The Hobson July/August 2017

july/august 2017

resident dogs p epsom's newest mp p sounds & style local news, views & informed opinions

A GLOBAL SUCCESS STORY

$95 70 880 20,000 NEW TECHNOLOGY

BILLION USD IN GLOBAL SALES VOLUME

COUNTRIES & TERRITORIES WORLDWIDE

OFFICES

SALES ASSOCIATES

S O T H E B Y S R E A LT Y.C O M

1 APPLE TV

3D & VIRTUAL REALITY

22

NO.1 LUXURY REAL ESTATE WEBSITE IN THE WORLD MILLION VISITS

Extraordinary growth. Outstanding results. Unrivalled expertise.

nzsothebysrealty.com AUCKLAND | MATAKANA | WAIHEKE ISLAND | BAY OF ISLANDS | TAUPO | FIJI | HAWKE’S BAY | WELLINGTON NELSON | MARLBOROUGH | CHRISTCHURCH | QUEENSTOWN | ARROWTOWN | WANAKA

Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ.

INSPIRED EUROPEAN TRENDS

Be inspired by the latest European trends in bathroom and kitchen, designed by Philippe Starck, Sieger Design, Matteo Thun and Arne Jacobsen. Our unique collection has everything you need to create your personal sanctuary.

Choose your dream bathroom fittings from the new Metrix Design Collection catalogue out now. Call into the showroom in Parnell for your copy. “Don’t think bathroom, think lifestyle”

www.metrix.co.nz 155 The Strand, Parnell, Auckland T: 09 379 7399 E: info@metrix.co.nz

DURAVIT | DORNBRACHT | VOLA | KALDEWEI | PAINI | INDA | VALSIR | ALMAR | GLASS DESIGN | MARBLO | ALAPE

C O L L E C T I O N

This is not any sofa.

This is a King.

The July/August Issue, No. 40 8

34

54

the editor’s letter

the hobson + remuera

the pretty

10

Meet the people behind two of our local businesses, Alluvium fine jewellers, and the Remuera Barber Shop

Banish the winter blues with new treats for your beauty cabinet

36

the teacher

the columnists

12 the village King’s and Grammar’s game of two halves, standing up for the Ōrākei Basin, Remuera’s Citizens Advice Bureau turns 40, updates from our local councillors and boards, plus more

24 the hobson + the cab An exciting new development turns the former Civic Administration Building into the heart of a new precinct

the second act 50 shades of grey or just keep up the dye?

Sandy Burgham isn’t bowing to societal pressure just yet

55 Maths can be fun as well as being hugely important to the primary curriculum, writes Judi Paape

56

37 the suburbanist

the check in

Cohousing is a way to home ownership, writes Tommy Honey

Fly away from grey skies to blue — Louise Richardson finds sweet deals and dream destinations

38

58

the mp

the sound

Meet Epsom’s third man in the house, Green Party MP Barry Coates

Andrew Dickens salutes the audio majesty of the Sgt Pepper’s rerelease

42

59

the style

the bookmark The latest books for cooks and foodies, selected by Gail Woodward

the investment

Mr & Mrs Haines star in our newest feature, where we ask stylish people to share their favourite things

Warren Couillault does the maths on the true costs of investment in infrastructure

45

26 the reps News from local MPs Paul Goldsmith and David Seymour

28

29 the plan Dear Sir/Madam — Hamish Firth pleads the case for investment in our cities

30 the hobson + rawhiti estate Angus McPhee returns to a very familiar neighbourhood as Rawhiti Estate rises from the ground in central Remuera

60

the portfolio Melbourne-based Kiwi photographer Nicole England combines two of her loves: dogs and architecture

the cinema Caitlin McKenna finds plenty happening on screen over the winter months

63 the district diary

49 the trainer Pete Pedersen brings out the very best in local dogs

52 the magpie

Calendar dates for July and August

64 the cryptic Our puzzle, by Māyā. Hint: some of the answers are local

There’s a world of divine pet accessories, and a lot of the best are made here

5-Star K9s To celebrate the opening of Central Bark at 99 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell, we have four vouchers for a full day’s doggy daycare to give away. Central Bark’s purpose-built, luxurious daycare and grooming salon opens July 17, with a cat and dog hotel plus a training school soon to follow.

To win a voucher for a full day’s dog minding, email business@thehobson with BARK in the subject line by 5pm, Friday July 28, 2017.

The fine print: By entering this competition, you agree to your details being shared with Central Bark.

The winning vouchers are in addition to Central Bark’s complimentary half-day assessment and must be redeemed by September 28, 2017

the hobson 6

ULTIMATE

The Ultimate Driving Machine

DRIVE. THE NEW BMW 3 SERIES TOURING RANGE. STARTING FROM $75,000.* The new BMW 3 Series Touring is the ideal combination of sporty design and irresistible style. Feel the flawless balance of dynamics, elegance and versatility come together in the most athletic performer across the entire BMW 3 Series range.

Experience a feeling unmatched, book a test drive at Continental Cars BMW today.

• ConnectedDrive Services • Heated front seats • LED Headlights • Lane change warning • Rear view camera

BMD0222_CCB_TH

• Real-time traffic information and navigation system

Continental Cars BMW 445 Lake Road, Takapuna, North Shore. (09) 488 2000. www.continentalcarsbmw.com *Recommended Retail Price based on BMW 320i Touring including GST, excludes on-road costs.

BM0222 CCB 3ST TH 267x180mm.indd 1

14/06/17 3:28 PM

W issue 40, july/august 2017 Editor & Publisher Kirsty Cameron editor@thehobson.co.nz

eclome to our warming blend of local news and stories in this double-month edition. In this issue, we meet Barry Coates, our fourth locally-based MP (did you know we had four MPs based in Epsom? Neither did I). Barry Coates’ roots go deep into the electorate — his several-times great-grandather, James, settled here in 1840. James was private secretary to Governor Hobson and was described as being “liberal minded”, with a “tall, slim, gentlemanly demeanor, and no want of office ability”. Which is prescient when you meet his descendant.

Enjoy meeting Mr Coates Jr, and everything else in this issue too.

Art Direction & Production Stephen Penny design@thehobson.co.nz Advertising Sales Rex Pearce rex@thevalueexchange.co.nz 021 883 891

Kirsty Cameron editor@thehobson.co.nz 0275 326 424 Facebook: The Hobson magazine Instagram: TheHobson

Writers Kirsty Cameron, Chantelle Murray, Mary Rean, Wayne Thompson, Fiona Wilson Sub-editor Fiona Wilson Social Media Editor Jenni Mortimer Columnists & Contributors This Issue Sandy Burgham, Pippa Coom, Warren Couillault, Colin Davis, Hamish Firth, Paul Goldsmith, Tommy Honey, Mike Lee, Māyā, Caitlin McKenna, Louise Richardson, David Seymour, Desley Simpson, Gail Woodward Photographers Vanita Andrews, Nicole England, Stephen Penny Cover Lucy at home, by Nicole England, part of her “Resident Dog” project. See “The Portfolio”, page 45 THE HOBSON is published 10 times a year by The Hobson Limited, PO Box 37490 Parnell, Auckland 1151. www.thehobson.co.nz F: TheHobsonMagazine I: @TheHobson

We’re proud to be publishing the work of photographer Nicole England, who’s responsible for the cover and the paws-for-thought portfolio that begins on page 45. Nicole, a former local who now lives in Melbourne, was introduced to us by her old friend, our contributing editor Justine Williams. As soon as we saw her work, it was puppy love ...

Ideas, suggestions, advertising inquiries welcome. editor@thehobson.co.nz

THE HOBSON is Remuera, Parnell and Ōrākei’s community magazine. We deliver into letterboxes in these neighbourhoods, and copies are also at local libraries, cafes, and at businesses including the Vicky Ave and White Heron dairies, and Paper Plus Parnell. For more about us, visit www.thehobson.co.nz or TheHobsonMagazine on Facebook.

The content of THE HOBSON is copyright. Our words, our pictures.

Don’t steal, and don’t borrow without checking with us first. We aim for accuracy but cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies that do occur. The views of our contributors are their own and not necessarily those of THE HOBSON. We don’t favour unsolicited contributions but do welcome you getting in touch via editor@thehobson.co.nz to discuss ideas.

The Hobson Ltd is a member of the Magazine Publishers Association This publication uses environmentally responsible papers

Dynamic creatives Nathan Haines and Jaimie Webster Haines agreed to share some of their best-loved things in our new feature, The Style (page 42). Totally adorable too is their toddler, Zoot, pictured with daddy at Zootmusic Studios, Nathan's music HQ. One of our premier jazz musicians, he will release his 11th album later this year. Working together as "Mr & Mrs Haines", the couple are regular guests at Remuera's Artusi Cucina.

ICG Logo CMYK.pdf 1 05/08/2015 6:19:01 AM

Distribution by

CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY ON THESE LUXURIOUS REMUERA RESIDENCES. LIVING DEFINED BY LIGHT Benefiting from a 2.9m stud height, with floor to ceiling windows, these light filled architecturally designed residences enjoy quality fixtures and finishes usually seen in stand-alone architecturally-designed homes. The living areas are spacious, and large entertainers kitchen’s include high spec Miele appliances and butler’s pantries. Contemporary and sophisticated living at a prestigious address, in the heart of double Grammar Zone and an easy walk to Newmarket makes this Remuera’s most significant residential development in over a decade.

ONLY 8 RESIDENCES REMAIN THE MARK, TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS FROM $1,881,000.

THE MAC,THREE BEDROOM APARTMENTS FROM $2,046,000.

VISIT OUR DISPLAY SUITE AT 1A MACMURRAY RD, REMUERA CALL FOR A PRIVATE APPOINTMENT Trent Quinton Karen Spires

021 894 070 027 273 8220

trent.quinton@bayleys.co.nz karen.spires@bayleys.co.nz

C O M P L E T I O N E A R L Y 2 018 10STMARKS.CO.NZ

Bayleys Real Estate Ltd, Remuera Licensed under the REAA 2008

The Columnists

Left to right from top row:

Sandy Burgham (The Second Act) is a brand strategist and an executive coach with a special interest in midlife change and transformational behaviours. She runs a central Auckland practice. www.playclc.com Precious Clark (The Kaitiaki) is a professional director who sits on several boards, and a young leader of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. A law graduate, she lives in Ōrākei. Her column will return in the September issue.

Remuera resident Warren Couillault (The Investment) is an executive director and the major shareholder of Hobson Wealth Partners (formerly Macquarie Private Wealth NZ), a private wealth advisory group.

He is a shareholder and director of Generate Investment Management Ltd; and manager of a registered Kiwisaver scheme.

Andrew Dickens (The Sound) is the host of Andrew Dickens’ Sunday Cafe on Sunday morning, from 9am, on Newstalk ZB. He is also the music reviewer on Jack Tame’s Saturday morning show on Newstalk ZB. He grew up in Remuera.

Hamish Firth (The Plan) lives and works in Parnell and is principal of the Mt Hobson Group, a specialist urban planning consultancy. www.mthobsonproperties.co.nz Urban design critic Tommy Honey (The Suburbanist) is a former architect. The Remuera resident is a regular guest on RNZ National, discussing the built environment.

Caitlin McKenna (The Cinema) of Remuera is passionate about the cinema — she majored in film, sociology and marketing for her conjoint BCom/BA. She works in film.

Judi Paape (The Teacher) is a parent, grandparent and highly-experienced teacher and junior school principal.

A Parnell resident, her column appears bi-monthly.

Contributing editor Justine Williams is an interiors stylist, writer and fashion editor. The Remuera resident has been the editor of Simply You and Simply You Living.

Gail Woodward (The Bookmark) of Meadowbank is the senior book buyer for Paper Plus Newmarket.

She belongs to, and advises on selections for, a number of book clubs.

the hobson 10

“At Auckland Obstetric Centre we understand that pregnancy and childbirth is the most important time of your life and that you and baby should have the highest standard of care.”

– Jane Patten, Clinic Manager

Auckland Obstetric Centre is a unique practice in Parnell made up of six leading specialist obstetricians and support staff. Together we have many years of experience and feel privileged to be able to share in the care of women during their pregnancy.

To find out more about how we can care for you and your baby call our team on 09 3671200 or visit our website www.obstetrics.co.nz.

Lynda Batcheler | Astrid Budden | Eva Hochstein | Katherine McKenzie | Kirstie Peake | Martin Sowter

the village

Michael Dawson Photography

Town & Around THE GAME Auckland Grammar School was host for this year’s annual 1st XV game against King's College in mid-June. In near perfect conditions, as pictured above by old boy Michael Dawson, the game was played at a frantic pace between two well-matched sides and was a highly-enjoyable spectacle for the assembled crowd.

King’s scored the first try, and went into half-time leading 10-3.

The oranges and team talk worked for Grammar, who brought the score back to 10-all early in the second half, with a penalty giving King’s back the lead before Grammar prevailed, winning 17-13.

The annual fixture is played for the trophy of the Cooper Greenbank Cup, named for two eminent and long-serving headmasters, Grammar’s Henry Cooper and King’s College’s Geoff Greenbank. p

SO CHIC, SO FRENCH Remuera goes a la Française in July with the annual Bastille Day festival. During the month of July, shoppers will be able to enter a draw for a trés magnifique prize of a trip for two to the hoiday destination of New Caledonia. Courtesy of Air Calin and the

Sheraton Deva Hotel and Spa, the winner and a lucky bonne ami will be off for four nights to the luxurious resort, about 90 minutes north of the capital, Nouméa. The prize includes breakfasts and a rental car for four days to enjoy the sights of the surrounding areas (for more details about this region, see our travel story, page 56).There’ll be sights to see in Remuera too, with Bastille Day celebrations and the special French-themed market on Saturday, July 15. French food, language lessons, street entertainment, music — for a full rundown of activities and special events for les enfants, see remuera.org.nz. Be sure not to miss the Pretend Poodle Parade, and enjoy the especially-decorated windows. Retailers and businesses must include an image of a French poodle for this year’s competition, which is sponsored by THE HOBSON. Bonne chance to all! p

THE BASIN, RESERVED Once, Ōrākei Basin was so smelly that the paint on local houses changed colour, baths turned rusty brown and silverware went black. That a festering reserve in a volcano crater has been turned around to a regionally popular venue for water sports, and a haven for walkers, is partly due to the tireless activism of the community.

Lynley Olsen is an example of a local resident who’s committed to seeing the basin managed as a neighbourhood asset.

“She lives and breathes the environment and she knows her stuff,” says Auckland councillor Desley Simpson, who has worked with Olsen for many years on basin projects.

However, Olsen is also an outspoken critic of Council’s on-theground performance in failing to give high-quality improvements at the reserve. She is a stickler for works reflecting the policies of the Ōrākei Basin Reserve Management Plan of 2010.

the hobson 12

McLAREN’S APARTMENTS In August, she told Council’s Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee that despite much time and effort by the reserve’s users, all projects undertaken had ignored the management plan, and engineering advice on the erosion problem with the nationally significant geological feature.

“Members are extremely concerned about the degradation of this prized asset,” she told the committee. She blamed projects’ failure on overall project management, Council staff changes due to constant restructuring, not following agreed project briefs, project changes and lack of consultation with the Ōrākei Basin Reserve Advisory Group (OBAG).

Now the residents’ advocate is shut out of the group in which she was a driving force, with the Ōrākei Local Board (OLB) keen to show it’s following the intent of the 2010 management plan.

OBAG was formed in 2011 to help a fledgling super city Auckland Council to manage the reserve when it was classed as a regional park. Two years later, the basin was recast as a local park, and OBAG’s advice was instead transmitted to the Ōrākei Local Board.

Olsen was the appointed representative of 60 residents at OBAG’s monthly meetings for six years. For her dog-at-a-bone enthusiasm, she was delegated as liaison person with the Council on matters of concern. Ironically, she was dumped from OBAG as a result of a co-governance rejig by a board anxious to show it was pursuing the plan. OLB chair Colin Davis flagged in his column in the May issue of THE HOBSON that the board was taking greater control of implementing a plan which, he said, had suffered from, “much talk but little action”.

Olsen is as upset by Davis’ column as she is at being dumped.

She says all the projects he mentioned as making a positive start since the 2016 elections were not new, and were expedited by the previous board. “I’ve fought all these years to get the Council to have these works follow the brief set out by the management plan, which we only got because residents took the Auckland City Council to the Environment Court in 2007,” Olsen says.

Davis referred THE HOBSON to information in the board’s agenda and minutes of its public meeting on April 20. In those minutes, a Council officer’s report says the terms of reference for OBAG needed to be reviewed every three years after elections and that’s when the board got to appoint members.

The report also says that OLB requested that the terms of reference be updated to ensure “ongoing engagement between the Local Board, Council officers and representative groups occurs in a formalised manner — and that there is a clear avenue for the input by relevant community group representatives into the work of Council staff.”

That’s now fixed. Only through reporting to the board can OBAG advise and advocate on works and progress, and priorities for funding. It cannot intrude into the area of Council staff operations. It’s still allowed to encourage erosion control, planting, weed and vermin clearance on private land. The new terms allow representatives of groups who use the basin and local reserves, iwi as kaitiaki, a board member responsible for parks, and a Council officer to give technical advice. Davis says he understands that the group’s first meeting under the new deal was positive, with four of Council’s specialist parks officers present.

