IKATS AND INSPIRATION FROM INDONESIAN ISLES
We hear from Jean Carbon about her inspirational trip to Indonesia
MARKET GARDEN TRANSFORMS
Support
Aroha Sushi Raglan
MANAGING EDITOR
Jacqui Kay-Smith
EDITORIAL /
Maki Nishiyama ON THE COVER: Jean Carbon Image | Geraldine Burns ig: @g.design_photo
PHOTOGRAPHY /
Geraldine Burns
Ruby Gibbs | Janine Jackson | Shannon Darbyshire | Edith Symes
248
Raglan Ink Ltd home of the Raglan Chronicle & LOCAL RAG.
Office Open by appointment 15 Wainui Rd, Raglan
Post: P.O. Box 234, Raglan
Email: info@raglanchronicle.co.nz
Advertising
DISCLAIMER
Opinions and
libelous or defamatory. The Editors/Publishers reserve the right to abridge, alter or decline any material submitted to the Raglan Chronicle to meet the constraints of space and/or maintain a reasonable standard of language and decorum.
Whaingaroa has risen to the challenge again and delivered the next wave of emerging art talent, a group of 14 new artists to celebrate the fourteenth Raglan Arts Weekend.
The new creatives have been selected to take part in ‘The Hatch’, Raglan Arts Weekend’s emerging artist incubator, set up to nurture and encourage new talent. They will receive guidance and mentorship in the next three months as they work towards their first group exhibition, opening Friday 25th October 2024.
“There are many potential barriers to entry for new artists, from exhibition venues to gallery commission costs as well as support networks to guide artists through,” says Caleb Osborne, who is leading The Hatch for the second year now. “We’re hoping to help artists navigate this through providing a platform, exhibiting materials and guidance around the promotion and exhibiting process.”
This year’s group includes clay work – both functional and sculpture, acrylic and oil painting, Kākahu weaving, as well as a great representation of both digital and analogue photography. Two of 2023’s ‘Hatchlings’ have flown the nest and are in the RAW main event this year (Liza Adams and Zasha Skye), underscoring the successful model being used. Four 2024 Hatchlings are bringing their 2023 experience again to the show, and 10 are completely new.
The Hatch has been made possible by funding from the Waikato District Creative Communities Fund as well as from a long-term partnership with Rangitahi Peninsula. “It’s been great to see these organisations back such an important step in the growth of RAW,” says Nicky Brzeska, RAW CoOrdinator since 2019. “With their funding, we’re really able to help set up this supportive environment that places importance on collaboration,
connection and up-skilling of this new wave of creatives.”
“For a sustainable arts community, we believe that platforms such as these are key to unearthing potential talent,” says Sam Laity, general manager at Rangitahi. “‘The Hatch’ really feels like a groundswell incubator, and we hope it will not only support the next gen of artists but will help Raglan locals and visitors discover new styles and creators.”
Last year’s opening night drew approximately 300 people out to see what was on show. The team would love to have that energy again, so block the date in your calendar to be a part of the action. The event is free and un-ticketed.
The Hatch emerging artists for this year are: Lucy Aitken Read, Honey Armstrong, Kayla Bacon, Lynn Beadle, Ailene Cuthbertson, Emma Galloway, Eleanor Gee, David Grace, Cassey Locke, David Loughlin, Rosa Mackesy , Esther Miro Bryant-Lindsay, Paula Moy, Bridget Tasker.
The Hatch opening night is on Friday 25th October 2024 at 6.30pm in the Town Hall.
The Hatch Group Exhibition is open over RAW from Saturday 26th October to Monday 28th October, 10am to 5pm.
Visit www.raglanartsweekend.nz for more information.
Raglan textile artist Jean Carbon returned recently from Indonesia feeling freshly inspired – accompanied by “treasures” from the remote islands of Sumba and Flores, and with dyes still on her fingernails from a fiveday workshop in Ubud.
The reinvigorating two-and-a-half week textile tour has her now “thinking of the Raglan art trail and an exhibition later in the year,” she told the Local Rag from her barn-style home overlooking Ngarunui Beach, her ikats draped artfully over a sofa as she explained how painstakingly these traditional Indonesian fabrics are woven and tie-dyed in the villages she visited.
“They’re very treasured,” she added, pointing out the decorative technique adorning a large piece of black cloth which could feasibly be made into a fashion garment with the addition of a black bodice.
Jean’s passion is fabric, its history and origins, and the many ways it can be patterned, coloured and decorated to create garments or works of art. She’s also been the face behind Raglan’s biennial Art to Wear event for the past 20 years or so.
No surprise then that while she was leaning earlier this year towards a trip to Japan – to glean more about the ancient resist dyeing techniques of Shibori she practises on silk fabrics – Jean did an about-turn and came up with Indonesia on her google search of textile tours.
“It was meant to be,” she says adamantly. “And I’d get to see ikats.”
Jean strokes another of the richly patterned ikats she’s brought home. “This one took a year to make,” she explains of the handwoven treasure made by just one woman. Whether singly or in groups of (mostly) women, the ancient artform – dating back to the Bronze Age – has been passed down through the generations.
The different patterns have symbolic meaning, Jean adds. For example, the prawn symbolises new life and floral motifs symbolise social life.
Ikat threads are spun by hand from local cotton then drenched in vibrant, natural dyes – red from the bark of trees and shrubs, richer red from madder roots and blues from the leaves of indigo plants.
Jean’s tour group did lots of sampling with all the different colours, which is why “ the dyes are still on my nails”.
Though she’s been working in recent times mostly with synthetic dyes – brought in from France – on her trademark silk scarves and wraps, Jean was so taken with the Indonesian artform she has returned from the
BY EDITH SYMES
tour with Indigo powder to create a Indigo vat and is planning to experiment with New Zealand natural dyes as well.
Jean was away a month all up and on her textile tour throughout the villages of Sumba and Flores half that time, immersed in a “very different” culture. She describes the people as beautiful and loved experiencing daily life with the villagers at grassroots level.
By contrast she was less than enamoured with her three-night stay in Seminyak, on Bali. “It was all about the tourists …cars clogging up narrow roads … scooters and motorbikes up on footpaths.” Ubud, where her five-day natural dye workshop was held, was tourism gone mad, she reckons.
The workshop itself was wonderful, but getting to and fro daily through the traffic from her guesthouse 25 minutes away was complicated. Jean, a seasoned traveller now in her 70s, ended up commuting on
the back of a scooter every day courtesy of a kindly Balinese hotel receptionist.
The workshop consisted of a two-day introductory course to natural dyes followed by a three-day practice with indigo vats and natural colours – yellow, chestnut, black – Jean explains. It’s run regularly by an Indonesian-based fair trade business, Threads of Life, that uses culture and conservation to alleviate poverty in rural Indonesia.
Started by an English couple more than 30 years ago, the organisation set out to buy authentic handwoven fabrics from local artisans to on-sell to tourists from its compound in Ubud, thus keeping the tradition alive. For Jean, the hands-on Ubud experience at that very compound was one of the highlights of her trip.
And while she’s returned with more ikats than she knows what to do with, Jean also feels a deep affinity for the whole handweaving-dyeing process repeated in remote Indonesian villages now for 5000 years.
BY JANINE JACKSON
When the power was off for several days recently, retired electrical engineer Mark Burmister was able to share some of the excess electricity from his home-built solar system.
With “power to spare, power to share”, he distributed his hand-made solar lamps to provide light for his neighbours.
“When we had that power outage I looked out at the homes with (commercial) solar installations and they were sitting in the dark. And here's me with my little system that cost six and a half grand and took me six and a half years to build, and we had power,” he says.
While there’s a bit of number eight wire ingenuity in what Mark has built, this is a sophisticated set-up that can run most of his appliances, including his TV, freezer and refrigerator, washing machine and dryer.
Most solar systems on the market are either 'grid connected', with excess electricity getting sent back to the grid, or off-grid, which requires heavy duty batteries to store the excess power.
The batteries are expensive, and going off-grid doubles the cost of your set-up.
Mark’s solution is simple; by having a number of repurposed electric bike and power tool batteries he’s able to keep set-up costs low. And over the years, with the money he has saved on power, Mark has been able to grow his system.
“When I went on my solar power journey, I discovered there is another alternative that is highly cost effective, highly efficient, and highly doable,” he says.
Mark has thought of every possible way to maximise the power of the sun; because he has solar panels on hand-built trolleys, he can move them to follow the sun. When they are on his driveway, they are getting extra energy by the sun’s rays bouncing off the concrete onto the panels.
“It's like putting a magnifying glass in front of it and the performance is colossal.”
The trolley also acts as a bench for operating his various cooking appliances, such as a multi-cooker, bread maker, kettle, toasted sandwich maker, and steamer.
He also has fixed panels located around his property to maximise the sun, that are easily accessible for repairs and cleaning (no climbing on the roof for Mark).
