UNO Magazine | Issue 64 | Winter 2024 | David Farrier

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WORK

charity

Jet adventures

Wisdom from the Hospice

Career transitions

Recruiting you 44 Basestation 10 years on

Financial advice

Latest gadgets

THRIVE

In style

Trending now

Fashion forward 58 Polynesian Spa bliss 61 Cashmore Clinic: Fresh faced 63 Skin Centre: Changing shapes

Beauty must haves

Hair today 69 Plant-based benefits

Resene's French love 76 Oliver Road Luxury Real Estate

Creatively concrete

Classic Builds

Waste woes 92 Sarah Parry: Interior design

Pāpāmoa's Lakeside village

Parenting Place

PLAY

102 Jess Easton: Fine wine

Winning recipes

Bespoke your gin 110 Surf's up at Tauranga Museum 112 Muroki's new sounds 114 Wonky Jane Pottery 117 On our bookshelf

EXPLORE

122 Relishing Rotorua

Skiing Canada

What's on

Diner days

Luxury Lakeside Retirement

Pacific Lakes Village is set amongst tranquil park like grounds and private lakes. Spacious modern villas and terrace houses have been designed to create a vibrant community, providing an ideal setting for your active and independent lifestyle.

The village’s main community facility, The Pavilion, is currently under construction. Positioned on the lakes edge, this impressive building will house an eatery, lounge bar, library, art studio, beauty salon, wellness suite and extensive recreational facilities.

DIRECTOR

Michele Griffin 021 183 4618 michele@unomagazine.co.nz

DIRECTOR

Rebecca Meyer 027 469 6177 rebecca@unomagazine.co.nz

EDITOR

Hayley Barnett hayley@unomagazine.co.nz

FASHION EDITOR

Nicky Adams

nickyadams@xtra.co.nz

DESIGNER

Annabelle Rose

ASSISTANT DESIGNER

Hannah Mahon

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Stephanie Taylor

SUB-EDITOR

Shiree Schumacher

CONTRIBUTORS

Amber Armitage

Monique Balvert-O'Connor

Katie Cox

Jess Easton

Jo Ferris

Salina Galvan

Stacey Jones

Jahl Marshall

Kathrine McDonald

Karl Puschmann

Jamie Troughton

Jenny Rudd

Cam Scott

SUBSCRIPTIONS unomagazine.co.nz/shop

PRINTER Webstar

DISTRIBUTOR Are Direct PUBLISHED BY SAO Media Limited

As the cold creeps in, the 2024 Winter issue offers plenty of riveting reads about amazing people and happenings around the Bay. From fighter jets to gin distilleries, to the new Tauranga museum and good neighbours doing good things, there’s so much to learn, see and do in our region.

On the cover is Kiwi journalist and documentary maker David Farrier. It’s such a thrill to have him carve out some time from his busy international schedule to chat to UNO writer, Karl Puschmann. David’s charming wit is certainly evident in the interview, and in his photoshoot with famed Los Angeles photographer Shayan Asgharnia.

David might be controversial to some, but it’s his uncanny ability to push the

boundaries and confront the evils and weirdness that lurk beneath the surface of seemingly normal societies that really makes him shine. Though often compared to BBC documentary maker Louis Theroux, David has his own special brand of weird that he offers up through his various channels, something he's developed through his intense curiosity about the world. Interestingly, he grew up in the not-so-weird suburb of Bethlehem in Tauranga. Take a look at the full feature on page 18.

For adrenaline junkies looking for the ultimate high, turn to page 32 to read all about Fighter Jets NZ. The amazing Tauranga team will organise the flight of a lifetime that will see you soaring throughout the Bay, and give you your very own Top Gun experience.

Whatever your interests, stay warm, cosy up and read on for more inspirational content.

Hayley, editor

Cover star David Farrier.

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CONTRIBUTORS

Meet some of the hard-working, talented creatives behind the Winter 2024 issue of UNO

KATIE COX

Katie is a multi-talented photographer based in Mount Maunganui. Covering everything from sporting events, tourism and corporate, to respectfully telling stories of the most vulnerable members of our community, she has discovered her biggest strength is connecting with people. “It’s very common to be nervous about having your photograph taken,” she tells. “I pride myself in my ability to break down that barrier and have a laugh with my subjects. I definitely have a journalistic style and love capturing moments, natural smiles and telling stories through my photography. The best part about what I do is meeting many different people from all walks of life.” When she is not photographing on land, you will most likely find Katie in the sea.

SHIREE SCHUMACHER

With a flair for headlines and a passion for grammar, Shiree loves sub-editing UNO – and her wishlist of eateries to visit next time she’s in the Bay just gets longer. After working in magazines for two decades, she enjoys freelancing more than ever as she can work globally with just her trusty laptop. Last year, she lived the European dream in Germany for six months. Back home, she cherishes time with her husband, two teenage boys, and their quirky pug cross. When not wordsmithing, she indulges her creativity through painting, digital design and decorating over-the-top cakes.

SARAH PARRY

The creative director of Testament Interiors is UNO’s newest columnist, giving readers advice on how best to spruce up their living spaces. Sarah started her business to showcase her design skills and to help people ‘Right-Size’ into a new chapter of life. Sarah’s hobbies include gardening, cooking, vintage furniture restoration and second-hand vintage décor. Having recently purchased an e-bike, Sarah loves adventuring to new places to see life from a different perspective. She has an elderly mother in care with dementia whom she visits most days and a two-year-old grandson whom she adores. To find out more about right sizing, turn to page 92.

THE DANISH WAY

This String hallway shelving system seamlessly blends form and function. With floor panels, metal shelves, swing-door cabinets, and versatile storage options, it's the ultimate solution for organising outerwear and accessories.

RRP$2499.

DANISHFURNITURE.NZ

EASY SQUEEZY

IN GOOD HANDS

WHAT’S HOT!

Pic's Peanut Butter is launching Squeezy Bottles for drizzling deliciousness. Available in Smooth or Smoochy (just a hint of crunch) these new mess-free, convenient bottles let you swirl this nutty treasure into smoothies, baking, salads, and noodles. A kitchen must-have for peanut butter lovers.

PICSPEANUTBUTTER.COM

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

Feel fancy and smell expensive with Only Good's signature scent fragrance. Peach & Honeysuckle Hand Wash is enriched with certified natural Prickly Pear for skin elasticity and Vinanza Kiwi antioxidants to retain moisture. The nutrient-rich formula nourishes and revitalises hands and comes in an elegant, eco-friendly bottle. 300ml, RRP$8.99

ONLYGOOD.CO.NZ

COFFEE CULTURE

Join the connoisseurs using Acme's Kiwi-crafted ceramic mugs. Designed in Wellington by two coffee pros, this elegant yet durable range includes the Union Mug that channels rail heritage, the Roman Cup for your classic espresso, and the ingenious Bibby Cup that cools tops faster, while staying warm inside. For 11 years, Acme's range has graced World Champ Baristas' counters worldwide. Functional design crafted for the everyday.

ACMECUPS.NZ

ON A ROLL

Experience an upgrade from the traditional foam rollers, with the Lotus Wheel to relieve back and neck pain. The 12.5cm width effectively massages muscles surrounding the spine. Three wheel sizes offer varying intensities: 33cm for gentle massage and stretch, 27cm for firm massage, and 17cm for deep tissue massage. Enhance spinal mobility and iron out painful knots. LOTUSWHEEL.CO.NZ

HANDMADE WITH LOVE

Look out for Molly Woppy's handcrafted artisan cookie collection. Flavours include Cranberry Dark Choccy Chunk, Peanut Butter Choc Chunk, Zingy Ginger Delight, Gingerbread Kids, and gluten-free options like Milk Choccy Chunk, Choccy Coconut Ruff, and Sticky Date Walnut & Chia. This Kiwi family business uses premium local ingredients for irresistible cookies.

RRP$7.99. Available at selected Woolworths and MOLLYWOPPY.CO.NZ

Eugaia Bloom is a low-sugar collagen blend with 6000mg sustainably sourced French Type 1 Premium Hydrolysed Marine Collagen per serve. It's a high-dose, concentrated formula with carefully crafted active ingredients benefiting hair, skin, nails, gut, and joints. Made in New Zealand with no fillers or binders and there’s no dairy, pig (porcine) or cow (bovine) collagen. EUGAIA.CO.NZ

FOR THE WIN

Honest Wolf are licensed New Zealand Team limitededition homegrown accessories. Founders Sam and Sophie Hurley, both from competitive rowing backgrounds, created this wool and leather range with portions of sales going directly to the team. Highlights include a wool cap, weekender bag with embossed message, and passport holder made with Papanui Estate Wool – perfect for traveling to the Paris 2024 Olympics. The range helps fulfil Sophie's Olympic dream. HONESTWOLF.CO.NZ

ONE TO LOVE

Good One is a new cruelty-free, locally-made body and haircare range with natural ingredients, exclusive to The Warehouse –who have also partnered with Women's Refuge to provide Good One products to women and children in need. Made without harmful chemicals, the Leaping Bunny certified range includes body washes, hand creams, shampoos, and more in Kiwi scents like Coconut and Mānuka Honey. Priced between $6-$8. THEWAREHOUSE.CO.NZ

WALL WOW

We love a barn door but if you lack the wall space for one, this barn-door mirror offers that same rustic charm. Crafted with iron, fir wood, and Chinese red pine for durability, it’s built for lasting impact. The rustic wood framing with the edgier industrial feel from the metal accents add character and warmth to any interior.

SILKWOODLIVING.CO.NZ

SHINE COLLECTIVE PINK BREAKFAST

The inaugural Shine Collective Pink Breakfast was held for Tauranga business owners on May 16 at Elizabeth Street Café, raising much-needed funds for the Breast Cancer Foundation.

PHOTOS SAEJUNG OH-WALSH 1. Jill Beedie 2. Loretta Crawford, Melissa Mae

3. Vashti de Koster (Vee) 4. Michele Griffin, Karen Littlewood, Loretta Crawford

5. Hamish Utteridge, Ally Armstrong, Vittoria Nevin, Sahana Jones, Meg Jones

6. Breast Cancer Foundation 7. Hamish Utteridge, Ally Armstrong, Sahana Jones, Lisa Gilmour, Jennifer Pearson, Eva Wolf, Vittoria Nevin, Awhina Ngātuere, Meg Jones 8. Lisa Glass, Aimee Driscoll 9. Saejung Oh-Walsh, Mary Stewart

10. Hamish Utteridge 11. Porridge from Elizabeth Café & Larder 12. Clare Swallow, Mary Stewart, Melissa Mae, Vashti de Koster (Vee), Jill Beedie, Mel Conrad, Saejung Oh-Walsh 13. Book mark 14. Sahana Jones, Meg Jones, Eva Wolf

15. Eggs Bene, Elizabeth Café & Larder 16. Melissa Mae 17. Meg Jones

ART FOR KIDS

Tauranga Art Gallery hosted a long-lunch fundraiser on May 10 at St Amand, to support the Gallery’s education and engagement programmes, which inspire the next generation of creative thinkers.

PHOTOS DANI GLEESON PHOTOGRAPHY 1. Trish Galvin, Lisa Denyer, Keri Welham

2. Jane Fawcett, Colleen Lowe, Nikki Hansen, Melanie Dingle, Leanne Brookes, Donella Jones, Shona Jones, Lee-Ann Hall 3. Ashlee Hastings, Sophie-Maude Turner

4. Vaness Hamm, Rana Collett, Nicol Sanders-O'Shea, Barbara Dempsey

5. Tim Melville, Serena Bentley 6. Marlene Ware, Margaret Collins 7. Ayesha Kee, Sophie-Maude Turner 8. Hannah Wynn, Ayesha Kee 9. Serena Bentley, Phillida Perry, Tim Melville 10. Ellie Smith, Maraea Timutimu 11. George Savill, Brendon Gordon

12. Sam Tustin, Campbell Yule, Bridget McKinley 13. Ria Hall, Mandy Scott

14. Ryan Bradley (Bayleys)

EVOCO SHOWHOME OPENING

EvoCo held their Snug Showhome opening in Tauriko on May 9, introducing the first of their high-performing, energy efficient, prefabricated homes on offer.

PHOTOS SALINA GALVAN 1. Lucca Laurent, Jordan Laurent 2. Labhaoise Ashford, Milca Severo 3. Merv Castleton, Barbara Davis, Viv Castleton, Skye Laurent, Megan Wilson, Fleur Chesterman 4. Craig manssen, Tim Parsons 5. Sarah Cornelius, Abi Hubbard, Nathalie Guernier 6. Glen Hadfield, Andrew Delaney, Nathan Delaney, Scott Henderson 7. Brian Whitmore, Pi Chu Whitmore, Andre Laurent

8. Andre Creative Space 9. Jade Cox, Patricia Nott, Azman Lakhani 10. Ray Ruka, Bevan Humbke, Leo Laurent 11. Karin Copestake, Drew Copestake, Mel Smith

12. Sarieta Breytenbach-Visser, Chantelle Lauren, Ruan Visser 13. Rod Yeoman, Liam Chandler, Mike Moughan, Reg Prasad 14. Trevor Warwick, Nik Powell

15. Andre Creative Space

SHE IS SOCIAL

She Is Unleashed held their first exclusive She Is Social event on May 23, which included a pop-up panel and plenty of networking at Miss Gee’s in Tauranga.

BWN SPEAKER SERIES

The Business Women’s Network’s Bring Your A-Game talk was held at BayCourt Theatre on May 14. Five incredible speakers educated, informed and kept the crowd of several hundred women entertained throughout the afternoon’s event.

PHOTOS SALINA GALVAN 1. Lisa Miller, Caroline Sykes, Janice Allan, Bridget Cummins, Hayley Nelson, Annemarie Hills, Katie Douglas-Clifford 2. Rachael Bryant, Maria Jemma Stephens 3. Sarah Lawson, Car San Diego 4. Dani Quigg, Rebecca Aston 5. Tanya Drummond, Anna Crichton, Barbara Dunovits 6. Matt Cowley, Elin Jones, Roz Irwin 7. Elaine Harrison, Amanda Barker 8. Chelsea Winter

PHOTOS KARINA PHOTOGRAPHY 1. Naiane Rodrigues, Cristiane Amaral, Anna Page 2. Giselle Brosnahan, Amanda Crane, Ashley De Grey, Sarah Gillium, Fiona Boyle 3. Niamh Vercoe, Annemaree Crawford, Kim Brown 4. MaryAnn Lynch, Danni Ermilova WIlliams 5. Sheree Brown, Jenny Williams, Kirsten Jefferson 6. Laura Ann, Annemaree Crawford 7. Jenny Williams 8. Nikita Price, Millie Pidwell

MEANING & THE MADNESS

He’s exposed hypocrites, taken on bullies, released a Netflix series and topped the box office with his two feature-length documentaries.

Tauranga’s David Farrier reveals to Karl Puschmann the secret to his success, his one regret, his philosophy on life and how breaking his brain was the best thing he ever did.

WORDS KARL PUSCHMANN | PHOTOS SHAYAN ASGHARNIA + SUPPLIED

A“ll the best things that have happened to me – I’ve never planned them,” says David Farrier, his face scrunching into a look of quizzical bemusement. “If ever I do plan something, it usually goes disastrously wrong.”

It’s funny to hear him talk like this. From the outside, his life has seemed a steady, determined rise to the top. His media career began in the early 2000s, when as a fresh-faced journalism graduate, he took a job behind the scenes at 3 News. Passionate about pop culture, he began volunteering for entertainment-based assignments, eventually moving in front of the camera full-time as TV3’s entertainment journalist in 2006.

Even that wasn’t enough to occupy him, though, so he began a variety of side hustles, including acting, radio, writing for magazines and generally reporting on anything that tickled his fancy. The stranger, the better.

Deeply engaged with internet culture, David’s trajectory changed when he discovered the world of competitive endurance tickling. Originally, he thought he’d found a typically quirky story for the

nightly news; however, the tale took a dark turn when his jovial request for an interview with the US producers resulted in a shockingly hostile email response.

Correctly inferring they had something to hide, David began seriously digging into the subject, leaving his role at TV3 to pursue it. He chronicled the twists and turns of his investigation in Tickled, his first full-length documentary feature.

With its unusual and taboo subject matter, its crooked antagonist and David’s underdog fight to get to the truth behind the fetishistic videos while facing a barrage of life-destroying legal and implied physical threats, Tickled got the world talking. It premiered at the esteemed Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim, topped the New Zealand box office and announced the arrival of a new force in the documentary arena.

Since Tickled, David has produced and starred in the 2018 Netflix docuseries Dark Tourist, which saw him visiting places around the world that you really wouldn’t want to; released his second feature documentary, 2022’s brilliant and bizarre

Mister Organ; and created the ongoing podcast Flightless Bird with David Farrier for Hollywood actor Dax Shepard’s popular Armchair Expert network.

But the project he’s most passionate about, and the one that connects him directly to his audience, is Webworm. This is his online newsletter that lands directly in your inbox and sees him flexing his considerable journalistic muscles in tackling the delightfully strange and quirky as well as the heavy and newsworthy. He has a particular and devastating focus on bullies, conmen, hypocrites and false prophets.

David says this astounding career arc was all completely unplanned. In fact, growing up in Tauranga’s leafy Bethlehem, he didn’t even want to be a journalist. Instead, he’d meticulously plotted out his life in an entirely different field.

“I went to Auckland University to get into medical school,” he says. “To get into med school, you’re competing with all the smartest people. I felt so dumb because I was dumb in comparison. It was a stressful time.”

Even though it had been his dream, he quickly realised he wasn’t built for medicine when he had to dissect a rat and experienced a visceral reaction.

“I wanted to vomit,” he admits with a grin. “I didn't have the brains or the stomach for medicine. I would have been terrible. I care about people, but not in that capacity.”

Then, more seriously, he says, “That year completely broke my brain. It made me reset. I stopped caring about having to reach a goal or do a thing.”

Faced with this harsh awakening, he dropped out of university, tore up the blueprint he’d mapped out for his life, threw caution to the wind and enrolled into AUT’s journalism course. “It was one of the best decisions I ever made because, from that point on, I tried to walk through doors that opened with the idea of seeing what happened and not being afraid to make mistakes,” he says, then smiles and adds, “So far that’s worked okay.”

David’s now a world-renowned documentarian living comfortably in Los Angeles, so the evidence agrees

“ THAT YEAR COMPLETELY BROKE MY BRAIN. IT MADE ME RESET. I STOPPED CARING ABOUT HAVING TO REACH A GOAL OR DO A THING. ”

with him. Yet it’s hard to miss the irony in his origin story: in wanting a career in which he could fix people, he ended up breaking himself.

“Absolutely, it really did,” he says. “I used to be really stressed out, and over-plan everything. I’m still an anxious, uptight person, to a degree, but not to the level that I was. I’m a lot better at chilling than I used to be.”

In his two documentaries, David’s stress manifests in real time – unsurprisingly, considering the intense and unsavory characters he’s documenting, especially Mister Organ ’s psychologically manipulative antagonist Michael Organ, a man with an unnatural talent for picking his way unwanted into people’s minds. Off-screen, however, for the 15 or so years I’ve known him, David has only ever been a chilled-out customer. Cool as any number of cucumbers. Someone seemingly unphased by life’s general hang-ups and cruising through the world with a welcoming aura, an infectious smile and a genuine enthusiasm for whatever’s happening around him.

It’s an outlook all shaped by that devastating year, and the mental reckoning that followed. Indeed, the secret of his success, he reckons, is simply going with the flow.

“All the best things have come from completely random events, like Dax Shepard reading something I wrote for The Spinoff that now means I have a job and a life here. You’ve just got to be ready to respond to things that open themselves up in front of you, which sounds a bit airy-fairy, I know, but I’ve always tried to be open to random opportunities that came up.”

Even half a world away, David is still very much on top of the goings-on in Aotearoa. Through his Webworm investigations, he’s regularly ruffling the feathers of the unruly and setting the mainstream news agenda.

Webworm made headlines with David’s scrutinisation of the Arise megachurch, which uncovered the emotional and physical abuse carried out by its leaders; with his deep dive into Destiny’s Church, which saw them labelled a cult; and when he found himself in a legal tussle with extremist broadcaster Sean Plunket. This resulted in Plunket being forced out of his job at Mediaworks and facing two police charges, although they were later withdrawn.

Ask David why he’s still so interested in what’s happening here and he has a simple answer.

“I care about New Zealand a lot,” he says.

“It’s like this little petri dish of five million people trying to figure things out – like we all are. There are amazing stories there – good and bad.”

Although people generally associate him with the weird and quirky, his work on Tickled, Mister Organ and especially Webworm has seen him diving deep into heavy topics with people who experienced awful things and are deeply traumatised as a result. His exposé of Arise Church alone saw him contacted by hundreds of people detailing the evil they were subjected to.

Their stories can be harrowing, but ever since his brain reset, David says he’s been a fairly upbeat person. “I haven’t had any major mental health swings. The megachurch stuff became overwhelming because it was a lot of people and it was about something really sensitive. There’s a pressure to give people what they need and support them as they’re telling the story, and that does add up. But I’m lucky that I’ve got a good group of friends around me. I never feel like I’m on my own in it.”

He also looks after himself by turning off the computer and “getting the f**k outside”. He enjoys walking around his neighbourhood and spending time in a nearby park, where he delights in seeing baby skunks and deer. He can spend hours there – although he has to remember to be back indoors by 11pm, because that’s when the coyotes stir.

“Getting outside in nature is the ultimate reset,” he smiles. “As long as I do that, I’m fine.”

His go-with-the-flow philosophy has led him to the darkest and most dangerous places on earth and to interact with the most loathsome and evil people. Reflecting on his wild journey is almost as surreal for him as it is for those who have vicariously tagged along.

“Each project feels like a different life or a different person,” he says with detached bemusement. “It’s partly the way my brain is wired. I’ve got a bit of a spicy brain.”

That said, there’s one moment he can never forget, and can only look back on with deep regret.

“Swimming in a radioactive lake in Dark Tourist,” he says, referencing one of the most jaw-dropping scenes in a show chock-a-block with them.

This happened while he was travelling through Kazakhstan. His guides took him to the Atomic

“ I CARE ABOUT NEW ZEALAND A LOT... IT’S LIKE THIS LITTLE PETRI DISH OF FIVE MILLION PEOPLE

TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT – LIKE WE ALL ARE. ”

1. Recording his podcast Flightless Bird for Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert Network

2. Onstage at a Q&A following a screening of Mister Organ

3. With writer and close friend Rosabel Tan.

4. All smiles on holiday.

5. Poster for the special Storm Chasers

6. With a furry friend.

7. At a screening of Mister Organ

8. On location exploring American culture for his podcast.

Lake and convinced him to join them for a refreshing dip in its nuclear waters.

