PONSONBY NEWS - APRIL 19 by Ponsonby News

PUBLISHED FRIDAY, 5 APRIL 2019

Established: OCTOBER 1989 – CELEBRATING 29 YEARS OF PUBLISHING HISTORY!

APRIL 2019

INSIDE THIS MONTH Weddings & Special Events

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY TO THE WOMEN’S BOOKSHOP and Carole Beu gets a well-deserved New Year's Honour - P14

ponsonbynews.co.nz

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WHAT’S INSIDE THIS MONTH

P24: Simon Damerell’s team clean up Cox’s Bay every year. Simon has just retired from Ray White Ponsonby and will be sadly missed; P38: Making stylish wedding choices that are also sustainable. FROM THE EDITOR DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW COVER STORY - THE WOMEN'S BOOKSHOP PIPPA COOM: WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS MIKE LEE, COUNCILLOR FOR WAITEMATA & GULF PREDICT WEATHER.COM U3A PONSONBY

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NIKKI KAYE: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS VEG FRIENDLY: GARY STEEL EAT DRINK & BE MERRY TRAVEL BREAKS FASHION & STYLE LIVING, THINKING & BEING JOHN APPLETON ON HEALTH

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HELENE RAVLICH: LOCAL BEAUTY FUTURE GENERATION PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS PONSONBY PETS HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS HEIDI PADAIN: ENTERTAINMENT IN YOUR GARDEN ARTS + CULTURE PONSONBY PINK PAGES COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: CONNOR CRAWFORD

PONSONBY NEWS+ is published monthly, excluding January by ALCHEMY MEDIA LIMITED POSTAL: P.O. BOX 47-282 Ponsonby, Auckland 1144, T: 09 378 8553 or 09 361 3356, www.ponsonbynews.co.nz Editor/Publisher Distribution Manager Ad Sales & Contributing Editor Advertising Sales/Ad Designer Operations Manager Contributing Music Editor Contributing Editor Proof Reader Designer

MARTIN LEACH; M: 021 771 147; E: martinleach@xtra.co.nz or martin@ponsonbynews.co.nz JAY PLATT; M: 021 771 146; E: jayplatt@xtra.co.nz or jay@ponsonbynews.co.nz ANDREA KAHUKIWA; M: 021 689 688; E: andrea@ponsonbynews.co.nz MELISSA PAYNTER; M: 027 938 4111; E: melissapaynter@me.com GWYNNE DAVENPORT; M: 021 150 4095; E: gwynne@ponsonbynews.co.nz FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT; M: 021 134 4101; E: finn.huia@gmail.com JOHN ELLIOTT; M: 021 879 054; E: johnelliott38@outlook.com DEIRDRE THURSTON ARNA MARTIN; E: arna@cocodesign.co.nz

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LETTERS + EMAILS THE STATE OF THE WESTERN SPRINGS LAKESIDE PARK Twenty years ago we moved to this area. Lots to love, not least the wonderful Western Springs Lakeside Park. We used to walk there several times a week but now it's just too disheartening to witness the state to which this lovely park has been reduced. Your correspondent Gael Baldock listed the sad deterioration of much of the lake and surrounds and the state of the grounds and we can only endorse her comments. My heart sank as I read about the impending event which is Pasifika. It is a wonderful event for the visitors and contributors, but not for the birds or the park. If the weather is wet, the park becomes a swamp which takes a year to self-repair. If it's a really hot day, the results of thousands of feet churning up any grass Ventia may have left are catastrophic for the vegetarian birds. Rubbish and food scraps end up on the water, adding to the thick sludge already rampant. A note re the Monterey pines which Auckland Council is so determined to remove: How come there was minimal damage to these trees during the huge storms of 2018? Many trees and branches fell in the park itself (and much is still evident), but the pines swayed on regardless. Their removal from our skyline will be a sad blow. The old chestnut of 'dead or dying' trees is no longer believed by most. Finally a word of support for Bill Gruar in his perilous negotiations around the dog's dinner which is the West Lynn shopping centre. Auckland Transport has had a year during which locals have tried to be largely sympathetic and have continued to believe the stories spun by council employees that 'something' will be done. Our patience won't last for ever. Lavinia Cruickshank, Grey Lynn WESTERN SPRINGS FOREST UPDATE I have just finished the last submissions for the Western Springs Resource Consent Application by Council Community Facilities to clear-fell the Western Springs pines which will destroy 74% of the closed canopy native forest understorey. The submissions were in response to the second directions issued by the commissioners. It is now up to the commissioners to make their decision.

SUPER DIVERSITY GOOD FOR NEW ZEALAND I was encouraged by John Elliott writing on the important issue of diversity in his column, 'Super diversity good for New Zealand'. However, I don’t believe international cuisine and wine and French jewellery for sale on Ponsonby Road are signals of diversity. They are signals of commercialism. The consumers on Ponsonby Road, in my opinion, do not reflect a lot of diversity. One can see some diversity in Ponsonby if you visit the intermediate school or Victoria Park or Cox’s Bay Reserve. There is a way to go before strolling Ponsonby Road is a diverse population experience. I agree with John Elliott that New Zealanders are getting better at diversity, but I sincerely hope that it is not due to, 'sophisticated international people coming to our shores'. Preferably, it would be due to accepting anyone who is not from New Zealand who comes here as being equally important to the make up of our society; whether considered sophisticated or international or otherwise. Chris Barlow, Ponsonby WESTERN SPRINGS PROPOSED LAKE LOWERING The lake was enlarged in the 1974 -1977 development of the Western Springs Lakeside Park Te Wai Orea. The Waitemata Local Board consultation in August on changes to the park did not give a clear picture of the implications of lowering the lake by one metre as this would remove approximately 46,500 cubic metres of water. Go see for yourselves, the edges are rather shallow. Put a stick into the water. Lowering the lake would pull in the edges considerably, moving the birdlife too far away for children to see and there would no longer be water under the double hump bridge for people to interact with the eels. This could reduce the lake to a 'puddle' in comparison. As you can see below, it was tiny. Because most of the lake is man made, it needs to be flushed regularly. This has not been done since Ventia took over. The lake is disgustingly polluted. The weirs are broken. Their repair is an emergency health and safety issue. Gael Baldock, Westmere

This process has involved a deeper dive into the history and importance of Western Springs Lakeside Park and I wanted to share some of the wonderful information that we have discovered. Did you know that the whole of Western Springs Lakeside Park is a Significant Ecological Area and is recognised as an area of regional significance since the days of the Regional Council? I recently discovered that it is also a declared Biodiversity Focus Area and the highest priority local park in the Waitemata Local Board area. The 1995 Lakeside Plan, which is still current, tells us that, “The wetlands, the lake, the forest and the scrub areas are all inextricably linked. When viewed as various components of one system the combined values of these areas stand out to create a site of regional ecological significance and of much conservation value.”

Before photography: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection

One system. The whole park functions as one system which is why it is so valued for biodiversity. It is also the reason why treating the forest as separate from the lake or wetland will, in fact, destroy the ecology of the whole park. A fact that appears to have been totally lost on Council Community Facilities which seems determined to destroy the forest and, on arborist advice, that does not comply with arboricultural best practice. The 1995 plan also tells us, “The Park forms a green corridor link which extends from Meola Reef and Motions Creek inland to Chamberlain Park Golf Course." The 'green corridor link', was coined by Professor John Morton who persuaded the council to regenerate Meola Reef and to adopt the green corridor as part of the North West Wild Link as council policy. After enlargement The Save Chamberlain Park group want to turn the golf course into a wildlife park and golf course. This has been successfully done in other parts of the world and New Zealand and they have expert assistance to help them make a success of the proposal. Chamberlain Park used to be joined to Western Springs Park. We believe that there is now a huge opportunity for Waitemata Local Board and council to create a world-class park, wildlife sanctuary and biodiversity hotspot in the centre of Auckland by joining Western Springs and Chamberlain Park with a green bridge from the park to the

8 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

Horticultural Centre (the old Chamberlain Park golf club) and then to Western Springs. I believe it would be New Zealand’s first green bridge. Let me know what you think by signing the Toko Petition to save Western Springs Native Forest and leaving a message: www.toko.org.nz/petitions/save-western-springs-native-forest Wendy Gray, by email PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

photography: Martin Leach

FROM THE EDITOR

Last month's service at Eden Park for Auckland’s remembrance for Christchurch - Sonny Bill Williams & Mayor Phill Goff were present.

We are happy with this issue’s cover star. Carole Beu of The Women’s Bookshop and her team are celebrating their 30th birthday. Along with the birthday, Carole also received a well-deserved honour in the New Year’s List. We send our best wishes and love. We remain in shock at the tragedy in Christchurch but we know it will take those affected a long time to grieve. What has struck us is the way this has brought the country together. We hope that the emotional outpouring of sympathy, love and support will stay with New Zealanders forever. Last month, and a week after Christchurch, many mosques across the country opened their doors and warmly welcomed visitors. Our local mosque, the Al-Masjid al-Jamie, is the oldest one in New Zealand and it holds up to 700 worshippers. Mayor Goff was present along with Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye at a moving ceremony. It’s a fact that road speeds can kill so we should welcome an AT initiative to investigate reducing speeds on our inner city roads to 30 or 40Kph per hour. Ponsonby Road has been safer since it was reduced to 40kph. This October Ponsonby News hopes there will be a better turnout of voters this time around at the local body elections. We will be bringing you information about candidates and issues.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Last month we were surprised to hear that prominent local identity Simon Damerell has retired from Ray White Ponsonby. Simon always led the way when his company conducted clean-ups in Coxs Bay. Many of us are anxiously awaiting the resource consent application decision which would allow the council to fell every one of the Monterey pines in Western Springs Lakeside Park. The commissioners were not satisfied with the petitioner’s application and requested much extra information from the applicant before making a decision. This month’s special feature is on weddings and special events. In this issue there are many ideas for making your event memorable for all the right reasons. More than the Brits, us Kiwis are obsessed with the weather. We can recommend a website (predictweather.com) set up by Herne Bay resident Ken Ring. (MARTIN LEACH)

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DAVID HARTNELL’S ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW Gray Bartlett MBE is a New Zealand-born guitarist, country music performer, producer, talent mentor, tour promoter and entrepreneur. He is also one of the nicest people in show business. Did you ever perform at the Gluepot? I used to do many performances there, including my 25th anniversary gig which played to a sold-out audience, and included a magnificent cake in the exact style of my Gibson 335 red guitar! I worked with all kinds of different artists up there, many of whom have since passed on, but it would have to have been the favourite Auckland venue for contemporary Kiwi music! What a terrible shame it is not still there. I always felt it was the benchmark for endorsing a new artist in Auckland, and for celebrating the major names in NZ of the day. I remember taking several international touring artists and stage techs there to enjoy a beer or two. When they closed the Gluepot, I can remember thinking... "this is the end of an era" ...and, knowing councils and developers, they would not be interested in having a space like that used for anything other than just shops or the like without a thought for the fact that music and culture, form a major part of Ponsonby heritage Did you ever go to the Cameo movie theatre as a kid? I can just remember my brothers and sisters taking me to the Cameo, mainly to see the best John Wayne film of the day and the ice creams were a key attraction to a young kid then. I think we mixed these outings with a trip to the zoo or Western Springs Park. What are your thoughts on Ponsonby and Grey Lynn? It was always the area where arts and culture and journalists lived and went... it still has this wonderful feel, a feel of interest and love for the arts and culture. It was the start of my recording career in music, when I was head-hunted by Eldred Stebbing of Zodiac Records, after my major tours with Vera Lynn, Eddie Calvert, Connie Francis, Bobby Vee, Donnie Brooks, and The Ventures.

Most annoying celebrity? Most of the current Hollywood set of pumped-up egotists. I hate that they have become so political and self-righteous. Dream holiday? Maui in Hawaii - Heaven. Your bucket list? Do as many performances as I can and complete my next album of music. Do you pay attention to reviews? No, I don't believe reviewers much these days. It’s all become so political; how could you truly believe any of these reports? Obviously there are some genuine people in the press, but only a few. Like to be remembered how? As a guy that gave his very best to his industry and who wanted to show love and caring for those around him and to perfect strangers in need. Something you really disapprove of? Turning a blind eye to reverse racism in our country, and the PC wing agenda. Biggest disappointment? Not being able to record or film my concerts in China as the first solo artist to perform to over 200,000 people - I beat Wham! It was made up for by the awarding of 'Best Foreign Artist' by the Chinese. PN (DAVID HARTNELL, MNZM) F

I used to head to Stebbing's Zodiac Studios on a regular basis, and it was where I recorded my biggest selling and still the biggest selling New Zealand instrumental hit in Japan, 'La Playa' which sold in excess of 410,000 singles in Japan alone, and gained me New Zealand’s first ever International Gold Disc (presented in Auckland and Tokyo). Did you come from a show business background? No, except that my brother Barry played an old Tex Morton guitar and my father always loved listening to choirs and the brass bands on Saturday and Sunday mornings! We all sang a lot in our house; remember it was eight kids and two parents. When did you decide you wanted to be in show business? When I first heard Chet Atkins play on the radio, and then the advent of the remarkable Elvis Presley and others who just changed the world of music for all of us. What was your childhood like? It was fantastic. We all had work roles to play but we had a loving caring family - especially parents. Even though we were dirt poor, we had the wonderful family back-up and love. I will die happy if? I can be listening to some of my favourite songs and tunes with Trish, my wife, nothing more than that!

12 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

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JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

L-R: Andrea Old, Tanya Gribben, Carole Beu and Patricia Kay

Happy 30th birthday Women’s Bookshop Carole Beu gets well-deserved New Year's Honour. My mother used to say that ‘icon’ was a much overused word, and she may well have been right. But I’m prepared to put The Women’s Bookshop in that category. This iconic shop, founded and run for 30 years by Carole Beu, is a Ponsonby institution, par excellence. In 1989, a young teacher called Carole Beu was persuaded to run a bookshop. She had done her OE, had taught in a variety of schools, including Auckland Girls Grammar under Charmaine Pountney and the radical, alternative state school, Metropolitan College, where she taught English and drama. Carole loved teaching but finally she was coerced by Pat Rosier, the editor of Broadsheet Magazine, to take a space in Dominion Road and set up a bookshop. The rest is history - well not quite. A decade later, Carole saw a vacant retail space in Ponsonby Road, and in 1999 moved to Ponsonby with the voluntary help of many of her loyal customers.

Beyond her own shop, Carole has spent many years on industry committees which has clearly contributed to her receiving the New Year Honour. Her citation for ‘Member of the NZ Order of Merit’ says her award is for services to the literary industry. She was a board member of Booksellers NZ for many years and a founding trustee of the Auckland Writers Festival, where she often chairs author sessions. Carole is particularly proud of her annual Ladies’ Litera-Tea afternoons - highlighting women’s words, wit and wisdom. Last year’s participants included Dame Fiona Kidman, local writers Kirsten Warner, Lizzie Marvelly and Michele A’Court. This year’s Litera-Tea will be held at Epsom Girls’ Grammar School on Sunday afternoon 3 November. The team at the bookshop is also organising an exciting 30th Birthday Celebration on Monday 5 August. Appearing on the stage at the ASB Waterfront Theatre from 7.30pm will be a prestigious line-up of New Zealand women writers from the last 30 years, including Patricia Grace, Fiona Kidman and Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh.

Carole has loved the bookshop since day one. Right from the start she has enjoyed promoting women’s writing and providing books which reflect women’s diverse lives and interests. She has lots of men customers too, including me. The Women’s Bookshop has become a leading specialist in therapy and counselling books as well as the go-to-place for feminist writing and LGBTQ+ books. Carole and her team host regular author events, provide a friendly space where women can meet, and have won Bookseller of the Year on several occasions.

14 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

Carole Beu has ridden the waves of feminism for three decades, ‘crossing the line since 1989’, as she puts it. I attended a celebratory get-to-gether Carole hosted for friends and business associates. The consensus was unanimous - Carole richly deserved her honour. The very proud Carole told Ponsonby News, “Books are my passion, my hobby and my work, and I get to meet wonderful women every day.” We at Ponsonby News are proud of you, too, Carole, and we wish you a very happy and prosperous next 30 years. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS EASTER READING BEFORE THE WRITERS FESTIVAL Easter is a perfect time to catch up on some advance reading before the Auckland Writers Festival (13-19 May). Programmes are available in The Women’s Bookshop now and Carole Beu has picked out some exciting titles.

Fugitive Pieces - This exquisite novel was first published in 1996 and remains one of the great novels of all time. If you haven’t ever read it, do so now before Canadian poet Anne Michaels arrives for the festival. She’s the Toronto Poet Laureate and will judge the Sarah Broom Poetry Prize in the festival.

The delightful John Boyne returns to the festival with A Ladder to the Sky and a brand new teenage novel (for all ages) My Brother’s Name is Jessica. This is a funny, moving and utterly charming novel about a young boy coming to terms with his adored older brother’s transgender experience.

Home Fire - This extraordinary novel, terrifyingly relevant for what is happening in New Zealand right now, won the 2018 Women’s Fiction Prize. Don’t miss the brilliant Kamila Shamsie.

There are lots of stunning New Zealand authors in the festival but I’m going to mention one in particular. Chessie Henry’s honest and tender account of her father and her family, We Can Make a Life, has been short-listed for the Ockham NZ Book Awards. Her writing about her father, a rural GP who was involved in the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes, is magnificent.

I love discovering new writers at the festival, so I’ll be fascinated to hear Elaine Castillo. Her novel America is Not the Heart, hailed as one of the best debut novels of recent years, has been described as 'Wondrous. A nimble, vibrant, deeply moving feat, full of heart, humour and wisdom'. It’s a family epic about a young woman tormented by the ghosts of her Philippino past while in search of the elusive American dream. Mary Norris will be a delight. This New York copy editor has been described as a 'grammar geek with a streak of mischief'. Her book Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen is smart, funny and illuminating. And her new one will be out in time for the festival - Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen is an erudite, joyous excursion through Greek language, culture and myths. Join Mary for a romp through the land of olive trees and ouzo!

There’ll be sessions on octopus intelligence, economics, feminism, Asia’s dominance, Wilco, Maori language, gender fluidity - if you’re interested in maths, don’t miss Eugenia Cheng, mathematician and concert pianist, whose mission in life is to rid the world of maths phobia! THE WOMEN’S BOOKSHOP, 105 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 376 4399, www.womensbookshop.co.nz

THE WOMEN’S BOOKSHOP Crossing the line since 1989

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:

30th Birthday Celebration Literary Concert

Monday 5 August 7pm, ASB Waterfront Theatre A line-up of NZ’s most prestigious women writers!

Ladies’ Litera-Tea Sunday 3 November 1-5pm, Epsom Girls NZ women writers with new books this year plus a lavish afternoon tea! Contact us to receive our E-News for details 105 Ponsonby Rd Auckland 09 376 4399 books@womensbookshop.co.nz

online shopping womensbookshop.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PIPPA COOM: WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD REPORT The Waitemata Local Board stands with Christchurch and the Muslim community across New Zealand. At our first board meeting just days after the horrific events that have changed our country for ever, I led us in a minute’s silence and gave the following acknowledgment:

We commit to promoting tolerance, empathy and mutual understanding for people of all ethnicities and religious beliefs. We value the diversity of Waitemata and wish for all people to feel safe and welcomed. The board's Ellen Melville Centre is one of the Auckland Council community centres with a condolence book to give Aucklanders the opportunity to express their messages of support for the victims, their families and their community.”

photography: Martin Leach

“Waitemata Local Board acknowledges the victims of the Christchurch terror attack. We send our deepest condolences to the families and friends directly affected by the shocking, tragic and devastating mass shooting carried out at two mosques. We acknowledge, love and support the Muslim community in Waitemata and across Aotearoa as we come together to stand united with the community in grief and solidarity.

The gathering at Al-masjid Al-jamie Mosque, Ponsonby

Elected members have joined the many thousands paying their respects at the vigils and events held in response including at the Al-Masjid Al-Jamie Mosque in Ponsonby where an amazing sea of flowers has been laid by locals. We will join together for the broadcast of the National Remembrance Service planned for Friday 29 March in Christchurch. In speaking at the vigil in Aotea Square on 16 March, a defiant and passionate Mayor, Phil Goff, spoke about his determination more than ever to give nothing to racism, and to ensure the world knows that Auckland and New Zealand is wonderfully diverse, where people of all ethnicities and faiths are welcome. The local board joins with the Mayor in taking a strong stand prohibiting speakers wishing to use our community venues to incite intolerance and hate. In addition, we support Auckland as a city of peace and have prohibited the promotion, marketing and sales of weapons of war in our council facilities. Through the sadness we also come together to celebrate the best of our community and strengthen neighbourhood connections that make us more resilient. Last month (31 March), the Grey Lynn Community Centre is hosting the Jam on Toast Festival. This annual event showcases some of the diverse and amazing classes run in and around our community. Throughout the day there will be fantastic entertainment, live art and graffiti demonstrations, street food and refreshments and something for the whole family. Visit Grey Lynn Community Centre’s Facebook page to find out more.

Mayor Phil Goff addresses the gathering at Al-masjid Al-jamie Mosque, Ponsonby

Sad Kiwi mural by artist Paul Walsh

Our local board also immensely values communityled work and our Good Citizens’ Awards is one of the ways we celebrate and give recognition to those who make Waitemata a great place to live. We are seeking nominations for individuals or communityled organisations working within the Waitemata Local Board area until 14 April. (PIPPA COOM) F PN Find out more and make your nomination at our website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/waitemata

Book of condolence at Ellen Melville Centre

Contact Pippa Coom, Chair of Waitamata Local Board, pippa.coom@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz, www.facebook.com/waitemata

16 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

KERRY LEE: LOCAL NEWS

St Stephens Presbyterian Church - an integral part of the Ponsonby community Originally opened in 1879, St Stephens Presbyterian Church has since become an integral part of the Ponsonby community. I had the chance to speak to St Steven’s new Pastor, Reverend Grant Ridout and his wife Hope about their plans for the church and where they see its place in the community moving forward. So you’ve just started as the church's new Reverend, could you start by telling us a little bit about yourself? Yeah, I started in December of last year, straight out of graduate college. This is my first posting. What attracted you to St Stephens? I came here and did some preaching as an intern to help them out because they hadn’t had a minister for a couple of years. I just fell in love with the people, and I really love the building (St Stephens). Everyone brings something new to their job, their own certain flair or twist, what do you think you can bring to St Stephens? I think I can build a sense of community and a sense of social justice, and ensure that as a church we are a voice for the people that don’t have a one. Now Hope, as the Reverend’s wife, it goes without saying that you're heavily involved in the church, what would you say is your role? These days, a minister’s wife doesn’t have to be as involved as they were in the past. I really like helping out with the sung worship, and along with Grant I like to get involved with the community. Often we will be available to meet with people together, and that’s something I’ve always loved. For those that aren’t particularly religious, what is the Presbyterian faith? That’s a big question because there's a huge Presbyterian tradition in New Zealand. We’re not Presbyterian with a big p, meaning we’re not particularly strict in those traditions. For us what makes up our faith is that we love God and we love our neighbour. Is the church as involved as you think they should be in its local communities? I feel that churches in the 21st Century have to be more hands-on and more enmeshed in the community they serve. Before the1960s, churches were packed and then things started to change. When that happened a lot of churches reacted and instead of thinking about what they were doing, they started closing themselves off. You have some exciting activities lined up at St Stephens, what exactly are you planning? We’re looking at a few things, like a community pantry, which we’re launching this Sunday. What we’d like to do is connect the more affluent of the area with those who are more vulnerable.

Rev Ridout & Hope Earlier, you talked about how churches were popular up until the 1960s, do you think that these activities can start attracting people back to the church? I would hope that by offering these activities and a sense of community, that it would help bring more people together, but I can’t be overly optimistic that the churches will be overflowing like they used to be, but that would be nice. It's not that people don’t believe or lack spirituality, its just there’s been a change in this thing of coming together. We’re more driven by technology then ever before, and that comes with a lot of problems like depression and anxiety, do you think that St Stephens can play a part in reversing that trend? I think so, that’s why our focus is on the community. I think that by trying to create a space like the community garden, you’re with the land you're going back to the basics and going back to creation. What about complementing each other, is there a way forward where both religion and technology can co-exist? It’s like a double-edged sword, there’s good and bad and I think that churches should embrace things that can be used in a positive way. Too often some churches will bury their heads in the sand or react against what they don’t understand, and that never works. We’ve somehow got to redeem technology and use it well.

Lastly, what would you say to the people of Ponsonby if you had the chance? It would be that God loves you, that we’re here and that we’re open and we want to bring good things and build a sense of community with the people of Ponsonby. PN For more information about St Stephens, please visit them. F

We’re also researching a community garden. What we’d like to do with that is to intersect communities, and get people to start thinking about the land, and using the produce they grow in a good way as well.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

ST STEPHENS, 65 Jervois Road, T: 09 360 1728, www.ststephensponsonby.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

Speed limits in the central city I have often criticised Auckland Transport for its poor or non-existent consultation before making important transport decisions in Auckland City. I noted recently that even right-wing broadcaster Leighton Smith was having a go at AT, calling them an “administrative state,” whatever that may mean. He reiterated my moans about “the growing power and arrogance of AT,” which Smith says “is the direct result of the delegation of authority by the council to one of a number of Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) which unsurprisingly are becoming a law unto themselves.” I couldn’t have put it better myself.

Accident statistics have been carefully analysed, and will form part of the decision, as will citizen feedback.

One of their latest proposals is to reduce the speed limits on a number of city streets. This is largely a safety issue, and follows the introduction of many more safety items on the country’s open roads. AT has called for submissions.

Visitors to our central city, however, must learn to share the space. Car drivers need more concern for cyclists and for pedestrians. Cyclists need more concern for cars, trucks and buses. And everyone must learn the value of more and more citizens using public transport to unclog our roads.

While National Party spokespeople have railed at the Coalition Government for refusing to build more four-lane highways, Assistant Minister of Transport, Julie Anne Genter has been responsible for implementing a policy of shoring up safety barriers, cutting off poorly positioned corners, inserting median barriers and many other measures to improve safety on our roads. Now the safety concerns have been transferred to the central city, and what an outcry we have heard. You would be excused for thinking AT will cut off motorists legs just for the fun of it. No, they propose to cut speeds on the busiest city streets from 50kph to 40kph, or in some cases 30kph. It is a fact that many motorists who travel regularly into the city never get above 20kph on most of those streets during peak hours. Now some are moaning about speeding up to 30kph. Unfortunately, some motorists still have the same mentality as those who say taxation is theft - we should be able to travel as fast as we like and bugger AT, or any one else, telling us otherwise.

Look, we can rail against Lime scooters, cycle tracks and empty bus lanes as much as we like, but I’m sorry, dinosaurs, your time has come and gone. Oil and private motorcars won't disappear tomorrow, and a large fleet of electric cars is years away.

We have no more space in the city for four-lane highways and we’d be mad if we tried to find it anyway. Many of our homes have no offstreet parking - they were built before most people had cars. Mark my words - I won’t see it, but there will come a time when our roads will be nearly empty, because we no longer use cars. Put in a submission to AT. Tell them what you think. In the meantime, think about the CCOs' growing autonomy, and vote for local body candidates in October who will call for the 2010 Act which set up the Auckland Super City, to be amended to allow more democracy. At the very least, the new Mayor should put two councillors back on PN the AT Board to help monitor its behaviour. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F

Getting ready to vote at Local Elections in October October will seem like a million years away for most people. They are sure to say, I’ll think about that later in the year. But there are increasingly pressing issues facing greater Auckland which the present Mayor, council and boards are not, or can’t, address. If attitudes don’t change, and especially if bureaucrats are not pulled into line, democracy in Auckland is a goner.

nationally by the Government - very poorly some might say. Auckland Council could have a role to play if it chose to re-enter the councilowned housing market, something it used to do. There is a huge need for state or social housing in Auckland, and council should reconsider its role.

The first civic duty is to vote. It is shameful that local body elections attract less than one third of eligible voters. Hardly a good democratic start!

Transport is another matter. While the NZ Transport Agency deals with transport throughout New Zealand, Auckland transport has a major Auckland responsibility to keep Auckland vehicles moving, a job it doesn’t do very well.

Over the next few months, Ponsonby News will be highlighting issues and candidates to better inform the public who they might vote for and why. We want no more stories about people with surnames beginning with A, B, or C getting a head start over the Zohrabs, simply because their name is at the top of the page. I’m told it does happen.

First Election Issue - Look for candidates for election who will vow to open up Auckland Transport to public scrutiny. Make sure it is a council controlled organisation which it is not now. Insist the new mayor puts two councillors back on the AT Board, to give some measure of oversight to this secret society.

Two of the big Auckland issues are housing and transport. Housing has definitely been taken out of local hands and is being dealt with

Next month: How to amend the 2010 Act, which set up the Auckland PN Super City, to make council more democratic. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS PONSONBY PARK - UPDATE APRIL 2019 254 Ponsonby Road, aka Ponsonby Park, is starting the next step in becoming an inclusive, multi-use, all-weather, civic open space. You, our community (which includes the local residents, businesses and visitors to Ponsonby) told us through the Community-led Design process: • What you’d like to do there • What you’d like to have there and • Your preferred design The Waitemata Local Board started the Community-led Design process and then carried the project forward last year when it lobbied council to support the wishes of our community. Council listened and voted unanimously for the whole site civic open space at 254 Ponsonby Road. Now, detailed plans and costings are being generated. The initial development process for Stage One of Ponsonby Park will begin as soon as possible. Stage One encompasses the car-parking areas of the site, and includes the existing canopy. • The canopy will be repurposed as an all-weather event space with the addition of living walls and a green roof.

The neglected and shabby road frontage of the building at 254 Ponsonby Road has been endured by the community for long enough. It’s time to add some vitality and beauty, as well as civic amenity, to the site.

• The car-parking areas will become a combination of permeable and impermeable-surface areas.

We all look forward to the development of this much needed and long -awaited community space starting soon. Ponsonby Park - bring it on! PN (JENNIFER WARD) F

These areas will be able to accommodate events, markets, rest and relaxation opportunities, as well as plantings of trees, flowering plants and other vegetation.