Mark has worked out he’s saving about $2500 per year, and he reckons that money is better in his back pocket than sitting on some power company bottom line.
Happy with the performance and cost savings of his home solar power system, Mark is now ready to share his knowledge with others.
“I made the decision that I don’t want to make any money out of it. When I retired, I put my efforts into developing this system and I want to make it freely available for others. I will teach others how to build it and I will train people to be able to teach others.”
To find out how to build a home solar system contact marktheelectrician@icloud.com.
BY JANINE JACKSON
Whaingaroa Whai Rugby League Club might only be two seasons in but they are making huge strides both on and off the field.
Club stalwarts Daniel Kereopa and Nardia Morgan, who also play in the club’s senior teams, say the decision to switch from rugby to league has given the club a new lease of life.
“The numbers for rugby started to drop over the years and we found the numbers that we were getting were suited more for league,” Daniel says.
League fields a team of 13 compared to rugby’s 15 and, Daniel says, being less technical, league is a simpler game to play but still highly skilful and competitive.
“Personally, league is a much better game to play because rugby has got a lot of technicalities,” he says.
“Rugby league is a hard contact sport and when you take the technicalities out of the game it's much more pleasing to the eye as well.”
While junior rugby is still active in Raglan, at a senior level the league club is now fielding a men’s and women’s team and has a thriving junior scene.
And while they’ve had wins on the field, both Daniel and Nardia say the biggest achievement has been in the strengthening of relationships.
“Success isn’t just one thing; the spectrum is huge in our club. As far as success goes it’s about whānau and community coming together,” Nardia says.
“The success of the club, from its foundations to where we are now, has been done as a collective and the wider whānau have got us to this point,” Daniel adds.
Whaingaroa Whai are up against well-established clubs like Taniwharau in Huntly, Hamilton City Tigers and Ngāruawāhia Panthers, but with two seasons under their belt they are holding their own.
“Coming from a rugby club background, there wasn’t the expectation that we'd be as successful as we were. But I think it was the drive and the passion for the game that got us to where we are,” he says.
This season has seen the men’s team finish in the middle of the table and the women’s teams still in the running for the finals.
“We are going into our last game of the general competition before we start heading to the playoffs,” Nardia says.
“We’ve won four games out of five so far in the competition and before that we won two games in our grading.”
The junior teams are also enjoying a successful first season this year, with the Under 11s so far undefeated.
The club is well aware that the long-term success of the senior teams and the game of league in Raglan hinges on fostering the junior players.
Nardia says the club has the potential to keep growing. “The senior teams starting last year inspired our whānau to look into our children because they’re the future and they’ll sustain the club in the years ahead. This year we had five teams, which is very successful for a first-time rugby league club.”
While the factors driving the housing market activity have shifted with the seasons, there’s one thing you can count on. With a unique blend of expertise, international networks and a suite of innovative marketing tools, Bayleys is the agency for all your property needs.
Residential, commercial, rural and lifestyle – we deliver the best results. Get in touch:
Stephen O’Byrne 021 969 848
stephen.obyrne@bayleys.co.nz
Michelle O’Byrne 021 969 878 michelle.obyrne@bayleys.co.nz
Graham Rope 021 222 7427
graham.rope@bayleys.co.nz
Mark Frost 022 150 2244 mark.frost@bayleys.co.nz
Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property
Prioritising winter wellness is essential to maintaining good health and boosting immunity during the colder months. Explore local health and wellbeing businesses in Raglan that can provide valuable resources and support for staying healthy.
BY ISABEL A.
As I sit here writing, fresh from a brisk swim with the Thalassophiles at Manu Bay, I can still feel the exhilaration of plunging into the chilly sea. The water, around 1314 degrees Celsius at the moment, offered a shock to the system but also a feeling of revitalisation.
The Thalassophiles (people who love and are magnetically attracted to the ocean and the sea) gather here regularly for more than just a dip; it’s a ritual of renewal and connection.
The Thalassophiles at Manu Bay
A group who loves the sea. They have been swimming together most days for the past few years, as James states. “We didn’t start as ‘cold-water swimmers’ (in fact sometimes we hardly swim at all, we just get in the water and have a chat), but we have found it’s easier to keep going through the winter as a group, encouraging and supporting each other. As the water gets colder, that encouragement becomes more important, and the bonds between us grow stronger.”
For Mike and other regular participants, cold water swimming isn’t just about physical exercise - it's a spiritual practice, an experience that washes away negativity and renews gratitude. They attest to the physical and mental benefits, noting how each plunge into the sea builds resilience and clears the mind.
Eiko, who tries to dip in the water 2-3 times a week echoes this sentiment, sharing her commitment to the
ritual despite life’s demands. She finds joy in every dip, creating enduring memories with each swim. Her advice to newcomers: “Find a buddy or a group (like us). It is definitely nice to have some fun company to motivate each other.”
Raglan Cold Water Swimming in Town
Meanwhile, in town near the footbridge and skatepark, Jo Shortland leads the Raglan Cold Water Swimming group. Originating from a simple midwinter swim, this community has blossomed into a hub of shared exploration and personal growth. Jo’s journey reflects the transformative power of cold water immersion, drawing inspiration from the Wim Hof method to manage stress and build resilience. Jo gets brilliant feedback from other people: “Many people tell me about when they first try cold immersion either in the cold ocean, pool or by having a cold shower. That they come out of that feeling amazing - like a super person - like they can take on anything. The other feedback I get, is the power that comes from choosing to do hard things and make ourselves uncomfortable. And when we choose to do that for ourselves there’s something really powerful that can happen. People realise how strong they really are - physically and mentally. They realise how much resilience they have. And that’s an amazing thing to both experience and witness.”
Across both groups, the impact of cold water swimming extends far beyond its physical benefits. It fosters camaraderie and community spirit, transforming chance encounters into lasting friendships. Jo notes how participants greet each other warmly, buoyed by shared experiences of conquering the cold together.
Benefits of Cold Water Swimming and Dipping into the Ocean
Physical Health: Boosts immune system, improves circulation, and enhances cardiovascular health.
Mental Well-being: Reduces stress, increases alertness and clarity, and boosts mood through endorphin release.
Emotional Resilience: Builds mental toughness and resilience by challenging comfort zones.
Social Connection: Fosters a sense of community and camaraderie through shared experiences.
Spiritual Renewal: Provides a ritual of renewal and gratitude, connecting individuals with nature.
Join the Wave
Cold water swimming offers an invitation to embrace discomfort and discover inner strength. It’s an opportunity to connect with nature and community, where the chilly waters of the Tasman Sea become a channel for personal growth and shared experiences.
If you're curious about cold water swimming, come along to hang out with like-minded people and experience the revitalising benefits. Check out the Facebook page called Raglan Cold Water Swimming for information on the next planned swims.
Note on Safety
It's important not to swim alone to ensure safety. Always swim with a buddy or in a group, especially in colder waters.
IF YOU NEED SOME HEALTH ADVICE, GET IN TOUCH. THE RAGLAN HERBAL DISPENSARY IS HERE FOR YOU SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, OFFERING PROFESSIONAL NATUROPATHIC ADVICE. DROP BY 6 WALLIS STREET, RAGLAN
At the Herbal Dispensary, our qualified naturopaths specialize in crafting herbal tonics designed to support your health naturally. Our blends are meticulously prepared from a wide variety of herbs, each with unique properties to address different health concerns. Here's a quick guide to help you choose the right tonic for your needs:
Immunity Plus: Perfect for those early signs of illness. If you’re starting to feel under the weather, this blend boosts your immune system, helping to ward off sickness right from the start.
Throat Ease: Often, the first sign of sickness is a sore throat. Our Throat Ease tonic contains herbs that help kill the bugs in your throat, support your immune system, and soothe irritation.
Bronce Ease: This is your go-to for chesty coughs or when you're dealing with a lot of mucus. This blend of herbs helps clear the congestion, making it easier to breathe.
Chest Relief: If you're experiencing both nasal and chest congestion, this tonic is ideal. It works to clear mucus from both areas, providing comprehensive relief.
Herbal Cough Syrup: Sometimes, after the main sickness has passed, a persistent dry cough can linger. Our Herbal Cough Syrup soothes that irritated cough, helping you get a good night’s sleep.
Immune Restore: To build overall resilience and support your immune system, especially after repeated
illnesses, Immune Restore is your best bet. It’s designed to strengthen your immune system and keep you healthy. Visit us at Raglan Herbal Dispensary to explore our full range of herbal tonics and find the perfect blend for your needs. You can also have a customised tonic prepared by
Winter is all about balance. The shorter days and cooler temperatures invite us to slow down and savour moments of rest and relaxation. Yet, it's equally important to keep our bodies moving to maintain balance and vitality. The Space is the perfect place to incorporate both movement and rest into your life.
