PONSONBY NEWS - NOVEMBER'14

+ PUBLISHED 7 NOVEMBER, 2014

Established: OCTOBER 1989 – CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF PUBLISHING HISTORY!

ponsonbynews.co.nz

NOVEMBER 2014

FAMILIAR AND NEW FACES OF PONSONBY FASHION Chris Hales (GOODNESS), Liz Wilson (EUGENIE), Vicki Taylor (THE SHELTER), Jane Daniels (JANE DANIELS DESIGN), Patric Seng (BINTANG MODELS) and Wendy Nelson (UNION)

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WHAT’S INSIDE THIS MONTH

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P52; LOT 3, the new development on the corner of Ponsonby Road and Mackelvie Street is now the heart of fashion central; P81; Hector’s and Maui’s are the world’s rarest, and smallest marine dolphins. They can be seen from shore and are easy to identify because of the rounded dorsal fin and grey and black colouring.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM THE EDITOR DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW SHALE CHAMBERS: WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD NIKKI KAYE: MP FOR AUCKLAND CENTRAL JOHN ELLIOTT: SOAP BOX U3A PONSONBY WEST LYNN JACINDA ARDERN: LABOUR LIST MP AUCKLAND MIKE LEE, COUNCILLOR FOR WAITEMATA & GULF

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PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY LAURAINE JACOBS: THE SEASONED PALATE LANDMARK BUILDINGS FASHION + STYLE HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY LIVING, THINKING + BEING SHEENA SHUVANI: STARDUST ASTROLOGY JOHN APPLETON ON HEALTH

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SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY PONSONBY PEOPLE & THEIR PETS LOOK WHO IS IN THE ZOO HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS HEIDI PADAIN: ENTERTAINMENT IN YOUR GARDEN STREET NAMES JAY PLATT: WE CANT LIVE WITHOUT ARTS + CULTURE PONSONBY PINK PAGES

FUTURE GENERATION COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Michael McClintock

PONSONBY NEWS+ is published monthly, excluding January by ALCHEMY MEDIA LIMITED, 11/386 RICHMOND ROAD, GREY LYNN POSTAL: P.O. BOX 47-282 Ponsonby, Auckland 1144. www.ponsonbynews.co.nz T: 09 378 8553 or 09 361 3356 Editor/Publisher Associate Publisher & Ad Manager Deputy Editor Advertising Sales Operations Manager Contributing Fashion Editor Contributing Editor Contributing Editor Proof Readers Layout Designer Designer

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LETTERS + EMAILS Ponsonby News 25th Anniversary The team at Grey Lynn Dental would like to offer our warm congratulations to you and your team at Ponsonby News on your significant anniversary! Well done!

USHA NARSHAI, Grey Lynn Kimberly Sumner Happiness Business article I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been enjoying reading the new columnist, Kimberly Sumner, you’ve had in the Ponsonby News for the last two months. I avidly read your magazine every month and it’s great to have someone providing thought provoking advice. CLARE HYAMS, by email Franklin Road footpaths Franklin Road and its footpaths are finally going to get a much overdue makeover, well... not so much a makeover but a complete and utter rebuild and not before time. This will include all the services as well as a new street-scape.

Recently Auckland Transport held a meeting for the residents where several options were disclosed in a glossy brochure which has since been dropped all over the neighbourhood.

You will find, however, the details in it sparse and lacking in detail.

The reason for this is because for once, I believe Auckland Transport genuinely wants to consult with the community on how to successfully approach our unique road. One which currently serves not only its residents and the local businesses on Ponsonby Road but also a large number of commuters, long term parkers and of course over a hundred thousand Aucklanders during December.

What seems to be concerning the residents the most about the project is the streetscape that we will be left with once the project is finished. Possible options could include a much narrower road, the possible deletion of the median strip, the removal of parking between the trees and the inclusion of a cycleway down the footpath.

Views in Ponsonby News reflect the author’s, and not those of Alchemy Media. www.twitter.com/Ponsonby_News Dogs in Grey Lynn Park Walking my dog today I was yelled at and abused by a man also walking his dog his point? My dog is a Staffie/pit bull cross and he didn’t want it anywhere near his dog. My dog being on a lead this didn’t present an issue, although headstrong, she came along easily enough when pulled (there was no aggression in either dog on their meeting). I was hereby told my dog was a beast, he was sick of people like me and I should get the f**ck out of the park. He was a middle aged man with a labradoodle.

I understand that people have issues about powerful dogs - I understand them totally.

I keep my dogs on a lead within the park - not because they are dangerous but because others see them as such and I worry about what would happen if any incidents would ever occur. I believe I am a responsible dog owner, and perhaps too careful if anything.

My dogs are always on lead, have been harangued by Labradors, Dalmations, Malteses and Chihuahuas all off lead and very bold. VIVIENE MOORE, Grey Lynn A ‘staycation’ at The Great Ponsonby B&B The renovation of our bathroom meant we had to move out of our home in Arch Hill for four weeks. Gerry and Sally from The Great Ponsonby B&B came to our rescue and we ended up staying with them for five weeks. The Great Ponsonby is like a home away from home with everything one could wish for. You are made to feel like you are the most important guests there. The place is clean, well maintained and is well known for its breakfasts, a combination of help yourself and a cooked meal in a very relaxed, friendly environment - where you can read newspapers and chat with the other guests.

The only downside was the wi-fi, which was up and down, but we have similar issues at our office and also at home. It’s frustrating when you need to work but it is outside their control.

The Great Ponsonby’s location on Ponsonby Terrace is second to none and we could be on the Ponsonby strip within minutes. We’ve eaten out almost every night and have enjoyed many local cafes and restaurants. But it’s also nice to now be back home enjoying our fab new bathroom.

MARTIN LEACH, Arch Hill

Whatever they do to the road will affect the whole community whether as an access way, somewhere to park or just somewhere to appreciate as one of the most beautiful streets in a Super City fighting concrete and deforestation.

A couple of years ago we had a good experience with the major works that created the Victoria Tunnel due largely to the amount of consultation and cooperation offered by the parties concerned, so I urge all residents and Ponsonbysiders alike to attend and comment at the information sessions.

Auckland Transport have offered us a chance to be heard, let’s not waste it. Have your say: Community Information Session. Freemans Bay Community Centre 52 Hepburn Street, Freemans Bay 3 - 7pm Wednesday 5 November, and 12 - 3 pm, Saturday 8 November. ROSS THORBY, Freemans Bay Ponsonby News Anniversary Congratulations on the Ponsonby News anniversary. Twenty-five years is a very very respectable age in this era of publishing!

CLAIRE MCCALL, by email Ponsonby Park draft concept consultation With the increased population density in Ponsonby, the need for open greenspace is also increased. For apartment dwellers, particularly children now growing up with diminished outdoor environment options, the park Option 3 in the local board submission process is unquestionably the best.

The land offers one of the only remaining views from the Ponsonby ridge to the west of Auckland. This is a very important historic sight-line which I find immensely enjoyable and uplifting. Option 3 retains this and will offer a public space enhanced by this distinct view. A park utilising all of this land will be a gem for citizens of the future. We have all benefited from the decisions made by farsighted park creators in Auckland’s past - now it is our turn to look to the future.

ROBERT GILLIES, by email

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FROM THE EDITOR

I’M SURE I’M NOT ALONE IN FEELING SLIGHTLY IN awe with all the new changes in Ponsonby. The latest newcomer to the ‘hood is LOT 3, the new development between Richmond Road and Mackelvie Street.

My fashion scribe, Julie Roulston tells me, “This has brought an impressive eight new fashion labels into the street and into Ponsonby. The stores are slick and the businesses are largely proven - on a recent Saturday last month both Storm (moved down and across from its former Ponsonby Road premises) and the brand-newto-Ponsonby Icebreaker were positively bustling. The development’s fashion retailers will be complemented by Ponsonby’s first M.A.C Cosmetic store.

We are well served with bars in Ponsonby, but the team was excited when Shanghai Lil’s opened last month, where Poof Bar was located. This will be a popular addition to the strip and should attract old fans back as well as a new clientele.

One local cafe that I have always loved is the Little Bird Unbakery, at the top of Summer Street and directly behind Farina. Little Bird is a finalist in our Veg Friendly Challenge this month. The cafe is an amazing addition to the local cuisine culture, and we feel lucky to have it on our doorstep here in Ponsonby.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

photography: Michael McClintock

“It’s heartening to know that the project manager for the family trust that owns the LOT 3 development worked with Match Realty for 18 months to tenant the stores, striving to fit into the development’s surroundings, looking for retailers who would ‘last the distance’ and to keep the tenant mix as boutique and owner/operator as possible.”

Gwynne Davenport, Jo Barrett, Martin Leach, Jay Platt and Jessie Kollen

Children’s education is an important decision, and this issue a number of schools and early childhood centres offer suggestions in our Future Generation section.

West Lynn, aka Richmond Village, is where our offices are located and is one of our features this month. We love the friendly neighbourhood with all its cafes, bars and retail opportunities - it’s a great place to work or live.

Diary Date; Integrative Nutritionist Kaytee Boyd of Balanced Wellbeing in Ponsonby Central is holding some really informative workshops later this month (18 and 25 November) on understanding cancer, cancer causing chemicals, and removing these chemicals from your home and work environment amongst other things - page 80. (MARTIN LEACH) F PN

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DAVID HARTNELL’S: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW Larnie Nicholson, photographer for the recently published book ‘Rooms to Love’ (Penguin), has a studio in Hepburn Street, Freeman’s Bay. When did your interest in photography start?

Mum and dad both had an interest in photography when I was a kid. Mum was always documenting our family growing up and dad was a scuba diver and owned all the underwater camera-gear. I started shooting while I was studying graphic design. I loved everything about it and eventually came back from overseas to major in photography a few years later.

Was ‘Rooms to Love’ a fun shoot?

I always enjoy meeting the home owners and shooting the spaces. There were fun aspects like coming up with the initial concept with author LeeAnn Yare and pitching it to Penguin. It was super exciting to watch the design concepts unfold because design is my background and great to see the final book, but I would have to say the rest was really hard work with a lot of detailed decision making. The post work nearly killed me.

I worked 10 hour days for four weeks just doing the post production.

What was your childhood like?

Really fantastic. I grew up in the 70s with four older siblings on a farm with lots of animals, and a bach at Tairua.

Your dream holiday?

Sailing around Croatia with a bunch of friends, then hopping over to Venice where I would pick up a car and drive around the whole of Italy sampling the pasta, pizza and wine.

Tweeting or Facebook?

I don’t Tweet but stay in touch with friends on Facebook as well as having a business Facebook page. And Instagram is perfect for me being a photographer.

Greatest love of your life?

My mum and dad and my cat, Jagger, who is so cool he might even turn Gareth Morgan.

What do you really disapprove of?

People going in to a petrol station bathroom with bare feet.

Biggest disappointments?

I still claim I was robbed in the 1982 Tamahere calf club competition. I was awarded second place and I cried for two hours afterwards.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

I’d love to be able to sing. I’m sure I used to be able to sing (in tune even) as a child and in fact I was the lead in the aptly named musical ‘Cats of Ponsonby’ when I was 10 but now... it’s not good.

Which person do you most admire?

My mum. She’s the most generous, kindest and smartest person I know.

What happens when we die?

I find it hard to believe that that is it. I think we pass over and we join our loved ones.

That’s what I’d like to believe.

What cliché do you most abhor?

Women can’t drive. I drive like the wind! And I can back a trailer.

Favourite movie?

I’ve seen ‘When Harry met Sally’ about 10 times. So many great quotes.

You can’t live without?

In winter it’s my electric blanket.

Give your teenaged self some advice?

Do NOT perm your hair - it will not look good!

Greatest weakness/indulgence?

I’ve never met a French fry I could resist.

How do you chill out?

I am the queen of chill out, I can chill anywhere.

Handshake or a hug kind of person?

Friends and family, I’m a hugger. Meeting someone for the first time, a firm handshake.

I can’t stand a limp-wristed handshake.

Best thing about your life right now?

That I own my own home.

Your dream home?

It will be on a small plot of land in the bush somewhere and I’d like alpacas and chickens.

It will have lots of natural sunlight, lots of wood, art work and an open fire and I’d build it to be as green and sustainable as possible.

What are you insecure about?

That my once loose-fitting ‘boyfriend jeans’ are now not so loose. It’s been a long hard winter!

Something very few people know about you?

I was held up at gunpoint when I worked in a vet clinic in London.

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Your dream guest list for a dinner party?

My girlfriends because they are smart and funny and I don’t see them nearly enough.

And because I’m such a good friend I’m going to invite Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy too. Richard Branson would have some good stories to tell. Comedian CK Lewis for the laughs, Lou Reed and Kate Moss because they would know how to rock a party.

Travel light or heavy?

Heavy dammit.

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

The fact the government even want to explore conservation land boggles my mind. We should be doing everything in our power to protect these amazing places.

(DAVID HARTNELL) F PN

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WHILE THE WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD and council generally wrestle with how to deliver on the long suffering ratepayers lack of appetite for large increases in rates or debt, whilst at the same time planning for the right balance of progress to meet the community’s expectations for improvements to the city over the next 10 years, lots is still happening at council in the vicinity of Ponsonby Road.

The local board is currently gathering your feedback on the draft concept options for the 254 Ponsonby Road council-owned ‘Nosh’ site. Far-sighted former elected representatives in Western Bays purchased this site in 2006 with the intent that it become an urban square for the Ponsonby town centre. This was intended to be part funded by a mixed-use development at the rear of the site. Although we need to be aware of this original intent, we are also aware of the growing importance of open space in this area of intensification. We wish to plan for what is right for our community, which necessarily also includes factoring in affordability. Your local board has now advanced plans to see this original vision come to fruition in the near or medium future.

The local board recently endorsed three concept options for the development of 254 Ponsonby Road for pubic consultation: a small open space with active retail activities and cafes, delivered at no net cost to ratepayers; a medium-sized open space, with a small-sized children’s play space, at a previously-budgeted modest net cost, or a large whole-of-site open space, delivered at a cost, which if chosen by the wider Ponsonby community as the right choice will require budget availability to develop.

The community has to date indicated a variety of views on the options, which all have their respective merits, and we warmly welcome this public debate. Whichever option is chosen we will be committed to see it delivered over time. I would encourage you to let us know what you think via online survey by 1 December 2014 at shapeauckland.co.nz.

Another really exciting project this local board, in partnership with the Freemans Bay Residents Association, has been advocating to Auckland Transport for some period is Franklin Road improvements.

And it’s happening! Franklin Road, as many who travel it know, is in poor condition despite recent patching, and a full upgrade has been in the ‘too hard basket’ for many years. Auckland Transport, L to R: Pippa Coom, Deborah Yates and Shale Chambers at last years in coordination with utility Franklin Road lights switch-on providers, hopefully including mitigate flooding within the park for the long-suffering yet-to-be confirmed power line undergrounding by residents living downstream. Keep an eye out for this.

Vector, is aiming to upgrade the road to meet the needs of all users. One given is that the magnificent 100-yearStudio One - Toi Tu at 1 Ponsonby Road is a local old London Plane trees are to be preserved for the next board run facility housing a collection of collaborative 300 years of their life. spaces for artists, creative businesses, individuals and community organisations to meet, make, learn, There is a lot of consultation and planning to complete, listen, practise and exhibit. This year’s rebrand but work is planned to commence by early 2016. Please from ArtStation was a project commissioned by the have your say on the roading, berm, footpath and cycling Waitemata Local Board, developed and produced by Alt upgrade options, with a second information session Group, and has just won three awards at this year’s planned for Saturday, 8 November 2014, 12-3pm, national Best Design Awards.

Freemans Bay Community Centre.

The Board recently completed a Ponsonby Road Plan.

A project the board is presently progressing with an Auckland Transport capex budget is a concept to improve the pedestrian experience of walking the strip.

This project will improve the side road treatment of a limited number of roads off Ponsonby Road, and using a planned project for safety improvements to the entrance to Anglesea Street as the template.

The board is also about to finalise a draft Western Park Development Plan for public consultation early next year. This includes an exciting environmental project to daylight in part the historic Tunamau stream at the foot of the park as an identified solution to contain and

The sculpture-led identity for Studio One - Toi Tu took the Gold Pin for Small Brand Identity, as well as Best Environmental Graphics. Studio One - Toi Tu was also awarded the Purple Pin for Graphic Design, one of the event’s supreme awards for a project that raises the bar of New Zealand design. We are delighted our approach has been so significantly recognised.

Christmas and the Franklin Road Christmas lights are nearly upon us. Thanks once again to the fine Franklin Road folk who give so generously of their street to PN Auckland. (SHALE CHAMBERS) F Contact me: shale.chambers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

ARCH HILL RESIDENTS INCORPORATED (SOCIETY) AGM LAUNCHES NEW DIRECTION On Tuesday 22 October the first AGM of the AHRIS was held, ably chaired on the night by Jon Rennie.

While acknowledging the huge effort put into the Bunnings consent process by a galvanised community, this occasion also marked a turning point for the society, with the focus changing from fundraising and fighting to looking to the future representation of the Arch Hill community and the benefits it can bring.

A review of the society's activities and a report on the financial status indicated further fundraising will be required.

Issues and initiatives for the community identified included active engagement with Grey Lynn ridge intensification; pushing for sound barrier retro fitment along the interface of the North Western Motorway, especially near the Newton Central School; and the proposed Home Street playground and greenspace redevelopment. Night time visibility in the lower streets to reduce petty crime and enabling pedestrian and resident safety was also identified along with perennial parking issues to be addressed with Auckland Transport.

The success of the Dean Street party last year as both a community get-together and fundraiser looks set to be repeated in the New Year.

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A new committee was elected with appointees being: Andy Jacobs Anita Aggrey - Bunnings Liaison appointee Caron Mitchell David Batten - Chairman Dorothy Booth Jon Rennie / Rosemary Moore - Co-Secretaries Malcolm Clack - Treasurer Sarah Kelly Recent experience in dealing first hand with developments and residential intensification in our midst has highlighted the need for a strong community and to also engage with like-minded groups and our elected representatives, both at local and central government levels, to ensure we have a voice. But above all, to know that we are part of a larger family, as participants in a vibrant community, is the most important thing about living in Arch Hill.

(DAVID BATTEN, Chairman Arch Hill Residents Inc. Society) F PN

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photography: Martin Leach

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NIKKI KAYE: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP

Delivering for Auckland and New Zealand Thank you for giving me another three years of your support.

I feel privileged to be elected the MP for Auckland Central for my third term. Over the last six years Auckland Central has always been a tight race and I want to acknowledge the other candidates for the seat in particular Members of Parliament Jacinda Ardern and Denise Roche.

My job as your local MP is to represent and advocate for all constituents in Auckland Central so please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any issues. I am dedicated to the 23 Auckland projects that I have committed to deliver across the Western Bays, CBD, Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island, which you can find out more about at www.nikkikaye.co.nz.

Your support is not something I take for granted. I will continue to work hard for you and our diverse communities. I was also delighted to be asked by the Prime Minister to become a cabinet minister again this term. I will continue to work hard in the cabinet as Minister for ACC, Youth, Civil Defence and Associate Minister of Education.

National laid out a clear plan to keep New Zealand heading in the right direction, we will remain focused on that, and on delivering better public services for you and your family.

We will continue to build a strong and growing economy that delivers more jobs and higher incomes. National will continue to support businesses to invest, grow, and create jobs by delivering on our 10 Business Growth Agenda priorities.

We will stay in surplus, reduce debt, and keep taxes low. We know New Zealand families work hard and expect the government to spend their taxes on things that matter. So National established the Better Public Services programme to focus on getting results that make a difference to people’s lives, especially those who are most vulnerable.

We will continue to support those who need it most and we’ll back people to get ahead on their own steam. One of our BPS targets is increasing participation in early childhood education, as we recognise education provides the opportunity for any child from any background to get ahead and make the most of their life.

At schools, we’re focused on raising the quality of teaching and leadership to raise student achievement. We want highly capable teachers to work alongside other teachers, to help them develop and improve classroom practice. We have also committed to improving special education with another 800,000.

In health, we’re investing more so your children can receive free doctors’ visits until they’re 13, and we’re extending paid parental leave so you can stay at home longer with your baby.

To help our exporters move their freight around the country, and help people travel easily around New Zealand, we will continue the Roads of National Significance programme and deliver our $212 million regional roading package.

While we have the lowest crime rate in 35 years, we’ll reduce crime even further by ensuring prisoners complete a 40 hour working week and rehab while behind bars, so they have a better chance of contributing to society when they are released.

Finally, we will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Cantabrians as we complete the Christchurch rebuild. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and New Zealand for the next three years. (NIKKI KAYE) F PN Hon Nikki Kaye is the MP for Auckland Central. www.nikkikaye.co.nz

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Jo Barrett on 021 324 510 or Jessie Kollen on 021 166 2002 t: 09 361 3356 or 09 378 8553 e: joannebarrett@xtra.co.nz e: jessiekollen@gmail.com w: www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

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JOHN ELLIOTT: SOAP BOX

How does the Labour Party dig itself out of the hole?

Labour was devastated by the defeat on 20 September. Now the soul searching and navel gazing begins.

There is one comforting thing for Labour supporters to remember. A certain National Party leader, Bill English, led National to a crushing defeat in 2002. National received just 21% of the vote. (Labour got 25% this time.)

There are two aspects to Labour’s renewal. First - the leadership question. We’ll hear a lot about this in the coming weeks - Robertson, Little, Mahuta, or Parker. The second aspect of renewal is a review of policy positions, and a comprehensive analysis of what Labour stands for, why New Zealanders should support it, and how the message can be communicated to the electorate at large.

The leadership decision might be a tricky one, but the policy review is critical. It might be that some policies remain, but need to be sold more convincingly. Let me make a few suggestions. Most controversially, maybe Labour should change its name. There are very few Labour Parties worldwide - Australia and Britain being major exceptions.

While I hasten to say that increasing weakness of our labour unions (largely through neo -liberal policies of destruction), has weakened workers’ rights, especially over collective bargaining, the old dichotomy of labour and bosses has become somewhat diminished, and workers like to see themselves as lifelong learners, upwardly mobile, and potentially owners of their own businesses.

I know that neo-liberalism has done much to increase inequality and favour the top 1%.

All the cream has been going to the top - trickle-down has been permanently discredited.

But I think Labour should be looking to Europe, and Scandinavia in particular, for a new democratic model.

Right wing scare mongering about ‘nanny state’, ‘Soviet-style policies’ and ‘far left lunacy’, is a nonsense, but has had far too much negative effect on uninformed voters in New Zealand. Capital gains tax is not far left lunacy. Neither is a single power authority.

Neither is a fair, progressive tax policy.

infrastructure to get privately produced goods to market. Police will ensure a safe community for all to enjoy.

Elizabeth Warren, United States Senator for Massuchusetts (Ted Kennedy’s old seat), put it this way: “There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own. Nobody. You built a factory out there? Good for you. But I want to be clear. You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for... Now look, you built a factory and it turned into something terrific.

God bless! Keep a big hunk of it. But part of the underlying social contract is you take a hunk of that and pay forward for the next kid who comes along.”

That is social democracy - European style. It’s what we must sell to New Zealanders.

A democratic plurality. That simply means that the government and private enterprise work together for the benefit of ALL New Zealanders, not just for those with power, money and influence. There is no just and fair society where the rich hide away in gated communities, and leave the poor to fend for themselves, or eke out an existence with the help of charity. If explained clearly and carefully enough, New Zealanders (by and large believing in greater equality) will respond, and kick out governments who govern mainly for special interests.

The failed neo-liberal experiment is over. It was a 30 year phenomenon. Jacob Hacker in his book ‘Winner-Take-All Politics’, calls it ‘The Thirty Year War’. Those who benefit most from it will cling to its last vestiges for dear life, but it will end.

Then New Zealand will be ready to embrace a refreshing mix of state and private enterprise, with suitable checks and balances in place, to ensure a fair and just society - a social democratic one.

New Zealand led the world with its welfare state, born in the 1930s and never dismantled by successive Labour and National Governments until Rogernomics and Ruthanasia - both under the evil spell of Milton Friedman, the economist, and Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, the notorious political implementers of the free market ideology.

Perhaps to emphasise the point, that new political party might be called the Social Democratic Party. After all the first president of the Labour Party, in 1916, James McCombs, was formerly of the Social Democrat Party until that party disappeared in coalition with Labour. His wife, Elizabeth, was the first woman member of parliament in 1933, and son Terry was a minister in the first Labour Government.

I’m sure New Zealanders still believe the state should look after the old, the young, the sick, and the underprivileged in our society. The government too, should fund education and health care. Government should provide roads, rail and essential

A rich family history indeed. But whatever its name, it’s the political ideology which is important. Get it right, and it will far and away outlast Cunliffe, Robertson, Little, Mahuta, PN Parker, or any other of the current crop of politicians. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F

RACHAEL TE AOTONGA: LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY NEWS THE LIBRARIANS AT LEYS INSTITUTE ARE JUST MANAGING TO TAKE a breath after an action packed October; we have celebrated with many festivities including a ‘Creation Station’ themed school holiday programme, the ever popular Heritage Festival and Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Thanks very much to all who supported us by taking part in these events, we have had a ball!

A great read couldn’t come any quicker. I am very much looking forward to settling down with The Man Booker Winner for 2014, Australia’s Richard Flanagan’s ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’. Set in a Japanese POW camp on the Thai-Burma railway, the story is “a savagely beautiful novel about the many forms of love and death, of war and truth, as one man comes of age, prospers, only to discover all that he has lost.” With tough competition in this year’s shortlist, I can’t wait to devour this novel.

If you would like to come to your own conclusion about the winner, do take advantage of our request service. Did you know you can order library items free of charge from the comfort of your own home? Library members can access ‘my info’ through the Auckland Libraries website and order to their heart’s content. A guilt free internet shopping experience without the price tag!

We have an amazing DVD collection that is also worth exploring online, it contains lots of excellent festival and foreign films, documentaries as well as current blockbusters and TV series. If you aren’t already a member of Auckland Libraries, all you need to join is photo ID and proof of address, such as a letter that has been posted to you. Pop in and see us and we can join you up in a matter of minutes. Children can be members from birth and only require a parent/guardian membership to join. Imagine the amount of entertainment available when each member can take 35 items out each!

I’d also like to highlight our digital collection. You can search article databases, online newspapers, reference books, encyclopedias, eBooks, eAudiobooks, online exhibitions, photographic collections, music, and historic newspaper archives all from your personal computer, smartphone or tablet. There is an amazing depth of information available once you’re logged on, with the newest addition to the library consisting of an eMagazine platform called Zinio. Over 600 magazines are immediately downloadable through this app, which can be kept until you no longer want them. I was so impressed with Zinio I went out and bought myself a tablet the next day so I could take full advantage of it.

The friendly librarians at Leys are only too happy to help you with all enquiries and information needs. Whether it is discovering your next good read, help with requesting an item or downloading an eMagazine, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our ‘book a librarian’ service is available and perfect for when more in-depth assistance is required, with this service we can dedicate time to help on a one-on-one basis. Happy reading! (RACHAEL TE AOTONGA) F PN LEYS INSTITUTE, 20 St Marys Road, T: 09 374 1315, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LOCAL NEWS A BUSY MONTH AT GREY LYNN COMMUNITY CENTRE Every month is a busy month at the Grey Lynn Community Centre - and November will be no different.

Between seven and eight thousand people visit the community centre each month for a myriad of reasons, from the weekly Farmers’ Market, children’s and adult classes and a wide variety of groups meeting on a regular basis. As well, a CYF approved ‘OSCAR’ school holiday programme is run four times a year. Venue hire is a core activity of the community centre with five versatile spaces, from hall size to small meeting room for hire.

Grey Lynn Community Centre manager Cath Bathe-Taylor outside the centre in Richmond Road.

November highlights include the Annual General Meeting, which will take place on Tuesday 18 November at 6pm. “We have a dedicated governance committee that is deeply involved with the centre’s activities, but there’s always room for more members,” says community centre manager Cath Bathe-Taylor.

“We are calling on our incredibly skilled community to bring along some of their best. We look to the governance committee for reflection of our community through the community centre. The committee members are special people who volunteer their time and help to make this centre a vital hub of the Grey Lynn community.” Nomination forms are available at the Grey Lynn Community Centre office.

As manager Cath is responsible to the governance committee. She looks after the day -to-day running of the centre, which is a hugely varied job. She brought to the position a background of costume and theatre design and was street coordinator for K Road. She says she has “done everything from clothing labels to owning a tattoo parlour.” Cath is also a marriage celebrant, which she thoroughly enjoys.

One of the functions of the Community Centre to make it truly local, is to acknowledge the strong art community in Grey Lynn. Local artists are invited to have their work hung in the centre. “Our aim is to open this up to all local artists for certain weeks of the year. Up until now we have featured work from the Framework and Toi Ora Trusts. We will continue to do so, but we will also offer hanging space to all local artists.” Artists will be able to sell their work, donating a percentage of the sale price to the community centre, which will be used to provide functional hanging channels. It is intended to offer hanging space to local artists six times a year for a number of weeks at a time. Cath looks forward to hearing from Grey Lynn artists interested in participating.

New signage has finally appeared on the exterior wall of the community centre. “We can’t thank Chris Morris from Wazoo enough for her amazing design skills and her extreme generosity with her time, which she gave for free,” says Cath. The brightly coloured signage spells out who we are and what we do and adds to the attractive facade of the building.”

This month the community centre is calling on all women to donate their pre-loved bras to the women in our New Zealand prison in the JustSpeak collection bin at the Grey Lynn Community Centre. The JustSpeak organisation points out that bras and toiletries are a basic need that is not met for many women in prison. They are frequently financially disadvantaged before their imprisonment and are often far from families and support.

As well as bras, suggested personal hygiene products are soap, shampoo, deodorant, moisturiser and sanitary pads. Local residents generously supported last year’s appeal PN and it is hoped we do so again this month. (PHILIPPA TAIT) F GREY LYNN COMMUNITY CENTRE, 510 Richmond Road, T: 378 4908 www.greylynn.org.nz

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PONSONBY U3A: OCTOBER 2014 Herne Bay resident Gordon Macfarlane joined Ponsonby U3A five years ago, followed soon after by his wife Anne.

Their post retirement lives were busy and full, and as Anne put it, “We weren’t looking for more to do or to widen our circle, but I look forward to U3A meetings and value the contacts and friends.” Both are active members attending monthly meetings and taking part in Ponsonby U3A members the special interest groups Gordon and Anne Macfarlane that are the lifeblood of the U3A movement. Anne is on the committee and belongs to the Scrabble and Ramblers groups. Gordon also belongs to the Ramblers group and plays petanque with other U3A members each Thursday at the Herne Bay Petanque Club.

You could say that they are typical U3A members - vitally interested in new ideas and finding their post retirement lives as interesting and varied as any other time in their lives.

Gordon was a city town planner with the Auckland City Council for 20 years, followed by 15 years as a planning commissioner for the council. He has been involved with Citizens Advice Bureau for 20 years and is active in church affairs and has received recognition for his community involvement. Anne has a science degree, trained as a teacher, married and had four children. She was involved with many groups, including the establishment of the Rosedale Alternative School on the North Shore. She is a published author, her book ‘Feet Across America,’ described her involvement in the Great Peace March For nuclear disarmament from Los Angeles to Washington, through New York, in 1986.

A popular feature of the monthly U3A meetings are the 10 minute talks given by members - about themselves, an interest or activity. Gordon was the 10 minute speaker at the October meeting and talked about two of his interests: the development of the half million acres of volcanic land around the Taupo and Rotorua area (his early career had been with the now defunct Lands and Survey Department), and Gondwanaland. He introduced us to the recently published book, ‘Zealandia: Our Continent Revealed’ by GNS geologists Hamish Campbell and Nick Mortimer. Earlier in the year Anne gave a talk about the benefits of the YMCA’s Never2Old programme she attends. Since then other U3A members have joined the Never2Old group. Through the 10 minute talks we get to know something of the interesting and friendly people who are U3A members.

Guest speaker at the October meeting was Dr Jim Stinear, Academic Director of exercise and neurorehabilitation programmes, University of Auckland. His talk was titled ‘Physical Inactivity - a global health problem.’ He said physical inactivity is now the biggest problem in developed countries, according to the World Health Organisation.

Our physiology is designed for movement and lack of adequate quantities of movement causes our physiology to malfunction with a low level of systemic inflammation. Artery linings become inflamed, build plaque and lose their elasticity, byproducts of metabolism build, our chemistry changes, muscles shrink and we become insulin resistant. Lack of movement causing low levels of inflammation sets the stage for coronary artery disease, heart attacks, strokes and diabetes. Dr Stinear talked about the problem of central obesity, which is the most harmful form of obesity. He said studies have shown that exercise can favourably affect rates of breast cancer, colorectal cancer and dementia.

He emphasised our need to exercise moderately for at least 150 minutes a week of accumulated exercise. For walkers the ideal rate is the point when chatting to your companion is not easy.

Next month’s guest speaker will be Margaret Antunovich, Branch Manager, Ponsonby -Grey Lynn Citizens Advice Bureau.

Meetings are held on the second Friday morning of the month. Guests are welcome to PN attend. (PHILIPPA TAIT) F NEXT MEETING: ENQUIRIES:

9.45am, Friday 14 November @ Leys Institute, St Marys Road Annie Webster, President, Ponsonby U3A, T: 376 2902 PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS DIARY DATE: WATERFRONT AUCKLAND'S STREET PARTY ON DALDY STREET Saturday 22 November.

A good old street party is being held in Wynyard Quarter this month to mark the completion of significant upgrades to two key sections of roads in the waterfront precinct.

The revitalisation of parts of Halsey and Daldy Streets has seen both streets transformed to pedestrian priority, supporting slower vehicle speeds and a high degree of connectivity through wider footpaths, street-side greenspaces and street furniture.

Council organisation has overseen the project as part of the ongoing regeneration for 18.5 ha of prime waterfront land in Wynyard Quarter over the next 20 years.

Chief Executive John Dalzell says after a key part of the urban design for the area was fulfilled in 2011 with the reconnection of the east-west axis, the upgrades to Daldy and Halsey streets is all about improving the connections from north to south. “Both Daldy and Halsey streets have had dramatic transformations that will further draw people into the area along with a more managed and sustainable transport strategy that promotes walking and cycling as appealing commuter options. Eventually they will form part of a green connection running from Victoria Park to the sea.�

To celebrate the completion of the first stage of the street upgrades from Pakenham Street north, Waterfront Auckland is holding a street party on Daldy Street on Saturday 22 November. The second stage from Fanshawe Street is being delivered by Auckland Transport, and is set to get underway early next year. F PN For more information go to www.wynyard-quarter.co.nz

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WEST LYNN: RICHMOND VILLAGE WELCOME TO WEST LYNN We're West Lynn locals at Ponsonby News, our offices are in the curve of Richmond Road where the little shopping hub of West Lynn is located.

There is something a bit magical about Harvest Wholefoods, the vegetarian paradise that has been an institution in the heart of Grey Lynn for over 35 years.

Whether it’s the eclectic team of passionate staff or the mix of health conscious, discerning and loyal customers, Harvest is a unique establishment, marching to the beat of its own drum. While new foodie stores pop up all over Auckland, Harvest is still committed to ingredient integrity rather than flashy labels.

A real neighbourhood, West Lynn combines the ever so slightly eccentric but elegant character of Grey Lynn with the needs of its modern inhabitants.

"We moved Ponsonby News here two years ago and we love it," says Ponsonby News editor Martin Leach.

BE IN FOODIE HEAVEN AT HARVEST WHOLEFOODS

Mrs Whippy is a regular visitor to West Lynn

West Lynn keeps visitors and locals alike happy with sophisticated but friendly cafes and bars, an organic supermarket, pharmacy, doctors' clinic, baby shops for all your pre-schooler supplies, a bookshop, gift shop, a second hand store, and, well, lots more.

Breakfasts, lunches, dinners and drinks are all covered: Pure Food Kitchen keeps it organic and Fair Trade, Monterey cafe is open also for dinner and Jafa cafe can be found right at the end of Richmond Road. Visit the local pub, Malt bar, or spend pleasant evenings at Gypsy Tea Room, Frieda Margolis or newly opened Siostra restaurant. Even the furry family members are catered for by Raw Essentials pet food.

Pommes Frites fish n' chips (enjoyed by the Ponsonby News team every proof reading night) Mamata Bakery, Harvest Wholefoods organic supermarket and the Sunday farmers market also satisfy the appetites of locals, while the bookshop, Dear Reader, satisfies the inquiring mind. The needs of the body and soul are met at the Yoga Ground, the Buddhist centre, as well as Wellpark College of natural therapies. West Lynn Pharmacy, Richmond Road Medical Centre and practioners of natural medicine and therapies are all available, including PODS podiatry.

Harvest’s buyers ensure that all products on their shelves are free from genetically modified organisms, contain no conventional eggs or any questionable additives. This means you can be sure that what you purchase from them is wholesome and ethically sound.

Harvest has everything from groceries to hair dyes - you can do your complete shop there. If you’re dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan or just plain hungry, you’ll be in foodie heaven. Their staff walk the talk and delight in offering you firsthand knowledge from their own personal experiences.

Harvest’s naturopathic consultation service is free and their herbal dispensary is stocked up with everything to keep you healthy and glowing all year round.

Harvest continues to serve Grey Lynn as a relaxed place to cruise through your shopping list and escape the rush - Harvest genuinely cares about what you and your PN family eats. F HARVEST WHOLEFOODS, 405 Richmond Road, T: 09 376 3107

Locals can keep beautiful at Redox Body, Nails on Richmond, and for hair, Shoosh, H & Co, Gareth & Co, Luxe & Duke or SBF Hair Artists.

Fashion is on the West Lynn strip with Vanilla Ink, Moa and Dalston. The Black Box Boutique and Jetsetbohemian are found on the Surrey Crescent end of Richmond Road, while the babies and children can look stylish too after a visit to Nature Baby, Baby on the Move or Playmaker Sports.

The weekend car-boot sale and 'Inorganic', a secondhand wonderland, take care of the urge to bargain hunt, while Presentz has original gifts at good prices.

Ray White (with an auction room on Thursdays), and the Professionals are the places to visit if you plan on buying or renting a property in the area, while the Art of Travel will help you escape for that exotic holiday.

West Lynn is also home to the Grey Lynn RSC and the Grey Lynn Community Centre is PN available to all who live or work in the West Lynn neighbourhood. F

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

OUT + ABOUT

The crowd are about to enjoy Moa’s show

Models presenting the Moa Kaleidoscope collection

photography: Clare Gemima

L to R: Tamsin Hanly; a model showing off the collection; Amber McLennan, a Moa Kaleidoscope collection model, and Liv Bjorklund

L to R: Serena Stevenson; Diana Gentle, Moa’s Assistant Manager; Miharo McEwen and Raewyn Alexander

MOA KALEIDOSCOPE COLLECTION - WEDNESDAY 15 OCTOBER The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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OUT + ABOUT

L to R: Jules Clarke, Leeann Mercer and Monique Jarvis; Bernadette Blumsley-Gibbs and Jessica Aggrey; Kathryn Michie and Suzy Azarian, HELP Foundation

L to R: Lisa Taouma and Lope Ginnen; Stephanie Slyfield and Tracey Allot; Annie Triggs and Rachael Murphy

DALSTON SUMMER 2014 TRUNK SHOW West Lynn retailer, Dalston, held an evening of bubbles, nibbles and fashion fun! Rose Lally, a true fashionista, showcased current looks and was on hand for personal styling advice. An Eye of Horus make up artist was also in store applying complimentary eye makeovers.

“The Dalston event was fantastic, it was hard to get, through the doors, so many gorgeous woman were out for a bubbly and nibble,” says our PN photographer, Clare Gemima.

photography: Clare Gemima

All the money made from the Dalston Fashion/Jewellery range sold last night was donated to the HELP Foundation. The HELP Foundation is an organisation helping those who have been sexually abused or found themselves in a sexual crisis.

“I photographed the two ladies representing the organisation (Kathryn Michie and Suzy Azarian) and they explained their mission further,” said Clare.

“Their aim is for it to be as big or bigger than Starship, and I wished them all the best.

PN They are all about exposure.” www.sexualabusehelp.org.nz F

Cupcake anyone?

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

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS FIRST THURSDAYS NEW ORLEANS STYLE 4 December 6 - 9pm K Road Business Association are pleased to announce the next instalment of the ever popular K Road First Thursdays celebration for the year. K Road and surrounds will transform into a vibrant New Orleans style carnival, complete with jazz bands, markets, Brazilian Samba dance displays, a market and activations around the precinct. It will offer you your slice of the strip with a buzzing crowd for the night! Participating cafes and bars will offer their own twist on New Orleans food and cocktails.

Blush Gallery at 203H - La Gonda Arcade, 203 K Road 69 Selfies - This will be a show where Blush invites interesting people to send them a selfie with a work in a title. The gallery will then get them printed out with their title and put them around the room. The event is a merging of cyberspace and IRL. Ironbar Cafe - Ironbank, 150 K Road The Brazilian Divas are back on K Road! Based in Auckland, their dancers are the most authentic samba dance group providing an unforgettable experience! Trained in a wide range of Latin American dance styles, the Divas deliver a unique and exciting performance. While being wowed by the dancers, dine on Michael’s Creole style BBQ. Twice as Nice Markets - 225 K Road and La Gonda Arcade, 203 K Road Two Markets, one night, same block! The legendary La Gonda Market and The Bread and Butter Letter’s Garage Sale Markets, are pairing up for a night of Christmas shopping goodness. The two spaces will host clothing sales, craft and bric-a-brac between each other! These markets will be an event you'll want to mark on the map since there is so much up for grabs!

Beresford Square Three in One Beresford Square Wine Bar, The Station and The Wingman combine for a night of music and dance on the square. Swing to the sounds of a four-piece band comprising drummer, base saxophone and keys from 7-11pm from The Auckland Prohibition Big Band. The Station is creating Cajun pizzas and Sazerac cocktails; the official cocktail of New Orleans. Watch out for pendant tree baubles adding a bit of sparkle to the atmosphere.

Saint Kevin’s Arcade - 179 K Road Be excited and delighted by dance group A Slice Of Pineapple, specialists in vintage beats, vintage jazz, Dixieland. Dance along with the live band Twistin' The Swing or watch pop-up dance displays. Stores in Saint Kevin’s will have market specials out and Sew Love Tea Do are hosting a workshop on umbrella decorating, a New Orleans tradition.

Coco’s Cantina - 376 K Road Coco’s take their craft seriously and their award winning and much loved team will be running some First Thursdays: New Orleans-style drinks and food specially created for the night.

For more information go to www.firstthursdays.co.nz

WIN A DICK FRIZZELL CUSTOM DESIGNED TEA CADDY Bell Tea has recently partnered with one of the nation’s mostloved and recognised local artists Dick Frizzell, to produce a number of limited edition tea tins that showcase the unique blends Bell Tea offers.

The tea caddys, custom designed by Frizzell, were inspired by moments shared with friends and family over a cuppa and brings a noteably Kiwiana flare to the tea drinking experience.

We are excited to be able to offer four readers a limited edition giveaway that includes a Dick Frizzell tea tin and 11 different Bell Tea blends.

To enter, please email your name, address and contact number to competition@elevenpr.co.nz and tell us your favourite Bell Tea blend.

The winner will be drawn on 28 November. F PN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

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JACINDA ARDERN: LABOUR LIST MP AUCKLAND

Elections end, but big decisions continue This is my first column in the Ponsonby News since election night, so I’d like to start by saying a huge thanks to everyone who supported me and the Labour Party this time round. What a great race it was!

We knew that the boundary changes and the transfer of Grey Lynn into Mt Albert would make it an interesting battle, but it was a race that was well fought all round.