Group members Scott Keenan (Auckland Water Ski Club) and Greg Paul (Ōrākei Yacht Club) say they value Olsen’s input and want the board to invite her to be a member. This is not ruled out

by OLB members Kit Parkinson and Troy Churton. They say her chance to return to the fold is to represent a “Friends of Ōrākei Basin” group. This does not exist as yet, but the board is keen to set one up because it was envisaged by the plan.This group’s job would be to help with education of residents about erosion management

586-592 REMUERA ROAD, REMUERA

mclarengarage.co.nz The birth place of motor racing legend Bruce McLaren at 586-592 Remuera road is to enjoy a sympathetic transformation into apartments and potentially an appropriately themed restaurant/retail complex on the ground floor.

Three original apartments on the first floor will be refurbished to the highest standard, retaining character features including the famous “Drivers Signature Wall” and the discreet introduction of a second floor will provide additional dwellings.

Call now, four under offer at print deadline!

If you a in the v the Mik

Mike Pero R

team.moore@mikepero.com | 09 524 4393 www.remuera.mikepero.com facebook.com/sellmoorehouses

Mike Pero Real Estate Ltd Licensed REAA (2008)

JOIN US FOR OPEN DAY Thurs Aug 24th 9.00am-10.30am Register at kings.school.nz

Dr Paul JM Salmon BhB MBChB FRACP FACMS AFFILIATED SOUTHERN CROSS PROVIDER

EXCELLENCE IN DERMATOLOGY

the village

and weed control, and volunteer for planting and pest control.

Olsen is not interested. She does not want to be on an OBAG that she says is powerless, and hobbled by not being able to speak directly to Council officers. Instead, she will focus on getting the board’s terms of reference overturned and, of course, watching that it delivers the management plan.

It’s not only the Ōrākei Basin at stake, but also the two arms of the adjoining Ōrākei Creek and all public space around or connected to the basin. The plan aims to improve water quality, plant life, heritage values and walkways. Money for the projects — such as the works pictured above, near the Water Ski Club — is allocated by the OLB, and works are the responsibility of Council’s Parks and Recreation department. — Wayne Thompson p

ŌRĀKEI BASIN RESERVE

•

Low lying volcanic explosion crater of 800m diameter, filled with sea water controlled by sluice gates in the railway embankment Boardwalk across northern side. Walking track on west and east side Located in the south-eastern corner of Hobson Bay, nudging Ōrākei, Remuera and Meadowbank The seabed lease between the Crown and Auckland Council to 2050 requires that the city maintains the basin for public boating and associated water-related activities In 1995, health officials said direct exposure to its waters posed a high risk due to bacteria levels. As a result, the sluice gates let it be flushed fortnightly

• • • •

NEW APPOINTEES TO ST CUTH’S BOARD Parnell resident Leigh Melville, above, has been appointed to the Trust Board of St Cuthbert’s College. A former head girl of the school, Melville is a director of the Art + Object auction house (and an arts contributor to THE HOBSON) and has chaired the school’s Old Girls committee. Other new board appointments announced by chair Simon Allen are former Solicitor-General Michael Heron QC, women’s health medical specialist Dr Anil Sharma, and entrepreneur Shane Bradley. Allen also paid tribute to the Honourable Justice Christine Gordon, who has stepped down from the board after a 23-year commitment. “Christine provided immeasurable guidance, leadership, involvement and input in St Cuthbert’s,” Allen said. “It was an absolute privilege for me and my fellow trustees to serve with her. She truly encompasses the College motto of ‘By Love Serve’.” p

the hobson 15

the village

Outstanding progress as a sustainable Enviroschool saw Meadowbank School chosen as the venue to launch a new government-backed campaign to encourage New Zealanders to “Litter Less Recycle More.” The campaign was announced by associate Minister for the Environment, Scott Simpson, pictured in the Meadowbank School Hall with Be a Tidy Kiwi program manager Richard Leckinger and some of their caring Kiwi friends

40 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE Remuera’s Citizen Advice Bureau marks 40 years of service in July. Operating for the past three decades from the bungalow at 4 Victoria Ave, which it shares with Plunket, changing times have made for changing needs at the CAB, as Mary Rean reports A New Zealand-wide organisation, the CAB has 10 branches across central and east Auckland from Ponsonby to Glen Innes, and its stated aims are “to ensure that individuals do not suffer through ignorance of their rights and responsibilities or through an inability to express their needs effectively.” This includes getting involved in developing social policies and services, both locally and nationally, especially when it observes ongoing patterns of problems in the community.

Over the years, many people have given their time voluntarily to the Remuera CAB, with the current roster including 29 men and women of a range of ages and cultures and from various walks of life. Volunteers generally work in pairs on a morning or afternoon shift each week, answering telephone calls from the local area and further afield, and dealing face to face with people who come into the branch, offering them free and confidential help and advice on personal, legal or financial issues.

On an average day, these volunteers are likely to handle queries that range from disputes between neighbours to consumer issues, tenancy problems and questions about employment contracts.

Sometimes, callers simply want to talk to someone neutral and non-judgemental about their problem.

Betsy Benjamin, who has volunteered with the Remuera CAB for 30 years, says possibly the funniest – or strangest – call she remembers was a woman who rang distraught because she had

been hoovering her canary’s cage and had accidentally sucked the bird into the machine. “We told her to put the hoover on reverse, and the bird came out, dusty but alive!”

However, most of the calls volunteers deal with are far more weighty. Remuera manager Tess Porter says that the CAB provides a service to clients of all ages and backgrounds. “Employment issues, consumer law, vehicle purchases, neighbourhood problems, housing and family issues including family violence, are the main categories that calls to the Remuera branch fall into.

“We hear from young people who don’t understand an employment or tenancy contract they are being asked to sign, or who are having issues with their employers; we get tenants being pushed around by landlords, landlords feeling intimidated by tenants . . . Our volunteers pick up the phone with no idea what they are about to be asked, and they tackle every call professionally, with the intention that by the time they have finished talking to the client, that person has been given helpful tools or suggestions for dealing with their problems, whether it is to call another organisation like Tenancy Services, to write a letter or email, or be armed with their rights so they can discuss an issue from a more balanced position.

“Our aim is that every client gets off the phone or leaves our offices understanding their rights, and empowered to deal with their issue,” says Porter.

“Calls may be from parents on behalf of their children, or from people who are concerned about levels of care in retirement homes, sometimes from the people in the homes, and often from families concerned about the quality of care their parents are receiving.”

Porter says because of a sharp rise in calls and visits in the last few years from women involved in very difficult and complicated

the hobson 16

THE

MICHAEL ILLINGWORTH ESTATE COLLECTION SEPTEMBER 2017 Paintings, sculpture and works on paper from the 1950s to the 1980s

Contact: Hamish Coney hamish@artandobject.co.nz 021 509 550 Ben Plumbly ben@artandobject.co.nz 021 222 8183

Image reproduced courtesy of the Gerrard and Marti Friedlander Trust

ART + OBJECT 3 Abbey Street, Newton www.artandobject.co.nz

“I’m significantly more confident with other people... if everyone’s talking at once I can understand them.”

Walter T

Find out what you’re missing with a FREE* Hearing Check. Call HearingLife Remuera, your local hearing care experts, on 09 522 9999 today!

the village

parenting disputes, Remuera CAB started a Family Issues Clinic about 12 months ago. “The fact that it is regularly fully booked shows how much need there is for this service. Clients wanting this sort of help make an appointment to see our trained family mediator who helps them find the best pathway through their difficulties.”

Betsy Benjamin says she has loved her 30 years of working at the CAB. “I got into it because I had finished working full time and decided it was time to get involved in something in the community.

A friend suggested the CAB.” She has noticed quite a few changes in that time. “Issues are much more in-depth and complicated now. I think the CAB service has a much better profile now, and of course our resources for helping people are so much greater.

“What I like about working here is that it’s always a challenge.

You learn so much every single day. It’s never boring,” she says.

“We try to give people enough information to help them take the next step. Some people need more help than others and we will take that next step for them, but the real aim is to empower people to help themselves.” p

NO SOFTENING HERE In contrast to reports on the housing market, Remuera values are continuing to climb, comments local market specialist, Terry King.

*Applies to adults over the age of 18 years only.

Motivated & Professional

I offer a fresh approach to selling real estate — an approach that's focused on you and your goals. Call me today!

Iuliia Daji 021 1822 316 i.daji@barfoot.co.nz barfoot.co.nz | Mission Bay

As you will hear people say, “. . . but Remuera is different ”, this certainly continues to be true in relation to the values of real estate.

Property values are “softening?” Not around here.

In the first five months of this year, even though the volume of sales at 185 properties is a decline of 34 per cent over the same period last year, the average sale price has increased by 15 per cent, or up $300,000.

The reduction in sales volume has been in properties that sold for less than $3 million, whilst sales volume in excess of $4 million continues to climb. This is a combination of an ever-growing demand for higher quality properties in walking or easy driving distance of private schools, plus the recognition of the largely open ended nature of renovation costs and dealing with Council over applications and consents.

In the under $3m category, where the properties may have been rejuvenated 15 years ago, potential purchasers factor in the likely cost of new bathrooms and kitchen, plus other lifestyle additions like family rooms. Except for the quality of finishings, the cost of alterations can be the same for a $4m house, or a $2m house.

The buying public are becoming more aware that a Remuera address is not necessarily where the increased value lies, but the location of where the property is in what is after all, a large suburb.

There is a huge difference, in reality, between streets closer to Meadowbank and to Arney Rd, for example. The quality of houses originally built in both areas represent a difference in perception and reality, and while both have strong markets, it is the less expensive end where the demand is slowing, as buyers are more prepared to invest in upgrading properties that don’t appear to have a “maximum” street value (ie, hard to over-capitalise).

Remuera market sales volumes will become more driven by availability of such properties.

So, no matter what the daily papers might want us to believe, our experience in Remuera, from both the buyer’s and the seller’s point of view, is the acceptance that good properties are worth paying for, particularly as many buyers are looking for their home for the next 10 years. p

ōrĀkei local board

COLIN DAVIS

A

EST 1980

s chairman of the Ōrākei Local Board I take part in various civic events. There are three I attended in the space of three days, which I'd like to share.

I presided on behalf of the Auckland Council at a citizenship ceremony in the Town Hall. As the final step in the process to become New Zealand citizens, each candidate was required to make either the oath or the affirmation of allegiance to the “Queen of New Zealand, her heirs and successors according to law and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfil my duties as a New Zealand citizen”. In doing so, they accept the privileges and the obligations of citizenship. Some three hundred new citizens, from 30 countries, took part, many of whom were relatively new arrivals, while others had been here for a long time. I greeted each person separately (300 handshakes!) on stage when they were presented with their citizenship certificates.

The next day I was present with the mayor and other Council representatives at the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Hall of Memories for the poignant commemoration of the Battle of Messines, Belgium, 100 years ago. New Zealand’s WWI centenary programme recognises significant events in that war which affected nearly every family and community in New Zealand.

Messines refers to a ridge south of the town of Ypres captured by British, Australian and New Zealand troops on June 7, 1917. The Battle of Messines was the first phase of the “Flanders offensive”, which was to include the later Battle of Passchendaele. New Zealand paid a heavy price – over 3000 casualties; the New Zealand Memorial at the cemetery there lists 827 names.

The following day I attended a function hosted by the Embassy of Belgium and the New Zealand Military Historical Society for the opening of the international exhibition, “The Belgians Have Not Forgotten”, created by the Memorial Museum Passchendaele.

Closer to home, the Portland (Rd) Valley Significant Ecological Area has undergone major transformation with the support of local residents. Ginger has been cleared ready for planned planting. Pest control is also being undertaken with the setting of possum and rat traps.

The Local Board has allocated funding in its 2017/18 environmental work programme, and will be working with the Waitematā Local Board, local residents, Gecko NZ Trust and Watercare, on a long-term environmental project to improve the Newmarket Stream and the upper reaches of the Remuera Stream in Newmarket Park.

Late Autumn and the onset of winter brings with it changes in the environment – the colour tones and the falling leaves. The combination of those leaves and rain brings problems of flooding particularly in gutters and around drains. May I suggest that you can assist your community by checking on those gutters and drains, and if needed clear a channel for the water to escape.

— Colin Davis, chair, Ōrākei Local Board

waitematĀ local board

PIPPA COOM

I

t is an urban design truism that whatever the question, the answer is almost always a street tree. On the Waitematā Local Board we are responding to that challenge in a variety of ways. We look to include trees wherever possible in projects, we’re developing an urban forest strategy and finding ways to partner with the community to support the mayor’s Million Trees project.

The benefits of street trees in the urban environment are well known. Trees provide oxygen and sequester carbon, reduce the need for drainage infrastructure and improve the health and wellbeing of neighbourhoods by increasing the attractiveness and security of walking.

Since the government relaxed the tree rules a few years ago we’ve increasingly seen mature, majestic trees cut down on private property. This puts even more pressure on the importance of maintaining and growing trees in the street environment, and on public land.

In early June Mayor Phil Goff launched Million Trees, a programme to green Auckland, offset our carbon emissions, protect our water quality and improve the living environment, by planting one million predominantly native trees and shrubs across Auckland over the next three years. The Board has been invited by Mayor Goff to identify locations for planting trees.

As an action from our Becoming a Low Carbon Community Action Plan (August 2015), we’ve committed to enhancing the urban forest and biodiversity. We’ve allocated funding to an urban forest strategy to improve the planning and management of our urban canopy.

Mapping or LiDAR testing is currently underway to identify the current percentage of tree cover and changes to the canopy, so we can best target areas for planting.

The City Centre Masterplan includes a target of increasing streets in the city centre by 25 per cent by 2021.

We want Auckland Transport to play its part in meeting this target, and increase tree planting by taking every opportunity to include trees as part of footpath upgrades and new streetscape projects. Another way we can support tree planting across Waitematā is by partnering with community groups. The Urban Tree Alliance is a new group concerned about the significant cost of the loss of mature trees and damage to street trees through the use of sprays and poor management. They are working on a campaign to encourage communities to adopt local trees to raise awareness of the environment, streets and public spaces. For more information on this, contact Aprilanne Bonar, aprilannebonar@gmail.com It is also encouraging that AT is now progressing the Parnell cycle route project with a community reference group that is keen to see greening opportunities as part of the design. As we are now heading into planting season for trees, if you would like a tree planted on your berm (or have any tree issue) please contact the Council call centre on (09) 301 0101.

— Pippa Coom, chair, Waitematā Local Board

the councillors

Changing the face of dentistry with Digital Smile Design As NZ’s only Digital Smile Design Master, Dr Shepperson creates smiles that are in harmony with a patient’s face and personality. Modern day technology allows the patient to preview their new smile and participate in the design process.

Before

After

To learn more visit

citydental.co.nz/dental-services/digital-smile-design Ask us about

18 months no payments and no interest* On dental treatments $300 and over with Q. * Lending criteria, $50 annual account fee, new cardholder fee - $55 establishment, existing cardholder fee - $35 advance, terms and conditions apply.

See lumino.co.nz/interestfree for full details.

Dr Andrea Shepperson, one of Lumino’s most prominent dentists, is NZ’s only Digital Smile Design Master & Instructor.

Her patients enjoy digital tools to create stunning smiles.

A Graduate and Mentor at Kois Center in Seattle, she has restored many mouths using Digital Smile Design.

City Dental at Quay Park Ph: 09 919 2660 | beachroad@lumino.co.nz | citydental.co.nz

DESLEY SIMPSON

T

he annual budget in June was my first opportunity for meaningful change into the finances of Auckland Council. It’s not a total “start again”, that happens next with the Long Term Plan (LTP) budget refresh, but in my opinion, it was a step in the right direction.

First we looked at savings. There is a well-formed view that Council is over-inflated and without doubt can do “more with less”. Do I agree? Yes. In my opinion, raising rates to cover a spend that isn’t necessary or well out of scope of core Council business, is not good governance.

Since amalgamation, Council reports note $224 million in annual savings by the end of the 2015/16 financial year. Can we save more? Yes, I believe we can. So this budget has a further $28 million of savings without lowering service levels. I’m hopeful the LTP will identify even more.

Then we looked at income. What has concerned me (and I’m sure you) is the huge rates rises the Ōrākei ward has received since the super city has been formed, with very little investment returned. This budget will have the lowest rates rise for Ōrākei since amalgamation — 2.5 per cent for the residential ratepayer. This isn’t an average. This is 2.5 per cent on your last year’s rates bill. As for investment back, infrastructure is a definite priority.

As an older area of Auckland, much of our below-theground infrastructure is not coping. Recent storm events have further highlighted what many of us instinctively knew.

This budget has responded to that, by bringing forward a further $20 million in capital spend on stormwater. With an annual combined capital investment for stormwater and wastewater in excess of $300 million, I remain very keen to see measures that remove the shameful wastewater overflows of sewerage into our much-loved harbours.

Transport infrastructure will get the lion’s share of our budget spend, and rightly so. An OECD New Zealand economic survey estimated that traffic congestion is costing Auckland a massive $1.25 billion every year in lost productivity. With 800 more cars on the road each week, we have to do more to improve public transport options and look at ways to reduce congestion. Rail has some positive statistics, with patronage well ahead of projections. But it’s hard to see the logic of renewing footpaths and resurfacing roads which are not obviously at the end of their life, when we have flooding on Tamaki Drive on almost a monthly basis.

This budget includes $161 million of additional investment in transport for the region. It sounds a lot, but is only a drop in the bucket for what the Auckland Transport Alignment Project says we need. If Auckland keeps growing at its current pace of 45,000 people per year, we are looking at a $7 billion shortfall in funding over the next decade.

