobile as possible, allowing her to continue on with her fantastic life with you. ((DR ALEX MELROSE, BVSC MRCVS) PN

THE STRAND VETERINARIAN, 114 The Strand T: 09 377 6667 www.thestrandvet.co.nz

VETCARE GREY LYNN, 408 Great North Road T: 09 361 3500 www.vetcare.net.nz

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ARTS + CULTURE THE BIG BLUE BEYOND

SHOWING AT FHE GALLERIES

JOHN REYNOLDS’ LIFE AND WORK IS FIRMLY BASED IN GREY LYNN AND IF EVER there was an award granted to the nicest man in Auckland, according to his wide circle of admirers, he would be the recipient. He’s already received major awards and grants since graduating from Elam and is now considered to be one of the finest artists of his generation. When the Pew Organisation invited him to join a group of artists on a voyage through the Kermadec region, he responded immediately, his curiosity piqued about a corner of New Zealand he knew nothing about. Pew’s use of artists to assist in political lobbying over environment concerns was a new initiative and John soon realised this approach was not New Zealand driven but rather the international community saying “Look, this is really important for all of us, the globe, not only New Zealand”.

ANS WESTRA: VINTAGE IMAGES THE HUMAN STORE OF EASEFUL IDENTIFICATION Until 22 March

John believes that artists at some stage in their lives, come to a decision about giving their work a political voice. He cites Picasso’s Guernica, the huge anguished work about the bombing of the town by Nazis during the Spanish Civil war. Rather than letting it end up in Franco’s hands, it travelled widely and is an example of how an effective piece of art can resonate around the world. He thinks the challenge for artists is to try and be useful to a concern they feel strongly about and commends Pew for taking New Zealand art to the Kermadecs. The organisation is thrilled with the positive publicity the exercise has engendered, particularly since artists aren’t constrained to working through the proper channels and have no need to be politically correct. They can challenge everyone from the Prime Minister down if they want to.

John and his family have recently returned from Vietnam and saw the high level of protection around Halong Bay which is a UNICEF World Heritage site with three thousand Islands rising out of the ocean. He says we can do the same, and all that’s needed is for the Government to say “We declare the Kermadecs to be a world Heritage Zone”. Back in November last year Forest and Bird welcomed the Labour Party’s proposal to protect the Kermadec region with a massive marine sanctuary. The Green Party is naturally in accordance but John is mystified as to why the present Government is dragging the chain. “They don’t seem to realise the value of it. Probably too busy balancing the books and selling assets,” he surmises.

He went on to describe what is up there, driving scientists crazy with excitement. One thousand degree volcanic vents are only a kilometre below the water so there are heaps of ions producing intense ecosystems with brand new forms of life. The scientific opportunities are immense and all this would be preserved if it became an oceanic sanctuary. His view is that New Zealand has this bogus brand of being 100% pure everyone knows is bollocks but which we still promulgate to the world. Weirdly, if a right wing government supported environmental concerns it would gain more kudos than the converted, and give credence to our doubtful claims. A lawyer he spoke to said “you’ve got to find support from a dirty business like the casino that is looking for tradeoffs.”

Cynical as this sounds, it’s the name of the game!

Artists such as John work in a narrow field because contemporary art only appeals to a certain sector and the Kermadec project has given him an opportunity to work with colleagues he cares about and admires. As he puts it, we are doing something that has legs outside of our lives and we are humbled and feel privileged to be aboard. If an art show is the nexus around which a political movement takes pace, it becomes a conduit for public awareness of the need to protect the Kermadecs. He was determined to paint something that would convey the hypnotic sense of rich blue oblivion he felt up there, and is hoping his big blue work gives a sense of how awe-inspiring that ocean is and why it must be preserved for future generations. (DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN

PROJECT: the dictionary defines the word as: 1. a proposal, scheme or design 2. a detailed study of a particular design 3. to propose or plan, 4. to throw forwards 5. to jut out, 6. to make a prediction based on known data and observations 7. to transport in the imagination 8. to cause an image to appear on the surface 9. to cause one’s voice to be heard clearly at a distance. It is our intention to explore and illustrate all of these components.

Ans Westra’s truly remarkable career spans over 50 years. Awarded an Arts Foundation NZ Icon Award in 2007, Westra is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated photographers. Much of her early work, produced for government publications, captures a time in New Zealand history that was marked by shifts and changes in the country’s cultural character.

