Verve. September 2023. Issue 201.

We welcome spring with this most inspirational issue that brims with insights from people that have helped build our city and endeavour to keep it, and our homes, beautiful.

Stunningly curated outdoor furniture from Italy, Belgium, France, Indonesia and the Philippines. Before you purchase anywhere, you owe it to yourself to compare our prices, design and quality. All products are in stock, fully assembled, and available for nationwide delivery. Sunbrella® or Agora® cushions are included with the purchase of our deep seating pieces as shown on our website.

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Editors’ Notes

Fran Ninow Co-editor

Our gorgeous September issue features the spaces within which we live and takes a deep dive into construction and renovation, resulting in a curated spread of ideas on what to do and artisans to engage, should you decide to embark on a project of your own. Both Jude and I share a passion for architecture and design and so we have revelled in piecing this one together.

We’re also thrilled to welcome Kate Holloway to our team, whose tireless devotion to assembling this diverse and comprehensive overview has helped make it the bumper feature you see before you.

Early August found us embracing a few days of self-care at Eden Health Retreat in comfortable five-star luxury situated in the stunning Currumbin Valley. Here we were able to disconnect, rest and recharge (sans internet, caffeine, or alcohol!). The daily activities, amazing speakers and exceptionally moreish yet nourishing cuisine, helped to inspire content for the October magazine with its focus on health, wellness and becoming summer ready.

We’re looking forward to sharing more on these topics… but until then, invite you to indulge in the September issue. And, if you enjoy it as much as we think you will, please spread the love by inviting your friends and family to subscribe to Verve digital here: vervemagazine.co.nz/subscribe

May your spring be filled with sunshine and daffodils.

Fran xx

Jude Mitchell Co-editor

A TV show that I truly love is Home Made Perfect, because of my passion for interior design. While some might label the designs showcased as extreme, I believe that even a single hint from these innovative concepts can be transformative within our own living spaces.

In our September issue, our focus gravitates towards home improvement, design, renovation, and construction –encompassing all facets of crafting a living space, regardless of size. We take an in-depth look at a beautiful small bach situated off grid on a serene Coromandel beach. The challenge of merging functionality, warmth and aesthetics in a small space has always intrigued me, and the results of this endeavour are truly breathtaking.

Reflecting on my own residence in Grey Lynn, I’m reminded of the rewarding journey of turning this space into a haven of creativity and comfort. The comfort was challenging, yet the opportunity for innovation was, and still, is limitless.

The compilation of ideas throughout this month’s issue has been yet again another wonderful journey. I’m convinced that there’s something within these pages for anyone contemplating home renovation and/or construction. New Zealand boats a rich pool of exceptional builders and designers, offering a plethora of possibilities. If you are on the brink of a venture or considering renovation, I encourage you to peruse the offerings of our remarkable advertisers who possess the expertise to bring your aspirations to life!

Enjoy this issue – I love it!

Jude xx

What’s Inside

Editors-in-Chief

Fran Ninow and Jude Mitchell

Sub-editor/Senior Writer

Jamie Christian Desplaces

Head Graphic Designer

Arna Martin

Graphic Designer

Yamin Cook

Social Media

Yamin Cook

Contributors

Manish Kumar Arora, Megan Feneridis, Lucy Kennedy, Dennis Knill, Milly Nolan, Paul Leuschke, Aimée Ralfini and Bella Sampson.

