Verve April 2013 Issue

Verve Auckland’s Boutique Magazine.

NOMAD D&M WINTER 2013 PLUS: PARNELL RISES OSBORNE & KENT MOTHER’S DAY SPECIALS THE GOLDEN DOOR

APRIL 2013

APRIL 2013 — TRENDS HOME FASHION HEALTH BEAUTY FOOD WINE TRAVEL EVENTS

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Parnell 09 366 0015

Above: Ella and Penny wear original clothing by Morgan Hollis-Ward Below: Sarah wears original clothing by Morgan Hollis-Ward

Nomad D&M WINTER COLLECTION March saw D&M launch its colourful new collection, Nomad.

Nomad marks the second collaboration between D&M’s Danny Pato and photographer Mara Sommer.

Drawing inspiration from various cultures from across the globe, the collection aims to celebrate cultural diversity.

“Culture has been at the heart of D&M from the day we first opened,” says Pato, the Art and Hair Director for the collection. “Hailing from across the planet, we’re all nomads of sorts, which is what makes us who we are as a team.”

Clothing used in the shoot was largely from AUT Rookie graduates, with Morgan Hollis-Ward making several items specifically for the campaign To see more visit www.dandm.co.nz Art & Hair Director: Danny Pato Photography: Mara Sommer Hair: the team at D&M Makeup: Steph Lai Styling: Rachel Morton & Danny Pato Original Clothing: Morgan Hollis-Ward & Paris Mitchell Models: Grace & Sarah S @ 62 Models, Ngahuia & Penny @ N Model Management, Ella & Yasmin @ Clyne And Grace H @ Red 11

APRIL 2013

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Editors’ Note WE CAN FRAME

ANYTHING MON-FRI 9:30-5:30, SAT 10:00-4:00

picture FRAMING

MIRRORS

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A SPECIALITY GIF T

A Good Yarn Something that we spend a lot of time on each working day, is the selection process: carefully checking that content – both advertising and editorial – its the Verve profile in one way or another.

Checking our inboxes each morning – often feels like Christmas. We love the fact that we never quite know what surprises, heart-rending personal stories, inspirational products, or thought-provoking events await us on any given day, We do our best to follow up each emailed communication, diligently weighing up which email we can take further and those that are not so good a fit. So many disparate threads which each month the Verve team weave together to form an engrossing end product, sort of like creating a piece of cloth out of colour, creativity, beauty, humour and lots more. From the simply gorgeous, the rich and elegant, the casual and comfortable, Verve has a story for every occasion. Sometimes remodeled, rejuvenated or even reused, but always entertaining, and with you, the reader, always in mind.

Take the April Verve cover for instance. It’s one of the best yet: a stunning image that aptly illustrates how a bit of creative mixing and mingling can deliver an extraordinarily colourful and memorable result. A bringing together of all that is different and at odds with each other into a perfectly appealing, and coherent whole; unexpected and one that we have had a great deal of pleasure in bringing you.

We hope you enjoy this month’s diverse and fabulous yarns, and to all those very special people out there, the mothers of our nation - enjoy some ‘me’ time on your special day.

VISIT VERVE MAGAZINE ON FACEBOOK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/VERVEMAGAZINE

VerveMagazine — Editors-in-chief: Fran Ninow and Jude Mitchell Writers: Inger-Lisa Hurst and Jamie Desplaces Layout Design: J. David Contributors: Siana Clifford, Sara Bunny, Lulu Alach, Denise Ferguson, Jackie O’Fee, Timothy Giles, Jenn Laidlaw and Paris Mitchell Published by Verve Magazine Ltd. Level 1, 430 Broadway, Newmarket, Auckland 1023 PO Box 99-288, Newmarket, Auckland 1149 GST: 90 378 074 ISSN 2253-1300 (Print) ISSN 2253-1319 (Online) MEMBER OF THE FINE ART TRADE GUILD. EST. 1847

E A S Y PA R K I N G FIND US AT: 16 POLLEN STREET, PONSONBY, AUCKLAND PH: (09) 378 6774 WWW.ELFRAMO.CO.NZ

Advertising enquiries: P: +64 9 520 5939 E: jude@vervemagazine.co.nz Editorial enquiries: P: +64 9 520 5939 E: fran@vervemagazine.co.nz Subcriptions: http://vervemagazine.co.nz/subscribe.html

VERVE MAGAZINE is published monthly (except in January) and has an estimated readership of 40,000. It is a free community / lifestyle magazine delivered to selected homes, cafés and businesses in the following areas: Parnell, Newmarket, Remuera, Epsom, Mission Bay and Kohimarama. Copies of Verve Magazine are also available from the following places: Parnell Inc., The Strand Vet, Home Ideas Centre, New World - Victoria Park, Premium-Mission Bay, Just Rentals-Meadowbank, The Print Shop - Remuera, LJ Hooker - Remuera, Frame by Frame, Constant Cravings, Glengarry Wines, Barfoot & Thompson Parnell, Quest Hotels - Parnell, Remuera, and Newmarket, Parnell Community Centre and Library, Teed Street Lader and Level 1, 430 Broadway, Newmarket (above Mini showroom). Verve is also available from all popular cafés in its main distribution areas as well as in E-book format.

The entire content of this publication is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission in writing of the copyright owner. Any material submitted for publication is at the owner’s risk. Neither Verve Magazine Ltf nor its agents accept any responsibility for loss or damage. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information contained in this publication, the publisher cannot accept any liability for inaccuracies that may occur. The views and suggestions expressed in this magazine are those of individual contributors and are not necessarily supported by Verve Magazine Ltd. Verve is printed by Webstar and distributed by DD distribution. www.vervemagazine.co.nz

APRIL 2013

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Contents PARNELL

FASHION/BEAUTY

OSBORNE & KENT JOURNEYS

10.

26.

56-59.

Anti-aging and Body Toning in a Natural Way

12.

Parnell is for Pooches

16.

Get Your Haberdashery On!

34.

Get it while it’s HOT!

The Journey, Dry&Tea, Pocket

60.

Book & Movie reviews

36.

eHouse

Verve Interviews: Paul Serville

FOOD 4 TOUGHT

24.

39.

64.

Parnell Parks and Pathways

MOTHER’S DAY 27.

Mother’s Beauty

28.

Win for mum this Mother’s day!

29.

Gifted Ideas

32.

Mum Knows Best

Shop@Verve

53.

76.

99.

78.

101.

Let’s Go To Malmö Island Time

ARTS/OUT&ABOUT 82.

Donna Hay

Angels & Aristocrats now in Auckland

66.

85.

Yolkr

Emma Bass: Still Imperfect

HEALTH

HOME

86.

42.

70.

Fashion Reinvented

The Golden Door

48.

How Yoga Bought Me Back From the Brink

50.

Daylight Dilemmas

®

Building on Traditional Ethics: J R Hosking Carpenters & Co.

72.

Introducing Momo Living

74.

Fun in Bed Cover: Nomad – D&M WInter Collection Photographer: Mara Sommer - www.marasommer.co.nz | Art & Hair Direction: Danny Pato Hair: the team at D&M Hair Design - www.dandm.co.nz | Makeup: Steph Lai Styling: Rachel Morton and Danny Pato | Model: Yasmin @ Clyne Models Clothing: Yasmin wears skirts by Paris Mitchell, necklace and belt from Jetset Bohemian, bracelets from Diva

YOUNG AT HEART

Bird in a Bunny Suit

MEN MATTER 89.

Drawing on Creativity Memories Cast in Bronze

LOCAL 104.

Celebrating 15 Years in Business

106.

Matters of Interest

WIN WITH VERVE & 18. Gladstone Liquor 22. Parnell Pantry 28. Spa at Mollies

Eddy Lee

28. Kagi

90.

28. Fairy Feet

Verve Man: John-Paul Clarkin

30. Bodywise Pilates

PETS/GARDENS

58. Dry & Tea

92.

84. Comedy Festival

31. The Art Room 61. Movies Passes

Vertical Oasis

103. Market Share

95.

110. Money Secrets 101

Year-round Care for Roses

APRIL 2013

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PARNELL

Anti-­aging and Body Toning in a Natural Way Looking for a smart and effective way to work out? The Liz K Body Transformation Studio in Parnell focuses specifically on the needs of women in the 40-plus age group and provides a customised one-­to-­one approach.

An essential part of Liz K’s training methodology is the use of the Power Plate.

Initially, the Power Plate was designed to fight deconditioning caused by space travel. It uses Whole Body Vibration to stimulate muscles that are on the dole in a weightless environment. Also, Olympic athletes use it to improve their training results in a short time.

Sounds like an approach everybody could benefit from? Actually, it is. Independent, third­party research on the health benefits of whole-body vibration shows that the deconditioning that happens when we age is pretty similar to the problems cosmonauts experience. We lose our naturally produced growth hormone, which maintains our tissue, muscles and energy throughout life. The destabilisation of muscles by the Power Plate stimulates the production of this hormone in a more powerful way than regular exercise. It is also safer than a prescriptive therapy with anti-­aging growth hormone, because it is created naturally.

So what does it mean exactly? Wholebody vibration training can prevent or reverse age­-related loss in skeletal muscle mass that causes osteoporosis.

This is why hospitals use the Power Plate as the only certified medical device for vibration technology to fight osteoporosis or support rehabilitation.

Another advantage, especially for women, is that the vibration training strengthens muscles that are highly stressed during pregnancy. The Power Plate provides an effective post-­pregnancy workout that can be easily included in the hectic schedule of a mum. Workout sessions are only 20 minutes long and shouldn’t take place more than thrice a week to give the muscles time to recover. If you’re not a mum, the general benefits of a wholebody vibration training are also great: It defeats cellulite by increasing lean tissue and helps to lose body fat, which reduces the size of buttocks, thighs and calves.

Above: Liz K in studio with the Power Plate

No wonder the fitness industry has discovered the Power Plate as the perfect device to improve muscle tone and achieve fat loss. More and more gyms offer training sessions on them for everybody, but often without using a customised approach or personal training sessions. If you’re interested in giving the whole-body vibration training a go, make sure to use the original Power Plate technology like Liz K does. In contrast to the cheap Asian knock­offs, it has a scientific background with proven results and high quality assurance. Personal training sessions are also essential to make your training really effective and safe at the same time.

With Liz K, you will be the only person using the studio and the Power Plate, which assures that the focus is completely on you and your fitness goals.

Training sessions take only 20 minutes and can be adapted completely to your schedule. If you would like to know more about Liz and the training options she offers with the Power Plate, take a look at her website: www.lizk.co.nz.

APRIL 2013

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Parnell is for Pooches Words: Jamie Christian Desplaces

New Zealand boasts more pets than people, with a canine population alone of 700,000. According to a 2011 survey by the New Zealand Companion Animal Council, this country has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. The same study also showed that 43% of Kiwis believe animal welfare and protection should receive more attention.

Parnell was ahead of its time when it reported in the 1969 edition of the Parnell Post that its members sent back an Auckland City Council proposal to “leash dogs at all times” for fear that it would confine the animals to “a lifetime of imprisonment.”

Cathy Romeyn, general manager, Parnell Inc, believes this exemplifies the attitude of Parnell’s passionate pooch-owners today. “Not that we’re saying the place should be overrun with dogs off their leads!” she adds.

We take a stroll around the streets and parks with her dog, Boston, a ten-year-old boxer who spends many a day basking in front of the association’s office. “He’s a bonus,” says Cathy. “Every day I hear excited voices outside, people taking

photos. He’s even appeared in people’s wedding pictures and is a regular on Facebook” This backs up studies which show working environments benefit from the presence of animals (the International Journal of Workplace Management, for example, concludes that dogs significantly reduce office stress).

Parnell Inc supports the many shops and cafes with their dog-friendly approach, and is on a mission to do even more.

The pet project includes organising events such as ‘Dog and Grog’ nights at a local pub, ‘Bark in the Park’ meetings and a grooming service on Parnell Road.

“People can drop-off their dogs to be pampered and go get a coffee or glass of wine,” says Cathy. “Parnell has always embraced its village concept, and people and their pets certainly add to that.”

A partnership with Auckland-based luxury pet wear brand, Chinchilla, will see branded dog bowls up and down Parnell Road. “We’re looking forward to backing it,” says Erin Hassall, who founded Chinchilla with business partner, Jane Francis, a year ago. “We think it’s

a fantastic idea. Dogs are part of our families and Parnell is a great place for them. It’s quaint and there are heaps of welcoming cafes and parks.”

Chinchilla’s high-end dog wares, all forged from Auckland-made leather, are stocked at Parnell’s The Strand Vet - who will also be lending their support to the project.

I spoke with numerous resident dogowners who all said Parnell’s pet credentials were a big draw. “Parnell is definitely more liberal,” Graeme Clark told me while he was walking his two Cairn terriers, Archie and Sparky. “The cafes are very welcoming and there are are some fine dog-zones like the Alberon Reserve.”

There’s even an unofficial dog walking club that has been meeting each morning at 7am in Bloodworth Park on Shore Road for the last 15 years: just one of the many great meet and greet spots pooches and people can enjoy in Parnell.

APRIL 2013

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ACTIVATING PARNELL ... AGAIN While Parnell is quietly letting Britomart and Ponsonby embrace being trendy, a group of community minded volunteers, aka the Parnell Community Committee, are championing ideas and innovations that will ensure New Zealand’s first suburb remains a top Auckland draw card.

Verve featured the release of Tomorrow Parnell this time last year- the community’s own plan for its future, with some eye opening ideas. Since then, this blue print has been put to Council officers and politicians and is, bit by bit - being promoted for Parnell’s future. While considerable focus has been on securing a heritage destination train station and precinct, other targets have been enhancing a network of walks (with or without the pooch) and cycle routes (notably through the old rail tunnel in The Domain). The next push will be to reignite Parnell Road with a rejuvenated centre plan and to strengthen the identity of Parnell as the heart of art and design, as well as its historic status as New Zealand’s first suburb.

Parnell Inc supports the many shops and cafes with their dog-friendly approach, and is on a mission to do even more.

The pet project includes organising events such as ‘Dog and Grog’ nights at a local pub, ‘Bark in the Park’ meetings and a grooming service on Parnell Road.

The elevation of community goals is at the centre of this drive, rather than the community being on the receiving end of Council controls. This is particularly applicable to design, where Parnell is looking to set up its own design awards and the Parnell tick, showing community maturity in acknowledging new design, appropriate design in context with our old cottages and a strong respect for a suburb of architects.

What lies ahead is an initiative to get roads functioning for people benefit. The idea of turning certain unused roads into pedestrian plazas on weekends is hoped to become reality by next summer, in spite of a lock down by Auckland Transport to owning every function of roads. There is confidence that plans to turn Heather Street into a weekend pedestrian plaza are on the way to becoming reality. On weekends, it may also be the norm for couches to appear on narrow residential streets - the rise of ‘street chill’, or perhaps hopscotch for the hyperactive.

And parks ,like Fraser Park and Scarborough Reserve should spill over into the road. An inventory of street that could be turned into residential building is also worth thinking about.

In any event watch this space for more developments AND leadership by Parnell.

Jenni Goulding Planning Consultant to Parnell Community Committee

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Words: Jamie Christian Desplaces

eHouse

“If you design a house well in the first place, the amount of energy that you need to run it is substantially less,” says Phil Shaw. “Little things make a big difference. Many so-called eco-homes are simply regular constructions with plug-ins like solar panels on the roof. The house itself should perform properly, anything else is an added bonus.”

Phil Shaw knows a thing or two about sustainability. The Parnell-based architectural designer, and member of the Green Building Council, is the founding director of multi-award-winning ICR Consulting, who for the last year-and-ahalf have been developing their latest project, eHouse.

“A lot of green designers and homeowners are quite extreme, from composting toilets to using hay bales to insulate the walls. We wanted our ecological design to be more mainstream,” says Shaw, “to be ecological on a more realistic level for everyday families.”

The structural designs only tell part of the story. Geography, climate and the environment all play key roles.

“The houses benefit from aspects we can get for free,” Shaw tells me. “Utilising the sun is very important. We use concrete slabs where possible so the sun warms the floor during winter days and the heat is released back into the house come nightfall.”

Other tricks include the use of existing trees to provide shading in summer, draft protection in winter and covering roof space with greenery to both offset the carbon footprint and insulate the building below. Materials are sourced and manufactured locally and waste-reduction, also, is paramount.

“It’s a Kiwi tradition to have a double garage, but it can cost anywhere up to

$70,000,” says Shaw. “It adds a lot to your mortgage. We believe that not only is it money spent unwisely, but a waste of resources, vehicles are happy in a carport. It comes down to efficiency.”

Shaw is keen to stress the myriad health benefits too. He says that warm and comfortable homes are sick-free homes and for every dollar spent on your environment, many more are saved in health-care costs. Indeed, a 2007 study by Wellington’s University of Otago showed that better insulation and cost-effective heating reduced condensation and mould and even lessoned the severity of childhood asthma. The research drew international acclaim with Professor Howden-Chapman telling the Herald: “Coughing and wheezing were reduced and the children experienced fewer colds and flu. This resulted in fewer GP visits and days off school. We found that the positive changes recorded in the health of these children were equivalent to a significant pharmaceutical intervention.”

Scott McKerrow, who was integral in the early stages of eHouse’s development, says that when studying architecture, it is not until the Master’s level that ecodesign principles come to the fore. I ask if councils and government do enough to encourage ‘green’ construction.

“Only on the surface,” says Shaw. “There are no financial rewards for people to generate their own electricity or harvest their own rainwater. There should be more assistance. If you’re trying to do things differently with an ecological home, then you should receive some kind of credit. Globally, New Zealand standards are very low.”

He says we should aim to perform better and their eHomes promise to do just that. They’ve had both national and international interest from those who “like

our philosophy” and the construction of their first house will begin in Auckland in a matter of weeks. The building process will be filmed on a time-lapse camera to be viewed via their website and once complete, the house will be monitored for a year to enable them to maximise its performance and that of future projects. “eHouse has been our baby for the last 18 months,” says Shaw. “We have confidence in it.” Luckily, their first client is a real technophile and greatly looking forward to being part of the whole process.

“He’s very excited,” Shaw adds. “He’s our perfect customer and greatly believes in what we are trying to do.”

For more info visit www.ehouse.co.nz and www.icr.co.nz

Private Space

Lawn Space

Bed

ehouse one ehouse one

Outdoor Living WINTER sunrise

WINTER sunset

Bed

Public Space

Bath SUMMER sunset

SUMMER sunrise

Kitchen Entry Park

Service Space

wc

ehouse two ehouse two

Above: Floorplan of E3

Below: Outdoor living area of E1

ehouse three ehouse three

Towards a sustainable future Towards a sustainable future www.ehouse.co.nz www.ehouse.co.nz

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Palki Words: Jamie Christian Desplaces

A taste of the exotic in the heart of Parnell, Palki boasts an incredible menu from across India and beyond. Set in a lovely open-plan loft environment with overhead timber beams, Palki has already built a loyal following after opening just a few months ago. Our ultrahospitable host, Pooja Sharma, tells us that around half of their clientele is Indian, further signalling the food’s authenticity. There’s also a Chinese section to the menu, which Pooja stresses is not an attempt at replication, rather an Indian interpretation and from what we tasted, an interpretation well done.

Such was the generosity of our hosts that we had to have some of it bagged to take home, though there was still room to squeeze in a traditional Indian pulped fruit and ice-cream dessert.

Pooja tells us that she likes to encourage her European guests away from their comfort zones of the so-called classic Indian dishes and to opt for something new. There are few better places to get adventurous with the spices than Palki, so get on down there, you’ll be glad you did.

279 Parnell Rd, Parnell 09 357 3848 www.palki.co.nz

First up, the stuffed mushrooms stems basted in ginger and garlic and cooked in a Tandoori clay oven, served with a mustard sauce were delightfully moorish. The tender Chicken Jaitooni arrived in a roasted olive oil and cashew paste in which it had spent the previous 24 hours marinating – and you could tell, such was the depth of flavour. The Chicken Chilli Milly Tikka, its rich spices complemented with cool yoghurt, is the house speciality with good reason and the Prawns in Green Sauce, from the Chinese menu, divine (my partner’s seafood allergy an added bonus, I had the whole dish to myself).

A collection of curries were presented for mains, Pooja delighted that we opted for the spicy setting - you shouldn’t really be eating Indian food unless you don’t mind working up just a little sweat. The Chicken Methi Masala, cooked in garlic, onion and fenugreek, a northern Indian speciality, the Lamb Khade Masale Ka Gosht, in cinnamon, bay leaves and cracked spices and Beef Kolhapuri - traditional Maharashtrian style – were all sublime. The succulent Fish Kerala Nandu Masala, served in an exotic red curry sauce was exquisite, though the Rangoli Naan, visually, at least, stole the show. A huge heartshaped naan baked with finely chopped coconut, beetroot and carrot along with sesame seeds and flakes of saffron.

WIN WITH VERVE & GLADSTONE WINES UP FOR GRABS: SIX BOTTLES OF ROCHFORT REES SAUV BLANC Interested?

To enter is easy. Simply visit www.vervemagazine.co.nz and click the competitions tab top right hand corner of the page.

Good luck.

APRIL 2013

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Words: Sara Bunny

Vive La Vaniyé An authentic patisserie brings Parisian chic to Parnell Dessert chef Sonia Haumonté expertly pipes an elaborate mixture of green tea, almonds and red fruits into petite baking moulds, her hands hovering deftly above the bench and her eyes sparkling as she describes her love of fine French food.

they see at the patisserie. “These lovely Kiwi guys come in and often they have finished their desserts before I’ve had time to come back and pour their water,” says Sonia. “The European customers will sit for an hour and a half.”

“It’s not just baking, it’s art. You have to eat it slowly, savour it and really taste it.”

With many Kiwi women holding a soft spot for chocolate and sweet treats, a decadent dessert from Vaniyé could be just the ticket for Mother’s Day early next month. Chef Sonia’s ornate creations include traditional macarons, ganache and entremets, featuring exotic flavours such as chocolate with sesame and Japanese yellow soybean, and raspberry coulis with balsamic vinegar.

Parnell locals have been quietly enjoying delectable desserts and sumptuous baguettes from their neighbourhood patisserie for months. Now the word is getting out and foodies from further afield are following their noses to the unassuming little shop on Windsor Street, just off Parnell Road.

At Vaniyé, Sonia and her husband Laurent enjoy introducing customers to the rich flavours, inspirational culinary combinations and a way of truly understanding and appreciating food that is so uniquely French.

“One dessert will have three or four different compositions in it,” she says.“ It’s nice to open people’s palates to different things.”

“On a Sunday afternoon in Paris you might go to a patisserie and have a dessert,” says Laurent. “Food is about sharing, you sit and talk about it, you take your time and you end up eating less.”

On her OE in Paris, Sonia fell in love with the city’s patisseries and decided to train as a dessert chef at the prestigious international culinary school, Le Cordon Bleu. At the Parisian school, the same kitchen where renowned chef Julia Child trained, Sonia was dedicated to learning as much about French baking as she possibly could.

The couple laugh good-naturedly as they recall the different types of customers

“It’s a tough kitchen. You work hard, but its good preparation for the real world.”

In Paris, Sonia met her French husband Laurent, who jokes about how easily she shows him up when it comes to French baking. “I’m from the East of France, and worked in Paris for ten years. Then I met Sonia and she knew so much and wasn’t even French! So I had to take some evening baking courses.”

The pair run the patisserie as a team.

Laurent has another job away from the kitchen, but puts an apron over his suit early in the morning to make the day’s baguettes and croissants. After work he goes back to the kitchen and works alongside Sonia till about 10pm, when they finally head home.

“We don’t get much sleep,” laughs Sonia. “But when I do get home I’m asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. I always feel so happy and satisfied with my day’s work.”

For more information visit vaniye.com Left to right: Laurent, hard at work making bread (left) and decadent desserts from the patisserie cabinet (right)

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They pride themselves being able to cater to businesses of any size. Rachael has a string of people she has catered to over the years – including Team NZ, Lion Nathan, Air NZ, Prime Minister and 40 delegates, so no job is too much trouble for her.

Happy hour at this wonderful venue runs daily from 4-6pm serving house wines and beers for $5, with dinner being served in the very social way of dining in small and large share platters, which has proved to be extremely popular. And of course there is also the amazing Allpress coffee that they serve for only $3.

MADE WITH LOVE Healthy fresh food daily and excellent coffee.

Big changes came to Parnell in late November when Rachael and Peter purchased what was The little Espresso Room and spent 12 long, hard days, gutting and transforming it to the beautiful, newly decorated and relaxing Simply Delicious Cafe and Wine Lounge. It’s situated at the top of Parnell road, right under the giant historic Norfolk Pine.

Simply Delicious Cafe and Wine Lounge 320 Parnell Road, Parnell 09 379 5464 simplydelicious@vodafone.co.nz www.simplydeliciouscafe.co.nz Gluten free available!

Opening Hours Mon: 7am - 6pm Tues- Friday: 7am - 9.30 pm Sat: 8am - 9.30pm Sun: 8am - 7.30pm

Rach is the heart of the business, with a warm bubbly personality you will often find her flitting between the kitchen and chatting to the customers, She is extremely passionate about the quality of the food that they create and serve at this gorgeous cafe as every morsel is made onsite using the freshest ingredients. She prides herself as does her wonderful, supportive husband Pete and daughter Angel on cooking everything fresh, healthy and of course made with love.

They are fast becoming known for their Strawberry Jam- a favourite of local Peter Bromhead! All their Chutneys, famous strawberry jam, house-roasted nuts and divine fruit cakes (which customers keep ordering and requesting) will soon be available for sale.

PleaSe SPeak with one of our Store managerS for more information or Call (09) 366-SalS. *Outside patio fully available - up to 20 people. Indoor bookings on a case by case basis depending on day and time. Thank you.

Servicing all of Parnell*, Newmarket and Remuera, 7 nights a week from 5:00pm - 9:30pm.

Call (09) 366-SalS to order! * Please visit the Pizzerias page at www.sals.co.nz to verify you are in the delivery zone. A $6 vehicle delivery charge applies for this service. Thank you.

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WELCOME TO THE PARNELL PANTRY

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The Parnell Pantry is the first ever Parnell District School cookbook with favourite recipes from the school’s families and children.

Interestingly, this is not the first cookbook to be produced on the Parnell District School site. The first cookbook, Lady Martin’s He pukapuka whakaatu tikanga mo nga rongo mo nga kai was printed in 1869 by Henry Hill on the press at what was then St Stephen’s School. Indeed, it was the first cookbook to be printed in New Zealand. n very ow Parnell’s e Hohaia is u o L barista, “Short t for her came firs hoco Latte” lC b’s Carame offee Clu at The C al Barista n o Internati titon!

Compe

Short Caramel Choco Latte Only available at The Coffee Club Parnell Road

OPEN DAILY FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER, OR JUST COFFEE & CAKE!

