DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW

David Hartnell: One minute interview with Kim Hegan

Kim’s mother and father, Eddie and Elaine Hegan ran Hegan’s Entertainment Agency in New Zealand for decades.

Was it your Mum and Dad where you got your interest in entertainment from? Well we had no alternative, as it was the family business. Our house was always full of entertainers like Billy T James, Ray Woolf, Howard Morrison. We even had Vera Lynn around for dinner at our house. During summer holidays there were beach shows with Dad as MC/Producer. We all helped out, and when Dad became unwell in the mid 1980s, I stuck my hand up to help Mum with the business.

Tell us about the movie you have produced with your daughter. We met a very high Tibetan Lama, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, while he was visiting New Zealand at Orewa beach in 2010. Both my daughters, Yeshe and Hanna, are Tibetan Buddhists, so when I told him the story of how I met and studied with Kangyur Rinpoche, the Tibetan Lama who had carried the Buddha’s 84,000 teachings from Tibet, escaping over the Himalayas to India in the 1950s, in Darjeeling in the 1970s, he suggested I go back to Darjeeling and film it. It took us seven years; ‘Return To Gandhi Road’ won a couple of awards and was released in New Zealand and Australia.

What is the best thing about living in Grey Lynn? I have lived in Grey Lynn for 16 years and love the community. My favourite cafe, The Richmond Road Cafe, is just around the corner and my entertainment and filmo mates are all nearby.

What was your childhood like? It was pretty active. The house was always full of entertainers and I was a competitive gymnast before I discovered surfing. So I was Crunchy the Clown’s (Peter Newberry’s) balancing act partner until we came a cropper off a pile of chairs at the Dinah Lee Show at Western Springs. Peter got hurt and retired from the high balancing.

I will die happy if… I get there in one piece.

Where would your dream holiday be? Dad always said to make your job your hobby and you’ll never have to work a day. So we spent a lot of time in the Dordogne in France working on the last doco. It was beautiful. The next one would be about a Kiwi Flamenco Maestro, Paul Bosauder and his world of Flamenco, directed by Ian Mune, and I love Spain so once Covid-19 is clear, we’re off.

Most kiwi thing about you? I have a natural love of the ocean

See yourself in ten years where? By the ocean still surfing.

What job would you do other than your own? I wouldn’t change a thing. I have finally landed the dream job telling true stories that interest me.

Who would play you in the movie of your life? Billy Bob Thornton, as Bad Santa.

What do you most dislike about your appearance? My Hegan pointy nose.

Like to be remembered - how? Mindful of others.

Something that you really disapprove of? Loud and noisy people.

Your biggest disappointments? A M aori Trust Board and Hegans were jointly developing a M aori Cultural Centre on a special site that never made it off the drawing board. That was disappointing.

If you won a million dollars what would you would do? Buy a wee beach bach.

What motivates you? Making a difference.

What do you think happens when we die? We reap what we have sown.

Favorite movie? Secrets and Lies, Mike Leigh’s masterpiece, The Godfather. It was the first movie where real Italian’s were cast, and I love anything Francis Ford Coppola makes.”Flamenco Flamenco” Mike Figgis at his best.

What favourite bit of clothing can’t you live without? Comfortable Shoes and Nike hoodies.

Favourite time of the day? Sunset.

Dream home? Overlooks the beach, big deck.

Most treasured possession? My pair of sitars from the 1970s.

Something very few people know about you? I’m allergic to cold water.

Favourite hero of fiction? The Dalai Lama Mr. Happiness.

What cliché do you hate? (Preface to racist statement) “Even though some of my best friends are M aori/Indian/Islamic etc.”

Comfort food? Chocolate.

Dream guest list for a dinner party? HH Dalai Lama, Russell Brand, Archimedes, Kangyur Rinpoche.

Change one law or policy in New Zealand, what would it be? I am a major supporter of this government... Best Government in my lifetime. THEY ARE GIVING PEACE A CHANCE! It’s about time. (DAVID HARTNELL MNZM)  PN

Wanaka - a small town with a big lifestyle. Is now the time?

As Covid-19 takes centre stage, should we consider a move away from the big city?

Nestled on the edge of Lake Wanaka and surrounded by a vista of mountains, Wanaka enjoys a unique and special location. The town has wide open streets, no high-rise buildings and no traffic lights. The lake provides endless opportunities to enjoy water sports while also offering the simple majesty of watching the lake in all its changing moods. Climbing Mt. Iron rewards the walker with wide views of the lake and mountains and is highly accessible.

Wanaka offers year-round entertainment. Attracting thousands of visitors each year (normally!), the town plays host to a wide variety of nationalities and interests. In summer, paragliding, mountain biking and hiking, and in winter, skiing at Cardrona or Treble Cone is just 25 minutes drive away.

Wanaka is one of those towns that punches well above its weight. With city dwellers working out that a small town doesn’t have to mean small life or small thinking, this may just be the time to consider a move south.

The work situation seems less concentrated on tourism as we prove to ourselves the ability to work remotely. The regular commute by those heading to Auckland and Wellington is even waning as the reality of how successful the ‘WFH’ model has proven. Earn city wages and live in Wanaka; what a great combo!

Wanaka is, however, the worst kept secret, and already the world is eyeing up this special little town with big ideas. So take your chance and lock in a ‘tourist free’ visit to the south.

