PONSONBY NEWS - DECEMBER '17

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PUBLISHED FRIDAY 1 DECEMBER 2017

Established: OCTOBER 1989 – CELEBRATING 28 YEARS OF PUBLISHING HISTORY!

DECEMBER 2017

WESTMERE RESIDENT MIKE McROBERTS SET TO CYCLE SRI LANKA FOR KIWI KIDS - P36

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Almost made the cover of Ponsonby News.

2017 has been a year of “almosts”.

National almost got a fourth term, we almost completed the Waterview tunnel on time… Almost everyone got a speeding ticket driving through that tunnel. And now I’ve almost made the front cover, as well as almost being Barfoot & Thompson’s top individual Sales Person in Auckland Central suburbs* (Number #2 across 38 suburbs!). It’s almost enough to make me want to try harder in 2018…

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WHAT’S INSIDE THIS MONTH

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P7: Trees are an important part of our urban ecology. Let's hope the new Government changes the Resource Management Act to make it harder to chop down local trees; P42: Barkley Manor’s 10th birthday celebration; P80: Lisa Harrington with photographer Francis at the ‘Dogs of Ponsonby’ book launch at Pet Stock in Ponsonby

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM THE EDITOR DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW PIPPA COOM: WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS MIKE LEE, COUNCILLOR FOR WAITEMATA & GULF U3A PONSONBY HELEN WHITE, REPRESENTING LABOUR

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NIKKI KAYE: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY VEG FRIENDLY: GARY STEEL PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE FASHION + STYLE LIVING, THINKING & BEING JOHN APPLETON ON HEALTH HELENE RAVLICH: LOCAL BEAUTY

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

FUTURE GENERATION PONSONBY PETS PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS HEIDI PADAIN: ENTERTAINMENT IN YOUR GARDEN COVER STORY - MIKE McROBERTS ARTS + CULTURE PONSONBY PINK PAGES

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4 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LETTERS + EMAILS THE CONTINUING SAGA OF WEST LYNN I have lived in Grey Lynn for 46 years and I am the owner of SBF Hair at 444 Richmond Road. My family has been in this area for over 100 years, and I am very sad to see what has happened to our community and the lack of care that AT has taken to help our business keep improving.

This is a total muck up, (on the corner near my shop where they have put a quarter of an island, only way I know how to describe it) but this week I have seen cars drive over it as it is out so far on the corner. It’s really crazy I don't work in transport but as a hairdresser, I can see it is placed too far out, and dangerous. On Thursday I saw two cars going onto the other side of the road to get around it and a few drove over it. Then I couldn't believe the bus stop, outside the cafe further up. When the bus stops the cars will have to go on to the other side of the road to get around it. It’s like its nearly sitting in the middle of the road.

The loss of income to my shop has been noticeable, and I’m not sure why we can’t get some rates decrease for the coming year, as all commercial leaseholders pay their rates.

I feel something should be done as our footpaths outside my shop look worse now than before, also when doing footpaths outside my shop my staff notified me to let me know the glass on my lights has been shattered. I informed the manager on site twice, but no one is interested, so I also have to pay to replace them.

As a Grey Lynn local I’m so disappointed at what has happened and also feel for all the shop owners in our area, as we always look out for each other. AT you have tried to screw us. Joanne Williams, Grey Lynn CHRISTMAS COOKIES! Hello from your local CookieTime Christmas Cookies Seller! My name is Jess Berry and this year I’m hitting the streets in my cookie top spreading the Christmas magic through delicious Christmas cookies.

AN END TO PRIVATE FIREWORKS As a longtime Ponsonby resident I feel I need to speak up about the use, or misuse, of private fireworks in our neighbourhood.

I’m so upset at seeing animals, including my own dog, terrified of the fireworks that go off in the days around Guy Fawkes.

Add to this the extra workload on our call-out medical crews, ambulances, etc, and it tells me that uncontrolled private fireworks displays must now be banned.

Gerard, Ponsonby TREES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR URBAN ECOLOGY I wish to vent my disgust at the removal of trees in my area. Ponsonby News has previously mentioned the importance of trees for the health of the urban environment.

They are known to absorb carbon dioxide, they provide shade and shelter and they encourage birds into the city. The previous government changed the Resource Management Act to make it easier to chop down trees mainly to please greedy developers.

We hope this Government will tighten the act again preventing Auckland Transport and anyone else against the vandalism occurring.

Susan Jensen, Westmere Views in Ponsonby News reflect the authors’ and not those of Alchemy Media.

We have five amazing flavours (plus gluten free) including our brand new flavour Peanut Butter, which is selling out fast so get your orders in before you miss out! These iconic buckets are perfect for Christmas gifts, camping, or just for snacking. Cookie flavours: Salted Caramel, White Chocolate Cranberry, Apricot Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter and gluten free Chocolate Chip. Price for one two-litre bucket of cookies: $16.

CookieTime is big on giving back to the community, which is why I think it’s awesome that this year we aim to raise $250,000 for the Blind and the Dyslexic Foundation through the buckets that I sell!

Christmas is just around the corner so get your orders in now! You can catch me outside Countdown Grey Lynn (Williamson Avenue) most days or flick me an email on jessicab@christmascookies.co.nz to find out how to score yourself some delicious Christmas cookies.

Jess Berry, Westmere

69,000 READERS PER MONTH

6 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

(Nielsen Media)

PONSONBY NEWS+ is printed on paper sourced from sustainable, well managed forests and manufactured under the environmental management system ISO 14001. Our hand-delivered copies are flow wrapped in eco-friendly, degradable plastic.

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FROM THE EDITOR THIS YEAR’S FRANKLIN ROAD LIGHTS CELEBRATES A 25-YEAR MILESTONE. THE Franklin Road locals demonstrate amazing community spirit by putting on a spectacular show at their own expense. Aucklanders and visitors flock to the area throughout December - P14.

How long can the council continue to ignore the overwhelming evidence against this killer chemical glyphosate, which continues to be sprayed in our streets? The evidence that this is a toxic herbicide is clear and it is poisoning hundreds of Aucklanders. There are calls for the Mayor and councillors to be sued in the high court - P24 Locals complaining about orange cones and new cycleways' main complaint is about the lack of real consultation by Auckland Transport. A number of urban experts are seriously questioning the Auckland Supercity model, which provides for secret societies like AT, answerable to nobody - P26.

Westmere local Mike McRoberts is leading the next Variety Cycle Challenge - he’s off to Sri Lanka in February on a 13-day, 400km-plus tour to raise money for the children’s charity Variety to buy bikes for disadvantaged kids back home. The charity is hoping to raise enough to buy 250 bikes - P36.

As we go to press with this issue, one of the things alarming many of our citizens is that Auckland Transport doesn’t seem to care much about trees. Remember the pohutukawas opposite Motat that they tried unsuccessfully to chop down? Now they are threatening to remove trees of all shapes and sizes anywhere on the proposed cycle tracks. Auckland needs more trees, not less.

photography: John Elliott

Tadhg Stopford is a local Grey Lynn resident and founder of the Hemp Foundation. After his mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a condition potentially treatable by cannabinoids, he set out on a personal campaign. The previous government’s minister, Peter Dunn, signalled that medical use of cannabis would be a public good. Let’s hope that the new Government sees it the same way. A referendum has been proposed - P34.

L to R: Joanne Barrett, Martin Leach, Jay Platt, Melissa Paynter and Gwynne Davenport We remember Barkley Manor’s founder Krista Strong telling us with a modest aim, she wished to eventually care for 50 dogs a day. She achieved this in her first six months and in December her business celebrates 10 years. Congratulations to Krista and her team - P42.

This month we say happy birthday to local business French Country Collections, who celebrates 30 years of trading - P37.

Merry Christmas to all our readers and advertisers - we are relocating the office over the break, so phone lines are off on 1 December. We re-open on Monday 15 January. If you need us urgently please call on our mobile phones. (MARTIN LEACH) F PN

After a lifetime of 80 years serving Ponsonby, the four Bhana Brothers - Harry, Nan, Irv and Prav are off on a well-earned retirement. They will be missed by all who knew them but the business will continue under new management - P40.

CORRECTION: St Marys College article in the October 2017 issue page 74, paragraph three, states the company name as ‘Retail Construction Group (RCG) Limited’, its correct company name is RCG Limited.

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PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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DAVID HARTNELL’S ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW Alan Watson QSM is a full-time professional magician who has been magically appearing in and around the Ponsonby area for many years.

What is the best thing about Ponsonby?

Love the whole vibe of eclectic restaurants, very European, which we often frequent with visiting international magicians. We have performed our family magic shows in private homes around Ponsonby and, over the years, close-up magic at corporate events in various restaurants on the Ponsonby strip.

You have your monthly Brotherhood of Auckland Magician meetings, which you are the president of, at the Surrey Hotel in Grey Lynn - what happens at the meetings?

The Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians is a group of professional and semi-professional magicians who meet on a monthly basis to share ideas, and develop commercial routines that they may be working on. Each year we put together a show for the public and we are also keeper of the highest award New Zealand award for magic, the Grandmaster of Magic.

Come from a show business back ground?

My great great uncle Oswald Ashton was a magician and was performing during WWI and was one of the eight founders of the New Zealand Society of Magicians back in 1920.

What was the moment when you knew you wanted to be in show business?

The wand of magic was passed to me by my great great uncle at the age of seven after inspiring with a puzzle effect which he taught me. From there I was hooked on learning everything I could about magic.

What was your childhood like?

Very sports orientated like most Kiwis.

Who do you think is the most annoying celebrity today?

Mike Hosking, as I find him very arrogant and self-opinionated.

Which TV series would you never miss?

Stargate, as I am huge sci-fi fan.

Your dream holiday internationally?

Las Vegas as we love the shows and the showbiz atmosphere and we’ve been there over the years many times; followed by a trip to New Orleans as we love the history, jazz and the Cajun food.

What’s on your bucket list?

1. Do a European cruise with my wife.

2. I would love to go to FISM (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques) which is the world Olympics of magic.

What is the most Kiwi thing about you?

Love watching the All Blacks play and win.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Spending more quality time with our eight grandchildren.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Ageing and putting on weight.

How would you like to be remembered?

That I was very family orientated.

What do you love most about your age?

Most of my life I have been self employed as a professional magician and I have had control of my time and, as I am now in my sixties, I can choose what shows I want to do because I don’t like stress anymore.

Your biggest disappointment?

That my parents' marriage failed.

If you won a million dollars what is the first thing you would do?

Book a family trip to Las Vegas.

What motivates you?

My genuine love for the entertainment industry and making people forget their troubles and sit back and enjoy some fun, positive entertainment.

What's you favourite movie?

Star Wars 'The Empire Strikes Back'.

Give your teenaged self some advice?

Not be bitter about when your parents' marriage breaks up.

How do you chill out?

Enjoying 'The Game of Thrones' TV series right now.

Favourite time of the day?

I’m a late-night person.

Your dream home?

I’m one of the lucky ones. I already have it.

Tell us something very few people know about you?

I hate shopping to the point that my wife buys my clothes most of the time.

What is your greatest fear?

Claustrophobic when put in very small spaces.

Who is your favourite hero of fiction and why?

Superman because he can fly.

What gizmo can you simply not live without?

My iPhone 7 plus phone; it’s an all-round portable office I use everywhere.

Your greatest weakness/indulgence?

Red wine, preferably merlot, and chocolate.

Are you a handshake or a hug kind of person?

Hug person.

If your life was an ice cream, what would it be called?

Magic Fantastic.

If you could change one law or policy in New Zealand, what would it be?

Voluntary euthanasia.

Something that you really disapprove of?

That all human beings, don’t enjoy equal rights.

To find out more information on the Brotherhood of Magicians, check out their website www.bam.net.nz for full details on the club.

(DAVID HARTNELL, MNZM) F PN

8 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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PIPPA COOM: WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD REPORT As Ponsonby News goes live on 1 December, the acclaimed Franklin Road Christmas Lights will sparkle into life for the 25th year.

Local legend Hamish Keith has managed to secure a very distinguished guest to officially turn on the lights (their identity is top secret at the time of writing). Throughout December locals and visitors from across Auckland are treated to a fantastic free event that has become a favourite tradition during the festive season.

Roscoe Thorby is the lights coordinator extraordinaire. Roscoe came up with the idea originally and over the years has seen it expand to include nearly every house on Franklin Road. It really wouldn't happen without the countless volunteer hours he puts into organisng the lights and the generosity of all the neighbours who are willing to put on a spectacle each year at their own expense. All credit to an amazing community spirit.

Waitemata Local Board is really proud to support the lights with a grant of nearly $9000 (from a Christmas Events Fund and a Local Events Development Fund) that is used for the opening night celebrations including the super-popular real snow.

Auckland Transport stopped work on the Franklin Road upgrade in the lead up to the lights and the construction site cleared until early in the new year. Most of what has occurred so far is the below ground storm water separation and new drainage. However, it is now possible to spot the emerging design of the new parking bays, footpath and tree pits in the lower section of the road.

The Franklin Road multi-million dollar upgrade is one of many transformations underway throughout Waitamata that has been made possible as a result of the Super City. Change has also brought robust dialogue and controversy. We need to ensure that for every project there is meaningful consultation, concerns are listened to and addressed and changes are effectively communicated.

Local Board Plan 2017 The Local Board Plan 2017 provides a road map which will help to guide the Local Board's decisions over the next three years. It came together following community feedback on priority projects and initiatives.

One of the initiatives to come out of the Local Board Plan is the adoption of a target of zero serious injuries or deaths on our roads as part of a comprehensive new approach to road safety that includes slower speeds on residential streets.

Best wishes for the festive season and safe travels however you PN choose to get around this summer. (PIPPA COOM) F The Plan, latest Achievements Report (1 July 2016 - 30 June 2017) and City Fringe Economic Development Action Plan are now available online. Or for a hard copy email RESLocalBoard.

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

photography: Ian Bias

We want to limit the impact of construction too. The Local Board has just signed off a City Fringe Economic Development Plan with an action to champion a best practice approach to mitigating business disruption caused by infrastructure projects.

Franklin Road new parking bays and tree pits

Franklin Road Lights

Rider competing at the Grey Lynn pump track opening party

Weona Westmere walkway

14 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

Golriz Ghahraman an exciting breath of fresh air There is excitement, relief, anger and anticipation about the new Coalition Government in New Zealand.

Jacindamania headlined the second half of the campaign, and with Peters the Kingmaker, Labour has been able to cobble together a Government made up of Labour, New Zealand First and the Greens.

I’m currently reading a book by British philosopher, Professor A. C. Grayling, entitled Democracy and Its Crisis. It is an interesting read. Grayling talks about Brexit, the rise of Trump, and right wing extremism in Europe. Here in New Zealand our problems began with the introduction of free-market liberalism, or neo-liberalism, in 1985

by Roger Douglas. This economics had taken hold under Thatcher and Reagan, and has thrived in New Zealand under successive governments for 30 years.

The new Coalition Government here in Aotearoa New Zealand has a golden opportunity to start reversing the inequality, the poverty, the homelessness, the incarceration and the poor health outcomes that have been neo-liberal’s bedfellows.

I interviewed one of the two new Green Party MPs, Golriz Ghahraman.

She and fellow newcomer, Chloe Swarbrick, are set to be important players in the restoration of fairness and justice in New Zealand. After increasing frustration, annoyance, and often disbelief that the former government just didn’t get it, I was excited by the wit, charm, maturity of thought, and sheer intelligence of Ghahraman. She restored some of my hopes for democracy in just a single hour’s discussion.

Those of us born and brought up in New Zealand don’t know how lucky we are until we hear the stories of refugee families like the Ghahramans. Little Golriz remembers bombs, hiding in shelters, trying with her parents to survive a war in her native Iran, where America backed both sides, even supplying weapons to Sadam Hussain. She was nine years old when the family escaped and were accepted as refugees in New Zealand. Golriz had had little education and spoke only broken English. Her parents were academics, but political outcasts in Iran, and sacrificed everything to come to New Zealand.

Ghahraman has lived in and around Freemans Bay since her arrival 27 years ago. She attended Auckland Girls Grammar School and then Auckland University. Her interest in human rights naturally led her into law. She graduated LLB and with an arts degree in history (gender studies, although she jokingly told me they simply referred to it as sex studies).

Her two abiding memories of the day she arrived are the warm welcome from officials, and how green the country looked.

Now in parliament, Ghahraman is humbled but excited. “We were told by the previous government that we had a surplus, so could afford some tax cuts, and that we were living in a rock star economy.

When you’ve cut all public services, people are homeless and without secure jobs, how are tax cuts fair? That doesn’t sound like a rock star economy to me.”

She went on to say that 10 dollars a week was not going to buy private health insurance, and that John Key’s tax cut would be nearer 100 dollars a week. Another boost to inequality.

During her maiden speech, Golriz emphasised that human rights and nature’s rights were inextricably linked, and are related to corporate responsibility. Decimating important acts like the Resource Management Act just takes omitting a few key words she explained.

If you change a ‘must’ to a ‘may’ in an important clause, you have introduced discretion, which changes the enforceability. This new MP will be invaluable for scrutinising bills as they go through the house.

Golriz Ghahraman has no regrets about giving up prestigious opportunities in international organisations around the world, where she clearly has already made her mark. She made the interesting observation that maybe it should be a prerequisite to have had a career to give up in order to go into parliament.

Now in her 30s, Golriz Ghahraman is in the prime of her life, with a fierce positivity about the next three years as an MP. She has already been engaged in her portfolios through TPP discussions and the fate of Manus Island refugees. Green policies may not always be the same as those of her coalition partners, which can add tension to negotiations.

I predict her sense of humour, incisive intelligence and clarity of thought, will make her a formidable member of parliament, and a huge asset to the Greens. We at Ponsonby News wish her well.

(JOHN ELLIOTT) F PN

photography: Richard Myburgh

Her work in human rights has quickly taken her around the world, working at the United Nations, helping on a prosecution of Khmer Rouge leaders, and working with women and children in Nigeria. She is still a UN consultant and has recently completed a report ‘A code of conduct for prosecutors in Nigeria’, which she was expecting to go to Nigeria and teach.

Golriz has been given a raft of shadow portfolios to manage, including Justice, Human Rights, Immigration and Foreign Affairs. She is excited to have been given Trade and Defence, often regarded as male preserves. Last week Ghahraman gave a stirring maiden speech. She talked about her background and praised her parents, who were both present, for bringing their little girl to the safety of New Zealand.

Disturbingly, she talked of hate postings on social media telling her to go home, threats she should not have to face.

16 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

17

MIKE LEE: COUNCILLOR FOR WAITEMATA & GULF

Fear and loathing - Auckland Transport and the Super City Our new Coalition Government is faced with many challenges - much of them relating to Auckland.

One issue never discussed in the election campaign, but one I believe the new Government will have to tackle sooner or later, is Auckland Council.

to plans to make train staff redundant and AT’s interpretation of the bus contracting system, which acts to drive down bus workers’ pay and conditions.

Like many of the other problems, Auckland Council is a legacy of the former government. The so-called ‘Super City’ it must be remembered was Rodney Hide’s baby. In fact the amalgamation was one of the first things the National-led government did. It was created in great haste and now, as the saying goes, it is being regretted at leisure by an increasing number of Aucklanders.

I can say from my own experience that the success such as we have achieved in public transport in Auckland has been very much due to the efforts of our train and bus staff. Working split shifts, long hours, holidays and weekends to serve the public, they deserve our thanks.

Recent disclosures about an unbudgeted blowout on staff salaries amounting to $42m, and ‘communications’ costing $45.6m per year, unhappily have coincided with widespread public complaints about the council’s failure to manage even basic services such as mowing local parks.

The last time Auckland Council surveyed the public, in 2015, only 15% were satisfied with the council’s performance. One year into the Goff mayoralty it would be surprising if the situation is any better. In fact, given the recent bad publicity, it’s probably even worse.

As it happens, one of the most unpopular aspects of the Super City is the CCO Auckland Transport (AT). Now ensconced in plush harbourside offices at the Viaduct, AT is the cause of rising public resentment. Instead of a publicly benign, quietly efficient transport agency, AT’s image is the opposite. It has become a lightning rod for public discontent. Easily the majority of the complaints I receive as a councillor relate to AT’s failings.

Despite being allocated billions of dollars over the last seven years, (most of our rates go to AT) too many Aucklanders are still complaining that their bus does not turn up on time, or worse doesn’t turn up at all. Meanwhile AT staff numbers have grown from about 1000 in 2010 to around 1600 today. There is too, I have found, a rather bad culture within AT and what happens internally in an organisation tends to be reflected externally.

Top-heavy, top-down, with its directors, councillors, and public fed carefully processed information, AT has become increasingly unaccountable and wilful. The skewed ‘business case’ supporting light rail down Dominion Road to the airport rather than comparatively short heavy rail link is a case in point. Last week I was asked by officials of First Union (bus drivers) and RMTU (train staff) to present public petitions to AT management. These related

But while transport bureaucrats are happy to enhance their own pay and conditions what they plan for the workers who actually do public transport is a kick in the teeth. But it’s not just public transport workers who have become embittered at AT. Currently there is growing frustration across my ward, from Parnell to Westmere, at AT’s interpretation of what ‘public consultation’ means, especially in relation to cycleways and the removal of on-street car parks. What has happened at West Lynn is particularly unfortunate. Back in 2016 (against the advice of myself and the Waitemata Local Board), AT pushed through the cycleway consultation during the local body election interregnum.

There was little apparent willingness to take into account community views. I know because I actually tried to participate, suggesting to AT officers that they trial a cycleway down the median strip, in the centre of the road. This approach is used successfully overseas and does not impinge on car parks or traffic lanes. It’s a smart use of a very limited resource. But the AT people weren’t interested, it was apparent they had already made their minds up.

I concluded then that the ‘consultation’ was a sham so I can well understand the incandescent anger at the mess AT has made of Richmond Road and the West Lynn shopping centre. The Richmond Road cycleway not only restricts traffic flows, including buses, but removes car parks vital to the livelihood of small retailers.

AT also takes away parking from homeowners who do not have offstreet car parks. John Elliott recently undertook a survey in West Lynn and found that 16 out of 18 business people polled said AT's consultation was ‘poor’, one said it was ‘adequate’, one ‘didn't know’.

On the question "Did AT listen to submitters?" 18 said ‘no’ and not one said ‘yes’. The problem is AT is too big, and has been given a too many responsibilities and too much power. With that has grown a corporate arrogance. AT needs refocusing, downsizing and a culture change but so does the parent Auckland Council. Sooner or later the new Government is going to have to deal with both.

PN (MIKE LEE) F

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LOCAL NEWS Get excited about Ponsonby Park in 2018!

After almost three years of work, we are delighted that the chosen LandLAB design for the development of Ponsonby Park at 254 Ponsonby Road has been presented to the governing body by the Waitemata Local Board for funding in the Long Term Plan for Auckland City.

For its initiation of and commitment to this process, the Community-Led Design (CLD) group would like to sincerely thank the Waitemata Local Board for their support and on -going work in making Ponsonby Park a reality for the community.

Community-led design is a grassroots process - rather than the usual ‘top-down’ approach - so it was you the community, who chose the preferred design; the very people who are going to use, live next to, and spend time in and around the park. You chose a design that best reflects the needs and desires of our community, including the local businesses that have also played a part in this process. We acknowledge the input of the Ponsonby Business Association in our CLD work.

The Waitemata Local Board has taken on the challenge and has advocated for funding to have the park realized by making Ponsonby Park their ‘One Local Initiative’ unfunded project to go into the Auckland Council Long-Term Plan. (Each local board gets to choose one project to put into this pool for funding consideration).

So where to from here? The Mayor will now put together a final version of the Long Term Plan for public consultation in Jan/Feb of 2018. We do not know what the Long Term Plan final version will look like, as council officers get to have their input and may propose changes.

This consulataion will be the last chance for our community to clearly reiterate the decision to have the whole of site, multi-use civic space (designed through an incremental

process of discussion with the community, academic institutions, and designers from throughout Auckland) realised.

LandLAB’s chosen design fulfils the requirements of a space accessible for all and includes the key activities you told us were essential: a place to rest and relax, with green areas, somewhere to develop social connection, and a place for markets and events.

When the Long Term Plan consultation process begins, we will be seeking your support for the community’s chosen vision for the whole of the site development for Ponsonby Park.

It has been a long and winding road but as we near the completion of our CLD journey, it is humbling and gratifying to remember all the people who have been involved and who have supported us along the way. We appreciate your commitment, energy and aroha. We look forward to the realization of our wonderful community civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road soon. Please submit on the Long Term Plan and together we can provide the groundswell to push the project over the line and make our collective vision a reality.

PN (JENNIFER WARD) F

We wish you all a fun and safe holiday season and a happy New Year. See you again in 2018. You can follow us on our Facebook pages 254ponsonbyrd and Ponsonby Park.

And our website www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz

JOHN WILLS RAISES FUNDS FOR CURE KIDS John Wills, founder of Custom Real Estate decided he wanted to do fight night a few months ago and, as he explained to Ponsonby News, "the main reason I got involved was because I really believe in the charity that was benefitting from this year’s event.

"Cure Kids believes that every kid should have a fair chance at a healthy and happy childhood, and, like everyone, I totally agree with what they are working so hard to achieve.

"Cure Kids work very hard behind the scenes to complete very expensive and time-consuming research into diseases and conditions that seriously affect our little ones. They also provide a wonderful support network and environment for the kids and parents that they come into contact with. A brilliant organisation.

"I worked hard to raise money through my friends, family and associates' networks, and through a number of wonderful and generous donations, raised over $16,000. This is a charity that people really connected with, and wanted to get in behind, so the fund raising went very well.

20 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

John Wills is pictured with George, his ambassador mate from cure kids, along with his coach Gareth Ealey "The whole fight night campaign raised around $60,000 in total, which was brilliant.

Getting into a boxing ring, in front of a big crowd, is something that sits outside of my comfort zone, but I really enjoyed the experience and, weirdly, I absolutely loved the training. It was hard, different and fun.

"On the night, I lost the fight on points in a close split decision. But I didn’t really care. It was a very well run event, and I had done the training, met some great people, helped raise money and had a huge amount of fun. I’d recommend the whole experience to anyone."

Anyone wanting to donate to Cure Kids, can do so through their website - they would love to hear from you! www.curekids.org.nz

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PONSONBY U3A: NOVEMBER 2017 Former Director of International Relations and Development at AUT, Chris Hawley, was the guest speaker at the November meeting of Ponsonby U3A. His topic, “Refugees: New Zealand’s Response” highlighted the desperate situation refugees face world-wide and the response of various countries, including our own.

He reminded his audience that we are talking about individual human beings and anyone, through circumstances changing, such as escaping war, persecution or natural disaster, might come to be at the mercy of other human beings.

He said that people who come to seek refugee status give far more back than we give them. He gave examples of people coming from horrific circumstances in their own countries to New Zealand and making huge contributions to our society.