Yoga covers all your bases, blending restful practices with invigorating flows. Our pilates and yoga classes invite you to take a moment for yourself, feel good
in your body and breath, and open up to your potential.
Yoga builds your sense of interoception, the body’s ability to sense its own wellbeing. Class by class, you’ll learn to listen to your deeper wisdom and rhythms.
Join us this winter to stay warm, stay active, and embrace the season's unique rhythm. Weekly timetable classes offer a variety. We suggest you start with Gentle (or Broga for the boys!). From there, you can try Hatha and Pilates classes and even Vinyasa and Power to really heat things up. Meanwhile, Restorative and Yoga Nidra really build your rest practice. Book in and see our timetable at www. thespaceraglan.com
our qualified naturopaths while you wait. Your health is our priority. www.raglanherbaldispensary.nz 07 825 7444 6 Wallis Street, Raglan
Testimonial: "Wonderful class this morning, such a welcoming energy at the studio. An amazing way to start the day. Everything feels limber and warm, posture checks and mobile/flexible for the rest of the day. Thanks so much team!" - Ella B
Welcome to Lifted Pilates! Our fun and dynamic classes in Pilates, Barre, and TRX are designed to help you feel amazing inside and out.
Boost your energy, improve flexibility, and strengthen your core with Pilates. Enjoy the mood-lifting benefits of regular exercise and the motivation and support of our vibrant group classes. Our passionate, experienced team is here to guide you on your wellness journey!
Check out our Group Starter Pass: 5 sessions for just $65! Start your journey today!
BROUGHT TO YOU
BY BIZWORX CONSULTANCY LTD.
BY JANINE JACKSON
For Raglan sustainable gardener Sydney Allen, the key to producing the best tasting vegetables with low environmental impact is all in the soil.
Just last year, she and partner Daryl Atwell took over a plot of land on a friend’s farm and the pair are slowly transforming it into a productive market garden.
Located in Waitetuna, Sunrise Farms is a labour of love; they both work fulltime – Sydney as a rose gardener at Hamilton Gardens and Daryl is a plumber/drainlayer – and a tonne of their spare time is spent tending the plot.
“When she says us on her Facebook posts, it's 80 per cent Sydney doing the work. She probably spends 20 hours a week here,” Daryl says.
The opportunity to utilise a patch previously used for grazing sheep and cattle on the Richard family’s block was the kickstart to their market garden enterprise.
A lot of time went into getting the original clay soil up to scratch. The Richards went in with a tractor to clear the land and after that everything else has been done by hand.
Sydney only works the top layer of soil so as not to disturb the deeper rich microbial life. The crops are rotated, and between crops she plants mustard and lupins to increase the soil health.
She learnt her craft while working for Shannon Wright at her organic regenerative farm Backyard Jem in Ngāruawāhia.
“We wanted to follow the same practice, with no sprays and focusing on soil health. If you feed your soil, you feed your plants, then you don't need to put any chemicals in,” Sydney says.
They offer a harvest box of seasonal vegetables for a weekly subscription of $30 or $50.
“Our larger one is suitable for families or very keen vego eaters,” she says.
“We said from the beginning, we want our veggies to be as fresh, organic and affordable as possible.”
To keep costs low and to be as sustainable as possible, they make their own compost, organic fertiliser, and just about everything else, like their humble greenhouse, has been built on the smell of an oily rag.
Sydney is passionate about reducing food miles and says it can be a challenge for some people expecting summer vegetables during the winter.
“We are trying to close the gap between people and their food.”
Building genuine relationships with their customers is important part of what they offer; they do the deliveries themselves after a Saturday harvest and it’s a good time to chat about the farm and the produce.
“One of our lovely customers is always excited when she gets her box because she says it’s helped her cook differently
with the mix of seasonal vegetables she wouldn’t necessarily buy at the supermarket.”
Sydney is also keen to start sharing gardening tips and recipe ideas on the farm’s Facebook page.
While it hasn’t been all smooth gardening at Sunrise, with Mother Nature providing some costly lessons, the couple haven’t let it dampen their spirits.
“There's been so many learning curves. We don't have any coverage, so that can be a disadvantage in summer and winter. So, you have to learn what works and what doesn't, and you'll learn it pretty quick,” Sydney laughs.
To order a harvest vegetable box visit SunRise Farms on Facebook or email sunrisefarm.nz@gmail.com.
CONTENT WAS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO SPONSORSHIP FROM BIZWORX CONSULTANCY LTD.
EXPLORING THE RICH TAPESTRY OF STORIES WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY, ALL THROUGH THE LENS OF FOOD.
Raglan Food Journeys is a celebration of the diverse and vibrant voices that make our local food scene so unique. Delving into the kitchens of passionate home cooks, chatting with local food artisans, and exploring the creations of our local foodies.
To get in touch - recipe feedback, comments, nominating a foodie friend or let us know what you have going on (producers) E: raglanfoodjourneys@gmail.com
Freshwater scientist, food lover, and brewing legend, Bruno David is a man of many creative pursuits. Hailing from Australia with proud Italian roots, Bruno has called Raglan home for the past 20 years. When he’s not brewing or surfing, you’ll likely find him foraging or hunting for food.
Bruno explains that food and drink has always been one of the most important parts of his life. “Both my parents are Italian and my mum is an amazing cook; as was her mum, who just turned 100 the other day! I didn’t realise it at the time, but I was automatically sponging some of their skills just by being around their cooking. Making fresh pasta, gnocchi, pizza, and slow cooked sauces was pretty standard in our household. My father very rarely cooked, but every year in autumn, I’d travel with him to source Grenache and Matara grapes to make wine at home. We would ferment them in the cellar that he had specifically designed the house around.”
...afewtipsfrom ourAUGUSTfoo d i e
When asked about the driving force behind his creativity in cooking and brewing, he explains, “It doesn’t matter if it’s cooking or brewing, you can’t beat well-balanced flavours. In both worlds, if you use quality fresh ingredients, pay attention to little details, and taste often, you will know when adjustment is required. In brewing, I always adjust the mineral profile of the water with different elements, which are calculated to the amount of water being used, to help accentuate the flavours in the type of beer I am making—food is no different.”
He left a job that he loved as a freshwater scientist and put that energy and creativity into full time brewing. He says, “It was actually a nice transition because brewing has always been part art, part science, so it’s part creative but part attention to detail. Food science is fascinating.” Bruno’s way of seeing the world, love of ingredients, and care for nature is truly reflected in the ethos of Workshop
Make a citrus salt by zesting ¾ Tbsp of orange skin (or any citrus) and add to ⅓ cup of salt (flaky sea salt works best but you can do with any salt). Mix well and bake at 100℃ for up to an hour or until citrus is dried out. Keep in an airtight glass container and use as a finishing salt to add an extra pop of flavour to many dishes.
Make my Dad’s orange marmalade by squeezing the juice from 1.5 kg oranges and 3 lemons. Strain the pips and put in a muslin bag. Finely shred the skins. In a large pot gently boil juice, skins, pips, and water for 60 minutes or until skins are tender. Cool slightly. Measure pulp and return to the pan. For every 1 cup of pulp add 1 cup of sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Boil at a high heat for 20 minutes or until desired thickness. Remove the muslin bag of pips and pour marmalade into sterilised jars.
Make Emma Galloway’s flourless dark chocolate and orange muffins : www.mydarlinglemonthyme.com/2017/08/flourless-dark-chocolate-orange-ginger-muffins
ORANGE FACTS
• During long sea voyages in the 18th century, British sailors carried oranges and lemons to prevent scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. This practice led to British sailors being nicknamed “limeys.”
• The citric acid in oranges can be used as a natural cleaner. The acidity makes it effective for cutting through grease and grime, and orange oil is often used in natural cleaning products.
• The colour orange was named after the fruit, not the other way around. Before the fruit was known in the English-speaking world, the colour was referred to as ‘yellow-red’.
• Oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C, providing over 100% of the recommended daily intake in just one medium fruit. They also contain fibre, potassium, and several antioxidants.
SHANNON DARBYSHIRE
Brewery—Raglan’s local craft brewery on Park Drive—that he runs alongside business partners Matt Williams and Jake Gibbs. Their key objective is to provide fresh, enjoyable, and diverse brews for our local community and town with a focus on genuineness, quality, sustainability, and creativity. What’s on offer is creative, unique, and delicious. You can find a range of award winning craft beers, seasonal kombuchas, seasonal sodas, and my absolute favourite ‘limecello’ which is made from Bruno’s very own lime trees. They use local produce where possible to add aromatics to their creations, many of these grown in Bruno’s own backyard. The sustainability ethos is evident in the way that Workshop deals with the brewery’s by-products. “Everything we have here at Workshop, we try to think of as a resource rather than a waste product. At the moment I’ve got a deal going with a friend up in Waitetuna valley who raises pigs. They take our used grain and at the end of the year, I’ll get a couple of fattened pigs to make my salamis and my hams from those pigs.”
