PONSONBY NEWS - MARCH '19

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PUBLISHED FRIDAY, 1 MARCH 2019

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

MARCH 2019

D. JAIRAM & SONS SERVING PONSONBY FOR OVER 100 YEARS - P25 INSIDE THIS MONTH Environmentally Friendly Transport & Global Influences

ponsonbynews.co.nz

CHRIS NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

Ponsonby 44 Pompallier Terrace

Grey Lynn 85 Richmond Road

Herne Bay 4/49 Sentinel Road

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Herne Bay 4/151 Jervois Road - Feb 2019 SOLD

SOLD

Grey Lynn 64 Mackelvie Street - Nov 2018 SOLD

Westmere 20 Fife Street - Oct 2018

Westmere 42 Dorset Street - Dec 2018

SOLD

Herne Bay 16 Sentinel Road - Nov 2018 SOLD

ALTOGETHER BETTER

St Marys Bay 62 Hackett Street - Oct 2018 SOLD

Ponsonby 22 Norfolk Street - Jul 2018

With an extraordinary reputation built on his commitment to getting the job done, Chris has long been a trusted name in Real Estate.

Westmere 40 Warwick Avenue - Dec 2018

Herne Bay 23 Wanganui Avenue - Jun 2018

Chris Batchelor 021 217 7026 | chris.batchelor@bayleys.co.nz BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, PONSONBY, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Res ide ntia l / Comme rc i al / Rural / Prope rt y Se rvi ce s

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WHAT’S INSIDE THIS MONTH

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P30: Environmentally friendly Transport; P34: ECC celebrates 110 years of luxury, lighting and design; P87: In a new column Lahood Window Furnishings tells us about the timeless style of wooden shutters.

FROM THE EDITOR DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW PIPPA COOM: WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS MIKE LEE, COUNCILLOR FOR WAITEMATA & GULF COVER STORY - D. JAIRAM AND SONS U3A PONSONBY NIKKI KAYE: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP

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ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TRANSPORT GLOBAL INFLUENCES VEG FRIENDLY: GARY STEEL EAT DRINK & BE MERRY TRAVEL BREAKS FASHION & STYLE LIVING, THINKING & BEING HELENE RAVLICH: LOCAL BEAUTY

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JOHN APPLETON ON HEALTH FUTURE GENERATION PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS PONSONBY PETS HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS HEIDI PADAIN: ENTERTAINMENT IN YOUR GARDEN ARTS + CULTURE PONSONBY PINK PAGES COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: CONNOR CRAWFORD

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

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

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: WITHIN NEW ZEALAND $49. BY CHEQUE OR POSTAL ORDER IN NZ$. NO CREDIT CARDS. PLEASE NOTE: we do not hold back issues of Ponsonby News. Our archive is all online as a low resolution pdf or from August 2010, as a high resolution E-mag - 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.

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

69,000 readers per month (Nielsen Media), 17,000 copies distributed to homes and businesses in... Arch Hill, Ponsonby, Cox’s Bay, Freemans Bay, Herne Bay, Grey Lynn, St Mary’s Bay, West Lynn and Westmere. Plus selected businesses in Britomart, High Street, CBD, Kingsland, Mt Eden, Newmarket, Newton + Parnell.

4 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Amazing energy Join us at our upcoming

Open Day Saturday 23 March, 10.30am - 12.30pm Register at: stcuthberts.school.nz

Photography: Connor Crawford

FROM THE EDITOR

The Ponsonby News team L to R: Andrea Kahukiwa, Jay Platt, Martin Leach, Melissa Paynter and Gwynne Davenport

Many residents know and love our cover stars this month, local business D. Jairam & Sons Quality Fruiterers. The family dairy has been serving Ponsonby for over 100 years and is well known for selling quality flowers, which Suresh gathers from the morning flower market.

Another business with a long history is ECC whose founder, George Levett Thorburn, installed Ponsonby’s first electric street lights. Starting next month, current director Mike Thorburn will be sharing his expertise in design with Ponsonby News readers.

We know our readers love their homes. This month, in a new column, Lahood Window Furnishings tells us about the timeless style and enduring quality of wooden shutters.

Each issue, Susan Brooks, Lahood’s senior design consultant, will share with us the latest trends in window dressing.

This month we look at environmentally friendly transport options with a view to focusing on other areas of sustainable living each month. Electric bikes, cars and hybrids are gaining in popularity all the time. With most car manufacturers committing to ensuring their vehicles are sustainable by 2025.

The beauty of electric powered transport is that New Zealand has some of the world’s cleanest power. Ecotricity started by Al Yates, a local Ponsonby resident, is supplying 100% certified carbon zero energy to the entire country. Companies using their power

are names like Farro Fresh, Les Mills, Tesla, Gill Coutts & Co and Good For with a growing number of residential customers in Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Freemans Bay and Westmere.

Ponsonby is well known for fusing global trends with local tastes. So many local businesses bring us international influences covering everything from cars, food, homewares, furniture to art and design.

One new business, The Naked Dinner, has recently started in Grey Lynn. The founders, both Kiwis, have been inspired by seeing nude dining in London. www.thenakeddinner.com Last month we attended the opening of the new Glengarry Spirits store on Jervois Road.

They offer a shopping experience unlike any other in New Zealand, where customers immerse themselves in a world of premium spirits. It was wonderful to see Monika Jakicevich, representing four generations, cut the ribbon and the cake.

The Ponsonby Business Association is pleased with the feedback from the Ponsonby Road Festival. They tell us they had over 40 acts and experiences along the Strip which PN created a great atmosphere for our locals and visitors. (MARTIN LEACH) F

LETTERS + EMAILS IT’S NOT THE BIKE LANES THAT ARE A PROBLEM John Elliott’s recent article about cycle lanes in West Lynn, highlights the problems created by the ‘autonomous status and secretive behavior’ of Auckland Transport.

Unfortunately, his proposals to improve the 2017 changes in West Lynn, accurately described as a ‘fiasco’ by local board chair Pippa Coom, will not work, as AT does not have a meaningful process of consultation with the local community. The pavements still flood after rain.

The ramp leading from the Francis Street pedestrian crossing remains at a very dangerous slope ratio of 1:8 when the New Zealand Building code requires all public slopes to be built to a ratio no steeper than 1:12 and the tender drawings given to the contractor specified a slope of 1:20. Why did AT oversee such incompetent work?

Why did they sign it off as completed? Did they pay the contractor? John suggests consultation as a solution. I have attended meetings with AT, and his description of their consultation process is accurate - AT merely ‘tells the public what it intends to do’.

To date AT is still looking at the results of its 2018 referendum on what to do in West Lynn. 1100 responses are now being examined by experts at the rate of three per day.

The public has been asked what to do about failed drainage and dangerous slopes. This is not our business. This situation demands immediate repair. It is urgent!

As a wheelchair user who regularly speeds dangerously down this steep ramp in winter into a permanent puddle, I ask, who is in control of AT? Is it the local board, the Mayor and the council, or the protesters, who seem to make more sense than any party (and who also provide services for free)? Meanwhile, we are told that this urgent repair will not take place any time soon, perhaps next year, as AT is still busy ‘consulting’.

Bill Gruar, Westmere WHO MOVED GUATEMALA TO SOUTH AMERICA? Ross Thorby’s column titled Guatemala - not just the cocaine capital of South America, is not only racist and insulting, but plain ignorant. For a start, Guatemala is not in South America!

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And, yes, South America (and Guatemala, which is in North America, or Central America if you choose a non-scientific definition of Continent) is a lot more than cocaine and crime.

But I refuse to be defined by the problems that our countries face, as you should not be defined by the problems that New Zealand faces like human trafficking and child abuse.

Please realise that by saying “not just...” you are defining Guatemala and all of Latin America as cocaine countries. It’s like a racist comment that starts with “I’m not racist, but...” By the same rules, an article could be entitled “Ponsonby - not just the methamphetamine capital of Australia!” (Rather than New Zealand, in case it’s not obvious I’m being sarcastic).

But the article also puts in question the legitimacy of Thorby’s activities in Guatemala.

How does he know it is the cocaine capital of anything? Was he happy to find out that fact? Did airport security check his luggage when he re-entered New Zealand?

I (sort of) apologise for the cheap shots in the last paragraph, but I hope you can see how upset I am, and I’m entitled to be angry.

Regards and hoping for more fair and better-informed articles.

Miguel, An Ecuadorian-Costarican Kiwi who loves and respects Guatemala.

ROSS THORBY REPLIES: I'm sorry Miquel was offended by my lighthearted attempt outlining my experience in fabulous Guatemala and also of my obvious lack of geographical acumen as of course Guatemala is in Central America.

Rather than highlight a popular Western misconception about Guatemala which is easily reinforced by a Google Search, I was hoping to enlighten readers as to the country’s obvious charms to some who may not have previously considered visiting it and therefore somehow repay the kind hospitality shown to us on our visit.

I'd be more than happy to extend my personal apologies to Miquel for my geographical error over a cup of the South America's finest coffee on Ponsonby Road, on my return.

CONTINUED P72 PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

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

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Herne Bay, 53B Sentinel Road

Herne Bay, 69 Albany Road

Ponsonby, 32 Hukanui Crescent

Res id entia l / Comme rcial / Ru ral / Prope r ty Servi ces BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, PONSONBY, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

DAVID HARTNELL’S ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW Ray Koka had lived and worked in the Grey Lynn area for many years.

The house that you live in and run your business 'Autobahn Grey Lynn Full Servicing & Repairs' from in Warnock Street has quite a history; can you tell us about it?

Something that you really disapprove of?

Cycle lanes on the road.

The house and land itself belongs to the Wootton family. The father was a mechanic and opened up a mechanic shop here in 1915. That was back in the day when trams were operating in the city where he did maintenance on them.

Describe one of your biggest disappointments?

Not making the Warriors squad.

I must have missed training that day.

My office use to be the wash house; it had a huge copper basin. Most of the neighbours would catch crayfish from Western Springs or Coxs Bay and bring them over here using the wash house to clean and boil their crayfish in the copper basin.

How long have you been in business in Warnock Street?

Four years.

What was your childhood like?

A typical island cultural way. When smacking was allowed but, hey, I survived through it though.

Complete the sentence: I will die happy if…

Knowing that every dream I chased is achieved!

Favourite TV series?

Westside as the scene is set back in the 1980s, which is my era.

Where would your dream holiday internationally be?

America at Bonnerville. This is where speed records are set, and because Burt Munro put us Kiwis on the map with his Indian motorbike.

What’s on your bucket list?

To run the Auckland Marathon before the end of 2020.

What is your most treasured passion?

Automotive cars. To own a 1972 XC Ford Falcon.

Aisle or window seat on a plane?

Aisle.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Opening two more Autobahn workshop’s and one other in Samoa.

What job would you do other than your own?

I'd love to be one of the groundsmen at Eden Park and Mt Smart.

I like mowing lawns and looking at the end result of that green, green grass of home If they were to make a movie about your life who would you like to play you?

My friends say I look a lot like Oscar Kightley - what do you think?

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

I'm too short, wish I was a little bit taller.

Do you read movie or TV reviews and would they sway your thoughts?

Nah! I'm more into reading autobiographies about people, and how they get to where they are. That kind of motivates me.

How would you like to be remembered?

As the guy who spent more time under a car than with his kids!

What do you love most about your age?

I haven't got wrinkles yet.

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

Fruit salad, a little bit of everything.

10 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

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

Close the workshop and stare at a poster of my dream car and say, "Finally, I'm coming to get you baby."

What motivates you?

Drinking one more beer than I did the night before.

What do you think happens when we die?

We reunite with our loved ones who have gone before us.

What’s the best movie you've ever seen?

‘The Fastest Indian' because Burt Munro showed the world that Kiwis can fly!

Give your teenaged self some advice?

Don't overdo it with the hair gel or your hair will recede early.

How do you chill out?

Reading a book.

Which item of clothing can't you live without?

My Doc Martin boots.

Your favourite time of the day?

Midday.

Tell us about your dream home?

Back in the islands, a house with no walls and sunny all day every day.

What are you insecure about?

Nothing.

Tell us something very few people know about you?

That I'm also part Nuiean, from Avatele, yeah!

What is your greatest fear?

Heights.

Who is your favourite hero of fiction?

Thor, as he holds a hammer which belongs to me, buddy.

What superpower do you wish you had?

Spiderman web.

Which talent would you most like to have?

To sing like Luther Vandross.

What gizmo can you simply not live without?

The straight 6-cylinder ford engine, The Barraca.

A handshake or a hug kind of person?

A good old-fashioned handshake will do.

What is your comfort food?

Boiled egg with rice and butter. (DAVID HARTNELL, MNZM) F PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Westmere, 9 Chester Avenue

Ponsonby, 17 Pompallier Terrace

Freemans Bay, 101/9 Hopetoun Street

Freemans Bay, 1 Pember Reeves Street

Auckland Central, 901/26 Poynton Terrace

Point Chevalier, 2/23 Huia Road

Point Chevalier, 3/23 Huia Road

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

BLAIR HADDOW “I stand by a higher level of service, making a commitment to customer confidentiality, a special level of loyalty, and a promise to provide clients with competence and integrity.”

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

Residen t ial / Commerci al / Rural / P ropert y Se r v ices

PIPPA COOM: WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD REPORT Following my update last month, a local wrote to me asking for the local board to consider more shade in the design of playgrounds.

Over the last year we have opened two new playgrounds that make use of natural shade as much as possible and work is currently underway on new playgrounds for Home Street Reserve and Western Springs Lakeside Park.

The awards will recognise the outstanding contributions of volunteers and the impact made - above and beyond paid employment - by individuals, children and young people and community groups during the period 1 October 2017 - 14 April 2019.

Suggestions for locations that could benefit most from the installation of shade sails is a good example of feedback that can be made during the Annual Budget 2019/2020 consultation that is on until 17 March. Your feedback will help inform the local board’s funding priorities over the next year.

Nominations will be open from Monday 18 March until Sunday 14 April. We expect the awards night on 16 May at the Auckland Town Hall to be a special occasion for all the recipients and their invited guests.

At the same time as the Annual Budget 2019/2020 consultation, Auckland Council is also seeking your feedback on the Auckland’s Water Future discussion document. This document looks across the full range of water issues in the Auckland region, and proposes a framework for making decisions about water in Tamaki Makaurau.

On the three previous occasions the local board has held the awards, we’ve been able to acknowledge the contribution of local people like John Elliott, founder of Ponsonby News and recent QSM recipient, volunteers who work at MOTAT and Sustainable Coastlines, and young people making a significant contribution to organisations including Rainbow Youth and the University of Auckland's Student Association.

You can find out more about both these consultations, including ways you can have your say and the list of Have Your Say events we’re holding, at akhaveyoursay.nz

More information on the Waitemata Good Citizens Awards 2019 will soon be available on the Auckland Council website, aucklandcouncil. govt.nz/waitemata and on the Waitemata Local Board Facebook page.

Following on straight after the Annual Budget 2019/2020 consultation, we are opening nominations for the Waitemata Good Citizens Awards 2019. These biennial awards have been established to recognise and reward those who give their time for community benefit; children and young people, individuals and not-for-profit organisations whose work for the community is outstanding, directly or indirectly, and/or provides a platform for individuals to volunteer their time.

We recently held one of our board’s flagship events, Myers Park Medley. It was a fantastic day of music, dancing, stalls, games and activities with a great turn out. Events like Myers Park Medley and the first Ponsonby Road Festival, successfully hosted by the Ponsonby Business Association on 16 February, play a big part in contributing to the vibrancy and wellbeing of our communities which is incredibly PN important to our board. (PIPPA COOM) F

Awards will be given to individuals and organisations whose contributions have been recognised to benefit communities, individuals and our environment within the Waitemata Local Board area.

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

Good Citizen Award 2017 recipients and local board members

Local board members Adriana Christie, Richard Northey & Chair Pippa Coom with Shamila Unka consulting on the Annual Budget at the Myers Park Medley

Jennifer Ward, Adriana Christie and Tina Plunkett enjoying the Ponsonby Road Festival

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

14 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Redefining Apartment Living Edition is an exceptional new apartment offering in Parnell, Auckland. The captivating glassbrick exterior from Architects Monk Mackenzie plays host to 19 exclusive residences, each handsomely proportioned and finished with exquisite fixtures and fittings.

Both two bedroom and three bedroom apartments are available, each with a media room and patio featuring silver toned travertine tiles. Windows stretch from floor to ceiling, casting sunlight across the impeccable interior design from Bureaux Limited. The kitchen area epitomises contemporary, functional design with textures of mitred stone, marble and oak. Tiled bathrooms showcase Italian tapware across dual vanities. The upper levels offer spectacular panoramas across Judges Bay, Hauraki Gulf and Rangitoto. Other key features of the complex include ample secure car parking, close proximity to renowned cafés, restaurants, art galleries and studios.

Specialising in residential developments with a keen eye for detail and craftsmanship, lead contractors LEP Construction are commencing work on site in March. So if you’re wanting a luxurious metropolitan lifestyle, now’s the time to act as just 6 magnificent Edition apartments remain available Winner of Chicago Athenaeum Award at the International Architecture Awards

2 Churton Street Parnell Auckland Phone for a private viewing.

Register your interest at editionparnell.co.nz Ross Hawkins ross.hawkins@nzsir.com +64 (0)27 472 0577 Jason Gaddes jason.gaddes@nzsir.com +64 (0)21 994 921

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

LOCAL NEWS

PONSONBY PARK - MARCH UPDATE The whole site civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road, aka Ponsonby Park, was approved by council in December last year and is to be developed, as per the Waitemata Local Board’s strategy, in two stages.

Stage One Encompasses the car parking areas, including the existing canopy. The canopy will be repurposed as an allweather event space with the addition of living walls and a green roof. The car parking areas will become a combination of permeable and impermeablesurface areas. These will be able to accommodate events, markets, rest and relaxation opportunities as well as plantings of trees, flowering plants and other vegetation.

Stage Two Repurposes the existing structure. This will involve the partial demolition of the building to create a laneway. In the meantime the building will continue to be leased and generate additional income.

The development of the detailed business case and design work will commence soon.

We are looking forward to working with all parties to enhance and refine the (international award winning*) concept design into the final design for the whole site civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road.

This detailed work will ensure that Ponsonby Park is iconic, diverse and urbane, and will reflect the contemporary values of democracy, inclusiveness and sustainability that the community desires.

The Community-led Design (CLD) process, boldly initiated by the Waitemata Local Board, has been an impressive and productive success. Members of the CLD group are passionate and enthusiastic

16 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

about continuing the process and seeing the development of the site, through to completion. We look forward to rolling our sleeves up and beginning the realisation of this significant community asset that will be good for the people, good for the environment and good for Auckland. Ponsonby Park - bring it on! (JENNIFER WARD) F PN For more information or to contact us, see our webpage: 254ponsonbyrd.org.nz Or our Facebook page: Ponsonby Park. * The LandLAB design for Ponsonby Park won the international, ‘World Architecture News - Future Civic category’ award in November 2018.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

Mercy Hospice Care Club seeks your support Mercy Hospice on College Hill, Ponsonby, provides a range of specialist, community palliative care and hospice services for people facing life-limiting illnesses.

With the growing need for hospice care and an increasing number of patients wanting to be cared for at home, Mercy Hospice has an urgent need to raise additional funds to provide more hospice care in the community of Auckland.

Consequently the Hospice Care Club has been introduced, a service committed to ensuring all those in our community needing palliative care receive it with the utmost professional skill and respect.

Fundraiser Anne Wright told Ponsonby News that 90 kind people have already pledged a monthly donation in support of the new hospice Care Club.

Donations will help provide comfort and emotional support to patients and family/whanau in their own homes, including dealing with symptoms such as pain, nausea and vomiting.

The community palliative care team of nurses, doctors, family support and pastoral care staff provide home visits, a 24-hour phone line for advice, liaison with other health specialists and access to equipment to help patients stay independent.

Geoff & Tanya

The team at Mercy Hospice currently cares for 300 patients at any one time and services are provided free of charge.

compassion, respect, quality, advocacy and stewardship. Ponsonby News hopes that more locals will heed the call for donations to provide hospice care in the community to all those that need it. Your monthly gift will make all the difference to the lives of patients and families.

The mission of Mercy Hospice is “Through service, advocacy and education, we are committed to ensuring that all those in our community needing palliative care, receive it with the utmost professional skill and respect.” Their values include dignity,

For further details and for information on the benefits of joining the Hospice Care Club contact Anne Wright on 09 376 7578 or email anne.wright@mercyhospice.org.nz or visit www.mercyhospice.org.nz. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F PN

BOWEL CANCER PATIENT’S HIKE FOR HEALTH Local resident Jo Bradshaw was only 44-years-old when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer and yet she counts herself lucky she caught it early.

This experience has meant Jo wants to give back and through Hike for Health she hopes to raise vital funds for Bowel Cancer New Zealand a charity close to her heart.

A fit and active working mum, Jo’s diagnosis came as a complete shock and within three weeks of being diagnosed she was having a bowel resection. Jo credits not ignoring her mild symptoms, but going to her GP after she noticed changes to her bowel movements.

Jo says, “I was very lucky that the bowel cancer was early stage and contained, as they were able to remove the cancer without any subsequent treatment.”

Nonetheless, recovery took time and Jo ended up resigning from her job to get back to full health. The experience is now behind her and she is passionate about raising awareness of bowel cancer symptoms and early detection.

Looking for adventure, Jo signed up to Hike for Health which will have her trek to the Great Wall of China in May this year.

Jo is on a mission to raise $4000 for Bowel Cancer New Zealand and thanks to generous friends and family and selling her handcrafted ceramics she is now half way to achieving her fundraising target.

Jo is committed to her goal and, to help raise further funds, is set to embark on her first ocean swim. She is also currently organising a Charity Bowling Tournament to be held at Grey Lynn Bowling Club in partnership with local builders Henry Brown & Co.

Salt bowls and spoons in production!

Donating to Jo will enable Bowel Cancer New Zealand to continue providing vital education and awareness for early detection of this disease, as well as offering support to those who are already affected by bowel cancer. F PN To learn more about bowel cancer please visit www.beatbowelcancer.org.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

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Something Quite Special (110Ŗm2) 16 Fife Street, Westmere Priced at $3,495,000

A fabulous block of 110&m2 Westmere land with stunning Harbour views from almost every room.

Bordering the expansive Cox’s Bay Park, this is quite literally a blank canvas for an epic family home.

Prime positioning too, to create a number of beautiful residences all taking in the spectacular outlook.

Something quite special and without doubt exceptionally good real estate

JOHN & NIC

John Wills 021 333 053 Nic Blackie 021 505 964

18 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Your 10 Year Family Haven 8 Browning Street, Grey Lynn For Sale by Negotiation

Finally, a genuine family home with character, size, scale and elegance.

This is a rare move-in-and-enjoy solution that mixes turn of the century charm with high calibre finishes and incredibly workable, high value spaces.

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The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

MIKE LEE: COUNCILLOR FOR WAITEMATA & GULF

High-handed council alienating too many people What a gorgeous summer it has been - the ‘Auckland Dream’, the pursuit of which brought me from Wellington when I was 21.

Unfortunately, it’s not been the happiest summer for everyone in Waitemata. From early January I’ve been inundated with complaints from upset residents – about Auckland Council. Most of these complaints could have easily been avoided if the people representing the council had been a bit more open to public concerns.

Two examples come to mind: first the pine trees at Western Springs, 13 of which were suddenly declared by council officers (before the conclusion of the resource consent hearing) to be in imminent danger of falling and therefore needing to be removed urgently. In order to do so, their contractors planned to bulldoze a 3m wide access road through the native bush understory - thereby largely defeating the stated purpose of creating a native bush reserve.

Neighbouring residents led by Deborah Manning, supported by Wendy Gray and staunch Grey Lynn activists, pushed back, believing the council and its highly paid arborist concocted a ‘false emergency’.

Affected homeowners refused to leave their houses when ordered to by council officers citing ‘emergency powers’. After a deluge of bad publicity and questions about the credibility of their technical advice the council pulled back. The decision of whether the trees stay or go, as it always should have been, will now be made by the consent hearing panel, after it studies further submissions from residents – and their experts.

Another example, local community groups Herne Bay Petanque, Ponsonby Probus and U3A, comprising some 300 members, mainly seniors, based at lovely Salisbury Reserve in Herne Bay have been told that their car parking will be withdrawn in the near future and they will have to take their chances on nearby streets where parking spaces are few and far between - and the walk, especially carrying gear, is long.

Over the holidays, I received a number of plaintive emails including from local resident and Herne Bay Pétanque official Robyn Chalmers.

In response, I explained that I try to avoid getting involved in matters within the delegation of the Waitemata. Local Board. However, my first duty is to the public so I agreed to meet Robyn at Salisbury Reserve. This I did on a beautiful Friday afternoon to find there a hive of activity – the clubrooms and grounds festooned with blue, white and red pennants and club officials bustling about with equipment and supplies of food and beverages.

A major international tournament was about to get underway with 44 teams from France, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Australia and the United States as well as New Zealand. Out on the courts

or ‘terrains’, the Tahitian teams and their supporters had already arrived and were getting in some last minute practice. It would be fair to say that most petanque players would be of a more senior age but I noticed the Tahitian teams featured some athletic younger players - but it's canny skills which are decisive and the big attraction for this fascinating game which was apparently invented by the Roman legions in Gaul and is a first cousin to British lawn bowls.

As the president of Auckland Petanque, Ella Harris explained, the Herne Bay Petanque Club is the busy hub for northern New Zealand for this increasingly popular sport. So ideal is Salisbury Reserve and its ‘terrains’, that petanque takes place here three days a week plus coaching at night, with Auckland Petanque holding its flagship international tournaments as well as regional and school tournaments. Without the parking all this activity would not be feasible.

For their part, Auckland Council and Waitemata Local Board say they went through a public consultation process last August, the majority of submissions from which wanted all car parking gone. But the petanque ladies point out, the consultation was meant to be about a new entrance (after demolition of the historic Masonic Hall) and claim council publicity, especially the diagrams, were misleading.

