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Creating the perfect health and wellness retreat Page 6
Photo: Catherine Fry
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Photo: Christopher Green
Kerosene Creek Rediscovering native gems Kerosene Creek used to be something of a best kept secret, a treat only the locals got to enjoy. However, the geothermally heated stream’s popularity soared after being featured in Lonely Planet and locals felt a little wonder of their world being saturated.
The sun breaks through the bush at Kerosene Creek.
But with Covid having a significant impact on tourism in New Zealand, the onus is on domestic explorers to rediscover their native gems once again. A day trip to Kerosene Creek and the surrounding area should be high on any homegrown travellers list. Just 25 minutes south of Rotorua you turn off State Highway 5 and find yourself on Old Wai-O-Tapu Road, a gravel track which requires caution or the appropriate vehicle. But the reward at the end of this five minute finishing straight justifies the bumpy ride. Park up on the right and take a wander through the native bush to discover a tranquil otherworldly scene. Heated water from the hot spring beneath the earth combines with the cooler water of the stream to create a
PIC TO COME CENTRE
perfect geothermally heated spot which rivals some of the best spas in the region. In the morning, with crisp air lingering, the steam becomes mystifying. With foliage abounding, often intrusively, and native birds calling, you’d be forgiven for believing you’d stumbled into Jurassic Park. Cooler mornings are also the best time to visit at this time of year. Not a morning person? Then visit in the early evening as a treatment for excursions in the area such as walking the Rainbow Mountain track or a day of mountain biking in Rotorua. What better way to soothe your aching muscles before the sun goes down? Enjoy a waterfall massage sitting on rocks piled up by previous visitors. Some locals even swear by the healing properties of the creek’s mud which you can rub into your tender limbs. It’s a premier spa treatment but the admission is free. Be sure to keep your head above the water. Meanwhile, taking valuables with you from the car allows for a stress-free dip. Bring a bag which you can also use to take any rubbish away with you, ensuring you leave no trace of your presence at this one time hidden gem other than the story Mathew Nash you can tell.
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Fashion for the ages There are plenty of voices advocating for sustainable fashion, but not so many are actively out there making changes.
One woman’s ‘no longer’ is another woman’s treasure
Sheryl Andersen and Rhonda Hewlett.
is to reduce, retain, reuse and recycle good quality clothing - saving the planet one garment at a time,” says Rhonda. But there’s one thing for sure - you won’t catch either of these women wearing off-the-rack very often. They’re a pair that practice what they preach. “We both love shopping in consignment stores and finding treasures. Recycling clothing has been a passion of mine for more than 20 years - at least 80 per cent of my wardrobe is pre-loved,” says Sheryl. And if you want to start on your own sustainable fashion journey, Copper and Cotton are hosting a bit of a fashion fiesta this weekend, on Saturday, March 13 from 11am at 23 Hawea Street. “We’ll be showcasing pre-loved designer clothing, mixed with a few bespoke and upcycled garments, to encourage everyone to get onboard and become a more sustainable and environmentally-conscious consumer in the world of fashion,” says Sheryl. Cayla-Fay Euinton
Photos: John Borren
A dynamic duo based in Mount Maunganui, however, are working hard to address the ‘fast fashion’ mindset. Copper and Cotton is a consignment fashion store, selling the best in pre-loved designer clothing. The unique venue is a gorgeous space, offering a relaxed, ultrafriendly and unique shopping experience. Owner of the Hawea Street store, Sheryl Andersen, says pre-loved designer fashion has become a way of life for her, and she hopes to inspire others by showing that pre-loved doesn’t mean out-of-date. Part of her vision is to promote pre-loved designer clothing as a sustainable and viable way to buy fashion. “These are all pre-loved pieces that people loved once, but for whatever reason they stopped wearing them,” says Sheryl. “Why not let somebody else enjoy them? “I think it is fair to say most people only wear 20 per cent of their wardrobe 80 per cent of the time!” What started as a clever way to get designer fashion into Sheryl’s wardrobe quickly grew into a passion.
“I love it, and you can get some really gorgeous one-off pieces; you’re not going to see them anywhere else and it is now a conscious choice of mine to invest in preloved designer clothing.” The shop originally began life as The Remodelling Room by Rhonda Hewlett. “I started this in 2015, offering a bespoke clothing alteration and remodelling service with a retail shop selling consignment clothing,” explains Rhonda. “This side of the business grew very quickly and started to become overwhelming, taking me away from my passion of being creative. “That’s when I put the word out to my lovely clients and Sheryl put her hand up! “Deciding to follow her passion, Sheryl took over the consignment clothing side of the business, rebranding as Copper and Cotton. This has enabled me to focus on my strengths and Sheryl to grow her business, which is internationally on trend in the fashion world.” Rhonda continues to run her workroom alongside Sheryl. “There’s really great synergy between the two businesses. Advising, and sometimes assisting Sheryl’s clients with clothing alterations is one of the ways our businesses complement each other. “I do prefer bespoke garment projects and being creative. The ethos of my business
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Working together Collaboration for a greater good There are few collaborative work spaces in the country that offer more than just an open-plan office and a printer, but The Kollective in Tauranga is certainly offering more than your regular office supplies.
The Kollective general manager Gordy Lockhart.
Based in The Historic Village on 17th Ave, The Kollective has a focus on giving back to the community. “The Kollective is the largest co-working space in New Zealand, but it is particularly interesting because it is dedicated to the success of the charitable and not-for-profit community,” says The Kollective general manager Gordy Lockhart. “Essentially, social impact is the aim of The Kollective, and The Kollective itself is a social enterprise.” Here’s how it works: there are 35 residential member organsations, made up of 91 residential members. These organisations pay a membership fee and in return use the facilities The Kollective offer. Those fees are collected by The Kollective, costs are deducted, and all profits are handed over to TECT to divvy up into the community. “We produced a profit of $142,000 last financial year, ending March 2020, all of
which went back to TECT for redistribution into the community,” says Gordy. But it’s not just about the profits going back into the community. The Kollective offers a collaborative working environment that fosters connections, mutual assistance and community. “The most important thing that we did – other than the build itself – was the member values agreement,” says Gordy. “It talks about participation in the community, diversity, it’s all about what is a healthy society nowadays. Anyone that signs up to The Kollective has to agree to these principals and join on the basis of the aim of social good for us all.” “For example,” says Gordy, “two organisations that we support are ConneXu – which is an organization that owns a few properties around Tauranga and look after the needs of the intellectually and physically handipcapped – and an organisation called Community Living, who supply the equipment for homes like ConneXu. “Previously, ConneXu would have to go to a website, send an email or call someone to order products that they needed, but now all they do is the look over the top over their desk and ask their neighbour to order what they need. “Those two organisations are a great
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“The Kollective is the largest co-working space in New Zealand, but it is particularly interesting because it is dedicated to the success of the charitable and not-for-profit community”
example of what The Kollective is all about – for organisations to work that closely together, which saves time, saves money, which they can then redirect into services for their clients. “The idea that you can help your neighbour with something one week, then your neighbour can help you with something the following week. “The whole idea that, as a family we can achieve more, is what The Kollective is all about.” And it’s a system that’s working, and working well. “We were fortunate to win the sustainable business award at the Westpac Tauranga Business Awards, hosted by the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, in 2019 and the social enterprise award in 2020,” says Gordy. But at the end of the day, it’s all about collaboration. “The most important aspect – and I suppose the social impact – is the collaboration. I know that’s the element that I’m most passionate about in terms of the Business Women’s Network Speaker Series, is that we can achieve both societal impact and social change by doing collaborations together for a greater social good,” says Gordy. “The Kollective isn’t here to sell anything, we’re here to give the idea that the better world is in the interests of everybody. That means that the ideas of equity and equality, the idea that everyone is welcome in the same space, regardless of who they are, who they love, that sort of thing.” Gordy will be speaking at the Business Women’s
Network Speaker Series on Thursday, July 8, hosted by Tauranga Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Craigs Investment Partners and Cooney Lees Morgan. His topic? “The value of collaboration is the key. “As organsations and as human beings, we collaborate every day, whether that’s with your family, your mates, your neighbour. “The idea we’ll be presenting at the Speaker Series is about how we can make a bigger social impact and a better world by working together as opposed to working separately.” For more information on the upcoming Business Women’s Network Speaker Series, visit: www.tauranga.org.nz/bwn/bwn-speaker-series-2021
the changing changing changing changing
of business business business business
27th – May 2021 8th – July 2021 Sustainability – Diversity – Wellness
On sale now –
tauranga.org.nz/bwn/
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Photos: Catherine Fry
Ruapuke Holistic Retreat The stars were aligned when Canadianborn Julia Gerhard met Waikato-born Kingsley Comins on her OE in 2015. From their first conversation, they realised that their beliefs, values and dreams matched perfectly. In early 2020, after a long, countrywide search, the couple bought a simple house on two hectares of remote bush on the Ruapuke coast, outside Raglan. Julia has a BA in Hotel Management, a Diploma in Massage Therapy and is currently in her final year of a degree to become a qualified Naturopath and Medicinal Herbalist. Kingsley has a Physical Training Diploma, Advanced Yoga Teaching Diploma and extensive knowledge of brain neuroscience from an unfinished triple major degree in Psychology, Chemistry and Biology. Together they are well placed to start the health and wellness retreat they have talked about for so long.