I also want to thank the other Auckland Central candidates. I’ve always thought that this seat has been a pretty good example of the kind of contest of ideas, fought hard but with dignity and respect, that we can model everywhere. Long may that continue!

But there are some issues that we have to deal with as a country that pay no attention to our electoral cycles, and demand our attention regardless of our domestic political issues.

The current international crisis posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria is one of them.

There is absolutely no doubt that ISIS is an extreme and brutal organisation that constitutes a threat to humanity. The question we have to ask ourselves, is what role should New Zealand play? And how do we determine that role?

PONSONBY PARK 254 Ponsonby Road aka the ‘Nosh and Liquor King’ site.

Ponsonby and the surrounding areas (1) were identified in the ‘Ponsonby open space study’ prepared by Boffa Miskell Ltd in December 2000 as being “poorly serviced by small and medium sized reserves”. The site at 254 Ponsonby Road, owned by the Auckland City Council since 2006, was purchased to address this lack of amenity.

The Boffa Miskell survey also states, “In recent times there has been significant intensification of residential development within the study area”. In the 14 years since this survey was commissioned the population has increased significantly and with the intensification of Auckland City under the Proposed Unitary Plan and special housing areas (2), will continue to do so. The need for the park/open space has increased markedly with this population and built environment growth.

In order to determine what this much needed park/open space will be, the Waitemata Local Board has prepared three draft concept options for the development of the ‘Nosh’ site and these are going out to the community for feedback until Friday 21 November 2014.

We, the Western Bays Community Group, are promoting Option 3 - which is the whole of the site park/open space and earlier this year we collected over 1200 signatures from people who also want this outcome for the site. Our reasons include:

New Zealand’s recent successful bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council provides us with an opportunity to contribute to a considered response. Gaining the seat wasn’t just a result of a long campaign that we ran over nearly a decade, but also shows the sort of standing that New Zealand has in the world.

• We the ratepayers already own the land. This is the biggest cost and has already been achieved. It is unlikely, with the dramatic property price increases in Auckland city, that future land purchases will be possible in this area.

The key now is for New Zealand to follow through on what it promised: to listen to the issues carefully and give each country’s perspective a fair hearing, to decide situations on the merits, not because they are backed by powerful interests and to stand up for small states who often don’t get a voice at the Security Council.

• The development of the park can be done gradually starting with a permeable limestone surface and (food) tree plantings. This will enable a financially achievable development of the park/open space without the need to sell any of the foundation asset being the land - as is proposed in options 1 and 2.

This independence along with the bipartisanship that contributed to the seat on the Security Council must then also flow through to any response New Zealand carries out against ISIS. In our book, that should mean engaging broadly across parliament for a decision as significant as this. For that cross party consultation to be meaningful, it’s important that the decision around New Zealand’s engagement isn’t predetermined.

Sadly the presence of New Zealand’s Chief of Defence Force at a meeting in Washington discussing a coordinated military approach to ISIS suggests that in reality John Key is already committed to a military deployment.

• The whole of the site park will perform an important role as a community focal point and it will be capable of hosting a range of community gatherings e.g. a farmers market, outdoor film screenings, art shows etc.

Putting the lives of Kiwi soldiers at risk by deploying them into a conflict is the most serious decision a government can take. New Zealanders have the right to expect their government to be open and transparent with them about their intentions, and that should include allowing a full cross-party and nationwide debate. It still remains my hope PN that this is exactly what will happen - the risks are just too great. (JACINDA ARDERN) F JACINDA ARDERN, Labour List MP based in Auckland Central. www.jacinda.co.nz

• There is good visual access to the space from both Ponsonby Road and O’Neill Street with the park having frontage to both these streets and well-established passive surveillance by the residents.

• The park is relatively flat with a westerly aspect. Any built development on the site, as is proposed in options 1 and 2, will compromise this feature and shade much of the park in the afternoon and evening and obscure one of its best views.

• The park will provide a pedestrian connection across the area in close proximity to the high foot traffic area of Ponsonby Road, and good physical linkages could also include Tole Street via a laneway.

• Planting and paving can extend the park into the street environment thereby blurring the edges.

• The whole of the site park will make a positive contribution to the streetscape and general amenity of the urban area and support our local business community.

We encourage everyone to be involved in this exciting and important local development of the Ponsonby park/open space. Now is the time for farsighted planning and not the sale of any of this valuable land for a short-term gain.

We will again be at the ‘Nosh’ site on Ponsonby Road most weekends to answer your questions and debate the issues and to promote Option 3 - the whole of the site park for Ponsonby. You can check out some of our ideas on Facebook www.facebook.com/ PN PonsonbyPark (JENNIFER WARD) F (1) The study area was generally contained by the main ridge roads of Jervois Road, Ponsonby Road, Great North Road and Richmond Road.

(2) www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/ratesbuildingproperty/housingsupply/ Documents/specialhousingareamap201405greatnorthroadstrategicarea.pdf

24 PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

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MIKE LEE: COUNCILLOR FOR WAITEMATA & GULF

Super City four years on The date 1 November marks the fourth anniversary of the beginning of Auckland’s new ‘super city’ council.

Much was promised when the seven former territorial local authorities and the Auckland Regional Council were disbanded/amalgamated by the National government - so how is it all working out? Well, I am disappointed to say, not so good.

The idea of one, unified council for Auckland was not an unreasonable one - in theory.

Economies-of-scale, critical mass to enable cost savings, regional unity etc., etc., made the idea plausible and attractive on the face of it. But as it often happens, practical reality and human frailty - in other words politics - can confound the best theories. It certainly happened in this case. Practical reality has shown that economies of scale doesn’t necessarily mean ‘the greater the size’, ‘the greater the efficiency’. Practical reality has shown that the Auckland Council bureaucracy, and that of its huge and semi-independent CCO offspring, Auckland Transport, are bigger than optimal size and growing every year. Then there is the politics.

As the leader of the former Auckland Regional Council - the one Auckland council that operated region-wide before 2010, I can say it was understood and accepted by the ARC that, for the greater good of Auckland the ARC would have to be disbanded to make way for the new ‘super city’. What we didn’t understand, (because it only became clear when it was much too late), was that abolishing the ARC was not just a means to an end but actually a prime objective of the Super City amalgamation.

Business lobbyists in Auckland, people in the local authorities, senior bureaucrats in Wellington and, it appears, the National Party caucus, had long resented the checks and balances the ARC represented in terms of planning and the environment, and they wanted it gone.

So the Government charged Rodney Hide (though in reality the man pulling the strings was Steven Joyce) with the task of pushing through this enormous amalgamation as quickly as possible and without any vote or consent from the ratepayers. In the rush to get the job done, insufficient consideration was given to the real costs of amalgamation - and these were swept under the carpet.

Even before its formal establishment the Super City blew any serious chance it had to achieve cost efficiencies. It seems that so bent were the powers-that-be on airbrushing out the regional legacy, going back to Dove-Myer Robinson’s ARA, that in the week before the new Auckland Council was sworn in, management took the decision to pay to get out the lease of the purpose-built ARC regional house. This decision, plus a blow out in staff numbers, was to create a staff accommodation shortage. This management ‘solved’ by the acquisition of the flash ASB bank head on Albert Street at an eventual cost of $157.4m. Then there is the huge and growing cost of IT - which is likely to be in the same order as the flash building. These decisions plus the increase of staff of the council and its CCOs, from 9,300 in 2010 to 11,134 this year, has helped bring on a budget crisis that will mean cut backs to services to the public and cuts and deferrals of agreed local board commitments to their communities. There is more of course. Most worrying is a culture of secrecy and a tendency to ram decisions through the governing body, with minimal time for reflection and debate - and with minimal information - indeed in some cases, e.g. ‘cultural impact assessments’ and the Hunua dam shut-down, the deliberate withholding of information from the councillors.

FRANKLIN ROAD UPGRADE Last month behemoths moved into Franklin Road to dig up sections of the downhill lefthand footpath and plonk unsightly patches of tarmac on the surface as necessary maintenance work in preparation for the Christmas lighting extravaganza that occurs each year.

Auckland Transport distributed leaflets warning residents of the upcoming disruption to traffic flows and apologised for any inconvenience caused. It’s the least the AT could do considering the effort householders go to in providing a display that whole families from far and wide throng the street to gaze at in wonder during the whole of December.

A complete upgrade of the pavement is long overdue rather than an ugly patchwork job applied to the most well known street in Auckland.

Given the heritage value of Franklin Road as well as its safety hazards for pedestrians, plans are at last afoot to improve the situation. AT admits it’s a much used connection between Ponsonby and the CBD so why has it taken so long to rectify the shortcomings?

Another pamphlet was recently delivered to residents alerting them to a major upgrade planned for the road and they were invited to attend meetings on 5 November 3 to 7pm, and 8 November 12 to 3pm at the Freemans Bay Community Centre where they could have their say about the significant changes AT proposes.

AT is considering two options. Option 1’s key features are a shared use footpath cycleway on the uphill side of the road and a marked on-road cycle lane on the downhill side. This would mean there would be no refuge area for pedestrians crossing the road.

Option 2 suggests a wider downhill lane and a narrower painted median on the uphill side. A third option considered reducing on-street parking to prevent vehicles damaging tree root balls. At an earlier meeting held at the beginning of October, installing barriers around the trees was mooted but this option will not be progressed further because it would cause too much disruption and overall be prohibitively expensive.

So, AT’s wish list is to improve the pavement surfaces with a 25 year design life; protect tree root zones by redefining the berm area; retain as much parking as possible; work with utility providers to integrate the work programme; improve street lighting. All this involves narrowing the road so the kerb line is on the other side of the trees. A new pavement above the existing one would reduce the impact on tree roots. The upgrade works will incorporate Watercare Services in order to minimise disruption and deliver an integrated works programme. AT are working with Vector, but at the present stage, under-grounding power lines is not incorporated in the planning.

How long all this will take must be foremost in residents’ minds. At present AT is assessing the options and once one is confirmed it will have to progress through design and consent approvals before construction can commence. It’s more than likely the project could take at least four years to complete. AT encourages residents to get involved and provide feedback. They can do this by attending the meetings and speaking to the project representatives or they can complete a feedback form either online at www.at.govt.nz/project-roadworks/franklin-road or on hardback. Let’s hope PN the downhill pavement is given priority! (DEIRDRE TOHILL) F

So four years on, despite the best intentions and good will of many of us to see the new Auckland Council succeed, any opportunity it might have had to be a powerful and efficient force for good in Auckland - and an inspirational example for the rest of the PN country - has been squandered. (MIKE LEE) F

ANY PAGE IN PONSONBY NEWS IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE SEEN Franklin Road’s Christmas lights display

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photography: Michael McClintock

Councillor for Waitemata and Gulf www.mikelee.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

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LOCAL NEWS

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF THE GREY LYNN PARK FESTIVAL Having started in 1984 with a few blankets on the ground, the Grey Lynn Park Festival now fills the park’s 11 acres with colourful stalls, music stages and fun stuff for kids and for big people.

Funded by stallholders, volunteers, Waitemata Local Board, NZCT, Lion and ASBCT, the festival turns 30 on Saturday 29 November and will party all day from 9.30am to 6pm.

To celebrate this special birthday the Trust Board is going for big sounds with a swag of great musicians to perform at this popular people powered event.

Volunteers are welcome to get in touch, the festival always needs help with managing equipment, drivers for those challenged by public transport, donations of food and PN drinks for the team. F Updates can be found on the festival’s Facebook page and by visiting www.greylynnparkfestival.org

photography: Michael McClintock

Top performers from SmokeFree Pacifica Beats will start the day with a selection of bands. Followed by SmokeFree Rock Quest winners Headroom, Yebiisu, Moana & the Tribe, Hypstamatics, Sal Valentine & the Babyshakes, Ddub and Unity Pacific to send us home happy. Look out for our twisty twinz, horse sculptures, circus training, marimbas, funfair rides, yummy for your tummy treats and the King of Rock n Roll.

As well as supporting SmokeFree, the festival has funded waste initiatives so look out for the glass recycling centres, be mindful of your paper, don’t leaflet bomb the festival and do your bit for planet Earth.

L to R: Grey Lynn Park Festival organisers Roger Bannan, Angela Tui Samoa, Kate Burke, and Hans Heumann; Hans Heumann

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LOCAL NEWS GREY LYNN RESEARCH Help make Grey Lynn the most liveable suburb in the world.

Grey Lynn Residents Association has commissioned research to find out what people care about in Grey Lynn. They want to include the opinions of residents and users of the area.

The research aims to find out what people love about Grey Lynn and want preserved, and what is missing, or needs to be changed or improved.

The research results will form the basis of Grey Lynn Residents Association’s advocacy and activism work to make Grey Lynn the most liveable suburb in the world. F PN If you live or have an interest in Grey Lynn, you are invited to complete the survey online at http://tinyurl.com/greylynn2014

VICTORIA PARK MARKET - SHOPPING EXPERIENCE NOT TO BE MISSED Victoria Park Market was in its heyday in the 80s with its thriving retail complex and bustling outdoor market.

The hospitality and retail complex in the heart of central Auckland located next to Victoria Park, from which it takes its name, is due to reopen as that much loved market -place again. On the weekend of 15 and 16 November the year-round weekend outdoor market will be launched. The market will trade 10am - 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

The official opening will be a weekend of festivities with on site entertainment: Evan Reid from Sax in the City - a talented saxophone musician, is also accomplished on guitar and vocals.

French Circus Performers - Matt & Jo - They will be entertaining the public with European style circus antics such as the unicycle, Diablo and juggling.

The opportunity for stallholders to bring their wares into an inner-city market environment has been well received, said Leah La Hood from Bayleys, who has been charged with the task of recreating the outdoor market.

Leah La Hood has brought together this popular authentic outdoor market and feels it will help revive the old spirit of the past. “The people of Auckland love Victoria Park Market,” said Leah, “and we want to give them back the meeting place for friends and family that they enjoyed in the past.

We have created a market designed to cater for the tastes of the city dweller, we have created a modern twist to the stallholders of the past, handcrafted jewellery, Maori and Pacific original artwork and artefacts, organic health products, hand blown glassware, henna art, clairvoyants, and delicious street food offerings.”

There will be up to 70 stalls to explore throughout the complex, a maze of stalls to explore and find gems of artisan products and quality crafts. There is something for everyone; it’s a shopping experience not to be missed. The timing is great for the start of the Christmas shopping frenzy, said Leah. “You will find unique and limited edition items, come and find that something special for the ones you love.”

Existing anchor tenants such as Platinum Sports Company, Mozaik Cafe, Salash Delicatessen, Buttermilk Cafe and restaurants Tom Toms, Libertine, iVillage and The Oak Room will all be open on the day and participating in the festivities.

Come and have your morning coffee and breakfast before browsing the stalls, then spend the afternoon relaxing in the summer sun with a drink at one of the many restaurants and bars.

For further information contact Bayleys salesperson Leah La Hood M: 021 897 788 PN leah.lahood@bayleys.co.nz. F The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE

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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.

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PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE

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5. This shot was taken at the port of Keelung, TAIPEI. Their cruise ship Sapphire Princess is in the background.

1. & 2. Ron Craig missing from Ponsonby law firm ChambersCraigJarvis has been discovered reading the Ponsonby News in a Zoroastrian tower of silence in SOUTHWEST IRAN, near Persepolis. Ron in the air burial position, the left eye covered to deny the vultures who carry out the ‘burial’ the chance of sending the soul to the Zoroastrian equivalent of hell.

6. This shot was taken outside TAIPEI’S 101 tower, the world’s second tallest skyscraper.

It has 101 floors above ground, with another five floors underground. It opened on New Year’s Eve. It has the fastest ascending elevator, designed to travel at 60kph. The tower itself is the tallest sundial in the world.

3. Local resident Pearl Robson reading Ponsonby News while on a day trip to Doini Island, in PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

7. This shot was taken atop Victoria Peak, HONG KONG. The peak is 1805ft above sea level and access is via one of the world’s oldest funicular railways. The lookout offers panoramic views over most of Hong Kong’s 8,000 plus skyscrapers.

4. Freemans Bay resident Emmanuel Beaufils has just emailed me this shot from TAHITI! “Glad to bring Ponsonby News here to Papeete and share it with my colleagues.

Maruru,” (‘thanks’ in Tahitian).

Allan Horner and Gerard Hall from St Marys Bay sent in four shots from their stunning 17 night cruise aboard the Sapphire Princess, which left Shanghai on 3 September. The pair told us, “We travelled to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, two ports in Vietnam, Thailand and the cruise ended in Singapore on Saturday, where Robbie Williams had a concert ahead of the Singapore Formula One GP race on the Sunday.”

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

8. This shot was taken as they exited the Cu Chi tunnels, on the outskirts of HO CHI MINH CITY. During the Vietnam War, these tunnels measured over 200km long, and stretched into Cambodia. They included meeting rooms, kitchens and hospitals. The network of tunnels gave the Viet Cong control of the Saigon area.

9. Terry Fergusson sent us this shot, telling us, “Here’s a photo of us at an “INNdulge” with an issue of Ponsonby News, during our trip to PALM SPRINGS.” (L-R) Terry Fergusson, John Stempa and Kim Stuart.

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ROSS THORBY: SEA FEVER

A star was born...

Sometimes the best entertainment on board can be gained from the most unlikely of sources, and sometimes it’s not even intentional.

Amongst the highbrow lecturers, the astronauts, the explorers, singers and comediennes, many showbiz careers have stalled or soared on board a ship and now one more name can be added to the list... his name is Bruce Morrison and his claim to fame is that he had a career in the Westend and famously starred in Joseph and his Technicolor Dream Coat.

Hasn’t everyone? He apparently was a favourite of Andrew Lloyd Webber and the fact that I had to google him to find out who he was, is neither here nor there.

He arrived on board in a flurry of disruption, a profusion of luggage and a very expansive coat, sweeping up the grand staircase with great style and panache. Later he appeared on the ship’s TV being interviewed by the Entertainment Manager, Amanda, who tried asking him a few questions. I say tried, because she could barely get a word in edgewise. He started as soon as he sat down, all about his fabulous career and his CD (now available in the gift shop). After 10 minutes of Amanda looking at the floor, the cameraman and her watch, she finally managed to reclaim the limelight in an attempt to move the camera back to where it belonged... herself, but he wasn’t having any of it and kept talking off camera anyway.

Liberace jewellery all of which blinded us as he stalked the boards where even his shoes sparkled with crystals.

The poor cameraman was confused as to who or where he should be pointing the lens and the shot sat halfway between the two with no more than both respondents noses visible to the viewers. It was a contest of wills and there was to be no clear winner it was morning television like I had never seen before.

Hollywood had arrived to the Queen Elizabeth. Dramatically and with great aplomb while still singing, he managed to work in a tour down the stage stairs into the audience just to hold the hands of the star-struck matrons in the front row while really hammering home the point that, yes, he really was The Star of stage and screen.

Finally, there was an advertising break and on the show’s return, Bruce was nowhere to be seen. Obviously relegated back to the green room - probably still talking, but now to himself.

The audience loved it, the old girls were enraptured, the room was his for the taking.

The ship was entranced, the passengers agog and we waited all day in much anticipation for his premier performance. He was all over the ship and his poster was all over everything. It seemed that everyone during the afternoon had seen or knew someone who had bumped into him.

Later, our dining table and a thousand others jammed into the theatre in anticipation of the promised event of our lives.

Amongst an ocean of coloured lights, swathes of LED curtains and some eerie fog, the Queen’s Orchestra struck up the opening bars and a full wail ensued from the side of the stage behind the curtains and in an ostentatious flash, all was revealed. A gush of light - and large as life, in character as the old, sad moggy from Cats, Bruce leapt out from the wings lamenting being all alone in the Moonlight. Oddly out of place with the song was his sequinned waistcoat offset by a flashy studded jacket and some large

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Bruce Morrison on board the Queen Elizabeth

He worked through his repertoire, which strangely, only covered the female leads of show tunes from Webber’s productions, and his grand finale, the pinnacle of his performance, was an interpretation of Sunset Boulevard’s ‘With One Look’, a song sung by an old forgotten silent movie star reflecting on her past and dreaming of an unobtainable comeback. Sung in character as Gloria Swanson, complete with big doe -eyed looks at some imaginary camera, his hands outstretched pleading to the ‘gods’, he finished with the line, “I’m ready for my close-up now Mr Cunard.”

The audience clapped, they stamped their feet, they whistled - they all bought his CDs. I wonder if they would have reacted the same for the Village People.

It made today’s lecture about the attempted rescue mission of the nuclear submarine, the Kursk, seem an anti-climax.

Can’t wait for his next performance, ‘A Night with Barbara’. Bruce Morrison - coming to a cruise ship theatre near you. (ROSS THORBY) F PN

11 PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

TRAVEL BREAKS: THE NEW THERAPY!

CANADA AND ALASKA

by Kim Houston, World Journeys

Canada and Alaska - two of my favourite places in the world, and happily, right next door to each other! Far from being snow and ice destinations, I love to escape the New Zealand winter and enjoy summer in Canada, with its guaranteed high sunshine quota, and in Alaska with its long daylight hours.

Flying directly into the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver with Air New Zealand is a seamless experience. Consider upgrading to Premium Economy for the extra leg space, or Business Premier, where you can snuggle into your lie flat bed, complete with cosy duvet.

If I couldn’t live in Auckland you’d most definitely find me in Vancouver. Surrounded by water, with floatplanes taking off in the harbour, amazing restaurants and gourmet food trucks, the shopping is fabulous!

I always head for the very ‘British’ city of Victoria on Vancouver Island. A stroll in the famous Butchart Gardens offers an incredible array of flowers and trees, and a most delightful afternoon tea is served at the Fairmont Empress Hotel on the picturesque harbour.

From Victoria it’s only a short ferry ride then drive up to the mountain village of Whistler.

Get your thrills on the spectacular Peak to Peak Gondola, and keep an eye out for bears casually strolling beneath you on the Blackcomb Mountain chairlift.

Rail enthusiasts will enjoy the Whistler Sea-to-Sky-Climb journey with Rocky Mountaineer to Vancouver, and a relaxing overnight VIA Rail trip can take you to the Canadian Rockies town of Jasper where elk roam the streets.

Stunning mountains, beautiful Peyto Lake, the Athabasca Glacier and surprising wildlife are in store for you on the Icefields Parkway, a travel route through a vast wilderness of pristine mountain lakes, ancient glaciers and broad sweeping valleys. Last July we saw two black bears munching berries on the roadside en route to Lake Louise!

For a truly Canadian experience kick your heels up at the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth - the ‘Calgary Stampede’. Stetsons galore, free pancakes on every corner, daily parades, fireworks, rodeos, and rowdy chuckwagon races - the city really comes alive!

The Rocky Mountaineer train travels from the charming town of Banff to Vancouver.

Through spiral tunnels, past glistening glaciers, Rogers Pass, the South Thompson River and vast ranch lands, you enjoy great views of Fraser Canyon, the towering peaks of the Coast Mountains and the thundering waters of Hell’s Gate.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

From Vancouver you can board a cruise to Alaska, and I particularly recommend the Inside Passage route taken by the elegant ships of Holland America Line. Enjoy some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, made even better with the pods of whales and dolphins! There are glaciers galore in both Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay, the small Gold Rush town of Skagway offers a dose of history, and the port of Ketchikan’s Creek Street boasts an array of boutiques, cafes and art galleries.

World Journeys combine all of this and more on our annual small group escorted journey to Canada and Alaska. Join us in July 2015 for a summer like no other. F PN

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PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE 10-12. Proud dad Scott Cordes sent us these three shots telling us, “The first shot of all the Ponsonby kids at a watering hole was taken of team ‘Purple Platipi’ at the Ponsonby Intermediate School camp at Carey Park in the Waitakere Ranges. Their teacher gave permission for the kids (including my daughter as I was a parent helper) to be photographed. It was an awesome school camp. I thought they may be of interest for the next issue. Proud to be taking the magazine to the world... including suburban Auckland.”

“The other two are of former Ponsonby Intermediate student Aaron Cordes and his sister, Ponsonby Intermediate current student Jessica Cordes on holiday in THAILAND. The shot with the elephant behind them was taken in Chiang Mai before going on an elephant rehabilitation park tour, and the other shot was taken at the coastal Bophut Village in Koh Samui. Very proudly with their Ponsonby News (which we donated to our hotel’s library for others to read).

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13-15. Ponsonby News having an ‘around the world trip in seven days’ with Colin Weatherall - Hollywood to the OKTOBERFEST to SINGAPORE. Colin was the winner of the Oktoberfest competition, a whirlwind trip to Germany and back with his 20-year-old son Zac courtesy of MALT. Of 8000 entries the Frienz Malt Bar in West Lynn was the winning pub!

16-17. Robbie Ellery tells us, “I recently went to SYDNEY with your magazine, requested by my friends, who live there, but once they all lived in Ponsonby. The photos are taken on their apartment balcony in Potts Point overlooking the city. We would love the opportunity to get our faces in print so as to then send them a copy... It would make our day.” Robbie Ellery, Logan OBrien, Alex Martelli and Sarah Kelly.

18. Mark and Christina Windram took their Ponsonby News to FIJI and read it while around the pool. Several Ponsonby residents also holidaying there asked to read it after Mark and Christina had finished with it. Isn’t it ‘Bulaccino’ great name for a cafe in Fiji!

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

DON’T MISS THE DECEMBER

DECEMBER SPECIAL FEATURES

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Jo Barrett on 021 324 510 or Jessie Kollen on 021 166 2002 t: 09 361 3356 or 09 378 8553 e: joannebarrett@xtra.co.nz e: jessiekollen@gmail.com w: www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY THE VEG FRIENDLY CHALLENGE Finalist: Little Bird Unbakery It’s the great Ponsonby News Veg Friendly Challenge, in which Ponsonby-area cafes and restaurants line up to be judged on their vegetarian friendliness. What does that mean?

Simply this: it’s a new day in food-land, what with an increasing number of restaurants offering a complete vegetarian menu and a more ‘green’ perspective to eating generally.

It’s possible to be nutritious and delicious, and we’re going to name the cafes and restaurants that cater well to vegetarians and vegans, whether or not they’ve also got meat on their menus. Each month, we’ll review one of our favourite ‘veg friendly’ eateries, and at the end of it all, we’ll name an overall winner, and our coveted Veg Friendly Challenge Top 10.

Bold moves are comparatively rare in businesses of any kind, and radicalism is risky in the food industry, because people love same-old, same-old, with just a hint of newness.

That’s why restaurant owners tend to stick to the tried and true, while taking note of trends in presentation and service.

And that’s why I still find the very existence of the Little Bird Unbakery utterly bizarre, bewildering and fantastic. It’s a great advertisement for having a good idea, and taking that idea to its limit.

Ten years ago, it would have been a risky proposition even setting up an ovo-lacto vegetarian restaurant in Auckland, and even today, there are only two non-meat venues in the greater Ponsonby area - Kokako and Little Bird Unbakery. But while Kokako still offers a modest selection of egg and dairy dishes, Little Bird is totally vegan. Not only that, but as its quirky name suggests, it’s an unbakery; technically, raw food with only a little low-heat warming.

I’ve got an old raw food book from the 1970s, ‘Diet For The 21st Century’, and it’s full of bizarre hippy ideology and frankly, unpalatable-looking recipes. A cafe based on that book would fail in a week. Little Bird exemplifies the rapid evolution of vegan and raw cuisine, and its incredible success comes down to the conviction of the owners/creators/ chefs that the time had come for a new way to look at what we eat, and how we source and prepare it.

Needless to say, Little Bird Unbakery on Summer Street, just off Ponsonby Road (the original, smaller version still exists in Kingsland) is a regular haunt for both myself and Ponsonby News publisher/editor Martin Leach, and the only downside is that they don’t have an espresso machine (they do, however, offer some kind of eccentric filter coffees for the caffeine dependent).

Clearly, we’re not the only fans: the place is nearly always pumping, and it’s gotten so busy that they’ve even started opening three evenings of the week. So, what makes Little Bird so great?

Well, the space itself is pleasantly kitted out, and the table service always comes with a smile and helpful suggestions should you need them, but the essence of its incredible popularity is in the food itself, which represents a genuine revolution. They’ve come up with a way to avoid the use of baking or cooking, so the ‘bread’ is a gently heated mystery concoction that doesn’t quite hold together in the same way as conventional bread, but has an almost ‘meaty’ consistency.

Carter’s Sprouted Bread with the addition of aged cashew cheese with fresh chives and a hint of truffle oil I chose the ‘BLT’ version of the raw seeded bread bagel with coconut bacon, tomato, lettuce and extra avocado ($16.50). They describe it as the ultimate raw bread recipe, and I wouldn’t disagree: it may prove an acquired taste and texture for some, but once acquainted and accustomed, you’ll find yourself quite addicted.

We both ordered smoothies: Martin, a Cacao Superfoods ($9) smoothie with banana, date, cacao, almond milk, vanilla, cashews and Brazil nuts, and me the Berry Antioxidiser ($9) with blackcurrant, banana, acai, honey, vanilla and almond milk. Delicious!

Although Little Bird meals don’t look particularly generous, we found we couldn’t quite get through our plates. The thing about raw food is that it’s more filling than it looks, and really sets you up for the day (I won’t even start on their amazing range of gluten and sugar-free cakes and tarts; too good!).

Little Bird Unbakery is an amazing addition to local cuisine culture, and we feel lucky to have it on our doorstep here in Ponsonby. Open seven days, 7am-4pm; 6pm-10pm Thursday - Saturday. (GARY STEEL) F PN LITTLE BIRD UNBAKERY, 1A Summer Street, Ponsonby, T: 09 555 3278, www.littlebirdorganics.co.nz Do you run a cafe or restaurant that does vegetarian really well? If so, let me know on the email opposite. We’ll be sure to check out your eatery. And don’t be shy, okay?

What is great about Little Bird food is that it’s living food that your gut will thank you for and, unlike a cooked meal, this kind of food will gift you with a blast of nutrients as it passes through your digestive system.

Their menu deserves multiple visits but today, we came for breakfast. Martin opted for Carter’s Sprouted Bread ($16.50). The menu describes this as sprouted buckwheat, flax and coconut cooked at a low temperature, accompanied with a small side salad of fresh organic greens. You get to opt between the addition of aged cashew cheese with fresh chives and a hint of truffle oil; smashed avocado, micro greens and Little Bird Kraut; or creamy mushrooms.

“I’ve tried this dish on several occasions and always love the addition of the aged cashew cheese. I’m not vegan, but I could easily be, if dishes like this were more widely available,” was Martin’s comment.

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GARY STEEL: VEG FRIENDLY

Bug excretions Like a one fag a day would-be non-smoker, or a Narcotics Anonymous graduate who only shoots up on special occasions, I’m a lapsed vegan.

I’ve tried so many times to completely give up dairy foods, and failed so many times, that I’ve given up counting.

I know that as a conscientious vegetarian, the production of cow’s milk is cruel. While it’s possible that some cows have reasonably happy lives, their calves don’t; they’re disposed of so that we can steal their milk. But the thing is, it’s not milk I’m addicted to.

It’s all very well to identify things we don’t want to eat, but sometimes you’ve just got to kiss the sky and thank the universe for the good things, and for a moment, that’s what I’d like to do. For all those nasty companies who intentionally obscure horrid ingredients in their products, there are people out there flying the freak flag for vegetarianism and veganism, and Auckland is, with each successive month, becoming a more veg-friendly city.

Here are just a few cool things that have happened lately:

I prefer the taste of non dairy milks like soy milk and coconut milk and hemp milk - before unthinking governmental clods banned that substance because of its connection to marijuana, no matter how spurious, and despite the fact that it isn’t habit forming!

• Misters has opened on Wyndham St in the city. It’s serious dairy and gluten free, and while there’s a slight paleo orientation, there’s heaps of vegan options. And they do organic/spray free wherever possible.

No, it’s that I have absolutely no willpower when it comes to yoghurt, full fat cream, or the occasional ice cream. But something happened the other day that I think was a turning point. My wife had just given birth to our first child and I was beyond tired, and craving a sweet, creamy treat. Desperately hunting in the aisles of my local supermarket, I noticed that Streets had a six-pack of limited edition mini Magnums called Magnum Kiss - Meringue et Fruits Rouges.

• Tart Bakery in Grey Lynn is doing a range of mouth-watering vegan doughnuts and sweet treats, and even talking about making the whole bakery vegan.

The product held the promise of ‘cream flavour’ (yes!) with red fruit sauce (bravo!), cranberry and meringue pieces (sensational!) coated with a layer of cracking milk chocolate.’ Well, I would prefer 70% dark chocolate, but you can’t have everything!

Then, I made the mistake of reading the ingredients list. There was nothing to state that there was anything in there that vegetarians might object to, but for some reason, I did a search on one of the wee code numbers, E904, which turned out to be shellac, a resin that was once used to make 78rpm records, but is also used as a waxy substance in and on food products. So far, so good, but it turns out that shellac is from the lac bug, a substance that is secreted by the female bug to protect them while they spawn.

Now, you could say that a substance secreted by a bug isn’t really an animal product, that insects aren’t animals anyway, and that shellac is no worse than honey, which some vegans call bee vomit.

I guess it really depends on how the insect was treated in the harvesting of the substance - I certainly wouldn’t knowingly use a product with colouring from crushed cochineal bugs - but it was enough to put me off, and that box of Magnum limited edition minis went back into the freezer unit, maybe this time putting an end to my romance with ice cream.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

• Hell Pizza now offer a vegan cheese version of their infamous Sinister pizza, using Angel Foods’ non-dairy mozzarella.

• Fine dining establishment Euro has reopened with a super food emphasis and now offers a separate vegetarian menu so we don’t even have to look at the meat options.

Fantastic! The ‘separate menu’ lark seems to be growing wings, with several other venues in the Auckland area, including Tasca in Mt Eden, offering veg-dedicated menus.

The only bum note is that, since we started our Vegetarian Challenge last month, we haven’t exactly been overwhelmed with response from local (Ponsonby and environs) cafes and restaurants.

Come on, guys! Let us know if you think you’re doing a great job for vegans and vegetarians. So here’s our pitch again: Ponsonby News has started a countdown of the best ‘veg friendly’ restaurants in the greater Ponsonby area. Each issue, we’re reviewing a cafe or restaurant that really excels in vegetarian food, whether it’s exclusively plantbased or mainly meat-oriented.

Do you run a cafe or restaurant that does vegetarian really well? If so, let me know on the email below. We’ll be sure to check out your eatery. And don’t be shy, okay?

PN (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

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JULIE BONNER: NEWS FROM FROG POND FARM

Spring is in the air...

Spring weather may be incredibly unsettled for Kiwis but it is always eagerly anticipated.

It’s time to shake off those winter doldrums, stand back and watch the buds burst on the trees, the grass take off like an athelete on steroids (whoops), enjoy the spring flowers that pop up and watch the orchard fill with blossom.

At the end of September I got a phone call from a great bloke, our shearer Murray, who rang to ask about shearing our two rather plump sheep. It was still chilly at the time and as I’m a blouse, I said no. Those lucky sheep have their woollen jumpers for a wee bit longer.

We have been crazy busy in our garden. Hubby wanted to mulch around our trees in the orchard and olive grove which is a ‘big job’. As I don’t much see the point in mulching over weeds and Kikuyu grass, I spent a couple of days on hands and knees hauling out the stuff. Kikuyu grass is an import from East Africa. When we first moved to the farm, I used to loathe the stuff as it is so vigorous, forming dense mats of greenery which can easily climb over other plants in the way, choking them into the bargain. Honestly, I have had my moments with this stuff, but I have to admit that unlike many varieties of grass here, it is drought resistant, stays green through summer and while not overly nutritious, does a great job at feeding my plump sheep. It can’t be all that bad!

Mulching done and dusted thank you Mr Bonner. Andrew arrived indoors one night a few weeks back and said ‘something has been munching on a few of our olive trees’.

That made me stop in my tracks! Those trees you see, have become very important to me - they produce fantastic olive oil and losing a tree or two just isn’t on the agenda at all. Believe me.

As it transpires, after some investigative work (thanks Olive NZ), the caterpillar of the puriri moth is the culprit and responsible for the damage to several trees. The grub can spend up to five years happily munching away inside the tree and are quite clever at covering their tracks. So after scraping away frass and bark from some furrows on the tree and wiping away the odd tear, I smeared these with some pruning paste. Truth is, I suspect that those little critters are long gone (they aren’t that little either - they can grow up to 10cm long). My poor trees however, have had loads of TLC which is still ongoing in the form of rok solid and seaweed spray, and me!

When you live on a lifestyle block there is always loads to do, so visits to a cafe for coffee, brekky and a read of the newspaper on a Saturday are a thing of the past. Damn!

A few weeks back, hubby loaded up the ATV with the spray pump hooked it up to the battery and off I went with 60 litres of water and seaweed fertiliser sloshing around in the back. I wore a fair percentage of the stuff but that’s to be expected when there is a breeze. Using 360 litres, the olives, citrus and feijoa trees have all been sprayed.

Just the orchard to go, but as there are still blossoms on the trees I don’t want to deter those bees.

We have a clucky chook ‘Gladys’. She is currently sitting on six eggs in a hutch and sitting very tight too. Morning and night I remove her and pop her outdoors for her dustbath and mad antics. Thankfully she eagerly returns, and pops herself carefully back on those eggs. She then fluffs herself up, screams at me which basically means I’m good to go and can leave her be for another 12 hours! Oh the joys of wanting more chickens. The 21 day countdown is on, Colin is going to be a dad! Good boy.

Seedlings I have grown from seed are well and truly ready to be planted. Labour Weekend was earmarked for this which meant prepping a couple of beds and poking the PN greenery into the soil. More salad beds are on the way! (JULIE BONNER) F If you are interested in more madness from our place, then check out my blog. www.frogpondfarm.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

NEAT MEAT - ZAK GRAMMER

Introducing the new face of Wine Direct in Ponsonby Central, Will Smalley. Will comes to Wine Direct from a long career in wine retail, most recently at Farro Fresh in Grey Lynn.

For Zak Grammer, butchery is in the blood. Starting with a holiday job helping out in his dad’s butcher shop at the age of 13, it has turned into quite a career.

His knowledge and experience gained from many years in the trade make him the perfect choice for Wine Direct. His love of wines is infectious and he has a great passion for European wines.

From there he progressed to The Mad Butcher before heading to London.

For more than 25 years Wine Direct have been supplying wine lovers with what they call ‘real wines’. Wines that aren’t found in supermarkets or chain liquor stores. Wines with character, made by interesting people from fascinating parts of the world. And while the business has grown a fair bit over the years, the big idea behind Wine Direct hasn’t changed all that much. Owners Ryan and Alastair have always believed the strength of their business is in the wines and in their talented staff.

In his four year sojourn in the United Kingdom, Zak worked his way up in a small but well known traditional family butchery, followed by a stint in Jamie Oliver’s high profile Barbecoa butchery.

He returned to New Zealand in April last year to take over as Butchery Manager at Neat Meat in Ponsonby Central.

Specialising in French and Italian, but with a stock of high end New World wines from New Zealand, California and South America you can get anything from a $10 Sicilian red to a $1000 French dessert wine. Their selection is constantly changing; just arrived is a gorgeous selection of summer Rosés from the south of France, perfect for your weekend picnic. And soon to land is a bucket load of Côtes du Rhône reds including the popular ‘Cercius’ by Michel Gassier. Try before you buy... it’s bound to be open for tasting should you need convincing for that summer barbecue!

For the festive season there’s some wonderful stock arriving including the Champagne Gosset range - from the oldest Champagne house. If French bubbles aren’t your thing Will can thoroughly recommend the sparkling wines of Italy and Spain including fashionable and affordable proseccos and crisp, dry Cava.

Whether you are a wine novice or an aficionado Will can direct you to that special wine that will suit any occasion. Get in to Wine Direct and place your order for the company do or family gathering before the Christmas rush!

E: ponsonby@winedirect.co.nz T: 09 973 0999

Bringing back techniques and skills that haven’t been seen in this country before has made Zak somewhat of a ‘rock star’ butcher. The European influence can be seen in the layout of Neat Meat; in the Zak Grammer of Neat Meat glass serve-over you won’t find any black plastic trays or fake greenery, instead there are wooden boards and tiles that somehow make raw meat look styled and cool.

He also competes in national competitions and wins. Like the North (Island) versus South: Battle of the Butchers where they have two hours to turn a hindquarter of beef, a side of lamb, a side of pork and three chickens into a top quality display of butchered products.

photography: Stacey Simpkin

Neat Meat is a family business, owned by the Eriksen Brothers and has been operating for 13 years, with its main industrial butchery in Parnell. Specialist breeds of beef, grain and grass fed, are sourced from across the country for clients which include Ostro, The Grill, The Blue Breeze Inn as well as some of the top restaurants in Wellington and Queenstown. “Working with the some of the top chefs in the country certainly keeps you on your toes”, admits Zak “We like to see ourselves as at the top of the niche market, but with a range of meats for everyone; the enthusiast, the home cook, and the guy on the barbeque!”

Speaking of enthusiastic home cooks, it’s that time of year. Time to get your orders in for your Christmas ham, duck, turkey or Turducken (that’s a three bird roast). Come and have a chat to Zak, he has some great ideas for those special meals, and no question is a silly question!

Will at Wine Direct The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

E: zak@neatmeat.com T: 09 378 2180

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

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photography: Anna Kidman

WINE DIRECT - WILL SMALLEY

PHIL PARKER: WHOSE WINE IS IT ANYWAY?

Got a whole lotta wine AS PER MY LAST COLUMN - THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO TASTE NEW WINE releases as we head toward Auckland’s summer. I still have a heap awaiting review but here we go with the latest. Cheers!

Villa Maria Pinot Gris Private Bin Light 2014 - $15 I was a bit cynical about low alcohol wines - but this is the real deal. At only 9% alcohol, this tastes like a full bodied, crisp and fruity pinot gris. It has enough complexity and balance to stand up against a regular 12-14% alcohol wine.

Craggy Range Te Muna Martinborough Pinot Gris 2014 - $27 Aromas of orange blossom and minerality. This is an elegant and lean style of pinot gris with flavours of lime, fennel, white peach, and fresh pineapple and a crisp finish.

Gladstone 12,000 Central Otago Miles Pinot Gris 2014 - $21 Citrus blossom and poached pear aromas. Time spent on yeast residue has added a layer of creaminess to the stone fruit and nashi pear flavours.

Vidal Marlborough Riesling 2014 - $18 Citrus and floral aromas. On the palate, an elegant and delicate, just off-dry wine with lime, ripe pear flavours and a crisp clean finish at only 11% alcohol.

Waimea Classic Nelson Riesling 2014 - $20 Aromas of lemon/lime and green apple, but opens up on the palate with ripe honeysuckle, lemon squash, and tropical fruit. Yet with a crisp clean finish.

Dry River Martinborough Viognier 2012 - $45 Nectarine and rhubarb aromas, with elegant, complex flavours of apricot, white peach and lemon squash with a hint of sweetness. Crisp, dry and lengthy palate.

Pegasus Bay Waipara Gewürztraminer 2012 - $29 Yellow gold colour, with aromas of honey and ripe nectarines. This wine was aged in

old oak barrels. Flavours of spice, honey, grapefruit marmalade and lychee fruit in an unctuous and lush style.

Vidal Anthony Joseph Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2013 - $16 Citrus and mineral aromas. Palate of toasted almond, grapefruit, ripe pear and quince - with a lengthy aftertaste.

Vidal Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 - $25 Floral pot pourri aromas, with ripe black fruit. In the mouth - ripe fruit flavours, with Black Doris plum and savoury smooth finish.

