PONSONBY NEWS - JULY '20

Established: OCTOBER 1989

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF PUBLISHING HISTORY!

JULY 2020

HOSHIAR PALANI & WIFE, AREZO KHOSRAWI

Meet the team behind Deus, Grey Lynn Barber’s Shop - p27

ponsonbynews.co.nz

For Rent

9 Sussex Street, Grey Lynn Available for rent / $1,070 per week - enquire now Warm and incredibly welcoming, this elevated villa offers abundant natural light with the sun streaming into the north-facing living spaces and onto the deck. Perfect location close to Ponsonby & Kingsland, while Grey Lynn Park is a short stroll away.

For Rent

15 Arthur Street, Freeman’s Bay Available for rent / $1,500 per week - enquire now Just a stroll to Ponsonby, what an opportunity for families / exec couples to enjoy a city fringe lifestyle in a beautiful character home. Wonderful views to the city and harbour from the upstairs deck, and a private garden below to get away from it all.

Louise Trembath

Dinah-Jane Johnston

Senior Property Manager

Assistant Property Manager

021 473 073 louise.trembath@customresidential.co.nz

021 473 031 dinahjane.johnston@customresidential.co.nz

Property Management

F rom th e te am at C ustom :

Thank you!

For supporting small local businesses like ours.

It means a lot.

Custom Residential Real Estate Sales & Property Management Cnr of Great North Road & Bond Street, Grey Lynn

(09) 360 4860 customresidential.co.nz CUSTOM RESIDENTIAL LTD - LICENSED REAA 2008

INSIDE THIS MONTH

006 LETTERS 007 FROM THE EDITOR 010 DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW 016 PIPPA COOM: COUNCILLOR FOR WAITEMATA & GULF 018 PLASTIC FREE JULY 019 RICHARD NORTHEY, WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD 024 U3A PONSONBY 024 PREDICT WEATHER.COM 027 JOHN ELLIOTT: COVER STORY - DEUS 028 NIKKI KAYE: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP 030 GREY LYNN AND AROUND 031 PONSONBY PARK 034 SNOW ADVENTURES 040 EAT DRINK & BE MERRY 044 VEG FRIENDLY: GARY STEEL 046 VINEYARD DESTINATIONS 050 FASHION + STYLE 053 LIVING, THINKING + BEING 056 TADHG STOPFORD 060 PONSONBY PETS 062 FUTURE GENERATION 065 PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS 070 TRAVEL BREAKS 071 HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS 083 ARTS & CULTURE 088 MAP OF WESTERN BAYS 090 PEARL NECLIS: HOROSCOPES 091 PONSONBY PINK PAGES COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Connor Crawford

PONSONBY NEWS is published monthly, excluding January by: ALCHEMY MEDIA LIMITED, P.O. BOX 47-282 Ponsonby, Auckland 1144, T: 09 378 8553, www.ponsonbynews.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS is printed on paper sourced from sustainable, well managed forests and manufactured under the environmental management system ISO 14001.

PRINTED BY WEBSTAR, AUCKLAND. ISSN 1177-3987

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@ponsonbynews @Ponsonby_News @ponsonbynews

Vineyard Destinations For a weekend escape or some last minute school holiday fun. There’s such an array of vineyards up and down the country that choosing where to go first might be the biggest challenge.

Vineyard towns offer a full range of activities, so you can easily plan a weekend or longer holiday that suits everyone’s tastes and taste buds. With Air New Zealand offering extra flights during the school holidays and more accommodation available than usual this could be your best winter break yet - P46.

EDITOR/PUBLISHER: MARTIN LEACH M: 021 771 147 martinleach@xtra.co.nz or martin@ponsonbynews.co.nz DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: JAY PLATT M: 021 771 146 jayplatt@xtra.co.nz or jay@ponsonbynews.co.nz AD SALES & CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: ANDREA KAHUKIWA M: 021 689 688 andrea@ponsonbynews.co.nz ADVERTISING SALES/AD DESIGNER: MELISSA PAYNTER M: 027 938 4111 melissapaynter@me.com OPERATIONS MANAGER: GWYNNE DAVENPORT M: 021 150 4095 gwynne@ponsonbynews.co.nz CONTRIBUTING MUSIC EDITOR: FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT M: 021 134 4101 finn.huia@gmail.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: JOHN ELLIOTT M: 021 879 054 johnelliott38@outlook.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER: ARNA MARTIN M: 021 354 984 arna@cocodesign.co.nz ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Within New Zealand $49. By cheque or credit card in NZ$. Please note: we do not hold back issues of Ponsonby News.

Our archive is all online as pdfs. Please visit www.ponsonbynews.co.nz The entire content of this publication is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechaal, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without the prior permission, in writing, of the copyright owner. Colour transparencies and manuscripts submitted are sent at the owner’s risk; neither the publisher nor its agents accept any responsibility for loss or damage. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher can accept no liability for any inaccuracies that may occur.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LETTERS & EMAILS

CYCLEWAYS: OUR SALVATION OR AN EXPENSIVE FLOP? Cities are arenas of competing philosophies and forces – and our city is no exception.

They’re places where big ideas and personalities can grab their future and right now in Auckland it seems that we’re all in on cycleways and the rejection of cars. Rather than burn bandwidth on the political personalities and institutions involved - it’s the philosophy on which the whole construct is based that’s pertinent.

The case in cities for people predominant public spaces is a global trend away from cars to cycles and e-powered personal transport is an easy sell – at least philosophically. When it comes to global trends, we’re usually if not belatedly enthusiastic adopters. A trip to Auckland Art Gallery’s permanent collection; it’s all there – from impressionism, to cubism, to pop art, op art and photorealism.

Faithfully recreated. What’s harder to spot is our own style. It’s difficult not to get an uneasy feeling as I watch my beloved, idiosyncratic, theatrical K Rd being saved from its gritty self by urban renewal fundamentalists, faithfully recreating someone else’s idea of utopia. It brings to mind the immortal US military quote from the Vietnam War: “it was necessary to destroy the village… in order to save the village”.

Who knows it might just work. But the early signs aren’t good.

Down went the blousy insolent Magnolias to be replaced by every kiwi urban designer’s fever dream Photoshop cliché; Nikau Palms.

Gone are the car parks and all their untidy buzz to be replaced by straight cycleways; it seems straight lines are the predominant design imperative.

Where street traders used to sell op clothing off racks under the awnings on the K Rd Bridge – you know, real street life, is now seamless glass and open sky. No provision or thought (that’s the problem right there) for informal trading, which ironically could play well for cycle traffic. The block to Ponsonby Road has all the stark charm of a gun barrel.

Now imagine this process being repeated across Auckland’s other unruly but super vibrant neighbourhoods like Sandringham… Well you get the picture.

Much of this homogenisation is based on the concept of a wholesale migration to cycling and e-scooters, and the multi millions being spent on their new street corridors testifies to that.

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And while there’s simply no doubt their use is and will increase, it is here where ideology and the real life of our citizens collide.

Putting aside Auckland’s rainy climate, hilly streets and urban sprawl it’s yet to be established that the city will embrace cycling on the scale envisaged. With Old Mill Road and West Lynn being embarrassing flops, now banished like ex whizz kids to the basement room, perhaps the most vulnerable are the shops and services along these newly minted cycleways.

Strip shopping without street traffic dies as people migrate to malls and their drive-in convenience. It’s easy to test this hypothesis by imagining Ponsonby Road stripped of its street parking then trying to say it wouldn’t effect trade.

Though car ownership in New Zealand will consolidate and become predominantly electric and 5G enabled self-driven and personalised for aging mobility, it is essentially here to stay as anyone who drives to the beach, to friends, to go shopping or for road trips intimately knows - it’s part of our lifestyle.

And it is indeed ironic that hitherto voices on the left usually aligned with anti-car sentiment are now bound to support a role for cars in our urban mix. Where in places like K Rd we can have less car parks rather than none, with shorter times for picks-ups and drop offs, coffee stops and impulse purchases that can help save these fragile commercial eco systems, without relying solely on cyclists and buses for their salvation, a pray and hope approach might be ideologically intoxicating but will it enhance or destroy our city neighbourhoods in the process?

Phil O’Reilly, Newton THE WATER CRISIS CONTINUES On 20 May I lodged a LGOIMA (the local body equivalent of an official information request) seeking copies of the two letters relating to the delays in obtaining consents to draw down further water from the Waikato River that Mayor Goff sent to David Parker, Minister of the Environment.

The Act requires that the request is actioned within 20 working days or the reasons given as to why it is not going to be actioned, which can be appealed. Well 20 days have passed and I have received neither. One speculates on why – is the Mayor’s filing system in such a mess that they can’t find the letters, or is there something in the letters that they don’t want to see “the light of day”, or is it just bureaucratic laziness? I’ll leave it to you to decide.

Keith McConnell, keith@keithforwaitemata.com

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FROM THE EDITOR

photography: Connor Crawford

The Ponsonby News team say love local, support local and shop local - support our local businesses!

Local sustainability heroes, Grey Lynn 2030 Waste Away, will take Plastic Free July to the next level with the exciting launch of The Koha Cup Project.

Participating Grey Lynn cafes include: Bread & Butter Bakery & Cafe, Crumb, Tart Bakery, Urban Jungle Cafe, and The Coffee Store at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market. Support the Plastic Free July movement and your community by getting your #KohaCup today - P18.

One of the things many of us missed during lockdown was getting our hair done, which is why all the barbers and hairdressers are now flat out. Our cover stars this month are Kurdish refugees Hoshiar Palani and his wife Arezo Khosrawi, co-owners of Deus Hair and Barber Shop in Grey Lynn. Reasonable prices, friendly service, very little waiting, and the opportunity to meet a lovely new New Zealand couple - P27.

There is a slope and ski resort in New Zealand to suit every kind of snow adventure you can think of. Whether you are a competent snow athlete or are thinking of planning your very first snow experience, the land of the long white cloud is a winter wonderland of choices. With fewer international tourists, Kiwis can take a breath and enjoy the vistas minus the crowds, nab some bargains and enjoy the buzz and thrills of being on top of our snow-capped world - P34.

GAME, SET & MATCH

Are you in need of a weekend escape? With such an array of vineyards up and down the country, choosing where to go first might be the biggest challenge. Vineyard towns offer a full range of activities, so you can easily plan a weekend or longer holiday that suits everyone’s tastes and taste buds. With Air New Zealand offering extra flights during the school holidays and more accommodation available than usual this could be your best winter break yet - P46.

This month we reveal three very different types of local business, and how differently they had to deal with level 3 and 4 lockdown. Those interviewed called on locals to shop, eat and drink locally to help local businesses get back on their feet - P78.

Our new Ponsonby News magazine stands have been popular and the magazines have been going quickly. While delivering along the Ponsonby strip last month, I had a queue waiting to get their Ponsonby News fix. You can also read us online and on our new app which will be finished by next issue. (MARTIN LEACH)  PN

M AT T & RYA N N 1 I N G R E Y LY N N*

Our love for real estate is causing a racket!

Proud sponsors of West End Lawn Tennis Club

Matt O’Rourke 021 375 909

Ryan Harding 021 621 580

m.orourke@barfoot.co.nz

r.harding@barfoot.co.nz

* G re y Ly n n b ra n c h - ye a r e n d i n g M a rc h 2 0 2 0 *#2 Individual Salesperson Central Auckland 2020

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

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Open Week at Western Springs College/Ng-a Puna O Wai-orea provides a brilliant opportunity for prospective parents and their children to view the future of education in one of the most up to date and striking pieces of school architecture in New Zealand.

Designed by Jasmax, the new ‘Springs’ is a ‘state of the art’ learning environment, a “21st Century Hogwarts” as the current students characterise it! Shortlisted for both the NZ Institute of Architects Design in Education Award (result to be announced in August) and a Property Council Award (also due for announcement later in the year) the school is much more like a university or tertiary environment than a traditional school building.

Visitors, and there has been a constant stream of these hosted by Principal Ivan Davis, shake their heads in disbelief at the environment that has been created. “There is no way that this can be a school!” is a frequent refrain. The interior environment – furnishings, climate control and acoustic treatment make for an environment conducive to learning and particularly collaboration - a key component of 21st century pedagogy.

The $96 million complex comprises six core components: • the 3 storey Ken Havill Centre for Learning (1,420 students); teaching block for Nga- Puna O Waiorea, • the 2 storey Waioteao the Maori Immersion Unit (280 students); - Performing Arts Building; • the Whare Tapere Maori • the Gymnasium and Fitness Centre; • the Whare Puoro Music Suite, and • the indoor/outdoor Cafeteria.

The attractiveness of the new school is reflected in average attendance rates of 93 to 95 percent which are 13 to 15 percent above the national average. Post Covid lockdown attendance has been particularly strong as students take advantage of the joy of social interaction with their peers in their wonderful new school environment.  PN WESTERN SPRINGS COLLEGE, 100 Motions Road, T: 09 815 6730 www.westernsprings.school.nz

Western Springs College photographer Dennis Rachermacher, courtesy Jasmax

LOCAL NEWS

Western Springs College photographer Dennis Rachermacher, courtesy Jasmax

Open Week at Western Springs College/Nga- Puna O Waio-rea

8 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

OPEN WEEK

WESTERN SPRINGS COLLEGE - NGĀ PUNA O WAIŌREA MONDAY 27TH - FRIDAY 31ST JULY A UNIQUE INSTITUTION WITH STUDENTS TAUGHT IN ENGLISH OR MĀORI MEDIUM IN OUR BRAND NEW CAMPUS. School tours with the principal will take place from Monday 27th July to Friday 31st July 2020, at 9.15am to 10.30am.

Please register for a tour on our website www.westernsprings.school.nz, or alternatively if you prefer, contact the school office and we will be only too happy to book a place for you and your family.

Phone 815 6730. There is a limit of 40 families per tour.

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

9

LOCAL NEWS

David Hartnell: One minute interview with JP JP is a Frenchman, now a Kiwi, who uses comedy magic and circus art to entertain.

I have seen him perform many times and he always amazes me. JP is one of New Zealand’s best entertainers. He is one of a kind, so talented and an amazing entertainer.

What is your idea of a dream holiday?

Rajat Ampat Indonesia, which is one of the best untouched diving spots on earth. I love diving. I go there as often as I can.

How did you get started as an entertainer?

I don’t think you start being an entertainer, your either are or not.

I truly believe that I was born to be an entertainer.

Tell us what is he most kiwi thing about you?

That is very easy, it’s my passport!

How did you entertain yourself during lockdown?

I had a five year old boy, and a wife in lockdown with me. I gave myself this challenge to make a video or post everyday called ‘A Frenchman confined to NZ’. That was a lot of fun and quite challenging. From day one until day 34 you can see the videos on my Facebook page ‘Le Cirque de JP’ and Instagram: @presentingjp You are an award winning magician and a member of the Brotherhood of Auckland, magicians who meet at the Surrey Motor Inn in Grey Lynn. What happens when magicians meet up?

They can’t talk about anything other than magic, and discuss new magic tricks and how we can improve the old ones. They are a great group of people always ready to help with new ideas. It is great to be with other likeminded entertainers. I’m very lucky to be a member of the club.

What was your childhood like in France?

Normal, well that was until I discovered wine ha ha!

Do New Zealand audiences differ from French audiences?

I think New Zealand audiences are like diesel cars, very shy, slow to start, but once warmed up they are great.

Do you come from a show business background?

Not at all. My mum looked after my brother and I and my dad was a carpenter. Unfortunately my parents divorced when I was 12.

I reconnected with my dad 18 years later (this is a too long story to go into here) at the age of 30; he told me that he was a professional magician. That is a true story. Now how crazy is that, us both ending up as professional magicians and neither of us knowing that until we met up all those years later. True life is sometimes like a soap opera.

Complete the sentence: I will die happy if...?

I can get good French wine in heaven. I live in hope.

What’s your favorite TV show and why?

I don’t have a TV at home and never have.

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Do you like an aisle or window seat on a plane?

As long as it’s business class I don’t mind.

What job would you do other than your own and why?

Working in eco environmental, a project to protect our oceans. I was proud to be part of this eco volunteering project two years ago with my best friend in Indonesia to protect and replant corals. There is a video link I made on my YouTube channel about it (Le Cirque de JP) a truly beautiful experience, so good to feel useful and give it back to nature. The title of the video is Les Bajos Mission komodo 2018 Coral Guardian.

How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who never took life too seriously and hopefully brought happiness and craziness into people’s life to make them happy.

What is your favourite time of the day?

Morning, I always wake up with lots of energy.

What is your most treasured possession?

This is the easiest question to answer. It’s my son.

Is there anything that you are insecure about?

My answers to your questions.

Tell us something very few people know about you.

I studied at the Circus School in France and I worked as a flying trapeze artist.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Dancing for sure – between you and I - I dance like a broom stick.

What is your greatest weakness?

Not much filter when I speak, everything is funny to me. I don’t take many things seriously which sometimes gets me into a lot of trouble - need I say more?

Do you have a party trick?

Well, remember David, I’m a magician, so I have hundred’s of party PN tricks! (DAVID HARTNELL MNZM)  PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY —

Custom Residential Ltd | Licensed REAA 2008

4/29 Douglas St

This beautiful city-fringe one bedroom home plays homage to the 1960’s original design, while showcasing a full sensitive renovation bringing together the best from the present and eras past.

Chic coastal vibe downstairs, sumptuous retreat upstairs you’ll immediately feel at home. @keith.dowdle FB.com/keithandsandydowdle

On the market with

Keith & Sandy Dowdle 021 877 905 keith.sandy@customresidential.co.nz

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

It’s a team effort... we couldn’t do it without our contributors CONNOR CRAWFORD

JOHN ELLIOTT

I am a working artist and photographer with a colourful and rhythmic perspective. I enjoy shooting the front covers of Ponsonby News.

I am the founder of Ponsonby News and write for the magazine. My career has included politics, education and publishing. My interests include the environment, the economy and social justice.

DAVID HARTNELL - MNZM

KEN RING

FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT

KERRY LEE

GARY STEEL

NIKKI KAYE

For the last 53 years I’ve been a freelance entertainment journalist and author. I’ve lived in the Grey Lynn area for nearly three decades; I have met and interviewed some amazing people.

I work as a booker, promoter and festival programmer. Active in all areas of the music community; folk music is my specialty.

I am a veteran writer and editor and run two websites – Witchdoctor and Doctor Feelgood – focusing on my interests in music, technology, and the wellbeing of the planet and its denizens.

My yearly NZ Weather Almanacs began in 1999. During the tragic 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, my work created international interest. I currently live in Ponsonby.

I’ve been a freelance writer for a year now, and what I love most are the wonderful people I’ve meet along the way. #best job.

I’m the local Member of Parliament for Auckland Central including Waiheke and Great Barrier Island. National Party spokesperson for Education and Sport and Recreation.

HEIDI PADAIN

PHIL PARKER

HELENE RAVLICH

PIPPA COOM

A freelance writer and copywriter for almost 20 years, I have written for publications all over the world and couldn’t imagine myself in any other job.

I am Councillor for Waitemata- and Gulf ward on Auckland Council. Formerly, Chair WaitemataLocal Board.

JOHN APPLETON

ROSS THORBY

More than a nature photographer, I am a storyteller, a visual narrator and environmentalist who seeks out bird stories begging to be told.

I have a keen interest in nutritional medicine and how it may be used to support people with chronic illnesses.

Journalist and published author, I have had a career involving both wine writing and hosting boutique wine tours in the Auckland region.

I have had a wanderlust for travel ever since I was old enough to own a passport. Since I discovered cruising, I have become unstoppable.

MEET THE MEDIUMS

Hettie Mentzer, Clinton Arnold & Melody Allport Saturday 25 July From 1.30pm to 3.30pm Entry: $20 Please join us afterwards for a delicious afternoon tea and a chat. Lucky number basket.

25 New North Road, Eden Terrace / www.goldenlight.org.nz

12 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

T R O P SUP

a n u p a k Ta !

N I W d an 2x $5,000 shopping sprees in Takapuna 20th May to 31st July Simply spend $20 or more in one transaction in any participating Takapuna business to receive an entry code, then enter online to win Enter: ilovetakapuna.co.nz

One shopping spree will be drawn at the end of June, and one will be drawn at the end of July.

Ts and Cs apply. For more information, visit: ilovetakapuna.co.nz

Designed with support from the team at

LOCAL NEWS

Local Market Wrap with Charlotte Kofoed The greater Ponsonby market has perhaps surprised us on the upside over the last month with higher than expected buyer turnout at open homes, multiple bidders at many auctions and quality properties selling well under the hammer or not long afterward.

Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) statistics for May show the greater Ponsonby area (Ponsonby, Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Freemans Bay and Westmere) saw 31 completed property transactions, with a median sell price of $1.64 million dollars, up 8% on May 2019. The median price level was likely supported by significantly less available stock, with twice as many sales in May 2019.

1. A skilled salesperson, formally trained in auction campaigns who can bring multiple bidders to the auction day.

I make a point of attending at least three auctions each week in order to keep my clients updated on fresh sales in their street. What I have seen has confirmed my view of some recurring themes of successfully concluded sales in May and June:

3. A leading auctioneer who can conduct an auction in an exemplary manner in all market situations.

• Original or sympathetically renovated villas, bungalows and terraces within the area continue to have strong appeal.