Curing meats from wild and farmed animals is a passionate side-project of Bruno’s. He says, “Cured and fermented meats have always been one of my most favourite foods and I literally had withdrawal symptoms when I moved here. You just couldn’t find decent salami or prosciutto at that time, and even now it’s pretty limited and ultra expensive, so I started making my own.”
A nod to his Italian heritage, he tends to use a Northern Italian style of curing—a combination of garlic and white wine to create a fermented salami. Bruno recounts a hilarious story about the time a feral dog crept into his garage and stole some wild hare and pork salami that had taken six weeks to cure. “I heard this noise and I opened the door and this dog had a hold of this salami. He saw me and ran, pulling the whole chain of salami and gapped it down the street. I watched those tasty epic salami run away that I’d spent weeks perfecting. I was enraged!”
Being a hunter, gardener, and forager, Bruno reckons, “We are so incredibly blessed in New Zealand in that you can do all of these things and get the most insanely good kai. I am consciously grateful for this pretty much every day. My father took me hunting and fishing as a little boy— invaluable skills that inform my passion for cooking and respect for the environment. We always had food gardens at home. Ripe, locally sourced ingredients that are in season just can’t be beaten, end of story.”
I asked Bruno what makes Raglan a special place to live, and he says, “I think everyone knows that there seems to be a disproportionate number of super creative people in Raglan and that environment probably helps to fuel and attract even more creativity, whether it be food, beverage, arts, or other. We are all very lucky to live here. One of my favourite things is cycling to work, rolling through Kopua and over the footbridge on a crisp and calm morning; it’s such an epic way to start the day.”
Go check out Workshop Brewery on 2 Park Drive to see what Bruno’s brewing up or for a good chinwag on all things food science related. Visit their website at workshopbrewing.co.nz
BRUNO’S SPAGHETTI ALLE VONGOLE (PASTA WITH CLAMS)
This is a classic in our household and we have pretty much all the ingredients right on our doorstep. Serves 4.
Ingredients
1kg fresh harvested cockles
200ml white wine
400g spaghetti
3 Tbsp butter
2 finely chopped shallots or a small red onion
To serve: Extra virgin olive oil, freshly chopped flat leaf parsley, fresh pepper, a scatter of chilli flakes, a squeeze of lemon & some parmesan.
1. Collect enough clean ocean water to cover cockles for purging & cooking pasta.
2. Place live harvested cockles in a single layer in a wide pan (like an oven tray) & cover with fresh sea water. Leave cockles to purge in the seawater. Take a very close look at all the cockles. After about 5-10 mins they should all be actively syphoning. Remove any non-siphoning cockles as even just one of these can ruin your whole situation with a sand bomb….no crunchy pasta! Leave them for at least 4-5 hours (overnight is even better). When ready, drain them off through a coarse strainer & set aside.
3. Get your pasta pot on & get the sea water boiling. While that’s happening, get a deep frying pan or pot you can cover & place on medium-high heat. Melt 1 Tbsp of butter (& a little oil) & soften up the finely chopped up shallots. Once soft, place all the cockles in the pan, crank up the heat to high & cover the cockles with all the white wine & put the lid on.
4. Put your pasta in & cook it till it’s almost al dente (one minute less than recommended on the packet). Keep an eye on the cockles & make sure the boiling is contained. Once the cockles start to pop open, reduce right back to a simmer. Strain off your pasta but reserve about a cup of the salty starchy water to one side.
5. Get your pan full of cockles & throw the whole lot, shells & all, into your pasta pot. Add the other 2 Tbsp of butter to the pot & allow to melt, & for the cockle sauce to absorb into the pasta. Use some of the reserved starchy pasta water & add to the pasta if required - this helps the sauce to stick to the pasta.
6. Serve up into 4 plates then drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, freshly chopped flat leaf parsley, fresh pepper, a scatter of chilli flakes, & a squeeze of lemon.
Optional extra: (normally considered bad form in Italy) - a little grating of fresh parmesan which will lend a little umami taste. Toss the whole lot & get busy!
Describe The Hut and its vision.
The Hut aims to provide good, fast coffee and to be open every day as a community gathering spot for the local neighbourhood. We also offer delicious food and light meals. We welcome tradies, making it easy for them to stop by on their way through. We love fostering a sense of community, bringing locals together, and meeting new visitors to Raglan. That’s why the space will also be used as a gallery for the Raglan Arts Weekend.
Tell us about the recent changes at The Hut.
We’ve repainted and redecorated the interior. Malcolm from Coaster Coffee is back and training our staff, bringing his 25 years of experience with him. We have a new menu that includes yummy traditional French pastries from Rüdi’s Bakehouse, freshly delivered on Saturday mornings! And we’re currently running a Monday to Friday tradie deal: buy a pie or sausage roll and get a free coffee.
What can locals expect when they visit?
Visitors can enjoy beautiful views, plenty of outdoor space, a sunny sheltered area and a warm, cosy indoor seating area. Whether you’re sitting in or taking away, you’ll get great coffee. It’s a perfect spot for business meetings or a relaxing stop after a walk around the peninsula.
Who is your coffee provider and why is it premium?
Our coffee is provided by Malcolm, the owner of Coaster Coffee. He’s well-known for his excellent coffee-making skills. The coffee is freshly roasted just up the road and is of a high quality, thanks to the superior small batch roasting process.
What are the benefits of your location?
We have lots of outdoor space for kids to run around and enjoy the sunshine. It’s close to walking tracks, making it a busy yet laid-back spot on weekends. It’s central and convenient for young families to meet up, and there’s space for toddlers to ride bikes.
food and coffee at the heart of Rangitahi
Tradie deal: Monday to Friday
Buy a pie or sausage roll and get a FREE coffee!
Rüdi’s Bakehouse goodness
Traditional French pastries, freshly delivered on Saturday mornings
What further plans are there for the summer months?
We plan to add more food options to the menu over spring and summer as we get busier. We’re also considering hosting a couple of markets again this summer. If you’re interested in knowing more, get in touch!
How can people stay updated?
Follow us on social media for all the latest: @the_hut_rangitahi, @coaster_coffeeraglan and @rangitahipeninsula.
Emily Edwards is a photographer and a mum who moved to Whāingaroa three years ago. We caught up to chat about how she ended up in Raglan, becoming a mum during Covid and how building community helped her move through that difficult time in her life.
What is your relationship like with your mental health and is it something that you consider everyday?
Oh definitely. I went through my 20s kind of nonchalant. I didn't really think about it so much. I probably should have thought about it more but I was living in London, having a good time, with no responsibilities or anything. Then when I moved to NZ a lot of vulnerabilities came up because I was out of my comfort zone and away from my friends. That's when it started to bring up some things. But really, it was becoming a mum. That's what got me questioning and being more vulnerable. I became a mum during Covid. My baby was three weeks old when the first lockdown was announced. We were in Auckland. My sister was here in Raglan and my mum was visiting from the UK. I knew I couldn’t be in Auckland by myself with a newborn while my husband was working. So we ended up coming here. I was very lucky that my sister had space and we moved in for four months. I was very supported. But it was after that for me that I started to struggle. A lot of people support you in those first few months but once my baby was 11 months old, we moved down to Wellington and I was completely alone. It was one of my darkest times. Our baby wouldn't sleep, my husband was working, I didn't know anyone and then when I started work, I found it really difficult to transition and put him into daycare. For me, that's when I started to realise the importance of people and community.
When you were in that space, what was it that kept you pushing through?
I remember listening to a podcast and someone said, “You will look back at this time and you’ll think, you're so much stronger on the other side of it.” I thought to myself, I'm never coming out of this. I remember walking along Island Bay and seeing dolphins and knowing how special it was to see something so beautiful and how I should feel lucky, but I felt so empty. It was a horrible place to be in. I felt a lot of guilt for my little boy. I actually seeked counselling support. It's so funny because in the session I was crying and she asked, “If you could live anywhere and have a community where would you be?” And it was Raglan. She asked why I wasn’t there and I said “I have a husband with a job and a community here.” Then I went home and told him and he just said, “We have to go.” So we moved here and then my baby started to sleep. It didn't just change overnight. I realised I needed connection so I started to chat to people. I made a friend who put me on to a few people to do photoshoots with. I slowly started to build community. I've got my mum community and my photography community. As soon as you make one connection, then you make another. I felt immediately supported when I had my second baby. I thrived in the chaos of it but also because of the community and the connection that I had built. Then with my photography, I've got another community that aren't mums. My whole theme in my photography is storytelling. It doesn't matter what stage of life you're at, I just want to meet and connect and take photos. Almost like a ‘Humans of Raglan’ type thing. I want to keep building that.
What was your relationship like with your mental health when you were younger?
