SEPTEMBER'12 - PONSONBY NEWS

+ PUBLISHED 7 SEPTEMBER, 2012 Established: OCTOBER 1989 – CELEBRATING 22 YEARS OF PUBLISHING HISTORY!

September 2012 | www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

THE ZAMBESI + MARR FACTORY SHOW AT GOLDEN DAWN, PONSONBY “we wanted to give our customers a big hug and make them feel part of something fun and unique” – Stephen Marr PONSONBY’S URBAN DESIGN QUARTER Maidstone, Mackelvie + Pollen streets

69,000 READERS PER MONTH The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied (Nielsen Media)

16,987 COPIES DISTRIBUTED TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN… ARCH HILL, PONSONBY, COXS BAY, FREEMANS BAY, HERNE BAY, GREY LYNN, ST MARY’S BAY, WEST LYNN AND WESTMERE PLUS SELECTED + BUSINESSES IN HIGH STREET, CHANCERY, CBD, KINGSLAND, MTTHE EDEN, NEWMARKET, PARNELL DEADLINE – 20TH OF MONTH September 2012NEWTON PONSONBY+ NEWS

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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WHAT’S INSIDE THIS MONTH 030

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Above: P28 HANNES EILERS from College Hill, “bringing a bit of the farm into the city”; P62 VINEGAR LANE - coming soon to Ponsonby! P50 THE MARR FACTORY / ZAMBESI SHOW at Golden Dawn, Ponsonby; Below: P8 DAVID HARTNELL gets the low down on DAME EDNA’S life and “retirement”.

006 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 007 FROM THE PUBLISHING TEAM 008 DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW

010 PIPPA COOM: GREY LYNN 2030 012 SHALE CHAMBERS: WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD

014 NIKKI KAYE, AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP 022 JOHN ELLIOTT: SOAPBOX 024 JACINDA ARDERN: LABOUR LIST MP AUCKLAND

027 K’ROAD BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 032 JAY PLATT: WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT 043 FASHION + STYLE

056 ANGELA LASSIG: LETTERS FROM MAUDIE

059 EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY 067 PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE

070 LIVING, THINKING + BEING 072 LANI LOPEZ: ON HEALTHY LIVING 081 JOHN APPLETON ON HEALTH 084 STEPHEN RAINBOW: SUM OF US 085 HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY 087 HOROSCOPES: MISS PEARL NECLIS 089 FUTURE GENERATION 098 SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY

008 103 HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS 106 THE BOYS BOOK CLUB 109 STREET NAMES 110 FIONNA HILL: PONSONBY GARDENER 123 PONSONBY PEOPLE & THEIR PETS 125 ARTS + CULTURE 130 PONSONBY PINK PAGES COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Oliver Rose

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 Editor/Publisher Associate Publisher & Advertising Manager Deputy Editor Operations Manager Contributing Fashion Editor Contributing Editor Contributing Editor Proof Reader Layout Designer Designer

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LETTERS + EMAILS

PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO info@ponsonbynews.co.nz

PONSONBY ROAD SPEED LIMIT Changing the speed limit to 40km/hour along Ponsonby Road has made me feel much safer as both a pedestrian and a driver. Lately, however I have been stunned by the number of drivers opening their doors without checking first. These two lanes are very narrow and leave very little room to manoeuvre if required. Has no-one learnt anything from the incident on Tamaki Drive in 2010, where the English cyclist lost her life? Thankfully, far fewer cyclists brave the Ponsonby Road strip. But these people who don’t take the time to check in the rear view mirror before they open are almost certainly going to cause some major damage – or worse – death. Please check before you throw your door wide open!! Alternatively, shop in a suburb with wider streets – we don’t need you! KAREN WITHERS, Ponsonby

WEONA WALKWAY – ACCESS TO OUR HERITAGE In your August issue John Elliott describes the Weona walkway as a “dated trail from 2010”. With all due respect to John, this has been around since the land was subdivided. I personally remember Graeme Easte’s proposal of about 10 years ago.

80% of the Ponsonby News survey may be opposed. Was this a statistically valid survey, or invitation to readers to “have their say”, so quite easy to rig. I am told that a majority of submitters are in support, but only 20% of immediate neighbours.

Auckland’s greatest asset is its wonderful harbour. We are grateful to past Auckland leaders, who insisted that there be public land at the water’s edge for the benefit of all.

People are walking more and more for the benefit of their physical and mental health.

Owners of land adjacent to this public reserve have had the privilege of effective private access to this land. They looked after it as if it were their own. Now it is time to share.

Weona walkway is a small part of this long-term vision, making us the envy of many cities without such foresight. It may be our grandchildren’s time before it is complete, but each small piece helps make the harbour belong to us all, instead of only to the privileged few. Yes, the sewerage needs sorting out; this may make it more likely to be done. The sense of community in the area may be enhanced by welcoming visitors.

Congratulations to the Local Board for assigning funds to get this project moving.

KATE STANTON, Herne Bay

BROADBAND INTERNET CABLES BEING INSTALLED IN PONSONBY I’m very concerned about broadband internet cables being installed in the Ponsonby area, as it will mean more people will choose to have WIFI (wireless internet) installed in their homes and businesses. I love the internet and am a regular user, but having become alerted to the possible health risks, I limit my exposure to WIFI as much as possible. I strongly advise the Ponsonby community to have caution about choosing WIFI as an internet option, which can run live 24/7 in our community.

What most people don’t know (and what the telecommunications companies prefer we don’t know) is that there is overwhelming evidence to suggest that WIFI is a danger to our health. Overexposure to WIFI and the electromagnetic fields (EMF) that it sends out can cause a variety of health effects - cancer (including brain tumours, breast cancer, and leukaemia in children), electro-sensitivity syndrome, insomnia and many other problems. Particularly vulnerable are children, elderly people and pregnant women. For more information and evidence on this, please do a ‘google’ search on the following: ‘assembly 12608’ (to read a 2011 report presented to the Council of Europe), and www.bioinitiative.org. There are also a number of videos online, google – ‘youtube, the dangers of wifi’.

Ponsonby is not only a business district; it is also a residential area with many families and children. I urge you to look into this issue further and to choose internet connection

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LIKE US! www.facebook.com/ponsonbynews via cable and not via WIFI. You can also voice concerns with your local MP and with the Ministry of Health. The public has a right to be informed on issues affecting our health. CHARLOTTE ANDERSON, by email

EAT YOUR WAY AROUND OUR FRENCH NEIGHBOURHOOD When I read the article Eat your way around our French neighbourhood’ in the July issue I was disappointed to find that The French Connection was not mentioned.

I went there for my 14th birthday in June and I enjoyed the authentic French experience, which was almost exactly the same as what I had experienced in small villages in France. This amazing little French restaurant is located just across the road from The French Cafe, which, with all due respect, is not a French restaurant.

I found my experience at The French Connection very enjoyable and left there feeling happy and full of very nice food. I had baked Camembert with fresh baguette for my entree and I would have been content to eat that all night long. On a quiet mid weeknight our host doubled as our chef, and it made the eating experience so much more special and personal. He chatted and joked with us throughout the evening and made our meal that much more enjoyable. RACHEL JACKSON, Westmere

CHRISTCHURCH FUNDRAISER CONCERT On behalf of The Glorious Mudsingers, Heaven Bent and One Voice choirs, and the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal, I’d like to thank you for the good publicity you gave us in Ponsonby News for the 14 July fundraiser concert. We had a capacity crowd for the event and raised nearly $3,000 for Christchurch, and we’re certain that your coverage of the event was a large part of the reason for its success. So thank you very much! NANCY SYNNESTVEDT, Heaven Bent gig committee

THE NEW “THREE LAMPS” IN PONSONBY I understood that the new lamps were to be a “replica” of the original ones (The Aucklander 26 July) and was interested to see how they would look. The design of the original lampstand was ornate and elegant. The ironwork of the new ones is a revolting, cluttered jumble which is nothing like the original. How is this a “replica”?

And it cost $100,000??

Many people in Auckland can’t afford basic necessities like going to the dentist because of the amount they have to pay in rates. And the council spends $100,000 on this hideous mess? Historic monuments have their place, but this one is horrible!

EVA BROWN, (address not supplied) PN

WAI ORA LAKESIDE SPA RESORT LUXURY ESCAPE WEEKEND CONGRATULATIONS TO LOCAL RESIDENT JILLIAN BASHFORD -EVERS ON WINNING THE WAI ORA LAKESIDE SPA RESORT LUXURY ESCAPE WEEKEND IN ROTORUA! This package includes two nights in a superior suite complete with private balcony and jacuzzi spa bath; two x one hour traditional miri miri massages in their award winning day spa; dinner for two over two nights in the Mokoia Restaurant; entrance to Hells Gate with a mud bath for two and a Mokoia Island trip for two.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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FROM THE PUBLISHING TEAM

A WALK AROUND THE LAKE IN WESTERN SPRINGS IS A FAVOURITE THING TO DO - most days - and we always know when spring is with us when we see all the goslings and tiny baby ducklings around. A big warm welcome to spring - about time, we say!

photography: Jane Blundell @ kloser

THIS WILL BE A BUSY MONTH WHEN THE MODELS OF 12 PONSONBY FASHION designers will be strutting the catwalks down at New Zealand Fashion Week. It started early for us as media sponsor for the Marr Factory/Zambesi show late last month at Golden Dawn. The previous evening was Karen Walker’s show followed by Workshop, Helen Cherry, Nom*D and Kate Sylvester.

THIS MONTH WE LOOK AT THE STREETS - MAIDSTONE, MACKELVIE + POLLEN – Ponsonby’s urban design precinct and we are delighted there are finally some very exciting developments taking place in this part of the hood. The development of the new building on MacKelvie Street (next to Il Forno) and the new plans for the old ‘Sohole’ will bring more businesses to this area. Progressive Enterprises has recently unveiled plans for its Ponsonby site which will include a supermarket, specialty retail, offices and a mixed use commercial and residential architectural precinct.

HOW PLEASED WE ARE TO FINALLY HAVE THE THREE LAMPS INSTALLED AND taking pride of place as they once were 75 years ago. We received a letter to the editor (see opposite) describing the iron work of the new lamps as a “revolting cluttered jumble”!

We disagree! We love the lamps and are very grateful to have them, if only in replica form, and to have some of our lost heritage restored for future generations to enjoy.

SPRING IS HERE, THIS MEANS TIME FOR PLANNING YOUR NEXT RENOVATION project. In this issue, we take a look at simple cost effective options for preparing a home for sale along with great renovation ideas to improve our biggest asset.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG WINTER AND WE ARE IN NEED OF A BIT OF FUN, SO WE are all looking forward to the Ponsonby Market Day on 22 September. Whilst they are not open yet (October) the team at Ponsonby Central are participating with great enthusiasm on Market Day – an event well worth noting in your iPhone or writing in your diary!

SPRING IS THE PERFECT TIME TO START PUTTING GREAT IDEAS INTO ACTION. Grey Lynn 2030 works as the umbrella group to help local initiatives to flourish and grow.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

MARTIN LEACH, JULIE ROULSTON, JAY PLATT + JO BARRETT Their new car boot sale for selling, swapping and recycling is now on the last Sunday of each month.

NIELSEN MEDIA HAVE JUST COMPLETED THEIR ANNUAL READERSHIP REPORT for us and we are delighted with their findings. We now have 69,000 readers and 5.6% of all Aucklanders are reading Ponsonby News, with more than half of them planning travel and caring about quality when purchasing clothing. No wonder our fashion pages are so popular and our ‘Ponsonby News Readers are Everywhere’ section is always so full!

GAY MARRIAGE HAS BEEN THE HOT TOPIC OF DEBATE OVER THE PAST FEW weeks and one that we are very much in support of. As contributing columist on gay issues, Stephen Rainbow says, “this is possibly the single most important step to ensuring the wellbeing of gay people. The question then surely has to be, not why same sex marriage should be allowed, but why it should not be. And to that question there is no compelling answer, at least if you subscribe to the principle of one law for all, care about the wellbeing of gay people, and believe in love!” PN

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DAVID HARTNELL’S ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH BARRY HUMPHRIES There is nothing like a dame, goes the familiar refrain from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific, and there’s absolutely nothing like giga-star Dame Edna Everage. The Dame’s creator and long suffering manager Barry Humphries once said: “There is no more terrible fate for a comedian than to be taken seriously.”

photography: David Rowland www.one-image.com

DAME EDNA WHY ARE YOU RETIRING? Hello David, darling we go back a long way by my count it’s some twenty eight years, and hello possums who read the Ponsonby News! To answer your question darling, the fact of the matter is that I’m beginning to feel a bit senior. It’s the best aerobics you could do, leaping around on stage, but it’s gruelling when there are other things to do.

WHAT IS THE THEME OF YOUR FAIR WELL STAGE SHOW? I will be discussing my spiritual journey. I’m on a journey to find myself, to lose the trappings of mega-stardom and become a real person. The message of laughter, which is the best weapon against world tension that was ever invented.

OVER YOUR 50 YEARS ON THE STAGE MANY CELEBRITIES HAVE COME TO YOUR SHOWS CAN YOU NAME SOME? Do you know who I mean by Whoopi Goldberg, Goldie Hawn, Henry Kissinger, Michael J. Fox, Steven Spielberg, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nelson Mandela and Cher?

YOU’VE BEEN A DAME FOR MANY YEARS, I BELIEVE YOUR MANAGER BARRY HUMPHRIES WAS ALSO HONOURED BY THE QUEEN? In 1982, Barry Humphries was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for “services to the theatre” and on 16 June 2007 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to entertainment.

OBVIOUSLY YOU’LL NEED A NICE NEW HOBBY TO OCCUPY YOUR TIME WHEN YOU EVENTUALLY GIVE UP PUBLIC APPEARANCES. ANY THOUGHTS? I might take up a bit of golf and I’d need a handsome young caddy to carry my clubs.

I’ll also be spending time with my books, (and) my charities.

SO MANY PEOPLE JUST LET THEMSELVES GO WHEN THEY’RE OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE. DO YOU THINK THAT’LL HAPPEN TO YOU? I will always stay glamorous whatever happens and my new weight loss regime has given me back my famous bone structure.

I EXPECT YOU’LL BE LOOKING BACK OVER YOUR LONG CAREER. WHAT HAVE BEEN THE HIGHLIGHTS? BEING INTERVIEWED BY PIERS MORGAN? APPEARING ON THE UK’S TV SHOW LOOSE WOMEN? Being interviewed by Piers Morgan is not a highlight. He seemed far too uneasy and a bit sweaty but I love Loose Women and I’d like to be a regular on that show.

YOU’VE BEEN A FASHION ICON FOR DECADES BUT HAVE THERE BEEN ANY “LOOKS” THAT YOU’VE REGRETTED? There was one. That was the hot pants episode in the late ‘60s. Although they showed off my wonderful legs, they made me look like mutton dressed as lamb.

WHAT STATE OF AUSTRALIA WERE YOU BORN IN? I was born in Melbourne with a precious gift. Dame Nature stooped over my cot and gave me this gift. It was the ability to laugh at the misfortunes of others.

I HEAR A RUMOUR THAT SIMON COWELL HAS ASKED YOU TO BE A JUDGE ON BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT, IS THIS TRUE? I’ve never met Simon Cowell. I thought our paths would have crossed by now. He reminds me very much of my son, Kenny who spent a lot of time in San Francisco.

There’s something about Simon Cowell… the sense that Simon could be passing through a bit of a phase, if you know what I mean possum.

DO YOU ENJOY BEING A ROLE MODEL FOR OTHERS? I flatter myself that I’m a role model. And look at all these youngsters. I mean, Lady Gaga based herself on me and the poor thing has got it so badly wrong. She’s made my look grotesque. I’m a fan because if you’re as unattractive as she is then she’s done the best she could. She’s hidden her ugliness. She’s hiding behind Lady Gaga.

DO YOU STILL COLOUR YOUR HAIR? David I’m surprised you had to ask that question! Of course it’s my natural colour.

I did dye it for years, but now I’m letting my own colour grow out. I’m very proud of it because I’m in the Guinness book of records, the only woman on the planet with a purple bikini line.

ARE YOU IN GOOD HEALTH? My adrenal gland is still as strong as it ever was, according to my gynaecologist, but I can’t keep on doing it.

LET’S TALK ABOUT MAC COSMETICS. That was a miracle, really. To have been chosen above all those women, it was move over Catherine Deneuve; it was move over Isabella Rosellini, and Liz Hurley. I had so much fun naming, of course, these cosmetics. I named them, of course, as you know.

DID YOUR MOTHER GIVE YOU ANY ADVICE? My mother used to say that there are no strangers, only friends you haven’t met yet.

She’s now in a maximum security twilight home in Australia.

Kanga-Rouge was the one I am most proud of. And I demonstrated Kanga-Rouge on the Jay Leno show with little Kate Winslet. I showed how the lipstick comes out of its little tube inspired by a kangaroo in spring time. That’s lovely. A marsupial metaphor, really.

THE PONSONBY LOOKALIKE Sir Derek Jacobi, CBE is an English actor and film director. David Hartnell, MNZM is our very own ‘godfather of gossip’ columnist and patron of the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand.

Both are theatrical, openly gay, and both have been awarded by the Queen for their services to entertainment. It even looks as if they go to the same hairdresser, or could Sir Derek be David’s long-lost half-brother?

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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PIPPA COOM GREY LYNN 2030 NEWS

NEW ENERGY FOR SPRING Spring is the perfect time to start putting great ideas into action.

Grey Lynn 2030 works as the umbrella group to help local initiatives to flourish and grow. Our new Car Boot sale for selling, swapping and recycling is now on the last Sunday of the month, a new group is about to kick off focused on urban design and the Grey Lynn 2030 Energy Group is holding the first of a series of public talks during September.

Each talk is from 10.30 to 11.30am at the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market at the Grey Lynn Community Centre and will be given by a subject matter expert. This is an opportunity to learn about electricity generation, how you can measure it, use less, and how it’s likely to be delivered in the future.

2 September - Future trends in New Zealand electricity generation 9 September - Energy use audits and carbon footprints 16 September - Solar Photovoltaic panels at home 23 September - Energy savings at home

FROM GARDEN TO TABLE

‘Like’ the GL 2030 Energy Group Facebook page to get updates on what the focus group is doing locally in Grey Lynn and how you can join in.

Waterfront Auckland and the Garden to Table Trust have unveiled plans for a garden and kitchen classroom facility in Wynyard Quarter.

GREY LYNN URBAN DESIGN Do you love Grey Lynn and want to have your say about how the area develops in the future? Now is your chance to contribute. The Auckland Council is currently developing a unitary plan that will cover the entire city. In response to this, a new group with a Grey Lynn focus is forming to engage with the council and act as watchdog for our area.

The official unveiling of the plans was marked with a turning of the soil last month. Almost 200 people turned out for a site blessing and powhiri performed by Ngati O Orakei to officially mark the beginning of the construction.

The landscape design and initial concept created by Opus International shows more than 100 raised garden beds in the 1500 square metre lot.

If you are interested in protecting the unique heritage and character of Grey Lynn and would like to see quality urban design that promotes sustainable and healthy communities, come along to the inaugural meeting in September. Details soon at www.greylynn2030.co.nz or email greylynn2030@gmail.com GREY LYNN HONEY Last month we were delighted to share the news of our Grey Lynn Farmer’s Market Taste NZ prize winning stallholders. This month we have exciting news from the National Honey Show. Carol of Grey Lynn Honey won the Supreme Award for the second year in a row. She won five first places, three second places and one third place including first for Liquid Honey Medium, Naturally Granulated Honey Dark, Wholeframe Honeycomb and Natural and Brood Beeswax Blocks.

Carol has also recently won the Auckland Beekeepers Honey Show Shield, again this year. To win these competitions requires not only delicious honey but also an eye for excellence. After a well-deserved month holiday Carol is back at the market every Sunday. www.glfm.co.nz (PIPPA COOM) PN

The Garden to Table Trust aims to change the way children approach and think about food. The project will enable children from a number of local primary schools; including Ponsonby Primary, Freemans Bay School and Bayfield School to participate in the project. Garden to Table will allow children across the country to enthusiastically get their hands dirty and learn how to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal food.

Trust founder and chair Catherine Bell says the project provides new visibility for its work: “Simply by educating kids about where food comes from we have the potential to change attitudes and habits of whole future generations.

Both children and adults learn experiences that will influence and inform them and it will be brilliant to have this new space in such a high traffic area as the Wynyard Quarter.”

Connie Clarkson, Place Manager for Waterfront Auckland, says Garden to Table at Wynyard Quarter will be a great asset for the area. “The Garden to Table programme is a fantastic concept and we look forward to welcoming the trust to the area. The trust’s philosophy aligns well with the sustainable living approach we wish to cultivate in the precinct as Wynyard Quarter develops into an urban community.”

As well as growing and cooking their own food, children also learn to look after chickens and collect honey from beehives. www.waterfrontauckland.co.nz

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CHAIR’S WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD REPORT: SHALE CHAMBERS Whilst most of us bought into the benefits of the ‘supercity’ two years ago, and all knew that there might be anomalies in the ‘smoothing out’ of supercity rates between all the different rating systems, it was nevertheless a shock for some of us to get our rates bills. The fact that the National Government’s insistence on rates calculations based on capital value, rather than Auckland City’s old rentable value, is the culprit makes rates increases no easier to afford for some of our families.

Some residents have suggested that the answer could be to put a halt to all the projects that we have in our Waitemata Local Board budgets, for projects like the long overdue Myers Park upgrade, the Cox’s Bay boardwalk replacement, the Weona Coastal Walkway, the Point Resolution Bridge replacement, stairways and walkway to the Parnell baths. In tough economic times perhaps we should just put all ‘non-essential’ expenditure on hold, and ignore our city’s aspiration, progressively, and incrementally, to become the world’s most liveable city. If the Waitemata Local Board were to stop all these projects and many replacement-in -an-improved-form of aging and near end of life assets, tomorrow the money would most likely be taken up elsewhere and sent to other wards. Whereby Howick and Takapuna residents would be the beneficiaries of our share of rates money, rather than the communities that the rates are collected from.

Stopping long planned for and budgeted local projects, based on our Local Board Plan and Agreements consulted on with our communities over an 18 month period is not an option. We need to responsibly and slowly improve and budget for upgrading our community assets. Financial prudence is important.

Some can be replaced by depreciation funds but that will not improve the assets, merely replicate what communities fought for 20-30 years ago and are now worse for wear.

Take the Cox’s Bay Reserve boardwalk and bridge as an example. The boardwalk was becoming unsafe and needed renewing. Community groups suggested that with more people cycling and walking the old 1.2 metre walkway would not serve us well for the 20 years. The council renewal budgets replace old assets ‘like for like’ and council’s new minimum would replace it at 1.8 metres, but the board decided to fund additional money to make it 2.5 metres. The total cost difference to widen it from 1.8 to 2.5 was $142,876. We believe our electors would think we made the correct decision, despite the tough economic times.

COX’S BAY CREEK BOARDWALK REBUILD APPROVED OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, THE WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD LOOKS TO develop and implement a greenways plan for our community which aims to improve the connections between our parks and open spaces. A greenways plan will help the local board keep a close eye on the park’s budget while prioritising upgrades and renewal projects. Some of the options the board are currently investigating include, a network for walking and cycling and creating ecological corridors.

ADVISORY PANEL As part of my role on the Waitemata Local Board overseeing park development, forward planning, and guidance, many renewal projects are brought to my attention.

A notable example of this has been the recent Cox’s Bay Creek boardwalk and footpath upgrade. Under the existing project plans, the Cox’s Bay Creek boardwalk was set to be rebuilt to a 1.8m width from its current narrow span of 1.2m. This 60cm increase wouldn’t be suitable given the present substantial use of the bridge. Other concerns with the rundown footpaths were noted, such as the uplifting of the track from tree roots, pot holes and the water erosion which was brought to my attention by the local Cox’s Bay advisory panel.

On visiting the well walked track with council staff, I met many local residents enthusiastic for the upgrade. One local resident disclosed that his wife had fallen through a rotten plank of wood on the Cox’s Bay Creek boardwalk a few weeks earlier, which left her taking leave from her work to recover from her injuries. This acts as a key reminder to council and local board of the importance of regular maintenance and renewal of community assets to ensure safety and reliability for local residents and park users. Due to the urgency of the renewal, the local board took on a proactive role in the development and future planning of the boardwalk. I discussed with fellow local board members and the parks manager the possibility of aligning the reconstruction with a greenway which could link our western communities from Cox’s Bay through to Grey Lynn Park to the NorthWestern Cycleway. The concept for this development has been informally dubbed the ‘Grey Lynn Greenway’. Work on the boardwalk will commence early next year and I am very pleased to report that the boardwalk will be rebuilt to a 2.5m width, which will fit in nicely with future greenways, pending approval.

(ROB THOMAS, Waitemata Local Board Member) PN

I am enjoying the challenge of representing our isthmus communities on Auckland Council’s Unitary Plan Working Party. It is a challenge because councillors have been meeting for many months and coming in half way through means there is a lot to catch up on. The 1998 Auckland City Isthmus District Plan which was notified in 1993 is well overdue for renewal. We now have the Auckland Plan as the guiding document for Auckland’s future growth over the next 30 years.

However until the new unitary plan is notified the rules in the 1998 plan remain the law. Of course now the job is much bigger because all the district plans and regional plans and policy statements need to be combined into one unitary plan for the whole of Auckland.

The Waitemata Local Board will lead community engagement here on the unitary plan from September until November to look at the critical issues for our area and how they might be addressed. Everyone who wants to will have an opportunity to contribute. From March next year there will be wider informal engagement across the region on the draft plan, before the plan is notified for formal submissions. For most of us the balance between city fringe growth and heritage and character protection is the key.

The Heritage Festival is coming in October but as we go to print the programme is not yet out. Look in the community centres and libraries and you should see it mid-September. Conservation Week is happening at Auckland Zoo from 8-16 September. Short + Sweet ten-minute theatre is on 18 September to 7 October at Aotea Centre. Tapac in Western Springs, Q and The Basement in Queens Street continue to have some innovative and edgy theatre and performance.

Be careful your thrown out junk doesn’t end up as part of an exhibition in Ponsonby Road. Artstation has an Object and Body exhibition by artist Monika Goodman exploring the processes of recycling and the life cycles of objects from the streets of Ponsonby in September. (SHALE CHAMBERS) PN Contact me: shale.chambers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

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NIKKI KAYE: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP COMPASSIONATE WELFARE REFORM – HELPING OUR MOST VULNERABLE INTO WORK I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT NEW ZEALAND IS THAT the majority of us support having a system where we help people who are our most vulnerable or who need temporary support in times of need. However, I believe that for too long our welfare system has trapped some people and their children into dependency and they have suffered from poorer quality of life and fewer opportunities.

I believe that the best way a government can help a person is by helping him or her back in to work. It is not compassionate as a country to accept a system that has a poverty of expectation of people.

It is also important not to simplify the debate, as I have learned from the thousands of constituency cases that have come through my office. There are a variety of situations that occur in people’s lives. What is important is that our welfare system helps people get back on their feet but does not trap people into long term dependency.

Our Government recognises that for some families things are tough. That is why we have delivered a range of initiatives targeted at helping our most vulnerable including $50 million in social housing, free GP visits for under 60s and childcare assistance payments for young parents.

In Budget 2012, we announced a series of reforms to our welfare system focused on helping our long term welfare beneficiaries by acknowledging we may need to invest more in the short term in areas like education, skill training and alcohol and drug addiction to ensure people who have been out of work for a period of time are in a position to get a job.

We have provided over $287 million over the next four years to support New Zealanders off welfare, and into work. A major driver is our desire to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged families, as we know that they will earn more being off a benefit.

We also understand the long term savings of having more people in work, which we estimate at about $1 billion over the next four years.

Part of this funding includes $80 million set aside for Early Childhood Education (ECE) childcare support. This includes Guaranteed Childcare Assistance payments, available to young parents receiving assistance under the Youth Package. This payment helps to provide childcare to families, funding up to 50 hours per week for a child to attend an approved ECE service. Through this and other funding initiatives, we are ensuring that young people are at the heart of our Government’s reforms. That is why we are also targeting funding for youth services through budgeting and parenting courses, as well as payments for providers and wrap around support.

In addition to this, for the first time ever, the Ministry of Education will share information with the Ministry of Social Development in order to keep an eye on young people who need assistance. Youth providers will also have a high level of flexibility to work with disengaged and unemployed young people and teen parents to get them back in to education or training, or help them attain NCEA Level 2.

We also want our social agencies working closely to support long-term beneficiaries into work. Jobseeker Support is a new work-focused benefit to be introduced in July 2013, and will combine a number of existing benefit categories. We believe in an investment based approach to our welfare system that concentrates on what people are capable of, not the things that they cannot do. We want Kiwis and their families to know that they can rely on the public services that they need, and that our social agencies are working to help people out of the welfare trap, and in to work and better opportunities in life.

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I believe that these changes will ensure that some of our most disadvantaged families have greater opportunities, and ultimately a better quality of life. I believe in a country where it should not matter what family or part of New Zealand you were born into, you should have access to some basic opportunities through our health and education system to get ahead. A welfare system that is compassionate for those in need but focused on people getting into work will better help deliver that.

(NIKKI KAYE, AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP) PN www.nikkikaye.co.nz

PONSONBY ROAD CELEBRATES ITS THIRD YEAR AS A 40KM ZONE IT HAS BEEN THREE YEARS THIS MONTH SINCE THE SPEED LIMIT ALONG Ponsonby Road has been 40k... and Andy Smith of Living Streets Aotearoa says, “we’re thrilled to say that it’s been a safer three years!”

The project to lower the speed limit along Ponsonby Road started in 2004 with a Walk Auckland Survey in which 65% of people indicated they would like the traffic along Ponsonby Road to slow down. It took people like Hamish Keith and the members of the Western Bay Community Board five years of hard work to turn this into a reality and in September 2009 our road became a 40k zone. The first of its kind in the central city area!

To acknowledge and celebrate this milestone they have planned a number of events along Ponsonby Road this September to remind everyone about transport options and traffic safety. Just prior to our September issue publication, Hamish Keith cut the 40k zone birthday cake at noon on Saturday 1 September on the corner of Franklin and Ponsonby Roads.

The strip will be filled with bicycles on Saturday 15 September, when Tweed Riders and Frocks on Bikes hit the street between 12pm – 2pm. On the same day the first bike corral in Auckland will be open in front of Landreth & Co so there’ll be a cool new space to park your bikes safely and easily.

Ponsonby Market Day on Saturday 22 September will fill the road with people and Morris Dancers will help us welcome the start of Auckland Heritage Festival on Saturday 29 September at 12noon in Western Park.

As Andy Smith says, “There will be electronic speed notification signs along Ponsonby Road during the month of September. We’ll be rewarding people at random for travelling within the speed limit. There are heaps of great vouchers to be won so make sure you watch your speed and think ‘40 is the new 50!’ Auckland Transport, Ponsonby Business Association and Walk Auckland are supporting these events.” PN If you want to contribute to the party atmosphere join their Facebook group “I promise to drive under 40kph on Ponsonby Road.” www.facebook.com/groups/139895184446/ or please contact andysmith@clear.net.nz

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 LOCAL NEWS PONSONBY CENTRAL A-BUZZ ON MARKET DAY Ponsonby Central is whole-heartedly joining in the Ponsonby Market Day celebrations. The tenants of Ponsonby Central will be in the car park with stalls offering a “Taste of what is to come to Ponsonby Central”.

Call in and buy something to eat, some produce to take home, and join in the day’s festivities with the Ponsonby Central new coming tenants.

Ponsonby Central will be buzzing and alive with activity, and this will be the first taste of the Ponsonby Central Market that will be held in the car park on an on-going basis once the complex opens.

Owner Andy Davies intends to have artists performing at Ponsonby Central on a regular basis, in the traditional market style of busking. There will be no charge for the buskers to be part of Ponsonby Central but to ensure the standard is high and varied Andy has decided to hold auditions on Ponsonby Market Day for all local buskers and performance artists.

There will be a prize for the best performance – the “Andy’s Choice Award”.

A $500 paid gig at the Ponsonby Central Opening Celebrations. Spaces are limited so artists keen to audition need to register on ponsonbycentral.co.nz.

“Come down to Ponsonby Central car park on the market day, meet the Ponsonby Central team and tenants and have a sneak peek of what is due to open shortly in your neighbourhood.” PN PONSONBY CENTRAL, 136 Ponsonby Road www.ponsonbycentral.co.nz

“DREAM ROLE” FOR NEW MERCY HOSPICE CEO LAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON, IN A SPACE MOST often reserved for quiet solitude and professional development, the boardroom of Mercy Hospice Auckland erupted in rousing cheers and applause.

Following a stringent recruitment process and several months of deliberation and speculation, staff were delighted to hear that their colleague Lynda Smith, acting CEO, had been appointed permanent CEO.

“I admire Jan’s leadership style. It fosters collaboration. Because of it, we have such passionate people here and it’s quite contagious.

There’s no secret why we have had 100% engagement and been a top ten employer (fourth) for the past two years in the JRA survey.”

Mercy Hospice’s track record is impressive. Often referred to as a leader in specialist palliative care, its services have grown to provide Central Auckland patients and their loved ones with the most current, and very best, support.

Lynda’s appointment follows Jan Nichols’ departure in June of this year. Lynda is the first to acknowledge the wonderful legacy that Jan has left the organisation following her 19 years of service (Jan has taken up the position of CEO at Hospice North Shore). Neither is Lynda oblivious to the fact that she has some pretty big shoes to fill. Jan was, in fact, a big part of why Lynda decided to join Mercy Hospice.

“Jan is such an inspirational leader,” says Lynda, “I love that she isn’t afraid to innovate, to do things outside of the box. If it means providing those dealing with a life-limiting illness with a high standard of care, she was, and will no doubt continue to be, the first to say ‘it can be done’ and ‘make it happen’.

Lynda, who has been a part of the hospice team as nurse leader for the past two and a half years and acting CEO off and on, credits Jan for leaving Mercy Hospice with some very solid foundations on which the organisation can grow. Like Jan, she believes that hospice works best with a flat operating structure - where everyone holds a stake in, and is accountable for, ensuring better care for patients and their families.

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At any given time, 24 hours of the day, seven days a week, the hospice cares for more than 260 patients. In the last year alone, 7,984 nurse visits and 1,181 family support visits were made. In the past six years, the charity has opened six Mercy Hospice Shops to help fund its growing needs.

“Just as well” those closest to hospice’s work might well say. With Auckland’s aging population, the need for hospice’s essential services, provided free-of-charge, is only expected to increase.