Off grid a priority The land ticked almost every item on their wish list for the lifestyle they would like to lead and share. The steep and rolling contour, predominantly bush clad land sits elevated above Ruapuke beach, with stunning views in every direction. “The energy here is amazing, with the flow
of the land from the mountain down to the sea, and we are in the middle of that,” says Julia. “One of the main requirements was that we could be off-grid,” says Kingsley. The house already had some solar panels, but more were installed, so there are 14 to cater for greater electricity needs, and they charge four large batteries. A diesel generator is on standby in the shed if required. “We’ve got a big wood burning range in the main living area, which can be used for cooking, and has a wetback for our hot water,” says Kingsley. The two hectares has already provided a good store of wood from naturally fallen trees, and keeping that a sustainable practice will be part of the couple’s journey. A small, rocky bed stream runs through the land from Mount Karioi, but the water supply comes from a mountain spring, piped to and shared by several neighbours. Roof water is also collected and stored in the water tank. There’s no council wastewater and the couple were delighted to find a vermiculture waste system under the house. “It’s a two tank system, with tiger worms dealing with the solid waste,” says Julia. “We add lime and grass clipping to the worm tank.” Building blocks in place Previous owners had started projects that
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Dreams of a rural, coastal holistic retreat were already shaping the property in a way that resonated with Kingsley and Julia’s plans for self-sufficiency and sustainability. The thick bush has a maze of formed paths and mown areas where there is no bush. “We’ve got a fully established 40 tree heritage orchard. “It’s been so carefully thought out, with different fruit coming ripe at different times,” says Julia. Once she is practicing, Julia dreams of growing a complete herbal apothecary and making her own herbal remedies from scratch. She points out various native trees and plants already on the property that can be harvested and used. “It’s really important to me that I know the origin and quality of any herbs that I use, and this way I know what I am giving to clients,” says Julia. The 12 raised garden beds are lined up for growing year round vegetables and herbs using permaculture principles, with Julia planning on having a greenhouse to extend what herbs she can grow. “We’re also looking at having chickens, sheep in the orchard, and bees,” says Julia. “We visited my grandfather, a shamanic herbalist in Kaitaia, and their set up on a smaller scale just blew our minds away, totally inspiring us as to what can be done with our land,” says Kingsley.
Health and wellness The rustic, batten and ply, two-bedroom home has a purpose-built yoga room. The high vaulted ceilings and large picture windows, with its sea and mountain views is a very special place. “It’s already the perfect venue for yoga, conferences and gatherings,” says Kingsley. Kingsley teaches calisthenics – coaching people to effectively manipulate their bodies to get the most out of their training with minimum effort and without the need for much equipment. “It encompasses full body awareness and works on strength, mobility, balance and co-ordination,” says Kingsley. The couple see their land as a place for gathering like-minded people and facilitating progressive conversations around social structures and ways of living. Rustic cabins and little clearings throughout the bush are planned, offering a truly spiritual experience with nature. “Wealth is in community, people are way too disconnected,” says Julia. “We’d like to provide a place where people can come to grow and share, and we can empower them to heal themselves,” says Kingsley. In 2022 the couple intend to be living in Ruapuke full time and running their retreat. Catherine Fry
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Under Water
Land CleanUp Festival
21 March
12pm - 2pm | Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui | Free Event
Visit www.envirohub.org.nz for more details. Divers must pre register at www.divezonetauranga.co.nz
SPEAKERS FORUM
SPEAKERS FORUM
After a series of speakers forums dedicated to educating about the many intricacies of climate change this forum will be dedicated to what we can do at an individual, community, business and government level. Speakers Include Nándor Tánczos of Whakatane District Council as facilitator, Chris Battershill of Waikato University, Marty Hoffart of the Zero Waste Network, Stacey Mareroa of One Twenty Legacy Ltd and Professor James Renwick, Climate Change Commissioner.