They point out car parks can be tastefully landscaped with grassed Gobi blocks and amenity plantings. In response, officialdom has been sternly inflexible. It’s this that I find the most disappointing. As public servants we are elected to serve our people - not spoil their lifestyles.

Aside from sport and recreation, there’s a cultural aspect to this as well. There has been a French connection with Ponsonby going back to the earliest years of Auckland when Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pompallier established his residence on the Ponsonby heights overlooking the bay he called St Marys. Petanque in New Zealand began in 1993 at Chris Priestly’s Atomic Cafe in Ponsonby Road and it was Chris and Cam Calder who decided to form the New Zealand Petanque Association with Chris as founding president and to join the world governing body ‘Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal’ (FIPJP).

The redoubtable petanque ladies are fighting back with a petition. It would be sad if the council and local board were to be so inflexible that a compromise cannot be reached and we lose petanque and the PN clubs from lovely Salisbury Reserve. (MIKE LEE) F There is a petition 'Support Herne Bay Petanque Club Parking'. Their goal is to reach 100 signatures and they need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here: http://chng.it/vWm8ZrZ7X4.

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

20 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

Fifty shades of green in New Zealand politics Green, blue-green, red-green, green-lite, green wash, jade, teal or olive, which political shade of green do you like best?

A potential new political party has emerged for New Zealand. Initially dubbed by the media, the ‘ blue-green party’, it was seen as a possible and needed coalition partner for the National Party, who had been left high and dry by the failure of the Maori Party and United Future to hang onto seats. Only the lone voice of David Seymour, Act Party leader, is left.

The suggested name of the fledgling new party, still requiring 500 members before it can be registered, is ‘ Sustainable New Zealand Party, a rejection of the blue-green moniker that media had hinted was really National in drag. Environmentalism and green policies are rightly front and centre worldwide. American democrats looking for the presidential nomination for 2020 are almost obliged to support the New Green Deal while Europeans are wrestling with Paris Accord CO2 levels.

The National Party caucus has a blue-green faction - some 20 or more of their MPs. Labour, too, has some green credentials. Just remember Jacinda Ardern flanked by Sir David Attenborough at the Davos Conference, talking climate change. Labour has promised, too, to clean up our dirty rivers; another green policy. Part of the problem is that major parties pinch other parties' green ideas. As Russel Norman, former Green Party Co-Leader, used to say, ‘let them take over every policy and put us out of business, but don’t let it be just green wash’.

So we have the Green Party, perhaps red-greens, National’s blue-greens, Labour’s green policies, a certain amount of green wash, and now a new party espousing green and environmental policies. Seldom, under MMP, do National or Labour secure enough votes to govern alone. They hover between 30% and 40% of the vote. Other small parties have emerged including The Opportunities Party (TOP), started by Gareth Morgan, and the Conservatives under Colin Craig. Both died a natural death, without achieving 5%.

So what would this new party add to the equation? Well, nothing if they can’t garner 5%.

They may get a number of new voters, and some disgruntled environmentalists from National or Labour. They may get some NZ First Voters who are unhappy that NZ First has no environmental credibility.

Sustainable New Zealand’s main proponent, Vernon Tava, is a former Green Party candidate for co-leader, and more recently a National Party candidate for selection in the Northcote by-election.

Tava, a lawyer with a Master of Law degree in environmental law, with first-class honours from the University of Auckland, spent a couple of years as a Research Fellow at the NZ Centre of Environmental Law, and is now a business broker. Ponsonby News asked Tava whether he was aiming to kill off the Green Party because he dislikes the Green Party’s left wing bias.

"I have no axe to grind with the Green Party," he assured us, "but I have long disagreed with their strategy." He added what could be seen as an ominous warning to the Greens: "They’ve had the field to themselves for over 20 years and I think that competition is healthy." Does that sound the death knell for the Green Party if Sustainable New Zealand can take 20% to 30% of their vote?

Vernon Tava says Green policies "are neither left nor right but on a different axis of sustainability." There could be enough genuine environmentalists to keep a centrist party in power all of the time. Inspired by the late great New Zealander Sir Paul Callaghan, Tava shares his concerns about the high level of inequality in New Zealand, the myth of the clean green image, and the poor level of productivity, and echoes his call for visionary leadership, with social justice and the health of the environment paramount.

Green Party principles, as espoused by the New Zealand Green Party would endorse Callaghan’s calls to action. A country where some are left behind in a market-oriented neoliberal environment, where some but not all environmental issues are addressed (National has said it will reverse the decision to halt oil and gas exploration) and where New Zealand is decreasingly a country where talent wants to live, is just flirting with green policies in a green wash or green lite way, and is surely not the answer.

A new party will get support - they always do - but not enough, I suspect, to help the National Party achieve government, and it would certainly be of no help to the Green Party. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F PN

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21

JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

More rot in council bureaucracy than pine trees Last month I wrote about roading and said "it’s not about cycleways. It’s about the AT bureaucracy."

This month I’m writing again about the death of the pine trees in Western Springs Forest. It’s not just about the trees, it’s about council bureaucracy.

Same theme over and over again.

I would not be surprised if, by the time this article goes to print, perfectly healthy Monterey pines have been hewn down by fervent tree fellers, in the dead of night, aided and abetted, certainly not stopped, by elected community members.

I just don’t trust the Auckland Council any longer, and I know I’m far from the only one.

The loss of trust in the Super City started long ago, especially with scepticism about Auckland Transport.

As I’ve continued to bang on about, they are, in my opinion, a dangerous, autonomous, secret society – council-controlled organisation my bum!

Now bureaucrats in other council departments, many earning in excess of $200,000 a year, are flat out making other decisions to citizens’ detriment.

They are ruining our city. No wonder a fragile personality like John Tamihere is being touted for Mayor. Goff has been a dismal failure.

It is high time we brought democracy back to the Auckland Council.

The very first thing that should be done, requiring no legislation, is to appoint councillors to the Auckland Transport Board. Goff took them off.

If elected council and board members just won’t take control and govern, we are on the edge of authoritarianism and can say goodbye to democracy.

But back to the trees. Some late consultation is taking place with local residents. Some trees may still have to go. If they are dead, dying or are a threat to local residents of course they must be cut down, but the commissioners hearing the Council’s Resource Consent application have not yet approved the Resource Consent, and have called for answers to a number of critical questions, some of which are identical to questions I asked in my original submission. I was just out of hospital after a five-hour heart operation so could not attend the hearing.

Consultation has still been slow and haphazard. One of my main complaints about the proposed demolition is the applicant’s statement that up to 70% of the native under storey could be destroyed. That

is extreme vandalism. The massive road proposed would destroy far too much of the forest. The land stands to be badly eroded and tree stumps left lying around would hamper native replanting.

In the meantime, council suddenly decided 13 trees were an imminent threat to residents or passersby, and must come down urgently under emergency regulations.

This is what has finally riled me enough to stand in front of any bulldozers attempting to cut down trees in Western Springs Park.

What a disgraceful response when the commissioners’ decision, following extra information, was only weeks away. How could it be possible that 13 trees were suddenly such a threat. Talk about a bureaucratic kick in the teeth for due process.

An inner city sanctuary is a realistic proposition. Imagine the dawn chorus returning to a beautiful central city location, but it seems council’s only aim is to cut down all the trees as soon as possible, and to hell with locals or due process.

This is very bad council behaviour which I will not condone. Democracy is the loser. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F PN

SUPPORTING AUTISTIC CHILDREN IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION A free workshop will be held at the Ponsonby Rugby Club, Motat Road on 15 March at 3.30pm to 5pm. The workshop will be presented by the Director of the Bechange Group. The goal is to help early childhood teachers working in kindergartens and creches understand and support autistic children.

For more information or to attend, call Heather Lynch on M: 021 429 449 or email hlynch779@gmail.com

22 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

Early childhood teachers workshop on autism We received an email from Heather Lynch telling us about her efforts to run workshops in Auckland to help early childhood teachers to better understand autism.

Heather explained that there were 75,000 Kiwis affected by autism. Coping with autistic children is all the harder because no two children’s cases are the same. We believe having ‘Bechange’ run workshops for early childhood teachers about autism spectrum disorder will help them understand how to integrate autistic kids into their programmes.

Bechange is a behavioural intervention service providing Applied Behaviour Analysis -based intervention services for children with challenging behaviour, autism spectrum disorder, or related disabilities. They support parents, families and professionals to understand and cope with children on the autistic spectrum. Most of these children can be helped if they are given the right therapy at a young age - but it costs.

Heather’s idea included roping in her quilt-making friends and associates to provide quilts for sale to help fund the workshops. 37 beautiful quilts were donated. There are still a number to sell at the March workshop, hopefully enabling more workshops to be staged. The workshop Heather has facilitated will be held on 15 March at the Ponsonby Rugby Club, Stadium Road, Western Springs at 3.30pm to 5pm.

Says Heather, “I thought how do teachers learn what is needed to enable each individual child to reach their full potential. It starts at kindergarten or creche so that’s our target for these workshops.”

They are free so hopefully more teachers will attend and Heather’s group hopes the Government will come to the party and see the benefit of these workshops. There is funding needed to help these kids and their parents. Heather has invited the Prime Minister to the workshop, and she hopes there will be a good number of teachers present.

Thanks to Heather Lynch’s quilting friends some money has been raised, with more to come when the remaining 20 quilts are sold, but it is clearly Government intervention which is urgently required to help to integrate autistic kids into general early childhood programmes, and help teachers understand their needs.

We at Ponsonby News applaud Heather Lynch’s crusade and urge local teachers to support this enterprise. Please attend this free seminar for a very good cause.

PN (JOHN ELLIOTT) F If you wish to attend this free workshop, call Heather on 021 429 449, or email hlynch779@gmail.com

HEAD HELD HIGH AT PONSONBY COMMUNITY CENTRE “We are really excited to be continuing our Head Held High Speech and Drama programme at Ponsonby Community Centre in Term 1.

The lessons are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after school hours.”

Head Held High speech and drama lessons are a wonderful way to build character, confidence and communication skills, and lessons include public speaking skills, acting skills, reading aloud, body language, vocal skills, manners, building selfesteem and confidence. Importantly, all lessons are designed to be as fun, interactive and imaginative as possible.

Lessons come highly recommended, students enjoy and get a lot out of them! In the words of a current student, “Head Held High lessons are awesome. I’m much more confident about speaking in front of people than I was. The teachers are really fun.”

If you have any questions, or for information about how to book a free trial lesson, please contact Janita: janita@headheldhigh.co.nz F PN For more information on Ponsonby Community Centre, our activities and venue hire, please visit www.ponsonbycommunity.org.nz

Head Held High Speech and Drama for kids Open for Term One enrolments now!

Go to www.headheldhigh.co.nz for details on how to enrol

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

23

LOCAL NEWS THE BOOK OF KNOWING According to a 2017 Unicef report, New Zealand has the highest rate of suicide in the developed world. It’s a shocking statistic and one that sorely needs to be addressed.

I recently had the opportunity to speak to local respected psychologist, author and blogger Gwendoline Smith about her new book ‘The Book Of Knowing’, and what we could do to lower the number of deaths lost to suicide.

For someone that hasn’t had a chance to read ‘The Book Of Knowing’ what is it about exactly about?

It was originally written for young people, due to the shocking youth suicide rates in New Zealand. Its a whole toolkit of things that they (young people) can use to manage their anxiety, and to prevent them from becoming overwhelmed by it.

You also blog under the alter ego ‘Dr. Know’, was this book directly inspired by being online?

I started Dr. Know in 2014 when I was asked to see if I’d be interested in doing a live online session, and in one hour I received 11,000 responses. A lot of the questions were so similar to one another, that I thought why not answer them all in the format of a book?

In the book you talk about a concept called Cognitive Behavioural Theory, what is that exactly?

In the 1970s physiologists focused on behavioural therapy, which looked at modifying behaviour through things like exercise and rewards. Then in the 1980s a man named Aaron Beck started thinking that while it was all well and good to concentrate on behaviour, it’s a person’s belief, and their thoughts (the cognition) that were creating their problems to begin with, so if you just focus on the behaviour you’re not going to achieve sustainable change.

By working on a person’s belief and their attitudes, a change in their behaviour occurs because of the change in how the person thinks.

Did you have a target audience in mind when you started writing?

The target audience was that group of young people that I connected with as Dr. Know, but I have clients of all ages buying the book and they find it very helpful because it’s the same science that I use in all of my sessions.

A lot of people get depression and anxiety confused when they are really two different things, aren’t they?

What we now know is that anxiety is the pathway into depression, so let's think of humans as the battery in a car. If you leave the headlights on, the battery goes flat very quickly and that might be caused by a past trauma (depression). If you leave your parking lights on instead, the battery will last longer, but it’ll still go flat (anxiety).

So what you're saying is anxiety just doesn’t suddenly appear out of nowhere, and that it can be a long-term condition?

Yeah, what people don’t realize is that genetics plays a huge rule with anxiety with an estimated 37-40% of people affected.

With society set to become more complex, does that mean anxiety in young people will get worse?

I believe that the Internet and social media have contributed in a very significant way, but not every young person that’s on Facebook is going to end up experiencing some sort of social phobia. It can be very difficult to point the finger at one thing and then say it's Facebook’s problem, how can we fix it?

I think there is a lot of overstimulation now and an example of this is an iPhone that can access anything within seconds, from anywhere in the world.

With depression being the leading cause of suicide in New Zealand, what else do you think can be done?

What I would like to see is the information that I’ve written about in the book to be included in every school and library. I really believe that it makes a difference because I can see it in the kids that I work with in my practice. (KERRY LEE) F PN If you or anyone else you know suffers from anxiety or depression please visit Youthline at www.youthline.co.nz And for more information on The Book Of Knowing please visit www.booksellers.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ APRIL FEATURES PLANNING SPECIAL EVENTS ENGAGEMENTS - WEDDINGS - HONEYMOONS - HOLIDAYS & GETAWAYS COPY DEADLINE: Wednesday 20 March PUBLISHED: FRIDAY 5 APRIL - CALL 09 378 8553 TO BOOK OR EMAIL martin@ponsonbynews.co.nz

24 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

One of five best flower shops in Auckland We are fortunate to have one of the best shops selling fresh flowers in Auckland on Ponsonby Road.

I spoke to Suresh Jeram just after he had come back from the morning flower market with his van loaded with beautiful fresh flowers. Wife Kusum had warned me earlier that I needed to be prompt at 10am when Suresh arrived back with flowers. "He leaves home about 3am," she told me, "and heads home for a sleep as soon as the unloading has taken place."

Suresh assured me he was very busy, but with a lovely smile agreed to tell me a bit about D. Jairam and Sons Quality Fruiterers, and the shop’s history.

To save confusion, Jeram is the anglicised version of Jairam. Another point on Indian names - succeeding generations take their father’s christian name as their surname. Hence, Jeram Gopal’s son became Dullabh Jeram. Suresh’s grandfather, Jeram Gopal landed in Auckland on 26 April, 1915. This was the day after our troops landed at Gallipoli. His birth certificate records his birth as 1890, but grandson Suresh thinks it was more likely 1880.

Jeram Gopal quickly got a job in a general store on Ponsonby Road, probably number 143 or 145. Jairam’s current address is 141 Ponsonby Road.

Suresh’s dad, Dullabh Jeram (that’s the D. In the shop name), came out to New Zealand as a 12 or 13-year-old and went to Nelson Street School. He helped his father from the start, collecting bottles, which he washed, and newspapers, all of which he sold for recycling.

Those were horse and cart days, and Dullabh would rise early, go to Wrightson’s paddock in Great North Road and hitch up the horses.

but doesn’t look it. He has two engineer sons who have no interest in the fruit, vegetable and flower, business, so Suresh will be the last of the family line to run it. He was, he says, "born into the shop", and has clearly run a great family business very well over the years. He momentarily lost his smile when he told me he had to do the GST very soon.

Suresh Jeram remembers the old horse trough outside the shop, one of the last in Ponsonby. He remembers, too, the designer who sign painted the basket of fruit and vegetables on the shop-front logo.

Dullabh had two marriages. He married Ratanben, Suresh’s mother, in 1950. Sadly he passed away too soon in 1969. By that date the trams had gone from Ponsonby Road, and his wife Ratanben ran the shop on her own for many years. Suresh had trained as an engineer, but came back to join his mother in 1998. The hardy soul, Ratanben, died two weeks short of her 90th birthday.

Two of Suresh’s brothers, Prakash and Deemish, have helped in the business.

Suresh is a charming man with a quiet assurance, and obviously proud of his Gujarati heritage. But he is running out of steam. He just grinned when I asked him how old he was. He’s in his late 60s

Some of the prettiest and freshest flowers are outside a humble local dairy. You can pick up a single rose, a posy, or a large multi-flowered PN bunch any day of the week. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F

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PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

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PONSONBY U3A: FEBRUARY 2019 Dr Lesley Mynott-Johnson, head of donor and corporate relationships for the Starship Foundation, was the guest speaker at the February meeting of Ponsonby U3A. She leads a team of fundraisers who work to engage supporters in the foundation’s purpose of better health and brighter futures for New Zealand children and says that every supporter makes a difference to the children cared for by Starship’s team of dedicated clinicians.

Lesley’s background is in scientific research and for the past three years she has led the foundation’s new investment in clinical research. Already over $2 million has been committed to research clinical projects at Starship to accelerate the pace of change to paediatric health care in New Zealand.

The Starship Foundation exists alongside Starship National Children’s Hospital, which is firmly focused on world-class health care for all New Zealand children. There are nearly 130,000 patient visits to Starship Child Health each year which includes around 1000 outreach clinics. Starship clinicians travel to see patients all around New Zealand and provide specialist assistance to their paediatric peers in other centres.

Since 1992 the Starship Foundation has invested more than $135 million into Starship Child Health. Lesley says that right now there is a new sense of urgency with an ambitious target to generate $20 million a year for Starship by 2023. “We will continue to invest in Starship’s National Air Ambulance Service, bringing children from all over New Zealand to Starship for life-saving care with latest advances in new technology and medical equipment. In line with best global practice, we are increasing our effort in research in innovation by targeting an additional $5 million per annum.”

U3A member Denny Lyttle gave a descriptive talk about the 'grit and grind' of learning to row on the Thames at Oxford, in her 50s, alongside people mainly in their 20s and 30s. She described what she had learnt, being older, what mattered and what didn’t.

Here’s how it started: “One balmy English summer’s day in late July 2005, I drove into central Oxford for a half pint by the river and to enjoy the warm late afternoon before going home. I came upon the Head of the River by Folly Bridge. My glass of local ale in hand I sat outside, sipping slowly. Bliss! Down on the river people in boats emerging from under the bridge, punting, rowing - it looked great. A rowing eight on their way upstream, blades

thumping, cox yelling. I stared transfixed. That really was something I would love to do.”

The romance of that moment turned into months of rigorous training - and then, “It was a bit scary at first, but amazing, being in a rowing eight on the Thames in Oxford, a magic moment! The Bewdley Regatta was a whole new world. And the biggest challenge and highlight was the Women’s Eight Head of River Race. Other beautiful rivers were the Severn and the Cam.” Denny concluded that she now realises that being a bit older she had to work harder to build up fitness and to maintain it. “I had surprised myself with what I could do and that was really worth knowing.”

U3A offer members an opportunity for informal study and new learning experiences with interesting people and forming new friendships. It is a movement for people in their ' 'third age', post career and family. Ponsonby U3A meets on the first Friday morning of the month. As well as two speakers at the monthly meetings there are over 20 special interest groups offering fascinating subjects and leisure activities.

Visitors are welcome to attend a U3A meeting, but are asked to first contact Christine Hart, T: 027 289 5514.

Guest speaker for the March meeting will be Wendy Preston - 'MIXIT creative project empowering local and migrant youth'. The 10-minute speaker will be Judy Rea - 'The Good Oil'. (PHILIPPA TAIT) F PN NEXT MEETING: 10am, Friday 8 March at Herne Bay Petanque Club, Salisbury Street Reserve.

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

AUCKLAND LIBRARY OF TOOLS OPENS ITS DOORS A number of makerspaces, repair cafes, and similar initiatives have arisen locally and abroad in the last decade.

Community, an enhanced sense of environmentalism, waste minimisation and a resource -based sharing economy are at the heart of these enterprises. While object oriented -libraries have been established overseas, Auckland currently lacks a comparable resource. The communal sharing of resources produces clear environmental and social benefits, and now Aucklanders have their own 'Library of Tools'.

The Auckland Library of Tools (ALoT), which has recently opened in nearby Kingsland, provides members with access to high quality and well-maintained tools.

ALoT is run as a not-for-profit social enterprise. Members pay a modest fee, generally less than the price of a single tool, for access to a broad range of tools and equipment.

ALoT is umbrellaed by Grey Lynn 2030, and has received start-up funding from Waitemata Local Board. However, the group is primarily funded by its members and donations from the local community.

ALoT shares a workshop with Hackland, an existing makerspace located on Bond Street.

Members can borrow tools, attend workshops, learn, collaborate and share resources and ideas.

The project is spearheaded by zero waste advocate Amanda Chapman (who launched New Zealand’s first Community Fridge in 2016), and Tom Greer. A growing number of talented and enthusiastic volunteers have also begun contributing.

The library is for everyone, and will allow people to build, share, learn and create in a more sustainable way. At present, accessing tools requires people to buy, hire or borrow from friends or family. Not everyone is in a position to do this, while those

26 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

who are often can’t justify purchasing or storing expensive and bulky items for the occasional job. As Auckland housing becomes denser, with people moving into smaller homes, providing a shared resource such as ALoT becomes both more practical and more necessary.

Whether you want to drill a hole or learn how to use a CNC router, ALoT will be the place to come. ALoT aims to be a valued community resource that changes how people think about ownership, resources and the material world. Collaborative consumption reduces the need for individual private ownership and can profoundly reduce the environmental impact of human activity.

The library provides an extensive range of equipment for construction, gardening, woodwork and textiles. Library volunteers come from different backgrounds and bring a range of knowledge and expertise to the workshop. They are able to advise members on best practice and ensure the proper maintenance of all tools and equipment.

The team of volunteers are currently gathering funds, setting up their new space and sorting through the slow but steady trickle of tools that have found their way to the library (and a second life). If you would like to donate tools or get involved, you can get in touch with the ALoT team via the contacts below. F PN AUCKLAND LIBRARY OF TOOLS, 48D Bond Street, www.aucklandlibraryoftools.com PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

NIKKI KAYE: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP

National’s tax relief will combat rising living costs People who live in Auckland understand better than anyone the rising cost of living.

When the tax brackets were last adjusted in 2010 there was a $21,000 gap between the average wage and the top tax threshold of $70,000. Since then the gap has narrowed to the current level of $8000. Within a few years the average wage earner will be in the top tax bracket. That wasn’t the intention when these tax brackets were set up.

It is difficult to believe this situation has happened so quickly. On top of that we’ve seen extra fuel taxes imposed by the Coalition Government and, under their watch, a huge increase in the cost of renting in New Zealand.

Every New Zealand family knows their hard-earned dollar does not go as far as it once did. This is what we call bracket creep, where inflation leaves someone worse off as they cross into a higher tax bracket. In my view it’s taxation by stealth and it’s unnecessary, it’s unjust and unfair to thousands of average New Zealanders.

National legislated to change the thresholds in 2017 but the current Government cancelled that. This left 75% of families worse off.

Someone earning $70,000 doesn't feel wealthy when all his or her costs are rising. Taxpayers shouldn't be punished for thresholds that haven't moved with the times. National has committed to amend the Income Tax Act so tax thresholds are adjusted every three years, in line with the cost of living. Some quick calculations show that for someone on the average wage of $62,000, National’s policy will put an extra $9900 back into their pocket over 10 years. Furthermore, we will index the tax thresholds to inflation in our first term.

Under our policy, within 12 months of an election, the Treasury would be required to advise a new government how much the thresholds should be adjusted for inflation. The Finance Minister of the day would be able to veto an adjustment in adverse circumstances, such as a financial crisis, but would then be expected to explain why Kiwis were falling fiscally behind. When compared to some of the Government's policies, the impact in lost Crown revenue is relatively modest. To put this into context, the estimated $650 million of foregone tax after the first adjustment is roughly only a fifth of the current Government's commitment to NZ First's provincial slush fund.

Hon Amy Adams, Marilyn Waring CNZM & Hon Nikki Kaye

Hon Nikki Kaye MP for Auckland Central

National understands that with the drop in business confidence, drop in investor confidence, increased uncertainty in areas of Government and the increases in taxes, it is important to send a strong signal about a different direction. We await the Government's decisions on tax proposals such as a capital gains tax. Under the current Government, we have seen increases in the cost of petrol, rent and electricity and hundreds of millions of dollars committed to about 230 working groups.

I regularly work on local issues and meet with constituents.

National is committed to helping New Zealanders get ahead. We will not allow future governments to use inflation as an annual tax increase by stealth and we will cancel new taxes piled on by the present Government. I am currently holding more than 40 public meetings throughout New Zealand on a range of issues in education including the Government’s proposals to reform our education system. If you have queries about attending any of these 'Future of Education' public meetings or would like to meet me to discuss any issues, please contact my electorate office on 09 378 2088.

PN (NIKKI KAYE) F

Drop In Constituency Clinic: 48C College Hill, Freemans Bay Friday, 15 March, 10am

Alternatively, send me an email at mp.aucklandcentral@parliament.govt.nz Authorised by Hon Nikki Kaye, MP for Auckland Central, 48c College Hill, Freemans Bay. www.nikkikaye.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Please contact my office if you would like to discuss anything with me

Funded by the Parliamentary Service.

Authorised by Nikki Kaye MP, 48C College Hill, Freemans Bay, Auckland.

PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

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DEIRDRE THURSTON: ON MY MIND

Those three little words...

Bees, food, water. I have been developing an up-close and personal relationship with the bees in my garden and been absolutely thrilled at how many are swarming around.

They especially love my gone-to-seed oregano and purple salvia plants. The lavender barely gets a look in. Seems the bees liken it to a seedy, smeared-windowed, greasy, no-star diner that fries everything in ancient, rancid oil in comparison to the salvias.