For more information or to contact us, see our webpage: www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz Or our Facebook page: Ponsonby Park.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

MIKE LEE: COUNCILLOR FOR WAITEMATA & GULF

What Auckland Transport isn't telling you about road safety There’s a video of an idiot in a fast car driving up an Auckland motorway bus lane, veering behind the bus before running into the back of a small SUV. Like everyone else, I was appalled at this idiot’s behaviour. In order to make our roads safer, Auckland Transport (AT) intends to 'dramatically' lower the speed limit on 700 kilometres of roads. 70km of these roads are in the central city including major arterials which will be reduced to a maximum speed of 30kmph. But wait. Would a lower speed limit have prevented the accident I just mentioned? Almost certainly not. Speed limits are meaningless to idiots; you can lower the speed limit to anything you want, and they still behave like idiots. There are many other examples: In late 2017, 20-year-old Farshad Bahadori Esfehani, who was drunk, killed an innocent taxi driver when his Mercedes ran a red light in central Auckland. In May of last year, 18-year-old Rouxle Le Roux killed 15-year-old cyclist Nathan Kraatskow on Oteha Valley Road, after drinking and smoking marijuana. On 28 January, Zhengwen Alan Hu was killed when Adam Michael Speir, 27, drove into the back of his car stopped at traffic lights in east Auckland. What difference would the lowered speed limit have made to any of these fatal accidents? The sad answer again is: none. Last October, I sent Auckland Transport a number of written questions seeking the crash data that justified lowering the speed limit. The response was evasive. AT officers said they could meet but would not provide anything in writing, saying: “the database contains confidential information.” In November I wrote again, repeating my request for a response in writing. In December, AT replied, saying my questions were difficult to answer but they were working on them and would reply by midFebruary. They didn’t. I have since complained to the Ombudsman. Why is AT being so evasive? One can only conclude it’s because the facts don’t support its agenda. According to the Government’s own studies, nationally, only about 15% of fatal accidents occur above the speed limit. The vast majority of these fatal speeding accidents are caused by someone who’s young and often blotto. The only exceptions are motorcycle deaths, which mainly impact middle-aged men, at a rate of about one a week. Let’s be clear: if AT is simply going to lower the speed limit in suburban streets where there are pedestrians everywhere, I have no problem. Who would? But when AT is proposing to reduce major traffic routes to a crawl without some pretty strong evidence, I have a big problem. So why isn’t AT being straight up about its plans? It’s increasingly evident that AT is run by unelected idealists, apparently at war with four-wheeled vehicles. So AT is happy slowing cars down, but encourages e-scooters onto our increasingly decrepit footpaths. Pedestrians don’t seem to count. AT’s technical competence is also under question. For example, the CCO plans to spend an eye-watering $23 million to $35 million to fix the controversial Grey Lynn-Westmere cycleway that it itself built in

2017. Given the scale of the fix-up, not surprisingly, not many people use this cycleway. Leaving aside bad design and shoddy construction, the reality is you can’t take sick kids to the doctor on a bike. You can’t take bikes on most AT buses. Riding home after dark in the mid-winter rain is a grim option for anyone who isn’t young, fit and enthusiastic. AT, despite lavish ratepayer/taxpayer funding, provides some of the worst public transport of any city I have visited. Yet AT imposes some of the highest train and bus fares in the world - and has just increased them again. That’s why too many people still take cars; they have little choice. So what can we do to lower Auckland’s appalling road toll? First, we must get more cars off the roads by making Auckland’s public transport much more affordable, frequent and reliable. Let’s cut AT’s huge admin costs and use the savings to slash public transport fares. Second, we need to tackle the heavy promotion of alcohol. In one South Auckland suburb alone, there are 110 liquor outlets. Drunk drivers don’t read speed signs. Third, we need to change our roads, so that bad behaviour doesn’t turn into road deaths. Multiple studies have concluded that lowering the speed limit, by itself, is often ineffective, but changing the way that roads are built is a highly effective way of reducing risk. Speed bumps and chicanes regulate traffic. So do properly designed pedestrian crossings. Median barriers transformed the Auckland harbour bridge from a high-risk road to a low-risk road. The drivers didn't change. Whether Auckland Transport understands it or not, the major transport problem in Auckland today is growing traffic congestion matched with unreliable, increasingly costly public transport. Slowing traffic down even further is not the answer. Until Auckland Transport bureaucrats front up with some facts, we PN should put the brakes on their plans. (MIKE LEE) F

Mike Lee is the Auckland Councillor for Waitemata & Gulf Ward, www.mikelee.co.nz

22 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

Real estate leader retires - Ray White loses Simon Damerell Simon Damerell found Ponsonby rather late in life! He was the Principal of Remuera Primary School in the 80s, when he was shoulder-tapped by education bosses and sent to save Ponsonby Intermediate School from closure. Damerell succeeded and staunched the flow of white flight which was threatening Ponsonby Intermediate with closure. It was down to a roll of about 86. Followed by the somewhat controversial, but highly successful young Ian Taylor, Ponsonby Intermediate went quickly from success to success. Shortly after that, Simon Damerell took a drastic career turn. He became a real estate agent in Ponsonby. He joined United Realty which later became the Ray White franchise and soon bought into the company. Simon had a stellar career in real estate. I’m sure his teacher training and background was of great help to him. He managed a big group of salespeople - not always easy to corral. He won multiple awards for both himself and for his team. I was told by a young salesperson that Simon’s presence could be felt in a room, not through an overbearing personality, but through sheer empathy. He was a quiet listener and a doer. There are lots of photos of Ray White Damerell staff at Coxs Bay clean ups and trees for survival. In the middle of the action every time is Simon Damerell, dressed for hard work.

That marked the beginning of the end for Simon Damerell’s career in real estate. He decided to retire at the end of 2018, presumably to undertake long-distance walking! I met Simon one day a year or so ago on Ponsonby Road and he talked about his walking exploits. We are both Whangarei born and bred, so he regaled me with good walks in the North, but he also told me he has been catching the train at Britomart station and going wherever that train is going. He then walked home - wait for it - once from Papakura!

Simon joined United Realty in 1997 as sales manager. He became full time manager in 2001.

He’s a lovely man, Simon, and my definition of a real gentleman. He has done wonders for both teaching and the real estate worlds and I sincerely hope he has a long and enjoyable retirement.

After being co-owner of Ray White Ponsonby for more than a decade, Simon sold all but 20% of his shares to Gower Buchanan in 2017.

Ponsonby News wishes you well, Simon Damerell. We’re glad you PN found Ponsonby. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F

Ponsonby loses fine New Zealander I was saddened at the recent death of a very fine New Zealander - Ian Shirley. Several years ago I met a group of local residents (invited by Russell Hoban) in the Brown Street Reserve, which adjoins Ponsonby Central. This was not an extremist bunch, but simply locals concerned at nocturnal goings-on in the reserve. Teenage drinking, noise, leaving of litter, something the police did not seem to have the time or man power to deal with. I was talking to Russell when I observed an elegant, elderly man with a stick and a pronounced limp, accompanied by a woman marching on to the reserve. It was to be my first encounter with Emeritus Professor Ian Shirley of AUT and his wife Mary. I discovered that Ian Shirley was a researcher, a leader, a mentor and a supervisor at AUT. Possibly his best work had been a major research programme which engaged 15 research teams across the major cities of the Asia and Pacific region and resulted in the publication of a book Asian and Pacific Cities (2013), edited by Ian Shirley and Dr Carol Neil. Ian and I struck up an instant rapport. He told me he enjoyed reading my Ponsonby News articles. We briefly discussed the Super City, and he indicated his reservations about its governance.

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At that time Ian Shirley was the Head of The Auckland University of Technology’s Policy Observatory. He subsequently invited me to several lectures at AUT which I enjoyed. He sent me a paper he had written on Wellington’s interference in Auckland’s governance. I several times asked his advice on articles I was writing, and he was most generous with his time and comments. I visited Ian and Mary’s home on Richmond Road to discuss issues. In 2016 I was invited to Ian’s farewell at AUT as he finally, in his late 70s, agreed to retire. He had had health scares over the years, possibly attributed to his frequent visits to Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands where he did some of his most important administrative work. He passed away approaching 80, with his loving wife Mary and family all present to farewell him. Ian Shirley was a distinguished academic - he disliked the monicker Emeritus Professor - but mostly to me he was a kindly, wise and highly intelligent gentleman. Old fashioned values maybe, quiet, not loud and outspoken. It was those things that drew me to him. He had a progressive political philosophy. A chance first meeting in a local reserve - how lucky was I? I wish I had known him sooner. PN (JOHN ELLIOTT) F PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

Foamstream weed control could make glyphosate redundant Readers will remember our crusade against the carcinogenic weed killer, glyphosate, the active ingredient of Roundup. We have had some wins, and the Waitemata Local Board is committed to eliminating its use over time. Glyphosate has been banned in Albert Park, Myers Park and Western Park - a good beginning. I’m hopeful the Waitemata Board area will be the first ward in Auckland to be declared glyphosate free. Now a newcomer to the weed control arena has arrived on the scene. Foamstream, highly successful in Britain, uses hot water as the killing agent with a mix of natural oils and sugars to create a thermal blanket over the weed, ensuring heat is retained long enough to penetrate the root system. Foamstream is approved as organic, bio-degradable and non-toxic. It is safe to use anywhere including in waterways and delicate eco-systems. The heat retention achieved by the foam means it requires fewer annual treatments. It is this heat retention that makes it so effective. The costs are among the lowest ownership and operating costs in the alternative herbicide-free space. I’m excited about this product. Monsanto has been slugged several hundred million dollars in a California court and glyphosate’s days are numbered, but Monsanto will protect its 40 billion dollar asset to the last ditch. We need a suitable substitute up our sleeve, and Foamstream may just be that substitute. I met with Matt Kirby who has the New Zealand licence to use Foamstream, and to review progress since machines arrived in New Zealand late last year. Kirby acknowledges councils are slow to take up new products, but he is happy with the feedback he is receiving. Several machines have been sold at prices around $55,000. He has travelled throughout New Zealand, proving Foamstream’s effectiveness. He has been in negotiations with Ventia who have council contracts in Auckland, and Recreational Services, a nationwide contractor, based in Christchurch.

Kirby showed me photos of results in Western Park. Ventia, as Auckland Council contractor, has been charged with reducing, and then eliminating, the use of the poisonous Roundup. Much of its recent work has been mechanical removal of weeds. That means digging them out. It takes time and, according to Kirby, often just means skimming the tops off weeds which quickly grow again. Foamstream is so effective because the foam stops the heat from the hot water escaping to the atmosphere, trapping it and holding it directly on the plant for an extended period of time. This allows it to work in the most effective way possible. Councils and other contractors will be looking at the cost effectiveness of Foamstream, and rightly so, but it looks like a promising alternative to poisonous sprays, and its potential environmental benefits are huge. Matt Kirby is showing off his product around New Zealand, and will be at the Parks and Recreational Expo, Green Pavlova, at Alexandra Park from 1-3 May. He is available to give demonstrations of Foamstream’s effectiveness to groups of homeowners or local organisations, particularly if you are one of thousands now determined to ban the carcinogenic glyphosate-laden Roundup. The environmental benefits alone make Foamstream very attractive, but its PN effectiveness is enhancing that attractiveness. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F You can contact Matt Kirby on M: 027 222 7684, E: matt@weedingtech.com

NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR SPEEDWAY Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has welcomed the agreement between Regional Facilities Auckland and Springs Promotions Limited to extend Speedway’s lease at Western Springs for 12 months. The agreement comes as council considers the long-term future of Speedway in Auckland including a proposal to move Speedway to Colin Dale Park in South Auckland.

photography: James Selwyn Photos

Mayor Goff says, “I asked everyone to take a step back and think realistically about the most sensible option for Speedway and today we have made some progress. “An extension for one season at Western Springs provides surety for Speedway and its fans for next season and allows all parties time to agree on a new permanent home for Speedway in Auckland. “I support Bill Buckley's vision to move speedway to Colin Dale Park which will allow the sport to grow without the constraints currently imposed by the Environment Court on the number of meetings that can be held. “Colin Dale Park future-proofs speedway. It can hold events at Colin Dale Park without limitation and without opposition from neighbouring residents

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

concerned about noise or disturbance to their lives. It also allows a fit-for -purpose safe track to be built there,” Goff says. F PN

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

NEWLY RELEASED WYNYARD QUARTER APARTMENTS WILLIS BOND & CO ANNOUNCES STAGE TWO OF 30 MADDEN The Beaumont Apartments at 30 Madden offer a unique waterfront lifestyle within the heart of Wynyard Quarter. With world-class eateries, close to live entertainment and home to modern and welcoming green spaces, this waterfront community embodies the best of contemporary, urban living. The newly released Beaumont Apartments are now available for prospective buyers to purchase off the plans. As the final opportunity to join the 30 Madden community, the Beaumont Apartments comprise a variety of layouts across 63 apartments, including maisonettes and three exclusive penthouses. Internal areas begin at 45m2 and range up to 254m2 in the dual-level penthouses, with all apartments benefiting from a private balcony space of at least 12m2. The apartments will feature high-quality fittings and fixtures, European appliances, fully tiled bathrooms, a multi-level courtyard for the exclusive use of residents, and some will have the opportunity to upgrade to electric car-charging carparks. Designed to stand the test of time, 30 Madden is targeting a Homestar seven rating for sustainability and energy efficiency. The developmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s considered design has been crafted by the award -winning Studio Pacific Architecture. LT McGuinness has commenced construction of Stage One of 30 Madden, the Daldy Apartments and Townhouses, of which more than 90% have sold. Construction of Stage Two of 30 Madden, the Beaumont Apartments, is estimated to take 18 months and is targeting late 2019 for commencement. Wynyard Quarter, as a harmonious and ever-evolving part of Auckland, has been chosen as the stage for the 36th Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cup in 2021. As the new heart of Auckland, Wynyard Quarter offers a unique waterfront lifestyle within walking distance of the Auckland CBD, Britomart and the Auckland Ferry Terminal. Beaumont apartment prices start from $635,000, with car parks sold separately. The 30 Madden Display Suite is located on the corner of Daldy and Madden Streets in Wynyard Quarter, and is open 12 noon-2pm on weekdays and 2pm-4pm Saturday and Sunday. For further information, or to arrange an appointment, please contact: Louise Stringer - M: 021 628 839 Mike Thorpe - M: 021 877 351

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME TO A HIGHER STANDARD The New Ideal. For those with a taste for high-end leisure, not willing to compromise on location, now is the ﬁnal opportunity to purchase within 30 Madden. Close to Westhaven Marina, the newly released Beaumont Apartments have a layout to suit your lifestyle with a range of distinguished apartments, maisonettes and penthouses available. In the centre of Wynyard Quarter, a phenomenal outlook is never far from view. A communal outdoor sanctuary of the highest standard complements the spacious balconies and sophisticated interiors within each home. Your every need will be met at 30 Madden.

Visit the 30 Madden display suite on the corner of Madden and Daldy Street, open weekdays 12pm – 2pm and weekends 2pm – 4pm.

30madden.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Gabrielle Hoffmann 021 021 66611 g.hoffmann@barfoot.co.nz

Louise Stringer 021 628 839 l.stringer@barfoot.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

Fixing our faltering education system A radical upheaval of our education system has been recommended by the Tomorrow’s Schools’ taskforce, led by experienced educator, Bali Haque. I attended a seminar at Papatoetoe High School led by Haque and another taskforce member, Cathy Wylie, and a second seminar at Birkenhead Primary School led by former minister of education Nikki Kaye, now National Party Education Spokesperson. Thirty years ago, Prime Minister David Lange introduced Tomorrow’s Schools, putting into place most of the recommendations of the Picot Report. As Cathy Wylie, long time researcher with the NZ Council for Educational Research, said, “No other Western country bases its entire public system on stand-alone schools, each with their own parent-led board of trustees responsible for the school’s direction and staff employment, and operating without being part of a school district or local authority.” There have been a number of criticisms over the years, and the review seeks to address these. Peter O’Connor, a Professor of Education at Auckland University said back in 2015, “Policies in education should be part of a wider set of policies that recognise that inequality is a social cancer with the potential to cause irreparable harm.” Inequality is cited as a major problem which must be addressed. Critics of Tomorrow’s Schools say we cannot continue with so-called ‘good’ and ‘bad’ schools. All students, particularly those in lower socio-economic regions, including those with high numbers of Maori and Pacifica students, are entitled to a good education. I was a seconded Teacher Recruitment Officer in the mid 1970s, talking to 6th and 7th formers (years 12 and 13) from Auckland to Kaitaia about teaching and their future careers. I sat in on Teacher Selection interviews and subsequently wrote my Master’s thesis on Teacher Selection. Teaching did not then, and still does not, attract its fair share of the most able school leavers. Able students are told by parents, their own teachers, uncles, friends - ‘you can do better than teaching’. The Taskforce gave some prominence to teacher recruitment and training, but few specifics. It recommended recruiting ‘a diversity of teachers which matches the diversity of students as closely as possible’. They also called for ‘guaranteed employment for newly trained teachers’. Worthy recommendations but without addressing directly how New Zealand can attract more able young people into teaching. Giving teaching the professional status it deserves, is my number one priority for the New Zealand education system. Readers should check Finland’s education system. All teachers have master’s degrees, and teachers have as high, or higher, status than all other professions. There are about 10 applicants for each teacher-training spot in Finland. Thus, all schools have excellent teachers, and this helps to prevent the ‘good schools’/ ‘bad schools’ divide which hampers our system. And in Finland, it’s not just about teachers’ salaries. They have more non-contact time for preparation, lower pupil/teacher ratios, almost no homework, and children have less time in class because Finns value the importance of play with peers.

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The NZ Taskforce report said the ‘gap between the best performing and worst performing students has widened’. "We need a cultural and structural transformation," the report stated. Of course we do. We are still living with the consequences of neoliberalism the free-market philosophy introduced by Roger Douglas and then Ruth Richardson in the 1980s. As Bali Haque, and his panel state - "Schools have been encouraged to compete for students rather than to collaborate." In Auckland, the last 15 years has seen so-called ‘top’ schools double in size while a cluster of low-decile schools have seen their rolls halved. Haque was asked at the Papatoetoe meeting whether the proposed Hubs would just mean more bureaucrats. He was at pains to deny this. The hubs should be seen as concepts, rather than physical spaces, he explained. This will be an exercise in devolution not centralisation. Hubs should partner with and monitor schools on a regular and collaborative basis to ensure they are supported, and any problems are identified and responded to early. Experts, not bureaucrats, would broker learning and assessment, give advice, support principals and teachers, support Boards of Trustees, students and parents. Hubs would have flexibility and ability to respond readily to school needs. This would be a bottom-up response rather than top -down imposition. It must be remembered, Cathy Wylie told the meeting, that about one third of New Zealand schools cannot get seven people to stand for their Board of Trustees, let alone get people capable of all governance roles. Haque hopes that politicians can reach bi-partisan agreement on the changes needed, and told us he had had five meetings with Nikki Kaye. I was able to report to the Papatoetoe meeting that bi-partisanship was something Nikki Kaye emphasised strongly at the Birkenhead meeting. The Taskforce report runs to 140 pages, yet submissions are called for by April 7 - far too short a lead time. I had read the Taskforce report before the two meetings. Some of my initial reservations were answered by Haque and Wylie. If implemented and run according to the Taskforce prescriptions, it could be a major step forward for New Zealand education. My priorities would be to concentrate on recruiting more able students into teaching, and to break down the ‘good school’ / ‘bad school' divide which is damaging so many young New Zealanders. PN (JOHN ELLIOTT) F

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PREDICT WEATHER.COM WEATHER DIARY, APRIL 2019 (BY THE MOON) April is expected to be dry at the start and finish, with a good dump of rain about the middle. There may be three phases of rain, the first at the end of the first week, then in the middle of the month and finally a week before the end of the month. Most of April’s rain should be over by 24th. Then for two weeks it is mostly dry and partly sunny. Winds are mostly from the southerly quarter, making for a cool month overall. The windiest days may be 14th, 17th and 18th. For Auckland, the average for maximums may be 20-22°C and for minimums 12-14°C. The warmest day may be around 8th with -25°C max, and the coolest night may be -20th with -10°C. Overall the barometer may average above 1015 mbs, which indicates drier, more settled weather. The highest barometer reading may be -1029mbs on or near 19th, with the lowest -999mbs about five days later.

The best intervals in April for outside activities may be the first and last weeks. Highest tides are on 20th, being the third highest this year, with a lesser high tide around 7th. For fishermen, the best fishing bite-times are at dusk from 4th- 7th and 18th-21st. Chances are also favorable for midday 12th-14th and 25th-29th. For gardeners, the best sowing interval is 14th-18th, when the waxing moon is ascending. The best pruning periods are 1st-4th and 26th-30th, when the waning moon is descending. If harvesting for preservation and longer shelf-life, pick on lower water-table days: 1st, 13th and 29th. (KEN RING) F PN

Allow 24-hour error for all forecasting. From Ken Ring of www.predictweather.com

IT’S ALL ABOUT DANCING THIS MONTH... Ponsonby Community Centre is proud to be offering another free community activity in collaboration with Dance and Arts Therapy NZ in Term 2. Dance4Us! are Dance Movement Therapy group sessions for adults with special needs (including autism, cerebral palsy, Downs syndrome, cognitive delays and other disabilities). Participants will enjoy a fun and therapeutic dance/movement class every week, fostering social connections and emotional literacy through creative and expressive dance/movement-based activities. The sessions will be drop-in, with an optional gold coin donation, to enable a wide range of participants to enjoy the opportunity. PN Dates and times will be posted on the Ponsonby Community Centre website and Facebook page once they are finalised. F

For more information on Ponsonby Community Centre, our activities and venue hire, please visit www.ponsonbycommunity.org.nz

So, you think you can DANCE?

Or would you like to learn?! The McCallion and Hester Irish Dance Academy have classes available for beginners or experienced dancers. Visit their website or email mccallionhester@gmail.com for more information.

www.mccallionhester.com Proudly supported by the Ponsonby Community Centre

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PONSONBY U3A: APRIL 2019 Wendy Preston, producer and director of MIXIT, a community project that uses creativity to work with refugee and migrant background youth, was the March guest speaker at Ponsonby U3A. Wendy has a professional background as an artist and arts educationist. She danced with Limbs Dance Company in the 80s and went on to be part of establishing many important Auckland performing arts institutions. She has taught extensively in creative community development particularly in cross -cultural contexts in New Zealand and overseas. In 2018 she was awarded a Queen’s Honour for her work with young people through the arts. MIXIT was co-founded by Wendy 14 years ago. Since that time, its work has enabled thousands of young people to move forward in their lives, develop friends and networks as new New Zealanders and become positive and contributing members of our community. Creativity is used as a means to work with participants, helping them gain confidence, increase communication and develop life skills. Wendy presented an overview of the work - the joys, challenges and outcomes from the 14 years MIXIT has been running and the thousands of young people whose lives have been changed. She was accompanied by MIXIT youth leader Ilham Akhlaqi, who told her story - and it was a poignant one given the tragic events that have since occurred in Christchurch.

Ilham Akhlaqi and Wendy Preston

Ilham said her family were accepted as refugees to New Zealand from Iran in 2005, having left Afghanistan in 1979 during the Afghan Soviet War. The challenges she faced as a young child were to integrate, language and cultural differences.

“I want to be the first woman in my family that graduates university with a degree and I want to be role model to my sisters and make my family proud. I’m grateful that I joined MIXIT.”

The only thing that she had in common with other students was that “We were all children.” She was teased and what she then thought was bullying she now recognises was racism. “As I grew older, I realised I’m not just a refugee, I’m a young Afghan refugee and a Muslim woman, and every aspect of that shaped my life. My potential was cut down by what I couldn’t do just because I belonged to that religion, gender, status, culture and more.” Her life revolved around school and home: Afghan culture at home and Western culture at school.

Ponsonby U3A meets on the second Friday morning of the month. Visitors are welcome to attend a meeting, but are asked to first phone Christine Hart T: 027 289 5514. There are two speakers at each monthly meeting as well as the opportunity for members to mingle over morning tea. The lifeblood of Ponsonby U3A is said to be the more than 20 special interest groups covering a wide range of topics and leisure activities for members - providing painless learning in small groups.

When she joined MIXIT, from the first she felt that this was the family she never knew existed. She is now a youth leader and has been part of two summer shows.

Speaker for the April meeting will be NIWA climate scientist Petra Pearce. (PHILIPPA TAIT) F PN

“I feel so passionate about helping the refugee youth that come fresh to MIXIT and seeing them unleash their potential in ways they never knew they could." She is studying a Bachelor of Creative Technologies with a minor in creative entrepreneurship.

NEXT MEETING: 10am Friday 12 April at Herne Bay Petanque Club, Salisbury Street Reserve, Herne Bay. ENQUIRIES: Christine Hart, President Ponsonby U3A T: 027 289 5514, www.u3a.nz

@ ST MARY’S COLLEGE Sister Marcienne Kirk English Centre Opening 2019. On Monday 25 February our St Mary’s College, Sister Marcienne Kirk English Centre was officially opened during a very special ceremony. The event was made even more special as we were joined by Sister Marcienne Kirk herself. Pa Peter Tipene (Dean of the Cathedral and College Chapel) provided the blessing for the rededicated and re-purposed building which was formerly a Science Centre, and several lovely speeches were provided by guests. We wish to thank those who made this new flexible learning space a reality and everyone who supported this historic event. F PN ST MARY’S COLLEGE, 11 New Street, Ponsonby, T: 376 6568, www.stmaryak.school.nz

30 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

NIKKI KAYE: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP

A time for New Zealand to unite after the Christchurch terror attack Now is the time that we come together as a nation to ensure we never forget the victims of this terrible tragedy and do everything we can to keep people safe. It is difficult not to feel that our country is forever changed by the act of someone filled with hate who gunned down 50 people and so many more wounded. Kiwi children, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters have been robbed of their loved ones. As family members wait for news of those who are fighting for their lives, we continue to thank the doctors, nurses and police officers tirelessly working to save lives and keep people safe. We also thank the selfless and brave people who tried to save others inside the mosques and on the streets of Canterbury.

I am available as your local representative to hear your views on these issues. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or my office on 09 378 2088 or send me an email on: mp.aucklandcentral@parliament.govt.nz Authorised by Hon Nikki Kaye, MP for Auckland Central, 48C College Hill, Freemans Bay. www.nikkikaye.co.nz Alternatively, send me an email at mp.aucklandcentral@parliament.govt.nz

I want to acknowledge our Prime Minister, Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, for her leadership during this difficult time.

On the Sunday after the attack I sat in a pew at the Ponsonby Sacred Heart Catholic Church and I cried for the victims. I was moved as I watched the visible love between the religious leaders in the multi -faith service. Their ability to love when people around them are broken shows huge strength. We sang the National anthem and the words “Men of every creed and race, Gather here before Thy face, Asking Thee to bless this place, God defend our free land. From dissension, envy, hate,” seemed to ring out louder that afternoon. We lay flowers and the congregation flowed into Ponsonby Al-Masjid Al-Jamie Mosque. I stayed in the mosque to talk to some of the women and men who have friends or family hurt or lost. The women were sad but strong. They talked of the love they felt from the community. One of the men outside the mosque looked at me tearfully with glassy eyes as he talked about people being shot. The flowers and cards continue be placed and people continue to weep. I, like most MPs, will continue to work closely with communities impacted in Auckland central. We now need to come together as a nation to ensure we never forget the victims of this terrible tragedy and do everything we can to keep people safe. In Parliament and communities, we will need to work through how we do everything possible to prevent this occurring again. In terms of gun law reform, National wants to work with the Government in a non-partisan way to ensure New Zealanders are safe. We have supported the changes to gun laws that have been announced and are working through the implementation of these changes with the Government. We also understand the need to ensure difficult questions are asked around intelligence issues and social media. Many people have also commented on the need to have a zero tolerance for racism and violence. Through my discussions with the community, I know that many people are scared. If you need mental health services please call or text 1737. I know that all New Zealanders have been affected by these tragic events and my thoughts are with you all. Kia kaha. (NIKKI KAYE) F PN

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

photography: Martin Leach

We have had tragedies and loss of life as a nation through terrible accidents and we have had massacres, but this was one of our most difficult days. This ripped our hearts out - so many innocent people gunned down in an act of terrorism. Inside the mosques, Muslim Kiwis were supposed to be in a sacred place, a taonga, a place of worship. Many people saw us as one of the most peaceful nations on earth. So many people have said to me they feel a loss of innocence for New Zealand.

NZ Police Superintendent Karyn Malthus with Auckland Central MP Kikki Kaye pictured at Al-Masjid al-Jamie Mosque, Ponsonby

Hon Nikki Kaye MP for Auckland Central I regularly work on local issues and meet with constituents. Please contact my office if you would like to discuss anything with me Drop In Constituency Clinic: 48C College Hill, Freemans Bay Friday 12 April, 2.00pm

Funded by the Parliamentary Service. Authorised by Nikki Kaye MP, 48C College Hill, Freemans Bay, Auckland.

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

DEIRDRE THURSTON: ON MY MIND My niece’s cat died on 15 March. A glorious, silky, brown-furred, golden-eyed bitey, scratchy pudding of a boy who mewled like a baby bear. He just had to be as close to your head as possible so he could dribble on your cheek and purr love in your ear. And bite you out of the blue. It’s a Burmese cat thing. His passing hurt our hearts. Then we heard the news about Christchurch. Our hearts broke into smithereens and continue to do so. Initially, I thought it was a hoax. A tasteless, undignified hoax from some uneducated moron with nothing else to do. Once it became evident it was true, the Twin Towers came to mind. I couldn’t comprehend that either. Even while watching it unfold on television. I am still struggling to comprehend Christchurch. So many emotions surfaced. Grief for those who senselessly, cruelly died; for those in the mosques physically unscathed but emotionally traumatised who will live with fear forever. For brave people who helped haul terrified fleeing men and women over fences out of harm’s way. For an innocence lost. For us as a nation. For our police force who are brave and exemplary. But it’s not about us as the ‘others’ watching on. Social media is overflowing with how sad we all are, how this affects us, how angry some are. I understand people need to reach out and feel part of a community. Feel safe and heard. Share grief. However, I remain staggered as to how prolific posts were about how ‘we’ were affected. ‘We’ are not important now. ‘They’ are important. Instead of wondering how we are are going to get through this utter sadness and tragedy, let us focus on the real victims. Those dead, injured, families mourning, children not understanding. A Muslim community shattered. We can sort ourselves out later.

quiet and sombre. Grey clouds loomed over the water while a peep of sun silvered the silent outgoing tide. I’m not being fanciful. Even the usual sparrows chirpily hopping nearby expecting crumbs were missing. A solitary locust hit the fence behind us and disappeared. Yachts sailed past Rangitoto. Life went on. My day was spent with my niece for her birthday, among family. I needed to be with my family. I snapped a picture on my iPhone of my great niece. Little fingers held up to her mouth. Pure, innocent eyes smiling at me under a crooked fringe which only served to make her look cuter than ever. Heart’s ease. Please, God, let her never know a day like yesterday and today. My heart hurts for yesterday's lost children. My heart also hurts for the doctors, nurses and all medical staff manning those surgery theatres in Christchurch. 24/7. Some of these angels performed life-saving surgery on the earthquake victims in Christchurch’s other dark days. Bless them. Seriously. Yes, they see dead bodies and accident victims regularly. But 49 bodies. Dead, and others barely alive! Time goes by and we tend to push aside what has happened because - our lives. Work, dropping kids to play centre, school.. I feel that this will never dissipate in our memories to the degree other things have. This is different. This has now become, sadly, part of our history. In years to come other generations will read about this and know things changed forever.