As 2013 is Parnell District School’s 140th anniversary year, it only seemed right to republish elements of Lady Martin’s book as part of The Parnell Pantry so that these could be shared with you.

There are only seven known copies of Lady Martin’s book. Our own local historian, Rendell McIntosh, owns the only copy held in private ownership.

Rendell has kindly shared his copy and knowledge about Lady Martin’s book and other locally produced cookbooks, and being able to incorporate parts of Lady Martin’s book within The Parnell Pantry provides a wonderful taste of local history and makes the book even more special.

This fabulous cookbook (which includes recipes from Peter Bromhead, Tony Astle, Elizabeth Lind and Rosehip) is a fundraiser for Parnell District School and will be available in time for Mother’s Day 2013 (Sunday 12 May).

For more information email: susanc@parnell.school.nz or call the Parnell District School on 09 379 3008

Choose between a wide range of delicious meals from our all day menu. So for Good Food, Great Service and Excellent Coffee, make sure you visit The Coffee Club!

The Parnell PanTry A collec tion of recipes from pArnell Distric t school

The Coffee Club Parnell Road 305 Parnell Road, Parnell Phone 365 1350 GOOD FOOD GREAT SERVICE EXCELLENT COFFEE

WIN WITH VERVE & THE PARNELL PANTRY UP 4 GRABS: A copy of this charming recipe book and a special edition apron. Interested? To enter is easy. Simply go to www. vervemagazine.co.nz and click on the competitions tab. Good luck!

APRIL 2013

The Parnell Dentist Parnell Dentistry has been open in the same Parnell location for 15 years next month.

Owner Andrea Copplestone, is offering a very rare special price currently to celebrate this occasion. For any new patient booking for a comprehensive exam (which includes a set of X-rays as well) you will get the cleaning done for free! Patients that prefer a dentist to do their cleanings will get a free 20-minute cleaning when they see the dentist for their exam, or a separate time can be made for Michelle our lovely hygienist to work her marvels for your mouth! From this examination, you will get a detailed plan of any treatment or recommendations found from the exam and xrays taken. Andrea or Clare will ensure time is taken to fully go over the plan at no additional charge.

To redeem this special price, refer to the Localist website, www.localist.co.nz

What you may not know about our practice…

•

We have two female dentists available at the practice – Andrea Copplestone and Clare Goldwater. Both are NZ-trained with many years dental experience.

•

We cater for people who have problems with bad breath using a halimeter and a range of Therabreath products from the US.

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Michelle our hygienist works every day including two late nights to accommodate busy working patients.

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She is a dual-qualified hygienist and therapist which means she can see and treat children up to age 18. We have a special “Kid’s Club” for these younger patients with reduced rates for their care and a real prevention focus.

•

We have four free patient car parks available.

•

We are open on a late night Monday until 7pm.

ESCAPE to thE offiCE find the perfect location for your business

09 522 0039

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Parnell’s Parks and Pathways Words: Jamie Christian Desplaces

Settled in 1841, Parnell boasts a rich history as Auckland’s oldest suburb. Led by Les Harvey in the 1970s, the area was re-developed into the present-day ‘Parnell Village’, a vibrant hub of eateries, boutiques and galleries. Perhaps less well-known to Aucklanders –and even residents themselves – is that Parnell is also home to an array of nature parks and walkways. Often hidden between the area’s beautiful houses, discreet alleys give way to idyllic green escapes where the distant hum of traffic is drowned by the rustle of leaves, lapping waves and birdsong. Dog-owners will be pleased to hear that all welcome your pets, some with off-leash areas too.

accessed via Scarborough Terrace), a charming secluded suburban oasis that rests at Parnell’s heart.

The tranquil Alberon Reserve (access via St George Bay Road, Alberon or Stratford Street) boasts a snaking bush boardwalk, with myriad tree specimens including a fine collection of palms. In its centre lies a manicured sloping grass clearing, ideal for soaking up some rays with a good book while your pooch gets to stretch its legs. Just over St George Bay Road is Scarborough Reserve, (also

The adjacent Judges Bay is just a brief stroll away and rests beneath Parnell’s lauded Dove Meyer Robinson Park. The incredible array of plant and wildlife includes oaks, camillias and puriri trees along with fantails, kukupas and white-faced herons. The reserve also boasts the iconic Rose Gardens (also accessed via Gladstone Road, beneath an old stone archway known as The Elephant), where over 4,000 varieties

Ayr Reserve (access via Ayr Street) is a vast expanse of gorgeous native bush with the historic Ewelme Cottage, a 19th-century colonial residence, sitting nearby. At the reserve’s base, cross Brighton Road to find the dog-walking haven, Thomas Bloodworth Park, which links to the Hobson Bay Walkway, a coastal path that stretches the length of Parnell and beyond, including a boardwalk, access to Awatea Reserve (also accessed by via Awatea Road), Point Park and Parnell baths to the north.

of the flower blooms. The Nancy Steen Garden honours its namesake’s love of roses with a commemorative plaque in recognition of her lifetime work in collecting them. A simple inscription from the John Russell Hayes’s poem, The Old Fashion Garden, reads: To loiter ‘mid the lovely, old-time flowers, To breathe the scent of lavender and rose…

Parnell is not simply Auckland’s oldest suburb, but one of its prettiest and most enchanting, too.

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Dalene Meiring Spaces EXHIBITION: 9 – 23 APRIL

Preview: Tuesday 9 April, 5.30pm Dalene Meiring was born in 1965 in Saolsburg. She studied art at the University of South Africa, and in 1997 she emigrated with her family to New Zealand. Here she has built a reputation as a well-recognised and sought-after artist.

Meiring’s work offers a generous and unapologetic celebration of femininity, inviting us to share in an intense emotional experience of time, place and relationship. Utilising a rich palette, a consistent base of earthy tones speaks of the sunbaked continent of the artist’s origin. A real passion for life is expressed through serene tapestries of shifting textural layers, a kind of organised chaos punctuated with reference points of vibrant colour, form and symbolic elements.

Familiar feminine motifs abound; flowers, a bowl of fruit, a resting bird or a delicate string of pearls. At the same time as they may be personal to the artist, we can share in these timeless fragments of daily life, the value and beauty of the everyday elevated to us through quiet contemplation. These intimate motifs are backed by distant horizons and birds in flight; thus the personal symbolism is projected outwards to the universal, and so we are all invited.

At times a painting will be dedicated to exploring just one element – a vase of flowers, bursting with joyful life and colour, or perhaps a dreaming female face, full of mystery and mood. The focus on female visage, which has featured in past exhibitions is still evident, but now shares space with an increasingly abstract portrayal of the feminine. There is also a strong naïve element to Meiring’s work, giving heft through simplicity to the symbolic forms, and which is the focus of further exploration in some pieces.

Meiring has said “some of the works have a feeling of captured silence for me”, and it seems that the artist’s life in all its variety is sublimated by the weaving through of this silence and space. Thus the strands of her experience are gathered and grounded in these harmonious pieces to bring us a powerful meditation on life and living.

Spaces opens on Tuesday 9th April at Parnell Gallery, 263 Parnell Road, Auckland.

Words: Shannon Silcock

Clockwise from above left: Patched Fields, 1220 x 915 mm Peaceful Silence, 1525 x 1015 mm My Space, 1015 x 1015 mm Dreaming, 1015 x 1015 mm

263 Parnell Road, Auckland 09 377 3133 www.parnellgallery.co.nz

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FASHION/BEAUTY/HEALTH/MOTHER’S DAY

Get Your Haberdashery On!

Givenchy Fall 2013

A.F. Vandevorst Fall 2012

Givenchy Fall 2013. Givenchy’s sheer skirts were embroidered with flowers this season, a clever way to enhance any simple garment. Haberdashery sew-on embellishments can make all the difference to your wardrobe.

A fun look while the sun is till shining. Fringe trims are an easy way to enhance an old singlet!

Pictured: Kylie Tassel Front Cami Top from www.boohoo.com $40

One of our favorites for embellishments is Antique Fabric and Lace: 132 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, 09 622 2164 Love this look by new local designer Georgia Alice.

Hercules Crop $190, Imperial Pants $329, Pan Bag $149. Georgia Alice stockists: Black Box, Grey Lynn and The Department Store.

Worn as a backpack or over the shoulder, this Kate of Arcadia Fender bag in black is a clever buy, $550.

Available from Area 51 and kateofarcadia. com.

FASHION READ: Read up on one of Verve’s favourite fashion houses, Opening Ceremony. Available from www.opening cermony.com

APRIL 2013

Mothers’ Beauty

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Words: Paris Mitchell

Treat Mum to a facial this mother’s day with a truly hydrating and relaxing “skin bath” at the luxurious Pullman Spa. This hydrating moisture treatment featuring active marine ingredients and vegetal milks combined with a unique mask to combat dehydration and improve skin texture, leaving the skin feeling soft and radiant.

Hydra-Moisture Source Treatment is a specialised facial at the Pullman Spa The Pullman Hotel- Cnr Waterloo Quadrant & Princes St www.pullmanauckland.co.nz ApiNourish Rejuvenating Face Mask with Purified Bee Venom and UMF 18+ Manuka Honey is a deeply penetrating skin renewal treatment containing a unique combination of purified bee venom, moisturising UMF 18+ manuka honey, avocado oil and vitamin E. This unique formulation goes straight to work to deeply nourish the skin, stimulating collagen growth and renewing damaged skin cells, which combine to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Manuka Doctor ApiNourish Rejuvenating Face Mask with Purified Bee Venom and UMF 18+ Manuka Honey. $84.95 (50ml)

The Aromatherapy Company Rose Geranium and Cassia Home Fragrance Gift Set: Blended with the soft essential oils and fragrances of rose, geranium and cassia, this home fragrance gift set includes two beautiful votive candles and a 35ml reed diffusion set to create a truly delicate and luxurious scent in your mother’s home or workspace and fill her environment with a sweet, layered aroma.

For stockists visit www.thearomatherapycompany.co.nz. $29.99

WIN WITH VERVE & THE AROMATHERAPY COMPANY: Up For Grabs: Three Rose Geranium and Cassia Home Frangrance Gift Sets!

Interested? To enter is easy. Simply go to www. vervemagazine.co.nz and click on the competitions tab.

Good luck!

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BEBE FACETED BOWL

BY RACHEL CARLEY Bebe faceted bowls by Rachel carley are a beautiful gift for Mother’s day, a perfect place to keep her jewellery.

Available from Tessuti. $57.50

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WIN FOR MUM THIS MOTHER’S DAY! WIN WITH VERVE & SPA AT MOLLIES Treat mum with some Mollies Time this Mother’s day. This unique method is a combination of treatments and massage that allows you to relax and let the experts take care of your every need. It can be a combination of all or some of the wonderful treatments on offer at Mollies – as much as we can within the time. It means you are never left, being looked after from top to toe ensuring true relaxation as well as exceptional results.

Discuss with your therapist on the day – as your world changes, so do your needs.

Dedicated time: 1 hour $150 | 1.5 hours $225 | 2 hours $290 UP 4 GRABS: FIVE SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY 1-HOUR ‘MOLLIES TIME’ Interested? To enter is easy. Simply go to www.vervemagazine.co.nz and click on the competitions tab. Good luck!

WIN WITH VERVE & KAGI JEWELLERY Make Mum’s day and treat yourself with a stunning Mum & Me bracelet from Kagi. Symbolising the intrinsic bond between mother and daughter, these timeless bracelet combos are the perfect way to celebrate a special relationship. Available in two stunning styles – Cream Mum & Me and Black Mum & Me – we have one to give away to a lucky reader.

For a list of stockists please visit www.kagijewellery.com UP 4 GRABS: ONE SET OF THE MUM & ME BRACLETS FROM KAGI. Interested? To enter is easy. Simply go to www.vervemagazine.co.nz and click on the competitions tab. Good luck!

WIN WITH VERVE & FAIRYFEET Verve and Fairyfeet have a pair of Black Magic, Sparkling Silver and True Gold fairyfeet to give away to one lucky reader. If you haven’t heard about them yet, fairyfeet are fabulous foldable ballet flats that you can pop into your handbag to take with you everywhere! Genius idea, whip them out to take over from your heels, whenever your feet can’t cope anymore. They can be purchased online from www.fairyfeet.co.nz and are a steal at only $14.95 a pair.

UP 4 GRABS: A TRIO OF FAIRYFEET: ONE PAIR OF BLACK MAGIC, SPARKLING SILVER AND TRUE GOLD FAIRYFEET. Interested? To enter is easy. Simply go to www.vervemagazine.co.nz and click on the competitions tab. Good luck!

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Mother’s Day: Gifted Ideas TEXAN ART SCHOOL

SABATO

Newmarket Store: 366 Broadway, Newmarket, Auckland 09 529 1021 www.texanartschools.co.nz

57 Normanby Road, Mt Eden, Auckland 0800 SABATO or 09 630 8751 www.sabato.co.nz

Be inspired by our extensive collection of the best NZ made art, jewellery and gifts!

With everything from simple designer gifts to quirky and contemporary hand-made objects – you’re sure to find something special this Mothers Day with new stock

arriving daily. Support local artists and buy NZ made!

Stores in Newmarket, Sylvia Park, Botany, Ponsonby, Pakuranga and Takapuna.

Pictured: NZ handmade Decoupage Hearts by Arthaus Design. $46.00

APIBEAUTE

Limited-edition Sabato recipe cards

Sabato has just released a limited-edition series of seasonal recipe cards.

Featuring recipes by chef and author Julie Le Clerc, each beautiful set of 12 cards has its own clever collapsible stand for easy display – and

can be tucked away in their own special cover sleeve. A gorgeous inspirational gift for any foodie!

Available instore and online at www.sabato.co.nz

THE ULTIMATE GIFT: ME-TIME *rubywaxx* beauty therapy

ApiHealth NZ Ltd 19 Hawkins St, Meadowbank Ph/Fax: 09 521 6901 www.apibeaute.co.nz

Four Auckland salons: Airport, Howick, Les Mills, Newton 09 302 1294 www.rubywaxx.co.nz

ApiBeaute Bee Venom mask – nature’s alternative to Botox® – will reverse the visible signs of aging and help bring back your skin’s natural beauty. Bee Venom is the 100 per cent natural way to treat wrinkles and make skin look younger.

The key magic ingredient is

Let’s face it; the gift that Mum will enjoy the most is a little me-time away from kids, chores and stress.

the highest grade of NZ Bee venom VENZ™, collected by ApiHealth special patented technology.

With a *rubywaxx* beauty therapy gift voucher, Mum can choose the treatment she really wants: a facial, skin peel,

MOTHER’S DAY AT CHOCOLATE BOUTIQUE CAFE Our newly refurbished and extended cafe is an ideal setting to take Mum out and treat her this Mother’s Day.

Gourmet gift boxes

Try our new banoffee sundae (hokey pokey ice cream, salted caramel sauce, sliced banana and topped with grated russian caramel fudge) or purchase a box of our gourmet handcrafted chocolates – from $9.95.

Tables at the back deck are a nice way to experience our cafe with beautiful views of the city.

$29.95

$19.95

massage, mani/pedi… the choice is hers.

Gift vouchers can be couriered to you: just call 09 302 1294.

1/323 Parnell Rd, Parnell Open 11am to 10pm daily www.chocolateboutique.co.nz

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Mother’s Day: Gifted Ideas RUBY & BLUSH

FINESSE

Floral Couture

591A Remuera Road, Remuera 09 520 5331 www.finessefaceandbody.co.nz

287B St Heliers Road, St Heliers 09 521 4080 rubyandblush@xtra.co.nz facebook.com/rubyandblush

MINI TRIO AUTUMN REVIVAL 90 MINUTES OF ME-TIME! The perfect Mother’s Day gift.

Why not spoil mum this Mother’s day with flowers from Ruby & Blush. Our team of qualified florists introduce fresh ideas with fresh flowers. At Ruby & Blush making beautiful arrangements is our specialty for whatever your reason, passion or occasion. If there’s something a little different you would like, Ruby & Blush Floral Couture are here to help.

For more information you can visit the Ruby & Blush Floral Couture Facebook page, or just call today to discuss your ideas and requirements.

• Mini Skin Deep honey facial • Mini Manicure • Mini Pedicure Only $99* *One treatment per client. Valid till 31 May 2013. Gift vouchers available.

MASSAGE VOUCHER FOR THE RUB

BEE VENOM FACE CREAM

G/F Rialto Centre, 153 Broadway, Newmarket 09 524 9040 www.therub.co.nz

Available through Verve Magazine 09 520 5939 sales@vervemagazine.co.nz

Treat your mum to a relaxing health massage from 15 to 120 minutes, and receive a voucher with a free VIP card and presentation envelope.

Choose massages for either your head, neck, shoulder, back, legs, sciatica or luxuriate with their reflexology foot spa.

Check out our menu at www.therub.co.nz for inspiration or drop-in to their beautiful Rialto store anytime.

Open daily from 9am to 8.30pm

Beenigma is a premium face cream packed with unique and powerful ingredients including New Zealand produced Bee Venom, 20+ Active Manuka Honey, Shea Butter and Almond Oil. These ingredients work in harmony to stimulate our skin to produce collagen

WIN WITH VERVE & BODYWISE PILATES Make a difference to how you look and feel with Bodywise Pilates UP 4 GRABS: One free private session, including personal assessment, plus one class of your choice valued at $120. To enter, simply go to www.vervemagazine.co.nz and click on the competitions tab.

Good luck!

and elastin (naturally created in our body).

Special Verve price of $89.00 + $5 PP. Read more about Bee Venom face cream on page. 39

Bodywise @ Remuera Rackets Club 17 Dilworth Ave, Remuera 09 965 3011 www.bodywisepilates.co.nz

Cosi Fan Tutte Dear Mum, For your special day I ventured into your favourite store Cosi Fan Tutte in Devonport. I felt like I’d wandered into an old general store from days gone by.

Oh such temptation! Shall I choose some old French bric-abrac discovered in a French brocante, or shall it be a beautiful French cheese knife, or maybe a gorgeously scented candle?

Or shall it be a beautiful journal “just for her”, oh la la, I hope you love your gift mum, P.S. Isn’t the gift wrap divine?

Cosi Fan Tutte 2 Calliope Road, Devenport | 09 446 0750 www.cosifantutte.co.nz

WIN WITH VERVE & THE ART ROOM

UP 4 GRABS: A KING AND QUEEN PILLOWCASE SET FROM THE ART ROOM - www.theartroom.co.nz Interested? To enter is easy. Simply go to www.vervemagazine.co.nz and click on the competitions tab. Good luck!

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Whether they knew it or not, our mothers leave an indelible mark on our fashion identity. These are the women who dressed us when we were young - they played the role of our first personal stylist! In honour of mother’s day, Verve has asked four Aucklanders - to share the ways in which their mothers helped to shape their fashion sense.

Mum Knows Best!

Words: Jamie Christian Desplaces

Where would we be without them? With Mother’s Day on the horizon, Verve caught up with National M.P., Paul Goldsmith, and author and web designer extraordinaire, James McGoram, who were only too happy to pay tribute to their dear mums and even spill the beans on those embarrassing childhood outfits…

Paul Goldsmith “I was born in 1971, so we weren’t dealing with the best decade for fashion,” laughs Paul Goldsmith. “The choice was very limited and the results mainly embarrassing. I have memories of tank-tops that were pretty horrible and tight nylon shorts. In fact, I can remember crying on many occasions being forced to go out wearing those stubbies!”

Things got a little better for the Epsombased National politician as he reached his teens and grew very fond of the jumpers that his mum would knit. Paul talks warmly of the Mother’s Days he spent as a child with his brother and sister “doing the basic stuff, making mum breakfast in bed and generally looking after her.” The regular family camping trips to Whangamata, too, hold a dear place in his heart.

“My mother’s a wonderful lady,” he says.

“She spent her whole life looking after

others working as a nurse and one of the most important things that she taught me was to be generous with my time.”

He describes his mum as a “true blue” and says that even with him being a National M.P. he’s had many hard-core Labour supporters regale him with stories of what a marvellous nurse she has been to them.

Paul still asks her advice on many things (“though not everything!”), and believes that as a father of four, he has learned from her many fine parenting skills. “I want to raise my kids as well as she raised me,” he says.

She’ll be vacationing for this year’s Mother’s Day, leaving Paul and his children to spoil his wife by cooking her a slap-up lunch.

“My mum’s a brilliant grandmother now too,” he adds. “I’m very proud of her.”

James McGoram “I remember making breakfast in bed for mum: burnt toast and hideously strong instant coffee. As a youngster I thought the more coffee you put in the better it got,” says James McGoram, director of website design company, Messiah Ltd. “Then mum would take us on a bush walk or drag us around an exhibition at the museum in an effort to get us to appreciate nature or culture or whatever seemed appropriate at the time. All of which we dreaded, but put up with as it was Mother’s Day!” How did she fare in her role as your very first personal stylist?

“I was definitely not cool. My favourite outfit would be the maroon stubbies, matching maroon sweater and roman sandals. My brother had the same outfit and we’d wear them together, with our matching bowl haircuts.”

Above: James with mum, Elizabeth. 1988

Did your mom ever make any of your clothes?

“She did. They weren’t any cooler than the stubbies.”

Though some of James’s mum’s fashion choices may have left a lot to be desired, he says that her interests most certainly did not. Her love of great books, food, wine, design and architecture are just a few of the many things that he is thankful for.

He praises her as “a role model for being intellectually engaged with and passionate about the finer things in life.” Though, he says that he’s now “too big for his boots” to turn to her for advice.

As a father, James is learning to appreciate her on whole new levels.

“My pride in my mum is retrospective,” he says. “I didn’t realise how hard it must have been for her at the time. She kept down a job and raised three boys on her own and we never lacked anything. She cherishes her time with the grandkids now and I hope that I make her proud both as a father and husband to my family.”

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Mothers & Daughters Words: Inger-Lisa Hurst

DEBBIE AND KRISTINA CAVIT It is not difficult to spot the similarities between mother and daughter, Debbie and Kristina Cavit. Both are passionate entrepreneurs with an obvious love of travel, generous spirits and timeless elegance.

Twenty-two years ago, after her first trip to Europe, Debbie Cavit established Cavit & Co, a European focussed design store in Parnell. “When I tried to buy furniture for my first home,” says Debbie “I couldn’t find anything I loved enough to buy. I realised that it was because I just hadn’t experienced the difference between ordinary and exceptional in what was available locally.”

Kristina Cavit set up NPH New Zealand after her own overseas experience, which led her to spend two years volunteering in the Dominican Republic and to help with the Haiti earthquake relief effort. NPH New Zealand is a branch of an international organisation that cares for orphaned and abandoned children throughout Latin America. “The importance I place on giving back is hugely influenced from mum,” says Kristina. “Without my mother’s unwavering support of me, NPH New Zealand would not exist.”

“Our involvement [with our work] transcends work commitment and has become a way of life for us both,” says Debbie.

Debbie believes that her love of timeless design was something passed on to her by her mother. “My mother has fabulous style

which she imbued to all her children,” says Debbie. “She always took time with her personal presentation and in her home and to this day looks beautiful and elegant.”

Her grandmother and mother have also influenced Kristina’s sense of style. “My grandmother grew up in a modest family environment and learnt that although you don’t have a lot, you can take pride in the little that you do have,” says Kristina.

“From my mother I have learnt to appreciate quality and style that is timeless.”

“Kristina has a wonderful sense of natural style,” says Debbie.

“I have learnt from Krissy that relaxed elegance is just as stylish as structured garments and a more formal wardrobe.”

and was Highly Commended in the FQ Young Designer of the Year competition. “I think I only had two styles in all colours in my first collection,” says Sarah. “But I got the confidence to keep designing and entering competitions.”

Now Sarah’s clothing label is into its eleventh season and is operating out of a stunning boutique on Parnell Road.

Before Sarah started designing clothes, her mother Cheryl who is a published author and reputable journalist, had no real interest in fashion or even design. “I saw clothes as something functional,” says Cheryl. “It’s fair to say that I had no real idea of how to dress to flatter my shape or even begin to hide the imperfections.”

While fashion has not always been her forte, Cheryl fully supported Sarah, and now together with her husband and Sarah’s father David, owns the label and runs the financial side of the business.

CHERYL AND SARAH LILLY Sarah Lilly had a challenging beginning getting into the career she desired, leaving school in sixth form to have her first child meant that she was too young and unqualified to be accepted into any fashion courses at University.

While Sarah still designs for her Sera Lilly label, her main focus at the moment is for Sera Lilly Bridal, which she describes as simple, gorgeous and timeless, without the big price tag. “When I started looking for a wedding dress for myself, I couldn’t find any thing under $1500,” says Sarah. “Everyone can look good, it’s about finding what suits and not following trends but picking elements from trends which suit your style and body shape.”

However, the time at home with her daughter meant she was able to practice her creativity and she was eventually accepted into AUT’s Diploma in Fashion. Two months into her course, Sarah won the ASB Glam Slam Young Designer competition. In the second year of her studies, Sarah started her label, Sera Lilly

Cheryl has also learnt a lot from Sarah’s philosophy. “I dress completely differently now and I have to credit Sarah with that,” says Cheryl. “Initially I was reluctant to try her clothes, but I slowly began to see how the styles, cuts and different fabrics really could flatter my somewhat busty, curvy shape.”

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GET IT WHILE IT’S HOT! The first of the midseason sale notices has already hit my inbox with two of our largest chains discounting new season stock by up to 60 per cent. As with every year, it feels too early.

Sure, we’re mid-way through Autumn in ‘fashion speak’, but as I write this in balmy 25-degree heat, it seems the weather has scant regard for the fashion calendar.

It seems odd to have new season’s dark, merino layers on sale before anyone would want to wear them. This begs the question – should we change our fashion seasons? It seems to make sense, but there is no simple answer. Many stores hold their new season stock back while waiting for the weather to cool, but the challenge to an already struggling retail sector is what to put on the racks when all you have to offer is leftovers from a stunning summer? And what about winter’s more expensive stock, left simply languishing at the warehouse?

As consumers, we love the ‘new and now’, having long been conditioned to the fast pace of fashion with some playing the game and purchasing their new-season garments early. It’s the joy of spying something in a magazine and then beating the

crowds to nab the first look. The response to this from savvy fashion stores is to drop up to six seasons – early, mid and late.

This works well for our northern New Zealand climate, where we spend so much of our time dressing trans-seasonally.

With that in mind, I’d encourage you to pop in and grab yourself some key pieces; things that will take you from this month’s slightly cooler mornings and evenings, right through until the chill really bites in July. A lightweight knit to throw over a singlet top now but a longer, warmer option later. An easy jacket you can wear with a summer dress now, but jeans later, or a slightly heavier dress that can be as easily worked back with boots and tights as it cools but wears well with your wedges now.

Jackie O’Fee is owner of Signature Style, Auckland’s leading style consultancy.

Further information is available at signaturestyle.co.nz. Pop in and see us at 35 Broadway, Newmarket, Ph 529 5115.

See Signature Style in Verve’s Market Place on page.111

APRIL 2013

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Servilles Mission Bay We’re very excited to present the next instalment of Servilles Stylist Profiles! This month we’re meeting Ivan and Lucy of Servilles Mission Bay. Talented stylist Ivan has been with Servilles since the late nineties and has a wealth of experience under his belt. Lucy is one of Servilles new superstars, graduating Servilles Academy in 2010, Lucy is already a hugely popular stylist who has recently been promoted to advanced stylist within Servilles Mission Bay. We know it’s not easy finding the right stylist for you, so we thought we’d give you a little insight into these two stylists and what makes them tick. And if you like what you see, tear out this page and pop into Servilles Mission Bay for a visit with either Ivan or Lucy and enjoy 25% off a cut and style*.

IVAN LEE – PLATINUM STYLIST

• • • • • • •

Member of the Servilles Creative Team Stylist on the team for Servilles current Summer 2012/13 brand campaign Creative Stylist of the Year at the Servilles Awards 2012 Hair director for Servilles Hair Shows and selected designer shows at NZ Fashion Week New Zealand’s Next Top Model, including the makeover episode cycles 2 and 3.

Member of the ghd Artistic Team Hairdresser in London for five years

Favourite hair trends for the coming Wwnter 2013 We are getting stronger and more bolder in our colour application whether it be lighter, darker or pastel flecks of colour. Even the smallest flecks can add another dimension to the whole look.

Who is your style icon?

Gok Wong!

Favourite designer/label?

Issey Miyake What’s on your iPod? Old 80s and 90s music.

LUCY HSIEH – ADVANCED STYLIST

•

ID Artist on the L’Oréal Creative Team 2013

•

Member of the hair team for Servilles Hair Shows and selected designer shows at NZ Fashion Week

•

New Zealand’s Next Top Model stylist

•

Servilles Academy Certificate of Distinction

Favourite hair trends for the coming winter 2013?

I’m really loving blunt, shorter haircuts at the moment, colourwise I love how the pretty pastel colours have become more bold this season.

Who is your style icon?

Kate Moss and Nicole Richie Favourite designer/label?

Zambesi, Alexander Wang, Sass n Bide, Shakuhachi, House of Harlow 1960 What’s on your iPod? Adele – I love her music!

I can’t live without…

My family and eyeliner

I can’t live without…

My motorbike 63 Tamaki Drive, Mission Bay 09 528 1985 | missionbay@servilles.co.nz www.servilles.com Follow Servilles on Facebook at www.facebook.com/servillesbrand

*Please contact Servilles Mission Bay for further details. Bookings are essential and subject to availability. Offer valid Tues to Fri and expires 30 June 2013. This offer is only available with stylists Lucy or Ivan and discount can only be applied to a cut & style service. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers and only one voucher is valid for redemption per client.

VERVE INTERVIEWS:

Paul Serville

V: Where did your family name “Serville” come from?

P: My family name is actually Huege de Serville. Because it was a long name it was frequently abbreviated to Serville by friends over the years so consequently that’s how Servilles came about. Regarding the origin of the name, growing up my father had told me all sorts of exotic stories over the years however I’m not actually sure of the nobility in any of them!

V: Paul you have a fabulously successful business, what is the best advice you could give someone starting up?

P: Belief and conviction.

Believe in the idea of the business and what it is that you are creating. I have had many successes and I have had a few stumbles. The thing that has got me through is the absolute belief and conviction in what we are creating and the ability to think smart.

Always be clear about what your vision is.

For every new initiative that comes along, unless it is in-line with your vision then don’t do it!

V: What is your favourite holiday destination?

P: I’ve been very fortunate with what I do, I have been invited to present hairdressing or business seminars in many different countries around the world. I’m pretty lucky there’s not many places that I haven’t visited. But my favourite place to just hang out and chill on holiday is Hot Water Beach in the Coromandel.

V: Have any of your children followed in your footsteps?

P: None up until now, ask me in a few years’ time!

V: Who styles your hair Paul?

P: Well usually one of our stylists does it but while I was in Australia recently, I had a good friend of my Frank Apostolopoulos cut it at about 11pm one night!

V: Which has been the most exciting hairstyling era for you?

P: The seventies. So much changed for hairdressing in that decade. It was the era of creative experimental hairdressing.

I owned a salon called Crimpers in the seventies. Crimpers became widely renowned as the salon that started the trend of cutting and blow-waving women’s hair, eliminating the trend of women having their hair ‘set’.

V: How would you advise a client to transition from colouring her hair to accepting the dignity of ageing and going grey?

P: I believe colour can look good at any age but a snow white head of hair is hard to beat! On older men and women, one complete block colour all over does not look good, you should always let reflects of your natural hair colour shine through.

V: With the growing surge in cancer and the detrimental effects on hair loss associated with the treatment what suggestions would you have for that transition period?

P:This is something quite close to my heart as a client and very dear friend of mine Louise Perkins had breast cancer and was going through chemo yet continued to come and see me right up to the end and with a smile on her face every single time. We now work very closely with the Sweet Louise Foundation set-up in her name where they are all about encouraging positive lives with breast cancer. I have client who has been having chemo and she looks amazing with a chic and smart short haircut. I believe with every negative comes a positive and it’s all about how you carry yourself. Positivity makes up for so much.

V: What style of clothing do you enjoy wearing most?

P: I like the styles of Dior Homme, Prada, Undercover, Y3 and Anne Demeulemeester V: Which piece of clothing in your wardrobe is your current favourite?

My favourite item of clothing currently is a coat that I brought at Assin in Sydney last year. It’s a formal-style jacket by Kris van Assche who is the designer for Dior Homme but also has his own label. It’s black and the collar is designed to be like a scarf but in the same fabric as the jacket.

V: Are you like us, changing several times before you walk out the door?

P: No! That’s a woman thing!

Or maybe this is just a ‘woman’ thing?

Haha just answered above! Yes it’s just a woman thing.

Opposite page: Paul Serville, backstage in 2012 Above left: Paul in 1974 Right: Paul at first Servilles in Takapuna, 1987

V: How do you like a woman to dress?

P: A great pair of heels, I love high heels on a woman, the higher the better!

Skinny jeans always look great. But I prefer dressed-up to dressed-down, I like dressed-up-casual even when it’s casual!

V: What has been the most significant highlight in your career?

There have been so many but the highlight for me is being able to watch others grow, being part of their success through sharing the learning that I’ve had and to be able to lift an industry that I am so passionate about.

Most recently I have loved being able to turn my business knowledge into a business with the Salon Business Programme for salon owners and managers. We’ve launched this in both Australia and New Zealand and it’s been an amazing success!

Paul Serville is the Founder and Director of The Servilles Group which includes 5 world class hair salons in Auckland, the Southern Hemispheres largest and leading hairdressing training academy and the recently launched Salon Business Programme which runs throughout Australasia.

With 45 years’ experience in the industry, Paul Serville is the leading force in New Zealand hairdressing.

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THE MANY BENEFITS OF ROOIBOS IN SKIN CARE The herbal tea made from Rooibos has been a popular drink in Southern Africa for generations. The plant, Aspalathus linearis, is grown only in a small area in the Western Cape province of South Africa, however in the past ten to fifteen years, Rooibos has become popular in other parts of the world, including Australasia.

Packed with antioxidants and minerals, Rooibos, whether ingested or applied directly to the skin, is an extremely healthy choice, promoting a glowing beautiful complexion as briefly outlined below:

Charlie Ruddenklau

CHARLIE’S PILATES Words: Charlie Ruddenklau

HELPS WITH ECZEMA AND ACNE Studies show that Rooibos helps treat various skin disorders, including eczema and acne. Acne sufferers have reported that both drinking the tea and applying it to their skin helped to decrease their amount of facial eruptions. Studies are still underway to determine what exactly is in Rooibos that helps, but scientists believe that it may be the high level of flavonoids, which encourage the body to destroy unwanted pathogens.

Are any of the following familiar?

ANTI-AGEING Rooibos is rich with the enzyme superoxide dismutase - an excellent anti-aging substance, and powerful anti-oxidant.

Superoxide dismutase is necessary for the production of healthy skin-producing cells, and the high levels in Rooibos guarantee healthier skin. Superoxide dismutase also fights wrinkles by neutralizing the free radicals that cause them, which is wonderful for those who want to slow the aging process.

- bladder leaking with a cough/sneeze or when jumping on the kids’ trampoline?!

AFRICAN EXTRACTS TISSUE OIL IS RICH WITH THIS POWERFUL ANTI-OXIDANT.

Do you feel that your body isn’t quite the same since having had children? Many women experience a range of symptoms that can have a huge impact on their life and general confidence.

- prolapse?

- pelvic joint or low back pain?

- poor abdominal muscle tone / separation of the stomach muscles (rectus diastasis)?

The patented ‘green tea’ extract used in African Extracts skin care has 11 times more anti-oxidants than possible through conventional extracts. Making it a powerful tool to reduce the visible signs of ageing.

These are all problems that can occur through damage or through general weakness in the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy and childbirth. As we get older and with subsequent pregnancies these issues can worsen.

HYPO-ALLERGENIC AND ANTI-BACTERIAL Rooibos is hypoallergenic. This property in skin care allows scientists to develop skin care that is naturally suitable for all skin types. Its anti-bacterial property is another advantage, as it can treat and alleviate bacterial infections on the skin.

Women often come to me saying that they started at the gym to help their problems, however, their condition actually worsened.

Certain exercise and even some Pilates-type exercises can do more harm than good. There is often a lack of understanding among the general public for this group of women experiencing these types of health issues.

HIGH IN ZINC Rooibos also has high levels of many minerals and vitamins that promote healthy skin, especially zinc and vitamin D. You can start reaping the benefits right now by using African Extracts Tissue Oil and even more by also becoming a regular Rooibos tea drinker.

I am a physiotherapist and clinical Pilates instructor and my special interest is in women’s health. The combination of my experience ensures women can exercise safely, which is vital to understanding and addressing these issues.

Your initial consultation will be a one-on-one assessment to establish what problems you are experiencing. From here we work through a safe, personalised exercise programme alongside advice and education. I also offer small classes of up to five people, to guide your ongoing progress.

Please see my website for further details, www.charliespilates. co.nz or call me on 09 638 6775 / 021 1444 727. Also see my ad in Verve’s Market Place on page. 111

ROOIBOS TISSUE OIL. NO BATHROOM CABINET IS COMPLETE WITHOUT A BOTTLE.

Email your order to sales@vervemagazine.co.nz For delivery to your address, add $5.50

Now available through Verve for only $89 Beenigma is a premium face cream packed with unique and powerful ingredients including New Zealand produced Bee Venom, 20+ Active Manuka Honey, Shea Butter and Almond Oil. These ingredients work in harmony to stimulate our skin to produce collagen and elastin (naturally created in our body). Skin reacts to Beenigma as if it’s been lightly stung, triggering our body to produce these skin refining agents. The result is an antiageing and rejuvenating effect that makes our skin look and feel smooth and youthful by helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Regular use may also help reduce the look of scars. Beenigma contains the highest concentration of Bee Venom amongst leading products and is perfectly balanced to produce substantial results without causing inflammation. The best part is that the more you use it, the better it works as Beenigma is a cumulative formula.

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NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH VERVE FOR ONLY $22

E m a i l y o u r o r d e r t o s a l e s @ ve r ve m a g a z i n e . c o . n z Fo r d e l i ve r y t o y o u r a d d r e s s , a d d $ 5 . 5 0

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INTEGRATIVE PAIN CARE

THE FAT LOSS FOUR

Injured? Hurting? Not recovering? Or just want to improve your mobility and quality of life? It can be confusing who to see. At Integrative Pain Care, we remove the confusion by providing unique care from a range of highly qualified and experienced practitioners, all in one convenient location next the library in Remuera. So if you need expert physiotherapy, see Simon Klippel and associates. An osteopath? We have New Zealand’s most highly qualified and experienced practitioners, Dr Nick Penney PhD (Musculoskeletal Medicine) who is an internationally recognised expert in low back pain and obstacles to recovery, and Dr Shelley Joe, the only osteopath to have ever graduated with a Masters of Science in Medicine (Pain Management) from Sydney University, and who returns to practice from maternity leave in April.

If you do not embrace a lifestyle that is conducive to being healthy, lean, robust and vibrant, you will not drop body fat.

We combine all our skills to provide a unique blend of evidence-based care, communication and collaboration, which is unrivalled in New Zealand. We cover the full range of conditions from simple sprains and strains and sports injuries, to back pain or other complex musculoskeletal problems.

Pain management is based in the holistic Bio (medical) psychosocial model accepted worldwide as necessary to fully understand and explain pain. Integrative Pain Care 522 9240

This is possibly the biggest flaw in people’s diets. Not enough of it. Animal protein should be consumed alongside an abundance of vegetables and healthy fats i.e. organic butter, coconut oil at every meal. Especially breakfast.

I guarantee you that if you read this column each month you will be on the right track.

So, ladies and gents I give you the fat-loss four. These are four areas of your health that if addressed and improved will put you on the path to a healthier body composition.

PROTEIN

LIFT WEIGHTS If you want to drop body fat, get off the treadmill and lift weights. I hope you are listening, ladies! If you do not know how, invest in the expertise of a qualified strength and conditioning coach to design you a programme.

SLEEP

PROVEN SOLUTIONS TO MANAGE PAIN REDUCE PAIN INTENSITY INCREASE PHYSICAL FUNCTION/MOBILITY ADDRESS EMOTIONAL IMPACTS IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE

Expert Physiotherapy Specialist Osteopaths Pain Management Musculoskeletal Medicine Rehab/conditioning/exercise prescription

437 Remuera Road

(next to the library) Free onsite parking

09 522 9240 www.integrativepaincare.co.nz

You need seven to eight hours a night minimum. This means you are asleep when your head hits the pillow and the next time you wake up is when the alarm sounds. If you wake up more than this, you do not have ideal sleep. If your sleep is not ideal, fat loss will be a challenge.

GUT HEALTH The gut is the seat of health and a person’s ability to drop body fat (in a healthy manner) when they want to, is a good indicator of their level of health. If you have any obvious gastrointestinal symptoms, your gut health needs improving.

And this doesn’t mean going to the shops and buying some “Inner Health Plus”.

Brooke Steff (B.Nat, Dip Herb Med) is a naturopath and medical herbalist based in Remuera, specialising in hormonal balance, environmental medicine, detoxification and mental health. She is also a Level II Biosignature Practitioner and a Level II Strength and Conditioning Coach with the Poliquin International Certification Program (PICP).

You can contact Brooke via clinic phone 09 522 6759, email brooke@ webintegrativehealth.com or visit her website www.webintegrativehealth.com for any queries or appointment bookings.

Dr Bill Daniels, Dr Anton Wiles, Dr Candida Hatherley

Pat

Skin / Melanoma Checks (incl. MoleMate)

Gina

Come and see us for fantastic gifts for all ages, all your family’s health needs and excellent advice.

– Ample Free Parking –

Airlie Court, 320 Remuera Road, Remuera

145 West Tamaki Road Phone: 528 3636

Monday - Friday 8am to 6pm, Late Night Thursday by appointment.

Free Roof Top Parking

elstreepharmacy@xtra.co.nz – STOCKISTS OF INNOXA SKINCARE –

Soladey Truly magic & so convenient

Revolutionary light activated ionic toothbrush TOOTHPASTE IS UNNECESSARY Reduces bacteria that cause cavities and plaque and stops bleeding gums For more information or to place an order visit www.vedanz.co.nz

Exclusive 15 % discount for Verve readers.

Use code: vervespecial until 31 July 2013.

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A joyful quintessence of violet leaf, ylang-ylang, tuberose and orange, hints of peach, plum, narcissus and jasmine.

Avail in 40 ml bottle (comes with a free 50 ml deo spray).

Spoil yourself or buy a gift for someone you love. $39.99

For more information or to place an order visit www.vedanz.co.nz Exclusive 15 % discount for verve readers.

Use code vervespecial.

Offer available until 31 July ’13.

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VERVE EXPERIENCES:

The Golden Door

A haven of relaxation and healing awaited me behind The Golden Door.

Created to help one take time out, rebalance, refocus, relax and renew, The Golden Door was all about ‘me time’ from the moment I arrived to the minute I left, and is an experience I will remember forever for so many reasons: The people I met, the stories we shared, the laughter, the rejuvenating exercise, the deeply interesting material offered daily in a choice of lectures, and the exotic spa treatments.

Who would have thought that a serious health and fitness regime – which included no coffee, no alcohol, no television, no smoking and early nights – could be such fun, and so energising?

Well, it was.

A typical day is outlined on The Golden Door website, but basically it started at 6am sharp, when we met for tai chi in a beautifully grassy area. Then there was a bush walk, and thereafter breakfast. All meals were utterly delicious, stunningly presented, and healthy to boot.

There was no skimping and we were encouraged to eat 1500 calories daily to make up for all the energy we were

burning. Water and herbal teas were available throughout the day. At 9am we went for a stretch in the gym and there would be a lecture. After that we could perhaps do something like gym, tennis, or even belly dancing! Lunch was at 1pm.

After lunch there was boxing, yoga and a lecture maybe. Meditation happened at 4pm and at 5 there was time for reflection, Fendelkrais (the art of slowing down) and time out. After dinner we would chat for a while and were all in bed by 8pm. I would be asleep before my head hit the pillow, packing in the Zs in readiness for my 5am wake-up call the following day. * There were so many highlights, but perhaps the most enduring was the lomi lomi massage with Erika (Swedish). It was my exquisite pleasure to find out why this style of massage is often called ‘the Rolls Royce of massage’: Deeply relaxing, all stress evaporated – my lomi lomi massage was truly divine!

If you need a break from the hurly burly of life, breathing space, or a time to destress, you need to book yourself in for a week of awesome pleasure, pain and

laughter at The Golden Door. I guarantee that like me, you will leave chilled-out and slowed down. The experience may even change your life forever. *Activities are all optional. If it is your choice to simply relax with a book by the pool, then you are free to do so.

“There were so many highlights, but perhaps the most enduring was the lomi lomi massage with Erika (Swedish).

It was my exquisite pleasure to find out why this style of massage is often called ‘the Rolls Royce of massage’: Deeply relaxing, all stress evaporated – my lomi lomi massage was truly divine!”

APRIL 2013

VERVE INTERVIEWS:

Shirley Kalnins: Nurse/Educator at The Golden Door V: The title above seems a little understated for you Shirley as I know you have many “hats” you wear at The Golden Door. Can you share with Verve readers what other roles you play?

S: Yes, I wear many hats here at The Golden Door. My main role is to assess the medical and psychological health of all guests coming to stay at The Golden Door.

My other roles include nurse educator, which I find very satisfying. I give three different health lectures to the guests here each week (Secrets to Prevent Heart Disease and Cancer; Women’s Health, Learning to work with Worry and Anxiety).

My other hat is the duty manager role here at the Golden Door, which entails looking after all the guest needs for a 48 hour period of time. I also teach a dance class to the guests on a Wednesday which gives the guests a perspective of my culture (The Texas Two Step).

V: How long have you been at The Golden Door?

S: I have worked at The Golden Door for 11 years now! It has been a wonderful journey not a job…

V: What made you seek this retreat to share your knowledge and tell your most amazing captivating tales of life and your experiences?

S: The Golden Door actually was the only health retreat at the time I began my search for a health promotion career.

I was lucky enough to have found this

job just after completing my Masters in Nursing and Health Promotion.

I found the retreat one of the best experiences I had done in my life – I loved it because to me it seemed like a “glamorous boot camp” with the added advantage of five-star food and great company.

V: Do you think this is a good description?

S: Great description!

V: I guess my description above seems a little “light hearted” – I know if I would have gone there 15 years ago when I was getting divorced my experience would have been one of “healing”?

S: Oh yes definitely.

V: Why do you feel guests keep returning?

S: It is my personal belief that guests return because they love it here and they get nurtured. There is no other place to go as an adult to get nurtured in our culture. Also I think it is so popular because women are connecting with other women.

V: Can you tell Verve readers why they should book in and come to The Golden Door?

S: Readers should come and experience The Golden Door to focus on their overall health. One should not feel threatened no matter what one’s fitness levels are as we cater for all guests. A stay at The Golden Door can be life-changing, with a focus on body, mind and spirit.

VERVE READER SPECIAL Come and help us celebrate 20 years of making a difference at The Golden Door Health Retreat Queensland.

Experience our famous 7 day program for the price of 5! Prices start from just $2435 per person. OR receive 20% off our 5 day program.* *Available for stays through until 30th June 2013. Mention “Verve Magazine NZ” to redeem one of these great offers! Terms & conditions apply.

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What to Expect at The Golden Door: The Golden Door health programs are designed as an all-inclusive package to ensure guests receive a complete and holistic health and wellbeing experience. Along with our team of highly skilled professionals, we will assist you in reaching your goals.

Programme Inclusions: • • • • • • • • •

your choice of accommodation in either single, twin or double share air-conditioned chalets gourmet spa cuisine (all meals and snacks included) coaching interview on arrival to assess your current health and wellness a diverse range of wellness seminars covering a range of health topics a wide range of fitness, health, education and relaxation activities and classes full use of all facilities including two heated pools, sauna, steam room, spa, tennis courts, personal training studio, air conditioned spa and recreation room courtesy transfers available from Brisbane airport at set times (enquire on times prior to booking your flights) Indulgent spa treatments including massage and beauty treatments the seven-day program also includes the choice of two of three coaching sessions and two spa treatments (choice of relaxation/Swedish massages and facial a la carte)

A RECIPE FROM THE GOLDEN DOOR:

Linguine with Roasted Pumpkin & Avocado Pesto

INGREDIENTS 150g pumpkin (squash), diced ½ teaspoon trocomare (herb salt) 300g linguine 200g baby spinach 1 red capsicum (pepper), roasted, peeled and cut into strips 175g asparagus, blanched and slice diagonally 100g baby button mushrooms 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar 4 tablespoons avocado pesto

METHOD Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Put the pumpkin on a paper-lined baking tray, sprinkle with trocomare and roast for 25 minutes.

Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling water until al dente.

Drain and place in a large bowl with the spinach, capsicum and asparagus.

Pan-fry the button mushrooms with the lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper for about 1 minute, constantly stirring until the mushrooms are just tender. Add to the pasta with the pumpkin and mix together.

Add the pesto and stir through until the pasta is coated.

Serve with more pesto on top if you like.

Serves 4 Per serve: Energy: 1449kj (346 Cals); Protein: 15 g; Total fat: 9g; Carbohydrate: 51 g; Fibre: 12 g; Sodium: 269 mg Recipe by: David Hunter, National Executive Chef

APRIL 2013

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HEALTH & WELLBEING WITH LULU Brought to you by Huckeleberry Farms and Harvest Wholefoods

The Good Oil If you are going to buy a supplement it is always good to choose a potent, absorbable and proven product. Fish oils and their health benefits have been widely reported for some time now. The human body does not produce omega 3 essential fatty acids, so supplementation is recommended. Studies show that an individuals’ cells improve in appearance as seen under a microscope when taking an omega 3 supplement..the benefits of omega 3 supplementation include improvements in brain function, cardiovascular and nervous systems, joint health and mobility.

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AGE Concern: Can You Eat Yourself Young?

You would think aging was a disease the way it terrifies most of us. Is there anything we can do, with our daily food choices, that can complement the array of lotions and potions that promise to make time stand still? Luckily the answer from medical science is yes!

We all know smoking and sunbaking are no-nos and most of us have some awareness that diet plays a part. The word on every anti-ageing expert’s lips in this area is advanced glycation endproducts or AGEs. AGEs occur when foods are cooked at high temperatures, especially meats and cheese, but also cakes, sodas, donuts and other deep-fried foods score high on this ‘best avoided’ list.

The problem with AGEs is that they cause inflammation, which is enemy number one in the business of avoiding aging and is

also linked to most age-related diseases.

I’m not suggesting an extreme raw-food diet like Demi Moore but less barbecue, grilling and frying (anything ‘browned’ will be high in AGEs) and more boiling, poaching and steaming, is a way to start.

Sugar is another villain in the anti-aging world, creating AGEs that are particularly bad for collagen and elastin, weakening and degrading the two things that create younger looking skin! However there are lots of natural sugar alternatives, some are even anti-inflammatory like stevia.

The best approach is to enjoy the delicious foods that Mother Nature has provided for us, in their unaltered state, as often as possible. The more fruit and vegetables you can fit into your day the better you will look and feel!

Lulu is passionate about health and wellbeing and is committed to helping people live happier, healthier lives. If you have any questions or feedback for Lulu please email: lulu@vervemagazine.co.nz

MORE THAN ONE REASON TO SMILE Coffee, tea, red wine and smoking can discolour teeth and Sparklewhite Teeth can remove these stains instantly for a brand-new smile.

And you will have another reason to smile after a visit to have your teeth whitened at Sparklewhite Teeth with their current special price of $299, saving you $400!!!

“Many of our clients say they look and feel younger after our treatment and that they feel more confident.

And caps, crowns and veneers are not a problem” says Sparklewhite Teeth owner Charmaine McFarlane.

Sparklewhite Teeth is New Zealand’s largest and most trusted teeth whitening company, with highly trained technicians using the popular EURO teeth whitening system under laser LED light.

Sparklewhite Teeth is a founding member of the New Zealand Cosmetic Teeth Whitening Association (NZCTWA), which was formed to self-regulate cosmetic teeth whitening.

“Look out for the association’s logo when you are booking your treatment so you know that you are in safe hands,” says Charmaine, who is one of the NZCTWA trainers.

The popularity Sparklewhite Teeth’s private clinic means that bookings are essential so call 09 529 9359 to make an appointment. For more information about Sparklewhite Teeth visit their website at www.sparklewhite.co.nz.

“EURO is used all over the world and it is just incredible. There is no need for gum protection and there is absolutely no risk of any pain or sensitivity when having the treatment,” she says.

Results range from two to ten shades lighter in the one hour inchair treatment and will last up to two years.

“The results are as good if not better than those you get with the peroxidebased treatment. And, if clients require a follow-up session for deep staining, it only costs $150 each time.”

Sparklewhite Teeth has over 20 outlets nationwide and has a team of fully qualified and registered teeth whitening practitioners, dental hygienists, chair-side assistants, technicians and dental nurses so you can be assured of the best possible treatment.

P: 09 529 9359 E: info@sparklewhite.co.nz www.sparklewhite.co.nz

APRIL 2013

Melissa Smit Young Entrepreneur of the Year Melissa Smit was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the BNZ Newmarket Business Excellence Awards on Friday 15 March 2013.

Melissa started her business when she was 27 years old. Now, at the age of 29, she is an accomplished young woman who sees her business as a vehicle to serve the people of Auckland.