“That was dumb,” he says, failing to hide how exasperated he feels with himself. “It was f*****g stupid to swim in that lake. If I could have my time again It wasn’t worth it. But you know, we were a bit drunk at the time and there were some fun Russians who encouraged us. Objectively, it was really good TV and it felt exciting, but I look back on it and think I should have skipped that one.”

Regrets, we all have a few. But David has come a long way from the self-described “uptight teen” he was growing up in Tauranga. He was born in Bethlehem on Christmas Day, which perhaps explains the holy fervour with which he pursues his subjects, and his devotion to battling bullies and sticking up for those in unfortunate circumstances. His Baptist parents homeschooled him until sending him to Bethlehem College when he hit his teens. With his med school plan firmly in mind, he studied hard, becoming head boy in his final year.

“I love the Bay,” he smiles, thinking back to his youth. “I’d regularly run up Mount Maunganui to try to get fit with my dad. I loved the beach. I wish I was a surfer – I’d just roll around in the waves.”

His beachy upbringing still manifests to this day. Rather than shorts, he favours wearing togs, bought in bulk during the winter sales at surf shops.

“I wear togs a lot of the time because I always think you should be prepared to jump in an ocean or any good body of water,” he once told me when I interviewed him a couple of years ago.

He says he’s due a home visit. He likes going to the hot pools, spending time on the walking tracks and tumbling around in the frothing surf. The last time he was here, he got a wave of nostalgia and went to the house where he grew up and knocked on the door.

“I thought they might be a bit like, ‘What the hell are

you doing here?’” he laughs. “But they were so nice and took me inside.”

This would be a warm, fuzzy way to end our interview, with David warmly reminiscing about his childhood budgie and Chandler Bing, his favourite cat, but there’s still one last question to ask.

Few people have thoroughly engaged with both the best and worst of humanity in the same way David has. If anyone has a hot take on humanity as a whole, it has to be him.

“I meet so many people doing so many good things, wanting good out of life and being so genuine and kind and thinking about others, but there’s also a lot of horrific, terrible stuff going on out there,” he says.

“Both things are true at the same time, right? It’s the joy of humans. But essentially, we’re all the same. We’re all just trying to understand this weird rock we’ve woken up on, with no idea of why we’re here.”

Sensing bigger topics of life, philosophy and enlightenment, I ask if he’s found any deeper meaning to life’s existential and eternal mystery throughout his explorations into good and bad, right and wrong, justice and evil.

“No,” he answers flatly. “I wish I had. I think my life is ultimately meaningless. It is all ultimately meaningless.”

Grinning he adds, “I know that’s not a very positive quote for you,” before flashing a reassuring smile.

“But this doesn’t mean life is hopeless in any way,” he continues. “It just means we’ve got to be really careful about how we use that time. We don’t have long here. It’s a matter of making the most of it.”

Then, with the accumulated wisdom of a man who has trawled the depths of humanity and survived, he says, “Ultimately, that’s the joy of it all.”

To sign up for David’s online newsletter, visit WEBWORM.CO

“ ESSENTIALLY, WE’RE ALL THE SAME. WE’RE ALL JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS WEIRD ROCK WE’VE WOKEN UP ON, WITH NO IDEA OF WHY WE’RE HERE ”

EVERYBODY NEEDS GOOD NEIGHBOURS

Multi-faceted Bay of Plenty charity Good Neighbour is transforming communities and imbuing them with spirit one person at a time.

WORDS KARL PUSCHMANN | PHOTOS KATIE COX

Sometimes life-changing moments aren’t grand events. Sometimes they’re as seemingly insignificant as a glance out your front window.

One morning, Teresa heard a truck rumbling past the window of her Kāinga Ora-provided home, and then a whole lot of activity bustling outside. She went over to her front window to see what was going on.

“I saw a Good Neighbour truck and people doing lawns and stuff, and thought, ‘I could do that’,” she says. “I needed to do something because I was drifting a bit. I didn’t have a job at the time and was recovering from being a drug addict. I was a drug addict for a very long time, most of my life, but I was two years clean and knew I had to do something. I couldn’t just sit around and do nothing, so I came here and that gave me direction.

In the beginning, it was about me having a good time, getting outside and getting healthy and all that. Later on, I realised there was something here, something really good.”

What Teresa had chanced upon was Good Neighbour, a Tauranga-based charity that’s all about fostering community and helping people in practical ways. Whether providing food parcels, mowing lawns and doing

Teresa, a recovered drug addict, volunteers with Good Neighbour two to three times per week and says it’s been life changing.

yard work, dropping off firewood, mentoring troubled youth or offering general support, it’s all about forging connections between people. Teresa didn’t know it then, but her life was about to irrevocably change for the better.

Good Neighbour was formed by Cam Hill and a few of his friends. He’d long been involved in groups that helped people both locally and in Fiji, where he spent most of his childhood. His parents had moved there as missionaries and were very involved in aiding the community. He jokes that helping people is in his DNA.

Good Neighbour now distributes 2500kg of food a day. It completed well over 150 neighbourhood projects last year, harvested more than 1700 bunches of produce from the 42 beds in their community garden in Bethlehem, and helped countless people and families with everything from garden maintenance, to filling out official forms, and even marriages and funerals.

“ PEOPLE ARE REALLY HUNGRY TO HAVE A COMMUNITY SPIRIT. BELONGING IS A HUGE, HUGE THING. IT'S A NEED WE ALL HAVE AS HUMAN BEINGS... ”

Yet the charity’s beginnings were actually incredibly humble.

“A neighbour came over to me and said, ‘My tree’s too thin, can you cut the thing down?’. I’d never cut a tree down before, but once you put on a high-vis jacket and a clipboard, you can do anything,” says Cam. “After that, we began to do little things. We’d just read the newspaper and go, ‘There’s a job, that person needs a hand’, and we’d go.”

Right from the start, Cam’s philosophy was that Good Neighbour would be about growing community. His vision was to act as a conduit between those in need and those wanting to help. It didn’t matter what those needs were – if Good Neighbour could help, they would.

He gives an example from earlier in the day, when someone contacted them needing a bed. There wasn’t one at Good Neighbour’s HQ, but he thought he might know someone who could help, so he gave them a call. Ten minutes later, a Good Neighbour truck was on its way to pick it up and drop it off. That, he says, is the community spirit at work.

“That’s what community work is all about; that’s what it means to journey with this community and transform it. We’re not just here to fix a problem – we’re here to connect people. People are really hungry to have a community spirit. Belonging is a huge, huge thing It’s a need we all have as human beings. There are so many people out there and that’s exactly where they lack. [It’s striking] the number

of people we meet whose biggest struggle is loneliness.”

Good Neighbour’s impact in the community is undeniable, with people on both sides of the receiving/giving line coming together to improve everybody’s lot and make a tangible difference in their neighbourhoods. The vast array of ways in which Good Neighbour assists people is a testament to that. Already at three locations around the Bay, Cam says they’re in the process of adding a fourth.

What differentiates Good Neighbour is that it aims to transform the macro and the micro. Indeed, Teresa says that since she nervously approached Good Neighbour to get involved a couple of years ago, she’s grown significantly. “I’ve come a very long way – a lot has changed inside me,” she says. “This place has given me a whole new take on what can be done and what you can achieve in life.”

Having worked as a volunteer on Good Neighbour’s gardening team two to three times a week since she joined, Teresa saw a business opportunity and has recently started taking on gardening projects of her own.

“This is what transforming communities is all about – [starting with] one person,” says Cam.

“This place has been a huge part of my journey,” says Teresa. “It’s like a whole new life – a new world.”

KARAKA PINES A TRUSTED NAME IN

RETIREMENT LIVING

COMING SOON TO PĀPĀMOA

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey towards a blissful retirement?

Karaka Pines is thrilled to announce its 8th Village, nestled amidst the serene beauty in Pāpāmoa. With two flourishing communities already established in Tauranga and Waihi Beach, our legacy of excellence continues with this upcoming retirement paradise.

YOUR DREAM HOME AWAITS YOU

At Karaka Pines, we believe in providing you with choices that cater to you. Our new village will feature a mix of Standalone Homes, Duplexes, and Apartments, ensuring there's a suitable option for every budget.

UNLOCK FINANCIAL FREEDOM

We understand the importance of financial security during your golden years. With Karaka Pines, you benefit from Capital Gains while relishing the comfort of Fixed Fees for Life. This admired model sets us apart, giving you peace of mind that many other retirement villages simply can't match.

A BOUTIQUE COMMUNITY AWAITS

Karaka Pines' newest village is designed with your well-being in mind. With only 114 units planned, it's an intimate and close-knit community that fosters lasting connections and cherished memories. Experience the true essence of independent living in a setting that feels like home.

NATURE'S EMBRACE

Nestled beside the Te Ara O Wairakei walkway in Papamoa, our village offers more than just a place to live; it's a connection to nature. Enjoy leisurely strolls through the meandering network of wetlands and ponds, reminiscent of coastal wetlands. Nature will be your neighbor at Karaka Pines.

A TRUSTED NAME IN RETIREMENT LIVING

Karaka Pines takes pride in being recognized as one of the leading 'Best Practice Village Operators' by RVResidents, New Zealand’s Retirement Village Residents Association. Join a community that's built on trust, transparency, and a commitment to excellence.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary new chapter at Karaka Pines. Secure your place in our upcoming retirement village, where life is enriched, connections are cherished, and every day is an opportunity for a new adventure.

Karaka Pines intends to apply for registration of this village under the Retirement Villages Act 2003 and to make offer of occupation to the public. No offer of occupation will be made prior to registration.

Te Ara O Wairakei Walkway

Ride your way

On demand and in demand, eco friendly and right to your destination — that’s the new service offered by Baybus — and it won’t cost more than a regular bus ticket.

Bay locals only need to catch one on-demand ride to discover the exciting possibilities for public transport in Tauranga. Baybus OnDemand rideshare e-vans will pick you up and drop you off where and when you choose. And locals are discovering just how convenient the new service is. “We are breaking records every day,” says driver Durga Pandey. More people are onboard with the clever new mode of transport since the OnDemand trial launched in Tauranga South in March 2024. Pandey says that many of his passengers have been telling their families and friends about it.

“It’s going to be crazy after one or two more months.”

It’s easy to see why people are enthusiastic about the service. OnDemand combines the convenience of a taxi or an Uber for the price of a bus ride. Booking is easy: tell the app where you want to go, choose a pickup time, catch your ride. An electric OnDemand van in your vicinity will be redirected to within 150m of your nominated location — the service aims to be “corner to corner” — and the wait times are surprisingly short, making

it feel truly on demand. You can opt for the next available trip, or book something later that suits. Bookings can even be made up to seven days in advance.

“It allows for more spontaneity in people’s travel,” says Ollie Haycock, Public Transport Director from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

“If you want to get from A to B you can book it on the spot. You decide when and where you want to go.”

If this all sounds too good to be true, that’s probably because the OnDemand rideshare service is currently only available in Tauranga South (Gate P ā, Greerton, Parkvale, Pyes P ā, Tauriko and The Lakes).

Tauranga South was selected for the trial because it is a large and densely populated area that includes hospitals and shopping centres like Fraser Cove and Tauranga Crossing. It’s an area with a lot of travel in all directions throughout the day.

But even if you don’t live in Tauranga South, the service is worth checking out — getting from Tauranga Hospital or Greerton to the Crossing and back is suddenly a breeze. Wheelchairs can be accommodated

too. Durga Pandey says he transports at least two wheelchair passengers each day.

Beyond the 18-month trial, there’s not yet any commitment about the service’s long-term future. Whatever happens, OnDemand probably won’t replace standard buses which are still needed to move larger numbers of people during peak commuting hours. However, the on-demand model is clearly proving to be more flexible and well suited for daytime trips.

OnDemand vans are available every day from 6am to 7pm (excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day). Book using the Baybus OnDemand app or by phoning 0800 4 BAYBUS (0800 4 229 287). Standard fares are $3.40, same as a bus, or $2.72 with your Bee Card. Pay via the app using credit/debit card or by Bee Card, just swipe on and off as usual. Easy.

IN FULL FLIGHT

Feel the need, the need for speed? Channel your Top Gun fantasies on this international-level adventure.

WORDS CAMERON SCOTT

If we want a world-class flying adventure, Bay locals are lucky – we need only go as far as Tauranga Airport. Owned by international airline pilot Craig Mossman and his wife Annie, Fighter Jets NZ is one of just a handful of ventures globally that offer clients exhilarating rides in a rapid and nimble two-seater jet fighter, and as the only business of its kind in this part of the world, it is attracting thrillseekers from here, there and everywhere.

Of course, the experience of a lifetime doesn’t come cheap, but it’s not something you’re ever likely to forget, and neither is it over in a flash. The actual flight, which lasts around 30 minutes or so, can be customised to suit you. It’s the

high point of a two-hour adventure that begins at Fighter Jets NZ’s base at 15 Dakota Way, a lane next to the Classic Flyers Museum, just down the road from the airport terminal. Here, you’re given a detailed briefing about your flight, including all-important safety procedures, before being kitted out with a flying suit, helmet and life jacket. You’re also shown how your helmet works and how to strap yourself into your seat, so no time is wasted before take-off (the ejection seat has been disabled, in case you were wondering).

If you want to bring friends or family along to watch, you’re welcome, says Craig. The record so far belongs to a

customer who arrived with 35 people in tow.

Fighter Jets NZ operates three highperformance Albatros military trainer jets designed in Czechoslovakia. Craig purchased the 901km/h aircraft in the US, where they’d been “Westernised” for civil ownership after being sourced in the Ukraine and Russia. He bought the first 12 years ago and used it recreationally before launching Fighter Jets NZ in 2017. He later added to the fleet and put together a full support team when it became clear there was a demand for commercial flights.

Fighter Jets NZ also has an unusual side hustle – participating in war

“ AS FAR AS THRILLS GO, A FLIGHT IN A FIGHTER JET MIGHT BE THE ULTIMATE... ”

games exercises with the Royal New Zealand Navy. Our air force hasn’t had suitable aircraft for the task since the government disbanded the RNZAF Air Combat Force’s three squadrons of fighter jets back in 2001.

When you’re on board, you’re in the best hands; five international airline pilots share flying duties and two are former RNZAF Skyhawk fighter pilots. The ground crew includes a maintenance controller, a marketing manager and even a Japanese interpreter. As well as handling customer liaison, Annie also manages special events. As for safety, Fighter Jets NZ runs under the close scrutiny of the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand and is fully certified.

clouding any of these experiences, as flights are scheduled only for fine days.

Passengers can choose from three adventures, among them a 30-minute Top Gun experience that’s aimed at adrenaline junkies and tailored to individual requirements. Craig describes it as “pretty intense”, as it involves a serious aerobatic routine, pulling hefty G-forces. Then there’s the similarly priced and timed Thermal Recon, involving a sightseeing visit to the Rotorua Lakes district (just five minutes’ jet-speed flying time away), with a celebratory roll or two thrown in on the way back.

If you like your flying action slightly dialled back, there’s the 20-minute Buzz & Break, which by all accounts is no less amazing and includes spectacular low-level flying over the lakes. And you needn’t worry about bad weather

Since the business took off, so to speak, there’s been steady demand from around New Zealand and further afield – and not one person has said they didn’t enjoy their flight, says Craig. Some go to extraordinary lengths to get their jet-fighter fix. Annie recalls two Japanese passengers, close friends, who flew to New Zealand with the sole purpose of flying in a fighter jet, making the return trip over a single weekend.

Jet flights make an out-of-the-ordinary birthday or special occasion gift – and if several people chip in, as often happens, the cost becomes quite affordable. Gift vouchers also make a memorable reward for corporate staff or their clients. Craig says one company liked the idea so much, it bought four flights, and Fighter Jets NZ has flown up to 10 corporate customers in a single day.

They ’re flexible too. If you’re given a voucher for the Top Gun experience, for example, but aerobatics aren’t your thing, you can swap it for another option.

Videos are available, so you can vicariously share the fun with others, but almost anyone who’s reasonably fit and no more than 145kg can enjoy the experience. So far, the youngest passenger to fly with Craig and Annie’s team was 16, and the oldest a game 94.

As far as thrills go, a flight in a fighter jet might be the ultimate, but for those who prefer to get theirs on solid ground, the Tauranga jets take part in major airshows too. Flown by highly skilled US pilots, they were a highlight of last Easter’s spectacular Warbirds Over Wanaka event, which attracted a crowd of around 65,000 people over two days.

FIGHTERJETS.NZ

FIGHTERJETSNZ

Fighter Jets NZ owner Craig Mossman.

COMFORT IN THE DARK

Author and former palliative care nurse Janet Whiteside reveals the lessons she’s learned from a lifetime of dealing with death.

WORDS HAYLEY BARNETT | PHOTOS KATIE COX

At 83, Janet Whiteside has experienced far more than her fair share of tragedy and heartbreak – mostly by choice.

The palliative care nurse worked in numerous hospices around New Zealand and Australia for 27 years, supporting and caring for those suffering from terminal illnesses at the end of their lives. In her last few years in the job, Janet worked at Tauranga’s Waipuna Hospice. Having retired full of stories and wisdom and at a loss as to what to do with her spare time, she took her husband’s advice and decided to write a book. Released late last year, she named it Deeper Engagement: A Conversation Worth Dying For. It includes the stories of her most memorable patients and the lessons she learned from caring for them.

“I felt I needed to do something,” says Janet of her book. “There seems to be increasing fear and uncertainty about getting ill with the possibility of not recovering. People have the feeling that death has to be so difficult and so painful, but although it is difficult, I believe sharing the experience makes it that much easier.”

Janet has fought her own battles with cancer –twice, in fact. In 2003, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent radiation therapy to treat it. The cancer returned in 2008, at which time she had a bilateral mastectomy. Since then, she’s been cancer free.

“Writing the book was actually very cathartic,” she says. “I have to be grateful for what I’ve learned over the years. People would ask me whether being

“ WHAT I GAVE OF MYSELF WAS REWARDED TENFOLD BY THE TRUST INSTILLED IN ME BY THOSE WHOSE LIVES I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ENTERING. ”

a hospice nurse made my cancer diagnosis any easier to accept. It didn’t, but was it easier to recover from because of my experience with other people? Yes, it was.”

It was from her own learning that she realised knowledge really is power, and other people’s experiences can have a lot to offer those who are facing and fearing the unknown.

“Being in the presence of someone who’s at the end of their life is a gift,” says Janet. “If you can learn to stay rather than run from it, to not be afraid of it, then you have some power there. Supportive care is about putting that cloak around you, and for the people suffering from an illness, it’s so important to let people in and just be open. Over the years, what I gave of myself was rewarded tenfold by the trust instilled in me by those whose lives I had the privilege of entering.”

Janet’s husband passed away four years ago, leaving behind herself and her two sons and their families.

“We’re all very open with one another,” she says of her close-knit family. “We can talk about anything and everything, and that helps a lot. The ability to converse with people is so important, and to just shut up and listen at times when they need you”.

Janet’s a firm believer in palliative care both during and beyond the life of the patient. She says death can affect the people around a patient more than the patient themselves, and it’s important for everyone to remember that.

“When someone gets sick, it isn’t just about them, it’s about the whole family unit. That’s the real beauty of palliative care – that it embraces that. Illness and death is ongoing for the family, so palliative care and support isn’t just for the person who’s received the diagnosis, but also for those families, to help them stay connected, because they need each other.”

Even at 83, Janet isn’t afraid of adventure. Right now, she’s in the process of selling her beautiful, big house by the sea so she can move from the Bay of Plenty to the Blue Mountains near Sydney to be closer to her sons and grandchildren. When I mention it’s quite

a big change to make late in life, she nods. “It is, but I’ve always said I’m most comfortable on the back of a Harley-Davidson than anywhere else! My sense of adventure hasn’t changed with age.”

I ask if her work has encouraged her zest for life; if being around death makes her that much more aware of her own mortality.

“I’m not counting on living long,” she says with a smile. “I think considering my experiences, I’ve done very well to get this far. But a lot of time for people there is the fear, not so much of dying, but about how they’ll die and how much they’ll suffer. The word ‘suffering’ is so misunderstood, because you can suffer for a lot of different reasons – mentally and emotionally too. Finding a way around that and living life right to the end is so important.”

SIX LESSONS I LEARNED AS A PALLIATIVE CARE NURSE

1. Things are not always how we wish them to be. The only certainty we have is in this very moment; meaning comes from everyday life and isn’t something we seek at the end of it.

2. Communication is at the heart of everything. Our voice can be lost when receiving devastating news, but never doubt your inner strength, for within lies the real you.

3. We worry about time, but it’s what we do with it that matters.

4. Forget the ‘bucket list’ –be spontaneous.

5. The only death in life is death itself. It’s the living that counts.

6. Cancer can destroy your life, but it can’t destroy the uniqueness of you.

CAREERING THROUGH LIFE

UNO talks to Bay experts about shaking it up in the workplace.

WORDS NICKY ADAMS

Like most anecdotes it seems there’s more than a little truth behind the old expression ‘a change is as good as a rest.’ When it comes to a career choice, we’re living longer, legal retirement ages are rising, and we’re staying in the workforce for greater periods of time. Consequently, a decision we made at 18 may not still suit where we are or who we have become at 45. The good news is that evidence points towards the fact that switching it up can be a positive. A recent report conducted by the OECD (a global collaboration between 37 governments to promote economic growth) entitled ‘Promoting Better Career Choices For Longer Working Lives – Stepping Up Not Stepping Out’ indicates that change, in multiple aspects of your life is actually good for you.

Older workers undoubtedly play an important role in the labour market and are increasingly engaged in developments in digital technologies as well as cultural change. Nevertheless, many find that careers they may have considered were to be for life, may now have morphed beyond recognition, meaning for job longevity mobility might be the key word. Considering a career change is a daunting prospect, and sometimes transitioning means considering restrictions of age and ability. But a little poking around will show there are more resources to hand to help with this process than you might suspect.

Miriam O’Conner from Career Solutions is an expert in the field of mid-life moves. With a business based around helping people of all ages find career pathways through job search coaching, CV writing and careers advice, she has assisted many transitions, helping people who may want to navigate change. I wonder if she has seen an increasing uplift in the desire for career shifts: “I think in these times change

“Keep

upskilling, keep up to date, keep looking at your own skillset and where you might be able to move if you feel like you need or have to make a change.”