How can anyone hate so intently? How can another human being think for a moment he/ she is better than anyone else? Has the right to gun children, women and men down in any situation? He is a coward. His victims were praying. Peaceful. Sending good into our world from their mosques with their prayers.

All the more reason to love, have compassion and stand together. Let us not judge, but instead, hold our arms out to everyone whether we believe in the same God or not. And let’s not make this about ‘us’. Let’s, instead, reach out to those weeping for their loved ones. Let us embrace them. Always.

The next morning, the day after the happening that changed us all to differing degrees, I sat on the beach with a friend drinking green tea, as we do, and we both didn’t know what to say or how to even spend the rest of the day. Time seemed suspended. A few people (and their blissfully unaware happy dogs) slowly and silently walked the shoreline. Normally on any given morning there are many more people, and their dogs, laughing, chatting, waving out to one another. Not that morning. It was eerily

I sat there that evening after a day with my family. Blessed. Remember to be grateful. Understand diets, rush hour traffic jams, a less than perfect meal in a restaurant, a tiff with a friend... these are nothing. Rejoice in each and every moment we have. Kia Kaha Christchurch and New Zealand. Peace. (DEIRDRE THURSTON) F PN

LUCIA MATAIA: LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY NEWS Kia ora koutou, the school holidays are nearly upon us, and we have a wonderful range of Mary Poppins'-themed activities to keep the kids happy. We also have some book recommendations to keep readers happy. Now that we have said goodbye to Daylight Saving, the longer evenings are a good excuse to cozy-up with a book.

the only fee is time and effort. Come along and make sugar water feeders to keep our native birds full of energy in the cooler months. Then help us prepare our courtyard for spring by planting some daffodil bulbs under the oak tree.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Let's Go Fly a Kite Tuesday 16 April 2.30pm What would a Mary Poppins'-themed school holidays be without kites and penguins? Come along and spend an afternoon making kites to fly in the autumn breeze and playing penguin skittles.

Book Chats Recommends This month we have two nonfiction books. First up is This Mortal Boy by Fiona Kidman. This is the story of the second to last person to be executed in New Zealand. Albert Black, the ‘jukebox killer’ was only 20 when he was sentenced to hang.

Tea Time Thursday 18 April 2.30pm Mary Poppins invites you to celebrate her uncle Mr Wigg’s Birthday. We’re not sure when it is but we are sure it should be celebrated with a tea party and chalk drawing in our courtyard. Decorate the walls of the courtyard with fabulous chalk artworks, enjoy a cup of tea (caramel milk) and an ice cream with pink wafers. Feed the Birds Tuesday 23 April 2.30pm In the world of Mary Poppins, it was tuppence a bag to feed the birds. But here at Leys

32 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

One of our group said the book portrayed 1950s New Zealand society as, "very sad, narrow-minded and mean." Having said that, they also said the book was "well worth reading" and enjoyed Kidman’s fine writing style. On a lighter note, another book that has been popular is The Diary of a Bookseller. The author Shaun Bythell writes about his life as the owner of the second largest secondhand bookshop in Wigtown in Scotland. Easter and Anzac Opening Hours There are a few public holidays when we will be closed. Friday 19 April (Good Friday); Monday 22 April (Easter Monday); Thursday 25 April (ANZAC day). (LUCIA MATAIA) F PN LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY, 20 St Marys Road, T: 09 377 0209, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS DIRTY JOB TO KEEP AUCKLAND’S WATERWAYS AND HARBOUR CLEAN Innovative solution to manage stormwater contaminants on Auckland Transport’s road network. Auckland Transport is working with leading engineering and water management specialist GHD to expand the 10-year, city-wide roll out of an innovative stormwater catchpit treatment system, which has proven effective in reducing the amount of plastics and other contaminants entering Auckland’s harbours, beaches and waterways. Starting in February 2019, GHD began managing the installation of the ‘TetraTrap’ system of specially designed stainless steel stormwater treatment devices, installed in road catchpits in high priority stormwater catchpits throughout the Takapuna and Milford catchment areas in the North Shore of Auckland. This catchpit treatment device, developed by GHD in collaboration with Auckland Transport, utilises redundant space in catchpits and can easily be installed to give maximum impact to capture pollutants within a short timeframe. To date, Auckland Transport has installed approximately 3000 TetraTraps throughout the Auckland Central region, removing tonnes of refuse every year that would otherwise pollute Auckland’s marine environment. Auckland Transport is responsible for building, maintaining and managing 7500km of roads and associated infrastructure throughout Auckland. Its infrastructure represents approximately 25% of the city’s hard surface areas, so Auckland Transport understands the pivotal role it must play in protecting the downstream marine environment. Veenay Rambisheswar, Manager, Technical Services and Program Management, at Auckland Transport, said: “The road network is a primary source of stormwater runoff and capture and, while much can be done to encourage people to dispose of their rubbish more thoughtfully, we know that our installation of physical barriers in critical locations is having a direct impact on the quality of stormwater that is discharged into creeks, rivers, harbours and beaches. We have also worked closely with local boards to ensure these environments are protected and enhanced for future generations to enjoy. This contributes towards making Auckland an eco-city, with cleaner water and air and reducing waste.” The TetraTraps have no moving parts and form a simple but effective barrier, collecting gross pollutant litter such as plastic bottles, bags,

sediment and heavy metals from stormwater runoff. The TetraTraps can also be fitted with bags to collect fine sediments from construction sites and runoff from recreational areas. Auckland Council, on behalf of Auckland Transport, is also responsible for regularly cleaning the catchment road catchpits and removing and disposing of pollutants that are captured by the TetraTraps. GHD has worked closely with Auckland Transport to develop a prioritisation matrix, which it is now using to determine the most critical interception points for each catchment in the North, West, Central and South catchments of Auckland. The matrix considers the proximity of catchpits to sensitive receiving environments, such as harbours, beaches and other waterways, and determines the optimum points to install TetraTraps around roads, pathways and other high traffic sites such as train and bus stations, town centres and commercial areas. The prioritized programme aims to prevent the entry of road corridor pollutants to Auckland’s waterways and harbour and meet Auckland Transports strategic objectives with respect to stormwater. John Tetteroo, Principal Engineer at GHD, said: “Our aim is to reduce the impact of stormwater runoff in an innovative, sustainable, integrated and cost-effective manner. Together with Auckland Transport, we’ve spent the last 10 years engineering and perfecting a solution that has won numerous awards but, more importantly, our TetraTraps are helping to improve the health of the marine ecology and making Auckland’s harbours, beaches and waterways cleaner and safer for everyone to enjoy.” The threat posed by plastics and other contaminants entering the marine ecology and making their way into the food chain are well documented and pose a significant threat to Auckland’s enviable reputation as one of the world’s most liveable cities and an internationally renowned tourism and watersports destination. And while it’s difficult to quantify how much plastic is washed into Auckland’s waterways, or the world’s waterways and oceans more broadly, according to research published in the journal Science in 2015, up to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic waste enters the global marine environment every year.

JON ZEALANDO BOOK LAUNCH AT THE SURREY HOTEL No magician in 20th Century New Zealand became as well known and iconic as Jon Zealando. Jon has had a highly successful career for over fifty years, three quarters of that time as a full-time professional magician.

Multi-faceted, Jon is a magician, artist, musician, singer, fakir and an actor and relentless campaigner against fraud. His press campaign virtually put an end to the highly touted tours back in the 70s to the Philippines of sick New Zealanders seeking cures from 'psychic surgeons’. Likewise, he exposed Uri Geller for what he was, a stage magician claiming psychic powers.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

photography: Mick Peck

There is a strong local history and focus for Jon and the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians. Their inaugural meeting was at a house at 141 Great North Road back in 1945, the club still meets every month at The Surrey Hotel in Grey Lynn. It was there last month, that Jon launched his book ‘Jon Zealando A Magical Legend’ written by Bernard Reid.

David Hartnell MNZM, Jon Zealando & author Bernard Reid at the book launch PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

LOCAL NEWS

@ GREY LYNN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Take a look at these three photos. They are all taken from a similar position looking at the Mt Albert shops on three Saturdays this summer (26 January, 9 February and 26 February). They are taken about midday - peak shopping time. I was driving past, quickly stopped my car, jumped out and took a photo of whatever was going on. As you can see, not much. There are almost no pedestrians, no shoppers, no cyclists and a traffic jam. What you can’t see is that the single lane of traffic is backed up for a considerable distance even at midday on an ordinary weekend day. The pictures tell a profoundly bad story: A once-bustling retail strip and centre of a proud suburb is almost an urban ghost town. The sad thing is that this is after the retailers put up with months of roadworks and streetscape ‘improvements’ and, I assume, assurances from those responsible that once their work was done the upgrade would lead to great things for the local shops. I don’t have the detailed retail data, but one look at the no-people photos and a comparison with Grey Lynn or Ponsonby or Kingsland on a Saturday shows something went very wrong. So, let’s try and unpick this. I am sure 'those responsible' (there is some disagreement as to whether the work was led by Auckland Council or Auckland Transport so we will just refer to them as 'those responsible') had the best of intentions when a decision was made to re-do the pedestrian, cycling and driving infrastructure in one of our historic inner-city villages. And most of us, myself and the Grey Lynn Business Association included, totally support cityscapes that encourage safer cycling, more pedestrian-friendly designs and better public transport. However, when we look at Mt Albert we see a solution that started with good intentions and delivered a quadruple fail - no pedestrians, dying retail, traffic jams and no cyclists. Now, if any other professional group achieved this scale of error using public funds (your hospital or school for instance) there would

be an immediate investigation about what went wrong with the system and, hopefully, some form of public report about how to fix it. I would very much like to see an objective, data-informed review of the Mt Albert outcomes - for community, retail and transport - and the identification of what has been learned, prior to any implementation of similar ‘improvements’ in West Lynn, Grey Lynn and K'Rd areas. I am concerned that AT and Auckland Council are pushing on with massive changes to our urban villages with their thinking back to front, and the potential to do lasting damage. How about we start from the point of understanding what makes our local urban villages thrive. For most of us it is the bustling energy of mingling on the streets, enjoying great cafes and interesting shops. AT and council need to start with a commitment to supporting thriving village retail as being of fundamental importance and then to integrate their transportation solutions around this aim. Otherwise the fate of Mt Albert will be transplanted across other inner-city villages and everyone will lose. As a start, the Grey Lynn Business Association would like active and real engagement with ourselves and others by AT and council. We need to move away from current ponderous, opaque, bureaucratic processes towards fast, transparent cycles of co-design with communities based on clear agreed aims and good data. There is an element of ‘greenwash’ inside AT at present, where there is a community PR front-end to their operations, but the secretive decision-making culture has not changed. This is our community and livelihood. AT and council need to trust in the basic concept that better decisions are made when affected communities are actively involved. (PAUL STEPHENSON, CO-CHAIR, GREY LYNN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION) www.glba.co.nz

IN THE NEXT ISSUE - PROMOTE YOUR BAR, CAFE OR RESTAURANT

34 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS YOUR GREY LYNN TRANSITION COMMUNITY Towards a vibrant, connected, sustainable and resilient community in 2030. The goal of Grey Lynn 2030 Transition Community (GL2030) is to bring people together to explore how we - as communities - can respond to environmental, economic and social challenges arising from climate change, resource depletion and an economy based on growth. Grey Lynn 2030 is part of the international grassroots transition movement. Transition works on the understanding that communities have within themselves the innovation and ingenuity to create positive solutions to the converging crises of our time. We are a participatory community organisation promoting and engaging in building neighbourhood spirit and co-operation. People often ask why the name 2030? The year 2030 is a timeframe that many international organisations such as the UN have set themselves to respond to these crises. From the start, GL2030 set the intention of working towards a self-reliant, positive, resilient, vibrant, connected and sustainable community by 2030 and we continue working toward this goal.

• The Grey Lynn Business Association (GLBA) started (in 2010) with the intent to lower carbon footprint by supporting local businesses and encouraging the community to shop locally. • The GL2030 Trash to Trade upcycling initiative (since 2016) is supported by the GLBA, currently planning pop-up events and upcycling workshops. • GL2030 continues to start up new community-based initiatives, such as the renewed Energy Focus Group, which promotes sustainable energy and transport initiatives with multiple benefits; the Grey Lynn Food Forest Project, which currently plans community planting spaces to grow food; and the Auckland Library of Tools, a community hub for makers and a resource for home improvements. We would like to acknowledge Waitemata Local Board and Auckland Council who supported some of our initiatives.

Since 2008, Grey Lynn 2030 has been the incubator for many initiatives (see graphic) that have made Grey Lynn the sustainable and eco-friendly suburb it is known for. Some of these include:

If you are interested in learning more about the 10-year history of GL2030 and didn’t already get a copy of our book, here is the online version:

• The epic Sunday Grey Lynn Farmers Market (since 2009)

https://transitionnetwork.org/news-and-blog/grey-lynn-2030-newpublication-celebrates-10-years/

• The Grey Lynn 2030 Car Boot Market (since 2012) • Grey Lynn 2030 Waste Away (since 2008) addresses household waste issues and has promoted Plastic FREE Grey Lynn for many years by continuing to support local businesses becoming plastic bag free, with Government legislation coming into effect on 1 July 2019.

Come and join any of the many GL2030 groups or we’ll support you to start your own! If you are keen to get involved, contact us directly by emailing greylynn2030@gmail.com or phone 021 113 4171. Alternatively you can visit our website www.greylynn2030.co.nz, or find us on facebook www.facebook.com/GreyLynn2030/.

Overview of Grey Lynn 2030 Transition Community (GL2030)

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PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

LOCAL NEWS: KERRY LEE

Don’t miss the Grey Lynn Crafternoon Tea Market This April, the Crafternoon Tea Market will be proud to become a part of the Grey Lynn community. I recently had the chance to speak to Fiona Leaning, the organiser and one of the artisans from the Crafternoon Tea Markets, to see what it was all about, and what they could offer the Grey Lynn Community. Thank you for taking the time to speak to me, could you start my telling me about the Crafternoon Tea Market, where it all begin? Crafternoon Tea’s started in Auckland about 10 years ago, and at the time it was based around Ponsonby and then around the Kingsland area. When we took over we decided to really specialise in highly crafted New Zealand-made goods and to shine a spotlight on some of the local makers that might not have shop front, or a major online presence. We also really want to bring people back from the shopping malls, so, if you want a nice gift there are a lot of other options available. What kind of products are you making at the moment for crafternoon’s? I make eco reusable products, that are plastic-free alternatives, like beeswax food covers and produce bags and I’ve been doing that for the last six years.

Are there some things you can’t accept or that wouldn’t fit into what you’re trying to achieve? First it has to be New Zealand made, and it has to be beautifully presented and really great quality. Is there a target audience per se? Anyone who values quality, New Zealand-made goods and our message is support local, shop local. Our target audience would be the people that are sick of having the same stuff as their neighbours have, and who value quality products. Do you think the quality of products has gone down with the introduction of, say, the two dollar shops? I think everyone likes a bargain, so that definitely plays into it. Lastly, is there anything that you’d like to say or add about the Crafternoon Tea Market? We brought Crafternoon Teas because we loved the family vibe and the feeling of community, and we’d like to invite people to come along and see and feel it for themselves. (KERRY LEE) F PN The Crafternoon Tea Market will be at the Grey Lynn Community Centre and will be held from 3pm to 7pm on 27 April, for more information please visit: www.crafternoontea.co.nz

We love that we can showcase some local Grey Lynn talent like Isla Osbourne making brand Wearing Glass, and Ella Rose Shnapp who makes handmade beeswax candles, and presses flowers from her garden. So Crafternoon Tea Market is coming to Grey Lynn, could you tell me what attracted you to the area? I love the Grey Lynn area, and as a vendor I used to go to the Grey Lynn Farmers Market. There’s a lot of talent in and around that area, and one of the things I get asked all the time is ‘can you bring your market to us’. We’ve got one in Albany and one in Mt Albert, so having one in Grey Lynn was the next choice for us. Could you tell us specifically a bit more about the event? The Crafternoon Tea Market will be held in the afternoon; it’ll include food trucks, live music and of course our usual beautifully curated craft market featuring several Grey Lynn artisans.

LOCAL SCHOOL AWAITS THE CHANCE TO WIN POLYFEST 2019 Ng-a Puna o Wai-orea kapa haka group have won ASB Polyfest, eight times in the last decade. They are now waiting to find out if they will get another chance to take - and Pacific Island festival top honours at the world’s largest Maori again. The last day of this year’s event was cancelled due to the tragic events in Christchurch on Friday, 15 March. Approximately 100,000 people attended the 2019 ASB Polyfest where over 12,000 students competed across a range of categories and divisions in their respective cultures. - immersion school within Western Nga- Puna o Waiorea is the Maori Springs College and has a reputation for producing some of the finest kapa haka performers in the country. The school has three competitive winning teams: Nga- Puna o Rehu, Nga- Oho o Waiorea, and Nga Puna o Waiorea, the current division 1 winners. All the competing schools are due to meet in early April to discuss a proposed new date of 6 April for the final day of competition. F PN

36 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

photography: Hayley Guilford

WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Flowers by Floral Stylist Co

LOCAL STYLIST SARAH MURPHY SHARES HER INSIGHT ON SUSTAINABLE WEDDING DAYS We spoke with local stylist Sarah Murphy to get some insight into how to make choices for a stylish wedding that acknowledges the ‘now’ aesthetic but are also mindful of the environment.

Local stylist Sarah Murphy

“From the garments we wear, to the beauty products we choose and the flowers we select, we can make sustainable choices that are not only kind to the environment but are stunning as well,” says Sarah. Sarah Murphy works with a range of people, from musicians, broadcasters, actors and other entertainers developing a style narrative that works in harmony with her clients' personal brands and creative aesthetics. Whether she is helping Six60 dress for a milestone concert or styling a news reader for a magazine spread, Sarah’s philosophy is the same, “Feeling content and comfortable - your best unapologetic self while at at the same time growing and expanding personal expression. It’s something I feel we should all strive for,” says Sarah.

photography: Damon Jones

Sustainable style “There are so many ways to look elegant and feel beautiful as a bride without adding to fashion’s pollution,” says Sarah. "Brides can go traditional with gowns that become heirlooms to hand down to the next generation or they can select something more versatile, opting for a dress or suit that has a life beyond their wedding day.

Local designer Turet Knuefermann

38 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

“Wedding dresses no longer need to be such a one-time wear affair, traditions are shifting and more and more there is room to be experimental and individual. Buying ‘off the rack’ gives a bride the ability to easily wear her dress more than once. A woman donning a winter white suit or boasting a coloured gown, shows that brides are protesting the traditional expectations of wedding attire more and more. Couples are recognising that this is a day for them and their partners to express themselves." says Sarah.

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With being mindful comes thinking and buying local. There are so many New Zealand designers who provide inspiration. Juliette Hogan is about to release her 2019 bridal range, Jane Yeh is a long-time player and Knuefermann, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Presents designer, is always a sophisticated and undoubtedly alluring option. “Knuefermann is always bringing timeless sophistication that never skips an air of sexiness in her garments,” says Sarah. A dress by Knuefermann can make the perfect choice for an elegant wedding gown that can still be worn well after the special day. As a member of the recently launched Mindful Fashion Collective, Juliette Hogan, like many of our local brands, acknowledges the poor record of the fashion industry as one of the world’s biggest polluters. Their initiative has been created as a collaborative support network to help New Zealand designers work together to overcome a range of challenges at a local level that the industry faces globally. “Whether a dress is locally made, sourced internationally or is a pre-loved designer piece, it’s how you style your look with the use of jewellery and shoes as well as other additions that transforms a beautiful dress into a stunning wedding gown,” says Sarah. “Harper's Bazaar has already noted the revival of feathers as accessories, subtle (or not) and brides can try embellishments for a nod to an 80s edge or for a 70s disco vibe, go for sequins and embroidery. There really are no rules,” says Sarah. Of course sometimes minimal simplicity wins and a sheer veil is enough to complete a stunning wedding gown.

Local designer Juliette Hogan

Wedding trends can be exciting for men, too, and include anything from three-piece tailoring to the use of bright colours and bold prints. “We have some amazing menswear brands in New Zealand and it’s hard to go past Working Style with the options of a custom -made suit or an off the rack purchase. Working Style also has an array of suits to hire. Long-standing local institution WORLD is great if you want a locally made statement shirt, blazer or full suit to add vibrancy and playfulness to your wedding day." Lingerie and fragrance are a must-have consideration for a wedding and Lonely in Ponsonby has the bride and bridal party covered. Their signature fragrance by Maison Louis Marie is a scent that will have your partner swooning. “You can’t help but feel sexy and romantic in Lonely underwear, the Lina bra and high -waisted underwear in biscuit is a very cool fit and is a colour that will work for most brides. Ending the night in their Hollie Teddy would be ideal,” suggests Sarah. Mindful wedding beauty With many different beauty brands to choose from, making a choice to select products for the big day that are sustainably produced and responsibly manufactured is one way Sarah suggests any bride can make mindful choices. “Attaining radiant skin with an inner glow, never needs to be at the cost of an animal’s well-being or the health of our planet or ourselves,” says Sarah.

photography: Paul Lambert

“Botanicals are the new luxury when it comes to mindful beauty products.” Mecca stocks a number of ethical brands, one that charmed me is Chantecaille,” says Sarah. The story of Chantecaille, a small French family owned business that sees itself as raising the bar in the beauty industry, is a great example of innovation and mindfulness. Chantecaille is cruelty free and responsibly manufactured and the entire product range is built on the incredible properties of a single rare extract from the Rose de Mai. A rose with anti-inflammatory, anti-aging properties that is only able to be harvested one month out of the year, the month of May. Flowers by Floral Stylist Co for Mark and Ed

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS Rose-Marie Swift, a renowned make-up artist created RMS, another range found at Mecca Ponsonby. RMS was created so women could enjoy healthy, clean beauty without harmful heavy metals. All RMS products celebrate the purity of natural ingredients and their ability to heal and revitalise the skin. For brides who want to bring attention to their eyes, Sarah suggests RMS Swift shadows eye palette combined with their mascara simply named 'mascara' with a subtle stroke of the RMS Vintage Cake liner. “There’s really no need to compromise on colour and performance when it comes to making choices that are natural, sustainable and environmentally sound,” she says.

Zoe and Morgan

Local brands like Ahimsa Cosmetics developed by former lawyer Shavana Rejendran are 100% vegan and cruelty free. Using no harsh chemicals and deriving maximum benefit from natural ingredients, Ahimsa cosmetics a super hydrating and rich in colour. New Zealand skin care range Trilogy is a beautiful, locally manufactured option for skin prep, with products for both men and women. Trilogy founders and sisters Sarah Gibbs and Catherine De Groot, discovered the natural benefits of rosehip oil and began Trilogy in 2002. “They stand by their values noting that building a meaningful business isn’t rocket science but about being responsible with every choice we make. I have to agree,” says Sarah. Jewellery There are a number of talented manufacturing jewellers that offer beautiful options for wedding couples and ascribe to a strict policy of only using conflict-free gems. “Family business Zoe & Morgan Jewellery is a favourite, whether it’s their fine jewellery or their bold, stunningly crafted earrings. Each piece they create has a beautiful story and thoughtful meaning behind it. I especially love their nod to the art deco era,” says Sarah.

Local designer Working Style

Clockwise: RMS Vintage Eye Liner, Chantecaille Nano Gold Eye Cream, RMS Beauty Eye Polish

Bespoke fine jewellers like Carats, and Diamonds on Richmond (DOR) each offer their own distinctive aesthetic. Carats draws inspiration from the long tradition of English jewellery design and disrupt this with modern influences and a love of colour. Brother and sister jewellery making team DOR are based in Grey Lynn and specialise in custom made engagement and wedding rings. Working closely with clients to create pieces that match their dreams, suit their budgets and sparkle for a lifetime. Floral Art Every couple’s wedding is bespoke in some way. Personal touches add character and reflect the personalities of both partners. This not only makes a wedding special for the happy couple but also makes it meaningful for the guests. Styles and themes that run through the event can be cleverly connected through floral art. Wedding flowers have developed beyond a mere button hole and bridal bouquet to become an extension of a wedding’s style aesthetic. “Sue Cameron is an incredible local floral artist who thoughtfully uses local and seasonal flowers. Her work is used on fashion and advertising shoots because she is able to create an overall tone and feeling - this is a vital role for a wedding,” says Sarah. Photography A professional photographer can ensure you catch your moments and memories of love to share across your social platforms. Digital sharing options do away with the charming tradition of thank you cards and instead reduce the use of paper for a more sustainable way of sharing your thoughts. Wedding invites are also increasingly being sent via online tools, not only saving the planet, but also making tracking RSVPs and ongoing communications with guests more seamless. Sites like www.evite.com and www.greenvelope.com offer a range of easy to use tools that use hero photography to create professional and clever online invitations. From start to finish the modern wedding can be mindful of the environment and be full of sustainable and ethical choices, while at the same time celebrating a milestone event celebrating love and togetherness.

40 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

Modes Bridal, Newmarket

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS WEDDINGS + GIFTS + STYLING There is so much to consider when planning a wedding. What to wear, how to style your day, and the gifts for your bridal party, to name a few. Here are some options we love.

NEWMARKET ICON FOR 35 YEARS

BESPOKE WEDDING GIFT BOXES

Gourmet Gifts is a gifting company curating contemporary and memorable gifts. We work with some of the best specialty brands from across New Zealand and the world. Let us take care of the gifting on your special day by creating beautiful bespoke gifts for your bridesmaids, groomsmen, family or guests. GOURMET GIFTS, 600 Great North Road, Grey Lynn T: 09 218 9831, www.gourmetgifts.co.nz @gourmetgiftsnz

ILUMINO LIGHTING HIRE

A small, family run business working alongside winery estates, barns and function centres. Our fairylight curtain sets an elegant backdrop for any top table, while adding in colour to the room with our sashes wrapped around on white chair covers. Let us light up your day. CONTACT: Antoinette Keith-Pratt and Danjelle McKay A: 021 147 3598, D: 027 397 3120, Email: team@ilumino.co.nz, www.ilumino.co.nz @iluminolighting

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Modes features New Zealand’s most exclusive collection of couture event-wear and bridal. Centrally located in Broadway Newmarket, Modes event-wear, with a separate bridal store in the private courtyard, offers a most extensive selection of European styled bridal from the world’s leading bridal label Pronovias. Gorgeous gowns for second weddings, balls, black tie event-wear and mother of the bride and groom. An in-house tailoring service ensures the perfect fit and offers jackets, wraps and coats to co-ordinate. Sizes 6-24. MODES, Shop 2/160 Broadway, Newmarket, T: 09 520 2730, www.modes.co.nz @ modesnewmarket

WE LOVE FLORAL STYLIST CO

Let leading floral artist Sue Cameron bring together all the elements of your wedding to reflect and enhance the beauty of your day with flowers. With colour as her palette and the season’s as her muse, Sue selects stunning blooms and foliage to design and craft unforgettable sensory experiences. FLORAL STYLIST CO, E: info@floralstylist.co.nz M: 022 121 9175, www.floralstylist.co.nz @floralstylist

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS ECC LAUNCHES ONLINE GIFT REGISTRY Now you can curate your wishlist from this aspirational design store and share it with your guests. This month, ECC launches its online gift registry. Suitable for any occasion, be it a wedding, engagement, birthday or special celebration, the registry allows you to curate a wishlist of beautiful products that can be shared with your guests. “The great thing about ECC is the variety of products, styles and price points that we stock,” says Mike Thorburn, owner of ECC. “I personally select everything in the ECC showroom with a focus on quality, craftsmanship, innovative design or use of new technology, so you can be sure that a gift from ECC will be treasured for a long time.” Many items from ECC’s accessories collection make great gifts. British designer Tom Dixon has a comprehensive range of giftware that is presented in beautiful packaging. Amongst the most popular items is Brew - a series of coffee makers, espresso cups, milk pan, coffee scoop and biscuit tin. The original copper finish has been joined by black and stainless steel, so there is a style for every kitchen. Tank, also by Tom Dixon, is a glassware collection that includes whiskey, beer, wine, highball and lowball glasses along with decanters and ice buckets. There is also a range of vases under the same name to accommodate a single stem through to large bouquets.

Often couples getting married already live in an established household and have the basics covered, so they may choose a few special items to add to their interiors. Mirrors are a great choice and ECC stocks many different styles, both wall mounted and free standing. “Not only are many mirrors artworks in their own right, but they also act to visually expand your space, and reflect light into your interior,” says Mike.

Nothing can transform a room like a feature pendant, and your special occasion may be the perfect opportunity to add the wow factor to your entranceway, living spaces or bedroom. ECC has had customers gift barstools in the past. They are both practical and stylish and with current lifestyles centred around the kitchen, they are sure to get daily use. Design classics like the Bombo or Lem barstools will never date. They are part of ECC’s extensive barstool collection in many styles, finishes and colours. Another idea from their classics range is the modular furniture from USM. The beauty of USM is that it is a tailormade piece of furniture, designed and manufactured with Swiss precision. You can start with a basic piece - a small shelf, bedside table or desk unit and expand or reconfigure it over time. Our lives are always changing and a piece from USM can change with you.

The ECC Gift Registry allows your guests to purchase complete products, but if they would like to contribute to a higher-priced item they can purchase a gift voucher. On your requested date, ECC will add together the value of the gift vouchers and issue a voucher for the total amount. ECC’s sales team is always on hand to help you compile your registry. If you would like assistance it would be best to make an appointment by calling the Auckland showroom on 09 379 9680. ECC, 39 Nugent Street, Grafton, T: 09 379 9680, www.ecc.co.nz 1. Brew Stove Top Gift Set Stainless Steel by Tom Dixon 2. Ausi Pendant by Graypants 3. Gold Leaf Round Wall Mirror by Notre Monde 4. Bombo Stool by Magis 5. USM Haller Storage

42 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Gift Ideas

Brew by Tom Dixon

Home Accessories

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

ECO-FRIENDLY WEDDING INSPIRATION Planning a wedding but worried about the environmental impact? Spread the love and have an eco wedding. When there is an event with lots of people, there is always plenty of associated waste, transport and power that all have an environmental impact. If you’re planning a wedding, you have a choice to prevent and reduce this impact. Have a read of ecostore’s tips of how to celebrate your love for your partner and your love for the environment at the same time: The invitations Traditionally, there are two wedding invitations sent, a save the date and a formal invitation, as well as menus, and other information that guests will need for the day. When you multiply this by the amount of guests, the paper use adds up. Instead, consider going digital. Create a website for your wedding where guests can RSVP, view the menu, schedule, venue information and more. Facebook is another tool you can use. Create a group or event so you can send updates to all your guests at once.