I remain committed to working on your behalf to ensure that Council provides greater value for Auckland communities and ratepayers.

Desley Simpson is the Councillor for Auckland representing the Ōrākei ward

MIKE LEE

M

ayor Phil Goff’s intentions regarding the Ports of Auckland had always struck me as quite ambiguous.

While he has been free with comments about wanting to physically move the port . . . to the Firth of Thames, to the Manukau Harbour, to anywhere . . . I noticed he has always fallen silent when the question of his commitment to public ownership of the port comes up — “coy”, as the NZ Herald’s Bernard Orsman puts it.

However, plans to sell the Ports of Auckland have now been flushed out into the open after a secret meeting involving Goff and the port company was leaked to the media. The port is the Council’s principle revenue-earning ($40m to $50m per annum) strategic asset. This is income that doesn’t come from ratepayers; relinquishing it would require an extra 3 per cent rates increase every year to make up the difference.

The leak forced Goff to make what he and his communications people considered looked like a denial – a ringing declaration that the port company land was not for sale. In his email to councillors, Goff claimed the port sale story was “factually wrong” but that he did discuss, “whether the Ports should be divided into a Property Company and an Operating Company”.

Separating out the “and” and selling off the revenue-earning operating business is a ploy long used by those scheming to privatise the port.

What Goff seems to be unaware of is that the only significant “land” remaining on Ports of Auckland’s books is the reclaimed rubble beneath the tarmac of the container terminals.

Everything above that is core port operations. Nearly all the worthwhile real estate has already been sold or taken out of Ports of Auckland, including the downtown Britomart precinct land, the Viaduct and associated land, Westhaven Marina and

the Wynyard Quarter, Wynyard Point land.

Be in no doubt, splitting the business from the “land” is clearly a precursor to privatisation — in many ways reminiscent of the corporatisation of Telecom prior to its sale.

For such a canny politician who has spent a lifetime in parliament (or is it because of this?) there is an apparent gullibility about Goff, revealed for instance by the reliance he places on official advice — no trains to the airport — and the commercial silliness of wanting to both relocate the port and to sell the port.

Goff still does not seem to realise that if you sell a port, it’s not like selling a car. A sold port will not be taken off to a new home.

In fact, wanting to move the port is logically incompatible with wanting to sell the port. Such public opining by the Mayor of Auckland, constantly raising doubts about the port’s long-term security of tenure, just strips millions of dollars of potential value out of the company. Given this, and on Council’s past form, if the port is sold you can be sure the international buyer is likely to get it at a knock-down price. However once gaining control, no new owner is going to take seriously requests to take its newly acquired asset off somewhere else.

This issue is not likely to go away. Goff, the experienced politician whose key election platform as Labour Party leader during the 2011 general election was “Stop Asset Sales”, must realise how damaging these disclosures will be for his former parliamentary colleagues — just when Labour appears to be gaining some momentum. After all it was the same Phil Goff who announced in 2011, “the National Party is highly embarrassed by the fact that most New Zealanders don’t want asset sales and the Labour Party is standing alongside New Zealanders in that view. In fact we’re leading the push back against the asset sales”.

For their part, Bill English and Steven Joyce must be rubbing their hands with glee.

Mike Lee is the Councillor for Auckland representing the Waitematā and Gulf ward

Be prepared and plan ahead. It is a practical and thoughtful thing to do.

Phone us, we are happy to discuss your options.

Gather, Remember, Celebrate 582 Remuera Road. Remuera. Auckland 1050 (09) 520 3119 | staff@sibuns.co.nz www.sibuns.co.nz SB_971/B

the hobson 23

the hobson + the cab, civic quarter

Artist’s impression

Made with Love & Co.

R

efurbishing existing buildings that have outgrown their use is something that comes naturally to Aucklanders John and Josephine Love. The husband and wife developers of Love & Co. are behind the rejuvenation of the heritage A-listed gem The CAB, formerly the Civic Administration Building in Auckland’s CBD. They have a long, successful track record of taking buildings past their prime and adaptively reusing them into new lifestyle residences.

15 Hopetoun St, 132 Vincent St and the former Telecom building at 8 Hereford St are all evidence of their unique talent, winning recognition at the NZ Property Industry Awards.

New Zealand’s first skyscraper, The CAB was finished in 1966 by Tibor Donner, one of Auckland’s foremost modernist architects, and now the Loves, alongside renowned local architects Jasmax and constructors Naylor Love, are about to breathe new life into the building. They are also curating the spaces within the surrounding grounds with SITE Hospitality, the Sydney-based global hospitality specialists.

The location is as close to the cultural heart of Auckland as you can get, and within walking distance of the city’s theatre district, its art galleries and some of its finest bars and restaurants. Apartments in The CAB range from a 45m2 city

the hobson 24

bolt-hole for the ultimate, secure lock up and leave; through to 133m2 3-bedroom or larger. Designed for easy living, the kitchens include silent dishwashers, induction hobs and ample storage. There’s also luxury amenities; residents will be able to use a bike or treadmill in The CAB’s exclusive gym before

“

“

Love and Co, being John and Josie Love, local residents of Remuera, won the tender to purchase the iconic CAB in September 2016. Since then, they have lived and breathed the planning for the redevelopment, and the resource consented plans are spectacular.

Artist’s impression

– Hamish Firth, “The Plan”, The Hobson June 2017

releasing tension in the refreshing indoor pool. Or, if relaxation is the desire, there’s a gold class experience in the private movie theatre. Buyers are already combining several apartments to create stunning, multi-generational, family homes for the future.

Hopetoun Residences: Before and After

Love & Co.’s transformational use of a former office block to multi award-winning luxury apartments at 15 Hopetoun St.

Love & Co. aren’t just stopping with The CAB on the site.

The aptly named ‘Civic Quarter’ will also house a luxury hotel and a commercial building at 1 Greys Avenue. The CAB has 17 levels of apartments, with the ground and mezzanine floors offering retail and hospitality. The buildings in Civic Quarter are all linked together with vibrant laneways featuring bespoke artisan delis, eateries and shopping, so residents are never far from what they need. And just beyond the laneways are the park-like landscaped surrounds — the perfect place for a stroll after a morning coffee and a chat with your favourite barista downstairs in The CAB. “The Civic Quarter will be transformational for Auckland city and it will reinvigorate a part of town that hasn’t seen a lot of love for a long time,” says John Love.

“Please do call in, have a look at our show suite and drink in the atmosphere of this new vibrant area in our beautiful city.”

Civic Quarter: The Master Plan CRL

ral

Civic Theatre

e riv

D

yo

Ma

Cinemas

Central City Library

Aotea Centre

field

2

St

AUT ke Wa

1

Rutland

Que en S t

Aotea Square

4

St

Auckland Town Hall

t le S

ve sA

y re

G

da Aire

e riv lD ora May

3

1 CQ Hotel | 2 The CAB | 3 One Greys Avenue | 4 CQHQ

Artist’s impression

Display suite open 7days, 11 – 3pm The CAB, 1 Greys Ave. Free parking available on site. www.civicquarter.com

John Love: 021 353 598 john@loveandco.co.nz Suzie Paine: 021 976 008 suzie.paine@bayleys.co.nz

The Civic Quarter precinct as seen from the square. It will embrace the cultural heritage of the site with laneway art projects.

the hobson 25

Sally Ridge: 021 612 424 sally.ridge@bayleys.co.nz

the reps

DAVID SEYMOUR

PAUL GOLDSMITH

I

’ve been looking at the Epsom electorate and its surrounds with fresh eyes in the past few weeks.

Having taken possession of a fully electric car for the campaign period, my focus is now on the whereabouts of public charging stations. There are a surprising number.

Watercare have one at the Newmarket end of Remuera Rd; the Museum’s spot is picturesque; Vector has another on Carlton Gore Rd. I’ve never felt so technologically up to date.

Since most of New Zealand’s electricity comes from renewable sources, a shift towards more electric cars would have real environmental benefits; not to mention reducing the importing of billions of dollars’ worth of oil every year.

Progress comes from innovation. As a small country, naturally we import most innovations — cars, smartphones, new management techniques, the latest medicines. But we also come up with a few of our own, such as extracting high productivity from pasture-fed dairy cows.

Our future standard of living depends on our companies, and the public sector, continuing to innovate, so our businesses can be more competitive internationally, and so our public sector entities can meet our challenges and give people what they want at a reasonable price.

So what can government do to encourage innovation?

Some would say the best thing we can do is get out of the way. Most breakthrough innovation comes from crazy or strongly determined individuals and their companies.

If the government makes it too difficult for them to take risks, or if it takes too much of their money in tax, or drives them even crazier with regulation, then they may give up or go somewhere else. So, we keep asking ourselves, is the current stock of regulations absolutely necessary? And we’re careful when coming up with new regulations that the benefits genuinely outweigh the costs. Since competition is one of the greatest drivers of innovation, we need to keep removing barriers to new entrants coming into industries.

On the active side, government has a role in ensuring our education system produces Kiwis with the skills and knowledge to drive our innovative companies. Budget 2017 saw significant new investment in the tertiary education sector to keep our universities internationally competitive and relevant. In recent years, for example, the numbers of engineering graduates have increased dramatically.

We also invest huge sums in science – around $1.4 billion annually, rising to $1.6 billion soon. The public science in our Crown Research Institutes and universities will generate new ideas. The grants to industries managed by Callaghan Innovation are designed to encourage firms to invest more in research and development. Over the past two years we’ve seen a 29 per cent increase in private sector R&D. If you see me driving around over the new few weeks, I’d be keen to hear your views on this subject and any others.

Paul Goldsmith holds three ministerial portfolios, including Tertiary Education, and Science and Innovation. He is a list MP based in Epsom.

I

n June it was a tremendous relief to hear that after more than 18 months, the End of Life Choice Bill was drawn from Parliament’s ballot. This means MPs will now have to debate and vote on assisted dying legislation.

I decided to draft this bill after countless interactions with residents of the Epsom electorate, and being taken by the breadth of support and depth of feeling on this issue.

In my view, we are overdue for a compassionate response to the anguish faced by the small but significant minority of people – the grievously and irremediably ill, and terminally ill.

Current law leaves them no choice but to endure intolerable suffering and loss of dignity in the final days of their lives. The End of Life Choice Bill allows people who so choose, and are eligible, to end their life in peace and dignity, surrounded by loved ones.

I understand that there are legitimate concerns around the application of this law. That’s why I have drafted the bill to include strong safeguards. Two doctors must independently judge that the person has the ability to understand the nature and consequences of assisted dying, genuinely wishes to end their life, has chosen without pressure or coercion, and has been informed of other options for end-of-life care.

The End of Life Choice Bill does not provide for advance medical directives (when someone consents to assisted dying in advance of a time where they are incapable of giving consent to medical treatment).

And no medical practitioner is obligated to take a role in assisted dying.

After the bill passes its first reading, the public will be invited to submit on the bill and suggest amendments.

Polling consistently shows strong support (from two thirds to three quarters of the population) for allowing assisted dying for those with terminal illness or who are grievously and irremediably ill. It’s time to translate this support into action.

When the bill comes before Parliament (probably after the election), it will likely be decided by a conscience vote, so I encourage anyone with a view on this cause to write to their local MP and urge them to support the bill at first reading, so it can be thoroughly considered through the select committee process.

This is a debate which will take place around the country, not just in the media, but online and at homes and churches. I hope people respectfully engage in the discussion with friends and family, and also submit on the bill as it reaches select committee stage.

A copy of the bill, together with further information including answers to common questions and criticisms, can be found on the campaign website, lifechoice.org.nz.

David Seymour is the MP for Epsom.

Outdoor Furniture Manufactured with A-Grade Teak, Reclaimed Teak, Wicker, Concrete, 316 Stainless Steel, Sunbrella, Batyline, and Aluminum

Stunningly curated outdoor furniture, available for local and national delivery.

Everything arrives fully assembled.

APARTMENTO Outdoor Sectional Sofa, Montgomery Side Table

SunbrellaÂŽ cushions are free with the purchase

& Mr. White Accent Tables

of our deep seating pieces as shown.

Our policy: In stock and available to purchase today. Design Warehouse does not advertise what they cannot supply today.

www.designwarehouse.co.nz

09 377 7710

137/147 The Strand, Parnell/Auckland

Toll Free - 0800 111 112

sales@designwarehouse.co.nz

Wholesalers Open Direct To The Public Daily 9:30 - 4:30

Bastille Day Street Festival

French up your weekend and celebrate Bastille Day in Remuera!

This FREE family festival offers a fabulous mix of French fun:

Saturday 15 July, 10am - 2pm French up your weekend and celebrate Bastille Day in Remuera! This FREE family festival offers a fabulous mix of French fun with mime artists, French music, live painting by Misery, Jacques Cousteau photobooth and more!

Plus the chance to WIN a four night getaway to New Caledonia!

For a full programme and parking information visit www.remuera.org.nz www.remuera.org.nz

Thanks to our sponsors:

the investment

The True Costs of Infrastructure

W

ith the general election rapidly approaching, we, the voters, are going to be bombarded with lots of political messages, claims and policy benefits. One claim we will certainly hear a lot, is the case for infrastructure spending.

If there is anything the political left (but not the far left), right and centre do agree upon, it’s the lasting benefits of spending more (borrowed) money on infrastructure: more and bigger roads, more rail, air and sea port expansion, dams and so on.

The Romans depended on roads and sea transport to keep their sprawling empire together — they were so good at it that we can still see roads and aqueducts 2000 years after they were built!

This is the basic and common-held assumption behind the notion that virtually any infrastructure spending will be of value, seemingly forever. I personally think we do need a lot of new and upgraded infrastructure, simply because Auckland in particular is in population growth mode. The extra 800 cars which hit the roads every week will lead to gridlock unless there is more urban and arterial road capacity, or something is developed which prevents the cars using the road in the first place (like rail).

And similarly, we do not need the port to be in the CBD, and developing terminals and facilities and associated access infrastructure in Northland is a must. But we must be careful in making these assertions, and ask ourselves whether rebuilding and/or adding infrastructure does indeed help, and does actually create economic value? We ought to look at all these proposed infrastructure projects that we will hear about over the coming months in the context of productivity and cost-benefit.

Infrastructure creates value when it boosts productivity, usually by lowering the cost of time required to transporting goods, people, energy. But to be of true benefit, the value created by this increased productivity must outweigh the cost. Consider a “bridge to nowhere” project: a bridge is constructed between a little-populated island and the mainland. The benefit is a handful of residents are spared the time and inconvenience travelling on a ferry. But does this time saving translate into increased productivity, or just having more time to spare? And what was the cost of building this bridge, which might have only created

a modest increase in productivity? Spending squizillions on the bridge probably leads to a reduction in the productivity of the entire economy because of the opportunity cost: the squizillions could have been better invested in a project that had a greater productivity impact.

In developed Western economies, one can argue that true opportunities to boost productivity via new infrastructure are scarce. The main reason infrastructure spending was pro-GDP in the old days was more likely because it came after, and was necessary to keep up with, the rapidly developing and advancing private industrial sector. These days there is no “old economy” industry left to follow – they’re essentially all developed and largely mature.

Replacing existing infrastructure might also not be a one-way bet. It might be necessary, but since it won’t boost productivity (it’s merely replacing existing structures), it acts as a tax, especially if the replacement generates no real gains in productivity. It is essentially a tax that diverts capital from the economy that could have been more productively invested elsewhere.

Rebuilding an existing bridge generates higher spending on materials and wages, but if it doesn’t generate additional productive capacity at least equal to its cost, the benefits of this additional spending run out once the project is complete, but the costs of paying (as these projects are usually funded by debt) continues for a long, long time into the future.

So borrowing immense sums to spend on infrastructure that doesn’t boost productivity actually hinders the economy. Rigorous cost-benefit analysis is a must. For example, if driverless cars are coming within the next 10 years (of course they are!) traffic on the roads will reduce significantly. So, is there an argument to wait for this to occur, before committing billions of dollars on roading infrastructure that potentially will soon be under-used?

My gut feeling is we do need more, and better, roads around Auckland. We need city and inter-city rail, we need to move the port, and we need another harbour crossing. But, we must carefully weigh up the true costs and benefits before spending the squizillions. — Warren Couillault

St Johns

Early Childhood Centre A Parnell Trust Centre

Enrol now for 50% OFF your first two months’ fees! Phone 528 7629 to arrange a visit.

50 Strong Street, St Johns

www.parnell.org.nz

the plan

To Whom It May Concern

W

e are now just months away from electing a new government. Whether it be homeless people sleeping in cars or the local marae, or the general affordability issue, it’s fair to say housing will be the big kahuna of the election (as the rest of the economy is ticking along).

While policy announcements and tax cuts get headlines, it doesn’t get us any closer to a more balanced housing market. I am talking about a housing market that allows first home buyers to afford a dwelling and go out and have the occasional avo on toast, as well as the mum and dad investors not having to worry about the value of their multiple dwellings bottoming out. An unrealistic utopia?

Perhaps. Regardless, here is my plea to those in the Beehive.

I am not a politician. But I am a person who deals with developers, mum and dad investors, the Auckland Council and the Resource Management Act, every day. I believe the following issues need to be addressed to really increase housing supply.