Perhaps they know how well the deep purple sets of their golden and black stripes.

When I was a kid, my friends and I would shoo bees away. We saw them as pests, nuisances. In primary school, Sister Mary Joan used to swat them relentlessly if they dared to fly through the louvre windows into the classroom. Which they did relentlessly - all those alluring aromas of soggy sandwiches and warm stone fruit in our bags.

Now, I coo at the furry little buzzers going about their business of pollination. Tell them how cute they are and ask them why they don’t favour the hydrangeas. I leave out dishes of sugar water for them to drink. They are beautiful little creatures. Those furry bodies and gossamer wings and big eyes. And clever! They make honey. Who doesn’t love a good drizzle of honey on a piece of toast? Bees are crucial elements of our environment and most often do not get the recognition they so richly deserve. Yes, they have a nasty sting but it’s not like they buzz around on the outlook for a victim or two.

I’ve only been stung when I’ve accidently stood on one or nosed into a beehive. (I was young and naïve and, after that, red and swollen as well).

Without bees, we will perish. I saw a picture on my hood’s local facebook page this morning someone had taken of literally hundreds of dead bees. A furry, stripy mound of death. The person’s neighbour had sprayed their property for other plant-eating insects. Truly sad. Do people still not get it? We need bees. Without bees there will be no food.

Bees are critical pollinators. A massive chunk of the global food supply is pollinated by bees. Without bees, humans would not have much to eat.

need, they are disrupted, confused. Mites are also a problem. They develop resistance to chemicals quickly. So the poor hard-working bees get doubly hit - mites and chemicals.

No bees means no pollination. No pollination means that commercial agriculture depending on bee pollination would collapse, businesses shut down causing huge economic repercussions worldwide. Bees pollinate not only plants but trees, too. Wildlife and species would die out without trees and plants, forests and jungles to survive in.

Fresh water will begin to dry up as well because there will be fewer trees for water retention to occur.

Climate change is causing drought across the globe. Climate change and lack of pollination together spell less water. With less water and diminishing food, humans will die of thirst and starvation. Even if we had food, we cannot live without water. Water is life. Bees-water-food - they go hand in hand in hand.

Bees have been producing honey for 150 million years. It is the only insect producing food eaten by man. Honey is the only food to contain ‘pinocembrin’ - an antioxidant associated with improved brain function. Honey is highly regarded as medicine.

Historically, it was used for wounds, burns, other skin issues and general health problems. Cleopatra used honey as part of her daily beauty regime. (Asses milk can only do so much.) If that’s not a brilliant reference for honey use, I don’t know what is.

The honey bee visits 50 to 100 flowers during a collection trip. Each bee produces around one and a half teaspoons of honey in its lifetime. That’s an awful lot of buzzing around to give us ingrates a luscious, sweet nectar to delight in. They’re busy little critters that have been taken for granted way to long.

We may lose the plants they pollinate, therefore we also lose the animals that eat those plants to live. And so on, right up the food chain.

Plant purple salvia everyone. They need flowers galore. And no chemicals. There are numerous safe, natural garden products available. In using them, we not only help our hard-working bees, we also keep ourselves and our planet safe.

Why are bees vanishing? Harmful pesticides and chemicals have been blamed for the dramatic decline in pollinators. Global warming is also an issue. Changes in climate and weather affect food and forage for bees. They cluster together like penguins. When it warms up, they open up. They cluster when cold. But if there is not the weather consistency they

Honeybees communicate with one another by dancing. When a bee finds a good nectar source, it flies back to the hive and shows its friends where the nectar is by doing a dance which positions the flower in relation to the hive. This is known as the ‘waggle’ dance.

PN Long may they ‘waggle’. (DEIRDRE THURSTON) F

LUCIA MATAIA: LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY NEWS Book Chat news Kia ora koutou readers. This month at Book Chat we have a guest speaker Kitch Cuthbert, who is a long-standing member of our community. Kitch will be talking about her journey along the Camino Trail and the book she is writing about it. Do come along and hear Kitch speak. Wednesday 27 March 10am. Light refreshments provided.

Book Chats recommends Tracy Sorenson’s debut novel The Lucky Galah was described by one in our group as ‘delightful’ and ‘beautifully written’. The story takes place in a remote Western Australian town during the 1960s, and features a narrator called Lucky who is a galah. Yes, that’s right, the narrator is a bird. It has received a lot of good reviews and is a good light read.

Moving on to more serious stuff. We spent a lot of time talking about The Vanishing Middle Class by Peter Temin. The author is a distinguished American economics professor, who argues American history and politics, especially slavery, have played a big part in the widening wealth gap. And if you’re interested in politics and the inequity gap, we can

also recommend Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right by Jane Mayer.

Kura Heritage Collections online Did you know that Auckland Libraries has a new home for all our online images, audio, collection records and indexes? There are over 650,000 records and growing.

Photographs from 1880 to present day, heritage maps, journals, passenger lists, local history and much more.

French conversation Every Monday 12 noon -1pm in our Reading Room the French conversation group meet up. The French group would like to extend a warm welcome to anyone wishing to meet and talk in their friendly and welcoming space. Beginners most welcome.

(LUCIA MATAIA) F PN

LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY, 20 St Marys Road, T: 09 377 0209, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

28 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS WESTERN SPRINGS SET TO TRANSFORM INTO THE HEART OF PASIFIKA Auckland’s iconic Pasifika Festival will transform Western Springs into a vibrant heart of Pacific culture once again in late March, with new features and shared spaces aimed at creating an even better experience for the tens of thousands of festival goers.

In its 27th year, this family friendly event brings together Pacific communities to celebrate diverse cultures of the South Pacific. The festival is free for everyone, with authentic foods, arts and crafts stalls and demonstrations, traditional and contemporary Pacific music and performances.

With more than 200 traditional and contemporary performances throughout the two-day event, festival goers will experience traditional artforms and practices from 10 different villages, each representing a distinct Pacific culture. This year’s event includes villages from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Aotearoa, Hawaii, Kiribati/Tokelau (combined), Samoa, Tahiti, Tuvalu and Tonga.

This year’s refreshed and expanded format includes the re-introduction of a shared festival stage in addition to each village’s stage. The stage programme will be jam -packed with an exciting array of headline, international and large group performances.

Festival attendees can expect more opportunities to participate with each of the unique village experiences, with fale activations programmed throughout the festival weekend.

ATEED's Head of Major Events, Stuart Turner, says: “Pasifika Festival brings together thousands of people - Aucklanders, domestic visitors and international travellers - to learn about and celebrate Pasifika culture. It is a great opportunity to tell the story of Auckland’s important Polynesian heritage, and to strengthen our identity as an exciting, cultural destination.”

Expect bright floral arrangements decorating each village throughout the festival site.

In the Hawaiian village people can learn how to make fresh flower leis, twining greens and weaving colourful, fragrant flowers together to wear wandering around the festival.

Over at the Fijiian village, there will be traditional Rotuman garland-making, which can be used for ceremonial or dancing purposes.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of Tahitian high priest Tu Paia of Raiatea Island landing in New Zealand with legendary explorer James Cook. The village will have a range of performances and displays to acknowledge this historic milestone. With a focus on fresh, quality cuisine, the Tahitian village will showcase the vibrant flavour of its five archipelagos, preparing fresh coconut milk for people to feast on.

The Cook Islands village has a sustainability focus this year, with talks and workshops on protecting marine life in the Pacific. Its street vendor-style food trucks will keep hungry people happy with popular traditional dishes including curried octopus (eke), marinated raw tuna, and pancakes.

An exhibition of traditional wedding and funeral attire will adorn the fale walls of the Tongan village this year. Nearby, visitors will be able to experience a traditional kava ceremony. The festival will proceed rain or shine. Attendees are encouraged to prepare according to the day’s weather forecast. There are many public transport options available to and from the festival location at Western Springs. Further information on bus and train schedules can be found via aucklandtransport.govt.nz Vector Lights will light up the Auckland Harbour Bridge to celebrate Pasifika Festival.

This is part of a smart energy partnership between Vector and Auckland Council in collaboration with the NZ Transport Agency, the guiding light toward a smart energy future. F PN For more information, and to listen to the sound track, visit www.vector.co.nz/lights

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

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Tesla Model 3 - fully electric soon to be available in New Zealand

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TRANSPORT In 2019, making environmentally friendly transport choices is easier than ever before. The New Zealand Government is poised to offer incentives to encourage new electric vehicle (EV) purchases; electric bikes are becoming more mainstream and Auckland Transport is trialling the use of electric buses.

With so much choice, knowing what suits your specific needs best will define how you decide to reduce your carbon footprint when it comes to transport.

Many countries have already announced bans on the sale of new combustion - only petrol and diesel vehicles. In Norway, a ban was announced in 2016 and will take effect in 2025. Britain announced their ban in 2017 and it will take effect from 2040. Volvo has already committed to sell only hybrid or fully electric vehicles by 2020 and Toyota has committed to making its entire fleet electric, hybrid or hydrogen powered by 2025. In New Zealand, we have some of the cleanest power in the world making electric vehicles a legitmate zero carbon choice.

We have talked with some of the leading car brands, electric bike specialists and Auckland Transport so we can compare a range of options against the different needs Ponsonby News readers might have.

For some, an electric bike or a Lime scooter may be the best option for low emission travel in and around the Ponsonby but if you’re a larger family travelling further afield or you need to tow a heavy boat, what are your options if you want to reduce your carbon emissions and can an electric vehicle get you there?

In terms of power, the simple answer is yes. With the increased amount of charging stations available around the country, the improved capacity of EV batteries, and special home energy packages, offered by companies like Ecotricity, running out of energy on the morning commute is not likely.

Ecotricity is one of the country’s newest and most progressive energy companies. Director, Al Yates believes EV’s are now an easy choice for more people both financially and environmentally. “You can save up to 80% on the normal vehicle running costs with an EV,” explains Al. “And EV’s are 7-10

times more carbon efficient than petrol or diesel vehicles,” he says. Ecotricity doesn’t just supply power, it supplies 100% zero carbon power meaning that EV’s using Ecotricity power are 100% carbon zero.

So which electric or hybrid car to chose?

If a small car suits your needs, Toyota and Nissan have offered New Zealand driver’s low emission choices for many years. The Toyota Prius has held the title of New Zealand’s most popular hybrid car and Nissan’s Leaf is the world’s best-selling electric vehicle.

Toyota offers advanced technology and performance Toyota’s Prius Prime is packed with safety and performance features and offers a low Co2 combined emission rate of just 22 g/km for $48,490. It can fit five people and like Toyota’s 2018 AA/Drive Safest Car of the Year, the Corolla Hatch it has a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. The advanced connectivity and technology features in this car are geek worthy. However, if you have more than three children these cars will be too small and if you need a to tow a horse float or boat you will need something with more impressive tow power.

Currently Toyota’s most popular option for big families that need towing power is the Toyota Landcruiser Prado, which starts at $70,990. It comfortably fits seven people and can easily tow a double horse float over rugged terrain but with a Co2 emission rate of 212pkm it doesn’t have the smallest carbon footprint. In the near future there will be a low or no-emission version of the Prado. In fact Toyota’s entire fleet will be hybrid, electric or hydrogen powered by 2025.

Volvo leads the way Volvo’s commitment to not selling new combustion-only engines beyond 2020 is evident in a product line up full of PHEV’s that can fit up to seven people

Toyota Corolla Hatch Hybrid $29,990 - winner of the 2018 AA/Drive Safest car of the year 2018

30 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

The Volvo XC 90, PHEV and tow a large boat or horse float. While almost double the price of the Toyota Prado Landcruiser, the Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV offered at $140,900 has the highest safety rating of any SUV with Co2 emissions of just 49 g/km. The hybrid electric design system offers the best of both worlds with a high performance 2.1L diesel engine for 2400kg braked tow rating and a 40km electric range for city driving.

Volvo will be releasing more hybrid and fully electric vehicles to its range over the next few years increasing the choices available to environmentally conscious motorists. Next year Ponsonby News readers can look forward to the new XC40 hybrid, which offers a more affordable, sporty, small SUV option full of beautiful design features.

BMW sporty and stylishly zero emission Small and sporty also describes the fully electric BMW i3, which can fit two adults and two children in isofix car seats in the back. It’s a compact ride that is full of stylish features and zero emissions. At $63,900 it is a premium value small EV. SmartMotion for a clever zero carbon choice Going even smaller, there are a number of high-quality electric bikes designed especially for commuters. The SmartMotion X-City is New Zealand’s biggest - selling electric bike. For as little as $29 per week you can be reducing your carbon footprint, avoiding traffic congestion and getting to and from work or school with ease. James Speedy, director of Electric Bikes, explains the cotinuous growth of electric bikes. “The quality of the bikes and improvement to cycleways are making the choice for electric bikes even easier for those living in the city fringe suburbs, working or going school within 20-30 minutes of their homes," says James.

Volvo XC 40 Hybrid SUV due out 2020 in New Zealand Auckland Transport electric rides The accessibility and affordability for environmentally friendly transport options are getting better each year. Last year, Auckland Transport began trials for two electric buses on the city’s link service with great success and has now added an electric bus on the Airporter 380 service. Viv Heslop, Auckland Transports head of sustainability says, “The success of these trials has seen the Board of Auckland Transport endorse the Low Emission Bus Roadmap which includes an aspiration to only procure low emission buses from 2025 and to have a fully low emission fleet by 2040.”

With the introduction of Lime scooters in and around Ponsonby, Auckland Transport is enabling more low-carbon modes of transport to flourish within the inner city suburbs.

"In suburbs such as Ponsonby, we are meeting the huge increase in demand from people wanting to get out of their cars and move cleanly and efficiently around the city,” says Lime’s public affairs manager Lauren Mentjox.

Lime has some impressive stats in terms of the contribution to lowering car emmissions. In Auckland, 56% of Lime riders reported taking Lime electric scooters to work or university on their most recent trip and 22% of riders said they had replaced a car trip with a Lime scooter. This equates to 20,000 fewer vehicle trips on our city's roads in just two months.

The options for environmentally friendly transport are ever evolving. Visit our website for more information on environmentally friendly transport options including new cars, bikes, transport routes and energy suppliers. We would love to hear your tips and success stories for reducing your carbon footprint, visit our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. (ANDREA KAHUKIWA) F PN

SmartMotion X-City New Zealand’s most popular electric bike

Lime scooters continue to be part of Ponsonby’s low-emission transport options The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

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JOHN ELLIOTT: GLOBAL INFLUENCES

“A first baby step into the future” - James Shaw Government Climate Change Minister and Green Party Co-leader, James Shaw, has welcomed the news that the 10,000th electric vehicle (EV) was been sold in New Zealand, but says it’s a first baby step in the right direction.

Energy Minister, Megan Woods said it had "potentially massive benefits to both our environment and our back pockets."

However, 10,000 represents only 0.25% of the 4 million vehicles on New Zealand roads.

The Productivity Commission warns New Zealand could become a dumping ground for polluting vehicles as other countries push ahead and start phasing them out.

The owner of Claridges Organics bought the 10,000th EV. Lawrence Heath said climate change is real and he needed to take some responsibility. He purchased a 2013 secondhand Nissan Leaf, the most popular EV on the road in New Zealand. The cost of running a secondhand Leaf is about 30c a litre. Of course upfront purchase costs are very high, but as more come onto the market secondhand prices will reduce. Heath reckoned people are unlikely to change their behaviour and give up cars, so cars themselves had to change.

NZTA says EV infrastructure is now almost in place throughout New Zealand. There will be a charging station every 75km.

Shaw is pleased the New Zealand Transport Agency has taken up the challenge of building a comprehensive set of charging stations throughout New Zealand.

There has been a suggestion that power companies will not be able to cope with demand when EV take up really grows, but they say they can go to 100% renewables if the demand is there. Already, 80% of New Zealand’s electricity is renewable.

In 2016 the government set a goal of having 64,000 EVs on New Zealand roads by 2021.

There are three factors that need to change in order to make EVs commonplace on our roads. First is range. It is still only 100-200km for most EVs. The second is charging time. Most travellers don’t want to sit at a charging station for an hour or even half an hour, before continuing their journey.

However, the biggest impediment is still price. The cheapest second hand EVs can cost from $10,000 to $50,000. As more become secondhand, sales prices will decrease for the good of the public overall.

Electric vehicles greet you with silence. If that unnerves you, turn on the radio.

In many ways New Zealand is an ideal country for EVs with an abundance of naturally generated energy and more possible.

PN (JOHN ELLIOTT) F

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0800 333 398 32 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

GLOBAL INFLUENCES INNOVATING REGIONAL ITALIAN TRADITION - PANE E VINO Continually influenced by the ever-evolving traditions of Italian regional cuisine in his hometown of Vieste, Italy, Tito Cucciniello and his team are constantly innovating their authentic regionally inspired dishes.

“Tradition is important and some things should always stay the same - just as Mama still does them," explains Tito. “Your bolognaise sauce should be nurtured and simmered all day, your kitchen should be so clean it gleams and you should teach and share your knowledge with the next generation.”

From boutique Italian craft beers to specialty Italian buffalo mozzarella, Pane e Vino offers an authentic Italian dining experience with loads of traditional charm.

Tito does all of these things, it is part of his enduring success but he also believes change is vital for progress. He explains that Italian food from the coastal region of Southern Italy is always evolving and a recent trip back home has inspired many new dishes on the menu. He is excited to be taking some quite traditional recipes and completely turning them around.

Dining alfresco in the upstairs courtyard or at the tables that spill out on to the footpath is a recipe for a great long lunch or a wonderful evening meal. F PN

“Our new pizzas are nothing like anything you have ever experienced,” says Tito. And he’s right, the combinations and balance of flavours are subtle and not swamped in yellow, buttery cheeses. “Lots of people believe a pizza should be made just one way but on the southern coast of Italy they are doing pizza a little differently, the basic concept is still there and they still make the traditional ones but they’re also pushing the boundaries and making something new.”

PANE E VINO, 1 Williamson Avenue, Ponsonby T:09 360 0263, www.paneevino

Tito calls them gourmet pizza and they are a little different from the average Kiwi-made pizza. Pane e Vino’s gourmet pizzas take the pizza concept and fuse it with new life and fresh authentic flavours.

The Finocchiona is not only visually impressive, the subtle combinations of ingredients are divine - Tuscan salami, feta cheese, artichokes, truffle oil and rocket.

“Making innovative Italian cuisine has become easier in recent years with more suppliers of traditional Italian cheeses, salamis and other speciality ingredients. New Zealand cheeses are delicious", explains Tito, "but sometimes the flavour just can’t produce the right result.”

Tito now has a range of speciality Italian suppliers who ensure that he is able to create and re-create flavours and textures that are true to their regional origins.

Mirko Scardoni

Tito quotes Sophia Loren when he says, “It is not a meal without bread and wine.” Every meal at Pane e Vino is served with bread freshly baked each day on the premises. Wine on the menu includes William Murdoch organic wines and a selection of Italian wines including a prosecco, pinot grigio, Chianti and chardonnay from Sicily.

In keeping with tradition, diners can still byo their own wine for a small corkage fee.

ORIGINAL ITALIAN IN THE HEART OF PONSONBY

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

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GLOBAL INFLUENCES ECC CELEBRATES 110 YEARS OF DESIGN EXCELLENCE From historic street lighting to sourcing the latest lighting and furniture from Milan, ECC’s past and present is firmly entwined with the Ponsonby area.

Since its establishment in 1909, ECC has seen four generations of the Thorburn family contribute to building New Zealand’s leading luxury lighting and design business from the ground up. ECC’s Managing Director Mike Thorburn and his family have always dedicated themselves to curating the most sought-after international brands, products and interior and design solutions for some of the country’s most admired residential, commercial, retail, hospitality and urban design projects.

Mike’s grandfather, George Levett Thorburn, started the Electric Construction Company (ECC) in 1909 out of a small office in Auckland’s Security Buildings to supply wholesale electrical and contracting. The company quickly grew to New Zealand’s largest lighting firm with various additional agencies including Willards Batteries from the US and distribution rights to General Motors Spare Parts for the automotive division.

But did you know that ECC and Ponsonby’s history were connected?

It was George Levett Thorburn who installed the first electric light in Shelly Beach Road. The plant consisted of a 110 volt generator and a Tangi gas engine he purchased from Dr Rainer of the American Dental Parlours in Queen Street, when the dental rooms changed to electric mains installed by the City Council. The electric street light, which was quite a novelty at that particular time in Ponsonby, lightened the path for the suburb’s development and, later on, its gentrification.

At that time, Ponsonby and the surrounding areas were regarded as working-class suburbs. It all changed in the 70s with gentrification modifying the landscape and the villas being renovated. “Until recently you could still find the Electric Construction Company name plate in many villas around Auckland, which have our original electrical switch boards,” says Mike Thorburn.

As the aspect of Ponsonby changed radically, ECC remained relevant to the new homeowners. When Mike Thorburn joined the company in 1980 he recognised the changing tastes of the clientele and since then has focused on providing access to the world’s best designers, through leading design manufacturers including iGuzzini, Flos, Artemide and Magis. “If you’ve come across a pendant composed of 4000 goose feathers, a horse with a lampshade on its head or sat on the famous Bombo bar stool, you’ve come into contact with one of these design houses curated by ECC,” says Mike Thorburn.

It all starts with Mike’s annual pilgrimage to the Milan Furniture Fair, where the new collections embody the latest in international style. In Italy, he sources new products, uncovers design trends and builds relationships with overseas suppliers, in order to bring these influences to his New Zealand clientele. ECC’s extensive supplier network makes it one of the only showrooms in the world with such a wide range of major design names under the same roof. ECC has forged long-standing relationships with many suppliers such as Minotti, a major Italian design manufacturer, also a family business. “Many of our suppliers are old family businesses as well,” says Mike. “They like the fact that we believe in honesty, integrity and enduring relationships.”

Taccia by Flos, 1962

34 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

Jensen by Minotti, 2011 PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

GLOBAL INFLUENCES

1

2

The Minotti Studio, a dedicated space within ECC’s newly renovated showroom, has recently opened and a Minotti representative was present at the recent 110th anniversary event as a special guest. “The 110-year anniversary is a notable milestone to reach under any circumstances, but to still be a privately owned family business is a real achievement,” says Mike. “We’re so proud of how far ECC has come and we are excited to continue to push boundaries and watch it evolve further in the future under the guidance of our family.”

3

With his eye for design, Mike Thorburn will not only continue to lead New Zealand’s luxury furniture and lighting business, he will also be influencing Ponsonby’s inhabitants by contributing monthly to Ponsonby News. In the home section, Mike Thorburn will explore New Zealand’s renovation culture, the increase in apartment living and share his thoughts on different designs blends and trends. “My anticipation of seeing new products from the design elite, uncovering the trends for the year ahead and discovering young stars of the future has kept my enthusiasm high.”

Stay tuned! F PN ECC, 39 Nugent Street, Grafton T: 09 379 9680, www.ecc.co.nz

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1. The Electric Construction Co. of NZ, High Street 1909 2. The Electric Construction Co. of NZ, High Street 1912 3. The Electric Construction Co. of NZ, 52-60 Fort Street 1922-1972 4. The Electric Construction Co. of NZ, Fort Street Showroom 1970s The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

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JOHN ELLIOTT: GLOBAL INFLUENCES

Super diversity good for New Zealand New Zealand developed as a bi-cultural partnership after the British signed the Treaty of Waitangi with Maori in 1840.

This has been a fraught history, with misunderstandings and wars.

The compensation given for historical wrongs and an increased understanding of Maori culture has helped heal long-standing wounds, so that relationships between the bicultural partners have improved markedly in recent times. It is still far from perfect, and now the impact of contemporary migration has added complexity as people from many different nations make New Zealand truly multicultural.

Super diversity (first coined by anthropologist Steven Vertovec in a 2007 study) should foster respect and open-mindedness for other cultures. Understanding people and their backgrounds is crucial to personal and community growth.

This diversity must not be allowed to detract from our historical biculturalism and founding partnership with Maori, but if multi -culturalism is allowed to develop sympathetically, research from the Copenhagen Business School says this will add to New Zealand’s social cohesion.

We also have the international media exposure now so prevalent in New Zealand. Many of us regularly read the Guardian, the Washington Post or the New York Times. We must always be alert to false news which is sweeping the globe. Don’t believe everything you read.

(JOHN ELLIOTT) F PN

I think New Zealanders are getting better at it, aided by sophisticated international people coming to our shores to do business or to live.

This research has shown that more diversity leaves less room to discriminate. When businesses have staff from many countries, team members are perceived as more equal and there is greater mutual respect.

Ponsonby has an increasingly diverse population. The choice of Italian-made pizzas has grown exponentially recently. There are a number of shops featuring products and services from a wide variety of countries. This includes French jewellery, design products, imported rugs, antiques, wines from around the world, art, furniture, motor vehicles, household interior products. Restaurants in Ponsonby come in all shapes and sizes, from a multitude of foreign cuisines – Japanese, Thai, Indian, French, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Mexican Middle Eastern, Vietnamese, Malaysian and many more. While the food may be different, most of the owners, even if born abroad, are anxious to integrate successfully into their new country.

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While lantern festivals, and Pride parades showcase diverse communities, it is the discovery of commonalities amongst global citizens that enriches societies and develops cohesiveness.

It is said that diversity in the workplace encourages better communication and social connectedness. Both workplaces and schools, increasingly consist of various cultural, racial and ethnic groups. We must learn from one another so that a level of understanding of each other will facilitate collaboration and cooperation.

Globalisation, partly through immigration, and partly through international trade, has hastened the growth of multiculturalism in countries right around the world.

This globalisation has positive and negative impacts. Where multinational corporations promote a consumer culture, exploitation of workers and markets, they influence societal values. This can enforce an unhealthy homogeneous set of values and beliefs. Neo-liberalism, since the 1980s has not helped Western democracies.

The positive side of globalisation is said to promote education, trade, technology exchange, competition, investment and capital flows; not that I would necessarily agree that those promotions are all always positive.