Heron’s Flight Matakana Sangiovese 2012 Dark berry fruit, flora and subtle spice aromas. Dark cherry/berry and earthy fruitcake flavours with a firm tannic finish. One to cellar for a few more years.

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé NV - $140 Billecart is a family run winery, making Champagne in Epernay since 1818. Their rosé is the flagship wine, made with about 50% Chardonnay, plus around 1/3 pinot noir and a dash of pinot meunier. Aromas of red berries, brioche and mineral. A fine beaded Champagne with subtle cherry and spiced fruit and crisp mineral finish.

Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve NV - $60 - $99 Citrus flower and red berry fruit aromas. Crisp mineral acidity with flavours of pear, apple, a hint of toast, and stone fruit. (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

CORK WINE & WHISKEY BAR OPENS Irish bar, Cork Wine & Whiskey opened this month and is located in the recently completed Mackelvie Street precinct.

Owner Jeremy Warnock, also owner of Ponsonby institution Grand Central, is excited about bringing a touch of genuine Irish flavour to Ponsonby.

In true Jeremy style, this new bar on Mackelvie Street promises to be a winner! They have a huge selection of Irish whiskeys and a wide range of wines from around the world.

They have live Irish music every Friday afternoon and with summer fast approaching you can pop in after work to enjoy happy hour in Ponsonby’s sunniest courtyard. As responsible hosts they offer complimentary food during happy hour and they are proud to say that this is an Irish bar with genuine Irish staff.

They offer an authentic Cork loyalty card for customers and local businesses. Every time you purchase a drink you earn points and you can redeem your points whenever it suits you. There are monthly prizes for the card with the most points accumulated in that month. There is also a monthly Business Award to the business/company whose employees collectively accumulate the most points. Every $1 spent earns you one point and every 10 points accumulated earns you $1. Management reserves the right to change the scheme at any time.

CORK BAR INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL: A bottle of Pol Roger Champagne to the first customer to accumulate 500 points.

Cork and Grand Central are now taking bookings for Christmas, no party is too big or small... please enquire within. F PN CORK WINE & WHISKEY BAR, 65A Mackelvie Street, T: 09 360 1260 cork@grandcentral.net.nz

40 PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Impress with these colourful, vege-based dips - super easy to make and delicious with pita crisps and crudités.

WHAT’S HOT AT SABATO LET US HANDLE YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING...

Beetroot dip

The season of festivities and feasts is just around the corner! This Christmas delight foodie friends and family with gourmet gifts.

LUCKY DIP!

Time to make - five minutes 450g can whole baby beets, drained 1/3 cup low-fat unsweetened plain yoghurt 2 teaspoons horseradish cream 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives 1. Place whole beetroots in a food processor and process until very finely minced. Add yoghurt and horseradish cream. Process again until combined.

2. Stir in chives and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe: Diane Temple. Photography: Cath Muscat

Cannellini bean and olive dip Time to make - 10 minutes 400g can cannellini beans, drained, rinsed 1/4 cup roughly chopped, pitted kalamata olives 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons low-fat plain yoghurt 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

We have a stunning new range of hampers ready for the gift-giving season, with a variety of options catering to whatever your taste and budget may be. Amongst our appetising array is the ever popular Paella Kit with all the essentials for traditional Spanish paella; the men in your life will love our Hamper for Him full of flavourful condiments; for the health conscious our Good For You selection is a great pick; the grab-and-go Getaway Pack is brimming with tempting tapas - just add cheese and wine for a fabulous feast; or fill the pantry with our Gourmet Pantry box.

Brimming with carefully selected artisan products, our gift hampers are beautifully presented nestled in charming bags, baskets and boxes. They include recipes and inspiring ideas so that the lucky recipient can make the most of their gift.

We are happy to work with you to custom create the perfect selection unique to you or your business. We welcome corporate enquiries and our skilled team will organise everything from the card to the courier - all you have to do is pick the present. With so much to do at this time of year keep your Christmas stress free by letting us handle your gift shopping in the most delicious way.

Visit our Mt Eden showroom (open 7 days) or shop online at www.sabato.co.nz If you would like a hamper flyer and order form emailed to you contact us on PN T: 09 630 8751 or info@sabato.co.nz F SABATO Limited, 57 Normanby Road, T: 09 630 8751, www.sabato.co.nz

1. Place all ingredients, except parsley, in a food processor and process until smooth.

2. Refrigerate and sprinkle with parsley just before serving.

Recipe: Diane Temple. Photography: Cath Muscat

Tomato salsa pesto dip Time to make - 30 minutes Store chilled, for up to 2 days 2 red capsicums oil spray 4 ripe tomatoes 1 red onion, finely chopped 1 small cucumber, peeled 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 tablespoons pesto 1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Cut capsicums in quarters and place on a baking tray. Spray with a little oil and cook until skin is charred. Cool then remove skin.

2. Chop flesh and mix with remaining ingredients. Use a stick blender or processor to blend slightly but keep mixture chunky. Season to taste.

Recipe: Sarah Swain. Photography: Melanie Jenkins Recipes reprinted from Healthy Food Guide magazine with permission from Healthy Life Media Ltd. Find more great in-season vegetable recipes - including a special ‘Make it meat-free’ recipe feature - in the November 2014 issue of Healthy Food Guide magazine ($5.90), on sale in supermarkets and bookstores, or subscribe at www.healthyfood.co.nz F PN

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

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NEWS FROM GREY LYNN FARMER’S MARKET

ANITA AND LEON NARBEY; NARBEY OLIVE GROVE How long have your been producing olive oil?

We planted the trees about 18 years ago and have been producing oil for about 10 years.

What’s your favourite thing about producing olive oil?

The moment when the first drops of oil appear out of the tap from our press. We also love being among the olive trees in the grove, and when the wind blows from behind you the leaves all turn to silver.

If you could sum up your food philosophy in one sentence...

Making time to enjoy the process of cooking and eating good locally grown foods.

Where did you grow up?

Anita was born in The Hague, Holland, and came to New Zealand as a young child, she was brought up in Wellington, attended Wellington Girls College. She moved to Auckland to study Art at Elam School of art. She became an art teacher, specialising in photography and history of art.

Leon was born in Helensville on a dairy farm, and from the age of 10 lived in Hamilton, attending Hamilton Boys High. He also studied at Elam School of Fine Art and became a sculptor. Later he moved into the film industry as a way of recording the light sound environmental sculptures he was making. Thus filming became his passion and he still works in the film industry as a cinematographer.

What’s the biggest business challenge you’ve had to face?

Buying the second-hand centrifuge olive press, having no idea how it worked, and discovering that it needed a huge overhaul. By pure chance our next door neighbour is an electrical engineer and helped to pull it apart and was instrumental in getting it going. Together we gradually fixed it and put it back together again over a two year period. It now works really well and has produced our award-winning olive oil for the last four years.

What’s your favourite way to relax after work?

We go for a walk in the bush - we have five acres of native bush. We also both love reading and listening to music.

What’s your favourite thing about coming to the Grey Lynn Farmers Market?

We enjoy seeing friends who always come over and chat. I really enjoy seeing children tasting and enjoying olive oil, which is something we never did when we were you young. www.glfm.co.nz Follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/GLFM Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GreyLynnFarmersMarket F PN

Anita & Leon Narbey of Narbey Olive Grove

42 PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY BORING IS OFF THE MENU THIS SUMMER! Our hectic lifestyles have forced takeaway food to evolve and improve, and food trucks, artisan markets and pop up cafes have never been more popular. Barbecues are also back on the menu for summer.

The finishing touch to every slider or taco is of course - the sauce!

No one knows this better than Kato who have been creating New Zealand made chef -inspired sauces and relishes since 1993. Kato are moving with the times to spice things up in the kitchen and on the barbecue with their new range of street food inspired sauces.

Introducing Urban Chef - a fusion of flavours inspired by street food, food trucks, markets, cafes and urban stalls. Urban Chef Meyer Lemon Mayo: this citrus hit will liven up the most simple of dishes. Urban Chef Sticky Chilli Mayo: a magic combination of smooth mayonnaise and sweet, warming chilli jam. Urban Chef Roast Garlic Aioli: A Kiwi

favourite recipe from the original Kato range, this aioli adds smooth garlicky goodness to fries, a crunchy salad and everything in between.

Other irresistible relishes in the range include Urban Chef Beetroot with Orange Zest, Urban Chef Caramelised Onion Relish and Urban Chef Tomato with Smokey Chipotle Relish. Urban Chef believes great flavour should be easily achieved and easily shared you are strongly encouraged to ‘shhhmear’ Urban Chef on every meal for instant flavour.

Urban Chef products are stocked in all good supermarkets and speciality food stores nationwide. www.kato.co.nz F PN

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

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PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

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LIZ WHEADON: WINE, GLORIOUS WINE

Your guide to sparkling wine The range of sparkling wine available in New Zealand continues to expand, with literally hundreds of brands on shelves around the country.

With the sun out and Christmas around the corner, it seems timely to put together a little about the different styles to help you navigate your way through the festive season in sparkling style.

Sparkling wine made the traditional way, as they do in Champagne, can be simplified down to this very basic version - the grapes are picked, then pressed and the juice is fermented into wine. The wine is then put into bottles where a secondary fermentation occurs - as this occurs, the bubbles released during the process are trapped in the bottle. The bottles are then turned and slowly the dead yeast cells from the second fermentation collect in the neck of the bottle. The temporary closure that is used during the secondary fermentation is then removed, a little ‘dosage’ is added (liquor to top the bottle up that, depending on the amount added, affects the final sweetness of the wine) and a cork closure is applied to hold the bubbles in the bottle. This process is referred to as Méthode Traditionelle. Champagne is produced this way and can only be called Champagne as long as it’s from the Champagne Appellation (78,000 acres of vine in Champagne, France), bottle aged for 15 months minimum for NV, three years for vintage, and made from permitted grape varieties.

This traditional method of sparkling wine production is also used in Spain to produce Cava. Made in exactly the same way as Champagne, the differences being: the grapes are grown in Spanish Terroir, the grape varieties themselves are different and there’s a minimum requirement of nine months on lees for non vintage Cava. Whilst Cava represents an excellent value for money option, there are also reserva and gran reserva cavas whose quality is quite extraordinary.

We are now also blessed with a range of excellent sparkling wines made by the traditional method here in New Zealand. Daniel le Brun’s own wine, labelled as No.1

44 PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

Family Estate, continues to rate as one of the top New Zealand sparkling wines, as does their neighbour’s wine, Cloudy Bay Pelorus. Down in the south, Quartz Reef has been making excellent sparkling for many years and is now joined by Akarua. Akarua’s range now includes a brut, rosé and vintage wine, made by Akarua winemaker Matt Connell and Dr Tony Jordan; the quality of these wines ranks them amongst the top sparkling wines in the world.

Another method of production is the Charmat method, invented in 1907 by Frenchman Eugene Charmat. In this process the second fermentation happens in large tanks and is then pumped under pressure into bottles and sealed. Examples of sparkling wine produced through this process include prosecco and Asti.

When a wine is labelled non-vintage, it means that it is a blend of different base wines from a number of years. The blending occurs before the secondary fermentation. In Champagne, non-vintage champagne is considered the house style, it’s the wine that the house stands or falls on. Non-vintage wines are best purchased for drinking; as a general rule they don’t age.

A wine labelled with a vintage must contain wine from that particular vintage; vintage sparkling wines differ in style from year to year as they reflect the particular vintage they are from. Like good wines, vintage Champagne ages very well.

Glengarry has an impressive collection of sparkling wine from around the world. Check out the latest Glengarry Wineletter for more details or pop into Dida’s on Jervois Road PN where there’s a range of sparkling wines being poured this month. (LIZ WHEADON) F www.glengarry.co.nz www.didas.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY BLENDING COFFEE AND FOOD WITH BIKE RIDING Ponsonby’s newest high concept venture Blend has just opened its doors and is bringing customers something a little different with their daily coffee.

Kiwi ingenuity mixes effortlessly with Tokyo style at Blend which offers for the first time in New Zealand the sale of bikes from internationally renowned minimalist, tokyobike, and beautiful accessories alongside a quality caffeine and food fix.

Blend is the brainchild of coffee roaster and creator of Smith Coffee, Drew Duff-Dobson, who said the idea of combining urban bikes and coffee was inspired by a recent trip through Europe and Asia. tokyobike is an international phenomenon with people drawn to the bike’s bright colours and the company’s slow-cycling philosophy, which offers a relaxing, convenient way to experience cities around the world.

Designed to be light to ride with the emphasis on comfort over speed these urban bikes originated in Japan in 2002 as an effortless way of getting around Tokyo city. Since then the small independent company has branches worldwide, including New York, London, Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo, Copenhagen, Bangkok, Singapore, Berlin and has gained a dedicated following.

Located inside The Shelter, Blend opens at 7am for coffee on weekdays and 10am on weekends serving a selection of local foods that you can enjoy in the relaxed indoor space or beautiful courtyard. F PN BLEND, The Shelter, 78 Mackelvie Street, www.blendstore.co.nz www.theshelter.co.nz www.smithcoffee.co.nz

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LAURAINE JACOBS: THE SEASONED PALATE

Lauraine Jacobs finds both bargains and classy luxury at O’Connell Street Bistro I AM JUST BACK FROM A GLORIOUS TRIP TO FRANCE AND PORTUGAL WHERE I ATE LOADS of fantastic meals. So many, that there were occasional moments when I thought there was a possibility I might explode with all the gustatory delights. But eating is a serious occupation for me, and as my friend and international food critic Ruth Reichl recently told me, “We’re professionals and it is our job to eat.” Well. Yes. Maybe.

Apart from the highly organised week in Burgundy where we joined a group of eight other wine lovers to explore that region’s wines and food, and ate glorious breakfasts, lunches and dinners every day, we tried to limit ourselves to one good meal daily when on our own.

Anyone who travels frequently will know that wandering the streets in the hope of finding a great restaurant is highly likely to end in a disappointing experience. Do the homework before leaving home and just as flights and hotels are booked in advance, think about finding good restaurants in advance. You will never regret making reservations via the internet or via one of the restaurant booking services before you go.

The best value, particularly in Paris, can usually be found at lunch time. Posh restaurants that hold those elusive Michelin stars, the large popular Parisian brasseries and even the tiny family-run bistros all offer a fixed price menu at lunch, often at one third or one half of the price of the very same food that appears on the dinner menu. The lunch may be just two or three courses, with the added bonus of a carafe of house wine, but it is a great way to experience fine fare without breaking the bank. We ate so well!

So back in Auckland, where I can assure you we have plenty of restaurants that measure up to international standards, just why are we presented with the very same menu at lunch at the same cost as that offered at dinner? Those Parisian restaurants burst at their seams at lunch yet our fancy places here, on the whole, leave it to cafe owners to feed us.

Chris Upton (pictured), the suave and highly professional owner of one our city’s gems, O’Connell Street Bistro, has recognised this niche and has gone against the mainstream to offer a set price lunch each weekday (or pre-theatre if you vacate the table by 7.30pm) that is a true bargain, just like those French establishments.

described as innovative, delicious comfort food. There has been a pappardelle with rabbit on the menu forever, and Strobach has made it his own by cooking it with wild hare, pancetta and walnuts. He cooks a lovely mushroom dish with three different mushrooms and serves it with celeriac and silverbeet enlivened with hazelnut butter and grated truffles, and his lamb rump with black olive gnocchi and beans and asparagus is almost faultless. Lots of lovely desserts feature too, along with an excellent cheese selection.

And just as there is that democratic ‘express’ menu that gives diners a chance to experience fine fare, Upton raises the stakes at the luxury end of fine dining. The house Champagne is Roederer, and a special Roederer Dinner can be ordered for a group of eight guests or more (the restaurant boasts the city’s best private dining room that seats up to 20 in a secret space on the corner of O’Connell and Shortland Streets).

Accompanying this very special five course menu are glasses of no less than four of the Roederer champagnes including the stunning Cristal and a fine red Bordeaux. The cost per head? A mere $230.

It would not be fair to write about O’Connell Street without mentioning the extensive wine list. It has been assembled over the years by Upton, who has an unequalled passion amongst restaurateurs for fine wine. The selection of both local and imported wines is lengthy, thoughtful and admirable. And just like the leap from the express menu to the Roederer menu, there is something for everyone. It is a happy place that offers a rosé wine at $42, a lovely chardonnay at $55 and a choice of many half bottles (375mls) of both red and white wine. At the other end of the budget a connoisseur might choose a $1400 magnum of exceptional Spanish red wine, or even celebrate with a $6500 bottle of Pomerol Petrus. Heaven forbid, the choice is yours!

Whether it is an intimate dinner, a celebratory occasion, a business lunch or just an opportunity to eat terrific food in a cosseting environment, O’Connell Street with its lovely bar and cosy dining room has it all. And on a hot summer’s day, a table outside if you PN wish. (LAURAINE JACOBS) F www.laurainejacobs.co.nz O’Connell Street Bistro, 3 O’Connell Street, T: 09 377 1884 www.oconnellstbistro.com

We’d only been back a week and I was straight back into my lunchtime touring habit to take advantage of this delicious well-crafted and well-priced food. But first, I was very happy to see that the busy little street has finally, after months of s-l-o-w work been re-shaped into a ‘shared space precinct.’ On fine days the food businesses there, including O’Connell Street Bistro, set up outdoor tables on the newly paved street with its lovely nikau palms. The whole area has a terrific feeling about it. You’re looking good, central city.

The bistro ‘express menu’ as it is known, offers a choice of two entrees, two mains and dessert or cheese. Two courses $39.50 or three for $45. Hey, this is definitely one of our city’s bargains. A dish to start thrilled me; Northland smoked eel wrapped in pancetta with plump and juicy seared scampi, caramelised apple, black garlic puree and beurre blanc. I love it when chefs recognise good local ingredients and this one made me very proud to be a Kiwi who was dining well. To follow, a thick nugget of moist skate with salt cod and agria mash, slow cooked fennel and fresh tomato and caper beurre blanc. It doesn’t get much better than this. A glass of wine as an extra and I had feasted like a gourmet for less than $50.

With that main course Chef Alex Strobach demonstrated his innovation. The skate was terrific; a fish that is rarely if ever seen on menus, and it was perfect. Strobach has headed the kitchen at O’Connell Street for just over two years, and his menu recognises the traditions that are much loved by the local professional business community and a host of long term loyal customers who dine there frequently. Strobach’s own touches have been added seamlessly to the bistro, as for almost 17 years Upton has maintained some of the city’s best service, food, and one of the finest wine selections in town.

The menu is fairly succinct, with around just five or six choices of entrée, main and dessert respectively, but every dish is well thought through, perfectly balanced and could be best

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DEIRDRE TOHILL: LANDMARK BUILDINGS

DEIRDRE TOHILL: LANDMARK BUILDINGS

The Ponsonby Mosque The Vermont Street mosque was built in 1980, and at the time was the only one of its kind in the country.

Islam first came to New Zealand in the 1870s with the arrival of Muslim Chinese gold diggers who prospected in the Dunstan gold fields of Otago, and later waves of Muslim immigrants came here from India, Eastern Europe, Fiji and various war torn countries. In 1951 the refugee boat, SS Goya, sailed to New Zealand with over 60 Muslim men from Eastern Europe, including Mazhar Krasniqi who later served twice as President of the New Zealand Muslim Association.

These early Gujarati and European immigrants began to organise themselves and gather in their private houses to observe religious celebrations. They then worked together to buy an ordinary house and convert it into an Islamic Centre in 1959, the first in the country. They formed a New Zealand Muslim Association and invited Maulana Said Musa Patel from the Gujarat, a state in the western part of India known locally as ‘Jewel of the West’, to be New Zealand’s first Imam, which is a leader of a Muslim community. In 1967 the house was sold and another bought; in 1972 this too was sold and another acquired at 17 Vermont Street. As their numbers grew, the need for a large, fixed place of worship and education became pressing, so in 1979 the house on the site was removed and construction work began for New Zealand’s first real mosque.

Because the function of a mosque is as a place of congregational prayer, certain architectural features figure in mosques all over the world. They must have a large prayer hall, which in many cases is adjoined by an open courtyard with a fountain for ablutions done before prayer. An essential element called a mihrab is a niche in the wall that indicates the direction of Mecca and the wall in which the mihrab is set is called the quibla wall. One of a mosque’s most visible features is the minaret, which may vary in height and style but remains a visual reminder of Islam’s presence. Most mosques

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also have one or more domes that don’t have a ritual requirement but are a symbolic representation of the vault of heaven.

The Ponsonby Mosque was completed by 1980 and incorporates all the characteristics of a traditional mosque. These buildings are universally beautiful and the Vermont Street example is no exception. It has historical significance as being the first mosque in New Zealand and today serves the spiritual requirements of the largest Islam community in New Zealand. (DEIRDRE TOHILL) F PN

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY CHRISTMAS FUNCTIONS AT THE SURREY The Surrey Hotel is a perfect choice for your Christmas function.

Located on Great North Road in Grey Lynn it is central to the city and West Auckland with plenty of free parking and great accommodation if you want a night away.

The Surrey Hotel team can tailor-make the function to suit your budget and size of your group. They have four separate conference areas that can cater from 10 to 110 people.

It can be as simple as drinks and nibbles in the bar, a barbecue on the deck, or privately in one of their well appointed conference rooms - size does make the difference!

The Dorset Room is ideal for a small gathering, drinks and nibbles in very relaxed and comfortable surroundings. The Sussex Room is the perfect size for 10 - 20 people to have a private dinner or a cocktail party for up to around 30.

The Windsor Room is a great room if you have around 60 people and want to have a gathering with drinks and nibbles and if a buffet for 40 people is required then this is the perfect room to have it! The Cornwall Room is their large room and can cater for 100 people sitting down for dinner or 125 people for a drinks / nibbles party.

You are only limited by your imagination and their experienced team can help with the PN planning of your event. F THE SURREY HOTEL, 465 Great North Road, T: 09 378 9059 reservations@thesurreyhotel.co.nz www.thesurreyhotel.co.nz

SPRING AT THE BOTANIST Spring is a special time at The Botanist. For starters the new season brings with it an abundance of vibrant flowers, enabling florist Eden Hessell to design beautiful bouquets and floral creations.

In the kitchen chef Sara Simpson has designed an all new spring menu featuring the best of the new season’s produce such as asparagus, baby potatoes and spring lamb. The Botanist is open for dinner on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, with a special ‘Celebrate Spring’ dining package now available. Two diners can enjoy a glass of Matua wine each, three shared plates and take home a beautiful petit bouquet of fresh flowers, all for only $60.

The Botanist’s brunch menu - available until 11am weekdays and all day on Saturday and Sunday - is Auckland’s most innovative, the food described by Michele Crawshaw in the New Zealand Herald as “terrific... the menu a refreshing departure from the standard options.”

The Botanist’s elevated position and north-west facing aspect means the evening sun streams in until it sets over the Ponsonby ridge, surely one of Auckland’s best sunsets.

Unsurprisingly this makes it a popular spot for after-work drinks, with DJs playing old school funk and soul on vinyl. A complimentary aperitivo is served with every Peroni, or enjoy a sumptuous canapé with each glass of Champagne Lanson, from 4 -7pm.

The Botanist is also available for functions, from product launches and fashion events to birthday parties and intimate weddings, where The Botanist’s unique mix of fine food, wine, cocktails and flowers ensures every event is memorable. F PN THE BOTANIST, Shed 13, City Works Depot, 90 Wellesley Street West, T: 09 308 9494 botanist.co.nz

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY SATISFY YOUR TASTE BUDS AT TASTE OF AUCKLAND It’s time to prepare your taste buds for New Zealand’s most exciting foodie festival - Taste of Auckland 2014.

Settling into its new home of Western Springs, this year’s line-up is set to be the best yet, as it welcomes 10 of Auckland’s finest restaurants, plus a who’s who of chefs, winemakers and New Zealand’s best producers.

This year, Taste of Auckland welcomes 10 of Auckland's hottest restaurants, serving up their signature dishes to delight your taste buds. With a great mix of favourites from Taste festivals past, alongside Auckland institutions and fresh faces, there’s bound to be something to satisfy your taste buds! The delectable line-up includes Taste of Auckland veterans, Depot Eatery who will offer a Raw Bar for the first time, new-comers Farina and Lava Dining and a celebration of Aucklanders’ favourite spot for a long lunch, Waiheke Island - with the festival welcoming three of its most iconic eateries: The Oyster Inn, Cable Bay, and Poderi Crisci.

Alongside the small producers and gourmet treats that you love, this year the festival has some fabulous new attractions including, for the first time, the G.H.Mumm Champagne Bar, where guests are invited to relax with a glass of champagne, and soak up the atmosphere. The Fisher and Paykel Chef’s Kitchen offers a schedule of 20 chef demonstrations throughout the weekend, and the Magners Bandstand offers the perfect spot to enjoy a cool summer cider. F PN A full list of restaurants and other offerings can be found at: www.tasteofauckland.co.nz

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS CAKE BAKED IN A WOODEN BOX From Milly’s Kitchen This cake box is made from natural New Zealand Kahikatea and is especially designed for cooking rich fruit cakes that require long cooking times.

The joy of the wooden cake box is that there is no requirement for extra paper lining, apart from the one layer of baking paper.

The box is reusable, or you can give it as a gift with your cake and recipe.

250g butter 250g brown sugar 1 dsp golden syrup 1 kg mixed dried fruit ¼ tsp salt ¾ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp curry powder

zest and juice of ½ lemon 70g chopped almonds 150ml sherry or brandy 4 eggs, beaten 250g flour ¾ tsp baking powder ¾ tsp baking soda

Place fruit, butter, sugar and golden syrup into a large saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring to stop the mixture burning.

Add lemon, spices, salt, chopped almonds and brandy. Stirring continuously, simmer for 10 minutes, then add the corn flour. Mix well and remove from the heat. Leave to cool thoroughly - about an hour. Beat eggs. Sift flour, baking powder and baking soda, and add alternately to cooled fruit mixture with the eggs.

Bake in the middle of the oven at 160 degrees for 30 minutes then 120 degrees for 3½ hours (cooking times may vary depending on your oven). Cool in box.

For further information, call in and ask us for the Christmas Cake Protocol, or visit our website www.millys.co.nz F PN PS, yes Christmas cake has a protocol!

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FASHION + STYLE: JULIE ROULSTON

Ponsonby’s fashion explosion Some might blame it on Chris Cherry and Workshop.

Five years ago in the middle of the Global Financial Crisis, Chris took a deep breath and a long term lease (“from one of the most cooperative and forward thinking landlords with whom I’ve ever dealt”) on premises as huge and beautifully proportioned as they were tired and worn. It was Workshop’s first foray into Ponsonby, the largest store Cherry had ever opened, destined to showcase the full Helen Cherry and Workshop collections alongside intentional designer brands. Thus Workshop became the first 100% retail fashion store at the Ponsonby Road end of MacKelvie Street.

Fast forward to this month, and MacKelvie Street is enjoying its time in the sun as Ponsonby Road’s fashion central.

First to materialise in impressive fashion in late 2012, was the Samson Corporation development which houses Andrea Moore, Ricochet and Gregory.

In typically canny style, Karen Walker put a foot in both the Ponsonby Road and Mackelvie Street camps, opening her corner store in May 2013.

Eugenie - former Karen Walker design assistant Liz Wilson’s store in the former Lambert Merino premises tucked away around the corner at No 51A, followed in July this year.

Then came the Deadly Ponies concept store at No 70, launching the same day as Vicki Taylor’s The Shelter. The latter is a beautiful, light-filled open plan space shared by several retailers, including taylor’s eponymous labels and new, exclusive to New Zealand imports, as well as Children of Vision, homeware by Foxes Den and cafe Blend - a haven for lovers of design and black and devilishly deconstructed things of beauty.

The latest newcomer is LOT 3, which has brought an impressive eight new labels into the street and into Ponsonby. The stores are slick and the businesses are largely proven - on a recent Saturday both Storm (moved down and across from its former Ponsonby Road premises) and the brand-new-to-Ponsonby Icebreaker

Liz Wilson (Eugenie), Chris Hales (Goodness), Vicki Taylor (The Shelter), Jane Daniels (Jane Daniels Design), Wendy Nelson (Union) and Patric Seng (Bintang Models) were positively bustling. The development’s fashion retailers will be complemented

by Ponsonby’s first M.A.C Cosmetic stores. “We are thrilled to be taking M.A.C to Ponsonby Road - it’s exciting to be in the company of an incredible line up of both New Zealand and international designers,” says M.A.C Brand General Manager, Tanya Jackson.

It’s heartening to know that the project manager for the family trust that owns the LOT 3 development worked with Match Realty for 18 months to tenant the stores, striving to fit into the development’s surroundings, looking for retailers who would ‘last the distance’ and to keep the tenant mix as boutique and owner/ operator as possible.

New fashion stores: JERVOIS ROAD Goodness PONSONBY ROAD Commoners Good as Gold Jane Daniels Staple + Cloth MACKELVIE STREET Deadly Ponies Eugenie The Shelter Children of Vision taylor

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SURREY CRESCENT Shen LOT3 Blak/Chaos & Harmony Icebreaker Knowear Storm Lonely Hearts M.A.C Mi Piaci 130 Pons Needles & Threads State of Grace Union

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1. Deadly Ponies 2. The Shelter 3. Eugenie 4. Workshop

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Stephen Marr, owner of the corner villa and the building adjoining LOT 3, is working in cooperation with the neighbouring family trust, to open up the site and create an active precinct, and in his words, “really consolidate Ponsonby as the fashion destination.”

FASHION + STYLE GEORGE HARRISON: FOR MEN WITH STYLE

Marr told Ponsonby News, “We are creating a lane access way to Richmond Road behind our building to create a unique precinct - mixed use hospitality and retail connecting across from Ponsonby Central to MacKelvie Street. We’ll be reinvigorating our own site over the coming year.

George Harrison is in the heart of Auckland city and has an extensive range of international labels for fashion forward and stylish men.

“It’s an exciting time for Ponsonby in general; movements from people around the road are allowing for some free space which other brands can come into. The new energy will be attractive and watched closely by all retailers.”

Come in and discover the collections available from top labels including Italian brands Versace, Reporter and Gaudi, Ted Baker and Peter Werth from the United Kingdom, German simplicity from Karl Lagerfeld and many, many more.

As Marr points out, the new energy in question may find its centre in Mackelvie, but it’s not limited to that street alone. The Ponsonby fashion explosion of Spring 2014 has seen two Wellington retailers, Goodness and Good as Gold, open in the ‘hood on Jervois and Ponsonby roads respectively; also on Ponsonby Road are Jane Daniels in her first Ponsonby store, streetwear brand Commoners’ first retail venture and the former Kingan Jones, rebranded and under a new owner as Staple + Cloth.

The much anticipated summer 2014 collections have arrived with a bang, bringing the highest standard of sophistication to the George Harrison multi label store. On show this season is a great selection of fine business wear; superior suits, light weight shirts ideal for summer months, as well as detailed leather accessories and cool casual wear.

The new summer collections bring a large variety to choose from, including suits from a range of well known labels, with a focal point for this season emerging from Europe bringing on-trend double breasted and three buttoned style suits to store.

Viv Rosenberg from the Ponsonby Business Association says, “We are thrilled, delighted and excited. We love that these businesses have chosen Ponsonby and we thank them for their generosity.

“We look forward to continuing to create a great experience for everyone in Ponsonby, where they can shop first, then party after.”

And Workshop? Its stunning Martin Popplewell wall work can no longer be seen from Ponsonby Road - but treasures are no less exquisite because they’re hidden.

PN (JULIE ROULSTON) F

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Step out and embrace this summer as George Harrison's range of bright and stunning casual wear never fails to impress with eye-catching prints, fabrics that look and feel amazing as well as slim fitting designs and statement colours, all perfect for those warm weekends away. So pop in and visit the store in the hub of Auckland city’s high fashion and secure a wardrobe makeover for the many events coming up this season. Leave a lasting impression and make George Harrison your destination in finding the latest in your business, fashion and formal attire. F PN GEORGE HARRISON, Level 3 Atrium On Elliott, Elliott Street, Auckland City, T: 09 366 7788, www.GeorgeHarrison.co.nz

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FASHION + STYLE THE GEMSTONE FOR NOVEMBER Donna Mills, owner of Jewels and Gems introduces us to the qualities of the gemstone, fuchsite.

The information comes from the scientifically conducted trials of German stone specialist Michael Gienger. Many people seek a stone to protect themselves, their work station or their homes. There are various possibilities for different situations. Some stones deflect disharmonious energy waves and vibrations, some break them up and re-form them into more harmonious patterns and some help us to rid ourselves from toxic influences by creating energy flow, physically and energetically.

To help us understand more about this reality take a look at the work of Japanese scientist, the late Dr Masaru Emoto. He showed us with his photographs of water crystallisations, that our thoughts and words have a profound influence on water and ether, which basically means everything in and around us. Dr Emoto unequivocally proved that we can consciously bless or unconsciously damn. Humanity owes a great tribute to his magnificent work.

Crystals and minerals have a very stable, perfect structure due to the intense heat and pressure they undergo inside the earth. Therefore they have great power to influence more mobile states of energy with their ability to create harmony.

An inexpensive, little known stone for protection, is fuchsite. Composed of chrome mica, it’s a beautiful, soft, bright, elfish green and sparkles from a million tiny particles of mica. It also helps us to set boundaries and be more self determined, allowing us to see problems from a distance and find solutions more easily.

Physically, it’s good for allergies, itching, inflammation (and the effects of radiation).

Remember to think of your pets if they have these problems. Rarely used for jewellery, it is readily available in large chunks or tumbled stones. F PN JEWELS AND GEMS, 54 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 378 4389 www.jewelsandgems.co.nz

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FASHION + STYLE BINTANG MODELS CELEBRATES The Bintang Models anniversary show 'An Escape from the Ordinary’ was held at The Sofitel Luxury Viaduct 18 October and presented 14 models in two separately themed shows.

The first show featured haute couture gowns styled by the fantastic Sammy Salsa and the second was an Egyptian theme demonstrating the versatility of Bintang Models.

“I’ve been working closely with the international and diverse Bintang Model team for the last few months to create an exquisite show that would challenge the pillars of quality and style of New Zealand fashion to bring about positive change,” said Patric Seng, the originator of Bintang Models.

The evening marked Bintang Models' first year anniversary and, while new, Bintang Models is making a significant contribution to the modelling industry locally and globally.

Models on the books are multi ethnic, as Bintang believes in diversity and supporting the paradigm shift of the global stage.

Bintang Models celebrates their first birthday at the Sofitel; Colin Mathura Jeffree and booking manager Patric Seng

Bintang Models are grateful to their sponsors Sofitel Luxury Viaduct, Uber, Sammy Salsa Style, House of JW, Veronica B, FaceMe Make Up, Trish Peng, Natalie Chan, Surmanti NZ, The Chandler and The Tanning Room again for all their support at the Bintang Model Anniversary Show.

The show’s finale featured a meticulously ornate golden gown with stunning body armour accessories - leaving the crowd breathless. The added extravagance of one of the female models being escorted down the runway by six muscular gentlemen captured the essence of luxury, style and beauty of the Bintang Model brand. The stunning finale model, Victoria, will be flying to Monaco in November for an international show. F PN

BINTANG MODELS AT WELLA TREND VISION 2014 This November it’s more international exposure for Bintang Models when one of their models will fly to Monaco to model in the Wella Trend Vision 2014 finals.

The opportunity comes thanks to stylist Chinney Yeap, who won the Gold Award at the New Zealand finals. Chinney works out of Dharma Salon in Mt Eden and for the theme of ‘Borderline Beauty’, Victoria of Bintang Models became the muse for Chinney’s winning skills.

It was more dramatic preparing for the New Zealand finals than Chinney and the team expected. The weekend of the competition Auckland experienced power cuts; they arrived at the salon to discover that the electronic key could not open the doors and of course all the styling equipment was locked inside! They eventually trooped to Chinney’s home and began the meticulous process of colouring Victoria’s hair - in Chinney’s kitchen.

“My team was amazing,” said Chinney. “They were so calm, it made it much easier.

Comparing myself to other stylists around me on the day was hard. My boss was competing - people I looked up to!”

“Chinney is so very talented, and it was one of those ‘against all odds’ successes,” said model Victoria. “For me was a wonderful experience to do something out of the ordinary. I have been modelling for just over a year, I always wanted to, but never had the chance until I was offered to join Bintang Models by Patric Seng - I loved it from the first photoshoot.”

To contact Bintang Models, email info@bintangmodels.com or talk to Patric, M: 021 1300 182

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Victoria modelling ‘Borderline Beauty’ - image taken by Fiona Quinn with Sammy Salsa as stylist; Abbie Gardiner created Victoria’s make-up PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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FASHION + STYLE RETAIL SUPERSTAR Ange Tinker, Goodness Herne Bay How did you come to be a retail salesperson?

I love people and I love the buzz of making someone look amazing. I was a fashion agent for 14 years before I crossed to the other side and became a retailer, and I will never look back!

What brought you to Goodness?

My business partner has two Goodness boutiques in Wellington, and has so many Auckland customers that she wanted to open up in Auckland. We are the perfect match and I just love bringing Goodness into people’s lives.

What do you love about your store?

The airiness and light-filled corner site that we are on gives me a birds-eye view of everything going down on Jervois. The beautiful bright colours, the variety of stock and the amazing clothes that fit every body type. Oh, and the divine Damselfly candles that we stock. Sublime.

What makes a standout retail salesperson?

Someone who can identify the customer’s needs without hassling them too much with questions. And if my customer doesn't look totally amazing in what they are trying on, I won’t let them buy the frock. Simple honesty.

SABEN WORKROOM SALE - AND AIRPORT POP-UP LANDING SOON! For one day only, the famous Saben workroom sale will take place Saturday 15 November.

There is only one day to head along to the famous Saben workroom sale - you’ll save up to 85% on gorgeous leather handbags and accessories, including one-offs, samples and seconds. So arm yourself with a new bag for work, play or party - do you really need an excuse?

Bag a bargain at the Saben workroom sale, mark your diary. Where: Flying Fish studios, 230 Ponsonby Road, for one day only. When: 8am to 4pm on Saturday 15 November.

Ponsonby based brand Saben is also opening a pop-up shop at Auckland International Airport. As of November 18 visitors to the airport will be able to enjoy duty free Saben shopping prior to boarding their flights. Last minute gift? Need a holiday tote or a bigger carry-on? Travel in luxe leather with Saben. For a tax-free Saben treat, buy online prior to flying and arrange pick up at the airport on your way out or back in. Saben will be available at the airport from 18 November. F PN SABEN WORKROOM SALE, 230 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 376 1008, www.saben.net.nz

Tell us about a memorable sale you've made this year...

Well, one gorgeous customer found us by doing a 'drive by' and I could identify her beautiful classic style instantly. She likes to do a one-stop shop and I was so happy that we had what she was looking for. She let me play dress ups with her! I ended up getting goosebumps; I was so happy that she looked so amazing in what she bought, and I know that she will definitely come back again.

If you could wave your wand and have anyone in the world walk into your store right now, who would it be?

My beautiful mum Rozzie, who passed away five years ago. She would just adore what we stock and I would love to dress her just one more time.

If you could wave your wand and have anyone in greater Ponsonby walk into your store right now, who would it be?

Annie Dow - that girl’s wardrobe makes me weep with joy.

Where do you shop?

I used to be at Goodness Wellington but now: hello! I really loved shopping in Hong Kong when I was there in July. The New York of the East... Especially Joyce Boutique and Lane Crawford. But locally I just love Mecca Cosmetica and those delicious, hard-to-buy brands they stock.

Name someone you think is a great greater Ponsonby store.

I have always loved Storm and the girls there give amazing service. I adore Prego (as you know) and Brandon could sell me pork belly covered in liquorice and I would eat it. And Mike at Herne Bay Cellars stocks Babich Irongate Chardonnay for me. Gotta love that! F PN GOODNESS, 158 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, T: 09 376 0461, www.goodness.co.nz

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FASHION + STYLE

Sakana No Senshi by Mark Dobson New Zealand; Poly Nation by Kate Mackenzie New Zealand

VICKI TAYLOR JUDGES WOW Wearable art: glue-gunned objets de trash whipped up by hippies and children?

Not according to World of WearableArt founder Dame Suzie Moncrieff: “The joy and energy of wearable art is that it enables designers to see the body as a blank canvas...

The garments do not have to be commercially viable. They do not even have to take themselves seriously. The only thing is that they must be wearable.”

Nor according to local designer Vicki Taylor, who recently judged the 2014 WOW competition alongside sculptor Jeff Thomson, Weta Workshop’s Sir Richard Taylor, and Dame Suzie.

“This is high level design, taking costume into its artistic realm,” says Vicki. “The pieces looked good on stage but in one case (Sakana No Senshi, winner of the Weta Workshop Costume and Film category) the designer had gone out and caught the fish, cured the skin, and then fashioned the entire things from 2cm pieces - the garment was made of fish!”

“Poly Nation, winner of the Supreme Award, was entirely made from recycled suitcases!

The inside of the canoe! That skirt that looked like pinecones and how it was attached... you have to see them to understand the work in them.”

The WOW event itself warrants a close look. The ‘world where fashion and art collide’ is now in its 27th year, having been founded by Dame Suzie in a gallery in rural Nelson in 1987. It’s been staged at the TSB Bank Arena in Wellington for 10 years, with more than 50,000 visitors now attending the show annually.

Vicki literally took two seconds to accept the invitation to judge. “I never thought I’d be asked. Yes! Do I get to see them up close?” She says WOW resonates with her artistic side. “To see the pieces up close and live in their world! In fashion we are always constrained: some of those pieces take 45 minutes to put on, and that’s just the skirt!

With 75 screws. Who thought of that? I am so privileged to be have been part of it.”

Vicki’s opportunity - following on the heels of Dame Trelise Cooper and Nom*D’s Margarita Robertson - came about through a New York based customer of Vicki’s taylor boutique who spoke with the WOW team during their 2013 exhibition in San Francisco.

Dame Suzie says, “Vicki was chosen because of her cutting edge design and her huge experience within the New Zealand fashion industry. Not only does she have her own highly reputable and successful brand, but she is also committed to helping young designers achieve and run their own successful businesses.”

Vicki spent an initial three days in Nelson where all garments were modelled for the judges in what she describes as a “creative fairyland warehouse”. “There would have been 70 staff behind the scenes so that we judges could view everything from out the front and be able to touch the pieces. We saw the entries without knowing the designers’ identities. Their two page design statements were read to us and to their model - so that the model appeared in the piece, in character. It took half a day just to see the pieces in the ‘Open’ section. It’s hard to process the magnitude of what you see, and after three days it was odd coming back to reality where there weren’t creatures hanging from the ceiling and animals coming to life!”

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A total of 166 entries by 171 designers (some worked in pairs on a single entry) were chosen to appear in this year’s show to compete for a prize pool of 37 awards.

A second round of judging saw a 12th day in Wellington with six 40-foot containers that had been shipped from Nelson, enabling the judges to see the show at a raw, pre-performance stage.

Vicki described her fellow judges Sir Richard Taylor and Jeff Thomson as “amazing. Humble, inspirational, and analytical. For Sir Richard, everything is more than just a surface - it’s about the pieces behind it, and the thoughts behind that.”

Vicki Taylor

Vicki describes being a WOW judge as an amazing experience. “The people I met, and their calibre - I’ve never really been part of a production that was that big, and part of such a large, dedicated team - more than 400, right down to a core of about 12 who were all, always there. Some of WOW’s models have worked for them for 12 years I don’t know any company in the world that can say that. It’s pretty special, they’ve a huge international image but there’s a very humble core of incredibly creative people working for one force. And it’s not even about them, it’s all about the designers.”

