PONSONBY NEWS - MAY'14 by Ponsonby News

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MAY 2014

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THE LONG & WINDING RICHMOND ROAD A COMMUNITY BUILT ON INDIVIDUALITY

PONSONBY LITTLE BLACK BOOK AN A-Z OF LOCAL CAFES AND RESTAURANTS Makoto Tokuyama and Ricky Lee of Cocoro

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50 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM THE EDITOR DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW SHALE CHAMBERS: WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD NIKKI KAYE, AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP MIKE LEE JACINDA ARDERN: LABOUR LIST MP AUCKLAND U3A PONSONBY GREY LYNN NEWS THE LONG AND WINDING RICHMOND ROAD

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MOTHERS DAY FASHION + STYLE ANGELA LASSIG: LETTERS FROM MAUDIE EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY PONSONBY LITTLE BLACK BOOK LAURAINE JACOBS: THE SEASONED PALATE PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE LIVING, THINKING + BEING HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY JOHN APPLETON ON HEALTH

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SHEENA SHUVANI: STARDUST ASTROLOGY PONSONBY PEOPLE & THEIR PETS FUTURE GENERATION LOOK WHO IS IN THE ZOO SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY STREET NAMES HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS ARTS + CULTURE PONSONBY PINK PAGES

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Michael McClintock

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WHAT’S INSIDE THIS MONTH

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LETTERS + EMAILS

Views in Ponsonby News reflect the author’s, and not those of Alchemy Media. www.twitter.com/Ponsonby_News

PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO info@ponsonbynews.co.nz Flavour of a community The Grey Lynn, Westmere and Ponsonby communities owe their character to the people who choose to live here. To be one of us is to be open hearted, accepting of diversity, passionate about human rights, the environment and community. I lovingly refer to my home as being on the border between ‘Gay Lynn’ and ‘Westqueer’. To me it is no joke as it perfectly describes my community.

254 Ponsonby Road aka Ponsonby Park We, the Western Bays Community Group, have been busy with our promotion of the ‘whole-of-the-site park’ at 254 Ponsonby Road. At the last meeting of the Western Bays Local Board we submitted our ‘business’ petition from local business owners and operators. This third petition completed our tripod of support being: over 1200 signatures from ‘users’ of the park, our ‘residents’ petition signed by the residents of O’Neill and Tole Streets and now the businesses.

Post wartime, areas of state housing were built and the government, following the United Kingdom’s example, bought houses in the community as part of the social policy of “Pepper Pot housing” to integrate low income earners into the community to avoid slums and discrimination. This has been a very successful social experiment that has shaped the unique character and personality of this area that we love.

At the local board meeting, we were officially advised that 254 Ponsonby Road has now been de-coupled from the Ponsonby Road master plan due to the amount of interest in the site. Council staff are now drafting two starting point proposals to take back to the community to initiate another round of consultation.

Sadly that has changed. It is my understanding that over the past three years, in a Government driven policy to sell assets, Housing New Zealand (HNZ) is systematically removing tenants from the Grey Lynn and Westmere area to enable these houses to be sold. I live in a HNZ house in Warwick Avenue and I have been given 90 days notice to vacate my home of 20 years in what feels like a ‘witch hunt’.

One of these options will be our favoured ‘whole-of-the-site park’. The concepts are due to be tabled at next month’s local board meeting and we hope to see a continuation of the impressive Wynyard Quarter style open-space development in our neighbourhood. The increased activity and vitality such developments attract is clear, as anyone who has enjoyed time at the Wynyard Quarter will appreciate.

Whilst on paper it might look good to sell houses that have increased from $180,000 GV to over $850,000 in 20 years, to rebuild in the same area is not going to happen. Also each of these houses are on sections too small to accommodate two dwellings. Forcing tenants out to sell these houses will change the whole nature of Grey Lynn. It is important that the whole community works together to stop this. Please tell your neighbours, especially all HNZ tenants, to save our community character.

We’re pleased and excited to be involved in this process and we’ll be keeping our database of supporters up to date with the process to achieve the best outcome for the development of 254 Ponsonby Road. A ‘whole-of-the-site park’ in my backyard? YES please! Check out some of our ideas on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/PonsonbyPark. JENNIFER WARD, Ponsonby

PUBLIC MEETING, 4.30pm - 6.30pm Saturday 10 May. The Garden Room, Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Road. GAEL BALDOCK, Westmere Old Ponsonby - from the 70s Thank you for the editorial in last month’s Ponsonby News, on the passing of Eddie Fong. The Fong family restaurant was always known as Yet Dan Hoo - which means ‘number one and good’. We never called it ‘number one’. It had a split-down-the-middle red front door. It was removed especially for Wun Ton soup. We knew him as Fast Eddie - not to his face - because of his efficient and friendly service. Other eating places of those times were Ivan’s - where Chapel bar is now, on the corner of Anglesea Street. I would be very interested in an interview with Ivan or Mary, who ‘worked the place’ with Ivan’s sister. And Fed Up, where Thai Me Up is now, near the corner of Summer Street. Fed Up was definitely more ‘upmarket’ - but excellent value too. It was way ahead of its time - it could have opened last week and been ‘up to the minute’ nowadays. The Yet Dan Hoo was a great place to go, from the Vista Bar at the Gluepot. If Matthew McCahon’s Dog Ollie wasn’t patiently waiting in front of the bottle store at the front of the Gluey, he would be outside Yet Dan Hoo. A quick ‘kai’ at the Yet Dan Hoo was a good ‘punctuation’ to a good afternoon/night at the Vista Bar, where the Radars (there was a blind guy in the band) might be playing. The bar on the corner was called the Bridge Bar - but we all knew it as ‘the bar of the 1000 faces’. The upstairs bar, where the music was, had a different crowd, really. Bar staff from downstairs - like Liu - would sometimes work upstairs too. The walls of the Vista Bar had fine artworks - the Kelleher prize-winners. Bob Orr wrote a very good poem about the cabbage tree that used to grow between the pub and the police station. Eddie drove a black Trans-Am, with decals on the sides. We used to tease him about ‘burn-outs’ and so on - with the car, and the quiff - he was a very enigmatic, manyfaceted guy. Thanks again for a reminder of ‘old’ Ponsonby - from the 70s... 40 years ago now. STEVE GARDNER, by email

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FROM THE EDITOR

photography: Jane Blundel @ Kloser

WE LOVE RICHMOND ROAD. OUR OFFICE IS JUST two minutes walk from the West Lynn shops and we are regulars at Mamata, enjoying their delicious avocado and tomato bagels. We love all the local cafés, especially Monterey, Richmond Road Café and Ripe. For a takeaway wrap, there’s always the Little Grocer opposite. Their site was the basis of our cover story last month. Every Sunday, the Grey Lynn Farmers Market is held and this gives locals a chance to catch up with friends and to buy some fresh delicious produce. Richmond Road really is a village. IF MY MUM WAS STILL WITH US SHE’D BE AGED 85 and not a day goes by when she’s not in my thoughts. Mother’s Day falls on Sunday 11 May this year and I feel slightly envious of others who are able to spend the day with their mums. This month, scribe Deirdre Tohill asked some of her friends what they liked or disliked about Mother’s Day. One lucky mother told her that when her children were little they insisted on bringing her tea in bed, which she never enjoyed and dreaded cleaning up the mess they made in the kitchen. Another liked the practice, but when her children asked their father what he was planning for the day his reply was “nothing, she’s not my mother.” Another friend’s parents thought it a dreadful, commercially inspired American invention and this attitude prevailed with her own kids. However, thanks to rampant commercialism it has now

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Gwynne Davenport, Martin Leach, Jo Barrett, Julie Roulston and Jay Platt acquired almost Holy Day status and to her shame she has succumbed and rather loves her grandchildren making her cards and their parents giving her flowers. Oh, oh, maybe a Grandmother’s Day is in the offing! Things backfired for one of Deirdre’s friends who had also instilled an abhorrence of the tradition in her family. Some years ago she bought a bookshop towards the end of April and hadn’t quite got the hang of using the till. Her first Saturday of trading was a nightmare when suddenly she was coping with a queue of customers stretching out onto the footpath. Every single one of them was buying a Mother’s Day gift. She suddenly felt an unwarranted sense of grievance because the next morning there would be no tokens of love from her own (suddenly) uncaring kids! My friends on Facebook always tease me about how often we eat out. Who can blame us with the huge choice in our local area. We hope you enjoy trying out some new choices in our Ponsonby Little Black Book, A-Z of local cafés and restaurants. (MARTIN LEACH) F PN

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DAVID HARTNELL’S: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW Award winning cook book author (16 at the last count) Julie Biuso, has been a St Mary’s Bay/Ponsonby resident for many years. What was your childhood like? Idyllic. We had an enormous section with trees and old sheds and two garages and a big playroom, so there was always some place to hide. Which TV series would you never miss? Yotam Ottolenghi (food). Oh, and the new Sherlock series. Benedict Cumberbatch has a most kissable top lip. What do you think happens when we die? We go into a hole in the ground and the worms eat us, as they should, and the cycle of life continues. Dream holiday? Barcelona up to Figueres, Roses and Cadaques by car, then fly to San Sebastian and come back a month later. Or never. Best thing you have brought back from an overseas trip? Fifty year-old aceto balsamico and two kilos of parmigiano from le vacche rosso (red cows) in Toscana. Declare. Smile. Walk through. How would you like to be remembered? As kind and caring. Nothing else really matters. Whose hits would you take to a desert island? Paul Simon’s Graceland would be fun to bop along the beach to. Gottan Project because it is so cool and humble. And Spanish guitar by various artists ‘cos I can’t live without it. Where did your interest in cooking start? Through hunger, I’m sure. I loved hanging around the kitchen with my mother because she snuck me titbits. Then she started making me work for my rewards. Bugger! Something that you really disapprove of? Rudeness. Pushing and shoving. Guys dragging you off at the lights But my biggest intolerance? Meanness - I have no room for it in my life! Favourite all time dish? Roast tarragon chicken with crunchy potatoes and a

salad from the garden. But, I also love freshly caught fish cooked in a little butter and with nothing more than a squirt of lemon. Comfort food? Potatoes. I don’t care how they are done, roasted, fried, mashed, steamed, baked, cooked in embers, any way I just love them. Give your teenaged self some advice? Go harder! You’ve got one life. How do you chill out? Glass of wine, salted peanuts, feet up and a crossword. Favourite book? Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. It stayed with me for weeks after. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini had a similar impact. Which item of clothing can’t you live without? An old baggy cardigan with big buttons. It’s bright red and if I’m feeling blue and put it on it lightens my mood. Favourite time of the day? The early hours of the morning. It is so peaceful and you hear the birds. Each new day gives us a chance to start afresh. I like that. What do you love about your life right now? That I am really good friends with both my kids. There is a kind of madness that is whipped up when all four Biusos (that’s husband Remo, and kids Luca and Ilaria) get together. We egg each other on and sort of explode into noise and stupidity. Something very few people know about you? I am terrified of wetas!

to shut up. I have my own private choir, mind, with just four members and you have to be truly dreadful to gain membership. We meet every so often and drive over the Harbour Bridge with the windows down and sing our lungs out. Any acting aspirations? No. But I did want to be a ballerina. I’ve got the right ankles and calf muscles, apparently, it’s just the bit in the middle that didn’t work out. Do you have a party trick? Air guitar. I’m pretty good at it. And I sometimes jump from guitar to drums and back again. Travel light or heavy? Heavy! How the hell do I know what I want to wear tomorrow? Opinion on today’s man? Much nicer than two decades ago. Much more prepared for an equal share of the pie. Smells better too.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? I’d be taller, thinner, more fabulously fabulous with a brain so big I’d need to carry it alongside me in a wheelbarrow.

If you could change one law or policy in New Zealand, what would it be? Parking would be free. Fancy charging family/visitors for parking when they come to see their loved ones in hospital! Fine if you only have to visit someone once, but if you are going every day for weeks... well you add that up then look at the people who are having to pay it.

What talent would you most like to have? To be able to sing. I mean, I sing, but everyone tells me

(DAVID HARTNELL) F PN

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SHALE CHAMBERS: WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD REPORT COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY are coming to grips with the real harm legal highs are causing in our community and to our young citizens, since the Psychoactive Substances Act came into effect last July. The new legislation had the laudable purpose of harm minimisation making it illegal for dairies, convenience stores and supermarkets to sell synthetic highs, cut the number of outlets legally selling legal highs from 4000 nationwide to fewer than 170, and reduced the number of products available on the market from 200 to 50; products that could prove their harm is no more than minor. However, the use of this now legitimate product is being linked with crime, worsening mental illness and aggression, especially amongst vulnerable people, as well as adverse health outcomes. Over 20 retail outlets concentrated within Auckland’s city centre or immediately adjoining it. This is an issue for the inner city communities, not just South or West Auckland, to be concerned with. Of course, making a problem visible, with the resulting focus it brings, may be the first step to making a difference to minimise the harmful effects mind altering substances have.

SkyPath, the privately funded, community initiative, shared walking and cycle path to be attached to the city-side of the Auckland Harbour Bridge has recently taken a step closer to becoming reality. At an open day last month the updated designs for SkyPath were presented to the community. www.skypath.org.nz. These designs sought to address key concerns identified in earlier community engagements. This visionary project has been the initiative of the AHB Pathway Trust, a charitable organisation, for over a decade, and logistically supported of recent times by the Heart of the City business group. As a local board we believe the project has overwhelming community support. A notified resource consent is to be lodged shortly, with a view to having SkyPath operational by summer 2015/16. As we get ready to snuggle up to winter the Waitemata Local Board brings you ‘POP’ at www.pop.org.nz. POP, a series of projects in our public spaces currently underway, is a new arts and creative initiative of the board and is an opportunity for you and your family to enjoy a variety of art, community and interactive experiences throughout our area. Bees, music,

discovery walks, gardens, mime, food and more at the Auckland Domain, Victoria Park, Albert Park and places close by. An impressive line-up of local artists will create something for everyone. The White Face Crew will be performing pop-up performances daily, drawing upon physical theatre, clowning, costume, character, improvisation and contemporary dance. Thanks to our communities for all the suggestions you have given us for our local board plan. The plan will set objectives for Waitemata for the next three years, guiding our decisions on local activities and projects. As part of the plan we have proposed six outcomes to focus on - our built environment, transport, ensuring an innovative economic hub, the natural environment, quality spaces and strong communities. The projects we plan focus on each of these objectives. We received many valuable ideas about how we can make our area an even better place to live. We are developing the draft plan and look forward to talking to you more about our local board plan in July. (SHALE CHAMBERS) F PN Contact me: shale.chambers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

In the meantime we have the immediate effects to address. Council’s response to the harm minimisation intentions of the legislation is multi-faceted. However, the first steps are the new Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013, which comes into effect on 26 May 2014 and specifically addresses mind altering substances on a consistent approach across Auckland. In addition council is accelerating the development of a Local Approved Products Policy, which is council’s formal role as allowed by the legislation. I am a member of the political working party helping to coordinate this policy. The policy will help minimise harm resulting from the use of legal psychoactive substances through controlling the physical location of licences. Local boards will be given the opportunity for input and the community to have its say shortly. Let’s focus on harm minimisation and get this right.

The Skypath visual allows both pedestrians and cyclists easy access over the harbour bridge

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NIKKI KAYE: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP

Budget and Boundaries 15 May marks the release of Budget 2014. This budget will be about targeted spending, not a spend-up, keeping us on track to reach surplus. Last month it was confirmed that the budget allowance will be set at $1 billion. The areas that matter most to families will be the focus of investment: better healthcare, more effective education, safer communities and less welfare dependency. We have worked hard to steer the country through a recession, the global financial crisis, and the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes. With another responsible budget, the Government is keeping its promise to prudently manage the country’s finances, and bring the books back into surplus. It is important to remember that when we talk about the economy, we’re ultimately talking about people’s wages, livelihoods and the cost of living. A sustainable, growing economy will have benefits for everyone particularly Auckland. Radical spending will not do New Zealand’s economy any good in the long run. That is why it is vital that we remain focussed on our programme of considered and consistent change over time. The deputy prime minister confirmed recently that if we can achieve economic growth forecasts of 2 - 4% per annum through to 2018, the annual wage will be expected to increase by $7,500. Over the past two years alone, we’ve already seen a $3000 lift in the average wage. Furthermore, controlling new spending over the coming years will avoid the Reserve Bank ramping up interest rates. Avoiding rising interest rates will directly make a significant and positive contribution to families’ budgets. Every one percentage point movement in mortgage interest rates is worth around $40 a week, or $2000 a year, for a family with a $200,000 mortgage. When you hear politicians promising to spend up on expensive election promises we hope you remember that this will come at a significant cost to New Zealand households

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and businesses. Thoughtful and targeted spending is the best way to keep New Zealand on track to a surplus and create a sustainable, growing economy. On another note, many of you will have heard about the electorate boundary review. This has been conducted by the Representation Commission, an independent body. The commission is convened after every census, to make sure that the number of people in each electorate reflects the changes in population. Each electorate must have an electoral population that is within +/- 5% of its electoral population quota. The 2013 census saw significant population growth in Auckland Central. The census shows that I have been serving for the last five and a half years a much larger of number of people than many other constituency Members of Parliament across New Zealand. I have enjoyed a busy electorate office with on average several thousand constituency cases annually. The Representation Commission has shifted Westmere and the Grey Lynn area to the Mt Albert electorate. I will be really sad to see these parts of Auckland Central leave the electorate as both areas are close to my heart and I have been involved in delivering a number of projects for these communities. I want people to know that I am still here for constituents from these parts of the electorate until September and I hope that people will continue to contact me if they need help. I also want people in these areas such as Westmere and Grey Lynn to know that there are many issues that I advocate on Auckland wide and as long as I am in Parliament I will continue to remain a strong advocate for you. I am passionate about Auckland and many issues traverse geographical boundaries. As your local MP I will continue to work hard and deliver nationally and locally for you. PN (NIKKI KAYE) F HON NIKKI KAYE, MP for Auckland Central www.nikkikaye.co.nz

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MIKE LEE

Auckland’s electric trains – at last It’s been a long time coming, and believe me, it wasn’t easy getting there, but Auckland’s new electric trains have now entered service - opening a new era in Auckland’s history. While Wellington’s rail electrification began in the late 1930s and Melbourne’s even earlier in the 1920s, electrifying Auckland rail proved to be much more difficult. It was first proposed in the late 1940s, and then again in the early 1970s (Mayor Robinson’s ‘rapid rail’) but both these projects foundered for lack of government support. It turned out to be third time lucky. Auckland’s third push for electrification began in the early 2000s. As the chairman of the Auckland Regional Council from 2004-2010 I was involved in a long campaign to persuade first the Labour-led government to grant its support and then, after National came to power in late 2008, starting all over again to persuade them. This was a challenging, sometimes frustrating experience that certainly confirmed Arthur Schopenhauer’s words. “All truth passes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Second it is volently opposed. Third it is accepted as being self-evident”. But we got there. Now looking to the future, Auckland’s new fleet of 57 EMUs (electric multiple units) will be a quantum leap forward for rail commuters, in performance comfort and design. Built by the Spanish rail company Construcciones Y auxillar de Ferrocarriles (if that’s hard to say, call it ‘CAF’) after a world-wide tender, these trains are more powerful and much faster (maximum speed 110km per hour) than our present diesel fleet - allowing services to run more often and get travellers to their destinations quicker. Each three-car unit (two motor cars and one trailer car) can carry 375 passengers.

photography: Auckland Transport

The new trains are also more environmentally friendly: energy-efficient, quieter, and produce no air pollution. The central car has level boarding for pushchairs and wheelchairs and room for bikes. Regenerative braking will enable them to recover 20% of the electricity used. These trains are going to be popular with Aucklanders. As an indication 5000 people got a free ride after the official launch on Sunday 27 April. The tickets were snapped up in a few hours after they became available early in April. The first electric trains are now in service on the Onehunga Line (which is also a buzz given the long battle I had to get that line re-opened) and will be progressively put into service after completing their checks at Auckland Transport’s vast new high-tech depot at Wiri. Towards the end of this year they will be in service on the Eastern Line, running from Britomart via Orakei, Glen Innes and Panmure etc., to Manukau. Early next year it will be the turn of the Southern Line: Britomart to Papakura via Newmarket etc., followed by the Western Line, Britomart to Henderson, Swanson and all stations in between. The project is a credit to Auckland Transport who bought the trains and to KiwiRail supported by the government who erected 80kms of wiring, masts, new signalling and a major amount of civil engineering to make it all happen. But many people played a critical role in this historic achievement. As I often said during the long campaign to secure central government support, new electric trains for Auckland will not only change Aucklanders’ attitudes to rail and public transport but also the way we think about our city. PN (MIKE LEE) F Councillor for Waitemata & Gulf www.mikelee.co.nz

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JACINDA ARDERN: LABOUR LIST MP AUCKLAND

The New Look of Auckland Central Auckland Central is an electorate that is on the move and as a consequence things around here are changing. The results of last year’s census showed that New Zealand’s population has grown by around 214,000 people with the largest growth occurring in Auckland by more that 18 percent. All electorate boundaries are drawn based on population - so given how many more people now live in the inner city it is no wonder that the group tasked with adjusting electoral boundaries (the Representation Commission) looked hard at this electorate. Each electorate must have roughly the same amount of constituents to ensure equal representation. After the changes, each electorate MP would represent nearly 60,000 New Zealanders. Last year the Representation Commission presented a draft of the changes for the entire country and called for submissions. They did this to ensure that each electorate has roughly the same number of constituents - around 60,000. And true to form, many of you took up this opportunity to have your say about how you would like Auckland Central to look in the future. There was concern in your submissions that the draft boundaries split Grey Lynn between Auckland Central and Mt Albert and broke up a community of interest. The Representation Commission altered its plans to keep the suburb together, but put it in Mt Albert rather than Auckland Central as at present. So depending where you live the change may mean you continue to be in Auckland Central or you may now find yourself in my colleague David Shearer’s electorate of Mt Albert. For those of you in Westmere and in the bulk of Grey Lynn you are most likely to change to Mt Albert. Or if you live in Grafton or the part of Newmarket around the domain you might now be in Auckland Central! As much as I have really loved working across Grey Lynn, Westmere and Arch Hill, these changes in no way alter my desire to represent Auckland Centralers. Like you, I love living here, and you can be sure that I will keep working as hard as I can to fight for the things that you have told me you care about- things like public transport, protection of our environment, ensuring our education system continues to deliver high quality education to every child - to name but a few. The lines on the map may have changed, but we’re still here. So, onwards! PN (JACINDA ARDERN) F JACINDA ARDERN, Labour List MP based in Auckland Central www.jacinda.co.nz

DAVID HARTNELL’S CELEBRITY QUIZ BOOK IS NOW OUT David Hartnell MNZM, long time Grey Lynn resident and Ponsonby News columnist who’s known as the ‘Godfather of gossip’, has amassed a fabulous resource of detail about Hollywood and television movies and stars throughout his long career interviewing celebrities and reporting on trivia, gossip and scandals. Now David has written this quiz book as a celebration of the rich variety that the movies and television have brought us over many decades, and the personalities who’ve been working in both industries. Presented in an entertaining but informative fashion, over 1,700 questions are arranged in rounds of three, with answers close by. There are also specialty feature quizzes with questions related to a single subject, such as Oscar -winning films, Lord of the Rings, sequels and remakes, even TV pets. Collected trivia about celebrities and stars also feature as interesting snippets throughout the book. Whether it is used for pub quiz nights, parties or even long car trips, David Hartnell’s Celebrity Quiz Book will highlight to a wide audience the important milestones in the development of this most popular of cultures, and test how well you really know the world of entertainment. This is his ninth book. A journalist and media personality, he has compiled and written about Hollywood gossip for over 40 years, producing syndicated columns for newspaper and magazines that have appeared around the world, and appearing frequently himself on television and radio. In 2011, he was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to the entertainment industry in New Zealand and overseas. He is a patron of The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand and an Ambassador of PN St James Saviours, the trust formed to save the iconic Auckland theatre. F

LOCAL BARS FUNDRAISE FOR THE NZ AIDS FOUNDATION It's always great to see locals working together for the interests of the community. Earlier last month, two of our favourite bars, Caluzzi and Urge Bar handed over a cheque for $13,551.99 to the NZ Aids Foundation. The cheque includes proceeds from The Beer Garden and dance tents at 'The Big Gay Out' in February. This large sum is, by far, larger than previous years. "All the crew worked incredibly hard for no wages on the day. And the support was incredible", says Paul Heard, owner of Urge Bar. F PN L to R: Shaun Robinson, Paul Heard and Campbell Orr

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NIKI WRIGHT: LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY NEWS

Book a Librarian HAVE YOU JUST GOT A NICE NEW SHINY IPAD OR EREADER AND YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT to do with it? Get one-on-one assistance from a librarian with our free Book a Librarian service. We can provide a one hour session with a librarian to help you with: • • • • •

Using digital devices such as eReaders and iPads Downloading free eBooks and eAudiobooks through the Auckland Libraries website Basic computer skills - using email, word processing and the internet Using social media Using the Auckland Libraries website and MyInfo

In fact, as long as we have the expertise in the team, we are happy to help with anything at all, just ask! These are one hour sessions to get you up and running. Pop in to the library or phone us on 374-1315 to get more information or to book a session. Auckland Writers Festival May 14-18 We are celebrating the Auckland Writers Festival this month. Come in and pick up a festival booklet and check out our display of festival authors and books on writing and writers. Notable authors from New Zealand, and around the world, will be at the festival. Notable authors include Alexander McCall Smith, Eleanor Catton, Alice Walker, Irvine Welsh, Lloyd Jones and John Marsden. Be prepared! Get their books from the library and decide who you would like to see in the festival or just read their back catalogue. New Zealand Music Month New Zealand Music Month is a 31-day nationwide celebration of homegrown talent and the diversity of our unique musical culture. Throughout May we’ll be celebrating our music with displays of New Zealand music books, CDs and DVDs and some exciting events for children. A magical musical storytime Tuesday 6 May, 10.30am Come along to the library for some magical music-themed stories and some fun dancing. Kiwi tunes storytime Friday 16 May, 10.30am Come along to the library for Kiwi music-themed stories, songs and dancing. The greatest hits storytime Saturday 24 May, 10.30am Start your Saturday morning with some of our most popular and favourite stories and songs at storytime. The famous Leys Institute Library book sale Our next book sale will start 9am Friday 9 May 2014 and will run until the end of May. We have any extensive range of withdrawn library items for sale including fiction, nonfiction, magazines and children’s items. Be in quick to grab a bargain - our book sale is always very popular. There is so much going on we recommend checking out our Facebook page, Leys Institute Library Ponsonby, where we will be updating you on new events, displays, and goings on around Auckland Libraries. (NIKI WRIGHT) F PN LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY, 20 St Mary’s Road T: 09 374 1315 www.facebook.com/LeysInstituteLibraryPonsonby

HOSPICE PALLIATIVE CARE NURSES ASSIST PATIENTS TO LIVE NOT DIE Katie McGregor, a Mercy Hospice community palliative care nurse, believes she has the best job in the world. Whilst some may find the idea of providing specialist care to people facing life-limiting illnesses quite daunting, 29 year old McGregor has quite a different view. “There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a patient journey from a life whose quality is severely affected due to impacting symptoms to a life where pain is managed effectively allowing quality family time and a renewed focus on living not dying. I feel extremely privileged to assist and support patients on this journey,” she says. The annual Hospice Appeal Week, being 12 to 18 May, provides the most significant opportunity to raise awareness about the services Hospice provides. Appeal week also provides Mercy Hospice with the chance to celebrate their palliative care nurses, who care for patients with the utmost professional skill, respect, compassion and quality of care. Revered by the community, palliative care nurses are deemed to be special people with unique qualities. The Mercy Hospice palliative care approach is holistic, addressing the person’s cultural, social, psychological and spiritual needs as well as physical requirements such as managing pain and other distressing symptoms. Working in the community, these healthcare professionals acknowledge how important the comfort of home and the presence of family members is. Hospice supports people to remain as independent and active as possible. “It’s one of the wonderful parts of my job, seeing the pleasure and sense of self my patients get from being in their own homes. I don’t see the work I do as being about death and dying at all. It’s about improving the quality of people’s lives so they can live to the full. For instance I love it when I call my patients up for an appointment and they say. “Can’t see you today Katie, I’m going out,” says McGregor. Community nurses form part of the palliative care service Mercy Hospice provides at no cost to patients and their families regardless of age, ethnicity, means or religion, thanks to the continued generosity of the community. This appeal week Mercy Hospice hopes to raise $150,000 to continue to fund specialist nurses, ensuring the increasing number of patients and families in the Auckland community affected by life-limiting illness continue receiving the care and support they deserve. Mercy Hospice Appeal Week is 12 - 18 May Mercy Hospice Auckland is caring for more people than ever before. They need your help. Please donate today by texting Hospice to 5464 or visit www.mercyhospice.org.nz F PN

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DEIRDRE TOHILL: LANDMARK BUILDINGS

Richmond Road school

> RICHMOND ROAD SCHOOL IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE HISTORIC PLACES REGISTER BUT nevertheless it’s a building that deserves recognition for the way its evolution from a small chapel in Brown Street to what it is today reflects the district’s changing character over more than a hundred years. What’s more, the school has the distinction of having Auckland’s first woman head teacher when Miss Emma M Fletcher took on the role back in 1884. In the previous decade less than 60% of New Zealand’s children attended school but Auckland’s population doubled during the 1880s and school rolls increased. Miss Emma had assistance from two young trainee teachers and the Education Board supplied the new “Brown Street School” with furniture, blinds, tanks and closets as acknowledgement it was relieving the general overcrowding of Ponsonby schools. When the school buildings expanded round the corner on to Richmond Road it was named after Mr James Richmond, who when he arrived here in the 1860s from London, found the houses ‘rather cockney’ in appearance and the settlers to have boorish ‘Yankee’ manners. He also described Auckland as filthy, dirty and squalid. His initial negativity must have changed because this gentleman colonist found plenty of opportunity in New Zealand and in spite of having only modest abilities, played quite a major part in the country’s politics becoming colonial secretary in Frederick Weld’s administration. By the late 1880s prosperity started to wane and Ponsonby became a dormitory suburb for the working class where many families existed on deplorably low wages and lived in poor conditions. Houses were built close together, not because there was a lack of space but as an attempt to have the secure neighbourly contact they had enjoyed in the old country. Cattle wandered in the streets and children played outside on land that one day would become major highways. Richmond Road petered out into a muddy track leading to a tidal creek and Surrey Hills was open grassland devoid of habitation. Despite the depression, people remained confident the economy would improve, a view that was indicated by progressive legislation such as franchise reform, women’s emancipation and the free secular and compulsory education chartered in 1877. The mid 1890s saw an upsurge in export prices and a vigorous building programme at Richmond Road School commenced. In 1903 a manual training centre was erected on the Douglas Street side of the school. For over 60 years girls and boys, throughout the district, attended classes there in cooking and carpentry. A committee oversaw other schools in the area and among its members, the renowned William Leys, established recreational facilities for Ponsonby’s youngsters. By the time the school celebrated its 25th anniversary it had several high-roofed barn -like rooms with platform galleries where tiers of children were packed in ascending academic order. Autocracy reigned supreme so even though the roll numbers were large, and there was a serious lack of space, there were no administrative problems. By 1919 the school roll numbered 782, which was 153 more than the permissible 12 square feet per pupil. After the First World War’s devastating effect on families who had lost their sons, residents began campaigning for action to improve Ponsonby’s grossly overcrowded schools. A meeting was held at All Saints School to uplift the “scandalous, unsanitary conditions” in the three schools covered by the committee.

PONSONBY U3A: APRIL 2014 COMPUTER CLASSES FOR BEGINNERS TO THE FUTURE OF INTERNET TECHNOLOGY, were topics covered at Ponsonby U3A’s April meeting. The speakers were U3A member Noeline Creighton, who is active in SeniorNet and Adam Dodds, Research Manager for IT Services at International Data Corporation New Zealand. Noeline had retired from her career as a health professional, knowing only what she needed to use the computer at her work. She didn’t have a home computer. She joined a group held in the home of fellow U3A member Rod Melville, where he explained the basics of computers. When Eden-Roskill SeniorNet started shortly afterwards, Noeline and Rod and others in the group joined - and 11 years later they are still members. Rod is a current tutor and Noeline has tutored but now attends as a member. SeniorNet offers computer tuition to people over the age of 50 in groups of no more than six with a tutor for every three people. It teaches basic computer skills and other new computer based technology skills. Eden Roskill SeniorNet is holding an Open Day on Monday 5 May from 10am-3pm at the Mt Eden Senior Citizens Club Rooms, 487 Dominion Road, Mt Eden. Adam Dodds introduced his address - “The Changing Role of Technology in our Lives” - by asking for a show of hands by computer owners, which was most of us. He then asked for tablet and smart phone users - still many of us. He pointed out that everyone is becoming more and more connected, that we are living in a new environment where people sometimes have three or four devices to connect with other people. His role with IDC, an international data company started 50 years ago to see where technology is going to take us, is to look at technology trends globally and the ways they are going to change New Zealand. “People can now be connected anywhere, any time, any place, or you can find the information you want,” he said. “Within ourselves we are creating so much information that it’s not possible to keep it in our heads. What we can now access is unlimited.” With the world population exploding, the infrastructure we take for granted is changing. We need to track the need and the only answer we have, he said, is to leverage technology. In the first world environment everything is speeding up. He touched on future uses of technology in areas like health, wearable technology such as Google Glass coming on the market now, and the Intel baby body suit with very small sensors to monitor babies’ temperature and vital signs. He finished with a word of warning - “Err on the side of caution when putting your information on the internet. Use your common sense when it comes to your credit card and pin number, and know what to turn on and to turn off on your computer.” Among the special interest group reports was the Ramblers Group visit to Ayrlies Gardens at Whitford, where the autumn colours were starting to appear. Ponsonby U3A has 13 special interest groups covering a wide range of interests as well as leisure activities. Ponsonby U3A meets on the morning of the second Friday of the month. Guests and new members are welcome at all our meetings. Speaker for the May meeting will be art agent Jane Sanders - “An Unstructured Career PN in the Arts”. (PHILIPPA TAIT) F NEXT MEETING:

9.45am, Friday 9 May, First Floor, Leys Institute, St Marys Bay Road.

ENQUIRIES:

Jane Jones, President, Ponsonby U3A. T: 09 378 7628.

Finally in 1926 the board responded to parental concern with a proposal to build a two-storied, 11-classroom building which was soundly rejected by the authorities. The scheme was repeatedly deferred and the children’s home across the road was used to relieve the school’s congestion. Finally, in 1929 the Honourable Harry Atmore, Minister of Education promised “It will be the first school in New Zealand to be rebuilt.” Things started to happen when in 1930 a large Morton Bay fig tree in the centre of the playground was removed to create more space, light and air for children who spent hours being schooled in cramped unsanitary conditions and in 1934 the Honourable Michael Savage and the then Minister of Education, Peter Fraser opened the main part of the current school. The school flourished from then on, so much so that in the 1960s it gained international recognition for its innovative developments in literary education, and those teaching methods have since become standard practice in New Zealand schools. PN (DEIRDRE TOHILL) F

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Members of the Ponsonby U3A Ramblers group enjoyed a visit to the world renowned Ayrlies Gardens at Whitford. PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

GREY LYNN NEWS COMMUNITY SPIRIT BRIGHTENS GREY LYNN SHOPS The Grey Lynn shops at the intersection of Surrey Crescent and Great North Road have long been the poor cousin of the more trendy West Lynn shops. The closure of the Post Office almost three years ago, after a spirited community fight, for many signalled an irreversible decline for the area. Fortunately through the determination of formidable business people like Soala Wilson from Hairworks and Repeka Lelaulu at Barfoots; the arrival of innovative enterprises like Kokako, Tart bakery, Café Viet; new investment; and the vision of ‘old timers’ such as Jo (of bargain shop fame), has seen the confidence, vibrancy and support for our neighbourhood shops continue to grow.

Wendyl Nissen of Wendyl’s Green Goddess

The Neighbours Day street party was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all that is good in the hood. The street was full of stalls, DJs, musicians, artists, delicious food, fashion and art all organised by the Grey Lynn Business Association. The artist Haunt One, aka Oliver Rennie, was commissioned to work on a mural during the street party. His aim was to capture the ‘essence’ of the local culture. The stunning end result has been gifted and hung in the Grey Lynn Community Centre.

This community remains an integral part of Auckland’s culture and history. The Grey Lynn Business Association has been a key player in the preservation and rejuvenation of the Grey Lynn shops through footpath improvements, events and the drafting of a precinct plan to guide future council development. Anyone interested in learning more about the association is welcome to come along to the next networking drinks at The Surrey Hotel on Thursday 15 May at 5.30pm. (MEGAN REES) www.glba.co.nz F PN

photography: Michael McClintock

Photos of the street party taken by Michael McClintock really capture beautifully the many faces of Grey Lynn and what makes the area special.