Polish child refugee Eric Lepionka, now 78, who established a successful building company in Wellington, was a child when his parents were killed. He still thinks every day of the horrors of his subsequent journey with other children through Russia to Persia and then by sea to New Zealand and to a children’s home in Pahiatua.

AUT Professor of Bioengineering Ahmed Al-Jumaily is “a Muslim gentleman from Iraq who is doing great things for this country as well as being the brains behind Fisher and Paykel Healthcare.”

Vietnam-born Mitchell Pham came here with his uncle at the age of 13. Educated in Auckland he is co-founder, director and head of sales and marketing for the Augen Software Group in New Zealand, as well as chairman and director of their operation in Vietnam. He said that almost without exception the children of refugees who have settled in New Zealand have a degree, own their houses and are debt free and making a normal or good contribution to this country.

Ten minute speaker U3A member Karen Waters (pictured) entitled her talk “Grand Designs - Yeah, right!” With her 25-year background alongside husband David in their business Intext Architectural Systems, which created and supplied aluminium windows and doors to homes in Auckland and Northland, she was well placed to give fascinating details of some of the intricacies of design and just what does go on in the construction of

some of the country’s most notable homes. She pointed out that television gives an unrealistic view of the building process. They carefully chose the projects they wished to become involved with, all requiring juggling of staff, money and time limits.

One example was the Birkenhead Library, which was designed and built to a tight budget garnering numerous awards, including for Intext an award for the windows as well as the Supreme Award of the Window Association.

She described ‘grand’ houses they were involved in, one an architect’s home with no two windows the same, and lavish houses for overseas owners. Her favourite house is Mountain Landing at Kerikeri. The project used local input as much as possible and the American-designed interiors reflected the owner’s pride in his Maori heritage.

As well as two speakers at its monthly meetings, Ponsonby U3A has over 20 special interest groups covering a wide range of topics, including leisure and social events.

Monthly meetings are held on the second Friday morning of each month at the Herne Bay Petanque Club. The December meeting will be wrap-up of another year of highlights, with growing membership and new interest groups providing opportunities for learning and socialising with like-minded people. There will be a Christmas party and lunch on 8 PN December. The first meeting for 2018 will be on Friday 9 February. (PHILIPPA TAIT) F NEXT MEETING:

9.45am Friday 8 December at Herne Bay Petanque Club, Salisbury Street Reserve, Herne Bay.

ENQUIRIES:

Collene Roche, President Ponsonby U3A. T: 09 373 3277, www.u3aponsonby.org.nz

FORMER GREEN MP DENISE ROCHE SELECTED TO CONTEST WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD BY-ELECTION City Vision is pleased to announce that former Green MP Denise Roche has been selected as their candidate for the by-election for the Waitemata Local Board.

Voting packs will be delivered from Friday 26 January 2018 with voting closing at 12 noon on Saturday 17 February 2018.

Robert Gallagher, Chair of City Vision says that Denise will make an excellent addition to the community-focused successful City Vision-led Local Board.

“It’s really great to have Denise standing for us. It was a tough selection; we had nine excellent candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. However, we’re pleased with the final outcome as Denise has local government experience, is very familiar with Waitemata issues and brings a recent parliamentary overview to the position.”

Before entering parliament in 2011 Denise Roche had been an Auckland City Councillor and a Waiheke Local Board member and she says she is keen to join the City Vision team on the Waitemata Local Board because she is passionate about Auckland.

“I’ve lived and worked in and around the area for nearly 30 years and our city streets and spaces are part of who I am. Our city is a great place to live and work and play, but there’s also some huge issues we have to deal with. If I am elected, I want to help our board - and our council - address homelessness, deal with our infrastructure problems, protect our built and natural environment, support our local businesses

22 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

and communities and carry on the excellent work done to improve walking and cycling and public transport options."

Roche's campaigning experience will be an advantage in the by-election.

"Denise will be up and running as our candidate from today. She’s stood in the Auckland Central electorate for the Greens for the last four general elections, has recent door-knocking experience in the area and has heard first-hand about the issues that the Waitemata community care about. Our team has a great group of volunteers helping Denise who are campaign-ready for this important by-election,” says Gallagher.

City Vision is a political grouping of Labour, the Greens and community independents who share common values and policies and run as a ticket for local government elections in the old Auckland City Council area. F PN Denise Roche, M: 021 180 2506 or T: 09 372 6578, deniseonthefarm@hotmail.com, cityvision.org.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Thanks to our many clients and customers for their trusted support, it's been a great year at Barfoot & Thompson Ponsonby.

We wish you a relaxing and safe holiday season with family and friends and we look forward to seeing you in 2018.

09 376 3039 • ponsonby@barfoot.co.nz

JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

More on glyphosate Auckland’s Mayor, Phil Goff, and all Auckland councillors should be sued in the High Court for the criminal neglect of the health and safety of their citizens say anti-glyphosate campaigners.

Last year, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which consists of 27 eminent scientists from around the globe, declared glyphosate a ‘probable human carcinogen’.

Already, many cities, counties, states and countries have banned or restricted the use of Roundup and other chemical weed control products which contain glyphosate.

Some of the most dedicated and well-informed local activists, like Hana Blackmore and her Weed Advisory Group and the Weed Free Streets Group, have been informing the council for years of the dangers of chemical vegetation control on our street berms and in our parks and reserves. Their submissions have become increasingly urgent, but council continues to ignore them. More recently, this columnist from the Ponsonby News has witnessed first hand the offhand way councillors appear to listen but then repeatedly ignore, increasingly urgent requests to stop dangerous spraying.

However, it has now gone beyond ignore. The Auckland Council is being accused of being guilty of a number of criminal offences against its own residents and ratepayers.

I have discussed this problem with a number of interested people, and there is general agreement that there may be legal grounds for suing councillors for their sins and omissions.

That is certainly a seriously disappointing conclusion to reach, but councillors have brought it on themselves.

First of all, the council is refusing to implement its own 2013 Weed Control Policy, or at the very least, Auckland Transport is.

A hugely emerging Auckland problem is AT's refusal to be a “Council Controlled Organisation.”

As I have previously said a number of times, even if the problem is a refusal of AT to be controlled by its so-called boss, Auckland Council, that still does not let councillors off the hook. They must act lawfully with reference to their own enactments, including the 2013 Weed Control Policy.

The council’s recalcitrance is helping to fuel nasty rumours about councillors’ inaction.

There are serious allegations floating around - possible lies have been told by council officers, possible lacing of bio-safe chemical sprays with carcinogenic glyphosate, unreasonably inflated alternative costs promulgated by officers as alternatives to poisons, for example for steam, ‘best practice’ which is designed as an integral part of the Weed Policy being ignored, even conspiracy to conceal the truth (as opposed to outright lying). The role of Mayor Phil Goff and that of his predecessor, Len Brown, needs questioning in this context.

Ponsonby News has discovered that the Auckland District Health Board has had 208 calls since 2010, specifically about health episodes because of glyphosate injestion. Glyphosate could be a factor in other complaints not counted in that 208 figure. The board maintains it has no figures on hospital admission numbers because of glyphosate poisoning.

So, hundreds of Aucklanders, many of them children, get sick when council sprays around their homes. They also spray around their school during school holidays.

24 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

The utterly compromised Environmental Protection Authority will not shield Auckland councillors from the law. The EPA is now an outlier on the health and safety of New Zealanders who are forced to injest glyphosate, and the sooner council comes to understand that the better.

The only way left for Auckland Council is to ban any chemical products that contain glyphosate, and avoid the threat of a High Court action against them.

HOT OFF THE PRESS - A NEW BOMBSHELL As this article was being prepared for publication, a report of a Canterbury University study was released. The study led by UC Molecular Biology and Genetics Professor Jack Heineman has found that common herbicides including glyphosate in Roundup, cause antibiotic resistance. They cause bacteria to become less susceptible to antibiotics. The growth of superbugs resistant to antibiotics is a worldwide health risk.

This University of Canterbury research is the first in the world to demonstrate that herbicides like glyphosate may be undermining the use of a fundamental medicine-antibiotics.

With expertise in genetic engineering, bacterial genetics and biosafety, Professor Heineman has some recommendations: “The sub-lethal effects of industrially manufactured chemical products should be considered by regulators when deciding whether the products are safe for their intended use,” he says.

The ‘sub-lethal effects’ means any implications for health, short of death, which manufacturers don’t consider.

That should be the final nail in the glyphosate coffin, or if council continues to ignore the evidence, it should be the beginning of a very important local court case, charging Auckland councillors with endangering the health and well being of its citizens, and ignoring international and now important local evidence about the dangers of the carcinogenic glyphosate. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F PN

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THANK YOU! The team at Wilson Hurst would like to thank you for all the support in making 2017 another fantastic year of business and growth. We couldn’t have done it without the support of our family, friends and our rapidly growing network of clients.

We can’t wait to get back into it in 2018 - but until then, have a wonderful break and enjoy a well earned holiday with plenty of Christmas cheer!

Merry Christmas!

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JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

Civil disobedience in West Lynn - Auckland Transport behaviour questioned once again The affluent and peaceful precinct of Grey Lynn known as West Lynn is up in arms.

Business owners, local residents and visitors have had a difficult time while provision for new cycleways has been made, roads have been re-aligned, and footpaths re-configured.

In several recent editions of Ponsonby News I have written about the discontent. I’m sure that Pippa Coom and her Waitemata Local Board think it’s just about a few anti-cyclists, and that we’ll get over it. I have stated my support for cycle lanes a number of times, but the problem is multifaceted. There should have been three clear stages in this redevelopment.

The first was proper consultation by Auckland Transport (AT).

AT have their idea of consultation, but it is grossly inadequate.

Ponsonby News asked 18 businesses in West Lynn how they rated AT consultation - 16 said poor, one said adequate, one said not sure.

Asked if AT listened to submitters comments all 18 said no, nine said they never do.

Locals said submissions were rebuffed, changes asked for were ignored without discussion.

The second thing that should have happened was that the totality of changes required on Richmond Road should have been discussed and planned at the same time as cycleways were being installed.

Better public transport options, resident parking permits, with discussion about suitable footpath design, crossings, safety issues.

AT may or may not, have had all these things in mind but it kept them to itself.

And thirdly, AT should have organised the time schedule of work in consultation with locals. People had no idea how long orange cones would run their lives. Businesses have suffered huge losses, and some may not recover. Now we have a seriously disgruntled community, and AT must take the major blame.

Business owners showed me around last month. They pointed out badly designed footpath spaces, where a new drain doesn’t drain when it rains and sand bags have already had to be used.

They showed me yellow strips to assist the poorly sighted, which run downhill and are dangerous when slippery. One woman in a wheelchair crossed the road and almost smashed into the window of a cafe. Another business owner reported cars running over corner outcrops on Sackville Street, supposedly designed to slow traffic coming onto Richmond Road safely for passing cyclists.

Patience with the arrogance of AT is running out, and the Waitemata Local Board and the Auckland Council (which is meant to control AT) are now copping flack.

If our city is now being run by faceless bureaucrats, who jack up their salaries with impunity, and ignore ratepayers concerns, and elected board members and councillors have no say, democracy is fast going down the tubes.

I know that our councillor Mike Lee cares, and is as frustrated as most of us. Pippa Coom and her board care too, but all Auckland’s elected representatives including Mayor Goff, are just toothless dinosaurs, overseeing the last vestiges of representative democracy.

PN (JOHN ELLIOTT) F

MASTER MECHANICS - FOR RELIABLE CAR MAINTENANCE Master Mechanics is the vision of Wiremu Burkhardt, car enthusiast, meticulous mechanic, WOF inspector and all round good guy.

Wiremu and his wife Andrea have lived in Ponsonby and the uptown area for more than 10 years. So when they were looking for premises for their mechanics business it was important to them to find something in a location where they could service their local market.

To find the perfect building in a great location is more often than not the hardest part, but a few stars in the universe must have aligned for Wiremu and Andrea as they found a classic 1950s workshop on Upper Queen Street, just off Newton Road - it was a very rough diamond that needed a lot of cutting and polishing!

They opened their doors in February 2016 and with a fresh clean, modern classic workshop aesthetic and great work ethic, their vision has flown.

Master Mechanics has quickly established itself as a reliable, trustworthy place to bring your car for servicing and all mechanical needs. At Master Mechanics they work on a wide variety of cars from high-end AMG Mercedes, Audi RS models, 4 X 4 Rangers and Amaroks, vintage classics, to the every-day family car from the likes of Toyota and VW.

Four important reasons to service your car regularly: Safe travelling - You want to get your family safely from A to B these holidays.

Preventative maintenance - Stay on top of the small but important things to help reduce the major and expensive unexpected issues.

Environment - Vehicle emissions are an issue and having an efficient car will be more lenient on the environment.

Re-sale value - By keeping your service book up to date, your re-sale value will hold, which is a nice thought.

Give the team at Master Mechanics a call and it can sort you out PN before you take the family away on Christmas holidays! F

MASTER MECHANICS, 73 Upper Queen Street, Eden Terrace, T: 09 963 3772, www.mastermechanics.co.nz

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PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

27

LOCAL NEWS CAR-SHARING DRIVES HOME SAVINGS AND CONVENIENCE FOR KIWIS THIS CHRISTMAS New Zealanders keen to save extra cash to fill up the Christmas stockings, or after a set of wheels to get from A to B during the festive season, may find the solution lies within an innovative, peer-to-peer, car-sharing community.

Yourdrive.co.nz, dubbed ‘the AirBnB of car rentals’, is leading the way for car-sharing in New Zealand, giving Kiwis increased options around car use. Yourdrive is built on the ‘sharing economy’ model, and connects a flourishing database of car renters with car owners in nearby neighbourhoods.

Yourdrive founder, Freemans Bay resident Oscar Ellison is focused on making car rental experiences personable, convenient and accessible to everyone.

“What we’ve found is that a lot of people are moving away from car ownership as they live in more dense areas, have better access to public transport or don’t want the ongoing costs that come with owning their own vehicles. They enjoy having the freedom to select a car they’d like to drive and renting directly from locals whenever they need a car. Whether it be a day trip, a Christmas shopping excursion, or a summer holiday getaway, there is a growing shift towards car sharing globally,” says Ellison.

“With the holiday season just around the corner, New Zealand car owners have a convenient way to make money off their vehicles when they aren’t using them - they can turn an idle ride into an earning asset.”

“This not only helps provide a solution to our country’s traffic problems, but it’s also kinder on the environment - helping to reduce greenhouse gases produced during the manufacturing of new vehicles,” says Ellison.

Using the online platform, people can search for vehicles located in areas they are travelling to, or rent from locals in their neighbourhood.

They then meet at an agreed location to hand over the keys, which often also leads to the exchange of local knowledge and journey tips.

The concept for Yourdrive was borne out of Ellison’s frustrations with the high cost of car ownership after he returned to Auckland from his O.E. The young entrepreneur launched Yourdrive in 2015 and it quickly caught the attention of transport company JUCY, which bought a 50% share in Yourdrive last year and now offers car sharing as an alternative transport option to its rental car fleet.

While car sharing is practical, and provides a sense of community, the advantages don’t stop there - it can be a lucrative side-earner.

Depending on the value, make and model of a vehicle (which determines the recommended rental rate), an owner could earn up to $10,000 a year by renting out their car through Yourdrive.

The rewards are already starting to be seen on a large scale - collectively, over $500,000 has been made by car owners that have rented out their cars through Yourdrive since the website first launched two years ago.

For renters, the savings is also significant. They don’t have to foot the bills associated with vehicle ownership: purchasing a car, registration, WOF, servicing, maintenance and fuel costs. People can rent cars they dream of owning - whether it be by the hour, day, week or longer for summer road trips - or simply stick to wheels on a budget to get around town.

“Whatever their budget and desires, people will find the right car for their needs within the community,” says Ellison. “We’re finding many millennials who enjoy an urban lifestyle without owning a car still have the freedom of renting a car for a day excursion to the beach or countryside or to visit friends and family.”

Car-sharing also has numerous environmental benefits - for every car shared, there is a reduction in the number of owned vehicles on the road by around 10-15. With latest figures from the NZ Transport Agency showing that there are 800 new vehicles each week registered in Auckland alone, renting cars that are already registered could assist in easing congestion on the roads.

28 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

“New Zealand has one of the highest rates of car ownership in the world*, and cars often sit unused in garages and driveways around the country, so this provides a win-win solution.”

Today, Yourdrive has more than 450 cars live on its platform and on an average day, 40 cars are shared via the platform. During peak times of the year, more than 250 cars booked through Yourdrive are on the road at any one time, while owners have peace of mind knowing their cars are covered by comprehensive insurance while in use.

Before joining, each driver is screened to ensure they have a valid driver licence, and a five-star review system works both ways for renters and car owners.

“There’s been a huge shift from traditional business models to peerto-peer business models in recent years,” says Ellison.

“We’ve seen the rise and success of Bookabach and Airbnb, and now Yourdrive is helping keep people in New Zealand mobile. It’s about generating new streams of revenue for car owners while giving PN drivers more freedom to get around our beautiful country.” F www.Yourdrive.co.nz *Over 3.6 million light vehicles were registered in 2016 (Ministry of Transport ‘Annual Fleet Statistics’).

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29

HELEN WHITE: REPRESENTING LABOUR FOR AUCKLAND CENTRAL

The issue most discussed was housing Over the course of the campaign, the issue most discussed was housing.

Auckland house prices are in the news again this week with the release of Auckland Council’s new rating values. I’ve listened to many stories of people locked out of buying their first home or renters struggling with inadequate properties, insecure tenure and few rights in their rental property. Many people had simply given up thinking they would ever own their own home or rent a property in Central Auckland that met the needs of their family.

In this column I would like to focus on the new Government’s approach to housing. Housing and our urban environment is one area in which it has a comprehensive and innovative plan. It is a big, multifaceted issue requiring a number of policies to be implemented in order to make a difference.

But, ultimately, the most important thing the Government can do is build more houses. Auckland is over 70,000 homes short of what we need to house our current population. Labour will create an Affordable Housing Authority, which will oversee the building of quality, affordable housing in this city. The Affordable Housing Authority will partner with private developers, councils and iwi to undertake major greenfields and revitalisation projects (like Wynyard Quarter), building affordable homes. These homes will be part of great communities built around parks, shopping centres and public transport links.

The money it raises from selling these properties will be reinvested in building more affordable housing. It will be addressing the supply side of the problem. It will be hard work making this happen given the current demand for skilled builders. Another facet of the problem.

We’ve not fostered enough apprentices in the trades, so policies encouraging this are very much part of the solution.

However, not every family will own its own home - and that makes security of tenure and renters' rights so important. Labour will also be changing the rules. The Residential Tenancies Act is over 30 years old. It is time it was modernised. The Government is going to make rental more secure and make the raising of rents fairer and more predictable. It will be insisting on a warrant of fitness for rentals to make sure the accommodation is not unsafe and unhealthy. That is the current reality for many people renting in Auckland.

I don’t want to gloss over the problems with such solutions but security of tenure is incredibly important. In employment law

30 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

(a field I know a lot more about because I earn my living doing it) the importance of the security that employment brings to the families and communities it supports, is acknowledged by the Government. It has created rules protecting employees from unfair and unreasonable termination from employment. This protection means an employee can stand up for their rights without being as afraid of losing their job. Currently a tenant who asks for the house to be made warm and dry - that means fixing the leaks for example - justifiably fears the termination of their tenancy agreement for making a fuss. They also fear if they do this the rent will go up. There is nothing that really stops either happening and it frequently does.

We don’t allow rental companies to lease cars that are unfit and unsafe. Why would we let homes that are unfit and unsafe?

Landlords obviously also need protecting from abusive tenants, as do the neighbours of such tenants. As we live closer together the problem of living next door to a P dealer or renting your house to one is very real. The rules that will be brought in will not ignore the needs of the whole community or the landlord, they will just create a just process, where tenants are terminated when there is cause.

To those who say that a warrant of fitness will make rental more expensive I say we cannot ignore the real cost of providing insecure, cold, damp, unsafe rental accommodation. Failing to provide adequate homes costs the rest of us. It causes chronic disease and health issues that the tax payer ends up paying for through the health system, in lost productivity and in reducing the potential of our kids before they’ve had a chance to discover it. Ensuring quality rental homes will save us money spent in our hospitals and Middlemore hospital might stop putting up that sign saying it is 'full'.

During the campaign, I observed the very negative impact of a hands-off approach by the last government to housing on our city.

In the inner city, many people I spoke to considered that owning their own home and affordability of rental was a pipe dream. Is this the new reality? I don’t think so. We can tackle the problem by creating more secure and affordable homes. It will be hard, but we can do it.

PN (HELEN WHITE) F Helen White representing Labour for Auckland Central. www.labour.org.nz/helenwhite

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DEIRDRE THURSTON: ON MY MIND

Smelling Salts I popped in to visit a friend recently. She had arrived home after carpel tunnel surgery. I thought she would be in bed with a cup of tea and Tibetan singing bowls humming softly in the background. Recovering, so to speak.

But, no. There she was, glass of red wine in her good hand - and such a full to the brim, large glass her newly sliced hand wouldn’t have coped with the weight - and a fag between the fingers of her iodine-painted bandaged hand. What a trooper. She even hopped up on a stool to grab a vase for the pink tulips I had bought her. I was having a bit of a pink phase. Pink flowers, pink top, pink nails, pink lippy. Wish I was young enough to get away with pink hair.

In Victorian times - had such an operation existed - she would have been assisted to step gingerly out of her carriage and be carried upstairs to her boudoir where a floor-length, white, frilly nighty with a hundred seed pearl buttons down the front awaited her. I feel sorry for the men of Victorian households. Having to deal with all those buttons would surely douse a lustful moment. Much easier to whip the voluminous night attire up over the hips. I guess that’s why, in all those period movies, you don’t see slow unbuttonings - too tedious.

Once ensconced in her vast bed (with canopy), smelling salts would have been waved under her delicate nose to stop a fit of the vapours after such an ordeal. Clearly my friend’s made of sterner stuff. On my mentioning the absence of smelling salts, she took a good long sniff of her wine and seemed as right as rain. And instead of being served soft boiled quail’s eggs and thin slivers of lightly steamed lamb’s liver on a delicate plate atop a gilded tray, my friend was about to have a heaped plate of scallops, which her son had dived for the previous day, fresh-caught snapper, crispy potatoes and salad. On her knee, wine refilled and close at gammy hand.

I did vaguely mutter a slight concern about “painkillers/wine”. She wiggled her yellow fingers and dismissed my concern as “old-fashioned”.

We certainly are made of tougher stuff, us modern women. Our Victorian sisters would have milked it to the enth degree. Lolling in bed for a week then slumming it for the summer at their modest little 14-bedroomed villa by the sea. Wicker chairs, ivory fans, jellied eel, pidgeon pie, all packed up in a wicker basket lined with starched, white napkins. Not to mention countless bottles of ice-cold Champagne - for recuperative purposes of course. Sounds superb, although those poor women in their heavy dresses

and layers of undergarments including corsets pulled so tight their organs must’ve been squashed and breathing a real chore even in dappled sunlight under the spreading elms.

In hindsight, those Victorian women must have been made of tough stuff to cope with their world.

My friend, on the other hand, wore a pair of jeans and a loose stripey top. Braless.

I did suggest that if a wine became too heavy to manage, we women could always hold a glass between our breasts. We both scanned her chest and decided the hand would have to manage.

Looking around, I voiced another concern: “Where’s Stella?”

Stella is my friend’s cat. An unusual moggy in need of pats and pills to calm her down.

My friend’s answer: “I haven’t seen her since fireworks night but I have left food out.”

Horrified, and thinking I should really nab Stella next time I saw her and make her mine, I gulped back a “poor Stella” lecture due to the operation and lack of smelling salts and bade my goodbyes, readjusting the tulips into a better position in a vase that was all wrong for them. I promised to call in next day with supplies (wine, cheese - just the necessities) and tidy up. Really, I was more concerned about the cat at that point.

Driving home, I mused on times and their changes. Women and men, then and now. Yes, our lives are so much better in innumerable ways and we can sprawl under a shady tree and picnic our hearts out without the multilayers of restrictive clothing, nor be overly burdened with etiquette. (Possibly we would incur a fine for imbibing in a public place.)

Though, life would have also been easier back then in many ways, too. Choices, or rather the lack of them, could’ve been a blessing. I get overwhelmed sometimes with how many choices I have. I know, first-world problem.

As Christmas approaches, I’m imagining a partridge in a pear tree (or on a silver platter) rather than a bbq in the back yard.

“May Christmas always be to thee, a time of mirth and jollity” as the Victorians would say.

PN (DEIRDRE THURSTON) F

LUCIA MATAIA: LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY NEWS

The Leys - your local library Season’s Greetings from all of us at your local library. Check out what’s happening pre-Christmas and over the summer.

Christmas festivities - outside and inside the library • Chloe and Morgan are presenting three Storytime sessions at One2One Café during Ponsonby Market Day, 2 December from 11am, 12 noon and 1pm. This is a free event.

• Monday 4 December at 10am - 11.30am Craft at Leys the Christmas edition. All welcome for a yarn and a cuppa. Wear your antlers or a festive hat for the end of year Christmas preschool programmes featuring Christmas carols, stories, finger rhymes and dance.

• Tuesday 12 December 10.30am Rhyme Time for toddlers • Wednesday 13 December 10.30am Wriggle and Rhyme for babies • Thursday 14 December 10.30am Wriggle and Rhyme for babies • Friday 15 December 10.30am Storytime for all ages Christmas Holiday extended loans 2017-2018 We are extending our loan period over the summer holidays so you can take your stash of books and magazines away with you. Or, if you have limited luggage space, why not

32 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

download a few eBooks, eAudio and magazines onto a mobile device. Pop into the library and we can show you how to download them.

Kia Maia Te Whai - Dare to Explore School’s out soon and we want to encourage children to keep reading. We are running cool reading challenges and fun activities to support children’s literacy over the summer holidays. Chloe, Sarah-Jane and Shar have got some fun stuff for the children to make and do. It’s all free so drop into the library and pick up a booklet of fun. On completion of the reading challenges the kids get a party invite to celebrate their reading success.

The Great Summer Read 1 December 2017 - 31 January 2018. Auckland Libraries have some great challenges lined up so you can win books, vouchers, eReaders and tickets to Auckland’s hottest shows and attractions.

Best wishes from us all at your local library. (LUCIA MATAIA) F PN LEYS INSTITUTE, 20 St Marys Road, T: 09 374 1315, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

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LOCAL NEWS TODAY'S CLASS: HEMP MEDICINE 101 It's a Saturday morning and in the Brother Marcellin room of Ponsonby's Saint Columba Centre there is an air of intrigue and unity.

The 15 or so people in attendance vary in profession and background - a handful of GPs, social workers, even an account manager for Watties. Yet they all share one common interest: cannabis.

This is Hemp Medicine 101, a one-day course run by The Hemp Foundation NZ to explain the facts and undo the fiction about the ancient and controversial plant.