Westra’s photographs offer an honest record of what has characterised and continues to characterise New Zealand’s social and cultural evolution. Ans Westra describes her intentions as: “Wanting to observe life as it happened, without interrupting it as much as possible.”

FHE PROJECT will feature a selection of Westra’s vintage prints from the artist’s personal collection. The photographs are a collection of quiet, unobtrusive observations from around New Zealand over the 1960s and 1970s.

As Peter Turner has commented on Ans Westra’s work: “I think Ans Westra has a message for us. Not always comfortable, but consistently powerful. I think it’s a statement of love, exploration and adventure. Most of all it is a tale of communication and expectation – to a nation and to a medium which can express that belief in worth and human dignity … she pictures what she has seen and trusts us to believe her.”

FHE GALLERIES, 2 Kitchener Street Auckland CBD T: 09 302 4108 www.fhegalleries.com

SHOWING AT INDEPENDENT SAINTS, PONSONBY WHISPERS OF GRATITUDE Until 10 March Five sculptural works - an observance of Saints and Angels by Nirmala Cooper.

Also showing - Victorian glass button rings, broken crockery hearts and keys set in silver by Louise Penberthy. PN INDEPENDENT SAINTS GALLERY, 56a Brown Street T: 021 081 5830

JOHN REYNOLDS: ‘Numbering Waves’

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE SHOWING AT MASTERWORKS GALLERY 15 March – 11 April Preview: Wednesday 14 March from 5.30pm LUKE JACOMB

Internationally acclaimed New Zealand glass artist Luke Jacomb uses his outstanding technical glassmaking skills to combine broad influences including European modernist design aesthetics with traditional Maori and Polynesian design.

ANS WESTRA, Tangi for Inia Te Whiata, Otaki 1972, Vintage, silver gelatin print 200mm x 300mm

This latest body of work, selected from the 2011 Otago Museum exhibition Translation, showcases Jacombs’ commitment to contemporise glass.

Historical artefacts including canoe paddles and a life-sized canoe are re-interpreted using 16th century Venetian glass techniques.

Jacomb has recently returned to New Zealand, where he has already firmly established a reputation as one of the Country’s most skilled and pioneering young glass artists. Filling a unique niche in the market, where today there are far more glass artists specialising in cast rather than blown glass, Jacomb is a vital and refreshing figure on the glass-blowing scene.

‘Paddle’ by LUKE JACOMB

‘Poi Detail’ by MATTHEW MCINTYRE-WILSON

With several years of training with master glass artists in the United States, Jacomb is using the skills he acquired to invent new uses for these master glass techniques. Taking Maori and Polynesian design as a starting point, Jacomb has combined Renaissance period glass techniques, with possibly the same era of design from the Pacific.

As well as the elegantly proportioned canoe paddles, and impressive glass paneled canoe, Jacomb presents an installation of cannibal forks, each beautifully formed in black glass.

JEWELLERY BOX – MATTHEW MCINTYRE WILSON

Combining weaving skills in harakeke (flax) with jewellery making, Matthew weaves silver and copper wire to create works of intricate beauty and permanence.

Following Matthew’s success as a finalist in the National Jewellery Awards last year, with ‘Poi Kura’ a neckpiece made from Karoro feathers, woven silver, copper, a New Zealand coin, and cotton; Matthew brings us his latest wearable invention.

Matthew trained originally as a jeweller, and during the 1990s also became interested in Maori weaving, learning traditional techniques from master weaver Rangi Kiu. His unique and skilful combining of traditional weaving with contemporary jewellery practice has earned him an important place among the contemporary jewellery scene.

MASTERWORKS GALLERY, 77 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 1256 www.masterworksgallery.com enquire@masterworksgallery.com

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ARTS + CULTURE

SHOWING AT BLACK ASTERISK SUE REIDY - DIRTY GIRLS COME CLEAN 9 – 21 March Preview: 6.30pm Thursday 8 March Confronting us with their blank gaze, the hyper-sexualised dolls that have inspired Ponsonby artist Sue Reidy’s images reflect her interest in the way women are packaged and objectified.

“By placing the spotlight on a diverse range of contemporary Asian-manufactured dolls as the inspiration for my imagery, I’m exploring how the qualities of cuteness, über slimness and sexiness are portrayed to little girls as desirable attributes,” explains Reidy.

The uncomfortable, tightly cropped images confront the viewer, begging a second look.

She uses a bright primary palette and smoothly rendered oils to simulate a plastic surface and acknowledge the mass manufacturing process of these ubiquitous icons of popular culture. Reidy has participated in various group shows and been selected as a finalist in several national painting awards. “I’ve been working hard in my studio for several years producing many large works on the topic of the blank gaze and it is exciting to finally be giving ‘my gals’ a formal outing.”

TRACY PORTEOUS – PHOTOGRAPHS I 23 March - 4 April Preview: 6.30pm Thursday 22 March Tracy Porteous’ work is a generative photography that produces images of light as conceptual propositions that are verified and indexed as photographs. She makes images of light in the world rather than images of the world through light and seeks through her camera, visual descriptions of light as dynamic propositions of energy defined by, but not fully subsumed into the world.

Her fundamental concept is to access something propositional, a ‘slippage zone’ existing between what humans are trained to expect, receive and process as visual information and the idea of other possibilities existing in parallel that only the camera can make manifest visually. This references photographic history and critical theory where the camera has shown what the human eye cannot register.

Using traditional camera kit she walks into the world to make her work - all her images are made in-camera in one take. They are processed post capture using a digital equivalent of an analogue darkroom through software but this is minimal – they are not digitally created images. PN BLACK ASTERISK GALLERY, 10 Ponsonby Road M: 021 040 1168 www.blackasterisk.co.nz

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ARTS + CULTURE BERNARD OLLIS ‘Pont Neuf and the Conciergerie’

SHOWING AT LETHAM GALLERY

BERNARD OLLIS - PARISIAN REFLECTIONS 22 March – 3 April

DALE GILMORE - IT CAN ONLY BE...

8 – 20 March

Letham Gallery is proud to present the expressive master of the grandeur, one of Australia’s top selling artists, Bernard Ollis. Whilst this exhibition is the culmination of recent visits, the inspiration behind Parisian Reflections began in the summer of 1974, when Ollis won a scholarship from the Royal College of Art London, where he was a Masters student in painting. The prize granted him four months in a grand studio, on the banks of the Seine, a stone’s throw from Notre Dame, at the Cite International des Arts Paris.

Vibrant paintings reminiscent of children’s annuals from the 1930s – 60s containing a different world; one of daring, adventure and dash... It can only be Dale Gilmore. In addition to the qualities above, inherent in these works is a more prescribed, ordered society, slower and more compartmentalised. However these are not meant to be pictures about nostalgic dreams but signposts pointing to the present - indicators of, and a metaphor for, change. Gilmore returns from a highly successful debut with Letham Gallery in 2011 with a playful yet serious body of works that no villa will be complete without.

All Artists refer to a defining moment in their careers; this was singularly and cumulatively Ollis’s. He went to Paris as an art student and came back an artist.

Parisian Reflections sees Ollis’s portrayal of a moment in an expressive, energetic style and a perfectly considered colour match. The result is a collection of works drawn from the inspiration of the hundreds of gouaches, unstretched canvases, pen and ink sketches and oil pastel study works which covered every square inch of his studio walls in the years to follow.

It is both a personal acknowledgment of a continuously inspiring city and a celebration of what the French call the joie de vivre! PN LETHAM GALLERY, 35 Jervois Road T: 09 360 5217 www.lethangallery.co.nz DALE GILMORE: ‘Man in canoe’

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ARTS + CULTURE SHOWING AT THE DEPOT GALLERIES VIEWPOINT From 24 March - 12 April; Opens 3pm 24 March CAROLINE GRIFFIN

What better way for The Depot to develop its relationship with Ponsonby than through Ponsonby News whose own Jo Barrett held her inaugural near sell-out exhibition in this Devonport gallery.

The Depot is an inclusive multi-disciplinary creative community comprising galleries, a recording studio, rehearsal room, and an online magazine and radio and has made some good friends on your side of the bridge.

‘VIEWPOINT’

ARTSLAB: FROM VISION TO VIABILITY IN YOUR ARTS PRACTICE In my experience workshop facilitators who ‘walk the talk’ provide the gold nuggets of practical advice that support creative people to succeed in the every day world of business, a world that often appears impossible to negotiate.

Frances Denz from Stellaris walks the talk, sharing creative solutions that have been developed from personal experience. Stellaris is true to its motto: “Get the Skills. Gain the Knowledge - take control!”