Jo Goffe-Robertson; Shane McDonagh of Malt with DJ Cents (Friday night DJ at Malt)

Grafitti Artist HAUNT ONE creates an art piece live on site

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TO BOOK ADVERTISING: ask about our special positions! Jo Barrett on 021 324 510 or t: 09 361 3356 or 09 378 8553 e: joannebarrett@xtra.co.nz w: www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

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OUT + ABOUT

Above L to R: Alice Shopland of Angel Food; DJ Tafa Tiki; Genga Kumar of Crescent Dairy; Jenny Webster selling I Love Grey Lynn T-Shirts

Above L to R: ANZ Free Face Painting; Chloe Kaiser, Tina Kaiser-Tui ali’i, Carol Redman, Kyla Kaiser-Day, Naomi Sagapolutele, Sali Watch of Richmond Rovers; Elva and Max Chao of Gabidiam Coffee House

Above L to R: Gael Baldock with Vernon Tava of Waitemata Local Board; Tricia Reade of the Grey Lynn Business Association; Grey Lynn Street Party

photography: Michael McClintock

Above L to R: St Joseph’s Catholic School; Story Time with Lucia Mataia and Chloe Fryer of Grey Lynn Library; Surrey Boudit’ performing

Above L to R: Natasha Loh of Video Ezy Grey Lynn; Nicola Legat and Jamie Hoskin of Grey Lynn Residents Association; Raminder Kumar and Pooja Rani of Barkat Indian Takeaway; Rosemary Moore, Sam Atcheson and Alice Newman of Arch Hill Residents Incorporated (Society)

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THE LONG & WINDING RICHMOND ROAD A COMMUNITY BUILT ON INDIVIDUALITY

EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS AT SHOOSH Established in 2004 by the late Julieann Gascoigne, Shoosh has developed a strong loyal following. Sunny warm and bright, with city views Shoosh is certainly a home away from home for clients. Current owner Brett Martin has worked hard in the last six months to build upon the comfortable space Julieann had created, bringing in lighter colours, and re landscaping the front courtyard for clients to sit. Retailing Chi organic products for home use, and offering low allergy ammonia free Goldwell colours, Shoosh continues to provide non-invasive services that care for your hair without sacrificing a vibrant shiny finish. Shoosh is one of the only salons in New Zealand that specialises in Spatula colour. Though not suitable for all clients, it is a fantastic alternative to foil highlights, taking less time to apply and resulting in a much softer result. It’s a more organic way to apply colour that works harmoniously with your own hair tones. Come in and ask if you are a candidate for the Spatula. Shoosh also offers two techniques of foil highlights, and a new Keratin Silk treatment that tames unruly unmanageable hair, and reduces drying time. The Kerasilk treatment takes one to two hours, but can last in your hair for up to five months. Many similar treatments last only six weeks. The team at Shoosh is growing and changing, and a re-brand will happen later this year to coincide with the salon fit out being completed. Watch this space! F PN SHOOSH, Unit 7, 386 Richmond Road T: 09 376 6534 www.shoosh.co.nz Debbie De Ruiter & Brett Martin; Bianca Voss, Alicia Bangs & Katrina Wilson

RIPE ON RICHMOND Not too far down Richmond Road from the Ponsonby strip is the vibrant Ripe Delicatessen. Now in its second location, Ripe was begun in 2001 when owner Angela Redfern saw a need in the market for healthy, delicious home style takeaway food. Embraced by the neighbourhood, Ripe soon became the destination of choice for many seeking great coffee, awesome salads, wraps, sandwiches and baking like Nana used to make. Thirteen years on, Ripe is a foodie haven where the ever changing variety of cabinet food on offer tempts all those who cross the threshold. The kitchen team, headed by Pip Wylie, are passionate about what they do, always seeking to expand their repertoire and challenge themselves to create truly delicious and nutritious morsels. Over the years, Ripe has evolved with the requests from locals and 2014 is no different, as we approach the cooler months, Ripe is initiating changes to their offerings and opening hours. Since the early days Angie and her team have provided breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between. And although the past year saw them reduce their hours to a late afternoon closing, the people have spoken and Ripe has heard so keep an eye out for the return of longer, later hours. Many of you will be familiar with Ripe’s delicious comfort food dinners of smoked fish or chicken and leek pies, given that they appear in one of the widely circulated Ripe cookbooks, Ripe Recipes and Ripe Recipes-A Fresh Batch; now Ripe have expanded the range of take home freezer meals to include shepherd’s pie, lamb moussaka, butter chicken, beef lasagne, courgette, spinach and feta lasagne as well as deliciously decadent sticky date puddings and sweet fruit crumbles for dessert. The freezers at Ripe will be brimming with these ready for you to pop in the oven at home and minutes later be tucking in to meals that have been prepared with love and slow cooked to perfection! For those of you who struggle with even finding the oven in your kitchen then TV dinners - ready to eat, made hot and fresh Monday through to Friday afternoons with a seasonally changing menu using the freshest of local, seasonal, free range and free farmed ingredients are on offer - it really is too easy to look after PN yourself these days! F RIPE DELICATESSEN, 172 Richmond Road T: 09 360 6159 ripe.deli@xtra.co.nz www.ripedeli.co.nz

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THE LONG & WINDING RICHMOND ROAD A COMMUNITY BUILT ON INDIVIDUALITY

RETAIL SUPERSTAR Somboon Khansuk Harvest Wholefoods How did you come to be a retail salesperson? Firstly I want to say I’m certainly not a retail superstar, I can't claim that title. I’m a salesperson who enjoys their job. I love to help people find things, or advise them on the best items in our shop. I thoroughly enjoy meeting people socially and in business. What brought you to Harvest Wholefoods? My partner David and I have been eating organic for years, and we were a customer at Harvest Wholefoods long before I started to work there. When I was growing up in Thailand my family always grew and ate organic food, so from an early age I was aware of the value of organic foods. What do you love about your store? Working with Alex, our store manager, and a team of dedicated people who know and are interested in organic products is great. With new customers and products arriving daily, every day in the store is different. Our regular customers have become like family, I've been through births, deaths, holidays and marriages with some of them. We have a unique system with our staff that they are rotated every hour onto another aspect of the store, so they never get bored doing the same old thing day in and day out. What makes a standout retail salesperson? Someone who is passionate about the product or products they are selling, who’s a people person. Someone who speaks to the customer as they would like to be spoken to. Also listening to a customer who has good feedback on a product they have bought from us. Sometimes we even exchange recipes. Tell us about a memorable sale you've made this year... I was amazed last year when former Beatle Ringo Starr came into our shop to get some organic nibbles the day of his Auckland concert. He was extremely nice and down to earth and took time to have pictures taken with a couple of our staff. We have a number of Kiwi celebrities who are regular shoppers, along with other interesting people from all walks of life. Celebrity or not, I treat everyone the same; I serve them as I would like to be served if I was the customer. I have a regular customer who’s been shopping with us for over 20 years, she recently turned 102! If you could wave your wand and have anyone in the world walk into your store right now, who would it be? Another satisfied returning customer, or a brand new customer. Where do you shop/enjoy shopping? Well that’s easy - right here at Harvest. Why would I shop anywhere else when we stock the very best? I also shop at the Thai supermarket as I love cooking, and from time to time I have to get special Thai ingredients. Name someone you think is a great greater Ponsonby brand... Ponsonby News is a quality product and is one of the greatest Ponsonby brands around, it brings and keeps the community together. I also like the new Ponsonby Central, we are so lucky to have a place like this in the heart of Ponsonby. Thanks to Andy Davies, what a wonderful concept he's come up with! So international. F PN HARVEST WHOLEFOODS, 403-407 Richmond Road, T: 09 376 3107 www.huckleberryfarms.co.nz

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THE LONG & WINDING RICHMOND ROAD A COMMUNITY BUILT ON INDIVIDUALITY

BEDROOM BUSINESS If stylish bed linen gets your heart racing there's one store you must visit. Thread Design on Richmond Road is well-established as one of New Zealand's leading destination stores for lovers of contemporary bed linen, furniture and home ware. Thread Design was established in 2001 by design duo Sarah Sadgrove and Katie Collis. Their approach to design is similar to that of fashion designers, with new collections released each season. Each range is well thought out staying true to their clean, pared back aesthetic with stunning colour combinations and bold designs to mix and match. Circles and stripes, crosses or chevron... there are so many great choices! Impressively Thread Design continues to make their designs in New Zealand and their gorgeous product range is also stocked by exclusive home ware, linen and department stores throughout New Zealand and overseas. See for yourself and visit the Thread Design concept store to view the full range of bedding furniture and home ware. They also have an ample and well stocked online PN store. It is well worth a visit! F THREAD DESIGN CONCEPT STORE, 274A Richmond Road T: 09 360 1361 www.threaddesign.co.nz

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THE LONG & WINDING RICHMOND ROAD A COMMUNITY BUILT ON INDIVIDUALITY

A NEW PHARMACY CLOSE TO HOME A fresh new pharmacy recently opened in Richmond Road; Home Pharmacy brings together the best of both worlds in health care quality natural, organic products and pharmaceutical medicines. Built with natural materials, Home Pharmacy’s modern and warm feel was designed to fit the owner’s holistic health vision. Sam Pang, the owner, is the head pharmacist and also a natural health practitioner. He has a passion for working with patients, exploring the options for treatment and prevention of health concerns by offering both natural plant-based and laboratory -based remedies. Sam mentions there are many natural products that can complement your pharmacy medicines. At the same time, there can be many interactions between natural health products and prescription or pharmacy medicines that patients are unaware of. To ensure you are well-informed of the risks and benefits, it is helpful to have the knowledge of a pharmacist with expertise in both.

photography: Martin Leach

Home Pharmacy offers both herbal dispensing and consultations along with normal prescriptions. They also provide all the services you expect from your local pharmacy including passport photos, emergency contraception, and ear piercing. Some of the brands they love and have in store include Antipodes, Weleda, Trilogy, Savar, Go Healthy, Radiance, and Solgar. The friendly Home Pharmacy team wishes to thank the wider Grey Lynn and Ponsonby community for their warm welcome to the neighbourhood and would love to see you soon PN to discuss your health care needs. F

MRS WHIPPY: A REGULAR RICHMOND ROAD VISITOR

HOME PHARMACY, 6/280 Richmond Road T: 09 281 2812 www.homepharmacy.co.nz

The Ponsonby News team is always happy to hear the Mr Whippy jingle outside our offices. Jo Barrett and Gwynne Davenport enjoy an afternoon treat served by Rebecca Russell aka Mrs Whippy.

RAY WHITE GREY LYNN - DO POP IN TO SEE THEM Located in the heart of the West Lynn shops, Ray White Grey Lynn has been open for near on two years. As one of three offices for Damerell Earwaker Group Ltd servicing the greater Ponsonby area, their team love working in and for the Grey Lynn community. If there are any upcoming local events you would like a hand with, please don’t hesitate to call Simon on M: 021 661 304 or Gower on M: 027 448 4943. A focal part of this office is that it doubles as their weekly auction rooms, hosting sometimes up to 10 auctions a week, Wednesday from 3pm or Thursday night from 6.30pm. Check out their website each week to see what is going under the hammer, or keep your eye out for their curb-side auction flag and pop in to see the auction action. Their team of hard working real estate agents live, work and play in the area and are always willing to give great advice for your real estate endeavours over a coffee at Monterey. If numbers speak to you, they can also provide you with in depth statistics on the area with their monthly and quarterly reports. Pop in or give them a call to see how they can get you more in Grey Lynn. F PN RAY WHITE GREY LYNN, 422 Richmond Road, T: 09 376 2186 www.rwgreylynn.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

CHIKARA SATO - TOKYO CLUB

WALLACE COTTON

Chikara (Chika) Sato is a world class Japanese chef who has recently joined the team at Ponsonby Central’s Tokyo Club.

On the prominent corner position of Ponsonby Central between Richmond and Ponsonby Roads is iconic home wares store, Wallace Cotton.

A master chef, Sato hails from some of Tokyo’s most famous restaurants including Seryna in Shinjuko, specialising in Kobe beef and shabushabu, and Kyubey Restaurant in Ginza. Kyubey is one of Tokyo’s most reputed sushi establishments. Customers are known to queue before the doors open in the morning to get a good seat at the counter to watch the master chefs at work.

One of the first stores to open in Ponsonby Central in November 2012, the shop is bursting with a beautiful array of bed linen, sleepwear, clothing and furniture. Paula and Bill Wallace launched the brand in 2005 and it fast became a New Zealand owned and operated success story, synonymous with beautiful designs and great quality at an affordable price.

Sato is a specialist in the art of sushi and seafood. As a licenced Fugu chef, he has the ability to fillet the deadly delicacy known as Fugu or blowfish. Whilst these skills are not required locally, he is quickly getting to know our local seafood. Owner and Tokyo Club host Sarasa Shimura is enjoying introducing her brother-in-law to line caught seafood and snapper, pacific fresh tuna and New Zealand Chinook Salmon.

Wallace Cotton began with a duvet cover that Paula made for a friend. That first duvet cover was so well loved that Paula, who has been designing textiles since she was a teenager, and Bill, a business manager, were inspired to start a bed linen business based on beautiful quality cotton.

Tokyo Club is very much a family business, with Sarasa’s father Hideharu Shimura already brandishing the knives behind the counter. Sato has moved to Auckland with his wife and two small children, whom he hopes will benefit from the new and healthy environment that New Zealand has to offer. Hinata (four years) will soon be attending the local kindergarten so our language and culture will be his for the taking.

The team at Wallace Cotton Ponsonby Central are revelling in their friendly neighbourhood and light and airy store. Store Manager, Michele, loves introducing locals, tourists and visitors from afar to the tempting array on offer and the team enjoy seeing many a delighted customer leave the store ready to re-create the Wallace Cotton look in their homes.

Meanwhile Sato is enjoying the new challenge of running the kitchen at Tokyo Club; preparing ‘real Japanese food’ as you may find in the Yochoko laneways of urban Japan. Tokyo Club is Izakaya style; modelled after the popular dining bars where the Japanese head after work for a couple of drinks and tasty food. Order a beer first while you browse the menu and don’t forget to try the specially brewed Sarasa sake.

The range has grown and evolved over the years but Wallace Cotton continues to design all products here in New Zealand. Each year Paula and her design team travel the world to source the best manufacturers to produce the beautiful seasonal collections. Paula’s design philosophy revolves around one simple question “Will our customers love it?” Love and attention is applied to every step of the design process. “Our collections are created to harmonise perfectly with your décor and your lifestyle,” she enthuses.

The store gets a lot of repeat customers who can’t help but pop in on their way through PN to the nearby eateries. It seems temptation really does get in the way. F WALLACE COTTON, corner Richmond and Ponsonby Roads, T: 09 360 6133 www.wallacecotton.com

Tokyo Club Japanese Vinaigrette 3 tblsp Vegetable oil 2 tblsp Rice wine vinegar 1 tblsp Sesame seed oil 1 tblsp Kikkoman soy sauce 1 tblsp Grated radish (add before serving) 1 tspn Lemon, lime or Yuzu Juice 1 tspn Lightly toasted sesame seeds Pinch castor sugar Method: When ready to serve green salad, add radish and whisk all ingredients together. PN Toss through green mesclun with well rinsed, finely shaved, green cabbage. F Ponsonby Central, www.tokyoclub.co.nz

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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY - 11 MAY MOTHER’S DAY This celebration honouring motherhood has been observed since time immemorial. The ancient Greeks and Romans held festivals in honour of the mother goddesses, Rhea and Cybele, and ‘Mothering Sunday’ was once a major christian tradition in Britain and parts of Europe. This ritual fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent when the faithful would attend a special service in their parish church. Over time it become more secular when children would just present their mothers with flowers or other tokens of appreciation. The custom’s popularity eventually faded till Anna Jarvis resurrected it when her mother, who had been active in women’s groups, died in 1905.

children were little they insisted on bringing her tea in bed, which she never enjoyed and dreaded cleaning up the mess they made in the kitchen.

With financial backing from John Wanamaker, who owned a Philadelphia department store, she held a memorial service at a Methodist Church in West Virginia in May 1908. As for Wanamaker, he sure knew he was onto a good thing because that same day thousands attended a Mother’s Day event at one of his retail stores.

Another liked the practice, but when her children asked their father what he was planning for the day his reply was “Nothing. She’s not my mother.” Another friend’s parents thought it a dreadful, commercially inspired American invention and this attitude prevailed with her own kids. However, thanks to rampant commercialism it has now acquired almost Holy Day status and to her shame she has succumbed and rather loves her grandchildren making her cards and their parents giving her flowers. Oh, oh, maybe a Grandmother’s Day is in the offing!

Anna, meantime, arguing that American holidays were based on male achievement, started a campaign urging a special day honouring motherhood be added to the national calendar. Within five years every state was observing the day and in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday.

Things backfired for one friend who had also instilled an abhorrence of the tradition in her family. Some years ago she bought a bookshop towards the end of April and hadn’t quite got the hang of using the till. Her first Saturday of trading was a nightmare when suddenly she was coping with a queue of customers stretching out onto the footpath.

Anna’s original intention of just establishing a way of honouring the sacrifices mothers make for their children, became disgusted with how the day had become commercialised. She spent the last years of her life trying to abolish the holiday she had brought about in the first place, and actively lobbied the government to have it removed from the American calendar. No such luck!

Every single one of them was buying a Mother’s Day gift. She suddenly felt an unwarranted sense of grievance because the next morning there would be no tokens of love from her own (suddenly) uncaring kids!

New Zealanders are prone to adopting American traditions that inevitably mean buying something. Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween Day were not observed by earlier generations but times have changed. I asked some of my friends what they liked or disliked about Mother’s Day. One lucky mother I spoke to told me that when her

At least these customs that have been visited upon us are secular and though many wouldn’t agree, deserve as much attention as our over commercialised Christian festivals that are less and less relevant given our country’s population has become increasingly diverse. Rudyard Kipling has the last word on the matter - “God could not PN be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” (DEIRDRE TOHILL) F

WORKING STYLE: SHOES AND CASUALWEAR REIGN IN PONSONBY Winter 2014 sees Working Style heralding a contemporary take on the bold pinstripe, and shaking off references to the clichéd power suit. You’ll find reinvented cuts, updated proportions and rich colour combinations. Luxurious blends of velvet, cashmere, wool and linen feature throughout the suiting, knitwear and jacket collection, offering supreme comfort and style. The winter collection is offered in a colour palette of bright navy, French blue, khaki, taupe, black and grey. “We often get additional lengths of fabric so we are also able to create bespoke jackets, suits and second pairs of trousers for customers,” says Working Style Ponsonby’s Roderick Singh. Singh continues, “Our footwear range arrived early this winter from Spain, where the shoes are handmade. It’s the most extensive footwear range we have done to date... covering all bases from casual to business attire. Add a pair of our brogues or monk strap shoes to add an edge to a more subdued outfit.” Working Style Ponsonby customers tend to have a more casual approach to their wardrobes than at other destinations, says Singh. “Footwear, leather bags and the casualwear ranges are strong,” he says. “Specifically, monk straps and desert boots are popular as well as our leather satchel bags, winter cashmere and merino flannel jackets.” F PN WORKING STYLE PONSONBY, 186a Ponsonby Road, T: 09 376 3840 www.workingstyle.co.nz

34 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

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MILLY NOLAN: DESIGNER GIFTS

BA Wooden Affair Wooden accessories are making a comeback, but this doesn’t mean you have to live in a log cabin to do the trend justice. Just a few wooden accessories will instantly add natural warmth and texture to your home and surrounds. Here’s our pick of items that are subtle nods to all things wooden.

WMF Ranch Steak Knife & Fork Set, $349 This state-of-the-art steak knife and fork set has stylish oak handles and high-quality stainless steel blades so that your choice of meat is sliced effortlessly. Citta Guarida Metal Table Lamp, $199 Mainly wooden with a grey metal shade, this table lamp is the perfect marriage between contemporary and industrial. French Country Large Bell Dome, $140 Perfect for displaying an array of precious items, this glass dome is made that extra bit special thanks to its dark wooden base. Donna Hay for Royal Doulton Mortar & Pestle, $74 Made of porcelain and rubber wood, this mortar and pestle will ensure your herbs and spices are ground perfectly, while also sitting pretty on your kitchen bench.

Tivoli Audio Radio Silenz, $249 These noise-cancelling headphones are as stylish as they come with wooden earpieces in either black ash or walnut. An added bonus is that they play excellent sound and are both light and comfortable to wear. Tumbling Blocks, $40 Fun no matter what age you are, all this wooden tumbling block set requires is a steady hand and a fair bit of confidence. Royal Doulton Mode Platter, $119 Light in both colour and to hold, this lovely round wooden platter is perfect for almost anything - whether it’s serving food or used as decoration on a bench top. Gordon Ramsay Bread Street Slate Jug with Paddle, $50 Perfect for serving sauce, gravy or dressing at the table, this slate coloured jug with an accompanying wooden paddle is a tabletop essential. (MILLY NOLAN) F PN All products available from www.mildredandco.com

36 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY - 11 MAY ORIGINE; BOUTIQUE GIFT SHOPPING WITH A DIFFERENCE James Laverty, manager and buyer for Origine says, "Origine is bringing boutique gift shopping back to High Street with affordable prices and something different." In Origine, you can find gift ideas for any occasion. The store is only a few months old and is off to a great start. Origine stock a wide range of products from around the world: jewellery, cards, novelty clocks and a range of fair trade products. "We are so lucky and grateful that our customers keep coming back to support us. Business so far has been by word of mouth. "We also buy and support local suppliers and New Zealand made beeswax candles, soaps, ceramics and hand made soft toys. We have a range of kids and adult felt slippers handmade and 100% Fair Trade from Nepal exclusively available in Origine. Our eco friendly stationery, note books, felt products, pens and pencils can be personalised and embossed to order." James tells us that the paper bags they use are recycled and they can also be made to order for any business large or small. "We hope to get other businesses into using our products and help make that change to the environment with the eco range. It’s really important that we all try doing out part. For more details on how we can have your work place using eco friendly products, please get in touch. Origine is your store of choice for that special occasion, come in and check out our range of gifts or something for this Mother’s Day like our handmade felt slippers (stock limit). See you in store soon." F PN ORIGINE, 26 High Street, CBD T: 09 366 6188, www.origine.co.nz

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HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

Let’s hear it for the mamas Mother’s Day rolls around each year to the sound of tills ringing (eftpos cards swiping?) and naysayers calling out the commercialisation of the annual tradition. I say be a hater if you will, but as a mother - and a daughter - I love the chance it gives to honour mums all over the world, as well as those that have passed on. It needn’t be a big budget affair either - just a nod of recognition to your own mum for being there for you, or a reward to yourself for another successful year of helping bring up some very special little people. I’ve always believed that a fabulous body moisturiser is not only a luxury, but a necessity. It’s also a great gift at any time of the year, and one of my latest picks is boosted with premium anti-aging ingredients too. Seasonal changes can play havoc with even the most placid of skin types at this time of year and the skin on your body can be just as quick as the skin on your face to show signs of damage, so every mum needs a beautiful treatment for her bod every day from now on in. My aforementioned new discovery is Sávar’s Limited Edition Nourishing Body Lotion, which is the latest release from the New Zealand-based 99 percent natural beauty brand. Super hydrating, nourishing, anti-aging, non greasy and fast absorbing, it is a premium body lotion that is a good pick for all skin types including dry and sensitive. Enriched with exotic skin-benefiting ingredients such as New Zealand evening primrose oil, organic fig and passionflower it smells as great as it feels and I just can’t get enough. Whilst I’m on the subject of amazing scents, Mother’s Day just wouldn’t be Mother’s Day without ECOYA offering up a beautiful Limited Edition Mother’s Day gift pack done their own way. This year it comes in the form of a gift pack containing a luxurious ECOYA hand cream and a Mini Metro soy wax candle, both fragranced in the iconic ECOYA fragrance, Sweet Pea & Jasmine and packaged in a limited edition designed pouch. Sweet Pea & Jasmine is their most feminine fragrance, with a floral base that combines sweet pea and white jasmine with uplifting notes of watermelon and cucumber. In a word: delicious. Oh and the pack comes in at under $40.00 - as in, $39.95 - so won’t break the bank.

38 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

Neither will Australian purveyors of affordable luxury MOR’s Blood Orange duo (RRP $24.99), which the company described as an “enchanted duet in the soft floral fragrance of Blood Orange”, one of my all time favourites. The gift pack consists of a Triple-Milled Soapette and vitamin E and A enriched hand cream, which is one of the best I’ve ever tried. In fact, if you’re buying for a fan of hand creams then MOR’s Cherished Trio Hand Creams option is another great choice, and includes tubes of their Marshmallow, Blood Orange and Belladonna creams for just $34.99. Both are available locally from Redcurrent and Chambers. Another one of my favourite brands is Sodashi, who have just added a beautiful body wash to their range in the form of the wonderfully named Enlivening Body Wash. It’s the absolute perfect pick me up of a morning, with an aromatic blend that is one of the most delicious I’ve had the pleasure of sniffing in quite some time. A blend of Grapefruit, Lemongrass and Rosemary essential oils give it the perfectly uplifting fragrance, and also provide a detoxifying and firming action. Cedarwood and Spanish Rosemary penetrate the epidermis to strengthen, soften and protect the skin, and the chemical/synthetic free formula ticks all of my health-conscious boxes. Like all Sodashi products, it is not tested on animals and is free from parabens, petrochemicals, GMOs, sulfates, synthetic preservatives and dyes, phthalates and triclosan. Truly delicious and it works. Love it. Last up, the inimitable Karl Lagerfeld has just released two perfect fragrances that are totally in line with his iconic collection, in which he elevates the basics: the perfect shirt, the just-right jacket, the your-jean - and now, the ultimate everyday fragrance. In keeping with the fashion legend’s style, perfumers Christine Nagel and Serge Majoullier created an elegant green floral for the eau de parfum for women. The fragrance is a riot of contrasts, opening with a burst of fresh lemon, enhanced by a velvety peach before flourishing into a full bouquet of roses, immaculate magnolias, and plumeria. The fragrance takes a contemporary approach to traditional perfumes - another signature of Lagerfeld’s design - with the addition of musk and powerful, dark, ambery woody notes in the base. And while many flowery scents fade away after a few hours, this one lasts… and still smells heavenly long after. PN (HELENE RAVLICH) F

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY - 11 MAY SOME MOTHERS DO ‘AVE ‘EM WE KNOW THAT MOST MUMS AREN’T KEEN ON BEARDS; ‘NEVER TRUST A MAN WITH a beard!’ my grandmother used to say. But beards keep you warm for winter and look great with a short back and sides. You can keep your facial hair manageable and smelling nice for that Mother’s Day hug with Lambert’s Luscious Beard Oil, a great organic New Zealand-made product that Maloney’s stock in two manly scents. Craig Drummond has recently joined the Maloney’s team fresh from the United Kingdom where he took out Apprentice of the Year while training. He brings a great mix of youth and barbering experience, and specialises in a high and tight fade, slicked back 50s style cut - rockin’! Thanks to feedback from their clients Maloney’s are now open from 8am Monday through to Friday, with two barbers working between 8am and 9am. Watch this space for more exciting developments - they’re working hard to implement your suggestions that will make your visit to Maloney’s even better. From the team at Maloney’s Barber Shop: Julian, Sue, PN Rory, Calab, Jeff and Craig. F

Craig Drummond

MALONEYS BARBER SHOP, 1/192 Victoria Street West, T: 09 379 3060 www.maloneys.co.nz

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FASHION + STYLE: JULIE ROULSTON

Mother’s Day for Fashion-Loving Mums We’ve put together a gift selection that we guarantee will please your Mum this Mother’s Day (Sunday 11 May). Even better, you can buy everything on this page locally and support greater Ponsonby retailers.

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1. Rose & Thorne ‘Easy Peezy’ two tone lace bra ($25) and brief ($12); 2. Marc by Marc Jacobs 13” Laptop Case ($149); 3. Ingrid Starnes Vetyver Bergamot Soap ($20) and Ingrid Starnes Vetyver Bergamot Fragrance ($160); 9. Sergeant Pretty merino/acetate pleat dress ($230); 10. Sergeant Pretty denim/wool shirtdress ($230) 6. Stolen Girlfriends Club 100% silk georgette scarf ($120); 7. Trelise Cooper cuff (from a number of styles, all of which come in a velvet Trelise Cooper bag) $40; 8. Kate Sylvester fob chain ($155); 9. moochi 100% leather ‘blue hair super clutch’ ($199); 10. Artikel grid earrings ($55.00) Stockists: Artikel at taylor www.taylorboutique.co.nz; Ingrid Starnes www.ingridstarnes.com; Kate Sylvester www.katesylvester.co.nz; Marc by Marc Jacobs at Workshop www.workshop.co.nz; m o o c h i www.moochi.co.nz; Rose & Thorne www.roseandthorne.com; Sergeant Pretty Facebook.com/SergeantPretty; Stolen Girlfriends Club www.stolengirlfriendsclub.com; Trelise Cooper www.trelisecooper.co.nz

40 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

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FASHION + STYLE: JULIE ROULSTON

Carol Hirschfeld: Champion of iD Dunedin The 3 April Emerging Designer awards at this year’s iD Dunedin Fashion Week were a scene-stealer. Held at a new venue - The Dunedin Town Hall - and with a spectacular array of creativity from 26 local and international finalists - the event was lent extra polish by MC Carol Hirschfeld. Imagine the sell-out audience’s surprise when organisers thanked her, and stressed that she does the gig for free! Impressed and fascinated, Ponsonby News stole a quick moment with Carol from the back of the vintage Daimler that drove media to Dunedin airport, and here’s what she told us. “My history with iD goes back quite a long way now, around about 11 of its 15 years. Back in 2003 I got sent down for the first time by 3 News, to do a live cross into the news and a news package about the whole Dunedin fashion scene. I remember it was just wonderful. I didn’t have any idea about what an incredibly vibrant industry it was down in Dunedin and across Otago really. I was amazed that there was so much going on, and so many different young designers. First, I got to go to Otago Polytech and interview Dr Margo Barton (Academic Leader and Principal Lecturer in Fashion at the Otago Polytechnic's School of Design). I learned about the Fashion Design course itself and how it differs from other design programmes around the country. It’s very much based on old fashioned skill as well as having a forward-looking mentor in Margo, who is highly inventive about the design aspect. I saw how supportive established designers were of young talent coming through. And I realised that with the whole student scene in Dunedin - it’s a lot edgier than elsewhere. The weather, too, is a major factor in the way that locals dress. The more mature women dress in a far more cutting edge way than in Wellington and Auckland. They just don’t have the conservatism, which is strange because from the outside it looks like such a conservative town. So that was my first contact.

Carol Hirschfeld MCs the iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards

Then a number of other times John Campbell and I were lucky enough to MC the big iD show at Dunedin Railway Station. This year I was invited back to MC the Emerging Designer event because it was the 10th anniversary and I had been fortunate to have MC’d the very first event. What is amazing is how the Emerging Designer awards is drawing designers from all parts of the globe. Back in 2004 there was a good showing of entrants from Australia but now you see young designers from Italy, India, in the past Scandinavia - you very rarely see a single show that encapsulates such diversity. They’re not constrained in terms of being required to be commercial and these are capsule collections so you see extraordinary detail in the work and ideas being exercised as strongly as they can be. What I’ve noticed over the last few years is a focus on development of fabrications and it’s wonderful to see. iD spoil me rotten. There are truly glamorous old world-y aspects to the event: the lovely people from the Classic Jaguar limo service, and a lot of focus on vintage. The way organisers have developed iD into a week long celebration of all things fashion - it’s absolutely fascinating and not necessarily known outside the city itself. To me it is always a great pleasure to be involved - it’s the one time you are given permission to revel in fashion and it’s as if the whole city joins in, and that makes it really pleasurable. Connecting with Tanya Carlson through iD was also wonderful, because when I first began at TV3 as a newsreader in 1998 some of my first jackets were made by Tanya when she was a really young designer. I still have one - a Nehru collar with embroidery - and I will have it forever - it has always summed up to me something of her deeply romantic aesthetic. And iD spoil me with the most beautiful clothes, too - from Tanya Carlson, Charmaine Reveley and a number of other designers. To have watched how Tanya has evolved her designs and to see what’s next and this year be able to go to the Art Gallery and see a retrospective of her wedding dresses - the city truly celebrates its designers. As a Grey Lynn resident, what you see in Dunedin is a reflection of how diverse New Zealand designers are, and that diversity of designers marks us out. We don’t like to dress like other people in New Zealand! One thing I really notice when I’m in Australia is that people DO like to dress like each other. I think New Zealand women really strongly like to be different - there is this individualistic streak and that’s why we have more designers than we should have for a little country - and I think it’s a wonderful thing.” PN (As told to Julie Roulston) F Dunedin International Airport Third Prize winner Chin Hau Tay’s entry

42 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

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FASHION + STYLE THE GEMSTONE FOR MAY Donna Mills, owner of Jewels and Gems introduces us to the qualities of the gemstone, rose quartz. The information comes from the scientifically conducted trials of German stone specialist, Michael Gienger. May is the month we celebrate mothers and the qualities of a loving mother are reflected in the rose quartz; loving, nurturing and knowing the needs of her family. However, rose quartz isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t only for people who have those qualities already, it can help us all to develop this side of our nature - men and women alike. Rose quartz helps us develop our soft gentle side. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make us a push over, just enhances the qualities of empathy, sensitivity, helpfulness and the ability to love (including loving ourselves). It brings about harmony and stops us worrying, helping us instead, towards true discernment and the ability to fulfil basic needs. Physically rose quartz stimulates the blood circulation in the tissues, harmonises the heartbeat, fortifies the heart and sexual organs, helps with sexual problems and

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encourages fertility. It can be worn or is effective even as a rough stone situated nearby. F PN JEWELS AND GEMS, 54 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 4389 www.jewelsandgems.co.nz

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FASHION + STYLE BRINGING CREATIVE COUPLES AND INSPIRATIONAL WEDDING EXPERTS TOGETHER Wedding Collective is a boutique wedding market with over 20 of the countries top wedding experts on hand to help you plan, style or capture your special day. Held at the gorgeous Abbeville Estate, Wedding Collective will inspire you and your partner to express your personalities and creative flair on your big day and provide you with everything you need to pull it all together perfectly. As Auckland’s newest wedding market, Wedding Collective has fresh and innovative ideas, new products and a fun, relaxed environment. Don’t feel overwhelmed by too many choices, too many people or underwhelmed by seeing the same ideas over and over. Wedding Collective is a market with many of the vendors selling their gorgeous products on the day. Cash and Eftpos facilities are available so bring along the wedding budget and pick up some of those all-important little details directly from our amazing suppliers. With inspirational companies like Wildernest, A la Robe, Laura Blade Styling & Design and Kate Grewal Photography attending, Wedding Collective is quickly becoming the boutique wedding event of the year. Visit the Sadie & Co blog for vendors interviews or our website for all the info and a full vendor directory. F PN Wedding Collective Wedding Market - Sunday 11 May 2014 10am - 2pm Abbeville Estate, 5 Nixon Road Auckland Airport. Tickets from www.dashtickets.co.nz SADE & CO, www.sadieandco.com Blog: www.sadieandco.com/blog Find us on Facebook: Wedding Collective wedding market

44 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

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ANGELA LASSIG: LETTERS FROM MAUDIE The monthly jottings of a free-spirited Ponsonby dressmaker of the 1920s, as imagined by Angela Lassig. VERMONT STREET, PONSONBY 15 MAY 1925

Dear Mabs, I do hope that my letter finds you completely restored after

Auckland. I didn’t know at the time I met them

the assorted mishaps that so spoilt your Easter plans. I do

that they had recently been orphaned, after the

strongly suggest that should Walter ever offer to assist you

death of their mother. It was the executor of

with hiding the children’s eggs again that you distract him

their mother’s estate who suggested to the girls

with a leaky tap or another ‘essential’ chore! To think that the

that they travel and gain some experience of

poor children found only two each of the dozen or so that

the world before settling down.

were secreted in the garden! I suspect that a couple of them wouldn’t have made it to their hiding places, given Walt’s

Having met them I am not surprised that

fondness for chocolate, but where are the rest!

the travel only served to make them more independent and determined not to settle

I decided to buy my Easter treats this year, as making them

for an ordinary existence. Sybil could no

is such a chore. And there are such novelties to be found!

more contemplate taking a job as a typist or a secretary as could Josephine become a shop

May Dickensons’[i] as usual has the most variety in all of Ponsonby. For George I bought a large chocolate chicken that

girl or telephonist. Yet this is what their futures held.

I nested in a little basket filled all around with his favourite dark

Being quite artistic and independent they came up

chocolate-covered crystallized ginger. I absolutely loathe ginger

with the idea of learning a useful trade and setting up a small business together on their return to

so it was only the chicken that was in danger of not making it to

Auckland. They heard about the London

Easter! My patience was rewarded with being allowed the privilege

School of Weaving from their landlady and

of biting off the chicken’s head!

set about on a course of study after which they bought looms, weaving equipment and

My oh my... can you believe it is May already! Have you many orders yet? After the unseasonal chilly fortnight that we had in

a great deal of thread - linens, silks and cottons.

late March, I received four good orders from regulars. Of course after the mild April we had, May has brought more orders than I can possibly cope with. I’ve even

Their work is truly astonishing Mabs...the colours are gorgeous and they seem to

had to take on someone to assist me with the finishing. The same thing happened

love working with stripes. Sybil told me that she often sits at the loom and starts

last year! Happily the young dear from the ribbon counter at Shanley’s has been

with one colour, adding others on a whim, whatever takes her fancy. I do think

able to come to my aid again. She’s much quicker than I at hemming and so nimble

though that she has a natural eye for colour, as I did not see one piece that was not

with her fingers. I think I’ll need her for the month but we’ll see.

beautifully realised.