MIRIAM O'CONNER, CAREER SOLUTIONS

is a constant thing that people need to be ready for; to be adaptable and prepared to take different opportunities at different times. We’re seeing now with the (downturn in) economy, organisations are restructuring or altering the way they do things. Some jobs, for example, are overtaken by technology.” The key is to embrace advancements as much as you can. “My advice to people is to keep upskilling, keep up to date, keep looking at your own skillset and where you might be able to move if you feel like you need, or have to make a change – in general it’s good practice to be ready for shifts.”

The job landscape, as we know has changed dramatically post pandemic. Miriam agrees: “Covid changed a lot of things – but opened opportunities. People are considering lifestyle; they can work remotely – be a digital nomad.” Whilst there have been more opportunities for job fluidity, the job market itself has altered. “There’s also changes with different sectors in terms of the growth. I’m seeing

“ PEOPLE ARE CONSIDERING LIFESTYLE; THEY CAN WORK REMOTELY –BE A DIGITAL NOMAD... ”

people all the time that need to think about things differently and put themselves in an alternative mindset to get into another type of work – take their skills into a different industry.” I wonder how common it is to just want change. According to Miriam, “It’s much rarer now to see people on a linear career path, because a career is longer – other opportunities come up.”

Equally the job search itself is dependent on the economy. “A couple of years ago there were jobs left, right and centre. Now it’s really competitive. I’m seeing a real uptake in enquiries from people who want a career change but getting no response. How people present themselves in that process is important, on paper, in interviews.” I question how much AI is affecting this. “AI is evolving fast so it’s a case of getting on board, learning some skills and seeing what you do better. Keep up with change.”

Discovering what you might like to do is very much the start point of change – and proactively seeking resources to help is part of that process. In early August Tauranga will host the Canvas Careers Expo, which offers representation from a combination of over 70 tertiary providers, local businesses

representing their industry, and large companies coming to actively solicit for staff. Event organiser, Sue Boyne, is passionate about introducing both students and jobseekers to the spectrum of career options that are out there. Relating to every age group, the expo is all about planting the seed, igniting the spark, making connections and exploring new opportunities and ideas.

Sue points out that the difference between a job and a career is something we often don’t make a distinction between, which is one of the reasons she’s so driven to get as many industries represented as she can. She firmly believes in the importance of being informed.

Partnered with Priority One, who recognise the benefit of this event, many of the companies get onboard to support the Priority One initiative, and together they help showcase the types of industries and organisations that we have in the Bay of Plenty. In addition to the businesses, there is representation from universities and tertiary educators who can answer questions not just about courses but also about the system itself. Attracting local students and their parents, as well as opening up possibilities to the kids who need incentivising to stay in education, importantly the event is also aimed at those looking for a change of career. “A lot of people have been forced into a direction they don’t want to go in. They want something different, or even want further education that their current employer can’t offer them.”

Sue has seen an uptake in mid-life change before: “When the economy is unstable people are looking for new options and ideas, and that’s when people question whether they’re in the right industry, if they’re doing the right job for their skillset, or if there’s another direction they should be going in. The whole outcome might be that they’re OK where they are… But for those questioning, ‘am I doing what I thought I’d be doing at 45?’, the exhibitors want to educate you, help you and give you information. If you’re changing direction, there’s nothing but admiration for people, and your age is irrelevant.”

What can attendees expect, I ask. Sue is animated as she lays it out: “They can expect to have questions answered and discover if their idea of potential careers exist. Come with an open mind to explore the possibilities, and to talk to people.”

“A lot of people have been forced into a direction they don’t want to go in. They want something different, or even want further education that their current employer can’t offer them.”

SUE BOYNE , Canvas Careers Expo event organiser

“ IF YOU’RE CHANGING DIRECTION, THERE’S NOTHING BUT ADMIRATION ... AND YOUR AGE IS IRRELEVANT. ”

YOUR NEXT CAREER JOURNEY BEGINS

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Unlock your potential today

Personalised Career Assessment

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Customised career path planning

Resume & Cover Letter Revamp

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Interview Preparation

Mock interviews with expert feedback

Proven strategies to ace any interview

Job Search Strategies

Effective job hunting techniques

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Career Transition Support

Smooth transition into new roles

Overcome career change challenges

Confidence Building & Mindset Coaching

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Negotiation & Salary Guidance

Expert advice on salary negotiation

Maximize your earning potential

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

Vicky had worked as a flight attendant for 17 years, but redundancy post COVID led her to explore other career options. Having really enjoyed shiftwork, and with a supportive partner behind her, Vicky landed on nursing as her next step; as soon as she started training she felt fulfilled. “Straight away I knew this is what I should be doing.” It had been a long time since she’d been a student, and a six-month study and career prep course was mandatory, which, Vicky reflected was worth its weight in gold. Once the course began, Vicky quickly realised, “I was a much better student with maturity – you realise you need to stick at it, and I did my studies with extra motivation to get it done.” Feeling well supported through Toi Ohomai helped. The guidance, she says is fantastic. Excited by her new chapter, she notes, “When you’re in a job for a long time you can go on autopilot – it’s really refreshing to learn new skills.”

“When you’re in a job for a long time you can go on autopilot – it’s really refreshing to learn new skills.”

VICKY, Nurse

“I

went to see a Career Psychologist which was really fascinating – she focused on not so much what jobs you want to do, but

what you value in the workplace, what makes you excited to go to work.”

ANGELA BURGESS, KPMG accountant

Having moved from Auckland to Tauranga, television line producer Angela Burgess initially planned to continue in her field by combining working remotely and commuting back to Auckland. Eight years later she has retrained and is now with KPMG Accounting. “I went to see a Career Psychologist which was really fascinating – she really focused on not so much what jobs you want to do, but what you value in the workplace, what makes you excited to go to work. I realised it was a lot about the people around me, and working in a corporate structure was something that interested me. I knew that I liked numbers… so I started looking at options and came across the Masters of Professional Accounting at the University of Waikato.” Study was full on and the financial burden was hard. Although the costs of studying had been factored in, Angela is honest about the fact that she and her husband hadn’t considered how long it would take to build back up to her previous earning level. The pros of undertaking a change with maturity are multiple “What really did help when I started at KPMG as a grad was that I was immediately able to pick up the phone and call a client, or hold a meeting or write an email… General business skills have been really helpful, and being able to manage stress and learning how to prioritise – that’s all transferable. Just working feels like you’re learning every day.” The prospect of career progression within the company and a stable future has, for Angela, paid dividends: “KPMG has excellent values in terms of work-life balance and wellbeing, which as a working mum starting from scratch again has made things a whole lot easier.”

the

If you're considering a career change, trying to find your way back into work, or you'd like to apply for your dream job we can help. Let's get started with a 15 minute discovery call.

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For Ryan + Alexander recruitment consultants, compassion and connection are among the keys to attracting the ultimate talent.

WORDS

PHOTOS

NICKY ADAMS

JAHL MARSHALL

Just as making a career move can be life-changing, finding the right person to fit the culture of your company requires careful consideration. A successful outcome is incredibly rewarding for both candidate and client, but also for the recruitment agencies and consultants who’ve worked away behind the scenes.

Bumping into each other with their young children at Tauranga’s Memorial Park proved serendipitous for Bernadette Ryan-Hopkins and Kiri Burney. Each has an international background in recruitment, and they’d previously worked together in Auckland before returning with their families to their roots in the regions – Bernadette is from Rotorua and Kiri is from Te Kauwhata. The pair were at pivotal points in their lives. After reconnecting, it wasn’t a huge leap to come up with the idea of starting their own recruitment agency in the Bay of Plenty. In April 2016, that's just what

they did, opening the doors to Ryan + Alexander.

Identifying what they could bring to the table as consultants with a wealth of experience was part of the excitement of the set-up. Having made Tauranga home, they had a true understanding of what was needed for the kind of operation they wanted to run. Deciding whether to specialise was a topic of much discussion. “I was keen to have the temp side but also for Bern to do more executive [recruitment],” says Kiri. “I guess what’s quite unique about us is that we’re full service – temp right through to executive.” Building their identity around the concept of placing the perfect receptionist as easily as the ideal CEO was to become part of their point of difference.

Around this time, Bernadette suffered a huge personal setback when she unexpectedly lost her mum, then, only a month after Ryan + Alexander’s opening, tragedy struck again when her brother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The pair believe if they can get through a year like that, they can do anything. Says Bernadette: “Every other challenge we’ve had since pales in comparison. We’re desperately passionate about our business, but a big part of our how and why for employees and clients is understanding that life happens. We have a deeper appreciation for people that has flowed through into everything we do over the past eight years.”

With a combination of personalities that bring the analytical, dynamic and empathetic to the table, Bernadette

Kiri Burney and Bernadette Ryan-Hopkins, founders of Ryan + Alexander.

“ ...A BIG PART OF OUR HOW AND WHY FOR EMPLOYEES AND CLIENTS IS UNDERSTANDING THAT LIFE HAPPENS. WE HAVE A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR PEOPLE... ”

and Kiri’s shared vision and ultra-flexible approach has attracted a team of which they’re incredibly proud. “We operate on a high-trust model – recruitment is the type of business in which results speak for themselves,” says Bernadette. They recognise how fortunate they’ve been with regards to Tauranga being a community that’s committed to supporting local businesses. “The relationships we build are so important to our professional model, partnering with businesses so that we’re an extension of their operation,” says Kiri. In Tauranga, people are expected to have broad experience and understand the importance of community connections. Identifying local nuances has been crucial and both women consider confidentiality to be hugely

important. Added value is also a vital part of Ryan + Alexander’s ethos. As locals, Bernadette and Kiri are able to speak with genuine authenticity and knowledge about the area.

When talk turns to whether artificial intelligence will impact their industry, Bernadette points out that “one of our biggest value adds is that when you interview a person, you understand them and can describe them – and AI is never going to be able to do that”.

The belief in the importance of family and connection continues to exert its influence in the success the agency is enjoying while establishing itself and thriving in the Bay. Not just the foundation of Ryan + Alexander, this ethos is also the bricks with which it’s continuing to build.

For over 30 years, our artisans have curated special pieces that transcend time, crafting stories of love, legacy, and life's treasured moments. At Quantum Design, we are more than creators; we are custodians of your jewellery journey. At our Mount Maunganui workshop and showroom we encompass every facet from design and repair to the intricate process of bespoke jewellery manufacture. Our expertise extends to gold buying and insurance work. With ample free parking at the door, your visit promises convenience and delight.

The Ryan + Alexander team.

ALL ABOUT THAT BASESTATION

If you ask Jenny Rudd, every inch of this coworking space is perfect from the bottom to the top. This year, Basestation celebrates 10 years of supporting Tauranga workers.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

On Tauranga’s Durham Street sit three institutions responsible for the future economic health of the city: the University of Waikato, Gengy’s Mongolian BBQ and Basestation.

It may have been a no-brainer for the university to pick this road as its new home, which opened a year ahead of schedule in 2019. Fueled by delicious grilled meats, its young and hungry students would also be in close

proximity to engine of innovation Basestation, which celebrates its 10th birthday this year.

Basestation’s doors were opened by its co-founders Pascale Hyboud-Peron, Jo Allum, Steven Vincent and Michael Doerner in November 2014. They could see that Tauranga needed somewhere to bring together all the things that keep entrepreneurialism alive and successful. Pascale and Jo had been building a great business community, and Steven and Michael were passionate about open-source technologies and the innovation they create.

Clockwise from left: Grab a coffee from Folk; shared lunches with the residents, Tinkd Makerspace; and the shared coworking space.

Today there are 58 different businesses at Basestation operating over the three floors, with options for renting a desk in a shared space or a separate office. Pascale and Steven have desks in the open-plan area, whereas Michael has a neat and colourful spot for himself behind sliding glass doors.

The smart, unobtrusive grey metal and darkened glass frontage of this hub belies the energy inside. I took an office here in February; the constantly grazing and barracking teenagers at home had taken their toll and whittled away at my working-from-home productivity.

I’d met Pascale and Steven many times over the years at events hosted in the building, and had rented a desk in the open-plan space before, in 2015. This time, I needed my own zone, as I spend a decent chunk of the day chatting away on Zoom with my team in Australia, Manila and Portugal.

It’s been easy to make local work-friends at Basestation though, thanks to the regular breakfasts and lunches, quiz nights, and opportunities to share snacks and stories in the sunny courtyard. Invaluable to me and my tech startup, Dispute Buddy, is the camaraderie and support from other founders in the

building who’ve faced similar business challenges, and the friendly advice from one of our country’s most successful venture capital firms, WNT Ventures, who’ve been in Basestation virtually from the start.

Another long-standing Basestation tenant is Folk Coffee Roasters. Hans Kraenzlin and his staff welcome all who come through the doors with the delicious smell of hot coffee and crispy pillows of almond croissants. It’s a popular meeting spot whether you’re a Basestation coworker or not.

Durham Street is bookended by two huge carparking buildings on Elizabeth and Spring Streets, and the bus station’s a two-minute walk away. That’s ideal for me living near Bayfair at the Mount, as I just hop on one of the many buses that go straight there. I’m often the last to leave in the evenings, happy and content in my office for two with the selection of teas and fruit that’s always on offer in our communal kitchen.

It’s probably worth me taking this opportunity to apologise to Steven for setting off the office alarm at 7am on Good Friday. He was very good natured about it, and showed me how to turn it on and off with my key fob, so I don’t ever wake anyone again.

Hitting double digits is such an achievement – happy 10th birthday, Basestation! Let’s take a look at your best bits:

STARTUP WEEKENDS

It was full steam ahead from the get-go, with more than 60 entrepreneurs and 15 mentors welcomed for Startup Weekend, as the paint was still drying. It was one of the biggest of its kind ever held in Tauranga. Since then, Basestation’s hosted seven Startup Weekends, incubating ideas and finding early customers all in the space of 54 intense and bonding hours. Imagine all those relationships and businesses budding within the walls of the innovation engine!

EARLY DAYS

Some hugely successful startups have led their early lives at Basestation. They’ve gone on to solve problems for global markets and raise significant amounts of venture capital, and some have been acquired by publicly listed companies. Some impressive Basestation alumni include Hello Club, InMusic, Special Studio and SwipedOn.

STEMFEST

New Zealand’s first ever STEM Festival took place inside this building, when Basestation offered sponsorship by giving the then unknown event a venue. The multi-award-winning festival has since been hosted here three times and grown to 5000 visitors. Think the Fieldays of STEM every two years – a street party with lots of experiments and hands-on activities for all the family. There have been robots built, and the world-famous Boston Dynamics' Spot The Robot Dog made an appearance thanks to DroneDeploy and did a fun demonstration to hundreds of people.

FROM THE GROUND UP

Basestation’s once empty basement is now a unique event space and partially occupied by Tinkd Makerspace. A place where you can make and experiment with your brain and hands, it has laser cutters, 3D printers, sewing machines, robotics equipment, decal machines, soldering irons, and lots of little drawers holding bits of electronic, mechanical equipment, fabric… just about anything you need to tinker about and create. This October, Basestation will host the inaugural MakerFest, bringing the global maker movement to Tauranga.

Babbage Space is designed to host events and workshops

Ten years at Basestation:

50+ resident businesses

“ ... FULL OF YOUNG PEOPLE

SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES OF BUILDING BUSINESSES AND SOLVING PROBLEMS. ”

DREAMING BIG

One day in December, I called a temporary halt to the goings-on at home by bringing my teens to an event about a business accelerator programme designed for young people to try out their entrepreneurial ideas. The Basestation basement was full of young people sharing their experiences of building businesses and solving problems. My children left inspired by the possibilities of creating their own careers. Some of the speakers had walked the short distance from the university campus at the other end of the road, and I can’t help but think they probably ended their evening at Gengy’s.

BASESTATION.NZ

500+ Basestation residents

5000+ visitors

500,000+ coffees drunk

Basestation is situated at 148 Durham Street, Tauranga.

WELL ADVISED

When it comes to money matters, expert guidance is more important than ever in today's tough economy.

PHOTO JAHL MARSHALL

As a lender for more than 20 years, Brooke Reynolds has certainly worked her way up through the finance world. She started as a full-time casual teller and worked in almost every bank position imaginable. She then

went on to work as a mobile mortgage lender and later studied conveyancing. Today, she has extensive, well-rounded knowledge of the whole banking process, not just lending, and owns half of Rapson Loans and Finance in

Tauranga. Brooke loves using her valuable and vast wisdom to help others. Here, she tells us why a financial advisor is an important asset to have, and what to expect from them in terms of advice, knowledge and assistance.

Brooke Reynolds of Rapson Loans and Finance.

Financial advisors are the go-between with individuals and the banks/lenders. They get to know you and understand your needs and then relay that information to the lenders. The relationship you form is important as the more they know their clients, the easier it is to achieve exactly what you want. Everyone has different needs − no two people are the same − and your adviser needs to be able to manage that and not take a ‘one fits all’ approach. But can’t I just do that myself, you ask? Yes, absolutely you can. If you don’t mind making the appointments with lenders, taking time off work and then following up with further information and research. It all costs you time and effort, and then if they say no, what do you do? Advisers

are able to go to multiple lenders and will be able to tell from the conversations you have had which banks have the policies and products that would best suit your situation. Banks have different policies and products. They are not all the same. Advisers know this and can navigate it all for you.

The majority of the time, it costs you nothing to consult a financial adviser; however, in the situation where you are using a second-tier lender/commercial lending/equity lending, there may be a fee. Most of the time this can be capitalised onto the loan. The banks will also claw back any commission paid if the loans are repaid and closed prior to 27 months (this varies with lenders, some are less) but this is a conversation to be Charged for the trail ahead.

had at the time of engagement.

Financial advisers are highly regulated. Absolutely everything must be disclosed, from what we are paid, to complaints and clawbacks, and so on. Our files are reviewed and we could get a visit from the FMA at any time. This includes any email correspondence, text messages and phone calls.

All in all, financial advisors are a valuable resource and tool to lean on for knowledge, advice and help with applications. Look out for my column in the next issue if you’d like to learn about different types of loans and the importance of structure.

RAPSON.CO.NZ

“ EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS − NO TWO PEOPLE ARE THE SAME − AND YOUR ADVISER NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THAT AND NOT TAKE A ‘ONE FITS ALL’ APPROACH. ”

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TECH TESTING CORNER

Karl Puschmann tries out a few of the latest doodackies.

SAMSUNG MUSIC FRAME

Typically, the problem with having speakers in your lounge is that speakers are ugly. This trade-off between aesthetics and acoustics has long been something we all just had to accept – until now.

The Music Frame looks like a chunky yet stylish photo frame but has six speakers and a subwoofer built in that you wirelessly connect to your devices. Banish any thoughts of janky build quality or tinny sound. It’s hefty and solid, and its premium quality is apparent. As a frame, it’s a swish addition to your home d é cor. As an alternative to a traditional speaker, it’s an impressive performer that packs a surprising amount of power, features and – most importantly – sound quality within its arty casing.

This cool creation from Samsung comes with a stand or can be wall-mounted like any regular picture frame, although its long power cable begs to be hidden in the wall if you’re going to take that route. It’s almost magic how great the Music Frame sounds and how invisible it is.

Widely available from $750.

APPLE TV4K

Over the years, I’ve tested many devices that aim to perform as your home streaming hub. None have impressed as much as Apple’s 4KTV, which runs rings around its rivals in every possible way.

Like all streaming devices, say Google’s Chromecast or Sky’s Sky Pod, this device allows you to watch movies, TV or other content from various streaming services like Neon, Netflix, Disney+, YouTube and, of course, Apple’s streaming service Apple TV+. What differentiates it from its rivals is the crazy power housed inside this tiny, incredibly sleek box. Driven by the same grunty chip that’s inside the iPhone 14, the device is blazingly fast, and its Siri remote allows it to be operated with voice control. As the name suggests, it pumps out a high-def 4K picture, which is outstanding. It even calibrates your TV to ensure the best picture.

If you’re already in Apple’s ecosystem, you can use 4KTV for FaceTime too, and extras like Apple Arcade and a photo viewer. It pretty much turns your regular TV into an entertainment beast.

Widely available from $280.

KOGAN M700 PORTABLE MINI PROJECTOR

No matter if you’re home or away, this pint-sized portable projector makes every night movie night. With a super-bright 4000 lumens lamp, the M700 displays films, TV shows and video games in full HD, and at a size of up to 100 inches. It boasts HDMI and micro SD ports, wireless connectivity, and dual speakers for surround sound, and comes with a remote, tripod and carry bag. $315 at mightyape.co.nz.

Trending this season PAGE 54

STYLE STATUS

Stay cool on the outside, toasty on the inside.

WORDS NICKY ADAMS

WINTER WARMERS

Some people absolutely love winter fashion – the cosying up, full cover or layering are all considered seasonal techniques that are tried, tested and nigh on always a success. The appeal of the winter palette is another drawcard for many when it comes to staple pieces for those that happily gravitate towards classic darker tones. The big advantage that I see in a winter wardrobe is the ability to really explore beautiful fabrics. New Zealand has access to an abundance of natural fibres – wool in multiple forms such as Merino, as well as cashmere, beautiful silks that all make for stunning winter wear. For 2024 texture is a trending look, and nothing makes for a better textural visual than a combination of fibres – silky satin paired with leather, a super soft fine cashmere skirt matched with a heavy woollen cover up. A longline coat (or floor sweeper) is a definite staple must-have for winter. Often worn oversized with room for plenty of layers beneath, a tailored coat is something that will never date. A strong look has been the incorporation of loungewear, which many A-listers have styled for colder months under tailored outerwear. The juxtaposition of hoody and sweatpants under a beautiful coat is a love it or hate it look. Meanwhile, the ultimate piece of winter footwear has to be the Ugg boot. A Southern Hemisphere staple for decades, it had a peak fashion moment in the early 2000s, which while it dipped back to lingering in the background, certainly seems to have come to the fore again this year. And what’s not to love – comfort and practicality rolled into a squishy package. Leaning into brown colourways will be huge, from chocolate to chestnut, and as luck would have it brown pairs beautifully with the other hot seasonal colour of red.

