EastLife April 2014

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April 2014

WINTER ESCAPES Sun and snow

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QSM

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Issue TWELVE



 

 

       

                     









 



      



quote >>>

   

  

 

Check out our blackboard at the office for more inspirational quotes or drop by and tell us your favourite. 



  

  

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

  2  | eastlife | april 2014

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  out & about | eastlife

      

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where people matter  eastlife | april 2014 | 3

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eastlife | contents

on the cover

Celebrating first birthday I can hardly believe it – EastLife celebrates its first birthday this month and the team here is on a high especially has we have grown from 48 pages to a massive 84.

New Zealanders are renowned for planning winter escapes – some to the sun, some to the snow; some inbound, some outbound (see pages 25-33). Queenstown, featured on our cover, sparkles all year and the fun doesn’t stop when autumn splendour turns to winter wonderland. While skiers will flock to Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, there’s plenty to keep other visitors happy, including the Queenstown Winter Festival in June. Packed with entertainment, it’s the perfect opportunity to see this lovely destination when it is snow-dusted but still offers a warm welcome.

Ph 09 271 8020 www.eastlife.co.nz Editor: Helen Perry 09 271 8036, editor@eastlife.co.nz Sales: Rachel Watts 09 271 8019, rachel@eastlife.co.nz Sales: Caroline Boe 09 271 8091, caroline@eastlife.co.nz Sales: Gina McNeill 09 271 8020, gina@eastlife.co.nz Design: Clare McGillivray 09 271 8067, clare@eastlife.co.nz Photography: Wayne Martin Manager: Karla Wairau 09 271 8083, karla@eastlife.co.nz Managing Director: Reay Neben 09 271 8012, reayn@eastlife.co.nz Publisher: Times Newspapers Ltd 50 Stonedon Drive, East Tamaki, Auckland. PO Box 259-243, Botany, Auckland 2163 Like us on facebook: www.facebook.com/ eastlifemagazine DISCLAIMER: Articles published in EastLife do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers or editor. All material is provided as a general information service only. Times Newspapers Ltd does not assume or accept any responsibility for, and shall not be liable for, the accuracy or appropriate application of any information in this newspaper. All the material in this newspaper has the protection of international copyright. All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced without the prior written consent of Times Newspapers Ltd.

4 | eastlife | april 2014

Over the past 12 months we’ve featured some amazing people – all with connections to the area. Many were born and raised locally, some attended school here, others have local businesses and some are well known celebs who have made the district home. There have been the likes of Kevin Biggar from TV series, First Crossings; stunt star Allan Poppleton; All Black great Waka Nathan; fashion entrepreneur Kelly Coe; actor and director Laurie Mills, Minx Shoes founder Cushla Reed; film reviewer Kate Rodger; circus extraordinaire, Nick Steward, MasterChef 2013 contestant Kelly Kaihea (see Kelly again in this issue); former Pakuranga United rugby player James Arlidge who played for Japan in the 2011 World Cup; publisher Dame Wendy Pye and My Kitchen Rules couple Simon

Yandall and Meg Dangen to name a few. All have provided a fascinating insight into their lives and I take their consent to being featured in the magazine as both an honour and a pleasure. Of course, EastLife has focused on many more locals who have each had an integral role in showcasing Howick Ward as home to entrepreneurs and innovators. I hope, too, that readers have enjoyed our articles on travel, food, home decor, fashion, beauty and motoring; that our regular columnists have provided you with well researched and relevant information – and a few laughs too! As usual this month’s WIN page is packed with goodies for readers to win including some birthday surprises which I am sure will make readers very happy indeed.

this magazine possible and, from the many emails I receive, I know how well it is scrutinised. To readers, thank you also for your avid interest and warm messages – I think of you all as EastLifers with a passion for life in the east. But now it’s time to move forward and we have plenty of surprises in the pipeline. Daylight Saving ends this month, Easter is on us and ANZAC Day will be remembered and those that died, honoured. At this point the EastLife team passes its condolences to September cover personality Kevin Biggar, whose mother passed away recently. Until next month, ‘salute’ to you all.

Yes, it’s been a fascinating and fruitful year and one which has given me great personal satisfaction. To our advertisers, a big thank-you for your support. You have helped make

Helen Perry Editor

This month... 6 10 questions in 10 minutes Howick RSA president Mike Cole

7-10 out & about Around the town

14-15 profile Prominent sailor coaches all girl crew

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rediscovered

On the eve of the royal tour, EastLife tracks down a former local named for a princess

18-19 profile Gretl Bass invested with QSM for service to the community

20-21 profile Local BMX rider aiming for national title

23 profile Jerome Kaino returns to New Zealand rugby

aitutaki lagoon resort & spa 25-39 Lifestyle

• Winter escapes from the chilly south of New Zealand, to sunny Rarotonga and India in the north • New regional park • Junior Horse Rider of the Year • Essentials

40-52 health, beauty and fashion

• A young artisan with designs on fashion career

• To the point • Pamper

53-60 food • Kelly dices with new venture • Sweet treats • Dining guide

61-77 home • Dishing up flowers • Bathroom renovation • Regular columnists

78-79 drive

• Test drive Suzuki S-Cross www.eastlife.co.nz


out & about | eastlife

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Team McMillan BMW 7 –15 Great South Road, Newmarket. PH (09) 524 3300 www.teambmw.com *Offer based on Drive Away Price. Finance offer based on a contract consisting of a 36 month loan agreement, 10.99% interest rate and a $250 documentation fee with a 25% deposit and a final payment of $23,355.00. Offer expires 31/05/2014 and is subject to BMW Financial Services lending criteria.


eastlife | interview

10 TEN

Ten questions in ten minutes with

Mike Cole

howick rsa president

This ANZAC Day, thousands of Kiwis will sing to our Eternal Father, bidding him watch over those in peril on the sea. Few know better the perils that local service personnel in the Royal New Zealand Navy have faced, and continue to face, than retired, decorated Warrant Officer Seaman, and Howick Volunteer Coastguard member, Mike Cole. Why did you join the navy? With my father having served in the navy (Royal Navy and RNZN) it was almost pre-ordained that I follow in his footsteps. I served in the RNZN 1965-1988, on HMNZS Rotoiti, Santon, Taranaki, Otago, Mako, Canterbury, Monowai, Inverell and Waikato. I also served in the shore establishments, HMNZS Tamaki, Philomel and Tasman and spent two years on exchange with the Royal Australian Navy serving at HMAS Watson in Sydney. What lessons did service provide? The navy taught me many life lessons, dealing with the highs and lows, teamwork, showing initiative, providing leadership and management skills and how to accept responsibility for my actions. The navy defines who I am today. How long have you been involved with the Returned Services Association (RSA) and what has been your focus as president? I joined in 1967, when I was 19, a year after returning from serving during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. I have been a member of the executive committee since 1995, vice president 2002-06, president in 2007 and again since September 2012. My primary focus is to change the perception of the RSA as an exclusive organisation – one that only military personnel may join – to one that’s inclusive of all persons. I also want the RSA to look to the future and embrace new ideas, ensuring its viability, while living within its means. What is the RSA’s role? Howick RSA has been a part of the community since 1937. The primary role is to work for the welfare of member veterans, advance their rights and support local charities. It was originally open only to veterans but is now a local community hub for veterans, families and friends.

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Is RSA membership dropping and, if so, how is this being addressed? Sadly, membership is dropping. There are few WWII veterans left and natural attrition plays a big part in membership decline. We are addressing this issue with incentives to retain members, build our associate member base and change the perception of what an RSA is. We are refurbishing the club with brighter surroundings and starting new activities to engage families and enhance the member experience. How important is it for Kiwis to recognise the sacrifices of those involved in conflicts since WWII? The current veteran is a link to the veterans that have passed. Remembrance and recognition of all conflicts and sacrifices is reinforced through them. Veterans, and I think it’s true of the general population as well, do not march or attend services on Anzac Day to remember one specific conflict, but pay their respects to all veterans – past and living – for their contribution to the defence of New Zealand and the role they played in securing the society and peace we have today. What more can be done to ensure our veterans are well looked after? The RSA and other veterans’ organisations have lobbied government to recognise and support the needs of our returning servicemen. Veterans were not especially well looked after immediately following WWII, Korea, Malaya and Vietnam. Little was done to inform or assist veterans suffering from the traumatic effects of conflicts. Examples are the Agent Orange issues from Vietnam and fallout from nuclear tests. This has improved, but only through strong advocacy by the RSA and veterans’ organisations. Recently the Government reviewed the War Pensions Act 1954. This has been a positive step, leading to specific benefits for veterans.

Do you think service people of today are any better prepared for dealing with the horrors of combat? It is very hard to judge veterans’ ability to deal with stress of combat in comparison to those from past conflicts. The attitude back then was ‘harden up and get on with it’, which many did. Today, there’s more recognition of mental stress that results from conflict and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a recognised illness. Medical practitioners know more about issues associated with combat than ever before and there are now safeguards to assist but I don’t think anyone is ever fully prepared for the horrors of war. If you could be Minister of Defence, what would you do first? The first thing I would do is to increase by 50% (at least) the current funding vote to cadet units in order to support the units who

train and educate our future leaders. It is a long established fact that a disciplined organisation provides the necessary grounding to make their youth members solid, dependable, responsible, members of society. If you could invite any three military men – living or dead – to dinner, who and why? Admiral Lord Nelson, the hero of the Royal Navy. I would like to find out what life was like at sea in that era and what knowledge I could gain about the Battle of the Nile and Trafalgar. Sir Winston Churchill, a larger-than-life person with an attitude to match. The epitome of the ‘British Bulldog’, he led Britain and her allies through WWII. My father. He was a sailor who spent most of his life in the navy and served in WWII. He died too young, so I never learnt about his service and the trials he endured. I missed out on an important verbal history of an era that defines the world today. www.eastlife.co.nz


out & about | eastlife

Whitford ladies in the pink of fashion

Whitford group Pink Ladies organised a fashion show at the General Store Restaurant & Bar in Whitford last month with the help of sassy catwalk styles from locally-owned labels Augustine and Minx. EastLife photographer Wayne Martin was there. 1. Karen Hughs, Andrea Yearsley, Lisa Scholtens 2. Michelle Stirrup, Alison Turner, Karen McNeill 3. Faith Davidson

4. Toni Stairmand 5. Svetlana Griffen, Kerry Manning 6. Kelly Coe and Cushla Reed 7. Megan Banbury

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diced workshops launch

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It was a night for toasting former MasterChef contestant and local, Kelly Miller (formerly Kaihea) when she and business partner Claudius Ah Loe launched their new venture Diced Workshops aimed at up and coming chefs, florists, wedding planners, bartenders, interior designers, or people with small businesses. The function, held at Mildred & Co in the city, promoted the hands-on workshops which, with Diced database and website exposure, foster brand awareness.

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1. Heather and Ross Miller 2. Peter and Barbara Bredenbeck 3. Andrew Methven, Anna Sandford 4. Karrina Mountfort, Michael Knight 5. Angela Brazier, Susannah Smith, Lee Brazier 6. Kelly Miller, Anna Richmond 7. Claudius Ah Loe, John Lang

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n Photography by Carmen Bird | For orders email carmen-marie@xtra.co.nz | www.carmenbirdphotography.co.nz

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out & about | eastlife

strengthening ties Education and tourism is set to benefit from the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Institute of Commercial Education NZ, based at Highland Park, and China Southern Airlines. The signing took place at the Whitford Bird Garden where the new owner and principal of ICENZ, Wayne Huang hosted representatives from China Southern Airlines, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, ICENZ and other organisations. 1. Lin Zhu and Murray Kibblewhite 2. Kevin Huang, Terry Sutherland, Zhihong Zhang, Wu RuiCheng, Jim Donald, Wayne Huang 3. Sarah Xu 4. Betty Qian 5. National MP Dr Jian Yang

6. Ho Yoong Hoh 7. Fan Zhang from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Wellington, Richard Crooks, Wayne Huang, Maxine Sutherland and Mike Ma from China Southern Airlines NZ

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zonta celebrates women Members of Zonta Club of East Auckland were in a mood to celebrate when they turned out in force at Pakuranga Golf Club to mark International Women’s Day AND Zonta Rose Day. At an evening of fun and fellowship guests included International President Lynn McKenzie, the first New Zealander to hold this post; District Governor, Maureen Heine and Area 1 Director, Lynda Garrett. 1. Dame Lesley Max, Maureen Heine, Lynn McKenzie 2. Robyn and Ian Fox 3. Kathy Bigwood, Joan-Mary Longcroft 4. Judy Oliver, Anna Gualandi, Ann Dickason, Anne Richards 5. Beverley McConell, Sharon Dobson

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6. Marion Jones, Warwick Jones 7. Sue Devitt, Maureen Steven 8. Gay Gallagher, Jo Pinker 9. Trish Coyle, Eleanore Moonie, Elizabeth Amiss 10. Lynda Garrett, Sue North 11. Heather Williams, Sharon Dower

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n Photography by Carmen Bird | For orders email carmen-marie@xtra.co.nz | www.carmenbirdphotography.co.nz + Business and Commercial + Property + Litigation, Mediation & Intellectual Property + Trusts and Asset Management + Family and Matrimonial + Employment + Immigration + Wills and Estates Wynyard Wood, Level 1, The Crossing, Cnr Highbrook Drive and Business Parade South, Highbrook Business Park P: 09 969 0126 E: manager@wynyardwood.co.nz

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THE NEW MINI. THE NEW ORIGINAL.

out & about | eastlife

LANDING APRIL AT TEAM MCMILLAN MINI GARAGE.

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The new MINI is revved, ready to go and on sale in New Zealand Saturday 12th April 2014. With new engines, a new design, new options, new safety features and new driver assist features, not to mention new attitude, the new MINI Hatch is all new. Get ready to meet the new original. Contact Team McMillan MINI Garage today BOE CF POF PG UIF ę ˜STU UP ESJWF UIF OFX .*/* UIF OFX PSJHJOBM

TEAM MCMILLAN MINI GARAGE. 430 Broadway, Newmarket. 0800 548 352. MINI.CO.NZ www.eastlife.co.nz

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eastlife | events sensational India.Arie will join forces to create a beautiful evening to remember. Tickets $98-$115; see ticketmaster.co.nz for more details.

april 2014 ➤ GARDEN Eye on Nature – Nurturing our Forests April 12, Auckland Botanic Gardens, Hill Rd, Manurewa, FREE If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound? The only way to be sure is to keep an eye on nature! Designed to inform and entertain, the Eye on Nature family day at the Auckland Botanic Gardens is expected to have something for everyone, from arts and crafts, games, and a maze, to cooking demonstrations, a wearable art show and garden boxes provided by kindergartens and schools. The fun day will follow on from an educational school event, running from April 9-11, designed to help young minds engage positively in ongoing environmental activities. Visit www. beautifulmanukau.org.nz for details.

➤ MUSIC Joss Stone and India.Arie April 25, 7.30pm, Vector Arena, Mahuhu Crescent Two Grammy Award-winning ‘soulstresses’ will be sharing one special night on stage on Anzac Day to showcase their deep and captivating vocals. The young and talented Joss Stone and the

Hugh Laurie and The Copper Bottom Band April 15, 8pm, The Civic, Cnr Queen and Wellesley Sts Renowned English actor, producer, writer, musician and composer Hugh Laurie brings his musical repertoire to New Zealand for the first time accompanied by his band, The Copper Bottom Band. The talented pianist and vocalist will be performing an eclectic mix of blues, tango, Southern and South American music, delivered with generous doses of sharp English wit and stage presence. Tickets from $89-$150; visit ticketmaster.co.nz to book. Waiheke Island International Jazz Festival April 18-20, 12pm-late, Waiheke Island Resort, 4 Bay Rd, Palm Beach, Waiheke Jazzaholics and Easter holidaymakers will be making their way across the Tamaki Straits for a three-day jazz fest featuring more than 100 musicians. Choose from four sessions throughout the weekend including the Good Friday Groove staged at Rangihoua Estate, Daytime Jazz About, Evening Concert Series and The Supper Club, and listen to the best of the best at the Grand Finale Concert on Sunday. Headlining acts include The Phoenix Foundation, Sal Valentine and the Babyshakes, and Sola Rosa Sound System as well as a divine mix of performers. Daytime sessions $39; evening sessions $25 to $30. Check out waihekejazzfestival.co.nz to book – make a ‘Waihekend’ of it!

➤ CULTURE Howick Town & Country Day April 12, Picton St, Howick There’ll be no tumbleweed on this day in Howick when townies and country bumpkins unite! Featuring Clydesdales, petting zoos, balloon twisters, face painting, giant pumpkins, monster sunflowers and barn parties to bring out the yokel within, this festival will be a spectacle like no other! Take advantage of fresh fruit and produce grown by local farmers and join in the hayraising fun! For more info, check out howickvillage.co.nz Buddha’s Day Multicultural Festival April 13, 9.30am-4pm, Fo Guang Shan Temple, 16 Stancombe Rd, Flat Bush, FREE Experience a world of enlightenment at a festival celebrating peace and culture. Not just for the spiritually inclined, this festival has a variety of cultural performances and customs lined up, featuring blessing ceremonies for infants, a Prince

Siddhartha Wonderland for children, a vegetarian food fair, face painting, balloons, lucky draws as well as arts and crafts workshops for both adults and youngsters. Visit fgs.org.nz for more info.

➤ FILM & THEATRE Cinema Club – The Way April 10, 8pm-10pm, Uxbridge, Howick’s Creative Centre, Uxbridge Rd Tom is an American doctor who travels to France to collect the remains of his adult son who was killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while attempting the famous pilgrimage route Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James) which finishes in Spain. Instead of going home, Tom decides to embark on and finish the journey in honour of his son. Starring Martin Sheen, James Nesbitt and Deborah Kara Unger, The Way is a powerful and inspirational movie which documents the never-ending search for the meaning of life. Tickets to this screening cost $8; to book, phone 535 6467 to book.

➤ FOOD & wINE Waiheke Vintage Festival March 29-April 6, various Waiheke Island locations Drink and make merry for it is wine-making season! The best of wine-making events are on display at 16 different Waiheke Island vineyards over the course of nine days with grape crushing and wine-making tours interspersed with live entertainment such as opera and jazz. Sample the finest foods and hop on and off buses which go from vineyard to

vineyard. Learn how to appreciate wine, speak to experts and explore the beautiful island. See waihekevintagefestival.co.nz

Weekend Fast Ferry to Great Barrier Island GET TO THE BARRIER IN LESS THAN TWO HOURS Foot passenger only service

Fast Fe r

Saturday/Sunday sailings until 27th April 2014

0800 SEALINK (0800 732 546)

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events | eastlife Beauty and the Beast Jr. April 19-May 3, Harlequin Musical Theatre, Pakuranga Rd Watch this “tale as old as time” with new eyes as a young cast takes Belle and Beast’s love story and adopts it as their own. Of course, stars of the show include singing plates, dancing crockery, menacing wolves and enchanted furniture. A refreshing stage rendition of a much-loved Disney classic, this show is one for those who love music, dancing, and love. Visit iticket.co.nz for tickets.

Coca-Cola Easter Show April 17-21, 10am-10pm, ASB Showgrounds, 217 Greenlane Rd West, Epsom, FREE So much fun awaits the whole family at this staunch Kiwi favourite that has been running for more than 160 years. Promising a massive line up of circus acts, rides, exhibits, performances, plus an A&P Show. The ever popular Zirka Circus will keep audiences enthralled. Marvel at the New Zealand Strongman competition, take part in New Zealand’s largest art competition, jump on adrenalinepumping rides such as Turbo Boost, Scream Machine and Gravitron, or take it easy with the little ones on Cookie-Bear rides. With fireworks closing each night, this annual extravaganza is one that continues to light up the hearts of all visitors, young and old. The Whittaker’s Big Egg Hunt March 21-April 22, various locations across Auckland, FREE It’s a mad egg scramble to find giant eggs hidden against the backdrop of our beautiful city! The first egg

anzac day dawn parade hunt of such a scale, there will be 100 eggs scattered across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch designed by artists, designers and celebrities. Join the egg hunt just for fun or have a swipe at the 340g 18ct gold slab grand prize made by Partridge Jewellers. For more info, visit thebigegghunt.co.nz or search for #BigEggHuntNZ on social media. APO 4 Kids – Magic Carpet Ride April 24, 10am & 11.30am, Vodafone Events Centre, 770 Great South Rd, Manukau Children’s entertainers The Polkadots join hands with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra to form a bright, colourful, symphony of energetic dance and music for little ones to enjoy. Flex those limbs and vocals as this professional ensemble takes the whole family on a ride to a magical land bursting with musical energy. Sing along to well-loved tunes from around the world as well as the Polkadots’ own songs, and show your children what a real-life orchestra sounds like up close. Tickets $15 per adult/child, family passes $50 for two adults and two children; to book, visit ticketdirect.co.nz

Invest in his

➤ ANZAC DAY ANZAC Biscuit Bake Off April 16, 12-4pm, Howick Library, Uxbridge Rd, FREE This year marks the 100th anniversary of The Great War – World War One, and Howick Library has a series of events planned to commemorate this pivotal piece of history. Amongst these is an Anzac biscuit baking competition that will crown one home baker as the supreme Anzac biscuit baker. To enter, fill out an official competition form from Howick Library accompanied by a copy of your recipe, and bring a fresh batch of biscuits to the library between 12pm2pm on competition day for judges to taste. May the best baker win! Anzac Day services April 25, 5.45am and 10.30am, Howick Assemble for the dawn parade at 5.45am in Mellons Bay Road; the service begins at 6am at Stockade Hill. Civic parade, assemble at 10.30am for the parade in Mellons Bay Road; the service is at 11am at Stockade Hill. For more info, see howickrsa.co.nz

Howick Village Market Every Saturday and Sunday, 9am-12.30pm, Picton St, Howick Classy Crafts Every Saturday, 9am-1pm, All Saints Community Centre, Cook St, Howick Pine Harbour Fresh Market Every Saturday, 8am-12pm, Pine Harbour Marina, Jack Lachlan Dr, Beachlands Clevedon Village Farmers’ Market Every Sunday, 8.30am-12pm, Clevedon Showgrounds, Monument Rd, Clevedon Clevedon Village Market Every Sunday, 9am-2pm, Clevedon Community Centre, 1 PapakuraClevedon Rd, Clevedon Pakuranga Night Market Every Saturday night, 6pm12midnight, under The Warehouse, Pakuranga Plaza

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TOUR THE CAMPUS ON WEDNESDAY 2ND APRIL, 4PM

www.kingscollege.school.nz

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War and Peace April 25, 5pm, Auckland Town Hall, Queen St Remember Anzac Day with a powerfully moving musical programme entitled War and Peace performed by Auckland Choral. Opening with the famous Toccata and Fugue by JS Bach, the concert will feature other thematic compositions such as Haydn’s Mass in Time of War and Wilfred Owen’s revered poem Anthem for Doomed Youth which is brought to life musically by Kiwi composer David Hamilton in special commemoration of World War One’s 100th year. Tickets from $10-$89; see ticketmaster.co.nz for details.