I have to tell you about a chance encounter in late April that has proved most

Anyway, the exciting thing about our meeting is that I learnt that the girls weave

fortuitous! Over a year ago now I was invited to a farewell party for two sisters

fabrics to order. They do it already...weaving napery to match a favourite tea set or

(that I didn’t know!). They are friends of Dot’s who asked me along to help her with

curtains to match a carpet. They seem happy to weave short orders for me too and

the preparations. The two girls, Sybil and Jo, were heading abroad for adventures

have allowed me to take samples of different yarns and colours. It’s like a whole

that involved them buying a car in London and travelling (unchaperoned!) on

world has opened up to me! No more scouring the city for an obscure coloured silk

the Continent. They were a lively pair and I really enjoyed meeting them. After

that some fusspot has settled on. I’m already thinking about ordering some tweedy

forgetting all about them, I met them again by chance as I was browsing the shops

pink wool for a winter coat for mother. I won’t make Mother’s Day but it should be

in the Strand Arcade.

ready for her birthday in mid-June.

I haven’t had the chance to have a good look around the city for a good while so

Well Mabs, it will be dusk soon which means that I should really close now and

it was not surprising that some things had changed. In place of I can’t remember

think about taking Tiger for a little walk. We had torrential rain yesterday so the

what, and next to Lethaby’s umbrella shop, was a new shop with a small loom set

poor thing missed out.

up in the window. If its purpose was to attract the passerby it certainly worked on me! Once inside it was as if I was transported to a Moroccan souk, so wonderfully

Please do think about ordering some fabric from the Mulvany sisters. They are not

rich were the textiles hanging about the walls, from the ceiling and draped over

too expensive and the exclusivity might just appeal to that bank manager’s wife

lovely bits of furniture. After a short while I heard footfall from the back room and

(can’t remember her name) who gives you so much grief ! Do write soon,

which was very impressive considering all the adventures that she and her sister have had since we last met.

Much love, Maudie xx

As it was near teatime, Sybil made us a cup of tea and we had a natter about her travels and what brought them both to be taking a shop in the Strand. After they had travelled extensively all around Great Britain and a great deal of France, it

[i] Mrs May Dickinson, Confectioner, 189 Ponsonby Road (1925)

seems that they began to ponder exactly what they would do on their return to

+ May NEWS NEWS 2014 + 46 PONSONBY PONSONBY PARISH

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

illustration: Michael McClintock

turned to meet... Sybil Mulvany! She actually remembered me from Dot’s party

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

GARY STEEL: VEG FRIENDLY

Fussy Plant Eaters “My daughter was a militant vegan at 14, but she got real and knocked this fad diet on the head when her friends stopped inviting her to McDonald’s. Now she’s going with a guy on the Paleo diet, so she’s chowing down big-time on giant slabs of meat!” This is an imaginary conversation, but I’ve heard it, and seen it paraphrased in newspapers, magazines and online literally dozens of times. One of the ways the mass media deflects the issues around vegetarianism is by subtly debunking the idea, and that can be done very effectively by using a son or a daughter as an example of someone who for a period of time was on this ‘faddish’ diet, but has now seen the error of their ways. It’s seen as one of those rites of teen passage, a mere gateway to the grown-up world of ‘sensible’, ‘balanced’ eating (and behavioural principles attached to a world of subtle conditioning). No wonder I found such solace in those 1980s zombie movies where the legions of walking dead had only two words to say: “JOIN US!” Behind every vegetarian or vegan who gives up the ghost and retreats to eating meat is a story of peer group pressure, boyfriends and girlfriends whose difference in diet and ethics poses a threat to ongoing relationship bliss, and a host of not so subtle ostracising factors. It’s okay for people like me, who don’t mind sticking out like a sore thumb, but many of us are brought up to fit in, and setting out to eat differently is difficult, and can be threatening to the fabric of familial relations. But of course, a good mum or dad should take pride in spawn that are old enough to think for themselves, even if that thinking is at odds with their own views on the world. Going vegetarian - or even vegan - has gotten a whole lot easier since the advent of the internet, with its wealth of relatively easy recipes and an increasing supply of nutritious ingredients in the shops, but it still requires some thinking and planning, and when a teen embarks on a plant-based diet, he or she really needs to learn about food preparation, and not expect the parents to do it all for them. All plant-based eaters have to figure out just how fussy they’re going to get, as well. Will you turn down a vegetarian pizza at a party because the cheese is made with animal rennet, or a quiche that’s made with standard battery eggs? Will you avoid honey (which some vegans claim is ‘bee vomit’)? Will you quiz the cook about that seemingly innocent pumpkin soup, which may contain chicken stock? When your friend at the barbecue cooks up some tofu sausage, does it bug you that it’s sizzled on the same hotplate as the meat? Will you buy bread that includes milk products? Life as a vegetarian does get a little complicated, until you figure out what you can, and can’t, live with. I know vegetarians who will tolerate animal rennet cheese when they’re out and about, but will draw the line at the fishy stuff Thai restaurants put in supposedly ‘vegetarian’ green or red curries. And I know vegetarians who take the opposing stance. There’s doing it for the principle of it, but there’s also ‘sensible’ and ‘self-preserving’. If you’re a vegetarian for ethical (as opposed to health) reasons, the question is: will my actions today make a difference to the suffering of animals? Clearly, by saying no to meat, that’s a little less profit earned, and if enough people boycott the product, then that’s a huge disincentive to the producer, and a lot of animals are saved from unnecessary suffering. But is there a consequence of eating someone’s home baking when it contains butter made from cow’s milk? Not really. Still, everyone has their own quirks when it comes to how fussy they need to be with their eating habits. I avoided in-house breads from the Countdown supermarket chain for years because they featured a sticker that said: “May contain fish products”. Mostly, I eat the delicious bread made from scratch by my lovely wife, Yoko, but really, maybe it’s PN time to relax that “no Countdown bread” rule. (GARY STEEL) F Gary Steel is an Auckland-based journalist who runs online vegetarian resource www.doctorfeelgood.co.nz. He can be contacted via beautmusic@gmail.com

48 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PONSONBY LITTLE BLACK BOOK: A-Z CAFÉS + RESTAURANTS GUIDE Since we published our cafés and restaurants list (189 in total), there have been a staggering 46 newcomers, who have opened places in the Western Bays area. There are also some omissions, where some businesses have declined to be listed for whatever reasons. We hope our guide gives readers some compelling reasons to try some of those listed... all that remains to be said is ENJOY! 5 LOAVES AND 2 FISH, 208 Jervois Road T: 09 361 5820 5 Loaves and 2 Fish have an interesting brunch menu and a variety of cabinet food to eat in or take out. A wide range of healthy heat and eat convenience meals such as lasagne, smoked fish pies, chicken cacciatore are available. Open 7 days. ALICE’S CAFÉ & COURTYARD WONDERLAND, 498 Karangahape Road T: 09 366 7633 Alice's café is a quaint and quirky little café, that has a hidden courtyard that is an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of K'Road. They serve home made food, to good old fashioned recipes, that tastes awesome. Their Ozone coffee is organic and fair-trade, with a great strong flavour. ALLPRESS COFFEE, 266 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 4726 www.allpressespresso.com Passionate about coffee? This is a must-visit store to experience exceptional tasting coffee. Enjoy a perfect cup of espresso or discover single origin coffees and blends as a filter brew. A selection of fresh roasted beans is available for brewing at home and biscotto, handcrafted European style biscuits, are baked on site. ANDIAMO, 194 Jervois Road T: 09 378 7811 www.andiamo.co.nz Andiamo Head Chef Scott Smith says the most popular dishes are the fresh buffalo mozzarella with vine tomato and basil and the hearty braised oxtail and caramelised onion rigatoni. In winter you can enjoy a glass of wine from their award-winning list by the open fire. Open 7 days and nights and brunch on the weekend from 9am. ARCH HILL ESPRESSO, 333 Great North Road T: 09 376 1401 Delicious pies, sandwiches and cakes made fresh everyday on site. Open Monday -Friday, 6.30am - 2.30pm and Saturday 7am - 1pm.

ARIKI STORE, 37 Ariki Street T: 09 378 4991 Ariki Store, one part corner dairy, one part quaint cafe, proudly presenting Allpress coffee, their own range of good old fashioned milkshakes, pork belly rolls, home baked sweet treats and other good things. A little slice of nostalgia in Grey Lynn open Tuesday to Saturday. Visit the Ariki Store Facebook page for more. BARKAT INDIAN, 572 Great North Road T: 09 376 1600 www.barkatindian.co.nz Barkat Indian takeaway provides an authentic taste and variety of Indian food at a very affordable price. If you are wanting to try any Indian curries (veg or non veg/all halal), biryani and starters such as samosa, chicken tikka, seek kabab, fish pakora, veg pakora or tandoori chicken, Barkat is the best place for locals. They also do catering. Open 10.30am - 10.30pm, Monday - Saturday, 4pm - 10.30pm Sunday. BAMBINA, 268 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 4000 Bambina is a casual, relaxed breakfast and lunch café where simple food, using only the freshest ingredients, has been served for over 17 years. Licensed for beer and wine, Bambina is an all time favourite that consistently delivers and is a fabulous place to meet friends for coffee, breakfast or lunch. A Metro Top 50 cafe in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Monday - Friday 6.30 - 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 7 - 4pm. BEDFORD SODA & LIQUOR, Ponsonby Central, 5 Richmond Road T: 09 378 7362 www.bedfordsodaliquor.co.nz Bedford Soda & Liquor is a New York inspired neighbourhood bar named after Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Serving handmade sodas, cocktails, floats, shakes, meatballs and sundaes. Open 12pm - 12am, 7 days with an eclectic mix of DJs playing from 6pm Thursday - Saturday. THE BIRDCAGE RESTAURANT & BAR 133 Franklin Road T: 09 280 1690 www.birdcage.co.nz The Birdcage has been returned to her former glory with stained glass windows and original brick walls blended with more modern elements to give it a chic, metropolitan vibe. The north-facing courtyard bar is one of the biggest and sunniest in Auckland, a perfect inner city destination to gather with friends. The food is rustic in style and they are open for lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. BIRD ON A WIRE, 234 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 6369 www.birdonawire.co.nz Bird On A Wire is a fresh and simple free-range rotisserie chicken store. They offer chicken sandwiches and quarter, half or whole free-range rotisserie roasted chickens with a choice of bastes from Jamaican jerk, Korean BBQ, salsa verde and truffle butter (the ‘Ponsy Coq’). Vegetarians are catered for with a grilled cheese sandwich, beer battered chips, roast vegetables and salads. Open 7 days, 10.30am - 10.30pm. BLAKE STREET CAFÉ, Corner Blake Street & Prosford Street T: 09 360 6261 www.blakestcafe.co.nz Relax, unwind and enjoy the ambience, wine and delicious food. The menu includes the all day breakfast, brunch and lunch. Try the Euro breakfast plate or the Big Kiwi breakfast. Open Wednesday - Sunday, 8am - 4pm all year except Christmas day. No surcharge on public holidays. BOLLIWOOD, 110 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 6477 www.bolliwood.co.nz Bolliwood restaurant offers quality food achieved by employing five star chefs from India. Check out their special set menus that include Vegetarian Banquet, the Maharaja Banquet and the Bolliwood Special Banquet. $10 mains on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights and $10 lunch special 7 days. Open 7 days, 11.30am - 2.30pm and 5pm - late. BONA PIZZA, 286a Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 8866 www.bonapizzeria.co.nz With 15 years experience, owner Pedro Komai offers a taste of fine Italian pizza and pasta. Bona Pizza is fully licensed and BYO with a happy hour from 4.30pm every day - $5 beer and glass of wine. You can eat in or take advantage of their delivery service and they cater for private functions. Open 7 days.

50 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

A-Z CAFES & RESTAURANTS GUIDE

BONITA, 242 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 5670 www.bonitabar.co.nz Bonita is a wine and tapas bar with an excellent wine list and cocktail credentials. Bonita’s relaxed atmosphere is the perfect place for a casual drink or tapas indulgence. Happy hour runs from 4pm - 6pm daily. Open 7 days, 4pm - late. BURGER BURGER, The Lane, Ponsonby Central www.burgerburger.co.nz They make simple, honest burgers, serve old-fashioned shakes and really cold beers and bubbles. Open 7 days, 12pm - late. BURGERFUEL, 114 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 6466 www.burgerfuel.com The flagship BurgerFuel Ponsonby was the first store ever built and for over a decade has been engineering the ultimate burger, built with the freshest ingredients. This includes gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. Open Sunday - Thursday, 11am - 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am - 3am. BURGER WISCONSIN, 168 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1894 www.burgerwisconsin.co.nz Burger Wisconsin has been on Ponsonby Road for 24 years. The menu is regularly updated on their website and you can phone in your order for pick-up from 11.30am - late, 7 days a week. BUTTERMILK CAFE, 210-218 Victoria Street T: 09 369 1117 www.buttermilkcafe.co.nz Situated at Victoria Park Market this café offers a great modern warehouse space to sit and savour a great espresso or try some of the great menu items or a fabulous grilled sandwich. Open 7 days a week, Monday -Friday, 7am - 3pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8am - 3pm. Kitchen closes at 2.30pm each day. Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. No surcharge on public holidays. BYZANTIUM CAFÉ, 80 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 3695 www.cafebyzantium.co.nz Byzantium is a friendly fully licensed café and restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. A private function room is also available. Open 7 days for breakfast and lunch and Tuesday - Sunday for dinner. CAFÉ CEZANNE, 296 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 3338 For 30 years, Café Cezanne has been world-famous in Ponsonby for its full wall murals and yummy food and coffee at reasonable prices. Renowned for their healthy salads, they also offer a vegetarian menu, gluten-free options and a children’s menu and everything is available to take away. Fully licensed and BYO wine. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - late, Saturday and Sunday, 8am - late. CAFÉ LIAISON, 2 Pompallier Terrace T: 09 376 2003 Café Liaison offers a breakfast and lunch menu, fresh sandwiches, cabinet food, cakes and slices. Enjoy a great coffee or hot chocolate in the sun-drenched courtyard. A catering service is available and they’re open every day except Christmas Day with no surcharge on public holidays. Open Monday - Friday, 8am - 4pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8.30am - 3pm. CAFÉ O, 34/332 Great North Road T: 09 360 1860 www.cafeo.co.nz Eat, drink, relax and enjoy is the mantra at Café O. They serve Allpress coffee and Pacific Rim inspired food with lots of tropical and Asian flavours. Open 7 days, 7am - 3.30pm. CAFÉ PEOPLE, 38 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 6876 www.cafepeople.co.nz Café People is a modern, stylish, spacious cafe with a heated outdoor courtyard. It’s a perfect place for a corporate lunch or casual brunch. The menu and cabinet foods are made with fresh local produce and award-winning velvet espresso coffee is extracted by fully trained baristas. Café People is a great venue option for private functions and it’s fully licensed. An executive boardroom is also available for hire. Opening hours Monday - Friday, 7am - 4pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8am - 3pm with free parking next door. CAFÉ VIET, 2 Surrey Crescent T: 09 378 8738 www.cafeviet.co.nz They offer authentic Vietnamese food with small plates and main plates to choose from the menu. Try the Bang Bang Prawns or the fragrant and herbaceous Pho - Vietnam’s national beef noodle soup. Open for lunch Wednesday - Saturday, 11.30am - 2.30pm and dinner Tuesday -Sunday, 5.30pm - late. CASA DEL GELATO, 288 Ponsonby Road T: 378 8457 www.casadelgelato.co.nz Based on the Sicilian style of gelato, they use only fresh milk and cream, and

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

a majority of their natural flavours are gluten-free. They combine the finest ingredients sourced from Italy, with the best of New Zealand seasonal fresh and frozen fruits. Open Monday - Thursday, 12pm - 10pm, Friday - Saturday, 12pm - 11pm, and Sunday 12pm - 10pm. CAFFETTERIA ALLPRESS, Corner Drake and Adelaide Streets T: 09 369 5842 www.allpressespresso.com Located within the Allpress Roastery, Caffetteria serves coffee prepared with expertise and a small offering of tasty Italian style sandwiches. A selection of freshly roasted blends and single origin coffees are sent down from the roastery upstairs through ceiling to counter top hoppers and are available to purchase for fresh brewing at home. CATROUX, 129 West End Road T: 09 376 3590 www.catroux.co.nz Catroux offers a delicious seasonal brunch menu plus a cabinet full of tantalising salads and savouries. For the sweet tooth there is plenty of home-made baking. (they also have an online cake ordering system) They make fresh juices and serve Peoples Fair Trade coffee. There is a children’s sandpit and blackboard out the back. Open Monday to Friday 6.45am to 3.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 7.30am to 3.30pm. Chapel Bar & Bistro, 147 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 4528 www.chapel.co.nz Now a Ponsonby institution, Chapel embodies the spirit of Auckland’s most iconic, and sociable, boulevard. It is the perfect place for drinks with friends after work, for dinner, a snack or a night out. Well worth the visit to sample delicious and very affordable fare such as the crispy Italian style pizzas. Open Monday - Wednesday, 3pm - late and Thursday - Sunday 12pm - late. Charlie Boys Coffee Bar, 167 Great North Road T: 09 376 4585 Delicious homemade cabinet food and baking all made on site. Available for functions. Open Monday - Thursday, 7am - 3.30pm and Friday 7am -3pm. CHOP CHOP NOODLE HOUSE, Ponsonby Central, 140 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 0708 www.ponsonbychopchop.co.nz Home of fast, fresh and fantastic tasting Asian eats: steaming bowls of BBQ ramen from Japan, spicy Korean-style fried chicken and crab, Chinese pork buns, Hong-

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PONSONBY LITTLE BLACK BOOK: A-Z CAFÉS + RESTAURANTS GUIDE Kong cocktails and a smokin' range of whiskies. All served with a wink and a smile by Deputy Chang's posse of cocksure cowboys. Open 7 days, 12 noon - late.

coffee beans in order to serve the best coffee to customers! There are plenty of yummy home-made goodies to suit everyone.

CLEAR WATER PEAK, 272 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 7440 www.clearwaterpeak.co.nz A touch of renovation, a brand new name, a stunning new menu. Clear Water Peak is the new concept in eating out, (formerly Landreth & Co). With a fantastic courtyard - open all year round - it’s a great place to unwind. Breakfast and lunch is served all day - with coffee by L’affare. Fully licensed and open 7 days, Weekdays 6.30am 5pm, Weekends 6.30am - 4pm.

COFFEE SUPREME, 42 Douglas Street T: 09 376 2784 www.coffeesupreme.com Douglas Street is home to both Coffee Supreme wholesale and their very own Good One café. Coffee Supreme is a hub for specialty coffee and provides an abode to talk about all things coffee. You can stock up on beans and brewing equipment for coffee at home and grab some food while you’re there. You’re welcome every Thursday morning between 8am-10am for a free coffee tasting. Open Monday -Friday, 7am 3pm and Saturday, 8am - 3pm.

CLOONEY, 33 Sale Street T: 09 358 1702 www.clooney.co.nz Fine dining here is an experience, an elegant and clever use of space in a large modern room with exceptional cuisine created by Executive Chef Des Harris. His food is sophisticated and expertly crafted with assertive flavours and simplicity. Open 7 nights, 5.30pm - late.

COLLEGE HILL CAFÉ, 25 College Hill T: 09 309 0804 Open for breakfast and lunch, College Hill Café offers a wide variety of cabinet and made to order food, their chicken laksa is really popular and they serve Burton coffee. Catering is also available. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - 3.30pm.

COCO’S CANTINA, 374-376 Karangahape Road T: 09 300 7582 www.cocoscantina.co.nz This is a lively, busy noisy bistro and bar, bustling with energy. The food is best described as rustic Italian with influences from the Med and service is slick and skilful. No reservations required, but you can sit at the bar and enjoy a great wine or cocktail while you wait. Check out the new communal dining room. Open Tuesday to Saturday 5pm - late.

CONCH CAFÉ AND RECORD STORE, 115a Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1999 www.conch.co.nz Based on a Brazilian Boteco, local hangout Conch is an independent record shop with a café that sells sweet snacks, sandwiches and coffee. You can browse through their really great record selection as well as CDs, books and DVDs. The café is open Monday - Friday, 8am - 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am - 5pm. The shop is open Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm.

COCORO, 56a Brown Street T: 09 360 0927 www.cocoro.co.nz Cocoro means ‘the heart and soul’ in Japanese and the food and service they provide comes with all their heart and soul. They serve Jun Mai pure rice sake and there is an emphasis on organic and biodynamic wines. They now offer a sushi and sashimi course. Metro Best Asian Restaurant 2011, 2012, 2013. Reservations are taken for the degustation menu only, casual walk-ins are welcome. Open Tuesday - Saturday, 12pm - 2pm and 5.30pm - 10pm.

DANTE’S PIZZA, Ponsonby Central, 136 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 4443 www.dantespizza.co.nz Dante’s Pizza are Auckland’s only VPN certified pizzeria and and provide a real slice of Italy in our community. Owner, Kevin Morris and his team blend fresh ingredients imported straight from Italy to create award-winning pizzas. You eat this pizza folded over, like a New Yorker, portafoglio, which is Italian for ‘wallet’. The sour dough takes four days to prepare, is hand stretched and is made to order. This means that the gluten in the dough has time to settle, and will not upset those with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance. The buffalo cheese is airfreighted from Italy. This is wholesome, fresh food made well and they only take about 90 seconds to cook in the oven.

COFFEE STATION, 38 Jervois Road T: 09 376 8072 Coffee Station is a great addition to the strip. They use Supreme award-winning

DELICIOUS, 472 Richmond Road T: 09 360 7590 www.delicious.co.nz Popular for its delicious Italian cuisine, you will find on the menu traditional ravioli, gnocchi, risotto and pasta and in the cabinet there is a range of beautiful Italian cakes and tarts. Delicious is a busy restaurant, you’ll just need to drop in, as they don’t take reservations. DELLOWS KITCHEN, 212 Jervois Road T: 09 378 6156 www.dellows.co.nz Dellows Kitchen provides fresh seasonal food for all occasions, excellent coffees and friendly and warm service. Check out their time saving fresh or frozen take-home meal options. Open Monday - Saturday, 7am - 4pm and Sunday, 7am - 3pm. DESSERT DOJO, 95c Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 0919 www.dessertdojo.co.nz Opened last December, they offer an exciting and innovative way of producing mouth-watering ice cold desserts. The mixing of ice cream with a variety of quality toppings such as brownie, fruits and nuts, on the custom-engineered cold stone facilities, create divine tasting desserts in front of your eyes! Open Monday - Sunday, 12.30pm - 11pm.

photography: Michael McClintock

DIDA’S WINE LOUNGE & TAPAS, 54 Jervois Road Herne Bay T: 09 376 2813 www.didas.co.nz With a great wine list backed up by great wine knowledge, this smart little wine lounge has a rich heritage in hospitality like no other. The superb selections of tapas are simply delicious and the monthly food and wine matches are exceptional. Open 7 days, 11.30am - late. DIDA’S FOOD STORE, 54 Jervois Road Herne Bay T: 09 361 6157 www.didas.co.nz The delicious food and exceptional coffee, created from the heart, eat in or take away. An extensive and impressive deli counter, boasting an impressive array of lunch options, salads, tarts, pies, wraps and sandwiches alongside a smartly presented café menu. A perfect place for breakfast and lunch, there’s also a smart little wine list. Open 7 days, 7am - 7pm.

COCORO

52 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

DIZENGOFF, 256 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 0108 People will make a special trip from near and far to get their morning coffee at Dizengoff. They serve a Jewish inspired menu for breakfast and lunch and it is the place to go for a tasty meal with a difference. Open 7 days, 6.30am - 5pm. EAST RESTAURANT, 171d Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 6085 www.east.co.nz A casual dine-in environment, the meals have a western spin on popular Asian cuisine and are served in a funky box. The menu covers cuisine from Japan in the north to Indonesia in the south. Dine-in, takeaway or have your food delivered. Open Monday - Friday, 11.30am - 3pm and 4.30pm - 10pm, Saturday and Sunday, 4.30pm - 10pm. EIGHTTHIRTY COFFEE ROASTERS, Ponsonby Central, 4 Brown Street and 553 Karangahape Road T: 09 551 3236 www.eighthirty.com They’re a little coffee roaster specialising in ethically sourced coffee be it fairtrade organic or rain forest alliance. You can pop in for a takeaway coffee at either locations, Ponsonby store open Monday - Friday, 7.30am - 4.30pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8.30am - 4.30pm, K’ Road store open Monday - Friday, 7am - 3.30pm. EL SIZZLING CHORIZO ARGENTINIAN BBQ, Ponsonby Central, 136 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 0119 www.elsizzlingchorizo.co.nz Try the real flavour of the Argentinian Pampas, right here, in the heart of Ponsonby. Offering Argentinian BBQ asado, home-made chorizo and empanadas. They’re also licensed. Open 7 days, from 12 noon - 10pm. Friday and Saturday open till 11pm. EMPRESS GARDEN RESTAURANT, 227 Jervois Road T: 09 376 5550 www.empressgardenrestaurant.co.nz Renowned for their Peking duck, which must be pre-ordered, Empress Garden is on the corner of Herne Bay Road and Jervois Road and has been serving delicious Chinese food for over 32 years. Open 7 days, 12pm - 2.30pm and 5.30pm - 10pm.

FARRO FRESH FOOD, 34 Westmoreland Street West T: 09 360 0499 www.farrofresh.co.nz Farro Fresh is a unique one stop, fresh food market. Whether you're stopping in for a quick coffee or looking for the ingredients for a recipe, they have it all under one roof. Farro stocks the very best local and international ingredients and prides itself on being a one-stop shop for fresh, wholesome and delicious food. FATIMA’S, 240 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 9303, 0800 fatimas www.fatimas.co.nz Delicious Mediterranean and Middle Eastern inspired food, Fatima’s offers fresh rolled and toasted pitas, chawarmas, filled toasted bap buns and salads to eat in or takeaway. Open 7days, 11.30am - 10pm. FIERA CHARCOAL BBQ, 112 Wellington Street, T: 09 376 1688 At Fiera Charcoal BBQ, they use the freshest of New Zealand meat, seafood, vegetables and wheat products, with lamb skewer the main feature on their menu. With the charcoal BBQ cooking method, they use the finest selection of charcoal to get the best results. Try their fresh and delicious charcoal BBQ Shashliks accompanied by original Taiwanese lager beer, pineapple flavoured beer or mango flavoured beer! FOXTROT PARLOUR, Ponsonby Central, 7 Richmond Road T: 09 378 7268 It’s no surprise that Foxtrot Parlour is owned by Tara Brogan, who was also the brains and the palate behind popular Grey Lynn staple Savour and Devour and food design specialist Quintessential Kitchen. Her attention to detail is always exceptional, and from the food to the coffee to the staff Foxtrot is pretty damn flawless. No longer a secret are their famous injectable doughnuts and of course the bulging cabinet of home baked delights. They offer Supreme coffee, or try their now much copied green smoothie - kiwifruit, mint and spinach. FRED’S, Corner Franklin and Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1551 Fred’s is basically Agnes Curran with a facelift, with an emphasis on friendliness. They’ve kept all the favourites from the good ‘old’ days, ie; lamingtons, but have expanded the menu to include gourmet hot dogs, toasties, Bircher muesli, halloumi salad, traditional and experimental milkshakes. They are open early till 3pm on weekdays and 4pm on weekends.

EMPRESS OF INDIA, 2 Surrey Crescent T: 09 378 8780 www.empressofindia.co.nz This Indian restaurant is located on the corner of Surrey Crescent. It has a large well presented dining room, and the staff is welcoming. Try something a little bit different, like the Empress Special Curry (chicken/lamb/beef) cooked with onions, fenugreek and Indian mild spices. Open 7 days, lunch 11am - 2.30pm, dinner 5pm - till late. ERAWAN THAI RESTAURANT & BAR, Corner Lawrence Street and Jervois Road T: 09 361 3261 www.erawanthai.co.nz Erawan Thai has built a reputation over the past 12 years for its excellence. What makes it so special is the courteous, obliging and helpful staff. The restful ambience of the restaurant, set in a grand old villa, has consistently superb food and a good wine list. Open 7 days for dinner and take away. ESCOBAR ESPRESSO, 483 Richmond Road T: 09 376 4181 This café is all about coffee with a few lovely savoury and sweet things to eat from the cabinet, like chicken ciabatta sandwiches and brioche. They hold barista training workshops, coffee tastings and seminars and the whole place can be hired for private functions. Open 7 days Monday - Friday, 6.30am - 3pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8am - 2pm. ESPRESSO CORNER, Unit 16, 210-218 Victoria Street West T: 366 7776 www.espressocorner.co.nz Espresso Corner Café Victoria Park Market is serving organic Allpress coffee and freshly baked food everyday. They bake their own bread, muffins, scones, cakes, slices and prepare fresh sandwiches. They roast chicken daily and serve it with salad. Home-made cooking is available; mousakkas, lasagnas, burgers. They offer gluten free, vegan and raw food daily. Open 7.30am - 3.30pm, Monday - Friday and 9am - 4pm Sunday.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

A-Z CAFES & RESTAURANTS GUIDE

DIDA’S WINE LOUNGE & FOODSTORE, 118 Wellesley Street, Victoria Park T: 09 308 8319 www.didas.co.nz This funky fusion of food and wine is unique to the CBD. The breakfast and lunch menu is smart and the coffee is exceptional. The tapas menu supports the fine selection of wines and craft beer, which combined are a perfect way to pass an afternoon or early evening. This venue is also available for functions and events, as well as catering - delivered to your place. Open Sunday - Tuesday, 7am - 4pm and Wednesday - Saturday 7am - 8pm.

PONSONBY LITTLE BLACK BOOK: A-Z CAFÉS + RESTAURANTS GUIDE FREEMAN & GREY, 43 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 6496 Freeman & Grey is a great sunny spot in Ponsonby with a laid-back atmosphere, great sharing plates menu and a heap of fun to be had. They offer a $4 pizza deal between 12 noon - 2pm and 5pm - 7.30pm, open 12pm Monday - Sunday. FRENCHIE BAR A VIN BISTRO 265 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 2516 www.frenchie.co.nz Ponsonby’s restaurant for lovers of all things French! Frenchie Bar a Vin Bistro, previously called La Cantine du Torchon, is located at the Three Lamps end of Ponsonby Road. Enjoy classic French dishes such as Boeuf Bourguignon or Crepe suzette flambee au Grand Marinier. Live music every Friday. Open Tuesday and Wednesday, 5.00pm - late, Thursday and Friday 12.00pm - late, Saturday 5.00pm late and Sunday and Monday closed. FUJI TEPPAN-YAKI CAFÉ & RESTAURANT, 282 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 6282 A cute little restaurant with authentic Japanese decor, friendly funny staff and creative food cooked in front of you. Fully licensed. Open 7 nights, 6pm - 11.30pm. FUSION CAFÉ, 32 Jervois Road T: 09 378 4573 Fusion has a wonderful outdoor garden, which makes it ideal for relaxing with a coffee made by one of their Allpress trained baristas. A great spot for enjoying breakfast or lunch with the family. Fusion is also available for functions. Open Monday - Wednesday, 7am - 4pm, Thursday - Sunday, 7am - 5pm. GABIDIAM COFFEE HOUSE, 576 Great North Road T: 09 378 6706 A local café, situated in the Grey Lynn shops is dedicated to providing quality service, coffee and food. They are roasting their own coffee beans and introducing different knowledge about coffee to people. Their barista was the winner of the Auckland regional barista championship in 2011. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - 4pm; Saturday 8am - 4pm. GABLES SPEIGHT’S ALE HOUSE, 248 Jervois Road T: 09 376 4994 www.gablesspeightsalehouse.co.nz A gastro-style menu freshly prepared each day can be enjoyed in the sun drenched courtyard, by the cosy fireplace or in a sumptuous booth. They also offer the perfect

event venue, whether it’s a dinner party for 10 or a function for 400. Kids dine free on Mondays with a full paying adult. Quiz night Tuesday 7pm. GARNET STATION, 85 Garnet Road T: 09 360 3397 www.garnetstation.co.nz Garnet Station is a relaxed urban oasis serving smooth coffee and home-made food like cinnamon and caramel brioche; free-range egg club sandwiches and lolly topped mini cupcakes. They use Chiasso fair trade organic beans, Green Valley organic milk and organic meat in their gourmet pies. There are great spaces for private meetings or large family groups. Open 7 days, 7am - 4pm. GELATO AMANTE, 49 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 8833 www.gelatoamante.co.nz; www.facebook.com/Gelatoamante Gelato Amante is a family-owned business serving genuine Italian ice cream. If you are after a late coffee or dessert, they are situated just across from the Ponsonby International Food Court. Open until midnight with a promise of hot desserts coming soon for the winter months. GENJI JAPANESE RESTAURANT, 26 Ponsonby Road. T: 09 360 5050 At Genji, they serve the freshest sashimi and all varieties of Japanese foods in authentic Japanese surroundings and specialise in à la carte and Teppanyaki. They have three private function rooms and cater for up to 35 in the karaoke room. Off street parking is available at the rear for up to 20 cars. Open Monday - Saturday, 12pm - 2.30pm and 5pm - 10pm. GREEN KEEPER Café, (the old Caretakers Cottage) Victoria Park, corner Halsey and Fanshawe Street T: 09 302 0425 A unique historic cottage (circa 1906) set inside Victoria Park is perfect for catching up with friends or a takeaway for lunch at the park, and the handy location is excellent for business meetings, with separate rooms available to book for larger groups. Their menu has been carefully selected around seasonal availability, utilising free range and organic (where possible) ingredients, local artisan products and sustainable practices to create restaurant-quality food, to either eat-in, or take out at reasonable café prices. Specialising in wholesome salads, American style deli sandwiches (Hoagies), and handmade pasta and sauces. GREY LYNN RSC, 1 Francis Street, T: 09 376 2909 www.greylynnrsc.org.nz Open 365 days of the year, this is a unique gem in the middle of Grey Lynn. The downstairs bistro has tasty, reasonably priced meals while the upstairs restaurant is available for private functions. Visitors and new members are most welcome. The bistro is open Wednesday - Sunday from 5pm and Saturdays 11.30am - 2.30pm. GROUCHO’S CAFÉ, 1/143 Wellesley Street West T: 09 309 3939 A retro licensed café and wine bar with hand-crafted boutique beers and a wide range of gluten-free food. There is a strong focus on nutrition and health and they use free-range, organic and fair trade products when available. Open Monday Friday 7am - 4pm.

Above: Dimple and Nipul Girish, iVillage owners celebrating their first birthday last month. Below: Adrienne Kohler and Paul Blomfield.

GUSTO ITALIANO, 263 Ponsonby Road T: 09 361 1556 www.gustoitaliano.co.nz At Gusto they keep things traditional; you will find the very best gnocchi, tortellini, linguine, ravioli and spaghetti. A private room is available for functions. Open Monday - Wednesday, 5.30pm - late, Thursday - Sunday, 12pm - late. IL BUCO, 113 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 4414 www.ilbuco.co.nz Il buco serves the best Roman pizza by the slice. You can buy one slice for a snack or 100 slices for a party. Owner and barista Jonny Rudduck serves Supreme coffee and other popular menu items are beef lasagne, tiramisu and the little shots of hot chocolate are to die for. Open Monday - Friday 8am to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am - 8pm.

photography: Martin Leach

IL FORNO, 55 Mackelvie Street T: 09 378 0264 www.ilforno.co.nz A bakery and café specialising in traditional Italian fare and bakery items, including fresh croissants, pastries, home-made cakes and a wide selection of breads along with an interesting selection of deli products to take home. The coffee is pretty good too. Open 7 days, 7am - 4pm.