Setting Summer is the season for weddings so pick a day, pick a place (outside) and hope for the best weather. Outdoor weddings are not only beautiful but save on power and venue costs depending on where you choose to have it. If possible, holding the ceremony and reception in the same place will save on transport and fuel costs – both environmental and financial. Ambience To save on lighting costs, and the environmental costs associated with powering them, candles and solar lanterns are a couple of great options. You could put candles in jars you have collected or in paper bags filled with sand to create a beautiful flame-lit ambience. DIY decorations Get creative! There are so many cheap, easy and beautiful decorating ideas for weddings online. Try upcycling, recycling, DIY and borrowing as much as you can and if you can’t, check out your local op shops, you never know what you might find. Here are just a few ideas to spark your imagination: • You could use wine bottles or jars to hold flowers on the tables. Let your guests know and start collecting now. • Instead of paper seating tags and individual menus, write the table layout and menu on blackboards. • Make buntings out of old shirts or scrap fabric. • Use stones, shells, plants, candles or driftwood for table centerpieces. Why not invite your friends around for a DIY decorating session? With wine and nibbles of course and this way everyone will feel included in the wedding process too. Food, drink and flowers Source organic, local produce where you can. This will save on fossil fuels burned to transport it but also supports sustainable growing practices. This goes for your flowers too. A nice idea is to use potted plants or flowers on the tables and then guests can take them home when the wedding is over. Another thing you can do, is to choose your catering company carefully and check out what sustainability initiatives they have in place. When it comes to cups, cutlery and napkins, go for the reusable kind. It may be a little more effort but it will stop much plastic waste ending up back in the environment. ECOSTORE, 1 Scotland Street, Freemans Bay, T: 09 360 8477, www.ecostore.co.nz

44 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FIORDLAND & STEWART ISLAND CRUISES See this scenic slice of paradise up close and personal Book a luxury cabin on one of our seven-day scenic, nature and historic cruises with opportunities to fish. Or gather a group of family, friends or colleagues for a bespoke, private seven-day scenic, fishing, hunting or diving charter. - Nine cabins all with private en-suites - Onboard chef, all meals are provided including crayfish and blue cod - A maximum of 18 passengers per cruise Get in touch to find out more about our scheduled cruises during May, June and August 2019.

fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz | bookings@fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz Thhhee World TThe Woorl W rrld lldd Belongs Belon Be lon ong nggss to to the tthhhee Dissatisfied Diissa D Dissa ssssa sattis tiis isffie fiie ieedd

PPONSONBY OONNSSOONNBBY NNE NEWS EW EW WSS+ AAp April prriil 20 22019 019 19

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WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS MORE THAN JUST A HOTEL The Surrey Hotel has no less than five versatile function rooms including a cocktail lounge available for your next business meeting, wedding reception, product launch, training session or, indeed, any event. The facilities are spacious and clean and suitable for large groups. All meeting rooms at The Surrey Hotel are fully catered. Some rooms can be provided with data projectors/whiteboards, etc, to accommodate specialised business functions and events happening in Auckland. THE SURREY HOTEL, 465 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, T: 09 378 9059, www.thesurreyhotel.co.nz

www.thesurreyhotel.co.nz

Retail, restaurants and recreation all on your doorstep Â&#x2122; Â&#x2122; Â&#x2122; Â&#x2122; Â&#x2122;

-BSHF TFMG DPOUBJOFE SPPNT BOE BQBSUNFOUT 4FMFDUJPO PG NFFUJOH SPPNT )PNF PG UIF 4VSSFZ 1VC 'SFF DPBDI BOE DBS QBSLJOH )BQQZ )PVS QN QN The Surrey Hotel 465 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand Phone + 64 9 378 9059 Fax + 64 9 378 1464 Email reservations@thesurreyhotel.co.nz www.thesurreyhotel.co.nz

46 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

TINA PLUNKETT: PONSONBY CENTRAL

THE PONSONBY CENTRAL WEDDING Everything from the venue, flowers and catering, to the bubbles and the cake. The Sapphire Room is the perfect venue for an intimate urban wedding or celebration. The recycled wooden floors give The Sapphire Room the feel of a cool urban loft. You can keep it sparse or dress it to the max 7his is a unique space where you can put your own individual stamp on your wedding.

4. Bouquets to button holes, flower crowns to table settings, grand or lavish, refined or intimate. Whatever it may be, Rose Tinted Flowers whimsical yet contemporary florals will be show stoppers. 4

You can hire the function room and organise your own flowers, catering and wine. It’s amazing what you can find downstairs at Ponsonby &entral. Make it your day your way.

1. For relaxed wedding receptions, you might want to consider skipping canapes and get Bird on a Wire to create a grazing table, a display of mouthwatering treats your guests can help themselves to.

2. Amy’s Secret Kitchen will create you a cake masterpiece that is as exquisite on the outside as LW LV beautiful on the inside.

3. Don’t have a sweet tooth? Try instead a ‘Cheese Cake’, a tall decadent display of NHZ ZHDODQG DQG Lnternational artisanal cheese from The Dairy - you can even go vegan. Create tiers from different varieties, and decorate with fruit and fresh herbs.

We do I do’s.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS THE WEDDING BELLS ARE RINGING Luckily, Diamonds On Richmond has some top tips when looking for your wedding rings. A great aspect to ponder when envisioning your wedding ring, is how to complement your engagement ring without taking away from it. Whilst this doesn’t mean you need a plain band, it does mean that you should try on a variety of styles. Which, to be quite honest, is one of the best parts of the process. Diamonds On Richmond has an array of styles for you to try on in store. Just talk to one of its friendly client managers. Diamonds On Richmond understands that when purchasing an engagement ring, you may not think about how it will sit against a wedding band. Whilst some love the idea of having a curved band, others would prefer it to sit flush with their engagement ring. Diamonds On Richmond makes sure engagement rings are designed to sit flush with a wedding band, unless you are wanting to custom -make a band that curves. It is entirely up to you. When starting your search for a wedding band, decide if you would look like it to match your engagement ring. You can do this in many ways, including the metal, width and the diamond setting. It is such a stunning and timeless look that you can’t go wrong with. However, being a bit different and adding your own personal flair is just as great! Often, people prefer to wear their wedding band on its own. As such, Diamonds On Richmond suggests to try on wedding bands both with

your engagement ring and on its own. If your heart still melts when it is on its lonesome, you know it’s the one. A final tip from the boutique jewellery store, is to give yourself plenty of time. Creating your dream wedding bands can take five to six weeks, although it can be done sooner if need be (urgency fees apply). It is an exciting process that marks a significant milestone in your relationship, so take your time and have fun with it.

@ DIAMONDS ON RICHMOND 1

1. Diamond Tennis Bracelet (available in all diamond sizes, white / yellow gold) starting from $1950 2. Diamond Earrings - white gold - 2ct - POA 3.

Diamond Cluster Earrings (9ct white gold, 0.50ct TDW) - $2620

4. Rose Gold Bracelet - $1350 5. Pave Set Diamond Bangle - white gold - 1.50ct - $9900 6. Six Stone Diamond Ring (9ct white gold) - $3900 (also available in yellow gold)

7. Morganite & Diamond Ring (14ct rose gold, 0.20ct TDW) - $2900 8. Diamond Square Cluster Ring (9ct white gold, 0.50ct TDW) - $2500

9. Morganite & Diamond Ring (14ct rose gold) - $1950

SPECIAL OFFER

with Ponsonby News

20% OFF any instore purchases in April*

*This offer excludes any made to order jewellery pieces, re-sizing and rhodium plating.

DIAMONDS ON RICHMOND, 98 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn, T: 09 376 9045, www.dor.co.nz

48 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS

VICTORIAN GEM Built in 1862 for the Buckland family, Highwic is one of New Zealand’s finest Victorian mansions. In its 157 year history, Highwic has hosted numerous weddings with many of Alfred Buckland’s daughters celebrating their own weddings in the historic house and grounds. Now in the care of Heritage New Zealand, Highwic, located in the heart of Newmarket, provides a spectacular historic setting for your wedding day. Weddings at Highwic often combine many of our unique and charming spaces. The Croquet Lawn, surrounded by stunning heritage gardens, is perfect for an outdoor ceremony. The Ballroom, built in the early 1880s, is a truly elegant space with kauri panelling and a grand piano. It is the perfect backdrop for an intimate wedding ceremony or reception. While the historic Billiard House is a more informal space that you can really make your own.

The Ballroom and Billiard House seat up to 60 people for a formal dinner and accommodate up to 90 people for a cocktail reception. For larger weddings, a marquee can be set up on the Tennis Lawn where it is surrounded by beautiful gardens and mature trees. The main house provides the perfect backdrop for your big day. Your wedding at Highwic will leave you with fantastic memories of a day spent with family and friends in a truly unique setting steeped in history. Highwic’s wedding package includes full access to the historic house and grounds, Victorian lawn games, including croquet, and onsite parking. For more information visit www.highwic.co.nz or contact Highwic at highwicfunctions@heritage.org.nz. HIGHWIC, 40 Gillies Avenue, Newmarket, Auckland, T: 09 524 5729

highwic

a perfect venue As versatile as it is impressive, invite up to 200 guests to enjoy for themselves the elegance and charm of this Victorian gem.

09 524 5729 40 Gillies Avenue Newmarket www.highwic.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS @ MAGAZINE DESIGNER CLOTHING

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Chalet Judith Coat Chocolat Aspen Swing Dress & Medusa Phoenix Kimono Euphoria Hutton Dress Lemon Tree Lena Star Jumper and Lounge The Label Spring Stripe Skirt Megan Salmon Artisan Dress Megan Salmon Elizabethan Jacket and Somersault Tulip Skirt Megan Salmon Evening Birdie Top and Ellen Skirt Megan Salmon Trapeze Top and Ellen Skirt

MAGAZINE DESIGNER CLOTHING, 937 Mt Eden Road, T: 09 630 5354, 4 Byron Avenue, Takapuna, T: 09 488 0406, www.magazineclothing.co.nz

50 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS @ FABULOUS FAUX FLOWERS

FABULOUS FAUX FLOWERS, 293 Ponsonby Road, M: 021 174 8393, email anthonyhartesq@yahoo.com, www.fabulousfauxflowers.co.nz

Fabulous Faux owers “ Love is the ÆW_MZ aW]¼^M OW\ \W TM\ OZW_ º H John Lennon I

Faux Flowers will stay just as beautiful as they were on your special day...

Call 021 174 8393 or email fabfauxflowers@yahoo.com, 293 Ponsonby Road, www.fabulousfauxflowers.co.nz, Follow us on f l The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

ST COLUMBA CENTRE - A GREAT PLACE FOR MEETINGS The St Columba Centre is a beautifully refurbished building owned by the Catholic Diocese of Auckland. Built in 1913, its high-vaulted ceilings and unique architecture offer premium spaces that can accommodate a wide range of workshops, meetings, conferences and celebrations. Due to its central location in Ponsonby, it has become a venue of choice for many organisations. With extensive parking provided and disabled access providing three car spaces, with easy access to all rooms. Just a short stroll to amazing cafes, restaurants, bars and shopping, it is on the Innerlink and Outerlink bus routes and is only five minutes from the motorway and CBD.

Photography by Kenrick Rhys for Ria and Simon, Instagram: kenrickrhysphotography, www.kenrickrhys.com

NEW SEASON Autumn / Winter 2019 I N S T O R E

N O W

Step Inn Shoes Auckland, Three Lamps Plaza, 283 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby

Ph 09 360 5512 MONDAY TO FRIDAY: 9am to 5pm SATURDAY: 9am to 4pm SUNDAY: 11am to 3pm

Step Inn Shoes www.stepinnshoes.nz

52 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

Saint Columba Centre can provide electronic equipment for hire at competitive prices. For all your venue enquiries contact Michael, their experienced Centre Manager to discuss a solution for your needs, so you can be assured a successful occasion. ST COLUMBA CENTRE, 40 Vermont Street, T: 09 376 1195, www.saintcolumba.org.nz

A MEETING PLACE - For conferences, seminars, meetings, workshops or launches - Situated in a central location with ďŹ ve versatile meeting rooms - AV equipment and Internet access available - Extensive parking available - Since 2001 the St Columba Centre has gained a reputation as a centre of excellence and as such has become a location of choice for many organisations FOR ENQUIRIES AND RESERVATIONS P: 09 376 1195 E: COLUMBA@CDA.ORG.NZ 40 VERMONT STREET PONSONBY, AUCKLAND SAINTCOLUMBA.ORG.NZ

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

A ROMANTIC JOURNEY Ernest Hemingway is quoted as saying “Never go on trips with anyone you do not love” and we couldn’t agree more! When the frantic chaos of the wedding day is over, it’s time to get out of town and spend time together. A honeymoon can be as relaxing and indulgent as you wish, but many couples today are seeking an actual travel experience in itself. Here are a few of our slightly more off-the-beaten-track suggestions. VIETNAM Perfect for honeymooners, you can combine the indulgence and relaxation of a beachside resort, with the romance of fading French colonial architecture, amazing shopping, friendly locals and delicious cuisine. For the perfect romantic escape, the Six Senses Hideaway Ninh Vanh Bay is Vietnam’s premier 6-star beach resort. Each villa has its own private pool, and some have been built amongst the rock boulders right at the water’s edge. You have complete privacy in your spacious villa, and will be delighted by little extras such as your own personal wine cellar! THE MALDIVES Push the boat out and head for the picture-perfect, over-water villas of Coco Bodu Hithi, a mere 40 minutes by speed boat from Male international airport. Suspended on stilts above the lagoon, step out onto your private terrace to lounge on the day bed or take a dip in your private pool, then enjoy a romantic dinner as the sun sets. Palm trees, crystal clear blue waters and delicious cuisine go without saying!

LAPLAND Perfect timing for the New Zealand wedding season, swap muggy summer days for the frozen wonderland of Swedish Lapland. Stay at the incredible ICEHOTEL in the little village of Jukkasjarvi, about 200km inside the Arctic Circle. Pack your thermals, your room is made of ice blocks, complete with platform beds, thermal sleeping bags and reindeer hides. Picture yourself dog sledding across snowy landscapes by day, and snuggling up at night to view the spectacular Northern Lights. BOTSWANA In the heart of the Okavango Delta, luxurious Jao Camp is set amongst islands fringed with forests and floodplains, home also to

A MALDIVES HONEYMOON

photography: Asaf Kliger

ZANZIBAR Spicy and exotic says it all. The fascinating island of Zanzibar, just off the coast of Tanzania, has it all - stunning beach resorts for a bit of R&R combined with eclectic history, exotic cuisine and the maze of alleyways and carved wooden doors of the Old Stone Town. Sample fresh seafood at the night market, and enjoy the sunset aboard a traditional Arabian dhow.

prolific wildlife. For a night to remember, spend the night out in this pristine wilderness at the camp’s Star Bed, a luxurious 4-poster bed set safely on a raised platform 20 minutes from camp. Complete privacy, the sounds of the Africa bush, and the starriest of skies - what could be more romantic? Get in touch for more ideas on unique ways to celebrate your new relationship status. Whether a lovestruck honeymooner or just a hopeless romantic, an extraordinary travel experience can create memories for a lifetime. (DAVINA BICKER, WORLD JOURNEYS) F PN

Coco Bodu Hithi is a true island paradise. Spend your days watching colourful shoals of fish as they dart beneath your villa, sampling traditional cuisine fresh from the morning’s catch, watching a movie on the beach beneath a canopy of stars, or simply relaxing in the Coco Spa. 6 DAYS from $4,091pp (share twin)

T 09 360 7311 www.worldjourneys.co.nz /worldjourneys

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PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS A PREMIER WEDDING VENUE Indulge yourself and your guests by celebrating your wedding and reception within the beautiful surrounds of Soljans Estate Winery. Situated at the gateway to Kumeu wine country, this family winery is only 20 minutes from the heart of Auckland City, but a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city itself. The winery and function centre were designed with weddings in mind, creating a range of options for your ceremony and evening reception. Enjoy the fresh country air as you exchange your vows amidst the vines or roll out the red carpet through their sheltered courtyard. Soljans offers a range of options for your evening reception to cater for up to 120 guests. Following your ceremony, celebrate with a glass of bubbles from the sparkling wine range and enjoy platters of canapes in the courtyard. The bar will be open offering a selection of Soljans premium wines, non alcoholic refreshments and a range of premium beers. Soljansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; manicured grounds and vineyard is the ideal backdrop for your wedding photos, capturing the romance of your special day. Head Chef Paul Reid creates interesting and diverse menus for your wedding dinner, dependent on the size of your party and seasonal availability. All dietary requirements are catered for and Paul and his team work hard to meet your requests. With over 70 years' experience in wine making, Soljans Estate Winery offers a wide range of sparkling, white and red wines as well as a delicious Tawny Port. Prior to your day, the cellar door staff offer a tutored tasting so you can make the perfect choice for your special day. Your wedding day is one of the most enjoyable days of your life and the dedicated team of professional staff at Soljans will look after every detail to ensure your day is perfect. SOLJANS ESTATE WINERY, 366 State Highway 16, Kumeu, T: 09 412 5858, www.soljans.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS @ CARATS Engagement rings 1.

Platinum diamond traditional solitaire ring

Four-claw patinum oval diamond engagement ring

Modern six-claw platinum diamond solitaire engagement ring

Princess cut four-claw platinum diamond engagement ring

Cushion-cut diamond and platinum engagement ring

Emerald-cut diamond platinum engagement ring with pink diamond accents

Platinum diamond Art Deco engagement ring

Baguette-cut diamond platinum engagement ring

Wedding rings 9.

18ct yellow gold and platinum cross-over diamond wedding ring

10. Platinum cross-over diamond wedding ring 11. Platinum diamond wedding ring 14

12. Platinum carrĂŠ-cut diamond wedding ring 13. Platinum tab set baguette and round diamond wedding ring 14. Baguette and round diamond rub-set platinum wedding ring 15. Wide pinched platinum diamond wedding ring 16. Shared claw 18ct yellow gold diamond wedding ring CARATS, 25 Vulcan Lane, Auckland CBD, T: 09 309 5145, www.caratsjewellery.co.nz

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PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS ROMANTIQUE RINGS A BELL? Thinking back, you may remember the Romantique shop next to Trelise Cooper on Richmond Road or possibly their shop on Jervois Road. Recently they had a large space on the North Shore but they have been lucky enough to find an oasis in Grey Lynn that complements their style perfectly. They have filled it with beautiful furniture, palms and sunshine. We asked store owner Tracy Rutherford to tell us about her business. “The essence of our business is French vintage furniture and objets. Although we try to stay true to our brand, we are always evolving and changing. Lately we have incorporated special and unique pieces from India, which blend well with our French look. “I guess we express ourselves through our products, we are our business. We love what we do. Finding beauty in imperfection, joy in uniqueness. We love to enhance people's lives. “We have a diversity of styles, romantic, French provencial, industrial and primitive, so I guess, our pieces complement any space that is looking for some unique character and beauty. “We are taking small groups to some of our favourite markets and Brocantes, visiting wineries and beautiful villages along the way. We will be staying in our beautiful house that we are restoring between Bordeaux and Toulouse. Already, this year’s tours have sold out. We will have more available in June 2020.” If you’d like to come visit, remember they have plenty of onsite parking. ROMANTIQUE, 2 Sackville Street, T: 09 444 6040, www.romantique.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS

ELEGANT EDWARDIAN VILLA FOR VENUE HIRE ParkedUp, the historic-villa-turned-contemporary-licensed-garden-and-function-venue in the heart of the city, is about to add another chapter to its long-running and much-loved story. Already renowned for its catered events - corporate, private or simply celebratory - ParkedUp is about to add weddings to its rich suite of offerings. What better place to say ‘I do’ than against a backdrop of an elegant Edwardian villa, now restored to reflect modern Auckland while respecting the integrity of its former days of glory. Corporate conferencing is also available midweek, with private rooms ideal for team-building and brainstorming, group management and activities on the park for that corporate twist. ParkedUp’s varied menu can literally cater to your every need - from the more formal seated menu, to the generous shared platters and the tantalising selection of tapas, barbecue and canapés.

Whether your event is intimate and elegant, business-focused and deadline-driven, or just an opportunity to let loose and dance, ParkedUp has spaces and menu to fit your function. Like a favourite book, ParkedUp gets better with every new chapter. It’s a story you’ll want to revisit time and time again. Come in and see for yourself. Park up with colleagues after work or celebrate your event at Victoria Park’s caretaker cottage with ParkedUp. Situated in Victoria Park on the corner of Fanshawe and Halsey Streets, it’s a stone’s throw from Wynyard Quarter and the city’s inner suburbs - what could be easier.

PARKEDUP, Victoria Park, CBD, Email Nick on Nick@parkedup.co.nz, facebook and instagram NZParkedUp, www.parkedup.co.nz

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PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

GARY STEEL: VEG FRIENDLY

Rise above - putting it in perspective When major tragedies occur I’m always reminded of just how fragile our lives are and how easily they can be turned upside down. Our lives down here in New Zealand exist in a bit of a bubble, and for those of us lucky enough to have safe houses to live in and plenty of food to eat, we can’t escape the fact that compared to many on the face of the planet, we’re incredibly privileged. Our personal convictions are also the result of privilege, and getting these in perspective is important. I’ve been a vegetarian for more than 40 years and an aspirational vegan for 20 years, but against a world backdrop of terrorism, war and pestilence, what do convictions like these even mean? Some of the victims in the recent mosque attack in Christchurch were refugees, and while it would be wrong to make assumptions, it’s likely that during their years of suffering they weren’t always able to eat the way their religion ordained or even find a mosque to pray in. During such times, it’s the human spirit that carries us through as the norms of family and cultural lives are disrupted. The mosque attack - like all acts of gun violence against a perceived threat - was the result of extreme prejudice that in all likelihood had been distorted and encouraged by those who lurk in groups on social media that most of us wouldn’t even know exist. That’s why I get uncomfortable when I see vegans ranting and raving against meat eaters and the seemingly unstoppable industrial animal killing machine. I agree that if

plant eating became the norm, and the killing of animals for food was minimised that the world would probably be a better place, but I’m not prepared to cultivate extreme prejudice to achieve this aim. Having strong opinions is one thing; creating divisions between people is another. The fact is, most of my favourite people eat meat, and these are wonderful human beings. It’s easy to climb on a high horse about principles that one ascribes to, but that can create an oppositional and ultimately prejudicial environment, of which little good can come. For me, being meat-free is fundamentally a personal choice, and secondarily a political statement, but it doesn’t automatically turn me into a good person. I know quite a few mean, selfish vegans with tunnel vision and a prejudicial mindset. By contrast, I know many kind meat eaters who willingly participate in unpaid work for the needy. How does that all shake up in the end? In the wake of the Christchurch shooting, I saw that a local bookshop had put up a display of that great Dr Seuss book, The Sneetches, which bluntly describes prejudice and its stupidity based on superficial differences that simply don’t matter. It seems to be human nature to observe cultural or behavioural differences and use them as a reason to cultivate hate. And to be honest, the need to rise above hatred is much more pressing right now than what we choose to eat. And we’re really, really lucky that so far from the world’s hot spots we can pretty much eat what we want. (GARY STEEL) F PN

Gary Steel is an Auckland-based journalist who runs online vegetarian resource www.doctorfeelgood.co.nz He can be contacted via beautmusic@gmail.com

HOW CANNABIS WORKS As an orchestra needs a conductor to guide them through the composer's score, so our body needs feedback between cells, neurones, organ, tissue, immune and nervous systems to keep our biochemical ‘symphony of health and wellbeing’ in tune. We require a constant conductor to coordinate important biochemical processes like immune response, reproduction, pain modulation and more. That important conductor of health is a little known, but major, physiological system called the Endocannabinoid system (ECS). It has two main components: its messengers (cannabinoids) and its receptors (CB1, CB2, and others). Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) receptors are mainly located in the brain and nervous system, as well as in the lungs, liver, and kidneys. Our natural endocannabinoids and the phytocannabinoid THC, bind mainly with CB1 (due to their similar molecular structure), which can give patients relief from pain, nausea and depression among others. Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2) receptors are found mainly in the immune system, with a heavy concentration in the spleen and in the gastrointestinal system. CB2 receptors bind best with the endocannabinoid 2-AG and phytocannabinoid CBD. They are involved in the regulation of appetite, immune system functions like inflammation and pain management. Yet despite these important functions, the ECS is not taught in most medical schools. Which is why less than 30% of GPs have heard of it, and less than 11% know what it does. This is ironic, because our ECS regulates homeostasis, and supporting our ECS with diet and phytocannabinoids supports that important role. (‘Homeostasis’, means 'a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes'.) The ECS has been a diet-based controller of homeostasis for 600 million years, and is common to all animals, from the humble sea squirt to Brad Pitt.

So vital is this receptor system, that we have more of them in our brain than any other neurotransmitter receptor. They are called GPCRs (G-Protein Coupled Receptors), and are targeted by approximately 35% of all approved drugs (or USD $340 billion of global pharma revenues). It is important to note that these $340 billion dollars are potentially replaceable by plant cannabinoids, a fact that is well known by industry. Phytocannabinoids were the number one medicine in Europe and America for half a century, before they were taxed out of the market with a $75,000 tax (in today's money), and replaced with more profitable patented drugs. That we have forgotten these facts is remarkable. Additionally, both the US DEA and Pfizer subsidiary Parke-Davis publicised that THC is broadly therapeutic and safe even in ‘immense doses’ (theoretically you need to consume 750kg in 15 minutes to cause death, practically, it’s impossible). While, in 2003, the US Dept of Health and Human Services patented the cannabinoid CBD as a 'neuroprotectant and antioxidant, and for treating Alzheimers and Parkinsons' (US Patent #6630507B1). Yet despite these facts, progress has been glacial in New Zealand, even though prescription medicines are “the third biggest killer after heart disease and cancer” (Dr P. Goetzsche, Cochrane Collaboration co-founder). Although still classified, the 2017 Treasury briefing to the incoming Minister of Health apparently sees the rising epidemics of obesity, diabetes and age-related illnesses ensuring a debt-based future for New Zealand. So we should perhaps consider how we can sensibly improve health outcomes and reduce health costs. But despite coming law changes, globally we appear to be moving from prohibition to privatisation. As a scale commodity crop, these plant extracts should be very affordable. But the FDA approved CBD medicine Epidiolex (for epilepsy) costs USD $34,400 per year. Meanwhile New Zealand's MoH has forbidden hemp for human consumption and therapeutic use, suggesting that cannabis medicine may be coming, but the cost to New Zealand might PN not change much. (TADHG STOPFORD) F

For more information on hemp medicine, including RNZCGP CME, please go to www.thehempfoundation.org.nz, or contact learn@thehempfoundation.org.nz

58 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

A SLICE OF LIFE: THE POLITICS OF BREAD The world is subject to a global food system that could feed the world but doesn’t. Climate change is progressing at a worrying rate. The warming planet and lack of food security are two of the world’s most pressing problems, affecting everyone from subsistence farmers in central Africa to those in leafy city suburbs. My name is Isabel Pasch, and I’m a bakery owner and a scientist. I grew up in Germany, a country that loves bread - we have over 350 different types, and I love to be able to share some of these with my customers at Bread and Butter Bakery. The place of bread in society can’t be denied. A food so vital to man that it’s referred to in the Bible as the ‘body of the Lord’, and gives rise to customs, superstitions and sayings. We encourage people to 'use their loaf', work is their 'bread and butter', and we pay them in 'dough'. The ancient Egyptians’ word for bread, 'aish', also meant 'life', but much to my distress modern commercial bread is far-removed from the nutritional powerhouse that sustained our ancestors. The changes to bread provide a living example of the effects of Big Food on the global food system, and on our climate. Join me as we look at some of the issues around food security and climate change, from man’s earliest agricultural efforts through to the might of corporate giants that control much of the world’s food supply. I call this bread politics. www.breadandbutter.co.nz

Real Sourdough Raises the Bar... Made with organic ingredients bread is truly the stuff of life. A valuable addition for every meal, breakfast, school lunches and dinner.

Bread and Butter Cafe – 34 Westmoreland Street, West Grey Lynn / Little Bread & Butter – Ponsonby Central / www.breadandbutter.nz

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PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

COMMITMENT TO QUALITY BEHIND MEKONG BABY’S LONGEVITY Way back in 2012, Barack Obama was completing the first term of his presidency and about to win his second. Hurricane Sandy was ravaging the east coast of the United States and Pussy Riot was creating havoc in Russia. Meryl Streep won an Oscar for her portrayal of Maggie Thatcher and Kimbra and Six60 cleaned up at the New Zealand music awards. New Zealand lay under a long, dark National cloud and we went about our daily lives completely unaware of an approaching phenomenon we now know as ‘the Jacinda-effect’. Meanwhile, on Ponsonby Road a hitherto successful gourmet pizza restaurant, quietly metamorphasised into the exciting and vibrant Mekong Baby. Auckland’s first and still, in this writer’s opinion, premier Asian-fusion restaurant and bar. Now, six years later Barack is, sadly, president no more. National has gladly, some would say, gone the same way, and Meryl Streep continues to hone and perfect her craft - just as Mekong Baby continues to develop and refine hers. If a week is a long time in politics, then one has to wonder at the continued success represented by six years at the top of the Auckland restaurant game. The comparison is perhaps gratuitous but that shouldn’t detract from the significant achievement. Sandra Law, director and co-founder of digital media buying agency Law + Chaos has been meeting friends and clients at Mekong Baby from the very beginning. From a customer’s perspective she puts its longevity down to excellent service and the depth and breadth of the menu. “The flavours are divine, and the range of dishes, from the pork belly [Mekong prepares and serves 30-40kg of this dish every day!] to the tofu and coriander rissoles, is perfectly portioned and beautifully presented. “Invariably, there will be someone in the group who proclaims themselves gluten-free or vegan, or is subjecting themselves to some fad diet, but we can always be confident that Mekong Baby’s menu caters for us all, as well as providing a surprise or two in the discovery of a fresh and new flavour.” Of course, none of this happens by accident and begs the question as to how Mekong Baby has achieved this milestone. We sat down with head chef Raj (appointed in 2018) and asked him what he attributes the restaurant’s success to. He first mentioned the service: “I really do think our staff training results in an extremely good understanding of everyone’s role in delivering a smooth service whether it be from the kitchen or the bar. There are 30 staff employed at Mekong Baby and I would say that we really are a well-oiled machine in the sense of all the different components working efficiently and effectively together,” he says.

