CITYSCAPE | CHRISTCHURCH CURATED November is spelt P.A.R.T.Y. around here, when Christchurch finally shakes off its winter layers and lines up for some hardcore fun. And we've got some main ingredients to help – fashion, inspo from some of the city's food and drink pioneers and a diary-filling diet of arts, culture and events. Hey ho, let's go!
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Contents CITY EDIT NOVEMBER 2023
CITYSCAPE MAGAZINE City Edit November 2023 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & PUBLISHER
Andrea Rickerby EDITOR
Mark Wilson
06 // NEWSFEED Tip-offs, trends & more. 08 // WHAT'S ON Your guide to November.
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SEASON SALUTE TO CITY PIONEER
CREATIVE
Tristan Brehaut ADMINISTRATION
Claire Ross
16 // LITTLE BY LITTLE Getting off life's treadmill one step at a time. 17 // BOOTING UP FOR MENTAL HEALTH In support of our nation's youth for Gumboot Friday. 18 // PARTY PANOPLY A style for every smile this party season at The Colombo.
ON THE COVER
The Hansel & Gretel team of choreographer Loughlan Prior and composer Claire Cowan strike a louche pose before the party kicks off in earnest.
20 // ENTERTAIN ME TV, books, music and more. 22 // THE LAST WORD SCAPE Public Art's new director, Richard Aindow, is scoping out the future.
PHOTO: GARTH BADGER.
Christchurch's contribution to the Royal New Zealand Ballet story takes centre stage in the company’s 2024 programme.
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FIRE STARTERS
ISSN 2324-4879 print | ISSN 2324-4887 online
We talk to two of Christchurch's top fire chefs about the allure of the flame.
Elsewhere Gin’s forager-in-chief Mark Rose gathers the water, geology and botanicals of an area and captures their essence in a bottle.
04 CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ City Edit November 2023
FOR MORE NEWS, INTERVIEWS, CULTURE AND EVENTS HIT UP CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ
STENCIL
EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE THECOLOMBO.CO.NZ
NEWSFEED
DIARIES OUT
TWO VETERANS OF MUSIC AND COMEDY ARE HERE IN 2024.
TIP-OFFS, TRENDS & MORE
PRISCILLA ROSE HOWE
IMAGE: NAOMI HAUSSMANN
DAWN FRENCH
WOMEN SALUTE WOMEN ‘Heart of Glass’, ‘Here Comes the Rain Again’, ‘Brass In Pocket’, ‘Because the Night’ ... monster hits from the original women of rock. Bringing these and other songs to life at the Isaac Theatre Royal in November are our own women of rock – Gussie Larkin, Boh Runga, Julia Deans, Dianne Swann and Jazmine Mary, backed by an all-women band. Get along to ATOMIC! It'll be a blast! isaactheatreroyal.co.nz
... is a huge twat, according to the name of the new show she will perform at the Christchurch Town Hall in May. Already the promoters have put on extra dates due to ticket demand. Dawn French blazed a comedy trail as one half of French & Saunders before going solo.
ARTY PARTY
GRAHAM NASH
Artworks, elephants and a block party will launch the SCAPE Public Art season over the weekend of 25 – 26 November. Ōtautahi's Priscilla Rose Howe, one of eight artists invited to be part of the 25-year-old festival, will have their artwork installed on the corner of Worcester Boulevard and Montreal Street, and a trail of kaleidoscopic elephants will populate the city, raising funds for Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust. To kick things off, the Christchurch City Council is holding an Arts Block Party on Worcester Boulevard and the surrounding area on the Saturday. There'll be performances, music, activities, arts markets and more. SCAPE will have some of its Season Artworks and Re:ACTIVATE artworks installed at the Arts Centre so the public can enjoy both while soaking up the party vibe. scapepublicart.org.nz
The founding member of The Hollies and Crosby, Stills & Nash will perform in the Isaac Theatre Royal in March as part of an extensive tour of Australia and New Zealand. The two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee will celebrate his 60-year career with a songlist to match.
FRANCO BRINGS THE FUNK From the team that brought you Francesca's Italian Kitchen, Miro and Eliza’s Manor comes the funky vibes and Mediterranean charm of Bar Franco, in The Crossing. Open from 11.30am till late, Bar Franco serves tapas, spritz and negroni cocktails and other delectable delights from the Med. Treat yourself! barfranco.nz
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NEWSFEED
ROCA ROUND THE BLOCK Fire and smoke are on the menu at new restaurant ROCA. David Warring has added The Terrace haunt to his Christchurch stable, where it joins Mexicano’s, The Dirty Land, Monarch Cocktail Bar and King of Snake. The cuisine at ROCA
is inspired by the flavours of the Mediterranean, from Spain to the Middle East. The restaurant’s name comes from the Spanish word for rock and refers to the big marble counter-top that dominates the main space, giving diners a commanding view of the
open-flame cooking. The fare includes homemade sourdough flatbreads, Middle Eastern za’atar seasoning paired with burrata and fennel jam, lamb manti, wagyu tartine and even vintage caviar for that special occasion. rocabar.co.nz
MONOPOLY COVERS THE BASES
CHEERS TO THAT!