1. ZARA LEATHER SKIRT $429, ZARA.COM/NZ 2. H&H POM POM BEANIE $15, THEWAREHOUSE.CO.NZ 3. LACE CAMISOLE MAXI DRESS $429.99, SCOTCH-SODA.CO.NZ 4. THE LUCKY LASS IN LIMITED EDITION ROSE PINK $389, DAVAARWOOL.CO.NZ 5. CORAL COAT, $845, JAKOBCARTER.COM

6. COS BELTED DOUBLE FACED WOOL COAT, $450, COS NEWMARKET 277 BROADWAY

7. AIM’N VARSITY SWEAT HOOD $119; GREY MÉLANGE FLARE SWEATPANTS $119, AIMN.CO.NZ

8. H&H CHECK SCARF $20, THEWAREHOUSE.CO.NZ

9. SUEDE XL UNISEX SNEAKER, $160, NZ.PUMA.COM/NZ

TRENDING NOW

MIX IT UP

Over-the-knee and thigh-high boots have been begging to be let back in the wardrobe for a while now. At first glance they may seem better suited to the streets of New York than the Bay of Plenty, but they can be more versatile and low key than first appears. If you don’t think you can make it work for you, then a pointed toe kitten heel ankle boot or a pair of Mary Janes should be a must have. Another hot ‘outfit maker’ would be a good piece of hardware. Adorned belts straight away become a statement piece – elevating a white tee shirt and jeans from blah to bling. There is going to be a lot of fluff around, particularly with coats and jackets – whether feather, fur or teddy – it can take a brave person to go head to toe, so if this is daunting then stick with the trim. If you go for fuzz, then contrast with something silky, or accessorise with a pair of leather gloves – a really stylish mix of textures. Whilst I hate to say leather again, it’s hard to avoid, because leather/faux leather has been so huge on the runways. Rather than rugged, the leather this season has a more feminine feel. A classic leather dress need not be a bank breaker, and a sleeveless slip style is ageless. If you want a wow separate, then sheer is the way to go. It’s everywhere, and it doesn’t have to be revealing – Rita Ora most of us are not. So pop a cami under a mesh top or bodysuit for modesty or a slip under a sheer dress and away you go. Oversized is the way to wear your knitwear, from turtleneck to crewneck – if it feels overwhelming then ‘knotting’ has become a styling technique. Equally the knotted look has carried over onto tops and dresses, which takes a shift style into something with a more flattering silhouette as well as adding to the aesthetic.

GOTTA HAVE IT

The trends amplified by algorithms.

WORDS NICKY ADAMS

The fashion industry has had a makeover, embracing the concept that this is the age of wearing what suits us, and what makes us feel good. Nevertheless there will always be trends – the question is, who actually sets them?

We have entered an era where there is no clear authority. Previously fashion influences were straightforward, coming directly from the runway to the Highstreet to our wardrobe, with trends glamourised by A-list celebrities. Now we have social media, and with it an entirely different force to be reckoned with. The generational split of Tik Tok is narrowing, and now trends that rock on this platform are pitched not just at youth culture, but are more inclusive, finding different corners of the platform for the more mature audiences. With everyone from ‘Jo Public’ posting to highly strategised marketing campaigns being rolled out, it’s a forum for everyman. Even lowlevel social media followers will find they are exposed to various influencers aligned with clothing brands, designers and stores, opening our eyes to looks and styles we might otherwise have missed. The more we identify with someone, the more we’re likely to try out a trend.

Whooshing through 2024 is the Mob Wife aesthetic. Sweeping Tik Tok it’s everything you imagine and more. Grab your hairspray for bouffant hair, heavy make-up, big furs (real or fake) and show-stopping jewellry; it’s The Sopranos meets The Godfather meets Casino. Seen as a more grown up look than perhaps the Barbiecore craze, it personifies a woman who knows what she wants and who means business. Despite being

So it’s little surprise that the latest looks come not just by way of the catwalks, but also through your feed. The interesting thing about the latest viral trends is that the fashion it's bringing to us are ‘upcycled’ – looks that we’ve not just seen before, but that are achievable with a bit of a dig around Depop, and perfectly suited to the current pared back economy.

popularised on the internet, it’s not a concept that has arrived from nowhere. Look to the runway and there will be elements with multiple designers: leather, bodycon, the theatrics of fashion beloved by the Italian designers from Dolce & Gabbana to Gucci.

The flamboyance of the Mob Wife is an extension of a trend that may have come to us via the fashion houses, but it’s also an iteration of what we find around us in

pop culture. And pop culture is where it’s at. One of the biggest star power influencers, Zendaya, has just released a film based around tennis. No surprise that ‘Tennis core’ is now raging, with mini pleated skirts and sporty chic silhouettes a huge look. Likewise the recent Amy Winehouse film introduced her kitsch unique style to a new generation. The key to embracing the essence without looking as though you’ve delved into a dress up box are to stop short of tacky. Each of these trends will resonate with anyone who loves to reach into the archives of their wardrobes or charity shops where large sunnies, vinyl skirt suits and musty furs are aplenty.

Sitting alongside this overthe-top dopamine dressing is Loud luxury. This again rejoices in the bold –leopard, polka dots, colour and edgier silhouettes – and if you want to indulge in a little logomania, then do so. Seen as the anti ‘old money’ and ‘clean girl’ look, Loud Luxury is overtly glamorous, but always tasteful. Drama, creativity and exuberance are key words – all of them conjuring up a more playful attitude towards fashion.

If all this sounds a little too out there, then fear not . Quiet Luxury – the head to toe of creams and neutrals, beloved by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow – still simmers away, a low-key look that suits the fashion lover who longs for a wardrobe packed with understated elegance. So while searches for leopard print and faux fur coats have gone through the roof, the power of trend setting becoming more of a democracy means that there is room for everyone at the fashion table.

SHEER DELIGHT

While sheer fabrics have successfully bridged the gap between day and evening wear, as a rule they tend to be dark tones, predominantly black or slate grey. Spring will see sheer white dresses making their way from runway to street. Eek – the mind boggles with just how many ways this could be a fail.

ROSE TINTED GLASSES

With a Garden Of Time dress code for the 2024 Met Gala, which has long been considered the highlight of the fashion calendar, it’s perhaps not surprising some of the designers doubled down on their floral creations for their Spring/Summer 2024 collections. However, it’s a very specific nod to Roses. Long thought of as the most romantic of the blooms, it fits with some of the feminine themes that are headlining for this season.

FASHION FORECAST

Get ahead with the latest summer fashion trends.

ICE ICE BABY

SPORT OF COURSE

Sportswear has been elevated to new heights over the last few years, with the lines blurred between leisurewear/loungewear and sportswear. It’s hard to know if activewear with heels will really take off, but it’s easy to see the appeal of oversized hoodies worn as dresses, or trackie tops with jeans.

Soft icy blue is a welcome colour for spring – limitless in its pairings, with black it feels bold, with brown there’s a bit of a retro vibe, or with beige for elegance. It’s a very versatile shade as it can be worn head to toe without being overpowering and looks good on blondes and brunettes alike.

Alexander McQueen

Vic toria Beckham

Simone

Guc ci/ JW Anderson

Stella McCartney

Proenza Schouler

Johanna Parv

BODY IN BALANCE

Rotorua’s Polynesian Spa is the perfect place to learn the incredible benefits of calming your mind and healing your body.

WORD S HAYLEY BARNETT

“

Find your dimmer switch,” our mindfulness teacher murmurs soothingly.

Meditation expert and aromatherapist Helena Keenan’s constant calm demeanor is a result of 30 years of meditation practice at some of the Pacific’s most luxurious wellness centres. Right now I’m sitting in the newly refurbished Mahoney Wellness Room at Rotorua’s Polynesian Spa for their Mindful Moments Retreat in the hopes that some of that calmness will rub off on my frazzled, stressed-tothe-hilt self. But finding my inner dimmer switch isn’t something that comes naturally. In fact, at this point, I’m not even sure I have one.

For the past seven years Helena has been guiding visitors through two-day retreats to reset their intentions and commitment to wellness – both mentally and physically – to come away feeling calm, inspired and recharged. Over two days we will bathe in geothermal mineral waters, practise yoga, walk in nature, undergo spa therapies, learn about nutrition and meditate our troubles away. It’s the kind of thing a tired mother can usually only dream of.

When I drag myself in on the first day after a terrible night’s sleep I’m met with the friendly, energetic yoga teacher, Nadine Prinsloo. She introduces the group to simple movements designed to stretch and relax our bodies after a soak in the world-famous geothermal spa. She gives us a rundown on the history of yoga, why we should do it, and what sort of benefits we'll receive from stretching our bodies at least three times a week. We learn how to breathe with our stomachs and how breathing in through one nostril and out the other will instantly calm your nervous system. Nadine has gone through her fair share of body trauma over the years, which is how she got into yoga in the first place, and educates us on how to listen to your body. “If you listen to the body when it whispers, you won’t have to listen to it when it shouts,” she explains wisely. Though the yoga session wasn’t at all strenuous, the group had certainly worked up an appetite. Which was just as well considering the enormous lunch laid out for us. The delicious, healthy and balanced meal set us up for our silent trek through Rotorua’s Redwoods forest.

After an hour of fresh air we were back in

time for our talk on maintaining a healthy gut, led by resident naturopath, Jessica Tumata-Lane. The miracles that can happen just by making subtle changes to your diet are not only proven by science, says Jess, but also in the mental clarity and the body’s energy, which you will notice almost immediately. I almost feel bad for the gelato we’ve just consumed from the spa café beforehand.

The next day we’re led directly to the spa for what I thought would be some relaxing R&R. This time, we’re on the retreat side, which of course includes a cold plunge pool. With Nadine’s words ringing in our ears about listening to your body before it shouts, we instead plunge forth and hold ourselves under for what seems like an eternity but is really just 30 seconds. We then run straight into the now-prickly 40-degree Celcius pool to warm up. Apparently this is good for you.

It’s just as well that our spa treatment is up next. I’ve chosen the spa’s signature Himalayan Salt Polish and Herbal Oil Massage, a treat for my tight muscles and dry winter skin. Then it’s straight into meditation with Helena, where I nearly fall asleep in the middle of the day. This has

never happened to me before. I can barely sleep at night.

Our second delicious lunch brings me back to earth, before venturing out for a walk around the geothermal springs of Lake Rotorua. We’re back in time for some blueberry lemon cake with coconut yoghurt before heading home, our gift bags filled to the brim with lotions and

potions to keep our skin looking and feeling its best. I can’t think of a better way to rest and recharge, and I’m already planning my trip back to this geothermal healing centre of wellness. The next retreat goes ahead in July 2024 and I'm very tempted.

What were my greatest takeaways, Helena asks? It’s not until I’m in the car heading

home that I can think of this answer clearly. Always take the time to stop and recuperate, even if you don’t feel you need it. It’s not until you stop that you can really hear your body and mind shouting. That’s when you find your dimmer switch.

POLYNESIANSPA.CO.NZ/MINDFULMOMENTS-RETREAT/

Three decades of tradition.

Our word is our

BOND

START ANEW

Cashmore Clinic’s Leanne Cashmore on a treatment that can help you gain a firmer foundation.

PHOTO SALINA GALVAN

At the Clinical Aesthetics Symposium I attended in Auckland recently, the talk was firmly focused on skin treatments. There wasn’t a single presentation on botulinum toxin and not much at all about dermal fillers.

So many new and exciting treatments and applications have arrived in New Zealand, making the Australian injectors very envious, as many of them are not yet available there. Getting things across the line in Australia is more difficult than it is here, so we get to benefit from them a good couple of years before our trans-Tasman counterparts do.

I want to talk about the RF microneedling device that was a hot topic of discussion at the symposium. We’ve had such a device at the Cashmore Clinic for a couple of years now and it’d have to be one of our favourite skin treatments.

‘RF’ stands for ‘radio frequency’. The treatment is designed to remodel collagen from the inside out and is used for scars, sun damage, wrinkles, stretch marks, pores and improving overall skin quality.

The radio frequency (heat) delivers controlled energy at various depths (via the needles) depending on what we’re treating, to tighten the skin and promote the production of collagen and elastin. It can penetrate deeply to give much better results than your standard needling, which treats only the superficial layers of the skin.

We recommend having RF needling in winter (because avoiding sun exposure is advised post-treatment) and scheduling

a series of sessions for optimal results. The treatment takes around an hour. A strong anesthetic cream is applied to the skin and left to take effect, then the needling itself lasts for around 20 minutes. Your skin will be only mildly pink when you leave the clinic, and you can apply make-up and follow your normal routine the next day. Four weeks later, you’ll have a second treatment, then a third treatment a month after that. Three is the minimum we recommend; four to six is even better.

With RF needling, skin continues to improve for three months after your final treatment. You also have the option to have topical growth factors infused immediately afterwards, such as PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), where your own blood is separated into red blood cells and plasma, and the plasma (which is full of goodness that further enhances luminosity and improves skin texture) is infused into your skin.

The latest technology to infuse is exosomes. They pack even more of a punch than PRP and are more predictable. Extracted from young

human adipose (fat) tissue, this is cutting-edge technology and a good option for hair restoration as well. They’re another whole topic, so I’ll go into it in more detail in a future issue.

People often want a quick fix, like that achieved by botulinum toxin and fillers, but remember, we also need a good canvas to work from. RF needling has limitations. It isn't a face lift, it’s a skin treatment. A full consultation will help us determine if it’s the right procedure for you.

CASHMORECLINIC.CO.NZ

EXCELLENCE IN DERMATOLOGY

UNO: What is an autologous fat transfer?

Paul: Autologous fat transfer is an augmentation procedure using gentle liposculpture to remove the fat from those stubborn areas (outer and inner thighs, hips, stomach) and place this fat into the breast. The fat transfer fills the breast to allow it to naturally lift as the volume is restored or enhanced.

UNO: Who makes a good candidate for autologous fat transfer?

AJ: The ideal patient for an autologous fat transfer to the breast is any woman who is currently unhappy with the shape or size of her bust. Women who naturally have smaller breasts can achieve excellent results with an autologous fat transfer, often increasing by one cup size with each procedure. Many women who have breastfed will have noticed significant changes in the shape of their breast. They might feel that their breasts hang lower and have lost their shape. Autologous fat transfer in these cases restores the natural shape and lift of the breast to restore the breast as it used to be before breast feeding.

UNO: Why do you recommend autologous fat transfer over breast implants?

Paul: It is the most natural way to enhance breast shape

SHAPE SHIFTER

Dr Paul Salmon and Dr AJ Seine, dermatologic surgeons at Tauranga’s Skin Centre, sit down with UNO to discuss the ins and outs of autologous fat transfer.

and size. The procedure uses the patient’s own fat from areas she doesn’t want it and places it into the breast where she does want it. In this way it is a win/win procedure – body sculpting with a breast augmentation. It gives an entirely natural feel and appearance to the breast and avoids placing artificial products under the skin which some women don’t want. No foreign implants are used in a fat grafting procedure.

UNO: What are the risks associated with these types of procedures and how risky are they?

AJ: Autologous fat transfer is a very safe procedure. It is minimally invasive, and there are no large cuts and stitches in this procedure. Everything is done through very small access incisions that don’t even require stitching – they heal without a visible sign of anything being done. With the specialised technique, there is little risk associated with this and bleeding is minimal. In fact, there is less than you would get at a blood test at the laboratory. There will, however, be some bruising and temporary tenderness at the donor area, but pain is well controlled. The breasts are usually not tender at all afterwards and the results speak for themselves.

SKINCENTRE.COM

WINTER WARMERS

Our beauty must-haves for the season.

HAIR FOR IT

Whatever your hair concern, A’kin’s botanical infusions are an affordable way to customise your haircare routine. With the option of leveling up to include a Hair Mask, Leave-in Conditioner, or their tempting Scalp Scrub, it’s as close to the salon as it gets. Bonus points for being irritant and cruelty free, 100 percent vegan and dermatologically tested.

From RRP$8.99. AKIN.CO.NZ

REDEFINE TIME

After receiving seven accolades in the 2024 Universal Beauty Awards, Kiwi skincare Velettà have even more to be excited about, launching their new Bioactive Illuminating Serum and Revitalise Eye Cream. Explicitly made for skin that has lived, these multitaskers are perfectly timed for dull winter skin needing a boost. With all-natural ingredients such as black fern, licorice root and nature’s retinol Bakuchiol, part of the beauty of this brand is knowing exactly what’s going on your skin. RRP $135. VELETTASKINCARE.COM

and indoor heating at this time of year can be dangerously drying for skin, but luckily Tailor’s new Restore Nurturing Night Balm is here to help. With red seaweed and melatonin, this decadently thick cream moisturises deeply and feels like a real treat with every application. From RRP$ 69.50. TAILORSKIN.CO

TERRACOTTA WARRIOR

If your winter wardrobe tends to lean towards darker hues, try introducing a pop of colour through XO Beauty’s Shaaanxo Terracotta Collection. With earthy tones through to greens and blues, you’re free to start subtle and build up to a more dramatic look. Including Eyeshadow Palette, Water Activated Eyeliner Palette, two Lip Duos and two sets of False Lashes. RRP$132.99. XOBEAUTYSHOP.COM

MANE CHARACTER ENERGY

MAIN SQUEEZE

Following a personal loss to skin cancer, The Perfect Squeeze was designed by Bay local Sarah Williams to make sunblock application messfree and convenient. Decanter what you need into this compact beauty tool, and you’re ready to face the day, safely. RRP$44. THEPERFECTSQUEEZE.COM

With essential nutrients that encourage circulation to the scalp, capsule supplement MyHair gets straight to the root of things. Hair growth, strength and density are directly targeted from the base foundation, and as an added bonus your skin and nails get some love from the inside out, too. RRP$55.50. THERASTORE.CO

GLIDE AND GO

Applying beauty serums can be a delicate task, and when rushed often results in either too much (or not enough!) being dispensed. Hence why we’re loving these uniquely designed Serum Sticks for a no-fuss approach, saving time and money in the long run. With Vitamin C, Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid roll-on formulas available. RRP$34.99.

LUXESTICKS.COM

EVERY BRUSH STROKE

Dead skin cells tend to accumulate on the skin’s surface more than ever at this time of year, underneath all those extra layers. We already know that exfoliating helps, but with extra fine ion-charged copper bristles Tronque’s Ionic Body Brush can also re-ground your natural energy state by creating negative ions as you brush. Best used before a shower, sauna or red light therapy and followed up with Tronque’s indulgent Firming Butter. RRP$70.

TRONQUE.COM

DAILY DOSE

Q&A WITH @SHAAANXO

Top New Zealand influencer, beauty YouTuber and xoBeauty founder Shannon Harris aka @shaaanxo shares her hottest beauty tips with UNO

Which hair products do you deem absolutely necessary?

I love hair oils. Make sure you buy one specifically for hair styling, as some other ‘natural’ oils can damage your hair when you use heat. I like to apply hair oil before I blow dry, or sometimes I will use it on day two or three to add extra shine and softness to my dry hair. I also think it helps to keep my bleached hair strong.

Is there a make-up application technique that more people need to get on board with?

Cream bronzers, cream blush, cream highlight. It looks so beautiful and takes no time at all to apply once

you get used to it. They're good for a more natural look as well, since the creams blend into your skin so seamlessly. If you find powders too heavy, give creams a try.

Favourite make-up hack?

Nude eyeliner in the waterline. It brightens and makes you look way less tired (which is a hack I need every day with a toddler).

Speaking of toddlers, how has your daily beauty regime changed since becoming a mum?

I love using products that complement my natural features in day-to-day life, because these products are typically faster to apply.

If you’re seeking a potent yet skin-friendly anti-aging regimen, may we introduce you to your new best friend, NIGHT CAP from ED&i. An absolute powerhouse that not only works to improve skin elasticity and texture, it also strengthens and protects the skin. Including bioavailable HPR from the Vitamin A family, this ointment is best applied between cleansing and moisturising, so as not to dry the skin. RRP$137. EDNIBOD.COM

I use a nice light coverage skin tint with SPF I can apply with my fingers, tinted lip oils and glosses (which give a perfect hint of colour while moisturising my lips), and brow gels that I can whip on in a hurry. I also love to focus on lash serums so my natural lashes look long, thick and beautiful with nothing on them.

What up-coming make-up trends are you excited about?

I'm excited that peach tones are coming back in! Peach is a great colour to wear on your cheeks, eyes and lips for a beachy babe look. It's so pretty and soft.

NYNE

LET YOUR HAIR DOWN

Feeling ready to enjoy a new ’do? Sam Henry of Shine and Studio May salons reports on the season’s most sophisticated trends.

Coming in hot this winter is the trend towards quiet luxury. Just like the no make-up make-up look, it’s all about hair that appears naturally, effortlessly beautiful. Here are five ways to wear it well.

1. For a soft yet bright lift, consider lightening those baby hairs around your hairline just one or two shades lighter than your natural hair colour, but always remember to keep the health and integrity of your hair in mind – never overprocess!

2. One of the most requested colouring styles in many a salon, balayage isn’t going anywhere, but now there’s a new technique to try – camou-lage. This creates beautiful dimension in an even more subtle way, without any visible lines. Think shiny, healthy hair with golden tones – buttercream blonde or latte-hued babylights enhancing your natural locks.

3. For the cowgirl copper lovers out there, golden amber is bringing the heat for the chilly season. It’s the perfect tone to complement those with green or blue eyes.

4. A brighter take on the mocha brown look, new-season cappuccino browns blend a warm base with cool caramel babylights.

5. Still high on the hit list for hairstyles is the timeless bob, and there are various interpretations to try. Depending on where your mood takes you as you slide into your stylist’s chair, the bubble bob might take your fancy. It’s still going strong from early 2023, and with the length curving around the chin, it’s full, floaty, bouncy and fun. Meanwhile, the micro bob is the shortest of them all – just brushing the jawline, it’s blunt and edgy. Or perhaps you want to get nostalgic with a ’90s bob, featuring va-va-voom volume and hair blow-dried like you’ve just stepped off a cruise ship.

Sam Henry

PLANT LIFE

The Centre For Health’s Dr Anna Rolleston sits down with two of her clients, Carrie and Sarah, to discuss how a plant-based way of eating works for them.

Anna: What’s the deal with plant-based eating, and how does it differ from being vegetarian or vegan?

Carrie: Think of a plant-based diet as a colourful celebration of fruit, veggies, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds – it’s like a garden party on your plate. Unlike vegetarians, who may still eat dairy, and vegans, who steer clear of anything animal-related, even honey, plant-based eaters mostly skip the animal products but might have a ‘cheat day’ here and there for some meaty or sugary indulgence. It’s not about a strict approach – I’ll have up to four eggs a week, for example – it’s about eating mostly plants.