She is enthusiastic about the empowerment of women and girls and is involved in various charity activities in this regard giving of her time freely.

After a bad car accident, which caused severe back injury, Melissa became prone to excruciating back and neck pain and could no longer work as an architect. Whilest overseas, she was introduced to the Concept 10 10 franchise and enjoyed first-hand experience of this unique system and its benefits, especially as far as back pain was concerned. For Melissa it was a life-changing concept! Her experience convinced her to introduce this revolution in health and fitness to New Zealand.

In 2010, Melissa opened the doors to Auckland’s very own Concept 10 10, and has not looked back since. With strength of mind, an ability to think outside the box, and by providing a new direction in health and fitness, she is building a business to reckon with.

Above: Melissa Smit receiving her Young Entrepreneur of the Year award

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How Yoga Bought Me Back From the Brink Words: Denise Ferguson

It was curiosity that bought me to yoga but it was how alive it made me feel that kept me coming back. Now, several years on yoga keeps my body in tip-top shape but I still show up for the immediate feelings of goodness I feel each time I step onto my Manduka mat and breathe and focus my way to bliss. All the good stuff yoga provides helps me to maintain optimal health before I get sick but I managed to fall off the wagon in 2012 with a fairly hefty thunk.

Eat well, think good thoughts, exercise and drink loads of water is a great start to staying healthy right? Of course! So why, after all our efforts do we still get sick, injured and wiped out? I asked myself this question last year when I spent several months in and out of the doctor’s clinic, on and off antibiotics and even a rendezvous with a hospital bed and IV drugs for a couple of nights when severe fever and chills had rendered me too weak to stand. I had developed a kidney infection and I felt 100 years old. I was exhausted and stressed, had stopped listening to my body, and my days involved racing from one thing to the next with my yoga practice hurriedly scheduled somewhere amongst it all. I was at my wits end and no doctor, specialist or yoga pose was able to heal me. Getting to the point of physical sickness or injury pretty much means that the messages our bodies have been giving us through crappy experiences, emotional or physical niggles or a general sense of ‘run-down-

ness’ have been ignored. Finally, the only way our bodies can get through to us is to shout ‘listen up!’ with sickness, injury or disease. Often conventional medicine is sufficient to shut our bodies up for a while, and necessary if things have become too severe, but the messages will return again and again until we finally pay attention or conventional medicine stops working. I finally decided to heal my own damn self and the next few months were dedicated to healing and total wellness... enter yoga (the real stuff).

to things in my life which gave me joy.

Now, I don’t need things or events quite as much to find my groove, I just feel good most of the time. Healing through yoga is not a quick-fix and my body, mind and spirit are still on the mend.

Through my heightened commitment to maintain optimal health through daily yoga, pranayama, meditation and most importantly self-love, I now recognise any warning signs before I get sick.

It was time to start listening... really listening. I had ignored my darling friend (my body) for months so I started to reconnect by attending Vinyasa classes, doing self-led Asana at home, Pranayama (optimal control and use of my breath), meditation and lots of rest. When I finally became present I was able to gain the clarity to see where I was hurting and ignoring myself and gained vital insight into how fast and stressful my life had become. I was using caffeine to rev me up in the morning and alcohol to calm me down at night and I could see there was not nearly enough joy in my days.

Slowly, the less I focussed on what was wrong with my body and focussed more on how amazing it already was, I was able to access the deep ocean of awareness inside of me which helped me to make positive changes in my life. Over the coming months I changed the things that were contributing to my stress, which in turn led me to redirect my attention

MY WEEKLY YOGA PRACTICE: 1.

Morning Asana (yoga poses) about 10 - 20 minutes – most days.

2.

Vinyasa class about two – three days per week.

3.

Pranayama (Ujjayi) about four or five days in the week.

4.

Meditation – most days.

5.

Niyama – self control as outlined in Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga including contentment, discipline, study of spiritual texts (and myself), devotion, and purity.

6.

Yama – my relationships with the external world as outlined in the Eight Limbs including nonharming, truthfulness, non-greed, non-stealing, and abstinence from obsessions or addictions which overstimulate our senses.

7.

Self love.

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Remuera Rise Opening this Year SHOW APARtment nOW On SIte. Call michelle on 522 7392 to make an appointment to view.

Independent living with care and support if you need it. remuera rise will offer a wonderful retirement lifestyle with a range of top quality facilities within a relaxed community environment.

Choose from a range of one and two bedroom apartments. Each apartment is stylishly appointed with quality fixtures and finishes, including a heat pump and a comprehensive Fisher & Paykel appliance package.

Our new on site show apartment provides a wonderful taste of the standard and quality that you can expect at Remuera Rise. Some prime apartments available now.

dInInG room a nd Ca fé • LounGe • Ba r • LIBr a ry • HoBBIe S room • Gy mn a SIum • SwImmInG PooL and SPa • HaIr SaLon • 24 Hour emerGenCy CaLL • Care SuIteS remuera rise is registered under the retirement Villages act 2003. registration number 2557887.

* Computer Generated Image

Library*

Swimming Pool*

Communal lounge*

Apartments range from $460,000 to $1,000,000 30 James Cook Crescent, Remuera Phone: 522 7392 www.remuerarise.co.nz

Waiheke Retirement Village

waiheke retirement Village is registered under the retirement Villages act 2003. registration number 2043897.

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LifeCare Residences also owns and operates waiheke retirement Village, right on the water’s edge at Anzac Bay, Waiheke Island, offering a choice of well-designed, modern one and two bedroom villas. If an island lifestyle appeals visit www.waihekeretirementvillage.co.nz or phone: 09 372 2820.

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LOVE HIGH WIRE

DAYLIGHT DILEMMAS

Dating is such a fickle beast. One day it spoils you, licks your wounds, and brings you gifts of hope and happiness. Other times it gnaws away at your self-esteem and faith in humans, leaving you with scars you feel may never fade and a firm promise to yourself the next time the strange monster called Dating peeks its head around the corner, you’ll sprint the in the opposite direction.

Hope you were all good over the Easter weekend!

Like everything in life, your dating career will morph each year you grow older. In your teens and twenties, it’s a carnival ride. The twists and turns are exciting and sometimes end in tears, but you’ll get back in line along with plenty of other daring souls.

But as you creep into your 30s and beyond, the gala has different entrance expectations. Stricter rules are enforced and options seem fewer. Maybe you want children and keep meeting people who don’t. You may already have kids and fear no one would want to take on a pre-built family.

You’re a near shadow of your younger, headier self. Adulthood has wrapped its arms around you, and if you aren’t already with “the one”, you may find yourself standing outside the carnival of love feeling a bit lost. Panic may set in.

So what do you do to meet someone who’s in the same position as you? Which queue to the dating circus do you choose?

When the bars are no longer an option, everyone you know is either in a partnership or marriage, and you’ve exhausted the choices of singles within your circle of friends, family and work mates, what is your next step finding that special someone?

Well that’s where we come in. My name is Sasha Madarasz and I run Two’s Company – an Introduction Agency for busy singles.

Clients chose us because they would rather die than have their photo on the Internet and hate the thought of a group event where they might bump into a colleague, client or neighbor.

We meet, we talk, we let you know if we have the right people to introduce you to and then you can walk away and make your own decision in your own time.

For more information about Two’s Company visit our website www.twoscompany.co.nz or email sasha@twoscompany.co.nz.

Sasha Madarasz 0800-021-522 sasha@twoscompany.co.nz www.twoscompany.co.nz

With the turning back of the clocks and darkness creeping in, try to keep up your daily intake of sunlight to maintain a healthy level of vitamin D. One in three New Zealanders are vitamin D-deficient due to working inside all day, eating lunch at their desk or doing limited or no daily outdoor exercise/ activities e.g. gardening, walking, etc. Unfortunately getting outside only in the weekends is not enough to compensate.

The health benefits of vitamin D are huge. Michael F. Holick Ph.D., M. D and director of the vitamin D, Skin and Bone Research Laboratory at the Boston University Medical Centre says it affects insulin production, the immune system with its role in cell death and proliferation and encourages the absorption and metabolism of calcium in the body, hence, is very important for women and bone density. Furthermore, their studies have shown that a lack of this vitamin may be the primary offender in depression, heart disease, birth defects, skin and other cancers. The Journal of Alternative Medicine Review in 2005 noted there was a correlation between vitamin D and basal metabolic rate so it may have an impact on weight loss! Like we all know the importance of vitamin C for protecting us against cold and flu in winter so will vitamin D. Vitamin D levels are important to check along with your standard blood tests from your GP to see if and how deficient you may be so a proper treatment plan and dosage can be administered.

The best and most bioavailable form of vitamin D is from the sun; recommended daily dose is 15 minutes around midday without sunscreen. More time doesn’t mean more benefit. Food sources containing vitamin D include oily fish, fortified milks and some dairy foods. Alternatively supplements are an easy way to get the correct dosage.

If your energy levels or weight are not where you want them to be or you/family are susceptible to getting sick often, come see us at the Liz K Transformation Studio where we can help you look and feel great! Often it’s not what we are eating; it’s what we are not eating in our diets.

Kate Walker is a nutritional and wellness consultant at Liz K Transformation studio.

For confidence, direction, accountability and support in dietary and food habits to help reach your goals, contact Kate Walker at the Liz K Transformation Studio on 379 -2706 or kate@lizk. co.nz. Please refer to her ad in Verve’s Market Place on page.111

PRESENT THIS AD TO RECEIVE

AVAILABLE AT: SMITH AND CAUGHEY’S, ISAKELLE, GEORGINA’S, ANNE MARDELL, MAGGIE POTTER, REGALIA & PREVIEW OR CALL 09 629 2965

FOR STOCKISTS WWW.THEROOMDOWNSTAIRS.CO.NZ 09 378 9590

APRIL 2013

WHERE TO GO FOR:

Reinvented Fashion FEATURING: Covet on Richmond Road Sweetie on St Vincent Ave Verve chats with Siddhi of Encore Fashion Recycle

01. Covet Covet is no ordinary recycling shop. For a start, much of the stock is new; from recycled gold fill jewellery (made by artisans in USA) to handbags (Berkley USA) and NZ art, glass and ceramics. There are also beautiful clothes, shoes and bags and vintage knick-knacks, mostly preloved. “Consignment means that I am selling on behalf of the owner, so items in here can be new or not, but there’s always something to covet!” says owner Brigit Timpson.

Covet 168 Richmond Rd Grey Lynn (next to Ripe Cafe)

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02. Sweetie You’ll find fancy frocks, fabulous footwear and unique one-off pieces at Remuera’s secret treasure trove – Sweetie Fashion Recovery. With attentive one-on-one service and a vast array of international and favourite NZ designer labels, owner Tracy Lancaster, can help put together designer looks for much less.

“It’s my mission to help make women look and feel fabulous – one frock at a time!”

Come and discover your designer treasures at Sweetie.

Open: Tue-Fri 10am-5pm and Sat 10am-3pm 1 St Vincent Ave, Remuera (opp Remuera Library) Customer parking P: 5222 594 www.sweetie.co.nz

03. Encore Verve: How long have you been in the recycled fashion business?

Siddhi: I’ve owned Encore for ten years, though the business has been running for over 35 years in Ponsonby. This is no small feat in such a fickle industry and the store is probably Ponsonby’s longestestablished fashion business.

V: How did you get into it?

S: I have been interested in recycling clothes since I was a teenager, mainly into vintage back then...those wonderful full, floral 50s dresses and cardis. I was a bit like the guy who liked the shaver business so much, so he bought it.

Encore was a regular haunt of mine for contemporary designer fashion and one day I got chatting to the then owner, Angela. I expressed an interest in buying the business if she ever decided to sell and

VERVE CHATS… WITH SIDDHI OF ENCORE FASHION RECYCLE

2 years later, I left my career at TVNZ to become the new owner of this iconic store.

V: From where do you source your stock?

S: The majority of the stock is from a 5000-strong database of consignors who bring their items in for us to sell on their behalf. We also have a key number of retailers, designers and importers who supply us with new samples and endof-season lines. I also travel overseas to source some of the more unusual pieces.

V: What changes have you experienced in the industry over the years S: There is a greater understanding that recycling contemporary designer fashion on the level that we operate is an acceptable and sustainable thing to do.

There is no longer any stigma attached to buying pre-loved fashion.

V: Do you think all retail will end up in online stores? If not, why?

S: I believe that a retail store is an important social and therapeutic component of the community. Nearly all of us want feedback from others on what looks good, and need to communicate and interact with others for a healthy and balanced life. To spend hours online is fine for some who do not enjoy the shopping experience. But what sort of environment would it be if there were no shopping centres or neighbourhoods like Ponsonby. We should shop local and support our retailers in New Zealand as we have some of the best-quality fashion in the world right here! Keeping the money going round in our own economy has to be the right decision.

We are now accepting your quality Autumn/Winter Designer clothes, shoes and accessories.

Come and experience our professional recycle service.

279 PONSONBY ROAD, (opposite Kiwibank in Three Lamps) Ph.376 1667 or info@fashion-recycle.co.nz

APRIL 2013

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Exclusive to Covet: Recycled 14kt gold fill

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4 Dress by See By Chloé

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8 Jacket by Chanel

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Shoes by Balenciaga

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Reinvented Fashion Check out Verve’s favourite, one-off pieces from Covet, Encore and Sweetie

13 Tartan skirt by Comme des Garcon

1. Recycled 14kt gold fill with natural aqua earrings - Covet, 2.

Trelise Cooper shirt - Encore, 3. Handmade in the USA, recycled precious metals and natural gemstones; aqua and 14kt gold fill ring - Covet, 4. See by Chloé dress - Encore, 5. George skirt - Encore, 6.

Recycled 14kt gold fill and green onyx ring - Covet, 7. Recycled 14kt gold fill with green onyx earring - Covet, 8. Chanel Jacket - Sweetie, 9. Balenciaga shoes - Sweetie, 10. Paul Smith(UK) pink suede boots - Covet, 11. 14kt recycled gold red chalcedony ring - Covet, 12.

14kt recycled gold and brass red chalcedony earrings - Covet, 13.

Comme des Garcon tartan skirt - Sweetie

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OSBORNE & KENT

Newmarket Businesses Rally Behind Store Trying to Bring Vibe to Osborne Street Words: Rob Thomas

Sitka is a lifestyle fashion retailer in Newmarket’s Osborne Street whose store is made entirely from recycled, salvaged materials. To stimulate more atmosphere and encourage a sense of community in the area, since late last year Sitka have been placing couches and other furniture from their store on the pavement outside their window. However on 30th January, owner Andrew Howson posted a comment on their Facebook page announcing that “Today we lost the fight with Auckland City Council”.

Talking with other businesses in the area, I learnt that the couches were successful in attracting more customers to the area and in establishing a sense of identity for Osborne Street.

Yet the Council has deemed they are “advertising a business and not in line with what others are doing in the vicinity”. Any opposition to this ruling would require a Resource Consent Application starting at $1500. In my view, it’s ironic that rules designed to protect public space are now hindering its enjoyment as well as adversely impacting retail sales. Andrew and the team at Sitka have since made contact with the Ashley Church of the Newmarket Business Association. Together they have compiled a petition that has been signed by almost all the local retailers on Osborne Street. The petition asks neighbouring retailers to support the return of the chairs and couches to the street or a similar activity that will have the same positive effect on both community spirit and retail sales.

STREET TRADING UNDER REVIEW The Auckland Council is currently running a review to replace many of the street trading policies that apply to the region from Central Auckland to Rodney. The new single, focused street trading policy covers a range of activities including markets, street stalls, hawking, mobile shops, footpath dining and amusements. This is likely to impact on many retail businesses within the region. If you would like to find out more, please contact the Auckland Council on 09 301 0101.

A BIT ABOUT ROB My name is Rob Thomas. For those of you that haven’t met me before, I began my community service 14 years ago as chairperson of the Auckland City Youth Council. Currently I am an elected member of the Waitemata Local Board representing the views of 80,000 residents living between Newmarket and Parnell to the Western Springs area. This year, I am standing for council. My goal is to bring a new voice and refreshing, approachable style to our community.

I’m very grateful to the team at Verve magazine for offering to publish my monthly column.

Please refer to my ad in Verve’s Market Place on page.112 Above, left to right: Adam Fuhr, Mike Gallagher, Bex Connor, Prism Sagal, Andrew Howson and Rob Thomas

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Mortimer Pass, Newmarket

his inaugural Plant Fair at Highwic brings together a selected group of small specialty growers and horticultural groups who will showcase and sell all manner of special treasures – plants, bulbs, shrubs, trees, vegetables and flowers – all of real interest to keen gardeners and passionate plant collectors.

Entry $10.00, children free, includes house entry.

T: 09 524 5729 E: highwic@historic.org.nz www.highwic.co.nz

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WHAT’S ON AT:

Osborne & Kent

Featuring: The Journey: 8 Osborne Lane Dry & Tea: Corner Kent and York Street Pocket: Osborne Lane

The Journey

Contact: 8 Osborne Lane Phone www.thejourneyltd.co.nz

Life is a journey and in the case of this pop-up store in the new Osborne precinct (opposite Nood), the Journey is all about finding and creating great stylish pieces to decorate your home. Specialising in vintage and recycled products from all corners of the globe, this emporium is definitely worth a visit to find something old but new. The space the store occupies was once a bakery and the raw industrial interior reflects the amazing character of the original building with a modern twist. It’s worth visiting just to see the buildings.

Open daily from 10am

FROM THE WORLD WITH STYLE. FOR YOU TO STYLE YOUR HOME, FOLLOW THE JOURNEY

8 Osborne Lane Newmarket 11 Hurstmere Road Takapuna www.thejourneyltd.co.nz TJ_Verve_Mag_ad_180 x133.indd 1

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Dry&Tea

Contact: Corner Kent and York Street 09 522 1679

Giving customers a moment.

The Dry & Tea team has already styled thousands of Auckland women’s hair (and they do cut and colour too), but not many know about the incredible café and traditional yet contemporary courtyard, designed and planted by Second Nature, that’s open to the public.

At Dry & Tea we have bought back the art of tea-making with T2 tea, offering exceptional quality that delivers a taste sensation. Every cup is brewed to perfection and to ensure this, each customer is given a timer to guarantee that their tea is infused perfectly, and of course served in a fine tea cup.

We love the daily ritual of tea at Dry & Tea, and have a large range of T2 premium, fragrant tea and tea-wares so that you can take your favourite tea home with you and recreate your moment. Now that moment can be made even more delectable by our new chef who has created a breakfast and lunch menu to rival the neighbouring cafés, not to mention the new sweet treats on offer. Some breakfast favourites include the incredible breakfast wrap complete with secret sauce or the bircher muesli with Otago apricots and brazil nuts, Kaipara

kumara tortilla with eggplant mayonnaise and open sandwiches which look and taste incredible. Dietary preferences like glutenand dairy-free have also been catered for, so there is something for everyone.

Dry & Tea always offer a ‘tea of the week,’ so every person that walks through the door can experience a flavour they may not have tried before. Some of our favourite and most popular teas are our French Earl Grey and Gorgeous Geisha. Every person that tries them immediately buys a box to take home. They are irresistible!

At Dry & Tea we love our coffee too, and serve Allpress coffee to have in or take-away.

Why not surprise Mum this Mother’s Day with some gorgeous T2 Tea from Dry & Tea and give her breakfast and tea in bed!

It’s an affordable luxury we know Mum’s going to love!

Opening hours 8am - 4pm Monday to Saturday Free 1 hour parking across the road with a validated receipt

WIN WITH VERVE AND

UP 4 GRABS: MOTHER/DAUGHTER COMPLIMENTARY MORNING TEA. PLUS EACH RECEIVE A BOX OF T2 TEA TO TAKE HOME Interested? To enter is easy. Simply go to www.vervemagazine.co.nz and click on the competitions tab. Good luck!

APRIL 2013

Pocket

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Contact: Osborne Lane 4 -6 Kent Street 09 529 2167 www.pocketboutique.co.nz facebook/pocketboutique

The team from MADE in Britomart are very excited to announce the opening of their new store POCKET in Osborne Lane, Newmarket.

POCKET is a men’s and women’s boutique specialising in a unique hand-picked selection of labels from around the world.

For men we feature exclusively in New Zealand La Panoplie from Paris and Libertine Libertine from Copenhagen. Also for men we carry A.P.C. from Paris, Nobody denim from Melbourne, Levis, Beau Coops footwear and a fantastic selection of wallets and bags.

Our women’s selection is diverse and we proudly feature exclusively in New Zealand Sessun from Paris, Maiami handknits from Berlin, Swedish Hasbeens, Anniel shoes from Italy and in accessories Trois Petit Points jewellery from Paris and Land by Land candles from the US. Other international labels we carry are American Vintage from Paris, Beau Coops for women, Nobody denim for women and more.

We have wonderful, colourful and inspiring collections from New Zealand designers Karen Walker, Hailwood, Penny Sage, Arielle Mermin, Standard Issue, Zoe & Morgan and Zora Bell Boyd jewellery.

We also carry a hand-picked selection of vintage bags from Louis Vuitton, Gucci and other luxury brands.

Come by and visit our friendly and knowledgeable staff and experience something a little different.

— The team from MADE in Britomart are very excited to announce the opening of their new store POCKET in Osborne Lane, Newmarket.

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Book Reviews Contributor: Doris of Arcadia Books

1. Z: A NOVEL OF ZELDA FITZGERALD Therese Anne Fowler In real life she was married to the famous author, Scott Fitzgerald, young Zelda wants her own star to shine a little bit brighter and so she becomes “The First Flapper”.

She really becomes the darling of the jazz and literary set. Zelda and Scott travel the world, wherever they live becomes party central. Zelda is glamorous woman in a glamorous society but the fast, high life brings with it its own problems and Zelda begins to crack. Therese Anne Fowler has woven a very readable novel around the real facts of Scott, Zelda, and their close circle of friends and she really brings the “Roaring Twenties” alive again. A perfect read for fans of The Paris Wife, or Fitzgerald followers in general.

2. LIFE AFTER LIFE Kate Atkinson The darling of the bookclubs, a new Kate Atkinson is a rare and welcome treat and one to be devoured slowly and carefully.

You have to give yourself time to digest the cleverness of her writing and the way her characters are defined,after that is accomplished, Life After Life is a challenging but very rewarding read and it will provoke much discussion around the table. I found the best way to enjoy it is to settle down for a long afternoon’s reading and ignore everything else except the book. Long after finishing Life After Life, you will think of Ursula Todd and the choices she made in life again and again and again.Kate Atkinson never disappoints but always surprises her readers for which they remain eternally grateful.

the memory of her “dream family” alive.

Wave brings home to the reader the loss, love and remembrance felt by Sonali Deraniyagala in the most intimate telling of great tragedy. Highly recommended.

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4. AMITY AND SORROW Peggy Riley A mother and her two teenage daughters escape from a suspicious fire and take the opportunity to run away from an incredibly controlling father and husband and the fundamentalist cult that he runs. Rescued by a farmer who offers them a place to stay, Amity loves her new freedom but her sister Sorrow longs for the confines of home and their mother Amaranth, need to find out what has happened to the women and children she has abandoned to her husband. What will they do when a taste of freedom makes life even more complicated. Complex and dark Amity and Sorrow is a story of God, sex and farming and a great first book from a new author. Add her name to your reading list now.

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3. WAVE Sonali Deraniyagala Sonali and her parents, two young sons and husband Steve were holidaying on the southern coast of Sri Lanka on the morning of 26 December 2004, the day and place the massive destructive tsunami struck. Sonali survives but her family are lost and Wave is her story. She bares her soul and writes with heartfelt sadness but also with such clarity that her book is compulsive reading. The “big sea” changed many lives forever that day and by telling her personal story Sonali keeps Arcadia Bookshop 26 Osborne Street, Newmarket (09) 522 5211 www.arcadiabookshop.co.nz

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Coming up at the Movies THE COMPANY YOU KEEP When a former member of the radical protest/terrorist organisation the Weather Underground (Sarandon) turns herself in to the FBI, Ben Shepard (LaBeouf), an aggressive young journalist, starts searching around for leads on the other members.

Before long Ben uncovers Jim Grant (Redford) a former Weatherman and a fugitive wanted for murder. After living for more than thirty years under an assumed identity as a civil rights lawyer and single father in New York, he must now go on the run.

Directed by Robert Redford Starring: Robert Redford, Shia LaBeouf,Nick Nolte, Chris Cooper, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci Runtime: 125 minutes | Rated TBC

IN CINEMAS APRIL MAY 2ND

BARBARA Set in 1980, director Christian Petzold’s latest work centres on a doctor (Nina Hoss) exiled to a small town from East Berlin as punishment for applying for an exit visa from the GDR (East Germany). Planning to flee for Denmark with her boyfriend, Barbara remains icy and withdrawn around her colleagues, particularly with the lead physician (Ronald Zehrfeld), who is hiding a secret of his own. With her patients, however, the guarded doctor is kind, warm, and protective, even risking her own safety for one of her charges.

But as the day of her planned escape quickly approaches, Barbara starts to lose control, over herself, her plans and over love.

Masterfully controlled and totally absorbing, this Cold War thriller expertly details the costs of telling and withholding the truth Directed by Christian Petzold Starring: Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Rainer Bock Runtime: 105 minutes | Rating: M Sexual references

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IN CINEMAS APRIL 11TH

YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER Woody Allen’s You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger follows a pair of married couples, Alfie (Anthony Hopkins) and Helena (Gemma Jones), and their daughter Sally (Naomi Watts) and husband Roy (Josh Brolin), as their passions, ambitions, and anxieties lead them into trouble and out of their minds.

After Alfie leaves Helena to pursue his lost youth and a freespirited call girl named Charmaine (Lucy Punch), Helena abandons rationality and surrenders her life to the loopy advice of a charlatan fortune teller.

Unhappy in her marriage, Sally develops a crush on her handsome art gallery owner boss, Greg (Antonio Banderas), while Roy, a novelist nervously awaiting the response to his latest manuscript, becomes moonstruck over Dia (Freida Pinto), a mystery woman who catches his gaze through a nearby window.

Despite these characters’ attempts to dodge their problems with pipe dreams and impracticable plans, their efforts lead only to heartache, irrationality, and perilous hot water.

Directed by Woody Allen Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Josh Brolin, Naomi Watts, Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto Runtime: 99 minutes | Rated: TBC

WIN WITH VERVE & YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER UP 4 GRABS: Three double passes thanks to Trigger Marketing! To enter, simply go to www.vervemagazine.co.nz and click on the competitions tab.

IN CINEMAS APRIL 11TH

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Is There Anybody There?

Words Jaime Christian Desplaces

A 2008 study of 6000 New Zealanders by Victoria University associate professor of psychology, Marc Wilson, revealed that a third of the population believes that we can communicate with the dead, 18% believe in telekinesis, 40% that part of us survives physical death and that almost half believe mind-reading is possible.