The interests - heck, passions of Cityscapers are well served by the just-released Christchurch edition of the Monopoly board. There's cultural institutions The Court Theatre and Isaac Theatre Royal, fashion havens The Crossing and Merivale Mall, and gastronomic and oenologic powerhouses Inati, The George and Pegasus Bay. And if you're thirsty after the game, go Yellow for The Bog, Fat Eddies or Joe's Garage. Rent!
City favourites Emma Mettrick and Paul Howells, of Twenty Seven Steps and Downstairs, have been given the ultimate salute in this year's Canterbury Hospitality Awards, receiving the Supreme Individual Award for their dedication to the industry. The couple first opened the Little Bistro in Akaroa in 2010, then opened Twenty Seven Steps on New Regent Street in August 2015. Wine bar Downstairs opened in 2022 as a complement. Every one a treat, too, in our humble opinion. hospitalityawards.co.nz/canterbury
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NEWSFEED
WHAT'S ON CULTURE CALENDAR
KRISTIN HERSH
MUSIC The Queen of Grunge will
perform songs from her new album as well as earlier solo and Throwing Muses material. The Piano, 17 Nov
THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION MUSIC It’s 20 years since their
debut album, Horse Power, dropped. The Loons, Thu 23 Nov
RNZB: HANSEL & GRETEL
DANCE Choreographer Loughlan
Prior, with Claire Cowan and Kate Hawley, has created a magical world of memorable characters for this retelling of the famous fairytale. Isaac Theatre Royal, Thu 23 Nov – Sat 25 Nov
DIMMER
MUSIC Shayne Carter brings the
Dimmer crew and friends to Christchurch for an encore to last year’s tour. James Hay Theatre, Fri 24 Nov
SOMETHING ROTTEN!
THEATRE The Bard goes Broadway
in this wicked, ahistorical take on the birth of the musical in the age of Shakespeare. The Court Theatre, 25 Nov – 27 Jan 2024
SOUTH ISLAND BEER FESTIVAL JULIA DEANS — ATOMIC!
NOVEMBER BILL BAILEY
COMEDY The funny and furiously
talented Bill Bailey brings his new show, Thoughtifier, to town as part of a nationwide tour. Christchurch Town Hall, Sat 4 – Sun 5 Nov
KEVIN BRIDGES: THE OVERDUE CATCH-UP
COMEDY His eye for detail gives him
the edge. This is Kevin Bridges’ fifth live stand-up tour, having previously performed to sold-out audiences in Australia, New Zealand and all over Europe. Christchurch Town Hall, Wed 8 Nov
ATOMIC!
MUSIC Boh Runga, Julia Deans,
Dianne Swan, Gussie Larkin and Jazmine Mary channel the pioneering women of rock in this night of celebration. Isaac Theatre Royal, Fri 10 Nov
THE CORRS
MUSIC The Corrs will bring their
Celtic-flavoured pop to Hagley Park for one night only. Support from Natalie Imbruglia, Toni Childs and Adelaide sister trio Germein. Hagley Park, Sat 11 Nov
FESTIVAL A clear favourite of the
learned Society of Beer Advocates, this annual festival brings together over 30 beers and ciders from craft breweries all over the South Island. Ilam Homestead, Sat 25 Nov
LUKE KIDGELL: HAPPY HOUR
COMEDY Internet-famous funnyman
Luke Kidgell will be live and direct on the ITR stage. The Australian comic revels in audience interaction. Isaac Theatre Royal, Thu 30 Nov
HIGHLY SUSPECT
MUSIC Underground favourites
Highly Suspect have hit the big time and are touring to prove it. Christchurch Town Hall, Wed 15 Nov
For more hip happenings and goliath gigs, hit up cityscape.co.nz
FOLLOW THE BREADCRUMBS
SLÁINTE, IT’S THE CORRS! Irish family band The Corrs will cast their Celticflavoured spell over Hagley Park on Saturday 11 November. Sharon Corr (pictured) remembers the “super-warm audience” at their last Christchurch gig. There’s some first-rate support too, from Natalie Imbruglia, Toni Childs and Adelaide sister trio Germein. thecorrsofficial.com
Christchurch, stand by for another helping of the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s delectable Hansel & Gretel, coming on 23 – 25 November. Choreographer Loughlan Prior, with composer Claire Cowan and designer Kate Hawley, created a magical world with their 2019 interpretation of the classic fairy tale. Loughlan pushes traditional boundaries with cabaret-style dances throughout, and Kate Hawley fills the stage with boogie men, dew fairies, gingerbread men, and a witch, of course. Follow the breadcrumbs to the Isaac Theatre Royal for this festive confection! rnzb.org.nz
EARLY WARNING
BUSKERS BACK IN 2024
RECLAIMING THE HAKA
Start storing your small change – the buskers are back! The Bread & Circus World Buskers Festival will take over the central city from 19 – 28 January, across multiple open-air busking pitches and some of the city’s best venues. Festival director Scott Maidment promises an extravaganza, with a blend of homegrown talent, festival favourites and some fresh faces. breadandcircus.co.nz