We are a tiny country at the bottom of the world, and we should benefit from cultural interaction, as long as we don’t sell out on our basic values, like nuclear-free and being clean and green environmentally.

We don’t want the Monsantos of this world coming here telling us how to live our lives and, if we disagree with them, and won’t take their poisonous products, taking us to some international court.

36 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Celebrating 110 years in business

Classic, like us

Atollo Table Lamp

by Oluce, 1977.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

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GLOBAL INFLUENCES @ FRENCH COUNTRY COLLECTIONS @ SABATO One of our long-term suppliers, Grup Pons, started four generations ago pressing olive oil locally in Catalonia, Spain.

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The company now has Pons products in 140 countries globally. In addition to the wide range of Pons oils, Sabato also stocks a delicious range of Pons vinegars. One of our favourites is the Pons cava rose vinegar - perfect to pair with peaches to make homemade peach chutney or mixed through ceviche for a bittersweet taste with plum and red fruit notes.

Try this delicious chopped vegetable salad with Pons cava rose vinegar for a fresh, new dinner option this week.

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Chopped vegetable salad with tuna, capers and pickled vegetables Quick pickled vegetables (makes approx 1-2 cups) Vegetables of your choice (such as red onions, radishes, beans, carrots), enough to yield 1 ½ cups when sliced 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced ½ cup Pons cava rose vinegar ½ cup water 1 tsp salt 1 tsp sugar

1. Malcolm Gold Mesh Hurricanes from $44.50 2. Barnes Chocolate Chair 109cm W x 81cm H $2250 3. Barnes Olive Green Storage Bench 140cm L x 60cm H $1795 4. Set two Marble Nesting Coffee Tables $829 5. Boudoir Round Cushions $99

Thinly slice or cut vegetables into matchsticks or small pieces and place in a bowl or jar with the garlic. Place vinegar and water into a small pan; add the salt and sugar. Bring to the boil, or microwave for 2-3 minutes, until bubbling hot. Pour the hot liquid over the veggies and set aside until cooled to room temperature. Serve immediately or store in the fridge. Best eaten within 1-2 days of making.

FRENCH COUNTRY COLLECTIONS, T: 0800 503 500, www.frenchcountry.co.nz

Chopped salad with tuna and capers - serves 4 1 mini cos lettuce, washed and dried 1 Lebanese cucumber 4 medium tomatoes or 1 cup cherry tomatoes Handful of fresh basil leaves 300g can Callipo tuna in olive oil, lightly drained and flaked ½ cup Romulo capers in brine, drained ¾ cup quick pickled vegetables (see above recipe) Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper La Chinata sweet smoked paprika flakes Roughly chop the lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes and basil and place in a large salad bowl.

Add the tuna and capers and toss to combine. Drain the pickled vegetables and add them to the salad, then toss to combine. The oil from the tuna and the vinegar from the pickling liquid naturally dress the salad. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. Grind over some smoked paprika flakes and serve immediately. ©Recipe courtesy of Julie Le Clerc For more summer recipe ideas visit us in-store or on our website.

SABATO, 57 Normanby Road, Mt Eden, T: 09 630 8751, www.sabato.co.nz

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GLOBAL INFLUENCES

JAPAN Japan is a country that surprised me in so many ways, especially with how traditions are maintained alongside an incredibly modern life.

From the bright lights of bustling Tokyo to the charming narrow streets of historic Takayama, the 'Land of the Rising Sun' is full of contrasts, and that’s what makes it such an intriguing destination.

My latest journey to Japan took me from Tokyo to Nagano, home of the famous snow monkeys - curious little creatures who reside in the mountains and enjoy a dip in the hot springs during the day. The half - hour walk through the mountains was a highlight in itself, with thick snow lining the footpath and sprinkled through the trees.

Nestled in the mountains, the small town of Takayama provides an authentic slice of Japanese history, with its old wooden houses and traditional handicrafts. Located nearby, Shirakawa-go is one of the favourite places that I visited, a village of traditional thatched roof farmhouses that resemble gingerbread houses, the only examples of their kind in Japan.

So when’s the best time to go? Travelling in autumn means that you avoid the heat of summer, plus the autumn colours are spectacular.

I experienced Japan in winter which was actually incredibly beautiful, as many places were still dusted with snow. Springtime is when the country really comes alive with the gorgeous blooming of the cherry blossoms. I was lucky enough to see the start of it in some areas and it really is as pretty as you think!

Kyoto is a great place for shopping, and not just for clothing either!

There’s plenty of variety, including gorgeous little arcades and various markets where you can purchase goods such as beautiful hand-crafted kitchen knives and copper pans. As a whole, Kyoto provides a great example of Japan’s 'old meets new' phenomenon, with temples and high rises both sharing a landscape.

Getting around Japan is an absolute delight with its clean and efficient high-speed trains offering great facilities, even automated toilets with heated seats. They always depart on time (to the minute) and signs are in both English and Japanese to avoid any confusion. One thing you will quickly realise about Japan is how orderly and respectful everyone is, making it a very peaceful and stress-free country for tourists to travel through.

Visiting Hiroshima was a sobering experience, but at the same time it was amazing how the city has grown into a place of serenity with pretty gardens and a peace memorial. I would really encourage travellers to visit the city once flattened by an atomic bomb - it’s really interesting to see how much it has been rebuilt.

With its charming historic villages, bustling modern cities, world-class transportation, delicious food and much more - Japan has become one of my favourite destinations and if you haven’t yet been, I think it could easily become one of yours.

(DAVINA BICKER, WORLD JOURNEYS) F PN

A wonderful introduction to Japan, from the bustle of Tokyo to the majesty of Mt Fuji. Experience staying in a traditional Japanese inn in tranquil Hakone. In Kyoto, explore the historic sites and marvel at the Sagano bamboo grove. Take a tour of poignant Hiroshima, a vibrant city that has been rebuilt from ashes.

9 DAY TOUR from $7,650pp (share twin)

HIGHLIGHTS OF JAPAN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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

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ROSS THORBY: SEA FEVER

Queenstown's Lady of the Lake Named after the highest peak in the region, and at 330 tonnes, she is more than 11 times smaller than The Titanic.

On the very same day that the SS Titanic began her sea trials in Belfast UK, halfway around the world the mast and funnel were being installed on a new steamer which was to ply her trade on Lake Wakatipu New Zealand, for the next 100 years.

Two weeks later and before the rivets had barely set and the paint dried on her funnel, the TSS Earnslaw would be alive and inundated with fitters and joiners finishing her fine wooden interiors, while the Titanic would be settling on the bottom of the Atlantic. Her short life at an end.

Built and finished in Dunedin, the Earnslaw was dismantled and transported by rail to the lake’s edge for reassembly then launching and hasn’t left since.

Named after the highest peak in the region, and at 330 tonnes, she is more than 11 times smaller than The Titanic, but she was fitted out just as luxuriously as befitting the times. Each year she effortlessly travels 1.5 times the circumference of the earth when most of her compatriots have only moved as far as the knackers yard.

Waking up in Queenstown, the first you may hear of her is the acute shrill of her whistle echoing around the craggy escarpments edging the lake joined by the excited voices of the thousands of tourists who now visit the region.

It was a beautiful day in Queenstown, the snow-capped peaks seemingly incongruous in the intense heat from the summer’s sun as we crowded the gangplank and entered a world rarely seen today.

Walking past the stokers furiously transferring the recently boarded coal into the belly of the ship, we walked up the stairs into the original 1912 interiors hiding the modern conveniences of a barista and coffee machine in the main galley.

There's even a grand piano on board and in a throwback to real Kiwiana, a matronly pianist banging out such classics as 'Roll out the Barrel' and 'The Road to Tipperary'. Of course on offer in the chilled cafe cabinet, are another Kiwi favourite - chocolate and raspberry lamingtons with lashings of cream.

Now onboard, I text mother and am informed the last time I was onboard I was five and I fell off. With fingers crossed to avoid a repeat, we pull away from the wharf for the leisurely trip to Walter Peak Station on the other side of the lake. Smoke begins to billow from her funnel and smudges the crystal clear skies. As we pick up speed, the chug and hiss of the steam engines echo around us and

SS Earnslaw - The Lady of the Lake push the sharp bow through the lake’s frigid waters glacier-fed from the Dart and Rees Rivers.

Since her launch, 'The Lady of the Lake' has given faithful service to the lonely and remote stations around the region - Glenorchy, Walter Peak, Kinloch and Mt Nicolas. Her daily work environment has been one of towering snow covered peaks and majestic scenery that has changed little in the past 100 years although her cargo has much changed.

In days of old, she carried necessities to those remote families.

Animals to and from market, groceries, spare parts, mail and news from civilisation. Today she services the demanding needs of the tourism trade with the only news being local town gossip swapped between the crew and station staff instead. Thousands of tourists a day flock onboard to disembark at Walter Peak Station just to experience a piece of New Zealand farm life, see a few sheep and enjoy a home-cooked barbecue lunch.

Moving through the crowds of jostling tourists vying for the perfect view with their selfie sticks, I make an escape to the heat and humidity of the engine room. Here the original triple expansion, double-acting steam engines, polished and maintained to perfection, are still in control. She is the only original and working steam ship in the Southern Hemisphere and this is the beating heart of the old girl. The heat and steam of the room is stifling if even for a few minutes. How the stokers and engineer continually checking the various gauges, valves and pounding pistons tolerate the blasting furnaces of the engine is beyond me.

After a brief stop at Walter Peak, enough time to discharge the latest passengers and re-board those on the return trip, we again ventured back across the lake towards civilisation - iPads, iPhones, and electric vehicles. Ha! Modern technology. I wonder how much of that PN will be still around in 100 years? (ROSS THORBY) F

Walter Peak Station, Lake Wakatipu

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GLOBAL INFLUENCES WHAT’S HOT AT HOUSE OF TRAVEL PONSONBY House of Travel is a well-known, established New Zealand travel brand - around now for more than 30 years - and the team at House of Travel (HOT) Ponsonby are your local travel specialists.

House of Travel is locally owned and operated, and the awardwinning team of four are well travelled, enthusiastic and friendly.

The HOT Ponsonby team considers the holiday planning process to be a collaborative one, so bring in your research and the team will work its magic. In most cases, the agents can book the exact same hotel or tour you’ve seen advertised online, along with all the finer details to ensure that you get exactly the holiday experience you want. You’ll have 24/7 assistance from start to finish, so if anything goes wrong while you’re away - or if you simply have a change of plans - you only need to call or email them and they will get it sorted.

in Portugal or the homemade dumpling dinner you share with a Beijing family. Weaving these moments into itineraries offers a more authentic, intimate experience of a destination.

Voluntourism Giving a little of yourself to a destination often enhances what you take away from it, which is why holidays that incorporate an element of volunteering are becoming increasing popular. From assisting a Nepalese community with their post-earthquake rebuild to supporting a Fijian school, you can be putting your treasured holiday time to good use, giving back to the communities you’re visiting.

Because everyone at HOT Ponsonby is passionate about travel, they’ve always got their ears to the ground for the latest global trends in travel. Global travel influences reflected by New Zealand travellers include a growing demand for ethical and cultural travel, giving back to the community and ‘travellers not tourists’ with travellers looking for meaningful experiences that offer inspiration, intelligent insights and self-improvement. Here’s a taste of what’s hot right now.

Cruise holidays Growth in the cruising sector has been massive of late. From a small ship, wildlife-spotting cruise along Botswana’s Chobe River to island-hopping along the Croatian coastline, more Kiwis than ever are stepping aboard and sampling the world’s most incredible destinations by water.

Cultural holidays The most memorable travel experiences often spring from the people you meet along the way - whether it’s the family run winery

The team at HOT Ponsonby understands that the customers want meaningful travel experiences that offer inspiration and insight - talk to them today about working together to create your next holiday. F PN

HOUSE OF TRAVEL, Three Lamps, 340 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 5760, Fax: 09 360 5769E: ponsonby@hot.co.nz, www.houseoftravel.co.nz/hot-stores/auckland/ponsonby

COME IN AND MEET THE TEAM A T H O U S E O F T R A V E L P O N S O N BY

“ LET ’S G ET TO G ET HER & M A KE YOU R N EX T HO LI DAY EV EN B ET T ER”

BET TE R TOG ETHE R

3 4 0 P O N S O N BY R OA D I 0 9 3 6 0 5 76 0 I P O N S O N BY@ H OT.C O. N Z The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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LOCAL NEWS CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU Citizens Advice Bureau is an independent community organisation offering a free, confidential and independent service of information, assistance and referral from 84 locations stretching from Northland to Invercargill.

Immigration We are a nation of immigrants in this country and, in Auckland, of many very recent arrivals. The 2013 Census revealed that 39.1% of Auckland residents were born overseas, compared with just 18.2% of people living outside the region. Among the 517,182 Aucklanders born overseas, the most common birthplace reported was Asia, followed by the Pacific Islands, then the United Kingdom and Ireland.1 We continue to be a popular country for immigration and at Citizens Advice Bureau a lot of people come in for assistance with navigating the options within the Immigration New Zealand agency. Part of the problem is that there is no longer any face to face counter in Auckland where people can go with queries. They often experience long waits on the telephone line and language can be a barrier.

Normally, only a licensed immigration adviser can give people advice on immigration matters. However, Citizens Advice Bureau are exempt from this licence requirement and can offer general information about immigrating to New Zealand or help with completing application forms. We also have access to 'legal ears' - lawyers with specialist skills who we can call on for advice.

Our two colleague bureau at St Lukes (Eden/Albert) and Mt Roskill offer specialist immigration clinics if you require further assistance.

Here is a sample of some of the queries we receive, to give an idea of the breadth of issues.

My visitor’s visa is about to expire. Is there a way I can get it extended?

If you are in New Zealand on a visitor visa and wish to stay longer than your visitor’s visa allows, you may be able to apply for a further three months’ stay before the current one expires. With the extension, you can stay for a maximum of 12 months in a 24-month period. The process for doing this is the same as for applying for a visitor visa for the first time.

Can I stay in New Zealand after my work visa expires?

If you are in New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa you may be eligible for a one-off extension to your visa for a further three months. You would be eligible if you have done at least three months of seasonal work in the horticulture or viticulture (grape growing and winemaking) industries. Otherwise, you are not allowed to stay in New Zealand after your visa expires. If you want to stay in New Zealand for longer than your visa allows you will need to

apply for a new visa (a temporary one to visit, work or study, or a residence visa) before your first one expires.

The employer named on my work visa is closing down their business. What will happen to my visa?

If your visa was granted specifically for this job then it will specify the name of your employer, the details and location of your work. If any of these details change you have to notify Immigration NZ. Some changes (eg, your employer changes their name, but their business is essentially unchanged) only require you to apply for a Variation of Conditions.

Other changes (eg, the employer closes down, or you leave your job) will render your work visa invalid. If you've got a new job you should apply for a new work visa before you start the new job.

Can I renounce my New Zealand citizenship?

You can if you are at least 18 years old, have full mental capacity and are a citizen of another country. You might want to do this if you are becoming a citizen of another country and that country does not allow dual citizenship.

Please note that your application might be turned down if you are living in New Zealand or if New Zealand is at war at the time you apply.

I am in New Zealand on a visitor visa sponsored by my partner who is a New Zealand citizen. If I leave him, can he get me deported?

If your temporary visa (eg, visitor, work or study visa) is dependent on support from a sponsor (ie, your partner), then your visa could become invalid if your partner withdraws their support.

You may be able to apply to remain in New Zealand under another category, or you may have to return to your home country and re-apply for entry. The options available to you will depend on your specific circumstances. (MARGARET ANTUNOVICH) F PN CAB, 510 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn, T: 09 376 0392, Email: ponsonby@cab.org.nz http://archive.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-andsummary-reports/qstats-culture-identity-auck-mr.aspx

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42 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

GLOBAL INFLUENCES

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

A STRING OF GOLDS!

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

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

Sauvignon Blanc Pinot Gris

Pinot Noir

Find us at: Farro Fresh, Herne Bay Cellars & Caros Wines WWW.SQUAWKINGMAGPIE.CO.NZ

SIDART, Level 1, Three Lamps Plaza, 283 Ponsonby Road T: 360 2122 www.sidart.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

5 Fort Lane, CBD T: 09 379 9702 cassiarestaurant.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

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GARY STEEL: VEG FRIENDLY

Rock, paper, scissors Japanese vegan deliciousness. You’ve got a birthday coming up and you’re looking for a restaurant that will cater to a large group containing both rabid meat eaters and vegans. Where do you go?

Just a few years back, this scenario would have created a conundrum and, with it, the frustrating task of extensively researching the options. Happily, if you’re lucky enough to live in Ponsonby or surrounds, those miserable days are over.

Sometimes, it feels like every other restaurant or cafe is now offering vegan options, and not just 'we’ll take the bacon off', or those dull culinary staples that tend to lack both tongue-teasing excitement and protein.

It can still be hard, however, to find an eatery that does it for the right reasons. Janken - meaning rock, paper, scissors - on Jervois Road is a Japanese restaurant that’s been around for six years, but never rests on its laurels. Its proprietors seem proud of the vegan items on its menu. Better still, its plant-based options continue to grow in number, and you can tell they’re coming from the right place, because it’s not a static menu, but one that keeps on innovating.

The ambience at Janken is relaxed and the service is typically Japanese: polite and discrete. If you’re busy eating and chatting you hardly even notice the wait staff and everything is easy.

The lunch menu is more limited than the dinner selection, but still features some exceptional vegan fare, including a steaming hotpot and an impressive-looking bento box on steroids that makes you feel like royalty.

For fish eaters with a conscientious bent, Janken gets all its seafood from sustainable sources, and its food is cooked with a minimum of oil. The selection of dinner dishes for vegans is so delectable that it’s hard to settle on which one to order. These include the aforesaid steaming creamy vegetable nabe (hotpot) of seasonal vegetables, fried tofu and kale mocha dumpling in creamy soy milk broth; the

shojin organic tofu with goma (sesame) sauce; and the rei-men: organic kumara noodle with assorted vegetables, wakame seaweed and deep-fried tofu simmered in a sweet soy broth.

And for those going all the way, there’s a wealth of vegan starters, and the entree of steamed buns with dates miso eggplant is to die for.

Japanese food is typically difficult for vegans, with its emphasis on fish and seafood and its infiltration into dishes that would appear to be meat free but usually aren’t, like miso soup. It’s a great pity, because it’s a cuisine that’s light but balanced, nutritious and genuinely lifegiving. Thank goodness, then, for fusion Japanese restaurants like Janken, whose vegan meals not only recognise that there’s a market for vegan Japanese food in New Zealand, but whose willingness to come up with satisfying and delicious vegan dishes seems to come from a deeper wellspring. (GARY STEEL) F PN

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

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PHIL PARKER: WHOSE WINE IS IT ANYWAY?

Age and youth Over the last month I have opened a few wines, as one does, and this time it was a mixture of new and older vintages.

I often get this question - how long should I keep a wine before I drink it? Anecdotally, in New Zealand the average time from purchase to consumption is about 30 minutes.

So we are not all that great at cellaring. Fresh, fruity wines such as sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, gewürztraminer, semillon and roses are best consumed within about two years. Oak-aged white wines such as chardonnay will improve and become more complex over five years.

Most reds will soften and integrate over five to 10 years. Full-bodied, tannic reds can last even longer. But it’s all a bit of guesswork in my experience. The best idea is to buy six or a dozen and pop one open every six months to see how the wine is progressing.

But as one of my elderly tour clients once said, after being told to cellar a wine for 15 years: “Honestly, at my age I don’t even buy green bananas.”

Mission Vineyard Selection Pinot Gris 2014 At five years old, pretty well at its peak, but still has a lot of complex, aged characters. Smells like canned apricots. The palate is rich and oily with pineapple, quince, marmalade and almond, with a lengthy very dry finish

Gisselbrecht Alsace Pinot Gris 2016 Fresh, fruity and fab. A French wine under screw cap - zut alors!

Smells like honeysuckle and citrus blossom. Just nudging off-dry and at 13.5% alcohol. Flavours of nectarine, tonic water and ginger spice.

Spy Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012 A lovely example of what a bit of bottle age can do to a New Zealand pinot. Very gamey and savoury on the nose. In the mouth it’s all about soft tannins and earthy spice with mushroom, truffle, a hint of salty minerality.

Mudbrick Shepherds Point Waiheke Merlot / Cabernet / Petit Verdot 2017 A real youngster that I opened in error very late at night last week.

Moving right along... nose of florals, spice rack and tar. Amazingly approachable as a fresh young thing. Palate of ripe blackberries, cassis, soft dusty tannins, spiced plum and a hint of Vegemite (in a good way).

Rod McDonald Quarter Acre Hawkes Bay Merlot / Malbec 2013 Again - a fab red that has developed secondary characters from a bit of bottle age. Slightly earthy nose, with fruitcake and cherry. In the mouth it’s warm ripe and soft with black berry fruits, earthy truffle, cassis and liquorice. (PHIL PARKER) F PN

Phil Parker is a wine writer and operates Fine Wine & Food Tours in Auckland.

See: www.finewinetours.co.nz. Phil’s new cellar door book ‘NZ Wine Regions - A Visitor’s Guide’ is now available on Amazon Kindle.

FINE WINE & FOOD TOURS “No. 4 Auckland Food & Drink” – TripAdvisor Your host, Phil Parker wine writer.

Boutique tours for small and large groups.

E: Phil@finewinetours.co.nz

46 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

www.finewinetours.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

TINA PLUNKETT: PONSONBY CENTRAL

GRAB & GO...

And make the most of the last of the summer days!

Ahhh, Auckland. Don’t you just love it, especially in summer? You are always a mere hop, skip and jump away from a great park or beach and Ponsonby is no different. Herne Bay, Sentinel Bay, and the biggies like Western Park and Grey Lynn to little hidden spots like Vermont and Tole Reserves.

March is the month to make the most of the last weeks of summer and longer nights. Discover the local hidden picnic spots or go to your favH, take the night off cooking (it’s too hot to put the oven on after all), and have a swim or walk along the beach.

1. Meet your friends here, grab pizzas from Dantes, sushi from Tokyo Club or a bite from Burger Burger and bubbles from Wine Direct then head to the beach for dinner and a swim.

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2. Fresh bread from Little Bread and Butter, topped with fresh cheeses from The Dairy.

Thanks for being patient while we built a new home for our smoothie and juice bar, CRUSH. Crush LV now open with your favourite fresh squeezes and smoothies along with some new ones to try. You’ll see some familiar faces too so pop along and say hi.

e at Order onlinW Bird on aen roiruete and grab park. to the

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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OUT + ABOUT

Monika Jakicevich cuts the ribbon to open the Glengarry Spirits store

Monika Jakicevich with the cake

Stephen Borke, Jack Jackicevich & Ophelie Neil

Matt Thomson

George Zhao & David Liu

Jacqui Dixon & Liz Wheadon

Bee Kwek, Su Kwek & Zane Winskill

photography: Connor Crawford

Josh Montgomerie

GLENGARRY SPIRITS OPENING, Jervois Road - Wednesday 13 February

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY GLENGARRY SPIRITS - NOW OPEN ON JERVOIS ROAD For the Jakicevich family, what started as a pioneering winemaking venture in West Auckland's Glengarry Road has, over four generations, developed into New Zealand's largest family owned liquor retailer, Glengarry Wines.

As New Zealand's Independent Rulers of Wine Retailing, the Glengarry Wine voice is loud and proud, with a reputation for quality and wine knowledge that is recognised well beyond these shores. Wine is our core business. It is who we are, and who we have been for almost 70 years now. However, standing still is not what we do, not what we've ever done, in fact, and so there is a new string to our bow, one that sits comfortably alongside our wine retailing brand.

Glengarry Spirits is a shopping experience quite unlike any other currently found in New Zealand. Customers are able to immerse themselves in the world of premium spirits within a specially crafted space catering solely to the genre, where you will encounter the finest exemplars of each spirit category. The products on offer include unique items and rare bottlings, dispensed by a team of expert spirit specialists with useful knowledge to share and interesting stories to tell.

Glengarry Spirits is a stand-alone store, an independent and singular exponent of the finest spirits the world has to offer, located on the Jervois Road site where it all began back in 1945. If you're into a particular type of music, you could view this venture as separating the alcoholic beverage into its various genres, much as music does, with each genre catering to its own distinct fan-base and associated expertise. Thus, over there, we're all about wine and, over here, we're operating as a Spirit specialist, with each aspect distinctly separate, but siblings nonetheless, under the Glengarry banner.

As well as functioning as a space to showcase the world of spirits, the Glengarry Spirits store conducts spirit-related tastings and events, with private functions from seminars to celebrations available to be booked. An exciting array of tastings and events await. We look forward to seeing you on Jervois Road. (LIZ WHEADON) F PN

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For more details visit www.glengarry.co.nz/tastings

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY Meet the faces at the market - Isabel Pasch Isabel Pasch is a founder of Bread & Butter Bakery, with a popular stall at Grey Lynn Farmers Market.

What is your favourite city in Germany?

Berlin! It is so dense and random. People feel free to be whatever they want and whoever they are. There is always something crazy going on and you never know who you might meet.

What brought you to New Zealand?

I came here to study microbiology. I did my thesis on bacteria found in the guts of silver drummers and butterfish, caught in the Hauraki Gulf.

My supervisor had seen the fish eating algae off rocks and we had a theory, which turned out to be true, that gut bacteria were helping fish digest the algae.

What made you stay in New Zealand?

I met my Kiwi husband at university here. Now we have two young boys, 10 and 13, and we are here to stay.

Do you miss science?

I use it all the time! It helps me critique the ingredients that we use in the bakery. And it has made me determined to use as many organic ingredients as possible.

Why is it so important to use organic ingredients?

Knowing how beneficial our natural gut bacteria are, I avoid anything with preservatives. By definition, preservatives kill all bacteria indiscriminately. I also avoid all emulsifiers because they can bind to the gut lining, making us vulnerable to other undesirable chemicals.

In the last 50 years, our lives have become saturated with thousands of chemicals that our bodies were never designed to cope with. We can never completely avoid those chemicals, but I do what I can to minimise them for my family and my customers.