• Auctions are being utilised in the post-lockdown marketplace as a conduit for successfully concluding post-auction negotiations generally one to two days following. This is even happening with properties recently marketed with a different sale method.

• Vendors investing in solid marketing campaigns in conjunction with an auction campaign are usually selling their properties within a shorter timeframe compared to other methods of sale in the current market.

Auction, Priced or By Negotiation?

It is my view that in the current greater Ponsonby market a well-run auction campaign holds the strongest potential in most scenarios to effectively sell property. There are a number of reasons for this, however in times of increased uncertainty the auction process allows vendors to better verify unconditional market value, and buyers to validate where others also see value in the property in question.

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There are three key factors to a successful auction campaign:

2. Investment in an effective marketing package to maximise buyer reach.

New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty are proud to utilise award winning Mark Sumich as our Auckland auctioneer. I have sold many properties in conjunction with Mark, who has an innate understanding of our area and is always happy to chat with my clients about auction strategies and advice.

The Winter Market I mentioned last month that if you were considering selling, the current winter period represents a window of opportunity to list your property prior to spring when there may be a larger seasonal pool of properties for sale.

While it has been challenging to reconcile expert opinion about what’s in store for spring and beyond, we do know that buyers are currently very much engaged and focussed, with consistent clearance rates and pent up demand from pre-lockdown sellers who are now buying.

Stock levels are seasonally reducing, so it is my opinion that sellers can have confidence going to market over July and August.

CHARLOTTE KOFOED, M: 021 241 9394, T: 09 353 1220, www.ckre.co.nz, E: Charlotte.kofoed@nzsir.com

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

CHARLOTTE KOFOED

SPECIALISING IN PONSONBY AND SURROUNDING SUBURBS Charlotte has an innate understanding and appreciation of the city-fringe suburbs, particularly the greater Ponsonby area.

With this comes an honest connection with home owners and potential purchasers alike. Charlotte knows what it takes to earn the trust and respect of her clients. She is committed to providing a comprehensive and personalised service, has a high level of attention to detail and takes pride in implementing innovative marketing campaigns.

Talk to Charlotte about your buying and selling requirements.

CHARLOTTE KOFOED M +64 21 241 9394 | charlotte.kofoed@nzsir.com ckre.co.nz

SOLD

SOLD

11 West End Road, Herne Bay

2 Prosford Street, Pononby

SOLD

SOLD

1 Kent Street, Ponsonby

20 Telpher Street, Freemans Bay

nzsothebysrealty.com Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ.

LOCAL NEWS

Pippa Coom: Councillor for Waitemata & Gulf Ponsonby Road led the way in adopting a slower and safer 40km/h speed limit over 10 years ago.

Sadly that didn’t stop the recent tragic death of Gregory Spooner, 37, who was killed when a driver crashed into him at the Hopetoun intersection. Police haven’t made all the details about the crash available but we do know that a person walking being hit by a vehicle at 30km/h has a 90% chance of survival compared to 20% at 50km/h. Setting safe speeds is one the quickest and cost-effective ways to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

From 30 June 2020, most of Auckland’s city centre will have a speed limit of 30km/h (the current 10km/h combined pedestrian and vehicle zones will remain). Speed limits on Hobson, Fanshawe and Nelson streets will be reduced to 40km/h instead of 30km/h. In addition, Auckland Transport will implement engineering treatments on these arterials to protect vulnerable road users like people walking and cycling. This is part of a first phase roll out of more than 600 selfexplaining and high-risk roads with new and safe speed limits.

This was a major milestone that I had worked towards with many other road safety advocates including Living Streets Aotearoa, Bike Auckland, Brake NZ, the road safety charity, and NZ School Speeds.

Vision Zero is an ethics-based approach that puts human life ahead of any other benefits and has now been adopted around the world.

Road crashes will happen, but what we need to do is to make them “survivable” when people inevitably make mistakes. Survivable means that people involved in a crash should be able to walk away rather than be carried away by first responders.

No matter what causes a crash, speed is the undeniable factor in whether a crash is likely to occur and whether it kills or seriously injures those involved. Evidence also shows that for every additional kilometre of speed, the chances of getting involved in a fatal crash are at least four times greater.

Slower speeds in the city centre will create a safer environment for everyone and complement the initiatives underway to extend peoplefriendly areas to make physical distancing easier. Auckland is falling into line with international best practice and joining communities aspiring to a transport system where nobody dies if someone stuffs up.

The benefits extend beyond lives saved. Safer speeds are a procommunity and pro-business response. Lower speed limits have the potential to improve traffic flow, improve fuel efficiency, reduce pollution and noise. Fewer severe crashes mean fewer time delays and decreased business interruption.

The work towards the roll out of lower speed limits began with the Auckland Council Planning Committee’s September 2018 resolution requesting Auckland Transport to accelerate the road safety and speed management programmes and seek input from partners to make Auckland a Vision Zero region. In September 2019 Auckland Transport’s board approved the Vision Zero strategy for the Auckland region.

West Lynn will benefit from a safer speed roll out by June 2021 but there are no plans at this stage to revisit the speed limits on Ponsonby Road. The safety improvements for Hopetoun Street have also been delayed by Auckland Transport even though part funding was secured from the local board. The next phase of the safe speeds programme needs to be rolled out urgently across the city as PN everyone deserves to get home safely. (PIPPA COOM)  Contact Pippa Coom via pippa.coom@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Three things to be grateful for daily helps your mental health.

So here are four things I’m grateful for after our lockdown from Covid-19.

G I M B L E T T G R AV E L S | H AW K E S B AY

1. I’m grateful that the Ponsonby News is back in print because hard copy is better than computer screens.

2. I’m grateful to be able dance, hug and look people in the eye.

3. I’m grateful that we’ve made a positive step forward for the democratic process by Waitemata- Local Board publishing the recording from the first Skype public meeting during lockdown. The second one failed but the transcript provided a better description of the meeting and public forum than the usual minutes. Hopefully it won’t be too far away for live videos of public meetings and workshops to give true public engagement in the decision making process for our city! Then individual board members won’t be able to make decisions like that made on Tuesday, to keep service vehicles out of part of Queen Street during trading hours without a care of how that might impact those business, especially while they’re already trying to recover financially.

I find that this simple practice daily of four simple things to be grateful for, just before bed helps me to go to sleep with positive thoughts... however, I do sometimes find it hard to stop at three.

4. I’m grateful for a government who have put kindness and compassion before the money. I’m ever so grateful to be in Aotearoa NZ and not dropping like flies as is happening in the rest of the world.

GAEL BALDOCK, Community Advocate, Westmere

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W W W. S Q U AW K I N G M A G P I E . C O . N Z

Have your say on the future of Waitematā Our local board has come up with a three-year plan outlining the key initiatives we want to focus on to help our communities thrive and support the recovery from the impacts of COVID-19.

Now we need your help to check if we’ve got it right.

So love local and get vocal about your community by having your say. Submissions must be received by 4pm, Thursday 13 August.

For more information, a copy of the draft Waitematā Local Board Plan 2020 and to provide your feedback go to akhaveyoursay.co.nz/lovelocal

.

Toget her we can love local

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

17

LOCAL NEWS

Western Springs College students who created many of the #KohaCups will be delivering them to participating cafés on a bicycle tour on 1st July.

Grey Lynn kicks off PLASTIC FREE July with The Cup Project!

This year local sustainability heroes, Grey Lynn 2030 Waste Away, will take Plastic Free July to the next level with the exciting launch of The Koha Cup Project.

You might recognise the group from their table at the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market. They have now partnered with more than 25 local organisations, businesses, and schools with the goal to further reduce the use of single-use coffee cups in our community over an eight-week period beginning 1 July 2020, coinciding with the first day of Plastic Free July.

Used glass jars have been collected and together with our wonderful local schools, teachers, parents and volunteers, heat-bands/cupcozies have been sewn to go around them, upcycling wannabe trash into unique, individual #KohaCups. These will be offered as takeaway coffee cup alternatives in five local Grey Lynn cafes from 1 July. All you need to do is bring your jar back and the café will commercially wash it, and you get to hold onto your very own, handmade heat-band!

The project was originally scheduled for March, however due to COVID-19, the launch was postponed. With the crisis now behind us, Grey Lynn 2030 Waste Away is thrilled to report that the interest and involvement from the community to get the project back up and running has been outstanding. Lockdown didn’t stop enthusiasm for the #KohaCup project. Many of our locals have crafted more cup heat-bands as part of their creative pastime, and once back at school, students have also joined in. The group is also spurred along by the cafés rigor to get back on board, with even one more café joining the cause.

18 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

Want to get involved? It’s easy for everyone to participate and help make a difference in our community by reducing pollution and waste to landfill.

Jars can be donated at Richmond Road Countdown (in the designated trolley/ box), the Grey Lynn Library, or the Grey Lynn Farmers Market.

For information on accepted jar sizes, how to remove the labels, and updates on the #KohaCup Project, visit our Facebook page www.facebook.com/GreyLynn2030 To volunteer or find out more information email: infogreylynn2030@gmail.com.

Participating Grey Lynn cafés include: Bread & Butter Bakery and Café, Crumb, Tart Bakery, Urban Jungle Café, and The Coffee Store at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market. Support the Plastic Free July movement and your community by getting your #KohaCup from 1 July!

Schedule of the #KohaCup cycle tour on launch date, 1 July 09:30am Bread & Butter Bakery and Cafe - 34 Westmoreland Street 10:00am Crumb - 37 Ariki Street 10:15 am Tart Bakery - 555 Great North Road 10:30 am Urban Jungle Cafe - 575 Great North Road

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS High Street footpath widening

Richard Northey: Waitemat-a Local Board Chair Richard Northey July 2020 We all need to remind ourselves that the COVID-19 pandemic has not entirely gone away.

Most of our Council facilities have now reopened, but pool hours may be reduced because of the drought and we all need systematically to reduce our water use. Auckland Transport tried to help people stay safe and socially distant with temporary widening of space for cyclists and pedestrians on some main streets.

They are likely to keep trying out best ways of doing this in Queen Street and elsewhere to make streets safer for all road users. We have advocated to make Collingwood Street safer by banning right hand turns from Ponsonby Road. Most of Freeman’s Bay and the Central City will have a 30km/h speed limit from 1 July because of its high accident rate.

Most of our work and daily activities will still be done from our homes. I have been delighted to get back to the YMCA to resume my fitness programme. I can still be contacted at 021 534 546 or richard.northey@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz and the staff at waitematalocalboard@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz The Waitemata- Local Board members continue to hear from people concerned about the future of the Leys Institute Library and Gymnasium, including meeting David Britten, conductor of the famous Leys Orchestra. The Board made an urgent decision to lease premises for the library at 14 Jervois Road for three years. I was delighted to be present when the Leys Little Library opened, with the same hours as the Old Leys had.

Council staff are researching what to do with the Leys buildings and how best to restore them and the services they provided. This is complex work, which means the options for the future of the Leys will not be presented to us until our business meeting in August or September. We very much hope that these lovely iconic buildings can be restored to their former glory for library services and other public use.

We have been engaging actively with young people and others in the community about our proposed Waitemata- Local Board Plan. I’d like to thank everyone who shared their vision for Waitemata- with us by giving us your ideas; these have helped to shape our draft plan. At our 16 June Board meeting we were gratified to formally approve and make public our draft Plan, which we have been steadily working on since our election last October.

This draft identifies six major outcomes: Maori Identity; Connected Communities; High Quality Urban Design; Environmental Protection; Safe and Diverse Transport; and Economic Prosperity. Throughout it there is an emphasis on recovery and resilience from the impacts of COVID-19 and a commitment to act on combating the climate emergency. Next, all those living or working in Waitemata- will be

Richard Northey and Lucia Mataia at Little Leys Library

asked to have their say on our draft Local Board Plan which sets our proposed strategic direction for the next three years. Consultation on this Plan will commence 13 July and continue until 13 August.

Our 16 June meeting passed a comprehensive motion from Alex Bonham on protecting the biodiversity of the Hauraki Gulf. We also requested an investigation about the appropriate location and balanced signage for colonial era monuments.

Auckland Council’s proposed ‘emergency budget’, its response to the financial impacts of COVID-19, is to be decided by the Governing Body this month. Because COVID-19’s impacts have reduced Council income by $525 million, even with a 3.5% rate rise there probably will be substantial cuts to the infrastructure projects, maintenance and community services provided by the Council.

We are concerned that cuts may result in the lengthy postponement or cancellation of the Ponsonby Park project at 254 Ponsonby Road and of the restoration of the Leys Institute and in cuts in valued Council services like the opening hours of libraries and pools. Our Board intends to strongly oppose most proposed cuts to community, environmental, climate change and transport safety services and in favour of a temporary increase in Council borrowing to fund them.

Fortunately, the Ponsonby and Grey Lynn Community Centres are entering the second year of three-year funding agreements and their grants will not be affected.

We are very much aware that some people will find it difficult to pay their rates this year. However, Council has developed policies for postponement and rebates to help, and people in this situation should not hesitate to contact Council to apply for this relief. The Ministry of Social Development has finally taken over from Council in providing food parcels and advice for those who have unexpectedly PN lost their income. (RICHARD NORTHEY) 

Contact Richard Northey, Chair of the Waitemata Local Board, northeyr@xtra.co.nz, facebook.com/waitemata PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

19

LOCAL NEWS

Above: Axel Mk3 2.44m dining table $4,669 , Crystal rectangular chandelier $6,419, Biohazard bar cabinet $7,959, Shaggy sofa chair $5,849 Below: Shabby 3 seater in savage leather $7,979, Shabby LHF 1 seater sofa $4,939, Shabby corner seat $5,729, Shabby RHF 1 seater sofa $4,939, Shabby coffee table $5,229, Cabana yeti armchair $4,999, Spur side table $6,609, Gyro floor lamp $1,789 Available at Dawson & Co.

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20 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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DAW S O N & C O .

LOCAL NEWS

How quickly Ponsonby has bounced back from the Covid-19 lock-down I must admit that as we - as a community and nation - worked our way down the Covid-19 levels from four to three to two to one, I thought our re-emergence from enforced social hibernation would be gradual and somewhat timid. Particularly in my field of expertise – being real estate.

Wow... far from it. We in and around Ponsonby have powered back to life with Beauden Barret-like pace – particularly under levels two and one.

And since the first day of life under level two in mid-May, I have sold more than $18 million worth of homes in Ponsonby and its neighbouring suburbs.

From a ‘high street’ perspective, I’m picking that energy simply mirrors the core of Ponsonby’s neighbourhood vibe.

• A fully refitted character 180 square metre home in 23 Rose Road, Grey Lynn.

We are a pretty social lot around here - whether it’s out shopping, eating and drinking, or simply taking the dog for a walk.

Under level two our retail and food and beverage scene certainly blossomed back into action, and then when level one kicked in, boy did hospo’ come back with a vengeance.

A quick retail survey I conducted on the first full weekend back in level one – okay, I walked down Ponsonby Road during the middle part of the evening – was an eye opener. It was like the week before Christmas. The usual suspects were packed to the gunnels with customers back out enjoying life to the fullest.

And it’s been the same with real estate in Ponsonby and its surrounding neighbourhoods too. Rather than a gradual lifting of activity, for many of my vendors at least the return to levels two and one has been at breakneck speed.

During the first two weeks of lockdown level four, I received 10 offers for homes listed on my books. Two of those offers were from expatriate Kiwis who had never viewed the properties before but were keen to get back ‘home’ to New Zealand.

This swathe of successful transactions has included:

• A spectacular designer home at 14 Crummer Road – complete with designated and fitted-out commercial office space for a small business/enterprise.

• A two bedroom/two bathroom/two living area home at 34 William Denny Avenue, Westmere, which sold art auction.

• A restyled four-bedroom bungalow – complete with fully functional sleepout space – at 20 Albany Road in Herne Bay which had an asking price of $2.65 million.

• An entire boutique apartment complex in Crummer Road consisting of three two-bedroom residences – one of which is the dual level penthouse suite – and a separate ground level commercial space.

As some of these sales were by negotiation, and are therefore deemed private, I can’t reveal the exact sales price at this stage until that is officially registered with the Land Information office.

Like Ponsonby’s retail and hospitality sectors, I’m keen to keep the business momentum racing along – and while I still have a good number of residential properties for sale, I have an ‘overhang’ of buyers who missed out on some of those homes which sold in the past two months, and who are keenly looking for other alternatives in the locale. (BLAIR HADDOW)  PN www.facebook.com/BlairHaddowResidential

On the market

9 FRANKLIN ROAD, FREEMANS BAY Elevated and delightfully renovated, this classic villa is ready to live in or take to the next level. Generous open plan living, dining and kitchen opens out onto an extensive rear deck with panoramic city views.

Stairs lead down to the private, manicured lawn. The large master suite includes an ample walk-through wardrobe and ensuite, whilst the remaining two bedrooms are both generously sized and share their own separate hallway with the family bathroom. Leave the car at home in the off-street carpark and walk to Ponsonby Road. Franklin Road is very special and homes here are tightly held. This is an absolute must view. www.bayleys.co.nz/1671317

22 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

102/25 POLLEN STREET, GREY LYNN Part of the boutique Nexus block, this stylish two bedroom architectdesigned apartment is on the doorstep to Ponsonby Road’s cafes, boutiques and nightlife. Entertain in the expansive open plan kitchen, dining and living area, which boasts floor to ceiling doors that open up to provide an unparalleled sense of space and light and spectacular views over Grey Lynn. High spec amenities include double glazed windows, underground carpark, secure entry, a fully equipped kitchen and luxe master suite. Spend your time enjoying life and secure your own central cosmopolitan oasis. www.bayleys.co.nz/1671315 PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

BLAIR HADDOW LOVING, LIVING & SELLING GREATER PONSONBY Blair Haddow 021 544 555

blair.haddow@bayleys.co.nz bayleys.co.nz/blair-haddow BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, PONSONBY, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Freemans Bay, 9 Franklin Road

Grey Lynn, 2/386 Richmond Road

For Sale Auction (unless sold prior)

For Sale Auction (unless sold prior)

Grey Lynn, 102/25 Pollen Street

Herne Bay, 20 Albany Road

For Sale Auction (unless sold prior)

Sold June 2020

A LT O G E T H E R B E T T E R

Re s i d e n t i a l / Co m m e rc i a l / R u ra l / P ro p e r t y S e r v i ce s

LOCAL NEWS

Ponsonby U3A: June 2020

Dr Gavin Ellis

Normal monthly meetings will resume in July for Ponsonby U3A! However, members didn’t languish during lockdown. Ponsonby U3A was kept alive by Zoom, enabling the majority of special interest groups to continue meeting, learning and socialising. Members embraced the new (to most of us) technology and enjoyed using it. With the uptake so great, President Christine Hart, decided to hold a Zoom general meeting in June for all members in place of what would have been the normal monthly meeting. Members responded and ‘gathered’ in their own homes to hear from one of our most respected speakers, Dr Gavin Ellis, well known media commentator, researcher and former editor-in-chief of NZ Herald.

He entitled his address ‘Good News After Bad News.’ And bad news there had been. The bad news is that journalism has taken a body blow during the Covid-19 Crisis.

“Since the announcement that the country would move into lockdown, close to 600 people employed in the news media have lost their jobs: 237 when Bauer closed down its entire New Zealand magazine operation, 200 from NZME including the closedown of Radio Sport, and 130 from the beleaguered MediaWorks (but not from TV3, because MediaWorks was trying to flog it off). AGM closed three architectural magazines. There will be others that passed without notice.”

Media company cashflow during lockdown declined up to 70 per cent, but Dr Ellis said that was by no means the whole story. “The most forthright explanation probably came from across the Tasman – from the executive chairman of Murdoch’s News Corp. Michael Miller.

Announcing the printing suspension of 60 newspapers in Australia, he said” Covid-19 didn’t create this crisis but it brought it to a head.”

Dr Ellis analysed the current situation, explaining losses in various areas of the media and possibilities for the future. Such possibilities

for the ongoing viability for the media included state-funded options, commercial variations of staff shareholding and a trust model aimed at sustainability rather than profit distribution.

“I don’t pretend to hold the answers to the media’s plight. There is a real need for innovation and some truly blue skies thinking. But I’m optimistic. Someone once told me that there are cathartic moments that can be exploited for positive change. Covid-19 is our cathartic moment and, just as Bauer took advantage of a crisis, so can we, but with much more positive outcomes.”

Guest speaker for the July meeting, which will be held back at the St Columba Centre in Vermont St, Ponsonby, will be plastic surgeon Michazel Klaassen.

There are 26 U3A groups across Auckland. Ponsonby U3A was established in 1994 and has an enthusiastic membership of mostly retired people. It attracts people with life experience and some leisure time, who want to keep learning and to meet new people.

As well as a monthly meeting with a guest speaker and a 10-minute speaker from the membership, there are 25 special interest groups, said to be the lifeblood of U3A. It is in these groups that people follow their interests and passions. Members take turns to research and lead discussion on a chosen topic and meetings are lively, with all contributing from personal knowledge and experience. Groups also include outings to places of interest and leisure activities such as Petanque, concert and theatre going, and dining out.