It’s over 40 years since a group of Māori students confronted University of Auckland engineering students rehearsing their annual mock haka. The resulting melee, now known as The Haka Party Incident, is the subject of Katie Wolfe’s play at The Court Theatre. Expect to be challenged! courttheatre.org.nz
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Season salute to city pioneer
C
hristchurch’s contribution to the Royal New Zealand Ballet story takes centre stage in the company’s 2024 programme with a production of Swan Lake that honours the legacy of the city’s own ballet star, Russell Kerr. Russell returned to New Zealand in 1957 from establishing a dance career in Europe and teamed up with Danish dancer Poul Gnatt, considered the founding father of ballet in New Zealand. From 1962 to 1969, Russell was artistic director at the still fledgling New Zealand Ballet Company. In 1978 he took up the reins as director at Christchurch’s Southern Ballet Theatre, whose teachers have turned raw talent into members of the company ever since. Russell’s acclaimed production of Swan Lake was first performed in the 1960s and reprised in the 1990s. Next year’s Swan Lake, coming to Christchurch in May, will showcase the dazzling designs created by Kristian Fredrikson for the 1990s’ production. The RNZB will also visit Christchurch next August and November, with productions of Solace: dance to feed your soul and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The first of these, Solace: dance to feed your soul, is a programme of new and recent ballets by choreographers Wayne McGregor, Sarah Foster-Sproull and Alice Topp. For the RNZB, getting Britain’s Wayne McGregor to premiere his Infra, created for London’s Royal Ballet in 2008, represents an artistic coup. Choreographed for an ensemble of 12 dancers and set to a slowly drifting, soulful score by Max Richter, Infra is a profoundly moving meditation on the loneliness, connections and consolations that lie beneath the surface of a city. Julian Opie’s mesmerising 18-metre LED artwork echoes the constant movement of the dancers below
INFRA
SWAN LAKE
as a steady stream of anonymous figures walk purposefully towards destinations unknown. RNZB Choreographer-in-Residence Sarah Foster-Sproull (Despite the loss of small detail, Artemis Rising, Ultra Folly, The Autumn Ball) creates her fifth work for the company, collaborating with the dancers on a ballet that takes a new look at the astonishing machine that is the human body: shape-shifting, endlessly inventive and always greater than the sum of its parts. Music by Eden Mulholland pushes and pulls the dancers through the space with urgency and power. Following the dazzling impact of her Aurum (Venus Rising, 2022) and Logos (Lightscapes, 2023), RNZB alumna and Resident Choreographer at The Australian Ballet Alice Topp creates High Tide, her first original work for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, inspired by the music of Australian composer Graeme Koehne. High Tide is a tender depiction of the never-ending morphosis from birth to death and is inspired by the human condition: growing pains, growing apart and growing together and learning to love and live with the light and shade, youth and age, within us all. Alice’s regular collaborator Jon Buswell will again work with Alice to transform the stage into a living sculpture of light and shadow.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
TOP LEFT — PRINCIPAL MAYU TANIGAITO, SWAN LAKE 1, 2022. PHOTO: ROSS BROWN TOP RIGHT — WAYNE MCGREGOR'S INFRA, THE ROYAL BALLET (MELISSA HAMILTON, ERIC UNDERWOOD), ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, LONDON. PHOTO: ©ROH/ANDREJ USPENSKI, 2012 ABOVE — A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. PHOTO: STEPHEN A'COURT
November’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a co-production between the RNZB and Queensland Ballet of a ballet created for the RNZB by Liam Scarlett and premiered in 2015. It played to capacity audiences throughout its first New Zealand tour and went on to wow Hong Kong in 2016. New Zealand designer Tracy Grant Lord created the glorious vision of Shakespeare’s characters and enchanted wood, illuminated with lighting by Kendall Smith. rnzb.org.nz
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SPIRIT OF THE LAND It’s not eye of newt and toe of frog but some very magical ingredients go into Elsewhere Gin’s range. Forager-in-chief Mark Rose gathers the water, geology and botanicals of an area and captures their essence in a bottle.