So your products use organic ingredients?

All our bread ingredients are organic. We only use organic flour, sugar and dried fruit (non-suflurised). The main ingredients that we struggle to buy organic in commercial quantities, are butter and milk.

And you are part of the Auckland Organics Collective too?

Yes, I enjoy collaborating with like-minded businesses. We are currently getting ready for Organics Week (29 April - 5 May). We are very excited about spreading the word and encouraging people to choose organic options.

I hear that you are starting a blog?

Yes (breadpolitics.com) - it is my personal attempt to educate people and let them know what is really in their food. I want to start a conversation with the food community.

And you are on the committee that runs Grey Lynn Farmers Market?

I enjoy being on the committee. We have a fabulous group of dedicated and talented volunteers. One of my favourite things is organising the annual Christmas celebrations. Christmas was always an important part of my family traditions in Germany. It is a great time to bring the community together, we share stollen and Hakanoa ginger beer with market customers and tell the story of how it came to be associated with German Christmas.

And somehow with all this going on, your bike is still your preferred transport mode?

I have always biked. Since I was a young child, my parents made me bike everywhere. So when I came to New Zealand, I bought a bike within my first week. It’s a very reliable way of getting about. I know that it will take me 17 minutes to get home from work. The car can take anywhere from 10 to 30 min. Usually, the bike is quicker and I arrive home in a better mood having burnt off the stress of the day.

Do you have any advice for people wanting to cycle around Auckland?

I recommend either a nice, light road bike like mine or an electric bike - to help with the hills. F PN www.breadandbutter.nz glfm.co.nz

50 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Experience the magic of Matakana, stay at one of our luxurious new Plume Villas and enjoy the superb food and À QH ZLQH DW 3OXPH 5HVWDXUDQW &RXQWU\ OLIH VWDUWV KHUH A one-hour scenic drive north of Auckland and 5 minutes from 0DWDNDQD WRZQVKLS \RX ZLOO À QG Plume Restaurant, an oasis for gourmet travellers in a coastal country setting. Recognised for its superb cuisine, and as the cellar door for Runner Duck Estate 9LQH\DUG¡V À QH ZLQHV 3OXPH Restaurant has gained quite a reputation.

Now, 12 new luxury Plume Villas, ranging from 1-3 bedrooms, have been added within the grounds.

These all share a swimming pool and are within a relaxed stroll of the restaurant. No matter the season or the length of your stay, you will À QG 3OXPH 9LOODV D FRPIRUWDEOH place to base yourself while enjoying the many delights nearby, including the fabulous food and wine at Plume Restaurant. $OUHDG\ ERDVWLQJ D SULYDWH OLJKW À OOHG function room, Plume Restaurant has just become the perfect venue for weddings, conferences, meetings and private events set within a peaceful country location.

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

49A Sharp Road Matakana 09 422 7915

1335 Leigh Road, Matakana 09 423 0390

Cellar door Plume Restaurant 09 422 7915

TRAVEL BREAKS: THE NEW THERAPY!

IN THE HEART OF THE SOUTH When Rob Swale took over his father’s crayfishing boat and business around 20 years ago he also figuratively laid the keel for today’s Fiordland Discovery luxury cruises and charters.

Having already launched the first commercial fishing boat to be built in Queenstown, Rob upgraded to his first ‘Jewel’ as a fishing boat. Then, as demand for fishing charters in the deepest parts of the Deep South grew, so did the appetite for more comfortable on-board experiences. Enter the Fiordland Jewel a 24m, three-deck catamaran with a 5-star marine fit-out and nine climate-controlled cabins.

Throw in delicious on-board dining and you can see the experience is a long way from your typical fishing charter.

However, what really separates this experience is the location. New Zealand’s most applauded wilderness treasures are close enough to touch in Fiordland, Milford Sound, Dusky Sound (where Captain Cook was happy to spend five weeks) and of course Stewart Island.

On the surface you feast on a world-acclaimed tourism vista from alpine heights to sheer fiord depths. Underwater there is an extraordinary array of marine species many of which would normally only be discovered at great depths, the onboard ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) allows guests to explore underwater when live footage is screened back to high definition televisions onboard the boat.

As the skipper himself admits, “The cooler months are ideal for exploring the fiords - it’s a surreal experience being able

to enjoy the snowy peaks and captivating wildlife from the comfort of your own spacious cabin or even from the top -deck hot tub with a wine in hand.�

Whether guests choose multi-day cruises of Fiordland or Stewart Island or an exclusive charter they will be relaxing with genuine Kiwi hospitality and comfort.

As Rob Swale says, “We established Fiordland Discovery to give guests up-close-and-personal access to our phenomenal wilderness. To take each person into the heart of the south.�

Book a luxury cabin on one of our seven-day scenic, nature and historic cruises with opportunities to fish. Or gather a group of family, friends or colleagues for a bespoke, private, seven-day scenic, fishing, hunting or diving charter. • Nine cabins all with private ensuites. • Onboard chef, all meals are provided including crayfish and blue cod. • A maximum of 18 passengers per cruise.

Get in touch to find out more about our scheduled cruises during May, June and August 2019. F PN www.fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz

www.thesurreyhotel.co.nz

Retail, restaurants and recreation all on your doorstep ™ ™ ™ ™ ™

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

52 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FIORDLAND & STEWART ISLAND CRUISES See this scenic slice of paradise up close and personal Book a luxury cabin on one of our seven-day scenic, nature and historic cruises with opportunities to fish.

Or gather a group of family, friends or colleagues for a bespoke, private seven-day scenic, fishing, hunting or diving charter.

- Nine cabins all with private en-suites - Onboard chef, all meals are provided including crayfish and blue cod - A maximum of 18 passengers per cruise Get in touch to find out more about our scheduled cruises during May, June and August 2019.

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

PPONSONBY ONSSOONNBBY ON

BY NNE NEWS EWS WS+ Ma MMarch Marc arc rch 2019 rch 220019 19

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FASHION + STYLE @ MOONTIDE Moontide's Hi summer offer is a bounty of tribal vibrancy, simply geos and ethnic block prints merging to create a bright and joyful collection.

Focusing on our ‘perfect fit’ mantra we have included our very best fit and function shapes in sizes 8 - 18 B - F/G. This season’s Piha collection is fun and vibrant. There is plenty here for the young fashionista with vintage shapes perfect for the boho chick, with pops of ethnic chic and, for those who like a bit of action, sporty shapes abound.

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MOONTIDE 1. Mono Bloom Plunge Suit $119.99 2. Eden Twist Suit $129.99 3. Eden U/W Suit D/DD E/ F $139.99 4. Kaleidoscope D/DD Tri Bikini $144.99 5

5. Oasis Tie Front Bikini $169.99

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6. Summer Night Wrap Bikini $149.99

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PIHA 1. Mix Up U/W Bikini D/DD E/F $119.99 2. Makana Plunge Suit $89.99 3. Carnival Lacing Suit $94.99 5

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4. Makana Tri Bikini $105 5. Kyoto U/W Bikini $124.99 6. Mix Up Cut Out Suit $89.99

Check out the biggest selection of Moontide and Piha under one roof at MOONTIDE, 24 Williamson Avenue, Grey Lynn, T: 09 551 7720, www.moontide.com

54 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

MOONTIDE.COM

NEW STORE NOW OPEN 24 WILLIAMSON AVENUE, GREY LYNN PH: 09 551 7720

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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FASHION + STYLE @ MAGAZINE DESIGNER CLOTHING

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Chocolat Allure Georgette Macy Dress (exclusive to Magazine) Chocolat Slip Knot Hoodie Chocolat White Noise Drape Top and Bittermoon Dylan Stripe Pant Euphoria Fable Dress Lemon Tree Merino Blend Cape in Burnt Orange Euphoria Minato Top Maud Dainty Playground Dress in Rockpool Maud Dainty Volmite Dress Obi Ponti Military Jacket in Vintage and Obi Jungle Fever Dress

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

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE @ CARATS

KINA COLLECTION... A selection of Carats Jewellery beautiful creations from past and present.

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

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FASHION + STYLE @ ZEBRANO

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Stride into the new season in style with a contemporary mix of statement prints and vibrant hues.

Indulge in luxury fabrics in cutting-edge styles and ensure you stay a la mode around the clock. For effortless sophistication, be inspired by Curate, Obi, Chocolat, Euphoria, Mela Purdie, Megan Salmon and more.

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1. Curate by Trelise Cooper Hem In Rome Shirt - $239

6. Obi Black Wanted Cocoon Tee - $217

2. Curate by Trelise Cooper Love On The Rain Jacket - $299

7. Siren Shawl - $123

3. Ilse Jacobsen Light True Rain Jacket - $289

8. Siren Printed Panel Wrap - $177

4. Nineteen46 Estate Cardi - $229

9. Stella Royal Beebee Top - $157

5. Nineteen46 Haven Dress - $349 ZEBRANO, 10 Kingdon Street, Newmarket, T: 09 523 2500, www.zebrano.co.nz

58 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE @ DIAMONDS ON RICHMOND 1. Circle Diamond Pendant & Chain - 9ct white gold available in yellow gold - $2145 1

2. Diamond Pendant & Chain - available in yellow or white gold, starting from - $810

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3. Blush Pink Diamond Ring - 18ct rose gold - $6800 4. Morganite & Diamond Ring - 9ct rose gold - $1450 5. Diamond Ring - 9ct white gold available in yellow gold - $5800 6. Diamond Ring - 9ct white gold available in yellow gold - $1950 4

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7. Channel Set Diamond Bangle - 9ct yellow gold available in white gold - $4500 8. Pave Set Diamond Bangle - 18ct white gold available in yellow gold - $9900 9. Diamond Hoop Earrings - 9ct white gold available in yellow gold - $1690

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10. Diamond Cluster Earrings - 9ct white gold available in yellow gold - $1350 11. Diamond Hoop Earrings - 9ct white gold available in yellow gold - $2500

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12. Diamond Round Cluster Earrings - 9ct white gold available in yellow gold - $2620 13. Sapphire & Diamond Ring - 18ct white gold - $8500 8

14. Diamond Filigree Ring - 18ct white gold - $4400

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For a more tailored gift experience from Diamonds On Richmond visit - giftservice.co.nz DIAMONDS ON RICHMOND, 98 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn, T: 09 376 9045, www.dor.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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FASHION + STYLE @ RAGS & ROMANCE Rags & Romance has partnered with Women’s Refuge to provide a drop off point for your donations of good-quality designer clothing and pre-loved wedding dresses.

It’s our way of helping our sisters remain safe and our bit for the environment by means of recycling. So, ladies, bring in the old and leave with some of our beautiful new Lilliano silks and linens.

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100% linen with flower print inserts made in Italy Lose silk top with mohair embroidered flowers made in Italy Raspberry silk with underlay lace trim swing top made in Italy Navy silk top with insert lace and tie front made in Italy Pink frill silk two piece made in Italy Linen floral insert dress made in Italy

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New Season

‘Lilliano’

Instore Now

New and Pre-loved Fashion Accessories and Curiosa

206 Onehunga Mall 09 600 1222 ragsandromance

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RAGS & ROMANCE

60 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

RAGS & ROMANCE, 206 Onehunga Mall, T: 09 600 1222, www.ragsand romance.com PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING GET MOVING WITH TRUE PILATES Now that summer is well under way, it's time to put those New Year resolutions into practise.

Starting with giving yourself the gift of wellbeing, strength and achievement. It doesn’t matter what your age or fitness level, you have the opportunity to be trained in a one-on -one lesson customised to your needs, in a private, relaxed atmosphere.

True Pilates is a boutique pilates studio, teaching the authentic pilates method as handed down from Joseph Pilates and his protégé Romana Kysanowska. Through Romana’s dedication and integrity, the method has remained true to Joseph’s belief that balance and harmony lead to continued good health.

Pilates is a series of exercises designed to enhance both physical and mental wellbeing.

The end result is to lengthen and strengthen the muscles, to sculpt and support the body.

The True Pilates studio carries a full range of imported Gratz equipment, as used by Joseph Pilates and Romana. Helen Leahy, the owner, believes that whether your wearing the latest workout gear or your comfy track pants, enjoyment is the key.

Special Offer: True Pilates Starter Pack for Beginners.

5 private one-on-one sessions. (55 minutes each) Normal Price $425.00 - NOW ONLY $325.00

Call now to book: 09 376 7203

True Pilates provides a change room with shower facilities, as well as socks and towels for your convenience.

At the end of each session you will walk away with a sense of balance, good posture and confidence that will carry you throughout your day. “I really want my clients to feel relaxed when they walk in, ready to focus their mind and body. I feel a real sense of satisfaction when a client leaves our studio feeling energised, positive and even taller than when they first arrived,” says Helen. F PN Ring Helen now for more information or to book your appointment.

T: 376 7203, M:021 0277 5198, E:helen@truepilatesnz.co.nz

The Accent Is On YOU! Cosmetic Dentistry, Hygienist, Family Dentistry, 1- Hour Crowns.

“Dr Matt and his team is what I would like to call the A Team... really impressed with how fast and effective they work together to get it done. I trust them so much...” – Louis

BOOK ONLINE

Visit: bit.ly/bookapptonline

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CLARE CALDWELL: THE ART OF LIVING Have you ever wondered how the Sherpas who toil up and down the world’s highest mountain manage to work and survive in conditions most of us would die in?

One of the highest altitude regions on this earth is the Tibetan Plateau, much of which exceeds 4000 metres above sea level. Because the air is thinner at high altitudes, there is less oxygen available to breathe - 40% less in the case of the Tibetan Plateau.

already present (relatives of the Sherpas), who they believe already contained the beneficial EGLN1 and EPAS1 gene versions mentioned earlier.

“Acquiring these gene versions helped the newcomers to survive.”

Low oxygen levels can lead to complications in humans and even death, eg, mountain sickness and, in pregnancy and childbirth, a condition called preclampsia.

Oxygen is vital for our brains to function normally and thus the rest of our body. People from lower altitudes who have to spend extended amounts of time at a higher altitude have been found to partially adjust to this lack of oxygen by their bodies making more red blood cells, thus capturing more oxygen.

But how have Tibetan people whose ancestors have lived on the plateau for at least 30,000 years adapted to being in this low-oxygen environment all the time?

It seems there are a number of factors. One of the reasons is found in two particular versions of the genes EGLN1 and EPAS1. All Tibetans have these genes, both of which are involved in sensing and adjusting to oxygen levels.

In a paper, www.nature.com/articles/ncomms4281 by Anna Di Rienzo (geneticist), Cynthia Beall (anthropologist), and colleagues published in 2014, they postulated that “Tibetans can trace their ancestry to two previously distinct populations, related to modern Han Chinese and Sherpa.”

They then pieced together a sequence of events. By examining the genomes (genetic material present in a cell) of all three living populations - Tibetan, Han Chinese and Sherpa - they discovered people from the lowlands related to the modern Han Chinese, had migrated to higher altitudes where they mixed with those

But here is where it gets interesting. How did the relatives of the Sherpa come to acquire the beneficial versions of their genes in the first place?

It seems there was an intervention of another species – the Denisovans, a long extinct cousin of the Neanderthals. The version of the EPAS1 gene associated with high altitude was found in the DNA of the fossilised remains of a Denisovan in a cave in Siberia in 2010. Population geneticist Rasmus Nielson and colleagues deduced from this that the EPAS1 variant made its way into the human gene pool “following a tryst between a modern human and a Denisovan - members of two different species that nonetheless conceived a child who survived and left descendents, some of whom became modern Tibetans.” Amazing!

The benefits of mixing genes from differing sources has been a huge part of our human evolution and survival for millennia.

I can’t help wondering: what genetic infusion will it take for us to survive the next few millennia and where might it come from?

(CLARE CALDWELL) F PN Clare (Claudie) Caldwell is a creative arts therapist who runs a small private practice from home. She currently runs the voluntary art and art as therapy programme at Auckland City Mission. She is also a freelance artist.

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

HUNGRY & FEELING THIRSTY? We are spoilt for choice!

THERE ARE NOW 254 PLACES IN THE WESTERN BAYS, WHERE YOU CAN EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY. They are all listed in the Ponsonby Little Black Book... ponsonbynews.co.nz/ponsonby-little-black-book

62 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

Urban Ashram’s Nikki Ralston Last year I was lucky enough to take some time out in Queenstown over Queen’s Birthday Weekend, attending a very special yoga retreat at The Sherwood Hotel.

Nourishing and healing, it was headed by Auckland yoga rockstar and all-round inspiring human being, Nikki Ralston.

The founder of Urban Ashram yoga studio on Brown Street, Nikki was the person responsible for truly ‘turning me on’ to yoga, after many attempts and, quite often, failures. To say that meeting Nikki was like a bolt of kindness and understanding from out of the blue would be putting it mildly - she and her self-developed Ralston Method of yoga and overall wellness have the possibility to be true life changers.

"I think of myself as a yoga educator, empowering people who come to me with tools and awareness that last a lifetime," she says, and her Brown Street studio has become so much more than just a place to practise yoga. It’s a little community of its own, a safe space for devoting time to yourself with a fun and caring vibe.

Towards the end of last year Nikki opened a second studio in the North Shore suburb of Browns Bay, which she says has a completely different feel to Ponsonby but is evolving in its own right. “My Brown Street studio has such an established community now,” she says with a smile, “and the students that come there are really special to me.

They are people from all walks of life but the one commonality that they have is that they really care about the whole practice of yoga.

They appreciate the mind benefits as much as the body benefits, which is what I believe is just so important.”

She shares her time between both studios, and has also recruited some new faces from amongst the newly minted, supremely talented students who took part in her inaugural 250-hour teacher training course last year. “They all have different areas of interest but I trust them implicitly,” says the proud team leader. “I know their classes are going to be incredibly well sequenced and people will love them, and I also have Amber from the Ponsonby studio teaching at both locations, too.”

Having a great team in place allows Nikki to travel with her work as well, including to Queenstown again this Queen’s Birthday. She will be working there with local yogi Claire Stewart as her right-hand woman, and the venue will once again be the magical Sherwood. Trips to Brisbane and around the country to teach are also in the diary, and she will be holding some special events and workshops in Auckland at both of her studios. “The Browns Bay studio is literally minutes from the beach,” she tells me, “so it lends itself to all kinds of special events and, hopefully, day-long retreats. Ponsonby has its own urban vibe, and I’m releasing details of specialty workshops there all the time.”

always came naturally to my body became so much harder. I gained a much deeper understanding of what I needed to do to feel strong again and wanted to share that knowledge with others.”

Nikki is passionate about nurturing the next generation of yoga teachers in New Zealand, with another Ralston Method 250 hour Yoga Alliance certified teacher training programme kicking off in May. Her students immerse themselves not only in the anatomical side of yoga but the philosophy and the heart of the practice as well - elements that she feels have been missing in many of the programmes currently on offer. “It’s so important that students know as much as they can about the intricacies of the bodies they will be teaching, as well as the variations out there and the limitations that people may have,” explains the passionate yogi. “They also need to recognise the more profound effects that practising asanas can have on the mind, and share that knowledge accordingly.

“I’m super passionate about raising the bar of yoga teachers in New Zealand, and there is so much to learn and understand all the time. It used to bother me that not enough was being in this country in terms of well-rounded learning, but I believe that you can’t complain about something unless you’re committed to providing a solution.

“This is my solution.”

PN www.urbanashram.co.nz (HELENE RAVLICH) F

She has also introduced a Saturday afternoon community koha class happening at 4:30pm in Ponsonby, with all benefits going to Women’s Refuge. A well-balanced class, it is taught by a rotating roster of the studio’s fabulous teachers, and is a great way to experience different styles of yoga and give back to a great cause.

Nikki started her first business at age 24, doing corporate massage back when the concept of wellness in the workplace was still relatively new. Around this time - after a few years dabbling in yoga on and off - she discovered Iyengar yoga, which at first was a great way to stretch out her sport-honed body. “I straight away thought ‘ooh I really like this!’” she told me many years ago, “so I started going more and more and had a feeling that one day I’d like to teach it.”

After her daughter Ahlianah turned two, she started training to be a yoga teacher in her own right. “I had a difficult birth and really appreciated the difference yoga could make to my body afterwards,” she told me of her own yoga journey, “especially as things that had The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING Stephen Marr’s Amanda Preston on colour and education A key part of the Stephen Marr family for almost 10 years, Ponsonby salon senior stylist Amanda Preston is a font of knowledge when it comes to all things colour.

Working as a key trainer across both Stephen Marr salons, she can also be found on the floor at the Ponsonby salon where she never fails to light up the room. A mum of two and recently returned from several years based in Queenstown, she is passionate about her work and the brands that she aligns herself with, as well as being the best educator she can be.

Once a week Amanda gets on the floor to train the Stephen Marr staff for up to five hours at a time, but says that conversations go on throughout the week as she imparts her knowledge of great colour results to staff both freshly minted and members of the senior team.

She says that key to her approach as an educator is the belief that “every person learns differently, and knowing that is such an important thing. If someone doesn’t understand what you are saying then repeating it over and over is not going to change that, you have to work out what works for that person and then things will start to become clear.”

Key to her teachings of late has been the freehand colour technique so loved by Stephen Marr clients, which gives an easy, lived in feel to hair for an effortless, naturally beautiful look. “Freehand takes a really global look at the hair,” says Amanda, “it is super smooth and blended and really looks at each client’s style as a whole picture.” She says that although it’s a natural look, “you can push it, to create all kinds of effects within the hair. It’s a truly bespoke approach to colour – no two clients are the same.”

The product line for colour used across both Stephen Marr salons is Original & Mineral. The Australian-founded, globally respected name created CØR.colour, which took their original ammonia-free colour offering and dialled things up. Way up.

Designed for salons “dedicated to giving their clients and stylists the cleanest, healthiest colour experience,” it is gluten and soy free so more people can safely experience a hair colour session without the itching and tingling, and has no animalderived ingredients.

Free of PPD and Resorcinol, CØR.colour is kind on people and also on the drains that its excess is washed down, which is a win-win for us - and the planet. Amanda is a passionate fan of the brand, and will be travelling to New York to train with O&M’s colour educators there.

The salon also offers O+M’s CØR.restore, a restorative treatment for all salon colour services. In years past, we were led to believe that it’s impossible to condition and nourish the hair during a chemical process. That belief has changed.

CØR.restore is made up of two parts, the first being a liquid to be used during any chemical process to protect and nourish the hair.

The second component is a balm, a restorative cream designed to re-plump the keratin protein within the hair. When used together, these two assist the stylist with looking after the condition of hair during or after a service. From lightening, colouring to even as a stand-alone treatment, O&M CØR.restore can be used alongside any type of service.

Unlike other hair treatments, the chemistry of CØR.restore does not interfere with lighteners, pigments, perms and activators, and clients and stylists alike are obsessed. “It’s the ultimate, next level re-bonder,” says Stephen Marr. “We are looking at integrating it into every chemical we do.” (HELENE RAVLICH) F PN www.stephenmarr.co.nz

64 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

---BE BOLD!

@stephenmarr

stephenmarr.co.nz

PLAY>

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING @ ECOSTORE 1. SKIN Replenishing Night Cream 50mL RRP $19.99 Promotional value $14.99 Save 25% between 18 and 31 March 2019.

A soothing night cream combining New Zealand seaweed, grapeseed extract, and harakeke to stimulate collagen production. This unique blend enhances skin elasticity and hydration for a radiant complexion while you sleep. For all skin types.

2. SKIN Light Moisturiser 50mL RRP $19.99 Promotional Value $14.99 Save 25% between 18 and 31 March 2019.

The combination of New Zealand seaweed and grape seed extract, enhanced with harakeke, forms a unique barrier on the skin to seal in essential nutrients. This unique blend helps to improve skin elasticity and balance your complexion. For combination to oily skin.

3. SKIN Purifying Cleanser 140mL RRP $19.99 Promotional value $14.99 Save 25% between 18 and 31 March 2019.

A unique blend to cleanse, purify and brighten your skin. For combination to oily skin.

4. SKIN by ecostore range available from ecostore Freemans Bay shop. Save 25% between 18 and 31 March 2019.

With New Zealand marine extract that keeps your skin hydrated and smooth, antioxidant and vitamin-rich grapeseed extract, and omega -packed blackcurrant oil, this is a skincare range with the power of nature and the backing of science. Dermatologically tested, these products have your skin-type covered. And what’s in it is just as important as what we leave out. Our range is free from anything that’s not kind to your skin, and will always be cruelty free.

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

Robbie Bell Our New Stylist 453 Richmond Rd, 09 360 1954

www.amicaboutique.co.nz

Because we all deserve freedom SAFE helping animals out Help us fight cages

66 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

safe.org.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

JOHN APPLETON: ON HEALTH

Antioxidants - why we should take them In 2005 I attended the International Coenzyme Q10 Conference in Los Angeles. For me this was my first big lesson in biochemistry and listening to many scientists from 30 countries was somewhat overwhelming.

It was a lot to take in. One scientist who seemed to have a mind like a razor impressed me immensely. It was Lester Packer PhD (Berkeley University) who is regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on antioxidants. Dr Packer kindly sent me a signed copy of his book ‘The Antioxidant Miracle’.

Today, as ‘medicine’ struggles to answer the questions about chronic illness and aging, clinicians continue to overlook the potential of antioxidants and in many cases flatly refuse to acknowledge that they have any role to play in our health. I find this incredible and, as I see it, this intransigence is putting a massive burden on a health system which is almost entirely focused on drugs. Apart from the cost in dollars there is surely a significant cost in lives.

In June 1992, Dr Packer met with 17 of the world’s leading scientists at the village of Saas Fee in Switzerland. Dr Packer says “at the Saas Fee meeting, we studied the overwhelming body of evidence that shows that if used strategically, antioxidants can help maintain health and vigour well into our seventh, eighth and ninth decades, and perhaps even longer.”