Sarah: For me, it’s 80 percent plants and also about reducing the amount of processed foods and refined sugar I eat. I used cheat days heaps initially but don’t so much now, because my body doesn’t really like that other kai anymore.

Anna: Why do you think people jump on the plant-based bandwagon?

Carrie: For their health and wellbeing. Health perks like controlling cholesterol, shedding a few pounds, and dodging things like heart issues and diabetes are big reasons.

Sarah: Then there’s the eco angle. Plant-based eating is better for the environment, reducing your carbon footprint and saving resources. It feels good to be plant-based if you’re environmentally minded.

Anna: What are the other benefits of eating this way?

Carrie: There are heaps! You get a nutrient boost, improved digestion and I reckon my immune system

is way better than it used to be. I know there’s also some research that says it could dial down the risk of certain cancers and add more candles to your birthday cake.

Sarah: I have more energy, my gut isn’t as gurgly, and I feel lighter in my body. I’m not sure it’s all down to the plants, but I feel happier.

Anna: Who do you think is the ideal candidate for trying a plant-based diet?

Carrie: Everyone!

Sarah: Definitely people with health conditions, and athletes too, and if you’re keen to help look after the planet and save some money, then it’s a go for you as well. I think it’s cheaper in the long run, as meat is pretty expensive at the moment.

Anna: Any pro tips for easing into it?

Carrie: Start by swapping a few meals a week with plant-based options. Brush up on your nutrition knowledge to make sure you’re getting all the good stuff like protein and iron, and don’t forget the plant-based remixes of your usual meat dishes –like veggie burgers, or tacos filled with jackfruit.

Sarah: To be honest, just do FastTrack Kai ā Nuku – it’s the easiest way to understand everything and eat yummy food. Getting the whānau on board is a biggie – although if you’re the main cook like me, they just have to eat what you serve!

For more information on adopting a plant-based diet, visit FASTTRACKNZ.CO.NZ

Celebrating the places and spaces we call home.

OROPI HILLS OASIS

On top of the world PAGE 76

PARISIAN PALETTE

Très chic hues PAGE 72

CONCRETE TO COVET

Modern methods PAGE 80

BEAUTY

ON THE INSIDE

Designer insights PAGE 92

JUST SAY OUI

Give simple yet sophisticated, chic yet comfortable the go-ahead at home by referencing Parisian interiors and their beguiling je ne sais quoi.

STYLING AMBER ARMITAGE @ MARIGOLD

PHOTOS WENDY FENWICK @ FLASH STUDIOS WALL COLOURS RESENE PAINTS

Wall in Resene SpaceCote Flat tinted to Resene Awaroa Bay; arch in Resene SpaceCote Flat tinted to Resene Athena, with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium tinted to Resene Solitaire on top to create a limewash effect; and floor in Resene Colorwood Be Calm. Oslo Buffet in White, $529, from Mocka Anting vase, $120, and scalloped marble tray, $150, both from Republic Home Rena Gypsum wall light, $240, from Lighting Direct Pink Cloud artwork by Robyn Fleet, $1400, from The Frame Workshop & Gallery. Non 1 and Non 2, $30 each, and Pentire Coastal Spritz, $64, all from By The Bottle. Maxwell & Williams cocktail set, $130, from Briscoes . Vermont rug in Sand, from $949, from A&C . Kennedy swivel chair in Mist, $2067, Artie Kick side table in Powder Blue, $1333, and Juno Cloud centre sofa in Cashew, $3270, all from Soren Liv. All other items stylist’s own.

STYLIST’S TIP

Use neutrals and pastels to form the foundation of a French-inspired bedroom that’s serene with a soup çon of interest. Resene Petal brings a flush of cherry blossom pink enhanced by a hint of mauve.

Walls in Resene SpaceCote Flat tinted to Resene Petal, window frames in Resene Solitaire and floor in Resene Colorwood Be Calm. Heston floor lamp with Smoke mirror glass shade, $306, from Lighting Direct Red Chair on Celadon artwork by Alecia Koenigsberger, $800, from The Frame Workshop & Gallery. Tolv Figura dining chair, $890, and Sketch Author desk in Black Onyx, $1442, both from Soren Liv. Norton Vase in Smoke Grey, from $50, from Republic Home. All other items stylist’s own.

Walls in Resene SpaceCote Flat tinted to Resene Awaroa Bay and floor in Resene Colorwood Be Calm. Cade ottoman, $840; Juno Cloud corner sofa, $5047, and Juno Cloud centre sofa in Cashew, $3270; and Elle Lune coffee table in Natural Travertine, $4573, all from Soren Liv Changeable artwork by Kate Cox, $2500, from The Frame Workshop & Gallery. Vermont rug in Sand, from $949, and Luna mirror, $1200, both from A&C . Angami Tin cushion, $129, and scalloped marble tray, $150, both from Republic Home. Soapstone vessel, $89, from Asili . Cabana floor lamp in Natural, $280, from Lighting Direct . All other items stylist’s own.

STYLIST’S TIP

Beige doesn’t have to be boring. The Resene Awaroa Bay seen here is a warm, sandy version that’s beautifully soft and smoky.

Walls in Resene SpaceCote Flat tinted to Resene Petal, window frames in Resene Solitaire, and floor in Resene Colorwood Be Calm. Almos Wing headboard in Alabaster, $2457, and Floyd Mar bedside table, $2158, both from Soren Liv. Linen scallop-edge Euro pillowcases in Oatmeal, $60 each; Stonewash duvet in Khaki Stripe, $190/king, and matching pillowcases, $50/pair; and Theodore bench seat in Copper, $1050, all from A&C . Dolce cushion in Natural/White Stripe, $129, Carnivale cushion in Khaki/Rose Dust Stripe, $149, cashmere and lambswool throw, $229, Broste Copenhagen William table lamp, $560, and frosted glass vase, $89, all from Republic Home Meek and Mild artwork by Yvonne Abercrombie (on wall), $750, and Mixed Bunch artwork by Alecia Koenigsberger, $2800, both from The Frame Workshop & Gallery. All other items stylist’s own.

Backdrop in Resene Colorwood Be Calm.

Scalloped marble tray, $150, from Republic Home

PROJECT: HARWOOD HOMES

Resene Awaroa Bay

Resene Solitaire

Resene Petal

REACH FOR THE SKY

This exceptional home is a haven of privacy. The property's sleek design and breathtaking sky views add to what is the height of modern luxury — and to top off its impressive features is a truffle orchard of hundreds of oak trees.

WORDS JO FERRIS | PHOTOS HUNTER STUDIOS

Situated in the Oropi hills, this serene, minimalist home is surrounded by nature and designed with ultimate privacy and security in mind. Nestled within blissful seclusion at the end of a private road, the property offers gated vehicle entry and a helicopter landing option for increased anonymity.

The home was built by multi-award-winning Shaw Builders and designed to a specific brief. Beautiful in its simplicity, the home disguises the extraordinary complexity behind its creation. It embraces 800m ² of understated luxury to combine modern design with meticulous craftmanship.

Floor-to-ceiling windows, all-day sun, and views as far as the eye can see blend to create airy, light-filled spaces. Lush, sub-tropical gardens surround the home to instill tranquility and provide intimacy in various rooms and outdoor settings.

Architectural design wraps this home around a swimming pool with waterfall to create a resort worthy of a tropical escape. Views stretch out to embrace Mauao, Tauranga and offshore islands beyond – a reminder that this stunning setting is a discovery of true surprise.

The interior design features clean, bold lines, negative details and high-end finishes with top-of-the-line appliances. A cosy wood fire in the dining room is

perfect for intimate occasions, while the chef’s kitchen and lounge serve as the central hub for gatherings.

Equipped with Crestron home automation, this home provides comfort and privacy with ensuite bedrooms for family and guests, together with a separate apartment for extended family. With its own entry, private patio and personal garage, this suite has also been designed to double as an executive workplace. Completing the home’s forethought for work and leisure, it includes a dedicated gym, office and media hideaway.

Once farmland, this 12-hectare estate has been transformed into a sanctuary for birds and nature playground. Walking and riding trails wind through native bush, with streams and springs. Along with the tropical gardens and grasses embracing the house, specialty plantings throughout the estate reinforce how the micro-climate has rewarded this property’s development. Stands of redwoods, specimens and berries, fruit and nut trees – nature thrives here.

Of particular note is the truffière – 750 specialty oak trees on park-like slopes that add peace, tranquility, and a potential future income.

This unique Oropi retreat combines luxury with natural beauty to highlight how thoughtful design can blend with nature to be at one with the world and offer an unparalleled living experience.

Nga Parae Rd, Oropi OLIVERROADBAYOFPLENTY.COM

PRIMED TO PERFECTION

Step into a fully furnished, three-storey townhouse offering stunning beach and bay views. Recently renovated with industrial-chic design, smart technology, and a separate two-bedroom flat — this home is truly one-of-a-kind.

Today’s trend of dressing a property for sale has a personal input with this home. It’s already dressed — ready to go — what you see is what you get. Bar the artwork of course — particularly one striking piece that dominates a feature wall in the top-floor living area.

In a move to downsize, this vendor is leaving all the furniture and much of the equipment behind — taking only personal items before closing the door on this intriguing venture. This is the heart of downtown Mount — views towards the beach on one side and Pilot Bay on the other — within walking distance of everything.

This three-storey townhouse received a head-to-toe renovation when bought. New roof, new insulation, double glazing, new gib, new open stairwell, new decor and sophisticated technology throughout. If one word were to describe

this home, personality would be it. Maybe one more; personality plus.

The home goes beyond imagination in its approach. It introduces industrial influences with a sense of smoky-bar nightclub; cigars allowed and bourbon on tap in top-floor living. Either stepping up the flight of stairs — railings lit beneath and sensors showing the way; or taking the lift — the welcome is immediate. The kitchen sits centre stage — casual living at the front with balconies either side, dining booth in its own zone and a TV lounge at the rear — Mauao in all its glory in full view.

Party central in the middle houses a chef’s domain for serious cooking and separate stations; complete with a drinks’ bar cocktail mixers dream of. By day, perfect, by night, lights set within quartz counters highlight the brilliance of the detail – ready to set the mood.

Moods define this entire home – from the darkness of the dedicated theatre

to every bedroom. One cleverly doubles as a bedsit office, thanks to the pull-down bed within closet cabinetry. Bathroom personality doesn’t disappoint either. An industrial look in the family bathroom strikes a chord with heavymetal style tapware and cast-iron vintage bath — complete with ceiling spout. The master bathroom follows suit with a ceiling spout dropping water into its elegant oval bath.

Masculinity meets femininity in ways that appeal to personal tastes. Underpinning it all however, is state-of-the-art functionality. Smart technology includes wireless internet on every floor, Sonos surround sound, a talking fridge, sensor lighting, 16 solar panels, Tesla battery. All the bells and whistles; plus the bonus advantage of a separate, two-bedroom flat — complete with a tenant.

Personality plus.

13A Commons Ave, Mount Maunganui OLIVERROADBAYOFPLENTY.COM

WORDS JO FERRIS | PHOTOS AMANDA AITKEN

MEDITERRANEAN MEDITATION

Surrounded by lofty palms on one of The Mount’s most coveted streets, this transformed 60s’ Beazley home is an entertainer’s paradise, and a serene minimalist sanctuary of space and light.

WORDS JO FERRIS | PHOTOS HUNTER STUDIOS

Sitting in one of Mount Maunganui’s sought-after streets, this home doubles the prestige with a rare, full site –a tropical oasis at that. Towering palms are about the only feature this couple didn’t introduce, when buying a home that lacked architectural finesse. They took a 60s’ Beazley and transformed it into a luxury Mediterranean resort.

While the original home had been extended, it was substantially different to what exists now. With raised ceilings in the open plan living area, new master wing, redesigned staircase and a complete overhaul of the back yard, this home is an expression of style.

Elegant and considered in its complexity, simplicity is the star. It showcases the innate talent usually associated with professional interior design. Yet, this couple understand that less is more. The continuity of space and texture make this house a sanctuary by the beach.

The tone and natural texture form an intimate story that begins at the front door. The curvature of a stairwell day bed is stylish and genius use of an unusual space – a precious hideaway for secret moments.

As stairs lead up to family living, a feature wall showcases the artistry of imported Venetian lime plaster – flecks of golden mica punctuating this finish to mimic beautifully aged Italian stucco.

Featured on a back-lit wall behind the TV and again in the master suite, the lime plaster is a subtle salute to the home’s European inspiration. The theme throughout – structured lines and curves underpin its striking simplicity. Streamed with light and sun, skylights and raked ceilings continue out to a sun-drenched loggia with views to Mauao peeking through luscious green palms.

The back loggia is an entertainer’s dream, with a Mediterranean-inspired pizza oven and outdoor kitchen keeping the party in one place. An edible garden for salads and fruiting banana palms

make this space an exotic retreat.

The minimalist approach throughout hides switches and anything that upsets the finesse. Detail is discreet yet refined. Brushed gold accents add a touch of sophistication and elegance, while smart lighting technology removes obstructions which would deflect the clean finish. The streamlined excellence of cabinetry from the kitchen and scullery to bathrooms and extraordinary storage in the master wing is the work of craftsmen. Handmade curves are constant; either dramatic and a showpiece or subtle and in the background.

Complete with self-contained living quarters downstairs, gated security and garden ribbons that embrace this home with magnificent palms; it is an extraordinary example of how complex design transforms to the simplicity of interpretation.

70 Valley Road, Mount Maunganui OLIVERROADBAYOFPLENTY.COM

BUILDING BLOCKS

If you think concrete is mundane, you’ll need to think again. The Bay’s award-winning builders Gudsell Builders are redefining the artistic possibilities of this overlooked material to create their stunning, acclaimed homes.

WORD S KARL PUSCHMANN | PHOTOS AMANDA AITKEN

Concrete and nature don’t always live in harmony. But Matt Gudsell sees this material completely differently. He sees the artistic potential and architectural possibility inherent in concrete. As he explains to UNO, his company Gudsell Builders views concrete as a reflective material that’s able to mirror, enhance and blend into the environment it’s used in. Just as long as you have the skills, experience and creativity necessary to do so.

Gudsell Builders has been working with and reimagining the artistic scope of concrete for over four years to award-winning effect. Just last year the company won the Registered Master Builders National House of the Year.

For an example of concrete’s possibilities, Matt highlights the understated elegance of their latest build on Matua’s tree-lined Beach Road. With its stunning waterfront views and sophisticated living, the home is a tranquil retreat from the hustle and

bustle of everyday life. With its attention to detail, natural flow and spacious luxury there’s a calming mindfulness.

“The whole idea of this house was to make it look like a pōhutukawa tree because it's surrounded by them,” Matt says of the desirable property. “This house is all black concrete with a pink and red effect. We’ve aged it to get that ruggedness and create that look of bark on the tree. It’s very complex detail and a real showcase of the work that can be done using this system.”

The effect is striking. But like all things that look effortless, a lot of hard work was required to achieve the desirable result. Not only is it an advanced process, it’s also one that demands experimentation away from the site.

“To get this look we trialled different samples, from the materials used to create the pink and the red effect on the concrete to creating the ruggedness and mixed design of the concrete,” Matt says.

“It took us about five trials to get it right before we poured these walls on this house.”

Then he smiles and adds, “But that's the beauty of concrete. The world is your oyster. Whatever you want concrete to look like, we can do it.”

The results speak for themselves, and the many awards Gudsell Builders have collected over the and innovative thinking that transforms an otherwise overlooked aspect of a build into a graceful and subtle design feature that reinforces the overall design aesthetic and mood of a home.

Returning to this Beach Road home Matt’s idea was that it would feel like a batch - albeit a luxurious one - that blends in and complements the surrounding pōhutukawas and its seaside environment. This thoughtful design philosophy extends into the home’s interior which has been lovingly crafted in timber with an artisan’s eye for detail to create an ambience of warmth and refinement.

“In my mind, I couldn't be bothered building if I didn't care about the end finish of it,” Matt says. “It's going to be done right the first time, to the highest level of detail and to the highest standards.”

While concrete is not usually considered a glamorous material, Gudsell Builders is challenging that perception as people begin to get their heads around its architectural potential.

“I've got examples I can show people,” Matt laughs when asked if he’s had to sell people on the idea of using concrete as an artistic element of a build. “Once they see examples of what we can do,

that convinces them to go ahead. But you have to show them.”

The other benefit of concrete is its unparalleled longevity and hassle-free maintenance.

“It's not going to rot or fall down. It's going to be there for a hundred years. That's what gives people who are looking to build a nice architectural home peace of mind. They’re not going to have to get up and stain the cedar every two years, it’s not going to twist. It's permanent.”

While the process Matt and his team of 15 use to create these desirable results is a trade secret, he does reveal that after experimenting to get the final look, the actual pour is relatively quick.

“We've invested in our own infrastructure. It makes the speed of construction a lot faster. We can also consult with engineers and offer advice on formwork placement and finishes for other builders' jobs,” he says, adding that builders can hire out Gudsell's specialist equipment.

With concrete, the sky really is the limit. He’s excited not only by the design possibilities but also by the thought of what ideas clients may bring to the table.

“If you think of anything that you want to do, it's only a matter of playing around with it and trialling stuff to be able to create that artistic effect,” he says.

Then he smiles and says, “If a client comes to us with some out-there design that they want on their concrete, it’s not a problem. We can do it.”

GUDSELLBUILDERS.CO.NZ

“ THE BEAUTY OF CONCRETE. THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER. WHATEVER YOU WANT CONCRETE TO LOOK LIKE, WE CAN DO IT. ”

Board formed concrete example.

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A CLASSIC TWIST

Adding another dimension to an established brand.

WORD S NICKY ADAMS

There’s lots to like about husband-and-wife team

Paul and Corina Taylor, particularly if you enjoy good humour with a side order of honesty. Paul is articulate and animated, plus he makes a mean cup of tea. Corina’s warmth and gentle manner put you at ease straight away. Together with Paul’s brother David they hold the licence for and are owner/operators of Classic Builders Rotorua and Taupō

To unravel what exactly this means, I double check with Paul, who clarifies: “We hold a licence agreement to build within the Rotorua and Taup ō councils and we work under a licence manual… Classic provides a back-of-office service for us with our design work, accounting, marketing, health and safety.” Essentially,

Paul, Corina and David are very much Classic; “We’ve got the brand; together we’ve got 28 years’ experience of working with the brand, we’ve got the national supplier agreement, the systems, the processes – the aftercare service and warranty – all the stuff that’s always at the forefront. We bring our customer service, excellence, and quality. Our biggest added value is our experience.” The formula is clearly working, as, for the second year running, the team has just scooped a slew of accolades at the Classic Builders National Awards.

Paul has been with Classic for 19 years, moving from operations to licence holder; Corina joined the business 11 years ago with a strong background in sales and real estate, and found her true passion as colour and design consultant. Brother David came up from Palmerston North and in 2014 jumped on board the Classic ship, starting as construction manager

and moving up to branch manager before taking on regional manager of Rotorua and Lakes. This powerhouse combination has a real confidence that only years in the game can bring. Corina points out: “There wouldn’t be too many areas of building where we haven’t got experience or a situation we haven’t come across before. Between the three of us we’ve got a tonne of expertise. With Paul, you’ve got the land acquisition, business/finance acumen and supplier relationships; David’s got the operational and building brain and I’ve got the face to face with the clients – refining the look they want, the colours, materials and specifications.” Paul chimes in: “We know our lane; we know where our strengths are”. Corina agrees, “there’s strong leadership in all three of those areas, and that filters down to our team, so they’ve got clear, strong direction and leadership and they really feel like we’ve got their back. Talia (our

building co-ordinator) always says, “it’s like we’re in one big wāka rowing in the same direction.”

The impetus to branch away and establish their own part of the company was an organic progression. As Paul clarifies; “After being within the brand for 19 years I wanted to use all that expertise that I’d learnt to continue my journey and bring that to a different region. I had a vision of how things could be done at a grass-root level and wanted to get back to being more customer facing.” They both get animated as they explain how they could see the potential and growth in this area, which they have created and generated with the help of their team. Corina reiterates how adding value to the community has spurred them on, and Paul relishes the relationships they have built with land stakeholders, local iwi, various land developers and other members

of the community supply chain.

Corina’s sideline passion is her role as work events coordinator. Laughing, they both agree her love of organisation enables her to excel in this position. Joking aside, they go on to talk about how hugely important the sense of ‘team’ is to not just them personally, but to the success and growth of the business. The social side is huge: “We always celebrate our wins, our birthdays our anniversaries.” Paul sums it up: “We work together, play together, stay together.” Talking of events, the team is about to celebrate its fourth anniversary, which is a milestone the trio are hugely proud of. Within that time the team has grown from three to 12 and is still expanding. In a flat market it’s definitely bucking the trend to be experiencing growth. I wonder what Paul and Corina would consider has helped with this. Paul is hesitant, as he’s

aware it’s not something that’s currently experienced across the board. “I suppose we’ve read the market, and we know how to deliver to these conditions. We’re adaptable: that’s what a small team brings.” Corina agrees. “We’re able to reduce square meterage to bring a price down – we know how to deliver a price point product of spec and looks. What we do well is very targeted to suit the market.” Paul adds: “And we deliver what we say we will. There are no hidden exclusions.”

They also pride themselves in managing to cater for a broad demographic, from duplexes for a couple, to four-bed family homes, to investor properties. Repeat custom is something they’re excited has started to happen – there’s real pride when they mention people who have returned, a testament, amongst other things, to their relationship building.

“ WE ALWAYS CELEBRATE OUR WINS, OUR BIRTHDAYS, OUR ANNIVERSARIES. WE WORK TOGETHER, PLAY TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER. ”

Client relationships, they say, are crucial to the whole team. Their carefully crafted ‘Wall of Fame’ in the office has a photograph of every handover they’ve ever done. “There’s detail,” says Paul. “We haven’t just slapped it up.” Corina adds: “We really celebrate with our clients. It’s such an emotional process – you’re a huge part of each other’s lives for the duration of the build process. We love the handovers, it’s a big deal”. The Classic Care policy ensures the continuation of the relationship, even after completion. The Rotorua-based design centre reflects the blend of Corina’s systematic and creative personality. Purposely built for the client experience, it’s a visual space where the products are almost artworks. The layout of the room follows a build schedule, enabling clients to place selected swatches on the table, ultimately creating the home they will build. Corina thrives on her role: “I love helping people create the vision they have for themselves and their home; pulling all their ideas together and giving them different options in a budgetconscious way that fits within their build and our brand. Knowing they can have a beautiful home that they can be really

proud of, but that fits within all our standard specs.” Operating from the hub, the team all hail from different parts of the region, and understand the value of ties with the community. That reaches beyond the clients to every part of the build chain, from the land to the carpet layers to the kitchen supplier. Every team member, according to Corina, gives their absolute all, “the work ethic of our people blows me away.”