While we have come a long way thanks to the Auckland Unitary Plan, we now face a new development hurdle: infrastructure. The main reason infrastructure is moving slowly? No money, or better put, no mechanism to allow for funding to occur. The money is there, the law does not allow it to be spent. Developers are already taking on a lot of risk and putting up a lot of money. The idea that they also need to fund the installation of pipes, and roads, and footpaths, is a major turn-off — imagine having to pay for the harbour bridge before the North Shore can have housing. In the areas that have been “master planned” under the Unitary Plan, this is less of an issue because there are long term plans in place. However, areas that have not been master planned — green fields prime for development — lack the support to install the required infrastructure. And that land makes up the vast majority of the “ready now” sites that have the right zoning, but lack the pipes to move the poo!

A potential solution: infrastructure bonds. These bonds would pay for the new roads, pipes, street lights and footpaths. Since Auckland Council is up against the wall when it comes to borrowing, issuing bonds to cover these vital costs may be the difference between selling the Ports of Auckland or not.

If Council promoted and sold these bonds to residents living in

new developments, or to pension funds, it would add a lot of certainty. When a huge market such as housing becomes problematic, it becomes problematic for the entire economy.

Hopefully the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund ($1 billion to assist “high growth councils” to move on infrastructure projects key to increasing housing supply) will give councils a significant dollop of cash.

So we have the funding for pipes, footpaths, street lights, and bus shelters. So begin construction now, right? Not necessarily.

The second major hindrance to increasing housing supply is the sheer volume of construction that is required. We need the “Amazon” of construction suppliers to come here and shake up building product prices. One of our Australian clients is stunned that building costs are 40 per cent higher here than in Australia, and most, if not all, is in materials.

We also need appropriate immigration to supply an appropriate labour force to manage cost increases. In 2015, the government relaxed immigration rules to help move the Christchurch rebuild along. Those with the required skillsets were permitted to stay in New Zealand on a work visa for three years, instead of the usual one.

Why would we not enact the same policy? In 2015, the people of Christchurch needed houses, offices, warehouses, apartments. Now in 2017, Auckland, Queenstown, Wellington, Taupo and Tauranga are in dire need of more houses. Why would we not incentivise people from around the world to come here and experience our wonderful country, while providing desperately needed skills?

These highly valuable skilled migrants would not just help with putting pipes in the ground, they will build our homes, and our alternative transport networks.

There is now so much space and opportunity to build differently.

The Unitary Plan eliminated the biggest hurdle in increasing the housing supply. However, if all of the other aspects of development are considered in conjunction with this, then what was the point?

If it takes a year for the roads to be built around the subdivision you want to call home, and then a further year for your house to even be built, what has the Unitary Plan really achieved?

— Hamish Firth

Customers are at the heart of everything we do We go the extra mile to ensure our customers are happy.

We also target the right buyer – not just the first buyer working hard to get the best result every time.

We care about what our clients think and experience and are committed to delivering the best possible real estate experience.

Phone Libby today in confidence if you are considering your next move or are wanting to know about values in your neighbourhood.

Trust Credibility Professionalism = Results

Libby Greenwood M: 021 937 470 E: libby.greenwood@bayleys.co.nz

Bayleys Real Estate Limited, Licensed under the REA Act 2008

the hobson + rawhiti estate

Be At Home in Remuera From Biltmore to bricks and mortar, Angus McPhee comes home to help launch Rawhiti Estate

L

ife can have a funny old way of playing out. When Angus McPhee was a little kid climbing trees in his backyard, he could not have imagined that his career would bring him back to the heart of Remuera’s northern slopes, in direct line-of-sight with the McPhee family’s first home in the area.

“I could see this if I stood in the garden of our house in Orakei Rd,” he says, with a nod to the view from his office window, which is right next door to the rising construction of Rawhiti Estate. By this time next year, Rawhiti will be close to welcoming its first residents. On the 5954m2 site of the former Rawhiti Bowling Club, the BeGroup is building a complex of 27 luxurious apartments, and 68 premium rest home, dementia and hospitallevel care rooms. With frontages on Rangitoto Ave, Rakau and Ara streets, Rawhiti Estate will offer a green and pretty neighbourhood outlook.

And this neighbourhood Angus knows like the back of his hand, having grown up in Remuera, attended local schools, and then raised his own family in Meadowbank.

Angus is BeGroup’s sales manager, a role he has held for coming up three years. After working in the rag trade with his own business, McPhee Textiles, Angus joined Ryman Healthcare, and was the leading man in the selling of its premier property, the Edmund Hillary Retirement Village. He’s already thinking of one special event he introduced at Edmund Hillary that he will continue at Rawhiti Estate.

“I’m planning to do something that was very popular at my previous village, and that’s organise a trip to the Grammar versus King’s 1st XV rugby game. I’m a Grammar old boy, and our MD Guy was at King’s, so we have plenty of healthy rivalry when that game is on!

“The Old Boys’ associations at both schools are hugely welcoming and arrange VIP parking for the van. At the last one I organised, the youngest person in the group was 75, and the oldest 91, and everyone had a great time.”

Collectively, the executive team of BeGroup brings a wealth of retirement sector experience to both the drawing board and realisation of its villages. Managing director Guy Eady was previously CEO and chair of Oceania Group and a director of Metlifecare; chief property officer Brett Meyer and financial controller Angela Kneeshaw have deep industry experience too, with Oceania and Metlifecare respectively. Since its formation in 2014, BeGroup has bought and redeveloped The Falls retirement complex in Whangarei, has commenced construction on Rawhiti, and recently announced plans for another village, in Half Moon Bay. “We have a lot of experience in this industry and working on this project has really allowed us to pool that knowledge,” says Angus. Many of Rawhiti’s finishes and amenities may be found in any upscale, well-built apartments — quality fittings, stylishly furnished common areas, a library, pool and gym — but as Angus points out, it’s in the finer details that there’s a difference.

Wine fridges in every apartment is one, another is the standard inclusion of an instant boiling/chilled water tap in apartment kitchens.

“All retirement villages have a weekly fee to cover various household costs, but here’s a difference again — we include not just water, which is standard, but also the power bill, WIFI, a cleaning service, daily towel supplies and changing bed linen weekly, and quite a few other services too. It may be a higher weekly fee than what you’d pay elsewhere, but it’s a peace-ofmind aspect that people really love. It’s just less to have to worry

Above: Impressions of Rawhiti Estate as seen from Ara St, and opposite, the Tiki St view. the hobson 30

about. Our aim is to take away as much as we can of the things that can cause problems.”

Residents will be able to cook (and pour that chilled wine) in their apartment; or if they don’t feel like being in the kitchen, order in a meal or dine in at the on-site restaurant, perhaps after an early evening stroll around the neighbourhood with their dog — most pets are welcome. An activities co-ordinator will oversee a program of events and recreational pursuits, and a van will be available for trips around the neighbourhood, but also for outings further afield, such as the King’s v Grammar fixture.

Like many retirement villages, Rawhiti Estate will welcome residents aged 70 and above. Many of the people who have bought already at Rawhiti hail from a radius of no more than five kilometres. BeGroup held a Christmas drinks party for early purchasers, and Angus stood back and watched as people caught up with old friends or former neighbours they hadn’t seen for years.

“It was wonderful, people chatting away, filling in the years — some of them knew each other when their children were at school together and hadn’t really stayed in touch after that.

It was really heart-warming to see how much they enjoyed reconnecting again. It was a great sense of community.”

Angus has had some experience too of how early connections rekindle. His parents, Malcolm and Jo, started the Biltmore ballroom dancing school with another family in the early 1960s.

They hired Johnnie’s hall on the corner of Omahu and Dromorne roads, engaged a teacher from the John Young Dance Studio, and a social institution was born. The school, which soon moved to the hall on Green Lane East, has taught decades of eastern suburbs teenagers to dance and Angus regularly encounters locals who tell him of their Biltmore experience. So, does Angus cut a dash on the dancefloor?

“No way! I don’t dance, well at least not very well! My wife Ann and I actually owned it for about five years when our children were young. We bought it from my

brother — it’s still going, but it’s no longer got a McPhee family connection.”

What Angus does enjoy is bowls, walking and boating — he was up at 5am to watch the America’s Cup live — and sometime in the future, he envisages a happy and active retirement, just like he’s working to create as part of the team at Rawhiti.

“It’s so great to be involved with people where we’re all passionate about the same thing. We work in this field because we love what we do, and we want to create a community of happy people. After all, this is their home.”

the hobson 31

For more information about life at Rawhiti Estate, call in to 10 Rangitoto Ave, Remuera, Tuesdays or Wednesdays between 10am and 2pm. Angus will make you a cup of tea or pour a glass of bubbles, and answer any questions you may have. Or call him directly on (09) 522 7001.

Simply Matching Pe

www.remuerareale

SOLD venue A aiata 14A W

BOUGHT 56B Arney Crescent

for over 20 d in Whitford e liv g n vi a h r a over many emuera last ye . After 50-plus open homes Moving into R task ish we had retty daunting a, and only w p n ia a D s a d w n a rs y a rr ye et Te s, we finally m long weekend r. se, at an done so earlie a suitable hou to rs lle se d n one rs a -win for every f linking buye in o w y a a w s e te u a e iq n cr Their u shing and ng or selling is just so refre ated with buyi ci o ss a n e agreed price, ft o es e local area iding the gam owledge of th kn , ss e n e in involved, avo u en and eir absolute g e it all so easy d a m st ju n tio real estate. Th rma -the-pulse info and finger-on transparent. , and ithin five days w e ric p g in sk es, use at a out open hom re-sold our ho week. All with xt e n This year we e th in gh the Kings. er house with nd both throu bought anoth a l, va a e h p u l usua signs and the to the area so e our move in d a m ve a h u , yo ness with rry and Diana for doing busi Te id u sa yo e b k n to a t h T a lo yable. There is ong may that continue! easy and enjo l. L a e d e heart of th people at the Darrow Mark and Lisa June 2017

Terry King 021 484 332 terry.king@remueraregister.co.nz

Telephone: 0

Remuera Real Estate Register

eople with Property

estateregister.co.nz

Proving to be the best way to buy and sell local property Remuera’s only “specialists”

We are Remuera’s only specialist real estate company - we KNOW Remuera. More and more people who wish to buy homes in Remuera come to us first. We take a brief of their requirements, and enter them onto our Register.

Our Register of Remuera buyers

Our Register of Remuera buyers, and their needs, means that we can directly match them to properties that we list. The result is quite often an almost immediate sale.

Little need for expensive marketing campaigns

We sell the majority of properties within the first week of listing. This is often the result of having the ‘right’ buyer already on our Register - so there is little need for open homes or marketing campaigns, or public exposure except to our Register. The majority of sales have been to local buyers; the majority of sales have been for record prices in their respective areas and across the spectrum of price categories.

We prefer to sell by price

We take responsibility for setting a property’s value - we agree values and selling prices with our vendors, and price properties accordingly. This makes it easier for buyers. They know from the beginning whether a house is within their budget. The majority of our sales have been for the agreed asking price, or close to it.

We form real relationships

We form real relationships with our buyers and sellers, and this makes a tremendous difference in understanding needs and negotiating end selling prices. Have a look at the testimonials on our website - they say it all.

Our fees are highly competitive

We own the business. For this reason our fees are remarkably competitive.

New properties urgently required!

We have cash buyers waiting.

Diana King 021 613 884 diana.king@remueraregister.co.nz

09 520 6624

Limited licensed REAA 2008

the hobson + remuera live life local

Diamonds & Pearls A new fine jeweller brings more sparkle to the Remuera mainstreet

C

harles and Melanie Panaho recently relocated their Alluvium fine jewellery studio to Remuera.

Charles, why did you choose Remuera?

Remuera has always been our first choice for location, however when we started out in 2010 there were no compatible sites. This store becoming available coincided with our Newmarket lease coming up for renewal, so it was a no-brainer, really. In Osborne Street we had a large showroom, whereas here we’ve created a much more welcoming, intimate showroom, and more importantly, there’s more workshop room out back.

So all of your work is done onsite?

Having our own master goldsmith and gemstone setter here ensures that every aspect of our client’s jewellery creation can be considered by the team – guaranteeing the design is faultless, with perfect translation from concept to reality.

It also gives our clients peace of mind as it means nothing leaves our showroom until completion and client collection.

What is the process involved in making a bespoke item?

Usually I would meet with the client to discuss their ideas.

Once the concept is finalised, our goldsmith carves a 3D wax model so the client can see, feel and fit the piece. The design can then be crafted by hand in the selected metal, with the gemstones hand set.

Have you always had an interest in jewellery?

I originally worked in the corporate world, then I moved into the fashion industry, both local and international, and owned several successful fashion-based companies. My

interest in creative design had been piqued! A role with an exclusive Queen St jeweller solidified my passion, so the next logical step was my own jewellery studio.

Where do your ideas come from?

We keep current with the latest jewellery design trends, predominantly from Europe, and Melanie and I regularly attend large international jewellery fairs.

Is the Alluvium focus on a particular style of jewellery?

We design everything from vintage to modernistic and avant garde jewellery. We also remodel pre-loved jewellery; then there’s our own collection. Our scope is really only limited by our imaginations, and what is technically feasible.

Do you live locally?

Yes, we recently shifted to Remuera, and all four of my children went to Victoria Ave Primary. The youngest is still there, and another is at Baradene.

What has surprised you most about opening in Remuera?

How friendly and welcoming people are here! We opened at the end of March and have had a steady stream of both retailers and locals welcoming us.

SPECIAL READER OFFER MENTION THIS ARTICLE WHEN YOU VISIT ALLUVIUM IN JULY OR AUGUST FOR A FREE VINTAGE DIAMOND PENDANT OR 50% OFF A MATCHED WEDDING BAND WHEN YOU PURCHASE A CUSTOM ENGAGEMENT RING. PLUS, FREE JEWELLERY ITEM CLEAN AND ASSESSMENT TOO

Husband and wife jewellery creators Charles and Melanie Panaho at their Alluvium boutique, 336 Remuera Rd. Photos by Vanita Andrews, interviews by Fiona Wilson the hobson 34

live life local

Close Cutters It’s all go at the Remuera Barber Shop, just as the owners like it

R

emuera Barber Shop is a busy, bustling salon and new owners and old friends Emily Page and Cara Christie intend to keep the momentum going.

You’ve recently become business owners. How does it feel?

Emily: Like we’re finally real grown-ups, ha ha! But seriously – with Ross retiring it was the end of an era. However at the same time, it’s an amazing feeling to be business owners.

We have had so much support, advice and encouragement from our friends in Remuera, neighbouring businesses and our clients . . . we really feel like part of the community now.

Emily you’ve worked here for almost seven years, and Cara, you worked here a few years ago. I know you trained as hairdressers together: was going into business together something you discussed?

Emily: We’ve had lots of chats over a few beers – the future, guys, travel, kids – but business ownership never came up.

Cara: We’ve had many grand ideas! In the sober light of day we realised that becoming snowboard instructors in Switzerland was probably never going to happen, so we jumped at the opportunity to buy the shop when it came up.

Is it unusual for two females to work in a barber shop, let alone own one?

Cara: Barbering has made a real comeback and it’s definitely not just a man’s game. Some of the best work I’ve seen has been produced by females.

Had you both always wanted to be in the hair cutting biz?

Emily: I had an after-school job in a salon and that sealed the deal for me.

Cara: I had intended to continue as a freelance hair and makeup artist for film and TV, but during my OE, I needed a job, and it happened to be barbering. I realised I could work Monday to Friday and keep my weekends free for partying, although these days I keep the weekends free for my children!

What makes this little shop so busy and popular?

Cara: Us, obviously! Although probably more the fact that we are in a great location with easy parking.

Emily: And we have excellent staff — the English lads, Matt and James — who are just as comfortable cutting the hair of a crying baby, through school kids and teens, right through to our elderly clients. We believe the key to a successful shop is familiarity with clients, consistency of service and standards. All of which we have! And we offer women’s cuts too — we are both trained hairdressers.

What are some things people might not know about you?

Emily: I love to cook, cheese is my chocolate and I adore French vodka!

Cara: I grew up on a farm and attended a school with only eight students. I’ve also eaten buffalo testicles at a restaurant in Slovenia – just one of many adventures I had during my five years travelling.

SPECIAL READER OFFER GET YOUR HAIR CUT DURING JULY OR AUGUST AND GET 15% OFF ANY PRODUCT WHEN YOU MENTION THE HOBSON

Emily Page, left, and Cara Christie at their Remuera Barber Shop, at the rear of the arcade at 405 Remuera Rd. To read more about these local businesses, see www.remuera.org.nz the hobson 35

the second act

Grey Matter

M

y friend told me recently that she was going grey. The poor thing. It must be terrible for her, ageing and all that. She’s 51 and has decided to stop colouring her hair and hence is going through a rapid ageing process, as if leaving Shangri-La by the back entrance. We’re treating her as a case study – especially since she has an identical twin sister who is still sporting gorgeous “natural” brown locks. We will be able to see the direct impact — a before and after — and also monitor how life changes for her vs. her sister. At the very least, it will be easier to tell them apart.

Considering I write this column called “The Second Act”, her “radical reinvention” was on my mind as I attended the Auckland Writers Festival. It was a sea of short grey cuts, and silver bobs. “My god,” I said jokingly to a colleague, “It’s actually hard to tell all these 60-somethings apart. Is this us in 10 years?” She replied, “Well it’s kind of us now, but we dye our hair.” She was right.

Who am I trying to kid? And why am I actually resisting showing my true colours (or lack of it)?

