UNO Magazine | Issue 57 | Spring 2022 | Stan Walker

Rydal Prize Winner 2021

ICONS NEVER

Ski

Fly direct - Tauranga to Christchurch

The best in office furniture delivered straight to your door. Whatever your work space.

Johnston Stacey Jones

Mabbett

Marshall

Pepperell

Sylvester

PLAY

34 Mix it up 38 Pearl of the Bay 48

Driving excellence 54 Next big thing 58 Into The Incubator 64 For the love of arts 68 Trash to treasure 73 Will Johnston

THRIVE

76 Style status 78

Getting shorty 83 Going the distance 84 Get your glow on 86 Anna Veale 87 Clean slate

LIVE

90 Through the meadows 94 Back to the future

96 Bella Italia 98 Zen by design 102 Bringing Bali to the Bay 106 Garden & Arts Festival

110 Sustainability in bloom 112 Colour by numbers

WORK

117 Dollars and sense 118 Blossoming with care 120 Law for everyone

The big squeeze

Lauren Mabbett

EXPLORE

126 Take a break in Tīrau

130 Alpine wonderland 132 Go to town

What’s on

Café review

COVER SHOT BY GARTH BADGER

STYLING NICKY

DESIREE OSTERMAN

We caught up with a friend recently who said she's stopped watching and listening to the news and her anxiety levels have plummeted. This led to a long conversation over several glasses of wine about the role of the media, what’s reported on, and the effect it has on us all.

Not that we can be oblivious to the negative and bury our heads in the sand, but we can increase our intake of “good stuff”.

How goes the song? “You got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive… E-lim-i-nate the negative… And latch on to the affirmative. Don’t mess with Mr In-Between!” So what better place to get a good dose of positive than by burying your nose in the Spring edition of UNO, to leave you feeling just that little bit happier about life.

We’re about the celebration of this region's people, the good sorts that put the hard mahi into their respective

businesses, groups and organisations that keep our community great. There are so many great things happening out there, and one of the challenges we have is there is a finite number of pages in which to tell them.

To have Stan Walker featured on our Spring cover is a huge positive for us. UNO writer Martyn Pepperell shares Stan’s story in a beautifully crafted, honest and humorous way. Describing his love for the Bay – “My core values started there, and Tauranga Moana still has my heart” – it's hard not to be just that little bit awe-struck and a whole lot proud of our Australian Idol winner and the connection he has to the Bay.

As always, we strive to deliver the best articles with world-class imagery to match and this issue, without exception, has delivered. With stories to inspire, educate and inform from the people that live, work and play here, we’re sure you’ll spend your UNO session feeling like you’ve “eliminated some negative”! Enjoy!

Rebecca and Michele, publishers

EDITOR’S NOTE

I don't know about you but I am very much looking forward to Tauranga's upcoming Escape Festival. One of the highlights of the arts festival is the Bay's own Jared Savage, writer of the bestselling true crime book Gangland His book delves into New Zealand's underbelly of organised crime, a topic I find endlessly fascinating. I couldn't tell you why, but it seems I'm not alone.

Talking with Rebecca, one of UNO 's publishers, the other day, we swapped hideous crime stories from the various true crime podcasts and TV documentaries we'd listened to and watched, both from home and around the world. I’ve found this obsession with true crime stories to be a common talking point amongst most of my female friends. My partner, a male, is particularly perplexed by this. He’ll often ask about the “depressing or gruesome story" I'm following on any given week. Then shows no interest in actually listening to it.

What is this obsession? And why is it usually females who are entranced by it? Is it our subconscious kicking in, forcing us to learn survival skills should the need for recognising what a psychopath has for lunch ever arise? Or perhaps it's just a need to escape from the world's seemingly growing problems and focus entirely on someone else's much more pressing present problem?

Who knows? One thing's for sure, I'll definitely be escaping with many a good book – and its authors – at the Escape Festival. See you there!

Hayley, editor

Clockwise: Nicky Adams, Desiree Osterman, Annabelle Rose, Garth Badger, Rose Loren and Stan Walker.

Stunning reclaimed teak on sale now.

MARTYN PEPPERELL

Martyn Pepperell is a freelance journalist, broadcaster and DJ from Wellington. Over the last 15 years, writing and DJing have taken him around the world several times over. The first time he interviewed Stan Walker was for the legendary New Zealand music magazine Rip It Up in 2011. Eleven years later, he was honoured to profile him for this issue's cover story. Over the past three years, Martyn has worked alongside DJ Sir-Vere in a scriptwriting and production capacity on the award-winning podcast series Aotearoa Hip-Hop: The Music, The People, The History. Outside of music and writing, Martyn enjoys strong coffee, reading, trips to the swimming pool or the coast, and taking film photographs.

GARTH BADGER

Garth Badger has been working as a photographer and director in Auckland for more than 12 years. His commercial work has been as varied as his clients are diverse. Fashion, commercial and editorial work, combined with his own ongoing personal art practice, Garth has become one of New Zealand’s most sought after photographers. Garth worked with Stan on the cover feature for this edition. “Stan's energy and enthusiasm on set was really exciting and I think his true passion for artistry shows through in the moments we captured."

DESIREE OSTERMAN

Desiree Osterman trained as a make-up artist in London where she worked on London Fashion Week and for BBC TV. Back in New Zealand, her freelance work has included fashion shows for Karen Walker and Kate Sylvester, TV commercials for Glassons and Coke and editorial work for NZ Womens’ Weekly, NZ Woman’s Day and most recently for UNO. She says working with Stan Walker for this issue's cover has “definitely been a career highlight”.

EMMA GALLOWAY

Emma Galloway is the best-selling author of three cookbooks. She’s also a former chef, photographer and creator of the award-winning food blog My Darling Lemon Thyme. After many years spent living overseas, Emma returned to live in her hometown of Raglan with her husband and two teenage children. She’s an avid vegetable grower and can often be found in the garden, taking photographs of her produce when not elbow-deep in dirt. Emma enjoyed capturing the new offerings from The Mount Brewing Co. in this issue, using natural light and a fresh spring vibe.

Meet some of the hard-working, talented creatives behind the Spring 2022 issue of UNO CONTRIBUTORS

THAT’S RAD, MAN

Letterbox need an upgrade? Rad Fab's sleek pillar style boxes come in four styles and a range of colour options, transforming your “box on a pole” into a modern feature at the face of your home. Their lockable package storage compartment ensures deliveries are kept safe and dry until your return, giving you peace of mind (and even more of an excuse to shop online!).

RADFAB.CO.NZ

WANT A COOKIE?

Local to Mount Maunganui, Bite & Delight home-baked shortbread are crafted with New Zealand butter and frosted with fruitinfused icing so they look pretty and taste pretty great, too.

Whether you choose a gift box or design your own custom cookie, you'll be sure to create a smile on the face of the lucky cookie muncher. From RRP$25.

BITEANDDELIGHT.CO.NZ

SCREEN TIME

Make any space a screen with this all-new portable projector that provides the ultimate entertainment experience – wherever you may be. Samsung’s The Freestyle is a small but mighty, lightweight portable device that projects onto any wall, ceiling, blind. It also provides mood lighting and projects cool visual effects, to go with your music of choice. RRP$$1699.95.

SAMSUNG.CO.NZ

WHAT’S HOT!

TOAST TO CLASS

These gorgeous Cristal d’Arques Macassar champagne flutes are giving us strong Bridgerton vibes. The elegant glasses have just landed at Gilded Edge in Mount Maunganui and would be perfect ahead of the event season. RRP$119.99 for four.

THEGILDEDEDGE.CO.NZ

ALL SYSTEMS GLOW

In 2018, Eve was launched to give women insight into their health through at-home testing kits, which led to the development of targeted nutritional support products. Now Eve is launching an all-in-one supplement, called All Systems Glow, to help support everything that gives you that “glow” of good health – balanced hormones, better mood, more energy, quality sleep, and everything in between. RRP$49. EVEWELLNESS.COM

We’ve got the latest products for your mind, body and home.

OH SO SMUNCHY

Is it smooth? Is it crunchy? It’s both! Peanut butter lovers, rejoice, your perfect hybrid smooth-yet-crunchy peanut butter gives you the best of both worlds. Inspired by 10-year-old Maggie Mellors, a peanut butter fan who experimented with mixing Pic’s Smooth and Pic’s Crunchy in her kitchen at home, Pic’s Smunchy contains “double the yumminess” (according to Maggie) and is sure to drive a fair few people, well, nuts. RRP$6.99. PICSPEANUTBUTTER.COM

KEEPING BUSY

LOCAL READ

An interactive children’s book that shows tamariki they can be confident, competent and connected to their culture and the world around them, Brooklyn Builds a Bridge draws on Māori culture and is inspired by real-life experiences. Written by Tauranga mum-of-three Stacey Mareroa-Roberts and illustrated by Travis Orams, it shows children that with radical imagination, they can find their inner awesomeness and share their great ideas and gifts with others. RRP$29.99.

BROOKLYNBUILDSABRIDGE.COM

TEE TIME

Wish you could enhance your golf game at the touch of a button? Wish no more. The sleek Garmin Approach S62 Golf Watch integrates critical course information and full-colour mapping. Boasting an array of features to help improve your game, the Approach S62 offers options such as PlaysLike Distance, Hazard View and introduces a Virtual Caddie to analyse critical factors such as wind speed, course layout and a golfer’s past swings to select the best suited club for each shot. RRP$859. GOLF360.CO.NZ

Sick of trying to find screen-free activities for your kids? One P ā p ā moa mum took matters into her own hands and created the Busy Bag – hands-on activities that are easy to take with you when you go out – or get stuck into at home! They help children with fine motor skills, learning colours, shapes and numbers, hand-eye coordination, concentration and problem-solving. Best of all, they are boredom-free. From RRP$28. BUSYBAGS.CO.NZ

OATALLY AWESOME

Whittaker’s new Oat Milk 32 percent cocoa chocolate, made with locally sourced Harraways oats, is a delicious plant-based option with a moreish flavour you’ll love. Whittaker’s Oat Milk is a permanent addition to its chocolate range and is available in a classic 250g block, available in stores nationwide. RRP$5.20. WHITTAKERS.CO.NZ

RECYCLE THE RUNWAY

Rydges Rotorua hosted this benefit for Dress for Success BOP, where designers created couture from pre-loved items.

THRIFT SHOP BALL

A full immersive experience at Tauranga's Totara Street, Rozella Presents and Mamamanagement put on a showcase of dance music and live performance artists.

LANDMARK HOMES PALM SPRINGS SHOWHOME OPENING

Designed to reflect a welcoming Balinese retreat, this Pāpāmoa showhome delighted guests with its beach resort vibe.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED 1. Steven Painter (Landmark Taupo and Hawkes Bay) 2. Paul Clarke (Landmark Franchiser)

3. Hamish and Leanne Brooks 4. Carly Stewart 5. Hope Morrison, Mark Bastin, Lauren Bastin and Tori Morrison 6. Penny Blumer, Dave Ranger and Anna Strahl 7. Ray Day, Jan Day and Colin Campbell 8. Nicky Whiu, Gina Harris and Lisa McFetridge

9. Nicky Whiu, Lisa McFetridge, Gina Harris and Donna Phillips 10. Emma Bunyan and Debbie Ross 11. Kadie and Haz Clarke 12. Mark Bentham and Terry Harris 13. Carly Stewart and Rosie Blockley (interior designer for the showhome) 14. Karina and Dale Wakefield 15. Debbie and Paul Clarke 16. Vashti Walsh, Darren Stowe and Carly Stewart 17. Carly's speech 18. Logan Stewart, Carly Stewart, Kim Woodhouse and Gary Woodhouse.

04

07

ESCAPE FESTIVAL LAUNCH

Guests celebrated the Tauranga festival of writers and creative thinkers with a peek at the lineup.

AIMS GAMES

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Tauranga sporting event for young athletes made a triumphant return.

PHOTOS BRYDIE PHOTOGRAPHY 1. Sandra Simpson, Gabrielle Vincent and Nikki Hansen 2. Rachelle Duffy, Sarah Nicholson and Hannah Wynn 3. Lori Luke, Hayley Nelson and Katie Douglas Clifford 4. Mig McMillan

5. Brit Ivill, Catherine Harold, Trish Galvin, Kathryn Lellman, Nikki Hansen Seated: Gabrielle Vincent and Anqush Kumar 6. Dallas Collett, Lee Ann Taylor, Donella Jones and Sonya Korohina 7. Debbie Green, Sam Weaver, Jenna Mills, Glenn Dougal 8. Grahame Fitzgerald and Glenn Dougal 9. Anne Marie Simon, Heidi Douglas and Darcell Apelu 10. Ronna Funtelar 11. Britt Ivill and Anqush Kumar.

GALVAN

Megan Edwards, Brent Edwards, Caroline Bigham and Taela Eggers

Anna Harris and Catherine Clark

Rob Egan, Vicki Semple, Brian Diver and Phil Ryan

Dyck and Oscar Nathan

Nic Middleton, Kelly McCann and Nicola Goodwin

Matt Simeon, Ella Simeon, Olivia Simeon and Lee Simeon

Fisken, Shannon Fisken, Annalees Jones and Scott Illingworth

Kerr and

McCarthy

Cornere

Greenway

Dempsey

Byrne

MASQUERADE CASINO NIGHT

Held at Classic Flyers, Youth Lives Matter hosted a suicide prevention fundraiser in August, with proceeds going to Mount Maunganui Intermediate School for counselling services and mental health education.

PHOTOS ERIN CAVE 1. Vanessa and Mike Cannell 2. Jason and Nina Palmer 3. Gary and Mei Quirk 4. Samantha Henry and Keryn Jarvis

5. Deb Jamieson, Colleen Schumacher, Susan Grey and Maria Sisson 6. Tim and Catherine Corbett (CEO of the Sir John Kirwan Foundation) 7. Nicki Carran, Virginia Johnstone and Megan Johnstone 8. Steph Tattersall, Beth Rack and Vicky Brown 9. Bridget Ranger, Jamie Winks and Michaela James 10. Sonia Dixon & Logan O'Hara 11. Andy Frank and Lee Crawford 12. Glen Sheaff, Julia Sheaff, Toni Spiers, Reg Spiers, Steph Tattersall, Beth Ratcliffe, David Ratcliffe and Simon Martin 13. Lynette Smith and Tracey O’Neill.

01 02 03 04

07

LIFE IN HARMONY

On November 22, 2009, a 19-year-old Stan Walker took to the stage at Australia’s storied Sydney Opera House for the grand final of Australian Idol That night, Stan was crowned the show’s ultimate winner, his debut pop single “Black Box” became available for purchase online, and a star was born.

Stan has become one of the most celebrated Māori singers of the new millennium in the 13 years since. Along the way, he’s dominated the top 40 music charts in Australia and New Zealand, shared arena stages with American hip-hop and RnB stars like Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, and Akon, and graced the silver screen as an actor. All the while, he’s carried himself with dignity and humility amid navigating enough tragedy and heartbreak to last several lifetimes.

In late August, I spoke with Stan for UNO from Sony Music New Zealand's offices in Auckland, where he was conducting press for his seventh studio album, All In In the weeks beforehand, Stan spent his days at home in Whanganui with his wife Lou Tyson, their son, and their new baby. “My biggest thing I want is to be a present husband and a present father,” he told me. “That’s important for my family, but it’s also important for me. So anything I do has to work around my family or work for us.”

As we began talking, I asked him how his younger self would have imagined his life at age 31. “It’s a crack-up because there is nothing I’ve wanted more than being a husband and a dad,” he replied with a wry grin.

“I’m here now, I’ve been that, and I am that. It blows me away because I can’t imagine my life being any other way now. I complain every day about something, but I love the problems I have and the life that I’ve built.”

Born in Melbourne on October 23, 1990 to Ross and April Walker, Stan grew up between Tamapahore Marae in Tauranga and Byron Bay. Two years ago, he opened up about the early days of his life in his first book, Impossible: My Story, co-written with the ghostwriter Margie Thomson. The stories within Impossible are harrowing and beautiful in equal measure, painting a vivid portrait of a once-ina-generation talent with an almost limitless capacity for forgiveness. “Doing the book was one of the most incredible experiences of my life,” he said. “I knew I had to be so open and raw for it to achieve what I wanted, which was to help people heal and break cycles, bro. We’re brought up chucking everything under the carpet. I’m like, nah, I’m lifting it up. Let’s look at what’s under there.”

Stan Walker is all grown up – and learning to find the balance between his music and his expanding whā nau.

WORDS MARTYN PEPPERELL / PHOTOS GARTH BADGER + SUPPLIED PHOTO ASSISTANT ROSE LOREN / STYLING NICKY ADAMS MAKE UP DESIREE OSTERMAN

Stan wears boiler suit, stylist's own.

"WE’RE BROUGHT UP CHUCKING EVERYTHING UNDER THE CARPET. I’M LIKE, NAH, I’M LIFTING IT UP. LET’S LOOK AT WHAT’S UNDER THERE.”

Earlier this year, Stan received one of his biggest nods of recognition when Elton John approved the use of his te reo Māori cover of “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?” in the recent te reo reboot of the Disney animated classic The Lion King. “There’s been a lot of things I’ve done in my life and career that have made me feel like I can die happy, but that has to be at the top of the list,” he enthused. “That’s my favourite movie of all time. To have it redone in our language and get the sign-off from the Elton John for my version, it’s so crazy.”

Whether it’s family life, recording and performing or other activities, Stan keeps himself busy. Over the last two years, he’s appeared in The Walkers, a reality television show about his family, collaborated with the fragrance and fashion designer Jakob Carter on an eau de toilette fragrance called Human, and was honoured at the Ngā Tohu Toi Mo Ngā Uri Iwi o Te Rohe o Tauranga Moana Matariki Awards 2022 as Creative of the Year. He’s also released Te Arohanui, a collection of his greatest hits re-recorded in te reo Māori, continued to wow audiences, and become actively involved in promoting awareness around a range of social and environmental issues. “We work our asses off, bro,” Stan told me. “We’ve sacrificed so much to live this life we desire, but it doesn’t happen overnight.”

Stan wears own coat, shacket, pants and jewellery.

2.

1.

1. Stan and wife Lou Tyson married in 2021. 2. Singing "Thank You" onstage at 2020's "Light to Unite" concert at Auckland's Silo Park. 3. Impossible: My Story, Stan's personal memoir, was published in 2020 to wide acclaim. 4. In the photography studio, competing with the UNO team's assistant. 5. "Feelings", his latest single collaboration with Kings. 6. A still from the powerful video for his 2017 song "New Takeover".

7. Stan's experimentation isn't limited to music. His sartorial style is becoming more bold as he pushes the boundaries with fashion.

8. Getting glammed up with Desiree Osterman for the UNO shoot.

“I LOVE THAT THE AUDIENCES I WANT TO REACH ARE IN MY BACKYARD, AND I LOVE THAT MY BACKYARD IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND FULFILLING PLACE WITH ALL THE RESOURCES TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF.”

Thinking back to when he started out in the music industry after Australian Idol, Stan remembered his younger self as “fresh and green”, with a burning desire to take his songs to the world. “I wanted to go to America and be an American artist,” he admitted before continuing with a chuckle. “At the moment, I couldn’t think of anything worse. I love who I am, and I love where I’m at. That’s more important to me than anything else. I love that the audiences I want to reach are in my backyard, and I love that my backyard is the most beautiful and fulfilling place with all the resources to be the best version of myself. If in the future my music does take me to America, mean, but I don’t want to be taken there and stay there. I’m really happy, bro.”

For Stan, a huge part of his current happiness came together over the last half decade, which is also the length of time he spent recording his new album, All In. “Over the last five years, the real testing times in my life happened, and so did the incredible breakthrough times,” he said. When he mentioned testing times, one of the things Stan was alluding to was having stomach removal surgery after he discovered he had gastric cancer in 2017. The cause was CDH1, a hereditary gene mutation which has claimed the lives of over two dozen of his whānau. The surgery was one thing, but recovery complications were another. For months afterwards, Stan was in a fight for his life. As his condition improved, Stan returned to one of the things he does best, making music. The incredible times were just around the corner.

Turning away from the demands of the top 40 charts, he called on a new cast of collaborators from New Zealand’s soul, hip-hop, reggae and electronica music scenes. “Every single person who worked on this album comes from different worlds,” he explained to me. “We made the whole new universe together where we could all do something different.” Within this universe, they helped him craft a set of songs that reignited the fire of his youth. "I told everyone, don’t talk to me about radio. I don’t want to hear nothing about Beyoncé is doing this, or Rihanna is doing that,” he said. “I just wanted to get back to making music that I feel. Not everyone is going to love this or even like it, but I don’t care. I’ve come to the point where if I don’t love it, what’s the point of doing it?”

While reflecting on the recording sessions, he mentioned his producers, Matt Sadgrove from the reggae band Sonz of Zion and Devin Abrams, aka Pacific Heights, a former member of the live drum’n’bass band Shapeshifter. “Bro, it was wicked working with them. Devin is the most crack-up dude ever.” Stan also had high praise for Scribe, the legendary New Zealand hip-hop artist who wrote the early 2000s anthems "Not Many" and "Stand Up". “Having Scribe on the album was probably one of my biggest flexes,” Stan told me. “There’s no else one that has ever been, or ever will be, a Scribe.”

One of the standout songs on All In is “The One You Want (60s Song)”, a bouncy reggae, hip-hop and RnB-tinged collaboration with the exciting Kenyan New Zealand rapper Jess B. Over the last four years,

Stan wears his own suit and jewellery.

Stan wears COMMONERS cardigan and own earrings.

Stan wears his own shirt and jewellery.

Jess and her close collaborator, the DJ Half Queen, have been the driving forces behind FILTH, an Auckland club night that places an emphasis on celebrating New Zealand’s queer, Indigenous and immigrant communities.