From an audience perspective, very special mention must go to WOW’s Artistic Director/ Principal Choreographer Malia Johnston. The choreography, custom devised for every entry appearing in the show, is mind-blowing in its intricacy - truly a “glorious rebellion against the mundane ... the choreographers don’t even know what they are getting!” says Vicki. They just take those many pieces and turn them into a show!” And a very successful one at that. To date, more than 172,000 people have seen the WOW show, which generates $22.6m annually. Fifty percent of finalists are now from all over the world, with 21 of 39 awards won by 17 international designers this year.

WOW’s future is so bright it’s dazzling. Vicki is excited by the change that technology is bringing - for example, one of this year’s pieces, Emperor Moth and his Minions, had a voice. “On the one had you have a garment made of fish, and the next something is looking at you and talking to you!” she says. WOW is coming to the Auckland Museum as an exhibition at the end of the month before traveling on to Australia and the United Kingdom. Vicki urges Ponsonby News readers to go and see the garments up close, for PN what she describes as a most eye opening experience. (JULIE ROULSTON) F www.worldofwearableart.com PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE CHARLOTTE PENMAN JEWELLERY - MODERN CLASSICS CHARLOTTE PENMAN AND TESSUTI ARE CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF COLLABORATION. Her work was first introduced to the well known Jervois Road homeware store in 2004 which was her first boutique stockist, having previously sold exclusively through galleries.

Offering a personalised and bespoke service to her clients, Charlotte has often collaborated with Tessuti owner Ali McIntosh to create unique pieces, as well as showcasing current design and the most popular pieces from a range of collections.

This hands-on approach is what makes Tessuti unique, the carefully selected items all have a story and often hand rendered production methods, making it a perfect partnership. Much of Penman’s work incorporates handmade elements which are done in Charlotte’s Takapuna studio. She loves working close to the seaside and often ventures around the coastline drawing inspiration.

Charlotte travels to collect gemstones and produces some of her charms and findings in Bali once a year, as she respects the artisan approach there. Having grown up between Hong Kong and New Zealand she has always been influenced by Southeast Asia and loves to keep the connection. But much of the range is produced in New Zealand and with a growing demand Charlotte is now collaborating and training a local jewellery maker to assist her with her work.

She also designs bespoke wedding rings and celebration pieces, working with a master goldsmith to produce diamond and 18k pieces - please chat to Ali if you are interested in booking a consultation. Her latest collection, Myths and Legends is in-store now, inspired by female Grecian deities and Classical Greek history, there are some great PN modern classics - new pieces arriving weekly! F CHARLOTTE PENMAN at TESSUTI, 224 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 4802, www.tessuti.co.nz

BLAKCHAOS ARRIVES IN AUCKLAND Designers Rebecca Anderson of Chaos and Harmony and Teresa Hodges of Blak opened their new collaborative BLAKCHAOS store in LOT 3 in late October.

The store is their second, following the opening of the pair’s Mount Maunganui flagship store just over a year ago.

Footwear brand Chaos and Harmony’s SS14/15 collection is inspired by the hummingbird. Featuring metallic textures alongside classic black and tan, the range is full of options from strappy flats to statement print mules to killer heels - perfect for party season. Hodges’ three lines Blak Luxe, Blak Love and Blak Basics see tailored jumpsuits, culottes, kimonos and lace trim shorts all playing a part in a refined yet playful take on the season.

The store features the full collections of both brands as well as Lovesick - the ‘rebellious younger sister’ to Chaos and Harmony. F PN BLAKCHAOS LOT 3, 130 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 777 7189 www.blakchaos.com The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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FASHION + STYLE STORE STYLE

photography: Nikau Hindin

photography: Nikau Hindin

Who better to show us what people are really wearing in greater Ponsonby, than the neighbourhood’s hard working fashion retail staff.

Nikau Hindin visited 25 of our favourites - check their Ponsonby style on this page and continued in the issue.

L to R: Ngaru Toka, Black Box; Beck Downes, Andrea Moore; Julia Butcher, Zambesi; Lyndon Sharma, Superette

L to R: Alejandra Salazar, Jane Daniels; Charlee Esther, Vanilla Ink; Charlotte Armstrong, Stolen Girlfriends Club; Elise Anderson, tkstore

L to R: Elise Ratima, Workshop; Jules Clark, Dalston; Linda Davidson, Sergeant Pretty; Zoe Partridge, Trelise Cooper Outlet

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STORE STYLE

FASHION + STYLE ROOKIE CELEBRATES THE BEST EMERGING DESIGNERS

continued from page 62

One of New Zealand’s most prestigious fashion events celebrated 10 years of profiling the best work from AUT University’s fashion design students.

In a show that took place early this month at Shed 10 in downtown Auckland, the evening included a pre-runway event - an exclusive fashion graduate showroom. With less than a week to before the final selection, the excitement was running high at the AUT fashion studios. The students had been through weeks of tireless preparation to produce fashion collections that communicate their vision and inspiration.

photography: Nikau Hindin

In the lead up to the event, Andreas Mikellis, Head of Department - Fashion Design at AUT University, said this year would be a special experience.

“The students are truly pushing the boundaries with their work. Over the past 10 years Rookie has showcased some of the best emerging talent in New Zealand and this show is no different. We have also introduced the graduate showroom at Shed 10, an exhibition format that has been developed to include a broader selection of our final year students’ work,” Andreas said.

L to R: Alexa Robinson, Kilt; Ben Scanlan, Fifth Avenue

This year the event celebrated the designers that have graduated in the past decade and are now working for numerous accomplished New Zealand brands such as Huffer, Ruby, Workshop, Hallensteins, Crane Brothers, Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester and Taylor.

AUT Alumni are also achieving global recognition, including designers such as Nadeesha Godamunne with Ralph Lauren in New York and Sam Thorpe for British menswear label Universal Works.

photography: Nikau Hindin

Three students, Courtney Perham, Ian Bernhard and Katelyn Nelson shared stories about their journey on the ‘Road to Rookie’, go to www.aut.ac.nz/rookie F PN

L to R: Christina Preston, Moa; Georgina Darlin, Ruby

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FASHION + STYLE NICK VON K AT UNION Union clothing has moved along in the world! The popular clothing boutique has relocated from Three Lamps to a beautiful new store in the recently completed shopping precinct, LOT 3, on the corner of Mackelvie Street and Ponsonby Road.

Union clothing owner, Wendy Nelson, even appears on the cover of this month's issue of Ponsonby News representing for her selection of wearable and sophisticated fashion in the 'hood.

stockists, Union is the perfect home for Nick Von K's sought-after designs that incorporate hand carved elements, semi-precious stones, mother of pearl, deer antler and black buffalo horn. F PN

Union is the only store in Ponsonby where you can find the intriguing Nick Von K jewellery. With a more eclectic selection of Nick Von K jewellery than most other

NICK VON K at UNION, LOT 3, Shop 10 /130 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 376 1122, www.unionclothing.co.nz, www.nickvonk.com

Hand carved Nick Von K pieces at Union; ‘Just died and gone to heaven’

Mother of pearl wing pendant

FASHION FINALISTS ANNOUNCED Finalists were late last month announced for the 2014 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship - a seven-year-old initiative by logistics and transportation international DHL, designed to identify New Zealand’s hottest up-and-coming fashion exporters and assist them in achieving international growth.

Georgia Alice, Lucy McIntosh and Sly Guild were revealed as the three emerging fashion exporters vying for the winning scholarship package, which includes international freight to the value of NZ$10,000.

The scholarship has become an early identifier of young talent in New Zealand, with previous winners like Stolen Girlfriends Club, Lonely Hearts, and I Love Ugly going on to significant international recognition.

In a first for the competition, inaugural winner Dan Gosling, director and part owner of Crummer Road-based Stolen Girlfriends Club, has returned to the scholarship as a judge.

Gosling will join an esteemed panel that includes John Kelly, MAX Fashions CEO, Paul Blomfield, chairman at FINZ and Megan Wildermoth, fashion and textiles specialist at DHL.

Georgia Alice; Lucy McIntosh; Sly Guild - Chad Konik, Blair Konik and James Konik

The winner of the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship is to be announced on Wednesday 12 November. www.dhlfashionscholarship.co.nz. F PN GEORGIA ALICE - www.georgiaalice.com; LUCY MCINTOSH - www.lucymcintosh.co.nz; SLY GUILD - www.slyguild.com

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HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

Local beauty: Barrefigure’s Marysa Dalton Barrefigure is a chic, boutique fitness studio located on Richmond Road that also happens to be the first independent barre studio in Auckland, New Zealand.

The Barrefigure technique taught by owner Marysa Dalton is a truly dynamic fusion of ballet barre work, Pilates, yoga and strength conditioning set to music. It targets all muscle groups and tones, strengthens and lengthens them, creating a leaner, longer looking physique. I’ve tried a few classes since the day the studio opened and can honestly say that the one-hour sessions are most definitely a relentless, full body workout, and no walk in the park! Having said that, while Barrefigure is high intensity, it is very low impact, meaning you’ll get a great workout without putting excessive stress on your joints. You focus on tiny isometric movements and using your own body weight to sculpt your physique.

Marysa began dancing in Christchurch at six years old and has more than 10 years of professional dance experience under her belt. She was a member of the Royal New Zealand Ballet for seven years, then moved on to guest in the West Australian Ballet in Perth, and as a principal artist in Neglia Ballet and Dance in Upstate New York.

After hanging up her pointe shoes in 2008 she became the Executive Assistant to the Ambassador at the New Zealand Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, and while she “loved having an office job I really missed movement, so I decided to work towards my Pilates Mat Certification and taught at various gyms and studios around Manhattan.” It was at this point that she discovered barre classes when they started popping up around her neighbourhood, and soon got seriously addicted. She says that she immediately loved how they made her body feel, and that “they gave me a similar challenge to what my body had when I was dancing.” This answers my next question before it comes out of my mouth, which was around the subject of whether ex-dancers nail barre the minute that they walk through the door. “Oh I don’t find it easy at all,” says Dalton with a smile, “I keep my poker face on the whole time but I feel the uncontrollable shaking in my muscles in some poses just as much as everyone else... if you see me smiling in a class rest assured that I am feeling it just as much as you are!”

Enamoured, she made it her mission to spread the love and become a barre instructor, and soon after moving to London was invited by Niki Rein (a former Tracey Anderson trainer) to join the team at Barrecore, the first barre studio in London. She officially obtained her barre certification in the United Kingdom and became a master instructor, teaching group and private classes for two years at studios located in Chelsea and Mayfair. Her clients included pre and post-natal mothers, professionals, over 50s, people recovering from injuries, socialites, celebrities and royalty. Can she name any names that we might know? “Princess Beatrice was a regular in my Monday classes,” she says, “and I taught Nigella Lawson one on one as well as (Formula 1 heiresses) Petra and Tamara Ecclestone. I also taught a lot of models because it’s a style of exercise that makes you longer and leaner, but also strong.”

But after six amazing years away from New Zealand the pull of home was strong, and after her work visa ran out Marysa and her boyfriend decided to return to familiar soil.

“Work wanted to sponsor me to stay but it was just time to come home,” she says, and clearly also time to launch Barrefigure classes in Auckland. “It was always my goal to open a barre studio in Auckland,” she explains, adding “I’m from Christchurch so it’s all so new to me. I was a little worried that after living in New York and London that I would miss the pace of a really big city but I absolutely love it here.”

She has launched with a signature barre class and a beginner’s option, both of which are a fusion of her first two loves - ballet and pilates - and inspired by both. “If you don’t have a background in either it makes no difference though,” she says, “as I keep classes small so I can demonstrate each and every move and check in if people are doing them correctly.” She caps classes at 17 participants and is the only teacher on board at present, and says that - depending on what type of other movement you include in your life - you can see real results attending around three classes a week. As well as teaching classes she takes private lessons and also welcomes private groups for a super motivating experience, and there are plans for a Barrefigure boot camp and a more dance-focused class too.

I love the classes and highly recommend them for a fun as well as challenging 60 minutes. And as Marysa’s website says, “as long as you can hold on to the ballet barre, PN you can do Barrefigure! No dancing experience required.” (HELENE RAVLICH) F

SHOW ME SHORTS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED NOMINEES FOR THE COVETED BEST FILM AWARD IN THE SHOW ME SHORTS AWARDS were announced late last month, as Matthew Saville and Julia Parnell for Dive; Abigail Greenwood and Kate Prior for Eleven; and Greg Wood, Levi Slavin and Declan Cahill for Helmut Makes a Quilt. Saville’s dark identity-crisis fantasy Dive, and the girls’ coming-ofage film Eleven directed by Abigail Greenwood, are each finalists in four award categories.

Helmut Makes a Quilt and Killing Phillip, both films made by Exit Films collaborators, have five nominations between them.

The judges for the Show Me Shorts awards are writer/actress Sophie Henderson; awardwinning journalist and film critic David Larsen; star of stage and screen Robyn Malcolm; and director/musician Joe Lonie, who was awarded last year’s Best Film Award. Henderson commented, “We were so impressed with the high standard of New Zealand films in this year’s Show Me Shorts programme, making it a tough decision for every category. Good on you Show Me Shorts, you made it really difficult for us with your ridiculously strong line-up.”

The winners of the Show Me Shorts awards were to be announced at the Rialto Channel Opening Night and Awards Ceremony on Thursday 6 November at The Civic. The winner

66 PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

of the Show Me Shorts Best Film Award becomes eligible to submit their film for the 2016 Oscars®.

They will also receive $2,000 cash, $5,000 worth of gear rental from Rubber Monkey, a membership to StarNow and a copy of Final Draft screenwriting software as part of their prize package. A total of $5,000 will be given out in prize money for award winners, as part of a total prize pool worth more than $25,000.

Show Me Shorts plays in 20 cinemas across New Zealand from November 6-23. During the festival, audiences can vote for their favourite film to win the Wendy’s People’s Choice Award by filling out the festival survey in cinemas or on the website. Audience members who vote also go in the draw to win a prize pack valued at more than $600, courtesy of Wendy’s and Mediaworks. A brochure with the full Show Me Shorts 2014 programme can be picked up from cinemas, cafes and libraries. www.showmeshorts.co.nz F PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING SPANDAU BALLET VISITS AUCKLAND SPANDAU BALLET RELEASED their brand new best-of album, The Story - The Very Best of Spandau Ballet on 31 October and band members Tony Hadley and Martin Kemp visited Auckland to promote the album’s release and upcoming documentary.

Fans attended an early November special screening of the band’s documentary Soulboys Of The Western World at SKYCITY Theatre, with Hadley and Kemp doing a Q&A after the screening.

In the early 80s Spandau Ballet were the ‘in crowd’s’ band, ushering in a new era of visually dominated pop, and their mechanical, stylised sound was born and bred on the dance floors of the West End. Spandau spearheaded an era of new pop that was destined to traverse the globe, along with Duran Duran, Sade, Culture Club and Wham!, as well as dozens of other British groups who grew out of the new romantic scene at the end of the 70s. By the 80s Spandau Ballet were global superstars.

Spandau Ballet became one of the most commercially successful bands of the decade.

‘True’ has now achieved over four million plays in North America alone and ‘Gold’ was the true soundtrack to the London 2012 Olympics.

The Soulboys Of The Western World film documents the late 70s and 80s and was rapturously received by critics when it world premiered at the SXSW film festival earlier PN this year. www.spandauballetthemovie.com/ F NB: images supplied are stills from the movie hence blurriness.

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SHEENA SHUVANI STARDUST ASTROLOGY (23 October - 21 November) ♏ SCORPIO Element of water.

Symbol: The scorpion, the eagle, the gray lizard, the phoenix.

Quality: Fixed = stability.

Motto: Love and war.

Planetary Ruler Pluto.

Character Scorpio’s empowered dark force is derived directly from the intense magnetism of the mysterious planet Pluto. Thus Scorpios are old souls born knowing of ancient secrets of birth, life and death. From self-mastery issues their cool, calm, steady control but they are deep, deep waters indeed concealing many secrets. Known for their self -honesty born from fearless self-examination, Scorpio is also brutally honest with others.

Perceptive, suspicious, psychic, strong and invincible, their game plan is to win. Respect them or you’ll witness their seething anger exploding like a nuclear bomb! And never forget Scorpio’s competency for revenge, striking to the very core!

Career Integrity, curiosity, cool reasoning, powers of deduction and brilliant strategists, ambitious Scorpio is ever attracted to fame and money. They make excellent archaeologists, psychiatrists, geologists, scientists, physicists, genetic engineers, surgeons, undertakers, detectives, army generals, presidents, botanists, spiritual leaders.

Love and sexuality Scorpio in love can be sweet, gentle and tender. Highly sexed and sexually magnetic, to a Scorpio sex is the relationship, a mystic sacred union, unfathomable, and desire, passion and jealousy are ingredients to hurl into the cosmic crucible wherein the divine spark of new life is created. Scorpio, alone, of all the signs of the zodiac comprehends the true hidden miracle of sexuality.

Helpful advice You don’t need any! Within you encoded is the blueprint to the mystery of the universe and you already possess the key. You exhibit an invisible sign saying, ‘Danger, private, keep out’. So I’ll respect that.

40+ MAKEUP LESSON WISDOM PONSONBY’S BRAND NEW M.A.C. STORE OPENED ITS DOORS in LOT 3 late last month, and Ponsonby News’ Julie Roulston took the opportunity of having a long desired makeup lesson from National Artist Kiekie Stanners.

90 minute one-on-one lessons cost $150, but the price of the lesson is fully redeemable on product. This wasn’t Julie’s first makeup lesson - she’d had one in her early 30s - but she felt that a decade or so on it was time for a refresher as skin tone and facial contours change with age.

Key take-outs: • Your 40s are a great time to ‘change up’ your makeup. Kiekie believes that your skin develops a tolerance to what you are using regularly and benefits from a change.

• Use concealer under your eyes, but colour match it to your skin choosing a slightly rosier tone to colour correct any darkness. Apply only in the inner semicircle where dark rings reside.

• Use highlighter at the pretty junction of temple and cheekbone.

• Use a little blusher for a ‘placed colour’ effect - little touch of being ‘made up’ that offsets an otherwise natural look.

• Fill and perfect brows with gentle pencil application - select a lighter shade to guarantee subtlety.

• Use neutral shades on the eyelids, with eye pencil smudged into the lash line as a great no-fail way to bring in colour. If you apply colour on the lower lid, be sure to apply mascara to the lower lashes to finish the look.

• Apply primer and pencil before lipstick for a long-lasting lip. Don’t be afraid to create a fuller upper lip and/or a more defined cupid’s bow, if the lip is the hero of the look.

PN Julie’s lip colour is Sparks of Romance from M.A.C’s Heirloom Mix. F

M.A.C. Ponsonby, 130 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 4281, www.maccosmetics.co.nz

Your lucky number According to Cheiro (the world’s most famous seer), the date of the day of your birth is your luckiest of all numbers.

Favoured precious stones Topaz, bloodstone, black meteorite.

Favoured metal Iron.

Favoured colours Crimson, wine-red, black.

(SHEENA SHUVANI) F PN

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HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

Hi tech skin - the battle of the beauty tools The cleansing brush has been a big deal internationally for beauty lovers for a few years now, and several stellar versions’ recent arrival on the local market is big news for those that like to add a high tech tool to their usual skincare routine.

The first name that really hit the market and is now synonymous with cleansing brushes is Clarisonic. Developed by a team of engineers and entrepreneurs in Seattle, Clarisonic set out to “combine proprietary technology with a revolutionary vision to redefine skin care” and it was a true pioneer in the field. The Clarisonic Pro Sonic Skin Cleansing System was initially developed for skin care professionals to use in treatment due to its clever combination of gentleness and effectiveness.

Unlike the spinning devices that were on the market in the 80s and 90s, Clarisonic’s patented sonic technology works with skin’s natural elasticity, removing deep-seated impurities from pores and priming skin to better absorb topical treatments. This enhanced product penetration aspect means you get more from your usual skincare regime, which gets a big tick from me. Clinical results have shown the likes of increased product absorption and six times better removal of makeup, dirt and oil than cleansing with hands alone. Magic.

I had been obsessing about getting a Clarisonic Mia for some time when I was invited to the brand’s ‘official’ launch into the New Zealand market just a couple of weeks ago.

I hadn’t previously had the opportunity to give one a whirl but always heard rave reviews from therapists and makeup artists in particular, i.e. people who study skin for a living. It was great news therefore to hear that they had arrived in the country along with the original Clarisonic Plus Sonic Skin Cleansing Brush (RRP $335), which can be customised with three different speeds for facial cleansing, a three-minute body setting with two distinct modes and unique body brush head to gently exfoliate and remove dead skin cells.

A little more on the compact side, the Clarisonic Mia 2 (RRP $225) is the convenient choice for beautiful skin on the go as it’s small enough for travel and light enough to throw in your bag en route to the gym. Utilising the same Sonic Method as the Plus, Mia 2 comes equipped with two speeds, a one minute pulsing T-Timer and portable travelfriendly case. Both are suitable for even the most sensitive skin types, and the whole scenario truly did leave me with skin like velvet - even the day after!

Earlier this year, Clinique unveiled their own Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush. It’s not often that you hear beauty editors gasp when a product is revealed but gasp they did - before jaws hit the floor. Described as a ‘skin-changer’ by the highly respected brand, the new brush has been designed to work in tandem with Clinique’s best-selling 3-Step cleanse/exfoliate/moisturise system.

The brush was developed in partnership with dermatologists from the Orentreich Medical Group - which helped to develop the brand’s original 3-Step system - and a leading Swiss toothbrush manufacturer, well versed in the field of sonic technology. The result, claims Clinique, is a gentle yet effective cleansing innovation that will transform skin and leave it better prepped and primed for subsequent treatment products. To say I wanted one immediately would be putting it mildly, and having now used one can say that it is a life-changer.

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The oval-shaped, angled brush head incorporates two strengths of rounded bristles: the green brushes are stiffer, shorter and denser, for cleansing the T-Zone, whilst the white brushes are softer and less dense, for the more delicate cheek area.

Each brush contains around 35,000 fibres, with domed tips, to gently dislodge dirt from skin without any scratching. The device delivers around 10,000 sonic movements per 60 seconds, and an integral timer automatically turns it off after 30 seconds. The brush fibres have also been mixed with silver, which acts as an anti-microbial, and it’s recommended that you replace the brush head every three months.

Lastly, it has a super light, compact, portable design, complete with an ergonomic handle that allows the brush to lay flat to dry and is so gentle it can be used on the petals of a flower with zero damage, for instance. The Clinique Sonic Cleansing System Purifying Brush has an RRP of $165 and $31 for a replacement brush head.

Last but by no means least, Osmosis Skin Care have unveiled their own 2co Sonic Cleansing Brush, which you can pick up direct through their website for $140 Osmosis New Zealand’s Kay Roby (a woman who is a walking billboard for her brand - she never ages!) says that she doesn’t often need to use one due to her use of active serums like Osmosis Correct and Rescue, “as my natural exfoliation is flicking off any dead skin cells with perfect timing, so I don’t have a lot of redundant cells to remove.”

If you have skin that does require help with cellular turnover, or enjoy a really clean sweep without having to revert to AHA’s aggressive exfoliating scrubs, the 2co Sonic Cleansing Brush used a couple of times a week to shift any redundant cells and deep clean the skin is a safe and effective alternative.”

It has four speeds, is induction charged and works with over 15,000 rotation-oscillations per minute to really deep clean and get you glowing.

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

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HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

The healthy approach to a great manicure: POP Nails If, like me, you love both the look and the idea of a perfect, long lasting gel manicure but are generally freaked out by the chemical cocktail in your average gel nail polish formula, then help is at hand.

I’ve discovered the sheer awesomeness of a natural, vegan gel polish that goes by the name Bio Seaweed Gel, and it’s available in the neighbourhood via the work of Herne Bay local Imogene Bevan of POP Nails.

The brunette beauty kicked off her mobile manicure business back in March with a plethora of products to play with, but after trying some of the bigger names in the nail world, grew disillusioned by their ingredients and frustrated by their performance. “Some of the big name brands really disappointed me,” she says, “the pigments weren’t true, they were streaky... and they were incredibly toxic as well.” She went online to source an alternative, starting with a Google search for “organic nail gel, and Bio Seaweed came up. It looked like the answer to everything and almost seemed to good to be true.” Still dubious, she suddenly saw some of the respected nail artists she follows on Instagram raving about it, “and for me that cemented it as a valid option. In the back of my mind I didn’t believe that a formula created from seaweed could actually perform as well - or better - than one full of chemicals but it seemed that it did.”

She got in touch with the Canadian company and they sent her some samples to play with, “and immediately I could tell that there was a huge difference in the product.

My clients have just gone from strength to strength since I’ve been using it and the pigments are amazing, with 196 colours to choose from.”

The pure gel formula goes on smooth and self-levelling with no shrinkage, and it’s designed for weeks of chip-free, high shine wear. It’s also odourless, and the company’s mission is to foster healthy, natural nails with zero dehydration, staining or weakening effects and it has an industry record five-minute soak-off removal. Pretty amazing stuff, and Imogene says that it’s also the perfect polish for nail art, which she creates for many of her regular clients. “Your nail beds absorb a lot,” she says, “and the fact that Bio Seaweed Gel is not putting the likes of formaldehyde and solvent into them is essential for me. It concerned me that something like that is sticking onto your nails for a couple of weeks plus and destroying what’s underneath, and I think that bothers a lot of other people too.” She says the longevity factor for Bio Seaweed Gel has been extraordinary, and I have to say that when I tried it mine stayed looking flawless for weeks, it was just the length that meant they had to go in for removal and reapplication.

Imogene does home and workplace visits - a life saver for busy types - as well as bridal parties, hen parties and the like, with a discount for groups. She recently collaborated with Moochi and designed a nail art collection that worked in with their dresses, which echoed the abstract and geometric nail trends happening internationally. “Nudes and neons are also really hot for summer too,” she says, “with bold lines against a natural nail and a high gloss finish.”

For those that don’t do gel nails, the release of the interestingly named Nailkale, the first nail care range formulated with kale, has been released by Nails Inc. Health aficionados can’t stop raving about the health benefits of the leafy green, which contains 206% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A, 134% of vitamin C, and a staggering 684% of vitamin K. And now, it seems that the beauty world is catching onto the power of the dark green vegetable, with Alexa Chung promoting the new range of six Nailkale nail polishes (a superfood base coat, an illuminator and four colours), which is supercharged with kale extract and reportedly stimulates advanced keratin production, hydrates and nourishes as it’s absorbed by the nail. Nails are primarily made of keratin and kale’s powerful anti-oxidant qualities apparently maximise the function of keratin activation as it protects these vitamins, resulting in nail growth and strength. Good stuff all PN round, really! (HELENE RAVLICH) F www.popnails.co.nz

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Jo Barrett on 021 324 510 or Jessie Kollen on 021 166 2002 t: 09 361 3356 or 09 378 8553 e: joannebarrett@xtra.co.nz e: jessiekollen@gmail.com w: www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

72 PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING SHAVAUGHN RUAKERE FOR PANTENE GREY LYNN RESIDENT ACTRESS Shavaughn Ruakere was announced mid last month, as the latest New Zealand ambassador for international haircare brand Pantene - the brand that helped launch the career of Rachel Hunter in the early 90s.

Ruakere, who first found fame on iconic children’s television show What Now, later co-hosted breakfast on Mai FM and played Roimata Ngatai on Shortland Street.

Ruakere says, “I’ve been a Pantene girl ever since Rachel Hunter told me, ‘It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen’ so when I was approached to represent the brand here in New Zealand it was a pretty easy flick-ofthe-hair yes please!”

Next up the actress heads to New York to film for a new TV One show called DNA Detective; then in December she’ll be appearing in The Basement’s annual Christmas show.

Pantene also runs the Beautiful Lengths programme, working in partnership with Look Good, Feel Better to collect hair for wigs for women with cancer. F PN www.beautifullengths.co.nz

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING SEA SHEPHERD TO POLICE SOUTHERN OCEANS ‘BADLANDS’ In 2002, a single Sea Shepherd ship left Auckland on the very first Southern Ocean campaign to confront the outlaw Japanese whalers, and now 12 years later and thousands of whales saved, Sea Shepherd returns with the latest addition to its fleet, the Sam Simon.

“Come down to Princes Wharf and welcome the ship and its brave crew,” invites Michael Lawry, Sea Shepherd’s New Zealand Director.

Sea Shepherd is an entirely voluntarily funded organisation.

It is wonderful benefactors like Sam Simon, the co-creator of the Simpsons, who make such a difference. Simon bought this new ship for Sea Shepherd. Ironically, it was formally a meteorological vessel and part of the Japanese whaling fleet.

The ship and its 29 crew from around the world are in Auckland for supplies and to prepare for their Southern Ocean adventure.

If the Japanese stick to their intention not to catch whales this season, the Sam Simon will go after poachers of Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish. Even though the International Court in The Hague recently declared the Japanese whaling in the Antarctic illegal, the Japanese say they will ignore this and resume catches in 2015-16.

Meanwhile, the poaching of toothfish has had a devastating effect on the toothfish populations. These icefish are rare and long lived. They grow up to two metres long and can weigh up to 150kg. A full ship load can earn up to $70 million on the black market.

Ponsonby News talked to Sam Simon ship manager, Sonja Hyppanen, a bright and personable young woman from Finland. This will be her fourth trip to the Southern Ocean, and she is very excited about it, while acknowledging the potential danger from armed and desperate poachers who have much to gain if they get an illegal catch to market, and much to lose if they are thwarted.

Hyppanen told us, “We will intervene where poachers are found, seize their nets, and work with authorities to have boats confiscated.” She admitted they may carry guns, “Its highly lucrative, but we will physically obstruct them from deploying their illegal gill nets," she says, “and unlawful fishing gear will be confiscated and destroyed.”

Despite New Zealand protests, those North Korean ships disappeared and presumably kept fishing. Toothfish is usually re-labelled as ‘sea bass’ and sold to top class United States restaurants.

So while it sounds exciting to be patrolling the Southern Ocean’s so-called ‘bad lands’, it could also be dangerous. Hyppanen’s young crew are unfazed.

As Jeff Hansen, managing director of Sea Shepherd Australia says, “There are few places left in the world with nature on such a grand scale.”

Any nets found set in the ocean will be lifted and confiscated.

Sea Shepherd is a valuable non-profit conservation organisation whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and the slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.

This is brave stuff indeed, especially in the vast and often nearly empty ‘bad lands’ of the Southern Ocean.

By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately balanced oceanic ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations.

New Zealand Sea Shepherd Director, Michael Lawry, told Ponsonby News that Sea Shepherd saved 784 threatened, endangered and protected whales in the 2013-14 season - a phenomenal record.

Michael Lawry invites all Aucklanders to a ships tour, being held until Sunday 9 November.

“Come down to Princes Wharf and we’ll show you around the ship,” Lawry tells us.

Lawry is pleased they can now turn their attention to the threatened toothfish. In 2011, Lawry told us, a New Zealand Air Force Orion photographed two North Korean flagged tooth fishing boats in the Ross Sea. Both had been re-flagged a number of times, making it very difficult to bring successful prosecutions. They need to be caught on the spot, and dealt to, as the Sam Simon intends to do.

Ponsonby News can only concur with Michael Lawry that this is innovative direct action on the high seas at its best. We salute these community spirited, adventurous young men and women, about to engage with lawlessness in the ‘shadowlands’ of the great Southern Ocean.

For further information please contact Michael Lawry on M: 021 74761, or Andrea Nicholson on M: 027 206 2935. Andrea, a Ponsonby woman, is well known locally for PN her glass work. She is doing a sterling job promoting Sea Shepherd. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F

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Jo Barrett on 021 324 510 or Jessie Kollen on 021 166 2002 t: 09 361 3356 or 09 378 8553 e: joannebarrett@xtra.co.nz e: jessiekollen@gmail.com w: www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

74 PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Hector’s and Maui’s are the world’s rarest and smallest marine dolphins. They can be seen from shore and are easy to identify because of the rounded dorsal fin and grey and black colouring.

Both species are critically endangered. There are only about 55 adult Maui’s left. Gill net and trawl fishing threatens them, and they now face threats from seismic testing, oil exploration and seabed mining around the New Zealand coast.

especially from Blenheim to Banks Peninsula. Protection for these dolphins was reduced in 2011 to allow set netting for butterfish, leading to a scientific estimate of an additional 23 deaths per annum.

Ponsonby News talked to Christine Rose, Marine Mammal Advocate, and asked her what the National Government has done over the last six years to protect these lovable, endangered creatures, Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins, from human induced threats.

This carnage must not continue. One of the by-products of neo-liberal politics is to place economics (read money) over the top of environmental protection. This government intends weakening the Resource Management Act to give greater emphasis to economic growth. The act will become the Resource Development Act, if National gets its way.

Rose has led regional and national campaigns to protect the endangered dolphins. She is a supporter of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and Greenpeace.

“The blue-greenwash narrative goes like this,” says Rose, “ We’re doing everything we can. We’ve protected the dolphins. Everywhere they go they are safe thanks to us...”

These little dolphins are as much a treasure of New Zealand as the kiwi and the kakapo.

It’s time for us to take care of the sea as much as we take care of the land. We can still save these beautiful creatures from extinction if we have the will to do so.

Money or the ecosystem - that is the question. (JOHN ELLIOTT) F PN

“In fact,” Christine Rose told us, “the former Minister of Conservation, Nick Smith, discounted 48 verified dolphin sightings when he decided on the limits of the most recent ‘protection’ measures.” Nick Smith also used different statistical methods to announce a huge increase in Hector’s Dolphins from 1700 to 9000. Few conservationists believe these figures.

Dangerous seismic testing for oil and gas and mineral extraction, which loom large throughout the dolphin habitat, worry Rose and her environmental colleagues.

“If the government was serious about dolphin conservation they would see past their own spin, listen to Department of Conservation scientists who are calling for further control of trawl nets in dolphin habitats, and ask for them to be at least 100 metres deep.”

Christine Rose does not believe Nick Smith’s staff are giving him wrong information, but she questions the political spin the government puts on that information. She is so antagonistic to the National Government she goes as far as suggesting, “convincing liars are very persuasive.”

An adult and a juvenile Maui’s dolphin. Photo by DOC

So we have the longstanding problem of dolphins dying in fishing nets, with not enough protection of their habitat, and now the new threat of oil and mineral exploration up and down our coastline.

Even before actual wells are drilled, damaging seismic testing is occurring. These vibrations are badly affecting dolphins and whales, before we even begin deep sea drilling, with the potential for catastrophic spills.

Christine Rose is scathing when comparing New Zealand’s environmental record with other civilised countries. She says New Zealand’s failure to protect our critically endangered dolphins indicates that our government fails the test of a civilised country.

Maui’s live only off the west coast of the North Island. The Hector’s dolphins numbering about 1700 can sometimes be seen from land along the east coast of the South Island

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

LIVING, THINKING + BEING MAUI’S AND HECTOR’S DOLPHINS NEED YOUR HELP

CLARE CALDWELL: THE ART OF LIVING Driving to the station with a Mercy Hospice community nurse recently, we discussed why we’d chosen to stay involved with this culture for so many years.

We concluded it’s because this work, this working with the dying, gave our lives meaning and purpose.

Finding ‘meaning and purpose’ in our lives are the tasks of mid-life and old age, many would argue. Around our 50s many of us hit this existential arena, asking ourselves those age old questions that have no definitive answer: “Why are we here? Where are we going? Where have we come from?”

The tasks of survival, career paths and child rearing seem to broaden out into a wider overview of our lives and deeper questioning of their inherent purpose. While these questions can arise intellectually when we’re much younger, they seem to take on a whole new resonance when we arrive at our mid lives - hence the term ‘mid-life crisis’.

I found I navigated my way through a lot of this period by painting. Coming straight out of my subconscious, they tumbled unrestrainedly onto the canvases in all their Jungian, archetypal glory. Dark, sonorous works now hang on my studio walls as some sort of testimony to my exploration and survival!

Now in my 60s, I’m finding this existential arena has gone in a slightly different direction.

My 50s mid-life crisis seemed predominantly inward looking and soul searching, whereas that of my 60s is taking me on a much more expansive path. While I’m all too aware of the imminent demise of the human race brought about largely through contrived mass ignorance and our subsequent increasing inability to change things, I find myself looking to find solutions. This has taken me into a more metaphysical arena and has re-ignited an eclectic (some would say eccentric) system of beliefs I questioned in my 50s.

I believe we humans are ultimately not in control, even though the elite 1% believe they are. Whether our demise will bring about the extinction of the entire human race and the rise of the insect world, who knows? Will we be tested in a final hour of saving our humanity and, as philosopher Andrew Harvey postulates, evolve into a more enlightened species? Will we witness a divine intervention? An intervention of extra terrestrial light beings? None of these?

AROHA HEALING CANDLES If you have not yet experienced an Aroha Healing Candle, nurturing massage or healing facial treatment, yoga or bellydance then this Christmas may be the ideal time to put in your requests!

2014 has been a fast paced year and with Christmas just around the corner and wedding season beginning, the team at Aroha Healing are pouring their beautiful candles every day.

With 12 exotic varieties to choose from and a new dedicated online shopping website, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get your orders in early. You can also find Aroha Healing Candles at the Auckland Museum gift shop, Jewels & Gems and East West Yoga on Ponsonby Road as well as other selected stockists listed on their website.

There is a unique candle for everyone including the recent pouring of their Tane (masculine) and Wahine (feminine) candles under the October blood moon. The essential and fragrance oil blends are infused with kauri leaves (Tane) and pounamu (greenstone) for the Wahine candle prior to hand pouring along with much love and energy.

Aroha Healing wooden gift boxes will be arriving in time for December and can be filled with an array of unique gifts, massages and facials that the team provide.

Aroha Healing Candles are lovingly hand poured with pure intention, blessed with karakia (Maori blessing) and fused with reiki healing energy to affect the energy of an environment in a positive way, nourish the chakras and enhance meditation practice via our olfactory system. These candles are wonderful for focus, self healing, love, sensuality, abundance and good positive energy. Proudly hand poured in Grey Lynn.

‘Breathe in pure Aroha’. F PN AROHA HEALING, 3 Maidstone Street, T: 0800 MINDBODY www.arohahealingcandles.co.nz or www.arohahealing.co.nz

Norwegian philosopher Peter Wesse Zapffe believes handling existential anxiety takes on many forms. He has a fourfold route he believes “all self-conscious beings use in order to cope with the inherent indifference and absurdity of existence”. One of those routes is what he terms “sublimation - the refocusing of energy away from negative outlets towards positive. The individual distances him/herself and looks at their existence from an aesthetic point of view”. I for one support this view wholeheartedly!

My hospice work is but one part of my search to find meaning and purpose - watch this space for my next exhibition! (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; clare.e.caldwell@gmail.com

76 PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PLANET AYURVEDA: ASK DOCTOR AJIT

Q: A:

I read recently in your column that you encourage people to use ghee. Isn’t it true that ghee is a saturated fat, which is one of the leading causes of heart disease?

If this is the case, why do you recommend its use? J. Kerr, Ponsonby

You are right that ghee is a saturated fat and that a high percentage of saturated fat in a person’s diet is a contributory factor in cardiovascular disease. However, more recent research has shown that not all saturated fats are bad and has identified other fats such as trans-fats as more damaging to our health.

Before I answer your question, I would like to briefly mention why we need fat in our diet.

Fat is not only an energy source, it is a way the body stores energy. It is used to provide insulation and well as providing support and protection to organs. It provides insulation to nervous tissue and assists in the transmission of nervous impulses.

We need fat so our bodies can absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A and E and produce hormones like oestrogen. It is critical in the permeability of cellular membranes, allowing cells to access nutrients.

Finally, it provides flavour and texture to food and gives us a greater sense of satisfaction from eating by allowing food to stay in the stomach longer.

While there is universal agreement on the need for some fat intake, debate has raged over what is healthy and unhealthy fat. Early research revealed a high intake of saturated fats as a contributory factor in heart disease and recommended the use of polyunsaturated fats.

However, there is now increasing evidence linking polyunsaturated fats with cardiovascular disease and obesity due to their high levels of free radicals. Free radicals create oxidised fats or lipid peroxide, which damage cells and trigger atherosclerosis.

Now it is generally agreed that monounsaturated fats found in olive and mustard oils are the healthiest forms of fat, when consumed in moderation. However, research has again turned to saturated fats, particularly short chain fatty acids like those found in ghee, and their apparent health benefits.

While ghee is a saturated fat, it is principally composed of short chain fatty acids, compared with longer chains in other animal fats, such as beef fat. It is the longer chain fatty acids that are associated with blood clotting and thrombosis.

Short chain fatty acids are not only easier to digest, they help hormone production and strengthen cell membranes. Studies in both rats and humans have shown that short chain fatty acids can lower serum cholesterol levels by increasing the secretion of biliary lipids, one way the body can remove excess cholesterol. As well as saturated fat, ghee consists of 25% monounsaturated fat (the healthy fat according to modern nutrition) and a relatively low 5% polyunsaturated fat.

Ghee is also an excellent source of anti-oxidants, which prevent free radical damage.

When heated, other fats, particularly polyunsaturated fat, oxidise and release free radicals at low temperatures. However, ghee’s smoke point (the temperature at which oil burns, generating oxidation and free radicals) is 190 degrees C, making it one of the safest fats in which to fry.

Finally, ghee is a source of vitamins A and E, both of which are only bio-available in fat.

The only other edible fat containing vitamin A is fish oil so ghee is an important source of this vitamin, especially for lacto-vegetarians.

Ayurvedic wisdom is unequivocal that ghee is an important part of a healthy diet. It nourishes all the body’s tissues and creates ojas, our essence that strengthens the immune system. Thanks to its superb penetrating qualities, it can travel deep into the body, nourishing us at a cellular level. Interestingly, ghee’s rate of absorption (digestibility coefficient) is calculated at 96%, the highest of all oils and fats.

One or two teaspoonfuls of ghee daily are considered enough to nourish and support our bodies. However, Ayurveda being a science that acknowledges that each of us is unique, recognises that even something as wholesome as ghee is not always considered healthy. It is contraindicated for people with a kapha aggravation and should be used PN sparingly by the overweight. (DR AJIT) F PLANET AYURVEDA, 41 Gillies Avenue, T: 09 522 5390, www.planetayurveda.co.nz

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MICHELLE OWEN: POSTURE TO PERFORMANCE

ERGONOMICS and the Body You know the feeling - you stand up from your desk and have to stretch out your back. Your shoulders are tense and your wrists are stiff. Chances are you’re not sitting correctly.

Pointers on workplace posture We are not designed to sit for long hours in one place! Yet many people work in jobs requiring them to sit all day, usually in front of a computer. If this sounds like you, consider how much stress you are placing on your body.

Unless you’re sitting in an appropriately aligned position, at a correct ergonomic workstation, you run the risk of injury, pain and discomfort.

No special chair will resolve things if you don’t know where your body should be to take the stress of the neck, upper or lower back. You can’t even start to improve the discomfort without knowing and implementing these positions.

Being lined up and having appropriate stretching and strengthening to correct and maintain your new position is key!

As postural muscles gravitate to the wrong position for hours every day, they become chronically overworked. This causes them to shorten and tighten which then alters our spinal curvature. Where there are short or tight muscles there have to be weak muscles opposing (muscle imbalance).

This extremely common muscle imbalance causes nasty things to happen.

Degeneration in the upper and lower spine, prolapsed discs, thoracic (mid back) vertebra that get stuck in flexion causing other vertebrae to become too mobile. Trapped nerves, repetitive strain injuries, overuse syndrome, carpel tunnel, nasty headaches, breathing dysfunction and more.