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Up Front

GST 90 378 074

ISSN 2253-1300 (print) ISSN 2253-1319 (online)

Editorial Enquiries

(+64) 9 520 5939

Fran Ninow: fran@vervemagazine.co.nz

Jude Mitchell: jude@vervemagazine.co.nz

Advertising Enquiries danielle@vervemagazine.co.nz fran@vervemagazine.co.nz jude@vervemagazine.co.nz kate@vervemagazine.co.nz pambrown@xtra.co.nz

Cover Photography: Warren Heath

Verve is published monthly (except in January) and has an estimated readership of 60,000. It is a free lifestyle magazine delivered to cafés and businesses in Devonport, Epsom, Ellerslie, Herne Bay, Kohimarama, Meadowbank, Mission Bay, Newmarket, Parnell, Remuera, St Mary’s Bay and Takapuna. Verve is placed in magazine stands for free collection from locations in Auckland City, Devonport, Epsom, Grey Lynn, Herne Bay, Mairangi Bay, Milford, Mission Bay, Newmarket, Parnell, Ponsonby, Remuera, St. Heliers, Stonefields and Takapuna. Visit vervemagazine.co.nz for exact locations these magazine stands. Verve is also available from all popular cafés in its main distribution areas as well as in ebook format.

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In Short

Verve’s monthly round up of what’s new, interesting, and happening… in a paragraph!

OC Deep Clean

From flat-pack furniture to expertise in sustainable living and birthing hygge, the Scandinavians have gifted the globe a great deal of great stuff. The latest is the just-as-awesome – if somewhat ominous sounding – Swedish death cleaning, a minimalist concept examined in length in the book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Clutter, by Margareta Magnusson. Swedish death cleaning comes from the term döstädning which literally translates as ‘decluttering’, the idea being that as we reach the winters of our lives, we should begin paring down our possessions – as a positive act – to make things simpler for our loved once we pass. But Magnusson doesn’t think it necessary to wait that long, writing that we should be doing it as early as our 30s when we “can hardly close the drawers” or “shut the closet door”. And now the bestselling book has been made into a TV series of the same name and produced and narrated by actor Amy Poehler. Move over Marie Kondo!

Skimming the Surface

Last year, thrilling footage was released of zero-emission seagliders that look like they had flown straight in from the future. Built by US-based startup Regent, the part ferry, part seaplane and part hydrofoil contraption was created to transport passengers at high speeds – and low fares – just above the surface of the water. Last year, Kiwi company Ocean Flyer put down a $1 million deposit for 25 craft, an order that would eventually cost around $700 million. Ocean Flyer recently announced that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Northport and Northland regional economic development agency Northland Inc to make Whangārei the first destination in its network. The Auckland to Whangārei route is planned to be in operation by early 2026, with the journey expected to take only around 35 minutes. “We’ve seen in recent times the havoc that bad weather can create with our transport infrastructure,” says Ocean Flyer CEO Shah Aslam. “Our seaglider connections will add an important extra layer of robust connectivity to New Zealand’s

transport infrastructure.”

Amyloid and Alzheimer’s

The protein amyloid is found in all our bodies, but for those with Alzheimer’s it is thought to accumulate on the brain to form a plaque causing the cells beneath it to die. The loss of these cells is what leads to dementia. Various anti-amyloid drugs have been used to target the build-ups and though so far they have been unsuccessful in preventing the progression or improving cognitive function, there has been some success in stemming brain changes in the early stages of the disease. “It’s possible that the benefit of anti-amyloid therapy may grow over time,” neurologist Dan Murman, MD, tells Nebraska Medicine . “Some studies suggest that it might keep people at these mild stages of the disease for several years longer. But we still need more information to prove that.”

A Cher Thing

When the legendary Cher last toured Aotearoa, in 2018, she called in at legendary Giapo ice cream shop to kill a chocolate craving, later tweeting that it was the “best, most astonishing, astounding” cone she’d ever had. After meeting with head chef and owner Gianpaolo Grazioli (“the Michaelangelo of gelato”), she embarked upon a collaboration that now, five years later has borne its first fruits, with flavours including Snap Out of It! Kefir &Cardamom, Breakfast at Cher’s Coffee & Donuts, and Chocolate XO Cher. Unfortunately for Kiwis, the cooling creations are currently only available in Cher’s hometown of LA, there are plans to eventually release them in Gianpaolo’s store. “We are planning to hold a special Cher-lato day at Giapo, where Kiwis can come and experience the full Cher-lato menu,” the chef told the Herald . “We’re looking forward to welcoming gelato enthusiasts to our shop and sharing this exciting collaboration with them.”