Stan is a huge supporter of what they’re doing and was honoured to be able to include Jess on his album. “Bro, I reckon it’s mean,” he said. “There’s a big group of people who need to be able to express themselves freely. They need to have their people, their time, their moments, and their nights. It’s so cool to see what they’re doing. Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have gotten it, but because of everything I’ve been exposed to, it makes my heart happy. I just love seeing people be free in who they are.”

Something else that makes Stan’s heart happy is spending time in the Bay. “Tauranga is huge for me because that’s where I’m from,” he told me. “That’s where my whenua is, that’s where I will lie when I die, that’s where my upbringing was. My first inspiration for singing was my nannies while I was growing up on Tamapahore Marae. I grew up in the village. I’m still very much a village kid who is creating his own village. My core values started there, and Tauranga Moana still has my heart.”

A self-described geek for genealogy or whakapapa, Stan draws a huge amount of strength from his family history. “People always say, remember where you come from, but that’s only one half of it,” he explained to me as we came towards the end of our interview. “The other half is who you come from. Once I found out who I come from, everything changed in a whole new way. I had to be incredible, outrageous and amazing because the people I come from are incredible.”

Deep in thought, Stan paused for a moment before continuing with a final defining statement about both the place he calls home and his family history. “When I think about Tauranga and who I come from, I wouldn’t be here without their sacrifices. They set the standard. I am their legacy, bro, and I’m doing everything that I should be. They survived all they survived and fought all they fought for us to be incredible. They’re the biggest part, of the core, of who I am.”

“WHEN I THINK ABOUT TAURANGA AND WHO I COME FROM, I WOULDN’T BE HERE WITHOUT THEIR SACRIFICES. THEY SET THE STANDARD. I AM THEIR LEGACY, BRO, AND I’M DOING EVERYTHING THAT I SHOULD BE.”

Stan wears LEA COLOMBO X COS shirt, own suit pants, footwear and jewellery.

Afew weeks back, I was lucky enough to experience local mixologist Katie Short’s new mobile cocktail service Mingle + Me. As she presented me with the cocktail list, full of weird and wonderful ingredients, she commented on how much consumers' tastes have changed since COVID-19 – a rum and Coke no longer cuts it. It seems we’re all on the hunt for drinks that are refreshing, new and exciting.

So, this month, we are taking a closer look at the Bay of Plenty producers who are mixing things up, injecting local food into their drinks in some seriously unique and delicious ways. From honey to truffle, kiwifruit to guavas.

First off the block is Mount Brewing Co., who are making waves with their unique brews. A family-run business with Briar Meikle and Niall Harley at the helm, Mount Brewing Co. makes a Kiwifruit Sour using local ingredients to craft an award-winning beer that picked up a silver at the 2022 Australian International Beer Awards – one of seven medals they picked up that day, with every beer they entered taking home a trophy.

Also on the the trophey shelf is Mount Brewing Co.’s standout beer Golden Hour, with strong ginger tones. It was selected for the New World Beer and Cider awards this year, making the top 30. The best place to taste their unique brews is at The Rising Tide in Mount Maunganui, and grab a plate of Johney’s Dumplings while you’re at it! And if beer isn't your thing, check out Mount Brewing Co.’s range of ciders and gins on page 36.

Another local power couple is husband and wife team Rowena and Simon Pearce of The Cider Factorie. Originally winemakers, they focus on

MIX IT UP

Serious foodie and creative director at Kitchen Takeover Stacey Jones bids you bottoms-up with some delicious local drinks.

producing traditionally styled ciders made from real fruit: “Our current seasonal cider is a fruit salad – it has local strawberry, guava, boysenberries, feijoas and limes, all from local suppliers.” Their Mojito Cider makes use of local limes and Liberty Growers mint. You can grab a tasting paddle at their Waihekeinspired tasting room and restaurant in Te Puna. The paddle includes their Perfect Pear 2018 bottle-fermented cider crowned New Zealand Champion Cider for 2021 at the New Zealand Fruit Wine and Cider Awards.

Other local products getting the special treatment include Katikati-based Harbourside Macadamias. Making the most of their hyper-sustainable harvest, this team has created a to-die-for liqueur, The Orchardist, with an exquisite and unique macadamia flavour. Grab a bottle at the Tauranga Farmers’ Market and then give our cocktail recipe from the team at Solera a whirl (opposite). Or head down to Lantern restaurant to try their decadent affogato, replacing the traditional amaretto with The Orchardist.

If you’re on the hunt for something less boozy, Dr Bucha Living Drinks is the ticket. A regular at the local markets, kombucha makers Fin and Donna McDonald use local ingredients to create the best tasting kombucha I’ve come across. My personal favourites are the Ginger, Orange and Turmeric, and Jalepe ñ o flavours.

Last but not least is the beautifully-named Truffle Hound Belgian Quadruppel Ale, which heroes local black perigord truffles from our friends at Te Puke Truffles. Brewed by Kererū, the dark amber Belgian-style ale is a truly unique experience.

So, with spring in the air, it’s the perfect time to experiment with one of our refreshing, locally inspired brews. Cheers!

KINDRED SPIRITS

These "near-healthy" concoctions were created by the talented mixologists at Solera in Mount Maunganui, using local kombucha and liqueur.

Dr Orchardist

Non-alcoholic

45ml of Zero gin

25ml orgeat syrup

25ml lime juice

Dr Bucha Boysenberry and Kaffir Lime Kombucha

Kaffir lime leaf or lemon/ lime rind, to garnish

Alcoholic

45ml gin (Malfy)

25ml The Orchardist Macadamia Liqueur

25ml lime juice

Dr Bucha Boysenberry and Kaffir Lime Kombucha Kaffir lime leaf or lemon/ lime rind, to garnish

Place all ingredients except the kombucha and garnish into a cocktail shaker. Top with ice and shake. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice. Top with the kombucha slowly by pouring over the backside of a spoon to create a layered look. Garnish with kaffir lime leaf if you have it, or lemon/lime rind.

Ginger mojito

Ginger and mint syrup

250ml water

250g caster sugar

100g ginger, roughly chopped 50g fresh mint

Bring water to boil. Add sugar and ginger, lower to a simmer and leave for 10 minutes. Take off heat, add mint and leave to cool overnight in fridge. Strain out the mint and ginger the following day.

Dr Bucha mojito

45ml white rum (we use Havana – to make non-alcoholic, leave out)

15ml ginger and mint syrup

4-5 leaves of fresh mint

Dr Bucha Ginger Kombucha

Fill a tall glass with crushed ice. Add rum and syrup. Add fresh mint leaves. Top up with kombucha. Stir. Garnish with mint sprig.

PERFECT MATCH

These scintillating summer pours from Mount Brewing Co. will tantalise your tastebuds and keep you cool on the hot, sunny days to come. Find your favourite and match with our delicious meal suggestions.

WORDS HAYLEY BARNETT / PHOTO EMMA GALLOWAY

CLASSIC APPLE CIDER

PEACH & APRICOT GIN & SODA

FRESH AND DELICATE

FEIJOA

GIN & TONIC

TEMPTING TANGY TIPPLE

You can’t go past the sweetyet-tart taste of the country’s favourite seasonal fruit, the humble feijoa. Meal match with your favourite blue cheese and a drizzle of honey for a complementary kick.

Two summer stone fruits, muddled with gin and soda, this mix creates a drink that’s perfect for the beach and beyond. When dining at home match with the spicy heat of a rogan josh.

PINK GIN & TONIC CHARM IN A CAN

Crisp premium gin and tonic comes blended with juicy red raspberries, to give it a taste to die for. Pair with lamb kebabs cooked in a berry marinade and, voilà, you have your barbecue menu sorted.

COOL, TIMELESS CLASSIC

Traditionally made apple cider is given a makeover by blending it with fresh and juicy apples. Not too sweet, not too dry, apple cider is perfectly matched with a roast pork fillet salad.

DARK N’ STORMY CIDER

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE

Real ginger, molasses and spices make up this unique and delicious cider. With a mediumsweet cider base, the aroma is familiar, but really kicks off when paired with a spiced ginger pud.

STRAWBERRY & LIME CIDER

HERE COMES THE SUN

Cool down with a fruity thirst-quenching cider. Strawberry and zesty lime offer a medium sweetness and tart finish when matched with a savoury strawberry salad.

TART RHUBARB CIDER

SHARP YET REFRESHING

Perfect for spring, this distinctive cider will hit the spot with rhubarb lovers. It’s fun, it’s elegant and it’s particularly delightful when paired with a creamy carbonara.

“I WANT TO BELIEVE THE CRAFT INDUSTRY IS A MIX OF SCIENCE, ART AND A LITTLE BIT OF CHAOS.”

PAWEL, HEAD BREWER

PEARL OF THE BAY

Good food, good coffee and good vibes are top priorities for the new owners of Pā p ā moa’s award-winning Pearl Kitchen.

WORDS MONIQUE BALVERT-O’CONNOR PHOTOS RACHEL HADFIELD

Nestled in the heart of Coast Boulevard in Pāpāmoa Beach, Pearl Kitchen has become an iconic spot, with an amazing team behind it.

A relaxed place , with an ethos centred on delivering “banging coffee, delicious food and vibrant staff”, it's the perfect place to enjoy hearty food packed with ingredients by local growers and suppliers. And it’s also a “go to” on Friday night, offering drinks, tapas and gourmet pizza, to unwind after the working week.

How good does all that sound? It gets better. Pearl Kitchen is the winner of the most recent Bay Hospitality Awards’ Outstanding Café accolade.

To its many loyal followers, the award was no surprise. Just ask one customer who travels from Whakat ā ne and back specifically for breakfast Pearl Kitchen style. And, in the words of a local: “Gorgeous and well thought out design and layout, fabulous service, delicious and interesting food, perfect coffee, atmosphere, and diet choice sensitivity from staff.”

It's little wonder that Chanel and Justin Rawiri are immensely proud to now own this winning eatery. They’re quick to assure little will be changing, although, of course, a seasonally appropriate menu will be introduced in late October (with the old faves remaining).

“We couldn’t be more excited to join such a talented team and amazing community,” Justin says.

“The key message from us is that we fell in love with Pearl Kitchen just the way it is, so aren’t planning to make any significant changes. It will be the same great team, relaxing vibe, scrumptious food and delicious coffee."

The whole team remains, led by Nigel Reid and Kirsty Moore. Along with key staff David Stuart and Tanesha Horsburgh, all were instrumental in the café’s award-winning success, and are celebrated members of the Pearl Kitchen team with serious credentials, Justin praises.

Chef Nigel Reid started his career as protégé of top New Zealand chef Simon Gault. After a seven-year stint overseas, Nigel returned to become Simon's right-hand man as group head chef for the Nourish Group. Cooking in London for a group of restaurants (under the Cubitt House umbrella), he had the opportunity to serve some of the world's elite and even some royals. Back in New Zealand he’s played an integral part in setting up top eateries. He includes Pearl Kitchen on that list.

Nigel, who loves people who love food, can be found front and centre in Pearl's open kitchen warmly welcoming its patrons each day. His recipes are inspired by travel, family and the seasons.

“Creating and leading with passion, I share my own brand of honest and exciting cookery,” he says.

Front-of-house manager Kirsty Moore hails from Edinburgh, Scotland. Armed with a degree in History

"...BANGING COFFEE, DELICIOUS FOOD AND VIBRANT STAFF.”

of Art and Design and a Master’s degree in marketing, she arrived in New Zealand six years ago seeking a complete lifestyle change after working as a marketing manager. Queenstown beckoned and she managed Mrs Ferg (part of the famous Fergburger empire) there. Tauranga has been home for two years. There’s much to love about working at Pearl Kitchen, she says, such as the great work-life balance, family culture, love for customers, fun environment and delicious food.

David Stuart also hails from Edinburgh and happens to be engaged to Kirsty. David studied Culinary Arts and Food Preparation and worked as a chef in Vietnam, then in Melbourne, and also at an award-winning cocktail bar (with a focus on small bites) in Edinburgh. Add to that five years clocked up as head chef of a Mexican restaurant in Queenstown, before moving to Pearl Kitchen as sous chef. His experience and knowledge of Asian-style dishes influences Pearl Kitchen’s much-enjoyed Friday night tapas menu.

Rosario Ross Murro identified his passion for pizza at an early age – he began work as a pizza chef at 14! From Puglia, Italy (a region known for its great food and beaches), Rosario makes a true Italian-style pizza with hand-stretched sourdough and fresh ingredients, cooked in Pearl Kitchen’s wood-fired oven. He has

been in New Zealand for four years, working in Melbourne beforehand.

Love a good cocktail? If yes, then chances are you may already know of Tanesha Horsburgh. This P ā p ā moa local studied Food and Beverage Hotel Management before finding her niche in hospitality. She moved from Auckland to help open Pearl Kitchen, where she now looks after the bar and drinks menu. Her Friday night cocktail specials are a highlight of the week for many customers.

As for new owners, Chanel and Justin, they’re proud to have such an excellent team of 17, and excited to be part of the greater Pearl Kitchen community. The couple moved from Auckland with their young apprentices – Charlotte (4) and Georgia (2.5) – to a region that was already familiar. Justin grew up in Tauranga, and both have family here.

“We are both foodies and we bought Pearl Kitchen because we love it," says Chanel. "We look forward to becoming part of such a great community."

Pearl Kitchen, 20 Coast Boulevard

Open: Saturday – Thursday 8am–2pm Friday 8am–8pm (Happy Hour 4pm-6pm)

“WE ARE BOTH FOODIES AND WE BOUGHT PEARL KITCHEN BECAUSE WE LOVE IT.”

PLANTBASED PLEASERS

Raglan local Emma Galloway shares some of her most popular recipes from her latest cookbook, Every Day.

WORDS EMMA GALLOWAY PHOTOS SUPPLIED

Emma Galloway’s website, My Darling Lemon Thyme, is responsible for introducing what were once alternative ingredients into many Kiwi homes. These gluten-free, vegan recipes from Every Day are so packed with delicious flavour and nutrition, they might even convince the most ardent meat eater to become flexitarian. From a spicy Vietnamese noodle dish and protein-packed burgers, to the flavourful Middle Eastern pilaf and chocolate-topped cheesecake bars, these recipes will cater to many requisites but mainly to great taste.

Tempeh + mushroom burgers with smashed avocado

These burger patties keep well in the fridge for a couple of days – chill for at least 30 minutes before cooking because this helps keep them together. Store-bought gluten-free bread has come a long way and good gluten-free burger buns are now readily available.

Makes 4 | Gluten-free | Vegan

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely diced 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

250g button mushrooms, trimmed and finely chopped

1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped

METHOD

1 tsp paprika 250g packet tempeh, roughly chopped 30g gluten-free breadcrumbs

Fine salt and freshly ground black pepper Olive oil, to cook 4 gluten-free burger buns, sliced in half

1 large ripe avocado, smashed in a bowl with a little lemon juice, salt and pepper

Good-quality mayonnaise (vegan or regular), pesto, lettuce or microgreens, red onion, tomato relish and avocado, to serve

1. Heat a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add oil and onion and cook, stirring often, for 4–5 minutes or until tender and golden. Add garlic, finely chopped mushroom and thyme and cook, stirring often, for a good 5–8 minutes or more, until the mushrooms have released their juices and these have evaporated, so they’re almost dry, tender and golden (this is important because you don’t want any excess moisture or your patties won’t hold together). Add paprika and cook for a further 20–30 seconds.

2. Transfer to a food processor, add tempeh and breadcrumbs and pulse until finely ground. Season with salt and pepper. Shape into 4 large patties, cover and chill for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 days if preparing ahead of time.

3. If you don’t have a food processor, finely chop the tempeh, add onion mixture and breadcrumbs then, using your hands, scrunch everything together until it holds its shape. Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add a splash of olive oil and cook the patties for 3–4 minutes on each side, or until golden. Grill buns on the cut side until golden.

4. Spread a little mayonnaise and pesto onto the base of each burger bun, then add a patty, a few microgreens or lettuce, some onion slices or pickled red onions. Top with smashed avocado and spread a little relish on the cut side of the top bun and place over.

Note: The patties can be frozen for up to 3 months – just defrost in the fridge overnight before using.

Black pepper tofu bún cha

Bún cha is a grilled pork and noodle dish from Hanoi, Vietnam, served with piles of herbs and the famous nuoc mam cham dipping sauce made with fish sauce, lime/vinegar, sugar, chilli and garlic. Here’s a vegan take, with peppery tofu and a soy sauce-based version of nuoc mam cham, served with tasty sweet and sour Vietnamese pickles which you can make 4 to 5 days in advance and store in the fridge.

Serves 3–4 | Gluten-free | Vegan

INGREDIENTS

DRESSING

2 tbsp gluten-free soy sauce

2 tbsp brown/white rice vinegar

2 tbsp golden caster sugar

1 bird’s eye chilli, finely chopped (de-seed for less heat)

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

BLACK PEPPER TOFU

Coconut or olive oil

300g packet firm tofu, cubed

2 tbsp gluten-free soy sauce

1 tbsp pure maple syrup or golden caster sugar

2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Rice vermicelli, cooked according to packet instructions or soaked in boiling water for 10–15 minutes, then drained

Baby cos lettuce, sliced Cucumber + mint leaves to serve

METHOD

1. To make the dressing, combine dressing ingredients in a small jar and shake well.

2. To make the black pepper tofu, heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add a little oil and pan-fry tofu until golden on all sides. Reduce heat and add soy sauce, maple syrup and black pepper. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the sauce thickens and the tofu is golden and coated.

3. To serve, arrange rice vermicelli in bowls, top with black pepper tofu, arrange a handful of lettuce leaves, some sliced cucumber and mint leaves in each bowl and drizzle a little dressing over the top.

CARROT + DAIKON PICKLES INGREDIENTS

100ml boiling water

65g (⅓ cup) golden caster sugar

½ tsp fine salt

100ml brown/white rice vinegar

1 carrot, finely shredded (use a mandolin or finely slice with a knife)

1 cup finely shredded daikon (approx ¼ of a large daikon)

METHOD

1. To make the pickles, combine boiling water, sugar and salt in a bowl then stir until dissolved.

2. Add vinegar and set aside to cool completely, before adding the grated carrot and daikon.

3. Mix well and set aside for at least 30 minutes.

Tomato pilaf with black lentils and caramelised onion

This delicious and nutritious almostone-pan-meal was inspired by Turkish tomato pilaf and Mujadara, a tasty combination of rice, lentils and onions found throughout the Middle East. This dish manages to extract every ounce of flavour from just a handful of simple ingredients.

Use puy-style or brown lentils in place of black lentils, if you prefer

Serves 4 | Gluten-free | Vegan

INGREDIENTS

115g black (beluga) lentils, rinsed well

60ml olive oil

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

250g vine or cherry tomatoes, finely chopped

340g white basmati rice, rinsed and drained well

750ml water

Coriander leaves, roughly chopped, to serve

Caramelised onions

2 tbsp olive oil

3 onions, finely sliced Fine salt, to taste

METHOD

1. Place lentils into a small saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15–20 minutes, or until just tender. Drain and set aside.

2. Heat a large heavy-based frying pan over medium heat. Add oil and garlic and cook for 30 seconds, before adding chopped tomato. Cook, stirring often, for 3–4 minutes, or until soft and juicy. Add rice and stir then add water

and a good pinch of salt. Bring to the boil, cover with a lid, reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside with the lid on for a further 10 minutes.

3. To make the caramelised onions, as soon as your rice is happily cooking away, heat oil in a large heavybased frying pan over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring often, for 20–25 minutes or until

deeply golden, taking care in the final 5–10 minutes to ensure the bottom doesn’t catch and burn. Season with salt. These can be prepared in advance and will store in a glass jar in the fridge for up to 3 days.

4. When the rice is cooked, remove the lid, stir through lentils, adjust seasoning if needed and serve topped with caramelised onions and chopped coriander.

The specialists in: pool consultation, commercial and residential construction, maintenance, & outdoor structures.

Cardamom + dark chocolate “cheesecake” bars

A great make-ahead dessert as it stores 4–5 days in the fridge. Use freshly ground cardamom seeds for fuller flavour but cardamom spice works fine, too. Start this recipe the night before to soak the cashews. Tip: Cashew pieces are cheaper than whole ones and give the same result.

Makes 12–14 slices | Gluten-free | Vegan

INGREDIENTS

BASE

240g dried pitted dates, roughly chopped

100g raw almonds

1 tbsp virgin coconut oil, melted

FILLING

375g raw cashew nuts, soaked overnight in cold water and drained well

185ml virgin coconut oil, melted

125ml freshly squeezed lemon juice

125ml pure maple syrup

2 tsp vanilla extract

¼ tsp fine salt

2 tsp ground cardamom

CHOCOLATE TOPPING

85g dairy-free dark chocolate, roughly chopped

60ml coconut milk

2 tbsp pure maple/brown rice syrup

METHOD

1. Soak the cashews overnight.

2. To make the cheesecake base, line a 28cm x 18cm slice tin with baking paper, overlapping the sides by 2cm. Put the pitted dates, almonds and melted coconut oil into a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Press the mixture into the tin, using the back of a spoon to pack it in firmly.

3. To make the filling, place all the filling ingredients into a highpowered blender and blend on

WIN!

Every Day by Emma Galloway, published by HarperCollins, is out now and you can win a copy for yourself! Keep an eye on our socials by following: unomagnz | unomagnz

high until smooth. If you don’t have a high-powered blender, finely grind the cardamom seeds in a mortar and pestle first, before adding to the blender. Pour the mixture over the base and smooth the top. Allow to set in the fridge for at least 6 hours or preferably overnight.

4. To make the chocolate topping, place the dark chocolate into a small heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of boiling water, making sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of

the bowl. Add the coconut milk and the maple/brown rice syrup and heat gently until melted. If it starts to look a little split (this can happen because of the coconut milk), whisk to bring it back together into a smooth sauce. When just melted, remove from the heat and set aside to cool slightly, before spreading over the cheesecake. Return to the fridge until set. Once set, slice into 12–14 bars, using a sharp knife warmed under running hot water.