Lynda knows that there are few one-size-fits-all solutions in palliative care and recognises that the number of ways Aucklanders wish to care for and say goodbye to their loved ones is growing and diverse in nature. “More and more patients are requesting that their final days be spent at home for example,” she says. PN www.hospice.org.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE ROELANTS

 $1.7 BILLION IN SAVINGS HELPS REDUCE RATES A total of $1.7 billion in savings will be delivered over the next 10 years to help keep rates well below projected increases of former councils. The Mayor says Auckland Council has slashed projected spending by all eight former councils to bring in a low 3.6 per cent increase this year and help alleviate the impact of moving to a single rating system.

“Key infrastructure projects like building the City Rail Link have no impact on rates for the next eight years – the real rates dollars are going into upgrading existing sports grounds, public transport, local roads and sewerage systems, which Auckland needs to cater for growth,” says Len Brown.

GET YOUR MIND AROUND THIS Go East, not West young man! Grey Lynn based Mind Warriors International is going places. Co-directors Steve Hill and Wade Jackson travelled to Singapore in February to demonstrate their Jolt Challenge programme to the country’s armed forces. The military leaders were so impressed they’ve made a bulk order of Mind Warriors’ training materials and the two will be heading back to tutor military personnel on how to implement the training system they developed back in 2002.

Steve co-founded the award winning WebMedia company and Wade is the founder of The Improv Bandits, the improvised comedy act that has won world championships.

The two first met in 1996 doing martial arts then four years later they teamed up to create an experimental training programme for large corporates. They wanted something more than one day workshops and started designing programmes based around storytelling and creativity, much like theatre sports. Instead of running tutored classes they created fun exercises in improvisation that were spontaneous and then observed how this sort of environment broke down boundaries and made the participants more open to sharing.

That growth is projected to hit the two million people mark in Auckland by 2021 and will require the city to consider new ways to fund the critical transport projects required to keep Auckland moving. “There is no doubt that significant investment in roads, rail, ferry, pedestrian and cycle infrastructure will be needed over the next 30 years, but how we pay for those is still up for discussion. We’ve delivered $1.7 billion in savings and efficiencies across the council over the next 10 years.

“The average rates change is 3.6 per cent. If you are paying more or less, then it is largely a result of merging eight councils and to say otherwise simply misrepresents what is a very prudent budget,” says Len Brown.

Prior to amalgamation Auckland Council faced a projected rates increase of 9 per cent. This also compares to the 5.7 per cent average annual increases across the former councils over the past seven years. “Even if we’d set a zero budget and cut spending on footpaths, libraries, electric trains or local parks, ratepayers would still be facing double-digit increases because of the amalgamation.

“The amalgamation was a massive challenge in all sorts of ways, not least of all rates, but we have brought in transition policies to smooth out any change and in the end we will have a fairer system where homes of the same value will pay the same rates, wherever they are in the region,” says Len Brown. PN

Change doesn’t happen in a day and they soon realised the management programmes should be conducted over a year. Success came rapidly and JOLT Challenge received plaudits from world leading management thinkers such as Dr Edward de Bono. Since its launch they have been signing up large companies across the board. Steve and Wade go into the corporates and train licensees within the organisations so that the disciplines are ongoing. Telecom, KPMG, Westpac, Frucor, BNZ, Sky City, Global women and now IAG in Australia and the Singapore Armed forces are all participants and are convinced that the programme has the potential to lead to national selfenlightenment.

Individuals can also take advantage of the JOLT Challenge. There is a nine week public programme that takes place in the St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, which has helped people turn their lives around and manage themselves more effectively.

The next thing on the agenda is to develop a programme for the youth market and they are also looking at the health aspect. All the programmes allow people to proceed at their own pace and they have an impressive record of success. The JOLT Challenge has helped people win gold medals, save marriages, upscale business results and improve the overall quality of people’s lives.

The JOLT Challenge focusses on self awareness or what the programme calls ‘self learning’. In the business world, and in normal life as well, how can one possibly lead someone else until you know how to lead yourself? So many people just focus on what they perceive and act accordingly, which more often than not, doesn’t result in the best outcome. Probably one of the most besetting sins of the human race is self deception. It has caused innumerable wars, worldwide catastrophes, and untold misery to countless human beings.

So in the words of Shakespeare - “This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”

The JOLT Challenge manual retails for about $40 but the cash strapped can borrow it from the Auckland Library. Click on www.joltchallenge.com for more information and details about the nine week public programme. (DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN

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LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE ROELANTS

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A CONTROVERSIAL ADVERTISEMENT FOR HAKANOA HANDMADE DRINKS REBEKAH HAY STARTED UP HER BUSINESS IN 2009 producing old fashioned ginger beer that people remember from their childhood days when mums would brew it in the kitchen. Rebekah uses a commercial kitchen but did all the experimentation at home in Hakanoa Street where she has lived for 20 years, hence the name of her company, Hakanoa Handmade Drinks.

There are two ginger beers, the one we are all familiar with and a lime and chili variety for adult tastes. She started selling at farmers’ markets and during winter, when sales of the beer fell off, she developed a ginger syrup that is a hot drink and one of the more exciting products in the range.

When working on a business plan, a friend who worked for Saatchi and Saatchi called to tell her the agency had an idea for a ginger beer ad and were looking for a ginger beer company to use it. The ad would be entered for an award so it came free of charge. This was an offer too good to refuse so Rebekah met up with Art Directors, David King, and James Bowman, both ginger tops, who sat her down and explained where they were coming from before showing her the ad. On his way home from school, David’s eight year old ‘ginger’ son had been set upon because of his hair colour and they wanted to do something to stop this sort of behaviour. Their idea was to come up with a controversial but funny ad and bring media attention to the problem.

Rebekah agreed the ad was politically incorrect but obviously tongue in cheek.

Nevertheless she checked it out with a few people to get their reaction, namely a ginger headed cousin, a ginger headed nephew, and a ginger headed neighbour who has the

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most beautiful little ginger headed girl. Their reaction - it’s a celebration of the ginger headed people in our lives.

This research did not prepare her for the negative reaction the ad received. All she expected was a bit of positive exposure and some ginger headed people would receive free product. Instead, because she had not hidden her name or address, she became the target for a lot of hostility, so much so that in one particularly threatening instance, she had to ask the police to intervene.

One of her outlets, The Little Grocer received a call threatening the owner he’d punch his face out, and another saying they’d never step foot in the shop again.

Rebekah did not create the ad - the parents of bullied ginger -haired children did, and because they work in advertising they decided to address the problem by getting it talked about. It sure made an impact, receiving unprecedented negative media attention and unfortunately, Rebekah and her husband became the fall guys. What a storm in a teacup! After all, the campaign consisted of only a few posters displayed for a short time around Auckland.

In the words of David King who wrote the ad, “Ginger kids take a lot of flack. Sometimes nasty stuff. And you want to do something to stop this. Hakanoa and Alia of The Little Grocer have copped a lot of flack to help get the issue raised in the media. Now that people have seen why they’ve done this, I hope everyone gets right in behind them because they’re on our side”. Well conversely, because of all this hoo hah, the Hakanoa brand is now well and truly out there.

(DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN www.hakanoa-handmade.co.nz

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JOHN ELLIOTT: SOAP BOX STILL IN PONSONBY, STILL PANEL BEATING, AFTER 62 YEARS...

The Commonwealth Games held in Auckland in 1950 are a very distant memory for most of us, but that was the year Hugh Stevens began his panel beating apprenticeship with Jack Bainbridge at 59 Vermont Street, Ponsonby. Hugh and his family arrived from the South Island (he was born in Christchurch). He had just left school and was 15 years old.

His mother took him to the Vocational Guidance Service to look for an apprenticeship.

There were three openings - a baker in Kingsland, a bricklayer in Mt Roskill, and a panel beater in Ponsonby. Neither Hugh nor his mother knew much about panel beating but it was the closest to home so Hugh chose panel beating. He could cycle from his home in Garnet Road to Jack Bainbridge Panel beater in Vermont Street.

And so that fortuitous happening started Hugh Stevens lifetime of work as a panel beater, first as an apprentice with Bainbridge, then later as Bainbridge’s shop foreman.

“Jack Bainbridge was my only boss,” Hugh tells us. “After 19 years, during which I managed 19 staff for Jack (a very tough but fair boss), I bought Max Hook’s business in Blake Street, renamed it Hugh Stevens Panelbeaters, and the rest is history.” While Hugh is more or less retired, and handed over the business to son Craig seven years ago, he can still be seen around the place helping out.

He suggested Craig might want to rename the business ‘Craig Stevens’, but Craig had no desire to do that, and it’s good to have Hugh’s name still up in lights! ‘Hugh Stevens & Son’.

Hugh has fond memories of early days in Ponsonby. Of course, Hoffman’s Plumbing was next door, and Hugh and staff had some great parties with Trevor Davies of Hoffman’s and his staff. Joe Jakecivich’s grandfather (Glengarry founder) was living where Dida’s now is. Whereas there were trades people all over the Ponsonby area, especially around Provost and Blake Streets, Hugh Stevens is one of the last of the mohicans. They don’t have as much space as they would like, but their business neighbours are comfortable with their continued presence in Ponsonby.

PUBLIC MEETING OF WESTERN BAYS COMMUNITY GROUP • Are you curious as to what is going on in the SoHole on Williamson Avenue?

• Do you have an idea for the future of Ponsonby Road?

• Are you concerned about an issue in our neighbourhood?

All locals are invited to the next meeting of the Western Bays Community Group on Monday 10 September (7-30pm-9pm). You should come along to this meeting, which will finish at 9pm sharp. Enquiries to Geoff Houtman, Chair on M: 021 323 064. PN

Hugh Stevens has been a Ponsonby Rugby Club member since his teenage years.

He played for the senior team between 1957 and 1966, and remembers some of the famous old boys like Bob Scott and Keith Nelson. Bob Scott still had his shop on Ponsonby Road, as did Keith’s father, a menswear shop a few doors along from Franklin Road. Ponsonby Rugby Club was also the source of some valuable panel beating work for Hugh Stevens!

Since Hugh handed over to son Craig, in 2005, he has taken even more interest in his vintage car activities. He is restoring a 1928 Model A Speedster, and is a keen member of the Vintage Car Club. Hugh has a cabin on a family section at Warkworth, just an hour from Auckland, where he goes to escape the Auckland hustle and bustle - closer to home than Opito Bay in Coromandel where the family used to go.

Many years ago, Hugh built a 16’ 6” caravan which the family towed all over New Zealand. It started off as a 14’ 6” project, but with a growing family two feet was added to the plans.

The change of management from Hugh to Craig was seamless, which indicates to me that Craig was well trained by his father, and had no desire to re-invent the wheel when he took over from dad - a tribute to Hugh Stevens I thought.

“Of course”, Hugh points out, “Craig has embraced all the new computer technology that was not available in my time.” Hugh acknowledges that Craig is doing a great job running the place, and I have never detected any suggestion that Craig thinks Hugh is a nuisance around the place. But I haven’t asked Craig that question.

It seems to me an excellent generational change – same good service, same friendly greetings - but son rather than father. At 77 years of age, and panel beating since 1950. Hugh Stevens is certainly a legend in Ponsonby. We wish him well in retirement - get that Speedster finished Hugh, and show it off on Ponsonby Road for us all to see.

(JOHN ELLIOTT) PN HUGH STEVENS & SON, 1a Blake Street T: 09 376 6876 www.stevenspanelbeating.co.nz

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JACINDA ARDERN LABOUR LIST MP AUCKLAND

TEACHERS KEY TO A WORLD-CLASS SYSTEM

THEY ARE BACK WHERE THEY BELONG

THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY FOR MPS HAS A GRADUATION FEEL TO IT. The gallery is full of family and friends, there to see the ceremony of it all and wish their loved ones well. My immediate family live overseas, and outside of them there was one person I really wanted to be there - my high school history teacher.

THE MAIN PONSONBY SHOPPING CENTRE HAS always been known simply as ‘Three Lamps’ even though the original lamp standard was removed way back in 1937. Eight long years have passed since local businessman Brian Crosser, and his mother Isolde, sponsored a study into the cost of replica lamps being positioned in the centre.

They are true Ponsonby stalwarts with Isolde once running a shop on Ponsonby Road and her sister employed as a conductress on the trams. The late Glenys Hopkinson was firmly in favour of the project and the Auckland branch of the Historic Places Trust endorsed their heritage significance. Glenys assisted with the proposal, the Western Bays Community Board submitted it to council, but little progress was made.

Many of us have that one teacher that stands out, so when research tells us that the quality of a teacher is what makes a difference to learning outcomes for our kids, it’s hardly surprising. Surely then teacher quality should be front and centre of our education debate? Not in all cases it seems.

Charter schools are the latest education initiative being pedalled by the Government. We’ve been told we need these schools to help the roughly 20% of kids that aren’t doing well in our education system, that other jurisdictions have charter schools and surely that means we need them too. These arguments miss out one very important point - we are unique.

A few years ago a teacher friend of mine visited ‘academies’ (the equivalent of charter schools) in the UK. He met strong school principals who had developed programmes that were relevant to their students needs, and students that, as a result, were highly engaged in their own learning. This was in stark contrast to the rest of the state system in the UK, which is centrally and regionally controlled, with a highly prescriptive curriculum. In short, academies were used to break away from an entire education system that wasn’t working.

These are not problems we suffer from in New Zealand. An education revolution of sorts happened here 20 years ago. We moved away from a system run primarily out of the Department of Education, and handed boards of trustees, and elected parents, the power to hire staff, manage budgets, and set the direction of the schools their children attended. Autonomy over learning programmes came next, with the last Labour Government giving schools much more say in the way the curriculum is used to meet the needs of their kids.

So if our schools don’t suffer the same issues as other jurisdictions, how were they going to make charter schools look different here? Simple - change the way they can be funded (via the public purse with privatised profits), and say that anyone can teach in them, whether they are qualified or not. If the one thing we can all agree on in education is that teacher quality matters, throwing that out of the window makes no sense at all. Surely the kids who need the most attention, the most help, deserve better than this?

Yes we have issues we need to fix in our education system, and it’s not good enough that 20% of our kids are being left behind, but bringing in an unnecessary experiment is not the answer. We have a world-class system in New Zealand.

Let’s not throw that away. PN JACINDA ARDERN, Labour List MP based in Auckland Central www.jacinda.co.nz

Finally in 2010 when the Waitemata Local Board was elected under the new regime it got its collective feet under the table and after consultation with residents and the Ponsonby Business Association the project was at last underway. Careful placement of the replicas was essential to retain authenticity, otherwise the historical value of the lamps would be lost. They also had to be as true to the originals as possible.

Consulting architect, Philip Jones who is proud to be associated with the return of the landmark says, “Original techniques have been employed, with only the finest in ironwork, stone masonry and infrastructure engineering.”

On a clear Friday night, 10 August, throngs of locals crowded into the Belgian Beer Café that had set aside a room for a very special occasion, namely the celebration of the long awaited installation of the three lamps outside the old Ponsonby Club Hotel site. After downing a convivial glass or two everyone trooped across the intersection and gathered round the resurrected icon. Isolde Crosser, now in her nineties had travelled from Selwyn Village to attend the lighting ceremony and watched son Brian take on the role of the old lamplighter. He turned on a switch and once again the three lamps shone as they had done back in 1873.

The ceremony was followed by refreshments, short speeches and acknowledgements back at the Beer Café. Waitemata Local Board Member, Tricia Reade had high praise for the many people who helped bring the project to fruition. She made special mention of the Crossers whose initial generous support led to the final outcome. Others in her audience who had links to the past were Mrs Katie Lambourne and Dave Gilbert. Mrs Lambourne was married to Alec whose father owned the famous Lambourne Store on the corner of Pompalier Street now occupied by the ANZ. Dave Gilbert’s company, Wrought Iron Product constructed the replica of the pole and it just so happens that his wife’s great grandfather, Cyril Callanan used to light the gas street lamps in Ponsonby and would have lit the Three Lamps on his evening rounds.

Many of those who attended remarked on how the occasion generated a strong sense of community. In Tricia’s words, “This project has been a great example of the local board, council and community working together to create a sense of place for this and future generations.” (DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN

AUCKLAND CONFIRMED AS TOP 10 GLOBAL CITY

the Economist Index is great news but proves there is a still lot of work to be done as Auckland strives to be the world’s most liveable city.

AUCKLAND’S POSITION AS ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP 10 MOST LIVEABLE cities has been confirmed with the release of the latest Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Report. The report puts Auckland as the world’s 10th most liveable city, a position it has held for the past three years.

The EIU Index is based on five categories. In education, Auckland is first equal, in culture and environment third, in stability fourth equal and healthcare 10th.

In infrastructure, the only top 10 city that ranks worse than Auckland is Toronto.

The EIU index is one of three internationally recognised indices of liveable cities. In the most recent Mercer Quality of Living Index, Auckland climbed from fourth to third position. In the Monocle magazine index of Most Liveable Cities, Auckland leapt from 13th to ninth position. The Mayor says the top 10 ranking in

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“The survey proves that internationally Auckland is obviously a very attractive city,” says Len Brown. “But objectives like a world-class integrated transport system, a quality inclusive compact city, an economic powerhouse providing jobs for all our people, and protection for our built and natural environment still provide Auckland with lots of challenges on the path to becoming the world’s most liveable city.”

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LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE ROELANTS

ONE LAMP VERSUS THREE LAMPS STUART BROUGHTON HAS A STRONG INTEREST in heritage matters and when he set up his gallery, Black Asterisk about a year ago he looked at a nice old lamp outside Objectspace next door, and wondered what it would take to have it function again. The glass carried the ASB logo, which was inappropriate as the bank had long vacated the building.

It also had a fracture so might have been hit by a car at some stage, so he trolled through a number of council agencies searching for the right person to approach about a restoration. He finally tracked down Peter Martin, Area Engineer and struck gold. Peter likes to work with people in the community who are interested in heritage so he decided to have the old lamp restored and shedding light once more.

Above: The WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD at the Three Lamps ‘switch on’; Below: ISOLDE CROSSER; The Three Lamps plaque; The ‘One Lamp’

To Stuart’s delight, in no time the lamp was inspected, taken away, and a crew of workmen stayed to fix up the footpath. Over the years the base of the lamp had become buried by successive paving upgrades. Soon after a bunch of guys reappeared to reinstall it but then they had to dig a trench to power the lamp. Peter found a set of flickering light bulbs that emulate gas light, but to Stuart’s dismay the lamp still carried the ASB glass. He called Peter who hadn’t realised this had happened, but ‘no worries’ and next thing ‘off with its head’ which was taken away then returned with yet another bunch of guys, trucks, a cherry picker, the whole enchilada. The exercise entailed an enormous amount of activity, but unlike the Three Lamps long term project, this was completed in a matter of weeks.

Now we have a Three Lamps area at one end of Ponsonby Road and a One Lamp area at the other end. The One Lamp harkens back to the days when reticulated gaslight stretched the entire length of the road. The faint flickering lights gave guidance to pedestrians rather than lighting up the walkway and there’s a rumour that touching the One Lamp brings happiness and good fortune.

The pedestrian count in One Lamp is not as great as in Three Lamps, and market days and festivities don’t reach there either. Hopefully the One Lamp’s restoration will effect a change and the businesses there will achieve fame and good fortune.

(DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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 LOCAL NEWS AUCKLAND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2012 29 Sept - 14 Oct FREE HERITAGE EVENTS ON K ROAD www.kroad.com Bookings Essential: T: 09 377 5086 or heritage@kroad.com SYMONDS STREET CEMETERY TOMBSTONE RUBBING WORKSHOP Sunday 30 September, Sunday 7 October - Midday. A free one hour talk by Edward Bennett on Cemetery Art & Symbolism and a hands-on workshop on tombstone rubbing techniques. Materials provided. Jewish Cemetery. This event is weather dependent and includes uneven and damp ground.

HEROISM, TRAGEDY & HERITAGE ROSES Sunday 30 September, Sunday 7 October - 1pm. A free two hour tour of the Symonds Street Cemetery. This includes the graves of many prominent people including Governor Hobson and Baron De Thierry. Meet at Jewish Cemetery. This walk is weather dependent and includes uneven ground and stairs.

THE GREAT WHITE WAY - K RD 1900 TO 1960 Tuesday 2 October - 6pm; The Film Archive; Level 1 - 300 K Road. Electric Trams, Electric Lights, Electric Cinema. The dazzling world of late night shopping, drama, furnishings and fashion. An entertaining illustrated lecture by local historian Edward Bennett on Karangahape Road during its Heyday.

THE INSIDE VIEW ~ K’ RD INTERIORS Photography is permitted, food is NOT. Tuesday 2, Wednesday 3, Thursday 4 and Friday 5 October - 10am. A two hour free guided tour of significant interiors along K’ Road, includes the Baptist Tabernacle, Mercury Theatre, Hopetoun Alpha, the Samoan Fale and Pitt Street Methodist Church. Walk includes stairs.

THE GREATEST BRIDGE IN THE WORLD Saturday 6 and Saturday 13 October - 1pm. A two hour free guided tour of Grafton Bridge. When it was completed in 1910 it was the largest single span bridge in the world. Meet at the Greer Twiss Fountain. This walk is weather dependent and includes uneven ground and stairs.

FIRE, FLAMES & PASSION Tuesday 9 October 1pm, Friday 12 October - 1pm. A free one hour tour of the Ponsonby Road end of K’ Road including the VAANA Mural, the Maori Community Hall and an overview of the red light industry. Meet at Cobden Street corner.

MYERS PARK: OPIUM & OPTIMISM Wednesday 10 and Sunday 14 October - 1pm. A two hour free guided tour of Myers Park and Grey’s Avenue. Hear the story of this “Gift for the children of Auckland”, its artworks and the adjacent modernist state housing development. Meet at K’ Road entrance of St Kevins Arcade. This walk is weather dependent and includes stairs. PN

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photography: Michael McClintock

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IPANEMA FOOD & ART SOCIETY, PONSONBY Tuesday, 7 August 1. Jeronimo Prompt & Ana Paula of Ipanema, Veronica and dad Eliseu De Oliveira, of Brazil Express; 2. Leonardo Ribeiro, Jamie Craig, Jo Lochhead, and Hannah Lloyd of Glengarry; 3. Egbert Ferreira, First Secretary, Embassy of Brazil.

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 LOCAL NEWS URBAN CHICKS – CELEBRATING BACKYARD CHOOKS IN THE CITY Through a series of stunning colour photographic portraits and concise interviews, Urban Chicks showcases 55 Auckland households and their feathered inhabitants.

Along with a host of families, young working couples, solo households and people sharing flats are well-known individuals including food writer Julie Biuso, Shortland Street actress Rachel Forman, DYI expert Justin Newcombe, Green Goddess Wendyl Nissen and Labour politician David Cunliffe. What they all have in common is a love for their chooks.

Urban Chicks also features an illustrated ID guide to different breeds and lots of useful tips on how to keep your chooks – urban or otherwise – happy and healthy.

There are four or five locals included and here are some of their stories.

BRIAN HOLLAND A couple of years ago one of the group that was sharing this spacious Grey Lynn villa with Brian Holland at the time suggested that they get some chickens. It was an idea that was enthusiastically received by the household and the men set to work building a good-sized run that incorporated a renovated dog kennel. Four chickens – a Barnevelder, a Shaver and two unknown (and probably somewhat mixed) breeds – were duly purchased from the friend of a friend and everyone was delighted when they started laying almost immediately, despite the presence of Simba and Java, the two resident cats. The eggs are much appreciated by everyone in the house: ‘They’re a good reason for making a frittata and all of us in the house eating together,’ says Brian, the owner of the property and an active gardener, who’s especially appreciative of the contribution that Boris, Nigel, Elizabeth and Hobbs make towards the compost.

HANNES EILERS’ Given their location on Auckland’s College Hill, one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares, Hannes Eilers’ small flock are surely the most urban in this collection. Hatched in December 2011, the chooks are an interesting bunch and include a couple of Leghorns, an Australorp and a sprinkling of Silver Spangled Hamburghs. Hannes and his partner, Rafael, suspect a couple of the Hamburghs may be roosters, in which case they’ll be sold to avoid contravening local bylaws but they’re hoping that out of all of them there will be at least four hens for them to keep. The enclosed run at the rear of the villa backs on to a service lane so there is no problem with neighbours being bothered by noise. For Hannes, keeping chickens ‘brings a bit of the farm into the city’ and also reminds him of his home in Germany. ‘It’s the greatest thing to bring up a chicken.’

JARAD BRYANT Although the three chickens in Jarad Bryant’s backyard were only supposed to be there temporarily while his partner Susie Thomas, who runs Chickens at Home, found them a new home, he wouldn’t be without them now. In fact he’s become so involved with their presence in his Grey Lynn garden that he’s considering showing two of them, Victoria (so-named because of her full-feathered ‘bustly’ appearance) and the Speckly One (not hard to work out the reasons for her name), at a poultry show in the not-toodistant future.

He particularly likes the way they are happy to look after themselves, apart from their twice-daily ration of chickenfeed. ‘Sometimes I’ll whiz up a vegetable mash for them; they seem to like that better than whole vegetables. They’re such characters – it’s a bit like having the two Ronnies or the Goodies hanging out in your backyard.’ PN

By Trevor Newman and Renee Lang (Renaissance Publishing) LAUNCH DATE: 16 SEPTEMBER, RRP $35.00 ‘What is clear is that pro-chicken sentiment is on the rise in New Zealand; chickens are increasingly appreciated and sought after as unique avian companions. This lovingly crafted book epitomises just how much “chooks” remain a significant part of our busy urban lives.’

– From the foreword by Annie Potts, BSc, PhD There’s nothing new about chickens in the backyard, especially if you live in the countryside or even a semi-rural environment. But the growing trend of keeping chickens in a suburban – and in some cases inner-city – backyard is something else. These days hens are hot!

A truly impressive number of city backyards are now home to chooks of an amazing array of breeds and colours including – but not limited to – glossy Orpingtons and Barnevelders, delicate Houdans and Aracaunas, fluffy white Chinese Silkies and, of course, good old brown Shavers.

Through a series of stunning colour photographic portraits and concise interviews, Urban Chicks showcases 55 Auckland households and their feathered inhabitants. Along with a host of families, young working couples, solo households and people sharing flats are well-known individuals.

Urban Chicks also features an illustrated ID guide to different breeds and lots of useful tips on how to keep your chooks – urban or otherwise – happy and healthy.

PONSONBY NEWS has two copies of URBAN CHICKS to giveaway!

Simply email: jay@ponsonbynews.co.nz with your postal address and phone number by 20 September. Please mention: URAN CHICKS in the subject line.

Pictured above left: BRIAN HOLLAND and right: JARAD BRYANT

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LOCAL NEWS  JAM ON TOAST IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY! Jam on Toast will be a day of celebration and festivities for families and Grey Lynn locals to enjoy and be a part of at their community centre.

The event kicks off at 12.30pm on Saturday 6 October with loads of FREE family friendly activities – Singing Pirate ‘Captain Festus McBoyle’, Storytelling with ‘Phineas Phrog’, creative time for wee ones with ‘Arty Smarty and cartooning for the older kids with ‘The Cartoon Workshop’ to mention a few.

Loads of our fabulous regulars will be showcasing their classes and workshops, you will be amazed at the quality and variety on offer for both children and adults.

The Grey Lynn Farmers Market will also be on hand to provide much needed refreshments throughout the day and for those keen on a spot of shopping Kraft -bomb will have a mini market set up and a fabulous selection of craft items available for purchase.

But wait there’s more! We don’t plan to finish there but will continue into the evening with live music and ‘adult refreshments’ by way of a cash bar so put on your dancing shoes and come down and party with us.

We hope to make this an annual ‘Community Event’ so please come along, enjoy the day and help to make this a success – see you there! PN GREY LYNN COMMUNITY CENTRE, 510 Richmond Road T: 09 378 4908 www.greylynn.org.nz

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PONSONBY’S URBAN DESIGN QUARTER

MAIDSTONE, MACKELVIE + POLLEN STREETS

Left: The Cider Building looking from Williamson Avenue; Right: The Cider Building looking from Hepburn Street.

PLANS REVEALED FOR PONSONBY DEVELOPMENT PROGRESSIVE ENTERPRISES HAS UNVEILED PLANS FOR ITS PONSONBY site which will include a supermarket, specialty retail and office building and a mixed use commercial and residential architectural precinct. The 13,609sqm site located between Pollen Street, Crummer Road and Williamson Avenue was purchased by the company in September 2011. Progressive Enterprises Property Development Manager Brady Nixon said that many months of planning, design and consultation had gone into the development.

“We have endeavoured to create a high quality development and architectural precinct in what is known as an eclectic and popular part of Auckland. Our plans represent a radical departure from former development proposals for the site. The supermarket, specialty retail and office building will occupy only half of the site with the balance being offered for sale as small lots reflecting Ponsonby’s existing environment,” Mr Nixon said.

CIDER – A NEW COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL DEVELOPMENT The proposed ‘Cider building’ will offer 14,000sqm net of supermarket, specialty retail and office space on the Williamson Ave side of the site.

The building will consist of four levels of office space measuring 6,600sqm above a 4,360sqm Countdown supermarket. Like all new Countdown supermarkets, the full service supermarket will be designed in a modern and sustainable way, with wider aisles, more expansive fresh produce departments and a range of environmental initiatives such as energy efficient lighting and refrigeration to help minimise the store’s carbon footprint.

VINEGAR LANE – A NEW ARCHITECTURAL COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PRECINCT FOR AUCKLAND The proposed Vinegar Lane precinct created from the remaining half of the site offers 31 subdivided freehold lots ranging from 74sqm to 400sqm in size. The Vinegar Lane name acknowledges the site’s former life as the DYC Vinegar factory. Created around a small cobbled laneway, the precinct will have a strong architectural focus and feature a private landscaped courtyard. “The precinct will contain a carefully planned mix of commercial and residential buildings with clearly defined architectural and urban design expectations,” Mr Nixon said.

Countdown has engaged a range of local architects to develop concept designs for the precinct and how it could look when completed. “The completed outcome will be a diverse neighbourhood of town houses, terrace houses, small boutique apartment buildings and boutique office buildings where no two buildings look alike. Vinegar Lane represents something new to Auckland – one that fits the ethos of inner city living that already exists in Ponsonby. We believe this development underpins the quality and compact intentions of the Auckland Plan. The development has been designed and scaled as one integrated whole and the outcome will be a precinct where locals can work and socialise within walking distance of where they live,” Mr Nixon said.

Interest in the development has been very strong with over half of Vinegar Lane sites pre-sold. Remaining sites are now being marketed for sale through Craig Watkins of Key 2 Real Estate. PN

The building will also feature five car parking floors below ground level, including 220 dedicated car parks for the supermarket and 950sqm of speciality retail space along the street edges and a cafe. “We’ve designed the Cider building to be an unreservedly modernist building with the supermarket and office entrances discrete from each other.

The design is also enriched by the very simple use of good quality materials. The building will be clad in raw concrete, quartz zinc and evergreen glass. These materials are a subtle reference to the site’s industrial history used in a sophisticated way.

“The design aspiration for the project has been to make it look and feel like it’s part of the existing street and characteristics of Ponsonby. We believe we’ve been able to achieve a design that connects to what you can see in any small Ponsonby street. The building will be generous in terms of space and light and the views from the commercial offices will be spectacular,” Mr Nixon said.

Vinegar Lane

The Cider Building and The Williamson

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PONSONBY’S URBAN DESIGN QUARTER

MAIDSTONE, MACKELVIE + POLLEN STREETS

A LOCAL SLICE OF ITALY When you visit Pane e Vino, you’re in for a treat! The warm energy, the passion, the fun atmosphere and the outstanding effect Pane e Vino will have on your taste buds will make you feel as if you are in Italy itself.

At Pane e Vino they serve regional Italian-style cuisine in an al fresco setting making it a Ponsonby highlight.

What makes Pane e Vino so popular is the amazing menu starting with classic antipasti, pasta dishes that are exceptionally flavourful with fresh ingredients, mains from the original Italian tradition and original thin crusted pizzas. The most popular Italian desserts are also available with a different choice 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 with fresh ingredients.

Progressive Ponsonby site overview 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. They welcome children’s birthday parties until 7pm.

Pane e Vino are actively involved with local organisations such as Youth Town and community centres and they hold school holiday programmes with Pizza Day and three course Italian cooking classes.

Pane e Vino, voted best pizza in Epicure-Metro magazine 2009 and finalists at the 2011 Pizza Global Challenge competition held at the Langham Hotel. PN PANE E VINO, 20 Williamson Avenue T: 09 360 0263 www.paneevino.co.nz The Cider Building on Pollen Street

Vinegar Lane

Vinegar Lane Courtyard The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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JAY PLATT

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Bamboo Bowl $55 @ Apartmento www.apartmento.co.nz; ‘Beanies’ $145 each @ Wunderkammer www.wunderkammerjewellery.co.nz; ‘Strammer Max’ Stool by Max Frommeld for Nils Holger Moorman Gmbh $375 @ Katalog www.katalog.co.nz; ‘Havaianas’ from $28 to $32 a pair, Havaianas slims for ‘Missoni’ $95 a pair with gift bag @ Havaianas Grey Lynn www.winteragencies.com; Flowers by Kim and Nina @ Nina and Co www.ninaforflowers.co.nz; Tasting board and three bowls $139 @ Design Denmark www.designdenmark.co.nz STYLING: Jay Platt PHOTOGRAPHY: Danilo Santana David, Fisher Santana.

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WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT ‘Jugs’’ by ‘J b ‘outside’ ‘ t id ’ artist ti t Michael Mi h l Mitchell Mit h ll $185 eachh @ Flotsam Fl t andd Jetsam J t www.flotsamandjetsam.co.nz; Peachtree-Nova integrated Amp/DAC $1795 @ Strawberry Sound www.strawberrysound.co.nz; Small painted wooden Polo horse $650 @ Bashford Antiques www.bashford.co.nz; Evolu ‘Adolescent’ fragrance 100ml $139.99 @ Evolu and selected pharmacies www.evolu.com; Soap dish brush $75 @ Design Denmark www.designdenmark.co.nz; 4 1/2 inch magnetic poseable mannequin $12.50 each, 12 inch female mannequin $14.99 @ Studio Art Supplies www.studioart.co.nz; Grey ‘Otto’ table lamp $136 @ The Look www.thelook.co.nz. PN

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PONSONBY’S URBAN DESIGN QUARTER

MAIDSTONE, MACKELVIE + POLLEN STREETS

OH SO PRIVATE! OH SO PERFECT! OH!SO CAFÉ IS PONSONBY’S HIDDEN GEM. NESTLED AMONGST STOLEN Girlfriends Club, Havaianas, Ladakh and Katalog in the Mackelvie design hub, it is perfectly situated for a brunch, coffee or wine after a browse around all that is desirable in this area.