In a Pickle

Billed as the fastest growing sport in the US, the wonderfully named Pickleball is gaining traction in NZ too, with more than 30 clubs now in the country. The sport is an amalgamation of tennis and ping pong on a badminton-like court with a 36-inch-high net strung across the floor and played with paddles and hollow plastic balls, in either a singles or doubles format. Originally founded as a family-friendly endeavour, pickleball can be taken up by pretty much anyone and enjoyed by players of a range of abilities and fitness levels but has now been developed to elite levels, too: NBA superstar LeBron James has invested in a Major League Pickleball team (in its second season). It’s even had an influence on fashion, spawning its own branch of activewear, known as racket wear. “There’s always lots of neon colours and I’ve even seen players wear tutu skirts with knee-high socks on the court,” TikTok star and pickleball player Sydney Steinaker, tells the Guardian “… Pickleball is for everyone. It’s unique, so the clothing is always going to be unique, too.”

I Would Walk 500 Miles

Whatever your views on marriage proposals going viral, it’s difficult not to be impressed with the time and effort put into this one by Tokyo resident Yasushi "Yassan" Takahashi using GPS art. For the uninitiated, GPS art is created by travelling with a GPS device and uploading the route to a mapping tool such as Google Earth, to see the shape. Over the space of six months, Yassan toured the full length of Japan, crisscrossing the country on foot and by car, ferry, and bicycle, to spell out ‘Marry Me’ and even used the northernmost island of Hokkaido to create a massive heart with an arrow through it. Six months in the making, the GPS artist quit his job to make the more-than-7,000km journey, and his girlfriend, Natsuki, of course said yes. “It was a big surprise,” she told the South China Morning Post “I felt the greatest love in the world.”

September 2023

PICTURED: BOSSLEY ARCHITECTS

designs for life

“It has incredible potential as a design tool, and is obviously here to stay,” says Finn Scott, a director at Bossley Architects, the design giant behind the likes of the Maritime Museum, Auckland Waterfront Apartments, and Park Hyatt Hotel. “We have been experimenting with it over the past few months as a research tool, and for both visual and grammatical exploration. I’m constantly stunned at the rate it’s evolving.”

Dan Heyworth, founder of the studio, Box, is embracing AI with caution, concerned that in over-automating design we risk losing that “something we love about a building but can’t quite put our finger on”, that “soulful touch” that can only come from the human mind. “I hope that we will democratise architecture a lot more than we do now, that we are able to offer more people greater ability to choose from a greater selection of amazing designs,” he says. “Industrialisation and AI should be the driving force in enabling that, but it shouldn’t be the be all and end all.”

“I think great design is a combination of strong ideas and narrative,” says Finn. “A combination fuelled by the successful collaboration of a group of people passionate about what they do.”

Perhaps nowhere is collaboration more evident than at Box, a one-of-a-kind company that fuses construction and architecture together in one studio. “We call ourselves the architect builder,” continues Dan. “It’s inspired by Christoper

Alexander, who recently passed away, but was an esteemed architect of urban design and an author of many fantastic books, including A Pattern Language, often studied in architecture school.”

Alexander famously believed architecture should be without ego, that it should not be considered in isolation, but built to “repair the world around it, and within it, so that the larger world at that one place becomes more coherent, and more whole…”

“He was a big proponent of architects as old master builders,” Dan goes on. “For me, the Holy Grail is going back to the old concept of pattern books. Of showing cohesion between what got built at on a street and the overall architectural language of a town or village.”

Successful architecture, says Finn, “is a result of many factors working well together”. And any project’s success, is dependent upon a talented group of people with a shared vision: “It’s not easy, so it needs to be enjoyable!”