If you already have poor posture and pain, you need more than a correct ergonomic work station to rectify it. Generally our body has had many years locked into incorrect position. The correct position feels bizarre to you and it is only possible to hold it while you are consciously doing so.

Keyboard height is also important. Because this is in a fixed position on most desks, adjust your chair so that your forearms are parallel to the floor and your hands are in a comfortable typing position.

Your shoulders should be relaxed and not elevated. Check that your spine is in line and that you are not slouching to one side. Over time, this can become an adopted muscle imbalance that can cause you pain.

Make sure you are neither too close nor too far away from your screen.

You need to be no closer than 14 inches and no further than 30 inches.

(MICHELLE OWEN) F PN MICHELLE OWEN, Level 2, 10 New North Road, M: 021 770 153 www.michelleowen.co.nz www.fitness-n-function.co.nz

As soon as your mind veers back to your work, your body goes back to the position it knows so well.

To correct this long-term, you need to do have skilled assistance.

This includes learning mobilisations, stretching, and strengthening work alongside having correct ergonomics in place. All must go hand in hand. One without the other is not powerful enough.

Other options Standing desks are now very popular as well as Swiss Balls. Mix things up where possible. Support yourself with a lumbar memory foam support rather than using tired muscles all day. Get up and move around often. Also move and rotate neck, wrists and ankles regularly. Motion is lotion.

Sitting Firstly, make sure your chair is the correct height. In the right-sized chair, there should be a 90-degree angle at the knee, and the feet should be flat on the floor. There should be a hand space in the gap between the chair and the lower back, and the body should be nicely upright, with the ear, shoulder and hip all in line. Every centimetre that your body sits forward translates into the weight of your head dragging on your upper back and neck. A chair that is too high can cause compression behind the knees, resulting in numbness, slow circulation to the lower legs and swollen feet. On the other hand, if your chair is too low, it can flatten the back and block the sciatic nerve, leading to bulging discs, leg pain and numbness. None of this is much fun.

Use a footrest under your feet if your workstation is too high.

Adjust your seat to suit. If your chair has a lumbar support, this must be placed directly behind your belly button, in the lumbar curve.

78 PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING PAMPERING PIZZAZZ A fun new body care brand has hit supermarket shelves in New Zealand, hailing from the United Kingdom and claiming, “we only want you for your body.”

The cheeky range of 15 products includes body and handcare, with ingredients like melon, lilac, vanilla and citrus, at a family-friendly price - body cleansers $11.99, body scrubs and lotions $10.99 and handcare $9.99.

Cruelty free with no parabens, anatomicals’ colourful pitch promises, “you can't always look like you've stepped off the London catwalk, but you can smell of the British high street!” F PN

www.facebook.com/anatomicalsnz

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JOHN APPLETON: ON HEALTH

Disappointment and excitement This month I will have a rant and a rave. Best to start with the rant first.

It upset me more than a little when I watched a recent TV news story about the discovery of a substance found in the seeds of a shrub known as ‘blushwood’ which grows wild in northern Queensland. Scientists have discovered that a very easily extractable ingredient (which they have named EBC-46) when injected into solid tumours caused them to die within a matter of weeks.

According to reports EBC-46 shows anticancer properties against basal and squamous cell carcinomas, melanoma, and head and neck tumours. The active ingredient in EBC-46 is easily purified from a ubiquitous plant species that can be quickly grown on plantations.

EBC-46 has been identified as a natural substance that initiates apoptosis (cell death) of tumour cells and causes a local inflammatory reaction that recruits the body’s neutrophils to attack the tumour.

We might think that thousands of people with cancer would have instant access to this simple substance.

Sadly this potential cure is likely to be developed over time as a patented drug which could then be sold for billions around the world.

It seems unbelievable that a simple extract from a seed can be patented and the public prevented from having easy access to it. It could almost certainly be processed as a simple tincture. How many people may die before they can gain access to whatever is developed? In the United States some years ago ‘they’ patented curcumin (extracted from turmeric) but the Indian Government appealed and the patent was disallowed.

Until we consider people ahead of profits it’s hard to see any progress being made in the battle to find cures.

My rave relates to a story about a friend who crushed his leg in an accident while overseas. It was a horrific accident and he was flown back home in a Medivac jet.

Amputation seemed almost inevitable but surgeons decided to have a go at saving the leg which was totally mangled below the knee. After three operations of seven hours, 12 hours and 14 hours, my friend still had his leg but with lots of metal and a large ‘lump’ of muscle taken from his back grafted on between the knee and ankle. There is only one word to describe the work of the surgeons involved - BRILLIANT. In New Zealand we have the best in the world.

Immediately following the three surgeries there was still significant cause for concern. Infection was a real possibility and there was a massive amount of healing required before the next major surgery to graft bone from the hips.

Amputation was still on the cards if there was the slightest hint of infection. My friend was determined to do the very best he could to support the amazing job the surgeons had done for him.

He knew that his body had to take over and finish the job. Immediately after the surgeries he commenced a comprehensive nutritional programme aimed at providing the ‘tools’ his body needed to get into full ‘repair’ mode.

His protocol involved special forms of vitamin C to facilitate the production of collagen and to support his immune system and R-lipoic acid which recycles vitamin C and protects the liver from the toxic effect of drugs.

Lipoic acid can also help with nerve pain which is often a problem after such significant surgeries. He took ubiquinol coenzyme Q10 to keep his heart strong - zinc picolinate to help his immune system and to limit the risk of sepsis. He took milk thistle to support his liver as it coped with detoxifying drugs and beta glucan, which is a powerful immune system modulator. A multi-vitamin and vitamin D were also part of the ‘cocktail’.

After two weeks it was time for the bandages to come off.

The surgeon was stunned at what he saw. He called his colleagues to the bedside and the hospital photographer arrived as well. The nurses were also more than a little surprised. They were looking at perfectly healthy tissue with no infection. The muscle graft was a 100% ‘take’ (which is apparently very unusual).

The patient was in no pain and feeling on top of the world.

He was expected to remain in hospital for six weeks until the next major surgery. However his recovery continued to astound the hospital staff and he was moved to a clinic near the hospital. The next surgery has been brought forward by two weeks and if all goes well my friend will walk out of the hospital on both legs.

This is an excellent example of the very important role of nutrition in healing and recovery after surgery. It’s been wonderful to observe how close cooperation between a patient and his doctors has contributed to such a fantastic outcome.

PN (JOHN APPLETON) F APPLETON ASSOCIATES, T: 09 489 9362 john@johnappleton.co.nz www.johnappleton.co.nz

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

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

CARING PROFESSIONAL Glenn White - Buteyko Breathing Clinic Local resident Glenn White is a Buteyko practitioner trainer and director of the Buteyko Breathing Clinic. He has helped over 7,000 people overcome breathing related disorders since he opened the doors of his Freemans Bay clinic in 2001.

How did you come to be a Buteyko practitioner trainer?

For 18 years I worked in gold exploration based in Indonesia. That all changed after doing a Buteyko breathing course in the United Kingdom that helped me overcome 40 years of asthma, allergies and daily medication. The result was so dramatic that I changed careers, trained as a Buteyko practitioner in the United Kingdom and came back to open my clinic in Freemans Bay. Glenn White and Asthma Foundation Chief Executive Angela Francis. Glenn presented a workshop at the 2014 Asthma Foundation conference and committed to helping the Foundation achieve their vision of cutting hospital admissions in New Zealand for asthma by 25% by 2025.

PONSONBY RESIDENT'S ROLE IN BREAST CANCER AWARENESS Ponsonby resident Alison Hayes is a breast and general surgeon.

Alison has been working with the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation for breast cancer awareness month travelling around the central north island in the NZBCF Pink caravan. This is a novel trip in a purpose-built Pink traditional New Zealand holiday-style caravan, which provides education to women about breast cancer, breast screening and breast awareness. As she told Ponsonby News, "My role also extended to educating GPs in the evenings during the journey. This is the first time something like this has been done in this country and if successful, may become a yearly event. It is a fantastic chance to help empower New Zealand women by educating them and I felt very privileged as a Ponsonby resident that I was invited to be involved." F PN

What do you love about your job?

Every week we help people sleep better, stop snoring and overcome sleep apnoea.

People who have had asthma, allergies and hay-fever most of their life can be symptom free in just a few breathing sessions. We teach breathing techniques that can permanently reduce anxiety and stress or help athletes boost their sport performance. I never get tired of helping people get these tremendous results.

What do you find challenging?

Getting breathing awareness into general practise and the school physical education curriculum would be the single biggest challenge we face. In one sense this is my ultimate goal and everything that I am working toward.

How do you differ from other breathing practitioner trainers?

The breathing retraining work we do is unique. It is results based and depends on client compliance to achieve optimal results. Despite the pioneering work by Dinah Bradley and Tania Clifton-Smith of Breathing Works, the importance of good breathing to health is still under recognised. It is exciting being part of a fast growing field whose importance is only now being realised.

What do you do to stay at the top of your field?

I have come to realise that there is something to learn from every new client and this has helped evolve and invigorate my practise. In addition to this I attend and speak at medical conferences and am something of a research nut. Maintaining a good referral network with other health professionals ensures my clients get the very best results. Ponsonby is blessed with some great practitioners. We never stop learning from each other.

Can you tell us about a standout case?

We get fantastic testimonials each week and many of these are on the website. Here’s one I received today from an 18-year-old that first did my course when he was eight years old. “I had asthma as a child and went to Glenn’s clinic. It was amazing; it completely changed my life and cured my asthma. I began experiencing slight symptoms again during exercise about eight years later. I did a refresher course which immediately made a huge difference. It helped me sleep better, improved my breathing and sport.

Buteyko and Glenn have changed my life! Thank you.”

What do you do to care for yourself?

I stay active and ensure that I breathe well whether I am doing my yoga practice, at the gym, swimming, skiing, hiking or boarding at Piha. I also make good nutrition a priority, growing virtually all my vegetables and supplementing this from our great farmers’ markets. I try to eat organic whenever possible. Then there is always lypospheric vitamin C to ward off the colds and flu. Thanks to this and good breathing I haven’t missed a day off work to colds or flu in 12 years.

What's your advice to people seeking treatment?

Make health a top priority. Health practitioners should be seen as coaches helping you make the right health choices but it is important to realise that your health is your responsibility. I only realised this 14 years ago when I discovered that for 40 years I was taking medications to try and suppress my symptoms when in fact the answer to my health problems was right under my nose. F PN BUTEYKO BREATHING CLINICS, 20 Arthur St, Freemans Bay, T: 09 360 6291 www.buteykobreathing.co.nz

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MEET THE TEACHER Matt Baker - Ponsonby Intermediate School Currently teaching: Home Economics.

How did you come to be a primary school teacher?

I am actually a secondary school teacher who trained in England. They start secondary school in Year 7 in England so when I returned to New Zealand it was suggested I try relief work at some intermediate schools.

Where did you train?

I qualified at Auckland College of Education and trained in Basingstoke, England.

What brought you to Ponsonby Intermediate?

The children. I had had some days relieving here, and just loved the kids I met. I was also determined not to just ‘fill in’, but to make a name for myself every day I was relieving.

What are your favourite things about being a teacher?

The limitless curiosity of children, having autonomy in my teaching area and making connections in the community.

What’s a highlight of your teaching career?

Teaching in a brand new school in England. That opportunity does not come along very often in teaching so it was very special for me and the community.

And a low point?

Leaving my students in England to return home.

How would your principal describe you?

The principal Wim Boxen would say, “Aw, it’s so cool how we have a Home Economics teacher here called Mr Baker!” It’s one of his favourite jokes.

How would other teachers describe you?

Not sure. Maybe enthusiastic and innovative.

SUMMER BARBECUE AND BONFIRE SAFETY Guy Fawkes on the 5th of this month is just the beginning - it wouldn't be a Kiwi summer without backyard barbecues and beach bonfires.

Pumpkin Patch is reminding those in charge of children not to let safety take a back seat to the fun. The clothes children wear around fires shouldn't be overlooked: • Choose natural fibres like cotton, and avoid highly flammable synthetics.

• Give them clothes that fit snugly, rather than anything loose and floaty that might get in the way.

• If there’s an accident, quickly remove the clothes from the affected area. If the clothing sticks, don’t pull it away. Instead, cut around the fabric. F PN PUMPKIN PATCH, 250-252 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 1708 www.pumpkinpatch.co.nz

How would your students describe you?

Someone who loves food and all his students.

If you could wave a magic wand in your classroom...

I would turn my classroom into a restaurant and kitchen. Everything would be stainless steel and include state of the art gas cookers and appliances.

Five tips for mums and dads of intermediate school kids: 1. Get rid of sugar at home.

2. Get to know your child’s online world.

3. Limit TV watching and increase family time.

4. Introduce a ‘thinking spot’ at home for your children.

5. SPORT, SPORT, SPORT AND MORE SPORT! F PN

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THE MARIST KITCHEN COOKBOOK Marist School Herne Bay is proud to announce the release of The Marist Kitchen cookbook.

The Marist Kitchen is a fundraising cookbook put together by parents, pupils and families of Marist Catholic School Herne Bay. It features over 90 delicious recipes shared by families and friends of the school with recipes drawn from as far afield as Argentina and the Philippines, along with many Pasifika recipes and good old kiwi family favourites.

FUTURE GENERATION ST CUTHBERT’S COLLEGE - INTERACTIVE AND COLLABORATIVE Primary school years are the wonder years. Wonder what my child will be good at? Wonder what will ignite them? Wonder what sort of young adult they’ll become?

Laying strong foundations for a quality education is vital, and at St Cuthbert’s College it is a responsibility that is relished, says Head of Junior School, Julie Gifkins.

“From the first day a girl enters the junior school she is welcomed into a stimulating classroom environment with a teacher passionate about equipping her with essential numeracy and literacy skills.

“We embrace a Reggio philosophy that allows teachers to offer opportunities for creative thinking and exploration. We believe that each child is a creative and curious learner with extraordinary possibilities,” says Julie.

Ray McVinnie, chef Robert Oliver, Taste Magazine food writer Luca Villari and Dr Libby Weaver have also donated delicious recipes.

Julie believes it is the interactive and collaborative approach that builds St Cuthbert’s girls into confident and resilient young women. Girls are able from an early age to express their unique thoughts in a positive learning environment. Lower student-toteacher ratios also ensure each girl’s needs are identified to develop her potential.

The stunning photography within the book is by renowned New Zealand photographer Stephen Robinson. His work has appeared in Cuisine, Metro and The Listener and he has published numerous books. The Marist Kitchen is a beautiful book to purchase for corporate or Christmas gifts and a great way to support a local school. Cookbook numbers are limited so secure your copy now. F PN

St Cuthbert’s places importance on the belief that an active body develops a fit mind.

Girls are encouraged to enjoy physical activity and specially designed play areas promote "energy, action and creativity”. The junior school is home to all-weather outdoor spaces that include challenging playground equipment, tennis courts and interactive gardens, while the college’s Have-a-Go sports programme introduces a range of sporting opportunities for younger students. F PN

The Marist Kitchen is available for $34.99. Purchase via website: www.maristschoolcookbook.co.nz or phone Jo Simpkins on M: 029 565 9624

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

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FUTURE GENERATION

SNAPPER ROCK POP UP SHOWCASES SWIMWEAR FOR KIDS Snapper Rock, leading designers of UV50+ swimwear for kids, will be making its debut in New Zealand with a pop up shop beginning October 28 - 23 December in Jervois Road, Ponsonby.

The Spring/Summer 2015 collection will be on display providing everything from swim to beach wear and essential sun protection accessories.

Launched in 2003, Liz Eglinton created Snapper Rock as a line of UV50+ swimwear to provide children with fun, fresh and functional gear while navigating the water. Originally designed in New Zealand where sunrays can be extremely harsh, Snapper Rock offers children and parents an extensive line of items ranging from baby sunsuits to kid’s rash tops and beach accessories. With its lightweight and breathable fabric technology and latest designs and colours, Snapper Rock ensures that children worldwide will be free to enjoy the beach without getting sunburned or compromising on style.

“We are thrilled to be coming to New Zealand,” says founder Liz Eglinton. “Our Kiwi customers have been asking for a shop for years, so it's great to finally have our collection in Auckland. We are always looking for new ways to share the importance of sun protection with consumers and feel this pop up shop presents the perfect opportunity to do so!”

In time for the holidays, Snapper Rock’s pop up shop is open October 28 - 23 December, and is the destination for people looking for a fun and adventure seeking gift. Browse the vast variety of items that include everything from baby sunsuits, board shorts, swim sets, bikinis, hats, bags and other accessories. F PN SNAPPER ROCK, 14 JERVOIS ROAD, M: 021 311 757, www.snapperrock.com

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Jo Barrett on 021 324 510 or Jessie Kollen on 021 166 2002 t: 09 361 3356 or 09 378 8553 e: joannebarrett@xtra.co.nz e: jessiekollen@gmail.com w: www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

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FUTURE GENERATION THE GREAT MUGGING ON PONSONBY ROAD The Great Mugging on Ponsonby Road took place on a Friday morning last month, between 7am and 10am. No, you were not jumped on by a band of rogue potters and relieved of all your personal belongings.

The event was a peaceful, amiable affair. Members of the Auckland Studio Potters Society took posts near a number of cafes on Ponsonby Road.

Lucky passers-by were greeted with an offer to swap their take-away cups for unique hand-made mugs in an attempt to encourage appreciation for craft, and dissuade the usage of disposable and mass-produced cups. Each mug was marked with a tag, stating the maker's name and a link to a blog which provides a space for participants to discuss their experience.

Jennie leng sent us this great shot telling us, “This is my 3-year-old daughter Rose getting 'mugged' outside Craft kitchen this morning.” F PN

Amosa Gould and Oscar Bulley Brown are ready for cake at King’s Early Learning Centre’s first birthday

KING’S SCHOOL EARLY LEARNING CENTRE CELEBRATES ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY! The King’s Early Learning Centre has had a very successful first year where the boys have enjoyed the buzzy, creative and happy place that is fondly known as 'The Beacon'.

The Early Learning boys have a separate daily programme compared to the rest of the school but are also very much involved in school life. The boys this year have participated in assembly, cross country, athletics day, the prep music showcase and swimming sports.

There is never a dull moment in the life of a 'Beacon boy'!

The ELC teaching team believes that when the boys are part of the school community and day-to-day activities they develop a greater sense of belonging, which in turn enables them to feel confident to take risks and to know they can achieve in an emotionally and physically safe environment.

The boys use the school grounds as much as possible - especially for bush walks where the natural environment is a place for boys to experience being boys - climbing trees, investigating nature, exploring and taking measured risks. F PN KING’S SCHOOL, 258 Remuera Road, T: 09 520 7770, www.kings.school.nz

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FUTURE GENERATION AN OASIS FOR CHILDREN IN THE HEART OF THE CITY Nestled in a park and surrounded by trees, KiNZ Myers Park is an oasis for children in the heart of the city.

With the largest outdoor area in the CBD, KiNZ offers the Kiwi backyard experience; a huge playground, sandpit and vegetable garden. The high quality education programme caters for children from three months to six years of age and is based on the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum.

At KiNZ they encourage children to learn, grow and develop while recognising their individual strengths, interests and routines.

The centre is separated into two rooms; one for infants and toddlers and one for children aged between two and five years. This caters for the diverse range of ages and offers developmental appropriate environments for each group. The areas are separated only by a low fence so children interact and visit each other’s pay areas.

Each area is vibrant and nurturing, children are empowered to have fun, make choices, experiment and explore. The well resourced outdoor areas have numerous opportunities for play, learning and social interaction complemented by the beauty of the park setting.

At KiNZ Myers Park they believe in the importance of helping children to understand what their bodies need to stay healthy. KiNZ provides nutritious cooked meals and caters for mixed dietary requirements - the kitchen is positioned so children can participate in the cooking process. Open Monday to Friday, 7.30am - 5.30pm, visit for yourself to see the wonderful opportunities on offer at KiNZ Myers Park. F PN

CLASSES CONTINUE AT POPULAR PONSONBY DANCE STUDIO “I AM SO LUCKY TO BE DOING A JOB THAT I LOVE!” SAYS TRACEY WRIGHT OF PONSONBY School of Dance. Tracey heads the team that offers dance classes for all ages at their purpose built studio. For the last two years the studio has been a special place for students to come and hang out with friends, watch other classes and support each other.

This year Ponsonby School of Dance has held jazz, ballet, hip hop and contemporary exams with amazing results - some students receiving top marks in Australasia. Ex student Yayoi Matches is going from strength to strength at the New Zealand School of Dance. She has been chosen to travel to San Francisco, Canada and France to further her training.

Twelve-year-old Sophie Noble-Campbell has won the Auckland Academy of Dance Vocational Seminar Excellence Award and the New Zealand School of Dance Intermediate Scholarship. She is also a Junior Scholar, which means she travels to Wellington four times a year to train at the New Zealand School of Dance. “We have students that compete in competitions throughout the year - and continually do well. Our junior ballet troupe just came first at the Labour Weekend competition,” says Tracey proudly. Every student is now working towards the end of year production, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on 6 December at Auckland Girls’ Grammar. “It is a wonderful time of the year,” says Tracey.

“We are proud of what our students have achieved and the hard work and dedication,” says Tracey. “But more than that, we are proud of the fun, friendly atmosphere that we PN provide at our studio.” F PONSONBY SCHOOL OF DANCE, 28 Hargreaves Street, M: 027 5338 427 www.ponsonbyschoolofdance.co.nz

KINZ MYERS PARK, 381 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, T; 09 373 2709, www.kinz.org.nz

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FUTURE GENERATION SUNBEAMS KINDERGARTEN - A REAL HOME AWAY FROM HOME A SPECIAL PLACE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WAS CREATED WHEN GENEVIEVE HATHAWAY started Sunbeams Kindergarten in Western Springs - a place where children gain confidence in their abilities, develop respectful relationships and social skills, experiment, make discoveries and awaken their imagination.

After teaching for more than 20 years in a variety of roles in public and private early childhood establishments, Genevieve had the experience to make the Sunbeams Kindergarten environment rich in opportunities for learning in all areas of the curriculum.

“Sunbeams is specifically designed for young children, its surroundings are beautiful, cosy and welcoming. It is a calm and nurturing environment with carefully chosen caring and dedicated teachers,” says Genevieve.

The kindergarten was created with love by two people who have always believed in the quality of education they wanted to provide for small people. “First Sunbeams was just a dream, next a possibility, and then, after a lot of research and planning, a reality,” says Stephen Hathaway, Genevieve’s husband and co-owner of the kindergarten.

High teacher/child ratios enable opportunities for individual and small group work, indepth enquiry projects as well as an extension programme. “We know we are fulfilling our dream of creating a child’s sanctuary, a special place of learning in a beautiful environment, with passionate, experienced facilitators, quality resources and a dedicated management team,” says Genevieve. Make an appointment to visit your child’s new home away from home at Sunbeams Kindergarten’s welcoming Western Springs villa. F PN SUNBEAMS PRIVATE KINDERGARTEN, 11 Myrtle Street, Western Springs, T: 09 815 3113 M: 021 116 9865 E: info@sunbeams.co.nz, www.sunbeams.co.nz

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FUTURE GENERATION LITTLE LOCAL GENIUSES October saw central Auckland school students rise to the challenge - of technology.

Children aged around 10 years from seven different central Auckland primary schools were invited to join in the 2014 Vector Inner City Schools Technology challenge and develop two mysterious devices to be revealed on the day of the event. In groups of four students per school, the youthful inventors built a satellite launcher and a windmill - the most striking fact was that they used only everyday materials such as paper and scissors.

The competition was fierce and the kids impressed the two judges, Brian Ryan, Group General Manager of Development at Vector, and Gareth Williams, Vector’s Manager of Strategic Solutions, with their creativity and teamwork.

“It was a hard decision," Gareth said before announcing the winners. First and second place were separated by only one point, the Ponsonby Elite team scoring 21 points and Richmond Road Pillow Pets coming in second at 20 points; Westmere School won third place with 18 points. Children from the three schools were awarded with prizes and the winning team received a trophy.

“It is really important placing children in that position of being able to create and build, collaborating as a team to make a device work,” Barbara Henderson said. Barbara is director of Gifted and Talented Learning at Ponsonby Primary and co-ordinated the students involved in the challenge. Barbara explained that the participants were chosen by each school due to their problem solving and collaborating abilities.

Creating a satellite launcher in 20 minutes The entire challenge started in the morning and lasted until almost 1.30pm. For the first task, building a satellite launcher, students received a box containing one rubber balloon, six sheets of A4 paper, sticky tape and scissors. The device had to be launched from the floor and the satellite had to separate from the balloon before they both reached the ground, otherwise the team would be disqualified.

With only 20 minutes to complete the task, all the groups did a great job with a variety of designs. Not all creations worked as expected; nevertheless the groups presented smart ideas. Judges evaluated device design, dimensions, success of deployment and the 'separation height' reached by the satellite.

The best team was Ponsonby Elite, who scored 13 points, followed by Richmond Road Pillow Pets, with nine points. Third place was a tie between Bayfield Primary, Westmere and Newton schools, who reached eight points.

photography: Thais Sabino

Using wind for energy For the second task, students built a windmill using sheets of newspaper, masking tape, plastic shopping bags, string, straws, barbecue sticks, scissors and corrugated card. The

arms of the windmill had to rotate freely in the wind produced by a fan. The challenge was certainly more difficult than the first one and the judges had to allow a further five extra minutes to the allocated 30 minutes for the challenge.

The different groups of kids had quite different ideas resulting in varied projects. Judges evaluated engineering merit, the number of rotations during 30 seconds of the fan going and the size of windmill arms. Richmond Road School's team had the best performance and achieved 11 points, followed by Westmere team that made it to 10 and Ponsonby Elite obtained eight points.

Developing future professionals All the skills tested in the competition are skills used daily in the classroom, however not all schools have the opportunity to create challenges that improve these abilities, says Ponsonby Primary School's Barbara Henderson.

In this case the challenge was made possible thanks to Vector's sponsorship. And if it depends on the opinion of the judges, the challenge will keep happening, Gareth said.

He was very pleased with all results and congratulated all the students.

“It was a success, it was amazing to observe children creating and solving problems.

Exposing children to such a challenge helps develop skills that can be used in the future, in their professional life," Gareth declared.

Bayfield Primary, Freemans Bay and Grey Lynn Primary also joined the competition, and besides the challenge, competitors also enjoyed a tasty brunch with chocolate cake, cookies and fruit. (THAIS SABINO) F PN Check out the final ranking: Ponsonby Primary (Elite) Richmond Road Primary Westmere School Bayfield Primary Grey Lynn Primary Newton Central School Ponsonby Primary (Dream Team) Freemans Bay

21 20 18 15 14 14 14 12

Ponsonby Elite, the best team scored 13 points

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FUTURE GENERATION PORSE IN-HOME EDUCATION STILL GOING STRONG New Zealand’s largest and longest serving home-based early childcare provider is turning 20 and celebrating two decades of making a positive difference to thousands of Kiwi families.

PORSE promotes the proven philosophy that ‘home is best’ and that a secure attachment relationship with one special person is the best way for children to grow and develop.

The fact that several of its educators have been with the organisation almost as long as PORSE has been in existence is proof that the in-home model is highly successful and an attractive career option for people wanting to run a business from home and receive free training and support.

In-home educator Marie Howard started with PORSE as a nanny in 1998 and over the last 17 years she estimates she’s helped nurture and shape around 45 children and their families’ lives.

“I have a huge amount of passion and energy for my job, I really do put my heart and soul into the children and they give me so much back. It’s amazing to think I’ve been doing this for so long, but the children set the pace and I just keep up!”

It’s the success and longevity of these relationships that has caught the eye of Australian education officials who would like to incorporate the PORSE model across the Tasman.

“There’s nothing like PORSE in Australia," says PORSE Education and Training general manager Erin Maloney. "We’re proving that our unique model works and it’s incredibly satisfying to start seeing other countries looking to take our lead with early childcare education." F PN Tom, Riley and Georgia with in-home educator Marie Howard

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PORSE, 2 Tuarangi Road, Grey Lynn, T: 09 376 3724, www.porse.co.nz

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FUTURE GENERATION CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW Once upon an alphabet by Oliver Jeffers. HarperCollins, $34.99.

A flagship publication, gloriously bringing the alphabet to life in irresistible Oliver Jeffers style! The letters of our alphabet work tirelessly to make words that in turn make stories, but what if there was a story for each of the letters instead? Turn the pages of this exquisite book to find out...

AUCKLAND KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION - FOR CONFIDENT LEARNERS ESTABLISHED IN 1908, THE AUCKLAND KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION IS A CHARITABLE trust made up of 107 kindergartens and four all day early learning centres throughout the greater Auckland region. The AKA provides a safe and enriching environment where children can develop as confident and competent learners. Their kindergartens offer quality early childhood education that is accessible, secular, non-discriminatory, and inclusive of the diversity of children and families/whanau that attend.

Here you will discover 26 short stories introducing a host of new characters (plus the occasional familiar face). From Edmund the astronaut with his awkward fear of heights, via the dynamic new investigative duo of the Owl and the Octopus, through to the Zeppelin that just might get Edmund a little bit closer to where he needs to be, this book is packed with funny, thrilling, perilous and above all entertaining tales inspired by every letter in the alphabet.

An adventure to follow from A to Z, or a treasure trove to dip in and out of, Once Upon an Alphabet is a work of exhilarating originality from artist Oliver Jeffers, the creator of much-loved modern classics such as Lost and Found and The Incredible Book Eating Boy. F PN DOROTHY BUTLER CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP, 1 Jervois Road, T: 09 3767283, www.childrensbookshop.co.nz

The AKA believes that children learn and develop best when they are nurtured and extended by teachers who are responsive and who share with the child an understanding of the world. The AKA values the importance of children’s play in developing meaningful learning experiences. With a philosophy based on learning through play, children are encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities to extend and develop their skills and knowledge.

The learning is supported and extended by teaching staff who are in training or fully qualified and registered in early childhood education. AKA teachers ensure high quality educational outcomes for all children, and teaching practice is reflective of the current theories of learning and development. AKA kindergartens provide high quality learning programmes based on Te Whariki (the national early childhood curriculum).

On a daily basis approximately 9,000 children are accessing AKA kindergartens and centres from South Auckland to Wellsford. For queries or if you are interested in enrolling your child at your local AKA kindergarten please feel free to pop in and visit PN one of the centres. F AUCKLAND KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION, T: 0800 4 KINDY, www.aka.org.nz

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FUTURE GENERATION DIRECT TO THE US FOR KRISTIN TERTIARY STUDENTS KRISTIN SCHOOL IS OPENING THE DOOR TO UNITED STATES UNIVERSITIES WITH THE introduction of events specifically for students aspiring to study in the United States when they finish school.

In May, Drew Dumas, the Educational Advisor to the United States Embassy New Zealand, hosted a free SAT/PSAT workshop at Kristin. The workshop covered a range of themes from preparation, funding and parental information, to the Common Application and essay advice. Drew followed it up with a series of one-on-one planning sessions for Kristin students.

In August Kristin was selected to host a United States university and college expo, featuring admissions personnel from a selection of leading United States universities and colleges.

September saw Kristin alumni James Allan visit the senior school to share his experiences of Stanford University. He received admission offers from Cambridge University (United Kingdom), MIT, Brown, Princeton, Colombia and Caltech amongst others, and had been invited to participate in Duke University’s Scholars Programme. James chose to pursue his tertiary studies at Stanford as he believed it would provide a natural extension of his learning experience at Kristin by allowing him to pursue “a well-rounded education.”

Next year, Kristin will host its first-ever United States university and college tour. These opportunities are made available through Kristin Futures, the school’s unique tertiary planning programme. Specialised seminars and workshops support a programme of regular academic and futures planning sessions, in which the students set goals, monitor their progress and plan their tertiary future with the support of the Senior School Dean.

Social networks are utilised daily to deliver relevant and time critical information to students, and as a result students are well informed, motivated and engaged with their PN academic and tertiary objectives. F KRISTIN SCHOOL, 360 Albany Highway, T: 09 415 9566, www.kristin.school.nz

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BILLY HARRIS: KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY

The boy with his future in his hands To look at a smiling Alistair McManus, you’d never think that standing before you is a seriously competitive young man whose hands and feet are lethal weapons.

Ali is a red belt in WTF taekwondo, and trains with such dedication that it surely won’t be long before he achieves his goal of a black belt.

Before we go on, here’s a quick lesson in taekwondo. Belts are gained in the following order: white (entry level), yellow, yellow with green tip, green, green with blue tip, blue, blue with red tip, red, red with black tip, junior black belt.

Each grading consists of performing sets of patterns (poomse) that demonstrate strength, control and technique, and free form sparring.

The poomse is a set of pre-determined moves (taegeuk). Each belt level has a different taegeuk. The number of moves for each taegeuk increases with the belt level. For example, taegeuk 1 (when grading for yellow belt) has 16 moves, taegeuk 7 (grading for red belt) has 30. The athlete is tested on taegeuk not only for their belt level but previous taegeuks.

For example, when Ali was grading for red belt, he needed to demonstrate taegeuk 7 and any other taegeuk (1-6) that the examiner asked without a single mistake.

If you understood all that, well done. Now imagine having to do it. Ali’s record of achievement in the three years since he started taekwondo is a wonderful example of discipline, skill, focus and butt kicking. He’s entered 10 sparring competitions, winning nine gold medals, including three New Zealand national golds in 2012, 13 and 14, one North Island Open gold (2013), and five regional golds. The one time he missed out on gold, he brought home silver from the Rodney Open earlier this year. Far from being a disappointment, it was one of his best achievements. He’d just turned eight and was up against Phoenix, a boy one belt higher and two years older than Ali. The Ponsonby Primary boy gave his older adversary a great match before going down by just one point.

Ali’s form has brought him to the attention of the national team selectors, who say that if he maintains his passion and keeps up the training, he’s on the right path to earn a place with the New Zealand junior taekwondo cadet programme by the time he’s 11, which is the youngest age you can be selected.

Ali’s drive and commitment to taekwando and rugby continue to surprise his parents.

If his taekwondo training clashes with a friend’s birthday party, the training takes priority. He also pays attention to his diet so he can be stronger and faster. And every opportunity he gets at training, he spars with an older, more experienced opponent to improve himself. Even with the protective gear on, the hits hurt.

This is what his teacher taekwondo master Dafydd Sanders, a 4th Dan black belt, says of Ali:

Okay. Maybe not. In reality, eight-and-a-half-year-old Ali is just a normal kid, who when he’s not training four times a week with taekwondo, likes talking, being sociable, Percy Jackson and Tom Gates books, reading the sports pages in the paper, and playing rugby for Ponsonby. He’s been in coach Hugh Cotterill’s team for three years, with a group of boys who’ve come together from different schools and developed a strong bond.

Ali is fortunate to have several positive role models in his life. He lists his heroes as his parents, Coach Cotterill, Master Sanders, cousin Christian Fromont, who looks after him at family functions, and uncle and ex All Black Richard Fromont, because he’s just so cool.

So what’s next for the Kwondo Kid? To be a junior black belt, earn a place within the New Zealand junior taekwondo cadet programme, compete at the junior world championships, and one day the Olympic Games.

That’s quite a handful. But if there’s anyone who can make a fist of it, it’s Alistair McManus. (BILLY HARRIS) F PN

“Ali is a very disciplined and focused student who has a lot of dedication. He’s worked very hard for three years now and his work and dedication show in his results. He doesn’t just rely on his talent, he always works to improve himself and gets better with every training session. He has a very bright future ahead of him.”

If you’re thinking that some time down the track, when the Year 4 lad from Ponsonby Primary has morphed into a moody teenager, that he might tell mum or dad where to shove it when they ask him to clean his bedroom or put away the dishes, it’s not likely.

His father Iain used to do Aikido - watching dad practise was what started Ali’s interest - and his mother Annabel is a taekwondo black belt who used to compete during her teens. By then his five-year-old sister Hannah, herself a green belt in taekwondo, will have climbed the ranks and know her way around a dojang.

Don’t know about you, but with all that martial arts in the family, I’m picturing a scene at the breakfast table when an argument over the fibre content of the cereal gets way out of control. Within moments eggs, fruit and toast are flung like weapons across the room.

Ali chucks the salt and pepper shakers and peanut butter jar at his dad, who calmly catches them and puts them in the pantry as fast as they’re thrown. Hannah delivers a flying kick over the table at mum, who ducks under it Matrix-style before tying Hannah up with last night’s spaghetti.

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SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY

West End, where else?

Longer summer nights and the screeching sound of rubber turning quickly on concrete can mean only one thing, it’s tennis time. And tennis time means the Wither Hills West End Cup. With the Westmere tournament continuing to grow in popularity both from a spectator and a player point of view the December tournament looks set to have the potential to be the best yet with the country’s top five ranked men all expected to feature.

Just to say I’ve done it As a sports journalist I’m often privileged to get to see behind the scenes of what many athletes go through when preparing themselves for whatever it is they’re undertaking.

Whether it’s a few late night sparing sessions with Joseph Parker, some rainy training days with the All Blacks or hours upon hours of kilometres rowed by the many teams in the New Zealand rowing squads, most of my time is spent watching and analysing their performance. Trying to decipher whether they’ll achieve what they’re setting out to do and whether the money that’s being invested in them will earn a reward. But the majority of the time I find myself in awe of their skill and commitment, their determination and will to succeed above all, it’s also intrigued me as to why they challenge themselves in the way they do.

So with that in mind as I sat on the sidelines I’d find myself continually pondering what I might do to challenge myself, clearly my time to become an All Black has passed. To even consider embarking on - challenging for the heavy weight title of either Ponsonby or, like Parker, the world, might be a bit far-fetched even for me.

But I continued to wonder, what could I do? Run a marathon maybe? Of course I could, plenty of people run marathons, but for some reason that sort of challenge just didn’t sit right with me (aside from not loving running). After a chance meeting with a keen sailor at a wedding earlier this year I threw it out there that I’d love to sail one of the most gruelling stretches of water in the world, from Sydney to Hobart, across Bass Strait.

The slightly funnier thing is, apart from a few days sailing around the Waitemata Harbour and some in-port races onboard Team New Zealand’s last Volvo Ocean race boat Camper, my sailing experience is, well, limited to say the least.

As an appetiser to the New Zealand festival of tennis, which features the ASB Classic and the Heineken Open, the West End Cup has thankfully maintained its boutique qualities.

Offering free entry to view some quality tennis, allowing punters to get up close to the country’s top tennis stars with a cold beer in one hand and a hot snag in the other; it doesn’t get more Kiwi than that. The bean bags on the bank have become increasingly popular as are the on-court grandstand and the courtside catered tables.

The kids are equally well catered for in the Kid Zone, so their more sport focused parents can zone in on the action on court.

Regular competitors at the tournament have become crowd favourites, like last year’s runner up and New Zealand number four Artem Sitak. Sitak’s had one of his best years yet, fresh from Flushing Meadows and the US Open, Sitak also banked his first ATP title in Stuttgart, while his doubles ranking peaked at 64.

In contrast, New Zealand number one ranked player Michael Venus will make his first appearance in the tournament’s seven year history. Venus has competed at all four Grand Slams this year and will no doubt see this as a precursor to the New Zealand nationals the following week.

It’ll be the first time he’s taken on his Davis Cup team member and previous cup winner Rubin Statham and Sitak, let alone New Zealand number two Marcus Daniell who is returning following a two year absence.

The women’s draw looks equally promising to serve up some battles with former Kiwi, now Australian, Sasha Jones returning to try and defend her title against a host of rising Kiwi stars.

The West End Cup has been a great place to see some sublime junior tennis played over the past few years as well, so ensure you lock in the first weekend of December, from the 4-7, grab plenty of sunscreen, your panama hat and head on down to the West End Tennis Club for your first taste of live tennis action this summer. (GEORGE BERRY) F PN

A couple of months following my bold statement I received an email out of the blue and the long and short of the email read, “Are you still interested in sailing the Sydney to Hobart?” And if so a friend of a friend had a spot on a boat and it was mine if I was up for the challenge.

I took a day or two to reply but as I sat back thinking about Joseph Parker and the All Blacks and said to myself, why not, would I otherwise sit back when I’m old and kick myself for not saying yes?

My wife thinks I’m mad and doesn’t really want to talk much about it, but it’s a challenge I’ve decided to embark on, and I’m equally sure she’ll be just as proud as I will be when we finally sail into Hobart.

My training has now hit top gear, this month I’ll complete a deep sea survival course and will head over to Brisbane in December to sail the boat I will compete the famous race on, Samurai Jack, down to Sydney ready for the Boxing Day start.

This will be the first time I’ve been miles off shore for days on end. I’ve been given a few tips on what to expect, and to be honest being out in the open ocean in the pitch black of night sometimes has me waking up in a cold sweat, but deep down I’m also starting to look forward to it like a kid at Christmas.

I won’t say challenging myself like this will become a regular occurrence but it certainly does give you a different take on what others are doing in their lives, achieving, PN sometimes failing and ultimately giving things a crack. (GEORGE BERRY) F The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

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SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY

Castle backs new Warriors CEO

T20 becomes more than just a game

Rugby League is in Raelene Castles’ blood, so when the former St Marys Bay resident was named as the first women Chief Executive to a NRL club last year few that knew her were surprised.

Take a bow Auckland and New Zealand Cricket for the new initiative making cricket both more affordable for budding young cricketers and addressing its dwindling entertainment value.

The daughter of a former Kiwi League player Castle recently recalled sitting around the dinner table discussing the weekend’s big plays and the stars of the game. So when her Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs made this year’s NRL grand final in what was just her first full year in charge I headed over to Sydney to put a question or two to her. Not the usual ones about how she’s fitted into the Bulldogs set up and how great would it be to become the first women CEO to lead a club to a grand final victory, but would she make a return to New Zealand and what about the Warriors?

The new Twenty20 cricket competition has both a new sponsor and a new name, the Georgie Pie Super Smash, and will host six festival weekends of cricket all around the country. Friday night after work matches will be played under lights followed by a double header on the Saturday then a full-on day of family friendly entertainment on Sundays.

And like any good diplomatic CEO talking about another club she quickly deflected her answers to things like, “I’m really enjoying it here at the Bulldogs, this is a family club and at this stage I’d like to stay as long as I can” and “the Warriors have just appointed Jim Doyle as their CEO and I’m sure he’ll do a fine job in Auckland.” So on that note I decided to drill down a little further, did she truly believe Jim Doyle, the former New Zealand Rugby League and NRL CEO was actually a good fit with the Warriors?

Saturday sees the newly named Mondiale Aces, that boasts players like Mitchell McClenaghan, Kyle Mills, Martin Guptil and Colin Munroe, take on the Central Stags, who may even sneak in a surprise with Ross Taylor making an appearance for the green and blacks. This match starts at 3:40pm in the afternoon with game two that day being played under lights starting after 7pm.

I’d had a few dealings with Jim over the years and was pleasantly surprised to learn that I wasn’t alone in my impression of the Scotsman.

“We’re really gutted Jim is leaving the NRL,” says Raelene. “And to be honest as the CEO of an opposition club we’re a little worried with him at the helm. Jim’s a great leader and now presides over one of the deepest talent pools any club has in the NRL, so I’m sure there will be a few clubs out there a little worried about having him in opposition.

Auckland’s Eden Park gets its turn to host the party on 14-16 November with the home team firstly taking on James Franklin’s Wellington Firebirds on the Friday night.

That match will see last year’s champions the Northern Knights, who’ve recently returned from their pretty emphatic performance at the Champions League in India, square off against the Firebirds who’ll hopefully be feeling a little battered and bruised from the Aces the night before.

And finally on the Sunday the Firebirds will duke it out against the Stags in the first match of the day before the really mouthwatering clash between the home team, the Auckland Aces, and the Northern Knights.