The speaker is Tadhg Stopford, Grey Lynn local and founder of the Hemp Foundation. Fourteen months ago, he became dismayed with the government's sluggishness and misinformation around medical cannabis. Motivated by his mother Kerri who has multiple sclerosis, a condition potentially treatable by raw dietary cannabinoids, Tadhg set out on an tireless and personal campaign to learn as much as possible about the issue and spread that truth through the medical industry and beyond.

He's also a high-school teacher, and certainly has the demeanour of one as he 'contextualises' the course, weaving the history of the hemp industry's former glory, its groundless prohibition in the 1930s, and the corporate interests that for years have kept it starved of sunlight and water.

However, once hailed as the 'billion dollar crop' hemp is getting its time in the sun once more. It grows incredibly quickly, stores four times more carbon than pine and because of its versatile fibre, has literally tens of thousands of sustainable commercial applications, including a substitute for petrochemicals. Demand is expected to triple in the next three years with China calling it a strategic resource and growing 1.3 million hectares.

But perhaps the most important aspect of the plant is that it is a rich storehouse of the cannabinoids the human body needs to regulate its own health. It therefore has phenomenal potential as both food and medicine and, around the world, laws are relaxing to allow for its medicinal use.

In New Zealand, the new Government has committed to providing access to medical cannabis for patients who are terminally ill or in chronic pain. But they remain expensive and largely unavailable.

"If the Government is serious about improving things for Kiwis," Tadhg says, "then it needs to understand the science and the opportunities."

Science plays a crucial role in the Hemp Foundation's mission. The team itself includes a group of GPs and the course covers a vast body of fastidious medical research.

At the front of the class, Tadhg explains how all animals with a backbone share an ECS (Endogenous Cannabinoid System) which uses cannabinoids as 'messengers of health' to regulate critical aspects of our mental and physical health including bone growth, healing and memory.

in Rotorua, 69% of the 180 doctors in attendance did not know about the ECS. At the same conference, however, 96% thought plant cannabis should be used and researched in New Zealand and 89% felt cannabis use was a health issue, not a criminal one.

"This data," explains Tadhg "shows that our medical schools and governments are ill informed and our cannabis polices badly reasoned. We are being denied opportunities for health and prosperity by laws that are not based on science, that are not patient centred, and by bureaucrats who seem opposed to innovation."

But it isn't simply the laws that are preventing hemp and medical cannabis from thriving. Because of its longstanding illegality and decades of societal conditioning, it is difficult to break the unconscious bias of both practitioners and the public.

"The stigma is enormous," Tadhg says "and many people find it difficult to confront and change beliefs they've always held."

There is certainly no stigma here at Hemp Medicine 101, especially when the course shifts up a gear and Tadhg hands over to the foundations educator, GP Dr Ben Jansen who begins explaining the more complex aspects of cannabis on human physiology.

Even the non-doctors are taking notes, keen to get as much insight into the technical details as possible. A family of three - a married couple and their adult son came here because of the father's Crohn's disease, which, they say, has been helped immensely by medical cannabis.

More people like this are starting to do their own research and seek medical alternatives; something that Tadhg insists is essential for change to occur. "We live in a democracy," he says "and we must have a bottom up movement."

The Hemp Foundation intends to grow that movement and is running three more Hemp Medicine 101 courses in January, February and April.

Meanwhile, Tadhg will continue to engage medical professionals and the public with the aim of spreading awareness and gathering support.

If our bodies don't make enough cannabinoids, we become sick and the ECS needs to be supported with non-psychoactive foods like raw cannabis. This does not get you high, however, because the psychoactive part of cannabis (THC) is only created by the application of heat. As the course mantra goes: it's about getting people healthy, not high.

In an increasingly sick world desperate for more sustainable resources, it seems to be only a matter of time before the 'billion dollar crop' returns to its former glory. But the window of opportunity is closing fast, and it's up to New Zealand to decide if it wants to sow the seeds for a healthy and prosperous future. (MICK ANDREWS) F PN

Despite the importance of the ECS, surveys conducted by the Hemp Foundation found that many New Zealand GPs had no idea that it existed. At the General Practice Medical Conference and Exhibition

www.thehempfoundation.org.nz Support for the Hemp Foundation NZ: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/nzcanimprovethings

34 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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LOCAL NEWS

MIKE McROBERTS SET TO CYCLE SRI LANKA FOR KIWI KIDS TV3 news anchor and Westmere local Mike McRoberts is getting on his bike next February to explore Sri Lanka’s unique country and culture while raising money for one of New Zealand’s favourite charities.

Variety - the Children’s Charity - is seeking 20 intrepid Kiwis to join Mike in support of its Bikes for Kids programme.

Walker. Variety CEO Lorraine Taylor says it’s a positive way for everyday Kiwis to facilitate access to one of the joys of a typical Kiwi childhood for disadvantaged kids.

The group will cycle just over 400 kilometres in 10 days, exploring Sri Lanka’s remote regions, culinary delights, temples and unique landscapes including Udawalawe National Park - where they will search for wild elephants.

“A bike represents many of the best things about growing up in New Zealand - freedom, independence, fun and fitness,” says Lorraine. “Unfortunately, many New Zealand families don’t have enough for the necessities, let alone a bike.”

Mike says he’s grateful for the chance to help disadvantaged children get onto bikes and be active. “Combining it with travel, recreation and a bit of fitness for myself is definitely a bonus.

Since 2005, Variety has funded around 450 Avanti bikes each year for kids through the programme.

“I’m hoping a fantastic group of people will join me and we’ll have a great time.”

“Giving a bike to a child who would otherwise have only dreamed of owning one is a real delight, a world opens up for them. One mum sent us a photo of her son asleep in the lounge because he didn’t want to be separated from his new bike!”

Departing Auckland 20 February and returning 4 March 2018, the tour is planned and operated by Variety partner World Expeditions and will be led by insightful local bilingual guides. New Zealand Manager of World Expeditions Natalie Tambolash says: “Sri Lanka is such an exciting destination, with great people, culture and history and we are thrilled to be working with Variety on this challenge and helping Mike experience all it has to offer.”

Recipients of the bikes are children who have overcome adverse circumstances, in some situations the family is simply not in a position to purchase a bike. In other cases the programme recognises and rewards children who are role models at their school or in their community. F PN

This will be Variety’s fourth cycle challenge and follows in the tracks of those led by TV and radio personality Rawdon Christie, actress Antonia Prebble and Olympian Sarah

Purchase tickets by 15 December: $6090 per cyclist via www.worldexpeditions.com

WHITESPACE IS ON THE MOVE After 16 years in Crummer Road and over 300 exhibitions, Kenneth Johnson and Deborah White are relocating Whitespace to new premises in Monmouth Street in the New Year.

Opening dates are yet to be announced but the 2018 programme looks just as vigorous and varied as previous years, with great new exhibitions and exciting projects planned. www.whitespace.co.nz

36 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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FRENCH COUNTRY COLLECTIONS, THE BRAND THAT REVOLUTIONISED THE NEW ZEALAND HOMEWARES SCENE, TURNS 30 This month marks a milestone for homewares brand, French Country Collections, as it celebrates 30 years in business.

“It’s hard to believe that the dream that started out around my kitchen table, like so many New Zealand businesses, is turning 30,” says Sonia Watts, founder of French Country Collections.

Sonia, who has a love of French antiques and art, wanted to give New Zealanders better access to the beautiful homewares only available at the time, some 17,000km away in Europe. Inspired by the French way of life, Sonia’s passion for creating homes and gardens designed for living and entertaining has formed the foundation of each collection over the past 30 years.

In the days before internet shopping, this traditionally trade-based business teamed up with retailers across New Zealand and Australia who shared their love of timeless homewares.

“It’s these partnerships that enabled the brand to flourish, and the reason that French Country Collections can now be found in homes across the country,” says Stephanie Kiteos, Marketing Manager.

1

2

Over the past few years, the business, which still has family at its heart, has undergone somewhat of an evolution. Undergoing a stylish rebrand, adding a flagship concept store on Auckland’s Jervois Road to support their trade showroom and most recently an online store.

“As a family and business, we are still passionate about Sonia’s original dream of curating a collection of timeless homewares that our customers simply can’t live without, so we have made some key changes to the brand to ensure that we’re still here in another 30 years,” says Stephanie.

The latest Spring/Summer collection from French Country Collections is out now.

FRENCH COUNTRY COLLECTIONS, 6 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 7588, frenchcountrystore.co.nz

3

1. Franco Dinnerware in duck egg blue priced from $11.50; 2. Hand-woven cotton throws $139; 3. Basni Wall Table $1399, Dome $75, Globes from $8 each.

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THANK YOU I would like to take this opportunity to thank my many clients and friends who have entrusted the sale or purchase of their property into my care in 2017.

I wish you the very best for a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year.

Pt Chevlier 17, 19 & 21 Huia Road

Ponsonby 1B Nexus Apartment

Ponsonby 3A Nexus, 25 Pollen St

Herne Bay 288B Jervois Road

Grey Lynn 40 Grosvenor Street

Ponsonby 503 Aria, 11 Vinegar Lane

Grey Lynn 204/19 Surrey Cres

Grey Lynn 36 Grosvenor Street

Papatoetoe 166 St George Street

Ponsonby 3B Nexus, 25 Pollen St

Grey Lynn 303/19 Surrey Cres

Mt Eden 22 Woodford Road

Blair Haddow 021 544 555 | 09 375 8411 blair.haddow@bayleys.co.nz

38 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

Bayleys Real Estate Ltd, Ponsonby Licensed under the REA Act 2008

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Westmere 79 Old Mill Road

Auckland City 2D/62 Queen Street

Grey Lynn 2 Sherwood Avenue

Mt Eden 23 Pentland Avenue

Eden Terrace 2H Diamond Street

Ponsonby 64 John Street

Ponsonby 1A Neuxs, 25 Pollen St

Mt Eden 28 Kowhai Street

Freemans Bay 11A Hereford Street

Grey Lynn 103 Crummer Road

Ponsonby 1D Neuxs, 25 Pollen St

Three Kings 590 Mount Albert Rd

Ponsonby 3C Neuxs, 25 Pollen St

Pt Chevalier 33B Johnstone Street

Ponsonby 401 Aria, 11 Vinegar Lane

Ponsonby 102 Aria, 11 Vinegar Lane

Westmere 50 Lemington Road

Ponsonby 301 Aria, 11 Vinegar Lane

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39

NIKKI KAYE: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP

Looking ahead to 2018 locally and nationally The new Government has inherited a strong economy. The hard work of New Zealanders, the risk-taking of Kiwi entrepreneurs and the innovation of businesses backed by sound and consistent leadership of the economy has paid dividends for us all.

Over the past nine years we have seen what can be achieved for New Zealanders with the combination of good government and a confident economy. There are more jobs, more apprenticeships and more police. We have invested in infrastructure to ensure better roads, better classrooms and better broadband. There are higher wages, higher school pass rates and the first benefit increase in over 40 years. We have less crime, less tax and lower unemployment. We have made gains in areas like fewer rheumatic fever cases, and free GP visits for under 13s.

However, there is so much more to be done. People have asked me what can you get done in Opposition. I have previously mentioned the 12 projects that I am progressing for the electorate. These projects include progressing initiatives to support rough sleepers and greater marine protection in the Hauraki Gulf. However, it is also important to acknowledge the role of Opposition to provide constructive criticism where needed, collaborating with the Government where appropriate and refreshing Nationals' own thinking in areas where we can do better.

In the spirit of collaboration we recently voted to support the Paid Parental Leave Bill through Parliament. Over the last few years we extended paid parental leave from 14 weeks to 18 weeks. We campaigned on a parents and newborns package which included extending paid parental leave to 22 weeks. We have always said we would continue to extend the provision if the governments' books enabled us to do that. This is why we were happy to support extending the law from 18-22 weeks in July 2018 and then to 26 weeks in July 2019. During the passage through the house National also proposed a legislative change to enable greater flexibility to paid parental leave by allowing both parents to take some of the time off together. The proposed law change would have recognised the role of both parents by allowing families to have the flexibility that suits their circumstances.

There are many instances where it may be necessary for both parents to take parental leave at the same time. For instance, a mother who has had a Caesarean birth may need

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 meet with me.

Drop In Constituency Clinic: 48C College Hill, Freemans Bay – 'HF th 3.00pm

help from her partner with driving and other support. Parents of twins or multiple births have a uniquely increased workload and in my view they should have the right to take leave at the same time. There will also be situations where premature babies require extra care and support and it should be the parents’ right under the legislation to provide that support in a combined capacity. It could be a great enabler and opportunity for both partners to be together for a short period of time to bond with the new baby and to work with each other. The legislative amendment we proposed was a pretty sensible change and we were gutted the Government didn’t support the law change.

However, we are optimistic they might adopt the policy at a later date. Thank you to all the thousands of people who have been in touch with my office this year. Regardless of whether National is in government or Opposition, my role remains to be a strong advocate for my constituents and I am keen to hear from any of you who need help.

This year has been a busy year with some more personal challenges but I am proud of the progress that I have made for Auckland Central and in Parliament. It was great to have the opportunity to serve (even for a short time) as Minister of Education. I feel fortunate to have made some big decisions in a short time such as the scrapping of the decile system, securing a $40 million digital fluency package and getting a cabinet decision to move to a system of nationwide progression in schools .I want to acknowledge my staff in Auckland and Wellington who help support me as an electorate MP. PN Wishing you all the best for the festive season and the New Year. (NIKKI KAYE) F

Authorised by Hon Nikki Kaye, MP for Auckland Central, 48C College Hill, Freemans Bay. www.nikkikaye.co.nz. If you have any issues or concerns, please contact my office on T: 09 378 2088 or send me an email on mp.aucklandcentral@parliament.govt.nz

BHANA BROTHERS CALL IT A DAY AFTER 80 YEARS In 1906, two young Indian men, Bhana Fakir and Mani Fakir, from a small village in Gujarat (Mahatma Gandhi’s home province) came to New Zealand with their father, Fakir Chiba.

Bhana Fakir and Mani Fakir bought an existing fruit shop in Ponsonby Road in 1937.

Mani had no children. When Bhana Fakir died in 1981 his sons Harivadan (Harry), Narenda (Nan), Arvind and Pravin, took over the shop.

Now, after 80 years, the four Bhana brothers have called it a day. There are grandsons of Bhana Fakir, but they have all chosen other careers, most after graduation from Auckland University. Ponsonby people will miss the Bhana brothers. I have fond memories of daffodil days outside Bhanas. They would bring thousands of daffodils from the South Island, supply them free of charge, and volunteers like me would sell them to a very generous local public.

Over the years Bhanas won many ‘best of’ awards, and are remembered for their place in the iconic Robin Morrison calendar of the 1970s.

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

40 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

Go well boys - Harry, Nan, Arv and Prav. You are a tribute to your heritage, and will be remembered for your dedication and commitment to your local community. You will be missed. The shop will remain a fruiterer. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F PN

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LOCAL NEWS BARKLEY MANOR - CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY We caught up with Krista Strong the owner‌ How would you describe the last 10 years?

Amazing, amazingly hard, heart warming, heart wrenching, full, fulfilling, good for the soul or maybe more poignantly 'dog for the soul'. I had no idea Barkley was going to take me on such an incredible business and personal journey.

What has been the highlight for you?

Barkley became not just a business but also a family and a community.

At the heart of everything here is a passion and caring for dogs - but we like humans too. Our recent 'Country Fair in the City' 10 year anniversary event, was more like a family day out and that was personally a very special feeling.

How have things changed since Barkley Manor started?

The heart of Barkley has never changed - an off lead, safe and fun environment where the kids can play, learn, interact and socialise.

Moving into our second bigger home allowed us to build our dream city park, with a wonderfully unique indoor/outdoor dynamic, we now cater for a wider variety of ages, sizes and specialist needs.

What are you most proud of?

It has to be the team! Without their passion, caring, devotion and unconditional love for every one of the Barkley dogs, none of this would have been possible. We are committed to a high standard of care, not only in terms of the volume and quality of staff, but also dog behavior training and management, but seeing one of the staff in a full and mutual embrace with one of the dogs still melts my heart.

I have a huge soft spot for our yearly school photos and report cards too - the excitement and joy they bring is infectious.

42 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

What has been the hardest part?

Sadly, 10 years is a very long time in the life of our beloved four legged clients so the reality of having to say goodbye over the years has been difficult to reconcile. Each one lost has taken a piece of our hearts with them, but I feel privileged that Barkley has played such a special part in their lives.

What does the future hold?

Barkley grew on demand, so to speak, and I’d like its future to follow the same path. We recently refreshed and reviewed all of our Health and Safety and Training processes - which probably sounds a little boring, but we pride ourselves on being 'above expectation' so that feels good. On a more exciting front we are expanding the connection between the Barkley Manor City Park and Country Park, and you will start seeing more of our school bus. We also want to share the Barkley experience with our two legged clients more, so we have a few exciting new events to announce - 2018 is going to be a 'Dog for the Soul' year on so many levels. F PN BARKLEY MANOR, Daycare, Grooming Forest Adventures, Retreats and Training For Dogs, T: 0800 BARKLEY www.barkleymanor.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS Christmas hours for the Ponsonby Community Centre and Ponsy Kids Preschool Thank you to everyone for your support of the Ponsonby Community Centre and Ponsy Kids Preschool over 2017. We have had an interesting and eventful year and we hope to welcome everyone back in 2018 with renewed enthusiasm and exciting programmes!

Ponsy Kids Community Preschool last day for 2017 is Friday 22 December, and they will be opening again on Monday 22 January 2018.

Ponsonby Community Centre will be closing the office on 22 December and reopening on Monday 15 January.

We wish everyone a safe and peaceful Christmas and New Year! F PN www.ponsonbycommunity.org.nz PONSONBY COMMUNITY CENTRE, 20 Ponsonby Terrace, T: 09 376 0896 or T: 09 378 1752

Auckland Harbour Bridge

Lanes Closed for Resurfacing

From Saturday 26 December 2017 until Friday 5 January 2018, the two southbound clip-on lanes of the Auckland Harbour Bridge will be closed for important resurfacing work.

Shelly Beach Road off-ramp will also be closed and a clearly sign posted detour will direct motorists to the Fanshawe Street off-ramp, however the remainder of Shelly Beach Road will remain open. Three lanes in both directions will also stay open over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, going to and from the North Shore.

Wet weather or other unforeseen circumstances may postpone the start date of this work.

For more information please contact: help@ama.nzta.govt.nz or call 0800 444 449.

44 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PG158541117

Delays are possible and motorists are advised to consider using alternative forms of transport. Alternative routes are also recommended along the Northwestern Motorway (SH16) and State Highway 18 (SH18).

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY FACES @ GREY LYNN FARMERS MARKET George Vezich has been selling at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market since it started eight years ago.

What brought you to New Zealand?

I was 18 years old, military service was compulsory in Yugoslavia, but it didn’t pay.

I came here to earn money to send back to my family.

What did you do when you got here?

I worked at Crown Lynn making cups and then Cambridge Clothing before starting a fast -food business. It was a good business to be in before McDonalds came to New Zealand.

Fast food to farming, how did that happen?

I always loved the land and animals, and fast food wasn’t good for family life, so I bought a patch of land and started farming in Whenuapai selling strawberries and vegetables from a road-side shop. It was very popular and we always had lots of customers so I bought another plot in Huapai to increase the amount I grow. In summer, lots of people still come for strawberry icecream and pick-your own strawberries at the end of the season.

Apart from the motorway, what other changes have you noticed since you started farming in the 70s?

The houses and shops are getting close so the wild birds and animals have nowhere else to go. They turn up here on my farm. Everyone says I should sell but I like it here and I don’t want to go anywhere else.

Why do you sell at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market?

When the motorway bypassed my shop, I had to find another way to sell our produce.

I sell at three farmers markets - Mt Albert and Oratia on Saturdays, and Grey Lynn on Sundays.

Grey Lynn is my favourite because the customers are so loyal and friendly. They love 'my bugs' and understand that’s part of spray free. I also want to thank my customers for recycling our plastic containers - it helps us and it helps the environment.

And what about that queue?

It’s funny - I never ask people to queue. They are just being polite. Actually it moves pretty quickly. I always ask people if I can get things for them but sometimes they just want to see everything. If people have only a few things to buy, or are in a hurry, they PN should just ask me or one of my helpers - we’ll get it for them. F www.glfm.co.nz

What kind of birds?

The pheasants are very cunning. They watch me planting beans - they wait a week until the beans are soft, then dig them up and eat them. I put up netting to protect the beans but sometimes the clever birds find gaps in the netting.

How much of what you sell is spray free?

Most of it is spray free - I don’t like sprays and neither do my customers. I prefer spray -free methods like growing celery off the ground to remove the risk of pests and spots.

But sometimes I need to spray, especially if it goes to the auctions. This is particularly the case with strawberries as they are the most vulnerable. I spray as little as possible and leave it as long as possible before I pick.

46 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

SQUAWKING MAGPIE METHODE TRADITIONELLE

Summer in a glass...

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SIDART, Level 1, Three Lamps Plaza, 283 Ponsonby Road T: 360 2122 www.sidart.co.nz

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY DIDA’S FOOD STORE The Dida’s brand is Glengarry’s tribute to its founding father, Josef Jakicevich, who emigrated to New Zealand as a young man and, in the 1940s, established the family business on the site that Dida’s now inhabits.

Dida is the Croatian term for grandfather, with Josef the Dida of current Glengarry chief exec and owner, Jak Jakicevich. Noting the demand for exciting, global culinary products surging on the back of more and more Kiwis experiencing international cuisine, Glengarry saw an opportunity to use the relationships it had established in the best food and wine regions in the world to deliver a Euro-style deli with Kiwi hospitality and smarts and, of course, lots of home-grown artisan products to complement the fantastic imported ones. And so Dida’s Food Store was born, opening its doors in September 2005.

As with most businesses, Dida’s has evolved over the years, in this case from a bustling Food Store into a groovy street cafe, and it is now set to embark on the next leg of its journey. We see a member of the original team, who worked at the Food Store right back at the beginning, rejoin the crew to take up the mantle of manager. Will McIntosh started at Dida’s as our barista. Highly proficient when it comes to coffee, Will was studying and finished his degree in wine science. He did, however, have a challenging time moving from the Dida’s Food Store to Glengarry wine retail, as when you make a coffee that well, no one wants you to leave. Leave he did, though, moving to our Newmarket store where he worked under the highly accomplished Mick Hodson, who is now our Jervois Road Site Manager. With this excellent training under his belt, Will moved into Glengarry’s Kingsland store, where he featured as a finalist in this year’s Auckland Top Shop Awards, heading off to the National Awards night where Will and his team secured the title of Runner-up.

So, aside from Will, what’s new within the Dida’s Food Store? Well, cheese, for one thing: we have assembled an impressive selection instore. These are cheeses that represent

the very best of New Zealand’s dairy endeavour, along with iconic, must-have Euro cheeses and some excellent value offerings. What’s more, we‘ll cut them to order.

Antipasto: you’ll discover a glorious selection of olives of every persuasion, along with grilled peppers, marinated feta, hummus, pesto and tomatoes that run the gamut, from dried to semi-dried, red, yellow... you get the idea; there’s a broad selection.

Accompanying all of this cheese and antipasti, there is a serious selection of cured meats, chutney, pastes, crackers and the like. All the things you’ll need for a platter that’s guaranteed to impress the visitors and guests. Speaking of which, if you’re a bit time-challenged yourself, why not let us put the platter together for you?

And just in time for Christmas, we have an incredible collection of brand new Dida’s gift hampers for you to peruse: six amazing selections, housed in very groovy striped boxes, that look like a million dollars but don’t cost nearly that much. These hampers are available to order online and instore, exclusively at Dida’s. We can also make bespoke hampers to your specification, and if that’s you, just pop in and see the team.

Glazed Christmas hams? The Dida’s team are taking orders now for Christmas hams, glazed, prepped and ready to enjoy.

That, then, is just the tip of what promises to be a very exciting journey ahead for our PN Dida’s Food Store. Do pop in. Will and the team would love to see you. F www.didas.co.nz

DIDA'S YOUR LOCAL RECIPE OF THE MONTH Cos, Avocado and Tomato Salad Salad 1 baby cos lettuce 3 medium tomatoes, finely chopped 2 medium avocados, finely chopped 1 Lebanese cucumber, finely chopped 1 small red onion, finely chopped ¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh coriander ¼ cup lime juice 2 cloves garlic crushed Gently mix all ingredients together and served chilled.

48 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

F O O D

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W I N E

H A M P E R S

LIZ WHEADON: WINE, GLORIOUS WINE

Port Port is one of the most glorious fortified wines in the world. One that is often left until the end of the meal and sadly forgotten.

With the quality and range of port available in New Zealand never as great as it is now, the time is nigh to jump on the bandwagon and enjoy a while. Port with tonic, chilled ruby as an aperitif, a tawny port cocktail and of course a wonderful glass of fine port at the end of your meal.

So, what’s the difference, what are all the styles and how do you pick the right port for the occasion? Let’s start with what may seem glaringly obvious, port is from Portugal. From around the town of Porto and up alongside the Douro River as it meanders inland towards Spain.

Ruby Port is the starting port. These are wines that are bright coloured, strong ports that have a fiery nature to them. This is the simplest form of port; following rapid extraction of colour and tannins, the fermentation is stopped by the addition of spirit, thus fortifying the wine and retaining residual sugar. A very short maturation in port terms, these are then blended, filtered and bottled.

Tawny Port is the next cab off the rank. The name tawny referring to maturation in wood and the port turning a tawny colour. There is a wide range of styles, that can be very confusing; these are ports that have been aged and, as such, are more mellow in nature than a ruby port. Aged tawny ports with statements such as 10 year, 20 year and more on the label are the approximate ages when tasted and approved.

Vintage Port makes up a very small percentage of total port produced, less than 1% in total. Vintage port is made from grapes from a single vintage, bottled after two to three years in wood.

Vintage ports are made from grapes off the very best vineyards. Not all years are declared a vintage, only the best achieve this status.

The declaration process takes place the second year after harvest.

Unlike other styles of port, vintage ports require time in the bottle to mature. All other styles are released ready to enjoy.

Late Bottled Vintage Port, for me, is quite the treat; as the name suggests, it is late bottled, from a single year. The maturation is done before bottling, a late bottled vintage port is similar in style to a vintage port, but bottled ready to enjoy.

White port is a wonderful aperitif by itself as well as being excellent with tonic or soda; proceed exactly as you would with gin or vodka.

50 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

White port is made in the same way as ruby port, though without the skin contact and resulting colour. Most white ports are aged for 18 months in an inert vessel before bottling.

There’s a broad range of producers and styles in store right now, three of my favourites are: Quinta de la Rosa is relatively small in comparison to the others, run today by Tim and Sophia Bergqvist.

This house has been producing port for over 100 years. The style here is more in the mould of a fine wine, glorious and very highly rated ports.

Quinta do Noval is synonymous with quality port, the 300-year-old house state of the art. One of the oldest, and arguably the greatest, of all the port houses, Noval produce wines displaying an incredible delicacy and elegance, and they are unique in that their glorious Nacional comes from ungrafted vines in a small area of the vineyard, untouched by phylloxera.