Raj also credits the restaurant’s success to the flavours created from fresh, quality ingredients, which are constantly being monitored, reviewed and refined. “Every item that enters the kitchen is individually checked before we accept a delivery.” The relationship between restaurant and supplier is also key to underscoring the focus on quality and freshness. “Once a week I will meet with all our suppliers. I’ll ask them what’s happening in the market, what’s available, what are prices doing, what seasonal variations might be impacting on quality, and so on.” The consequences of a supplier choosing to put off meetings or taking things for granted are swift and final. “A year or so ago, one of our meat suppliers started finding reasons for not meeting each week and I felt they weren’t valuing our business as much as they should. So after a discussion with Dominique [Parat, Mekong Baby’s owner] we made the decision to look for someone else.” That new supplier was the Carve Meat Co. “Carve has been brilliant,” reckons Raj. “They really love what they do and their products are amazing. We sit down each week and I’m really happy with the service they provide us.” An added benefit is that all their meat is ethically raised. “This is becoming more of an issue within society as a whole and it’s an increasingly important consideration when people are making decisions about which restaurant to dine at,” says Raj. Likewise, food allergies appear to be more prevalent, from Raj’s perspective at least - “or perhaps it’s just that restaurants are making more of an effort to cater for them.” Whatever the case may be, Raj is quick to point out that the restaurant recently achieved a 100% score in its annual food safety certification. That certification required Raj to get to grips with over 300 pages of standards, processes and systems, covering everything from catering to allergies to the monitoring of temperatures in the chillers. “It means, for example, that temperatures aren’t just taken from the chiller temperature display, we put a glass of water in each one and test the temperature with a thermometer.” In other words, absolutely nothing is left to chance. Raj has been at Mekong Baby since its establishment, and been with Dominique for years before that. He has no doubt he’ll be around for a little while yet. It’s certainly true that Mekong Baby continues to surprise and has developed and matured into one of the more durable jewels in the Ponsonby Road crown.

MEKONG BABY, 262 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 1113, www.mekongbaby.co.nz

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A T M E K O N G B A B Y, O U R F R E S H A P P R O A C H G U I D E S E V E R Y T H I N G : FRESH IDEAS, FRESH DINING, FRESH INGREDIENTSâ&#x20AC;¦ A N D F R E S H G R O U N D S P I C E S . E V E R Y D AY.

/MEKONGBABYNZ

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@MEKONGBABY

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY @SABATO Indulge in your favourite Italian and French Easter chocolates this year. We have an array of Easter treats from Venchi and Valrhona that are sure to please even the most discerning chocolate lovers. Everything from gorgeous milk, dark and white chocolate Easter bunnies to giant chocolate eggs flecked with nougatine, Venchi has our mouths watering this Easter. New in this year are these stunning milk or dark chocolate eggs studded with toasted Piedmont hazelnuts with a fine and delicate flavour. These luxury eggs won’t stick around long so make sure to pop in-store or order yours online today! All your favourite Valrhona Easter sweets are back including our very popular ‘families pack’ with a mix of Dulcey Blond chocolate filled with salted caramel and dark chocolate filled with rich praline. Our adorable speckled gulls eggs will be the absolute envy at the table on Easter Sunday. We won’t blame you if you decide to hide them away and eat them all yourself. If chocolate isn’t your cup of tea, there’s nothing better on Easter weekend than waking up to the smell of freshly toasted hot cross buns with a slab of butter melting into them. Or, even better, try our Can Bech orange or raspberry cacao spread smothered over them for a delicious chocolate treat. Sabato stocks the delicious hot cross buns from Wild Wheat which are handmade and packed with fruit and spices - just how a traditional hot cross bun should be. For more fabulous Easter treats, gift ideas and recipes, visit us in-store or on our website. SABATO, 57 Normanby Road, Mt Eden, T: 09 630 8751, www.sabato.co.nz

70 MILLION YEARS IN THE MAKING Situated in the picturesque Waitaki Valley, Q Wine delivers a beautiful range of terroir-driven wines grown in a single vineyard that are intense, balanced and distinctive from New Zealand’s exciting new wine region. Drive from Queenstown over the dramatic Lindis Pass and at the boundary between Canterbury and Otago you will find the Waitaki Valley. This area is characterised by gorgeous valleys formed by braided rivers and glacial lakes. It is one of the coolest places in New Zealand to grow grapes. Windy, with a dry, semimaritime climate and long growing season which imparts exceptional flavours to the grapes. Coupled with the limestone-rich soil means it is perfect for making taut, edgy and powerful wines. We focus on traditional techniques and hand harvest all of our grapes allowing each bottle to emulate the essence of the vineyard. The enigmatic name Q is evocative of the vineyard’s pursuit of excellence and quality when it comes to crafting a wine that is truly unique. You’ll find Q Wine in select restaurants, luxury lodges and fine wine stores in New Zealand. You can order these boutique wines direct from us becoming a Q Wine Club Member. F PN www.Qwine.co.nz www.facebook.com/QWINE.WAITAKI.VALLEY www.instagram.com/q.wine.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIZ WHEADON: WINE, GLORIOUS WINE

Pyramid Valley There’s been a lot of change at Pyramid Valley that has left the sommelier set and journos wondering if their beloved Pyramid would ever be the same. You see, Pyramid Valley has been purchased by Brian Seth and Steve Smith MW. Recently Steve and the team at Pyramid, that now includes Huw Kinch (previous winemaker for Escarpment), invited me and the set above (sommeliers and journos from New Zealand and Aussie) to Pyramid to get under the hood and learn all about what they’ve been doing. There was tension in the air on the way there. Was it going to be as good? On the way back, relief. It’s every bit as good, and so much is better. There are two clear ranges. Appellation Series - a series of wines from various parts of New Zealand, all made at Pyramid, with the yeast and practices their key to making a Pyramid Valley wine. Then there’s the Botanical Series - four wines from the four very distinct parts of Pyramid Valley. Pyramid Valley is a very special place in New Zealand and the Botanical Series captures that in a bottle, with the Appellation Series given its Pyramid stamp. Pyramid Valley on skins orange wine 2018 A wine that we all wondered whether it would continue with Steve Smith at the helm. Steve was quick to point out, it will, but it’ll be a natural wine free of faults. Predominantly pinot gris, with muscat and gewürztraminer. From Guy Porter's biodynamic vineyard in North Canterbury, which has a clay soil profile. It’s brilliant. Wonderful fruit aromatics leap from the glass, it’s a very well-made orange wine. One month on skins. Pyramid Valley Marlborough chardonnay Old Vine Mendoza chardonnay off the Sutherland Vineyard in Marlborough. It’s very distinctly Marlborough on the nose, all peaches and nectarines. Then on the palate, great balance of oak, breadth and a firm mineral core. It’s bold and brash, yet at the same time has such elegance that is due to the acidity management being spot on and saving this from being too fat.

Pyramid Valley Marlborough sauvignon Handpicked and whole bunches, lees work and a long time in barrel with only a little mlf. The fruit for this came off the biodynamically farmed Churton Vineyard in Marlborough and was transported to Pyramid where the wine was made using indigenous yeasts. This is exceptional and very pure Marlborough sauvignon. It’s all about the fruit and not the winemaking. Pyramid Valley Central Otago pinot noir The new team behind Pyramid Valley has purchased Lowburn Ferry, adding a significant and very good source of Central Otago fruit to their portfolio. This is classic central pinot noir done very well. Bright cherries, then on the palate black cherries as well. Fine tannins, layered and really nice weight. Great value wine in the range. This range and the botanical range are available in all Glengarry stores this month. We also have Huw coming to Auckland to host a tasting of the range. (LIZ WHEADON) F PN Details can be found online www.glengarry.co.nz/tastings

INSTORE NOW FINE WINE DELIVERED SINCE 1945 | WWW.GLENGARRY.CO.NZ The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

P: 0800 733 505

| E: SALES @ GLENGARRY.CO.NZ

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY PLUME CAFE - IN THE HEART OF MATAKANA VILLAGE Matakana Village is situated just a short 45-minute drive away from Auckland - arrive in Matakana and at the roundabout take the third exit and there you will find a typical Matakana Village cottage which is actually Plume Cafe and Bakery. Previously occupied by the erstwhile Tea House and before that as a residence, Plume Cafe and Bakery commenced trading in December 2012. Preceeded by Plume Restaurant on Sharp Road just before Matakana Village on the Matakana Valley Road, Plume Cafe and Bakery was a new undertaking by the Plume Collection group. Of course, we are now in 2019 and both the cafe and bakery are now very well established as local haunts and frequented by tourists from all over the world as well, of course, by Aucklanders on weekends and long-weekend holidays and the summer holidays. The bakery is manned by Heiko Besgeins our German baker and Monish, who is his assistant and turns out a huge amount of freshly baked breads and pastries each morning - the bakers report to work in the early hours of the morning and work their magic on the dough - everything is made by hand, lovingly - in fact Heiko even talks to the dough sometimes as it is a living breathing dough for him. Every year, with Easter the hot cross buns are a great hit - a cup of coffee with a hot cross bun and butter - what more could you want? And Christmas is the stollen of course which just flies off the shelves - let us not forget the ginger bread house which is put up every year to the delight of the kids, and devoured with relish. Plume Cafe is an ideal meeting place for a cup of coffee and a spot of breakfast or lunch. With winter around the corner our famous seafood chowder in a bread bowl will be back in great demand. Besides, of course, all the eggs possible - Eggs Benedict being the most popular - we also cater for lunches with various menu items. In a rush and just want to pick up a sandwich or a salad? No problem, we have counter food available - you can be sure that there would be no 'nasties' in our breads or our food which is all prepared fresh on site. And let's not forget the superb Matakana Wines from our vineyard Runner Duck Estate - lovely cooling and fresh white wines and silky reds! Want to celebrate at Plume Cafe. We do a superb High Tea for two at $65 - two types of scones with butter, jam, cream, four kinds of sandwiches (all artisan bread made by Plume Bakery and definitely 'no thinly sliced cucumber sandwiches', and four tiny desserts - all per person - what are you waiting for? Pick up the phone to call 09 423 0390 and make a booking for high tea at Plume Cafe to celebrate your next birthday/event/happy to be alive celebration. Minimum 24 hours notice required and available on weekdays - weekends we only do high teas from 2.30pm onwards and only for groups of eight or more. See you soon at Plume Cafe in Matakana - right opposite the fancy loos, and the only place in Matakana with a big parking lot available for use by cafe customers, besides, of course, the huge free carpark by the school. F PN www.theplumecollection.co.nz

64 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Experience the magic of Matakana, stay at one of our luxurious new Plume Villas and enjoy the superb food and Ă&#x20AC; QH ZLQH DW 3OXPH 5HVWDXUDQW &RXQWU\ OLIH VWDUWV KHUH A one-hour scenic drive north of Auckland and 5 minutes from 0DWDNDQD WRZQVKLS \RX ZLOO Ă&#x20AC; QG Plume Restaurant, an oasis for gourmet travellers in a coastal country setting. Recognised for its superb cuisine, and as the cellar door for Runner Duck Estate 9LQH\DUGÂˇV Ă&#x20AC; QH ZLQHV 3OXPH Restaurant has gained quite a reputation. Now, 12 new luxury Plume Villas, ranging from 1-3 bedrooms, have been added within the grounds. These all share a swimming pool and are within a relaxed stroll of the restaurant. No matter the season or the length of your stay, you will Ă&#x20AC; QG 3OXPH 9LOODV D FRPIRUWDEOH place to base yourself while enjoying the many delights nearby, including the fabulous food and wine at Plume Restaurant. $OUHDG\ ERDVWLQJ D SULYDWH OLJKW Ă&#x20AC; OOHG function room, Plume Restaurant has just become the perfect venue for weddings, conferences, meetings and private events set within a peaceful country location.

www.theplumecollection.co.nz

37 Sharp Road, Matakana 09 422 7915 / 09 283 3630 SCL/PLU2018/15

49A Sharp Road Matakana 09 422 7915

1335 Leigh Road, Matakana 09 423 0390

Cellar door Plume Restaurant 09 422 7915

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY ANIJA'S DELICIOUS FRESH FRUIT ICE CREAM Nedjelko and Anka Sokol left the small village of Rašc´ane in the mountains of Croatia to come to New Zealand in 1967. They left the village with very few possessions but full of knowledge, skills and determination to build a new life in New Zealand. These skills were fundamental in starting a new life and creating success for their family. For over three decades, Nedjelko and Anka worked extremely hard on the land in Henderson, Auckland growing and selling produce while bringing their family out from Croatia and buying their own land. Nedjelko and Anka Sokol began growing strawberries on a large scale in 1968. In 1972 they started their own store called Sokol’s Glasshouses and Gardens Ltd where they grew and sold all their own produce. This was the beginning of a successful family business, which has now involved the third generation of the family. Goran and Katica Katich (daughter of Nedjelko and Anka Sokol) joined the family business and increased the scale of strawberries, shop and business and changed the family business name to Sokol’s Fruit and Veg Ltd, which continued to be known best for their strawberries. This company was then sold in 2011, leaving the family to just focus on growing strawberries and expanding into the fresh fruit ice cream trade. Each generation has brought changes and different expertise to the family business and has expanded the business in a different direction. Anija’s Fresh Fruit Ice Cream New Zealand Ltd, was established in 2006. Anija’s Fresh Fruit Ice Cream is made with 100% New Zealand ice cream and berries along with Sokol’s strawberries. Their ice cream is renowned for its rich creamy flavor that is packed with fruity goodness. The ice cream was voted in the top three places to have a fresh fruit ice cream in New Zealand. Now proving successful, within the New Zealand market, Goran and Katica Katich, along with their daughter, Anija and son-in-law Stefan, continue to grow and expand the business, and are now seeking opportunities to expand while staying true to the core values and PN skills that have created success in the past. F There are two locations to try their ice cream: 19 Park Road, Grafton and 59-63 Swanson Road, Henderson, www.anijas.co.nz

66 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FRESH FRUIT ICE CREAM THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

DELICIOUSLY COOL

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AN VEG TION

NEW ZEALAND

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FRESH MILK & CREAM ZEALA

www.anijas.cco.nz

NEW STORE NOW OPEN 19 Park Road, Grafton The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PHIL PARKER: WHOSE WINE IS IT ANYWAY?

Hits and misses No major theme this month, folks. Just a random selection of wines that I picked up and sampled. Giesen Marlborough Pinot Gris 2018 - $15 Very consistent pinot gris from Nelson-based Giesen label. Smells a bit like clover honey and citrus blossom with a whiff of hay. Tastes like Roses Lime Juice, crisp apple and quince with a dry finish. Eat pan fried snapper with olive oil, capers and parsley. Millton Te Arai Chenin Blanc Gisborne Chenin Blanc 2017 - $29.99 From organic Millton label, has spent time in old oak. Nose of blond tobacco, lantana and a hint of fennel. Crisp, clean and very dry on the palate with clover honey, tangy yeast and a nudge of fresh-cut pineapple. Great match for seafood - gurnard pan fried in olive oil. Cleanskin South Africa Chardonnay 2018 - $7 Okay. This is a bargain bin chardonnay from Pt Chevalier Countdown. I bought it on a whim when shopping for groceries. It’s actually really good value. Smells like stone fruit with a hint of oak. Palate of peach, pineapple and a bit of nectarine. Clean, crisp and dry finish. Good with calamari salad. Nom nom. Selaks Taste Collection Buttery Chardonnay Hawke’s Bay 2018 - $21.99 Smells like grapefruit with a whiff of vanilla and lanoline. A tad disappointing for the fan of truly big and buttery chardonnays, but

still delivers a good medium style without too much acid. Flavours of grapefruit, peach and a bit of dried apricot. Dry finish. Match with creamy chicken pasta, or cheese-based dishes. Cupcake Chardonnay Monterey County USA Chardonnay 2015 - $22.99 A big, oaky Californian-style chardonnay for those who are a bit over the current New Zealand fad for the acidic mineral style. Still very fruity in the mid palate with lots of peach and nectarine. Vanilla oaky sweetness and a medium-dry finish. A great match with scallops. Fat Bastard California Chardonnay 2015 - $20 Pretty well lives up to its label. Big American oak! Lots of vanillin American oak extraction - no doubt from a while sitting in brand new barrels. But to be honest, it’s a bit out of balance. The oak way overpowers any fruit flavours but it does have some peachy fruit and crème brûlée toffee/toast characters. It would match a big creamy pasta dish with loads of cheese. The Big Top Lodi California Zinfandel 2016 - $19.99 I suspect that this is mass produced. Just the same - it has easy drinking appeal to those with a sweet palate who like ripe Aussie shiraz. Black cherry, cassis and a hint of smoke. Soft tannins and little or no oak influence. A medium-priced barbecue quaffer. (PHIL PARKER) F PN

Phil Parker is a wine writer and operates Fine Wine & Food Tours in Auckland. See: www.finewinetours.co.nz. Phil’s new cellar door book ‘NZ Wine Regions - A Visitor’s Guide’ is now available on Amazon Kindle.

FINE WINE & FOOD TOURS “No. 4 Auckland Food & Drink” – TripAdvisor Your host, Phil Parker wine writer. Boutique tours for small and large groups.

E: Phil@finewinetours.co.nz

68 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

www.finewinetours.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY SIDART, Level 1, Three Lamps Plaza, 283 Ponsonby Road T: 360 2122 www.sidart.co.nz

5 Fort Lane, CBD T: 09 379 9702 cassiarestaurant.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Modern Japanese Main Beach Takapuna Beach Bookings essential Ph 09 390 7188 www.tokyobay.co.nz

Japanese Izakaya Dining Bar Ponsonby Central No bookings required Ph 09 376 8016 www.tokyoclub.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY FACES @ GREY LYNN FARMERS MARKET The Salmon Man, Ron Aratema, runs the Smoked Fish Shop in Glendene and sells his fish at several markets, including Grey Lynn Farmers Market. How did you start your business? A mate helped me build a lean-to on my place off Kelmarna Ave. I got a couple of old stand-up clothes dryers, pulled the guts out of them and turned them into fish smokers. Another friend let me use their cafe to package the fish after hours. Did you have any training? I’m self-taught. There is a concept in fish-businesses of 'recovery' which means minimising waste. To begin with, it was a bit messy, but now I have good recovery. I am always looking at ways to do things better and I am very happy with some of the techniques that I have developed. How can you tell that you are doing a good job? Customers, particularly repeat customers, at markets is a great way of finding out how good the product is. I always look for feedback - if they tell me something that I’m not getting right, I’m paying attention. I can’t get better if I don’t know. Luckily, the vast majority of customers really appreciate our product. And I hear that you have won awards. Yes, I was particularly pleased to win the Farmers Market Association Award last year because they told me that the flavour and texture balance was 'perfect'. It was so gratifying to get that accolade from impartial judges. Do you enjoy cooking? Being able to cook and use a knife is an incredible thing for a guy. It’s on par with getting a driver’s licence or knowing how the clutch and the brake in a car work. It’s an astounding sense of freedom. I notice that you have been branching out to sell hot food as well as smoked fish. Yes, we’ve tried a few things and, lately, we have been making hangi pockets. It started because we sell hangi from the Glendene shop. We had some fried bread leftover one day so we thought we’d try it at the market. It’s been very popular. Why hangi? As a kid, hangi was always such a treat. The whole process was exciting - preparing the fire, digging the hole, putting everything together, then the long, long wait before the smoke and delicious smells let us know that we could finally eat the feast. What is your iwi? I’m Tuhoe but I was born in Auckland. How do you enjoy spending your holidays? I’ve got two primary school-aged kids so I want to spend as much time as possible with them while they are young. I love taking them camping. We are so lucky in New Zealand, we have so many choices from the wild beaches like out at Whatipu, or the dense closeness of the bush in the Urewera ranges. Any other hobbies? I’m really interested in learning code and ways that tech can improve what I do. The possibilities are endless. Like blockchain - I know it’s something that I need to get into so that my product can be traced, PN end-to-end in the supply chain. F www.glfm.co.nz

70 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

TRAVEL: THE WILD SIDE TO CAMBODIA Cambodia is unfamiliar and enchanting - a country offering untold riches when it comes to art, architecture and culture. If there is anywhere to get off the less travelled road, it’s here. Cambodia for us is wandering through the old ruins of Angkor Wat, exploring Phnom Penh’s vibrant waterfront, becoming intoxicated by the smell of spices in the central markets and exhilarating tuk tuk rides by wannabe boy racers. Cambodia is a standout bucket list destination, offering adventure, ancient civilisations, breathtaking sightseeing and now the newly opened Shinta Mani Wild Resort. Luxury travel is changing very quickly and it’s the kind of travel that we want to do ourselves. Experiential travel is replacing luxury travel. I am always searching for the most unique experiences and finding unique places that will push me out of my comfort zone and to get me to do things I never would have done before. Shinta Mani Wild’s grand entrance via a zipline is just one example of this. It carries guests 380m across the jungle canopy and a cascading river to the resort’s bar. Or you can travel the more conventional way and have your private driver take you by road to your luxurious tent. For a lover’s destination that breaks all the rules, there really is no better place than Shinta Mani Wild. It has all the DNA of a perfect romantic getaway. Set in the first private wildlife and nature reserve in Cambodia, located three hours from Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville. Tucked into the wildlife corridor which runs between Bokor and Kirirom National Parks. Famed hotel designer and architect, Bill Bensley, has teamed-up with the local government and conservation organisations to protect this area from poaching and logging, whilst also providing a superb site for one of Cambodia’s hottest properties. The 15 luxurious tents are perched either at the edge or directly over the roaring rapids. The spacious rooms are designed in classic safari style, recalling the age of exploration with their whimsical décor and authentic Khmer objects d’art. Each tent is luxuriously designed in true Bensley style with tasteful local colours and fabrics, fascinating curios to recall the age of explorers and la belle époque.

Bensley collected hundreds of pieces of mismatched antique silver cutlery from all over Europe - just so guests are able to stay for a few nights and not see the same table setting. It’s all in the small details. This resort is a very good one, has a genuine purpose and is making luxury travel ethical. You can choose from a wild tent, a waterfall tent or an expansive two-bedroom tent and indulge in luxurious extras such as an outdoor freestanding bathtub. Enjoy the full services of a Bensley Butler as you unwind between excursions. Evoking a ‘Jackie O meets Cambodian jungle safari' feel. Shinta Mani Wild will captivate your mind and fill you with a longing to return. PN (VALENTINA MOULD-MORELLI CREATIVE DIRECTOR ACTIVE ASIA) F ACTIVE ASIA, 206 Jervois Road, T: 09 360 7669, www.activeasia.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Discover one of the last unspoilt wilderness areas of South East Asia and witness the Cambodia wild elephants, gibbons and numerous other species. This sparsely populated frontier is also home to Shinta Mani Wild - The Bensley Collection - A private nature sanctuary. Book now and enjoy 4 days / 3 nights from $5609pp. Travelling time between 25 March-31st October 2019. Enjoy!

J000537-BDMA REVOLUTION

It’s a jungle out there

A PRIVATE NATURE SANCTUARY

T +64 9 360 7669 or call your favourite travel agent Terms and Condition’s apply and for all inclusions see more at www.activeasia.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

ROSS THORBY: SEA FEVER

Samoa - founded on God I was up early enough this morning to walk around the promenade deck in the dark where beyond the railings was the pitch black of the pre-dawn Pacific. Aside from the rumblings of the engines deep within our ship, the only disturbance was the waves competing with each other against the hull as we divided the ocean, and the heavy methodical sound of my footfall on the decking. With each pass around the deck, the black inkiness slowly began to separate and the sun struggled to appear out from the clouds on the horizon as a constellation of lights appeared in front of us. Twinkling out across the water, the illuminations indicated landfall and our destination. A few more passes and the sunrise began to outline the volcanic mountains of Upolu, Samoa and as daylight and our ship inched forward, we approached our berth through the treacherous reefs guarding the capital city of Apia. The early missionaries did a really good job on these tropical Islands. Spreading their word throughout the Pacific, the vestiges of their teachings are very obvious in all of the islands and still reach deep into the consciousness of the Pacific Islanders.

Samoan choirs reached out through open doors competing with each other in the airless street. It seems everyone here is in church and it seems as though there are enough churches in town to accommodate everyone including passengers off the odd Cunard liner. Some of the ecclesiastical buildings were grand and obviously wealthy and others barely hardboard shacks with louvers set in the walls to help create a cooling breeze-way. Even though it was barely 9am, the barometer was already hovering around 32 degrees. Making my way along the waterfront I saw the empty buildings of the yacht and sail clubs and a number of shuttered and closed bars, the oldest observatory in the Pacific, the Parliamentary buildings and a number of ostentatious tombs. Great domed, concrete tombs that carried such names as Tuimalaifiifana, Maliertoa, Mataaafa and Afamassaga amongst other luminaries whose names I could never hope to pronounce.

Samoa is no exception. Today is Sunday and we could hear the church bells tolling out across the water. As far as the eye could see were steeples and bell towers stretching beseechingly heavenward above the thick forests of swaying palm trees. After five days at sea, I thought that it was time for a good walk. At the end of the horseshoe bay on which the capital is settled, is Mulinu'u Peninsula and it seemed like as good a place as any to start. With today being Sunday, everything apart from church was closed. Walking through the town and towards the beginning of the harbour, it seemed as though every second building I passed was some sort of evangelical mission or other. The stunning cathedral - The Immaculate Conception of Mary - in the middle of town being the tallest and biggest and a number of our fellow Cunarders had made their way there this morning to help the populace celebrate mass. As I walked through the ghost town past traffic lights which blinked and indicated to no one, the 7-day chemist which was shuttered and closed and the few other evacuated and relinquished buildings that were not related to religion, the melodic echoing a cappella from

On hallowed and sacred ground, the high chiefs of Samoa have been buried here for centuries and the point is dotted with aboveground tombs ranging in size from small to intimidating. They sit here forever looking out to sea, the country's fortress against the ever -encroaching, outside pagan world. The humid heat and stain of the constant rain that is so prevalent in the islands slowly discolour the walls of the buildings. It was that constant oppressive humidity that bought me to my own wall and sweating incessantly, I walked back along the road towards 'Aggies'. Aggie Grey was a world famous old Samoan hotelier and her colonial louvered and shuttered building built in 1933, still survives today albeit now as a Sheraton Hotel. Positioned at the beginning of the commercial area of town and at the end of the promenade of churches, its cooling marble lobby bar had drawn those from the ship not inclined to help the city celebrate the day of God, but worship at a different type of temple. The cooling waters of the hotel's swimming pool and lunchtime menu were the perfect way to end our stay in Robert Louis Stephenson's own eternal paradise. (ROSS THORBY) F PN

Cathedral - The Immaculate Conception of Mary, Samoa

72 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE DRESDEN VISION - A NEW OPTOMETRY PRACTICE IN PONSONBY Sometimes a claim that seems too good to be true is actually true. Dresden Vision is an optometry practice that has opened on the corner of Ponsonby and Richmond Roads. It promises standard distance and reading glasses for just $63, made while you wait and with a lifetime frame warranty. General manager Matt Martel says one of the biggest challenges is convincing people that glasses for $63 can be better than spectacles worth many hundreds of dollars. “The lifetime warranty is a really important part of convincing people,” he says. “The number of people who tell us that they’ve paid nearly a $1000 elsewhere is astounding.” With Dresden, the only time you pay more is when the lenses are more expensive, such as high-prescription grind lenses or progressives. Dresden has only one frame style, but it is available in a wide range of colours and materials, including recycled beer keg lids, Australian banknote offcuts, milk bottle tops and more. “There are no silly upsells. Our frame is always the same price and we only sell the lenses you need. The majority of glasses we sell are at our standard price.” Customers are encouraged to mix and match their frame and arm colours, or get multiple of them because everything is interchangeable - even the lenses. “They are especially great for kids because if something snaps, we replace it for free. That takes away lots of stress for the child and also the parents.” The factory in Sydney produces zero waste and its frames have a fraction of the environmental footprint of regular glasses. "The lenses come from a German optical company and are often better quality than more expensive options from elsewhere," he says. The Ponsonby store has an optometrist working most days (appointments are $75 for adults and $49 for kids). They’re also PN more than happy to put new lenses into your current frames. F DRESDEN VISION, 132 Ponsonby, T: 09 918 2121, or 31 Vulcan Lane, T: 09 218 6938, www.dresden.vision

One frame. 1000 options Prescription glasses that don’t cost the earth STANDARD Multifocal / Prescription (While you wait) progressives sunnies

$63

$319

$89

These prices are for ±4 scripts. That’s most people.

Glasses made simple The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

132 Ponsonby Rd, 918 2121 31 Vulcan Lane, CBD, 218 6938 web: dresden.vision

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

FASHION + STYLE @ LARSMART

Huge Range of...

Possum Merino Accessories and Garments LarsMart 543 Blockhouse Bay Road Blockhouse Bay 0800 5277 6278 www.larsmart.co.nz

LARSMART, 543 Blockhouse Bay Road, Blockhouse Bay, T: 0800 5277 6278, www.larsmart.co.nz

SHOE REPAIRS KEY CUTTING + KNIFE SHARPENING

NEW

Photo Printing Framing

Shoe Repairs Key Cutting Shoe Care Products Photo Printing / Framing Knife Sharpening

09 376 3289 / www.onestepahead.co.nz 287 Ponsonby Road / Three Lamps (next to Salta Café) / e: onestepahead@xtra.co.nz

HOMESICK FOR PONSONBY? If you, your friends or family are missing Ponsonby, why not subscribe to New Zealand’s best read community magazine? An annual subscription is only $49 and can be posted anywhere in New Zealand. +

Visit ponsonbynews.co.nz or email jay@ponsonbynews.co.nz for more information.

Photography: Everall Deans, Ponsonby Business Association

74 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

NEWS + LOCAL POLITICS + FASHION + STYLE + CELEBRITY + EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY + TRAVEL + LIVING, THINKING + BEING + PETS + FUTURE GENERATION + SPORTS + HOME + REAL ESTATE + ARTS + CULTURE

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE SHOUT HAIR ANNOUNCES THE ARRIVAL OF CHRISTOPHER HUIA WOODS... Originally from the Bay of Plenty, Chris has worked both here and abroad. Chris has won many awards both here and in Australia for both colouring and editorial work, the latest being last year where he was named in the top four for Avant Garde New Zealand hairdresser of the year.

photography: Andrea Kahukiwa

His passion is based on the belief that everyone deserves to be the best version of themselves, so he strives to offer colour and cutting techniques that go towards achieving this. Chris looks forward to meeting you and offering his services at SHOUT HAIR.

SHOUT HAIR, 166 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn, T: 376 6360, www.shouthair.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

OUT + ABOUT

Toby

Shredder

Jorge

Bonnie & Farah

Poppy, Zoe & Abby

Garu

Eddie

Duke & Steven

photography: Crawford Photography

Eva & Delphie

George

WOOF @ WESTERN PARK, PONSONBY - SUNDAY 3 MARCH

76 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE @ ZEBRANO

3 1

2 4

6 7

TURN HEADS IN RED This season focuses on seductive shades of red to keep a little heat in your winter wardrobe. Surrender yourself to contemporary styles cut from sumptuous fabrics designed by Trelise Cooper, Chocolat, Euphoria, Mela Purdie, Jason Lingard and more.