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

A-Z CAFES & RESTAURANTS GUIDE

iVILLAGE, 216 Victoria Street West, Victoria Park Market T: 09 309 4009 www.ivillageatvictoria.co.nz This Indian restaurant has recently celebrated their first birthday. Relive the joys of a bygone era; enjoy traditionally cooked Indian cuisine in a rustic setting. Open lunch Tuesday - Friday, lunch 12pm - 2.30pm; dinner 7 nights, open from 5pm till late. JAFA, 551 Richmond Road T: 09 361 1100 www.jafacafe.com Jafa Café has a cool laid-back atmosphere with a warm and welcoming team. There’s Allpress Coffee and fabulous food like lamb’s fry and bacon or Balinese sticky black rice. There is a conference room upstairs for private group breakfasts, lunches or corporate meetings. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - 4pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8am - 4pm. JANKEN, 158 Jervois Road T: 09 360 0555 Janken is a new sophisticated, trendy Japanese restaurant taking its name from the popular decision making game ‘paper, scissors, rock’, offering Japanese cuisine with a fusion twist. A unique space with its minimalist décor and exposed grey concrete. Open six days a week for both lunch and dinner. JERVOIS STEAK HOUSE, 70 Jervois Road T: 09 376 2049 www.jervoissteakhouse.co.nz At Jervois Steak House, you can discover the difference between grass-fed and grain-fed beef with Head Chef Kory Ashby. There is a great range of beef, lamb, chicken and fish and pre-ordering is essential for the restaurant’s signature slow -roasted prime rib. Bookings are essential. Open Saturday - Tuesday, 6pm - late and Wednesday - Friday, 12pm - late. JIMMY THE FISH, Ponsonby Central, 136 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1554 Newly opened, Jimmy the Fish, offers a varied array of daily changing seafood dishes. The Lion Red battered fish and handmade fries are highly recommended. They offer wet fish and seafood sales. Eat in, or take out, you choose. Open 7 days. JOY BONG THAI, 531 Karangahape Road T: 09 377 2218 www.joybongthai.co.nz Joy Bong Thai specialises in Royal Thai, as well as rustic Issan Thai cuisine with a modern twist. The food is typically delicate and spicy, always fresh daily. With friendly staff and great food, this is a great place for parties, large and small. Tell Apple, the owner, we sent you. Open for lunch weekdays 11.30am - 2.30pm; dinner 7 nights 5.30pm - 10.30pm KOKAKO, 537 Great North Road T: 09 379 2868 www.kokako.co.nz If you are into quality fair trade organic coffee and exemplary vegetarian food, then Kokako in Grey Lynn is the place to go. With a roastery also located onsite, you can enjoy an expertly made coffee in the cafe or take home one of three coffee blends or two single origin coffees. There is an extensive cabinet and à la carte menu with a focus on local, organic and seasonal produce. Open Monday to Friday 7am - 3.30pm and weekends 7.30am - 4pm. L’ ESCABEAU FRENCH KITCHEN, 104 Richmond Road T: 09 360 6156 100% Kiwi with an incontestable French touch… they make fresh sandwiches, wraps, salads, French baguettes and fresh juices. Gluten free and vegetarian options. Deicious tarts, gratins, patisseries and ‘petits gateaux’, slices and muffins. Crepes and galettes on Saturdays. Opening hours 7am - 3pm, Monday - Saturday. LA BOULANGE, 214 Jervois Road T: 09 376 5145 www.laboulange.co.nz Home-made baguette, croissant, pain au chocolat and pain au raisin are a few of the highlights of this little French bakery, café and sandwich bar. There are a few seats in the window and outside to enjoy a traditional pastry and Supreme coffee or try one of their delicious French baguette sandwiches or macaroons. Open 7 days, 7am - 3pm. LA NOISETTE CHOCOLATES & PATISSERIES, 518 Karangahape Road T: 303 0600 La Noisette is an innovative refreshment eating house, specialising in chocolates and patisseries. They also do out catering and customise desserts for all special occasions. LA ZEPPA, 33 Drake Street T: 09 379 8167 www.lazeppa.co.nz One of Auckland’s favourite rooftop bars with impressive views over Victoria Park and to the sky tower. La Zeppa offers delicious hot and cold tapas to enjoy with friends and a glass of wine and is the perfect venue for social functions from two to two hundred. Bookings are not required. Open 7 days, 4pm - late and Friday lunch from 12pm.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

LE VIETNAMESE KITCHEN, 107 Ponsonby Road M: 021 653 368 Get ready to enjoy the fresh and aromatic flavours of Vietnamese cuisine finished with French flair. Mouth-watering, authentic dishes full of local, fresh vegetables, meat and fish will feature, along with a divine menu of Vietnamese-inspired cocktails. This delectable new dining experience opens later this month. LIBERTINE, 37 Drake Street, Freemans Bay T: 09 929 2790 www.libertine.co.nz Nestled above Victoria Park Market, this new bar and eatery takes its cue from the Americas, but with an Antipodean twist. At the bar, spirits - gold, white and dark - take pride of place. Choose from an extensive Central and South American inspired menu of plates to share and individual offerings. The ideal place to wile away a sunny afternoon or a casual evening with friends. Open Monday to Thursday, 4pm until late, and Friday - Sunday midday until late. Littlebird Organics - The Unbakery, 1a Summer Street T: 09 555 3278 www.littlebirdorganics.co.nz They serve breakfast from 7am, lunch dishes from 11am, the most amazing smoothies, teas, raw cacao mugs, Kokako fairtrade organic cold brew coffee, chemex and filter, cakes, tarts, slices, cheesecakes and cookies from the cabinet all day. Littlebird goodies are made from the best raw organic ingredients they can find, and are completely vegetarian, gluten and dairy free. Open 7 days, 7am - 4pm. Kitchen closes at 3pm - menu available online. LITTLE BREAD & BUTTER BAKERY & CAFÉ, Ponsonby Central, Richmond Road T: 09 376 4007; 34 Westmoreland Street West Grey Lynn T: 09 378 9111 www.breadandbutterbakery.co.nz Little Bread & Butter bakery specialises in organic breads. There are many different types of sourdough, European speciality loaves, breadrolls and pretzels. You can choose from a wide selection of handmade pastries, cakes, and savouries, sandwiches and gourmet pies. At the large communal table you can toast your own slices of freshly baked bread and enjoy them with house-made butter and jam while you watch people bustling around the market area. Serving Five Elements coffee.

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PONSONBY LITTLE BLACK BOOK: A-Z CAFÉS + RESTAURANTS GUIDE LITTLE EASY, 198 Ponsonby Road T: 021 478 265 This newly opened self proclaimed pub serves up good food that is much more than the average pub fare. They have an American inspired menu with an interesting take on burgers - encasing delicious fillings within brioche buns. Open Monday - Sunday, 11.30am - 4am. LONGROOM, 114 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 8803 www.longroom.co.nz With a covered courtyard and north facing sun deck, Longroom offers a fresh, unique alfresco environment for brunch (weekends and public holidays), lunch and dinner; and of course those special drinking occasions. Their menu encourages sharing (any time of the day) from a selection of small plates, salads and platters, main courses and desserts. Must tries are - chilli salt squid, miso pork belly, Longroom platter and 60-day aged rib eye. DJs play during the evening Thursday to Saturday. Open Monday - Friday, 11am - late, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays 10am - late. MAD MEX, 108 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 1846 www.madmex.co.nz New to Ponsonby Road, they serve gourmet burritos and tacos that are made to order using only the freshest produce, flavourful salsas and authentic slow roasted and grilled meats. Open Monday - Wednesday, 11am - 10pm, Thursday 11am - 11pm, Friday 11am - 3.30am, Saturday 10.30am - 3.30am and Sunday 10:30am - 11pm. MALT BAR & RESTAURANT, 442 Richmond Road T: 09 360 9537 www.maltbar.co.nz A friendly, neighbourhood bar and restaurant in the heart of West Lynn, Malt serves a variety of delicious lunches, mains, woodfire pizzas and tapas all week plus brunch on the weekend. Check out their website for daily specials like ‘Buy One Get One Free’ mains on Mondays, free quiz night on Tuesday, thirst quenching happy hours and beer o’clock starting at 4pm with $4 beers on Sunday. Open Monday - Friday, 11am - late, Saturday and Sunday, 10am - late. MALDITO MENDEZ, Ponsonby Central, 4 Brown Street T: 09 378 9107 www.mendez.co.nz Maldito Mendez located on the Brown Street side of the Ponsonby Central precinct, serves South American and Latin street food - a delicious range of snacks,

empanadas, tacos, ceviches and mains. There are also tapas/streetfood plus some Mexican dishes. Open 7 days, 12pm - 3.30pm and 5.30pm - late. MAMATA BAKEHOUSE, 401 Richmond Road T: 09 376 3191 This bakery-café-hangout out is a Grey Lynn favourite. Whether your tummy growls for a sandwich, roll, pie, slice or muffin you’ll be able to get it here. Mamata is renowned for their made to order bagels, Ponsonby News’ favourite is the avocado and tomato toasted sesame seed bagel! Open Monday - Saturday 7am - 5.30pm. MARCELLO’S, 28 College Hill T: 09 361 2600 Marcello’s are now open for dinner, as well as breakfast, brunch, and lunch and they are fully licensed. What better way to start your day than with a gorgeous omelette? They serve great coffee and awesome food home-made fresh everyday which always comes with a friendly smile. Free wireless is available and they offer catering for functions. Open Monday 6am - 4pm; Tuesday - Friday, 6am - 10pm; Saturday 7.30am - 10pm; Sunday 7.30am to 9pm. MAVI CAFÉ, 22 Drake Street, T: 09 213 9528 Nestled between Sale Street and Victoria Park Market, this is a nice spot for meeting up with friends or colleagues for breakfast or lunch. You can choose from their mediterranean inspired menu or try their daily roast vegetable salad or feta and spinach filo from the cabinet. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - 4pm. MCCANN’S CAFÉ & RESTAURANT, 450 Karangahape Road T: 09 379 4625 McCann Café & Restaurant specialises in Thai and some European cuisines. They offer a free mixed entree with every Thai lunch and dinner order. Eat in or take away. Open Tuesday - Friday 7am - 10pm; Saturday 9am - 10pm and Sunday 11am - 10pm. MEKONG BABY, 262 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1113 www.mekongbaby.com A modern Southeast Asian fusion restaurant previously home to GPK. Designed with unique roughened floors, crudely painted walls with simple, yet elegant with nostalgic prints of life in Vietnam covering the walls. They have seating for as many as 80 guests in the bar, 60 in the restaurant and 30 in the Mekong function room. Open Tuesday - Sunday, 12pm - late. MEOLA KITCHEN, 184 Garnet Road T: 09 360 6184 Meola Kitchen keeps things simple with breakfast and lunch menu options that are spins on old favourites. There’s also counter food available including fresh pastries and delicious home-made muffins. Open 7 days, 7.30am - 5pm. MEXICO, 164 Ponsonby Road T: 09 280 3919 www.mexico.net.nz A new, lively eatery on the strip offering great Mexican dishes. Try one of their quesadillas or soft shell tacos, and look out for their weekly specials. They take bookings for groups over 10. Open Monday - Sunday, 12pm - 11.45pm. MOLLIES, 6 Tweed Street T: 09 376 3489 www.mollies.co.nz Mollies restaurant is a great venue for gourmet breakfasts, but it is not open for lunches or dinners. Mollies offer many private spaces, ideal for small groups. Open for breakfast, 7 days, 7am - 10.30am. MONDIAL, 549 Great North Road T: 09 376 6682 www.mondialbar.co.nz Mondial is a very relaxed and lively tapas bar with friendly, efficient service. You can order as many or as few dishes as you want, ranging from prawns, calamari, meatballs, lamb skewers and vegetable platters. They have a great wine list with a mix of international and New Zealand wines plus some great dessert wines. Open Tuesday - Thursday 4pm - late, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 3pm - late. MONTEREY COFFEE LOUNGE, 432 Richmond Road T: 09 360 0488 Monterey is a warm and friendly neighbourhood coffee lounge in the heart of West Lynn. Try their zucchini fritters or a schnitzel sandwich made on home-made bread. Everything is made on the premises including delicious butterfly cakes. Eat in or take away. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am - 4pm. MOOCHOWCHOW, 23 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 6262 www.moochowchow.co.nz Like a stroll through the fragrant night markets and food stalls of Bangkok, MooChowChow is a boost to the senses, capturing that vibrant zang of sweet, sour, salty and hot that makes Thai food a party-in-your-mouth. Cocktails of fresh fruits,

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A-Z CAFES & RESTAURANTS GUIDE

shaved ice and smashed herbs will cool, refresh and tantalise. Private dining rooms are also available. Open Monday - Saturday, 5.30pm - late. MOTHER INDIA, 280 Richmond Road T: 09 360 0440 Offering authentic Indian dishes, for mild, medium and hot tastes. Try the Mother India Platter (for two) a fine selection of samosa, pakora, chicken tikka, and seekh kebab. Dine in or takeaway. Open daily 11.30am - 2.30pm and 5pm - 10pm. MOZAIK CAFÉ, Shop 10, 210-218 Victoria Street West T: 09 337 0744 www.mozaik.co.nz This café is located at Victoria Park Market, a stylish space with exposed wood beams and brick. They serve breakfast, brunch and lunch, with some vegetarian and gluten-free options. Open 7 days, 7am - 5pm. MUTIARA MALAYSIAN RESTAURANT, 66 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 2759 www.mutiara.co.nz Mutiara Restaurant is a specialist in authentic Malaysian cuisine and authenticity is the top priority for chef and owner Roy Lim. Malaysian cuisine is diverse in its influences and styles and this is reflected in the menu which offers signature dishes such as Rendang Kampung (thick curry), Ikan Bakar (Malaysian style grilled fish) and Mamak Noodles. Open for lunch Monday - Friday, 12pm - 2.30pm and dinner 7 nights, 6pm - 10.30pm.

NISHIKI JAPANESE RESTAURANT, 100 Wellington Street T: 09 376 7104 www.nishiki.co.nz Robata-yaki means having dinner and drinks in a cosy and social atmosphere watching the kitchen. Because most of the dishes are grilled and deep fried and snack sized, you can order many different kinds of food to share. Also available is a wide selection of Japanese sake, wine and beer; BYO wine. Open Tuesday - Sunday, 6pm - 11pm. OCCAM CAFÉ & BAR, 135 Williamson Avenue T: 09 378 0604 Occam is a popular spot with locals for breakfast, lunch, coffee, snacks or a relaxed weekend brunch. There are tables inside and out and a mezzanine bar creates a buzzy atmosphere. They are fully licensed and you can phone in your coffee order for quick and easy pick up. Occam is also a great venue for functions. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - 5pm, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 8am - 5pm. ONE 2 ONE CAFÉ, 21 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 4954 www.one2onecafe.co.nz One 2 One café has just celebrated its 22nd year, uses coffee supplied by the local boutique roaster Craig Miller. With free Wi-Fi, they are fully licensed and offer a selection of organic wine with craft beers also available. Family friendly, with a charming Parisian style and a covered courtyard complete with a children’s sandpit and blackboard. OH! SO CAFÉ, 29 Crummer Road T: 09 360 0700 www.ohso.co.nz Fantastic café food, and great coffee along with a chilled out atmosphere make oh! SO the perfect place for a casual business meeting or a catch up with friends. Functions and catering also available. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - 3pm, Saturday 8am - 3pm. ORPHAN’S KITCHEN, 118 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 7979 Orphan’s Kitchen is all about unadulterated food and naughty wines. They offer a laid back atmosphere with honest food. Open Tuesday - Saturday, 5pm to late. Open for lunch on Fridays from 12pm - 3pm. OTTO WOO GOURMET NOODLE BAR, 47 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1989 www.otto-woo.com Otto Woo provides Western style modern Asian cuisine with Japanese and Thai influences. Each meal contains loads of fresh vegetables infused with high quality sauces and herbs. Gluten-free and vegetarian meals are also available. Open Monday - Friday, 11.45am - 2.30pm and Monday - Sunday, 4.30pm - 9pm.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

photography: Michael McClintock

NAVAS CAFÉ MALAYSIAN CUISINE, 14 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 4478 Chef and owner Krishnan prepares and serves beautiful fresh Malaysian food. A speciality is murtabak (a handmade roti with lamb filling), spicy beef rendang and Malaysian Indian style curries. Family run, Navas loves children and you will always be very warmly welcomed. Open for lunch Monday - Friday, 11am - 2pm and dinner, 7 nights, 6pm - 10pm.

GUSTO ITALIANO

PANE E VINO, 20 Williamson Avenue T: 09 360 0263 www.paneevino.co.nz Owner Tito is passionate about the food they serve which is regional Italian style cuisine. Classic antipasti, pasta and mains all exceptionally flavoured using fresh ingredients plus popular Italian desserts and thin crust pizza. Delivery in Ponsonby and catering is also available. Open Monday - Friday, 12pm - late, Saturday and Sunday, 5pm - late. PHILIPPE’S CHOCOLATE, 293 Great North Road T: 09 376 1754 www.philippechocolate.co.nz Not just fabulous flavoured chocolates and hand rolled truffles; Philippe’s also make French pastries, cakes and baguettes. Open Monday 8am - 4pm, Tuesday Sunday, 7.30am - 5.30pm. PICCOLI PIATTI, 170 Jervois Road T: 09 376 5367 www.piccolipiatti.co.nz Piccoli Piatti offers a range of modern Italian inspired antipasti style shared plates and fresh pasta, made by hand in their kitchen daily, along with a selection of mains, sides and desserts. They are open Tuesday - Sunday, 5pm - late. PITA PIT, 2/104 Ponsonby Road T: 09 215 9608 www.pitapit.co.nz/stores/ponsonby Pita Pit offers quality, healthy, fresh food - fast! The menu is varied with chicken, lamb, beef, ham, tuna and vegetarian fillings, with a choice of plain or wholemeal pitas to choose from. The service is friendly, and you can takeaway or enjoy your pita at one of the outside tables. Open 7 days, Monday - Wednesday, 10am - 11pm, Thursday and Saturday, 10am - 2am and Sunday 10am - 11pm. PLATFORM 2, 65a Mackelvie Street T: 09 360 1260 Platform2, formerly Pintxos is now a quaint, nostalgic wine bar cafe with Ponsonby’s sunniest courtyard. Specialising in delicious pizza slices and an ever changing cocktail menu, as well as an extensive craft beer selection. Now available for your private function with three areas available to book.

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PONSONBY LITTLE BLACK BOOK: A-Z CAFÉS + RESTAURANTS GUIDE PONSONBY INTERNATIONAL FOOD COURT, 106 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 0800 www.ponsonbyfoodcourt.co.nz Walk right in and taste the mouth-watering recipes from Italy, Japan, Malaysia, China, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and more. Situated right in the heart of Ponsonby, this is the perfect place for that leisurely lunch, dinner or quick break from business. Open daily 10am - 10pm. PONSONBY ROAD BISTRO, 165 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1611 www.ponsonbyroadbistro.co.nz The award-winning Ponsonby Road Bistro offers a well priced menu and interesting wine list in a stylish and relaxed environment. Sarah Conway’s menu provides a global feast - and the chargrilled scotch with hand-cut chips has become a firm favourite. The friendly staff and cosy dining room offer a warm welcome. An express lunch menu runs weekdays from 12 noon. Open Monday - Friday, 12pm - late and Saturday 4pm - late. PREGO, 226 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 376 3095 www.prego.co.nz This iconic restaurant was established over 27 years ago, Prego is the ultimate in Italian alfresco dining with the intimacy of an enclosed courtyard, late suppers at the bar in front of a wood fire or bistro style dining with the buzz of a busy restaurant. Takeaway available, open 7 days, 12pm - late. PURE FOOD KITCHEN, 2a Hakanoa Street T: 021 500 585 Pure Food Kitchen provides convenient nutrient dense REAL food, with nothing processed and nothing artificial. All their food is gluten and soy free, with no refined sugars, and is made fresh onsite. Open Tuesday - Friday, 9am - 6pm; Saturday and Sunday 9am - 3pm; Monday closed. QUEENIES, 24a Spring Street, Freemans Bay T: 09 378 8977 www.queenieslunchroom.co.nz Tucked away from the bustle of Ponsonby on the corner of Middle and Cascade Streets is the award-winning Queenies. Offering Supreme coffee, New Zealand beers and wines, a unique sweet selection and a tantalising menu. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - 4pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8am - 4pm. RABBIT HOLE CAFÉ, 203 Jervois Road T: 09 360 0755 Rabbit Hole Café is an interesting eclectic cafe based on an Alice in Wonderland theme, with mismatched crockery, bone china and unusual furniture. They use Velvet fair trade organic coffee and you can enjoy it on the deck overlooking the water. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - 4pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8am - 3pm.

SIDART

RENKON EXPRESS, 2/175 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 3090 www.renkon.co.nz/ponsonby This restaurant specialises in donburi, which is a large bowl of rice topped with fresh vegetables, meat or fish. The meals are quick, cheap, unpretentious, nutritious and well-balanced. Open 7 days 11.30am - 3pm and 5pm - 9.30pm. REVELRY, 106 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 8663 www.revelry.co.nz A luxurious bohemian-style parlour, with hints of opium den chic, this venue boasts one of the best decks in Ponsonby, a warming double sided fireplace and countless visual stimulations from lanterns to antique furniture. The delicious food menu includes a selection of Asian fusion sharing plates, platters and bar snacks. An extensive New Zealand and international wine list, classic and original cocktails with seasonal recipes, and craft beers will give you something new to try every visit. Open from early afternoon until late every night of the week. Brunch service is available from Friday to Sunday. RICHMOND RD CAFÉ, 318 Richmond Road T: 09 360 5559 www.richmondrdcafe.co.nz One of five award-winning cafés owned by Jackie and Scott, The Richmond Road Café is a buzzing urban café providing restaurant style food and service at café prices. There’s an all day menu, sweet selection, freshly squeezed juices and frappes plus a champagne, wine and beer menu. Open 7 days, 7am - 4pm. RIPE DELI, 172 Richmond Road T: 09 360 6159 www.ripedeli.co.nz This is a vibrant food-lovers haven serving innovative take-out food, using the best of local, free farmed and free range ingredients. Decadent home-baked slices, cakes and brioche; a variety of gourmet sandwiches, salads and wraps, take home TV and freezer meals plus home-made jams, relishes, dressings and chutneys. Owner, Angela Redfern has published two cookbooks, Ripe Recipes and Ripe Recipes - A fresh batch; with more on the cards for avid fans. Delivery is available for outcatering and you can order online. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - 4.30pm, Saturday 7.30am - 4pm and Sunday 8am - 4pm. ROCKET KITCHEN, 234a Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 8834 www.rocketkitchen.co.nz Serving Aucklanders for over 16 years, Rocket Kitchen’s truly gourmet takeaway and catering includes their range of premium fresh wedding and birthday cakes, tarts, desserts, sweets and cupcakes. Savoury treats and salads are also available from the iconic shop on Ponsonby Road where everything is made fresh each day. Open Monday - Friday, 8am - 6.30pm and Saturday 8.30am - 5pm. SAFFRON INDIAN RESTAURANT, 31 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 2122 www.saffronindianrestaurant.co.nz Saffron specialises in South Indian cuisine. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 3pm they serve an all vegetarian buffet brunch. Catering, takeaway and delivery in Ponsonby is also available. Open 7 nights, 6pm - 10.30pm and Friday Sunday 11am - 3pm. SALE ST BREWERY, 7 Sale Street T: 09 307 8148 www.salest.co.nz Situated in the heart of Auckland’s hot spot, the Victoria Quadrant, Sale Street is a uniquely Kiwi mega-venue that defines style. There are a variety of bar and dining options including their extensive bar range, award-winning (Gold and Silver Medal) micro-brewery, Auckland’s largest deck and garden bar, and The Velvet room private bar as well as a live music stage. Open Monday 3pm - late and Tuesday - Sunday 11.30am - late. SALASH DELICATESSEN, Victoria Park Market T: 09 379 9656 www.salash.co.nz All 100% natural, NZ and hand-made sausages, salamis, fresh and air-dried meats, cheese and more. Two Salash BBQ sausages in a hand-made, freshly toasted ciabatta bun for only $8. Salash cold smoked, freshly grilled pork scotch fillet sandwich in a hand-made, freshly toasted ciabatta bun, or salad for only $10.50. Salash marinated Beef Eye Fillet sandwich in a hand-made, freshly toasted ciabatta bun, or salad for only $12. Open Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm and Saturday - Sunday, 10am - 4pm. SALTA ESPRESSO, 285 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1295 Salta Espresso delivers quality personal service, great coffee and delicious fresh food made with pride on the premises every day. A full breakfast and lunch menu is available as well as delicious cakes, pastries and sandwiches. Open Monday - Friday, 6.30am - 4.30pm, Saturday and Sunday, 7am - 4.30pm.

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SATYA SOUTH INDIAN RESTAURANT, 17 Great North Road T: 09 361 3612 www.satya.co.nz Satya is situated near the Ponsonby, Newton and K’ Road intersection. Their South Indian recipes are age old and are based on Ayurvedic principles; their motive is good food. With its relaxed ambience and friendly staff, it is a great place for a vast range of Indian meals at a good price. Takeaway, delivery, catering and banquets for large groups are all available. Open for lunch Monday - Saturday, 11.30am 2.30 and dinner Monday - Sunday, 5.30pm - 10pm. SAVOUR & DEVOUR, 478 Richmond Road T: 09 361 2631 www.savouranddevour.co.nz Savour & Devour offer a range of cabinet food with home-made cakes, pies and sandwiches and a full breakfast and lunch menu. Catering and takeaway is available. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am - 5pm. SAWADEE THAI CUISINE, 42a Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 0320 www.sawadee.co.nz Sawadee offers dishes from the four main regions of the Siamese Kingdom. Thai Food is a blend of tastes - hot, sour, salty, sweet and spicy with subtle additions of aromatic herbs to enrich the traditional flavours. Fully licensed, takeaway menu, functions catered and BYO Wine. Lunch open Wednesday to Sunday 12pm - 3pm. Dinner Monday - Sunday 5pm - late. SHAHI INDIAN EXPERIENCE, 26 Jervois Road T: 09 378 8896 www.shahi.co.nz For more than 21 years, Shahi Cafe has been serving Ponsonby locals timeless, sumptuous North Indian cuisine with a difference. There is an extensive variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes; some of the most popular are Shahi Cigar, Shahi Skewered Chicken and Stuffed Tomato Curry. A private function room is available and catering, delivery and takeaway menus. Open 11am - 2.30pm and 5pm - late. SHOKUZEN, 45 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 4565 This is a new fusion Japanese restaurant with a vast selection of dishes to choose from. Try the tuna takaki; sliced rare tuna with ponze sauce, or the Agedashi tofu; lightly fried tofu with tempura sauce or the seaweed salad, or perhaps share a platter of California rolls (sushi).

SLIDERS KITCHEN & BAR, 222 Ponsonby Road T: 09 361 3222 Your local for a small bite or something more substantial. Offering roast pork on Monday, $10 pizza 'n' pasta menu on Tuesdays. While also serving sliders, burgers, steak and so much more. They offer takeaways too. SOTO JAPANESE GARDEN RESTAURANT, 13 St Mary’s Road T: 09 360 0021 www.soto.co.nz A long-time favourite Japanese restaurant in Ponsonby. They have a fresh and modern look and offer a traditional platter style lunch menu and Izakaya style dinner menu with the ‘new style’ twist. Voted Top 50 in the Metro Restaurant of the Year 2013. Open Tuesday - Friday, 12 - 2pm and Tuesday - Saturday, 6pm - 10pm. SOUL THAI, 158 Williamson Avenue T: 09 302 8888 www.soulthai.co.nz At Soul Thai, their goal is to cook restaurant quality, authentic Thai cuisine using the finest ingredients and deliver your order to your door fresh and fast. Order by phone or online. Now open in Mt Eden too. Open 7 days, 5pm - 10pm. SPQR, 150 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1710 www.spqrnz.co.nz A Ponsonby institution, SPQR has been a prominent fixture along the Ponsonby strip for 21 years. The lively atmosphere and friendly service gives SPQR an authentic, first-rate reputation. The pizza is great for an anytime snack and Veal Marsala is an old favourite. Eat in or take-away. Open 7 days, 12pm - late. ST PIERRE’S SUSHI OF JAPAN & SEAFOOD, 320 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 6553 www.stpierres.co.nz St Pierre’s Sushi is all about fresh, quality sushi at an affordable price. Ready made to go for busy people, or made fresh on the spot anytime for tailor-made sushi requirements. Party platters of sushi are a specialty. STAR THAI, 1 St. Mary’s Road T: 09 378 1776 www.starthai.co.nz A comprehensive wine list complements the fine food and you are welcome to BYO wine. Whether dining in or ordering dishes to eat at home, you can be assured of the finest Thai food cooked in the traditional way, prepared from the very best ingredients including fresh herbs, spices and exotic vegetables - a true taste of Thailand. Delivery is also available. Open Tuesday - Sunday, 5.30pm - late. SUNDAY PAINTERS, 185 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 2001 www.sundaypainters.co.nz Invoking the decadence and style of a Parisian salon in the 1920s, this restaurant feels a world away from the trends and fashions of modern life. New chef Gordon Mcleod (recently returned from France) brings elegant seasonal menus that reflect

SIDART, Three Lamps Plaza, 283 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 2122 www.sidart.co.nz Sidart is the award-winning restaurant of Chef Sid Sahrawat with modern creative New Zealand cuisine. It is a contemporary yet formal restaurant with innovative food and attentive, friendly service headed by Ismo Koski. The gorgeous city views and intimate dining room make Sidart a place for special occasions. Highly recommended by the Ponsonby News team. Open Tuesday - Saturday, 6pm, Friday lunch 12pm 2.30pm. SIERRA CAFÉ PONSONBY, 295 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 0081 Now offering free Wi-Fi and their famous specialty Sierra coffee as well as delicious home-made cakes and slices - everything is available to take away. Open 7 days 6.30am - 4.30pm. SITTING DUCK CAFÉ, 141-151 Westhaven Drive T: 376 0374 Established in 1984, this café is celebrating 30 years of service to the area. A popular meeting place with over 30 thousand pairs of legs through the door annually. Where overalls, suits and families mix. Open early with a full breakfast, great coffee and delicious lunch menu selection from noon. The seafood chowder is always a favourite here, although the recipe is never revealed. Enjoy a wine on the deck with a view of the city through a sea of masts. Fully Licenced. Open Monday 9am - 4pm, Tuesday - Wednesday, 7am - 4pm, weekends 7am - 4.30pm.

SPQR The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

A-Z CAFES & RESTAURANTS GUIDE

SANTOS CAFÉ, 114 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 8431 www.santoscoffee.co.nz Santos Café (café con Espiritu) underwent refurbishment last December, which means they now have a bigger kitchen to create your favourite Santos food. Anne, Hannah and the team continue the family tradition of bringing coffee and food with soul onto Ponsonby Road. The Santos art wall - it’s official name Arte Na Favela provides a visual feast as you dine. Open Monday - Friday, 6.30am - 4.30pm and Saturday - Sunday, 7am - 4.30pm.

PONSONBY LITTLE BLACK BOOK: A-Z CAFÉS + RESTAURANTS GUIDE a career immersed in the cuisine from his time abroad. Open Tuesday - Sunday, 5.30pm - late and Friday lunch from 12pm - 2pm. SUSHI EDGE, 280 Richmond Road, T: 09 376 6218 Sushi Edge is a takeaway or eat-in establishment serving a wide range of delicious sushi and sashimi options. Their servings are generous, everything is really tasty and well-seasoned, hot and freshly made. Their sashimi bento box, vegetarian tempura don and their lunch sushi boxes are all worth trying and are good value for money. SUSHI WASABI, Shop 14, 1 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 8388 Situated next to Dorothy Butler’s Children’s Book Shop, Sushi Wasabi specialises in traditional sushi and nigiri. Their sushi is made with brown rice. This is a daytime restaurant and you can dine in or takeaway. They have a loyalty card too. Open Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm. TAISHO YAKITORI BAR, 190 Jervois Road T: 09 378 0746 Taisho Yakitori Bar serves both traditional and modern Japanese food. There are over 60 dishes to choose from, including sushi and sashimi, 15 different kinds of sake, as well as Japanese and local beer and wine. Owner, Taka Tsuji, is from Hiroshima where his parents have run a restaurant for over 34 years so he has grown up with traditional Japanese food and hospitality. Eat in or takeaway. Open Tuesday - Thursday, 6pm - 10.30pm, Friday - Sunday, 5pm -11pm (9.30pm Sun).

THAI HOUSE RESTAURANT, 25 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 5912 www.thaihouse.co.nz Since 1993 Thai House Restaurant has been serving the finest quality Thai cuisine and taking pride in serving only quality and authentic ingredients, freshly prepared along with warm and personal service. Thai House has an intimate ambience, warmly decorated with traditional Thai décor. Fully licensed, BYO wine and takeaway. Open 7 nights, 5.30pm - 10pm. THAI ME UP, 244 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 9909 www.thaimeup.co.nz An excellent selection of curry, seafood, salads and vegetarian dishes, served in a lively atmosphere with friendly service. An extensive wine list complements the authentic Thai dishes and the outdoor area has room for up to 20 people and includes a private balcony with great views of the city. Open Wednesday - Saturday, 11.30am - 2pm and dinner 7 nights, 5pm - late. THAI SILVER, 186 Jervois Road T: 09 360 0714 This is a small warm and welcoming restaurant with simple decor and deliciously cooked Thai food from an excellent chef. Their fans say it’s the excellent quality of the dishes that gives this new establishment its point of difference. Open Monday Sunday, 5pm - late.

TAQUERIA, 166 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 0076 Taqueria, pronounced Ta-ka-re-a is a Spanish/American word that means a place where burritos and tacos are made. They offer tacos and burritos using freshly made ingredients prepared daily onsite. Eat in or takeaway. Open 7 days, 11.30am - 11pm.

THE BLUE BREEZE INN, Ponsonby Central, 146 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 0303 www.thebluebreezeinn.co.nz Chef Che Barrington takes Auckland Asian dining to new levels, serving up the sensational flavours of regional China in the lush surrounds of a Pacific island paradise. In-house dumpling chefs fold and flip before your eyes, and every Sunday offers diners the mouth-watering Peking Duck special. Open 7 days, lunch and dinner, 12pm - late.

THAI CLASSIC RESTAURANT, 282 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 3389 www.thaiclassic.co.nz Thai Classic Restaurant has been running strong since 1994, specialising in authentic Thai cuisine. Flaming chicken and flaming beef are recommended dishes. Enjoy indoor and outdoor seating, a relaxed and friendly ambience and wonderful views of the Waitakeres. Takeaways and delivery are available to Ponsonby locals. Open 7 nights, 5.30pm - 10.30pm.

THE CAKE STALL, 267 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 0593 www.thecakestall.co.nz This is a boutique bakery, specialising in old fashioned cakes and treats just like Grandma used to make. Goods are baked at their Royal Oak location and delivered daily to the Ponsonby store. Whilst you shop for that special cake, you can sit and enjoy a coffee or tea with one of their cabinet items such as a savoury tart or breakfast brioche. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - 5pm and Saturday, 7.30am - 4.30pm. THE CAVALIER TAVERN, 68 College Hill T: 09 376 4230 www.thecavalier.co.nz Under new management now, The Cavalier Tavern will be closed from 30 April to undergo refurbishment and transformation. They welcome all Cavalier faithful to enjoy the new look Cavalier which is reopening on Thursday 5 June. THE COFFEE BAR AT GLENGARRY VICTORIA PARK, 118 Wellesley Street T: 09 308 8319 www.glengarrywines.co.nz This is a funky fusion of great coffee, a takeaway lunch selection and a scrumptious selection of cakes, tarts and pastries. Grab a coffee and wander through the wine store, sit and catch up on breakfast TV or the days newspaper, or grab everything to go. Alongside the Coffee Bar at Glengarry Victoria Park is a function and events space which is available for hire, with food catered by Didas. Open 7 days.

photography: Michael McClintock

THE FAIRY SHOP CAFÉ, 79 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 1560 www.fairyshop.co.nz The Fairy Shop has a café serving home-made old-fashioned food like Devonshire scones and lemon drizzle cakes. Pre-book a café session class where littlies play with fairies and adults can relax in the café. Children’s parties, high tea and school holiday programmes also available with parking behind. Open 7 days, 9.30am - 4.30pm. THE FOOD ROOM, 250 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 2425 www.thefoodroom.co.nz Gourmet sandwiches, salads, wraps, homemade cakes and slices, organic coffee and “The best pies in Auckland” award. The Food Room can cater for all kinds of parties and celebrations and is definitely worth a visit. Open Monday - Friday, 7.30am 4.30pm, Saturday 8am - 5pm and Sunday 9am - 5pm. THE GARNET ROAD FOOD STORE, 162 Garnet Road T: 09 376 8227 Known for their cinnamon brioche, The Garnet Road Food Store also makes their own salads, pies, cakes and sweet treats. Dine in or takeaway. Open Tuesday - Friday, 7.30am - 3pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am - 4pm.