Guests are welcome to attend a general meeting to see if U3A is for them, but are asked to first contact Christine Hart. (PHILIPPA TAIT) NEXT MEETING: 10am Friday 10 July at St Columba Centre,

40 Vermont St, Ponsonby.

ENQUIRIES:

Christine Hart, President, Ponsonby U3A, T: 027 289 5514, www.u3a.nz

Ken Ring: Auckland weather diary, July 2020 – weather by the moon July is expected to be wetter, cloudier and warmer than the monthly average. The first three weeks are likely wet and overcast, while the last week may be mostly dry.

The wettest days may be at the beginning of the month and the end of the third week, with driest days possibly in the last week. The only dry weekend is likely to be the last one. Atmospheric pressures should average about 1010mbs. Wind directions may prevail from the southwest.

For fishermen, the highest kingtide may be around 5th. The best fishing bite-times in the east are at dusk on 4th-7th and 19th-22nd, (and in the west around noon on those days). Chances are also good in the east for noon of 12th-14th, and 27th-29th, (and in the west around dusk on those days).

For gardeners, the 1st-4th and the 22nd-31st are the best sowing days (waxing moon ascending). The best pruning days are 7th-18th (waning moon descending). For longer shelf-life for crops, harvest on the 15th or 30th when the water-table is low. Allow 24 hour error for all forecasting. (KEN RING)  PN For future weather for any date, see www.predictweather.com

24 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

John Elliott: Forget retail therapy - this is the age of the conscious consumer China won’t take our rubbish any longer. Now, ironically, a Chinese company plans to set up a dump in the Dome Valley, just north of Warkworth.

This is a very environmentally sensitive sight, and totally inappropriate for a waste land fill. It is excessive consumption which is exacerbating this waste problem.

Take fast fashion. It is the wear-it-once culture of high street brands, manufactured at the expense of low labour costs, leading to untold waste and disposal of unsold stock.

Millions of imported products are quickly redundant when users tire of playing with them, or they crap out. While cheap plastic goods may make them more accessible to poorer people, there is a trend towards a more ethical approach to shopping, according to the World Economic Forum. What is called conscious consumption is having widespread and positive effects.

Conscious consumption is increased awareness of the impact of purchasing decisions on the environment and the consumer’s health and life in general.

It also includes the effects of media and advertising on consumers. It is all encompassing: not only what we wear but where we live, how we move, the food and drink we consume, how its ingredients are grown, processed and packaged, and what happens to the leftovers.

Earth Overshoot Day is becoming better known. This marks the date when humanity’s demand for resources in a given year exceeds what Earth can generate. That day is occurring earlier each year. In 2019, Earth Overshoot Day was 29 July, two months earlier than 20 years ago. We are accelerating towards a point beyond which nature will have lost its ability to mend itself.

So, it is heartening to hear that many consumers, especially the young, are choosing goods and services that are less damaging to other humans and the environment. It is thus disappointing to hear the plaintiff cry for New Zealanders to spend now that we are back at Level 1.

I would suggest that, as the conscious consumption team says, there is nothing wrong with consumption as long as what we are consuming is, as far as possible, good for ourselves and good for our world - the only one we have.

One of the mantras should be “buy and consume locally,” another should be, “buy and use good quality made local products,” looking after our local communities as far as possible. It doesn’t have to be “never buy overseas made”, or “never buy luxury”. It just means be conscious of what you are spending your hard earned money on, and don’t be over-influenced by advertising and marketing.

Particularly the young should be wary of so-called on-line influencers, mostly paid to promote products and services as ‘must haves’.

The upshot for Ponsonby News readers is; shop discerningly, local if possible.

PN (JOHN ELLIOTT) 

Made here Live here Love here Erin Whiting Honesty, energy and positivity is what you should expect and that’s what you’ll get.

Plus, as an accomplished sports person with a background in marketing and project management I’m also bringing discipline and determination right to your door.

Talk to a local original: Erin Whiting Residential Sales Ponsonby Branch e.whiting@barfoot.co.nz | 021 644 483

barfoot.co.nz/e.whiting

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

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LOCAL NEWS

Update from Friends of Leys Institute The Leys Institute Library and Gymnasium have now been mothballed for 6 months and are starting to look sad and neglected.

With the revised council emergency budget now out for consultation the risks to the buildings are multiplying.

Council officials stated in December 2019 that it would be up to 3 years before the buildings could be reopened, and now, with severe budget constraints on council spending, it could be much longer, or not happen at all.

Consequently, Waitemata Local Board chairperson Richard Northey has urged residents to submit on the emergency budget, advocating for funding for the seismic strengthening of the Leys Institute and the return of library and community services.

Many of the Friends of Leys Institute members have submitted feedback, and here are some of the concerns they have shared: • It would be concerning if patronage of Little Leys was reduced significantly, enabling the council to put this forward as justification for delaying or reconsidering the earthquake strengthening of our library.

• The Council is very happy to spend excessive amounts of our money on the inner city rail loop and the America’s Cup, but is failing to address the core services the city needs, such as preserving community buildings, like the Leys Institute. That work should be given priority.

• My concern is that it will be left to rot like the Tongan Church buildings in Richmond Rd. • It’s a very old stratagem of local governments to mask their longterm ideological goals of lessening public amenities and placing

public property in the hands of private speculators by panicking the public that financial catastrophe is imminent.

This is a real worry, when Finance Chair Desley Simpson stated in the Herald on 8 June “We will also need to look at how we manage our assets and consider selling buildings we can’t afford to keep”.

The presentation of a council draft report on options for community facilities in West Waitemata, including the Leys Institute has now been delayed from the 16 June Local Board meeting, until the 19 August meeting. Do keep letting the Waitemata Local Board and Councillor Pippa Coom know of your expectations for the Leys buildings at waitematalocalboard@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz and pippa.coom@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Anyone interested in becoming a member of Friends of Leys Institute can email co-ordinator Helen Geary at heleng@maxnet.co.nz, and PN follow the Friend of Leys Institute Facebook page. 

Lucia Mataia: @leys little library Happy 13th of July Matariki - Tena koutou...It’s great to be back in the community and thank you all for being so patient. We are open at our new location 14 Jervois Road, on the corner of Redmond Street and Jervois Road, Ponsonby.

This month we have a selected offering of programs to tempt you back. Book Chat will be held on the last Thursday of each month at a new location – Ponsonby Community Centre at 20 Ponsonby Terrace not far from the library. We will be in the Gluepot room 10.00am – 11.00am. Thank you to our business partners at the Community Centre for the venue. All Welcome.

Ready to Go Reads Did you know we can choose a bundle of interesting reads for you and your family? All you need to do is fill out the Ready To Go Reads form on the Auckland Libraries website. Once we have received your form, we will select five books based on your preferences. Then, we will call or email you to come and collect.

Wriggle and Rhyme plus our new Tamariki Time Our under 5 programs will start Term 3 in the Ponsonby Baptist Church Hall located at the corner of Seymour Street and Jervois Road. Wriggle and Rhyme (10.00am - 10.30am) is for newborn to toddlers and promotes movement with music and rhymes. Tamariki Time (11.00am – 11.30am) is a new program with songs, finger rhymes, stories, and music. Come to one program or stay for both.

First session begins Wednesday 22 July.

Book Chat Recommends Big Sister Little Sister, Red Sister by Jung Chang is a group biography story of three powerful sisters who helped shaped twentieth century China. One of our group read this book during lockdown and she wholeheartedly recommends it. Next up is the novel Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk.

She is the winner of the Man Booker International (2018) for her novel Flight and the 2018 winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature (belatedly awarded in 2019). Drive Your Bones was described as a ‘brilliant literary murder mystery’ by the Chicago Tribune.

School holidays Our Waitemata Libraries – Central Library, Parnell Library and Grey Lynn Library will host school holiday programs. Check out our library website for more details www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

26 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

LEYS INSTITUTE LITTLE LIBRARY, 14 Jervois Road, T: 09 377 0209, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz.  PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS In recent years Auckland has become a proud multi-cultural city.

Not well known, I suspect, is the story of Kurds who arrived here as refugees from Jordan, some fifteen years ago.

This is a charming couple. They have an eight year old daughter, and now they are getting established maybe a couple more says Arezo with a twinkle in her eye.

Two of them cut my hair in their Grey Lynn Barber’s Shop, Deus.

Hoshiar Palani and his wife, Arezo Khosrawi, are part of a group of about 250 Kurdish refugees who came to New Zealand in 2005.

Hosh was 18, the second youngest of five boys, and Arezo was just 11, third youngest of a family of six girls and three boys. Both sets of parents live in Auckland.

Hosh learned barbering from his brother in their family shop in Sandringham. They now have three shops. Arezo is a fully trained hairdresser, who learned her trade at Cut Above in the city. She has been offered jobs at several hairdressers, but prefers to work with Hosh. She wants Ponsonby News readers to know that she is fully trained and takes walk-ins as well as booked clients.

These Kurdish families left behind terrible persecution against their people. Born in Iraq, of Iranian Kurdish families, Hosh and Arezo’s families faced horrific barbarism.

Witnessing daily deaths was not uncommon. They told me of a recent case of a Kurd driving harmlessly around listening to Kurdish music, who was stopped and shot dead just for his choice of music.

Hosh and Arezo have thrived in New Zealand, but it has entailed lots of hard work. They spoke no English when they arrived 15 years ago.

Their English is now excellent.

“We had to learn fast,” they told me, “for education and for business.”

They are grateful for their safety and their freedom in New Zealand.

The lockdown was not easy. They had just bought a house on 17 January, they were determined to keep their staff, full timer William, and two part-timers. They were grateful for the government wage subsidy, and through their frugality they have retained William and kept their house. “I was just painting the fence yesterday,” grins Arezo. “A vege garden is next.”

photography: Connor Crawford

John Elliott: Deus Hair and Barber Shop in Grey Lynn

They also called for the border to be kept tightly closed until it is quite safe to allow people in. “Don’t mess it up for the sake of six weeks or so,” they pleaded.

These families have fitted seamlessly into New Zealand, and are a decided asset to our country. They believe in hard work, they hate racism worldwide, and they are so relieved to be away from the volatile Middle East. Their relatives are now scattered all over the world. Just before lockdown they had a visit from two uncles who live in Norway.

Of course we in Aotearoa/New Zealand have a bicultural history, but we are greatly enriched by our immigrants from many countries, and Kurds are clearly no exception to this rich multi-cultural addition.

Reasonable prices, friendly service, very little waiting, and the opportunity to meet a lovely new New Zealand couple. What else could you want just here in Grey Lynn.

Thank you Hoshiar and Arezo for what you add to our community your business acumen and your sterling personal qualities. A pity my lack of hair means I don’t need the care and attention you could give me if I was considerably more hirsute. (JOHN ELLIOTT)  PN

DEUS HAIR & BARBER SHOP, 505 Great North Road, T: 09 360 0005, www.facebook.com/DeusBarberShop

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

27

LOCAL NEWS

Nikki Kaye: Deputy Leader and MP for Auckland Central Over the past month I have been very busy working hard as deputy leader and MP for Auckland Central.

My parliamentary colleagues and I have been working incredibly hard to hold the government to account testing, managed isolation and quarantine issues. We have all worked together as a country incredibly well to flatten the curve. Unfortunately the management has not been acceptable in the last few months.

As you know our border management is vital and at the moment only New Zealand citizens and permanent residents are allowed into the country, with exemptions granted on a case-by-case basis.

All international arrivals still need to undergo 14 days in isolation facilities and are tested for Covid-19. Residents who live above the Stamford Plaza in Auckland were extremely worried that busloads of people could be going into managed isolation without proper consultation and a clear line of sight arrangements for separation from residents. I am concerned that the Ombudsman’s audit of managed isolation facilities starts as soon as possible given the huge number of issues in central Auckland.

I want you all to know that as Ponsonby News goes to press I am writing to the Minister and Ministry of Health calling for improvements in the border management process in order to keep the residents of Auckland Central safe. The Government must do better in its planning and preparation of quarantine systems.

National is focused on opening up our economy in a safe way. In my view, a Pacific tourism bubble has real potential. The key thing is to follow strict protocols and figure out which countries are low risk so we can ensure we save jobs and have more of our economy up and running. Tourism employs hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders so a trans-Tasman bubble would also help this sector massively. We need to proceed in a way that is based on the best scientific advice and which involves strict enforcement of health procedures. Our Tourism Accelerator grant programme will save jobs in the tourism sector by funding projects that pivot to both the domestic and Australian market.

We are very focussed on delivering a detailed economic recovery plan. Part of our commitment is to international students and bringing them in a safe way. Around 50,000 jobs are impacted by the international student sector. If we don’t move on this, more people will be out of work. We have put up a proposal which involves health checks at the border, testing, and managed isolation or quarantine.

During Level 4 I was taking calls and emails from many of my constituents with small businesses operating in Auckland Central who have been devastated by the impact of COVID-19. I have been working hard with Todd on our JobStart package, which would see $10,000 given to businesses who hire new staff, incentivising up to 50,000 new jobs.

On top of the stress that COVID-19 has placed on many businesses, water use has been restricted across Auckland. I have supported the mayor to try and ensure that the water consent is fast tracked through special legislation. Auckland has been in the queue for seven years, so it is important we get this issue resolved. I am working hard across the house to resolve this for Auckland.

Recently I announced that National will scrap teacher registration fees and fund the Teaching Council directly. Under the current proposal teacher registration costs are set to double from February 2021, which is unacceptable. The next couple of years is not the time to be increasing costs, instead we should be reducing costs as people deal with the economic crisis our country is facing. Teachers play an incredibly important role educating our communities. Throughout the lockdown, teachers across the country showed their dedication and commitment to children by teaching from home. Educators were some of our lockdown heroes. National values teachers and the vital role they play in the development of our children and the time they invest in educating kids to become lifelong learners and thinkers.

(NIKKI KAYE)  PN

You can contact me on Nikki.Kaye@parliament.govt.nz or 09 378 2088 or write to me at 48C College Hill, Freemans Bay, Auckland www.nikkikaye.co.nz

Todd Muller & Nikki Kaye

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Auckland Central My office is here for you, contact me anytime 48C College Hill Rd,Freemans Bay, Auckland nikki.kaye@parliament.govt.nz 09 378 2088 Please get in touch with my office if you would like to discuss anything with me.

Hon Nikki Kaye MP for Auckland Central Authorised by Nikki Kaye MP, 48C College Hill Rd, Freemans Bay, Auckland.

Pania Papa, Trustee Kotahi Rau Pukapuka Trust

LOCAL NEWS

A new name for the Grey Lynn Business Association Grey Lynn & Around is the new trade name for the Grey Lynn Business Association, contributing to our local hood through the support of business and community groups. We know that the present circumstances many businesses and their employees find themselves in is very daunting.

There’s no easy option out there.

Just look at the issues Auckland City has to confront in setting its rates for the year ahead. There are equally divergent views on how to do this. We know for example, that Auckland Transport’s budgets are going to be severely impacted and work we thought we might see in the year ahead, such as the remedial work in West Lynn centre, may be deferred. This is disappointing for the shop owners impacted, as well as the community who are challenged by access issues. There are more and more of these types of trade-offs that we are having to each make in our lives.

One of the most common phrases you hear today is “that you must pivot” to where the opportunities are. This is where business associations such as Grey Lynn & Around can really help – our one plea is that you join up as members – working together we can achieve so much more.

GLA has three key projects this year, each looking to drive value into individual businesses and the community.

Project 1 is targeted at our awesome creative community and leverages ARTWEEK 2020. We’re looking for artists and creatives to engage with us - both showcasing your talents and creating a further real opportunity to put our creatives on the Auckland map.

Project 2 is the Greening of Grey Lynn village – an opportunity for businesses and the local community to become involved as we transition this part of the hood to a stand out local attraction.

Project 3 is something for the café/restaurants to focus on what Grey Lynn does well, and that’s natural wholesome food. Scheduled for a month long festival in October.

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Interested in any other these three projects? Become actively involved by contacting info@GreyLynn-Around.com. We’d really welcome your involvement. We need to get great engagement to make each of these projects the success they can and should be.

At GLA we’ve had some great webinars during the past month and we’d like to thank three local businesses for their support: - Jan McNamara of Mac and Co Lawyers, Alex Melrose of Vetcare Grey Lynn, and Fiona Anderson of Prime Strategies. Further webinars are being developed.

We’d also like to acknowledge the support from Auckland City Council and the Waitemata Board for concurrently running a series of business resilience seminars.

These seminars, based on the very successful post-earthquake Kaikoura model, are critical for small businesses as all too often there is a feeling of isolation, whereas in fact we are here to support one another – a strength of belonging to our business association.

GLA is a community of 10,000 plus with around 3,000 small businesses. We are very grateful for the support received from the Waitemata Local Board who provide us with grant support to fund our business as usual activities and some of the projects listed above. Our cost for membership starts as low as $49 for 1-2 person enterprises.

In return you receive solid advocacy, support promotion, and marketing of your business. Now more than ever we would welcome your support and participation – “on a high tide, all boats rise”.  PN www.greylynn-around.com

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

Ponsonby Park – update July 2020 Our rates, directed by Auckland Council, are a major component of our local economy. Projects or services deferred or cut, and any amenities closed equate to more strain on the local economy and more Aucklanders losing their jobs.

Austerity is not the answer.

So we encouraged people to submit to Auckland Council’s “Emergency Budget” consultation that closed on 19 June. We requested that Council continue progressing the design and planning stages of the Waitemata- Local Board’s ‘One Local Initiative’ project that is Ponsonby Park - the civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road.

Although the physical development of the civic space is likely to be delayed, continuing to progress the design & planning makes practical and financial sense. The momentum for the development is maintained, jobs are created without committing to the full Capex spend at this time, and the community is rewarded for all the ongoing support and effort that has been put into the project to date.

It was 20 years ago that the need for Ponsonby Park was first identified. It has been 14 years since the site was purchased for the purpose of fulfilling this community need. Our Waitemata- Local Board initiated the ‘Community-Led Design’ process five years ago. The current Covid-19 global health crisis has impacted our nation, our people and our civic budgets. It is another substantial challenge to overcome yet we should not “throw the baby out with the bathwater”. Council needs to maintain progress on the design and planning for Ponsonby Park.

We further suggest that Ponsonby Park be provided with a meaningful and symbolic physical presence on Ponsonby Road in the meantime; that a portion of the site at 254 Ponsonby Road be made available for the community and beautified as a place for people to meet, gather, rest, and relax - until the project can be fully completed.

Ponsonby Park – we’ve already waited so long…(JENNIFER WARD)  PN

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LOCAL NEWS

John Elliott: The pied pipers enticing people to city centre The recent pandemic lockdown gave us time to ruminate about our future, and what the ‘new normal’ might, or should, look like.

In the inner city we marvelled at the relatively pollution-free air, the quietness, the disappearance of cars, the number of people walking or cycling. Many of us heard birds singing. The daily ‘passeggiata’ was enjoyable. Portents of a paradigm shift were short lived. We seem to be back very quickly to the ‘old normal’.

The ‘powers that be’, like influencers Nick Hill, chief executive of ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development ), Viv Beck (Heart of the City CEO ), and the representative of the owners of the city office building being vacated by AMP (they will relocate in both Auckland and Wellington to suburban premises), are all calling for a continuation of the madness where thousands of Aucklanders commute from the far-flung edges of Auckland to the CBD every day.

AMP somewhat set the cat among the pigeons by declaring they would leave the central city. “How dare they?” cried the custodians of high-rise heaven. “Bringing back international students is hugely important for, not just the universities, but for the CBD and the culture of what Auckland is,” pontificated Nick Hill.

What the hell does he mean by “the culture of what Auckland is”? He might have slightly modified that view after the two new Covid cases this week. Let’s work to get as many large businesses out of the CBD as we can, including AT, Fonterra, banks, insurance companies, law firms. None of these needs to be so difficult for clients to access.

They should be spread around the entire city, accessible to staff as well as clients. Too many Aucklanders waste up to 15 hours a week commuting to work each day. (The weak productivity that Hill refers to isn’t helped by hours of commuting). That has serious health, economic and environmental implications which could be substantially mitigated by good old common sense.

Maybe we can turn some office blocks into apartments - even some for foreign students when they do return. Trying to entice people, particularly our young and more vulnerable, to come to Commercial Bay, the huge new mega store, to spend, spend, spend, is irresponsible and bad advice. There have been some wise heads calling for saving, for the inevitable rainy days ahead. Otherwise we’ll have thousands of pensioners in the years ahead without two pennies to rub together, totally dependent on the state for survival. Gross consumption is not the answer.

I am a regular purchaser at Unity Books in High St. It is increasingly difficult to drive to the shop for a book I have ordered. At 81, I do not intend to go-walk-bus-walk, taking over an hour, to get to Unity Books, when I can drive there in ten minutes. I strongly support cycling and pedestrianisation of the inner city, but not complete abolition of driving.

We still need a balance, but the Unitys of this world will survive if we spread our business sector shops around the entire city. Unity Books may move to Ponsonby. I’ll help them shift. (JOHN ELLIOTT)  PN

Grey Lynn based Covert Theatre, has received a grant from the Mazda Foundation Grey Lynn based charitable arts organisation, The Covert Theatre, has received a $12,500 grant from the Mazda Foundation.

Powered by the Yes And Trust, the Covert Theatre will be using the grant to purchase retractable, tiered seating for its own theatre it is building to run its Improv School and comedy shows. The organisation offers workshop courses and a community for improv actors, comedians, writers, directors and producers at New Zealand’s only improvised comedy theatre.