And with that, Verve invites you to enjoy this extended design feature section as a we get to know Dan and Finn and more local leaders and freethinkers of their fields.

WORDS JAMIE CHRISTIAN DESPLACES

As with so many industries, AI is increasingly making its presence felt in the world of design and architecture.

In the Blood

Finn’s entry into architecture was almost written in the stars. His father, being a builder of homes and boats, encouraged in him “an interest in how things went together from an early age”: “And helping build our family home as a kid I think helped solidify that interest in making things.” As well as serving as a director at Bossley, Finn has also tutored part time at the Unitec School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

Which architects or designers have most influenced you?

“There is so much good architecture and design out there today it is hard to single out a few designers, but for some time now I have been quite fascinated by the mid-century works of a number of South American designers such as Paulo Mendes de Rocha, Lina Bo Bardi, and Roberto Burle Marx to name a few.”

How would you describe your architectural style and approach to design?

“I hope that I’m not wed to any particular architectural style. As for the approach, we like to think of this process as a conversation, where the outcome – usually a building – is just one solution to a problem or number of challenges or requirements that form the brief of the project. The better the conversation, the richer the project!”

How do you incorporate sustainability and environmental considerations into your designs?

“These ideas are always at the forefront of design and are integrated into the process rather than considered separately. But as creators, we need to be more accountable for our built environment-and understanding the environmental footprint of our buildings is now more important than ever. With more and more tools at our disposal to calculate the environmental impacts of construction, we can have robust discussions and make better decisions about the materials and systems we specify and the buildings we design.”

Outside the Box

Dan’s always had a deep love of books and painting, but his journey into the design industry was a rather convoluted one. After the briefest of dalliances with architecture school, he studied French and business before working in project management and consultancy. “I’ve just always been interested in things that didn’t work,” he tells Verve. “And housing as an industry did not really work.” And so, 15 years ago he founded Box.

Tell us about the Box concept.

“People struggle to get their heads around Box, because it’s such a unique concept, with architects, designers, interior designers, builders, project managers, and apprentices all under one roof. We give equal weight to the both the design and build elements in a way that a true master builder would.”

PICTURED: BOX CONCEPT

What are the benefits of such a set up?

“With creativity and craft combined, it means that the builder has an input from the very early stages which ensures that the designers are aware of what’s practical and possible from a hands-on perspective; that we’re not doing things that are unnecessarily complicated. It also means that we have much more control over a project.”

Do you have a design philosophy?

“That design flair and building pragmatism should go hand in hand. We also must remember that we’re not just creating somewhere to live, we’re creating streetscapes and urban environments for everyone else, too.”

What’s your approach to sustainable practice?

“I think beauty is at the core of a sustainable building. Down here in Britomart, you have boutiques in buildings that were originally warehouses that are beautifully detailed with great symmetry and materials. If people love a building or place, they are more likely to maintain, preserve, and adapt it. So, while I find the concept of prefab interesting and appropriate at certain scales, large-scale, mass prefabrication in places like Sweden and Singapore often lacks the beauty and nuance of more traditional, human-scale crafted buildings, and are, in general, not built environments that people will love and want to preserve.”

The Landscaper

Jared Lockhart Design is a landscape design practice that was established in 2011 with an aim to imbue every project with “a

unique identity and a sense of place”. Jared recalls helping his grandfather tend to his “amazing vegetable garden”. “However, it wasn’t until my early 20s, living in London that I realised there was such a thing as landscape design,” he tells Verve. “I have no formal training in landscaping and studied engineering at university. I was working in investment banking when I had the opportunity to move into landscape design. Here, I worked for Jinny Blom for eight years, she taught me everything, as I think of it was my apprenticeship.”

Could you talk us through your design process?

“Sometimes it’s collaborative with clients, and we’re very open to this, especially if it pushes the design in a new direction. However, it must be the right direction and we’re always careful to keep it on track.”

What are common mistakes when attempting DIY landscaping, and any tips for people with less space?