Eager to generate greater scientific and public interest in the field of antioxidants, Dr Packer and seven of the conference participants from Russia, US, Germany, UK and Italy composed and affixed their signatures to a document they called the 'Saas Fee Declaration'. The essence of the declaration is that the scientific evidence that antioxidants play a pivotal role in maintaining health and preventing disease is now overwhelming and incontrovertible, and that scientists, health care professionals and governments have a duty to inform the public about this. After the meeting, the ‘Saas Fee Declaration’ was circulated to colleagues around the world and it has since been signed by hundreds from the international scientific community.

In the present-day environment, the human body has to suffer the onslaught of more and more free radicals due to pollutants in air, the water and the food that we eat. Although our life expectancy is higher than that of our forefathers, very often today, the quality of life drastically diminishes in our waning years. We do not really live longer, in the true sense of the word - in many cases we only vegetate longer. The aim should be as the ancient Greeks used to say "to die as young as possible as old as possible."

A free radical is a molecule with an unpaired electron, seeking to strip an electron from another molecule, and thus it has the capacity to damage vital compounds such as lipids and proteins. An antioxidant is basically an electron donor: it can quickly 'disarm' a free radical by easily giving up one of its electrons. Without antioxidant ‘protection’ there is oxidation. Rust is an example of oxidation on metal and when an apple goes brown after it is peeled this is also due to oxidation. Oxidation leads to aging. It’s very interesting to note that most of the symptoms of chronic illness are related to free radical damage which can only be addressed with antioxidants.

Some will continue to claim that we can obtain all the nutrients and antioxidants from our food, but it’s becoming increasingly obvious that because our highly processed diets are devoid of antioxidant rich foods and the highly chemicalised and toxic world we live in, our need for antioxidant protection is ever increasing.

A cat and a dog make 3500 mgs of vitamin C every day and a goat makes 13,000 mgs.

Under stress they can make many times more. We make no vitamin C. As I see it, humans will continue to be plagued with chronic illness until we embrace the need to reduce PN oxidative stress with appropriate antioxidants. (JOHN APPLETON) F APPLETON ASSOCIATES, T: 09 489 9362, appletonassoc@xtra.co.nz, www.johnappleton.co.nz

ENROL YOUR CHILD NOW FOR A FREE DENTAL CHECK UP

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WWW.KEITHNELSON.CO.NZ

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MEET THE TEACHER Peter Kerr is a history teacher at Western Springs College Nga Puna o Waiorea and is also a Kahui Ako Across School Teacher.

What is a Kahui Ako Across School Teacher?

Kahui Ako o Te Waitemata is a community of schools that includes 12 primary, intermediate and secondary schools in our area. My role is to help build connections across these schools and to facilitate collaboration towards shared goals, so that we can ensure that every child in our community experiences success throughout their schooling.

What do you enjoy about the role?

I love being able to visit different schools, meet a wide range of teachers and learn from the inspiring teaching practice that I witness. As a secondary teacher, there is so much to be learnt from our primary colleagues about how students learn, and how to make learning engaging and relevant.

And you also teach history?

Yes, the great thing about the role is that it allows me to still remain in the classroom for a large portion of the week.

What aspects of history do you teach?

I think it’s particularly important to teach New Zealand history. We have such a rich history that has often been under-taught and many New Zealanders remain unaware of our past. Understanding our history, warts-and-all, allows us to understand who we are, where we have come from, and where we are going as a society.

What do you do where you’re not working?

I love to spend time with my family. We have an energetic two-year-old and another little one on the way. That keeps me pretty busy, but when I have a spare moment I love to read, potter in the garden or get out for swim, surf or bike ride.

What sort of riding do you do?

I’m not a serious cyclist, but I do like to ride to and from work whenever possible, as well as the odd ride for fun and fitness.

What do you enjoy about cycling?

It’s the best way to start the day. It’s also nice to know you’re getting a bit of exercise, avoiding traffic and doing a little bit for the environment. We’ve also got a number of us at the college who ride to work and it’s great having that encouragement. We are currently taking part in the AT ‘love to ride’ February Auckland Bike Challenge and sitting in 2nd place when I last checked.

Do you do anything else that has an environmental focus?

I have a small veggie garden and try to water it as much as possible with rainwater. And I also try to think consciously about what I buy. It seems to me the easiest and most effective thing we can do to reduce our impact on the environment is simply to buy less not to mention the positive effects that this has on our personal finances and wellbeing!

WORLD CLASS UNIVERSITY OFFERS FOR KRISTIN GRADUATES As many 2018 Kristin School graduates begin to settle excitedly into university environments across New Zealand and Australia, many others keen to study abroad at top international universities are starting to get their offers of acceptance.

Many of these are from institutions ranked in the Times Higher Education (THE) World’s Top 50.

Jake Lyons who recently returned from the United Kingdom following his Cambridge interview has been offered a place to read Mathematics at St John’s College, University of Cambridge. Jake is an exceptional mathematician, we congratulate him on this outstanding achievement and wish him the best of luck with the final phase of his application which is the STEP examination.

Mathis Bitton is delighted to be putting plans into action to attend Yale University later this year. He is delighted to have this opportunity to explore his passion for philosophy, economics and politics further. Headed to the USA with him is Jayden Jiao who will be settling into a new life in New York city at NYU. Meanwhile Macsen Sisam has already begun his American journey as a student athlete, starting his undergraduate programme at the prestigious Vanderbilt University with a scholarship for tennis.

Kane Wang who achieved the perfect score of 45/45 in the IB Diploma Programme is celebrating an offer to read economics and mathematics with a full financial scholarship at HKUST. This Hong Kongbased university specialises in his chosen field and is currently ranked 23rd THE World Rankings for Engineering. Kane also holds offers in the United Kingdom for UCL and Warwick Universities.

Jake Lyons

Kane Wang

London continues to be a popular destination for Kristin students with a further eight students holding offers from University College London (THE World Ranking #14) and an additional eight at Imperial College London (THE World Ranking #9).

A further six offers have just come in from Kings College London (THE World Ranking #38).

It will be a few weeks until the remainder of Kristin School’s international university offers are known. Many students are currently completing the interview stage with several Ivy League institutions. These world-class acceptances are a testament to the hard work and talent of Kristin students as well as the high calibre of tertiary futures support, PN pastoral care and quality teaching at Kristin School. F KRISTIN SCHOOL, 360 Albany Highway, Albany, T: 09 415 9566, www.kristin.school.nz

Macsen Sisam - Herne Bay local

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FUTURE GENERATION

THE ALL-GIRL ADVANTAGE St Cuthbert’s believes all-girl schools are more relevant today than ever before, which is why it chooses to remain one of the few independent, single-sex secondary schools in New Zealand.

Principal of St Cuthbert’s, Justine Mahon, has long been a champion of the benefits of an all-girls education. “St Cuthbert’s gives young women the absolute freedom to be who they are, without feeling as though they have to acquiesce to traditional gender roles or stereotyped academic pathways. Throughout their time with us, our girls are open to exploring leadership roles that they may not necessarily undertake in a co-ed environment. in a supportive, single-sex environment enables St Cuthbert’s girls to prepare for positions of responsibility in the future.”

“We call this the all-girl advantage.

“Not only do St Cuthbert’s girls learn the value of sisterhood, they see female leadership in action on a daily basis. Younger girls watch older girls leading, just as senior girls see inspirational women leading. The message every day is clear: your aspirations are not limited by your gender.”

Put simply, says Mahon, the social, academic, interpersonal and leadership skills that our girls acquire in an all-girls’ environment are unparalleled. “Being able to explore and refine their leadership skills

Having staff who understand how best to enable girls to thrive and to achieve their personal best underpins the St Cuthbert’s education.

“I believe that it’s really important to instill in girls from a young age that their opinions matter. We support every girl to develop the confidence to use her voice, and to believe that she can make a difference in the world,” says Justine Mahon. F PN To find out more about St Cuthbert’s, visit our Open Day on Saturday 23 March: www.stcuthberts.school.nz/joining-us/open-day/

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

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OUT + ABOUT

Bhios

Eve from the Dust Palace

Jojo Havea from Cafe One 2 One

Cristina Da Silva and Madaleine Ferreia

Hiro

Gabriella C and her dog Teddy

Team Green from The Amazing Race

Sho and Yukari from the Gyoza Bar

photography: Connor Crawford

Backchat

PONSONBY ROAD FESTIVAL - SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY

FREEMANS BAY SCHOOL REBUILD CELEBRATION - KIA WHAKANUIA On Saturday 9 March, a celebration will be held at Freemans Bay School to mark the completion of the school rebuild, a project that has taken over three years, more than $18m dollars and the energy and commitment of many people.

The fair-style community event will be held on the school grounds, 95 Wellington Street, from 11am until 3pm. Live music, fun activities and delicious food as well as classroom tours will mark this special occasion.

Construction was completed in 2018 and has put Freemans Bay School at the forefront of modern learning. The redevelopment has seen the school almost entirely rebuilt and Freemans Bay School principal, Sandra Jenkins, says she worked closely with the Freemans Bay School Board of Trustees and Ministry of Education project team to deliver a design that is very innovative. “We researched future focused school design, including a study tour of cutting-edge schools in Denmark, Sweden, the UK, Spain and China. Modern business practice and workplace interaction have also been a strong influence in the new design,” Jenkins says.

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Teaching staff have been well supported in up-skilling to ensure teaching methods align with the Innovative Learning Environment.

“We are extremely proud of our new school and our celebration on 9 March provides us with the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and thank all those involved. From fundraising by the school community and stewardship from successive boards to the collaboration between the Ministry of Education, architects RTA Studio and construction company Watts and Hughes. We also thank the students and school staff for their tolerance and patience.

“We are now enjoying our wonderful new facilities which supports our future focused PN learning and invite the community to celebrate with us” added Jenkins. F PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PONSONBYPROFESSIONALS: PROFESSIONALS: LOGAN LOGANGRANGER GRANGER

Amazon tax Late last year the Government announced the details to the change of the GST treatment of low-value imported goods from 1 October 2019.

The media has labelled it 'Amazon tax' because overseas internet-based retailers, such as Amazon, are the target of the rule change.

Currently, no GST is imposed on goods imported into New Zealand with a value of $400 or less, although in some cases they may attract import duties and a customs charges.

Under the proposed changes, offshore retailers, whose New Zealand consumer sales exceed $60,000, would need to collect and return GST in New Zealand on goods valued at $1000 or below that they supply to customers in New Zealand. In situations where an offshore supplier sells their goods through a marketplace, the marketplace would be required to register and return the GST on the goods instead of the supplier. This is similar to the requirements, imposed in 2016, of digital service companies like Netflix and Spotify who are GST registered and required to collect GST. Your everyday online shopper who purchases low-value products like clothes, for under $400, will lose out as these products will likely end up costing slightly more. However, you would pay less for goods valued between $400 and $1000 because tariffs and cost recovery charges for imported consignments between $400 and $1000 will be removed.

There will also be greater transparency for consumers who would less often be surprised and inconvenienced by having to pay additional GST, tariffs and cost recovery charges once their purchases reach the border. What they pay online would be the actual price.

Imported consignments over $1000 will still have tariffs and cost recovery charges collected on them at the border. In determining whether or not an imported consignment is above or below the $1000 threshold, customs will calculate the 'customs value' of the consignment. The customs value is generally the transaction value of the goods with deductions made for the costs of transportation, insurance and other charges and expenses related to the handling and transportation of the goods from the time they have left the country of export.

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Offshore supplies to GST-registered New Zealand businesses are excluded from the proposed rules. However, offshore suppliers would be able to choose to zero-rate their supplies of low-value goods to GST-registered businesses (that is, charge GST at the rate of zero percent). This would allow offshore suppliers to claim a deduction for any New Zealand GST they incur on their inputs into making supplies of low-value goods to GST-registered businesses.

Applying the proposed rules to supplies made to GST-registered businesses could create a revenue risk for the Government. If offshore suppliers charged GST to a GSTregistered business but did not return it to Inland Revenue, the Government could lose money as GST-registered businesses are entitled to claim back from Inland Revenue the GST they have paid on their purchases.

The Australian Government, who introduced GST collection on low-value goods in July 2018, has successfully encouraged 700 overseas suppliers and retailers to register for GST in the country. However, since New Zealand is a smaller market than Australia there is always a risk that a marketplace may decide to withdraw from New Zealand. To date none of them have said they would withdraw from the New Zealand market.

Government figures estimate the incoming legislation will be able to collect $66 million in revenue in 2019/20, $100 million in 2020/21 and $112 million in 2021/22. You may want to get your Christmas shopping done early this year, before 1 October 2019.

PN (LOGAN GRANGER) F Disclaimer - While all care has been take, Johnston Associates Chartered Accountants Ltd and its staff accept no liability for the content of this article; always see your professional advisor before taking any action that you are unsure about.

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

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

Q:

My partner and I have a trust together that owns our house. We are getting older and I’m worried about what would happen if one of us had to go into care.

I wouldn’t want to live in the property by myself as could not manage the upkeep.

How easy or difficult would it be to sell the property and buy a smaller one?

A:

Thanks for your question, there are a number of things to consider and check.

Trusts usually have general powers to buy and sell (or sell and buy) property.

You should check the trust deed, any memo of wishes or other documents that might restrict the discretion of the trustees. In some circumstances there can be agreements in Property Sharing Agreements or Relationship Property Agreements that restrict what the trust can do.

The next issue is a more practical one. For the trust to sell the property the trustees would need to sign the Authority and Instruction form to effect the sale of the property.

If you or your partner had lost capacity then you would need to be able to remove that person as a trustee of the trust.

Usually you and your partner would be trustees of the trust. I would usually expect and recommend that you also have an independent professional trustee. This means that the title of the property would record you, your partner and the independent trustee as the registered owners on the title to the property.

You need to check what your trust deed says about the removal and appointment of trustees. You should consider setting up powers of attorney so that once a party is removed as a trustee, their attorney could sign to remove them from the title.

If you have not made these arrangements then you can apply to the High Court in respect of the trust or to the Family Court to have someone appointed as a Property Manager. But, going to court would be more expensive, difficult and likely to cause delay.

Far better to get these things organised ahead of time. Let me know if you need any assistance in reviewing your arrangements and trust documents. (MICHAEL HEMPHILL)

Disclaimer - This article is for general information purposes only. If you have a legal problem you should seek advice from a lawyer. Metro Law does not accept any liability other than to its clients and then only when advice is sought on specific matters.

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

LETTERS + EMAILS The state of the Western Springs lakeside park Have you been to the lake recently? It's disgusting! I went for a walk the other evening and it stank so much that I wasn't the only one with my hand over my nose trying not to retch. The sludge at the edge of the lake is thick and green. It's going to make the birds sick.

The 'ongoing' maintenance of the park and the lake hasn't been 'ongoing' since Australian firm Ventia took control of our parks and the combined Parks Department into 'Community Facilities' with all the community buildings.

The drinking fountains are broken, the toilets have been closed and replaced by portaloos, the storm damage from April's Category 2 storm hasn't been removed, and the lake is so filthy it smells. The lake is man-made and relies on a series of weirs to flush it regularly. These weirs are broken and repair timing is unknown. These birds are going to get botulism and so will the zoo animals who also rely on this water.

This is a health and safety emergency, far beyond the 'crying wolf' by council over the pines trees on the hill above.

Remember, the source water is a natural spring that used to be the town water supply so there's no need for this filth... and WLB, stop blaming it on the birds and the bread in the lake, and do your job by getting Ventia to do its job.

Gael Baldock, Westmere

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PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

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

ANNUAL APPEAL The story of German Shepherds rescued from an abhorrent puppy mill is just one of the cases on the year’s SPCA list of shame.

The annual list reveals details of 15 of the most shameful animal abuse cases across New Zealand this year, in anticipation of SPCA’s biggest nationwide fundraising drive, from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 March.

This year’s ambassadors, Daisy and Lola, two poodle-cross dogs, were rescued by an SPCA Inspector after being found in a garage. Their coats were so matted they did not even look like dogs anymore. SPCA gave them dental surgery, cleaned their ears, treated infections and administered pain relief. They have now been adopted together into their loving forever home and are thriving in their golden years.

SPCA helps protect 41,000 animals every year, and relies entirely on the generosity of the community to do their critical work saving the lives of animals. SPCA is the only New Zealand charity entrusted to uphold animal welfare law and has the power to prosecute those who offend against animals.

Sage “The List of Shame will shock people. It’s very clear that with such cruelty going on, our work needs to continue - to protect those who cannot speak for themselves. The SPCA Annual Appeal aims to raise much-needed funds, which will be used to care for abused animals and educating people to help prevent cruelty,” says the SPCA. SPCA Ambassador Karen Walker is throwing her support behind the cause too. She has pledged to match every dollar that is collected outside her KW stores between 12 noon -2pm on Saturday 9 March, including her shop on Ponsonby Road. F PN To donate to SPCA’s Annual Appeal, visit here: www.spca.nz/AnnualAppeal2019

Esta

You can transform lives today.

Give rescue animals a second chance at life Donate now at spca.nz/AnnualAppeal2019

Olle & Clover

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PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

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PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

PFIZER: CANNABIS NOT DANGEROUS, EVEN IN 'IMMENSE DOSES' George Orwell said that “Journalism is printing what someone does not want printed: everything else is public relations.”

Good journalists know that if you want the truth, you have to follow the money.

For example, the Ministry of Health costs us $16.9 billion (and growing) every year; yet all their reports on cannabis say “no financial implications”, which is wrong. Because cannabis is one of the cheapest, safest and most useful medicines in human history, with 8000 plus years of recorded use in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Used correctly, it supports our body's largest receptor system (the cannabinoid system), which is also the largest, single, target class for pharmaceutical drug action. This plant has major financial implications for our health sector.

So when the media here tells us to save our kids and support prohibition, I wonder what’s going on. Fewer kids use cannabis in regulated markets, because: 1. They cannot buy it anymore.

THE STRENGTH OF EXPERIENCE Your choice of real estate agent in today’s market is critical to the success of your property sale.

Often we hear ‘trust’ in the agent a seller chooses to represent them will be at the forefront of their decision making as will the agent’s brand, experience selling similar homes in the area and their marketing reach.

A coach and mentor of mine recently said, “Overnight success takes 10 years.” When reflecting on my involvement in selling homes throughout Greater Ponsonby, I have noticed people really value the strength of experience and a proven track record of success in selling similar homes when they consider bringing their property into the market.

Now more than ever, it is extremely important to place the care of your home into expert hands to ensure you maximise your sale value. It is always an honour to be invited to meet with clients in their homes and provide advice which is something I do not take lightly.

My advice to those considering selling their home now or in the future would be to firstly, engage with an agent you trust. Engage with an agent who is very active in the market, having many conversations with buyers and sellers. The market knowledge and experience they acquire will benefit you through your property sale and journey.

A couple recently engaged me to market and sell their Ponsonby home. Of particular interest was hearing their perspective on the process they went through in deciding who to select as the most suitable agent to represent them. They invited three salespeople from three different real estate brands who specialise in the area.

When invited into their home, their request to each agent was to have a recommended sales method, a suitable marketing programme and an assessment of the likely sale price in the current market presented to them.

While the presentation of this assessment varied significantly between each salesperson, their decision ultimately came down to three aspects; the professional approach to the proposal to market the home, their insight into the local market and a recent sale concluded of comparability to their property in their neighbourhood.

Experience counts and I always welcome the opportunity to assist clients with advice, sometimes long before they bring their property into the market. If you would like to have a discussion about your property anytime, I would be delighted to hear from you.

M: 021 544 555, E: blair.haddow@bayleys.co.nz

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2. Old people use it for health (in the rectum is best) and social reasons.

3. Which makes it uncool. (Ugh, nana and poppa use that). Eg, very few Dutch kids use cannabis compared to ours.

But if a regulated market reduces youth use, why is the media spreading fear?

History may give a clue. In the 1930s, a national US media campaign rebranded an important utility crop (food, fibre and medicine) as a dangerous drug called ‘marihuana’, or ‘reefer’. (“Marihuana, assassin of youth” “reefer crazed mexicans”). This was Reefer Madness.

An ill-informed and prejudiced nation became terrified by marijuana, even as they safely consumed three million doses of it a year, on their doctors' orders, for a wide variety of aches, pains and conditions.

Cannabis is our most useful medicine and, in the west, it was first standardised into reliable scientific doses by the largest and oldest drug company in the US. Unusually for any medicine, it was recommended as primary treatment for many diverse conditions including migraines, inflammation, neuralgia and epilepsy.

Today's prescription medicines appear less effective (that’s why half of all prescription opioid users, when able to, switch entirely to cannabis products. The other half reduce their opioid use) and much more dangerous. Prescription medicines are our third largest killer after heart disease and cancer.

Reefer Madness saw cannabis prohibited by the World Health Organisation in 1961, because it had “no therapeutic value, and a high risk of abuse”, (even though our bodies make and need cannabinoids to work). But the 1.5 billion people of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh refused to accept this.

So why did the WHO favour ‘reefer madness’ over science, history and 1.5b people?

A recently leaked WHO report shows that patented cannabis medicines, (“plants in a bottle”) are to be re-scheduled into an “over the counter like paracetamol” category.

The plant itself will move to the “worlds most dangerous drug” category.

It seems that the health industry wants cannabis medicine privatised, not legalised.

Because it's a disruptor product and could eat 40% of their 1.1 trillion dollar lunch.

Even in Ponsonby, that's a long lunch. (TADHG STOPFORD) F PN Discover how to use cannabis correctly on 27 March at Garnet Station, at www.thehempfoundation.org.nz, or Auckland Medical School with Dr David Bearman 28 March; contact us for more details.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

REAL ESTATE BY DESIGN - FOR YOU After an exciting and diverse career as an entrepreneur in the hospitality industry, busy husband of Donna and father of four Andrew Clapham has a new challenge where people are at the core and being part of the local community counts.

Andrew Clapham is UP Real Estate’s latest addition to its Herne Bay team.

“I didn’t just choose real estate, I chose UP Real Estate and that was because of the people,” explains Andrew. UP has an incredible culture that only a family business filled with truly nice people can create.”

Andrew has known the UP team since they first opened an office in the same building as one of his central Auckland bars more than 15 years ago. Over the last decade he got to know the owners and team really well and is always impressed by the way they work and their innovative approach to the real estate market.

“Finding people and a business that are passionate and skilful is really important when you are going to change careers. I feel really fortunate to be part of a team as strong and successful as UP,” explains Andrew.

UP Real Estate's Andrew Clapham is a motorcycle enthusiast. “All bikes are good..

Ducati’s are just better”

UP has impressive results with homes they list having some of the highest sell rates in the industry. It is a boutique agency that tailors bespoke solutions to suit the specific needs of the homeowner. “If we list someone’s home you pretty much know it’s going to sell. It’s really important that people know that we’re here to make their vision and hopes of selling a property become a reality. It’s most people’s biggest asset,” says Andrew.

With years of working in and around Ponsonby, Andrew has first-hand insight into the local market as well as having a broad network of people and businesses to draw on.

“It’s all about having passion and doing the things you love doing,” says Andrew. F PN

Keen paddle boarder, you will find him most mornings on the water around Pt Chevalier at 6am UP REALTY 162 Jervois Rd, Herne Bay T. 021 467 878, www.uprealestate.co.nz

“I’ve moved up.”

Locals will recognise Andrew as the owner of Herne Bay Local on Jervois Rd. A neighbour for many years we are thrilled to add someone of his commercial acumen and fresh enthusiasm.

His passion for people shows.

“I’ve always wanted to scratch the real estate itch – and I wanted it to be with the up brand and inside the culture of the company I have long admired.”

In spite of reports of a flat property market, up’s year on year growth is impressive. It’s called R E A L E S TAT E | BY D E S I G N .

If you are thinking of selling, I’d love to explain the difference. uprealestate.co.nz

Andrew Clapham 021 467 878 andrew@uprealestate.co.nz

LICENSED AGENT REA 2008

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HOROSCOPES: MISS PEARL NECLIS WHAT YOUR STARS HOLD FOR MARCH

♓

♍ Virgo (the Virgin): 22 August - 23 September

♈ Aries (the Ram): 21 March - 20 April

♎ Libra (the Scales): 24 September - 23 October

Pisces (the Fish): 20 February - 20 March You have no idea what to say anymore as you have too many distractions bombarding you with ideas on how to conduct your life. You need the support of someone close who can help you filter out the white noise.

Something that you have been doing is about to come to fruition but there are a couple of things that still bother you. If you dig deep enough into your mind, you’ll find the gems that have been eluding you.

♉ Taurus (the Bull): 21 April - 21 May

Your private life and public life are set for a showdown this month. As the two collide you’ll begin to feel very exposed. The best thing to do is find a way of merging the two without exposing yourself.

You have been working on something that's been a personal project of yours for so long now that you might now need to get some advice from some of your friends. By sharing what you’ve been so secretive about for so long will give you a lot of credit.

You have this desire to be on your own this month and claim some of your independence back. You don’t always have to be second place if you put yourself first once in a while.

♏ Scorpio (the Scorpion): 24 October - 22 November

You have been avoiding people all your life and it’s about time you stopped looking over your shoulders and face any trouble that’s coming head on. Leave nothing uncovered as you need to be open and honest so you can move on.

♐

♊

Gemini (the Twins): 22 May - 21 June You seem to be flavour of the month and your diary has never been more full. And to top it off you can’t be more happy. Just don’t play truant. If you stick to your beliefs then everything will be okay.

Sagittarius (the Archer): 23 November - 22 December If there is trouble around you or you become aware of it, you can be sure it will interfere in some way in your life. There may be no way to avoid it and it will stop your ability to go about your daily routine. Try and ride the wave of emotion that will follow and eventually you’ll be back to a normal routine.

♋

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

♌

♒ Aquarius (the Water Carrier): 21 January - 19 February

Cancer (the Crab): 22 June - 22 July If you have issues in your professional life then it makes sense that at some point what ever is troubling you will spill over into your personal life. You might be able to keep some control over some things provided you don’t run away.

Leo (the Lion): 23 July - 21 August You are having lots of ideas and are having to think fast while on your feet this month.

However, not all are good ideas that you need to act on. Try and focus on what needs to be taken care of and get satisfaction out of completing that.