TOKYO CLUB

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

THE LATE NIGHT DINER, 152b Ponsonby Road, T: 09 361 2320 The Late Night Diner, a new eatery located beside Ponsonby Social Club is a welcome addition to the strip. They serve classic diner fare, such as the cheese and bacon burger, onion rings and pumpkin pie, crispy skinned fish on popcorn grits and more. Vegetarian dishes are included in the menu along with a selection of craft beers and a generous wine and cocktail list. Opening at 5pm each day, food is served until as late as 2am, Thursday - Sunday. THE LITTLE GROCER, 311 Richmond Road T: 09 962 6711 This deli, coffeehouse and grocer serves home-made food that is made in small batches. Favourites include grilled reuben sandwiches, falafel wraps, custard filled Danish and their home-made ice- blocks. There is also giftware including Crown Lynn and sweet little toys. Catering available and deliveries coming soon. Open Tuesday Saturday, 7am - 4pm and Sunday 9am - 3pm. THE PONSONBY SOCIAL CLUB, 152 Ponsonby Road T: 09 361 2320 www.ponsonbysocialclub.co.nz Just like the RSA, but without the asparagus rolls or pokies. Live music and DJs throughout the week, check the website for details. Open 7 nights 5pm - late. THE SURREY HOTEL, 465 Great North Road, T: 09 378 9059 www.thesurreyhotel.co.nz This local pub has a cosy atmosphere, friendly service and food available all day. There is a breakfast buffet, brunch, lunch and dinner menu as well as bar snacks and wood-fired pizza. Open 7 days, 7am - 9.30pm.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

TIN SOLDIER, 151 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 1719 www.thetinsoldier.co.nz Their sharing menu offers contemporary and nostalgic - old savoury and sweet favourites, which are given a very modern twist in both ingredients and presentation. And for those who don't like to share, there are a variety of larger plates you can at least try to keep all to yourself. Their food menu is complemented by the bar, serving the best cocktails, plus an extensive list of local and imported beers and wine. Open from 4pm on Tuesday, and from 11.30am Wednesday - Sunday. THE WILLIAMSON CAFE, 1 Williamson Avenue T: 09 360 1115 www.thewilliamson.co.nz Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch or brunch, The Williamson Cafe offers you a delicious menu or a range of cabinet food. They are fully licensed and a wonderful venue for a private function. Open 7 days, 7am - 4pm. THIRTY NINE, 39 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 5008 Thirty Nine has been serving delicious all day breakfast and lunch since 2005. They use fair trade Allpress coffee and you can enjoy it in their lovely courtyard. Open 7 days, 7am - 4pm. THREE LAMPS BAR AND EATERY, 1-3 St Mary’s Road T: 09 376 6092 www.threelamps.co.nz Located inside the old Post Office Building on the vibrant edge of Ponsonby, Three Lamps Bar and Eatery brings together the old and new.. Glasses, pitchers and bottles come brimming with international and New Zealand crafted beer and wine. Over 200 craft beers are featured on the ever-changing beer list. Plates, boards and bowls of delicious fresh food are the order of the day. The main focus of the menu is on sharing with small plates, large sharing plates and platters all on offer. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available Open 7 days, 11am - late. TOKYO CLUB, Ponsonby Central, 136 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 8016 www.tokyoclub.co.nz Tokyo Club is "yokocho" style Isakaya restaurant located in the heart of Ponsonby

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

A-Z CAFES & RESTAURANTS GUIDE

THE ITALIAN JOB, 242 Jervois Road T: 09 376 2937 For over 21 years this family owned and operated restaurant has been serving delicious, authentic Italian food in a welcoming, cosy and rustic atmosphere and whether you’re a large group or it’s an intimate dinner for two, you will always experience warm friendly service. Takeaway pizza and pasta. Open Tuesday - Saturday, 6pm - 10pm.

PONSONBY LITTLE BLACK BOOK: A-Z CAFÉS + RESTAURANTS GUIDE Central. Their Japanese family team includes well-known front of house manager Sarasa Shimura and Tokyo master blowfish-sushi chef Chikara Sato. They serve quality, affordable cuisine and beverages. With Asahi, Sapporo beers on tap and their own sakes brewed in Japan, this place has quickly become very popular.

YOGHURT STORY, 340 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 8313 www.yoghurtstory.co.nz They offer self serve frozen yoghurt with a choice of 50 toppings including mouth watering lollies, candy, chocolate and fresh fruit.

TOM TOM BAR & EATERY, 27 Drake Street T: 09 377 5737 Tom Tom Bar & Eatery offers Asian inspired tapas and share plates along with gastrobar style mains - live jazz band every Sunday 2 - 5pm. Open daily 12pm - late.

YUZU JAPANESE RESTAURANT, 145 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 6040 For over 20 years, with his passion for food, Geeyong Chris Chung has been involved in creating Japanese cuisine with his beautifully presented authentic Japanese dishes. They offer Japanese beer, sake and wine. They offer a great variety of vegetarian options. Open for lunch, dinner and takeaways from Monday to Saturday.

TOMO JAPANESE RESTAURANT, 334 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 4757 Tomo has been serving delicious Japanese food for more than 11 years. They are fully licensed with 10 different sake or wine and beer to enjoy with your food. Their popular takeaway Lunch Box includes salad, tempura, rice, miso soup and your choice of meat or fish. BYO wine only. Open Monday 10.30am - 5pm and Tuesday Saturday, 10.30am - 10pm. TORU, Ponsonby Central, 136 Ponsonby Road T: 09 555 1229 www.toru.co.nz It’s new, it’s local and it’s serving breakfast, brunch and lunch. On the menu you will find fresh berries with buffalo yoghurt, baby basil and raw honeycomb, the ricotta pancakes with whipped salted caramel butter and vanilla sugar, and the colcannon with corned beef, sauerkraut, crème fraiche and poached eggs. A great coffee, freshly squeezed juice or smoothie from Toru will set you up for the day ahead.

ZUS & ZO, 228 Jervois Road T: 09 361 5060 www.zusandzo.co.nz Under new ownership, this café continues to have a solid menu, tasty counter treats and consistently friendly service. It’s a favourite with the locals and has undergone some exciting changes! They’re now licensed to serve wine and beer, and the newly furnished Albany Room provides a quiet, bright and stylish space, perfect for business meetings or large groups looking for a private venue for any occasion. Open Monday - Friday, 7am - 3pm, weekends and public holidays 8am - 3pm.

TURKISH CAFÉ, 294 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 0468 www.turkishcafe.co.nz The Turkish Café serves fresh wholesome food inspired by Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine with a strong Turkish influence. There are set menus or they can tailor a menu to suit your tastes and the occasion you’re celebrating. Takeaway is available too. Open Monday - Thursday, 11am - 10pm, Friday - Saturday 11am - 11pm. URBAN JUNGLE, 571 Great North Road T: 09 360 8470 For over 12 years, in the heart of Grey Lynn, Urban Jungle has been turning out consistently good food. They are fully licensed and BYO wine. Open 7 days, 7am 4pm, Thursday - Saturday 6pm - late. VIC PARK CAFÉ, Corner College Hill and Beaumont Street T: 09 377 3399 Vic Park Café was born as an extension of a home and a friendship between an Irish barista doll, a crazy Mexican chef, and a coffee, book and music Brazilian lover. They are serious about good coffee, good food, good environment, and good people. A place to sit, laugh and enjoy. Open 7 days, 7am - 3:30pm. VINNIES BY GEOFF SCOTT, 166 Jervois Road T: 09 376 5597 www.vinnies.co.nz Chef Geoff Scott creates modern New Zealand cuisine using respected French cooking techniques, inspired by classic Kiwi flavours and combinations. The restaurant is decorated using natural New Zealand products including native timbers and raw steel. The artworks adorning the walls change every four months giving a New Zealand artist an opportunity to showcase their works whilst providing guests with an ever changing back drop. Open Tuesday - Saturday, 6pm - late and Friday lunch from 12pm. WAROENG LEGIANZ, Unit 25, 210-218 Victoria Street West T: 09 379 5058 From the famous chicken satay to more traditional dishes, Waroeng Legianz produces authentic food from different regions in Indonesia. The menu includes gado gado, Indonesian style salad with peanut sauce. Other dishes include nasi goreng, mie goreng, satay and gulai kambing. Open Monday to Saturday 11am - 5pm. WOK EXPRESS, 236 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 4457 www.wokexpress.co.nz Wok Express is a quality Asian takeaway experience with a difference. They specialise in fresh, delicious, healthy, authentic Thai and Chinese food, cooked fresh to order and in generous portions! You can pick up or they can deliver to you. Open 7 days 4.30pm - 10pm. XIAO DAN RESTAURANT & BAR, 161 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 9908 Situated in the heart of Ponsonby, Xiao Dan serve a fusion of traditional and modern Chinese food. As well they have an amazing selection of pan fried and steamed dumplings - well worth coming in for! Open 7 days, Monday - Tuesday, from 5pm late, Wednesday - Sunday open for lunch 11am - late.

62 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY MEETING: DELIVERED NUTRITION’S SOPHIA NASH DELIVERED NUTRITION FOUNDER SOPHIA NASH IS ONE driven woman. Driven to be the best mother she can be to her two beautiful children, driven to stay as healthy and fit as she can be and driven to take her wellness vision to the world in the form of her new wholefood delivery company. “I basically created the concept to feed myself,” says the willowy brunette with a laugh, describing how hard she had found it several months ago to nourish herself properly as a single mum of two who had recently been diagnosed as coeliac. “I was spending all of my free time trying to whittle down the best way to lose weight, eat whole and treat my gut so that I wasn’t sick all of the time,” she explains, “and I just wished that I could leave it up to someone else to do it all for me. I constantly thought ‘it has got to be easier than this to look after myself’.” She had met RNC owner and nutritionist Helen Ross a while ago when she ran the Auckland Half Marathon and was looking for help with fuelling herself at an optimum level. She and Ross had struck up a friendship since, and she took the concept to Ross in its early stages to see what she thought. Quickly impressed and seeing the advantages it would give both her clients and those in the wider world looking to improve their diet, Ross came on board as a consultant to Sophia, “making sure that everything was nutritionally sound. Then it was up to me to develop some recipes and see how good I could make meals taste whilst still keeping them nutrient dense, whole food meals.” Sophia soon realised that she was on to something when she started testing meals out for herself and saw friends immediately catch on to her motivations, “and they were soon asking me if I could prepare similar meals for them and deliver them. The business just grew from there.” All of her current clients arrived at her doorstep organically, growing through traditional word-of-mouth and via social media sharing of images of Delivered Nutrition’s delicious fare. “The thing that they all have in common is that they’re time-poor and wanting better nutrition,” she says, “and although we’re not all about losing weight it usually comes as a by product of healing your insides and getting your digestive system working properly again.” One of the things I most loved about the Delivered Nutrition concept when I first looked into it was the fact that it can be tailored to each and every client, which is a major bonus if you exclude certain food groups for medical or cultural reasons. “We cater to vegetarian and vegan diets,” says Sophia, “as well as clients who don’t eat perhaps eggs or bananas. All of the meals are relatively the same but changed up with small tweaks according to each individual person if need be. We get really creative!” She says that customers are also asked what they like and don’t like on a regular basis, “and if they have a favourite ingredient or meal we try and include that more where possible.” The programmes currently on offer at Delivered Nutrition are Restore - an anti-oxidant rich wholefood cleansing programme designed to restore balance within the body, Rewind - a 24 hour cleanse to get back on track once or twice a week, Refine for those wanted to get a little leaner and Rebuild, a high-protein option for those wanting to build muscle. They also offer Restock frozen meals and the Raw Collection 12 pack of to-diefor, guilt-free sweet treats. These are sealed in threes to throw in hand bags, gym bags or your manbag, and consist of the triple threat of one Raw Hazelnut "Truff's" truffle, one Banana Bliss Ball and one Almond Butter protein truffle. Each meal is carefully and lovingly prepared with no short cuts being taken, and Sophia cold presses each juice by hand using her favourite Oscar juicer (a kitchen essential that I personally cannot live without). When I described Sophia as ‘driven’ at the start of this story I wasn’t kidding, with big plans already in place for the still fledgling but already booming business. “One of my main priorities in life is my family,” she says, “so I want to develop a programme that is healthful and cost-effective for all ages to follow. I’m also currently developing a mother’s wellness programme called Reset that will be a three-day antioxidant boost for tired mums in need of a lift.” There is a long-term plan to eventually have a retail space-slash -café, but for now Sophia is just waiting for her feet to touch the ground. “I never, ever imagined things would take off this fast,” she says with an exhausted smile, but it seems like there was a valuable need that had to be met and there couldn’t be a better woman PN for the job. (HELENE RAVLICH) F www.deliverednutrition.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY THE GLENGARRY WINES STORY

(continued from April)

Last month, we heard how the tenacious and hard working Josef Jakicevich, who arrived almost penniless in New Zealand in 1920, saved and bought 10 acres at Oratia in 1940, on which he planted grape vines. This was the foundation for a thriving and enduring family business. We also heard how the beautiful Marica Colich, from Joe’s home village in Croatia, came out to New Zealand in the late 1920s, married Joe, and produced their first child, son and heir, Anthony. Anthony (Tony) was the father of current managing director of Glengarry, Anthony (Jak), Joseph (Joe), managing director of Hancocks (owned by Glengarry) and Angela, deeply involved with Dida’s on Jervois Road, the popular food store and wine lounge. One of the most touching Jakicevich family stories concerns Dida’s new wife Marica. She was terribly homesick in New Zealand, young, away from home, family and friends. Dida thought it best to take her home for a while. He took Marica and baby Anthony back to Croatia - an act of supreme love and kindness. When the Second World War was imminent, Joe returned again to Croatia and brought Marica and by then, ten year old Anthony, back to New Zealand. They went on to have two more children, sadly Marica died at the young age of 51. And, so, that chapter of the fairy tale story came to an end. People wondered how Anthony had such a grip on his native Croatian language - he’d spent 10 of his formative years back there in Croatia with his mother, speaking only Croatian. Marica’s farseeing husband went on to create the Glengarry Wines dynasty which is stronger than ever today. Grandson Jak tells part of the early story. “Working as a stone mason and tending the 10 acre plot at the same time was no small task and the strength and fortitude that was required to build a new life was enormous. Dida (the ancestor Josef) would catch the bus to New Lynn and walk to the farm to tend the vines and the gardens, and then produce was taken back to town to sell. Jak again tells us, “It was my father Anthony’s skill at growing strawberries that sustained the family over those years.” Grandfather Josef had taught them well. Strawberries were a good grower and a good seller in town in those days. This work ethic has been carried on today in the family business.

licences issued in Auckland, but was only at first allowed to sell New Zealand Wines - two gallons at a time! That is the equivalent of twelve 750ml bottles. During the 1960s liquor licensing laws were liberalised, single bottles could be sold, and tasting nights became a real feature of Glengarry Wines in Jervois Road. New stores were opened and Glengarry was on its way. No company is on its way without a carefully produced company ethos. Glengarry has such an ethos. They could have been called Jakicevich Wines, but as Joe said to me some time ago, who could say it, let alone pronounce it or spell it. The Jakicevich family named their business after the street in Oratia, Glengarry Road, where they began their New Zealand wine venture. So now, at the beginning of the 21st century, the fourth generation of the Jakicevich family is carrying the torch, working in the present but always conscious and eternally grateful for the strength, integrity and foresight of their illustrious ancestor, Dida Joe. Glengarry is today the largest independent family-operated wine retail company in New Zealand, and as heralded in Glengarry’s centennial Wineletter, “An expanding number of stores nationwide and a network of national and international contacts places it in a unique position of being able to source superior, competitively priced wines from around the world.” The development of New Zealand’s cultural identity began with the Treaty of Waitangi joining Maori and British in a partnership, and has now been extended into a complex multicultural fabric, where migrants from a wide range of countries, with a vision and a dream of a better life, has added richness and colour to our nation. Dida Josef Jakicevich is an outstanding example of the quality of many of those migrants, and we should be grateful that his memory is so well recognised and remembered by his PN loving descendents right here in our neighbourhood. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F

Joe’s son Tonci, great grandson of Dida Joe, says all family members are welcome to work in the family firm if they wish to, but they must exceed expectations. They are all well trained and start at the bottom. “The path from the vineyard to the fine wine store was no miracle,” says Jak. There were hiccups, difficult times, a tricky merger with Hancocks, and the effort of scouring the world for the best wines and spirits. That is an ongoing battle, but Glengarry now sells some of the best alcoholic products from around the world. Glengarry has built its reputation on the integrity handed down from Dida Joe, fostered by son Anthony, and ingrained into the psyche of Anthony’s children and grandchildren, many of whom are now seen in Glengarry outlets. One example is Michael, son of Angela who is one of Dida Joe’s granddaughters. Michael is now manager of Glengarry Jervois Road, the store I happen to frequent. Of course he is not as gorgeous as sister Monique, who is taking maternity leave after managing Jervois Road for some time! Jak again, “At Glengarry we will continue to cultivate a culture of ‘passion for wine’ and foster in-depth training of our staff, on product knowledge and customer service.” You will see from the accompanying photographs that Glengarry have come a long way from the modest shop Dida Joe set up in 1940. He was granted one of the first two

The first family home, corner of Jervois Road and Blake Street in 1945. Here Dida Joe brought up his family - this property was purchased after Dida and Marica had gone back to Orah and come back the second time. This is where he had a produce garden in the back and sold at the front of this store. This was the site of the first Glengarry Store - where Dida Joe was one of the first two retail merchants in New Zealand to be awarded a liquor license. In those days you had to sell 12 bottles or three flagons as one purchase.

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64 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIZ WHEADON: WINE, GLORIOUS WINE

Waipara - an unsung hero THE WAIPARA WINE REGION IS LOCATED ABOUT AN HOUR BY CAR NORTH OF Canterbury; a region that has quietly been achieving for many years, one that you don’t often hear raved about alongside the likes of Central Otago and Marlborough - although you should. You could easily refer to the Waipara wine region as one of the unsung heroes of New Zealand Wine. There have been vineyards in Canterbury since the mid 1800s, with commercial winemaking starting in the 1970s, and it is now New Zealand’s fastest growing wine region. The variety of grape varieties planted here is extensive and far wider than many New Zealand regions, the majority split between two varieties: Riesling and Pinot Noir. The region can be generally divided into three parts, the valley floor, the hill slopes and the river terraces. The Teviotdale hills protect Waipara from the cool easterly winds leaving room for the warm northwest winds to flow through. We are starting to see the 2013 wines from Waipara arrive in store, they are looking fantastic. The region had a fantastic summer and excellent conditions through harvest; many of the Sauvignon Blanc tend towards the tropical end of the fruit spectrum, ripe yellow nectarines and fleshy juicy peaches dominating. Our feature winery this month is Waipara Hills, a super set of wines made by Simon McGeorge. Simon studied at the Canterbury local university, Lincoln. Simon then travelled the world hopping between northern and southern hemisphere vintages; loving the Loire. He spent four vintages there before returning to Canterbury to take on the role of winemaker for Waipara Hills. Waipara Hills have three vineyard sites in Waipara: Deans, Home Block and the Mound. The Deans vineyard is on the terraces and was planted in 2011, with 76 hectares planted in Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. The river bed, with gravel loam and an alluvial subsoil, provides free draining soil for these vines. The Home block was planted in 1994 and has some of the oldest clones of the Lincoln-Berry Smith clone of Pinot Gris, an excellent clone that is well suited to the region and produces exceptional Pinot Gris. This vineyard site has also some of Waipara Hills’ oldest vines of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Mounds vineyard takes its name neatly from the mound PN in the centre of the vineyard and is an outstanding site for Riesling. (LIZ WHEADON) F www.glengarrywines.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

JULIE BONNER: NEWS FROM FROG POND FARM

We should listen to our mothers! I’m sure you must remember me extolling the virtues of my new Oscar Neo cold press vege juicer and how nice it is to race out into the garden, returning with an array of vege and herbs all ready to juice? Well last month I had severe cramps and nausea followed by the overwhelming realisation that I might have attempted to poison myself with my own juice. It was possibly something to do with my activity in the garden the day prior where I was gleefully splashing about watering cans of homemade seaweed brew. I always get such a ‘buzz’ from doing this as those vegetables and herbs literally stand to attention as they are showered with good things from the sea. I got a buzz all right, and heard my mother saying all those years ago ‘make sure you wash it thoroughly won’t you’. Hmmm. Then you may also remember me boasting about our corn and how it was ‘fattening’ up nicely - something to do with the TLC it was acquiring in the form of water, brews and constant chatter from the ‘live in gardener’. Well those wonderful ears of corn never made it to our table... no they were thoroughly enjoyed in situ by some four legged critter who was able to shimmy up those stalks, peel back the outer casings and munch like mad on those succulent coloured kernels. I recall standing staring at my garden in a state of shock wondering how on earth a possum could climb up a corn stalk (they get blamed for everything), and then I started thinking of something smaller, browner and quite possibly smarter - and came up with RATS! So it has been an interesting start to autumn. But things aren’t all bad, our wonderful garden is still pumping out some tasty tucker, herbs, lettuce, beetroot, loads of chillies, spring onions, celery and from the storeroom we have Jack be Little pumpkins, garlic, Egyptian walking onions and the sweet red kind, all of which we will be snacking on for some time to come. I said last issue, that our orchard is devoid of fruit - well that’s not actually true. We have an amazing olive crop this year, first ever, which we are due to harvest very soon. Now that’s exciting! Plus as we all do in New Zealand at this time of year, we’re eating feijoas like there is no tomorrow. They are just so delicious and make the best dessert topped with crumble and a dollop of crème fraiche! There is much activity now within those cloches too - the brassicas are starting to flex their muscles and will no doubt soon start to shoulder their neighbours out of the way something to do with overplanting I suspect. I’m getting beds ready for garlic now too - I like to plant them early in Auckland and am keen to have a chat with one of our local farmers about getting some cow poo - it seems that garlic loves the stuff. Well that’s it for me for another month, happy gardening. (JULIE BONNER) PN www.frogpondfarm.co.nz F

66 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

photography: Clinton Tudor

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

WE LOVE THE LUCKY TACO Local residents Sarah and Otis Frizzell last year launched The Lucky Taco (truck) and they have a site right next to Prego at weekends. We asked them to tell us about their business.

ANY PAGE IN PONSONBY NEWS IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE SEEN

When did you start and why Ponsonby? I suppose you could say we started our business back in 2011, when we conceived the idea. The seed was planted when we were in Los Angeles on our honeymoon. We were struck by the amount of diverse funky creative eateries on wheels. It blew our minds! As passionate foodies, we thought we could start our own food truck on home soil. Mexican food is grossly mis-represented in New Zealand. We wanted to share the 'real' flavours of Mexican food with people. The truck is / was the vehicle to do that. (No pun intended). We actually opened for business on 14 May 2013. That's how long the planning, research and truck build took - about two years. We love Ponsonby. It's our home. Lucky for us, our good friend, James Moore at Flying Fish allows us to park in his car-park Friday through to Sunday. This is at 230 Ponsonby Road, in between Prego and Rocket Kitchen. It's a fantastic spot for us, and we realised that it was nigh on impossible to acquire a street-traders license from Auckland Council, so we were forced to look at private-land options. We really are very lucky to have such accommodating and helpful allies! What has been the reaction? So far the reaction has been fantastic. We already have a loyal customer base and a pretty decent following across all of our social media channels. Some of our customers even come three days on the run! We won't mention any names. You know who you are Hugh Sundae. Kids LOVE the truck! Which is why we developed a few new menu items, such as 'kids style steak or fish tacos' and the 'kiddie quesadilla'. People smile when they see 'Lucky' driving along Ponsonby Road. They toot their horns, and wave. It makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. What have you learned along the way? That you can order pre-peeled garlic and onions (this saved us hours). As neither one of us has a hospo background, this revelation was life-changing. One of the biggest lessons we’ve learnt is to never underestimate what other people will do to try to take you out. Behind some of those crocodile smiles are people sizing you up and checking you out. You’re competition and they don’t like it. After all, it’s business. One Friday afternoon, we had a visit from a council incident inspector warning us that we may be at risk of closure. He was following up on numerous complaints from another business on Ponsonby Road. Of course, he couldn’t disclose who it was, but the business had spent months and went to extravagant lengths to shut us down. Too bad for them though. We’d done our homework. www.theluckytaco.co.nz F PN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PHIL PARKER: WHOSE WINE IS IT ANYWAY?

Craggy Range’s Epic 2013 Vintage In 1986 North American billionaire Terry Peabody was tasked by his wife Mary, and daughter Mary-Jeanne, to start a winery after he had made his money in Canada and Australia. With the aid of renowned Kiwi viticulturist Steve Smith, he went on to develop Craggy Range - one of Hawke’s Bay’s premium red producers. Winemaker Matt Stafford gained experience in Marlborough, Australia and California before joining in 2006. Last week I attended the launch of Hawke’s Bay winery Craggy Range’s ‘Vintage of a Generation.’ There is a lot of excitement in the industry about the wines from the epic 2013 vintage twelve months ago. The combination of lower cropping (which increases fruit quality) combined with a dry and sunny extended ripening period right up to harvest time, allowed growers the rare option of picking when grapes were at optimal ripeness. The launch was held at the Auckland Observatory, with an impressive introductory video projected onto the Planetarium’s 360 degree overhead hemispherical screen.

STEPHANIE HARPER WINS $250 TO SPEND AT THE UNBAKERY The Localist has been asking Kiwis nationwide to share their love for their favourite café, bar or restaurant in the hopes of winning $250 to spend in their favourite. Last month, Auckland organic food lover, Stephanie Harper, was drawn as their winner and now has $250 to spend at The Unbakery Summer Street (Little Bird Organics), in Ponsonby. The Unbakery is fast becoming a popular choice of café on the Localist website and has been recommended numerous times already, so it is exciting for Localist to be able to support this local Ponsonby business through this competition. F PN

Now, to the wines. Interestingly, I had anticipated that the white wines would be big, bold and full of flavour, but they were surprisingly delicate and elegant (admittedly, the riesling and the sauvignon were from Martinborough - a cooler region). The reds on the other hand were more expressive of a hot, dry Hawke’s Bay summer. We had a guided wine tasting of the new white wines, plus barrel samples of the four red wines that are blended into what will be the flagship Craggy Range ‘Sophia’ Bordeauxstyle. And finally - a sneak preview of the 2013 Sophia blend (still in barrel). 2013 Te Muna Martinborough Riesling Floral aromas, with some tropical pineapple and crisp lime on the palate. A crisp mouth -watering finish with lengthy lemon squash flavours. 2013 Te Muna Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc Sweet ripe apricot and gooseberry aromas, with similar flavours plus guava and blackcurrant. Medium acidity makes this a very approachable sauvignon blanc. 2013 Kidnappers Vineyard Chardonnay Floral aromas with a palate of subtle citrus with hints of herbal and mineral flavours. 2013 Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay Toasty aromas with a whiff of lemon blossom. In the mouth - soft acids, stone fruit, quinine and a lengthy finish. Barrel Samples: 2013 ‘Sophia’ Gimblett Gravels Merlot Dusty aromas with pot pourri and spice. On the palate, ripe black berry fruit and chocolate with a hint of smoke and soft tannins. 2013 ‘Sophia’ Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon Again a hint of dust, plus black stone fruits, black currant and plum, with a dry finish. 2013 ‘Sophia’ Gimblett Gravels Petit Verdot Petit Verdot is a Bordeaux red grape which only ripens in a very good year and normally is blended with other varieties. Smoky aromas, with sweet fruit and high acidity. And finally... tad-dah! 2013 Gimblett Gravels ‘Sophia’ blend This will be a fabulous wine, even in its extreme youth it has the hallmarks of greatness. Aromas of spicy fruit cake and ripe blackberry fruit. Flavours of black fruit, almond, red plums and a hint of chocolate. Lengthy dry finish with youthful tannins. (PHIL PARKER) F PN Read Phil’s blog at nzwineblogger.blogspot.co.nz Phil Parker is a wine writer and operates Fine Wine & Food Tours in Auckland. www.insidertouring.co.nz

68 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY FROM WINEHOT MORNINGSIDE TO FRENCHÔT WAIHEKE Julien Le Quéré, Sommelier of the Year 2009, owned and operated Winehot in Morningside for eight years. It became very popular with locals and was voted Metro Best Bar/ Bistro in 2010. After being a Waiheke resident for three years the opportunity to set up in Surfdale was too good to miss. Frenchôt opened in January this year. The downstairs café serves delicious French pastries and baguette sandwiches cooked onsite daily as well as galettes (traditional savoury buckwheat pancakes from Brittany where Julien's family roots are) and sweet crepes; to be enjoyed on the rear deck or at the French kitchen table while the French chefs work around you. All menu items are matched well with Kokako coffee and freshly squeezed juices or French cider. The bistro upstairs opens from 6pm serving French provincial food including entrees designed to share such as pate de foie (chicken liver pate) and pork rillettes (country pork terrine) and mains of duck confit, steak frites and bouillabaisse. For the full menu check their Facebook page. Julien became well known at Winehot for his wine expertise and quirky wine list. The Frenchôt list offers an excellent selection of only French and Waiheke wines by the glass, PN bottle and half bottle carafe. F FRENCHÔT, 8 Miami Avenue Surfdale Oneroa Waiheke Island, T: 09 372 3400 www.facebook.com/frenchot

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

WHAT’S HOT AT SABATO MOTHER’S DAY DELIGHTS Breakfast in bed, sweet treats, beautiful kitchenware? We have everything you need to surprise and delight this Mother’s Day. For a special breakfast look no further than our range of French pastries - cinnamon swirls, raspberry and blueberry danishes, ready to bake - just pop in the oven and enjoy. Our croissants can be beautifully paired with one of Mrs Darlington’s traditional jams or curds, add some divine artisan butter and breakfast is served. For a savoury option some of our Salmon Man’s smoked salmon or some tasty sausages with delicious fresh bread and some of her favourite condiments would go down a treat. Spoil mum with scrumptious sweets for a guaranteed great gift. Luxurious Valrhona chocolate, mouth-watering Leone pastilles and fruit jellies, traditional nutty Italian nougat or fruity panforte would be perfect alongside a relaxing morning coffee.

FRESH FISH AND FAMILY FUN AT SEAFOOD CENTRAL New Zealand has 15,000 kilometres of coastline, so it’s no surprise most of us feel pretty connected to the sea and everything that comes out of it! But do we eat enough fish? Recent research from the University of Auckland confirms that New Zealand seafood is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids that are vital for maintaining our health. So next time you are downtown head to Auckland Fish Market, a transformation has happened, Seafood Central is the new business to prove that fresh is best. Sourcing fish direct from the morning’s auction, quality is guaranteed. The courtyard down there now houses a full family dining seafood restaurant, well priced and producing the classics we all love.

For a gift that lasts choose something from our stylish kitchenware range - elegant Laguiole cutlery or La Rochère glassware are perfect gift ideas. Gorgeous ceramics by Auckland designer Rachel Carley are every Mother’s dream… a bowl, platter, plate or vase in her favourite colour will be a valued possession for years to come.

$18-$21 gets you the seasonal special, snapper, tarakihi or salmon, and this is why Seafood Central is great because you get to choose how you like it cooked and with what sides.

New mother? Then look no further than our New Mother’s Kit - a helpful hamper full of specially selected easy to use ingredients and recipe ideas, perfect for new mums on the go.

There always seems to be action happening, live music on the weekend, a sandpit for the kids, it’s fully covered so rain or shine nothing can beat the laid back Kiwi vibe this place brings. Seafood is always special down here but they have just started a $14.50 express lunch menu and kids eat free Monday to Friday!

No matter what you are looking to gift this Mother’s Day we have something sure to suit PN - visit us instore or online and discover our beautiful range. F

There’s a rumour of a bouncy castle too... why not invite the whole family. F PN

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

SEAFOOD CENTRAL, 22 Jellicoe Street, Wynyard Quarter T: 09 303 0262 www.seafoodcentral.co.nz

70 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LAURAINE JACOBS: THE SEASONED PALATE

The Engine Room Natalia Schamroth and Carl Koppenhagen scoured the city for months to find a site for their restaurant, The Engine Room. They settled on an old post office building on Auckland’s North Shore, in Northcote, and have had continual demand for reservations since the day they opened in 2006. Eight years on the restaurant retains its place as the leading restaurant on the North Shore, and luckily it’s not much more than a stone’s throw from the harbour bridge. It’s ideal for a five minute trip from Ponsonby as long as you remember to take the extreme left lane crossing the ‘coathanger.’ Exit at Stafford Street, make two left turns and you are ready to enter this informal and bustling eatery, a place where diners feel really comfortable as there’s no fuss and no pretension. Carl Koppenhagen and Natalia Schamroth

Recent alterations, incorporating the eastern side of the building that previously housed offices, now give The Engine Room a respectable bar to meet over a drink before dining or to perch at a stool if you dine alone. Vast windows have been installed with views to the east, with long banquette seating underneath and in daylight hours the sun streams in. (You can get a stunning lunch here on Fridays only.) The former cosiness of one-room dining has been lost a little in the process, but who is complaining when there are more seats, less noise, a larger kitchen, flash new bathrooms and that bar. You won’t find food here that’s stitched up or unrecognisably played with, for as Natalia says, it’s about damn good honest food, cooked with heart and soul. The owners, both trained chefs, have worked together for many years and continue to travel frequently to draw from European and Asian influences for the inspiration for their menu. Their menu reeks of simplicity with dishes such as veal schnitzel, potato rosti, coleslaw and caper butter, tempura zucchini flowers with artichokes or the perfect steak with maitre d’hotel butter and frites. Reading through the menu, artfully chalked up on a large blackboard, diners might ponder The Engine Room’s food is rather reminiscent of good home-cooked food. But plates arrive, and it dawns that there’s no way any home cook could inject such flavour, such sophistication to make food this good. A year or two back The Engine Room Cookbook shared a raft of the best recipes cooked in the restaurant. It has become a classic on the food scene and contains many of the lovely dishes cooked every night. Most of The Engine Room’s recipes are traditional cooking with a surprising twist somewhere and the kitchen displays a terrific knowledge of the influences on what is emerging as a modern New Zealand style of cuisine. Don’t miss such playful Asian inspired dishes such as the utterly refreshing Thai prawn and watermelon salad, or a meaty, spicy Hoi An chook with coconut rice, papaya salad and tamarind. That blackboard menu changes regularly, but some dishes, like their untraditional but completely delicious churros con chocolat, the creamy twice-baked goat’s cheese soufflé, and a French country terrine with pickled cherries, have proved so popular they have remained since day one. To provide a seamless dining experience, Carl heads the kitchen while Natalia offers diners a warm welcome in front of house. They employ professional waiters who know their stuff and their wines. There are not many restaurants where you can find such treasured labels as Bell Hill, Millton or Pyramid Valley all on the same page. Look around for specials by the glass as this is a great place to check out hard to find wines listed by the glass. There’s also an interesting cocktail list, some very good sherry. Another admirable offering is a fine cheese selection limited to maybe three or four of the best cheeses available in the city. The large following from a loyal bunch of regulars is evidence of a successful restaurant that truly cares about its patrons. That’s exactly what The Engine Room is all about; delivering a surprisingly good experience that’s well ahead of most others in Auckland city, if not the whole country. Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner, Lunch Fridays only. PN (LAURAINE JACOBS) www.laurainejacobs.co.nz F

ANY PAGE IN PONSONBY NEWS IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE SEEN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

THE ENGINE ROOM, 115 Queen Street, Northcote Point T: 09 480 9592 www.engineroom.net.nz

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY THE LEGENDARY CALUZZI BAR & CABARET Legendary Caluzzi Bar & Cabaret is an unforgettable dining experience. From the moment you step foot off flamboyant K' Road and through the Caluzzi door the girls will serve you, entertain you and have you laughing until you cry. Enjoy New Zealand’s most awarded drag artistes in an interactive cabaret show - with fabulous food, dazzling costumes, DJ and disco (not to mention the impressive stilettos). We asked the ladies what they love about Ponsonby.

TARO; “Funky stores that sell stuff no one else does, Grand Central's jazz nights or yummy international cuisines from the Ponsonby International Foodcourt to fine dining. Something for everyone.”

KOLA; “Everything you could possibly want on one street, fabulous food, fashion and frolicking fun!”

LING; “Ponsonby to me means the great variety of diversity, from people watching to Sunday markets. There is always something to do along the length of this iconic road.”

ELIBRA; “Scampi linguini and watermelon martinis at SPQR.”

Caluzzi Bar and Cabaret, 461 Karangahape Road T: 09 357 0778 www.caluzzi.co.nz

KOLA

ELIBRA

TARO

LING

Iron Bar Head Chef Clemence Favard at work

72 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY CLEAR WATER PEAK THE NEW CONCEPT IN EATING OUT A dash of renovation, a brand new name and a stunningly innovative new menu - add these ingredients together and you have the all new Clear Water Peak. Clear Water Peak has been enthusiastically created by Jason and Mariann, the highly successful operators of what was formerly known as Landreth & Co. Under their professional and attentive management, Landreth & Co was awarded Best Café in Ponsonby in the Metro Magazine Café Awards 2012 and listed in Metro Magazine’s 50 Best Cafés 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Now with a freshly renovated front room and courtyard, and with on street dining, Clear Water Peak is the ideal spot to sit and enjoy the ambience of Ponsonby Road and to do a little ‘people-watching’ or perfect as a cosy retreat in the colder winter months. Jason and Mariann are confident that Clear Water Peak will become synonymous with the great coffee and friendly service they have been successfully providing to both Ponsonby locals and visitors to Ponsonby for the past decade. Drop by to enjoy Clear Water Peak’s caring and friendly hospitality and the sumptuous yet classic food combinations from the new menu. You are sure to want to come back again. Clear Water Peak is open seven days from 6.30am for breakfast and lunch and they are fully licensed. F PN CLEAR WATER PEAK, 272 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 7440 www.clearwaterpeak.co.nz

IRONBAR CAFÉ - THE WHOLE PACKAGE, IT JUST WORKS! Ironbar Café is vibrant and contemporary, where exceptional food is affordable for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s where customers become friends because people are valued. The garden themed setting is chic and the courtyard with the water feature is an oasis of calm away from the busy K’Road. “Our philosophy is best food, best value, best service,” says owner operator Michael King. French head chef Clemence Favard, is passionate and so versatile having worked in two and three Michelin Star restaurants in Paris, as well as catering for sheiks in the Gobi desert. She insists on making everything in house, her hollandaise sauce, macaroons and pork terrine are legendary. The food has a French Kiwi fusion with an Ironbar twist - healthy, nutritious and beautifully presented. Being environmentally conscious, they use Kokako Fair Trade Organic Coffee and their organic waste is recycled to the worm farm in the basement!