Oh!SO is well established in its fourth year on the corner of Crummer Road and Mackelvie Street. Close enough to Ponsonby Road to be convenient, but far enough to relax on the sunny deck, away from the main drag.

Open Monday to Friday from 7am and Saturday from 8.30am and with plenty of free parking, it’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch or a private evening function.

So, when you’ve finished kitting yourself and your house out in the best that Auckland has to offer, bring the oh!So ad into the café and sit down with a free coffee whilst you ponder your next shopping move. PN OH!SO CAFÉ , 29 Crummer Road T: 09 360 0700

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PONSONBY’S URBAN DESIGN QUARTER

MAIDSTONE, MACKELVIE + POLLEN STREETS

SHOWING AT THE WILLIAMSON PRIVATE MEETING ROOM PURE AND MOTHERLOCK Confronting Theatre: Addiction, Relationships and Reality; 17 September (invite only), 18 – 22 September (public performances) Playwright and Director Melissa Fergusson brings a stimulating and contemporary piece of theatre to the stage in her latest work, ‘PURE’, which is premiering as part of a double-bill with ‘Motherlock’.

PURE is high impact dramatic work exploring the dysfunction of relationships through turbulent reality and drug use.

Will (Alistair Browning) is seduced in to the world of methamphetamine through a surprise encounter with former fling, the calculating Anais (Rebecca Parr). PURE consumes all in its path, no relationship is spared from its devastation, and it is difficult to escape its grasp.

Photographer Patty Lagera Fergusson was inspired to write ‘PURE’ because “methamphetamine is so prevalent in New Zealand society and affects families from all walks of life.

“Meth rapidly hooks people into the cycle of addiction and wastes life away. It takes a person’s soul from them.”

‘PURE’ is endorsed by Christina Stroud; published author of two books and founder of the True Potential Trust and Hope of A Nation; organisations chartered to stop the supply and demand of methamphetamine into New Zealand.

Stroud has provided expert advice on the use of methamphetamine and its effects to Fergusson and the cast to enhance the credibility on stage through enabling the characters to replicate true to life physical and emotional behaviours.

Fergusson says, “I want people to be educated and understand how this drug takes people’s lives in to its grip.

Motherlock, which has been re-cast, re-mastered and had dramaturgy from Peter Matheson with multi-media incorporated in to stage craft. Motherlock was critically acclaimed in its earlier seasons that included showings as part of Auckland, Wellington and Melbourne Fringe Festivals. PN THE WILLIAMSON CAFE RESTAURANT, 1 Williamson Avenue Tickets are available through www.iticket.co.nz

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PONSONBY’S URBAN DESIGN QUARTER

artist impression: RTA Studio

MAIDSTONE, MACKELVIE + POLLEN STREETSS

THE OBJECT ROOM: MOVING SOON TO MACKELVIE STREET The Object Room opened last year in Surrey Crescent and is about to relocate to a new building next to il Forno on Mackelvie Street. Co-owner Luke McCarthy spent several years in management with a leading homeware and furniture retailer. He also spent time in real estate sales and a period in retail store fit-outs and merchandising.

His partner Timond Chu, originally from Hong Kong, started out with a strong interest in the aviation industry, qualifying as a commercial pilot here in Auckland. His passion for aircraft and travel now takes him around the world to discover exciting new places, all whilst searching for new designers and creators for the store. The pair is excited to be moving to a more central Ponsonby location.

Tell us about The Object Room?

Our vision from day one was simple – to offer unique design items from all over the globe at a price point that is affordable. We travel internationally a fair bit, and tend to discover most of our products not by attending large scale trade fairs but more so by visiting other cool design stores and in some cases meeting with designers and creators themselves. We have built very good relationships with most of our suppliers, and this gives us the passion and confidence to represent their brands.

The Object Room has several key brands that are generally always available in-store and online, these include a popular range of corporate stationery and bags, leather wallets in a huge range of styles, ceramic vases and candle holders with original textures, and our

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biggest brand – pure aromatic products with amazing scents and beautiful packaging, out of Bangkok.

Why are you moving?

Grey Lynn was our first store, and it has been a brilliant starting point for the Object Room. Because we import all of our own products and a lot of them are very unique, it was important for us to gather some feedback on what we are doing before we looked at any possibility of taking on a larger space with huge exposure. The response has been amazing and although some may say “so soon?” we say “why not!?”.

The opportunity came up for us to secure a space in a stunning new development in a part of Ponsonby that has all sorts of exciting developments happening – we couldn’t miss out.

Any new product lines?

Yes, in fact some products have already arrived but we have been waiting until we have more space to launch them! Our new store is a fair amount larger than the Grey Lynn store, which will allow us to not only give each range the space they deserve but also introduce some exciting new pieces.

Our aromatic range will grow, we have more in the way of dining and entertaining, and a seriously cool range of stools and storage pieces from Germany. PN THE OBJECT ROOM; T: 09 378 0767 www.theobjectroom.co.nz

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PONSONBY’S URBAN DESIGN QUARTER

MAIDSTONE, MACKELVIE + POLLEN STREETS

INSPIRING ART MATERIALS Studio Art Supplies is run by artists for artists, and has been a great source of creative materials and information since the early 1970s.

Their store in Crummer Road is full of everything an artist needs, whether you’re a dedicated artist adding colour to the city, or just need something to keep the kids busy on the weekend.

What really makes Studio Art Supplies special is the staff. They are all practicing artists who enjoy helping you with practical advice. They have filled the store with inspiring possibilities for your materials; colour mixing, unusual painting surfaces, paper suggestions, artwork – and they offer regular free demonstrations in their Squeezed Tube Gallery upstairs.

Every month Studio Art Supplies promote something different, with discounts, demonstrations and plenty of product information. This month it’s their ‘brush and canvas sale’, with over 90 different types of brush and their famous canvas selection on sale. Come in and get inspired! PN STUDIO ARTS SUPPLIES 35 Crummer Road T: 09 360 1238 www.studioart.co.nz

NEW RANGE OF PHOTO ALBUMS AT EL FRAMO El Framo Picture Framing has become a Ponsonby institution amongst discerning locals who appreciate the range of options, attention to detail and archival protection afforded to their collectables.

Italian Bellini range of frames at EL FRAMO

Local artists and STUDIO ARTS SUPPLIES team, EVAN WOODRUFFE, MICHAEL MITCHELL, DEAN TERCEL, and IMOGEN TAYLOR.

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

In the 18 months since acquiring El Framo, owner Michael Turner has expanded the product range in imported European frames as well as El Framo’s famous unique hand-finished offerings.

The range of hand-gilded frames now covers five tonal variations, from silver, through champagne to three shades of gold.

New on the market for Christmas is a photo album which is a cut above the average. Standard photo albums often don’t meet the grade in respect to long term storage of your photos. Over time the pages show their origins with cheap boards and acidic materials. Industry leader Nielsen Bainbridge has introduced a unique line of photo albums to care for important photos.

SPECIFICATIONS ARE: • Library bookbinding • Photo frame cover to personalise your book • Unique Flex-Pages hold (2) 4x6 photos or (1) 5x7 photo • Photo safe pages are 100% Acid, Lignin and PVC free • CD storage pocket • Capacity (160) 4x6 photos El Framo is importing a limited number of these which are due in store late October. These albums are a brilliant Christmas gift and interest is expected to be high so they would gladly put one aside for you. PN For more information or to pre-book your photo album call EL FRAMO, 16 Pollen Street T: 09 378 6774 or email info@elframo.co.nz www.elframo.co.nz

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DEBORAH WHITE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL Deborah White is the director of Whitespace, Artweek Auckland and trustee for the Auckland Art Fair and the Uptown Arts Trust.

She was actually born in Grey Lynn and studied Art History at Auckland University.

She graduated with an MFA from RMIT University, Melbourne. Deborah opened Whitespace with her partner Kenneth in 2002. Now representing 30 artists, the gallery has become an art hub for the community with changing exhibitions every three weeks.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE? Ponsonby.

DO YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN? AGES? We have three lovelies - all grown up.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? Jackson; an SPCA special.

HOW DO YOU KEEP FIT? Walking Jackson.

YOUR BEST FRIEND WOULD SAY OF YOU? Learn to say NO, then tell me my mascara is smudged and try to wipe it off with their spit!

YOUR BEST KEPT PONSONBY SECRET? Western Park - Jackson’s back yard.

Great all year round.

YOUR MOTHER WOULD SAY OF YOU? Deborah who?

YOUR DESERT ISLAND DISTRACTIONS: SONG / MOVIE AND / OR TV SHOW /BOOK? Books, Books, Books…

VIRTUES? A good chardonnay.

ONE THING YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT LIFE IS? Never ever wear white togs.

VICES? A good chardonnay.

WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? A forensic scientist.

SECRET PASSION? Movies and chocolate.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE ART WORLD? Looking, really looking at good art - it’s addictive!

WHERE DO YOU SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS? Relaxing summer holidays in Coromandel, but during the year travel is all around the next art event or exhibition.

FAVOURITE PONSONBY CAFE? Café People is my meeting room away from the phone at whitespace.

FAVOURITE PONSONBY RESTAURANT? Ponsonby Bistro – comforting after a rough week; Mutiara - good food, BYO and cheap; SPQR - fun.

FAVOURITE PONSONBY STORE? The Womens Bookshop.

FAVOURITE PONSONBY FASHION LABEL? Kingan Jones but not really that into labels generally.

YOUR MESSAGE TO PONSONBY NEWS READERS? Anyone can start a collection of something, it transforms your space and gives great pleasure. If it’s art - develop a relationship with a gallery that knows their artists and can provide background information and authenticity. Go to openings, meet the artists, when you are ready to buy - all galleries will allow terms to suit. Many collectors pay off work at several galleries at once.

Don’t buy for investment. Buy, because you love it and if you are lucky it may one day be worth something more than you paid for it. Meanwhile, you have helped sustain an artist and added something fabulous to your life. PN WHITESPACE, 12 Crummer Road T: 09 361 6331 www.whitespace.co.nz

SHOWING AT WHITESPACE 11-29 September Julie Ross: “Salon des Animaux (Animal Salon), is a body of work reflecting my passion for animals, art-historical paintings and sculptures and storytelling.

“Salon references the 17th century Paris Salons. These early art establishments were fraught with artistic prejudice, judgement and passion. Before long, they were suitably challenged by the birth of break-away salons such as Salon Des Refuses. (Exhibition Of Rejects).

“I am fascinated by the drama and culture of the European art world during the 17th -19th centuries, and see some similarities in todays’ art society.

“At the National Art Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, I fell in love with the Schaeffer Gallery. - A room filled with bronze sculptures and opulently framed floor to ceiling paintings in the manner of the original french salons. This inspired me to create a series of paintings expanding on the stories of my sculptures, providing a stage for their performance. Gesso transfer onto walnut allows me to overtly reference

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historical paintings and their stories. The added oil painting transforms them into my own aesthetic and narrative interpretation.”

Julie Ross graduated from Canterbury University in 2011 with a Masters in painting and in 2005 with a BFA Honors. PN WHITESPACE, 12 Crummer Road T: 09 361 6331 www.whitespace.co.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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PONSONBY’S URBAN DESIGN QUARTER

MAIDSTONE, MACKELVIE + POLLEN STREETS

PONSONBY INTERNATIONAL FOOD COURT - RAISES THE BAR Food court experiences often mean stale and unappealing meals, tables of abandoned trays and having to navigate the sea of full tables desperately hoping to locate one that is available.

But not at the Ponsonby International Food Court…

Come on in and choose from the array of mouth watering options found on the menus.

The Ponsonby International Food Court proudly sets the bar high by offering only the very best and highest quality food, both in cooking style and choice of ingredients.

Enjoy the flavours of Italy, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, India, China, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Turkey as well as a range of alcoholic and soft drink beverages.

Situated in the heart of Ponsonby, this is the perfect place for a leisurely lunch, quick business break or an affordable evening meal. Enjoy indoor/outdoor seating in a relaxed atmosphere, but if you don’t want to eat in you can take away.

It is ideal for backpackers or for those on a budget. Many locals eat at the Ponsonby International Food Court when renovating their home and when their kitchens are out of action.

Once you place your order you will be given a pager which alerts you when your meal is ready. Yes, that’s right your meal is made after you order so you can be sure that everything is fresh!

The prices remain cheap and cheerful and it is surprisingly affordable given the exotic options and generous portions they offer. PN PONSONBY INTERNATIONAL FOOD COURT, 106 Ponsonby Road T: 09 361 5398

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FASHION + STYLE MANDYB BY MANDY BARKER OPENS AT THREAD DESIGN STORE Mandy Barker has owned mama2b maternity wear label for seven years and recently started her fashion label MANDYB. An opportunity to take retail space inside Thread Design Store store was a exciting prospect for her. “I have always liked the look and feel of their brand and the collaboration of fashion and homeware is enticing for any shopper. I have my own space and sell both labels MANDYB and mama2b with complementary accessories such as Saben handbags and jewellery so it really is a one stop shop to enjoy.

“MANDYB is synonymous with the modern woman and I’m talking about women my age. We lead busy lives, so practical well cut clothes with simple clean lines is what defines the brand. I am proud to support the local industry and therefore make everything in New Zealand.

“The team of girls that work with me are so talented and with no formal training in design I am very reliant on their expertise. Putting a collection together from season to season can be quite a challenge with four small children. I really enjoy working with fabrics and that’s often where the ideas come from, the rest just seems to evolve.

“I am loving the shop, the contemporary style fits well with the look of the place. It is sunny and inviting and customers are enjoying shopping for homeware and fashion in the one store.” In store this spring/summer are soft, feminine tops and dresses that will see you from daytime to evening. Beautiful prints and lots of colour have brought this collection together. PN MANDYB, inside Thread Design, 274a Richmond Road T: 09 360 1361

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JULIE ROULSTON: SPRING TRENDS - PONSONBY-STYLE FIVE PONSONBY BRANDS TELL US ABOUT A NEW SEASON TREND THAT SPEAKS TO THEM, AND HOW YOU’LL BE SEEING IT IN THEIR STORES.

KILT Amber Moriarty (Marketing Manager)

JULIETTE HOGAN Juliette Hogan (Designer)

At Kilt we love colour, prints and florals! We tend to steer away from what’s ‘on trend’ for the new season in favour of creating what our customers tell us they want to wear and what we feel great in. As well as using loads of colour - from pastels to bright and bold - our design team are often inspired by the beautiful fabrics themselves, and create new pieces around them. We want women to feel amazing when wearing Kilt, and our Janene dress (pictured) will do just that. It is sheer and floaty, and perfect whether worn with heels or flats. At Kilt we love colour in accessories, too – bright vintage-inspired pieces look great with florals and pastels for that pretty, girlie look.

I’m loving the animal print that we have in-store at the moment. It’s such a beautiful take on the ‘animalesque’ trend. In particular I like the black/oyster colour way.

It’s both posh and casual at the same time, depending on what you are wearing back with it. I’ve been living in the drawstring pants with a white t-shirt and Chuck Taylors.

It’s my perfect outfit - nice and low-key but still attention-grabbing. I love the way some of my girls pair the print back with the same print in another piece - animal on animal!

It just works so well, and with a pair of heels and a bit of bright M.A.C lipgloss it’s a completely different aesthetic to how I wear it.

KILT, 271A Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 1222 www.kilt.co.nz

JULIETTE HOGAN, 170 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 9347 www.juliettehogan.com

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JULIE ROULSTON: SPRING TRENDS - PONSONBY-STYLE

AUGUSTINE Kelly Coe (Designer)

VANILLA INK Susan Duckworth (Designer)

Summer to me always means colour. At Augustine we like to introduce that colour through bright silk and silk cotton kaftans, dresses and tops, and there is no stronger way to show colour than with a bright popping print.

The print pictured is what we call our ‘Honeysuckle’ print - such a fun explosion of floral, brights and fun on a more subdued beige base. We have this print in three different styles including the gorgeous Honeysuckle Knot dress shown - it’s the perfect dress to wear out to lunch with friends, paired back with a glam flat sandal, or dressed up with a killer wedge for an evening summer BBQ.

The explosion of beautiful prints we are seeing lately is making me very happy. I’ve always loved colour and prints, especially when they look as if they have a story to tell.

The look I have in my head is a beautiful, evocatively printed, loose draping top like this gorgeous Genghis Top or one of our amazing Kaftans, in production now (very excited about these!), with a cool slightly short denim jean, or cutoff denim shorts and summer boots. The look is definitely enhanced by being on a 21 year old with the longest legs in the world, but I’m going to rock it with what I’ve got. I guess the qualities I’m interested in this spring and summer are contemporary Bohemian, easy, relaxed and effortless - cannot wait for the sunshine!

AUGUSTINE, 324 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 0991 www.augustine.co.nz

VANILLA INK, 438 Richmond Road T: 09 376 1913 www.vanillaink.co.nz

TKSTORE Turet Kneufermann (Designer) The new season trend that speaks to me - well, it’s all about colour. We have Moroccan deep brights - like mustard, regal purple and bottle green - worked with fresh pastels and combined with sophisticated silver and nude bases.

In sumptuous ‘cupro’ and silk they bring a touch of luxury into everyday wear.

A must-have for the season is the cupro Sultan pant (a relaxed pleat front trouser) and top set - they’ll go from an effortless luxe day look to an exotic evening feel match with a beautiful heel and stunning clutch.

TKSTORE, 50 Brown Street T: 09 362 2020 www.tk.net.nz

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FASHION + STYLE

JULIE ROULSTON HOW TO DO SUMMER IN WORKING STYLE Eddie von Dadelszen is Creative Director at Working Style.

Ponsonby News caught him before he jetted off to Europe in late August, to pick his brain on men’s style for spring/summer 2012/2013.

PONSONBY NEWS: WHAT INSPIRED THE NEW SEASON WORKING STYLE COLLECTION? EDDIE: There are strong colour themes: we spend a great deal of time overseas looking for inspiration for our collections and we reinterpret international colours and general trends and make them relatable for the New Zealand man and environment.

So this season there is royal blue and graphite with highlights in light grey and beige.

We like our clients to wear jackets all year round and therefore at this time of year we use cotton, linen, super-lightweight wool, and a luxury mohair and silk mix that is cool and will not crease in the heat.

Checks are the most dominant pattern in our collection, closely followed by luxurious micro-patterns like birdseyes.

PONSONBY NEWS: DO YOU HAVE ANY STYLING SUGGESTIONS? EDDIE: This season, wear a shade up from navy - so a more royal blue. Shoes have beautiful detailing this season and brown is more consciously fashionable than black.

Working Style has a stunning toecap lace-up in a cashmere (super-fine) suede. Other key accessories for summer are our plaited belts and our lightweight cotton knit jerseys.

PONSONBY NEWS: WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE FOR PONSONBY NEWS READERS? EDDIE: Our upper casual collection offers an outfit this summer that is perfect for the Ponsonby man - go in and talk to Dave. Any of our softer construction garments, beautiful tailored shirts and luxury accessories would be perfect. PN WORKING STYLE, 186 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 3840 www.workingstyle.co.nz

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FASHION + STYLE

SEVENTY SIX DESIGN – A NEWCOMER TO PONSONBY WE HAVE A NEW BUSINESS, WHICH WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME TO Ponsonby’s Redmond Street (just off Jervois Road). However, this business is NOT new to Ponsonby News, as owners Shaun and Ange of seventysixdesign have been longterm advertisers and friends with us for a very long time.

We specialise in handmade jewellery, engagement rings, wedding rings and the remodeling of old jewellery, giving it a new lease of life. As well as our own 76 Jewellery, we also carry a range of cufflinks, earrings and dress rings. There is something for everybody at seventysixdesign, so we look forward to seeing you really soon.” PN

“After eight fabulous years at our Eden Terrace store, we have made the move down the road to Ponsonby. The team here at seventysixdesign is super excited about the new store. It’s much more roomy and has been filled with some gorgeous new stock.

SEVENTYSIXDESIGN, 14 Jervois Road (entrance on Redmond Street) T: 09 376 0676 www.seventysixdesign.co.nz

NEW LIFE KEY TO THIS SEASON’S FASHION AT JANE DANIELS The fist signs of summer have arrived and Auckland just loves summer.

We flock to cafes and beaches or just for a walk – anything to break the winter spell. It’s a great time to lift your spirits with something bright and fabulous that reflects the brilliant colours of summer. The spring/ summer collection by Jane Daniels will do exactly that.

Colours of Campari, azure, Mediterranean blue, strong citrus and fuchsia feature throughout the range. Fabrics for this season include flowing pure silks, Irish linens, European stretch cottons and Italian embroideries and appliques. Jane also has a new lightweight Italian knit specifically dyed to her new season colour palette. Every garment is still, very proudly, made locally in New Zealand.

The garments are elegant with intricate cuts and unexpected detailing. Sporty jackets, 7/8 pants - with dresses still a key fashion for the season, both fitted and floating.

There is a definite and deliberate hint of 50’s influence in her designs with a sexy, femininity throughout the range.

Jane Daniels designs clothes for women who know what they are about and know where they want to be – women who understand what it is to ‘find themselves’ and be proud of who they are. It is Jane’s belief that a woman can be proud, strong and feminine - her designs reflect this celebration of life, of womanhood.

There is indeed new life right through this range from Jane Daniels – just right for your own personal transformation into spring and summer. PN JANE DANIELS, 2 Birdwood Crescent T: 09 358 5756 www.janedaniels.co.nz Above left: Mesh handkerchief skirt; Zip up short jacket; Off shoulder top. Above right: Mesh insert dress. Available at JANE DANIELS

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THE MARR FACTORY - SUNDAY 26 AND MONDAY 27 AUGUST, GOLDEN DAWN Hair: Stephen Marr; Makeup: M.A.C. Photography: Oliver Rose

KAREN WALKER

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Stephen Marr and Hallertau presented a series of five intimate in-season fashion shows from big names Karen Walker, Zambesi (in association with Ponsonby News), Workshop/Helen Cherry, Nom*D and Kate Sylvester in late August. Ponsonby News was just going to press, but we managed to sneak highlights from the first two nights into the magazine for our fashion-loving readers.

ZAMBESI

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FASHION + STYLE

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photography: Michael McClintock

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WEST LYNN RED CARPET EVENT Thursday, 9 August

This annual event on Richmond Road is produced by three local fashion businesses - Vanilla Ink, Dalston and Moa - for their loyal customers. They enjoyed sipping on bubbles, nibbling on canapés, receiving styling tips, and being pampered with a makeover.

A percentage of sales that night were donated to the Auckland Sexual Abuse HELP Foundation and the Women’s Refuge.

1. Jules and Monique of Dalston, and Wendy Douglas; 2. Adrienne Land, Rosie Callen and Catherine Perry; 3. The Moa team: Debbie Hindin, Julie Stevens, Nikau Hindin and Shelley King; 4. Vanilla Ink: Susan Duckworth, Daniel Jones and Rachel Williams.

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OUT + ABOUT PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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FASHION + STYLE EXCLUSIVE WOMEN’S FASHION AT THE REFINERY IF YOU LOVE SHOPPING FOR QUALITY CLOTHING IN A RELAXING, INTIMATE environment you are sure to enjoy a trip to The Refinery Clothing Company in Birkenhead Point. This exclusive women’s clothing store boasts the latest fashions from leading New Zealand and international designers and offers truly personalised service for each and every customer.

Karen and Alison take great pride in creating an inviting atmosphere where customers from all walks of life can peruse the latest styles in a pressure-free environment.

Karen and Alison are sisters who both have a real passion for fashion and they were regular shoppers at the previous store, before establishing The Refinery in May this year. ‘‘We truly love every garment that is sold in our store and are passionate about helping each customer look and feel their best in clothing that suits both their personality and lifestyle,’’ Karen says.

At The Refinery you will find top brands such as the Stolen Girlfriends Club, Cheap Monday Jeans, Nobody Jeans, Shakuhachi, Alice McCall, Day Birger and local designers Sheryl May and Lela Jacobs, WORLD and Zambesi with many more available in store.

As well as designer clothes, The Refinery stocks an eclectic range of accessories to complete any outfit and high-quality giftware such as candles, perfumes and jewellery.

They are also pleased to offer a small selection of pre-loved designer items.

The Refinery Clothing Company is open 10am to 4.30pm weekdays and Saturday 10am till 4pm with free parking right outside. For enquiries please phone or ‘like’ them on Facebook for special offers and regular updates. PN

FRESH NEW PERSPECTIVE IN BROWN STREET JEWELLERY DESIGNER AND GOLDSMITH ANGELA KELLY HAS OPENED a new boutique, offering fine jewellery and ready to wear collections. Angela specialises in custom-made wedding and occasional jewellery, and the remodelling of antique and secondhand jewellery, with her ready to wear line available at an affordable price point.

The new boutique is a space where clients can collaborate in the design, and enjoy the experience of purchasing jewellery, which some find intimidating.

“My approach is to take the stuffiness out of fine jewellery and to convey a fresh, new perspective and sensitivity”, says Angela. PN ANGELA KELLY, 54 Brown Street, Ponsonby T: 09 360 0967 www.angelakelly.co.nz

THE REFINERY CLOTHING COMPANY LTD, 6 Rugby Road Birkenhead T: 09 418 3200 www.facebook.com/pages/The-Refinery-Clothing-Company

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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 10 SEPTEMBER 1925

Dear Elsie

It was Mother’s birthday two weeks ago and as a treat I booked us in for a Fashion Tea in the Tudor Room at Milne & Choyce to preview the new styles for spring and summer. Before the latter were shown we were presented with a ‘Pageant of Fashion’ that started at 1866! Mother says that she still has one of grandmother’ss dresses that she said looked quite similar to one of the ones we saw in the pageant. geant. It was from the Victorian era. You know that Mother has never mentioned ned it to me before! Don’t you find that quite odd considering my profession!! I do suspect that she thinks that I might want to cut it up!

With my interest est piqued by some of the frocks, earlier this week I went back to Milne & Choyce yce to have a closer look at the new styles. I should have chosen another day ass they were holding a promotional event called the ‘Long Day’ and they stayed ed open until well after teatime. Although it was crowded at noon it became me much less cloying after that and I managed to examine quite a few models in detail, which proved well worth the time as there were quite a few clever finishing touches that I can easily incorporate into my repertoire.

I couldn’t help p but try on at least a few dresses and, Oh Dear… I managed to break my rule of never buying anything that I could make myself ! The culprit was a gorgeous saffron ffron coloured silk frock, in the straight style with three-quarter length flared sleeves. Around nd the skirt are three groups of stripes, each stripe tripe made up of one-inch squares appliquéd in sealing waxx red crepe de chine. The effect is like mosaic work on a Roman oman pavement. The workmanship is unusually good for a store re bought gown and I can only wonder from where it originated. The shop girl of course had no idea! Even though the technique is simple enough, I would never be able to find the time to do it with such care. From the hem there are seven stripes then a three-inch nch gap followed by four stripes, another gap and then three stripes that hat end at the upper hip. Three rows of the same finish off the sleeve edges. The clinching factor for me was the matching red crepe-de-chine chine stole collar that tucks through a slit at the waist and falls to thee hip. The colour combination is absolutely divine.

If only I could d find a matching cloche (in the red), but I suspect my task impossible ossible in Auckland. I shall instead look out for some chic trimmings mmings to transform my best cloche and that will just have to do. Did I tell you that my dress only cost five guineas?

As I was leaving eaving Milne and Choyce I saw the most novel idea for a dress that at I must say has inspired me not ot but a little!

On the Ground ound Floor they had a most pleasing display of a most extensive range of French nch cotton dress lengths that were hand block printed with bands of exotic patterning placed aced exactly where they would feature ature in the madeup garment.

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Each length came with instructions for cutting out so that after some straightforward stitching, one would end up with a rather unusual dress with very little effort or cost. I was not tempted to purchase one myself as I found the quality of fabric wanting and the colours were far too garish for my taste. However, executed with better fabric, more tasteful patterns and lovely colours, I do believe that the idea is most brilliant! I fancy attempting some summer blouses aimed at the shop girl with an eye for something original but who is on a very tight budget. A little advertisement in the Star and the Herald just before Christmas and I may win some new customers who will hopefully keep me in mind when a more special garment is required. I have a friend in Ponsonby who has studied textile printing at Elam and whom I think could be asked to design something lovely to adorn the neckline, the sleeve edges and the hem. Perhaps ssomething a little Russian, a little peasant-inspired. What do yyou think?

Of all the new spring styles that are starting to appear in window displays all over Auckland, Aucklan the ensemble suit is by far the most popular. I must say that I think it’s a perfect garment for Auckland’s chang changeable weather. Have you seen them yet in Palmerston N North? The main feature is the length of the coat, which ccan reach that of the dress below it, though often they ar are slightly shorter. Shanley’s [i] at Three Lamps curren currently has a display of three simple ensembles with the coats covered in rows of as many of their trims as they th could fit! A most novel way of advertising their stock stoc don’t you agree? On my evening walk with Tiger ye yesterday I spied some lovely tinsel lace edging in gold and cyclamen that I am keen to buy a few yards of, and some heavy ecru - guipure lace that I thi think I’ll use on an afternoon gown for the daughter daught of one of my regulars.

I’m going to make tthe dress up in a tussah silk of identical colour to the lace that I want to use for the square n neckline, around the sleeve edges, around the h hip-line and down the sides of the dress. The gir girl is a natural beauty and I think this simple yet quietly quietl sumptuous dress will be perfect for her.

Well, my dear, it’s time for me to take Tiger for his walk and for me to pick up some provi provisions for my supper. I think some nice terakihi from the Star Fish Shop [ii] with fresh beans from the fruiterer will do nicely.

If I didn’t take Tiger nic (shame on me!) I would pop in to Sha Shanleys [iii] for an ice-cream soda! Do you remember the “Rangitoto Special” [iv] that we tried when you were last here…

Please write soon, or better still, com come and visit me, Your loving friend,

Maudie xx Drapery Emporium, [i] Shanlys Cash C Three Lamps.

Ponsonby Buildings, Buil Shop, 124 Ponsonby Road. [ii] Star Fish S [iii] Shanley Shanleys Confectioners, Ice Cream Soda Fountain, opposite the Parlour & S Tram Barn on Jervois Road. [iv] “Rang “Rangitoto Special” advertised in Auckland Star, 15 January 1925, p.7.

S

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illustration: 99designs

Has spring sprung in Palmerston North yet? We have had the first sunny and mild weekend in an age, which makes me feel that it has finally arrived in Auckland. My hoop petticoat daffodils have been flowering for two weeks and I have a bunch of freesias on the kitchen windowsill, the sweet scent of which eases me through the dullness of the daily washing up. Did you have time to plant any bulbs this year?

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FASHION + STYLE

BMW AND NEW GEN DESIGNERS CREATE ULTIMATE STYLE ICONS NEW ZEALAND FASHION WEEK’S OFFICIAL VEHICLE SPONSOR BMW TEAMED up with the event’s New Generation designers recently, to ‘dress’ four BMW X1s as the ‘Ultimate Style Icons.’ DMONIC INTENT, Silence Was..., Daniel K and Arielle Mermin took inspiration from their upcoming fashion collections and translated these onto the vehicles, working closely with Omnigraphics and Redline.

The four New Gen BMW X1s will form part of the official vehicle fleet for New Zealand Fashion Week (3-7 September), and the New Gen collections themselves will be shown at NZFW on Wednesday 5 September.

The public have unprecedented opportunities to attend New Zealand Fashion Week. There are three Designer Selection shows and limited tickets to Thursday 6 September’s inaugural ‘taylor’ solo show, within the week. NZ Fashion Weekend (8 and 9 September) offers eight shows including first ever Weekend outings for Ruby/ Liam, Trelise Cooper and Moochi, alongside a seminar programme and the Designer Garage Sale.

Tickets are priced between $12 (G.A.) and $25 (Front Row/Goodie Bag) and are available at iticket.co.nz. PN NEW ZEALAND FASHION WEEK / NEW ZEALAND FASHION WEEKEND, Viaduct Events Centre, www.nzfashionweek.com

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY TASTING CLUB AT SIDART Last month, Ponsonby’s Sidart held a special degustation to celebrate the “Best of the Test Kitchen” concept that the restaurant has become known for.

Since the Test Kitchens were established five months ago, Sid Sahrawat has created more than 170 dishes to serve to diners every week. Last month, Sid handpicked his eight favourite dishes for a “Sidart Tasting Club” evening in association with Gather & Hunt. The evening was a memorable night, with the special menu immortalised in cotton-bound keepsake booklets for guests (with hand-drawings of ingredients). PN

photography: Laura Forest

SIDART, Three Lamps Plaza, 283 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 2122 www.sidart.co.nz

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LIZ WHEADON: WINE, GLORIOUS WINE

CRAFT BEER AND BEER WEEK TOWARDS THE END OF SEPTEMBER AT GLENGARRY WE ARE HOLDING OUR first ever Beer Week – a collection of tastings and events – all around the booming trend in craft beer. All the activity throughout Beer Week is non-intimidating and aimed at teaching even the most seasoned pro a few new tricks. To help you appear up with the play, here’s an introduction, a beginners guide if you like, to craft beer.

Craft beer is essentially defined by three key things – the production is small, the brewery is independent (not owned by a bigwig somewhere in a glass tower) and the production is traditional – high quality ingredients, made the ‘old’ fashioned way.

What’s all the fuss about? Well craft beer, for all the reasons above, is quite unique; it has complexity, interest, variety and flavour. Being a wine lover, I think of craft beer as a wino’s beer.

There are hundreds of different styles of beer, here are a few of the more common craft beer styles and what you can expect: ALE One of the two big names, you’ll find lots of different styles of ale, most with a reference to colour; golden ale, pale ale, dark ale. In terms of taste, with the large variation in styles of ales, it’s hard to make a generalisation, but most will concur that an ale is generally more floral or herbaceous. Top ale’s to check out - Emersons Bookbinder, Crouchers Pale Ale, Epic Pale Ale, Renaissance Scotch Ale. IPA – INDIAN PALE ALE A style that’s a legacy from the 1800’s when the British troops in India, desperate for a beer (it was too hot in India to brew it),worked on ways to make beer last the long trip out. Making a very hoppy beer did just the trick. There are now many different styles of

IPA produced (American IPA, English IPA, Imperial IPA and the list goes on), the main commonality between them is that IPA are quite a bitter beer with strong hop flavour.

Top IPA to check out: Ben Middlemiss Hodgsons IPA, Stoke IPA, Emersons IPA, 8 Wired Hopwired IPA. LAGER Lager is of German origin; brewers found that by ageing the beer at lower temperatures, the resulting product was less susceptible to contamination and produced a beer that was simple, yet clean and refined. In comparison to other styles, lagers tend to be drier and served cold. Top lager to check out Stoke Bomber Biscuit Lager, Galbraiths Munich Lager, Stoke Lager.

PILSNER A type of pale lager, this style was created in the Czech Republic and has been replicated all over the world. The style varies from light and clear through to a more pale golden colour. Pilsner’s have a distinctive aroma of hops and a unique flavour, they are one of the most popular styles of beer in the world. Top pilsner to check out Emersons Pilsner, Crouchers Pilsner, Stoke Bomber Bohemian Pilsner.

PORTER Originating in London and named after its popularity with street and river porters (transportation workers), porter is a dark style of beer, made from brown malt.

Taste wise, a porter is typically spicy with a distinctive dark malt flavour and a slight sweetness. Top porter to check out Emersons London Porter, Three Boys Porter, Deep Creek Basilica Chocolate Porter.

STOUT Similar in style to porter’s, stout’s are essentially the strongest porter’s. Rich dark and not for the faint hearted. Top stout to check out Renaissance Porter, Three Boys Stout, 8 wired i-Stout, Stoke Bomber Oatmeal Stout.

To find out about all the Beer Week activity at Glengarry visit www.glengarry.co.nz/beerweek (LIZ WHEADON) PN

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY: REBECCA JONES GARNET STATION FIFTH BIRTHDAY SUCH IS THE SUPPORT OF THE WESTMERE COMMUNITY THAT WHEN GARNET Station had their fifth birthday in August, a report card was issued by some loyal customers. A+ grades were given for every subject and it is now framed and on display in the café for all to see. Verity George is one half of Garnet Station and her partner Lisa Prager is the other. The property had been a rental for 33 years but originally it was Bradford’s Moderne Shoppe, a local grocer. Verity and Lisa were walking past one day and saw it up for sale and five years later, Garnet Station is a big part of the local community.

Verity describes herself as an incredibly positive Pollyanna style person who is genuinely happy. Her first job was at the Waitarua Tearooms on Scenic Drive, it is now called Altitude, but in its day, busloads of tourists would stop for their popular Devonshire Tea. At 16, she became a weekend breakfast chef at Not Another Roadside Attraction, one of the first cafes in Grafton and worked there for a couple of years.

What Verity wanted to do though was become an actor. She did a post graduate course at Auckland University. then went to Sydney and studied for a B.A in performing arts, working in an Indian restaurant to support herself. A stint in California is where she really learned her waitressing skills. “They’re incredibly organised and have systems for everything. One of the best things I learned is ‘Serve your way out, bus your way back’, that’s gold, and it’s the kind of thing that stays with you all your life.”

“Lisa was running for Mayor when we opened and people thought we were a campaign headquarters. We had a take away only license and bought food from Paneton, just the sweet things because savoury is a whole different protein and you need fridges for that. Now we have a huge beautiful commercial kitchen and we make everything except the sandwich bread.”

Returning to Auckland she worked at Kerouac in Vulcan Lane while she continued to study. “Kerouac had a Pavoni coffee machine, it was one of those big machines with handles that you pull down, I had to ‘drive it’ and that’s where I learned to make lots of coffee. It was fun with a buzzy atmosphere and although I was really focussed on acting, no one here knew me as an actor because I had been away so long.”

The Westmere Primary School and mothers are strong supporters and as the café has become known, the community has been very accepting. “In the beginning we only had outside seats and the large table and it was hard looking at all those crestfallen faces when people couldn’t find a seat. Then we opened up the back room and it’s like a living room. Children love it and play quietly while their mums get to chat and relax.

There are more babies born in Westmere than any other suburb in New Zealand, I love watching them grow up.”

She started working at Vinnies and waitressed there on and off for ten years. “It was my milieu, when I was a kid it was my job to set the table because I had an eye for detail. Silver service was perfect for me. At Vinnies my nickname was Severity George because I could calm down any situation and make everything look perfect and I was nominated for a Lewisham Award in the Best Waiter category by one of the regulars.

Being in hospo is like being on stage, it’s professional personal service and you make people happy, it’s not hard, but not everyone can do it.”

Garnet Station is a gay friendly place. “We fly the rainbow flag and children don’t know what it represents but adults do and a lot of people feel more comfortable coming here because we are open about it. We host Dykes on Mics once a month and love transforming the place into a party venue. I’m a Civil Union Celebrant and skills I learnt as an actor cross over to M.C. and hostess.”

Growing up in a family of bakers and having spent a lot of time at her Nana’s baking biscuits and slices and preserving, Verity didn’t realise how good she was at baking because it was so normal for her. She has had to teach quite a few chefs how to bake but now the café has a chef who makes everything and Verity supervises.

photography: Adam Baines

Above: VERITY GEORGE with SAM, JAZZ and GRACE

“I’m a 100% sort of person. I can be quite picky and perfectionist but that’s what makes us successful. If you’re going to do something, you have to do it well. Garnet Station started out as something small and simple and has morphed into this really great café where Lisa and I get to be spontaneous, make people laugh, serve comfortable food and make really good coffee.” (REBECCA JONES) PN

Above top: NICK WARD and LISA PRAGER; Bottom: MARK VAN KAATHOVEN, JAMES and DUNCAN ALLAN; Above right: LEN PRAGER and PENNY BRIGHT

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY: REBECCA JONES PONSONBY CENTRAL - COMING SOON! WE’RE ALL LOOKING WITH INTEREST AT THE RENOVATION HAPPENING AT what will be the new Ponsonby Central that takes up the block on Ponsonby Road between Richmond Road and Brown Street. There is a lot of passion and care going into this project and we can be assured by its owner that what he has in store for us is only the best.

Andy Davies has lived on or near Ponsonby Road for over 30 years and is a property developer with an eye for detail. His renovation of the Masons building on the Franklin Road corner is a good example of this.

“I love character in a building and see the potential that most people don’t see. Old buildings have beautiful detail and history and are generally built a lot better than some modern buildings. I don’t have the patience to build from new. I like to upgrade and add value. Even though the Ponsonby Central property is from the 1950s, it has personality that inspires me. It’s raw and a challenge to use what’s there already. When there is a beautiful plaster wall, why would I put gib board on it? I would rather strip things down, reuse everything and tinker with the building to make it prettier.”

The Ponsonby Central building is one of the coolest ‘50s buildings and sits on 1½ acres which is a rarity in any city. Every great city in the world has an eclectic market and Auckland is very international now so its time has come.

“When strangers come to town, it will be a place they will want to go because it will be an intrinsic part of the Auckland experience. I’m creating a Laneway through the middle from Ponsonby Road to Brown Street Reserve and there will be a big table in the middle of the produce market where you can eat the food and drink the drink purchased from the vendors. I want this to still be here in ten years time and the kids who come now may come in the future and buy or sell something themselves. All the best markets in the world have a history of generations working in them.”

The location is perfect, right in the middle of Ponsonby and Andy is very particular about the tenants who sell their wares. “Generally, the people with the best ideas, the passion, love and care, are the ones who don’t have money to open a business.

It’s important to keep the rents real and to attract local businesses from the community

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who have a vested interest in the complex. And with over 20 businesses going into Ponsonby Central there will be many new jobs available too.”

There is a real focus on sustainability, recycling and reusing in the complex. Currently, fixtures that have been removed are being reused in the building wherever possible.

Old railway ties have been cut into planks and will be used for the floor. Bricks and wood will be used to make gardening beds by Urban Pantry and the edible plants grown will be sold to the restaurants in Ponsonby Central. A Fisher and Paykel test kitchen will be used by the tenants, signature chefs and the local community such as Ponsonby Intermediate for work programs for a wide range of levels. Much of the waste produced will be recycled through a worm farm, composting, rubbish separation and oil recycling.

“The reduced waste goes with the synergy of what we are. I believe in karma and what you put out comes back tenfold. It’s important to be local and community based. The people who live here will get it, use it and enjoy it. They’ll bring their friends and families because there will be something for everyone. It’s not just about food. There will be a permanent area for pop-up stores which will change regularly. You can get your palm read or buy a $10 T-shirt; eat at a restaurant, buy wine or come to a master cooking class with one of Auckland’s finest chefs; you will be able to buy bread and coffee, cheese and meat, fish and produce to take home. Ponsonby Central is for everyone.”

(REBECCA JONES) PN

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PHIL PARKER: WHOSE WINE IS IT ANYWAY?

SPRING SURPRISES WITH SPRING IN THE AIR, A NUMBER OF NEW WINE RELEASES ARE MAKING their way onto the shelves. Someone had to sample them and that was me.

Villa Maria Taylors Pass Vineyard Marlborough Chardonnay 2007 $28.00 Grown on a warm, stony terrace on the Northern side of the Awatere River. This is a refined and subtle style of Chardonnay for fans of the lightly wooded style. Complex and creamy, with citrus and mineral flavours.

Matawhero Church House Barrel Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay 2011 $27.00 This is one for the big Chardonnay fans. More of a Marilyn Monroe to Villa Maria’s Gwyneth Paltrow. Full and toasty, with ripe melon, peach and fig flavours and generous lengthy palate.

Alex Ridgeback Central Otago Pinot Noir 2011 $24.00 The Alex range is a second label from ex Dunedin orthopaedic surgeon, Pat Medlicott’s Greylands Ridge winery. A bargain at twenty four bucks. A light to medium Pinot with flavours of cherry, savoury spice, and a clean dry finish.

Valli Gibbston Central Otago Pinot Noir 2010 $65.00 From the same stable of Bannockburn and Bendigo Pinots by Valli. Pretty up there price wise, but a stunning example of Central Otago Pinot. Seamless and full bodied, with ripe black fruit and cherry flavours, rounded out by soft tannins.

Goldie Cabernet Merlot Franc 2010 $50.00 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Grown on Waiheke Island’s vineyard formerly owned by wine pioneers the Goldwater family. They have since gifted the estate and winery to Auckland University. The result of a very dry summer, this wine shows black currant, spice and black Doris plum. Would cellar nicely for another four years. (PHIL PARKER) PN Phil Parker is a wine writer and operates Fine Wine Tours in Auckland. www.insidertouring.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY TAKE LUNCH TO A NEW LEVEL WITH SILERE ALPINE ORIGIN MERINO AND SPY VALLEY WINES During September SILERE alpine origin merino and Spy Valley Wines are partnering with selected restaurants - some local - to bring Auckland diners an outstanding lunch special.

For $29.95 for lunch diners can enjoy a SILERE alpine origin merino dish with a glass of Spy Valley Merlot Malbec at: Andiamo, SPQR, Ponsonby Road Bistro, Cibo, Mikano, Molten, The Foodstore, Toto and Wine Chambers.

SILERE alpine origin merino comes from merino that roam the tussock covered slopes of New Zealand’s alpine regions, grazing on native herbs and grasses.

The alpine environment and foraging lifestyle give SILERE alpine origin merino its unique characteristics: • Defined flavour • Fine grain and firm texture • Clean palate and minimal marbling • Succulent and silky mouth feel Merino mature more slowly than other sheep breeds, up to 18 months of age, resulting in the distinct flavour and texture that is appreciated by chefs and consumers alike.

SILERE alpine origin merino has a distinctive provenance; a pristine environment of space, stillness, and silence. Our growers say you experience this best at dawn and dusk in the high country, providing the inspiration for the name SILERE, which is Latin for ‘to be silent’.

Dining on SILERE alpine origin merino is to experience taste elevated. PN Find out more at www.silere.co.nz

THE PONSONBY NEWS TEAM SAY, life is too short… so always eat well and drink good wine! www.ponsonbynews.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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THE ‘MISS JONES’ INTERVIEW TEXTURE AND TASTE ARE THE X FACTOR There’s a whole lot of love that goes into the range of chutneys and relish made by Coxs Bay resident Julie Le Clerc.

Julie had what she calls an idyllic childhood growing up at the bottom end of Garnet Road in Westmere. Her mother had a home business icing wedding cakes professionally and Julie would spend hours mesmerised while she made the lace work for the cakes. “There was always fine lace icing drying in the hot water cupboard.

My mother is an artist and intuitive cook. When she entered a cooking competition for Irvine’s pastry, she made a meat pie and painted the Irvine’s symbol on the top of the pie with Marmite and won”.

“We had amazing neighbours of different cultures – Indian, Croatian and Chilean – and were in and out of their houses and everyone fed everyone else’s kids. I thought it was normal, we were always grazing and learning things. The Croatians grew red onions, garlic and used olive oil; we caught sprats at the bottom of the road which we fed to the cat, but the Chileans cooked and ate them. There was a cultural exchange going on, my mother taught them how to make pavlova and other Kiwi favourites and they taught me how to make theirs.”

Later, her brother trained to be a chef and although Julie thought about becoming one too, it wasn’t easy for women, it still isn’t, but she read his text books with interest and decided to travel. She went on the Himalayan overland trip from Kathmandu to London, four months camping in a pup tent. The experience opened her mind to different foods and flavours. While working in London, she was inspired by her employer to go to the Cordon Bleu school of cookery. “I was working as a nanny and after the children were asleep we would cook up a storm, she was a Cordon Bleu cook and taught me how to make soufflés.”

Returning to Auckland in the late 80s Julie saw there was a gap in the market. “Cafes were just starting up and I worked at the Art Gallery Café for a while but then my sister and I started up Byzantium on Ponsonby Road which was then at the grungy end.

It was a vegetarian café and we thought if nobody comes, we’ll make meat pies to make it work, but it was hugely successful.”

After selling Byzantium Julie worked at Jennifer Le Comte’s Crucial Traders for three years then travelled back to Europe and realised every town and village had a café so she thought Westmere was a great place to have one too.

The Garnet Road Foodstore is where Julie started making her range of chutneys, first with her grandmothers recipe for tamarillo chutney. They were really popular and when she sold the business she took the recipes with her and built up a working relationship and friendship with Sabato. “We have a mutual respect for each other, for quality, flavour and attention to detail. I started with the original recipes from Garnet Road and having just written my Moroccan cookbook the first were Moroccan Chutney and Smoked Paprika Tomato Salsa. Then I added Capsicum Chili Jam, Preserved Lemons and Spicy Harissa. This is the most popular in the range.”

The latest addition is Arabian Date which Julie made after she discovered her Syrian relatives. “It’s a tribute to them. Dates are really big in their cuisine and people really respond to the lovely sticky texture and kick of ginger. It’s savoury and tasty and has come out at the same time as the new labels which have been designed by Sabato’s branding designer Donna Hoyle. All the products in my range are produced at Sabato in small batches and under my guidance.”

“My food is partly invented, partly influenced by my surroundings. I try to be original and different but I liken recipe creating to music, everyday you hear a different arrangement, tune or song but there are only eight notes in a musical scale. Recipes are like that. Flavours are made up of texture and taste. If you respect your ingredients and treat them kindly, they will shine.

There’s a lot of me in everything I do because there’s no point in doing something if it’s not wholehearted. It’s incredibly satisfying when someone says ‘you taught me how to cook’ and it was out of one of my books.” (REBECCA JONES) PN

WHAT’S HOT AT SABATO NEW: SPANISH FRUIT AND NUT BARS...

New to our shelves this month are the Bonvallis fruit and nut bars from Spain. Made with 100% natural ingredients, these are free from any artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. Packed with sweet, selected Spanish fruit and almonds, they are minimally processed and uncooked, to retain all the nutritional benefits of the raw ingredients. Each 40g bar is wrapped in wafer to prevent sticky fingers - the perfect source of energy on-the-go for healthconscious, busy people.

OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS INCLUDE...

• Rich in dietary fibre and a good source of minerals • Cholesterol free • Gluten free • Contains no trans fats or genetically modified ingredients • A good source of Omega 3 fatty acids • A good source of protein, B and E vitamins • High in natural antioxidants • Low in sodium • Minimally processed and uncooked Try both varieties - Orange & Almond or Fig & Almond. Available from our Mt. Eden showroom, selected New Worlds, Bhana Brothers and Farro Fresh. PN SABATO, 57 Normanby Road T: 09 630 8751 www.sabato.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE 1

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1-2. ALLAN HORNER tells us he has recently returned from his holiday and has sent us two photos. The first one shows Allan on the circus flying trapeze at Club Med resort, PHUKET. “For the purpose of the photo, I did a simple knee-hand trick which is the first trick new participants do. Many Club Med resorts have the circus equipment and we love trying to perfect new tricks taught by the circus instructors at each Club Med. What a pity we didn’t discover the joys of the circus flying trapeze when we had younger, more supple bodies! Special thanks to chief of circus in Phuket Hsien Ming for taking this picture from the catchers bar, and her friendly team of instructors. NICO (shown in background on the launch board) took the Ponsonby News away to read and insists we send her the next issue.”

The second shot shows Allan with GERARD HALL on the Thailand side of the Golden Triangle. “We were heading to a jetty for a boat trip at the confluence of the Mekong and Ruak rivers where we took in the shores of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos and an island known as ‘no mans land’ where most of the opium trading was done.”

3. NATASHA SHORT sent us this shot of local residents Victoria and Daniel Short in PHUKET, THAILAND.

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4. VINOD SOLANKI emailed us to say, “During my last trip to INDIA and Singapore I had the pleasure of taking a copy of Ponsonby News with me. Traveling through the state of Gujarat on my way to Shirdi to visit Shirdi baba temple, I felt the heat of the high temperatures and stopped on the way at a roadside watermelon stall. With friendly local people around I enjoyed the sweet watermelon and managed to capture this shot.

5. SALLY JAMES, co owner of The Great Ponsonby Art Hotel sent us this shot of herself with her grand children at Cardrona Alpine Resort located between Wanaka and QUEENSTOWN.

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.

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PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE 6

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6. St Mary’s May resident SARAH CLARKE sent us this shot of herself and her brother NICHOLAS (formerly of John Street) on the Amalfi Coast, ITALY. “Ponsonby News provided the perfect excuse to stop and enjoy some goss from home during the five hour “Path of the Gods” trek to Positano! Keep up the good work.”

7-8. ARUNA PO-CHING and BREEDA TAUA take a break to read Ponsonby News on the Big Island, Oahu in one of the volcano craters at the Volcano National Park. in HAWAII. 9. “As former Freemans Bay residents we just felt we couldn’t go on holiday and not take a copy of the ol’ mag with us - so here’s our submission for the roving pages. Hope it gets a laugh or two.” Pictured are SAM WETHEY and DAN KELLY in Gaudi’s Parc Guell in BARCELONA. “Such a beautiful city,” they told us.

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10. MARK DYE emailed us, “My old flatmate mate and I thought we’d send you a photo of us enjoying the Olympics in LONDON. TRACEY BURGESS and I lived in a flat together on Arnold Street in Grey Lynn for some four years prior to her leaving for her O.E. Each month when we got your magazine we would joke about one day sending in a photo of us reading the PN somewhere in the world, so when we found out we were going to be in London at the same time, we thought why not do it. So here we are!

Anyway, hope all is well back home.”

11. SUSAN SHOEBRIDGE sent this photo of her husband TREVOR reading a copy of the Ponsonby News at Genelard on the Canal du Centra in FRANCE on their recent trip there. PN

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.

68 PONSONBY NEWS+ September 2012

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

TRAVEL BREAKS: THE NEW THERAPY! 

SETTING FOOT IN SOUTH AMERICA

by April Ieremia Landing in Santiago de Chile I was greeted with a Pisco Sour and celebrated being one step closer to fulfilling a lifelong dream to set foot on every continent. Santiago was a stopover en route to Ecuador, and I was hosting a small group of Kiwis on World Journeys’ ‘Wonders of South America’ tour. And ‘wonders’ there certainly were!

Ecuador is mostly known for its bananas, but its biggest export is petroleum, closely followed by roses! Not just any old roses, there were rose buds the size of my fist, on two metre stems, and in every colour of the rainbow. Wow! It’s fair to say I spent a week going “wow!” in Ecuador. Our local guides had us mesmerised with the history, culture, and scenery, not to mention memorable shopping spots. Did I mention my group loved to shop? We explored local markets full of rich textiles and towns that produced outstanding leather, but it was the Panama Hats of Cuenca that created the biggest frenzy.

Originally produced in Cuenca for the builders of the Panama Canal, these men returned to America with their hats creating a fashion trend that continues to this day.

Straddling the equator was also another ‘wow’ moment. Standing with one foot in the northern hemisphere and one on the south is something you just have to do.

Quito, Ecuador’s beautiful world heritage capital is way up at 2,400 metres above sea level where the air is noticeably thinner. The local coca tea was a life saver - it puts a spring in your step and wards off any hint of altitude sickness. We acclimatised here then headed for even greater heights.

One of my dreams has always been to see Machu Picchu. Peru’s 600 year old mountain top Incan ruins are an enigmatic wonder of the world and you can’t help but admire the effort that was needed to build it. I urge you to go, and make sure you get the passport stamp as a souvenir!

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The Peruvian Amazon was also a highlight, being home to exquisite flora and more monkeys than you can imagine. Its sunsets are dramatic, and the animals are memorable, especially if you meet a black caiman, like we did.

Chile’s Atacama Desert, the highest and driest desert in the world, was the perfect end to our tour. Set at the foot of the Andes, the five-star Alto Atacama lodge’s daily excursions included those to see the El Tatio geysers, pink flamingos on vast salt lakes, and ancient cave art. We also enjoyed swimming at minus six degrees C in warm geothermal pools, stargazing (I saw the rings of Saturn!), and running down the dunes of Mars Valley like kids. Extremes of temperatures, coupled with exquisite cloudless turquoise skies, reminded us how beautiful this planet truly is.

My memories are many, and much as I’d love to return for more, this tour of duty has satisfied my South American fix... for now. Next stop - Africa!

April Ieremia

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

WHAT TRIGGERS YOUR ALLERGIES FRAGRANCES ARE ADDED TO JUST ABOUT EVERY PRODUCT WE USE around our homes these days; there’s fragrance in our cleaners and our shampoo and its even in things like tissues, disposable nappies and rubbish bags. Yet fragrance is one of the most common triggers for sensitive people with allergies and can cause reactions like dizziness, light headedness, headaches and nausea.

As ecostore is a health focused brand, we are excited to extend our Fragrance Free range with four new products! Fragrance Free Hand Wash, Body Wash, Dishwash Liquid and Laundry Liquid. If you or anyone in your home is sensitive to fragrance, even natural ones like ours, then you might like to try our Fragrance Free products – the whole range (10 products) is now available online www.ecostoredirect.co.nz and instore at the ecostore shop. PN ECOSTORE, 1 Scotland Street T: 09 0800 33 55 33 www.ecostoredirect.co.nz

JAMES LUII FOR SHISEIDO AT THE WORLD SHOW Men had hand-drawn glitter moustaches - “a touch of glamour for a debonair quirk” says makeup key James Luii. Women wore one of three looks; a groomed look with strong eyeliner and impactful lips in Shiseido’s Lacquer Rouge; ‘hot colour with anything goes attitude’ (coloured lashes and two tone lips); and aliens with impactful eyes, huge false lashes and nude lips.

Utsukushī! PN

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photography: Sam Lee

Makeup (and hair) are always attention-worthy at a WORLD show, and the recent Black Tie, White Noise show at the Langham was no exception.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LANI LOPEZ: HEALTHY LIVING EXERCISE AGAINST CANCER (OR EXERCISE AS A DRUG) “If physical exercise were a drug, it would be hitting the headlines.”

This is the comment made by one of Britain’s leading cancer specialists, Dr. Jane Maher, Chief Medical Officer of Macmillan Cancer Support, when releasing research into the benefits of exercise.

I have spent my career encouraging exercise and the benefit it brings quite literally from head to toe. Exercise improves brain function, memory and focus, eye health, balance, heart, breast, lungs, digestive function, kidneys, prostate, joints (all of them), circulation - and this is not a comprehensive list.

The Macmillan Cancer Support research showing the benefits of exercise in fighting cancer, the most frightening of diseases, will I hope motivate us all. The research, says Dr. Maher, has significantly changed cancer treatment. “The advice I would previously have given to one of my patients would have been to ‘take it easy’. This has now changed significantly. There really needs to be a cultural change so that health professionals see physical activity as an integral part of cancer after-care, not just an optional add-on.”

THE STATISTICS ON ITS EFFECTIVENESS ARE COMPELLING: For prostate cancer, exercise reduces the risk of dying from the disease by up to 30%.

For breast cancer, exercise can reduce the risk of the cancer recurring by 40%.

For bowel cancer, patients’ risk of dying from the disease can be cut by around 50%.

I hope this will inspire you to consider your personal routines and get exercise into your life. Please use this article and these remarkable research results to get started on the powerful health-giving drug ‘exercise’.

So if you are motivated to take action, what sort of exercise do you need to do and how much of it? The basic target is 20 minutes six times a week. Exactly what exercise to do and for how long are actually minor details; the most important thing is to get started. While what you’re doing is less of an issue, again form the Macmillan research, it is clear that every little bit counts. Lead researcher Professor Robert Thomas says “It doesn’t need to be anything too strenuous, doing the gardening, going for a brisk walk or a swim, all count.”

I always recommend walking to start with. Don’t worry about where to walk, how long to walk for or how far to walk. Just put on your shoes and get out the door. Once you’ve started and are actually out walking, the decisions of how fast, how long and how far, take care of themselves. Just as the benefits of exercise will too. You get started and this wonderful drug exercise will take care of the rest.

Don’t wait for exercise to be part of a treatment plan! Start today, spring is here - the perfect month for a healthy new start. So please just get out the door if you know what’s good for you! (LANI LOPEZ) PN If you would like help on starting an exercise plan or just want encouragement along the way, email me naturopath@lanilopez.com or facebook me facebook.com/lanilopezcom LANI LOPEZ Adv. Dip Nat, BHSc, founder of lanilopez.com is our favourite naturopath.

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PLANET AYURVEDA: ASK DOCTOR AJIT

Q: A:

My friend has suggested I do a liver de-tox but she couldn’t tell me what I need to do. I wonder if you think it’s necessary and if so, what do I need to do? K. Todd, Cox’s Bay

Your friend has given you some good advice. The liver is one of the most important organs in the body. When the liver is sluggish, digestion suffers, which leads to problems like fatigue, indigestion, high cholesterol, psoriasis, chemical sensitivities and constipation. And you have picked a great time of year to ask this question. Spring is considered by most holistic medical systems to be the right time to cleanse the liver so I am happy to give you some advice.

The liver has two main functions. Its primary job is to act as a filter, removing harmful toxins from the body. There are five main sources of toxins and wastes that the liver deals with: toxins from food (preservatives and pesticides) and alcohol; external toxins (drugs and environmental pollutants); internally produced waste, such as hormones that are no longer needed and nitrogen waste products from protein metabolism.

These are converted into less harmful substances by the liver and then eliminated from the body. The liver is also a manufacturer. It produces bile that is used to break down and digest fatty acids; it converts sugar into glycogen, which it stores until the muscles need energy; it synthesises proteins and cholesterol and converts carbohydrates and proteins into fats, which are stored for later use; it also produces both blood clotting and anti-clotting factors as well as hundreds of enzymes needed for digestion and other bodily functions.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, the liver is one of the seats of Pitta, the fire element in the body and plays a major role in digestion. The Pitta intelligence is responsible for all metabolism in the body so as a site for Pitta, the liver’s role in digestion is to help break down nutrients into their most elemental forms.When this digestive capacity is compromised, the body has a hard time metabolising the food we eat. When the food is not broken down sufficiently by the digestive process, not only is the body unable to access the nutrients it needs but this partially digestive food clogs the circulatory system leading to lethargy and sluggishness. With all these important functions, you can see why we need to take care of our liver.

Ayurveda recommends the following routines to support liver function: • Every morning, scrape your tongue to remove waste products that accumulate over night (otherwise they will be re-absorbed);

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• Every morning, drink a glass of warm water with 1tsp of honey, 1/2 tsp of grated ginger, ½ tsp of powdered fennel and a 1/2 tsp of lemon juice to flush out toxins from the digestive tract; • Massage yourself at least three times a week with warmed sesame oil. Better still is to use Planet Ayurveda’s Pitta Oil, a medicated sesame oil infused with herbs to help the body release trapped heat; • Avoid heavy foods that place pressure on the metabolism, like red meat, cheese, tinned foods, peanut and almond butter, carbonated drinks, coffee and alcohol and fried and fatty foods like fish and chips; • Eat warm, light foods that are easy to digest. Consider lentils and Paneer (a form of cheese) as light protein replacements for meat; • Eat regularly during the day and avoid late night snacks; • Use spices like cumin, turmeric, fennel and coriander in your cooking; • Eat with a calm mind; • Avoid hot showers, particularly on the head; • Use Planet Ayurveda’s Livgood, a blend of Ayurvedic herbs like Kutuki, (Picrorrhiza kurroa), Aloe (Aloe barbadensis) and Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa) that all support liver function. Taken with Stress Guard, a preparation to support the nervous system, you will give you liver the opportunity to do its job properly.

Finally, as a seat of Pitta, the liver is affected by emotions such as anger, rage, hatred and jealousy. Ayurveda believes that when our mind does not process our emotions properly, they get trapped in the body and can upset its delicate balance. Unresolved emotions that cause us to “flare up” produce excess heat which can settle in the liver, placing an added burden on its important work.

So every night before you go to bed, spend 10 minutes reviewing your day.

Acknowledge your achievements and reflect on the occasions where you feel you could have done better. Such a practice will not only give you a good night’s sleep but will allow you to “let go” of those negative thoughts and feelings before they have a chance to deposit in the body. So take the opportunity as spring comes into full bloom, and before the Pitta aggravating heat of summer, to give your liver some extra care and attention. (DR AJIT) PN PLANET AYURVEDA, 41 Gillies Avenue T: 09 522 5390 www.planetayurveda.co.nz

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WEBSITE LAUNCHES TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT MENINGITIS SYMPTOMS New Zealanders concerned about meningitis now have a place to turn for information with the launch of The Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand website – www.meningitis.org.nz “Meningitis is difficult to diagnose as it presents with flu-like symptoms, but can often strike and progress quickly. If it is not diagnosed early and treated effectively, it can result in death, deafness, loss of limbs, brain damage or other neurological disabilities,” says Paul Gilberd, board member and spokesperson, The Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand.

“People need to be reminded of the vital message ‘Don’t swap spit’,” says Paul Gilberd. “In practical terms this means don’t share drink bottles, cigarettes, spoons or straws. This disease, like many others, is spread through the transfer of warm saliva.

With winter coughs and colds, and lots of people all together indoors, this is the most dangerous time of year. Together we must remain vigilant.

The Meningitis Foundation website www.meningitis.org.nz is an important tool in educating Kiwis about the symptoms of meningitis, the need to urgently seek medical assistance if meningitis is suspected and the importance of vaccinating against this deadly disease.

“Meningitis is preventable,” adds Paul Gilberd. “Through the website The Meningitis Foundation aims to raise awareness of the symptoms of this disease, and ultimately save lives.” PN www.meningitis.org.nz

Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges (the membrane lining of the brain and spinal cord). It can sometimes develop in a matter of hours and can be deadly. Most cases of meningitis start with a high fever, severe headache and stiff neck, often followed by vomiting and drowsiness. Some people experience discomfort when looking at bright lights and in some cases a rash may appear.

“Winter is the peak period for meningitis infections and there is relatively low awareness of prevention strategies and disease symptoms,” says Paul Gilberd. “We wanted to provide easy access to information; where people could learn about meningitis, understand the preventative role of vaccinations, and to know what symptoms to look out for.

“The website also serves as a place for individuals and families affected by meningitis to share their experiences. We recognise the effect that meningitis can have on a family and know that having accurate information can help people to cope when a loved one is ill. It can also provide support during what can be a long journey back to health,” adds Paul Gilberd.

‘ELECTRIC’ NEW TREATMENT NOW AVAILABLE AT MORE THAN SKIN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ‘POWER’ OF SKIN CARE, WE DON’T TEND to mean voltage in a literal sense. However, the expert team at More Than Skin Urban Spa have developed an exciting new treatment which utilises the re-energising benefits of tiny electrical pulses with truly amazing results…

Launching this month, the Vitamin Infusion Facial offers you a unique and pain -free alternative to revive winter-weary skin – it’s the perfect solution to replenish and rejuvenate your complexion.

This advanced treatment includes an effective anti-ageing process known as Iontophoresis, where a mild electrical current is used to gently infuse a nutrient rich gel into your skin. The effects are immediate as your complexion instantly looks and feels smoother, firmer and plumper.

The second phase of this specialised facial essentially brings your skin to life, as a high frequency wand is moved across the face and neck. By lightly warming your skin, this practice helps to invigorate cells and increase micro-circulation for a healthier, more youthful appearance.

An enhanced antioxidant boost is then provided by the application of Joyce Blok’s Serum C10 from your very own bottle, which is then yours to take home.

Designed to restore and protect, Serum C10 effectively neutralises free radicals and defends against harmful UV rays. This powerful vitamin C concentrate also stimulates natural collagen production while brightening skin for a radiant, naturally glowing, complexion.

The Vitamin Infusion Facial is truly a treatment that delivers on its promises.

Why not book yours today? Call the Ponsonby team today on T: 09 361 2231 for more information. www.morethanskin.co.nz PN

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

DAPPER DAN JOINS THE CREW AT MALONEY’S BARBER SHOP Now in their tenth year as a successful barber shop, Maloney’s is proud to welcome Barber Dan on board.

Dan is a reflection of the new generation of barbers, with a commitment to the traditional elements of barbering such as classic cuts and cut-throat razor finishing. This is evident both in his great haircutting skills and his sharp rockabilly look which includes plenty of barber tattoos.

Barber Dan joins the team after several years at Shortland Street’s Cutting Crew, and Maloney’s looks forward to seeing his regulars soon.

With this new addition to the team there are now four barbers cutting each day, reducing your waiting time.

The team at MALONEY’S BARBER SHOP (from left): DAN, CALAB, SUE, ROGER, JULIAN and BARBER DAN As the client steps across the threshhold into the shop he will be greeted then asked to pop his name on “The board” which gives him his place in the queue and he can then find a comfy spot in the waiting area in the sun and read an up to date men’s magazine until his name is called... too easy? Come in and find out for yourself.

When a new client comes to Maloney’s for their first visit it is sometimes a little intimidating. Clients walk in off the street, down a few steps (Maloney’s is sunken below street level New York style) and into the midst of four Barbers busy cutting hair.

To see if your preferred barber is on the floor, check out the Facebook page facebook.com/maloneysbarbershop or call ahead (no appointment necessary). PN

There may be Blues, Swing or Rock n’ Roll music playing and a passionate discussion about what sport SBW will represent New Zealand in at the Rio Olympics 2016.

MALONEY’S BARBER SHOP, 1-192 Victoria Street West T: 09 379 3060 www.maloneys.co.nz

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

A CLEAN TAKE ON LIFE FOR SPRING NEW FROM LUCY VINCENT-MARR AND LUCY AND THE POWDER ROOM, LUCY’S Spring Cleanse is a five day, all-inclusive package that will refresh participants inside and out. The package combines PHD Cleanse raw juices with Lucy and the Powder Room’s most potent, rebalancing treatments. Every day of the cleanse there will be two specially formulated juices to drink, and a treatment at The Powder Room to help restore and refresh.

photography: Julie Roulston / SONY NEX

“We kick-start the cleanse with education on how diet can help fight aging,” says Lucy.

“At the end of the cleanse, customers will not only be armed with knowledge, but will also receive a take home Sans Essentials pack, so they can maintain their clean take on life even after the cleanse is over.”

Unlike most cleanses, a juice cleanse requires the ingredients to be freshly pressed, raw and unpasteurized in order to reap the benefits of its ‘live’ enzymes. PHD raw juices are made fresh and are packed with essential enzymes, vitamins and minerals to fast track detoxification and aid digestion.

The complementary treatments from Lucy and the Powder Room will help remove dead cells left over from winter, with a focus on refining and removing, and then adding back the nutrients that will heal and restore, especially vitamins (particularly vitamin A, the holy grail of vitamins for skin nutrition). Basic maintenance treatments are also included: a good wax in preparation for warmer months, a pedicure to prepare the toes for open shoes, lashes and brows. To finish: a fabulous hair infusion and blow wave to make you feel sensational.

KATI KASZA and HELENE RAVLICH at Main Course, Victoria Park

It’s not often beauty media hear the words ‘feed’ and ‘face’ in the same sentence! Wednesday 22 August saw ever-elegant Kati Kasza of Evolu join forces with Master Chef New Zealand runner -up Ana Schwarz, to treat editors to a series of tasting plates at Auckland’s Main Course. They utilised key ingredients from the Evolu cleansing regime and Ponsonby News can attest the results were delicious - an utterly charming evening. PN

Lucy and The Powder Room are at pains to choose only scientifically proven, results -based formulations with powerful anti-aging ingredients, so that treatments are safe and effective - all with a view to making you feel fresh, energised and ready to turn over a new leaf this spring.

Locations: Lucy and the Powder Room Takapuna / Newmarket. Price: $595 Next available cleanse: Saturday 6 October (and the first week of every month following).

LUCY AND THE POWDER ROOM www.stephenmarr.co.nz/powderroom PN

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THE HARD TOOTH – THIS IS ABOUT FIRST IMPRESSIONS | PONSONBY DENTIST

DO YOUR GUMS BLEED? The Hard Tooth’ compiled for Ponsonby News by Dr Tony Dey of Ponsonby Dentist.

A very common presentation at our clinic is patients concerned about bleeding gums.

The thing is I ask them ‘how long have you been noticing that?’ Often patients will reply ‘On and off for the last couple of years’ crazy! Now if your hands kept bleeding when you washed them, you’d rush to the doctor - right? I guess those with OCD may not but the rest of us would. But when people’s gums bleed they just shrug and rinse.

Bleeding gums are caused by plaque and tartar buildup around teeth – we dentists call this ‘gingivitis’. The plaque contains bacteria that annoys and weakens the gums.

Left untreated ‘gingivitis’ can lead to the more serious gum disease ‘periodontitis’.

Eventually resulting in tooth loss!

It’s amazing the difference between what comes out of patients’ mouths and what’s in their mouths. ‘I floss every day,’ they say. One look at their teeth tells a different story.

People spend hundreds on their hair and skin, and neglect their teeth, as if they weren’t so important. Maybe I should have been a hairdresser.

Floss daily to avoid gingivitis

How do you manage bleeding gums? Use a well charged electric toothbrush; OralB and Sonicare do very good ones. Floss regularly (ideally daily) and see an oral health professional at least once a year. PN PONSONBY DENTIST, 114 Ponsonby Road, Level 1 (upstairs from The Long Room) T: 09 361 2060 www.ponsonbydentist.co.nz

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JOHN APPLETON ON HEALTH

A FEW THOUGHTS ON GLUTEN

ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT FOR ALL AGES

WHEN I FIRST HEARD PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT BEING ‘GLUTEN FREE’ IN the mid ‘80s it registered with me as some sort of ‘fad’ that was popular at the time.

It wasn’t until 15 years later that it became clear that gluten is something that we should all be aware of. How many times do we hear of people going to the doctor complaining about bloating and ‘gas’ troubles, diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, gastric reflux or heartburn, dermatitis, eczema or runny nose and sinus problems, joint pains, headaches or migraines and a raft of autoimmune diseases. How many of these people imagine that their symptom might relate to a problem with gluten? Very few I’m sure.

ORTHODONTICS HAS UNDERGONE A REVOLUTION IN RECENT YEARS. Braces have become smaller, less visible and more comfortable to wear, and a growing number of adults are seeking orthodontic treatment.

Gluten (latin gluten – ‘glue’) is a protein found in grains (mainly wheat, rye, barley). It is the stuff that makes dough sticky. The component parts or proteins in gluten are gliadin and glutenin. Most of us have heard of coeliac disease which occurs when the proteins in gluten (glutenin and gliadin) trigger the immune system to over react with strong and unusual antibodies. Over time, such antibodies wear down the little hairs called villi which line the walls of the intestine (a process called villous atrophy).

These finger-like tiny hairs grab and absorb nutrients as foods pass through your lower digestive tract. As coeliac disease symptoms slowly destroy these villi, you become less and less able to process any nutrition from your food. This sets off a domino -effect of increasingly serious health problems. Coeliac disease is not new; it was first recognised in the 2nd Century AD by the Greeks. The Greeks called it “koiliakos” (aptly meaning “suffering in the bowls”) from which “celiac” is derived.

Doctors test patients for coeliac disease with blood tests looking for endomysial antibodies, anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies, and anti-gliadin antibodies.

Endomysial antibodies and anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies are highly reliable in diagnosing coeliac disease. An individual with abnormally elevated endomysial and anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies has a greater than 95% chance of having coeliac disease. Anti-gliadin antibodies are less reliable and have a high false positive rate. The only treatment for coeliac disease is to be totally gluten free.

The bad news about gluten is that one doesn’t have to be a ‘coeliac’ to have a problem with it. There are many of us who have an allergy to gluten or an intolerance, often without knowing it. An allergy to gluten causes a direct immune system response.

An intolerance has more to do with an inability to digest gluten.

Another problem is that gluten causes up-regulation of a protein called zonulin produced in the small intestine. Zonulin dismantles proteins in the gut that seal the gut lining creating gaps through which other food proteins may enter the bloodstream and provoke immune responses I believe that we should look at gluten issues as a ‘spectrum’ disorder, with coeliacs being at one end and those who can tolerate gluten with no apparent symptoms at the other. Everyone else is somewhere in between.

For me the first intervention one can make if trying to resolve digestive and joint pain issues, headaches and autoimmune diseases is to completely remove gluten from the diet. When it comes to this there are no half measures. Even tiny amounts of gluten can impact on sensitive people. Dr Peter Green MD Director of the Coeliac Disease Centre Columbia University says – “A slice of bread contains 2.5 grams of gluten and most people with coeliac disease react to 100 milligrams which is much less than a single bite”.

Autoimmune diseases are on the rise in the western world. Colorado Gastroenterologist Dr Scot Lewey says “Gluten is contributing to the rising epidemic of autoimmune diseases. Many resist these concepts finding them either unbelievable, unacceptable or both. I believe that their rejection is neither rational nor helpful. It may be reasonable to reject them for cultural or financial reasons though I don’t believe they can legitimately be rejected based on scientific grounds or experience.”

I have come across many people who have removed gluten from their diet and I have never heard of anyone who hasn’t improved their health as a result. It’s not an easy thing to do because whether we like to admit it or not most of us are addicted to grains. When I became gluten free I discovered Quinoa (keenwa) which is an incredibly nutritious (high in protein) alternative that is very easy to prepare. I make it for breakfast every day and am happy to share my ‘recipe’ (please email me).

Having your teeth straightened can improve your appearance and give you more self-confidence - and it also benefits your dental health, as straight teeth are easier to keep clean.

Turner-Lim Orthodontics offers high quality care to patients of all ages in a relaxed, friendly environment. Orthodontists Dr Fiona Turner and Dr Donna Lim are specialists who are members of the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists. They keep up with the latest techniques and developments in this evolving specialty. They are passionate about providing people with straight teeth and beautiful smiles for life.

They provide the full range of contemporary orthodontic treatments including Invisalign and clear aesthetic braces - gone are the days when teeth straightening meant a mouthful of metal. They are supported by a great team that includes orthodontic auxiliaries and assistants Sam, Yen, Kara and Debra and administrative staff Jo, Becky and Melinda.

At an initial consultation, Dr Turner and Dr Lim will assess a patient’s teeth and explain the options available. You do not need a referral from a dentist to come to Turner-Lim Orthodontics.

Orthodontic treatments can take on average two years depending on what is required and what your orthodontic problem involves. At your assessment you will receive an outline of your treatment plan together with an estimate of the time and costs involved. There are affordable, flexible options to pay off the investment over the time of care. PN TURNER-LIM ORTHODONTICS CLINIC, 15 Rata Street, New Lynn (next to the Warehouse) T: 09 827 1478 or email reception@turnerlim.co.nz. www.turnerlim.co.nz

SPRING FLING - TIME TO GO ON “THE ORANGE RIDE” REMEMBER WALKS THROUGH THE DAFFODILS IN SEPTEMBER, HERALDING the beginning of spring: the brilliant vibrant yellow fields of sunshine hope, inspiring you after the grey rainy days of winter? Well now that cycling has caught the public’s imagination, you can ride for a spring celebration alone, as a couple, or in a group with friends or family. Yes, it’s a ride that celebrates freedom, having fun, getting fit, and most of all making friends.

“THE ORANGE RIDE” 30 September 12.15pm to 3.00pm To raise funds for seniors in need in Eastern Christchurch.

Organised by 50 Plus Cycling – an Auckland Greypower initiative.

Starting at Nixon Park, Kingsland, The Orange Ride, will take you along the Northwest Cycleway, through Mt Albert, to Rocket Park, and on to Owairaka District School.

Then through Underwood Reserve to Wesley Community Centre and down onto the cycleway beside the motorway to the airport finishing up in Onehunga, outside the Onehunga Library, with spot prizes awarded at 3pm.

Challenge people in your workplace or street to join you, make a team of four, or a multi-generational family group.

Dr Rodney Ford is the gluten ‘guru’ in New Zealand www.drrodneyford.com.

His website is very informative and he’s written several books. If you have symptoms that can’t be explained and you have tried everything else – try a gluten free lifestyle - it may just be the answer for you. (JOHN APPLETON) PN

Register at www.aucklandgreypower.org.nz/50pluscycling or email your details to 50pluscycling@gmail.com

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

50 Plus Cycling offers spring training sessions to prepare you for the ride, opportunities for social rides on Sundays from 1.30pm. See their website above for all details. PN

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Entry fees start at $10.00 per person, $15 for late entry after 27 September.

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photography:Mara Sommer

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

GRACE FROM D&M D&M HAIR DESIGN HAS LAUNCHED ITS NEW COLLECTION, ‘GRACE’, IN collaboration with photographer Mara Sommer and filmmaker Ralph Matthews. Danny Pato, the Art and Hair Director for the campaign, says that the collection plays to the ancient concept of using masks to transform identity. It stars Ponsonby resident Grace Barcelos Owen, across the entire campaign – although she looks like a different person in each shot.

The creative team referenced various iconic women and artists from pop and fashion cultures while creating the looks, using makeup, hand-made masks and hair to give Grace multiple identities. At the time of press, D&M’s Danny and Michael are currently living the high life at New York Fashion Week, working for the Moroccanoil creative team on high profile shows such as Badgley Mischka and Carolina Herrera. Ponsonby News can’t wait to catch up with them when they get back!

D&M HAIR DESIGN, Redmond Street, Ponsonby T: 09 376 3666 www.dandm.co.nz

A CLARION CALL TO THE BUSINESS WORLD LIVING WITH A DISABILITY IS NOT EASY FOR EITHER FAMILY MEMBERS OR the one afflicted. So many things the able bodied take for granted are insurmountable for a person hamstrung by a disability. A major disadvantage is the number of public places that are ‘disability’ unfriendly. Changes for the better have been made, and shopping malls are a good example but there’s still a long way to go.

Minnie Baragwanath, who is legally blind, is the leader behind the vanguard for further change that would see business premises across the board consenting to undergo accessibility assessments and make changes accordingly. An institute founded in 2011 called Be. Accessible aims to generate a new economy - the access economy. The ‘Access Customer’ includes the elderly, parents pushing strollers, those with hearing or vision impairment, those with a mental impairment, and those confined to a wheelchair.

The hospitality industry is an obvious target for this initiative. Disabled people are entitled to have easy access to eating places, the theatre, motels or guest houses, in other words enjoy the same amenities as the able bodied. At a recent meeting of the Waitemata Local Board Ponsonby personality, Gerry of the Ponsonby Art Hotel was challenged by Megan Barclay who is part of the Be. Accessible strategic partnership.

Her query was, “I don’t suppose you have anything for disabled people?” His response, “Come round and have a look, because we do have a room for disabled people.”

She did just that and was surprised and impressed.

The Be. Accessible people visited as well and Gerry and Sally were given a long assessment form to fill in but are still waiting to hear if they are eligible for a Be. Accessible rating, which incidentally carries a fee.

When Gerry and Sally opened in the early nineties they were the first openly gay friendly establishment - advertising in Express and displaying the rainbow flag. They went out of their way to accommodate wheelchairs, even to the extent of building a special unit for disabled people. Their philosophy is that nearly everyone wants to be treated normally and instead of thinking ‘this is too tough’, why not ‘what can I do’?

This might involve accommodating seeing eye dogs for instance. In fact recently they had two guests who brought along two cats and a dog as well. The Be. Accessible accommodation checklist does have many requirements even they hadn’t thought of.

For instance a vibrating pillow would alert a deaf person should a fire break out.

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SALLY and GERRY: Ponsonby Art Hotel local ‘icons’ Wheelchair wise, Ponsonby Road rates quite well and for this Sally can take some credit. Twenty-eight years ago she used to ride her pushbike along the pavement and got tired of bouncing over kerbs, so she made a presentation to the old Western Bays Community Board, arguing for ramps where the footpaths intersected with roads.

This is common practice now all over Auckland but Ponsonby was first off the rank.

Also, most of the bars and eating places along the strip have wide French doors and outside areas that make it easy for wheelchairs.

With one in five New Zealanders having an access need it makes economic sense to take advantage of their custom, particularly with the increased use of mobility scooters. The disabled, and the elderly are healthier, living longer and getting around a lot more so the question is ‘do I want that business?’ In the present financial climate it’s advisable to look at anything that will bring in extra income.

Be. Accessible had its first birthday in July and there was a celebratory event at Te Papa on 27 July. Minnie Baragwanath, the stalwart who pioneered and led the charge for change will soon be treated to a weekend at the Ponsonby Art Hotel.

(DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

BODY OF EVIDENCE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT REVITALISING YOUR BODY WITH A MASSAGE IS beneficial to your overall wellbeing. It’s important to ‘turbo charge’ your exercise and health regimes as we reach the end of winter and head for summer (fingers crossed, sun cream on hand) and a massage is a definitive inclusion in a holistic approach to your optimum health and wellness goals. Return to Form massage treatments are a great way to re-energise those tired muscles and overcome niggling injuries to achieve your optimum performance.

Return to Form massage therapist, Bryce Hatton has the training and experience to allow him to work with a variety of people from those simply seeking the chance to relax and unwind, through to sports people, weekend warriors, clients under stress or experiencing headaches and migraines and those suffering from chronic pain syndromes.

Come on in for a generous 60 minutes on the massage table (sessions are booked for 70 minutes total) and you will feel totally rejuvenated, with improved circulation, helping to eliminate toxins from the body and the alleviation of muscle aches and joint pain. Massage may also help to relieve fatigue and headaches, increase flexibility and revitalise your whole body.

Just for Ponsonby News readers: 20% discount if you book by 25 September.

A further 10% discount for the first five who book and have their massage by 15 September.

So make an appointment today to de-stress, relax and get your body into shape for spring! To make a booking call T: 09 551 4460, or email info@returntoform.com.

You can also find more information at www.returntoform.com

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STEPHEN RAINBOW: SUM OF US

WHY GAY MARRIAGE MATTERS TO ME ATTENDING A PUBLIC MEETING ON SAME SEX marriage at St Stephens on Jervois Road was never going to be a good idea just before sitting down to write for Ponsonby News. How can it be, I came away thinking, that people like the confused woman MP representing NZ First are going to decide on whether or not my love for another bloke can reach its apogee in the form of a marriage. Or not.

While it is importantly about removing one of the last impediments to the legal equality of gays (adoption being the other one), how can my loving and marrying another bloke possibly diminish anyone else or their relationship? In fact marriage has got some bad rap in recent years and with a failure rate of between 40-50% I would have thought that those who claim concern for the sanctity of marriage would be overjoyed that a new, previously marginalised group, wanted to support and rejuvenate the institution!

Marriage has anyway evolved with social and political changes. As recently as the late 1960s several So perhaps it will help if I tell my story, briefly. For American states still forbade marriage between recently the locally produced doco Men Like Us was people of different races. Those who oppose same premiered at the Rialto in Newmarket, and if nothing sex marriage need to reflect on whether anyone would else this portrayal of nine gay mens’ lives showed GREG BOWRON and STEPHEN RAINBOW celebrated defend that practice now, for the parallels are clear. the power of peoples’ personal stories as a means of their Civil Union on 28 July 2007, Northcote Point Continuing the evolution of the institution, there are growing tolerance and understanding. now at least six American states that permit same sex marriage. Civilisation has not yet come to an end, but economic activity associated I grew up in rural Nelson. I honestly think that the very concept of being gay or with gay marriage has provided a boon for places like New York! homosexual was simply incomprehensible to me, even if I had feelings for other guys.

And if even being gay was not a possibility, then the prospect of being in a same New York is not the only place to have proved there is a demand for same sex sex relationship, let alone having a family, was beyond the realms of any universe marriage, with the latest Australian census recording more than 35,000 same sex I inhabited. Gays were sad or lonely figures often portrayed tragically or pathetically relationships, a high percentage of which, were they living in a more enlightened state, in the odd British movie or sitcom. So once I left for the big smoke I met a wonderful would doubtlessly be transformed into marriages. woman and we had a family, but - like a lot of gay men - I finally came out when I fell in love with another guy, at the age of 35. The abstract possibility of being gay took Long term what the possibility of same sex marriage means is that the young gay a very concrete form in Greg, a wonderful man with whom I was to spend the next person in New Zealand coming to terms with their homosexuality is going to see twelve years. that they can live any way they want, including with a partner and a family, if they so choose. This choice is so fundamental to addressing the well-being of gay people, We lived and travelled and had two of my children living with us at one stage. We many of whom have traditionally had to lead compartmentalised lives of shame and bought and did up houses and indulged each other’s passions for antiques and cars. deception, that to my mind it is possibly the single most important step to ensuring the We shopped, and cooked, and even had retirement plans. But Greg was diagnosed wellbeing of gay people. with cancer in 2005, and he died two years later at the age of 45. When his cancer became terminal Greg asked me to “marry” him, and the civil union we celebrated in The question then surely has to be not why same sex marriage should be allowed, but our garden at Northcote Point was one of the most important days in our lives. Greg why it should not be. And to that question there is no compelling answer, at least if you died a few months later, and while we were lucky to be able to have a civil union, it was subscribe to the principle of one law for all, care about the wellbeing of gay people, and a marriage that we wanted. So I struggle to see why there’s so much fuss about same believe in love! (STEPHEN RAINBOW) PN sex marriage, because for me it is fundamentally about love.

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HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

LOCO FOR COCO – COCONUT WATER IS HERE TO STAY FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK FOR THE PAST couple of years; coconut water is the fluid that’s found in the cavity of the coconut when you crack it open – and one of the health and beauty industries’ biggest buzzes of late.

I first discovered the wonders of said water when I travelled to Los Angeles on a regular basis for work several years ago – it cured even the most punishing of jet lags, the odd hangover and kept me going on super sweltering Californian days.

I really fell in love with it however when I travelled to Vanuatu last year. The village my family and I stayed in was abundant in baby coconuts, which were sold with the tops almost lopped off, ready for you to grab a knife and a straw and dive in. It set me off on the road of serious addiction, but with all of the wonders that the rather delicious beverage brings I was all for it.

With an electrolyte content that is completely compatible with the human body, coconut water is nature’s sports drink – without all the nasties that the latter often contains.

It is low in calories and provides five of the essential aforementioned electrolytes – calcium, magnesium, chloride, sodium and potassium – in their natural form, making it the perfect choice for glugging post-exercise or when you have a hangover or tummy bug as it replaces a lot of what you have lost. It’s also beneficial if you suffer from high blood pressure or heart disease; with just one serve (around 330ml) providing almost twice the potassium of an average banana.

Until now, coconut water has always been difficult – and expensive – to source in New Zealand, so I was rather excited to hear word of the arrival of some rather enterprising companies introducing their own versions Down Under.

up when you need it, and is a far healthier choice than a sports of energy drink for obvious reasons.

C is the brainchild of Sydney, Australia-based entrepreneurs Adam Abrams and Julian Tobias, along with beverage manufacturing and distribution specialist Zac Jex. The boys spent the last two years travelling the globe to source the best coconut water they could find, deciding that Mexican and Indian coconuts were a little too salty whilst their Thai cousins were a little too sweet, eventually finding the perfect organic one on a remote island on the Western Rim of the Pacific Ocean. Phew! It’s reportedly the clearest, fat-free version out there, and has no colouring, preservatives or additives, which gets a big thumbs up from me. The company is also carbon neutral and supports the local island community where they grow and harvest their coconuts, making it a good ethical choice as well as a rather yum one!

Admittedly there is nothing quite like just cracking open a fresh, young coconut on the spot (they often have some ready to go in the chiller at Victoria Park Market New World), but many of the tetrapak-ed versions that have flooded onto the market of late are almost as yum. AND good for you.

Another good organic option I’ve come across is OQUA, which comes in a can rather than a tetrapak, so keeps nice and cool when it’s hot outside. It has no additives or preservatives, and even the can it comes in is BPA Free, which is a huge bonus.

The latest brand to fill a shelf or two in our fridge is called C Coconut Water, which is 100 per cent organic and one of the best I’ve tasted yet. Supping on a pack regularly will fuel your body, help boost your immune system and act as just a general pick-me-

So next time you feel sluggish, dehydrated or just plain old thirsty, reach for a coconut water rather than the nearest, oddly-hued sports drink – it’s far better for you and it’s definitely here to stay! (HELENE RAVLICH) PN

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

THE ROSICRUCIAN ORDER AMORC The Rosicrucian Order AMORC is an ancient mystical, fraternal, philosophical and scientific organisation, of men and women, which seeks to promote mutual understanding and peace in all countries of the world. It does this through its unique home study system which provides a foundation that ties together all of the different aspects of metaphysical study, and demonstrates their interconnectedness. The Rosicrucian Order is non political, non profit and non religious.

Much of the material found in the Rosicrucian teachings cannot be found anywhere else. Those that have already spent many years studying self-help and metaphysics will find that the Rosicrucian system organises this information in a comprehensive way, and acts as a catalyst of skills and accomplishment. The knowledge already acquired then attains a higher dimension of meaning when placed in the context of a powerful whole. On the other hand, those completely new to this type of study, will find a comprehensive approach that makes the learning process easy. The Rosicrucian system lets the student progress step-by-step through this practical course, seeing and feeling how each subject relates to all the rest, giving a sense of completeness and confidence in understanding as well as developing abilities.

The Rosicrucian Order has over 250,000 members worldwide; its teachings are translated into 13 languages and its groups are found in over 450 cities around the world including Auckland. See our web site at www.amorc.org.au or for further details refer to the advertisement. PN

SIT LESS, MOVE MORE THE MESSAGE FROM PHYSIOS Physios are warning we need to sit less and move more this World Physiotherapy Day - 8 September.

Physiotherapy New Zealand says the warning from a US study on sedentary behaviour is clear; we need to sit less and move more. The study, published by the British Medical Journal, shows that sitting for more than three hours per day can reduce life expectancy by two years. Over half the people surveyed were sitting for more than six hours per day. Physiotherapy New Zealand President Gill Stotter says their message of movement for life is more important than ever. Ms Stotter is challenging businesses and employees on World Physiotherapy Day (September 8) to do something active during their working day; like having a standing meeting or taking the stairs instead of the lift.

“As physios we see the effects of sedentary behaviour every day and we know that sitting for long periods can aggravate problems like back pain in patients. This study shows just how damaging inactivity can be. More importantly, we also see the huge benefits that physical activity can give people including feeling better, sleeping better, preventing diseases even helping conditions such as type 2 diabetes or lowering blood pressure. We need to start creating small habits now that allow us to keep active for life. Creating good habits doesn’t need to be about doing hours and hours of intense exercise at night after sitting all day, it could be having an active lunchbreak or walking to work.”

“This is about incorporating exercise and activity into our daily routines so that it becomes more manageable. On 8 September I would like to challenge everyone to try taking a least one small action to sit a little less and move a little more.”

photography: Gwynnie Davenport

SIT LESS – 10 TIPS FOR YOUR WORK DAY 1. Take the stairs instead of the lift.

2. Try a standing meeting or a walking meeting.

3. Fill up your water bottle – on another floor of your building.

4. Stand up when you speak on the phone.

5. Get to work the active way; walk, bike or get off the bus at an earlier stop.

6. Walk over to a colleague and pass on a message instead of emailing.

7. Head to the gym in your lunch break or just take a walk around the block.

8. Try quick exercises at your desk such as relaxed breathing, arm and neck stretches.

9. Invest in a pedometer and see how many steps you can do in a day.

10. Set up your desk as a standing desk.

If you are struggling to get moving due to pain, injury or a health condition then a physio can help you make some changes to your lifestyle, visit www.physiotherapy.org.nz for more information. PN

86 PONSONBY NEWS+ September 2012

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HOROSCOPES ♍

♓

♎

♈

♏

♉

Virgo (the Virgin): 22 August - 23 September You seem to be having a bit of trouble venting your emotions and what’s making things worse is the more you are unable to express yourself the more people around you are thinking that you are keeping things to yourself. If something is troubling you, sort it out now before any damage is done.

Libra (the Scales): 24 September - 23 October You may need to return to the scene of the crime, metaphorically speaking of course in order for you to move on with your life. Whatever has been done can be sorted out if only you can own up to your actions.

Scorpio (the Scorpion): 24 October - 22 November You feel like you have reached as far as you can go in your current profession and seem to be at a crossroads on what to do next. Just to set your mind at rest, whatever you do the support will be there all the way.

♐

Sagittarius (the Archer): 23 November - 22 December You may have sensed that all is not well in your relationship recently and this may be because of your inability to connect or show that you can be vulnerable. You should take a chance this month and tell the person that you have been seeing now for a while how you really feel.

MISS PEARL NECLIS

Pisces (the Fish): 20 February - 20 March If you have decided to get away this month then make sure that before you disappear that any business you have on the go is taken care of. Unfortunately in the past your reputation has overshadowed your accomplishments, you have worked hard to get where you are, don’t ruin it now.

Aries (the Ram): 21 March - 20 April You can be quick to voice your opinions and sometimes these can have disastrous results. While your intentions are always good, your words are causing a lot of damage that you are unaware of. Keep your opinions to yourself for a while and maybe have a chat with your closest friends.

Taurus (the Bull): 21 April - 21 May You should have a brilliant time this month as there is nothing that you can not overcome, your creativity is flowing, your love life is blooming, you have good friends and family who love and support you. The only fly in the ointment could be your health, just keep an eye on it.

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

You might think that honesty in every situation is always the best possible policy however sometimes being tactful and not divulging all the facts can sometimes be the way to go. Just be sincere and communicate your thoughts well and all will be good.

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

♋ Cancer (the Crab): 22 June - 22 July

♒

♌

Acting like you really don’t care anymore is beginning to wear a bit thin and even your friends are getting a bit fed up. You’re grown up now with responsibilities, you can still have a laugh but not at other peoples expense.

Aquarius (the Water Carrier): 21 January - 19 February Even if you seem unstoppable and are able to deal with any situation you should still take time for yourself and slow down, the last thing you need is to burnout. You know your limits but sometimes we can all go beyond them without realising the damage we are causing ourselves.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

You may feel like you are over it with the work that you do as your focus has been diverted elsewhere these last few months. Your energy levels are at an all time low and you’re emotional and get distracted very easily. Face up to your fears even if this creates disharmony within your world, you have to be happy.

Leo (the Lion): 23 July - 21 August You are emerging out other the end of a long tunnel that you have been stuck in for a while now. Your enthusiasm is returning, you seem motivated and your sense of humour is coming back which is always a sign that you are on the mend. Just take steps slowly and don’t overdo it. PN

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CLARE CALDWELL

THE ART OF LIVING

Do you ever have days where everything seems to go wrong?

Where everybody you deal with seems irritating, uncooperative and outright sabotaging of you achieving your perceived goals? Where even the technology around you seems part of a plot to ruin your day? Of course you do! We all do – and sadly, all too frequently.

We end up feeling angry, frustrated and enormously stressed out that we cannot seem to manipulate and control our world around us to perform in a way that we desire.

Correspondingly, we can have days where the sun just seems to shine on everything we do, where people are friendly and helpful and where we seem to glide forward, effortlessly achieving the seemingly impossible. We feel serene and happy and dare I say it - blissful!.

Experiencing both of these states pretty frequently has led me to think about the differing energies that seem to surround each occasion – the polarities of the negative and the positive. Is it just random and pure chance that these energies are activated to colour our experiences accordingly? I believe it comes down to the concepts of Synchronicity and Alignment.

In his book “A New Earth” Eckhart Tolle talks about being “open” and about being “resistant” – how an inner acceptance or “yielding” to whatever is thrown at us means we are open to life, as opposed to a rigidity and desire to try and micro-manage every aspect of it (“life” here is defined as a connection to an expanded consciousness and inner radiance, that goes way beyond the constructs and limitations of our egoic and controlling mind-sets – a definition he expands further throughout the course of the book).

Tolle believes that in this latter, controlling state we are closed to “life”, shutting out the sun like blinds across a window. Any action taken in this state of inner resistance is done in a negative energy and will often create more resistance and negativity around us where everything and everyone seems to work against us. In contrast, when we surrender internally to “life”; when we stop trying to be in the power seat, we open up to a whole new dimension of consciousness.

Actions taken seem to be in alignment with a larger whole. Situations and people are brought to us. Synchronicities occur. It’s as if the universe is on our side.

Becoming more aware and thus more mindful of the dichotomy of choices here is the first step towards letting go and allowing these amazing “coincidences” and alignments to resonate and guide us in our everyday lives. Maybe the Art of Living is to make a conscious choice to try and live this way.

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. PN

DEEP INTO DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE

By WENDY IRWIN, Sport Massage Therapist I am often asked “do you do deep tissue massage?” This is a question I find hard to answer. The short answer is “yes”.

Anyone can push hard into your tissue! But is this really what you mean, or what you really need? It is too easy to simply push hard. So how deep is useful?

This is an individual choice and can be discussed with your therapist. A good therapist will observe and know how to effect positive changes in your tissue, and sometimes this is not deep.

Deep tissue work takes time. If penetrated too quickly the protective reflex will tense up the tissue. Tense tissue can reduce the efficacy of massage, (refer to Arndt’s Law). It certainly reduces the capacity to relax the tissue and alter the tissue’s matrix.

Also a depth that solicits pain, or bruising, is too deep and is more likely to damage your tissue and delay recovery. So there is a process of discovery required to find the right depth, which in my experience can vary daily depending on what you have done recently and how you feel.

How you feel, and stress, will affect your muscles. The ability to relax the muscles is reduced when you are stressed. The relaxation part of the massage is important to prepare the tissue for deeper penetration. In my experience the relaxed mind with relaxed muscle allows a better, deeper massage.

So just pushing hard is not always appropriate. There are several other methods a therapist can use to relax and improve the muscles. There are a mind boggling number of different techniques. Muscle energy techniques (including PNF stretches), Myofascial work, Neuromuscular work, trigger point release, and joint mobilising are a few of mine. Often these techniques are better than simply pressing hard, with the only intent to achieve more depth.

“Deep tissue massage” has become a catchphrase, which is confusing. Deep tissue massage is not a technique, but a result. How deep the therapist can get into the tissue becomes a matter of how deep your body will allow on the day. The more experienced therapist can be receptive and adaptive and find the appropriate depth to effect change.

It is fair to want to enquire about the effectiveness of a therapist and, I guess, by asking about the depth, it means the person wants to feel a deep relaxation and change in the muscles, and not a superficial glide. I am a registered remedial therapist with Massage New Zealand. If you are interested in a deep massage result, you should consider a remedial massage therapist, who will have a range of skills available to make effective change.

I invite you to view my website for further information about my practice.

Stay Healthy.

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

INSPIRING LIVING FOR THOSE 50 PLUS YES, THAT “E” WORD CONJURES UP SUCH A DEADLY SET OF IMAGES, throat- cutting stuff and not what would sell much in Ponsonby. It’s the “elderly” that are soaking up the welfare money, goes the campaign to discredit our current Superannuation Fund. Easy to target this group and yet consider how many in Ponsonby are over the age of 50, moving towards retirement.

Those in the health care professions and marketing preventative solutions to arrest the impact of ageing on our bodies and minds have already recognised what a healthy market they have here, excuse the pun.

Auckland Greypower welcomes people 50 plus to join in activities aimed at stimulating new approaches to the problems of aging. Next month’s public meeting

88 PONSONBY NEWS+ September 2012

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FUTURE GENERATION

ECO WARRIORS AT PONSONBY INTERMEDIATE Teachers at Ponsonby Intermediate recently decided there was a gap in the curriculum and that there was another learning path they could open up to pupils.

All mainstream subjects were well and truly covered but they didn’t think they were doing enough about teaching children the concept of sustainability. They also wanted students to lead the change rather than teachers. An Eco Warriors package was devised and distributed to the entire school. Each child was given a survey and an application to fill in as to why he or she would be a good Eco Warrior.

Out of 60 or more applications, 14 were chosen and the elected group have done some amazing things.

