PONSONBY NEWS - NOVEMBER '22

Editor/Publisher: MARTIN LEACH M: 021 771 147 martinleach@xtra.co.nz or martin@ponsonbynews.co.nz

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P22: Outdoor Living - check out the Lapel outdoor dining collection from Ligne Roset.

THE PEOPLE OF WAITEMATĀ HAVE SPOKEN

The election was loud and clear. There can be no doubt that the people rallied to ensure that community decision making was put back on the table. The new Waitematā Local Board is more balanced, and with that, hopefully better equipped to deliver for this incredibly diverse ward.

Our ward was one of the few in the country where the voter turnout was up significantly on the last election, without doubt because people felt ignored by the former local board. You cannot act against the community, in both the Erebus debacle and the unnecessary slaughter of 15,000 native trees at Western Springs and come away unscathed.

Thank you to every single person who came out and voted. You voted for change and against the status quo. Your voice mattered. You have been heard.

My wish for the new board is simple. Put the people first. Make every decision based on genuine consultation and listen to what the community want. As our new ward councillor Mike Lee reminded us during the campaign, you are here to serve; to act on our behalf and to fight for us and our collective needs, not just to deliver on your own personal agendas.

I am absolutely delighted that Sarah Trotman is back. There is no greater business and community advocate. Her absence from the former board was evident. I am also pleased that Alex Bonham has returned and that while the community punished City Vision for their failures, she was largely exempt, because she deserved to be.

I am excited for the considerable corporate governance, finance and policing experience of Greg Moyle. I am looking forward to the guiding hand of heritage expert Alan Matson, especially as our city grows. I know Gen Sage will keep passionately pushing for her inner-city community, only this time with a strong team supporting her.

I hope Anahera Rawiri will be a clear voice for all Māori –a voice not just for her hapu Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, but for all the 13 iwi who whakapapa to Waitematā. I hope Richard Northey manages to stay awake in meetings and contributes more constructively this term.

Let’s hope there is less controversy, more inclusion and consensus building, less favours done for mates and for Wellington ideals, more time for public forum, greater transparency, more genuine consultation, active listening and open workshops. Let’s hope the minutes better reflect the meetings, and that the governance of this term is greatly improved from that of last term. Let’s hope this is a strong and committed team who will deliver for Waitematā.

It is a broad church, our community; full of diversity, affluence, poverty, villas, apartments, homelessness, big enterprise, small business, and most importantly, people who genuinely care about the city we live in and the parks we play in. I believe we now have the matching skills and commitment on the local board to tackle the challenges ahead. Let’s put the past three years behind us and look forward to community led local decision making.

Jo Malcolm, Ponsonby

LOSE WITH GRACE and WIN WITH HUMILITY

I can honestly say that even though I wasn’t elected I count this election as a personal win. I asked people to vote for themselves, to be heard by choosing a cross party board that had to discuss issues with community rather than caucus amongst themselves.

Voters agreed with my board member suggestions of “Allan Matson to protect our built heritage opposing unplanned

urban growth; Greg Moyle for fiscal responsibility; Sarah Trotman and Alex Bonham to protect our living ecosystems, as proven by their votes to save ratepayers $2million and 15,000 natives at Western Springs”. Only one career politician slipped through onto the board, but he will no longer have the power to redact public meeting presentations from the minutes.

I wish to thank everyone who showed confidence in my community advocacy by voting for me and to those who took literally my words that “I'd be happy to continue as an unelected advocate for a diverse, cross-party team of experts to be elected”.

The constituents of central Auckland voted for democracy and to be listened to by the Waitematā Local Board and the choice of councillor in Mike Lee, whose service to the people is exemplary.

The people voted for Mayor Wayne Brown who has promised to “fix Auckland” and bring the CCO into being controlled and to listen to Aucklanders. This is a clear mandate against the status quo and in particular, Auckland Transport’s dangerous humps and bumps, cycleways and restrictions on arterial roads, and attacks on our local shopping villages by taking away parking. Remember, mature trees, not cycleways, more effectively fight climate change.

The new board and council reflect diversity of opinion. This could well be the council of transparency and accountability I dreamed of... but don’t worry, I’ll be keeping an eye on them. Gael Baldock, community advocate.

LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Pippa Coom and City Vision (Labour and Greens) on their very hard fought campaign. If it's any personal consolation, not being elected in 2019 actually turned out to be one of the best things that happened to me.

I would also like to extend my warm congratulations to the new Waitematā Local Board. Clearly the voters of this most politically sophisticated community sent a reminder that elected members are there to serve the public - not the other way round. For all that, the voters have also signalled their preference for a balance of political views around the table. All of this can only be healthy.

I would like to especially congratulate the new board members. City Vision’s Anahera Rawiri impressed me during the campaign. She brings youth and lots of natural talent to the table, C&R’s Allan Matson has much to offer the board with his heritage expertise - especially so with our special character suburbs under attack from the government and the council. Also congratulations to my old sparring partner Greg Moyle whose return to the board after six years will bring valuable experience and local knowledge.

Finally welcome back Sarah Trotman. Sarah’s staunch defence of local residents and the Western Springs forest was clearly not forgotten by the voters. As we remember, Sarah was treated shabbily by the council and in effect hounded prematurely out of office. This must never happen again. Sarah must feel vindicated by the public support and buoyed by her renewed mandate.

I look forward to working with this new board. What we have in common is more important than what divides us, and together I firmly believe we can make a difference for the best electorate in New Zealand. Mike Lee

Opinions expressed in Ponsonby News are not always the opinion of Alchemy Media Limited & Ponsonby News.

As we have Christmas coming next month and again we are sorting our outdoor living…

We asked our contributing editor Helene Ravlich to give us some of her ideas.

"Now it’s spring and the sun is shining more often than not, I think we can safely say that the long, hot, lazy days of summer are just on the horizon. For some, that means heading off to busy seaside hot spots and family baches, for others it’s soaking up summer at home – especially if you’re lucky enough to have a pool in your own backyard.

"A well-designed pool not only serves a function focused most firmly on fun, but it can be a stunning focal point in an urban backyard oasis. The key to designing the perfect pool is to make it feel like part of your home, but installing one can be a huge investment, so planning is key.

"Wherever you are and whatever your outdoor aesthetic, you’ll want a solid plan before the installation professionals come in and begin their work. To start, you want to consider what the ground is like in your backyard. You’re in luck if you have level ground because you’re already on the right track to having an above or in-ground pool with fewer modifications to your backyard design."

Our cover stars this month are Adrian Hailwood and Helene Ravlich. They are good friends and don’t they both look great?

I wish to acknowledge a mistake made in the October edition of Ponsonby News. We made an error by incorrectly editing the pronouns of Rosemary Peppermint (they/them) in Chlöe Swarbrick’s piece. We send our apologies.

LEACH)

Jay Platt and Martin Leach

Photography: Connor Crawford

DAVID

ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH CHELSEA KARL

Chelsea Karl is a holistic facialist and skin coach with her own business called Skin by Chelsea.

What’s your job?

My job is to empower my clients with knowledge about why their skin concerns are manifesting in the first place and guide them to reach their skin goals through a holistic balance to their health.

How long have you been in the beauty business?

My first ever paid job was doing mountains of laundry in a salon while I was in high school and I've never fully left the industry.

Have men become more skin care savvy these days?

Absolutely, my most regular client is male. Regular facials with a professional can help anyone improve their skin's health.

What do you like most about Ponsonby?

I like that I can finish work for the day and walk into any restaurant and receive great service and even better food.

How have you survived the pandemic?

The lockdowns taught me gratitude for my budget and how to prepare for the worst, but also that even a simple walk in fresh air can completely change your outlook and remind you of how truly blessed we are to have such privileges.

Most Kiwi thing about you?

Either raw kingfish with a squeeze of lemon juice is a complete meal in my eyes or the fact that I'm dating a man with a mullet who drives a Ford XR8.

What do you love most about your age?

It was only in my late 20s when I developed self awareness, self worth, and appreciation for who I am.

If you won a million dollars?

My mother’s already warned me that I'm obliged to pay off her mortgage if I win the lotto, and I'd invest in my business with the rest.

Something you disapprove of?

I loathe homophobic, racist and sexist attitudes. There's no place for them in today's society.

Most treasured possession?

My great grandmother's ring. She was given it when her soon to be husband promised her that he would marry her when he returned from war.

Comfort food?

My mother’s meatloaf followed by her raspberry and white chocolate slice.

Do you have a party trick?

Does making alcohol disappear count?

Biggest disappointments?

Missing out on a management consultancy scholarship trip I'd earned at university because I couldn't get the annual leave approval to go.

What do you think happens when we die?

I'll probably haunt my brothers for a while if they are still around. Then I'll be a guardian angel for my future children.

What are you insecure about?

I need to feel safe and secure at all times. I don't like living on the edge.

Something few people know about you? I have a spreadsheet for everything in my life.

Greatest fear? Fire. I don't even like being near a bonfire. Ironically, I have no fire sign placements in my astrological birth chart.

What do you most dislike about your appearance? I am the shortest member of my family by a long shot. I'd take a few more inches if I could.

Do you read movie reviews? I saw the most recent ‘Thor' in the cinema because the reviews were good, so I guess so.

Favourite movie? 'Mona Lisa Smile'. I loved art history at school and it reminds me of my grandma’s advice of creating my own life before I become someone else's wife.

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

Compulsory financial literacy education in schools. (DAVID HARTNELL, MNZM)  PN

You can find Chelsea on instagram at _skinbychelsea or on my website www.skinbychelsea.co.nz

SBA CELEBRATE

great

chat

little bit about

all about small businesses, which means that we mostly help owner operators from start-ups

to earn their first dollar, to $10 million turnover operations.

also partner with larger specialist accounting firms to manage

FIRST ANNIVERSARY

Ponsonby own and operate seven SBA franchises, so our team is about 15 accountants, all local as we don’t outsource, plus our awesome client support people.

Up to six team members work in our Ponsonby office at any one time, but there is a waiting list to get on the Ponsonby roster as it’s everyone’s favourite place to work! We are also partnered with several New Zealand tax and business specialists to ensure that our clients get the right advice at the right time.

What do you like the most about Ponsonby?

client’s month to month

it’s more cost effective for larger businesses to use SBA for GST, payroll and day -to-day accounting and tax issues.

work with clients to develop streamlined processes. We use cloud based software to ensure they have the most timely, accurate and cost effective accounting and tax solution possible. While our clients come from all industries and sectors, a large percentage are in hospo, retail and trades. We also have a large base of property investors and developers.

How big is the team at SBA Ponsonby?

SBA is a nationwide franchise of 80 branches and over 25,000 clients collectively. We are both small and big! The team at SBA

We used to live in Ponsonby, first as a student/struggling entrepreneur in a converted warehouse on Douglas Street and then a few years later, in a beaut villa on Summer Street. It’s great to be working in the area again.

Love Ponsonby - the energy, the hustle and bustle. The mix of modern and classic buildings. The awesome cafes and restaurants, great mix of cheap and cheerful, to posh and elegant. I think we have been to almost every eating place now! The shopping is something quite special, vintage through designer. Just walking along Ponsonby Road is enough to recharge your batteries. Then there is the contrast of leafy Western Park just across the road from SBA, a great place for a stroll or a picnic. We are stoked to be part of the Ponsonby community.

SBA PONSONBY, 54C Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 0166, E: ponsonby@sba.co.nz, www.sba.co.nz

BY POPULAR DEMAND...

& Ionara Piletti

CONNOR CRAWFORD

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

LUCY KENNEDY

I am a young local writer who loves to read! Each month you will find my reviews of new books for people who love to read as much as I do.

DAVID HARTNELL - MNZM

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

PHIL PARKER

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

HONOUR MITCHELL

I have lived in the Ponsonby area all of my life. I write the column ‘Teen Picks’ which explores everything on offer in the greater Ponsonby area.

HELENE RAVLICH

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

PIPPA COOM

I am Councillor for Waitemat a and Gulf Ward on Auckland Council. Formerly, Chair Waitemat a Local Board.

KEN RING

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

ROSS THORBY

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

SOFIA ROGER WILLIAMS

A

I

of Ponsonby’s

IT’S A TEAM EFFORT... WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT OUR CONTRIBUTORS

GAEL BALDOCK: MORE TREE DESTRUCTION

IN THE NAME OF INTENSIFICATION

I look westwards towards the setting sun, past a pile of felled giant trees and stumps of where they once lived.

I can hear the hum of rush-hour traffic from the tunnel overbridge and the motorway beyond the Unitec arboretum. These trees tell a story of human history of this land from the pristine spring, ‘Te wai unu roa o Wairaka’ by the marae, that flows into Te Auaunga (Oakley Creek) where the first Maori waka landed, to the ‘Carrington Asylum’ built in 1867, until the mental health system was dismantled (including leaving a legacy of homelessness) and it became a technical institution.

Behind me is the dusk chorus of birds in magnificent trees. I’m surrounded by desolate buildings from another era. These historic brick buildings would make fabulous classrooms and student accomodation for a secondary school and a primary school in this expanding city whose heart is being intensified.

Large plots of land like this are rare. With some town planning foresight and architectural skill Unitec land and buildings should be used for the amenities required by an increasing population. The covenant placed on this state owned land stated its use “for education”. That was removed by failed Housing Minister, Phil Twyford, who in a short-term-thinking, small-minded plan, changed its use into housing.

The site is littered with warning signs, not of the real danger, the giving away of valuable land for developers to make a quick buck, and still the birds herald home time.

We need to learn from the tragedy of Western Springs Forest and protect the environment in this climate change emergency, yet without legal tree protection, the public have no voice to stop the chainsaws here.

I leave Unitec via Gate 1, the once tree lined entry like a Van Gogh painting, now a row of severed stumps. Heading home along Pt Chevalier Road moving into the medium strip to give a lone cyclist plenty of road room, I turn right into Meola Road, averting my eyes left, to avoid looking at more stumps where trees once screened the houses.

I pass the native flaxes that will soon be ripped out for the cycleway without thought for hungry tui to Meola Reef where dog walkers chase dusk transforming the sky. The road narrows from soccer players from all over the region, whose cars line both sides as they play under spotlights. I think, if we really want to enrich our city, more sports fields are another amenity that could be homed on the Unitec land, along with leisure pools like ‘WestWave’ including an Olympic training and hydrotherapy for an ageing population with arthritis and joint replacements, and for the young with sports injuries, instead of high-end apartments.

I worry that we humans, who live a small time on this land, have so little respect for our oxygen producers who live longer than we might ‘own’ a plot of land, yet we cut them down as if we hadn’t damaged the planet enough already, for what... the financial ‘yield’ of developers?

My whangai brother told me mana whenua means umbilical to the cosmos; that Maori believe in connection through trees, land, water, air, everything on Papatuanuku - we are one. Where are mana whenua to protect the Earth from this rape and pillage, including from those who embrace colonialism when it suits their ‘money-whenua’? (GAEL BALDOCK, community advocate)  PN

From the moment you enter this home, the senses are drawn to the perfectly proportioned living spaces. This tasteful three-bedroom open plan villa on offer is an entry point into one of Ponsonby’s most sought-after locations. Oversized doors lead into the private north-westerly garden.

With the mature tree canopies providing a sense of escapism the mind drifts …ah. Three large light airy bedrooms, two bathrooms plus parking. With numerous transport options on offer and some of the best schooling only moments away, this home is certainly a rare offering. The vendor’s instructions are clear! TO BE SOLD…

2-2:30pm

WILLIAM

DOCKLESS E-BIKE AND E-SCOOTER SHARING

Not everything can be enforced by law - nor should it be.

Etiquette noun

the customary code of polite behaviour in society or among members of a particular profession or group: synonyms: protocol · polite behaviour · acceptable behaviour · code of behaviour · courtesy · politeness · civility · propriety · punctilious

Etiquette around the world:

In Aotearoa/New Zealand, take your shoes off when entering a wharenui.

In Japan, never stick your chopsticks vertically in your bowl of rice – this resembles a funeral ritual.

· In Britain, saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ for any service is de riguer.

In the Middle East, don’t show the soles of your feet. It’s bad manners.

In China, don’t point your finger. Instead point with an open hand.

· In Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland, when parking a shared e-bike or e-scooter…

Recognising how we get around the city is changing. Auckland Council has just awarded Beam and Lime new licences to operate in our fair city, but within an improved Code of Practice. This is good news.

E-scooters and e-bikes solve a lot of problems as sustainable, carbon neutral, affordable, efficient modes of transportation. Hiring a dockless e-bike or e-scooter is a quick and convenient way of getting around. Riding from A to B through the streets of Ponsonby and the inner city can also be a fun commute. Providing you ‘share with care’, I’m sure you’ll be in a better mood than you were before you started your ride.

But not everyone has been a fan of these new micro-mobility modes of transport as regulations surrounding e-scooters and e-bikes have up to now been confusing. However, NZTA has recently decided to clarify some of the major issues: any e-scooter can be ridden on the footpath, shared paths and on the road; e-bikes can be ridden on shared paths, separated cycleways and on the road, but not on footpaths.

Auckland Council’s new Rental Micro-mobility Code of Practice (Version 1.0) will also help solve issues of noncompliance, including non-compliant parking, as among other things, it encourages Lime and Beam to influence user behaviour and quickly resolve issues.

Nevertheless, users themselves have a responsibility too. While most users are aware that the increasing use of micro-mobility devices mean new guidelines for acceptable behaviour - a new etiquette – some users are yet to adopt this, and plain for the eye to see, after finishing their ride park without others in mind.

When I walk through the inner-city streets of Ponsonby and surrounds, I can quickly find an e-bike or e-scooter to hire. But sadly, some are lying on the ground - as if dead or dying – neglected - when they should be standing upright, defying

gravity, and tempting us to go for a spin; I have to put my mind right and stand them up again.

Here’s a user guide to shared e-scooter and e-bike parking:

Use the kickstand. Ensure that the scooter remains standing upright by using the kickstand. A fallen scooter can be a real hazard to the visually impaired and to those with limited mobility.

· Don’t block traffic. Ask yourself if your parking choice will work for everyone else. Keep roads, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian crossings free for other vehicles.

Keep it neat. Place your scooter parallel and close to a wall, in a scooter rack, or within a designated parking zone. When in doubt, a good tip is to park your scooter next to obstacles that already exist.

· Don’t block the pavement. Be sure not to obstruct the path of pedestrians. Poorly parked vehicles are accidents waiting to happen.

· Park it proudly. You’ve just used a 21st century environmentally friendly means of transport.

In the meantime, and until more users familiarise themselves with parking etiquette, when you do see a pair of wheels lying on their side in the middle of your path and frustratingly in your way, ‘turn that frown upside down’ and stand them upright again. It’s a small thing perhaps, and you may not have solved a major world issue within the cosmos, but I bet you’ll feel just a tiny bit better. I’m sure others will too.