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Their professional yet informal service, warm smiles and friendly faces plus great food are what makes Ironbar Café so special. Their wines over deliver on price too. A Kiwi owned and operated cafe they prefer to choose a selection of Kiwi craft beers. They are incredibly versatile too, aside from the usual menu the chefs can produce a seven course degustation menu or cater for corporate functions for 400 staff. One customer says, “I hold meetings here at Ironbar Café, the whole package just works... staff from the kitchen to front of house work as a team to make customers feel PN special and the environment matches all of that... it just works. F IRONBAR CAFE, 150 Karangahape Road, T: 09 379 5933 www.ironbarcafe.com www.facebook.com/ironbarcafe

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY LETTER TO THE EDITOR Save the trees in the city! Yesterday, I was unpleasantly shocked to hear my 85-yearold pohutakawa is to be cut down as new owners want to make a double driveway.

FEIJOA CRUMBLE End your meal on a high (fibre) note with this delicious easy-to-make crumble. Serves 4. Hands-on time: 25 minutes. Cooking time: 25 minutes 600g feijoas (about 300g flesh) 2 teaspoons brown sugar 1/2 cup water

I am living in Arthur Street in Freemans Bay and I was only notified by the workman replacing footpaths on the street that my tree would be chopped down soon. Recently, the house was sold to new owners who do not take ownership until 1 July. This tree has been carefully worked around, while new power lines and street lights were put in... so as not to disturb the roots of the tree. The council said the tree couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be saved because there was no submission to protect it before 22 February, as the owners wanted to chop it down. No one knew it was in danger until yesterday. Simon and Sara, who live nearby in Pember Reeves Street, the new owners, have no conscience in saving this lovely tree which stately graces the street they obviously, appear to have no environmental or conservation awareness! Many neighbours are very distressed that the council offers no protection to an ancient tree and a petition is in progress to send to council and new owners. Why destroy a native tree for no reason? GLEN BRAYSHAW, Freemans Bay

Crumble topping 1/2 cup flour 3/4 cup rolled oats 50g reduced-fat spread 2 tablespoons coconut thread 1/2 lemon, zest only 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Step 1; Preheat oven to 180Â°C. Place feijoa flesh in a small saucepan with sugar and water. Bring to the boil, turn down heat and simmer for 20 minutes until liquid has reduced. Set aside to cool. Step 2; To make crumble, in a medium-sized bowl combine flour and oats. Rub in spread until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir through the remaining ingredients. Step 3; Divide warm feijoas among 4 ovenproof ramekins. Top with crumble and bake in oven for 25 minutes until starting to brown. Serve hot with reduced-fat ice cream or low-fat yoghurt NOTES + Nutrition profile: High fibre + Make it gluten-free: Replace flour with gluten-free baking mix and use gluten-free oats. + For people with coeliac disease oats are not recommended. Replace oats with quinoa flakes. Recipe: Rebecca Johnston Recipe reprinted from Healthy Food Guide magazine with permission from Healthy Life Media Ltd. Find a selection of distinctive, delicious fruit crumbles (e.g. using quinoa, couscous) in the May 2014 issue of Healthy Food Guide magazine ($5.90), on sale in supermarkets and bookstores or subscribe at www.healthyfood.co.nz F PN

74 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

TRAVEL BREAKS: THE NEW THERAPY!

SOUTH AMERICA TODAY by Chris Lyons, Director, World Journeys THE CONTRAST WITH 20 YEARS AGO IS UNBELIEVABLE! After visiting South America numerous times over many years, what strikes me most is how all aspects of travelling there have improved so dramatically. Flights now generally run on time and inflight service is very good. The hotels, vehicles, tour guides and dining options are now light years ahead of where they used to be. Furthermore, South America has never been more accessible to the Kiwi traveller, with daily flights from Auckland non-stop to Santiago in Chile offering connections all over the continent. Another bonus is that travelling on a New Zealand passport you don’t need any visas in advance! As specialists to the region, World Journeys probably send more visitors to South America from New Zealand than any other company - both as individuals and as organised groups. Most of the continent is best visited from April to October. This generally means excellent clear weather and little rain in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia with pleasant, less humid weather in Argentina and especially Brazil. However, if you plan to visit the southern region of Patagonia then October to March is best. I am often asked what my favourite places to visit in South America are and this is a tough question! Top of the list must be Ecuador, an extraordinary country of contrasts with the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands, a fascinating and vibrant Indian culture in the highlands and the wonders of the Amazon jungle. Other great Amazon experiences are also found in Peru and of course, Brazil. History abounds everywhere but especially in Peru, a treasure-house of amazing early Spanish architecture and the incredible Inca story found at places like amazing Machu Picchu (the lost city of the Incas). Colourful local culture is everywhere, as is beautiful scenery found in the Sacred Valley of the Incas or at Lake Titicaca, separating Peru from Bolivia and dominated by the impressive Andes mountain range.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Argentina is like visiting another totally different continent from the Andean countries! Elegant Buenos Aires; great food, wonderful wines, fantastic shopping (as their currency is weak at present) contrasts the planet’s mightiest waterfall at Iguazu and the vast expanses and fjords of patagonia. Northern Chile’s Atacama Desert is amongst the most wondrous places on Earth. This high arid plateau has amazing scenery and fabulous accommodation - go there - you will love it! Finally, one must mention Rio de Janeiro - there is no more beautiful setting on Earth and now a much safer city with a plummeting crime rate due to increased security in preparation for the Football World Cup this year and the Olympic Games in 2016. Great natural beauty, wonderful beaches, fantastic food and incredibly friendly people make this a place to spend several days. This year’s small group journey to South America takes in many of the highlights above. Give me a call to find out more - talking about South America is something of which I will never tire. F PN

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE

2 1. Frankie McMurtrie sent us this shot taken over at TAKAPUNA BEACH. 2. Sally James and Gerry Hill, owners of the Great Ponsonby Art Hotel emailed us this shot, “Having our last Fiji Gold at the Sofatel in FIJI after a week at Musket Cove.” 3. Locals John and Jenny Holmes of Freemans Bay checking out Ponsonby News in Megeve in the FRENCH ALPS recently. 4. Ross Thorby emailed this shot telling us, “Ponsonby News reaches the Horn - the whisky was a necessary accompaniment.”

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

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ROSS THORBY: SEA FEVER

I really should have paid more attention in geography class. It appears that Cape Horn is not really where I thought it was. According to our port lecturer, the tremendous mountain ranges we passed on the way to the Horn are a result of the Earth’s tectonic plates buckling and twisting. The power and magnitude of this upheaval is clearly evident in the scenery all along the coastline. Rugged and odd shaped pinnacles that reach ever higher towards the sky with flat slopes and snow-capped peaks. Huge mountain ranges challenging even the mighty Andes that we would see in a few days time. While hugging the shoreline, we passed the Beagle Channel, which divides the southern most point of South America and an archipelago of islands that lie at the bottom of the continent. Named after the ship that brought Charles Darwin to these waters, it would be our route later as we were to make our way to Ushuaia and the Pio Glacier, after rounding “The Horn”. But for now, we were in a race against a storm. Behind the ship was an ominous sky with forked lightning, striking both the earth and sea as it ripped through the rolling black clouds stirring up the sea behind us. The ship’s officers voicing their fear that the Horn would live up to its fearsome reputation by giving us a rough ride if we couldn’t beat the threatening tempest. Sailing around Cape Horn is considered by sailors to be the equivalent of tackling Mount Everest. Since first navigated in the 1400s, it has taken over 1,500 ships and 15,000 lives, and the area is inundated with the wrecks of these unfortunate ships. A beautiful sculpture of an albatross in silhouette by the famous Chilean sculptor, Jose Balcells, stands on a lonely peak at the Horn in memory of lost sailors, both past and possibly future.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

ROSS THORBY: SEA FEVER So who knew Cape Horn was actually an island? In fact it’s called Hornos Island. Bleak, rugged, completely treeless and only 500 miles from the Antarctic, it stands forlorn and severely battered by the “roaring forties, the furious fifties” and the aptly named “screaming sixties”. Winds so fierce that they are notorious for unexpectedly whipping up every sailor’s dread; a rogue wave. We arrived late in the afternoon just as the storm abated behind us leaving a flat and unusually calm sea. In the distance stood the loneliest house you could imagine connected to “The Lighthouse at the End of the World”. Each lighthouse keeper with his family is sent down here for a six month stint. They obviously are glad to see some human life for they all came out of the house and waved Chilean flags and played the Chilean national anthem on loud speakers as we approached. After one of the ship’s tenders was lowered and filled with officials and crew, we watched them cruise their way across to the small pier to fill out the copious amount of paperwork necessary for our passage. Then, accompanied by a pod of dolphins and a lone albatross, we slowly moved towards the far end of the island and around its point out into the open sea. During the next few hours as we cruised around the Horn, the captain occasionally spun the Queen Victoria 360 degrees on her axis, so that both sides of the ship could see all of the view... it was magic. After completing the circuit of Hornos Island, we sat below the lighthouse while all obligations satisfied the tender returned, also bearing the gift of a bottle of Chilean wine for the captain. She gave a final blast of the ship’s horn and we took our leave. The Cape Horn pilots on board claimed it was the calmest waters they had seen in a long time and even though we had stood out on deck shivering in the freezing temperatures most of the afternoon, we had to agree that we were blessed to have avoided the seas in full fury. Unsurprisingly, the rogue waves and fierce arctic winds synonymous with the Horn no longer sounded that appealing to me. We set sail and headed back north-east to the Beagle Channel and the Richmond Passage, passing lots of austere and uninhabited islands on the way. We finally entered the channel at 10.15pm during broad daylight for here there is sunlight for 17 hours a day at this time of year... Hmmm, sounds like an excuse for another Sundowner... Waiter! PN (ROSS THORBY) F

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

LANI LOPEZ: HEALTHY LIVING

Hair there and everywhere Personally I think bald is sexy but there you go, we all have different tastes. I know the crowning glory on Samson’s head is his superpower and Fabio wouldn’t be a romantic paperback cover boy if not for his hair (and abs). So how do we love our hair and keep it on our heads? Every day on the healthy scalp, a certain number of hairs reach the end of their existence and fall out, eventually being replaced in time by new hairs. Each follicle produces many hairs in the course of its lifetime, but sometimes the hairs gradually become finer and the hair producing quality of the follicle finally fails. This may be due to hormones, aging, an eczematous condition of the scalp, or dandruff and to a certain extent it may be hereditary. Some diseases may cause partial loss of hair and prolonged anxiety or nervous shock are known to be responsible. In addition other factors may include poor scalp circulation, acute illness, surgery, radiation exposure, skin disease, sudden weight loss, high fever, iron deficiency, diabetes, thyroid disease, drugs such as those used in chemotherapy, stress, poor diet and vitamin deficiencies. If you are losing large amounts of hair, see a health professional. What to do? I’m going to concentrate on nutrition for your hair. An unrefined, whole-food diet is best. Therapeutic foods rich in silica can support good hair. Eat alfalfa, nettles, onions, kelp and whole grains, seeds, nuts, oats, buckwheat, barley, sesame seeds, rye, millet, rice, goat milk as yogurt or kefir, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, brewer’s yeast and wheat germ. Include four cups of vegetables daily, especially green leafy vegetables. Teas power up hair. Steep oat straw and nettle tea for 10 minutes then drink every day. Spinach, carrot, red beet and alfalfa with a little onion juice are excellent salad combos. Dandruff, psoriasis and eczema can reduce hair growth. Use apple cider vinegar and sage tea as a rinse to help hair grow. Ten drops of rosemary essential oil diluted with a base oil 100ml of (olive, coconut, jojoba, almond, apricot) and deeply massaged into scalp three times weekly helps stimulate hair growth. Chlorophyll is the green colour from plants. Taken internally (see your local health store) it acts as gentle detoxifier to stimulate hair growth. Take spirulina, 6 tablets or 1 - 3 tsp daily to help provide micronutrients needed for healthy hair, skin and nails. Fish, flax and evening primrose oil taken internally improves dry, and brittle hair hair texture. Boost micronutrients with a high dose vitamin B supplements. To stimulate blood purifying, immunity and circulation red clover, ginkgo and echinacea work well or see a naturopath or herbalist for your individual prescription. Biochemic tissue cell salts such as Nat Mur and Kali Sulph; help with lose of hair daily and bald spots. or scaling and sticky dandruff. Silica, when the hair lacks lustre is a valuable internal conditioner or Kali Pho - is for hair loss due to nervousness. Other suggestions: Avoid rough treatment. Do not brush or fine tooth comb whilst hair is wet. Finger dry hair and pat gently with a towel. Do not use a blow dryer or any other heated appliances to your hair as this weakens hair. Avoid chemical hair treatments unless prescribed for PN alopecia. Use shampoos prescribed by hairdressers. (LANI LOPEZ) F New Zealand’s favourite naturopath, clinical nutritionist and health expert, Lani makes natural health easy to follow to inspire and encourage us all in a life of wellness. Follow Lani Lopez Naturopath on Facebook www.facebook.com/lani.lopez1 and twitter.

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

New space and a new face: Mollie’s Spa I’ve been a fan of the spa at Mollie’s boutique hotel on Tweed Street since it first opened many years ago with East Day Spa’s name and founder Ina Bajaj at its helm. It was an absolute favourite of mine straight away due to its great therapists and delicious treatment menu. I loved the fact that its location meant free, and easy, parking and absolute discretion. You can leave that place without the slimmest chance of bumping into a workmate or acquaintance, which is always the last thing you want to happen when you’ve just had a spray tan or facial! Since Ina and her staff moved on the spa has been under a few new managers, but hands down my favourite is the new owner, Bianka Seputich. Bianka has overseen the spa’s move to an airy, upstairs location flooded with natural light, and the popular St Mary’s bay beauty destination is now even more of a haven than ever before. Now discreetly located on the top floor of the boutique hotel, it offers a full suite of spa services and relaxation treatments in a seriously serene and tranquil setting. Internationally awarded therapist Bianka has been at Mollie’s for a little while, but didn’t take the helm of the spa until October last year when ex-owner Sam left the property and the then-spa manager took the step to full ownership.

BREAK THROUGH PRODUCT SOLVES 'ROOT' PROBLEM Anyone who colours their hair will be only too familiar with the challenge of regrowth, or greys that peek out before their owner’s next salon appointment. The solution is here and it costs a mere $49.90 at selected Farmers stores (or at Pricewise in Ponsonby). Color Wow has hit the market in New Zealand. It's a mineral powder that covers greys and regrowth - including making dark roots look blonde - instantly, blending seamlessly until you wash it out. Available in six shades, Color Wow mineral powder has many different pigments in each shade so that it looks natural, and reflective particles so that hair shines just like your own. It's intended to keep your colourist’s work looking perfect until you return for your next appointment. Wax-free, dye-free and ammonia-free, the formula is ideal for use by pregnant women. Color Wow Root Cover Up powder is not tested on animals and contains no animal-derived ingredients. It won’t rub or blow off like other products, nor come off on your pillow. Color Wow comes in a neat little kit which includes a dual-tipped brush to allow for customised, precise application. Unsurprisingly, Color Wow has racked up numerous beauty awards since it was launched in the United States, including Womenswear Daily's Product of the Year 2013 and Allure’s Best of Beauty ‘Best Beauty Breakthrough’ 2013. Tested and approved by Ponsonby News! www.colorwowhair.com F PN

With over 13 years experience in the business both here and internationally, as well as several managerial roles under her belt, the vivacious brunette felt it was the right time for her to take the next step. Awarded the title of ‘Best Spa Therapist in Australia’ early in her career, Bianka brings a natural, holistic approach to her work and specialises in customised treatments to nurture and nourish the skin, and promote inner calm, wellbeing and beauty. She largely works around the concept of ‘Mollie’s time’ - pockets of time booked by individual clients where any need can be met. You are essentially buying dedicated treatment time of 1 hour, 1.5 hours, 2 hours or - if you’re very lucky - more, during which you and your therapist will determine what you need most on the day. This could include a traditional massage or specialised facial, tinting, waxing, tanning, manicure, pedicure and other packages, which can be further customised to suit your individual needs at the time of your appointment. It can be a combination of all or some of the items on the menu and means you are never left alone, being looked after from top to toe for true relaxation and value for money. I for one can vouch for Bianka’s healing hands after having some ‘Mollie’s time’ with her a little while back that included a facial and massage. I can also highly recommend her skills with a gun - a spray tanning gun, that is - and have been a repeat appointment booker for her great St Tropez tans, which are amongst the most natural looking in the business. Her product line up includes high performance brands like Osmosis and the aforementioned St Tropez, and she is soon to add a hot oil scalp treatment and gel manicures and pedicures to the mix. She’s also keen to grow her male clientele, saying, “It is so important for men to take an hour or two for themselves to relax and have some grooming done at the same time. I just love seeing people leave the spa looking and PN feeling like they have really had some ‘me time’, it really makes me happy!” F www.mollies.co.nz

80 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

JOHN APPLETON: ON HEALTH

CANDIDA; The 20th Century Disease Many people think of candida as a simple infection that can be addressed and resolved with a tube of topical fungicide. For women ‘thrush’ is by far the most common manifestation of candida (full name candida albicans) but there is a lot more that we should know about this simple ‘yeast’ if we wish to do more than simply treat the symptoms of what has been dubbed “The 20th century disease” . Candida albicans should not be brushed off as a minor women’s ailment. This little ‘plant’ is capable of causing a wide range of symptoms and it is able to mimic many symptoms of allergy as well as cause allergic reactions. Researchers now believe that successful containment of candida may hold the key to control of allergies, particularly those related to chemicals in our food, water and air. First we need to understand a little more about candida, what it is and why it can be so damaging to our overall health. Yeasts which are related to moulds and fungi are small plants that flourish in a moist warm and dark environment. Such places are abundant in the human body; the crevices in the mucous membranes that line the wall of our intestines make a perfect home for candida. Candida is so much at ‘home’ in our intestines that it is thought that 95% plus of human beings are host to it, although many of us are not aware of it. It is only when there is prolific growth of candida that symptoms manifest and necessitate a visit to the doctor or pharmacy. Like all plants, yeasts have a root system with a stem and foliage on top. The fertile soils for the roots of the candida ‘plant’ are the mucous membranes of the body. Imagine candida plants like a forest on the walls of our intestines. This is perhaps where the similarities with other plants end. Plants use their roots to draw nutrients up from the soil to feed the branches leaves and flowers, releasing the waste products of their metabolism in the atmosphere. It’s good news for us that the major waste product is oxygen. Candida albicans works in reverse. Nutrients extracted from our intestines are taken in through the foliage and waste products and released out through the roots. The food of choice for candida is sugar and white flour which are found in abundance in the typical western diet. When either of these come into contact with candida yeasts, enzymes in the foliage convert them to the chemicals they need to sustain themselves.

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Unfortunately for us, the waste product of this process is a very toxic chemical called acetaldehyde which is a narcotic of the alcohol family. It would perhaps be ok for us if the acetaldehyde were eliminated via our digestive tract but it isn’t. Instead, via the root system of the candida ‘plants’, it is released into the mucous membranes which are richly supplied with blood vessels and thus it soon it finds its way into the bloodstream and causes major problems in the body. Candida roots can also cause cracks in the walls of our digestive tract in much the same way as roots from trees crack pavements. These cracks allow partially digested food particles to enter the bloodstream and thus we can end up with what is known as ‘leaky gut syndrome’ which is often found to be responsible for digestive disorders, allergies, food intolerances and chemical sensitivities. So how do we become infected with candida? Most often we are born with candida, contracting it from our mothers as we pass through the birth canal and literally scoop up mouthfuls of candida ‘plants’ with the bottom lip. The candida in baby’s mouth is then pushed down to the intestine with its first few mouthfuls of milk. The degree of discomfort a baby (and adults) experiences from the candida infection is determined by the size of the colony in the intestines. Although the colony may be small at birth and there may be few if any symptoms it can grow as time goes by, especially if the diet is high in sugar and white flour. The formulas that babies are given in lieu of mother’s milk are often high in sugar content and can instigate the growth from a small colony into a troublesome large colony. A large candida colony can grow on the walls of the digestive tract all the way from the mouth to the rectum. It’s not only women who suffer from candida overgrowth; males get it too. In ideal circumstances, candida resides harmlessly in the body, kept in check by our immune system and by ‘friendly’ bacteria living alongside it. Change this delicate balance and we are in trouble. For teens and adults problems begin with poor dietary habits and the use of antibiotics. Our western diet is high in refined carbohydrates and white flour products that are converted to sugar soon after ingestion. This as I have mentioned above is the preferred food for candida.

In her book ‘Candida, A Twentieth Century Disease’, Shirley S. Lorenzani, Ph.D. reveals “that before antibiotics were introduced in 1947, only 1 out of 4 vaginal infections was due to candida albicans. Today, candida is the cause of nine out of 10 infections.” Dr Christiane Northrup author of ‘Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom’ states that “in the last decade, while the percentage of women has increased by only 13 percent, the number of antifungal prescriptions for women has increased by 53 percent.” It’s not just use of antibiotics prescribed by doctors. We ingest antibiotics in many ways without knowing it by eating meat from animals, such as beef, chicken and farmed salmon which are fed antibiotics not only if they get sick but to prevent them from getting sick. We pay the price for this in many ways. The problem with antibiotics is that they are mostly non -specific. i.e., they kill off anything and everything, 75% of all bacteria, ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ The resulting incidental destruction of ‘beneficial bacteria,’ which would otherwise limit growth of undesirable organisms such as candida (‘yeast’) allows it to take over and proliferate. I read recently that one cup of coffee can kill 70% plus of the beneficial bacteria in the gut. What can we do about candida? The first thing we need to understand is that in order to get on top of candida we must be willing to take some responsibility for the condition and implement a dietary regime that will provide a less accommodating environment for it. Don’t expect your doctor to provide a quick fix solution. There isn’t one. Please draw your own conclusions after contemplating the effect of the radically health impeding, processed, refined, de-natured chemicalised, over sweetened diet that most of us are consuming. How can anyone expect a body and mind to function well when it is so completely out of tune with its natural requirements? PN (JOHN APPLETON) F APPLETON ASSOCIATES, T: 09 489 9362

john@johnappleton.co.nz www.johnappleton.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

UP CLOSE CARING AND PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL Usha Narshai, Grey Lynn Dental USHA NARSHAI HAS PRACTICED DENTISTRY FOR MORE THAN 21 YEARS. SHE HAS lived in Auckland all her life apart from her dental training years in Dunedin. Usha’s boutique practice is in the heart of Grey Lynn. She is married with two children. How did you come to be a dentist? You could say that I’ve been in dentistry my whole life! My dad was a dentist in Grey Lynn for many, many years. I used to assist him in my school holidays and this is where my passion for dentistry and patient care started. What do you love about your job? I love working with people. It is rewarding when you are able to make a positive difference to someone’s health and well-being. I love that my job does not feel like a job at all! What do you find challenging? My biggest challenge is finding enough time in the day to do everything I want to do. Having a solid support network around me enables me to achieve a work-life balance. What do you do to stay at the top of your field? I am committed to continual education and learning so I can offer the best treatment options to my patients. An important part of this is regularly attending local and international dental lectures and conventions to stay informed of the latest techniques, products and technologies available. I am an active member of the New Zealand Dental Association. Can you tell us about a ‘standout’ case? In 21 years of practice, there have been so many standout cases, all of which are unique in their own way. However, for me, the common theme is that I have made a significant positive difference in the patient’s oral well-being. What do you do to care for yourself? I need to be very focused and organised. I start every day with exercise and consciously make time for myself, my family and friends.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

What is your advice to people seeking dental treatment? Visit your dentist regularly to ensure you maintain optimal oral health and be proactive in PN your approach to looking after your teeth and gums. Help me to help you! F GREY LYNN DENTAL, 11 Selbourne Street, Grey Lynn T: 09 376 6458 www.greylynndental.co.nz

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

LIVING, THINKING + BEING AROHA HEALING SACRED FEMININE RETREAT - JUNE 20-22 WE BEGIN THE RETREAT AT 6PM ON THE FRIDAY EVENING. WOULD YOU LIKE TO FEEL more grounded, balanced and sensual, whilst connecting with like minded women wanting to feel the same? Practitioners at Aroha Healing are passionate and skilled at healing, educating and empowering women. The team have found that many women have become masters at giving. Giving of their energy, love and leaving very little energy or time for their own self nurturing, healing, time out and receiving of love. Women can often feel guilty about doing just that. Aside from amazing healing and massage work, Aroha Healing have designed a nature workshop that reawakens and reignites the goddess within. Rosanna will be teaching a fusion of two ancient spiritual modalities designed to empower, heal and free the feminine form. Frances Miller-Roza will run a Sunday morning tantric yoga class for participants. During the Sacred Feminine workshop you will learn ancient tantric philosophy; chakras, mudra, body awareness, sisterhood, honouring, healing yoga and simple beautiful bellydance movements including rituals that reflect the tantric philosophies. You will be immersed in peace and the beauty of nature, and be treated to delicious vegetarian food, as well as a sauna and an outdoor spa. This workshop is for every woman; age, size or shape wishing to awaken and learn the sacred ancient secrets of feminine vitality, movement and expression. With her background in presenting, bodywork, healing, bellydance and tantra philosophies, Rosanna Marks will be facilitating her Sacred Feminine workshop at Aio Wira retreat centre near Bethells Beach this month, beginning on Friday evening June 20 until Sunday afternoon June 22. For more information about Aroha Healingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sacred Feminine Retreat please contact Rosanna directly at 0800MINDBODY or email info@arohahealing.co.nz. To read more about Aroha Healingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workshops and retreats visit www.arohahealing.co.nz F PN

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

MICHELLE OWEN: POSTURE TO PERFORMANCE

Stretching scientifically is a key to muscle balance! THERE’S NOTHING WORSE THAN TIGHTNESS AND RESTRICTION IN PARTICULAR AREAS of our bodies. This is common with people working long hours at desks but even more common the more active and athletic we are. Stretching can be an amazing tool to keep bodies feeling loose, free, connected and stop us getting old before our time. You will notice animals naturally stretching; dogs and cats both stretch on rising. Stretching scientifically is the wise approach to getting great results. To understand more let me explain the differences in our muscular system. We have two different types of muscle: tonic muscles and phasic muscles. Tonic muscles These are slow twitch fibre dominant and more postural, stability or endurance based. They are more inclined to shorten and tighten under faulty loading or incorrect positions. For example, certain neck muscles that are tonic in nature get short and tight! When this happens they can pull on spinal vertebrae, block nerves that supply the arms, create headaches or just make us feel mildly or chronically uncomfortable. Phasic muscles By contrast, phasic muscles have a tendency to weaken and lengthen. They are more fast twitch dominant and respond to more explosive style training. Abdominal muscles are predominantly phasic. Tight muscles can pull joints out of their optimal position and create a lot of pain and discomfort. Weak long muscles can also allow this to happen. This destabilises joint structures throughout the body. Targeted stretching Stretching everything does not make any sense. Identifying only the tight muscles is valuable for long-term structural health and a key factor of getting out of pain. Then you can learn to be very specific and powerful with your stretching. When you only stretch the tight muscles, this helps to creates an optimal postural position within the body the correct resting position of the joints is essential alongside strengthening opposing weak musculature. Muscles can also become tighter on one side of the body. This rotates the spine, pelvis and trunk, causing pain and dysfunction in many areas such as back, neck and all joints. Have a look in the mirror and see if you have one shoulder sitting higher than the other. This causes a scoliosis, which is a lateral or sideways pulling of the neck or spine. This happens throughout the body and once again stretching evenly side to side will not change this muscle imbalance Let us use the example of a hamstring. A hamstring should be aproximately 170 to 180 degrees: if it measures 130 degrees it is short and tight, and needs stretching. However, if it is 180 degrees it needs strengthening. To stretch muscles that are already too long will make the body weak and distort it more. Often muscles tighten up because of lack of stability within the postural system (foundation) - just because they are tight does not mean they should be stretched, it means they should be assessed to find out what is needed. A postural and orthopedic assessment is a scientific measuring of the whole body to know exactly what is needed. If you don’t assess then you guess. An educated scientific approach is definitely the key to getting your body better for the long term. For longevity it is important to find out what specific muscles to stretch to correct your body’s structure, eliminate pain and increase the health of joints. (MICHELLE OWEN) F PN www.michelleowen.co.nz www.fitness-n-function.co.nz The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

CLARE CALDWELL: THE ART OF LIVING I WAS WALKING FROM HOME TO OUR LOCAL SHOPS YESTERDAY - completely lost in thought - and 20 minutes later arrived without any conscious realisation of my journey! Not only that, my thoughts had been consumed with negativity and malice. I’d been running a movie of a hypothetical scenario in my head that hadn’t even happened and had experienced all the indignation, anger and sense of martyrdom accordingly. It was a beautiful sunny day and I’d totally failed to be present enough to enjoy the sensation of warmth on my face, the rustling and chirping of birds in the surrounding trees or the sweet musty smell of heat on the earth. Instead I’d been locked into my head, my body tense and contracted with the malevolence of my thinking. I’d become the product of my ‘thinking’ rather than my ‘being’. And that ‘thinking’ I realised, was a step back to a behavioural pattern from my past, where I’m the ‘one who is wronged’, where I’m re-enacting a sense of tragic martyrdom with all its attached drama and emotions, empowering that negativity with enormous pain and a sense of moral superiority. In other words, being the victim. It’s a pattern of behaviour I have adhered to unconsciously for years, fuelling it with my stoicism and personal tragedies, expressing it all in my artwork. Thankfully it was also accompanied by a desire for transcendence of this state, also expressed in my artwork. By objectifying this behavioural pattern and noticing it is one, I don’t identify with so often now, and is of course throwing some consciousness around it. How do we get so caught up in these all-encompassing thought processes, the shouting, justifying voices in our heads, to the exclusion of any tranquil enjoyment of the present? In his book ‘A New Earth’ Eckhart Tolle talks about this duality of ‘thinking’ and ‘being’ and ways to deal with the wily manipulations of our egoic thought constructs. If we’re constantly reacting to and emotionally fuelling a situation, we’re feeding the addiction of what he calls the ‘pain body’ which thrives on negativity, drama and martyrdom. If we’re fully present in the moment, not thinking of the past or the future, this pain body is starved. By practising non-reaction and non-attachment to situations and outcomes we can move towards the expanded consciousness of pure ‘being’. Maybe we need to contemplate, with Easter only just past, why for many of us the image of the crucified Christ is so powerful. Why does something deep within us resonate with this image? I believe it is because it is an outer representation of an inner reality we all carry as part of our human condition. It represents both the individual and collective pain body. The crucified Christ can be seen as “the archetypal human, embodying both the pain and the possibility of transcendence.” Eckhart Tolle. (CLARE CALDWELL) F PN Clare (Claudie) Caldwell is a creative arts therapist who runs a small private practice from home. She is voluntary team leader of creative arts as therapy at Mercy Hospice Auckland, College Hill, where she has worked for the last 10 years. She is also a freelance artist. Enquiries: T: 09 836 3618; M: 021 293 3171; E: clare.e.caldwell@gmail.com

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BIRD OF THE MONTH The kakapo is perhaps our most well-known endangered bird. It is the poster child for conservation in New Zealand due to severely low numbers. While it is not the most threatened species our country is home to, it is one of the most visible and marketable. This has led to an incredibly successful, albeit slow, conservation breeding programme. At present there are only 130 kakapo. They are kept on a small number of predator free offshore islands with work being done to create a safe and sustainable mainland environment in Fiordland. The kakapo is a large and unwieldy bird: a species of flightless parrot, one that is ground-dwelling, nocturnal and thoroughly rotund. Due to the lack of predators in New Zealand pre-human colonisation, the kakapo evolved to occupy the ground floor of forests in a unique way for a parrot. It is the heaviest parrot by a long shot and has evolved with superb camouflage and a ‘freezing’ technique to avoid predation. The main predators for ground-based birds were birds of prey that relied on sight and so kakapo evolved to freeze to avoid detection. Mammalian predators hunt using scent and smell and so this made the kakapo easy prey for mustelids, cats and dogs. They were so large and slow (and being unable to fly) that they were also easy prey for early colonisers, for food and for their feathers. Kakapo are extremely long-lived, often living to 95 and older. They are an extremely friendly bird, often taken as pets in the 1800s, and can act more like a dog than a bird! Sirocco, the official representative for kakapo conservation, is a worldwide sensation for his overfriendly attitude to a zoologist. This YouTube video provides an interesting take on the numerous different calls of the kakapo, including the usual ‘skraak’ associated with parrots. Perhaps the most interesting sound that kakapo make is their trademark ‘boom’. During breeding season males dig a depression in the ground which amplifies these calls, a subsonic boom that can be heard several kilometres away. In the 1970s it was believed only 18 kakapo survived, all males and all in Fiordland. In 1977 a small population of males and females was found on Stewart Island and since then a group of staff from the Department of Conservation have had the task of ensuring the kakapo’s survival and growth. These workers have been supported by volunteers from New Zealand and overseas who provide extra help for the kakapo. This is especially relevant during the precious and infrequent breeding seasons. The Kakapo Recovery Programme aims to establish at least two managed populations, plus a self-sustaining population of kakapo, with 50 breeding females in each. At present populations on the three offshore islands are reliant on the input of volunteers and scientists. Kakapo have the lowest rates of reproduction among birds worldwide. They only breed in years when trees mast (I discussed this last month regarding the yellowhead). This is when trees fruit heavily, providing plentiful food for raising young. Rimu masts only occur every three to five years and so in the rimu dominant forests that kakapo inhabit, breeding occurs infrequently. This results in bumper seasons where the population spikes and then long periods of stagnation. Unfortunately kakapo are not an easy species for the general public to see. They are within touching distance on Little Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf but this is closed to the public. Keep an eye out when Sirocco is on a tour of the country - I was lucky enough to see him last time they came to Auckland and it was a wonderful experience. PN (FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT) F

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

HOROSCOPES: MISS PEARL NECLIS

What your stars hold this month ♉ Taurus (the Bull): 21 April - 21 May

You should just go along with things rather than trying to do it your way, your time can be used more effectively this way. Supporting those who need you the most will give you true satisfaction.

♏

Scorpio (the Scorpion): 24 October - 22 November You feel like you have reached the end of your line somehow and you’re not sure which direction to go. Don’t worry, you’ve reached this far in life treading the same path and have made a success of it so far.

♊

♐ Sagittarius (the Archer): 23 November - 22 December

♋

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

Gemini (the Twins): 22 May - 21 June You might be brimming with ideas and are always putting something new forward but occasionally you can miss out something important that can spoil the whole project. We know you’re eager and keen to please but slow down and think things through first.

Cancer (the Crab): 22 June - 22 July You still feel like you’re walking around with the weight of the world on your shoulders and you don’t have the strength to carry another load. Fear not, there is always something or someone just around the corner to help you out and give you a little boost, which usually gets you through.

♌

Leo (the Lion): 23 July - 21 August If there is something blocking you from completing certain tasks, you need to search inside and find out what it is. You can have sudden bursts of energy where you hope to accomplish more than you can manage and then you feel like you’ve been let down when nothing has been completed.

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

If things go wrong in your life, and they occasionally will, show how far you’ve come by taking charge and by knocking down any walls that are in your way. Even if your efforts are thwarted by someone else, don’t take it personally.

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

You have always been the one who has had trouble keeping secrets, even if you think you have kept one; inevitably someone somewhere will know it. Don’t worry if you’re not always kept abreast of what’s going on, because when you do become aware any problems have usually been solved.

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Don’t let yourself become overwhelmed by other people and their problems, you’re becoming a bit of a magnet and a lot of friends know they can unburden themselves on you. If you feel the need to say something, then do, you have nothing to lose.

Just because you work hard doesn’t mean that you’re the only one doing anything, behind the scenes how do you think your life comes together? There’s going to be a time this month where you will need something, don’t act superior now.

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

You’re a natural at taking care of those you love, and this month you might find yourself in demand emotionally. But you could also be faced with some problems of your own and may find it hard to talk or unburden yourself emotionally as you’re so used to listening to other people.

♓ Pisces (the Fish): 20 February - 20 March

Try not to stress if everything isn’t as rosy as it should be in your relationship this month, there is something around the corner that will bring everything back to a normal level. But you must not let how you’re feeling dictate how you project yourself.

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

An uncomfortable situation will present itself this month and the best course you can take is to not sidestep any problems but to face them head on. Any hurdles you have to jump will be well worth it in the long run.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

SHEENA SHUVANI STARDUST ASTROLOGY

♉

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Element of earth. Symbol: Bull Quality: Fixed = stability

Planetary Ruler: Venus Character Sexy, stable, deliberate and determined. Purposeful routine is enjoyed by you. You are admired for your strength and commitment, and respected for your dependability. You love your home. It’s your castle of comfort with furniture chosen for beauty and endurance. Stubborn at times, your preference is for consistency. You dislike change. You are magnetic, grounded, civilised and sensual. Career Gutsy, robust Taurus, you love to own your own business. You love to be calmly busy and have a good grip on your work ethos. Delegating, fax-sending, memo-issuing, you are grounded and at home in the corporate world, in politics, in the army, among farmers, florists, landscape gardeners, motel owners, hoteliers, and show business people. You love to be admired and respected for doing things right and well. Taureans make good doctors, natural healers and excel at massage (therapeutic and erotic) and banking. You have a healthy respect for money accountability. Taureans make good land owners, estate managers, gym coaches, and house sitters. Valued for contributing in government also.