The first enterprise was to have every kid in the school recycling their organic material. Pink bins were placed around the school where apple cores, and other leftover foodstuff could be discarded and the waste used in worm farms. The worm juice is then sold to pay for the bins, a canny initiative indeed. Eco prefects inspect classrooms to check if their bins are being recycled properly and the well performing receive an Eco Award at assembly in the form of a plant.

SIMON VAN VELTHOOVEN, Olympics medal winner at Chapel, Ponsonby

focuses on Inspirational Living for Seniors, not just those people brave and carefree enough to sky dive or bungy jump. Wellbeing for those 50 plus is often dictated by how well they are connected into social activities in their area, as much as their level of income. Community hubs, men’s sheds and art depots all nourish the spirit and allow 50 plus people to celebrate their life experiences, to pass on their skills, and heritage stories, as well as find meaning in creating things of worth for the community.

Hear Dr John Raeburn, emeritus professor, champion and author of community psychology, on strengthening individuals and community through the community hub concept, at the Auckland Greypower October Meeting held at The Fickling Centre, Lynfield Room, Three Kings, 9 October at 1pm. Non members and friends are welcome. PN Contact us at www.greypowerauckland.org.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

They organised an Enviro-Week when the whole school participated in lunchtime activities such as fruit tree planting, greenest lunch boxes and pot plant design. The educational trust, Sustainable Coastlines came and set up their portable classroom to teach the students about the problems with plastic and rubbish entering our waterways and ending up polluting the sea. The Gareth Morgan travelling roadshow also visited the school with the Far South programme and the Million-dollar Mouse campaign which aims to eradicate mice from New Zealand’s Antipodes Islands.

The week ended with an awards ceremony and a special Enviro TV programme organised by the Eco Warriors.

The Eco Warriors are as keen as mustard on making a change and teaching other kids sustainable habits. They are looking to expand their activities by meeting and interviewing people in the community who are also involved in sustainable practice.

Should any readers wish to co-operate with them just call Nick Wilson, Deputy Principal at Ponsonby Intermediate. If every school in New Zealand followed the Eco Warriors example and took up the sustainability cudgel, a whole generation of children would have the power to make the world a better place. Congratulations to the teachers at Ponsonby Intermediate for thinking outside the square and coming up with an inspiring role for their students who have risen magnificently to the challenge.

(DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN DEADLINE – 20TH OF THE MONTH September 2012 PONSONBY NEWS+

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BILLY HARRIS: KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY HOURS, WEEKS, YEARS OF HARD PRACTICE. PLAYING IN front of huge crowds. Fierce competition for the top prizes.

That sounds like the world of an Olympian or an All Black, but it is, in fact, the life that 14 year old flautist Zoe Stenhouse-Burgess has tasted, and she’s thirsting for more. At age 11, Zoe was one of just two New Zealanders selected to play in the opening concert of the Suzuki World Convention in Melbourne, where she played before an audience of 2000. The four yearly convention is in Japan next year, and his time Zoe is auditioning for the grand finale Gala concert.

With only one place in the concert available for each instrument, competition for the position is white hot, and if selected, the Western Springs College student will be playing in front of her biggest audience yet – 3000.

To win the coveted position, which is open to Suzuki flute players worldwide (Suzuki is a method of teaching), Zoe must send her audition tape to Japan by the end of October, on which she’ll record her favourite piece, the concertino for flute and piano by Chaminade. The piece is eight minutes long and must be played from memory, so the concentration required is immense. If her love of her craft, and her dedication to it, are any guide, Zoe has a good chance of achieving her goal. She explains how she developed her passion for music.

“When I was seven I went to Kids Music Company, where we tried out a wide range of instruments including violin, guitar, recorder, marimba and percussion instruments,” she says. “After that, I knew I wanted to play something.

I wasn’t allowed to play the violin because my little brother Max already played it, so I chose the recorder, and the next step up is the flute, which coincidentally is the instrument Mum played.

Through her flute, and the Suzuki method, the musical world is opening up for Zoe. For the last four years she’s been attending a conference in Melbourne, where she meets different teachers and students learning Suzuki flute. At one of these conferences she met Rebecca Paluzzi, a Suzuki flute teacher from Johnson City, Tennessee, who invited Zoe and mum Lynley to her annual conference in the States. So Zoe went to Tennessee, but it was more like heaven.

“We were so lucky that it happened to be in the year that Mr Takahashi, the person who heads Suzuki now that Mr Suzuki is no longer alive, was there as well,” she enthuses. “He’s 75, but he travelled all the way over from Matsumoto. The conference was a week long, and I had seven hours of classes every day, including a master class, tone and technique class, a repertoire class, a chamber ensemble class, a flute choir class, an orchestral class and a tone through interpretation class.

It was amazing to work with Mr Takahashi. The tone through interpretation class was really special, as we listened to opera singers then had to replicate it on our flutes.

“I was exhausted by the end of the week, but it was unbelievable, the best flute experience I have ever had.” There’s no time to rest though. Earlier this year Zoe, along with school mates Noah Rudd on oboe and Eddie Liu on piano, formed a group called Zen Trio, coaching by Alison Jepson, and entered into the NZ Chamber Music Competition, winning the junior award for Auckland. This prize adds to a lengthening list of achievements for Zoe, which includes winning the NZ Woodwind Competition (and two second placings), and being the first woodwind to receive a Knights Templar Music Scholarship, which was worth $500 to go toward her lessons.

“Max was learning the violin through the Suzuki method, so we started looking for a flute teacher who taught Suzuki, and it was good timing because Karen Lavie was just returning from France. So I started taking lessons from her in year four, and she’s been my teacher ever since. She’s an incredible teacher.”

There’s always something on the go. At the time of writing, Zoe’s school orchestra had just finished playing in the production of West Side Story, with all six performances being sold out, and were preparing to take part in a competition against other Auckland school orchestras. On top of the school practices, Zoe has her own practice, which she does every day, and twice weekly lessons to take. Oh, and she has piano lessons through the Suzuki method as well.

To understand where Zoe’s at with her music, we need to understand a little about the Suzuki method. According to Wikipedia, the central belief of Japanese violinist Shin’ichi Suzuki was that all people can, and will, learn from their environment. Just as a child learns language from a very young age, so he or she can learn music. Thus children should be exposed to music from a very young age, preferably in the womb.

It’s no surprise to learn that Zoe wants to go all the way with her music, and such is her passion you wouldn’t bet against her realising her dreams. “I want to be a professional musician and be part of an orchestra and travel all over the world. After I complete my music degree at Auckland University, I want to study at the Paris Conservatoire of Music. Music is a big part of my life and I can’t imagine not playing my flute every day.”

And just as a child learns to speak before learning to read, so the young musician learns music by ear rather than through musical notation. Competitive attitudes between players is discouraged, perhaps explaining why Zoe and her brother play different instruments.

Do you know of a kid in the community we should write about? He or she might be doing something interesting in academia, the arts, sports or anything else. Drop me a line at billyharris2000@hotmail.com (BILLY HARRIS) PN

PONSONBY PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS SHOWED OFF THEIR PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS New Zealanders are known for their ingenuity and nearly 40 ‘young minds’ had the chance to show off their problem solving skills at the inaugural Ponsonby BP Challenge held at Ponsonby Primary School Hall last month.

Primary school students from several schools in the Ponsonby and Herne Bay area were given several mystery challenges to work on. However, they were only given simple materials such as paper, sticky tape, string and a pair of scissors to make their devices.

Students really needed to put their thinking caps on! This was ‘real pressure’ stuff as they only had a limited time of about 20 minutes to make their device or product.

Barbara Henderson, Director of Gifted & Talented Programmes at Ponsonby Primary School and also the co-ordinator of the event, says “being the first BP Challenge to be held in the area, I was really pleased to see the many different devices that the students came up with .”

The BP Challenge has been running in schools in New Zealand for over 15 years and encourages ‘hands-on and minds-on’ learning says Debbie Woodhall of the Royal Society of New Zealand, who has administered the BP Challenge on behalf of BP Oil NZ Ltd for the past 14 years. “It’s all about communication, listening, cooperation and problem solving and these are life skills that all students need for them to be successful adults in the future.”

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The Pegasus Flyers from PONSONBY PRIMARY at judging time, Marble Kinetics. Left is judge MELANIE WOODS from Futurintech and right WENDY SWANN from BP NZ Ltd. BP Oil NZ Ltd sponsors over 30 regional BP Challenge events each year involving thousands of school students and also supports hundreds of schools with individual BP Challenge competitions. www.ponsprim.school.nz PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FUTURE GENERATION

ZOO SCOOPS GOLD FOR TE WAO NUI IN LANDSCAPE AWARDS AUCKLAND ZOO’S CURATOR OF HORTICULTURE, HUGO BAYNES, HAS WON Landscaping New Zealand’s supreme award in the 2012 Landscapes of Distinction Awards for the New Zealand precinct, Te Wao Nui – the Zoo’s largest ever project.

Along with winning the Landscape of the Year Award and three golds – for Landscape Design, Horticulture, and Garden Management, Te Wao Nui also won the Best Sustainable Landscape, Best Use of Native Plants, Best Horticulture, and Best Garden Management (large project) awards. The overall award recognised consistency in quality and excellence throughout the planning, planting and maintenance of Te Wao Nui’s habitats – The Coast, The Islands, The Wetlands, The Forest, and The High Country.

Judges said: “This design shows sensitivity and expertise at all levels and results in a magical journey for visitors that highlights the very best and special natural character of New Zealand. Zoos are much more than animals! The renewed focus on flora, as well as fauna, is extraordinary and educational… and the planting design of this space is inspirational.”

Mr Baynes, says the win is both tremendous and humbling and the result of many passionate people. “It was a truly collaborative effort. The Zoo’s horticultural team and Natural Habitats contractors did a superb job helping install the landscape on a canvas beautifully designed and compiled by designer Logan Brewer and proudly built

by NZ Strong. It’s been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a real joy to be involved in a project where New Zealand native flora and fauna are showcased in representative iconic habitats, that by their very nature, encourage visitors to explore, connect and protect our natural heritage,” says Mr Baynes.

Auckland Zoo director Jonathan Wilcken says local and overseas visitors have flocked to see Te Wao Nui since it opened last September – a major catalyst for the Zoo attracting a record 710,000 visitors in the 12 months ended 30 June. “It’s wonderful to receive these landscaping awards for Te Wao Nui - the biggest and most important project in our 90-year history, and a real tribute to Hugo and his team, and everyone involved,” says Mr Wilcken.

Landscaping New Zealand’s Landscapes of Distinction Awards is a biennial event that recognises excellence in the fields of landscape design, construction and maintenance, encompassing commercial and residential projects.

2012 LANDSCAPING NEW ZEALAND AWARDS WON BY AUCKLAND ZOO: 2012 Landscape of the Year The Living Earth: Best Sustainable Landscape The Dalton’s Landscape Supplies: Best Horticulture Large Project NZ Landscape Supplies: Best Garden Management Naturally Native: Best Use of Native Plants GOLD: Landscape Design – large project category GOLD: Landscape Horticulture – large project category GOLD: Garden Management – large project category.

THE 2012 JUDGES WERE: Renee Davies, Head of Department of Landscape Architecture at Unitec, Grant Eyre from Growing Spectrum Plant Nursery, and Richard Hart, architect. PN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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MEET THE TEACHER THE CHEERFUL NEW EGG BABY TOTE AND WRAP: HELPING MOTHERS WITH POSTNATAL DEPRESSION BECOMING A NEW MUM SHOULD BE A JOYOUS TIME, BUT FOR SO MANY Kiwi women the experience will be marred by postnatal depression. Sadly, almost half of sufferers are undiagnosed, leaving them struggling to cope.

EGG Maternity co-founder Charlotte Devereux developed perinatal depression prior to the birth of her second child. With guidance from the Mental Health Association and her mid-wife Nula Ulmer (who was concerned she could develop post natal depression) she vowed to raise funds to support other mums in the same position.

This year, EGG is launching the limited edition Je t’aime mon bébé baby tote and wrap. This stylish and essential accessory is large enough to fit all baby’s essentials.

The cute wrap cleverly threads through eyelets on the bag, and can also be used as a baby swaddle, change mat and breastfeeding cover. $10 from every sale will go to the Mental Health Foundation, which provides a resource and information service in support of women with PND. In the past, EGG Maternity has contributed towards the cost of producing an information fact sheet on postnatal depression.

NAME: Rebecca Sullivan SCHOOL: Ponsonby Intermediate School CURRENTLY TEACHING: English HOW DID YOU COME TO BE A PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER? At primary school I decided I wanted to be a teacher. The idea stuck and here I am.

WHERE DID YOU TRAIN? Auckland University

“Postnatal depression strikes mothers from all walks of life,” says Charlotte. “High profile women with experience of PND include Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields and Courtney Cox, and they’ve all spoken out to raise awareness of the issue. I’m glad to be doing my bit to help. It can be such a bleak, lonely time, when you need understanding and support more than ever.”

The tote is a perfect gift for new mums, as well as a practical way to show you care.

It will be available from 15 September at www.eggmaternity.com and EGG boutiques, as well as www.pumpkinpatch.co.nz and selected PUMPKIN PATCH stores. PN

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO PONSONBY INTERMEDIATE? I had just arrived back in New Zealand after a few months travelling and was beginning the daunting task of job hunting. A good friend had been working at Ponsonby Intermediate, said it was a great school and that there was a position available. I interviewed and thankfully got it!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT BEING A TEACHER? The variety teaching offers certainly makes for an exciting work week. The daily challenges also give me a chance to develop and think outside the box. I also love organising and stationery; both vital elements of a teacher’s life.

HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR TEACHING CAREER? Having past students yell out ‘Hi Miss!’ across Ponsonby Road. It’s nice that they still want to chat.

LOW POINT OF YOUR TEACHING CAREER? My husband came on a school trip with us and got lost in the bush. The PE teacher had to go and save him. That was a little embarrassing…

HOW WOULD YOUR PRINCIPAL DESCRIBE YOU? Organised and diplomatic.

HOW WOULD OTHER TEACHERS DESCRIBE YOU? A little OCD, with high expectations.

HOW WOULD YOUR STUDENTS DESCRIBE YOU? Young-ish and well prepared.

IF YOU COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND IN YOUR CLASSROOM...

It would be tidier, quieter and smell a little nicer. Plus I could do with a little extra time each week.

FIVE TIPS FOR MUMS AND DADS OF INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL KIDS 1. Take an active interest in their education.

2. Set your kids high standards and trust them to get there.

3. Talk to them about the highs and lows of the school week.

4. Permanently name ALL of your kids stuff. Our class lost property grows exponentially each week.

5. Encourage them to read as much as they can, whenever they can, however they can. PN

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FUTURE GENERATION INTERNATIONAL NOSE BREATHING WEEK 10 - 15 SEPTEMBER International Nose Breathing Week has been initiated by Buteyko practitioners worldwide to raise awareness about the vital significance of correct breathing for health and longevity.

Today it is generally accepted that over-eating is a serious problem that may cause diabetes, heart disease, and many other modern diseases. However, it is remarkable that the equally serious risks associated with chronic hidden hyperventilation (over-breathing) and mouth breathing have not yet been recognised by mainstream medicine.

Over-breathing will make you sick in the same way that over-eating will make you sick.The common perception is that the more we breathe, the healthier we will be.

However, this advice contradicts fundamental principles of respiration. Healthy breathing is not about breathing more, in the same way that the key to good nutrition is not eating more.

Breathing rates have doubled in the last fifty years. It is significant that breathing -related disorders like asthma, allergies, sleep apnoea and stress disorders have seen a similar rise over the same period.

What you can do? Start by shutting your mouth! Mouth breathing encourages over -breathing. Over-breathing is linked with, or may be a major cause of, asthma, anxiety, angina, hay fever, hypertension, IBS, ME, orthodontic problems, sinusitis, sleep apnoea, snoring, general poor health and many more conditions.

Chronic hidden hyperventilation, usually associated with mouth breathing, is just one of the many factors addressed by the Buteyko Breathing Clinic programme. PN If you suffer from any of the above conditions and would like to know more about our programme, please phone contact our local BUTEYKO BREATHING CLINIC, 20 Arthur Street T: 09 360 6291 www.buteykobreathing.co.nz

CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP REVIEW George and Flora’s Big Party, by J E Elworthy. Eden Project, $18.99 Mum’s broken her arm and George and Flora go and ask Grandpa to help with making jam tarts. While they are there, he asks them to drop some eggs off at his neighbours, and gradually they realise that no one in the street knows each other and want to help.

So they organise an amazing street party with lots of delicious home-cooked meals to eat. Packed full of recipes and tips for organising your own street party, George and Flora’s Big Party is all about cooking and community: sharing recipes, making friends, helping to build a community in your neighbourhood.

The Eden Project started The Big Lunch in the UK because it believes we are better equipped to tackle challenges when we face them together. PN DOROTHY BUTLER CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP, 1 Jervois Road T: 09 376 7283 www.childrensbookshop.co.nz

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FUTURE GENERATION

PONSONBY LOCALS PREPARING FOR LIFE-CHANGING TRIP THREE LOCAL PONSONBY RESIDENTS ARE CURRENTLY PLANNING THE TRIP of a lifetime – to Tanzania – one that is likely to change their lives forever. Two students and one teacher who live in the local area, will make up part of an ACG Senior College World Challenge trip ultimately led and funded by the students themselves.

The idea for this started in 2010 when ACG Senior College teacher, Jordan Eskra, decided to take a group of students backpacking in a developing country to share with them his passion for travelling. He chose World Challenge as the company to assist him in doing this. Last year’s trip was to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands and it was such a success that he is starting the process again this year. The trip is unique as it is completely student-led. The students decide on everything that takes place in the country: accommodation, transport, where to eat and what to do. All of this is done within a budget, which they also manage.

“They hold all the money and make all decisions in the country like when to leave for the airport and how many rooms to book. All the important details. The trip is 28 days, involving four ‘phases’. The first is acclimatisation, where students get used to being in a developing country and some of the challenges that come with that. The second phase is the trekking phase where the group attempts to summit a mountain, reach an altitude or trek through rural terrain. The third and longest phase is the project phase, where the students are involved in local project of some kind, organised by World Challenge. In Ecuador we worked at a special needs school for eight days. The final phase is a bit of R and R where the students have a few days of sightseeing or whatever they would like,” says Eskra.

This year the students are fundraising for the trip themselves. Thirteen students were selected from a large number of applicants and have been working together all year fundraising and planning for their trip. Many of the students have already fundraised more than half of their trip so the excitement is really starting to build.

Ponsonby resident Diva Giles is very excited about the trip. “It’s the project part I’m excited about. I love the idea that we may get to work with local kids. It’s so sad that the things we take for granted every day, they just don’t have. I know it sounds cliché but if we can make a difference in even a handful of kids’ lives, it’s so worth it.

We can’t change the world all at the same time, but making an impact on a small pocket is something at least.” PN

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BAYFIELD PRIMARY RISES TO THE CHALLENGE The annual Barfoot and Thompson Young Authors Challenge is now in its fifth year and for the first time, Bayfield Primary took up the gauntlet and entered the competition.

The school’s Gifted and Talented Writers Group is made up of 14 students from year three to six and they each wrote part of a story which was selected as one of the seven winners out of more than 304 entries from across Auckland and Northland. The stories will be published by Barfoots with all proceeds going to the Starship Foundation. The past four books raised $105,000 and copies are also distributed to Starship Children’s Hospital and Whangarei Hospital’s Children’s Ward for young patients to read and take home.

The story is about a bird who asks a spider for permission to use its web to build a nest. The group’s top writer wrote the beginning paragraph then the rest of the children each contributed their part of the story. Annette was amazed at what they put together and how it could have come from one pen. She thinks in some ways a group exercise such as this is more interesting and much harder than an individual effort.

When the book comes out they will be able to point out their section to friends and family, which is really pretty special.

Bayfield Primary has an enrichment programme for children who show real promise in a particular area, whether it’s maths, writing, art etc.They do extra projects with a teacher who specialises in their subject and Annette Martin decided her group of talented writers should enter the contest. The story they wrote was a collaborative effort and the whole class brainstormed ideas, such as where it should be set, who would be the protagonists, what values they wanted to get across, and to write in a narrative style using ‘juicy’ language.

Children’s writer, John Parker will run an Author Workshop at each winning school where he will read the students’ stories and give some pointers on how to make them a little better for publication. The tales will be illustrated by rugby great and amateur artist, Keven Mealamu before the book runs off the press in October. According to Peter Thomson, “This year’s judging was particularly tough. We received twice as many entries than ever before and the standard of writing was extremely high.

It’s really exciting to see the students’ creativity and skill, and their growing love for reading and writing is evident in the work they produce.” Congratulations to Bayfield’s Gifted and Talented Writing Group on having risen so splendidly to the challenge.

(DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN

Joy Cowley had run a little writers’ workshop at the school when she emphasised the use of descriptive words describing them as ‘juicy’ language and the term has been used by Bayfield ever since.

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SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY

NHL WELCOMES THE CREAM BACK TO HOME TURF

AUCKLAND GRAMMAR BELOW PAR AT THE GARDEN OF EDEN

From the Riverbank Arena, to an Air New Zealand flight and out onto Lloyd Elsmore Park the Auckland hockey sides have been bolstered with the return of a raft of Black Sticks players just in time to defend their National Hockey League titles.

No matter what the sport there’s only one thing harder than winning a competition, and that’s defending your title the following season.

Possibly urged on by the new work ethic installed by National Women’s coach Mark Hager, two stars from the women’s Olympic campaign, Katy Glynn and Samantha Harrison have lined up alongside former Black Sticks Jan Roswell and Honor Carter to create what looks like a possibly unbeatable side, who are odds on favourites to defend their title.

There will be challenges from other unions there’s no doubt about that, but if the six staples in Glynn’s head are anything to go by the blue and whites will be well served with determination, drive and a keen sense of winning at all costs.

“We’re defending champions,” Glynn told me before leaving London, “and everyone will be out to get us, but there’s a little piece of silver ware that we feel looks best in our cabinet, so we’ll be making sure it stays there.”

“The girls have had some good warm up wins without us there so they’re in pretty good touch, we just need to blend in as effortlessly as we can and make the side better – not worse,” Glynn finished.

While the men’s competition has last years shared champions Auckland and Midlands picked to fight it out in this year’s final again, it’s the home side that should be too good for all comers. I’m not suggesting put the house on this one in nearly the same way as the women’s, but the inclusion of Australian star Brent Livermore will add plenty of hope that the title can be retained in 2012; hopefully without having to share the spoils with Central as they did last year when the final was called off due to snow.

Young Dwayne Roswell is also a maker or breaker for me in the Auckland men’s side, possibly one of the most exciting players to climb through the national ranks over the past few years. If Roswell’s on form then so too will be the Aucklanders.

The calibre of hockey is changing rapidly in New Zealand and is now a real spectacle to watch, what was once a boring whack forward, then back, then bash up the middle has given way to pin point attacks, perfectly timed missiles and fleet footed brilliance that leads to a score line closer to double figures than a nil all snore fest. If you’re looking for an entertaining night out look no further than an NHL clash, especially if an Auckland team is playing. (GEORGE BERRY) PN

However, 30 Auckland teenagers have managed to pull off school boy rugby’s Everest. St Kentigerns College have not only held on to their Auckland first XV title but they did so in such convincing fashion that there is no questioning who reigns supreme amongst our secondary schools. Their display at Eden Park was something to be admired as they humbled Auckland Grammar 22-7.

St Kent’s have now arm wrestled their way into a category dominated by just a few. The Manukau men have to now be taken seriously. Grammar have long since been contenders amongst the region and national secondary competitions but now there’s a new kid on the block, and their record spans 25 games, since July 2011.

Following their narrow one point margin against Sacred Heart in the semi-final, there weren’t too many pundits prepared to back the defending champs to back up for another hotly contested match up two weeks in a row. But the boys in the blue and white strip played like the Auckland senior team of old. They controlled the breakdown, steadied the pace of the game and suffocated Grammar’s lethal attack, effectively owning the hallowed turf of Eden Park as if it was their own.

Grammar may be sitting back asking where all the good times have gone, and after 60 boys secondary schools finals, who would blame them. But as St Kent’s have now shown, the longer it takes you to get up to the top, the harder it is for others to knock you off. For the lessons learnt on the way up serve as inspiration in not wanting to be back there in hurry.

The promising thing to come out of this clash is that there is a wealth of talent to pick from. Like many others I have argued that the talent identification system in Auckland has been lacking for quite some time. But even the most uninterested of folk would have struggled not to notice half a dozen players across both teams that could easily move on to higher honours, if only given the right sort of direction over the next few years.

St Kent’s half back Dillon Wihongi and his opposite Willam Gosgriff, Mu Vagana (son of Kiwi league star Nigel) and St Kents full back Brock Gibson just to name a few. (GEORGE BERRY) PN

ZOOT SUITS: Respected Australian fashion journalist Patty Huntington recently praised the New Zealand Olympic team’s racing suits. Ponsonby News brings you these fine images, in tribute to all the competing athletes and the 16 days of enormous fun that London brought to the world.

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SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY OLYMPICS PUT ON A SHOW LIKE NO OTHER BEFORE HEADING TO COVER THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN LONDON I’D BEEN TOLD to expect to witness the greatest show on earth. My first reaction to these comments was one of scepticism. How could ten and a half thousand athletes competing over 16 days, run like a well-oiled machine? There would have to be mistakes. I envisaged teams being held up for hours on the motorways. There was no way all those athletes would turn up on time, especially in London where their transport system often struggles with the usual flow of commuters. How could it ever cope with an extra couple of million spectators added to the already chaotic system? There was bound to be a hiccup or three. And besides the Webber Brother’s Circus, which rolls up to Victoria on a biannual basis, claims to be the greatest show on earth, and look what they produce.

After a couple of days build up to the games and interviewing many different Kiwi athletes my view quickly began to change, especially on the outskirts of the capital where the New Zealand Rowing squad were based. They were the most talked about bunch of Kiwi athletes to arrive in London, with many of them viewed as our best medal hopes. For some eerie reason they were able to swallow that pressure as if they were an 18 year old at a Ponsonby Road bar downing jaeger bombs. From that I could only hope that the result would be totally different; that this confidence would result in a prize being snared rather than a forgettable, lonely taxi ride home to have a conversation with the porcelain.

The opening ceremony showcased the UK in all its glory. Some viewers might still be wondering why there were middle aged women floating about with umbrellas in the arena and such like, but to most who viewed the ceremony they enjoyed the historical aspects and shared sense of history the show engendered. And the Rowan Atkinson slice of the pie came second only to Her Majesty’s debut theatrical outing, cementing her position as the official number one Bond girl.

In less than three hours from the agricultural fields making way for the industrial revolution and modern times showcased by British music, I was already beginning to see that the Summer Olympics in all its glory would in fact, easily be the greatest show on earth.

The godfather of New Zealand equestrian Mark Todd was quickly back to his best and so too his team around him, maybe a little slip up not clinching an individual medal, but the ball was now rolling for the Silver Fern and it felt like the games had hardly even started. From a big night of celebrations with the Equestrian team to Eton Dorney the bronze medals kept coming as the women’s pair of Juilette Haigh and Rebecca Scowan rowed New Zealand’s second medal home. Returning home that night to central London, my colleague spouted, “if you don’t think this is the best games yet, be patient. For once the flood gates open, you, like every Kiwi, will ride the roller coaster of emotion and will have no idea when it will stop or start again.” The men’s double sculls,

PETER, GEORGE and STORM

the men’s pair and single sculler Mahe Drysdale were competing in their respective finals in the space of the next 32 hours. And our colours of medals were destined to change from that point on.

The thing that struck me the most during the Olympic campaign was how the athletes’ determination and dedication was often rewarded with a moment of ecstasy or crushed like an ant under a boulder in an instant. For most this was far greater than a four year plan, for lots of them they didn’t know what to do tomorrow, it had never featured in their planning. They had planned every inch, every detail, down to when to breathe, how to start, when to wake and when to eat. And yet tomorrow could come and go as if it never existed. For a handful they were lucky enough to experience the height of success the first time off, but for many, like Drysdale, three campaigns and 12 years of wrestling with injury and cash flow finally came in the form of winning lotto.

“This is something I’m struggling to put into words, but yet is the easiest thing to explain. I’ve worked damn hard for this and am just so glad I finally got my hands on this.” Drysdale referred to an interview I had done with him only eight weeks earlier in Lucerne, Switzerland, “you asked me if I’d give up any of my world titles for one of these! Well now I don’t have to. This is the pinnacle of our sport, and I will have this (Gold medal) for ever.”

The next ten days showcased not only the best athletes in the world but that little old New Zealand can compete with the best and biggest nations in the world. It’s no secret the All Blacks are the best rugby team in the world, but so are a significant number of our rowers, canoeists, sailors, cyclists and plenty of our other athletes are on the cusp of greatness. London 2012 proved to be a wonderful experience for many of our athletes, media and supporters, but Rio is well within the sights of being even better!

Webber Bros should be taken to court for breach of copy right as the Olympics is without a shadow of a doubt the greatest show on earth. (GEORGE BERRY) PN

HAMISH, MAHE, ERIC and JUILETTE

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FUTURE GENERATION WATCH THIS SPACE - MAYBE THIS IS MAHE DRYSDALE’S SUCCESSOR He’s only 19, but he’s been rowing for four years already.

He also belongs to Mahe Drysdale’s club, West End. And he’s locally born and bred.

I’m talking about Lewis Hollows – local Grey Lynn boy.

I had known about Lewis’s rowing ability for some time – fourth in a quad at Eton Dorney at the world youth champs last year (yes that’s the same Eton Dorney where we collected all those rowing medals just a few weeks ago, and where Mahe Drysdale finally won his well deserved gold medal).

So rowing in New Zealand is on cloud nine right now, and the prospects for growth in New Zealand are high, especially among the young.

Young people like Lewis Hollows, who is already well on the path towards international success, are naturally happy to think rowing should get more media profile and substantial funding in the years ahead – something all young sports people always need. It’s a long way, and very costly, to compete internationally, and Lewis’s family has just had to shell out $12,500 for a new single skiff – a Canadian Hudson model.

I asked Lewis what type of boat Drysdale used and he mentioned another brand but very interestingly said the cost would have been about the same, and that all skiffs have to be the same weight (14.2kg). They vary in width, depth, and how the bow and stern are shaped to try to get extra speed.

And so where to from now for Lewis Hollows, well, he’s committed himself to single sculling, believing it’s the best way to prove. He will spend time in other boats in the next year-doubles, quads, but probably not sweeping. He prefers sculling. His great hope is to represent New Zealand at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

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How realistic is that, I asked him? Lewis grinned and said quietly, “I’ll still be only 23 so I have lots of time ahead of me, but I think Rio is a good goal to aim for.”

But what about Mahe, I asked him. Lewis believes Mahe Drysdale has achieved all his ambitions and that his body is crying enough, and that the last year he has put himself through hell to achieve his last world goal – an Olympic gold.

Lewis admitted he had had a few back problems himself, and that the Millennium Institute where he trains on the North Shore has a good physio to keep his body right, as well as the high performance coaches Lewis works with.

So what are the next immediate steps in Lewis Hollows’ progress towards international success? Next week he begins regional trials to ensure he is selected again into the Auckland regional performance centre (ARPC) which will give him potential to make the New Zealand under-23 team for world champs in South Korea next year. Lewis is pretty confident he will get back into ARPC. “I’m in it for the long haul,” he told me. “I would love to make Rio. It’ll take a lot of training and dedication, but I’m up for it.” His 16 hours of training each week shows the commitment he has to his future rowing career.

6’ 4”, 86kg, still growing and getting stronger by the week, Lewis Hollows is a very good prospect for the future of New Zealand rowing. We hope we can see him and cheer for him at Rio and beyond. Good luck from us all.

I personally wouldn’t vote against him winning an Olympic medal before he’s done, and he’s doing a university degree as preparation for a future beyond rowing.

Your dedication and training regime are an inspiration to other young men and women.

(JOHN ELLIOT) PN

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS KOUZINA APPLIANCES OFFERS GAGGENAU FOR EVERY COOKING METHOD CHEFS KNOW THAT INGREDIENTS PREPARED IN ANY NUMBER OF WAYS from baking, cooking, steaming and frying all result in very different experiences for the palate. Gaggenau offers the perfectly designed appliance for every cooking method.

Occasionally entertaining large groups requires a comfortably large oven like the EB388 with a heated baking stone and rotisserie spit. A 200 series Combi-steam oven is perfect for cooking, while retaining all the vitamins.

The Vario cook-tops 400 and 200 series, with over 15 different appliances ranging from an induction cook-top to a Teppan Yaki and a deep fryer, offer individual cook-tops for every cooking method imaginable.

A good ventilation system is also essential. Gaggenau offers highly efficient technology in this field, as well as tailor-made solutions for every situation.

Kouzina Appliances has the full Gaggenau range on display. So if you are a foodie who loves to cook and entertain, or you are thinking of upgrading your oven as part of your home renovation, then a visit to Kouzina is a must! PN KOUZINA APPLIANCES LTD, 155 The Strand, Parnell T: 09 377 7822 www.kouzina.co.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS A LOCAL FURNITURE DESIGNER WESTMERE RESIDENT GLENN HOGG LIVES AND BREATHES SAWDUST. A passion for the stuff was sparked when every Friday he’d travel from Bayfield School to Vermont Street where woodworking was once taught. Back then boys used to make things and girls used to cook things as part of the school curriculum. Glenn excelled at these classes gaining nine or ten marks out of ten for all his pieces, so cabinet making became his career of choice.

As soon as he left school he gained an apprenticeship with Piri Neary who was a friend of his father. He couldn’t have trained under a better master. Neary was a perfectionist and the emphasis was on correct proportions, a discipline that came from all the antique restoration and reproduction pieces that were a large part of the firm’s work.

Glenn spent six years with Neary, then a couple with boat builders before teaming up with a guy who was doing commercial reception desks. This was invaluable experience because it introduced him to veneers. Good quality solid wood furniture had become prohibitively expensive and was being replaced by ply or custom wood, which is easier and cheaper to work with. He says that in his trade, hands on skills are being replaced by computerised machines and learning to use them is a new challenge. Like it or not, it’s necessary to compete with overseas trends, “that’s just the way it is.”

In 2001 Glenn set up his own business in Onehunga designing and manufacturing furniture that is sold in retail outlets nationwide. He has named it Basement, harking back to his childhood love of mucking around in his own family basement, restoring old push bikes, sailing dinghies and furniture.