“Poor soil preparation and drainage – without these you won’t get the result you’re looking for. And one big planter is better than 10 small ones!”

What projects are you most proud of and, any that have been especially challenging?

“Two of our earliest projects were Hallertau Brewery at Riverhead and the garden at the rear of the Deadly Ponies store in Ponsonby. Completely different gardens, but we always receive great feedback on both. Our projects out of Auckland are always challenging as we can’t visit site as often to oversee

PICTURED: JARED LOCKHART DESIGN

the installation – instead we rely on great contractors and communication to ensure the best possible result.”

How does the surrounding architecture influence your design?

“This has a huge effect, especially in an urban setting where there is less natural landscape to reference. Therefore, the garden must reference the architecture to make sense.”

The Tiny Home Builder

Rebecca McLean, founder of Tiny House Builders, also comes from a family of builders, “helping Mum and Dad build houses from a really young age”: “I grew up helping to choose carpet and fabrics and climbing up trusses after school.” Little wonder, then that Rebecca also worked on renovations and office fit outs as well as in kitchen design and cabinetry shop fitting before establishing her award-winning firm.

What was the catalyst for establishing Tiny House Builders?

“Going into another maternity leave, we started looking at ways to increase our income. We thought the tiny house idea was so cool, so much more than a house bus or a caravan. It felt like home. We asked my dad to help build that first one and here we are, seven years later with 15 staff!”

You obviously need to be quite creative with the use of space, can you give us an example?

“I created a custom couch which looks and feels like a normal sofa, but has got storage inside a USB charging point, and there’s

an option to have it fold out into a bed. It has one arm on one side and not on the other to make it feel more open. We work on all those little changes that will make the day-to-day easier for our clients, while allowing them to incorporate their own style to make it feel truly like their own.”

Do tiny homes offer sustainable living?

“Our homes have a 25-year warranty, they’re fully insulated, double glazed and accommodate solar power. Their size obviously means that they’re very easy to heat, too.”

What’s the future of tiny living?

“Tiny homes are definitely here to stay. There are so constantly new innovations like a interconnecting pods, and councils and governments are finally catching on to the fact that tiny homes aren’t simple a way to skirt the rules – I’m the chair of the Tiny House Association and have been lobbying hard. People from all demographics are coming to the expos and realising the potential and opportunities. My mum and dad have now got a tiny home on our property, I didn’t realise the benefits of intergenerational living – it’s great for my kids, my parents, and us. I just highly recommend more people do it!”

PICTURED: TINY HOMES

bright ideas

WORDS

GRAHAM WOOD

PHOTOGRAPHY

WARREN HEATH

A bright and open family home is an ode to creativity and playfulness, but it has a strong element of responsibility underpinning all that vibrancy and innovation.

Left page: An outside entertainment area off the living space includes some 70s influences such as the sunken lounge. The change in volume, emphasised by the circular skylight above, gives this area a very different spatial quality from the rest of the house, opening it to the sky even as it is sheltered from the sun and rain.

Left : An open-plan space that takes in living, kitchen and dining area. The floors are simply cement screed and the ceilings raw concrete. The cylindrical feature houses the fireplace, and also plays a structural role in supporting the large uninterrupted ceiling.

Bottom : In the lounge area, natural light from a slit-like skylight at the edge of the room washes the wall. The black brick wall illustrates use of repetition and variation throughout the house, creating dramatically different effects by varying grouting techniques and brick combinations.

Bottom left : A large window above the kitchen counter opens a portal that draws the eye all the way through the living area and the courtyard beyond to the bedroom wing opposite, and, most importantly, catches a glimpse of the trunk of the tree in the courtyard. From this perspective, the ‘outside’ flows right through the house, becoming a feature of the interior, the spirit of the site is uninterrupted.

Bottom right & right page: The kitchen area is not only beautiful, but highly functional. The granite kitchen island and the counter have a leathered finish, adding to the richness and tactile variety of the finishes throughout the house. The kitchen counter is black Zimbabwean granite.