E
arly on a calm morning, Mark and Zoë Rose of Elsewhere Gin, with their children Luca and Otto in tow, are scouring Birdlings Flat for pebbles, agates, driftwood and bits of seaweed. So far so normal. What happens next isn’t. Mark takes the results of their foraging, including some seawater, and adds it to botanicals harvested from the nearby Okuti Valley to distil a gin that captures the essence of the area. The seawater amplifies the flavours and adds depth to the gin. The pebbles and agates replace the
boiling stones or glass spheres usually used in distillation, adding their own minerals to the mix. The gathering was done in April. The resulting sky-blue Little River Gin now sits alongside North Canterbury Gin, Central Otago Gin and several other such “regional expressions” on Elsewhere Gin’s website. Mark is a former winemaker of 25 years who decided it was time to use his trained palate for something different. With his wines, he always strived to create a liquid that tightly reflected the terroir of the region. A celebration of living in this world right there in your glass. Why not do the same with gin? Over time he has perfected the technique. Foraging is best done in the early morning when the plant aromatics are at their peak and fresh, before the heat of the day volatilises them. For the Little River forage, the family stayed at the Little River Campground and Manaia Native Habitat. The campground has 5 hectares of bush to explore and from there they foraged tarata resin, kanuka and manuka blossoms, kawakawa fruit and water from the river. They also visited family friend, herbalist and naturopath Valmai Becker at nearby herb garden Phytofarm. The visit was timed for the harvest and into
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WHY BLUE? The final stage before filtering and bottling Elsewhere’s Little River Gin is to infuse it with butterfly pea flowers, the only edible flower in the world that can accurately reflect pH. The blue/purple delphinidian anthocyanins in the flowers interact with the high pH of the water gathered from the river and from the Phytofarm aquifer. Add a splash of tonic to the gin and another reaction produces the lavender blush of early mornings at Birdlings Flat.
‘Foraging is best done in the early morning when the plant aromatics are at their peak and fresh.’
VALMAI BECKER
the mix went lemon verbena, German chamomile, lemon thyme, bay leaf, licorice, holy basil, lemons and sweet marjoram. And some aquifer water. In all cases the wild and farmed botanicals are immediately placed into glass jars with neutral spirit and the gathered water to capture the full array of aromatics. For all of Elsewhere Gin’s regional expressions range, the process is the same. The family head off to visit friends across the country and go to remote areas for a forage. Using excise-paid neutral spirit, Mark makes a distillate of each botanical right there in the field. He takes these “quintessences” to the distillery he is working with, currently Humdinger in Geraldine. Here, the foraged water and botanicals are interlaced in the distilling run with classic gin botanicals such as Himalayan juniper and Italian juniper, Germangrown angelica archangelical, and picante coriander, an Aotearoa-grown variety with an intense woody citrus aroma. Mark’s pioneering approach to gin-making has attracted serious attention. Matt Barnsley of Christchurch hospo player Inkster Co. wanted a gin specifically for the group’s swanky Austin Club so Mark took the staff foraging to Little Akaloa on a stormy
Monday morning. They found plenty of banana passionfruit growing wild and that became the centrepiece of the gin, augmented by foraged horopito peppercorns, kawakawa and kombu. Since then Mark has created gins for The Juniper Collective (horopito, celery pine, manuka blossom, snow totara and cherry blossoms from Arthurs Pass), O.G.B (wild gooseberries and miro berries with water from Aōraki-fed Lake Pukaki) and others. One collab was with Kings Truffles in Waipara. Mark infused 20 litres of North Canterbury Gin with 1kg of perigord truffles, along with saffron, wild cherries and violets to produce truffle-rich gin with endless flavours. And coming is a bespoke gin for Otahuna Estate in Tai Tapu. The year-long process will include gathering botanicals from the estate’s vast collection as they come into bloom. The small-batch nature of Elsewhere Gin’s process means a limited supply of each one. No problem – Mark and the family will often go back to their favourite places to gather botanicals for further batches. But just like vintage wines, each batch will express the character of different seasons and years. No two the same. elsewheregin.com
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FIRE STARTERS US-STYLE LOW-AND-SLOW, ARGENTINIAN ASADO, SOUTH AFRICA’S BRAAI – ALL VARIATIONS ON THE THEME OF MEAT COOKED OVER A FIRE. AS WE HEAD INTO THE BARBECUE SEASON, WE TALK TO TWO OF CHRISTCHURCH’S TOP FIRE CHEFS ABOUT THE ALLURE OF THE FLAME.