1. Curate Checker Out Coat $397

6. Euphoria Curious Top $329

2. Chocolat Morello Dress $327

7. Euphoria Anya Dress $419

3. Curate Forever Leather Jacket $499

8. Curate Swept Away Dress $259

4. Euphoria Cupid Dress $363

9. Euphoria Minato Top $369

5. Curate To Fur With Love Coat $449 ZEBRANO, 10 Kingdon Street, Newmarket, T: 09 523 2500, www.zebrano.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

Dr Hans Raetz, Skin Institute Cosmetic Medicine doctor

THE LOW DOWN ON THE LATEST IN FAT-FREEZING Liposuction has traditionally been one of the more popular procedures for removing excess fat and helping to sculpt the body. Non-surgical treatments are rising in popularity as this is less downtime, less painful, saves time and does not require any incisions. The latest, non-invasive body sculpting technology is Cooltech™. Fat freezing with Cooltech™ technology reduces unwanted fat with a minimum of risk or fuss. Using Cooltech’s™ unique applicators almost any area can be treated, including the stomach, neck, hips, thighs, knees, upper and lower back, arms and chin. Fat freezing decreases the bulk of fat to sculpt your contours precisely, making it possibly to achieve a smoother body line without surgery. Clinically validated The procedure uses scientifically proven cryoadipolysis technology, which has been validated in numerous clinical trials, with certified clinical predictability and maximum results. It works on the principle that fat cells and tissue are significantly more vulnerable to temperature change than other types of body tissue. More than one million Cooltech™ treatments have been performed in more than 40 countries, with very high patient-satisfaction levels.

Is Cooltech™ right for me? Cooltech™ is ideal for those in good physical shape, who want to tackle fat deposits that don’t respond to a healthy lifestyle and exercise. What reduction size can I expect? Clinical studies have shown that one session with one hand piece can reduce an area by 2.5cm diameter by destroying fat cells. Some tightening of the skin occurs over the following weeks. How many sessions do I need? It depends on your body. Your practitioner will guide you on how many treatments you need in each area, given the nature of fat that your body stores. However, typically you only need one or two treatments on each area. When will I start to see results? Your body takes time to eliminate fat cells after treatment, so you can begin to see results in as little as 15 days after the first treatment. Optimal results will be visible two month’s post-treatment. Available at Skin Institute, Ponsonby.

Before

After

Before

After

1. This photo is of a 31-year-old female, who had 1 x Cooltech™ treatment on each 'love handle'. Post photo is six-week post initial treatment with no change in diet or exercise. 2. This photo is of a male who had one x Cooltech™ treatment to his lower abdominal area. SKIN INSTITUTE, Level 1, old Ponsonby Post Office, 3 St Marys Road, T: 09 376 8888, www.skininstitute.co.nz

78 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Transform your body the easy way with Cooltech. TM

FREE Cooltech consultation TM

Is there a part of your body that you wish was smaller, flatter or tighter? CooltechTM is ideal for those in good physical shape, ;+3 ;"28 83 8"$/0& '"8 %&437,87 8+"8 %32|8 6&7432% 83 healthy lifestyle and exercise. The technology works by freezing away fat deposits - fat cells crystalise, die and then are eliminated through =396 #3%=|7 2"896"0 463$&77&7 8|7 8+& 0"8&78 ,2 232 invasive full-body contouring.

No painful surgery is required and you should be up and about straight after treatment. You can begin to see results in as little as 15 days after the first treatment and CooltechTM results are permanent, when coupled with a healthy diet, and regular exercise.*

Book your FREE 45-minute consultation at Skin Institute Ponsonby Ph 09 376 8888 or visit www.skininstitute.co.nz/cooltech-body-sculpting/

TAPS MR5597 /,2 278,898& 944368 '',$& "/"492" 9$/0"2%

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Skin cancer | Veins | Appearance medicine

¢ 2%,:,%9"0 6&79087 1"= :"6=

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

JOHN APPLETON: ON HEALTH

Our immune system Have you ever wondered why it is that some people very seldom get colds and flu and why they are hardly ever bothered with the frequent infections that send so many people running to the doctor? The answer is very simply that some people have a functioning immune system and the others are immuno-compromised (they have a dysfunctional and over-burdened immune system).

There are numerous specialised immune system cells, with lymphocytes doing the lion’s share of the work. There are two maintypes of lymphocytes, T cells and B cells which originate in the bone marrow.

The following six factors (in order of importance) can impact negatively on our immune system: Nutritional status, lifestyle, genetic makeup, stress and emotional state, pollution and environmental toxins, antibiotic overuse and misuse. Surgical procedures also suppress the immune system.

Some lymphocytes migrate to the thymus where they multiply and mature. These are the T cells which have a role in motivating other immune cells in times of need.

Whether it’s a bacterium floating in the bloodstream, a virus hiding in tissue or a rogue cell, the immune system is tasked with destroying it before it can compromise the normal function of the body.

T cells are also responsible for ‘calling off the troops’ when the danger has passed. B cells mature in the bone marrow itself, or in organs other than the thymus. B cells are charged with producing antibodies (chemical ‘bullets’) that are specific to the particular invading organism.

Our immune system has several ‘bases’ from which to operate and these include the bone marrow, the thymus which is located in the upper chest, the lymph nodes, the liver and the spleen. Other strategically placed ‘outposts’ of our immune system are the tonsils, the appendix and clumps of tissue in the small intestine known as Peyer’s patches. The lymphatic system is the line of supply throughout our immune system network. Lymph, which is a clear liquid, is a carrier for immune cells. The main difference between the blood flowing in the circulatory system and the lymphatic system is that blood is pressurised by the heart but with lymph there is no pump. Lymph is moved around the body by movement and muscle motion. This is why exercise is so important and why women are told to exercise in order to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Another group of immune cells are known as natural killer cells which work alone needing no stimulation from an antigen (invader) before they go on the attack. Natural killer cells are endlessly on patrol hunting down cells that display abnormal characteristics. Then there are the phagocytes, the ‘pac’ men of the immune system which have a special role as assassins and disposal units with a unique ability to engulf their ‘prey’ (phagocytosis). Two main types of phagocytes are macrophages and monocytes. Macrophages are found ‘scavenging’ in the tissues and monocytes ‘patrol’ in the blood. Most immune cells use chemicals to attack invaders and they can produce an immense variety of these (each one coded for a specific virus or bacterium). Each foreign ‘attacker’ displays a chemical identity on its surface. The immune cells respond by producing an ‘antidote’ which fits into the invader’s surface receptor. There are millions of chemical variations and it’s amazing that all of this is done on the spot. Infections are the most common cause of human disease, but for an infection to take hold there must be a weakness in the defence system. Only if our defences become overwhelmed do we really get into trouble. We are all born with a relatively weak immune system but after our ‘arrival’ our immune system develops through breastfeeding and thereafter it learns by experience. The immune system has a great memory for ‘faces’ and can remember past invaders and react accordingly. If a person has had mumps, the immune system instantly recognises a further threat and swings swiftly into action. Next month I will give you some ideas about maintaining optimal immune function. PN (JOHN APPLETON) F APPLETON ASSOCIATES, T: 09 489 9362, appletonassoc@xtra. co.nz, www.johnappleton.co.nz

80 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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What can clear aligners do? ClearCorrect can treat a wide variety of issues that keep people from achieving their ideal smiles. They straighten your teeth.

They’re practically invisible, so most people won’t even know you’re in treatment, they fit you perfectly, so they’re more comfortable than regular braces, and they’re removable, so you can eat whatever you like and clean your teeth normally.

Straighter teeth don’t just look better; they work better too. Poorly aligned teeth can interfere with bite function, wear out more quickly, and are more prone to cavities and bad oral hygiene.

How do you find out if clear aligners will work for you? It’s really easy...

ClearCorrect is the clear and simple choice. No wires. No brackets. PN Just clear, convenient comfort - every reason to smile. F

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THE DENTAL FAMILY FOR YOUR FAMILY PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

LIVING, THINKING + BEING POWERTRAINS WILL HELP SAVE OUR INNER CITY COASTLINES The future of personal car transport is exciting. Not only are automotive manufacturers forging ahead with technologies that are more sustainable for the planet, they are also supporting important environmental initiatives and helping to create a greater awareness of the impact our driving habits have on our environment. Tesla NZ support Sustainable Coastline’s Flagship education centre on Madden Street supplying a battery that enables the building to be one of the world’s most sustainable.

Sid Sahrawat cares about sustainability so chooses Tesla

Sam Judd, Sustainable Coastlines CEO, spoke at the recent Jaguar I-Pace and Range Rover launch, explaining just how damaging our driving habits are to urban coastlines. In fact automotive pollutants are currently one of the biggest threats to Auckland’s inner city waterways. Sam explained that it isn’t simply the emissions that make combustion engines a danger to our oceans. It’s the lubricants and oil deposits from engines and the heavy metals that are lost on to the road each time we brake and make their way out to sea that are a problem.

Tesla Model 3 uses an app instead of a key

Such problems are being addressed by the way electric vehicles and PHEV’s continue to develop their technologies. The Jaguar I-Pace soon be on our roads is not only emission free but it also needs fewer lubricants. Less fossil fuel waste will find its way into our waters. The breaking system in the I-Pace has the potential to reduce the amount of heavy metals and minerals lost onto our roads. While perhaps not unique to the I-Pace, the automatic engine -breaking system is pretty impressive in action. The car is essentially an SUV but with the heart and performance of a race car. The I-Pace is used in the first FIA Formula E support race, one of the emerging motorsports in the global racing landscape. Even those who aren’t car racing enthusiasts can’t help but appreciate the way it handles and the overall feeling of power it has when it accelerates. The fact that it is able to automatically use the engine to slow down as soon as you take your foot off the accelerator and then capture the resulting energy and save it to the battery is a marvel.

Jaguar I-Pace an SUV with the heart of race car & zero emissions

SUV’s are of course to some degree work horses. We want them to be able to go over all terrain, tow heavy loads as well as being an allround versatile city vehicles. This is something the Tesla X can easily do and the recently released Range Rover Evoque PHEV is designed for this kind of driving challenge. I have seen the Tesla X comfortably tow a double horse float up hills at a decent speed and understand that the Range Rover has clever technology that allows it to drive power to different wheels when towing, making light work of pulling a trailer out of the mud. Of course the Range Rover Evoque PHEV does this by switching to its latest technology high-performance petrol engine, not electric power. The fully electric Jaguar I-Pace is a bit of surprise, however, as it can also travel through water (the water doesn’t effect the battery and there’s no exhaust) with ease and tow a horse float or mid-sized boat.

Range Rover Evoque PHEV low-emission luxury

Knowing the capabilities and advances of electric and PHEV vehicles is important as it dispels the myths and makes them an undeniably good and informed choice for anyone’s next car. New releases and innovations are constantly occurring and for Tesla this is business as usual. A local spokesman for the company points out that a month for Tesla is a very long time and much can happen. This is, of course, true with the more affordable Model 3 about to be seen around the Auckland streets. Tesla has just launched another financially more accessible electric vehicle, the Model Y. Where the Tesla Model 3 easily transports mum, dad and three kids, the soon-to-be-released model Y is designed to be a high-performance SUV that can fit up to

82 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

seven adults and can accelerate up to 100km per hour in as little as 3.7 seconds. With an increasing number of Tesla owners in and around Ponsonby, the release of the Model 3 and Model Y are likely to grow this further. A spokeswoman for Tesla explained that New Zealand’s Tesla owners come from all walks of life with many Ponsonby News readers among them. “Our owners are tech-savvy, innovative, safety conscious and care about sustainable energy. Tesla ticks all those boxes for them,” explained the Tesla spokeswoman. Ponsonby local Sid Sahrawat, owner of Sidhart, Cassia and Sid at The French Cafe is a Tesla driver who chose Tesla as part of his commitment to zero emissions. “We focus on sustainability in our restaurants, using sustainable produce, minimising wastage and saying no to plastic. It was important for me to extend this to my own life as well. A Tesla was the perfect way for me to commit to using renewable energy whilst still enjoying the driving experience,” says Sid. When the first Jaguar I-Pace owners begin driving their no emission vehicles around the city and the Model 3 and Model Y are delivered to those on the Tesla waiting list, electric cars will have a stronger, silent presence. One day soon our roads will be a quieter more environmentally friendly place. F PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

Wellness: Barefoot Retreats’ Angus McLean Earlier this year, I wrote in these pages about the concept of the day retreat, and how much just a day here and there spent focusing on your wellbeing can actually impact your everyday life. Many people use significant financial outlay and time away from work and family as a reason they haven’t attended a wellness retreat, despite having a real interest in the idea and its myriad possibilities. Well, I say forget about all that and embrace some of the options we have quite literally on our doorstep, many of which are just a day in length but can be really transformative. Sattva Soul holds regular half-day retreats at venues like the Sapphire Room at Ponsonby Central, whilst I was lucky enough to attend the inaugural Barefoot Retreat at Te Henga earlier this year. Helmed by local vegan chef and yogi Angus McLean, it was a day away that helped set me well up for the year, and I’ve been singing its praises ever since. When I first met Barefoot Retreats’ founder, Angus, many years ago, he was in the kitchen of a newly opened Queenie’s, having created the innovative and downright delicious menu that the Freemans Bay cafe kicked off with. He was working around the clock in the kitchen and often playing hard after hours to decompress, nourishing everyone but himself. Something had to change, and serendipitously, his increasing feeling of being “run ragged” coincided with a trip to prestigious Australian wellness retreat Gwinganna with his sister. “It was the first time I’d ever done anything like that,” he tells me, “and I loved it - especially the way I felt after it. I knew it was the sort of thing I wanted to be involved with, and not just as a yoga teacher but so much more.” He had begun practising yoga in his university days and had used it over the years as “my little safe place” after he moved to London and threw himself into the demanding life of a chef. Over the years he trained with prestigious names Peter Gordon and Yotam Ottolenghi, before taking some time out to travel and eventually settling in New Zealand. He proceeded to help set up cafes like Queenie’s, Seabreeze and, most recently, The Butcher’s Son, before throwing himself fully into the creation of Barefoot Retreats. “I’ve always had a bit of a love/hate relationship with cheffing,” he admits with a smile, “in that I love doing it but had long wanted to do it in a different way. A way that wasn't so highly stressed.” In the midst of all that he also found the time to spend a year working as a retreat leader at world-renowned Aro Ha- retreat in Queenstown, so had a real feel for how a great day of self-care should flow. “I wanted to create something that was easily accessible to busy people,” he says, “as well as being totally unique. Many of us would find it hard to drop everything and disappear for a week or more

to some far-flung destination, so what we have created is a day experience that takes you away from modern life and digital devices, immerses you in nature and leaves you feeling deeply relaxed and connected.” It incorporates delicious food, mindfulness and yoga, as well as barefoot hiking and wild swimming, “and is the antithesis of the fast-paced modern life most of us lead.” He collaborates on each retreat with colleagues from the yoga world like Taane Mete, Katy Carter and Kylie Rook, and acknowledges that the piece of land where the experience takes place is also vital to the Barefoot Retreats’ USP. It’s where he lives and is also home to HeartSong Dance Temple, a very special structure that really does have the most amazing vibe. Built lovingly by Joy Lake, who was involved in building The Matrimandir in Auroville, India, it is built from non-toxic, sustainable materials and is based on sacred geometry principals. It is symbolically positioned in between three large totara, representing self-empowerment, self-love and perfect self-expression. Apart from yoga in the temple, all of the rest of the Barefoot activities including meals - take place outside, which means that the retreats take a sabbatical over the winter months. “It’s all about immersing yourself in nature as much as possible,” says Angus, and the warmer, drier months are certainly more conducive to that. Angus himself will be spending the Southern Hemisphere winter months in much warmer climes - Greece first, then playing a key role in a week-long retreat in Cambodia with Kylie Rook. Weekly and fortnightly Barefoot Retreats are planned up until the end of May though, and you can also catch Angus teaching at EastWest in Ponsonby and Studio Red at CityWorks Depot. He also shares his recipes on Instagram under the moniker @thebarefootchefnz, along with plenty of photos of his beautiful rescue dog, Elsie. “She plays a key role in the retreats,” says Angus with a smile, “and loves sneaking into yoga classes, taking long beach walks and helping me out with the goats on the property. She’s definitely a real spirit animal, in every sense of the word.” If you want to experience something very special with the backdrop of our beautiful country as an added extra, I can’t recommend spending time with Angus at Te Henga enough. You deserve it! (HELENE RAVLICH) F PN www.barefootretreats.earth

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

FUTURE GENERATION TANIA DALTON FOUNDATION NAMES SECOND-YEAR INTAKE OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS 12 scholarship recipients named for personal mentoring and fiscal support included rising talent from Grey Lynn, Zaaliyah Kalaihi-Fulu. The youngest member of this year’s scholarship programme, Zaaliyah has a goal to be named in the NZ U16 Basketball team this year. Tania Dalton Foundation, created in honour of the sporting legend, last month named the second-year intake of deserving recipients for its Scholarship Programme. The foundation exists to inspire young people to be the best they can be through sport by coordinating a range of programmes aimed at making a positive and measurable impact. The main initiative for the foundation, launched in March last year, is the Scholarship Programme which honours Tania’s passion for supporting young women in sport. Founder and husband, Duane Dalton, says the programme supports talented young sportswomen from all kinds of circumstances or those who will benefit from the unique and valuable support the foundation can provide. “The programme wraps a pastoral blanket around these incredible young women, so that they can make the right decisions now for their future. They have such great potential, and these really are the crucial years to ensure they make the most of that. “Following Tania’s footsteps, we’re encouraging these girls to see themselves as future role models and leaders in their communities, finding ways to work alongside and inspire them to realise their ultimate dreams. And we’ve had great success in our first year, with two of our original scholarship recipients making the selections for the Black Ferns Sevens development squad.” Duane says that there’s a huge engine of support behind the foundation – namely with some of Tania’s closest friends and former team mates. But there’s one key driver that has a major advisory role and that is their brave daughter, Tayla Dalton.

Zaaliyah Kalaihi-Fulu

“Tayla has really played a huge role in developing the offering of these programmes and been really involved in our workshop sessions. We go through so many processes with different mentors, including dream mapping, personality assessments, career advisories and reputation management. Being of the same age as a number of these young scholarship recipients, she knows the best way to inspire and influence the group. “It fills me with great pride seeing Tay stand in front of her peers and share the vision of her incredible mother, our T. Tania’s legacy lives on every day through three beautiful children, and it’s a constant reminder that we’re doing right by her and all that she aspired to achieve,” says Duane. Looking to the year ahead, Duane sees incredible promise in the next wave of recipients and is looking forward to getting underway with the workshops and programme. F PN

Tania Dalton Foundation 2019 Recipients

84 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

MEET THE TEACHER Troy Mills is a teacher in Richmond Road Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Maori unit - Te Whanau Whariki. Tell us your pepeha Ko Tainui te waka. Ko Kakepuku te maunga. Ko Waipa te awa. Ko Ngati Maniapoto te iwi. Ko Troy Mills toku ingoa. What is your philosophy of teaching? I believe in giving our tamariki opportunities to explore themselves as Maori. If we give our tamariki exposure and experiences to the Maori world, these can be the building blocks to foster and manifest true self identity and a sense of belonging to their culture. I believe in growing a culture within Te Whanau Whariki so that Te Reo me ona Tikanga becomes the norm, where manaakitanga is also a natural part of their everyday lives. What are the benefits and challenges of working in a Maori immersion space in a school such as Richmond Road School where the learning hubs include English medium, Samoan bilingual and French bilingual? Our children are exposed to at least three other cultures and languages and this impacts on their perspective and the many faces of Aotearoa. One of the many other positives is our tamariki Maori are sharing the language and tikanga with their peers and the community. The disconnect between English-medium education and Maori-medium education can be a challenge as the links between the two can be misaligned for our teaching practices. What makes your Kahui Ako unique to others in Auckland? Te Kahui Ako O Waitemata comprises two distinct decision-making bodies, whose status is confirmed by the articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. These bodies are Te Tangata Whenua and Te Tangata Tiriti. With our Kahui Ako being this way it gives our Maori Medium Units a voice in the Kahui Ako. Our Maori immersion contexts are situated in English-medium schools. The Kahui Ako has given a chance for us to come together as Maori medium and share our expertise. Outside teaching what occupies your time? With my spare time, I like to be in the outdoors going fishing or going to check out our beautiful landscape we have in Aotearoa. Going on roadies to catch up with friends and whanau around the motu (island). I enjoy being able to go back to the marae and get away from city life to recharge. What is one of your favourite whakatauki and why? Mehemea ka moemoea ahau, ko ahau anake. Mehemea ka moemoea tatou, ka taea e tatou. If I am to dream, I dream alone. If we all dream together then we shall achieve. I feel this means if we all share the same dream and hold on to the dreams of those who have passed we can achieve anything. F PN

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

BILL HARRIS: KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY

'The Heart Dances' - see it now at a cinema near you Did you go and see The Piano: The Ballet? If so, you’ll be glad you did, and you’ll have especially enjoyed Ponsonby girl Hazel Couper’s star turn as Flora, daughter of a Scottish immigrant. If not, what were you thinking? Well, now you can stop beating yourself up about it, because you have another chance to see Hazel, this time in the movie about the ballet. 'The Heart Dances' is the work of director and producer Rebecca Tansley, and it opens in 25 cinemas around New Zealand from 4 April, including Bridgeway Cinemas in Northcote, Monterey in Howick, the Lido in Greenlane and Rialto in Newmarket. If Rebecca is able to successfully transfer her passion for the project onto the screen (spoiler alert - she has, according to those who’ve seen advance screenings), then the movie is sure to be a hit. “It was such a privilege to be in the studio every day, so close to all the action,” she said. “If we go to see dance, we’re used to seeing it up on the stage, from our seats in the theatre. But to be able to see if from all angles, up close, and hear the breathing, and the pain, and see all the hard work that goes into it... it was amazing and I’m hoping we’ve captured some of that.” One of Rebecca’s favourite scenes is the audition for the role for the main character’s daughter, Flora, in which the audience feels the tension almost as much as the dancers. “I loved filming that scene,” recalls Rebecca. “You could feel all the hopes and dreams of the budding ballerinas in the audition. There were so many children and my focus was on a million things at once. There were multiple rooms to cover so I was running around like a mad thing. Once Hazel was selected as one of three who would learn the role of Flora, she instantly shone. She is calm, collected and very talented. I am sure she will be a star!” Unlike many documentaries, 'The Heart Dances' is more than a fly-on-the-wall movie. Rebecca wanted her audience to be more immersed, more emotionally involved in the events unfolding before them, to be 'in' the room rather than simply observing. To achieve that, among other things, she used two cameras. “I knew I would have very little control over what we were shooting, and that editing dance sequences with synch sound over one take would be impossible unless we had two-camera coverage,” she explains. “And

86 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

because the subject is dance, it seemed appropriate to have a lot of movement in the camera work. So I did a lot of planning with the director of photography, Simon Raby, and we decided to shoot on two Sony cameras, except for the final performance, when we used five.” So what gave Rebecca the idea to make the movie? “An insider told me the RNZB were planning to stage the ballet and I immediately thought it would make for a good documentary,” she said. “Jane Campion’s film The Piano was overwhelming, an incredible piece of work, and was literally life-changing for me, and I was interested in how that story would be adapted for dance. Plus I had a hunch that the politics of re-originating what had already been created in Europe by Europeans (the famous Bubenicek brothers originated the ballet in Germany as a short ballet) with and for New Zealanders would be worth exploring.” Though the movie features some music from the ballet itself, Rebecca wanted it to have its own identity, so she filmed specific sequences with contemporary Kiwi tracks in mind, including songs from Bic Runga, Aldous Harding and Minuit, as well as music composed and performed by Flavio Villani, a pianist who was the subject of Rebecca’s first film. Talking to Rebecca, it’s clear that she had as much fun making the film as we’ll have seeing it. Particular highlights include when she and Simon Raby filmed on a waka with Te Aputa Tira Hoe Waka Ama Club to get some shots of the waka prow and hoe moving through the water - “an incredible experience” - and filming on the stage of the Dresden Opera House, with all the set dressing going on around them. But probably the biggest moment for Rebecca was when the film premiered at the New Zealand International Film Festival and Jane Campion (director of the movie that so influenced Rebecca all those years ago, the movie without which her movie wouldn’t be) came to see it. “All the people I got to meet making this film made it so worthwhile, it’s been an extraordinary privilege,” said Rebecca. PN “I think that shows in the finished product.” (BILL HARRIS) F

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PONSONBYPROFESSIONALS: PROFESSIONALS: LOGAN LOGANGRANGER GRANGER

Is a family trust right for me? Family trusts are a popular way to protect and manage your assets. It is transferring the legal ownership of your assets to the trustees while continuing to use and enjoy them as long as the trust deed permits, such as a family home to live in now and in the future. They can have a valuable role to play, but they are not suitable for everyone. Here are the pros and cons of family trusts and how family trusts work to help you decide if it’s worth investigating further. How family trusts work Trusts mainly involve three different groups: 1. A Settlor: The person or company who create the trust. 2. Trustees: The people who manage the trust. The settlor can also be a trustee. It is also a good idea to appoint an independent trustee who is not a relative. Professionals like lawyers and accountants (or companies they have set up) often act as independent trustees. 3. Beneficiaries: The people who benefit from the trust, for example, members of the family. Often there is more than one trustee. There may also be more than one settlor of a trust. For example, mum and dad could be the settlors as well as the trustees of the trust and the children could be the beneficiaries. Once above groups are decided, a legal document called a ‘trust deed’ will formally set up the family trust. It

will name the trustees, list the beneficiaries, and state various rules for the administration and management of the trust. The trust deed needs to be very carefully written, preferably by a lawyer. Note that a trust does not usually end with the settlor’s death. Responsibilities as a trustee Settlors and beneficiaries are important entities in the trust. However, the trustee takes a vital role. If you are considering to take a part in a trust as trustee, it is important to know the trustees’ obligations under the current law before accepting the role 1. It is a legal responsibility with a lot of paper work involved. You could end up being liable for losses made by the trust if you do not do the job properly. 2. You are in it for the long haul - some trusts have a set end-point (eg, when a child turns 18, but others can go on for over a century). Therefore you need to be sure that you can work well with the other trustees before taking on the job as you have to agree with the other trustees when making trust decisions. 3. You must know and understand the trust deed, all associated documentation and the trust's property, assets and liabilities.

4. Active participation and making decisions are required - no delegating or relying on others to act on behalf of you. Although you can, often are, obliged to take advice from other professional advisers. Five good reasons to form a family trust 1. Protect your assets against claims and creditors in the event of a business failure or a lawsuit. 2. Set aside money for special reasons, such as a child or grandchild’s education. 3. Ensure your children, not their partners, keep their inheritance 4. Protect your children from squandering assets or falling prey to financial scams before they have gained sufficient life experience to make sound decisions. 5. They have a life of up to 80 years (or 125 years under the new bill) unless it has wound up and distributed earlier. (LOGAN GRANGER) F PN Disclaimer - While all care has been take, Johnston Associates Chartered Accountants Ltd and its staff accept no liability for the content of this article; always see your professional advisor before taking any action that you are unsure about.

JOHNSTON ASSOCIATES, 202 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 361 6701, www.jacal.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS: METROLAW Got a legal question? Ask michael@metrolaw.co.nz

Q: A:

I am currently working as an employed architect, but am keen to start up my own practice. I have heard that it would be a good idea to set up a trust and transfer my house to it. I’ve also been told that I should get professional indemnity insurance. Why would I need to have both of these protections? They just seem like unnecessary costs. Could I just have the insurance?

@ SPCA – PLEASE CAN I COME HOME WITH YOU? Adopt an SPCA animal today and in return you will be rewarded with a lifetime of unconditional love. www.spcaauckland.org.nz/adopt

Good on you for deciding to start up your own business. You raise a couple of good questions.

Professional indemnity insurance is good protection for you to have as it protects professionals in business who provide advice or services. I was surprised when I started my practice that insurance was optional. Insurance protects you, your employees and your clients; it gives them a remedy when you may not be able to afford it. However, there are circumstances in which your insurance may not cover you. There are may be circumstances that invalidate the policy by operation of law or exceptions or exclusions in the policy. The large print giveth and the small print taketh away. We have seen significant delays in payouts for the Christchurch earthquakes and if you had a claim that exceeded your insurance or multiple claims which could arise in a multi unit development you may not have enough reinstatements of your policy to provide you with full cover.

Lorax

It is this risk that insurance might not cover you that makes it sensible to hold your important assets like your home in trust. There are other advantages to trusts as well, in estate planning, protection from Relationship Property claims and sometimes tax structuring opportunities. Make sure that you get your property into trust before you start trading. You should try and complete any gifting as any debt back can make the trust assets vulnerable. All the best with your business venture. (MICHAEL HEMPHILL) F PN 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.

Smokey

METRO LAW, Level 1, 169A Ponsonby Road, T: 09 929 0800, www.metrolaw.co.nz

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PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

SPCA DIY TOYS As any animal lover will know, toys don’t need to be expensive for our pets to love them!

Will you be my Guardian?

While it can be tempting to head straight to the pet shop and grab one of the pricey toys on display, a more cost efficient and fun way to provide animals with enrichment is to just make toys at home. SPCA centres across the country are always grateful to have toys donated, and homemade toys are extra special as somebody has put extra love and care into making them. Here are some toys you can make with just a few simple household items or low cost materials you can buy at a craft shop. NO-SEW CAT TOY Did you know that cats need at least 30 minutes of play time each day? This play can and should be provided in a variety of different ways - one of them being through interactive play. Not only does it strengthen your bond, but it also allows your cat to express their normal behaviour! Try making this ‘no sew’ cat toy out of the simple materials below. This is a great interactive toy that will provide endless entertainment - just remember to supervise their play time so they don’t swallow anything they shouldn’t or get tangled up. MATERIALS NEEDED: Fabric (fleece or flannelette sheets work best), string, scissors. Your regular donation will help SPCA care for animals all year round.

INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Cut a strip of fabric approximately 5cm x 30cm and a piece of string at least 45cm long.