“The more you adhere to traditional religion,” Wilson tells me, “the more likely you are to believe in other paranormal activity. I want the world to be mysterious.

I’d love to be confident that there’s something going on that we can’t explain.

Sadly, if I wear my scientist hat, there’s nothing to suggest this is the case.”

There is a danger that sceptics – who are often atheists – allow their disbelief in a god to close their minds to the possibility of there being ‘another world’, scenarios that could reasonably be mutually exclusive. Scepticism – and atheism – is arguably not the antithesis of faith, but simply a differing form of it.

“I think scepticism is healthy and I welcome it,” says Kerry-Marie Callander, who runs her own Auckland-based psychic service, Spiritual Decisions. “But I have had sceptics in tears because I’ve provided them with evidence that is so profound that they’ve apologised for doubting me.”

Kerry has been trained by renowned US medium Doreen Virtue and makes annual visits to England’s Arthur Findlay spiritual college. The UK, she says, has far stricter regulation policies, something that she would like to see adopted here to avoid vulnerable clients being taken advantage of. Kerry claims that anyone can hone their psychic skills, it’s simply a case of learning to interpret your senses (“You can feel when you walk into a room if people have had an argument in it”), but as with musical or sporting abilities, some are more naturally gifted than others. She feels that there is too much ignorance and laments the easy-to-mock crystal-ballgazing psychic stereotypes.

“I can’t read people’s minds and I can’t tell fortunes,” she says. “I don’t go around ‘being psychic’, I’m not God. It’s like choosing to turn on a radio and tuning into a station. One man showed himself to me through music and his tattoos, it couldn’t have been anyone else. He’d taken his own life and his wife blamed herself because they’d had a fight but he told me to tell her that he planned to do it anyway. She couldn’t forgive herself before that. Who else could have helped her but a medium?”

It’s not just members of the general public who seek spiritual guidance. Rumours are rife that police forces throughout the world regularly, though unofficially, request the help of clairvoyants.

“I’ve worked in the forensic field for over 40 years,” says Professor Glynn Owens of Auckland University School of Psychology, “and I’m pleased to say that no-one I’ve ever met in forensics would ever take this kind of thing seriously.”

In 2009, London’s Metropolitan Police Force issued a statement to the BBC refuting claims that psychic Joe Power had assisted them with a high profile murder case. However, following a report by investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre, which proved that the Met had, in fact, contacted Power for help, the UK’s premier police force issued a second statement refusing to “identify people we may or may not speak to in connection with enquiries. We are not prepared to discuss this further.”

Two years earlier Britain’s Ministry of Defence was forced to admit spending £18,000 researching whether psychics could find hidden objects and from 1972-1995 the American government invested US$20million in the Stargate Project to investigate whether

Kerry claims that anyone can hone their psychic skills, it’s simply a case of learning to interpret your senses (“You can feel when you walk into a room if people have had an argument in it”), but as with musical or sporting abilities, some are more naturally gifted than others. She feels that there is too much ignorance and laments the easy-to-mock crystal-ballgazing psychic stereotypes.

paranormal powers could be of military benefit during the Cold War. “On occasions where a psychic practitioner gets something right it’s because we underestimate the odds of them doing so,” Wilson tells me. “Got a scar on your left knee? Turns out that a lot of people have but we think that it’s less common than it is.”

Be that as it may, it’s rather trivialising the issue. Any psychic worth their salt will produce far more intriguing observations which is what makes the whole issue so fascinating. Of course, many predictions miss the spot, but if a soccer player shoots wide ten times during a match, it doesn’t invalidate the one goal that he does score.

And it must be comforting to live with the steadfast belief that we pass over not to blackness, but a better place?

“I’m still scared of death, but I know there’s life after it,” says Kerry. “I don’t believe in hell. We create our own hell on earth and after we go over we review our lives and become better souls. A psychic gift is not evil – it’s for the good of mankind. It heals and should be conducted with love to direct people to reach their full potential.”

APRIL 2013 FOOD 4 THOUGHT

PASK

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Let’s be honest, has there ever been a car as cool as the Holden HQ, well probably, but let’s not ruin a good story. Thirty odd years ago Chris Pask was driving an HQ and flying top dressing planes in Hawke’s Bay. This gave him the perfect vantage point to observe the landscape and plenty of time to dream.

A dream without a plan is just a dream. So from aloft Chris decided to purchase land and plant the first grapes on Gimblett Road in 1981. The Hawke’s Bay farming aristocracy chuckled to themselves. So did Chris, this area is now recognised as one of the leading viticultural regions in New Zealand and known as Gimblett Gravels.

Meanwhile Kate Radburnd was driving a VW, she was young and keen and had dreams too. Now she is one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed winemakers. She commands an international reputation for her extensive record of award-winning wines and her vision and contribution to the industry.

So take a full dose of Chris, with the foresight and passion, and add a bucketful of Kate’s winemaking finesse and attention to detail, and the results are worth every mouthful.

The Pask wines are worthy of their reputation for producing consistently excellent wine.

From the approachable Roy’s Hill wines through to the elegance and depth of the Declaration range, Pask has wines to exceed every need.

WINERY OF THE MONTH

These days HQs and VWs are fond memories but the dreams and passion are alive and kicking.

We can write about it all day, but the proof is in the glass. This month at Glengarry Newmarket we celebrate all things Pask and every Friday in April from 2pm we will be tasting a couple of Pask wines. Join us to unearth the essence of Hawke’s Bay and enjoy the labours of dreamers with a plan.

Glengarry Newmarket, 22 Morrow Street. Phone 524 5789.

FREE PARKING.

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Above: Kate Radburnd in Barrel Hall

0800 733 505

SALES@GLENGARRY.CO.NZ

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This page: Donna Hay

Donna Hay Words: Jamie Christian Desplaces

“I’m actually a bit of a nerd!” jokes Donna Hay when I ask how her love of all things food was born. “So I relished the science part of baking - the balance of passion, temperatures and times to ensure the best results.”

The former food editor of Marie Claire is now one of the most respected figures in her field (2007 saw her bestowed the title as one of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ international cookbook authors) and heads a culinary global empire. Donna’s award-winning recipe books have sold in the millions, her eponymous international glossy magazine, now with its own app, is one of the most-read of its kind, she has a TV series and is a regular columnist for publications here, the UK and her native Australia where she has also found fame as a MasterChef judge. I ask Donna if the show is something that she would have considered entering earlier in her career.

“I’d never have had the courage to take part, it’s taken me most of my working life to even make a series of my own!” she says. “But I admire those that do put themselves out there. I also think that shows like MasterChef have been instrumental in getting people back into the kitchen, which is a great thing.”

The popularity of such shows has risen dramatically in recent years, and continues to do so, why do you think that is?

“Food is no longer just a small part of our lives it’s the centre of everything that we do

- the starting point for family dinners, social functions and conversation. Some of life’s best moments and memories come from an occasion that starts with food.”

While on the subject of social occasions, you’re hosting a dream dinner party, who, dead or alive, would be on the guest list?

“Well, I’d hope they’d be alive for the party! It would have to be Coco Chanel, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow and Liz Hurley.”

Liz Hurley, having once tweeted that Donna Hay is her favourite cookery writer, would no doubt be thrilled at the prospect. It is Donna’s simplistic approach to cooking that has made her such a force, her books, she says, are about “getting all the flavour, without the fuss. To show people how easy it is to make a decent meal.” She’s a fan of Jamie Oliver – who in return has hailed her as “his inspiration” – his passion for both the food and the experience of making it. “It’s hard not to admire someone who sets themselves huge challenges and inspires others to be similarly minded,” says Donna.

Her favourite food is ice-cream in all its various forms and she tells me that “if you have an egg in your pantry,

you have a meal at the table”, though tinned beans, chickpeas and tomatoes, dried pasta, olive oil, lemons and fresh herbs are the bare essentials that should always grace our kitchen cupboards. She loves the Asian cooking technique, with their bold flavours and fresh produce, something that suits her “fast, fresh and simple approach”. Huge pressure must come with continually having to think up new ideas, I ask Donna from where she draws inspiration.

“It doesn’t feel like pressure when it’s something you love,” she says. “Plus, I love finding a new way to approach a favourite recipe or adding a shortcut. As for inspiration, I tend to find it in little details, whether a shop window display, a fabric pattern, texture or typography. The list goes on.”

Donna has developed a kitchen range with Royal Doulton, which she says is an extension of her approach to food styling. The original concept was born in the prop room of her studio and she then worked with the company’s design and development teams to take the ideas into production.

“The pieces of the collection were inspired from my vintage finds and whimsical elements I know people love to

APRIL 2013

have at home,” says Donna. “All centred around the kind of food occasions and everyday meals that we all enjoy.”

An online gift registry is about to be added to her website which will cater for everything from weddings to birthday parties, as well as a new blog which will update her fans about “exciting adventures with food, lifestyle and special finds.” Donna Hay is one busy lady. She has two young sons, Tom and Angus, and I ask if they help out around the kitchen to lessen the workload.

“They love cooking,” beams Donna - their recent obsession with having a starter before their main course has also aided her in her quest to sneak more vegetables into their diet. “They also love it when I make pizza from scratch to cook on the barbecue and when we go out, they love to go on sushi dates with mum.”

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There’s loads going on in and around Auckland this Mother’s Day. “Songs For Mom” at Alberton, Mt Albert will showcase a performance of mom-themed songs (www.alberton.co.nz), Howick Little Theatre, Pakuranga is hosting Shakespeare plays directed by Judy Rankin (www.hlt.org.nz) and the Stardome on Manukau Road is putting on a special “Mum’s a Star” event. Down in Waiuku, “Steel ‘n’ Wheel” will making a return with its host of markets, eateries, vintage vehicle shows and a performance by the Rock ‘n’ Roll Allstars complete with dancers (www.eventfinder.co.nz/user/ waiukutownmanager).

Of course kick-off the day by treating mum to a home cooked meal and if this glorious weather continues, why not fire-up the barbeque or pack a picnic for your family day out. Here’s a couple of recipes from Donna Hay’s latest book, Fresh and Light...

Lemon Chicken with Tomato Salad

Quinoa Pea Fritters with Zucchini

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

4 heirloom tomatoes, thickly sliced

To make the lemon dressing, combine the lemon rind, sugar, lemon juice, oil and salt. Set aside.

2 cups (240g) cooked peas 2 cups cooked white quinoa 1 eggwhite

Divide the tomato, mozzarella and mint between serving plates.

Slice the chicken and toss with the rocket. Top the tomato with the chicken mixture and spoon over the dressing to serve. SERVES 4

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Roughly mash half the peas and place in a bowl with the quinoa, eggwhite, rice flour, oil, salt and pepper and mix well to combine.

Shape 1⁄4 cupfuls of the mixture into thin patties. Heat the extra oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat and cook, in batches, for 3–4 minutes each side until golden. Drain on absorbent paper. Toss the remaining peas with the zucchini, lemon and mint and serve with the fritters, labna and lemon cheeks. SERVE 4

2 large buffalo mozzarella, torn in half 1 cup mint leaves 3 x 180g poached chicken breast fillets 150g rocket leaves, shredded lemon dressing 2 tablespoons finely grated lemon rind 11⁄2 teaspoons caster sugar

2 tablespoons rice flour sea salt and cracked black pepper 2 teaspoons vegetable oil, extra 2 zucchinis, shredded using a julienne peeler 1 tablespoon lemon juice

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1⁄2 cup mint leaves

2 tablespoons olive oil

2⁄3 cup labna (yoghurt cheese)

sea salt

lemon cheeks, to serve

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YOLKR :Cracked It! ®

Words: Jamie Christian Desplaces

“We sit here and we’re surrounded by millionaires,” says a young Tom Cruise in the movie, Cocktail, as he basks outside a Jamaican bar with a love-struck Elisabeth Shue. He raises a toothpick, she inspects an ashtray. He admires a cocktail umbrella, lifts his sneaker then points to the small plastic ends of the laces. Shue tells him that they probably have some weird name, like a fluglebinder. All of these items, says a forlorn Cruise, have made their makers fortunes. Shue tells him not to worry, he’ll find his fluglebinder someday. He didn’t.

They found love instead.

Many have day-dreamed of inventing that very something that people don’t even realise that they need until it’s right there in front of them, but few manage to turn those dreams into reality. Hamish Dobbie is one of those few. His ingenious culinary item, YOLKR®, is an attractive, functional hand-held pump that with one simple squeeze seamlessly separates the egg yolk from the white. It is destined to grace kitchens around the globe but, incredibly, when the 30-year-old Kiwi first pitched the idea to major homeware companies he was turned away.

“I made some phone calls, but no-one was interested,” says Dobbie. “They didn’t really grasp the idea. If something doesn’t exist, then it’s hard to sell.”

Unperturbed, Dobbie persevered and the resulting product is so easy to use that his elderly grandfather nailed it at first attempt. No more cracked egg shells in your baking mix, no more split yolks - it’s guaranteed to work first time, every time.

The YOLKR® is constructed using foodsafe materials and is dishwasher safe, too.

Erring on the side of caution, Dobbie set an initial target of £15,000, which they reached in just five days. The final amount totalled over £43,000, with over 2,000 backers pledging their support. Dobbie tells me that he was overwhelmed by the response.

“The platform was a worthwhile gamble,” he says. “There’s a huge audience and you get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ pretty quickly.

People all around the world want to distribute or retail it and companies that turned me away at first have now shown an interest not realising that I’m the same who person who approached them before. It’s been very satisfying.”

Dobbie loves creating and derives great pleasure from getting instant results.

He describes the project as a learning curve and looks forward to honing his entrepreneurial skills. YOLKR® isn’t Hamish’s first foray into the world of business, having set up MedSailors™ (www.medsailors.com) with two old university friends a couple of years ago.

Based in the UK, the company offers skippered yachts for a week’s worth of cruising, snorkelling and exploring the islands of Greece, Croatia and Turkey.

“A group of us chartered some yachts in Greece and had an absolute blast, so we decided to take it to the market,” he says.

“We’ve now got it to a stage where we’re relatively established with a place in that market. It keeps us all busy.”

Funds were raised through Kickstarter, a crowdfunding website that provides a platform for artists and inventors to advertise their creations to potential investors.

As for the YOLKR® its success has been so instant, and on such a scale, that Hamish isn’t yet exactly sure where it will take him.

“It’s a very honest platform,” says Dobbie.

“They take a small clipping from funds raised and deposit the rest into your bank account. The relationship is really between ourselves and the Kickstarters – our backers – who have, in good faith, put down their money in advance.”

“Our first step is to supply it to those who have put up the funds, and a close second will be to get on to the shop shelves,” he says. “I’m still deciding how to manage it. There’s a great opportunity to create a brand and I’m keeping an open mind. It’s exciting to have so many options with contact from distributors and

manufacturers around the globe. We’ve been really fortunate.”

It’s not all down to good fortune. Like the old saying goes, we make our own luck, and of course the YOLKR’s® of this world don’t invent themselves. Good on him.

Check out the site www.yolkr.com for more details.

Unperturbed, Dobbie persevered and the resulting product is so easy to use that his elderly grandfather nailed it at first attempt. No more cracked egg shells in your baking mix, no more split yolks - it’s guaranteed to work first time, every time.

APRIL 2013

ORDER YOUR YOLKR IN ADVANCE

®

YOLKR® will be available in New Zealand from July and we already know that they will be a hit.

Ensure that you get one, or more (they will be wonderful as little gifts) by placing your order now.

Available through Verve for only $25 Email your order to sales@vervemagazine.co.nz For delivery to your address, add $5.50.

Delivery in July 13

Ollies Words: Jamie Christian Desplaces

Last Valentine’s Day Royal Oak’s Ollies Burger and Ice Cream Parlour turned 40. Presumably it was a deliberate act, choosing the year’s most romantic day to open the shop?

here as kids,” beams Colin.

“Then they’d come here with their girlfriends, then when they got married, then with their kids and some even with their grandkids now as well.”

“Not at all, no-one celebrated it back then,” says owner Colin Haines. “But now it’s actually a big thing for us. We have lots of people here for their Valentine’s dates, and even some weddings too.”

Colin and his wife have four children. They must have been the envy of their peers, having an unlimited supply of fast-food and ice cream. “It was wonderful,” says Colin.

“We had a lot of fun and our grand-daughter recently celebrated her first birthday here in fact.”

Their last bash, a decade ago, saw around 180 loyal staff and customers past and present join Colin to raise a glass. Some had even made the trip from as far as Australia. Ollies’ status is one that could certainly be considered legendary.

“So many people talk about how they used to come

He doesn’t like to name-drop, but Colin assures me that the retro-American style diner has hosted television stars, politicians and even the odd Hollywood actor searching for an authentic taste of home.

It’s also been the setting for a Vodaphone commercial.

And as for the name, Ollies?

“There’s no story behind that I’m afraid,” Colin says. “We were just looking for a good name, but my best friend’s daughter has just had a little boy and I’m sure you can guess what they’ve called him!”

People are more healthconscious now than they were 40 years ago, I ask Colin if he’s noticed a shift in the attitude of his customers.

“Well, if you were worried about eating ice-cream then you wouldn’t come here would you?” he smiles.

“And anyway, who doesn’t love an ice-cream?”

Exactly.

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APRIL 2013

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HOME

Four Quick Tricks to a Modern Looking Home 1. Everyone enjoys the latest style in furniture for their home. White and black furniture is timeless; it will give an instant sophisticated look to your home. When choosing furniture, keep an eye out for white glossy pieces. Not only will it help increase light reflection making your home brighter, it is also very easy to clean and maintain.

2. While simple colours are essential for a harmonious-looking home, it is equally important to add eye-catching pieces in vibrant colours that demand attention. Use bright green, yellow or purple carpet under a coffee table. Throw in a red Jacobson Egg chair or any other occasional chair. Just these 2 items can make your family room refreshing.

3. Bring back the past. Yes the new way to a modern-look this winter is to add some vintage collections to your modern furniture. Add lamps, shelves, clocks and chairs to your room. Choose items made of wood and have earthly colours.

Upholster chairs with fabric to enhance the look of your room.

4. Don’t forget the final touch. Deciding on furniture, ornaments and others pieces is great, but to complete your modern look you need to de-clutter spaces. Yes, the things that you haven’t used in the last six month can be stored away elsewhere.

Books need to be stacked vertically on shelves and smaller items can be arranged in straight lines and squares. It’s time to show off your newly decorated home!

You can find all these items and more ideas at Aplus Furniture.

With caring customer service, high-quality products and competitive prices you will find something for your home at Aplus Furniture. www.aplusfurniture.co.nz 09 579 6777 194 Station Road, Penrose

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MONDAY - FRIDAY 10AM TO 5:30PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10AM TO 4PM

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GEN-C

Building on Traditional Ethics Words: Inger-Lisa Hurst

“I have always wanted to be a builder,” says James Hosking. “When I was 7 years old I had a t-shirt which read ‘I am an almost builder.’ For my 21st birthday my father had me an adult size version of the same t-shirt printed. My dreams haven’t changed since then.”

A matter of months before he completed his apprenticeship Hosking knew he had something different to offer the construction industry and set out to start his own company, J R Hosking Carpenters & Co. “I love the craft and I knew I wanted to set out on my own. So I did,” he says.

Hosking carried out his three-year apprenticeship with award winning carpenter Simon Barrow. Hosking spent a large portion of his apprenticeship working alongside Barrow on high-end renovations around Auckland. Towards the end of his apprenticeship, Barrows moved to Australia and Hosking completed his apprenticeship with a friend of Barrows where he got to see a completely a different way of operating. Instead of renovations, Hosking worked on new builds in large-scale developments, where it was mostly about efficiency and getting the building up as quickly as possible. “It was great to learn how this side of the industry operates,” he says. “But I knew I wanted to get as far away from that as possible.”

Hosking is passionate about the traditional approach to carpentry, basing his business on the ethos of simplicity, quality and spending plenty of time with each client. “I don’t want to be known as one of the big boys in the industry, I just want to be known as the best,” he says.

On completing his apprenticeship in 2010, Hosking and his partner, Maria Taylor set off on their OE. With Maria currently completing her Masters in Architecture, the duo spent five months travelling through Europe and Scandinavia in a campervan looking at architecture and design collecting ideas and inspiration in a visual diary. “It was all about architecture and design and experiencing the landscape,” says Hosking.

While Hosking has been working 7 days a week since returning from overseas in November last year, he is still operating as a one man band. “I am still feeling fresh,” he says. “I don’t have any full time staff yet, but I do have people I can call on to help me with labouring and building when I need it.”

Hosking is of the theory that the small jobs he is currently busy with will bring in the big jobs down the line. “The small jobs are just as important as the big jobs,” he says. “I do my best no matter what size the job.”

Hosking is passionate about the traditional approach to carpentry, basing his business on the ethos of simplicity, quality and spending plenty of time with each client.

Much like many other up and coming designers of his generation, Hosking is readily aware of environmental sustainability and the importance in using efficient design to optimise the natural environment and also using sustainable resources. “Maintainability is also very important,” says Hosking. “It is crucial to design in a way that the building can be easily maintained to operate at its optimum.”

Hosking is hugely appreciative of the immense support he has had from both his parents. “My father is very practical,” says Hosking. “He has his own fencing business and is also a big traveller. My mother is a business woman so really I have the perfect grounds and support for setting up my own carpentry business.”

“Working for myself means I have my own motivation. I don’t have anyone telling me what to do and I love problem solving and the variants the job throws me on a daily basis.”

For more information contact J R Hosking Carpenters & Co at jamesrhosking@gmail.com or 0211 146 465.

Building, Renovating, Decorating?

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Introducing: Momo Living Remarkable design at affordable prices.

Housed in the heart of the Parnell / Newmarket shopping district, in the rustic and charming building that was once home to Trelise Pretty Things, Momo Living has opened its first store at 479 Parnell Road (between Exquisite Laser and Raymond Salon de Coiffure).

Approximately 100 square metres in size, this brand-new home and giftware store is the brainchild of talented interior designer, Michelle Jiang The range on offer features sometimes edgy and eclectic, and sometimes favourite and best-loved designs in furniture, lighting, bedding, and a depth of home and giftwares (including antique, stamped, hand-woven fabrics, amazing mirrors, clocks, wall prints, bamboo toweling, in fact a diversity of refreshingly different pieces). All products on display are united by their enduring design, reasonable prices and the quality of materials used, with most designs exclusively available at Momo Living.

Michelle and her business manager, Jacqui (who has worked for many years in the furniture industry) will greet you warmly and provide you with answers to your questions, and any assistance you seek.

Momo Living is a must on your to-do list, especially if you are at a loss for home or gift ideas (remember Mother’s Day is just around the corner).

As well as the extensive in-store range, customers will soon have the option to browse the entire collection online. So watch this space.

Momo Living 479 Parnell Road 09 377 0388 www.momoliving.co.nz Open Mon to Sat: 10-6pm Sunday: closed

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THREE DAMES DIG DEEP FOR HOSPICE Dame Catherine Tizard, Dame Rosanne Meo and Dame Rosie Horton are all supporting Hospice West Auckland by donating an item with sentimental value for a special Mother’s Day auction in May. The three dames have agreed to give up a personal treasure as the first donations in a drive to find a hall full of beautiful items for Hospice to sell to raise funds to help provide Hospice beds to the people of West Auckland.

It is hoped that their gesture will encourage people all over Auckland to make donations of high-quality items for the Hospice to sell at their “Putting on the Ritz Mothers’ Day” afternoon tea in Auckland on 12 May. “China tea cup, lovely plate, silver vase, jewellery or crystal glasses, we are looking for lovely things that people no longer have a need or use for” says Barbara Williams, chief executive of Hospice West Auckland. “Maybe it is a special family heirloom which no-one in the family wants or has room for – whatever it is, we would like to use it to raise funds for Hospice”.

The goods will be displayed at the Putting on the Ritz Afternoon Tea which will be held at the Hopetoun Alpha. They will be made available for direct sale in a lovely shop at the event although really special items may well be auctioned to the highest bidder.

FUN IN BED Famous UK fundraising event – The Great Bed Race – comes to New Zealand to raise funds for Hospice The well-known and highly successful UK fundraiser The Great Bed Race has its first annual showing on Sunday 26 May 2013 at The Trusts Arena in Henderson. The purpose of this fun day extravaganza is to raise funds for the Hospices of Auckland – and have a great time doing it.

The funds from the event will go toward the cost of two new bedrooms at the Hospice House in Te Atatu which are currently being built.

When event organiser and English immigrant Samantha Jung-Fielding shifted to New Zealand alongside her young family she brought her passion for bed racing. The practice of building, decorating and racing beds to raise money for good causes is long-established in England but has not been seen in Auckland… until now.

For 25 years, Hospice West Auckland has provided service to people who are dying in their own homes. However, the community need for some people to have more intensive assistance at the end of their lives has meant that these patients will now be able to stay in the area which makes life easier for both them and their families.

“I grew up near Knaresborough, where an annual bed race has run since 1966 – bed racing is in my blood,” says Jung-Fielding.

“Last year the Great Knaresborough Bed Race raised over NZ$200,000 for charity. When I heard Hospice West Auckland was fundraising for a new in-patient unit, I decided it was time to bring bed racing to Auckland.”

If people would like to donate their high quality items to Hospice West Auckland, they can call 0800 4 Hospice or 09 8349751 or email admin@hwa.org.nz. Arrangements will be made to collect the items. For more information please call Di Paton 021 707 262

The Great Auckland Bed Race has adopted the theme “Bedtime Stories”, and teams (six runners plus one passenger) decorate their specially-crafted beds with this in mind before they race the 2.7km course. Jung-Fielding is certain the bedtime stories theme will lure a few Scarface Claws, Wild Things, Cinderellas and Little Red Riding Hoods onto the tracks.

“No bed racing experience is required – runners raise as much money as they can for their chosen Hospice.” says Jung-Fielding, Event sponsors and volunteers are still needed, and racing team registration is ongoing. Organised in association with BNI New Zealand, Jung-Fielding believes the race is ideal for corporates.

“I’d love to see banks, legal and accounting firms challenging each other to get involved. The event offers team-building, fitness and a significant feel-good factor to the whole community.”

Each racing team fundraises for the Auckland Hospice of their choice, whilst overall event proceeds are gifted to one hospice in aid of a specific initiative. This year, bed racing will literally help build beds at Hospice West Auckland’s new in-patient unit.

Left to right: Dame Roseanne with the silver she bought her sister when she was ill, Dame Rosie with an umbrella she bought in New York and Dame Cath with an original painting.

The Hospices of Auckland provide specialist palliative care and support to people with life-limiting conditions. Hospice is a philosophy of care that extends beyond physical needs to the emotional, social and spiritual needs of the patient – and those of their family.

For more information, visit www.greataucklandbedrace.co.nz or phone Samantha Jung-Fielding on 022 068 5632

APRIL 2013

We have relocated to 25 Nugent St. Mt Eden

www.lahood.co.nz | p:638 8463 | 25 Nugent Street, Mt. Eden *Special conditions apply, phone or see in store for details. Offer finishes 31/04/2013.