Taylor’s is one of the oldest of the founding port houses, with history back to 1692. Taylor’s ports have for a long time been available in New Zealand, though the range has never been this broad.

PN (LIZ WHEADON) F www.glengarry.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY CENTRAL CHRISTMAS AT PONSONBY CENTRAL We’ve got the Christmas buzz on at Ponsonby Central with something on every weekend in December.

While your kids are kept busy with activities like face painting or colouring, you can eat, drink and shop in one go.

Get your Christmas Day feast sorted with ham from Neat Meat, cheeses from The Dairy, nibbles from Ceres and bubbles from Wine Direct. While you’re here, grab some ‘not from the mall’ pressies; luxury linens, perfumes, sunglasses, summer wear from Wixxi and for the techies in your life, Duct Tape has got you covered. You can even top it off with a drink and bite to eat (you deserve it!).

We will have markets on every weekend through December. I Love Ponsonby Market on 2 December, General Collective Market on 10 December and our very own Sapphire Christmas Market from 17 - 24 December. With 16 handpicked retailers selling fashion, handbags and accessories to homewares and art, you’ll find something unique for everyone, including yourself!

For those who already have everything (you know the ones) we have some brand spanking new Ponsonby Central vouchers. Order online before 15 December for free delivery. Perfect end-of-year gifts for teachers, coaches, etc.

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THE SAPPHIRE ROOM

[UPSTAIRS FROM THE LANEWAY]

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY SOURCE CAFÉ ARRIVES It’s only a month since Source Café opened at the back of The Shelter in Mackelvie Street and already it seems an integral part of the Ponsonby scene.

And that’s great news for a business which is based on ethics, sustainability and a sense of community. “New people are discovering us every day and we already have a stream of loyal regulars,” says owner/operator, Nik Webb-Shephard.

With business partners, Michelle Pratt and Nicola Prendergast, Nik opened the first Source Café in Pakuranga a year ago.

Inspired by innovations and sustainable efforts the three partners witnessed while travelling in India, they established the first cafe, which has been highly successful.

Discovering Source Café behind the racks of chic clothes and beside the homewares store in The Shelter is like finding a deliciously secret place. Inside there is a smart and simple set-up which flows out to a secluded and private terrace.

“In Pakuranga, we used mainly ethical or recycled furniture, but here we took over an established cafe so our main focus is on our food

- using fresh ingredients and sourcing organic and local produce,” Nik says.

The cabinet food looks tantalising and the all-day menu includes favourites such as house-baked Source granola or delicious savoury bagels or paninis. There is also a good selection of vegetarian and gluten-free options as well as imaginative seasonal salads.

The coffee supplied by L’affare of Wellington is the Gusto blend fairtrade coffee and consistently excellent. Going with the Source theme, you’ll find stories about suppliers throughout the café and a range of ethical and hand-sourced products on sale.

A third Source Café will open in Westgate in December and there are plans for a Newmarket outlet. The Source partners plan to expand overseas next year and are now looking for local and global franchisees.

Open 7.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday 8am to 3.30pm at weekend.

SOURCE CAFÉ, The Shelter, 78 Mackelvie Street, www.sourcecafe.co.nz

52 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

. s y u g r Great fo

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY CHRISTMAS DAY ORANGE ICE CREAM A favourite of the Milly’s team on Christmas Day. Ingredients: 6 oranges 600ml cream 12 egg yolks 250g caster sugar dash Grand Marnier, optional Method: Finely grate the zest of four of the oranges but juice the six. Heat the cream and the orange zest in a heavy based pan over a low heat. Heat until almost boiling then remove from the heat and leave to cool.

Place the egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl and whisk until thick and creamy. Pour in the infused cream and stir well.

Return the mixture to the rinsed saucepan and heat over medium-low. Cook, stirring continuously, until you have an orange custard.

Do not allow the custard to boil as it will curdle. Place the custard in a clean bowl, stir in a dash of Grand Marnier, cover and chill in the fridge overnight. This greatly improves both the flavour and texture of the finished ice cream.

WMF Beef Pan 24cm $249.95 $199 28cm $299.99 $249 Bormioli Craft Beer Glasses Set 2 $39.99, Set 6 $99.95

The following day, churn in two batches in a 1.5 litre ice cream machine. Place churned ice cream in a tightly lidded container and store in the freezer until ready to use.

Rabbit Craft Beer Growler 1.9L $139

Allow ice cream to soften in the fridge for an hour or so before eating. Use within a week. F PN MILLY’S KITCHEN, 273 Ponsonby Road, 165 The Strand, Parnell, T: 09 309 1690 or 09 376 1550, www.millyskitchen.co.nz

Le Creuset Rectangular Grill $260 $199.99

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Santoku Knives From $59.95

Steak Button Thermometers Pack 4 $39.95

P O N S O N BY : 27 3 P O N S O N BY R D , 0 9 37 6 1 5 5 0 PARNELL: LEVEL 1, 165 THE STRAND, 09 309 1690 W W W . M I L LY S K I T C H E N . C O . N Z

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DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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PHIL PARKER: WHOSE WINE IS IT ANYWAY?

Wines for summer - here’s to the hols!

Short and sweet - Happy Holidays everyone. Here’s a bunch of recommendations from bargains to splurges to help you celebrate the end of the year and spend time with your favourite people.

And by coincidence, this is my 60th wine column for Ponsonby News. Thanks to Martin for taking me on as a wine writer. Best wishes and cheers!

Lamarca Prosecco NV - $23 Italian sparkler to appeal to everyone. Frothy bubbles.

Just off-dry, crisp and fruity with pear, apple and hint of spice.

Soljans Estate Marlborough Legacy Methode 2012 - $29.99 Champagne style from a small family owned winery in Kumeu. Creamy, crisp texture, fine beads of bubbles, toasty and mouth filling. Great value.

Tupari Marlborough Rose 2017 - $20 Pale rose pink, with aromas of strawberry. Bone dry, with cranberry and red berry fruit flavours.

Soho Marlborough Rose 2017 - $20 A softer off-dry style than the Tupari with strawberry, lychee and marshmallow. A clean fruity finish.

Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Gris 2016 - $28 Poached pear aromas. A rich and unctuous palate of mandarin citrus, pineapple and ripe pear with a hint of sweetness. Yum. Pegasus Bay Bel Canto North Canterbury Dry Riesling 2015 - $35 Aromas of beeswax and florals. Rich and complex layers of flavour - ripe grapefruit, marmalade and clover honey.

Just off-dry.

Kidnapper Cliffs Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2014 - $55 Funky, yeasty aromas plus a hint of grapefruit and flinty minerality. Flavours of cashew nut, grapefruit, nectarine and mandarin with a dry, crisp lengthy finish.

Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir 2014 - $47 Nose of spice, damp earth, slightly barnyardy with a bit of savoury truffle. On the palate, it is rich and soft, with spicy oak, black currant, tamarillo and a bit of good old Vegemite yeastiness. Dry finish.

Matawhero Irwin Gisborne Chardonnay 2016 - $56 Elegant and classic chardonnay. Subtle aromas of citrus and a hint of funky minerality. Flavours of toast, tropical fruit, grapefruit, brioche, a hint of toffee apple and a medium crisp finish.

Saint Clair Pioneer Block Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Merlot 2014 - $38 Black berry fruit and earthy aromas. In the mouth, it’s spiced plum, cassis and vanilla oak with a dry finish.

(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.

SABATO’S 10 FAVOURITE FOODIE CHRISTMAS TREATS With the festive season upon us, Sabato has the shelves stocked high with Christmas goodies, gifts and essentials for the holidays.

To make your life easier, we’ve put together our top 10 favourite Sabato foodie treats this Christmas: 1. Flamigni Panettone - Traditional, artisan, soft, buttery panettone containing quality candied fruit and raisins. Often topped with a glaze.

2. Venchi Rhum Nougat - Dark chocolate-covered hazelnut nougat shot with real Cuban rum and toffee.

3. Christmas Mince Pies - Our family recipe of melt-in-your-mouth Christmas mince pies.

For more products, ideas and inspiration, call into our retail store to see our friendly and knowledgeable staff, or visit our website for further information PN and recipe ideas. F SABATO, 57 Normanby Road, Mt Eden, T: 09 630 8751, www.sabato.co.nz

4. Masoni Panforte - Traditional handmade panforte with quality candied fruit, nuts and honey.

5. Flamigni Soft Nougat with Almonds - Delectable, artisan, soft almond nougat scented with honey.

6. Venchi Gianduja Cremino - Cremino bar of alternated layers of white, milk and dark gianduja.

7. Cudie Catanies - Whole caramelised Marcona almonds smothered with Cudiés secret recipe nut praline and dusted with powdered cocoa.

8. Vicens Bitter Salted Chocolate Turron - Brittle bitter chocolate and salted almonds, with an innovative touch of tomato and pepper!

9. Fiasconaro Panettone - Traditional, Sicilian, artisan panettone with fresh candied orange and sultanas, flavoured with marsala and zibibbo (sweet Sicilian wine).

10. Vicens Turron de Oro - Brittle Turón made with whole Spanish almonds and luxuriously coated in edible gold leaf.

54 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

GARY STEEL: VEG FRIENDLY

Escape from Ponsonby What’s the vegetarian landscape like elsewhere in Auckland? As much as our favourite haunt is Ponsonby and environs, there’s one immutable difficulty for vegetarians and vegans alike: for those of us who like to eat out often and don’t want that eating to be sullied by meaty bites, there’s still not quite enough choice here to keep our senses perky and our curiosity in overdrive.

While brand and area loyalty is the ideal, it’s a fact of life that sometimes plant eaters have to venture elsewhere in Auckland to appease their culinary needs and desires.

Suffering fatigue by familiarity with The Unbakery, Kokako and our other vegetarian and veg-friendly venues, one day last month I found myself on the other side of the harbour bridge, and hungry with it. The wilds of the North Shore! How unthinkable!

Time to revisit a favourite old haunt, Cafe Mimosa on one of the main shopping drags of Takapuna. Tiny by most standards and fairly utilitarian from a design point of view, their coffee is spectacular and their food is always both hearty and a pleasing ride for the tastebuds.

We had a very picky three-year-old to appease, so were relieved to find that Cafe Mimosa offered kiddy food that was a little different to the usual over-processed muck cafes expect our littlies to ingest. Between tantrums and generally overt naughtiness, the little monster enjoyed the tasty cheese toasties with a side pottle of blueberry-infused yoghurt, while the adults ordered spicy pumpkin soup that was so thick it might have been called curry, and a delicious haloumi and veg toastie. The tiny Japanese cafe never disappoints with its small but perfectly proportioned menu that values balance and a happy tum over sparkle and extravagance.

Later in the day we were stuck in the city on a thankless shopping expedition in the CBD, and couldn’t help noticing just how many vegetarian eateries had sprung up over the past year or so, both of the ethnic and fast food variety, to which we can only bellow a hearty “Bravo!”

The next day we thought we’d check out Rabbit for lunch. This new, vegan-oriented vegetarian cafe is in the lovely two-leveled site of the old Benedict cafe on St Benedicts Street, and it’s a winner. Not only were they veg-friendly, but they were childfriendly too! I loved that you could order any different combination of ingredients depending on what you felt like, and my intuition led me straight to the field mushrooms and polenta chips with sourdough toast.

One word for that: yum!

Rabbit, St Benedicts Street

With loads of options and sweet vegan treats, all in a gorgeous setting, Rabbit reminds me of Kokako in the sense that you’d hardly notice that there’s no meat on the menu. If they ever let me out of the asylum, I’ll be back!

Having dipped our fingers into the foodie delights of eateries beyond the Ponsonby/Grey Lynn borders, we were once again able to feel enamored by our regular options. It’s two years now since Ponsonby News ran its ‘vegetarian challenge’ to try and whip up enthusiasm amongst local cafes and restaurants to cater for vegetarians and vegans, and while we’d like to see even more meat-free choices here, it is indeed easier than ever to find acceptably meat-free morsels on the daily run. And we can feel proud to have several PN of the very best veg options in all of Aotearoa. (GARY STEEL) F

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

SUMMER EATING MADE EASY Ponsonby Foodcourt would like to wish all their customers the happiest of holidays, filled with health and prosperity.

It's summer... the time to enjoy the holidays and chill out from the hustle and bustle of city life. Ponsonby Foodcourt can help take the stress out of the day to day planning, relieving you of chaotic food preparation, while you kick back and enjoy time with your friends and family. Chill out and give us a call when you are hungry.

“You can view menus online or call through to one of our 10 different food stores. With over 10 different cuisine choices: Italian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Malaysian, Chinese, Turkish, Thai, Laos, Indian and Indonesian - we think we've got it covered.”

Come in and dine in a very relaxed atmosphere. You don't need to get dressed up, and you can pick up a takeaway. While you are waiting, be sure to stop and see Hao at our

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

fully licensed bar. Ponsonby Friends is renowned for their freshly squeezed juices or filling your wine up to the brink. A wide selection of drinks are available.

“We thank you for your loyal patronage and look forward to seeing you over the holiday season and 2018.”

Open 7 days: 11am - 10pm, Christmas closing dates: 25, 26, 31 December and 1 January, Normal trading: from 2 January. F PN PONSONBY FOODCOURT, 106 Ponsonby Road, www.ponsonbyfoodcourt.co.nz

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

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TRAVEL BREAKS: THE NEW THERAPY!

THE ‘OTHER’ AMERICA These days travel to the US is commonplace and travel to South America is by no means rare. But between these two ‘Americas’ lies a third, extraordinary Central America.

South of the US border, you will find magnificent Mexico. Once home to rich pre-Columbian cultures such as the Maya, Toltecs and Aztecs, the ruins of their temples offer a fascinating glimpse into an ancient world. Some of the best archaeological sites, such as Uxmal, Palenque and Chichen Itza, are found on the Yucatan Peninsula, where you’ll also find more recent colonial history evident in beautiful cities such as Merida. I highly recommend staying in one of the gorgeous haciendas in this region - so atmospheric, and a truly authentic experience.

History aside, Mexico also boasts some incredible natural features such as the Copper Canyon. Seven times as large as the Grand Canyon and almost as deep, it is best experienced aboard the Chihuahua al Pacifico train, considered by many to be one of the most dramatic train rides in the world.

Further south, with the largest percentage of indigenous Indians in all of Central America, Guatemala is without doubt the most scenically stunning of all the countries in the region. The markets of Chichicastenango are a riot of colour, and the volcanoes rising above lakes of breath-taking beauty are astounding. A true ‘must see’ is Tikal, one of the greatest Maya centres in history with seriously impressive pyramids and temples rising above the verdant jungle.

Keep going and you’ll reach the environmental ‘jewel in the crown’, lovely Costa Rica. A world leader in eco-tourism, it offers fantastic beaches, tropical jungles, cloud forest and amongst the most diverse range of bird, insect and animal life found on Earth. The birdlife in particular is mind-blowing, with toucans and parrots being as

56 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

common as sparrows are to us! Other drawcards include the charmingly laid-back, three-toed sloth, many species of monkeys and a colourful selection of butterflies and frogs.

Lastly there is Panama which for more than a century has provided the vital link between the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. A great experience is to do a partial transit of the canal on a tourist boat through the Miraflores Lock near Panama City. The old centre of Panama City is an historical gem, and it was from here that the Spanish Conquistadores set out to conquer South America.

Much of the Inca gold plundered by the Spanish was sent just across the isthmus from Panama City to Portobelo on the Atlantic Coast.

This incalculable treasure was protected from marauding pirates by imposing forts, some of which remain today. You could say these were the original ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’! A sense of history is everywhere.

San Francisco, New York, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires are all fantastic destinations. But next time you travel to one of these, why not take a side trip to the ‘other America’, you will be surprised and richly rewarded.

(CHRIS LYONS, WORLD JOURNEYS) F PN www.worldjourneys.co.nz

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ROSS THORBY: SEA FEVER I had joked all week that I wanted to swim in the hotel’s pool during dinner...

So here we are, the night of nights. The ultimate big night of our World Cruise and the celebratory dinner would be at the exotic sounding Shangra-La Hotel. A towering, marble coated, chandelier lit, and gold-tiled mass of architecture set in the salubrious suburbs of Singapore.

was off limits between the hours of 8pm and 6am and the hotel security guards were over the other side of the hotel restraining errant Cunarders from demolishing the remains of the bar, running amok, sprinkling sequins and sparklies in a trail of exquisite ruin amongst the hotel’s beautiful public rooms.

We would begin the night in the ship’s ballroom, suitably attired in diamonds, sequins and pearls - and that was just the men, the ladies would outdo the men even more so.

Two women were lazing quietly in the humid night air on a couple of the pool’s loungers. They had been dozing happily when a strange apparition appeared before them, waking them from their slumbers.

They watched as it retrieved a used towel carelessly flung underneath the garden’s foliage then approached the lounger beside them.

The ballroom came alive with glitz and glamour the likes of which had not been seen before on this voyage. Move over the Oscars, move over the Palme d’Or, this was our night of nights.

And I...? I was resplendent... in my new coat of many colours. You may have read about its purchase last month.

I walked into the room, men winced, women gaped, the chandeliers dimmed. Perfect... just the reaction I wanted.

Bussed to the Hotel, we were met with a tray of Singapore Slings, gold painted canapés, swerving colourful dragons and a feast to match any that could be served onboard.

We had survived the intimidation of the receiving line consisting of the ship’s officers, the Commodore and his wife…(thanks Julie the jacket turns heads nicely) and the CEO of Cunard, David Noyes.

Poor man. He thought he had come for a nice relaxing dinner amongst friends and passengers and ended up being corralled to discuss the rumoured changes to our ship including the removal of our favourite bar, The Chart Room. I thought at one stage he was going to be lynched.

Order was restored, however, with the arrival of more Slings. I had four.

I had joked all week that I wanted to swim in the hotel’s pool during dinner; but my boast could prove difficult because of the logistics that soon became apparent during the course of the evening.

As the night progressed, and much dancing and frivolity ensued, it became apparent that time for achieving my challenge was fast approaching before the buses arrived and our departure became imminent.

Deftly removing first, a deep blue velvet jacket, then shoes, socks and finally a pair of long white pants, the figure slipped effortlessly over the ropes and into the refreshingly cooled waters of the pool.

They watched as the figure did a quick lap around the pool before emerging, dripping wet and unapologetically tipsy, from the waters. He quickly dried himself before disappearing into the depths of the hotel.

“Where have you been and why are you wet?” asked Sally Sargoe, ex Eastenders TV star, actress and sometime Cunard Cruise Director Extraordinaire.

"I've been swimming," I replied innocently. Before long I had four eager diners from our adjoining table ready to swarm the pool for a skinny-dipping session, before being stopped at the door by the evening’s organiser, an aptly named Ms Diana Ross (please no requests for a song - I'm doing my day job).

She, of English stock and persuasion, was apparently unaccustomed to this quaint old New Zealand custom.

“Security!” she summoned. “These people need to be on the next bus back to the ship and don't let Him (pointing at me) out of your sight for a minute!”

Spoil-sport... but Diana you did run a great party, you're forgiven and thanks a million.

PS... You might want to tell the hotel that there's a pair of wet underwear hidden under the third plant to the right of the pool loungers. (ROSS THORBY) F PN

The Hotel’s swimming pool is situated way over the other side of the lobby and is reached by a spectacular escalator down the side of the building observed by a number of the hotel’s rooms, restaurants and, usually, Security. I had scouted it out earlier in the evening.

Tonight, it had two serious flaws the hotel had missed. It was protected only by a series of ropes and signs declaring that the pool

World Cruise Dinner, cultural entertainment - The monkey king

58 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

World Cruise Dinner - Shangri La soaring foyer PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE

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1. Gerry Hill & Sally James are on a road trip and told us, "We could not resist one of Roselie’s teas and a wee read in her gorgeous shop in WHANGANUI."

and MIX 98 FM. She loved the horoscopes! We ran a retreat in Niue @ Scenic Matavai Resort NIUE. Dolphins every morning during yoga. Keep up the amazingly good work."

2. Kaytee Boyd runs the Boyd Clinic on Douglas street and Wellness Retreats NZ and tells us, "We regularly uses Ponsonby Central for urban retreats and took your amazing publication with us for the ladies to read - we also had Mel Homer from the breakfast show

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

BOOK REVIEW: CHANNELING JOHNSON Ponsonby is a long way from the Spanish Civil War. The disastrous Greek campaign of 1941, the defence of Crete and the souks of Cairo all places in which Johnson, this book’s main character, lived his life after having escaped New Zealand to return Europe.

In this his first novel Ponsonby’s New Zealand playwright Dean Parker has provided us a link with Johnson the main character of ‘Man Alone’ often regarded as New Zealand’s first great novel.

While describing how he came to write ‘Johnson’ Parker says, “I got fed up with playwriting, fed up with rattling my tin cup outside the stage door, fed up with that crushing feeling of imposing on busy people.”

Many people, especially those inclined to see their literature through a more modern lens, saw ‘Man Alone’ as a men’s book. And it does focus on a quintessential Kiwi male.

One who travels the world and New Zealand alone with a few odd blokes and who keeps women well in the background simply as wallpaper to the male world.

Parker’s Johnson is a long way from the central character of ‘Man Alone’.

Johnson moves on from his earlier experiences of escaping murder, the hardships of flight across the North Island (on foot and in winter) to Napier and jumping a ship back to Europe.

Arriving in London Johnson meets Hilary, an expat Kiwi, who becomes the book's other central character providing a thread through the book from the beginning to the very end.

Parker uses this thread skillfully to hook the reader and establish the book as more than just a travel log through mid-century experiences of wars in Europe and political conflicts at home.

At times it becomes unclear about who is pursuing whom or it is simply by delightful chance by that this friendship come relationship carries on?

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

This pursuit takes Johnson and sometimes Hilary on a wild and often somewhat depressing road through the European conflicts of the time. Parker’s attention to the detail of the conflicts and the relationships experienced on that road brings alive what it must have been like to live through the hell that is war.

A sojourn in Cairo is particularly poignant as a respite from war and personal relationships are conflated with the smells, sounds and comforts of Egypt to great effect.

Finally Johnson returns to New Zealand where he rediscovers the culture and politics of a changing world. He ends up on Ponsonby Road looking for work, finds it in Waikaremoana and begins again the life of a working-class Kiwi.

Parker’s ability to weave together Johnson’s return to New Zealand with the Maori and working-class struggles of the time brings the character home.

On a trip to Wellington he and a friend attended a workers’ rally. Again by chance, he meets up with Hilary, now married with children (twins) and living in Wellington.

For me ‘Johnson’ brings together the author's skills as a playwright (heaps of drama) and his love for history and people (painted in great detail) into a novel worthy of the PN epitaph “A good read.” (GERRY HILL) F The book was launched in August and is being reprinted for the Christmas market.

Available from The Women’s Bookshop, 105 Ponsonby Road.

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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FASHION + STYLE

UNION BLUE - A LOCAL BUSINESS A love of travel, colour, texture and a penchant for handbags provided long-time Westmere resident Milly Whitefoot the inspiration for Union Blue.

"A designer I am not, a fashionista, oh no. A dreamer, a doer (thus proving the two are not mutually exclusive), absolutely!"

So, with freedom from the vagaries that may grip the fashion world, Union Blue â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;perforated neopreneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; handbags were born.

Reminiscent of the riotous colours of Rajasthan, the OneDay Bag comes in a dusty khaki with a rich magenta interior. Our Pacific Island neighbours inspired the NiteOne Bag - jet

60 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

black with a brilliant orange inside. A tribute to the vibrancy, warmth and grace of the beautiful people Milly met in the Pacific, when working with the amazing Fred Hollows Foundation.

Available exclusively online and for a limited time at the Ponsonby Central Christmas Market 17-24 December. Be it beach-bound or beyond, Union Blue bags have you covered from am to pm this summer. F PN www.unionblue.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE ALLBIRDS HOME FOR FESTIVE COLLABORATION Kiwi footwear brand Allbirds returned home in November, for a festive season collaboration with popular Karangahape Road restaurant Coco's Cantina.

The partnership saw Allbirds pop up at the Karangahape Road eatery, with a showroom where people could try on and order in time for Christmas from the Allbirds range.

With a shared commitment to quality, craft, and imagination, Allbirds and Coco's Cantina collaborated on custom laces, inspired by the restaurant's signature colour.

Allbirds Kiwi co-founder Tim Brown says that while Allbirds is headquartered in San Francisco, New Zealand is Allbirds' spiritual home.

"We're always excited to return to New Zealand shores and collaborate with local brands. With its commitment to quality and craft, Coco's Cantina was a natural fit for our first Auckland collaboration."

For those who missed the pop-up, Allbirds is available online. F PN www.allbirds.co.nz www.cocoscantina.co.nz

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CARATS, 25 Vulcan Lane, Auckland CBD, T: 09 309 5145, www.caratsjewellery.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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FASHION + STYLE DESIGNER CLOTHES FOR ALL SIZES Magazine Designer Clothing offers a range of beautiful designer clothing from sizes 10-26 and is predominantly New Zealand designed and made, including their own label ‘Magazine’.

@ MAGAZINE DESIGNER CLOTHING

From casual lifestyle clothing through to fabulous special occasion wear, specialising in mother of the bride, groom and guests. They also carry an exquisite range of accessories including jewellery, fascinators and bags to complete every outfit.

Magazine will help create your individual look with feminine, flattering and contemporary clothing, tailored to suit your lifestyle and personality.

Magazine has 10 beautiful stores throughout New Zealand. When you visit Magazine, you will have Linda Savage owner and an amazing experience and be totally satisfied director of Magazine with your choices. To ensure you make the right choices, all of the staff at Magazine have extraordinary styling abilities, masses of creativity and fashion flair, as well as professionalism and an absolute commitment to deliver the ultimate service. “An exceptional in-store experience to discover your perfect look, regardless of age, shape or size, with the help of passionate fashion experts.”

Magazine recently relocated their Point Chevalier outlet store to beautiful new premises in Onehunga which opened on the 23 November and also has its online store opening soon. With a huge selection of one-off pieces, samples, end of line stock, plus accessories and gift vouchers. F PN MAGAZINE DESIGER CLOTHING: Stores - Takapuna, Mt Eden, Pukekohe, Mt Maunganui, Hamilton, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Christchurch, Outlet Stores - Taihape, Onehunga - Corner of Trafalgar Street and Onehunga Mall (old upholstery store), M: 027 943 0454, www.magazineclothing.co.nz

62 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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1. Studio S Cut Out Shoulder Lace Dress; 2. Silique Black Floral Long Dress; 3. Studio S Wild Rose Asymmetric Dress MAGAZINE DESIGNER CLOTHING, 4 Byron Avenue, Takapuna, T: 09 488 0406, 937 Mt Eden Road, T: 09 630 5354, www.magazineclothing.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE VINTAGE-INSPIRED NEW RING COLLECTION AT SEVENTYSIX A hive of activity has been evolving in the workshop at the Seventysix jewellery store on Jervois Road.