Your FIRST

CALL for a wide range of free,

up to date and confidential information about: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Consumer rights Budgeting Legal clinics Employment rights Justice of the Peace Health & welfare issues House & tenancy issues Unemployment problems Education & training Personal & family issues Immigration needs Local & general information Photocopying & faxing

You will unearth some information this month that will change the way you live your life.

The realisation rolls over you that things could change not just for you but for your whole family. You need to find a way to integrate what you learn in to your everyday life.

Be aware of what you say this month as whatever your feeling could spill out into words that cannot be taken back. Just keep one goal in focus at any one time and remain focused no matter what is thrown at you.

BECOME A FRIEND OF KELMARNA GARDENS FOR AS LITTLE AS $5 A MONTH

Your regular donation will help connect more school children with nature, empower people all over Auckland with sustainable living choices and develop and maintain a therapeutic garden.

Join now at: www.kelmarnagardens.nz/donate

Citizens Advice Bureau

0800 FOR CAB or 09 376 0392 510 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn www.cab.org.nz

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@ JI HOME 1. San Diego Single Seaters 2. Professor Armchair 3. Bedford Armchair 4. Antique Small Lantern 5. Square Baskets set of 2

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JI HOME, 36 Pollen Street, T: 09 930 6268, www.ji.net.nz

STUNNING NEW FURNITURE DESIGN STORE NOW OPEN IN PONSONBY

36 POLLEN STREET, PONSONBY The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Open: Tue-Fri 9am–5.30pm, Sat 9am–3.30pm or by appointment. Carparking available.

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MANAGEMINT Managemint is the property management division of Mint Real Estate, specialising in apartment management for both short- and long-term in the Ponsonby, Grey Lynn and Eden Terrace areas.

With an extensive project management background, Bill Taylor of Mint Real Estate brings an assortment of experience that makes him ideal for managing property. "Built into our services is a commitment to provide an uncompromising level of professionalism and attention to detail,” says Bill. "Being a boutique agency, things are a lot more personal.The clients know we have their interests at heart."

“Bill exceeds in meeting owners' expectations of a professional property management service. He sets consistently high standards and has a keen eye for detail. He has a proud record of prompt efficient service, to both owners and tenants. Bill has an impressive skill set that can be applied to any situation, whether it be problem solving, prompt and courteous attention to clients, consulting and supervision of tradesmen, or offering a flexible management style to ensure reliable, hassle free property management results. Highly recommended.” John Benfell - The Citizen Apartment.

“Bill has been an absolutely outstanding host. I did not have one issue to deal with, he took care of everything! He was very responsive, professional and relatable, not to mention he only received five star reviews. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to take on a host for their AirBnb.” Josh Warner - apartment owner. F PN E: bill@mintre.co.nz, www.apartmint.co.nz

Looking for Long & Short Term Rental Solutions?

Contact our Management Specialist.

SHORT TERM MANAGEMENT (AIRBNB)

• Create online listing including photography & copy • Manage all enquiries, bookings & guest communication • Meet and greet, key management & pickup • Full cleaning, linen & restocking essentials • Post booking inspection

LONG TERM MANAGEMENT

• Rent Appraisal • Tenant Selection & Contract • Rental Collection & Reporting • Property Inspections • Maintenance Management BILL TAYLOR Property Management Specialist

We would welcome the opportunity to manage your apartment for you.

Phone or email for a no obligation rental assessment.

80 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

M: 021 933 480 E: bill@mintre.co.nz W: www.apartmint.co.nz

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VINEGAR LANE: ELITE STATUS IN GREATER PONSONBY Built on the doorstep of Ponsonby Road, the Vinegar Lane development is a visionary approach to inner city living inspired by similar projects in Amsterdam.

Each building has to be bespoke designed which opens the door for creativity, diversity and a dynamic and impressive ensemble.

Rapidly gaining elite status, it is an eclectic mix of townhouses, terraced houses, small apartment buildings, boutique office buildings, hospitality and retail. It’s a ‘community’ on the rise with its own coffee shop, Pilates studio, specialty beer bottle shop, a new sandwich outlet and ‘BePure’ holistic health consultants for some healthy inspiration!

Vinegar Lane is quiet, safe and peaceful at night but with Ponsonby Road and Auckland’s most dynamic and vibrant suburb on the doorstep, the city’s best cafes, bars, restaurants and shopping are all within walking distance. F PN Call Nigel King on 021 055 2355, E: nigel@mintre.co.nz, www.apartmint.co.nz

VINEGAR LANE: ELITE STATUS IN ‘GREATER PONSONBY’ Y’ APT 1 & APT 3, 7 CRUMMER ROAD | GREY LYNN | AUCKLAND Asking Price: $910,000 & $960,000

OVER $75m OF SALES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS

Vinegar Lane has arrived on the scene in all its grandeur with 7 Crummer Road the latest addition.

#RCTVOGPVU CPF CTG VJG QPN[ QRVKQPU HQT UCNG CPF DQVJ QHHGT C 09 HCEKPI CURGEV CU YGNN CU ƃQQT VQ EGKNKPI glass sliding doors and windows ensuring sun, light and fresh air in abundance all year round. Additional features include an impressive stud height, views and access to the huge 550m2 private residents’ courtyard as well as close proximity to Ponsonby Road and the glitter and glitz of Auckland’s most dynamic suburb.

2GTHGEV FGUKIP NC[QWV CPF NQECVKQP HQT RTQHGUUKQPCNU ƂTUV VKOG DW[GTU KPXGUVQTU QT VJQUG UGGMKPI VJG ENCUUKE ‘Ponsonby’ bolthole. Both apartments come with car park options.

Contact me now for more information.

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NIGEL KING Licensed (REAA 2008)

Ponsonby’s Apartment Specialist

M: 021 055 2355 E: nigel@mintre.co.nz

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ALL ABOUT INVESTMENT PROPERTIES - LOWE PROPERTY SERVICES Tell us a little about your background.

I was born in Auckland and moved to Brisbane, Australia when I was 12. I always had a pull to come back home to New Zealand so after completing high school in Brisbane I went straight from school to working in property management in 2010 and starting my plan to be able to set myself up to get back home to start my own business.

Growing up my father had a large management rights business so I have been around real estate since I was 12.

What services do you provide and what are some typical costs?

We provide a customised property management service for each property, the only fee we have is 8.5%+GST management fee, letting fee (one week's rent + GST when a new tenant leases the property.)

And a maintenance fee of 7.5%+GST on the total invoiced amount. That is all the fees. We do not charge for routine inspections, we do not have a statement fee or an admin fee.

What are some of the best things to look for with an investment property?

The best thing you can look for in an investment property is location location location, close to public transport, close to shops, close to entertainment hubs. Put yourself in the mind of a tenant and ask yourself: would I live here?

Any suggestions for renters making their rental applications stand out?

Just have everything ready (photo id, proof of income, proof of current address).

Also remember first impressions count so be presentable. I have an article about that exact question on my website, www.lowepropertyservices.co.nz/2018/11/12/tenancyapplication-stand-out/

PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE

Anything else you’d like to tell our readers about?

There is a lot of excitement about the up-coming America's Cup, as there should be. It will be great for Auckland as a whole. However, don't put the blinkers on as a investment property owner and decide that you are only going to rent your property to an America's Cup team or supporters.

There is always a steady flow of corporate clients coming to Auckland every year and they still require housing. In most cases they can actually be longer-term tenants and pay the same rent as you will get from the America's Cup crew.

If you want a no obligation chat about your investment property or you are looking to buy an investment property and you want to know the best areas to buy for the best PN return, give me a call. F LOWE PROPERTY SERVICES, M: 021 081 74672, www.lowepropertyservices.co.nz

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Service. Integrity. Results

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Ross Thorby and travel agent Kim - off the Queen Victoria, Aggie Grey's, Apia, Samoa.

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BAKERS-BUILDS - QUEENSTOWN AND AUCKLAND CENTRAL After years of working in the fast-paced building market in Queenstown, David Baker’s commercial and residential construction company, Bakers-Builds, is putting down roots in Auckland.

“We run several successful teams in Queenstown and have become known for our quality of work and reliability,” says director David Baker. The company’s work in Queenstown spans commercial fit-outs, new builds and residential renovations.

When work with one of the company’s hotel clients brought David to Auckland several times, it was enough for him to know Auckland was where he wanted to live and grow his business.

“I love Queenstown, it is beautiful and vibrant but there is still a seasonal aspect to the communities and I feel that Auckland is where I want to base myself,” say David.

A keen tennis player, David worked as a tennis coach and club developer in Germany before returning to New Zealand to run a junior tennis programme in his hometown of Whanganui. “Tennis is something I really love and I am proud of the programme I was able to build up while at the Whanganui club. It’s something I am really looking forward to getting back into now I am in Auckland,” says David.

It’s his ability to work with people and help them achieve their best that David believes helps him develop and manage successful, productive construction teams. “I know how to recognise talent and how to make sure I am using the best people in the right way to create top building teams,” says David.

David Baker With several long-term commercial clients already in Auckland, David is looking to expand his work to include more high-end villa renovations and new builds in the Ponsonby area. I have some talented builders in my teams and their attention to detail and vast building knowledge make them perfect for villa renovations and the building of high-end designer homes. F PN BAKERS-BUILDS, T: 027 237348, www.bakersbuilds.co.nz

Servicing the length of New Zealand Queenstown / Auckland www.bakersbuildS.nz

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027 237 3486

bakers-builds@hotmail.com

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LOCAL NEWS UPDATE FROM GREY LYNN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Last month we outlined to you the challenges businesses in the Grey Lynn area are having with the introduction of the Residents Parking Zone.

We will continue on with that theme as the concerns, we believe, impact all businesses either located within an RPZ or about to be covered by an RPZ. Our first major plea to Auckland Transport is to please tell us what triggers RPZ considerations and how the area is determined. From our research and commentary back to us post our previous article, its unclear as to how, what and why the process of declaring an RPZ is determined. There’s a definite lack of transparency around why one street is in an RPZ and another excluded even though they may be in quite close proximity.

Our next concern is how does AT draw the boundaries. There’s a lack of clarity around this, yet setting the context for businesses is critical.

What we are finding from feedback, is that some businesses located within an RPZ are finding it much more friendly in terms of customers being able to park in reasonably close proximity during the day to the business but staff are being unable to find parking and some are leaving home upwards of half an hour earlier just to find a park within a 10 to 15 minute walk of the business.

What must be remembered in the RPZ consideration is the access or ease of ability to use public transport. For example was the RPZ now in place in parts of Grey Lynn considered in the context of and associated major implications of withdrawing public transport from Williamson Avenue?

We have also have some serious commentary back from businesses located in a commercial zone next to the RPZ. Commercial zone areas have parking restrictions imposed - either 30 or 60 minutes - but the major issue is that there is now no staff carparking in reasonable proximity to the business. Furthermore, because these businesses are located outside the RPZ, they cannot apply for coupon parking.

The ability for businesses to apply for coupon parking within the RPZ and pay the charge of course is extremely limited. We have never had an explanation for the limitation nor whether there are any other solutions possible to the problem. And this is because there is a lack of clear lines of communication between AT and the respective representative organisations. We accept that there must be changes when streets become congested but it is how that change is considered and then subsequently implemented that causes the greatest problems for our member businesses.

You cannot help but reflect on the absence of suitable context setting in many of the consultations that occur between local government agencies and organisations such as our own. It is frustrating, I am certain, for both parties to hear time and again that the community considered consultation perfunctory. Recently, I heard similar frustrations being expressed in respect of the proposed Parnell route redevelopment, aka a new cycleway for Parnell. The comment was we have submitted our views but there’s little hope they will be listened too. This is something we hear a lot in Grey Lynn.

Personally, I think it’s because the consultation model was developed in the context of a High Court decision relating to commercial charges being imposed on airlines by Wellington Airport. Imposing commercial charges in order to fund developments is one thing but applying the same definition to projects which have the potential to seriously disrupt communities is quite different. Furthermore in our view, the High Court decision reflects the 'weather of the day' - the Government’s decision to corporatise entities and their desperate need for funding streams whereas the 'climate of our era' is quite different.

Communities seek from local entities on-going meaningful discussion and dialogue. Businesses expect to be fully engaged in projects that can go to the core of their financial survivability when projects disrupt customer purchasing habits and flows over prolonged periods. We expect engagement. We want facts to support charge. We expect the final result to encompass empathy and embody the essence of our villages. And we don’t appreciate more and more concrete, paint-on solutions, congestion causing bus stops and safety hazards.

Meeting the multiple demands of very our communities can and is challenging - we accept that but it can be done but it does take a lot of time, effort and constructive engagement. We look forward to active engagement with AT and other Government agencies on resolving our very challenging parking issues and experiencing a new community-focused, empathetic redevelopment of our villages. Our association is voluntary.

Our strength comes from constructive participation - we are encouraging all Grey Lynn businesses to join our organisation and become part of the movement to promote, expand and develop district 1021.

PN (IRENE KING AND PAUL STEPHENSON, JOINT CO-CHAIR GLBA) F For more info go to www.glba.co.nz

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@ BOB & FRIENDS Voronoi collection from TALA.

BOB & FRIENDS, 231 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 378 7350, www.bobandfriends.co.nz

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FACES AT THE MARKET - WHITNEY AND WHITNEY

Tucked away in the corner of the Grey Lynn Farmers Market you will find Whitney Wainui and Whitney Nicholls-Potts selling their specialty brews and offering tastes in small pottery cups.

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www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

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CLASSICS ENDURE - THE TIMELESS STYLE OF WOODEN SHUTTERS Lahood Window Furnishings has been dressing Auckland’s best windows for over 25 years. Susan Brookes is a Lahood senior design consultant and has been advising villa, bungalow and new-apartment owners in Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Herne Bay and Westmere for over a decade.

She has seen how wooden shutters can add timeless elegance and enhanced functionality to the window areas of both classic and new homes.

of wooden shutters at much more accessible price points.

“Wooden shutters are the ultimate window dressing for villas and bungalows,” explains Susan. “Probably the most exciting development in recent years is how affordable and versatile they have become.” Advances in the manufacturing process have meant that wooden shutters can easily be used in a wide variety of homes and rooms.

“In terms of value, they can add so much to a home. Aesthetically they add size, depth and light control to interior spaces. Plus they are incredibly long lasting, they don’t date and they don’t wear out,” says Susan.

Traditionally, the production of wooden shutters was costly so when budgets got tight toward the end of a renovation project or new build they are often out of scope. By taking advantage of technology improvements to the production process, Lahood offers customers the enduring quality and timeless elegance

Wooden blinds have also become much more versatile. It terms of practicality, they can now be fixed in a variety of ways offering home owners more choice and freedom. This means they can add depth and ambience to modern homes as well as working seamlessly in villas and bungalows.

As Susan explains it they are a perfect combination of practicality and design.

“By using our wooden blinds in combination with full drape curtains in a room, we can create warmth, depth and improved privacy without making a space feel closed off from the outside world.”

The advantage of wooden shutters is the amount of control you can have to adapt light and privacy. F PN LAHOOD, 104 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden, T: 09 638 8463, www.lahood.co.nz

Light filtering into the kitchen

Privacy in the bedroom

Work well in both modern and traditional homes

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

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

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GAMING REVIEWS: KERRY LEE

Resident Evil 2 Prepare to whip out the brown undies again.

A SCARY FEAST FOR THE EYES Rumour has it that the code for the original game was accidentally lost at some point, and the developers were forced to go back to the drawing board and re-build the remake from the ground up.

As it turns out, this was for the best because rather then simply cutting and pasting everything from the 1998 classic, developers Capcom have included what worked in the latest entry of the series (Resident Evil 7) and removed what didn’t work in the original title.

As a result, it feels almost like a whole new game without any of the flaws that held the original back.

TRUE HORROR Everything is just so beautiful to look at, from the blood and gore on each zombie, to the Racoon City Police Station where you’ll spend the majority of the game. In fact, the police station feels like a separate character itself with its interesting history and secrets that begin opening up the further you journey into it.

The atmosphere from the original game has thankfully been transitioned over successfully, and it’s just as terrifying as I remembered it. If you want the genuine Resident Evil experience I highly recommend playing it with the curtains drawn and the lights out.

While it does rely on a few cheap jump scares, the game is packed with some genuinely scary moments that really made my heart stop.

One of those moments comes in the form of the Tyrant, a zombie that gets air-dropped near the beginning of the game just so that

he can hunt down and kill the player.

While he may not seem like much of a threat, the fact that he’s an unstoppable killing machine that won’t stop chasing you until near the end of the game, really makes him an unnerving presence and one that will really keep players checking behind them just in case he’s there.

However, despite how good the game looks, its clear that Capcom has used the same assets over and over again, especially with zombie character models. This is a real disappointment since the rest of the game’s visuals have set such a high gold standard.

GOING BUMP IN THE NIGHT The strong visuals aren’t the only thing that Resident Evil has going for it, the sound quality adds to the atmosphere of the game tremendously. It really helps the overall immersion of the title and made me jump out of my seat more then just once. The only real gripe is that the original soundtrack isn’t included in the standard edition of the game.

VERDICT A game that’s been lovingly re-created, that keeps what works and cuts out all the extra fat that didn’t in the original game. Any horror fan should run out and add this to their collection straight away.

9/10 (KERRY LEE) F PN

PONSONBY / HERNE BAY 2A Bayfield Road

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Completely rebuilt to the highest standards

FOR SALE

This fabulous character bungalow offers multiple choices for all your family’s needs.

You could easily accommodate a separate living quarter on the lower level for independent teenagers or elderly relatives.

It’s located in a quiet cul-de-sac, just around the corner from the trendy bars, cafes, restaurants and boutiques of Jervois Road and Three Lamps Village.

In zone for popular schools and it’s less than a 5 minute drive to the CBD. It’s seriously for sale!

Asking Price $2,395,000

LJ Hooker Ponsonby

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190 Ponsonby Road

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09 376 7530

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ponsonby@ljh.co.nz

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VIEW Phone for View Times ljhooker.co.nz/AFSGUK CONTACT Steven Glucina 021 888 455 Rick Bush 021 950 276

Ponsonby Estate Agents Limited

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Licensed REAA 2008

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@ ROSE & HEATHER

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1. Newport 2 drawer bedside 59cm wide in Whitewash/Walnut finish - $2880 the pair 2. Astrid 4 drawer 100cm wide - $3880 3. Newport 7 drawer Lowboy H83 L147cm - $4380 4. The Bailey Table L240 W105cm seats 8-10 - $8900 ROSE & HEATHER, 406 Great North Road, T: 09 376 2895, www.roseandheather.com

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NOW AVAILABLE IN OAK

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

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EDITION Edition is an exceptional new apartment offering in Parnell, Auckland. The captivating glass-brick exterior from Architects Monk Mackenzie plays host to 19 exclusive residences, each handsomely proportioned and finished with exquisite fixtures and fittings.

Both two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments are available, each with a media room and patio featuring silver-toned travertine tiles. Windows stretch from floor to ceiling, casting sunlight across the impeccable interior design from Bureaux Limited. The kitchen area epitomises contemporary, functional design with textures of mitred stone, marble and oak. Tiled bathrooms showcase Italian tapware across dual vanities. The upper levels offer spectacular panoramas across Judges Bay, Hauraki Gulf and Rangitoto. Other key features of the complex include ample, secure car parking, close proximity to renowned cafes, restaurants, art galleries and studios.

60% of apartments have been sold so it’s time to make a move with only six Edition apartments left available as demolition on the site approaches, beginning in March. Construction will commence in May and will be led by LEP Construction. F PN EDITION, 2 Churton Street, Parnell, Contact: Ross Hawkins, M: 027 472 0577, Jason Gaddes M: 021 994 921, www.editionparnell.co.nz

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@ ARTISAN COLLECTIVE

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1. 'Elements Natural’ in ivory glazed porcelain measuring 20cm by 120cm.

I Cocci – a range of premium quality tiles now available at Artisan.

Browse our collections online or in store 31a Normanby Road, Mount Eden. artisancollective.co.nz/tiles

2. ‘Hemisphere in Steel’ tiles measuring 60cm by 60cm.

Available exclusively at Artisan Collection, 31a Normanby Road, www.artisancollective.co.nz/tiles

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

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

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

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

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HEIDI PADAIN: ENTERTAINMENT IN YOUR GARDEN Early last year, a cyclone swept through our property. It almost destroyed a manuka tree that is alongside our deck.

There's little in the way of foliage on it now. Just a tragic display of jagged twigs. I’ve considered chopping the whole thing down, but, instead, I have found it somewhat useful to use the remaining branches to place fruit.

Oranges are favoured by the tui and the waxeyes. However, during these sweltering summer days, I’ve noticed that the oranges attract an awful lot of fruit flies. I was tempted to cease putting oranges out, but then something wonderful happened...

The fantails arrived.

The fantails are thriving on our property this year. They are very determined parents. The male looks after the fledglings, while the female starts building the next nest. Apparently, fantails have been known to rear five broods in a season, totalling 15 fledglings.

Recently, I counted eight, all flying around together.

Fantails are most active at dawn and dusk. This is when there are a lot of midges and other small insects around. The fantails seem rather delighted with the swarms of fruit flies around the oranges. They flit around maniacally making a lot of noise. One or two fantails will sing very loudly as they orbit around the oranges. It’s a distinctive song.

A high-pitched chattering 'tweeta-tweeta-tweeta' in a regular rhythm.

The term for a bird hunting insects while in flight is ‘hawking’. The fantail often sing while chasing those tiny insects around. It’s as though they are broadcasting the food source. The fantail song attracts other birds to the feast. They are often joined by the grey warblers and the waxeyes.

It seems to me that they are much like a marketplace hawker... 'fruit PN flies-fruit flies' 'come-and-get-your-fruit flies'. (HEIDI PADAIN ) F

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

Everything we touch turns to SOLD!

Professional Passionate Patient GREG NELSON 021 842 235 g.nelson@barfoot.co.nz

Your home, your future.

Our commitment.

ANAH JORDAN 022 127 9080 a.jordan@barfoot.co.nz

09 376 3039 / barfoot.co.nz

92 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

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TIMELESS FORM AND FUNCTION - THE SIMPLICITY OF GREAT DESIGN Meluka furniture is simple, timeless and manufactured in New Zealand by Danske Mobler.

Our products are manufactured as fully made products wherever possible. It is this process that allows Meluka products to be so dependable and sturdy. The joints are all dowelled and glued right here in our Auckland factory. The simplicity of the design allows for straightforward manufacturing, resulting in a product that you can trust - and that assurance is backed with a five-year structural warranty. Meluka furniture is designed and built for your future. It is tough, made for lasting performance.

Curious about some of Meluka’s most prominent design features? Meluka products have a huge focus on functionality, striving to give every design feature a practical purpose. Our COSYbunks are a perfect example of this! Their proximity to the ground makes them perfect for young kids and even better for parents who have to make the top bunk.

Our customers love the variety that Meluka provides. As seen below, our pieces are highly customisable to suit any room and any style. Crates can be bought in the same colour, or could be a statement piece with various different colours. Meluka is all about efficiency and ease. That is why most of our products come standard with castors (fixed leg options also available). Start creating your Meluka home today!

Shop online at meluka.co.nz to find out more, or visit your nearest Danske Mobler store.

MELUKA, 938 Mt Eden Road, Three Kings, 13a Link Drive, North Shore and 260 Oteha Valley Road, Albany, T: 09-625 3900, www.meluka.co.nz

Stocktake Sale 20% OFF EVERYTHING! WARDrobe $1942

COSYbunk $2595

BOOKboy 2 Bay 2 High $1125

$1554

$2076

$900

CHESTYboy 2 Bay 5 High $2040

$1632

Mattresses and accessories sold separately

Furniture. Simply.

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meluka.co.nz

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

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TAU RAN G A 4/68 3 C A M ER ON R D TAU PO 2 9 TOTA R A ST H AS T IN G S 810 HERETAUNGA ST PALME RS TO N N O RT H 699 M A I N ST LO W E R H U T T 2 8 R U TH ER FOR D ST

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REAL ESTATE UPDATE: KAREN SPIRES It has long been recognised that housing affordability is an issue in the Auckland residential market.

With house prices continuing to rise in recent years, and wages unable to keep up, many prospective buyers have found themselves priced out of the market.

But with prices flattening out, continued low mortgage rates, and the Government working to deliver more affordable housing, there may be hope that affordability may improve.

The latest statistics from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) showed a 2.4% decline in average house prices in Auckland in the last month, from $820,000 to $800,000. This is the lowest average house price seen in Auckland since February 2016.

Looking a little closer, there are considerable differences throughout the Auckland region, with average prices falling by as much as 10% in some regions, and increasing as much as 16% in others.

REINZ chief executive Bindi Norwell said that a decline in average prices was usual for the December/January months and that it was too early to confirm whether the Auckland market has actually turned.

Even with the flattening out of house prices throughout 2018, the latest Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey said that Auckland continued to be among the most unaffordable cities in the world.

The survey rated housing affordability by what is known as the Median Multiple. This calculates the average housing price in a city divided by the average household income.

House prices to incomes were compared in cities in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

An affordable city is said to be where the median price is no more than three times the median wage, such as Houston and Atlanta in the US.

These cities have been able to continue an affordable housing market while maintaining high economic growth and low unemployment.

A median price that is up to four times the median wage is considered to be moderately affordable. Between four and five times income is considered to be unaffordable, and more than five times income is seriously unaffordable.

Hong Kong was found to be the least affordable city with average house prices a staggering 20.9 times the average household income.

Hong Kong was followed by Vancouver, Sydney, Melbourne, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Los Angeles, Tauranga and Auckland, which sits at the ninth least affordable.

Auckland’s affordability currently sits at nine times the median income, compared with 5.4 times when the first survey was released in 2004. The survey calculates a median house price of $845,000 vs an annual median household income of $94,400.

In his introduction, the survey’s Christchurch-based co-author Hugh Pavletich said that past government policies of urban containment, or ‘ring fencing’, had led to a scarcity in land and pushed up prices.

He agreed that removing the urban growth boundary, freeing up density controls and funding new infrastructure through innovative infrastructure bonds set up a best approach to respond to the demand for housing.