After all, don’t they say that if a butterfly flaps its wings in the Amazonian rain forest, it can change the weather half a world away. (WILLIAM GREIG)  PN

JOHN WILLS: ENJOYING 20 YEARS IN REAL ESTATE

John Wills has recently joined Bayleys in Three Lamps Ponsonby. Ponsonby News asked him a few questions about his career.

Tell us a little of your history.

"I am coming up on 20 years in the real estate industry, having previously had a career in the NZ Police and I’ve also done some personal fitness training in a past life.

"In 2008 I founded the real estate start-up brand Custom Residential in Grey Lynn and helped run that business for 12 years. In 2008, I also wrote a book about real estate sales coaching, which has proven to be popular and timeless over the years."

Why the change of brand?

"Being busy at the local real estate coalface is what I love to do. Sales is where my heart is, and I love helping local families buy and sell, and move on to the next phase of their lives. Having twenty years’ experience in doing this, is a real asset for buyers and sellers to lean on during this process.

"Post Custom Residential days, I wanted to get alongside a brand that is proven to be very strong in the bracket of property that I specialise in. Bayleys certainly offers that strength, and proven track record. This is important for me and my clients."

JOHN WLLIS: E: john.wills@bayleys.co.nz; T: 021 333 053.

What do you recommend vendors do to prepare their homes for sale?

"I recommend that sellers spend the time on the ‘one percenters’ when it comes time to prepare their home for sale. More and more buyers are looking for certainty and simplicity in their busy lives. Buyers tend to be attracted to homes that have that ‘move in and enjoy’ quality about them.

"The best bang-for-buck items when prepping for sale often come from fresh paint inside and out, tidying up hedges and gardens and focussing on maximising the street appeal of the home. Thinking about how a property presents to a buyer on a first impression basis is important, but just as important is thinking about the most serious buyers coming back through the home for a more detailed second or third private viewing."

Any testimonials you’d like to share?

"A lot has changed in the property market in the last year and I have been really impressed with the way you have adapted to this change. For us, this resulted in the sale being completed at a good price in a market which is increasingly seeing properties withdrawn. Thank you very much.”

Herne Bay Vendor.

ROSS THORBY: TANGI - WAI NOUN: TO CRY OR WEEP - WEEPING WATER

So, home from Fiji, it was time to warm up Car-lotta and hit the road south again towards the central plateau - home of the volcanos and also the site of one of our more tragic transport disasters.

It’s not that I’m morbid you understand, but I’ve wanted to return to this particular spot to pay my respects and explore further since travelling through this site for only a few brief seconds on the Northern Express Train earlier in the year. This was also to be my lesson in living, breathing New Zealand history, and besides, what better way to explore a little of our past but from the cosiness of a camper-van sporting all the comforts of home.

Picture it - Christmas Eve, 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary had conquered Everest, the Queen was in Auckland on her Coronation tour of New Zealand and the 3pm Express train from Wellington to Auckland was well into her journey north.

Meanwhile on the Volcanic Plateau, immense pressure was building inside the Tephra dam at the top of Mount Ruapehu. Having erupted as recently as 1945, it was no longer being monitored. Few realised or appreciated the danger from the lake and the pressure on the unstable walls of its cone.

At 8pm the walls collapsed and a six meter high wave of debris and river ice cascaded down the slopes at an estimated speed of 140kmh, scouring out the river-bank and trees as it twisted and turned; gaining increasing momentum down towards the bridges at the mountain’s foot. The lahar hurtled itself at the railway crossing’s supports, taking out the central span and weakening what structure was left then submerging the vehicle bridge further downstream. The steel tracks of the railway bridge were left suspended in mid air and the road bridge completely buried in a flood of debris.

Minutes later the engineer of the approaching train saw the danger ahead and applied the brakes just as the bridge’s tracks collapsed under the engine’s weight, nose-diving it and the first carriage out over the void towards the far bank. The following three carriages plunged into the swollen current and a further carriage was left dangling over the edge, eventually disentangling itself and plunging into the seething river below. Of the 285 souls onboard, 151 died in New Zealand’s worst railway accident; most passengers drowning in the muddy lahar which continued its fearsome path downstream.

Just off State Highway 49, between Tangiwai and Waiouru, stands the memorial to the Tangiwai Disaster, a tribute to not only the victims, but the incredible bravery of the rescuers who worked tirelessly in the muddy aftermath.

It was packed the day Car-lotta and I arrived. Setting up a day-camp in the grounds of the site, I was joined by a number of other like-minded travellers and tourists, history buffs and the merely curious, who were soaking up the atmosphere of the park. The mournful cry of the wind through the macrocarpa trees and the gentle bubbling sound of the river threading its way through the valley seemed incongruous, knowing the fury of that night - here in this now quiet, peaceful backwater of New Zealand.

Amongst the birdsong and crickets are some restored parts of the train chassis, picture story-boards and a consecrated memorial that make this a well worthwhile stop and a restful picnic-spot beside the calming river.

The original road leads through the park up to a point on the riverbank that ominously falls away to the stream below. Its original asphalt, still obvious, seemingly awaiting the next traffic flow that will never come, and to its left, upriver, there is a new railway bridge. The gentle current below now only meanders and tickles around its supports.

After the tragedy, an early warning system was installed which successfully detected a lahar of similar magnitude in 2007. The system worked as planned and train and motorists were stopped before the lahar hit the bridges; this time, successfully standing up to the onslaught. We treat our mighty mountains with just a little more respect now.

A walking track leads up through the forest to a lookout where I stood on the hill above the new crossing and imagined the horrific sight that night as “man-made met nature’s mighty fury”. Poignantly, just as I turned to walk back, a train crossed the bridge. It could not have been a more thought-provoking moment considering what happened here 69 years ago, and with that, I knew it was time to move on. (ROSS THORBY)  PN

POOLSIDE STYLE FOR SUMMER

Now it’s spring and the sun is shining more often than not, I think we can safely say that the long, hot, lazy days of summer are just on the horizon. For some, that means heading off to busy seaside hot spots and family baches, for others it’s soaking up summer at home –especially if you’re lucky enough to have a pool in your own backyard.

A well-designed pool not only serves a function focused most firmly on fun, but it can be a stunning focal point in an urban backyard oasis. The key to designing the perfect pool is to make it feel like part of your home, but installing one can be a huge investment, so planning is key. Wherever you are and whatever your outdoor aesthetic, you’ll want a solid plan before the installation professionals come in and start their work.

To start, you want to consider what the ground is like in your backyard. You’re in luck if you have level ground because you’re already on the right track to having an above or inground pool with fewer modifications to your backyard design.

However, if you have your backyard on a hillside or sloping surface, or if the ground is very uneven and rocky, you may be worried that you won’t be able to bring your dream pool design to life. This isn’t the case though, and choosing an above-ground pool is a great solution. For example, you can install a fibreglass shell for an above-ground pool on any terrain, including rough, uneven or sloped surfaces.

Next, where do you want your pool in your backyard? A lot of pool design involves having a centrally located pool that draws people to one beautiful location. Other people choose to put their pool closer to their home so they can create a nice

transition from the house to the backyard to the pool. If indooroutdoor flow is top on your list of priorities then lean towards the latter, which is also a great idea if you’ve got smaller family members you’re keen to keep an eye on.

One of the final stages of the backyard design planning process is how you plan to use your pool.

If you have a family, a lap pool could be a good pick because it has easy-access ledges that are slightly wider to support children or people just learning how to swim. Lap pools — the narrow, refined cousins of the old-school backyard pool — also look so elegant, especially if you’re working with a tight space.

If you have a compact backyard, a plunge pool is another small but deep option that will take up minimal space while still giving you the versatility of having a pool without taking up your entire garden. You can even double it up as a spa by adding a few jets – the possibilities are endless!

When it comes to dressing your pool space, great design doesn’t have to stay inside. Brands like Design Warehouse, Calypso, Lujo, Coast, Poynters, Refined Living, Urban Beach and Dawson & Co offer a world of beautiful pieces crafted to withstand the elements; it’s just a matter of refining your aesthetic and curating exactly what you need.

According to most designers, choosing outdoor furniture is all about a finding a balance of form, function and materiality. Understanding how the furniture will be used and in what context is also key, especially if small children and pets are likely to be using the furniture.

Selecting more durable pieces with stain-resistant qualities is essential, as well as pieces that are easy to clean and move around. Material choice is also super important. By opting for premium, where and when you can, you will have pieces that you love now, and that will also last a lifetime outdoors. Teak, marine grade stainless steel, and coated wicker are always popular, and are easy to care for as well as being able to withstand the elements.

Once the use is clear and you done a little research into materials that may work best for you, the next thing to consider is the size of your poolside living space. Ensuring the outdoor furniture you choose isn’t too large or too small for the space is more important than you think. Oversized furniture can make a statement in a grand space, but if the area is a little more on the compact side, it can quickly make it feel cramped and uninviting. Often, opting for softer pieces in materials suitable for the conditions, and throwing a few all-weather bean bags into the mix, which can easily be moved around or stored for when and where you need them, is the best option for smaller spaces.

A poolside chaise for all-day lounging is a must-have, and can do double duty for outdoor lounging and sunbathing by the pool in ease. A teak Adirondack Chair is another piece that will fit perfectly into most outdoor living settings and has long been regarded as a popular choice for poolside relaxation all over the world. Designed for hours of lounging, the legendary Adirondack makes it almost impossible not to relax once you've reclined into its high back, backward sloping seat resting so close to the ground. An added bonus: extra-wide armrests for balancing drinks and small plates, right when you need them.

A modern sun lounger is another absolute poolside essential, but whether you opt for teak, stainless steel or wicker, make sure it’s high on the comfort factor. The ability to easily move a lounger around is another bonus, especially if you’re keen on catching – or avoiding – the sun.

Lastly, when it comes to the perfect pool setting, you can’t go past a cantilevered umbrella that can either tilt or rotate to ensure that you are protected from UV rays, no matter the angle of the sun. The number one reason people choose to avoid their home’s outdoor ‘room’ is lack of shelter from the heat and rain, and a premium outdoor shade umbrella will provide a super stylish and impressive addition to your favourite summertime space as well as protect against the sun's harmful rays.

RAVLICH)  PN

ADRIAN HAILWOOD – FASHION DESIGN MASTER

Adrian Hailwood runs his fashion store from the Ponsonby end of Karangahape Road. Most days you’ll find him working behind the counter.

Tell us about your background.

I have a Bachelor of Design from Victoria University (I majored in Illustration and Graphics) moved north for work as an illustrator working on ACP magazine titles, Metro, She & More, North & South, and others such as Cuisine and FQ.

I then moved into commercial art making ads and it was then that I started creating tee shirts as a side hustle. I’d go out to a small tee shirt manufacturer and cut out the runs with George, an 85-year-old stalwart of the garment trade - he taught me everything.

Why did you decide to choose fashion design as a career?

When Pavement magazine did a shoot with the tees through Jasmin Edgar, I then worked with Stella Gregg, a stockist in Auckland who sold 100 tees a week. It went nuts from the get-go so I thought I'll give this manufacturing thing a go and here I am today.

What’s your favourite part of being a designer?

I love the interaction with my clients and customers to see

my designs being worn and enjoyed the most. I also like researching the themes and ideas of making a collection.

What’s your definition of fashion?

Fashion is whatever you want it to be - I put no boundries on myself or others when it comes to personal dressing - be it high-end or trends at the lower price point. Everything goes into the mix for me. It can be serious and fun too.

What skills according to you are necessary to be successful?

50% love of the job, 40% business sense, 5% design skill, and a healthy smidge of BS.

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? Not sure, you tell me… ha ha!

How would you describe your personal style? Denim, denim, and more denim.

HAILWOOD, 516 Karangahape Road, T: 09 360 9931, www.hailwood.co.nz

Helene Ravlich pictured with Adrian Hailwood

Photography: Connor Crawford

OUTDOOR

ARRIVALS @ LIGNE ROSET

SAPARELLA seating –the ‘outdoor Togo’ first designed by Michel Ducaroy in 1965 and still hand made in France by Ligne Roset.

Murtoli. Christian Werner Made in France

VIBES...

Designers and Architects are specifying Vibes for its natural stone look and multiple finishes for indoor and outdoor use. It is a go everywhere tile.

The ideal solution for inside and out, walkways, terraces, patios, courtyards and around swimming pools.

Available in four colours. Sizes include; 900 x 900, 900 x 1800 and mosaics all with an R10 finish. For outdoors 600 x 1200 R11 and 600 x 900 20mm R11 non slip for use on deck jacks or as pavers.

Vibes, a design orientated product suited to most projects.

DESIGN MEETS INSPIRATION

WE DIG PLANTS. PLANTS DIG MULCH.

The science of mulch is simple – the mix of large and small particle sizes helps it knit together. When water hits the larger particles, it will run down the sides onto the soil where it’s needed, unlike ordinary hard soil areas where water runs off to the lowest point. Any soil that has been covered with an organic mulch will reap benefits – plant roots remain cool, and earthworms stay nearer the surface because the soil is moist.

the

mulch tends to cover

plants

wide

into.

and the team at Central Landscape Supplies

at last count

were offering nine different varieties of

customers.

‘It depends entirely on what the mulch is to be used for,” says Jarrod. “Many customers love our aged arborist mulch for that more natural look at an affordable price. We find inner city gardeners like Reharvest’s black decorative mulch as much for its water holding capacity as for its fashionable dark colour. For vegetable gardens we recommend our pea straw and lucerne product in 90 litre bags. This is a lighter product, still holding moisture but able to let sprouting vegetables to grow through it.“

Many gardeners don’t appreciate where most garden mulches begin life, but they are one of the best recycling stories around. Ever notice those used up wooden pallets on the side of the road? The untreated wood pallets are chipped up and dyed black, becoming a mulch that the Central Landscape Supplies Group has been proud to sell for over twenty years.

A more recent addition, the undyed Cushionfall mulch is certified for use in playgrounds to keep children safe when they fall. And arborist mulch is exactly that – coming full circle from the pruning of trees and shrubs – with a careful aging process on the way.

To begin your mulching journey, Avondale Central Landscapes is open seven days for getting great mulch advice, booking deliveries, or borrowing a free trailer.

CENTRAL LANDSCAPES AVONDALE, 419 Rosebank Road, T: 09 828 5533, facebook: @CLSAvondale, www.centrallandscapes.co.nz/collections/mulches-barks

REFINED LIVING: ENJOYING OUTSIDE LIVING IN COMFORT…

As the cooler weather

way to

Refined Living offer a stunning range of all weather wicker and solid teak furniture, the perfect option for elegant seating and dining for your outdoor entertaining area.

Refined Living classic wicker style furniture is created on a rustproof powder coated aluminium frame using handwoven polyethylene weave to produce a classic natural or black finish with extreme durability. Complemented with outdoor cushions in a quick dry foam and solution dyed acrylic fabric create the perfect pieces for outdoor seating.

REFINED

Strand, Parnell, T: 09

Malaga

Malaga

Lounger classic

INTRODUCING KINGS PLANT BARN STONEFIELDS

Kings Plant Barn Stonefields has recently opened its doors at 86 Lunn Avenue, Stonefields.

Sustainability is at the heart of its design which boasts sustainably sourced building materials, locally made fixtures that use sustainable timber, solar panels which provide the entirety of the store’s daytime energy, irrigation systems that incorporate water reuse and new plastic recycling initiatives including a partnership with Future Post.

Step inside the building designed by award-winning architects, Cheshire, and you’ll find an airy space that captures the simplicity of nature. The shelves carry an incredible selection of product essentials for your everyday gardening needs, be it indoor or out. You’ll also find a range of locally sourced designer products, like Moobee planters, specialist teas and other curated selections from General Collective that will update seasonally.

Moving through towards the playground and café, you enter an atrium with a lush tropical feel achieved through clever use of hanging planters and natives reimagined. Luckily the café is right there so you can sit down and take it all in with a coffee and some fab food.

Kings Garden Kitchen is a beautiful café with a seasonal menu focusing on locally grown produce and root-to-stem dishes. From a classic like the Stonefields Benedict to a vegetarian spectacular like the Green Goodness - whatever your tastes, you’ll find something to love. Nestled amongst the amazing forest of foliage, it’s the perfect destination for a brunch with friends, a quick coffee while you shop, or to grab a delicious bite to take away. And of course, for the little gardeners-to-be there’s an epic playground right beside the café that’ll keep them occupied no matter what the weather is doing. It’s close enough to the café that you can keep an eye on them, but not so close that they’ll spill your coffee.

The back of Kings Plant Barn Stonefields features a super convenient drive-thru bay. You can pick up click-and-collect orders, or have the team load your car with those heavy products, like compost, potting mix, or that monster lemon tree that’ll look so good at your place.

PIPPA COOM: IT'S A WRAP AFTER 12 YEARS ON AUCKLAND COUNCIL

Now that the dust had settled it's time to call a wrap on the election campaign and my council career.

It certainly wasn’t the result I was hoping for. I really thought Auckland was ready for a visionary progressive Pasifika Mayor Collins who is an empathetic and constructive leader. I wish the Wayne Brown Mayoralty the best and hope that he will quickly figure out what really needs to be fixed (like the lack of safe cycleways and dedicated bus lanes) but early indications are not promising.

However, there are results to acknowledge and celebrate. I am delighted that City Vision’s Julie Fairey has been elected to the governing body and will be joined by Labour’s Lotu Fuli and Kerrin Leoni. It was a mixed overall result for City Vision but I am really happy for all those elected. Congratulations to the new members joining the Waitematā Local Board. The foundations of the local board are strong so I am sure we will continue to see great work for the community.

I am of course gutted that I was unsuccessful in my bid to be re-elected to Auckland Council. It has been a huge privilege to serve as Councillor for Waitematā and Gulf ward following 9 years on the Waitematā Local Board. Over the last term there had been lots of progress and achievements that I am really proud about, from work on local issues like safety outside schools and the Covid-19 recovery, to being part of a leadership team that saw the adoption of Te Tāruki ā Tāwhiri: Auckland's Climate Pan, the Climate Action Targeted Rate with almost $1 billion of climate action investment over the next 10 years and the bold Transport Emissions Reduction Pathway. In particular, I'm proud of the progress we made on the Hauraki Gulf Forum following the adoption of cogovernance leadership in February 2020. There is no going back from the path the Forum is now on.

I’m really grateful for all the support I’ve received and the many working relationships I’ve built up that I hope to maintain. I need further time to reflect on what I should have

done differently and why I didn’t secure support from those who share City Vision’s progressive values. What I certainly hadn’t anticipated was the need to fight an election on two fronts: against an opponent willing to stretch the truth (to put it kindly) and the often nasty and misogynistic personal attack against me led by the Taxpayers Union.