There’s never a ‘right’ time to challenge yourself, but there’s no harm in being open to the possibilities of the ‘right now’. Wanaka is a great place to visit and see for yourself. Carpe diem!

WANAKA HOME AND INCOME OFFERS ON $2.4M Fabulous, purpose built home with 6 bedrooms and 7.5 bathrooms Luxury living right in the township of Wanaka

Just a 5 minute WALK to town and lake this home works in multiple ways. Currently run as a Guest Lodge in summer (WANAKA SUITES - with manager accommodation separate) and used privately in winter. Or rent out the manager’s one bedroom self contained and enjoy the 5 bedroom house to yourself. Or have staff live on site and run all year round as a Guest Lodge (which it is licensed to do). Fabulous mountain views with lake peeks from upstairs designer kitchen and living area – this property is sound proofed, fire proofed, solar powered and energy efficient. Contact me directly for more photos, business details and any questions.

6 BEDROOMS 7.5 BATHROOMS

CONNOR CRAWFORD I am a working artist and photographer with a colourful and rhythmic perspective. I enjoy shooting the front covers of Ponsonby News. 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. FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT I work as a booker, promoter and festival programmer. Active in all areas of the music community; folk music is my specialty. GARY STEEL I am a veteran writer and editor and run two websites – Witchdoctor and Doctor Feelgood – focusing on my interests in music, technology, and the wellbeing of the planet and its denizens. 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. JOHN APPLETON I have a keen interest in nutritional medicine and how it may be used to support people with chronic illnesses. JOHN ELLIOTT I am the founder of Ponsonby News and write for the magazine. My career has included politics, education and publishing. My interests include the

environment, the economy and social justice. 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. KERRY LEE I’ve been a freelance writer for a year now, and what I love most are the wonderful people I’ve

meet along the way. #best job. 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.

PHIL PARKER Journalist and published author, I have had a career involving both wine writing and hosting

boutique wine tours in the Auckland region. PIPPA COOM I am Councillor for Waitemat a and Gulf ward on Auckland Council. Formerly, Chair Waitemat a Local Board.

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.

Join us on Sundays at 2pm... for our weekly service including demonstrations of clairvoyance and afternoon tea.

GARY STEEL’S COLUMN IN PONSONBY NEWS In ‘Eat, Drink + Be Merry’ Gary Steel writes of Gandhi as, “a man whose beliefs and action - by 21st century standards - would be sexist if not outright misogynistic.”

I have read a great many books about Gandhi and I realise that his character, like that of every extraordinary person, is sometimes conveniently misrepresented for headline-grabbing articles, like the one in The Guardian (27 Jan-2010), which evidently influenced Gary Steel.

A vast body of literature would prove these unfortunate descriptions of ‘sexist’ and ‘misogynistic’ as unfair and cruel, but providing literary evidence to prove this would be beyond the scope of a short ‘letter to the editor’. Prakash Abraham, Freemans Bay

Ballot for 2021 Parents of children who live in zone who are turning 5 in 2021 & 2022 should pre-enrol to assist the school to plan appropriately. Out of zone places are likely to be offered in all year groups. Places are allocated dependent on availability on the day of the ballot 21 October 2020. Applications to be received by 3:00pm on 14 OCTOBER 2019.

There is an information meeting for parents interested in applying for the Ballot on FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 9:15AM please contact the school if you would like to attend 09 376 5703

Enrolment & Ballot forms are available from the school website www.bayfield.school.nz Inspired today – prepared for tomorrow

PROPOSED WESTERN SPRINGS PARK PLAN The Chair of the Waitemat a Local Board, Richard Northey, has bluntly refused to consider postponing the vote on the proposed plan changes. We are very disturbed by this, as a public meeting scheduled for last Sunday, 16 August at the RSC in West Lynn, was planned to inform and educate the local community about exactly what the changes and the NEW plan were. However, the order for Auckland to lock down under Covid-19 Level 3 interrupted this public meeting.

It has been very hard this year for the community to focus on issues involving public spaces because of the pressure Covid-19 has put on people, businesses, jobs and livelihoods. This pubic meeting would have shown the WLB the deep concerns shared by many ratepayers and prove that the consultation process, which might work for the Waitemat a Local Board, but essentially is a ‘fake and flawed consultation process’ as the involvement by the public has been conditional.

The issues of significant controversy are: lowering the Western Springs lake; widening the paths; allowing bicycles on the same path as toddlers, prams and the elderly; demolishing the iconic double humped bridge; the plan to turn this peaceful, tranquil park into and event venue is not widely understood. For these reasons we have asked that the WLB seriously reconsider their intention to pass this plan.

As the local community and the diverse range of park users come to understand the plan, its cost and the environmental impact it will have, they will be motivated to take direct action and occupy the park to preserve its historic and ecological values. Consultation with only those who agree, is not open, transparent or accountable governance.

Under the Local Government Act, we formally request that you postpone this vote until wide spread, genuine public consultation on these profound changes to the Western Springs Park are resolved. Lisa Prager, Community Advocate, Spokesperson, Westmere Heritage Protection Association, Occupy Garnet Road

STOP PRESS: We have only just found out, via a board member’s written reply, that the actual intention by Auckland Council via The Waitemat a Local Board is to turn the Western Springs Lake into ‘wet lands,’ instead of managing the existing weir to keep the spring water fresh in the lake. This additional major change has not been part of the public consultation process; proving our case that this is a fake and flawed public consultation and illegal.