I had a difficult time at high school, I felt quite lost and I had a bad incidence of being bullied for a long period of time, which led me to do things I wasn't proud of, maybe a cry for
attention.... I actually left school for a term and then returned, which was the reset I needed. I came back more confident and ended up having a great friendship, which I still have today. I look back now and although it was a hard time and I feel I could have been better than I was, it definitely shaped me into who I am now, which is hopefully strong and kind. I went to uni in my 20s and I felt so free. I just refused to be depressed or anxious, because I had such a tough time in high school, I just blocked it all out. I think going to uni is when I found my people. That's when I really started to enjoy myself. My 20s were like, wow let's go crazy, then my 30s are like, okay let's figure this out. What are some of the lessons you've learned?
I think the importance of just getting a coffee and speaking to the person who's making it. Even if you don't want to. Keep going with those little steps. It's okay to feel lonely, but sometimes you have to work hard to get out of it. It starts with those baby steps. You've said hi to someone once, now they'll say hi to you next time. There's speaking out when you're feeling low, even though it's scary. I was so in denial that I'd ever feel that. I think you should try to find things that bring you joy. It's taken me a while to realise the things that I love. Things that can just rest your mind for a while. I think when you're in a deep hole, sometimes you get in your head so much and it builds and it builds and actually for me, it brought tension and headaches. So I think it's finding that space and time to relax your mind and body and believe that you will get out of it. In the end, I do think I came out of it stronger. Now that I've experienced it, I feel like I can be supportive to others going through it.
What are some of the tools in your toolbox?
Now I'm out of the slump, it's gratitude. Every time I'm a little bit down, that's what I go for. I'm grateful for where I live, I'm grateful that I can meet you for a coffee at 10am on a Tuesday, and I think that's because I'm happier now. If I’m ever feeling out of sorts, I walk on the beach. You just need that release sometimes. Let the wind blow through you.
Call us for a chat with our knowledgeable team about window furnishings or flooring options, and book a free in-home measure and quote.
GUTHRIE BOWRON TE AWAMUTU
Mega Centre 8/670 Cambridge Road
sales.teawamutu@guthriebowron.co.nz (07) 871 8540
Raglan Naturally supports the Whaingaroa community in achieving local visions and aspirations!
Raglan Naturally supports the Whaingaroa community in achieving local visions and aspirations!
We can help with:
We can help with:
• Localised advice
• Localised advice
• Education and skills training: funding, governance, volunteers, Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Education and skills training: funding, governance, volunteers, Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Networking opportunities
• Networking opportunities
• Funding support
• Funding support
• Project resources, templates, examples and connections
• Project resources, templates, examples and connections
Whether you need advice on a new project, want to connect with existing organisations or plan a community meetup, Raglan Naturally is here to help you.
Whether you need advice on a new project, want to connect with existing organisations or plan a community meetup, Raglan Naturally is here to help you.
IT
DOING IT FOR OURSELVES
Community-led Development is a way for people in the community to work together to create and achieve local visions and goals.
Community-led Development is a way for people in the community to work together to create and achieve local visions and goals.
Raglan Naturally have recently supported the Whaingaroa Raglan Destination Management Organisation's public art restoration project.
Raglan Naturally have recently supported the Whaingaroa Raglan Destination Management Organisation's public art restoration project.
How we helped:
How we helped:
• Assisted with background research
• Assisted with background research
• Connect with community groups
• Connect with community groups
• Helped with community survey
• Helped with community survey
• Support with funding
• Support with funding
These are some things that have been established since 2020. We look forward to sharing more in the upcoming months.
Whaingaroa Youthwork Collective established, running youth events, advocating, addressing needs. These are some things that have been established since 2020. We look forward to sharing more in the upcoming months.
BY RACHAEL GODDARD
Showcasing and sharing stories from people and organisations in our community who are doing awesome things to build resilience, connection and take action on climate change.
Jasmine and daughter Stella share their journey and what resilience and community mean to them.
Jasmine: I am originally from Te Waipounamu. We moved to Whāingaroa in 2013 when Stella was 2 years old. Prior to moving here, I was already a keen KASM supporter and was aware of the strong community and environmental activism here. I wanted Stella to grow up with the same strong sense of community and freedom to explore that I had growing up.
Stella: I really like Raglan, our street, our community, and how close people are, the amazing nature, the bush and the ocean so nearby.
What are you involved in within the community/neighbourhood?
Jasmine: I have been with the Whāingaroa Environment Centre for the past 6.5 years, and Xtreme Zero Waste for the past year, running the Centre Hub in the Town Hall, projects and events such as Science Night, Tool Library, beach cleans, and Māui Dolphin Day. I also manage communications and marketing for the Environment Centre, supporting various other projects like the Growers Market, Repair Café, Timebank and more recently, Community Energy Whāingaroa. Separately, over the past decade, I have been involved in organising not-forprofit festivals which have a focus on art, connection, gifting and education. Stella has grown up in this environment, and it has helped shape both of us.
Stella: I am seriously into fungi and mycology. I am fascinated by toadstools and mushrooms and have been studying them. I discovered some Wax-gills near Bridal Veil Falls; there was a whole group looking like a carpet of confetti on the ground—red, yellow, purple and orange. We went to a Fungi Fest in Tauranga this month. I am also a passionate and skilled op shopper—a regular at Kahu’s Nest. Some of my friends ask me to help them shop second hand. I also like writing poetry.
What are you passionate about?
Jasmine: I’m very fond of and like collecting NZ-made vintage items like Crown Lynn and Don Furniture. I’m passionate about social issues and seeing diverse representation in government.
Stella: Bugs are diverse! I am really into bugs, animals and discovering things, watching nature, writing, oh and Mum and I watch the stars.
What springs to mind when you think of building community resilience?
Jasmine: That we as a community are not dependent on everything being brought to us. We support each other
our economic well-being from being dependent on the extraction of new resources to keeping the resources we already have in circulation for as long as possible. We need to protect our natural resources. It's a challenge but also an exciting opportunity for innovation.
Stella: Off-grid, living off the land. I’d like that.
What sort of things do you do to live more sustainably?
Jasmine: I try to embrace the concept of “under consumption.” We buy second hand as much as possible. I do a lot of research on items before I purchase. Our clothes are predominantly second hand and I buy local as much as possible. Stella’s lunch box is nearly always homemade baking, meals etc. We avoid cling wrap and single-serve packets. We try to buy tins and cans over plastic and glass. That can be hard for us most of the time being low income, but we try where we can. The production and consumption of household goods is responsible for about 60% of greenhouse gas emissions. The most powerful thing you can do for the planet is to consume less stuff, so we try to avoid buying non-essential stuff. I am far, far from perfect when it comes to living sustainably. None of us are. But it’s about making lots of small changes that add up. I failed with my vegetable garden this year, the kikuyu won, but I’ll get on top of it because it’s incredibly rewarding and a massive thrill growing your own food.
Stella: We op shop or buy secondhand furniture. It adds up over time. Our chickens eat our leftovers, we have a worm farm and compost which stops food waste going to landfill.
What do you think we already have in Whāingaroa, and what are some examples of how we are building resilience?
Jasmine: We already have some great food security work happening, like the Seed Bank, free seeds stand, Growers Market, and community gardens. Our communal efforts towards increasing landfill diversion are something we should be proud of. Community Energy Whāingaroa recently launched. How cool would it be to see our community off the main grid and self-sufficient one day! I’m a huge advocate for education and I learn so much at Science Night. The Repair Café has really taken off—45 items fixed this month!
What do you think the gaps are, or what could we do better?
Jasmine: We need waste-free grocery options! I’m really excited at the potential for a new refillery. We need more support and investment in exploring energy security and affordability, micro grids, sharing energy, and affordable and accessible power storage. We need to empower the next generation to be climate solutionists; let’s support our educators!
What are your thoughts on climate change and its impacts?
Jasmine: The climate crisis is manmade and its impact affects everyone, our economy and mostly our vulnerable communities. While climate change may have happened naturally in the past, it's being unnaturally accelerated today because of our human activity. The science can't be denied: we’re experiencing extreme weather, rising sea levels, and ecosystem disruptions. We know burning fossil fuels, deforestation, overfishing, water pollution, and air pollution cause climate change, but why are we doing those things? We consume too much energy—the root cause is overconsumption. We need to produce less stuff, focus on economic degrowth and culturally transition away from valuing consumerism. Capitalism is a system that is fundamentally at odds with our planet. It can’t survive unless we are speeding up the extraction of resources, processing them into stuff, buying stuff, throwing stuff away, and then starting that process all over again. As individuals, we are personally responsible for what happens in the supply chain. Who makes corporations profitable? We do by our consumer participation. We have got to stop thinking of the earth’s resources as our property to take as we like.
Are you doing anything to address this?