This was the first election with very little media coverage at a ward level to counter all the disinformation. The death of John Elliott left a big gap in the local coverage. As this is my final column for Ponsonby News after more than 13 years I wish to thank Martin for the opportunity to contribute and to the many readers over this time. I hope my departure from council now draws to an end the regular fact-free abuse directed at me and City Vision members.

I have written to Mike Lee to congratulate him and will continue to stay close to all the communities across Waitematā and Gulf. I'm disappointed, but probably shouldn't be surprised, that after campaigning for Mike over three elections he wasn't able to gracefully pass the baton but ended up endorsed by National party aligned C&R. It will be interesting to see how he works with Mayor Brown on issues like Ports of Auckland and adapts to the expectations of a far more respectful way of working with staff and colleagues than he has previously experienced.

Despite the final result this time around I remain hopeful. I think this election will end up being seen as a turning point that actually strengthens the Hauraki Gulf Forum (especially the debate for co-governance) and the Super City for the best of Auckland rather than rips it apart. I wish the new mayor and council well and will stay close to the action as much as I can.

A fuller version of my election reflections is available at pippacoom.co.nz (PIPPA COOM)  PN

MIKE LEE: TRUE LIFE - STRANGER THAN FICTION

True life can be sometimes stranger than fiction, can’t it?

Who would have dreamed that I would be back as the councillor for Waitematā and Gulf only a few months ago? Certainly not me. The Super City imposed on Auckland twelve years ago is not working. In terms of both financial performance and democratic accountability, it is clearly failing.

The remarkable outcome of the recent elections shows that the people, especially of this ward, have had enough and are demanding change. In Wayne Brown we have a new mayor and a refreshed governing body. Essentially we have been given a mission to save Auckland. We must not fail.

My thanks to all those people who supported me in this campaign, here in the city and out in the Gulf Islands. A special thanks to all those volunteers led by Puneet Dhall who worked so hard for this result. My success was due to local people who put national politics and labels to one side because they recognised the council and its CCOs were out of control.

They wanted accountability - not apologists for the council and AT. They recognised that the only way ordinary people have any chance of standing up to the system was to come together. That’s why the ‘Auckland Independents’ was formed. It’s high time we put Auckland first – not Wellington.

The election outcome is a firm riposte to the government’s ill-advised National Policy Statement on Urban Development which if it proceeds will effectively destroy our special character suburbs. I campaigned long and hard on this and while I have heard predictable ‘tut tutting’ about my ‘broad church’ of support, bear in mind the attack on our special character areas is not just government policy, it is a firm policy alliance between the Labour, National and Green parties.

This has now been firmly rejected by the people of this ward because nowhere in New Zealand would these policies do more damage than here - the historic heart of Auckland. The people of Auckland Central have spoken. The MPs and the council would be wise to heed the message.

I intend to ensure that this is acted on by the council. Hopefully, rather than inexpertly trying to rig the supply side of the market to somehow engineer cheaper housing prices, the government will stop relying on property developers and begin to act like a genuine Labour government and start actually building houses as Labour governments famously once did.

Also on my agenda is the need to address planning rules which govern consents for helicopter landing sites. There is widespread public opposition to these right across the electorate, from Westmere to Waiheke to Great Barrier Island. I am presently getting expert advice on how to tackle this problem which has been ignored for too long by those in authority. I will be consulting with the local boards, Waitematā, Waiheke and Aotea-Great Barrier on my planned way forward.

Another major concern is the deeply unpopular Auckland Transport. The new mayor has already put this organisation on notice. Changes around the boardroom table will not be enough. Thoroughgoing root and branch reform is needed.

In the meantime in response to complaints, especially from Grey Lynn and Surrey Crescent small businesses and even cyclists, about the ‘Inner West Cycleways and Street Improvements Project’, I have written to the mayor asking for a moratorium on funding for this and AT’s other big spending projects until the council‘s finances are sorted out. AT does not listen, therefore we must turn off the funding tap until it does.

Then there is the state of the Hauraki Gulf, which is facing an ecological crisis. The government’s response touted as ‘Revitalising the Gulf’ frankly will not. The government is proposing 14 so-called ‘High Protection Areas’ (HPA) from which all fishing will be banned - except for ‘customary fishing’ by Māori. The Seafloor Protection Areas (SPA) will ban bottom trawling, but fishing from boats will continue.

Two ‘Protected Areas’, adjacent to Leigh and Cathedral Cove marine reserves will come under intense pressure to be open to ‘customary fishing’. None of these concepts are yet legal; they are experimental, and because of their mixed objectives and discriminatory nature they will be controversial. Moreover they will do precious little for nature conservation.

The Friends of the Hauraki Gulf, which I chair, is running a petition calling for the Hākaimangō-Matiatia (NW) Marine Reserve, which was supported by 93% of 1303 submitters during its recent public notification through the Marine Reserves Act, be included in the plan to give it some credibility. Again, the government would be wise to listen. A council term is 156 weeks. That’s time I have given myself to make a real difference. My thanks again. It’s good to be back. (MIKE LEE)  PN

THE FESTIVAL IS ON… WITH MORE DIVERSITY, CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC EVENTS THAN EVER

Celebrate diversity at the annual community-organised Grey Lynn Park Festival on Saturday 19 November from 9.30am to 6pm.

Come for your Christmas shopping, eat from around the world, enjoy our mix of free music and family friendly fun at Grey Lynn Park, Dryden Street, Grey Lynn.

New Zealand art, craft, fine fare, music and dance – it’s all there to enjoy without burning a hole in your pocket. Stroll through the gypsy village and meet up with those who prefer the mobile home to the city pad. Kids can enjoy Larry and Rosie’s Fun Fair, Farmyard Fun Circus and other activities.

Discover new market stalls. Come and listen and talk to experts at the TALK TENT on environmental sustainability, New Zealand Herbal Medicine, Qigong, Essentially Men’s Group, Grey Lynn Cohaus Community Composting.

So much to enjoy: watch out for the bin fairies and clown doctors; Machine Park gives lovers of steam engines a treat and a yarn; engage with the Circus Kumarani, the little entertainment company, song writers for climate change; be uplifted by Kimata’s African sound and a host of other roaming performers.

For the main stage we have a great line-up of live music this year with some up-and-coming young musicians from the greater Auckland area including:

Yah Yah – Coast Arcade – Skinnyandsoft – Levyne – Who Shot Scott – Franko Heke – Base FM showcase - Voices of Ukraine and the Grey Lynn School Kapa Haka Group.

Plus the Base FM Soundsystem stage all day from 10am – 6pm.

But wait, there’s more: a smaller stage featuring The Ministry of Folk - grab a place on the grass and enjoy an eclectic mix of some of Auckland’s top acoustic musicians.

Remember we are a zero-waste-festival, so while having fun with the bin fairies put your waste in the right bin and we will compost it or recycle it.

The festival runs from 9.30am to 6pm. There will be an EFTPOS machine but put cash in your pocket, grab that sun hat and a smile on your dial.

If you wish to get involved with next year's event, send us your brief CV or ideas. Email: greylynnparkfestival@gmail.com

The Grey Lynn Park Festival is a community event that is managed by a registered non-profitable trust called the Grey Lynn Park Festival Trust.

www.greylynnparkfestival.org

CHLÖE SWARBRICK: Auckland Central MP

If we want to get big things done in and for this city, we need alignment between central and local government.

That’s not to be confused with agreement on all things. It’s about finding the areas of accord. Some of those issues will be obvious, while others will take a whole lot of work.

This is why I was glad to hold one of the first official public meetings with our new mayor, who also happens to live just around the corner from Ponsonby. About half of my electorate workload involves trying to get council to do something; to implement the City Centre Masterplan (signed off 10 years ago), enable more community gardens (a collaboration with Bayfield School hopefully coming soon!) or just install and maintain public toilets.

It was brilliant that we were able to find areas of consensus, most notably on city vibrancy and safety. These included supporting the Māori wardens with a base at Myer’s Park, resourcing Heart of the City and City Mission’s ‘Street Guardians’ programme, a public toilet strategy with budget attached, a single-point contact for those experiencing or concerned about those experiencing homelessness and removing barriers for food trucks (remember the White Lady drama?). These are all tangible and measurable actions that will make a difference, especially together.

Tangible matters, because that’s what council has the mandate and flexibility to do: to govern, improve and care for our immediate natural and built environment. It’s got levers that central government does not and it should use them.

Returning 77 hectares of waterfront land to Aucklanders is tangible – on that, the mayor and I strongly agree. I know some of the foundational work had been considered by former Mayor Phil Goff, particularly when it came to separating the land and operating company.

We’ve had reports up to our eyeballs for more than a decade noting the operation will run out of space within the next 30 (now 20) years, so the move is not a surprise to anyone who’s been following the issue. I met with, then wrote to CE Roger Gray in March asking that they start removing cars from the ‘fingers’ along to Bledisloe Wharf for public use. But it takes alignment with council’s plans and priorities for things to start moving.

Speaking of, council consultation is currently open on concepts for the restoration and modernisation of the Leys Institute –thank you to Friends of Leys’ Helen Geary for the ongoing

Mayor Wayne Brown and Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick discussing actions Council can take for the electorate.

advocacy and provision of information for all of us supporters out there! Please do submit to show the tidal wave of community support for getting this beautiful building restored and back in community hands.

In parliament, we’re closer than we’ve ever been to an Inquiry into the Covid-19 economic response, with Minister Hipkins announcing mid-October that the government was scoping one on the entire response. It’s disappointing to have lost so much time to politics in Finance and Expenditure Committee, my motion for us to fulfil our democratic function to undertake such an inquiry blocked every sitting week for almost a year now by Labour members, but I’m glad we’ll finally take these important steps.

Work also continues across all other portfolios, not the least in tertiary education, I’ve been working for two months to get investigation into and policy change on inconsistent postgraduate and placements support. This could make all the difference to the pipeline of not only research and innovation in Aotearoa, but our social workers, nurses, clinical mental health workforce and so much more. (CHLÖE SWARBRICK)  PN

CHLÖE SWARBRICK, T: 09 378 4810, E: chloe.swarbrick@parliament.govt.nz www.greens.org.nz/chloe_swarbrick

RICHARD NORTHEY: FORMER WAITEMATĀ LOCAL BOARD CHAIR

This will be my last article for the Ponsonby News as Chair of the Waitematā Local Board.

I will not be seeking the chair’s position and am happy to pass it on to someone with a fresh outlook. I want to thank all of you who voted or campaigned for me to return me to the Waitematā Board and I pledge that I will continue to work hard in the interests of the people, communities and businesses of the Waitematā Board area.

I also want to express my appreciation and thanks for the great work of former Councillor and 9-year Waitematā Board member Pippa Coom and to the Waitematā Local Board Members of the last term, particularly to Glenda Fryer, who was not re-elected. I look forward to working positively and constructively with whoever the new board chair is and with all my colleagues on the newly elected board. The new board will be sworn in at a public meeting on Wednesday 2 November at 4pm in the reception lounge of the Town Hall.

I will be continuing to advocate for a more active and effective role for council to ensure all Aucklanders can access secure, affordable and appropriate housing and am pictured with fellow board member Gen Sage pledging to do so at the 10 October World Homelessness Day Rally in Freyberg Square. New Mayor Wayne Brown, at a big meeting at St Matthews, pledged to establish a working group to develop practical ways to give real effect to the right to housing in Auckland and he should be held to that.

The right to housing is vital for everyone to fully participate in society by having a secure place to call home. By not providing enough affordable homes and putting Auckland’s homeless people long-term into often inappropriate central city motels and boarding houses they have failed both the homeless and the neighbouring residents and businesses.

People who are stressed, have mental health or addiction issues, or a tendency towards criminal or anti-social behaviour, have inevitably contributed to what people feel to be unsafe inner-city streets and neighbourhoods. We need the right mixture of better housing and social policies and policing and security policies. The board has been working regularly with council and CCO staff and business associations to enhance the resurgence of the central city which is now well underway with activities and events helping the inner city and city fringe businesses recover and attract people back and making the neighbourhoods safer.

This financial year will, as a result of prudent Waitematā Local Board and governing body decisions, see us retain

our range and quality of council services, progress the Ponsonby Park project and restore and upgrade of the Leys Institute. A public consultation on two options for the future design of the Leys Institute is open until Thursday 1 December on our website and we look forward to hearing what you have to say. The governing body also agreed to a targeted rate to take more action by providing better bus services and more trees to combat climate change. This targeted rate will reinforce our board’s own extensive and diverse work supporting and promoting low carbon lifestyles.

We have restored the very old heritage cottage in Myers Park for public use. The flying fox in Grey Lynn Park has been restored - safer but equally exciting. A photo from the opening event, which was enjoyed by hundreds of school children, is attached. The former board advocated to council to continue to protect quality heritage and special character areas while also supporting well designed new development in the inner suburbs in its Unitary Plan review and I am confident the new board will also do so.

We are urging the provision of better-quality public toilets in central Karangahape Road and safer footpaths in Ponsonby Road and elsewhere. The Waitematā Board is organising the Parnell Festival of Roses on Sunday 13 November at Dove-Myer Robinson Park and sponsoring the Festival Italiano in Osborne Street, Newmarket the same day. We are also sponsoring the Grey Lynn Park Festival on Saturday 19 November and the restored Franklin Road Christmas Lights from early December. (RICHARD NORTHEY)  PN

I can always be contacted on 021 534 546, E: richard.northey@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Richard Northey - World Homeless Day

OF

As the

This year’s local elections have been significant and I look forward to engaging with all the new councillors, board members and other elected officials at one of our many exciting cultural festivals like Diwali and Christmas functions (I can’t believe it’s already October!) over the next few weeks.

As a National List MP based in Auckland I look forward to working with our local government representatives to build a more liveable city and support key local infrastructure from better housing and roads to better community services so that everyone can benefit from this special part of New Zealand. In particular, I was really excited to hear new Mayor of Auckland Wayne Brown call on telecommunications providers and the Government to do more to bring better digital connectivity to everyone across the Auckland region.

I’ve visited areas from the heart of our city to the rural outskirts with issues ranging, from network congestion and poor broadband to accessibility issues for our older and more vulnerable New Zealanders. It’s time this is urgently addressed for the future of our digital nation and the opportunities that the digital economy can provide everyone in education, careers and lifestyle. No one should be left behind.

Back down at parliament I’ve been challenging the minister on the government’s ridiculous plans over the future of New Zealand’s media landscape. His $370million in wasteful spending during a

I would like to extend my

across

cost of living crisis is baffling and won’t provide further plurality or benefits to New Zealand media audiences.

Last month, the Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson came before the EDSI Committee to outline his reasoning for the Aotearoa/ New Zealand Public Media Bill. In short, what he did instead was criticize TVNZ for not being on board with his bizarre plans to spend $370million.

As a result, during the last sitting block I put questions to the minister directly in the House and his answers have to be seen to be believed:

Question Time 27 September 2022 https://vimeo.com/754099410

Question Time 28 September 2022 https://vimeo.com/754531827

Question Time 29 September 2022- https://ondemand. parliament.nz/parliament-tv-on-demand/?itemId=228628

During Select Committee hearings over the last few weeks - from big to small - we’ve heard serious concerns about the minister’s plans. The committee received more than 900 submissions on the minister’s plans with many expressing serious concerns over his proposals. Many are concerned at the impact the new public media entity monolith may have on the future of commercial media in our country. Many also have expressed dismay at the thought of hundreds of millions being spent to establish this new entity and then to keep it afloat for the years ahead without value to the taxpayer. This massive cost could instead clear the cancer patient waiting list, fund desperately needed medications with more left over to tackle the worst surgical wait list in the past decade affecting tens of thousands of New Zealanders in need. I encourage you to listen to what the submitters had to say and you can watch the proceedings on the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee Facebook Page www. facebook.com/EDSISCNZ

In the words of Dr Gavin Ellis and Sir Peter Gluckman, the merger legislation “is so incomplete and raises so many issues that it would be unsafe to enact it in its present form”. I believe it is vital the minister understands these plans are simply not fit for purpose and he needs to go back to the drawing board. RNZ and TVNZ, are cherished institutions for many New Zealanders. They both have some faults that need to be addressed but the solution is not throwing good money after bad while debt borrowing levels continue to rise in our country.

The future of New Zealand’s media landscape is being put at severe risk by the minister’s plans because they will reduce plurality in the market. New Zealand On Air have confirmed they’ll be handing over a lion’s share of their funding to the new entity taking away contestability to other platforms across New Zealand.

It’s time the government took a step back and pauses their plans for the future of the New Zealand media. Who’s with me? (MELISSA LEE MP)  PN

National Member of Parliament. National Spokesperson for Broadcasting & Media| Digital Economy and Communications | Ethnic Communities

mplee@parliament.govt.nz

Authorised by Melissa Lee, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

DEMPSEY EXPLAINS

THE BATTERY/RANGE TRUTHS

There’s a lot of bunk being claimed around E-bike range, especially by the “web-based” E-bike spruikers, where there’s no recourse for the gullible. So, here’s the physics; a primer as to the basics of E-bike range, per battery capacity.

“ Watts” is power, and power is a measure of how quickly work can be applied. So, a 350 W motor can apply about 30% more power than a 250 W motor, at maximum, but it also, coincidentally, is more efficient at mid-power applications because it isn’t overloaded, and generates a LOT less heat (i.e. electrical power wasted).

Various “work” challenges face a vehicle: weight carried, gradient that weight is lifted up, wind resistance, and mechanical resistance being the biggies.

An E-bike has two sources of energy to create the power necessary to make it roll, overcome wind resistance, and most especially, climb hills. Those two sources are your battery and your pedal application.

Given still air and decent tyre pressure, rolling on flat terrain at about 15 km/hr requires only about 30 Watts of power (walking energy level) so it’s a doddle. But all such resistance is exponential, so doubling speed squares the power required... 30Km/Hr will be a BIG effort, and if you're not a highly tuned cyclist, you won’t keep that up for long - and that’s on smooth flat roads. Headwinds, chip seal and lifting one’s weight up a climb add another multiple factor of load (i.e. Watts required). And this is why E-bikes are soooo good ! They provide most of the power required to overcome loads even procyclists can’t maintain. To put it simply, with 350 W of maximum power (legal limit, which in fact delivers the legal limit of 300 W nett), adding 80 W of your own weetbix, you’re roughly equivalent to Lance Armstrong on the gear. That 80 W won’t blow the foofoo valve; you’ll be breathing comfortably, and you won’t get arrested,, nor have to explain yourself to Oprah.