The kitchen areas is not only beautiful, but highly functional.

Left page: The sunken lounge with its barbeque and pizza oven, creates a cosy nook and a significantly different spatial experience from the rest of the house. Departing from the linearity of the house is an arrangement of dynamic, asymmetrical steps. Behind the counter, a diagonally laid breezeblock pattern creates a ‘veil’, letting cool air circulate freely on hot summer’s days.

Below : The wavy grass covering the rooftops makes it appear as if the ground as been ‘lifted’ above the footprint of the house, creating an almost subterranean quality in the interiors, and blending beautifully with the surrounding trees. It also doubles the size of the garden.

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Above: Connecting the two wings of the house is a stripped back minimalist glass box that acts as a kind of mental and emotional palate cleanser or decompression zone between the living and dormitory areas.

Right page: The master bedroom has a somewhat pared-back, neutral palette with a simple, sculptural, low-slung multi-functional bed unit and floorto-ceiling built-in cupboards receding into the background, keeping the space serene and uncluttered.

The material palette is consistent, but never monotonous, lending the interiors a cohesiveness without allowing them to become uninteresting or overwhelming.

Right page & below: In the bathrooms, the walls are tiled with vertical brick tiles in slightly different shades, exemplifying the notion of repetition and variation throughout the house. The material palette is consistent, but never monotonous, lending the interiors a cohesiveness without allowing them to become uninteresting or overwhelming. The bathrooms have been treated as ‘wet rooms’, there the bath and shower efficiently share a space.

Above right : In Jamie’s bedroom, a feature wall behind the bed has been clad in cork, adding a warmth and tactile dimension to the interior, and revealing fondness for the simple but expressive use of natural materials.

September 2023

modern living

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1. Desejo Libra Pendant Light, an ornamental lighting, handcrafted with anodised aluminium, available in a range of colours

2. Refined Living Ophelia Coffee Table

3. Refined Living Brioche Single Seater – Hand Tipped Graphite 4. Desejo Algerone Mirror, a contemporary masterpiece in Polished Brass, Grey Leather, and Smoked Mirror, available in various finishes 5. Desejo Leaf Door Pull, elegant and artistic, hancrafted in solid brass, available in a range of finishes

6. Refined Living Lorenzo Side Table – Black

design of september

STYLING BELLA SAMPSON

Bauhaus Wendelbo Pontone Sofa

Soren Liv

Curve Vases

Mina

The Design Studio Ridge Acacia Bowl

Lifestyle Furniture C yrus Occasional Chair

French Country Collections Cole Display Cabinet in Rust

Zanders & Co Graffito Cushion

Artsy Candida Höfer

Norsu Interiors Globe West Artie Wave Coffee Table

Interior Design Online Lorne Canopy Table Lamp

Aura Homes Harira Presence Sculpture

Resene Mata Hari Wallpaper Collection 37859-5

at the forefront of planning

Elevate Planning founder and director, Nicholas Simpson , believes that the key to the success of any building project begins with good planning.

to positively impact communities and people in a multitude of different ways.”

WORDS— MILLY NOLAN

Armed with a bachelor’s degree in urban planning, Nicholas Simpson began his professional journey at Auckland Council. “At school, I always imagined myself becoming an architect until I stumbled across the world of urban planning,” says Nicholas. “Unlike architecture, what drew me to urban planning was its broader scope that stretched beyond individual buildings. Urban planning is about designing on a larger spatial scale, with the potential

At Auckland Council, Nicholas initially assumed the role of being the primary point of contact for public inquiries. Guiding individuals through an array of concerns - from neighbourly disputes to seeking informed guidance around the complexities of the Auckland Unitary Plan – provided invaluable insights into the public’s perspective and the challenges they faced. From there, he assumed a position involving the processing of resource consent applications. His responsibilities spanned from modest residential renovations to multi-storey residential complexes and ambitious infrastructure renewals. The exposure to a range of complex projects alongside mentoring and guiding junior colleagues, led Nicholas to quickly advance into an intermediate and eventually a senior planner within just a few years of working at the council. This rich tapestry of experience deepened his understanding of the intricate interplay between design, regulation, and community engagement.

Driven by his belief in the ability of urban planning to create spaces that significantly elevate the quality of life, Nicholas bid adieu to Auckland

Council to establish his own business, aptly named Elevate Planning, in 2021. Backed by Nicholas’s years of experience, Elevate’s inception sprang from his desire to uplift the art of planning, making it more approachable and understandable for people who may not be familiar with its various processes, such as resource consents. By handling all aspects of the planning throughout the entire project, he aspires to take all the stress and worry out of a client’s hands while also ensuring there are no surprises along the way.

“There’s a common misconception that the resource consent process is cumbersome, slow and costly,” says Nicholas. “While these complexities can arise when navigating regulations and requirements, the real challenge often stems from not having the right team in place to pre-empt and tackle any issues before they snowball and become roadblocks. That’s where Elevate steps in – mitigating risks, reducing costs where possible and guiding clients towards well-informed decisions all while achieving quality environmental outcomes.”

Central to Elevate’s core objectives is to redefine the planner’s role. While planners are often blamed for bureaucratic red tape, Nicholas believes that they serve a vital purpose – striking a balance between growth and sustainability while protecting the environment.

“When it comes to urban planning, limits are necessary to create harmonious spaces that honour both the property and the environment. New urban development excites me, but it must adhere to principals of sustainability and environmental resilience.”

While the majority of Elevate’s work centres on residential ventures, Nicholas’s expertise also extends to the commercial and industrial domains. “Elevate is for anyone seeking to undertake a redevelopment project,” says Nicholas. “Our scope covers everything from minor renovations to single dwellings at the rear of a property, to extensive developments encompassing potentially over a hundred dwellings. We handle a diverse array of application

types across residential and commercial realms, which adds an interesting dimension to my work.”

Nicholas attributes the secret to Elevate’s success thus far to his commitment to transparency and foresight. “My goal is to identify any possible concerns council may raise and highlighting them upfront,” he says. “This may involve some tough conversations, but the objective is always to prevent delays and complications further down the line, which can arise from extensive backand-forth exchanges with council.

“All my clients’ submissions to the council have to-date been approved without any questions asked, which attests to the point before of engaging with a planner early on in the process to get it right. Though I can’t promise that will always be the case, it underscores the importance of involving a professional planner for an outcome that is not only positive but seamless along the way. I want the planning journey to be a pleasant experience, not a dreaded one.”

structural advantages

When’s a good time for a structural engineer to get involved in a house project?

As early as possible once concepts and basic framing plans have been worked through. We can then advise early on tweaks to the concepts to save costs if required, for example with adjustments to spans or available wall lengths for bracing. This also allows the architect to get a better understanding of the structural form and any critical elements.

How does one choose one structural engineer over another?

There are multiple ways to approach a project and every engineer will do things slightly differently. The point of difference is being able to collaborate and work in an efficient team with the client and architect. This ensures good communication to work through solutions, so they are fit for purpose and cost effective. Lots of relevant experience with similar projects with the same architect/design team is a good indicator of this.

Who is more important, a geo-tech engineer or a structural engineer?

Both are important for different reasons. Foundations are very important and difficult to repair if something goes wrong. So, investment in a good ground investigation and robust report by a geotechnical engineer allows the structural engineer to design a reliable foundation system. This ensures there

are no costly errors or hold ups in construction.

Structural engineers enable architects to push the realms of what’s possible. We ensure buildings can resist all imposed loads including gravity, earthquakes, and wind loadings. In a simplistic sense, we design the key components to ensure the structure can stay standing.

Do structural engineers ever get it wrong?