A participant in one of Frances’ ArtsLab Business of Arts workshop writes: “I just wanted to email you to say you were a fantastic presenter and this workshop has been without a doubt one of THE most informative and inspiring I have ever been to. I have to say, your way of teaching the business side of the creative arts was one that I have rarely heard. Prior to the workshop I was quite confident in my knowledge as a 2D Animator. However, I now realise I need to polish up not only on my skills in the arts but also the business side of things. Thankfully your lecture was simply everything I needed to know and much, much more!”

BUSINESS OF ARTS WORKSHOP: 12, 13, 14 MARCH - $150 Practical knowledge and skills in GST, tax, costing and pricing structures, book keeping, marketing and writing a business plan are provided with manual and Excel spreadsheets.

The Creative Peoples Centre website www.cpc.org.nz lists other ArtsLab workshops that provide critical skills and tools needed to build a successful practice and business in the arts.

To register for workshops please contact Lynn Lawton T: 09 963 2328 Email: pace@depotartspace.co.nz

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It hosted Teri Parat’s very successful exhibition in 2011, featured artists, poets and bands on its online Jam radio, celebrated the local arts and culture scene through its Satellite Gallery in Newton and the Cultural Icons project which features many local denizens, such as Denys Trussell, Hamish Keith and Greer Twiss www.culturalicons.co.nz.

This month The Depot Galleries hosts four new exhibitions, among them a group show of eight artists who undertook the painting course with Matthew Browne at Ponsonby’s Artstation and who have worked together for the past three years.

‘Viewpoint’ reflects the diverse perspectives within a community as they are influenced by social, cultural and psychological factors. ‘

ALSO SHOWING AT THE DEPOT GALLERIES DISCONNECT / RECONNECT / REVISITED

Until 22 March; Opening 3pm 3 March A group show commenting on the social constructs of identity.

CAROLINE GRIFFIN - NO MATTER WHAT

Until 22 March; Opening 3pm 3 March A response to readily found aggregates of atoms, using a visual vocabulary.

SANE MARI BOTHA - NATURAL CYCLES-DEATH AND BIRTH OF A STAR

From 24 March - 12 April; Opening 3pm 24 March THE DEPOT, 28 Clarence Street, Devonport T: 09 963 2331 www.depotartspace.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE

SATELLITE GALLERY – REOPENING AND CALL FOR PROPOSALS

CULTURAL ICONS: CULTURAL HERITAGE, NATIONAL IDENTITY

Satellite Gallery will soon be opening its doors to you in 2012.

The Depot’s National Vernacular Museum (NVM) is dedicated to an exploration of New Zealand’s cultural heritage and its perpetual development in relation to a distinctive national identity; charting the origins of a local New Zealand vernacular, its current representations, and potential influences on its future development.

With a keen focus on shaping a programme that makes art accessible to all and meets the art community’s needs, Satellite Gallery are pleased to announce that co-curators Justin Jade Morgan and Katrina Rose are coordinating an exciting programme of events and exhibitions for this year.

Satellite is dedicated to supporting the development and creative output of artists, designers and curators from New Zealand and abroad. As Satellite’s close relationship with The Depot continues to grow through such collaborations as the Cultural Icons Project both actively pursue the philosophy of ‘creating an environment that encourages creating.’

Satellite Gallery encourages artistic development, professional practice and is open to linking with other groups or organisations to support the arts. If you wish to join their email list for upcoming events at Satellite Gallery please feel free to get in touch with them.

The NVM as a museum is defined by this dynamic process of exploration and discovery built by community response as collections and informative, interactive exhibits.

This museum form has evolved from The Depot’s continuing exploration of the national vernacular, demonstrated in the Cultural Mapping, Cultural Icons and the Vernacular Lounge projects.

“To feel like New Zealanders, to act like New Zealanders, to present ourselves to the wider world as New Zealanders…we must be able to listen to our own voices and trace our own footsteps; we must have our own heroes and heroines to inspire us, our own epics to both uplift and caution us” – Michael King

SATELLITE’S CALL FOR PROPOSALS IS BACK! If you are a creative individual or group wishing to present work at Satellite send your proposal in now. Proposals may be for a new or touring exhibition or a performance based project.

Cultural Icons is a fundamental part of the museum’s archive of oral histories. It is a project of immense national significance, an acknowledgement and celebration of the importance of the arts, culture and creativity to our identity, our heritage as New Zealanders.