Through these courses it aims to teach life skills such as confidence, collaboration, creativity, resilience and mindfulness to Auckland’s youth and community. They are looking forward to officially opening on 25 June and will have a positive impact, bringing performance and entertainment to Ponsonby!  PN www.coverttheatre.com

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LOCAL NEWS

Kerry Lee: St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church - ‘A Joyful Noise’ In 1907 church elder and former Minister of Parliament Thomas Peacock offered £400 towards the cost of a new pipe organ for St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church in Ponsonby. One hundred and ten years later, it’s now on the verge of being classed as an official heritage item.

But what does that mean exactly, and how did theirs qualify? To answer those questions, I spoke to Helen Lukeman-Fox, a professional organist, about what they had to go through and the steps they had to take to get there.

So how did it happen? Well, according to Helen it all started when the church decided to give their organ a make-over and refurbish its bellows earlier in the year. She began doing a bit of research into the different pipe organs in Auckland.

With its restoration, she realized they had a golden opportunity to see if the one in St Stephen’s could qualify for heritage level status.

“I thought, look why don’t we see if we can get category one or two?”

What’s next? Well first, the organ will have to be inspected by the New Zealand Organ Preservation Trust (NZOPT). They’ll match it up against a strict set of criteria to see if it meets the standards they’re looking for.

(As of this interview, the South Island Organ Company has verified that the organ at St Stephen’s is one of the rarer ones in New Zealand.)

To top it all off, 25 July will mark its 111th birthday. To celebrate this special occasion, St Stephen’s is planning a recital called ‘A Joyful Noise.’ Free to the public, it’ll have Helen performing a range of pieces from Bach, to Silvestri, and even some music that you’d never expect to hear from a church.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that by this time next month, their organ will be enjoying its new status and will remain a part of the community for another 111 years.

“It’s an asset to the local area as it’s a fully working engineering marvel that was created here in New Zealand by a George Croft, a local organ builder. I think that’s something we can all be proud of.”

For more information about St Stephen’s or news about ‘A Joyful Noise, please visit www.facebook.com/Ststephensponsonby

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Broken River Ski Basin, photography Claire Newell

LOCAL GETAWAYS

SNOW ADVENTURES

There is a slope and ski resort in New Zealand to suit every kind of snow adventure you can think of. Whether you are a competent snow athlete or are thinking of planning your very first snow experience, the land of the long white cloud is a winter wonderland of choices.

With fewer international tourists Kiwis can take a breath and enjoy the vistas minus the crowds, nab some bargains and enjoy the buzz and thrills of being on top of our snow capped world.

Cardrona Ski Field

We have gathered all the inside information, tips and recommendations from the resorts across the country to help you make the most of the upcoming winter and spring snow season. We’ve talked to everyone from the reservation teams at luxury hotels to ski travel specialists and Ponsonby locals who know their snow.

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Chateau Tongariro

THE NORTH ISLAND SLOPES There are a wide range of different places to stay from back packers and homes-to-rent to motels and 5 star luxury hotels and lodges. For the easy classic getaway there is something romantic about booking a room in the historic Chateau Tongariro at the base of the mountain. It’s picturesque and with so many facilities on site it’s an easy and luxurious way to enjoy a few days on the snow with everything you need in one place. Just call the reservations team, they are super helpful and can help you find the best rooms and rates for your family or group.

Whether you stay on the Whakapapa side at Tongariro National Park or - side in Ohakune there are a great range of restaurants, bars, the Turoa

Chateau Tongariro, Rua Lounge

Ruapehu is an easy four hour drive from Auckland and offers a choice of two ski fields; Whakapapa and Turoa.

and cafes to enjoy. The general manager of Visit Ruapehu, Jo Kennedy, explains it’s hard to choose just one to recommend but suggests readers check out the www.visitruapehu.com site for a comprehensive list of places to stay and eat and great suggestions for all sorts of outdoor activities in the wider Ruapehu area.

T-uroa

- has the longest vertical drop in Australasia? With great chair lifts and excellent infrastructure it offers all the modern Did you know Turoa thrills and adventure. Ohakune offers it’s own unique nightlife with fabulous bars, restaurants, the perfect ingredients for après ski activities and fun.

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LOCAL GETAWAYS

Isabel Pasch and family of Bread & Butter Bakery and Cafe, enjoy snowboarding and skiing at Turoa

Isabel Pasch of Ponsonby’s Bread & Butter Bakery and Cafe is a season pass holder at Ruapehu ski fields. A keen snowboarder, Isabel, her husband and her boys (who ski) get down to the slopes as often as their busy work schedule allows over winter. “I love Turoa, when it’s not windy. The view on a clear day is just unbelievable and the size of the field is great for families. Basically our kids just go off on missions by themselves all day, we just meet them for lunch,” explains Isabel.

After a full day on the mountain, if you have the energy, there is the fabulous tradition of unwinding and socialising at a nearby mountain bar or cafe - aprés-ski. “We sometimes do the classic aprés ski thing and go to the Powderkeg. It’s great with kids as well, as they have a large entertainment area with pool tables, darts etc for older kids.

So perfect, if you have a gaggle of moody teenagers in tow, they have somewhere to go to and you can enjoy a couple of drinks in peace,” says Isabel. Other options that are family friendly around the ski resorts include Pihanga Cafe under the Chateau Tongariro in Whakapapa, the Macrocarpa Cafe, and the Station Cafe in National Park Village.

Of course it’s all about getting amongst the snow and this year’s season pass will give you access to both Turoa and Whakapapa. Mt Ruapehu CEO, Jono Dean, explains that the ski season this year will be - and Whakapapa fields a little different but anticipates that both Turoa - won’t will be open from 1 July. “This year the beginners fields at Turoa be open, but it’s only a 15 minute drive from Ohakune to Whakapapa.

If you’re trying skiing or snowboarding for the first time in 2020, Jono recommends Happy Valley. “It’s a stand-alone beginner ski area with multiple carpet lifts, some of which are even covered. It’s a great sheltered ski area with gentle terrain that’s ideal for first timers to the snow,” says Jono Dean.

It’s well worth checking out the beginner packages available at Happy Valley as these make it so easy to organise the first time family trip to the snow to get everyone enjoying fun on the slopes faster. The first timer package includes: hire of skis, boots, poles, or snowboard and boots & bindings, plus a lift pass and a 1hr50m group lesson and a sightseeing pass to Knoll Ridge on the Sky Waka for $179 for an adult and $139 for a youth (5-17yrs).

Whakapapa A great choice for families, especially this season, the Whakapapa ski fields are totally family friendly. Happy Valley must be one of the most well known beginner slopes around. With lots of intermediate slopes it is easy (over successive trips) to build skill levels across the range of intermediate level slopes.

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Treble Cone Ski Field

GOING SOUTH You can fly direct to Queenstown for easy access to Cardrona, The Remarkables, Coronet Peak and Treble Cone ski fields, or you can fly into Christchurch to take a scenic drive to Mount, Hutt, Broken River or Mount Olympus.

With fewer overseas tourists expected to the South Island this winter some resorts could have up to 40 to 50 percent fewer people.

However, Jen Houltham, communications executive at Cardrona Alpine Resort Treble Cone, says the level of local interest and pre season bookings have been strong and the two resorts are expecting a great local atmosphere this season. “We pride ourselves on a fantastic on-snow experience, and this year is no different,” explains Jen. We have fantastic kids’ and learner facilities, catering for all age groups, including; an on-mountain fully-licensed early-childcare centre for those three months to five years.”

The Kids’ Club caters for children from five to 14 years and has specialist kids ski and snowboard instructors. “The covered conveyor beginner lift, and a “Chondola” lift are all about keeping things fun and easy for younger children and the gondola cabin allows the littlies to walk off and safely experience the top of the mountain,” explains Jen. The ski fields are due to open on 26 June and while the July school holidays are already heavily booked, there are times outside the school holidays that offer some great value for money, from the more budget accommodation right through to luxury packages.

“Come outside of the July school holidays – you get deals on passes, cheaper flights and cheaper accommodation,” says Jen Houltham of Cardrona Ski Resort Treble Cone.

Ski Travel New Zealand has a team of adventure holiday experts who can take care of everything for you; whether you want an affordable first time adventure of family fun, or want to take things to the next level and try your hand at heli skiing. If this year will be your first trip to the South Island for skiing and snowboarding you can save time and money by booking a package through the experts.

Anna-Lisa Sharma of Ruby loves to ski Cardrona

For those of us who live in Auckland the landscape and social scene in Queenstown and Wanaka is really something quite different.

“We get an understanding of what you are wanting from your ski holiday and give advice based on our many years of travelling to the snow. We then create the perfect itinerary for you and your family or friends,” explains Caroline, whose team can organise everything from equipment rentals, ski passes, ski lessons, rental car, insurance, transfers, tours or any other requests you may have, With Queenstown so close, Cardrona is a popular choice with many people. Ruby’s Anna-Lise Sharma believes Queenstown is a great destination all year round. “I have a soft spot for Cardrona Ski Resort and show my commitment through incredibly early starts over the Crown Range to ensure we get in the top carpark,” says Anna-Lise.

She also has some great suggestions for accommodation too: the Sherwood Queenstown and the 5-Star luxury Millbrook Resort in picturesque Arrowtown. The Sherwood is rated by Expedia as one of the world’s top 10 Sustainable Hotels and has the well-being of its community and the environment as fundamental to its success.

“You’ll find me at Captains Basin followed by Cardrona Pub for mulled wine, and I can’t look past brunch at The Chop Shop, Arrowtown,” says Anna-Lise.

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LOCAL GETAWAYS

Cardrona

Known for some of the best ski resort atmosphere for families, Cardrona is just an hour from Queenstown and just over 30 minutes from Wanaka. While the drive from Queenstown can sometimes be a bit challenging, the scenery is breathtaking and there are regular shuttles running from Queenstown to the mountain. It’s a modern resort that has excellent infrastructure and services.

Karen Spires, Coronet Peak

Ponsonby local, Karen Spires and husband John are also seasoned skiers. “I’ve been skiing for over 20 years at Coronet Peak and the Remarkables,” says Karen, who tells us that Vudu is the place for great coffee and The Lodge Bar at Rod and Gun makes the most delicious cocktails in town. When it comes to going out for dinner, - a- (Josh Emmett) is Karen’s recommendation for an exceptional Rat - a- which reopened on 19 June, is welcoming visitors and meal. Rat locals back for a season of aprés-ski dinner and cocktails.

Of course there are both small and grand ways to indulge in Queenstown and one recommended by the team at Cardona is the Onsen Hot Pools and Day Spa in Arthur’s Pass. New Zealand owned and operated, Onsen offers a uniquely kiwi twist on Japanese bathing tradition with cedar hot tubs overlooking the incredible Shotover river. Although after a day of skiing sometimes something simple is all you need; a firm favourite with the Cardrona resort team is a hot chocolate at Revology Concept Store and Tea House in Wanaka - the perfect treat for the kids to warm up with.

Onsen Hot Pools and Spa Queenstown

- a, - Queenstown Rat

Remarkables

The Remarkables are amongst the most photographed mountains in New Zealand and the resort is super close to Queenstown. Due to open early July, 30% of the slopes are dedicated to beginners, with lots of snowmaking machines and plenty of shuttles between the resort and Queentsown.

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Treble Cone

Treble Cone is well known for natural free-ride terrain so is great for intermediate and more experienced skiers and snowboarders.

Did you know that Treble Cone has the largest ski area in the South Island and has the country’s highest annual snowfall? No wonder it’s famous for great snow. It’s super close to Wanaka and only an hour and half from the buzz of Queenstown.

Probably New Zealand’s best kept snow resort secret is Broken River ski field. The accommodation at this more remote ski resort is nestled amongst the trees on the mountain side. Just an hour and a half out of Christchurch, this is one of six not-for-profit club fields in the Canterbury region and offers some of the very best skiing in the country for intermediate to advanced skiers. It features unspoilt ski fields with deep powder runs and loads of open space. The price tag is modest and while there may not be gondolas and chair lifts with all the bells and whistles, the high speed rope tows get you to the top of the runs in no time. But that’s not the best part.

Mount Hutt

This is the South Island’s highest mountain with superb snow conditions, decent sized runs, and because of it’s high altitude, it has reliable snow. It’s about an hour and half drive from Christchurch and kids under 10 years old ski free.

Broken River Ski Lodge, photography Claire Newell

Broken River

“It’s about more than just great skiing or snowboarding explains Claire Newell, marketing coordinator for Broken River. There is something really special about the social atmosphere at Broken River.

It’s more like a big extended family on the mountain where families and friends get together, and it’s a wonderful social experience. You need to have mastered the basics before heading to Broken River, but it’s well worth doing to be at a resort that only has 200 people on a busy day.

Broken River

Broken River is about 1.5 hours from Christchurch airport and gets high praise from international skiers and snowboarders (those who know about it) for its great runs with plenty of powder stashes for everyone. It has a super friendly atmosphere and while August is pretty much booked out there is still some availability during the July school holidays.

Coronet Peak

Taking Air Broken River, photography Jim Henderson

Coronet Peak is arguably the South Island’s most popular Ski resort with its panoramic views over Lake Hayes, Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. It’s easy access from Queenstown (just a 30 minute drive) and is known for its great intermediate level trails.

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

Be the Risotto Connoisseur!

Risotto is a signature Italian dish. At Sabato we make it very easy by using the superb Vialone Nano or Carnaroli Ferron risotto rice.

Although a typical recipe may call for a method that requires constant stirring, this no-stir method simplifies the process of making a creamy risotto significantly. The secret? Ferron risotto rice! As these grains are not highly processed, they hold more essential starch and vitamins, providing a greater yield and a perfect risotto every time.

Try our recipe below using flavoursome ingredients for a delicious weeknight dinner.

2 tsp Sal de Añana spring salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano plus extra for serving

CHICKEN AND PORCINI RISOTTO Serves 6 Extra virgin olive oil (EVO 1 onion or 2-3 shallots, chopped 40-80g coppa or pancetta, chopped 2 cups Ferron risotto rice 20-40g Gigante porcini, rinsed and soaked for 20 minutes in 2 cups boiling water Pinch of Gohar saffron (optional) 100ml white wine, at room temperature (optional) 2 cups beef, chicken or vegetable stock, simmering 4-6 chicken thighs, chopped or whole

Add chicken to the pan and brown. Add rice and stir to heat the grains for a few minutes - the rice may stick to the pan a little. Add white wine and allow it to evaporate for a minute or two, then add the warmed stock. Let it come to a high simmer. Add salt, stir, put the lid on and turn down the heat. Leave covered to cook for 15-17 minutes.

Uncover the pan and add pepper to taste, then do what the Ferron family call ‘mantecare’ - add the Parmigiano and stir for a creamy risotto. Let it rest for a few minutes, then serve with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmigiano.

Drain porcini and combine soaking liquid with stock and keep warm.

If using saffron, add it to the stock. In a wide, heavy-based saucepan heat some EVO on medium-low heat. Add onion and coppa/pancetta and sauté until onion is soft. Chop porcini and add to the pan.

Visit our retail store to taste our new products and chat to our knowledgeable staff. Alternatively shop online.  PN SABATO, 57 Normanby Road, Mt Eden, T: 09 630 8751, www.sabato.co.nz

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY We have 24 TAPS of craft beers,. Yes, 24 TAPS of only the best, fresh beer from the best of New Zealands Craft Brewers. Like our sister venue The Brewers Co-operative, there is a constantly changing range of carefully sourced and some limited release craft beer.

Not sure of your choice? Talk to any one of our Brew Crew for recommendations. You might try small sampler glasses of different styles until you nail down the brew that’s right for you. “The lolly shop of Beers.”

The Brewers Room - The Lolly Shop of Beers Coming to a Ponsonby Central near you, the all-new Brewers Room is a lot more than a place for a drink and a chat.

It’s a tasting ground if you like, for dozens of New Zealand craft beer brewers. Our ever-changing collection of beers includes the best of the best from brewmasters to be found from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South.

You’ll find locally brewed small batch craft beers that are uniquely New Zealand. We offer 24 taps of carefully selected craft beers; beers to be savoured and lingered over. Each and every one is a brewer’s dream of making something special, something different, something unique.

You’ll find IPAs, sours, cider, stouts, pale ale, Belgium ales, as varied a selection of fresh tap beer as you’ll find anywhere.

Lunch or dinner?

For a quick snack or a great meal that compliments the beer, The Brewers Room Craft Beer Bar & Hashery has a range of house smoked meat, amd a bounty of seafood dishes including our signature newsprint wrapped fish and chips.

and we’re going to love seeing The Brewers Room Craft Beer & Hashery Ponsonby Central 6 Brown Street Hours 11.30 - late Telephone 09 302 0937

The brewers supplying us with fresh beer are endlessly varying their beers to create new taste experiences. They are all, typically higher in alcohol levels than the mainstream options. It’s their freshness that makes all the difference. Each beer retains its unique character, as if served in the brewery on the day it was made. They come from brewers like Liberty, Epic, Sawmill, McLeod’s, Heyday, Behemoth, Boneface, Garage Project, Deep Creek, New New New (NNN), Whistling Sisters, and others.

So how do you go about finding your preference? You can discuss the options with one of our brew crew who can give you expert guidance.

Or do what many do; try a box of small sample glasses and let your taste buds be the judge. You’ll drool over the constantly changing offering - like a kid in a lolly shop; as each keg is emptied, a new selection is presented.

You’re not a beer drinker? We have an excellent selection of wines and a range of boutique craft gins almost as extensive as our beer range.

Match with your drinks with our signature fish and chips, or a Brewers burger with beef, bacon, cheese, pickle and our secret sauce. Or maybe you fancy Panang fish bites, or our house-smoked beef brisket roll; or how about fresh oysters or home smoked fish cakes served at your table and all wrapped up in traditional newsprint.

Come along and experience The Brewers Room in Ponsonby Central and make yourself known. You’ll find hot food, a warm welcome, and PN lots of cold craft beer.  instagram: @thebrewersroom PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

Phil Parker: Top Drops for Level One Whew! Back to some sort of normality at last!

No great theme this month folks. It’s just great to be able to catch up with good friends and family for a coffee or a dinner party. Lord knows what the economic future is for New Zealand but I do feel positive that we will muddle through with the good cheer, kindness and common sense that got us this far. Here’s a selection of notable wines from the last month. Cheers!

Young & Co. Passion Crush Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 - $17.00 A friend brought this over to our place to share with dinner. Normally I’m not a fan of the typical acidic, pungent Marlborough sauvignon blancs. But this is true to label – a fruit bomb of passionfruit, grapefruit, nectarine and pineapple. Medium acids and a long clean finish. Great with fresh seafood or light salads and soft cheeses.

Available: online at Vivino or Black Market Wines.

Main Divide Waipara Valley Gewürztraminer 2019 - $21.00 A lively, clean and fruity off-dry style of gewürz. Naturally fermented in old oak barrels and then left to rest on oak for three months before bottling. Flavours of Turkish delight, guava and a bit of passionfruit with a tangy, yeasty length of flavour. Good match for spicy (but not chilli hot) Asian cuisine and pork dishes. Available: online at Vivino or direct from the winery at Pegasus Bay. Greystone Waipara Organic Chardonnay 2018 - $38.00 Another stunner from North Canterbury. Flinty and grapefruity aromas make you think it’s going to be one of those reductive yeasty beasties. But in the mouth, it opens up with toasty oak, toffee, canned

peach and creamy butterscotch. Glorious wine. Match with creamy pasta or chicken casserole. Available: The Good Wine Co. or from Greystone Wines.

Main Divide Waipara Valley Te Hau Reserve Pinot Noir 2019 - $32.95 A medium bodied youngster with plenty of potential. Natural yeast fermentation and rested in Burgundian oak barrels for 12 months.

Flavours of cherry, raspberry and cranberry with earthly mushroom and spice. Match with tomato based pasta, venison or Beef Bourguignon. Available: online at Vivino or direct from the winery at Pegasus Bay Te Kairanga TK Reserve Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017 - $29 Martinborough label Te Kairanga has been a famous pinot noir producer since the mid-1980s. This wine is another youngster, light garnet colour with flavours of red berry fruits. Herbal and savoury truffle with light acids and a long finish. Again, great with pasta, beef or - a good old coq au vin. Available: online at WineLab, Blackmarket or from Te Kairanga Wines Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley Merlot Cabernet 2018 - $34 From Main Divide’s big brother label, this is a blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec & 10% Cabernet Franc. Rich, ripe, plummy and mouth filling with black pepper and mocha and a hint of tobacco. Firm tannins mean this one’s a keeper for five to seven years. Great with a rich beef casserole, Available: Glengarry, VinoFino or Fine Wine Delivery Co. (PHIL PARKER)  PN www.finewinetours.co.nz

FINE WINE & FOOD TOURS “No. 2 Auckland Wine Tour” – TripAdvisor Your host, Phil Parker wine writer.

Affordable tours for small and large groups.

E: phil.parker@xtra.co.nz

42 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

www.finewinetours.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

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We also offer our pasta dishes to takeaway, phone for details or check our website for the menu.