Client relationships are of course integral; once that bond is established the trust follows. Transparency is their currency. Paul stands by his word: “We have a fixed price; we don’t have any escalation clauses. Within the contract – if we’re in control as the build partner we can give you a fixed price contract. But also, there’s flexibility if you want to have a provisional sum where you may want variations. You sign off everything first. We have a design and build contract, or house and land where we control the overall package. We’ve got flexibility – but again, it comes to a fixed price.” Adaptability, value for money, honesty and integrity are all central to what makes the wheels turn. “And positivity,” enthuses Paul.

What advice would you give someone looking to build? Trust/understand your build partner. Do your research. Make sure you’re comparing apples with apples – go through the details.

Why would people choose to build in this market?

You end up with a healthy home with all the new standards (better insulation/ better joinery/ heating etc). Better funding options with building new. There are good options out there, and you’ve got time to research as it’s not a flooded market.

How to avoid common mistakes? No two sites are the same, so get down to the detail. Go with a reputable brand with experience.

What should be the primary focus on a build?

Focus on the needs – add in the wants/wishlist. Be honest about what you have to spend.

The Classic Builders Lakes District team.

At the helm of Guthrie Bowron Tauranga, Margaret Gill knows interiors. Here, she shares an insider’s guide to window coverings.

Window coverings have a major influence on a room’s functionality and ambience — a fact that’s both exciting and makes knowing what to choose a little daunting. The following insider info might help you decide what’s best for you.

Your first consideration? Function. Living spaces may need a sun filter treatment to manage glare during the day. Bedrooms benefit from blackout curtains to aid sleep. Window treatments will also offer additional insulation if your home is lacking in that department.

Will curtains or blinds be best? Curtains visually soften the hard edges of a room,

while providing warmth and privacy. Roman blinds provide a streamlined look for the minimalists among us, and are ideal for high or small windows.

What size are your windows and how much wall space is there on either side? The answers may lead you to floor-toceiling curtains for spacious rooms, while blinds will be great for small, narrow or awkwardly placed panes.

Keep roller blinds, venetian blinds, vertical blinds, honeycomb blinds and shutters on your radar too. All have their advantages and limitations, depending on your home’s unique requirements and the look you love.

Enjoy using your window treatments to express your creativity. Whether you gravitate towards soothing neutrals, energising bright hues or statementmaking bold patterns, there’s such a wide

range of fabrics available that you can take your pick when it comes to style, colour and texture. Most curtain fabrics can also be used for roman blinds, allowing you to maintain a consistent scheme throughout the house. Then tie it together with other soft furnishings such as cushions, throws, bedding and upholstered furniture. Or make a feature out of an exceptionally special textile. For example, a printed velvet, intricate jacquard or highly textured boucle.

The secret to your success lies in talking to an experienced curtain and blind consultant at the beginning of your decorating project. At Guthrie Bowron Tauranga, you’ll find all the latest collections from UK textile brand ILIV, as well as top-notch New Zealand suppliers. Are you ready to get started?

“ WINDOW COVERINGS HAVE A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON A ROOM’S FUNCTIONALITY AND AMBIENCE. ”

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Winter is the season when even the most minimalist of interior designs lends itself to being accessorised. Cosy is the key word; if you don’t have a fire to curl up next to, you can emulate the same snug feeling through beautiful woollen blankets and cashmere throws. Texture is so important and can be utilised through lots of tactile furniture and coverings – a distinctive bouclé sofa or plush velvet cushions are timeless favourites. Statement textiles work equally well in a neutral palette or vibrant shades. Hints of nostalgia combine to make the ultimate sanctuary.

Snuggle up with a space that's designed to make you feel relaxed and at ease this winter.

1. Meadow Rug by Armadillo & Co in Tamarillo, 4 standard sizes, from $2525, from The Ivy House. 2. Cabin wool blanket, $390, from cittadesign.com 3. Eldvarm Fireset in Classique, $1220, from Top3.com.au . 4. Glenburn wool blanket, $449, from Green With Envy. 5. Taper candles in Terracotta by Broste, $36, from Maytime. 6. Eden rug by Armadillo & Co in Granada, 3 standard sizes, from $7255, from The Ivy House. 7. Missoni Home Betulla cushion 40cm, $810, from Top3.com.au . 8. Jefferson Cushion with feather inner, $145, from Bax Interiors . 9. Eldvarm wood basket in Havane, $1146, from Top3.com.au 10. Greg Natale Onda bowl in Red Travertine, $645, from Top3.com.au . 11. Cambridge round coffee table, $1795, from Bax Interiors . 12. Redondo armchair by Moroso, from $6890, from Matisse. 13. Eldvarm Emma Lantern in Blanc, $338, from Top3.com.au

CHOOSE FURNITURE THAT LASTS A LIFETIME.

Silkwood Living is proud to offer quality sustainable choices, which means you can feel great about your purchases.

Manufactured in the USA, the Breezesta and Berlin Gardens collections are constructed from a product called “Poly Lumber” which is made from recycled milk bottles. Renowned for its vast design range and amazing comfort, each piece comes with a lifetime warranty that protects your purchase from fading, cracking, splintering, peeling, rotting, and insect damage.

TRASH TALK

Don’t get waste-free warrior Kate Meads started on the current eco buzz words.

When people hear words like ‘compostable’ and ‘biodegradable’, they generally think products in this type of packaging are better for the environment than those that are non-compostable and nonbiodegradable. But are they?

The reality is there’s no easy way to solve our waste issues, and packaging like this isn’t helping to solve the growing problem. They’re still a single-use item that continues to encourage a throwaway style of behaviour – buy, use, throw – and don’t change anything.

If you put a compostable cup and a non-compostable cup in landfill, they’ll both still be right there together hundreds of years after their single 10-minute use. The only difference is that the compostable cup may break down slightly, releasing more methane and ultimately still mummifying because landfills aren’t compost units – they’re waste-storage units that’ll eventually be built on once they dry and settle.

The other thing is that these plant-based plastics are still plastic, so they leave

behind microplastics in the soil and in your home compost. (Please don’t compost these plastics at home. They might disappear, but the microplastics won’t.)

There are currently not enough regulations on the compostable packaging industry and little proof that what it produces is safe. There’s a reason why councils don’t take compostable packaging, cups or even paper products in their green waste or food scrap bins, and that’s because as soon as you introduce them, the compost may be contaminated and no longer organic.

There appears to be a belief that plantbased plastics are better than oil-based ones. But I’ve been doing a lot of reading about the plant-based plastic industry, and it’s a major concern that it’s now growing vast amounts of crops on which they use insecticide before harvesting, killing the creatures that live in the plants, soil and vicinity. Another issue is that here in New Zealand, plant-based and compostable plastics aren’t recyclable, and contaminate other recycling streams, including council collections and soft plastics bins around the country.

As for the word ‘biodegradable’, it’s a load of rubbish. Anything that’s biodegradable and going to landfill is not going to degrade in landfill – it’s going to mummify like everything else in there and be there for hundreds of years.

It is amazing the wording brands are putting on their products to make consumers think they’re better for the environment when they’re not. Greenwashing is rife and it’s a growing problem worldwide. Just because something’s made from plant-based plastics or is claiming to be compostable or biodegradable, there’s no guarantee it’s going to be better than any other product, especially if it’s put in a general waste bin.

There are some specific collections for certain products, but they’re few and far between – and I think brands need to do better. Us as consumers can also do better, and the only answer right now is to rethink our behaviour, reduce our individual waste and avoid single-use products as much as possible. WASTEDKATE.CO.NZ

INNER TALENT

Sarah Parry, the creative force behind Testament Interiors, shares her design principles, lets us in on the latest trends and explains how an interior designer’s expertise can lead to cost-effective solutions.

IINTERVIEW HAYLEY BARNETT | PHOTO GISELLE BROSNAHAN HAIR + MAKEUP MICHELLE OLWAGEN

Interior design is one of those things we all think we can do, but realise quickly, in the throes of a project, just how difficult it really is. This is where pro designers come in. UNO is lucky enough to introduce our very own designer, Sarah Parry from Testament Interiors, who is here to answer all your pressing questions around interior design.

A passionate designer and right-sizing expert based in Tauranga, Sarah recently launched her business as a way to share

her incredible creative skills, alongside her floor covering business with husband Jason. They have a blended family of four young adults, one grandchild, two fur babies and a pond of goldfish.

Here, she offers some helpful advice to those looking to overhaul their living spaces.

UNO: Where do we start when designing a new space?

Sarah: Working out your budget is really important to establish. Then, ask yourself who will live in the space. If it's your own

home, that's different, for example, to an Airbnb or a rental. Once you know how much you have to spend and who the space is for, it’s time to decide what your design style is. It could be a combination of styles. Pinterest is ideal for this. The algorithms work out exactly what you like and you can file these away to look at for inspiration or to show your interior designer. From there, it’s best to start with your floors first and work your way up to the walls, then lighting, then styling. Always sort your fundamentals before you dive into styling. It’s from this stage that I will sort a mood board for clients, to check we’re all on the same page, so that we can start organising a sample board.

You can incorporate aspects of trends into your project, but it’s important to keep in mind that trends can easily go out of fashion in as early as a year. You don’t want to spend money on big ticket items, only to regret the purchase a short time later. Go with something you're going to love for a long time. Incorporate trends in items that are easy to replace, such as

Sarah Parry, the interior designer behind Testament Interiors.

throws or decor items. The last thing you want is to have a show home style that looks amazing but is completely impersonal.

Work out what’s important to you as a person, a couple or as a family. Choose the ideas that will work for you collectively in the living spaces.

UNO: What are some new trends in interior design for 2024 and how can I include elements of these in my home?

Sarah: Standout colours for 2024 include earthy greens, golds and natural shades. Minimalist is definitely out, and maximalist is in. Bright colours and patterns mixed together are making an entrance this year, which is not for everyone, but when done correctly it can really liven up your living space. The trick is to not make it too overpowering.

Another trend is the mixing of metals in fittings and fixtures, such as taps and handles. No longer is it all one colourway. You can mix brass with platinums and blacks, but it does take a bit of know-how to prevent it from looking tasteless.

Organic design is huge right now, and Japandi falls under this style. It's a lot of natural shapes and textures that are light, earthy and very calming, but not minimalist. It uses a combination of biophilic principles.

UNO: What is biophilic and sustainable design?

Sarah: Biophilic design principles are not new. They've been around for a long time. However, they are becoming increasingly important in helping us connect with nature and whenua, the land. Waiora, a core concept in M ā ori culture, connects people and the environment. When done well, it provides nourishment and energy to sustain our wellbeing. Biophilic design uses natural elements, whether that's plants or movement, into your interior space so that you have a connection between the earth and the land. It's one of my key concepts. I love plants and adding as many natural items into a house as possible, because it creates life.

Sustainable design uses products that are either sourced locally from natural materials within your environment, or manufactured from sustainable resources like recycled products or materials that are farmed in a sustainable way. So if it was a wood, for example, it would be from a sustainably grown tree that is renewable.

UNO: Why would I use an interior designer?

Sarah: By using an interior designer, the client has access to suppliers at commercial designer rates. So the cost of using a designer will offset the designer fees and you'll get far better value for money across the project. The bigger the project, the bigger the savings.

But the most common reason I get called in is to maintain a design cohesiveness across the project so that it flows. And, of course, it's important for preventing costly mistakes such as choosing the wrong paint colour or fittings. It saves money all round!

THE TESTAMENT HOUR

Meet with Sarah for a one hour interior design consultation. Choose what you need help with for your project. Ask any questions about design style, colours, layouts, furnishing selections.

Choose how you want to utilise the Testament Hour, no questions are off limits, topics we can discuss include:

Find your design style

Space planning and layouts

Colour consultation

Floor covering selections

Furniture layouts

Curtains, blinds and soft furnishings

Art, object curation and styling

Contact Sarah to book your Testament Hour for $150* 021 646 707

sarah@testamentinteriors.co.nz

*includes gst, travel costs additional

THIS IS THE PLACE

Pāpāmoa’s renowned lakeside retirement village is about to go even further with their impressive offering.

WORDS

MONIQUE BALVERT-O’CONNOR | PHOTOS JAHL MARSHALL + SUPPLIED

On the coastal stretch between Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa, you can feel the excitement building at Pacific Lakes Village, as the forward-thinking lifestyle village continues to expand. Designed to serve as a central hub, The Pavilion, currently under construction, is set to open in spring next year.

The design of this 2,500m2 community facility has been carefully considered. The teams at architectural practice Peddlethorp and interior designers Space Studio have come together on the project, resulting in a classic, sophisticated building that will stand the test of time.

Spearheaded by David Sweatman of Space Studio, the selected interior focus is on “natural materials, warmth, character and familiarity. The decor will be modern, with hints of mid-century”, David says.

Other design highlights will include the extensive use of timber as interior cladding, together with natural stone; parquet flooring, and the inclusion of extensive skylights to maximise natural light. Pacific Lakes purposely selected a main structural frame of LVL timber rather than steel to align with the village’s sustainability ethos. These components were all fabricated in Auckland and transported to the site for a seamless construction methodology.

Part of the Generus Living Collection, Pacific Lakes

aims to offer a unique, modern and engaging community with facilities more like an upmarket resort. “Our intention has always been to offer our residents choice. That’s one of the great things about the village model, choice is possible, and we position ourselves to provide facilities, service and amenity at the highest level,” says Graham Wilkinson, the director of Generus Living. “Like the Lake House, which opened in 2022, The Pavilion is an integral part of that picture. Our model is firmly rooted in hospitality and The Pavilion will be a true reflection of that concept.”

With an estimated cost of over $40 million, it will be one of the largest and most comprehensive community facilities in any New Zealand retirement village. It will provide communal areas for a variety of activities and incorporates a stylish eatery, lounge bar, library, art studio, billiards room, beauty salon and a wellness suite for visiting consultations (for example, to cater for podiatry, acupuncture, physiotherapy, massage and village nurse health checks).

The Pavilion will also feature an impressive and spacious multi-purpose recreation space that has been designed with flexibility in mind. Operable dividing walls will enable smaller gathering spaces, yet, when used as one large area it will be perfect for large gatherings. A similar desire for flexibility is evident in the design of the restaurant area to cater as a daytime café as well as evening dining.

Highlighting the village’s garden to table ethos, a chef’s garden with raised garden beds and a glasshouse will enable the restaurant to embrace a local and seasonal approach to sourcing ingredients.

In short, The Pavilion will be perfectly suited to hosting a wide range of events, private functions and resident activities and will truly enable the village community to come together.

Adding to its appeal is its location – on the lake’s edge opposite the popular smaller community facility, the Lake House. The two buildings complement each other beautifully. The Lake House includes sweeping decks and a barbecue area overlooking the lake, as well as the village’s Little Green café, a perfect place for socialising. Positioned alongside it is a full-size, green-weave bowling green.

Over the past year, the village has seen further development, the newest addition of pickleball courts (which also acts as a full-sized tennis court) is proving very popular. The on court pickleball action has included “try and learn” sessions that have progressed into games and then competition matches. It’s understood that pickleball courts are a first for a New Zealand retirement village.

The Village Common, a serene area with bench seating amidst the greenery, has also been a wonderful addition to the village amenities. It features a winter garden glass atrium as well as a community garden with raised planting beds and a greenhouse.

“It’s there for residents to use at their leisure,” says Mark Vincent Pacific Lakes Village manager. “The idea is that it offers another spot to enjoy a cuppa with a neighbour or friend, host small gatherings or a meeting, or simply to enjoy a moment of solitude.”

The burgeoning Bay of Plenty population is watching developments at the village with interest. With its park-like grounds, beautiful waterways and eco-friendly lifestyle, it’s proudly the first Generus Living village

to take a comprehensive approach to sustainability in design.

All building materials throughout have been carefully considered, and environmentally preferred solutions have been front of mind throughout the village’s development. For example, solar energy is utilised at the Lake House, LED lighting has been selected for both street and internal lighting, there are EV charging stations, and Pacific Lakes has also used every effort to adopt best practices and demonstrate good stewardship of the water resources from irrigation to stormwater management.

Pacific Lakes is also part of the Tauranga Council Resource Wise Business Programme – a programme supporting local businesses to reduce the amount of waste they send to landfills. The Village has achieved remarkable Green status with over 98 percent of operational waste being diverted from landfills.

These are only a few examples of an impressive list as the village is steeped in sustainable ways of living with a strong support from the residents. “Resident surveys have illustrated that a sustainable lifestyle is either important or very important to over 94 percent of village residents and over half of the respondents said that the village's approach to sustainability contributed to their decision to purchase at the village,” says Graham.

Pacific Lakes is a growing community. There are currently 190 residences, catering for just under 300 people, and when completed, the village will comprise 250 homes. Villas and terrace houses are selling now. “We are delighted but not surprised by the positive feedback being received as the village continues to grow from both happy residents and from those hoping to make it home, says Mark. The village is already in high demand, and the addition of The Pavilion will only increase its desirability.”

PACIFICLAKES.CO.NZ

Expert legal advice.

When you need expert and practical solutions for you or your business, talk with the leading legal team in the Bay of Plenty. We take a unique partnership approach, working alongside you to understand your needs and deliver better outcomes.

DON’T SHOP

‘TIL YOU DROP

Kids, groceries and a budget It’s not the easiest of combos, but Ellie Gwilliam of Parenting Place has some top tips to help you manage it.

With the cost of living creeping uncomfortably upwards, family budgets are being stretched in all directions. Some swear by online shopping as the most cost-effective and budgetfriendly way to get the groceries, but if that’s not possible, parents may have to head to the supermarket with the kids in tow, which can be tricky. Here are some practical suggestions for before, during and after.

DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT

It’s well worth nutting out a meal plan for the week before you go, and a shopping list is also handy in that it provides you with some structure and a guideline for kids so they know what to expect Make yours a thorough list. I know it’s a bit dull, but when I wing it instead of having a plan, I risk blowing my budget and not bringing home the food we actually need for the week ahead.

TROLLEY TIME

Shopping with hangry children is not a fun time, so feed your kids and give them a drink before you hit the supermarket. Once you’re there, give them a job. Maybe they can help you look for things on the shelves, or hold the shopping list and a pen and tick off items as they go in the trolley.

It can be hard for kids to balance the temptations of a supermarket full of yummy things with the disappointment of a limited shopping list. Giving them some power to choose can help, but be sure to provide clear parameters. Ask questions such as:

• “Shall we get shell pasta or macaroni?”

• “Would you like apples or pears?”

• “What flavour yoghurt would you like today?”

KIND, FIRM, CALM

It helps to gently coach our kids towards the understanding that some shopping trips will involve treats and some won’t. This is where the ‘kind, firm, calm’ approach works a charm. Here are some handy phrases:

• “That does look yummy. We’ll get that next week for your lunchbox.”

• “That’s not on our list today, but we can think about it for another time.”

• “You can choose one treat for us all to share after dinner tonight.”

• “You’ve been so patient and helpful in the supermarket today. Would you like to go to the playground on the way home?”

If there is a meltdown at any point, no judgement here! Every parent’s been there, with the wailing preschooler lying on the floor in the biscuit aisle. Just hold on tight to ‘kind, firm, calm’. You may have to abandon your trolley and take your child outside for some fresh air before finishing the shop, and that’s just fine.

It’s understandable for kids to feel some big feelings in these moments and for parents to feel frustrated, but that's much better than giving in and loading the trolley with Bluey-themed chocolate biscuits. It's the warm, fair firmness that helps our kids understand the boundaries. It helps everyone in the long run.

PARENTINGPLACE.NZ

PLAY

When food, culture and creativity collide to make our region the place to be.

SURFBOARD SHOWCASE

Tauranga Museum PAGE 110

MUROKI

Sounding out Berlin PAGE 112

PLATES OF PLENTY

Winning flavours

FINE FOCUS

Chardonnay and cider − and that’s it. UNO wine columnist Jess Easton visits Abel near Motueka, where specialisation is producing sensational results.

PHOTOS JAMIE TROUGHTON/DSCRIBE MEDIA

It's been a long, deliciously warm summer in the Tasman region and, as autumn colours start rioting, cracks are appearing in the Upper Moutere clay.

Golden hour is here and Abel, Sophie and Mark McGill's 30ha farm and vineyard, is putting on a show. The air is crisp and clear, pīwakawaka dance among the harvested chardonnay vines and the resident Wiltshire sheep graze contentedly.

If you could squeeze this fertile, rolling land into a bottle, you'd distil something delicious. Luckily, that's exactly what the McGills have done, with a clarity and focus that matches the surrounding views.

For Mark, that focus means staying true to the orange clay and gravel under his feet that Chardonnay grapes adore. Later, we pair Abel’s Chardonnay with

pan-fried snapper and the match is so good, it's like you hauled it in on the same fishing line. Flinty, with the vibrancy of great acid balance and richness of citrus, there’s also soft notes of green nectarine and apple.

The latter is not surprising, as the remnants of a century-old apple orchard on the farm also help produce Abel Méthode Cider, a hand-picked, bottle-fermented, bone-dry delight.

The McGills have plenty of industry pedigree – Sophie’s dad James Healy has a four-decade Marlborough legacy with the likes of Cloudy Bay and Dog Point, while Mark’s viticulturist father Linton planted a Wairarapa vineyard in the early 1990s. Both fathers now provide frequent support; New Zealand’s most experienced cellar-hands.

But Abel’s journey started when the young couple met in Melbourne, while working in the wider wine industry. Mark

started brewing cider at home from an apple tree in the back yard and refined his skills over a number of years, until he felt it was good enough to sell.

It’s a philosophy he’s stuck with, through buying their Tasman land, moving back with two young daughters and planting their first vines in 2019. Only when he’s satisfied with the quality will Mark set it free.

They’ve just released a non-vintage cider, for example, a blend with vintages that have been ageing on lees in barrels for more than five years, with another year in the bottle.

Good things – especially delicious Chardonnay and cider – take time. And if you needed any proof of that, Abel will supply it.

Jess Easton is an owner of Kitchen Takeover and St Amand, complementing her career as a Tauranga-based lawyer.

Sophie and Mark McGill.

FESTIVAL FAVOURITES

Stacey Jones is in foodie heaven after experiencing the offerings from the latest Flavours of Plenty Festival.

WORDS STACEY JONES

Wow, I’m still buzzing from this year’s Flavours of Plenty Festival. With 47 delectable foodie events to choose from, this year’s event held in April was a testament to the vibrant and diverse food scene that is emerging along the Bay’s coastal shores.

Tourism Bay of Plenty established the festival three years ago in an effort to connect our foodscape, raise awareness of our regional food story, and create a thriving food culture. The theme for 2024 was Culinary Collisions, and we certainly witnessed some delicious encounters. From Filipino boodle fights to immersive progressive dinners and chorizo-making lessons, to a children’s food market, there was something for everyone.

One of my personal highlights was a pasta-making class at Alma Eatery in Ō mokoroa with chef Marko Velickovic, where I had the opportunity to roll a 5m-long piece of pasta with 20 fellow pasta enthusiasts. The class was topped off with a delicious homemade bowl of pasta tortellini tricolore al formaggio, featuring handmade three-colour tortellini as lovely as Mona Lisa herself.

The festival also hosted an event bidding farewell to one of our greatest chef talents, Neil Sapitula of Solera. Neil cooked his heart out for his Farewell Dinner with a Hall of Fame-style menu showcasing the best dishes he had created during his time at the restaurant. Be sure to pay him a visit at Matakana’s Rothko, if you’re headed up that way. We’re excited to see what’s next and wish him all the best.

Another highlight was the event Five Goes Wild, where a culinary collective of our top chefs, including Kasey and Karena Bird, Perrin Yates, Ian Harrison and Neil Sapitula, cooked with ingredients from the Plates of Plenty Challenge box. Their creations, from Quail scotch egg with Nanna Dunn + Co Curried Chutney, to Wagyu beef tartare, smoked oyster mayo and ash-cured hen yolk, truly embodied the essence of the festival theme. Kitchen Takeover was the mastermind behind the event – if they run it again next year, be quick as tickets won't hang around.

At the core of the festival lies the Plates of Plenty Challenge, a Masterchef mystery box-style competition akin to our local version of Burger Wellington. Participating eateries were tasked with creating unique dishes using a selection

of locally sourced ingredients. This year's box featured nine different ingredients, including Blue Monkey cheese from Mount Eliza Cheese (Katikati), microgreens from Mama Kali’s Farm (Te Puke), smoked kahawai from Smokey (Katikati), and lemonade-infused gin from Dabbler’s Gin (Tauranga).

With more than 20 café s and restaurants participating in this 11-day challenge, the winners emerged triumphant. Pearl Kitchen's exquisite smoked fish pie and Mount Made beer accompaniment swept diners off their feet, securing the coveted People's Choice Award for the second consecutive year. I mean, pie and beer… no surprises there. The expert panel from Toi Ohomai’s culinary school awarded the Judge's Choice accolade to But First Dessert's divine passion fruit parfait and kiwifruit curd dish.

So over the page we are excited to share a selection of recipes inspired by our Plates of Plenty Challenge dishes for you to enjoy. If you missed out on the festival events or the opportunity to try the challenge dishes, fear not. The Flavours of Plenty Festival promises an even grander celebration of local cuisine and creativity in 2025.

Marko Velickovic's pasta-making class at Alma Eatery.

Five Goes Wild featured top chefs cooking with ingredients from the Plates of Plenty Challenge box.

Neil Sapitula of Solera.

SAVOUR THE BAY

The BOP’s Plates of Plenty Challenge saw chefs from all over the region competing for the best dish. Here, some of the competitors – including the winners – share their divine recipes. Enjoy!

Makes 25 pieces

INGREDIENTS

Whole marinated jalapenos

– we use La Morena

350g cream cheese

150g Mount Eliza

Blue Monkey cheese

1 can Mount Brewing Co.

Hazy Pale Ale beer

1½ cups self-raising flour

Nana Dunn + Co’s Curried

Onion Chutney to serve

METHOD

Slice the jalapenos lengthways making sure not to cut the whole way through. Remove all the seeds.

Combine cream cheese and blue cheese.

Using a piping bag, fill the poppers with the cheese mixture being careful not to overfill — about three-quarters full.

Cadera’s Blue Cheese Jalape ñ o Poppers

Mount Eliza Blue Cheese Popper in a Mount Brewing Co. High Line Hazy Pale Ale batter with Nana Dunn + Co curried onion chutney.

Mix beer and flour until smooth in texture.

Dip the stuffed jalapeno into the batter to fully coat it and transfer straight into the deep fryer or oil at ideally 180°C.

Cook until golden brown.

Serve with the curried onion chutney.

Pearl Kitchen’s Pie & Beer

Smoked fish pie with blue cheese potato, curried onion chutney and smoked fish gravy, served with a beer.

Makes 10-12 pies

INGREDIENTS

Blue cheese sauce

25g butter

1 tbsp plain flour

150ml milk

50g Mount Eliza Blue Monkey cheese, chopped or crumbled

Fish pie mix

1 onion, finely chopped

2 celery stalks, finely diced

1 carrot, chopped/diced small

250ml cream

1 tsp Dijon mustard

100ml of Mount Brewing Co. low carb ale

Olive oil for frying

1 small handful of flat-leafed parsley, finely chopped

500g-650g smoked kahawai, cut into biggish chunks

Pastry + egg wash

750g frozen puff pastry.

2 egg yolks

15ml milk

Charred pearl onions

100g pickling onions

50ml sherry vinegar

METHOD

Blue cheese sauce

Melt the butter in a pan over a medium heat, then stir in the flour and let cook for 1 min or so. Gradually pour in the milk, stirring constantly, until the sauce is smooth and all the milk has been added.

Bring the mixture to a simmer and stir in the cheese. Cook until the cheese has melted, and the sauce has thickened slightly, then season to taste.

Fish pie mix

In a pan, fry the onion, carrot and celery for about 5 minutes in the olive oil then add the ale, cream and bring to a boil. Add the spinach leaves and Dijon and stir to wilt.

Add your chunks of smoked kahawai to the mix at the end as it's already been smoked.

Pastry + egg wash

Cut your puff pastry into small circles or desired shape. Brush egg wash onto the bottom and add your fish pie mixture into the centre of the pastry leaving

enough room at the sides so you can add another layer of pastry on top and can seal the sides. I used a fork on the edges to make sure the pastry was pushed down and sealed properly. Before baking, egg wash the top of the pastry .

Bake at 175°C for 15 minutes.

Charred pearl onions

Boil onions with skin on in vegetable stock or water until onions become soft. Let them cool down completely and cut them in half.

Get a smoking-hot pan with a little olive oil and place the onions cut side down for about 30 seconds. The onion should start to char and go black — this is when you can add the sherry vinegar to deglaze the pan and the onions will soak up all that flavour. When the onions have cooled down, you can take out the middle heart of the onion (we will use this in the chutney) and start to take out the onions’ petals. They should be charred on the outside.

Pearl Kitchen’s smoked fish pie and beer entry in the Plates of Plenty Challenge earned the most diner votes to win the annual People’s Choice Award.

The Trading

Post’s Agnolotti del Plin

A handmade pasta in a typical Piemontese shape, filled with Mount Eliza Blue Monkey cheese in a Noble & Sunday Earl Grey-infused butter sauce with Mama Kali's Farm microgreens.

Serves 5

INGREDIENTS

Pasta

350g flour

150g semolina

200g eggs

100g egg yolk

8g cocoa powder

Filling

300g Mount Eliza

Blue Monkey cheese

150g cream

1 egg white

Pinch of salt

Sauce

50g butter

Pinch of Noble & Sunday

Earl Grey tea

Fresh Mama Kali’s Farm microgreens

METHOD

Pasta

In a bowl or on the table, place the dry ingredients, then in the centre place the eggs and yolk and knead to a smooth dough texture. Set aside in the fridge for 1 hour.

Filling

Blitz in a food processor the cheese and cream quickly then add egg white until smooth and thin but not whipped. Place in a piping bag and refrigerate until use.

Pasta continued

With the help of a pasta machine or rolling pin, laminate the pasta dough close to 1mm thickness and cut in long strips. Then pipe a small amount of filling along the longer side on the pasta strip (you want the filling to be one finger apart from one another).

Proceed to fold the pasta over itself and pinch the pasta with your index and thumb between the filling – squeezing a touch towards the centre of the filling.

With the use of a zig-zag cutter, cut between the pinched pasta and the “plin” will look like little lollies. Cook the pasta in salted boiling water for about 3 minutes.

Remove and toss in a pan with butter and a pinch of Earl Grey to emulsify the sauce.

Add cooking water a little bit at a time and continue tossing to avoid the pasta getting stuck to the pan. This also gives a velvety look to the sauce.

Plate and garnish with microgreens and add grated cheese as per your liking.

But First Dessert’s Biscoff Cheesecake

If you haven't tried Biscoff yet – this is your sign to run to your nearest supermarket, grab some Biscoff and whip up this delicious cheesecake.

Serves 8

INGREDIENTS

Base

240g Biscoff biscuits

80g butter

Cheesecake

450g cream cheese

200g Biscoff spread

250g cream

Topping

200g white chocolate

50g Biscoff spread

100g cream

METHOD

Line a 20cm x 20cm cake tin (or individual cake rings like we use) with baking paper.

Crush 240g Biscoff biscuits in a bowl, pour melted butter in and mix together well. Press into the bottom of the cake tin, place in the freezer to set and begin to prepare the cheesecake mix.

Add cream cheese, cream, and Biscoff spread into a bowl. Whisk until nice and thick. Spoon this on top of the biscuit base and use a spatula/spoon to make sure it's nice and smooth for the ganache topping. Pop the cheesecake into the fridge for at least 3 hours to set before adding the ganache topping.

Put the white chocolate and Biscoff in a bowl and set aside. Heat cream in a pot, stirring frequently to ensure it doesn't burn. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and Biscoff. Whisk until nice and smooth. Gently spread the ganache over the cheesecake.

If you have any remaining cream or crushed biscuits, whip the cream and pipe swirls on top of the cheesecake (if you have piping bags/nozzles) or sprinkle over the crushed biscuits.

Pop the cheesecake into the fridge for at least another hour or two before slicing.

But First Dessert's Adele Hall with the Judge's Choice Award for their passionfruit parfait and kiwifruit curd dish.

GIN-GIN!

Hayley Barnett toasts to a deliciously novel local experience.

PHOTOS ERIN CAVE

Who doesn’t enjoy a good gin?

Floral, spicy, citrusy, nutty, sweet – there’s one to suit everyone these days, but making your own brings the appreciation to a whole new level.

Matahui Distillery in Aongatete offers gin lovers the experience of creating and bottling their own unique gin – from choosing your own botanicals, through to naming and labelling your creation. Before heading there to experience it for myself, I’d imagined making gin would be a time-consuming process and I’d have absolutely no idea what I was doing when it came to choosing which flavours go with what. I can barely cook. It turns out you can’t really go wrong. Not at Matahui anyway.

Gin enthusiast Shelley Broadbent leads our group of intrigued soon-to-be-mixologists and first educates us on the complexities – and simplicities – of the making process. Each station is set up with beakers and various measuring apparatuses, reminiscent of high school science class, only a lot more fun. Though the teenage trauma still lingers for me, Shelley assures us it’s a straightforward process – and it is.

Pick your botanicals, mix your alcohol and water, then add everything to your distiller. You do get some guidance, of course. When it comes to choosing botanicals, it’s important to know that juniper berries usually make up around 80 percent of a gin profile, although these days it’s common for gin to include less juniper, to make way for other fanciful flavours. Then it’s wise to use coriander seeds, orris root and

angelica root to get a well-rounded flavour profile. Some distillers use crushed and roasted coriander seeds, but we’re using them whole. After that, it’s a free-for-all to do as you please. Citrus is highly recommended but not essential. We play it safe and go for fresh lime peel. Next, we add bold, daring horopito, macadamia and liquorice, feeling as though we’re living on the edge.

During the distillation process, we walk around placing our fingers under other distillers (invited of course), to taste and see if we can recognise where the flavours come in. It’s fascinating to see how each taste combines with the others before it.

One of the best things about Matahui is that they grow their own herbs, fruit and vegetables, offering up the very real experience of farm to plate. While our gin is distilling, we take a walk around the garden as Angela Howard, co-owner with husband Paul Horak, gives us a rundown on various flavours and where they come from.

Back in the lab, Shelley gets us started on the bottling process. Although she doesn’t own the place, it’s her we have to thank for our foray into gin distilling. She’s the one who twisted Angela and Paul’s arms to set up

“ IT TURNS OUT YOU CAN’T REALLY GO WRONG. NOT AT MATAHUI. ”

the distillery. Angela made a hobby out of turning alcohol into liqueur and Paul enjoyed experimenting with home distilling. They often talked about growing their own botanicals and turning their hobbies into a commercial business, but it took Shelley’s infectious positivity and persuasion to convince them to turn their dreams into reality.

A year ago, they invested in a state-of-the-art still to help them produce the highest-quality gin possible, and came up with their own brand, Adventurers Gin. Today, all three welcome groups onto their farm to try their hand at distilling and sample the various liquors on offer. Sharing their passion with locals and visitors is a dream come true for the trio, but they say they’ve only just started their adventure.

MATAHUIDISTILLERY.COM

Above: The Matahui team – Paul, Angela and Shelley

SURF’S UP!

One of Tauranga Museum’s first exhibitions will celebrate the region’s pivotal role in Aotearoa’s surfing culture.

WORD S KARL PUSCHMANN BOARDS DUSTY WADDELL COLLECTION

Mount Maunganui is world-famous in New Zealand for its rolling surf and golden sands. Each summer people flock to the beaches to hang ten or catch rays. But, outside the surfing community, not a lot of folks know about the region’s rich history and contribution to Aotearoa’s surfing culture.

exhibitions to go on display when the long-awaited new museum opens its doors in 2028.

“The exhibition on surf and beach culture will be one of our earlier exhibitions on display when we open,” museum curator Fiona Kean enthuses.

It will certainly be hard to miss. Following the museum’s acquisition of local surfing icon Dusty Waddell’s legendary surfboard collection, the museum is already preparing 120 surfboards for display. These all hold national significance and physically chart the evolution of surfing in New Zealand.

“There’s shortboards and longboards, and in addition to those there’s boogie boards, belly boards, skim boards… there's probably another 50 of those,” Kean says. “We’ve even got 40 skateboards. We've had to create a special space at our storage facility for it all.”

Through the various shapes and sizes of the surfboards, you’ll see trends come and go as you progress through

Just some of the boards that will be on display at Tauranga

of fabulous local swimwear, wetsuits and ephemera like surf posters. We have an amazing hollow board that is over four metres long. It was made at the Mount in 1952 by Ron White and Jock Carson using the famous Tom Blake design. Kean is also in discussions with a local shaper who makes surfboards from – of all things – wool.

“It’s an exciting idea because most surfers are really interested in their environment and in cleaning up and preserving the water they swim in,” Kean says.

“Surfboards in the past have been made of foam and more toxic materials, so innovations like that look at how surfing can be more environmentally friendly.”

While we all recognise the region for its good surfing, its epic contributions to the sport aren’t as well known. Surfing and surfboard manufacturing in Tauranga goes all the way back to the early 20th century. Through her research, Kean discovered there were, in fact, two surfboard makers here in the 1930s making, selling and hiring their boards out to summer beachgoers in that era.

Once established here, surfing never left. In the 1940s and ‘50s more shapers arrived and the era of plywood

“Plywood is an important story for Tauranga,” Kean says. “That takes you down a whole other rabbit warren of the people making hollow surfboards out of plywood. And then you have the leap into foam-core or surfboards made with foam blanks. You've got probably one of the biggest names in surfboard making, a man called Bob Davies, who comes to Tauranga and sets up a factory here, and at the same time another local guy, Ted Davidson, owns a sports shop on Cameron Road and he starts making surfboards out of that shop. From there, it’s honestly like a wave of shapers and makers around the country flowing in and out of each other’s lives and businesses and the Mount and Tauranga were an important part of that scene.”

It’s fascinating to hear her talk about how huge Tauranga’s impact on New Zealand surfing actually was. It will be even more fascinating to see it. Surfboards are big items, especially the older longboards, which on average stand at a towering 12 feet tall. The scale of the exhibition is going to be awesome.

Kean is excited about the project and can’t wait to share everything being discovered about Tauranga’s rich surfing history when the museum opens.

“We want people to have a greater understanding of surf and beach culture and its significance to where they live. We’re a really important piece of that overall surf culture puzzle. For example, the first surfing nationals were held at Mount Maunganui in 1963,” she says. “The museum hopes to give people a sense of belonging to this place. I’d love for locals to feel pride in our role in the surf industry and to come away with a sense of enjoyment. It will be a fun exhibition but one that does have moments for reflection and moments where you’ll feel challenged.”

For those who simply can’t wait until 2028 to see what’s barreling down the pipeline, Kean reveals how you can get a sneak peek at the surfboards and, essentially, the Bay’s surfing history on Tauranga Museum’s website.

Kean says the exhibition will appeal to non-surfers just as much as those who like to hit the waves, as the experience the museum team is curating showcases not just surfing but wider beach culture.

With a few more years of prep work, research and collaboration with the community before it opens, Kean has a very simple objective for the exhibition in mind.

“We want it to blow people away,” she laughs. LETSTALK.TAURANGA.GOVT.NZ/PROJECTS/

Museum's first major exhibit.

BEYOND THE WAVES

He’s signed to pop star Benee’s record label and counts Elton John as a fan. Now Raglan musician Muroki has released his third EP, the emotion-filled Timezones, and made a major move.

WORDS KARL PUSCHMANN

UNO ’s first question to Muroki leaves him stumped. He scratches his dreadlocked hair, which is pulled back behind his studio-grade headphones, and says, “Um ”

Thinking for a moment, the singer-songwriter sensation from Raglan eventually says, “Good question,” then looks around his room and wonders aloud, “What am I doing here?”

He’s stayed up late for our interview – it’s approaching midnight when he Zooms in. Just nine days ago, he flew out of Auckland, where he’d been living, to set up shop in Berlin.

“I didn’t really have a huge plan. I just kind of came over here,” he says in answer to the question of what he’s doing in Germany. “I wanted to switch it up, in life and with music, and expand my horizons. I was getting over what I was doing in Auckland. I enjoyed my time there but felt I needed to move on and do something else for a bit.”

Then he grins and says, “I’ve never lived in another country before, so I’m just giving it a go.”

He’s certainly jumped right into the deep end. He has few contacts in the city and doesn’t speak the langauge. Aside from his German partner, the person he’s spoken to the most so far is an old Turkish fellow who lives in the same building.

“This old dude’s always outside,” he says. “He doesn't speak very good German and doesn't speak a word of English. I don't think he knows that I don’t speak German! We have these weird interactions every single morning. It's pretty funny.”

By chance, we’ve caught Muroki on the cusp of beginning a new life chapter, one in which the future is uncertain. “I’ve been battling with it a little bit,” he admits. “It’s kind of weird not knowing exactly what’s happening next. It’s a strange period. I think it’s really good, but sometimes you’re like, ‘Is this the right decision?’”

He pauses for a second, then says, “I think it is.”

The move has been on Muroki’s mind for a while, with his plane tickets purchased nine months ago. The shift also helps decode and add extra depth to Timezones, his newest EP that has just been released and is the reason for our chat.

The seven-track EP pushes him into deeper emotional territory than previously and expands his genrehopping sound while losing none of its characteristic

smooth flavour, synth-funk grooves and feel-good vibes. Fans of his platinum-selling single, Wavy, will find a lot to love here.

Timezones ’ seven songs were recorded quickly, with Muroki writing, recording and laying down the tracks in a blisteringly fast 11 days. “It happened swiftly,” he says. “I’m really happy with how it all came out, and in the process of making it, I learned a lot in terms of how I want to go about creating things in the future.”

He says the sudden success of his 2020 debut, Dawn, led to feeling intense pressure while creating his 2022 follow-up, Heading East. He burdened himself with expectations and on reflection says he didn’t particularly enjoy the process. The fast turnaround of Timezones was a successful attempt to rediscover the joy.

“I didn’t let it consume me,” he says. “I’m really happy with how the third one’s come out.”

He’s described the EP as “an emotional awakening”. This, it turns out, was another benefit of working quickly. He didn’t have time to second-guess or edit himself.

“I tapped deeper, man,” he says. “I was trying to be more authentic with how I was feeling and the experiences I was having. It came out by not overthinking. I didn't go into the record thinking, ‘I’m going to open up.” I just let it happen and let it all come out naturally.”

Muroki may be new to Berlin, but the similarities with his hometown of Raglan are already apparent. Size discrepancies aside, it’s the city’s huge support for the arts and music scenes that reminds him of home.

“I love Raglan. It’s cool, man. There’s a nice sense of community – everybody knows everybody and everybody's supportive of each other. Everyone was really supportive of what I was doing from a pretty young age. It’s got an artsy scene there. Some good stuff comes out of it. But it’s the sense of community that makes it. A lot of people there support and come to the shows.

“When I started out, everyone would come down to the gig,” he continues. “I’d have a sold-out gig and I hadn't even released a single yet! There’s a confidence boost.”

Then he smiles and says, “I don’t think I’d be where I am without the people from Raglan.” Muoki’s new EP Timezones is out now.

CRAZY, WONKY, BEAUTIFUL

Bay of Plenty’s authorised repairer for:

Jane Trask, aka Wonky Jane, dedicated more than 30 years of her life to dance, but after suffering a serious illness, she’s turned her talent to pottery.

INTERVIEW HAYLEY BARNETT

After suffering from an illness that affected her brain and nearly took her life, former dance teacher Jane Trask decided to go all in on her ceramics hobby. Today, she uses her teaching skills to provide pottery workshops in Mount Maunganui, and sells her own ‘wonky’ creations.

Jane believes taking the pressure out of creative projects allows us to fully express ourselves – and that’s how Wonky Jane came about.

UNO: So what’s in the name Wonky Jane?

Jane: Wonky Jane Pottery was created in 2020 after a journey of self-discovery. I started with handmade pottery and loved the escape, so I poured hours into a journey filled with failures, challenges and beautiful moments. My husband named it Wonky Jane, and the name has stuck; it takes the pressure off when I’m creating. I took classes with a pottery studio in Rotorua and completed an intensive, weeklong course at Driving Creek in the Coromandel, where I felt as if I’d found a new source of true happiness I feel like I’ve given myself back my creative freedom in the form of making uniquely wonky products.

to be creative after dedicating more than 30 years to teaching dance. I love the way the clay moves and moulds, much like the human body does in dance. Dance is a perfectionistic environment and my pottery is not – it’s perfectly imperfect, like life. Combining my love of the ocean and dance means each piece of pottery has living creativity poured into it. My new studio near the beach is home to an eclectic hoard of inspiration from many different areas: whānau, friends, history, sunshine, and I love seeing a smile when someone picks up one of my products. I live my life the way I love to pot. It’s wonky, creative, unique, beautiful and with just the right amount of crazy!

How long have you been living in the Bay and what do you love about it?

What do you enjoy most about pottery?

I love the variety of jobs and creative facets. Every day is different and I’m still always learning so much. I’ve always been creative, but usually through dance and choreography, and this is another way I can do that. It’s been so healing to create products that people seem to really love.

What’s your favourite piece?

I don't have a favourite piece, but I do have favourite colours, all named after various aspects of the ocean. I love glazing my products with greens, blues and sand colours.

What inspires you to create?

This has been a personal passion project, to continue

I’ve lived in Rotorua most of my life, teaching dance and physical education in high schools and more recently in a primary school. I love to teach and relief teaching is an awesome way that I can still do that alongside my pottery. We moved to Mount Maunganui last year to be nearer to the ocean. I can’t explain it, but I’m so much happier by the beach. It was hard leaving Rotorua, though. I always said that if it had a beach, I’d stay there forever, but I’ve been stoked to make Omanu our new home.

What’s in the pipeline for Wonky Jane?

Markets and more online sales. I love creating custom orders and running workshops. I still consider myself very much a beginner and a lifelong learner when it comes to pottery, but I’m loving every bit of it.

Where can we find your products?

I’m in the process of finding more stockists in Mount Maunganui, Pāpāmoa and Tauranga, but I stock mugs in two Rotorua locations – K ā nuka Boutique Florist and Scope Café WONKYJANEPOTTERY.COM

BETWEEN THE LINES

UNO ’s top new reads from home and around the world.

Return to Blood

Michael Bennett SIMON & SCHUSTER

Bennett’s sequel to his breakout crime fiction debut Better the Blood sees Hana Westerman leave Auckland for a fresh start in her small hometown, Tata Bay. However, unearthing remains of a Māori woman near her house triggers unsettling memories – a murdered classmate found in the same spot decades ago. With her intuition heightened, Hana begins to doubt the original investigation, leading her to risk her own safety and find the truth behind the connected murders. With colourful characters, local social issues and a shock ending, this is a must-read for Kiwis and internationals alike.

Private Rites

Julia Armfield

HarperCollins

Easy Wins

Anna Jones

HarperCollins

Easy Wins by Anna Jones, a culinary veteran who began her career working for

Jamie Oliver, is your weeknight saviour. Packed with 125 mouthwatering recipes that require minimal effort and focus on pantry staples including lemons, olive oil, and mustard. Traybake Lemon Dahl, Cheese and Pickle Roast Potatoes, Cherry and Chocolate Peanut Butter Sundae will soon be added to your regular rotation, and with vegetarian swaps and tips for reducing waste, it’s an absolute winner for health and environmentally conscious home cooks.

Sisters Isla, Irene and Agnes have not spoken in some time when their estranged father dies. As the sisters come together to clear the glass house that is the pinnacle of his legacy as an architect, they begin to sense that the magnetic influence of their father lives on through it. Something sinister seems to be unfolding, something related to their mother’s long-ago disappearance. Soon, it becomes clear that the sisters have been chosen for a very particular purpose, one with shattering implications.

The Life of Dai

Dai Henwood

HarperCollins NZ

When Kiwi television personality and comedian

Dai Henwood was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer four years ago, he decided to embrace a new way of living. In Life Of Dai he shares his learnings about life, which includes cherishing things we often overlook. What Dai is most known for is his ability to make people laugh, and here he proves he can do that even in the face of adversity and times of sorrow and darkness. A special read for those experiencing loss, as well as those willing to tackle and embrace life’s challenging moments.

Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books

Kirsten Miller HQ

This satire tells the story of a battle over banned books, and a little lending library that changes everything. Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in a tiny American town, where Lula has become a local celebrity by cleansing the town’s reading habits and ridding the public libraries of all inappropriate books – none of which she’s actually read. But soon her created library of books is replaced with banned books behind false covers: literary classics, gay romances, black history, and more. Suddenly neighbours who borrow them find their lives changed in unexpected ways.

Skovby #26 table

Skovby,

Nestled on the shores of Lake Rotorua, lies our iconic and world-famous geothermal spa, featuring 28 hot pools fed by two distinct mineral-rich springs. The sulphate-rich acidic Priest Spring relieves tired muscles, aches, and pains, while the sodium-rich alkaline waters of the Rachel Spring nourish and rejuvenate the skin.

Visit us for an uplifting wellness day and enhance your experience with a rejuvenating spa treatment at our multi-award winning Retreat Day Spa.

SPECIAL OFFER:

Book our Himalayan Salt Polish & Herbal Oil Massage and enjoy 20% off the therapy and all the signature Rachel products used during your treatment. Offer valid until 31st July 2024.

EXPLORE

REDISCOVER ROTORUA

This family-friendly geothermal wonderland just keeps getting better.

WORD S STEPHANIE TAYLOR

Growing up, I spent a lot of time in Rotorua with my family trout fishing and boating from the old Ohau Channel campground, before it was developed into a resort.

Luckily for my brother and I, our parents then went on to buy an old bach in Ngongotah ā so we could keep the lake dream alive. Our love of the area only continued to evolve, with both of us taking up white water kayaking at high school and paddling the Kaituna River regularly.

It was all pretty idyllic, so unsurprisingly my partner Jeff and I jumped at the chance to take our own kids to Rotorua on holiday recently. But at two and four years old, we knew the trip would probably look a little different to my childhood adventures. With throwing them off a seabiscuit not yet an option, we took the chance to experience some of the area’s more wholesome, age-appropriate activities. Coupled with beautiful scenery and incredible hospitality, this city smashes tourism out of the water – for overseas visitors and Bay locals alike.

“ COUPLED WITH BEAUTIFUL SCENERY AND INCREDIBLE HOSPITALITY , THIS CITY SMASHES TOURISM OUT OF THE WATER.”

Stephanie and Daphne enjoy the ride as they glide up Mount Ngongotahā at Skyline Rotorua.

STAY

With 48 hours to spend in the city, Jeff, Donovan, Daphne and I stayed central at the Millennium Hotel Rotorua. Overlooking the steamy, geothermal end of Lake Rotorua, our rooms felt suspended over the incredible natural surroundings Rotorua is famous for. Our toddlers are morning people, which meant we were all lucky enough to watch the sunrise over the lake creating beautiful, changing scenes through the steam. One of nature’s shows that photos just don’t do justice.

The hotel location is right on the edge of the city centre within a brief stroll to some of our excursions. Free onsite parking, comfortable adjoining rooms, and a lush internal native garden to explore on the way to the breakfast buffet were some of our favourite family-friendly features. Special mention to the bottomless drip coffee at breakfast, and the friendly faces serving it!

EAT

Jeff and I were equal parts anxious and excited about this portion of the weekend. Managing our son Donny’s multiple food allergies had meant we’d never been confident enough to eat out as a family before. However, contacting restaurants in advance made us feel ready to finally give it a crack.

PIG & WHISTLE HISTORIC PUB

Local landmark and crowdpleaser the Pig & Whistle was our first stop for dinner. Being a Friday, we really enjoyed being part of the lively pub atmosphere while still having enough room to move around the table and talk over the music. Seated fireside, Jeff and I enjoyed a selection of the not-so-small plates washed down with a couple of tap beers, while the kids happily devoured their first ever restaurant meals of steak, rice and veges. The amazing wait staff kept checking in on us and made it fun for everyone.

CAPERS CAFE + STORE

Under the same ownership, Capers conveniently had the same chef on shift for our next night, meaning the kids’ dinners were pre-planned and again ran smoothly. In between eating they enjoyed watching a movie in the kids’ room, and with our table positioned just outside Jeff and I were able to enjoy our meals with a side of adult conversation. My nourishing Salmon Poke Bowl was cooked to utter perfection, and Capers ’ extensive selection of desserts proved so tempting that slices of Biscoff Cheesecake and their famous Chocolate Mudcake may have made it back to the hotel with us.

STRATOSFARE RESTAURANT & BAR

Spoilt for choice once more, the incredible array of freshly prepared food at Stratosfare’s buffet lunch was seriously to die for. Jeff lived the dream and managed to eat his bodyweight in seafood, and we were personally visited by head chef Dan to ensure Donny’s needs were met. With stunning panoramic views of Lake Rotorua from our table and full puku, it was hard to leave, but with kids champing at the bit to get lugeing we eventually tore ourselves away.

OKERE FALLS STORE

Even though our epic escape was coming to an end, I was excited for lunch on the way home at a personal favourite – the Okere Falls Store. Daphne and Don made fast friends to explore the beer garden with, while Jeff and I chatted with locals over a yummy Avo Smash and Grilled Cheese Toastie. With its outdoorsy, community feel, we could have very easily settled in for the afternoon, especially with the largest selection of craft beers in Rotorua on offer.

Redwoods Nightlights.

Okere Falls Store.

Pig & Whistle Historic Pub.

PLAY

SKYLINE ROTORUA

Luge riding has definitely gone up a notch since my last rodeo! With lit up tunnels, branching tracks and towering dinosaurs, three runs on the Skyline Rotorua Luge went by super fast and left us wanting more. These days there are five tracks and two chairlift lines – which also meant lines were never long, even on a busy Saturday. We were surprised that even two-year-old Daphne absolutely loved it, and neither kids were scared at any point including on the gondola rides – another highlight for spotting rabbits, deer and impressive downhill mountain bikers.

REDWOODS NIGHTLIGHTS

Daphne was, however, a little dubious at the Redwoods Nightlights, unfortunately. The suspended bridges moving underfoot weren’t her cup of tea, so while the boys took to the heights Daph and I enjoyed the atmosphere from down below. Which was actually really fun in itself, like being at Disneyland at night time. With sounds and voices all around, there was a cool 3D projection to watch while we waited for the boys, who returned with stories of incredible illuminations amongst the stunning redwoods. We’ll definitely be back once Daphne’s a bit older.

POLYNESIAN SPA

As a long time visitor of the Polynesian Spa, but first timer in the family pool, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. At 33 degrees, the supervised large pool features a small hydroslide, a shallow toddler section and a deep end. There’s a couple of small hot pools too, but the temperature of the main pool was all we needed for a fun family splash. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good hot swim as much as the next person. But getting drained of energy when you’ve got toddlers is not a vibe.

ROTORUA DUCK TOURS

Speaking of relaxation, Rotorua Duck Tours lulled both kids to sleep at different points. The ex-military trucks are pretty bumpy and loud, creating ideal napping conditions. But with tour guide Olly cracking corny jokes and fact dropping at any given opportunity, Jeff and I were thoroughly entertained throughout and enjoyed learning about the area from a tourist’s perspective. And what better way to sightsee in a lake region than from a WW2 amphibious vehicle? It took us around the Rotorua lakefront, and out and on to the Blue Lake as well as Lake Ō k ā reka.

AGRODOME FARM SHOW AND AMAZEME

We spent our final morning in Rotorua at the legendary Agrodome Farm Show and aMAZEme, both of which are really suited to young families. What kid doesn’t love a farm animal? Especially when there’s multiple bustling about on stage, and plenty of opportunities to touch and interact with them. Both attractions had amazing play areas for kids and we could have spent an entire day between the two. Thanks to Donny and I, some members of the family managed to complete the maze successfully while others didn’t quite have the patience.

Wee Donny makes some friends at the Agrodome Farm Show.

Rotorua Duck Tours.

TWINKLE TOES

Liz French skied the slopes of Canada’s Sun Peaks and Big White resorts, and it made her feel like dancing.

PHOTOS LIZ FRENCH + LINDY ELLISON + SUPPLIED

“Skiing is like dancing; the snow is your music,” said Olympic gold medallist Nancy Greene, who calls Sun Peaks home and is a wonderful ambassador. I was privileged to ski in a group with the woman named Canada’s female athlete of the 20th century in 1999 for her prowess and contribution to the sport.

Nancy’s 80 now, but she still skis like a teenager. She generously shared her story and tips for improving our skiing (“Stay on the balls of your feet”), taking us where we might not have otherwise gone – notably the ski cross course, on which you bounce over humps and race around well-cambered corners. After a couple of cloudy but satisfyingly snowy days, Sun Peaks lived up to

its name with bright blue skies and gloriously groomed pistes. My partner and I arrived there from Big White, which also lived up to its reputation as ‘Big Whiteout’. We had six murky days, but the payoff was snow you float through. It’s not like in New Zealand, where heavy cloud cover means skiing by braille. The trees provide definition and the wide, obstacle-free pistes instil confidence.

The slightly eerie feeling of skiing in the mist was enhanced by the sight of ‘snow ghosts’. Big White’s known for these trees on the upper slopes that get so snowbound they take on a sculptural form. To add to the sense of surreal, we went night skiing one evening. One long run is illuminated by lamps that throw pools of light on the snow, the patches of dark between them slightly disconcerting till you get the hang of it.

Skiing in Canada is delightfully different to skiing in New Zealand. Think long, wide, tree-framed pistes groomed to perfection, often with several centimetres of powder laid seductively on top. Sun Peaks has a signature trail, five miles (that’s 8km) from Top of the World to the base. The colder, north-facing side of the resort, Morrisey, has lots of glade skiing; on the south-facing side, Sundance and Sunburst have longer, sweeping trails. If Big White is whiting out, skiing the Black Forest side affords ample visibility. When the sky clears, it’s great to head to the Gem Lake area and the powder runs, most of which we skied without much visibility but with good guides.

The only queues we saw were on the main chairlifts when they opened in the morning, especially on a powder day. Most lifts allow skiers to take green (easy), blue (intermediate and so much fun) or black (advanced) trails down, meaning even amateur skiers can reach the top to enjoy the view.

We book our snow holidays through Auckland’s Ski Travel Specialists, and this year joined one of their group trips that come with the benefit of tour leaders.

Ō hope couple Linda and Stephen Clews have been hosting ski trips for years and, as well as facilitating fun, share their knowledge of the fields. I mostly chose to ski with them, as they split the group into fast and furious (usually me!) and slightly more sedate skiers. We also took advantage of the snow hosts. These usually retired, keen skiers volunteer their time to take visitors on tours of the fields they know and love. The ones we met said they enjoy Kiwis, who they find are usually game for anything.

Skiers need fuel, and both resorts offer a good range of eating, drinking (and shopping) options, though Sun Peaks’

village is more extensive than Big White’s. We even found good coffee, becoming regulars at the Tea Bar at Big White, and Bolacco and Vertical café s at Sun Peaks. Costs escalate with tax and tips, but hey, you’re on holiday.

There’s plenty to do if you want a change from skiing or snowboarding. We could have gone ice skating, snow shoeing, tubing, sleigh riding, fat biking and axe throwing. I bowed to my partner’s desire to go snowmobiling and spent two hours squawking from the back seat as we shot along the trails, stopping to admire views and to thaw out at a warming hut also used by crosscountry skiers. I much preferred dog sledding – sitting in a low-slung sleigh with a musher behind us to ‘steer’ the seven enthusiastic, well cared for canines swooping us along tree-lined trails and out to a frozen lake.

Skiing in Canada gives me a heady mix of ego-boosting snow and spectacular scenery, the adrenaline rush of gravityenforced speed curbed and increased by skill, and the company of like-minded people. I can’t wait till I get to dance on snow again.

Members of the tour group –fast and furious meets sedate.

Big White’s sparkling Village Centre.

Liz and her partner rugged up and ready to roll.

That’s one way to see the sights.

Within 48 hours is all it will take For the cure to kick in and the stress to abate. Every location works as it should, to lessen what ails you and make you feel good.

Prescribed as a drive - first stop: Shorebird Coast Pay attention to Godwits and increase the dose. Therapy next, of the retail kindGrahamstown, Thames, where delight you will find.

Or for those so inclined there’s the Pinnacles hike For awe, joy and wonder, there’s nothing quite likeThe view from the summit, there’s bush, beach and sea

The stillness speaks volumes - tranquility.

Next stage of your cure, Thames Coast driving north Rock fishing locals show how to hit pause. Time does not matter, just tides and the moon Dark Skies at Kūaotunu, to a starlit tune.

The wonder of water, is key to The Cure

From a hand-dug hot pool, to a polar plunge pure. To the Lost Spring, a haven, a sanctuary, a spa Wherever you go, there you are, there you are.

Now gather your treasure, homemade and home grown

Locate your people - Connect - not alone. Expand your horizons, try something new Be it surfing or diving - a renewed point of view.

Pacific Coast Highway, is the road to your Cure Access to wellbeing from your front door.

Connect with the past in historic Waihi With arts and with crafts and at Laughing Pottery. Stroll trails with a friend, at Karangahake Gorge Sunlight and birdsong as friendship is forged.

Hauraki Rail Trail, pedaling along Lifts your hopes and your spirits; makes your heart beat strong.

The Cure can be yours, just make it a goal The ‘script?

The Coromandel - Good For Your Soul.

On What’s

BADJELLY THE WITCH GLOW SHOW

Monday July 15, 2024, Baycourt Addison Theatre

Badjelly the Witch, the much-loved, utterly loony Spike Milligan classic, is this year’s Glow Show! Nearly 100,000 Kiwi kids, parents and educators have seen a Glow Show; come and join the fun with the frolicking, witchy-poo, super-fun Badjelly the Witch. The brilliantly nonsensical tale, celebrating its 50th birthday, is being entirely reimagined with the unique Glow Show treatment. The Glow Show’s utterly original mash-up of science, puppetry and music is a glorious experience for children and this year it will be a wonderfully nostalgic event for adults. GLOWSHOW.CO.NZ

MAGIC MEN 2024

Friday July 19, 2024, Baycourt Addison Theatre

Australia's most anticipated men are heating up our city with Magic Men – Feel The Magic, showcasing their most talented men in a heart-stopping live performance. Featuring Will Parfitt, this one-of-a-kind show tears up the stage with hot hunks, smooth moves and a lighting spectacle guaranteed to make it a night out to remember.

MYTAURANGA.CO.NZ

A TASTE OF IRELAND

Wednesday July 24, 2024, Baycourt Addison Theatre

Hot off its Off-Broadway premiere, ‘A Taste of Ireland: The Irish Music & Dance Sensation’ hits stages across New Zealand, performing the show that has entertained thousands around the globe. Laugh, cry and jig into the night with a production that is Celtic, for this generation.

MYTAURANGA.CO.NZ

MOUNT MAUNGANUI HALF MARATHON

Saturday August 24, 2024 8am –12:30pm, Mount Maunganui Surf Club, 21 Adams Ave, Mount Maunganui

Come explore Mount Maunganui for a running festival including a 21km, 10km and 5km option. Take in the best of Mount Maunganui with a weekend full of entertainment and highlights of the region. The course is flat and fast and starts and finishes on the beautiful beaches of Mount Maunganui where you can celebrate your efforts with friends and family.

EVENTFINDA.CO.NZ

TAURANGA FOOD SHOW

Saturday August 24 to Sunday August 25, 2024, Mercury Arena Baypark

Enjoy the tastiest weekend in the Bay of Plenty with over 150 delicious exhibitors, Live Cooking Kitchen, huge giveaways and Beverage Masterclasses to keep your taste buds ticking.

TAURANGAFOODSHOW.NZ

LES MISÉRABLES

Wednesday September 11 to

Saturday September 28, 2024, Baycourt Addison Theatre

29 years after first bringing Les Misérables to Baycourt, Tauranga Musical Theatre is thrilled to present a brand new, reimagined production of Les Misérables. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of adversity, broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. This epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.

TAURANGAMUSICALTHEATRE.CO.NZ

BLONDE AMBITION

This cool, charming, casual-but-classy diner in the Mount offers an all-American experience that fits right in.

WORDS HAYLEY BARNETT

They were always going to do it again, one way or another.

Palace Tavern’s sister eatery, Blondie, has opened its doors on Maunganui Road – a 1950s-style diner offering a daytime menu that doesn’t include your average eggs benny.

“We don’t really like cafés,” admits co-owner Brad Dellar. “We like to create something unique and different, but also know we need to stay in our lane.”

Their “lane” is traditional all-American fare – hot dogs, chicken waffles, reuben sandwiches, cherry pie – similar to their southern American-style eatery and bar around the corner at Palace Tavern.

“We’ve stuck to our usual style, which is risky because it’s the Mount,” says Brad.

“It’s where fit people hang out. With Palace, we didn’t know if it would work. We didn’t think it was vegan enough for them. But I think people get sick of that sh*t because, well, meat’s great.”

Brad and his business partner, Sam King, had been scoping out a joint for a new bar when the former Gusto Café owner offered up the perfect location.

They had just five weeks to fit the place out. Impressively, they did most of the work themselves, calling in a couple of friends to help out with some of the more challenging tasks.

“We’ve fit out all our own restaurants and café s, since the beginning,” says Brad. “Everything from custom tables, tiling and painting, to kitchen fit outs.”

Though they had the vision and the practical skills to pull it off, they still needed a name.

“ Blondie just had a good ring to it,” says Brad.

The walls are adorned with famous blondes, including the likes of Debbie Harry, Twiggy, Marilyn Monroe and Kate Moss. The mostly black and white photos work perfectly with the diner scene.

While it might seem ambitious to open in the Mount’s most quiet months of the year, Brad’s confident the locals will be on board.

“It’s that inside kind of soul food,” he says.

“It’s what you want to eat when you’re nestling in for the winter. We’ll touch wood, but so far, so good.”

BLONDIEDINER

200 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui

GERMANYS PREMIUM OUTDOOR EXCLUSIVE

TO CONTEMPORARY CLASSICS

Bloom-outdoor latest release KALI

KALI not only impresses with its charming beauty, but also with its unique seating comfort. Choose from two inviting lounge chairs, a daybed as a floating or standing version and a large selection of side tables to transform your garden, terrace or balcony into a stylish and modern backdrop for relaxing hours.

The striking feature of our KALI collection is the spherical and curved silhouette, which stands out due to the unique connection of two weaving fibers. The innovative 360° rotation mechanism of the lounge chair allows you and your guests a high level of flexibility and freedom of movement in the smallest of spaces.

To view, visit our web or our three stores in NZ.

Mount | Te Puna | Takapuna OPEN 7 DAYS