GRAYSON COUTTS AND YOSHI Grayson Coutts is a freelace makeup artist with a private studio in Ponsonby. He’s had his Samoyed, Yoshi - now four and a half years old - since Yoshi was eight weeks old. “He flew up from Wellington and I met him at the airport.” Grayson tells us. “My favourite thing about him was that his paws were too big and he kept tripping over them.” How did you come to choose Yoshi? I've always had a (minor) obsession with polar bears and Yoshi is the closest I could legally get to owning one. How did Yoshi get his name? There's a very merry dinosaur in Super Mario with the same name who always has his tongue out, ready to slurp something up. The first time I met Yoshi he had his massive tongue lolling out the side in a big grin and when I picked him up he licked me. I thought it was perfect.

Some eminent and well known Taureans: Queen Elizabeth II of England, Tony Blair, Posh Spice and David Beckham (of Beckingham Palace).

What is your favourite thing to do together? He loves playing rugby or soccer at the park, meeting friends for lunch or hanging out at the studio when I have clients. Really he just wants to be present and feel involved. He has a Facebook page (Yoshi Bear) where he posts about his musings and adventures.

Love and sexuality Sexually magnetic, flirtatious, and lusty. Taurus, you look good, smell nice and touch is you forté. Taureans have a confidence that springs from their deep secret self-belief that they are the genuine spunks of the Zodiac!

Does Yoshi have any friends? He's very popular at the park. In fact he still keeps in touch with the first dog he ever met - a black version of himself (half Samoyed, half black lab). It's like salt and pepper and it's adorable to watch them together.

Taurus, your deepest desire is for a love slave to bask in the heat of your full-on steady loving libido! Taureans can be self indulgent when it comes to food, wine, and sex. But the practical Taurean sees the advantages of marriage, home life and children, and generally becomes a loving parent. Taureans have a natural affinity with earth and water signs.

What does Yoshi like to eat? He eats mostly fish and veggies but I cannot order sushi without giving him a piece or I'll get an earful. I often stop by Tokyo Club in Ponsonby Central and the owner always brings him a piece of sashimi! F PN

Past directions and traits to improve Taurus has been known to be a bit of a tyrant at work; they are stubborn, inflexible, uncompromising. At home, luxury loving and lazily lounging about on your couch, overindulging at times in food, wine and sex...

GRAYSON COUTTS FREELANCE MAKEUP ARTIST, 29 Kelmarna Avenue, Ponsonby T: 021 907 988 www.graysoncoutts.com

Helpful advice Green fingered Taurus loves to garden, so fill your home with greenery and surround yourself with plants and fresh flowers. Taureans have excellent taste in fabrics and décor and are often artistically talented. Buy paints, brushes and canvases and hang your own art on your walls. Your lucky number According to Cheiro, the world’s most famous seer, the date of the day of your birth is your most lucky of numbers. (SHEENA SHUVANI) F PN

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS ASK ALEX Each month Dr Alex Melrose answers readers’ pet related questions. Email yours to: alex@vetcare.net.nz As I watch the temperature drop steadily, I have started to think about the oncoming season when snuffles turn up, for both humans and our pets. I’ve spoken to the dog owners that make up my black poodle Prince’s gang down at Grey Lynn Park, and they’ve spoken of cases of kennel cough turning up already. We don’t use kennels or day-care for Prince, so I’m not sure if I should go into high alert to minimise the risk to my dog. What do you guys think? Kind regards, Steph.

Q: A:

Firstly, if your little one has been sneezing or coughing or seems a little low, pop into your vet to be on the safe side for us to have a good listen to his chest, and check temperature, throat and lymph nodes.

Antibiotics are useful in reducing the severity of any symptoms and preventing extension of the infection to the chest. Kennel cough, or now more accurately ‘canine cough’, is highly contagious and we also always ask that any dog that has been coughing or sneezing not socialise until they have been cough free for three days, the enforced rest also helps with recovery. SPCA has many cats and kittens in need of a forever home. Having a cat to welcome you home can help lift your mood - isn’t that worth adopting a beautiful cat?

The name change to canine cough is to demonstrate that dogs that live a social life are quite capable of catching and potentially spreading the illness without first attending a kennel. I wouldn’t start cutting back on your dog’s social life as the benefit to him from the exercise and mental stimulation far outweighs the small risk of this infectious disease. We do however recommend vaccines for all socially interactive dogs, so that is the first thing I would do for Prince. Whilst the vaccinations are not 100% effective in blocking the complicated mixture of 20 bacteria and viruses that cause the disease, they go a long way in protecting against, and reducing, its severity. It’s a safe way of helping Prince continue his fun and games while remaining bug free. (Dr Alex Melrose, BVSC MRCVS) VETCARE GREY LYNN, 408 Great North Road T: 09 361 3500 www.vetcare.net.nz F PN

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

GIVE SOME TLC THIS MOTHER’S DAY NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST RADIO STATION Take the time to give your mum the gift of TLC this Mother’s Day and what better gift to give than one that makes a real difference to Auckland’s animals? When you gift some SPCA TLC, you pick an animal to help; a dog, a cat, a rabbit or a farm animal - then choose a gift to help them, such as a warm bed for the night, a rescue call-out from an inspector or medical treatment in the SPCA animal hospital. You’ll receive a gift card explaining how your gift has helped your mum’s favourite animal. You can choose to have it emailed direct to your mum on Mother’s Day, or you can email it to yourself to print at home. And if you’d like to make your gift extra special for mum, get a cuddly SPCA-branded cat, dog or horse soft toy and a special printed card to thank her for being amazing. When she receives your TLC gift, your mum will know she’s made a real difference to an animal in need. Visit www.givesometlc.org.nz to give the gift of TLC to your mum and to Auckland’s animals. Or, if you’re after a gift you can enjoy as well, treat mum to an Entertainment Book a local restaurant and activity guide full of valuable offers from the finest restaurants, activities and hotels in Auckland. It’s the perfect gift if your mum likes to get out and about, and it’s the gift she (and you) can enjoy all year. Plus, 20% of all proceeds gets donated to SPCA Auckland - so you PN can get great offers while helping Auckland’s animals. F

FOR DOGS LAUNCHED LAST MONTH Dogs and their owners can tune into New Zealand’s first FM radio station especially for dogs: K9FM brought to you by PEDIGREE®. Broadcasting on 87.7FM to central Auckland, K9FM plays dog-centric content ranging from relaxing classical music to chat shows that include Talkies, Fetch in the Park, and Meditation with Vet Joanna - all programmed and made with dogs in mind. In today’s busy world, dogs spend a lot of time at home alone. Dog experts suggest that leaving music or radio playing gives them a sense of company and comfort. It also works to block out noises from outside the house that might concern or excite them. MARS NZ and Colenso BBDO, in collaboration with The New Zealand Radio Training School teamed up with a number of dog behaviour experts to create K9FM. Jess Allsop, an animal expert with years of experience observing dog’s behaviour, came on board to help make K9FM as dog friendly as possible. “There are lots of studies into the effect of music on animals, and dogs in particular, that show how it can alter their behavior - classical music has been shown to reduce anxiety behaviours in dogs by up to 70%, so it makes up much of the content of this radio station. I always tell my clients to leave a radio on for their dog when they are alone so it’s great to have a station designed just for dogs.” PEDIGREE® is extending K9FM to a wider audience through digital streaming at www.pedigreek9fm.com in partnership with iHeartRadio. F PN

Buy online at www.spca.org.nz or call SPCA on T: 09 256 7307

Ponsonby News icon Mr Jack enjoys wearing his new K9FM bandana

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FUTURE GENERATION RAUKATAURI MUSIC THERAPY CENTRE ‘Music is the medicine of the mind’. There’s no doubt music is a healing influence and music therapists are widely acknowledged for their work with the emotionally and mentally disadvantaged. The Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre in Grey Lynn opened in 2004 so it is now 10 years old, and in the course of the decade has achieved some significant milestones. From a small beginning with only one therapist, the centre now has nine therapists, three therapy rooms, an audio-visual room, facilities for staff and clients and an extensive instrument collection, which at last stocktake numbered 512. As well as running programmes in schools and early childhood centres, Raukatauri does outreach work with adults in the community. The centre’s latest initiative is an expansion into the wider community with a satellite service in Titirangi. This came about because a child who regularly attended sessions in Grey Lynn stopped once he started school. The logistics of travelling became too difficult so the executive director, Carol White, asked his mother, “What if we came to you?” The proposal was met with enthusiasm because other parents in the area were faced with a similar quandary. After several months of planning, the West Auckland service was established last August in the Titirangi Community House where five children are able to walk there after school each week. Carol and her team are delighted to have found a way to make music therapy accessible to these children. This year they hope to expand the satellite services further to Whangaparaoa and South Auckland. Should any readers know of children who might be interested in accessing music therapy in these areas, please call the centre on 09 360 0889. Over the years children who have attended the sessions are now adolescents or even adults so the centre has an ever expanding client base. Last year alone the team delivered 4000 music therapy sessions. The centre is now well established and definitely in for the long haul, but to run all the outreach and satellite programmes requires a budget of $750,000 each year. Without any statutory funding this money has to be secured through charity fundraising events. Fortunately the very, very good board of

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

trustees has members who are adept at organising such occasions and much of Carol’s time is taken up with making applications to various charitable trusts. The centre is launching its own fundraising initiative next month. They are looking for local businesses organisations, and retailers to take a specially designed donation box and display it on their counters. They don’t hold a regular street collection appeal or similar and hope the public will find this an easy way to support the centre. In the words of Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” (DEIRDRE TOHILL) F PN

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2014

LOOK... WHO IS IN THE ZOO!

Otterly adorable In February, the Zoo welcomed the arrival of Asian small-clawed otter pup twins - the offspring to first time mum Jeta and second time dad Juno. The adorable twosome, whose sex will soon be confirmed at a vet check, each tip the scales at over 800g, and their glossy fur coats are fully water-proofed, which means it’s time for their first swimming lessons. That’s a family affair for this very socially oriented species, so mum and dad will both be on the job teaching the twins. As you read this, it’s highly likely they’ve already had their first dip, and with their parents’ guidance, will also be exploring the rest of their outdoor enclosure. These otters are perfectly adapted to life on both land and water; with their streamlined bodies, two layers of fur (for water-proofing and insulation), webbed feet and blunt short claws for catching prey. Acting carnivore keeper, Lauren Booth, says the new arrivals are the first otters to be born at the zoo since 2009 and are part of the zoos-based Australasian regional breeding programme for Asian small-clawed otters - a threatened species, mainly due to habitat destruction. “It’s fantastic to have this breeding success and always exciting to have babies like this. However, for us keepers the most interesting time is just coming up - when the twins start to explore their environment, and really interact with each other. It’s at this time you also really start to see their personalities develop as well,” says Lauren. Be sure to keep an eye on the zoo’s Facebook page for updates on how the pups are doing and news about their sex and names.

With a great water-proof coat and plenty of insulation, the Asian small-clawed otter is perfectly adapted to living in the water.

Fast facts: • Size: Asian small-clawed otters are the smallest of the world’s 13 otter species. Adults weigh between 1 - 5kg (2.2 - 11 lbs) • Independence: Otter pups are weaned at around four months • Breeding: Once paired up, Asian small-clawed otters mate for life • Home range: India, Indonesia, Vietnam, South China, Malay Peninsula and the Philippines - in freshwater streams, rivers, creeks and coastal regions

Mother’s Day Baby Loves Disco Sunday 12 May (10am - 1pm), Band Rotunda For the second year in a row, Baby Loves Disco is going wild at Auckland Zoo for Mother's Day! Come to a 'Jungle Boogie' dance party among the animals featuring music spun and mixed by Jason Kerrison (Opshop and Baby Sitters Circus), blending classic disco and the latest pop music and guaranteed to get you and your little ones moving and grooving. Do something you will both enjoy this Mother's Day! If it's raining, don't worry! We'll be moving the party to the Old Elephant House so you can get your groove on and stay dry. Price: Normal zoo admission prices apply. Friends of the Zoo free.

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Locals can groove at the zoo PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

BILLY HARRIS: KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY

Tabitha Wrightson and her healthy addiction She’s a hard road finding the perfect woman, said the beer ad. But one girl who might go pretty close one day is Ponsonby Primary School student Tabitha Wrightson. That is, if the number and variety of skills she’s acquired are any guide. The 10-year-old all rounder runs, swims, plays netball, cricket, rugby, league and softball, and does ballet and dancing. She sings in the PPS rock band, and is in the kappa haka, school choir and marimba group. She also water skis, is equally at home riding a wakeboard and a quad bike, she is handy on the pool table and is good at darts. When, as it is only a matter of time, she can shear a sheep, lassoo a runaway bull, write a computer program, cook a gourmet meal and paint a landscape, all before lunch, she’ll be a shoo-in for whatever ‘Perfect Woman’ competitions are going. Aside from all the activity, Tabi is well known for her love of laughing, which is never more evident than when the family go biscuiting. Tabi’s older brother drives the boat as erratically as possible in order to throw her off, which only makes her laugh more hysterically. So how does a kid come to be so addicted to action? Perhaps it’s born of the need to keep up with her older sister Chelsea, 17, and 15-year-old brother Will. If that’s the case, she’s doing a good job. Last year, Tabitha came first in the PPS cross country race for nine year olds and fifth out of 96 runners in the inner city championships.

extreme nature, this wasn’t your regular game of chasing. It was on a trampoline, but on the outside of the netting, not inside, hanging on to the netting. The result was a compound fracture, with the arm fully snapped in two at the elbow, and enough pins and wires to make her part seven year old, part Robocop. Despite all the rough and tumble, Tabi is quite comfortable switching the rugby boots for a pair of ballet shoes. She’s been doing ballet at the Ponsonby School of Dance since age four, and has performed in shows like Annie, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Nutcracker and The Little Mermaid, all held at the Dorothy Winstone Centre at Auckland Girls Grammar. So what does the future hold? The future’s not big enough to squeeze in much more on top of her ballet practices, swimming squads, running groups and netball practices and matches. But ideally it would include lessons to learn another dance like jazz ballet or hip hop, competitive ballet dancing, playing Saturday soccer and rugby for clubs, meeting the All Blacks and, not least, playing netball for the Silver Ferns, an ambition which was further fuelled after she attended a Silver Ferns game at Vector Arena. Oh, and do well at her school work, keep laughing, and spend more time on the computer PN and phone! (BILLY HARRIS) F

Both this year and last year she placed first in the 25m breast stroke in the school swimming sports. At the inner city swimming sports she reached the breast stroke finals but didn’t place, a glitch she hopes to rectify this time round. In ballet, Tabi has received distinction three years in a row, which requires that the student scores at least 75% in the end of year exam. In netball, in which she plays goal attack or wing attack (but, as you’d expect, also likes playing defence) she played in the PPS team that took part in the North Harbour competition. Tabi’s agility and highly competitive nature helped the team to fifth place out of a huge field of 80 teams, which was a source of great joy to the team. Tabi enjoyed the different feeling of achieving as part of a team rather than as an individual as she’s done in swimming and cross country. Perhaps this is why she tries to get into as many inner city sports teams as she can. This year she’s already represented the school in cricket and softball, and strives to make the rugby union and rugby league teams later in the year. Tabi’s commitment to sport and the school was recognised last year when she won a prize at the sports awards for “Outstanding Year 5 Contribution to School Sport 2013”. Tabi also remembers the awards for the speeches. Sarah Jarvis, the New Zealand champion skier, and Scott Maclaren, a New Zealand decathlete, addressed the school and told the children they’d need to practise, practise and practise more if they wanted to be the best at their sport. They also pointed out the value of commitment and a positive attitude. In Tabi Wrightson’s case, they were preaching to the converted. All that activity hasn’t come without a price however. Like any self respecting sports freak, she’s suffered her share of bumps and bruises, most notably when, at age seven, she ‘broke her arm in half’, when falling while playing chasing. In keeping with Tabi’s

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FUTURE GENERATION TOMORROW’S SCHOOLS 25 YEARS ON In 1989, the fourth Labour Government, led by Prime Minister and Education Minister David Lange, introduced Tomorrow’s Schools. The initiative followed receipt of the government review of the school system, led by businessman Brian Picot. The Picot report was critical of the Department of Education, which it labelled as inefficient and unresponsive. It recommended a system where each school would be largely independent, governed by a board consisting mainly of parents, although subject to review and inspection by specialised government agencies. Not all recommendations of the Picot report survived into the Tomorrow’s Schools reform. As Cathie Wylie, long time researcher with the New Zealand Council for Educational research says, “While these changes are now taken for granted by the many teachers and almost two generations of students who have known no other way, the changes are still regarded as radical by many overseas visitors.” Wylie explains, “No other western country bases its entire public system on stand-alone schools, each with their own parent-led board of trustees responsible for the school’s direction and staff employment, and operating without being part of a school district, or local authority.” Right from the start there was suspicion that Treasury and the State Services Commission may have applied pressure to the task force to move towards eventually privatising education, as had happened with other government services. In Lange’s government this privatisation was led by Roger Douglas - his fanatical crusade earning the title Rogernomics. Wylie and others who have called for a comprehensive review of education administration in New Zealand have been concerned at the possibility of a proliferation of new charter schools. While the much diminished Ministry of Education has tried to intervene to assist struggling schools, usually in low decile areas, this intervention has created tensions and suspicion in local schools.

Green Party education spokesperson, Catherine Delahunty, says her party has been calling for a long overdue review of Tomorrow’s Schools. But Delahunty is nervous of a review which may include the Act Party, fearing further privatisation. Head of the Secondary Principals’ Council Allan Vester said recently that aspects of Tomorrow’s Schools should be reviewed. Vester; “Unfortunately the market type model also encourages behaviours which, while advantageous for an individual school, can actually reduce the quality of the educational experience overall for the community. The decile system introduced in the 1990s did not alleviate the competition and inequality.” The Labour Government, under David Lange, blamed the amount of centralised bureaucracy for slipping school standards, but it is becoming clear that while there was probably some truth in this assertion, they actually threw the baby out with the bath water, and the time has come to have a major review to put some balance back into the totally decentralised system, and stop the drift to a comprehensively privatised education system. More importantly, we can hope that the neo-liberal economic philosophy which gives all control to the market is just about ready to become a spent force. In the meantime we could do well to have a look at the Finnish school system, constantly rated amongst the best in the world, and at present being carefully examined by the United Kingdom and the United States. Finnish children don’t start school until they are seven, all teachers have masters degrees, the school system is completely state funded and there are strong teacher unions. There is nothing neo-liberal about the Finnish system, which is highly praised PN throughout the world. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F

In a report to the Post Primary Teachers’ Association Annual Conference in 2008, the paper said that, “the PPTA’s support for the setting up of Tomorrow’s Schools was muted.” The paper goes on to say, “While David Lange may have been genuine in his intention to empower communities to run schools, the evidence is that those charged with implementing and developing the reforms were more interested in imposing ‘market discipline’ on the school sector. The Treasury briefing papers were more focussed on extracting ‘value and efficiency’ via the mechanisms of competition and choice than empowering communities.” It was business speak, and referred to students as ‘consumers’. At the heart of criticisms of how Tomorrow’s Schools has developed is the belief by many commentators that it has benefited affluent communities and private schools, to the detriment of low decile poorer communities. The zoning question has been a constant worry. The PPTA report is scathing in its criticism of “the application of market principles in schools - producing a rigid consumer-driven conservatism.” The schools that have increased their popularity over the last 20 years have been the traditional secondary schools- largely single sex, situated in wealthy areas, focused on academic achievement and recognised by compulsory uniforms. As the PPTA says, “The 21st century New Zealand parent has declared a preference for a school that is as close as possible to an antipodean version of a 19th century English public school.” A particularly comprehensive report on Tomorrow’s Schools was written by Fiske and Ladd, two Americans who spent five months in New Zealand in the late 90s.Their resulting book, ‘When Schools Compete - A Cautionary Tale’, is a careful critical analysis of the background, difficulties and failures of the radical system. There has been huge concern, especially inside the education sector, about the merits of introducing charter schools - now to be called partnership schools. This introduction resulted from a confidence and supply agreement between National and the tiny ACT Party.

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FUTURE GENERATION DIFFERENT EDUCATION PATHWAYS REFLECT STUDENT DIFFERENCES CHOOSING AN EDUCATION PATHWAY IN YOUR TEENS COMES FRAUGHT WITH DIFFICULT decisions for many students, from what subjects to what syllabus for. ACG Senior College student David Lee is striking a different path and is just about to complete his pre International Baccalaureate course ready for the IB intake in July. “I would like diversity in my career and with the subject choice IB offers it will help me towards my goal of studying at MIT in the USA,” says David Lee, age 16. David is an incredibly driven student. Already he has clear goals of becoming a robotics engineer focusing on neuroscience. He has used IB to set the path to enable this career by taking higher level physics, chemistry and psychology. Particularly appealing for David is that credits earned in the IB system are widely recognised at international universities and many of those universities will credit up to a full year of study through results attained in IB. Principal of ACG Senior College, Kathy Parker says, “For us it’s about providing choices for students as each student is different with individual learning styles. Offering IB in addition to CIE gives that choice to our students, as both are world class and globally recognised but both are very different ways of learning.” Kathy’s advice to students is to think about their goals, how they learn and what they want to get out of their college education. When students have done this, they have the tools to empower decision making around their own educational future. F PN ACG College students, David Lee and Linda Zou

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FUTURE GENERATION AUCTION HAMMER DRIVES PHYSICAL HAMMERS NEEDED TO REBUILD BAYFIELD SCHOOL HALL It’s ‘Hammertime’ at Bayfield Primary. Hammertime is the school’s key social and fundraising event, centred around an enticing auction of generously donated items and experiences money often can’t buy. This year the name 'Hammertime' is more relevant than ever as the school raises the auction hammer to get the physical hammers working on the rebuild of its school hall. Many locals will have driven past Bayfield and seen a village of prefabs rising in recent months. These are now the temporary home to many of the school’s students, staff and resources. Bayfield School principal, Sheryl Fletcher, says the school faces a massive rebuild because of leaky building issues. “We rely on the generosity of our school community to raise funds to pay for the bulk of the hall rebuild. A successful Hammertime means we will be close to completing the hall fundraising, and this is a necessary first step before the Ministry of Education will commence work on our rebuild. Money raised will also help restore the school grounds once the rebuild is complete. “Hammertime is a fantastic night for the parents and friends of Bayfield to enjoy, but it’s important to remember the recipients are our children. Current and future students of Bayfield deserve to learn in the best facilities possible and we’re determined to put on a brilliant event so that becomes a reality.” Bayfield welcomes all friends of the school to Hammertime on Friday June 6 for a great night of live music, dancing and friendly (but competitive!) bidding. Tickets to the last Hammertime event in 2012 sold out so this year people are encouraged to get their

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Bayfield School Principal Sheryl Fletcher with board representatives Sarah Gardiner and son Jacob Angland; Sharon Wright and son Matthew; David McPherson and son Henry tickets early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are available at the school office from May 5. Bayfield Board Chairman David McPherson says Hammertime is a tribute to the generosity of the people and businesses in wider Ponsonby. “So many businesses get behind this event with generous donations. Yet again we’ve been blown away by the sorts of experiences and items people are prepared to donate, but we’re always looking for more for inclusion in both the silent and main auctions. We will take offers right up until June 6.” The website is updated regularly as new items are offered in the countdown to Hammertime 2014. Details of the event and a taste of the diverse range of auction items already donated can be viewed at the official Hammertime website PN www.bayfieldhammertime.com F

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FUTURE GENERATION EDUCATED AT AUCKLAND GIRLS’ EQUIPPED FOR THE WORLD Auckland Girls’ Grammar School is a leader in Global Citizenship Education, and was the first school partner in Human Rights in Education. The key concepts that shape global citizenship are the promotion and protection of human rights and diversity, protection of the environment, and the fostering of closer connections in the international community. The AGGS girls have numerous opportunities to participate in the community for the greater good, working with groups and organisations such as UNESCO Associated Schools Programme, ROOTS Creative Entrepreneurs, Fair Trade, and Enviroschools. The students are well represented in leadership roles including the Sir Peter Blake Trust, the offices of the Children’s Commissioner and Ethnic Affairs, and the Ronald McDonald Youth House Board. AGGS has sister schools in China, India, Japan, and Thailand with regular cultural and learning exchanges. There are history and geography trips to the United States and Hawaii and they take part in the World Challenge expedition to Cambodia. Their social sciences department hosts an Annual Model United Nations Assembly in association with Rotary. Equipped with the values of rights, respect and responsibility, their students gain knowledge and understanding of global concerns while developing the critical thinking and co-operation skills to meet the challenges of a complex world. 2015 enrolments at Auckland Girls’ Grammar School - come to their Open Day 29 May for a tour of the school 9.30-2.30pm. There is also an information evening later that same day, 6pm-8pm about the Maori Unit, Nga Tumanako o Kahurangi. F PN AUCKLAND GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL, 16 New Street Newton, T: 09 307 4180 www.aggs.school.nz

AGGS students visit their sister school in Thailand

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FUTURE GENERATION RICHMOND ROAD SCHOOL CELEBRATES ‘ZERO WASTE’ GALA The sun shone, the candy floss flowed, and the crowds turned up in their hundreds to Richmond Road School’s annual gala on Saturday, 5 April. solar powered dish washing unit. So we really tried very hard to have a nice, clean, green gala,” Severine says. She and her small organising team were overwhelmed with the support of the community, especially all the local businesses and community organisations who donated products, services or time to the gala, its raffle and silent auction which, combined, raised over $25,000 for the school.

The school has a strong sustainability ethic, which was evident at the ‘zero waste’ gala. “We had special bins for organic waste and recycling, and we used compostable food containers, reusable cups and ceramic plates that were washed and re-used onsite during the day with the help of Eco Matters’ Wash Against Waste trailer - a mobile

“Without them it’s impossible, so we would like to say a very big THANK YOU to everyone who supported the gala and to everyone who came along on the day - we are humbled by their generosity.” F PN

photography: Scott McKee

Organiser Severine Badel says it was a fantastic day for the school and the local community after an extremely difficult start to the school year. “We had a devastating fire in January which was just terrible for everyone connected to Richmond Road School - past and present - so it was wonderful to put on a brilliant day of fun, music, food and entertainment for the community,” Severine says.

L to R: ‘Lady Gala’ aka Severine, the event organiser; Zoe of Zoe & Morgan was helping their silent auction stand

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photography: Scott McKee

FUTURE GENERATION

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FUTURE GENERATION CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW Wonderwise series, published by Walker Books. $19.99 each. Wonderwise, a series of award winning, non-fiction information books has been republished after being absent for too long. Revised and updated, the first group of five titles has arrived and there are more to follow. Aimed at younger children eager to explore the world around them, titles include What’s under the Bed? (A book about the earth beneath us), Splish, Splash, Splosh! (A book about water). Helpful notes and activities for parents and teachers from an educational consultant are included. F PN DOROTHY BUTLER CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP, 1 Jervois Road T: 09 376 7283 www.childrensbookshop.co.nz

RICHMOND ROAD SCHOOL PUPILS THANK LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS On Monday 14 April, Richmond Road School thanked local firefighters for their efforts in responding to the fire which damaged four classrooms earlier this year. Led by year 6 student, Edie Ancell (pictured right), who came up with the idea for a powhiri, and coordinated with the help of her best friend Ruby MacCleod (pictured left), the school presented Auckland Fire Service with a giant red heart carved from wood and signed by the pupils from the school. The students all performed various items for the firefighters in conjunction with a powhiri in the school hall. The children and teachers were thrilled to have the opportunity to say thank you and to meet the firefighters personally. Assistant Commissioner of the Auckland Fire Service, Dave Woon said: “We’re really moved by the kids' passion and it’s such a fantastic thing to see the kids perform. We’ve received a much better welcome than the last time we turned up at Richmond Road!” On 12 January this year, fire engines were called to Richmond Road School after what is believed to be a deliberate fire was started in the toilet block.

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Prior to school returning for the year Edie wanted to do something to thank the firefighters for responding so quickly and saving so much of the school's resources and the teachers and students work. Edie set about coordinating a powhiri by liaising with school management, the firefighters and the four ropu within the school. "I'm so pleased the firefighters saved our school and stopped all our memories turning PN to ashes," Edie said. F

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SAVE THE CHILDREN; Working amazingly hard to get practical help Save the Children New Zealand deployed Peter Jackson to the Solomon Islands. He writes from Honiara: Some of the biggest flash floods in memory have affected almost 40,000 people and forced over 10,000 people out of their homes. Hospitals have been evacuated, access points cut-off, fresh water contaminated, and entire families separated. Whole suburbs have been drowned in water. People have reported seeing the bodies of dead children floating through floodwaters. At night, helicopters circle Honiara city, throwing out powerful beams of light, searching for missing ships and missing bodies. As we’re caught in traffic approaching a damaged bridge, my driver Manu points to a building across the road, “You see that building. There’s been a bad smell coming out of there. We pulled three bodies out last night.” Children are the most vulnerable during emergencies. “We remain very concerned about the risk of water-borne disease, including dengue,” said Save the Children Solomon Islands’ Acting Country Director Dr Rudaba Khondker. Save the Children is working amazingly hard to get practical help to the people who need it most. We’re focussing on keeping children safe, which is often overlooked when you’re in the thick of a natural disaster such as this. And we’re preparing to help with the recovery effort, which we’ll continue with long after the flood waters recede. (PETER JACKSON) F PN

A child searches among the debris in Honiara

FUTURE GENERATION VARIETY KIWI KID SPONSORSHIP HELPING KIDS IN OUR OWN BACKYARD Since launching their Kiwi Kid Sponsorship programme last year last year, Variety - The Children's Charity has received an overwhelming number of applications from caregivers, schools and community agencies who have disadvantaged local children in need of the basics. When you sponsor a child through Variety a regular donation of just $35 per month helps provide a disadvantaged Kiwi kid with the basics their family/whanau or caregiver is unable to afford. This includes, but is not limited to: home essentials like bedding and clothing, books, doctor’s visits and prescriptions, school stationery and extra-curricular activities that help keep kids connected and included. The programme enables each child’s specific needs to be met as they arise. Variety currently has a waiting list of 100 children they are urgently seeking sponsorship for. If you would like to become a Kiwi Kid Sponsor or find out more about the programme PN please contact: Giselle on (09) 522 3740 or email Giselle@variety.org.nz. F VARIETY - THE CHILDREN’S CHARITY www.variety.org.nz

KADIMAH SCHOOL GARAGE SALE Kadimah School will be holding a huge garage sale fundraiser on Sunday 25 May, 9am-12noon A massive range of amazing quality second hand books, DVDs, childrens' toys and clothing, games, designer clothing, bric-a-brac, baby gear, sporting goods, furniture and more will be for sale at ridiculously low prices. The fabulous Kadimah baking team will also have a fully stocked stand of cakes and cookies that will be impossible to refuse. Kadimah is a co-ed integrated school with a special Jewish character that has been welcoming boys and girls from the community for over 40 years. All funds raised from the garage sale will go towards the development of Kadimah's modern digital learning environment. Organisers ask that customers bring cash, as Eftpos will not be available. F PN

Downtown Honiara after the floods that have ravaged the Solomon Islands The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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FUTURE GENERATION GREY LYNN SCHOOL GARDENING TEAM WHAT MAKES BEAR PARK UNIQUE? As a parent seeking early childhood education options for your growing family, you naturally want the best-quality environment for your child. At Bear Park early childhood centres, they strongly believe that the concept of ‘quality’ in early childhood education extends far beyond simply providing appropriate resources and good opportunities for learning. “To all of us at Bear Park, ‘quality’ refers to our highly skilled teachers, innovative and thought-provoking environments, respectful relationships with children and their families, and a programme that fully values each child’s individuality and self-worth,” explains Sue Stevely-Cole, Bear Park Director. “It is our quality that sets Bear Park apart and makes our centres very special indeed.” The teachers at Bear Park are professional, compassionate and skilled, and endeavour to readily acknowledge and support the individuality of each child. They believe it is important to truly listen to each child’s voice as they eagerly and openly share their ideas and theories with each other, encouraging them to think deeply while building their self-confidence and nurturing self-expression. Back: Evi Holmes, Kathryn LeGrove, Fionna Hill, Sussan McEwan and Penny Morton Front: Artus, Georgia, Nevan, Rata and Finn

GREY LYNN SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH THEIR GREEN EDIBLES

Bear Park teachers build meaningful relationships with all the children in their care as they fully immerse themselves in the learning process alongside the children. Through these purposeful, quality interactions between teachers and children, a strong sense of value and respect is developed and shared. Bear Park shows a deep sense of respect for family, friends, and whanau, creating open, honest, and trusting relationships which they believe form the very heart of learning. “Communication within each centre’s community is vital,” Sue says. “Because we are so passionate about involving parents in their children’s learning, we keep individual journals for each child along with daily documentation of the child’s encounters, offering online parent portals and collaborative parent-teacher meetings. Quality is also visible within each Bear Park Centre, through the unique and respectful educational environments that offer your child endless opportunities to grow into a competent learner and a strong researcher, confident and ready for primary school when the time comes. Bear Park’s unique, intimate, supportive learning spaces are carefully prepared and richly resourced to encourage your child’s creativity, thinking, and individuality. These early childhood centres have a strong commitment to sustainability, and the presence of natural and recycled materials within each centre encourages your child to develop a true sense of value and respect for the wider world.

photography: Jo Barrett

Bear Park’s daily programme reflects quality through embracing the national Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whariki, along with influences from the values and principles of the Reggio Emilia approach to learning.

L to R: Georgia, Artus, Finn, Rata and Nevan with Fionna Hill

The Reggio Emilia Approach is centred around children's rights which is clearly reflected through how we view the image of the child and also evidenced in the importance and value that is placed on the strong relationships between parents, child and teachers. Through this combined approach, Bear Park teachers further enhance a sense of wonder and curiosity in your child, encouraging them to acquire a ‘thirst for knowledge’ and empowering them to develop a deep sense of awareness of their own capabilities and potential. “If quality is as important to you as a parent as it is to our teachers and staff, Bear Park is the perfect place for your child’s early childhood education experience,” Sue concludes. “With 10 Bear Park Centres around New Zealand, we’re committed to acknowledging the full potential of each child while providing a flexible, quality environment that enhances PN your little one’s overall growth and development.” www.bearpark.co.nz F

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SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY

Benji gets a case of the Blue You wouldn’t read about it... well, actually, you can. As the Blues were being dealt to in Wellington a couple of weeks back I started to write that the Benji experiment should now be seen as the Benji blunder, that he really wasn’t up to the task at Super Rugby level and if the Blues owner and coaches cared enough about their brand they’d do something about it. Leaving their star signing on the bench and then playing him when their team was under pressure was doing more harm than good. That night he’d come off the bench to replace Chris Noakes just before half time and although the Blues didn’t have complete control of the match, they lead 17-10 at the break, giving them some confidence going into the second half. But as the second forty got under way you could see the confidence was wearing off, both in the coaches’ belief in his ability, his fellow players confidence that he could control the match and his confidence in himself. And within 24 hours of that match my article was becoming redundant, whether it was Benji himself or someone else making the decision, but his time at the Blues was coming to a swift halt. Super Rugby is hard and fast and is becoming increasingly brutal, and if you’re not comfortable with the position you’re in then your team is doomed from the get go. There was talk about sending the 29 year old back down to play lub rugby for Waiheke at senior third grade. While the club rugby idea was a good one, the level of that versus Super Rugby is the equivalent of hopping out of the driver’s seat of Greg Murphy’s V8 Super Cars and into one of those public green buses that does the loop around Auckland city; it’s slow and repetitive, it’s as predictable as the driver deciding he’s due for a change and making you wait for 10-15 minutes two stops short of yours. The idea of him playing club rugby or even ITM Cup was 10 months too late; it was something he should have done before playing Super Rugby, not deciding that’s the best course of action half way through a campaign. So on the face of it I began to think the problem lay with the club for putting him under that pressure, not giving him the tools to have learnt the game quick enough. That was right up until Benji’s final press conference to announce he’d return to rugby league. What was said was a continuation of why he left NRL in the first place, why he turned his back on the club he’d played his whole rugby league career at. Someone that’s in charge of running things believes that Benji’s not quite up to the level he thinks he is so he no longer wants to be there. When he left the Tigers he said he’d never play for another NRL club, how quickly that has changed. And when he exited the Blues he hadn’t been there long enough to find out if he could have been any good anyway. People play rugby their whole lives and never make the All Blacks or even get to play Super Rugby. Good luck to Benji where ever he goes, he’s going to need it. (GEORGE BERRY) F PN

The driving force behind the success When I started researching the Ponsonby Rugby Club I quickly found one similar thread throughout the club’s success in recent times, and by recent times I mean for nearly the past 50 years. Over the same period clubs in other areas have had their member numbers shrink while others have evaporated into oblivion. Clubs like Glenmark in North Canterbury famous for producing All Blacks like the Deans brothers, the Loes and Todd Blackadder, for the first time this year has no teams between under 13s and their senior B team.