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eastlife | profile

Oceans apart, never at heart A Bucklands Beach yachtsman’s career takes him miles away from his family, but with some understanding and frequent flying, he and his wife make it work. NATALIE BRITTAN catches up with the couple between trips.

Brad Jackson would be lucky to spend 30 days at home within a year. In fact, the internationally acclaimed sailor probably spends more time on the plane than he does in New Zealand. For the past year, the former New Zealand Sailor of the Year has been involved in selecting and training Team SCA, the first all-female sailing team to compete in the prestigious Volvo Ocean Race in more than 12 years. Wife, Marlene, says it was a sea change for the man who had previously been in three winning Volvo Ocean Race teams.

lives, and part of Brad’s life since he was 14. “I don’t know any different. It’s always been that,” Marlene says. “We did it with no kids and then we did it with one, and then we did it with three, it just progresses really.” Subsequently, sons Liam, 15, Cole, 11, and Finn, 9, have also clocked up a staggering amount of aviation miles on trips to accompany or visit Brad overseas.

“It was certainly different for me – him heading off to live overseas with a team of women instead of men.

In fact, Liam managed to break a record with Air New Zealand’s loyalty programme. “He was the youngest ever Gold Airpoints member,” says Brad. “He was flying at 15 months, and was a gold member at 18 months.”

“All my girlfriends thought I was mad to let him go, and all the men asked how they could get a job!” she laughs.

Naturally, schooling was a concern. “We’re used to following Brad but now we have a son at college, we don’t travel so much,” says Marlene.

Brad takes four flights, totalling 38 hours, from his base in Lanzarote, Spain, to reach New Zealand.

When the children were younger, the family would often spend a year in a different country – Spain, Portugal and the United States – whilst Brad worked.

“So, if I want to come back here in March, I leave on a Saturday there, get here on the Monday, and leave on the Saturday,” says Brad. “I get back on Sunday night in time for work the next day.” Marlene says there’s no time to deal with jet lag. “He doesn’t even adjust to the time zone before leaving again!” But this is the life she has become accustomed to during 16 years of marriage and one that she was already familiar with before she married the ocean racer. Both Macleans College alumni, the couple met through Marlene’s brother, Chris Main, also a professional sailor. Sailing has always been a part of their

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A moving school fashioned out of shipping containers provided by Volvo, supplemented by the home schooling curriculum from the New Zealand Correspondent School served its purpose but the Jacksons’ firstborn soon outgrew it. “Once Liam hit intermediate we had to make the call. He’d had a changing primary school life so we felt we owed it to his intermediate and high school to be stable,” says Marlene. While the young Jacksons loved their former nomadic lifestyle, there were sacrifices to be made. “They really miss not going away,” says Marlene. “They love that life and if they we told them today that we were off again, they’d be rapt.

marlene and brad jackson with rome www.eastlife.co.nz


events | eastlife

The Volvo Ocean Race The Volvo Ocean Race of 2014/2015 in October will be the 12th round-theworld yacht race that started as the famous Whitbread event in 1973. Beginning in Spain’s Alicante and finishing in the Swedish port of Gothenburg, the race lasts approximately nine months and

But, they know they would lose their sports, teams and their mates. It’s a double-edged sword; a catch 22.” Unlike the early days, the children now only take time off to visit Brad during school holidays. The more grounded life has made them realise what they’ve missed. Overseas they lived in a small hotel room or apartment; here, they live in a spacious home in Bucklands Beach with a pool, and a school soccer field virtually in their backyard. “They’re all soccer crazy,” says Brad, adding he’s not here enough to teach them how to sail. Having pets also became possible at home in New Zealand. “Because Brad’s away a lot I didn’t like being here all the time by myself so we got a dog,” says Marlene. As a result, an enthusiastic boxer called Rome “roams” the household, terrorising a “grumpy old cat” called Charlie. This is the scene that greets Brad when he returns every five weeks or so, falling back naturally into his role as a dad with duties such as getting the children ready for school. Whenever possible, the family, affectionately nicknamed, “The Jackson 5” takes trips down to their Whangapoua bach in the Coromandel.

I’ve given up saying I’m not doing a race because every time I say that I end up doing it.”

And when Brad leaves again, they stay in touch regularly, especially at weekends through Skype. During the week, the time difference can be challenging but, at the same time, reassuring. “When I don’t hear from them it’s all good,” jokes Brad. “No news is good news!” For bad news, the couple has a

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covers 38, 739 nautical miles. In the past, the Volvo Ocean Race has been a significant race for many New Zealand sailors, including the great Sir Peter Blake and Emirates Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton who featured in last year’s America’s Cup.

standing rule if Brad was is in the midst of a race. “We’ve always discussed that if there was a death or someone was in hospital we wouldn’t say anything until he arrived in port because to receive information like that and not be able to do anything would just be awful,” says Marlene. They had to put this into practice when their youngest child was hit by a car two years ago. “I can’t phone the boat; I can only email,” says Marlene. “So in the end I wrote an email, three pages long, so he had the whole picture.” It’s events like these that make it difficult for Brad to be away but coming home permanently is not exactly an option. “I keep trying to come back, but workwise everything’s overseas,” he says. The current contract will last until the middle of next year, and then it will be time to consider new opportunities which may or may not involve racing. “I have some stuff coming up after this campaign – not necessarily to do with Volvo – but you never know what will turn up. I’ve given up saying I’m not doing a race because every time I say that I end up doing it.” The financial uncertainty between contracts used to be a worry when Brad was younger and still making a name for himself, but his focus is continually on shifting home. “There’s lots of other sailing I want to do but obviously I want to try and balance my sailing and get home more after this campaign,” says Brad. “If I can, that’s good, and if I’m not doing as much, we appreciate it and take the gap to spend some quality time together.” eastlife | april 2014 |

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Named for a princess

With the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arriving in New Zealand on April 7, EastLife steps back in time to revisit the sad passing of Prince William’s mother, Princess Diana. In the same way she touched those around the world, the people’s princess gifted a sweet legacy that now shines in a Pakuranga-born girl. NATALIE BRITTAN traces her journey.

As one princess was farewelled, another was welcomed into the arms of former Pakuranga couple Robyn and Ross Drysdale. Touched by a memorial service held for Diana, Princess of Wales shortly after her untimely death, Robyn decided that when her baby daughter was born the next day, on September 5, 1997, she would name her after the well-loved British royal. But little did the Drysdales know how much their daughter would live up to her namesake. “People say it’s a lovely name,” says Robyn. “And Diana thinks it’s kind of cool, being named after a princess.” Ross’ job as a pilot took him across the globe and, when Diana turned two, the family left Pakuranga for Switzerland where they lived briefly. Incidentally, Princess Diana herself attended finishing school there for a time. When Diana was three, the family visited London and paid tribute to the late Princess at the Harrods memorial erected by Dodi Fayed’s father, Mohamed Al-Fayed – quite an emotional experience, Robyn says. But that was not the last they saw of Princess Diana’s motherland. Six months later, the Drysdales returned to the United Kingdom and lived in various English locations, including London. The Princess lived in London for most of her life, and had an Earls Court apartment gifted to her for her 18th birthday. Like the Princess, young Diana also travelled to distant lands – the tropical rainforests of Borneo, to be exact, where she scaled Mt Kinabalu, one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia. Her interest in the world saw her attend the Borneo Global Issues Conference as a floor secretary. www.eastlife.co.nz

People say it’s a lovely name and Diana thinks it’s kind of cool, being named after a princess.”

The Drysdales then lived in Brunei for more than a year before deciding to relocate to Australia nearly two years ago. They now intend to settle permanently in Brisbane where the Princess attended a state reception in 1983.

Top, Diana today; left, Diana and mother Robyn as they appeared on the front page of Howick and Pakuranga Times in 1997, above, Diana aged three visiting the memorial at Harrods in London. change. She’s very gregarious and likes meeting people.” Reflective of the Princess’ caring nature, the active 16-year-old is very much involved in her community and frequently volunteers at her local soup kitchen.

“We’re citizens of the world,” says Robyn. “But we love it here; the weather and sunshine is amazing.”

In fact, her good work will cross borders when she flies to Sri Lanka in September for 10 days to help the poverty-stricken children of Colombo.

The transient lifestyle has benefited our Diana greatly, says Robyn. “She’s very confident and unfazed by

Despite a “very full-on” schedule, Diana is the president of Interact Club (Rotary’s youth arm) at her school,

and last year, the civic-minded student was elected a YMCA Youth Leader of Parliament. A leading cadet with the Australian Air Force Cadets, she hopes to attend the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra next year and fulfil her dream of joining the Australian Air Force. With a kind heart and bright future ahead of her, Diana has certainly lived up to her name. “Diana is the perfect name for her,” says Robyn. “I couldn’t imagine her being called anything else.” eastlife | april 2014 |

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Gretl Bass qsm a woman of her time It’s said a stitch in time saves nine but in the case of Gretl Bass, newly invested with a QSM, and her Highland Park sewing club, it’s a case of millions of stitches being the saviour of thousands of children. Helen Perry looks at Gretl’s contribution to the community.

Gretl Bass QSM firmly believes that, but for the grace of God, the blessings she has received in life, and any good that she might have done, would never have been possible. “I may have received this wonderful honour for service to the community but one person can only do so much,” she says. “This work would not have come about without the many willing sewers in the two groups I am involved with. Their enthusiasm and skills are everything and this medal is for them as much as for me.” In particular, Gretl’s award, bestowed on her at Auckland’s Government House in late March by the GovernorGeneral Sir Jerry Mataparae, acknowledges her efforts, and those of her sewers, to make thousands of garments every year for Kidz First Hospital at Middlemore. And it is thousands. Last year the group made 5500 garments and nursery items for children aged birth to two years, who were in dire needing of clothing, blankets and other necessities. The Dingwall Trust is another group to also benefit from their skills. “Importantly, we are so grateful to Farmers who donate most of the fabric and some garments too; we couldn’t do this job without them,” Gretl says. Although the group started out with only a couple of sewers today there are more than 25 each bringing a different talent to the workroom. Some are cutters, some sewers and some finishers. “We have one 86-year-old lady who sews the buttons on the jackets and also knits little nursery teddies for the bassinets,” Gretl says. “Others lovingly make liners for the Moses baskets which are for stillborn babies; everyone is committed in some way.” Nominated for the QSM by a volunteer at Middlemore Hospital, Gretl, says she nearly didn’t accept the nomination. “You know, I love sewing and I’m just

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doing something I really love doing. I’ve been given a gift so I can do some good; it’s not about seeking reward. “But, when I thought about it, I felt I should accept it because this QSM is for all the women involved. They are so pleased they can make a difference and no matter how small or big their contribution, everyone is appreciated.” The sewing group, which now works out of the St John Ambulance hall at Highland Park, started at Highland Park Community House where Gretl was already teaching teddy bear making and donating bears to St John. “We saw a newspaper article appealing for new baby and children’s clothing for Middlemore Hospital so we advertised for sewers but just one lady, Jill Ferguson, replied. Between us we started sewing, not just clothes but sleeping bags, pyjamas, blankets and other items.” However, from two grew more and when the group reached more than 20, it needed more room, hence the move. And there’s been no slowing down. The ongoing task of supplying Kidz First with parcels to assist each recipient for about a year, is all go. And while the sewing group is in full swing every Thursday, Gretl is also at the hall every Friday, wholly engaged in her other passion – making trauma teddies for the St John medics to give to sick and injured children who travel to hospital by ambulance. The teddy-making group started first in the 1990s when Gretl became involved with what was initially an Asian women’s group struggling to cook the Kiwi way. “I started giving lessons, baking at first, then progressing from there but when this growing group of newcomers heard that St John needed trauma teddies, they started to help by marking out the teddy bear patterns which I would drop to home sewers. However, it was timeconsuming and pieces often went missing.”

This QSM is for all the women involved. They are so pleased they can make a difference and no matter how small or big their contribution, everyone is appreciated.”

Eventually, this second group began making teddy bears in earnest and a move to the St John hall solved space issues. “For a long time we also made bears to sell so we could buy more fabric but last year, a grant from the SkyCity Trust meant we could concentrate solely on making the teddies for ambulances,” Gretl says.

gretl bass qsm “And, it’s been amazing. Both groups started with nothing yet, every time we are in need, something happens and things fall into place. I’ve made wonderful friendships and I’ve gone from being quite shy to really talkative – although I don’t know if that’s a good thing! “Most of all I feel so privileged and grateful to be able to do this work and I’m so admiring of all the ladies who give their time to both projects and want nothing in return.” www.eastlife.co.nz


profile | eastlife

trials and triumphs It is no surprise that a life-long career based around her love of sewing has led to invaluable voluntary work and resulted in a Queen’s Service Medal for Howick’s Gretl Bass. But it is a surprise that, at nearly 80, Gretl’s looks and energy belie her age. Her unflagging energy and love of life can partly be attributed to her belief that God has given her the gift of sewing for a purpose. But, perhaps, it can also be credited to her unfailing appreciation that life is truly good despite facing many challenges starting when, at just 7months old, she lost her mother to tuberculosis. Born in Austria, Gretl immigrated to Canada as a teenager after the Second World War. There she was taken in by, “a wonderful family who embraced me as their daughter.” In fact, Gretl’s adoptive mother, Ellen Fairclough, helped instil in her new daughter a high work ethic and a will to achieve. Ellen was a powerful and energetic politician who became Canada’s first woman cabinet minister. As a young woman Gretl travelled to Europe to study for a Diploma in Fashion Design before returning to Hamilton, Onatario to set up her own business and teach sewing at the YWCA. After meeting her husband, Paul and later giving birth to two sons, the family felt that New Zealand might offer a brighter future especially for the younger son who suffered from recurring pneumonia. “Paul went to look then rang to say he had found a farm but if he bought it, we would have to be there within www.eastlife.co.nz

the year. We arrived in 1973.” The farm was 56 acres on Botany Road with cattle and sheep but, not needed on the land, Gretl again started in business making wedding gowns and garments for the high end market. Her label, Perelandra made its way into stores such as Smith & Caughey and Hamilton’s Chandler House. “Later I set up a cut, make and trim workshop contracting to companies such as Peppertree and Derek Batts. I sold this to Jag in 1987, and, then a few years later my son Ronald and I opened a boutique in Howick called Magenta, which he eventually took over.”

this bike e availabl instore noW!

Once free of business Gretl, an active member of All Saints Church in Howick, enrolled at St John College to study church history and counselling. “I was almost finished when a friend asked me to sew for his Remuera boutique. I did so until he went overseas and then, finally, I was done with business.” But that didn’t mean stopping work. Before long Gretl was again up to her elbows in fabric and thread, supervising voluntary projects which don’t look like easing. “I have been incredibly blessed,” says this woman who, herself, struggled, with tuberculosis as a child, overcame the heartache of leaving her homeland and beloved grandmother for life in Canada and who grieved greatly when adoptive mother Ellen, succumbed to alzheimers in later life. But there is no doubting Gretl’s sincerity, humility or her abiding faith which has remained her strength and joy at all times. eastlife | april 2014 |

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eastlife | profile

Heading full cycle A Pakuranga sportsman has amassed more trophies than he can count – and he’s only in his 20’s. NATALIE BRITTAN takes a look at the man behind the helmet as he gets ready to ride for a national championship. BMX multi-time champion Adam Coker has had a slipped disc and dislocated shoulder in the past, but he still counts himself fortunate. “I’ve been pretty lucky in terms of breaking things. I’ve had lots of bruises, grazes, bumps and things but if you don’t think about it too much then it’s fine.” With numerous titles to his name since he was just a teenager, including Junior Sportsman of the Year, and Rider of the Year, Adam has travelled all around the world representing New Zealand at various events in Los Angeles, the French Pyrenees, Argentina and Australia.

“I was always riding my bike on the street as a kid,” he says. “Then a friend from school suggested I do BMX and I ended up beating him on the first night! I’ve never looked back.” A different cycle sport compared to traditional cycling, BMX is a more stunts-focused sport. “It involves more skill, I guess,” says Adam. “It’s different to cycling – it’s a 30-second race compared to a four or five hour race. It’s a sprint sport.” The former Pakuranga College student says the sport motivates him. “I am a competitive person by nature. The competition drives me.” This competitive nature led to him winning his best and most memorable trophy last year: gold at the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) BMX World Championships, a top BMX event recognised by the International Olympic Committee. “I’d made the finals twice before that but it was the first time I’d won so it was pretty special,” says Adam. “When I was younger you used to go to a race every weekend and get a trophy!”

20 | eastlife | april 2014

‘ Also in 2013, he came away with gold and silver trophies at the BMX National Championships, a performance he hopes to repeat at this year’s championships held over Easter in Tauranga. Naturally, the number of trophies in Adam’s Pakuranga home nearly rivals that of a shop selling trophies. “There’s too many trophies. There’s lots of them in boxes and those on display were the taller ones that didn’t really fit in the box!” But trophies don’t come without hard work. Adam trains up to 12 hours a week at his home club, East City BMX in Glen Innes. In addition, he coaches club members from seven-year-olds to dads in their 40s who are new to the sport. The dedicated sportsman manages

all these whilst holding down a fulltime job at an international shipping and freight company in downtown Auckland. He admits that he dreamt of becoming a professional athlete as a child and had “very supportive parents”, but reality dictated otherwise. When he turned 21, he decided to re-evaluate his options. “I had to bite the bullet – live in the real world and get a job. It was a hard decision at the time but once it was made, it was for the best. “I think it’s still a long way from people making careers out of BMX in New Zealand. “It’s a bit small here compared to the States and Europe where you could make a living out of it.”

I think it’s still a long way from people making careers out of BMX in New Zealand. It’s a bit small here compared to the States and Europe where you could make a living out of it.”

However, Adam says the sport is constantly growing and gaining attention in the world arena and in New Zealand. “The sport’s definitely picked up from being in the Olympics [in 2008] and also with the world champs that were held here last year.” Adam will continue to feature in future events and aims to keep cycling for as long as he can. “There was one guy at the world champs who was 70. So if I’m still riding at that age I’d be pretty happy. It keeps you young and fit!” www.eastlife.co.nz

Photo supplied – FinisherPix.com

Raised in Highland Park, the 27-yearold first began his love affair with BMX when he was just six.


out & about | eastlife

Photo supplied – FinisherPix.com

www.eastlife.co.nz

eastlife | april 2014 |

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Kaino on Kents

Prodigal son of Auckland rugby, Jerome Kaino has recently returned to New Zealand, playing for the Blues franchise, following a two-year stint in Japan. But the 48-test All Black, veteran Blues forward and former nominee for IRB Player of the Year told JON RAWLINSON he has not forgotten his grassroots. Competing in the Japanese Top League, or a Rugby World Cup final may seem like a world away from a 1st XV final. However, Jerome Kaino says his experiences at Saint Kentigern College played a key role in setting him on the road to lifting Webb Ellis in 2011. Jerome’s family moved to New Zealand from American Samoa when he was 4-years old. After a childhood in Papakura, he was spotted by Saint Kentigern College 1st XV coach, Tim Connolly, and invited to attend the school. “The environment of St Kent’s was totally different from Papakura High School. I enjoyed my time at Papakura but had quite a relaxed attitude towards education. When I switched schools, I noticed a different attitude to education and sports,” he says. “Whatever anyone did at St Kent’s, they did to the best of their ability. It was more focused and that drove me to achieve. School or sport, whatever I did from then on, I put all my energy into it.” Joining a team that included childhood friends and future All Black teammates, John Afoa and ‘Joe’ Rokocoko, Jerome says he quickly adapted to his new school and region. www.eastlife.co.nz

“I grew up with John from about the age of six and I’ve known Joe since I was 10 or so. Having them at St Kent’s made the transition much easier. It was great to play alongside them.” Jerome initially played rugby as a fullback/centre. However, his coach saw his potential at loose forward. “Tim saw I had a bit of speed and a big kick, but that was it! Moving was a big jump for me and, with that, Tim saw the opportunity to switch me to flanker, because I had the size to carry it off.”

time for further study, he says his education at the school provided a sound basis. “I went to AUT [Auckland University of Technology] for a travel and tourism certificate, but that only lasted a few months until I went into the ‘camp of doom’ – Gordon Tietjens’ Rugby Sevens camp, which ruled out time to study,” he says. “Then I was called into the Blues’ wider training squad and things grew from there.”

With potential recognised, it needed to be realised, one game at a time.

While Jerome says the Blues and Auckland rugby have provided educational opportunities, young players must consider their future while playing ball.

“I probably did dream about becoming an All Black growing up. When kids play and call themselves Christian Cullen or Jonah Lomu, I was always Christian Cullen, and later, Michael Jones; they were my favourite players.

“A lot of players are going straight from school into professional rugby these days; the professional environment does allow time away to study, though. It’s hugely important to have interests outside of rugby to keep your mind active.”

“But I didn’t really look at becoming an All Black [while at college]; I was just hoping to make Auckland Secondary Schools. Tim thought I needed to set goals to make that team and take it from there.”

During what looks set to be the final stage of his rugby career, Jerome says he would like to give something back, helping younger players aspire to centre stage, including fellow St Kent’s alumni and new Blues teammate, flanker/No.8, Joe Edwards.

Leaving St Kent’s after Year 13, Jerome’s rugby career escalated quickly. Although this left little

“We’re very similar, we both have

Photo supplied – www.photosport.com

out & about | eastlife

Whatever anyone did at St Kent’s, they did to the best of their ability. It was more focused and that drove me to achieve. School or sport, whatever I did from then on, I put all my energy into it.”

shoulder problems,” he quips, “Joe’s a fierce defender [too], loves to range wide with the ball. I feel we have a connection through St Kent’s. “He’s quite a mature kid [20]. I think he’ll go far and I want to have input into his rugby life. I know he’ll be a great player, definitely think he’ll be an All Black and even surpass what I’ve accomplished if he carries on the way he’s going.” Asked what advice he has for aspiring All Blacks, Jerome says there’s no substitute for hard work. “Keep your head down, work hard, set goals high and don’t let anyone hold you back. Establish a plan so you know what targets you want to hit. They [schoolboy rugby players] are the next level and if we can nurture them well, then the future of our game is in good hands.” Realising that being back in black is not inevitable, Jerome seems set on taking his career one game at a time. “It’s going to be pretty tough [reclaiming an All Black jersey]. I have to get out on that field and play well for the Blues,” he says. “I need to perform well and back it up, week in, week out; hopefully that will get me there.” eastlife | april 2014 |

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Win! eastlife | competitions

To enter the draw for any of these competitions visit www.eastlife.co.nz click on the competitions link and fill in the form. One entry per email address / person; entries close April 30, 2014. Winners notified by phone or email.

WIN! FABULOUS PULLMAN HOTEL PACKAGE You can never get too much of the three C’s – calm, comfort and convenience – and the luxurious Pullman Auckland offers a maximum of all three. This 5-star, Qualmark-certified hotel is situated in the heart of the city opposite the historic Albert Park and to celebrate EastLife’s FIRST BIRTHDAY we are giving one lucky reader a chance to win taste of what The Pullman offers. Our prize voucher to the value of $250 can be used for accommodation with food and spa experience or perhaps the winner and a friend might prefer to splurge the lot on a superior spa experience – massage, facials, hot stones, the choice is theirs. Whatever one chooses be assured The Pullman offers sumptuous rooms, a wonderful pool and fitness facility plus a spa experience that is sheer bliss.