Ok, so Watt? Here’s the summary: Watt hours are the energy potential of any battery. To calculate that, you multiply the Volts of the battery by the Amp hours of content, then add that Volts’ number again to assimilate your additional average pedal assistance. So, a 36 V battery with 10.4 Amp hours of

content has 36 X 10.4+36 Watt-hours of content = 410 Whrs. Call it 400 Whrs. So, at 100 Watts draw (generally Power 1 or 2) the bike will run with you easy-pedalling, theoretically for 3.5 - 4 hours.; total rule of thumb, but it’s around that .

There’s an entire field of Physics I could bore you witless with, but simply put, in round terms, flat terrain still-air resistance at a cruisey 20km/hr will require about 125 W (upright position, city tourer bike, flat road on a windless day. The exact figures will change according to rider and bike weight etc). So, a 10.4 Amp hour battery through a 36 V system will give a nominal 410 Whrs of assistance/125 W draw, resulting in 3.28 hrs of running at 20 km/hr makes a hypothetical 65 km range. This applies to about a 70 kg rider on a 25 kg bike with high tyre pressure and good maintenance ON FLAT GROUND. As soon as you’re lifting that mass, or hitting headwind resistance you’re dramatically compromising the potentials. Calculating Watts per % gradient is complex, but rule of thumb, halve the kms range potential for every hour spent climbing per 3% gradient. It’s that dramatic.

To summarise: Always pedal-assist your bike, even mildly. When climbing, apply your pedal-assistance to comfortably tensioned, keep your tyres at specified pressures (generally 4 bar rear, 3 bar front), and use your lower gears when climbing (important on Hub-Drives, but vital factor on Mid-Drive bikes).

There you have it. Running on low 80-100 W power setting, with close to equivalent pedal-assistance will give you around 60 km flat-riding range on a good quality 10 Amp hour battery - about 100 km flat riding on a 17.5 Amp hour battery. I’ve done 110 km on a 16 Amp hour battery on my Ebo FoldiE at around 15 km/hr on smooth flat-ish German roads while recovering from surgery and chemotherapy so there’s proof; Auckland’s lumpy, so let’s say 80 km range in hilly terrain. Don’t believe any claims above this WHrs/kmmeters climbed theorem. It’s physics that dictate all this, not some shiney-shoe-gold-toothed spruiker. And there’s plenty of them out there. Cheers!

DAVENPORTS LAW: A BLENDED BIND

Fiona and Clarke had been in a relationship for several years. Clarke had three children from an earlier marriage, and they had one child together.

For the first few years they kept their assets separate and then when they decided that this was going to be forever, they agreed to pool their assets and buy a home together. That extended to eventually a bach in Mangawhai as well.

Once the estate planning exercise was completed, Fiona was owed $250,000 by the trust, being the equity that she had brought to the relationship and Clarke was owed $1,050,000.

Tammy McLeod

Clarke was CFO in a large company based in Auckland. When Fiona and Clarke purchased their bach, their lawyer told them it would be a good idea to think about putting their assets into a trust.

He said that because of Clarke’s quasi director role and the fact that he was potentially an officer of the company for health and safety purposes, it was wise to ensure that their assets would be protected in a trust. Even though Clarke had more cash to put into the trust assets and children from a previous relationship, the lawyer said that just one trust between the two of them would be fine. He said that they didn’t need to overcomplicate things.

He also went on to say that the cash going into the trust to purchase the home and bach should be lent to the trust. He said that while we no longer had gift duty in New Zealand, it was best to be conservative and leave the amounts going into the trust owed to each of Fiona and Clarke. He said that this would mean if they separated, they would be able to get their original amounts out of the trust and he wasn’t a big fan of gifting anyway.

Fiona had a nagging thought at the back of her mind that this didn’t seem to be quite right.

She wondered whether she should go and get her own independent advice but didn’t say anything as she really wanted to show unity with Clarke. But she did remember some friends talking about this and saying sometimes with blended families one big joint trust was not always a good way to go.

She also wondered about whether she and Clarke needed to do new wills, but the lawyer didn’t say anything, so she didn’t raise it. Fiona knew that she and Clarke would be marrying soon anyway, and she thought that would change things when they were husband and wife.

Their wills remained the same and said that if one of them died, the other would receive all the assets and then once they both died Clarke’s children and their joint child would share in all the assets. They had also completed a memorandum of wishes advising the trustees that all assets would be held until they both died and then distributed to all the children equally.

Sadly, not long after the trust was established and after Fiona and Clarke had married, Clarke had a massive heart attack. He was on life support for three days and then passed away. Fiona was devastated but felt a sense of relief that they had addressed their asset planning position before they had got married.

Fiona went to see the lawyer that she and Clarke had gone to. He seemed to be a bit blasé about the whole thing and one of her friends recommended she go and see a lawyer that specialised in asset planning and trusts.

When Fiona went to see the new lawyer, she was horrified to find that when she and Clarke married, by law, their wills become null and void. This meant that Clarke’s will was invalid, and his estate would be governed by the Administration Act.

Fiona was relieved for a moment because all their assets were in the trust, until she remembered that the trust still owed Clarke $1,050,000 because the previous lawyer didn’t agree with gifting. Under the Administration Act this meant that Fiona would be assigned $150,000 of the debt owed by the trust to Clarke as well as 1/3 of the balance and the remaining 2/3 ($600,000) would be owed to Clarke’s children who could demand payment of the debt.

This would mean that the trust would need to sell the bach to pay out Clarke’s children and pay tax on the increase in value given the Bright-line test rules. This was far from the outcome Clarke and Fiona had envisaged when they first went to the lawyer for advice.

It is so important to seek specialist asset planning advice. Often people don’t think that their circumstances are complicated but there may be legal twists and turns that you don’t think of and that a specialist will be able to help you navigate.

Asset protection. Do you need a trust?

The protection of assets that we have all worked so hard to acquire is an important consideration for most people. Trusts are invaluable asset protection mechanisms, which allow a person to hold property and assets on behalf of another for the good of the beneficiaries.

However, not everyone needs a trust, so ensuring other forms of asset structuring including your will and enduring powers of attorney are up to date is important. Contact Tammy McLeod or one of her team for specialist asset structuring and planning advice.

CRAFTED LEGAL ADVICE FOR PEACE OF MIND.

CHOICES FOR LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY RESTORATION

Auckland Council is now asking for consultation on two options for the restoration of the Leys Institute and Friends of Leys Institute urge you all to register your preference for the heritage buildings.

There is a very good display with full concept plans at the Little Leys Library, along with consultation forms to take away. Council is also doing a letterbox drop in the local area.

You can also comment online at: akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/leys-institute

Option 1, which was developed by the Project Advisory Group, including several community representatives, will make the building flexible for future community needs. It will also restore original heritage features and open up

heritage parts of the building that haven’t been available to the public.

Option 2, which had no community input, is cheaper, but inferior in terms of heritage values.

You have until 1 December to express your opinion and Friends of Leys Institute encourage you to take this opportunity.

HELEN GEARY, Friends of Leys Institute Co-ordinator 021 208 7490, helen@geary.nz

LEYS LITTLE LIBRARY NEWS

Kia ora Ponsonby, the year seems to have slipped by once again and it is now the time to panic plan Christmas festivities.

One thing not to forget is your summer reading. Now is the time to start requesting, so that (hopefully) your reading material will be ready before you head away on a summer break. If you are in need of inspiration or simply need to narrow down your ‘to read’ list, why not join the Auckland Libraries Books and Beyond Challenge through Beanstack.

This challenge is open to readers 18 and over. Via the Beanstack app, Auckland Libraries will cheer you on with suggested booklists, cute digital badges, and spot prizes. There is also a monthly online book chat meetup to share what you’re reading with others. Naturally, at Leys we love to hear our customers’ book and author discoveries. The recommendations from you all keep my ‘to read’ list growing out of control in the most wonderful chaotic way.

Feedback closes for the Leys Institute restoration at the end of this month. Jump online to akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil. govt.nz/leys-institute or pop into Leys Institute Little Library to view the plans. The team and I are available to discuss the two options with you and hopefully answer your questions. We don’t promise to have all the answers, but we are always happy to share the knowledge we do have about the options. Plans are also available to view at the Ponsonby Community Centre and the Waitematā Local Board office.

Wriggle and Rhyme is back at the Ponsonby Baptist Church for Term 4. Our sessions are every Wednesday at 10am and 11am. Bring your little ones along for a fun 30 minutes of rhymes, songs bubbles and more. Plus keep an eye on our Facebook page for some park sessions for under 5’s over the summer.

Finally, November brings the final season of Little Leys Classic Film Club. Grey Lynn Library Hall hosts Film Club on Fridays at 3pm from 4 November – 9 December. The programme highlights famous, influential, and entertaining masterpieces of twentieth-century cinema.

Our final series for 2022, Politics and Power, features six real and imagined political landscapes exploring such themes as corruption, high treason, international crisis, colonialism, totalitarianism, and civil rights. Please note that the final film of the season on Friday 9 December has an earlier start of 1pm due to runtime (we promise it is worth it).

Hours: Monday – Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-4pm. (CHLOË – Community Library Manager)  PN

Leys Institute Little Library, 14 Jervois Road, T: 09 377 0209, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

BUILDING AND RENOVATIONS DISPUTES AND RESOLUTION

When we think about doing renovations we are understandably looking forward to living in the finished dream house we have in our heads.

But along the way there are a few pitfalls that people don’t always reckon with and it is a good idea to be clear about your rights from the outset. Our first piece of advice, whether it is a simple job, such as fixing a window, or a large renovation, is be clear about the contract.

For building work costing $30,000 (including GST) or more, you and the building contractor must have a written contract. Even if it is less than that, it is a good idea to have contracts in writing to prove exactly what has been agreed, or ask the contractor for a copy of their terms and conditions, if it is a smaller job. This helps prevent or resolve any disagreements in the future. For big jobs, it is recommended you engage a licensed building practitioner.

At CAB we frequently talk with people who have had issues with tradespeople and builders, and we also support tradespeople who have issues with their employers and contracted work. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan, and often these disputes can be resolved with careful and considerate communication. Some useful tips for discussing the problem can be found on the Building Performance website at www.building.govt.nz

Below are some processes and resources you might use if you find yourself in a dispute over work on your property that you haven’t been able to resolve by talking with the contractor(s):

· If you are still unhappy after talking it through with the builder or contractor, the next step is to check the contract you have with them (if there is one) to see what (if any) disputes resolution process you should use.

If the issue remains unresolved, then how you progress your complaint will depend on who or what your complaint is about and how much you are prepared to spend to get it resolved.

· The Disputes Tribunal can hear your dispute if your claim is for no more than $30,000.

The District Court can hear your dispute if your claim is for more $30,000 – you should get legal advice if considering this.

Mediation is generally less expensive than taking legal action. We can help you find mediators.

Adjudication is an option if mediation is unsuccessful. There is a specialist building disputes resolution service, where an adjudicator hears from all parties in a construction dispute and decides on a resolution. We can help you find authorised adjudicators.

You can complain to the Building Practitioners Board about the conduct of a licensed building practitioner or you can complain to the trade / professional association of which the licenced building practitioner is a member.

If the problem is with the building consent authority, then complain to the local authority (e.g. Auckland Council).

One last thing - the work is complete and you have enjoyed living with the renovations for some time, some life changes occur and you decide to sell the house.

For some people it comes as a shock that the work done does not have code of compliance from the local authority. That is sometimes missed for various reasons. Don’t leave getting this signed off until you are about to list your property. It could be costly.

For further advice and information, please see us at CAB in the Grey Lynn Community Centre at 510 Richmond Road, or phone 09 376 0392, email ponsonby@cab.org.nz

PONSONBY PARK+ NOVEMBER UPDATE

The Community-Led Design (CLD) group would like to congratulate all members of the newly elected Waitematā Local Board, both returning and new.

We look forward to resuming our productive and collaborative relationship with the board as Stage One of Ponsonby Park, the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road, continues to progress towards its on-the-ground start date of July 2023.

We also extend our congratulations to Mike Lee, the new Waitematā Ward Councillor. Thank you for all of your work and support for Ponsonby Park in earlier years when you previously held this position. We look forward to reestablishing our close relationship with you.

And finally to outgoing Waitematā Ward Councillor Pippa Coom, our thanks for all of your support and involvement with Ponsonby Park over the past several years. It was your vision, as part of the Waitematā Local Board in 2015, to undertake a community-led design approach to find a way through the competing ideas for the development of the site. The decision to trial a CLD process has proven itself to have been a wise choice with the CLD process fulfilling its brief and finding a middle-ground, win-win solution; one that nearly everyone (other than the most entrenched diehards) will be satisfied and pleased with. Pippa, we couldn’t have done it without you. In the years and decades to come, the community will be forever grateful to you for your contribution that enabled the creation of the new civic space. Arohanui.

Ponsonby Park has received significant engagement and participation from the community demonstrating ongoing and sustained support for the project, over the years.

1243 people signed the initial petition to retain the entire site for the Ponsonby Park development

698 people responded to the WLB initial 254 Ponsonby Road consultation

· 190 people responded to the 1st CLD consultation

· 115 people responded to the 2nd CLD consultation

· 208 people responded to the 3rd CLD consultation where the LandLAB Park+ concept design was chosen for the Ponsonby Park development

Now, 22 long years since the need for the civic space was first identified in 2000, and 16 years since the site at 254 Ponsonby Road (currently LiquorLand) was purchased in 2006 to remedy this shortfall, the CLD group and the entire community is delighted that Stage One of the Ponsonby Park development is underway.

By mid-2023 we will have shovels in the ground as the physical on-site work swings into action for Ponsonby Park, the new civic space.

Brilliant! (JENNIFER WARD)  PN www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz

KEN RING: WEATHER BY THE MOON - AUCKLAND WEATHER DIARY, NOVEMBER 2022

November may be

The first week may be wettest, the second week is the cloudiest with the coolest minima, the third week is the sunniest and driest with highest pressures, the fourth week brings lowest pressures and the last five days see a return of wet conditions. The best weekend for outdoor activities may be 19th/20th. The barometric average may be around 1021mbs.

For fishers, highest tides are around 25th. Best fishing bitetimes in the east are around dusk on 7th-10th and 23rd-

25th. Bite-chances are also good for noon of 1st-2nd, 16th18th and 30th.

For gardeners, planting is best (waxing moon ascending) on 24th and 25th and pruning is best 8th-11th (waning moon descending). For preserving and longer shelf-life, pick crops or flowers around neap tides of 2nd and 17th. Allow 24-hour error for all forecasting. (KEN RING)  PN

Opinions expressed in Ponsonby News are not always the opinion of Alchemy Media Limited & Ponsonby News.

PONSONBY U3A: NOVEMBER 2022

Troubled hearts.

There’s nothing better than, when out of the gloom shines a bright light of discovery and hope. At the October meeting of Ponsonby U3A, Professor Julian Paton shone one such light on a captivated audience.

Professor Julian Paton is a biological medical research scientist whose international qualifications, fellowships and awards for his projects are too many and varied to list. With clarity and a great sense of humour and fun, he presented members with the exciting and novel ideas he and his team are working on to combat the biggest killer in Aotearoa New Zealand, cardiovascular disease. This disease kills someone every 90 minutes, is responsible for one in three deaths and shortens the life span of Māori and Pacific people who have double the mortality rate.

At the University of Auckland, in partnership with Māori, Julian is the director of a new research centre, Manaaki Manawa (preserving the life force of the heart), working with a multidisciplinary research team. Their mission is to reduce not only the inequity but the incidence of this disease.

One in three of us suffers from high blood pressure, which can lead to strokes, heart attacks renal failure and worsening diabetes, compounded of course by family history, excess alcohol, salt intake, smoking, being overweight and a sedentary lifestyle. Blood pressure is hard to measure and mitigate and 50 percent of patients on medication remain hypertensive.

The carotid body is key to managing drug resistant patients and the team has developed a still under- patent drug to treat the carotid without removal, which is a world first. Also, they are trialling using a catheter into the renal artery to control nerves and lower blood pressure with minimal side effects.

In addition, they have invented a natural device instead of pacing the heart metronomically to advance to a clinical trial next year and which could become a world first. Finally, in response to New Zealand’s abhorrent rate of rheumatic heart disease, which affects 800 people per year, the team aspires to use a 3D printer to grow human cells and body parts including heart valves.

Such ground-breaking research takes money, and Professor Paton was accompanied by the team’s development manager, Catherine Davies who explained the abysmal 1.8 percent of GDP position of New Zealand. Rating 45th in the world, we fall behind Pakistan and Romania, and as a result lose scientific talent offshore.

For anyone interested in contributing or being part of a trial, contact Catherine. M: 022 396 4661; E: catherine.davies@auckland.ac.nz

Monika de Man was the ten-minute speaker giving members an inspiring account of her adventures walking one of the longest pilgrim routes in France. Walking alone, Monika covered over 500 kilometres, avoiding major cities and towns. She traversed beautiful European forests and picturesque villages with collapsing stone walls and stone underfoot, many of which have been occupied for centuries. Ponsonby U3A meets at the Herne Bay Petanque Club on the second Friday of the month. A guest speaker drawn from a diverse range of all spheres of endeavour, features each month. As well, members take turns to give a ten-minute talk about their lives or interests. At the heart of the club are the nearly thirty special interest groups that meet once a month. They include gardening, public art walks, gallery visits, dining out, armchair travel, writing, drawing, current affairs, antiques and collectibles, history, architecture to name a few. It is in these small groups that real friendships are forged.

Ponsonby U3A welcomes newcomers. If you are interested in attending, first as a visitor, please call President Ian Smith on M: 021 130 2330. (CHRISTINE HART)  PN

NEXT MEETING: Friday, 11 November at 9.30am

GUEST SPEAKER: James Duncan on Auckland’s trams

VENUE: Herne Bay Petanque Club, 19 Salisbury Street, Herne Bay

ENQUIRIES: Ian Smith, President, Ponsonby U3A M: 021 130 2330, www.u3a.nz

THE

RETURN TO WORK

HOW DO WE PRIORITISE OUR MENTAL HEALTH?

With almost all Covid-19 rules and restrictions now lifted here in New Zealand, there is an atmosphere of getting back to normal and getting back to life as it used to be.

But should we? Life pre-Covid was busy and stressful for many of us. Lockdown was the great re-set that we needed to re-evaluate our priorities and find a healthier level of worklife balance.

The virus made us think more carefully about our physical health and safety. But even more so, we’re paying attention to our mental health now more than ever.

We’re getting back to work in different ways Returning to the workplace after lockdown looks different for all organisations. But there’s no denying that boundaries and expectations around when and where we work have shifted. Employees have taken the opportunity to ask for flexibility in their work location and hours, while employers now have evidence of the many benefits of allowing staff to work remotely.

What’s great to see is that as we’re navigating these new ways of working, there has been increased focus on mental health.

So how does coworking help with mental health?

There are a few key things that affect our mental health, and studies that have come out of the pandemic reinforce these. Fortunately, coworking contributes positively to all of these.

1. Connection

Research shows that people who experience regular human interaction live longer and healthier lives. We all treasure a bit of solitude from time to time, but for long-term wellness, one of the key factors in mental health is connection with others. For freelancers, self-employed people and small enterprise owners, coworking spaces provide a space to connect, collaborate, brainstorm and just have someone to talk to. You don’t even need to actually talk. Simply being in the same room as other people invokes a feeling of belonging and community.

2. Autonomy

We feel better when we feel in control. You can use words like freedom, independence, flexibility or empowerment. Whatever you choose to call it, having the flexibility and authority to decide when and where you work does wonders for your mental health. In turn, being trusted to manage your own time improves morale and productivity.

3. Leisure

During the pandemic and lockdown, many of us were able to escape the nine-to-five grind and find time for neglected leisure activities. Instead of sitting in traffic at either end of the day, we used those hours for physical exercise, hobbies, family time, cooking proper meals, catching up on sleep, etc. While coworking spaces aren’t the panacea, in many ways they help keep those healthy habits incorporated in your day. Flexible work arrangements, a location that is inviting and easy to get to, a workspace free of office politics, and a group of supportive and diverse office mates – together, these factors create a work environment that helps eliminate, rather than add to, your stress levels.

If you’d like to give coworking a try, get in touch with us on hello@theworkshopauckland.co.nz, and come look around our two great Auckland coworking locations.

Author: Tristan Marris is the owner of Auckland coworking spaces The Workshop – Ponsonby and Colony – Avondale. www.theworkshopauckland.co.nz

Coworking, hot desks, meeting room & office hire.

us. We’re in your hood.

HELEN WHITE: LABOUR LIST MP BASED IN AUCKLAND CENTRAL

Firstly I’d like to congratulate Wayne Brown on becoming the new mayor of Auckland.

I am looking forward to meeting with Mayor Brown. Also congratulations to those who were successful in the local elections; I’m also looking forward to meeting with councillors to discuss the big issues facing Aucklanders. And thanks to those who didn’t get elected for your service and willingness to stand for public office.

I am delighted to let locals in Ponsonby and Auckland Central know that the Transport Minister Michael Wood will be joining me in the electorate for a public meeting on 2nd November to discuss transport and Auckland’s future. The hui will take place at 5pm at the Auckland Trades Hall which is at 147 Great North Road, Grey Lynn.

It’s a real honour to have Michael joining us for this meeting. I’m also happy to say our Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Grant Roberston will also be attending a separate public meeting with me in the electorate on 9th December; this one will look at the real drivers of the cost of living.

Getting on with sorting out New Zealand’s infrastructure, including housing and transport links, has been high on the agenda this month. Here in the wider Auckland region things are moving; the Kepa Road Apartments residential development in Kohimarama will see the development of 58 homes in two buildings, up to seven storeys high. The project is estimated to create 199 jobs; in Wellsford a medium-density subdivision will enable construction of approximately 85 homes and residential units and create 400 jobs.

Also critical infrastructure projects to kick-start new housing developments, and accelerate growth in Lower Hutt, Nelson, Rangiora, Ngāruawāhia, Hastings, Motueka, Whanganui and Lake Hāwea are being made possible thanks to a $192 million government investment.

While housing supply is ramping up with a record number of new houses consented this year, we know that one of the main barriers to the construction of more homes is a lack of basic infrastructure. Our $3.8 billion Infrastructure Acceleration Fund is designed to speed up the pace and scale of house building and tackle this problem.

The country’s housing crisis was decades in the making and we know the only way we’re going to solve it and bring down costs for Auckland families is to build more houses. That’s why we’re also building more public and transitional housing than any government in decades.

To get more houses built, including here in Auckland Central, we need a skilled workforce. So we’ve focused heavily on upskilling New Zealanders, including through our free trades training and apprenticeship programmes which have already supported more than 200,000 people. I’m really proud of the fact that apprenticeships are more than 50% higher than when we came into government, and that there are now 20,000 more construction workers than a year ago.

On top of our work to boost the scale and pace of house building, we’ve taken a range of steps to support more people into home ownership. This includes lifting price caps for First Home Grants and removing price caps entirely from the First Home Loan. We’ve also made renting fairer for Kiwis, for example, through banning no-cause terminations and limiting rent increases to once a year.

As well as housing, pipes and flood management systems, of course in a big city like Auckland, great transport links are key. Not long ago a key milestone was reached underground with the tunnel-boring phase of the City Rail Link project almost completed. When finished, the underground system will provide the equivalent passenger capacity of 16 lanes of motorway.

What you are seeing here is the heart of a new mass rapid transit system for Auckland which will double the capacity of our city's heavy rail network. The link will eventually integrate with Auckland's light rail, harbour crossing, and rapid transit to the northwest.

Half price public transport will continue through until at least next January also. (HELEN WHITE)  PN www.labour.org.nz/helenwhite

ZOO’S HOTTEST NEW HABITAT WILL TRANSPORT YOU TO THE TROPICS!

A hot and steamy Indonesian swamp forest habitat teeming with plant and animal life –including one of the world’s largest crocodilians - now open.

The innovative new animal habitat and visitor experience, created within a large climate-controlled tropical dome, completes the build of the zoo’s South East Asia Jungle Track – the largest and most ambitious renewals project in the zoo’s 100-year history.

“Like all of the habitats within this track, the swamp forest enables us to provide the highest levels of animal care, and at an international level, places us at the forefront of what a good modern zoo is all about – for both animals and people,” says Auckland Zoo’s head of animal care and conservation, Richard Gibson.

Visitors are immediately transported to the tropics on entering the 28-degree, 70-90 percent humidity environmentcurrently home to threatened Sunda gharial crocodiles, 13 different fish species (including Asian arowana), and thousands of plants from more than a 100 species.

“We’ve worked to create a really authentic habitat – down to the finest detail of the types of marginal plants growing along the riverbanks. And just like in the wild, the crocs have water with a range of depths for swimming and shadowy places for resting, as well as land areas where they can haul themselves up onto and bask in the heat,” explains Richard.

He says visitors are in for a rich, unforgettable, multi-sensory immersive experience that’s like nothing else in New Zealand.

“From the heat, humidity, sounds and smells, to the feel of the mist and rain, to seeing exquisite orchid species and stunning shoals of fish and the extraordinary Sunda gharials underwater, the swamp forest is a celebration of the abundance of life - of the biodiversity and biomass that can live in a verdant healthy tropical rainforest.

“We are now at a time in our history when humans are having an alarming impact on our planet; there’s huge loss of biodiversity, and increasingly, people are more disconnected from the natural world. As a conservation organisation, we want people to connect in nature with each other – to enhance their own wellbeing, and to fall in love with wild places and wildlife like these and be inspired to join us and do what they can to help. This can be simple everyday things like only buying sustainable timber, fair-trade organic coffee, and products that use sustainable palm oil, to donating towards

the zoo’s many conservation projects - which supports many South East Asian wildlife conservation projects,” says Richard.

The South East Asia Jungle Track also includes a high canopy habitat for orangutans and siamangs, and a lowlands habitat for Sumatran tigers and Asian small-clawed otters. At the heart of these interconnecting habitats is a lake and wetlands (with filtration and water-purifying functions) experienced via a visitor boardwalk, and via aerial pathways – extended climbing range/habitat for the orangutans and siamangs. As part of this project, a wharekai and function venue, Te Puna café, which overlooks the zoo’s lake, has also been built.

Auckland Zoo’s acting director, Jooles Clements, says as part of the Auckland Council whanau, the zoo is hugely appreciative of council’s support to enable the undertaking of this vital renewal programme.

“With the support of Auckland Council, we have been able to transform almost one fifth of the visitor area in the zoo. Along with world-leading upgrades to animal habitats, the South East Asia Jungle Track project has also enabled the essential renewal of century-old infrastructure, such as power and water. With the inclusion of new services, such as natural stormwater filtration and data, we are ensuring that the zoo will continue to be a place for future generations to connect with wildlife and each other.”

www.aucklandzoo.co.nz

FACES AT GREY LYNN FARMERS MARKET

Nick (Nugzar) Zhorzholiani sells traditional Georgian dishes at Grey Lynn Farmers Market on Sunday mornings.

Where did you grow up?

Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. I lived there until after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Did you ever visit anywhere outside the Soviet Union before that?

No - I was never allowed to travel. I belonged to a state dance company which did travel to perform in Europe but I was never allowed on those trips. Authorities knew that I had relatives in Europe and was a flight risk.

Was dancing your main job?

No – I danced for fun. I worked on big mainframe computers but I didn’t really like it.

How did you learn English?

I studied in the evenings at the Institute of Foreign Languages. We relied on rote learning vocabulary and grammar because we weren’t allowed to talk to any native English speakers. Talking to English speakers was strictly controlled.

Did you ever manage to talk to any English speakers before you left Georgia?

When I was 19, I saw an English group performing. One of the singers was gorgeous and I decided that I needed to give her a bouquet of red roses but that was tricky in Soviet times. There was a KGB officer at every hotel and the man watching her hotel wasn’t helpful. Instead, I went to a palace where I knew the band was performing. It was heavily guarded but I managed to persuade the chief guard that I was harmless so I was able to hand her the flowers and say a few words to her as she boarded her bus at the end of the night. The chief guard was surprised and furious when he realised that I spoke some English.

How did you decide to move to New Zealand?

When Georgia seceded from the Soviet Union, I started making plans to leave. My mother’s neighbour told us that their daughter had moved to New Zealand and was loving it. When I rang their daughter, she was so positive that I stopped thinking about other countries and applied for a New Zealand visa.

I hear that you have written a book about some of your adventures.

Yes – I have written a collection of short stories but I haven’t managed to publish it. I would love to find a way to share some of my experiences one day.

How did you learn to create a food business? AUT – I studied at the Business School and did a Hospitality course.

And your food reflects your Georgian heritage. Yes - I make two popular Georgian dishes.

Lobio is a popular meal made from red kidney beans. It’s a vegan dish which is often eaten with bread. In West Georgia they often eat it with mchadi, a traditional cornbread.

Bozbashi is a famous hearty lamb stew that has lots of fresh herbs – fresh coriander and Italian parsley.

Do customers ask you about the ingredients? Yes – people are always interested to know what is in their food. I tell customers that there is one magic ingredient in the food, my heart. That makes them laugh.  PN

www.nickysgeorgiankitchen.co.nz www.greylynnfarmersmarket.co.nz

Lynn

@ DIDA'S

The 2021 vintage of Routas Rose, our most popular Provence Rose at Dida’s has just landed. Come on in and try it by the glass.

Château Routas is a spectacularly picturesque estate in the heart of Provence, lodged midway between the French Riviera and the foothills of the Alps. Overlooking miles of wooded hillsides and rivers, it is surrounded by tiny medieval villages hugging steep cliffs.

The soil can vary dramatically, resulting in small, randomlyshaped vineyards, some as red as crushed brick, others home to crumbling grey limestone mixed with bright red stones that bleach in the hot summer sun.

At 1,300 feet above sea level, the elevation is among the appellation’s highest, providing cool nights which slow the ripening of the grapes and contribute to the complexity of the wines.

Farmed sustainably, the estate has 135 of its 642 acres under vine. Routas has always had a strong reputation for its Provence Rosé; one sip and you’ll see why it’s a favorite at Dida’s.

Winemakers Dinner

REGENERATIVE VS ORGANICS - WINEMAKERS DINNER

Join Blank Canvas winemaker Sophie Parker-Thomson, Master of Wine, and Loveblock's Erica Crawford as they discuss the respective merits of regenerative farming and

organic viticulture over dinner. Try Sauvignon Blanc from both wineries on arrival with canapes.

You will then be served four delicious courses matched with Lovebock Organic Pinot Gris 2021, Blank Canvas Abstract Three Rows Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Loveblock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 and Blank Canvas Escaroth Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018.

This will be an amazing opportunity to enjoy dinner with a delicious collection of wines matched to the meal, and as well hear from two incredible winemakers.

Event Date: 7pm, Tuesday 15 November. Event Location: Dida’s Wine Lounge. · Event Cost $75.

DIDA’S, 60 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 2813, www.didaswinelounge.co.nz

+

EAT,

PHIL PARKER: VINOPALOOZA!

Here we go, folks. A

of

Main Divide North Canterbury Rosé - $22

new

Pale blush pink. Hints of sauvignon crispness and ripe gooseberry, with a strawberries and cream medium sweet mid palate and a clean crisp finish.

Available: Herne Bay Cellars, blackmarket.co.nz

Folium Marlborough Rosé 2020 - $35

Bone dry and crisp in the Provence style. Salmon pink colour, with cranberry, sour cherry, rhubarb and umami savoury. Creamy mid palate and a crisp finish.

Available: Dhall and Nash.

Loveblock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (vegan) 2021 - $27

A lovely, subtle take on sauvignon blanc. Fragrant, mineral and herbal, with freshly squeezed black currant, rock melon, and dash of passionfruit and gooseberry. A clean lime citrus finish.

Available: Fine O Wine, Herne Bay Cellars, Pt Chev Organic Wines.

Main Divide North Canterbury Sauvignon Blanc 2022 - $22

Lashings of gooseberry, tomato leaf, and ripe passionfruit with a hint of roasted green capsicum. Medium acids and a lengthy finish.

Available: pegasusbay.com, blackmarket.co.nz

Astrolabe Southern Valleys Sec Marlborough Chenin Blanc 2022 - $28

Dry and elegant, with a mineral crisp palate. Lemon, nougat, quinine and zingy fresh cut pineapple and a clean, crisp finish. Available: Caros.

Astrolabe Wrekin Vineyard Marlborough Organic Chenin Blanc 2021 - $33

Delicious! Fragrant and full-bodied style with some partial barrel fermentation. Pear, fresh cut pineapple, jasmine and lime squash with a hint of sweetness.

Available: Caros, astrolabewines.co.nz

Knappstein Clare Valley Riesling 2021 - $23

Crisp, dry and fruity. Lime, lemon and raisiny fresh grape flavours with a backbone of flinty minerality. Tangy and lengthy finish. Available: blackmarket.co.nz, Dhall & Nash

Main Divide North Canterbury Gewürztraminer 2022 - $22

Sweet and spicy. An unctuous palate of Turkish Delight, hint of lychee and ginger. 13.5% alcohol. Time on skins during ferment contributes a complex and funky palate. Available: Fine O Wine, Pt Chev Organic Wines, pegasusbay.com

Pegasus Bay North Canterbury Muscat 2018 - $27

Just nudging dry, this wine is intense, concentrated and flavour packed. Fragrant muscat grapes give grapefruit, marmalade, wine gums, Christmas muscatel raisins, ripe pear, and passionfruit. Available: pegasusbay.com

Knappstein Clare Valley Chardonnay 2021 - $23

Crisp and elegant with minimal oak. Could almost pass for an older riesling. Not your typical OTT Aus chardonnay by any means. Flavours of lemon, peach, and zingy pineapple, with a hint of toasted hazelnut oak. Available: blackmarket.co.nz, Dhall & Nash.

Astrolabe Marlborough Chardonnay 2020 - $29 Flinty and slightly funky. Another restrained style with creamy yeast, hazelnut, ripe grapefruit, Roses Lime Juice, soft acids and tangy lengthy finish. Available: Caros, Glengarry.

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 14 Doctor’s Creek Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 - $40 Ripe black cherry, cassis and plums. A hint of savoury spice and dark chocolate with soft tannins. Available: widely.

Main Divide North Canterbury Te Hau Reserve Pinot Noir 2021 - $33

Silky, perfumed, and floral. Medium tannins with earthy savoury umami, poached plum and black cherry. Available: Fine Wine Delivery Company, pegasusbay.com

Mollydooker McLaren Vale The Scooter Merlot 2021$39.20

Highly awarded wines, Mollydooker are renowned for excellence and extremely good value. These four are at around 15% alcohol and a must for fans of big Aussie reds. The Scooter is dark red, with spiced plum, a hint of herbs, dark chocolate and creme de cassis. Soft integrated tannins. Available: Fine O Wine, Herne Bay Cellars, Pt Chev Organic Wines.

Mollydooker McLaren Vale, The Boxer Shiraz 2021$39.20

Aged in 100% American oak. Classic South Australian shiraz, with Black Doris Plum, cassis, black pepper, toasty oak and liquorice. Soft tannic mouthfeel and lengthy palate. Available: Fine O Wine, Pt Chev Organic Wines.

Mollydooker McLaren Vale, The Maitre D’ Cabernet Sauvignon - $39.20

Deep purple red, rich and lusciously ripe, with dark plum mocha, cigar box, black cherry and typical herbal cabernet notes. Silky smooth tannins and a lengthy finish. Available: Fine O Wine, Pt Chev Organic Wines.

Mollydooker McLaren Vale, Two Left Feet Blend - $39.50 A seamless blend of the above three wines. (70% Boxer, 15% Scooter and 15% The Maitre D’). Ripe, silky and sweetly fruity, with some floral note, a hint smokiness, raspberry, black cherry, spiced plum.

Available: Fine O Wine, Pt Chev Organic Wines. blackmarket.co.nz (PHIL PARKER)  PN

YOUR GIFTING GURUS

Whilst

now, it does feel this year

there’s

Here at Glengarry we are super experienced when it comes to gifting; we are your gifting gurus. Alongside an extensive range of gifting items ready to go online (hopefully you can also browse these instore soon), the services we offer in the gifting space are second to none.

Multiple address deliveries. We specialist in sending gifts to multiple addresses across New Zealand. We do this all the time and make it easy and seamless.

Gift cards. Gift cards and messages can be added to all orders and sent with our multiple address service too.

Repeat order. On our website you’ll find the option to repeat an order at the end of the cart. Create the gift you’d like, send it off to one person, then with that as a basis, edit it; that functionality is all there right now.

Create a gift online. We refer to it as DIY or ‘Pick a Gift’. The function on our website allows you to create a gift on the screen; you select a box, and simply fill it with bottles and goodies. We’ll display that for you on the screen as you go so you can see what it’s looking like. Then you can select the ribbon and the card - or leave it blank – it’s up to you! https://www.glengarrywines.co.nz/pickagift.jsp

Single bottle gift-wrap. Looking for a nice bottle giftwrapped to be sent off to that special person? We do that too. Simply select the bottle that you’d like and as you go through the cart you can gift-wrap it up.

Send nationally (and internationally). We do this too. Wherever your family are in the world, or wherever they are ordering from, ordering on the Glengarry website to send a gift to loved ones is another of the services we offer.

Personalised service. We have a super talented and experienced sales team on the phones, behind our emails and on Live Chat. Hopefully soon you can also come and see the team in store. What ever way you are shopping, the experience and service they offer will see your gift-giving sorted super quick.

We do suggest that you get your order in quick smart. It’s no exaggeration or clever marketing speak to share that the

it’s

a

or just

global supply chain pressure is going to affect availability this Christmas. Whilst we’ve got a great set of gifts to get started with in November, we do expect to sell out very quickly.

THAIGER - A NEW THAI RESTAURANT IN GREY LYNN

Thaiger has recently opened in Surrey Crescent in the space previously occupied by Cafe Viet. We asked the owner to tell us about his plans.

Tell us about Thaiger – how it came about.

Thaiger was named due to Pimvalee being born in the year of the Tiger and being Thai it was an obvious choice of a great name for our new restaurant.

What are your popular dishes?

Our most popular dishes are Phuket Pork Belly, Eye Fillet Sesame Beef and of course, Pim’s homemade curry puffs which she has been making for over 20 years.

Do you cater to vegans/vegetarians and gluten-free diets?

Yes we do. In fact we have three different mock meat dishes which vegans appreciate as they get bored with tofu sometimes. We also carry a complete range of glutenfree sauces and ingredients and can make Gf variations of nearly all of our dishes. Our vegan customers love the vegan Pad Thai and the cauliflower fried rice.

Are you open for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

We would love to open at lunchtime but will have to wait for the labour shortage to improve. Hopefully in 2023.

Tell us about the team at Thaiger.

All of our kitchen staff are from Thailand and have been working for us for many years and our lovely restaurant

manager Fai has been working in hotel and restaurant management for 14 years.

The cocktail list sounds impressive, give us a bit of background about it.

Our cocktails were created especially for us by world renowned Mikey Ball, a Kiwi who has won numerous awards for World’s Best Bar, Best International Hotel Bar and Best International Bar Team.

Do you do takeaways and delivery?

Yes, customers can order takeaways for pickup or delivery on-line or by phone. We deliver to an approximate 5km radius.

What do you like most about Grey Lynn?

I like the old houses and the big trees. You can almost feel what it must have been like 100 years ago and often wonder how many families have been brought up in these houses. The fact that so many houses remain intact is testament to how well built they were and it’s fantastic to see them restored to their former glory.

THAIGER, 2 Surrey Crescent, T: 09 360 0695, www.thaiger.co.nz

KOL’S DOORS OPEN FOR SUMMER OF FIRE, FOOD, AND COCKTAILS IN PONSONBY

Acclaimed restaurateurs Sid and Chand Sahrawat’s third establishment, KOL, will be opening its doors in Auckland’s Ponsonby this month, offering the perfect spot for a pre-Christmas catch-up over an impressive drinks list and delicious snacks.

KOL (pronounced ‘coal’ and inspired by the same word) is located in the iconic villa on the corner of Ponsonby Road and Hepburn Street that has housed many a restaurant, including Rocco and MooChowChow.

The Sahrawats, who own and operate restaurants Cassia and Sid at The French Café, had been discussing a bar concept for some time when Sid heard the Ponsonby site was available. Following an extensive refit of the premises, the couple’s third establishment will open for dinner on Wednesday, 2 November.

KOL is a bar and eatery, serving innovative cocktails alongside an extensive champagne, wine, and beverage list. That drinks list is complemented by a selection of tandoorinspired snacks and dishes primarily cooked over fire, using the best New Zealand produce with an Indian influence.

KOL’s “fire” element and food menu take their inspiration from the Indian chula. An old form of cooking with firewood over a mud or clay stove, it pays homage to a traditional way of cooking over fire.

An impressive team has been assembled for the new venture. Head chef Vicky Shah joins Sid in the kitchen, bringing with him a deep knowledge of cooking over fire. He has a long history of working in Sahrawat’s kitchens, starting as a young chef at Sidart in 2014 before moving to roles at Cassia, Sid at the French Café and then to Ben Bayly’s Ahi.

KOL is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5pm (dinner only) and Friday to Sunday, 12pm until late, with a smaller bar menu on offer to bridge the hours between lunch and dinner.

KOL, 23 Ponsonby Road, T: 021 379 700, www.kolauckland.co.nz

Prateek Arora, Vicky Shah, Chand and Sid Sahrawat

Photography: Joss Griggs

LOCAL BEAUTY: THE WONDERS OF BROADBAND LIGHT TREATMENT AT CLINIC 1

In over twenty years of writing about beauty, I’ve had a lot of treatments that have come with the tag “lunchtime” – lunchtime facials, lunchtime peels, lunchtime makeovers and more.

Inevitably, they fall into two categories – ones that do very little but let you return to work looking a bit glow-y for a day or two, and those that are high performance, but leave you looking like you most definitely have had something ‘done’. That is until a few weeks ago when I visited Clinic 1 on College Hill for a BBL, BroadBand Light treatment, which delivered serious results (for my skin type at least) - with next to no downtime. And yes, it came in well under 40 minutes, leaving me with enough time to grab lunch on the way back to my office and check my emails.

One of the first clinics in New Zealand to offer BBL BroadBand Light treatment, Clinic 1 is unabashedly chic, and my therapist, Sophie, was an absolute wonder when it came to skin knowledge and answering even my most tricky questions. I felt in great hands from the get-go, which is so important when you’re dealing with any sort of skin issues and maybe not initially feeling your best.

I hadn’t heard of BBL before but soon learned that it’s been called the “Rolls Royce of IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatments” which previously was all that was on offer locally. The most advanced phototherapy device on the market, BBL is essentially a next generation light-based treatment with ground-breaking clinical evidence when it comes to changing the skin at a molecular level anywhere on the face and body. But onto the important question: what skin conditions can it help with?

Sun damage (photoaging), sun spots, age spots, hyperpigmentation, freckles, melasma, birth marks, redness, rosacea, small blood vessels, broken capillaries, acne, skin laxity… and the list goes on.

It is also completely customisable depending on your skin type and what you’d like to tackle/achieve. Moreover, BBL is also the only treatment that is capable of functionally changing the expression of genes in aged skin cells, as proved by a study from Stanford University.

This makes it powerful enough to literally ‘reverse’ early signs of ageing as well as targeting skin issues, and those used to more painful procedures will love that it features state-of-the-art cooling features and comes with minimal pain and downtime. I felt very little throughout my treatment, targeting redness, sun damage and fine lines, and left without makeup – although if you do feel the need to cover up, you can do so immediately after with no disruption to the healing process.

As with many a transformative beauty procedure, the number of treatments required will vary from patient to patient, and the team at Clinic 1 will personalise a treatment plan based on what you want to achieve. Even one treatment is beneficial, but a series of treatments is usually recommended and I can’t wait for my next one.

The beautiful beauty destination also offers a raft of other options, such as facials, microneedling and even injectables, so if you’re looking to work on your skin health as we head into the silly season and the new year, I highly recommend you pay Clinic 1 a visit. (HELENE RAVLICH)  PN

MALONEY’S BARBER SHOP - WHO KNEW?

Young Buck or Senior Barber?

The team at Maloney’s has over 100 years of cutting experience between them. The 'next generation' barbers can chat for hours about basketball or UFC. The senior barbers are more like talkback hosts and can help you fix the world’s problems.

Walk in or Appointment?

Both! Appointments fill up pretty fast, especially at the end of the week and at Christmas. December bookings are now open so jump online or give them a buzz. But if you’re feeling spontaneous, you can walk in and try your luck.

Big or Small?

A bit like the Tardis, Maloney’s gets bigger when you step inside. With two cutting floors and nine chairs it’s got plenty of space, but bigger doesn’t mean blander. You can

always choose your favourite barber and they’ll remember your name.

Parking or Public transport?

Go green and walk or ride if you can, but there’s plenty of street parking nearby (get the AT Park app to just pay for what you use), as well as reasonable rates at City Works Depot or the Les Mills gym next door.

New or Old?

Maloney’s will be celebrating 20 years in 2023. The shop is always evolving and the team thrives on looking after the diverse local community that includes Ponsonby.

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

LUX RADIOLOGY

Ponsonby's New Radiology Service offering High Quality, Precise Ultrasound and X-Ray Services.

LUX Radiology is a boutique medical imaging group offering high-quality ultrasound and X-ray services across two clinics in Ponsonby. Proudly locally-owned and operated, we aim to deliver a professional yet friendly experience for our patients and their referring practitioners.

LUX was the brainchild of two local urgent care doctors, who wanted to provide an on-site radiological service for their patients, in order to create a one-stop, complementary service for patients needing imaging services in a timely fashion, ideally within the same visit to the medical clinic.

LUX means 'light' in Latin, and this name was chosen for the clinic as radiological imaging, be it X-Ray, Ultrasound, CT or MRI scanning, gives light to darkness; where was once uncertainty about a patient's medical or injury diagnosis, radiology can shed light and aid doctors in making an accurate diagnosis, therefore providing the appropriate treatment.

Our company logo was inspired by the Aurora Australis photos taken on an Air New Zealand flight over the Southern Ocean towards the Antarctica. Also known as the Southern Lights, this is a spectacular and magical phenomena - the LUX logo simulates the constantly shifting waves and colours of this beautiful light, echoing our aim to provide beautiful radiological images for accuracy of diagnosis; and, for maternity ultrasound, images that mothers-to-be can also share.

Our first clinic in central Ponsonby started up right in the middle of the first nationwide Covid19 lockdown in August 2020. We started with general and maternity ultrasound, and have since expanded to include X-ray, 3D/4D maternity bonding scans, and a top-class interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound service.

Meet Alan McNair, our experienced & friendly Radiographer. Alan is the proud operator of our brand new, state of the art Siemens X-ray machine. He comes with many years' experience in medical imaging, having worked in various radiological practices in New Zealand over the past 30 years. He is meticulous in his work, providing precise, high quality X-ray images to help with accurate diagnosis of a patient's injury or medical condition.

Patients may book online, by phone or walk-in for X-ray services. As this service is based in a medical clinic with casting and splinting services, patients may choose to have their treatment started at the clinic (if required) after the X-ray, and are referred back to their doctor for follow up.

The Friendly team at LUX Radiology: Fatma, Ginny, Jamie, Nikki, Andrew & Alan

Alan McNair, our experienced & friendly Radiographer

Introducing Ginny, our Maternity Ultrasound Superstar. Ginny has 20 years experience working in public and private practices throughout New Zealand. She has a passion for maternity and gynaecology ultrasound, and is also highly skilled in vein mapping. Patients rave about her thoroughness, warmth and friendliness.

She now offers an exclusive 3D/4D pregnancy scan service. 3D ultrasounds create a three-dimensional image of your baby, while 4D ultrasounds create a live video effect, like a movie - you can watch your baby smile or yawn. This provides a special bonding experience for parents, family, and friends - a truly special moment indeed! Also included are photos and videos of the scan to share with your loved ones.

This scan is best performed between 28 and 32 weeks for best views of the baby. You can purchase this experience for yourself, or as a gift for a mom-to-be. Gift certificates are available on our website, and we can email this to your giftee along with a special message from yourself.

Meet Andrew Graham, our MusculoSkeletal Ultrasound Expert. Andrew is highly experienced and unique in his field, as he holds both Physiotherapy and Sonography qualifications. He is particularly skilled in MSK scanning and injection therapy, including steroid, PRP, prolotherapy and barbotage. These interventions can be very effective for painful, injured or arthritic joints, allowing the patient to walk out pain-free with a smile on their face, and restoring their joint functionality and quality of life.

Referrals are required from your GP or specialist for injection therapies, or make an appointment to see one of our doctors in the clinic to ascertain your suitability for treatment. Andrew has a good relationship with a team of orthopaedic surgeons and physiotherapists, and can guide you on the next steps following your treatment.

About the clinics:

A wide range of ultrasound services are offered in both locations. 3D/4D scans are offered at the Ponsonby Rd clinic; MSK ultrasounds and joint injections at the K Rd clinic. X-ray is based at the K Rd clinic.

Ultrasound services are appointment-based; while for X-ray, bookings and walk-ins are accepted.

LUX will be open on most days during the Christmas and New Year's period.

The LUX team look forward to meeting you and caring for our local Ponsonby community and beyond.

LUX Radiology operates two clinics on 195 Ponsonby Rd and 582 Karangahape Rd (Inside the Ponsonby Doctors Clinic).

Sonographer Ginny Frame performing a 3D/4D baby scan

3D/4D Baby Bonding Ultrasound Scans

WELLNESS WITH CHIA

Have you been struggling with ongoing health symptoms such as Digestive Issues, Weight Loss/Gain, Fatigue, Stress, Food Sensitivities, Skin Issues, Low Mood, Insomnia, Imbalanced Hormones, Muscle Weakness/Stiffness?

Chia is a Certified Integrative Health Practitioner and Wellness Coach. Her specialty is in helping you discover the underlying root cause of your health symptoms and concerns. Chia provides the appropriate support, customised to your individual needs to help you achieve your wellness goals.

"My journey to becoming a Wellness Coach began a decade ago when my oldest son started showing symptoms of disease at four months old, the time he started solids. His symptoms unfolded as a raft of food sensitivities, Eczema and Diarrhoea which then led to Hayfever, Asthma, Salicylate Sensitivity and ADHD behaviours. By the age of three, my gut instinct told me that I did not want to continue to rely on pharmaceuticals to relieve these symptoms short term.

"I wanted to discover the root cause around why he was experiencing these symptoms so I began researching and educating myself in hope to find a more holistic, natural approach. It has been a long journey, but he is now thriving and no longer experiencing any of his previous symptoms. For us, this was achieved focusing on diet, nutrition, and gut health.

"This triggered something deep within me. I couldn’t help thinking about others in similar situations, struggling to find answers around their ongoing health symptoms and not understanding that these symptoms are your body’s way of telling you that it is imbalanced and needs your help.

"Through natural medicine, lifestyle changes, science based at-home functional lab testing and Functional medicine detoxing, there is a natural way to help re-balance the body to regain that zest for life and vitality everyone deserves.

"I believe in a holistic, integrative approach to health and wellbeing so for me, it is important to approach it with a 'whole picture' mindset. Firstly, by understanding the health history and current lifestyle of my client (diet, exercise, stress, toxicity levels in body, mindset, sleep quality), then addressing the symptoms with an integrative approach by using a combination of Functional Lab Testing, Ayurvedic and Bio-regulatory Medicine, Orthomolecular Medicine, Chinese Medicine, Eastern Philosophy and Traditional Naturopathy. There is no one magic bullet to help re-balance the body, so a customised approach for each individual based on their personal needs is what works best.

‘’Our environment and what we put into our bodies has a huge effect on our ability to function efficiently, so I believe it is important to work together to set out a pathway to optimum health which is unique for you and your lifestyle.

‘’I consider myself a realist. I take into account that life is messy and not perfect. People want to lead a healthy life and also get the most out of life without too many boundaries around Health and Wellbeing. Sometimes thinking about implementing change to improve one's health can seem quite daunting and overwhelming. Usually one might not know where to start, so my approach is educational, thoughtful and tailor-made with a true understanding of where my client is at and what my client's goals are. My mission is to make their Wellness Journey enjoyable with recommendations based on what my client needs which will also benefit them the most."

ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH ONGOING HEALTH SYMPTOMS SUCH AS: Digestive Issues, Weight Loss/Gain, Fatigue, Stress, Food Sensitivities, Skin Issues, Low Mood, Insomnia, Imbalanced Hormones, Muscle Weakness/Stiffness?

Chia is a Certified Integrative Health Practitioner and Wellness Coach. Her specialty is in helping her clients discover the underlying root cause of their symptoms. Chia provides the appropriate support to enable the body to re-balance and to help you achieve your wellness goals.

O U T I Q U E D I A G N O S T I C M E D I C A L I M A G I N G C L I N I C

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HONOUR MITCHELL: TEEN PICKS - A WALK IN THE WILD

I am currently working towards completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Having finished Bronze and Silver, I am now over halfway through my Gold award, which is really exciting! The Gold award presents a fairly challenging set of criteria: 52 hours of a community service (I chose volunteering at Trade Aid), 52 hours practicing a skill (I chose journalism and write this monthly column for Ponsonby News) and 52 hours of physical recreation (for me this is attending a weekly run club). As well as these core elements, those chasing the Gold award are required to spend a week completing a residential project (such as living in and assisting at a retirement village or a kids' camp) plus plan and complete a four day, three night tramping journey.

At the beginning of October I completed the Gold tramp, which was an enormous test of physical and mental strength. My Duke of Edinburgh group jointly made the decision to tackle the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk.

Waikaremoana here we come

On Day One we were up at 5.30am all packed and ready for the six hour drive to our destination, so we could start the trail by early afternoon. Almost immediately we were walking through some seriously dense bush. The trails were often covered in thick layers of squelchy mud due to recent storms - feeling dirty and wet became a consistent theme! Fallen trees blocked our path at times but jumping over these really wasn’t too much of an issue. A perk of walking alongside this huge lake meant that (when we didn't have our eyes glued to the track) we got to take in the truly picturesque views - definitely worthy of a desktop screensaver! I honestly felt I might not be fit enough for this expedition, so I had lots of fears about not being able to walk fast enough, or running out of steam, especially with an extra 10kgs on my back. But despite my worries, I kept up with the group easily even through the hardest and most tiring patches. (Our longest day was a 19 kilometre hilly trek, in torrential rain.)

Endurance

At the end of these lengthy days my feet were crying out, my hips and shoulders seemed bruised from my pack and on the final day, after an unfortunate slip, my ankle was extremely swollen (far from ideal!). Add to that, 32 itchy bites (yes, I counted) and I was definitely feeling the effects of "walking in the the wild”. If you do this tramp, remember to bring insect repellent! Also be wary of the weather as it’s a key determinant in the difficulty of the trails. We hit Waikaremoana after a major nation-wide storm and frankly the forecast was pretty grim. However, in reality we actually had sun the majority of the time, apart from one horrible day.

But we still had to deal with the muddy conditions produced by the downpours earlier in the week. Summertime would certainly offer a more agreeable hike.

Food

Now let’s talk about food... which, when you are tramping, is never optimal. Knowing that breakfasts were the most important meal, I reached for the trustworthy porridge. I cooked up oats with protein powder, which I must admit tasted a bit like playdough but it was filling and when paired with pureed baby food pears, it seemed to be quite the meal. For dinners I had premixed risotto two nights (that I managed to burn) and then a delectable prepackaged Watties pasta another night, which tasted heavenly in comparison. I also brought along a bag of chopped raw carrots, which I highly recommend! Just having that bit of freshness was so worth it. Lunch mainly consisted of high protein snacks and, of course, my trustworthy carrots as accompaniments. For water, I swear by ‘Aquatabs’, just pop one into a litre of water and in 30 minutes it's safe to drink! This was so much easier than boiling water, which in my case would have tasted like burnt risotto.

Sleeping

After long days of walking all we really wanted to do was sleep and thankfully along the Waikaremoana track there are huts. This meant we didn't have the extra burden of carrying a tent and sleeping mat or putting damp tents up and down. All the huts were in very good condition with great fireplaces, which meant that we could dry our sopping wet boots and socks. These havens provided a perfect cozy, warm space to collapse after a hard day.

Heading home… or not?

When we finally finished this spectacular "Great Walk", I was instantly flooded with relief. But my relaxation came to an abrupt halt when we found we were actually trapped due to a major landslide covering the road in. After some satellite exchanges, we were fortunate to be helped out by park rangers who organised temporary shelter at a nearby holiday park. Once further arrangements had been made, we clambered into a small boat that sped us bumpily across the lake - I was gripping on for dear life - to safety. The relief again flushed through me when I finally saw my Dad standing by the car waiting to collect me and I knew it was home time. And boy-oh-boy, a hot shower and my own bed had never seemed so luxurious. Thanks Waikaremoana, you were an adventure I certainly will never forget!

MITCHELL)

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN

With two years of disruptive schooling, you may have hoped that this year was going to be better, however the flow-on effect this world-wide pandemic has had on education has been phenomenal.

Students are finding that they have large gaps in their understanding, have missed key concepts, and have struggled to catch up, keep up, or be ahead of where they need to be.

At NumberWorks’nWords we know that it is never too late to learn, and if students are requiring additional support, sooner is better than later, and later is better than never. There are many benefits to tutoring and with students now starting their end of year exams or finishing off the school year, now is the time to look ahead and plan for next year.

At NumberWorks’nWords we love to see children achieving success with their learning and developing the confidence in their ability. Students work on individual goals and have the opportunity to fill in their learning gaps. They enjoy learning new concepts and have the opportunity to practise new skills and build on from what they already know. Students are able to keep up with the curriculum, have the opportunity to forge ahead, and consolidate their new understandings. Not only do students learn to stay focused, they take ownership of their learning and feel supported while doing so.

If you feel your child would benefit from some additional support phone NumberWorks’nWords Grey Lynn on 09 360 0816 for an initial discussion, email greylynn@numberworks. com, or visit numberworksnwords.com/nz to learn more about maths and English tuition with NumberWorks’nWords.

NUMBERWORKS’NWORDS Grey Lynn, 316 Richmond Rd, T: 09 360 0816, E: greylynn@numberworks.com, www.numberworksnwords.com/nz

LISA PRAGER: WIN WIN

With the stroke of a pen and a handful of well crafted letters (reprinted everywhere) our new Mayor Wayne Brown ends the era of the ‘out of control’ council organisations.

His missives forced interim Chief Executive Mark Lambert (AT) to offer up this mea culpa; “We agree with the mayor that a new approach is needed to better understand the needs and expectations of our communities and how we, our decisions and the work we do, impacts on people’s daily lives.”

I wonder if this public show of remorse will include personal apologies for the appalling treatment of brave citizens who challenged Auckland Transport’s flawed ideology from day one?

Will the Local Government Minister apologise for all the letters of concern she ignored? Will the Police reconsider their position and stand alongside citizens when governance goes awry? Will the PM continue to support the greenwash that allows mature street trees to be felled and concrete bike barriers to be laid?

Today I am deeply thankful to the people who voted for Wayne Brown to take the helm, for those who worked to reinstall Mike Lee in Waitematā, and those who voted for Sarah Trotman, Allan Matson, Greg Moyle and Gene Sage to represent them. Our expectation of their good governance is high.

I am grateful to the good folk of Occupy Garnet Rd [est. 2017] for standing up to protect the street trees and footpaths of their heritage suburb because their actions over the last 5 years may have saved our city $45 million that would have been spent on a gold plated cycleway.

Thank you to the people who shared the issues on social media when mainstream news outlets dismissed our concerns, to those

who wrote letters to the editor, lodged Official Information Act requests and others who set up and sustained occupations across the city.

My thanks also goes out to those who gathered petition signatures, raised funds, made posters, provided legal help and contributed thousands of dollars to fight Auckland Council in the Environment Court when we tried to save the Western Springs Native Forest. To my sister activist Soala, whose bravery, compassion and dedication inspired me to never give up despite the mounting obstacles. Finally there is a glimmer of hope, the people have been listened to.

The late Penny Bright and I warned that the Super City was nothing more then a corporate take over of Tamaki Makaurau’s many resources. My deepest wish is that from now on common sense will prevail in serving the greater good.

I have high hopes for the notion of the servant leader; entrusted to make good decisions based on fact not ideology.

The future of our city is in our hands. Democracy is not just about voting once every 3 years, it’s about becoming involved in what you care about – the natural environment, heritage, transport, Te Tiriti, intensification, homelessness –the issues are many.

My final wish is that no one ever has to stand on a bulldozer holding protest signs to stop the council running amuck. (LISA PRAGER, community advocate)  PN

or the Children’s Crusade - 14+

“And I asked myself about the present: how wide it was, how deep it was, how much was mine to keep”?

Billy Pilgrim is many things, an optometrist in 1967, a prisoner of war in 1945, and a time-traveller. Billy experiences time in a different way to the rest of the world, where for us, time is moving forward, slowly and surely, for Billy, it is erratic and unpredictable. The novel surrounds the fire-bombing of Dresden in the Second World War, a tragedy that both Billy Pilgrim and the book’s author, Kurt Vonnegut, were present for. By showing how fractured and wild the main character’s perception of life and time is, the unpredictability of our own lives comes to light. In the novel, a repeated phrase of Billy’s is, “so it goes”, often used after a horrifying death or pointless misfortune comes to pass; this highlights how war often desensitises those involved. Slaughterhouse-Five is a realistic anti-war book, not glorifying any aspect of it.

I bought this book on a rainy day from a warm bookshop, sat at a cafe, and began to read it. I found myself unable to stop reading until I had turned the final page the next day.

Slaughterhouse-Five has been playing on my mind since I finished it and slotted it onto my bookshelf. I compare it to a goldmine of deeper thinking; nothing can be read and forgotten as every concept and character represents something more. Slaughterhousefive was published in 1969, and a film of the book was made in 1972.

The book is easy to comprehend due to its straightforward use of language, but due to the nature of the content this is in no way a children’s book. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the Second World War, in the idea of time travel, or those who want to see time in an alternate way. (LUCY KENNEDY)  PN  out of 5!

www.lucykennedywriter.wixsite.com/reviews instagram @lucykennedyreviews

ANTENATAL CLASSES IN HERNE BAY

When they first met they quickly realised they had a shared vision to empower all pregnant families

education in a safe, inclusive environment.

Offering up something different to the "one-size-fits-all" publicly funded antenatal classes, EMPWR’s Earthside birth and parenting classes are a full spectrum antenatal course hosted in a vibrant co-working villa in Herne Bay.

Fully catered to all dietary requirements, with a generous gift box from supporting brands, and a curriculum of topics that centres the needs of the parents in front of them, all this is strongly underpinned by their philosophy that every single person is doing the best with what they have, and that there is no right, wrong, or better way to conceive, grow, birth, or raise a baby.

Lou and Arlene's experience shines through in their classes that they co-facilitate - a mindful choice to reduce bias and expand the knowledge base available to expecting parents.

Courses are LGBTQIA+ centred and celebratory, but welcome families from all walks of life. Classes include topics around coping with labour, using meditative techniques to manage pain, and exploring pharmaceutical and medical modes of labour and birth with just as much joy and enthusiasm. Over 50% of the course discusses what happens after your pēpi is born - postpartum bodies, families, mental health, infant feeding, and the practicalities of newborn care.

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With a maximum of eight couples per class to keep things intimate and cosy, you’ll be sure to have all of your questions answered and find yourself a new community of parents walking the same journey as you.

EMPWR, T: 027 255 5498, www.empwr.nz

An EMPWRed birth experience, regardless of how you plan on birthing your baby starts with antenatal classes unique and tailored to you. antenatalclasses

Arlene Oram (she/her) and Lou Kelly (they/them)

LOGAN GRANGER: WORKPLACE WELLBEING

Our mental wellbeing has never been more in front of mind than it is today.

The effects of the pandemic are being felt by all sections of our community, not only our work environment. Large organisations generally have more access to, and budgets for, resources to help their teams cope both in their work environment and at a more personal level but how can SMEs (small and medium enterprises) manage this on little or no budget? How might you begin to talk about mental health with your team and feel confident in your ability to support your staff and yourselves.

The following steps may help: The most important first step is to openly acknowledge that mental health is important to you and your entity, that you care about your team’s wellbeing. This can help in supporting conversations around mental health at work. A less formal way is to gather your team - in a group discussion or if you feel this might not promote open discussion, then try oneto-one or small groups - and ask them how they are feeling. Perhaps using a scale of 1-10: how are you now?; where do you want to be?; how can we help/support you to get there?

You will need to be prepared to listen and support them when/if they share their mental health challenges and then follow up and monitor their progress. It’s also important to consider accessing professional help if the situation is outside your expertise.

There’s little point in communicating that wellbeing is important if you don’t demonstrate this. Perhaps share your own story or struggles with the pressure of running a business and how you

are trying to help yourself. Model good practices like taking time to exercise, be it going for a walk or to the gym/yoga or allowing time off to watch children’s sporting or school events. If you’re in a situation where your team works at screens all day consider providing vouchers for a neck and shoulders massage. Mental health and physical health work hand-inhand. It’s not a choice of one or the other.

As a small business you may have a better opportunity to assess how well the implementation of new initiatives are working. Some may work well for some employees and not others. Check in with them and listen and then adapt if necessary.

Most SMEs and sole practioners are motivated by the desire to work for and help their clients, but this maybe at the expense of their own mental health. It’s important to include care (of your team and your clients) in your business model.

Learn from others. Facebook community and business networking groups can provide opportunities to ask what they have tried and what has worked for them. You don’t need to be limited to your own particular industry - workplaces across industries are more similar than you might think. Ask, share, and learn wherever you can so that you feel more confident supporting each other in the workplace.

(LOGAN GRANGER)  PN

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

JOHNSTON ASSOCIATES, 14 St Marys Bay Road, T: 09 361 6701, www.jacal.co.nz

St Marys Bay Road, St Marys Bay

Logan Granger

PONSONBY

GAEL BALDOCK: DRAWN & QUARTERED - CENTRE CITY MASTER PLAN

Most people have absolutely no idea what the ‘Centre City Master Plan’ entails.

It is a plan concocted in 2016 by Ludo Campbell Reid as city designer. He’s the guy responsible for taking away ‘free left turns’ and parking, narrowing arterial roads to single lanes and giving cyclists domination of our city and effectively turning the ‘City of Sails’ into the ‘City of Road Cones’. His ludicrous plan is to divide the city into quarters by making Queen Street a mall, and Victoria Street a ‘linear park’.

Drawing, I got a big cross through the centre that is fairly impossible to cross; it divides the city into quarters - 1. Parnell to the East and South / 2. Mt Eden / 3. Ponsonby to the West / 4. Viaduct to North Shore. Maybe this was inspiration for the design concept “East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet" Rudyard Kipling.

Now you know I’m a tree lover, and generally, the more parks the better, but we’re selling off actual reserves with mature trees to finance this preposterous idea. Not everyone lives close to their workplace. Commuters need to get around or through the city. Blocking it with a park and a mall stops that flow.

Commuters that used to come from Parnell and go over Victoria Street to Hobson for the Western motorway or continue to Victoria Park to the Harbour Bridge have been redirected by the construction of the CRL. The alternative is to go around the outside along Quay Street that has also been absurdly narrowed this arterial road to single lane.

The current ’no-go zone’ on Queen, between Wellesley Street and Mayoral Drive, forces vehicles left up Wellesley, either left again into Kitchener Street or straight up, (as only

buses turn right into Mayoral) then it’s left again to Princes to go around the block to Symonds Street or straight ahead to the motorway.

Why are vehicles being forced to Symonds Street when it’s the centre of the Auckland University campus? Have you gotten confused by this forced circular pattern that the linear park would block? Is your head in a spin? Mine is - from trying to explain this idiotic concept or compulsory left turns that Ludo vowed to remove, as it affectively keeps people out of the other quarters.

Furthermore, the only right turn into Mayoral Drive which allows traffic to get to K Rd or Ponsonby, occurs from Wakefield but that involves going through the ’no-go zone’. The other choice would be up Symonds Street to the only street to get you back to K Road is the narrow lane of City Road, which is only suitable for mountain goats!

There was a ‘consultation’ in 2020 of the ‘Centre City Master Plan’. I wrote an extensive submission, as did many others. The result - NOT ONE WORD CHANGED.

I don’t want to be stopped from going from Parnell to Ponsonby or from the Viaduct to Mt Eden that this criss-cross will cause. It’s ridiculous, farcical, laughable, senseless, foolish, nonsensical, and mostly ludicrous, just like the designer Ludo who was run out of town.

Architecturally, I totally reject the ‘Centre City Master Plan’, and I’m sure you will too, now you know what it entails. (GAEL BALDOCK, community advocate)  PN

Mt. Eden

Eden, Auckland

09 638 8463

YOUR TREASURED POSSESSIONS DESERVE A BEAUTIFUL SPACE

The best way to look after your favourite accessories – from jewellery to designer handbags –is to have specially designed storage, and the best place for this is in a customised wardrobe crafted by Innovative Interiors.

First and foremost, a wardrobe is the place where you start your day, selecting clothes, shoes, and accessories. But this space doesn’t have to be purely practical, and when you are keeping beautiful items in your wardrobe the way they are stored can make all the difference – both to the aesthetics and to your convenience.

Innovative Interiors has been designing and building luxurious, customised, walk-in wardrobes for clients to provide storage for clothing, jewellery, handbags, and other accessories that they value and want to look after.

“Our clients appreciate their collections of clothing and other items, and they truly care about how they are kept,” says Innovative Interiors co-owner and designer Neil Robinson.

“When I meet new clients, or design a wardrobe for an existing client, one of the first things I do is assess what it is they want to achieve – many people have luxury items that they want to look after and have on display, often because they are a beautiful collection. And, of course, a well-designed wardrobe space also makes it easier to find something when you are getting dressed.

“We often suggest glass display cabinets for valuable collections such as designer handbags – as well as adding a look of luxury it means your bags are easy to locate and are easily protected from dust and damage. To enhance the sense of opulence, LED lighting can be concealed at the back of the cabinets, so it falls softly down, subtly highlighting the items.“

Designing display drawers with black velvet linings for specific items is another specialty of a wardrobe from Innovative Interiors.

“If we know what type of items you have, and there is enough space, we can create customised solutions for various types of jewellery, for example, bangles, which can transform the collections into bijou art displays. Plus, because they

are stored neatly and safely, they are protected from being damaged,” says Neil.

“Over our more than 30 years in the business, Innovative Interiors has custom made drawers for many different purposes. Collections of belts and ties can look stunning on shelves or in drawers lined with black velvet; in one wardrobe we designed, the owner had a collection of hundreds of ties, and the resulting display was quite spectacular,” says Neil.

INNOVATIVE INTERIORS, Unit S, 24 Allright Place, Mt Wellington – Phone 0800 80 30 50 for an appointment.

Innovative Interiors are passionate about designing custom wardrobes and storage solutions, which are both beautiful and functional, providing customers with a complete service from design through to manufacture and installation.

Our experienced design consultants take the time to get to know you and identify exactly what you need. Crafting solutions that not only to match your requirements, but complement existing décor and enhance the overall living space.

FRENCH COUNTRY – OOH LA LA!

Who launched French Country?

French Country Collections was founded by Sonia Watts 35 years ago, born from her untold passion for interiors and beautiful things. Today her legacy continues with her daughters Vanessa and Stephanie running the business.

When did French Country open in Ponsonby?

Our head office and warehouse began operating on Pollen Street, Ponsonby in the late 80s. The opening of our trade showroom and outlet store soon followed. We opened our first flagship store in Jervois Road, Ponsonby in 2014.

What is the brand philosophy/values/culture behind French Country and has that remained the foundation or has it evolved over the years?

Our collections are inspired by the simple luxury of the French way of life, and our passion for creating homes made to be lived in, loved and shared. Enduring, timeless style and quality has always been a cornerstone value of the company, and this serves us well as we move into an era with sustainability as one of our key pillars. We want to ensure we are doing our best for the home we all share – the planet. This is front of mind in all our supply chain decisions – to reduce the impact on our home while we furnish yours!

35 years is an extraordinary milestone – what do you think has been the core contributor to this success?

Family is very firmly at the heart of our brand. Our story was born 35 years ago with a vision to decorate homes with pieces that you just couldn’t otherwise find. A lot has changed since then, but this founding premise has not. We continue to develop unique product that stands the test of time. Our products can be found in stockists across New Zealand and Australia all of whom share our love of timeless homewares. It is these longstanding partnerships and customers that have enabled our brand to flourish, and the reason French Country Collections can be found in homes across the country.

Do customers want similar or different things from 30+ years ago?

Our customers have their own well-developed sense of taste and personal style and come to us for that piece of furniture or finishing touch they know they won’t find anywhere else. Our

customers love their homes and enjoy collecting pieces that will stand the test of time.

Has your product range grown over the years? Our buying team are continually sourcing the globe for unique pieces that fit our brand values. We introduce seasonal collections throughout the year to surprise and delight our customers, however we have been selling some of our favourite ranges, such as Dragonfly dinnerware, La Chamba cookware and Embelli bed linen, for years.

How many people do you have on staff? Our French Country family is made up of over 50 staff throughout New Zealand and Australia.

What do you love most about Ponsonby? Our customers! Whether they live near or travel to visit us, we are very thankful for their support!

FRENCH COUNTRY COLLECTIONS, 6 Jervois Road, Ponsonby, 34 Morrow Street, Newmarket, T: 0800 503 500 www.frenchcountry.co.nz

SHEER BEAUTY BY LAHOOD®

With summer on the way now is the time to prepare your home for the sun and heat. Lahood® Window Furnishings will help you choose the right window furnishings to enhance your home and your lifestyle.

For most of us, windows, glazing and house layout are effectively set in stone. By contrast, window furnishings are simple to execute and will often solve the problems of harsh light and UV rays that are going to cause fading and damage to your indoor soft furnishings and furniture.