C
ooking over fire is as old as humanity. Even older – palaeontologists have shown that pre-humans living 2 million years ago in southern Africa were the first beings to catch and control fire. Sure made the warthog a little less tough! Wood fire in particular gives food a special flavour. Some believe the hot but mellow effect of cooking on fire is the best for building one’s chi, or life force. Now, after many decades of cooking moving from the firepit to the kitchen, the trend is reversing. Gas barbecues are giving way to wood and charcoal as everyone from serious chefs to backyard burners catch the wave of flame. Here in Christchurch, two chefs have been at the forefront of the movement, Food By Fire’s Josh Hunter and Smokey T’s Tristin Anderson.
SMOKEY T’S A former executive chef who once managed 32 chefs across several Christchurch restaurants, Tristin says he’s been grabbed by a "smoke addiction”. From his custom cooker, he serves 10-hour smoked brisket, 6-hour smoked pork belly and 2-hour smoked jerk chicken in tacos, burgers and platters as well as classic ribs and delicious sides. Smokey T’s scooped the People’s Choice gong two years running at the Christchurch hospitality awards. How would you describe what you do? Smokey T’s BBQ is a mix of Texas meets Kansas. We feel more Kiwis love a saucy-style rib and well-seasoned beef. We touch base with all BBQ flavours really. How did you get into it? Over my 26 years as a chef it wasn’t till about eight years ago I started experimenting with more proteins. I grew up just smoking fish. One day I found an offset smoker at
Bunnings, brought it home and boom, I was addicted! I remember stuffing tinfoil around the back of the barbecue trying to patch the leaks and using dryer vent tubes to try and get a better draw on the fire. My friends would drop off wild meats from their weekend catches and I would be up all night trying to perfect the product I was given. What have been some of the highlights for you with BBQ cooking? Starting out commercial BBQ’ing was a real buzz. Watching people’s reactions when eating the product was mind-blowing. It was a flavour that hadn’t really hit New Zealand yet. Also we got into competition BBQ and soon realised there was a mad following of people wanting to learn more and share their knowledge. There was a great community behind the passion. It seems to excite a real passion with professional chefs and serious amateurs alike – why? There is a real feeling when you get up early and light the fire. There’s something about the smell and watching people react to your food that just hits home. Any tips for someone starting out? Select premium quality meat and get your head around fire management. smokeytsbbq.com
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FOOD BY FIRE Founder and chef of Whakapapa of Your Kai, Josh Hunter has always enjoyed cooking over fire and has used fires to enhance the food in several restaurants. But when he worked with Maty Johns and Rod Thomson from Food by Fire and Hannah Crisp from Crisp and Vale on an event called Fire and Feast, he caught the bug. How would you describe what you do? The style of BBQ we like to do at Food by Fire is asado, or more of a sub-style of asado called asador criollo, which is barbecuing vertically on an iron cross over an open flame. I'm a huge advocate for supporting small family businesses and for the paddock-toplate ethos, using local Canterbury ingredients and proteins. This summer we will be using Poaka pigs from Mid Canterbury and Hallfield wagyu beef from Ohoka, North Canterbury. What makes asado different to a braai or US-style barbecue? While asado, braai or US-style barbecue all use fire to cook, asado is a South American style of barbecuing and has a real focus on not just the cooking but the performance of cooking over fire at a social event. Asado is the technique commonly used in countries such as Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay where it is a traditional event. An asado usually consists of
beef, pork, chicken, chorizo and morcilla, all cooked using an open fire or grill called a parrilla. Usually side dishes such as salads accompany the main meats, which are prepared by a designated cook called the asador or parrillero. Braai is South Africa’s unique style of live fire cooking – this feast that can last for hours and there are plenty of rules and etiquette around it. A traditional braai is cooked on local wood, while modern-day braais use charcoal. Both give the meat a distinct flavour. Using gas to cook doesn’t count as a real braai. US-style is more “low and slow”. The four main types are North Carolina and Memphis, which use pork and represent the more traditional styles, and Kansas City and Texas, which use beef as well as pork.