Do something amazing today: www.spca.nz/SPCAGuardian

2. Fold the fabric lengthwise and cut small strips all the way along the fabric. Be sure not to cut all the way through. 3. Unfold the fabric and roll it up as snug as possible along the middle. 4. Tie one end of the string tightly in the middle of the fabric and secure with two knots. 5. Work material into ball shape. 6. You can also attach this to some string or a wooden stick to make a wand toy. NATIVE BIRD SUN CATCHER Are you a bird lover? There are many ways in which you can get creative at home and in your garden to help create a native bird friendly environment. Sometimes, when birds are flying, clear glass can be dangerous for them as they may not see there is a window there and can potentially fly into the glass. Here’s an idea of a sun catcher you can make to put in your window so to help keep them safe. MATERIALS NEEDED: Thick paper , tissue paper, scissors, glue, string, tape. INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Start by printing or drawing your chosen animal on to thick paper. 2. Cut the photo/drawing to create an outline. 3. Cut tissue paper into strips. 4. Glue strips to the back of your animal outline. 5. Cut excess tissue paper. 6. Tape a piece of string to the back of your sun catcher. 7. Hang your masterpiece in your window. www.spca.nz

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PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

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@ MELUKA

5 4

1. BOOKboy 1 Bay 5 High; 2. TIDYboy 1200; 3. Bookboy 2 bay 5 High; 4. DRAWERrobe; 5. STUDYboy 3 Crate; 6. CHESTboy 2 Bay 3 High MELUKA, 938 Mt Eden Road, Three Kings, 13a Link Drive, North Shore and 260 Oteha Valley Road, Albany, T: 09-625 3900, www.meluka.co.nz

Get your SHELF sorted! 15% OFF BOOKboys BOOKboy 1 Bay 6 High $1410

BOOKboy 3 Bay 3 High $1640

BOOKboy 2 Bay 5 High $1860

$1198

$1394

$1581

Furniture. Simply. *accessories sold separately

92 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

meluka.co.nz

D E SI G N E D A N D MA D E I N N Z

T H RE E KIN G S 98 3 M T ED EN R D N O RT H S H O RE 13A LI N K D R ALB AN Y 2 60 OTEH A VA LLEY R D B OTAN Y D O W N S 501 TI R A K AU D R H AMILTO N 15 MAUI ST

TAU RAN G A 156 C H A D WI C K R D TAU PO 2 9 TOTA R A ST H AS T IN G S 810 HERETAUNGA ST PALME RS TO N N O RT H 699 M A I N ST LO W E R H U T T 2 8 R U TH ER FOR D ST

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SPOILT FOR CHOICE! 28 Webber Street, Coxs Bay

Sitting proud, an attractive, light-filled spacious two-bedroom villa, full of character and boasting voluminous open living seamlessly flowing to the wrap-around verandah and the private central garden area; the perfect place to entertain friends and family. Add to this a supersized light and airy studio with spacious bathroom and a fabulous sun-kissed deck plus... another separate large studio with bathroom and private terrace. This is the perfect answer for the growing family, working from home, a retreat for teenagers, guests or the extended modern family. Or explore the possibilities of developing and realising the

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full potential of this fabulous 622m2 north-west facing site (Mixed Urban Housing Zoning). With landscaped mature gardens, plenty of off-street parking and situated only a short walk to the vibrancy of the West Lynn cafes and boutiques, nearby supermarket and specialty shops, and the tranquillity of the leafy walkways and vast green fields of the Coxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PN Bay Reserve nearby, the picture is complete. F This is a very special offering in this sought-after Coxs Bay location. Call Carl Madsen to view on 021 953 152.

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URBAN COLLECTIVE A quick catch up with Urban Collective, the development team behind 59 France - the new apartments taking shape on the corner of France and Karaka Streets. 59 France is a stunning building. How did the design evolve? The Eden Terrace and Newton suburbs historically included a mix of villas, brick warehouses and workshops - many of which were demolished from the 70s to the 90s. This new building pays homage to the locale’s history with its brick facade, but modernised via a contemporary New York makeover. We worked closely with Paul Brown Architects reviewing, revising and further developing every element until the final form emerged. How is construction progressing on site? Construction has been underway for seven months, we are on programme and very pleased with the rate of progress. This is our 7th project with CMP Construction, and they are doing a great job. The basement is complete, and the first of the floor slabs have just gone in. You will start to see the building taking shape above ground over the next few months and by the end of the year it will be an addition to Auckland’s skyline. When will 59 France be finished? Completion is due in the 3rd quarter of 2020 - before the America's Cup, and only 18 months away. When is the best time to buy? Without a doubt now is definitely the best time to buy. Interest rates are the lowest they have been for a generation - with several banks advertising rates under 4%. This results in lower repayments, and you could find that owning your own home is cheaper than renting at the moment. With low interest rates, you also get more purchasing power for your money, and may be able to afford something a little better than you thought. Yes, but what about the big price correction the newspapers talk about? The media has been running stories about a price correction in Sydney and Melbourne, and then assuming it will happen here as well. Those cities never had a correction during the GFC and now have a massive over-supply of apartments. Auckland, on the other hand, has a severe shortage of apartments (and houses in general), due to very different conditions. Acquisition costs of good sites, slow and expensive council consenting processes, insufficient labour and construction capacity, and a myriad of other factors mean that Auckland is unlikely to catch up on the shortfall of housing, let alone reach a surplus. What about the market timing? Am I paying too much? The Auckland real estate market peaked in 2016. We are now three years into the next cycle, and prices are still flat at 2016 levels. By the time 59 France completes in late 2020, we will be four years into that cycle and historically this would then see prices rising again, especially with the lack of new stock coming online. New construction on the city-fringe is hugely under what was forecast, and rental pressure is greater than ever. What should I be aware of when buying an apartment off the plans? The best advice is to buy into a project that is already under construction. A large percentage of apartments sold off the plan never get built, and the 50 projects cancelled in Auckland in the last few years confirm this. Also check out who you are buying from, and

their reputation for getting things done. Urban Collective is a multiaward winning, well capitalised local Kiwi development company with a proud track record of 57 projects completed. What are the advantages of buying an apartment under construction? Buying an apartment under construction is a great choice for many buyers. You only need a low deposit to secure an apartment - typically 10%. The period between now and completion allows extra time to save more equity, and there is the potential for the finished product to value up more than your initial purchase price. You can choose between a number of options available and pick your preferred colour scheme, whereas you have limited choices from the few completed apartments available on the market at any one time. Where should I buy? Location, location... and convenience. The close city fringe, and particularly Eden Terrace, has convenient access to motorways and public transport which can’t be underestimated. Buying within a short drive (or preferably within walking distance) of where you work will transform your life. Just imagine a short walk to work, saving yourself an hour or two in traffic each and every day - you will wonder why you put up with commuting for so long. 59 France is also within a short walk of a seemingly endless selection of eateries and entertainment options. What should I look for in an apartment building? Apart from beautiful design and high-quality appointments throughout, look for a proven combination of developer /architect / builder, look for a high percentage of owner / occupiers and look for low body -corp fees, which are achieved by efficient design and eliminating gyms, swimming pools and other things that are expensive to install and maintain. Are apartments pet friendly? Apartments certainly can be great places for smaller pets, but many apartment buildings and body corporates do not allow them. 59 France will be pet friendly. Are there still apartments available to buy at 59 France? Yes, we have a good selection to choose from, ranging from 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms, and priced from $645k to $2.9m. I’m keen - where can I see this? Urban Collective has a showroom nearby at 28 Norwich Street, available to view by appointment Monday to Saturday.

Call on 0800 217 838 or check the websites, urbancollective.co.nz or 59France.co.nz

94 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

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59 FRANCE Premium apartments from the multi, award-winning combination of local development team, Urban Collective and Paul Brown Architects. Located in the heart of Eden Terrace for chic city fringe convenience. Unique edgy designs, featuring the ﬁnest

SELLING NOW

fixtures, fittings and finishes. Construction well underway. Completion Q3, 2020.

1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments. Prices from $645k to $2.9m Call 0800 217 838

Email steve@urbancollective.co.nz

Showroom at 28 Norwich Street Check website for times

FOR MORE INFO VISIT

59FRANCE.CO.NZ

photography: Anna Crichton

OUT + ABOUT

'PICASSO WOULD BE ENVIOUS' - WYNYARD QUARTER - MARCH 2019

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HOROSCOPES: MISS PEARL NECLIS WHAT YOUR STARS HOLD FOR APRIL

â&#x2122;&#x2C6; Aries (the Ram): 21 March - 20 April

Why do you feel ill at ease with someone you thought you knew? Get all the facts before you make any judgement. If you have to give anyone a second chance now is the time.

â&#x2122;&#x2030; Taurus (the Bull): 21 April - 21 May

You might need to be open that anything could happen at the last moment. Being on your own may have gone on for a bit too long now. You might consider a partner if you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t thought about it before.

â&#x2122;&#x160;

Gemini (the Twins): 22 May - 21 June Catching up with someone who entered your life recently has you intrigued. Just say hello as an introduction and the rest will just happen. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meant to be just a friendship then accept that willingly.

â&#x2122;&#x2039;

Cancer (the Crab): 22 June - 22 July Relax your expectations and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find the universe will give you usually what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re after. Unfortunately, the past has a habit of rearing its ugly head. I can only say that you have to ride this wave of emotion until you get to the other side.

â&#x2122;&#x152;

Leo (the Lion): 23 July - 21 August Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing what you do best at last. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s you enjoying your work and getting on with it. If you have anything to share, get it out now. Once it's out it will be easier to mull over.

â&#x2122;?

Virgo (the Virgin): 22 August - 23 September If you want to offer a solution to a problem that a family member or friend has, do it now. You may misread the situation and your input could be construed as meddling. If you can get past that, your motivation will be infectious.

â&#x2122;&#x17D; Libra (the Scales): 24 September - 23 October

You can be as blunt as you want but sometimes people still donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always understand what you mean. Maybe when you spout rhetoric it's best to understand what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re saying yourself in the first place.

â&#x2122;? Scorpio (the Scorpion): 24 October - 22 November

You should know that your close friends and family have a great coping method and that you shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try and control how anyone is feeling. If someone really close is misbehaving donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry too much. Take care of yourself and the rest will fall into place.

â&#x2122;?

Sagittarius (the Archer): 23 November - 22 December Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let anyone tell you how to live your life. If you hear something that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like please let it go and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t waste any energy stewing about it. Let it go and if you have anything to say it will come when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re more composed.

â&#x2122;&#x2018; Capricorn (the Goat): 23 December - 20 January

There seems to be a lot of love life issues this month and your first instinct is to help anyone that you think is in trouble. If you want to offer advice, be as positive as you can. There are other ways to offer support.

â&#x2122;&#x2019; Aquarius (the Water Carrier): 21 January - 19 February

You might wonder whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on this month as you think youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re being stared at. But what you might think are stares are looks of recognition. You have a little bit of a public profile whether you want it or not.

â&#x2122;&#x201C; Pisces (the Fish): 20 February - 20 March

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to the point in your relationship where you can be totally honest with someone about everything, then thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the moment that you have to say, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m done. It wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be easy but if you pretend everything is okay then that will be damaging for everyone concerned. Just think before you act.

A very approachable property expert with over 27 years in Auckland Real Estate

2017 TOP Salesperson Barfoot & Thompson, Grey Lynn branch Year ending 31 March 2017

Over 27 years selling Auckland real estate has awarded Repeka a substantial knowledge base and 27 years of shining testimony

027 499 0855 I r.lelaulu@barfoot.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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NEW LIFE FOR PONSONBY ICON Ponsonby Road icon, The Garden Party, is on the move, opening an exciting new chapter in its 25-year history. The popular gift shop will open in a fresh space at 130 Ponsonby Road, just across the road from its current store. “It’s so close we aren’t using moving trucks, we are just carrying everything over,” says owner Anna Lim. The new shop, just a few doors along from Icebreaker, will sell Garden Party favourites, with a few new twists. “We’ve always specialised in unique and interesting gifts made in New Zealand and that’s not changing. But because we are small and owner-operated, we have the ability to evolve and try new things. Customers to our new store will be treated to an eclectic lineup of Garden Party staples along with an ever-changing range of new and unusual gifts, and of course we always stock a few gems that make people laugh.”

neighbourhood. We love our customers and want to keep them all. We felt that it was important to stay on Ponsonby Road. "The new shop is in a great location close to Ponsonby Central, surrounded by great shops and just around the corner from our lovely friends The Poi Room.”

One of the oldest retail shops on the strip, The Garden Party first opened its doors in 1994 at 71 Ponsonby Road, after renovating an old insurance office.

And although the location may be changing, The Garden Party ethos remains the same. “We’ve always strived to support local artists, designers and crafts people, showcasing their amazing work here in Aotearoa. Over the last 25 years we’ve developed amazing relationships with many of them and that’s one of the things I love most about my job. I hope we can continue doing exactly that for another 25 years.”

“There wasn’t much retail in the area back then, but we were looking for an interesting space with a garden, and it seemed to be the perfect spot,” says Anna, who originally opened the business with her mum, Pam.

A five-day relocation sale kicks off on March 25th, with massive reductions on samples, seconds and one-off pieces. The new Garden Party opens early April, heralding a fresh lease of life for a much -loved icon. F PN

Fast forward a few years and the need for more space prompted a move next door into an old Wonderbra factory. Since then, much has changed.

THE GARDEN PARTY, 130 Ponsonby Road, T: 378 7799, ww.thegardenparty.co.nz

“When we first opened, Ponsonby Road was artier, more bohemian, but it’s become a lot more gentrified. There are now more shops, more places to eat, more people. A lot of visitors, a lot of tourists.” There have been a host of changes within the business too. “Lots happens in 25 years! Pam has retired, I’ve had kids, our pottery factory has moved to Waiheke and I have a new business partner Cherie Morley. Over the years The Garden Party has had stores in Newmarket, Wellington and the Wynyard Quarter, but Ponsonby has always been our flagship store, it’s always been the beating heart of The Garden Party.” Anna and Cherie love Ponsonby, their local customers and wanted to stay on the strip. They are busier than they have ever been. “We have to move because our existing space is being developed into a three-storey office block, but we wanted to stay in the same

T: 378 9560 M: 0274 746 507 E: Phillipa@hotpropertyrentals.co.nz 1/1 Franklin Road, Ponsonby www.hotpropertyrentals.co.nz

“TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF BEING A LANDLORD – CALL US”

98 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

@ The Women's Bookshop, Ponsonby

Pussy Riot band member Maria (Masha) Alyokhina is pictured at her book launch at the Women’s Bookshop last month. Her book ‘Riot Days’ is available in all good book stores. PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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JI HOME, THE LOCAL HOME OF HALO & ARTWOOD JI Home, Ponsonby’s newest furniture store, welcomes you in with a sparkle of beautiful chandeliers. The inviting, spacious showroom is a haven of divine furniture, lighting and accessories from major brands Halo & Artwood. Anna and Leasa will assist you with your design requirements, making you feel at ease to peruse the abundance of furnishings while you have a coffee and relax in store. Offering furniture and accessories for indoor and outdoor living, dining and lounge, there are so many options in one space. Halo hails from the UK and uses traditional techniques and the finest materials sourced from around the globe. Creative Director Timothy Oulton pushes the boundaries to create a balance between classic and modern living. Artwood was founded in Sweden in 1969 and takes some inspiration from the American East Coast. Its objective is that its products can be combined to create a variety of interior styles from one visible brand: Artwood - different ways of living. JI Home has been created with the understanding that a home should be a space to relax, enjoy and socialise in comfort. It’s easy to do with these brands as you can mix and match so many of the collections to suit your needs. JI HOME, 36 Pollen Street, T: 09 930 6268, www.ji.net.nz

STUNNING NEW FURNITURE DESIGN STORE NOW OPEN IN PONSONBY

36 POLLEN STREET PONSONBY Open: Tue-Fri 9am–5.30pm, Sat 10am–3.30pm or by appointment. Ph: 09 930 6268. Carparking available. The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019 99

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EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED An innovative kitchen by designer Marianne Gailer from Kitchens By Design has totally transformed and revitalised the interior of Sharon and Brian Slater’s Browns Bay home. Could you tell me a little about you and your family - and also describe the existing kitchen before its recent makeover? Sharon: “We moved in here eight years ago, when the girls were quite a lot younger, and at that time the kitchen had a scullery and a small breakfast bar that could only seat two people, max. As the girls have grown and they’ve started to cook and bake, the kitchen layout didn’t work for us, plus it was beginning to look tired. At first we thought about just doing a makeover, but we couldn’t get the flow working and just kept stagnating. In the end we realised that we needed a whole new kitchen." How did you come across Kitchens By Design, and why did you choose them to design your new kitchen? Sharon: “By accident, actually. We happened to park right outside their Byron Avenue showroom, looking for a cafe, and thought I’m definitely going to have a look around here. Marianne (Gailer, kitchen designer) opened the door for us and in we went. She was really helpful. We were immediately impressed with her knowledge." Brian: “We were also impressed by the three kitchens they had on display - they were all quite different. At that stage we were still looking at a makeover, but once we compared the pricing we’d been given for a makeover and what it would cost to pull the whole thing out and start again, it made much more sense to put in a brand new kitchen.” What was your brief to the designer? Sharon: “Our must haves were a bigger, better breakfast bar; better layout and use of space; and having a bit more of a focal point. Which we both agreed was the window. We always wanted that marble look and also some dark timber somewhere, because we already had dark wood in the rest of the house.” How did the designer translate your brief - and was it what you expected? Brian: “The thing that really surprised us was that when Marianne came back with the first concepts, they were completely different from our preconceived ideas of what we thought our new kitchen was going to look like.”

Designer Marianne Gailer with owners Sharon and Brian Slater Sharon: “It took a bit of time to get used to the idea of getting rid of the scullery, but once we thought it through, what Marianne proposed made perfect sense.” What was the most enjoyable and memorable moment of the process? Brian: “When everything was pulled out, it was pretty scary, but the day we went out to the factory to see the new kitchen all set up, it looked spectacular. That’s when we finally got a feel for what it was going to look like. That day was a highlight for us.” What are your favourite parts of the new kitchen? Sharon: “The overall look of it, especially the breakfast bar. We love it when people see it for the first time and just go, 'wow'!” Brian: “I love the island. I do a lot of work from home and it’s a perfect space to work at - good height and the lighting is excellent. It always was the hub of the home, but it’s even more so now.” How did you find the experience of working with Kitchens By Design? Brian: “Marianne said to us, trust me, and she was right. We would never have been bold enough to do what we ended up with, but it couldn’t have worked out better. There’s nothing we’d change. Richard (Cripps, owner of KBD) is a perfectionist, and was really easy to deal with. Everything was handled so smoothly all the way through in a really transparent way.”

KITCHENS BY DESIGN’S showrooms can be found at 7 Melrose Street, Newmarket, T: 09 379 3084, and 3 Byron Avenue, Takapuna, T: 09 488 7201. The showrooms are open Monday-Friday 10am-4.30pm, Saturday 10am-2.30pm, or by appointment. www.kitchensbydesign.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Visit one of our showrooms today. Newmarket 7 Melrose Street, Newmarket (09) 379 3084 Takapuna 3 Byron Avenue, Takapuna (09) 488 7201

A bold and transformative design solution. kitchensbydesign.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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BRENDON SOWERBY: NEXT LEVEL CONSTRUCT Got a building question? Ask Brendon on brendon@nextlevelconstruct.co.nz

My husband and I experienced a bitterly cold winter in our 1920s cottage in Freemans Bay last year. Our kids were consistently off school with colds. We were using an oil column heater, but it did very little in warming up the home. As the warmer weather sadly leaves us, we are wondering what we can do to warm up our house until we renovate in early 2020.

Next, I highly recommend donating your oil column heater to an op shop and installing some new heating options. In your living area, I suggest installing a heat pump, this will deliver a consistent level of heat throughout the space. This can be easily retro-fitted after your renovation. In the bedrooms, an easy to install and cost effective solution is to install panel heaters. These are readily available from Mitre 10 or Placemakers.

Discuss how you will heat your home in the long-term with your architect. There are many systems available now to keep your home warm and dry, such as a ducted heating system which I highly recommend.

Houses from the early part of the last century are infamous for being cold, drafty and hard to heat. A lot of people expect to be able to heat them by simply using an oil column heater. Sadly, this isn’t the case. There are, however, some steps that you can take to ensure you have a warm home this winter. The first step would be to see what the condition of the insulation is in your ceiling and under the floor. In the ceiling, check to see that it is at least 12cm thick, covers the whole ceiling, and has no gaps. If you find that it is thin and sparse, you can add a top up layer of insulation. It is also important to inspect for any damage from rodents or the damp. If you do find that your insulation is damaged, you will need to remove it and replace completely. Underfloor insulation is a little trickier to inspect. There are three scenarios you might find yourself in. 1. You may have a look and find that you have no underfloor insulation at all, in which case it will pay to install some. 2. There is a chance that you will find a foil-based product, leave it alone and call a professional to let on you know what your next move should be. 3. The last scenario is that you find that bulk insulation has been installed. Check to see that it has been tightly fitted, with no gaps or pieces missing. Insulation in the walls will be brought up to standard when you complete your renovation. For more information on insulation I recommend visiting energywise.govt.nz.

The next step would be to look at how excess moisture is leaving your house in your bathroom and kitchen. Do you have an extraction fan that is taking any steam or moist air caused from cooking/showering out of the house? If not, you will need to have one installed. I suggest using an electrician to do this, as anything to do with power can be dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. Also, make sure you aren’t drying washing inside the house, as this will add unnecessary dampness into the air. Using a dehumidifier in the kids'-rooms may be a good idea too. Lastly, inspect the condition of your timber joinery. Is heat escaping from any gaps around windows or doors? As a short-term fix, Selleys No More Gaps will be able to be used to fill the gaps. In the long term, I highly recommend replacement of all timber joinery in your home with new timber joinery as this will come with double glazing standard as well as frames that have been manufactured to a higher standard than they were when the home was first built. Ask your builder to use Next Level Joinery to manufacture this for you, as they are experts in the production of timber joinery for villas. Hopefully these tips help you and your family stay warm and dry this winter. PN (BRENDON SOWERBY) F Brendon Sowerby is the Founder of Next Level Construct, an award-winning end-to-end residential construction company specialising in renovations, extensions and new builds. Brendon has worked in the building trade for over 17 years, meaning he knows the ins and outs of the industry. www.nextlevelconstruct.co.nz

WHY MOVE WHEN YOU CAN IMPROVE? If your home isn’t working for you anymore, let us show you how it can.

Fixed price

One invoice

Dedicated Project Manager

Extensions | Renovations | New Homes 0800 NEXT LEVEL | nextlevelconstruct.co.nz

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Vienna by James Dunlop, Teahouse Collection

Majorelle Collection, by Catherine Martin by Mokum

THE BEAUTY OF FLOOR TO CEILING VELVET CURTAINS IS A STUNNING STYLE TREND FOR 2019 The sumptuous elegance of velvet continues to feature on runaways, and in cleverly designed homes and apartments. At New York Fashion Week 2019, designers like Oscar de le Renta and Tom Ford included rich and elegant velvet pieces in their collections, while locally, World and Juliette Hogan have done the same. It’s the versatility and scope that velvet offers that makes it an increasingly popular design-led choice for both interiors and fashion. There are few fabrics that have the ability to bring light, depth and sophistication to interior spaces while at the same time being uncompromising on form and practicality. Lahood senior design consultant Susan Brookes explains how velvet brings elegance and rich colour to a room in a way that few other textiles can. “It can be as simple as adding a few luxuriously feather-filled velvet cushions to bring a room to life or it can be more transformational with beautifully made, full length velvet curtains framing a living space to create ambience and bring warmth,” says Susan. Today’s velvet textiles are more innovative than ever. One example is Mokum’s on-going collaboration with Oscar and BAFTA award winning interior designer Catherine Martin, who utilises velvet at its best. In a series of collections for Mokum, Catherine Martin has designed textiles, trims and wallpapers that are styled to create an elegant baroque and modern look using luxury fabrics in a way that is both glamorous and playful. “The palettes and quality of these textiles allow us to be truly creative in our selection of fabrics and this means we can add personality to a room in a way that is timeless and exciting,” says Susan. “More and more clients are wanting their curtain choices in particular to actively complete the overall design of their interiors and are no longer

wanting just a basic window dressing solution,” explains Susan. “Curtains can work hard in a design sense to really lift a room and add to a distinctive personal statement. Textile design collections like the Mokum collaboration with Catherine Martin are perfect for strongly design led choices.” Velvet has a richness that is matched by its hardwearing, resilient properties. With advances in modern textile technology, high-quality velvet can offer both an enduring look and feel as well as long-lasting quality - an important consideration for the modern household looking to make sustainable choices. “I really enjoy working with our velvet ranges. Mokum, Warwick and Designers Guild all offer an exquisite combination of form, function, colour and personality. Layers of texture and carefully chosen rich colours can transform the entire feel of room and with velvet curtains, there is no compromise on performance,” says Susan. The texture and character of velvet for curtains, upholstery and accessories enables designers to create a sense of richness and depth. Floor to ceiling velvet curtains make a striking statement as well as a sensible one with their great insulation properties and long -lasting quality. F PN

LAHOOD, 104 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden, T: 09 638 8463, www.lahood.co.nz

104 Mt. Eden Road, Mt. Eden Phone: 09 638 8463 www.lahood.co.nz

CURTAINS • BLINDS • INTERIOR DESIGN • SHUTTERS • ROLLER SHADES • UPHOLSTERY *Special conditions apply, phone or see in store for details. Offer finishes 31/3/2019.

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THE KINDNESS PROJECT @ PONSONBY CENTRAL Tell us about the Kindness Project. What inspired you? I was inspired to create kindness as central to our brand as I believe very deeply that kindness and compassion are the remedy for most of today's challenges and difficulties. This is the 'why' I am in business. To use business as a platform as a force for good to grow and share kindness in our community. What is the furniture made from? The repurposed furniture is made from retired fishing boats which were made from very old teak! There are countless stories embedded within this furniture. All the products we sell I have ensured are ethically sourced with their very manufacturer providing fair employment at origin. A percentage of all sales will be given to a social project which can easily be tracked online and communicated to each customer. When it was explained to the craftspeople who make these products that a percentage of sales would support people in need they were so heartened. It was very humbling! As the business builds we are open to initiatives and have exciting projects in the pipeline that has kindness as its theme. Buddha statues, paintings and re-purposed, hand-crafted Balinese boat furniture that is uniquely individual, ethically sourced and affordable. Where are you based? We are in Coatesville. Our popup at Ponsonby Central is our first opportunity to showcase and make available our stunning selected creations. We will be there from 15 to 29 April. Come and see us. F PN www.kindnessfurniture.co.nz

POP UP SHOP

ENTER TO WIN THIS CHARMING CABINET WHEN YOU VISIT OUR POP UP SHOP!

Ponsonby Central 22 April â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5 May kindnessfurniture.co.nz

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HAPPY HOMESTEADING - IN A FAIRY-TALE SETTING Growing your own food, raising animals, free-range eggs, cooking from scratch, the warmth of a real wood burner, open space, clean air, quiet nights, being woken by birdsong. As society races into the digital future, many of us seek to find respite from our work where we can get back to the simpler things in life and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what the vendors of this beautiful home did to escape their busy days in Ponsonby working in publishing and film. Pieta and Sam met whilst crossing Ponsonby Road, fell in love and dreamed of a place in the country where they could raise their family close to nature and the West Coast beaches. In 2012 they found this magical 10 acres and have spent the last six years turning it into the beautiful home it is today. The homesteading bug has grown and they now find themselves moving on to start farming proper on a much larger property and we at Harcourts Team Malloy are pleased to now offer this quite unique property for sale. The main home is a charming weatherboard and macrocarpa three -level cottage nestled in its own little wonderland surrounded by terraced gardens, native trees, an abundance of birdlife and plenty of fresh air. Sweeping views from the house across the valley ensure an ever-changing landscape. The entry level of this home has character features throughout, spacious open plan living with modern kitchen offering all the usual amenities plus one double bedroom and a separate, modern family bathroom. Wind your way up the storybook staircase past stained glass windows and you will find yourself stepping into the impossibly cute and cosy A-frame top floor currently used as a nursery but this could easily be a second living area, additional bedroom or an office space. This then leads you into the master bedroom with beautiful views from dormer windows. On the ground level, with its own separate entrance, is the third bedroom plus separate laundry, this could be the ideal location for an art studio, home office or even unruly teenager! Situated a good distance away from the main home on its own driveway is also a very cosy, self-sufficient one-bedroom minor dwelling (unconsented). Complete with all the mod-cons and woodfire, it is immaculately presented and would make an ideal space for extended family or Air BnB. With a spacious workshop on site plus extensive vegetable gardens and fruit trees, you can be self-sufficient and create your own fairy -tale ending. All this is only 10 minutesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; drive to the Swanson train station, and eight minutes to Waitakere School, and just over half an hour to the city! Yet worlds away from the stress and noise. Our sellers are moving to a larger location to expand on their dream - this could be your chance to start out. An affordable entry into a new lifestyle where you can live happily ever after. Call Mark or Nicky Malloy from Harcourts on 0800 180 111 for more information. www.harcourts.co.nz/hf190304

Seriously The World Belongs to the DissatisfiedGood At Selling

0800 180 111

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+ April 2019 Licensed Agent REAA PONSONBY NEWS

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@ STUDIO ONE TOI TU, PONSONBY 'Ego Morpheus' - an exhibition of transformative identities and contemplative selves. This exhibition is works from the tutors at the Media Design School. Certainly worth a browse - it's on until 24 April. 1. Christophe Jannin-Powell beside his amazing sculptures - they reflect his self-projections, desires and fantasies - inner thoughts, feelings, fear and hope. 2. Don Y L Chooi stands in front of his latest work. Stemming from the anguish and grief he experienced of having recently lost his life partner.

photography: Martin Leach

3. Jay Platt, Hilton Topia, Lance C Lee and Bernie Harris. All were attending the 'Ego Morpheus’ exhibition. F PN

STUDIO ONE TOI TU, 1 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 376 3221, www.studioone.org.nz

@ DESIGN WAREHOUSE 1. Studio Two Tone Relaxing Chair Ultra sophisticated and unbelievably comfortable! The Studio Relaxing Chair with a Two Tone Rope Weave is absolutely eye catching! The plush Sunbrella® cushions are included as shown! Visit the showroom in Parnell to try it out today. 2. Morgan Dining Chairs Elegant and intricate, the Morgan Dining Chairs can be used indoors or out. They have a delightful design and impeccable woven backs with the perfect amount of cushion built in. Create your dining set at Design Warehouse today. 3. Masello Loveseat A perfectly lovely seat for two! The Masello Modular Sofa can be configured to fit your space. Shown here are two corner chairs that make a cozy seat. And the striking detail of the woven teak frames is absolutely stunning. 4. Studio Coffee Table Complete the look and function of your living space with this modern and interesting coffee table. It features an aluminum frame, inset with a ceramic tabletop and a rope shelf below. It’s perfect for storing magazines or your other outdoor reading materials. DESIGN WAREHOUSE, 137/147 The Strand, Parnell, T: 09 377 7710, www.designwarehouse.co.nz

1 2

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PAINT THE TOWN REID Local craftsman Reid Painters offers a complete painting service for homes in and around Ponsonby. Led by owner Eddie Reid, the team specialises in painting villas and takes immense pride in working on some of the areas most beautiful historic homes. While Reid Painters do all types of painting work, commercial, residential large or small (even just paint your front door if that’s what you need), their love is villas. “After we complete a large villa, we all just stand back and marvel, it’s a really satisfying feeling,” says Eddie. The company is full of people who genuinely love what they do and this is one of the reasons Eddie believes they have such a great reputation for high-quality workmanship. “We all take a real pride in what we do and the way we do it. We’ve got some great systems and processes in place to look after customers and the environment,” says Eddie. “From the paints we use, to our recycling practices and preparation strategies, we are conscious of working in a sustainable, responsible and productive way.” Going the extra mile is just part of the service and the team is always ready for any challenge clients might have. A recent project included highly detailed painting of flowers on the fretwork of a classic villa. “We don’t often get requests for decorative hand painting but were able to create some beautiful work. The clients were thrilled. It’s the kind of thing that makes the work so satisfying,” says Eddie.