Sheer curtains are a beautiful and practical way to allow indoor outdoor flow in your living spaces. Sheers have evolved to bear little resemblance to the doily-esque net curtains of old. Florals and lace have been usurped by a desire for texture – be that fine, chunky, or smooth, with a lustrous or organic look. The romance of sheers is found in their ability to filter soft light into modern homes, but their continued popularity in interior design is due to their practical, functional prowess.

Sheer curtains disperse the soft glow of sunlight into a space either through a fine, almost translucent construction, or a loose construction with open fibres. While linen and linen-look sheers are an eternal favourite, we are seeing a growing desire for soft, optimistic colours at the window, extra wide widths in architectural builds, and luxuriously rustic, textured sheers.

At Lahood we carry a wide variety of sheer fabrics in natural, synthetic or blended constructions, allowing you to tailor your interior décor to your unique New Zealand lifestyle.

From inspiration to installation, Lahood Window Furnishings do it all.

From expansive coastlines to the wonderful southern mountain ranges, you can capture the colours of New Zealand and transfer them into your living spaces.

Visit the stunning Lahood showroom at 104 Mt Eden Road, or phone 0800 LAHOOD to book an in-home design consultation. lahood.co.nz

Sheer curtains form a visceral connection to our surrounding environment and elegantly frame the view within any home.

Inspired by the native New Zealand Beech tree, this tactile wide width sheer combines the natural aesthetic of cotton with the functionality of polyester.

Celebrating years35

they leave it safely parked behind the white picket

in the carport, and wander everywhere: to the ferry to the city, to the Point’s popular village for a coffee or wine or to Little Shoal Bay, all of which are just a stroll away.

couple love the area so much, they’re only moving a few hundred metres away, but say the home has been brilliant for its location, size and versatility. Both work from home, so they’ve been able to utilise two of the four bedrooms as office spaces, and the home’s spaciousness would make it ideal for a bigger family, too.

Drawn to the house for its magnificent architecture, one of the vendors, originally from Africa, says it reminded him of the heritage architecture he grew up seeing. Entertaining has always been easy here, as the home boasts a large parlour that opens onto a designer kitchen and sitting room.

Its north-facing orientation makes it enticing to throw open the French doors to the deck year-round, where the views are of other attractive heritage homes and lush greenery, including a stunning pohutukawa by the deck that attracts tui and kereru from neighbouring Le Roys bush, a favourite of locals and dog-lovers with its network of walking tracks.

The house was renovated in 2014, gaining a brand-new kitchen along with under-floor and ceiling insulation, central heating and heat pumps for cooling. The villa also boasts a landscaped and irrigated garden planted with natives, ensuring it’s low-maintenance and private.

Weekends can be spent enjoying the eateries and shops within walking distance, and families have plenty of fun in the neighbourhood with the recent arrival of the Live Wire entertainment centre at the nearby Highbury shops.

M: 021 226 6099

and made in New Zealand to our exacting standards, in American Ash.

Lynn t:09 376 2895

@ OREXART RICHARD ADAMS GOAT ISLAND PAINTINGS

There's an intersection where realistic landscape painting and abstraction meet and exchange ideas. One tells us in a literal way (realism) what we are seeing, the other (abstraction) invites us to imagine what we are seeing, given a set of cues that can invoke perhaps a 'landscape' reading of the work.

Richard Adams is also well known as a musician (jazz violinist with Nairobi Trio). All of this has its parallels in music and these paintings, one could say, have a 'musical' feel to them; a rhythm, light and shade, arioso to capriccio.  PN

Goat Island or Te Hawere-a-Maki, the marine reserve, close to Richard's studio

Aotearoa Art Fair General Entry

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Bergman Gallery returns to the Aotearoa Art Fair, Auckland, New Zealand. Featuring artists Tungane Broadbent, Reuben Paterson, Mahiriki Tangaroa, Benjamin Work, Telly Tuita, Nina Oberg Humpries, Shannon Novak, Sēmisi Fetokai Potauiane, Heather Straka, Gavin Jones, Raymond Sagapolutele, and Sylvia Marsters.

Sylvia Marsters

Moemoea Naku, A Dream of Mine

October – 26 November

Sylvia Marsters - E Moemoea Naku, A Dream of Mine, brings the artist’s practice full circle as lush tropical hibiscus paintings are presented alongside her iconic gardenia canvases. For much of her youth, the artist was thrilled with tales of her father’s island in the Pacific, stories that ultimately became represented by the flora that she paints. Elements of realism blend with concepts of romanticism and perceptions of Pacific fantasy in these new compositions, structuring a sense of serenity and compelling attraction.

Instagram and Facebook @bergmangallery

BERGMAN GALLERY, 3/582 Karangahape Road (Entrance via 2 Newton Road), T: 021 024 614,

benny@bergmangallery.com Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5:30pm, www.bergmangallery.com

Tungane Broadbent and Reuben Paterson

Sylvia Marsters, Small Wonder, oil on fine linen, 310 x 410mm, 2022

SCOTT LAWRIE GALLERY NICHOLAS IVES: NATURAL INTENSITIES…

Although he’s based in Naarm/Melbourne, the painter Nicholas Ives has been a favourite with collectors here in Aotearoa for over five years now.

His last two shows sold out and this one – his fourth solo with the gallery – is utterly sublime.

Nic’s focus has gone into deeply personal territory for this show, exploring the nuances of fatherhood, childhood, innocence, and hope – finding inspiration in the daily life of his little boy. But this doesn't mean the show veers into twee sentimentality.

Nic opens up a deep enquiry into how ideas are physically formed through the act of painting; quite literally deconstructing the fragments of painterly form.

As Nic explains, “I tend to keep track of all the little ideas I read and stumble upon as I work. These build up a little like the scattered marks and surfaces of the paintings themselves. I settled on the title ‘Natural Intensities’ as I enjoyed the description here of an intensity as a possibility, an idea, not formed, but an organic potential of a particular context.

The works seemed to have that quality, naturally ‘becoming’ across the surface. The works all sort of hum and vibe… the simple hint of a figure, mostly marks, and a few lines to pull the form out. There are ideas I'm trying to approach here, of subject and object relations that I’m keen to keep exploring.”

In the second space, we’re welcoming another Naarm based artist, Ara Dolatian, whose sensational ceramics have delighted audiences in Australia and beyond. While emerging artist Marie Strauss will also show an elegant collection of recent prints and ceramics. Lots of beautiful work to see!

Open Tuesday to Saturday 11am-5pm, until 12 November. All welcome!

SCOTT LAWRIE GALLERY, Shed 10, The Steelworks, 13 Coles Avenue (off Valley Road), www.scottlawrie.com

Nicholas Ives, Into the Ground, 2022 © The artist

Marie Strauss, The Catch, 2022 © The artist

Ara Dolatian, Enlil, 2022 © The artist

Peter Peryer – Wanted Dead or Alive

9 November - 26 November

{Suite} is delighted to present Wanted Dead or Alive, a solo exhibition of work by the late Peter Peryer who is among New Zealand’s most iconic contemporary photographers. Having begun his practice later on in life, Peryer was largely self-taught and developed a singular style that marked him apart from his contemporaries.

Captured with meticulous care and formal focus, Peryer’s photography entombs excerpts of the everyday in a world of his own creation, transmogrifying commonplace objects into psychologically charged studies that resist straightforward interpretation.

Wanted Dead or Alive features a suite of animal photographs; a subject matter which the artist returned to throughout his practice. However, as often occurs in Peryer’s work, not all is as it seems at first glance. His images play on themes of duplicity

and doubleness, prompting viewers to consider the permeable relationship between nature and artifice. Are the animals depicted dead or alive? Are they real or artificial; and what new meaning comes to bear once the viewer decides either way?

Through intimate focus, distorted scale, and carefully arranged compositions, Peryer complicates this decision-making process, forcing us to continuously question the nature of his subjects.

While thematic undertones persist across Peryer’s body of work, each photograph is distinct and possesses its own unique presence. They are united, however, by a shared uncanniness. Whether the bust of an owl, portrait of a peacock, or profile of a rhinoceros, Peryer captures what is recognisable and renders it unfamiliar, ever testing the ways of seeing.

MESSINI PALACE @ PONSONBY CENTRAL

Messini Palace (Ngati Apakura) is a cast artist merging traditional whakairo rakau (Māori wood carving) with contemporary mediums such as resin and stone.

Each piece is individually handmade and therefore unique. Some pieces are limited edition due to the mould making process and time involved. Together with an engaging colour palette this contemporary urban aesthetic on traditional Toi Māori makes her work accessible for everyone to enjoy.

Located for a week at Ponsonby Central, this is a chance to view and purchase her new pieces including small sculpture, wall art, wall art lighting and object de art.

This pop-up exhibition is a great opportunity to meet the artist in residence for the week and runs from Monday 7 November, with an opening night Tuesday 8 November from 6pm to 10pm. Nau mai, Haere mai.

Opening hours: 10am to 7.30pm. Monday to Sunday, 7-13 November.

Ponsonby Central shop D, 136-146 Ponsonby Road. Instagram: messinipalaceart

Supported by Glengarry Wines Ponsonby, Countdown Ponsonby - 'Proudly supporting local artists in our community'

PURE MAGIC AT PITT ST THEATRE

Plumb Theatre presents Mike Barlett’s festive-hit Snowflake.

This November Plumb Theatre is thrilled to present the New Zealand premiere of the critically acclaimed festive hit Snowflake. Written by Laurence Olivier Award-winning playwright Mike Bartlett (King Charles III, Doctor Foster), Snowflake stars Michael Lawrence (Simpatico), Layla Pitt (Po’ Boys and Oysters) and Clementine Mills (Stop Kiss).

Led by director Paul Gittins (Collected Stories, Faith Healer), Snowflake is a heartfelt cry for reconciliation and understanding in the current climate of polarisation and intolerance. “It cuts straight to the heart of everything that’s happening in our world at the moment through the clever lens of a father-daughter conflict,” says Gittins.

Andy, played by Michael Lawrence, is a nostalgic boomer, widower and father; he loves a pint down the pub and listening to albums from beginning to end. His twenty-one year old daughter Maya (Clementine Mills) left home three years ago and hasn’t spoken to him since. It’s Christmas Eve and Andy hears Maya is back in town. Fuelled with fresh hope, Andy fits out the local church hall for a welcome home and waits.

“Christmas... that’s when they say people come home...” Heart-warming, topical and thoughtful, Bartlett’s bittersweet Christmas play Snowflake explores generational conflict, baby boomer vs millennial values and the struggle to find common ground. Snowflake showcases lighting design from Michael Goodwin. Get into the Christmas spirit at Pitt St Theatre and book your tickets today through iTICKET.

Plumb Theatre gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Chisholm Whitney Charitable Trust and Auckland Council in the presentation of this work.

“a masterfully written generational clash” - The Guardian “gripping” - The Telegraph

“it’s rather special” - What’s on Stage “devastatingly insightful” - The Stage

Snowflake by Mike Bartlett, Direction from Paul Gittins Performance by Michael Lawrence, Layla Pitt and Clementine Mills. Pitt St Theatre, 78 Pitt St, Newton 23 November – 11 December Tickets: iticket.co.nz or 09 361 1000

If you have any questions please email Plumb Theatre: admin@plumbproductions.co.nz

ART SCENE

How we see ourselves is often puzzled over in figurative painting, its reflective format often the size of a mirror.

Now 70, former Head of Painting at Christchurch’s Ilam, Roger Boyce looks closely at his hands. Picasso remarked that he trusts his hands more than his brain, as after a lifetime of action, our hands develop an intuitive response while our analytical brain just gets in the way.

Boyce’s exhibition House of Games at {Suite} on Ponsonby Road has a wall full of works, each around the size of a small bathroom mirror, reflecting on the skills his hands reliably demonstrate.

Boyce’s hands drip with white fluid, the colour of the jobbing house painter. They’re dipped in the red, green, and blue of projected light’s primary colours, the opposite of the physics a painter uses to make hues. Poking from behind a floating sheet his hand gives a one-fingered salute, as if his ghost has a final message. They gesture in gold like a Buddhist statue, insert a finger to explore the red world of a jelly.

The size of a more generous mirror, and with the pale, silver greys of its acute reflections, the works of Marilyn Murphy’s Drawn From Life at Orexart show us lost in the clouds of consumerist nostalgia and surreal interactions. Murphy was Professor of Art at Nashville’s Vanderbilt University, now living between the USA and Whangarei, and this is her first exhibition in New Zealand.

Rendered in the monotones of graphite, these drawings reference print advertising from last century, the fashion especially nostalgic while clues in the pictures hint at

contemporary concerns. New Zealand appears like a magnified map in a giant jelly mould, seedlings planted around its base. A farmer waits for a city block to impact his paddock. Clouds are everywhere, emerging from boxes and toothpaste tubes, engulfing us.

How we see ourselves is unknown to others, and how others see us is also opaque. Perhaps it is in the work of artists that we can catch glimpses of these various and variegated points of view. EVAN WOODRUFFE, Studio Art Supplies  PN www.studioart.co.nz

Marilyn Murphy's Brighter Days at Orexart

Marilyn Murphy's Pacific Jelly Mould at Orexart

Roger Boyce's Not St Thomas at Suite Gallery

MISS PEARL NECLIS – what your stars hold for November

Aquarius (the Water Carrier)

21 January - 19 February

You do have a lot on your mind and keeping busy is certainly not a problem. Be aware of keeping your priorities in the right order. You don’t want your work-life spilling over into anything personal. Take on what you know you can do and speak up if it’s too much.

Pisces (the Fishes)

20 February - 20 March

If you have to make any adjustments this month it might be a few days before things are noticed. It might be that you have made subtle changes to your appearance or to whatever's going on in your life. If something has changed, then it’s for the best. Finally, your time is here.

Aries (the Ram)

21 March - 20 April

It really is the time to get motivated. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it.

If somethings are getting in the way of achieving your dreams, then you need to address these issues first. Don’t be afraid of speaking up for yourself. You will have more members on your team than you realised.

Taurus (the Bull)

21 April - 21 May

You have many goals and ambitions in your life and you have been fortunate that some have been achieved. The feeling that you have of being underwhelmed is only temporary and it won’t be long before you’re back to being your enthusiastic self. Maybe some self improvement is on the horizon.

Gemini (the Twins)

22 May - 21 June

Try not to be tempted by the latest musthaves at the moment. It might be a time to reign in your spending a bit. Christmas is just around the corner and you want to be able to enjoy yourself. Take stock of what you have materially, and you’ll see you have everything you need.

Cancer (the Crab)

22 June - 22 July

Being individual isn’t something new. In your own way you have always been different. It’s taken you a while to finally get to the point where you’re happy at the way things have turned out. Whatever the future holds for you it’s with an open heart that you can say, “so far I’ve had a fantastic life”.

Leo (the Lion)

23 July - 21 August

Whatever confusion there is around you at the moment might make you want to start all over again. If you’re unsure of how to start a new project, just remember you have the ability to scrape together whatever you need to start something fresh. Don’t listen to discouragement that might start up again. Forge ahead with any new plans.

Virgo (the Virgin)

22 August - 23 September

It might be time you realise that there might be those around you that are purposely trying to slow you down. Whatever their motives are, it really is for your own good. The path you may be on might not be taking you to the right destination. Look for the signs. They are obvious.

Libra (the Scales)

24 September - 23 October

Don’t lose focus of the obvious. If you’re taking on too many responsibilities, it could be because you need to stay in control. Make an effort to think about what you’re doing rather than letting someone be responsible. Step back when you need to.

Scorpio (the Scorpion)

24 October - 22 November

You’ve had lots of ideas bouncing about in your head but there’s one that has been in there for a while that keeps presenting itself. The conditions might not be ideal and if you’re waiting for the perfect situation, you have to know there is no perfect time. Follow your heart.

Sagittarius (the Archer)

23 November - 22 December

Something has been holding you back or even closing you off from everyone it seems.

You might be trying to protect yourself from getting hurt. Unfortunately, life will be full of hurdles you must bypass in order to feel free. Navigating isn’t always easy.

Capricorn (the Goat)

23 December - 20 January

Maybe you should have a go at leaving behind some of your past and start working on your new future. If you’ve felt held back because of the life you were leading and feel it’s not easy to step away and create your own way, try it. If you don’t succeed try again.

THE BUSHMAN’S SON

Yes, my dad was actually a ‘bushman’ right into his old age. He was a staunch blokey type male role model that my brothers adored and strived to be like. But not me!

My mum was my hero, introducing me to musicals, old movies, along with handshaking me through Doris Day, Judy Garland, Grace Kelly, Bette Davis and more goddesses of the silver screen (metaphorically speaking). She surrounded me with music of all genres and filled our home with music, singing and dancing. This was my happy place and the company of women always made me feel the most relaxed. You will see that I have used music throughout the book as a timeline. Each chapter is named with a song that is relevant to that particular period.

However, there was a dark side to growing up in a big wellknown family in such a small town... being left out...picked on, called a ‘POOFTER’ ‘PANSY’ ‘HOMO’, not only by outsiders but also within my own home environment. Living life with undiagnosed ‘Anxiety’ was certainly challenging especially through puberty and beyond. Meltdowns, breakdowns, dark places, deep holes which felt impossible to climb out of made me impossible to be around sometimes and as a result I was called ‘highly strung’ from a very young age - Ugh !

In the 90’s doctors treated me for depression. Anxiety wasn’t really talked about as it wasn’t really a ‘thing’ at that stage, and the medication made me feel worse - or even numb. Writing this book/memoir has helped me with my recovery and has been extremely therapeutic.

The Bushman’s Son takes you through this journey and introduces you to some of the powerful, glamorous women, and other individuals in my life along with the stories they shared with me of life experiences in New Zealand during the Napier earthquake and WW2. It weaves in and out of my whakapapa (Nga Puhi) in the Far North and the on-going search for peace/acceptance and love...along with the undiagnosed ANXIETY.

My true Kiwi story spans generations and will test all emotions as the journey takes you from early last century to more recent times. Brace yourself!

Who is The Bushman’s Son?

Name: Terry Arnold Pomare Fergusson Hughes

Born: Tokoroa, South Waikato Lived: Most places

Experienced: As much as humanly possible without dying.

Awards:

Titirangi Emerging Artist Awards – Finalist 2015; Adams Portrait Award 2016 – People's Choice Award; Finalist Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Award 2019.

Quotes:

”It’s okay to look at the past, just don’t stare.“ “Never take life too seriously – Have more fun!”

Bloody Proud of:

The Bushman’s Son, My Book, debuting at #11 on the Indie Top 20 Bestseller List* a week after its launch! *Indie Top Seller List ending 13 August 2022

Available online from all your favourite e- sellers and The Women’s Bookshop, Ponsonby.

The Covert Theatre in Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby is NZ’s homeofimprovisedcomedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

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