I started to do a sort of cost-benefit analysis of ditching the hair dye. There’s the hard costs of my hairdresser, which I figure at around $3000 per annum, versus the virtual cost of a PR campaign to explain why I have done it, therapy, loss of income in case people think I am too old for the game . . . But hang on a minute, I’ve never lied about my age, and in fact I’ve gone out of my way to blog and write a column about mid-life (which used to be 40, but I upgraded to 50). This is clearly all in my head. Or is it?

While we might all agree that we live in a youth-obsessed culture where pretending to be a little younger has become habitual, what is not so obvious is the distinctly unfair gendered bias in all of this.

Men, by and large, are unashamedly greying and balding. While some invest in hair dye or treatments to grow more of it, there are more bucks going into that little blue pill to help with a minor mechanical default in the area of “sexual health”. Give me a break.

There’s nothing actually wrong with you, sunshine. You’re just old. With this logic, doctors should be prescribing women hair dye under the guise of “mental health”. Perhaps ACC can cover it — “I

accidentally started looking my age” — because it seems that hair dye is masking more than grey hair.

There is a true social cost for those women who want to go au naturel. Last year, singer Alicia Keys, at the ripe old age of 36, decided not to wear makeup as a protest against the constant judgment of women. Rather than being applauded, she was criticised. Aside from the “you look like ugly” social media trolling from men and women, there were women who took the attitude “well, it’s ok for you because you’re famous”, completely missing the point.

It has been documented that older female actors are increasingly marginalised. Aside from the shrinking number of roles, as they enter their 40s females are progressively given less to say on screen. Champion septuagenarian Dame Helen Mirren notes this is happening at a time that we have had to sit through years of James Bond ageing, and his girlfriends getting younger. There was of course that big deal made when Bond bedded a 50-something woman in that last movie (as if to say “there! happy now?”) but they killed her off before giving her a personality.

All this social conditioning sets a precedent for what women are supposed to be – younger. Just ask the First Wives Club about that.

Many would call my greying pal “still beautiful" but she no longer adheres to that marker. She hopes to be considered interesting, inspiring or graceful, which she is and more. The real reason she ditched the hair dye was because of a health scare that led to her researching toxins. She found that skin lets in 60 per cent of what it comes into contact with, and dye bypasses the detoxifying enzymes of the liver. But she couldn’t find any fully organic hair dyes that cover greys, and she didn’t want to be a hennaed redhead. You’d think that this news would have us all ditching the dye but no, we remain complicit in a system that stops women from ageing gracefully just as they reach an age where they are making peace with who they are on the inside.

It has started to trouble me greatly. So when am I going to take the plunge? It’s simply a matter of time.

— Sandy Burgham

the hobson 36

the suburbanist

Cohabiting in Cohousing

I

t must be easy to be a journalist on the housing beat in Auckland.

Stuck for a story? Find a 23-year-old couple who can’t afford a three-bedroom home in walking distance of their jobs in the city, and photograph them glaring/pouting in front of their dream home. Or if that feels a bit stale, how about reporting on the latest micro-tweak of uneven data that has pumped yet another suburb over the million-dollar bar in the mad telethon of Auckland prices – “We’ve only got an hour left and need one more suburb to break two million; come on Epsom, you can do it!”

Amidst this daily media flurry and the release of the Unitary Plan, some solutions are quietly beginning to present themselves. One of these, new to most, is cohousing, which is – put simply – planned clusters of housing with some shared facilities and an intent to build a community. Residents have their own self-contained private home but might come together for shared activities or spaces – often gardens, a dining area or even laundries.

Cohousing communities are designed, developed and organised by the residents. In an age when listed companies on the stock exchange are determining how we will retire, cohousing takes the decision-making back, empowering those who will live there.

Retirement villages are great for those who choose them as their preferred mode of living after they’ve downsized, but for many, their choices are limited. Often cohousing gets most traction if they are communities that are conceived and built long before the participants reach retirement age.

They are also very sustainable, with an estimated 10 per cent reduction in individual spaces due to the shared areas. And, of course, you can share the lawnmower, washing line and anything else you like. It can be a great way to start living with less.

There are of course many challenges with getting cohousing established, not least, finding an affordable site. Finding willing participants who are ready at a similar time to make this move, and can avail themselves of the funding necessary can also be difficult, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. Typically, these developments work best with between 12 and 32 households.

Cohousing is popular in the US and Europe, where it constitutes 10 per cent of all housing in Denmark. It is a growing movement in New Zealand with a number of established cohousing communities around the country. Perhaps the best known of these is Earthsong in Ranui, which began in 1995 and is an exemplar of sustainable living.

In north London, a group of women have built their own retirement community after a 20-year struggle to make it work. New Ground, which is in Barnet, is the first UK cohousing development set up just for older women. It is made up of 26 women aged between those in their 50s up to 87, all of whom have found themselves alone, but want to retain dignity and independence in old age. It has been the work of a tireless campaigner, Maria Brenton, an outspoken proponent of older people living independently. In the late 1990s, impressed by what she knew of cohousing developments in the Netherlands and Denmark, she ran a workshop which lead to a group committed to making it happen. The development is backed by a non-profit group, with one third renting their apartments, and the other two thirds owning, each customised.

The next challenge will be to develop models that encourage 23-year-old couples and their friends to commit to cohousing at the start of their adult lives, rather than towards the end of them.

— Tommy Honey

H A R D

F L O O R I N G

31a N o r ma nby Ro a d , Mt Ed en

P H ON E 0 5 0 8 ART I S AN ART I S AN C OLLEC T I V E. C O. N Z

the mp

The Coates-David household — Ros David, Frances, Mei, and Barry Coates, with Ellie, the bichon frise

the hobson 38

Green Days The Epsom electorate has its newest locally-based parliamentarian in sustainability champion and international aid expert, Green MP Barry Coates. He spoke to Kirsty Cameron

T

hree months out from the September 23 election, early on a sunny and breezy Sunday morning, Green MP Barry Coates’ Epsom villa is a staging post for a party door-knocking campaign.

The younger Coates’, 16-year-old identical twins Mei and Frances, quietly make themselves scarce as the family room starts to fill with people in Greens’ tee-shirts and party badges. Mrs Coates, Ros David, cheerily greets the volunteers and starts the first of many plungers of coffee (Fair Trade, as you may expect). Later today, Ros will be flying to Samoa to assess an aid project on behalf of the Australian government.

Before the airport, there’s lunch and a debriefing at a supporter’s home following a party fundraiser — they raised double what was expected — and planning for the week ahead, which includes the Year 12 twins’ commitments, Ros’s trip, and a visit to Tonga for Coates as part of a delegation to the signing of the PACER Plus trade treaty, about which he has voiced reservations.

Around this business of personal, parliamentary and party lives, the election campaign has begun.

In the family room, volunteers are being handed packs of flyers and information, and running through some of the issues they may get asked about as they greet local householders this morning.

Having spent the day before on a meet-the-electorate visit to the La Cigale market alongside the Greens’ co-leader James Shaw, the candidate for Epsom is hearing clear themes in what people want to talk about.

“One issue that comes up, no matter where you live, whether you live in Manukau or whether you live in Remuera, is the issue of child poverty — inequality, the fact that we should not be having a divided society, it’s not good for us. It’s not good for the people in poverty, but it’s not good for us, whoever we are.”

Campaigning in Epsom means a lot of conversations about Auckland’s issues — housing, congestion — as well as concerns voiced in electorates from Northland to Invercargill — rivers that will make you sick if you go for a swim, drinking water that will do the same.

“We want to say that basically, we can do better,” says Coates of the Greens’ response. “That actually, if you live in Auckland, we don’t have the kind of conditions that would make us the most liveable city in the world. We have terrible traffic, and the congestion means that people spend more time in their cars than they do on vacation each year, which is a pretty shocking statistic.

“We’ve got housing which is unaffordable for young people and even people who are kind of middle-aged now. So it’s not a good situation, and it’s due to government neglect of housing infrastructure, as well as a speculative bubble. From the Greens’ perspective, you have to work on both of those areas.

That’s not just a simple issue about building more houses, because if you build more multi-million dollar houses, you're not going to solve the problem about unaffordable housing.

And then there’s other infrastructure issues like when it rains hard, our sewage mixes in with our storm water.”

Shortly before his 60th birthday last October, Coates was sworn in as a Member of Parliament, the fourth to be based in the Epsom electorate. Epsom’s elected member is ACT ’s sole MP, David Seymour, a strategic play by National to ensure ACT’s support in parliament. The government minister for Tertiary Education, and Science and Innovation, Paul Goldsmith, is a National list MP based in Epsom. Labour list MP and shadow attorney general, David Parker, is also based here.

In 2014, the Green Party took 12.5 per cent of the Epsom vote and there’s hope within the party that it will raise that number this time. At the last election, Epsom’s Green candidate was Julie Anne Genter, now an MP based in Mt Albert. At No 12 on the Green Party list, Coates is one of seven Auckland-based MPs in the top 15 positions who can be expected to take seats in the new parliament if the party vote is at least similiar to the last general election.

Coates’ entry to the Beehive came with the resignation of Kevin Hague, who left his seat to become CEO of NZ Forest and Bird. Coates had resigned his role as chief executive of Oxfam NZ to contest the 2014 election, standing in Mt Roskill. At 16 on the list, he didn’t make it in that time but was next in line for a vacancy. Coates’ experience has been recognised with the trade, overseas development and senior citizens portfolios, as well as commerce, consumer and internal affairs (see box on page 41, “What Barry Brings”).

He’s not the first Coates to serve the nation. His great-greatgreat-grandfather, James Coates, was a prominent colonist, a witness to the signing of the Treaty and private secretary to Governor William Hobson before being appointed as the first clerk of the NZ House of Representatives. Unfortunately, he died a scant five weeks later.

“When I went into parliament, the current clerk of parliament knew that, and advised me to watch my health for the first five weeks!” says his great-great-great-grandson.

Coates survived, delivering a maiden speech which spoke of his decision to switch from influencing politics from the outside, to becoming an influencer inside the room. “I had some ambivalence, because I don’t like the way that politics is practised, so my aim has been to change politics as well as changing policies.”

While his early life may have pointed to perhaps a more politically conservative trajectory — a family of lawyers and bankers, King’s prep, King’s College — he happily unpicks any assumptions. “I was born in Remuera, Lucerne Rd. But we moved to Tauranga when I was a child, and I actually won a

the hobson 39

the mp

scholarship to King’s. Though it would be fair to say there’s not too many King’s old boys in the Greens.”

Politics, law and business feature strongly in the Coates root system. The descendants of parliamentary secretary James Coates’s five children included Bank of New Zealand governor Sir James Coates, and Coates’ father, David, who returned from WWII to what became lawyers Simpson Coates, which has evolved to today’s Simpson Grierson. Theres also been an unbroken connection of Coates’ living within the boundaries of Epsom, again starting with James’ arrival into town in 1840 .

Coates is the youngest of three siblings. Philippa is a child psychologist in Sydney, and the eldest, Bridget, is a director of the Reserve Bank, a New York-based business strategist and investor, awarded an MNZM for services to business.

Bridget has reclaimed the name Coates in favour of that of her former husband, Chris Liddell. Kiwi Liddell is the corporate star and philanthropist now appointed as an assistant to the American president, Donald Trump. Does that give Coates a direct line into the White House?

“No!” he laughs. “I haven’t seen much of Chris for a while, and I certainly haven’t seen him in his new role.”

Like her husband, Ros David has a background working mainly for NGOs in the charity sector. She is Welsh, with five siblings back in the UK, one of whom donated a two-week stay in her Provençal holiday home to Coates’ recent fundraising auction. “She was kind, wasn’t she,” Ros says during a quick detour back to the kitchen for more coffee for the still-arriving volunteers. “But she really believes in what Barry is doing, and wants to support that.”

The couple met, fittingly, at a sustainability conference in the UK. “I was with WWF [the World Wildlife Fund] at the time, and she was at Oxfam. I was smitten, and thankfully, so was she.”

Ros is now an independent consultant, specialising in assessing aid projects. Her trip to Samoa this evening is to do that on behalf of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The May issue of North & South featured “The New Greens” as its cover story — coverlined, “Is the once “loony left” ready to rule (and should we be afraid?)”. On the cover, co-leaders Shaw and Meteira Turei posed with the young, ascendant candidates. Inside the magazine, a wider group photograph included Auckland MPs Genter, Marama Davidson and Coates.

Coates’ grey hair and serious expression gave him the look of a senator who had been called into shot to add gravitas to the 20 and 30-something candidates; a statesman with a Samoan

tattoo encircling his right wrist, visible below his cuff.

Coates laughs at the memory of mother Jacqueline’s response when he returned home with his fresh ink, almost 40 years ago.

“My mother was horrified. She said, “Barry, only prisoners have tattoos!””

A newly graduated B.Com, Coates went to Samoa initially on the Volunteer Service Abroad program. He fell in love with the people and the place, spending three years working in economic policy and small business development for the Samoan government, and has maintained an interest and passion for the Pacific ever since.

Coates’ role at Oxfam, his deep network of connections and high profile in the business community — particularly around sustainability practices — not to mention advisory roles at ministerial level, made for a number of political players believing he could be persuaded into signing to their team.

“I had four parties approach me about standing,” he says. It’s a testament that everyone considered he could be their man, but it was the Greens who had him.

“My values have always been closely aligned to the Greens, so there was no doubt about which party I would stand for.

I have spent most of my career trying to get progress on sustainability internationally, in business or in influencing politics, so it was an easy choice.”

“He’s a deeply impressive human being,” says a decades-old friend, Parnell solicitor Graeme Clark.

“He’s always had a high level of dedication, is strongly principled and motivated. I didn’t see it as inevitable that he’d go into politics but I knew how committed he was to the environment and social issues.”

Clark also reveals a fact that may be little known about Coates — he’s very good sportsman. “Barry and I played in the same cricket team in London, the Deadbats. He is a very good, actually, make that devastating, attacking batsman, with the ability to change a game.”

It’s changing the game at a national level that interests Coates.

Before his parliamentary entry he had “a very brief thought” about joining the Auckland mayoralty race, and while he says he does care deeply about Auckland’s governance, “I felt like my skills were better used at the national level rather than at the Auckland level, partly because I also have a lot of experience with foreign affairs.”

The key messages from the Greens for this election, says Coates, “is kind of a refresh. Actually, we’re looking to the future

the hobson 40

on problems that have been around for a long time.

For young people, they’re looking at generational change where they’re going to be saddled with student debt, unable to afford a house, insecure jobs, a burden of climate change that they're going to have to deal with. And those are issues that have sat from our generation, and not been dealt with because of short-term thinking.

“In many ways, the government has prioritised a kind of short-term spike for the economy, over a long-term, sound basis for the environment, for people, and for the economy itself. It’s all been about, “Let’s get rich quick”.”

And there’s that number one topic people are voicing in the meet-and-greets.

Coates believes a large step towards solving poverty, and creating a more balanced society, is if there’s action to remove the sticky traps that keep people in a cycle of low income and high debt, in part due to high rates of abatement, which means that by the time you repay obligations, the rent money has gone.

“There are so many gaps in our systems that discriminate against people in poverty.

“One of the ways is via really high rates of abatement, so that if you’re low income, and you go out there and earn money, instead of paying 10.5 per cent tax or 17.5 per cent tax, because you’re paying down the abatement on the benefits you had, abatement on your student loans, abatement on your accommodation supplement, you’re facing that up to 80 per cent of your additional income isn’t yours — it’s going straight back to the government.

“We want to remove those poverty traps . . . it’s giving people the skills, the confidence to go out there and win their way into society. People can be like, “the Greens, oh, no, you guys go on about this stuff, but it’s all just about sort of big government”. I hope we’ve started to address that.

We’re actually about policies that are going to be economically responsible, but are going to address issues. A lot of it is in the ways that we can create the conditions for people to really thrive in our society.”

The volunteers have now scattered, and the Coates are soon to be at their debriefing lunch. The day started, as it does as often as possible, with the whole family on an early morning run through Cornwall Park. “It’s a necessary antidote to the late nights, parliamentary meetings and receptions that constitute much of the life of an MP,” Coates observes.

You could also draw the conclusion that the morning run is, like everything Coates does, also about bringing balance and opportunity for all.

Opposite: Coates at home. This page clockwise from left, speaking at a Fair Trade Festival in Newmarket, 2004; with Ros after receiving the Sustainability Champion award at the Sustainable Business Network awards last year; a predoorknocking briefing with Greens volunteers in his garden; in the Kup village, PNG highlands, during his Oxfam role

WHAT BARRY BRINGS BCom in economics, Auckland; Masters in Public and Private Management, Yale School of Management Former chair, global Campaign for Climate Action; former vice chair, Fairtrade Australia and NZ; member of the Sustainable Business Network; former chair, current member NZ Council for International Development; co-ordinator It’s Our Future, the NZ campaign against the TPPA; developed sustainability program, University of Auckland business school Executive Director, Oxfam NZ, and board member Oxfam International; prior to that, Head of Development Policy, World Wildlife Fund (UK)

the hobson 41

the style

Mr & Mrs Haines

S

eparately and together, Nathan Haines and Jaimie Webster Haines are a creative force — the former a highly regarded jazz musician both here and internationally, the latter an in-demand DJ, designer and founder of Jaimie, a boutique which stocked both her own designs and curated global fashion, books and objects. They perform as Mr & Mrs Haines at the coolest events, including at Remuera’s Artusi Cucina every month with their “Get in the Groove” party, (see them in action, below left), as well as taking turns DJ’ing at Artusi (See Artusi Cucina’s Facebook for dates).