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Words: Siana Clifford

Let’s Go to Malmö Malmö may be the third-largest city in Sweden but is arguably the biggest in terms of charm.

The harbour-side city is located at the southernmost tip of Sweden and is a handy 20 minutes by train from Copenhagen airport.

The easy-to-navigate city centre is small enough to explore and get a good feel for, even with just a few days to hand. It’s best seen by foot or the ubiquitous bike – cycling is the main mode of transport here and even visitors who haven’t travelled by two wheels since childhood will feel comfortable on the copious cycle paths and the flat terrain. Locals quite happily chat away on their mobiles as they cycle around helmet-free, making it seem as safe as walking. The fact that almost everyone speaks fluent English adds to the ease of the visitor experience.

There are two fairly distinctive parts of Malmö. In the old town area Malmöhus Castle and St Peter’s Church are worth a visit. The Western Harbour area is markedly more modern, with the iconic Santiago Calatrava-designed Turning Torso building – the tallest skyscraper in the Scandinavia – an appropriately contemporary landmark here.

Once you’ve done some sightseeing, you might want to take part in the quintessential Swedish experience and go to a spa. There are plenty of places to

enjoy the typically indulgent pampering session that the word spa might conjure up in the Kiwi mind, but if you want to be authentic, be warned, a traditional Swedish spa is not for the faint-hearted!

At Kallbadhuset at Ribbersborg beach after heating up in the wood-fired sauna you’re off outside for a dip in the chilly waters of the Öresund Strait – and all this is generally done totally naked!

If that sounds a bit too goosebump-inducing for your liking there are oodles of beautiful design shops to peruse (be prepared for your credit card to take a beating), or enjoy a pre-dinner drink in one of the city’s squares; Lilla Torg (Little Square) is particularly well equipped for such a pastime with various restaurants and bars all around the edges, many with outdoor tables.

Swedish food is fashionable right now and there’s a burgeoning food scene in Malmö. Malmö has a large immigrant community – non-Swedish inhabitants account for around 40 per cent of the population – so there is an international slant to its cuisine, particularly north African and middle-eastern. There are plenty of places to enjoy traditional Swedish fare too, which has a focus on fish, especially herring and eel, various meats and root vegetables. If you want to try the lot in one go, find a restaurant

serving smorgasbord, a buffet of traditional food.

If you’re visiting around Christmas then indulging in a julbord, the Christmas version of a smorgasbord, is a must. Other traditional goodies to enjoy around Christmas time are pepparkakor, a Christmas gingerbread biscuit – you’ll find tins of these on offer in many shops, the perfect fuel for your Christmas shopping – and lussekats, delicious saffron buns that are best enjoyed with a glass of glögg (mulled wine) before dinner.

Malmö really is at its best at Christmas with the snowy landscape made all the more magical by the lantern-strewn trees and decorations everywhere. As you while away some time admiring the trinkets at the Christmas markets or taking in live music in the Gustav Adolfs Torg you can always keep yourself warm with mugs of hot chocolate or cups of glögg.

If Christmas isn’t on the cards then you might want to consider booking your tickets post haste and making it there for mid-May in time for the Eurovision – the annual song competition among European countries. The Eurovision is famous both for the variable standard of the songs and the days of partying that goes on in the host city around the festival. Malmö is bound to step up the challenge.

Opposite page: The Turning Torso building at Malmö’s West Harbour

Clockwise from above left: Christmas in Malmö Photo by Oskar Falck Cycling in Malmö Photo by Werner Nystrand Malmö Chocolate Factory Photo by Oskar Falck A restaurant in Old West Photo by Oskar Falck

The easy-to-navigate city centre is small enough to explore and get a good feel for, even with just a few days to hand. It’s best seen by foot or the ubiquitous bike – cycling is the main mode of transport here and even visitors who haven’t travelled by two wheels since childhood will feel comfortable on the copious cycle paths and the flat terrain.

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JOURNEYS

Island Time

Words: Sara Bunny

Koh Tao offers the perfect mix of rest and recreation With a few days left of our Thai holiday, dwindling funds and a sandy beach in mind, we were looking for a reasonably priced piece of paradise. Somewhere traditional and relaxed, with a good cocktail list close to hand. We wanted cheap and cheerful but with the cheap not too cheap and the cheer not too boisterous. Turning to Google, we discovered Koh Tao and the rest was history.

Much smaller than its neighbours Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Tao sits at the northern end of a cluster of islands in the sheltered Gulf of Thailand. Since coming onto the backpacker radar in the 1980s, the island has seen a steady stream of tourists on its shores. While Western creature comforts abound on Koh Tao, it has happily been spared from the overwhelming tourist masses that have wreaked environmental havoc on some of the more popular islands.

KOH TAO HIT LIST Relax on a lounger and watch the world go by at any of the restaurants and resorts lining sandy Sairee beach.

Visit one of the many tourist centres to arrange a boat trip to some of Koh Tao’s more remote beaches, or an island hop to neighbouring Koh Samui or Koh Pha Ngan.

Hire a scooter for the day and check out the scenery with the tropical breeze in your hair.

Gorge on tropical fruits and wellpriced food and drink in the heart of the main village. While there are plenty of traditional Thai dishes on offer, the island has everything from pepperoni pizza to Penang curry, should your taste buds desire it.

Don a scuba mask or snorkel and take in the fascinating underwater world. With top local and international tutors working at Koh Tao’s renowned professional diving schools, there are wellorganised day classes and short courses for all skill levels.

Fringed by golden sands, Koh Tao is a relaxed little spot well loved by scuba diving fans. A quick beach stroll soon confirmed there are more diving schools than you can shake a stick at, with professional divers from around the world arriving each year to teach diving courses and environmental awareness.

The coral reef and abundance of sea life surrounding the island also attracts its fair share of marine enthusiasts, biologists and greenies. Koh Tao means “turtle island” in Thai, but sadly the sea turtles moved on to calmer waters after the island became inhabited in the 1930s.

Although the turtles were nowhere to be seen, we did spy a bright green tree snake (harmless, we were told) wrapped around a branch near our leafy traditional bungalow. The island has a range of

accommodation, from affordable and comfortable ‘flashpacker’ rooms near Sairee, the main beach strip, to luxurious honeymoon hideaways tucked into remote coves.

The main village and beach area has an upbeat vibe and is lined with restaurants, surf and souvenir shops. All ages are catered for, although most of the visitors we saw were couples and groups of friends rather than young families.

Away from the one main street, Koh Tao is relatively unspoiled and made up of dense tropical forest and dirt roads. While its sparkling waters and dusty tracks are the stuff of developer’s dreams, we hope this little island remains low key, so that one day the turtles might return.

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Dreams for the Future Nicola Haines Ramsay Artist Project Brick Bay Sculpture Trail On display until 30 June 2013 Artist Nicola Haines Ramsay has installed her ‘Dreams for the Future’ at Brick Bay. Three huge screens printed with images of the Isle of Wight in England are arranged to surround the viewer, transporting them far away.

The artist says ‘Dreams for the Future’ is “a commentary on leaving one’s place of origin to start a new life in another land, on the desire for a prosperous life in a place where one’s dreams can be realised. The installation is an invitation to stand among projected images of a homeland, acknowledging the aspirations, fears and cultural beliefs that contribute to form future landscapes.”

The artist plans to create a partner installation in Isle of Wight using screens printed with images of Brick Bay.

These Artist Projects serve to broaden an understanding of sculpture in addition to the diverse abundance of work by leading New Zealand artists available for sale at Brick Bay Sculpture Trail.

Brick Bay Sculpture Trail, Arabella Lane, Warkworth Open daily 10am - 5pm, last trail entry at 4pm.

P: 09 425 4690 E: sculpture@brickbay.co.nz W: www.brickbaysculpture.co.nz www.brickbay.co.nz

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Amendment and Cancellation fees may apply – please ask your House of Travel consultant.

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ARTS/OUT & ABOUT

Angels & Aristocrats now in Auckland Angels & Aristocrats: Early European Art in New Zealand Public Collections is now open at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki.

Entry to the exhibition is free.

In a fresh informal manner, author, media personality and senior curator, Mary Kisler reveals the changing meanings of artworks from the 13th to 19th centuries, bringing their stories alive for today’s audience.

Drawn from Kisler’s acclaimed 2010 book, Angels & Aristocrats brings together artworks from the collections of five New Zealand galleries: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu, Dunedin Public Art Gallery and Whanganui’s Sarjeant Gallery.

‘Angels & Aristocrats is an exciting culmination of a very long project celebrating the rich variety of early European art collected by New Zealand’s public art galleries since the 19th century’, says Kisler. ‘Initially, these

collections were made through the generosity of private individuals who were eager that the nation’s emerging museums should reflect the great institutions of Britain and Europe.’

In addition to the exhibition’s visitor programme, enlightening ‘Artbites’ are scheduled daily at 12.30pm. The 10-minute talks are on selected works in the exhibition.

Also included will be a recent gallery acquisition never before exhibited in New Zealand: the 17th century portrait of Margaret Hughes, the first professional stage actress in England and mistress of Prince Rupert of the Rhine, cousin to King Charles II.

The touring exhibition has completed successful seasons at Dunedin Public Art Gallery and at Te Papa in Wellington.

With each host gallery adding from its own collection, Angels & Aristocrats at Auckland Art Gallery will be the largest with an extra 38 paintings and sculptures.

‘Like the book, the Angels & Aristocrats exhibition would not have been possible without the support of all the institutions involved’, says Kisler. ‘With the help of Auckland Museum, a selection of artefacts, including examples of private collections of beetles and butterflies, porcelain and Staffordshire dogs will add intriguing insight into the collecting practices of earlier centuries.’

Angels & Aristocrats is an Auckland Art Gallery touring exhibition.

Admission is FREE. The exhibition runs until 16 June 2013.

Accompanying the exhibition is a new print-on-demand service, which enables the selection and purchase of Giclée fine art digital prints of the exhibitions’ historical artworks.

Left: Jacopo Amigoni Bacchus and Ariadne oil on canvas Collection of the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu Right: J Bourjinon Still life with fruit and shellfish 1657 oil on canvas Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki

APRIL 2013

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‘Striped, studied and stuffed.’

William Hodges, Sawrey Gilpin Two Tigers in a Rocky Landscape (detail) c1773, oil on panel. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.

– Mary Kisler, Curator

On now until 16 Jun Free entry A hundred masterpieces. A hundred tales to discover. The finest European masterworks from New Zealand’s premier public art collections.

Free exhibition, talks and special events.

www.aucklandartgallery.com

apo.co.nz

Prepare to be thrilled BOOK AT apo.co.nz or 09 623 1052

APO Cellos Sanctuary Series 6.30pm, Mon 15 April St Michael’s Church, Remuera 6.30pm, Wed 17 April All Saints Church, Howick

Fiona O’Loughlin in Divine Miss O The international superstar and Queen of Australian comedy comes to New Zealand for two weeks only Verve readers, brace yourselves for international superstar and queen of Australian comedy, Fiona O’Loughlin. Fiona comes from one of the most remote places on earth. Despite the isolation of growing up in the centre of the Great Australian Desert, she has built a career that spans over a decade and has headlined at some of the world’s most prestigious festivals, comedy clubs and TV shows.

Fiona, who is turning 50, has decided that she needs a make over, so has enlisted the help of Bette Midler and Cher, and engineered a selfstyled rebirth to emerge with a whole new lease on life. Her stories of housewifery, motherhood and a well-documented battle with the bottle will have you laughing until your sides hurt.

Fiona has taken her story-based stand-up all around the world, headlining LA’s world-renowned Improv Comedy Club, playing repeat seasons in Hong Kong and performing at Edinburgh Fringe, Montreal’s invitation-only Just For Laughs and the UK’s oldest, Leicester Comedy Festival. Fiona’s also been a hit on the telly with guest appearances on Sunrise, Good News Week, Spicks and Specks, The Circle, Talkin’ Bout Your Generation, The World Stands Up, Celebrity Apprentice, Dancing with the Stars and a heap of Comedy Festival Galas.

Dates: Sat 27 April, Tues 30 April – Sat 4 May, 7:15pm Venue: Loft at Q, 305 Queen St, Auckland CBD Tickets: Adults $26, Conc. $24

Join the APO cello section and special guests in a colourful programme for cello ensemble.

Bookings: www.comedyfestival.co.nz

Tickets $25 adult/senior $15 child/student

“The Nations finest stand up” (The Age) “Disgracefully funny show!”

(Chortle) “Comedy gold...extremely funny” (The List UK) “This is a must see show” (Scotsgay)

WIN WITH VERVE & THE COMEDY FESTIVAL UP FOR GRABS: TICKETS TO FIONA O’LOUGHLIN IN DIVINE MISS O. Interested? To enter is easy. Simply visit www.vervemagazine.co.nz and click on the competitions tab. The rest is self-explanatory. Good Luck!

IMPERFECT II

Emma Bass – Still Imperfect Words: Warwick Brown

It is a magical thing when a talented artist hits upon a subject that suits their temperament. One thinks of McCahon’s waterfalls, Siddell’s cityscapes, Hammond’s birds. Such art can be developed and nuanced without becoming formulaic or slick. So it is with Emma Bass and her photographs of beautiful, vulnerable flower arrangements.

Viewers of Bass’s first show on this theme in 2012 will recognise the creative mind behind Imperfect II, but will note some subtle changes. Works that are unashamedly theatrical, baroque or surreal can be found. The sense of drama has been heightened, as has the intensity of colours. Black backgrounds have been introduced in a few works.

AN EXHIBITION OF NEW WORKS BY

Emma Bass

Two things, however, have not changed. First is the guiding Japanese philosophy behind the series: Wabi-Sabi, or respect for the incomplete and imperfect things of this world. Second is Bass’s truly gifted ability at flower arranging – something that some people study for years and never master. Bass gathers her materials, thinks about their possible presentations and conjunctions and then just does it. This first step is vitally important, just as the inspired design of the Parthenon had to precede its construction. Time has defaced that masterpiece; with Bass’s work the overall feeling of classical elegance is everywhere subtly undermined by small details: dead bees, invading ants, fading colours, blemishes, drooping stems and leaves and wilting and dropped petals, some of which break the immaculate horizontal line of the white supporting boards.

In a second show, one looks for new points of interest or emergent elements.

Here, in addition to the changes noted above, it is the vases. Bass’s evergrowing collection of flower-holders now begins to assert itself. A notable example is where a Peter Muller porcelain piece from Germany has a magical meeting with our native pohutukawa. A walk around the exhibition looking at the vases as the primary subject puts an entirely new slant on things. One can see how critical the choice of vase is to one’s appreciation of its contents.

One can also see that Bass is no mean connoisseur of vases, and can be grateful that she is sharing her taste with us in this manner. Awareness dawns that the vases, their contents long gone to the compost bin, are the survivors in these artistic couplings. They may be dead and inanimate but, like the Parthenon, they will outlast us all.

Left: ‘Aralia 3.28pm’ Archival matte print, 1080 x 1070 mm

‘Sunflower and Marigolds 8.06 am’ Archival matte print, 1080 x 1070mm’

Friday April 19 Wednesday May 8 Preview: Thurs 6.30pm April 18 Artist’s talk: Sat 1pm April 20

10 PONSONBY RD PH: 09-378 1020 www.blackasterisk.co.nz

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Bunnies, Birds and Pirate Cats Words: Sara Bunny

The whimsical world of an Auckland artist and animal lover One of graphic artist Bayley Collins’ favourite keepsakes is a threatening letter she received from the lawyers at Playboy.

When she first launched her website, bird in a bunny suit, Hugh Hefner thought she was starting up a rival business and cashing in on his infamous animal motif.

“They were saying I couldn’t use the name, they thought it was a stripper business,” she laughs. “I contacted them and showed them the website, they were fine when they realised it was completely different to them. I’ve held onto the letter, it’s a pretty cool thing to keep.”

Through her website and numerous stockists throughout Auckland, the rest of the country and Australia, Bayley sells her cute and quirky artworks, in which animals take a starring role.

There is a peg-legged cat, an owl with antlers and a pair of rabbits in American Indian headdress, each meticulously rendered in pen and ink. Her subjects have personality in spades and are treated with a lighthearted humour that sits easily alongside Bayley’s obvious love of animals.

A creative soul since high school, she gains some of her artistic inspiration from watching the misadventures of her two largerthan-life moggies, Ziggy and Zeus. “Zeus is always fighting, he’s lost his tail. We’ve always said he’s like a little pirate.”

When it comes to having a soft spot for animals, Bayley has found she is definitely not alone. “Some of my ideas come from other people telling me stories about their pets. People are always coming up to me at markets and saying I should do this breed of dog or a turtle – people relate to animals.”

After completing a Bachelor of Visual Art and Design at EIT Hawke’s Bay, Bayley and her police officer husband moved to Auckland to focus on their careers. “To begin with I was too shy to approach shops [as stockists] so I would wrap up some cards with a written note saying ‘if you don’t like these, no problem, if you do like them please contact me’. I didn’t have anyone who didn’t contact me, so that was cool.”

She now has stores approaching her, a strong presence online and a range of different collections that showcase her talents.

In conjunction with an exhibition, her designs were picked up

by Federation clothing and printed on T-shirts for sale in stores nationwide. “I would like to look at a clothing range someday,” she says. “I would also love to get into ceramics, jewellery, sculptures and plates. I’ve got so many ideas. This really is my dream job.”

For stockists see birdinabunnysuit.co.nz

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Charlie Chaplain Lives on in Locnville Words Jaime Christian Desplaces

“Our plans are to go global and put our country’s music scene firmly on the map,” says Brian Chaplin who, along with his identical twin brother, Andrew, makes up the musical duo of Locnville. “We have some amazing talent here and the moment will come when South Africa becomes a musical force to be reckoned with.”

“Life is great at the moment,” says Andrew.

“We’ve taken a long and much-needed break to get inspired and I think that it comes through on the new material.”

It’s often said that identical twins are blessed with some kind of intuitive connection and I ask the brothers if that’s something that they can relate to and if it aids their creative process.

“A lot of talent is emerging,” adds Andrew, “and it’s a beautiful thing to be part of.”

“There is definitely some truth to that, we know each other almost better than we know ourselves,” says Brian. “When it comes to the creative process, it certainly helps. It’s so easy to bounce ideas off of each other and we aren’t afraid to say if something’s whack or needs more work.”

The brothers, 22, were born in New York but moved to Cape Town as infants.

Their mother was an actress, their father a musician and their great-uncle none other but the great Charlie Chaplin. With such creative blood coursing through their veins, it was surely written in the stars that they too would one day become stars themselves.

From the Kinks through to Oasis, you don’t have to dig too deeply to find warring brothers in the annals of rock ‘n’ roll, how much of a strain does it put on your relationship?

“I think I was destined to do something creative,” Brian tells me. “It’s always either been music or film for me.”

Andrew agrees: “I’ve never seen myself doing anything else. People would say, ‘but where’s your fall-back plan?’ which I think is terrible. To have one is like saying that you don’t believe you can make your stuff a success.”

I ask if they felt added pressure, carrying the name of one of the true icons of Hollywood.

“A lot of the media saw it as quite a gimmick, so it did help us out,” says Andrew. “But I wouldn’t say that we felt any pressure. I don’t actually think about it that much.”

Initial success came playing the underground music scene, soon finding their way to mainstream audiences with their debut record, Sun In My Pocket. It topped the charts earning them the 2011 SAMA Awards for Best Newcomer and Album of the Year and a record deal with Sony International followed. Their second album, Running To Midnight, also peaked at number one and brought critical acclaim, which cemented their place as the most talked-about superstars of South Africa.

“It all happened so fast,” says Brian.

“The whole experience was such a whirlwind and there were times of being seriously overwhelmed.”

“We were just fresh out of high school,” says Andrew. “We’d been doing it since we were kids, so we’ve definitely paid our dues. To get the platinum plaques was

“I can’t say we don’t sometimes have our little feuds,” says Andrew. “But all in all we have a great working relationship. We’re more like best friends than brothers.”

The brothers, 22, were born in New York but moved to Cape Town as infants. Their mother was an actress, their father a musician and their great-uncle none other but the great Charlie Chaplin. With such creative blood coursing through their veins, it was surely written in the stars that they too would one day become stars themselves. an incredible feeling, but a big shock was seeing how differently people treat you when they think of you as a celebrity.”

Locnville’s is a sound that is deliberately difficult to pigeon-hole. A fusion of electronic, hip-hop, dance and rock, all tracks are written and produced by the brothers. The first album was upbeat and sunny, the second edgier and their latest tracks have a real euphoric groove, which the twins say is a reflection of the band’s current feel-good vibe.

Touring Europe and playing The Dome in Germany has been one of many career highlights. “It was amazing to see the positive crowd reaction and hearing them sing along to our songs,” says Brian, who was also thrilled at the chance to meet one his biggest musical inspirationsa, Calvin Harris. “We literally just bumped into him at a party. It was a great moment and I’ve still got the picture!”

The brothers head their own record company, Contra-Banned, and have also founded their own fashion label, Villey Clothing, for which they’re currently in the process of designing a new line. “We like to be very much hands-on,” says Brian.

“We want to make sure that the clothes are something that we would wear.”

And are there any plans to tour New Zealand?

“I cannot wait to come, our aunt and uncle spend a lot of time there and are always singing its praises,” says Andrew. “There’s a lot in the pipeline this year, so keep tuned – it’s gonna be a hell of a ride.”

“Yes, we’ll definitely come over,” adds Brian. “I can’t wait to perform there, so we’ll give you a shout when we arrive.”

I, and the rest of New Zealand, look forward to it.

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APRIL 2013

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MEN MATTER

Eddy Lee: Fighting to End Violence We sit chatting in the gym. A steady stream of fighters filters past with deferential nods to its proprietor. They train with surprising stealth - stretching, skipping and sparring, all with dreams of becoming the next Eddy ‘The Heat’ Lee. Newspaper clippings grace the entry’s wall, national flags drape around a solitary ring and punch-bags hang nervously from the rafters. The gym, like its boss, is a humble one and has produced further champions. Eddy Lee can barely supress his pride as he surveys his flock.

Words: Jamie Christian Desplaces

“A lot of them come from broken homes with no role models,” he says. “They see me as a father-figure and once they’re here, they’re part of the family.”

As an initiation, Eddy was put in the ring with the six-time champion, which was “a real education”, but he did manage to go the distance.

The martial art of muay thai enables them to channel their fury into something positive, says Lee, to “harvest their innerstrength”, as he learned the hard way. His childhood was one of abuse. He became a “frustrated, angry kid, mixing it up with youth gangs” who found solace in Thailand’s national sport. He excelled and from the age of 15 was winning national titles in adult men’s divisions.

“I went to leave the ring and was told to stay,” he continues. “I turned around and there was a queue of twenty-nine fighters waiting for me. I had to do three rounds with each of them consecutively and was beaten up so much, it wasn’t funny. They broke my nose and the bruises were so bad that it was nearly three weeks before I could move.”

“I’d beaten everybody and for about a year, no-one would fight me,” chuckles Eddy. “My manager advised me to turn pro and my first bout was against a Thai fighter. I knocked him out in 29 seconds.”

Further victories followed. He was on a high, he was young and it went to his head, his ego swelling faster than his trophy cabinet. Next stop was Thailand and a much needed reality check.

“The sport had only been introduced to the Western world in 1975 and the Thai’s weren’t very comfortable with foreigners learning their ancient art,” says Eddy, who was 16 at the time. “Two gyms turned me away and I found a camp on a military base in Bangkok. It was very intimidating. There was a three storey residential block. The top floor was the most luxurious, where the champions lived, and to make it to that level you had to fight your way up there.”

Eddy remained in Thailand for three years, honing not just his fighting prowess, but fortifying his mental ability too. Missing training – which lasted from 6am through til 9pm – was simply not an option. If you didn’t train, you weren’t fed. Outside of the ring curfews were in place and his fellow fighters spoke only broken English at best. The first months were especially testing for Lee. He was lonely, homesick and “ready to throw it all in”. A devout Christian, he also suffered a crisis of faith.

“I was living like a Thai and took a turn from my beliefs,” he says. “Meditation and Buddhism is a big part of life there and I started practising them, but being so young I didn’t understand it fully and badly lost three fights in a row. I wasn’t focused. There was a storm inside of me and I was cut open from head to toe.”

With a crucifix hanging from his neck, he was soon back to his winning ways. He left Thailand and competed internationally,

adding more championship belts to his name. China in the early 90s was a real thrill, the sport so popular that Eddy found himself entertaining crowds of up to 15,000 strong. Towards the end of his career, he felt an urge to “give something back to the community” and founded the Lee Gar Legacy Gym on the North Shore. He has since been appointed as New Zealand’s national muay thai coach and dreams of one day leading the team to Olympic glory (the sport has recently been approved for inclusion in the fouryearly event). Lee is also involved with the kids’ charity, Child Matters, and has arranged fundraising fights for the cause.

“Domestic violence is a major issue and something needs to be done about it,” he says. “Too many people turn a blind eye. Child abuse must end, the kids are our future.”

He laments his father never having been a role model for him. Years later, after he’d learned to turn negative energy into good through the discipline, Lee went back to speak with his dad “and put some stuff to rest”. He is a father now and tells me that his son, 8-year-old D’Angelo, is a beautiful, beautiful boy.

“He makes me so proud,” says Eddy.

“And now I just want to be a good role model for him.”

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Words: Jamie Christian Desplaces

John-Paul Clarkin: New Zealand’s Premier Polo Player In 2008, on a snowy field in Switzerland’s St. Moritz, John-Paul Clarkin scored one of polo’s greatest ever goals (YouTube it, it’s dazzling).

Regarded as being among the sport’s very best, the New Zealand captain boasts an array of trophies from across the globe and this March made the world’s top five Most Outstanding High Handicap Players list at the Audi Polo Awards.

Around the time that most are getting to grips with the simple task of walking, Clarkin was learning to ride. Playing professionally is a dream he has harboured since the age of eight, at 12, he played his first adult national tournament in New Zealand having spent his formative years in Oman where his polo-playing father, Paul, was hired by the Sultan to teach the sport.

“Mine certainly wasn’t what you’d call a normal childhood,” chuckles John-Paul.

“I remember getting a pet shark from the local market!”

Not only a master rider, it is also rumoured that Clarkin Senior was a horsewhisperer too. I ask John-Paul if he has inherited his dad’s gift.

“I’d like to think so,” he says, “but I’m not really sure what a horse whisperer does. Dad had a great relationship with the horses. He taught me a lot and I like to think that I can get the best out of them but I don’t have his patience. Maybe it’ll come later in life.”