“He’s done an amazing job in terms of leadership and commitment in his role at the NRL and he’s very well respected by pretty much every club in the NRL. He’s made some tough moves stick, like dealing with the ASADA investigation (performance enhancing drugs being administered and taken by players and support staff) and because of that people trust him, he’s done the right things by the clubs and the players and been as fair as he can be.”

Having all these teams in the one place over the weekend will ensure that whoever you or your kids’ heros are, you’ll get the chance to meet them in person.

So, while we may not be able at this stage to lure Raelene back to a post in New Zealand we can rest easy that the New Zealand Warriors look to be getting it right. Maybe the pain of ‘keeping the faith’ will pay off for their fans eventually.

Having the festival at big grounds like Eden Park ensures you plenty of room to spread out during the match whilst still feeling safe from both big crowds and balls hailing down around your ears.

Also a massive congratulations to Point Chevalier’s very own Stacey Jones for guiding the Vodaphone Junior Warriors to the Holden Cup title this year. After only just making the finals, the under 20 side travelled every weekend back and forth across the Tasman and still managed to win the competition. (GEORGE BERRY) F PN

So if you’re not already excited about the upcoming Cricket World Cup coming to New Zealand early next year then this will surely help excite your taste buds for some PN entertaining summer sport. (GEORGE BERRY) F

I’ve also been told the tickets for a family are dirt cheap and there is loads of other entertainment around the ground such as the Zing stumps, trade shows and a few things for the bigger kids as well, to cater for those of us with short attention spans.

SAFE SUMMER DAYS OUT ON THE WATER We are so lucky in greater Ponsonby to have easy access to Auckland’s beautiful city beaches, and now that the warmer weather is here many of us will be spending more time at the beach, as well as heading further afield in the Waitemata Harbour in recreational water craft and private boats.

Even when pottering about near the shore it’s a good idea to be aware of the precautions you can take to keep you and your family safer on the water.

When venturing out in kayaks and SUPs wearing a lifejacket is recommended and carry at least one form of waterproof communication with you - this could be a mobile phone in a drybag. Your head is your highest point, so make it as bright as is possible. Day glow orange or yellow hats are highly visible. Avoid areas with heavy boat traffic, strong currents, and dangerous outcroppings. Keep a safe distance from swimmers. Stay safe and paddle with a friend - stick together. Always let someone know where you are going and when you’ll be back.

Check the weather and tides before heading out. Learn the basics in flat, calm water - you may even like to invest in a lesson from a professional kayak or paddleboard instructor/school.

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Coastguard Boating Education also recently produced a short motion-graphic as a reminder of key boating safety tips. Aimed at new and existing boat users, CBE General Manager Neil Murray says, “If every boatie took just two minutes to watch this short, engaging clip, and then put into action the few common-sense tips it contains, without doubt lives would be saved.”

The animation covers skipper responsibility, communication, weather, lifejackets and alcohol; the next step is to take a Coastguard Boating Education course, available at: www.boatingeducation.org.nz/courses F PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

photography: John Mercer

DIARY DATE: THE CENTREBOARD CUP; SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER The intricate stretch of coastline between the Auckland Harbour Bridge and Meola Reef is dotted with cute little beaches and a couple of estuaries that’ve played host to many seaborne adventures.

Festooned with ancient boat sheds and drooping pohutukawas this tidal part of the harbour is home to a large number of local sailors, and a couple of famous foreign yachties too these days.

You can still find the original Richmond Cruising Club shed nestled between Cox’s Bay and Herne Bay. The 100-year-old clubhouse is plugged into a tiny square of sand known locally as Sloanes Beach. There’s a sign that says Marine Parade Reserve at the top of the stairs but no one calls it that.

Last year this venue was the scene of the inaugural Centreboard Cup, an event to celebrate the boatshed’s centenary and to encourage local centreboarders out of the woodwork. Led by the mullet boats of the Ponsonby Cruising Club, many of which are moored off Herne Bay or up a couple of the local creeks, the day proved to be a great success. Martin Robertson’s Orion II narrowly beat last year’s Lipton Cup winner Tamatea.

Seven mullet boats were joined by a host of other craft both modern and traditional.

Those ashore were entertained by live music and a close-up view of the start-finish line, while kids gambolled and played games in the shallows.

Whether you’re making spray while hanging from a trapeze or contemplating the infinite as you gunkhole about the mangroves, the appendage that’s essential for these activities is the centreboard. For those brave sailors who take to the sea without a ballast keel there is now a festival to celebrate this lunatic fringe, that esoteric bunch who cut a long slot through the strongest part of the boat and insert a moving part.

There are two classes in this year’s edition of the race on Saturday, 29 November: Centreboarders under 18’ and those 18’ and over. Mullet boats enter at the Ponsonby Cruising Club with all other craft registering ashore on the day, before the start of the first race at noon.

Curiously this area is poorly served for boat ramps but sailors are encouraged to launch at Birkenhead (unless there's a strong breeze from the south), which is a short sail across the harbour, or Westhaven, on the other side of the bridge. Those with smaller boats can simply carry them down the stairs and launch at Sloane’s Beach! The short course sees the big boats take in two laps of Watchman Island, while the smaller boats complete one lap. The regatta has an emphasis on traditional craft but all are welcome!

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

PN For more info join The Centreboard Cup event on Facebook. F

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

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PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

Nick von K and Poppy Nick Klarwill is a jewellery designer, the founder and designer of Nick Von K. The business is based on Karangahape Road, with distribution all over New Zealand and around the world. Nick travels a lot, manufacturing each collection in Bali. He released his latest collection ‘The Baron & Baroness’ with the brand’s inaugural New Zealand Fashion Week show in September. Nick’s cat Poppy is a 17-year-old black Burmese (otherwise known as a Mandalay) - “She’s an old lady now,” he says.

Nick has owned Poppy from the day she was born. “My girlfriend at the time and I had a Burmese Queen and we bred her. Poppy was one of three kittens. I said to myself before she was born that if one of them was black then I would take her. The rest is history,” he says.

Poppy was named after a character on a TV movie at the time called Poppy Carew, “a small woman with a big attitude.” Poppy was the runt of the litter and always fought hard with her brother and sister when they were kittens, and Nick felt she needed a namesake with attitude.

Poppy only has human friends, but Nick says everyone who meets her loves her as she is very affectionate. He tells of the pair’s favourite thing to do: “I scratch her on her back just above her tail and she goes absolutely mental and gnaws on my hand.” Poppy likes PN to eat a cocktail of raw meat, enjoying a mixture of flavours. F NICK VON K, www.nickvonk.com

THE TRUE AND ONLY SLIGHTLY EXAGGERATED TALES OF CHESTER PONSONBY Episode Two Chester is really affectionate and enjoys being at home, sometimes for days on end, with only short forays out, but he continues his mighty exploration of Ponsonby.

Man on a mission up the hill this morning - maybe there really are fish at Flying Fish, Ponsonby Road? On the way, popped in to see Fiona and friends again, at the AMCAL Chemist, have a lie down and get petted. No fish, alas.

Sauntered across Vermont Street, and decided a lie down in the middle of the road was a good idea: tenth life survival due to careful motorist.

The Lucky Taco = lucky cat. Sara rescued him from the middle of Ponsonby Road and gave him sanctuary in the front of the truck. Need to teach him better road crossing skills.

Republic, in Pompallier Terrace, today - retail therapy? Will have to invest in a stronger cat carrier.

Cook the Books, Richmond Road, again - Felicity offers a comfortable beanbag upstairs, in the soporific sun. Not sure if this service is available for people.

Out before dawn, away all day and night. Then a phone call: he’d followed a man from outside the old Ponsonby Post Office building to the bottom of College Hill, looking lost and lonely (cat, not man). Did I mention the call was at 2am?

Will not go to the gym (even Configure) at 7am, not even for Chester. But thank you for using his tag and phoning. Thirty minutes later, arrived at the White Cross Clinic - needing help to recover from the treadmill?

Another hill workout - am glad neighbour encouraged him to follow her down the hill to home. Ignored ‘stranger danger’ - jumped into their builders’ van - where did he think he was getting a lift to? Accepted Brian’s overnight hospitality, near Cox’s Creek Reserve.

Chester slept on his bed, but his resident cat was forced to sleep on the window sill...

I feel like a bad parent. In the morning, a call from Servilles hairdressers, Ponsonby Road. No to a short back and sides cut!

Another ‘home taxi’ ride; from the top of Lincoln Street to Vermont Street. Several kind people (from Lincoln, Douglas, Lawrence Streets) have driven him home themselves. Am I seeing a pattern? Here was I, thinking he’d joined the ranks of the hundreds of the early morning, keep-fit Ponsonby walkers, but, after a girl picked him up in John Street and carried him here as part of her walk, I suspect he’s taking the notion of energy saving to new heights.

Exercise still on the agenda: living the high life - drinking, gambling and sleeping with strangers. Showed up at Dida’s Wine Bar, Jervois Road. Then, midnight Friday, was picked up in Federal Street, outside Sky City Casino. (Does the Gambling Helpline assist cats?)

Lovely Australian couple took him home for the night - a touch rakish? The vet at The Strand Vets recommended a GPS...

Another visit to Dida’s. Decided wine is for wimps so visited The Whiskey bar at 2.30am.

Out on the town, but home for breakfast, then slept the whole day on the bed in the sun.

Hangover cure? AA group?

Undeterred, Chester strides off again. What advice would Nigel Latta give?

PN (PAM TARULEVICZ) F

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS ASK ALEX

GIVE AN ANIMAL A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE Can you provide a temporary home for an animal in need?

Many of the animals that come into SPCA Auckland need just a little extra TLC before finding their new forever home. This is where foster parents play a vital role in the work of the SPCA. Foster parents provide a temporary home for animals as they recover from surgery or illness, or if they simply need to gain some weight until they are big and healthy enough to be adopted. Foster parents are especially important in November and December, due to the huge numbers of kittens the SPCA receives.

Every animal you foster is given a second chance at life - and the more animals you foster, the more lives you help save.

The average foster stay is three to five weeks for cats, and six weeks for dogs. Once they are ready, the animals come back to SPCA Auckland and are put up for adoption.

How can I foster an animal? First time Foster Parents receive initial training and have our friendly Foster Team just a phone call away.

SPCA Auckland supplies everything you need - food, litter, litter trays, bedding, bowls and toys to help animals feel comfortable while they are staying in your home. Our on -site vets provide medical care if required. Being a Foster Parent is a great experience that gives you the opportunity to help many wonderful animals waiting for their second chance. Talk to SPCA Auckland’s Foster Team on T: 09 256 7303 today or visit www.spca.org.nz more information. F PN

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Each month Dr Alex Melrose answers readers’ pet related issues. Email yours to: alex@vetcare.net.nz

Q:

Rico my Siberian forest cat was brought into the clinic earlier today as I was concerned that he had gone missing for a day earlier in the week and was acting a bit strange.

He didn’t like being picked up and wasn’t eating as well as usual and we thought he had a knot of fur on his tummy. I know you said you would phone later today but he is very much my large furry baby and so I’m emailing from work for an update. Please let me know he is doing well? Penelope, Point Chevalier.

When we examined Rico this morning we could feel quite a lump on his tummy. It felt very hard around the skin underneath his thick coat, on a closer look, after clipping we could see a piece of stick protruding from his skin. No wonder he had been a bit off colour and didn’t like his usual cuddles. His temperature was normal and he was still wanting to eat and we were surprised how well he was, seeing the stick had been in there for days!

A:

We anaesthetised him and cleaned up the area around the stick to make sure there were no other wounds and then delicately extricated the stick and flushed the wound as it was very infected and swollen. The stick was over two centimetres long. He was so much happier soon afterwards and is recovering super quickly with antibiotics and anti-inflamms for pain relief.

We can only surmise that he must have jumped down and impaled himself and it broke off inside his skin but he was very lucky it didn’t go right through his abdomen! I’m glad to report the happy ending, long live Rico, eight lives left.

(DR ALEX MELROSE, BVSC, MRCVS) F PN VETCARE GREY LYNN, 408 Great North Road T: 09 361 3500 www.vetcare.net.nz F PN

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

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LOOK... WHO IS IN THE ZOO!

ROTOROA ISLAND WELCOMES KIWI Kiwi are now roaming Rotoroa Island - the Hauraki Gulf’s newest wildlife reserve.

Two kiwi chicks that hatched at the zoo from eggs collected from Te Mata in the Coromandel were released onto the 83ha isle last month.

More chicks are to be released on Saturday 15 November - releases that the public are welcome to attend.

Newly hatched kiwi Tuatahi, (in Maori means ‘first’) was accidently stood on by dad when its egg was being retrieved from the nest.

The introduction of kiwi marks the start of an exciting new programme between Rotoroa Island Trust, Auckland Zoo and Thames Coast Kiwi Care that will help boost the population of Coromandel North Island brown kiwi - the rarest of the four distinct types of brown kiwi. Up to 20 chicks could be released onto Rotoroa each year. Once they reach 1.2kg large enough to have a chance against introduced predators on the mainland, the birds will be returned to the 2,500ha protected area on the Thames Coast cared for by TCKC.

Amazing race for orangutan Thursday 20 November, 4.30pm-8.00pm Grab your friends, family and workmates and come and take part in the Great Ape Race at Auckland Zoo on 20 November - an evening of heart-pumping action and fun to raise money for orangutan conservation.

The kiwi arrivals follow the first translocations of wildlife (saddleback and whitehead) to Rotoroa in May after planting, monitoring and pest eradication programmes. The birds’ translocations are part of a 25-year plan by RIT and the zoo for this unique new wildlife reserve that includes introducing up to 20 new species by 2018.

No experience is required - just plenty of energy and commitment to team work! This mini amazing race around the zoo will push your body and brain into overdrive, as you work out the fastest way to each a number of destinations, answer questions and make it back to base within the time limit.

Auckland Zoo bird keeper Michelle Whybrow says the second chick released,Tuatahi, had rather a dramatic start to life.

The race is on to save the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan from extinction, and every year Auckland Zoo teams up with its friends from Lactic Turkey Events for this increasingly popular fundraiser. Teams of either two or four people can enter into the ‘family team’ category (racing from 4.30pm-6.00pm) or the ‘social/corporate team’ category (racing from 5.30pm-7.00pm).

“I went down to Te Mata to collect the eggs and just as the second egg was being retrieved from the nest, dad struck out and put a hole in the top of it. We sealed it with tape immediately, but this can be dangerous for the chick inside. Luckily, everything was fine, and when I got it back to the zoo, I discovered it had already begun to hatch internally (called an internal pip),” says Nat. “The following morning I arrived to find it had successfully hatched. Phew!”

After your race, quench your thirst and appetite with a free juice and orang-choc-chip ice-cream. There’ll also be barbecue food and other great palm oil-free refreshments available for purchase, entertainment and face-painting for a gold coin donation.

It’s possible that fewer than 50 Coromandel brown kiwi remain in the land TCKC protects out of a total Coromandel population of 1500. Zoo director, Jonathan Wilcken, says partnering with TCKC to grow this rare, genetically distinct kiwi population really highlights the value of sharing skills and resources.

Dress up as a team and you could be in to win ‘best dressed’. As well as prizes for the fastest teams there are also great spot prizes to be won. Prices (includes zoo admission and entry from 3pm); Adult ($30); Children 4-14 years ($10); and Family - 2 adults/2 children ($70) Enter online at www.lacticturkey.co.nz

“Thames Coast Kiwi Care plays a vital role in protecting kiwi in the Coromandel. RIT and the zoo are here to help with this work by providing specialist wildlife management skills in incubating, rearing and releasing kiwi, along with an island safe-haven for young kiwi chicks,” says Mr Wilcken.

Profits from The Great Ape Race will go to support the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme. This year, the zoo has also set up a Givealittle page so you can further fundraise to help save orangutans.

Visit www.givealittle.co.nz/event/GreatApeRace

Invitation to kiwi release Two more kiwi chicks will be released onto Rotoroa Island on Saturday 15 November and the public are invited to attend. For full details on this event including 360 Discovery ferry ticket prices and sailings, visit: www.rotoroa.org and www.aucklandzoo.co.nz Did you know? 95% of kiwi that hatch in unprotected areas die before they reach breeding age. To find out how you can help kiwi, visit www.kiwisforkiwi.org

Auckland Zoo’s female orangutan Melur (left) with her nine-year-old son, Madju.

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Grown-ups and littlies of all ages can take part in this fun race to help the orangutan - a great ape that’s genetically 97.4% the same as us!

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

THE ANIMAL SANCTUARY The inspirational story of a New Zealand Animal and Wildlife Refuge

By Shawn Bishop with Allison Jones, Foreword by Wendyl Nissen Meet Shawn Bishop - she and her husband Michael own a substantial block of land north of Auckland. But that’s where the similarity with other rural landowners begins and ends, because Shawn had a special purpose in mind when they bought their property: to establish an animal sanctuary.

Over the last 10 years she and her husband, aided by a dedicated team of volunteers, have invested huge energy and resources to rescuing abused farm animals. Injured or orphaned native birds, rescued battery hens and other miscellaneous creatures have all come under their care. From ponies to pigs to penguins to parrots, they all receive the love and attention they need to turn their sad stories into happy endings.

The Animal Sanctuary, with its foreword by well-known journalist and animal welfare supporter Wendyl Nissen, is a generously illustrated and deeply inspirational account of Shawn and Michael’s commitment to providing a better life for so many animals from such a large range of different backgrounds.

Some of the stories of their happy endings have already been covered by the media, but there are many more to be told. Such as re-homing Willie, the Highland steer, where there was absolutely no shortage of volunteers to help out, but the problem came down to the sheer breadth of Willie’s horns - making normal transportation impossible - and the short space of time available, as Willie had a death sentence hanging over his head.

However, with the indefatigable Shawn on the case, a super-wide transporter was located and before long Willie was happily rehomed. Then there are the countless stories about the hens that Shawn and her team rescue on a regular basis. Most of us know about the cages and other abhorrent aspects of poultry farming, but how many people know that when these hens start to moult, they are systematically slaughtered because during the few weeks that it takes for their new feathers to grow, they are unable to lay.

Thanks to Shawn’s hard work, a number of local poultry farms are now prepared to let her know when they are about to slaughter their hens, at which point she rounds up her team and between them they rescue as many hens as can be comfortably crammed into their vehicles. Back at The Animal Sanctuary, these hens are then slowly rehabilitated until they are ready to be rehomed.

Then there was the peacock rescue... and arrival of the donkeys - plus the goats - and the amazing tale of Sparky - and last but not least all the native birds that find their way to The Animal Sanctuary. Truly these are all heartwarming stories. Note: More than just an account of how so many animals have been saved from abuse and, in many cases, death, The Animal Sanctuary is also a fundraising project. For every copy sold, Renaissance Publishing will donate $3.00 directly to The Sanctuary to help Shawn and Michael continue their work. F PN

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

THE ULTIMATE PONSONBY POOCH CARRIER Summer is on its way and what better time to ditch the car, dust off the cobwebs from your favourite bicycle and go for a bike ride.

If you’re one of the thousands of Kiwi cyclists who also own a small dog however, many of you will know the feeling of guilt at leaving your best friend at home when you head out on two wheels. But what if you could take you dog with you ON YOUR BICYCLE? Well now you can!

Buddyrider is a bicycle pet seat designed for taking your pooch from A to B on a bicycle in comfort, safety and style. Now the whole family can join in a cycle ride to the park, to the beach or a ride around town.

Mounting easily onto your bicycle seat post, the Buddyrider positions your small dog comfortably and well balanced between the rider and the handle bars. A four point safety harness keeps the dog secure enabling the cyclist to keep their attention on the road ahead.

Since launching his new website, local distributor and cyclist Jason Shaw has been inundated with orders from people wanting to take their canine mates cycling. "As Kiwi's, we're obsessive about our pets, last year spending over $18m on doggie accessories alone.

While interest from pet owners has so far been phenomenal, the most important aspect of Buddyrider is that dogs just love it. Even renowned dog trainer, author, animal rights activist and dog psychologist www.doggydan.co.nz thinks Buddyrider is a winner - if dogs like it and it gets people out of their cars and onto bikes then it's got to be good!"

But don't just take Dan's word for it. Check out the customer testimonials on Jason's website and judge for yourself. Buddyrider - the ultimate Ponsonby Pooch Carrier!

PN www.buddyrider.co.nz F

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

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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.

I am thinking of selling my property in Kingsland to buy a more expensive property in Grey Lynn. Do I need to have the money available immediately to pay the deposit on the property? I am hoping to use the deposit I receive from the sale of my property to pay the deposit on the property I hope to purchase.

I would like to use the proceeds of the sale of my house as well as a loan from the bank to fund the purchase of the more expensive property. How can I make the agreement to purchase the new property conditional on the sale of my current property?

SARAH, Kingsland.

Q:

It is possible to draft the agreement for a purchase that is conditional on the sale of your existing property. These conditions are not unusual but they would need to be accepted by the vendor and may make your offer less attractive. In a strong property market a vendor may be more confident of the sale of your existing property.

A:

In regard to using the deposit from your sale for the deposit on your purchase this is a slightly more complicated issue because you need to be careful about the timing of these payments and when the deposit on your sale may become available.

On your sale you would want a deposit of 10% to be paid on signing the agreement, this deposit would usually be available to you once the agreement has become unconditional.

However, you also need to factor in that it is a trust accounting requirement for estate agents to hold any deposit received in their trust account for 10 working days before releasing the deposit unless they get the consent of both parties for an early release.

Agents are usually paid their commission from the deposit at the time the agreement goes unconditional so this means that the amount you receive will be less their commission.

You should calculate this carefully and note that the commission is usually exclusive of GST which means that GST is added to the commission rate.

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THE DECEMBER

PONSONBY NEWS+ DEADLINE COPY DEADLINE: Thursday, 20 November PUBLISHED: Friday, 5 December

DECEMBER SPECIAL FEATURES + CHRISTMAS GIFTS + SUMMER HAIR & BEAUTY + CHILDREN & SCHOOL HOLIDAYS + FESTIVE CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINING TO BOOK ADVERTISING: ask about our premium positions!

Jo Barrett on 021 324 510 or Jessie Kollen on 021 166 2002 t: 09 361 3356 or 09 378 8553 e: joannebarrett@xtra.co.nz e: jessiekollen@gmail.com w: www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

As the property you are looking at is more expensive than the property you are selling then you would need to negotiate a reduced deposit payable when your deposit becomes available. This is possible as although it is common for the deposit to be 10% of the purchase price, the deposit need only be what is agreed between the parties.

The deposit serves a number of functions, it shows evidence that the purchaser has the wherewithal to complete the purchase, it acts as a bond against default under the agreement and the agent expects to receive their commission from the deposit. It is quite acceptable to pay a lower deposit as this will often result in the deposit still being a substantial sum of money which may serve all of these functions.

It is not unusual for the deposit to be paid later and we often see transactions where the deposit is not payable until the agreement becomes unconditional. It may be worth explaining your circumstances to your vendor as they should be comfortable with delayed payment so long as they know that the funds will become available.

If you are unable to negotiate terms where the deposit on your sale is available for your purchase then you may need to talk to your bank about bridging finance. There are also other lenders who can provide bond services against the equity that you have in your existing property. It would still be worth getting advice on the terms and trying to negotiate either a reduced deposit or a later date for payment of the deposit as this may reduce both your exposure and any interest costs.

Finally, the agreement provides that it can only be cancelled for non-payment of the deposit if you are served with a notice requiring payment of the deposit and you failed PN to pay the deposit within three working days. (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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PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS: LOGAN GRANGER

Cloud accounting - Xero and MYOB Essentials FOR ANY BUSINESS, THE DAYS OF ‘SHOEBOX RECORD keeping’ are long gone. Accounting software that’s not available via the cloud can be tedious and it can suck up far too much of your business’ time and effort. A non-value adding expense you could do without. Cloud software can save your business both time and money.

As accountants we are often asked what software our clients should use for their business. In this article, we will compare the two most common entry level cloud based accounting programs offered by MYOB and Xero: 1. MYOB Essentials Accounting 2. Xero Starter Edition Quick summary MYOB Essentials Accounting is an updated and rebranded version of MYOB LiveAccounts. Priced at $27 per month, MYOB Essentials has unlimited transactions, bank feeds, unlimited customer invoicing, supplier bills and unlimited users. It also includes payroll for one employee.

Xero’s Starter Edition costs $25 per month and includes bank feeds, unlimited users, payroll for one employee, 20 bank transactions per month, five customer invoices per month and five supplier bills per month. Xero’s Standard Edition, which costs $50 per month, adds unlimited bank transactions, invoices and payroll for up to five employees.

Comparisons BANK FEEDS MYOB Essentials Accounting uses its BankLink service to provide reliable and secure bank feeds. BankLink has a team of data accuracy specialists that review the feeds using internal processes.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Xero Starter Edition has established relationships with most of the major banks and imports bank feeds directly.

BANK RECONCILIATIONS MYOB Essentials Accounting allocates transactions to accounts in the Bank Transaction screen. Transactions will automatically match if the bank rules have been set up. From here you are able to reconcile your bank account in the Bank Reconciliation screen. This is a very simple process. Bank reconciliation in all Xero products requires you to approve all transactions matched to bank rules or invoices and bills.

Transactions with bank rules automatically match and adjust your calculated statement balance.

INVENTORY Neither MYOB Essentials Accounting nor Xero Starter Edition have inventory tracking. Both systems can create a list of item codes for sales and purchases, but there is no record of inventory quantity kept on hand. Both systems have third-party products available for more advanced inventory requirements at an extra monthly cost to assist with stocktake control.

Additional employees can be added to both platforms by purchasing additional software in MYOB Essentials Accounting and add-ons in Xero Starter Edition.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Xero to Xero files makes it easy to deal with inter-company transactions. This is a great tool for larger businesses, with multiple organisations. Xero also allows you to attach documents and photos against transactions, invoices and bills. Xero Starter Edition gives you 1GB storage and Xero Standard gives you 5GB. MYOB PayDirect allows smartphones to take payments which then update the software instantly. Xero Starter Edition and MYOB Essentials accounting offer a vast range of external party add-on business applications to assist in tailoring your business solution to your business requirements.

Both platforms offer an appealing and easy to use program which can be tailored to meet your business needs. When making the decision on which accounting software to use, we always suggest that you talk to your professional advisor first.

INVOICING MYOB Essentials Accounting has unlimited invoices.

Invoicing is nicely laid out with a drop-down menu to select the customer or you can create customers with all details including name, address, etc. Essentials also offer quotes.

Xero Starter Edition allows only for five sales invoices and five bill transactions per month. Xero Standard Edition gives you unlimited invoices and bills.

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

(LOGAN GRANGER) F PN

PAYROLL Payroll in both platforms allows for only one employee.

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

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

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KIMBERLY SUMNER: HAPPINESS BUSINESS

The biggest mistake to pricing your services

STORE STYLE

continued from page 63

You’re good at your craft, you’ve turned your passion into a business and your customers love you. But where’s the money?

This is a common problem for many small business owners. And so you might be able to relate to a client I’ll call Sue, who has lots of clients, gets wonderful referrals, but at the end of the day is out of pocket.

Reason being, she’s under-charging her services; discounting them to meet what the market has told her they’ll pay, despite how little this covers the costing of her time, let alone any profit.

Another client had a restaurant supported by cool marketing and loads of raving customers. But lacking systems in place to track full costing, his business was going nowhere fast and he didn’t notice until too late.

Unfortunately the reality of the marketplace means this isn’t true. Nor does it do you any favours, because singularly following this line of thinking means in two years you might not have a business.

photography: Nikau Hindin

However neither are unusual cases. Many go into business with a clear understanding of meeting client needs, but without a clear idea of how the money stacks up. They may even believe by following their passion the money will follow.

L to R: Hannah Wakerley, Moochi; Tori Slaughter, Carlson

Which would be a terrible waste. You owe it to your heart, clients and employees to give the money your attention.

Because while happiness comes from following your heart, mastering the numbers is what turns your dream into reality - for they provide the navigational markers alerting you as to whether what you’re doing is working.

And checking in with them on a weekly basis means you can tweak whatever isn’t, fast!

As opposed to waiting to meet your accountant in six months time and be told you don’t have a viable business proposition. So while it may not be your biggest interest (it may feel tedious, or perhaps even freaky), getting up to speed is one of the most important factors to your success. photography: Nikau Hindin

Raising the question of what sort of numbers you need to be tracking? A good start is which areas of your business are most profitable, as it shines the light on where to put the bulk of your energy.

Costing comes second. Making sure full costs are included in the cost of anything sold (including fully accounting for your time!).

One of the reasons many don’t price right is that in trying to be customer focussed, they turn a blind eye to the disconnect between what something costs, and what the market is prepared to pay for it.

L to R: Josh Wood, Clothesline; Melissa Vincent; twentysevennames

But this is where real opportunities lie! Since we don’t want to drive business away from our ideal clients, understanding the numbers provides valuable insight as to where we must provide new offerings.

For example, outlet stores supporting main retail, or group bootcamps alongside oneon-one training.

It may even be we need to look to a different type of customer (and if this is the case you will need to consider how you will connect with them), as opposed to wasting energy discounting on price, or trying to work more hours to the point of overwhelm because we want the wrong customers to value us.

Kimberly Sumner, The Happiness Business Coach, helps women building businesses create success, abundance and happiness. M: 021 369 950 kimberlysumner@happinessblindspot.com www.happinessblindspot.com

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photography: Nikau Hindin

Remember money is neither good nor bad but an enabler, allowing you to share your gift with the world. And the language of numbers reveals what need to tweak. So what PN numbers will you look at this week? (KIMBERLY SUMNER) F

L to R: Michelle Tang, Karen Walker; Paula Zanderigo; Union PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS SMART MONEY # 10 Fashionable investing By its very nature fashion is forever changing, new trends creating the current season’s ‘must haves’ and thus demand for a new wardrobe; we are all affected by the fashion industry whether we be fashionistas or not. Much of the financial services industry works the same way but it doesn’t necessarily need to be this way.

Rather than blowing the wardrobe budget on the portfolio equivalent of leg warmers, our approach involves working with the market, taking only those risks worth taking, holding a number of asset classes, sectors, countries, keeping costs low and managing one’s own emotions.

Much of the media and financial services industries depend on fleeting trends and the investment du jour to keep investors buying new ‘stuff’; this is the way they generate their commission. Driving this industry aren’t so much the real needs of individuals but manufactured wants with short shelf-lives.

Most of all, instead of focusing on off-the-rack investments created by the financial industry based on what it thinks it can generate the most commission on this week, our approach delivers long-term, made-to-measure results based on each individual’s own needs, goals and life circumstances.

Just as in fashion, consumers jump onto an investment trend just as it’s peaking and when the market has moved onto something else. So their portfolios are full of mismatched, costly and impractical creations such as hybrids, capital protected products and hedge funds.

To paraphrase the legendary designer Coco Chanel, investment fashion changes but style never goes out of fashion. We welcome you to come and have a coffee with any of our team of authorised financial advisers.

Jocelyn Weatherall

Phil Ashton

Richard Knight

Rutherford Rede (AKLD) Limited, www.rutherfordrede.co.nz Phone 09 361 3670 Jocelyn jweatherall@rutherfordrede.co.nz Phil pashton@rutherfordrede.co.nz or Richard rknight@rutherfordrede.co.nz

Some investors have made and continue to make the mistake of swinging from one investment trend to the other - like a fashion buyer with a wardrobe full of puffy blue shirts. It’s worth asking whether the specific and long-term needs of you as an investor are best served by the design and mass marketing of products built around short-term trends.

Special thanks to this month’s contributor, Jim Parker of Dimensional Fund Advisors, for the base of this article. Opinions are of a general nature and are not to be considered financial advice, specific advice is recommended to be sought before action is taken. Disclosure Statement(s) relating to our advisers are available on request and free of charge.

Luckily, there is an alternative. Rather than investing according to what’s trendy at any one moment, some people might prefer an approach based on longterm evidence and built upon principles that have been tried and tested in many market environments.

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

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photography: Nikau Hindin

STORE STYLE

L to R: Pavan Mudliar, Working Style; Sabrina Stevens, Staple + Cloth The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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MY FAVOURITE ROOM

Sherilyn Catchpole Fashion designer Sherilyn Catchpole is the woman behind fashion label State of Grace, which has just moved back to Ponsonby after a five year hiatus during which the store was located in Kingsland.

Sherilyn lives with her partner Simon, their son Max and Greta Garbo the dog, in an art deco house in Mt Eden. Prior to the move to Mt Eden in 2012, the family have lived in Kingsland, Grey Lynn and Ponsonby.

The kitchen is Sherilyn’s favourite room because she loves food and loves to cook. “It’s where everyone in the family is drawn to, she says, “pretty much a meeting point as we all arrive home and catch up on each others’ days.”

Sherilyn’s favourite room is her kitchen. She uses it for making family meals, baking cakes and biscuits (mainly through cold winter weekends), making juices, smoothies and lots of cups of tea, laundry and feeding the dog. Homework and socialising take place around the kitchen island.

As for Sherilyn’s favourite things in the room? “It’s a large kitchen with plenty of storage,” she says. “The white cupboards and stainless steel island are easy to keep clean and shiny. But my absolute favourite feature is the turquoise glass splash back, as that’s my favourite colour!” F PN STATE OF GRACE, LOT3, Corner 130 Ponsonby Road and Mackelvie Street, T: 09 360 1100 www.stateofgrace.co.nz

SCANDINAVIAN STYLE AT FORMA

Nordic 5 Drawer Buffet Stunning Scandinavian style made in European Oak

Nordic-bedside Beautiful Danish style manufactured in European Oak

FORMA, 51-53 The Strand Parnell, T: 09 368 7694, www.forma.co.nz, www.facebook.com/formafurniturenz F PN

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ASK AN ARCHITECT: DANIEL MARSHALL Each month architect Daniel Marshall answers readers’ property related questions.

Q: A:

Should I use an architect even for a small alteration to my house?

There is sometimes a perception that engaging an architect is a very costly exercise but a registered architect can bring a broad range of skills to any project and can potentially save you money and time in the long run by helping to avoid your project becoming another ‘horror story’.

We all know that an architect designs buildings, sometimes beautiful buildings, but what is less known is that an architect can guide you through what can be a very complicated planning process; they can arrange procuring discounted materials and fittings, such as tiles, lighting and bathroom fittings for your dream alteration, and most importantly, they can advise on the form of contract that you have with your builder to make sure that you are getting the best possible protection.

If you engage an architect to be involved during the construction phase of a building project, they can mediate between you and the builder, they can ensure that the standard of the work is as specified and they will make sure you do not pay for anything before you get it. This can be very helpful if a builder suddenly approaches you with dreaded variations to the agreed price. You will have the support of a professional that is trained to assess what is reasonable in terms of the original contract documentation.

Although a more established architecture practice may not wish to be involved in a smaller project, it is worth looking at the style of an architecture practice that you like

the work of and getting in contact with them. They may be able to put you in contact with some talented young architects that are just starting their practice and would be full of boundless enthusiasm for your dream alteration.

As an anecdote for this, many years ago when I came back from overseas to start my own practice, Nicolas Stevens from Stevens Lawson Architects put me in touch with some wonderful people in Grey Lynn to look at a bathroom alteration. Although the project was very small on a very tight budget, I put all my energy into the project, we used cheap materials such as concrete and plywood in interesting ways and we sourced second hand baths and other bits and pieces. The resulting bathroom was unique and subsequently won the bathroom of the year. I really appreciated the opportunity and they in turn received a very high level of service. Some years later, and after a few more alterations to the kitchen and living areas, when the clients sold the house it was at the time one of the highest selling villas in the area.

There are a number of talented young architects starting their offices in the Ponsonby area, and they would love the opportunity to work on your dream project. Just ask around, look in magazines and online for something that suits your style. An architect can design solutions that exceed your expectations, and they can help advise on the construction and planning process to make sure that those dreams don’t turn into PN nightmares. (DANIEL MARSHALL) F www.marshall-architect.co.nz

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

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

CITTA DESIGN X SUSTAINABLE COASTLINES Inspired by Hanoi’s exciting convergence of history with modernity, and energy with serenity, the summer 2014 collection from Citta Design - A Midsummer Daydream - is all about finding precious moments of peace away from the bustle of modern life.

The collection is designed to make your home a cool and comfy sanctuary throughout a long and balmy summer. This is your time, so revel in it, relax into a good hammock -worthy book and sip a tall, cool drink in the shade.

This summer Citta Design looked locally for a charity initiative and is proudly supporting Sustainable Coastlines, with $5 from the sale of each beach towel from the current collection going towards helping to clean up New Zealand beaches this summer.

The goal is to raise $10,000 for the charity and with this money Sustainable Coastlines could fund: • 1,000 native seedlings and planting events to clean-up our waterways.

• Reusable gloves and sacks for 2,200 volunteers to clean-up beaches.

• 134 of Sustainable Coastlines’ proven educational presentations to schools and community groups.

Find out more at www.sustainablecoastlines.org and support the cause by PN shopping for the CITTA DESIGN beach towel collection at www.cittadesign.com F

HOMEWARES BY KAREN WALKER Soon it will be time for the beach - in fact it already is!

In preparation for summer days by the sea, sunning yourself by the pool - or paddling pool - Karen Walker in Ponsonby has a range of beach towels for any waterside outing.

The new Karen Walker homewares ranges are also available online and at the Newmarket store - keeping your home baking extra delicious and warm weather picnics extra stylish.

In the Garden, melamine dinner plate, $18; In the Garden, oven mitt, $20; Runaway Girl towel, navy $75 KAREN WALKER, 128A Ponsonby Road, T: 09 361 6723, www.karenwalker.com

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OUT + ABOUT

L to R: Poppy and mum Natalie; Gus as Spider and Alicia; Queenie and mum Cathy

L to R: one of the winners - Mabel; Rocky the overall winner; Cargo

photography: Clare Gemima

L to R: the crowd in Grey Lynn Park; Edi and Grey Lynn Home Pharmicist Elly; judgement time

L to R: Louis; Oliver; Poppy

FRENCH BULLDOG HALLOWEEN @ GREY LYNN PARK - SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER The local French bulldog group meet every week at Grey Lynn Park and every few months they organise a party. Last month 40 dogs and their owners met up for a themed Halloween event, sponsored by local businesses Animates and Amy’s Cake Kitchen. As Clare Gemima, our photographer, tells us, “There was a massive turn out. There must have been about 40 French bulldogs, along with a couple of non-Frenchies - we mustn’t discriminate.” There were five winners for the best dressed award. Rocky, Gus, Mercx, Mabel and Bam. F PN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

TURN YOUR HOUSE INTO A HOME WITH MAISON DE DÉCOR Maison De Décor in Ponsonby Road offers a new and innovative way to shop for your home decor and furnishing needs.

With products sourced from around the world, they carry an extensive range of beautiful furnishings and accessories. All are carefully selected to ensure the best quality with a range of prices and styles to suit.

Whether you’re shopping for a larger piece of furniture or looking for accessories that will turn your house into a home, their aim is to offer impeccable service, leaving you completely satisfied with your shopping experience. Maison De Décor work with some of New Zealand’s leading interior designers. If it is a particular piece of furniture you are after for a special project, you can benefit from their sourcing expertise, obtaining furnishings that provide unique styling for your client.

From a bespoke piece of furniture to a one-off vintage or retro piece that you won’t find anywhere else in New Zealand, they can work with you to provide a tailor-made

solution for all your interior design and commercial projects. Maison’s Wedding Registry service is designed to help plan for your big day and to save newly-weds from receiving unsuitable gifts. They’ll work with you to compile your wish list selecting from their exciting product range. Once your list is completed they contact your guests to inform them of your choices.

Gifts can be purchased in-store, online, by email or by phone and can be delivered gift wrapped to a location of your choosing (within central Auckland). As a special wedding gift to you, they’ll give you a gift card to the value of 10% of the total spent on your register. F PN To arrange a one-on-one consultation contact: MAISON DE DÉCOR, 100 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 361 1666, www.maisondedecor.co.nz

Maison De Décor Gloria Gao

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

ONE APP TO RULE YOUR HOME “While most know it as home automation, we like to think of what we do as integration,” says manager John Moher.

“Your entire home (security, lights, blinds, awnings, music and movies, energy efficiency) can be incorporated into an app on your smartphone, tablet, or iPad.” There is nothing that can’t be done. It all comes down to being completely reassured you are going to get a great system that is simple, easy to use, robust, and provides a reliable backbone for all the technology in your home or business.

“Once you realise you can combine all these functions,” John continues. “You appreciate the true potential; parents can know when the kids are back home safely; you can have the lights turn on at night if an alarm activates; or remotely manage energy use while away from home. People can come and say, “this is what I want to do” and we will have a solution for them; and we’ll suggest the things they haven’t even thought of! They know it will be easy, and we will have the answers.”

Sales consultant Brett Bentley says that after 25 years in the business, the company has developed a truly winning formula. “We’re simplifying people’s lives - but the thing with ‘simple’ is that it’s often the most complex thing to put together, and we do that well. We are problem solvers, and always follow best practice, we deliver on what we say - and we always follow through.”

Offering industry-leading, game-changing brands such as Control4, Focal and Devialet, as The Audio Consultant does, is not enough unless you have a service to back it up.

“It’s not just about getting the best,” says John. “It’s about making sure it’s installed correctly and that it works with everything. We can get all your devices and gadgets talking together. The equipment we use is the best quality, most cost effective, and is manufactured by an innovative company,” adds John, “and we wouldn’t be in partnership with them unless we were also considered to be among the best. We’re growing, and we

are passionate about our customers - we’ll be there for them years after their systems are installed, our relationships are long-term ones.”

The Audio Consultant also covers commercial jobs, and have kitted out numerous trendy bars, gyms, and corporate environments. “We offer great value, but if we think a system won’t work properly, we won’t cut corners just to get the job,” says John. “From every angle, we have our customers’ best interests at heart. Our difference from others is we aren’t going to sacrifice reliability and quality in any project; if it’s not up to scratch, the customer either won’t use it, or will just end up having to have it re-done.”

“If you think you have seen or heard it all before, think again, we truly are apart from the PN crowd, we’re passionate, we care, and we follow through.” F THE AUDIO CONSULTANT, 23 Williamson Avenue, T: 09 376 6176 www.theaudioconsultant.co.nz

photography: Martin Leach

L to R: Rosie Jakicevich, Wendy Nelson and Nick Von K; Ann-Louise and Graham Anderson, Penelope Campbell and Susan Pilgrim

L to R: Shelley King and Moi Moi (Moira) Fitzgerald; Jessie Kollen and Erin Santoro

UNION STORE OPENING, LOT 3, PONSONBY - FRIDAY 24 OCTOBER

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

AUCKLAND GEARS UP FOR BIKE THE BRIDGE There is just over a month to go before the start of the country’s second biggest cycling event and thousands of New Zealanders are gearing up for one of Auckland’s biggest sporting occasions, along with the organisers of this year’s MS Bike the Bridge.

This is no ordinary event: for starters it’s one of only three occasions (the ASB Auckland Marathon and IRONMAN 70.3 Auckland being the other two) that allows non-vehicular access across the iconic Auckland Harbour Bridge and requires over 100 buses to act as a buffer to protect the cyclists from oncoming traffic.

If that doesn’t stop observers in their tracks, just imagine the organisation behind getting those buses and their drivers in place before 4.30am on the morning of the event. The first driver has to be in place at 11.30pm the night before, resulting in five hours of pure logistical precision. photography: Scottie T Photography

“Many people have been interested and tried to promote a cycling event over the Harbour Bridge previously. After a number of knock backs, the catalyst for the green light was the charter of the new Auckland Super City and with it a desire to become a destination - the world’s most liveable city,” said Bike the Bridge organiser Callum McNair.