Glenn still draws inspiration from the golden age of cabinet makers such as Thomas Sheraton and the like. His most popular ranges include beautifully proportioned retro and contemporary designs constructed from oak veneer on marine bonded plywood.

Basement’s most popular finish in the range is a white, high pressure laminate that is incredibly durable, and is an alternative to timber surfaces that need to be treated with care. He was the major designer for the Askew stores, has designed a coffee table for Karen Walker, and fitted custom made bookshelves for Hamish Keith’s vast collection.

He has an international clientele as well, with pieces in homes, workplaces, boats, and retail showrooms in the Americas, Europe, Asia and beyond.

Outstanding customer service is the ethos of the business. “We just try to get it right; our customers are our best advertisers and we not only want them to come back, we want them to be excited about recommending us to all their friends.”

A major part of his business is manufacturing bookshelves, storage units and entertainment stations. Old villas in Ponsonby, Grey Lynn and Remuera is where the work is, because they have large rooms but no built in storage. The right shelving can transform a room, particularly a book shelf and that is what he is increasingly called upon to install. His only hope is that the e-book phenomena won’t put an end to it.

He used to make a lot of CD stands for Askew but they can’t sell them anymore. CD shops are suffering a downturn as well with most people downloading music to their iPhones instead of proudly displaying their collection for all to admire. One wonders where the digital world will take us to next!

Gregg is an artisan who has moved with the times. He provides a quality alternative to cheap imported designer knockoffs that don’t stack up and have to be discarded a couple of years after purchase. His contact details are glenn@basement.co.nz or M: 021 983 584 and T: 09 622 0244. (DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN

LOOKING TO RENOVATE OR BUILD UNDER YOUR HOUSE “WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT AND NEED IN A BUILDING COMPANY? AFTER completing a huge renovation in our villa which included a new upstairs bedroom and bathroom, new kitchen and living room, new outdoor living area plus a floor sand and paint throughout I feel I am qualified to answer that question.” says Ginnie of Grey Lynn.

“I believe a good building company needs to take the time to know you and your family’s needs, work to your budget and lifestyle requirements, involve you in every step of the process, stick to the time-frames and, most importantly, ensure that you finish up with a house that is beyond your dreams and expectations. Quantum Construction managed to do all of this and more for us.

Their local knowledge, passion for quality, building experience and expertise, attention to detail and their sensitive handling of us as a family, make Quantum an exceptional team.”

Bruce and Sam are third and fourth generation Ponsonby and Grey Lynn residents with 47 years combined experience in every area of the industry, with a special tenderness for the local villas. They have an experienced residential team, and their three tonne digger and two trucks enable them to provide a complete service.

Particularly if you want to build that extra bedroom, games room or office space under the house.

If you have a new project, or need advice, give Anna Lucas at Quantum a call. As your initial point of contact, she will work with you to provide all of your administration and communication requirements, taking care of you every step of the way. PN QUANTUM CONSTRUCTION LTD, T: 09 963 8460 anna@quantumconstruction.co.nz www.quantumconstruction.co.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS HALO BY TIMOTHY OULTON Reinterpreting timeless, classic designs with a modern perspective, heritage and longevity form the core of Halo’s brand values. “We’re the Rolling Stones of the furniture world,” explains Tim, “It’s about taking something from the past and making it relevant.”

The guiding philosophy behind Halo is simple: to be best in class. “I think it is a love for design and a desire to see things done the best way possible that keeps me motivated,” says founder, Timothy Oulton. “In everything that we do, I want it to be unique, to be best in class, or I won’t do it.”

A tribute to Tim’s antiques background, each piece is handcrafted using time-honoured techniques, while Tim’s extraordinary attention to detail means that every bolt, every stitch, and every detail counts. No two products are ever alike and each piece is imbued with its own distinct personality. “It’s the raw finish that makes it contemporary and relevant. It’s furniture that you interact with, that you look at and smile,” says Tim. Inspired by the past with a view towards the future, Halo is a collection of distinct individuality. “We have a point of view,” says Tim, “There is a character, a soul to what we do. There is an authenticity to the product because of the materials we use, the design we have, the link to heritage and antiques. It is completely unique.”

Dawson’s Furniture has an extensive collection of Timothy Oulton’s Halo collection on display now with new product arriving frequently. PN DAWSONS FURNITURE, 1/1 Holder Place, Mairangi Bay (off Constellation Drive, North Shore) T: 09 476 1121 www.dawsonsfurniture.co.nz

NEW SHOWROOM MAKES LIFE EASY FOR DESIGNERS AND HOMEOWNERS Life has just taken a turn for the better for anyone renovating, designing or building in Auckland.

Rather than having to visit a number of different showrooms to look at furniture, bathroom fittings, tiles, lighting, soft furnishings and accessories, you can now find everything in one place – the spacious new EVOQUE Interior Inspiration showroom in Newmarket. In a venture unique in New Zealand, three companies have combined to form a one-stop-design haven for specifiers and their clients.

On the ground floor PLUMBLINE showcases the latest contemporary and traditional bathroom, tile and kitchen products and features two fully operational designer bathrooms, a working shower area and well laid out displays of washbasins, baths, toilets, tap-ware and accessories for easy selection.

Upstairs, SM INTERIORS has a broad array of unique interior and outdoor furniture, lighting and accessories, combining functionality and versatility with elegance and simplicity. With such prolific selection customers are able to create distinctive living spaces to express their individuality. VIVENTE is about bringing new life to interior spaces – presenting the ultimate in soft furnishings and interior accents, such as cushions, throws and floor rugs, to suit all styles of interior – corporate to commercial, contemporary to classic, rustic to cosmopolitan.

The showroom team are specialists in product knowledge and installation requirements and are passionate about design; providing a warm, professional service for home-owners and designers. Free parking right outside. Open weekdays 9am-5pm (or by appointment). PN PLUMBLINE - EVOQUE SHOWROOM, 23 Davis Crescent, Newmarket T: 09 526 0136 sales@plumbline.co.nz www.plumbline.co.nz

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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

Q: A:

I am having an initial meeting with my Architect for my house renovation, what information will they need from me?

The main reason people engage an architect is to solve their problem, which they know exists, but are too close to the issues to see the solution. Once you have lived in a house it is difficult to see how you could live in it in another way.

Architects usually want to know how you want to live in any house, not necessarily the house you now own. Clients often provide their answer to their problem rather than recognise the problem. Add more rooms is often suggested when in fact the house is big enough, but the rooms are just in the wrong location, the bedrooms are getting afternoon sun instead of the living areas.

It always surprises me that we all live so differently, use houses differently and have different priorities and yet most of us live in an existing house or even in one designed decades ago. We modify ourselves to the house.

Some people love cooking and entertaining, others want huge garages for sporting gear while others love being in a big garden or a big bubble bath. Others have grand pianos, collectables, or are music buffs. One consistent issue is storage and the lack of.

The end result of the alteration will only be as good as you are truthful with the architect about your desired lifestyle. We are not mind readers as much as we may try.

The other issue for the architect is the existing house and the site itself. What potential does the site offer? Views if going up into the roof, more land if relocating garages in the basement, gaining privacy with an addition or sun with bigger windows.

When you throw into the mix the council’s town planning rules, (which are far more controlling than most people realise) and the client’s budget, the end result will be a compromise but it can be far better than expected, or even envisioned by the client, and certainly a joy to live in. www.leuschkekahn.co.nz PN

SPANISH STYLE: The new summer collection from Citta Design ‘Moda Barcelona’ is on the shelves now at selected retailers in the Ponsonby area. This season the Citta Design range of homewares and accessories celebrates the relaxed and open spirit embodied by the native Barcelonan people, reflecting how they live their lives - shopping, entertaining, celebrating, and the beautiful and unique architecture and raw street art that accompanies them as they go about their days. www.cittadesign.com

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THE BOYS’ BOOK CLUB 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 THE TRUE STORY OF THE BILDERBERG GROUP

By Daniel Estulin (TrineDay) My good friends know how much I enjoy a good conspiracy theory, so for my birthday this year I was given this newly published book. Delving into a world once shrouded in complete mystery and impenetrable security, this investigative report provides a fascinating account of the annual meetings of the world’s most powerful people—the Bilderberg Group. Since its inception in 1954 at the Bilderberg Hotel in the small Dutch town of Oosterbeek, the Bilderberg Group has been comprised of European prime ministers, American presidents, and the wealthiest CEOs of the world, all coming together to discuss the economic and political future of humanity.

The working press has never been allowed to attend, nor have statements ever been released on the attendees’ conclusions or discussions, which have ramifications on the citizens of the world. Using methods that resemble the spy tactics of the Cold War—and in several instances putting his own life on the line – the author did what no one else has managed to achieve: he learned what was being said behind the closed doors of the opulent hotels and has made it available to the public. This second edition includes an entirely new chapter and updated information on topics such as an earlier attempt to break up Canada and the portents of a North American union.

JAY PLATT LEONARD ROSSITER – CHARACTER DRIVEN

By Guy Adams (Aurum Press)

SELLING OR STAYING PUT – DON’T FORGET YOUR DECK A deck covered with mould, mildew and lichen is not a pretty one.

Many focus on preparing and painting their house before putting it on the market, but will often not pay the same amount of attention to outside areas. Buyers do notice the condition of outdoor living areas.

Rafe Parks, owner of Revive a Deck keeps timber decking, pergolas and furniture looking their best. In general, the biggest mistake people make is not cleaning their outdoor living areas with a regular hose-down. On some occasions Rafe has quoted on a job only to find the deck in question is past the point of no return – it is good only for demolition.

“Pot plants are real culprits,” says Rafe, “People leave pots on their decks for years and the pots will end up going right through the deck; best to choose pots with saucers and move them around regularly.”

Rafe is not a big fan of water blasting timber decking and furniture. Water blasters are seen by most people as the ultimate weapon. Cheaper water blasters can be completely ineffective, and some of the bigger more expensive machines can be too powerful. So rather than using a water blaster he uses a special scrubbing machine which he finds gentle yet effective on timber to remove mould and other undesirable build-up. People can choose to leave their decking and furniture with a natural timber look, or use a special stain that penetrates the fibres of the wood.

Whether you are selling or staying put, spruce up outdoor living areas and have them looking their best. PN REVIVE A DECK, T: 09 413 9484 M: 022 601 6610 or email r.rarks@xtra.co.nz www.reviveadeck.co.nz

Leonard Rossiter was a comedy genius, who can be remembered for playing two characters from when television viewing was at its peak. I am talking of course of ‘Rising Damp’ and ‘Reginald Perrin’. Leonard was a deeply private man who kept his secrets close. He was born in Liverpool in 1926 and worked hard to lose his Scouse accent with practise and elocution lessons in order to garner better acting work. His career was varied and memorable and this biography covers much of his film and stage work. The book is very interesting in that it touches on so many parts of Leonard’s life but core detail seems to be missing. He was a driven man with some believing him to be demanding, a slave driver, yet this was down to his perfectionism and his absolute belief that acting mattered. There is a brief moment where the book touches on Leonard’s older brother but without mentioning anything at all really and his ex wives are mentioned as sketchy figures in the background. But overall it’s about his career and talent, and that’s what I enjoyed the most. Remembering him up on the screen as this monstrous larger than life character called ‘Rigsby’ from Rising Damp. PN

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

HOME HEATING WHILE YOU RENOVATE THERE REALLY IS NO BETTER TIME TO UPDATE YOUR HOME HEATING SYSTEM than when you renovate, so here is an idea to consider from Complete Heat, Auckland’s premier supplier of ducted heating.

When it comes to keeping your family warm most people don’t want to compromise, however when it comes time to pay your energy bill most of us have too.

At Complete Heat they have come up with the ideal answer, Zoned central heating.

Zoned central heating provides all the normal features and benefits of a ducted warm air system but enhances the standard conventional system by allowing any three heating outlets to be grouped together into a zone. Each zone has its own programmable

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

thermostat which enables completely independent use, features like time of operation, temperature and fan speeds are completely unique to that area.

Each four, five or six star Braemar heater has the capability to operate up to four such zones providing the technical ability to cut your gas consumption by up to 75%.

The best news is for the month of September when you purchase Braemar central heating, Complete Heat will provide the first two zones, worth $1000, absolutely free of charge. PN Phone COMPLETE HEAT on T: 0800 570 770 to arrange a time for them to come and survey your home. www.completeheat.co.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS RETRO ROCKET - MOVE IN PARTY UP MOVE OUT DONE Have you ever been at a beach, at the lake or in a forest and thought that this would be the best place for a party?

Well now you can bring your ideas to life with the RetroRocket.

Once the fire-fighting machine of DB Export Gold; this one of a kind, 10Kva, six keg, three tap, audio party-machine has been a central part of festivities for years. And now it can help you create your very own unique and eventful party experience.

Equipped with coffee machines, wood fired pizza, DJ tables, free flowing beer, wine and cider, a sound system and of course the fantastic Rocket Girls, we can make your party come alive - whether it’s in the middle of nowhere or in your backyard.

The RetroRocket is perfect for birthdays, engagements and Christmas parties and any other social gathering. It’s the lead vehicle to start any party and it will have you and your friends partying wherever you want to.

And because they serve the kegs, there is no clean up! Move in, party up, move out, done. Now wouldn’t that be nice?

Not only that, but the RetroRocket team can organise all facets of your event; from lighting and marquees, to decorations and catering. Speak to the RetroRocket team about the party you want and they will make it happen; however and wherever your ideas take you.

All events have different licensing and consenting issues. We provide solutions for all your event requirements. PN Join the mobile party and book the one stop party shop: info@retrorocket.co.nz or T: 09 948 7130 www.retrorocket.co.nz www.facebook.com/retrorocket

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THE HISTORICAL BOROUGH OF PONSONBY AND GREY LYNN

STREET NAMES: WEBBER STREET

John’s father was a sculptor from Bern in Switzerland who anglicised his name from Wäber to Webber when he settled his family in England. His son demonstrated early artistic talent and at the age of sixteen was apprenticed for three years to Johann Aberli, a leading landscape artist in Switzerland. Then followed four years studying drawing and oil painting at the Académie Royale in Paris before returning to London to work and study at the Royal Academy there.

photography: Gwynne Davenport

Captain Cook’s third voyage of exploration in the Pacific was a scientific expedition and Daniel Solander, a botanist on Cook’s first voyage, was aware the Admiralty was looking for an artist to document the discoveries. The work of a young painter, John Webber, had caught his eye and after sounding him out to see if he was interested, recommended him to the Admiralty. Webber was duly offered a place as expedition artist on the Resolution, which he accepted with alacrity, a decision that served him well for the rest of his life.

coming from an undepicted source. This technique was effective in making the exotic locations conform to the eighteenth century European idea of harmony and beauty.

So at the tender age of twenty-four, John set sail for the Pacific and his appointment proved a great success. He got on very well with his shipmates who appreciated his work and held him in high regard. Imagine his excitement when the ship arrived at Ship Cove in Queen Charlotte Sound in 1777 and he caught his first sight of the promised land he’d heard so much about. He busied himself drawing sketches of this new place, the people who lived in it, and the ways in which they conducted their daily lives. Over two weeks he amassed a portfolio of drawings recording the Resolution’s stay in Ship Cove.

After leaving New Zealand the Resolution headed up to the North Pacific and stopped at Hawaii where Cook was killed in a fight. On the expeditions return to England in 1780, Webber’s first task was to complete a portrait of the great navigator that he had commenced in 1776 and which he then presented to Cook’s widow. The Admiralty continued to employ him for several years doing oil paintings based on his drawings.

He also supervised engravings of the works which were printed and published as “Views in the South Seas.” In fact he was one of the first artists to sell prints of his own works. His reputation as an artist was now firmly established and his portrayal of far off Pacific places were an endless source of fascination to his European audience.

As the voyage continued he produced a large amount of material from quick field sketches to complete compositions, providing an authentic record of the different lands the ship visited and those who peopled them. There are two elements in his work, that of a documentary artist and the other as a landscape painter, where he presented figures and used light in accordance with the aesthetic of the time.

His scenes are carefully balanced, and the works are often lit with a calm, golden glow

During the rest of his lifetime he regularly toured Britain and Europe drawing landscapes as well as studies based on his Pacific travels. He was made a full member of the Royal Academy in 1791 which was quite a distinction for a landscape artist.

Today his work is most valued as being the earliest pictorial record of New Zealand’s history. John Webber died of kidney failure in 1793 leaving what has been called ‘a considerable fortune’. (DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN

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FIONNA HILL

THE PONSONBY GARDENER

SPRING SALAD GREENS There are lots of salad leaf seed blends around – not just lettuce – but all sorts of interesting mixes including radicchio, endive, mizuna and pak choy.

Gardeners, who grow their own leaf mixes (instead of buying a mesclun mix from the supermarket), especially if they do so from seed, get the best choice of salad greens that not only taste great, but contain high levels of fibre, vitamins and antioxidants.

I’m trying them in seed trays of fine potting mix in the new greenhouse this year.

1. If you buy blends, make sure you mix the seeds well before planting as they may be different sizes and shapes and it’s easy to accidently pour more of one type than another and grow an uneven crop.

2. Sow seeds directly into warm crumbly garden soil, or in trays of seed raising mix or fine potting mix. Cover with fine soil or seed raising mix and scatter snail bait.

3. Keep the soil just moist until seeds germinate (seven to 10 days).

4. Thin to leave the strongest seedlings (eat the thinnings as microgreens or transplant them carefully to give plants room to grow).

• Misticanza di Lattughe primavera estate is an early spring mix of lettuce leaves which I still have success with in summer. Its leaves are very refreshing and tender but won’t tolerate vigorous tossing in the salad bowl.

• Misticanza Di Radicchi is a mixture of 12 varieties of both red and green leaf chicory and can be a ‘cut and come again’ crop. Its bitter edge is good with bland lettuce leaves.

• Misticanza Oriental salad includes an Asian mixture of mizuna, pak choy, petsai, and tatsoi.

Kings Seeds • Mesclun ‘Italian’ includes rocket, chicory, broccoli raab, cress, kale, corn salad, endive, Italian lettuces, chervil and Italian parsley.

• Mesclun ‘Simply Red’ (pictured) includes an attractive and tasty blend of salad greens that have red stems, red veins, red leaves or all three! Great for adding colour to a salad with colours intensifying when harvested in the cooler months.

This formula mix includes red beets, red mustard, red lettuce, red komatsuna, purple pak choy, red amaranth, purple kohlrabi, red kale and red chicory.

The leaf shapes are varied, and look lovely mixed with plain green lettuce or served alone. The flavours are a mix of mustard heat, leafy fresh and earthy. ‘ One of my favourites – good in a container too.

5. For a continuous supply, make successive sowings every three to four weeks.

• Mesclun Lettuce mix includes a custom blend of no less than 12 varieties of red and green Lettuces from Kings range.

6. Warning - keep them weeded – I neglected some of mine in the garden, the weeds thrived and because I wasn’t always certain about which leaves were weeds they turned into a matted tangle. As a result I chose to eat chickweed for the first time – it’s delicious - and healthy.

Yates have • Mesclun – French Salad Mixed (pictured) includes endive, corn salad, rocket, chicory and various lettuces. I had success with this one growing in a balcony pot.

BLENDS TO TRY Franchi Sementi • Misticanza Quattro Stagioni (four seasons) includes 14 types of Italy’s finest lettuces, radicchio, endive, and chicory leaves. It’s a lovely variety of shapes, textures and colours. This is a good choice for September sowing.

• Misticanza di lattughe is 14 lettuce and radicchio varieties for an evenly balanced salad mix.

Yates French Salad Mixed

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• Lettuce Baby Combo is a mix of red and green baby leaf lettuces. The fast growing leaves – ready in about four weeks from sowing – are sweet and tender and, with their mix of colours, look as good as they taste.

I’m also planting individual seedlings of plantago, corn salad and wild rocket – and endive arrives in my plot every spring – uninvited, but welcome. (FIONNA HILL) SUPPLIERS: www.kingsseeds.co.nz; www.italianseedspronto.co.nz; www.yates.co.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS LETTER TO THE EDITOR FACTS WE DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT REAL ESTATE I was obviously interested in the article in the August Ponsonby News although, if it proves anything, it may be just how hard it is to get salespeople to address the subject!

May I add a commentary? Granny Herald runs a quarterly overview of our City via Quotable Value and the results show that, over the past three years the precincts from St Marys Bay to Pt Chevalier have almost averaged an 11% gain in value annually.

Thus if you’ve achieved an asset in your readership area of around a $million that house is ‘putting on’ about $110,000 per annum, tax free! In many households this means that the asset grows your wealth far more quickly than the two of you working eighty hours a week.

Think about that when you’re squabbling over the last twenty grand on the next house!

Placed in a broader perspective Auckland used to unfold from Remmers out.

DON’T MISS THE OCTOBER PONSONBY NEWS+ DEADLINE COPY DEADLINE: Thursday, 20 September PUBLISHED: Friday, 5 October

Parnell stepped up 10% by value due to its proximity to the city but Epsom and the Bays stepped back 10% from the ‘heartland’.

No more, Remmers and the Bays made about 18% over the three year period and only Epsom, (seen traditionally by Aucklanders as a cold plateau versus the warm Northern slopes), made 30 plus%.

This distortion is driven by Auckland’s Chinese who value the free access to excellent schools so highly as to distort the property equilibrium.

(Please be on time, as any material arriving after deadline may incur a 20% surcharge)

SPECIAL FEATURES: THREE LAMPS: Ponsonby’s High Street GARDENS + OUTDOOR LIVING HIGH SUMMER FASHION + NZ FASHION WEEK HOME RENOVATIONS 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

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Meadowbank now looks cheap and throughout the Eastern Suburbs sites are huge compared to the inner West.

Space means privacy but Auckland is voting with its feet and mortgaging their futures to get a part of the sexiness of broader Ponsonby. So is this a good bet… or a bubble? Gasp!

Looking back over the last fifteen years owning property in this part of town has been hugely rewarding, but I can remember the family selling 3 Wairangi Street, Herne Bay (where Colin Giltrap built his Frank Lloyd Wright palace) when my grandfather died in the early ‘60s and we ended up putting Nana into a leasehold brick and tile in the back of Meadowbank!

There simply was no market for huge villas on a ¾ acre site running down to the water.

Your readers will decide the answer but, as a hedge, the renter maybe should be East of the CBD. (The ideas expressed here are those of an Agency professional, but they are personal and not authorised by Harcourts or Dew Realty) CHRIS DUNN, Ponsonby PN

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REAL ESTATE UPDATE: KAREN SPIRES WHY WE NEED FIRST HOME BUYERS IN THE HERNE BAY AND PONSONBY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MARKETS The latest BNZ/Real Estate Institute of New Zealand residential market survey notes that the real estate industry has seen a 42 percent rise in first home buyers appearing at open homes.

Is this relevant for home owners in Herne Bay and Ponsonby looking to sell their property? No… and yes. To be honest, not a lot of first-home buyers purchase real estate in Herne Bay and Ponsonby. To be blunt, most of the homes in these suburbs are out of their price range.

Let’s look at it from the cold, hard commercial facts. Most first home buyers in Auckland are aged in their 20s to early 30s. Only a small percentage of those first home buyers in this age bracket have gross household incomes of say $135,000 – with one earner on around $60,000 per annum and the other on $75,000.

With those figures, they can borrow somewhere close to $570,000 at a mortgage rate of 6 percent. Realistically, even with an $80,000 deposit, $650,000 doesn’t buy a lot in Herne Bay or Ponsonby – maybe a two bedroom apartment, if you’re lucky.

So, if you hear a real estate salesperson saying your $million+ home is perfect for first home buyers, do the math first, and assess that claim for yourself. However, first home buyers are an important part of the greater real estate cycle, so having them active again is important for those selling their homes in Herne Bay and Ponsonby.

FANTASTIQUE NEW LOCATION FOR PHILIPPE’S FRENCH ANTIQUES Philippe’s French Antiques formerly located on Great North Road, Grey Lynn has recently moved just a few minutes away from Ponsonby to a new and much bigger showroom in Manukau Road, Epsom They now have two floors (800 square metres) full of genuine French stock.

Why? Because the first home ‘owners’ in the likes of Henderson, Hillsborough, Glenfield, Papakura and Dannemora are selling to the first home buyers. Those first home owners are then becoming second home buyers, trading up to the likes of Western Springs, Mt Albert, Hillcrest, Glendowie or Howick. Combined with rising income levels as their careers improve, those second home owners are then becoming third home buyers…in the likes of Grey Lynn, Mt Eden, and Birkenhead.

As the dominoes fall, those third home sellers become fourth home buyers – in suburbs such as Devonport, Takapuna, Herne Bay, Ponsonby, Remuera and Parnell. So having plenty of action in the first cog of the domino-effect is critical for movement in the high end of the market. The cliché about getting one foot on the property ladder is so true.

To regain full momentum in the residential property market, all price bands need to become more fluid. Activity requires both a ‘push’ and a ‘pull’ mechanism. First home buyers are the push segment of the market. Conversely, those home owners in Ponsonby and Herne Bay thinking about selling are the ‘pull’ factor – pulling up those in the upper-middle price brackets. The more Herne Bay and Ponsonby homes listed for sale, the bigger the pull factor.

When push and pull matrices work simultaneously, the property market really begins to move, from a volume perspective. With wholesale mortgage interest rates at historic lows of around 5.2 percent, the push factor is running hot.

There are vendors who have already taken advantage of the pull dynamic over the recent winter months – realising that a lack of listings have played into their favour.

(KAREN SPIRES) PN Karen Spires is a leading sales person for Bayleys Real Estate – specialising in the marketing of high-end homes in the St Mary’s Bay, Ponsonby and Herne Bay areas. www.karenspires.bayleys.co.nz

Philippe is well known to French antique lovers in Auckland, not only for the unique range of items he has been importing from France for the last 30 years, but also because of his very affordable prices.

Philippe and his partner Susan travelled to France for a six week shopping spree earlier this year. They got carried away with their buying and have ended up with four 40 foot containers full of French stock. The first container is already in their Epsom showroom and the second container is being unpacked as we speak.

In stock at present they have a large selection of stunning French chandeliers, French beds and bedside tables, lots of French sideboards and much more.

There are also around thirty French dining tables on their way, including a lot of the very popular French farmhouse tables.

Philippe and Susan would like to thank all their wonderful customers who shopped with them in their Grey Lynn showroom and look forward to see them in their new Epsom showroom. They are open seven days.

Please contact them if you wish to be added to their email list so you can be kept up to date and preview new stock as it arrives. PN PHILIPPE’S FRENCH ANTIQUES AND INTERIORS, 268C Manukau Road Epsom (Rear building down the driveway) T: 09 529 1457 or email philantiques@gmail.com

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS ROBYN ELLSON TAKES OUT ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD LADIES AND GENTS OF THE GREATER PONSONBY AREA: WE HAVE A NEW winner in our midst. Robyn Ellson from Custom Residential Real Estate took out the Real Estate Institute’s (REINZ) Rookie of the Year Award. Winning awards is of course always very glamorous (think Academy Awards, speeches, standing ovations etc etc), but Robyn has some pretty down to earth thoughts about what her win means for the community: Congrats Robyn on winning this Award. Obviously great for you, but can you explain what the benefit is to the wider Ponsonby community?

“I believe awards have a real significance for the community because they are about standards of excellence. Just like wine or cheese awards and medals, industry awards signify a standard of excellence that as a professional you aim to exceed. Anyone who is serious about their profession will want to win. The result is a better service or a better product for the public.”

What is your secret, how did you do it?

“I became real estate obsessed. For the last year I feel like my whole life has revolved around selling property. My colleagues will say that I think about every last detail in every sale and this is what you need to do in any market to be at the top of your game. It was great to find something that I was passionate about to pour all my energies into. Part of it was adopting a completely positive ‘gonna make it happen’ mindset. Once you put that out there you find it’s infectious.” PN Congratulations Robyn, no mean feat and well deserved.

WHAT HAS THE ISAAC ON SURREY CRESCENT TO DO WITH SCIENCE AND CRITICAL THOUGHT? As most readers know, construction of The Isaac on Surrey Crescent is now well on its way.

The company behind The Isaac, Ockham Residential Investment and Development is not your standard development company and well worth getting to know better. To this end we caught up with Mark Todd, part owner of the Ockham. He explains the company philosophy as follows: “Ockham’s fundamental belief that housing is infrastructure drives our whole approach to development. Treating housing as infrastructure allows us to focus on the long-term outcomes of development rather than just the short -term bottom line. The company is committed to setting a new standard in high density residential development. We are well funded and prepared to lead by example while also contributing to the communities we work in.”

This philopsophy is not just words, but gets put into action with every development that Ockham does and is visible in the quality and thought that has gone into the design of the The Isaac, which is named after Sir Isaac Newton. “Newton did seminal work in mechanics and mathematics and also optics,” explains Mark. “We have used an optics theme in various elements at The Isaac. A feature is the interference pattern on the feature panels facing Surrey Crescent. Light and colour are themes in the corridors and common areas.”

Another theme seems to be ‘NZ Made’ with quality NZ manufactured kitchens, NZ made Methven tapware and Totara timber decking to name but a few. But, back to the science thing. We asked Mark what the fascination is with scientists like William of Ockham and Isaac Newton. He laughs and says: “We decided to have a bit of fun and acknowledge great critical thinkers of the past by naming our buildings after them.”

He continues: “In general we are passionate about getting critical thought back into the public realm. Modern public discourse on TV and in the media is generally banal and clichéd and has little regard for facts.”

With this goal in mind, and again putting their money where their mouth is, the owners of Ockham have set up a charitable trust. “The Ockham Foundation’s charter is to support critical thought and scientific education,” says Mark. Locally, they have pledged NZ$100,000 to Grey Lynn Primary School for the purpose of upgrading the small ‘Native Forest’ on site to include a nature trail and play activities for the students.

Maria Salmon and Tony McGirr from Custom Residential Real Estate are handling the marketing and sale of The Isaac. They invite all locals to come visit the open home at the show home and learn what this exciting development is all about. Hours are Saturdays and Sundays 3 – 4pm, Wednesdays 1 - 2pm and Thursdays 5 – 6pm. PN www.customresidential.co.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS CARLA PEDERSEN – A TRUE PROFESSIONAL WITH A KEEN EYE CARLA BRINGS HER WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY to the table when dealing with clients looking to sell their most valuable asset, both in terms of marketing, property presentation tips and important negotiations.

Director Phil Horrobin is pleased to welcome Carla Pedersen aboard. “We consider her an absolute asset to the team, and she is a true professional in her field of expertise.”

Carla has a keen eye for interiors, realising the best in your property and an ability to speak to the most suited audience for your property.

A 10 year project marketing background in property has enabled her to converse with ease on square metre rates, floor plans and local property values; she also has fronted many of the local development initiatives and is most comfortable in your neighbourhood, bordering the CBD. After 12 years with Bayleys she has recently made the move to Ray White City Realty Ltd and whilst initially daunted, this has proved to be an amazing move cementing her position on the city fringes. Carla was attracted to being with the best; Ray White City Realty happens to be the number one Ray White office in New Zealand.

If you’re looking for a true professional with a keen eye to getting your property sold with the least amount of angst, her bright and intuitive attitude is refreshing and her solid local knowledge combined with her proven sales results speak for themselves.

RAY WHITE CITY REALTY LTD, CARLA PEDERSEN – Residential sales and apartment specialist. M: 021 417 139 carla.pedersen@raywhite.com PN

KOHLER BRINGS TAPWARE FASHION TO THE CATWALK Global leader in bathroom innovation and design, Kohler, is to showcase the very latest in tapware fashion at the Kohler Champagne Lounge at this year’s New Zealand Fashion Week.

With a manufacturing history of more than 139 years, Kohler is renowned worldwide for its ground-breaking designs in tapware, basins, baths and showers and is featured in some of the world’s most beautiful homes across six continents.

Kohler will now use New Zealand Fashion Week as the launchpad for two new tapware collections, set to become the benchmark for style and performance in bathroom tapware.

‘Living on the Leading Edge of Design and Technology’ is the Kohler corporate statement and the company invests heavily in ensuring it delivers on this.

Performance and ecological sustainability are also key facets of the company’s mandate, so while beauty and integrity are always at the forefront of its design briefs, Kohler is constantly innovating in terms of water efficiency, low carbon emissions and the responsible utilisation of the planet’s resources.

The company is also a passionate supporter of the arts. To this end Kohler has run an Artists-in-residence programme since 1974. Since that time hundreds of emerging and established artists have benefited from the programme, held in the Kohler head office at Kohler, Wisconsin. Artists may work in the Kohler Co. Pottery, Iron and Brass Foundries and Enamel Shop to develop their particular talents and interests.

Kohler bathroom products have been available in New Zealand since 1995.

The range is retailed exclusively by Mico stores nationally and Kohler Design Centre in Auckland. PN www.kohler.co.nz

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ETIENNE TOMY - MY FAVOURITE ROOM

ETIENNE TOMY IS, IN HIS OWN WORDS, “A FRENCH NATIONAL WHO HAS slowly been Kiwified over the last six years.” Sent here to open a branch of an international business, Etienne fell deeply in love with New Zealand. He says “I went back to the roots of my true passion for food and embraced the New Zealand dream: I created TOMeTTe french ready meals with my fellow French mate Thomas. I have also been Honorary Consul for France in Auckland since 2008.

Etienne lives with his wife Aurelia, “a true Parisian girl”, and their son Jules Joseph Ariki, born in Tamaki in 2009; “very much a Kiwi this little one!” He says that there are also so many friends stopping by at any time of the day that the family sometimes believe it’s not just the three of them. The family have rented in Westmere and in Ponsonby, and then decided to buy on Richmond Road… “we did it up and it’s now our little Chateau Ponsonby” says Etienne.

Etienne’s favourite room is the kitchen. “I tend to call it “MA CUISINE” because there is a strong French culinary influence there! We mainly use it for cooking, but it’s also the place where we share almost everything because it’s an open space: family and friends sit at the bar and enjoy “aperitifs”, chitchat over French nibbles, or discuss French politics or New Zealand sporting events. It’s also my base, where I unleash the creativity to develop all our TOMeTTe traditional French recipe ready-to-eat meals.”

“It’s my favourite room because I feel 100% myself in my kitchen! No boundaries, no judgement, only me and my knives... I spend most of my weekends in there, looking for inspiration from my favourite French chefs (lately Bras and Robuchon), trialing new things, while sipping wine and listening to kiwi dub music. This room is where I get pure enjoyment, sharing with my family and friends.”

Etienne’s favourite thing in his kitchen, are the red Kitchenaid, the red Magimix blender, the two red Tolix stools, the red IKEA kettle, the red Le Creuset cookware range and of the red feature wall.