Inspired by the popularity of their Frangipani Flower rings, they have designed a few more variations to go in their collection. Available in white, yellow and rose gold, with or without diamonds, it is difficult to choose.

Running with the vintage theme and inspired by the shapes around the edges of paper doilies, Shaun came up with a collection of stacker rings. Each ring with a different design, six designs altogether, they are available in rose, yellow and white gold. Designed to wear as one or a few, they are a perfect statement to collect, creating a fabulous piece, or to simply wear as a wedding band.

With Christmas on the horizon Seventysix has a stash of beautiful jewellery in store such as diamond tennis bracelets, cufflinks, earrings and necklaces, for all gift ideas and ranging in price from 'a little something' to something more substantial. F PN SEVENTYSIX DESIGN, 14 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 0676, www.seventysixdesign.co.nz

Doily inspired stacker rings

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Island wedding rings

Frangipani flower collection

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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

VERMONT STREET, PONSONBY 15 DECEMBER 1925

Dear Cecily, Thank you for the delightful box of caramels (I peeked) that are still sitting under my Christmas tree intact, believe it or not. If I hadn’t declared December a sweet-free month (at least until Christmas Day), I daresay that they wouldn’t have lasted this long. I’ve had to ban sweets from the house after all the overeating that occurred in October and November, on account of all the wonderful fetes and fairs that seemed to be happening somewhere in Ponsonby almost every weekend. Why, oh why didn’t I think, as I was scoffing fudge and chocolate cake, that in only a month it would be time to get out the togs!

Enough of that depressing talk. Have you put up your Christmas tree yet Cecily? Mine is all decorated. I purchased a little tree only last Saturday at a Christmas fair held at the Unitarian Church here in Ponsonby. They had a huge Christmas tree set up inside which was decorated with electric lights and lots of tinsel. It looked so pretty that I was immediately overtaken by that strange sensation called 'Christmas spirit' and rushed down to Springhall’s [i] to buy crepe paper, metallic paper and lots of tinsel. I am making my own decorations this year and intend to ‘deck the halls’ with lots of silver and gold paper chain garlands for the hallway and front verandah of the house and also my workroom. The tinsel will be draped on any green living thing in sight and the crepe paper… well, I’m not exactly sure yet what I’m going to do with that. It’ll come in handy for something one day if I don’t use it now.

Oh, Cecily… I must tell you about the Christmas Carnival that I went to last weekend! My friend Sal’s boy Tom - you’ve met Sal (she’s the tea shop waitress with the Joan d’Arc haircut [ii] - is a member of the Ponsonby Boy’s Brass Band. Well, they’re currently trying to raise 5000 pounds to build a band room and they want to buy new instruments for all the boys. If they get enough money, they also want to be able to give free musical tuition to interested boys living in Ponsonby. They’re really terrific, and can turn out a good toe-tapping tune as well as, dare I say, those boring marches that all the brass bands seem to love playing. Anyway, last Friday night I went to the street gala that they had set up at Three Lamps. Well, it was like daylight down there on account of a terrific electric display. The whole area was overhung with garlands of little electric bulbs which really made it feel like a fairground. I met George there and we had something to eat and even did a little jazzing in an area they had set up for younger things than George and I. We didn’t look as out of place as I thought we would and both decided that we should really start going to the Dixieland Cabaret[iii] at Point Chevalier.

They have dances on Saturday afternoons and I hear that their dance floor is the best in Auckland. I do like a good foxtrot!

I must get back to my story - how easily I am diverted. After dancing, we wandered around for a bit, trying our hands at some of the side shows, and then we heard a very loud drumroll. We ran to where a crowd was gathering and, to our surprise, came across a man in a strait jacket - we found out he is called La Fayette - who was being hoisted up by his ankles. Apparently La Fayette is an escape artiste of renown and is giving his time free of charge for the band. It was all rather exciting! He wriggled and writhed around for a wee while before managing to free himself and undo the rope tying his legs before sliding elegantly down

another rope dangling nearby. All I could think about was rope burn on his inner thighs and calves. We’re going to have to come again tomorrow night as La Fayette will be repeating his feat, with the added danger of the rope holding him up in the air being set alight! I hope they put a soft landing below him in case he doesn’t make it.

While we were up at Three Lamps, I popped into Lambourne’s [iv] and George persuaded me that it was not a huge extravagance to buy a pair of silk Madras curtains for my bedroom. I currently have what were a beautiful set of rose-coloured silk brocade curtains but they have faded so badly and the fabric become so brittle that they are shattering every time I open and close them.

I did love them so, which is why I have been hesitating to replace them. My new curtains are a lovely shade of ‘old gold’ which goes so well with most of my bedroom décor. George insisted that he buy them for me for Christmas - isn’t he a dear?

Which brings us back to Christmas... Tomorrow, before we go and watch La Fayette, George is going to help me with my Christmas order from Green the Grocer [v]. I’ve been paying into their ‘Christmas Club’ all year and have accumulated a whopping five pounds which I’m going to spend on delicious provisions like muscatels, almonds, a ham, dried peaches and apricots, a Christmas pudding, fruit jellies, chocolates and so much more.

Some of haul will be presents I suppose - it would be the sensible thing to do...

On Sunday, I’m going to yet another Christmassy thing - a floral fete at the Curran Street school grounds. This one is to raise money for improvement of the grounds and more school equipment. I’ve made and donated a flock of little dove costumes for a half dozen wee girls who are part of a pageant that the students are presenting in the afternoon. I’m taking my Box Brownie and will be sure to take some photos of them to show you. They looked adorable at the rehearsal on Friday.

Well, my dear. I must get going. I’ve a lot to do this afternoon including popping into Shanly’s[vi] to buy a Japanese sunshade to use on my strolls. They’ve just unpacked a new shipment of them and are offering them at a special price on account of the Christmas carnival. I’ll get another one or two as gifts, as well as some hand-worked lace d’oilies that are also greatly reduced.

Mother will adore them. Wishing you a very happy Christmas my dear - and sending you a big festive kiss!

With much love,

Maudie x

Springhall’s: ‘Ponsonby’s Leading Emporium’, 288 Ponsonby Road (in 1926); [ii] Yes, this really was a ‘thing’! Mentioned as one of the cuts offered by Randolph Eagleton, 6 Victoria St, Auckland in 1925; [iii] Dixieland; [iv] W. Lambourne: The Complete House Furnisher, 3 Lamps, Ponsonby (in 1925); [v] Green the Grocer, large store on the corner of Ponsonby & Franklin Roads, with a smaller store opposite the West End Theatre on Ponsonby Road (in 1925); [vi] Shanly’s Ltd, Draper, Three Lamps, Ponsonby (in 1925) [i]

+ December + NEWS 64 PONSONBY PONSONBY PARISH NEWS2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE HUNTING FOR FASHION PERFECTION Fashion designer Samuel Hickey is on the hunt for perfection, starting with the classic linen shirt.

Having worked and studied in the fashion industry for more than 10 years in New Zealand and the UK, the Samuel Joseph founder has been 'forever' hunting for a clothing brand that perfects classic pieces, "Pieces that you can't afford not to have." He couldn't find that brand... and so Samuel Joseph was born.

"We couldn't find a linen shirt that ticked all of the boxes, so that's what we set out to do - refine a classic and create a piece that you always want to wear". Having hunted the globe for the right people to make his shirts, Hickey found himself in Felgueiras on the outskirts of Porto, Portugal, working with a family run business, which has been specialising in shirting for over 70 years.

The result is a linen shirt that is lightweight, naturally breathable and incredibly soft.

A garment dye finish gives each shirt a unique look, adding instant character. The fit is relaxed, yet tailored where it matters, and Hickey has worked tirelessly for a collar that sits just right.

Just in time for the Christmas stocking, Samuel Joseph is available online or keep an eye out for pop up stores over the summer months. F PN www.samueljoseph.co.nz

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER...

Want to win a pair of $1200 diamond earrings for your loved one this Christmas?

Make any purchase between 1 and 20 December, and go into the draw to win a pair of diamond earrings valued at $1200, just in time for Christmas! Make sure your special person knows to come in and enter! This beautiful prize is from our amazing neighbours at Diamonds on Richmond. F PN GRATO, 104 Richmond Road, T: 09 360 6156, www.facebook.com/GRATOcafe

@ DIAMONDS ON RICHMOND 2 1

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1. Diamond Tennis Bracelet - white gold - 0.50ct (total diamond weight) $1950; 2. Diamond earrings - white gold - 2.00ct (total diamond weight) POA; 3. Diamond Circle Pendant - white gold - 0.25ct (total diamond weight) $2145; 4. Rose Gold Bracelet - $1350; 5. Pave Set Diamond Bangle - white gold - 1.50ct (total diamond weight) $9900 DIAMONDS ON RICHMOND, 98 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn, T: 09 376 9045, wwwdiamondsonrichmond.co.nz

66 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HELENE RAVLICH: LOCAL BEAUTY

Summer means new suncare Finally we’re seeing a little sun of late, which for me is a reminder that summer is - maybe?

- on its way and new sunscreen needs to go on the shopping list.

Whenever I’ve asked beauty experts - be they dermatologists, make-up artists or cosmetic surgeons - for their pick when it comes to anti-ageing skincare, they all agree that the most important thing you can do to keep your skin looking good well into old age is wear a sunscreen. Daily. No arguments, no forgetting on a cloudy day. Add to that the fact that an estimated 90% of all melanomas in New Zealand and Australia are caused by direct sunlight, making daily sunscreen use an absolute no brainer. Most sunscreens last 12 months max after being opened too, so if you’ve still got some sitting around in your beach bag or glove box from this time last year then chuck it!

One formula I love is Cosmedix Reflect, which combines a high-performance sunblock with skin-loving ingredients. A physical, oil-free, spray-dispensed sunscreen that won’t clog pores and is gentle enough for even the most sensitive and oil-prone skin types, it provides broad-spectrum UV protection that absorbs quickly leaving a matte finish. Whilst it’s protecting your skin, a combination of science and botanical ingredients help firm things and smooth lines, and free radical-fighting antioxidants defend skin from environmental stress that can cause inflammation and damage to collagen and elastin. Pretty impressive stuff! It is also formulated free of petroleum-based oils, and for those with severe gluten sensitivities or dermatitis herpetiformis, Reflect is gluten free.

A new natural formula I have discovered of late is Natural Sunscreen from Eco By Sonya Driver - a vegetarian, reef-friendly sunscreen to protect the whole family. Sitting on the skin’s surface and staying out of the bloodstream, this formula creates a physical barrier between your skin and the sun by actively deflecting the sun’s UVA rays that have an ageing effect on the skin, and UVB rays that result in burning. It is up to three hours water resistant thanks to ethically sourced beeswax, and I love that the reeffriendly formula means you can snorkel without the associated guilt that many sun protection options bring. It is in fact formulated without any harsh synthetics, but has loads of yummy ingredients like vitamin E, green tea, rose hip, jojoba, cucumber extract and Safflower to boost its efficacy on the natural front.

Another formula for the face that also doubles as a moisturiser is Aspect Gold Hydra Shield SPF 15, a lightweight yet super-hydrating little number with physical sun protecting benefits. Hydra-Shield SPF15’s ingredient list includes potent skin-protecting antioxidants, skin hydrators and nourishing botanical oils, and the nongreasy formula is suitable for all Fitzpatrick skin colours and all skin conditions, including sensitive. It doesn’t leave a chalky look on the skin after application either, making it perfect for under make-up.

68 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

For those of you old enough to get nostalgic about tanning oils, Australian sun specialists Bondi Sands have created one that has the same vibe but won’t fry your skin. Called Protect & Tan Oil, it may be this summer’s go-to for those wanting to fast-track their natural tan, as it has a faux glow aspect too.

Handily containing both a self-tanning and SPF factor in a global first, it even comes with a signature coconut scent that smells like pure, unadulterated, lazy summer days.

A product line that combines delicious scents and sun protection is Coola, a collection of organic sun essentials out of Southern California that I have unabashedly preached about here before. Highly recommended is the brand’s high performance Sunscreen Spray SPF30, which comes in scents like Piña Colada and Citrus Mimosa. A 'Farm to Face' sourced spray with zero nasties; it effectively reproduces that feeling of lying prone on a towel on the sand, but is formulated for the rigorous demands of sport and is water resistant for 80 minutes.

Lastly, NZ Sunscreen Company released Pure Shade Moisturizing Brightening SPF 50+ Sunscreen and Pure Shade Moisturizing Brightening Antipollution After Sun Repair earlier this year. Sunscreenskincare hybrids, the company calls them a “two-step skincare system designed to be used together for ultimate skin protection and rejuvenation.” The Moisturising Brightening Sunscreen has an SPF 50+ - one application reportedly protects your skin for over eight hours - and its ultra light illuminating formula won’t leave your skin white, chalky or greasy.

Pure Shade’s Moisturising Brightening Antipollution After Sun Repair is an ultra-light luxury formulation that hydrates, repairs, tightens, lightens and brightens skin at the end of the day. But what is most unique about the repair cream is that it reportedly takes the heavy metals in the environment and changes their chemical composition, so that they are not absorbed into the skin. The highly scientific formulation has been produced in New Zealand by some of the most respected cosmetic and skincare chemists and has been tested and passed

by Dermatest Australia, and as for the feel?

Nourishing and hydrating, as well as deeply soothing. (HELENE RAVLICH) F PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING EXCELLENCE IN MARKETING AWARD FOR MOTAT MOTAT’s focus on using past, present and future Kiwi technology, innovation and heritage to inspire its audience, as well as its creative use of digital media saw the museum win the Excellence in Marketing category at November’s Westpac Auckland Business Awards - Central.

“We are over the moon about this accolade, particularly as we were up against an array of talented organisations,” says MOTAT’s Marketing and Communications Manager, Danielle Dunn.

Some of MOTAT’s notable achievements were the increase in visitor numbers from previous years, an expanded outreach programme, a successful public programme series and escalating revenue generation across several income streams.

charitable donation, all proceeds go towards buying gifts for the Auckland City Mission and Auckland Women’s Refuge.

MUSEUM OF TRANSPORT AND TECHNOLOGY (MOTAT), T (09) 815 5800, www.motat.org.nz

“We have strategic objectives to attract new and repeat visitation to MOTAT and to extend the museum’s reach beyond its physical boundaries. Inspired marketing and communications has a major role to play in achieving this,” says MOTAT’s Director Michael Frawley.

In addition to the marketing award, MOTAT was named finalist in two other categories: ‘Excellence in Strategy and Planning’ and ‘Employer of the Year’.

“It is particularly rewarding for a not-for-profit organisation to be recognised and judged against some of the leading businesses in New Zealand,” says Frawley. “It confirms that the ongoing implementation of the strategy we introduced in 2014 is working and I am extremely proud of the MOTAT Team.”

Beyond the award, plans are well underway for the annual ‘Christmas Lights at MOTAT’ charitable campaign which sees the museum bejewelled with fairy lights and its gates opening for 10 enchanted evenings in the build-up to Christmas. Offering visitors the chance to experience an array of twilight festivities in the Historic Village for a $2

Members of the MOTAT Marketing and Communications team accept the Award for 'Excellence in Marketing'. L to R: Ashlene Cardoza, Danielle Dunn (Manager) and Vanessa Hefer

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

THE ART OF HEALING @ PHI MASSAGE AND REFLEXOLOGY The phi Φ symbol, the golden ratio, is used to describe aesthetically pleasing proportions within a piece of art, beauty, composition, design and architecture.

The letters phi also represent PHI Massage and Reflexology’s belief in the physical and philosophical way to heal and detox your body without taking more pills.

PHI is a new concept in how you can experience massage and reflexology. At PHI the client will feel the calmness of the environment, surrounded by beautiful artwork, which will comfort you through your powerful experience of a more natural, alternative way to heal your body.

All PHI therapists have at least seven years experience as alternative medicine healers with multi disciplinary medical study backgrounds. The therapists deliver their massages in a new way which connects your body to start healing with manual therapy for the muscles, ligaments and nerves, helping the body to detox, relieve pain and stress, boosting dopamine and immune systems.

PHI also offers reflexology which can stimulate more than 7000 different nerve endings, resulting in: faster healing of wounds, energizing the metabolism, eliminating toxins, improving bladder function, relieving hangovers, headaches, insomnia and easing symptoms from cancer.

PHI Ponsonby offers the convenience of an express service. Sessions start from 15 minutes; give yourself a weekly boost or a quick daily massage after a stressful day.

Situated near the car park entrance of the new Countdown, Ponsonby.

No appointment, no problem, walk-ins are welcomed based on availability. F PN PHI MASSAGE AND REFLEXOLOGY, 4 Williamson Avenue, (corner of Pollen Street, Countdown, Ponsonby), T: 09 3789 089, www.phitherapy.co.nz

GET READY TO CELEBRATE PRIDE 2018 Dates have been announced for the Auckland Pride Festival and Parade 2018 - events that organisers proudly say “draw people from all walks of life, including family audiences.”

The 2018 Auckland Pride Festival will run for two weeks and three weekends from Friday 2 February until Sunday 18 February, with the Pride Parade taking place Saturday 17 February.

Events will take place across the Auckland region, reflecting the unique mix of cultures, sexualities and gender identities in New Zealand’s most super-diverse city. F PN www.aucklandpride.org.nz

photography: Susan Blick

The festival is moving into its sixth year as “New Zealand’s largest and loudest social and cultural programme of events” for our Rainbow communities, whanau, family and friends.

70 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

FLOAT AWAY WITH WHITE BEAUTY SPA The ladies at White Spa would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

What a year it has been, whilst we have been busy floating everyone back to health and wellbeing, we have introduced a new nail system with our specialist Nadia.

The bio sculpture gel system is not just a colour gel, it can be used to lengthen the natural nail, add strength and repair broken nails. There is a sensational colour palette to choose from and it is a non-chip system, high in shine, that lasts for weeks.

Bio is also non toxic and has a unique system of protecting the natural nail and its regular function. So thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right, no damage. Nadia has been working with bio since 2005, taking the utmost care of her clients' nails, ensuring the nails', health, adding extra special touches including nail art, leaving you looking and feeling completely polished.

We have some amazing specials on at present, combining floats and massage, what an amazing gift... the gift of wellbeing.

Some of the benefits of float pods include: one hour float equals up to eight hours deep sleep; 550kg of Epsom salts in 10 inches of water means you get an excellent and

well-needed dose of magnesium preventing cramping, restless leg syndrome, insomnia, pain relief and more mobility of joints. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Floating is like pushing a reset button on your brain, much like resetting a computer it gives you a 'defrag', making everything so much clearer. You will walk out floating on a cloud with clarity.

The benefits of floating last for days and floating regularly is quite simply life changing.

A very special difference we have in our pods is that the water you are floating in is attuned with Reiki, so you receive beautiful, healing Reiki energy whilst floating at White Spa. Water is proven to hold a memory, the molecular structure of water is effected by thoughts and energy. We believe it is so important to not only clear our water of this energy between floats along with our mechanical filtration system and hydrogen peroxide treatments.

Floating is amazing for raising one's vibration, healing and taking care of you and your body. Perhaps New Year's resolution? Heal yourself, support your body, nurture your mind and soul... Float. F PN

WHITE BEAUTY SPA + FLOAT LOUNGE: The Yard, 182 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 9969, www.whitespa.co.nz

GIVE THE GIFT OF WELL BEING THIS CHRISTMAS

+ Float + 40 min Massage + Sans Hair Mask $169 VALID TILL 24 + Float Therapy 2 pack $169 + Float Therapy 4 pack $299 + Float Therapy 6 pack $399

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DEC 2017

Open Tuesday to Sunday till the 30th December then re-opens on the 6th Jan 2018

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Victoira Rist Beauty Specialist

09 376 9969 The Yard 182 Jervois Rd Herne Bay Auckland

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JOHN APPLETON: ON HEALTH

Our health is our responsibility - a summary of my articles for 2017 I started out this year drawing the attention of readers to the health risks associated with the consumption of sugar in all its forms.

For many years saturated fat has taken the blame for many chronic illnesses including obesity and heart disease.

Fortunately, however, the truth is finally emerging and sugar is now firmly in the firing line. If we all did what we could to remove sugar from our diet we would be eliminating what cardiologist Stephen Sinatra says is the number one dietary contributor to heart disease and, in addition, our alarming diabetes statistics would plummet. Our dental health would also improve dramatically.

What I believe is a massive and underestimated threat to our health is the pollution created by thousands of diesel vehicles that we have imported believing them to be better for the planet than those with petrol engines. What was overlooked is the very significant toxicity of diesel particulates that we are breathing in on a daily basis. It’s highly unlikely that politicians will act on this, so it’s up to us to limit exposure as best we can.

Many people have experienced the very unpleasant feeling when the room is spinning but they aren’t. Known as vertigo or BPPV it’s comforting to know that there is a totally safe option for treatment that one can do at home with the help of a family member. It’s known as the Epley manoeuvre and when done correctly symptoms can resolve after just a couple of treatments.

In June I wrote about a remarkable critical care specialist in the US who has been saving lives by using intravenous vitamin C with patients who would otherwise die of Sepsis which kills 850 people every day in the US alone. Dr Paul Marik has so far saved the lives of over 500 people and yet in New Zealand and Australia there has been considerable hostility to what Dr Marik has been doing with a simple and totally safe nutrient infusion. Our only option at present is to prevent the onset of sepsis by ensuring that we are properly prepared for any time in hospital.

Even though we are heading into summer, bone broth soup is always a great way to get a highly nutritious meal that has significant immune boosting properties while providing a great source of key minerals and collagen to help with our skin and joints. Joyce at IE Produce in Takapuna has all the ingredients for this great health-inducing meal option.

In September we went to the polls to elect our political leaders.

I have written several times expressing concern that regardless of which party is in power when it comes to health, we can never get beyond the belief that more money is the answer to better health.

Better health will only come with the acceptance of new ideas that address the root causes of disease. Only when New Zealanders vote for change will we see the emergence of a new approach to our biggest ticket item.

My article on why humans need optimal vitamin C every day created a lot of interest.

It really surprises me how little most people know about this remarkable nutrient.

A recent TV news story about most New Zealanders being deficient in vitamin C concluded with the advice that by taking one kiwifruit a day we will be just fine. As I see it, this would be like taking a garden hose to fight a house fire. Heart diseases is often referred to as focal scurvy in the arteries.

Mental illness remains in the news. For 2018 it would be wonderful to see simple nutritional interventions used routinely before there is a need for potentially dangerous drugs. Think B vitamins. If anyone would like a copy of any of my articles please email me. Have a great Christmas and a healthy year in 2018. (JOHN APPLETON) F PN

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

Do you avoid smiling due to chipped, worn or discoloured front teeth?

Let the team at Grey Lynn Dental revitalise your smile this summer.

Phone: 09 376 6458

72 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

www.greylynndental.co.nz

11 Selbourne Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING HIT COMEDY RETURNS TO Q THEATRE Ponsonby residents Laura Daniel and Joseph Moore are back by popular demand with a limited, festive, five-night return season of Two Hearts.

The smash musical hit of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival wowed critics and audiences alike with its arena sized pop-music spectacle in a non-arena sized venue.

Visit ourÅbeach themedÅChristmas gift grotto and let us help you find the perfect gift.

Imagine a Selena Gomez concert, but all of Selena Gomez's songs have jokes in them, and there are two Selena Gomezes and one of them is a boy. And Selena Gomez is even better at singing. With confetti, hot dancers, songs, video, merchandise, costume changes, and too much information about Joseph and Laura’s personal romantic history - this isn’t your usual comedy show.

Daniel (Funny Girls, Jono and Ben, 7 Days) and Moore (also those shows) have recently been nominated for the 2018 Billy T Award. Their musical collaborations have been a highlight of their work, with original songs for Jono and Ben and Funny Girls generating millions of views online.

Ideal for a Christmas function, a boozy get together, or ‘for taking along an estranged parent in an attempt to reconnect’, this pitch-perfect pop music send-up is bound to sell out. F PN www.facebook.com/nzmusictheatreco

Light up fairy house $24.90Å

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CLARE CALDWELL: THE ART OF LIVING Every now and then we come across an animal that changes our lives: one that seems to transcend the usual boundaries of a pet and leaves us enriched, enlightened and humbled by their beauty and grace.

Our cat Sally was one such animal.

My then five-year-old daughter Sarah and I were living in a flat in Mt Eden. A small kitten with calico markings and the sweetest face suddenly appeared at our back door one day.

Thinking she might belong to a nearby family we ignored her. But day after day she came and quietly sat, as if waiting, until finally we took her in.

Sally, as we named her, was a lovely pet. We allowed her to have two batches of kittens and marvelled at her loving patience and calm assurance as a mother. We kept one of the second litter of kittens - a fluffy, somewhat daft but very sweet little cat we named Tilly.

Fast forward a few years and we are now living in a flat in Morningside. Tilly had become pregnant which seemed as much of a surprise to her as it did to us! Ever the eternal child-cat, she didn’t seem to have any idea how to adapt to her condition and frequently got herself stuck in tight places or launched herself at a chair and didn’t quite make it!

Finally the day came for her to give birth. No going into dark corners for our Tilly. Giving birth became a family affair. We laid her down on some soft bedding but she wouldn’t settle until Sally came into the room.

Then the most extraordinarily beautiful thing happened.

With every contraction, Tilly looked imploringly at Sally as if she had no idea as to what was going on. Sally went over to her and lay on her back, positioning herself behind and slightly under Tilly, so as each contraction occurred she could support and cradle her in her arms! Sally was playing the reassuring midwife!

In all my years of pet ownership I have never seen an animal do that for another before.

A few months later there was a knock on our door. There was an Indian family living in the flat next to ours and their baby boy was frequently quite fractious and hard to settle. His mother asked me rather tentatively if she could borrow Sally, saying that putting Sally in the corner of the baby’s room was the only way he would settle - obviously this was an ongoing occurrence! Bemused, I agreed and sure enough the crying dutifully stopped!

Sally mothered everything, other cats, kittens, humans, even rabbits! Every time we moved, the local cats, no matter how feral, immediately accepted her and I never saw her hurt or hunt or kill anything.

Her gentle guardianship over our family brought us all and anyone who encountered her, great comfort and an incredible sense of peace. If you were sick or sad she would just be there with you, watching over you until all was well, her little face full of motherly devotion.

Her quiet, loving demeanour was almost Buddha-like and as she grew older we often felt we were in the presence of a truly enlightened being.

Animals have a lot to teach us. I believe Sally truly embodied and acted upon the principles of unconditional love - an inspiration and reminder to us all to aspire to a higher way of being. RIP our beautiful Sally. The energy you brought to this world throughout your 19 years made it a better place for all who encountered you. Even PN though many years have passed, you are still so very missed. (CLARE CALDWELL) F Clare (Claudie) Caldwell is a creative arts therapist who runs a small private practice from home. She now runs a voluntary art and art as therapy programme at Auckland City Mission. She is also a freelance artist.