Pavletich said that the issue of housing affordability would certainly be a hot topic going into the 2020 General Election, and that the current Labour-led Government would need to make demonstrable progress on providing affordable housing over the coming year.

He noted that, if successful, New Zealand’s current policy to fix the housing affordability issue in Auckland would create a blueprint that could be used in other cities around the world with affordability PN issues. (KAREN SPIRES) F

Karen Spires AREINZ, M 027 273 8220, E karen.spires@bayleys.co.nz, www.karenspires.bayleys.co.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

INTRODUCING JASON TROWBRIDGE - PROPERTY CONSULTANT With huge amounts of enthusiasm, inspiration and tenacity, Jason Trowbridge has set numerous records for sale prices in his 20-plus years of experience in real estate.

“I have lived and breathed through the rise in Ponsonby villa prices from $160,000 right up to today’s level - and my passion is still as alive today as it was back then.” Because he lives in the area, Jason knows and loves the multicultural, eclectic lifestyle.

ensures it is secure - a crisp, clean, sharp, uncomplicated deal which leaves nothing to chance.

He has a vast knowledge of Auckland’s inner city and Central Western Bays real estate market, in particular Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Freemans Bay, Herne Bay, St Marys Bay and Kingsland.

LJ HOOKER PONSONBY, 190 Ponsonby Road, Jason Trowbridge, T: 09 376 7530 or 021 358 888, Email: jtrowbridge.ponsonby@ljh.co.nz, www. ponsonby@ljh.co.nz

Jason’s absolute commitment is to the vendors on whose behalf he acts: “I’m a vendor’s agent, and I strive for excellence, always aiming to over deliver. My style is to encapsulate your needs and work with you to achieve a premium result. It’s a whole experience, not just a sale. My philosophy is: Think it and then create it.”

Not your generic real estate agent, you’ll find that there is something unique about Jason. You speak with him and he lights you up. Passionate and alive, he is a real people person, quick to understand the needs of all those involved in a business deal.

Jason places emphasis on totally handling a deal every step of the way. He takes into consideration everything from the interests of existing tenants through to the smallest detail of settlement.

He gives more than 100% of his passion, integrity and honesty, and aims always to achieve the maximum possible price. When a sale is agreed, he

Why would you consider engaging someone else? F PN

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL Attention to every detail...

Jason, just a quick note of thanks for completing the sale of our Summer Street property. We are delighted with the result. I realise the timing was not ideal when we made the decision to sell just prior to Christmas but your advice was correct. Although we only had a short timeframe you managed to get us on the market very quickly, pause when the festive season was in full swing, and get things sorted again by the end of January as we discussed.

The extra marketing push and your timing were terrific, as was the attention to making sure we had the property in the right physical shape and value band to ensure we moved forward quickly.

I know you had a huge volume of enquiry to deal with and in the end the timing and terms of the sale reflected that effort. Again thanks for your attention to every detail and I look forward to the next one.

Russ Hewitt - Ponsonby

EXPERIE NCE IS ESSENTIAL ...

27 years of outstanding results ...

It all starts over a coffee ... and a confidential chat It costs no more to work with an agent whose name is synonymous with outstanding service and exceptional results …

Jason Trowbridge, 021 358 888, jtrowbridge.ponsonby@ljh.co.nz LJ Hooker Ponsonby

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190 Ponsonby Road

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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09 376 7530

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ponsonby@ljh.co.nz

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Ponsonby Estate Agents Limited

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Licensed REA 2008

PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

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THE MAGIC INGREDIENT Richard Cripps, the owner of Kitchens By Design, strongly believes in the need for good design in our lives, particularly in a complex, multifunctional space such as the kitchen, and that an important component of any successful kitchen is design itself. Design, he says, should be seen as the most important ingredient in a successful kitchen.

Kitchens By Design (KBD) offers the expertise of six designers, four of whom are acknowledged with awards as among the best in New Zealand and Australia. All the designers are professionally qualified and regularly attend industry events to keep up to date with the latest in materials, appliances, style and ideas.

Richard is keen to point out that while you may only deal with one designer as your kitchen design concepts are developed, your KBD designer is not working in isolation. “We are a team, and there is often cross pollination of ideas around a project as the designer works to meet your brief,” he says. “Design is also about relationships. A good designer works on building a relationship to find out what motivates and excites each client. Are you a baker? Do you buy in bulk or shop every day? Do the kids help prepare the meals?”

Good design need not be expensive. Indeed, in the long run it can offer considerable savings. In a kitchen, Richard points out: the cost of materials (appliances, cabinetry, plumbing, benchtops, lighting, etc) that goes into a poorly designed kitchen is the same as goes into a well-designed one. And he has testimonials from KBD customers whose custom-designed kitchens are still serving them well decades later.

“I think design helps us actually change the way we think about things,” Richard adds. “Great design is not just restricted to what’s on the surface and how it looks. It solves everyday problems. We design drawers to make items easily accessible. We incorporate good lighting design to help you undertake tasks. We use design to shorten the distances to complete tasks. For design to be successful a designer cannot be just artistic in their approach; they must always have a focus on the customer or user of the product.”

In short, good design is a wonderful mix of imagination and pragmatism, specifically tailored to each situation. “Our designers creatively bring great decorative surfaces, hardware and known planning principles together to create not only beautiful one-off kitchens but kitchens that help bring friends and families together, fuel a passion for cooking or just simply enhance entertaining and socialising.”

If you are thinking about putting in a new kitchen, Kitchens By Design is holding an exclusive Kitchen Design Day at its Takapuna showroom at 3 Byron Avenue, on the morning of 22 March. Joining the team of talented designers, will be a number of leading industry experts delivering presentations on colour choices (Resene), the latest in appliances (Gaggenau), and your best options for benchtop materials (Cosentino). Tickets are $20, and are available from Eventbrite.

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

96 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

If you are thinking about a new kitchen, you will not want to miss out on this event.

Join the talented team of designers at New Zealand’s most awarded kitchen design studio for a day filled with ideas and innovation.

This promises to be a truly unique event that will give

As well as a number of informative talks from the design team at Kitchens By Design will be a series of presentations by leading industry experts, including colour choices (Resene), the latest in appliances (Gaggenau) and your best options for benchtop materials (Cosentino).

installing a new kitchen.

invaluable insights into the latest trends in kitchen design, as well as practical advice to anyone

Tickets are $20.00 and are available at Eventbrite.

Numbers will be limited, so register early to secure your place.

The event will be held at Kitchens By Design’s stunning Takapuna showroom on Auckland’s North Shore.

WHEN: 9.30am - 1pm, Friday, 22 March WHERE: Kitchens by Design Takapuna Showroom 3 Byron Avenue. Ph 09 488 7201

kitchensbydesign.co.nz

FOR FULL DETAILS AND REGISTRATION VISIT EVENTBRITE.CO.NZ

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

SETTING A NEW DESIGN STANDARD Proxima Residences are set to be a new landmark for Eden Terrace with their refined design by Construkt Architects. Towering above its urban site, Proxima Residences is a stunning addition to the Newton skyline which will set a new standard for luxury living in the area.

The nine-level development has a material palette of naturally finished and painted concrete, timber soffits and frameless glass balustrades. The northern facade is articulated by deep reveals from the full-width terraces punctuated by glass boxes.

Proxima Residences bathrooms Featuring fully tiled walls and frameless glass showers, the bathrooms at Proxima Residences are modern and luxurious. The mirror cabinet and shelf below provide plenty of storage and a touch of glamour to the refined design.

Proxima Residences kitchens The kitchens at Proxima Residences are from the Arclinea range

by Matisse. The sleek, contemporary aesthetic of large cabinetry, beautifully engineered stone bench and stainless steel splashback complements the refined interior design of the living spaces. F PN PROXIMA RESIDENCES, Aaron Cook M: 021 612 642 or Holly Huang M: 021 190 8088, www.proximaresidences.co.nz

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Beautiful Owner Occupier Size Apartments Freehold and in the heart of Eden Terrace.

An easy stroll to Ponsonby, the City Centre and Mt Eden Station.

Sunny open plan living with generously sized balconies and stunning views.

Well appointed with European appliances and designer kitchens.

Enjoy convenience, security and the very best of city fringe living.

Now selling (off plans) For an information pack or to find out more about this exciting new property please Artist’s Impression contact sales@proximaresidences.co.nz.

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

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

proximaresidences.co.nz

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

@ DESIGN WAREHOUSE 1. Soho Grande Club Chair Yes, the Soho Grande Club Chair is just as divine and comfortable as it looks. The extra wide and deep seat is perfect to curl up on, yet the sleek teak frame keeps this chair sophisticated and modern. The Sunbrella® cushions are free with deep-seating purchases as shown on our site..

2. Glaze Sun Lounger Modern and spa-like relaxation in your own outdoor space is possible with the Glaze Sun Lounger. It’s sleek and comfortable and ready to take home today!

3. Bahama Cantilever Umbrella Rest easy under the ample shade of the Bahama Square Cantilever Umbrella. It’s easy to use and looks sophisticated. The canopy is made with Sunbrella® fabric, which is a must for patio umbrellas as it is the leader in the industry.

4. Studio Dining Chairs Outdoor dining furniture can be just as stylish and sophisticated as your indoor furniture, a perfect example - our Studio Rope Dining Chairs.

Made with teak, aluminium, rope and topped with Sunbrella® cushions.

DESIGN WAREHOUSE, 137/147 The Strand, Parnell, T: 09 377 7710, www.designwarehouse.co.nz

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

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

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@ SMYTH GALLERIES New Josh Lancaster Exhibition 'LOCAL WATERS' 21 March to 21 April Ex-advertising creative and now full-time artist, Josh Lancaster is providing a distinctive impact on the New Zealand art scene. His fourth solo exhibition 'Local Waters' opens on 21 March at Smyth Galleries.

Lancaster’s new exhibition presents a glorious and timeless medley of local boatsheds, wharves and pohutukawas, all captured through his evocative and arresting use of line and colour.

His 10 new paintings take us on a wander down the road and round the rocks, exploring the patchwork of hidden bays and secret beaches from Curran Street to Point Chevalier.

Come and meet Josh at the opening at 6pm on 21 March at Smyth Galleries. F PN SMYTH GALLERIES, 41 Jervois Road, St Marys Bay, T: 09 360 6044, M: 021 598 009, E: info@smythgalleries.co.nz

ARTS + CULTURE @ ST MATTHEW’S CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Fabulous horn playing by Samuel Jacobs; (Mozart, Strauss, Kodaly and Sibelius) conductor David Sharp 2.30pm, Sunday 17 March If you have not heard St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra play then you are missing out on one of the musical experiences of Auckland. Gillian Ansell (NZ String Quartet) says, “St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra’s players' high-quality music-making bring their audiences much joy.” Come and hear for yourself. For the already converted, this will be a wonderful concert: looking forward to seeing you there.

Soloist horn player Samuel Jacobs plays across many musical genres: classical, pop and film.

He is currently Principal horn of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Earlier he was Principal horn of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. Whilst in the UK, freelance work included performing as guest Principal horn with most of the leading symphony orchestras. 'Downunder' he often takes that role with the Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras.

His classical solo performances include concertos by Haydn, Mozart, Hoffmann, both Franz and Richard Strauss, Schumann and John Rimmer.

Samuel’s numerous commercial recordings for the film and pop industries include albums with Sting, Sam Smith and Florence & the Machine, and soundtracks for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Interstellar, The Martian and the latest Bond film Spectre, as well PN as scores for television and video games, including the Halo franchise. F TICKETS Eventfinda or door sales cash only. Adults $30, concessions $25, children under 12 free. ST MATTHEW-IN-THE-CITY CHURCH, corner Wellesley and Hobson Streets. www.smco.org.nz

Samuel Jacobs

Sun 17 March at 2.30pm PROGRAMME

Kodaly Dances of Galánta Mozart Horn Concerto No 1 K 412/514 in D F Strauss Horn Concerto Op 8 in C minor Sibelius Symphony No 3 Op 52 in C SOLOIST Samuel Jacobs CONDUCTOR David Sharp ST MATTHEW-IN-THE-CITY Cnr of Wellesley & Hobson Street, Auckland City

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT

Irish singer will inspire in Auckland Irish dynamite Wallis Bird is coming to Auckland in March. I was lucky enough to see her perform in Canada in 2018 and she was a standout among a year of excellent performances.

The energy she brings to a stage is unparalleled. Playing a righthanded acoustic guitar upside down, the left-handed Irish singersongwriter has been thrilling audiences worldwide, and is bringing this to New Zealand for the first time.

Every performance is characterised by a startling passion and commitment that frequently leaves Bird breathless. Simultaneously honest and raw, powerful and gracious, humble and hilarious, her concerts are like no other. After seeing her performance at Woodford Folk Festival, Amanda Palmer cited Bird as her “discovery of the year.”

Wallis Bird burst onto the trans-Tasman scene with her first ever appearance in Australia in the summer of 2017, which included a standout performance at the iconic Woodford Folk Festival. She returned in November 2017 for a national tour, which was praised by audiences and critics alike.

The Irish-born artist cut her teeth as a teenager playing cover gigs in pubs, dealing with drunken hecklers by way of cheeky comebacks and good-natured banter. Bird moved to Germany in 2005 and selfreleased the single 'Blossoms in the Street', which spent 20 weeks in the airplay charts. It grabbed the attention of Island Records who signed her almost on the spot.

Bird prides herself on an energetic, dynamic and always-musical live performance. Her startling passion and energy levels are unmatched by any other artist. Moving from delicate whispers to explosive cries in a heartbeat, Bird weaves her magic around audiences of every

kind. Whether she’s dancing, laughing, screaming or crying, anyone who has experienced one of Bird’s live concerts knows that music is her lifeblood.

Born left handed, Bird lost all the fingers on her left hand in a bizarre lawnmower accident as a baby. Though most of her fingers were saved through surgery, one was lost for good. Luckily it didn’t stop her picking up a guitar, flipping it upside down to strum with her damaged hand, and carrying on as if nothing had ever happened.

Today, she’s a veritable virtuoso on the instrument, and she credits that fateful lawnmower incident with having given her 'her mojo'.

At times she sings songs where you could hear a pin drop in the room, while with others she is simply thrashing her guitar and letting loose. She leaves nothing off the stage, simply putting everything in to each song.

Even in an unthinkable and phenomenal 12 -hour free concert she did in Berlin, she still had the energy to get back up and do two encores. “It was terrifying, demanding, but ultimately beautiful...”

Now based in Berlin, Bird’s 2014 album Architect celebrated her relocation to the creative capital and laid a foundation for her most recent album, Home. As Bird describes, “Architect was the blueprint to this great life and musical plan I was hatching: girl meets girl, girl falls in love, and happy ending ensues. Home is the happy ending!”

In fact, Home is such a celebration of the love Bird now enjoys with her partner that she not only refers to it as a ‘thank you letter’, but its cover also features the two of them locked in an affectionate embrace.

Joining Wallis Bird on this tour of New Zealand is Australia-based Kiwi, Kerryn Fields.

PN (FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT) F Wallis Bird is performing with Kerryn Fields on Friday 22 March at the Tuning Fork, tickets through ticketmaster. www.tuningfork.co.nz

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ARTS + CULTURE

UPTOWN ART SCENE Opportunities exist for artists as the city fringe redevelops, offering cheap, temporary studio spaces that enliven and colour what might otherwise be empty and grey.

21 Shaddock Street in Eden Terrace will become part of the City Rail Link, but meantime the condemned buildings host intensive art production. DEMO is an off-site exhibition space for Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design, where post-grad students trial ideas and showcase work.

Next door are artists’ studios, a perfect pairing providing them an important space for non-dealer exhibitions. Showing outside the dealer gallery circuit allows artists to present art for art’s sake, offering an audience not only work separated from a commercial need, but combinations of artists not possible in gallery environments, so the dialogues between artworks are more collegial and less hierarchical.

DEMO’s first show of the year was 136m3, organised by Robbie Fraser and featuring work by himself, Krystina Kaza, Ahn Tran, Taylor Wagstaff and Vivienne Worn. All have studios next door, so the work has hardly travelled from its place of conception, and this has been used to frame this exhibition.

DEMO at 21 Shaddock Street Eden Terrace

French artist Daniel Buren (b.1938) claimed the studio as the only place where artworks sit truthfully to their materials and making, that their essence is reduced the moment it is removed from the place it was made. At 136m3, everything has been made in the same space, so the audience is privy to a collective moment from within the studios. It’s a relaxed, friendly ambience - one can really feel the collegiality.

The catalogue says shared studios operate differently in the years immediately following art school; they encourage continued making within full lives, offering the familiar feel of art school and providing vital support in the early years out. The shared studio therefore, might be said to offer a collective rallying cry against the demise of artistic dreams. And in these streets where redevelopment is happening apace, we hope that our neighbourhoods progress with artistic dreams turning to reality. (STUDIO ART SUPPLIES) F PN www.studioart.co.nz

Krystina Kaza sculptures with Taylor Wagstaff and Ahn Tran paintings

Robbie Fraser's bright work at DEMO The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT

Milk & Honey Festival To celebrate International Women’s Day in 2019, over 20 of Aotearoa’s finest female artists are gathering across three cities to perform a series of shows on Friday 8 March.

One night, three cities, four venues, over 20 artists. All coming together to celebrate International Women’s Day. Lani Purkis and Teresa Patterson are two with a wealth of music industry experience between them. Over the past 12 months they began thinking about how wonderful it would be to have a series of shows where the majority of musicians and crew were women.

The Auckland edition is split across a show at the Powerstation and one at Whammy Bar and Wine Cellar on Karangahape Road. Tami Neilson, Nadia Reid, Julia Deans, Ria Hall and Sandy Mill (DJ) are headlining the Powerstation.

Tami Neilson needs almost no introduction. She has won the Tui Award for Best Country Album for each of her past four albums, and was the winner of the APRA Silver Scroll in 2014. She is regarded as one of the biggest and best personalities in New Zealand’s music industry, and regularly represents the country at international festivals, including as far afield as Denmark.

Nadia Reid has experienced a huge few years off the back of her first two albums. She has been a finalist for the the Taite Prize for both of these records and for the Silver Scroll in 2017. 2017 and 2018 saw Nadia perform globally across Australia, Europe and the United States. This year, Nadia is working on her third record due for release April 2019.

Julia Deans came to national attention as the front woman for Fur Patrol in the early 2000s, but in the last decade has reworked herself and transitioned from that rock chick to songwriter and collaborator.

She has worked with Neil Finn, SJD and been a finalist herself for the Taite Prize and the Silver Scroll. Her newest album, ‘We Light Fire’ was released in 2018.

Milk & Honey has three aims.

1. To celebrate the incredibly talented women who work in all facets of the New Zealand music industry; 2. To make female artists and crew visible to younger women, and encourage them to see many different possible roles they could find for themselves in the music industry; 3. To provide a safe, inclusive, respectful festival and gig environment.

Tami Neilson “We really wanted to create something where younger girls and women have someone to look up to and aspire to, and something where women are very clearly visible in all parts of the event.

“I'm so excited to be part of the inaugural Milk & Honey Festival. We're going to blast the roof off The Powerstation with this powerhouse line-up! What a way to celebrate International Women's Day,” Tami PN Neilson states. (FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT) F Tickets are on sale now through their website, www.milkandhoneyfestival.co.nz.

Each gig is stand-alone and are individually ticketed.

POWERSTATION Tami Neilson, Nadia Reid, Julia Deans, Ria Hall and Sandy Mill (DJ).

WHAMMY/WINE CELLAR carb on carb, CHAII, Cheshire Grimm, Dead Little Penny, HEX, LEXXA, Randa, Sami Sisters, Tooms, Wax Chattels, Valkyrie.

Nadia Tiny Ruins Reid

104 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE @ WHITESPACE

@ OREX

Pete Wheeler 10 - 29 March We’ll Meet Again When There Is No Darkness

Counter-flow; Philippa Blair; 6 - 30 March, opening Wednesday 6 March 5.30pm - 7.30pm

Pete Wheeler returns to New Zealand this March for his first solo show at Whitespace in 10 years; meanwhile, he hasn’t been idle. Pete has been working as a full time artist, living in Berlin, exhibiting in Austria, Belgium, Cologne, Florence, Art Basel Switzerland and more.

The March show: We’ll Meet Again When There Is No Darkness, features his gutsy large paintings looking at everything from the bogun to the beautiful.

Pete Wheeler is a New Zealand artist, currently living and working in Berlin, Germany.

Wheeler lived in Dunedin during the late 1990s and early 2000s, graduating with MFA from the University Of Canterbury. He has held solo shows in New Zealand, Australia, America and Europe.

Wheeler's work defies classification. Dissonance, disjunction and discord describe the disparate themes Wheeler weaves together in his combinations of unexpected imagery.

From his earliest exhibition, Wheeler has never been reluctant to confront big issues.

Social faux pas do not register in Wheeler's practice. He shamelessly makes verbose claims belying his personal opinion on themes including religion, sex and politics. F PN WHITESPACE, 20 Monmouth Street, T: 09 361 6331, www.whitespace.co.nz

Philippa Blair work’s gestural marks appear to smack into each other and pile up like a multi-vehicle collision. In fact, they are wellchoreographed arrangements that resonate with the emotional as much as the physical.

Philippa Blair delves into, moves around and across her canvasses, playing out her rhythm.

She is propelled to challenge structure, so she constantly explores the delicate balance between chaos and order in such a way as to bring about new forms.

In Counter-flow, Blair brings us her dynamic abstraction that she considers is “outside the current.” Her title alludes to the scientific term for fluids going in different directions. She says oil and acrylic resist each other in a collision with underlying wayward structures.

Blair’s paintings have a surprisingly sculptural presence and this show includes a number of her sculptural works that seem to have leapt from the canvas to become three dimensional 'beings'.

Counter-flow is the product of an agile mind and a body that are acutely aware of balancing unpredictability and ungovernability.

Blair is a New Zealand-born artist who has exhibited her work internationally for over the past 35 years with over 100 solo exhibitions and over 300 group exhibitions to her credit. After 20 years in America, she has returned for her first major solo show. F PN OREXART, 15 Putiki Street, Arch Hill, T: 09 378 0588, www.orexart.co.nz

Pete Wheeler “Department of youth” oil, oil stick, spray paint on canvas 220 x 170cm

Blair, Shifty, 2016, acrylic canvas 1676x2032mm

10–29 MARCH 2019

PETE WHEELER

We'll Meet Again When There Is No Darkness

Counter-flow PHILIPPA BLAIR

6-30 March

20 monmouth st grey lynn AKL whitespace.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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

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THE PONSONBY PINK PAGES

Quality Properties Wanted )RU 4XDOLĂ€ HG &RUSRUDWH 7HQDQWV &RQWDFW -DPHV RQ

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Service. Integrity. Results

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

106 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

NEWMARKET Rugs Direct, 108 Carlton Gore Road NEWTON Hard to Find Bookshop, 2 St Benedicts Street NORTH SHORE Rug Direct, Wairau Park Dawson’s Furniture, Mairangi Bay PARNELL Jane Daniels, 2 Birdwood Crescent Parnell Community Centre, 545 Parnell Road PONSONBY Askew, 2b Jervois Road Barfoot & Thompson, 184 Ponsonby Road Bayleys, 305 Ponsonby Road Countdown, 7 Williamson Avenue Leys Institute, 20 St Mary’s Road The Longroom, 114 Ponsonby Road Mag Nation, 123 Ponsonby Road Paper Plus, 332 Ponsonby Road Ponsonby Community Centre, 20 Ponsonby Terrace Servilles, Corner Jervois & Ponsonby Road Studio One, 1 Ponsonby Road WESTMERE Glengarry, 164 Garnet Road

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Property & Rental Manager 021 37 47 57

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WE PAY TOP CASH For any CARS, VANS, UTES, TRUCKS, 4X4 Dead or Alive, damaged, de-registered Mechanical problem, no WOF we buy it Free Pickup Or text 021 344 449

CondiĆ&#x;ons apply

0800 333 398 YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS BROKER Thinking of selling or buying a business? Call me today. ‡ ‡

All Mesh Without Headrest

NOW $895+GST

RRP:$1160+GST

558 Rosebank Road, Avondale PH: 3691880 I E: sales@systemcommercial.com www.systemscommercial.com

commercial furniture

Furniture & Homewares

over 25 years experience live locally Ç’ - '$ '

David Wells BA | Dip RE | AREINZ Č - $/

027 436 1465 Cooper & Co Real Estate Ltd Licensed REAA 2008

ERGOHUMAN

GREY LYNN - 8 Pollen Street | 09 376 7585 ALBANY - 7i Triton Drive | 09 376 7586 Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm

david.wells@naiharcourts.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2019

107

Stunningly curated outdoor furniture from Italy, Belgium, Indonesia, France, and the Philippines. Visit our showroom in Parnell to see the many styles of high quality outdoor furniture. Sunbrella® cushions are free with the purchase of our deep seating pieces as shown on site.

Everything is fully assembled, in stock, and available to take home today.

KENT STREET MODULAR TEAK SOFA SUNBRELLA® CUSHIONS WITH QUICKDRY® FOAM ARE INCLUDED AS SHOWN ON OUR WEBSITE IN STOCK AND READY TO TAKE HOME TODAY!

ORGANIC TEAK STOOLS

ORGAIN TABLE & GAZZONI CHAIRS

MASELLO MODULAR SOFA

NAIROBI PURE RELAXING

STUDIO RELAXING

FONTANA SOFA & CLUB CHAIRS

COAST ALUMINUM CLUB CHAIR

BRADFORD TABLE & NATALIE CHAIRS

SUMMIT & ZEPHER

CONTEMPO SUN LOUNGER

WE INVITE YOU TO VISIT OUR FAMOUS SHOWROOM TO VIEW ALL OF OUR SALE STOCK & NEW STYLES THAT HAVE ARRIVED. ALL FULLY ASSEMBLED & READY TO TAKE HOME TODAY! www.designwarehouse.co.nz / 0800 111 112 / 137 - 147 The Strand, Parnell, Auckland / Open Daily 9:30 to 5:30