Beegee, President Athol Rickard, and Chairman Peter Thorp

I found that the answer was pretty easy to spot down at the club, no real secret and in plain sight, it’s there for everyone to see. The answer is Bee Gee. Bryan G Williams, Member of the Order of the British Empire and more recently awarded the Citizen of the New Zealand Order of Merit. After joining the club in 1968 two years before becoming an All Black and at just 20 years of age he continued to play rugby for Ponsonby until 1982. He’s now the Director of Rugby at the club along with being President of the New Zealand Rugby Union. Williams’ pace, power and sublime sidestep made him a natural and almost automatic selection for the All Blacks. He played 113 times for his country, 38 of which were international test matches, including being part of the 1970 apartheid tour of South Africa, where he was given honorary white status due to his Samoan and Rarotongan parentage. His dazzling style and ability to score from almost anywhere on the park had him viewed as the 1970s version of Jonah Lomu. During his career he averaged better than one try every two matches, a record which has only been beaten by Sir John Kirwan, and is still regarded as one of the best wingers to ever play the game. Williams, like Kirwan, proved to be a dominant force for Auckland on the wing scoring 825 points in his 236 first class games, of which his Auckland side won the Ranfurly four times, in 1971, 72, 74 and 79. He retired from playing for Auckland in 1981, but after being hounded by John Hart he returned in 1982 to play fullback when they won the NPC title for the first time. After he finally hung up his boots he quickly leapt into coaching, initially teaming up with close friend Maurice Trapp at the helm of Ponsonby Seniors. The duo eventually took over from Hart at Auckland where they resided over one of the region’s most successful eras. At the peak of their Ranfurly Shield domination between 1987 and 1991 they also won the NPC first division four out of the five seasons. They also claimed the much prized international scalps of Australia and Argentina. BeeGee has spent time helping almost everyone and his fighting spirit and determination to win is obvious in every one of those teams. Most evident in his Manu Samoa side that beat Graham Henry’s Welsh lads at the 1999 Rugby World Cup. In 2011 his links to Samoa saw both them and Tonga train at Western Springs and make the Ponsonby club rooms their home away from home, “Many of our members have Samoan and Tongan heritage so we’re going to embrace them, adopt them and look after them,” said Williams at the time. It was an idea and an initiative that was widely popular with the junior club and local community. Bee Gee’s two sons also went on to play prominent roles in Ponsonby colours before heading offshore to continue their rugby. And right there was the real answer I was looking for, not who was the secret to the club’s success, but what. Bee Gee’s family influence has filtered right down through the club, the feeling of belonging and coming PN together for a common cause which just happens to be rugby. (GEORGE BERRY) F

Bee Gee and ball boys April 2008

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SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY

In it for the long haul Ponsonby has a long and distinguished history; art and culture, fashion and diversity, sport and architecture. When you take a walk amongst its streets you’ll see its many turn of the century bungalows and villas oozing that history and charm, and although many of them have had recent make overs their good bones is what keeps them strong and radiant today. Kind of like Ponsonby Rugby Club, which this Queens Birthday weekend will celebrate its 140th anniversary. The blue and blacks are the oldest existing members of the Auckland Rugby Union and the second oldest in the Auckland region behind North Shore which went on to form the North Harbour Rugby Union. It’s also one of the largest clubs in Auckland, and one of the largest in the country. It’s those foundations, which date back to their inauguration in 1874, that have been credited with the club’s success over the years, since winning the Auckland Club Premiership title for the first time nine years later in 1883 Ponsonby has won the competition and what’s now known as the Dave Gallaher Shield (named after a Ponsonby Rugby stalwart) 43 times, more than any other club in Auckland; between 2004 and 2011 they won it eight times in a row. For many of the club’s original years it never really had an official home ground, its place in the Auckland rugby landscape effectively earning it the privilege of consistently playing its senior rugby at Eden Park.

PONSONBY RUGBY CLUB TURNS 140! PONSONBY, ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S MOST FAMOUS and the Auckland Rugby Union’s most successful clubs - is celebrating their 140th anniversary over Queen’s Birthday Weekend. The club has grown from a hastily assembled group of amateur footballers in the small city of Auckland to one boasting over 400 senior and 800 junior players. Along the way it has produced numerous All Blacks including 1905 All Black captain Dave Gallaher, Eric Boggs, bare-foot fullback Bob Scott, Ron Rangi, two of the most dominant players in world rugby during the 70s Bryan Williams and Andy Haden, Peter Whiting, Joe Stanley, Olo Brown, the rampaging Inga Tuigamala, Carlos Spencer and Ali Williams. Let’s not forget Manu Samoa’s legendary captain and coach, Peter ‘Fats’ Fatialofa. Players from the club have also appeared for NZ Maori, Pacifica and Women’s Black Ferns teams.

Its popularity now at junior and senior levels and with its womens and even its gay rugby teams has now forced the club to stretch all across the city. While the club rooms and the number one ground are at Western Springs, Cox’s Bay Reserve, May Road Reserve, Auckland Domain, Archibald Park in Kelston and Northall Park in New Lynn are all regarded as Ponsonby Rugby’s home grounds. Its history continues to be enriched by every one of its players who go on to play representative rugby, both for Auckland and for the All Blacks. Its most recent All Black is Benson Stanley who played three tests in 2010, his name now written on the club’s walls alongside the likes of Ali Williams, Troy Flavell, Carlos Spencer and Olo Brown, Andy Hayden and the most notable of them all, the clubs now Director of Rugby, Bryan Williams. In fact, Ponsonby Rugby Club can boast being the club to produce more All Blacks than any other club in the country. As part of the weekends celebrations, Friday May 30th will provide those attending with the chance to mix mingle and reminisce at the club rooms. On the Saturday the Ponsonby Senior rugby’s Game Day will headline the festivities with an evening social, while on the Sunday following the church service there will be a BaaBaas invitational match against a Ponsonby Selection side with the ‘Great after Match’ rounding out what PN promises to be a fabulous weekend. (GEORGE BERRY) F Check out the website for more details www.ponsonbyrugby.co.nz/ponsonby-rugby-football-club

The club has won more Auckland competition titles than any other (45), with a record 43 Gallaher Shield wins including eight in a row between 2004 and 2011. To celebrate this milestone, a range of events have been planned to take place at the club in Stadium Road, Western Springs. Friday, 16 May: Former Auckland coach, Brian Craies, is being ‘roasted’ at a special luncheon hosted by Andy Haden and Loosehead Len. Will there be any sign of Susan of Herne Bay? Friday, 30 May: Mix and mingle evening for past and present players and members. Saturday, 31 May: Game Day with entertainment for the kids, the seniors in action and an evening social. Sunday, 1 June: Morning church service then exhibition games in the afternoon including Barbarians v Ponsonby Selection. This is followed by laughs with ‘The Great After-match’. Further details on how to purchase tables for the Craies roast or register for the weekend are available on the club website: www.ponsonbyrugby.co.nz F PN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS: LOGAN GRANGER

Changes to time period for claiming refunds and donation tax credits NORMALLY, TAX REFUNDS MUST BE MADE WITHIN FOUR YEARS OF THE END OF THE income year a return was filed in, with a further four-year period available if the refund resulted from a clear mistake or simple oversight on your part. This further four-year period is no longer available for refunds resulting from assessments for the 2013-14 and later tax years. Any refunds resulting from assessments for the 2012-13 and prior tax years can still have the further four-year period. The IRD also reduced the time period for claiming donation tax credits, in line with other annual return filing periods. You now have to claim donation tax credits within four years from the day after the end of the year the donation was made in. If you have an early balance date, you now have to claim donation tax credits within four years from 1 April following the end of the tax year the donation was made in. This change applies to tax credit claims made in the 2014-15 and later tax years. Beware of phishing scam A new scam email is circulating. It links to a look-alike Inland Revenue online tax refund web page. This page says “We automatically pay refunds of $600 or less to you 15 days after the date of your PTS.” and asks you to click on a link “Refund me now”. This leads to another page asking you for personal details including credit card information. Do not follow the link or enter any personal information. Forward the email to phishing@ird.govt.nz and then delete it.

• Employees and private domestic workers under the current portion of the work levy from $116,089 to $118,191. • Employees and private domestic workers under the residual portion of the work levy from $113,768 to $116,089. Entertainment expenses and GST Have you claimed 100% of the GST charged on business entertainment expenses you’ve provided to your employees, clients and suppliers, or prospective clients and suppliers? If those expenses are 50% deductible (e.g. a corporate box, accommodation in a holiday home, a corporate yacht), you’ll need to make an adjustment on your GST return to pay back the GST claimed on the 50% non-deductible portion of the expenses. This is because these expenses are considered to be supplies under the GST rules. The adjustment must be done once a year at the earlier of the date your income tax return is due to be filed, or when you file your income tax return. Example: Olivia’s 2013 income tax return is due on 31 March 2014 as her tax agent has an extension of time to file the return. As Olivia files GST returns on a six-monthly basis, she’ll make her adjustment for entertainment expenses in her GST return for 31 March 2014. This is due for filing on 7 May 2014.

New ACC rates agreed by Cabinet The ACC levies have been set by Cabinet for the 2014-15 tax year. These levy rates will be formalised when they are passed into legislation. The earners’ levy is set at $1.45 (GST-inclusive) per $100 liable earnings, down from $1.70 the previous year. The minimum liable earnings for self-employed workers increase from $28,080 to $28,600. The maximum liable earnings will increase for:

If you have any further questions or would like to discuss any of the above matters please do not hesitate to contact Logan Granger.

• Self-employed people under the work account from $113,768 to $116,089

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

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

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PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS: METROLAW GOT A LEGAL QUESTION?

ASK MICHAEL@METROLAW.CO.NZ

Email Michael with your question and include PONSONBY NEWS in the subject line. Michael Hemphill, a partner of the firm will answer one topical question each month.

Q: A:

I work for an airline and often travel overseas with my job, sometimes for weeks at a time. Would it be a good idea to appoint someone as my attorney for the time that I am out of the country?

The answer to this question is that it depends; it depends on what sort of property you own and how you own it and it depends on who you have in mind to give your power of attorney to and how much you are prepared to trust that person. It can also depend on the types of transactions that you are anticipating are likely to happen while you are away. A power of attorney grants the person you appoint the authority to legally act on your behalf. You can use a power of attorney to grant specific powers to allow someone to make decisions and enter into legally binding documents on your behalf, for example a sale and purchase agreement for property. There is an older form of power of attorney that is often referred to as a deed of delegation power of attorney. These types of power of attorney are able to be used when you are outside of New Zealand or temporarily physically incapacitated. A deed of delegation power of attorney is particularly useful as they allow trustees to delegate their power as a trustee. If you want to give a power of attorney that allows your attorney to deal with trust property then this is the form of power of attorney that you should use. The drawback with deed of delegation powers of attorney is that they are not effective if you are mentally incapacitated. This means that if there are questions about the grantor’s mental capacity (for example in cases of dementia) then this may not be the correct choice for power of attorney.

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To get around the issue of mental incapacity the government passed the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 which allowed for enduring powers of attorney to be granted. This allowed powers of attorney to be granted that remained in effect even if the person that granted the power of attorney (‘the grantor’) lost mental capacity. They can also be granted so that they only come into effect if you lose mental capacity which is useful either as part of aged care planning (where you anticipate that you may lose capacity at some stage) or against the risk of some unforeseen event like a head injury where you lost capacity. We have also had an odd situation where our client was in a remote part of New Zealand and trapped by floodwaters from the nearest fax machine. As they were not outside of New Zealand the deed of delegation power of attorney we had for them was ineffective. It is usually a good idea to try and limit the application of the power of attorney to specific transactions such as a refinance or the sale of a property if you anticipate that this is likely to occur while you are away. A general power of attorney is pretty much like a signed blank cheque and it is not smart to leave too many of those lying around. You can usually cancel a power of attorney by giving notice in writing to your attorney but it is good practice to try to also maintain control of the original copy of the power of attorney document and only provide this on request for specific transactions. Whoever you appoint will have the power to deal with the affairs you define and the ability to enter into legally binding agreements within those areas. It is important to carefully consider who you wish to appoint and to appoint someone that you trust as they will have the ability to control you. As always take professional advice from a solicitor. PN (MICHAEL HEMPHILL) F Disclaimer - This article is for general information purposes only. If you have a legal problem you should seek advice from a lawyer. Metro Law does not accept any liability other than to its clients and then only when advice is sought on specific matters.

METROLAW, Level 2, 36 Williamson Avenue T: 09 929 0800 www.metrolaw.co.nz

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THE HISTORICAL BOROUGH OF PONSONBY AND GREY LYNN: STREET NAMES

BROWN STREET William Brown was born in Scotland, studied law and was admitted as a Writer to the Signet, a private society of Scottish solicitors that dates back to 1594 and is part of the College of Justice. He practiced for only a short time before succumbing to the call of the lands of opportunity and in 1839, with his wife, Jessie Smith, sailed to Australia and settled in Adelaide where he spent ‘10 months of misery’ waiting to buy land in what he considered a misgoverned country. Finally, fed up, he and Jessie caught the ‘Palmyra’ to Sydney where he intended to trans-ship to New Zealand and during the voyage, happened to make friends with John Logan Campbell. They met again by chance in the Coromandel, joined forces and bought Browns Island from Ngati Tama-Te-Ra. The partnership was to last for more than 30 years. At the first land sale in 1841 they acquired an allotment in Shortland Crescent and built Acacia Cottage which is one of the earliest surviving timber buildings in New Zealand and certainly the first in Auckland where it now stands in Cornwall Park. They erected a store in front of the house on the street frontage and the firm, Brown and Campbell, prospered as auctioneers, shipping agents, importers and traders (very profitably) with the Maori. When Jessie needed to return to Britain for medical treatment they bought a barque, the ‘Bolina’ to transport the Browns but also as the first to test the British market with a consignment of local goods.

THIS MONTH’S FINDS AT FORMA HUDSON CHAIR: A timeless classic with a contemporary twist. The subtle buttoning and soft seat cushion make this chair a stunning and inviting feature piece.

The firm’s affluence owed much to Brown’s business acumen, and the financial backing he secured from a Scottish well-to-do capitalist was responsible for the partners’ brilliant commercial success. As well as being a dazzling speculator he was also a politician and headed an anti-government group comprised of merchants and entrepreneurs who were at odds with the Governor. He first part owned and then became the sole proprietor of the ‘Southern Cross’, Auckland’s first stable newspaper, which vigorously attacked Governor George Grey’s administration. Brown and Grey remained bitter enemies right up till the Governor left the colony in 1853. On a wet and windy day in May 1854 New Zealand took an important step in its history. The first Parliament was established in Auckland and Brown was elected to the House of Representatives. He retired in September, preferring to run for Superintendent of Auckland Province which he won. Unhappily for him the council was dominated by his political adversaries who made his time in office a misery by refusing to grant him adequate supplies. In July 1855 he announced that he was retiring from his position and leaving the colony. The two business partners were now very rich and decided to install a manager to run the firm so they could return to the comfortable civilisation of the Old Country. Unfortunately the appointed manager, J.I. Montefiore failed to run the business satisfactorily, necessitating Campbell’s return Auckland for two years in order to put things to right. The partners now realised that running the business by remote control was not feasible, yet Brown was reluctant to take his turn back in Auckland. His son was studying at Oxford University and his daughter Laura was about to marry a successful society painter, Marcus Stone.

PRINT SOFA: This design has deep diamond button detailing and subtle curve on the back. Only available in one size option, the print is certainly a feature piece PN that stands out. F

Meanwhile, Campbell was left to resume control again in 1871, which he felt was unjust and proposed dissolving the partnership. Brown was appalled at the low valuation Campbell placed on their landed assets but contesting this back in Auckland meant giving up his leisured lifestyle which he refused to contemplate. This was the beginning of his downfall. If Brown had invested his share of the wound-up partnership wisely he could have continued to live in comfort but he didn’t, which was strange given his former financial shrewdness. In 1894, when the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency made heavy calls on shareholders, he had to declare himself impecunious and was forced to forfeit his shares, the last of his equity that had any substance. The once wealthiest man in Auckland, now an impoverished widower, he was obliged to sell his London house and move in with his daughter, Laura. When he died in 1898 his old friend and partner, Campbell sadly remarked, “he had not a shilling to leave behind him.” (DEIRDRE TOHILL) F PN

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FORMA CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE, 51 - 53 the Strand, Parnell T: 09 368 7694 www.forma.co.nz

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‘PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS TO ALL YOUR PROPERTY NEEDS’

A STABLE YEAR FOR AUCKLAND RENTAL PRICES

The concept of The Positive Property Service Co Ltd came about with their desire to provide a seamless service to property owners.

The Auckland rental market has experienced a steady year, with a four percent increase over the last 12 months.

Their service negates the need to shop around to find contractors to carry out different aspects of property maintenance. Their aim is to be cost effective and remove the stress associated with your project management.

Figures released by Barfoot & Thompson show that the average rent ‘in force’* for a three bedroom property in Auckland in March was $464 a week.

Positive Property has brought together a team that now covers the many needs associated with caring for one of your biggest investments in life, ‘your property.’ So often maintenance is deferred and put into the ‘when we get around to it’ category, leading on to extra costs associated with the deferment. A recent introduction is a fully equipped house washing truck (TOP GUN AQUA WASH). Their operator has over 12 years’ experience. He is qualified to carry out anything from a soft and safe chemical wash to preserve your home’s paintwork and joinery to a more abrasive blast of fences, driveways, footpaths, decks, patios and garden furniture. They can carry out roof treatments and cleaning, including gutters. Now you can take control and stop moss and mould dead in its tracks.

“We have seen a steady, moderate increase in rental prices across Auckland, which is good news for the tenants,” said Kiri Barfoot, a director of Barfoot & Thompson. “It would be easy to make the assumption that higher property costs across Auckland would be passed on through the rental market, but this is not happening. Landlords have long recognised the value in retaining good long-term tenants. “While the past 12 months has been solid, the rental market is not immune to wider market trends. As demand for property in Auckland continues to increase and we wait for new consents to be completed and come into the market, the rental sector will experience even greater demand and it is inevitable prices will rise.

Attention to detail, quality control and a team that takes pride in their workmanship have led to the growth of the business. The team of 20 carry out services including interior and exterior decorating, villa restoration, plaster board fixing and plastering; as well as a handyman service for those little jobs that need attention. They can even clean up your grounds, removing waste and those little piles of rubbish that have sat around for a while. F PN

“We are already seeing larger numbers of people choosing to rent rather than join the property ladder. The 2013 Census indicated that less than half the population now own their own home and that Auckland has the second lowest rate of home ownership in the country.

“We look forward to being of service” - for an obligation free quotation please contact POSITIVE PROPERTY, T: 0508 POSITIVE (0508 767 484) or email info@positiveproperty.co.nz

“LVR restrictions brought in by the Reserve Bank in October, along with the anticipated rise in mortgage rates and the increasing demands on the Auckland property market, are some of the reasons we are seeing more people opting to take a long-term perspective when renting.” The most expensive location in which to rent a three bedroom home is the Eastern Suburbs, where the average weekly rent is now $541 while the least expensive location is Franklin and rural Manukau, where the average rental cost is $365. Properties with five or more bedrooms have on average only increased by two percent over the past 12 months. However, in West Auckland these properties have increased by eight percent, whilst in the Eastern suburbs they experienced a five percent decrease in the average weekly rental. *The average in force rental is the sum of all rentals for three bedroom homes. It is not the rent for new contracts signed in March. As of 1 April Barfoot & Thompson was managing 4498 three bedroom homes on behalf of landlords. F PN

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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL Rex Armstrong, Orexart Gallery REX ARMSTRONG IS AN ART DEALER, WHO FOR 25 YEARS HAS RUN OREXART (OEDIPUS Rex Gallery) with his wife Jennifer Buckley. He says, “I’m an art enthusiast. Every good home should have good art. My job is to advise, educate and show you not only what is good, but also what is good for the future. In my world all walls are art walls - empty walls are boring walls.” Tell us a little more about your family... Jennifer runs the Auckland Art Fair. She buys more art than me... just. Our two girls are grown women now and degrees abound. They are much smarter than me... just. Do you have any pets? Two scotties, Hilda and Robson, absolutely smarter than me... no question. How do you keep fit? With Ken Johnston of Whitespace Art Gallery at the YMCA. We are two of the fittest art dealers in New Zealand, maybe the world. Your best friend would say of you... Sit near the back of the plane, but don’t expect to get out first in an emergency because Rex will. Your mother would say of you... He’s one of nine, which one are you talking about? What are your virtues? Kind to chooks and ducks. Always buys, never regrets. Doesn’t save for tomorrow, spends for today. And your vices? Paints, writes. Both too often. Puts off until tomorrow what should have been done a year ago. Who's your ultimate rock icon? Saint Bob. Will be a sad day when he goes. What’s your secret passion? Italy. Not so secret really. And solitude. Don’t ask me over while my wife is away. Where do you live? In a house that is a bit full of art and books, where the dogs think the table is for them to eat at. Grey Lynn of course. Around the corner from Richard McWhannell (famous painter), Christopher Johnstone, (famous writer), John Campbell, (famously handsome). Where do you spend your holidays? Waiheke... and soon Italy. What's your perfect Sunday? 7.00am sunny warm beach walk, swim, breakfast, coffee, read New York Times literary review, home, write, lunch, paint, read, snooze, swim, cocktails, fresh foccacia, olive oil, spagetti vongoli, crisp white from Sicily, listen to birds, watch tuis dip in bird bath, finish wine, open another, then dessert, warm apple tart/cream, limoncello, sit and talk until 9.30pm in warm air and watch sun go down. What were you going to be when you grew up? A Sunday hedonist. How did you come to be an art dealer? Dreaming big, hanging in there because it seemed right. Fate. Met the kind of woman who does all the things I don’t. If you weren’t an art dealer you’d be..? An expensive drunk. Favourite Ponsonby cafe? Bambina... half and half... fruit and flat bread/coffee/ perfect start. Favourite Ponsonby restaurant? Prego... so consistent, so good. So well done, Prego.

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Favourite Ponsonby store? Maggazino... art mags, food mags, travel mags, interior mags. And the Womens Book Shop... come on guys, it ain’t a no-go area! These are good readers. Favourite Ponsonby fashion label? Minnie Cooper... make them for men!! Your best kept Ponsonby secret? Venison from Ponsonby butchers... it makes the best meatballs for spag bol. What's inspired you recently? D.H. Lawrence... Travels in Sicily. Your desert island distractions: Song: Keith Jarrett - Paris concert. Movie: The Great Beauty. Book: D.H. Lawrence Lost Girl. Yeah yeah, I’m on a D.H. jag at moment. The house is on fire and your family is safe - what do you save? As much artwork as I can at whatever risk to myself is deemed unacceptable by those around me, who have already taken as many risks as they think is sensible. “I'd be lost without my...” glasses, Macbook Pro. Unfailing sense of direction. One thing you have learned about life is... Don’t trust my sense of direction. Ask my wife. I ask her all the time. It usually starts with “how did we get so lost?” And read your own writing, 10 times. You’ll always find something that wasn’t worth saying, or could be said slightly more succinctly. What was your standout sale of the last 12 months? Richard McWhannells’ whole standout, sellout show. What’s your advice to Ponsonby art buyers? Buy art, fill your house with it. Visit your local galleries, there’re aound 10 of us. Don’t leave the area. Build your community, love your locals, live local, eat local, eat in season. Drive 40 km/h max down Ponsonby road, it’s the best road in town. And Grey Lynn Park isn’t far away, bring your dogs and kids. They can all run around together. And well done Richmond Rovers for declaring yourselves alcohol free... It’s a great step forward for the kids’ perception of their mums and dads. F PN OREXART, 1/15 Putiki St, Arch Hill, T: 09 378 0588 www.orexgallery.co.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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REAL ESTATE UPDATE: KAREN SPIRES

Going to the dogs – for a good cause The Bayleys Ponsonby team has now been located on Ponsonby Road, in the centre of our vibrant suburb, for three months. As we reach this milestone, myself and the rest of the team are now working towards another one that aims to give back to this wonderful community and city we live in. As principal sponsor of the Blind Foundation Guide Dogs for 10 years, Bayleys is proud to have been in partnership with this very deserving charity. In the two weeks from 13 May, Bayleys will hold a huge online auction featuring more than 2000 exciting items from around the country. The aim is to raise as much money as possible for training more life-changing guide dogs. It’s a charity we at Bayleys Ponsonby are passionate about, and the whole team is getting behind the cause. After all, that’s what being part of a community is all about - helping each other where we can, and creating something greater than the sum of its parts. Staff from our network of franchises have been busy securing items and among some of the items up for sale are a rugby ball signed by the 2013 All Blacks and the chance to play a round of golf with All Black Beauden Barrett, accommodation on a private island in Tonga, luxury beauty package and a round of golf with MasterChef judge Josh Emett. Several local Ponsonby businesses have already got behind this upcoming charity auction including clothing store Scotties, and among the other items secured by our office so far architectural services, breast screenings, personal training services, and a furniture voucher. If you would like to have your company aligned with this fantastic charity event by donating an item, contact Bayleys communications executive Abby Gillies on 09 375 7458 or abby. gillies@bayleys.co.nz For more details about the auction items on offer, and to bid, go to www.trademe.co.nz. Together, let’s make this great community even better. Karen Spires is a Bayleys Real Estate ‘Top Achiever’ - placing her sales data among the top five percent of salespeople within the company. (KAREN SPIRES) F PN

SMART MONEY # 4 Tips for becoming a more organised investor and improving your return. Dieting is easier if you do not have half eaten cake staring at you when you open the refrigerator door. Successful investing is easier too if you limit the temptations to act badly. Emotion often drives our investment decisions, particularly if accompanied by sensationalist headlines, a busy life schedule or the absence of a plan. We often feel compelled to jump on the latest market trend - or bail out during a market fall. You can avoid common mistakes by adopting a few key strategies; here are a few tips to help you. Have a sound plan and understand why you own certain investments; this will reduce the odds of panicking when the markets are spluttering. Remember market gains come in spurts as the graph below shows the significant impact of being out of the market has on performance over time.

Adopt a bucket approach. To gain some discipline, divide your money into different buckets to match your goals and needs. Short term goals go into a more conservative ‘income’ approach, likely to provide you with slim returns but stable value. Longer term goals, over eight years, such as retirement require some bias to diversified shares and property; the correct mix will depend on your situation. Get real about what you expect as a return, if the New Zealand market has risen by 10% you should expect close to that mark unless you are taking more than the market risk, much higher returns than the market would generally suggest much more risk is being adopted, much lower performances may mean costs are too high. Zig when others are zagging; resist the temptation to follow juicy returns, adopting any approach without some thought could mean you are buying into an investment that is due for some fade. A preferred strategy is to look for an investment fund that has a solid long term record rather than a single asset or a manager that may adopt a concentrated approach. Know yourself and match your portfolio accordingly. If you tend to be conservative or sense panic during market uncertainty chose a less volatile approach but do not necessary stop at just bank deposits. Stay diversified, seek quality and adopt an overall return approach. Building a diversified portfolio can help preserve the overall portfolio value against a drop in any one of the markets you are invested in. Not all sectors go up at once; PN sectors generally take turns to perform. F Compiled by Jocelyn Weatherall and Richard Knight; Authorised Financial Advisers @ Rutherford Rede Ph. 361 3670, 52 College Hill Ponsonby. jweatherall@rutherfordrede.co.nz, rknigth@rutherfordrede.co.nz Disclosure Statement(s) relating to our advisers are available on request and free of charge

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PHOTOGRAPHIC ART AND ‘PRINTED IMAGE ON GLASS’ SPLASH-BACKS After 10 years working as an architectural / interior designer whilst building her photography career, Lucy now pursues photography and art full time. With both professions the fundamentals lie with composition, colour and detail and she is currently working on layered works that merge photography, texture and illustration. And after many requests from clients to use her photographic images for kitchen splashbacks, Lucy has launched her exciting ‘printed image on glass’ kitchen splash-back business. So now there’s no excuse for having a boring kitchen splash-back! Lucy is a professional photographer and Fellow Member of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography. Her passion for shooting landscape panoramas ignited about 10 years ago and she also enjoys pushing the boundaries between photography and art to produce an eclectic range of limited edition fine wall art prints including signage works, bright collages, dream-like works, vintage still life, New Zealand bird and flower close ups and Kiwiana works. Many of her recent works blur the lines between photography and painting and have a surreal nature (‘Temptation’ image). With Lucy’s background in architecture and interiors it seemed a natural progression to launch her ‘printed image on glass’ splash-back business, utilising a large catalogue of landscape photos and artwork that works perfectly with the panoramic proportions of a splash-back. Clients can either choose one of Lucy’s images or use one of their own and Lucy will arrange the graphic design work, site measure, glass, printing and installation. Lucy currently works from Art Station on Ponsonby Road. F PN LUCY G PHOTOGRAPHY, M: 021 0508 691 lucygdesign@xtra.co.nz www.lucygdesign.com www.lucygsplashbacks.co.nz

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ASK AN ARCHITECT: PAUL LEUSCHKE Each month Grey Lynn resident and architect Paul Leuschke of Leuschke Kahn answers readers’ property related questions. Email yours to jane@leuschkekahn.co.nz

Q: A:

I need to purchase some new down lights, what are the benefits of choosing LED down lights? There are now good quality LED down lights available on the market and at a reasonable price - which wasn’t the case two years ago.

The problem LEDs have had in the past was colour rendition. If the light source, the LED, doesn’t have a full spectrum of colour then it can’t represent the true colour of the object onto which it falls. It is a bit like a box of coloured pencils. A smaller box of coloured pencils can’t provide the wide colour spectrum of a bigger box of coloured pencils. Think of a fluorescent in a shop as a small box of pencils, it is a light source with

limited colour range, and that is why, you take the item of clothing out into the daylight, the big box of pencils, to get the item’s true colour. So when purchasing a LED you must make sure its lamp, the light source, has a colour rendering index of 80% and above. The higher index is able to give a true colour representation of whatever you want to light i.e. furniture, paintings etc. Use a warmer white LED for residential use. LED are also more energy efficient i.e. for a whole house lit by LED down lights, they will have a lifespan of 50,000 hours equivalent to 10 years life. Also LED bulbs do not need to be replaced as regularly as halogens. (PAUL LEUSCHKE) www.leuschkekahn.co.nz F PN

WHAT’S HOT AT DAWSON’S FURNITURE SADDLE CHAIR by TIMOTHY OULTON: Made with the meticulous craftsmanship and materials inspired by a traditional horse’s saddle, the Saddle Chair is spectacular to behold. Complete with actual stirrups on each side and made of hand-finished and hand -stitched leather on a wood and fiberglass frame, this chair is a stunning addition PN to any space. F Available exclusively in New Zealand from DAWSON’S FURNITURE, 1/1 Holder Place, Rosedale, North Shore. T: 09 476 1121 www.dawsonsfurniture.co.nz

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MY FAVOURITE ROOM SABEN BAGS - ROANNE JACOBSON Roanne Jacobson is owner and designer of Saben bags, and describes herself as ‘bag magpie, Nespresso addict and juggling mamma bear.’ She lives with her husband Julian Andrews and their two ‘very lively’ boys in Ponsonby, and the family has called greater Ponsonby home for the last 10 years. Roanne’s favourite room is her office/showroom/ design space. She says, “Our house is a two-story villa and I have taken over the entire downstairs as Saben HQ. This is where I get to be creative, and being surrounded by what I have designed and created every day is a real luxury.

photography: G. Chesneau

“One of my favourite things in my office is the handpokered wood veneer bag that is sitting behind me in this picture. It’s from an exhibition that I did about 15 years ago at Eon. Carter Holt Harvey gave us the material to work with - it was a new veneer that could go round corners and they wanted to show its versatility. It’s special to me because it’s one of the best examples of where my art and my design have come together.” www.saben.net.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

NIC BLACKIE - ‘IT’S GREAT TO BE BACK IN AUCKLAND’ AFTER A FEW YEARS ENJOYING JAPAN’S BEAUTIFULLY intriguing yet perplexing culture, sake and live sumo, Nic returns to where she had great success kick starting her career in real estate. Refreshed, recharged and armed with the same client valued mind-set - doing a better job is absolutely key. Nic’s business focus is based on each property owner getting one chance to ensure the job is done right. “We have one shot to get this right for the people who rightly expect an exemplary job.” She believes performing at a high level for her clients in all facets of the campaign maximises the result of their sale and their overall experience. With a genuine ability to connect with both buyers and sellers in the community, Nic shows strength of character her clients value and are willing to attest to.

Nic made a huge impact in the Grey Lynn and greater Ponsonby area achieving street record sales through well handled multi offer situations and precision auction programmes, this in addition to her undoubted negotiating skills. Nic says, “Some properties are difficult, some markets are less fluid than others, but one thing is universal, as a vendor you will always do better with someone who consistently strives for better”. Picking up where she left off, Nic opens May with two standout listings. A stunning family home with a genuine Kiwi back section in Warnock Street and a super sunny two bedroom entry level property in Richmond Road. So no doubt, Nic will see you out and PN about at the open homes. F NIC BLACKIE, M: 021 505 964 nic.blackie@customresidential.co.nz

WARMING UP FOR WINTER Daylight Saving’s over so it’s time to pull out the heaters, warmer clothes and bed covers. It’s also a good time to think about insulation; that ‘extra layer’ equivalent for your home. We had a little chat with some builders and it turns out they’re on board with foam. “Fibreglass is metric and most older houses are built in imperial, so it’s an unpleasant job squishing it in, or cutting it to fit”, said one builder. What about “green” options like wool insulation? “Of course that’s treated too”, said another, “and it’s still a pretty sticky kind of job.” Retrofitting fibre means removing the Gib to access the wall cavity. It comes off in pieces and has to be replaced. It creates a dusty, dirty environment and that material; old insulation, broken Gib etc... goes straight into landfill. Said one, “Frankly, insulation’s not the best bit of our job and home owners generally have more budget left over for genuine alterations when they take the foam route”. There’s no doubt that the fastest, most cost effective insulation is foam. And with an experienced practitioner such as HeatSavers, you can achieve a warmer home virtually instantly. The process takes days not weeks, it costs a third to a quarter as much and returns on your investment through energy savings and capital gains. So while you’re unpacking the jerseys, give HeatSavers a call. As one customer put it last August, “Quick, no nonsense installation. Noticed a difference in the warmth of the house immediately!” See if your home is suitable with a free, no-obligation assessment from HeatSavers. F PN M: 022 028 4553; tony@heatsavers.co.nz www.heatsavers.co.nz

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WARM ECO-FRIENDLY WOODEN FLOORING OPTIONS Power Dekor New Zealand represents Power Dekor Group; a well known brand respected for its excellent products and customer service. With customers from DIYers to large property development firms, they strive to provide the highest quality flooring products and outstanding services. Beauty and durability: Floors should be hard wearing as well as good looking, because they’ll need to endure sand, spills, pets, damaging UV rays and breakages. The spacious 250m2 showroom features a range of versatile, durable and cost -effective flooring, with a particular focus on sustainably-developed, environmentally friendly products. 3-layer engineered hardwood flooring: Power Dekor’s engineered hardwood flooring is made up of a core of real wood with a top layer of 4mm hardwood species. Finished with extra-strong UV cured lacquer, it is tough enough to withstand daily wear and tear and provides stability, particularly where moisture or heat creates problems for solid hardwood floors. Bamboo flooring: Power Dekor’s hot pressed strand woven bamboo flooring is manufactured from Moso Bamboo - the primary species for manufacturing flooring and plywood. Bamboo is a highly renewable resource as it grows back rapidly. Bamboo floors are exceptionally durable and resistant to wear and damage, they are popular with interior designers as a modern and eco-friendly flooring option. Laminates: Laminate floors are ideal for homeowners who love the warm look of wood but don’t want to spend too much, and they’re easy for the DIY handyman to install at home. Power, their laminate flooring, is produced in board form, the highly abrasion resistant overlay makes the floor hard wearing and more durable than any other type PN of flooring. F POWER DEKOR GROUP, 6 C Link Drive, Wairau Park T: 09 444 8288 www.powerdekorgroup.co.nz

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LOCAL NEWS THE HUSTLERS KEEP THE STREAK GOING THE 85KG SEASON IS UNDERWAY AGAIN BUT WITH A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FORMAT. This year there will be nine grading games before we find out what grade we will be in. After taking out the plate competition last year the boys are putting in the extra yards to get into the championship grade where there are no less than 144 dozen Speights up for grabs. One person who appears to be working harder than most is the latest red-haired addition to the team, Joe Harris. Joe has been working hard at training and keeping up team traditions off the field too. The original Red Stallion has been quoted as saying he is very proud of Joe’s accomplishments. But that he has a lot to do to achieve higher honours. We have a big squad this year, which is a great thing with people not being able to commit for every game. Despite early retirement calls, a few senior players have re-committed for one more season. It took a lot of peer pressure to convince our first five Samuel McConnell to don the jersey for one more year, but fortunately Danika gave in and he is allowed to play again. James Oliver has been making new friends in the off season, hanging out with Feleti Mateo. According to reports, he won’t eat Charlotte’s cooking,

unless it’s taro. He needs to hit the pavement if he is going to make a move for the 8 jersey. Callum Ross is another player struggling to make the starting 15. With some new tall timber recruited in the off season, Callum has opted for a two week rugby training programme in India to find himself and some serious form. We hope it pays dividends. To Coach’s dismay, there has been no Beerpong this year so there will be a big competition in the coming weeks. Thanks to Kiwipong for sorting this out for us. The first few games have gone according to plan and we still remain unbeaten (a streak that goes back May last year) with a win against one of the top teams in the champ grade last year ‘the bombers’ serving as a big confidence boost. We appreciate all the support on the sideline and hope to see you at either Cox’s Bay or Western Springs. Below is the schedule of the games for the season.

Round 4 03 May