The scene really lends itself to steampunk-style contraptions such as your asado trailer – who designs them? We're very fortunate to have Rod Thomson design and build most of our asado BBQs inhouse. When we need more or bigger BBQs with lots of steampunk style we get help from Glen O’Neill at local company Flaxton Iron. Any tips for someone starting out? Start off by using equipment that doesn't intimidate you and is simple to use, like Weber. It's about experimenting with different produce, temperatures and timings until you get a gauge on how firewood and charcoal change the flavours. And enjoy it – the more you do it the more you’ll understand and your confidence will grow. foodbyfire.nz
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WELLBEING
I
n our fast-paced lives filled with constant demands, many of us find ourselves overwhelmed. Clinical psychologist Dr Sarah Anticich offers a refreshing perspective, advocating for the power of taking small, intentional steps that can momentarily lift us off the treadmill of daily life. Rooted in the principles of wellbeing science, positive psychology and growth mindset, this approach forms the foundation of Grow Daily, a Christchurch practice dedicated to the transformative potential of these "intentional daily habits" – small, manageable actions that can be seamlessly integrated into our routines to cultivate healthy practices that significantly improve overall wellbeing. At the heart of this behaviour change system are microsteps, which have the potential to help individuals and organisations build resilience, strengthen connections and enhance performance. These microsteps align with Grow Daily's four pillars of wellbeing: Action (eat, sleep, move), Attention (focus, mindfulness), Reflection (think, feel) and Connection. The beauty of daily microsteps lies in the simplicity and minimal time commitment. Yet the rewards are vast and far-reaching. By consistently practising these small actions, you can experience improvements in various aspects of your life, including wellbeing, resilience, focus, relationships, and a heightened sense of purpose. Let's delve into some of these 30-second microsteps: Sunlight serenity Start your day with 30 seconds of sunshine bliss. Upon waking, dedicate 30 seconds to basking in natural sunlight. This
your out-breath longer than your in-breath. This practice can slow your heart rate and promote relaxation. These microsteps extend to various areas of life, each offering a simple but effective strategy for improvement:
LITTLE BY LITTLE Clinical psychologist Dr Sarah Anticich, co-founder and director of Christchurch wellness practice Grow Daily, has some advice for getting off life's treadmill one step at a time.
simple act signals your body's internal clock and boosts mood-regulating hormones. Relax and recharge in 30 seconds Spend half a minute focusing your eyes on distant objects to relax your gaze and activate your body's rest and digest system. This act can reduce stress and enhance focus. Mindful awareness Take 30 seconds to immerse yourself fully in a sensory experience, such as feeling the texture of an object or savouring the taste of a small piece of dark chocolate. Mini walk Break up sedentary periods by taking a 30-second walk around your workspace or home. It's a quick energy boost. Breathing focus Pay attention to your breath and intentionally make
Sleep smart 30 minutes to better rest – set a specific time to turn off devices at night and keep them out of your bedroom. Set an alarm 30 minutes before bedtime to remind you to start winding down. Turn off overhead lights and turn on lamps to cue your visual system that it is time to wind down. White space Block into your day periods of 2 – 5 minutes of nothing. Allow your mind to wander and rest. You might wonder why these habits seem so straightforward. That's precisely the point. Each tiny actionable step serves as a building block for greater confidence and optimism, acting as a motivating force for the next step in your journey. Scientific research tells us that it's precisely these incremental mindset and behavioural shifts, when repeated consistently, that enable us to form habits. Over time, these habits can lead to significant and meaningful improvements in individual wellbeing. Incorporating these 30-second microsteps and other intentional habits from Grow Daily can lead to significant positive changes in your daily life, promoting a holistic sense of wellbeing and productivity. Embrace the power of microsteps, and watch as these small actions accumulate into substantial transformations in your life. growdaily.co.nz
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WELLBEING
BOOTING UP FOR MENTAL HEALTH I
t’s a simple notion – normalise talk about mental health with young people and they will realise they are not the only ones struggling with distressing self-talk and overthinking. They are not alone and help is available. Mike King’s I Am Hope campaign has been spreading that message for 10 years in schools and communities throughout Aotearoa. It’s a message not just for parents but for aunts, uncles, family friends and co-workers – anyone in fact who has young people in their life. Gumboot Friday, 3 November, is the campaign’s big annual fundraiser, with people urged to don their Red Bands or Hunters for the day to raise awareness. Why gumboots? Because for people with depression, every day can feel like walking through mud. Mike and the team want us to show our support by putting on our gumboots and walking for just one day in the shoes of someone struggling.
It's a fun way to join in the mental health conversation while raising money to provide free and timely counselling for any young person in need. “We all have that voice in our heads, that inner critic, secondguessing everything we do,” Mike says. “The voice of doubt that
‘HAVING AN OVERACTIVE INNER CRITIC IS NOT A SIGN OF MENTAL ILLNESS, IT’S A SIGN THAT WE ARE NORMAL.’
beats us up and tells us we’re failures, that we’re worthless. “Having an overactive inner critic is not a sign of mental illness, it’s a sign that we are normal. When our kids hear that self-doubt and overthinking is a shared experience, they are more likely to seek formal help earlier.”