“Red generates energy, creativity and inherently stimulates appetite,” he says, “and it works wonder on my guests!” More personally, Etienne admits to a ‘special thing’ for his Riedel Vinum Extreme stemware set, and for all the vintage items he has gathered from French flea markets throughout the years. PN

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

KITCHEN, BATHROOM AND INTERIOR DESIGN ASK ROB@BUILDSPACE.CO.NZ We’re thinking about renovating our kitchen and we have spoken to friends and various people we have come across who have done a new kitchen recently to try to get an idea of how much we should be expecting to spend. Everyone we have spoken to seems to have very different ideas about what costs what, can you shed a little light on the subject for us?

Q:

There are a number of elements that affect the cost of a kitchen but main factors are the size and the type of materials selected. There are a wide range of material choices and options for kitchen cabinets, bench tops, fittings and hardware. You’re best to speak to a kitchen designer to discuss your vision and the options they would recommend, but there are a few fundamentals to be aware of.

A:

The carcasses of kitchen cabinets are generally constructed from Melamine or Melteca, a laminate product applied to either MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) or Particle Board, both of which are great products as long as they don’t come into contact with water. It’s important to make sure your cabinets are constructed using HMR (High Moisture Resistant) board and all exposed edges are sealed with a 2mm PVC edging. Carcasses are most commonly constructed from white gloss but you can select a colour to add a point of difference to your kitchen. This type of carcass construction is perfectly adequate but HMR board is still susceptible to water damage after prolonged exposure. The other option is laminated plywood. Plywood is a more expensive material so this will add cost, but it does make for a very robust kitchen.

Doors, drawer fronts and seen panels are also generally constructed from an MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) substrate which is finished with either a laminate (Melamine or Melteca), thermoformed vinyl, lacquer or timber veneer. Melamine and Melteca provide the most cost effective product and with a durable, easy clean surface available in a wide range of colours and finishes. The downside to these products is they require a separate PVC edging which although colour matched to the main surface

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

colour, is visible up close. Next step in terms of cost is thermoformed vinyl www.dezignatek.co.nz which is also a durable, easy clean surface and available in a range of colours and finishes and also offers a seamless edge detail and the option of shaped or sculpted doors which cannot be achieved with Melamine or Melteca. Lacquer is less durable than vinyl or laminate finishes and is prone to chipping over time, but there is virtually no limit to the choice of colours and finishes and it is often used when a specific colour is not available in thermoformed vinyl.

The cost of lacquer kitchens can vary (as can the quality of the finish) and will generally be a little more expensive thermoformed vinyl, we would recommend obtaining full size samples of your selected colour and finish before making a commitment. Timber veneer or solid timber construction is more expensive again due to higher material cost and man hours involved, but if you’re after a timber finish there is no substitute for the real thing.

Laminate bench tops like Formica are the entry level in terms of cost and offer a range of colours, finishes and profiles which perform well under normal conditions but are not nearly as durable as other options. Stainless Steel is generally less expensive than stone but again there are a range of finishes on offer and some of the textured options can get pricey. Composite stone varies in price and is usually on par with entry/mid level granite. Granite, marble and other natural stones vary in cost significantly and you will need to explore options once you know have a reasonable idea what sort of product and colour you’re after.

Options for appliances, splash backs, sinks, taps, handles, pull out storage units for cupboards and drawers, drawer runners, lighting and other factors all vary with a staggering array of options available. Start with your design and decide what materials will work best for your kitchen and your budget and be sure to consider the alternatives and the advantage and disadvantages of each. (ROB HOOK) PN BUILDSPACE KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS – Design Build Install T: 0800 455 556 info@buildspace.co.nz www.buildspace.co.nz

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 PONSONBY U3A: AUGUST 2012 FOURTEEN MONTHS AFTER JOINING PONSONBY U3A, JANE JONES WAS voted in as president for 2012/13 at the annual general meeting in August. Jane is well known to members as convenor of the Gourmet group and recently gave us an enlightening talk on the benefits of having a personal trainer at the gym when she was bedevilled by back pain. Jane has taken over the presidency from Alex Lanning, who has held a myriad of positions within Ponsonby U3A since its inception in 1994.

The concept of U3A, set out by the original founders, was to provide education, discussion and stimulation for those of us in the third age. Our August speaker more than provided that. Much loved and admired actor Jennifer Ward-Lealand took us into her freelance life, which includes acting for various theatre companies, voiceover television commercials (three of which we were familiar with), documentaries, television shows, animated series such as Buzzy Bee, emceeing, hosting and speaking engagements, running workshops and directing. She pointed out that working as a freelancer there is a need to be able to do a vast scope of work, that versatility is the key. Added to all those skills one needs a thick skin to deal with rejection, as your face can’t fit every requirement.

In discussing the craft of acting and how to define it, Jennifer said that there’s a perception that anyone can do it – however, that it engages us and transports us is not accidental. Everything in the theatre must be charged with energy. It’s a real skill when the lights come up to be able to hold the audience in the palm of your hand.

It isn’t about the actor it’s about the audience. She explained about the inspiration of the breath, listening, processing, moving forward and speaking clearly. The actor must bring these things to a script so that audiences can remain engaged without losing confidence in what they are seeing. Without these techniques there can be no drama at all, no comedy, just a series of movements with emptiness in between. It is the work of the actor to take the audience from the beginning to the end without letting the ball drop. None of us will watch a play in the same way again. As an audience we were spell-bound by our speaker and could have kept the questions flowing for much longer than the allotted time.

September’s speaker will be Roy Clare, director of the Auckland Museum, who will discuss the current work, challenges and aspirations of Auckland War Memorial Museum and how it is responding to the current context while planning for the future.

ANYA BRIGHOUSE: WALLPAPER THE RETURN OF WALLPAPER HAS MADE ME EXCEPTIONALLY HAPPY. Why wouldn’t I be happy when you can cover your walls with colour and pattern?

I mean really? Wallpaper can give you a subtle look, with soft texture and a hint of colour, or it can be a full-blown symphony of vibrant colour and bold pattern.

I would generally go with the latter! While we have been finishing our own home, I have managed to use the rather fabulous Cole & Sons Circus Geometrics paper to great effect in a room that is all white with a large bookcase on the opposing wall. It is a wonderfully strong pattern that has added to the room.

As someone who is very comfortable with flat colour on the walls, I do so love the addition of pattern. The great thing about wallpaper is you can use it as much as you want and paper the entire room, or you can just do a single wall. The feature wall has to be treated gently, and used wisely. Wallpaper is an easier medium to use for a feature wall – so it is just perfect to use as a ‘headboard feature’. It introduces pattern and texture into an all white room well – great for the single coloured home. Don’t limit wallpaper to just a bedroom headboard though – use it in hallways, behind splashbacks in kitchens - and there is no reason why you can’t wallpaper a well-ventilated laundry!

We have some wonderful examples of wallpaper around; I have used Graham and Green ‘Frames’ wallpaper for my son’s room. It is available from The Paper Room at www.thepaperroom.co.nz. They also have the amazing Pip wallpapers – beautifully colourful and happy. My favourite wallpapers at the moment come from Porters Paints at www.porterspaints.co.nz. I am just in love with the Anna Spiro collaboration with Porters. With a simple white background and a strongly coloured repetitive pattern all through the range, my favourite is the Rosey Posey Trellis in Pink Ginger. I am just sorry that I haven’t got a room that I can fit it in. Except I haven’t exactly finished the laundry yet… www.beautifulbedlam.co.nz

Visitors and new members are welcome at our meetings, held on the second Friday of each month from 9.45am to midday, 1st floor, Leys Institute, 20 St Marys Bay Road.

(PHILIPPA TAIT) PN

ON2CANVAS IS LOOKING FOR HER OLD CANVASES IF YOU READ THIS MAGAZINE NO DOUBT YOU WOULD HAVE READ ABOUT on2canvas - a boutique canvas printing business in Ponsonby. Owner Lindy Roberts has been making canvas prints in our community for the past eight years. Her canvases must be all over the walls of homes and businesses in Ponsonby. The hunt is on to see where they all are...

So they are asking you to upload a photograph of a canvas that she’s done for you to their facebook page or email it to her at lindy@on2canvas.co.nz. You’ll go in the draw to win a $500 canvas and help support a local business. Mention the Ponsonby News so we can see how effective we are...We want to help Lindy increase her likes to 1000... Game on! PN ON2CANVAS, 12 Albany Road T: 09 376 8065 www.on2canvas.co.nz

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PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS FROM HERE TO THERE AND BACK AGAIN Grey Lynn jewellery designer Carlina Goffe’s travel blog.

MONTH THREE: ONTARIO AND LONDON ONTARIO: I took the 32 hour train journey from Minneapolis to Toronto. A brief stop -off in Chicago gave me a chance to ooh and aah at the magnificently tall buildings.

The lakes and scenery en route were stunning.

Mount Albert Ontario is home to Faith Dentay who worked for me as a jeweller in the eighties in London. It was fun to reconnect. Faith now works with horses but has a superbly set up workspace which I enjoyed and I also got a chance to ride!

Inspiration came from the magnificent Picasso paintings on show in Toronto.

The powerful imagery especially in his Spanish/bull works were useful starting points for pieces.

Toronto is a lively, attractive, cultivated city. ‘Cavalier’ from ‘Cirque Du Soleil’ provided entertainment on a grand scale with the partnership of acrobatics and horsemanship, a fitting finale to this pleasant visit.

LONDON: This was my home for 22 years and now my base for the next four months.

I am staying in Dulwich with family friend Nick. I arrived the week of the Olympics opening, the sun was out and everything was a buzz; London at its dazzling best!

I borrowed a bike and bought an Oyster travel card to start a frenetic round of ‘catch-up’, theatre visits, exhibitions, music, the Olympics and more. People were in fine spirits boosted with pride from the excellent job London has done hosting this mega event.

CARLINA GOFFE in Faith Dentay’s workshop – Mount Albert Ontario

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

I met friends Christine and Derek here to support son Paul Snow Hansen sailing for New Zealand (470s) result; fifth - congratulations Paul. This event and the triathlon I watched in Hyde Park which personalised the Olympics for me. (CARLINA GOFFE)

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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.

As always, it is important to get professional advice on your specific circumstances and goals. (MICHAEL HEMPHILL) PN

Q: A:

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.

What is the advantage of investing money in the name of a trust as against investing in your own name?

The primary reason for setting up a trust or holding assets in trust is to protect those assets. The main risks people face are business risk (especially in risky industries like construction) and the risk of a relationship property claim.

Those nearing retirement age may also need to consider estate planning and the effect of trust structuring on eligibility for hospital or rest home subsidies.

Now that the top rates of personal tax have been aligned with the tax paid by trusts at 33% there is no longer an immediate tax advantage by having your investments held in a trust. When the personal top tax was 39 or 38% there was a margin to be saved by paying tax in the trust. Once the tax had been paid the income was converted into capital and could then be distributed tax free.

Depending on the type of investments and your pool of available beneficiaries you may be able to split the income from the investments to beneficiaries of the trust without the tax being paid at the trust level. The beneficiaries can then take advantage of their lower marginal tax rates if they do not have other income.

There are limitations on how much may be distributed to minor beneficiaries (16 and under) so a non-working spouse or children over 16 who you still support to some degree may have useful unused marginal tax rates. It is obviously important to get all this right, so the investment and potential efficiencies must be sufficient to cover the costs of compliance which are likely to include the services of your lawyer and accountant.

Apart from the protections mentioned above there are a number of other advantages.

The increase in value of the investments happen inside the trust. Trusts are a useful vehicle for managing your family wealth and your estate. There are a number of claims that may be made against your estate that are not available against a trust.

If the investments are of significant value then they may be useful in a debt restructuring exercise, where you could improve the tax efficiency of your structure.

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METROLAW, Level 2, 36 Williamson Avenue T: 09 929 0800 www.metrolaw.co.nz

DON’T MISS THE OCTOBER PONSONBY NEWS+ DEADLINE COPY DEADLINE: Thursday, 20 September PUBLISHED: Friday, 5 October (Please be on time, as any material arriving after deadline may incur a 20% surcharge)

SPECIAL FEATURES: THREE LAMPS: Ponsonby’s High Street GARDENS + OUTDOOR LIVING HIGH SUMMER FASHION + NZ FASHION WEEK HOME RENOVATIONS 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

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ASK ALEX LUCKY LEVI

Each month Dr Alex Melrose answers readers’ pet related issues. e-mail yours to: alex@vetcare.net.nz

With kitten season almost upon us, it is timely to raise awareness again about the plight of the homeless cats and kittens that roam the streets of our city. Surprisingly within Ponsonby/Herne Bay/Grey Lynn area there are many abandoned cats and kittens. They live miserable lives, hungry and frightened.

The females endure the endless cycle of producing kittens – starting from as young as six months. The cycle continues with their kittens, and so it goes on.

I had some four year old (been opened and sealed up again) FLUTD cat litter, the kind where the litter colour goes red if there is a pH imbalance in our cat’s urine. With one of my cats, I think Balthazar (but it could be Wolfgang) the litter went red (the other one’s urine is fine, with no colour change) a possible sign of serious FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease).

They both seem fine in themselves, with no other symptoms, eating, drinking purring as normal. What should I do? Is there a medication I can buy or can cats have small amounts of people medications like Ural? Can I buy the urinary diets s/d or C/D off you? Their usual diet is td and a small amount of biscuits from the supermarket (I know - MacDonald’s for cats). I have enough of the FLUTD detecting kitty litter to test them again after a period of time, after medication /medicated food. But the litter is old so it’s maybe not effective anymore.

Thank you! DOMINIQUE, by email.

Lucky Levi is one of many rescued kittens – a real character he was adopted into a loving home in Ponsonby Terrace. By chance he escaped just one day after being adopted, allowing no time for him to bond with his new family.

Many of you will have received a leaflet in your letterbox alerting you to Levi’s plight. For 10 days we searched in vain – through that time it rained constantly and we knew Levi would be lost and very frightened. On the tenth day we found him under a house – cold, very hungry and scared. He was thin, with mud caked on his paws, and he had lost all the hair on his ears through stress. He may now only have eight lives left, but they will be happy ones home with his family.

Many people don’t understand cat etiquette, misunderstanding their behaviour as standoffish and unfriendly – often this is why their plight is ignored. When in fact if you take the time to understand and befriend them, they will show you their wonderful, mysterious selves, and you will be rewarded with a friend like no other. You will also get to know that cats like human beings have unique personalities.

Should you happen upon a cat or kitten that is obviously homeless or hungry please don’t turn a blind eye. If you can’t assist there are many who can – do feed them, and phone your local Vet, the SPCA, or one the many organisations that devote their time to rescuing them.

If we had time, I would tell you about the other cats and kittens we have rescued from our local streets - there is Casper The Friendly Ghost; Footsie Tootsie; Carlos the Matinee Idol; Missey – ‘the pie stealer’; Mickey ‘ most handsome boy’; Bella the Spanish Queen; and so many more… (BILLIE) PN

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Q:

I’ve never put any faith in the accuracy of those cat litters as far as diagnosis of disease goes. The main issue is that while they will change colour dependant on the pH of the urine, a bit like a giant litmus test strip, this doesn’t then mean there is a urinary tract infection going on. For this reason I don’t usually recommend these products for home use, more often than not they can cause a false alarm and a bit of stress for owners.

A:

Unusual urinary pH is just one of a multitude of factors in the development of urinary problems and with a large range of pH existing in individual cats it’s just not that meaningful on its own. Cats are ultra sensitive to human medications, even when titrated down to a dose per kg level. There are many human treatments that are a death sentence for cats. Don’t give any human medications. The first rule of treatment being: Do No Harm.

While we are more than happy to check your two magnificent cats over physically and perform a proper urine analysis, I would ignore the litter colour change and go more off clinical signs. Two super healthy cats with no straining, discomfort, over grooming, restlessness, and perfect coats and bright eyes sounds like no FLUTD to me.

(DR ALEX MELROSE, BVSC MRCVS) PN VETCARE GREY LYNN, 408 Great North Road T: 09 361 3500 www.vetcare.net.nz

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PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS ANIMALOSOPHY: DR MEGAN ALDERSON

IT’S TIME FOR A SPRING CLEAN Back in the ‘80s when Cheers was a hit TV show, Benji, my families wire haired fox terrier, would be summoned to our local vet after receiving his calling card. It was never a great experience. Why do our pets have to hate their most important annual event - their yearly health check and a visit to the vet?

Turning into the driveway Benji dived under the seat. Dragged out full breaks on - instantaneous bladder and bowel motions followed - we then carried our quivering limp mess towards the front door. We sat in the uncomfortable plastic chairs in the waiting room while he hid under our feet. Finally called, he became completely catatonic when placed on the shiny, slippery cold steel table. He unceremoniously got “jabbed” by a rather grumpy vet with not even a “good boy” on the way out. This was a place he most certainly did not want to be.

Was it the peculiar smell which hit us walking in the door? The lonely, strangled whining noises drifting up from somewhere out back, or the nonchalant staff ignoring us from behind the desk? I could hardly blame him, the resounding feeling of fear and desperation rising from the waiting companion animal clientele was palpable even to me.

In our profession we don’t do it for the money but for the love of animals - but how do I get your pets to walk willingly through our door? This became my personal crusade.

Now a practice owner I chose to design a style of veterinary clinic which is a far cry from the uninviting hospital models of the past. Yummy treats, attention to aroma and pets encouraged to roam around to investigate our comfortable and warm space. Textured tables and extended appointment times so as not to rush a good thing - talking about the care of your pet.

Our theme song… “Somewhere you wanna be, where everybody knows your name… somewhere where your troubles are shared…and we are always glad you came”. I loved the ‘80s.

REST IN PEACE MISS MOLLY “My little sweetheart - together for 14 years...”

Miss Molly, my West Highland Terrier passed away in my arms last month on 7 August at 3.40pm. She came into my life unexpectedly, as a present from my daughter Simoné. It was love at first sight.

She spent her early days at work with me at my daughters shop, Parenti Disegno on Jervois Road, followed by many years together at Apartmento, Victoria Park where she was spoilt by Donna and the staff at Caffetteria Allpress next door. Molly had a wonderful time travelling up and down New Zealand along with her annual holiday on the farm. Sunday breakfast was always at Invito Café, which meant bacon which was her special treat.

But sadly a pet’s life is too short and old age caught up with my sweetheart. I am eternally grateful to the wonderful staff at Vetcare Grey Lynn: Alex, Jodie and the Vet nurses Vanessa, Michele, Rebecca and Jenna. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. (JUDE CURTIS) PN

An annual wellness check over for every pet is an essential part of ongoing great health. This month if we can allay your fears with a promise of a pleasant veterinary experience we will “Spring Clean Your Pet”, catch up on vaccination or titre testing, throw in a free booster for lapsed vaccinations and send you home with a $50 value Pet Health gift pack to keep you on track.

For all appointments before October 2012, we will also put you in the drawer to “Spring Clean Your House”. Call now or go to our website for more information (DR MEGAN ALDERSON) PN THE STRAND VETERINARIAN, 114 The Strand T: 09 377 6667 www.thestrandvet.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE SHOWING AT LETHAM GALLERY Until 30 September Letham Gallery presents new works this month from up and coming artist Lucy Harris and the abstract trio of Amy MacKinnon, Jo Dalgety and Sue Thomas. Combining digital manipulation with photorealism, Lucy’s work allows the possibility of several different meanings.

The portrayal of these magnificent mammals engages a synergy between early painting techniques and contemporary technology.

Amy, Jo and Sue portray vision, sound and motion though a skilled abstract technique and a well balanced palette. The small, affordable and highly collectable framed works are a must have addition or beginning to a contemporary collection.

Need something new? Letham always stock a collection of fantastic works by Sam Broad, the ‘Robot Man’ Martin Horspool, Richard Freestone, Shane Hansen (featured on the cover of KiaOra magazine this month), NZ Herald illustrator Anna Crichton, Max Thomson, Jason Kelly, Frances Van Dammen and more, plus a selection of original works by various talented new artists from only $100 each. PN LETHAM GALLERY 35 Jervois Road T: 09 360 5217 www.lethamgallery.co.nz

SHOWING AT TOI ORA LIVE ART TRUST JOSHUA KAMA-LEE SZABO 21 August - 7 September Toi Ora Live Art Trust is proud to announce the debut of visual artist Joshua Kama -Lee Szabo, with a solo exhibition, Colour and Shape, which is an exploration in using layered recurring patterns in harmonised colours that build into an original and mesmerising experience. All the works are acrylic on paper and are available for sale.

“Although I do other work, I wanted to do something that was clear, clean and appealing,” Joshua said.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Colour and Shape is the culmination of a year’s focussed work, that all began with Joshua’s arrival at Toi Ora in 2011 and stating up front that he wanted to exhibit and share his work with the community. Joshua’s work is already in the community, featuring in the Colour of Our Community mural at the SoHo-hole end of Crummer Road in Ponsonby. “I really enjoyed the chance to do something different and work in a bigger scale,” he said. He is grateful for Toi Ora’s support - providing him with opportunities to show his art, as well as a dedicated space in which to work.

The Toi Ora Live Art Trust is a member-driven art centre for people with experience of mental health illness. It has been operating since 1991 and has been based in Grey Lynn for over a decade. Toi Ora provides regular art tuition in a range of disciplines, and has a gallery space in which to display the works of its members.

TOI ORA LIVE ART TRUST, 6 Putiki Street T: 09 360 4171 www.toiora.org.nz

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A NIGHT-IN WITH TIM WAKELY It will be rather difficult to choose a bad film this month from Civic Video Ponsonby, as they are all just so damn good.

THE LORAX Dr Seuss’ The Lorax is a tale about what could happen if we don’t look after our world. Right from the get go I was hooked, the Lorax’s personal address pulled on my heart-strings straight away. I felt like I was Dorothy being transported to Oz – an alternative world that draws on our own reality.

The world I was sucked into was a world where society didn’t care about the past, and where everyone only cared about the right now, and the convenient. Watching the film all I could think about was asset sales, and how our quest for individual ownership could ruin our world. All I could do was compare our world to the realistic cartoon world playing on my laptop screen.

The film centres around a young teenager named Ted, whose initial quest turns from a selfish journey into an earth changing event; after hearing about the story about the Lorax. The characters in the film are lovable, except for the ultimate villain, Mr O’Hare, who needs a slap in the face. The voices in the film are spot on, and Danny De Vito’s chops give an authoritative and humorous quality to the environmental figure, the Lorax.

Being largely unfamiliar with the book, I didn’t expect to enjoy the film. Watching the film you can definitely tell that Theodore Suess Gasel aka Dr Suess loved nature, and could possibly foresee a future without trees.

THE HUNGER GAMES Lionsgate’s latest DVD release is packed full of what young folk like: A dystopian fantasy world, love, sacrifice, rebellion and a story based on the newest popular book craze.

The Hunger Games is full of twists and turns that are somewhat predictable. However for this film, predictability is a necessity due to the vast amount of characters in the film.

For example, I could never quite get the name of the lady with the white hair and purple lips, however, after a little bit of research I discovered that her name was Effie Trinket.

At times I thought there were a few key aspects missing as I found huge holes in the storyline, which I suspect were explained in the book.

The film takes place in the war- battered Panem – a nation torn into 12 districts.

The film focuses on Katniss, a strong independent teenage girl from District 12, who takes her fate into her own hands when she offers herself as tribute to represent her district at The Hunger Games. The film doesn’t offer too much acting wise, but in the action category it ticks all the boxes.

Overall, the trilogy’s first offering, The Hunger Games, is a lot better than Stephanie Meyer’s boring vampire cinematic debut, Twilight. Although the film is clearly aimed at cash heavy teens, the too-cool-for-skool twenty-somethings may find The Hunger Games surprisingly enjoyable.

THE RUM DIARY The Rum Diary is subtly beautiful; packed with a range of colours for your eyes to get liquored up on. The vast colour palate of the film helps you to get a real grasp of the harsh surprising realities of 50s Costa Rica. You can’t help but love this film. The slow paced action and the alcoholic feel of the film made me feel somewhat drunk.

Instantly, the film puts you in the shoes of the hung over, somewhat washed-up writer, under dog protagonist Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp). With the world against him, Paul tries to bring back some truth back to the paper he writes for. You can’t fault The Rum Diary on anything, the acting is spot on, and the storyline is captivating and unpredictable.

Depp once again proves why he is one of Hollywood’s leading men, and if this movie doesn’t convince you of his first-class acting ability, then you are harder to crack than a coconut.

Hands down The Rum Diary is one of the best films out this month. You will not regret hiring this film, as it is just so damn good. (TIM WAKELY) PN

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SMYTH GALLERIES, PONSONBY 16 August - Rob Tucker opening 1. Dave Harkness and Rob Tucker; 2. Rob Tucker with his brother and grandmother; 3. Rob Tucker, Kieran Smyth and Simon Dunlop; 4. Rob Tucker with one of his works that sold on the night.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE THE RED CHAIR AT Q Westmere resident Director and Producer Aaron Tindell is producing The Red Chair at Q Theatre later this month.

SHOWING AT MOMENTUM GALLERY ANNIE SMITS SANDANO Momentum is excited to announce newcomer Annie Smits Sandano this month. Illustrator, Designer and traditional Printmaker, Annie was born in Brazil and has lived between New Zealand and her home country for the past 10 years.

Having studied at the Rhode Island School of Design, with a stint in Italy before moving on to the Elam School of Fine Arts, Annie’s technical printmaking skills have come to fruition in a stunning portfolio of work.

With many achievements, collaborations and exhibitions under her belt, Annie’s gorgeous woodcut contemporary printmaking style, combined with stunning embossing, has something for everyone. Stunning New Zealand iconography, traditionally done and beautifully captured. Well worth a look! PN MOMENTUM GALLERY, 1/182 Jervois Road T: 09 376 4749 www.momentumgallery.co.nz

PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE RED CHAIR? The Red Chair is a contemporary cabaret concept, in the style of New York late night live music entertainment. The Red Chair is an amazing live experience in an intimate environment, where the performer takes you on an engaging journey of music, life, love, and it’s many turning points and revelations. The Red Chair as a live music venue - a place to discover new talents and celebrate the talents of established artists. A place to discover new music and enjoy classic cabaret music gems in an intimate atmosphere. The Red Chair: obsess + confess places four performers at tables with the audience confessing romantic obsessions through music and lyrics.

The Red Chair is the inaugural production of Dionysos, a theatre producing company devoted to the production of musicals here in New Zealand and also the source material for my Masters of Art Management research, which explores the realities of producing music theatre in Auckland - from the inside - while it’s happening.

IS THERE ANYONE WE MIGHT KNOW INVOLVED? I conceived and directed this, having most recently worked with Jennifer Ward -Lealand on The Last Five Years, The Red Chair features the singing talents of Roz Turnbull, recently seen on our screens as Cat in Shortland Street. Andrew Laing who is familiar to the cabaret art form and has been seen in the Silo’s productions of Berlin (2006) and their original staging of Jacques Brel, Melissa Nordhaus is a New Zealand’s Got Talent top 10 finalist, and Will Barling a regular performer of jazz, recently seen as the poster boy in ATC’s Cabaret, and along with Andrew, part of the Len Lye: the opera cast (early September, 2012). Music Direction is helmed

by Robin Kelly, who guided the music for ATC’s 2010 Young and Hungry production of Fitz Bunny, and was producer and MD for The Last Five Years seen at the Herald earlier this year.

WHO’S IDEA WAS IT? I wanted to explore the cabaret art from after seeing the incomparable Eartha Kitt live at The Carlyle, NYC. In 2007, I conceived of the idea of placing cabaret artists at the tables with audience members. I believe cabaret has the ability to break down the barrier between performer and audience. The audience experiences artists up close, watching them work effortlessly, telling stories through music and lyrics. While the performer is right there amongst and within the audience. There is no room for fakery or superficial performance. The performers soul is laid bare. However the performance cannot happen without trust on both sides and this is what makes cabaret one of the most exciting and engaging live performance art forms. I first explored The Red Chair as a cabaret concept in a limited run production in 2007 to critical success.

WHEN IS IT ON AND WHERE? The Red Chair is on at Auckland’s newest live theatre – Q theatre, 305 Queen Street from 19 September to 6 October.

Book tickets at www.qtheatre.co.nz/theredchair.

The Red Chair is best experienced with wine, food, and friends. Book a table of six for the best price point. PN

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ARTS + CULTURE CITY CENTRE AND WATERFRONT NEED TO DELIVER

SHOWING AT INDEPENDENT SAINTS GALLERY

The importance of a vibrant and attractive city centre and waterfront should not be underestimated and plays a large part in the transformation of Auckland.

MAX THOMSON - ANGEL PAINTINGS Until 20 September

“A thriving city centre is the beating heart of Auckland and when it performs well it sends the lifeblood pumping to every part of this great region,” says the Mayor. The comment follows today’s official launch of two guiding documents that signal a proposed transformation in central Auckland, the City Centre Masterplan and the Waterfront Plan.

“Our plans for the future of downtown Auckland are achievable over the duration of the plan and include projects that will show Auckland to be a world leader in urban and sea-edge design, promote the city centre as the location of choice for national and South Pacific head offices and drive more business and tourism investment.”

The City Centre Masterplan includes projects that will continue the momentum of shared and green spaces, such as developing Quay Street as a family-friendly waterfront boulevard and creating a new east-west green link connecting Albert Park with Victoria Park and Wynyard Quarter.

The Waterfront Plan sets out the vision and goals for the waterfront and a range of short, medium and long-term initiatives that include a 20km promenade and cycleway along the edge of the waterfront, an innovation precinct at Wynyard Quarter, a 4.5 hectare park on Wynyard Point, and a light rail system from the Wynyard Quarter to St Heliers.

“We know Aucklanders understand the importance of building a world-class city centre,” says Auckland Council’s Design Champion, Ludo Campbell-Reid.

Born in Whanganui in 1945, Max Thompson has a long family connection with the Whanganui River and the West Coast. He moved with his family to Auckland in the early 1960s.

From an early age Max showed a great interest in the arts particularly in music, painting and drawing and for 35 years he worked as a professional photographer specialising and excelling in the fields of fashion and advertising.

Max has exhibited his work in many group exhibitions and has had five solo shows, including last year’s very successful exhibition, ‘Stonefields.’ For Max though, his longtime interest in painting and drawing never faded. Max took a leap of faith and decided to explore this interest, he began to paint full time eight years ago.

His formative years spent in provincial New Zealand have had a profound effect on his choice of subject matter. This is evidenced in his constant return to the natural landscape for inspiration.

Max’s hauntingly beautiful landscape paintings have been successfully exhibited over many years at Letham Gallery.

In this exhibition he explores other narratives and shares a host of eleven angel paintings in acrylic painted on wooden flotsam. Nirmala Cooper, Director of Independent Saints Gallery, tells of speaking with Max about his Angel Paintings at an exhibition recognising the commonality of their work, she loved them and felt them so perfect for showing at Independent Saints. PN INDEPENDENT SAINTS GALLERY, 56 Brown Street www.independentsaints.org

“It will attract internationally competitive businesses, jobs and opportunities for the whole region. We’re working towards creating the world’s most liveable city and to do that we need to make its heart more family-friendly, pedestrian-friendly and environmentally-friendly. The City Centre Masterplan and Waterfront Plans provide the blueprint for achieving this.”

Waterfront Auckland Chief Executive John Dalzell says, “It’s been proven internationally that uniting people, business, history, culture and trade all into one prime city space creates optimal potential for growth. Projects like the redevelopment of Wynyard Quarter are a reminder of how successful this can be.”

“As Aucklanders we face trying times - budgets are tight and jobs are hard to come by - but it’s times like these that people also need some vision. These plans are about creating the most liveable city by doing more with less,” says Len Brown.

The City Centre Masterplan and Waterfront Plan will be available from all Auckland Council service centres and libraries from Monday, 13 August or online www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz and www.waterfrontauckland.co.nz.

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ARTS + CULTURE SHOWING AT NKB GALLERY JOANNE BARRETT - FABRIC OF THE LAND 20 September – 9 October; Preview: 20 September 6pm.

Maori Proverb: Whatungarongaro te tangata toitū he whenua - As man disappears from sight, the land remains. This proverb reflects the holistic values of Maori, and the respect for Papatuanuku, the earth mother.

In her latest series of works Barrett employs her unique style to create conceptualised landforms and spaces using layers of multiple interactions allowing for delicate patterns and textures to be formed.

The underlying textural lines denote generations of growth or lineage and the intricate layers reflect the complexity and spirit of Papatuanuku, developing a deeper relationship with the fabric (essential structure or essence) of the land.

Barrett’s whakapapa links to Ngai Tahu (South Island) and it is the strength and spirituality of her iwi that has a lasting influence on her work as an artist, providing the viewer with truly beautiful contemporary pieces.

Joanne Barrett, associate publisher of Ponsonby News and a self taught artist, has been exhibiting since 2004 and has had two near sell out solo exhibitions, 2006 at The Depot Art Space and in 2007 at Satellite Gallery. Since 2009 she has exhibited in group shows at nkb Gallery. PN NKB GALLERY, 455 Mt Eden Road T: 09 623 1464 www.nkbgallery.co.nz

INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE TAKES A JOURNEY TO THE DEEP How can you take a Journey to the Deep without getting wet?

Visit SILO 6 at Wynyard Quarter from late September and dive head first into the captivating theatrical show that is Journey to the Deep.

Journey to the Deep is a contemporary theatrical experience where children and adults can make their way through the silos meeting a cast of sea creatures as they recreate the mystery and beauty that lies beneath the sea. Amidst all of the colour, the characters, the music and the interaction lies a more serious message about conservation and preserving the beauty of the ocean.

Journey to the Deep event organiser, Sarah Burren, said Kiwi kids need to understand that she has created Journey to the Deep as an engaging way of presenting that message with theatre as the medium. “Journey to the Deep has something in it for everyone. It’s an exciting and stimulating show with a strong conservation theme at its heart. No matter whether you’re three or 93, we guarantee you’ll walk away with an unforgettable experience and a new appreciation for the importance of conservation.”

Journey to the Deep is perfect for kids and families with its unique and enchanting mix of education and entertainment. The show’s collection of colourful sea creatures and spectacular effects makes it an unmissable school holiday outing.

The show boasts experienced actors, world class makeup, costumes and effects as well as a truly compelling story line.

Journey to the Deep is produced by Little Green Man Productions and its charitable partner The Living Theatre Charitable Trust. The show is sponsored and supported by Waterfront Auckland, Department of Conservation, Oceania, and Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Forum.

Book tickets at www.eventfinder.co.nz from $10 ($2 booking fee applies).

For more information, visit www.journeytothedeep.com. Journey to the Deep will run for a six week season. PN

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