Jasmine: I actively vote for people and parties who uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Te Tiriti “affirms particular rights and responsibilities for Māori as Māori to protect and preserve their lands, forests, waters and other treasures for future generations.” We can’t have climate justice without justice for Tangata Whenua. I vote for my daughter and her generation in the hopes that they have a thriving, long life. I am teaching my daughter to uphold Te Tiriti and make responsible, compassionate decisions.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Jasmine: I have frequent conversations with both international tourists and visitors from other regions who consistently comment on how Raglan looks and feels more connected and how obvious it is to them that we passionately care about our environment. As our population grows, I think it’s important to maintain our tightknit, strong, special community spirit. Next time you see the opportunity to participate in a community activity that resonates with you, don’t overthink it or put it off for another day! You’ll make wonderful new connections, learn new things and enrich your quality of life. That’s why you moved here, isn’t it?
Surfing made its second appearance in the Olympic Games this week in Tahiti, French Polynesia. Representing New Zealand were Billy Stairmand and Saffi Vette, who secured their Olympic spots with strong performances at the 2023 International Surfing Association World Games in El Salvador.
This was the second Olympic Games for eight-time National Champion Stairmand, who placed 9th in Tokyo, making history as the first New Zealand male to ever compete in Olympic surfing. Speaking with the NZOC beforehand, he said, “It’s unbelievable to be going to my second Olympics, I’m super proud. I’m stoked to be representing New Zealand again and I know I can do something special over there.”
For Saffi Vette, this was her first Olympics. “It’s a dream come true; I watched the Olympics growing up but never thought surfing would be involved. It’s a huge opportunity to be amongst so many amazing athletes and it’s a pretty massive achievement for a girl from Gisborne.”
An extension of the Opening Ceremony festivities in Paris took place on the shores of Tahiti, where 48 surfers (24 men and 24 women) from 21 nations gathered in Papara to celebrate the beginning of the 33rd edition of the Games, joining their national Olympic teams remotely in Paris.
The traditional ISA ‘Sands of the World’ ceremony followed, with Saffi Vette, supported by Billy, pouring the sand for New Zealand, symbolising the peaceful gathering of nations through surfing. The ISA President Aguerre concluded the ceremony, pouring sand from Rio de Janeiro, where it was first announced that
THE LOCAL RAG SURFING SERIES COVERS SURFING NEWS IN RAGLAN.
surfing would be included in the Olympic Games, along with a shell from Ichinomiya Beach in Japan, where surfing’s Olympic debut took place as part of Tokyo 2020.
With formalities complete, Olympic Surfing debuted for Paris 2024 with clean four-to-six feet of swell and barely any wind. Round 1 of the men’s and women’s events saw both Billy and Saffi take to the water. No eliminations took place, with first place in each heat progressing to Round 3 and the remaining surfers reseeded into Round 2.
Billy competed in Heat 5 against Brazilian big wave surfer Joao Chianca and Moroccan charger Ramzi Boukhiam. Despite a solid performance, he was reseeded into Round 2. Chianca took the win, with Boukhiam also progressing.
In Heat 7 of the women’s round, Saffi faced Nadia Erostarbe of Spain and Siqi Yang of China. Erostarbe dominated the heat, while Saffi, looking comfortable, was reseeded into Round 2.
On Day 2, the pressure increased with eliminations coming into play. Saffi competed in Round 2 against Portuguese surfer Yolanda Hopkins. Challenging conditions saw Vette exit the event in 17th position.
Billy’s final heat of the event was against Brazilian Felipe Toledo. Despite a strong performance, Billy exited the event, with Toledo advancing.
Reflecting on his journey, Billy shared on social media, "Man, what a journey. What an experience. 2 x Olympian. What an honour. Emotions are running high. All I can say is I’m happy. Obviously, would have loved making that heat and going further in the event. But I gave it everything and am so stoked I stuck it to the world champ and had an amazing and fun heat. Left it all out there."
Saffi and Billy will now head to Paris to join the team for the remainder of the event and to attend the closing ceremony.
THIS CONTENT WAS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO SPONSORSHIP FROM RAGLAN SURF CO.
We are delighted to announce a new and valuable service for our community members here in Raglan. Starting from Monday, August 5th, the Raglan Community House Budget Service have organised hairdresser Desmae, who will be offering free haircuts for the elderly, individuals who have difficulties leaving their homes, and those who are on palliative care.
This initiative is part of our ongoing effort to support and uplift our community members. The free haircuts will be available every first Monday of the month at the Community House, ensuring that those who might have trouble accessing regular grooming services can still enjoy a fresh and tidy appearance.
To take advantage of this service, please collect a voucher from the Raglan Community House Budget Service. These vouchers will grant access to the free haircut service on the designated days.
We encourage those who qualify, or who know someone who could benefit, to reach out and make use of this wonderful opportunity. The Community House is committed to serving the needs of all our
residents and making a positive impact in our community.
For more information or to obtain a voucher, please visit the Raglan Community House Budget Service or contact us directly.
Let’s come together to ensure that every member of our community feels valued and cared for. We look forward to seeing you at the Community House!
When: 5th August 2024 and every first Monday of the month
Location: Raglan Community House
Vouchers Available: Raglan Community House Budget Service
Trade Aid Whaingaroa is currently bursting at the seams with beautiful products made by talented artisans from around the world. The irony is that while the store is packed to the rafters with products and bustling with shoppers, as of late August Trade Aid Whaingaroa will shut its doors for good.
Trade Aid Whaingaroa is just one of the 24 Trade Aid stores nationwide that will be progressively closed this year. Trade Aid has faced a challenging environment in the past two years: the cost-of-living crisis has led to rising costs and diminishing sales, which has significantly impacted the organisation's financial performance. To ensure its ongoing sustainability, Trade Aid has made the difficult decision to begin the process of progressively closing its stores. However, you will still be able to purchase Trade Aid products - just in a different way. Trade Aid’s business model is adapting to focus on online retail sales and wholesale craft, food, and coffee. It is now going to be easier for anyone, anywhere in New Zealand to purchase fair trade products. Trade Aid aims to make fair trade products more accessible to Kiwis by inspiring more New Zealand retailers and manufacturers to purchase fair trade guaranteed products.
This store and its volunteers have made a huge contribution to the fair trade movement in New Zealand by educating Kiwis about the importance of fair trade practice and why we should buy better; and helping sell products to better the lives of our partners in countries like Bangladesh, Mexico, India, Vietnam and many more countries. The Trade Aid Whaingaroa store has been an integral part of Whaingaroa’s community and will be missed.
You can help support Trade Aid by heading into Trade Aid Whaingaroa to shop; the 50%-70% off sale (excluding food and beverage) will remain running until the store’s close at the end of July –or while stocks last. It’s important to note that all goods in the sale have been paid for at the same fair price as always – Trade Aid’s partners never have to compromise on price regardless of a sale.
Trade Aid would like to thank the staff, volunteers, and customers that have supported Trade Aid Whaingaroa and the fair trade movement of Aotearoa. Trade Aid remains unwavering in its purpose; to educate and inspire others to support fair trade and to improve producers’ and farmers’ lives by providing them with an income through fair trade.
For more information contact Eloise at whaingaroa@tradeaid.org.nz or 07 825 7105.
As tax dispute lawyers, we have been representing New Zealand taxpayers since 2007. We are therefore very familiar with the Tax Administration Act 1994 and have the necessary skills and experience to strategically work and negotiate with Inland Revenue to resolve tax disputes.
Time and again, we have seen how overwhelmed and frustrated our clients feel when dealing with Inland Revenue on their own, in what is a never-ending, downward spiral of tax that grows exponentially. We are acutely aware of our clients' pain. Our job is to advocate for our clients and get resolution. For these reasons, it is crucial that when it comes to dealing with Inland Revenue, taxpayers should not delay in seeking out legal advice from specialist tax dispute lawyers as early as they can. In some instances, taxpayers may even be criminally prosecuted.
Who can Inland Revenue prosecute?
Both individuals and legal entities, such as companies and limited partnerships, can be prosecuted by Inland Revenue for various “tax evasion” acts. Some examples are: not declaring all income earned, failing to file tax returns, employers failing to pay PAYE deductions, and claiming expenses when there is no entitlement.
What will Inland Revenue do if they are going to prosecute me?
Like any government agency tasked with prosecution powers (such as the Police, MSD, Customs and MPI for example), Inland Revenue must collect sufficient evidence to lay charges under the Tax Administration Act. Sometimes this is achieved by interviewing a taxpayer, or by obtaining documents and information from third-party sources. The sole
WITH GINA JANSEN LAWYERS
objective is to build a case against you. In many instances, this process starts with a letter requesting the taxpayer attend an interview at the Inland Revenue offices.