From a home lush with art, music, and the energy of their two-and-a-half year-old son, Zoot, THE HOBSON asked them to share some of their very favourite things.

1963 Selmer MK6 Tenor Saxophone The Selmer MK6 is THE most famous saxophone of all time. Every great saxophonist has played one, including my hero, John Coltrane. I bought this one from Brian Smith, who I also had lessons with earlier in life, and is a great player himself. It plays like a Tenor should. It’s a workhorse, and a beautiful one at that. — Nathan 1968 Garrard 401 turntable with 1968 SME 3012 tonearm and 1960s SPU mono cartridge I know that’s all a bit of a mouthful, but it’s all important!

This was a one-owner turntable I sourced from Turned On Audio in Onehunga, who really know the HiFi world. There was several months of restoration involved but now I have one of the most desirable and amazing sounding turntables ever. It is also a beautiful, timeless design piece, akin to a work of art. The cartridge (that’s the thing which actually produces the sound and houses the all-important needle) is a vintage mono Ortofon unit, which is the only way to listen to my vintage mono jazz albums. Why mono? Almost all records before the mid ’60s were recorded and mixed in mono.

Listening to an original mono pressing on Columbia or Blue Note from one of my favourite artists on this set-up is my idea of heaven. — Nathan

Mr & Mrs Haines are available for private parties, weddings and events.

Please contact bookings@zootmusic.co.nz or 021 489 310 • For info on Mr & Mrs Haines and Nathan Haines: www. zootmusic.co.nz • www.nathanhaines.com Instagram: JAIMIEWEBSTERHAINES

the hobson 42

1968 Heuer Autavia 3646 chronograph I’ve collected vintage watches since my teens. I’ve been aware of the Formula One association with Heuer timekeeping pieces, and the fact many drivers wore Heuer chronograph watches. I discovered a whole online community of collectors, and after buying and selling (and restoring along the way) several watches, I was able to purchase my “holy grail” watch, this 1968 Heuer Autavia (the name is a mix of Auto and Aviation). I love it. It’s even featured on the cover of one of my albums. — Nathan

Our record collection Nathan has collected an immense amount of jazz, funk and Brazilian albums of mostly original pressings. This is a selection I took along for an event we did at Artusi for Mother’s Day — it was based around inspirational woman artists.

Looking through our records, I realised how many flipping amazing woman performers there are and that I love and play their music ALL the time. The fact the records/vinyl are tactile (some like a work of art before you even listen to them) makes them so much more special to me, especially in this digital world!

— Jaimie My wife’s styling I could NOT live without it! Jaimie is my advisor on all things sartorial, stylistic and artistic.

I’ve always lived the artist’s life and placed art before anything else, and when I met Jaimie I found a kindred spirit. She stops me looking too fuddy-duddy, she helps me get over my in-built prejudices and cynicism, and has made me several items of clothing I wear both daily and on stage. Jaimie IS style and it’s through her vision I clothe myself and surround myself with both beautifully conceived object d’art and stylish pieces notice I didn’t say “fashion” but “style!” — Nathan Jaimie Nina Pant I basically live in these or my “Northern” or “Gus” Jaimie pants. I sold them in my store before we closed it, when we went back to live in London. They are the easiest trousers that look cool but are equally as comfortable. I have new pairs made locally when I need to. My friends get very jealous, and there’s a #BRINGBACKJAIMIE hashtag campaign!

Watch this space. — Jaimie Zoot cuddle and bed squeeze This might seem like an obvious choice but I really can’t not put it in.

Along with my husband, Zoot is the most delicious, wonderful, delightful thing that has ever happened to me. I squeeze him (probably way too much) every day, and I say to him “THIS IS MY FAVOURITE THING IN THE WHOLE UNIVERSE”. — Jaimie Two oil paintings by Brian Haines My late uncle, Brian Haines, went to Elam Art School in the late 1950s. They are both beautiful works and I love that he painted these while in his youth, while his technique was not fully developed. He went on to paint hundreds of oils but never had a show in a commercial gallery.

He was content to teach art at Pukekohe High School for over 30 years. — Nathan My portrait by Cindy Kavanagh I was chosen to be a part of the Riotwear exhibition by Sydney-based photographer Cindy Kavanagh. It was a direct response to the viral email “Egyptian Riotgear” that circulated in 2011, mocking the makeshift head protection used by protestors during the demonstrations in Cairo.

The images reference reportage photos, replacing the protagonists with portrait sittings of nude women, adorned with the exact same regalia as the originals.

Although this image was shot many years after my modelling days, Cindy was one of my all time favourite photographers to work with, and it was a great privilege to be a part of this exhibit. — Jaimie

Zoot’s car Nathan and I found this kid’s car in a skip on one of our morning walks when we were living in Herne Bay. It was without a steering wheel so Nathan managed to find one online and Zoot’s Grandad fitted it. It’s one of Zoot’s favourite things! In this pic, he wanted to take it to the carwash when Daddy was washing his car. Nathan found the vintage 1970’s Nikki Lauda helmet online. Zoot insists on wearing it when he takes his car out for a spin. — Jaimie

the hobson 43

THE BBI PORK BUN

Born May 2013 at The Blue Breeze Inn – shamelessly copied ever since.

Metro Restaurant Awards – People’s Choice Winner 2015

64-9-360 0303 | hello@thebluebreezeinn.co.nz | 146 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby, Auckland | www.thebluebreezeinn.co.nz

the portfolio

The Resident Dog Photographer Nicole England combines her love of fine architecture and friendly dogs

Jed at home in Toorak, Melbourne. Interior design by SJB Interiors

the hobson 45

the portfolio

D

ogs bring a beautiful energy to a space,” says photographer Nicole England. “99 per cent of the time they’re happy and relaxed, and they make people laugh. They’re good to be around.”

An in-demand architecture and interiors photographer who shoots some of Australasia’s most stunning homes and architectural projects, England initially worked as a fashion photographer after graduating with a major in photography from the University of Auckland’s Elam art school. Always drawn to good design — her Remuerabased parents, Carol and Graeme, are passionate about architecture, and brother Simon is an architect in the UK — England left Auckland initially to work in Bromhead Design’s showroom in Melbourne. From there, she worked for a publishing company specialising in design, and in a full circle, came back to photography in her adopted home town.

The idea of shooting interiors enriched with a dog came after a conversation about her career late last year with an old friend.

“She asked me what my favourite day shooting would look like, a dream scenario. I said it would involve spending the day in someone’s beautiful house, a house with stunning architecture and interiors. It would be surrounded by trees, close to the beach or the ocean, there’d be a clear blue sky with maybe a smattering of cloud, there’d be a dog running around. I’d be working with a great stylist and crew, it would be a perfect day.

“The one thing she picked out of that was to say, ‘what is it with the dog?’

And that’s where it really started from, from that conversation.”

The resulting project, Resident Dog, is, says England, “a fun thing to do. I’ve been really enjoying it. When I show people photos from the shoots even just on my phone, they laugh, even if they’re not dog lovers.”

Initially, England went back to the owners of several of the homes she’d shot for design magazines where she knew there was a dog in residence. Those dog owners recommended friends with lovely homes and charming dogs, and Resident Dog came bounding into life. the hobson 46

Top, Jeddy in his Potts Point apartment, interiors by Arnold Lane.

Below, New Yorker Lucy, interiors by P+T Interiors

Top, Charlie ensconced in Blairgowie, Victoria. Interiors by SJB Interiors; below, Noodle of Caulfield, Melbourne. Interiors by Madeleine Grummet

the hobson 47

the portfolio

Jed, keeping an eye on things in Toorak, Melbourne

“Dogs tend to be so much part of the space. People talk about buying their house because it had a great garden for the dog, or that there was room for the dog. I really don’t think cats bring as much personality to a house.” (She has politely demurred shooting cats, even turning down a direct plea from a cat who claimed to really be a dog at heart).

In her own home in Melbourne, England and her partner, Rick, have a part-time dog, Bella,“a cute little white fluffy thing,” who visits when Rick’s children come to stay. England does see a full-time dog in her future, but what to choose, when she meets so many appealing canines?

“I really don’t know,” she laughs. “I thought I might like one of those living teddy bears like Noodle, but then you meet a dog like Jed — it changes all the time!”

All images copyright and reproduced with permission of Nicole England.

To find out more about Resident Dog, contact Nicole via nicoleengland.com Instagram: nicoleengland or resident.dog the hobson 48

the trainer

Ruff & Tumble Pete Pedersen is Remuera’s go-to man for dog training

P

ete Pedersen stands in front of the class, wearing jeans and work boots, and armed with a little red bag clipped onto his belt, full of his preferred ammo for pacifying his overly eager students. The class is full of puppies, and the bag is full of dog treats.

They’re riddled with Valium, Pederson jokes. It’s easy to see how that joke can be made, as the human element of the class watch in awe as Pederson transforms a yapping tumble of a puppy – an 11-week old terrier – into a calm dog, fixing Pete with big eyes and awaiting her next edible reward for good behaviour.

For close to three decades, Pedersen has worked with dogs. By day, he trains service and working dogs, and in the evenings, wrangles puppies and teaches good dog habits to the hounds of Remuera. Tonight’s class of wriggling bundles of puppy energy is held indoors, at the Remuera Vets on Norana Ave. On other nights, it’s puffa jackets on for owners taking their older dogs to obedience classes — like the one pictured — which are held in the carpark behind Remuera Mall.

Pedersen has always loved animals, “right from the getgo”. He had dogs in the family growing up, and now has two German Shepherds, Jango and Jarrah, who live with him and his wife, Wendy, in Western Springs. He also has two cats, who have the final say when it comes to the dogs.

“If there’s ever a difference in opinion,” Pedersen says, “the cats always win. Everybody knows that!”

Pedersen adores dogs because he recognises how hugely beneficial they can be for people, both in terms of companionship and as a resource. Over a before-class cup of tea at Remuera Local, he recalls with true passion some of the dog-and-people encounters over the years, such as the woman with several disabilities, who’d bought a small terrier from an animal shelter.

“She had physical limitations amongst other things, but seeing what the dog brought to her as far as having a companion, an interest — the difference it made to her life was so rewarding to see.”

Pedersen’s passion is reinforced by observation over his working life. Dogs, he points out, do not behave like humans, as much as humans may think they do, nor can they can be “trained” to think in a certain way. They will always think and act like dogs, an example being their utter lack of road sense. “Something startles them, intrigues them, stimulates them — they’re going to run across the road.” Take-home message: always keep your dog on a lead when you’re walking the streets.

Pedersen laughs when asked what he would consider a “spoiled dog”. “I think it’s more about making sure your rules are consistent for the dog. I always say it’s your

Pete Pedersen with an obdience training class in the Remuera Mall carpark the hobson 49

the trainer

house, your rules”. For the record, Pedersen does not let Jango and Jarrah sit on the furniture, or sleep on the beds (cue the snickering cats). Keeping rules consistent is key.

Is every dog trainable? “Yes,” he says, slowly. “But I say that with limitations.”

The breed — “what the parents programmed into that dog to create it”— and bad experiences in the past both contribute to how easily a dog can be trained to overcome a behavioural issue.

Pedersen believes the best in dogs, but he also knows that you can’t change a dog’s fundamental temperament. “What you can do is modify behaviour.”

The owner or handler of the dog must understand the dog’s limitations and work around them; as he points out, when it comes down to it, the dog is their responsibility.

“Breeds bring a certain amount of breed-specific behaviour. For instance, Border Collies like to herd. But behaviour is behaviour pretty much through all the breeds.”

He continues to be delighted by the dogs in his classes, some standing out over the years for their, well, sheer dogginess. Like the Great Dane and the Griffon-cross — not much bigger than a Chihuahua — who became great friends.

“Dogs are interesting. They don’t really care what breed or size the other dog is.

If they want to play, they’ll play!”

Even in week one of tonight’s puppy classes, two of the puppies have already hit it off – the terrier and a wee Labrador. After watching them chase each other around the room for a while, Pedersen farewells the class — “See you next week for round two of controlled chaos!”

To inquire about puppy classes or dog obdience training, call 027 280 0066 or email prodognz@gmail.com Photos by Vanita Andrews, interview by Chantelle Murray

the hobson 50

Parnell District School, St Stephens Avenue Discuss Parnell issues with Barry and hear about the Green vision for Auckland.

Free entry, no RSVP needed.

Facebook: Epsom Greens 2017 Email: barry.coates@greens.org.nz

bcbcbcbcbcbcbcbcbcbcbcbcbcb

Public meeting Monday 24th July 7.30–9pm

Authorised by Gwen Shaw, L1, 17 Garrett St, Wellington

Your Green Party candidate for Epsom

Our well-respected veterinary team and knowledgeable support crew offer compassionate, state-of-the-art veterinary care. With many years of experience, we provide treatment for all manner of ailments that may afflict your furry four-legged friends.

Senior Health Check for Your Cats and Dogs Full Clinical Consultation Senior Blood Screen 20% off Royal Canin Food * Cats & Dogs 7 years+ eligible

ONLY $200, VALID FOR JULY ONLY Call us today at 09 529 2091 or pop in to see us at 168 Victoria Avenue www.vethospital.co.nz/ www.facebook.com/vethospitalgroup/ *Conditions apply, new purchases only

bcbcbcbcbcbcbcbc

Epsom Electorate Office Suite 2.4, Level 2, 27 Gillies Avenue, Newmarket.

PO Box 9209, Newmarket 1149.

To contact me for an appointment please call 09 522 7464

David Seymour, MP for Epsom davidseymour.epsom@parliament.govt.nz

Promoted by David Seymour, MP for Epsom.

State

Grace

FAMILY DIRECTED FUNERALS

Inspired by the desire to reclaim one of life’s most important rites of passage, State of Grace offers a caring, compassionate and highly personalised approach to death care and funeral arrangements.

09 527 0366 0800 764 327 www.stateofgrace.net.nz

bcbcbcbcbcbcbcbcbcbcbcbcbcb

Meet Barry Coates MP

bcbcbcbcbcbcbcbc

the magpie

Fur enough, then The Magpie proves she can be a dog’s best friend too

1

4

5

2 1. 8 Paws has a masterfully curated online collection of dog essentials, such as Cloud 7’s Chalk Bowl. The ceramic bowl has a blackboard surface to allow a personalised message to the one you love. $79, from eightpaws.co.nz 2. A stylish and sturdy canine coat proudly made in NZ. Animal Outfitters’ Windsor Dog Coat is a quality wool blend, with a snuggly sherpa lining so your mate is insulated against the chill. $85, animaloutfitters. co.nz 3. Good Noze is all-natural, no-nasties food for canines, made with care by a crew in Raglan. Tapping into community talent, the brilliant packaging illustrations are by Raglan artist Hayley Hamilton.

There’s edibles for kitties too. From $12.95, available at Farro Fresh, see goodnoze.co.nz for more info 4. The See Scout Sleep Out of My Box collar is handcrafted in Louisiana from 100 per cent hemp webbing and rugged brass hardware detailing.

Handsome boy! In four sizes, from $58, at eightpaws. co.nz (matching leads also available) 5. Be leader of the pack in this edgy Rogue Ranger Brass collar and leash. Constructed from soft, fully padded leather fitted with brass hardware, it’s rugged not only in style, but also in practicality. $88 each, from toughdogstuff.co.nz 6. You can never have too many naps on a Life of Riley Corduroy Wool Filled Dog Bed, from $98. Made for bone-weary Kiwi dogs, the corduroy outer layer is hard-wearing, and the inner is filled with warm alpaca wool. There’s different styles, colours and sizes,

3

the hobson 52

6

9

7

8

less from “dog and cat outfitters” headquartered in Belgravia.

Approx $45, mungoandmaud.com 11. You know, if this was Paris, we’d be able to wear these right into the café. Oui, sit up at the table, slurp our water right out of a saucer if we wanted. But even in Remuera, we’ve just got to be tied up outside, treated like, I don’t know, a dog or something. Really, wearing Mr Soft Top’s Ruff ‘n’ Tuff Denim Jacket ($47) should get us in anywhere. And if you think these are smart, check out our stripy merino tees — they are the business, and like the jackets, handmade right here in NZ. mrsofttop.com 10

all designed in NZ. From lifeofriley.co.nz (check out the staff photos of product controllers, Molly and Biscuit, and Sooty, the “wear and tear expert”).