WIN! ONE OF TWO FAMILY AND CAR PASSES TO WAIHEKE When work and home chores have taken their toll why not take a break and hop across to beautiful Waiheke Island? Pack the family into the car, take the Sealink ferry across the harbour and set about exploring island treats – gorgeous vineyards, fabulous cafes, artists’ galleries, beautiful beaches and artisan shopping. Better still, enter the EastLife draw for one of two Waiheke Island family ferry passes. Provided by Sealink and valued at $250 each, the passes each cover return fares to Waiheke Island for one car, two adults and three children – spend the day or, perhaps, make it a weekend.

WIN! A TOUCH OF LOVE FROM THE AROMATHERAPY COMPANY Nothing could be finer than a touch of Love to celebrate EastLife’s first birthday and to think about Mother’s Day coming up next month. The wonderful and heady aromas of peach and jasmine highlight this special Therapy Range limited edition release from the Aromatherapy Co. Celebrating winning ways to wellbeing, our Love-ly prize pack includes the rehydrating hand cream (RRP $17.99), 250ml diffusion set to induce feelings of joy (RRP $39.99) and a 250gm richly scented candle (RRP $29.99). You could win this fabulous Aromatherapy Company prize for mum or for yourself just by entering the draw which is aimed at brightening your mood and generating a positive outlook. You’ll LOVE it!.

WIN! HOT CHOCOLATE GIFT PACKS FROM SWEET MOTIF

WIN! ECO-FRIENDLY SNACK PACK To help parents appreciate the benefits of two eco-friendly brands to make lunchtime easy for children, EastLife has a stylish eco snack pack from Kids Konserve and Bumkins, worth $54, to give away. It contains a Kids Konserve Food Kozy and set of Mini Food Tins, and a Bumkins Reusable Snack Bag. See article page 36.

After all we’ve put her through since the day we little bundles of ‘joy’ came into the world, the very least we owe mum on Mother’s Day next month is a cuppa! However, Howick-based Sweet Motif – the home of sensational, personalised chocolates – has gone one better with One Hot Chocolate (OHC) gift packs. Featuring handmade chocolates, hot chocolate mix, marshmallows and a mini whisk, these beautifully presented gift packs, valued at $20, each offer the perfect indulgence for mum (or yourself, for that matter!) so enter our draw to win one of three OHC packs and do visit sweetmotif.co.nz for more from this luscious company.

For last month’s EastLife winners visit www.eastlife.co.nz/competitions 24 | eastlife | april 2014

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lifestyle Trip sparks winter dreams

history | travel | sport | children | essentials

Short escapes and busy people go together like horse and cart – one has plenty of pull to get the other to a destination of choice. For HELEN PERRY the tug of four days R&R in Queenstown won out over chores so she hopped a plane and headed south. Being a diehard Aucklander, but one who loves every inch of this country, there was, nevertheless, a time when I sometimes resented tourists’ love affair with Queenstown. “Yes,� I would say, “the South Island is extremely beautiful but we have lovely places up north too!� Yet, there is no denying the charm, the character and the beauty of Queenstown and surrounds. It is addictive. Dining lakefront, out of doors on a balmy autumn evening, the snow-capped Remarkables with towering green and gold trees in the foreground, set the mood. Buskers provided the entertainment and everywhere, relaxed and happy people – walking, sitting, eating, chatting – reminded me this was, indeed, one of New Zealand’s brightest jewels. Of course, anyone who has been to Queenstown will know the wealth of physical activities that can keep visitors busy for days – everything from bungy jumping, white river

al fresco dining in queenstown rafting and jet boating to leisurely lake cruises, gondola rides, skiing in winter, biking, hiking and so much more. But this short trip was not about packing in the tourist attractions or wandering too far from lakefront Novotel where we stayed (and very reasonably too!). It was more about kicking back and enjoying some of the local wines and eateries. But, unexpectedly, it became a ‘bus’ man’s holiday! Having decided not to hire a car, we soon realised we could see a great deal by using the local buses. And, at $20 for an all-day pass (just $5 for Gold Card holders) this was great value.

We first covered a couple of the shorter routes without even getting off the bus – just went for the ride and the scenery. Then we ventured a little further out to the Remarkables Shopping Centre, near the airport, where we enjoyed a wander then sat on the deck outside Cafe La Vina drinking coffee until the bus arrived to take us back into town. On the second day we hopped a bus for Arrowtown but then decided to stop off at nearby Amisfield Winery instead – such a good idea! This beautiful winery with sundrenched courtyard surrounded by the remains of summer lavender, with seating and water feature, completely wooed us.

Helpful staff convinced us we should try the three-glass tasting tray with Amisfield wines of our choice at just $18. We opted for a dry riesling, the 2010 fumÊ sauvignon blanc and the 2011 pinot noir and also ordered a platter of duck fat crackers, a mini sourdough loaf, fresh baked polenta and honey focaccia and the winery’s own olive oil plus thyme butter – just perfect. Afterwards we tried two more wines then put in an order which was couriered back to Auckland – wonderful because we travelled with hand luggage only so could not take even a bottle back with us. – continued overleaf

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eastlife | april 2014 | 25


eastlife | travel

Girls’ School

514 Remuera Road, Remuera

Limited places available for 2015 Learn more now at

www.saintkentigern.com E512154 BR-8128-01

MONTEREY ART GALLERY Features an ever-changing range of contemporary New Zealand art

A group exhibition:

Freedom, liberty and life

April 25 – May 9 Preview evening 6pm, Thursday, April 24

A Letter Home

– Kate Jones-Madill

queenstown Continued from previous page

5 Cook St, Howick. T: 532 9022. www.montereyartgallery.co.nz E510272

Worlds of Wisdom Tour with Jane Brebner

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Be inspired by embarking on a voyage back in time, as you travel with your own spiritual tour escort, in the elegance of Italian style, to ancient Mediterranean cruise destinations such as Venice, Capri, Athens or to beauitful Africa. Embrace the Italian ambiance, romance and passion, with a blend of adventure, on board the MSC Sinfonia. This luxurious cruiseliner has polished ZRRGV ÀQH DUWZRUNV DQG D EHDXWLIXO relaxing spa. Share this experience with like minded travellers, make new friends and regain a sense of worldly wisdom from years gone by. Highlights ‡ *HQRD WKH ELUWK SODFH RI &KULVWRSKHU &ROXPEXV ‡ WK &HQWXU\ /LJKWKRXVH ‡ 0DODJD 6SDLQ ‡ )XQFKDO IXOO RI 3RUWXJXHVH KLVWRU\ ZLWK EUHDWK taking views ‡ &DER *LUDR WKH ZRUOGV VHFRQG KLJKHVW VHD FOLII ‡ %RWDQLFDO *DUGHQV ORFDWHG RQ WKH HGJH RI WKH FLW\ ‡ 6DQWD &UX] GH 7HQHULIH &DQDU\ ,VODQGV ‡ $UUHFLIH /DQ]DURWH &DQDU\ ,VODQGV ‡ $JDGLU 0RURFFR ‡ &DGL] %DUFHORQD 6SDLQ ‡ 5RPH ,WDO\

Jane Brebner is your tour escort, a highly skilled Clairvoyant & Medium, with over twenty years of experience.

And did this put us off the buses? Not at all. The next day we booked with the Connexions bus company which took us to Wanaka over the Crown Range – my first time via that route. What spectacular views and mesmerising landscapes – so much better than driving oneself. We actually had time to observe the countryside instead of concentrating on negotiating the steep and winding road. My only regret was the lack of opportunity to stop at Cardrona Hotel, the oldest operating hotel in New Zealand. It’s on the list for our next visit.

Phone today:

Kay McKirdy 09-262 1829 kay@manunited.co.nz www.manunited.co.nz E512020-V8

26 | eastlife | april 2014

Of course, when everything was going so well there had to be a hitch and there was – literally. On losing track of time, to our dismay, we had missed our bus. The next was two hours away! Fortunately, we were able to hitch a ride back to Queenstown with some kindly American tourists.

Our very pleasant day in Wanaka included wandering around the A&P show which was in full swing, downing a beer at the Speight’s lakefront alehouse and walking along the foreshore of Lake Wanaka. Then before we knew it was back on a Queenstown-bound bus. A few years ago I would never have contemplated this mode of travel but

with time on our hands it proved a great way to enjoy the countryside on the cheap. We were able to make the most of stunning weather and by arriving back in town late afternoon, we had an appetite to dine out at night. And naturally, Queenstown visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to eateries. Among our favourites were The Bunker, intimate and elegant, Eichardts for great tapas, Vudu for breakfast and The Pub for cheap but hearty dinners. Although all my visits to this beautiful region have been in summer or autumn, I now have a hankering to visit during the Queenstown Winter Festival which this year celebrates its 40th birthday. The 10-day event is scheduled to take place from June 20-29 and I know from others it’s packed with activities and entertainment not just for skiers and snowboarders but also for families and those seeking a fun-filled winter holiday. Friends were there a couple of years ago and actually stayed in camper vans! Not for me; I would want warm and cosy hotel accommodation which means booking early, I guess. Definitely on my planning calendar – just can’t wait to see The Remarkables in their winter white. www.eastlife.co.nz


travel | eastlife

Incredible India Chris Lyons – Director and Tour Host, World Journeys From the sleek modernity of New Delhi and the glorious palace hotels of Rajasthan to the ethereal glow of the Taj Mahal at sunrise, the vibrant colour, scent and sounds of India never fail to impress me. I have never travelled anywhere else with such an intensity of colour as is found in India – from brightly coloured turbans, to stunning saris and temple flowers. Rajasthan, a land of vast deserts, camel trains, ancient forts and temples, is the ‘jewel in the crown’. The spices piled high in the market and the decorated elephants at the Amber Fort all make this part of India a photographer’s dream. The Taj Mahal in Agra, some 200km from Delhi, deserves the effort to rise early and experience this wonder at sunrise when visitors are fewer and the light creates a dreamy hue. Intricately inlaid precious stones cover the walls, the monuments, the tombs. No photo or movie does this shrine justice – you must see it through your own eyes. Built by Shah Jahan in honour of his dead wife, Mumtaz , this visionary man was imprisoned after being overthrown by his son and therefore never completed a black marble facsimile of the Taj across the river which was to be his own tomb. It is one of the great tragic love stories of history! India has endured thousands of years of conflict and generated incredible

I have never travelled anywhere else with such an intensity of colour as is found in India – from brightly coloured turbans, to stunning saris and temple flowers.”

wealth, leaving a legacy of beautiful palaces and fortresses. Some Maharajahs’ palaces are now gorgeous hotels where mere commoners can stay and enjoy the opulence that was the hallmark of past Indian royalty. The most picturesque of these is the Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur where the James Bond film, Octopussy was filmed. Religion is also central to everyday life in India, nowhere more so than in the holy city of Varanasi on the banks of the River Ganges – the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Hindus. The river comes alive at sunrise with people bathing in the holy waters and worshipping the rising sun. The

many burning ghats on the banks of the river are used for cremations – if you die in Varanasi you go straight to heaven! Another icon of India is its Bengal Tiger. Ranthambore National Park is famous for its tiger population. If tigers elude you, you’ll also find exotic species such as the chital, sambar, muntjac, and Indian Pangolin to name a few. I always fly Singapore Airlines to India, and enjoy a stopover en route.

Once there, travelling around India has become so much easier in recent years with excellent hotels and vastly improved tourist services now available. The sensory overload this country provides can delight, confound and overwhelm the first timer, which is why a small group tour, with an experienced host, is a hassle-free way to go. But take an open mind, and allow time to get to know India and you will fall in love with the experience.

Palaces & Wildlife of India small group hosted tour 19 Oct 2014 Visit the Taj Mahal at sunrise, take a boat ride on the Ganges, visit Amber Fort on elephant back, stay in a Maharajah’s Palace, and search for Tigers in Ranthambore.

21 days from $11,950 pp (twin) ying with Singapore Airlines. Airline taxes, tipping & travel insurance additional.

Contact your Travel Agent or World Journeys Tel 360 7311 Web www.worldjourneys.co.nz E513097-v7

www.eastlife.co.nz

eastlife | april 2014 |

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A I T U TA K I L A G O O N R E S O R T & S PA

Listed by ISLANDS magazine as one of the World’s 12 Best Private Islands

5-STAR ADULTS ONLY! ĂŒ ĂŒ ĂŒ ĂŒ ĂŒ

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4HE ONLY 5-star resort set directly on the World’s Most Beautiful Lagoon !ITUTAKI 4HE ONLY Overwater Bungalows IN THE #OOK )SLANDS 4HE ONLY private island resort IN THE #OOK )SLANDS Multi-million dollar resort-wide makeover! Adults-only FROM !PRIL AGED 4HE world’s best lagoon views, CHAMPAGNE SAND BEACHES .AMED AS ONE OF THE World’s Top 50 Resorts !USTRALIA S '%4!7!9 SHOW ,AGOON OF ,OVE 7EDDING PACKAGES personally-tailored weddings, inclusive wedding packages ACCOMMODATION CEREMONY RECEPTION DINNER DRINKS FOR GROUP OF Personal Wedding Planner, Oneroa Beach Chapel, Beach Gazebo, private dinner on sunset beach

Motu Akitua (Akitua Island) Aitutaki Lagoon | COOK ISLANDS P (+682) 31 200 | F 31 202 info@aitutakilagoonresort.com www.AitutakiLagoonResort.com SISTER RESORTS: www.TheRarotongan.com (4 star iconic Cook Islands resort) 28 | eastlife | april 2014 www.SanctuaryRarotonga.com (4-5 star ADULTS-ONLY resort) E510237

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travel | eastlife

Aitutaki resort goes adults-only The only 5-star resort set directly on what has been described as the world’s most beautiful lagoon, Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, goes ADULTS-ONLY from April 1, 2014. Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, the leading resort on Aitutaki following its recent multi-million makeover, is the only resort in the Cook Islands to offer dream Overwater Bungalows and the only private island resort in the Cooks, listed as one of the world’s top 12 private islands. Director of sales and marketing, Liz Raizis says: “We have, of course, always welcomed families at Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa. “In fact, I stayed at the resort with my son when he was a baby and it was a truly sublime holiday destination for a young family with a dreamlike iridescent lagoon and the softest pale-cream sand. “However we recognise that Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa has had honeymooning celebrities rave about it, calling it ‘the most romantic place on earth’. So we have made the decision to maximise romance at the resort by welcoming only guests aged 16 years and over from April 1 this year.

shoot location and accommodator for Air New Zealand’s new inflight video Safety In Paradise and for the 50th Anniversary edition of top American magazine, Sports Illustrated. In late March the resort was also the location for a fashion shoot for one of Australia’s leading surfwear brands. For more information on new Twin Island Combo packages complete with accommodation at adults-only Sanctuary Rarotonga-on the beach and Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, domestic return airfares RarotongaAitutaki, transfers, and an Aitutaki Lagoon Cruise, please contact: Liz. Raizis@rarotongan.co.ck. All you need add are your international airfares and – GO!

We recognise that Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa has had honeymooning celebrities rave about it, calling it ‘the most romantic place on earth’.”

“This also makes it the ideal partner for couples staying with us at our 4.5 star adults-only resort on Rarotonga, Sanctuary Rarotonga-on the beach. “We know honeymoon, wedding and anniversary couples will appreciate the assurance that no matter what time of year they come to stay with us, the resort’s entire private island will be child-free and the ideal location for stylish seclusion and romance in the very heart of the South Seas.” This wonderful resort – set as it is directly on the champagne shores of Aitutaki Lagoon – was recently the

New ALL-INCLUSIVE Wedding Packages at The Rarotongan! The Cook Islands’ iconic signature resort, The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa, has just launched a brand-new concept for the Cook Islands – allinclusive wedding packages. The resort’s new DREAMTIME wedding package is inclusive of: • Aruru ‘Haven of Love’ sunset beach www.eastlife.co.nz

wedding ceremony • Lavish reception buffet dinner and three-hour beverage package for 30 guests • Use of Latitude 21-30 private nightclub for after-party (no 10.30pm curfew, standard islandwide on Rarotonga) • Five nights in a Beachfront Suite for the bride and groom with daily

tropical breakfast at the adjacent 4.5 star adults-only sister resort, Sanctuary Rarotonga-on the beach All for only $5999! The package is based on a minimum of 10 rooms staying for 5 nights. A similar all-Inclusive wedding

package for 20 guests is also available at 5-star sister resort, Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa. The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa, Aroa Beach & Lagoon Marine Reserve, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Phone +682-25800 Email weddings@rarotongan.co.ck www.therarotongan.com or Facebook eastlife | april 2014 |

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eastlife | travel

Cruise the ocean waves The team at Cruiseabout Howick is passionate about cruising – that’s why we are cruise specialists!

even further, consider the ultimate cruise experiences – European waterways and the Mediterranean.

We can find you a cruise that will best fit your holiday needs for a wonderful winter escape. Whether it is a river or ocean cruise, large or small ship, complete luxury or adventure expedition, there is something for everyone!

Then there is the length of the cruise, standard of the cruiseline and the type of cabin you prefer. This is where we can tailor a holiday based on your budget.

And, of course, most holiday costs are included in the price of the cruise – all meals, activities and entertainment.

No matter what the budget, we can help you find a cruise that offers value for money, whether it is 3-star or a 6-star luxury cruise with all its inclusions.

With cruising you are spoilt for choice. The first choice is, of course, where in the world do you want to cruise?

Luxury cruises, such as the incredible Seabourn, will provide a once in a lifetime experience with very little additional costs.

For a sun-drenched holiday you can choose nearby South Pacific islands or Queensland, Australia; for further afield look at Asia, Hawaii, Mexican Riviera or the Caribbean and, for

Cruising allows you to be spoilt for choice onboard – what to eat, which restaurant and when; how to spend your day and where on the ship; what to watch or participate in; and where

to escape everyone and retreat to.

experience amongst them.

The team at Cruiseabout Howick – Christine, Michelle, Shannon and Cathy, have years of travel and cruise

Come in or call us, we’d love to help you find a cruise that is going to be perfect for you to escape the winter!

Venice & Adriatic Gems 11 Night Fly/Cruise Package onboard Seabourn Spirit From NZD$8859 per person share twin 17 July & 28 August 2014

Package inclusions: • Return economy class flights Auckland to Venice return with Emirates • Private airport transfers to/from port (return) • 11 night cruise onboard Seabourn Spirit • Port charges, taxes on the cruise • Airline taxes and security levies Spacious all suite accommodations on board ship • Open seating – gourmet dining that rivals the finest restaurants • Open bars throughout the ship & fine wines at lunch and dinner • Tipping is neither required nor expected Discover Croatia’s Inside Passage, this charming itinerary is perfectly balanced with must-see ports on the Croatian Riviera including a marina day in secluded Triluke Bay. Visit Igoumenitsa, one of Seabourns hidden gems, nearby cities and towns date from 4th Century BC. You can also visit the magnificent monastery in the clouds here. Vathi (Ithaca Greece) is a picturesque village rich with Roman history. Retrace the footsteps of gladiator Spartacus in Romanesque Brindisi. An overnight stay in Venice, one of the world’s most beautiful cities and arguably the most romantic, completes this stunning itinerary.

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Conditions: Sales to 23 April 2014. Fly/Cruise package based on promotion fares which can be changed or removed at any time. From fare is NZD per person share twin based on a Category A Oceanview suite, private airport transfers with high season airfare. Foreign currency fluctuations apply. Airfare based on Emirates specified airfare routes and special conditions apply. Deposit is required within 5 days to secure package and includes www.eastlife.co.nz airfare which is ticketed at deposit. For full terms and conditions see Seabourn Cruise Collection 2014-2015.

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To book contact Cruiseabout Howick - 16 Moore Street, Howick ph:532 8006


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eastlife | april 2014 |

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eastlife | recreation

Regional park Beautiful coastlines and unspoilt regional parks make the wider Auckland area a hotspot of land and water-based leisure activities. Now, with Waitawa Regional Park opening just a 30- minute coastal drive from Howick Ward, locals have a new wonderful outdoor playground of their doorstep. The first regional park to open since the formation of the new Auckland Council, Waitawa Regional Park, is made up of small peninsulas and several bays. At the first public open day on March 8, families explored newly formed walking, horse riding and mountain biking tracks wending their way through a varied landscape of regenerating native bush, hills, dales and pasture. Some of these tracks are shared, between the various types of park users and because there are many important cultural and heritage sites within the park, future visitors are

asked to keep to formed tracks. Information panels tell the story of Waitawa at prominent locations, special sites or interesting places. Park users can also participate in disc golf (a variation on frisbee throwing) or take the short walk to the Pawhetau headland for spectacular views towards Pakihi and Ponui Islands.

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recreation | eastlife

outdoor playground

apo.co.nz

IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

Photos supplied Stephen Brawn

Romantic Brass

6.30pm, Tues 15 April St Kentigern College Chapel, Pakuranga Waitawa also has a purpose built sea kayak campground for those paddling Te Ara Moana, the sea-going pathway, and a bach is also being built which will be available for hire.

West Side Story and other works for brass quintet.

Book at apo.co.nz 09 623 1052

Waitawa’s summer opening hours are 6am-9pm (during daylight saving) and in winter, (non daylight saving), 6am7pm. Follow the Clevedon/Kawakawa Bay Road to reach the park.

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33


eastlife | interview

Winning rider

jumps for joy For a teen relatively new to riding, winning a major national event takes more than just best wishes for a smooth run from a dark horse. It takes commitment and determination, Laura Inkster told JON RAWLINSON. Local rider, Laura Inkster, knows not to put the cart before the horse to win a major show jumping event, such as the Junior Rider of the Year Championship at Horse of the Year.

While both Quatro and Laura seem to take life in their stride, her mother, Lianne, confirms the Papatoetoe Pony Club member has had more than just hurdles in the arena to overcome.

The plucky 15-year-old says she was well set to compete at the recent event, thanks to building a sound working relationship with her mount.

“Most of the kids Laura competes against have been in the saddle since they could walk, but Laura didn’t start riding until she was 10.

“Teamwork was really important. Quatro [show name Oporaes Jacamoe] and I achieved the win together; I couldn’t have done it without him. He tries so hard for me and likes to do his best.”

“Both my husband Murray and I both rode when we were younger and I decided to get back into it when Laura was about nine. She showed an interest, so we bought her a pony.”

When entering the arena for just her third Junior Rider show jumping event, Laura says she needed to keep her nerves in check. “I was nervous because Quatro hadn’t been jumping as much as the other horses and it was the first time in the main arena for both of us. I didn’t know quite what to expect.” However, the Saint Kentigern College student carried the day, completing her final round clear in just 40 seconds. “I was really surprised and happy; it was so unexpected,” Laura says. “Quatro sailed through. Even though he’s quite small compared to the other horses [15.1 hands] and the jumps were really big [up to one metre 30cm], he’s so eager and never wants to touch a rail.”

However, Laura’s passion for horses almost ended before she left the gate. “She was in the saddle for only about an hour before she came off and suffered a serious compound fracture of her arm,” says Lianne, “It was so bad that she couldn’t ride for a year. “We thought that would put her off horses for good, but she found her confidence and away she went!” Lianne adds that another potential hurdle for Laura in achieving in her sport is a hereditary heart condition (Long-QT ) which has also affected her older sister, Sarah (18), a talented young sportswoman and recent Saint Kent’s graduate. “Laura has it, but unlike Sarah she hasn’t had any episodes, so she can keep going and, hopefully, nothing will happen.”

laura inkster A rare condition, Long-QT syndrome can trigger episodes where the heart beats faster and irregularly, rather than slowing, following excessive physical activity. Blackouts, seizures and even cardiac arrest may result. “I have it too,” Lianne adds, “children have a 50% chance of inheriting the gene, but it hasn’t affected Laura’s approach to riding because she’s pretty determined; and they’re all doers, our kids!” Most competitors qualify for Junior Rider of the Year by accumulating points in the Kiwi Span Junior Rider Series. However, because Laura had competed at only two series’ events – placing third, then first – she needed to qualify the day prior. Expectations weren’t high; hopes were. “Laura decided to try and qualify and

she did! She was ecstatic. The next morning, she went in and went clear,” says the proud mum. “After the jumps were raised she went clear again. We thought, ‘oh my God, she’s going to get a ribbon!’ which was fantastic, but when the last two riders took a rail, we realised she’d won. It was very exciting!” Quick to credit coaches, Carissa and Mike McCall, as well as family, as being crucial to her success, Laura is quite succinct with her advice to younger riders looking to follow in her ‘hoofsteps.’ “To reach another level you need to be prepared, not just physically, but mentally,” she says. “And, if you fall off, get back on! Don’t give up or get frustrated with your horse, you both need to work together.”

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history | eastlife

Moore to learn Local resident and history buff CHRISTINE MILES gives the low down on the history behind some of our thoroughfares. If Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore (1761-1809) had, as a young fellow, donned his uniform, marched into battle, obeyed the orders of his superiors, and gone about with not a thought in his head, he probably wouldn’t have risen to the rank of Lieutenant-General. He was a man who never fought a battle without sustaining an injury, nor did he live a long life. But Moore is remembered as the founder of the Light Infantry; this success can be attributed to him being a keen student of both war strategy and human nature. He was not afraid to make changes. Howick’s Moore Street, named for this brave soldier, was once, briefly, home to a school. Previous attempts at public or common schooling in the area had not been wildly successful, in part because of the lengthy trek required to attend the combined Pakuranga & Howick School.

The locals should have been pleased when classes began in an unused Catholic school in Picton Street, but strained relations between the religious groups heralded an early end to this school episode. The solution, it seemed, was to hold school lessons in the courthouselibrary building in Moore Street. However, once begun tensions still simmered and classes were conducted with a curtain down the middle of the small room to separate Catholics from Protestants. Eventually a new Howick school opened in Picton Street (at Fencible Way) with two classrooms, two teachers, and about 60 students, with just over half attending regularly. It is said that if Moore had not been killed at Corunna, he could well have been Britain’s most well-known general, even ahead of the Duke of Wellington.

moore street And that’s interesting because our Moore Street runs parallel to Wellington Street, so someone back then must have thought to recognise these two military greats equally. Today, Moore Street is a comfortable meld of retail and residential with recreational facilities too. In linking the shopping precinct of Picton Street to Union Road, a busy thoroughfare from Whitford Road leading to Botany and Pakuranga Roads, Moore Street is well used and popular for its close vicinity to Howick amenities.

moore street

Harvey on Moore

Cnr Moore & Fencible, Fencible Chambers, Howick. Ph 534 7767. Open Monday-Saturday ~ 2 late nights. Nails Tanning & Beauty 021 889 169

All hair and beauty services are available at Harvey on Moore • Nails, tanning and beauty with Mel • Leigh specialises in skin care, skin peels and facials • All aspects of hair with the experienced team of Anne, Donald and Ally (ex-Pret-a-Porter)

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eastlife | children

Need Childcare? Cookbook comes up trumps with Kids Need Work? I love cookbooks and tend to pore over most that come my way but one that has really delighted me of late is the newly released Kids’ Meals & Snacks.

Call us now to register your interest in joining our local Stems Pre-School Playgroups and Music Group

I love it because the recipes have been chosen by children for children. It seems children helped do the testing and to decide which recipes should be included. Targeting all ages, they include breakfast, lunch and dinner options, some of which can be quickly prepared while others can be made then put aside.

“Growing Young Minds FROM HOME” We’d love to chat to you about local home-based childcare today!

But importantly this is not just a book of kids’ meals. As a busy working woman I spotted several I would like to prepare for myself such as cheese triangles, chicken and vegetable rolls, cheesy ham pasta bake, lamb koftas, muddy puddles (oozing chocolate) and strawberry and ricotta muffins to name a few.

www.stemsfromhome.co.nz

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Please contact Emma on 536 7103 or emma@stemsfromhome.co.nz

The book contains lots of healthy options – salads, sandwiches, smoothies and wraps – with each recipe illustrated. To my mind this would make a great gift to enthusiastic young cooks and one from which more than a few mums would, I am sure, sneakily graft a few ideas. – H. Perry • Kids’ Meals & Snacks by Emma Donnelly, Publishers New Holland. RRP $24.99.

WIN! KIDS’ MEALS & SNACKS – EastLife is giving readers a chance to enter the draw for one copy. Featuring the kind of food youngsters need to grow, learn and play it’s now available at all good bookstores but to be in to win simply visit www. eastlife.co.nz, click on the competitions link and complete the form. One entry per person/email address; entries close April 30, 2014. Winner notified by phone or email.

kiddies save the planet With growing emphasis on conservation, recyling and sustainable living practices, two food packaging brands, Kids Konserve and Bumkins are helping teach children how to help the planet. Both give parents eco, yet stylish, lunch packaging options which are available from The Sleep Store – www.thesleepstore.co.nz Kids Konserve was set up by two mums who believed waste-free and reusable lunch-packaging and food storage solutions were a critical need in their communities. They calculated the amount of lunch trash at their own schools and were shocked at what they found, thus the new company was born.

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The range includes a reusable ice pack to keep lunches fresh, insulated food jars, food kozys for sandwiches

and snacks, as well as stainless steel food containers and drink bottles. Kids Konserve products are wastefree, allergy-free and toxin-free. For example, the Kids Konserve Food Kozy is a washable sandwich wrap that holds together and is easy to use while the Mini Food Tins are ideal for snacks such as nuts, berries and dips. The Bumkins brand was launched when Jakki Libberman began looking for solutions to her own young family’s needs. The range includes waterproof bibs; reusable snack bags, which are better for the environment than resealable plastic bags; wet bags for togs or nappies and pacifier clips. The designs, including Dr Seuss licensed designs, are kid-friendly and bright. • See page 24 to be in to win a eco snack pack worth $54. www.eastlife.co.nz


education | eastlife

Art from a distance At the start of 2013 LILY FRASER enrolled at The Learning Connexion – School of Art and Creativity. Here she explains where the journey has taken her. With no other plans for the semester, I signed up as a full-time Diploma of Arts and Creativity student at Wellington-based The Learning Connexion (TLC) but as I lived in Auckland I was to study at home by ‘distance delivery’. I’d taken a gap year and saw an ad for TLC whilst on holiday in Wellington. I didn’t know if I’d be travelling during the year, so TLC’s correspondence study option suited perfectly. A month after starting with TLC, I flew to Australia to work as a full-time high-fashion model. Before leaving, I had plenty of time to do the course work as I worked only part-time. Moving overseas was the best thing for my career. I was extremely busy working full-time for four months, but my TLC work kept homesickness and boredom at bay. Even though I came home late after jobs, I would still do five or six hours of course work before getting a few hours’ sleep then waking early for shoots or filming. I worked straight through Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and the campaign season and while it was hectic I think my course work kept my work ethic up and gave me something else to pursue aside from my career.

Being able to study from anywhere in the world and to receive and give comments on everyone’s work online was simply the best.”

pretty well but I like hiking and travelling – anything that extends my visual consciousness and lets me learn more about me and the world. I spend a lot of time collecting things. I like taxidermy (sunset moths are a large part of my collection), vintage furs and dinky little trinkets. I see art in everything, not just when I sit down to create. It is in the patterns and sequences of science, the computer graphics in games I play, in the things I collect and the places I go. I chose art because it would have been a hard time studying any science if I went overseas yet I didn’t want a year without a goal. Art is flexible and so is TLC. I don’t think I’d be studying today if I hadn’t

found a school which offered such an organised correspondence option. I had studied photography at high school and saw the TLC course as a great opportunity to further my skills. Although I’ve visited the campus only once, I was blown away by the friendliness and openness of the people there. The facilities were amazing – every aspect is covered. I’ve loved the freedom and the encouragement to be creative and my tutor, Emma, has been amazing. Working with her from overseas via internet and phone, gave me confidence to work alone. I’ve had a lot of guidance and advice from her. The online workroom has been one of the best things of this diploma year.

Being able to study from anywhere in the world, receiving and giving comments online, was just great. This year will be a big step in my modelling career and while I plan to be in New York, I intend to do the honours year of my diploma with TLC. If I could say anything to someone enrolling at TLC, I’d tell them that they had great taste and an even better future. The community is full of amazing, talented individuals. I feel really privileged to be part of a school where there is peace, learning and talent everywhere. To enquire about The Learning Connexion call 0800 278 769, email admissions@tlc.ac.nz or visit www.tlc.ac.nz

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When I’m not doing art work, I’m usually doing independent science study – being both creative and scientific has always felt a bit weird! I also spend a lot of time on gaming consoles, filling the role of a nerd

Digital Paintings by Lily Fraser

www.eastlife.co.nz

eastlife | april 2014 |

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eastlife | essentials

Essentials Personal and household essentials are many and varied. Some are determined by practicality, some by need and some by pure desire. Essentials may be about making the workload easier, providing for health and wellbeing or simply ensuring the total look be it fashion-wise or décor directed. Take a look at this month’s EastLife Essentials.

SATCHEL A MATCH FOR MEN This sleek and sophisticated Saben satchel, or should we say matchel (man-satchel) is crafted in heavy textured leather, with canvas over-the-shoulder strap and finished with antique brass hardware. It’s practically sized to safely stow all his manly essentials, including a laptop, files or even a not-quitefinished novel. Saben Oskar satchel in tan – RRP $320

COOKBOOK TREAT Sweet: Treats to Share really is something special. Inside its padded cover you’ll find Kiwi classics such as Afghan Biscuits and Ginger Crunch alongside contemporary favourites like Fresh Cherry Ripple Cake and Maple Rhubarb Crumble Pie. Each recipe has been beautifully photographed by Manja Wachsmuth, and styled by food writer Penny Oliver. RRP $45. Published by Penguin Group (NZ). Available at all good bookstores.

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SEED PROMOTES PERFECT LAWN It can be a long road to mow, maintaining the perfect lawn. However, by developing a premium lawn seed blend, the greenfingered folk at Yates reckon the lawnmower man can get off the grass more often in seasons to come! Mow It Less is an all-round lawn seed mix. Seed germinates in approximately one week and develops into a dark green, dense lawn which grows relatively slowly, meaning less maintenance and fewer clippings. In addition, the seed is coated with an ACTive-GRO film, to protect against fungal disease and repel birds. This combination of perennial rye and creeping red fescue can perform well in most Kiwi yards and even some more shady spots. Available in 500g – RRP $22.99, 1Kg – RRP $34.99 and 4Kg pack – RRP $99.99

FRESH BREATH FOR DOGS

SERUM DEFIES AGeING

Good oral hygiene is an essential part of our daily routine, right? But what about our four-legged friends, how are their pearly whites? Purina have specially formulated, Healthy Smile Dog Food, to help and encourage fresh breath and assist in keeping our canine friends free of gum disease and other dental health problems. Made with wholesome ingredients such as real meat, vegetables, and parsley along with Smilebite kibble and other crunchy kibbles it actively cleans dogs’ teeth and helps to ward off the stench of ‘dog breath’. Available in 1.5kg packs – RRP $13.99, and 2.95kg – RRP $24.49

Evolu’s Facial Serum helps to renew the skin’s resilience and elasticity by promoting cell renewal and boosting the skin’s suppleness. It fortifies cells against free radical damage and helps to reduce the visible signs of ageing. Containing botanical actives including Rosehip Oil, Rose Absolute Essential Oil, Jojoba Oil and Neroli Essential Oil it delivers essential doses of plant oils which have been specially selected to feed skin the vitamins and antioxidants it needs in order to defy the ageing process. RRP $64.99

www.eastlife.co.nz


essentials | eastlife ECOYA MAKES MOTHER’S DAY Mother’s Day is fast approaching so why not spoilt her with ECOYA’s Limited Edition Mother’s Day gift pack! Included in this stunning gift pack is a ECOYA hand cream and a delightful Mini Metro soy wax candle, both fragranced in the iconic ECOYA fragrance, Sweet Pea & Jasmine and packaged in a beautiful limited edition designed pouch. This feminine fragrance, with its floral base combines enchanting sweet pea and white jasmine to capture the very essence of floral elegance. Delicately uplifting notes of watermelon and cucumber add extra freshness to round out the composition. RRP $39.95 (valued at $54.90) and available in store mid April.

GLOWING REPORT FOR SKECHERS With daylight saving coming to an end, safety should be top priority when exercising in the dark. The Skechers Nite Owl range not only provides the comfort and support necessary, it has also been designed with safety in mind. The fabric upper features photoluminescent technology that produces an intense glow effect in low light or darkness. Put simply, in darkness, the fabric emits a luminous glow from light energy stored after being exposed to daylight for a short time. Skechers GOrun 2 – RRP $189.90, GOrun Ride – RRP $119.90 and GOwalk 2 –RRP $139.90 have been given the night-glow treatment.

multi task with blend-x pro The new KENWOOD Blend-X Pro features six pre-set programmes and enables you to create drinks, soups, crush ice, chop ingredients to a fine or coarse consistency, and even rinse. Each programme has a unique blending pattern that will stop automatically when the programme is complete. It also features a new blade system called, MultiZone™ Blade technology, which blends, grinds, crushes and chops ingredients in less than 60 seconds. The glass goblet can withstand temperatures from boiling to freezing without any fear of it cracking or shattering so it can be used straight out of the dishwasher or cleaned with cold water after making hot soups using the dedicated rinse button. RRP $399.99

mashed spuds a breeze Money doesn’t bring happiness. I know, that’s why I just went shopping to get rid of it all.”

Who likes lumpy mash? Didn’t think so! The new Masha Potato and Vegetable Masher takes the hassle, and lumps, out of mashing spuds and veggies. Featuring a special wave blade and low speed motor, the motion of the blade pushes food through the outer mesh casing to ensure smooth and creamy mash every time. Masha’s moving parts are dishwasher safe for a nice and easy clean. But wait, there’s more, it can also be used to whizz batter, cake mix or even to whip up a bowl of perfectly whipped cream. Available from Mitre 10 for $69.99

new release a classic Brancott Estate has done it again, this time with the release of a new expression of the classic varietal, Brancott Estate Special Reserve Marlborough Fumé Blanc 2013. The subtle use of French oak during fermentation imparts a distinctive smoky flavour that gives Fumé Blanc its name (Fumé Blanc translates to ‘white smoke’). The result is a wine that shares many characteristics of a barrel-matured Chardonnay but still retains the fresh vibrancy of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. RRP $19.95 www.eastlife.co.nz

The power of Zen A new swaddle has touched down in NZ based on the principles related to the power of touch and the benefits of swaddling. This innovative and award-winning product is the only swaddle blanket with weighted areas to mimic a parent or caregiver’s touch. The Zen Swaddle also helps babies to sleep through the startle reflex as it works to create the sensation of being embraced. Made from 100% cotton – RRP$54.95. www.thesleepstore.co.nz eastlife | april 2014 |

39


HEALTH BEAUTY

& fashion

Dunedin calling fashion designer One ambitious young fashion designer is all set to shine on the iD Dunedin Fashion Week runway after an emotional rollercoaster of a year. NATALIE BRITTAN follows her creative journey and explores the different elements that have inspired her work. Puffy eyes and dark circles were probably the bane of Sarah Morovic’s life last year.

that I saw my name!” says the selfconfessed perfectionist who pushed herself to the limit last year.

will feature street wear elements including jeans, leather jackets, and screen-printed graffiti-like patterns.

Like many final year university students, the recent fashion graduate was no stranger to sleepless nights and tearful episodes produced from looming deadlines and projects gone awry.

Another highlight for the young creative was the AUT Rookie Fashion Show which featured the work of final year fashion students.

The 21-year-old Totara Heights resident says she was very excited when she found out she had been selected as a finalist.

Only 24 designers were showcased and Sarah was proud to be one of them.

“I just thought I’d take a shot when I first entered, so when I found out I was a finalist I was like ‘oh, yay’! I’m just grateful to be selected as a finalist considering it’s in a global international competition.”

“There were tears – it was tears central – and there were late nights, especially in the last year,” says Sarah. But as it turns out, it was all worth it. The former Howick College student graduated with flying colours – earning a Bachelor of Design majoring in fashion as well as the top scholar award. It was her proudest moment yet and also a big surprise. Unlike the other award-winning students, Sarah’s letter of notification had been lost in the mail. “It wasn’t until I actually received the graduation ceremony programme

“Having people see all your hard work and seeing other people’s reactions to your work is really rewarding,” she says. And this year, the fruit of Sarah’s labour will, again, be paraded on the fashion runway as she competes at the iD International Emerging Designer Awards held in Dunedin in conjunction with iD Dunedin Fashion Week which runs from March 30 to April 6. She is one of 29 finalists from around the world, including Italy, India, the Netherlands and Australia. Her collection titled, ‘Visual Vandals’,

Sarah admits competition will be tough but she remains undaunted. “Failure isn’t the end of the world. To me it teaches you more than success does. I’m already a winner as a finalist by getting to mingle with other industry figures and other finalists.” The collection she entered for the awards was the same one she made in her final year at university and was inspired by street art that she saw on a family trip to San Francisco more than a year ago.

Failure isn’t the end of the world. To me it teaches you more than success does. I’m already a winner as a finalist by getting to mingle with other industry figures and other finalists.”

At that time, Sarah had been leaning towards an origami theme in her design, but the trip changed her perception. “The street art outweighed origami because I like getting my hands dirty.

NEW ZEALAND FASHION ONLINE

WWW.FASHIONZ.CO.NZ

NEW ZEALAND FASHION ONLINE

40 | eastlife | april 2014

www.eastlife.co.nz QR code generated on http://qrcode.littleidiot.be


Hang on to your HAT We all know winter gets cold so what better way to fight off those frosty days, and look fab at the same time than with this season’s must-have accessory – a hat. Whether it’s a fedora or a knitted cap, this is one trend we love to love this season!

Grosgrain Trim Fedora from Witchery RRP $89.90

To base something on paintings rather than structural things was different for me; out of my comfort zone.” However, her fashion focus is on more comfortable, casual styles – “things that women can wear on the street with a little of a quirky spin on it,” she says. “With my fashion I like to have fun. I don’t like to take it seriously because I’m just not very serious like that.” A recurring feature in many of Sarah’s garments is a brightly coloured design that has been screen-printed onto lamb crust – leather’s natural oils interfere with the process – and moulded into a 3D skull which is then hardened with resin. It may sound complicated, but the devil is in the detail. “Street wear is kind of quiet,” says Sarah. “It’s the detail that sings out – it’s about a really polished look.” She chose screen-printing because it resonates with street art, similar to the way street artists work with layers of colour and stencilling. The skull theme was formed with the help of a shop display crafted by Frith Jenkins from Howick www.eastlife.co.nz

Village Optometrists in Picton Street. Incidentally, Sarah is good friends with Frith, whose daughter, Purdie, was a fellow Howick College student. “Frith’s been a really good support,” says Sarah. “She let me borrow her mannequins and I just love her shop display of skulls covered in colourful beads. That’s where the idea of the skulls came from and it’s also a common motif in street art.” Other pillars of support include Sarah’s parents, Diane and Paul Morovic who bought their daughter her first industrial sewing machine and cutting table, as well as providing help in other ways. One particular incident saw Sarah’s father come to the rescue when disaster struck at the university lab. “The waterblaster was broken in the lab, which meant I couldn’t reuse my screens for screen printing. If it wasn’t for my dad, I wouldn’t have finished it. He actually came in with his own waterblaster and did it for me.” And if it wasn’t for Diane’s old Bernina sewing machine, Sarah may not have caught the sewing bug when she was just 11. When she turned 14, she decided

she wanted to be a fashion designer and never looked back.

Boston & Bailey, Baker Boy Cap from Farmers RRP $29.99

Unlike many teenagers, Sarah was remarkably determined and prepared to work hard. She dressed for Trelise Cooper for New Zealand Fashion Week in 2008, and interned at the Kiwi designer’s company for a time before academic demands took over. In 2010, Sarah won the Manukau Youth Art Award, a competition she entered on the prompting of her graphic design teacher from Howick College, Mr Lars Gabel. On finishing college, she gained a scholarship to AUT with all her course fees paid for by the university. For other course-related and living costs, Sarah managed with a part-time job at Pumpkin Patch in East Tamaki.

Fedora from Max RRP $59

Chain Trim Cloche from Max RRP $59

Her ultimate goal is to have her own label some day, but for now, she is focused on getting her foot in the door of some of New Zealand’s biggest street wear-inspired labels such as Huffer, Stolen Girlfriends Club, World, Nom*D and Lonely Hearts. And if all goes well at iD Dunedin Fashion Week, Sarah could well return with success in the bag.

Boston & Bailey, Boucle Baker Boy from Farmers RRP $29.99 eastlife | april 2014 |

41


eastlife | fashion

LOOBIE’S STORY • OBI • CATALYST SILLS • CALLIOPE • MEREDITH DAVID POND • ARTSTYLE REDHEAD • PAULA RYAN

Style radar

Repertoire’s Style Director, Meghan Maher, answers questions about fashion and style from EastLife readers.

Subtle Autumn Pinks Layby Now Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm

114 Main Highway, Ellerslie Ph 579 3535 E510252-v2

THE WOMEN’S GUIDE

TO EVERYTHING!

Q:

I noticed an abundance of dresses in last summer’s collections; are dresses still on trend this winter?

A:

Dresses are just as strong this winter season, especially the shift dress made famous by Victoria Beckham and Kate Middleton. It has become the stand out or ‘must have’ piece in your wardrobe. We love this style at Repertoire and have a number in our collection. Even though it is straight in nature, it is very flattering and forgiving in styles and fabrics that are not body hugging.

The simplicity echoes one’s silhouette. I always recommend a finishing length just above or just below the knee as this is the most flattering and age-appropriate length. If you have an amazing pair of legs then this is the season for you! Invest in a shift dress as well as other dresses to show off your greatest asset. Alternatively, if you aren’t crazy about your legs, don’t shy away from the shift dress, instead style it back with great hosiery and long length boots that are tonal and will elongate legs.

Designer launches Visible campaign This season sees the launch of Karen Walker’s latest campaign entitled, “Visible”, which together with the United Nations’ Ethical Fashion Institute (EFI), aims to highlight, celebrate and acknowledge ethical fashion practices by creating and supporting the work of artisan community groups throughout Kenya. Working with communities throughout Africa and Haiti, the EFI helps up-skill artisans whilst paying them a fair wage to make products for luxury brands such as Fendi, Marni, Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney. The EFI’s motto is “Not Charity, Just Work” and, in teaming up with Karen Walker, set about creating sustainable business for micro-artisans by utilising their direct skill-set to create a series of screen-printed pouches that will accompany every pair of Walker’s “Visible” eyewear. In addition, more elaborate and embellished versions, also made by Kenyan artisan groups, will be available to buy separately.

E510058-v5

42 | eastlife | april 2014

Not one to rest on her laurels, Walker takes the project one step further by starring the artisans in her latest

campaign, literally making them visible, through the photography of Derek Henderson. Henderson captures the machinists, tailors, production managers, metal workers and cutters, who have acquired or refined their craft through the ethical fashion initiative. “Visible” is not the first campaign Karen Walker and the EFI have collaborated on and we’re sure it won’t be the last! www.eastlife.co.nz


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eastlife | april 2014 |

43


eastlife | fashion

Point taken After taking a bit of a back seat over the past few seasons, the pointy-toe shoe is back and, oh boy, it is better than ever! Updated with a modern twist, we really are spoilt for choice. With texture, colour and styles galore this really is a trend to love this season.

How much

E510013

Is this moment worth? So imagine if you couldn’t look into their eyes or see their face. Your Vision is priceless, that’s why you can’t cut corners with it. At Howick Village Optometrists we leave no stone unturned when examining your family’s eyes.

Book an appointment today for your peace of mind.

1. Alento from Overland RRP $219.90 2. Nadia Flat from Witchery RRP $169.90 3. M ulti Leather Ankle Boot from Max RRP $179 4. Liz from Mi Piaci RRP $270 5. C laudia by Kalliste from Scarpa RRP $550

www.howickoptometrists.co.nz 44 | eastlife | april 2014

E510273

Phone 534 8716 | 94 Picton Street, Howick

➎ www.eastlife.co.nz


beauty | eastlife

Time to get a little lippy! It may come as a surprise but New Zealand women are surprisingly reluctant to wear one of the world’s most convenient accessories – lipstick. Perhaps it’s a reflection of our reserved nature and our relaxed Kiwi style but when it comes to painting our pouts, it seems we safely opt to go au natural for fear of standing out. In a bid to influence change, Maybelline New York is launching a new campaign called ‘Get A Little Lippy’ for the women of New Zealand. And that means, it’s time to liberate lips and feel more confident in lipstick decisions. A recent survey through Maybelline New York’s New Zealand Facebook community reveals 40 per cent of those polled wear lipstick only a

couple of times a month – apparently the idea of applying lipstick correctly, and in a complimentary shade, is just too daunting for some. A further 30 per cent wear it a couple of times a week, “depending on their mood� and 30 per cent of consumers wear lipstick every day and “feel naked without it�. So why are we so reluctant to get a little lippy? According to Maybelline New York New Zealand make-up artist Julia O’Neil, it’s because we become familiar with seeing our face in a certain way. “Many women think they don’t suit lipstick but, in fact, nothing could be further from the truth,� Julia says. “When changing something on your face you become very aware of it and

with a change in lip colour, this may feel overwhelming. “Just because you’re highly aware of the change, others won’t be but they will undoubtedly see how fabulous you look. Splashing on your chosen shade gives your face a boost of

colour – literally within seconds.� So, for the month of April, Maybelline New York is asking women to visit the brand’s Facebook page where they will find great tips and tricks on how to Get A Little Lippy! – Courtesy of www.beautybible.co.nz

THERE CAN BE MANY REASONS FOR HAIR LOSS BUT NOT MANY ANSWERS CLIVE HAIR CLINICS HAS THE SOLUTION. Our hair-gain treatment can improve thinning hair and baldness with a guaranteed, non-drug treatment. >L NP]L `V\ IHJR [OL JVUĂ„KLUJL VM `V\Y V^U OHPY Âś ^P[OV\[ ZPKL LMMLJ[Z 0[ PZ Z\P[HISL MVY TLU HUK ^VTLU with hair that is starting to thin out or who have severe hair loss. But the sooner you seek help the better. ( WLYZVUHS JVUZ\S[H[PVU HUK TPJYVZJVWPJ L_HTPUH[PVU ^P[O V\Y 8\HSPĂ„LK ;YPJOVSVNPZ[ [HRLZ TPU\[LZ HUK JVZ[Z Q\Z[

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eastlife | health & fitness

Irish touch at Peak Pilates The winds of change are blowing in the air, bringing with them a new Irish talent to Peak Pilates & Physiotherapy in Botany. Bubbly new physiotherapist, Sarah Diskin has just arrived at the Peak Pilates studio in Botany Rd equipped with the right skills for the job. A physiotherapy graduate from the University of Limerick, Sarah has gained experience from private practices, rugby sports clubs, and paediatric clinics in Ireland. A real people person, she loves the personal contact Pilates and physiotherapy offers. “I enjoy communicating with people and making sure they understand everything they’re doing and the principles behind their exercises.” Motivated to identify problems at the root and target the cause, the enthusiastic professional thrives on the holistic aspects of her work. “It’s important that I get to know my clients – their lifestyles, their goals and their habits – so I can help them improve their performance whether at work, home or at play.” An active runner and swimmer, Sarah knows all too well the importance of keeping injuries at bay. “There’s nothing more satisfying than helping people get back on their feet after an injury and on the road of recovery,” she says.

Reap the benefits and call in to this registered ACC provider today – clients who book an introductory session with Sarah will receive a fantastic 50% DISCOUNT!

“Peak Pilates really resonates with me because it focuses on preventing injury and exercises for rehabilitation.” With the Botany Road studio increasing in popularity since its introduction last year, Sarah’s arrival is a welcome one. Peak Pilates owner Jason Richardson says the location has been embraced by clients who love the ease of access and modern environment. Focused on correcting posture and improving spinal support which prevents chronic back and neck pain, the team offers mat-based and reformer classes which rebalance and strengthens muscles and increases spinal flexibility.

46 | eastlife | april 2014

SARAH DISKIN ASSISTS A CLIENT

“Most people sit at a desk all day causing them to hunch. Neck pain is often the result. If this happens on a daily basis, it needs to be counter balanced with extension and rotation. It’s about reinforcing correct posture and flushing out the bad habits,” Jason says. With more than 600 Pilates exercises involving stretching, balancing and learning proper breathing patterns, the benefits are many and long-

lasting. To encourage clients, Peak Pilates offers concession cards for regulars, and an easy online booking system.

So, call into this registered ACC provider today – clients who book an introductory session with Sarah will receive a fantastic 50% DISCOUNT!

Peak Pilates & Physiotherapy 309 Botany Road (next to Jetts Gym) Botany, Ph 274 6000 Also at 347 Tamaki Drive, St Heliers Ph 575 6418 www.peakpilatesgroup.co.nz www.eastlife.co.nz


Oops!

health & beauty | eastlife

April Special

Special ends April 30, 2014

I Appear to Have Misplaced My Hormones

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E122204-V9

Hormones are chemical messengers that usually originate in one place and cause an effect in another. When they are working well, the world is a wonderful place.

Julie Martin M.A.B/Th (NZ), I.T.E.C (Eng), Confederation (Eng)

Unfortunately, an increasing number of men and women are experiencing the results of dysfunctional hormones, particularly estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid, cortisol and insulin. The resulting symptoms manifest as pain, migraines, weight gain, depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia, brain fog, hot flushes, aging and a couple of hundred others. Most of the women I see are suffering from PMS, effects of peri/ menopause, menstrual health, PCOS, inability to conceive, hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue. Most of the men are suffering from man boobs, ED and prostate issues. As a man, I can say that women are so much smarter about their health. A common male response is: “Clive, forget the heart and cancer, let’s get the important stuff fixed”. Some people turn directly to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The studies are conflicting. My own view is that if someone is going to undertake HRT, it should be with bio identical hormones, dosed to the individual, with supporting nutrients proven to inhibit possible side effects. I have heard the word ‘natural’ applied to much of the estrogen given to women. I suppose that technically, estrogen extracted from the urine of pregnant horses, is natural. But it would take some pretty strong chaps to hold me down, before they could put that into my body.

• Beauty Therapist • Electrologist • Thermologist As a naturopath, I would rather see the body make/balance its own hormones. There are many nutrients/herbs (remember most drugs have their origins in herbs) that can support the body to increase and decrease hormone production. A question for women: would you rather take a drug and wax facial hair or balance your hormone levels naturally. Many people believe that as we age, we lose our hormones. I believe we age because we lose our hormones. A balance of hormones keeps women young and beautiful and men virile and strong. It is not just about aging, menopause and andropause; it is about every phase of your life. Out of whack hormones equal out of whack life. Grow old gracefully? Why would you, when you can have so much more? It is like accepting failing eyesight and refusing to wear glasses. I say, “Hang on to your health, vitality and sexuality for as long as you can, naturally”. At bewell, we work with you analysing your symptoms, conducting tests to determine the current state of your body and tailor a program to suit you. Visit our website for more information.

BeWell Clinic – Unleash Your Wellness Potential 730 Whitford Road, Whitford Village Ph 530 8143, 021 490 801 bewell@clear.net.nz www.bewell.net.nz www.eastlife.co.nz

3 Dayspring Way, Pakuranga Phone: 527 8159, Mobile 021 0229 4638 Email: julie@juliemartin.co.nz Clinic Hours: 10am-9pm Monday to Friday

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heath & fitness | eastlife

Fitness concept unveiled Women can now embark on a healthy lifestyle with renewed vigour and vitality thanks to a fresh new concept in Highland Park’s Aviemore Drive. Viva, an all-female health and fitness club with a total focus on wellbeing, opened its doors early last month in the building next to Denny’s Restaurant. Vibrant and contemporary, this boutique concept is the first of its kind to launch in Auckland. Viva is already winning locals over with its effective and holistic ethos. Personal trainer Emma Robinson says this goes hand in hand with the club’s motto, ‘women for everything’.

WIN WITH VIVA

“It’s not just a physical concept. For us, it’s about connecting emotionally with other women and looking after their wellbeing with natural therapies and nutrition. It’s a service that is all-encompassing.”

Here’s a chance to experience this unique health and fitness concept for yourself.

In fact, Viva offers members 50% off naturopathic consultations and stocks a variety of health products too.

Thanks to Viva, EastLife readers have the chance to win one of four 3-month memberships being given away over the next month.

In addition, every member who signs up with Viva receives a personalised assessment and programme. “We prescribe a complete programme to each client to ensure everything they do is in harmony with their exercise and nutrition programme for better results,” says Emma. “Every woman is different and we want them to be able to achieve their individual needs and goals – whether it’s weight loss, a fitness goal or just a balanced and healthy lifestyle.” Gentle and supportive, the Viva environment offers women a safe haven where they can have a mental and emotional time out from daily stresses.

emma robinson with timetables changed every three months to mix things up. The fitness equipment is some of the best on the market and includes cross trainers, spin bikes, treadmills and more. Secure underground parking is available for gym members too. Importantly, no one is a number at Viva. “We pride ourselves on having a personal connection with our members – it’s all about them putting themselves first in a world where children, family, work and other commitments often come first,” says Emma.

Comprehensive facilities ensure women work out in comfort with beautifully appointed shower and changing rooms equipped with hair dryers, straighteners, and even hair ties. Whether it’s a new lifestyle you’re seeking or a top-to-toe solution for your physical, mental and emotional well-being, Viva has the answer. So, viva la vida (live the life) today and check out this superb new addition to the local health and fitness scene!

Just email highlandpark@ vivawomen.co.nz with your answer to the following question: What is the club’s motto? And tell us why you would like to win a 3-month membership. Please include your name, phone number and contact details in the email. Also, sign up for a new membership and go in the draw to win five nights in Fiji with return flights for two. For terms and conditions or more details, speak to the Viva team on 535 5990 or go to www.vivawomen.co.nz

Fully qualified staff members are always at hand offering assistance, personal training and advice. Group fitness classes ranging from Zumba and Pilates to classic spin and step classes are held regularly, www.eastlife.co.nz

17 Aviemore Drive (next to Denny’s Restaurant), Highland Park Hours: Monday-Thursday 5.30am-8.30pm, Friday 5.30am-7pm, Saturday 7am-4pm, Sunday 8am-12pm. Ph 535 5990. www.vivawomen.co.nz eastlife | april 2014 |

49


eastlife | heath & fitness

Work towards

dream body GINNY MCARTHUR – Outlook for Life. Ginny is not only a nutritionalist and personal trainer but also a marathon runner and regular on Newstalk ZB.

Do you have a health or fitness goal you are working towards and yet you never seem to get there? What is holding you back? Many of us self-sabotage without realising it and then blame everything and everyone else.

shot by choosing to spend your time wisely. Hold on to those goals with a passion and they are yours for the taking. We rarely regret what we have done; it is what we haven’t done that bugs us.

But at the end of day it is about priorities and commitment to your own health and wellness, both physical and mental.

Constantly missing those goals results in frustration and people who are constantly beating themselves up are never nice to be around!

Life isn’t always going to be a bed of roses, but you can give it your best

Get organised and plan ahead. Write a menu for the week. Write a

shopping list from that menu. Go and shop from it. Spend a couple of hours on a Sunday prepping ingredients and cooking ahead for the week. Plan your week’s exercise ahead – plan when you are going to exercise and what you are going to do. Don’t neglect weight training. When people think ‘fat loss’ they tend to automatically think that they must do hours of cardio – not so! Think about gaining lean muscle and

fat loss will follow. Most importantly, that fat loss will be long lasting too! Lean muscle tissue burns more calories than any other body tissue. The more lean mass you have the more you can eat without regaining body fat. So, if you want to be healthy, lean and toned, combine weights with a clean diet and moderate cardio and you can have the body of your dreams.

E510289

We all have busy lives; we all have to juggle work, kids, partners, and lack of time and finances to spend on ourselves.

Step up and live your best life, you deserve it and so do your friends and family. Reaching your goals will make you a nicer more tolerant human being.

50 | eastlife | april 2014

www.eastlife.co.nz


fitness | eastlife

Positive benefits Olly Coffey is the National PT Manager for Jetts Fitness New Zealand. He is a REPS-registered Skills Active Assessor and plays an important role in ensuring our personal trainers are fully equipped to meet the diverse needs of all Jetts members. In the current exercise environment, there is an emphasis on high intensity exercise and interval training to increase fitness levels quickly, to increase calorie ‘after-burn’ and to get more back for your buck from shorter sessions.

However, there are many positive physiological benefits in choosing lower intensity training. Low intensity endurance training improves our cardiovascular function, our muscular endurance and our ability to use fat as a source of energy.

Lower intensity training such as Continuous training or Long Slow Duration type training is prescribed less often unless you are training specifically for a longer duration event, or you have predisposing health issues and/or injury.

The risks of injury and cardiovascular distress are reduced when training intensity is reduced. For this reason, if you have a predisposing health issue or an injury, then low intensity training may be more appropriate than choosing higher intensity training methods.

Low intensity training is by its design, more of a challenge to incorporate into a weekly schedule as this type of training generally takes longer to complete. The goal is to exercise at an intensity which could be continued for an extended period of time.

There is a reduced level of impact and some of the key muscles that are involved in joint stabilisation operate more effectively at lower intensities. By training at lower intensities,

you can target these muscles and concentrate on low level core conditioning, joint alignment and technique correction. This allows you to prepare your body for higher intensity training. Lower intensity training is a sensible level at which to begin when you are new to exercise. It is also a good place to start if you haven’t exercised

for a period of time or if you are recovering from injury. When you exercise at a lower intensity, it is important to extend the duration of your training. Low intensity training for short periods is not very effective. The aim should be to slowly extend the period of time that you exercise in order to achieve physiological adaption.

PARTNER UP & GET ACTIVE

MEET OUR NEW PARTNER

Join this month and receive a free Body Science shaker and protein sample PLUS go into the draw to win a 6 month membership for you and your exercise partner

YOUR MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES: UÊÊ `ÞÊ-V i ViÊà > iÀÊ> `Ê«À Ìi ÊÃ> « iÊ Ê iÊµÕ V ]Ê Ìi`ÊÃÌ V Ê>Û> >L iÊ«iÀÊV ÕLtÊ UÊÊ ÀÌ } Ì ÞÊ i LiÀà «Ê «Ì ÃÊvÀ ÊÕ `iÀÊf£äÊ«iÀÊ«iÀà ʫiÀÊÜii Ê ÀÊfÎÈnÊ«iÀÊ«iÀà ʫiÀÊÞi>ÀIÊÊÊ UÊÊ-Ì>ÌiÊ vÊÌ iÊ>ÀÌÊiµÕ « i ÌÊÊUÊÊ VViÃÃÊÌ ÊxäÊV ÕLÃÊ>VÀ ÃÃÊ <ÊUÊÊ ÀiiÊ i iÊ«À viÃà > ÊV ÃÕ Ì>Ì Botany, 309 Botany Road, 09 215 9370

Botany Junction, Unit 37B, 277 Te Irirangi Drive, 09 215 7867 Howick, 2/2 Fencible Drive, 09 215 2450

Highbrook, 60 Highbrook Drive, 09 213 7257

0800 JETTS 247 / www.jetts.co.nz

Highland Park, 491 Pakuranga Road, 09 213 7469

&

www.eastlife.co.nz eastlife | april 2014 | 51 *Fortnightly membership options are based on a recurring direct debit from a nominated bank account or credit card and each direct debit transaction will incur a $1.50 ezidebit administration charge ^12 month membership options are paid a year in advance and only available to people over the age of 16. ~Family membership option is available to immediate family or when two or more members from the same household join the same club. Membership fees may vary between individual club. Jetts Fitness terms and conditions apply and are available at www.jetts.co.nz or at your local club. Offer expires 30/04/2014. E510052-V6


eastlife | beauty

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Visit www.beautybible.co.nz and shop online for great products and packages from the likes of Maybelline, L’Oreal, CoverGirl, Aveeno, Garnier, Neutrogena, Thin Lizzy, Trilogy, Dr Lewinn’s, Sukin, Nature’s Own, Clinicians, Elevit. Organix, Innoxa and more.

More cover...More confidence. Covertogs are a new and different brand of two piece tankini swimwear for women who want a bit more cover. Covertogs will help to keep you active and out there. 100% NZ designed, made and delivered.

www.beautybible.co.nz

Ph (09) 533 8441. Email info@covertogs.co.nz www.covertogs.co.nz

THE AMORE BEAUTY CLINIC

DISCOVER THE FLORAL PARADISE COLLECTION

Offering a full range of beauty treatments.

Discover PANDORA's new Floral Paradise Collection at PANDORA Botany featuring beautiful blooms and delicate butterflies inspired by the ethereal beauty of nature.

• HYDRATING FACIAL ONLY $35 – 60 mins, deep cleansing, brow shape, face, neck and shoulder massage, FHD machine, hydrating mask. Shop 8E, 119 Meadowlands Dr, Howick. Ph 535 8400

BEAUTY CLINIC

52 | eastlife | april 2014

Be inspired at www.pandora.net PANDORA BOTANY KIOSK SPK103 · THE PAVILLION BOTANY TOWN CENTRE 588 CHAPEL ROAD · EAST TAMAKI AUCKLAND · 2013 · T: 278 5550 www.eastlife.co.nz


food Kelly rolls the dice

recipes | food | news | pantry | dining guide

She was the straight-faced contestant who impressed the judges of MasterChef New Zealand last year with her determination and culinary flair. But since then a lot has changed. NATALIE BRITTAN speaks to the local lass about her latest venture.

Now separated from her restaurateur husband Alex Kaihea, Kelly left her regular maitre d’ post at The Beach House in Bucklands Beach last year to focus on a new project. Called Diced Workshops, this unique new venture is a creative outlet for the multi-talented Kelly and her business partner, Claudius Ah Loe, who she met at a business course. “It comes from these five words: design, inspire, create, exceed and develop. Diced Workshops is a vehicle for up and coming chefs, florists, wedding planners, bartenders, interior designers, or people with small businesses,” Kelly says. These creatives offer two-hour, hands-on workshops to groups of around 40 which are organised by Diced.

But underneath the entrepreneurial focus, Kelly’s main catalyst for Diced was family. “I created the business because of my girls. For the early part of their life I wasn’t around much because of the demands of the hospitality industry,” she admits. This way, the mum of two can still drop her daughters off at school in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon. In between those hours, Kelly works on Diced, and when the children return, she spends quality time with them. “My kids cook with me every day. They love cooking. They can tell you what every vegetable is. One day they might even cook for me so I won’t have to cook dinner anymore!” The MasterChef experience last year, in which Kelly finished in the top three, has also been partly responsible for this new direction. “I had an emotional and mental change during that time. I just realised I wanted something else in life; something different.”

rts AND Airpo

“AUCKL

Photo Carmen Bird

“Hospitality is a seven day, seven night business and it’s really hard – anyone can tell you that. I didn’t get to see my kids and have the family life I wanted,” she says.

“They get to use our database and website to promote themselves – it’s all about brand awareness and association.”

kepett!”

bestsecr

kelly miller And, for now, Kelly is relishing both her roles as mother and businesswoman with no real desire to watch the current series. “I just want to spend time with my

children and focus on them and the business because it’s going to take a lot work. It will be tough but, hopefully, in a couple of years it will be established.”

Choice food. Great beer. NZ green lipped mussels with Thai green Goodtimes.

curry sauce & coriander

www.szimpla.co.nz 2 Leonard Isitt Drive, Auckland Airport (Under the ibis budget Hotel) PH 09 215 1220 E info@szimpla.co.nz

E510296

www.eastlife.co.nz

eastlife | april 2014 |

E510296

Seven years of working in restaurants and three months under the gruelling MasterChef heat made Kelly Miller (formerly Kaihea) realise she needed to make up for lost time.

53


eastlife | recipe

oked Smpepper chicken wrap Ajay Zalte – executive chef, Novotel Auckland International Airport. Ajay is a Pakuranga resident and has worked in leading hotels and first class restaurants worldwide.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD:

• 500gm chicken tenders/supreme • 10gm smoked paprika • 100gm sliced button mushrooms • 80gm grated carrot • 80gm corn kernels • 60gm baby cos • 60gm cherry tomatoes • 20gm chopped fresh coriander • 15gm chopped fresh mint • Juice from half a lime • 30ml olive oil • Salt to taste • Four tortilla wraps 12 inch • 20gm spring onion greens

Marinate chicken tenders with smoked paprika, olive oil and salt. Sauté mushrooms using 10ml of olive oil in a very hot pan. Roast corn kernels in the oven. Blanch spring onion greens in boiling water, drain and refresh in cold water. Cut cherry tomatoes into halves, add in chopped coriander, chopped mint, lime juice, 10ml olive oil, salt to taste and mix lightly to make a salsa. Grill marinated chicken in a medium hot pan with olive oil for two minutes each side, turning over or until firm to touch and done.

Serves four

Lay tortilla wrap on a work bench, arrange baby cos lettuce leaves on one end, place chicken tenders, sauté mushroom, corn kernel on top, add in cherry tomato salsa and roll into a wrap. Cut into two halves at an angle, tie spring onion green around each half, stand on a plate and serve with crispy

handmade fries (optional). Chef’s note: Always toss salsa with light hands so as to mix all the flavours together but still keep the ingredient’s textures intact. This wrap is a perfect healthy balance of proteins, carbohydrates and vegetables in one meal if had without the fries.

The Good Home Howick is your home away from home. Good food, good company, good feeling, good times.

HOUSE WARMING PARTY

THURSDAY APRIL 3 FROM 5PM EVERYONE WELCOME – FREE NIBBLES – LIVE MUSIC

Open 7 days Mon-Fri from 11am and Sat-Sun from 10am - daily specials from 5.30pm The Good Home Howick has six dining areas to suit all occasions and moods Check our website for more details www.thegoodhomehowick.co.nz For all bookings call us on 534 3199, cnr Picton St and Uxbridge Road, Howick E510287B 125914

54 | eastlife | april 2014

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food | eastlife

Sweet talking bakers With Mother’s Day looming there is no nicer cookbook gift than newly released Sweet: Treats to Share. Packed with more than 80 mouthwatering recipes from some of New Zealand’s best-loved bakers, including Allyson Gofton, Annabelle White, Dean Brettschneider and Kim Evans, they have made it hard to resist the wealth of buttered treats, biscuits and slices, cake and desserts.

WIN! SWEET: TREATS TO SHARE – Thanks to our good friends at Penguin Group (NZ) EastLife has one copy to give away. To enter the draw visit www.eastlife.co.nz then click on the competitions link and complete the form. One entry per person; entries close April 30, 2014. Winner notified by phone or email.

Indeed they have succeeded in making life a little bit sweeter. Whether serving up hot, buttered muffins to work mates or impressing guests with mouthwatering tiramisu, these recipes will show you care. And you don’t have to be a Masterchef to master these delights with most complemented by beautiful photographs by Manja Wachsmuth. Alongside Kiwi classics such as

• 175g butter, softened • 1/2 cup caster sugar • 3 eggs • 1/2 cup lemon curd • 2 cups self-raising flour, sifted • 1/4 cup milk • 1 cup cream, sweetened and whipped

Place the oven rack in the centre of the oven. Preheat the oven to 190ºC. Line 12 standard muffin cups with paper cases. Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the lemon curd. Fold in the flour alternately with the milk. Divide the mixture evenly among the

Right way to Joe?

www.eastlife.co.nz

• Sweet: Treats to Share published by Penguin Group NZ. RRP $45. Available in all good bookstores.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD:

According to a survey by Muffin Break, big smoke sophisticates prefer flat white coffee (31%), over more elaborate varieties. Mochas rated second as a favourite daily cuppa (25%), followed by lattes (19%) and cappuccinos (17%). Little

Sweet: Treats to Share, styled by food writer, Penny Oliver, is the ideal Mother’s Day or Easter gift.

Lemon Curd Butterfly Cupcakes

Makes 12 cupcakes

Forget that mocha-double-chockalatte-blackeye-blacktie-decafmacchiato malarkey; the reputation of Auckland’s cafe set as favouring the flavour of fancy brews has fallen flat; flat white, that is!

Afghan biscuits, lemon Madeira loaf and ginger crunch are contemporary favourites such as fresh cherry tipple cake, elderflower-baked pears and maple rhubarb crumble pie.

time is made for tea, however, with only 4% preferring to party with this beverage instead. Capital cafe-goers went for lattes and mochas (tied at 24%) and it was largely all ‘white’ on the day, with Cantabs and Otagoites, alike, preferring lattes and flat whites (respectively) for their morning fix. Our Aussie cousins, too, are drinking in more cappuccinos (38%) and lattes (32%).

paper cases. Bake for 20–25 minutes until well risen and golden. Transfer to a cake rack to cool. Cut a small disc from the centre of each cupcake and cut the disc in half. Fill the cavity with whipped cream and place the two halves of the disc on top to resemble butterfly wings. Decorate with tiny dollops of lemon curd. – Reproduced with permission from Sweet: Treats to Share. Copyright recipe © Allyson Gofton, 2014. Copyright photography © Alan Gillard, 2014.

EastLife similarly took to the streets to survey more than 50 Howickians’ drinking habits and came up with not dissimilar results. As expected, the flat white reigns supreme (37%) but there is a twist from beans to leaves as this quaint colonial village ranked, wait for it, the teabag second (19%). The usual suspects such as cappuccino, mocha, latte and long black, featured strongly (9-11%), leaving a few deviations such as hot chocolate and chai latte in the dregs.

Fridays

$12

lunches

FULLY LICENSED

neW

AUTUMN DINNER MENU BOOK nOW CNR WHARF RD & HATTAWAY AVE BUCKLANDS BEACH OPEN 7 DAYS & 3 NIGHTS

55 533 7810

eastlife | april 2014 |

E513030-v8


dining Mains $10-$24 = $ Mains $25-$34 = $$ Mains $35+ = $$$

NANDOS

GRANGERS TAPHOUSE & KITCHEN

THE VILLAGE BAR & KITCHEN

Oil was meant for your car, not chicken. That’s why Nandos chicken is flame grilled. Perfectly cooked, perfectly flavoured and perfect for eating – that’s why chicken lovers keep coming back for more.

Grangers Taphouse and Kitchen is your local by the Marina. Drop in for a bite to eat or a drink at the bar. Our open plan kitchen is home to a relaxed dining experience. Craft beers on tap, hand selected wine list – everyone will find a favourite.

The Village Bar offers you a great vibe and delicious food. Come along and soak up the atmosphere in the bar or all-weather garden bar and enjoy casual dining prepared by our experienced kitchen staff. Our authentic Italian home baked breads and sourdough pizza bases make our pizzas a very popular choice!

• IT’S FAMILY FIESTA TIME the perfect family fix – one whole flame grilled chicken partnered with two large sides

• SPECIAL – A dozen bluff oysters and two glasses of bubbles or two small Peronis $60

• ComE ALoNG AND ENjoy ouR BIKER NIGHTS oN THE THIRD THuRSDAy of EVERy moNTH

The Promenade, Half Moon Bay Marina, 1 Ara Tai. Ph 533 0950 Open 7 days, Mon-Fri 12noon-1am, Sat-Sun 9am-1am www.grangers.co.nz

1 Town Centre Drive, Botany Town Centre. Ph 271 2411 Open Sun to Wed 10am-9pm, Thurs to Sat 10am-10pm www.nandos.co.nz

LICENSED

$

LICENSED

3/272 Ti Rakau Dr, Pakuranga. Ph 274 5656. Email pakuranga@thevillagebar.co.nz mon to Thurs 11am-10pm, fri & Sat 10am-late www.thevillagebar.co.nz

$$

gooDE brothErS

THE APOTHECARY

Goode Brothers – Goode Gourmet, Great Everyday. Relax over a delicious meal and a drink on the extensive new sunny deck, in the new bar area or in the lively restaurant. Enjoy fresh creations from the open kitchen perfect for the family or get-togethers with friends.

The Apothecary goes Italian! A licensed eatery in the heart of Howick, The Apothecary is a lively wine bar and a daytime cafe open 7 days with evening bistro dining on Wednesday to Saturday nights. Button-back leather seats and vintage paraphernalia set the mood. Available for private functions.

• VIEW thEIr DAILY SPECIALS oN WWW.gooDEbrothErS.Co.NZ

• CHECK OUT OUR NEW ITALIAN MENU!

Shop 36, town Centre Dr, botany town Centre. Ph 272 4516. open 7 days 11am-late www.goodebrothers.co.nz

27-29 Picton St, Howick. Ph 535 9661. Cafe open 7 days for breakfast and lunch, Bistro dining Wednesday-Saturday www.facebook.com/theapothecaryhowick

LICENSED

LICENSED

56 | eastlife | april 2014

$$

LICENSED

$-$$

HALF MOON BAY BURGER AND BATTER A good old fashioned takeaway shop using the best and freshest ingredients. Burgers are simple, hand made and straight to the point. Fish is fresh, from sustainable sources and cooked to order. Potatoes are sourced from local farmers just down the road in Pukekohe, and we make all our own sauces and batters (apart from the tomato sauce!). See you soon. Eat in, takeaway or call for a pickup! The Promenade, Half Moon Bay Marina, 1 Ara Tai. Ph 534 3586 Open 7 days Email eat@burgerandbatter.co.nz

$$

$ www.eastlife.co.nz


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dining

Mains $10-$24 = $ Mains $25-$34 = $$ Mains $35+ = $$$

THE LIGHT HORSE

BeEr Table ‘n’ Kitchen

THE LIGHT HORSE

“Instagram us and you could win a $100 bar shout!”

See Highbrook in a new light at The Light Horse. Stunning new bar and restaurant. Casual and relaxed atmosphere. Convenient location linked to motorway. Refreshing international beer on tap. Bar snacks, pizzas, delicious cocktails. Corporate parties and evening soirees. Book your table or function today. • SUMMER SPECIALS: Saturdays – half price steak from 5pm, Sunday sessions with acoustic guitarist Jarrad Lee 1pm-3pm. 60 Highbrook Dr, East Tamaki. Ph 271 5811. Open 7 days, 11.30am-late www.thelighthorse.co.nz

LICENSED

$

BASALT

THE GOOD HOME HOWICK

Basalt has been the heartbeat of Howick for 10 years, and with its new addition of Gazebo makes the perfect place to enjoy great food this summer. With 180 degree views of Howick and beyond, this is a real locals’ bar with a lively atmosphere and creative menu.

The Good Home Howick is the place to meet family and friends, your home away from home. With 6 dining areas, open every day for Brunch, Lunch and Dinner, daily specials and a range of family favourites on our menu. Check our website for more details.

• VIEW THE DAILY SPECIALS ON WWW.BASALT.CO.NZ

• DAILY SPECIALS 7 DAYS A WEEK – see website for details

Cnr Picton & Moore Sts, Howick. Ph 533 0081. Open Mon-Fri 11am-late, Sat 10am-late, Sun 9am-late. www.basalt.co.nz

Cnr Picton St & Uxbridge Rd, Howick. Ph 534 3199 Open Mon-Fri 11am-late, Sat-Sun 10am-late www.thegoodhomehowick.co.nz

LICENSED

$$

LICENSED

$$

CELSIUS

PORTERHOUSE GRILL

buCkLaNDS ESprESSo LouNgE

Celsius is a purpose-built bar, restaurant and function facility located at Botany Junction. The perfect place for catching up with friends, Celsius offers great service and an extensive range of food. Celsius is East Tamaki’s hot spot for after-work drinks, casual lunches, or your next business meeting or event.

At Porterhouse Grill our dedicated team aim to bring you superb meals, served with a smile, in a relaxing, family-friendly atmosphere. We strive to serve great steak and a variety of other mouth-watering dishes, as well as delicious desserts. We are fully licensed and offer a comprehensive selection of beverages to suit a variety of tastes. All ages and appetites welcome... Porterhouse Grill is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The award-winning cafe has launched its new Kiwi-inspired autumn menu as well as an updated wine and beer list. Sample fresh food made on-site in a bright and breezy outdoor setting. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available and children are well catered for with the kids’ menu. Taste the best of fresh, local produce today!

• VIEW THEIR DAILY SPECIALS ON WWW. CELSIUSBAR.CO.NZ 125 Ormiston Rd, Botany Junction. Ph 271 4822. Open 7 days, Mon-Fri 11.30am-late, Sat-Sun 11am-late www.celsiusbar.co.nz

LICENSED www.eastlife.co.nz

• PERFECT VENUE FOR CORPORATE BREAKFAST OR LUNCH 10 Aylesbury St, Pakuranga Plaza. Ph 576 3030. Open Mon to Sun 9am-late www.porterhousegrill.co.nz

$$

LICENSED

$$$

• FrIDay – $12 LuNChES • NEw autumN DINNEr mENu – book Now Cnr wharf rd & hattaway ave, bucklands beach. ph 533 7810. open for breakfast & lunch – 7 days, Dinner – thursday-Saturday

LICENSED

$$ eastlife | april 2014 |

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dining Mains $10-$24 = $ Mains $25-$34 = $$ Mains $35+ = $$$

GENERAL STORE RESTAURANT & BAR Enjoy the pleasant rural setting of the General Store Restaurant located in the heart of Whitford Village. Specialising in a la carte dining, weddings, functions and corporate events it is just 5 minutes drive from Howick. Relax on the sun-drenched verandah, enjoy a drink in the bar, dine in style. • FREE GLASS OF HOUSE WINE OR BEER with any restaurant meal when mentioning this advert

URBAN SOUL CAFÉ

Experience Te Maroro Restaurant, winner 2013 ‘People’s Choice’ NZ Beef and Lamb and 2011 Culinary Fare ‘Restaurant of the Year’. Located at Jet Park Hotel, just 5mins from Auckland Airport, enjoy an excellent range of seasonal dishes reflecting a fusion of local and international cuisine. Open for dinner, lunch, and breakfast daily. Executive Chef, Nancye Pirini and team take pride in creating a superb experience for the most demanding diners.

Urban Soul Cafe is a local hotspot in Manukau City. Well known for its artisan coffee blend and legendary Eggs Benedict. Come and experience why this Metro Top 50 cafe keeps people coming back for more. Open 7 days and Friday nights.

• SPECIAL – Receive 25% off the total bill up to the value of $40 when quoting this advert.

1 Whitford Wharf Rd, Whitford. Ph 530 8437 Open Wed-Fri 6pm till late, Sat-Sun 10am till late www.generalstorerestaurant.co.nz

LICENSED

TE MARORO RESTAURANT

652 Great South Rd, Manukau. Ph 262 2435. Open Mon-Thurs 7am-4.30pm, Fri 7am-late, Sat-Sun 8am-4pm www.urbansoul.co.nz

Jet Park Hotel, 63 Westney Rd, Mangere. Ph 275 4100. Open 7 days for breakfast, lunch, dinner, 6am-10pm. www.jetpark.co.nz

$$

LICENSED

$$$

LICENSED

$

TUAKAU HOTEL

wELLINgtoNS rEStauraNt

SZIMPLA GASTRO BAR

Planning a night out? Or just fancy a drink after work? Try one of our new cocktails to tempt your palate or one of our extensive range of craft and international beers in stock before sitting down to a meal at the restaurant or enjoying the last of the summer sun on our Palm Terrace. Let the team here at the award winning Tuakau Hotel, help you relax and unwind after a long day.

Wellingtons Restaurant is located within the Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre and overlooks Auckland’s picturesque Panmure Lagoon.

There’s nothing Szimpla than dropping in at a popular gastro bar for a taste of great food and atmosphere. Stop and linger before or after a flight, and revel in the magic of Szimpla’s beautiful Balinese courtyard and contemporary decor. Close to accommodation and the airport; forget the hassle, just sit back, relax and enjoy the Szimplicity. Weekend brunches from 10am.

Tuakau Hotel, 1-3 George St, Tuakau. Ph 09 236 8084. restaurant@tuakauhotel.co.nz Open Mon-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat & Sun 8am-9pm or by arrangement for group functions

LICENSED

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$$

Come and dance the night away in Auckland at our Saturday Dine & Dance, with resident band, Tall Order, bring the girls in for High Tea, or join us on Sunday evenings and bring the kids for a night of fun and surprises with award winning magician, Alan Watson! waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre, 58 waipuna rd, Mt wellington. Ph 526 3000. open 7 days – breakfast, lunch, dinner www.wellingtonsrestaurant.co.nz

LICENSED

$$$

• NEW WINTER MENU COMING SOON 2 Leonard Isitt Dr, Auckland Airport. Ph 215 1220. Open 7 days 10am-late. www.szimpla.co.nz

LICENSED

$ www.eastlife.co.nz


profile | eastlife

dining

Mains $10-$24 = $ Mains $25-$34 = $$ Mains $35+ = $$$

CASA TUA RESTAURANT

ROSSINI ITALIAN RESTAURANT

AMPHORA RESTAURANT

If you’re looking for tasty Italian fare, then look no further. Cosily tucked away in Farm Cove, you’ll find Casa Tua Restaurant & The Tapas Room. We’re open Tuesday-Sunday every evening where you can dine in our main restaurant, enjoy tapas in The Tapas Room or grab takeaways on your way home. BYO Wine is available when dining in the main restaurant. Full bar available in The Tapas Room. We’re also the perfect venue for private functions.

A local, family-owned and run establishment since 1993, Rossini Italian Restaurant in Howick prides itself on traditional Italian fare served in cosy, warm surroundings. Family-style meals – hearty, rustic and full of flavour. Check out this well-loved favourite offering lively music, friendly service and excellent food. Affordably priced and BYO, Rossini is perfect for a casual week night meal or for that special occasion.

Mediterranean/Italian restaurant in Botany Junction. Award winning chef and former NZ Beef & Lamb Ambassador. Indoor and outdoor seating. Open 7 nights for dinner, lunch Monday-Friday.

• DAILY HAPPY HOUR 5-6PM 190 Fisher Parade, Farm Cove. Ph 576 3739. Open 6 nights, Tues to Sun Bar from 4pm, Restaurant 6pm-late www.casa-tua.co.nz

BYO • LICENSED

• PIzzA AND PASTA NIghT EvERY SUNDAY fROm $12! 7A/125 meadowlands Drive, meadowlands, howick. Ph 537 5554. Open Tuesday-Sunday 5.30pm-late

$$

LICENSED • BYO

$

• $14.50 LUNCHES – Also check out our special on Sunday-Wednesday nights Shop 20a, 123 Ormiston Rd, Botany Junction. Ph 271 6416. Open Lunch Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm, Dinner 7 nights 5.30-late www.amphorabotany.co.nz

BYO • LICENSED

$$

E

The lephant Thai Restaurant

DUM MAST INDIAN RESTAURANT & BAR Specalising in the Muhglai-Hydrabadi-style of Indian cooking. Our idea to life is to be simple and happy. This is how we cook our food, this is how we like to serve and finally this is how we want our guests to feel before they leave us. Simply happy. • SUMMER SPECIAL – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – mains $9.99 (excludes seafood). Dine in and takeaway. 44 Fortunes Rd, Pakuranga. Ph 576 8327. Open 7 days. Lunch Wed-Sun 11.30am-2.30pm Dinner Mon-Sun 5pm to late. Free home delivery (conditions apply) www.dummast.co.nz

BYO • LICENSED www.eastlife.co.nz

$

THE ELEPHANT THAI RESTAURANT

NA NA THAI RESTAURANT

With its blend of traditional and modern techniques The Elephant Thai Restaurant offers guests a magnificent dining experience whether enjoying an evening out or a working lunch! Its vast range of South-East Asian cuisine makes it the place to relax and enjoy foods of Thailand. All dishes available for takeaway so enjoy the renowned cuisine at home with a 15% discount!

In Thai ‘Na Na’ means variety and that’s what you’ll be offered when you dine with us! A delicious variety of traditional Thai cuisine to suit every taste at the best price. Group banquets available. Winner of the ‘People’s Choice Award’ for best restaurant.

• SPECIAL – 3-course meal (chicken, lamb or vegetarian) $23.90, (fish, prawn, squid or mixed seafood) $26.90. Valid till April 30, 2014.

Unit 4/308 Te Irirangi Dr, Botany South. Ph 274 9990. Dinner 7 nights 5.30pm-late, Lunch Fri-Sun 11.30am-2pm www.nanathai.co.nz

1 Moore St, Howick. Ph 534 0588. Lunch Tue-Sun 12-2.30pm, Dinner 7 nights 5.30-10.30pm www.theelephant.co.nz

BYO • LICENSED

$$

BYO • LICENSED

$ eastlife | april 2014 |

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eastlife | dine

Taste

Try our latest flavours of the month and experience a range of new products with a real taste difference. EastLife is always on the lookout for new products to tantalise the tastebuds of our readers.

NOT ALL EASTER TREATS ARE EGG SHAPED… Some come in boxes and some come in bottles, like Prenzel Chocomulu chocolate liqueur; Belgian Chocolate Mousse and Truffle Chocolates by “House of Chocolate”. Of course, Prenzel of Whitford does have lovely Easter Eggs too and even Chocolate Hot Cross Buns. No, they may not be “egg shaped”, but they do have chocolate! Go and see them soon at their fabulous tasting room in Whitford Village or buy online www.theprenzelshop.co.nz

LOW-CAL ORGANIC FETTUCCINE Asian root vegetable, Konjac is making a name for itself when turned into low calorie, high fibre, gluten-free pasta, noodles and rice. Recently EastLife profiled the Slendier range of konjac pasta with just 10 calories per 100 gram. The latest product to join the Slendier range is a fat-free, gluten-free, organic fettuccine with just eight calories per 100 grams – a great choice for people keen to lose weight or who suffer from certain food allergies, coeliac disease or diabetes. To prepare, just drain the pre-cooked contents of the packet, rinse under the tap and leave in boiling water for about one minute, then add protein, vegetables or a suitable sauce. Visit www.slendier.co.nz for recipes and meal inspirations. RRP $5.29.

CIDER SQUEEZES EVERY LAST DROP FROM SUMMER Isaac’s Cider is determined to squeeze every last drop from summer with the introduction of its new, bespoke 1.25 PET bottle. Available only in New Zealand, Isaac’s has capped three great Kiwi flavours (all with 5% alcohol content) including: Isaac’s Cider with Blackcurrant and Manuka Honey: an intriguing concoction of tart and sweet; Isaac’s Cider with Berry: incorporates all the vibrancy of apple cider with a twist of summer berries; Isaac’s Cider with Feijoa: a feijoa-fuelled flight of fancy. Available at all good liquor stores and supermarkets now, RRP $11.99.

WELCOME WINTER BACK WITH A WARMING BOWL OF SOUP Temperatures are starting to fall so here’s a soup-er start to winter – Pitango’s new, creamy and nutritious Pea and Ham soup. A thick and vibrantly coloured soup made with sweet green peas and free-farmed naturally cured manuka smoked ham, Pitango Pea and Ham Soup (RRP $6.49) takes just five minutes to prepare and serve. Completely free of added nitrates, sugar and artificial preservatives, other natural ingredients include organic potatoes grown in Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury plus organic leeks. Made in small batches, this soup would rival the best of homemade. Pitango soups are available at Countdown, New World and Pak’n Save stores nationwide.

DAMN, FINE, GENUINE AMERICAN BARBECUE SAUCE From the land where barbecue contests are almost a national sport, multi-award-winning Rufus Teague genuine American barbecue sauce offers a true taste of the Mid West. And, now, Kiwi shoppers can also get their hands on this range of authentic gluten-free, barbecue sauces which are currently America’s fastest growing gourmet barbecue sauce range. Superb with beef, chicken, pork, fish – and everything else such as ‘meat-lovers’ homemade pizza, sticky ribs and more, each sauce has its own unique blend of herbs and spices. Use as a marinade, dipping sauce or accompaniment. Rufus Teague barbecue sauces include Honey Sweet, a touch O’ Heat, and a Blazin’ Hot barbecue sauce – three of the USA’s best! Available nationwide at supermarkets and specialty food stores, RRP $8.99, 454g.