Through school visits and community events, I Am Hope ambassadors tackle the myths that surround mental illness, helping young people and their supporters to understand that it’s good to open up about feelings and that friends and family are crucial for getting to a better place. Talking about mental illness also fights the stigma. Gumboot Friday organisers are keen to hear from anyone interested in organising a fundraising event. You can join the Gumboot Army and tap into a whole heap of helpful resources, including fundraising ideas for organisations, schools and individuals. Despite its importance to the organisation, for Mike and the team, Gumboot Friday is just one day. Every day, they say, is an opportunity to normalise talk about mental health. “It’s just a conversation,” is their message, and any of us can start it. Now’s good. gumbootfriday.org.nz
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PARTY PANOPLY
A STYLE FOR EVERY SMILE THIS PARTY SEASON.
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Still searching for that perfect season-fresh party dress? Head to The Colombo and its diverse range of boutique fashion stores. Kaleidoscopic colours, bold stripes and neon splashes – love love love!
1 Show Your Stripes Dress (RRP $399) from Identity 2 Berrie Nice Dress (RRP $289) from Annah Stretton 3 Saya Dress (RRP $389.90) from Repertoire 4 Molly Bracken Sleeveless Bold Print Dress (RRP $239.95) from Hills Boutique 5 Billie Crossbody Bag (RRP $329.90) from Repertoire 6 Sito NOW OR NEVER Sunglasses (RRP $89.95) from Hills Boutique 7 Tropicana Tank Dress (RRP $139.90) from Collective 8 Thing Thing Pip Dress (RRP $169) from Stencil.
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FASHION
POP & GLOSS
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Looking for a summer makeup look? We take some inspo from the fashion catwalks of the world for styles that are just ahead of the curve.
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POPS OF COLOUR Bold red lips, accentuated eyes or even a bit of pantomime to the cheekbones, it’s all good this season.
GLOSSY LIPS Sorry matte, you’re so last season! This summer belongs to the gloss and it’s available in a kaleidoscope of colours and shades. Time to get your shine on!
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PEACH PINK Pink never goes out of style but this season there’s a peachy tone to the fore. Get your Ken to complement it with a peach-pink touch to his wardrobe. Remember, he’ll do anything for you!
19 CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ What's On November 2023
ENTERTAIN ME
BINGEWATCHING WHAT WE’RE HOOVERING UP ON THE SMALL SCREEN.
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01 — MARAUDERS Revisit the heady days of 20 years ago, when Fat Freddy’s Drop were plotting world domination from a South London flat. Throughout their three-month sojourn, the band hustled for attention and wowed festival crowds across Europe. There for the journey was Sarah Hunter and her borrowed Handycam, filming everything from the intimate to the epic. Season 1 out now on RNZ Music. 02 — THE CROWN Netflix’s ground-breaking series returns for its sixth and final season. The first four episodes explore the events surrounding Princess Diana’s death before moving on to the later years of The Queen’s reign. There’s a royal wedding in the mix, too.
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03 — THE BUCCANEERS For the fans of period dramas. The polite society of 1870s London comes under siege from a bevy of American beauties hell-bent on tying the knot with a member of the English aristocracy. Available on Apple TV+
READING
EYELINER — ZAHRA HANKIR
ENDGAME — OMID SCOBIE
The history you didn’t know you wanted. From Nefertiti to Amy Winehouse, eyeliner is one of our most enduring cosmetic tools. Journalist Zahra Hankir deftly weaves big themes of politics and cultural identity with healthy doses of fun and frivolity in a review covering millennia. The eyes have it.
Subtitled “Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival”, this is the perfect follow-up to the just-released last season of Netflix’s The Crown. Omid picks up the story after The Queen’s death and finds an institution in turmoil and struggling for its very survival.
THE CREWE MURDERS — KIRSTY JOHNSTON AND JAMES HOLLINGS A top team bring their impressive journalistic credentials to bear on our most infamous cold case. Combining narrative, detailed research and new testimony from those who were there, this book digs further into the case than we have been before.
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ENTERTAIN ME PLAY LIST
The killer tracks on high rotation in the Cityscape office.
DOJA CAT ‘Paint The Town Red’ Scarlet
COI LERAY ‘Players’ Single
Listening KRISTIN HERSH — CLEAR POND ROAD The uncompromising Queen of Grunge and former Throwing Muse returns with her 11th studio album, again displaying the jagged dissonance and raw yet opaque lyrics that are her solo trademark. Kristin will perform songs from her new album and earlier material at The Piano on November 17.