The letter may state that the interview is voluntary. On receipt of an interview request letter, taxpayers should, without any delay, immediately consult with a tax specialist lawyer before attending an interview. What may be unwittingly and innocently said could bring about very serious criminal charges, against which a subsequent defence may not be able to be mounted. As tax lawyers, our objective is to ensure our clients understand, in advance, the consequences of verbal
statements made to Inland Revenue and to protect them from making inadvertent admissions of guilt.
I’m being audited by Inland Revenue. Why?
Taxpayers are audited to ensure that the tax laws are being complied with. How taxpayers are selected for audit includes: randomly, by industry/sector, by anonymous persons providing information to Inland Revenue, or by failing to file tax returns and/or pay income tax on time. Audits don’t necessarily mean the taxpayer has done anything wrong, and the audit may only result in minor errors needing to be fixed. However, if major errors are
detected, Inland Revenue may perceive this as a deliberate attempt to reduce the amount of tax payable by a taxpayer. What could happen during an audit?
Let’s be blunt: your legal rights are at risk when an audit commences. Therefore, seeking legal advice immediately is essential. Audits can sometimes commence with a knock on the door of either your business or your home, depending on where your business operates from. Inland Revenue staff may arrive with a search warrant, and the power to seize and uplift documents, laptops, hard drives, and any other information/item they deem necessary for the audit. As some information, including both accounting and legal advice, may be legally privileged under the Tax Administration Act (meaning Inland Revenue cannot have it), it is imperative only the right information is provided to Inland Revenue. Following an audit, the tax disputes process has very short and immovable timeframes within which to lodge a dispute about Inland Revenue’s assessment of your tax. If these timeframes are missed, a taxpayer cannot later dispute the amount of tax payable, which will be set in stone, nor any shortfall penalties applied (which can be between 25% to 150% of the audit assessed tax amount) along with backdated interest. As specialist tax lawyers, we ensure that the audit process is overseen by us, including attending all interviews with our clients, setting up clear lines of communication, liaising directly with IRD officials and ensuring any breaches of our clients' legal rights are minimised.
If you have questions or receive letters from Inland Revenue, please feel free to connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, or by phone on 0800 544 508, or email us via our website at www.ginajansen.co.nz.
RAGLAN 697 Maungatawhiri Road
RAGLAN
Maungatawhiri
Charming 1950's Home with Acreage
This charming 1950's weatherboard home has been recently relocated to this site with two bedrooms, two
an outdoor entertainment area and ample
for a small family or a couple. Be captivated by the amazing rural outlook. The rolling contour of the land is ideal for livestock, grazing, horses, and more. There is a round
and a vast 16.34ha to bring your dreams to
Best Views in Raglan
This
RAGLAN 162 Checkley Road
Modern Country Living Step
• Five sections, 9A, 9B, 9C, 61 and 93 Pond Road, 6,000 - 8,000m², asking $600k
•3956A State Highway 23, 8,002m², asking $750K
• 337 Te Papatapu Road, 8,000m2, price by negotiation
• 375 Okete Road, 8,000m2, price by negotiation
•565 Okete Road, 8,004m², asking $850K
•3578B State Highway 23, 8,021m², asking $490K
•1517 Whaanga Road, 8,025m², asking $690K
• Two sections, 201 Checkley Road, 8,000m² and 1.6ha, asking $750k
•1597 Whaanga Road, 1.1007ha, asking $690K
•116 Maungatawhiri Road, 1.3164ha, asking $799K Te Mata Road, 2.6102ha, price by negotiation
•154 Hills Road, 10.825ha, asking $1.65M
•646 Te Mata Road, 15.0492ha, asking $1.2M
pggwre.co.nz/staff/richard-thomson/current-listings/
WITH ARTIST HARRY SYNNOTT
Harrison Synnott is an artist from Wanaka who has recently moved to Raglan. He is working on a series of batches, buildings and local architecture around Raglan.
Can you describe your style of painting and practice?
I am a representational painter that likes to blend drawing with abstraction, minimal colour combined with strong mark making to capture a particular feeling as opposed to an exact rendering of a subject. I start my process by making sketches from life and then go back to the studio and attempt to turn them into a painting.
What do you enjoy about painting buildings and architecture?
I like the graphic shapes that buildings create, that alone combined with certain colours can carry a strong emotional resonance. But I also like the idea that, whether it's a house or a commercial establishment, there is always a story behind it.
Who might be interested in a commission of this sort?
Either someone who appreciates shape and colour for that alone; or perhaps they resonate with a particular
place and they'd like to cherish a unique original artwork for years to come; or just maybe there's a special someone they would like to gift something more meaningful to.
What attracted you to Raglan ? I love the beach and the waves, but the community and the people here are really cool. Lots of other artists and people are doing interesting things. How do people get in touch?
They can find me online at www. harrisonsynnott.com, or on instagram @ harrisonsynnott.art
Price Deadline Sale (Unless sold prior) 28th August - 4pm
Elevated Luxury - Flax Cove
Thoughtfully designed over three levels, with an elevator to ensure future-proof living, this home exemplifies both convenience and style. This luxurious and immaculate 234sqm home features quality appliances, generous garaging, all on a fully fenced 730sqm freehold site.
Price Deadline Sale (Unless Sold Prior) - 20th August - 4pm
Te Mata Lifestyle Starter
Tucked away in a private setting, this hidden gem offers the perfect retreat for those seeking a sustainable life. All the hard work has been done! Situated on a manageable 1639sqm flat site with peaceful country views, this property is ideal for those wanting to transition from town to rural living.
Price By Negotiation
Inner Harbour, North Facing Views
This harmonious floor plan features three generous sized bedrooms. The master bedroom boasts a luxurious ensuite and a walk-in wardrobe, complemented by heat pump/air conditioning for year-round comfort. Step out onto the north-facing deck to savour the tranquil inner harbour views.
Price Deadline Sale (Unless Sold Prior) 14 August 2024 - 4pm
Birds Eye View
A blank canvas awaiting your creative touch - this elevated, north facing 568sqm near flat site, offers an exceptional opportunity for you to craft the home and lifestyle you’ve always envisioned.
For Sale $1,499,000
View By appointment
Web pb.co.nz/RGU184037
It is rare to find a home in Raglan that offers such a choice of fantastic views of the Raglan harbour and bar, eastwards over Kaitoke Bay, south toward Mt Karioi as well as plenty more to choose from. Besides the wonderful views, the house is bright and airy with high ceilings. With four large bedrooms, 2 lounges, 2 full bathrooms and 3 toilets, the home is perfect for accommodating a large multigeneration family when they visit. Downstairs is the open-plan lounge, dining and kitchen, a large bathroom with shower, bath and toilet, an extra toilet and 2 large bedrooms. The lounge opens into the conservatory allowing great in-door/out-door flow. Upstairs is the other lounge, master bedroom with generous dressing room, ensuite bathroom, plus another bedroom and smaller deck. The self-contained sleepout could be used as an office/consulting room or be utilized as a B'n'B. Twin garages and lots of additional space provide for on-site parking. There is also a higher-than-normal covered area suitable for storing a boat or campervan. The owners have purchased elsewhere and as such are motivated to move on so call today to make an appointment to view - you will be impressed! 4 2 2 1 3
Mark Crarer M 027 433 6083 E mark.crarer@pb.co.nz
Best view of the
The Newton Homestead was originally positioned in the very best location to capture the very best views of the Waireinga, Bridal Veil Falls and her surrounding reserve and to this day she arguably still retains this honour. Of lesser and more common views this area offers, the Homestead provides generous vistas out towards, Aotea, Kawhia and onwards to Albatross Point as well as the ever changing and somewhat moody Mt Karioi. The homestead was built in an era of practicality when timber was cheap and 'big bones' were the norm. Consisting of separate Kitchen/ Dining, a ginormous Lounge, 4 generous bedrooms, master with ensuite, a separate Laundry and ample shedding, the home is generously proportioned which, as a result, offers plenty of space for all manner of family requirements. While the old girl may require some tender loving care to restore her to her former glory, those with vision and a willingness to see her looking her best will appreciate that the potential here is immense. Land size 8000m2.
Debbie Crarer M 027 253 6344 E debbie.crarer@pb.co.nz
4 1 1
For Sale $929,000
View By appointment
Web pb.co.nz/RGL165650
Mark Crarer M 027 433 6083 E mark.crarer@pb.co.nz
Debbie Crarer M 027 253 6344 E debbie.crarer@pb.co.nz
Outside The Shack, The Herbal Dispensary, Soul Shoes at the wharf, Raglan iHub, Wainui Road Supermarket, Te Uku Store, Property Brokers, Ray White, The Hut at Rangitahi, Super Value & Raglan 4 Square.