60 | eastlife | april 2014

BREAD BY THE BOOK! Not strictly a TASTE product , nevertheless this new Simon and Alison Holst cookbook, Bread Machine Recipes, due for release early April, is full of goodness and flavour those with a bread machine will want to discover. Most cooks know there’s nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread and this book demonstrates just how easy it is to make your own bread, including gluten-free, with a selection of their ‘work every time recipes’. All recipes have step by step instructions with the book divided into two sections, ‘Set & forget’ and ‘Shape & bake’. Bread Machine Recipes by Simon & Alison Holst, Hyndman Publishing, RRP $14.99. www.eastlife.co.nz


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Making a floral statement Vintage china, retro wine glasses and silver tea sets are just some of the unused homewares that many people have tucked away in cupboards but Di Bowbyes from Everlasting Daisies says there no reason why such beautiful items should lie languishing never to see the light of day. For women of ‘a certain age’ individual cup, saucer and plates represent an era when these delicate sets were a popular 21st birthday present to be popped away in the glory box or hope chest until wedding bells rang. Then, at orange blossom time, a full china tea set, cut crystal decanters, and silver cutlery were considered a must as gifts for the bridal couple. But these days such items, along with grandma’s sterling teapot, cream jug and sugar bowl, are seldom used and often lie mouldering at the back of a china cabinet, the silver black from lack of polish. And while the renewed popularity of high tea has seen some items dragged out temporarily, for the most part, today’s modern lifestyle has little call for tea parties and cocktail hours.

crystal, glassware, silver or ceramics to create an area of interest which enhances the home. It’s not always necessary to purchase a vase or artwork when you could have the makings for an artistic display in the drawer.

Here are four ideas which incorporate faux flowers, fruit and berries, useful because they don’t need water, are long lasting – they can stay in place for years if necessary – and are easily changed to accommodate new décor, a special celebration or the seasons.

And remember containers don’t need to be in pristine condition – cracks and chips can be easily disguised. www.everlastingdaisies.co.nz – continued overleaf

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However, it’s possible to make use of odd pieces of china, stoneware,

With grouping imperative for impact here’s a way to showcase Nana’s cup and saucer set or the remains of an heirloom dinner service. These pretty floral cup and saucers plus Royal Doulton jug are well suited to roses with fruit and berries in the background. Use various shapes and sizes or alternatively line up three cups on a mantle with plates on stands behind for a more stylised look.

It’s possible to make use of odd pieces of china, stoneware, crystal, glassware, silver or ceramics to create an area of interest which enhances the home.”

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eastlife | april 2014 |

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eastlife | decorating

more floral statements What to do with that collection of silver sports trophies or silver tea service that’s going begging? This grouping pulls together a silver jug, two small cream jugs, a racing trophy and a pewter coffee pot. Placed strategically next to a wicker cat basket (with cat), the silvery tones are accentuated by purple African violets and white hydrangeas.

This arrangement uses a selection of different height wine glasses. The object is to see the glasses and highlight their shape thus embellishment is left to a single orchid and a wreath of berries as a backdrop.

Don’t forget outdoor spaces – patios, decks and conservatories. The idea here is to achieve a ‘growing’ look by ‘planting’ grape hyacinths in a ceramic bowl titivated with moss or pebbles set next to a deep blue teapot and a dip dish with African violets. The mauve and purples tone prettily but with the addition of white and orange tulips tucked into birdcages, the end effect is bright and bold.

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62 | eastlife | april corner of Huntington & Ti Rakau Dr Phone: 09 274 9808 We’ve moved to2014 the Mon – Fri 8.30am – 5.30pm Sat 9am – 5pm Sun 10am – 5pm

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interior design | eastlife

adding colour splash to winter

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GEMMA HUDSON interior designer at Forma Contemporary Furniture sheds light on brightening the home for winter. As we leave summer behind and days become cooler, it’s a great time to introduce some colour into the home to help brighten the months ahead. And it’s all about bringing the look together to be functional yet amazing. A great way to add in some colour is with a feature chair. There are some fantastic fabrics available, and a good starting point is to pick up other elements in the room to help tie everything together. Be brave and experiment, as it is supposed to be a stand-out piece. Give yourself time to get used to new colour options and patterns, and try them in your home first. Remember what looks right in a showroom may not be right in your house as different lighting, wall and floor coverings can all accentuate different tones within fabrics. Cushions are the ultimate accessory. They are an easy to play with colour, pattern and texture or to provide comfort on your sofa. They can be easily and inexpensively changed from season to season giving your home a fresh look. Geometric patterns are still strong, and velvets are great for softness and a bit of opulence. Metallics are

also big at the moment. Reflecting nature’s weathering effects, these tones are coming through in accessories such as mirrors, clocks, cushions and wallpaper. Copper, in particular, seems to be the metal of choice. It’s softer than gold and complements pastels and greys perfectly.

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Artwork is another way to develop your room’s palette and inject some personality. The right piece of art can really transform a room. Remember artwork doesn’t have to be a collector’s piece. What one person loves another may not. It’s all about bringing what you find interesting, or inspiring into your home. There are some fantastic young artists out there and who knows, what you buy now may well turn into a great investment. However, if you find it all overwhelming and need assistance bringing a room together, then enlist the help of an expert. As an Interior designer there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the look of pleasure on a client’s face when a room transformation brings a stunning result.

INTERIORS

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Custom-sized KitChens at sensible PriCes

At Jag Kitchens we specialise in custom-sized kitchens designed and built to a variety of budgets. We have a complete range of materials covered by our 10 year warranty. Ask about our sophisticated 3D computer design program (see how your kitchen will look before it is built). Whether you are building a new home or simply planning to replace an existing kitchen contact Jag Kitchens. Our showroom is open seven days a week or a visit to our website will give you lots of information and photographs.

Visit our showroom open 7 days Inside Danske Mobler, Botany Town Centre. Open 7 days. Ph 271 3131. www.jagkitchens.co.nz 64 | eastlife | april 2014

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art | eastlife

From left – Leg Up; On the Hard and In The Birdcage.

Photo Wayne Martin

Home is where the art is Capturing the world on canvas – from her home south of Auckland to her studio in Whitianga – is more than just a hobby for Wendy Walls, it’s a passion. As she explained to JON RAWLINSON. Wendy watches her Walls’ dry. But she’s no house painter, this teacher and award-winning artist produces a range of works inspired by the beauty of her surroundings. “Much of my work captures the textures and colours of the Manukau Harbour and Waikato River,” she says. “Having been a passionate gardener, I also like to paint the seasons. “I primarily paint rural and beach scenes in Patumahoe and at my studio and gallery in Whitianga. Even though I have travelled, I still feel New Zealand has some of the most inspiring scenery in the world.” Wendy’s passion grew from the pages of a book where she discovered mixed media, an art form where visual arts and other media, such as collage, are combined. “My mother, an artist herself, gave me a book by Mary Todd Beam for Christmas. It inspired me to learn about mixed media. “I then undertook a course in the Blue Mountains of North Carolina. This workshop was a ‘eureka’ moment for me, learning about new products and techniques with acrylic mediums. “I have since attended other www.eastlife.co.nz

Much of my work captures the textures and colours of the Manukau Harbour and Waikato River. Having been a passionate gardener, I also like to paint the seasons.”

wendy walls workshops in the USA, under the tutelage of notable mixed media artists such as Robert Burridge, Pat Dews and Gerald Brommer.” Wendy is also leading the Give it a Go workshops on the road. “I travel throughout the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Waikato, Taranaki and other areas,” she says. “I visit established art groups and others, often with no previous art background, in studios and community halls.”

While capturing her environment and assisting others in artistic exploration may serve as her primary motivation, accolades and commercial successes have not been in short supply. Most recently, Wendy secured a prize in the Franklin Arts Festival for a mixed media painting, When the Well is Dry We Value Water, and the Merit Award in the Cambridge Society of Arts Exhibition for, Along the Mighty Waikato. eastlife | april 2014 |

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eastlife | home

Bathroom design lessons It pays to do your homework before starting to renovate, as EastLife correspondent TAMARA RUBANOWSKI found out.

When my partner and I decided to start renovating our 1970’s home in Farm Cove, we soon learned not just one – but many lessons. We bought the property about four years ago because we had fallen in love with it at first sight, marvelling at the high cathedral ceilings, the quiet location near the beach and the gorgeous big garden. We knew older homes required a fair amount of repair and maintenance but soon after we moved in we realised that the three bathrooms in the house needed major work. The bathroom décor was well past its use-by date and on closer inspection we found the floors and walls were damp and mouldy. It seemed that the previous owners’ idea of dealing with the mould was painting the walls a blue/green colour and then putting the house on the market!

our folder full of information, photos and design magazines grew bigger and bigger. After several months of careful planning we decided to gut the bathrooms completely. I wanted a new bathroom design that reflected our coastal location, with a colour scheme inspired by sand, shells and driftwood.

Where to start?

Luckily my partner and I agreed on most of the new bathroom design aspects and, eventually, we narrowed it all down to the styles we liked for tapware, towel rails, lighting and light switches.

We found a lot of inspiration by collecting brochures at various bathroom and plumbing showrooms and visiting tile shops all over town. It was quite a long learning process and

We decided to keep the colour scheme and materials consistent in all three bathrooms. This resulted in a nice streamlined look throughout the house.

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It also meant cost efficiencies were achieved through buying tiles and other materials in bulk quantities. Many stores offered special discounts when we asked, “how much for three of those?” We came up with our own design ideas for the bathrooms, drew up a floor plan and budget spreadsheet, shopped around for the best prices for materials, then hired a local builder and plumber to oversee the project. We insisted on extractor fans to improve ventilation in each bathroom and on new Aqualining for the walls and floors. It was important to ‘water proof and future proof’ our investment. A spa bath, walk-in shower, floorto-ceiling marbled tiles for a lovely luxurious look, in-wall cisterns,

heated mirrors and quality heated towel rails were added. The new soft-closing toilet seats were a great improvement (no more loud – ker plonk – noises in the middle of the night). Researching all the details for months in advance meant that we could buy top quality materials at a reasonable cost. For example, we saw some lovely designer tiles for about $140 per square metre, but then found an almost identical product on sale for $49 per square metre. This resulted in a massive saving of a few thousand dollars. Surprise! However, no matter how well prepared you are, it is true what they say about building projects: some things will not go according to plan and you can be guaranteed of a few surprises. www.eastlife.co.nz


home | eastlife

TOP TIPS

The builder’s plan to remove all our old toilets at the same time and to install a Port-a-loo in our garden was stopped just in time. We pleaded to keep at least one small bathroom functioning for the family. There were also some unexpected costs with the old plumbing, which

needed upgrading and some of the old drains had to be unblocked.

scratching their heads for a while, but they worked it all out in the end.

Installing a unique German-designed waterfall spout, which we had chosen for our spa bath, proved to be a challenge.

While this was a major renovation, which took a few months to complete, we were very pleased with the results. We love our bathrooms and are now plotting the next big project – a new kitchen. Watch this space…

Both the builder and plumber were

• Do your homework well in advance. • Pay attention to details. • Draw up your own floor plan and have it checked over by an expert. • Allow for a few ‘unexpected extras’ in your budget. • Shop around for the best prices and get at least three quotes. • Don’t cut corners and use the best quality materials you can afford. • Take photos of the building process for future reference.

YOUR LOCAL TEAM IN BLACK. At Plumbing World, we don’t just dress in black because it looks good. We’re a cooperative; a team of kiwi plumbers who work together to get you the best deals on top-quality products. Visit Plumbing World today for all your bathroom and plumbing requirements, to find out more about our fantastic products and services – and to see our team in action.

Let our team organise your new toilet suite, vanity, basin/sink mixer or slide shower to be professionally installed by one of our qualified plumbers. You’ll save time, worry, and a whole lot of potential problems down the track. Ask for Do It 4 Me instore today.

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Enjoy the good life at Acacia Cove

2010 RVA Manager of the Year Bruce Cullington

Acacia Cove is a country-style village situated on the beautiful Wattle Downs Peninsula.

Who could ask for more? For those who appreciate the tranquility of an estuary setting Acacia Cove has it all, as well as its own restaurant, heated indoor pool, library, bowling green and new gym.

OurHowick Howick showroom showroom has just Our just had had aamakeover. makeover.

Whether you choose to live in a villa or one of our luxurious apartments, you’ll have the security of a 24 hour, fully monitored emergency call system built in. If you’re aged 55 or over, value your independence but want greater security, come and have a look at the superb properties we have to offer. A right to occupy dwelling at Acacia Cove Village is unsecured.

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comment | eastlife

Enjoy the good life at Acacia Cove Take one look at Acacia Cove as a retirement option and you won’t want to live anywhere else. This totally New Zealand owned and operated village enjoys an outstanding location, exceptional facilities and is focused on living life abundantly. A gated community with 213 villas plus 10 luxurious apartments, Acacia Cove occupies 25 acres, is bounded by the estuary and is located across from Wattle Downs Golf Course. This tranquil, rural-like environment of trees and greens, glimpses of water and a delightful river’s edge walkway makes it one of the most desirable in the country. With 32 weekly activities life at Acacia Cove is never dull. Consequently many younger retirees or even working couples with an eye on future retirement are opting for its unique lifestyle of privacy, independence and a wealth of social activities. The village itself includes a restaurant and bar, library, hair salon, nurses station and medical clinic, craft room and residents workshop, a meeting room also used for movie evenings and big screen events, plus a new facility containing a gym, billiard table and jigsaw arena. The superb indoor heated pool with spa, overlooking an extensive bowling green that would rival many such community facilities, is another facet to the superior facilities offered. www.eastlife.co.nz

What’s more, there is a motel unit available for visitor use while integral facilities such as the spacious restaurant and gracious lounge, with central stack stone, open fireplace, both face north and enjoy sun and outlook. A bus calls to take residents shopping several times a week and, of course, regular excursions and functions are all part of village life with residents free to choose their level of involvement. Both the villas and apartments are sunny, extremely spacious and beautifully appointed offering one, two and three-bedroom options. All dwellings are equipped with an emergency call system and car parking is well catered for. Gardens and patios can be seen at every turn making for particularly picturesque surrounds. Village Manager Bruce Cullington says importantly, the Occupation Rights Agreement offers some of the best terms of any retirement village and provides residents with total ease of mind when it comes to maintenance and operational costs.

To fully appreciate all Acacia Cove has to offer come along to the information tour on April 4. Bookings essential, phone 268 8522 to secure your place.”

“However, to really appreciate how lovely it is at Acacia Cove come to our information tour on April 4, 2014,”

Bruce says. “But remember bookings are essential so, please, phone 268-8522 to secure a place.”

131 Wattle Farm Rd, Wattle Downs, Manukau, Auckland. Ph 268-8522. E: acacia@kirkdale.co.nz. www.acaciacovevillage.co.nz eastlife | april 2014 |

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eastlife | comment

Apprentice practice ‘ Nick Neben is a director of specialist renovation company Smith & Sons Howick and a time-served builder of more than 30 years experience.

It has been another busy month at Smith & Sons Howick with Diane and I attending the Smith & Sons International Conference on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. It was a fantastic few days marked by a host of inspirational speakers and a few awards to bring home with us. One thing I learnt from the guest speakers was, that whilst all were very successful in business, they had learnt the art of giving. Now, I know there are times when there simply isn’t enough money to go around, but it wasn’t so much money they shared with us but their knowledge and time, ensuring we benefited from their experiences. Our company prides itself on adopting a resolute attitude to training apprentices and nurturing them so that they become skilled,

competent tradespeople. But the construction industry certainly has changed since I left school 33 years ago. As a 15 year old, chomping at the bit, all I wanted to do was get out there and build. We did everything back then, marking out the site, digging the footings by hand, placing the concrete, cutting and putting together the framing and laying our own roofs. Today our modern day apprentices struggle to obtain the skills I learned when I was a young fellow. Most components of a new build are not carried out by the builder, but by a team of separate contractors that specialise in their own field. The Australians successfully adopted this method of building back in

Our company prides itself on adopting a resolute attitude to training apprentices and nurturing them so that they become skilled, competent tradespeople.

the 1980s and we have gradually followed suit. Unfortunately, apprentices don’t grow on trees and not everyone is cut out for the construction industry. It is a big commitment for builders to take on apprentices, and with few incentives, the country finds itself in dire straits with a severe shortfall of skilled construction workers. The BCITO (Building & Construction Industry Training Organisation) does a fantastic job in following the structure set up to train our apprentices, but I struggle to be

convinced that the current methods of training cover all the essential attributes required to become a carpenter. Thank goodness for my own, extensive training. And now for my building tip of the month: For most people a home is the single biggest investment they will make and yet so many neglect regular maintenance. Regular washing (using chemicalfree inhibitors) of roofs, soffits, gutters, window frames and weatherboards prevents airborne salts and chemicals from breaking down the paintwork. Keeping dirt and plants away from the building prevents rot and allows the home to stay dry. If your home has a wooden floor, air vents must be left uncovered for good airflow. Good moisture barriers and insulation will certainly help to create a healthier, warmer home.

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The kiwi lifestyle ‘ There can be no more fitting name than The Brae for a new Pine Harbour residential development which embraces elements of the iconic Kiwi boat shed but which also exudes contemporary design combining luxury and comfort.

Jalcon Homes come with a 10-year Master Builder’s guarantee and a Jalcon 15-year Active Weathertight Warranty.”

Brae, Scottish for steep hillside, bank or a slope to the sea, seems an especially appropriate name for an enclave of 12 architect-designed houses to be built at Pine Harbour Marina by Jalcon Homes. Jalcon is the key partner in the first two stages of a comprehensive development which will eventually encompass 427 terraced houses and apartments. First stage construction of The Brae starts in May or June this year with completion early next year.

And looking ahead he sees further opportunities as many baby boomers look to downsize and purchase ‘lockup-and-leave homes and apartments’ which allow them to pursue other interests such as travel.

Initial earthworks have begun on the site and already four of the 12 Brae homes have been sold off the plans. When completed, The Brae will be followed by The Quarters, eight two and three-bedroom apartments plus an attached terraced row of eight houses, the complex emulating marine industrial buildings of old.

This demand from ‘empty nesters’ is a driving factor behind the Pine Harbour development, says Lindsay’s sister Denise Gale who is marketing the houses. “People who live here (in the south east) don’t want to live anywhere else. They want to move to something smaller but stay within the community. The Brae is ideal.”

Jalcon Homes founder Lindsay Aitken says when zoning changes to Pine Harbour Marina came about in 2012 the company jumped at the opportunity to become a building partner for the proposed new project.

To be built by Jalcon Homes, houses “People selling an existing Jalcon are 227 square metres or larger and house often use the warranty as are priced from just over $1 million. part of their marketing,” he says. They come with a 10-year Master “Purchasers are also asking for Phone Builder’s Denise Gale 512 guarantee and a 0800 Jalcon 512the warranty to be transferred as a 15-year Active Weathertight Warranty. condition of purchase. We will at that www.jalcon.co.nz Pine Harbour’s new development, stage inspect the house, give a report The Brae, is set to offer all the design Jalcon is a member of Master Builders and then transfer the warranty.” features today’s contemporary families value.

Design Excellence

“Securing the contract is a major milestone for our company which my wife Julie and I started in the 1990s.”

Designers Stevens Lawson Architects have opted for a modern take on the Kiwi boat house with maintenance-

www.eastlife.co.nz

free, luxurious living featuring raked tongue and groove detailing and driftwood-coloured flooring. Sustainable features include water retention tanks to recycle grey water and LED lighting. A special touch is digital marine weather station panels for live weather and marine forecasts. Double-level three and four-bedroom houses feature living spaces opening onto covered north-facing decks.

but its guarantee is an active one – every three years a Jalcon-built home is inspected to ensure it is being maintained, and recommendations made if work is needed. “While under warranty we protect the owner’s investment, making sure they do the maintenance such as cleaning gutters, washing the sides – all weather-tightness issues,” says Jalcon Homes founder, Lindsay Aitken.

Phone Denise Gale on 0800 512 512 • www.jalcon.co.nz eastlife | april 2014 |

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eastlife | comment

Who’s buying my property?

Remax, (Zest for Realty) Principal Licensee Eric Chase, MREINZ, gives his take on the property market. In a recent interview with TVOne looking at who is buying New Zealand property I determined that a lot of properties were currently selling to Chinese buyers. In fact, I have a Mandarin-speaking auctioneer that works with me when I call auctions and we duel it out. Why? Because when we sell property we want to ensure our vendors receive the most for their properties and at the moment, in our experience the Chinese have been out-bidding locals about five to one. As a real estate agent my job is to get my vendors the most the current market is prepared to pay. It’s not up to me to determine who’s allowed to buy property and who isn’t. I leave that job up to the banks which lower and raise interest rates and to the Government to set the regulations.

There seems to have been a bit of a political stir about Chinese purchasers apparently buying everything, but according to the latest figures from the BNZ only about 25% of the 6.4% of property that’s purchased by foreign buyers is bought by Asian investors. That’s less than 2% of the whole property market; in fact it’s only 1.6%. The reason that it looks like it’s a big deal is because someone is making it out to be more than it actually is! Yes, Chinese buyers are buying in Auckland and in the best school zones. But that’s been going on for years and will likely continue because wherever we are from, we all care about our children’s education! I remember a similar thing happening in Queensland in the 1980’s when people thought too much prime

property when it was the best and highest bid above the reserve. And I’ve never in 26 years of auctioning property been advised by a vendor to sell the property to a local for less than the best bid – funny that!

All property sales are good for the economy; they make the money go round and if foreign investors are buying property they bring in funds which is great for the country!”

The reality is that real estate is basically a hunk of dirt in a particular location. It goes up in price and it sometimes comes down in price.

property was being sold to Japanese investors. However, the vendors weren’t unhappy because those buyers were paying plenty for about 2% of Queensland property. Later, there was a bit of a crisis back in their homeland, so many Japanese sold their Australian properties for a lot less than they paid which shows when it comes to buying and selling, it’s always a case of timing! At auction I’ve never had a vendor say he or she wasn’t happy with the money any buyer had offered for the

Whatever you pay, you can’t shift the land. That property remains in the same place; it’s a fixed asset! Money changes hands but the land stays exactly where it was 100 years ago save for slippage and earthquakes! All property sales are good for the economy; they make the money go round and if foreign investors are buying property they bring in funds which is great for the country! So let’s not focus on who’s buying and where they’re from; let’s focus on who is paying because no matter who buys, the property will remain exactly where it was in the first place!

K i m V e l t m a n A r c h i t e c t u r e

Ph: 527-6835 | Email: kveltman@ihug.co.nz 49 Pakuranga Road, Pakuranga www.kimveltman.co.nz

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Unusual Median Spike

Total Focus Principal, Greg Roy areinz, gives an update on local real estate market happenings.