Enquiries: T: 09 836 3618; M: 021 2933 171; E: clare.e.caldwell@gmail.com

one convenient location... to work out your body and then nourish it with a therapeutic massage Relax and refresh with a tranquil...

one-hour massage $89/$99 per session Saturday & Sunday appointments available Contact Helen to book

helen@truepilatesnz.co.nz | 021 027 75198

74 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

SEEPORT 2018 AT CAPTAIN COOK WHARF Ports of Auckland invites you behind the iconic red fence to discover the port from land, sky and sea over three days at their annual SeePort Festival this Auckland Anniversary weekend.

From Saturday 27 to Monday 29 January, Captain Cook Wharf will be transformed into a bustling summer carnival that includes mostly free, family friendly rides, tours and day-long entertainment on and off the water for the whole family.

Admission is free. Watch dancing tug boats, explore robotic machinery and uncover the inner-workings of some magnificent vessels - including the Royal New Zealand Navy’s HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Wellington and one of the oldest steam tugs in the world! You can also take in the view from above by taking a helicopter ride high above the harbour.

To round out the second day of SeePort, on the Sunday evening the Auckland Symphony Orchestra will be performing alongside some special guests to a spectacle of fireworks and lasers. F PN www.seeport.co.nz

Clothing Alterations

Alter Ego Roong T: 09 376 8689

M: 021 032 9128

182-4a Jervois Road, Herne Bay E: ra_cha29@yahoo.com “I get all my bits & pieces done by the smiling helpful Roong... and she’s got Eftpos = sorted...” MARTIN LEACH

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DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING WHY IS GOOD SLEEP ELUDING YOU? If you find it hard to sleep at night you’re not alone. Around 50% of the population struggle with sleeping issues and this number is on the rise. So why is this the case?

Likely the increasing dependency on technology, poor food manufacturing, lack of minerals in the soils and processed foods combined with a high-stress environment and a rush, rush, rush mentality that means we are non-stop on the go all the time. This constant rushing means that your body is continuously on high alert - so it’s no wonder your brain finds it hard to switch off at night!

If you’re struggling to get those all-important eight hours of sleep each night read on for some helpful hints.

• Ensure your neck is in correct alignment The position of your head and neck whilst sleeping is super important. Invest in a good pillow to ensure your neck is in 'neutral' position when you're resting on your back. It should be just the right amount of support and size - not too hard, not too soft, not to fat and not too flat.

Tip: If you sleep on your side, try to line your nose up with the centre of your body. Never sleep on your stomach as it is really bad for your neck.

• Turn your devices off The blue light emitted from your cellphone, tablet, or digital clock on your bedside table interferes with your sleep and makes it harder to fall asleep.

Tip: Set an alarm to go to sleep on your main device - usually your smartphone. Then turn off any TVs, computers, and other blue-light sources an hour before you go to bed. Cover any displays you can't shut off and take your alarm clock out of your room.

• Have a consistent bed time Erratic sleep schedules and night time activities can interrupt your circadian rhythm and negatively impact on your sleep quality.

Tip: Try to go to bed and get up at the same time each day. This will help to reinforce your body’s sleep-wake cycle. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you when to go to bed and follow a relaxing wind-down routine to help promote sleepiness and tell the body it’s time for bed.

• Eat and drink sensibly before bed Going to bed either hungry or too full can cause discomfort and make it hard to fall asleep at night. Alcohol may help you drift off faster, but can later lead to poor quality sleep and may cause you to wake in the night. Try to limit your intake of alcohol before bedtime.

Tip: Taking a vitamin C and magnesium-rich sleep supplement will support liver clearance of toxins and alcohol metabolites, and decrease your risk of a hangover. Having a small snack before bed that contains both protein and carbs will provide the amino acids you need for quality sleep as well as the necessary nutrients to help them cross the blood brain barrier.

• Manage your stress I can’t stress this enough (pun intended). Stress is a huge contributor to sleeping troubles so if stress is an issue for you it is important to target stress management as a means to help you sleep better at night.

Tip: Regular exercise and meditation can help lower stress hormone levels. Try to avoid stimulants such as coffee, sugar and energy drinks as these create rollercoasters of cortisol production which can leave you shattered in the day and wired at night. Mineral supplementation with a comprehensive formula such as SleepDrops Powder can offer additional support of you are struggling to get your stress levels under control and have trouble sleeping at night.

Written by Kirsten Taylor New Zealand’s leading naturopathic sleep specialist, SleepDrops founder and chief formulator www.sleepdrops.co.nz

76 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

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FUTURE GENERATION BOOK REVIEW: AIDAN, 19 SO FAR This recently published book is written by a 19-year-old, homeless boy. His name is Aidan.

Aidan was one of dozens and possibly hundreds of young men and women on New Zealand’s streets. How do you meet someone in this situation, even if you have such an interest? How do they survive? Why are they in such a position?

What are their aspirations? Such citizens of New Zealand are on the margins and few of us get anywhere close to those margins.

Aidan’s unconventional life story, so far, is a revelation for anyone interested in an aspect of life that is rarely, if ever, revealed with such candour. His story begins in his home town of Christchurch, New Zealand’s Garden City in the South Island. His father died when he was four. His mother had her own challenges at that time and as a result. Aidan was left with an aunt, who having been asked to "baby sit" him, did so selflessly for 10 years.

Having moved to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, at the age of just 16, Aidan soon moved to Auckland, where he lived on the streets of New Zealand’s largest city. There he worked out, on his own, how to survive in some of the city’s toughest neighbourhoods.

You will read of his good and bad decisions. When he makes mistakes, he describes how, with brutal honesty.

This story shows how Aidan can now go into shops and offices and not feel out of place.

How he can engage with people and not feel he's being judged. How he moved from the streets to his own room in an apartment in Auckland’s CBD and then into his own room with a good friend in a lovely townhouse in an Auckland suburb.

Aidan has now expanded his friendships to include people who are not necessarily on the margins of New Zealand’s society. And most importantly, he has learned that there is something he can do, other than contribute to the sex industry, and that is to write. F PN

ST PAUL’S COLLEGE HEAD BOY AWARDED SIR GEORGE ELLIOT SCHOLARSHIP St Paul’s College Head Boy Tevita Uilou has been awarded one of three 2017 Sir George Elliot Tertiary Scholarships worth $25,000.

The scholarships are intended to be an investment in success, open to tertiary students within the Auckland region. They are awarded to top applicants who are likely to succeed, show academic ability, leadership, potential to contribute to the community and have a need for financial support.

St Paul’s Headmaster, Kieran Fouhy, says Tevita is one of the most extraordinary Head Boys he’s encountered in his 30 years as a headmaster, which included 28 years at St Peter’s College Auckland.

Fouhy says: “Tevita has considerable presence as a person in any situation. He can be courageous in his interactions with his peers and fulfils the mantra of a graduate of St Paul’s to be qualified, inquisitive and courageous.”

Tevita, the second eldest of five boys, says: “I’ve applied to start studying towards a conjoint Law-Commerce Degree at Auckland University next year and this scholarship is going to be a phenomenal help. I couldn’t believe it when I found out I’d won - I was told there were about 200 applicants.”

The scholarships are awarded by the Sir George Elliot Charitable Trust, named after a benefactor, philanthropist and successful businessman who died in 1956.

‘St Paul’s College Head Boy, $25,000 Sir George Elliot Scholarship recipient Tevita Uilou with a statue of the school’s patron saint, Saint Paul.’ F PN www.stpaulscollege.co.nz

BATTLE OF LOCAL YOUNG TRIATHLETES More than 200 students battled it out over swim, bike and run to gain points for their school and to challenge for a coveted trophy at Coyle Park, Point Chevalier on Friday 10 November.

This was second edition of the Rick Wells Trophy, an inter-school triathlon for years five and six, organised by Black Sands Triathlon Club and Auckland Sport.

This year the event grew to include 10 schools from across Auckland and Waiheke. Black Sands delivered a triathlon programme within each school and four familiarisation sessions before the event, so when it came to race day the students were fired up and ready to go.

Point Chevalier School were defending champs and it was a very tight contest. Ponsonby and Grey Lynn took third and second but it was Westmere School who took the trophy this year with the strongest team across the four categories. F PN www.blacksandstriclub.com

photography: Scottie T photography

The competitors were treated to perfect conditions and they really put on a show: 250 starters across eight waves.

First, a 100m swim off Point Chevalier Beach, then a run up to transition in Coyle Park.

Jumping onto the bike for a 2km ride around Point Chevalier and then back into the park for a 1km run.

78 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PETS

CARPET COURT REPORTS PET POO A PEEVE A recent nationwide survey conducted on behalf of Carpet Court has revealed the ‘downright dirty’ experiences many New Zealanders have had with their carpet - and pets have a lot to answer for!

Pet excrement and pet vomit are two of the most common undesirable substances that respondents have had on their carpets, with more than 36% having had to deal with a clean-up of this kind. This comes in above the number of people who have had red wine spills (32%) and kids’ drinks (27%) on the carpet.

“It was [also] interesting for us to note that 57% of people surveyed have never had their carpet professionally cleaned,” says Carpet Court’s marketing manager, Victoria Lloydd.

“I think many people don’t realise how critical regular professional cleans are for maintaining the quality of their carpet, not to mention a requirement of some manufacturers’ carpet warranties. When dirt and grit is left deep down inside your carpet, it wears away at the fibres and will cause carpet to deteriorate more quickly than it should.

“What’s also interesting is the majority of people - more than three quarters - vacuum their carpet only once a week or less. A good guide to go by is to vacuum your house at an absolute minimum of once per week and more often depending on the number of people living there.”

Dark grey is the most popular colour choice for carpet, but 63% of people said they’d be more likely to choose a lighter coloured carpet if it was stain resistant.

Carpet Court’s design ambassador Jane Carolan says: “If people did not have to consider the staining and wear that everyday life can bring to carpet, I believe their choices would fall outside of the standard dark palette of browns, greys and taupes...

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Unfortunately these options can often lead to the whole house taking on a darker look and feel than required.

“With the advent of SmartStrand this is no longer necessary, you can now have a light-coloured carpet and still be risk free! It would be great to see customers feeling confident and going for mid and light colour options in the warm stones, light silvers and sandstone browns and not feeling restricted in their decision-making process anymore.

Our SmartStrand Forever Clean ‘Rhino’ Carpet has built-in stain and soil resistance that won’t wear or wash off, which prevents spills from settling into the carpet and makes it PN ultra-easy to clean.” F www.carpetcourt.nz DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

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PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

Aaron Waters and Milly Aaron Waters is the New Zealand manager for PETSTOCK based in Rose Road and he loves his Staffy whippet cross.

What is her name and how old is your dog?

Milly and she is six years old.

How did Milly get her name?

When we adopted Milly she had the name Lilly, but this was the name of our other dog so we changed it to Milly.

How long have you had her?

Four years.

What breed is Milly?

She is a Staffy whippet cross.

How did you come to choose Milly?

We adopted Milly from a couple who were relocating to Christchurch, she was full of energy and got on really well with the kids.

What is your favourite thing to do together?

Milly is obsessed with tennis balls, so throwing a ball at the park.

What does Milly like to eat?

She loves to eat anything really but her favourite treat is a Dentastix. F PN

Mo & Will with Ernie

Pamela & Sandy with Percy & Louis

Murray with Henry Murphy

Lisa Harrington & Aaron Waters

Fay & Virgil Roberts with Stellar

photography: Martin Leach

Georgia Marshall with Abby

Rosie Oliver & Clare

Kathie White with Richie McCaw

Wendy & Rosie

DOGS OF PONSONBY @ PETSTOCK, PONSONBY

80 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

PETSTOCK BUSINESS PROFILE PETstock has been in the New Zealand market for just over two years, starting with the acquisition of two stores in July 2015.

PETstock had the vision to try and understand the New Zealand market before it made its mark. This understanding came quickly with a further two stores acquired in September 2015 and then the acquisition of pet.co.nz in January 2016. Since then Petstock has opened an additional eight stores to give us 12 stores across New Zealand.

In July 2016 PETstock made Ponsonby its home with a store at 9 Rose Road. Above the store is the New Zealand head office with 20 team members. Aaron Waters (Petstock Country Manager) says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The location of our head office was very important to us to ensure our team had good options for lunch, coffee and close to a supermarket. The team love being based in Ponsonby.â&#x20AC;?

Community involvement is very important for the PETstock team, and they are currently hosting the Pets of Ponsonby exhibition on behalf of Furever Photography. There are some amazing photographs of all types of breeds and ages. Definitely worth a look if you are in the area.

"The store has a great range of natural high-end dog and cat foods, including brands such as Orijen, Ziwi Peak, Addiction and K9 Natural, all foods that our Ponsonby dogs and cats seem to love the taste of but also offer some great nutrition. With over 4000 product lines in store, we have everything you need for your furry friend.

"We also work closely with the Lonely Miaow Cat Rescue agency to adopt out kittens on their behalf. Lonely Miaow do a great job of taking in rescue kittens of all ages and levels of heath, they have an amazing foster network that bring these kittens up to age and health. Once the kittens are old enough and healthy enough, the foster parents bring the kittens into our stores so that we can help adopt them out on Lonely Miaow's behalf." F PN

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PETstock - Helping pets inspire every person, every family, every day. www.petstock.co.nz

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

Kate O’Connor and Rio

SUMMER SAFETY

Ponsonby News knows Rio well. Whenever we deliver our new issue to The Look in Maidstone Street, Rio comes out to greet us.

As we enter into the hotter summer months, it is important to remember that this season can present some challenges and problems to your animals.

We asked his owner Kate O’Connor to tell us more about her little man.

How old is Rio? He is getting on, yet still with plenty of spring in his step! He will be 84 dog years old this December.

How long has he been your pet?

We’ve had him since he was eight weeks old.

Here are some SPCA tips on helping your pet stay happy, healthy and cool this summer.

Take extra care while exercising your pet - Exercising in the scorching sun and during the hottest hours of the day can be dangerous for your pet. It’s important you exercise your pet early in the morning or in the evening throughout the summer months as these are the coolest times of day and your pet is less likely to overheat.

What breed is he?

He is a shaggy toy poodle, sometimes mistaken for a ‘real dog’, whatever that is.

Avoid long and strenuous walks on hot, sunny days and steer clear of prolonged sun exposure. Take them to an area that has grass, is shady and cool, and where they can’t over exert themselves. Pay attention to their needs. If they want to lie down, or only have a short walk, then stop!

How did you come to choose him?

When we were looking for a puppy, the rest of his brothers and sisters just jumped out of my arms when held. Rio, however, decided to snuggle into my neck and I couldn’t go home without him. It was love at first sight.

Hot cars can kill - On a warm day, the inside of your car heats up very quickly. On a 30°C day the temperature inside your car can reach 39°C in less than five minutes and in 30 minutes it goes up to 49°C. This can occur even in the shade and if your windows are open. So if the purpose of your trip is not for the dog, please leave them at home.

How did he get his name?

I got together with my friend Shelley and we named him over a couple of red wines.

Because he was a toy poodle, we were after a toy boy name... it went from Fabio to Rico, to Rio. What is your favourite thing to do together?

We’re currently on a roll of covering new walking territory every Sunday. Whether it be bush walks or beach walks, these missions are 100% our favourite thing to do together.

We love having our cool housemate, Lucy, join us for these too! Such a blast.

Does he have friends?

He really does love getting visits from our pal Martin at Ponsonby News - we have the best chats. He loves to hang out with Adam and the team at Roost... He has met lots of his Ponsonby pet pals there, like Cedric the pug. His friend collection expands wider than Ponsonby, however, with his besties being Whittaker, the spoodle from Mt Albert, Loca the French bulldog from Kingsland and Jean-Baptiste, the king pug of the Viaduct. His ginger poodle buddies, Ted and Toby visit us from Lake Okareka every so often. He also has a girlfriend from Epsom named Polly. His heart melts for her silky, black Cavalier King Charles spaniel cross poodle looks.

A normal dog’s body temperature is around 38.5°C. Dogs only sweat a small amount through their paws and rely on panting to cool down. In a hot car, even with the windows slightly open, panting is not enough to keep their body temperature cool. A dog can withstand a body temperature of 41°C for a short amount of time before it likely suffers irreparable brain damage and then death. Young, overweight or elderly animals, or those with short muzzles or thick, dark-coloured coats are most at risk for overheating.

Beware of sunburn - Just like people, animals can also suffer from sunburn! Pets that are fair skinned or light haired are particularly susceptible to the sun’s harsh rays. Skin cancer can occur commonly in dogs and cats. Even though the fur provides some sun protection, your pet needs a sunblock applied every three-four hours on areas of their body that have no, or little, hair covered spots. F PN Lisa-Maree Wallen with her pugs - Boston & Betty. www.spcaauckland.org.nz

What does Rio like to eat?

His favourite foods are the ones he’s not allowed: cheese, chocolate and ice cream - he goes mad for them. They are substituted for dried venison treats, chicken and vege bickies, and ‘My Dog’ canned dog food - hence why he keeps in such good shape! F PN

82 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS: LOGAN GRANGER

Important Inland Revenue Dates WE’RE ALMOST AT THE END OF THE 2017 CALENDAR year as we’ve passed “Mo-Vember” and we are over halfway through the financial year ending 31 March 2018, so it’s important to keep track of Inland Revenue due dates before you go away on holiday: • 15 January 2018 - Provisional Tax, Student Loan Interim Repayments, November GST Return, December Employer Monthly Schedules • 28 January 2018 - December GST Returns (one monthly) Going overseas with a student loan For those of us who are ‘lucky’ enough to have student loans, it is important to be aware of your repayment obligations. If you are travel outside New Zealand for more than six months your loan stops being interest-free and you may be liable to make two repayments a year based on your student loan balance.

Depending on the size of your loan (over $90,000) your repayments might not be enough to cover your interest.

You can make voluntary repayments anytime, but you must meet the instalment dates: 30 September and 31 March. We would advise making a payment arrangement with the Inland Revenue if you experience difficulty making payments as this will mitigate latepayment interest.

Unable to return to New Zealand within six months You can apply for your loan to be interest-free if you were intending to travel for less than six months but an unexpected delay, outside of your control, meant you weren't able to return to New Zealand for more than six months. Some examples of these delays are: • airline strikes • personal illness • death or illness of a family member • fire, flood, storm, earthquake, landslide or volcanic eruption • an explosion or nuclear, biological, or chemical contamination • sabotage, terrorism or an act of war To apply you need to: • be a New Zealand tax resident while overseas • show intention that you were intending to stay less than six months • provide evidence of the unexpected delay • provide evidence that because of the unexpected delay you weren't able to return to New Zealand as intended Evidence can include: • airline ticket showing the change in departure/ arrival date • medical certificate or a letter from a doctor • death certificate

• airline strike documentation • media coverage in cases of war Repayment holiday You can also arrange for a repayment holiday with the Inland Revenue who will allow you to take a break from repaying your student loan for up to 12 months.

However, interest will still be added to your loan during this time as you are still outside of New Zealand. You can apply for a repayment holiday before you leave New Zealand or within six months of leaving.

Overseas interest-free exemption Under some circumstances you may be eligible for and interest-free student loan if you’re accompanying your partner for study or work.

Nominated person for student loan If you do not have a tax agent, you can nominate a person to act on your behalf while you are outside New Zealand.

This person can also deal with your other tax affairs on your behalf. This can be achieved my completing an IR 597. (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

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DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

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PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS: METROLAW Got a legal question?

Ask michael@metrolaw.co.nz I made a will when I bought a house about five years ago and left everything to my brother. I’ve since got married and my wife tells me that we should both now make new wills leaving all our assets to each other. Is this really necessary, as I thought this would happen anyway and I’m broke after the honeymoon, even though both sets of parents helped out with costs!

Q: A:

Thanks for your email and congratulations on your recent wedding. There are two main responses I’d like to make to your query. Firstly, New Zealand law states that a will is automatically revoked on marriage. The previous will you made is therefore no longer valid and you do need to make another one now that you’ve tied the knot.

If you were to die now before making a new will, you would be deemed to be technically 'intestate' and your estate would fall to be distributed according to the Administration Act. However, the results here may not be what you would intend.

For example, in your case, where you would leave a spouse and parents (but no children), your wife would be entitled to your 'personal chattels' (eg, your furniture, vehicles, books, etc) and the sum of $121,500 plus interest, and 2/3 of the residue of your estate, but your parents would also be entitled to 1/3 of the residue, which may not be what you and your wife would actually want to occur.

Secondly, and as a related point, just because you’re married, all your assets do not go to your spouse automatically - you need to state this in your will, if this is what you would prefer. However, you may also want to consider a gift to your favourite charity or to your brother or other siblings or even to other family members such as nieces and nephews.

It's probably best if you take the plunge now and get your wills sorted. It’s relatively cheap and painless and can save a lot of cost and expense in the future. Please feel free to get in touch again soon to make an appointment to sort this out for you and your wife.

PN (MICHAEL HEMPHILL) F 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.

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

@ SPCA - BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS IN NEED OF A HOME Every animal has the right to feel cared for. Many beautiful animals just like Maggie, Hudson and Pearl are looking for the loving and forever homes they deserve.

Hudson & Pearl

Maggie

84 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

Flute PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS KEEP SAFE - AVOID BEING SCAMMED A TIME TO REFLECT AND SHARE THE LOVE Don’t lose your hard-earned money to a scam.

You’ve won a major lottery - yay! All you have to do is send them $100 dollars to cover administration costs, and your millions are on their way. If this sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

“We often get people coming in, holding a letter from a foreign lotteries organisation - or maybe they’ve received notification by text or email,” says Margaret Antunovich of Citizens Advice Bureau Grey Lynn/Ponsonby. “They want to believe they’ve won lots of money - and sometimes these letters look quite believable and official too.

“There are ways to check whether it’s a scam or not. For example if the sender says you have to give them money or your credit card details in order to collect the prize money, that’s a warning sign that you’re looking at a scam, or if you haven’t bought any lottery tickets in years, then it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have won a lottery prize.

“Known scams are listed on the Department of Internal Affairs’ website. If the sender of the letter or email is listed on the website, or a scam described there sounds a lot like your situation, then the best thing to do is to dispose of the message and have nothing more to do with the sender,” says Antunovich. “If you think you’ve uncovered a new scam, it’s easy to report it online to NetSafe via www.theorb.org.nz/forms/scamor-fraud/. They can direct you to the organisation best able to investigate, and can use your information to publish a scam alert.

“If you’re not sure whether you’ve been targeted by scammers, come and see us at Citizens Advice Bureau Grey Lynn/Ponsonby. We’re open Monday to Friday 9am-4pm and Saturday 11am-12.30pm. We can also help you figure out what to do if you have fallen PN for a scam already.” F CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU, 510 Richmond Road, T: 09 376 0392, E: ponsonby@cab.org.nz, www.cab.org.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

“As I reflect on my past year, I feel complete gratitude for working and living in the best neighbourhood in the best city, in the best country in the whole world!

“I’ve had another fantastic year and have had the pleasure of working for so many wonderful clients. It’s working with people that makes my job so enjoyable, and why I love my chosen profession even though it is a seven day a week career - so a big thank you to everyone.

“At Christmas time I also reflect on those less fortunate than myself and how tough day-to-day life can be, which of course becomes even more challenging for families at this time of the year.

“So each year at this time I post a City Mission Angel page where I will match every donation made, up to a maximum value of $5000. If you have had a great year too, we can share some of our positivity together.

“I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and New Year break, fingers crossed we get some welldeserved summer weather, and I look forward to an awesome 2018.” F PN FELICITY SCOTT, M: 0274 522 241, www.barfoot.co.nz/f.scott

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

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HEIDI PADAIN: ENTERTAINMENT IN YOUR GARDEN If you're one of those people who tend to leave your Christmas shopping until the very last minute, I have some suggestions on how you might improve your trolley rage technique this year.

I've been observing the tui. When a tui gets in the way of another tui, they establish positioning by trying to out perform one another. It starts with the puffing up. Visualise boofy. You need to look seriously ruffled. Next, comes the song. Your song needs come out without any hesitation and it must be extraordinarily loud.

Between verses, you must poke your tongue out as far as you can and produce an array of coughs, grunts and wheezes. It seems the idea is to render your opponents wide -eyed and motionless, so much so that they don't mind in the least when you make like a rocket and launch yourself toward the head of the queue. For added effect, you should probably scream all the way there.

As this is the last Ponsonby News issue of the year, I thought I might attempt to get a lovely image of some of my feathered friends by laying out tinsel. This female blackbird has been stripping pieces of it for her nest, so I'm just going with it. I'm going to be generous and welcoming during the silly season. Speaking of welcoming, I have completely fallen in love with the welcome swallow. They are so challenging to photograph. I finally found one that would sit still and pose for me. Crazy, I know. These birds are ridiculously beautiful, I had no idea.

I hope you take time to relax and enjoy the birdlife in your garden during the holidays.

If you decide to make like a tui in the shops this year, do let me know, preferably in advance, because I am always camera ready. (HEIDI PADAIN) F PN To see some of Heidiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

86 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

CUSTOM RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Why did Custom Residential get into property management?

Custom Residential started in 2008 and around four years ago, we noticed that a number of people we were meeting through normal day-to-day business were asking, "Why don’t you have a property management department?” We decided to look around and do some homework and we noted that a huge amount of rental property was being advertised with sub-standard, sometimes iPhone photography. The overall look of the marketing wasn’t doing the properties justice in our opinion. We also discovered that the standard property management model was all about ‘more properties, more volume’. We knew that we could deliver higher quality marketing for owners and offer a low volume, high-care service for customers. Sheer size is not important to us.

What are the next steps for this part of your business?

Custom Residential is very much about quality over quantity. We are a low volume, high care brand so, with property management in particular, we are really just focussed on growing our rental portfolio by one happy customer at a time and it is working well at present. We’d love to talk to customers who are considering renting their property out due to job transfer, extended travel plans or people who have purchased a new home and potentially plan to hold the original property.

For further information, please feel free to contact Louise Trembath, Louise.trembath@customresidential.co.nz or John Wills, John.wills@customresidential.co.nz

Why do you offer free professional photography for your owners?

There is no doubt that first impressions count. A lot of the homes in this area are beautiful character villa’s and bungalows, as well as impressive architectural apartments with views. We know that high calibre marketing works for our customers. Professional photography is their shop front out into the market, and we believe, that with power of the internet, better marketing means better, more highly qualified enquiry and the very best chance of achieving the strongest weekly rent via the highest calibre tenant.

Customers at this level know that they like and certainly what they don’t like, so every property must be shown in the best light possible at all times. We also do a free floor plan for our owners as well. Prospective tenants give us great feedback on these. They are a great tool for people to really understand spaces and flow in a home and move forward more quickly with their application.

What is the current size of your rental portfolio?

The Custom Residential Select Portfolio sits at around 150 properties at present. This a solid, and very manageable size for us at the moment. Many of our properties are $1000 plus per week properties, so these ones in particular require a huge amount of care and attention and communication on both the tenant and owner sides of the relationship. We are more than happy to simply grow this portfolio by one happy owner at a time.

What type of property do you specialise in?

