The hobson may 2016 by The Hobson

may 2016

Mama! â&#x20AC;&#x201D; our mother's day portfolio local news, views & informed opinions

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The May Issue, No. 28 8

the editor’s letter

the portfolio

the second act

Our annual photo gallery in honour of local mothers

Moving into the CBD makes Sandy Burgham the new girl in her own town

the columnists

12 the village The wheels roll, slowly, on the Parnell Train station, an update on the Treaty settlement over Gladstone Park, Baradene’s fundraising art show, local board news and more

24 the plan Hamish Firth, also on spinning wheels in the planning system

24, 25 the reps News from local MPs David Seymour and Paul Goldsmith

the pretty Seven very good ideas for Mother’s Day gifts, selected by Justine Williams

the hobson + prescription skin care The benefits of eDermastamp treatment

40 the arts Leigh Melville interviews Hayley White about the upcoming Auckland Art Fair

42 the magpie A panoply of ideas for mothers, or anyone who likes a little style infusion

the cinema What’s screening this month, selected by Caitlin McKenna

49 the bookmark Gail Woodward’s pick of the shelf for May

50 the check in Our new travel section, edited by Louise Richardson

52 the appetite Delicious lunch ideas created by chef Sue Fleischl

the sound

Andrew Dickens on the pleasures of a long, hot, melodic summer

the district diary Local happenings for May

the investment

the wheeze

the cryptic

Warren Couillault on the drawbacks of selling off Kiwibank

Eloise Grace lives in London now, where she’s still a keen social observer of human nature — this time, mothers

Our puzzle, by Māyā. Hint: some of the answers are local (if you’re really stuck, there’s blog help too)

the suburbanist There’s an app, and an appetite, for many services today, observes Tommy Honey

30 the hobson + remuera

Meet Hedgerow’s Sarah Clark, and Poppies Bookstore’s Tara Jahn-Werner and Tony Moores

Judi Paape shares her observations from a trip to India, and the coming sports season

the teacher

WIN!

DON’T CRY FOR ME, DRIVE A BEEMER . . . To celebrate Mother’s Day, THE HOBSON’s friends at Jerry Clayton BMW are offering a wonderful prize package. One lucky winner will receive a BMW to drive for a weekend of luxurious motoring style. PLUS, you will receive two premium tickets to Amici Production’s staging of the hit musical Evita, sponsored by Jerry Clayton BMW for its Auckland season from May 28 to June 20 at the Bruce Mason Centre. And before the show, you’ll also be treated to dinner for two and a bottle of Pelorus NV bubbly at Takapuna’s Madame Woo! Enter now for your chance to win this wonderful prize package for you, or anyone who deserves your appreciation this Mother’s Day, courtesy of Jerry Clayton BMW, Amici Productions and Madame Woo. To enter, email business@thehobson.co.nz with BMW in the subject line by Friday May 13. You can also double your chance of winning by liking THE HOBSON’s post about this competition on our Facebook page. The fine print: By entering, you understand and agree that: the BMW driver will be over 25 and have a full NZ driver’s licence. No smoking or pets in the car, an insurance excess of $2500 applies. The car may be borrowed on a Friday and returned on a Monday at a mutually agreeable date before October 1, 2016. Car pictured not necessarily the same model as vehicle to be provided.

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issue 28, may 2016 Editor & Publisher Kirsty Cameron editor@thehobson.co.nz Art Direction & Production Stephen Penny design@thehobson.co.nz Writers Kirsty Cameron, Louise Richardson Sub-editor Fiona Wilson Social Media Editor Sarah Lynch Columnists & Contributors This Issue Sandy Burgham, Carolyn Cameron, Shale Chambers, Sue Cooper, Warren Couillault, Andrew Dickens, Hamish Firth, Sue Fleischl, Paul Goldsmith, Tommy Honey, Mike Lee, Māyā, Caitlin McKenna, Leigh Melville, Judi Paape, David Seymour, Desley Simpson, Justine Williams, Fiona Wilson, Gail Woodward Photographers Vanita Andrews, Jonathan Ganley, Stephen Penny, Nick Tresidder, Dominique White Cover Sisters Emma Main and Kate Boyden and their children, photographed for THE HOBSON by Nick Tresidder. See story, page 32. THE HOBSON is published 10 times a year by The Hobson Limited, PO Box 37490 Parnell, Auckland 1151. www.thehobson.co.nz F: TheHobsonMagazine T: @thehobson Ideas, suggestions, advertising inquiries welcome. editor@thehobson.co.nz Or via Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheHobsonMagazine

THE HOBSON is Remuera, Parnell and Orākei'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

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esidents are still discovering information in the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan which will make significant changes to our neighbourhoods. As we reported last month, a submission for Mixed Housing Urban by the Trust board which owns the former Queen Victoria School site in Parnell has set them againt their neighbours, who are hoping for a more modest, less-impactful Mixed Housing Suburban result. Now, residents on the western side of Gladstone Rd are working out the impact on their narrow, Victorian-era streets of another zoning change submission on their doorstep (see the story in The Village news pages). As I wrote last month — and as our The Plan columnist, Hamish Firth, addresses in this issue — an unforseen outcome of the Unitary Plan process has forced us all to become versed in the language and Byzantine laneways and byways of urban planning. Interestingly, it was a lack of rules around urban planning that directly led to the artistic emergence of NeSpoon, the Polish street artist who recently created works of some beauty in Remuera — that’s her onsite with our March issue (photo, Marcin Rutkiewicz). NeSpoon was in New Zealand on a trip organised by arts consultant Jillian de Beer, and we were fortunate to have her creating art in Remuera as part of the White Night festival. NeSpoon, birth name Ella, is a very interesting woman who left the corporate world to become an activist against Poland’s then-out-of-control advertising billboards. Her partner, Marcin Rutkiewicz, gave a fascinating talk hosted by the Remuera Business Association in the week before White Night. In 1990s post-Communist Poland, a lack of urban planning rules saw ad signage — previously extremely limited — proliferate anywhere and everywhere, including public spaces and the facades of heritage buildings. Ella threw in her job and Marcin his — he worked in the film industry — to become full-time campaigners against the no-rules spread of billboards and hoardings. The result of their campaign was rules and structure around what could be placed where, and ultimately, Polish government honours for the pair. Since then, they have worked to keep beautifying urban precincts with NeSpoon’s delicate, meaningful art which honours and references heritage. I think the lace she has painted on the wall at No 1 Victoria Ave brings beauty to our neighbourhood. To everyone involved in the project, and especially the building owner who said “yes, you may paint my wall”, I’m just one of many who says a mental “thank you” as I drive or walk past.

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

Thanks to The Aromatherapy Company, we have three home fragrance sets of Velvet Plumeria and Lily to give away. Part of the company’s “Celebrate Everyday” range, this limited edition set of candle and minidiffuser will raise money for the Mental Health Foundation. To win, go to our Facebook page and see the May 1 post about this lovely prize pack.

Congratulations to Amrita Lal, winner of our March issue competition for a $500 pair of Céline sunglasses from Remuera’s Maman boutique. And, don't forget to enter for our Mother’s Day BMW, show and dinner prize package, courtesy of Jerry Clayton BMW. See page 4 for details. Why am I getting THE HOBSON? If you’ve only just noticed us turning up in your letterbox, it may be because you live in Orākei or a part of Remuera which we have recently added to our distribution area. We launched in September 2013 as your local, community magazine — that’s our brief, to be local, inform and connect our community. We also put copies into the Remuera and Parnell libraries and various dairies and cafes around the place. There’s more about us on our website, www.thehobson.co.nz. the hobson 8

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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.sandyburgham.com Remuera resident Warren Couillault (The Investment) is CEO of Richmond Investment Management, a private investment advisory partnership. He is a shareholder in and director of Generate Investment Management Ltd; manager of a registered Kiwisaver scheme and an adviser to S.AG Private. www.richmond.co.nz 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 Sue Fleischl (The Appetite) is a caterer and passionate foodie. She heads up The Great Catering Company, and also manages the heritage Abbeville Estate function venue. www.greatcatering.co.nz, www.abbeville.co.nz Urban design critic Tommy Honey (The Suburbanist) is a former architect, Remuera resident and Dean of College at Parnell’s Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design. Dr Amrit Kaur (The Psyche) lives in Meadowbank. She is a NZ-registered clinical psychologist specialising in helping children, families and young adults, and is part of the KidzTherapy practice. Her column appears bi-monthly, alternating with Judi Paape. Caitlin McKenna (The Cinema) of Remuera is passionate about the cinema — she majored in film, sociology and marketing for her conjoint BCom/BA. Judi Paape (The Teacher) is a parent, grandparent and highly-experienced teacher and junior school principal. A Parnell resident, her column appears bi-monthly, alternating with Amrit Kaur. Justine Williams (The Magpie, The Pretty) 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

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the village

Town & Around

GLADSTONE PARK, REVISITED As previously reported in THE HOBSON, there’s a tussle over future ownership, and governance, of Parnell’s Gladstone Park. A green hectare, home to the Parnell Community Trust childcare centre, a playground and the Gladstone Tennis Club, it is Crown land but is to be transferred to an iwi collective as part of a Treaty settlement. Wayne Thompson updates the debate. Iwi in the centre of the row over the Parnell waterfront park’s part in a Treaty settlement say the only high-rise structures they will put there are pouwhenua – carved wooden posts — which Māori use to mark territory or significant places. In the first response to questions from THE HOBSON about the transfer of Gladstone Park to the Marutūahu Collective as “cultural redress,” its chairman Paul Majurey says that because it is in negotiations with the Crown, it cannot comment beyond correcting some “misinformation”. Majurey says people were misinformed if they thought that Marutūahu – said to be once largely maritime-based tribes – had no links to the area. The next claim, he says, was the bogey of

commercial development on the 1.18ha of prime land “which was never the case”. Now, he says, there is misinformation around uses of the land for purposes other than reserve. Friends of Gladstone Park was set up in July 2014, because of residents’ concerns about Marutūahu’s submission to add Gladstone Park to a new Māori Purposes precinct in the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (PAUP). Presently, the park is zoned open space recreation/community in the PAUP. Auckland Council opposed the rezoning bid, and on February 23, Friends’ representatives Luke Niue and Dennis Mahony told the Independent Hearings Panel (IHP) overseeing the PAUP that it too rejected a change of use for the park. The Friends’ submission says the iwi ownership should not necessitate a change of use of a long-standing public reserve. Instead, the land could be managed in the same way as the maunga (volcanic cones)— for example Maungawhau/Mt Eden — have been since that Treaty settlement.

the hobson 12

In response, Majurey, who is also inaugural chair of the volcanic cones body, the Tūpuna Maunga ō Tāmaki Makarau Authority, says the iwi’s submission addresses the underlying zone (that is, under the Reserves Act classification) and is the same thing sought by Marutūahu and the Tāmaki Collective for all the Tūpuna Maunga. They also have permanent reserves classification. “The reason for the underlying zoning proposal is to reflect it being in mana whenua ownership,” says Majurey. “What it means in practice is that if, for example, someone was proposing a new development utterly incongruous with being next to an adjoining reserve – a brothel, for example — Marutūahu would probably want to be able to lodge submissions against it.” Majurey says the rezoning to Māori Purposes could allow, for example, pou to be erected on Blacketts Point, across the road. As for other possible uses, he says: “To be clear, the land is reserve and will remain reserve forever. As long as the tennis club wants to lease the land, it has a perpetual right to do so under the proposed and further details of the settlement terms.” Park zoning is a matter for Auckland Council, says a spokesperson for Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson. The spokesperson says negotiations with Marutūahu are ongoing, and further details will be available once a deed of settlement has been initialled by iwi and the Crown.

As earlier reported by THE HOBSON, the minister says the park land will always remain reserve and therefore cannot be subject to intensification or commercial development. This position would not change. However, the Waitematā and Gulf Islands representative on Council, Mike Lee, says “cultural redress” is meaningless. Once ownership of the park changes, says Lee, it will be a case of ownership being nine-tenths of the law and down the track it’s going to be hard to enforce any guarantees made in 2013.