263 PONSONBY RD, THREE LAMPS, 09 361 1556 www.gustoitaliano.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

Gary Steel: Khu Khu’s Thai fare is completely vegan Here’s an object lesson in how to do it right. Take a look at Khu Khu’s website. It’s superb. And so is the Ponsonby Road restaurant, with its perfectly proportioned all-vegan Thai menu.

It’s immediately obvious that everything about Khu Khu has been thought through, consumer tested and expertly carried out. And the most important part – the dishes themselves – are out of this world.

I wasn’t surprised, therefore, to find that behind Khu Khu was one of New Zealand’s brightest entrepreneurs, Michael Khuwattanasenee.

(See how he’s taken the first three letters of his surname and doubled them to create a cute and memorable name for his restaurant) It turns out that Michael, who was born and raised in Bangkok but moved to Auckland with his family at the age of 14, has a background in accounting and entrepreneurship, and owns several innovative companies including a biotechnology outfit researching ways to produce sustainable replacements for those environmentally detrimental polystyrene blobs used inside boxes containing consumer goods.

So, why would a smart cookie like Michael be slumming it in hospitality?

It turns out that he got the bug (so to speak) from his grandparents, who were longtime restaurant owners, and he continued the tradition by opening The Taste in Devonport in 2013.

The advent of Khu Khu late last year was partly a gamble but also played right into the increasingly popular phenomenon of plant-based eating. He’d noticed how hard it was to find genuinely vegan Thai food and set about researching the options. This led to a research mission where Michael travelled the length and breadth of Thailand checking out vegetarian and vegan restaurants, including the famous vegetarian enclave in Bangkok.

“I wanted to give Khu Khu something unique compared to a Thai restaurant that sells Pad Thai and standard fare. Let’s bring something cool, something different; so I travelled around Bangkok to test the cuisine and street food and fine dining.”

Traditionally, just about everything on a Thai menu (even the socalled ‘vegetarian’ options) contains fish sauce, which helps to give it what the Japanese call an umami flavour. How to eliminate the fish sauce without spoiling the flavour? Happily, says Michael, Kiwis

don’t seem to care about fish sauces and, on the whole aren’t too fond of them. In audience testing, he found that meat eaters who might want to try Khu Khu were most concerned about a perceived lack of protein in vegan food. And that’s something the restaurant addresses by incorporating the very well-known and on-trend Sunfed “chicken” and Beyond Meat brands.

But it’s not just its veganism that makes Khu Khu great. While around 20 per cent of its orders are takeaways (they do free deliveries to Ponsonby, Grey Lynn and Eden Terrace), the small but perfectly formed menu is full of taste and texture discoveries and tastebud tingle “wow!” moments.

“We only have 20 seats so obviously won’t be making a lot of money, but it’s better for us because we can control the experience a bit more; we want something small and easy to control. We can open another shop or expand to other things later, but we’re focusing on ‘if you come to Khu Khu how can we bring you the best food and experience’?”

This is vegan Thai food quite unlike the wholesome, traditional Buddhist food of Sunflower in High Street. Sensibly, menu options are limited to make sure everything offered is fresh and fragrant and the chefs always get plenty of practice. The idea is maximum efficiency so that they can put their effort into putting smiles of satisfaction on customer faces.

Like all restaurants, Khu Khu was hit hard by the lockdown and Michael describes custom since returning to Level 1 as encouraging but a bit spasmodic. Although he thinks of the business as a “work in progress”, to this happy customer it’s a great example of what can be done when a business owner has vision, a plan, and the practical skill to carry it out.

And his favourite Khu Khu dish? The most popular menu item and Michael’s own personal favourite is the Panang Curry. “ Because it’s quite a different texture - taro, kumara, lotus root and stuff - when people eat it they try to figure out what texture it is, so it starts conversation as well. What is this, you know?” (GARY STEEL)  PN

KHU KHU THAI EATERY, 171A Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 0992, www.khukhu.co.nz Gary Steel is an Auckland-based journalist who runs entertainment site for grownups, www.witchdoctor.co.nz.

He can be contacted viabeautmusic@gmail.com

44 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

Faces at Grey Lynn Farmers Market Virginia Alexander is a regular stallholder at the market with her sauces, chutneys and cakes.

How long have you been living on the farm?

All my life but, when my Dad died unexpectedly, Mum and I took over running the farm. I was nursing full-time so it was very demanding.

things. He doesn’t always approve of all my fruit trees or my cattle, but it doesn’t matter because he can make his own choices on his own farm.

Had you been involved in the day to day running of the farm before that?

Not as much as I’d thought. I really wish that I’d asked Dad more questions and taken more notice of what he did when and how.

Mum and I went through the accounts to work out when Dad paid for supplies (e.g. fertiliser) and then we rang the supplier to ask what Dad bought last year - we bought the same again. And I really wish I had asked him where all the water pipes run! Water is always an issue on a farm.

How did you get into making chutneys and sauces?

I live rurally so making preserves is an automatic part of what I do.

I like to make the most of what the land provides and leave the land in a better state than when I started. The cattle and hens provide lots of natural fertiliser that I collect and use for the gardens. I grow lots of my own food, I have lots of fruit trees. I’m particularly fond of the figgery and I am experimenting with different varieties.

How is the farm different now that you are running things?

The biggest thing is the stock that I keep. Dad raised Hereford and Friesian calves but I have switched to Scotttish Highland Cattle.

They are one of the top meat breeds – the Queen farms them and apparently that is the only beef she serves.

Tell me about your cattle. Are they miniatures?

They are very cute and they look short but actually their bodies are full-sized - it’s just the legs that are short. But I am getting some real miniatures soon and they are only as tall as a big dog. I can’t wait til they arrive.

Some couples have separate bedrooms but you and your husband have his and hers farms.

Yes – we both live in the house on my farm but we have very different styles of farming. I like not having to compromise how I want to run

Tell me about your famous Maharajah chutney.

A patient who had been a chef gave me the recipe It’s based on oranges, onions and a mountain of Indian spices. He insisted that it would be the best chutney that I ever tasted. When I finally got all the ingredients together to make it, I agreed with him and so did my chef friend, Adam – it’s my signature product.

You often have interesting flowers on your market table.

Mum and I have always had a picking garden and she taught me how to arrange flowers. I used to arrange the flowers for my friend’s restaurant, and I have done flowers for a few events. When the season allows, I like to bring some to the market.

What brought you to Grey Lynn Farmers Market?

I knew some of the other stallholders from other markets and they were always telling me that I would be a good fit for Grey Lynn.

And they were right – I always enjoy the customers and the other stallholders have been very welcoming.  PN www.glfm.co.nz

Sunday mornings at the Grey Lynn Community Centre 510 Richmond Road PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

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VINEYARD DESTINATIONS For a weekend escape or some last minute school holiday fun. There’s such an array of vineyards up and down the country that choosing where to go first might be the biggest challenge.

Vineyard towns offer a full range of activities, so you can easily plan a weekend or longer holiday that suits everyone’s tastes and taste buds. With Air New Zealand offering extra flights during the school holidays and more accommodation available than usual this could be your best winter break yet.

If you want to stay local there are plenty of vineyards in Auckland for first class cellar door experiences as well as world class dining and Waiheke is just a boat ride away. For July, Sealink Ferry Services are offering free travel for kids, making a family trip to the beautiful Hauraki Gulf Island even more affordable. The Hunting Lodge in Waimauku is one of our favourites and once you are there you feel a world away. The beautiful North West region of Auckland has a number of cellar doors you might like to stop at. Our wine writer Phil Parker says it’s hard to go past Soljans, one of the first family vineyards you reach once you get off the motorway; this is soon followed by Kumeu River, Villa Maria and Coopers Creek.

If you don’t want to go it alone a guided tour is the way to go. Phil offers bespoke wine tours through a range of Auckland’s wine regions and Bush and Beach Managing Director, Ben Thornton, agrees guided tours are definitely the way to go. “Our guides know the rich history of wine making in the area so not only do you get driven around you can try the wines and also find out what makes the area so unique,” says Ben. The Hunting Lodge, Waimauku

46 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

Outside of Auckland the choices are incredible, and Phil has shared some tips on what some of the award winning wine regions have to offer.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Cable Bay Villa, Waiheke

Waiheke

Wild Estate Vineyard and Restaurant

When you catch a ferry to Waiheke you feel like you have left city life behind. With an abundance of boutique vineyards, incredible restaurants and a wonderful climate, it’s the perfect place for an easy weekend getaway or midweek escape. Over the last twelve months many of the leading vineyards have undergone major renovations and developments offering visitors even more than ever before.

Man O’ War Vineyards has a new restaurant right on the beach, complementing its beachfront cellar door experience and providing wine tastings enhanced by its beautiful location. Passage Rock, a vineyard becoming well known for its award winning syrah wines, also has a new cafe nestled within its vines. The dishes on it’s menu are matched perfectly to the wine list and with a child and dog friendly atmosphere it’s easy to sit back, relax and sip syrah. Phil recommends trying the reserve syrah 2015 and 2019 if you get the opportunity.

The island prides itself on offering a broad selection of quality accommodation options. For families or larger groups the Onetangi Beach apartments are a great choice, right on the beach and close to the very popular Charlie Farley’s restaurant. For a romantic getaway Mudbrick’s luxurious onsite villas are perfect and Cable Bay Vineyards are offering the ultimate indulgent escape with a special winter wine, dine, and stay packages.

There is a Ponsonby connection on the Waiheke dining scene too.

For anyone who enjoyed Dominique Parat’s GPK and loved MeKong Baby, checking out the restaurateur’s new venture Ki Maha restaurant is a must. The new restaurant is right on Onetangi beach and features its own wine label and a menu that is sure to delight.

Waiheke is also the home to the Metro’s best new restaurant and best

Man O’ War

With a huge roaring open fire for guests to gather around, the new restaurant at Wild Estate is the perfect spot for tasting wines on cooler afternoons. Also known for their great reds Wild Estate welcomes the whole family, including the dog. It has massive playground area for kids to swing, climb and have fun, while parents taste wines and sample foods knowing the whole family is enjoying themselves.

destination restaurant Three Seven Two, so after a day of wine tasting (we recommend a personalised tour with Phil Parker) you have an incredible range of places to dine.

With accommodation still available during the July break, free travel on Sealink for the kids, and a range of special family packages, Waiheke might just be the perfect midweek escape for these school holidays or any weekend this winter. Christina Hyde, chair of the Waiheke Island Tourism Forum recommends checking out the new Waiheke. World website, it has all the latest packages and special offers available on the island.

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Bridge Estate Gisborne, photography Brook Sabin

Tai R-awhiti / Gisborne It’s the first place in the world to see the sunrise each day and with an exceptional climate, any season is a good time to visit the unspoiled beaches and flourishing vineyards of this region. “You discover New Zealand in a whole new light,” says Mel Ma’afu Sinoti of Tai Rawhiti Tourism.

It’s a place steeped in culture and history and is home to some of the country’s best chardonnays. “Matawhero’s, Irwin Chardonnay is an excellent example of the areas chardonnays,” says Phil who also suggests people try the Milton chenin blanc. “Milton is a pioneer in organic biodynamic wine production. It’s New Zealand’s first organic vineyard and their chenin blancs are a must to try,” says Phil.

Gisborne also hosts the First Light Wine and Food Festival, the region’s premier wine and food event. On Sunday 25 October 2020 visitors will be transported around three stunning venues, Matawhero, TW Wines and Bridge Estate to enjoy some of Gisborne’s best wines and food producers under the stunning Tai Rawhiti sun.

Tickets are available now at: www.facebook.com/firstlightwineandfood

Martinborough In just over an hour from landing at Wellington airport you can be amongst a village of boutique wineries in Martinborough, a wine region fast becoming one of the country’s premier food and wine

First Light Wine and Food - Matawhero, Strike Photography

destinations. Phil Parker recommends visitors include visits to Ata Rangi, Coney, Margrain, Martinborough Vineyard, Palliser, Stratford, and Te Kairanga when planning tasting tours. “From a region famous for its great pinot noir wines you have to make sure you try Coney Wines, Pizzicato Pinot 2018, if you can,” says Phil.

Cycling the vines is the ‘must-do’ activity in Martinborough. “It’s New Zealand’s answer to the Barossa Valley and Burgundy, (and no need to board an international flight to get there either). It’s a wine

Stonehenge Aotearoa Martinborough Hotel

48 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

village tailor-made for pedal-power”, says Walt Dickson of Destination Wairarapa. It’s easy to cycle from vineyard to vineyard as the roads are all wide and flat as you cycle past olive groves, farms with colonial cottages or grand homesteads.

As well as wines and fine foods the South Wairarapa has a number of boutique gin distilleries offering tastings either at the distilleries or at partner vineyards in the area. There’s great shopping in historic Greytown just 15 minutes drive away and the region offers something for the whole family with incredible sights just a short drive away. “Cape Palliser is simply spectacular, says Walt Dickson. It’s the southernmost point of the North Island and on the way you pass the Putangirua Pinnacles, amazing rock formations that inspired filmmaker Peter Jackson during the shooting of “The Return of the King”.

There is also Stonehenge Aotearoa, based on the ancient Stonehenge monument in Wiltshire. This modern version creates an open air observatory for visitors to learn about the cycles of nature and movements of celestial bodies via the stars. With plenty of accommodation options you will easily find somewhere welcoming to stay. There is Brackenridge Country Retreat and Spa, perfect for families and for charm and style you can’t go past the Martinborough Hotel on the Town Square. A stunning historical colonial building, the Martinborough Hotel like the White Swan in Greytown (one of the oldest pubs in New Zealand) is full of nostalgia and history.

Cape Palliser Lighthouse Wairarapa, photography Rebecca Kempton

Waipara The Waipara Valley in the Hurunui region on the east coast of the South Island is just 45 minutes north of Christchurch and offers the ideal climate for grape growing. Phil Parker is a definite fan. “It’s a charming, romantic and laid-back region, definitely one of my favourite places on earth”, says Phil. Unlike Martinborough, there is no real village centre to Waipara – just a tiny convenience store, a church and a railway station. But with the alpine resort of Hanmer Springs so close by there is no shortage of places to stay.

Hanmer Springs is the perfect base from which to visit vineyards and enjoy the panoramic vistas of the Hurunui region. Whether it is for a romantic getaway or a family adventure, there is something for everyone. From soaking in an alpine thermal pool to hiking with a llama, or going high octane with river rafting and mountain biking, it is a place where you can enjoy the winter outdoors at your own pace.

As of writing we are told there is still accommodation available for the July school holidays.

Check out visithurunui.co.nz for all the options.

According to Phil, you can’t go to Waipara and not visit Pegasus Bay and one wine Phil recommends you try (if you get a chance)

Greystone, Waipara

Hanmer Springs attractions Canoes at Bridge

is the Pegasus Bay Prima Donna pinot noir which he describes as exceptional. Another ‘must do’ suggestion is a visit to Greystone Wines. “It’s a certified organic and biodynamic vineyard and their chardonnay, pinot gris and syrah wines are simply stunning,” says Phil. “Main Divide, Muddy Water, Alan McCorkindale, and Waipara Hills, are a spirited cluster of progressive thinking wine producers that are definite places to visit too.”

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

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FASHION + STYLE

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Black Matter Jewellery’s beautiful new flagship store on Ponsonby Road Ponsonby News spoke to Amy Cunningham, owner of Black Matter Jewellery’s beautiful new flagship store on Ponsonby Road, about the story behind her brand.

Tell us about yourselves.

Benjamin is a trade certified manufacturing jeweller who earned his stripes training with an internationally acclaimed jeweller. My background is in PR/marketing/fashion so when we met it seemed like the perfect fit and for the most part, it hasn’t been far off.

Seven years later we now have an amazing team running our workshop and studio in Nelson, e-commerce for two jewellery brands, stockists throughout New Zealand and of course our beautiful new flagship store in Ponsonby.

What is the inspiration behind Black Matter Jewellery?

Our real passion is creating jewellery that is ethically handmade entirely in New Zealand. We focus on impeccable quality.

Benjamin Clark & Amy Cunningham

We manufacture from our Nelson-based workshop, which is where we also base our parent company, Benjamin Black Goldsmiths, which mainly focusses on custom made signet rings, wedding and engagement rings.

Benjamin and I wanted to introduce to the fashion jewellery space a brand that provided people with jewellery that was not only stylish, but also well made - and made to last, and at an accessible price point!

This is quite different for fashion jewellery. We don’t plate any of our jewellery; we recycle wherever possible and use only solid sterling silver and gold. Being made by our amazing jewellers means people buy a piece that looks beautiful and lasts for years to come.

Black Matter is sold throughout NZ and online, so opening a flagship store on Ponsonby Road has been really exciting. So far the support has been wonderful; people are loving discovering what we do and giving us heaps of encouragement.

Do you produce bespoke jewellery?

The flagship Black Matter store in the old Ponsonby Fire station sells our jewellery collections. However, if you’re interested in having something made, you can make an appointment with Benjamin through the store. We live in Nelson, however we travel to Auckland often and can either meet in person or via online consultation.  PN BLACK MATTER JEWELLERY, 182 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 0726, www.blackmatter.co.nz

STATEMENT JEWELLERY HANDMADE IN NEW ZEALAND

182 PONSONBY ROAD BLACKMATTER.CO.NZ PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

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FASHION + STYLE

New label pairs 19th Century vibe with 1940’s functionality Ponsonby/Westmere based designer and mother of four, Sarah McNaughton, launched her label, Sarah Bell, last month.

Sarah has been making clothes since she can remember. From dolls clothes to teenage outfits, she started her first job on the workroom floor of RCM Clothing, doing everything from sample cutting to trimming jeans for the labels Streetlife and Workshop. Her career has spanned the higher echelons of the fashion world honing her skills as a tailor while working for top designers, Jenny Packham, Joe Casely-Hayford, and Clements Ribeiro in London.

Since her return to Auckland she has been sought after as a patternmaker by astute labels Penny Sage and Karen Walker while focusing on her family and her four young children. Now, nearly thirty years on from when she first started, Sarah McNaughton is making her Sarah Bell label again, relaunching it in a way that is more true to her nature and closer to her values of small and sustainable. Each item in Sarah’s label is ethically and locally manufactured in limited editions and comes with a registered tag that can trace its origin.

The first edition has produced two iconic pieces; a smock blouse with a romantic drape that shows off Sarah’s skills in pattern construction and a high waisted, side fastened jean inspired by 1940’s workwear.

The jeans are made from a raw Japanese selvedge which softens as it ages and the smock blouse is available in colours white, aegean blue, and ochre (olive has already sold out one week since launched).

It’s a clever pairing that unconsciously crosses boundaries for style and function. Utilitarian pants that last for months without a wash and a delectable aristocratic blouse that begs to be taken out to lunch. Little Women meets 1940’s functionality.

“These pieces have developed from a place of contentment: for who I am, and the age and stage of life I am in,” says Sarah McNaughton, whose philosophy and ethos is deeply grounded in family values. While the fashion world thrives on the dynamism of youth and the cult of the individual, Sarah has used real and untouched images of women to style her clothes online. The jeans and blouse have been named after her parents, John and Leonie.

Support is in high demand for local small brands right now. This is one that is worth seeking out. Available at Scotties, Blake Street & Lorne Street, or online. www.sarahbell.co.nz

52 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Auckland Obstetric Centre is a unique practice in Parnell made up of six leading specialist obstetricians and support staff. Together we have many years of experience and feel privileged to be able to share in the care of women during their pregnancy. To find out more about how we can care for you and your baby call our team or visit our website.

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Lynda Batcheler Astrid Budden Eva Hochstein Katherine McKenzie Kirstie Peake Jason Waugh

LIVING, THIKNING + BEING

Kerry Lee: Headway House I first started writing about Headway House back in 2018 and with its 40th anniversary coming up next year, it felt like the perfect time to touch base with them again and to see how they’re getting on.

Initially, the Brain Injury Association, or Headway House as they’d like to be called, started as a small charity that tried to fill in the gap between hospital care and the patients that were being released into the wider community. Since then, it’s grown and become a well -established organisation dedicated to helping people that have suffered brain injuries.

During the 1970s and ‘80s, not so much was known about the long term consequences of brain injury, especially in terms of social, cognitive and psychological effects.

Headway has become an established post-injury/post-rehab facility where persons with brain injuries can come to attend facilitated support groups, join in music and art activities, play a range of games or just meet friends be they old or new over a shared lunch.

Perhaps they may come for advice or information about the various services available or for assistance with attending meetings or making appointments. Sometimes family members or friends seek assistance with how best to support a loved one who has a brain injury.

The staff at Headway House welcome visitors looking for support, give people a place to go where they’re made to feel comfortable and can mingle with other people who understand what it’s like to have suffered a brain injury.

According to Stephen Jenkins, the manager of Headway House, it’s about helping them to re-establish social confidence after they’ve had

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their accident. People are often no longer working or are still getting back to a point where they can return to work.

“It helps them to get a lot of their social confidence back. It gets them out of the house. It gets them meeting other people and helps them to get their feet back on the ground.”

As for a recovery rate, that largely depends on how severe their injury is. These can range on the spectrum from severe to moderate and down to mild.

People who’ve suffered a major accident often have significant cognitive and physical injuries. In turn, those in the moderate category may have lost their fine motor skills or their ability to concentrate long-term. In some cases, the brain injury may have been a “mild brain injury” so many friends and acquaintances of the injured person don’t necessarily see the difficulties that they are experiencing. So although seemingly that there is “nothing wrong” the impact can be very debilitating and often it is exacerbated by the person having to explain his/her injury frequently to family, friends and employers.