“Once interest was shown we looked at a number of options to deliver an event that ticked as many boxes as possible - from compliance issues, safety, enjoyment and delivering an experience. The result is Bike the Bridge.

“A significant challenge to overcome was the requirement to deliver a barrier system that could be stretched for 3.1km of motorway and bridge, that could be installed and dismantled quickly and that would be robust enough to provide protection for bikes against cars. After much thought, Ritchies Coachlines came to the party with a ‘wall’ of 100 buses parked nose to tail,” he explained.

Then there are the 300-plus volunteers marshaling cyclists of all ages over a total of 180km on five different courses, that not only include the iconic bridge, but also the Northern Busway, Constellation Drive, Albany Highway and North Harbour’s QBE Stadium.

This mammoth effort includes 14 community groups contributing over 1,500 volunteer hours managed by six event managers and overseen by a volunteer manager. “Along with the ASB Auckland Marathon, we offer a completely different approach to volunteering as the event makes a contribution to each community group of up to $4,000,” stated Volunteer Manager Murray Vaile.

“Not only is it a valuable way to generate funds for vital community projects, it’s also a great deal of fun. The volunteers respond really well to the cyclists, chivvying them along the course as well as keeping a close eye on their safety.

“The volunteer’s job is to specifically look after the welfare of the cyclists and in theory they have no responsibilities for looking after traffic. Of course, the reality is sometimes you have let the traffic know they don’t have right of way!” he admitted.

The event is in its third year, a first outing under the banner of the Telstraclear Challenge in 2011 and then subsequently as MS Bike the Bridge in 2013. The event has raised over $170,000 for multiple sclerosis to date.

MS Bike the Bridge takes place on Sunday 16 November, with courses of 105km, 50km and 20km all featuring the unique experience of riding over the Auckland Harbour Bridge and finishing at the QBE Stadium.

Primary and intermediate aged children can ride in the Travelwise Kids Challenge which includes distances of 1km, 2km and 6km, and toddlers can join in too on their own dedicated track inside the safe confines of the stadium oval. F PN Anyone can take part; to enter go to www.bikethebridge.co.nz

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Cyclists Cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge Buffered by a Wall of Richies’ Coaches

MERCY HOSPICE TREES OF REMEMBRANCE - CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS Mercy Hospice is looking for volunteers to assist with their annual ‘Trees of Remembrance.’

The trees are located at a number of shopping malls across Auckland from 8 - 24 December and offer the Auckland community a special opportunity to remember a loved one by writing a message on a bauble and hanging it on the Hospice Christmas tree.

Mercy Hospice provides a range of specialist community palliative care and services for people facing life-limiting illnesses within the Auckland community. All Hospice services are provided at no cost to patients and their families regardless of age, ethnicity, means or religion, all of which can only continue through the communities’ generous and continued support. If you can volunteer your time to look after these trees, please call Rebecca Williams on T: 09 376 7574 or rebecca.williams@mercyhospice.org.nz.

Mercy Hospice Christmas cakes - the perfect gift Christmas is the time of giving. A tradition with many families, a Mercy Hospice Christmas Cake will provide you with a gift that keeps on giving. Cakes also make the perfect personal corporate gift to show your appreciation to valued clients and loyal staff.

The New Zealand made, award-winning recipe using top quality local ingredients including Port soaked fruit, real butter and eggs, is just like your nanna used to make. Cakes are priced from $24 with proceeds from every sale to help Mercy Hospice continue to provide quality end of life care for patients and their families into the future. Visit the online shop at www.mercyhospice.org.nz, call T: 09 361 5966 or go to Mercy Hospice, 61 College Hill, Ponsonby to purchase your cake today. F PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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21 YEARS OF NZ DESIGN AT THE GARDEN PARTY When Anna Lim was lured back from India to start up a ceramics shop with her mother Pam, she had no idea what an institution she would be creating.

Initially set up as an outlet to make and sell Pam’s distinctive hand-painted plates, The Garden Party quickly blossomed. They began stocking an eclectic range of gifts made by local craftspeople as well as design products from all around New Zealand.

Now, two decades later, The Garden Party is still one of Ponsonby’s most loved gift stores, and Anna is still as passionate about her business - and New Zealand design - as she ever was.

“I’ve worked on Ponsonby Road for 21 years and I still love it. Ponsonby Road has soul,” says Anna. When the shop first opened it was one of just a smattering of businesses at that end of the strip. A family lived next door and the mother used to bring us her fresh baking because her sons wouldn’t eat it!”

Since then, the ceramics factory has moved to Waiheke as a separate entity, and the shop itself has been redeveloped and extended. Her discerning and loyal customers motivate Anna to keep seeking the unusual, the beautiful, the quirky and the hilarious, both from New Zealand and around the world. A champion of supporting local talent, 70 - 80 % of stock is made or designed here.

From copper clocks and bird feeders to Dreamboat books and New Zealand art, The Garden Party is a constantly changing showcase of the best gifts New Zealand has to PN offer - and the perfect one-stop-shop for the rapidly approaching Christmas! F THE GARDEN PARTY, 71 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 378 7799 www.thegardenparty.co.nz

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THE BOYS’ BOOK CLUB WHAT WE’RE READING These include books us blokes on the Ponsonby News team have recently enjoyed. We love reading in the bath or in bed. A real stress buster!

MARTIN LEACH

Hack Attack: The Inside Story of How the Truth Caught Up with Rupert Murdoch by Nick Davies (Random House) I worked at News International as a temp in the late 80s. It was a fiercely competitive environment in those days, a long time before mobile phones were popular.

At first, this seemed like a small story. The royal editor of the News of the World was caught listening to the voicemail messages of staff at Buckingham Palace. He and a private investigator were jailed, and the case was closed. But Nick Davies, special correspondent for The Guardian, knew that it didn’t add up. He began to investigate, and ended up exposing a world of crime and cover-up, of fear and favour - the long shadow of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire.

Hack Attack is the mesmerising story of how Davies and a small group of lawyers and politicians took on one of the most powerful men in the world - and beat him.

It exposes the inner workings of the ruthless machine that was the News of the World, and of the private investigators who hacked phones, listened to live calls, sent Trojan horse emails, bribed the police, and committed burglaries to dig up tabloid scoops.

Above all, it is a study of the private lives of the power elite. It paints an intimate portrait of the social network that gave Murdoch privileged access to government, and allowed him and his lieutenants to intimidate anyone who stood up to them.

Spanning the course of the investigation from Davies contact with his first source in early 2008 to the resolution of the criminal trial in June 2014, this is the definitive record of one of the major scandals of our time, written by the journalist who was there every step of the way.

JAY PLATT

Blood Will Out

By Walter Kirn (Corsair) In the summer of 1998, Walter Kirn, an aspiring novelist struggling with impending fatherhood and a dissolving marriage, sets out on a peculiar, fateful errand: to personally deliver a crippled hunting dog from his home in Montana to the New York apartment of one Clark Rockefeller, a secretive young banker and art collector who had adopted the dog over the Internet.

Thus begins a fifteen-year relationship that draws Kirn deep into the fun-house world of an outlandish, eccentric son of privilege who is ultimately unmasked as a brazen serial impostor, child kidnapper, and brutal murderer.

Kirn’s one-of-a-kind story of being duped by a real-life Mr Ripley takes us on a bizarre and haunting journey from the posh private clubrooms of Manhattan to the hard-boiled courtrooms and prisons of Los Angeles. As Kirn uncovers the truth about his friend, a psychopath masquerading as a gentleman, he also confronts hard truths about himself. Why, as a writer of fiction, was he susceptible to the deception of a sinister fantasist whose crimes, Kirn learns, were based on books and movies?

This investigation of the past climaxes in a tense jailhouse reunion with a man whom Kirn realises he barely knew - a predatory, sophisticated genius whose life, in some respects, parallels his own and who may have intended to take another victim during his years as a fugitive from justice: Kirn himself.

Combining confessional memoir and true crime reporting, Walter Kirn’s one of a kind tale of being duped by a real life Mr Ripley is a staggering achievement.

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VAST INTERIOR OPENS ITS DOORS IN AUCKLAND This month, the retail franchise Vast Interior, which specialises in imported, eco-friendly and quality hand-crafted furniture and homewares, opened a new store in Auckland’s Wairau Valley.

The eagerly awaited arrival carries a fantastic series of interesting and original pieces which range from solid hardwood dining tables to found original pieces and interesting, exotic homewares.

With over 30 retail stores across New Zealand and Australia, Vast Interior has long been renowned for their high quality timber ranges and culturally inspired designs.

“Vast Interior has had stores in New Zealand for seven years now and our Auckland customers are really excited to finally have access to our unique product range right on their doorstep,” says Auckland store owner Kate O’Leary.

INFLUX OF INTERNATIONAL ENQUIRY WITH BOTH WINTER AND THE ELECTION OUT OF THE WAY IT IS DIFFICULT TO PICK UP a paper, magazine or browse a news website without reading that the property market has taken off again in Auckland. At New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty they have certainly noticed the increase of enquiry from expats and international buyers looking to relocate to New Zealand as well as local Auckland residents searching for waterfront homes or those with water views.

“The international enquiry is coming from far and wide,” says New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty Sales Associate, Joe Telford. “I am currently working with clients out of Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States, and these buyers are seeking properties ranging from large family homes to luxury lock and leave apartments.”

There is a healthy appetite for luxury apartments around central Auckland. This was emphasised recently by Prime Minster John Key’s comments in the media about New Zealanders, looking to apartments as a means to enter the property ladder. As well as those looking to enter the property market there is also a strong market of empty nesters down-sizing from large family homes to more manageable properties.

“We have spent quite a bit of time sourcing interesting pieces from various parts of the world and the store is now stocked with a collection which has not been seen in Auckland before.”

“We are currently marketing two centrally located high end apartment developments,” says Joe. “One is in Parnell and the other in Newmarket, both of which are generously sized and highly specified. This is a trend we believe will continue with assistance from PN the direction of Auckland’s new Unitary Plan.” F

Always searching, each Vast Interior owner travels the world to source original, one-off pieces, ensuring every Vast store is different. “Our current collection captures a world of colour, heritage and quality craftsmanship and has been sourced primarily from India and Indonesia,” says Kate.

NEW ZEALAND SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY, 170A Jervois Road, T: 09 360 7775 M: 021 191 7769, joe.telford@sthebysrealty.com

Vast have always been committed to protecting the environment and their choice of timbers reflect this. Recycled timbers are used where possible and also sustainable PN plantation and salvaged timbers form the brand’s signature dining collections. F VAST INTERIOR AUCKLAND, Wairau Road, Glenfield, T: 09 444 8278 www.vastinterior.co.nz

ANY PAGE IN PONSONBY NEWS IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE SEEN Maree Wright from The Block and Vast Interior director Kate O’Leary

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REAL ESTATE UPDATE: KAREN SPIRES

Landmark villa a ‘diamond in the rough’ MILLION DOLLAR SALES PUSH UP AUCKLAND’S If the four walls of 29 Hepburn Street could talk, I guarantee they would have an incredible story to tell.

The 1880s Freemans Bay mansion is for sale for the first time in more than 70 years and presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for someone game enough to restore it. Originally built for Andrew Entrican, a former mayor of Auckland who served on the Auckland City Council for 32 years, the Queen Anne style manor sits atop a rare elevated section of 1246sqm with sweeping views of the city, marina and harbour.

While the décor and façade have grown tired with age, the bones of this special home are waiting to be returned to their former glory. There is something enchanting about 29 Hepburn Street. From the grand staircase and high ceilings, to the original timber floors and fireplaces, it is easy to imagine when this home was the pride of Freemans Bay. Since the 1940s the property has served as the United Maori Mission Girls Hostel ‘Te Kainga Aroha’. In addition to providing hostel accommodation to young Maori women attending local colleges, the mission has focused on helping them to achieve academically, lead a healthy lifestyle and ultimately find employment in the city.

Te Tumu Kainga, a registered not-for-profit community housing provider, has decided to sell the property following a review of its current asset portfolio and a re-focusing of its strategy. Given the need for significant refurbishment of the property, the trust has decided its money is better invested in other housing initiatives. The trust says it is implementing a new strategy focused on housing project partnerships that deliver “quality, sustainable, social and affordable housing for whanau across Aotearoa”.

There are very few grand villas remaining on such large sites and their ownership is tightly held. Under the Auckland Council Unitary Plan, special character features of 29 Hepburn Street must be retained. The old fashioned workmanship, including ornate wooden cornices, skirting and stairway balustrades, warrants preservation. The property is for sale by tender and interested parties have until 4pm on Monday 17 November to make an offer. (KAREN SPIRES) F PN Karen Spires is a Bayleys Real Estate ‘Top Achiever’ - placing her sales data among the top 5% of salespeople within the company.

AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE IN SEPTEMBER Signs that prices and sales activity in the Auckland residential housing market will lift post General Election are evident in September’s sales figures.

“September’s average house sales price at $738,876 is the highest on record,” said Peter Thompson, Managing Director, Barfoot & Thompson.

“It is $13,000 up on the previous highest average price established in March this year, and up 3.8% on the previous month’s average price. However, the sales data shows the high average price was the result of a relatively modest number of homes being sold, of which a high number sold for in excess of $1 million. Of the 959 homes sold, 164 or 17.1% were for in excess of $1 million.

“Properties in the higher price range are less affected by the uncertainties that exist during a run in to a General Election, and with such a high number of sales at the high end, the average price has lifted more than might be the case in a normal month’s trading.

“By contrast, September’s median price at $635,000, is up less than 1% on that for August, and is more in line with the median price over the past four months. Without doubt, the election’s influence can be seen in September’s sales numbers.

“However, what can also be seen in the month’s figures is that housing activity was starting to lift during September, and normal spring trading can be expected now the election is behind us.

“New listings, at 1314 for the month, were already starting to build and were up 16.4% on listings during August and only 5.9% down on July’s 1396 new listings. A factor which has the potential to put pressure on sales prices in the short-term is the low number of listings at month end. At 3075 listings, this is the lowest number this year and the lowest at the end of a September for more than a decade, and means that at the start of the month choice is extremely limited. It may take another month for the new listing pipeline to build. Sales of property for under $500,000 held up during September, accounting PN for 30.1% of all sales.” F

THE IVY HOUSE - INSPIRATION FOR YOUR HOME IT HAS BEEN AN EXCITING FIRST YEAR FOR THE IVY HOUSE, OPENING THEIR FIRST showroom in Herne Bay. Owner Annie Loveridge says, “It was a big step opening our own showroom but we have been joined by some amazing neighbours in the last year and the reception from visitors, both local and further afield, has been humbling. We feel very fortunate to be part of this lovely community.”

The Ivy House is proudly the New Zealand stockist of Armadillo&Co rugs. “We have a wide selection of standard size rugs, although the beauty of these hand woven items is that anything can be custom sized. All designs can be woven to hall runners, specified to fit your hallway perfectly. Our Armadillo&Co Designer Collection has 18 designs, 51 colours and can be woven to any size from 100% New Zealand wool.”

Every piece embraces Fair Trade practices, is crafted from sustainable natural fibres including New Zealand wool and hemp, and all purchases benefit local schools in the weavers’ villages.

“We are now carrying more standard size rugs than ever as we know that approaching Christmas our clients want their homes ready to entertain friends and family. We have rugs for under the dining table, the living room and our gorgeous new Junior Collection for kids’ rooms.

We wish all our lovely clients a very merry summer season. Eat and drink well. Have fun and relax. Be with good friends and family.” F PN THE IVY HOUSE, 238 Jervois Road, T: 09 360 8986, www.theivyhouse.co.nz

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NEW LEASE OF LIFE Fabric and interiors expert Rebecca Bowering shares her passion for design and textiles in a regular column.

Sometimes there are pieces of furniture that are simply fabulous. Perhaps they are covered in a moquette (type of woven pile fabric) or velvet and seem as though they’ve been around for all of your life. These gorgeous pieces are such a part of the family it would be sacrilege to discard them, ever.

So now might be the time to re-upholster them. Again, as with fabric design, reupholstering is an art. Ask around or work with your designer to use someone well trained and experienced. A bad upholstery job is something completely unpalatable for all. I assure you, your eye will always go straight to the crooked or unmatched seam and it will be impossible to see the original beauty of the piece.

When it comes to finding furniture to restore, I love to rummage around antique shops and browse on Trade Me. If you find something fabulous, buy it. But if you find something mediocre and think you can enhance it with new fabric, beware! Often these pieces should be avoided as by the time you pay for new springs, foam and other parts they become much more expensive than a new quality item.

Choosing fabric for the re-upholster is important as well. Obviously coordination with the decor is crucial, and you and your design consultant will have it well in hand. But it’s important to also consider the practicalities. No fabric is perfect; generally there is always a trade off. Solution dyed acrylics are fantastic for fade resistance and cleaning (they are essentially plastic), but don’t necessarily offer durability from abrasion or wear and tear. Trevira and other manmade fibres such as polyester usually give reasonable light fastness and durability and are easily cleaned, however they often feel quite artificial and can sometimes ‘sparkle’ in full light. Natural fibre blends including wool, cotton and linen look and feel wonderful, but will often fade and care needs to be taken when cleaning them.

There is a multitude of fabric types and it is important to know the advantages and disadvantages of all of them. Staff at Atelier Textiles can help you with this.

Fabrics from the 2014 Colefax and Fowler collection can be used to breathe new life into your pre-loved furniture

Upholstery is an art in itself. Choose quality craftsmen and textiles, including this from the 2014 Jane Churchill collection, and you won’t regret it

News that Aucklanders overtook Wellingtonians as the biggest train users is further evidence the government needs to start work on the Auckland City Rail Link now, the Green Party said last month.

Auckland Transport said that in the year to September, Aucklanders took 12 million train trips against the 11.9 million taken in Wellington. It said 5,000 more Aucklanders were taking the train daily per day than in March. When the Britomart Transport Centre opened in 2003, just 2.5 million trips were made on trains each year.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown is meeting Prime Minister John Key and said the key requirement for Auckland was to fix its transport and that meant investing in the infrastructure to allow more people to use trains.

“Auckland is now the train capital of New Zealand,” Green Party spokesperson Julie Anne Genter said.

“What they desperately need is the City Rail Link and other investment in rail to support this high use. Investment should be in rail, not motorways. The government’s own advice shows that vehicle use on roads has been in decline since 2006, while rail use is rising dramatically. Len Brown said he is confident there will be 15 million rail users in Auckland by the second half of next year. That means the network will be at capacity.

“It will take five years to build the City Rail Link and National has no plan to start until 2020 at the earliest” Julie Anne said.

“By dragging the chain on the City Rail Link, John Key is condemning Auckland commuters to more years of gridlock.

“John Key’s new government needs to get its head out from under the car bonnet and start directing transport spending to what people want and need. The budget needs to be redirected now,” Julie Anne said. F PN

Care, too, needs to be given to the seams. This is when discussing the final use of the item of furniture is vital. Seam slippage happens with some fabric types and is exasperated by certain furniture designs. Often the upholsterer will need to reinforce the seams in some manner. In Europe, it’s common to back the fabric because this will give increased strength and resilience. Consider the final detail, piping, top stitching, gimp or tape and the type of fill you like too.

Off you go, scour the garage, the old family home and antique shops, and add some true character to your home.

And just think, by re-upholstering your heritage piece you are supporting New Zealand’s upholsterers as well.

Atelier Textiles owner and managing director Rebecca Bowering explores the latest textile trends and new interior design PN ideas every month. For more information visit www.atelier.co.nz F

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AUCKLANDERS’ TRAIN USE SHOWS THEY NEED CITY RAIL LINK NOW

SABRE CUTLERY brings elegance with a twist to any table - old-fashioned cutlery shapes, created from frosted acrylic, in soft neutral tones.

Eminently practical (dishwasher safe), and playfully stylish - just in time for those summer soirees. F PN From $6.90 at CORSO DE’ FIORI, The foundation, 8 George Street, Newmarket T: 09 307 9166, www.corso.co.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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SUMMER 'IN THE PAPER ROOM' PONSONBY NEWS ASKED SARAH SHEILD, co-owner of one of our favourite local businesses, Paper Room, a store with all things wallpaper and wall covering on Jervois Road, to tell us what she is doing to prepare her home for summer.

"With me being someone who appreciates beautiful gardens, but not being a particularly good gardener, we've asked someone to come in and do a big clean up of our rather sad looking garden," says Sarah.

"I focus on the inside of our house, so the outside gets neglected. The Wet and Forget is also a must for the weeds that love to grow between our driveway cobbles.

Annabel Taylor and Sarah Sheild of Paper Room

"As we look forward to cooking and eating outdoors I've organised new Sunbrella canvas chair covers for our outside dining setting, this year we need a new barbecue too and outdoor heater," Sarah says. We have been in our new home for a year and shockingly I still have loads of white walls screaming for wallpaper! In preparation for summer I have just ordered Piet Boon Concrete wallpaper for two walls in our living space. One of our living room sofas has been much loved by our cat so I've selected to have it recovered in a grey felted wool fabric from James Dunlop, plus fresh cushions with colour and a new ottoman to use as a coffee table - I can't wait as it will make our very white and bright living space look completely different and reflect my personality and feel more PN like home." F

TRENZSEATER PRESENTS STYLE AND COMFORT The Mayfair Sideboard is a stunning new design from TRENZSEATER. This design is made in New Zealand from solid American oak and features a beautiful scalloped detail to the front of the doors and sits on a powder-coated steel base.

The Mayfair is available in various sizes and stain colours with custom sizes available on request as well.

PAPER ROOM, 21 Jervois Road, Ponsonby, T: 09 376 5675, www.paperroom.co.nz

The Balmoral Sofa is a classic rolled arm design by Halo Establised. It is a generous sized seat perfect for the gentlemen’s den. The Balmoral is also PN available as a 2 and 3 seater and in various different leather colours. F

Come into TRENZSEATER today at 80 Parnell Road, T: 09 303 4151, or go online to www.trenzseater.com

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SHINE A LIGHT ON GIVING THIS FESTIVE SEASON Ray White has partnered with Ronald McDonald House to deliver an inspiring Christmas campaign for New Zealand families who may need a little extra light in their festive season.

The Little Ray of Giving campaign will launch across New Zealand and Australia from 1 December with New Zealanders being asked to dig deep to put smiles on the faces of some special children in their community.

“Sometimes just a small gift can make the biggest difference to someone in need at Christmas. All you need to do is wrap up your present and drop it into one of our three offices where our giving trees are displayed at reception.

Tell the Ray White team if the gift is for a boy or girl (or mum or dad) and your gift will be delivered by the Ronald McDonald House team to a family who will appreciate the lift to their festive season,” Gower said.

Ray White has run A Little Ray of Giving across New Zealand and Australia since December 2012. Last year more than 3000 gifts were donated across 55 offices in New Zealand alone. Damerell Group clients and team members contributed just over 200 of those gifts.

Since 1991, Ronald McDonald House has been creating programmes that help New Zealand’s children lead happier, healthier lives. Families with a chronically ill child are often placed under immense emotional, physical and financial stress, especially at Christmas time. Ray White Damerell Group is pleased to help Ronald McDonald House relieve this burden for families right across New Zealand. F PN Contact: Gower Buchanan, Director, RAY WHITE DAMERELL GROUP, M: 0274 484 943

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MILLY NOLAN: DESIGNER GIFTS

Pleasing pastels Once upon a time, pastel colours were only reserved for nurseries. Lately, however, there has been a wonderful emergence of lavender, buttery yellow, soft pink, aqua and baby blue being used throughout the home in a stylish manner, which is neither feminine or childish.

Used in an understated way, pastel colours can be blended beautifully into any interior - even paired with bolder colours or more masculine decors. Here’s our pick of the most pleasing pastels around.

Normann Copnhagen Beater, $30 This fabulous beater not only looks good, it is a whisk that is sculptural, space-saving and functional all at the same time.

Leitmotiv Z Table Lamp, $75 Simple yet completely contemporary, this small metal frame Z table lamp will look sweet as pie next to a beautifully made bed.

Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer, $1049 A must-have for your kitchen bench, this Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer in a minty hue will never be worthy of collecting dust.

Hunting For George Lola Clock, $215 Designed and made in Melbourne, the Lola Clock boasts a bamboo base with a pastel purple colour blocking as well as white and fluoro yellow acrylic hands. Let Lola liven up your home.

Pony Rider Mr X Cushion, $115 This peachy pink and natural cotton coloured cushion will inject just the right amount of pastel hues to your living space.

General Eclectic Dip Candlestick Pair, $32 A simple way to add a hint of soft colour to your home, General Eclectic’s Dip wooden candlesticks come in soft pink or white.

General Eclectic Triangle Canister, $13 This colourful aqua ceramic canister is perfect for mixing and matching - the kitchen will never seem boring again.

Georgie Maylon Daisy Lace Print, $195 (MILLY NOLAN) F PN All products available from www.mildredandco.com

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BIRD OF THE MONTH

THE KAKA Kaka were once common throughout New Zealand, but are now limited almost exclusively to a few areas of forest in the central North and South Islands.

They are found on numerous offshore islands, like many species of native birds relying heavily on predator and pest control to survive. This once large range has been reduced by forest clearance and predation. Their numbers have increased in mainland sanctuaries like Zealandia in Wellington where pests are controlled.

They are found in a wide variety of forest types, although almost exclusively in or near long-standing forest areas. They are now a common sight in Wellington thanks to Zealandia, and are often seen around the Hauraki Gulf as they are on Little Barrier Island in abundance. They are mainly diurnal but they can be active at night when the weather is kind or at a full moon. In areas with large numbers, kaka often gather at dawn and dusk to socialise. They are loud and this has led to Maori declaring them to be chattering and gossiping.

They are an important part of the ecosystem in forests as a flower pollinator, although their diet consists of berries, seeds as well as nectar. They have a brush tongue specifically for nectar feeding, and they often use their bill as a third leg for climbing and reaching food. Equally, their strong legs come in handy in helping to break open tough cones for seeds - especially the kauri cone.

Often nesting in holes in trees, kaka chicks stand little chance when attacked by rats, stoats and possums. Also, young birds often leave the nest before they can fly, making them vulnerable to predators. They require large territories and so logging and forest clearance for agriculture has been devastating to populations. Competition for food from possums, deer and pigs has also been problematic.

Despite being better evolved to avoid mammalian predators than its fellow family member the kakapo, there are many characteristics that have made the kaka easy prey. They form part of the unusual family of parrots, with kea, that has retained many primitive features lost in other parrots, as they split genetically about 100 million years ago. We have some very old birds in New Zealand; next time you are harassed or investigated by a kaka, wherever you may be, appreciate that it is another bird we’ve nearly lost.

(FINN MCLENNAN- ELLIOTT) F PN

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COUNCIL PROJECTS FINALISTS IN BEST DESIGN AWARDS Two Auckland Council art projects have made it to the finals of this year’s Best Design Awards.

POP (pop.org.nz), a temporary public art project initiated by the Waitemata Local Board, is a finalist in the Small Brand Identity category, while the sculpture-driven identity for Studio One - Toi Tu (the refurbished iconic Artstation at 1 Ponsonby Road) is a finalist in the Small Brand Identity and Environmental Graphics categories. The two projects were developed in collaboration with the multi-award winning ALT Group.

Waitemata Local Board Chair Shale Chambers says the board was very aware of central Auckland’s changing demographics, both residential and business, and the need to provide places and spaces that were flexible and versatile.

“We pride ourselves on putting our communities at the heart of our decision-making. It’s an exciting, sometimes challenging way to work. Being nominated for these awards is great acknowledgement for everyone involved in the extensive review and consultation process last year to develop the new vision for 1 Ponsonby Road,” says Chambers.

“The precinct is now a stimulating collection of collaborative spaces for artists, creative businesses, individuals and community organisations to meet, make, learn, listen, practice and exhibit. The new name and identity was essential to signal the change and invite new people to explore and be part of the precinct and its spaces.

“New names can be risky. We wanted to respect the history of the land, the place and the people who have come before us. We wanted an open name and identity - one that signals we are a community precinct, a place for many purposes, many people and every possibility.

“It’s very exciting the high standards we strove for are being recognised in this way.

PN I wish all involved the very best of luck on the night.” F

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HEIDI PADAIN: ENTERTAINMENT IN YOUR GARDEN I’ve been listening to the sound of beating wings, and claws stamping down furiously on crisp foliage and twigs.

This is her second attempt, so I’m trying very hard not to look in her direction as she swoops past me with more material. The first nest was very close to a neighbour’s driveway, and well, not a good choice. I think she caught my disapproving look, as I thought to myself, “A cat will be up and down that tree so swiftly, what is she thinking?”

This young female blackbird has since moved to greater heights. The topmost part of the pohutukawa tree no less. This is the tui’s most favoured nesting spot. She’s bold I’ll give her that. I fear this will not end well.

Prized pohutukawa real estate holds no appeal for the song thrush, she has returned to reconstruct her previous nest in the fork of a nikau tree. The nest is a tightly woven bowl of grass, small twigs, lichen, wool, dead leaves and lightly lined with mud. In comparison, the tui nest is a rough bulky structure of twigs and sticks, lined with fine grasses.

Meanwhile, the more senior and wiser member of our blackbird family has found

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a little nook at the base of the pohutukawa tree, and there she sits proudly on her nest as a small white tui feather floats past her. The feather descends in slow motion like a discarded flag of surrender. The predicted battles above have begun.

The occasional brush of wings to the cheek followed by a fighter jet like whooshing sound, tells me that both the tuis and the wood pigeons are establishing regular flight paths, and nesting territories of course. So much energy goes into all that serenading, and nest building, so if you love spring as much as I, don’t forget to treat our feathered friends to some fruit. Let’s celebrate those new beginnings together.

(HEIDI PADAIN) F PN To see more of Heidi’s photographic work go to www.flickr.com and type Heidi Padain into the search box.

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DOUGLAS AND BEC - ‘BEDROOM’ DESIGNED BY BEC DOWIE AND MADE BY DOUGLAS SNELLING AND NEW ZEALAND artisans, Douglas and Bec’s new ‘Bedroom’ collection speaks of Dowie’s intentions as a designer to make pieces that are classic and last a lifetime. “I take leads from my previous generations and their ability to live simply and slowly, yet with style and a hint PN of luxury,” she says. F

HANDCRAFTED LIGHTING BY TIMOTHY OULTON Phylum, like all Timothy Oulton pieces, is made by hand using time-honoured methods and simple tools.

They insist on doing things in the most complex, labour intensive, tried and tested way, because it makes a difference. From raw beginnings, deliberate and beautifully handcrafted pieces are delivered, each with its own unique personality and soul.

Phylum emulates the idea of a water droplet suspended in ice or a tear drop falling, capturing a frozen moment in time. This distinctive form is achieved with traditional glass-blowing techniques using molten glass. Evoking whispers of the ocean, the colour finish is available in clear, blue or light chrome to reflect the colours of the sea and available in three different sizes. Phylum is just one of an extensive range of unique lighting available in the Timothy Oulton collection. F PN Available exclusively from the Timothy Oulton Gallery at: DAWSON’S FURNITURE, 1/1 Holder Place, Rosedale, North Shore, T: 09 476 1121 www.dawsonsfurniture.co.nz

Bed Head

DS Turned Lamp

Sideboard

Night Stand

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FRENCH COUNTRY COLLECTIONS CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN LIVING OPENS FLAGSHIP PONSONBY STORE Popular homewares brand French Country Collections is opening the doors of its first dedicated retail space this month.

Located in Jervois Road, un deux trois will host the best of French Country Collections’ popular range of furniture, lighting and home accessories, as well as a more contemporary and ever-evolving collection of unique homewares from around the world.

With national headquarters also in Ponsonby, French Country Collections is better known as a wholesaler and its elegant and enduring design has been delighting New Zealanders for more than 25 years.

Linen tassel tablecloths

Long-term Ponsonby resident and French Country founder Sonia Watts says the progression to a bricks and mortar offering is the next step in the brand’s evolution and an exciting one. “un deux trois is French Country’s sassy little sister,” says Sonia. “It’s just as worldly, as stylish and as elegant but with a youthful twist.

“The store will remain true to our core values of quality design and timeless style, but at the same time it will bring a more unique and urban expression of contemporary European living to the Ponsonby precinct.

“It also enables us to showcase our collection directly to consumers in one place and our dedicated buyers have gone to great lengths scouring the globe to ensure our customers like what they see,” she says. F PN Monday to Friday 10am - 5.30pm, Saturday 10am - 5pm and Sunday 10am - 4pm UN DEUX TROIS BY FRENCH COUNTRY COLLECTIONS, 6 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 7588 www.undeuxtrois.nz

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REPORT FROM THE CERSAIE TILE FAIR - BOLOGNA, ITALY Tiles are no longer confined to the square; technological innovations have sent tiles off in a new direction.

This year at the Cersaie Tile Fair we saw companies start to really play with shape, size and texture - here are just three of my favourites!

Large format tiles have become the industry standard; at Cersaie we saw tiles that were over three metres long! In a practical sense tiles like the Travertino Navona range and Statuario marble look from the Dreaming range are making their mark. Less grout lines create less visual tension, making for a more relaxing space and of course a large tile will always make the space look bigger.

Plank size is in and whether it’s wood look or stone look, such as the Stone Mix Stiato tile, plank size lengthens or widens a room. These tiles give an organic feel but with all the practicality and ease of tiles.

Innovative, colourful and playful geometric shapes are everywhere and not just confined to 2D - cube shapes, hexagons, triangle bevel and Bisazza’s latest Frozen Garden range all make for eye-catching feature walls and splash backs. (JOHN KAMINSKI) F PN HERITAGE TILES, 3/114 St Georges Bay Road, T: 09 270 8796, www.tiles.co.nz

Black frozen garden cerasaie; Stiato stone mix; Travertino Navona crema - large format rectangle tiled wet area

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ECLECTIC EMPORIUM OF BEAUTIFUL HOMEWARES AND ACCESSORIES Collect.Living is a concept store inspired by all things European.

In an unassuming warehouse hidden just off the motorway on Barry’s Point Road - on the North Shore, you will find a beautiful, vibrant space brimming with special pieces for you and your home, your bach or office.

At Collect.living they have their own collections of pure stonewashed European linen bedding, easy-care great for summer vintage Turkish and Moroccan rugs and Portuguese oven to table dinnerware with a beautiful organic style for entertaining. Marble and timber serving boards are this season’s must have. In addition you will find a fabulous collection of Turkish towels as well as a beautiful range of the ever popular beach roundies, of such quality they will see you through for more than one summer.

Collect.Living is the agent for the Dash&Albert outdoor rugs and they also offer fabulous outdoor cushions, stools and chairs perfect for entertaining... so step out and dress your outdoor living space ready for summer. And they haven’t forgotten about you. There is a selection of gorgeous cotton and silk resort-wear, summer sandals and the perfect summer canvas plimsolls to choose from. For those who simply can’t make it into this fabulous space crammed with all you will need for summer, there is plenty available online from their newly launched online store.

Everything is imported directly so this is style and value at its best. F PN COLLECT LIVING, 44 Barry’s Point Road, Takapuna, T: 09 489 4735 www.collectliving.com

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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL Kati Kasza - Evolu Skincare Kati Kasza is the founder and managing director of Evolu Skincare, a 17-year-old business.

Kati is still heavily involved with creating the products, she’s the person who can answer lots of questions about the running of the business, and she educates women on how to look after their skin using products made with pure plant extracts. Evolu is based in Williamson Avenue, Grey Lynn; “proud members of the Ponsonby community.”

Who is your partner?

My husband Paul Westlake works with me at Evolu - he's the brand manager.

Do you have any children?

Yes, we have one daughter, Mimi, who is 17. She in Year 12 at St Mary's College in Ponsonby.

Do you have any pets?

I'm a dog lover - we have Micky, a 3-year-old schnoodle.

How do you keep fit?

I walk Micky most days and do yoga.

Your best friend would say of you...

"Stop buying those dresses from Paris.”

Your mother would say of you...

"I’m proud of you.”

What are your virtues?

Eating fresh food - I love everything freshly picked whenever possible and try to eat bitter greens in at least one meal a day. I avoid sugar and I read ingredients lists on everything I buy. I love anything to do with wellness and balance. I do my best to be kind - it’s a value I believe in.

And your vices?

Coffee - try to have only the one in the morning, Champagne (any time of the day) and red wine - at dinner of course! Afternoon nanna naps.

Who's your ultimate rock icon?

Iggy Pop. Secret passion?

If it were a passion, it couldn’t be a secret!

What's your secret talent?

I can sew!

Where do you live?

I’ve lived in Grey Lynn for 24 years!

Where do you spend your holidays?

Anywhere - if it’s a holiday, I’m in heaven.

What's your perfect Sunday?

Sleeping in, reading, paddle boarding, gardening, cooking and eating. All with family and friends.

What were you going to be when you grew up?

A French teacher and a flight attendant. I did both!

How did you come to be the owner of Evolu?

It all started when I was a flight attendant. I was spending good money after bad on skincare products full of chemicals and consequently had problems with my skin. Having Hungarian immigrant parents, I'd been exposed to living holistically from an early age, so I started hunting out natural products. I was a member of the Auckland Herb Society and when I was at a meeting I was talking about my frustrations. It was suggested to me that I make my own products and I had one of those ‘lightbulb’ moments... the rest is history!

If you weren’t the owner of Evolu you’d be..?

I still absolutely love what I do, so that’s a hard one, but I could see me having something to do with yoga in a future life.

Favourite Ponsonby cafe?

Little Bird for herbal tea and lunch. Queenies for coffee.

Favourite Ponsonby restaurant?

Blue Breeze Inn and the Ponsonby Food Court.

Favourite Ponsonby store?

Mr Bigglesworthy - scandi/mid century furniture rings my bells.

Favourite Ponsonby fashion label?

Tatty's - amazing what you can find there.

Your best kept Ponsonby secret?

Morning walks with the dog at Western Park and my hairdresser, Shane Johns at SBF Hair Artists.

What's inspired you recently?

Stockholm - have just spent a week there. The city far exceeded my expectations - it's surrounded by beautiful islands, museums and galleries. I find overseas travel inspiring in itself - it puts things into perspective, plus it’s great to be outside of your everyday life from time to time.

Name your desert island distractions: Scandinavian crime stories and TV dramas. Couldn’t stop watching The Bridge.

The house is on fire and your family is safe - what do you save?

My mother taught me to always hang my clothes with the coat hangers all facing the same way, so that if the house caught fire, I could grab a big armful of clothes in one go!

“I'd be lost without my...”

Family.

One thing you have learned about life is..?

It all works out in the end.

EVOLU BOTANICAL SKINCARE NEW ZEALAND, www.evolu.com F PN

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THE HISTORICAL BOROUGH OF PONSONBY AND GREY LYNN: STREET NAMES

WARNOCK STREET Robert, James, William and Richard Warnock were born in Belfast and emigrated to Auckland on 21 October, 1862.

They must have regarded New Zealand as a land of opportunity because, in the same year they set up a soap and candle manufacturing business, first in Newton, before moving to Chapel Street, which was eventually re-named Federal Street. At the time there was only one other like manufacturer in Auckland, the Parnell Steam Soap and Candle Works, owned by a Mr Allender. Both enterprises were down to the vision of individuals who recognised the proverbial ‘gap in the market’.

Previously, every pound of soap for sale was imported from England or Melbourne.

The English product was expensive and the Melbourne ‘stuff’ had a disgusting smell.

Good soap was a luxury but thanks to these two manufacturers, soon every family had a plentiful supply of a very good product.

The Warnocks produced from 30 to 40 tons of soap a month and obtained the certificate of merit at the New Zealand Exhibition held in Dunedin in the 1870s even though the factory was operating in cramped conditions in a densely populated area. Despite this drawback, the trade carried out in the plant was the largest in the colony.

Success brings prosperity and the Warnocks moved their factory from the city to the banks of Cox’s Creek in Grey Lynn. They also purchased one acre, two roods and 35 perches from James Boylan for the princely sum of £150. The Crown grant for the land had been accorded to a Mr Christie in 1844 who sold it on within two years. Boylan bought it in 1864 but there seems to have been no development on the site prior to the Warnocks’ purchase in 1874.

Already many companies in the area round Cox’s Bay were slaughter houses, tanneries and tallow works. Fat from slaughtered animals was used to make the soap and candles.

Horse drawn wagons containing the tallow would pull up the Bullock Track on the way to the Warnocks’ factory, which had expanded rapidly to include 20 acres, a large tannery, oil works, wool-scouring, and manure production.

It employed more than 60 hands and sent produce around the colony as well as exporting to the South Pacific Islands. The two principal partners were Robert, who looked after the day to day running of the operation, and Richard who attended to the firm’s interests at offices in Durham Street. James and William were also involved.

A double-storey concrete single-bay villa at 350 Richmond Road was built for and lived in

by Richard Warnock and the almost identical house at 334 Richmond Road was occupied

by Robert Taylor Warnock. Richard married Mary Finlay in 1872 and birth records indicate they had at least six children between 1873 and 1890. Mary Warnock died in 1899 aged 48 and was survived by her husband Richard who died in 1924 at the age of 82. Robert eventually took office on the Newton Road Board, serving as chairman for 13 years.

When the borough’s name changed to Grey Lynn he was elected mayor. There were only 80 people living in the district when Robert entered public life and 27 years later when he was re-elected in 1901, the number had expanded to more than 4000.

0n 6 April, 1903 a gathering took place at his residence where councillors and officials of the borough assembled to make a presentation to Robert on his retirement from the mayoral chair. They had met to demonstrate their appreciation of the time and energy he had devoted to the welfare of the borough and presented him with ‘handsome silver tea and coffee service of five pieces, artistically chased, each having engraved on it the initials of the Mayor”.

Mr Warnock’s political record was unique in that he had been elected 26 times as member and chairman of the old Road Board, or councillor and mayor of the borough, and about four times as licensing commissioner and he was top of the poll on every occasion.

PN Robert Taylor Warnock died in 1934, aged 90 years. (DEIRDRE TOHILL) F

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A WOMAN’S WORK Celia Faris’ creative talents are split between work and home.

As a creative force for James Dunlop Textiles she enjoys her days working in the world of fabrics and wall coverings. In her own time, her well honed skills are put to work renovating property.

No stranger to hard work, Celia and her sister Greer Clayton caught the renovating bug early as there were school holiday jobs painting and decorating in the family business. All that early training has paid off, and both women enjoy lives full of art and design.

Celia’s home, purchased two years ago after a long hunt for just the right vibe eventually paid off. A stunning 1960s property was the result; it was ripe for development and still in its original state, offering great bones and many classic 1960s features.

After two years of exhausting and exciting work, the end result is a home as stylish and contemporary as it is cool and chic. Celia’s flair for just the right mix of mid century and modern makes this a home to die for. Every room has been stripped bare and re-thought. The modernist architecture offers two wings, one housing the bedrooms, bathroom and study while the other is used for the living, while taking in the city views.

Most of the furniture and accessories are custom designed by Celia and the hand PN stencilled walls and art are from her talented sister Greer. F For more information call Elaine Fergusson, T: 09 376 2186 M: 0275 345 024 elaine.fergusson@raywhite.com www.raywhite.co.nz

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PROPOSED AIR QUALITY BYLAW TACKLES POLLUTION Auckland Council’s Regulatory and Bylaws Committee adopted a draft Air Quality Bylaw last month to tackle Auckland’s air pollution.

The proposed bylaw has been recommended as a way of meeting national air quality standards, as required by the government.

In winter, 75% of Auckland’s air pollution is due to fine particulate emissions (PM10) from open fires and old, non-compliant wood burners. The inhalation of fine particles - which can lodge in the lungs - has raised the level of respiratory illness in the region, a surprise to many who thought vehicles or industrial pollution was to blame. The proposed Air Quality Bylaw will focus on the management of indoor fires to reduce the emissions of these fine particles into our air.

“It is hard to comprehend that the warmth emanating from that wood fire we enjoy on a cold winter night is the cause of serious health issues. By concentrating on the air pollution culprit in winter - indoor fires - we will not only achieve cleaner air, we will be well on our way to meeting national air quality standards,” says Calum Penrose, Chair, Regulatory and Bylaws Committee.

The committee held a robust discussion about the various implementation timings of the bylaw and Councillor Penrose was pleased with the resulting recommendation of prohibiting both open fires and older wood burners (pre-2005) by October 2018. This will allow homeowners and landlords time to consider alternative heating sources.

All regional councils are required to monitor air pollution levels to ensure particle concentrations are within National Environmental Standards for Air Quality requirements and that we identify any areas - airsheds - where air quality may exceed standards. The Ministry for the Environment now requires all councils to meet the AQNES standards with no more than one exceedance per year in a region by 2016.

The bylaw is expected to be tabled at Auckland Council’s governing body meeting later PN this month. Calls for public submissions will begin on 10 November. F

photography: Clare Gemima

L to R: Maggie Gresson, Erwin van Asbeck - Toi Ora Live Arts; Penny Hulse, Allyson Hamblett and Suzanne Vesty; Bruce Redpath

L to R: Ross Flood and Sarah Houbolt; Anna Rae, Shane Hartdegen, Thonia Brooks and Duane Jarrett; Thonia Brooks

DISABLED ARTISTS EXHIBIT AT STUDIO ONE The art exhibition at Studio One (Toi Tu) in Ponsonby arranged by the Spark Centre was a spectacular event that exposed a fantastic cause and raised awareness for those who were ill informed about artists from every and any background.

Artworks made from varying media were displayed beautifully, highlighting the unique and phenomenal skills of artists from the Spark Centre, Auckland and other places throughout New Zealand. Spark Centre is an artistic outlet for members of the community who have or identify with some form of disability. Whether it be physical or mental, the Spark Centre help drive artistic passion.

Ponsonby News’ photographer, Clare Gemima tells us, “One artist, Thonia Brooks, responded to her artwork passionately and beyond articulately, I had to define words as she went along because I'd never heard them before.

“There was an abundant amount of symbolism in her piece, predominantly to do with the idea of transformation; starting at one end and then ending at a new starting point.

Listening to her was inspiring and uplifting. She was lucky enough to have sold three works that night. The whole exhibition would not have taken place without the heroic effort of Allyson Hamblett, an extremely talented artist who has had work featured in multiple national papers to advertise the event. Allyson was in high spirits and had a favourite artwork of hers that depicted her as a young girl with her father,” Clare says.

“To see a range of diversity in the air was refreshing and much appreciated. Best of luck to all artists wanting to sell their work and thank you to Studio One (Toi Tu).” F PN www.sparkcentre.org.nz

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INTERNATIONAL WORKSPACE DESIGN Unison Workspaces director Jane Roulston travelled to Cologne, Germany late last month for the Orgatec International Trade Fair.

Orgatec exhibits the whole world of work, showcasing product innovations in furnishing, flooring, acoustics, lighting and media technology. More than 600 companies from 40 countries presented across an exhibition area of 105,000 m2.

Ponsonby News asked Jane to share her post-Orgatec impressions of what’s happening in workspace design internationally.

PONSONBY NEWS: What were the general workspace design trends you saw?

JANE ROULSTON: There was less focus than before on workstation systems, and a big shift in focus to ‘Sit to Stand’ - workstations at which you choose either to sit or stand.

There’s also a strong movement towards collaborative products, things like functional soft seating and collaborative bar height tables. The integration of technology into furniture was very important and a lot more natural materials, particularly wood, are being introduced, in keeping with the drive to create a residential feel within commercial spaces.

PN: Tell us about the best stands...

JR: The Walter Knoll stand was beautiful and elegant, with new modernist styled ranges.

The Vitra collection from Jean Prouve was amazing. Buzzispace was a fantastic showcase of collaborative products.

PN: What was your impression of Orgatec overall?

JR: I felt there were too many Chinese companies exhibiting cheap products. It’s a shame that big players like Herman Miller and Steelcase don’t exhibit any more.

PN: Tell us about your personal highlights.

JR: It was fantastic to see molo paper ottomans and lighting in numerous settings around the show - they’re an interesting young company that we are working with in New York.

I had dinner with Claudio Bellini from Walter Knoll. He designed the Gio chair we put into Harbourside - it was their biggest install globally so dinner was arranged for me, and we ate at a fantastic Italian place. Bellini was fascinating. It was great to be able to have an in depth conversation around how and why designers create a product - there’s so much more than is obvious behind what Bellini feels he needs to do to create something really good. F PN UNISON WORKSPACES, 165 The Strand, Parnell, T: 09 972 2493 www.unisonworkspaces.co.nz

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JAY PLATT: WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT...

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1. Jill Main aluminium cuffs $35 each @ The Garden Party www.thegardenparty.co.nz; 2. Secrid card secure wallets $135 each @ Askew www.askew.co.nz; 3. Toast living ‘Balance’ Salt & Pepper shakers $34.95 @ the Object Room www.theobjectroom.co.nz; 4. Colourful parrot cushion $79 @ Republic www.republichome.com; 5. Chilsner beer coolers $59 @ Askew www.askew.co.nz; 6. Vintage looking Tea Caddys $17.90 each @ Chambers www.chambersnz.co.nz; 7. Pink & Black Rhinos $99 each @ Republic www.rebublichome.com; 8. Palladium vase by Peter Collis Small $90, fat $240 and tall $240 @ Loft Design www.loftdesign.co.nz

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1. Heavyweight candle holders by Tom Dixon carved from solid Morwad Marble tall $180 & short $130 each @ Simon James Design www.store.simonjamesdesign. com; 2. Parrot Rolling Spider Drone (flies and rolls anywhere indoors and out and takes snapshots) $149 & Jumping Sumo parrot drone (jumps and rolls and streams video) $249 @ Askew www.askew.co.nz; 3. Hand made Christmas pixies by Alex O $34 each @ The Garden Party www.thegardenparty.co.nz; 4. Werkhaus Toilet roll holder $49.95 @ the Object Room www.theobjectroom.co.nz; 5. Vintage bazaar Lavender & White Tea, Belle collage lemon & Lime & Steam Punk raspberry & lime hand Soap $38.90 each @ Chambers www.chambersnz.co.nz; 6. Magnetic Auckland puzzle $20 @ The Garden Party www.thegardenparty.co.nz; 7. Gold and green frogs by Ottmar Horl $99 each @ Design 55 www.design55.co.nz; 8. Penguin Ceramic jar $180 Loft Design www.loftdesign.co.nz; 9. Pull along Caterpillar $59.90 @ Bebabo www.bebabo.co.nz F PN STYLING: Jay Platt PHOTOGRAPHY: Danilo Santana David, Fisher Santana.

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ARTS + CULTURE JV GALLERY PRESENTS LOST IN PARADISE 26 - 27 November, Preview: 26 November 5 - 7pm The exhibition Lost in Paradise features four New Zealand artists exploring the theme of ‘paradise in Aotearoa New Zealand.’ Each artist captures paradise through their own experience.

Freeman White, one of New Zealand’s top figurative painters and winner of the 2006 Adam Portrait awards. Celebrated as uniquely New Zealand in subject matter, his landscapes can be found hanging in collections as far reaching as Dubai and the United States. Ben Timmins, an award winning artist who paints with oils on wooden panels, harmonising subject matter with wood grain. Rakai Karaitiana, multi disciplined across a diverse range of media he explores the mediums of screen printing, surfboard craft, illustration and photography. Wellesley Binding, Exploring New Zealand as an invented European male paradise, binding invites us into a parallel world which he calls man island. A seven times Wallace Art Award finalist.

SHOWING AT THE NATHAN CLUB BRITOMART PRECINCT INAUGURAL OUTSIDER ART FAIR Opening: 21 November 6pm - 10pm 22 - 23 November from 10am - 5pm This is a unique opportunity to see a distinctive range of work by some of New Zealand's prominent Outsider Artists, sponsored by Auckland Council and Chartwell Trust.

Curated show by Stuart Shepherd will cover an exciting range of artist’s including Andrew Blythe, July Nagy, Susan Kahurangi King, Ray Ritchie, Reese Tong and there will be a special feature of works by Jim Dornan.

Jim died 20 years ago and the work being shown is his legacy. Dornan’s work was exhibited in New York, American Visionary Art Museum, and at Madmusee in Belgium.

JV Gallery is one of the first Auckland based art dealers to introduce pop up exhibitions in exclusive CBD locations. Joey Vaessen’s passion for New Zealand art began when working in his father’s gallery in Napier, it was here he met and became friends with many PN of the artists he represents today. F

A small selection of New Zealand folk artists from John Perry’s collection will also be on display. Most of the art will be for sale at various price points. The Britomart precinct will host a Pop Up Art series located at participating fashion and design stores.

JV GALLERY, Sapphire Room Ponsonby Central, Corner Richmond and Ponsonby Roads, M: 021 266 0017

To stimulate awareness and debate on Outsider Art in New Zealand and our cultural context, the Fair features two panel discussions on Saturday at noon hosted by Josie McNaught.

The panellist's will include Stuart Shepherd, Tim Walker, Richard Wolfe and Ole Maiava.

Their aim is to celebrate and make known this remarkable and largely unknown art genre to new audiences in Auckland. They welcome discussion, debate, collaboration and input on how the fair might develop and contribute. F PN For more information www.outsiderartfair.co.nz

info@outsiderartfair.co.nz

Freeman White, landscape

Wellesley Binding, Talk painting

Rakai Karaitiana

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ARTS + CULTURE MOMENTUM GALLERY PRESENTS THE WINEMAKER AND THE ARTIST - JANE CRISP Opening: 18 November Momentum is delighted to announce an upcoming print exhibition for their stunning new artist, Jane Crisp, to be held at Foxes Island in Ponsonby.

After a very successful sell out show of her original works in Dunedin and skyrocketing print sales, Momentum and Foxes Island are bringing Jane to Auckland!

There will be over a dozen new prints available to the public, all wonderfully framed and up for grabs - with the exhibition showing for three weeks.

It will be a joyous evening of some of New Zealand’s best art, wine and of course, good conversation.

Jane says, “Much of my work is intuitive. An imaginary stage is conceived, personifying a piece de resistance of nature, and with much patience, a little suffering, and a whole lot of joy a new painting is born. Transformation comes from a black moment and in that darkest moment we discover the light.”

PN Check the Momentum Facebook page for the invitation and RSVP details. F

FOXES ISLAND, 15c Williamson Avenue, www.facebook.com/momentumgallery www.janecrisp.co.nz www.foxes-island.co.nz

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ARTS + CULTURE SHOWING AT OREXART Until 25 November JOON-HEE PARK - ‘WELCOME TO MY WORLD’ Whimsical and wildly imaginative animals steal the show in paintings by Joon-Hee Park.

Inspired by her vivid and well-documented dream life, her animal companions fill the frame and take on surreal, life-size personalities, while chaperoning the artist through every scene.

“The act of painting is therapy for me... I paint what I want, what I need and who I want to be. I can do anything in my painting... I actually do feel like I am inside.”

Joon-Hee’s firm grip of landscape grounds each image with a tangible sense of place while many of the works explore scenes of night time and moonlight. Welcome to my World is her fifth solo show at Orex.

PETER JAMES SMITH ‘CARRIED’ In ‘Carried’, Peter James Smith brings to Auckland a continuation of a show that’s been a success in Melbourne and Hobart, using the notion of collaged trays to do the talking.

An installation of dozens of breakfast trays flows around the walls brandishing clipped phrases like poetry. In a cross-fertilisation of high and low art, book covers are disassembled, record sleeves reconstituted and blackboard paint abounds.

Rather than carrying food, the trays now carry collages of the cultural fabric in a show that brings new vigour to Smith’s well known classical painting practice of oil on linen.

Peter was born in 1954 in Northland and now lives in Melbourne. His work is extensively represented in private and public collections here and overseas. F PN

‘Octo Ride’ by Joon-Hee Park

OREXART, 15 Putiki Street, Arch Hill, T: 09 378 0588 E: rex@orexart.co.nz www.orexart.co.nz

‘Queen of the night’ by Joon-Hee Park

‘Round 3’ by Joon-Hee Park

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FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT

Vodafone NZ Music Awards finalists announced The Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards finalists were announced on 16 October at a star-studded event at the Pullman Auckland Hotel.

Hosted by Dai Henwood and Shannon Ryan on 20 November at Vector Arena, one of New Zealand’s biggest nights in music promises to be spectacular. Lorde, predictably, is leading the charge with five finalist spots. Although she is equaled by newcomer family opera trio Sol3 Mio, followed by Ladi6 and David Dallas.

It is an exciting time for New Zealand music, with international interest, acclaim and success coming the way of our artists and bands. The music awards will highlight the best of these now internationally recognised artists, as well as a stellar line-up of finalist performances on the night, there’s also a special tribute performance to Legacy Award recipient Supergroove. Each year the NZ Herald Legacy Award is given to a classic Kiwi artist who has helped to shape and create the music industry. Supergroove is Tui royalty, having won numerous awards in their heyday and are well deserving the award.

Interestingly I noticed in the announcement that the Tui for Best Folk Album 2014 had been announced at the Auckland Folk Festival in January, as it always is, and the winner was Tattletale Saints for their album ‘How Red is the Blood’. Among the finalists was

our very own Chris Priestley with his beautiful album Unsung Heroes. It’s good to see Ponsonby locals up among the nominations. Nathan Haines, who I had a conversation with earlier this year, won the Tui for Best Jazz Album 2014, with Vermillion Skies.

International bassoonist performs a new concerto with Auckland Chamber Orchestra.

Ben Hoadley will be performing the concerto written by Auckland composer Alex Taylor in the final concert for the ACO. The concert will include works by Shostakovich, Bartok and Holst. 5pm, Sunday 23 November at Raye Freedman Arts Centre.

Spark presents a new series of intimate gigs, workshops and sessions in their new project, Spark Lab. It is a launch pad for new things, a space dedicated to ideas.

November is their music month and includes an epic lineup of events with some of our biggest music stars, producers and experts in the industry. Entry is free to these sessions but they will fill up fast. (FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT) F PN www.seafarers.co.nz/spark-lab

LOCAL BAND RATSMAGIC'S LATEST SINGLE I sat down with Meghan and Kriston from local band Ratsmagic to discuss their latest single.

I first came across this band as they were about to win the Battle of Bands in 2012 and I have followed their progress over the last couple of years. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them play and numerous times, in various different settings and am never disappointed in their performances.

So far what's the most exciting thing you guys have done, or are about to do?

How did Ratsmagic start?

Meghan: Ratsmagic began in 2012. Kriston and I met in Wellington and moved up to Auckland to study at MAINZ. We wanted to start a band so put the word out that we were looking for a bassist and a drummer and that's how we met Michael and Olly. We all come from pretty different musical backgrounds but it's worked well for us as someone always has something different to add to the sound. Our sound is rock with a bit of funk and blues thrown in the mix.

Meghan: I think to date, winning funding from The Audience has been the most exciting thing for us. Releasing the song and video has been incredible and we are blown away with the support we have received. The most exciting thing though is knowing that people like our music and can relate to it and that's the main reason we do it.

I've always wondered, how do you choose who sings; with three really strong voices is there ever a bit of a squabble over that?

Kriston: Meghan and I tend to sing lead vocals in the songs we write and we all do backing vocals for each other. We do have three really strong voices in the band but it's actually been great to have that as it leaves us with more options when we write songs.

You won Battle of the Bands in 2012; did this prove to be the break you guys needed to start moving forward and making some momentum?

Winning Battle of the Bands was great for us. We won a day at York Street and recorded our EP with that time. Making the EP gave us something tangible to present to people.

The single: You Got Me So, how did you choose this song and how was it creating a video with the team?

Kriston: 'You Got Me So' was the single we entered into The Audience Wildcard competition so that was the one we chose to record with the funding we received. We recorded the song at Roundhead Studios. Making the music video was really fun. We worked with Flying Fish for it and they basically came up with the idea, did the casting and organised the crew. It was a really fun process to be involved with.

What are the plans for the future? Is there an album on the horizon?

Or another EP? Kriston: We would love to get another EP out soon. Our sound has developed since our last EP so it would be cool to document that. We have a lot of exciting stuff coming up in the near future including a tour over the summer at some great venues.

Also, any dates you guys are playing or confirmed over the next couple of months?

Poor Boy Radio Launch - Friday 7 November / Nectar Bar / $10 Summer tour dates are still being confirmed but we will have details of that on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ratsmagic I quite like this, so, describe Ratsmagic in three words.

Four odd fellows.

There you have it, check their Facebook page out for more details and to follow their progress. Their new video is up on YouTube.

(FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT) F PN

Finn McLennan-Elliott has a Bachelor of Science Honours degree specialising in human geography at Auckland University. In his spare time, Finn plays clarinet and guitar in an orchestra and a folk music group. He is hosting ‘Folk at the Old Folks’- on the first Sunday of every month at the Auckland Old Folks Association Hall, an intimate afternoon concert of folk music.

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ARTS + CULTURE Mary Cornish - Bayfield School’s music teacher Bayfield School has changed since I last visited. Primarily it is now a large building site.

I went in to discover how the music curriculum and department has evolved under the tutelage of Mary Cornish. She’s very excited about the place music has within Bayfield moving forward. She sees each class every week, and has a course catered to each year level that takes them step by step through the beginnings of music theory and practice.

I spoke with Paul Curtis from Ponsonby Intermediate earlier this year and he informed me of the Kodaly training that he had done, a technique for teaching music that comes from Eastern Europe and stresses the sequential learning of music through steps and a solid understanding of basics. This is done through allowing students to experience music aurally and orally. Mary completed her level one training in Kodaly with Paul Curtis and has since applied its methods across all year levels.

Mary is very excited about her new programme with a year one teacher. She is going in to their class three times a week for 20 minutes and after only a term the kids can read basic rhythms and sing simple tunes using three notes. They are now composing their own simple rhythms. These are five-year-olds and it is exciting to think where they will be in six years’ time when they finish school with Mary.

When they reach year four every student learns recorder which is the perfect instrument to introduce them to basic music theory, including reading treble clef, and it acts as a good starting point to carry on with other wind instruments. Once they hit year five Mary has begun introducing the ukulele programme as well as Marimba and other percussion. The ukulele is perfect for teaching students how to compose by learning simple chords and applying it to the singing that they have done throughout their school life. They are encouraged to write poems and stories and then sing them too: Bayfield has been very successful in songwriting competitions including reaching the top 10 for songs for NZ Music Month and the Song for the Olympics.

Anita Whosoever - Emerging

SHOWING AT TOI ORA LIVE ART ANITA WHOSOEVER - AWOKEN Until 22 November Anita Whosoever is a visionary artist. Her new works capture the artist’s passion.

Painting from the heart, she expresses her personal journey through difficult times to PN a life full of wonder. F TOI ORA LIVE ART, 6 Putiki Street, T: 09 360 4171, info@toiora.org.nz www.toiora.org.nz

Mary is busy outside of teaching as the Artistic Director of the New Zealand Ukulele Trust. She has been co-writing a Ukulele Handbook for Teachers with Maria Winder, which will be published in time for the New Zealand Ukulele Festival later this year and proceeds will go directly to the Trust. On top of this she is the Choral Director for the Auckland wide APRA music festival that the Bayfield Choir will be part of.

The other project she is involved in is a juggernaut of a music collective called Wonderfish.

They are a group of local musicians, friends and colleagues who get together and form a giant band for a couple of concerts every year. They were brought together by band leader Nick Edgar and his initial idea has continued to grow. They now feature accomplished musicians, both professional and semi-professional, as well as numerous people who’ve come back to music after many years of work and family proving to be too distracting. The collective performs unique treatments of songs with a revolving cast of instruments and musicians. They recently performed a concert of Bob Dylan songs. Wonderfish has become intergenerational with some of the musicians’ children now performing with them and it creates a fantastic mix of people from all walks of life. It would certainly be worth checking them out, as Mary said, it is a cheap and fun night out with a group of local musicians who are performing for the sheer joy of playing music.

PN (FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT) F

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ARTS + CULTURE SHOWING AT WHITESPACE Julie Ross; 18 November - 6 December Julie Ross’s classical training in both ballet and drawing and her powers of intense observation combined with her anarchic and charming sense of humour, make this series a masterful example of visual storytelling. Her figures are playful but they are smart.

They are unaffected, but layered. In that way they are like people - they are people - and they are Julie, her sister, her family and her experience.

Most importantly, the works tell the story of a whimsical childhood - a story drawn out by the hand of a talented artist. Essay excerpt by Amy Stewart.

Julie Ross graduated from Canterbury University in 2011 with a Masters in painting and in 2005 with a BFA Honors. This is her second exhibition at Whitespace and features ceramics, bronzes and drawings, on Nov 18 - Dec 6.

Kerry Ann Lee; until 15 November Kerry Ann Lee is a visual artist from Wellington, New Zealand. Her practice explores cultural intersections occurring in the space between private moments and public locations.

Lee’s art meditates on themes of home, dis/location and difference, playfully investigating issues of identity and hybrid cultural formations through a variety of media.

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY YOU CAN START CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES EARLY THIS YEAR AS THE AUCKLAND Philharmonia Orchestra ‘unwraps’ some favourite Christmas music.

Unwrap the Music concerts are perfect for orchestral first-timers, or for those who would like to know a little more about how the work was put together and the circumstances around its composition. Part concert, part interactive talk, Unwrap the Music takes your music appreciation to the next level - whether you are an orchestral newbie or a regular concert-goer. This year, presenter/conductor Graham Abbott and the APO explore one of Tchaikovsky’s most popular compositions, The Nutcracker Suite.

APO chief executive Barbara Glaser says the APO’s Unwrap the Music concerts are a great way to hear some favourite music and learn a bit more about them in an entertaining concert format. “We’ve been doing Unwrap concerts for four years now, and the feedback we’re getting is that people who come for the first time are delighted that we’re offering a concert format that’s fun but also gives them insights into favourite pieces of orchestral music. Our promotional tag line is ‘Listen, laugh, learn and enjoy’ and that’s really what people do at these concerts.”

The Nutcracker was first performed as a ballet almost 200 years ago as an adaptation from German author E T A Hoffman’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse-King. This work, either in ballet or orchestral form is now a staple Christmas favourite, as Tchaikovsky’s colourful music brings to life a wonderfully vivid story.

The 6.30pm start time makes for some perfect post-work entertainment with plenty of time for dinner and drinks afterwards and the tiny ticket prices (just $25 for an adult ticket) mean this performance won’t tug on the purse strings too hard in the run up to the holidays. For more information about the APO and their other concerts this year and PN next, head to apo.co.nz. F Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra presents - Unwrap Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite @ 6.30pm, Thursday 13 November @ Auckland Town Hall. Book at www.apo.co.nz or call T: 09 623 1052

Lee has worked and exhibited internationally. In 2009 Lee received a Fulbright New Zealand Award to attend the Summer Residency Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York and was the inaugural WARE (Wellington Asia Residency Exchange) artist-inresidence at island6 Art Centre, Shanghai. In 2012, Lee was selected as the Asia New Zealand Foundation artist-in-residence at Taipei Artist Village.

Her current work explores the notion of the ‘Memory Palace’. Lee’s dreamscapes collapse time, space and place and are drawn from both real life and imagined encounters. Found and constructed images and last century’s flotsam and jetsam are recast as dream souvenirs from un/familiar destinations - multi-memoried sites for escape, reinvention, desire and disaster. This is Kerry Ann Lee’s first exhibition at Whitespace. F PN WHITESPACE, 12 Crummer Road, T: 09 361 6331, www.whitespace.co.nz

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ARTS + CULTURE UPTOWN ART SCENE The 4th Art Week Auckland contained some delightfully low-key events in our neighbourhood.

We made sure to see and support three Toimarangi School of Maori Art graduates who had journeyed from Hastings to put on their show ‘From Toko to Tuhoe’ at Waikare on Q, a new exhibition space at 536 Queen Street (remember the old Khuja Lounge?). It takes a bit of courage to bring art from small-town New Zealand right into the centre of an Auckland bustling with Art Week, and Walter Dewes, Kezia Whakamoe, and Tamararo Tama Raihania did their Wananga proud. We were so impressed, we bought an artwork and judging from the red stickers, so were plenty of others!

Art Hall, paintings by Imogen Taylor and Evan Woodruffe

The group show ‘Black Riders’ opened the re-vamped 4 Cross Street Gallery, where eleven artists presented painting, video and zine work. We particularly liked some trashy glam cannibal paintings by the inimitable Fats White, and a mesmerising stop-frame animation from Kyle Sattler. This gallery is an exciting new space for the K Road area.

What do four artists produce when tempted by art materials all day, every day? Art Hall is a show staged once a year by the staff at Studio Art Supplies, all of whom have had separate exhibitions over the last few months. You can tell they hang around paint and other artists too long: there was every type of substrate used, from aluminium to cork, and Dean Tercel’s portrait of artist Billy Apple was rendered in Billy’s own Apple Green.

We don’t have to wait long for the next big art event in the neighbourhood: Art in the PN Dark occupies Western Park 13 - 16 November! F (WILL PAYNT, STUDIO ART SUPPLIES)

Kezia Whakamoe

SHOWING AT SMYTH GALLERIES DAVID BROMLEY 6 - 28 November After a six year gap since he last exhibited at Smyth Galleries, Australian award-winning artist, David Bromley has painted a brand new exhibition for Auckland.

David Bromley has forged a special reputation in the 16 countries he currently exhibits in.

Gallery owner, Kieran Smyth describes this exhibition as “the best collection of Bromley artworks I’ve laid eyes on. It’s a stunning array of Bromley’s women, childhoods, birds and butterflies.” F PN SMYTH GALLERIES, 41 Jervois Road, T: 09 360 6044, M: 021 598 009 info@smythgalleries.co.nz www.smythgalleries.co.nz

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ARTS + CULTURE ART IN THE DARK - YEAR 5!

ART IN THE DARK celebrates its fifth year in Ponsonby this month, returning to illuminate every nook and cranny of Ponsonby’s Western Park from 13 - 16 November.

This free event, which saw over 50,000 people attend in 2013, has become a platform for bright Kiwi minds to show off their talents, and a chance for the community to get involved in the art world from the comfort of their city’s own backyard. Ponsonby News spoke with environmental consultant and co-founder of the event, Adelle Rodda and 2014 contributor, multi-disciplined artist and designer Laura Cibilich as they prepared for the opening event.

ADELLE RODDA, CO-FOUNDER AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT What is your role at Art in the Dark?

My job is to try and make the Art in the Dark event as environmentally friendly as possible - from the resources and materials we use through to raising awareness of local issues.

You’ve been with Art in the Dark since its inception, five years ago - tell us, how did New Zealand’s premiere light festival come to be and how did you become involved?

Art in the Dark is the brainchild of Celia Harrison, it started off as her honours project for uni and it’s just grown from there. Celia and I have been pals for ages and we were both studying at AUT in 2010 (Celia was doing spatial design and I was studying applied science), Celia asked if I wanted to be involved and I though it was such a great idea I jumped at the chance. All of the organisers are friends and everyone that helps put the event on is awesome, so it makes working on Art in the Dark a really fun experience.

Each year you run an environment programme with local schools from around the city, what can you tell us about this year’s project?

The theme for this year’s programme is urban biodiversity and we are educating local secondary school students and Nga Rangatahi Toa youths about Auckland’s native flora and fauna and how we can help these species to flourish in urban areas. The students are also creating an artwork from seedpaper - crafted by local social enterprise Lovenotes - that will help to raise public awareness and after the event the artwork will actively contribute to urban biodiversity. The students will plant their seedpaper lanterns, which will grow into pollen-rich wildflowers providing food for insects and birds.

We also made a great short film with some local experts sharing their thoughts on protecting Auckland’s wildlife - you can check it out on our website: www.artinthedark.co.nz What is your most memorable Art in the Dark moment?

Too numerous to list. But watching people lose their inhibitions and scream their heads off at Screaming Rapture - an interactive installation that responded to sound - last year was pretty entertaining.

Sum up Art in the Dark in one sentence.

Art in the Dark transforms Western Park into an illuminated wonderland.

What are your top tips when exploring Western Park during Art in the Dark?

1. Sensible shoes! Heels and Western Park are not a good combination.

2. Download our free map app.

3. Check the performance schedule, the performance artworks are too good to miss.

LAURA CIBILICH, GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND VISUAL ARTIST You’ve been an artist and designer for over 10 years, what are some of your career highlights?

During 2012 I completed a personal project www.mydailydesign.com - where I designed the date in a different way every day of the year, which was quite a task! Last year I art directed a team for an Urbis Design Day, this year I was a finalist in the Fieldays No.8 Wire National Art Award, plus I run my own design and advertising agency (Designstein) with my husband.

How did you become involved in Art in the Dark? Is this your first year exhibiting?

Yes, this is my first year exhibiting. After going along each year and being inspired by all the other artists’ work I decided to put in a proposal this year and was accepted.

This year, the theme for Art in the Dark is Out of Nothing - tell us about your installation and the inspiration behind it.

Inspired by the theme (out of nothing) I wanted to create something essentially from nothing, or at least things that were being discarded and meant nothing to most people. I’ve been creating a lot of patterns in my work lately and have always loved kaleidoscopes and the way they work with light and objects to create patterns, so this is where the idea for my concept came from.

My piece is a giant, interactive kaleidoscope that uses recycled, found and broken materials to project changing patterns onto the wall of the old public toilet at the top of Western Park. Visitors will be able to turn the wheel and view the changing illuminating patterns it produces.

Of the other contributors exhibiting, what work are you most excited to see?

There are so many great concepts it’s hard to pick just one, but Biolumination by Rebecca Klee and Siousie Wiles looks interesting. I loved their squids last year, so am looking forward to what they’ve come up with this year, the combination of art and science really fascinates me.

What do you love most about Art in the Dark?

I love seeing people’s reactions to all the work, plus how the event is so unique and accessible.

If you had to explain Art in the Dark to someone who had never been before, how would you describe it?

A spectacular show of lights and creativity.

Lantern making with Adelle Rodda

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ARTS + CULTURE

PLAYING AT THE WHITE HOUSE FAMOUS FLORA 13 - 29 November at 6.30pm nightly (no shows on Sundays).

Sex sells and Flora Mackenzie sold sex. As part of her war efforts during the Second World War, Flora Mackenzie, daughter of an eminent Auckland family, went from being the proprietor of a frock shop to madam of a knock shop, and her boldness scandalised the conservative city. This month, Flora’s story will grace the stage of an unusual but highly appropriate venue, The White House, one of Auckland’s best known adult entertainment venues, with pole dancers giving way to actors for a spell.

Written by Elisabeth Easther, the winner of the 2014 Adam New Zealand Play Award for her play Seed, and directed by Ben Crowder, well known for his energetic and robust productions such as 360, Famous Flora portrays the life of one of the boldest identities in Auckland’s history, that of madam supreme, Flora Mackenzie, who ruled the city’s underworld sex scene for 30 years. Flora Mackenzie was one of New Zealand's most colourful Madams, who used to be quite the personality on Ring Terrace, St Marys Bay, as well as a notable fashion designer, before she became a madam that is.

The production contrasts two vivid periods in Auckland’s history: the glamorous and stylish 1940s, when women wore silk stockings (if they were lucky), World War II raged and the Americans invaded our shores. This was the period in which Flora flourished; the party never stopped and Flora was the ultimate hostess. But by the 1970s, the flavour had taken a sour turn, no longer gay and jolly, Flora’s life was more like a tawdry cabaret, with police busts, newspaper stings and incarceration thrown in to further demoralise her.

With a cast that includes Kate Elliott, Yvette Parsons, Kip Chapman and Fraser Brown, and a creative team made up of some of the city’s most experienced theatre practitioners, including Elizabeth Whiting (costume) and John Gibson (musical director) this production can also boast that it takes place at the most intriguing venue of any show staged this year. Famous Flora is not only going to be a wild ride of an adventure, it’ll also provide an insight into a colourful slice of Auckland's history.

THE WHITE HOUSE, 371 Queen Street. Tickets are available from iticket.co.nz (0508 iticket) and all Famous Flora audience members will be given free admission to the White House’s regular show that begins as Famous Flora finishes. F PN

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OUT + ABOUT

L to R: Bec Dowie and Douglas Snelling; Melissa and Dean Gardi

L to R: Anya Brighouse and Michelle Weir; Jason Wilkinson and Anna Weir

L to R: Rob Trathen, Yolunda Hickman and Bec Dowie; Malcolm Rands, Morven Macaulay and Michelle Rands

L to R: Ben Snelling and Murray Crane; Megan Dunbar and Nicole Beaver

DOUGLAS + BEC ‘BEDROOM’ LAUNCH PONSONBY - THURSDAY 9 OCTOBER Design Studio Douglas + Bec launched a series of clean, modern bedroom furniture informed by traditional pieces.

The collection includes a dressing table, night stand, low boy and a bed head, as well as a complementary side board and a hand turned lamp.

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OUT + ABOUT

L to R: Stephen Fernandez and Josie Steenhart; Sarah Lynch and Shona Wilson; Helene Ravlich and Deborah Caldwell

L to R: Katie Scott, Boh Runga and Toyah Attwell; Louise Hilsz and Trudi Brewer

STORM CONCEPT STORE OPENING, PONSONBY - THURSDAY 16 OCTOBER

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OUT + ABOUT

L to R: Ange Tinker and Chris Hales; Harry Howe, Helene Ravelich and Ashley Fogel

L to R: Kate Saunders and Liz Ross; Martin Leach and Chris Hales

photography: Max Lemeshenko

L to R: Louise Henderson and Deborah Caldwell; Tony Milich and Anah Jordan; Nicky Clarke and Michael Hutchings

L to R: Ashley Fogel and Carolyn Enting; Stu Williamson

GOODNESS FASHION LAUNCH @ 158 JERVOIS ROAD - WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

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OUT + ABOUT

photography: Clare Gemima

L to R: Karen Tanner, Karen Spires and Elaine Bell; Bernadette Morrison and Trisha Vincent; Peter and Karen Tanner

L to R: Janet Harris and Gina Gallagher; Jacqui Dellar, Victoria Williams, Stephanie Goddard and Paula Turcich; Peter Townsend, Erin and John Parker

BAYLEYS PONSONBY CLIENT EVENING FOR THE BLOCK - WEDNESDAY 15 OCTOBER

photography: Clare Gemima

L to R: Tim Welch and Stephanie Turner; John Belsham and Kelly Brown; Jillian Bashford-Evers and Jacqueline O’Rourke

L to R: Brett Bentley, John Moher and Graham McInnes; The Audio Consultant’s showroom

AUDIO CONSULTANT’S EVENING FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, GREY LYNN - WEDNESDAY 15 OCTOBER The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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OUT + ABOUT

Above L to R: Carl Waalkens, George Hellaby, Armin Svoboda, and Troy Putty; Nikau Point - The Wine Portfolio Sponsors; Jay Reeve, Ashleigh McEnaney, and Robert Dunne

Above L to R: Jo Holley - MoSista Ambassador, Tommo - MoMentor, Fiona McLeod of Flaunt PR, and Josh Kronfeld; Michelle Reid and Mark Beatson of The Wine Portfolio Movember sponsor; Nigel McConnachie and Matthew Lovemore of NZ Dads

Above L to R: Rex Ewen, Louis Ewen, and Daniel O’Brien; Robert Dunne - Movember New Zealand Country Manager; Sandy McNeur and Niki Bezzant

photography: Michael McClintock

Above L to R: Sue Maloney of Maloney’s Barber Shop, claiming a beard; Made in Movember launch; Tommo - MoMentor, Jo Holley - MoSista Ambassador, Fiona McLeod of Flaunt PR, and Carl Ewen ‘Auckland Man’ Movember 2012 & 2013

Above L to R: Ygnacio Cervio and Valeria Astudillo; George Junior and Anthony Niterl of Short and Wide Productions; goodie bags

MADE IN MOVEMBER AUCKLAND LAUNCH @ THE SAPPHIRE ROOM, PONSONBY - WEDNESDAY 15 OCTOBER

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FIREFIGHTER OF THE MONTH PONSONBY FIRE STATION ADOPTS A NEIGHBOURLY APPROACH Thanks to the firefighters at Ponsonby Fire Station, the New Zealand Fire Service has just announced a partnership with the very popular community website, Neighbourly.

Local Senior Firefighter Dave Smith first discovered the Neighbourly website on a pamphlet and immediately recognised the great potential in using the site to promote fire safety messages to the Ponsonby community. Neighbourly, a site that fosters connection between neighbours through free and private websites for their suburbs also creates an easy way for organisations to reach local residents. Since launching in June, the platform has built a network of over 65,000 neighbours using the site to find lost pets, sell and give away unwanted items, promote local events, make or ask for recommendations for great local businesses and to discuss local crime concerns.

After meeting with the Neighbourly team, the Ponsonby Fire Station created its own Neighbourly profile and started posting messages to the neighbours and community around them. The reaction to the station site was immediate and Dave was inundated with messages thanking him for the postings and requesting more information about the Fire Service resources/services.

Dave presented the concept and results to the Assistant Area Manager Mike Shaw of the Auckland City Fire Area who immediately signed up the other 10 stations in the Auckland City Fire Area. The Fire Service has been using Neighbourly to promote important fire safety messages alongside information on recruiting, local events, product recalls and other local news.

The results have been outstanding - so much so that the Fire Service is now exploring how the site can be implemented nationwide across all of its fire stations and used strategically on a national level.

Mike Shaw, says Neighbourly has enabled each station to directly connect effectively with their local communities.

“Our stations are part of their neighbourhoods, and using Neighbourly allows us to interact and communicate directly with them on a daily basis,” says Shaw. “It's a brilliant concept. The number of requests for smoke alarm installations and opportunities to provide specific fire safety advice has increased markedly.

“Having seen what we’re able to achieve after such a short time here in Auckland, we recognise the huge potential in Neighbourly and consequently we are looking at implementing it into our fire stations across the country as part of a national partnership.”

Thomas (Tom) Grigg is fresh off the latest recruits’ course, with a total of three weeks service as an operational firefighter.

How do you keep fit?

I make use of our station gym, focusing on circuit training.

Best part of the job?

The variety of the work and anticipation of what the next turn out is going to be.

Most unusual call out?

Early days, nothing odd so far.

Favourite local cafe?

Ripe Delicatessen.

Best Ponsonby secret?

Probably not a secret... Ponsonby Food Court Favourite super hero?

The Hulk. F PN

CHECK OUT KIWI FIREFIGHTERS; SUPPORT CHILD CANCER FOUNDATION 2015 has never looked so hot!

Orders are now being taken for the 2015 New Zealand Firefighters Calendar.

It's only $10 with a donation of $1 from every purchase going straight to the Child Cancer Foundation.

With both male and female calendars available, next year's calendar is also a collector's edition - the 25th to be published. Plus it makes a great stocking stuffer!

Buy yours here: www.firemanscalendar.org.nz

Dave Smith and the rest of the firefighters at Ponsonby Station would like to encourage the Ponsonby community to join them on Neighbourly by heading to: PN www.neighbourly.co.nz F

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

161

HOROSCOPES: MISS PEARL NECLIS

What your stars hold this month ♏

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

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

♊

Scorpio (the Scorpion): 24 October - 22 November There’s a break in the clouds as your work load noticeably lightens as the year nears to an end. What you need to remember is that when you have leisure time it doesn’t have to become filled with other commitments.

You’re always trying to balance what you feel is right and wrong, and you’re feeling the pressure mount as you are always trying to make the right decision. You should show that you’re able to be flexible and you might get more support.

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

You could take it easy a little and have a laugh this month as you have learned how to relax your attitude. You still have to let go of some of the control you seem to be keen to keep hold of however.

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

You could find yourself with an unexpected surprise this month that could change your future, don’t resist, just try not to baulk if there are a few changes.

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

Your persistence will keep you in good stead this month as you have it in abundance.

What you should try and do is share your secret and teach others to unlock possibilities within themselves.

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

If you feel like you’re running so fast that others are having trouble catching up, why don’t you take the time now to evaluate what’s motivating you? Even though you might not like what you find, it’s best to know now before you fall over.

You may begin to slow down a bit as the last few months take their toll and you are able to reflect on what you have accomplished over the last year. You need to pat yourself on the back and enjoy any compliments that come your way, don’t think about it, just accept them.

Gemini (the Twins): 22 May - 21 June Your concern over something or someone is making you lose your way, if you’re not focused on what you’re doing then you will make mistakes. If that happens then you will become the object of concern.

♋

Cancer (the Crab): 22 June - 22 July You may be torn between work and home this month as you’re juggling your personal and professional responsibilities. As usual you’re just getting on with it, but be aware that your plate is at tipping point and who knows what may come crashing down.

♌

Leo (the Lion): 23 July - 21 August You should not be in a rush to complete things early as you should know by now that cutting corners can lead to problems later on, deal with issues you have that are concerning you now and keep them in the open.

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

You have heard that other people think you should be doing more for your family, especially as you’re by yourself, but you don’t have to take any notice at all. You know what to do and your good intentions matter only to those who are important.

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

You are always a positive and empowering person, but lately you have been having problems meeting your obligations. This might be because you have taken on too much and are unable to cope without realising it. Take time for you, and sort out your life first.

PONSONBY NEWS OUTLETS FREEMANS BAY

NEWMARKET

Ecostore, 1 Scotland Street Glengarry, Corner Sale and Wellesley Streets Kellands Real Estate, 4 Drake Street New World, Victoria Park Sale St, 7 Sale Street

Planet Ayurveda, 41 Gillies Avenue Studio Italia, 96 Carlton Gore Road Taylor Boutique, 1 Teed Street

GREY LYNN Barfoot & Thompson, 533 Great North Road Barkley Manor, 400 - 402 Great North Road Grey Lynn Community Centre, 520 Richmond Road Grey Lynn Community Library, 474 Great North Road Raw Essentials, 401B Richmond Road Ripe, 172 Richmond Road Tapac, 100 Motions Road Vetcare, 408 Great North Road

HERNE BAY Herne Bay Post & Stationers, 240 Jervois Road Five Loaves & 2 Fish, 206 Jervois Road Icing on the Cake, 188 Jervois Road Momentum, 182 Jervois Road

KINGSLAND Atomic, 420c New North Road

MT EDEN Citta Outlet Store, Corner Enfield & Normanby Road Sabato, 57 Normanby Road

162 PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

NORTH SHORE Rug Direct, Wairau Park Dawson’s Furniture, Mairangi Bay Nose To Tail Dog Wash, Albany

Ponsonby News is published on the first Friday of each month excluding January.

Copies go quickly so be quick to collect yours from any of the following outlets.

The issue is also published on our website www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

PARNELL Jane Daniels, 2 Birdwood Crescent Parnell Community Centre, 545 Parnell Road

PONSONBY Barfoot & Thompson, 184 Ponsonby Road Fitness Trainer, 36 Jervois Road Harcourts, 89 Ponsonby Road Leys Institute, 20 St Mary’s Road The Longroom, 114 Ponsonby Road Mag Nation, 123 Ponsonby Road Ponsonby Community Centre, 20 Ponsonby Terrace Spa Ayurda, 213 Ponsonby Road Studio One, 1 Ponsonby Road Whitespace, 12 Crummer Road

WESTMERE Glengarry, 164 Garnet Road

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

THE PONSONBY PINK PAGES

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH

PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

163

164 PONSONBY NEWS+ November 2014

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)