7. You choose what to put on your own hide with care, and a dog’s skin can be surprisingly sensitive too. Share the Aesop love with this gentle fur cleanser. Aesop ANIMAL, $47, is a mild foaming gel, with a pleasant citrus and mint aroma. From Aesop, Osborne St, or aesop.com 8. That’s right, blame the dog. When it is the dog, bring out the Skout’s Honor Odor Eliminator. This natural, non-toxic, environmentally friendly spray eliminates bad smells after accidents. $34.95, via pussandpooch.co.nz 9. First class travel for a petit chien — the Louis Vuitton Dog Carrier features the brand’s trademark monogram canvas. With a mesh window for airflow and sightseeing, it’s weatherproof and resistant to scratches. $4050 for the smaller of two sizes, at Louis Vuitton Queen St, or louisvuitton.com 10. Biff those bung bunnies and skanky squirrels in favour of Mungo and Maud’s Umii dog toy. A collaboration with the Japanese fashion brand, 45R, the result is a crochet masterpiece — you’d expect nothing

11

the hobson 53

the pretty

Blue Note Chantelle Murray banishes winter blues with cool-themed beauty Described as a “box of blue watercolours”, Bvlgari’s Eau Parfumée au Thé Bleu creates a sparkling, exotic scent with Fujian China blue tea, fresh lavender and shiso leaves, which are considered a symbol of vitality in Japan. $137, from Smith and Caughey’s

Curionoir’s Feather My Tears Candle is not only a scent to admire, with notes of orchid, lily, almond and moss, but it is also beautifully presented in a hand-blown glass case. Each glass is unique, and all Curionoir is made here in New Zealand. $149, available from the brand’s flagship store at 76A Ponsonby Rd, or curionoir.com

Cold weather dries out the skin, but Atzen’s Balance Night Recovery Cream, $139, will help you to rebuild hydrated, healthy skin. Atzen combines organics with high-tech ingredients, to create active, scientifically-advanced skincare.

See atzen.nz for stockists or to order

The new Maybelline New York Color Show Liners are perfect for an evening out.

The pencils are made of kohl pigments in a creamy texture, and this Beauty Blue shade is our pick of the bunch. $9.99 at Maybelline stockists This limited edition metallic sky blue NARS Velvet Shadow Stick in Grande Large, $46, will match the season perfectly. A creamy shadow pencil, it works either worn on its own, or underneath another shadow. Only at Mecca Beauty stores or at meccabeauty.co.nz An ode to the banks of the Italian Riviera, Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino Body Oil will take you somewhere warm and wonderful. It plays with citrus notes, watery florals and darker amber undertones, and also nourishes and hydrates the skin. $128, from Smith & Caughey’s Featuring natural active ingredients of ginger, cinnamon, frankincense and camphor, Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Blemish Cleanser Treatment, $55, will leave you feeling fresh, invigorated, and ready to stare down winter. The highfoaming gel cleanser also works to prevent blemishes and acne.

At Kiehl’s counters

Transport winter nights to another sphere with the Cire Trudon’s Madurai Candle, $169. The sweet notes of Indian jasmine and ylang-ylang are balanced by the base scent of benzoin, most commonly used in incense. Available at WORLD stores or at worldbrand.co.nz

The new L’Oréal Paris Elvive Fibralogy Air Dry Shampoo, $11.99, has got you covered after a late wake-up. It will feel as if your hair has just been washed, and is the first dry shampoo to use Filoxane, which is normally found inside the hair fibres and creates thicker, more voluminous hair. At L’Oréal Paris counters Kick those winter blues to the kerb with Dermalogica’s Stress Relief Treatment Oil, $49. It’s ideal for at-home massages, or add a few drops to your bath to unwind. The conditioning oil includes sandalwood, lavender, tea tree and ylang-ylang to create a calming atmosphere.

At Dermalogica stockists

Clinique’s Turnaround Revitalizing Serum works to bring new cells to the surface of the skin, giving your skin an energising boost and an ultra-smooth texture. It is oil-free, lightweight, and suitable for sensitive skin. $82, from Clinique counters Liven up your winter make-up with this Hypnose Palette Drama by Lancôme. It is designed to be applied with a wet brush, which takes the palette’s brilliant blue pigment to a whole other level. $108, at Lancôme stockists

Good Health Imaglow Advanced Collagen Formula, $59.90, works to enhance skin, hair and nail health.

The capsules contain extracts and nutrients to enhance collagen and elastin production. Available at pharmacies or at goodhealth.co.nz

the hobson 54

the teacher

Putting 2 + 2 Together

T

erm 2 is about to finish, completing the first semester of the school year. Now is the time to make sure all at school are settled and well on the way to achieving the goals set for the year. I am sure you will be looking forward to the break.

I have been enjoying some relief teaching this year in a variety of classrooms, from Year 1 to Year 8. It is always such a privilege to go into another teacher’s classroom for a day or two, and believe me, my admiration for full-time teachers always soars afterwards.

Being able to cover such a wide range of levels gives me a great insight into the learning and development of students in today’s schools. To be honest, not a lot seems to change in students’ development from generation to generation for younger students; boys are still boys needing lots of physical activities, and girls are still more willing to settle quickly into their work.

However, today’s students will graduate into a world where the demands of their academic, professional and personal lives will grow more complicated every year, and at such a rate that they will need to have a good knowledge base to be able to keep up and cope with it. I can reassure you the teachers in the schools I relieve in are “onto it” and what the children are learning in their classrooms, and outside of them, is preparing them well for the world they will inherit.

One of the subjects I believe to be essential to this preparation is mathematics. I’ve always enjoyed teaching maths, and recently enjoyed working with a class on Pythagoras. I was very impressed with their understanding and how they understood why learning this was important.

As I observe children learning mathematics, I find that they really enjoy it in the early years but by the time they get a little further along something changes for many of them. I am very aware of the crowded curriculum — and what a day at school has to have packed into it — but in my view, maths is so important that schools need to be mindful of it and check that it is covered daily.

It is one of those subjects that can be easily integrated into other subjects as well; with children often not even noticing that they are working on a mathematical component within a social science lesson. Teachers need to work really hard on making sure a maths

lesson includes a fun component, especially in the years when mathematics in the NZ Curriculum becomes more language based.

Children can often become confused when they are introduced to too many mathematical terms too quickly. However, a good thing is that the curriculum does continue to revisit many new learning strategies in the following years, when children are more ready to understand.

There are many very good reasons why children need to have a good basic knowledge of mathematics as they grow up. It is often reported that statistically NZ does not perform well at mathematics in the OECD. Keeping an eye on these global statistics is a good reminder for our policy-makers to make sure they are setting the standards correctly. It is vitally important our children do as well as they can and understand what they are being taught.

There is no doubt that we need the inventive geniuses in society: someone’s got to find a cure for cancer, to improve and invent technology, and to develop new ways to save our planet, to name but a few reasons for having mathematical knowledge.

However, innovation is just part of the equation and will be for only a few. All children need to have a good basic understanding of mathematics and how it fits into and will affect their daily lives, making their own adult lives better. This knowledge will help them to make good and wise decisions on routine day-to-day matters, decisions they wouldn’t even be aware of that use their mathematical knowledge. For example, learning to spend pocketmoney, or later in life, having to deal with big-ticket items like buying a first car (and how fast it can be driven) or their first home, budgeting for a holiday, cooking a meal or having to arrive at the airport on time to catch a flight. All these require some mathematical knowledge.

My advice to you as parents is to keep hammering away at those basic facts tables (you would be very surprised at how many students can not recall these quickly), keep up the homework support, and if you have any concerns or issues around your child’s maths results or performance, do not hesitate to pop in to school to chat to their teacher. As we all know, nothing is easy in our busy lives but success always comes to those who put in the effort.

— Judi Paape

FREE COSMETIC CONSULTATION until May 31st 2017

Dr Maron Clague - BDS Otago

Our services include: • • • • •

Dr John McCabe - BDS Otago Dr Carin Burger - BDS Your Auckland Dentists for General, Cosmetic and Family Dentistry

SAME DAY EMERGENCY TREATMENT

Smile enhancement Tooth whitening Invisalign Dental hygiene General Dentistry

Contact our team at 09 524 8834, or email info@onehealthdental.co.nz Address: 122 Remuera Road, Remuera Free parking, lift access and cafe

OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK

WWW.ONEHEALTHDENTAL.CO.NZ

the check in

Photos by Svetlana Romantsova © World Kiteboarding League

Chilled Louise Richardson finds winter tonics for body and soul BONJOUR MES AMIS Just two and a half hours’ flying time from Auckland, the French Polynesian archipelago of New Caledonia sits prettily in the Pacific, encircled by the sparkling waters of one of the world’s largest lagoons, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The capital, Nouméa, is well-known for its beaches, chic shopping experiences and French-inspired cuisine, but there is much more beyond the towns on the main island of Grande Terre.

As part of a government plan to develop tourism in areas outside Nouméa, the mountainous mid-section of the country is now in the spotlight.

Lovers of adventure tourism will more than have their needs met in this region, with the white-sand beaches offering water activities, and the mountains trekking and hunting. The 5-star Sheraton Deva Resort and Spa (pictured top right) is set in the National Park at Deva, near Bourail, about 90 minutes’ drive north of the airport. The resort boasts not only access to 13km of beach, but a 900m2 outdoor pool, and an 18-hole golf course.

Cultural activities nearby include historic Bourail, where there’s a museum, markets and the Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery, with its poignant memorials and the graves of New Zealanders and Western Pacific local force members who died in the region in WWII. newcaledonia.co.nz To win a trip to the Sheraton Deva, take part in the Remuera French in July festivities — see page 12 for details p

WILD TIMES South America offers the ultimate in camping and hiking for fit and able visitors. Departing throughout October and November from Buenos Aires, Intrepid Travel’s Patagonia Wilderness tours are a wonderful introduction to nature’s bounty in Argentina and Chile, who share the rugged mountains, ice fields and glaciers of Patagonia (centre image). Walking and trekking, you’ll be accompanied by experienced and knowledgeable guides

and when not on foot, transport is by plane, bus, private vehicle and boat.

Activities include an orientation in stylish Buenos Aires and day hikes to Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre. Visit the hobson 56

Los Glaciares National Park and spend three nights camping in Torres del Paine, with its cold lakes and mighty waterfalls. intrepidtravel.com p

HOP NEXT DOOR Air fares to Australia are at low prices so if winter’s getting you down, the Gold Coast is a school holiday tonic for all ages.

Surfers Paradise (pictured bottom left) remains a popular vacation destination and its newly developed foreshore makes access to beachside shopping, dining and cafes easy as you look for a break between beach and water sports, and the siren call of the “worlds”.

Particularly for the kids, the best reason to visit the GC is the line-up of Warner Brothers Movie World, SeaWorld, Dream World and Wet n’Wild. Rides, entertainment, each destination can be a day or more in itself. There are various packages available for multi-park passes and shuttle buses running between the coastal strip and the theme parks.

For a quieter diversion, at Tambourine Mountain you’ll find the green behind the gold, with lush rainforest in one of the oldest national parks in the world.

The rainforest skywalk (pictured right) is a fascinating experience, while the glowworm caves at North Tambourine are well worth a visit. See queensland.com p

PARK IT IN THE US The US has a number of spectacular national parks well worth experiencing if you’re looking to add something different to a north American holiday.

Grand American Adventures’ 15-day National Parks and Lodges tours run until September and feature small groups and beautifully appointed historical lodge

2017 CONCERT SEASON Sunday 20 August 2017 2.30 PM CONDUCTOR: Michael Joel SOLOIST: Eliah Sakakushev-von Bismarck “Cellist Eliah Sakakushev –Von Bismarck gave a rapturous performance. The Strauss was amiably lightweight and Sakakushev-von Bismarck, playing without a score, wove his sinuous lines through the orchestra web with elegance and the subtlest of rubato”

and hotel accommodation across parks and cities close by. Highlights include a guided tour of Salt Lake City, two nights in Yosemite National Park, a visit to famous Death Valley, hiking in Grand Teton National Park, and two nights in Yellowstone National Park.

It’s not too late to catch the end of the American summer. Find more information at grandamericanadventures.com p

PAUL GOLDSMITH

NATIONAL LIST MP BASED IN EPSOM A

107 Great South Road, Greenlane PO Box 26 153 Epsom, Auckland 1344

P

09 524 4930

E

paul.goldsmith@parliament.govt.nz

W

www.paulgoldsmith.co.nz facebook.com/PaulGoldsmithNZ

William Dart, NZ Herald Programme Vaughan Williams Dohnanyi Beethoven

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Konzertstuck Op 12 in D major Symphony No 5 op 67 in C

Venue ST MATTHEW-IN-THE-CITY CHURCH Corner of Wellesley and Hobson Street, Auckland City.

Adults $25, Concessions $20 Children under 12 years Free.

Eventfinda or door sales cash or cheque

Funded by Parliamentary Service and authorised by Paul Goldsmith 107 Great South Rd Auckland

the sound

Let's Hear it for the Sergeant

I

have fallen down a wormhole, which is unfortunate because it’s a wormhole that people have been falling down for 50 years now. To mark the 50th anniversary of the release of the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, it was decided to remix and rerelease the album, this time in stereo.

The job was given to Giles Martin, the son of original producer, George, and he has done a great job. Taking the original mono mix, he also sourced the work tapes. In 1967 those tapes were “bounced” down onto a 4-track tape to create mono mixes that were then combined into the final LP. With so many more tracks at his disposal, Giles has unearthed the original stereo and presented the great album in a modern format.

So, I thought it would be an easy job just to review the album and its new sound. But I forgot this is Sgt Pepper’s we’re talking about. Stereo or mono, I have rediscovered what a remarkable album it is. A wormhole of music and creativity and ideas and alternative ways of looking at things, and kitchen sink drama. All wrapped up in one of the universe’s first rock concept albums.

In 1966, The Beatles retired from live performance. Firstly, because the din was so great they couldn’t hear themselves play. As John said, they should just send some mannequins out and play the records. It’s not so well known that when they played Japan, the crowds were mute and the boys were shocked at how bad they had become.

Exhausted, they took three months off. John went home to his wife and child, got bored, did a movie, went to art shows and met Yoko. George went to India and got all zen. Paul grooved around and kept writing songs and soundtracks.

Ringo went to the pub and hung out with the missus and his kid.

When they got back together they booked the Abbey Road studio indefinitely, and started making the album. The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds had come out and, inspired, they were determined to make the studio the fifth Beatle. Paul had slyly taken over the band and the album. It was his idea and his work dominates.

So, it’s an album by a band about a fictional band. Rather than us looking in at them, they’ve joined the audience, looking in at another band. And what they see is remarkable, because despite their enormous fame and money, they see a humdrum English life full of little heartbreaks and mercies. It’s a technicolour kitchen sink drama.

To a soundtrack that includes calliopes and ragtime and waltzes, we hear stories of normal people. When Ringo sings that he gets by with a little help from his friends, you can sense his uncertainty.

The fact that the rest of the band was egging him on, and made him have a crack at the big note at the end, is so poignant. He’s only getting by.

“She’s Leaving Home” is a Ken Loach film in song. With not one

rock instrument, Paul tells of a teen running off with a man from the motor trade because there’s no love at home. John joins as a Greek chorus portraying the clueless and confused parents.

He pulls the same trick in “Getting Better”. As Paul cheerily sings of how things are getting better, John sings they couldn’t get much worse. In such a light song, John casually sings that he used to beat his wife, but now things are getting better.

Don’t start me on “A Day in the Life,” a song as dense with lyrical ideas as musical and technical ones. A track that took 34 hours to record. The lyrics and music are enough to do my head in, without even considering the soundscape.

I’ve owned two copies of this wormhole album. A vinyl copy and a CD, which I got Paul to sign in the 90s when he toured. Both these albums were the mono mix. Now I have the stereo remix.

And it’s mind-blowing. Clean. Pristine. Deep and pure. It sounds as though it was recorded yesterday. Each note in the harpsichord intro to “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” has its own place in the mix. As “A Day in the Life” reaches its amazing orchestral crescendo, you can hear each component part.

The backing vocals come at you from all angles, exact and pitchperfect.

I always thought the mono mix had a muddy veneer and now I know I wasn't wrong. There are all sorts of revelations. Ringo’s drums are higher in the mix and the toms are placed stereophonically.

It makes you realise that his drumming was so ahead of its time, so dynamic, so innovative. Then there’s the clarity of Paul’s bass. As the chief architect of the project, he insisted on completing his parts last. The counterpoints he used makes it revolutionary in bass. As with U2 and Led Zeppelin, it proves that the real heart and stars of bands aren’t the glory boys out front, but the platform from which they’re launched. All this, plus new remixes of “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane”. Two songs meant to be on the album BUT LEFT OFF! George Martin always said that was his biggest mistake.

Geoff Emmerick was the engineer of Sgt Pepper’s and I had a glorious lunch and evening with him four years ago. He always said the mono mixes are the only way to listen to the album. Geoff is a genius, but he’s wrong. The new mixes have rekindled my love affair with an album that defies description.

An avant garde jump to the future, featuring music styles straight from the Edwardian music hall. A tour de force from millionaire superstars that reflects the life of Liverpudlian, terrace-housed workers. Recorded 50 years ago on a couple of 4-track tape recorders. I haven’t even mentioned the cover.

It is amazing. And here’s a thing. John and Ringo were 26, Paul was 25 and George was 24. What were you up to at that age?

— Andrew Dickens

Pop art: the Sgt Pepper's cover by artists Peter Blake and Jann Haworth included 57 collaged images the hobson 58

the bookmark

Cooking Up a Good Story

FIVE WAYS TO COOK ASPARAGUS (AND OTHER RECIPES) Peter Miller (Thames & Hudson) I am a fan of Seattle art book seller Miller.

I own his first book, Lunch at the Shop, written in response to his practice of a communal staff lunch, an important part of his working day. For Miller, the number five provides a framework and a focus. Here are five brilliant ways to cook each of his favourite, healthy foods. This is a beautiful, well-designed, practical guide to the everyday art of getting food on the table.

HOME COOK Thomasina Miers (Allen & Unwin) Just reading the plaudits from chefs, cooks and others will make you want to pick up this book. The Guardian’s “Weekend Cook” says in her introduction, “I wanted to gather together the recipes that have meant the most to me over the years, and the dishes in this book are achievable for any home cook.” Along with over 300 delicious recipes, the photography manages to be both scrumptious and quirky.