Satellite Gallery develops a proportion of its programme from proposals and is always open to interesting ideas that broaden the relationship to art and the way it is viewed or experienced.

“Cultures…are the responses of peoples, in a particular time, and in a particular place, to that time and place… They are about difference more than they are about sameness” – Hamish Keith

Get your proposal in today or for enquiries about submitting a proposal please contact: gallery@satellitegallery.co.nz

The NVM is located on Kerr Street in Devonport at the base of Mount Victoria.

SATELLITE GALLERY, Corner of St Benedict’s Street and Newton Road.

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For further information, contact Director Erin Forsyth on T: 09 963 2331 or erin.forsyth@depotartspace.co.nz

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PLAYING AT THE HERALD THEATRE Until 17 March THE LAST FIVE YEARS This production is a cult phenomenon that has connected with audiences worldwide. One of Broadway’s most popular new talents, Jason Robert Brown has gained a reputation as the most sophisticated musical theatre composer since Stephen Sondheim.

Acclaimed Grey Lynn actor and director Jennifer Ward-Lealand, and Tyran Parke, one of Australia’s most sought-after theatre performers, join an exciting team of emerging creative professionals to bring the last five years to the Auckland stage.

The Last Five Years tells the story of the relationship between young writer Jamie, and Cathy, a struggling musical theatre actor. In a compelling narrative twist, Cathy begins her story at the end of their relationship while Jamie starts his at the beginning. The pair continues to move in opposite directions, creating a rollercoaster emotional journey that speaks sincerely and directly to the audience.

This powerful autobiographical story is told through Jason Robert Brown’s masterful music. The songs of the last five years have become some of the most celebrated songs in the modern musical theatre repertoire. The last five years is a landmark piece of musical theatre – fresh, dynamic, compelling and deeply moving. PN

DISCOVER WHANGAREI HEADS ARTS TRAIL – AN ARTIST’S PARADISE 7 - 8 April

Preview exhibition at Reybum House Gallery, Whangarei 14 March – 1 April Seeing is believing and the organisers of the Discover Whangarei Heads Arts Trail believe there is a great line up of artisans and artists participating in the Arts Trail this Easter. In addition there is the chance to preview some of the artists’ work in a special exhibition to be held at the Reyburn House Gallery.

Bookings: 0800 BUY TICKETS or www.buytickets.co.nz

MOIRA PAGAN, Needlework

The Whangarei Heads area is rich in talent with 35 artists taking part in both the exhibition and the arts trail, from a ukelele maker to a jeweller, printmaker, felt worker, glass blowers plus numerous visual artists; there will be plenty of variety.

Participating artists will open their studios to the public for two days only and with studios tucked away in the bush, above the beach, in old shipping containers, an old boat shed, reinvented car sheds, the back bedroom or purpose built workshops there will be plenty to explore in this beautiful area.

Go to www.discoverwhangareiheads.co.nz for detailed information relating to this worthwhile event. PN

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ARTS + CULTURE SHOWING AT WHITESPACE, PONSONBY 6 - 24 March MARY MCINTYRE Sculptured Nature Mary has established herself as one of New Zealand’s foremost realist figurative painters. Her landscape works celebrate the wonderful sculptural qualities of New Zealand’s topography, particularly the volcanoes of Auckland.

Mary has work in numerous public and private collections including the collections of Te Papa Tongarewa, Waikato Museum of Art and History, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, James Wallace Arts Trust, and the National Museum of Australia.

6 - 24 March SCOTT MCFARLANE There is a somewhat ‘romantic’ imaginative air to McFarlane’s activities, and a suggestion of dark emotions. He has a liking for an earthy-coloured palette of ochres and umbers, or black and white monochrome.

He is at home with both expressionism and the early nineteenth century romantic poets and likes to make works of art from the inspiration of the moment, the fleeting conditions of light or weather that may not last, to contrast the ephemeral with the permanent in the historic landscapes of past generations in this place.

McFarlane was born in Wellington in 1966 and lives in Northland. He completed a Diploma of Fine Arts, (Honours) Otago School of Art in 1993. He held the art residency at the Rita Angus Cottage in 1998. PN WHITESPACE, 12 Crummer Road T: 09 361 6331 www.whitespace.co.nz

MARY MCINTYRE: Sculptured Nature

SCOTT MCFARLANE: Letter to a Fellow Traveller, Oil on canvas, 2009, 1118 x 1525mm.

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HERNE BAY

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