I meet John-Paul at his home farm in Kaipaki, south of Hamilton. We sit beneath a deep blue sky, overlooking a ripe polo pasture whose green tufts have somehow escaped the wrath of the last few relentless scorching months of summer. John-Paul’s two-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, playfully wonders to and fro, pursued by his wife, Nina. Upon arrival, I first caught sight of their white Staffordshire bull terrier, Pirate, bounding towards me at full tilt as I crossed the driveway. Braced for a mauling, it came as indescribable relief to fend off only slobbering affection instead. Muscular black cows leisurely graze in adjacent fields. It’s an idyllic setting.

“We love this place,” says John-Paul as he surveys his land. “A lot of the ideas came from visiting properties around the world. Unfortunately, they all have much bigger budgets than us, but this is our slice of paradise.”

He possesses piercing steel-blue eyes and a much-used easy-going smile. Humble and effortlessly charming, there are no airs and graces that one might associate with such a renowned sportsman. Clarkin, 34, modestly admits that top polo players must give much of the credit to the horses, which he also breeds and trains.

He keeps around 50 of the animals at his family’s nearby Mystery Creek Polo Club.

“It’s comparable to putting Michael Schumacher in either a Formula One racing car, or a go-kart,” says John-Paul.

“He’ll produce more in the F1. The good horses want to be there, you can tell that they enjoy it. They’re phenomenal.”

Ideally, he says that the animals should run like a racehorse, turn like a quarter horse and “have the temperament of a donkey,” and jokes that even the best, like us humans, have their off-days.

They say never work with animals or children.

“Yeah, exactly. And we do both!”

The best ones he sends over to the UK, where the Clarkins spend a number of months each year competing and “finetuning” their breeds. Nina, who was born in England into a family also of legendary polo heritage, is ranked as the world’s best female polo player (the suggestion that their matrimony has created a polo

APRIL 2013 dynasty is met with polite indifference).

It’s one of the few sports that allows for mixed-sex competition and the couple, who met as teenagers, regularly play together. Their 2003 victory at the British Open made history.

“That was a big coup,” says John-Paul. “Not only were we all quite young at the time, but Nina was the first lady to win the tournament.

Wherever she goes, and wherever she wins, she’s breaking boundaries.”

How do the defeated men take that?

“It doesn’t always go down well!”

Do you ever play against each other?

“We shouldn’t really play with each other that much,” says Nina, mischievously.

While on the field the sport is a beacon of equality, off it, the pay is anything but.

Fees are limited for the ladies and Nina says that though she makes enough “to get by” the sponsorship side, among other things, needs overhauling. While her husband has played to crowds thousands strong, Nina jokes that she sometimes plays in front of “just JP and my dad as they munch on a couple of burgers.”

Nina’s dad, who is in a wheelchair due to a horse-riding accident, is president of the charity Wheelpower and played a key role in last year’s Paralympic Games in London.

John-Paul too, annually takes part in fundraising tournaments, usually in England, and often with the princes William and Harry. He says that they’re pretty good players considering their lack of practice and “do an amazing thing for charities and the profile of polo.” John-Paul’s father even used to play the odd game with their father, Prince Charles.

However, eight years ago Clarkin’s dad died following head injuries that he sustained when thrown from his horse during a match. A tragedy witnessed by John-Paul.

“I had six months or a year where I was a little wayward. I wasn’t sure whether I’d keep playing,” says Clarkin. “Dad loved nothing more than polo. It was his life, so I guess in a way it was a fitting for him to go out like that but it was far too early. I know he wouldn’t have wanted it to put any of us off.”

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“I wish dad was still around for many things,” says John-Paul. “We’ve had so much happen since with Elizabeth and polowise. I’d love to have had him here to help me out with a few of the horses as well.”

I ask Clarkin about his plans once he decides to finally hang-up his saddle for good.

“That’s the million dollar question,” he smirks. “As much as I love polo, I’ll never be dad and get into the schooling side but no doubt I’ll have involvement with horses in some respect. I don’t really have much of a plan, just to do as well as I can and for as long as I can at polo. I’m hoping retirement is a good few years off yet.”

Opposite page: John-Paul Clarkin (left) This page: John-Paul (right) in St Moritz, Switzerland

For anyone, it’s a hole impossible to fill, but their shared bond through the sport must have made it especially wrenching.

“Clarkin, 34, modestly admits that top polo players must give much of the credit to the horses, which he also breeds and trains. He keeps around 50 of the animals at his family’s nearby Mystery Creek Polo Club.”

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GARDENS

A Vertical Oasis Words: Jennifer Laidlaw

Wall-hanging gardens, living walls, vertical gardens, woolly pockets – whatever name you might be familiar with, there is no arguing that green walls are trending – and with good reason.

Not only do they save space and add a touch of earthiness to your abode, they can double as a modern-art piece.

If you have walked through Auckland’s Britomart area, you have probably stopped to gaze at the three-storey vertical garden growing up either side of the atrium. Maybe you have popped into the Stephen Marr Salon in Takapuna for a colour and wound up staring at the elephant in the room – a giant living wall – while your head was in the sink, or you have brushed past the wall of ferns in Hotel Novotel at the Auckland airport.

Whatever the case, you’ve probably been inspired to build some kind of climbing green wall on your three-foot apartment balcony or been tempted to figure out how to pile up the plants above the couch in the lounge without dripping water onto your head. The good news is that living walls can be created fairly easily, without looking like you are recreating a haphazard version of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Woolly pockets – GardenCo Plant Market in Grey Lynn sells a variety of hanging-wall pockets that you can attach to your indoor or outdoor walls. These pockets save space and are subtle in design. You can plant a variety of plant species side-byside to create a lush, nature wall in your home. Woolly pockets are 100 per cent leak-proof and can be hung indoors.

Wire mesh or wood trellis – For smaller spaces, Simone at the Ponsonby Plant Shop suggests hanging mesh or trellis on a wall or balcony railing and hooking small potted plants to it. You may not have the same wall-to-wall jungle feel as with Woolly Pockets, but you can work within your means and still create a green focal point.

Old wooden ladder – Another great idea from Simone is to lean an old ladder against a wall and use the steps as shelves for plants to sit on and hang from – superb for creating an artsy vibe.

Recycled pallet – The slats in old wood pallets make for a perfect vertical garden frame. All you need to do is staple landscaping fabric around the bottom, back and sides of the pallet. Lay the pallet down on its back and fill with soil, leaving trenches to insert your flowers or small vege plants into. If you have space, leave the pallet down for a few weeks to allow plants to set their roots and secure themselves before going vertical.

There are plenty of do-it-yourself videos available on YouTube.

Edible vertical garden – Let’s be honest, bending over a veg garden is hard work.

Create an edible wall that you can weed and maintain from a standing position.

For the autumn months, if you have lots of sun, try beans, cucumber, basil and chives. If you are looking for shade-loving edibles, try lettuce, spinach, mint and beetroot . In our experience, mint grows like a weed and makes everything smell great!

When deciding where to hang your wall garden outside, consider the direction of the wind and try to find a place where your greens won’t take a direct beating.

Poor irrigation can also stress out your plants. When it comes to potted plants, you can line the bottom of your pots with rocks or recycle a piece of foam from store packaging to allow excess moisture to exit and not rot your plants.

Woolly Pockets are made with breathable material on the front, allowing for excess moisture to evaporate without assistance.

Think realistically about your level of commitment. Consider the plant, the pot and the potential location when deciding where to set up your green space. And don’t be afraid to ask questions! I chatted Simone’s ear off in Ponsonby and she was more than happy to share tips for my own balcony garden.

Let’s be honest, bending over a veg garden is hard work. Create an edible wall that you can weed and maintain from a standing position.

For the autumn months, if you have lots of sun, try beans, cucumber, basil and chives.

APRIL 2013

Above: Living walls can range from petite apartment balcony herb gardens to sub-tropical jungles climbing up concrete walls in city centres.

Clockwise from above left: An interior living wall provides a fresh experience inside a cafe.

Flip that garden bed on its side for a little vertical gardening.

Nature has become living, modern art in hotels, salons and restaurants throughout Auckland.

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Flowerbeds: The Gift that Keeps Giving this Mother’s Day Words: Inger-Lisa Hurst

Nothing can be more pleasant than looking out the window into a garden of blooming colour and life, so spoil your mum this Mothers Day by planting her a flowerbed – something a little bit different that is full of love and has your own personal touch.

When planning your flowerbed consider: 1. The Aspect. In identifying the aspect of the garden, you will be able to figure out which plants will grow where. A sunny north-facing garden is often nice, as most plants grow better with more light.

2. The Layout. ‘Layer’ your flowerbed by forming two rows of annuals and perennials in the front and staggering taller shrubs or perennials in the back.

ORANGE

BLUE

Orange flower ideas: Iceland Poppy has large scented flowers, which bloom in winter and spring.

Blue flower ideas: Butterfly delphinium has large, bright blue flowers, which bloom over a long period in summer.

Prince of orange is a colourful, fastgrowing annual, which is popular as a bedding plant.

Persian violet is a “showy” miniature with small five-petalled purple-blue flowers with cute yellow stamens.

3. The Colour Scheme. Choose colours that you know your mum will love and that you think best describe her personality.

Dahlia ‘Gwyneth’ is a large water lily-type dahlia with six-inch flowers.

RED

YELLOW

German iris (iris germanica) are easy to grow in any temperate climate, with beautiful ‘bearded’ and scented flowers.

Annuals are plants that perform their entire life cycle from seed to flower to seed within a single growing season.

Only the dormant seed bridges the gap between one generation and the next.

Perennials are plants that persist for many growing seasons. Many perennial plants keep their leaves year-round and make attractive borders and ground cover.

Red often means warning or an allurement, a sign of passion, royalty or warfare – red is unequalled for the “sheer visceral excitement it provokes.”

Red flower ideas: Flamingo flower has large heart shaped leaves and only produces one-two times per year but blooms all year round.

Oriental poppy bears spectacular flowers in summer, which are as big as peonies.

Tulips are common throughout Europe and flower in spring.

Orange is pure visual fun. It brings tropical warmth and brilliance and “goes with margaritas and music with a really good beat.”

“Yellow is a visual distillation of sunlight, which is why it is always cheerful.”

Yellow flower ideas: English marigold remains in bloom for a long time and is a popular winter- and spring-flowering annual.

Yellow alyssum becomes smothered in flower in spring and early summer.

Lenape is a dwarf hybrid with bright yellow flowers and brownish red spots.

Blue is strongly associated with tranquillity and calmness, reminiscent of unclouded days and the sea on a sunny day.

PINK

Pink can show great delicacy and strength with an association to youth, freshness, joy and spring.

Pink flower ideas: ‘Felix Crousse’ peony first appears in spring with beautiful scented flowers.

Pink pansies are gorgeous flat-headed flowers, which bloom in late winter and through spring.

Praire mallow produce pink, bell-shaped flowers with five-notched petals.

APRIL 2013

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Daltons’ Guide to Year-Round Care for Roses Roses are beautiful in any garden. Once established they last for years. Follow our monthly care guide and be rewarded with blooms that last from spring into early autumn!

Top tasks for Autumn (March/April/May) •

Assess your garden, replace any existing roses that have not flowered well or are prone to diseases during the season.

•

It’s a good time to browse catalogues and plan. If your roses have suffered with disease then look for new or disease resistant varieties.

•

Feed with Daltons Premium Rose Fertiliser from late October to Christmas, add extra Daltons Garden Mulch and enjoy.

Summer (December/January/February) •

Avoid fertilising plants during summer as they are heat stressed.

•

Water regularly and apply Daltons Garden mulch to keep moisture and nutrients in.

•

Pay special attention to potted roses to ensure they do not dry out.

•

Remove old flowers to encourage new flowering growth.

•

Do not over fertilise existing plants during this period, and remember to mulch with Daltons Garden Mulch.

•

•

If replacing existing roses, or preparing beds for new ones, dig in lots of organic matter such as Daltons Premium Garden Mix.

Spray every two weeks throughout summer to treat any disease or pests.

•

Deadhead once a week to encourage repeat flowering.

If you have taken care of your roses and depending on

•

Enjoy your summer blooms!

•

variety, enjoy a final autumn display.

Top tasks for Winter (June/July/August) •

June and July are the best months to plant, relocate and prune roses in Auckland.

•

Wait till leaves have dropped before pruning.

•

Prune any dead or diseased wood, prune out all inward growing branches and shorten all other branches back by at least half or more. (Note: this is dependent on variety).

Prune to outward facing buds. Make clean cuts with no straggly ends.

•

One week after pruning spray with a horticultural spray such as Conqueror Oil to kill off any overwintering pests. A week later spray with a copper compound such as copper oxychloride to ward off fungal diseases.

•

Ensure any climbers are secured to supports and stake any standard roses.

•

Apply Daltons Garden Mulch for nutrient retention and weed control.

Top tasks for Spring (September/October/November) •

Water plants occasionally.

•

If you notice signs of disease or pests - spray immediately.

Remember once you commit to spraying, you must follow a regular regime throughout the season.

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Revolutionising Reuse Words: Inger-Lisa Hurst

Masters in Landscape Architecture graduates, Rebecca Hammond and Grant Stephens were recently awarded a double Supreme Award at the Ellerslie International Flower Show in Christchurch, for what the judges said stood out for its “innovation, attention to detail and a powerful message - which all came together to create a stunning focal point.”

Taking out the Supreme Award as well as the Judges Choice Award wasn’t a walk in the park for the duo, spending eight months in the planning stages, but it certainly paid dividends for their new Christchurch based business, H & S Landscape Design, which they established less than a year ago. “Just getting our name out there and people taking our business cards was great,” says Stephens.

“I don’t know how many people went through the show in the end, but it feels like we talked to most of them.”

“Ellerslie puts the seal of approval on the company for a lot of people,” says Hammond. “Our work has now won awards and has been recognised by international judges, so for a new business like us that validation is just amazing.”

At the time of setting up their new company, the duo decided that participating in the Ellerslie International Flower Show was a great way to launch themselves. “We thought we could use Ellerslie as a bit of a platform,” says Hammond.

“We had three themes,” explains Hammond. “Post earthquake, a lot of people in Christchurch had to come to grips with living outside whether they were forced to do so or just felt more comfortable being outside. We decided to build a garden that you could realistically live in comfortably. So that’s where we came up with the rooms scenario, with our living pantry, kitchen and lounge.”

“To make it cheaper and something people could do themselves, we made it about people taking what they already had and giving it a new life in their garden,” says Hammond. “This is where the recycling element came in - keeping the history alive in a sense.”

“Recycling is also about doing a bit towards the greater good of the world essentially,” says Hammond. “We’re such a consumer society these days that

if we can encourage people to do their bit with recycling in their garden then overall we are all helping in a big way, with a big problem.”

Hammond and Stephens chose three industries that they wanted to recycle through- transport, wine and agriculture.

They went on to collect wine bottles, old wine barrels, transport pellets and a mix of metal work such as old wheels and tractor seats.”

“Once we had chosen our materials, we spent weeks thinking about what we can do with each material and how we could use them,” says Hammond.

“We looked for inspiration everywhere,” says Stephens. “We’d see something that inspired us and transform it into something contemporary, clean and modern.”

For recycling in your own garden, Hammond and Stephens suggest starting by deciding what it is that you want,

whether it is a raised garden, a hanging basket or an art piece. From there start thinking about what you have to use.

“It’s coming up with an old something to serve the purpose of a new something,” says Hammond.

It is also largely about trial and error.

“When you think about it, if you are taking something that would have otherwise been junk and thrown out and attempting to make something beautiful from it, if it doesn’t work and doesn’t look cool, well you haven’t lost anything,” says Stephens.

“Sometimes it takes a lot of work, and doesn’t necessarily happen the first time,” says Hammond, “but you just keep thinking about it and tweaking the design a little bit to see if you can come up with something better.”

“Or just call in the professionals!” laughs Stephens.

For more information on H&S Landscape Design visit www.landdesign.co.nz

APRIL 2013

UNDERGROUND GARDENING Underground Gardening started nine years ago when Nina and Frands returned from working in Europe. Their passion was landscaping.

It started with the two working full time together on landscaping but now, years later they are a team of nine (in their busy season).

Designing a garden is a simple task with Underground Gardening says Nina. “We make it simple for you with minimal inconvenience.

“Once you commit to us we will design your garden and after completion, will maintain it, keeping it looking beautiful.

“No stone is left unturned for us. The gardening staff at Underground Gardening are all perfectionists!

“We do fast effective garden renovations for those putting their homes on the market. We can also give your garage a tidy-up if this is something that you wish us to do.

When it comes to grass, we lay nice soft fluffy lawns with good old-fashioned seed. Good things take time and the anticipation of a great lawn is certainly worth a wait.

We design and plan your garden plans for no extra cost, and have 22 years’ experience and are confident that we have always given good value to our clients, and will continue to do so.”

Call us today on 09 625 4949 or 021 227 1610 See our ad in Verve’s Marketplace on page.113

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PETS

TEACHING OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS Each year the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) choses a new location to host their large multi-stream conference.

Last month this prestigious event was held here in Auckland, the culmination of years of lobbying and planning by the New Zealand Organising Committee.

Top class speakers from the international veterinary community flew in to provide delegates with a smorgasbord of information. With eight presentations spanning every aspect of small animal veterinary practice on offer each session, delegates faced some excruciating decisions about where best to spend their time. Attendees amassed from around New Zealand and across the world, ensuring the congress was a magic opportunity to greet old friends and make new contacts. Our international guests were welcomed with a feast of kiwi culture at various social events, and many stayed on to explore our beautiful country further after the conclusion of the congress.

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Julie is a certified pets as therapy volunteer for Outreach Therapy Pets and holds a current PetCare first aid qualification.

Her co-pilot is Chase the Ace, a super-friendly

chocolate labrador.

Contact Julie and Chase today on:

Ph 0272 262 890 Check them out on:

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Ongoing Continuing Professional Development is a requirement set down by the New Zealand Veterinary Council for practicing veterinarians, and is essential for maintaining current clinical knowledge. The rate at which scientific material is published seems to increase exponentially, and keeping up to date can be an onerous task. Conferences such as this allow delegates access to a mass of quality information. Scanning the list of delegates, it was heartening to see that of the 1200 odd New Zealand veterinarians who work with companion animals, nearly half attended the conference. Nuggets of wisdom will already have made their way into clinics across our land, benefiting both our pets and their owners. The Animal Emergency Centre had an impressive contingent, with all but one of our permanent veterinarians attending.

Next year WSAVA congress will be held in Cape Town. I can see how making this a yearly event could be a fantastic way to see the world!

(DR LISA FERGUSON, BVSc CertVR) Clinical Manager: ANIMAL EMERGENCY CENTRE 97 Carrington Road, Mt Albert T: 09 849 2121 Please see our ad in Verve’s Market Place on page. 113

APRIL 2013

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YOUNG @ HEART

Drawing On Creativity

Words: Sara Bunny

A young Wellington artist is kick-starting his career with the help of a prestigious award

Growing up in a house with no television, illustrator Patrick McDonald made his own fun as a child by putting pen to paper.

“At the time I was angry at my parents about not having a TV,” he laughs, “but looking back, it probably helped me creatively. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t into drawing, it’s like second nature.”

With a recently completed Bachelor of Design with honours already on his CV, Patrick has been named the winner of this year’s Storylines Gavin Bishop Award. The prize includes the opportunity to provide the illustrations for a children’s book, which may be granted a publishing deal

by Random House.

Competition organisers say this year’s standard was high and competition was fierce. Judges described Patrick’s work as “sensitive and with a depth of feeling” that set it apart from other entries showing similar technical skill.

The Massey graduate entered the competition through university as part of an illustration paper. The entry brief called for two finished pages, alongside a full storyboard layout to accompany a children’s book about the adventures of a bird called Flit.

With each page already drafted, Patrick is looking forward to making his feathered characters come to life using traditional drawing and computer techniques. “The storyboards [are] hand-drawn with pencil then scanned and redrawn in Adobe Photoshop, then coloured using the same programme,” he says.

Mastering the art of illustration takes dedication and practice, and Patrick usually spends between five and 10 hours a day sketching. The Wellington-based artist says the process can be mentally exhausting, but he has a few routines to help get the creative juices flowing.

“I need lots of coffee, I have to work alone and my workspace has to be perfectly tidy.

I’m the most pedantic person I know,” he laughs. “I even need to clear out all of the rubber erasings from the desk before I can get started. It’s mainly because I get distracted too easily.”

While some ideas come quickly, other concepts need to be teased out with focus and concentration. “I usually have to sit down and work at an idea. I start by thinking of a style or tone. I try to envisage what the final image will be like.”

While he is still developing a style of his own, he describes his recent work as

“clean”, meaning he favours crisp, clear lines and bold colour. He regularly checks out the work of other artists online, and counts early-19th century illustrator N.C Wyeth, and modern American painter Rich Kelly as main inspirations.

In the future, Patrick would like to pursue editorial illustration work, like the images seen in The New Yorker magazine, or computer-based concept art. For now, he is happy working on his storyboards, playing with ideas and seeing where his skills may take him.

“At the time I was angry at my parents about not having a TV,” he laughs, “but looking back, it probably helped me creatively. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t into drawing, it’s like second nature.”

Left: The feathered character Flit, part of Patrick’s winning entry in this year’s Storylines Gavin Bishop Award Middle: An image from the children’s book ‘Becalmed’, which Patrick illustrated during his final year of university Right: A scene from ‘Becalmed’, a book about a child living with asthma.

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IT’S TIME TO WRITE UP A STORM, OR A CATERPILLAR, OR A SEAGULL...

Barfoot & Thompson Young Authors Challenge entries now open Local primary and intermediate students are being encouraged to pick up their pens and write up a storm, or a caterpillar, or a seagull… or whatever amazing adventure their imagination takes them on, for Barfoot & Thompson’s sixth annual Young Authors Challenge.

The short story writing competition provides the chance for up to eight young writers or groups to become published authors while raising much-needed funds for the children at Starship.

“Over the last five books published, we’ve had caterpillars that eat teachers, seagulls that write in a diary and everything in between,” says Peter Thompson, Managing Director of Barfoot & Thompson.

“The imagination and talent of our local young writers has never ceased to impress the judges and we are really excited to see what the participating students will come up with this year.”

Winning students are also helped through the publishing process with the assistance of an Authors Workshop hosted by renowned children’s author John Parker, and their stories will be brought to life through illustrations by rugby legend Keven Mealamu.

“Not only do the winning authors get the rare chance to showcase their work in a published book, they’ll get the pride of helping make other children’s time in Starship that bit easier.

“Every cent raised from the sale of the storybooks goes towards the Starship Foundation, and since 2008, the Young Authors Challenge has raised more than $100,000 for Starship. We also provide 20,000 books to children who stay overnight in Starship Children’s Hospital and the Whangarei Hospital Children’s Ward as part of our Magic of Reading programme.”

Northcross Intermediate, Pukekohe Intermediate, Don Buck School and the Northern Health School in Ronald McDonald House Auckland.

Peter Thompson says that this year the judges are after a developed, original idea, interesting characters and setting and a story with an inspirational and positive message.

Important information: The Barfoot & Thompson Young Authors Challenge is open to all primary and intermediate students in Auckland and Northland.

Individuals, groups and classes can enter a story of up to 750 words by Friday 31 May. For more information, visit www.barfoot. co.nz/challenge.

Last year’s compilation called The Miracle at Gulls’ Bay and Six More Super Stories was very popular, featuring stories by Remuera Primary, Somerville Intermediate, Bayfield Primary,

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APRIL 2013

Memories Cast in Bronze Capture a precious moment, with the ultimate keepsake of your baby, child or loved one, with their hands and feet cast in a Casey Brown Bronze Sculpture.

At Casey Brown Bronze Sculpture we know that having a bronze sculpture created of your loved ones is extremely special. It will become a treasured reminder that captures the intricate and unique details of hands and/or feet. “We create beautifully crafted, high quality casts of babies, children and adult’s hands and feet. We then create solid bronze sculptures for you to keep for a lifetime.

The great thing about having a bronze sculpture cast of you and/or your child is that this piece of art will last more than a lifetime. Think about the bronze sculptures in Europe; they have stood the test of time.

When they look at our bronze sculptures, people are really surpRoadd by the level of detail that has been preserved. There’s nothing better than seeing those baby bracelet lines around the wrist or ankles or the dimples in the knuckles of wee babes.

The work we do preserves so many special moments. For example, we recall

casting a family of five: four boys and the youngest, a baby girl. We cast the right hand of each child. Well, the oldest son had a cut on his hand from when he was told not to climb over a barbed wire fence, but he did! The next son had a couple of warts; the next youngest son had plasters covering a skin condition, all of which showed in the bronze sculptures.

The youngest son held his hand in a gesture depicting ‘the thumbs up’ sign, because he always showed this sign to his mum instead of talking, and the baby girl held her gorgeous wee hand with her pinky finger out, as if she was having tea with the queen!

When we put these five bronze sculptures together on the mantelpiece, they were breathtakingly beautiful and so meaningful. The different sizes depicted the ages of the brothers and their sister, and the childhood development as they aged. “They captured a single moment in time forever,” explains Jane of Casey Brown Bronze Sculpture.

Photos and memories fade, bronze is enduring. See our ad on Verve’s Market Place on page.113

STORES NEWMARKET 118 CARLTON GORE RD GREY LYNN 433 RICHMOND ROAD TAKAPUNA 10 NORTHCROFT ST

0800 222 920

www.naturebaby.co.nz

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LOCAL

MOVABLE TYPE

MONEY MATTERS Given what’s on offer, you need a very good reason not to be in KiwiSaver. More than two million Kiwis are saving a nest egg for their retirement and have taken advantage of the government’s $1,000 kick-start and annual tax credit of up to $521, and employer contributions. In January alone, Kiwi employers contributed $66.5 million to their employees’ KiwiSaver funds.

Useful tips for business websites.

Smart phones are everywhere, and tablets (like the iPad) are becoming increasingly common. People use these devices to browse the web on the run: looking for services and products near their location, reading news or comics on a dull train journey, or simply looking up famous actors while sitting on the couch. Our own statistics show that this accounts for as much as 20 per cent of traffic to the local business websites that we run.

The Road of mobile internet use over the past two years has been staggering and most local businesses have yet to catch up.

So how does a business ensure that people can easily access their website from a mobile device? It used to be that you would build a separate ‘mobile’ website, or maybe an ‘App’, an expensive and complex process, but as the technology has changed getting mobile has become far easier. Our studio creates websites that work beautifully on a desktop screen but that also ‘respond’ to the size of the screen they’re on – re-sizing images and text and shifting pieces of the page around so that even on the smallest screens they remain easy to use and read. Not surprisingly this approach is called ‘responsive design’.

Responsive design is increasingly important thanks to the proliferation of tablet computers such as the iPad, Windows Surface and the wide range of Android devices. These computers have relatively large and bright screens, but instead of a mouse they’re operated by touch – and that means that links and buttons need to be designed differently. You can also include special effects and movements that respond to touch – something that isn’t possible on desktop computers.