We cover a range of property but tend to specialise in the types of property that our company handles on the sales side of our business. We have a number of high-quality one and two bedroom apartments, as well as renovated three and four bedroom character homes. Our main market is properties on the wider Auckland city fringe that sit in the $800 to $2200 per week category. This is where our networks and expertise work best for us.

Does the mix of running a residential sales business and a property management business work well?

We have found that this is the perfect mix for us and our clients. It is great having sales people out and about at open homes every single weekend, because we are meeting people at different phases in their buying and research process. For many of them, the best solution is to either rent for the next 12-24 months, or conversely, rent their home out over coming months or years. Real estate is an industry where you need to be ‘on the ground’ constantly, meeting and listening to customers. The other advantage is, that we are marketing a great range of quality properties for sale, so our marketing skills for property management stay sharp as well.

Who is in your property management team?

Custom is very lucky to have the experience and expertise of Louise Trembath and Danielle Cleverdon. These two women are very intuitive and super strong when it comes to the crucial areas of tenant selection processes and the communication needs of our customers. They also know how to care for and protect our owners' assets. Louise and Danielle are incredibly hard working and come with almost 20 years combined property management experience.

What is happening in the local rental market?

As a quick overview, the winter market was incredibly slow. People simply hunkered down in the wet weather. But as of about six weeks ago, we are seeing incredible demand for city fringe rentals and there is certainly movement in the market. Supply is running at huge deficit against demand, and the number of properties that are now renting in the $800 to $2000 plus per week category is staggering. This is largely driven by location, convenience to the CBD and lack of supply. Auckland is growing fast...

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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Beautiful furniture, lighting, accessories and memorable gifts for Christmas.

A selection of beautiful gifts ideas from some of our international collectionsâ&#x20AC;ŚLalique Jewellery, Guaxs, AERIN Lauder, Ralph Lauren Home, Kelly Wearstler, Lalique Vases, Michael Aram and more. We look forward to assisting you in finding the perfect gift and wrapping it ready for you to put under the Christmas tree.

All available exclusively from Cavit&Co. 1. Michael Aram Rain Forest Candle 2. Aerin Floral Heart Dish 3. Michael Aram Olive Branch Coasters 4. Lalique Cabochon Ring 5. Lalique Vibrante Bracelet 6. Kelly Wearstler Classic Bronze Legs 7. Michael Aram Palm Salt & Pepper Shakers 8. Kelly Wearstler Effie Table Lamp 9. Michael Aram Rainforest Nut Dish 10. Michael Aram Coral Napkin Holder

Auckland 547a Parnell Road, Parnell 1052 | Tel +64 9 358 3771 | Email info@cavitco.com Christchurch 148 Victoria Street, Christchurch 8013 | Tel +64 3 929 0013

www.cavitco.com

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

@ SIMON JAMES CONCEPT STORE 1. Tank Whiskey Decanter and Tumblers by Tom Dixon 2. New York Diamond ring by Jessica McCormack 3. Wine Breather Deluxe 4. Bone Bowl by Tom Dixon 5. Bump Jug by Tom Dixon

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6. Orientalist Giftset by Tom Dixon - Candle and Handwash 1

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SIMON JAMES CONCEPT STORE, 230 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 6955, www.simonjamesdesign.com

@ DAWSON & CO OUTLET STORE 1. Tiri dining table by Cove Outdoor 2m x 1m now $1699, save $1000 2.4m x 1m now $1899, save $1250

3. Stella chair by Toou Available in white and black now $99, save $60

2. Cowes dining table by Cove Outdoor 2.4m x 1m now $2349, save $1650 2.6m x 1m now $2599, save $1600

4. Joi (Twenty Four) chair

by Toou now $229, save $50

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DAWSON & CO OUTLET STORE , 31 Crummer Road, www.dawsonandco.nz

90 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

DAW S O N & C O .

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

BOOKS FOR EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS Recommended by Carole Beu and the Team at The Women’s Bookshop.

Annie Leibovitz Portraits 2005 - 2016 ($140) For this stunning new collection the legendary Annie Leibovitz, one of the most influential photographers of our time, has selected 150 portraits of people who shape our world.

The photos document contemporary culture with an artist’s eye, wit and uncanny ability to personalise well-known people.

Manhattan Beach - Jennifer Egan ($38) This stunning novel is suitable for women and men of all ages. Absorbing and suspenseful, beginning in the Great Depression, it features outwardly respectable underworld mobsters, deep-sea diving, and a very gutsy young woman.

Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story - Gavin Bishop ($40) An exciting large picture book for children and adults, packed full of fascinating facts and brilliant, detailed illustrations covering all aspects of Maori and Pakeha history.

THE WOMEN’S BOOKSHOP, 105 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 376 4399, books@womensbookshop.co.nz, online shopping www.womensbookshop.co.nz

The Modern Cook’s Year - Anna Jones ($55) With over 250 vibrant vegetable recipes to see you through the seasons, this is a very stylish cookbook that is also easy to follow. Healthy but flavour-packed, these delicious recipes are accompanied by Anna’s delightfully helpful personal comments.

Driving to Treblinka: a long search for a lost father - Diana Wichtel ($45) Diana Wichtel is well-known and loved as the brilliant, witty, Listener columnist. This is a deeply moving personal story of her Polish Jewish father, a holocaust survivor, who failed to follow his family from Canada to New Zealand - intimate, eloquent and profound.

Journal of Urgent Writing Vol 2 ($40) This collection of provocative, impassioned essays (produced by local publisher Nicola Legat at Massey University Press) about hot New Zealand issues by smart New Zealand thinkers will tune up your intellectual engine.

@ CAVIT&CO Barbara Barry collection for Baker A new collection for the way we live today: neither precious nor formal, but rather a collection of warm materials, relaxed comfort and lots of style. Eased finishes, textural fabrics and sculptural lighting bring a new modern luxury to Baker.

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1. Framework Sofa A streamlined sofa with one long, tufted seat cushion, two wide back pillows and two boxed arm pillows sitting lightly on a brass base in warm bronze.

2. Spoke Cocktail Table Mahogany with brass accents in warm bronze finish.

The top features an acid etched black painted glass.

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3. Kyoto Stool A stunning side table featuring a black steel base with an oak top in jet finish.

4. Atlit Floor Lamp 5. Sheer Stack Accent Table A brass side table in warm bronze finish with a bronze glass top.

6. Magritte Table Lamp Rose quartz; Murano glass with brass details in satin finish.

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7. Obi Lounge Chair The Obi lounge chairs appears to float on a mahogany base.

92 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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CAVIT&CO, 547A Parnell Road,T: 09 358 3771, www.cavitco.com PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

@ REPUBLIC 1. The Beach People Bath Towel set - bath sheet $82, towel $62, hand towel $29, wash cloth $16 2. Basil Bangs Day Tripper Beach Umbrella $349 3. The Game “The Opener” cricket-inspired wallet $140

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4. Basil Bangs Geometric Sky Love Rug $185 5. The Beach People Bedouin roundie beach towel $139

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REPUBLIC HOME, 3 Pompallier Terrace, Ponsonby, T: 09 361 1137, www.republichome.com

3 Pompallier Terrace, Ponsonby Sale Outlet – 2 Morgan Street, Newmarket info@republichome

republic_home republichome.com

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

@ ROSE AND HEATHER 1. Newport bed in all sizes, queen including mattress from $6930 2. Bespoke 15 drawer, Newport cabinet - $5480 3. Newport 59cm wide, two-drawer, in wash and dark finish (the pair) - $2640 4. Bedstool to size and colour, $1180, plus fabric 5. Newport bedside with marble top (the pair) - $3680

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ROSE AND HEATHER, 406 Great North Road, T: 09 376 2895, www.roseandheather.com

@ DESIGN WAREHOUSE 1. Antigua Cantilever Umbrella Get ready for the sunny hot days of summer with the Antigua Cantilever Umbrella. Design Warehouse has a wide selection of luxury umbrellas that will look sophisticated in your outdoor space.

2. Bianca & Nicki Dining Set This dreamy dining set features the concrete Nicki Dining Table & Bianca Woven Dining Chairs.

Design Warehouse has over 100 styles of dining chairs and 55 styles of dining tables. Visit the showroom in Parnell today.

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3. Mykonos Sofa Enjoy spacious luxury with the Mykonos powder coated aluminum collection. Sunbrella® cushions are included as shown. In stock and available for pick up or delivery.

Call for prices.

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DESIGN WAREHOUSE, 137/147 The Strand, Parnell, T: 09 377 7710, www.designwarehouse.co.nz

94 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS DEVONPORT

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GREATER BALANCE NEEDED ON THE WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD The resignation of Mark Davies from the Waitemata Local Board has left a great gap in the governance of our community.

Nominations for a new member of the board are due on 22 December 2017 and voting closes on Saturday 17 February 2018.

board, I think it is critical that the board maintains a level of balance and diversity to prevent complacency on issues such as the West Lynn Shops.

I encourage anyone interested in standing to put up your hand this election.

At the Grey Lynn Business Association (GLBA) AGM last month, businesses and residents made it clear that Auckland Council had not listened to their concerns about the location of the new bus stop, car parking and layout as part of the West Lynn Shop upgrade. This is such a shame. It’s not often that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fund and deliver a town centre re-development literally lands on your doorstep. It should have been a project that was inspirational, led by the community, and created an overwhelming sense of ownership with the final result.

Our community faces serious issues, from the sewage in our harbour, urban deforestation and homelessness through to the West Lynn Shops upgrade and resident parking. There are plenty of opportunities to sink your teeth into and sort things out.

The role of Elected Member is truly a very humbling but important one in our community.

You have the opportunity to lead, support, engage and inspire local residents on projects like the Grey Lynn Pump Track and Pollinator Pathways to make Auckland the most liveable city.

The make up of the seven-strong Waitemata Local Board Elected Members is important because they debate and ultimately decide on the issues that are most important in our community.

What a lot of people don’t realise is that, unlike many local MPs, the Waitemata Local Board has a budget that can be allocated to drive and leverage initiatives within the community. This means members of the board have a direct impact on day-to-day life within our neighborhood. You can equally influence decisions on the board if you are independent or part of a political group.

Whether your political ideology is right, left or centrist, we can all agree that a greater diversity of thought and experience on any board leads to better outcomes.

The City Vision coalition is well represented on the board, with five of the seven seats and the endorsed councillor. As the only Independent Elected Member on our local

A BACH FOR ALL SEASONS: A LOVE STORY BY JULIET BATTEN The author’s answer to a challenging request leads to a year of surprises as a dying bach is transformed, memories loosened and the pattern of a life revealed.

This is a memoir rich with reflections on youth and maturity, nature and survival, creativity and resilience.

What readers are saying about A Bach for All Seasons "A Bach for All Seasons is beautifully written, wonderfully clear, with vivid imagery that has stayed with me long after I finished the book. The bach, in its various transformations, is a telling metaphor for the transformations in the author’s life."

Elspeth Sandys, author of What Lies Beneath and Casting Off. "Juliet Batten’s second memoir is both strongly engaging and intensely moving. She skillfully interweaves the story of an iconic New Zealand bach at Te Henga and her complex relationship with Francis Batten over 40 years, both capturing changing times and celebrating the significance of home and love in our lives."

PN Anne Else, author of The Colour of Food: A memoir of life, love and dinner. F

Available from www.julietbatten.co.nz and independent bookshops

96 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

The former Chair of the GLBA, Jennifer Northover, has done an exceptional job over the years and has handed the reins to newly elected co-chairs Jacob Faull and Irene King.

They have big decisions to make. I hope that establishing a formal Business Improvement District, like the other six in the Waitemata area, is on the agenda for the association so they can reclaim the shops, have a stronger voice at the table and directly fund projects.

Mark Davis was the Waitemata Local Board’s representative on the Grey Lynn Business Association and it would make sense that his replacement has the necessary community and commercial acumen to support the Business Association with the challenges they face.

This election please consider what balance you want on the board and I encourage candidates to stand.

A public meeting to discuss the West Lynn shops has been arranged for residents and businesses to attend: 6.30-8pm, 11 December at the Grey Lynn Community Centre.

Rob Thomas, Elected Member, Waitemata Local Board, www.robthomas.co.nz

SUSTAINABLE STYLE Beautiful brand Wallace Cotton hasn’t bragged about its admirable ethos, but you may well find more reason to admire its home linen collections when you’ve read about it.

Wallace Cotton is passionate about sourcing the very best natural fibres from sustainable suppliers and growers. From organic cotton to pure linen, comfortable and luxurious fabrics are the foundation of its ranges.

The brand uses organic cotton for its bedlinen, as organic farming methods avoid chemical pesticides and use water more efficiently, keeping the soil healthy and providing a safe environment for workers.

Wallace Cotton only works with suppliers who share its ethical values - Oeko Tex certified wherever possible, to ensure products are made using environmentally friendly methods.

Collectable and reusable cotton packaging is used for Wallace Cotton bedlinen. Every purchase is presented in a printed cotton drawstring laundry bag, with the prints changing each season. Over the years, Wallace Cotton bags have been seen carrying sports gear, laundry, adaptors and Jimmy Choos - never mind simply in linen cupboards storing beautiful piles of linen. F PN WALLACE COTTON, 138-146 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 6133, www.wallacecotton.com PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Stewart Morgan BSc (Hons) The Science Behind Successful Real Estate Results

Stewart Morgan BSc (Hons) M +64 21 933 305 stewart.morgan@sothebysrealty.com 160 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland nzsothebysrealty.com

Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ.

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

CHRISTMAS @ BOCONCEPT BoConcept has a complete collection of wall art for your home this Christmas ranging from botanical prints, oil abstracts, photographs and round mirrors.

1. Magnolia print 2. Tone mirror, available in dark grey, rose and gold 3. Cuban lady 4. Poetic oil canvas 5. Botanic metal prints 1

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BOCONCEPT, 20 Normanby Road, Mt Eden, www.BoConcept.com

98 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

6 Waima Street, Grey Lynn 3

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CONTACT Dee McDade 021 448 832 Priced from $1,250,000

Merry Christmas From Sales & Rental team at LJ Hooker Ponsonby

We appreciate your support in 2017 and look forward to your business in the new year.

We will work through the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Contact Steven Glucina 021 888 455 (24/7) LJ Hooker Ponsonby

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190 Ponsonby Road

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09 376 7530

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ponsonby@ljh.co.nz

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Ponsonby Estate Agents Limited

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Licensed REAA 2008

REAL ESTATE UPDATE: KAREN SPIRES While the new Government busies itself, determined to make a mark during its first 100 days in office, New Zealand has maintained its preferable image as a safe haven, continuing to attract expatriate residents to return home again in greater numbers.

Pleasingly, our primary industries of dairy, horticulture and tourism have shown muscle in previous months, powering the New Zealand commodity base and increasing economic confidence, which in turn has affected confidence in the domestic housing market as it rebounds following election-induced uncertainty.

While the prosperity of the economy relies on the strength of our international trade, we have confidence that New Zealand is in a good position to move forward, especially in light of news that the TransPacific Partnership, which was effectively stopped in its tracks last year, has been given the green light to go ahead (albeit under the new moniker, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-pacific Partnership or CPTPP).

While our Government shows its nationalistic streak - banning foreign investment for existing residential properties, the underlying factors which have driven value growth persist - that is low interest rates and a strong supply/demand imbalance, and we do not expect that these incentives will have a significant or detrimental impact to current property values.

Despite fewer new listings than we would like to see at this time of year, current sales activity indicates that eager buyers are holding in there - especially first-home purchasers who are seeing a wealth of new opportunities now available in wake of an investment exodus from the market.

hesitation basically summarises sales activity in the latter half of this year, and with such media attention lavished on the property market, sellers are privy to more information than ever before - and in some cases more confusion.

With the new Government firmly focussed on development, infrastructure and addressing the nation’s social issues, we expect to see more apartment-style communities, townhouses and small-scale developments emerging across Auckland as part of the KiwiBuild initiative, while high-end apartments are expected to peak next year with a record number of units due for completion.

Looking ahead to the New Year, we know that the tide is turning, offering more power to the purchaser. However, positive indications still exist for long-term value gains. We expect forward momentum will continue with encouragement from low interest rates, a healthy economy and strong housing demand. Those in the market, however, are advised to avoid ill-conceived transactions, with growth expected to continue flatly for the first quarter of the New Year - now is not the time to take risks.

For those buying and selling in line with life’s events, my advice is to choose a sales representative carefully because experience in this market will certainly make the difference to your final figure on sale PN day. Thanks for reading. (KAREN SPIRES) F

Open home attendance, buyer enquiry and competition in our auction rooms has picked up slightly since the new Government has been announced. However, investors have been noticeable in their absence, still affected by loan-to-value restrictions and the proposed extension of the Bright Line Test and end to the negative gearing tax loophole.

In my talks with clients, it’s apparent that sellers are taking heed from the caution applied by lending institutions as they look to be absolutely sure that the timing is right before selling up. This

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CHRISTMAS @ ECOSTORE 1. The Ultimate Bach Kit: Was $39.90, now $31.92.

The ultimate kit for your holiday bach, packed full of goodies at great value - save over $10!

The ecostore Ultimate Bach Kit contains: • Lemon dish liquid 500ml • Citrus multi-purpose spray cleaner 500ml

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• Eucalyptus laundry liquid 500ml • Orange & patchouli body wash 400ml

2. The Eco Goodies: was $29.90, now $23.92.

• Rose & cardamom hand wash 250ml

A cute selection of ecostore body care goodies, your perfect gift!

• Coconut soap 80g

The Eco Goodies Gift Set contains...

• Lemongrass soap 80g

• Extra moisturising hand cream 75ml

...all packed in a handy bucket made from recycled plastic!

• Body butter 250g • Orange & cinnamon soap 100g 2

• Peppermint & honey soap 100g • Manuka & kelp soap 100g

ECOSTORE, 1 Scotland Street, Freemans Bay, T: 09 360 8477, www.ecostoredirect.co.nz

...all wrapped in a gift box made from recycled cardboard.

@ FREEDOM 1. Freedom Furniture Jovi Side Table in Brass - $399 Just like the man himself, the Jovi table is a statement piece bound to steal the show of any living room with its eye-catching polished steel.

2. Freedom Furniture Wyatt Bar Cabinet - $1599 Made from mango wood and featuring a marble inlay, the limited-edition Wyatt Cabinet is also stamped with a hand-burnt signature from the craftsman; creating a piece which tells as many stories as you might after enjoying a few of its drinks within.

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3. Freedom Furniture Negroni Bar Cart - $599 Freedom’s Negroni Bar Cart makes hosting duties a summer breeze: akin to hiring your party’s own bartender, this cart is guaranteed to be the crowd favourite.

4. Freedom Furniture Encore Limited Edition Dining Chair in Gold - $249 Freedom’s Encore Dining Chair shows gold is not only reserved for the festive season: enjoy family meals around the table with a touch of glamour!

Shop the collection 24/7 at www.freedomfurniture. co.nz or head into your local Newmarket, Sylvia Park, Westgate, Wairau Park or Albany store.

102 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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SOLJANS ESTATE LAUNCHES 50-YEAR PORT Soljans Estate has proudly launched ‘The Grandmaster Fine Old Tawny Port’ - a limited edition, exclusive handcrafted blend by the third generation and current owner, Tony Soljan.

The base wine was vintaged and solitarily matured in French oak brandy barrels when Tony and wife Colleen celebrated the birth of their first child, Tonia Soljan, in 1968.

‘The Grandmaster’ is a tribute to Bartul Soljan, a pioneer of winemaking in New Zealand who forged the path for the generations of Soljan vintners to come. The Grandmaster Bartul spent his lifetime on vineyard cultivation and his indefatigable passion in winemaking inspired his successors to continue the family legacy of pursuing excellence.

“Masculinity, boldness, power and sophistication are some of the distinguished characters you would pick up from sipping The Grandmaster Fine Old Tawny Port, a true resemblance of my grandfather - Bartul Soljan,” says Tony Soljan.

“This special tawny port is not only loaded with flavour, it is also loaded with long history and what Croatian vintners are known for. Without doubt The Grandmaster Fine Old Tawny Port is one of the most exclusive ports ever made in New Zealand history,” he adds.

The Grandmaster Fine Old Tawny Port is solely available from the Cellar Door and through its exclusive partnership with The Loop Duty Free, Auckland International Airport. F PN www.soljans.co.nz

LEICHT – No.1 Best Sold Premium Kitchen in Germany Visit our showroom at 127 Symonds St, Eden Terrace Ph 09 379 4800 www. avantgardedesign.co.nz NZ’s 1st LEICHT importer since 2009

104 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

MEET RACHEL ASHTON Tell us about your background and experience I’m known as the ‘little ball of fire’ and ‘there’s the little terrier’ affectionately coined by my father-in-law many years ago. I think he might be right. I have been so fortunate in my colourful tapestry of experiences, all have needed a tenacious glass half full and flowing over approach.

What motivated you to move into real estate?

No little girl wakes up and says "when I grow up I want to be a real estate agent!" I wanted to be an air hostess! But I wasn’t tall enough. I think this business finds you and you have to be drawn to it. I sold my first house, my own house, in 1997 before my agent did. The seed was planted and then flourished years later.

What I think is different about me A colleague said very early on “Rache, you need to grow a tough rhino skin to survive.” My answer was no. I’m going to stick to who I am. My very first vendor told me that with the sale and passing on of their family home I was also entrusted with the passing on of the memories of their dear late son. What an honour. Every sale process must be treated with the same respect.

Previously my media degree meant that in TV-land I was able to work in London alongside such inspiring and humble greats like Jane Goodall and Sir Richard Attenborough. What I learnt was to stop and listen. Everyone has a story.

What do you like about what you do?

Working to find solutions for people who may not know what the solution might be. How exciting!

What does the future look like for you?

I’m thrilled to be working in a partnership with my colleague Shane Cortese, as we get to bounce off each other and come up with working solutions together - two skill sets of strengths and solutions make us a pretty dynamic duo. F PN RACHEL ASHTON, Sales Associate, M: 021 022 44990, rachel.ashton@sothebysrealty.com, www.nzsothebysrealty.com

THE PROFILE YOU DESERVE If you’re looking for extraordinary results, let us open your front door and be the face of your number one asset.

Rachel Ashton Sales Associate +64 21 022 44990 rachel.ashton@sothebysrealty.com

Shane Cortese Sales Associate and National Auctioneer +64 21 555 991 shane.cortese@sothebysrealty.com nzsothebysrealty.com Each Office is Independently Owned & Operated.

Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

REVVING UP FOR A MIGHTY 2018 With the year drawing to a close, 2017 has been a year of change and growth in many ways.

The New Zealand economy continues to perform strongly, while in the property market we’ve seen change in the direction of the cycle with a flattening off as lending restrictions and restrictions on overseas investors begin to bite.

For the team at Wilson Hurst, despite the market being of a stop-start nature, they’ve managed to keep busy and are very proud to have recorded their biggest month ever in September. The growth as a business has been reflected in a move to a new modern space in Albert Street.

They’ve also expanded the territories they operate in this year, moving from their traditional city and fringe focus into central isthmus suburbs like Mt Albert, Onehunga and Mt Roskill and into the North Shore. It’s been great to see the special brand of

106 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

service they’ve sought to develop as a boutique agency finding favour with clients far and wide as a welcomed point of difference.

Looking ahead, it’s hard to predict which way market activity will go next year. The lending restrictions are likely to see growth and development ease, but renewed Government interest in projects such as light rail will see new and exciting opportunities open up in suburbs previously seen as less desirable.

Whatever lies ahead, the Wilson Hurst team wish all family, friends and clients a very Merry Christmas and safe New Year holidays and all the best for a prosperous 2018!

WILSON HURST, 1/89 Albert Street, T: 09 302 8093, www.wilsonhurst.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

@ BOLT OF CLOTH 1.

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Button Cushion in rose grey and black - $79.99 Okko Christmas Heart in cream and gold - $16.95 Dog Knitted Cushion 35x49cm - $54.95 Gotoku Trivet Medium, set of two, pale blue and caramel - $47.99 Mint Cushion Cover 60x40cm in natural white, gold and white - $99 Kanta Cake Stand in white - $99 Pieni Unikko Cushion Cover 40cm in black and white - $99 Rasymatto Chopping Board in white and red - $69

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BOLT OF CLOTH, 2 Osborne Street, Newmarket, T: 09 520 5660, www.boltofcloth.com

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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CHRISTMAS @ CORSO DE FIORI 1. Baobab Sapphire Pearls candles - 10cm $149.90, 16cm $199 1

2. Pols Potten brass prickles - 18cm $59.90, 26cm $79.90, 45cm $239 3. Pols Wire gold dip white parrot $145 4. Izola brass beard comb $33.90 5. Moulin Roty Ma Poupée dolls - 26cm $49.90, 39cm $89.90 6. Izola collapsible travel cup $39

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CORSO DE’ FIORI, The Foundation, 8 George Street, Newmarket, T: 09 307 9166, www.corso.co.nz

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CURATE YOUR WORLD 1. Corso Quarry geometric bone inlay side table $949 2. Baobab Mena Hazo 16cm candle $259 3. Ibride Lazy Victoire decorative tray $159

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4. Astier de Villatte Pig platter $329.90

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5. Izola Shake, Rattle & Roll cocktail shaker $75 6. Moulin Roty kids large toolbox set $135 (small toolbox set also available $59.90) 7. Pols Potten 3D Serveware Cups (set of 4) $64, Bowls (set of 4) $80, Plates (set of 4) $91

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8. Corso rattan/cane butlers tray $225

THE FOUNDATION 8 GEORGE ST, NEWMARKET TEL 09 307 9166 | CORSO.CO.NZ

108 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

Thank you for your support over the last 25 years

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas 2017 TOP Salesperson Barfoot & Thompson, Grey Lynn branch Year ending 31 March 2017 Repekaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 25 years selling Auckland Real Estate has awarded her a substantial knowledge base.

Combined with 25 years of shining client testimony and you have one very approachable Property Expert.

027 499 0855 I r.lelaulu@barfoot.co.nz

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SUMMER LIVING @ COAST With the warmer weather finally here we are excited to be using our fantastic new 'Outdure' deck at the back of our shop on Ponsonby Road to its full lounging potential.

It's the perfect place to view our Marine Beans outdoor beanbags, cushions and fabrics in their natural environment. Our lovely range of SunbrellaÂŽ fabric can be used for a multitude of interior and exterior applications and its ideally suited for New Zealand conditions. Come and see our range in store and get some inspiration. We have beautiful range of New Zealand made bags, textiles and accessories for Christmas gift ideas.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a sun-filled summer holidays with family and friends. Thank you to all the local community for their support this year and we look forward to 2018.

Customer parking: Behind the shop on Colin Shaw Lane. F PN COAST NEW ZEALAND, 77 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 354 4552, www.coastnewzealand.com

ASKEW.CO.NZ 2B JERVOIS ROAD

110 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

09 378 1414

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

COMING BACK HOME...

With Christmas around the corner, and the promise of barbeques and beaches on the horizon, I have been reflecting on what 2017 has taught me.

Earlier this year I took a trip abroad with my partner. Being fortunate enough to take an extended break in the middle of New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winter was a treat, and we were excited by the adventures in store.

We had an amazing time, but an accident near the end of our travels reminded me of whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s truly important in life. Knowing we were coming back home - to our home - is what got us through this challenging event.

It also caused me to reflect on what a home is - is it a home, or just a house? Is it just a roof over our heads, where we eat, sleep and keep our things? An investment for the future or is it more than that, a place which nourishes the soul?

Over the years I have bought and sold many properties, but the one thing they have always shared is a feeling of home.

Returning to our haven made me realise that the sanctity of our own homes is vital to our wellbeing, and that my home really is where my heart is.

Now, with summer blooming all around and new adventures to be had, I will be appreciating every moment in our home and looking forward to 2018.

So, what does home mean to you? F PN ANAH JORDAN, M: 022 127 9080, T: 09 376 3039, www.barfoot.co.nz

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HANNAH MCQUEEN - A POINT OF VIEW ON AUCKLAND PROPERTY Property paper millionaires: why you should treat your new CV with caution.

It doesn’t matter how often we’re told that council valuations are not actual valuations and often bear little resemblance to the sale price, every three years there’s intense interest in what the latest figures say, and an acknowledgment that the banks pay attention to the values, even if a future buyer may not.

When the council last published them in 2014, interest from property owners was so immense the council’s website crashed under the weight of a million page impressions in a single day.

The council’s server might be more robust these days, but our fascination has not changed.

Back in 2014 the average value of properties in the Auckland region rose 34% to put the total value of Auckland property at an astounding $474 billion dollars.

But given sales data shows average house prices in Auckland have surged north of a million dollars in the ensuing three years, the 2017 update was always going to show a significant leap and it did not disappoint. Average values surged a whopping 45%.

The response this tends to provoke is we all think we’re 45% richer. Consumer spending has a very established pattern of mirroring what happens to house prices. When house prices cool, so does our enthusiasm at the till but when house prices boom, the banks lend more, meaning people borrow more and consequently spend more.

However, there are a number of reasons why you should be wary about taking your CV as gospel and planning your next home renovation. Obviously, you should always be a little wary of the CV, as it’s a mass assessment of property values and the council does not and could not inspect every house. But this time around you should be even more wary because there are other factors affecting the property market to be considered.

For a start, house prices are currently off the boil and have been for much of the year.

While back in 2014 prices were in the midst of a phenomenal climb, they’re now falling on an annual basis for the first time since 2007. Then, there’s the fact immigration is likely to be limited under the new Labour/NZ First Coalition Government. Without a doubt, the fact an extra 140,000 people made Auckland home in the past three years without being met with a corresponding rise in new housing supply has pushed prices up further.

Supply still has an awful lot of catching up to do, but a change in the number of arrivals will change the dynamics. The impact of the impending ban on foreign buyers is more difficult to quantify, as the data suggests foreign buyers might make up to 3.1% of sales nationally, and 4.9% in Auckland. That data, however, counts trusts, corporations and those on student and work visas as local tax residents so doesn’t give a complete picture.

Record low interest rates have also played a major role in boosting house prices, and while the Reserve Bank doesn’t envisage raising the OCR until 2019, bank interest rates have started to creep up regardless. While it’s only incremental, given the size of Auckland mortgages small increases can still result in material changes to your repayments, which brings me to my final note of caution - debt. Household debt peaked this year at 167% of household income, the highest it’s ever been. Many households could not withstand even more debt, whatever the supposed ‘value’ of their house.

So, when you get your letter from the council in your mailbox, consider - what does your CV actually mean - other than a likely hike in next year’s rates bill? F PN ENABLEME, T: 0800 897 898, www.enableMe.co.nz

CONSIGNMENT - SHOWCASES INVITING COLLECTION OF HOME FURNISHINGS Consignment was developed because we know that, as people, we constantly redesign our lives and our spaces. So it seemed like a no-brainer to offer a showroom in which to on-sell investment pieces at competitive prices.

Consignment is a first port of call for interior designers, people with a keen eye for style, those looking to down-size, up-scale or simply wanting that unique designer piece for their home, apartment or beach house.

Consignment provides an alluring way of showcasing gems for our homes. The spacious store seamlessly marries much-loved quality pieces with the timelessness and luxury of new and pre-owned designer pieces. It’s a brilliant way of providing quality pieces at affordable prices!

We take the stress out of moving things on. Selling online can be very challenging and frustrating, often with a disappointing outcome. Consigning with us is easily done with a phone call, email or even a text. We take it from there and showcase the items in a beautiful space alongside some of the best designs in the world... Driade, Minotti, B&B Italia and Liaigre.

It’s an inviting collection of furniture, homeware, and art. Our goal is to not only to be a showroom/gallery, but to act as a social hub too. The showroom is a great venue for pop up installations, exhibitions and special events and we have hosted art, jewellery and clothing events here this year.

You are all warmly invited to stop by for a visit, stay a while and enjoy the unique vibe.

CONSIGNMENT, 2A Railway Street, Newmarket, T: 09 524 0084, www.consignmentfurniture.co.nz

112 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

CLOSER TO A HOME THAN A SHOWROOM Welcome to Consignment . . . where we present opportunities for you to on-sell or purchase quality furnishings at reasonable prices. We have created an exciting, original space in which we showcase and sell contemporary designer pieces and iconic European brands on your behalf: Philippe Starck, Poltrona Frau, Cassina, B&B Italia and more! Our focus is on moving beautiful designs from one home to another and our model benefits both the buyer and the seller.

We offer a great return for vendors and provide affordable designer furniture for those looking to buy.

Summer is fast approaching and now is the time to complete those renovations at home or the beach house in time for Christmas. And speaking of . . . our exclusive candles from the famous Hotel Costes Paris are the perfect gift.

View our website or visit us in our showroom to see what’s on offer . . .

CONSIGNMENT furnishing. décor. lifestyle.

consignmentfurniture.co.nz 09 524 0084 2a Railway St, Newmarket, Auckland

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FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT

All good things must come to end, or so we are told Unfortunately, this is one of those times. Golden Dawn, that wonderful bar on the corner of Richmond Road and Ponsonby Road, will be closing its doors in March 2018.

They announced this a month or so ago, letting their patrons and friends know that, "The pop-up that never popped is going out with a bang." They've provided Ponsonby with a highly enjoyable music venue for seven years but it's time to move on. They've got plans to keep the music going right up until the end, so keep an eye on their Facebook page. A quick peruse will alert you to Estere, Open Top, Flying Out's Record Club, Water and Emily Fairlight gigs, and that's just in the first week of December. We'll miss you Golden Dawn, and we hope someone fills your colourful shoes in Ponsonby in 2018.

I thought I'd do what I normally do at the end of the year, and have a look at the year that's been and then a look at the summer coming up.

There are a handful of albums that you should listen to, if you haven't already. In no particular order, I'll start with the fuzz-pop Morningside from Fazerdaze. A finalist for the Best Alternative Artist at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards in November, Fazerdaze has spent the year touring the world, with stops in Europe, America and Southeast Asia. The pop album is driven by lush ideals, nostalgia, warm guitar tones and frontwoman Amelia Murray.

Aldous Harding is someone I've written about for Ponsonby News before, and her album Party is one of the most interesting folk albums released in 2017. It challenges listeners, with intense lyrics and layers to unfold. Harding won Best Alternative Artist at the Music Awards, with stiff competition from Fazerdaze and Nadia Reid. Harding will be performing at St Jerome's Laneway Festival on Monday 29 January in Albert Park.

My own bias towards folk music aside, Nadia Reid's album Preservation is a stunning album showcasing the artist's beautiful song writing and a perfect second album that cements her in public consciousness. Nadia, Aldous and Lorde all managed to nail the second album this year, something that can often be a tough ask, as an artist tries to evolve while staying true to the sound that has garnered them fans.

Finally, if your music interests sway toward hip-hop or rap I'd highly recommend SWIDT's debut Stoneyhunga. It's not something I'd often find myself listening to, but it grabbed me. Songs are interspersed with skits and interludes and it all creates a narrative of their life.

The album is chock full of references to New Zealand and Auckland specifically. The album starts with a skit 'The Bus Depot' where they're waiting for a bus and need two-stage tickets. SWIDT are playing at Wondergarden Festival on New Year's Eve at Silo Park.

The summer ahead is already looking busy with music and festivals.

I've highlighted Wondergarden in October but that's just the start of what's looking to be one of the busiest Auckland summers for music.

As usual, Summer in the Square will be going on at Aotea Square, with an eclectic mix of music every day of the week.

Auckland Folk Festival returns for its 45th year over Auckland Anniversary Weekend, with a mix of local and international folk artists.

Laneway owns Anniversary Day Monday, taking over Albert Park with a spectacular line-up.

Looking further afield, Auckland City Limits, the Auckland Arts Festival and WOMAD have all announced their line-ups for March dates. Those are well worth looking at and putting in the 2018 budget!

Have a wonderful summer! (FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT) F PN

Fazerdaze

114 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

SOUTHBOUND RECORDS Kerry Buchanan gives us an insight to Southbound Records...

There’s a scene in 1982s Fast Times at Ridgemont High demonstrating the appeal and signification of the record store. In a typical 80s mall record store, a self-styled Romeo imparts his wisdom to a lesser teen being: “When it comes to making-out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV.” In this contemporary era of digital technology where ‘consuming’ music doesn’t require leaving your home, record stores have garnered talk of extinction. Now though, the talk is of renaissance, partly due to the renewed interest in the vinyl format - those big, beautiful black circles lovingly encased in art works (yes, art works).

To get philosophical and sub-textual, record stores are a return to physicality and presence: you move around, touch things, talk to people and get empirical. It’s a site of cultural dispersion: you interact, know things, and feel good about yourself.

Southbound Records is one of these places, some say it’s the best. Boasting New Zealand’s largest range of new vinyl, sourced locally and elsewhere, it’s a specialist genre store, split into many varied worlds of music: Americana, Country, Folk, Soul, Disco, Jazz, Reggae, Dub, Hip Hop, Electronica, Afro Beat, Avant-Classical. Care is taken in obtaining quality pressings, with an impressive selection of ‘audiophile’ labels. There are rare and interesting second-hand items, and the necessary accoutrements of cleaners, brushes, slip mats, record crates, inner and outer sleeves.

The staff, decades deep in the record industry, are infused with all sorts of arcane knowledge and communicate a love and respect for music in all its myriad forms. F PN Southbound Records: 132 Symonds Street, Eden Terrace, T: 09 302 0769, www.southbound.co.nz/shop/

@ SOUTHBOUND RECORDS 1. Soul Jazz Records - Dancehall - The Rise Of Jamaican Dancehall Culture 3LP 2. The Clash - London Calling LP 3. Spin Clean Vinyl Record Cleaning System

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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1

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SOUTHBOUND RECORDS, 132 Symonds Street, Eden Tce, T: 09 302 0769, www.southbound.co.nz/shop/

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FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT

Welcome to the Golden Age I'm quite confidant in calling this shot, Great North's 'The Golden Age' is going to be my favourite album of the year.

It's in esteemed company, there have been some absolutely fantastic albums, many that have convinced me it's time for a vinyl collection.

I guess that was destined to happen. See my other article for a brief list of some of the albums you might have missed this year.

Hayden Donnell (frontman, songwriter and one half of Great North) sent me the album, in his dry and slightly sarcastic way, with a disclaimer of "I hope you like it." Boy, did I. Their last album, Up In Smoke, was one of my most listened albums of 2015 and still sees regular play, both online and on CD. I believe they are truly deserving of being twice Tui winning artists. Not only have they produced (now four) beautiful albums, but they are all different and draw on different instrumentation, production and themes.

'The Golden Age' is perhaps the closest to the stage persona Hayden gives off. The album looks at those moments, regrets, joys of the past, not only in sorrowful light but in a kind of reminiscent ideal. As if they were the best times, as if they were the times to remember, the better days, but I think there's an acknowledgement that there will also be better times ahead. The album looks to be constructive with this reminiscing, not to wallow in it.

Great North are currently in Europe, they have been for most of 2017. Hayden and Rachel are the husband and wife core of Great North now, as they in some ways always have been. They'll surround themselves with hugely talented musicians, some from the early days of Great North and some new, but at its core are Hayden and Rachel's harmonies and duets.

This first third of the album ends with the title track, 'The Golden Age', with its pedal steel twang and the upbeat acoustic guitar returning.

We're brought to earth with Hayden's trademark acoustic guitar and Rachel singing 'Until the Road Runs Out'. This one conjures up memories of 'Halves', their second album, and the duo show you'll often see live. A delicious guitar solo from Jonathan Pierce rounds out the song.

We're treated to some calm and Hayden alone in my personal favourite, the beautiful 'Good Company', before some of the most perfectly placed with brass backing. If the first four songs of the album are a hard-hitting alt-country, this middle section (or the beginning of side two if you're on vinyl) is the EP that you listen to on the bus home from one of your favourite gigs.

Find a quiet place, put your best headphones on and really listen to this album. The lyrics are probably Great North's best yet, and the production (Jonathan Pierce and Hayden), ingeniously presents the songs. The little repeating motifs, the repeating ideas and layered brass and choir rewards a deep listen. Find it on vinyl, listen to the two sides as they're intended to be heard, and admire the way the PN tracks have been placed together. (FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT) F

photography: Strahan Cole

The Golden Age is bigger, with much more of an alt-country twang to it. Hayden has doubts it's even folk. I know he loves Bruce Springsteen and Ryan Adams and you can hear this on the new album - what we call Americana. But the lyrics, the stories Hayden tells, they're still quintessential Great North, just with a bit of a louder and heavier backing. Oh, and some rowdy electric guitar solos.

You stop and take a breath after track four. These opening four songs are probably the reason I've come back to the album so often already. I love EPs, and the difficulty I often have with albums is they meander a bit much for me. The Golden Age doesn't suffer from this, it gets you into the meat of the album before you even know it.

'Things We Never Did' driven by piano and the harmonica you'll come to know quite well, shows off the new alt-country sound, with electric guitar ringing through and a driving drum part keeps things moving.

There's no stop as we move into 'Better Days' (which has a most marvelous video you must watch).

Great North Finn has a Bachelor of Science with honours degree, and is currently studying to become an Early Childhood Teacher. In his spare time, he is Programme Director for the Auckland Folk Festival and runs folk music website, www.secondhandnews.nz

116 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE PREMIERE PERFORMANCE TO BENEFIT HOMELESS Auckland Gay and Lesbian Singers (GALS) is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a performance of Street Requiem on Tuesday 5 December.

Street Requiem is a globally renowned choral work that seeks to bring a sense of peace, remembrance and hope to communities and individuals working to end homelessness and violence on the streets. This performance will be the New Zealand premiere.

Composed in Melbourne in 2014, Street Requiem is a highly accessible, contemporary work including English, African and Greek lyrics alongside a modern setting of the traditional Latin texts. While at times deeply moving, the work is essentially optimistic and uplifting. The composers have utilised gospel, Celtic, neo-Romantic, neo-Baroque, indigenous and contemporary genres and instrumentation to reflect the multicultural and multi-faith traditions of modern city living.

Street Requiem will form the second half of the eveningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event. GALS will be joined on stage by other Auckland choirs for the requiem, including the Auckland Street Choir who will perform some of its own pieces. Proceeds from the event will go to Lifewise, Rainbow Youth and the Auckland City Mission working together to end homelessness. F PN www.ticketmaster.co.nz/GALS-Presents-The-Street -Requiem-tickets/artist/2412115

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ARTS + CULTURE @ OREXART Richard Adams - LX 7-22 December Opening: 7 December, 5-7pm

Later this year, Richard Adams returned to his boyhood roots for a month-long residency at Wellesley School for boys in his old stomping ground, Wellington. He enjoyed the opportunity to revisit areas that he now realises inspired his passion for surfaces and landscapes; the harbour (looking across to Eastbourne), the often changeable and very specific light, rugged seaside towns, everything weather worn, in some state of decay.

A bus shelter right across the road from Wellesley School was perfect resource for a project of translating surfaces during his residency.

Adams’ latest body of work for LX is a culmination of paintings he began during his residency in Wellington. He says he uses an historical colour palette grown from memory and feeling about impressive scenery. Using the language he has developed over the years to translate the views and imagery he finds inspiring, LX celebrates Richard turning 60, his love of painting and on-going dedication to his art practice.

Please contact rex@orexart.co.nz for details. F PN OREXART, 15 Putiki Street, Arch Hill, T: 09 378 0588, www.orexart.co.nz

Hold the Line

JONES THE PAINTER @ THE FRAME WORKSHOP Ross Jones’ paintings are all about telling stories. They are a mixture of seemingly perfect places and events. But like all good stories, not everything is as it seems.

Shadows create just enough intrigue to tip the balance between a serene or sinister scene. Every person has a slightly different take on what’s happening. Sometimes the story is simpler than we think. Other times a simple scene may hide a complex situation.

Jones' prints are now available in a smaller version as a Presentation Pack, either framed or unframed. The Presentation Pack is available at The Frame Workshop. F PN THE FRAME WORKSHOP & GALLERY, 1/182 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 4749, www.frameworkshop.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE @ WHITESPACE Foreign Correspondence: Kerry Ann Lee, 5-24 December When Kerry Ann Lee is not pursuing her arts practice, she can also be found DJing as her alias, Croque Madame, or working on her self-published fanzines. 2017 has been a whirlwind of activity for Kerry Ann with a residency in Mexico, and shows at Pataka, St Paul St Gallery and Te Uru. Kerry Ann Lee is a visual artist, designer and educator from Wellington who exhibits nationally and internationally. With a background in graphic art, she uses traditional and digital media to create socially engaged print and image-based works and installations.

Her art meditates on themes of home, difference and hybridity. It has also explored urban settlement and culture clash occurring in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in Chinatowns.

In 2007, Lee was the recipient of the Asia New Zealand Emerging Researcher Award.

In 2008, she created 'Home Made', an illustrated artist book and national touring art exhibition that presented an alternative cultural history of Chinese settlement in New Zealand. In 2009 she received a Fulbright Award to attend the Summer Residency Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and she was an artist-in-residence at island6 Art Centre Shanghai through the WARE Programme.

John Roy - Bauble, hand-built glazed earthen-ware

@ MASTERWORKS GALLERY Summer Show - Focus on: Kate Fitzharris, Frances Stachl and Joanna Campbell Open until 23 December

A survey of works created in Shanghai was shown at Toi Poneke Gallery in Wellington in 2010. A work commissioned by The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa was shown for 18 months and featured on the covers of Art News New Zealand and Art Zone.

Her artwork can be found in print, online, and in public spaces and private collections throughout New Zealand, Australia, Europe, US and China. F PN WHITESPACE, 12 Crummer Road, T: 09 361 6331, www.whitespace.co.nz

Masterworks Gallery rounds off the year with This Unconquerable World, an exhibition of 17 mixed media and ceramic pieces from Kate Fitzharris.

“I’m always thinking in stories, make believe and true - being surrounded by this immense world and remembering: part sheela-na-gig ancestral heritage, part childhood toys, part my mother’s and grandmothers’ handiwork. Part surrenders and part determination.”

Kate Fitzharris, 2017.

photography: Mark Tantrum

The stockroom is brim full of great gifts for the holiday season; a wide range of ceramics, stone, glass and contemporary jewellery hand crafted in Aotearoa New Zealand, making Masterworks a great place for gifts for the holiday season. There is parking at the gallery door and a range of cafes nearby, so Masterworks Gallery is also an excellent place to visit over summer.

Summer hours: 10 January-5 February, Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Open any time by appointment, call Eloise, M: 021 310 165. F PN MASTERWORKS GALLERY, 71 Upper Queen Street, T: 09 373 5446, www.masterworksgallery.co.nz Kerry Ann Lee

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ARTS + CULTURE BEAUTIFUL UMBRELLA TO TRANSFORM THOUSANDS OF LIVELIHOODS New Zealand’s Blunt Umbrellas, known for its sell-out limited editions, has joined forces with celebrated New Zealand artist, Flox, to release this season’s must-have, limited-edition artist’s series umbrella in support of Oxfam New Zealand’s ground-breaking climate change and sustainability programmes in the Pacific.

Inspired by Oxfam’s success in improving livelihoods via a more sustainable world, Blunt has combined their product’s strength, resilience and functionality with Flox’s vibrant, artistic design to create a limited-edition umbrella that gives back, in style, and is set to become Christmas 2017s hot-list gift.

For every ‘Flox’ umbrella sold, Blunt will donate $30 to Oxfam New Zealand to support transformational, sustainable crop growing programmes in Pacific nations.

“At Blunt, we’re inspired by taking a lifetime view of things. The idea behind the ‘Flox for Blunt’ umbrella was to bring art and nature to life, while also raising awareness for an important cause,” says Scott Kington, Blunt Umbrellas co-founder.

120 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

Two Flox designs will be printed on Blunt’s most popular Classic and Metro styles and to celebrate the collaboration, a ‘Flox for Blunt’ mural has been completed on York Street in Newmarket.

“It was great to secretly introduce the Flox umbrella design during Auckland Art Week in October. The excitement around it was incredible so I can’t wait to see how the umbrellas are received,” says Flox.

Just 3000 of the Flox for Blunt umbrellas are available. F PN bluntumbrellas.com

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE

Craig Freeborn studio

Kathy Barber

Rohan Hartley-Mills

Veronica Herber

UPTOWN ART SCENE Thinking back on the year’s exhibitions, the consistent creative productivity of artists is astonishing.

Working alone or in shared studios, with another job making a seven day work week, artists prioritise time away from friends and family so that art is made and shared back into the community. It’s a compulsion, and these artworks are made for reasons other than recouping their costs. They propose different ways of looking.

Several artists work in the brick building at 1a Ponsonby Road, with varied practices, from Fraser Crowe’s fashion art, a calligraphy studio, painting, even perfumery. I visited Veronica Herber in her beautifully lit upstairs studio, where she was fastidiously tearing washi paper into small overlapping pieces, fixing them onto watercolour paper to create flickering patterns. Over at Akepiro Street Studios, Kingsland, home to 15 artists, I find Rohan Hartley-Mills on his knees, constructing a work that sits between soft-sculpture, collage and painting. And just down Dominion Road from there, under the enterprising Craig Freeborn, artist-run space State combines both studio and gallery.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

These workspaces are usually open to the public during the recent Artweek Auckland and the Auckland Festival’s White Night in March. Record numbers of curious art lovers went through the Sunday School Building in Queen Street last month, where a dozen artists have studios, including Kathryn Stevens, Kathy Barber, and Matthew Browne, who has been there over 20 years!

We wish all the artists in our community a very festive season and safe, relaxing New Year! WILL PAYNT, STUDIO ART SUPPLIES F PN

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

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HOROSCOPES: MISS PEARL NECLIS

What your stars hold for December ♐

Sagittarius (the Archer): 23 November - 22 December Taking your time this month may give you some benefits, so make sure you don’t run as soon as you see your goal in the distance! Everyone knows you can be eager but show them that you do have patience.

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

You are about to take charge of something that’s important to all concerned. Take your time over it and you’ll be thrilled with the results, as will someone you’re trying to impress.

♒ Aquarius (the Water Carrier): 21 January - 19 February

You mustn’t let anyone make you feel inferior to them just because you believe a little differently. Don’t rise to the bait and you’ll achieve what you're aiming for.

♓ Pisces (the Fish): 20 February - 20 March

♊

Gemini (the Twins): 22 May - 21 June Don’t let anyone boss you around this month. Just because someone is unhappy with what you’re doing doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dreams.

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

You always say yes before you realise that you can’t take on any more work. You are more than capable of finishing anything that you have started. This doesn’t mean you have to say yes to everything.

♌

Leo (the Lion): 23 July - 21 August You don’t seem to be able to motivate yourself to climb that last hurdle this month.

You’re not in the mood to do mush but if you make the extra effort it will all be worth it.

♍ Virgo (the Virgin): 22 August - 23 September

You’ve been trying to get to the bottom of something that has been bothering you for a long time. Listening to yourself instead of your peers will uncover the truth.

You can decide on which parts of your life you want the world to know or you can keep yourself hidden and under wraps. Whatever way you go you can choose when and what to reveal.

♈ Aries (the Ram): 21 March - 20 April

♎ Libra (the Scales): 24 September - 23 October

Don’t become all self obsessed just because not everything is going right for you. You have good friends who will point out the error in your ways as long as you listen.

♉ Taurus (the Bull): 21 April - 21 May

Your emotional button seems to be very easy to push this month. Make sure you don’t turn a ripple in to a wave when you really should be floating along enjoying yourself.

Anything you overhear has to be taken with a pinch of salt. You know you have an over active imagination. But you may be in for a surprise if you keep your ears and eyes open.

♏ Scorpio (the Scorpion): 24 October - 22 November

Don’t show your anger this month when you thought that you were going to be rewarded for all your hard work and you aren't. Try not to grasp at straws that are clearly not intended for you. Just take your time and you will get what you want.

PONSONBY NEWS OUTLETS FREEMANS BAY

NEWMARKET

Ecostore, 1 Scotland Street Glengarry, Corner Sale and Wellesley Streets Kellands Real Estate, 4 Drake Street New World, Victoria Park

Rugs Direct, 108 Carlton Gore Road

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 Raw Essentials, 401B Richmond Road Ripe, 172 Richmond Road Tapac, 100 Motions Road Vetcare, 408 Great North Road

NORTH SHORE Rug Direct, Wairau Park Dawson’s Furniture, Mairangi Bay

PARNELL Jane Daniels, 2 Birdwood Crescent Parnell Community Centre, 545 Parnell Road

PONSONBY

Atomic, 420c New North Road

Askew, 2b Jervois Road Bayleys, 305 Ponsonby Road Countdown, 7 Williamson Avenue Harcourts, 89 Ponsonby Road Leys Institute, 20 St Mary’s Road The Longroom, 114 Ponsonby Road Mag Nation, 123 Ponsonby Road Paper Plus, 332 Ponsonby Road Ponsonby Community Centre, 20 Ponsonby Terrace Servilles, Corner Jervois & Ponsonby Road Studio One, 1 Ponsonby Road Whitespace, 12 Crummer Road

MT EDEN

WESTMERE

Citta Outlet Store, Corner Enfield & Normanby Road Sabato, 57 Normanby Road Studio Italia, 25 Nugent Street

Glengarry, 164 Garnet Road

HERNE BAY Herne Bay Post & Stationers, 240 Jervois Road Five Loaves, 206 Jervois Road Icing on the Cake, 188 Jervois Road Momentum, 182 Jervois Road

KINGSLAND

122 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2017

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

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

THE PONSONBY PINK PAGES

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE DEADLINE--20TH 20THOF OFTHE THEMONTH MONTH

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Best wishes for a Happy New Year Ã&#x20AC;OOHG ZLWK KHDOWK DQG KDSSLQHVV +DSS\ +ROLGD\V

Karen Spires AREINZ 027 273 8220 karen.spires@bayleys.co.nz Bayleys Real Estate Limited, Ponsonby, Licensed under the REA Act 2008.