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the village With a redress signing months away, the Friends of Gladstone Park are keen to see that any settlement incorporates a covenant between the Crown, Auckland Council and Marutūahu that the park be a public reserve for recreational and community use in perpetuity. The Friends also require that the covenant be secured to the Crown, by way of a registered encumbrance against the titles to park land. However, the minister’s response is that the Treaty settlement legislation would prohibit the revocation of reserve status, and would also require the land to remain in Marutuahu iwi ownership in perpetuity. Friends’ spokesman Luke Niue says an IHP member found that a key component to Reserves Act designation – a management plan for the park – was missing and, as a result, the Friends had sought the minister’s support in getting one done. Asked about that, the minister’s spokesperson says that, in general, when settlement legislation requires land to remain a reserve, it will be managed in accordance with the Reserves Act. The legislation includes public access and management plan requirements. Councillor Lee says residents are right to be sceptical when iwi tries to change the park zoning to Māori Purposes so mana whenua can access, manage and develop land as cultural redress. “Whatever the outcome of the zoning dispute, I am convinced that the Government making deals in secret to give away public parks created and paid for over 100 years by local ratepayers, is plain wrong. Instead of redressing an injustice, the Gladstone Park Treaty settlement is creating an injustice.” Regarding Marutūahu links with the area, Majurey referred THE HOBSON to a statement from the Treaty Negotiations Settlement Office, which says Auckland in 1840 was a popular area and home to

a diverse range of people. These included ancestors of the Marutūahu, which comprises Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Whanaunga and Te Patukirikiri. They are all iwi of Auckland and among 13 members of the Tamaki Collective, though Ngāti Maru has a base in Thames. They are recognised as having extensive customary interests across Mahurangi, Auckland and Coromandel-Hauraki. They have particularly strong connections to the Gladstone Park area. On May 17, 2013, the Crown and Marutūahu signed a record of the agreements reached on their collective redress settlement negotiations to that point. Gladstone Park is Crown-owned but managed by Auckland Council, who leases it to Gladstone Tennis Club and Parnell Community Trust’s childcare centre. The areas under negotiation include the children’s playground and across the road, Fred Ambler Lookout to the port and harbour. As was reported previously in THE HOBSON, the central Auckland hapu Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei opposes the proposed transfer of Gladstone Park, which is close to its marae at Orākei, commercial land at Quay Park and a short walk from where hapu had a village at Okahu Bay. Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust Board spokeswoman Rangimarie Hunia says it expects a court hearing later this year to result in clarity on how the Crown should recognise the hapu’s mana in central Auckland. The spokesperson for the minister says Crown would not sign a deed of settlement until any overlapping claims are resolved to its satisfaction. Majurey, however, says that the Marutūahu iwi “look forward to completing their Treaty settlements in the next few months”.— Wayne Thompson p

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SPORTS SUCCESS FOR ST CUTHS St Cuthbert’s College is celebrating the success of pupils selected for national sport squads. The school’s head girl, Antonia Young, may well be the only NZ secondary school head prefect on a quest for gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Young, 17, pictured top, is the only secondary school student in the national women’s water polo team. She recently competed in the Netherlands with the NZ team as part of their Olympic run-up. Not long after returning, she saw victory with her St Cuthbert’s teammates, winning the North Island Secondary School Water Polo championships. To round off a stellar season, Young was also named most valuable player of the tournament. Meanwhile, the April school holidays were an energetic time for the school’s cross-country athletes, with a team of six competing at the ISF World Schools Championship Cross-Country in Budapest in late April. Trained by Marianne Duston, who oversees a strong distance running programme at St Cuthbert’s, the girls qualified for the event at last June's cross-country schools nationals in Dunedin. First stop was England, where the team was set to train in Hyde Park for a week, before flying to Hungary. Pictured above: Front, from left to right, Emily Hacket Pain, Devon Lowyim, Emma Hamilton. Back, Issie Robinson, Claire Rees, Megan Greensmith, coach Marianne Duston. p

GREEN PLANS FOR THE WAIPAPA A note from Luke Niue, chair of the Parnell Community Committee. “Carolyn Cameron’s Waipapa Valley story in the April issue was a wonderful read, but it needs correcting in that an exciting Greenways Master Plan exists, and is being lobbied for by many, for the valley. It will connect this part of Parnell to Newmarket Park via the old railway tunnel, which is 344.5m long and as seismically sound as the day it was opened in 1883”. The “Waitematā Greenways” plan, which includes the Waipapa Valley, can be found in Waitematā Local Board (via the About the Council tab) reports at www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz p

the village

ARTFUL FUNDRAISING FOR BARADENE The annual Baradene Art Show on May 20 and 21 brings out the finest in community spirit and fundraising. The show, now in its 27th year, is the biggest event on the Remuera school’s fundraising calendar, with more than 120 established and emerging artists showcasing, and selling, over 700 works. From classic art styles including painting, to works in ceramic, glass and bronze and significant large-scale sculpture, the school community’s art research group has spent months researching and looking for talent new to the show. The result is an equal mix of favourite artists who have exhibited at the event previously, along with names new to regular show attendees. “Over the years, successive teams of Baradene parents have

worked tirelessly to put together this incredible event,” says 2016 art show co-ordinator Justine Williams. “They’ve kept it fresh, exciting and relevant, while always striving to maintain the balance of a community event with real heart.” Artworks for sale at the upcoming Baradene Art Show include (clockwise from top left) Horseshoe orb, iron horseshoes, various sizes and prices, Tom Moffett; Huia, tarapuka, matuku feathers, coloured pencil $375, Kristin Ivill; Rapaura 1975, oil on silver tray, $950, Lee-Anne Dixon; First Date, giclee print on archival satin paper, $295, Rieko Woodford-Robinson; Early Summer Evening, ink on archival paper, $1750, Kathryn Carter; Balance, concrete and resin, $2000, Ramon Robertson; Friday, acryclic on canvas, $4000, Josh Lancaster. Everyone is welcome to attend the show, which is held in the

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Baradene College grounds on Victoria Ave. Entry is free, but tickets are also for sale for the gala night opening event on Friday May 20. A café will also run during the weekend. Supporters of the event include THE HOBSON’s friends at New World Remuera, Skin Centre Dermatology and State of Grace. Gala tickets, more information about the works pictured here, plus previews of all the works for sale, can be seen online at www.baradeneartshow.co.nz For even more art possibilities, see Leigh Melville’s story on page 40 about the Auckland Art Fair. p

ASK KAREN

Every month local real estate expert Karen Moore answers your questions, so if you are looking for enlightenment, clarity or some simple advice, then email Karen at the Mike Pero Real Estate Remuera office.

CALL FOR YOUNG WRITERS

Are cross-leases all bad?

The annual Barfoot & Thompson Young Authors Challenge is now officially open. Now in its ninth year, the competition gives local primary and intermediate-aged students the chance to become a published author in an annual storybook. Students are encouraged to put their imaginations to the test and come up with an original story of up to 600 words. “The standard of stories that we receive each year is phenomenal,” says Barfoot & Thompson managing director, Peter Thompson. “It is great to see our future generation rise to the challenge, and write such fantastic stories when encouraged by their teachers and parents. We are proud to help foster their imaginations, their abilities, and their love for writing. We’re looking forward to seeing what they come up with this year.” Up to eight young writers or groups from Auckland and Northland will have their winning stories published in the book edited by children’s author Maria Gill, and illustrated by artists including All Black Keven Mealamu — it will be his ninth year of working on the fundraising book. Proceeds from the sale of the book go to the Starship Foundation and the Magic of Reading Programme. Since 2008 the challenge has raised over $160,000. For more information visit www.youngauthorschallenge.co.nz p

It depends who you ask! Cross-leases date from subdivisions in the 60s to the 80s. They offer two key aspects of possession: Specific rights of ownership and rights-of-use to common areas and can still work well for you. But if you’re considering a cross-lease site and looking to make significant changes to the home’s structure or footprint, you will need the council and other owners’ approval in writing. It isn’t easy to amend your title to freehold, even if all owners agree. There are also strict local authority compliance rules around site coverage, separate drainage and driveways. On the plus side, if you are buying or selling a welldesigned, fully compliant dwelling and simply looking to enjoy it “as is”, a cross-lease can put you in a strong position. Your co-owners are bound by the same rules you are and in most cases cannot make any significant changes to their homes without your approval.

WELCOME BACK POPPA

If selling, ensure your “Flats plan” accurately reflects what is built on the land. Old plans are sometimes kicked into touch by lawyers when even a simple chimney may have been omitted from the title. If looking to buy a “defective” cross-lease title, factor that into your offer, or make the offer based on a significant due diligence period. This could allow time to get pre-approval from cross-lease co-owners for any changes you plan. Happy House Hunting! karen.moore@mikepero.com All opinions expressed by Karen Moore in this article are solely Karen’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Mike Pero Real Estate. You should consider seeking advice from your own financial or investment adviser.

Auckland Grammar School hosted its inaugural Grandfather’s and Grandson’s Breakfast recently, welcoming 100 guests to the Old Boys’ Pavilion. Headmaster Tim O’Connor and head prefect Hector Law both addressed the early-morning crowd. Special guest speaker Ross Goulding (class of ’75) spoke of his time at the school, which was then 1000 boys, as against today’s roll of 2525. Pictured at the breakfast is Ian Ready and his grandsons, third form student Sam and fifth former, Jack. p

karen.moore@mikepero.com • 027 279 5983 libby.jarvis@mikepero.com • 0274 854 151

279 Remuera Road • 09 524 4393 www.remuera.mikepero.com

Mike Pero Real Estate Ltd Licensed REAA (2008)

the village THE PARNELL TRAIN STATION: A LONG TIME COMING Mike Lee, Waitematā and Gulf ward councillor, and board member of Auckland Transport, writes for THE HOBSON of the long, slow grind to get Parnell’s train station from drawing board to reality Good things in politics never come easy and unfortunately the converse also is true. Nothing illustrates this maxim better than the protracted saga of the Parnell Station. First proposed in 2005, it assumed political sensitivity with plans to build a major new station at Newmarket for which Ontrack and ARTA (predecessors of KiwiRail and Auckland Transport) maintained they first needed to demolish the splendid old Newmarket Station building. The Auckland Regional Council (ARC), which I chaired at the time, objected. Built in 1908 and designed by the architect George Troup (known as ‘Ginger Bread’ Troup, and who also designed the iconic Dunedin Station) we considered it a heritage building.The dispute was resolved early in 2007 after Ontrack proposed a settlement, agreeing to relocating the Newmarket Station building to a suitable nearby site i.e. Parnell’s historic Waipapa Valley, and throwing into the deal the recommissioning of the Onehunga Branch Line. In March 2007, the then-deputy PM, Michael Cullen, announced budget provision of $9 million for rebuilding the Onehunga Line, and $5 million for the storage and relocation of the Newmarket Station building. In November 2010, after Ontrack was reorganised into KiwiRail, the ARC disappeared and Auckland Transport (AT) became the new mega transport agency in Auckland. Despite these changes, late in 2011 enabling work by KiwiRail started on lowering the track gradient at Parnell. There had been some debate about the location of the actual station. Rail management had wanted it further down the hill next to the rail bridge, being closer to the University, but I argued, with the support of the Parnell community, this would not serve Parnell village, nor the Museum (a “Museum Station” was always an important consideration in my mind. Besides, a 100-year-old heritage building would look out of place overlooking Stanley St). Since then unfortunately, AT has continually postponed completing the station. Finally, last year, two platforms, an access road and turnaround and a new underpass to The Domain and Museum were

Photos from top: The Parnell Station construction in the Waipapa Valley, showing the newly-built platforms; the 1908 Newmarket Station building, which has been in storage. It will be relocated, renovated, to the Parnell Station. Photo: Jonathan Ganley. An artist’s rendering of the new station, with the Newmarket building in place. The Mainline Steam sheds in the background have since been demolished. Image courtesy AT. the hobson 18

constructed. Despite the station now being ready for services, late in 2015 Auckland Transport management advised that opening the station to services — scheduled for this year — would be postponed indefinitely until the building of a road bridge at Cowie St to replace the Sarawia St level crossing near Newmarket. The bridge is hotly disputed by local residents, who propose instead a cheaper, less environmentally intrusive underpass. This dispute is going to the Environment Court and is another story. Parnell people are complaining that AT’s position seems to be suspiciously like holding the whole Parnell community to ransom for technically dubious reasons. I have challenged AT management over this and AT is reconsidering its position. Meanwhile, KiwiRail intends to have the heritage station building on site and restored in the next few months. Parnell Station when it opens is predicted to be the fourth busiest on the network – with over 2000 commuters alighting there daily. “When” being the operative word. The local business association, Parnell Inc, and the Parnell Community Committee, fed up with continual delays, are fully engaged. The battle is not yet over, but be in no doubt we are going to win. — Mike Lee p

PARNELL RESIDENTS CHALLENGE UPZONING REQUEST Representatives of residents in a Parnell neighbourhood were granted a late application to be heard at the Independent Hearings Panel over an application to rezone land on St Georges Bay Rd, which could significantly impact narrow streets off Gladstone Rd. The application on behalf of Masfen Holdings Ltd via the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (PAUP) hearings process, seeks to upzone its right to build commercial/residential buildings at 69 and 79 St Georges Bay Rd — currently the La Cigale markets and commercial properties — to a height and bulk greater than provided for in the Draft Unitary Plan. In addition to arguing that the sloping topography of the site should allow buildings up to 32.5m in height (eight storeys, against 16.5m/four storeys as notified in the Draft Plan), the submission also requests that the narrow cul-desacs, Avon and Stratford streets, be continued into the St Georges Bay Rd site for vehicle access. Now zoned Residential 1, the affected streets of mostly heritage worker cottages and villas would become alternative routes to the development. The resident group was granted the right to appear at the hearing, scheduled for Thursday April 14. In their submission to the IHP, they raised concerns about the impact on the neighbourhood, and with the consultant planner’s assertion in the Masfen submission that the St Georges Bay Rd properties had “legal access to three roads being St Georges Bay Rd, Avon Street and Stratford Street, giving a unique development scenario”. The residents say the site does not have access, with Council-owned “spite strips” — a planning device that keeps roads as dead ends — in place at the end of the each street, and the Masfen property boundaries. (There is also another spite strip breaking the upper and lower sections of St Georges Bay Rd).

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the hobson 19

the village GOOD AFTERNOON, MRS EXON After 21 years at Remuera Intermediate School and 12 of those years as principal, Janet Exon retired at the end of the first term. “On almost every day something has happened that has made me smile and realise that I’m in the right place, doing the right thing with the right people,” Exon says. Recalling the “personal vision” statement she had to write as part of her application for the role of principal, Exon says she avoided education and management jargon, instead choosing to write “Where I want to be”. That was to be in an inclusive environment, with everyone teaching and learning, where standards were high and anxiety levels low, risks were taken, and that the quality of adult relationships in the school — which she believes has more to do with the culture and character of a school than any other factor — be caring, supportive, and genuine. “Now, many years on, I honestly believe that we have that school. We have the learners, we know we can take risks, we care about each other, we like being different, and in amongst the hard work, we have fun, laughter and good times. We have that place where I wanted to be.” RI’s new principal, Kyle Brewerton, starts in Term 3. Janet Exon and her husband will spend the first part of her retirement travelling in Europe. p

CHOIR KIDS Gladstone Rd entrances of Stratford St, above, and Avon St below. Both are narrow cul-de-sacs

The resident group has asked that the rezoning application be declined. The result of the hearing will not be known until the IHP decisions are made public after they have been reported to Council in July. In another issue engaging locals, Housing NZ has applied to upzone its holdings across the city, including the Parnell pensioner flats which run between Stratford and Stanwell streets. HNZ has requested a Town House and Apartment Building (THAB) designation. A residents’ group was due to be heard at the IHP in mid-April. p

The Auckland Boys’ Choir is seeking newcomers. Boys aged between 5 and 8 who love to sing are encouraged to come along to a rehearsal — Monday afternoons in Epsom — and audition for the choir. As well as receiving singing instruction and learning a repertoire of secular and sacred songs, the boys go on two camps a year and perform at a number of concerts in Auckland, nationally and internationally. For further information, call Fraser Faulknor, 577 5722 or 021 030 9515. aucklandboyschoir.org.nz p

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waitemata¯ Local Board

hilst local body election manoeuvring intensifies, those currently responsible for the daily business of meeting community expectations of their local government, at the local level, continue. The Waitematā Local Board recently completed our 2016/17 Annual Plan consultations. In 2016/17 we plan, within allocated budget, to invest $11 million to renew and develop assets in Waitematā, and $23 million to maintain and operate these assets. We are also continuing our “business as usual”, such as supporting local groups to run their activities through the events and grants programmes, funding arts and community development programmes, and delivering local restoration and environmental projects. Last year’s supported projects continue. The Weona-Westmere Coastal Walkway is well underway and detailed design of stage two of the Myers Park redevelopment is complete, with physical works scheduled for the second half of this year. Concept designs for the redeveloped Ellen Melville Centre community hub and upgraded Freyberg Square are complete, with construction due to commence in August. We have $4 million available for the Newmarket Laneways streetscape improvements project for one of three identified areas; Teed, Kent or York streets. We will shortly make a decision on which streetscape improvement can be undertaken within the available budget. This year, the board has identified several priorities. Following the recent launch of Waitematā’s Low Carbon Action Plan, we have allocated increased spend on low carbon initiatives. We are keen to leverage existing renewal programmes in our

local parks and open spaces. Last year we completed a number of park development plans, which has provided us with a very strong framework to identify the priority projects. Parnell’s Pt Resolution Reserve’s upper stairs are to be prioritised this year. Other changes we are proposing include increasing the budget for the now annual Myers Park Medley event, and a new pathway through the Symonds St Cemetery, to connect K Rd to Grafton Cycleway, amongst other cemetery improvements. We also wish to investigate the feasibility of installation of a solar heating solution at Parnell Baths. This could possibly extend the pool’s opening hours, or make the start and end of the season more desirable to users. We also intend to continue supporting with increased budget community-led development and projects, such as the work to create an open-space design at 254 Ponsonby Rd. A key role of the local board is also to advocate for initiatives for which we may not have decision-making responsibilities. This includes the continued roll-out of the Residential Parking Zone schemes – with Ponsonby Rd being next, and Parnell not far behind. Final decisions are due in June. We are very proud of the progress being made for our community. The local board has relocated to new shop front premises at 52 Swanson St, off St Patrick’s Square in the central city. Consider yourself invited to drop in to our new ‘democracy shop’ to chat to any local board member. Finally, we expect to hear good news from the Auckland Transport (AT) board that Parnell Train Station is to become operative in the first quarter of 2017, not awaiting any Cowie St bridge outcome. We have offered to co-fund a new pedestrian access through The Domain to the old Carlaw Park site, to connect the station to Stanley St in time for the opening. — Shale Chambers, chair, Waitematā Local Board

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD ANSWERS (page 56) Across: 5 Tobacco, 10 Quarryman, 11 Saint, 12 A-bomb, 13 Enunciate, 14 Karangahape Road, 16 Crossword puzzle, 19 Speaks for, 21 Panic, 23 Aidan, 24 Looseness, 25 The bomb, 26 Estate. Down: 2 Enamour, 3 Bare bones, 4 Remuera Golf Club, 5 Tongue and groove, 6 Basic, 7 Chicago, 8 On the edge, 9 Aqua, 14 Kick start, 15 Equipment, 17 Overdue, 18 Zaniest, 20 Kendo, 22/1 Cast member.

ntroducing Artusi, Remuera’s exciting new eatery located down in the Village Green at the end of Clonburn Lane. It’s the brainchild of Buki and Blerta who own and run the ever popular Remuera Local Café. Bistro on Remuera’s main street, as well as Laneway underneath the Local. Not content to open just another copycat restaurant, they have thoughtfully chosen to model their latest enterprise on the philosophy of the renowned 18th century culinary writer Pellegrino Artusi, author and founder of the acclaimed Science of Cooking and the Art of Eating Well movement which remains a household name throughout provincial Italy to this very day. Remaining true to this philosophy, Artusi intends to structure its menu by using the best of seasonal organic ingredients, prepared in the timeproven traditional methods of its founder, and served under the banner of Eat, Love and Live Well.

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COMING SOON!

¯ Local Board Orakei

obson Bay is a unique and special place in our ward. The board continues to progress work in and around Hobson Bay that meets the agreed community objectives noted in the Hobson Bay Action Plan (adopted by the board in 2013). One of the less obvious is the environmental challenges around water quality. There is no doubt that water coming down from the upstream catchments affects the environmental quality of the bay. To this end, the board is working on a Hobson Bay Catchment Stream Care project, which will contribute to addressing degradation and promoting stream health through the planting of riparian margins. Out of all the various streams in the Hobson Bay catchment, the Remuera stream — that’s board member Colin Davis and I at the stream where it runs through Martyn Wilson Field — offered the best potential for environmental outcomes, because it consists of an open channel with relatively few piped sections. Much of the stream also flows through public land. Planting areas of the stream, which currently has little or no vegetation, would slow water flow during peak rain events, buffering both the downstream channel and the receiving environment — Hobson Bay — from erosive effects. It would also provide shade to

reduce water temperature (temperature is a key to healthy stream ecology) and help filter sediment and contaminants travelling downstream to Hobson Bay. Planting will take place during the last week of June, and we will be contacting local schools, Remuera Residents Association members and residents to assist. If you would like to be part of the planting project, please contact our Orākei Local Board office on 521 7021. We are also committed to assisting our community with a greater level of water access on the south side of Hobson Bay. Design is almost finalised for a pontoon which can be used by kayakers and has considerable local support. Consent for this will also include more mangrove removal. Finally, we were pleased that our advocacy for volcanic view shafts to be retained in the Auckland Unitary Plan has been supported by councillors. Volcanic view shafts, along with our harbours, give Auckland uniqueness and should be celebrated. All volcanoes including Ōhinerau/Mt Hobson are now under the governance of the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority. And on Ōhinerau/Mt Hobson, with strong support from our community, the board has advocated for more daffodils to be planted on its northern slopes, to acknowledge our soldiers’ contribution to WWII. Daffodils will be planted mid-year by local schools and by the community. — Desley Simpson, chair, Orākei Local Board

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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

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the plan

the reps

All Going to Plan...

HE HOBSON’s April editorial made me ponder about what I do each and every day. I tell a lot of people I shuffle paper until the right piece turns up with an “Approved” sticker on it. Kirsty’s comment in her editor’s letter that “planning has become so layered and complicated, you need another degree to feel like you’re keeping up,” rings true. Our paper-shuffling jobs have become not about the rules, but about how a council officer will interpret them on the day, what a local board may or may not get involved with, and then cajoling applicant, architect and Council alike to give ground to make way for that all important “Approved” . Sitting in a QC’s office in Shortland St a few weeks ago, I was lectured — thankfully over a glass of his finest red – that free and unfettered commerce takes place up and down that street in a myriad of offices. That is, people do deals, make things happen, and the wheels of commerce turn. But then, if it’s property, you have to lodge a consent with Council. If it is a resource consent, usually a subjective process where time is of no significance, the estimated timeframe can be double, or the clock even stopped ,while the consent wends its way through the system. So much time is spent on just getting a Council officer to look at a project, and then provide “expert comment,” that any thought of quick and efficient decision-making goes out the window. Now, Auckland Council is ushering in a “one stop shop” for consents. We have been involved, in that my consultancy has to engage with Council as the monopoly provider every single day. One of the questions asked was, “How do you feel when you get an approved resource consent?” My honest answer was, “Generally relieved!” They advised that I should not feel this way, but be more satisfied with the process and outcome. After recently waiting for three and a half weeks just to get a response on a complying submitted plan, and then to receive requests for further information that were over the top, and now, four weeks later, to still be waiting for a decision on what is a complying concept, how could one ever not just feel “relief”? Another question I was asked was, “What will prevent the success of this consenting “one stop shop”?” The answer is very simple. People. It is hard for me to be polite as I describe some of the dimwits whose wages are paid by your rates, so I will frame it another way. There are some fantastic staff who work at Auckland Council, and they know that we know they’re great. The issue with the good ones is that they make the rest look like monkeys, and they don’t often stay very long. I return to Kirsty’s comments on the complex nature of planning and the need for more urban design input. Fear not Kirsty, the Council has urban design criteria, an urban design panel and numerous “committees” as Council staff call them. This has certainly made for better outcomes in our built form. However, if I asked 10 Council urban designers for their opinion on a project , they would all be different. And there lies the problem. Not in the rules per se, but the wide, differing interpretations of what each thinks is acceptable as design arbiters. The QC’s comment on decision-making and commerce haunts me. On one hand, it is my passion to see progress, to be part of making things happen. On the other hand, I have a business which is based on the glue of Council indecision. Kirsty – you don’t need another degree to understand town planning and resource consents. You need fortitude, knowledge of the vast interpretation of rules, and a little bit of cunning. Most of this cannot be learnt in a classroom but by playing the game. — Hamish Firth

DAVID SEYMOUR

was awakd by the singing of the birds ashore ... The numbers of them were certainly very great who seemd to strain their throats with emulation ... [Their] voices were certainly the most melodious wild musick I have ever heard, almost imitating small bells but with the most tuneable silver sound imaginable. That was a diary note from Joseph Banks, a naturalist on board Captain Cook’s Endeavour. Historian Michael King says Banks “caught a last vibration of primordial New Zealand”. He went on to say that the dawn chorus was a “mere echo of what would have been heard four hundred years before, for by 1770 around half of New Zealand’s bird species were already extinct”. The sad reality is that we continue to lose the battle. Possums and stoats wreak havoc upon flightless birds, and disease decimates native trees. But dedicated volunteers and communities are fighting back through private initiative. I’ve visited some excellent examples of this at sanctuaries like Maungatautari in the Waikato, Brook Waimarama Sanctuary in Nelson, and Zealandia in Wellington. These sanctuaries bring hundreds of volunteers together for one objective, preserving our endangered flora and fauna. Not only do these reserves generate a halo effect, with localities nearby enjoying more concentrated birdlife, they bring out the best in people and put the lie to those who complain we have an uncaring society and that government must solve all problems. However, they struggle to get started, with large capital costs, and because of that there are currently too few. When the Brook sanctuary’s fence is completed there will still be no fully enclosed sanctuary between Nelson and Dunedin – that’s almost half the country. A denser network of inland sanctuaries is a worthy vision. But how might we fund this? Well, the government owns, through Landcorp, 140 farms. Landcorp’s total equity is $1.4 billion. Its dividend yield is equal to less than 1 per cent of equity over the past three years. It has been criticised for its river pollution and deforestation activities. We could sell Landcorp and invest in a lasting legacy. The sale proceeds could be administered by an independent Sanctuary Trust, with a mission to allow New Zealanders to come together and create more, bigger and better sanctuaries, bringing back the sounds Joseph Banks heard nearly 250 years ago. Groups wishing to establish sanctuaries would apply to the Sanctuary Trust and, if approved, receive grants conditional on achieving outcomes: pest eradication, community engagement, and biodiversity restoration. These groups, free to seek private sponsorship, could innovate with minimal government interference. A network of sanctuaries in every town – independent, social, non-government institutions – would be a uniquely Kiwi policy innovation. We’ve led the world before with real reform. Let’s keep the legacy going. David Seymour is the MP for Epsom.

PAUL GOLDSMITH

pril marked the centenary of the opening of Auckland Grammar School’s main block. The distinctive Spanish mission style colossus is a landmark, but more importantly, it is a building that has helped inspire generations of boys. At the ceremony to mark the occasion, old boy Professor Sir Peter Gluckman gave one of the speeches, and he made the point that while the size and scale of the assembly hall has an impact, the dominating impression for anyone sitting in the stalls is that one is surrounded by names. Honours boards tower over the stage, mainly of university scholarship winners. I remember gazing up during my time there in the 1980s. “Baragwanath” was a name that jumped out as a Rhodes Scholar (Sir David, now a distinguished jurist); “Schnackenberg” was another (Tom, of America’s Cup design fame). Pride, motivation, confidence and inspiration have all seeped in over the generations as young men contemplated those walls. It is truly one of Auckland’s treasures. It is interesting, however, to think that the year after this great edifice was built, a sister school was established, Epsom Girls Grammar School. The decision makers at the time didn’t see the need to build something as inspiring for the girls. My wife and sister at EGGS in the 1980s didn’t get to sit in a great hall surrounded by names, nor will my three girls. They found, and will continue to find, inspiration in other ways, but the historical legacy remains. Now, thankfully, expectations for girls and boys are equally high, and resources are evenly shared. We shouldn’t forget that this is a comparatively recent thing. When my mother swept in from the Waikato to St Cuthbert’s in the late 1950s, in her experience scholarship was seldom seen as a priority for girls. It was preparation for life as a housewife, preceded by a short stint as a secretary, nurse or teacher. Nor should we forget that in many parts of the world today, girls are virtually excluded from all but the most rudimentary education. I’ll be thinking of this later this month when hopefully I can attend the opening of the new sports centre at EGGS. Meantime, I’ve said before that my favourite spot in the Epsom electorate is on top of Ohinerau/Mt Hobson. Since the recent treaty settlement, management of Auckland’s tūpuna maunga (ancestral mountains) has been vested with the Tūpuna Maunga Authority, which comprises representatives from local iwi and Auckland Council. The authority has been seeking feedback on its management plan. It’s great to see thought and resources being given to valuing, restoring, protecting and enhancing the volcanic cones. I plan send a submission by the April 28 deadline, encouraging the authority to keep, or to return, sheep to our cones. The top of Mt Eden used to have sculpted grassy flats and banks tended by livestock. Now it’s mostly overgrown, apart from small bits expensively maintained by weedeaters. I also think there must be one volcano on the isthmus where we can have some fun on mountain bikes. Paul Goldsmith is a list MP based in Epsom and Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs

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the suburbanist

Domestic Bliss?

ver since Uber bullied its way onto the scene, everyone’s been looking for the next Uber. Because corporate bullying is the new start-up (or is that the other way around?). It turns out that we might have reached peak Uber — that is, Uber as a disruptive model, not Uber the ride-share service; that is definitely here to stay. Uber is what they call an “on-demand app”, a mobile phonebased service that lets you get what you want, when you want it. By attacking sluggish (in at least two meanings of the word) taxi services world-wide, it has carved itself out a moon-sized niche that has seen its revenues and its value rise and rise. Sure it has bloodied its nose in a few markets, faced-down taxi unions in some cities and been run out of a few uptight European towns, but it always seems to dust itself off and get going again. At its current market valuation of $60 billion, it’s virtually unstoppable. Which is why it has spawned so many imitators, in a range of service industries: in San Francisco, where parking is a major headache, there is Luxe, a valet-parking app. Luxe has a team of attendants, mobile in hand, who will pick up your car and park it in an underused parking lot where the rates are cheap. A sober driver service for sober drivers. In the daytime. Instacart is a grocery-delivery service that will assemble and deliver your order from a supermarket of your choice (as long as that supermarket is on their list and giving them discounts). There are delivery services like Postmates, which began as a premium service that charged extraordinary fees for the ease of getting just about anything delivered anywhere. It has proved popular for getting takeaway meals from restaurants without a delivery service of their own. Doordash does something similar; both charge commissions to the restaurants they serve. But this money is small at best — $3 to $6 — and it isn’t proving enough to make the services viable. Recently many of these companies have started to find business tough. Service is declining, business models are shifting, and in some cases, companies are closing down. Some are calling it the

end of the on-demand dream. A dream of price and convenience spurred by Uber’s success. Investors saw Uber as a template for everything. But Uber was, and remains, unique. It attacked a vulnerable market in which there were frequently monopolies that were user-unfriendly. Add in convenience and ease of service, and the taxi industry was caught napping (not unusual for them). However, in grocery shopping and delivery services there are many already tech-savvy operators who are customer-focused. Not an easy market to break into simply because you have an idea and an investor pitch. Not so juicing, it would seem. Doug Evans is a raw-food evangelist who wears shoes made of hemp, and he has invented a US$700 juicer called the Juicero that is part software, part appliance and part industrial scale food preparation. The machine itself is a white plastic slab roughly the size of a food processor. To get some juice, you insert a pouch that resembles an IV bag and press a button. A couple of minutes later, a thin stream of vividly coloured liquid squirts into a glass. And the machine never needs to be cleaned. However, it is part of an unwieldy process that requires a smart-phone, Wi-Fi, QR codes and an army of workers slicing fruits and vegetables in very particular ways. Juicero workers receive truckloads of produce from nearby organic farms, triple-wash it, then chop it into specific shapes. A specialized machine then fills each pack, ready to be shipped. To make a glass of juice, you insert a pack ($4 to $10 each) into the machine, close the door and press a button. Each pack has a QR code on it. A camera in the machine scans the code on each pack and, using Wi-Fi, checks in with an online database. If the pack is no longer fresh, or has been deemed contaminated, the machine won’t press it. If the pack is ok, the gears start turning and out squirts the juice. Sound complicated? That’s because it is. Yet Evans has raised $120 million in venture capital so far. Now, if he could just get someone to deliver it ... — Tommy Honey

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the investment

The Kiwibank Dilemma

he horrible announcement that NZ Post is laying-off 500 staff over the next few months facilitated some commentary concerning the future and fate of its whollyowned subsidiary, Kiwibank. Most of the comments I have seen centre on a view that the Government should separate Kiwibank from its parent, NZ Post, and sell up to 49 per cent of the bank by way of public share offer. This part-privatisation strategy was reasonably successful for both the Government and the members of the public who participated in the share sales of Meridian, Mighty River Power, Genesis and Air New Zealand just a couple of years ago. So, should Kiwibank be next? Kiwibank was established by the Labour government back in 2002 at a time when there was strong feeling against the dominance of the Australian-owned banks in NZ’s banking sector. (Has that feeling ever waned?). The bank has developed reasonably successfully, and in my view has a good brand and following: in financial terms, it generated pre-tax earnings of $176 million in the last financial year. And as at 31 December 2015, Kiwibank had extended loans and advances of $16.3 billion. Note that the four Australian banks together earned $4.6 billion profits over the same period! Using listed bank current valuation metrics, Kiwibank might be valued somewhere around the $1.75 billion level. So should the Government sell, say, 49 per cent, thereby retaining control and pocket something like $800 to $900 million? No. Although a “gentailer” type stockmarket IPO and listing would provide a welcome boost for our capital markets, as well as return the Government some decent cash, I’d do the opposite — sell NZ Post as fast as possible, ie before it’s too late, and reinvest the proceeds into Kiwibank. Apart from the strong economic case for doing so, what better way to keep the Australian banks “honest” than having a strong, independent, NZ-owned competitor? The latest round of job cuts at NZ Post is evidence that the business is facing considerable disruption. Letter-volumes have collapsed from over 900 million per annum in 2009 to fewer than 600 million in the past year. And volumes of deliveries of purchases made online (Amazon etc) are not growing sufficiently quickly to offset falling mail, and are subject to competition. It is a sunset business at best and NZ Post should be sold. With another billion or so in equity — including the proceeds from the sale of NZ Post — Kiwibank could fund another $16 billion of loans and advances to NZ households and small businesses. There is no shortage of capital that would be available to fund this expanded loan portfolio, the world is yield-hungry and securities offered in safe, strong, expanding businesses, particularly government-owned like Kiwibank, are viewed as blue-chip. And then later on, a further billion in equity would fund a further $16 billion in loans. Before too long, Kiwibank would be a serious participant in the NZ market, with a market share sufficient to annoy the competing Australian banks. A bank with a $50 billion loan portfolio generating annual profits around the $500 million level or greater, is worth a whole lot more than the abovementioned $1.75 billion or so. Better to hold now, strengthen capital and funding and execute a steady expansion. For both economic and political reasons, a $50 billion bank is an asset of significantly more value to the government than Kiwibank is at present. Grow now, sell later for a higher price. — Warren Couillault

HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO JOE YET? Joe Telford 501 Parnell Road, Parnell M +64 21 191 7769 joe.telford@sothebysrealty.com

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

Simply Matching Pe

www.remuerareale

The Remuera Real Estate Register...

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

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eople with Property

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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.

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the hobson + remuera live life local

A Passion for Print Tony Moores and Tara Jahn-Werner share a long friendship and a love of good books

hen Tony Moores and Tara Jahn-Werner took over Poppies Bookshop they had exciting plans for the store, which has stood for 35 years in the Village Green. Their goal was to return to the original Poppies concept of a niche book shop, and that’s what they’ve done. You’re joint owners – how long have you known each other? Tara: Probably 40-odd years. Tony was my husband Alan’s best friend at high school. In fact he was with us on our first date. Alan owned a car, but didn’t have his driving license, so Tony chauffeured us! We flatted together at university too. Do you have bookworm backgrounds? Tony: I’ve been in the book trade for a long time now, but I started my working life as a school teacher. It wasn’t until my wife got a job in a bookshop that I realised where my interests lay. Tara: My background combines business with a love of the arts. I’ve been a lecturer in arts management, a journalist focusing on the performing arts, and an arts consultant. What about your own favourite books and authors? Tara: Any book by Kate Atkinson, she’s very witty. My favourite book as a child was The Little Prince, and my favourite author would have to be Virginia Woolf. Tony: The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett would be my top pick, I loved Coral Island as a child, and Bill Bryson is a fantastic author. How do you decide which books to stock in Poppies? Tony: We share the book buying, and our mantra is to “buy

for our own interests but not necessarily our own tastes.” We listen to what our customers want and get a sense of what the locals are reading, and we get feedback from the book clubs that we run. Are the book clubs a regular occurrence? Tara: We started them last year, and they’ve taken off. They’re pretty casual events, we sometimes invite an author, and we share ideas, discuss books, then the club usually goes somewhere local for dinner afterwards. We often run two to three a week, so if anyone wants to organise one, let us know. What sets Poppies apart from other book stores? Tony: The atmosphere in here is casual, relaxing, like you’re in someone’s sitting room. There’s no clutter – we like to give our books breathing space! Tara: Our books are hand-picked, and you’ll notice they are deliberately not in alphabetical order on the shelves. It’s about serendipity, fun, surprises. As Mark Forsyth wrote in Bookshops and the Delight of Not Getting What You Wanted, “only a bookshop can give you that precious thing — what you never knew you were looking for”.

SPECIAL READER OFFER VISIT Poppies INsTORE AT THE VILLAGE GREEN, 415 REMUERA RD, enter YOUR DETAILS AND GO INTO THE DRAW TO WIN $100 OF BOOKS. THE WINNER WILL BE DRAWN on MAY 31

Poppies proprietors Tara Jahn-Werner and Tony Moores. Interviews by Fiona Wilson, photos by Vanita Andrews the hobson 30

live life local

Bustle in the Hedgerow A long-standing home and giftware store continues to innovate

hether you’re searching for the perfect gift, feel like spoiling yourself or just fancy taking a few minutes to be surrounded by beautiful things, Sarah Clark’s Hedgerow delights the senses in every way. Sarah, how long have you had Hedgerow? I’ve owned Hedgerow since 2005, but the shop itself is a Remuera institution. It’s been here almost 28 years! It’s been called Hedgerow since it first opened down in the Village Green way back when. I considered renaming it when I bought the business, but the shop and its reputation were so well-known I couldn’t bring myself to rebrand. How do you source the products and brands you stock? I attend gift fairs in Australia a couple of times a year, and the occasional one in America. Also, the internet has made the world a lot smaller, so it’s a fantastic research tool. As an example of that, I saw some raincoats I really liked on Instagram, so Googled them and discovered they were from Denmark. The company came back to me within 24 hours, the rep for Oceania was taking my order within the next 24 hours, and I had the product instore and on the shelf another 24 hours later. The whole process took less than four days! What are the latest trends in gifts and homewares? Copper and bronze accents are really strong, as are natural products; plants and greenery bringing the outside inside. This year’s colours are a pastel pink and blue, called rose quartz and serenity. You’re surrounded by beautiful gift items. What is the

most memorable gift you’ve ever been given? I’d have to say it’s my engagement ring, it was given to me in a helicopter! People do say I’m hard to buy for though. Do you live locally? Yes, I’m a Parnell girl, born and bred. I moved away briefly but have been back for years. What do you do in your spare time? Spare time? Ha! I don’t get much of it with three busy children, but when I do, I love keeping fit, so I run and do bootcamps. I’m also on the Old Girls’ Committee for St Cuthbert’s, I manage my childrens’ sports teams, and try to get up to our beach house at Omaha for some family time as often as possible. What are your future plans for Hedgerow? I’d like to open more stores, possibly one in St Heliers. And once I find the time, I’d like to start a range of Hedgerow branded products. What do you like most about working in Remuera? It would have to be the people. We’d maybe get one grumpy customer a year! The people are so nice, polite and kind.

SPECIAL READER OFFER Purchase any product instore in May and go in the draw to win a $200 Hedgerow gift voucher, Drawn June 1

Hedgerow owner Sarah Clark. Read more about Sarah, Tara and Tony and their businesses at www.remuera.org.nz the hobson 31

the portfolio

Mother’s Day Mother's Day is on Sunday May 8, so once again to mark the occasion, THE HOBSON gathered local mothers and their offspring together in celebration

photographed by nick tresidder at nick-t studios, parnell hair and makeup by sarah zlatarevic for m.a.c

Angelo Cappellini “Vico” chair with antiqued gold leaf finish, and Marac “Wilson” chair in Varese indigo velvet, both from Sarsfield Brooke, Parnell

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“I think it’s really cool,” says Year 12 student Megan of her mother’s decision to run for the Auckland mayoralty. “She talked to us when she was thinking about standing, and we were like, yeah, go for it, Mum!” Vic says of her daughters that she “supports, encourages and motivates them to use their abilities to the fullest — to think big, dream big”. “Mac and I are very lucky,” adds Megan. Mayoral candidate and Parnell resident Vic Crone with daughter Megan, 16, and Milo, the family’s adored retriever-poodle cross. Vic’s younger daughter, Mackenzie, 11, was not able to be at the photo shoot.

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the portfolio

“We’ve sold our home and are downsizing, partly to have that flexibility to meet up with the kids overseas,” says Andrea. “There’s such amazing opportunities out there for them. They’re probably going to be doing jobs that haven’t yet been invented.” While learning and education engages the family deeply, so does adventure travel — the Sheppersons are about to go rafting together on the Colorado river.

Dentist Andrea Shepperson, with daughter Caitlin, 17, and son Oscar, 19. Rep cricketer Oscar is studying chemistry and computer science at Auckland. Caitlin has been accepted to Oxford as a chemistry student. (Dad Sean is a materials scientist).The family live in Remuera.

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Games, cuddles, riding scooters, adventures — the Boyden-Main cousins can rattle off a list of things they love doing with their mums. And in turn, their mothers love all that, and more. “I always talk to my children about my mum,” says Kate. “She was such an inspiration to Emma and I growing up, and sadly they won’t know her, like we always hoped they would. By talking about our childhood, and what she was like, helps them understand the kind and loving mum she was to us. I only want to be the same to my children.” Sisters Emma Main, left, and Kate Boyden, right, with their children, cousins and great mates. From left, Henry, 6, and Scarlett Main, 4; Charlie, 3-and-a-half, and George Boyden, 6. Both families live in Remuera, where the sisters have Maman boutique the hobson 35

the portfolio

“Luca’s spent a lot of time with adults, and his sense of humour reflects that. He’s really at ease with people and can make them laugh. His goal is to be a famous YouTuber. He’s a great dancer and I think he’ll definitely end up on stage or screen! I’m not really sure he’s a regular eight-year-old, but I’m just really happy that he’s my great little mate.”

St Johns resident Fiona Wilson and son, Luca, 8. Fiona works as an office manager for Remuera Real Estate Register

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Stephen Marr presents Oribe Built upon a rich heritage of hairstyling, fashion and artistry, this truly luxe collection was created by one of the most influential hairdressers of all time. Each product has been extensively tested on set and in private dressing rooms of the Hollywood A list - becoming secret industry favourites before the products were even launched. Now the secret is out and a carefully curated selection is available at Stephen Marr salons. Oribe has redefined luxury in hair care, crafting artisanal blends of the finest formulations to bring together the best from nature and science. These are products for the hair-obsessed! Oribe is available at all Stephen Marr salons.

16 Morrow st, Newmarket, (09) 524 6702 instagram@stephen_marr www.stephenmarr.co.nz

the pretty

Queen for a Day Justine Williams selects seven local pamper sessions offering experiences to treat Mum royally this Mother’s Day

Gift your mother fabulous hair with Bettjeman’s Deluxe Ritual ($175). The recipient of this lovely experience will be shown into the salon’s private spa room, where a masque will be applied to the hair to nourish and repair. While that’s working, she’ll relax with a deeply calming scalp, neck and shoulder massage. The session wraps up with the salon’s signature Blow Out, leaving the lucky recipient styled up and ready to face the world. Bettjemans, 52 Coates Ave, Orākei, 522 8030. bettjemans.co.nz

The best skin care starts with accurate diagnosis and personalised treatments for a range of skin concerns, whether it’s dealing with the signs of aging, sorting pigmentation or calming a sensitive complexion. Especially for Mother’s Day, Prescription Skin Care is offering a consultation session with a specialist skin care nurse, a peel treatment and an Aspect Dr ABC Essentials pack — a package worth $350 but available for $155 (for bookings redeemed up to June 30). Prescription Skin Care, 243 Remuera Rd, 529 5784. Prescriptionskincare.co.nz

Does anyone’s hands deserve more loving care than your mother’s? No, thought not. Book her a Deluxe Spa Manicure ($85) at Parnell’s Verdo salon. Cuticles are cared for and nails are shaped before Pure Fiji coconut sugar scrub gently buffs away dry and dull skin on the hands and arms. That’s followed by a paraffin wax treatment for deep hydration. She’ll be thinking at this stage how her paws feel just like new, even before more delicious-smelling moisturiser is massaged in. Nails are painted in the colour of choice and voilà, the prettiest pair of hands are revealed. Verdo, 245 Parnell Rd, Parnell, 303 3732. verdonails.co.nz

OK, granted this treatment isn’t about how it feels at the time, although while the tint is on your lashes they do give the loveliest hand massage. This is all about maximum wow and minimum cost. Never underestimate the power of perfectly sculpted brows. Teamed with tinted lashes, this duo is the best little mini face-treat in town. Brow shape and lash tint $35 (add brow colour for another $15). On Brow House, 8 Osborne St, Newmarket, 520 3212. onbrowhouse.com

The Bliss Royal Reflexology treatment ($128) is this writer’s all-time favourite care-package. It starts with a seated shoulder and back rub, while your feet soak in a mineral-rich foot bath. From here, you slide back into an armchair while therapists use a combination of massage movements and traditional Chinese reflexology on your feet. It finishes with a leg and foot massage to soothe aching muscles and improve joint flexibility. Bliss Reflexology, Level 1, 255 Broadway, 520 6818. blissreflexology.com

Did you know your mama dreamed of being a ballerina? Well, she did. Send her back to the barre with the gift of introductory classes (two for $20, or six class pass, $130) at Studio Three’s Xtend Barre sessions. This fusion of dance, Pilates and sculpting exercises is designed to strengthen, lengthen and energise, improving posture, body tone and flexibility. It’s an intense 55 minutes, and devotees swear by the results. It’s a lot of fun too. Studio Three, Level 7, 5 Kingdon St, Newmarket, 522 3305. www.studiothree.co.nz

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Lucy and the Powder Room’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s Package ($270), is a leisurely two hours and 45 minutes of rejuvenation, starting with a one-hour luxury facial to soothe and boost skin. This all-about-metime deal includes a neck, shoulder and scalp massage, followed by a luxurious full pedicure, treating feet and legs to an indulgent work-over. Finished off with a lash tint and brow shape, this package will see Mother floating out the door. Lucy and the Powder Room, 16 Morrow St, Newmarket, 524 6702. stephenmarr.co.nz/powderroom

the hobson + prescription skin care

Refining Therapies Anyone can have better, smoother-looking skin with highly effective eDermastamp treatment from Prescription Skin Care

e all have our skin concerns. Some are simply treated with targeted, enriched skin care products, while others require a highly refined approach using specialist devices. If you are worried by scars caused by acne or from surgery, or are concerned by deep wrinkles or pigmentation, the targeted collagen therapy offered by the eDermastamp may be the solution for you. What is it? The eDermastamp is an advanced medical- grade needling device which delivers collagen induction therapy. It allows treatment on all areas of the skin — face, neck, decolletage, the contours of the nose, mouth and eyes. It is effective on any skin colour or any skin type. How does it work? Micro-needles create tiny punctures in the skin to stimulate growth factors and induce the body’s own collagen production. This leads to wrinkle reduction and a decrease in pore size – up to 40 per cent after the first treatment, and a further 20 per cent after the second. New skin cells are generated and blood supply is enhanced. In the case of scar treatment, it can achieve substantial improvement on scar tissue. When will I see results? You will see results very soon after your treatment. However collagen will grow from around the six week mark. What’s involved? After your consultation with one of Prescription Skin Care’s highly-trained specialist nurses, your skin is cleansed and a

Say goodbye to stubborn fat with CoolSculpting® Permanently reduce fat on the stomach, back, inner thighs and arms without surgery or down time. Safe and effective for men and women. – The only fat reduction machine to be FDA approved – Over 2 million treatments world wide – Prescription Skin Care are the most experienced in NZ

Phone us today on 09 529 5784 Led by plastic surgeon Stephen Gilbert FRCS, FRACS (Plastic) 243 Remuera Rd, Remuera, Auckland | www.prescriptionskincare.co.nz

topical anaesthetic is used to minimise any discomfort. After the procedure, vitamin B and C serums and antioxidants are infused into the skin, followed by a soothing mask to allow better penetration of these nutrients. The treatment time depends on the size and complexity of the area being treated — a typical session may last 90 minutes. For the first 24 hours after treatment, patients may notice some redness and occasional swelling. More than 150,000 treatments have been performed worldwide, and not a single negative side effect has been reported. The right machine, in the right hands At Prescription Skin Care, eDermastamp is administered by highly trained registered nurses. Beware of imitations — cheaper brands tend to have thicker needles that make larger channels in the skin, increasing downtime and the possibility of side effects. The device is registered with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration and the FDA. Made in Germany from the highest quality surgical stainless steel, it is gamma-radiated to ensure sterility. The cost is $499 for a single treatment following a consultation to determine the best, targeted treatment for your concerns. Courses are available from $1299. Prescription Skin Care are specialists in skin health, facial rejuvenation through Botox, fillers, laser, peels, facials and fat reduction. Led by Plastic Surgeon Stephen Gilbert FRCS (plastic). 243 Remuera Road, Remuera, Phone 529 5784

the arts

A Fun Fair The Auckland Art Fair returns this month after a three year hiatus. With a new management team, the Fair is promising an exciting program of local and international art. Co-director Hayley White spoke to THE HOBSON’s fine arts writer, Leigh Melville

elcome back to New Zealand, and back to your home town. Where have you been living until recently? Thanks! I’ve spent the last three and a half years living between London and Istanbul.

What is the local art market like in those cities? Anyone who has been to London will know what an incredibly enriching art scene it has. From the institutional powerhouses such as Tate, the ICA, Whitechapel and The Serpentine to leading non-profit institutions like the Chisenhale and Studio Volataire. Not to mention the vast range of commercial galleries from blue chip, like Lisson, Pace and Victoria Miro, through to younger galleries showing emerging artists that you’ll find hidden in the East End. It’s impossible not to feel completely engrossed and excited by the plethora of cultural offerings in London. In Turkey, I was working for ARTINTERNATIONAL, Istanbul’s international art fair, which we inaugurated in 2013. I was also fortunate to visit local collectors’ homes as part of the VIP program. In a very Turkish fashion, these collectors would open up their houses to share their collection to a wider audience, with great warmth. Istanbul’s art market has grown rapidly over the last decade and has, I think, cemented itself as another destination for contemporary art. Istanbul is the gateway between east and west, its booming population and middle class, and perhaps the notion that Turkey will return to a great economic powerhouse is potentially what buoys the market. There are a number of independent arts initiatives to accompany the rise of privately funded museums, collections and galleries. Sadly, institutions such as ARTER, Spot and Protocinema all operate with no funding from the state and so there is the obvious question of whether it can be sustained. SALT Beyoğlu, founded by Garanti Bank, closed down at the beginning of this year, and there are some suggestions this was due to government pressure. There are a number of very strong galleries in Istanbul representing both Turkish and international artists, all with great programs; Rampa, Pi Artworks, Rodeo, Dirimart to name a few. Turkish artists also excel on the global stage – photorealist painter Taner Ceylan for example is represented by

a New York gallery, as well as Mehmet Ali Uysal, Nilbar Güres, Ayse Erkmen and many more! Why have art fairs become so popular around the world? By design, art fairs offer visitors access to “the best” art from the region, all in one place and over the course of one weekend. Galleries have to apply to get in, and acceptance is based on the curatorial merit and strength of the work put forward. In today’s fast moving way of life, where people don’t necessarily have the time to wander from gallery to gallery, I think art fairs offer people the chance to view and purchase art in a way that is synonymous with their lifestyle. There also always seems to be a buzz in the air on the opening night, and so much more to see from performance to painting, to video, to installation. Art fairs in emerging markets often look outward and lure international galleries to places like Istanbul or New Delhi. For those travelling and visiting the fair from abroad, you get to see the best regional art, alongside a strong and interesting international lineup. So it certainly ticks more than one box! While I was away, I particularly enjoyed the focused art fairs that showcased art from a specific region – my favourite, 1:54, which was held in Somerset House during Frieze week, focused on contemporary African art forms. What can we expect to see from the new version of the Auckland Art Fair? The 40 gallery booths from Australia, New Zealand, Raratonga and Chile will be focused on showing art from around the wider Pacific. In addition, there will be a curated projects section called Pacific Real Time. Simon Rees, director of the Govett-Brewster/Len Lye Centre, and Jarrod Rawlins, who’s curator at MONA in Hobart, are curating this section from proposals from participating galleries and non-profit institutions. Works will range from large scale sculpture works, through to video and performance and will address the challenges and failures of modernism and modernity; discourses linked to travel; psychic and psychological resonances of displacement; all things post-colonial; simultaneity in all its guises; how art

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and life has changed in the digital age; and what ‘Pacific time’ means today. Another addition to the fair is dedicated to the sale of editions in support of nine Auckland non-profit institutions. That’s Artspace, Corban Estate Arts Centre, Gus Fisher Gallery, Malcolm Smith Gallery, McCahon House, Objectspace, ST PAUL St Gallery, Te Tuhi, Te Uru. You’ll find really affordable works by great artists such as Imogen Taylor, Martin Basher, Ruth Buchanan, Lisa Reihana and many more. Is there something you particularly like at the Fair? I am looking forward to Tim Melville’s booth – he is showing work by young artists such as paintings by Matt Arbuckle, Roberta Thornley photography and Johl Dwyer’s mixed media work, and work by Aboriginal painter Phyllis Thomas. I am also keen to see the work by Sebastian (Tan) Vargas at MUTT Gallery. MUTT is a pop-up gallery from Santiago, Chile, that works as a platform for South American contemporary artists, and Sebastian’s work is an interesting combination of photography and painting. Do you have any advice for collectors? We hope people will come and buy, especially since for the first time we are partnering with My Art, who offer interestfree art loans from $1,000 to $25,000, or higher with preapproval. And, buy with your heart and not with your head. Thank you Hayley.

Top: Tan Vargas, installation view, 2016, acrylic, silkscreen and collage on paper, courtesy of MUTT, Chile. Above: "Watch Your Eye", 2015, oil on board, by Matt Arbuckle, courtesy Tim Melville Gallery.

The Auckland Art Fair will be held at the Cloud, Queen’s Wharf, from May 25 to 29. Tickets to the Fair, and to the opening night event — supported by Champagne LaurentPerrier Brut NV and with food from Peter Gordon — are available from artfair.co.nz. For further information, see artfair.co.nz

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the magpie

The Mother Lode The Magpie has a number of treats to sweeten up Mama for the year ahead 1 Society linen sheets are not just a coolfor-the-summer luxury. Warm up the nest for winter by adding a couple of layers to an existing set, perhaps some of the rich russet shades from the new collection, On Lightness. From $198. Siena Home, 347 Parnell Rd. sienahome.co.nz

It’s smart casual, uber comfort and a fashion statement. Taylor Boutique, 1/1 Teed St, Newmarket. taylorboutique.co.nz 7 When clearly feminine jewellery possesses a somewhat masculine sensibility, great things happen, like this 9ct gold Karen Walker Jewellery Ballistic Ring with rutilated quartz, $2019 (there’s also a silver version with smokey quartz, $489). This is a timeless gem any woman will love for a lifetime. At Zlato Jewellers, 125 Parnell Rd. zlato.co.nz

2 Date night/girls’ night out? Take your mother/wife/auntie/sister to Rialto Cinemas Newmarket to see — how perfect — Mother’s Day, a new comedy starring Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and Julia Roberts. Rialto Cinemas Newmarket, 167-169 Broadway. rialto.co.nz. PLUS we have five double passes to Mother’s Day, courtesy of Rialto! Swoop over to our Facebook page from May 1 to see how to win.

8 It’s only a cliché because it’s true – so go on, ‘say it with flowers’ and make Mum feel adored. Jo and her team at Remuera’s Wild Bunch make it easy for you with creations like the Light and Bright Posy, $70. Or get personal with a brief that captures your favourite femme’s sense of style. Wild Bunch, 419 Remuera Rd. thewildbunch.co.nz

3 Vogue says this designed in New York/ made in Italy label is a “must have brand”. The Magpie can only concur. These are delicious leather delights. Get your hands on what you can, as each shipment always sells out fast. From this fashion-focused Circle Bag ($2065), to the classic Cross Body and Bucket bags, there’s a Mansur Gavriel for every need. Available from Fabric, 6b Teed St. thisisfabric.com

4 The Magpie is dreaming about flying north to the winter sun and is sorting the wardrobe to do it in. Your mother may like to fly away too. This stunning Mara Hoffman Floral shirt dress, $549, is designed in New York for floating about in Fiji, Hawaii, Rarotonga ... Exclusive to Browns, 407 Remuera Rd. 524 5966 5 Leggings worn as pants are not a thing. Activewear however, is a thing. Oh do keep up, 007. These Adidas Originals Leggings, $100, qualify as activewear, so Mother can be stylishly sportif for school drop-off or even actual sports. From Adidas, 312-330 Broadway, Newmarket. adidas.co.nz 6 The Capacity Coat, $767, is a Taylor classic, but this season’s pick is in Hairy Ink. You read that right. Hairy or not, The Magpie feels at home in this mid-length, cocoon-shaped, coat in glorious inky blue.

Cuff, $489, naturally caught The Magpie’s eye. Beautiful in gold, but not too shiny, just how we like it. Gregory, 365 Remuera Rd. gregory.net.nz

9 The Magpie knows Mother will love these Berlin pumps by DVF ($590). Classic black suede upper, back-on-trend pointed toe and the elegant bling of a gold heel. Super snappy with everything from jeans, to winter trousers and cocktail dresses. At Runway Shoes, Shop 17, Nuffield St. runwayshoes.co.nz 10 As if Gregory wasn’t chic enough on their own, they also stock accessories by American taste arbiter Kelly Wearstler. This Medina

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11 The beauty of Noughts and Crosses is that you’re never too young or too old to indulge in a quick battle. Scraps of paper begone! This stylish Noughts and Crosses set, $29.95, will sit nicely in the family room or on the coffee table, ready to take on allcomers. Freedom Furniture, 77 Broadway. freedomfurniture.co.nz 12 Nothing rejuvenates a space quicker or more efficiently than a change of cushions. These velvety French Country Cushions, $49.45 each, come in the most delicious array of pastel hues guaranteed to elevate the style bar of any sofa, chair or bed. Hedgerow, 371 Remuera Rd. hedgerow.co.nz

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the sound

The Summer of Sound

o, grudgingly, I have to admit the summer of 2015/16 has come to an end. The best summer of the decade. Hands down. From the moment it launched itself in November, it has been a sultry seductress. Consistently warm, with a humidity that was comforting, not concerting. Consistently dry, and so events could be planned and executed without concern. In particular the water temperature has been divine. Even at Easter, it was a balmy 22 degrees so lily-livered, skinny men like me, could plunge straight into the sea without first hopping about at knee level while plucking up courage. The beach was spared from shouts of “It’s really quite nice once you get in!” It’s been a peach. And in terms of live music, I’m also picking it to be one of the best for a long time. For me it started in the second to last weekend of November with a terrible choice. The Eagles were coming, but so were Florence and the Machine! Regular readers will know that I thought Florence’s album was one of the best of last year but then again, The Eagles! The old-timers almost swayed me, as I collect the scalps of the greatest of all time. I learnt that lesson after the visit of The Who to North Harbour Stadium. A concert I thought would be lame was in fact joyous. So now when the dinosaurs choose to roam the land once more, I want to watch them graze. But I’ve been into too many TV showrooms where Eagles DVDs are playing on 65 inch, hi-def flat screens with epic sound systems. The gig they always play shows four old men sitting down, crooning away, so Florence won the battle. She’s the troublesome girlfriend you can’t resist but would instantly regret. She’s on the edge, and she was. Wailing, twirling, dancing barefoot. At one point she asked everyone to throw their clothes on the stage. She swooped them up and draped them all over herself until she looked like some sort of gypsy bear. As my family left Vector Arena, which was in fine form, we discovered a bra on the dancefloor. A sure sign that the Machine rocked. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight I know I will now never see Glenn Frey, and based on my Facebook timeline, I missed quite an event. But no regrets. While the Eagles like to be seated, I don’t. Standing makes for a more active involvement. Don't want to stand at a gig? Buy the DVD. My 17-year-old and I chose to stand at Fat Freddy’s Drop’s concert at the Auckland Town Hall, while the mother and the 20-year-old chose to sit. That might have been a good call as the

Drop launched into songs that took a quarter of an hour each. But the packed Town Hall was a triumphant homecoming. And it was loud. I saw Cheap Trick at the Town Hall in the 80s and couldn’t hear for days afterwards. This was louder but different. Not screechy, but a deep, deep bass that rumbled your internal organs. It was magnificent. A heaving, happy dancefloor. I saw Fat Freddy’s one more time at Auckland City Limits at Western Springs. 20,000 skankers. Festivals have been declining in recent years, but ACL is the best re-invention I’ve seen. The venue is grassy and close to town, and the organisers had the right mix of up-and-comers, indies and mainstream. The National was a particular highlight for me. Old men in awesome suits laying down a wall of shimmering noise. Age gives performers an intensity that hyperactive youngsters can’t match. And then there was Kendrick Lamar. You may not like rap but his backing band was the best soul/R’n’B/free jazz combo seen here in a while. And while we’re talking outdoors, this year saw the return of Music in Parks, the free Auckland Council-supported gigs. Fifteen thousand people saw Shihad in Grey Lynn Park, and 10,000 were at the Black Seeds in Western Park. Two of the best free concerts I’ve ever attended, and with absolutely no argy bargy from the crowd. Could it be we’ve grown up? Finally this summer saw three heavyweights. AC/DC were humonguous. Nothing I hadn’t seen before from them, but they remain the best stadium rock band in the world, complete with the best 10 minute guitar solo I’ve ever seen. Which brings us to two 50-somethings, Madonna and Prince. Prince was sublime. Just the genius and his piano, reinterpreting and reframing his greatest works, investing them with fresh perspectives. And then there was Madonna, gamefully throwing money at recreating what she’s done now for 30 years. But despite the pure spectacle, if you closed your eyes and listened, it was an off-pitch screech that respected neither the songs nor the audience. It’s said that this is a golden age for music lovers. The internet has killed record sales so an artist has to tour for cashflow, which is why we are now so blessed. What’s heartening is to see so many heritage artists, apart from Madonna, rising to the challenge and delivering great shows. Neil Finn and his strings, Prince and his piano. This summer has been magnificent. Long may it continue. — Andrew Dickens

The goddess of a golden summer, Florence Welch. Photo courtesy Universal Music the hobson 44

the wheeze

London Calling You can take the girl out of Remuera, but that doesn’t mean she won’t stop judging, through a glass darkly. Eloise Grace writes home from London to pass on her observations from her new locus, just in time for Mother’s Day

our months ago I decided that I had had enough of our Remuera Bridge Club-goers and our Parnell Lululemon-clad joggers. So I packed my bags and made my way to a city that I believed to be the cultural hub of the universe. As it turns out, we are not unlike our British colonisers. From Chelsea to Shoreditch, London is jam-packed with clichés. So I could not help but drop you a line for Mother’s Day, just to let you know that, no matter where you are ... all mothers have their ridiculous aspects!

to put a label on their colloquial language, it would be best described as “reality television star meets Chaucer.” Phrases that can be overheard at the local Venetian soap boutique go along the lines of “Darling, the girl was simply wrought with unsuitableness. Oh my god, that frayed denim skirt she wore the other day! What do you call that look? Ironically plebian?” These mumsies walk their award-winning toy poodles alongside their award-winning standard poodles; just to indicate to the world that they can afford all styles in any

THE SHOREDITCH MUMMY Shoreditch can be described as our Ponsonby. The mothers of this area walk into any/every Australasian owned coffee spot, decked out in some obscure Japanese streetwear brand. They order a matcha latte – a disgusting hot beverage sensation of green tea and milk that’s yet to deprive New Zealanders of the continued use of their taste buds. Beware the matcha latte, people. Basically, it was introduced to the western world through Starbucks’ ongoing quest to appear cultured. Back to the Shoreditch mothers. For some strange reason, they are desperate to revive a distinctly 90s American vernacular (despite having been born in the 70s). They praise baristas with phrases like, “rad coffee, ma dude”. Pardon? Their vocabulary is often as irrelevant as their masters in semiotics.

Levskayaart/shutterstock.com

CROYDON MUMS On to Croydon and the age of the practical mummies. These women aren’t disillusioned that it didn’t work out to marry Daniel Craig, or own a £2.5 million home that looks identical to the one next door. These are the women who wake up early to pack lunches, drop children to their schools and then make their way to a long day at their jobs. These women are absolute superheroes. And yet, often in their obsessively practical daily lives, they are guilty of overly practical fashion decisions. Cue the Crocs with socks, the fanny packs and trucker hats, or any other rhyming fashion faux pas. THE CHELSEA/KNIGHTSBRIDGE LADY Now, lets go across town to the beautiful Chelsea/Knightsbridge area. If you wanted

accessory. While you might imagine these mothers to look like the Duchess of Kent, more often than not they look like Pats from Absolutely Fabulous. THE EAST LUNNIN MA My favourite London mummy is the East London Cockney ma. She is a vision in full Adidas tracksuit, toting her pack of Lambert & Butler cigarettes. She rocks a head of orange/brown/blonde highlights that make her look like the sadomasochistic offspring of Lady Sovereign and Deirdre Barlow. She enjoys drinking a Smirnoff Ice with dinner, and her hobbies include laughing like a drunken hyena and accepting other people’s packages from the courier when they are out, and returning the hobson 45

them half open. I am not sure that we have a Kiwi equivalent to this magnificent creature. We are the poorer for it. CAMDEN’S YUMMIES Camden yummy mummies effect a knowledge of Buddhism that may not hold up, own an organic incense store that triggers nausea, and have an overwhelming obsession with achieving an inner chakra alignment that you suspect might just be guilt for a punk phase. They walk around the Camden markets pulling peace signs to anyone who has either a tattoo or an undercut (so, the entire population of Camden) as if they are all part of some post-modern, non-ironic, anti-establishment cult of misfits. If your mother harps on about her teen crushing on Sid Vicious and holds on to her safety pin-embellished leather jacket, she may suffer from what I like to call Camdenitis. ANGELS OF ISLINGTON For some reason, every single person that is both incredibly attractive and physically fit seems to live in North London, which doesn’t really add up, considering the overwhelming number of bars and breweries in the area. These are the mothers who wear OTT levels of Lululemon and M.A.C. I actually think this is where the profession of “Instagram fitness blogger” may have been born. They are the selfappointed social media ambassadors of in-vogue food like kale and Pitaya (dragon fruit), and use “blessed” and too many emojis as captions on their Instagram posts. NOTTING HILL BELLES Finally, we come to the mothers of Notting Hill. These women see themselves as the poets laureate of their households, seeking a curated life. They are currently obsessed with whitewashed benches, coffee table books about coffee tables, and tiny ceramic figurines of fruit. Despite my efforts, I will probably be one of these women in 20 years time. Remember Rumpole of the Bailey’s liberal law student Liz Probert, fighting for the working class, but never being able to quite grasp the slang? That’s her. With a shelf of “best of” albums of all the great musicians, her knowledge on most topics reads like CliffsNotes on worldliness.

the teacher

A Sporting Chance

ducating children has one major thing in common all around the world. It is without a doubt that parents, no matter where they live on the globe, want the very best education for their children. Who could argue with that? Recently I have enjoyed two experiences both relating in some way to education. Firstly, I travelled to India and while there I was able to see and ask many questions regarding the education of their children. I was pleased to hear that education is highly valued, and readily available for both boys and girls. It was a treat to watch the children, particularly in the villages, heading to school beautifully turned out in their school uniforms; there was lots of colour and laughter. The school buildings in some instances were pretty basic but that didn’t seem to matter. Secondly, I attended a school reunion at Stratford High School in Taranaki. Meeting up with classmates 50 years on is a wonderful experience. I mention these experiences because no matter what you have achieved, whatever you are working on now or wherever you have still to get to, it is all connected to education. Which makes it extremely desirable for all of us as adults to take the time to encourage our children to make the most of their school days. I am a strong believer that education provides a life of freedom, making anything and everything possible. Returning to New Zealand after being in India certainly made me realize how very lucky we are to have an education system that is right up there as one of the top performers in the world. The word ‘gratitude’ was top-of-mind. For your children right now at school, the PAT (Progress and Achievement Tests) testing will be out of the way and you should know the results. Teachers will be reviewing individual progress and if, or where necessary, will be putting strategies in place for their students to have a successful year. Remember that achievement and success come in many different forms, irrespective of intellect, and as students progress through the school years these will become apparent. The last few weeks of the school term will have been about moving the children on academically, going on camps and the huge task

of organising winter sports programmes. As I was driving around recently, I noticed all the sports club signs advertising winter sports. I couldn’t help but think how much is offered year after year for children to participate in, and of all the willing parents who give up their time to support these programmes. The benefits to children playing a sport, whether individually or in a team, are immense and provide a good balance to their lives. I noticed the young boys in India using any little space they had, often just a small patch of dirt shared with a cow or a pig, to set up a cricket game or to kick around a soccer ball, all having the time of their lives and often with an enthusiastic adult there to encourage them. Again, how lucky are we? But with the onset of winter sports, I caution the behaviour of parents on the sidelines. I have attended many sports games in my principal’s roles over the years, as well as being a parent and now a grandmother, and have witnessed some ugly behaviour. It sends a negative message to all involved in the game, especially the students playing, and totally embarrasses the child. A few tips to keep in mind for sideline etiquette, to make this season more pleasant and a happy experience for all concerned, most importantly the youthful players. 1. Respect the coaches. They are generally volunteers (and often older students) supporting the school or the club, and their children. 2. If you have an issue with your coach, the way the team was chosen or the referee, please don’t use the parking lot to ‘have a go’. This can often get out of hand. 3. Stay calm and avoid tasteless outbursts on the sideline. Support your team/child in an objective, commonsense manner. 4. The other team is not the enemy, they want to win as well. Be respectful and mindful of that. 5. Always support all the young players in the team. Some may not perform as well as others but this does not call for disrespectful criticism, especially in front of other members of the team. The sideline can be a pleasurable and fun place to be along with other parents. It’s the nice hot coffee in your hand that brings warm comfort, as well as maybe a win at the end! Enjoy the season. — Judi Paape

the second act

New Kid on the Block

o we have said our final goodbyes to the beloved family home that we have been grafted to for 18 years, and have reinvented ourselves as inner city dwellers. After the first fairly sleepless evening, getting used to the city sounds of nightclubs, air conditioning hums, random shouts and all-night traffic, I opened my eyes and saw my home town with fresh eyes. I have always walked in the early mornings, and sometimes the late evenings, to recalibrate and decompress respectively, but doing this in central Auckland has introduced me to what might be, if the Council’s vision is realised, “the world’s most liveable city”. In a few shorts weeks, I have discovered many new city delights – artworks, buildings, follies, cafes, bars, alleys. I see it all so differently as I connect to Auckland central as a resident, and not just a ratepayer. In my first month, here’s what I noticed: Auckland loves the arts. On the first Monday, we happened to wander into the festival garden in Aotea Square, had a glass of wine and listened to an amazing jazz band. Meandering past the Pop Up Globe, the Classic Comedy Club and the Civic, all busy, we realised what we had been missing while mowing our lawns in the suburbs. Auckland is at a multicultural crossroads. I often walk past different trios of older men speaking a different tongue, sitting on a sidewalk bench chatting and laughing. At 9pm, Asian toddlers are scootering happily on a side street as their parents work and play. Auckland is overwhelmingly young. Coupled with the multiculturalism, one really gets the sense that the whole vibe is completely different to what my generation may expect. You’ve read the stats, but have you experienced the new Auckland? Walking to the mailbox on the first Friday evening, Queen St was alive with youthful Pacific rappers on one corner, an exquisite group of Indian girls on the other, and tribes of youths looking for action everywhere. One morning we noted queues of young Asian teens who’d slept out, perhaps waiting for the release of a video game? We live along a bit from what is apparently the coolest Chinese nightclub in town. And it pumps! I thought I might go one night, but they have a doorman who selects the cool Chinois types for admission. Being half Japanese, they may mistake me as a mother looking for her kid. (The street violence that occurs after 1am is not seen by the likes

of me, in bed by 10.30pm, but I plan to address the disturbing underbelly that does exist in a later column). Auckland celebrates things on an ongoing basis. We were too late for the Asian Lantern festival, too tired for White Night, too disorganised for the Arts Festival, but we looked up one night and noticed that the Sky Tower was green. Oh, it was St Patrick’s Day, and indeed there followed a random street parade and streets full of happy drunks, dressed in silly oversized green hats. Auckland central is residential. One voyeuristic evening, we watched the sunset from our roof, and spied on other apartments. People everywhere. The two metro supermarkets are always full, and dogwalkers not uncommon. I noted flyers for a neighbourhood event in Freyberg Place, exhorting residents to “get out of your apartment”. Auckland is super-hipster cool. Not in a bearded, man-bun sort of way (that’s the Lynns, Grey and New) but it has the greatest array of little cafes and bars, amidst pockets of urban design gems. My early days’ picks are Scarecrow, the organic fresh food market, (pass the chia seed green smoothie), Remedy (the cutest coffee house/book crossing) and Le Chef, a little French wine bar in Vulcan Lane. Auckland is convenient. We save hours of pfaffing about on errands. I can nip across the road and get something from Noel Leeming, collect from the Apple repair store and drop my drycleaning off in 10 minutes. My commute is a walking minute, so the mornings now flow, which is more than I can say for the traffic on my former haul along Tamaki Drive. Auckland city is where my pals will end up living. Already I’ve become reacquainted with old friends living nearby, and bonded with new ones in the hood. I feel a progressive dinner coming on ... In this vein, Auckland almost works for residents. The rubbish is collected every evening but Sunday, and it seems an efficient system. Have-Hopcard-will-travel — we didn't even use the car for three days. I have lived most of my life in Auckland, despite a long stint in London, a shortish one in Wellington and a lot of travel. To reinvent at midlife and experience Auckland reinventing as a world-leading city is invigorating. It is having its moment, and I am compelled to share what I notice on Instagram, @aucklandtownie. Join me. — Sandy Burgham

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMME FOR WOMEN

the cinema

May at the Movies THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY

chanteuse, Marguerite Dumont (Frot, who won the Best Actress César for the role) must hold firm to the faith she has in her own abilities, as the social and political conventions of the 1920s conspire to derail her plans for stardom. The film has been received well both critically and commercially since its European release, securing 11 nominations and several wins at the César Awards, the French Oscars.

Director Matthew Brown. Starring Dev Patel, Toby Jones, Stephen Fry, Jeremy Irons. This biographical film stars the engaging Patel (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Slumdog Millionaire) as maths genius Srinivasa Ramanujan. From an unlikely start growing up in a poor region of India, Ramanujan’s brilliance saw him admitted to Cambridge University during WWI. With the guidance of his professor, G. H. Hardy (Irons), Ramanujan became a pioneer in mathematical theory. Filmed on location at Trinity College, Cambridge, Infinity makes for a trifecta in modern Brit maths movies, following on from The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything.

THE NICE GUYS

FREE STATE OF JONES Director Gary Ross. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Sean Bridgers, Keri Russell. Inspired by the life of farmer Newton Knight, who, after surviving the 1862 Battle of Corinth during the American Civil War, returns to Jones County, Mississippi. With a small contingent of local farmers and befriended slaves behind him, Knight (McConaughey) leads a rebellion against the Confederacy in an attempt to establish a mixed-race community, and claim a free state. 1

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Director Xavier Giannoli. Starring Catherine Frot, Michel Fau, André Marcon, Denis Mpunga. Marguerite is loosely based on the story of American heiress and aspirant operatic star Florence Foster Jenkins. More socialite than golden-voiced 2:30 pm

CMY

Films listed will screen at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket during May

Fogo Island Inn by Saunders Architecture

ADFF Hobson Ad.pdf

MARGUERITE

Director Shane Black. Starring Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Matt Bomer, Kim Basinger. When private eye Holland March (Gosling) and hired muscle Jackson Healy (Crowe) are charged with solving the cases of a missing girl and a seemingly-unrelated dead porn star, the two hit some unexpected snags in this action/ comedy/crime caper. Set in the 1970s, Los Angeles provides the gritty backdrop for the duo’s investigation — one that leads to the discovery of some particularly unsavoury characters, as we’ve come to expect from all good “buddy cops” movies. Nice Guys also reunites Crowe, 19 years on, with his LA Confidential co-star, Basinger. - Caitlin McKenna

AUCKLAND 5–18 May @ Rialto Cinemas WELLINGTON 26 May–12 June @ Embassy Theatre DUNEDIN 16–26 June @ Rialto Cinemas CHRISTCHURCH 30 June–13 July @ Academy Gold

the bookmark

A Mother's Day Miscellany

PIPI AT HOME Alexandra Tylee (Random House) First there was the book about the popular Havelock North restaurant, Pipi, and now to follow, Pipi At Home. “If Pipi were a person, these recipes are the ones she would cook at home,” says chef/owner Tylee. “They’re the ones I cook at home”. With her trademark style, Tylee transforms even the most humble dish into something special. The brilliant photos showcase not only the delicious food, but invite the reader to share the ambiance of Tylee’s home.

THE COMPLETE NOVELS Nancy Mitford (Penguin) Here are all eight of Mitford’s sparklingly astute, hilarious and completely unputdownable novels. Published over 30 years, they hold a mirror (though Mitford would prefer “looking glass”) to the world of Britain’s bright young things from the 1930s to the ’60s. Whether in the cities or the shires, in peace or war, at home or abroad, nothing escaped Mitford’s sharp mind and pen. Just too, too, divine darlings.

BEEKMAN 1802 STYLE: THE ATTRACTION OF OPPOSITES Brent Ridge & Josh Kilmer–Purcell (Macmillan) You can’t help what objects you fall in love with. But can you make that on-trend new lamp sit happily with your grandmother’s heirloom dresser? The Beekman boys answer with a resounding “Yes!” Illustrated with more than 200 stunning photographs, they demonstrate how old meets new, big meets small, form meets function, and how to create a home that is inviting and warm, and most importantly, fabulous.

PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA Nicolas Barreau (Macmillan) Barreau creates a sparkling heroine in graphic artist Rosalie Laurent, proud owner of Luna Luna, a petite postcard shop in St. Germain. Her specialty is producing “wishing cards,” but where her own wishes are concerned, she is far from lucky. As light and as delicious as a macaron, the reader is transported to Paris by this confection of a novel.

BRIGHT LIGHTS PARIS Angie Niles (Penguin) Take a fantasy voyage with a fashion insider through the streets of Paris. Honorary Frenchwoman Niles has discovered there are as many ways to be Parisian as there are arrondissements. A gorgeous and chic journey through the City of Light, bringing it to life, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.

POEMS THAT MAKE GROWN WOMEN CRY Edited by Anthony & Ben Holden (Simon & Schuster) The Holdens asked a revealing question of 100 women — “What poem has moved you to tears?” The answers cover poems from the eighth century to today, with themes from love, loss, through mortality and mystery, war and peace, to the beauty of nature. Selected by respondents including Yoko Ono, Dame Judi Dench, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Elena Ferrante, this unique collection delivers insights into the minds of remarkable women. — Gail Woodward

the check in

Beyond the Neighbourhood Introducing our travel news updates, compiled by Louise Richardson hits with versions of “The In Crowd” and “Hang on Sloopy”. While you’re in town, check out The Heritage Christchurch (facade pictured below) luxury suite accommodation (from $275 ), which includes elegant, selfcontained suites, a heated lap-pool, sauna and health-club. There are a number of additional Heritage complementary events and occasions available around the festival, so check out the flights and see how you can be part of this refreshing tribute to a legendary musical age. jazzbluesfestival.co.nz heritagechristchurch.co.nz A MATERIAL FEEL FOR INDIA Award-winning New Zealand travel writer and photographer Liz Light has found her second home in India, where the bright colours, vibrant culture, and tasty, vegetarian food seduced her completely on her very first visit. Having returned many times now, Light is particularly passionate about the textiles of India, and leads biannual tours acquainting interested Kiwis with this complex, fascinating industry, in a relaxed group setting; meeting and observing the many people in India’s fabric trade with whom she enjoys genuine friendships.

THE LANGHAM’S LONG HISTORY Situated at 1 Portland Place, just a five minute walk from Oxford Circus, the historic Langham hotel in London has a number of surprises up its well-pressed sleeve. One is its large courtyard — one of the oldest private garden sites in the West End (above). The hotel, with its lavishly appointed bedrooms, ballrooms and the iconic Palm Court, is still a favourite haunt for royalty and household names after 151 years. It’s been home to the exiled Louis Napoleon III, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used it as a setting for Sherlock Holmes stories, and according to the hotel’s website, Charles Dickens noted in 1879 that while The Langham was the most expensive hotel meal to be had in London, “for large dinner parties, there was nowhere else to go”. Be like Dickens and take tea in the Palm Court, or enjoy a drink at the Artesian bar. langhamlondon.com THE JAZZ AGE Celebrate our remarkable sister city’s bravery and regeneration by heading to town for the Cavell Leitch NZ Jazz and Blues Festival, taking place from May 25 to 29 in Christchurch, with sponsorship from Heritage Hotels. The lead act this year is US jazz legend Ramsey Lewis (pictured above right) and his quartet. The multi-Grammy winning composer and pianist had huge

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can be sampled at cellar doors across the state, with dry or sparkling variants. Browse visitmelbourne. com for trip inspiration. THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT Cruise liners have been keeping their customers in touch with what’s going on beyond the porthole using the PressReader app for many years now, but Uniworld has gone one better. Travellers on the company’s boutique European River Cruise Collection can now download an app to keep up with titles including Vogue, Forbes, Newsweek and The Guardian (THE HOBSON should really be on that list too). The app is complimentary to passengers. uniworldcruises.co.nz Light also conducts luxury photography tours, introducing participants, professional or amateur, to some of the most picturesque sites imaginable in this huge and eclectic continent. With modern transport and quality accommodation, these tours are tailored for those who like comfort, while experiencing a remarkable adventure. Find out more about 2016/17 tours at lizlight.co.nz

THE HOBSON n . . . . . . the travelling eye of Remuera artist Jillian Friedlander. We’ve enjoyed, via Instagram, her recent trip to Japan. Her photos of the Aman Tokyo (right) are reproduced with permission.

MORE REASONS FOR MELBOURNE Galleries, shows, shopping (laneways and the Royal Arcade, right), the tennis, the Grand Prix — is there ever a reason not to visit Melbourne? Winter is no exception. Midway this month the St Collins Lane precinct will open, bringing more hot retail, including lingerie L’Agent by Agent Provocateur and European favourite, Reiss. The luxury mall, between Little Collins and Collins streets, has a vast dining area with no fewer than eight restaurants, two kiosks and two alfresco dining spaces with city views. And then there’s Jurassic World: The Exhibition at Melbourne Museum (until October 9), offering a fascinating and eerily lifelike insight into our palaeontology past. This isn’t just for children by any means; adults can be just as scared. jurassicworldtheexhibition.com Beyond the city streets, there’s the Great Ocean Rd in one direction, and the wineries of the Yarra Valley in the other. A new addition in that direction is Victoria’s cideries. This increasingly popular beverage, either apple or pear,

Keep up with The Hobson’s wanderlust — and posts we like — by following us on Instagram: @TheHobson

the hobson 51

the appetite

May Mouthfuls This month I have shared a couple of recipes which have been popular, easy to prepare and serve dishes on my catering menu. The beauty of these dishes is that they can be made small for cocktail functions, medium for afternoon tea snacks, or bigger for a nice easy lunch. These fillings are just suggestions and there are a multitude of variations you can play with, as I have noted in my tips. — Sue Fleischl

Whitebait French Toasts Makes 6 2 free range eggs 20ml cream 1/2 tsp salt Hearty grind of black pepper 20ml oyster sauce (I prefer Panda brand) 100g softened butter 15 slices white or brown sandwich bread 400g South Island whitebait 3 spring onions, finely sliced Preheat the oven to 180C. Get out a muffin baking tray. I would use one with 6cm holes, but you can adjust this recipe to suit what you have in the cupboard. Whisk the eggs, cream, salt and pepper

together to make a custard. Taste for salt and pepper — it should be well seasoned. Generously butter the bread. Using a cookie cutter, cut out two 6cm rounds of bread from each slice (or use a cutter that fits into your muffin tin). Place one round of bread, butter side down, in the bottom of 6 muffin holes. Top with 20g of whitebait and sprinkle with spring onion. Place another piece of buttered bread on top, and another 20g whitebait and spring onions. Pour the custard into each bread stack, filling to cover the whitebait. Place the last round of bread on top, butter side up, and gently press down so the custard squidges over the bread and fills up the muffin hole. Leave to sit for

the hobson 52

five minutes and top with more custard if necessary. It is important to have plenty of custard to hold the French toast together. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes till puffy, golden, and the custard has set. Rest for a couple of minutes before turning out. Serve with a fresh garden salad and crusty bread. I also make these French toasts in mini muffin tins as a tasty canape. The custard needs to be well seasoned as the bread takes away some of the seasoning. The oyster sauce works so well with the whitebait, but you can omit it. Ham and cheese makes a good alternative filling, another favourite is sweet chilli sauce, crab and wasabi caviar. Roast vegetables, chorizo and feta also works well — the possibilities are endless!

Spinach and Cheese Quesadillas Serves 4 1kg baby spinach, picked, washed, steamed, chopped and seasoned 250g feta cheese, either goat or cow 300g mozzarella, sliced or grated 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 8 round flour tortillas, about 21cm in diameter 4 tbsp rice bran oil

Place the tortillas onto a clean bench, and brush each with the sweet chilli sauce. Divide the cooked seasoned spinach over four of the tortillas. Sprinkle with the cheeses. Place the remaining tortillas on top of the filling, sauce side down. Heat a tablespoon of rice bran oil in a fry pan large enough to hold one quesadilla. Gently fry on both sides, being careful when you turn the quesadilla over. Transfer the cooked quesadillas to the warm oven while you repeat the cooking process. Cut into wedges to serve.

Preheat oven to 100C. the hobson 53

The quesadillas can be made a day ahead and stored, uncooked, well wrapped in the fridge. Or, cook them in advance and reheat in the oven. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also easy to cook on the flat plate of a BBQ. These can also be made into canape size by cutting the tortillas into smaller rounds before you fill them. Other filling combinations we enjoy are spiced beans, herbs and cheese; and roast pumpkin, white beans, mozzarella and chorizo. Food photographed by Dominique White Photography.

the district diary - may

monday tuesday wednesday thursday

Back to school: Term 2 commences today

Wriggle & Rhyme Active movement for babies to 2-year olds, 9.30 - 10am every Tuesday in term-time at Parnell Library

Rhymetime Song, stories and rhymes for 18-month to 3-year olds, Wednesdays during termtime, 11 - 11.30am at Parnell Library

The Resene Architecture & Design Film Festival opens at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket, to May 18. For the full program of features, see rialto.co.nz/ eventsfestivals

Term 2 starts for Selwyn Community Education, at Selwyn College. Evening classes in cooking, business, languages, photography, crafts, car maintenance . . . thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a course for every interest. See the options at selwyncomed.school.nz

Book group at Remuera Library, held every second and fourth Tuesday, 11am

Minecraft club at Remuera Library, 4.30 - 5.30pm, bring your own device

Conversation with the Principal St Cuthbertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College, 6pm. Register at stcuthberts.school.nz

Parnell U3A meets today, 9.30am, Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Rd

Preschooler Storytime Stories and songs for 3 to 5-year olds. Every Monday during term-time at Parnell Library, 11 - 11.30am

25 The Auckland Art Fair opens today at The Cloud, Queens Wharf, to Sunday 29. Tickets and info via artfair.co.nz

Documentary Edge Film Festival Full-length docos and short films from NZ and abroad, to May 29 at the Q Theatre, Queen St. See www.docedge.nz

the hobson 54

friday

saturday sunday

notes

1 Buy a pink finger bun from now until May 11 at Bakers Delight, and they’ll donate $1 from every bun sold to the cancer charity, Look Good Feel Better. Bakers Delight Remuera, 1 Victoria Ave

Exhbitions at Kinder House, Parnell, this month are Rutland Artist Group memorabilia and the Meredith Reeves collection. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 12 - 3pm. kinder.org.nz

Parnell Farmers’ Market, every Saturday from 9am in the carpark at the Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Rd

Mother’s Day

The Toy Library opens Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, 9 - 11.30am at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell (enter off Brighton Rd). Toys for indoors and out, games, DVDs. Info at FunAndGamesToyLibrary.org.nz

La Cigale French Market Saturday and Sunday mornings, 69 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell

Independent Primary School Heads of Australasia conference runs this weekend at King’s School

Visit the Toy Library to celebrate World Play Day (see details in listing for May 13 )

Baradene Art Show gala opening tonight. Runs all weekend at Baradene College of the Sacred Heart, Vicky Ave. All welcome. See baradeneartshow.co.nz St Cuthbert’s Parents & Friends Quiz Night

THE HOBSON June edition is in your letterbox this weekend

BARADENE ART SHOW 2016 · 20-22ND MAY

Got an entry for The District Diary? Community groups, school news, local events welcome. Email details to hobsondiary@gmail.com

OPENING NIGHT FRIDAY 20TH MAY · TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT

WWW.BARADENEARTSHOW.CO.NZ SAT 21ST - SUN 22ND 10AM - 4PM FREE ADMISSION · PURCHASE GREAT ART FROM OVER 120 ESTABLISHED & EMERGING ARTISTS

Printing supported by

PRINCIPAL SPONSOR

the hobson 55

the cryptic by mĀyĀ

ACROSS 1 See 22 Down 5 Taboo broken about small measure for a quid, say? (7) 10 Can he dig an early Beatle? (9) 11 South American isn't like Luke, for example (5) 12 Could be any nuclear device (1-4) 13 To speak clearly, sister in Narrow Neck swallowed one earlier (9) 14 A haka and grand opera disrupted Auckland street (11,4) 16 Rebus, say, follows angry oath with What are you doing now?” (9,6) 19 Is representative of endless frost forming around mountains (6,3) 21 Fear of plain biscuits, oddly, is gone (5) 23 Help with article like 11 (5) 24 Noose less tight, thanks to this? (9) 25 Banner's target, an instance of 12 (3,4)

26 Eastern government's type of car? (6) DOWN 2 Charm of our hair being fastened back earlier (7) 3 Outline of Dr McCoy, as seen in “The Naked Time” perhaps? (4,5) 4 New flag? Rumour celeb flying at local venue for swingers (7,4,4) 5 French, for example, also enjoy a joint (6,3,6) 6 Being any simple, intrinsic concept (5) 7 City, elegant in the past (7) 8 At the limit - where Janet Frame might be found, alphabetically? (2,3,4) 9 Paua finally used in the capacity of turquoise (4) 14 Biker's first impulse thrills hussy (4,5)

15 Joke by chaps in extra-terrestrial gear (9) 17 Late, ended, deceased - blue, with beautiful plumage - passed away! (7) 18 “Tarzan”, I estimate, has the most amusing (7) 20 Martial art may result in a knockout (5) 22/1 Actor to emulate Josie Butler? (4,6) Answers on page 21

Simply Matching People With Property

Set by Māyā https://thehobsoncrossword.wordpress.com/ the hobson 56

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