The final check is also an important part of the process. “A final walk around with the owner after a job is finished is a really important part of any project. We let the owners live with the job for a bit, giving them a chance to note any imperfections and then we fix them. We know when we complete a project the owners are completely 100% satisfied,” says Eddie. Reid Painters are in high demand but even so, once they have quoted a job they can almost always schedule a start date within three weeks.

REID PAINTERS, M: 021 062 9104, Facebook @reidpropertyservices, Instagram@reidpainters, www.reidpainters.co.nz

PAINTERS

RESIDENTIAL COMMPERCIAL VILLA SPECIALIST GIB STOPPING

CALL EDDIE FOR A QUOTE

021 062 9104

l @reidpainters @reidpropertyservices

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@ MADE IN MEXICO Interview with Briar Walsh, owner Made in Mexico. What is your connection to Mexico? Everyone asks me that! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a long connection of over 25 years that involves surfing, brothers and organic produce. How long have you been importing from Mexico? Our first container came in 2012. It was following a three-month family tour of Mexico. We were so taken with the passion of the artists and the connection to family. Many of the artists we deal with hand down their craftsmanship through the generations. Which pieces in the collection resonate with you most? Iconic Mexican motifs - hand-rolled clay bead rosaries, ceramic gold-leaf wings, Alba hand-painted tableware in the Talavera style. Each piece comes from an artisan in Mexico, most of whom we have built long-term relationships with over the years. We guarantee that all our products will be different. Each piece is made by hand. There will be variation in colour, size and texture. Our artisans pride themselves on their work. All goods are produced with the utmost care and attention. Where are your favourite places to visit in Mexico? Mexico is such a popular holiday destination for New Zealanders. We hear of so many weddings and honeymoons up there. The beaches are gorgeous and the art and culture so colourful and interesting. And let's not forget to mention the food and tequila. Every year we travel to Mexico to hand select our annual collection; we always go to Mexico City and Guadalajara. Then to relax we enjoy Oaxaca, Sayulita and the Baja. We have so many travellers visit our store, who are not able to bring home all the Mexican treasures they fall in love with. We select gifts and homeware - perfect for complementing the Kiwi aesthetic, or an authentic gift. All Made in Mexico products are PN personally selected at the source and curated for an annual collection. F MADE IN MEXICO, 88 Hinemoa Street, M: 0274 447 379, www.madeinmexico.co.nz

Mexican Artisan Homeware

88 Hinemoa Street Birkenhead Point madeinmexico.co.nz

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@ ROSE & HEATHER

1. New bedside for the Newport range available in a range of finishes 2. New Newport two-drawer bedside available in all finishes 3. Newport five-drawer Longboy in dark/light finish - $3540 4. Trenail sofa - two seat in navy linen - available in a range of finishes and linens ROSE & HEATHER, 406 Great North Road, T: 09 376 2895, www.roseandheather.com

NOW AVAILABLE IN OAK

www.roseandheather.co.nz 406 Great North Rd | Grey Lynn | t: 09 3762895

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HEIDI PADAIN: ENTERTAINMENT IN YOUR GARDEN When I hear a bird call that I don't recognise, I often think to myself: it's probably an eastern rosella or a starling. I’ve been hearing and seeing a lot of these birds of late.

Although starlings and rosellas are clearly unrelated, they both have an amazing array of sounds. The other the thing they seem to have in common, is that they’re somewhat skittish, which makes it quite challenging to get good shots of them. The eastern rosella was introduced as a caged bird in Dunedin. In 1910 there was an incident in Dunedin where a small number escaped. A similar event occurred here in Auckland in the 1920s. Today, the eastern rosella can be seen in the South Island, but not in large numbers. In contrast, they seem to have flourished here in the North Island. This stunning-looking bird escaped caged life and seems to have retained the memory of it. They keep well away from people. However, they don’t seem to be able to resist our pohutukawa tree. The rosellas arrive on our property in early December, just in time to eat the newly formed buds. I would rather they didn’t do that because I’m very fond of those stunning red flowers. As soon as I hear the rosellas, I simply need to step outside, and they all disappear. This ensures that the branches overhanging our deck will bloom in time

for Christmas. The remainder of the tree doesn’t fare so well. It’s a compromise of sorts. So here we are approaching the autumn months and, surprisingly, the rosellas are still here. This is the first time I have seen eastern rosellas hanging around on my property at this time of year, and they seem, well, relaxed. I am puzzled, but thrilled to be able to observe and capture wonderful images of them. Their colourful plumage is simply divine. The starlings have also surprised me. It’s not often that I come across an unfamiliar bird staring at me from the deck rail. This bird was completely grey. The slight yellowing around the beak helped me realise that it was a juvenile. I had no idea what species of bird this was, until an adult starling arrived and began feeding it right before my very eyes. The plumage of the adult starling is as strikingly beautiful as that of the rosella. I feel quite blessed to have had these encounters with the starlings and the eastern rosellas. These birds can truly be described as art on wings. (HEIDI PADAIN ) F PN

To see some of Heidi’s other photographic work, go to www.flickr.com and type Heidi Padain into the search box, or you can contact Heidi by email hidihi@xtra.co.nz, or look her up on Facebook... Heidi Padain Photography.

LOCAL OSTEOPATH LEADS GROUND-BREAKING STUDY INTO COMMON CHILDHOOD ILLNESS Dr Rebecca Walker at Health Within Osteopathy in Westmere, led a team of researchers in a ground breaking study that suggests a different cause for the childhood illness, glue ear. Glue ear affects about one in 20 children and occurs when thick fluid gathers behind the eardrum in the middle ear for an extended period. The associated hearing loss may lead to delays in language development and behavioural problems. The results of the study found the make-up of bacteria in the nasal passages of children with glue ear was disrupted. “Our bodies host a lot of helpful bacteria that are important to our immune system. However, we also carry harmful bacteria and some of these have been implicated in glue ear. Bacteria in the nose may move up the eustachian tube to the middle ear. It’s normally assumed that bacteria invade and cause disease but what we found is that we all carry so-called harmful bacteria and that it’s the amounts that differ. Healthy children have a greater amount of beneficial bacteria,” says Dr Walker. Dr Walker believes the next step is to see how effective the use of probiotics can be in reducing the risk of glue ear in young children.

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“As an osteopath, I am always conscious of the body’s natural healing mechanisms and my research into glue ear suggests there’s other ways we can help the body maintain balanced levels of bacteria so that glue ear is less likely to occur,” says Dr Walker. Including Dr Walker, there are four osteopaths at the clinic and all are extensively trained in the treatment of children. HEALTHWITHIN OSTEOPATHY, 141 Garnet Road, Westmere, T: 376 1980, www.healthwithin.co.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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A HEALTHY HOME IS THE NEXT BIG THING FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES What does a healthy home mean from a Government perspective? You could be forgiven for not being sure as it is quite complex and has also evolved overtime. Let’s clarify things a little. An Insulation Statement is compulsory with all new tenancy agreements. This is a signed declaration by the owner of the property as to what insulation, where, how much of it and in what condition is present in the rental property. It is a legally binding document to provide to the tenant at the start of a tenancy. Failure to include this statement in a tenancy agreement may incur a fine (even if you do have proper insulation in the house). Failure to have insulation in good condition in both ceiling and underfloor by 1 July 2019 will be even more costly. New, more stringent requirements for insulation under the Healthy Homes Standards will take effect from 1 July 2021 onwards. Simply put, any rental house built before 2008 or last insulated before 2008 is likely to require an insulation ‘top up’ to comply and meet the 2008 Building Code. From 1 July 2021, landlords must also provide one healthy fixed -heating device in the lounge. For a retro-fit, this is likely to be a heat pump. Do you need guidance and help making sure you do the right thing, the right way and by the right time? Catalise can take care of organising it all which is part of their comprehensive property management service. CATALISE LTD, 203a Symonds Street, Eden Terrace, call Sandie on T: 021 352 670 or the office T: 021 023 20257, www.catalise.co.nz

A Herne Bay local for over 10 years, Sandie Casano owns a boutique property management business, ‘Catalise’. A property investor herself, one of the reasons for Sandie’s success is that she is hands-on, focuses on understanding her clients’ objectives and will advise how to maximise returns for owners. With a background in Project Management, Sandie is organised and noted for taking the stress out of letting and managing rental properties, which can be a minefield.

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL I was looking for an agency to manage my apartment and I wanted someone who could also handle extra services like furnishing the place at Hopetoun Residences or helping me find an extra carpark to rent out for my car. I have found exactly what I needed, a serious and proactive team and I have never had to worry about the property management as everything is very clear and transparent. What I like most is the reliable, responsive service and stress-free management. A bonus for me, a French speaking manager. I would not hesitate to recommend Catalise services to anyone looking to get a property manager in Auckland. Jacques C, 2019

unlock your property potential providing a pathway to To look after your biggest asset, you need someone you can trust - contact Sandie:

www.catalise.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Residential/ Commercial/ Air BnB

Step by step, we partner with you to bring out the best in your property, attract the right tenants, and succeed with your investment

success 021 352 670 sales@catalise.co.nz 203a Symonds St, Eden Terrace, Auckland 1010 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

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@ DAWSON & CO Discover matte furniture! For the first time matte is available in New Zealand exclusively from Dawson & Co. Think of it as a design journey, gathering new inspiration and fresh perspectives from trends, materials and styles sourced from across the globe. 1. ACE chair in cobblestone jute by matte from Dawson & Co - $1799 The perfect place to relax or curl up with a good book. Hand-shaped frame supports deep, low seating covered in soft, wide-weave jute. 1

2. DUNCAN coffee table by matte from Dawson & Co - $2329 Rich, reclaimed woods deliver depth beyond streamlined shaping. Warm brown tones reveal natural knots and graining for a distinctive feel. Spacious drawers are concealed to serve up this coffee tableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest features. Plinth base adds a modern touch. 3. BROOKS chair in palomino leather by matte from Dawson & Co - $2979 Our take on the classic Adirondack emphasizes comfort with thick, top-grain leather cushioning. Wire-brushed oak is finished in a golden tan and handdistressed for a naturally weathered patina. 2

4. FLATWEAVE round rug 275cm by matte from Dawson & Co - $1359 Authentic Dhurrie rug is hand-knotted from 100% cotton for a look of casual comfort. Like all handmade rugs, size and color may vary slightly. 26 colour arrangements. 5. QUENTIN side table by matte from Dawson & Co - $999 Cutting-edge style. A slim, mottled iron base meets a hexagon-shaped bluestone top for a geometric look inspired by Brutalist architecture. A raw, rustic vibe adds weight to an open-air frame. 6. Griffon sofa by matte from Dawson & Co - $3559 A formal frame inspired by the Chesterfield becomes casually comfortable. Simplified tufting and velvety-soft navy plush with an exposed-wood base in antiqued walnut. 3

DAWSON & CO, 115 The Strand, or 38 Constellation Drive, T: 09 476 1121, www.dawsonandco.nz

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autumn19 Season change and we look to our indoor spaces with the confidence to tap into the drama of a star statement piece that can instantly change a rooms vibe with its ultra-sexy lounge appeal or just simple cosiness and wrap around comfort.

Bold and daring statements of intent

Ph. 09 476 1121 info@dawsonandco.nz www.dawsonandco.nz

North Shore Showroom 38 Constellation Drive, Rosedale, Auckland

Parnell Showroom 115 The Strand, Parnell, Auckland

DAW S O N & C O .

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PROXIMA RESIDENCES - THE ULTIMATE CITY LIVING LIFESTYLE Proxima offers an urban lifestyle that gives residents the city at their fingertips. From strolling around inner city parks, to boutique shopping precincts, or stepping out into the buzz of Ponsonby Road, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a neighbourhood designed to foster a strong sense of urban community and easy, luxury living. Views over the city Sitting well above sea level on the west-facing ridge of Newton Gully, Proxima Residences offers exceptional sun and views of the city and harbour. Easy access An easy walk to so much of the city and Ponsonby, living at Proxima Residences means being able to make sustainable transport choices. Train stations, Link buses and the new cycleway all nearby and on a Lime scooter you are just a zero carbon heartbeat away from inner city. Dining, entertainment Eden Terrace and the surrounding city fringe suburbs contain some of Auckland's best dining from trendy cafes like Benediction, Goodness Gracious and Blend to the very best in fine dining at the French Cafe. Parks Proxima Residences is just a short walk to some of Auckland's best green spots - the urban Basque Park, picturesque Myers Park, the historical Albert Park and the much-loved Auckland Domain. PROXIMA RESIDENCES, Aaron Cook M: 021 612 642 or Holly Huang M: 021 190 8088, www.proximaresidences.co.nz

photography: Josh Griggs

All representations pictured are Artist Impressions

The French Cafe

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Stunning Residences To Call Your Home Freehold and in the heart of Eden Terrace. An easy stroll to Ponsonby, the City Centre and Mt Eden Station. Sunny open plan living with generous size balconies and stunning views. Well appointed with European appliances and designer kitchens. Enjoy convenience, security and the very best of city fringe living.

Now selling (off plans) For an information pack or to find out more about this exciting new property please Artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Impression contact sales@proximaresidences.co.nz.

Aaron Cook 021 612 642 a.cook@barfoot.co.nz

Holly Huang 021 190 8088 h.huang@barfoot.co.nz

proximaresidences.co.nz

REAL ESTATE UPDATE: KAREN SPIRES With one quarter of 2019 already behind us, average values in the residential property market in and around Greater Auckland continue to demonstrate stability. The latest statistics from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) show a median house price that is mostly unchanged from a year ago, with values falling just 0.6% from $855,000 to $850,000 year-on-year. Almost all of the Auckland districts saw an increase in house prices between January and February, with the exception of Papakura. Auckland City saw average prices increase by 14.9% to $1million. However, sales in February were impacted by the raft of legislative changes introduced by the Government in the first quarter of the year. The number of properties sold in February fell by 17.9% compared to the same time last year; the lowest for a non-January month since October 2010. In Auckland City, the number of sales fell by 10.5%. REINZ chief executive Bindi Norwell said that vendors and investors were taking a ‘wait and see’ approach to the housing market, much like you would normally see around election time. “This is particularly true in relation to the recently announced Capital Gains Tax proposals from the Tax Working Group,” she said. “Families want to know what aspects of the proposals the Government will look at and accept ahead of next year’s election, and what impact that will have on them and their family.” Bayleys’ latest Marketbeat research newsletter highlights the extent to which average values in Ponsonby and the surrounding market have remained in a consolidation phase. According to the Bayleys’ research team, this is considered to be a healthy period where prices form a solid base in preparation for the next inevitable growth cycle. This has come off the back of an extended period of rapid price increases which saw values remain at historically high levels.

St Marys Bay experienced the largest increase in average values over the last year, up 18% compared with the year to December 2017. This was closely followed by Ponsonby which experienced a 14% increase. The most significant decrease was Herne Bay, with values dropping by 22%. Freemans Bay experienced a decrease of 17%. Residential prices are holding strong due to the continued attractive fundamentals of the area working in conjunction with record low interest rates, elevated migration levels, and the easing of the Reserve Bank’s loan-to-value ratios. Ponsonby’s residential prices have continued to grow at a faster rate than the wider Auckland market over the past decade. The gap between the two markets has increased to more than 70% in 2018 compared with 59% in 2008, with Ponsonby’s median value of $1.79 million sitting well above the Auckland region’s median value of $848,000. This is reflective of both the continuous popularity of the area, and the local’s determination to retain it as a desirable place to live. Encouragingly, residential sales activity ramped up over the last quarter of 2018, increasing by 40% when compared with the prior September 2018 quarter. Going into the autumn months, we expect the consolidation of house prices to continue, and to do so for much PN of 2019. Thanks for reading. (KAREN SPIRES) F

Ponsonby and the surrounding market, encompassing Ponsonby, Freemans Bay, Grey Lynn, Herne Bay, Point Chevalier, St Marys Bay and Westmere, recorded an average value of $1,435,750 over the December 2018 quarter. Karen Spires AREINZ, M 027 273 8220, E karen.spires@bayleys.co.nz, www.karenspires.bayleys.co.nz

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ARTS + CULTURE

UPTOWN ART SCENE There were plenty of Ponsonby faces at the Sydney opening of Evan Woodruffe’s exhibition at Gallery9, where he showed alongside two other Uptown Auckland artists Reece King and Grace Wright. Local artist Evan Woodruffe, who last showed across the ditch at Sydney Contemporary in 2017, produced a suite of new works for the Cobalt Float exhibition. “Sydney has an exceptional quality of light, the air seems to have an optical presence that insists on vibrant, brilliant colour, and these paintings aspire to that sensation,” says Evan. Evan’s partner, Jeanne Clayton of Ray White Ponsonby, attended the opening, along with fellow Ray White agent Maxine Lees, holidaying in Bondi with husband John. Architect Kara Moeller and Gervais Laird, who recently moved from Ponsonby to Sydney for Gervais to take a position with Studio Canal, couldn’t help adding a Woodruffe work to their collection. Also moving from our ‘hood to Sydney for film work, Elizabeth Topping turned up with an art group in tow. Work wasn’t the only thing attracting Aucklanders to Sydney - Mardi Gras opened that week, bringing a horde of tight shorts to the area! Some of Ponsonby’s most handsome made it to the show, including Peter Macky and Yuri Best, and LJ Hooker agent Jason Trowbridge.

Evan Woodruffe's work '15th January 2019'

Gallery9 Director Allan Cooley is a fan of New Zealand painting, representing Auckland artist Julian Hooper and Wellington’s Jake Walker, and he’s keen to introduce Australians to our particular visual language. His gallery focuses on abstract painting, and with this triple-header of Aucklanders, he presents three different approaches to the genre over the gallery’s three rooms. In contrast with Evan’s intricate compositions, Reece King’s Silver features simplified shapes and softer tones, while Grace Wright’s Heartfelt paintings of constantly moving gestures seem to occupy a space somewhere in between. Gallery9 will be showing at the Auckland Art Fair at The Cloud on Auckland’s waterfront in May, while Evan’s exhibition, Until Science Finds A Cure For Our Condition, Remain Medicated, opens 5 April at PAULNACHE, Gisborne. (STUDIO ART SUPPLIES) F PN www.studioart.co.nz

Kara Moeller, Evan Woodruffe and Gervais Laird The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT

Grey Lynn resident and singer Maggie Gould is taking to the stage Grey Lynn resident and singer Maggie Gould is taking to the stage at Pah Homestead on 17 April for two shows, and will be joined on stage by New York-based Kevin Field and Nanny Assis. They follow this up with an appearance at the Tauranga Jazz Festival on 20 April. Maggie has just released her first record, ‘ToDo Amor’, working, touring and collaborating with award winning Nanny Assis. The album means ‘all love’ and was recorded at The Blue Note. Maggie has been living in New York, performing at classic venues such as Blue Note and Jazz Forum and as far afield as Rome, Venice and London. She returns happily to New Zealand. Assis is Brazilian, and the collaboration with Maggie has created an album of uplifting jazz. The album ranges from jazz standards to Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder and original compositions. Assis has won multiple Brazilian jazz awards and is an accomplished instrumentalist and songwriter. Jazz local had this to say of their collaboration, “It was not only the gentle Bossa rhythms that we heard but other livelier types of South American-influenced music as well. These were danceable and energy-fuelled treats. During one such number, the room morphed into a seething mass of swaying bodies, hands raised as they danced.” In her early years, Maggie started out performing musical theatre in London, and won parts in shows including Cats and Folies Bergere. Maggie was offered residency to sing jazz with a trio in London at Reubans Hotel. Based in New York, she works with Nanny Assis, John di Martino, Tommy Campbell, Jay Rodriguez and many others.

Maggie Gould

A career highlight for Maggie was working with Russ Garcia, the composer and arranger for Porgy & Bess. “You sing the melody straight and don’t mess with the melody. Don’t change a thing." he said. This was a piece of advice Maggie has held onto throughout her career as a vocalist. Tickets to the concert at Pat Homestead are available on Eventbrite and a portion of proceeds will go towards the Christchurch tragedy. “We need music more than ever to help bring people together,” Maggie says. An accomplished photojournalist, Maggie is also displaying some of her photographs at Bob & Friends on Ponsonby Road on 18 April at 6pm. All are welcome to come and enjoy a wine. PN (FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT) F Maggie Gould with Kevin Fields and Nanny Assis at Pah Homestead 17 April, two shows - 6.30pm and 8pm. Tickets from www.eventbrite.co.nz

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Nanny Assis

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE @ ST MATTHEW-IN-THE-CITY Singing and song has long been a part of music at St Matthew-inthe-City and it is appropriate that First Tuesday Lunch Hour Concert on 7 May should host singers with a focus on autumn. Herbstlieder and other Songs of Autumn is a programme of glorious autumnal vocal chamber music spanning 600 years from the Renaissance to the 21st Century. The performers, Fiona Wilson, Rachel Alexander, Helen Acheson, Albert Mataafa, Brendon Shanks, Nicholas Forbes and Rowan Johnson, are members of a new collective of New Zealand's leading ensemble singers. Growing audiences and lively programming are a feature of the First Tuesday series, now in its second year. “Our First Tuesday concerts use the great acoustic and resources of the building for public enjoyment,” says Paul Chan, Director of Music at St Matthew’s. “First Tuesday of every month is a time for a short concert which draws on the musicians of the city to offer a varied programme of interesting and entertaining music. It’s wonderful to share our space, the organ, and a new concert grand piano for music making with the city,” he says. Concerts for solo piano, organ, vocal ensemble and string trio are planned for 2019. Participants range from professional musicians to exciting school performing groups.

@ ST MATTHEW-IN-THE-CITY Easter 2019 at St Matthew-in-the-City begins with Palm Sunday on April 14. The 10am service is a Palm Procession, Blessing of the Palm Crosses and a Reading of the Story of the Easter events.

www.stmatthews.nz

Then Holy Week begins and that means you are invited to come and walk our labyrinth. The labyrinth is a prayer walk made of river stones laid out in the church and available for anyone to walk during the week, Monday-Thursday, 10am - 7pm. On Maundy Thursday, 18 April at 7pm we have a last supper Eucharist, and the stripping of the church in preparation for Good Friday. At 10am on Good Friday, 19 April we will have a service of word and song focussed on the cross - we hear the story of the crucifixion of Jesus, this year according to St Mark. The St Matthew’s Voices will be offering a concert on Good Friday at 5pm, including works by Tallis, Byrd and Tomkins. Holy Saturday, 20 April at 8pm is the Great Vigil of Easter and Renewal of Baptismal Vows, with supper afterwards. On Easter Day, 21 April there will be services at 8am and 10am, with the 10am service a feast of music as we celebrate the most important day in the church year. F PN ST MATTHEW IN THE CITY, Corner of Hobson & Wellesley Streets, www.stmatthews.nz

Herbstlieder Songs of Autumn Tuesday 7th May, 12.10-12.50pm A programme of glorious autumnal vocal chamber music spanning 600 years from the Renaissance to the 21st Century. Entry by koha.

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FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT

Ponsonby People's music - John Elliott I’m introducing a new feature this month, and thought I’d start with the patriarch, or grand-patriarch, of the Ponsonby News - John Elliott. Many readers will be familiar with John for his monthly articles on politics, local issues and the delicate way in which he tells everyone he’s a leftie (fun fact - he’s also left-handed). Some readers might not know that John began the Ponsonby News in 1989 as the Ponsonby Community Newsletter. He’s been a well-known figure in the area ever since and he happens to be my dad. He’d probably tell you that he was having a musical renaissance at present, not in small part thanks to my own involvements in music. He’s told me before that he basically missed the entire 1970s in terms of music thanks to being a member of parliament, which I always thought was tragic. Yet, he still managed to introduce me to classic rock as a teenager. I sat down and asked him a few simple questions about his musical background and interests before getting him to make some hard choices. What was your first concert? I can still see the young girls screaming and trying to get on stage with the Beatles. We had to stand on our seats to see. It was a great gig. The Beatles at the Auckland Town Hall in 1964. Tickets were one pound, 10 shillings each. What has been your favourite concert? It was definitely Queen at Mt Smart in 1985. 35,000 people, Freddy Mercury was at his peak. It was a magic, mesmerising show. What is your most important musical memory? I listened every week to the Top 8 or Top 10 on various radio stations when I was a teenager. Sometimes there would be three or four half hour shows per night, driving my parents mad.

Did you ever learn music as a kid? I never did. What are your music listening habits now? Mainly on YouTube and radio, like Coast FM. I love going out to gigs though. I asked John to answer this quick questionnaire, which he also was kind enough to expand on in some places. Beatles or Elvis - I love them both. I can sing several of their songs. Folk or country. Jazz or classical. Drums or guitar. Dubstep or rap. Lady Gaga or Beyonce. Taylor Swift or Ed Sheeran. Standing or sitting (at concerts) - I’m 80, can’t stand all night now! Mt Smart Stadium or Spark Arena - Mt Smart once, Spark now. The Kings Arms or the Gluepot Tavern. Paper tickets or Smartphone. Real Groovy or Marbecks. Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd. Shredding or tapping - no idea what either of them are. Mozart or Stravinsky. DJ or live band. CD or vinyl. Radio or Spotify. Album or single - used to be album. (FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT) F PN

photography: Martin Leach

Did your parents play music? My parents mostly played their favourite LPs, and these were largely shows like South Pacific, The Sound of Music, Westside Story. Mum

played more than Dad did. There was also Elvis, The Beatles, Little Richard and Bill Haley.

120 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE

Bob Kerr, The Volcanoes Looking West, oil on board, 1800 x 300mm

31 MARCH – 26 APRIL 2019

@ WHITESPACE

BOB KERR Places

Places by Bob Kerr Until 26 April

These paintings are a diary of places visited over the last year. The two paintings of the volcanic cones From Tawirikoko and The Volcanoes are from a trip last September to the Chatham Islands or Eastern Zealandia, as Hamish Campbell and Chris Adams the geologists who organized this visit call it. These ancient volcanic cones in the north east of the main island have spent much of their time under the sea. Along the west coast of the main island winds have piled up huge sand dunes in Petrie Bay. Walking over these to the beach inspired the painting Over the Dunes. However, by the time this painting was finished it seemed to represent a walk to the beach that could be anywhere. Behind the dunes we stopped in a grove of kopi trees sheltered from the wind. In New Zealand these trees are called karaka but in the Chathams they are known by the Moriori word kopi. I had recently completed some paintings for ‘No Ordinary Shelia’. Hugh McDonald’s wonderful film about the writer and illustrator Sheila Natusch that celebrated her long life sharing her understanding of New Zealand’s nature and history. Shelia had family connections to the Chathams and I figured she would have liked the kopi grove - so I took the liberty of painting her in 'Shelia Natusch in the kopi trees'. In 1947 when my father arrived in New Zealand from Scotland he bought with him a collection of Robert Burns poems with a piece of Scottish heather pressed between the pages. Perhaps he thought he would never see the heather again. He didn’t need to worry. A couple of weekends ago, walking off the Desert Road into Waihohonu, heather

@ OREXART

Matthew Browne - Jouska Until 27 April, opening Tuesday 2 April 5.30pm - 7.30pm The elusive nature of perception and ambiguity of meaning unfold in new ways in Matthew Browne’s latest exhibition of works in Jouska. Possibilities of how meaning is communicated and received inform a conceptual dialogue where tensions arise between literal and nonliteral observations; conscious and unconscious thoughts and actions; the familiar and unfamiliar. Browne sets up multiple horizons where meanings and potentialities can emerge through individual insight, feeling or memory.

20 monmouth st grey lynn AKL whitespace.co.nz

was in full flower. The heather in the Tongariro National Park was planted by Police Commissioner Cullen early last century. The Police Commissioner also tried to release grouse so that he could go shooting like an English gentleman. The grouse didn’t survive but the heather is blooming and is now regarded as an inappropriate weed. I’ve had two earlier skirmishes with Cullen. The first in an exhibition about the Waihi miners strike and the second in an exhibition about his invasion of Rua Kenena’s community at Maungapohatu. If you are interested in going to the Chathams on one of the tours organized by Hamish Campbell and Chris Adams, you can find out more from the Friends of Te Papa website. WHITESPACE, 20 Monmouth Street, T: 09 361 6331, www.whitespace.co.nz

Matthew Browne Jouska 2 - 27 April

15 putiki street, arch hill open tue-sat, 09 3780588

Our attention is captured through the use of strong abstract shapes, decisive lines and bold colours; this is underscored by a sense of unease borne from an asymmetry of the same shapes, lines and colours. Browne presents works that are visually strong in the formal associations brought to the viewer, open to multiple meanings, and completed through an intuitive process that responds to the needs of each work, including a point of resolution. At this point the artistic subconscious departs and the viewer’s perception arrives. (Edited from Elisha Masemann text, March 2019) F PN Midsummer 2019, vinyl tempera & oil on linen 750x550mm The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Avenoir 2018, vinyl tempera & on linen 750x550mm

OREXART, 15 Putiki Street, T: 09 378 0588, www.orexart.co.nz

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PONSONBY NEWS OUTLETS Ponsonby News is published on the first Friday of each month excluding January. Copies go quickly so be quick to collect yours from any of the following outlets. The issue is also published on our website www.ponsonbynews.co.nz FREEMANS BAY Ecostore, 1 Scotland Street Glengarry, Corner Sale and Wellesley Streets New World, Victoria Park GREY LYNN Barfoot & Thompson, 533 Great North Road Barkley Manor, 400 - 402 Great North Road Grey Lynn Community Centre, 520 Richmond Road Grey Lynn Community Library, 474 Great North Road Ripe, 172 Richmond Road Tapac, 100 Motions Road Vetcare, 408 Great North Road HERNE BAY Herne Bay Post & Stationers, 240 Jervois Road Five Loaves, 206 Jervois Road Icing on the Cake, 188 Jervois Road KINGSLAND Atomic, 420c New North Road K'ROAD K'Road Business Association, 59 Pitt Street MT EDEN Citta Outlet Store, Corner Enﬁeld & Normanby Road Sabato, 57 Normanby Road Studio Italia, 25 Nugent Street

122 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2019

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