GRAYSON GILMOUR — HOLDING PATTERNS The Wellington wunderkind has a new album out, the latest addition to an
ouevre that includes award-winning film scores, solo works and fronting the electronic / post-punk phenomenon that was So So Modern. A unique artist on a unique trajectory.
CHRISTINE McVIE; IN THE MEANTIME Reissued to mark the passing of Fleetwood Mac luminary Christine McVie, here are her 1984 and 2004 solo albums, remastered and available on CD, vinyl and digital release. A fitting tribute to one of the signature voices of rock.
PODCASTS
THE BOOKER PRIZE PODCAST Can’t wait for your annual Booker fix? This weekly podcast from the Booker team revisits winning books and other nominated titles from years past as well as interviews with authors, experts and bibliophiles.
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SHAPESHIFTER ‘Amokura’ Single
ROLLING STONES ‘Angry’ Hackney Diamonds
NORMA TANEGA ‘You're Dead’ Walkin' My Cat Named Dog
BELIEVE IN MAGIC Inspired by her own cancer diagnosis, Megan Bhari launched a charity at 16 for other children with incurable diseases. Some, though, cast doubt on whether Megan was actually unwell, only to be baffled by her sudden death.
THE LAST WORD
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t its heart, SCAPE is about bringing communities together in public spaces through contemporary art – how will you put your stamp on that? We are looking at ways we can amplify the public programming around the artworks this year and we have a few exciting ideas we would like to realise. For me, creating meaningful connections between artists, their ideas and the wider community is the essence of what SCAPE is and can be. For example, several of our artists this season are seeking to shed light on and generate debate about social, cultural, environmental or economic issues, so we would like to bring community together around their works – creating points of assembly for people to come together around and connect. Expect to see events, talks and action! Curator Tyson Campbell has brought together an exciting lineup of artists for the season. Yes. Many of the artists have strong messages to convey with their work and we don’t plan on being quiet about it. Their gift to the community will be multifaceted: bringing groups and communities together, inspiring playfulness, generating conversations, even pushing comfort zones. You have listed as priorities supporting SCAPE’s emerging and established artists and expanding SCAPE’s education programmes – what are some of your plans for achieving those goals? There is a reason that SCAPE has reached the milestone of 25 years. The initial focus for me and the team is delivering on the strong programme proposed by Tyson, our new managing curator, our work to produce permanent artworks in Ōtautahi, and our highly regarded free education and wellbeing programmes. In the short term I am interested in exploring how we can best support our artists so they can focus on their ideas and concepts rather than the heavy lifting. Our education
SCOPING OUT A FUTURE SCAPE
After 25 years’ nurturing by founder Deborah McCormick, public art programme SCAPE has a new director. Richard Aindow tells Cityscape about the weight of responsibility in his new role and the goals he wants to realise.
programmes are always immensely popular and get booked out every year. Children and teachers rave about them and I think they really are an incredible asset to give the community. I’d love to explore funding options to be able to offer them all year round. You saw a fair bit of New Zealand before settling in Christchurch in 2021 – find the right place in the end then? We have two young children and wanted Nana and Grandad to be able to spend more time with their grandchildren. We are also excited to be back in Te Waipounamu after a decade in Wellington. The energy around Christchurch now is
exciting and infectious: Creative New Zealand CEO Stephen Wainwright was playing to the crowd when he described Ōtautahi as the creative powerhouse of Aotearoa, but I’m happy to lean into that! What can you tell us about your home town of Preston, in Lancashire? Preston is the industrial city in northwest England that provided inspiration for Charles Dickens when he wrote Hard Times. A dark satanic mill town turned service city. Happily for me, it wasn’t hard times growing up there. I spent a lot of time on the fells and in the mountains with friends who have been with me from pre-school: the 12 of us still message daily. Looking back, I feel very fortunate. What brought you to New Zealand? I arrived in 2004 for a ski season in Queenstown, a longer stop while I travelled the world, and then never left. After the season I travelled to Nelson on my way through Aotearoa. I fell in love with the city so gave myself 24 hours to find a job. I got one and the rest is history. Tell us about your life in Christchurch? My wife grew up in Rakaia so we moved from Wellington to be closer to her parents and live semi-rurally south of the city. Our children are five and three so take up most of my focus outside of work, with adventures and activities. I am also an arts assessor in Selwyn District and have other arts projects to pack in. What’s your favourite way to spend a Sunday afternoon? We have branded Saturdays “family fundays”, where we spend the day together exploring the arts, events and outside. As a consequence, often Sunday afternoon is more gardening and life administration. Podcasts have changed my relationship with weeding and pruning for the better. SCAPE Public Art Season 2023, Saturday 25 Nov 2023 – Sat 17 Feb 2024 scapepublicart.org.nz
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23 CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ City Edit November 2023