KAIMOANA KINDNESS

IMAGES SUPPLIED

New Zealand shellfish is some of the best in the world. Relaxing on the beach with a good old mussel fritter has to be the quintessential Kiwi summer experience. But there’s more to its goodness than the taste; shellfish farmed in Aotearoa has now been proven to be extra kind to our environment too

An in-depth look into New Zealand-farmed shellfish found it has among the lowest carbon footprint of any animal protein, with mussels similar to that of plant-based favourite tofu. Which means that while most plant-based proteins are perfect for low-impact eating, those of us not totally ready for the vegetarian life can enjoy shellfish guilt free.

The sustainability team at thinkstep-anz analysed the life cycle of farmed mussels and oysters and found that these delicious morsels are playing ball when it comes to being eco-friendly. Not only do they have a low carbon footprint, but their farming also helps the environment in myriad ways.

Mussels and oysters are filter feeders, so they get all their nutrients from the water while purifying it around them. Mussel and oyster farms also act as reefs as they follow longlines below the water, meaning sea life and marine life are given additional habitat, food and roosting hotspots.

TV food personality Ganesh Raj recently set out on an adventure around the country for the Best

Foods Foodie Roadie and discovered the special growers, farmers and producers around Aotearoa.

Visiting James Marine Mussels in the Coromandel, to barge green-lipped mussels, Ganesh was blown away by the thoughtful process behind farming these tasty morsels. Kicking off at the crack of dawn, trailing along the clear waters, and finding fresh and plentiful kaimoana proved to be not such a bad day at the office!

Closer to home, in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, the mussels from Whakatōhea Mussel Farm are as extraordinary as their homeland. Off the coastline of Ōpōtiki, the farm is located under crystal clear blue waters.

Whakatōhea Mussel Farm is a testament to the people of Bay of Plenty. The local iwi envisioned a mussel farm would drum up employment and income for whanau and the local community, and now they’re living the dream.

Eating local is a great way to support our producers and keep production cycles and sustainability practices in check. Check out the rest of the Best Foods Foodie Roadie for more epic spots around Aotearoa with fresh flavours and Ganesh Raj’s recipes to match. Hint: The mussel fritters with sweet chilli mayo are moreish in the best way!

BESTFOODS.CO.NZ/FOODIEROADIE.HTML

Sustainably farmed local mussels and oysters are not only delicious, they’re eco-friendly too.

Ganesh and Peter from James Marine in the Coromandel barged green-lipped mussels at dawn.

DRIVING EXCELLENCE

Mount Maunganui’s only driving range brings technology and pro coaching together to make improving your golf game even more enjoyable.

WORDS DAN COLLINS / PHOTOS JAHL MARSHALL

“G

olf’s quite infectious,” Scott Pickett smiles, as the constant, gentle thwack of golf clubs hitting golf balls rings out behind him. “One person gets into it, they tell their mates and the next thing they’re dragging them out. It’s an addictive sport.”

It’s a cheerful day and we’re standing in one of the 19 covered bays at Golf 360, the only golf driving range in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui. As we chat, a steady stream of golfers trickle in and out.

In the far bay, a middle-aged chap who looks like he knows what he’s doing effortlessly whacks his golf balls down the range, while beside us a retiree practises her swing. Next to her, two teens share a bucket of balls and a laugh, and a couple of bays away, a 20-something works on her swing under the watchful instruction of one of the facility's PGA pro coaches, who happens to be a former New Zealand champion.

The diverse group of players here this morning challenges preconceptions and proves how much golf has changed in recent years. No longer the preserve of stuffy, wealthy older gents, the sport has worked hard to attract new players and become welcoming to all who want to give it a shot.

This is something Scott is passionate about. Since taking sole ownership of Golf 360 four years ago, he’s worked tirelessly to make the facility as welcoming and friendly as possible to new players, while providing the depth of knowledge and expertise that top players demand and is invaluable help to anyone looking to improve their game.

“One of our philosophies is, ‘Golf is hard, so let's try and make the game a little bit easier’,” he says.

That philosophy drives, excuse the pun, every aspect of Golf 360. Every bay in the driving range sports the latest in fancy golf technology that you can use to analyse your game; you can get private lessons to identify, zone in and work out your problem areas; you can play a challenging round of mini golf on their Mount Maunganui-themed course; and you can even get fitted for your own set of personally tailored golf clubs, the ultimate experience for golfers wanting to reach the next level.

It’s one that’s also surprisingly affordable. Scott tells me that a set of fitted clubs doesn’t cost more than a set of off-the-rack clubs. Best of all, there’s no charge for the fitting experience, during which your swing is analysed and you’re run through various combinations of club heads to find the absolute best one for your playing style. During the process you’ll see, in real time, how the different club heads impact your shot and the improvements the various brands and shapes are making.

“Everyone’s got a unique swing DNA the way they swing so we’re trying to match the clubs to that as best we can. It’s great that it doesn’t cost them any more,” Scott says. “We’d much rather sell them a set of clubs that are custom-fitted, designed for them, than something that’s off the rack.”

As experienced fitters, Scott and his team have a good idea about what might work for individual golfers, calling it an educated trial-and-error process that works off the data their process provides.

“But also with their goals in mind as well. What are they trying to achieve?” Scott adds. “Sometimes we might be convinced that a particular model and brand is going to work out great, but it doesn’t always work out. We let the clubs do the talking. We’ll interpret the data, the technology and the clubs rather than steering them too much in a certain direction or to preconceived ideas.”

Because as anyone who’s ever played a round will tell you, all the data in the world can’t compensate for that most intangible quality of all: Feel.

“Exactly right,” Scott exclaims. “When I’m fitting someone I can’t feel what’s going on, but we’ll ask the customer throughout the process, ‘What does that feel like?’ That’s important. If they say the club feels heavy or clunky, we take that advice on board.”

Scott says that one of the best parts of the job is calling people to tell them their custom-fitted clubs have arrived. “It’s exciting,” Scott smiles. “You’re keen to see what they’re going to do for your game and usually they will make a difference.”

The club fitting and some of the lessons take place inside, not out on the range. To the right of the entrance when you walk into Golf 360, there’s a giant, wall-sized screen with an artificial hitting mat in front and a small box set up to the side on the ground. This unassuming box is Golf 360’s secret weapon.

It’s called the Foresight GCQuad, and it’s a quadrascopic high-speed camera system that precisely measures every aspect of how your club hits the ball to create an accurate picture of your shot, capturing everything from launch angle, ball speed, spin, impact strength, angle of club…

Basically, every aspect of how you hit the ball and where the ball goes after you’ve hit it.

“Golf’s a highly technical sport, and using this technology helps so that neither the player nor the coach is guessing as to what’s going wrong,” Scott explains. “We can see what the club’s doing and that has an effect on what the ball does. Because of that, we can make changes and then see what that does to the club information and how that affects ball flight. We can get very quick changes and results because of it. We can see results very quickly.”

But against the backdrop of numbers and data, you don’t want to forget that golf is a game. And games are supposed to be fun. Which is something else the GCQuad caters for.

“It makes it entertaining,” Scott says of his recent decision to fit out every bay in the driving range with their own GCQuad unit. “You can actually play real-world courses on it.”

This means that you can hit your ball down Golf 360’s 240m long driving range and the full-colour touchscreen in your bay shows you how you fared on a virtual course. You can even directly compete in a virtual round of golf against your mate in another bay, and then compare your play data at the end. It’s a true game-changer.

“There’s a great little pitch and putt course which is ideal for a beginner golfer who is a little daunted about going out on the golf course but wants to work on their technique,” Scott enthuses. “They can come along and hit every club in their bag playing that little course. It’s very realistic, they have their shot, it tracks it and you can see the result on the screen."

Whether you want to pop in for a quick hit with a 45-ball bucket, spend some serious time working on your technique with the Mega Bucket of 175 balls, or anything in between, Golf 360 has you covered even in bad weather, as the bays are fully covered, or at night, as the range is floodlit, with Scott saying late-night Thursdays are especially popular.

And if golf’s something you’ve wanted to try but aren’t sure whether it’s for you, club hireage is just $5. As Scott says, golf has never been more accessible, and they love seeing new faces come through the door.

“We’re always seeing people we haven’t seen before. It’s exciting,” Scott says. “A lot of people haven’t been exposed to golf, and for many this will be their only taste. For us, it’s about people having a go.”

New players of all ages, genders and ethnicities started showing up during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when golf was one of the few sports you could play under Level 3 restrictions, with Scott saying ladies’ golf has seen one of the biggest upswings.

“Larissa Blackbourn, one of our PGA pro coaches, is heavily involved in our ladies’ coaching and she’s not had a problem at all filling up her ladies’ clinics,” Scott says. “There’s so much interest there from ladies in the game.”

He says the improvements he’s made to Golf 360 since taking over have completely re-energised the place.

“It’s more golfer-friendly,” he smiles, as the diverse batch of golfers around us thwack their balls down the fairway. “There’s a good buzz around.”

GOLF360.CO.NZ

R O ZE L LA PRE SENTS

Specialising in luxe, bohemian events held in unique and intimate locations, Rachael Stanway is an events planner who can conjure up a bespoke bash you’ll never forget.

wealthy. There she was able to expand her flair and natural talent for creating fabulous settings and experiences.

Gathering friends, curating beautiful spaces, and providing musicians and performers a place to shine was apparent in Rachael Stanway from a young age. What started out at age 13 as a bit of fun in the front flat of her parents' property has transformed and grown into boutique events business, Rozella Presents.

Speaking of those early days, Rachael explains, “I was never allowed to go out. My parents were really strict, but I was always allowed people over. So I’d have parties.” On leaving school, in true Kiwi form, Rachael embarked on an extended OE, travelling on and off for almost 18 years. It was while working on superyachts in the Mediterranean that she was tasked with styling the dining tables of the

On one of her trips home, Rachael teamed up with a like-minded friend whose folks owned a kiwifruit orchard in Paengaroa. They saw the potential to host a multi-day music festival for friends there, featuring 15 bands, fire dancers, DJs and food stalls. “Sundaise” was born, and was so successful, they moved the festival to a larger property in Dickey’s Flat in the Karangahake Gorge the following year – with a larger team planning and expanding the vision. The final Sundaise was unfortunately flooded out in 2017, and was to feature more than 50 bands.

WORDS CATHERINE SYLVESTER PHOTOS JAMES STANBRIDGE + IGNACIO NABULEN

Rachael Stanway

In the midst of travelling and staging Sundaise, Rachael looked around the local music scene and recognised a gap in the market for original music held in intimate settings. As is often the way, great ideas can start in the simplest forms. Rachael says, “I thought, ‘I know lots of musicians. I’m going to have some friends around and play music’.”

She continues, “I love and collect lamps and I had a favourite red one, so I decided to call it the Red Lounge Sessions.” She invited a mate with a food truck to set up out front, charged $10 a ticket to pay the musicians, and in January 2014, 30 of her friends joined her and a handful of performers for the first of what would grow into the events business Rozella Presents is today.

In 2015, the Red Lounge Sessions moved to the larger venue of Totara Street. Over

the years these events have included a lineup of a Māori opera, punk acts, and even a burlesque show.

As well as creating her own events, Rachael enjoys collaborating with other artists. Joining forces with event planner Mamamanagementnz aka Sarah Crowther (or better known as DJ Mamadafunk), these inspiring wāhine have created the Thrift Shop Ball, which was held at Totara Street in The Mount recently.

“The Thrift Shop Ball is a celebration – an extravaganza of colour,” explains Rachael. “We wanted to do a ball where everybody dresses up. It’s an exclusive showcase of dance, music and live performance artists. It’s more than just an event – it’s a full immersive experience.” The event will include DJs, performance artists, a stiltwalking “Op Shop Queen”, and more.

So, what’s on the horizon for Rozella Presents? Rachael is bringing back the Red Lounge Sessions – particularly one of her favourites, Red Lounge Goes Roaming. These are held at unique locations that attendees are ferried to by bus. The original event was an afternoon experience of drinks, canapés, jazz and beats, at the Falls Retreat in Karangahake Gorge.

Offering opportunities for training and internships in event planning for polytechnic students is also on the cards.

With so much out-of-the-box creativity, wonderful originality with such a broad range of expertise, it would appear that the sky’s the limit for this local bespoke events queen.

ROZELLAPRESENTS

IT’S MORE THAN JUST AN EVENT – IT’S A FULL IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE.”

NEXT BIG THING

The up-and-coming star of Muru got into acting almost by accident – but his onscreen talent is certainly no fluke.

WORDS DAN COLLINS

“I wasn’t too big on the idea of being an actor,” he admits, before explaining how his mum helped him turn tragedy into triumph, while also keeping him from wandering down the wrong path despite his protestations at the time.

The 18-year-old local is being hotly tipped as the next big Kiwi actor to take flight, having starred in notable New Zealand films like Muru and Savage , as well as the theatre play Little Black Bitch

“It wasn’t until I went through losing my brother and kind of went off the rails that my mum thought to chuck me into acting, to help me cope with what I was dealing with at the time,” he continues. “I’ve always been an out-of-the-box type of person, a bit of a character, all my life. So she thought she’d just chuck me into that.”

It was a prudent move and one that proves the old saying ‘mother knows best’. Even if initially she had to drag him along to drama classes.

“A lot of the time I was annoyed at my mother for making me do it,” he laughs. “But I look at it now and I’m like, ‘Ah, okay. Thank you, Mum!’”

The very first audition he got was for the lead role in a short film called My Brother Mitchell, which screened at the New Zealand International Film Festival back in 2018.

“That was based on the director losing his older brother, so I had that connection straight away with the director,” he says. “Acting just went on from there. I feel like it was fate.”

Poroaki’s a friendly and engaging guy and was used to the limelight, thanks to his time performing in a Kapa Haka group, which he credits for giving him skills that he was able to transfer to acting.

Even still, the natural performer says that he found his first audition extremely nerve-wracking. “Walking into the audition room I was definitely nervous and didn’t know how to come across or what to expect,” he says. “But once I got into a flow I started seeing all the benefits and started to really enjoy it. After the first short film I thought to myself, ‘I wouldn’t mind doing this.’”

His performance in My Brother Mitchell got him noticed, and more auditions started coming in. One was for a role in the critically acclaimed feature film Savage in 2020, a movie no less than The Guardian described as “a moving New Zealand street-gang saga” and a “touching character study.” But even with these successes behind him, the Bay of Plenty local still wasn’t sure if acting was for him.

“It wasn’t until Muru, really, when I thought I could do something with acting. For a lot of it I really thought I was tin-assing my way through. That it was just luck,” he reflects. “I thought I only got My Brother Mitchell because of that connection with the director and I really thought I only got Savage because I had a really rugged haircut!"

"WALKING INTO THE AUDITION ROOM I WAS DEFINITELY NERVOUS AND DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO COME ACROSS OR WHAT TO EXPECT... BUT ONCE I GOT INTO A FLOW I STARTED SEEING ALL THE BENEFITS AND STARTED TO REALLY ENJOY IT. AFTER THE FIRST SHORT FILM I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, ‘I WOULDN’T MIND DOING THIS.’”

R ising star Poroaki Merritt-McDonald opens UNO’s interview with a surprising confession.

“After Muru, people started giving me props and nice feedback, and I thought maybe I could do it. Leading up to Muru, I still didn’t have too much of a care about acting. It was taking me away from school and rugby tournaments and all of that stuff.

Every time I missed out on a school trip I’d be moaning, ‘I just want to hang out with my mates’. My parents would be like, ‘Do you want to hang out with your mates at the marae or do you want to be in America at a five-star hotel?’ So, it wasn’t until Muru when I realised that if I tried and really applied myself I could get somewhere with this.”

As well as being a game changer for his career, Muru has also been a true game-changer for his outlook. Previously, he’d begrudgingly go to auditions telling his mum he didn’t want to do them or that he “couldn’t be bothered”. That all changed when he heard about Muru. He says something clicked in his head and he knew that he really wanted to be a part of it.

“I thought I was actually going for an audition for Vegas ,” he says, referencing TVNZ’s action-thriller series. “I had this mullet at the time and the casting crew asked if I knew how to ride a horse. I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t the best horse rider.” He lets out a hearty laugh and then grins, “But I said yes anyway. You gotta fake it to make it, man!”

Having had his equestrian skills verbally confirmed, they proceeded to tell him what he was actually there auditioning for.

“When they gave me the rundown of what Muru was about, straightaway I was like, ‘I need to do this.’ This is one of the most pinnacle stories and historical moments that has happened in New Zealand, and for Māori, in the 20th century,” he says. “I was beyond relieved about getting this part, eh. It was a big uplifting moment, a real proud moment I felt for myself, to be able to tell this story. I feel for all my cousins from just down the road. When I was looking into all the stories from locals and people that were a part of it or heard of it, it was quite emotional.”

Muru tells the story of 2007’s real-life event that saw the Government’s elite Special Tactics group raid a remote Māori township in Ruatoki, in the Eastern Bay, under the auspices of the Terrorism Suppression Act.

“Although this movie is a recreation, it’s more of a response. It shines a light on a dark story that has been hidden away from us,” Poroaki says of the film. “The first few scenes I did I was with all the Kaumatua, the elderly, and on the van trips with them I’d be yarning to them, asking, ‘What was it like? How did it feel? What actually went down?’

Poroaki in Muru.

“You don’t learn about this type of history in school. I felt really embarrassed for myself being a Māori and growing up in the Māori world, that I didn’t know much about in the first place. I was like, ‘Yeah, not only would this be a great story to finally let out to New Zealand and the world, but it would also be a great learning moment for me to see what happened to my cousins from Whakat ā ne.”

Born in Tauranga, Poroaki grew up in Arataki (“the hood,” he laughs) before moving out to the more rural setting of Matapihi. With Muru under his belt, he’s now signed with a big UK talent agency and has already had a couple of overseas auditions, although he’s under strict instructions not to reveal any of the details about what these may be just yet. He’s also starring in a new TV show, which he says will be out around November, and is currently working on a new theatre production with his mates and some well-known directors that will be staged in Tauranga early next year.

UNO notes that this sounds like a busy schedule and he agrees, saying, “There’s not a lot of breaks but I’m enjoying it.”

Poroaki found that one of the unexpected pleasures of his success is how it motivated and inspired his friends to also get involved in the arts, with many finding their own successes in doing so and forming a bustling creative community here in the Bay.

“As Māori men in New Zealand, we’re mostly perceived as tough fellas who only make it in rugby. That’s all we’re really good at,” he says.

“So opening this door to my mates, that nah, it’s not just sports, it’s not just rugby. I always looked at my mates and thought, ‘Some of you are a lot better than me at this, you could actually do this’. It has opened up a real big doorway for mates who were into Shakespeare and all the performing arts. It’s been a proud moment being able to see all my mates up on stage. They just blow me away. One of my mates is actually now over in London and about to perform at the Globe!”

He smiles and says, “That’s where a bit of perseverance and sitting down and learning lines can take you.”

Muru is playing at cinemas across the country for a limited time.

Poroaki in Muru.

INTO THE INCUBATOR

This creative hub has built a colourful reputation over nine amazing years.

WORDS SUE HOFFART / PHOTOS JESS LOWCHER

Pilots love the rainbow-hued roadway that loudly, proudly adorns the entrance to The Incubator’s headquarters inside Tauranga’s Historic Village.

From the air, the artwork has become a well-known and cheery navigation beacon for passing planes. On the ground, it is yet another practical example of the “edgy, alternative, multi-genre art space” that Incubator director Simone Anderson envisaged a decade ago.

When the Tauranga artist set out to establish a creative hub for budding fellow practitioners, she and her small team inhabited a converted barn divided into six studios. These days, the barn – dubbed the mother ship – is headquarters to an arts organisation that boasts 24 resident artists who now inhabit 15 buildings within The Village. Countless initiatives, events and artists have flourished along the way.

Every year, thousands of people visit to celebrate eccentricity at the Fringe Festival or attend Incubatorled workshops, to hear live music or buy the ceramics and clothing, jewellery and other items created by artists working on site.

“We’re expanding and growing beyond our wildest expectations and we’re changing the perception of what our city is,” Simone says. “Tauranga has had a reputation as a cultural wasteland. We knew that wasn’t the case but now all these alternative, quirky high-functioning artists are really visible, in one place, in The Village.

“And we have this whole ecosystem of working artists who now have community support, sharing resources and marketing and retail space.”

The Incubator is living up to its name in a multitude of ways. As well as incubating talent and ideas, it is inspiring visitors to appreciate new or different art forms.

“We want people to say yay, I went to that exhibition or event and I didn’t even don’t know I was interested till I saw it. Far out, that was cool.

“And we want everyone to realise art is a real, professional trade, like an electrician or a plumber.”

The organisation is also propagating creativity beyond The Village gates.

Tauranga Art Gallery has featured work by many artists who found their feet through the Incubator, while the city centre and local area are more vibrant thanks to murals by Incubator graduate Sam Allen. The young painter found confidence and connections in The Village.

City women are wearing clothing by fashion designer Kerry Funnell, who launched her Nape label and boutique after sharing a satellite studio in The Village.

“Kerry’s work is stunning, and people can walk in and see her with her sewing machine and bolts of fabric, on the main street here.

“The Village has always been an open, inclusive asset for the city and that’s exactly what we aim to be. Everything we do is really grassroots, accessible, the cost barrier is low. It’s not elite or pretentious.”

The art deco Village Cinema has recently joined The Incubator stable, with its Hollywood-themed designs and "for the people, by the people" mantra. The cinema aims to cater to everyone from independent filmmakers to people living with dementia or a disability while embracing guests who are neurodiverse, new immigrants, on a low income, or from the LGBTQIA+ community. Audiences can expect to find vintage, arthouse or Pasifika film events as well as children’s holiday or private screenings and Bollywood film nights.

At the eastern end of The Village, a creative community campus is the newest addition. This development, in a repurposed Montessori school, encompasses a textile and sewing hub, a ceramic and pottery hub, large outdoor teaching spaces and a roomy classroom ideal for workshops and seminars.

“It’s one of our most exciting projects. It’s second in size to the city’s art gallery and it’s a game-changer for the city in terms of arts infrastructure.”

THEINCUBATOR.CO.NZ

From left: Kalena Egan, Ruth O’Connell, Simone Anderson, Marama Mateparae and Tanya Truss.

A VILLAGE WITH HEART

You'll find old-world appeal in this vintage-inspired shopping and community complex, with its unique cobblestone streets and charming historic buildings.

WORDS SUE HOFFART / PHOTOS JESS LOWCHER + SALINA GALVAN

Extraordinary moments happen remarkably often beyond the steel gates that separate The Historic Village from ordinary Tauranga life.

Children with disabilities discover their voices on stage at Detour Theatre, while men wielding hand tools address mental health issues inside the Men’s Shed workshop. At the resident chapel, marriages are conducted beneath carved tukutuku panels that previously stood in an old Matapihi church. After dark, artistic careers are launched at gallery openings and new musical talent is discovered at lively gigs.

And every day, people in need receive practical help, counselling, mentoring or even a new job thanks to the myriad of social service organisations that operate from the Village.

Village manager Blair Graham is in charge of the 5.5ha Tauranga City Council-run property, with its sweeping lawns and tracts of native bush, boutique shops and character buildings.

JEWEL IN THE CROWN

Eight years into the job, Blair’s main focus is looking after the resident community groups and retailers who help to attract more than 200,000 visitors each year.

“This village has heart. It’s a jewel in the crown of the Te Papa peninsula,” he says, describing the way vibrant cultural festivals and corporate events unfold alongside everyday kindnesses.

At the recently revitalised Village Cinema, (activated by The Incubator), for example, Sonic Cinema run a relaxed cinema experience for all ages where the cinema is adapted to the audience's sensory requirements and comfort.

The cinema, which can be transformed into a cocktail venue or lecture theatre for corporate groups, is one of five indoor function offerings on site. The Village Hall, which was renovated late last year, is a cathedral-like space with purpose-built lighting and sound systems.

“The thing about hiring a Village venue is that it ticks the corporate social responsibility box because it helps fund all the innovation and collaboration and good things that happen here.

“We host a lot of weddings here, too, partly because our 60-seat chapel has all the charm of a small country church. In fact, my brother was married there 22 years ago and I was best man.”

Sometimes, bridal parties choose to wed in the adjacent amphitheatre, amid tranquil native bush, perhaps with a Whipped Baker cake made onsite and old-fashioned lawn games afterwards.

FESTIVE SPIRIT

Other visitors come seeking entertainment and international cuisine at the city’s annual multicultural festival or the Diwali festival, with its lanterns and incense, swirling saris and spicy food.

During the day, people attend appointments or hui, conduct business or browse the boutique shops that sell everything from vinyl records to vintage or designer-made clothing, gemstones, lead lighting and art. In the evenings, dance lessons and upholstery classes kick off. The weekend crowd is different again as families, cyclists and joggers step off the neighbouring Kopurererua Valley walkway for coffee and treats.

“Early on, we discovered Poké mon geocache players were coming here at night to play the online game.”

Blair’s domain is also part of the city’s wellbeing precinct, with Tauranga Hospital, St John and the TECT Rescue Helicopter service all housed a few minutes’ walk away. Time and again, the centre manager has seen families of people dealing with serious health issues find their way from the hospital to the Village for scones and tea and solace.

“There’s a slower pace of life here. The sun streams into the cobbled streets and it’s a little bit like stepping back in time. It calms people.”

BAKED WITH LOVE

Baby Albert Cooper was six months old when his mother Fran almost died of meningitis.

The mother of five and Whipped Baker proprietor Fran co-owns The Historic Village bakery with husband and fellow baker Aaron – has never forgotten the people who saved her life. That’s why any café leftovers go straight to nearby hospital emergency department staff or ambulance officers across the road.

However, leftovers can be tough to find at the incredibly popular eatery, which specialises in “really luscious, sumptuous food that people can’t help but dive into.”

On the day the café launched in 2015, the husband and wife team employed a single barista. That first morning, the customer queue stretched out the door and down the street. Now, the seven-day-a-week business employs 18 extra staff, offers catering services and still struggles to meet demand. Aaron and Fran still frequently start work between 2.30am and 3.30am and all their children help in the business.

“We’ve always been known for our doughnuts and custard slice. We’re very old-school bakers, not people who like fancy food and stuff you can’t pronounce. It’s just good, wholesome, fresh-baked food. Everything is made 100 percent from scratch.”

Fran and most of her family are lactoseintolerant, which means they cannot consume much of the food they produce.

“I can’t eat it myself, but I just like feeding other people. I bake to make people happy.

“And being part of the Village is like being part of one big family.

I feel like we’re the village kitchen. I love the atmosphere, love the people. It’s like going home every day.”

HISTORICVILLAGE.CO.NZ

Fran, co-owner of The Whipped Baker, shows off her scrumptious creations. Blair Graham keeps The Village running smoothly.

Every one of us has a story. A story created from our first breath to our last. We believe funerals aren’t just a place to tell these stories. They’re a place to embrace them. That’s why every service is bespoke, helping you celebrate your loved one’s life the way they lived it. For memories that live on in your head and in your heart.

Showcase

GOING TO PLAN

Little Red House brings you New Zealand created and designed weekly planners and stationery to suit a busy lifestyle. Intentionally made to help you enjoy life, manage your time, avoid doubling up on appointments, and get back some time for you. Incorporating New Zealand artists and designed to suit your home, office or both, you can set goals, see the weeks ahead and plan.

LITTLEREDHOUSE.CO.NZ

ON THE CATWALK

Textiles are a major global polluter. Aiming to educate, the Sustainable Art Challenge was born to offer local participants young and old (there’s an under-16 category too!) a chance to compete for prizes, show their skills and creativity, and help spread the message to make wiser choices and inspire future generations. Catwalk runway show to be held at Bloom in the Bay at Tauranga Racecourse on November 19.

ENVIROHUB.CO.NZ

FRENCH TWIST

Say au revoir to an average Christmas dinner and bonjour to a festive French feast. Kitchen Takeover is back with their latest pop-up restaurant experience, Joyeux Noël. From November 10 to December 16, award-winning chefs will create a five-course degustation dinner every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from 7-11pm, at a Tauranga location as secret as Papa Noël’s grotto. Ooh la la! Tickets $89-$159 per person. KITCHENTAKEOVER.CO.NZ/JOY

FOR THE LOVE OF ARTS

WORDS MONIQUE BALVERT-O’CONNOR / PHOTOS JEREMY HOOPER

Gabrielle Vincent thinks she may have shed a tear or two upon hearing she’d got the job of Tauranga Arts Festival artistic director.

“I love programming live performance and really wanted to get into the festival world, so being given this opportunity was just so very exciting,” is how she explains her happy tears.

Renowned as one of the most exciting art producers in the country, Gabrielle has come to the Tauranga Art Festival job after six years leading Auckland’s Basement Theatre where she commissioned and produced some of New Zealand’s boldest and bravest new talents.

The new position she was so thrilled about came her way at the tail end of 2020. But because the COVID-19 pandemic put paid to the planned 2021 Tauranga Art Festival, and caused a pushing out of this year’s Escape festival (from June to October), there’s a sense among Tauranga’s art community that Gabrielle has yet to be properly introduced.

The October 12 to 16 Escape – little festival with big ideas – event is about to change that.

“This will be the first festival I actually get to deliver. We did a lot of work and came up with an exciting programme for the 2021 festival – it was heartbreaking having to call that off. Now it’s really wonderful to be able to deliver something.”

While she has years of experience programming, Escape will offer Gabrielle (34) her first opportunity to programme a writers’ festival. And what an exciting journey it has already been, says this woman with great ideas and vision.

There’s much on offer to thrill, and Gabrielle selects News, News, News as an example – a television news show, made by children for adults, recorded in front of a studio audience and broadcast live from

Baycourt. Children from Mount Maunganui primary will be involved, guided by Andy Field and Beckie Darlington – Gabrielle’s enticed both over from the United Kingdom. Andy and Beckie came up with the concept, and have worked with children across the world who have performed it.

“It’s going to be a really fun show. It’s incredibly informative and, of course, very funny and sweet and enlightening.”

Gabrielle is delighted the timing of Escape falls within the school holidays, and as a result the line-up includes many family-friend events and children’s work.

“I am passionate about art bringing family together and sharing moments that become memorable experiences,” she says.

Gabrielle’s daughter (she and husband Simon have a three-year-old named Edie) will grow up with a plethora of such memories, for sure. Before long she’ll be tagging along with her mother who loves to soak up theatre, dance and music performances. Perhaps, like her mother, Edie will be a “drama geek” at school, too.

Acting, singing – and a seventh form curriculum full of art subjects – filled schoolgirl Gabrielle’s creative soul with joy. As a school leaver, who felt “incredibly passionate” about theatre and live performance, Auckland Unitec beckoned with its opportunity to major in theatre directing.

During her third year of study, Gabrielle was seconded to Auckland Theatre Company, where opportunities included getting to assistant-direct a show. Then, when a stage manager position came up, Gabrielle – who thoroughly enjoyed being backstage – was the “go to”. Gabrielle spent the next six years as a freelance stage manager, working mainly for Auckland Theatre Company.

The new artistic director of Tauranga’s flagship Arts Festival brings passion and experience to the event.

A keenness to get into the producing side of the business coincided with a six-month pilot producers’ programme on offer at Auckland’s Basement Theatre – the home of independent theatre.

“I got that, which was exciting. I saw many emerging artists come through and then head off and thrive doing phenomenal things.

“I then realised I actually liked programming more than producing and I managed to get a programme director job there for about five years.”

It’s been a career full of wonderful opportunities and adding the part-time Tauranga Arts Festival director job to the curriculum vitae is another highlight. Preparation for the next festival, in 2023, with its range of art forms are well underway. But first, Escape, with its writers, speakers, live theatre and more.

“Programming a writer’s festival has been a really exciting journey. It occurred to me that what’s different about this compared to other live performances is that none of the conversations are rehearsed. They are conjured up by people, places, ideas and we are seeing something magical unfold at the time. Conversations are unique and cannot be replicated,” she says.

When UNO chats to Gabrielle she’s not long off preparing to head to Tauranga (Auckland is home base) for a month, in readiness for, and for, Escape. She can’t wait!

TAURANGAFESTIVAL.CO.NZ

“CONVERSATIONS... ARE CONJURED UP BY PEOPLE, PLACES, IDEAS... WE ARE SEEING SOMETHING MAGICAL UNFOLD.”

GREAT ESCAPE

Running from October 12 to 16, Tauranga’s Escape Festival brings some of the best writers and thinkers to the Bay for a little celebration of big ideas.

Impressive writing, journalism and thinking is what makes up this series of invigorating talks and panel discussions. Here are some of the authors featured and highlights to look forward to at Escape 2022.

GANGLAND

In Gangland, Tauranga’s own award-winning investigative reporter Jared Savage shines a light into New Zealand's rising underworld of organised crime. His stories go behind the headlines and reveal an invisible world that’s frighteningly close to home - in which millions of dollars are made, life is cheap and allegiances can change with the pull of a trigger. Gangland also reveals the wider social issues facing Aotearoa, including gangs and our illicit drug market. Over the past 20 years, dealers have graduated from motorcycle gangs to Asian crime syndicates and now the Mexican cartels - the most dangerous drug lords in the world.

GRETA & VALDIN

Newsroom named Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai) the best book of 2021. The 2022 Ockham Book Award judges described it as “gloriously queer, hilarious and relatable”. It won Best First Book and was nominated for the prestigious Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction. Rebecca creates messy, self-sabotaging characters who are relatable because of their flaws, not despite them. Drawn to outsiders and weirdos, Rebecca is a surprising and deeply funny writer who perfectly captures the chaos of family and unrequited love. She’ll kōrero with former Tauranga local and Verb Wellington director Claire Mabey about how she crafted this unique novel, where she draws her inspiration from, and who her idols are.

NUKU: STORY SOVEREIGNTY

In 2021 the muchcelebrated book, NUKU: Stories of 100 Indigenous Women was released, platforming Indigenous wāhine and giving them ownership over their narrative in an unfiltered, uninterrupted way. Through telling their stories, the women in NUKU seek to influence the world around them. In this powerful panel session, NUKU founder, creator and publisher Qiane Matata-Sipu (Te Waiohua, Waikato, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao and Cook Islands) discusses story sovereignty with two formidable Tauranga wāhine – Pāpāmoabased marine ecologist, Professor Kura Paul-Burke (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Whakahemo), filmmaker and producer Chelsea Winstanley (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi te Rangi), alongside racial equity educator, Kat Poi (Tainui, Te Arawa, Tonga) from Courageous Conversations South Pacific. These women will generously share their stories – the good and ugly – and wrestle with how story sovereignty could be improved today in Aotearoa.

ONE IN FOUR

One in Four is an intimate kōrero between recently retired fertility counsellor and author of Maybe Baby Sue Saunders; actor and author Michelle Langstone, who writes about her IVF journey in her outstanding novel Times Like These ; and journalist, actor (Shortland Street) and writer Elisabeth Easther. Barrister Kathryn Lellman, who has sponsored this special event, says, “One area of speciality for me in my family law practice is surrogacy and adoption, and I am endlessly fascinated by the ways through which we can now make babies and constitute families and how that is reflected legally. I am acutely aware of the challenges fertility issues bring to families. It is going to be a fascinating, heartfelt session.”

TOO MUCH MONEY

Today, someone in the wealthiest one percent of adults in Aotearoa – a club of 40,000 people – has a net worth 68 times that of the average New Zealander. Max Rashbrooke’s Too Much Money is the story of how wealth inequality is changing Aotearoa. This talk addresses a conversation most New Zealanders prefer to avoid: Class. Chief Philanthropic Officer at the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation, Tupe Solomon-Tanoa’i speaks with Rashbrooke and final Chair of Auckland District Health Board and company director Pat Snedden about the evidence of and the possible solutions to our inequality issues, and asks us to consider whether we really can reduce wealth disparities to a point where most people are doing well.

Tickets on sale now from TAURANGAFESTIVAL.CO.NZ

TRASH TO TREASURE

Artist Mark Lee’s talent for searching out old, discarded items and reimagining them into new and unique pieces raises the concept of upcycling to a new level.

INTERVIEW HAYLEY BARNETT

auranga local Mark Lee has always loved junk. From collecting old car parts as a kid, to creating his business “One-ofa-Kind Design” as an adult, his passion for transforming objects that have outlived their usefulness has never faded. Giving them a new and different purpose as unique, functional art pieces, Mark says this style of art is about recycling, re-purposing and re-creating something that will be a timeless conversation piece for others to enjoy. UNO talks to Mark about his work, both old and new.

UNO: How did you discover this medium? Mark: When I was a kid, there was a junkyard at the end of a dirt road in the forest near our house where people had dumped old cars, appliances and other stuff. It was one of my favourite places, and I spent hours and hours collecting bits and pieces and creating things with the old parts. Maybe that was the beginning of the passion? Certainly the challenge of seeing the potential in the “discarded” drives

UNO: What do you love about it? Mark: I love that everything I make is one-of-a-kind and unique. I love that I can save objects that are otherwise going to end up in landfill and give them a new purpose – a second life. I love the creativeness and challenge of turning something that might be rusty, worn out and no longer useful into something

Bay of Plenty’s authorised repairer for:

Glover Lamp

Paua Skatelight

A transformed antique cream separator is one of Mark’s favourite pieces.

VACUUM LAMP

What do you get when you combine a tired old art deco Goblin “Regal” vacuum cleaner (manufactured by the British Vacuum Cleaner & Engineering Company in the 1940s), a vintage Italian Venti fan, an automotive hood ornament and badge, trolley wheels, a motorcycle air filter, new paint, a vintage-style light bulb and dimmer? A vacuum lamp that doesn’t suck, of course!

UNO: Where do you get your ideas from?

Mark: When I was in primary school, we used to do an art exercise that I loved, where the teacher gave us some random shapes and squiggles on a blank piece of paper. We had to use our imagination to turn the drawing into something else by adding to it. To this day, I still find that exercise a fun creative practice. So while I’m inspired by lots of good design by other artists, mostly I try and use my imagination.

UNO: What is your favourite piece and why?

Mark: Ooh, it’s hard to choose. I guess the antique cream separator I transformed is one of my favourites so far. It came off a farm in Tīrau, and was very rusty when I found it. I decided to just clean it and clear coat the rust instead of removing and painting over it. I then added a custom made glass top and smart lighting that changes colours and dims via a mobile app. The mixing of vintage and new technology features in a lot of what I create.

UNO: How did you become an artist?

What is your background?

Mark: I’ve always had a passion for industrial design, history and things that are unique and different.

As a child I was always tinkering with stuff and being creative, as an adult I became a graphic designer. For 15 years I owned a graphic design company but in my spare time I liked being more “hands-on” creative with repurposing antiques and vintage stuff. When I sold my company in 2016, I decided to make this passion what I do full time.

UNO: Who is your favourite artist?

Mark: There’s so many, because there’s so much variety and scope to what we term “art”. I guess my all-time favourite would be Frank Lloyd Wright. As an architect, designer, writer and educator, he designed more than 1,000 structures and influenced design worldwide while training hundreds of apprentices through his Taliesin Fellowship. I also want to acknowledge local emerging artists. It’s so important our community supports artists who are bringing positive messages, unique perspectives, and beauty in so many different forms.

ARTGALLERY.ORG.NZ

*

Five years ago, I was working alongside a group of wellknown food writers who worked for a well-known food magazine, when the topic of a very unknown (to me, anyway) product arose in conversation. These nextlevel foodies were obsessed with something called a Thermomix, something that looked a lot like a fancy blender.

“It’s a computer that cooks,” was the first comment that caught my attention. But the clincher, “and there are 77,000 recipes to choose from!” really piqued my interest.

I was pregnant with my second child at the time and whenever this German machine was mentioned I became more and more intrigued. It seemed to do everything I couldn’t cook food without burning it (more my first child’s fault than mine, of course), give me inspiration when my brain had given up, knead dough to a perfect consistency, make amazing gourmet meals mess-free, provide my precious oat milk and mill rice into flour, and replace every single one of my clunky appliances taking up valuable space in my kitchen. However, getting my hands on one proved a bit trickier than expected. You can’t just pop down to the mall and buy one. In

IN THE MIX

Editor Hayley Barnett shares her not-so-secret obsession with a truly high-tech kitchen gadget.

order to purchase a Thermomix, you need to book a consultant to show you how to use it, which makes sense, considering it has 20 different functions.

You know how I said it’s a computer that cooks? Well, it hooks up to your WiFi and then you simply browse recipes using the touchscreen. From there, you follow stepby-step instructions (the machine weighs everything as you pour ingredients in), then press “cook” and walk away. It steams, sauté s, cooks, chops, puré es, poaches – everything but bake, though the steam function makes up for this; I’ve made many a cake and even steamed a whole chicken. I’ve also impressed friends with my exotic cocktails. But, most impressive is that you can create weekly meal plans and send all the ingredients straight to Countdown from your machine or app. Basically, it takes the dog work out of cooking.

My consultant, a lovely lady named Jill, suggested I get a couple of friends together, to show them how it works.

“The last thing I need is another appliance,” said one friend, rolling her eyes. “It’s a cult,” said another.

“All those machines do is make soup.”

Choosing to listen to the magazine foodies instead of my non-kitchen whizz friends, I booked a session and enjoyed the three-course demo with my family. Getting it over the line with my penny-pinching

partner proved a cinch after Jill whipped up some Brazilian cheese puffs followed by a delicious mushroom risotto and sorbet for dessert. And so began my journey into the world of Thermomix.

I became obsessed. I would bring up my Thermomix in conversation with anyone who cared to listen, and even with those who didn’t. I wanted everyone to know how much easier their lives could be with this amazing ‘Jetson’ machine that is surely going to take over the world.

“Wow, you’re quite the salesperson,” smirked a new co-worker, not realising that I am very much not a salesperson.

I’m brutally and awkwardly honest, even when my life depends on it.

After five years of near-daily use, I decided to upgrade to the newest model, the TM6, and I’m raving about it more than ever.

I recently caught up with one of those naysayer friends and mentioned I had upgraded. “You must really love soup,” she replied.

This perhaps proves my selling skills aren’t quite up to scratch, but you just can’t help some people.

Follow me at: MYHEALTHYTHERMIE

I've decided to sharpen those selling skills with my own Thermie business!

BETWEEN THE LINES

To celebrate the 2022 Escape Festival, held in Tauranga, the Books A Plenty team showcases three essential reads from featured Kiwi authors.

How to be a Bad Muslim and Other Essays by Mohamed Hassan Penguin

Funny, elegiac and chilling, these essays from awardwinning New Zealand writer Mohamed Hassan blend storytelling, memoir and non-fiction to map the experience of being Muslim in the 21st century.

From Cairo to Takapuna, Athens to Istanbul, How to Be A Bad Muslim maps the experience of being Muslim through essays on identity, Islamophobia, surveillance, migration and language. Relatable yet eye-opening, this left me with a greater sense of the cultural inequality in our society. Mohamed’s words flow conversationally and at times it feels like he is sitting with you retelling events from his life.

The Mirror Book by Charlotte Grimshaw Penguin

Brave, explosive and thoughtprovoking, this is a powerful memoir from a critically acclaimed writer.

“It’s material, make a story out of it” was the mantra Charlotte Grimshaw grew up with in her famous literary family. But when her life suddenly turned upside-down, she needed to re-examine the reality of that material. The more she delved into her memories, the more the real characters in her life seemed to object. So what was the truth of “a whole life lived in fiction”?

Charlotte doesn’t hold back with her story or her writing process, showing that our memories can be remembered differently by those who shared them.

A Quiet Kitchen by Nici Wickes David Bateman Ltd

Nici’s recent book is a collection of recipes that got her (and others) through the lockdowns and isolation of 2020/2021. It is a reflection on topics dear to her heart finding the joy in living solo, how to cook and eat simply, the wonders of middle age, giving up drinking, finding her way through sickness towards health, and all the rest that life throws at us.

This is a stunning book, a cookbook and a memoir rolled into one. The recipes are not only incredibly delicious but also easy to follow, and all the ingredients are easily accessible. For a family of five, her recipes for one are very easily multiplied.

BABY ON BOARD

You know what it’s taken me almost 40 years to realise? Men would be terrible at being pregnant.

My wife, Tiffany, is due to give birth to our first baby in the next few weeks. Literally at every point of the pregnancy my mind has wandered to how I would handle the situation she is currently in. As Tiff would say, “Oh, so, we’re making me growing a human about you again, are we?!”

Yes. Yes, we are. Sort of. Let’s go through it from the start, shall we?

At six weeks pregnant, she was full noise, suffering from what I have come to learn is an inaccurately named ailment called ‘morning sickness’. They should just call it ‘day sickness’, because that’s how long it lasts. All freak’n day! There were voms from 3am to 11pm.

You know what’s less fun than morning sickness? Morning sickness when you’ve got COVID-19!

Yup, Tiffany caught COVID-19 at seven weeks pregnant. That developed into a bit of long Covid mixed with a foetus draining all the remaining nutrients from her body (pregnancy, it’s sooo glamourous). We ended up in hospital after she spent 48 hours hugging a toilet. Pay the nurses more! They were amazing at Tauranga Hospital. It wasn’t until week 23 or 24 when she finally stopped heaving at least two times a day feeling like you’re hungover with a tummy bug.

Now, can you imagine the cries of despair and notions of travesty that would spout from the mouth of a man

if he had to handle even a week of this torture?! Remember the last time a male in your life got man-flu?!

We are really not set up for it.

We all know a guy with a beer gut, right? Let’s talk about growth of stomach area. When one is working on a "keg" rather than a "six-pack" in the abdominal department it is usually years of relentless hand-to-mouth work, walking a meticulous line of over-indulging and exercise avoidance. Sometimes decades worth.

Can you imagine going from six pack to phenomenal mid-section bloom and increasing in weight by about 12kg in five months? And alongside that all of your organs are getting pushed around and your stomach is shrinking at an alarming rate as said organs mush it towards your oesophagus. What’s more, you can’t even drink anything fun to get the beer gut fully formed! Just imagine a male tradie on the building site at the end of a hard week on the tools. But imagine him eight months pregnant and not able to enjoy a beer with the boys. And do you trust him not to have that beer?!

Don’t even get me started with will power. Tiff’s had what I like to call "snout cravings". Not so much in the eating department, more in the smell craving department. She has sniffed a lot of red wine and coffee during this pregnancy – two things pre-preggers Tiff never touched.

Speaking of K9 nostrils, as she walked in the front door the other day, she declared: “Something is off in the fridge, get rid of it now!” Then exited the premises. Can you imagine a man

off his food? The hardship!

I think all men know a guy in their group who has a weak bladder; on a road trip they have to stop five times between Tauranga and Auckland (the beer gut isn’t helping). But at least they don’t have a tiny human who sporadically throughout the day kicks them swiftly in their already slightly baby-crushed bladder – usually at the most inappropriate time.

Finally, tie all of the above together, chuck in reflux, increasing water weight throughout the day, pain in multiple different joints and muscles due to the rapid change in weight and size, significant hormone changes, shortness of breath because your lungs/diaphragm are literally getting pushed up by your organs, rubbish sleep and low iron/energy levels… Then go to work and not complain 24/7 about it all.

I kicked the foot of the bed the other day. It took me two days to stop limping and telling people about how sore my toe was. Men are 100 percent the fairer sex.

The trick is knowing this. I am happy in my current wheelhouse containing phrases such as: “What can I make you for dinner?” “Would you like a back/ foot rub?” “Can I help you up/down/ sideways?” “Can I run you a warm bath and roll you in the shallows as you make faint whale noises?”

Ok, well maybe not that last one!

I’m a lucky man. Lucky to have a baby on the way with the woman I love. And, lucky I’m not the pregnant one!

Columnist Will Johnston is in awe of the mysteries of pregnancy – but glad he’s not the one gestating.

WE

BRIGHT SIDE

Look and feel the best version of you.

HEADS UP Men, it's time for a brain reset

TRAINING DAY

STYLE STATUS

Wardrobe staples to see you through spring and beyond.

WORDS NICKY ADAMS

EVERYTHING ESSENTIAL

– A SPRING CHECKLIST

It may be hard to believe, but the most on-trend spring/summer essential for 2022 is the humble white tank top. The perfect combination of staple cum fashion set favourite, whether as a foundation piece with jeans or as a tool to make a sleeker bottom feel more casual, the tank fits with the quality basics and timeless piece aesthetic that is strong for spring. If you’re looking to zhoosh your look up a little then a halter neck top can be a striking aesthetic and comes in many variants, both the runways and the shops are full of crisscross and ornate loop details. To change the mood up from spring florals try gingham – it’s fresh, timeless and the ultimate transitional print.

However exciting it feels to be shedding those extra layers, a jacket is still a musthave. The bomber jacket is well and truly back: when Rhianna and Hailey Bieber are both wearing it you know it’s officially a thing – wear it slouchy and oversized. Get ahead of the game with a cropped blazer; a change of pace from all the large-fit jackets that are in vogue, cropped is a look that will be in full force by Autumn. Meanwhile the love/ love relationship with the biker jacket continues. Coming in a spectrum of styles from form fitting to funky to oversized, this is another item that transcends age and figure type and looks pretty blooming good on everyone.

1. LEVI’S GOLD TAB BASEBALL JACKET, A$189.95. LEVIS.CO.NZ

2. REPERTOIRE LIBBY TANK, $119.90. REPERTOIRE.CO.NZ

3. HUFFER TAYLOR RESORT DRESS, $149.90. HUFFER.CO.NZ

4. DREAMS LUXE LEATHER JACKET, $399. EVOLUTIONCLOTHING.CO.NZ

5. MOOCHI LAND SKIRT $339.99. MOOCHI.CO.NZ

6. XL FLOOD JEANS A$159.95. LEVIS.CO.NZ

7. KETZ-KE WINSLET SKIRT, $145. WILLOWBOUTIQUE.CO.NZ

8. VOLTAGE TOP $149.90. REPERTOIRE.CO.NZ

9. DR MARTENS MYLES SANDAL, $280. SOLECT.CO.NZ

TRENDING

This spring it’s time to trade in the traditional tan two-piece. While we’ve seen a prevalence of pink suits coming through strongly, as the season progresses there will be a rainbow of options. Bright colours are one of the biggest trends, and if you’re not feeling overly confident with this degree of high impact then pops of colour with jumpers or bags can still make a bold statement. Workwear takes on a whole new hue with these saturated colours; add this to the oversized silhouette (throw in a padded shoulder jacket), and we have another 80s throwback look. However, if the suit is well tailored the wide legs will balance the look and bring in more of a Katharine Hepburn feel.

NIGHT FOLLOWS DAY

Giving off the Grecian vibe, a dramatic look for this season is draping, where beautiful fabrics waterfall across the body, in pleats and ruching. This style is not only incredibly flattering but also elegant in the extreme. While it’s the perfect evening look, it can work well for daytime if created from the right fabric. A mini-skirt has been lauded as the seasonal must-have, however a maxi style is equally on point, and so much easier and more practical to wear. The long tube design fits with the Y2K revival and is surprisingly versatile – it’s also a magnificent way to hide any pale presummer legs. Fabrics with movement and a bit of stretch suit this style best, whether fine knits or jerseys, the feel is fluid. Accessorise with this season’s hot material, a raffia bag, and achieve a casual but elegant spring feel.

1. ACLER PALMS DRESS, $589. SUPERETTE.CO.NZ

2. WYNN HAMLYN ACCORDION KNIT GOWN, $595. SHOP.WYNNHAMLYN.COM.

MAGGIE MARILYN BEEN WAITING FOR SO LONG DRESS $1,255; OH CROP BOLERO $995. MAGGIEMARILYN.COM

ZIGGY V HANDLED TOTE, $200. VASHBAGS.COM

GETTING SHORTY

Mens’ fashion has a moment in the sun.

WORDS NICKY ADAMS

With stubbies hitherto leading the charge for fashionable mens’ short wear in the Antipodes, declaring that Spring/Summer 2022 is the year of the shorts feels like it could lead into dangerous territory.

In fairness most stubbies would have been long retired, apart from the hardcore who revived them, inspired by last year’s online TikTok trend. While shorts are a well-established part of New Zealand menswear, an increase in working from home has spurred a more relaxed view to mens’ fashion and has caused a global re-framing of this staple. Whereas once a pair of shorts was strictly considered a leisure item, in the spring of 2022 it has evolved to being almost as acceptable in the boardroom as the beach, so with this in mind there’s little margin for error in choice of style. No office colleague wants to be faced with the big reveal in the hands of ill-fitting shorts.

To qualify this, not all cut offs were created equal, so at this juncture let it be said that stubbies are still strictly poolside items, as are boardshorts which are increasingly made from super light – and therefore super revealing – material. However, the spectrum of shorts on the market now covers off everything from casual to

tailored, and dress codes have relaxed enough to be able to embrace the practicality of a hot summer and cool shorts. Nevertheless, styling is crucial to nailing both the occasion and the look – footwear is key and can make the difference between looking like Pharell Williams at the Oscars as opposed to your dad pottering in the backyard.

TO THE OFFICE

The Bermuda (dress shorts that sit just above the knee) is the must have style of the season. Just as ultra-wide pants hit the runways and red carpets, equally the wide leg short is the key wardrobe essential to see in summer. The billowing short trend ticks a surprising number of boxes - more forgiving on mature legs, it’s super trendy on youthful pins. For the office a heavier fabric such as a tailored cotton twill will pair well with a linen shirt or a smart tee. The baggier trend is also easier to match with a relaxed suit jacket for a look that says chic rather than private schoolboy on the run. On this note, to avoid looking like a member of ACDC, leave the tie at home. If the Bermuda is voluminous, it’s worth looking at a chunkier covered choice of footwear, a slim dress shoe would be lost, and jandals revealing gnarled toes are not fit for the boardroom.

COOL CASUAL

Pants with multiple feature pockets are a big trend for mens’ Spring/Summer, so it stands to reason cargo shorts are equally in vogue. It’s a look that leans more towards casual, but it can still be dressed up enough for a smart summer barbecue. Cameo green is a big colour for menswear this season, and nothing looks as good as muted green cargos matched with navy or a pastel palette, which is another top trend. While the pockets may be tempting to utilise, resist ramming them with bits and bobs – melted chocolate seeping from a side pocket is a style no-no. Again, consider footwear. Mens’ footwear has evolved over the last decade, and there is no longer such a division between smart and causal. Sandals lend a more relaxed vibe, and designers are tripping over themselves to push the ultra-comfort sandal (many with maximum puff); if youth is on your side, then socks and slides is a big look, and if you’re after a more mature feel then anything from streetwear canvas to white leather sneakers will hit the mark.

One final note: If you're looking at anything Lycra, please don’t – unless it is strictly for the purpose of exercise, and even then, frankly, unless you’re a professional athlete you’re on thin ice.

Milo Ventimiglia

Tyler the Creator

Pharrell Williams

SUPPORT BRAS

Poolside fashion has given us, among other things, the bra worn as a top. I wouldn’t have believed this would have made mainstream, but one look at European street style this summer, and it’s clear that it has. Those that don’t want to bare their abs are dressing this trend over or under tops, but skin is definitely in.

FASHION FORWARD

Show-stopping summer trends.

FANCY FEET

While the world is crushing on platforms, the ballet flat and clogs will be summer footwear alternatives. Together these three shoes present a scope of looks and comfort levels. I’m hoping that this time round someone will have designed a clog that doesn’t make you feel as though you’ve got driftwood nailed to your feet; fashion is certainly pain in this case. Thankfully the ballet flat will provide comfort, practicality, and classic style in one package.

ALL FOR ONE

A designer love fest with 80s glam has blessed us this with summer’s hottest look – the catsuit, or unitard. While what walks down the runway may have us blanching, fashions greatest gift is that by the time it gets to the high street it is generally way more wearable. So look out for a watered-down, chic interpretation of this trend.

FRINGE BENEFITS

Fringing often feels divisive – as something that is inextricably linked with boho and hippy, its more sophisticated silhouette tends to be overlooked. In fact fringing at its shimmery slinky finest is elegant in the extreme – think The Great Gatsby rather than Woodstock and you have the picture. This summer it will be seen in all forms: Earrings, bags, on the bottom of bike shorts and slip dresses – so as little or as much as works for you, wear it how you will.

FIND YOUR SPRING SOLE-MATE

SOLECT is your one stop shop for spring sandals, sneakers and everything in between.

As the days grow longer and our outfits require more spring-suited choices, we find ourselves searching for stylish all-weather shoes. Birkenstocks are a perfect tran-seasonal footwear choice, and go with just about anything. SOLECT in Tauranga Crossing have the largest range of Birkenstock in the Bay. We instantly recognise the classic twostrap Arizona sandal, but after seeing the wall of Birks sitting pretty, with an array of colours and styles to choose from, it’s clear we are spoilt for choice. From the stylish cross-strap Sienna, to the closed-in Boston clogs, there is something for everyone.

The team in store are extremely knowledgeable and will help you find the perfect sized footbed and chat you through the different materials – that’s what makes this service so special.

Looking for something different this season? Never fear, we asked buyer Michelle what her top picks are for spring.

“Timberland boat shoes are making a huge come back for men,” she says. “They’re great for a casual wedding, and have a modern street-style edge.

“I’m also seeing platform sneakers as a continuing spring trend. As well as giving you a bit of extra height, these sneakers are an easy smart-casual option. Take your pick from ASICS, Puma, Converse and more.”

With over 25 footwear brands to choose from, you’ll find the perfect pair at Solect. Be sure to pop in and see Cassie and the team at Tauranga Crossing.

SOLECT.NZ

COOL CONSCIENCE

Swing into spring with Moochi’s most sustainable collection yet. Natura offers organic and eco-conscious wardrobe refreshers, designed for effortless contemporary dressing.

weekly, in store and online. MOOCHI.CO.NZ

GOING THE DISTANCE

It’s mind over body for editor Hayley Barnett as she trains for her first marathon.

Long-distance running has always intrigued me – the psychology of it, and the idea that any approach you take to training is a metaphoric representation of life in general. Yes, that sounds cheesy, but I have no other way of describing it.

The old saying that the mind is more powerful than the body is never more apparent than when you’re 18km into a trail run, drips of sweat and mud (and sometimes tears) running down your face, and you’re convincing yourself that you're about to keel over and die.

It’s incredible how much more energy your body has left in the tank when your mind has long since given up. But you only learn that when you stop listening to it. And, as we all know, that’s the hard part, not only in running but in life. Of course, a helping hand to push you along can be extremely advantageous in all areas, but none more so than exercise, especially in the depths of winter.

Since I signed up at ClubFit Baywave a few months back, I’ve been busy

building my strength. When I signed up for a marathon at the same time (somewhat ambitiously), the team put me on to one of their go-to athletic gurus, Diarmuid (Dee) O’Dwyer, who came up with a plan to supplement my running training. Dee is a specialist strength and conditioning trainer who also works at the Adams Centre For High Performance. He put together a plan to target the muscles needed to succeed in – read finish – a marathon without injuring myself or being unable to walk for a week. These were my two main goals also, so we were already on the same page. He also drew up an outdoor running plan, to get me up and running (sorry) from my current five kilometres to 21km, with the intention of reviewing the plan once I hit that mark. Dee’s program was quite the step up from my beginner-level weight training. I worried it might be a bad sign that I was unable to walk for a week after my first gym session on his plan, but he assured me this was completely normal. I was targeting muscles that had probably never been targeted before. Though he did suggest doing a few less reps and taking longer breaks between exercises.

To say that this plan twice a week, together with my running sessions three times per week, set me up for success is an understatement. I recently completed the Shoe Science Tauranga

Half Marathon, still alive, far exceeding my expectations. I’m not sure I could have got there in these freezing cold mornings without Dee’s help, or the help of my original ClubFit trainer, Kiriwai.

During my weight training with Kiriwai a few months back, one thing she said stuck with me. She said, “It all comes down to discipline. I know you’re a mum, I know you have a busy job, I know it’s hard to find the time. But too bad. Get on with it.”

Sounds harsh, but the tough love approach exists for a reason. Sometimes you just need to hear it from someone else.

Bring on the full marathon in 2023! CLUBFIT.CO.NZ

Follow Hayley’s journey to 42km at UNOMAGNZ

GET YOUR GLOW ON

Summer is on its way, and that means moving into warm-weather beauty products focussed on light, bright and anti-ageing formulations. These skincare heroes will help you put your best face forward.

NAILED IT

Have you been converted to gel polish yet? The new Depend Gel iQ kit comes with all the tools you need for a nail salon-perfect manicure at home – an LED lamp, adaptor, base and top coats, pre-cleaner, and a highshine cleanser to leave your nails glistening. Add one of Gel iQ’s 20 new gel polish colours and show off those new nails. Available at Farmers.

DEPENDCOSMETIC.COM

NIGHT AND DAY

PLANT POWER

Using aloe vera as its main ingredient rather than water, Frula Beauty is a new luxury clean beauty range made in Aotearoa and using super plants and fruits for naturally derived skincare ingredients. High-end yet budget-friendly, with a curated line of six products to simplify your skincare routine and give you glowing skin: Reusable Face Cleansing Pads, 3-Phase Micellar Cleansing Water, Superfood 2-in-1 Exfoliator & Mask, Super Hydrating Moisturiser, Gentle Foaming Face Cleanser and Brightening

Emma Lewisham’s Supernatural Sleeping Mask is a powerful, ultra-conditioning overnight skin treatment that’s scientifically proven to stimulate collagen synthesis at a cellular level, harnessing powerful natural ingredients to support overnight skin restoration. With hyaluronic acid for hydration, it’s refillable too. RRP$125.

EMMALEWISHAM.COM

Merakii’s all-natural serums give more than just glowing skin. The deeply nourishing night serum is enriched with rosehip and calming lavender for rest and rejuvenation, while the protective day serum is infused with ylang-ylang for its centring and mood-lifting properties. Suitable for all skin types. RRP$59.99 for the duo. Get 15 percent off using the discount code: UNO15 MERAKII.CO.NZ

WASHING UP

If you use make-up remover pads, these handy Swisspers reusable eco cleansing pads made from 100 percent natural bamboo and cotton fibres will be your new best friend. They come in a fourpack in a reusable mesh bag (great for machine-washing) and are kind to the planet as well as your skin. RRP$12.99.

SWISSPERS.CO.NZ

As we find ourselves coming out of hibernation from what seems like a very long winter, a sense of new beginnings may be upon you and for good reason. The mornings are getting lighter and the evenings are drawing out, bringing a new cycle which represents planting new seeds, growth and expansion.

Spring, “the king of all seasons”, is a fantastic time to check in with yourself and see what sneaky habits have crept in over winter that don’t have your best interests at heart. Perhaps you’ve been hitting the snooze button one too many times, or drinking one too many cups of coffee to warm yourself up.

If you want to build on the energy that can come from our change in seasons, here are some tools to accelerate your journey.

THE POWER OF VISUALISATION

In the sports world, visualisation or “mental rehearsal” is used to help athletes prepare for and enhance their physical game. This technique draws in direct focus to task, using the senses to dial down on the process of the goal rather than the outcome itself.

As we move into the new season, we have an opportunity to get clear on what we want for the coming months, and we can use visualisation to bring a goal to life and generate the allimportant ingredient for success: Action.

When we mentally rehearse our goals and the process of reaching them, we are sending a strong message to our unconscious mind that we are ready and will be more likely to take the action required to make change. Science tells us that if we commit our goals to writing we are 40 percent more likely to achieve them. It also tells us that if we tell

someone else about our goals we are 60 percent more likely to achieve them and if we have a coach, we are 95 percent more likely to achieve success.

YOUR GOAL-SETTING TOOLBOX

Adding visualisation to your goal-setting toolbox will help bring your dreams to life. If you are new to visualisation, here are some ideas to get you started:

CREATE A VISION BOARD

This can be fun and simple to do and serves as a daily reminder of your intentions. Use magazines and printouts to create your very own piece of goalsetting art. Be brave and think big. You are only limited by your imagination, so banish limited thinking and get creative.

VISUALISATION MEDITATIONS

There are plenty of good visualisation meditations out there for guided goalsetting visualisation, leaving time at the end to brain dump, set goals and put timelines on them.

So now we have our head space covered, how can we give our body a shake-up out of its winter slump and get it bouncing into spring?

REHYDRATE

Often water gets replaced for hot drinks over winter, so look to replace caffeinated drinks with water or herbal tea.

EAT WELL

Nourish your body with whole foods like split peas, lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, buckwheat and rye. Increase the fibre in your diet with fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, apricots, berries, broccoli, carrots, okra and spinach

CATCH THE MORNING SUN

Reset your circadian rhythm by getting up at the same time each day, taking yourself out for a walk around the block and getting some fresh air.

BE CONSISTENT

Showing up daily for yourself sends the message that your wants and needs are important. Cultivate a routine that's easy, fun and aligns with your values.

Check out Anna's free resources page, where you will find your very own “spring reset”: FRESHC OAC HING.ME/RESOURCES

Everyone from well-respected dermatologists, to celebrities such as Kate Winslet are recommending the HydraFacial.

CLEAN SLATE

An all-new beauty treatment proves you don’t have to suck it up when it comes to general skin problems, but it helps to know the HydraFacial can do just that.

WORDS HAYLEY BARNETT / PHOTOS SALINA GALVAN + SUPPLIED

If you spend any amount of time on social media, or read magazines or beauty blogs, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the much-hyped HydraFacial. It’s being recommended by everyone from well-respected dermatologists, to highly-influential celebrities like Kate Winslet. Being the first in the Bay to offer the HydraFacial, it wasn’t hard for Constance Santos from Epidermis & Sage to convince me to give it a try.

Walking into the treatment room I was met with a large machine that looks like it belongs in a surgery, which is slightly intimidating when you think you’re there for a facial. Fittingly, the person who invented it is a plastic surgeon who wanted to offer

clients with all skin types the opportunity to extract impurities from their skin, with a more gentle treatment, compared to, say, microdermabrasion procedures. And the tagline, '3 steps. 30 minutes. The best skin of your life', sounds promising.

The reason the machine is so big is because it has three main functions – firstly to cleanse and peel, with gentle exfoliation and resurfacing; secondly to extract and hydrate, with painless suction and nourishing moisturisers; and lastly to fuse and protect with antioxidants and peptides. To do this, it uses a patented Vortex-Fusion delivery system, or what I would describe as a sucky pen thing attached to a machine by a clear tube, extracting debris from your pores. You can literally see the gunk being sucked out of your face as the pen glides across your skin like a deep-cleaning, moisturising vacuum cleaner.

“So it’s a vacuum for your face?” I asked. “Uh, yes,” came the reply, accompanied by a sideways glance. My very scientific description was confirmed when Constance held up a large, clear container full of liquid with a whole lot of small, black floaties – my blackheads. It’s safe to say a whole lot of gunk was removed from my skin, which was embarrassing yet satisfying. Add to that, my face felt naked, but also like it was breathing for the first time.

The whole experience was much more relaxing than it sounds. The procedure is completely painless, and Constance says it combats any skin problem – from pigmentation to acne. But it's also suitable as a regular cleanse. She recommended I have it done once a month, to keep my skin clean and clear, but the frequency depends on your skin type. Oily skin, for example, may need a couple of treatments within one to two weeks of each other, before moving to monthly.

A few weeks later, my skin still feels clean and naked without my usual blackheads filling my now-empty pores. I might try to stretch it out to every six weeks, but rest assured that I’ll certainly be back for more.

Kopurererua Valley, Tauranga

Celebrating the places and spaces we call home.

THROUGH THE MEADOWS

Spring is the season for new beginnings as we turn toward fresh interiors in sweet and soft tones.

STYLING AMBER ARMITAGE PHOTOS WENDY FENWICK @ FLASH STUDIOS WALL COLOURS RESENE PAINTS

STYLIST TIP

To create a calming space, you need to have a focal point within the room. This gives the eye somewhere to land when entering a space and gives the room a hierarchy, so nothing is competing. An oversized artwork is perfect for this. To help lead your eye to the focal point, the artwork should be well lit (with natural light or a lamp/spotlight), have "supporting" pieces to ground it (like a sideboard underneath) and the layout of the other furniture needs to "speak" to it. This could be by facing the focal point or by creating space to view it.

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE Wall painted in Resene Triple Concrete with Resene Half Concrete mixed with Resene FX Paint Effects. Floor painted in Resene Concrete. Agnes wooden side table $119.95, finished in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, Eve pillar side table $119.95, base painted in Resene Concrete, both from Mocka . Beth occasional chair in Velvet Taupe $999, from Danske Mobler. Mackenzie Fallow rug, 160x230 $1,299, Eaton cushion $209, and Featherston Bracken 100% NZ wool throw $380, all from Baya . Karimoku Case Study sofa $6,710, Karimoku Case Study coffee table $6,290, both from Good Form . Large Soapstone dish $229 from Asili . Broste small brown vase $49 from Green with Envy. Hotel Magique Black Apple A2 framed print $245, Arena white vase $79, Kinfolk Travel book $85, The Land Gardeners by Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtald $55, Beldi wine glass $15.99, all from Father Rabbit

STYLIST TIP

THIS PAGE Bedroom wall painted in Resene Summer Rose, walk-in-wardrobe painted in Resene Soul Searcher, and floor finished in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. Round textured vase painted in Resene Foundation and small vase painted in Resene Summer Rose. Eclipse Four Drawer $369.95 from Mocka . Pink Candymen by Simon Lewis-Wards $210 from The Poi Room . Braided sandal from La Tribe Framed Bouquet print in Sage $439, orange mug with clear handle $14.90, Cultiver linen euro covers $155/pair, Bonnie and Neil marigold cushion 60 x 40 $225, tiny checkers pillowcase $185/pair, Dandy quilt $489, all from Father Rabbit . Blush pink linen duvet cover $239/king from Foxtrot Home

Mix and match prints and patterns, and play with shades of colour to create depth. We love the interplay of Resene Summer Rose and Resene Soul Searcher.

ABOVE Wall painted in Resene Soul Searcher and floor finished in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. Large rounded planter pot $149.95 from Kings Plant Barn . Visioni A rug by CC-Tapis $POA from Good Form Paper collective framed print $269 from Father Rabbit . Rattan bench seat $249.95 from Mocka

RIGHT Test pots (from top) in Resene Soul Searcher, Resene Summer Rose and Resene Double Alabaster. A4 drawdown paint swatches (from left) in Resene Soul Searcher, Resene Double Alabaster and Resene Summer Rose.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

A lifetime of adventure and careers abroad has seen Jason Eves return to a family-focused BOP lifestyle and a professional role that offers challenge, reward and an outlet for excellence.

WORDS JO FERRIS

When it comes to Tauranga, I can’t help but connect with the idiom “born and bred”. Born in Tauranga Hospital and a pupil of Tauranga Primary School, Tauranga Intermediate and finally Tauranga Boys’ College, the main homes of my childhood were on Grace Road and Eleventh Avenue. I still very much connect with these areas, having recently moved back to Grace Road late last year.

I met my wife Abigail at a conference while living in Auckland and working as national sales manager for the Animal Health division of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Abigail at the time was a key accounts manager based in Wellington. About eight months into a long-distance relationship, she joined me in Auckland and moved into a licensing executive role at TVNZ.

In our mid-thirties I had already lived five years overseas in Australia and the UK, but Abigail was keen to travel, so we picked up sticks and sailed off on an adventure. After varying directorship and management roles centred around high value assets and property in North America, we returned to New Zealand 12 years and one three-year-old daughter later.

Our decision to return to New Zealand was largely centred around our daughter, Harper, who is now seven years old and enjoying the same school playground that I did back in the 70s. We also wanted the lifestyle that Tauranga could provide for our family, and were excited by the opportunity to properly reconnect with family and friends who had remained in, or had also returned to, the Bay of Plenty.

Oliver Road is very much a family business. While it doesn’t bear the surnames of my business partner Cam Winter, nor mine (as was the case with my father Max Eves, who established EVES Real Estate in the late 60s,) we are personally connected to everything it stands for: The company’s values, reputation, level of service and outcomes delivered for clients are all reflective and representative of who we are. For us, Oliver Road was about rethinking and rebuilding the entire approach to selling real estate from the ground up, starting with a clear understanding of just how significantly technology and lifestyles have changed since the standard industry platform was established. Every field has had to deal with faster delivery of larger volumes of information, and we’ve all needed to specialise in order to contend with this ever-evolving landscape.

Narrowing our focus, increasing our level of understanding, and deepening our knowledge grows our capacity to deliver improved outcomes. By looking inward and taking the time and space to explore our insights, we can question what we’ve previously done or held true – and then we can develop hypotheses, apply changes, and pave our own way forward. I think this best sums up Oliver Road’s journey so far.

At Oliver Road, we don’t have a phalanx of salespeople or subscribe to the “bigger is better” philosophy. Rather, we instead support our clients, customers, and outcomes by adding roles that enhance the single service we offer. Every decision we make about how to structure our business, including those people we select to join the Oliver Road family, is born out of our desire to constantly evolve and improve our specialist endeavour. We are dedicated to offering our clients an alternative, and are excited about what the future of real estate will bring.

Jason, Harper and Abigail.

BELLA ITALIA

Impressive and imposing, this Italian-styled home brings a taste of the Mediterranean to Tauranga.

WORDS JO FERRIS

Sharing more in common with some of the finest estates on Waiheke Island or Auckland’s blue-chip suburbs of Herne Bay and Remuera, the fact this prestigious property even exists here in Tauranga is testament to its owners’ foresight and belief in the district’s future. This home will defy time – and remain as rock solid as it stands today – long into the future.

This home’s design, construction and innate essence are born from the Italian aristocratic palazzos it pays homage to. Solid concrete – including internal walls – construction and quality finish throughout totally belies any initial perception some buyers could be forgiven for thinking, according to Oliver Road’s Cam Winter.

Viewing is essential – if only to confirm the extent of this home’s magnitude. On the surface, the epic design and unique finish extols the Italian penchant for grandeur. Beneath all this however, the home hides well-considered attention to the fundamentals of a warm, healthy environment.

It epitomises the Mediterranean appreciation of family and nourishment. Togetherness feeds the soul - and this home instils that village philosophy in every conceivable way. Layered – like family – it revolves around the main household. This is magnanimous, and caters for crowds as effortlessly as it does for intimate dinners for a few. From here, the house embraces inter-generational unity with two individual, self-contained suites. The largest provides a two-bedroom apartment on the upper level. The second is a New York style one-bedroom apartment cleverly built into the basement level. Separate living for elders or extended members with children – together, yet independent.

Being multi-faceted, this home’s capacity for accommodating staff is also brilliant – from groundspeople to nannies or private tutors. A property of stature that also lends to boutique accommodation or an intimate function venue. Entertaining inside or out, the focus revolves around nurture and nourishment. It’s easy to envision long, lazy lunches outside, or lingering dinner parties in the soaring luxury of the banquet hall inside. Such status personifies the luxury of international grand homes and estates often featured on

TV programmes and in exclusive magazines. And deservedly so. Seen firsthand, the quality here is clearly apparent – from the concrete construction to the interior finish that mixes genuine Italian materials with exquisite New Zealand and accents. It is an intricate fusion of ancient Mediterranean heritage with hi-tech innovation and engineering ingenuity. Safely guarded behind gated security, within nearly an acre, this haven ensures seclusion and solace, protection, and privacy. Manicured gardens and courtyard corners, topiary pathways and sloping lawns, a heated pool for year-round leisure, a spa for added bliss – it is the quintessential lifestyle.

Cam Winter notes that its relative length of time-on-market can be almost entirely attributed to perception, both with respect to its construction (given Tauranga’s and New Zealand’s unfortunate “leaky home era”), which this property sits so far

beyond – not only in age (built 2008) but also in the reality of its solid-concrete construction. Possibly also some concern about the future Takitimu North Link.

Now under construction and, with clear evidence of what will eventuate on Waka Kotahi, NZTA’s website, far away from producing any audible impact on this property, the highway will actually improve surrounding traffic and shorten distances to key arterial connections including shortening the distances both into Tauranga’s CBD and north towards Auckland. The scenic beauty of Wairoa Valley will remain, and its uninterrupted west-facing aspect will continue to produce magnificent afternoon sunshine which become romantic late-evening sunsets. With only 14 neighbours spaced in their own settings, life in this elite enclave can only improve.

5 Sunny Downs Drive, Tauriko OLIVERROADESTATEAGENTS.COM

ZEN BY DESIGN

East meets west in this stunning home’s Japanese-inspired aesthetic.

WORDS JO FERRIS

This Mount Maunganui home’s dramatic street-front greeting showcases a striking look born in Japan. Yakisugi’s authentic process of charring sugi cedar not only improves the timber’s life span, it adds another layer to this home’s haunting story.

It’s a story of evolvement – from this home’s birth in 1956 to a stunning epitome of the Mount’s coastal vibe. The weatherboard construction remains, but that’s about all. Over the years, different owners have embedded their

own mark. The vivid allure of black, vertical shiplap on walls curving around this home’s lower area are a fitting imprint by these vendors.

Stunning aesthetics aside, two hidden elements enhance this driveway’s function. Power in one corner offers a charge point for vehicles and parking for a motorhome. A gas point in a recess allows for the addition of screen doors to hide bottles and utility bins.

The garage is another improvement by these owners. Lined over block, carpeted and finished with extra detail, it is now a multi-purpose zone. An internal

stairwell leads up to the first level. For visitors, the sugi-clad steps sweep up through a coastal-themed garden, where resident tuis haunt the p ō hutukawa. They’re so frequent and familiar, these owners have even named them.

Other than original native timber flooring throughout the home, the décor was completely transformed by prior owners.

One intriguing feature pays homage to the construction. A distressed weatherboard panel hanging on a passage wall as a work of art, is actually a disguise for the hot water cylinder behind.

Apart from one original window in the master bedroom, joinery was replaced with double-glazed aluminium. Plywood is a statement element that instils tone and texture in key areas. Feature walls showcase ply’s natural blonde finish, while black negative detailing makes a striking effect in-between the panels.

Kitchen cabinetry is finished in laminated plywood, while timeless stainless steel benches are a practical surface cooks will appreciate.

Open-plan living and outdoor flow maximises space to connect with areas outside. A morning balcony at the front

gazes out to sea. At the rear, there’s an intimate link with a secluded backyard oasis. The third bedroom also opens out to this sun deck and shelter from afternoon breeze within this tropical sanctuary. It’s an easy-care garden – with a corner for veges and a hidden sink bench for filleting fish.

The master bedroom commands the front-row ocean view. A second living area above, elevates this to a grandstand coastal outlook. With glimpses to three islands, Motiti sits directly in front and waves can be seen lapping on the beach. This is a spacious, multi-purpose zone

– an invitation for leisure or work. With sun streaming inside, an air conditioning unit keeps life cool in hot weather. There are two more heat pumps elsewhere, plus a wood burner. Highly efficient, it’s another feature which matches this home’s distinctive vibe.

Within walking distance to the beach and cafes, this impressive home awaits another chapter. Inspection is invited, and more information is available on Oliver Road Real Estate’s website.

OLIVERROADESTATEAGENTS.COM

"WITH GLIMPSES TO THREE ISLANDS, MOTITI SITS DIRECTLY IN FRONT AND WAVES CAN BE SEEN LAPPING ON THE BEACH."

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

If you’re looking for a more relaxed-yet-refined way of life, Althorp Village may be just the right place to call home.

WORDS MONIQUE BALVERT-O’CONNOR / PHOTOS JAHL MARSHALL

Given its top-notch appearance, the facilities and all that’s on offer (more than 30 activities a week, from choir to aqua aerobics), it’s not surprising Althorp Village has a holiday resort ambience.

With well-thought-out recreational facilities and architecturally designed dwellings, accentuated by stunning gardens and an expansive park-like setting, the retirement village combines resort-style amenities with high-quality homes. There are impressive outdoor facilities too – think lawn bowls, croquet, tennis and garden allotments (there’s even a hobby shed).

Althorp Village manager Claire Keen says the village residents enjoy the opportunities offered, as well as embracing independent living and organising their own groups and events.

“Our vision is to create an environment where our residents can find like-minded people and where they can be happy and enjoy their golden years, stress and trouble free.”

Set across more than 12 hectares, this premier residential village for seniors has two apartment

blocks. The Lodge offers a range of one-, twoand three-bedroom apartments and The Garden Apartments are all large north facing two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments. There are 211 different properties on site including a motel.

The Althorp Village philosophy promotes the idea of residents staying in their own homes for as long as possible and with as much help as required. “It’s a happy balance between keeping a close eye on how everyone is doing without being intrusive,” Claire says.

“We are an independent living village – every level of care is available if, and when, required. Our residents can go from an independent apartment or villa to serviced apartments and then on to Radius Althorp Hospital if required. The hospital includes rest home level beds, respite care beds and geriatric care,” she explains.

Currently available is the opportunity to buy a license to occupy a two-bedroom apartment in The Garden Apartment Block, and a three-bedroom apartment in The Lodge apartment block.

Garden apartments have two bedrooms, a large ensuite plus a guest bathroom. They are north-

facing and at ground level, opening out onto a large patio, beyond which are the muchadmired gardens. These apartments enjoy spacious open-plan main living, underfloor heating throughout, a separate laundry and excellent storage. Parking is secure and undercover, with a large storage cupboard included.

Lodge Apartment 8 captures lots of sun, features three bedrooms, ensuite and main bathroom, and an open plan kitchen, dining and lounge. This apartment is on the second floor and overlooks the village gardens. The large deck is a lovely spot where you can bask in the afternoon sun. There is underground parking and storage. The apartment is accessed via the village’s atrium area – a popular enclosed space, flooded with light. It’s but a hop, skip, and jump from this apartment to many of the

indoor activities on offer. Housed in the building are, for example, the indoor heated pool, gymnasium, spa, movie theatre, bar, library, games room, dining and lounge areas.

Claire and team also stress that its important for families to know we have a friendly and caring community of residents. The Althorp Team is also aware the aging process for families can often be daunting and its important for family members to know we can guide them to whatever levels of support are required.

Claire says the opportunity to buy a Licence to Occupy at Althorp Village is an exciting one as they don’t come up very often and there is usually a waiting list.

ALTHORPVILLAGE.CO.NZ

BALI HOME

Landmark Bay Of Plenty’s latest show home combines tropical-inspired landscaping with relaxed, resort-like living.

It’s another passion project, says Carly Stewart of the latest Landmark show home that’s just opened its doors in Palm Springs, Pāpāmoa.

Carly, who co-owns Landmark Bay Of Plenty with husband Logan Stewart, admits she’s fallen in love with the house, just as she did with her company’s previous show home in Ō mokoroa’s Harbour Ridge.

In true Landmark Bay Of Plenty style, this latest beauty, sited in Montiicola Drive, is two-storied and clad in weatherboard with cedar accents. But, while the Ō mokoroa show home was Hamptons themed, this one represents Bali at its best – Balinese luxe resort to be exact, says Carly. This time, she was determined to take “a sidestep” and create something slightly different from

the many coastal-themed abodes on the Montiicola strip.

Tropical planting is an early indicator of the Balinese theme, and the James Hardy white-painted linear weatherboard (in Resene Quarter Rice Cake) has been joined on the exterior by blonded cedar detailing. The cedar aspects add to the home’s cutting-edge contemporary look, Carly explains, and it was important that the cedar was bleached (a Dryden wood oil was used to achieve this) to suit the light and breezy Balinese look. Also in accordance with that look is the pergola leading to the front door. It’s topped with narrow timber slats while bamboo grows at its sides. The white breeze block wall nearby features a frangipani design.

A family home, this build spans 220 square metres, with the downstairs dedicated to open-plan main living (including a spacious scullery that incorporates a sink and wine fridge), the master bedroom suite, and a powder room. There is a separate laundry and internal access to the double garage. Accessing the outdoors is a breeze, as one would expect of a home channelling many things Balinese. A large timber deck feeds off the dining

and living rooms where the doors stack back to integrate the inside and outside.

There’s a patio off the master bedroom and a second patio off the lounge, facing roadside. The central decking area boasts built-in alfresco cooking facilities, breeze blocks, and plantings (including palms and cycads) amp up the home’s street appeal.

Carly and Logan were especially keen for this home to be two-storied, as the upper levels offer the opportunity to enjoy sunset views over the P ā p ā moa hills. The American Oak stairwell, rising from the entranceway of the home, leads to two double-sized bedrooms, a family bathroom, and a small lounge/ retreat that can also function as a study space.

The wonderfully functional layout and exterior appeal is complemented by the beauty in the detailing throughout the home. Carly so loves dealing with this aspect and calls upon interior designer Roselle Blockley of La Belle Maison to assist as an excellent sounding board. Carly sources product with the wow factor and turns her hopes and dreams into reality.

Excellent décor decisions are immediately apparent.

The light fitting in the stairwell void is a handcrafted circular stunner – a visual treat that can be enjoyed from outside the house, too, given the window over the front door follows the roof’s high pitch. Also pleasing the eye from the get-go is the view from the front door of the American Oak stairway (to bring the natural timber through to the inside), and a feature wall of handmade seagrass wallpaper.

Carly has ensured the build includes naturally derived product where possible. Sustainable, natural fibres were to the fore, for example, when the carpet was chosen – they’ve gone for Bremworth wool loop pile – and natural organic linen for the drapery throughout the house. This environmentally friendly approach applies outside, too, where a water bore has been installed to keep the gardens lush year-round.

This show home’s name promises luxury and a resort-like ambience so, as expected, there are many aspects that look fabulous and speak of enjoyable living. Top of mind for Carly are inclusions such as the Forte timber flooring laid in a herringbone

pattern in the lounge room, and “the most divine, opalescent tiles” sourced from Sydney in the bathrooms’ shower recesses. Then there’s the kitchen where, in place of a splashback, there’s a window looking out on one of the patios with its lush planting – and then there’s the outdoor shower.

“It’s a Balinese resort-inspired shower – it will be like standing in a tropical garden, with planting around and reached via misshapen glacial schist stepping stones in among a crushed shell path,” Carly enthuses.

All this, alongside a comprehensive landscaping plan, feature walls of wallpaper and tongue-andgroove timber, custom-made cabinetry, American Oak features, brushed nickel tapware and the high raked ceiling, give Carly joy whenever she views this latest show home.

Already sumptuous, there’s the potential to make it even more Balinese resort-like, she adds. There’s room for a swimming pool, too.

GROW UP

Live music, food, garden-related trade stores, tiny houses, guest speakers and art displays are all part of the fun at Bloom in the Bay.

Dubbed a little like a festival within a festival, the Craigs Investment Partners’ Bloom in the Bay event has become a vibrant part of the biennial Bay of Plenty Garden and Art Festival. And there will certainly be plenty to enthral this year at the 17-20 November family-friendly event, assures festival director Marc Anderson.

Bloom in the Bay will be held at Tauranga Racecourse, where there’s room aplenty for the array of planned activities and stalls. New to the event this year is, for example, the inclusion of 30 gardenrelated trade stores offering their wares for sale – this exhibition space will be called Bloom Plaza. Also a first, will be an array of tiny houses and cabins that will form a charming wee art village, Marc explains, as there will be an artist set up in each.

WORDS MONIQUE BALVERT-O’CONNOR / PHOTOS SUPPLIED

HeidiBorchardt

AnneBailey

Entry to Bloom in the Bay is free to BOP Garden and Art Festival attendees and to children under 14, and will cost adults without festival tickets only $5. The idea is to drop in whenever it suits on the four festival days and enjoy the many wonders of this colourful event, Marc says. It will run from 9.30am to 6pm on the first three festival days, and from 9.30am until 3pm on the Sunday.

The food options will be many, the bar will be open, and the live music lineup will include Kokomo Blues and Caitriona Fallon, for example, as well as emerging talent. There will be a “Make Art Not Waste” Envirohub catwalk event on the Saturday, and a scintillating mix of environment-focused speakers. Discover more about living predator-free, growing microgreens and making seed bombs, find out what endangered species we have living on our beaches, and hear from an award-winning photographer who has been cuddled by a whale and attacked by an octopus.

Check the gardenandartfestival.co.nz website in the lead-up to the festival for the timing of the different Bloom in the Bay events and performances.

Meanwhile, tickets are selling fast for the festival’s Long Lunch, with gardening guru (and former NZ Gardener editor) Lynda Hallinan as guest speaker. A three-course meal, glass of bubbles on arrival, live music and entertainment will all be on offer.

And art lovers, rejoice: The festival includes more artists than ever and an Art Studio Trail, within the main trail, is being introduced. The festival map is marked with these 22 purpose-built art studios (see photos of some of the art to be found in these studios).

Festival tickets are $40 for one day, and $65 for multiple days, and are available at Palmers Bethlehem (the festival’s trail sponsors), D é cor Garden World, Pacifica Home & Garden Store, i-SITE Tauranga, Te Puke Florist, Katch Katikati information centre, online at Eventfinda (service fees may apply) and on the festival website.

The Bay of Plenty Garden and Art Festival is sponsored by Bayleys.

GARDENANDARTFESTIVAL.CO.NZ

“

ART LOVERS, REJOICE: THE FESTIVAL INCLUDES MORE ARTISTS THAN EVER AND AN ART STUDIO TRAIL.”

Artist Coral Noel Yang paints in the garden.

Gilly BrodieAPSNZ

HATS

Tauranga has its very own milliner, and she’ll be opening her new studio to the public for the first time during the BOP Garden and Art Festival.

WORDS MONIQUE

MAY

Those calling in to Bejo, the Te Puna studio of talented milliner and exhibiting artist at Bloom in the Bay, Jo-anne Halls, can expect to be wowed by what’s created there. The woman who used to supply hats to shops such as Smith & Caughey's, House of Brides, Ballantynes and Kirkcaldie & Stains, was once told that Dame Sylvia Cartwright wore one of her hats to King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla’s 2005 wedding. And it was her creation that won Melbourne Cup Best Hat in 1997, and plenty of other such placings at New Zealand and Australian racing events. She’s made them for theatrical performances too.

These days, Jo-anne's hats are made for private clients (no more wholesale).

“Customers bring in shoes, outfits and jewellery and we set about planning something spectacular. I look at their hair and what complements their face and body shape, and then I start playing until I see the light in their eyes,” says Jo-anne, who comes from generations of women handy at hatmaking. In fact, her studio name is a nod to her late mum, Betty, who taught her millinery. Betty’s mother, Dorothy, was also a milliner.

Jo-anne recalls being in her mother’s haberdashery in Tauranga’s Piccadilly Arcade many moons ago when a sales rep came in with hat bases.

“I thought, ‘This is interesting.’ I saw it as a free art form – not constrained by a pattern. So, Mum started teaching me. I made my first hat in 1984 and I’m still excited by it all.”

Ladies’ dress hats are Jo-anne's main thing, but she’ll tackle casual too, and she loves pushing the boundaries with different fibres – “seeing what the materials will let me do.”

Her hats are predominantly made of sinamay – a sustainable plant fibre that is woven (a kind of straw) – but also fabric, and often involving wire. Embellishment can include veiling, crinoline, diamantes…

Jo-anne, who is one of only a handful of milliners in New Zealand, says she still has fun with this form of creativity.

Those visiting her studio will be rewarded by other examples of her creativity too – during lockdown, Jo-anne began creating baskets, bags, aprons, slippers, booties, masks and even handmade soaps. Creativity abounds at Bejo Studio.

BEJO.STUDIO

"I LOOK AT THEIR HAIR AND WHAT COMPLEMENTS THEIR FACE AND BODY SHAPE, AND THEN I START PLAYING UNTIL I SEE THE LIGHT IN THEIR EYES."

SUSTAINABILITY IN BLOOM

Mitre 10 MEGA Tauranga has come of age – leading the way on all things green with a new-look garden centre and strong focus on sustainability.

WORDS JO FERRIS | PHOTOS JAHL MARSHALL

Supervisor Lorena Stead and 2IC Marisa Pirina are helping to plant the seeds for a better tomorrow.

Mitre 10 MEGA Tauranga has come of age – leading the way on all things green with a new-look garden centre and strong focus on sustainability.

With fresh ideas , new technology and their ‘arms-wide-open’ approach, nothing rains on this team’s parade. Now fully roofed, the only place rain falls inside is in two 30,000L tanks.

Feeding a sophisticated irrigation system, it not only eliminates using town supply, plants are flourishing – noticeably so. Staff efficiency has also gained. Despite the new technology – rather than downsizing the garden centre’s team – it has increased from 14 to 25, as supervisor Lorena Stead and 2 IC Marisa Pirina shift up another gear.

“Spring is our busiest time of the year. It’s like turning the lights on,” says Lorena.

Customer focus underpins this store’s entire purpose. That means people on the floor and more time to greet and help customers. The café moved instore, but still overlooks all the activity. Opening up the garden centre not only created additional space for more stock, visibility increased thanks to new, lower plant bays.

The Garden Hub is also a novel drawcard – a central station which enhances staff’s ability to handle customer queries. Just outside is the plastic pot recycling bin – another sustainability initiative, which has seen 900kgs recycled in the past 10 months. And that’s not counting any containers foraged by customers. Mitre 10 even takes polystyrene – number one in New Zealand to do so.

Changes also flowed instore. By definition, ‘garden’ has assumed an entirely new meaning.

More than a green space for trees, flowers and veges; outdoor zones are another room – an extension of how we live, play, entertain – even work. Anything from a simple patio now extends to sophisticated retreats – fully sheltered or open-air; lit and heated. As much as gardens grow, so has this store’s vision, according to Lorena.

“Gardens are another room in the home. But there’s also the internal garden – indoor plants – not only but also.”

Specialty zones cover the full gamut – from indoor plants, tools, plant care, ornaments and rainwater storage systems to probably the Bay’s largest selection of outdoor furniture, BBQs and every accessory to match. If you can’t find it,

this store will seek it. Being owneroperated and part of a solely New Zealand co-operative, buying power and access to a wide range of products strengthens this hugely successful business.

Innovation and a "people first" mantra feed this store’s belief in mutually beneficial relationships – from everyone who walks in the door to everyone on the shop floor.

Newbies to long-timers , staff know their stuff; and they know people. Customers come from far and wide, such is the store’s reputation for familiarity.

It’s an attitude Mitre 10 MEGA Tauranga continually works on. And customers feel it. Regulars watched closely as the garden centre remained open throughout the renovation. Written feedback was overwhelming and staff are grateful.

Inspired by the new look, Lorena and Marisa say customers love all the initiatives as well – especially how plants respond to the new irrigation. Both agree the garden centre looks and feels brighter. True to the "spring has sprung" philosophy, team members are also thriving – watching their garden grow as natural rain waters it from above.

MITRE10.CO.NZ

“SPRING IS OUR BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR. IT’S LIKE TURNING THE LIGHTS ON.”

COLOUR BY NUMBERS

Simple guidelines for bringing colour into your home decor.

In this dining area and foyer, green is the dominant colour, brown is the secondary colour, and ivory is the accent shade that adds interest.

PHOTOS JAHL MARSHALL

Colour is often the most difficult part of interior design, and balancing the colours you want is very important. There are so many shades to choose from, and they need to be put together in the right proportions to work in harmony. It’s no surprise, then, that choosing colours can be overwhelming. Luckily, there are colour rules you can use to ensure your colour palette looks balanced.

One such colour rule is the 60-30-10 rule. While there are exceptions to every rule, this ratio helps to give a sense of proportion and balance by providing the main colour choice with a secondary and an accent colour that all work together. The idea here is to use three colours: Choose one colour to be your dominant shade and use it for approximately 60 percent of the room. This sets the mood.

Next will be your secondary colour, making up 30 percent of the design in either a darker or lighter shade. This secondary colour supports the main colour and should be different enough to give the room interest.

The remaining 10 percent is the fun percentage; your accent colour for smaller decorative pieces. This 10 percent is what gives the room character. It can be bold or subtle depending on what vibe you want to create. It’s really up to you.

In the photo of my dining area and foyer, for example, green is the dominant colour. You can see it on the walls and ceiling in the foyer, and on the walls of the dining area, the trim and plants. It’s even included in the artwork. Then brown is the secondary colour. It’s shown in the dining table and also the colour of the wicker chairs and rattan pendant light. Finally, ivory is the accent shade I’ve used, with the ceramic jugs and artwork as accessories.

The 60-30-10 rule is any interior design fan’s best friend. I chose a neutral colour palette that allows me to create a practical and curated space using pieces I love. No matter what your personal aesthetic may be, you can choose any colours you like using the 60-30-10 rule!

wantemdesign wantem.design

DOLLARS AND SENSE

Glen Strang likes to help people, and building strong personal relationships is the cornerstone of his successful finance business.

WORDS JO FERRIS | PHOTOS SALINA GALVAN

Mention Glen Strang’s name around the traps and hands invariably shoot up.

Born and bred in Tauranga, Glen is well known in business and sporting circles. Gregarious by nature, he’s a “first-name” man. Meet him and it feels like you’ve known him for years – an innate attribute that helps draw customers to MTF Finance Mount Maunganui.

From school to 19 years in banking –including stints in Auckland and playing rugby overseas – Glen has been in business for himself for the past six years. One of 52 individually-owned franchises in New Zealand, the familiar MTF "Finance Yellow” is a prominent feature in New Zealand cities. If you’ve seen Kiwi comedian Josh Thomson’s light-hearted humour on their TV commercials, you connect with their approachable style.

Borrowing money is personal and can be challenging, yet making these conversations comfortable is what Glen and his team are all about. The Mount Maunganui team wants to help. Really help. They invest time into clients –knowing that, in terms of trust, relationships are everything.

Customers trust Glen’s judgment. A recent client was looking to purchase a vehicle that wasn’t fit for purpose, or a good choice considering his ambitions. He is a young tradie and needed help with his apprenticeship. Glen spent time helping with what best suited his client’s needs. In the end, the young man realised a ute was an ideal solution and would serve him better in his work – and leisure – activities.

Another regular client needed a piece of machinery to grow his business. Thanks to Glen’s contacts (he often deals with

suppliers as well, which enhances his ability to help clients), the two worked through the most cost-effective solutions.

To Glen, every interaction is about ensuring that what his client is looking for not only meets their needs, but does so in the best way possible.

“I’m interested in helping clients make good decisions and get the right loan for the right reason. I want the exercise to become a success story for them.”

While MTF Finance Mount Maunganui’s core business is asset lending for vehicles and machinery – business and personal – Glen and his team also handle unsecured applications: Finance for things like home improvement, holidays and debt consolidation.

“Ours is a bespoke approach. We put ourselves in our clients’ boots, work through their requirements and where they’re headed, then recommend appropriate options.”

It’s a shared philosophy. Vicky Gorman has been an integral part of the team for almost three years. Dan Jones brings his experience from the motor vehicle industry. Both have the same personable approach, which puts their customers at ease.

This ability to offer flexible rates and provide a loan has positioned MTF Finance Mount Maunganui with being a go-to for finance. Loans can be created on the same day as the enquiry, whether personally, over the phone, or entirely online. For Glen, it’s all about the personal approach and fulfilling customers’ needs.

“People know the person they are talking with is the lender – the one who makes every decision locally.”

MTF.CO.NZ (search Mount Maunganui)

A GOOD KEEN MAN

I met Glen in 2016, when he helped my wife and I into our first car after moving back from Australia: An Audi A3 worth about $10k. Since then, Glen has financed at least three cars for us. Glen recommended to us to get mechanical breakdown insurance, which was great advice as it turned out. The car was a lemon in the end and we were completely covered. Glen also financed part of my boat and a quad bike. While we had cash, we were saving for a deposit on a house, so Glen bridged the gap on a few toys.

Glen and his team are awesome to deal with – so much easier than a bank. There’s no forms to fill out and they pretty much take care of everything for you. Best of all, approval is really quick, so there’s no chance of missing out on that vehicle you want.

We have recommended Glen to friends and family and all have had the same enjoyable experience. Glen is a local guy – born and bred here. I have met his lovely family and played golf with him a couple of times, too. He’s a top bloke and a good keen man to know.

Thanks, Glen. See you in the summer, mate, when I buy that new jet ski.

~ Matt Batchelor, Mount Maunganui

BLOSSOMING WITH CARE

A newly opened childcare centre in the Mount holds true to its philosophy of creating authentic, inspiring early childhood experiences.

WORDS CATHERINE SYLVESTER

Alisha Merriman had a clear vision of exactly what gap she wanted to fill when creating an early childhood education centre. She knew, not only because of her many years as a teacher in this sector, but also firsthand, as a mother of two young children. What she envisioned was a unique learning environment for children and their whānau, where they could thrive, grow and learn.

Bloesem (“Blossom”) – a nod to Alisha’s Dutch heritage – is precisely what the centre believes its tāmariki will do. Backed by research highlighting the importance of environment being pivotal to learning, the centre has a calming feel to it. Walls are painted in neutral colours, with spaces left uncluttered. “Aesthically pleasing environments enhance the children’s learning journey,” Alisha explains.

By creating physical spaces that are enriching for children to learn and grow in, Alisha and her team share their passion for creating inspiring new experiences daily. The team carefully create a teaching plan together, incorporating invitations to play based on suggestions from the children. Their aim is to instil a love of learning in their community.

With the first Bloesem opening in Te Puke in April 2019, the team have taken the time to firmly establish their vision and strong relationships with the children, whānau and staff. A high priority for Alisha is that they stay true to the “why” of Bloesem, and that means ensuring the right team of people working together to uphold the vision, philosophy and consistency of the centre. “Keeping it authentic is so important,” says Alisha. “At Bloesem, children and whānau are part of a nurturing, caring, joyful, tranquil environment.”

The Te Puke centre has thrived, despite the unexpected arrival of a global pandemic less than a year after opening. So when a spacious site opened up in Alisha’s own neighbourhood, the Mount, she knew it was the perfect time to expand the vision and provide another community with the inspiring Bloesem way of early childhood learning.

Opened in August, Bloesem Mount Maunganui also carries the vision statement: “Value and honour whanaungatanga, taiao, rangatiratanga which reflects the good of reciprocal relationships, for the good of the environment and for the good of growing self-confidence.”

With a strong philosophy and a growing need for more quality early childhood education centres, Bloesem is sure of its identity and what it offers the communities it is part of.

BLOESEM.CO.NZ

Alisha Merriman

"AT BLOESEM, CHILDREN AND WHĀNAU ARE PART OF A NURTURING, CARING,

LAW FOR EVERYONE

Restating the connection between law and justice, this new lecture series brings community and legal profession together for good.

WORDS NICKY ADAMS | PHOTOS SALINA GALVAN + SUPPLIED

Mackenzie Elvin Law, in partnership with Waikato University, have spearheaded a series of annual public lectures, held at the impressive new University lecture theatre in Tauranga and attended by professionals, students and the general public. Breaking new ground in this space, the first talk was delivered last year by the Hon. Justice Susan Glazebrook, the second in August by The Right Honourable Dame Helen Winkelmann, Chief Justice of New Zealand, who spoke on Access To Justice.

Dame Helen, addressing what could only be called a full house, noted that when she was asked to speak, it had been suggested that she revisit a topic of a talk she gave in 2014. That lecture, she joked, “was a little bit facetiously” titled “Access to Justice: Who Needs Lawyers?” She then went on to clarify the reasons she agreed to discuss this topic at the presentation in Tauranga: “First, because I believe the need to preserve social cohesion makes securing access to justice more pressing today than it ever has been. And secondly, as Chief Justice, I’ve had many opportunities to reflect upon access to justice issues within a broader framework and I’d like

to share the perspectives that I’ve gained in that role. And finally, because recent developments give cause for optimism that we can make progress in this area, and we all need a little hope.”

Trying to create pathways for access to justice are exactly the reasons that Mackenzie Elvin has sought to introduce the lecture series to Tauranga. On the night itself, partner Marcus Wilkins explained the reason the law practice wanted to put on the lecture was because now, with a campus in Tauranga and Waikato University offering a four-year law degree, the firm believed it had an obligation to support the faculty, the University and an independent judiciary. Furthermore, he added later, “We understand and defend the critical importance to the liberty of all of us that comes with an independent and fearless judiciary, and equally independent and fearless legal profession. Access to Justice is vitally important for the maintenance of trust and confidence in our democratic institutions and civil society.”

Deeply intertwined is the desire by Mackenzie Elvin to engage with the local community about the issues of law and justice through these lectures –by bringing eminent speakers to the city, to talk about the things that matter to a strong and healthy society, the partners

of the law firm are giving back to the community they have been a part of and served for over forty years. As founding partner Fiona Mackenzie explains, “We wanted to provide an opportunity for the public to engage in these issues as they’re not just for the legal profession and academia… We consider we carry a responsibility to do this.”

Vitally, Fiona goes on to point out, “New Zealand’s Chief Justice being willing to come and speak within the space we’ve created is significant. It makes the connection between life on the ground and structural application to our lives and those who have the mandate to ensure that those structures are occurring and happening. I think it indicates that it is no longer the preserve of the professionals.” Moreover, “it gives us the opportunity as a community to grow, and our civil society to develop and deepen as organs of justice are fundamental to a healthy society.”

Of her role at Mackenzie Elvin, Fiona says, “Making knowledge available is really important – how we share that and ensure people have access to that information affects them in terms of their everyday lives.”

MACKENZIE-ELVIN.COM

Lecture available at: YOUTUBE.COM/ WATCH?V=PANZLWUIEKK

“WE WANTED TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE IN THESE ISSUES.”

THE BIG SQUEEZE

Are rising interest rates and low capitalisation rates making you nervous? Owen Cooney from OC Consulting advises investors on how to withstand “yield squeeze”.

PHOTO JAHL MARSHALL

Commercial property has been a passion of mine for decades, but the economic environment we are all accustomed to operating in is changing.

For as long as I can remember, there has been a differential between the interest rate paid on mortgage debt and the yield (or capitalisation rate) received from a property. However, with interest rates now rising, the cost of debt will soon be similar to, if not greater, than the capitalisation rates a commercial property can reasonably generate.

In recent years it has been common to use debt to increase yield to an investor because that debt was so cheap. But thanks to inflationary pressures and rising interest rates, investor yields are being squeezed – and will continue to be squeezed until the market adjusts.

These comments are , of course, a generalisation. There are always markets where some purchasers will happily accept a very low capitalisation rate for a particular property. It’s also worth pointing out that investors who don’t need to take on debt to purchase a commercial property will not feel that same squeeze!

But the investor collectives we help set up at OC Consultancy Ltd do use non-recourse debt and will continue to do so. Instead of leveraging a property at 45 percent to 50 percent of LVR, we now intend to leverage at around 30 percent to ensure the smoothest path forward as New Zealand’s Reserve Bank battles to bring inflation back under control.

In our post-pandemic climate, there’s no escaping yield squeeze for the foreseeable future. But our message to investors is this – yields are only one factor that should be considered when making an investment decision.

You may be familiar with the advice of Warren Buffett regarding investment as a long-term game. Buffett famously said, “If you aren’t willing to own a stock for 10 years, don’t even think about owning it for 10 minutes.” Unfortunately, in our recent bull market, this message has been forgotten by many.

In the commercial property context, our focus is on securing long-term leases with good quality tenants and covenants. This, coupled with robust rent review mechanisms, is the best way to protect your investment from the effects of inflation and yield squeeze.

To be a successful property investor, you must look beyond what’s happening right now and see what is most likely to occur in the future.

We are confident that good commercial property will stand the test of time and be resilient. Just like any other investment, you must be prepared to weather the ups and downs of each economic cycle and keep your eyes firmly on the horizon of what’s to come.

The right building, with the right tenant and the right lease arrangements in place, will always be profitable in the long run.

OCC.NZ

“TO BE A SUCCESSFUL PROPERTY INVESTOR, YOU MUST LOOK BEYOND WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND SEE WHAT IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR IN THE FUTURE.”

HOOK, LINE AND… STINKER

The Hits weekday host Lauren Mabbett reveals the realities of single life in the Bay, and offers up a nifty hack for getting around the pram brigade on Mauao.

When I was a kid I thought by the time I was 25 I'd be a lawyer, own a house and be married with two children. I'm now 37, have none of those things, and still pretend my broccoli is a tree.

Yes, I've moved back to the Bay of Plenty for an awesome job, but alas, it is not the place to find a lad.

The majority of people in Tauranga seem to have moved here after getting all the singleness out of their system in other cities, and have now settled down to buy an overpriced house with their respective other.

Even though I know this, there'll still be the odd evening where I have a moment of weakness and open up Tinder to see what's out there. You know that feeling when you think you really want KFC but remember last time you ate it you hated yourself afterwards but you do it again anyway? That's me with Tinder.

I begin scrolling and feel any hope that was left inside me start fading. Guy with a fish. Oh, there's another one. More fish. Why so many fish? Guy holding a dead deer and a rifle. Another fish. Guy holding

a fish in one hand and antlers in the other. Oh God, I feel like I've just eaten an entire Family Feast. Close the app.

It's incredibly hard to meet people nowadays; even though we are surrounded by them. How do you meet anyone? Gone are the days when you could walk up to someone in a bar and start a conversation (both social media and Covid are to blame for this). We now do pretty much everything, including meeting people, through our phones.

Last week I was at the Crown and Badger with a friend, and a guy tapped me on the shoulder. He was a pretty good-looking guy, about my age, and I thought "Wow! Here we go! This is it! Someone has the balls to approach another person in a bar!" He smiled and said, "Excuse me, you are sitting on my jacket."

Look, meeting a guy isn't the be all and end all of living in the Bay of Plenty. I'm loving the opportunity to be back where I grew up and indulge in our gorgeous part of Aotearoa. We've got some pretty cool spots here in the Bay, once you finally arrive at them after weaving your way through road cones and stop/go operations.

But seriously, we are a destination and I do feel lucky to live here. As cliche as it sounds, one of my favourite places would have to be the Mount on a sunny day; although I've had to come up with a wee hack for walking around the bottom of Mauao. It's not the widest track and many times I've been caught behind a gaggle of mums and their prams who take up the entire path. It's fine if you're coming from the opposite direction – they'll see you and move out of the way. But if you come up behind them you'll end up awkwardly waiting for an opportunity to pass. Unless you're a runner! They can hear runners because of the gravel. So here's my hack – I'll pick up a jog just before I get to them. It works, they'll hear you and move, although the only problem with this, especially if you're incredibly unfit like me, is you then have to keep running until you're out of sight, otherwise you just look like a weirdo who picked up a run just to get past them.

Did I mention overthinking everyday awkward social interactions could be the reason I'm still single?

“YOU KNOW THAT FEELING WHEN YOU THINK YOU REALLY WANT KFC BUT REMEMBER LAST TIME YOU ATE IT YOU HATED YOURSELF AFTERWARDS BUT YOU DO IT AGAIN ANYWAY?

THAT'S ME WITH TINDER.”

Listen to Lauren’s day show on The Hits 95.0FM from 9am to 3pm week days.

Summer like this?

REWIND | CONNECT | RESET

EXPLORE

Hit the road and explore our surrounding treasures.

CITY BREAK

Family time in Auckland

PAGE 132

TRIP TO T Ī RAU

Quaint and quirky village

PAGE 114

MACKENZIE COUNTRY Head south for a roadie

PAGE 130

WHAT'S ON Events and festivals

PAGE 137

Tīrau may be better known for its quirky corrugated iron sculptures – but this tiny town is certainly worth your time.

L ess than one hour from Tauranga, you’ll find the quaint village of Tīrau. Often a stopover on a road trip, there’s so much more on offer than meets the eye. Spend the weekend shopping at one of the many boutiques, finding unique pieces from interior design stores, designer outlets and art galleries. If adventure is more your style, there are plenty of beautiful walks and bike tracks nearby to discover. Take a dip in a relaxing natural hot spring and wine and dine at some amazing eateries.

SHOP

DECIDUUS & SANTIE

Deciduus & Santie is a small lifestyle boutique, stocking a curated collection of art, ceramics, textiles and lush indoor plants. The owners pride themselves on being conscious consumers and passionately select and support the work of independent New Zealand creatives, each with their own unique voice and style.

23 Main Road, DECIDUUSANDSANTIE.CO.NZ

KILT SALE

KILTies rejoice. The much-loved New Zealand-made-and-designed brand KILT has a sale store in Tīrau. You can get your hands on elegant, sophisticated pieces at a discounted price. It’s a win-win. Their friendly team of stylists are on hand to make your experience in store amazing.

17 Main Road

INTERIORS BARN

It will be hard not to be inspired after visiting The Interiors Barn showroom. Stocking a wide range of beautiful, handcrafted and unique furniture and homewares that are sourced from around the world. They are all about finding pieces that are conversation starters.

17E Main Road, THEINTERIORSBARN.CO.NZ

NOTTING HILL

Notting Hill Interiors brings a curated collection of classic, sophisticated and European styling ranges of furniture, homewares, décor, lighting, jewellery, clothing and accessories. Stocking a range of New Zealand brands, they pride themselves on being a destination store with a one-of-a-kind shopping experience.

1 Hillcrest Street,

NOTTINGHILLINTERIORS.CO.NZ

TRELISE COOPER DESIGNER OUTLET

Further up the hill, shoppers can continue on to one of the few Trelise Cooper Outlet stores in the country. With a reputation for beautiful garments made with heart and integrity, you can find luxurious pieces at outlet prices.

1/1 Main Road

WAIKATO RIVER TRAILS

Located just 10 minutes from Tīrau, The Waikato River Trails winds along a path that encompasses the magic and beauty of New Zealand native bush, exotic forest, historic landmarks, suspension bridges and hydro dams. Be inspired as you walk, run or cycle through open reserves, boardwalks over wetlands and experience expansive lake and river views.

WAIKATORIVERTRAILS.CO.NZ

OKOROIRE HOT SPRINGS

Sheltered from the elements by a beautifully green forest – you’ll be able to draw a deep breath, take nature in, and let your mind wander as the naturally-heated mineral water of Okoroire Hot Springs works its magic. The Okoroire Hot Springs have been around for more than 130 years and are one of the best-kept secrets in South Waikato.

18 Somerville Road, OKOHOTEL.CO.NZ

TE WAIHOU WALKWAY

Arguably the most beautiful water in the world, venture along Te Waihou Walkway to enjoy the tranquillity and picturesque crystal clear water. Taking around 90 minutes to cover the 4.7 kilometre track (or three hours return) this mainly easy walk will take you past waterfalls and abundant native birdlife.

TWILIGHT GLOW WORMS TOUR

On the banks of the Waikato River, you’ll find Riverside Adventures. This family business offers a glow worm tour that can only be accessed by kayak. Enjoy the twilight and silence of being on the water as the day draws to an end. As night arrives over the river, you will paddle slowly up the Pokaiwhenua Stream, being guided by titiwai (glow worms) on either side sparkling like Christmas lights.

396 Horahora Road, RIVERSIDEADVENTURES.CO.NZ DO

STAY EAT

THE BAKER

If you’re a pie lover, The Baker is the stop for you. Often described as the best pies in New Zealand, with their loyal base of customers coming from near and far to get their hands on them. This father and daughter baking team – Rachel and Shane Kearnes – have put their twist on the Kiwi classics and it’s been a big hit.

35 Main Road

TUCKER BAR & EATERY

The husband and wife team at Tucker Bar & Eatery bring the heat to the kitchen with over 20 years of experience and having worked alongside some pretty big names in the industry, from Simon Gault to Gordon Ramsey. Growing their own organic seasonal vegetables and fruits on their family block and sourcing fresh local products, this proudly South Waikato restaurant serves up delicious dishes.

31 Main Road, TUCKERBARANDEATERY.CO.NZ

POPPY’S CAFÉ

A family run café on the main street of Tīrau, it’s hard to miss them under the giant corrugated poppies. Serving great coffee, delicious smoothies, homemade cabinet food and a hearty brunch menu.

32 Main Road

CABBAGE TREE CAFÉ

Cabbage Tree Café is a charming café that specialises in gourmet food and superb coffee that will leave you wanting more. Everything is cooked and baked fresh daily. Customer favourites include the Moroccan lamb, big beef burgers and the Cabbage Tree big works breakfast. CTCAFE

TE WAIHOU RIVERSIDE RETREAT

Located on the banks of the Waihou River, this eco-friendly cabin brings the wow factor. Wake up to stunning river views that can be enjoyed from your bed, enjoy a cold one on the floating pontoon or laze around in one of the hammocks. In the evenings enjoy the ambience of the fire pit or relax in the wood fire hot tub. The entire place has been thoughtfully decorated with rustic and unique personal touches to bring you the ultimate weekend getaway.

OKOROIRE HOT SPRINGS HOTEL

The Okoroire Hot Springs Hotel is immersed in history, character and New Zealand charm with its unique location and experiences on offer. The hotel’s vast land occupies 70-plus acres of natural beauty, including a wonderful country-style nine-hole golf course, the Okoroire Hot Springs, a tennis court, restaurant and private bar. It’s the perfect place to stay for families, couples or groups of friends.

18 Somerville Road, OKOHOTEL.CO.NZ

AIRBNB (search: Te Waihou Riverside Retreat) SWNZ.CO

ALPINE WONDERLAND

WORDS JENNY RUDD

We wanted to cruise round Mackenzie Country and take in the jagged scenery of bright white mountain tops and icy blue lakes, but we didn’t have time to drive to the South Island, so we rented a car on the booking. com app, flew down to Christchurch, and started our roadie at the business end of beautiful scenery.

LAKE TEKAPO/ TAKAPŌ

One of the most picturesque lakes in the country was originally named Lake Takapō by Māori, meaning to leave in haste in the night. The spelling later morphed into Tekapo. The town surrounding the lake swells in population during the winter season, as everyone flocks in for top skiing at Mt Dobson, Ōhau and Roundhill. Watch your step at night, as street lights are at a bare minimum in this designated night sky area. Nothing beats a soak in Tekapo Springs as the light falls and the snow glows pink on the surrounding mountain ranges.

MT DOBSON

No queues, snow for days and sun-drenched slopes. This unbelievable gem delivered top-notch skiing with the friendliest snow sports team, who took our four teens snowboarding all morning. The entire snow field was built by Peter Foote over 40 years ago. Buy his book to read the story of how he climbed the mountain as a young man and decided ‘this is where I’m building a ski field.’ While many other fields were closed round the country, Dobson enjoyed spring-like conditions on their groomed slopes.

Take a roadie through Mackenzie Country and catch the start of spring with fluffy snow and warm sunshine.

AORAKI/ MT COOK VILLAGE

Quite simply the best visitor’s centre in the country. We popped in for five minutes and ended up staying for two hours. Hundreds of pictures telling the history of mountaineering on Aoraki/ Aorangi/Mount Cook, and all under the shining white spikes and proud glaciers of the Southern Alps. If the weather’s clement, walk the Hooker Valley Track, a 10km out-and-back track right next to the village.

FAIRLIE

The constant queue out the door of the Fairlie bakehouse tells you all you need to know about what goes on inside. The pork belly pie with a crispy curl of crackling on top is the region’s go-to. We ate them on top of Mt Dobson, too. Also visit the Ski Shack and get kitted out to enjoy the region’s ski fields.

TOP TIPS

Rent a car on the booking.com app. We got an eight-seater 4WD with snow chains in the back from Christchurch Airport. Get a selfie with Michael Foote, who built the ski field at Mt Dobson himself, and has run it with his whānau for over 40 years. Eat as many cheese rolls as you can. Nothing compares.

BURKE’S PASS

As if built for a film set; a raggle-taggle bunch of mechanical machinery folds limbs of metal around an enormous collection of vintage American gas signs on a bend in the road between Mt Dobson and Lake Takapō. Stop and have a look around, you’ll end up with an old metal sign that you think will look really cool at home, until you get home.

TWIZEL

A pretty standard town, until you walk into Jake’s Hardware. Fishing rods, dog toys, puzzles (maybe a few hundred!), garden rakes, paint, backpacks, camping gear, wireless temperature gauges, vegetable seeds, 3D bicycle pictures (who knew there was such a thing?), I can’t even make a dent in their range. My husband had been looking for a repair kit for a waterproof jacket for weeks at home in Tauranga. He found one here within a few minutes. The annual stocktake must take six months. Car courtesy of BOOKING.COM

GO TO TOWN

If it’s been a while since you visited the Big Smoke, take time to rediscover Auckland with the family.

WORDS HAYLEY BARNETT PHOTOS HAYLEY BARNETT + SUPPLIED

The past two to three years haven’t been kind to any of us, but our biggest city, Auckland, has really felt the pain. If you haven’t been trying to escape it, you’ve at least been trying to avoid it. But now that we’re all emerging from our bubbles and travelling like never before, the city is finally back on people’s radars. If you were a local who couldn’t escape during those dark days, life went on, and the vibrancy of the city never disappeared. When I visited with my family for a long weekend earlier this year I was excited to find that there were new places which had opened up since our last visit, as well as renovations galore, proving the city had used its dog days to reemerge better and brighter than before. Here are some of the coolest, most fun activities that we squeezed into three days in the city.

AUCKLAND MUSEUM

If you get stuck with a rainy day in Auckland, one of the best things you can do is head to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. It’s a fun day out for the family and also educational for everyone, including both adults and kids alike. On entering, we immediately got up close to a complete T-Rex skeleton, a rare opportunity anywhere in the world. Most examples in museums are replicas but this one is made up of real bones, black in colour due to mineral deposits on the bones. Next we headed to the War Memorial gallery to take in the old planes, a favourite exhibition for four-year-old Oscar. Then we experienced what felt like a real volcanic eruption. The frightening simulation is designed to show you what it would be like if a volcano erupts whilst you relax in your living room at home. We also managed to get to the Weird and Wonderful exhibit, as well as the kids’ discovery centre, before heading down to the café for lunch.

AUCKLANDMUSEUM.COM

THE CONVENT HOTEL

Nestled next to a Catholic church and school in Grey Lynn sits an old nunnery recently converted into a rather suave boutique hotel. It’s not your usual roadside accommodation typical of the Great North Road strip, and that’s its charm.

The Spanish Mission-style building offers 22 eclectic rooms to choose from, all stripped back to their original brick walls, keeping the old steel windows, and filled with religious paraphernalia in every nook and cranny. It turns out this modern-yet-creepy vibe is very, very cool. The kids were excited to arrive at “the haunted house”, nicknamed after only seeing a photo of the building’s exterior on Booking.com before we made the journey.

Once inside the room, it feels more like you’re living the highlife in a cool, stylish New York apartment than sleeping in an old convent. But the kids couldn’t quite shake the creepiness. It might have been the giant murals of blood-soaked ghouls in the hallways, but who knows? For me, it just added a wow factor which made our trip to the Big Smoke that much more exciting.

Our apartment, aptly named Mother Superior, came fully equipped with a kitchen and lounge room, and our bedroom was separated from the kids by the bathroom and a hallway. Hard to come by in a regular hotel.

Just below our room sits one of Auckland’s hippest places to dine, Ada. We left the kids with Grandma and headed downstairs for a long Sunday lunch.

Avoiding food envy, we chose the set menu, and enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant, with its super-high ceiling and bustling vibe.

Book The Convent Hotel on BOOKING.COM

AUCKLAND ZOO

There’s always something new and exciting happening at Auckland Zoo. When we arrived, we were all blown away by how much had changed compared to our last visit two years ago. The new tiger enclosure is incredible, with the big striped cats wandering through tunnels overhead as you pass timidly underneath. Orangutans dangle high above in towers and it’s easy to spot them wherever they are. All the new enclosures are a vast improvement in size and quality for the animals and make the viewing experience that much more immersive. Even the main caf é has had a makeover. Of course, all the classics remain – the concrete dragon in the playground, the huge elephant and lion enclosures, the penguin and seal pool, and the giant bird sanctuaries – but the changes make it seem like a whole new experience. Highly recommend a visit next time you’re up. AUCKLANDZOO.CO.NZ

SEA LIFE KELLY TARLTON’S

Everyone’s favourite aquarium is still just as fun as it was when it opened 38 years ago. Despite this fun fact making me feel very old, our visit to see the sharks, turtles and stingrays (special requests for our weekend) was a surprisingly awe-inspiring activity that saw all of us have a very educational rainy afternoon. From Shackleton to Gentoo penguins, we came away all the more wiser and even watched someone feed the sharks inside the tank. A 100-year-old crayfish viewing was an unexpected highlight for the kids and I was quite taken with the centre’s Turtle Rescue operation. It’s the only place in New Zealand that offers a turtle rehabilitation programme.

VISITSEALIFE.COM

Hayley and family stayed at The Convent Hotel courtesy of BOOKING.COM

SUN TO SURF

When: 8 October 2022

Where: Mahy Reserve, Ōhope Beach

Whether you’re looking to nail a personal best on our flat and fast 21.1km and 10km courses, or wanting to embrace the end of our amazing Kiwi summer with family and friends in the 5km or The Wilde

Whippet kids’ 1km fun social distances, Sun to Surf ticks all the boxes.

SUNTOSURF.NZ

TUTUS ON TOUR

When: 20 to 21 October 2022

NEW ZEALAND FESTIVAL OF SQUASH

When: 3 to 13 November 2022

What’s On

Where: Trustpower Arena, Baypark, Tauranga

The best in the world are coming to New Zealand, and you can be a part of the action! Opening the festival is the Nations Cup, which comprises eight teams of two players – one male and one female – from the same country to add a new dimension to the typical competition structure. See the likes of Scotland, Wales and England take on New Zealand.

FESTIVALOFSQUASH.CO.NZ

Where: Baycourt Community and Arts Centre, Tauranga

A carefully curated selection of works which will showcase the Royal New Zealand Ballet at their best, from beloved classical favourites to recent works that have claimed a rightful place on the international stage. This generous programme delivers a diverse array of world-class ballet.

RNZB.ORG.NZ/SHOWS/TUTUS-ON-TOUR-3

VEGAN VIBES

When: 22 October 2022

Where: Soper Reserve, Mount Maunganui

Vegan Vibes is a celebration of all things vegan. A great combination of street food, food products, clothing, health and more.

TICKETFAIRY.COM/TOUR/VEGAN-VIBES

BAY OF PLENTY GARDEN & ART FESTIVAL

When: 17 to 20 November 2022

Where: Tauranga, Moun t Maunganui, Te Puke, Katikati The Garden & Art Festival celebrates the beauty and diversity of our region’s gardens and the creativity of talented artists.

GARDENANDARTFESTIVAL.CO.NZ

Events around the Bay

TAURANGA GO GREEN EXPO 2022

When: 19 to 20 November 2022

Where: Trustpower Baypark, 81 Truman Ln, Mt Maunganui

New Zealand’s largest green living and sustainable lifestyle show! Your one-stop shop for everything you need to live a sustainable life. Eco home/building, food and beverages, advisory services, supplements, organic products, health and wellness, beauty and personal care, household products, pet products, gardening, grocery and more.

GOGREENEXPO.CO.NZ/LOCATION/ TAURANGA

POLO IN THE BAY

When: 26 November 2022

Where: Trustpower Baypark, Tauranga Catch some of New Zealand’s most talented Polo players going head-to-head in their provincial colours. Graze your way around handpicked food trucks on the Polo Lawn, let canapes come to you in the VIP Pavilion or put on a spread in your own Private Marquee.

POLOINTHEBAY.CO.NZ

BREAKING BREAD

Nourishing the community is what’s on the menu at this delightful café.

WORDS HAYLEY BARNETT

There’s something very charming and unpretentious about Victor Haupt, manager of The Atrium. But if you’ve ever visited this Otumoetai café, it’s exactly what you’d expect of the person who runs it.

Aside from the fact this little gem is found inside a church, and despite having a loyal following whose main customer base visits religiously, there’s really nothing religious about this caf é at all.

“When the church came to me and asked if I could run a caf é on site I said, ‘Sure, but if you want a community caf é , there will be no crosses on the wall, no Bibles on the table. It’s a community caf é ’,” says Victor.

Taking on the challenge, Victor and wife Ruth (who are both long-time members of C3 City Church) opened The Atrium four years ago, and Victor says it still surprises newcomers.

“People say to me all the time they can’t believe it’s a church caf é ,” he laughs. “But when I ask what they were expecting, no one can really tell me.”

It’s the focus on quality that draws people in. Starting out with only Victor and two staff members, they baked most of the food themselves. Just a year in, Victor discovered head chef Matt Anderson, who now changes up the menu regularly, to keep it fresh. And fresh it is. From the hearty Thai Beef Brioche Bun, to the Classic Benedict, the menu is designed to suit a variety of tastes. And, given that the 140-seat cafe is almost always packed out, Monday to Friday, it seems you really can please everyone.

Ever humble, Victor says the caf é ’s success is largely down to his staff.

“I had minimal experience in the hospitality industry,” says Victor, who ran a caf é for two years in South Africa before moving here 15 years ago with Ruth and

their four kids. “The only feather in my cap is that I employ good people. I’ve got my assistant manager, Hannah, who has loads of experience, and Matt, who we stumbled upon.”

A year after opening a woman who happened to manage a caf é at the Mount dropped by. She told Victor she’d driven past several times and swore she’d never go in. But, as fate would have it, she was forced to break the promise for a school function and it became her local within a week.

“I told her I wanted a chef and she said, ‘Have I got the person for you!’,” explains Victor. “It was Matt and he’s turned out to be really great. Between him and Hannah, they make me look very good.”

One thing the caf é has retained from the church is its ethos of giving back. One Saturday every month they host a free dinner for families doing it tough. There are plenty of them these days, says Victor.

“It’s hard out there for a lot of people at the moment. We just want to make a difference somehow, in some small way. We want to be known as a caf é that gives great service and great food, and if we can give back in any other way, we’ll do that, too.”

The Atrium is open Monday to Friday 7am to 3pm and offers conference facilities for hire.

ATRIUMCAFE.CO.NZ