Raglan Creative Market 11
10am - 2pm @ the Raglan Old School Arts Centre
Daniel Champagne LIVE 17 @ Raglan Town Hall Tix: humantix IG: @danielchampagnemusic
Wim Hof Fundamentals Workshop 17 with Scott Townsend @ Solscape Tix: humantix
Bjorn Again 25 Aug Waterloo Anniversary Tour (ABBA show)
Two extra shows: 2pm & 8pm Sunday 25 Aug @ Clarence St Theatre, Hamilton Tix: Ticketek
Troy Kingi & the Cactus Handshake 20 Sept Leatherman & the Mojave Green Tour @ Last Place, Hamilton IG: @troykingi Tix: troykingi.com
We love seeing your images of our magazine on Instagram - please share the love & tag our mag... @local_rag #localragmag
Raglan Country & Blues Festival 25-27 Oct @ the Raglan Old School Arts Centre, Harbourview Hotel & Congregational ‘Heritage’ Church Tix: humantix
Raglan Arts Weekend 26-28 Oct @raglanartsweekend #raglanartsweekend2024
The Local Rag LOVES to support LOCAL!
We create regular features to showcase local businesses - if you are interested in featuring in one of these please contact Geraldine: geb@g-design.co.nz Our regular features include: Home, Women in Business, Health & Wellbeing, Art, Wharf & Foodies.
For any other advertising or content for the mag, please contact Jacqui: info@raglanchronicle.co.nz
on fragrances.
from ZINNIA @ zinnia5 WORKSHOP HOODBLACK Sizes S M L XL & XXL $80 Available from WORKSHOP BREWING COMPANY @workshopbrewingnz
Read issues of the Local Rag and the Raglan Chronicle online at: www.issuu.com (Search ‘Raglan Chronicle’) raglanchronicle.co.nz
Enter the #LedgeoftheLedge at Manu Bay, Raglan! Show us your best barrel on the Ledge and be in to win cash prizes! For more info follow @raglansurfemporium & @refinery.whaingaroa
ISO Raglan now have a PICK-UP OR DELIVERY TAKEAWAY service...
Cosy up this winter with their delicious menu, now available for convenient pick-up and delivery. Enjoy your favourites from the comfort of your home! @isoraglan Order online at www.isobarraglan.nz
CHECK OUT WHO WE HAVE MENTIONED ON OUR SOCIAL PAGE ON INSTAGRAM... follow / like / share @raglanoldschool @creativeraglanmarket @danielchampagnemusic @troykingi @raglanartsweekend @zinnia5 @workshopbrewingnz @raglansurfemporium @refinery.whaingaroa @isoraglan @thshackraglan
August 2024
The following meetings will be held during August. All meetings will be held at the Waikato District Council, 15 Galileo Street, Ngaruawahia unless otherwise stated.
COUNCIL
Waikato District Council Monday, 29 July 2024, 9.30am
A number of workshops are scheduled throughout each month for the Council to provide direction, these are on Council’s website under the following link https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/your-council/council-committees-boards/council/ council-workshops
Performance & Strategy Monday, 5 August 2024, 9.30am
Policy & Regulatory Tuesday, 13 August 2024, 9.30am
Sustainability & Wellbeing Wednesday, 14 August 2024, 9.30pm
Infrastructure Tuesday, 20 August 2024, 9.30am
Proposed District Plan Thursday, 22 August 2024, 9.30am Sub-Committee **Public Excluded**
Ngaruawahia
Tuesday, 6 August 2024, 6.00pm Community Board Committee Rooms 1 & 2, District Offices, 15 Galileo St, Ngaruawahia
Tamahere Tuesday, 6 August 2024, 7.30pm Community Committee Tamahere Community Centre, 21 Devine Road, Tamahere
Te Kauwhata Wednesday, 7 August 2024, 7.00pm Community Committee St John Hall, 4 Baird Ave, Te Kauwhata Rural-Port Waikato Thursday, 8 August 2024, 6.30pm Community Board Pukekawa Community Hall, 38 Clark and Denize Road, Pukekawa
Taupiri Monday 12 August 2024, 6.00pm
Community Board War Memorial Hall, Greenlane Road, Taupiri
Pokeno Community Monday, 12 August 2024, 7.00pm Committee (Elections) Pokeno Community Hall, 69 Great South Road, Pokeno
Huntly Community Board Tuesday, 13 August 2024, 6.00pm Riverside Rooms, 142 Main Street, Huntly
Waters Governance Board Tuesday, 6 August 2024, 10.00am Committee Rooms 1 and 2
Note: In the event that the business is not concluded on the advertised date, the meeting may be continued on a later scheduled date.
Agendas and minutes for meetings are available at www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/your-council. This notice is given under section 46 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY NEXT MEETING Tuesday 20 August at 1pm in the Church Hall, Stewart Street. Guest Speaker - Raglan Food Company. Floral Art theme – An Arrangement of Succulents. Normal competitions, display table, Garden Vibes, raffle, tea and biscuits. All welcome.
For Sale FIREWOOD DRY, DELIVERED. Phone 021 0771524. Trailer Load Pine $205, Oldman
Raglan Area School is seeking an Examination Centre Manager (ECM) to run NCEA and NZ Scholarship examinations in 2024.
The smooth and successful running of an exam centre is important for all students participating in these examinations.
The ECM must have a high level of digital literacy and experience with applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel, with the capability to develop competence with new applications quickly.
The ECM must also have a high level of organisational skills with great attention to detail, strength in following processes precisely and confidence leading people of all ages.
The position requires you to complete an online training programme and attend a oneday training session with NZQA in August. The position requires you to complete a number of administrative tasks to plan and prepare for the exams. You must be available to work Monday to Friday for the entire exam period (Tuesday 5 November to Friday 29 November).
For further information, please email quenten_browne@raglanarea.school.nz
Please send your CV and cover letter to rasvacancies@raglanarea.school.nz. Applications close Monday 5th August.
CROP SWAP. First and third Sundays of the month. 9.30 -10.30am at Bowling Club, James Street. Bring anything from kitchen or garden to swap – seedlings, plants, produce, preserves, baking. It’s not direct swapping, we share abundance, and everyone gets a bit of everything! All welcome
FRIENDS OF KAITOKE WALKWAY meet on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays every month at 9am to remove pest plants and restore the native environment. Email Whāingaroaweed busters@ gmail.com for the meeting point.
5 STEWART STREET, RAGLAN
CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR UPDATES
EXHIBITION – 1 – 15 AUGUST Quilts – an exhibition of work by Karioi Quilts and Crafts group. Old School Fundraiser – donated quilts for sale by silent auction, plus handmade gifts. Open 10-2 weekdays. Demos - visit the quilters at work to learn about their craft Thursday 8 August 10 -3, plus pop-up demos and activities tbc.
RAGLAN CREATIVE MARKET – SUNDAY 11 AUGUST 10am – 2pm at the Old School, 5 Stewart Street. For more info - www. raglanmarket.com
WHAINGAROA RAGLAN WRITERS WORLD PROGRAM – AUGUST
WHAINGAROA POETRY COMPETITION
Whāingaroa Raglan Writers Group invite school students to get creative and win prizes! Awards presented 6pm Friday 23 August at the Wharf Kitchen. Inspiration photo and more details on our website www.raglanartscentre.co.nz/ creative-raglan-events/wrww/ or pick up an entry form from the Old School Arts Centre office.
POETRY WRITING WORKSHOP – SAURDAY 17 AUGUST Poetic pleasure with Rata Gordon will explore the ways that writing poetry can bring us into a world of rich sensory engagement and pleasure. We will experiment with the ways that writing itself can be a pleasurable act, and explore the theme of 'finding our pleasure' through reading and writing poetry. 10am – 2pm Entry by koha (suggested amount $15).
GALLERY BOOK SHOP – 17 – 23 AUGUST Our pop up bookstore featuring books from many of our local authors will be open from 10am to 2pm. OLD SCHOOL READERS CLUB – FRIDAY 23 AUGUST Open to anyone who wants to share the joy of reading with others. 10.30am –12.30pm, koha entry.
POETRY SLAM – FRIDAY 23 AUGUST
National Poetry Day Poetry Slam – bring along a poem or two and have some fun! Poems limited to 2 mins in length. 7pm, the Wharf Kitchen and Bar, 43 Rose Street – food and drinks available at the venue.
WRITING CRITIQUE GROUP – TUESDAY 27 AUGUST A supportive writing critique group with Ann Neville, to learn from each other and develop skills. 7pm, koha entry.
NOURISH CLAY HANDBUILDING FOR ADULTS Clay & coffee with Lindy | Fridays 6 –27 Sept | 10am – 12.30pm | $180 RCAC+Clay members $200 RCAC members $220 nonmembers | coffee, gluten-free treats, clay and bisque firing included | Bookings essential www. raglanartscentre.co.nz/workshops
REGULAR EVENTS
Ragtimers Ukulele Group 2nd and every subsequent Wed 4pm Clay Shed Members’ Night weekly on Wed 5-7pm
Karioi Quilts & Crafts Monthly on 2nd