HOW I COOK

A NEW WAY TO DINNER

Skye Gyngell (Hardie Grant) Australian Skye achieved fame when she was chef at London’s Michelin-starred Petersham Nurseries. She’s written several books and her latest is an inspiring collection, revealing the secrets to her home cooking. Rediscover easy-to-cook traditional recipes that benefit from Skye’s inventive twists. Beautifully photographed, it will inspire you to experience, in Skye’s words, “the pleasure of cooking for others.”

Amanda Hesser & Merrill Stubbs (Penguin Random House) If you are short of time, yet like to be superorganised, these two are the answers to your prayers. Both are working mothers, and their plan is based on doing most of the cooking on the weekend. It’s hard to describe but the layout and photography will inspire you to see creating five mealsplus-lunches is not only doable, but even to quote one happy fan, “serene”.

MY UNDERGROUND DELI

THE GREAT DIXTER COOKBOOK

Jess Daniell (Book Reps) Daniell started cooking for friends, friends told friends, and Jess’ Underground Kitchen was born. Herne Bay was the first JUK store, and happily, she’s about to open up in Remuera. In her second book, Daniell shares a day-in-the-life of her bustling foodie business, and some of her go-to recipes, complemented by enticing photographs and a delightful glimpse of life behind the food.

Aaron Bertelsen (Phaidon) The author was vegetable gardener and cook for the late gardening writer Christopher Lloyd, owner of East Sussex homestead, Great Dixter, famous for its Luytens-Lloyd designed gardens. As well as the heritage-listed landscaping, there’s a very English kitchen garden. Simple, seasonal and delicious dishes are presented alongside gardeners’ checklists, served up with inspirational photography.

— Gail Woodward

the cinema

Winter at the Movies THE JOURNEY

in 1940. Small civilian-skippered boats answered the call to aid the Royal Navy, while the RAF battled the Luftwaffe above. Nolan’s cast both includes senior statesmen of Brit theatre (Branagh, Rylance) as well as screen newcomers (Styles, Whitehead).

Director Nick Hamm. Starring Freddie Highmore, John Hurt, Timothy Spall, Toby Stephens Two Irish, anarchist, God loving/ loathing leaders get into a car . . . this is not a joke, but rather the plot of this film, directed by BAFTA winner Hamm. It’s a fictional-ish account of two of the greatest enemies in Northern Irish history, Sinn Fein politician Martin McGuinness and Democratic Unionist Party leader, Ian Paisley. When the two are “forced” to take a short journey together, the British Government pins hopes for peace on a black minivan, a country road and a shared love for Ireland.

BABY DRIVER Director Edgar Wright. Starring Ansel Elgort, Jon Hamm, Lily James, Kevin Spacey When Baby (Elgort), a getaway driver, meets the girl of his dreams (James) he sees a chance to ditch his criminal life and make a clean start. Accompanied by his curated getaway soundtracks, Baby takes an ill-advised final job for the mysterious criminal mastermind, Doc (Spacey).

When the heist goes wrong, Baby must face the music, as his chance at love and freedom is on the line.

PARIS CAN WAIT Director Eleanor Coppola. Starring Diane Lane, Alec Baldwin, Arnaud Viard Anne (Lane) is stuck, literally and figuratively. Married to Michael, (Baldwin) a successful, but emotionally vacant movie producer, circumstances find Anne taking a car trip from Cannes to Paris with Jacques (Viard), an associate of her husband. In what was supposed to be a straightforward seven-hour trip, the plan veers off course into a two-day adventure, fueled by food, wine and scenery. With this movie, documentary maker and artist Coppola joins husband Francis and daughter Sofia as a director of feature films.

HAMPSTEAD DUNKIRK Director Christopher Nolan. Starring Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Harry Styles, Fionn Whitehead Last month gave you Churchill, this month sees the release of a WWII drama from Interstellar’s Nolan, retelling the dramatic evacuation of encircled Allied troops from the French seaport of Dunkerque

Director Joel Hopkins. Starring Diane Keaton, Brendan Gleeson, James Norton Nothing brings two strangers together, it seems, like one of them being evicted, and the other having a copious amount of free time. When Donald’s (Gleeson) Hampstead Heath home is threatened by developers, he finds an ally in a bored American widow, Emily (Keaton). From the director of Last Chance Harvey, Hampstead was,

Advance Screening Wednesday 19 July. Arrival 6:00pm for 6:15pm film start.

Tickets: $24.50* each and include a glass of wine & goodie bag.

Book online: www.rialto.co.nz *Plus, $1.20 online booking fee.

not surprisingly, filmed on location in the London park.

US release, the film was updated following the current president’s decision to pull the US from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

All the above titles are set to release at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket in July

6 DAYS

ATOMIC BLONDE

Director Toa Fraser. Starring Abbie Cornish, Jamie Bell, Tim PigottSmith, Mark Strong Based on the real events of 1980, when gunmen stormed the Iranian Embassy in London and took its occupants hostage. During the ensuing six-day stand-off, elite SAS soldiers prepared for a daring rescue, played out again in this thriller. Directed by Kiwi-adjacent playwright/writer/director Fraser (No 2, Dean Spanley, The Dead Lands).

Director David Leitch. Starring Charlize Theron, Sofia Boutella, John Goodman, James McAvoy, Bill Skarsgard As the Berlin Wall comes down, elite MI6 agent Lorraine (Theron) is sent to Berlin to eliminate an espionage ring that threatens to jeopardise the West’s intelligence operations. Lone wolf Lorraine is forced to join up with Berlin station chief, David (McAvoy).

Based on the The Coldest City by Antony Johnston and Sam Hart, the thriller will please anyone wanting to see Charlize Theron back in her Aeon Flux, butt-kicking, element.

THE BEGUILED

THE TRIP TO SPAIN Director Michael Winterbottom.

Starring Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Marta Barrio Comedic actors Brydon and Coogan hit the road again, this time for a restaurant tour of Spain. Playing fictionalised versions of themselves, the characters are a continuation of their improvised performances from 2005’s A Cock and Bull Story, which begat The Trip and The Trip to Italy TV series, which were both edited into films for theatrical release as well. We’ll have to wait and see if they pack their Michael Caine and Sean Connery impressions for this third voyage.

Wednesday 16 August Arrival 5:30pm Book online www.rialto.co.nz

AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER Directors Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk.

Starring Al Gore, Barack Obama, Donald Trump An update to 2006’s global hit doco, An Inconvenient Truth. The Inconvenient Sequel addresses the progress made to raise awareness of renewable energy and tackle global warming, as environmental activist and former US vice president Al Gore continues his advocacy campaign for global cooperation and investment in renewable energy. Shortly before its

Tickets*

$35

*$33 for Cine Buzz members.

Sign up to Cine Buzz online.

Director Sofia Coppola. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning, Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman Set in Virginia during the American Civil War, the gentlewomen of an allgirls school are sequestered, waiting out the war. But when a wounded Union soldier stumbles into their care, genteel facades slip. There’s war outside their walls, inside, sexual tension, rivalry and revenge at play. Coppola won the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival, only the second woman in Cannes history to do so. A 1971 version of The Beguiled starred Clint Eastwood and Geraldine Page.

— Caitlin McKenna These titles are set to release at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket in August

the district diary

July 2017

Termite Tossing, © Willem Kruger (South Africa), part of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition opening this month at the Museum

1 The new Bishop Selwyn Chapel at the Holy Trinity Cathedral will be filled with a melodic blend of pure vocal and rhythmic guitar, as musician and songwriter Holly Christina performs songs from her new album, 7th Heaven. From 4-6pm, iticket.co.nz 1-8 The fifth annual Matariki Light Trail turns Maybury Reserve in Glen Innes into a magical landscape with thousands of twinkling lights, as part of the Māori New Year celebrations. Live entertainment each night from 7pm, plus a fireworks display at 9.15pm on the final night 7 The world-renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition opens today at the Auckland Musuem, with 100 new, awe-inspiring

images from our natural world. Produced by the Natural History Museum, London, the exhibition runs until December 3. Free with museum entry Last day of Term 2 for most area schools 8-23 A recent discovery in the BBC’s film vaults, Sir David Attenborough’s early Zoo Quest TV adventures will screen for the first time in HD colour, in a cosy corner of the Origins Gallery of Auckland Museum. Open 10am-5pm daily, free admission 15 Don your stripes, scarves and berets and head down to the Bastille Day Festival on Remuera’s main street for plenty of joie de vivre, French food and wonderful entertainment. From 10am2pm, see remuera.org.nz for

full schedule of events Celebrating 50 years of decimal coinage in NZ, the Numismatic Society of Auckland and the RNSNZ are hosting a fair offering coins, banknotes, tokens and medals for sale, including overprint banknotes and commemorative medals. See rnsnz.org.nz for more info.

Quality Hotel, Gladstone Rd, 10am-4pm. Free entry 18 The Parnell Business Association hosts a meetthe-candidates evening for the September general election at the Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Rd. David Seymour (ACT), Paul Goldsmith (National), Barry Coates (Green) and David Parker (Labour) will be in attendance. 5.30pm for a 6pm start, free but rsvp to carolyn@parnell.net.nz by July 6

the hobson 62

22-23 Satisfy your need for speed and fuel your passion for all things motorsport at the CRC Speedshow. Entertainment, displays, merchandise, experts. ASB Showgrounds, 9-6pm (closes 5pm Sunday).

Go to eventfinda.co.nz for tickets, or at the gate 24 Greens’ MP Barry Coates holds a public meeting tonight at the Parnell District School hall, 7.30pm. Meet the MP and hear about the Green vision for Auckland And school’s back for most . . . Term 3 begins 27-30 The Food Show has new, not-to-be-missed features, including the Ceres Organics Healthy Hub Kitchen as well as old favourites. 10am-5pm all days, ASB Showgrounds, tickets at the gate or foodshow.co.nz

August 2017 1 Polish off those final words — entries close today for the 2017 New Voices – Emerging Poets competition. To be judged by poet and writer Dr Maris O’Rourke, the results will be announced at the Divine Muses Poetry Reading, on National Poetry Day, 25 August, at St Paul St Gallery, 40 St Paul St. See artagent.co.nz 2 Learn about the winter heavens above with the Night Sky show at Stardome Observatory and Planetarium, One Tree Hill.

8pm, Wednesday to Sundays throughout August, see stardome.org.nz for tickets and info 18-20 A one-stop-shop for everything pregnancy and toddler related, the Baby Show has lots of advice, entertainment, products and show-only specials. ASB Showgrounds, 10am-5pm all days, tickets at the gate or babyshow.co.nz 20 Enjoy an afternoon of sublime music with the St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra. Conducted

by Michael Joel and featuring solo cellist Eliah Sakakushev-von Bismarck, the program includes Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme, and Beethoven’s Symphony No 5. 2.30pm, St-Matthews-in-the-City, Hobson St. Door sales or tickets via eventfinda.co.nz.

Children under 12 free 20/27 At this time of year Cornwall Park’s Twin Oak Drive is alive with a carpet of yellow, so bring the family along to enjoy fun and

Top, Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, and above a scene from Rocco and his Brothers, screening at the Cinema Italiano festival

games amongst the vibrant daffodils. Entertainment and activities, 1-3pm, free 27 The Auckland Vintage Textile Fair offers a vast array of genuine vintage finery — clothes, linen, jewellery, accessories, fabric — for sale from dealers all over the country. 10am-4pm, Alexandra Park, $10 at gate

28 The most glamorous show in town, New Zealand Fashion Week starts today at the ANZ Viaduct Events Centre, 161 Halsey St. Visit nzfashionweek.com for public events and sales 31 Ciao bella! The Auckland season of the Cinema Italiano Festival 2017 starts

the hobson 63

today (to September 14) with a selection of films that celebrate Italian life. Curated

by NZ’s favourite Italian, actor/director/playwright Paolo Rotondo, screenings are on at the Bridgeway. For dates, tickets and films see cinemaitalianonz.com

the cryptic by mĀyĀ

ACROSS 1 Indonesian guy appearing in “Bottom” (8) 5 15 26’s flyer not fond of a Melting Moment (3,7) 11 Termite eater I’m told “never ’urt anyvun” (8) 12 I’m fastidious, with a fixed routine about giving official permission (10) 14/28/42 Sir Danish Enchanter’s an ingenious writer (4,9,8) 15/26 Fungus creator saying yes to Scot in the street (rubbish about Diana) (7,6) 16 Heavens above! Taking drug in the Hebrides? (4) 19 Drug a branch of the police (4) 20 A systemic reaction to 2, for example; without drugs, one relies on it (6,8) 22 Being degenerate, entice with sex (9)

23 Divers method to remove moisture (6) 26 See 15 28 See 14 31 Antarctic archipelago from which one might obtain lad’s sin (7,7) 32 Passion found in the heart of the country (4) 33 One repeated giving the bird (4) 34 Load diamonds into suitcase found in the Arctic Ocean (4,3) 35 Our responsibility? (4) 39 Igloo brims madly with embarrassing misunderstandings (10) 40 Pest found in pie by Mike bitten by smoker? (8) 41 “Th-Theing” - the latest fad?

(3,2,5) 42 See 14

DOWN 1 Auckland Suburb’s second rate - all have nothing at first (5,5) 2 A complaint that often goes unvoiced (10) 3 Negative state of new star (4) 4 A state in which one hears “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do” (6,8) 6 “The state of being us” Princess’ appearing in Winniethe-Pooh's ditties (9) 7 First sailing vessel to Mr Pye’s island (4) 8 Resistance units may be seen outside government post (4) 9 Met Ken, disheartened despite holding all the aces, near Warkworth (8) 10 The Four Cockneys of the Apocalypse, heading north to become Vikings (8) 13 Midge chasing little devil is like many of our waterways, unfortunately (6)

17 One German stepped into fight - “So, we meet again!” (14) 18 Work wine maker to crush (7) 21 Wake Stephen to make a meal (4,3) 24 Hello - Mr Sanders eats mince, then has a long sleep (10) 25 Castle-owners may be found out at midday (10) 27 Canadian city found in Kansas, too, strangely (9) 28 See 36 29 Fun poker placed by a joint, say (8) 30 A goer taking in a river is liable to change (8) 36/28 Key and Helen, say, sadly missed 29 (4,6) 37 15th century weapon reversed after end removed? Nonsense!

(4) 38 Wilder unit of heredity? (4)

Set by Māyā. Answers will appear in our next issue (September 2017). Can't wait, or need help? Visit https://thehobsoncrossword.wordpress.com/

JUNE CRYPTIC CROSSWORD ANSWERS Across: 1 Egret, 4 Music hall, 9 Pyromania, 10 Carol, 11 All right, 12 Segway, 14 Also, 16 Escapement, 19 Enrolments, 20 Idea, 22 Naming, 26 Ruler, 27 Analgesia, 28 Husbandry.

Down: 1 Esplanade, 2 Rural, 3 Tom-tit, 4 Manchester, 5 Snap, 6 Cockeyed, 7 Arrowhead, 8 Lolly, 13 Cautionary, 15 Scrambles, 17 Translate, 18 Planaria, 21 Fungus, 22/29 North shore, 24 Disco, 25/23 Band rotundas. the hobson 64

Photo: Tony Collins

Now serving Webster's Organic Tea

BREAKFAST & LUNCH COMING IN AUGUST

The Art of Eating Well

1-415 Remuera Rd, Village Green Ph: 09 522 9196 Follow us on Instagram, artusi_remuera and Facebook, @artusicucina

Each office is independently owned and operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ. nzsothebysrealty.com/NZE10526

The International New release of penthouse luxury luxury Using the existing structure of the original Grand Hotel façade, Jasmax Architects have Using the existing structure of the original Grand Hotel façade, Jasmax Architects have created quality seamless in quality in every aspect thisunique unique luxury residence. These expansive, created seamless every aspect of of this luxury residence. These expansive, exceptionally designed penthouse exceptionally designed penthouse apartments offer floor areas from 248 sq m to 318 sq apartments offer floor areas from 248m² to 318m² and 3.2m ceilings. m and 3.2 metre ceilings.

With breathtaking views, a private dining room, cinema, library, With breathtaking views, a private dining room, cinema, library, three three bedrooms andthese bathrooms, these dwellings bedrooms and bathrooms, dwellings offer world class luxuryoffer in the world class luxury in the heart of heart of Auckland’s CBD.Amenities Amenities also include two carparks, Auckland’s CBD. also include two basement carparks, basement wine cellar, storage wine cellar, storage facilities, Boffi kitchens and wardrobes, Sub-Zero facilities, Boffi kitchens and wardrobes, Sub-Zero fridges and priority lift access. Contact fridges and priority lift access. Call our sales team today.

Ross Hawkins today.

Jason Gaddes

Ross Hawkins

jason.gaddes@sothebysrealty.com

ross.hawkins@sothebysrealty.com

Show Suite Open 9 Princes St, Auckland Wednesday – Friday 1:00 – 2:00pm Saturday – Sunday Show Suite Open 1:00 – 3:00pm

9 Princes St, Auckland

0800 20 20 90 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. theinternational.co.nz Wednesday – Friday

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Saturday – Sunday

nzsothebysrealty.com/NZE10676 +64 21 994 921 +64 27 472 0577

Ross Hawkins M +64 274 720 577 ross.hawkins@sothebysrealty.com

Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ.