MARCH · POUTOU-TE-RANGI '15
RAINING CATS & DOGS
Their Kitchen Rules THE FLYING DOCTOR thepagemag.co.nz
the pages These pages are special. They’re our stories, our lives and our loves. It makes us happy to share. 8 SNIPPETS 14
LITTLE SPACE, BIG HEART The White Room brings art to all
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TOM SHANNON The man with a heart for future generations
20 THE MELODIES OF LIFE, LOVE AND LOSS Te Manawa fulfills the dreams of forgotten songwriters 22
BEHIND THE MEDALS Kelly Evans’ Athlete Project Agency
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RAINING CATS AND DOGS Catherine Holmes, animal photographer
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THE HOME OF WIND A behind-the-scenes look at clean power
30 THE FLYING DOCTOR Dave Baldwin is a “Healthy Bastard” saving lives 34
FANNING THE FLAMES OF WAR The game of the movie of World War Two
36 HOW TO FEEL AT EASE IN AN ART GALLERY Bronwyn Zimmerman teaches us all 40
MILK OF THE FUTURE Could sheep milk be the next big thing?
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THEIR KITCHEN RULES My Kitchen Rules finalists Aaron and Heather Freeman
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PANIA MOLLEY, SNOBBY GOTH Macabre delights of the arts world
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FOOD, OUR IDENTITY, OUR HERITAGE Yatai serves up their story
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EYES IN THE SKY Skycam UAV’s surveillance drones are taking off
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OPEN SKY OFFICE James Stewart getting Kiwis back to their farming roots
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RAW POWER Power Station, inspiration
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THE GREEN HOUSE EFFECT Escaping fast food
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THE WINNING COMBINATION Basketball champion and physics teacher Nick Horvath
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WELL AND TRULY MADE Band Truly Made putting their own stamp on the music world
pagemakers MARCH · POUTOU-TE-RANGI '15 ISSUE SIX Published by
Level One, 478 Main Street PALMERSTON NORTH 4410 PO Box 12005 PALMERSTON NORTH 4444 +64 6 350 1811 www.thepagemag.co.nz
Shivarn Stewart
Llewellyn Annandale
Editor
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Amy Fowler
Christina Smith
Design/Photography
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Editor-in-Chief: Lance Bickford Editor: Shivarn Stewart Designers: Llewellyn Annandale Christina Smith Printed by: Wickliffe NZ Ltd
Toni Larsen
Kelvin Gilbert
Photography
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To subscribe to The Page, or get the latest copies, contact office@ManawatuNZ.co.nz or visit www.thepagemag.co.nz
Some trees were repurposed to make this magazine. We chose only the ones we knew would be replaced, because we don’t ever want to run out. Kia ora! Nga mihi ki nga tangata me nga whanau katoa. The publishers wish to thank the individuals and families whose support and enthusiasm have made this publication possible. ISSN 2253-5705 (Print) ISSN 2253-5713 (Online) © Copyright Destination Manawatu, 2015
Alexia Bordelongue
Danielle Balmer
Photography
Freelance Journalist
Rhianne Tod
Emine Kokcu
Intern Journalist
Intern Journalist
A huge thank you to all of our contributors. Without you The Page wouldn't exist. Acknowledgements: Rob Mildon, Brendan Marshall, Bronwyn Zimmerman, Adam Dodd, Catherine Holmes, Warren Jones, Sarah Moody, Raewyn Knight, Te Manawa, Alexander Turnbull Library. Inside front cover: Illustration by Sarah Moody – www.facebook.com/m00dymiss Page 13: Image by Llewellyn Annandale Page 46-47: Artwork by Pania Molloy – Snobby Goth, Square Edge Arts Centre; design by Brendan Marshall and photography by Kelvin Gilbert Inside back cover: Illustration by Adam Dodd
Embrace
Consider The Page, if you will, as the pages of a grandmother’s diary. The stories within are like the letters dripping from her fountain pen. They link together, creating the words that enlighten those who are privy to their secrets. Meet and greet the people of these pages, don’t be frightened to invite them into your homes, businesses, offices, workplaces, even into your handbags. Embrace every story and share them - this is the family of your nation.
SNIPPETS
GETTING DOWN AND DIRTY In the past decade Arapuke Forest Park has been swamped with the sweat of bikers chipping away dirt for the park’s trail development. The Manawatu Mountain Bike Club has been working with the Palmerston North City Council to develop a network of mountain bike trails called the K-Loop at the Kahuterawa Outdoor Recreational Area. “Our goal is to create some reasonable off-road riding opportunities around Manawatu, where there has traditionally been only a few,” says club representative Bill Russell. Today the park has fifteen kilometres of bike tracks catering to all experience levels. Beginners get to enjoy a relaxed ride while advanced mountain bikers can pursue the downhill runs with thrilling jumps and drops. “On a good ride I should feel scared somewhere along the journey,” says club member Russell Brebner. The tracks have been made possible because of the persistence and hard work of club members. “Lots of man and woman labour is required to turn the trails into something that’s fun and ride-able,” says Russell. The club organises occasional
working bees to really crack into the project, and receives support from the Palmerston North City Council, Trail Fund NZ, Horizons Regional Council, Ground Effect and the Eastern and Central Community Trust. Owing to forest harvesting, access to the park has been limited recently to weekends and trail development has been delayed. “The great news is that the loggers should be out of there by the end of April,” says Bill. “Next season onwards is going to be really exciting because we’re going to have a much bigger playground to do the design.” It’s anticipated that when the trail building is complete twenty-five kilometres of trails will be available to enthusiasts. Arapuke Forest Park isn’t just full of the daredevils you’d imagine. “We’re building something that caters to everyone from six-year-olds to the advanced riders at the other end of the spectrum,” Russell explains. “In the past three years I’ve seen people I never thought I’d see riding on that hill, from families to groups of ladies.” Park access is through Kahuterawa Road (advanced trails) or Scotts Road. •8•
SNIPPETS
A BOWL FULL OF OPPORTUNITY Healthy Eating on a Student Budget creator, Lauren Bramley, is finding she has more on her plate than just her blog. The UCOL graduate has put her teaching career on hold to push her Facebook page, read by 300,000 followers, beyond the realms of the internet. “I’m in the process of doing a manuscript for a recipe book. This is my main passion; it’s what I want to do for the rest of my life.” Lauren’s blog, started in March last year, demonstrates how a healthy lifestyle can be achieved on a student’s income. “If you change how you shop, and how you budget, it can be done.” The page is also connecting to students
internationally, particularly in Australia and Germany. “People comment in different languages, and having to Google Translate what they’re saying is really exciting.” 2015 is proving to be a year of opportunities for Lauren. She is currently in talks about a partnership with Student City to create a healthier image for the organisation. “The best partnership is with people who are like minded,” she says. As her confidence grows, Lauren has also been playing with the idea of starting a YouTube channel. “It’s quite scary to put yourself out there that much. Maybe one day though.” www.facebook.com/budgethealth
NATURAL IS BEST(SELLING) A novel inspired by the real life of German scientist, Ernst Dieffenbach has been enjoying its debut on the Nielsen Weekly Bestsellers List for the past few months. The Naturalist has even spent time topping the list above Eleanor Catton’s popular book, The Luminaries. “That’s not something I considered at all,” says author Thom Conroy. It was an unrelated project that introduced the author to his main character. The Massey lecturer discovered Dieffenbach in a footnote, leading Thom to read his two-volume account, Travels of New Zealand. “It was really captivating. He wrote an ethnography of the Maori, and it was one of the first, if not the first, professional ethnography ever to be written of Maori. He makes all these somewhat radical comments for his time, like that Maori and Pakeha should be paid the same for the same labour.” In the six years it took Thom to write his first novel, Dieffenbach slowly became the central character. “It was his humanity that attracted me to him.” With the development of Thom’s Dieffenbach came great historical responsibility. “My first duty was to get the history as right as I could,” says Thom, “this meant doing much too much research. In retrospect that was a bit of a burden. I wasn’t as free with the narrative as I might have been.” Thom’s novel provides a new portrait of New Zealand history, capturing some controversial moments in our colonial past. “I wanted to puncture any illusions about there being some sort of grand beginning to colonisation. There was nothing noble about it whatsoever,” he says. “But I also wanted to give some sense of the cosmopolitan nature of things.” Thom explains that New Zealand was as multicultural in Dieffenbach’s era as it is now. “It wasn’t this sort of dualism we’ve come to understand; it was a real multicultural kind of place.” The enthusiastic author has already started working on a number of new story ideas, surely preparing future bestsellers. “You can’t just do one project... well, I can’t just do one project. That’d drive me crazy,” he says. •9•
SNIPPETS
FREE TO ALL BOOK LOVERS There has been a new feature added to the Rose Garden at Palmerston North’s Victoria Esplanade. In memory of book lover Joyce Scott, her friends and family have erected a Little Free Library. Joyce, who passed away last year, wanted everyone to know the joy that comes from getting lost in a good book. The Little Free Library is a box full of books where everyone is welcome to pick up a book and bring back another. This library is currently one of only four in New Zealand and is a part of a global initiative, with libraries around the world all registered and tracked at www.littlefreelibrary.org. Alida Parker, a friend of Joyce, recalls how often they would talk of setting up a Little Free Library near Joyce’s home. The Esplanade became home to the Little Free Library as it was a special place for Joyce. “She loved to be surrounded by the roses and sometimes we would both take a book down and enjoy the place and the sun.” The City Council installed the Little Free Library in the Rose Garden, and the family have plans to install another on Massey University campus. “We are extending the Little Free Library to other parts of New Zealand, that’s the beauty of it.”
THE EPIC WRITER As a teacher and a parent, a child’s success means everything to you. So when Tina Faulkner noticed her daughter struggling with writing she naturally went on a mission to find help. “There were so many resources out there but they were so scattered. There
wasn’t one place where you could access it all. I thought ‘imagine if we could compile all of the useful resources onto one website page.’” So ‘Epic Writer’ was born. Two years of planning is what it has taken, but it will all be worth it for the mother of three. “It is based on words in different categories that is very interactive and visual. We have different levels that cater to a wide range of children.” Part of the success of Epic Writer so far has stemmed from Tina’s first place prize at the BCC’s Innovate Business competition in 2014. “My goal was just to get into the top ten so I could get into the ten week market validation course.”
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“It is a full time job for me now. But it has to work around my children. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have come up with the idea.” Tina remembers that before her final Innovate pitch, “I was in the doctors an hour before with my son, but that’s just the reality of it.” As a new and enthusiastic business woman, Tina knows that Epic Writer will take a while to be fully operational. “It is like a ripple effect. I chose one tiny market to release it to and see how it works. I just have to get it as good as I possibly can.” But for Tina, passion is a powerful driver. “Before I entered the competition I was nervous talking to three people and somehow I pitched to over three hundred people on the final night. Pushing the boundaries and extending myself is something I have to do in everyday business.” www.epic-writer.com
SNIPPETS
WHITE GOLD APP-TRACKED A modern way of calculating herd production has caused a stir in the dairy farming industry, with the development of a new smartphone app, Grass2Milk. As the name Grass2Milk suggests, the app makes it easier for farmers to calculate how much feed is required to ensure the dairy herd will reach desired body condition score in time for calving, as well as achieving their daily milk production goals. It is designed so that farmers can spend more time in the shed and less time worried about which paddock to use to produce ‘White Gold’. “The Grass2Milk app was designed based on theory being developed by Massey University researcher Dr Ian Brookes’ model for feeding dairy cows,” says Massey agribusiness student Hamish Hammond, who helped with testing the app. “This knowledge is already well-known by the experienced farmer, but this app is also for the farmer that may not have experience in raising dairy cattle. The app promises to give background and insights into how much feed their cows require at certain times of the year. “Farm technology, like tractors, has always been important. New technology within agriculture, like Grass2Milk, will be the way of the future."
CRACKERS ABOUT CHEESE In the hustle and bustle of the Feilding Farmers’ Market, award-winning cheese-maker Adrian Walcroft can be found at the Cartwheel Creamery stall. Adrian has an impressive resume, having been awarded the title of Champion Home Crafted Cheese-maker at the 2012 New Zealand Cuisine Champions of Cheese awards. His Pohangina Blue cheese was also a winner, earning gold at the event. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him as animated as he was with the success of those awards,” Adrian’s wife Jill explains. “They’re very justly deserved.” The couple started producing their artisan goods for market in September last year. To pick their favourite cheese is like • 11 •
“choosing a favourite child!”. A popular choice is the aptly named Coppermine, a washed-rind cheese with coppery tones, named after the creek running through the Ruahines. “It’s really tasty and we’re enjoying people discovering it and liking it as much as we do.” The Walcrofts are excited about making their gold-winning blue cheese for customers once a culturing room is available. “It might be our new favourite!” Plum and quince pastes derived from their Pohangina Valley orchard are also soon to accompany their goods at the market, enriching the cheese tasting experience. Tastings at the gate on Sundays 1-4pm. www.creamery.co.nz
SNIPPETS
Creating Creative Communities Interview Rhianne Tod and Warren Jones Images Toni Larsen
They may consider their contribution small, but Richard and Mary Earle are getting the community’s creative ball rolling with the Earle Creativity and Development Trust. The retired food technology pioneers established the trust in 2013 with hopes of motivating innovative folk in the Manawatu and Rangitikei districts. “What we really want is for the community to think creatively,” explains Richard. “If they have the urge, we want people to really think about it and to just create things!” The Earle Creativity and Development Trust has $30,000 available for two categories that alternate every second year. “In the past we have found that people have a good idea that they progress until they discover that they don’t have enough resources to move it along. ‘I haven’t got any money’ or ‘The wife won’t let me spend it on this.’ The trust is an enabler. We provide modest resources to help
people who are stuck to get over the hill.” Outcomes from last year’s proposals are already beginning to emerge. Retired Massey professor Len Blackwell is in the process of developing a new type of pregnancy test, cheaper and more efficient than existing models, which was submitted under 2014’s science and technology category. Local Maori artist A.R. Newbery was awarded funds for his proposal in the visual arts category. He exhibited 175 panels from late January to mid-February to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. 2015's categories are music and literature or history, with applications open from July to late September. “It is important to us that a climate of thought and actual entity is created in the region.” Further information is available on the Public Trust’s website, www.publictrust.co.nz, under grants.
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LITTLE SPACE
Big Heart
Interview Brendan Marshall Images Kelvin Gilbert and Llewellyn Annandale
The White Room Co has recently popped up in the arts scene and already it's making a big splash. When the team at Jumprope, a marketing and design agency, were first presented with the idea of becoming part of the Palmerston North City Council’s Placemaking Initiative, they were excited to bring some new ideas to the table. Inspired by the already successful spaces that had been established around the city, they wanted to come up with a concept that would transform the corner of Fitzherbert Avenue and College Street into a new and engaging spot that people from all around Manawatu would be proud of. Utilising unused space in the former Volume 1 book store, what started as a pop-up gallery concept soon became a much bigger collaborative project between the team at Jumprope, Greg Wilson Photography and the building’s owners Michelle and John van Lienen. With the view to developing a space that not only enhanced the street appeal but was functional and gave back to the community, The White Room Co was created to give emerging artists a platform from which to exhibit and sell their work in a market that they might not otherwise have access to. As existing galleries around the region have greater barriers to entry, The White Room Co wanted to provide artists with a space that they could help to build, share and be proud of. The concept of ‘collaboration’ was the key factor in forming
The White Room Co and was at the forefront of the minds of the team as they began to build a place that allowed emerging talent to grow. The artists wanting to exhibit have embraced this idea and their friends, families and the local community have all welcomed the chance to pitch in too by helping with everything from hanging exhibits and organising opening events to gallery maintenance and, of course, spreading the word. Designed specifically to be a blank canvas, the group agreed to donate the capital needed and the building underwent renovations to shape it into an industrial-style, light-filled environment suitable for any kind of art. More than just offering a nice space, The White Room Co has also developed resources and networks that allow each new artist to host an opening event and run an exhibition for between two and four weeks, with added support from the team to help make sure that their time in the gallery is worthwhile and fulfilling. The White Room Co charges a small commission to cover the costs of running the gallery and invites artists of all backgrounds and disciplines to submit brief portfolios for selection and scheduling. So far the venture has seen two, near sell-out exhibitions, with a third recently opened and a schedule booked until July this year.
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Brendan Marshall and Greg Wilson
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Tom Shannon Interview Lance Bickford and Emine Kokcu Images Kelvin Gilbert
A heart for future generations – Tom Shannon is connecting people and ideas.
High up on the hill, Tom Shannon has always had a perspective from above. It would be easy for him to separate himself from the world below, but Tom is devoted to his home, the Manawatu Region. “It’s home in the broader picture of the region,” says Tom. “My family came from different parts, I married into different parts. My roots move deep in the town of Shannon, south of Palmerston North, which bears the name of my grandfather’s grandfather. I am the eldest son’s eldest son’s eldest son!” As Tom puts it, “I was raised as a dog on the Tararua hills.” It was this upbringing that made Tom fall in love with the region, and despite studying down south and spending a year traipsing the globe, his love brought him back as a family man. With the children now grown, Tom is making a name for himself as the man working quietly away building relationships and getting things done. It was a desire to leave something for future generations and the community that encouraged Tom to bring local parties together to create positive change. “In a previous career I was a sharebroker, and as a sharebroker you’re in the middle. I think that the business of brokering understanding is why I came out here. I left sharebroking because I didn’t like the conversation, and I left it with the view that there was more security in knowing and getting on with your neighbours than there was in a number on a piece of paper. I had been trying to foster conversations with authorities and the community as part of a river liaison committee, and I was getting frustrated with that,
with how authorities engaged with communities and how communities engaged with authorities. The drive is in me, and I wonder why sometimes, but I wanted to see if I couldn’t champion a conversation in my community. I was trying to broker understanding. “In terms of what’s motivated me to put myself up there, to stand up and say things and encourage others to go past themselves – it’s a lot to do with wanting to live in a place that is peaceful and harmonious. We can’t escape, we can’t get out of this place, so that’s where our limitations lie, in the social dimension and communicating. I don’t think we need more research to do things, we just need to apply what we know.” One of the most notable initiatives is the Manawatu Gorge Biodiversity Project that Tom was instrumental in getting off the ground. This brought together Crown representatives, three iwi and a number of other important local participants, ranging from local government to community groups, businesses and individuals all working in a collective and equal partnership. This group has led the charge to improve, preserve and highlight Te Apiti – Manawatu Gorge, to great success. Visitor numbers to the area are increasing dramatically year on year, with more activities and attractions available, and more organisations getting involved. “The dream for the place out here was established and agreed pretty easily, pretty quickly. We all appreciated how deeply it could go. It was in my mind that we could • 16 •
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“‘No shit, no kidding’, as someone once said to me. I am learning to do that myself, and that’s part of the personal journey.”
all work together without ownership changing, to create an environment that the region and the district could be proud of, and that as individual landowners we might also be better off. The mix of organisations and people out here was very diverse, and as that grew with time it became clear to me that there was no project out here without iwi. Not token iwi, because everyone can see through that, it had to be genuine involvement.
favourite ‘gumboot tea’. However, despite the fantastic success that Te Apiti – Manawatu Gorge has experiencing so far, Tom is realistic about the challenges and what is necessary to prosper. “I feel very proud of what has been achieved, but like any relationship you can take none of it for granted. Partnership is only as good as the last conversation,” laughs Tom. “I think in the past few years I’ve become an organisational psychologist!
“It did occur to me that at different times we might have said, ‘This is too hard’, but there was no project at all if we couldn’t break through it. So it was persistence – there are a couple of us in the group who are persistent! From the government there was also support, because they had a responsibility and a role too.”
“I’ve listened to many sides of things, and there is this sense that being vulnerable and being yourself are what people are drawn to. It’s also important to protect oneself, to keep oneself safe, and that’s what I am learning now. To be in that place and stand and call others up, it really has to be a blank page. No clever tricks. ‘No shit, no kidding’, as someone once said to me. I am learning to do that myself, and that’s part of the personal journey.”
The persistence has paid off, and the relationships in the group have been strengthened over regular cups of Tom's
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The Melodies of Life, Love and Loss Interview Rhianne Tod Images Alexander Turnball Library
New Zealand Rifle Brigade Bandsmen in France Ref: 1/2-013779-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
James McAllister and family with musical instruments Ref: 1/1-012260-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
To be living everyday life one minute and dropped into the firing line facing enemy soldiers the next is something that most New Zealanders have, fortunately, not experienced. The songs that will be playing in Te Manawa’s Totaranui Settlers Cottage, however, tell a different story. “These songs take us to a place and a time where life was hugely different. The reality in New Zealand was that every single family was affected hugely by World War One,” says David Dell. David Dell of Musical Heritage New Zealand and Te Manawa’s Social History Curator, Tony Rasmussen, have developed the exhibition ‘Farewell Zealandia: Forgotten Kiwi Songs of WWI’. It explores the harrowing years of 1914-1918 through the stories and music of twenty-six Kiwi songwriters. “It’s a really special thing to be able to take the stories of people whose lives nobody knows about, whose songs no one has heard, and bring them to life a hundred years after they were written.” Twenty forgotten tunes have been picked for revival in the most authentic way possible. A few of the songs have been recorded being sung by a soloist with a piano, the same way the writers would have performed their music. The remainder, however, have been recorded with a full salon orchestra, which was popular in the 1910s and ’20s. “The dream would be that a salon orchestra might play your piece,” says David. “It is unlikely that these songs have ever been played by a salon orchestra. We are actually fulfilling something of a dream of those songwriters a hundred years later.” The songwriters are a varied bunch, from lyrical soldiers to a fourteen-year-old girl who wrote as her relatives were sent • 21 •
overseas to fight. “History books talk about the big battles and the major things that happened in World War One, but these songs give us a window into the lives of average, everyday people who had to live with the realities of war.” One example is Palmerston North man, George Tremaine, whose song, The Red Cross Nurse, is in the exhibition. “He is very much typical of these ordinary people with these ordinary lives,” Tony explains. “He was a labourer and I read an account of his life that said he was deaf. It is possible he was excluded from active service on the grounds of deafness. Now, in a strange kind of way, he can be recognised for his contribution to the war.” Despite the songs being written in a time long behind us, the themes are able to transcend their context and affect modern -day listeners. “What these songs do,” says David, “is tell stories of life, love, loss and relationships, which are still part of our lives today.” Tony encourages visitors from all generations to come and experience the exhibition. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if grandparents and grandchildren could connect through these songs? Perhaps a grandparent will remember a relative talking about when they went to war, or of someone who lost their life overseas. A song might spur something within them and that could spark a conversation with their grandchild. To spark those conversations between the generations is a really precious thing.” Farewell Zealandia: Forgotten Kiwi Songs of WWI runs from 7 March until 20 June at Te Manawa.
BEHIND THE MEDALS Interview Shivarn Stewart Images Kelvin Gilbert and Kelly Evans
“I’ve always wanted to work in this capacity. I enjoy being behind the scenes and supporting them.”
She's the manager behind the medalists, five of the international competing athletes whom we are proud to call our own. Representing sporting superstars Sarah Goss, Kayla Whitelock, Simon van Velthooven, Sarah Cowley, Emily Collins, George Whitelock and Aaron Gate, Kelly Evans, creator of The Athlete Project Agency, is playing to win. Kelly accompanied four of her athletes as they competed at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Her team brought home a collection of silver and bronze medals and top ten placings. Experiencing the games in person, with hundreds of thousands of other spectators, was a “completely unimaginable” experience. “It was the first Games I’d been to, and compared with watching it on TV it just does not match the excitement and the nerves. I sat with the family of each athlete when they competed. You’ve got nerves for them, because there’s been all this training and building up to these moments, and it comes down to sixty seconds, or an hour’s game,” says Kelly. The people of Scotland were a standout and ensured that the Games were about more than just the competition itself. “Glasgow put on a magnificent show, everyone comments on that as you arrive. They are just so friendly and lovely and the whole country really got in behind the event. Sitting in the different stadiums and venues there would be Scottish families with their kids there and you could really feel the home crowd, but when their people weren’t racing they would cheer on your country next to you. There was just such a great atmosphere.” For Kelly, sport has been a lifelong passion, and the work she does she considers the job of a lifetime. Nurtured from a young age, “I’d grown up in a sporting family, it’s always been around me,” she explains. Armed with a sport and exercise degree from Massey University and more than a decade’s • 23 •
experience in the sport management industry, creating The Athlete Project Agency in 2012 was a natural career choice. “I’ve always wanted to work in this capacity. I enjoy being behind the scenes and supporting them. I started contemplating going out on my own and starting the business, and ironically it was through the promotion of the BCC’s Innovate programme and seeing the other businesses go through that that made me take a risk and start it.” While the business has taken off to a roaring success, the work does come with its own challenges. “With the way I run the service for my clients it really is 24/7. You can have athletes in New Zealand, in Norway, in Japan and everyone is in different time zones. If it is an important time for athletes, your timing has to change.” Even with the fantastic Glasgow results, Kelly is already encouraging her troupe to focus on the future, with the 2016 Rio Olympics at the forefront of every athlete’s mind. “This year is a really important year for them; they need to get good results in order to be selected to go to Rio next year. A lot of people think Rio is the big pinnacle year, but in 2015 they have a lot of work to do to ensure their position is cemented.” While her athletes are at the peak of their careers currently, Kelly is also there to ensure that their future is positive once they have moved on from competing. “Life after sport is a big one. In the last five to ten years their life as an elite athlete is finite. We work with them, even when they are emerging at sixteen and seventeen, to get them to focus on a life after sport.” Even though it is a life of managing high stakes, intense pressure and time zone jumping, Kelly wouldn’t have it any other way. “We joke and call it the AP family actually; we all support one another. It comes down to the people – it’s rewarding.”
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Raining Cats and Dogs Interview Rhianne Tod Images Catherine Holmes
Cats are well known for their attraction to cardboard boxes, but who’s ever heard of cats and rabbits in cardboard planes? Animal photographer Catherine Holmes has a knack for capturing the characters of pets. The UCOL graduate has photographed a myriad of creatures including ambitious chihuahuas selling lemonade, rushed ragdolls in pint-sized cars, and spooky ginger kitties dressed up for Halloween. “Every animal I photograph has its own distinct personality and it’s really fun to try capturing that. “There’s this spontaneity about animal photography,” Catherine explains. “You get this really amazing photo you didn’t expect because the animal has done something exciting or looked at you in a certain way. Rather than take flat, boring portraits I’ll see that a dog likes to jump, like one I photographed the other day; he literally wouldn’t sit still, jumping the whole time. So we gave him a cape. Now he’s Super Dog and he’s flying! “Animals lend themselves so well to emotional interpretation. A cat only has to look into the distance and you can create feelings of sadness or dreaminess.” The English ex-pat has used her artistic prowess for good in the past, creating images of animals from Palmerston North and Manawatu rescue centres, which have helped to show them off for adoption. “That’s been really good because I’ve had the opportunity to try out ideas without the pressure from clients, and the animals get exposure for re-homing.” • 25 •
Catherine’s two cats, Pagan and Pinto, have also been subjected to the photographer’s visions. “I put Pagan in a cardboard aeroplane,” she says. “She only wanted to sit in boxes and I thought, how can I take this further? So I built the box into an aeroplane. I photographed it in the air so it looked like it was above ground, and then I decided to build a cardboard town underneath it,” Catherine laughs. “My cat performed but she’s a bit over it now.” It’s hard work getting unruly cuties to pose for pictures, but Catherine has built up a repertoire of tricks to make her subjects behave. “I may have graduated with a photography degree, but working with animals is this whole other skill you only learn by doing. I’ve amassed an array of fluffy toys and things that make specific noises, encouraging dogs’ ears to fly up or cats to turn around. Sometimes you have to be willing to sit on the floor with a handful of cat biscuits, waiting until your model crawls out from under the couch.” Catherine is currently working on a book to adorn the coffee tables of fellow pet lovers, and she has dreams of her work meeting a wider audience through greeting cards, calendars and even photography exhibitions. Her online store sells various items such as prints, pillows and bags and has proven popular beyond the local community. “There have been people from America buying my work! It’s pretty universal what I do. Everybody likes to see cute animals doing things.”
“Animals lend themselves so well to emotional interpretation.�
The Home of Wind Interview Rhianne Tod Image Kelvin Gilbert
Manawatu locals would not be surprised to hear that the region has world-class wind. Citizens may in fact be under the impression that the wind blows too well, as trees grow sideways and skirts flutter when stepping outside. However, Russell Thomas, Te Apiti Wind Farm’s Wind Maintenance Manager, appreciates the wind for all it has to offer. “The wind is very consistent here. Te Apiti was the first site Meridian Energy installed in New Zealand because it was identified as a key wind resource. It really is phenomenal.” Alone, each of these turbines generates enough electricity to power 900 houses. Together, the fifty-five turbines at the Te Apiti site power 39,000 New Zealand homes each year. Today Te Apiti Wind Farm celebrates ten years since its establishment as the first of Meridian’s utility-scale wind farms. “The success of the turbines has been driven by the expertise developing in local industry,” says Russell. “It is the growing experience of local organisations like Ashhurst Engineering and Junction Road Transport that has contributed.” The Manawatu site has also acted as a blueprint for a further seven wind farms to be built across the county
and overseas. “Because our wind resources are so good, any emerging design issues would be seen in Palmerston North before anywhere else in the world. "It’s actually quite cool. Our turbine manufacturer, Vestas, exports local technicians who have had experience at Te Apiti and therefore know the issues. They’re sent to places like Spain and the United States to assist and train other owners of the same turbine models. We’ve been able to export knowledge and experience right out of Manawatu.” With the wind farm having made such an impact on the local industry, it is no surprise that the region has started to embrace wind power as an aspect of community identity. Ashhurst School has incorporated the turbines into its logo, and the aptly named Manawatu Turbos and their mascot, Turboman, were inspired by the gargantuan machines. “We spend a lot of time in the community,” states Russell. “We have a community fund of $120,000 over three years that supports local initiatives. We want to share the rewards of the wind farm with communities in Ashhurst and Woodville. We don’t want to push our technology and wind on them, we just want to be good neighbours.”
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The Flying Doctor Interview Danielle Balmer Images Toni Larsen
“My great strength is that I ended up a doctor by accident; it wasn’t until I was nineteen or twenty that I had any concept of what I wanted to do.” The Flying Doctor, Dave Baldwin, has been in the business for more than twenty years now and certainly has no intention of slowing down any time soon. With a medical centre, the Healthy Bastards campaign, the Bulls Flying Doctor Service and his Aerospace Research Centre Dave is kept on his toes, with no two days ever the same. Brought up north of Porirua in a little fishing village, in his youth Dave wasn’t really one for study. “My mother has always been a big influence in my life, and she always cried when I saw her because she wanted me to be the big family hope. So after a year and a half of truck driving and possum hunting I made a deal with her. ‘If you stop bawling I’ll go back and get my Bachelor of Science, but after that I want to be a deer culler’, and she agreed.”
years of study to qualify as a doctor and began training as a cardiologist at Palmerston North Hospital. However, the jets flying overhead proved distracting, so Dave joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force, becoming a Skyhawk pilot and medical officer. It was there that he developed his expertise in aviation medicine. After three years he left the RNZAF to own and run the medical centre in the nearby town of Bulls.
“General practice was the first start to my career, but the spark was whether it was possible to tie in “I met an old doctor the mountains and possibly flying. I met an old doctor at a conference whose job it was at a conference whose to be a GP doing house calls in his boat. I thought, ‘Hey bro, that’s me!’.
job it was to be a GP doing house calls in his boat. I thought, ‘Hey bro, that’s me!’”
Dave could see the wisdom in his mother’s eyes. “I wasn’t dumb, I just wasn’t focused. Once I got going I started to get A grades. So when people asked what I wanted to do with my life they thought I was joking when I said a deer culler. Then I thought about being a doctor, it sounded like a good job with good pay.” After his Bachelor of Science Dave went on to do eight
“Every pilot needs a medical to fly and the validity of it depends on whether you have a commercial or private licence and how old you are. A private pilot under forty’s medical lasts five years whereas a commercial pilot over forty needs to be renewed every six months.” Dave began to build up his clientele by recording pilots’ expiry dates on a computer recall system. “A month before they were due I would ring them saying your medical is due, do you want to do it with us? Now after twenty-five years they all do.” For three weeks every month Dave is flying high, in and out of his base at Palmerston North Airport. “The first week
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it is down the West Coast to Milford Sound then across to Wanaka and Mount Cook. The second I am in the Motueka, Nelson area and the third week I fly to Blenheim and the Marlborough area. I might do twelve pilot medicals on the airstrip then shoot out to a farm to do some more. But it’s all part of the dream.” The other major ‘mission in life’ for Dave is his politically incorrect ‘Healthy Bastards’ campaign. It first began fifteen years ago and today Dave tours the country talking about how men can best manage their health. “I was working away at the general practice and got to really like the people I was seeing, but they all start dying on you. In one week I lost five patients and it starts to get to you a bit. You begin to realise that a lot of people dying are dying early because of self-neglect. I see eighty-year-old commercial pilots and think of the potential in human beings. “I got a lot of flak for it in the days, I even had some lawsuits on my hands. But people have cottoned on that I am just trying to get to the group who aren’t listening. At least I’m trying to talk in their terms.”
Dave was approached by three television companies to do a series, which he turned down. “It just typified to me what happens to so many creative minds in this country. You sign a contract where someone owns you and you’re lost. So I told them where to go. I feel I’m stronger now because I’m not watering down my messages. If people don’t like it they can take a hike, because I know I can speak with honesty.” For Dave the success of his self-funded campaign is all about raising the profile and drawing people in. “When I say ‘bastards’ people actually love that. Sir Edmund Hillary said it at the top of Mount Everest and as soon as you say it the profile of that name is lifted. It is about getting people thinking and raising awareness of the fact that the greatest gift is your body, so take care of it.” Spare time is unheard of for Doctor Dave, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. “Some people in life work to live, I live to work. I love what I do. “The key thing is to develop a dream. Whatever it is, if the dream doesn’t scare you then don’t do it, it’s a waste of time. Then within that it is important to keep it close to your chest. People are pretty quick at knocking things, so just chug away because even if you don’t succeed another door will open.”
Following on from the success of a best-selling book and entertaining DVD and YouTube clips for Healthy Bastards,
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“I've heard it described as ‘the game of the movie of World War Two’. It’s probably one of the reasons why Flames of War has been so successful, because we do tend to add in a bit of character.”
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FANNING THE FLAMES OF WAR Interview Robert Mildon Images Kelvin Gilbert
When we think of Kiwi world-beaters, they tend to have a rugby ball, fountain pen or ice axe in their hands. Evan Allen and Tom Robertson had other ideas. Armed with nothing more than home-made sculpting tools and a library of history books, they’ve helped to turn a New Zealand miniatures game into a worldwide market leader. In the Flames of War game, tiny men and machines re-enact battles across the breadth of the Second World War. German panzers square off against Russian armoured platoons, and Kiwi bayonet charges roar across the sands of Egypt. The game first hit shelves in 2002, after three years in development. Within a few more years, Flames of War was the most-played World War Two game across Australasia, Europe and the United States.
Evan’s reflected this philosophy in the figures he sculpts. “Sometimes you have to get away from reality and give them a bit of personality over and above what is historical.” You can get Kiwi infantry in their distinctive lemon squeezers, even though they never wore them in actual combat, and with weapons and supplies they’d “liberated” from their allies. Working on New Zealand troops, is there an element of pride in bringing these forces to the world stage again? Evan thinks so. “Some of the people involved in the game had relatives there. I had an uncle who fought in Italy with the 2nd New Zealand Division, so yeah, you do get a personal attachment to it.” That translates to a strong local involvement, too. Panzerschreck – named after the deadly German antitank weapon – is the world's oldest regular Flames of War tournament, held in Palmerston North since 2001, when it used a test version of the rules. The strongest turnout it’s ever had was forty-six people from across the country. “For a little town like ours,” reckons Evan, “that’s pretty good.”
Tom and Evan were both involved in developing the rules, while Evan put his lifelong passion for sculpting miniatures to use creating the game's models. “Growing up there weren’t models available, so I made my own. It became a habit,” Evan recalls. He’d put together tanks, planes and ships from plasticine, balsa wood or whatever was lying around. “In the early rules’ development I play-tested a lot,” says Tom. He realised pretty quickly that complexity was not an option. “We were allowed to go into Wanganui Collegiate once a week and teach the kids how to play Flames of War. They were basically a guinea-pig group for us, to make sure the game could be picked up by anyone.”
You might imagine a hall full of ageing military historians still playing with the toy soldiers of their youth, but that’s far from the reality. “It’s always a surprise going to a tournament and seeing how many youngsters are joining in,” says Evan. “They do really well and they’re passionate about it.”
It’s not a strict simulation. Historical purists may huff and puff, but a bit of stylistic embellishment is part of the charm.
Tom, a Massey senior lecturer in engineering and technology, now researches and writes historical articles for Battlefront, the company that makes Flames of War. Evan works full time as its head of 3D design, where he sculpts, and co-ordinates an international design team. He says Manawatu is a great place to be based.
“I’ve heard it described as ‘the game of the movie of World War Two’,” says Evan. “It’s probably one of the reasons why Flames of War has been so successful, because we do tend to add in a bit of character.”
“They wanted me to move up to Auckland, but the thing with gamers is that you get them together and before long they’re wasting time talking about gaming. I get a lot more work done down here!” • 35 •
How to Feel at Ease in an Art Gallery Article Bronwyn Zimmerman Images Toni Larsen
“You will only look as unusual as the next person walking through the door.”
Art galleries can be intimidating places. The experience can be more daunting when you’re not sure what to expect or what might be expected of you. However, no amount of looking at computer images, feasting on art books or poring over glossy art magazines can replace the experience of viewing the real deal. So take a deep breath, overcome that mental barrier, and go take a look. Here are some tips to help you on your way...
FEAR NOT! Galleries exist so that members of the public can go and see art on display. Whether there is a tortuous stairway, an aloof gallery assistant or a price list that makes you gasp, you’re welcome to take a look. It doesn’t matter if you’re casually dressed or have limited art knowledge or a moth-ridden wallet; art gallery visitors comprise an eclectic mix of students, artists, collectors, critics, socialites and browsers, all with a range of backgrounds, life experiences and expertise. You will only look as unusual as the next person walking through the door.
THERE IS NO SCRIPT Unlike a trip to the movies, there is no established routine. You don’t know what to expect or do when you walk through the door. The gallery might not have a reception desk; you might not be greeted as you enter; and the displayed work might range from a single installation to a variety of works by different artists. There might be others viewing the works or nobody else at all. New Zealand galleries usually have free entry, but public and community-run galleries could have donation boxes or charge for special exhibitions. Sometimes works will be available to purchase or will have sold already. Take comfort in knowing that everyone who visits an exhibition for the first time will not know what to expect. This element of uncertainty can enhance the art experience, sharpening your senses and heightening your response to the displayed work.
JUST BE NORMAL There are no rules in viewing art. You don’t need to speak in a certain voice or adopt a particular pose. There is no length of time in which you should consider a work before moving on. You can stand as far away from a work as you want and move in for closer inspection. There is no expectation that you will read labels or want to know more about the works than what you see. The only viewing practice peculiar to museums and galleries is that, in most cases, the items on display should not be touched. Otherwise the same courtesies apply as to most shopping experiences: avoid bringing food or drink, check with staff before photographing products and be mindful of others. The person next to you may be the artist or owner of the work, so it is generally best to avoid expressing negative views with strangers in earshot.
“There are no rules in viewing art. You don’t need to speak in a certain voice or adopt a particular pose.”
YOU DON’T NEED SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE TAKE A FRIEND
You don’t need to be an art critic or do any prior research to enjoy visiting an art gallery. Some people prefer to view art without prior knowledge, forming their responses solely on what they see. Others carry out extensive research before or after viewing, enjoying the ability to learn about the art’s context and construction. The gallery itself should have key information about the works on display. Sometimes this will be on wall labels or sheets of paper or a catalogue beside exhibited works. If the printed information doesn’t quite answer your questions, gallery assistants should be able to help.
A friend might help you to feel less self-conscious looking around the gallery and also provide you with a ‘second opinion’ on works displayed. Viewing art with another person enriches the experience. Your friend will bring different experiences, associations and preconceptions to the works, which can enhance your own appreciation. Your friend does not need to be someone particularly arty or clever; viewing art even with small children can provide a fresh perspective. Taking someone with you can also prolong your enjoyment of the exhibition, giving you opportunities to discuss works even after you’ve left.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIKE THE ART It is perfectly okay to walk into a gallery and decide you don’t like or are not interested in any of the displayed works. It doesn’t mean the works are inherently deficient or boring, it simply means they are not your thing. While there is no shame in acknowledging that the art isn’t to your taste, you may be surprised how beneficial it is nevertheless to stop and take a good look at displayed pieces. You might find something that appeals to you after all, be it a particular theme, a creative method used, finer details of the work you hadn’t noticed before, or something in the artist’s statement that strikes a chord. Taking a few moments to really look at the work and to read the accompanying information may reveal interesting aspects not apparent on first impression.
IT’S ALL RIGHT TO STAY SILENT It’s perfectly acceptable to say nothing about art you’re viewing. If you want to comment on a work, however, try to think about specific qualities of the work, how it makes you feel. What emotions, memories or sensations does the work trigger for you? What physical qualities interest you: the subject matter, size, colours, textures, forms or composition? Does the accompanying written material highlight something that surprises or intrigues you? Even reading the title of an artwork can add to your enjoyment of the piece.
STAY AS LONG OR LITTLE AS YOU WISH The length of time spent in a gallery is up to you. Some people duck in very briefly to check out a particular work. Others take considerable time inspecting each work and gathering as much information as possible. It is common for people to return multiple times to view again works that have captured their interest or that they wish to acquire. And if you walk into an exhibition and discover it doesn’t interest you, you are welcome to leave.
KEEP GOING The best way to feel comfortable visiting art galleries is to keep doing it. Once you’ve visited a local gallery aim to revisit in a few weeks’ time. The displayed works will likely be different but the gallery itself should feel familiar, and you will become increasingly more at ease with each visit. If you don’t feel huge differences between the types of artwork exhibited, visiting other places will enrich your experience of art available.
“Taking a few moments to really look at the work and to read the accompanying information may reveal interesting aspects not apparent on first impression.”
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MILK OF THE FUTURE Interview Rhianne Tod Images Kelvin Gilbert
With 30 million sheep across the country, why is it that New Zealanders find the idea of milking them bizarre?
Massey lecturer Craig Prichard is on a mission to promote sheep dairy as a viable form of agribusiness in New Zealand. “People from eastern and southern Europe take this as normal. I think that if New Zealand had been settled by southern Europeans rather than northern Europeans we would have had a sheep dairy industry from the beginning.”
understand the business at grassroots level. There’s a lot of knowledge that comes from day-to-day milking and getting involved with the sheep.”
Recently the concept of milking sheep has caught the attention of large agribusiness company, Landcorp. The state-owned enterprise purchased 2,500 East Friesian sheep last year for trial milking. It has also engaged Massey’s Riddet Institute in experimenting with sheep’s milk products such as butter and ice cream and is in discussion with FoodHQ, a collective of New Zealand’s foremost food science organisations. “We’re a lot more experimental in what we’re eating,” believes Craig, “therefore we can be more experimental with what we can potentially sell to people.” Craig belongs to a group of Massey researchers called Ewe Can Dairy who support the New Zealand sheep dairy industry. In February the team ran the Ewe Milk Products and Sheep Dairying Conference. “It’s part of trying to think through issues around alternative dairy industries,” explains Craig. Craig isn’t just watching the industry’s development from the sidelines. “I milk sheep myself in a very rustic, low-budget, low-impact way,” he says. “It’s important to • 41 •
Craig’s lifestyle block exemplifies an alternative business model for New Zealand dairy practices. “There are a lot of lifestyle blocks on the fringes of New Zealand cities. They mow them and might have a few raggedy old sheep. I’d like to see us make better use of that land.” He proposes that a sheep dairy business could involve a number of small holders getting together with small flocks, which could be milked collectively. “The challenge is to find business models that connect people to the industries. Maybe some aspects of fair and equitable trade might find their way into this kind of business. There are lots of things you can do on a small scale by connecting people to the products they consume.” As for the taste of sheep’s milk – “It was the biggest challenge to get my twelve-year-old son to eat some sheep’s milk products,” says Craig. “It’s that little reaction where people go, ‘I’m not really sure about that’. We need to attach meanings to sheep’s milk products that are positive for the industry.” Sheep’s milk has a similar flavour to cow’s milk, only much richer. With the increase in dairy product varieties in supermarkets, sheep’s milk could easily make the shelves.
Their Kitchen Rules Interview Danielle Balmer Images Toni Larsen
“When My Kitchen Rules came up our parents said, ‘If you don’t apply this time we are giving up on you’,” Aaron remembers. The popular Pacific duo Aaron and Heather Freeman, the ‘Polynesian Cooks’, made it to the final of the show last year, nearly taking out the competition. Even before what the pair describe as the whirlwind that was My Kitchen Rules, cooking exceptional food had been in their blood. More so for Aaron, who had always dreamed of cooking competitively. “Heather was always a consideration as a partner for the show, but I didn’t want to leave both of our kids at home without Mum and Dad. I initially applied with a friend because I thought a boy duo team would be refreshing, but he had been a chef for fifteen years previously so was ineligible.
and the cooking was fine, it was easy. The hardest thing ever was being away from our kids. The reality was we started in June last year and it went through to October.” Things got off to a rocky start for the team. “I struggled with the competition. I couldn’t understand the concept; that it wasn’t a cooking show, it was more a reality TV show, because I just wanted to cook,” Aaron remembers.
Heather agrees that behind the scenes was not what you would expect. “Your success hinged on whether you were dramatic or whether you had a big “If it weren’t for people personality. So we learnt quite a lot along the way in order to preserve our interrupting us on the longevity throughout the competition. I think the hardest thing for us was street today, saying how getting the judges to understand us.”
much they enjoyed us, we would just be in the corner and it would have been all for nothing.”
With no luck in finding a replacement, Heather recalls slamming her car door and saying, “FINE, I’LL DO IT!”.
This misunderstanding was resolved dramatically in the semi-finals, where Aaron and Heather had the chance to channel their Pacific Islander heritage in their food. “It was the first time we actually got to prepare Pacific cuisine, which I had been busting to do,” Aaron remembers. “It was quite refreshing because we were finally able to express ourselves. To get such great feedback from the guest judges in that semi-final still makes me wake up and smile about it today.”
When filming came around, the two struggled with being away from home for long periods of time. “The cameras on us
Heather agrees. “It was the first point in the competition where we had got that validation, we belonged where we
“I got a call from the My Kitchen Rules team saying that they really liked my story and wanted me on the show, so I had seventy-two hours to find a replacement, which isn’t usually done. It was a stressful three days but it came back to Heather.”
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were and had a chance at taking out the competition.” But much of this validation came from the fans and viewers from across the country who supported the duo from day one. “People would always comment on how nice we were. We thought New Zealand was going to hate us, but it was edited so well and what you saw on the show was just us, we didn’t manufacture anything. “If it weren’t for people interrupting us on the street today, saying how much they enjoyed us, we would just be in the corner and it would have been for nothing.” The final of My Kitchen Rules, which aired in October 2014, was a bittersweet pill for both Aaron and Heather to swallow. “I’m still hurt, it hurts that we didn’t win. The final would have been the perfect ending for us because it was so hard to break through to the judges, to show them who we were and the food we wanted to cook. “What was made tougher was the fact that they filmed a double ending where we either lost by two points or won by one point. So we had to find out with the rest of New Zealand. For six weeks we didn’t know, and the day after we got home we were just meant to deal with it all. “I’m gutted we lost because I am a competitive person, but it just came down to reality TV time pressure at the end of the day,” Aaron believes. Both Aaron and Heather have never lost sight of what matters most, however. “We have always had a respect for the competition,” says Aaron. “We didn’t lose in a way because we never lost the support. It is almost a blessing in disguise because all I really ever wanted was the title of winning My Kitchen Rules. I didn’t care about the grand prize because if we had won we would have been contractually bound. Since the final ended it has made me so focused because we have won everything that the winners won, the rest of the prize was just stuff.” Today, Aaron and Heather have exciting new things in motion. Launching their new Pacific cuisine brand, Tatou, for catering and functions is one of their sources of pride. “I always saw having a brand in the future and it fitted the approach that we have to food because it means ‘us’, quite literally.” Most importantly, their two children are still big fans of their parents’ food. “They are two of our harshest food critics. A lot of people used to comment on us when we received harsh feedback: ‘Why do you just look at the judges like it doesn’t even faze you?’. We’ve heard worse mate, we live with a twoyear-old who is very honest,” they laugh. The future is bright for the duo, who are planning to build their brand even further. “I believe in the people in Manawatu, otherwise I wouldn’t still be living here. Those who spend their hard-earned money deserve to be fed well, so I want to raise that standard and showcase what New Zealand and Pacific food can be. “The whole thing has just consumed our lives, but that’s our choice. It’s an exciting time, putting ourselves in a position where we aren’t just doing nine to five.” • 45 •
FOOD. OUR IDENTITY. OUR HERITAGE. Interview and Images Brenda Wormgoor
People enjoy a story with their food; we are attracted to restaurants where the food expresses stories of heritage, identity and tradition. At Yatai Izakaya, the artistically presented food, along with the decor and atmosphere, represents unique tales of chef Atsushi’s culture and what
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is important to him. Together with his wife Barbara, they have created a sense of place in their Japanese tavern where food is shared, and their diners can experience a sense of community.
“Cooking is social and personal history and not just about ingredients and measures.” Nigella Lawson
“I was a navy diver in Japan when I met Barbara. Being in the navy, I got to travel around Japan and learnt to appreciate the different nuances in the regional cuisine. Yatai is a movable food stall.“ “When Atsushi left the navy to join the kids and me here,
he started a food caravan in The Square to support us. Now we have been in the restaurant for eleven years. An izakaya is a Japanese tavern, where you can linger over food and drinks with friends. It is our culture to interact and share good food made with care and respect.”
Atsushi and Barbara. Yatai Japanese Izakaya. www.yatai.co.nz • 50 •
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Eyes in the Sky Interview Emine Kokcu Images Kelvin Gilbert
Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as they are known by the more technical, have become a highly publicised area of technology. Drawing the eyes of media and governments around the world, their potential for misuse is a topic fiercely debated. However, Tim Brooks, owner of Skycam UAV, believes these eyes in the sky can have great purposes in knowledgeable hands.
With its systems being used all over the world, from New Zealand to Antarctica, Skycam UAV is punching above its weight, paving its own way in the surveillance drones field. “The company was originally started by Lew Woods and Rene Redmond in the early 1990s,” Tim remembers. “It was in support of the New Zealand Defence Force requirement for unmanned vehicles, but the original contract didn’t progress too far. In 2006 the Defence Force came back with newer technology and a newer requirement, and this was when I started working full-time for the company as a system integrator. In September 2014 the creators decided to retire and sold the business to me.” Skycam UAV holds rights to commercialise drone technology, which has meant the company is increasingly involved in surveying. While it still caters to the needs of the Defence Force, the company also builds drones for tasks such as environmental monitoring and farm pest detection. This doesn’t come cheap, with a complete drone system, consisting of a ground control unit and an airframe, costing $55,000 including training the client to fly the drone. The majority of the drone parts are built in the company’s Palmerston North office, with the rest being built in and transported from Switzerland. When asked why he thinks drones are becoming so popular, Tim says, “Even though the price tag is fairly high, they are still quite cheap, especially when compared • 53 •
with full-scale aviation. They can also get into tighter spots more quickly and more conveniently.” Tim believes the drones have much to offer for the future. “The drones we use today, they are very good at flying straight lines, even in high winds. It seems like a simple thing but it allows you to get very accurate photographs of an area, especially for survey purposes. That puts a greater level of information into the hands of people who can use it.” Tim says that he is working on increasing the capability of the UAVs and moving them into different areas. “We do have one of our UAVs down in Antarctica at the moment. This will be the second time they’ve been down there with the Auckland University of Technology. They’re looking at microbial mats in the meltwater of glaciers. The growth of these microbes, usually organised as layers in complex communities, is closely related to average temperature. By charting the size of the mats over time, scientists can gain insights into the extent and effects of climate change in Antarctica and make inferences for the rest of the world.” At this point in time the business is still quite small, with Tim working with Lew and Rene as his mentors. Tim goes out of his way to source materials and people from New Zealand wherever he can. If he can get more clients involved, Tim will increase the size of the company. While you don’t need a degree to work for Tim, he laughs, “You just have to be useful to me!”
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OPEN SKY OFFICE Interview Emine Kokcu Images Kelvin Gilbert
James Stewart is the man with the plan, and as the new Federated Farmers’ Manawatu-Rangitikei Provincial President he is determined to lead his community and get New Zealanders back in touch with their farming roots.
“I was tapped on the shoulder,” laughs James when discussing his selection as Federated Farmers’ newest Provincial President. “I’ve always been very passionate about the agricultural sector, having been a farmer my whole life. I was brought up on a farm, and had been in my own business for about twenty years when I got to the point where I had a little bit more time to get out in the wider industry, rather than just being on a farm.” This wealth of experience more than proved that he was fit for the job, and James is now one of the youngest elected presidents to date, a representative of the younger generation of farmers who are now coming into their own. “The biggest qualification I need is to be a real farmer, and know the issues for farmers and represent them.” James is not one to leave things up to others, and already he is making his own mark on how things are done. “When I took on this role I think my big catchphrase was engagement. I want to engage with my farmers, so that farmers get real value from what we are doing. Farmers want to farm the land and the stock. That’s why they wanted to farm. They don’t want to deal with the political stuff. That’s what we are trying to help with. We are the voice of farmers.” Even more vital than interacting with farmers is James’ driving focus on reuniting the rural and urban
communities. “I enjoy talking to urban people, going to town groups, schools, Lions Clubs, Probus. Just getting out and talking, and sharing our story, what we are doing in New Zealand and the challenges we have. “Our country has become very urbanised; only about fourteen per cent of the population are living rurally. People are seeing less and less of farms. What I want to do is give them the chance and that’s part of the Manawatu Farm Days we are launching. Open the gate. Come and have a look. If people don’t understand what we are doing we have to show them.” He is also hoping to encourage other young farmers, and help those considering this field of work understand the work that is involved on a farm. “One day you can be a vet, other days you’re a plumber, and some days you’re an accountant running a business. There are a lot of different challenges that give a lot of variety. “Farming has always been a bit of a lifestyle and that’s what probably got me into it, the lifestyle it encompasses. I’ve often said, ‘I’ve got the best air conditioning in the country.’ When I talk about my office I’m talking about my farm. My office is green paddocks and a wide, open sky. You’ve got plenty of room and space, fresh air. There is nothing better getting up in the morning and watching the sun come up. It’s just great to be out and free.”
Raw Power Images Alexia Bordelongue
Palmerston North’s hundred-year-old retired Electric Power Station is kept in working order by its band of passionate volunteers.
THE GREEN HOUSE EFFECT Interview Emine Kokcu Images Llewellyn Annandale
Rolling up their sleeves after months of work, six passionate ladies have opened the doors of their new adventure. The new salad bar known as ‘The Green House’ reflects the idea of ‘eat well, live well’ and in the few months since its opening it has become an iconic spot, with people lining up in the streets to escape fast food. “We needed to do something for ourselves,” says Gill Yorke, the manager. “The girls talked about setting up a mobile salad and smoothie van, but we decided that was too much hassle, so instead we planned on moving to The Square in Palmerston North.” Along with Gill, Emily Blanchett and Lucy Gertsgraser share ownership in the bar, while their friends Kate Bryant, Chloe Hes and Emma Hintz are the passionate workers. For many the name The Green House will be familiar thanks to social media, with its Facebook page experiencing a meteoric rise before the shop had even opened. “Emily, Lucy and Chloe do most of the Facebook and Instragram stuff, they know so many people because they all grew up here. All their friends shared the page and it just spread. I think we put ourselves on Facebook on the Tuesday and we thought, ‘Oh we will have 500 likes by Friday’. We had 2,000 likes over two weeks before we even opened. Social media is just insane.” The shop itself has been as successful as its Facebook page, with crowds of customers every lunchtime. Gill believes that people are welcoming an opportunity to make better choices with their diets. “Slow change has been coming in the last couple of years, and people are getting sick of unhealthy takeaways,” says Gill. “People are starting to realise that what you put in is what you get out. It’s all about food. You only
have one body and one life, you might as well look after it.” Popular with their visitors, and adding to the “simple and natural” approach, is the lack of strange or pretentious names for their food. “Lots of people comment on us not having funny names! One person commented on the smoothies, making sure we had got all the ‘right’ colours.” For Gill, her favourite salad has gone from The Caesar to The Thai Beef, with the Green No.1 smoothie going down smoothly as a lunchtime dessert. “We are also trying to do everything locally. All our products are from Riverlea, Davis Trading and Preston’s Master Butchers. We are local, we like to use local produce and have a sense of community. I think it’s quite nice to have that these days, it’s nice to have local involvement.” Not a group to rest on their laurels, the ladies are already pondering the future. “We are looking into the possibilities of franchising, to see what’s involved and how to do it and that’s quite exciting. At the moment it is great for the girls, they are only twenty-two and having their own business and that experience is huge. If we can grow it that way that will be pretty cool.” Mount Maunganui, Wellington and Napier are at the top of their list for potential franchise locations, but there are a few ideas farther from home as well. “The Greek island, Santorini, we’d like to do! That would be the dream, to open up one in Santorini. North Carolina in America is another, one lady said she wanted one in America. But we will start with New Zealand!” • 58 •
“People are starting to realise that what you put in is what you get out. It’s all about food. You have only one body and one life, you might as well look after it.”
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THE WINNING COMBINATION Interview Danielle Balmer Images Toni Larsen and Llewellyn Annandale
Nick Horvath is balancing the great loves in his life - his family, teaching and his championship basketball career.
At first glance a love of physics and basketball may not seem to go hand in hand, but for Nick Horvath it is the winning combination. From an early age basketball was in his blood. Originally hailing from Minnesota, USA, the 2.08-metre-tall Jets success now calls Manawatu his home. “We wanted the American dream of a picket fence and a big backyard that you can’t have anywhere else but here.” Part of that dream, his now wife, Sheree, came about by locational happenstance. While Nick was playing basketball in Sydney, the couple met for the first time when Sheree came over for a holiday. “Later that year I came to play in New Zealand, she was the only Kiwi I knew and the rest is history. I never left.” In the world of hockey, the name Sheree Phillips sounds familiar. Having played as a Black Stick and Olympic representative, her passion and talent for sport meant the couple were a perfect match. The pair ending up living in Australia while Nick played basketball, but after a few years they both felt it was time for a change. “I transitioned out of the league I was playing in because we got sick of moving every six months to a new apartment and not having a home.” After moving to New Zealand, Nick made the decision to go to teachers’ college, which is where physics came into the equation. “My dad is a chemist by trade, so that interest came from him. While Sheree’s family played
sport, mine played science. I grew up doing experiments with my dad and I ended up having a great high school teacher, who inspired me to do both physics and basketball at university. That's the reason why I became a teacher.” Meanwhile, in the sporting world Nick and Sheree have continued to collect an extensive list of accomplishments. For Nick this includes winning Mr Basketball of Minnesota and national championships in Australia and New Zealand. “I think the thing I am most proud of now is being the reigning basketball rebounding champion of the New Zealand league. I want to win that for as many years as I can. I have won it three times and I want to go for eight.” For Sheree, going to the Olympics in 2008 and winning the New Zealand women’s national league three times have been career highlights. The couple both agree that “being able to represent a country is a truly amazing thing”. While Nick describes his talent as a combination of natural skill and determination, “being tall and very 'Type A' and obsessed with practising every day”, Sheree actually was the opposite. “I was just naturally talented. I could have probably been a lot better if I had Nick’s determination.” However, Nick believes that Sheree has helped him with a number of the mental aspects that are required in major league sporting success. “Aggressiveness on the • 62 •
field is a big one; I was naturally timid. You were taught to be timid because you’re bigger than every other kid, so go easy on them. “The first year I played basketball I was scared of the ball. It took me years and years into my professional career to develop the mental attitude and strength that you need to be a top athlete. Meeting Sheree has helped me in those aspects. You see super-talented people who don’t make it to the big time and be the sport stars that everyone projects them to be because they just don’t have the mental toughness.” Nick and Sheree now have two beautiful children and both are succeeding in their full-time teaching careers while still playing their respective sports. Sheree continues to play club hockey while Nick is preparing himself for the new season playing for the Manawatu Jets. “We ended the season well last year, on the longest winning streak the Jets have ever had, so it’s starting to click together. If we get that back we could be in for a really exciting season.” Their two children, Scout and Atlas, love their sporting parents. “Scout enjoys running around with the hockey sticks when they come to practise and Atlas slam dunks on his mini basketball hoop. They love getting out and about, but what they will end up playing who knows,” Sheree says.
The balancing act of children, sports and careers is not an easy one though. “Life can get quite hectic when we are both working full time. During the season Nick is obviously away most weekends and his team train four nights a week, so it is pretty busy. You just have to be organised.” Despite the chaos, Nick’s three biggest supporters are always there in the front row of his home games, donning the Jets gear. “At the end of the day it is one of those things where it is good for your kids to see you still playing sports.” One of Nick’s big goals in life is to keep playing until his children are old enough to remember “Daddy playing and watching Dad play basketball”. 2014 was a particularly challenging year for the family, and Nick believes that it was “hard juggling teaching and playing professional basketball. I missed out on a whole third school term playing for New Zealand. But although there has been a lot going on I really enjoy both. If I only had school I think I would go nuts and if I only had basketball it would get a bit draining, so I like having that balance.” As for the future, the winning duo wants to “keep doing what we are doing”. “Until I retire from basketball I’ll do the exact same thing for as long as I can do it because you only get so many years to play professional sport,” says Nick.
“If I only had school I think I would go nuts and if I only had basketball it would get a bit draining, so I like having that balance.”
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Left to right: Brandon (sax), Dale (bass), Matt (keyboards), Jon (lead singer/guitar), Dean (sax), Hayden (drums), Graeme (trumpet)
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Well and Truly Made Interview Danielle Balmer Images Toni Larsen
“The name came from a Levis t-shirt that said ‘Truly made in the USA’. It was at the moment of ‘this band needs a name’”.
Two years ago and one song writing project later, seven musicians came together to form what we now know as the original band Truly Made.
releasing their debut extended play, ‘For the Summer’. “The intention has always been to get our songs into a format, so when things started to evolve we thought we would get something committed in the studio. Then the money we made from gigs went into a recording fund.”
Since then the band have performed, recorded and written their way to success. “Being part of such a small music scene you just get to know people and make connections with them. We just asked people if they wanted to have a jam around a few songs.”
“We have had great feedback. Although people say we could have done things differently, we are all at different stages of life and shifting units is not our thing. It is about being creative with music and finding a space where we can happily continue being a band,” Jon believes.
It all clicked for Jon Bowen, Dale Brider, Brandon Lauridsen, Hayden Lauridsen, Graeme Parker, Dean Parkinson and Matt Soong, the current band mates. “The different people add something unique to the band. New singers and new instruments over the years have completely changed the sound of the band,” Jon believes. As a result, the group don’t see themselves performing under one genre. “Soul, funk, ska, the band doesn’t fit into one style. We have a reggae feel but it’s not reggae and a bit of ska but it’s not ska. All sorts of bands influence what we sound like.” As one of the main songwriters of the group, Jon focuses passionately on lyrics and music. “I start with a thought, which usually begins with an experience or something that I read just walking around town. What goes in usually comes out, so I start with a single phrase or a melody. But you can’t force creativity, songs are probably five per cent inspiration ninety-five per cent perspiration.” Part of their success over the past two years is a result of the members’ musical backgrounds and passion. “I’ve been playing in bands since I was fourteen, so music was a natural thing to me no matter where I was,” Hayden remembers. 2014 was a particularly successful year for the band after • 65 •
Playing local gigs is important for the septet. “2014 started really well for us, we played New Year’s Eve in The Square, which was great because the songs went down really well. It is encouraging when you get good feedback because a lot more people know about us now and we have got a fan base, rather than just Mum and Dad,” they joke. “We try to perform every four to six weeks and that’s enough, because it means even though we play locally people still come and see us. It’s not busy, which is great because we can sustain our own interest.” Aside from world domination, the group want to see Truly Made keep going and evolving. “For musicians it is hard to go beyond what we are doing. We are passionate about being creative, which is the point of the band. Whatever we have created in Truly Made no one has ever done before, which is the amazing thing about music; it is always new. Music as art is amazing because you can never have it the same way twice. “Music is a funny thing, you look at it like life. There are all sorts of twists and turns. If the band ended tomorrow it’s been a really great band to be in.”
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