It’s not just about what the website looks like, either: mobile internet can improve your business workflow. Imagine, for instance, walking into a client’s business and completing an order for them through your website, using your tablet, knowing that this order will reach your office before you do.

For many people achieving these results may mean upgrading their old website – but the mobile market is growing, and you can become part of it today.

James McGoram is an author, designer and the director of Messiah Studio, a web-design company based in Parnell, Auckland. Visit www.messiah.co.nz for your free online business guide.

From 1 April KiwiSaver changes that were signalled in last year’s Government budget will take effect. The minimum employee contribution rate will Road from 2 per cent to 3 per cent, and employers’ contributions will also Road to 3 per cent.

This means you will notice a small decrease in your takehome pay, so it’s a good opportunity to review your money plan and make any changes necessary.

As your contributions come straight out of your pay, KiwiSaver makes it easy to save for your retirement, although it’s important to understand what you’ve signed up for.

So as of 1 April, you can choose to contribute 3 per cent, 4 per cent or 8 per cent of your income. Depending on your income, age, your living costs and whether you have debt to pay off, you can pick the percentage that suits your situation best.

Your savings are invested on your behalf by a provider and you’re charged annual fees for this service. But not all fees are created equal. Sorted’s KiwiSaver fees calculator (sorted. org.nz/calculators/kiwisaver-fees) can help you compare providers to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Whether you withdraw your savings for a deposit on your first home, or watch it grow until you’re 65, KiwiSaver is one way to grow your savings and prepare for retirement with a relatively small amount of effort.

David Kneebone Sorted spokesperson

From 1 April KiwiSaver changes that were signalled in last year’s Government budget will take effect. The minimum employee contribution rate will Road from 2 per cent to 3 per cent, and employers’ contributions will also Road to 3 per cent.

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Nick Hindson: Board Game Empire Words: Jamie Christian Desplaces

Nick Hindson is the mastermind behind the recently launched board game Market Share. Developed locally and based around New Zealand businesses, Market Share is a game of strategy, risk, skill and insight. Not to mention that it’s a hell of a lot of fun and is as engaging to businessmen as it is to teenagers.

Nick Hindson has a passion for business and the ups and the downs of it and Market Share is in fact a result of the path his career has taken. Nick learned one of life’s lessons the hard way and he intends to stop the next generation of New Zealanders from making the same mistakes he did.

“When I was twenty one I wanted nothing more than to own my own business,“ he says. “The idea consumed me, I just couldn’t wait to get started. Five years down the track it was safe to say that I learned a lot from the failure of my first business. The most important lesson I learned was that there is so much more to running a successful business than just being good at your job.”

Like any true entrepreneur, through his misfortune Nick saw an opportunity. With this in mind, he spent what little spare time he had over the last three and half years developing Market Share – a board game designed to teach business acumen and financial literacy to players. “The majority of people that go into business are brilliant technicians but they don’t know how to manage people, finances or risk so things get overlooked and businesses fail.” Nick explains.

Go to www.marketsharegame.co.nz to purchase a copy of the game or sign up to find out about upcoming events in your area.

Market Share is available at The Warehouse nationwide RRP $89.99

“There are so many facets to running a business and that’s why I developed Market Share – to help New Zealanders gain a better understanding of entrepreneurship and provide them with some of the resources needed to build a profitable and sustainable business.”

Nick’s enthusiasm for his product is rivaled only by his enthusiasm to see Kiwi businesses succeed. “New Zealand is ranked second in the world in the number of new businesses launched each year but unfortunately more than half of them don’t go the distance, “ he says. “As a country we have the talent, resources, environment and determination to be very successful on the world stage, we just need a bit of a push.”

Market Share is more than just a board game. It is fast becoming the new way to do business with events being organised by corporates who either want to network with specific people, interact with clients or use it for team-building sessions.

In schools it is being used to teach students financial literacy and keep them entertained and engaged.

Hindson is buzzing with excitement from what the schools are telling him, “ The feedback from teachers has been phenomenal. They tell us that there is a real demand for tools that engage and inspire their students, now, the students are wanting to carry on playing Market Share through their lunch break and are 100 per cent engaged.”

WIN WITH VERVE & MARKET SHARE Add something special to Easter for your whole family this year with a thought-provoking game of Market Share.

Does this sound like something you would like to try? Market Share is available online from www.marketsharegame.co.nz - or try your luck at winning the copy that Verve has up for grabs.

Visit www.vervemagazine.co.nz, select the competitions tab top right of the page and enter to win a edition 1 of this engaging board game.

Good luck.

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Pursuing A Passion You will all probably be familiar with the red and black hoardings and tree lights positioned almost opposite Meadowbank Shopping Centre, at the corner of Temple Street and St Johns Road. If you aren’t you should be, as those hoardings have been there for 15 years, as has the business they advertise.

Yes, Just Rentals is celebrating its 15th birthday, and in today’s complex and often-uncertain business environment, this is by all accounts no mean feat.

And so what are the secrets of this rental agency’s success?

Verve magazine caught up with Sylvia Lund of Just Rentals a couple of weeks ago and asked her just this.

It soon became clear through the telling of her story, why her family business, has stood the test of time.

In his book, Outliers, Malcom Gladwell wrote that one of the ingredients leading to success in anything is practice, 10 000 hours to be precise. Sylvia has had lots of practice at running her own business. She has been an entrepreneur most of her working life, and has amongst other things had a fashion boutique in Grafton, a motel in Remuera and a café at the bottom of Queen Street.

She has a passion for life, celebrating all that is positive about hers. “Any excuse is good enough,” says Sylvia. “We celebrated putting up lights in our trees, and every year we celebrate the Melbourne Cup (wearing hats to work and drinking champagne in the office), not to mention every single birthday and anniversary. One must always have things to look forward to, I reckon. It’s no good living in the past – we can only live the now, and plan and dream for the future.”

“My favourite colour is red,” Sylvia informs Verve. A flamboyant colour, this vibrant shade exudes energy and confidence, mirroring her personality and drive almost exactly.

Red also signifies power, courage, and not least of all love, all qualities Sylvia possesses in spades. Rental clients enjoy the fact that she is so personable, her pets (these days they are cats) bask in her affection, and family and friends are frequently moved by her loyalty.

When asked about her hobbies, Sylvia responded that her work was her hobby, as she really enjoys interacting with people and simply loves houses and all that goes into them. She has a penchant for the open seas so long as she is indulging in the gentle luxury of a cruise ship, and loves to read a good thriller.

She is over the moon that she recently became a grandmother.

Getting back to the original question as to the secrets of Just Rental’s business success and staying power, the answers shine out from between the lines above. Self-motivation, persistence, resourcefulness, hunger, the art of persuasion, adaptability, optimistim, an attitude of never giving up – all qualities possessed by Just Rentals, Sylvia Lund and her team.

Congratulations, Just Rentals on your 15th birthday.

Above: Sylvia Lund and husband, Graham observed another anniversary earlier this year – a very special birthday, romantically celebrated cruising the open seas.

“In his book, Outliers, Malcom Gladwell wrote that one of the ingredients leading to success in anything is practice, 10 000 hours to be precise. Sylvia has had lots of practice at running her own business.

She has been an entrepreneur most of her working life, and has amongst other things had a fashion boutique in Grafton, a motel in Remuera and a café at the bottom of Queen Street.”

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OUT & ABOUT Cocktail & presentation evening on luxury cruising with House of Travel Remuera and Silversea, held at Coutts Mercedes-Benz, Newmarket.

A wonderful evening was had by all who attended this informative and entertaining presentation.

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A WORD FROM THE HONORABLE NIKKI KAYE Since being promoted to the Cabinet in January this year, I have assumed responsibility for Ministerial portfolios of Food Safety, Civil Defence and Youth Affairs. I have also been given responsibility as Associate Minister of both Immigration and Education.

As a Government Minister, one area I believe I can make a difference in, is improving opportunities for New Zealand’s young people.

In the education portfolio, I am working on 21st century learning and digital literacy. And as Minister of Youth Affairs I will be looking at ways to encourage our young people become active youth citizens and use all their knowledge, skills and experience to participate confidently in their communities.

We all benefit when young people are actively involved in their communities. They develop a stronger sense of identity and belonging, build healthy relationships and positively contribute to education and the economy.

We want our young people to have opportunities to gain work experience and we believe the starting-out wage will be valuable in giving young people a start in the workforce and tackling youth unemployment.

Critical to setting the foundations for an active working life is a good education. This government has already invested significantly in ensuring New Zealand school children have access to the best, most innovative 21st century learning environments.

This includes more than $200 million spent connecting schools to ultra-fast broadband. Our plan is to ensure schools will be connected to fibre or an alternative technology by 2016. We are nearly halfway there with more than 1200 schools connected.

Imagine if we could ensure young New Zealanders were the most digitally literate in the world and had opportunities to be more innovative and better compete in a modern economy!

That is the end goal and of course, it is not without challenges, for instance - access to devices, professional development, potential intellectual property issues, the changing role of the teacher, cyber bullying and developing more connected and flexible learning environments.

However I see enormous opportunities, for example, the capacity to better assist students via technology to remove some traditional equity issues such as distance and lower incomes.

MATTERS OF INTEREST: COUNCIL NEEDS TO JUST GET OUT OF THE WAY This economic stagnation has been long-winded. It has been more than five years since we first got wind of it when I was CEO of the Newmarket Business Association.

Since then it has been a long haul for many businesses and families.

Verve wanted me to comment on creative ways to reduce our unemployment. My response is it’s not necessarily about being creative but more about getting back to the basics. As tempting as job creation schemes are, often the most helpful thing a government can do is get out of the way of business.

I sit with a minority of councillors who watch with horror as Len Brown and his centre-left councillors dream up ways to meddle in people’s lives and regulate them more.

Their latest thinking on excessive housing costs is to force developers’ to make a certain percentage of houses in a new development affordable. Another idea they’re currently investigating is taxing developers who benefit financially from the rezoning of land and sharing the proceeds.

Many warn these kind of ideas might help make housing affordable for a select few, but they will drive up housing prices for the majority who will be forced to cover off the developers new and extra costs.

I argue if you want to help housing affordability and create jobs in the building sector, central and local government need to lessen the rules, regulations and costs, not add to them.

What amuses me most is the Mayoral Taskforce For Jobs.

I’ve never been on any of these junkets but by all accounts Mayors from around the country get together and talk about job creation.

These meetings have been going on for years at the expense of the poor old ratepayer. The good news is the Mayors seem to enjoy catching up, but predictably no real jobs have ever resulted. In fact despite 13 years of talk, youth unemployment is at record levels, with registered teenage unemployment in Auckland up to 30 per cent.

So my message to the council is this. If you really want to help with employment and housing, stop dreaming up ways to get involved and just get out of the way.

Stop introducing new taxes, mandatory allocations, levies, fees, rules and regulations. And stop increasing rates. Stop travelling the country for talkfests and focus on delivering the basics and delivering ratepayers good value for money. The jobs will then follow.

For more views and news visit www.cameronbrewer.co.nz Cameron Brewer Councillor for Orakei

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We all have to work for so many reasons, least of all the fact that we need to earn money to live a near decent life. In this new global economy, in which almost everything is different to what we knew as younger people, or even just a decade ago, jobs are frequently hard to come by. Verve was curious to find out what our local politicians think about creating more employment opportunities for New Zealanders.

JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

COLLABORATION IS KEY

Before coming to Parliament I wrote a book on Kiwi businessman Alan Gibbs. One story it told was of a company he ran in the early 1980s, Atlas Majestic. Among other things they sold TVs. But in New Zealand’s highly protected economy of the time, they couldn’t simply import TVs from Japan.

In the hope of creating local jobs, successive governments insisted that TVs be assembled here. So Gibbs had to ask the Japanese to send the TVs in pieces. They cost more in pieces than fully assembled, since the manufacturers had to disassemble completed TVs. Then, in New Zealand, Atlas had to build a factory, hire people, make a manufacturing line and finance stock, with the result that New Zealand consumers paid twice the price for the same TV. The whole exercise tied up people and capital for what was a total dead loss for the country.

It pays to be reminded of such things, because it would be easy for the country to start heading back in that direction.

Today, five years after the onset of the global financial crisis, which has been followed by only moderate economic growth, many businesses have been struggling. We are all concerned about recent job losses and the relatively high level of unemployment.

Manufacturing exporters have faced headwinds from a high exchange rate and weak demand in some traditional markets.

How should we respond?

First, the government recognises that our progress depends on the genius of our entrepreneurs and the many people who work with them. The best thing the government can do is get its own fiscal house in order, and then focus on improving the competitiveness of the economy as a whole. National’s Business Growth Agenda focuses on ensuring capital markets work effectively, export markets remain open, and employers have access to a skilled workforce, innovation, natural resources and quality infrastructure.

This approach is working, though we tend to hear more about job losses than of new business success stories. The latest BNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index, for example, indicated increasing manufacturing activity. The Treasury forecasts unemployment to be back below six per cent by 2015, inflation low and taxes stable.

By contrast we should be sceptical of calls to magically lower the exchange rate. For a small, trading nation that relies on access to markets there is little we can safely do to control the dollar. Equally, we should be wary of tax-breaks for exporters.

Paul Goldsmith MP National List MP based in Epsom www.paulgoldsmith.co.nz, 524 4930

Thousands of young Aucklanders are leaving school each year without qualifications, employment or training.

Let’s do something to solve that.

The future prospects of young people are central to the Auckland Plan, and it is my priority to get young Aucklanders into training, study and jobs. Auckland Council is doing a number of things.

Ten of our local boards participate in our Youth Connections project, working with organisations like the Tindall Foundation and the Auckland Airport Community Trust to link young people to local employment and training opportunities.

Via the project, local boards encourage businesses to take a leading role in the future of their workforce. Businesses who identify an existing or impending skill shortage can take direct action to help solve it.

It might mean mentoring a local youngster through a relevant training course, creating an apprenticeship for them, or offering ongoing work experience.

The participating boards also work with schools to make sure no one gets left behind, and school leavers in their areas have clear pathways to further education, training or employment.

Another thing we are doing is the Work Experience Programme with the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and WINZ. It allows young people to get used to work hours and discipline, contributes experience and referees to their CVs, and forges contacts for employment opportunities. The council started with 49 participants and will build to 1000 placements over time.

To get your business involved, call us at the council.

All of our initiatives are closely aligned or directly connected to the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs, a nationwide network of mayors determined to get our young people into jobs and training.

As part of this, for the second year running, deputy mayor Penny Hulse and I are mentoring two Maori youth as part of a national initiative, TUIA, that links civic leaders with the leaders of the future.

Collaboration, cooperation and partnership is the key, across the sectors and across the spectrum.Become part of the solution.

Len Brown Mayor of Auckland

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VERVE ESSAY OF THE MONTH

Taking Responsibility: PARS ‘E kore te kumara i whakapahu i tona reka’ The kumara never tells how sweet it is.

Words: Timothy Giles

“We’re just not a popular cause but we do great work, we are all about community responsibility to reduce recidivism.”

and making their way, connected and contributing. People with pride and dignity, that’s what it’s about.”

Her work may not be popular, but PARS executive director, Tui Ah Loo is passionate about it.

PARS describes it’s work “as reducing reoffending by reducing the opportunities that would attract re-offending.” In practice this means delivering a range services and helping with many aspects of life;

From her Mt Eden office, just a few minutes walk from the doors of Mt Eden prison, she leads PARS, Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Society Inc, a charitable organisation dedicated to seeing that offenders leaving prison behind, do so for good.

“We do what it takes really, I’ve got a team of the most wonderful passionate people who work hard every day helping offenders and their families build and rebuild lives, to stop people ending up back in the correction system.”

They face a heavy workload, the rate of imprisonment in NZ is second only to the USA and the system stops when an offender’s time is served and the prison door opens before closing behind them and leaving the newly released outside and alone.

On the morning of release PARS are there, to help with the most basic needs “We start with Mazlow’s triangle, the hierarchy of needs,” Says Tui “Shelter, warmth, clothing, food. That’s day one. From there we want to connect the offender, our client, to a community. It may be reconnecting back to before they were incarcerated. Finding established whanau and community is the ideal but often it needs to be new community. And always a positive one.

“We need communities of place, interest and purpose. If these connections are built we’re going to have a positive outcome.

Employment, a confident person paying

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Transport on release

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Obtaining identification, sorting finances and opening bank accounts

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Liaison with government departments (W&I, HNZ, Corrections)

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Assisting with managing finances, banking issues and debts

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Supporting and encouraging families left to cope in the community

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Property services, including the searching for and collection

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Liaison with police, prison, landlords and family to locate property

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Transporting or assistance for children to visit their parent in prison

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Encouraging and maintaining family contact

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Assisting parolees to access community-care agencies

The demand for PARS’ services isn’t getting any smaller. In fact we would need to reduce our rates of imprisonment by 25 per cent to get to the same level as the UK – at around 150 prisoners per 100,000 population. A 33 per cent reduction would mean that we are imprisoning offenders at the same level as Australia.

“There’s a lot to do and we need to get more support but we’re just not a cause

of choice, I know that. But it is great work you know and we have so many success stories. I admit we are guilty of not telling those stories. Like the old whakatauki says ‘E kore te kumera i korero i tona reka’ – The kumera never tells how sweet it is.

Maybe this kumera needs to tell a bit more because the team I work with here makes our community a whole lot sweeter.”

The demand for PARS’ services isn’t getting any smaller. In fact we would need to reduce our rates of imprisonment by 25 per cent to get to the same level as the UK – at around 150 prisoners per 100,000 population.

A 33 per cent reduction would mean that we are imprisoning offenders at the same level as Australia.”

Above: PARS Executive Director, Tui Ah Loo

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SPECIALS VALID ONLY AT BOTTLE O ELLERSLIE FROM 22/03/13 UNTIL 21/04/13.

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MONEY SECRETS 101

W

Janet Xuccoa, Partner at Gilligan Rowe + Associates, has a new book out, Money Secrets 101.

Absorb her incredible enthusiasm, expertise and generosity as she shares her knowledge with you in this informative read. Money Secrets 101 contains a veritable treasure chest of tips, strategies and information about how to set yourself up financially for life including:

GOOD PROPERTY MANAGEMENT A good property manager must have a passion for property and the desire to help people.

This is what I love about my job I get great pleasure in finding the right rental property for my clients and their families, furry ones as well.

• How to get out of the debt trap and stay in the black • Practical systems for organising your money • How to buy your own home in a way that increases your wealth • How to get the right mortgage • How to avoid insurance traps • Healthy money habits to teach your children • How to create a personal financial plan • Wealth-building techniques using cash, bonds, property, and shares • How to create a successful, happy retirement • Tactics to deal with divorce and move on • How to die wealthy Available now from www.gra.co.nz/book/money-secrets-101 for only $26.09

WIN WITH VERVE & GILLIGAN ROWE + ASSOCIATES

Maintenance is a huge part of a property manager’s duties, and there is a lot of time spent dealing with these problems.

They must be able to recognise problems when carrying out regular inspections, plus also have the skills to know which service people to send out if required. Tenants phone in with maintenance concerns all the time: anything from leaking taps, to burst water pipes, garage doors not opening, the list goes on and on. The property manager must have the knowledge to be able to reassure the troubled tenants and maybe sort some problems over the phone. For example we get tenants phoning up about the Waste Master not working. We tell them to first press the release overload button under the appliance and then try it again. Nine times out of ten it works and we have saved the owner a service call-out fee.

Other phone calls are about no lights or three point plugs not working. You must explain about fuses and overload buttons on the switchboard. We get phone calls from tenants saying they have no power – send out the electrician! We tell them to phone Vector first to see if there is any work going on in the area, or to ask the neighbours if they are in the same situation, again saving a call-out fee. I could go on and on. There are so many things that can go wrong in a home and when you have a few hundred properties to manage you can imagine how much time this takes, and how many phone calls we answer.

1st April, will be the start of our fifteenth year of JUST RENTALS LTD. Courtenay our daughter and letting manager will be back in the office with baby James our grandson in April after three months’ maternity leave. He will be a distraction I am sure but it is all positive here at Just Rentals and we look forward to many more years of good renting and management.

Sylvia Lund AREINZ Director, Property Manager

The friendly team specialising in home rentals and property management.

Visit our website at www.justrentals.co.nz

UP 4 GRABS: COPIES OF MONEY SECRETS 101 Interested? To enter is easy. Simply go to www.vervemagazine.co.nz and click on the competitions tab. Good luck!

40 St Johns Road, Meadowbank Office Phone 09 528 4818 After Hours Phone 09 521 2539 Fax 09 528 4816 Email justrentals@xtra.co.nz

APRIL 2013

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VERVE MARKET PLACE

The home audio specialist

www.avalon.co.nz

“I work as a GP in Whangarei with a special interest in sports medicine. I have personally benefited from Allan’s expertise in massage therapy. I found him to be well organised, thoroughly professional and clinically very effective.”

Dr Simon Wilkinson General Practitioner

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Our team of experienced gardeners specialises in providing expert garden maintenance and design services.

Talk to Tara or Rose at Blooming Garden.

(09)524-3691 For a selection of testimonials from our satisfied clients visit: www.bloominggarden.co.nz

Charlie’s Pilates Specialising in women’s health

Mrs Charlie Ruddenklau BSc (Hons) physiotherapy T 09 638 6775 M 021 1444 727 charliespilates@xtra.co.nz www.charliespilates.co.nz

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VERVE READER SPECIAL Acupuncture Treatment is FREE with ACC* * simply cut this ad out and bring into The Boutique. Conditions apply

Sick of not getting anywhere with your health?

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Bodywise Pilates @ Remuera Rackets Club 17 Dilworth Ave, Remuera

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Auckland Central

REAL ESTATE SALES | RENTALS | PROPERTY MANAGERS | AUCTIONEERS

THIS MONTH’S BEST BUYS

Just Listed

Just Listed

www.ljhooker.com/DBGFW

CLEAR REALTY LIMITED MREINZ LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENT REAA 2008

1B GRIFFIN AVENUE - EPSOM Affordable Double Grammar Zone Opportunity!

Enjoy family life in modern spacious family home. Ground floor living spills outdoors to a sunny private courtyard ideal for alfresco dining & entertaining. Double internal entry garaging with generous visitor parking. 3 generous bedrooms master with ensuite serviced by family bathroom facilities. Conveniently located to schools, Cornwall Park & Newmarket shopping.

Auction Preview ~ call for viewing times ALAN ELLIOTT 021 994 881 | 624 2702 | alan@clearrealty.com DAVID STORER 021 400 000 | 634 4741 | davids@clearrealty.com

33B KAWAU ROAD - GREENLANE

Step Inside You'll Be Impressed!

Hidden away at the end of the drive you'll find this architecturally inspired townhouse - positioned for all day sun, with full length glass to capture it. The moment you walk through the door into the foyer, you'll notice the vaulted ceilings and diverse angles incorporated to add contrast to the open plan living/dining area.

A modern kitchen completes this entertainers delight. 3 bedrooms up with a master suite including bathroom, walk in wardrobe plus an adjacent mezzanine study/office. Private outdoor landscaped garden area. Demands Inspection!

www.ljhooker.com/H9GFW

Asking $795,000 GLENN BAKER 021 923 506 | 624 2719 | glenn@clearrealty.com

22 LOCHIEL ROAD - REMUERA Double Grammar Zone Winner!

Spacious 2 level, light-filled, family-friendly bungalow on 673m² garden-laced section. 3 double bedrooms + office, massive bathroom, formal lounge, modern kitchen, open plan dining & family flowing onto elevated deck with views, internal access garage plus off-street parking.

www.ljhooker.com/CZGFW

By Negotiation GLENN BAKER 021 923 506 | 624 2719 | glenn@clearrealty.com DIANNE NICHOL 021 272 0975 | 523 7712 | dianne@clearrealty.com

15A HUAPAI STREET, ONE TREE HILL

Just Listed

www.ljhooker.com/KWGFW Investment

What A Find!

This spacious brick and cedar family home tucked away in an elevated position close to Cornwall Park. Featuring a large welcoming entrance foyer, modern kitchen, three bathrooms, the living areas flow to a paved outdoor entertainment area, four bedrooms, master ensuite, and upstairs a second lounge with expansive views across to the Waitakeres. Double internal access garaging plus off street parking. This is a home you would be proud of!

Auction Preview ~ call for viewing times DIANNE NICHOL 021 272 0975 | 523 7712 | dianne@clearrealty.com

2E/51 PRINCES STREET - ONEHUNGA Oh So Convenient…..

You can't get more centrally located than this. Onehunga Mall is literally at your doorstep. Columbus Cafe and 'The Library' just across the road, and a hop, skip and a jump to Dressmart, Cornwall Park & South-Western motorway access. This spacious 111m² apartment provides open plan living flowing to a large deck, modern kitchen, three bedrooms, ensuite bathroom, and two undercover car parks, constructed of concrete tilt slab. Currently rented at $470 per week.

Just Listed

www.ljhooker.com/JJGFW

By Negotiation DIANNE NICHOL 021 272 0975 | 523 7712 | dianne@clearrealty.com CECELE FLEMING 021 658 521 | 634 4745 | cecele@clearrealty.com

.2

REMUERA

the home of real estate tm

FEATURE PROPERTY

520 8585

|

ONEHUNGA

634 4050

|

ROYAL OAK

624 3900

APRIL 2013

|

ELLERSLIE

115

525 1773

2C ALDERSGATE ROAD HILLSBOROUGH

TAKE MY BREATH AWAY... EVERY DAY! Reward yourself and treat the family with this impressive new 4brm high quality residence in one of Hillsborough's best streets.

Families who enjoy entertaining will delight in the clever use of space. With two living and two exquisite bathrooms across one level, Smeg kitchen and a stunning viewing platform wired for sound thoughtfully lit, you should expect every birthday party to be well attended from now on! Enhance your life with practical luxury, an effortless contemporary style amd a phenomenal ever-changing outlook.

Auction Venue

6.00pm Tuesday 23rd April 2013 (unless sold prior) 778 Manukau Road, Royal Oak KEVIN SMITH 021 346 523 624 2741 | kevin@clearrealty.com

www.ljhooker.com/KSGFW

FEATURE PROPERTY

37 GODDEN CRESCENT MISSION BAY

YOUR FUTURE YOUR LIFE ……. A MUST FOR YOUR VIEWING LIST This 1930’s weatherboard home offers king sized potential.

Situated on a lovely full 946m² section there is a wonderful opportunity to extend or build & create your dream home on this wonderful site, we would recommend discussing with the local authority and discovering the possibility of obtaining a consent to build two townhouses on this fabulous corner site close to the Eastridge & the Bays.

Auction 6.00pm Tuesday 23rd April 2013 (unless sold prior) Venue 778 Manukau Road, Royal Oak Viewing Sat + Sun 1.30 - 2.00pm WINNIE YI 021 881 133 I 624 2742

www.ljhooker.com/KNGFW

Get our successful team working for you!

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