Perhaps a useful analogy is to compare the human brain with a computer. A brain injury in this context is a mechanical or hardware fault with your brain. You may have had a fall, maybe you’ve been assaulted, and now all that fine engineering that your brain was responsible for has broken down, so now it can’t communicate so well with the body in the way that it used to.

Putting the physical and mental effects of brain injuries to one side though, the major obstacles facing Headway is the ongoing perception of what precisely a brain injury is.

Stephen suggests that one the biggest problems for brain injury is that the general public have a very poor understanding of what it means. He invites people to go to the Headway website and look at the useful information there. And there are further links from there to very good international sites.

Headway is a registered charity. It’s always important to support a worthy cause and donations are welcome.

Brain injury effects everybody. Its worth remembering that a brain injury is the most common form of disability that a person under 35 years of age is likely to encounter during their lifetime. Yes indeed, PN a brain injury can happen to anybody! (KERRY LEE)  For more information about Headway House or to donate, please visit www.headway.org.nz

13 SHORE ROAD, REMUERA, T: 09 524 4710

54 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THIKNING + BEING

Plastic-free shopping tips Does the term ‘plastic free shopping’ conjure up images of a life spent eating solely dried pulses and nuts?

Never fear – there are plenty of ways to reduce your plastic while shopping.

Give single serves a swerve It seems like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to accidentally pick up a bag or box that’s filled with wrapped sweets, or single serves of miso soup. Carefully read the outer packaging if you’re unsure.

Buy big or go home Whether you’re shopping for TP or tea bags – if it works with your budget and storage space, buy the biggest amount/largest container you can. This works best for non-perishable items you use often, like laundry liquid, body wash, cooking oil, and dry goods.

Incredible bulk For an artful wholefood filled pantry that’s sustainable and ‘grammable, packaging-free bulk shopping is becoming widely accessible – in Auckland we have GoodFor, Refill Nation and Bin Inn stores. Kit yourself out with cute Weck or Mason jars, or start saving the jars and lids of food you’ve already eaten.

Tip: You can now refill your favourite ecostore liquid products at 75+ refill stations around New Zealand.

Contain yourself Some supermarket deli, seafood and butchery departments now let customers bring their own containers. Next time you shop, bring clean containers with well-fitted lids and ask at the counter.

Nude food In the produce aisle, look for unwrapped fruit and veges and pop multiples in mesh bags or even reuse clean plastic bags. Farmer’s markets could be a useful source of packaging free produce too.

Bring a couple of extra reusable bags you’re not attached to, so you can help a forgetful fellow shopper out. What goes around comes around.

ECOSTORE, 1 Scotland Street, T: 09 360 8477, www.ecostore.co.nz

10% off Bulk PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

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LIVING, THIKNING + BEING

Tadhg Stopford: New - first legal Cannabis Oil product for Kiwis Surprise! You can now legally buy New Zealand’s first cannabis oil from www.Tigerdrops.com, a Grey Lynn based company.

This product is a unique legal cannabinoid collectible.

Imagine if it had a huge amount of clinical evidence since the 1950s.

Although legal to use it sublingually, orally and cosmetically in Europe, UK, and USA, these uses have been prohibited in New Zealand by politicians and public servants.

Would you expect it to be prescribable? Would you expect doctors to learn about it?

Therefore we cannot suggest the public use this product sublingually, orally, or cosmetically, as is done throughout the USA, UK, and Europe.

However, by way of compensation, this product is at an internationally competitive, and locally unmatchable price. Come visit us at the Grey Lynn Farmers market, or order online.

Despite FSANZ (Food Safety Australia NZ) twice ruling cannabinoids safe for food use, it is illegal in NZ for extracts of cannabis to be used in food or cosmetics.

Tigerdrops is a Grey Lynn business. It is founded on the principles of public health before private wealth; and getting healthy, not high.Our motto for this product is “Discuss it, don’t digest it. Lets make it Legal”.

Food for pain? Can food be medicine? Imagine if there was a product that was better than opioids for pain relief, and that didn’t addict you or ruin your life? Imagine if you made it inside your body, and it also naturally occurred in common foods like eggs and soy.

It’s not. Although it’s a legally available dietary supplement, which I can’t name now having made ‘therapeutic claims’ about it.

This is an example of how the pharma led (“market driven”) system closes out competition. There are many more products like it, and they are foods too.

Adaptogens (google it) are a dirty secret in medicine. Because the practise of medicine is, by and large, not the practise of health. It’s the prescription of profitable medicines.

This may be why, to make health claims about a food, you basically need to be a drug company.

“Let food be thy medicine” may be the basis of medicine, but it’s not the basis of ‘healthcare’. In a ‘market economy’, big pharma seems boss. (TADHG STOPFORD)  PN #LetsMakeitLegal #GetHealthyNotHigh #Learn @ www.thehempfoundation.org.nz

Discover a range of LEGAL CANNABIS SATIVA DERIVED PRODUCTS

GREAT HEMP

Enquire via GreatHempNZ@gmail.com or see us at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market

56 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THIKNING + BEING

John Appleton: Kidney Stones - prevention can be easier than treatment There are few of us who would not have heard about the excruciating pain that can be associated with kidney stones. We hear stories about the pain being worse than that endured by women during childbirth.

Kidney stones come in several forms, with the most common being calcium stones which are composed of calcium in combination with either oxalate or phosphate. They occur when there is a lot of calcium circulating in the blood. Uric acid stones occur when there are excess amounts of uric acid in the blood which can happen if the diet is high in animal protein. Another form of kidney stone is known as a struvite stone. These are often composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate and they tend to occur in people who have frequent urinary tract infections.

The pain that is caused by kidney stones is as a result of a stone blocking the ureter (the ‘tube’ that drains the kidney into the bladder).

When urine cannot pass down the ureter there is a backup in the kidney which is not able to expand to accommodate the additional fluid. This is called hydronephrosis.

Very small kidney stones can often pass on their own but for the larger stones surgical intervention is often necessary. Shock wave treatment known as lithotripsy is a well-known option. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWL) was first used in 1980 and it literally causes the stone/s to shatter. Another procedure called ureteroscopy involves passing a small telescope up through the urinary tract to where the stone is located and a laser goes to work to break the stone into pieces.

A much more invasive option for very large stones is called percutaneous nephrolithotomy which involves surgery through the back.

All of the above are quite significant interventions and they don’t always provide an instant fix and there can still be a lot of pain involved. As I see it the more we can do to avoid the need for medical

interventions and of course the pain associated with having a kidney stone the better. The good news is that supporting normal kidney function is simple and it’s not expensive.

First on my to-do list is drinking at least two litres of filtered water daily. This can be done over the 24 hour period. A glass of water at bedtime may mean getting up in the night but it’s really important to reduce the concentration of the urine during the night when the kidneys are working hard to process waste. The colour of the urine should for the most part be clear to very light yellow. Urine is yellow in colour due to a pigment known as urochrome which is produced as a result of the breakdown in the liver of the heme part of the haemoglobin from old red blood cells.

Something we can all do every morning to help our kidneys is to drink two large glasses of tepid filtered water with the juice of a lemon squeezed in them. It’s the citric acid in the lemons that does the trick.

Not only can it help prevent kidney stones from forming, it can help break up small stones. The more citric acid we obtain from the lemons the better the protective benefit.

Another interesting option popped up on my radar some years ago.

It’s a South American herb (Phyllanthus Niuri) from the Amazon rain forest known as Chanca Piedra which literally means ‘stone breaker’.

It has been used for generations by indigenous people to support the elimination of gallstones and kidney stones.

Of all the conditions that send us off to the doctor, kidney stones could be one of the easiest to prevent. It involves little cost, but it does require an ongoing commitment to some simple lifestyle changes. (JOHN APPLETON)  PN

Love your legs Varicose vein sufferers have a local resource in Ponsonby, the Vein & Laser clinic.

Vein & Laser was established on the North Shore in 2005 and also runs a satellite clinic at 80 Jervois Road every Wednesday.

health insurance companies cover varicose vein treatment but not cosmetic (thread vein) treatment. Reopening at lockdown Level 2.

The medical professionals at the clinic have a passion for their chosen specialty – veins! The experienced team at Vein & Laser spend their days examining and treating their patients’ problematic veins, from tiny thread veins to large varicose veins. Every patient’s varicose vein pattern (map) is different, and a number of treatment options are available. We try to provide the most appropriate treatment for each client; it’s fascinating and rewarding work.

For assessment of your varicose vein and advice on vein care, vein treatment and treatment cost, call T: 09 410 0990, www.veinandlaser.co.nz

Dr Elisabeth De Felice and her team all share the philosophy that the service provided must be of the highest level without compromise and that people matter.

Are your varicose veins making you uncomfortable?

Talk to us about treatment options

Approximately 35% of our population suffer with varicose veins.

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Modern-day treatment is usually non-surgical (injections or laser) and greatly improves a varicose vein sufferer’s quality of life. Most

0800 085 555

www.veinandlaser.co.nz

NORTH SHORE PONSONBY

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

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LIVING, THIKNING + BEING

SHEN Therapy with Michael Owen C.S.T What is SHEN Therapy?

SHEN is a touch-based bio-energetic framework primarily utilised for harmonising the emotional body. Its’ clear secondary effects are easing of the mind, and bringing spaciousness, awareness, softening and new energy to both the mind and physical body. It is a very gentle orientation.

When might SHEN therapy be best for me?

When emotions are high and problematic, for stress in mind and body, for life transitions and held trauma, for opening the body to fertility, for general ease and relaxation, for conditions perceived as psychosomatic, and more.

Why is your business koha based?

The balancing and respect for energetic integrity is the work.

Honour the person, honour the integrity of their challenges and their energetic unfoldment, and meet them where they are right now. Koha is keeping the energy flowing and honouring the giver as one is able.

Prices are benchmarked on the website but according to one’s sense of honour, flexibility is there for more or less. Usury energies will be questioned and supported into trust. The orientation is to allow energy to move to its highest potential.

What sets SHEN apart from other therapies?

Its specific emotionally targeted approach through the body is unique in the NZ marketplace. SHENs’ capacity to bring about emotional integration and thereon ease is a fantastic assist to the stresses of everyday life and also the meeting of major life challenges.

“As a therapist (and as a long-time meditator) as you and your body (and presenting challenges) are held in the spaciousness that SHEN can evoke, so am I held in that same space and honour your needs from the depth and integrity of that space. According to physics our experience of matter is 99.9% energetic-i.e spaciousness more than solid form (please see if interested www.sciencealert.com/999999999-of-your-body-is-empty-space). With SHEN your body is deeply honoured by being held and your energetic integrity is also honoured. As your therapist I honour your story and journey and your current needs for deeper ease. It is a gift to be able to honour you in this work,” says Michael.

Who is Michael Owen?

A sensitive constitution and a health crisis in my mid 20s, moved me to the complementary therapies model.

I have been a SHEN therapist for five years and seeing clients for two years prior. My practice is supported by training and qualifications in yoga, meditation, mindfulness and flower essence therapy. I have strong links to the diverse sexuality community and honour diversity in gender, race and expression. I am here to love my authentic self and to honour yours.

I am based in Ponsonby.

Covid 19 and Opportunities for Re-orientation The blessing (or curse) “May you live in interesting times” has never felt so pertinent to this year of Covid 19. We have had to share in a global experience so as to keep each other as safe as we can. When we look at the concept of safety, we can also look at the concept of those things that we desire to safeguard.

This time and the blessing (or curse for some) of lockdown has shown us what we are prepared to do to safeguard that which we hold as valuable. It has also given us clean air, peaceable streets and communion with neighbours (appropriate distance notwithstanding).

So now we emerge steadily from this cocoon and have an opportunity to reflect upon the value of this time and what we might wish to cultivate moving forward. Did we enjoy the peace, the focus on essentials, the warmth of our neighbours and family and flatmates?

Did we find something valuable here? And do we want to cultivate these values moving forward in some form or other?

If this time has provided deep internal challenges for you that may need assistance in transformation and acceptance, I and SHEN may be of fruit. May this time nourish what is truly essential within you and your world. May you find peace.

SHEN THERAPY / Michael Owen

www.emotionalwellbeing.co.nz

T: 09 376 9599 / Email: mowenshens@gmail.com / Ponsonby

58 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PETS

Are you ready to break free and tick an item off your lockdown bucket list?

Take the plunge and skydive for animals in need!

Join us for SPCA’s Jump to the Rescue and take to the skies on 1 August for an opportunity that will not only change your life, but the lives of thousands of animals too!

Jump to the Rescue is one of SPCA’s annual fundraising events which sees animal-loving thrill-seekers take the plunge with a 13,000ft tandem skydive.

This year, SPCA fundraisers can jump from one of five sites across New Zealand; Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tauranga, Taupo, and Ashburton. For those who raise more than $1000, they will not only receive a t-shirt, but will be able to name an SPCA kitten who is up for adoption.

Participating in Jump to the Rescue is easy, all it takes is:

Celeste

Register at www.spca.nz/jump, once your fundraising page is set up, make sure to share it and spread the word.

Ask friends, family and your wider community to sponsor you. If you raise over $775, you will jump for free!

Head to your chosen jump spot on Saturday, 1 August, and enjoy the ride! You can choose between Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tauranga, Taupo, or Ashburton.

With every dollar you raise during this experience of a lifetime, you will help animals in need experience love and care for the first time!

Register today at www.spca.nz/jump Captain

Jump to the Rescue Break free!

Tick an item off your lockdown bucket list and skydive for animals in need.

Register today at www.spca.nz/jump

Max

60 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PETS

Paws to doors offer a local dog walking service This month Ponsonby News caught up with16-year-old local business owner, Otta Rusholme. Otta is home schooled and started a daily dog walking service, Paws to Doors, nearly three years ago in Grey Lynn.

Tell us about Paws to Doors.

Well Monday to Friday, on foot I pick up from their home a small group of dogs and take them to socialise and exercise in Grey Lynn Park and surrounds. I walk dogs in Ponsonby, Grey Lynn and Westmere.

How did you end up dog walking?

We couldn’t have pets in our rental property so I started playing with walking a neighbour’s dog; we really hit it off and the dog loved our time together. As I walked it a few times a week people saw me and started asking if I could collect and walk their dog while they were out all day working. I soon realised I loved having my little group of dogs and it was a service people really liked, having a reliable local and personal approach - unlike some of the bigger more mechanised dog walking businesses.

How is Paws to Doors different from other services?

I do home pick up and the dogs spend no time in big vans. I am very flexible, people sometimes work from home last minute and I will often get a text saying “can you swap to tomorrow”, or “I’m home sick with a child and we don’t need you today.” Obviously affordability is a big thing, especially right now, and I’m more economical than anyone else in the area.

Do you currently have space and how do readers get in touch?

Yes I do! My mobile number is 021 046 4657. You can also find me on facebook @PawstoDoorsNZ

Crazy about cats Courtney Cameron runs her cat sitting business and loves to establish bonds with her “clients”.

Tell us about Feline Fanatics. How does it work?

Feline Fanatics is a cat sitting business providing in-home care for cats while their owners are away. We can visit once or twice a day to feed, clean out litter boxes, and provide cuddles, pats and playtime.

We see you have been a veterinary nurse - has that experience been useful to you?

Yes most definitely. There is a vast amount of knowledge and skill that comes with being an experienced veterinary nurse. With this experience, I am able to administer various medications, assist with grooming, recognise certain feline behaviours and identify when a cat is unwell or not quite themselves.

Courtney Cameron with Leila - her newest family addition.

She was a stray found in a cow shed north of Auckland and lost her right eye to severe cat flu.

What do you like best about your job?

My fluffy clients of course! There is nothing more rewarding than establishing bonds with each of them. The different personalities, mannerisms, and quirks. No two cats are the same and I love getting to know them all.

Feline Fanatics

When you’re not at work - how do you switch off?

When I am not out and about visiting my fluffy clients, I am being kept busy at home with Leila and Lennox (my feline babies) and Lincoln and Zeke (my two preschool boys).

Cat si ing services provided to you by a qualified, professional, self confessed cat lover.

Feline Fanatics, T: 021 0289 2129, www.felinefanatics.co.nz

In-home Pet Care

The royal treatment for your feline friend

Phone: 0210 2892129 Website: www.felinefanatics.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

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FUTURE GENERATION

I Love Lucy Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Suzanne Collins - 13+ If you haven’t heard of the Hunger Games, I’m not sure where you’ve been for the past 12 years! Set in a dystopian future, a hierarchical Capitol has developed an annual event where children called tributes from 12 different districts are drawn by chance to determine who will fight for their lives. Controlling all that madness is the infamous President Coriolanus Snow.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the fourth book in the Hunger Games series, introduces us to the Snow’s younger self, a prequel that takes us back in time to the 10th annual Hunger Games. For a bit of context, the first three books are set around the 74th Hunger Games. For the first time, a young Snow and his classmates are mentors, preparing tributes for the hideous ordeal that is the Hunger Games. Humiliated by being given the weakest contentor, Snow is determined to win… and he will do whatever it takes.

My favourite character was tribute Lucy Gray Baird, and not only because we share the same name. Unlike previous Hunger Games heroine Katniss Everdeen, who was driven by saving her younger sister from becoming a tribute, Lucy is charismatic, bold and highly motivated by her ambition for fame and victory. Her character was funny, witty and brutally honest, and I loved that she didn’t care what anyone thought of her.

thought out they made me squeal with delight, and I wouldn’t want you to miss out on that! I loved this book with its plot twists and surprising revelations that kept me on the edge of my seat right to the end.

As a huge Hunger Games fan I eagerly anticipated this book and it didn’t disappoint! Great book overall, would absolutely recommend it to any Hunger Games reader.



This book will make more sense if you read the first three books in the series as there are a few references that are so well timed and

out of 5!

Lucy Kennedy is a young local writer who loves to read! You can read this and Lucy’s other book reviews @ilovelucybooks

Your Child’s Stepping Stone to School Ficino Preschool nurtures and develops the social, intellectual and physical skills your child will use to thrive and take the next step to our on-site primary school.

Book a visit. Hop online, book a visit and discover why Ficino Preschool is more than a stepping stone to school.

It is the Greatest Gift you can give your child.

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FICINO.SCHOOL.NZ

PRESCHOOL TO YEAR 8

62 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

MOUNT EDEN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FUTURE GENERATION

Growing happy and well-rounded young women At St Cuthbert’s, we are dedicated to growing happy, capable and resilient young women who recognise their unique talents and forge lifelong friendships.

An important pillar is the expansive outdoor education programme at all levels of the school, with the highlight being the ‘Kahunui’ experience at our remote campus.

Kahunui – meaning ‘big hawk’ in Maori – is a St Cuthbert’s owned and operated 141-hectare property located in the Bay of Plenty, where our Year 10 girls spend four consecutive weeks.

Students take part in an all-encompassing outdoor education programme designed to strengthen essential life skills. During this time, the girls are unplugged – no phones, laptops or devices, with the only communication back home being via post.

Run by a dedicated team of academic/outdoor instructors, Kahunui welcomes groups of approximately 24 Year 10 students in a number of intakes across the course of the year. Groups of eight students live in and manage their own house including cleaning, laundry, menu planning, budgeting, gardening and cooking.

Girls also give their all to outdoor activities ranging from tramping, kayaking and blow-carting to fishing, small boat handling, fire lighting and survival camping.

Principal Justine Mahon says “Kahunui is a unique and very special part of what we offer at St Cuthbert’s to develop well-rounded young women.

The experience helps our girls become aware of just how resourceful they are, how they can achieve whatever they put their mind to, how they can

feel the fear and do it anyway, and how to be at one with the environment.

It expands friendship groups, creating strong bonds and helping girls realise they can confidently face life’s challenges.”

Every Year 10 student spends 28 days at Kahunui and we can say without exception that our girls love this facet of their education. Parents find their daughters returning home invigorated for the challenges ahead.

“The girls were all glowing when we picked our daughter up. They’ve had a life changing, irreplaceable experience. It’s hard to summarise our elation that our daughter has had the opportunity to participate in such an amazing adventure.” Parent of a St Cuthbert’s Year 10 student.

To learn more about Kahunui please view our video at www.stcuthberts.school.nz/kahunui-difference

ST CUTHBERT’S, 122 Market Road, Epsom, T: 09 520 4159, www.stcuthberts.school.nz

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FUTURE GENERATION

Meet the Teacher Penelope Dunn teaches English at Ponsonby Intermediate.

Have you always been a teacher?

Teaching is actually my second career. I have a degree in English and Media Studies and, previously, I worked in book publishing in London as an editor and then as a literary agent.

What sparked your career change?

I moved back to New Zealand when my first child was one - I knew I wanted my family to have a Kiwi upbringing. I then spent time at home with my three children. I like to keep busy so I joined all the parent committees going, as well as training and working as a volunteer Adult Literacy teacher. When my children started school, I realised it would be exciting to teach at the top of the cliff rather than the bottom and I began my training when my youngest was three.

Why did you choose to teach at Ponsonby Intermediate?

I trained as a primary school teacher and had six wonderful years teaching at Point Chevalier Primary in Year 5/6. However, the move to Ponsonby as a specialist English teacher was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down - I get to indulge my passion for literature and writing as well as working with an amazing age group. This, along with our inspiring staff and management team, is what keeps me here.

What is your role at Ponsonby?

I have a number of roles. I am a form teacher, English teacher, cohead of English with responsibility for curriculum and extension, as well as being a Within School Teacher for the Kahui Ako. You have been a member of the Kahui Ako team since the beginning - what do you enjoy about the role?

The connections we are developing across our age levels. I am a part of the writing group and it has been so powerful to have teachers from Year 1 right through to Year 13 discussing and creating a common, student-friendly language for assessing writing that will enable students to become more self-directed learners.

How did the lockdown affect you as a teacher?

There were pros and cons. A pro was having to push myself to

learn new ways of teaching and communicating. A con was having to accept that I couldn’t be there for every student. There were so many variables.

Did they have access to technology?

We arranged it if they didn’t. But did they engage? If they weren’t, how could I know what was going on for that individual family? As a school, we ultimately prioritised well-being over learning during this time. Fortunately, our students have been delighted to return to school and we are all now appreciating how important the teacher/ student connection is for learning.

Do you live locally?

Yes, I have lived in Point Chevalier for twenty years and my three children have all gone through the local school system. I have been in the interesting situation of teaching the children of my Plunket coffee group! With my youngest now being fifteen, I have finally got to the point of not personally knowing many of the families I teach.

HOMESICK FOR PONSONBY? If you, your friends or family are missing Ponsonby, why not subscribe to New Zealand’s BEST read community magazine?

Photography: Everall Deans, Ponsonby Business Association

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

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64 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

What is the Eighth Wonder of the World?

Most of us are aware of the seven wonders of the world. What is less well known is the eighth wonder of the world: compound interest.

The benefits of compounding returns are particularly relevant for those in KiwiSaver who are saving towards a deposit for their first home and for retirement.

An easy way of showing the benefits of compound interest/returns is an explanation of the Rule of 72. This simple mathematical equation demonstrates how quickly the value of an investment can increase over time.

By dividing 72 by the estimated interest rate or investment return, you can determine how long it takes to double your money, e.g. an annual interest rate of 3% would result in your capital doubling in 24 years: 72 divided by 3 equals 24. An annual investment return of 6% would double in 12 years: 72 divided by 6 equals 12.

The implications of this rule highlight the potential losses of opportunity to KiwiSavers who were in default or conservative portfolios when they should have been in balanced or growth portfolios.

In the aftermath of the Covid-19 lockdown, the sell-off of the global investment markets caused KiwiSaver portfolio values to drop alarmingly, particularly for those in growth-oriented strategies. Sadly, in reaction to this unexpected fall in their KiwiSaver balances, too many people panicked and ‘dumbed down’ their KiwiSaver portfolios from growth to conservative, crystallising the loss in value and reducing the opportunity to benefit from gains from the recovery the market has been experiencing since April.

0800 1PLAN4U or 09 309 3680

However, the real loss for these nervous savers is only just beginning, as their loss of confidence in the investment process is likely to ensure that they face a compromised future retirement lifestyle. Had these investors been properly supported and advised, both the current loss and potential future losses could have been avoided.

A professionally prepared retirement plan would aid you in this process by determining your retirement goals and timeframe; analysing your resources, particularly your income and expenditure requirements, both now and in the future; and assessing your risk profile.

A plan to ensure your future financial wellbeing should give you the confidence to invest sensibly, ignore the ‘noise’ in the investment markets, and instead focus on the bigger issue of accumulating sufficient investment capital to fund your preferred lifestyle in retirement. This should certainly be Plan A, but what if there is an unanticipated interruption to your current employment, perhaps as a result of a Covid-19-related redundancy or business failure? In this event, your retirement plan should provide you with a Plan B, which would hopefully still allow you to achieve your goals.

If you haven’t sought professional advice about the best KiwiSaver scheme for you, or if you don’t have a retirement plan, there’s no time like the present to get one tailored to your specific requirements.

ONEPLAN, T: 0800 1plan4u, www.oneplan.co.nz

198 FEDERAL STREET, AUCKLAND CBD, AUCKLAND 1010 WWW.ONEPLAN.CO.NZ

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

65

Q: I’m looking at a property at auction that says the title is “Limited as to Parcels”. What does this mean, and is it something that I need to worry about?

A: That’s a great question. In New Zealand we are blessed with a “Torrens System” for land, which means that the (now) electronic titles are determinative of who owns the land and the registered interest against it.

The benefit of this is that you can rely on the Land Registry system to tell you who owns the property and the title is government guaranteed. We take this for granted but imagine if this was not the case.

When a property is shown as “Limited as to Titles” (extremely rare) this means that the title is not clear. I have never dealt with a property that was “Limited as to Titles”.

When a property is shown as “Limited as to Parcels” it means that the boundaries of the property have not been clearly established. This means that there may be issues of encroachment, which is of particular concern when the dwelling on the property is near a boundary.

Often this is an issue in older areas like Herne Bay (and Great Barrier Island) where subdivisions were drawn in the UK with subsequent inaccuracies to the actual topography.

When you buy a property that has a dwelling on it, the vendor has no obligation to point out the boundaries. When you buy a property at auction you are deemed to have accepted the title, including any limitations as to title or to parcels.

Always get proper advice on the title and consider boundary issues when you buy. “Meet the neighbour, buy the house” is a useful proverb, and if you are uncertain there is no harm in asking if there is an issue. (MICHAEL HEMPHILL)  PN

METROLAW, 169a Ponsonby Road, T: 09 929 0800, www.metrolaw.co.nz

Property transactions that come up smelling of roses.

SpeCial FIxEd FEE PrE‑AuctIOn rEPOrt $300

www.jonesthepainter.com

When you’re buying or selling a property in the Auckland region, our legal expertise makes for smoother transactions, right down to securing the keys on settlement day.

©Copyright Ross Jones 2010- 2016

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

Metrolaw: Got a legal question? Ask michael@metrolaw.co.nz

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66 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

Business & Commercial

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95 Wellington Street, Property

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

Selling your business? Plan properly and don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!

Over time, business owners can lose interest.

They become tired of the routine.

The challenge has gone; it’s not as exciting as it used to be when the business was new and growing. Problems are no longer a new challenge to be solved, but have become a frustrating hassle. The recent lockdown may have heightened this perception. Numerous business owners are feeling tired, fed up and frustrated at the prospect of re-building.

Some have even decided that they quite enjoyed the peace and tranquillity of the lockdown period, and have decided to retire.

Selling a business which may have taken decades to build is neither an overnight nor a DIY project. It requires consideration and planning to achieve the best result. Here are three important areas to consider when you prepare to sell.

1. First impressions count. On two recent occasions I have advised business owners to tidy up the front and paint the façade of their building. Although both of these businesses had excellent trading and profit figures, they looked tired, which made it appear that they weren’t well managed or efficient. Avoid having front offices with piles of paper everywhere, or factory and assembly areas that are messy and cluttered. Give attention to parking areas, fill potholes, cut grass, and tidy garden areas. It’s a relatively small cost but will help achieve a premium sale price - perhaps tens of thousands of dollars more; it’s a no-brainer.

2. Take time to plan. Many business buyers will be putting their life’s savings and their family home on the line. They are naturally

cautious and anxious and they do not necessarily stop looking for a suitable business while they are waiting for information.

It’s therefore important to make sure all your systems and processes are well documented. This means ensuring all your records are transparent and transferable and that you are able to demonstrate that the company name and brands are protected.

This should also include ensuring any licenses and agencies are secure and formalised arrangements for key suppliers and leases are in place.

3. Price your business correctly. You can quickly and irretrievably lose potential purchasers by overpricing. Your business broker can advise on how to best market your business: what similar businesses have previously sold for, what you will be competing with, how they compare with yours, what they are generating, and how they are priced.  PN

DAVID WELLS, Senior Business Broker, NAI Harcourts, M: 027 436 1465, E david.wells@naiharcourts.co.nz

Thinking of selling or buying a business?

I handle all types of business sales ranging from $100k to $10m+ Call now for a no obligation free appraisal (confidentiality assured)

David Wells BA, Dip RE, AREINZ, REINZ accredited

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

027 436 1465

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PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

Logan Granger: Covid-19 Small Business Cashflow Scheme The Government has introduced the small business Cash Flow (Loan) Scheme (SBCS) to support businesses struggling because of the loss of revenue as a result of the COVID-19.

This scheme is designed to provide a loan up to a maximum of $100,000 for small businesses.

To be eligible for the SCBS loan, a business must have 50 or fewer full-timeequivalent employees. The loan has a five year term and must be repaid by 31 July 2025. The annual interest rate will be 3% beginning from the date of the loan provided. The loan is only interest-free if it is paid back within a year.

Repayments are not compulsory within the first 24 months.

Businesses will be entitled to a loan amount of $10,000 plus $1,800 per FTE employee to a maximum of $100,000.

This scheme is designed to give small businesses access to cash flow to meet their fixed and operating costs such as rent, insurance, utilities, supplier payments and rates. The loan cannot be passed through shareholders or owners of the businesses through dividends.

The loan application is available on the IRD website and is open up until 12 June 2020.

WAGE SUBSIDY EXTENDED Last week’s budget announced an extension to the existing wage subsidy scheme. A Wage Subsidy Extension payment will be available to support employers, including sole traders, who are still significantly impacted by COVID-19 after the Wage Subsidy ends. It covers the period of 8 weeks from 10 June 2020 until 1 September 2020.

The conditions that have to be met in order to apply for wages subsidy extensions is as follows: 1. The applicant must have had or must expect to have a revenue loss of at least 50% for the 30 days before the application is made, 2. It will cover eight weeks per employee from the date the application is submitted, and is in respect of the employees listed in that application; 3. The subsidy gets paid as a lump sum at the same weekly rate as the Wage Subsidy,

4. The applicant has to undertake to perform certain obligations including the following: • pass the subsidy on to your employees • retain your employees for the duration of the subsidy • do your best to pay your employees at least 80% of their normal pay Take active steps to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on your business.

A TEMPORARY LOSS CARRY-BACK SCHEME HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO SUPPORT TAXPAYERS IN THE CURRENT UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT Generally businesses use previous year’s losses to reduce their taxable income in future. However due to the economic impacts of COVID-19 it is more likely many taxpayers will incur loss in the 2020 or 2021 income years.

Carrying a loss forward postpones the benefit of being able to claim losses and means that a taxpayer would still incur a tax liability for previous profitable years. The Loss carry-back scheme will provide fast cash flow relief for businesses in loss during the period affected by COVID-19 and therefore clients with losses in 2020 or who have actual or expected losses in 2021 will be able to carry those losses backwards to the prior year and use against profits in that prior year and generate tax refunds as a result.

Almost all types of taxpayers - companies, trusts and individuals are eligible to carry back losses however the majority of individuals, with only PAYE income will automatically be excluded as they can’t have a loss to carry back.

We are more than happy to assist you – please contact us if you any questions regarding the small business cash flow loan, wages subsidy extension or the loss carry back.

The team at Johnston Associates wish the Ponsonby News readers all the very best in these hard times, and we are here if you need us! (LOGAN GRANGER) Disclaimer – While all care has been taken, 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

68 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

TRAVEL BREAKS

Ross Thorby: Not just another pile of rocks...

We are in the desert wilderness, the only greenery around us is a strip of scrappy growth alongside a bubbling river that flows alongside the road.

Well they call it a road, but some in the back of our bus are under the distinct impression that we are on a roller-coaster ride to hell as we hurtle along a primitive dirt track. The river that accompanies us is fed by the Andes, and like the Nile in Egypt it is the only source of water and the lifeblood to the small communities that we have encountered on the four hour drive from Callao - the port city of Lima, Peru.

So much of our destination reminds me of Egypt; the thin green line beside the water is planted in crops by farmers who live a basic subsistence here. Life is hard but they still find the time to stop and wave at the sight of our busload of pale white gringos who have interrupted their daily toil by passing in a dust-storm that settles over their crops of passionfruit and sugar cane.

In order to reach an isolated archeological site located in the Supe Valley and named Caral, our trip this morning has brought us through miles of barren sandy landscape, pock-marked with shanty towns and basic slums. Currently an area that does not feature high on any “must do” list, it’s not advertised in shiny brochures or pushed by uninformed travel agents, and yet it is one of the most important sites in the Americas. It may not be as glamorous as Machu Picchu, but it’s not just another pile of rocks, its older and in my mind far more interesting.

They were building what we now call Caral, at the same time that they were building the Step Mastabas that would eventually evolve into Egypt’s pyramids.

For years the odd archeologist had glanced over the hills into this valley but then moved quickly on, believing the topography to be unimportant and insignificant compared to other sites in the Americas. That is until 25 years ago, when Ruth Shady, a curious Peruvian anthropologist and archaeologist, climbed on top of one of the mounds and started digging. Not only did she discover that the mounds were pyramids, but were 5000 years old and built at the beginning of human civilisation.

It was thought that originally we lived in cities for protection against other warring tribes, but the discovery of Caral was to blow that theory

70 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

right out of the water. Here they found no weapons, no fortifications, and from the few skeletons that they found, have detected no physical signs indicating war or threat.

Also, contrary to popular theories about pre-Incan civilisation, the temples show no sign of human sacrifice. Here, there were no babies slaughtered or slaves disemboweled on the stone “steps to heaven”.

It appears to have been an entirely peaceful city with 3000 people living on the 60 hectare site and 20,000 living in the surrounding valley. All peaceful and growing their crops alongside the river and quietly, but dramatically practicing their religion on the six pyramids and various temples spread throughout the city.

In recent years they have uncovered most of the mounds, but have left one buried in the minutia of millennia to demonstrate how concealed the valley had been for centuries. The now exposed complexes have great stone steps leading up to a crest where the priests lived and worked venerating their gods and leading the inhabitants in peaceful co-existence. Sacred fires burnt continuously in pits at their base and forums and amphitheaters for the entertainment of the populace were scattered throughout the community.

It is thought that the city was abandoned because of El Nino, the nearby river drying up and the temperature becoming too hot to grow crops; abandoned to be left and slowly covered by the desert sand blown ever remorsefully over the foundations and stone walls - global warming well before the Greens discovered it.

Ok - so I’m a geek - if it’s not cruise ships that get my wheels spinning, it’s ancient archeology.

Not only are we the only tourists at this site, but it is also a really raw historical dig. They are still working here and making new discoveries daily. Tourism is in its infancy, but the facilities and paths are all ready for the inevitable influx of hardy travellers who will eventually no doubt, discover it as one of the newest and most important digs in the Americas. That is once this Global virus is under control.

PN (ROSS THORBY)  PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

The Penthouse at 132 Halsey, Wynyard Quarter A jewel in the crown of Auckland’s waterfront, The Penthouse occupies the top floor of one of the city’s most significant and sought-after residences situated aside the Viaduct Marina, in the heart of Auckland’s most exciting new precinct, Wynyard Quarter with all it has to offer: acclaimed cafes and restaurants, the prestigious ASB Theatre, lush green parks, the vibrant CBD, Commercial Bay and the excitement and thrill of the America’s Cup 2021 right at your doorstep.

Meticulously designed by Athfield Architects, The Penthouse blends elegant craftsmanship with state-of-the-art engineering and technology. The interior has been designed and finished with exacting attention to detail. Luxurious by every measure and over 300m2 in size, it features three spacious living areas with balconies to both the east and west, a generous custom-designed entertainer’s kitchen complete with European appliances, a spacious scullery, and an expansive open-plan living and dining area that will make entertaining friends, family and clients an absolute pleasure as they enjoy sunset cocktails on the luxurious balconies, drinking in the elevated views of the sparkling harbour, Rangitoto, and the twinkling cityscape.

This lavish apartment includes a three-bedroom guest wing and generous bathrooms with European-designed fittings.

To complete the picture there is also a private entrance lobby with lift access to four secure separate car parks, concierge service, firstclass resident amenities including a gym, boutique sixteen seat movie theatrette and business centre.  PN This is absolute luxury for the most discerning buyer.

Check out the video barfoot.co.nz/788332 For a private viewing – Phone Carl Madsen on M: 021 953 152.

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

In the aftermath of COVID-19, CATALISEwhat EDdoes the Auckland rental market look like?

Catalise says, “it is, as it is: it’s quieter, it’s tougher and you need to be very vigilant as well as responsive to the environment. More than ever before, having an experienced professional by your side to navigate this changing and fast moving landscape is key.”

Catalise is finding tenants are meeting their obligations. Some people have experienced difficulties and careful monitoring of deferment rental plans, allows them to get back on their feet quickly.

Act to 1 December 2020. There is a catch, as the deadline to comply with the Act for all new and renewed tenancy agreements is still 1 July 2021.

Not all properties are affected in the same way but as a general rule, there are fewer people looking to move and more viewings with longer vacancies between tenancies. However, there are good tenants taking well managed properties.

Landlords should make no mistake that assessing compliance with the Act is not as simple as “I have a heat pump in the lounge” and “the ceiling was insulated five years ago.” It should specify the output of the heat pump and the room size it can heat.

Commercial tenants may be able to open their doors but business is still subdued for many and retailers especially are under pressure. In this context, good negotiation skills to find a win-win solution, bring tenants and landlords together.

That said, insulation should have been looked at recently to assess any gaps and specify what are the R ratings or current thickness.

Indeed, It is recommended to get a proper check done or a property manager can organise it for their clients.

Landlords should know about emergency laws that the government has introduced to protect tenants. Giving notice to vacate with proper notice times served is possible again. However, landlords cannot increase rents until at least 25 September 2020.

Like at chess, patience, good strategies, knowledge of rules and responding to the environment will lead to success. Catalise regularly communicate with its clients to make sure they understand what is happening, to advise them of the best decisions to make during the recovery and optimise their return on investment, even in a challenging market. Contact Catalise if you want to discuss how they could help in your particular situation.

Welcome news for landlords is that the government has extended the deadline to provide an assessment of compliance to Healthy Homes

CATALISE LTD, 203A Symonds Street, Eden Terrace, M: 021 352 670, Sandie@catalise.co.nz, www.catalise.co.nz

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

www.catalise.co.nz 72 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

Residential/ Commercial/ Air BnB

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

success 021 352 670 sales@catalise.co.nz 203a Symonds St, Eden Terrace, Auckland 1010 PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

How much of a difference do insulating blinds make?

Duette insulating blinds look amazing and help control the temperature of your home. Popular with architects, insulating blinds can make a real difference to your home. They look beautiful, improve insulation and reduce energy usage.

Better insulation “The main benefit of insulating blinds is that they are truly designed to improve insulation,” says Susan Brooke, Lahood’s senior design consultant. “When about 45% of heat loss occurs through windows, it’s no surprise they make a practical and attractive option.”

Luxaflex Duette ‘honeycomb’ or ‘cellular’ blinds are the original and are still the best insulating blind available. Luxaflex Duettes retained more heat than any other blinds when tested by Consumer NZ. The pleated reinforced fabrics form special compartments trapping air and in turn providing up to 33% more insulation than double glazing.

“With these blinds fitted throughout your home, you’ll be able to enjoy a comfortable living environment all year round regardless of the temperature outside,” explains Susan.

Improved comfort and visual design “Everyone wants to improve the look and feel of their home, and that’s why Luxaflex Duette blinds are a popular choice with architects and designers. They look great and work hard,” says Susan.

Lahood has an impressive range of designs to complement the aesthetic of any room, from linen, sheer drapes and blockout fabrics, to soft or hard textured fabrics that complete a design story. With an extensive and exclusive range of blind fabrics available you can easily create a simple and elegant look throughout your home and updating to Luxaflex Duette blinds will always add value.

Energy efficiency Insulating blinds reserve heat and save energy. This is welcome news for anyone who wants to ensure that they are being economical and power efficient at all times. Just as importantly, you’ll be doing your part to safeguard the planet and reduce harmful emissions that can

impact the environment. “Our clients find themselves less dependent on heaters during winter and air conditioning units during summer, which is a win-win for everybody,” says Susan.

Talk to the experts about insulating blinds If you want to improve the look and feel of your home, the team at Lahood can help, supplying and installing high quality blinds and curtains, designed with insulation, aesthetics and energy efficiency in mind. The range of Luxaflex Duette Blinds available are both durable and functional and will look amazing when fitted to your windows.

“Lahood prides itself on offering an exceptional level of customer service to everyone that we work with. We boast years of experience designing and furnishing windows throughout New Zealand,” says Susan. ‘Rest assured that you’ll always get the best when you choose our expert team.’

Call today on 09 638 8463 or book your FREE in-home consultation online and a member of the team will get back to you as soon as possible. Alternatively, feel free to stop by our showroom to view things for yourself.

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

74 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

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PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

John Elliott: Lockdown News From Ponsonby Businesses I’m reporting here three very different types of local businesses, and how differently they had to deal with level 3 and 4 lockdown.

Dentists just could not work at all. My dentist Deanna Nelson found the hardest part of the lockdown for her family was not being able to see her 81-year-old father, iconic Ponsonby dentist Keith Nelson who retired just a couple of years ago. I’m told he’s well and thriving in his new rest home, still driving, much to family anguish!

Deanna reported that it is impossible to do dentistry on line. She conducted a few phone calls, but patients just had to wait until level 2 for personal service. The family enjoyed meals together.

This report was received before yesterday’s new cases (18 June).

Deanna declared she was worried about a second wave, and effective isolation at the border. Prescient comments. Deanna also declared Ponsonby a strong community which will bounce back, particularly if we all “support local”. People in Ponsonby are positive and innovative”, she added, “so I really hope that will help many businesses through these tough times.”

Mark Grzybowski is a European stone mason, who builds and installs high-end stone kitchens and other stone features. He was able to retain his experienced staff of 23, at home on 80% pay. Mark was able to do some work online with architects, designers and clients, but was itching to get back to work. He would like to have come out of lockdown a little earlier, but understands the government’s caution.

Mark told me he is not worried about a second wave as long as the border remains closed. “A second wave would be a disaster,” he said.

Like Deanna Nelson, Mark Grzybowski argued for a strong border control nearly a month ago. As I write this (19 June) the border seems extremely porous, and we appear in danger of a second wave.

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Keith Nelson & Family

My third interview was with Shona and Drew Rishworth. They are in the aged-care sector, and own and run a rest home. They told me they had to put in numerous strategies pre-lockdown, knowing what was occurring globally. During the lockdown they had no visitors, contractors, family members or friends. The Rishworths were able to organise some face time online and they had zoom meetings with colleagues. Their weekly doctor’s meeting was conducted by phone.

Shona also urged that the border remain closed securely, with controlled quarantine.

Shona also told me that the shutdown period had been the hardest work they had ever done. No time for family dinners and down time there. But fortunately they came through it with no covid cases among their elderly, and when I spoke with them Shona and Drew both looked in good shape. Like the others I interviewed they called on locals to shop and eat locally to help local businesses get back on their feet. (JOHN ELLIOTT)  PN

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

Renovating and building in Ponsonby is a game of millimetres To build in and around Ponsonby requires a commitment to honour the heritage and beauty of the homes and to ensure their individual stories are thoughtfully captured at every stage.

Meticulous planning that considers the home’s history and the accompanying logistical complexities - tight sites, narrow access roads and the close proximity of neighbours - is essential. So too is precision demo work that preserves the home’s period features and avoids problems further into the build. Then there is the build itself; you need to watch a period home like a hawk. Nothing is ever square or straight; you have to be constantly checking and rechecking.

James with Juno

A villa won’t ever fit her plans perfectly. A big part of my job is to be able to visualise the finished product in my head to make sure that what I deliver is a celebration of the history of the house with a modern interpretation.

For these reasons and so many others, I love working on villas and I’m always walking around the streets with Juno, my malamute, admiring the work of others and spotting the potential in homes that are waiting for the next chapter of their story to begin. If you see us stop and say hello.  PN WOLF CONSTRUCTION, T: 021 0234 9527 E: james@wolfconstruction.co.nz

FOR THE LOVE OF BEAUTIFUL HOME LIVING Home Renovations – Gardens and Outdoor Living

LET OUR READERS KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS OR SERVICE Contact martin@ponsonbynews.co.nz www.ponsonbynews.co.nz 80 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

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81

OUT &ABOUT

‘In The Flesh’ – Monster Valley

As restrictions were lifted and NZ moved towards Level 1, Karl Sheridan and the team at Monster Valley teamed up with local illustrator, designer and artist Finn Gerry Wilson to put on a group show. Word spread and within a week the number of artists wanting to be involved swelled resulting in an exhibition of 53 individual artworks from 23 artists.

Thanks to the heroes at Hallertau Brewery as well as the Karangahape Road Business Association for their support with the exhibition. And a special thanks to Ponsonby News for media support.

photography: Nathan Clark

On Thursday 11 June a crowd of 350+ celebrated the move to Level 1, the re-opening of Monster Valley and mammoth exhibition ‘In The Flesh’.

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MONSTER VALLEY, 74 Karangahape Road, Facebook: @monstervalley.co.nz, Instagram: @monstervalley, www.monstervalley.co.nz

82 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE

@ OREX

John Madden - Paintings & Constructions 4 - 29 August, opening Tuesday 4 August 5.30pm - 7.30pm Whatipu is a spectacular area of coastal dunes and wetlands. It is also the breeding ground for endangered species such as the New Zealand Dotterel. The hike from Whatipu beach to the Pararaha valley is demanding but is well worth the effort to enjoy the coastal forest, experience the Pararaha Gorge, and explore the dunes and swampland of Karekare’s remote, beautiful surf beach.

John Madden’s paintings and constructions are a very personal and painterly response to the character of the land around Karekare and Whatipu. Madden has studied this landscape for years and the vigour of his paint endeavours to harness the essence of it.

In making his work, Madden concentrates on the massiveness of hill and valley, the wide horizon of the sea and the declivity of the tall cliffs.

“There is nothing as brutal and beautiful as the west coast” he says of the hunkering, weather-blasted landscape that fuels his art. “The ruggedness and unique diversity of the landscape is reflected in my paintings, but it is the emotion of this wild, beautiful landscape that I am always trying to capture,” says Madden. “It’s a lifetime vocation.”

OREX, 15 Putiki Street, T: 09 378 0588, E: gallery@orexart.co.nz, www.orexart.co.nz

@ WHITESPACE

Kathryn Stevens: Surfacing 12-30 July Like many artists Kathryn has been busy at work on her new exhibition under lockdown.

We asked Kathryn what life was like under lockdown: “I’m sharing a bubble with my partner David, our fifteen-year-old daughter Nuala and our cat Tintin. My painting studio is in the city, and I am currently part way through making work for an exhibition. My usual routine is that, on painting days, I leave home and go to the studio to work.

“So in my bubble is the ‘mini studio’, a table in the lounge. I have had to pause the paintings due to limited space and materials, and find a different rhythm. I’m enjoying taking the time to make small 3D objects, as well as draw and generate ideas for new paintings back at the studio. I definitely look forward to getting back to my city studio someday soon, but the sense of stillness and quiet that lockdown has brought us is a welcome change, and I do like having more time to enjoy my family and the garden at home.”

Kathryn Stevens works are inspired by architecture and the urban environment: the layers of mesh framing and scaffolding interacting with surfaces: glass, concrete and steel. In the earlier works there was a deliberate ambiguity in the drawing. The grids, and the planes they implied, required that the viewer co-create the space. The now more dominant foreground grid gives more clarity, emphasizing the act of looking. The interface between the viewer and the painting is more evident; we are looking from a real space into a possible one.  PN www.whitespace.co.nz

JOHN MADDEN Paintings & Constructions 4 - 29 August 2020

KATHRYN STEVENS 12 – 30 JULY 2020 SURFACING

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

20 monmouth st, grey lynn, auckland | whitespace.co.nz

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Showing @ ARTFORM, Matakana ARTFORM is proud to host Peter Collis, well-known New Zealand potter,with an exhibition on his return from an 8-month sabbatical in Los Angeles, California. this exhibition, a road-trip across the US formed the base of the use of colour and glazes represented in the pieces exhibited at Artform.

Now back and waiting for round two of their adventure in LA, Peter has once found his love of the pottery wheel to turn his experience into significant objects, reflecting mid-century California and the LA art scene.

The opportunity to exhibit this new work in ARTFORM, Matakana has been the driving force for a burst of energy; the perfect platform for him to be able to put into practise the development of the wheel thrown and constructed form he is so well known for, and further them as vehicles for his exploration of colour and crystal glazes. This work responds to the LA environment and art world.

Julie Collis

This adventure started after Julie, Peter’s wife, won a global acting award with her one-person show 2 years ago. Based on this success, and another award for a short film a few months later, the Collis duo headed up to LA last year on an adventure to crack the Hollywood market for 65-stunning women actors. All was heading in the right direction when... COVID 19...

While Julie would head off to auditions in Hollywood, using the LA public transport system, as a true Kiwi would, Peter would wander the galleries and take time to reassess his work to date, and make some interesting plans for his work going forwards. He became friends with art dealers in local galleries and swapped stories of dealing one-of-a-kind large-scale ceramics in NZ and the US. He visited State Galleries, Craft Contemporary and the Craft in America Center, all within easy distance of their West Hollywood apartment.

The adventure for Peter with the US goes back further, to 20052006, when Clare Mora of Artform took Peter Collis to New York with her then company, Essenze, and exhibited at CLODAGH, a famous interior design and art studio based on Broadway, NYC. Following

“The glazes used are almost a trip back in time. They represent the rich colours of the West Coast and the very dry hills surrounding LA, as well as the deep colours of water that is a rare commodity, yet every house has a large pool. LA is full of contradictions....”

On his return to Auckland and the ability to get back into his studio, Peter has enjoyed the freedom to make work as a result of this introspection and re-evaluation of his work combined with the enormous amount of international study this time has allowed.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Artform will be hosting an artist talk and interview, where the entertaining duo, Peter & Julie Collis, will tell tales of their LA adventure – insights into Julie’s acting career and Peter’s journey through the galleries.

Collifornia Dreaming, opens 4 July at Artform, 3-5pm. Register on the Artform website for the artist talk and interview held at the Matakana Cinema. Seats limited.  PN ARTFORM, Shop 6/2 Matakana Road, T: 09 422 9125, www.artformgallery.co.nz

Peter Collis, Crystal Glaze made in LA

84 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Photography: Debbie Rawson

Bringing life back to Auckland’s CBD with the first live community orchestra post lockdown.

St Matthew’s in the City First Tuesday Concert - 4 August 2020 A Navy Band evokes bright, uniformed players making rousing and grand music on the deck of a vessel or a parade ground.

In St Matthew-in-the-city on 4 August, as part of the first Tuesday Concert series come and hear the band in a different environment.

The superb acoustics of St Matthew’s will favour the ensemble groups of the Royal New Zealand Navy Band as they play music from their extensive repertoire. The band regularly plays orchestral transcriptions, jazz standards, popular music as well as a traditional parade ground repertoire of marches and solemn music. The band often tours the country playing concerts, giving demonstrations and entertaining schools.

The band are a proud affirmation of both musical culture and the traditions of the Navy.

Thirty two full time musicians make up the Royal New Zealand Navy Band and they are based at the Naval Base Devonport. They are a flexible group, being able to form sub-sets of the full band into Saxophone Quartet, Brass Quintet and Wind ensembles – these are the groups which we can look forward to hearing in St Matthew’s.

Soloist Diedre Irons

Sunday 26 July @ 2.30 pm - Soloist incomparable Diedre Irons & conductor Vincent Hardaker performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 Op 58 in G. Incomparable pianist Diedre Irons is one of New Zealand’s most distinguished performing musicians. Born in Winnipeg, Canada she made her debut with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra at the age of 12, playing the Schumann Piano Concerto. After graduating from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia she was subsequently invited by her teacher, Rudolf Serkin, to join the faculty of that prestigious conservatory where she taught for the next seven years. During those years she toured Canada and the USA as a soloist and as a chamber music player.

Since moving to New Zealand in 1977 Irons has performed regularly with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the APO and the Christchurch Symphony, toured many times under the auspices of Chamber Music New Zealand and recorded extensively for Radio New Zealand. With the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and conductor Marc Taddei, she has recorded the complete Beethoven Piano Concerti on the Trust Label.

“We are delighted to welcome members of the Navy Band to St. Matthew’s”, says Tim McWhannell, an organiser of the concert series. “The anticipation of groups of wind and brass instruments playing in the resonant space is a thrilling prospect”, he adds. The programme will include works by Piazzolla, Arnold, Bernstein, Ewald, Gershwin and others.

Internationally Diedre Irons has presented concerts in 25 countries. She was awarded an MBE in 1989 and an ONZM in 2011 for services to music and in 2007 received the degree Doctor of Music (honoris causa) from Brandon University in Manitoba, Canada.

Diverse groups and pairings of musicians are part of the rationale of the concert programming for First Tuesday. A fully fledged First Tuesday series for 2021 is also advanced in the planning.

Diedre Irons taught at the University of Canterbury from 1992-2003 and in 2011 left her position as the Head of Classical Performance at the NZ School of Music in order to focus full time on her own career as a concert pianist.

The next concert for September features Luca Manghi, flute, and David Kelly, piano.

In October to celebrate the Beethoven anniversary, Lisa Chou (pianist) will play an all Beethoven concert. The November concert is the last for the year and will showcase the St Matthew’s organist and Director of Music, Paul Chan playing the great Henry Willis III organ.

If you have not heard St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra play, then you are missing one of the finest musical experiences in Auckland.

www.stmatthews.nz

TICKETS Eventfinda or Door Sales cash only. Adults $30 Concessions $25 children under 12 free. Student Rush on the day $15. ST MATTHEW-IN-THE-CITY CHURCH corner Wellesley & Hobson Streets. www.smco.org.nz

Members of the Royal New Zealand Navy Band Brilliant Brassy Bombast Tuesday 4th August, 12.10-12.50pm Entry by koha.

Sun 26 July at 2.30pm programme

Mozart La Clemenza di Tito Overture K621 Beethoven Piano Concerto No 4 Op 58 G major Dvořák Symphony No 9 Op 95 E minor (New World) soloist Diedre Irons conductor Vincent Hardaker st matthew-in-the-city Cnr of Wellesley & Hobson Street, Auckland City

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Live & lively - St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra

ARTS + CULTURE

Kerry Lee: Anna Crichton’s Dear Virus Anna Crichton likes to call herself a bit of an explorer, but as a five-time winner of the Canon Media Award, that’s a bit of an understatement.

Since the age of 22, her career has spanned the globe. Starting in 1982 as an art director for the Listener magazine, Anna’s career soon took off, and she found herself working in several countries, including India. Her work has appeared in international publications like the Times magazine, the New York Times, and the Wall St Journal.

Returning home to New Zealand, she soon started regularly contributing to the New Zealand Herald, North and South, Metro magazine, along with a Ponsonby News front cover.

Recently Anna’s been busy promoting her new work ‘Dear Virus,’ a book that was inspired by the recent COVID-19 virus and the changes that the world underwent with the sudden and temporary absence of people and the disruption to our daily lives it tended to cause.

It’s a collection of 60 illustrations that Anna drew during her time in lockdown. Originally posting them onto Twitter and Facebook, she eventually decided to compile them together into one book.

When I asked Anna about her inspiration, she explained that a lot of it came from observing nature; not just the environment in New Zealand and where she lived in Titirangi, but the nature she experienced during her travels overseas.

“It was really about trying to find beauty in the world during the lockdown. Hopefully, people come away with a bigger appreciation of the world around them and don’t go back to forgetting it.”  PN ‘Dear Virus’ is currently available at The Woman’s Bookshop, 105 Ponsonby Road. For more information about Anna and her new book, ‘Dear Virus’, please visit www.annacrichton.com

Soap Bubbles by Kym Cox

Under Aurora Bridge by Yevhen Samuchenko

“I live amongst some beautiful trees out near Manukau Harbour; the book’s front cover has the two main characters sitting on a log, which is an actually where I’d sit to get my inspiration.”

Rather then trying to make any political or environmental statements, ‘Dear Virus’ instead chooses to focus on the opportunity that the lockdown gave us. It was a chance to stop and take a break from our normal routine, and it helped us to rediscover the simple pleasures that we may have taken for granted. That might have meant a quiet walk in the garden to self-reflect, or a chance to spend some quality time with your family.

Science or Art? Science Photography that Inspires The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) has secured the rights to present the Royal Photographic Society’s prestigious, International Science Photographer of the Year exhibition.

This exhibition will resonate with photography aficionados, science enthusiasts and the general public alike with images that cover every aspect of scientific endeavour imaginable.

Discover the beauty of raspberry mould, see eye-to-eye with a confused flour beetle, and get up close to the 500-year-old skull of King Richard III. “We have selected 47 incredible photographs to share with New Zealand audiences. Yes, they’re fascinating scientific studies, but they are also powerful artistic statements too,” explains MOTAT’s Senior Exhibitions Curator, Simon Gould.

The annual international competition has just two entry categories; photographers aged over 18 years and the under-18 youth category.

86 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

Visitors will immediately appreciate the highly technical nature behind many of the images but it’s also worth noting that several entries, including the top award-winning photo for the youth category were shot using just a smartphone.

“We have carefully curated a range of images that we felt would resonate with our Kiwi visitors and our New Zealand aesthetic. But this is a global competition, so it’s certainly our hope that after visiting MOTAT there will be many Kiwis wanting to enter this prestigious competition in 2020 and beyond. There’s no lack of talent here, artistic or scientific!”

The Royal Photographic Society’s Science Photographer of the Year exhibition is on now at MOTAT’s Great North Road site.  PN Visit motat.nz for more information.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE

Uptown Art Scene Working under the pall of a pandemic and in the bubble of lockdown is certain to change the ideas and inspiration of those making art.

Local artist Teresa Lane was in the middle of developing work for her July exhibition at Sanderson Contemporary Art when the country went to Level 4. Looking through magazines of “art nudes” and porn for figures to use in her densely collaged images, it all seemed rather indulgent and irrelevant in the face of a pandemic that was altering not just our mortality but the entire way the world operated.

She needed to find a new way-in to making images that could deal with the new barrage of information, to create something that would hold all the new feelings, and bring some lightness to the terseness of our times.

Collage collects the images of our world and arranges them into a new narrative. It’s perfect for sorting a world mediated to us through pictures into something more personal. Recently given some old copies of New Zealand Geographic, Teresa saw a familiarity in the images of sky, sea and land: this was home and this was relevant. She could weave together pictures of native flora and fauna, of activities disallowed under lockdown such as tramping and fishing, and re-combine these with the naked flesh of her previous cuttings and her own photographs.

Her works build ambiguous narratives, layering images taken from science, art, and of the figure to suggest new relationships between them.

There is a sense of mythology being created, a kind of home-grown animism.

Teresa Lane’s Hunting the Huntress

The wings of endangered terns make angels of anonymous figures.

The original image was of a museum specimen, killed by a cat at Omaha; I regard her studio cat shredding discarded NZ Geographic cuttings…

In one of the larger works, the heads of arum lilies tumble like painted eyes. Teresa took photos of the lilies that grow in Matauri Bay, looking down onto Samuel Marsden’s first church. They hold many references – an invasive species which because of their beauty represent lust but also purity, death as well as resurrection, and mixed here with stalk-like arms and hands, could mean all these at once.

Lane’s exhibition is titled ‘Love in the Time‘, a nod to author Gabriel Garcia Marquez, yet these are not works anxious about our present predicament – anxiety might be there, but it is mixed healthily through with our other emotions, to offer stories full of life in these altered PN times. (EVAN WOODRUFFE/STUDIO ART SUPPLIES) 

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2020

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Horoscopes: Miss Pearl Neclis – what your stars hold for July

Aquarius (the Water Carrier) 21 January - 19 February Occasionally you get a little fed up with the direction that you’ve taken in life. It seems that there isn’t much deviation from straight ahead. You have your admirers because you’re a smart thinker. Use this gift wisely.

Pisces (the Fishes) 20 February - 20 March Whatever you overhear should really be kept to yourself. Everyone knows what a trustworthy person you are. Breaking a confidence now could ruin all the trust you’ve built up. It’s not worth it. Your relationships are far more important than idle gossip.

Aries (the Ram) 21 March - 20 April You’re often thought of as a risk taker and that couldn’t be further from the truth. That doesn’t mean that you can be an easy touch. You can refuse something if you don’t want to do it. You realise the ramifications of your actions. Some people don’t but that’s their problem.

Taurus (the Bull) 21 April - 21 May The displeasure you feel when someone in charge tells you what to do can be overwhelming for you. You need to find an outlet for the built up irritation you have. Try and be as honest as you can about how you feel and maybe you’ll understand what the fuel is that’s driving your fire.

Gemini (the Twins) 22 May - 21 June Now that you know the outcome of a question that’s been bothering you for a while, you can finally move forward. If you feel free, that’s because you can remain unconnected for a while and enjoy yourself.

Don’t forget to look for any opportunities that will be of benefit to you.

Cancer (the Crab) 22 June - 22 July There’s really no point in trying to figure out someone that’s giving you grief. You can’t change the behaviour of a lifetime. Keep your energy for yourself. It’s likely that you’ll need to keep all pleasure to yourself.

Leo (the Lion) 23 July - 21 August Unfortunate as this sounds, there are people who rely on you. Whatever you decide to do will have repercussions and you do have a reputation. You’re happiest when you know the work is done.

Virgo (the Virgin) 22 August - 23 September Instead of avoiding a situation or some extra work that needs doing, offer a hand.

Your generosity will be noticed. That idea that you have brewing may also now see the light of day.

Libra (the Scales) 24 September - 23 October Don’t give up on a relationship because you think it’s gone a bit pear shaped. You should always attempt a repair without throwing in the towel. You’re grown up now and with that will come grown up problems.

Scorpio (the Scorpion) 24 October - 22 November As with everything nowadays there is no give without take anymore. Don’t be discouraged though. You keep doing what you’ve always done. If a close family member wants to do something for you then let them do it.

Sagittarius (the Archer) 23 November - 22 December If something or someone is holding you back from your passion then its time to shake them off. Addressing things head on is the only way. Looking forward and not back is the best advice for you. Whatever step you take will be the right one.

Capricorn (the Goat) 23 December - 20 January You could be in for some sort of windfall if you play your cards right. But it’s up to you.

You might have to skill up but that’s easy.

Your dollar worth will definitely increase once you have the skills to match your output.

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