Last month I reported that the median house price graph (for our local area) had been running near level since September 2013. After all those months of this relatively flat line, the latest figure released for February has spiked the median up to a new, all-time high of $762,500. This is up from $726,000 for January and represents a 5% upward change month to month. I have called it a change rather than a movement as taking one month figures and drawing a conclusion on that could be flawed. I did do a bit of analysis on the sales figures to see if there was anything obvious that accounted for the spike, such as an usually high number of five plus bedroom houses sold, but nothing really stood out. One has to question whether the LVR restrictions from the Reserve Bank, combined with the very recently fulfilled promise of the upwards

movement in the official cash rate, have had an effect on first home buyers, or whether it was just a month with more than the usual sales in the upper price bracket. Our area wasn’t alone in this spike for February 2014. The Auckland House Price Index reached a new record high and is up 16.9% on February 2013. Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and Canterbury/Westland all reached new high median prices. Overall the national median price leapt up $13,000 to $415,000 (up 3.2% compared to January 2014) and compared to February 2013 represents an increase of $33,000 (or 8.6% increase over the past year). This was on the back of 6,125 dwellings being sold in February 2014, down 7.6% on February 2013. Here’s hoping the March figures will give more clarity.

Do you need your Investment Property managed? ALANA NATHAN

▲ 15 years experience in the residential property management industry ▲ Extensive knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 ▲ Great communication is the key ▲ It’s building relationships that counts

Alana Nathan looks forward to meeting you Licenced Agent REAA 2008

DDI 538 0108 | Mob 021 228 9902 email: alana@fnhowick.co.nz

09 538 0105 www.fnhowick.co.nz

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comment | eastlife

A Special Sense of Place High above the harbour Solway at Whitford is rural living at its finest. Perfectly positioned between Whitford and Clevedon, this private estate features an idyllic blend of native bush and farmland. Almost all of the elevated, 3.5 hectare 3000m2 lots boast panoramic, 360º views of the Auckland isthmus, harbour and beyond, while a select few are nestled within the secluded sanctuary of a rural, bush-clad environment. Poised high on the ridge to take advantage of the incredible www.eastlife.co.nz views, you can create your dream lifestyle.

Now available for a limited time, 35 superb residential sections for sale.

Howick Botany Downs

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Beachlands

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Call today to view: Contact Suzie Wigglesworth on 021 782 011 or visit eastlife | april 2014 | 73 www.solwaywhitford.co.nz E510254


eastlife | comment

Social media comments may have consequences Fencible Law Director, Lawyer & Entrepreneur, RICHARD GALBRAITH, with his take on current legal & business issues affecting our community.

If an application to the Court is filed after the “go live” date it will mean: • There is no change to existing filing fees.

Beware of what you say on social networks about your ex or the kids! “There is no way I’m agreeing to that partner of mine having the kids more cos it will mean I have to pay her even more money.” “I will never forgive him for leaving the marriage – as far as I am concerned he has no right to see the kids anymore and I will spend all our money, gamble it away or bury it in my backyard rather than let him get his grubby hands on it.” These are common emotional reactions in relationship splits and once up on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs and other social media they can come back to haunt you in Family Court Proceedings. The same goes for text messages – remember, what is said in a text message is written evidence which is often taken out of context because the person relying on the text message craftily puts into evidence only the nasty comments.

These, and other frank comments, can be the focus of hours of crossexamination of a parent and they will not be easy to explain away. More importantly, it takes the focus away from the issue of parenting arrangements for your children which is why you were in court in the first place.

Imminent Changes to Care of Children Act matters The Government has decided that more than 40% of the Family Law matters in our Family Courts have to do with Care of Children Act matters. So, there are radical changes afoot from the ‘go-live’ date of March 31, 2014 when parents in a dispute can no longer fire off to court without first attending a Parenting Through Separation course and a Family Dispute Resolution meeting.

• File applications will need to be made on new forms, not yet publicly available. • Without notice applications will proceed on the without notice track. There will be little change from the current system. Parties wanting to file on notice applications: • Will need to satisfy the Court that they have attended Parenting Through Separation, or alternatively obtained an exemption. • Will need to satisfy the court that they have attended the FDR process or obtained an exemption. • Cannot have a lawyer acting for them in the filing of the proceedings or used as an address for service.

• Will not be entitled to legal aid in terms of the current arrangements, but will be entitled to: – Four hours of pre-Court legal advice if they are eligible, and – Will be required to contribute to one third of all ‘lawyer for child’ costs unless otherwise ordered. – Will be required to contribute to one third of all s133 reports costs unless otherwise ordered. – Will no longer be entitled to counselling other than preparatory counselling arranged by an FDR provider. If clients are not eligible for the new Family Legal Advice service, they must pay for the counsellor themselves although attendance is not mandatory. – Can be referred to counselling after the commencement of proceedings but only in limited circumstances.

So, do not listen to friends who • Are unlikely to be entitled to legal have been through this. Times The only time they can still go straight assistance at an Issues Conference, are changing. You will need to TS LAW • ORfrom G • SP to court is if their children’s safety is and only in a Settlement Conference IESobtain advice NDINlegal • LEproper ILDING ET CI • SO ES & IS S OM lawyers.BU UB PRfamily • CL affected. if allowed a judge. experienced H by AJ • STAMENTARY D GALBRAIT

RICHAR NYA DUNR SLEY • TE IBLE CITY • LAVA ISON WALM • ESTATES • TY • WILLS ECTION • AL ON • INCAPA VEATS • FENC ER TI OT CA OP • UC PR T Y TR PR • IL EN NS M M CO OY ES • CING • FA • Y PL TL H AN TI IT OD EM EY IT • RA ST NV H UN LB CU • CO UG GA W• IES OR Y MCCULLO NCING • KIM • FAMILY LA IAL TENANC LAW • VEND SHIPS • KELL TONI FIELD • RESIDENT IVISIONS • FE E • BUSINESS S & T RELATION ORTGAGES RNE • SUBD NC UL UB M • BO GE AD CL • • LI ES OS H DI E EY NC IT E LI SL RA DU M LICE • KY • LEASES • CT COURT • ALISON WAL CHARD GALB • RI RI TS S • ST RY EN TE W DI M TA • TA LA SE EN R ER ES • AM SF ELDE ES • EA TION • TEST ERTY • WILLS • LAND TRAN S LEASE TITL ISTRATION A DUNRAJ • MILY PROTEC CING • PROP LAW • CROS S OF ADMIN STODY • FA TY • LAVANY • CONVEYAN CI ER CU W • TT PA LA W LE CA • LA LE IN E Y • IB S LEASE IL NC M ON OS TI FE FA • CR • PROBAT UC • D D W TR EL EL LA FI NS NI FI LE S • TONI LBRAITH • CO T • CAVEATS • FENCIB TENANCIES TS LAW • TO L GA IA OR M WARRANTIE NT SP KI • • DE G G SI MEN NCIN S • LENDIN TGAGES • RE • BUSINESS H • EMPLOY OR ISIONS • FE E M IV UG • NC BD LO & SOCIETIE GE ES SU LI UL • CC E DI CENC • BUILDING S • KELLY M COURT • DU RICHARD DUNRAJ • LI IP • A CT S SH NY RI TE ON VA ST PROMISES TA TI DI LA • LA • • ES TRANSFER • ADULT RE TY • WILLS TS • LEASES ECTION • ER ND EN OT LA M OP • PR SE PR N • Y EA IO ELDER LAW IL • AT M E CING ADMINISTR STODY • FA LIE OSBORN CONVEYAN CU UCTION OF • • S TR W W ER LA NS LA TT Y LE CO LE IL • TITLES • KY • M G NCIB • PROBATE NI FIELD • FA NS • FENCIN W• COURT • FE ES IO Y LA TO TL IL • IS TI LE M IV W IB IT FA BD LA • NC UN • TS • SU IES • FE ING • SPOR E OSBORNE • CAVEATS OBATE OR WARRANT ND LI T PR LE ND KY • EN • • M VE S ES • IE OY NG TL W ET DI PL LA IT TI ISES • BUIL UBS & SOCI LOUGH • EM NCIES • UN LS CL OM UL IL • NA W PR H CC • TE IT M RY L Y OR RA IA TA LL NT KE VEND GALB AMEN ES • RESIDE ONSHIPS • NESS LAW • GHAM • TEST • MORTGAG ULT RELATI RAITH • NCE • BUSI AD ES LB • GE PAM BELLIN NC GA W LI DI CE M LA E LI KI R • • T • DU TES • ELDE LEASES • FAMILY RICT COUR ILLS • ESTA • INCAPACITY SEMENTS • • CUSTODY SFER • DIST OPERTY • W E TITLES • EA FAMILY LAW • LAND TRAN ANCING • PR • FENCING • N EY D NS IO NV EL CROSS LEAS IO AT FI IS CO TR • NI IV BD • TO LAW ADMINIS LLY BORNE • SU ORTS LAW • FENCIBLE KE OS T SP • E • S UR LI G • LETTERS OF IP IN CO KY • SH Y ND ON NG IES • FAMIL ES CIETIES • LE ULT RELATI ES • BUILDI NC SO IS AD & • CE OM S LI W • • WARRANT PR UB LA ES R AS DE TARY LBRAITH • CL MENTS • LE ER • TESTAMEN DUNRAJ • EL SE SF A EY EA AN NY • SL TR VA M ES RICHARD GA LA AL ND • E TITL • ALISON W TRATION • LA INCAPACITY CROSS LEAS LAW • PROTECTION OF ADMINIS TRUCTION • IBLE LAW • T • FENCIBLE E • LETTERS W • RAITH • CONS ENT • CAVEATS • FENC UR AT LB CO OB Y GA PR IL M • M KI ES • • SPORTS LA • FA M TL G S TI OY IN IE IT PL ND NT UN EM LE RA • • • NG • H AR S IES W DI IE UG IL NC ET OR LO BU CI NA • UL ND TE SO VE ES L CC & • M IS IA R ITH • CLUBS • RESIDENT TARY PROM SINESS LAW DE RA EN ES BU EL • LB • AG AM E GA TG ST AJ NC D TE OR NR AR DU •M EY • E DILIGE • LAVANYA TATES • RICH ON WALMSL COURT • DU ASE TITLES • WILLS • ES INCAPACITY TION • ALIS • LE TY • DISTRICT EC S ON ER OT OS TI OP PR CR UC Y PR • W LA • FAMIL Richard Galbraith CONSTR • McCullough Alison Kelly Lavanya Dunraj Toni Field Pam Bellingham ANCING • Kylie Osborne IBLE ODYWalmsley EYGalbraith CONVKim • LETTERS OF GALBRAITH ATS • FENC Y LAW • CUST ILY PROBATE Legal ENT • CAVE Lawyer IT TITLLegal NCING • KIMDirector• EMPLOYM ES •Executive Accountant Lawyer Lawyer Assistant ELD • FAMILLegal Executive NS • FE NTIES • FAM IO UN TONI FI RA IS • H IV S AR UG W IE BD NC OR ULLO RNE • SU ETIES • NTIAL TENA LAW • VEND CI KELLY MCC DE • SS SO SI S & NE KYLIE OSBO IP RE S SI • SH UB BU ES NCE • T RELATION • MORTGAG LBRAITH • CL STAMENTAR DUE DILIGE LAW • ADUL • LICENCES RICHARD GA MSLEY • TE CT COURT • TS • LEASES • ESTATES • ALISON WAL CITY • • LS ER • DISTRI IL PA SF ON W CA • TI AN IN • EASEMEN EC TY • TR ER PROT UCTION3539 www.fenciblelaw.co.nz phone NSTR533 ATION • LAND CING • PROP Y • FAMILY IBLE CO AN • OD NC H EY ST IT FE NV • CU RA S ADMINISTR • CO LB • AT W • FAMILY LA ING • KIM GA NCIBLE LAW MENT • CAVE COURT • FE IONS • FENC H • EMPLOY • TONI FIELD IS UG W IV LO LA BD UL TS SU • CC OR E 74 | eastlife | april 2014 www.eastlife.co.nz YM LENDING • SP ILDING • KYLIE OSBORN SHIPS • KELL T RELATION • BU LAW • ADUL PROMISES R DE EL • NRAJ LAVANYA DU

0800 fencible

E513062-v5

“Make it happen! ”


business profile | eastlife

Accounting for Highbrook A fresh face in accounting has arrived in Highbrook, with familiar experts at the business helm. Highbrook Accounting combines the talents of Chartered Accountant Melt Louw and Pat Callinan of Pat Callinan Accounting Limited, a well-respected Howick accountancy practice of more than 15 years. Their experience and expertise has resulted in the loyalty and trust of a large client base which ranges from commercial entities through to tradespeople, self-employed professionals, small businesses and real estate agents. With all businesses, it is important to establish good practices from the very beginning and the team at Highbrook Accounting is renowned for not only guiding businesses in the right direction but also ironing out problems that have been swept under the carpet. Bringing highly sought-after services to the Highbrook and East Tamaki business district, Highbrook Accounting has many benefits to offer:

Great Value! Tired of paying exorbitant fees? We offer a FREE initial consultation and our charges are far below what you would expect to pay when dealing with an inner city accountant – our overheads are much lower, which translates into substantially better value for your actual dollar.

Innovative! We are constantly looking for ways to minimise the tax you pay,

Bringing highly soughtafter services to the Highbrook and East Tamaki business district, Highbrook Accounting has many benefits to offer.”

MELT LOUW AND PAT CALLINAN is to make it a whole lot easier for you by doing our job properly and thoroughly.

Dependable and Reliable! claiming all the allowable expenses, and providing you with the correct tax structure. We are not happy if you are paying too much tax! We spend extra time keeping ahead of tax payment deadlines to help you avoid paying penalties and extra tax.

We constantly hear of the frustration of having to deal with a different accounting agent each year. You will deal with the same person each year, which allows them to get to know you and understand your needs as a client. Highbrook Accounting offers a comprehensive range of services including:

Industry Savvy! Our team is savvy both in the ways of the business world and the accounting required. We can’t run your business for you, but our aim

• Book keeping and accounting • Business start-up and management consulting

• Financing • Succession planning • IRD compliance including GST, PAYE, income tax, fringe benefit tax and ACC • Management of rentals and trusts No matter how big the problem, or how big the company, Highbrook Accounting is able to build and maintain book keeping systems and practices tailored for every business and guide clients struggling with taxation responsibilities and the paperwork trail. To ensure your business stays on a high through the financial years, call: Highbrook Accounting 3/9 Allens Road, Highbrook Ph 09 533 8420

Manufacturing, Distribution, Light Engineering, Self-Employed Personal / Rentals / Trusts

Contact us for a free quote Competitive rates for all accounting and financial matters 3/9 Allens Road, Highbrook. Phone 09 533 8420 Melt Louw 021 365725 n Pat Callinan 021 1750348 E510255

www.eastlife.co.nz

eastlife | april 2014 |

75


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76 | eastlife | april 2014

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comment | eastlife

Am I... ‘different’? Really? Part I Bill Potter – the Business Maverick. Bill is a Speaker, FriendCoach*, Thought Leader and... The 3Guy*. www.speakers.co.nz/billpotter.html www.btob.co.nz/the-business-maverick Here is the news we ‘mavericks’ have been waiting for, forever. ‘Different’ is the new... ‘normal’. It is! You may like some of this ‘different’, or it could make you queasy. You decide. Here is the power tool you must use, to handle this great evolution – an ‘open mind’. Most minds, are not. As a forever ‘maverick’ myself, and the first stated ‘Business Maverick’ in the world, I first have to alert you to the ‘bad-mouthing’ of the concept... ‘maverick’. thesaurus.com, defines a maverick as, ‘a person who takes chances, or departs from the accepted course’. Yawwwn.

‘maverick’. Bohemian. Dissenter. Extremist. Malcontent. Radical. Non-conformist. Seemingly, you don’t have to be very clever, to work at thesaurus.com. ‘Balance’ is apparently not part of their ethic (or of too many enterprises, either). Sir Richard Branson is a dynamic maverick. He is a multi-billionaire. And what about you, then? Still wallowing in ultra-safe, ‘same old, same old’? 97% of the population does. Same old, same olds are afraid of mavericks! They are. Do you recall that while most of the world was splitting logs, Lord Rutherford was splitting atoms?

$100 off when you * k your next Smartbox Get $100 off when you It could only find six synonyms for

Are you aware that while only boy people were allowed to vote in their countries (still prevalent in a sad percentage of the world), Kate Sheppard successfully led the battle for women to vote too?

WIN

Many climbers kept telling anyone who would listen, that they would get to the top of the world’s highest mountain... but didn’t. Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing, did! So, who was going ‘to knock the bastard (from the Latin bastardus) off’. Us. Again. Sigh. Good Kiwis are mavericks.

with

In my ‘Online 3Percenter Course (O3C)©’ for serious Go-getters, we cover the power of the ‘maverick mind’. Look for the May issue of ‘EastLife’, for some real definitions of ‘maverick’ and how being one, can add ‘wow’ to your life. Really! Cheers. – duitdammit@xtra.co.nz

www.eastlife.co.nz

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77


drive Suzuki crosses over

news | review | new models

EastLife motoring writer ALISTAIR DAVIDSON test drives Suzuki’s cleverly packaged S-Cross and discovers a stylish family wagon which will suit many families. In these environmentally-conscious times trees are being hugged left right and centre, and big beefy offroaders are about as popular as Justin Bieber at a heavy metal concert. An increasing number of new car buyers want the style and practicality of an SUV, but don’t want to keep paying for it at the fuel pumps. Enter the crossover. Crossovers are nothing new; they’ve been around since the mid-1990s, but it’s only relatively recently that crossover SUVs have been wheeled out of showrooms with two-wheel drive only. It’s the SUV that you have when you’re not having an SUV. Ironically Suzuki, the company that pioneered small lifestyle 4WDs with low-range gearing in the shape of its Vitara, is one of the last cabs off the extremely busy crossover rank. The S-Cross, which is based on the outgoing SX-4, sits above the hugely popular Swift in Suzuki’s pecking order. Although it’s a crossover SUV, think of it more as a pumped-up small family wagon. S-Cross is a roomy beast. Four adults (or mum, dad and three kids) can be transported in comfort, and luggage space is significantly better than you’d expect. The high hip height makes getting in and out a cinch, and there’s plenty of visibility all round. S-Cross is offered in two specification levels, and with the choice of twoand four-wheel drive. EastLife spent a week with the top spec, two-wheel drive LTD. Regardless of which model you choose, all come with a 1.6-litre engine. GLX is offered with either a five-speed manual or a CVT (continuously variable transmission), while LTD is CVT only.

78 | eastlife | april 2014

Suzuki put SX-4 on a diet when creating the S-Cross, so with 86kW (at 6000rpm) and 156Nm (at 4400rpm) the 1.6-litre produces more than enough grunt to push it along while returning a respectable 5.8l/100km (ADR 81/02 figure).

That’s fine and dandy for Mr and Mrs Average Joe who are after a capable and stylish family wagon. But if you really enjoy driving, the sensation of engine revs maxing out when you floor the accelerator then dropping as road speed increases will feel weird.

While the engine is a willing performer (and returned close to the claimed fuel consumption during our test) the CVT transmission does dilute the car’s appeal. Sure, there’s a paddle shift on the steering wheel so the driver can manually change between the seven electronically programmed gears, but it’s always going to feel and drive like a CVT.

It’s a shame, because S-Cross rides on a really good chassis. The twowheel drive version tested here has a high level of grip, negligible body roll and feels nicely balanced; all traits that a keen driver will appreciate. Inside, Suzuki’s played it safe, and it works. Instead of garish brightwork and lots of sculpted surfaces, the cockpit styling is clean and

conservative – very nice. Plenty of attention has been paid to ergonomics, as well as the cabin’s tactile quality. In other words everything’s where you’d expect it to be and, apart from the occasional bit of hard plastic, if feels good to use. S-Cross isn’t as revolutionary as Vitara and hasn’t quite nailed Swift’s driving appeal. However it’s cleverly packaged, and does its job well. Pricing starts at $27,990 for the manual 2WD GLX through to $35,990 for the all-wheel drive LTD iAWD. The 2WD LTD is $32,990 as tested, plus on road costs. www.eastlife.co.nz


motoring | eastlife

WIN with

Get a load of this – Ford Australia’s first coupe-utility, which spawned the latest award-winning Ford Ranger pick-up.

Ford’s beaut ute ‘ However, the good old ute, a passenger car-based pick-up that’s sold in virtually every market around the world, really was an Australian invention. This year Ford is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its iconic ute, which led to the development of vehicles such as the F-Series and Ranger and propelled the company to years of truck leadership. Like all good ideas, the first integrated passenger car-based ute was born out of necessity, very much like the first Model T Ford. In mid-1933 the then managing director of the Ford Motor Company of Australia, Hubert French, received a letter from a farmer’s wife in Gippsland, Victoria. She wrote: “My husband and I can’t afford a car and a truck but we need a car to go to church on Sunday and a truck to take the pigs to market on Monday. Can you help?” What the customer wanted was a vehicle with passenger car comfort but which could also carry loads. French passed the letter on to a young design engineer, Lewis (Lew) www.eastlife.co.nz

The original Bandtdesigned Ford ute paved the way for what has morphed into some of the world’s biggest selling vehicles – the pick-up or utility.”

Bandt, who had joined the company only a few years previously as Ford’s only designer. Bandt was just 23 years old but was already showing a flair for design for which he was to become quite famous until he retired in 1975. Bandt died in 1987, after being involved in an accident driving a restored version of the utility he helped make famous. Bandt’s take on the passenger car-based utility was considered revolutionary at the time. Until the early 1930s, many automobile manufacturers and vehicle body builders had constructed wooden or metal ‘utility’ bodies on a car chassis. Where Bandt’s design differed was that he developed his Ford utility as a coupe (two-passenger, steelpanelled, glass-windowed car) with an integrated steel-panelled, load carrying section at the rear.

What Bandt did was to blend the ‘pickup’ sides into a coupe body, which provided a cleaner profile, and increased the load area behind the cabin.

www.eastlife.co.nz

He completed his original design in October, 1933, and quickly produced two prototypes for testing. By January 23, 1934, he had the final drawings and the new Ford ute went into production with Bandt christening his design a ‘coupeutility’. The result was quickly hailed as the ‘must have’ vehicle for rural communities and 22,000 were sold between 1940 and 1954. The original Bandt-designed Ford ute paved the way for what has morphed into some of the world’s biggest selling vehicles – the pick-up or utility. It also spawned the Falcon ute, which has been a firm favourite with customers since the first Falcon XK ute was launched in 1961. In total, Ford Australia has sold more than 455,000 Falcon utes, among the most popular being the Falcon XB, XF II, AU II, BA and current FG models. The Australian-designed and developed Ford Ranger is also widely sold in more than 180 different countries.

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eastlife | april 2014 |

79


directory Maria Stephens KNOW HOW to maximise the value of your property

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80 | eastlife | april 2014

Pakuranga Golf Club, 199 Botany Rd Eves Pantry, 309 Botany Rd Botany south Hot Spring Spas, 1 Bishop Dunn Pl Art and Framing, 1 Bishop Dunn Pl Mitre 10 Mega, Bishop Dunn Pl Columbus Coffee, Homebase Botany, 16J Bishop Dunn Pl

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EastLife is published on the first week of each month excluding January. Copies will go quickly so be quick to collect yours from any of the following outlets. An electronic version is also available at www.eastlife.co.nz.

eastlife | april 2014 |

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