Like any industry with human input, mistakes will happen! The key thing is having good QA procedures in place internally to review and catch/correct these. It also helps having a good team environment with the architect and builder to communicate any issues early so these can be collaboratively resolved if required.

Should we get you guys to look at the site before we commit to purchase it? What would it cost to have you look at the site and give us your opinion on its suitability, stability and so on?

The key issues with the buildability of new sites are the planning rules, civil

development issues, and land stability. A planner/architect would be the best to initially advise on any planning issues that would restrict certain developments. A civil engineer will be able to advise on suitability of development with respect to infrastructure and flooding. A geotechnical engineer would be able to carry out a soil investigation to advise on any site stability issues, liquefaction risk, and possible contamination.

The cost would depend on the site size and complexity, so is very much case by case.

We understand the importance of teamwork to the overall success of the project – can you recommend an architect and a builder that you have previously worked with?

We have a great collaborative relationship with the Box Design and Construction team making for efficient designs and construction outcomes.

got you covered

At what stage of building a home do I discuss roofing with the architect?

The roof is a major part of any new build, so it’s best to start early -particularly if it’s a very visible feature. We’re happy to get involved early and can help select profiles and colours and so on.

Why choose Aspect Roofing?

Our family-owned business employs several highly skilled roofing specialists, including a dedicated sales team, qualified quantity surveyors, project managers with decades of experience, and a whole host of LBP roofers. We deliver a top quality, end-to-end service for all residential roof projects, from beautiful architectural standing seam, to reviving your forever home with a classic corrugate roof, to the fast-paced world of townhouses, and large-scale residential developments.

How long does the average home roof take?

Projects are dependent on size and complexity – but generally two days for small, uncomplicated jobs, and up to two weeks for a larger, more complex ones. Euro tray profiles take several weeks.

Do you need a building consent for a roof?

Sometimes, such as if you’re installing a product which is heavier than the existing roof, therefore creating additional load to the building structure, relevant engineering documentation will need to be submitted to council for approval. If you’re replacing a heavy concrete tile with a lightweight metal roof, no consent is required, however if you are replacing a long run metal roof with a terracotta tile, it will need council approval.

Are you responsible for dismantling the old roof and getting rid of it?

If there are no alterations to the existing footprint and you’re simply removing and

replacing your old roof with new, then we will remove and dispose of existing roofing materials. However, if it’s part of a larger addition or alteration project, often it is easier for the builder to carry out the removal works in line with any reframing or structural changes they’re making to the footprint. This will be discussed at the quoting stage.

What's the process for re-roofing an existing house?

For a full roof replacement, all the old roofing material must be removed. A new layer of synthetic breathable roof underlay is then installed over the framing to ensure moisture doesn’t build up in your roof cavity. And finally, new metal roofing sheets are installed with appropriate roof fixings.

There are 10 main steps: set up scaffolding or edge protection as required for safety remove old roofing material – tiles, i ron, underlay.

i nspect roof structure for defects –any major rot or damage to the existing structure will require a builder to remedy

·

i f you want to replace the insulation, this is a good time to do so when the roof is open

i nstall new roofing underlay

i nstall new roofing material

i nstall flashings and finishing touches site clean-up: removal of all trade

wa ste and debris from site

fi nal inspection and sign off

· delivery of warranties and record of works

Can you install any type of steel roof on any roof pitch?

Most long run and euro tray profiles can be installed on roofs of three degrees or more. Corrugate is the only profile which requires a steeper pitch of eight degrees minimum.

If the house is near the sea, how do I find out what type of roof is suitable? Depending on the proximity to the sea, we’d generally require a marine grade, or even aluminium-based material. We obtain a warranty indication from our manufacturers for all quotes which gives us a recommendation for the most suitable product to the home’s location.

prepare to be floored

Can you tell us about your engineered flooring?

At Forté, we pride ourselves in supplying premium engineered  timber flooring to our clients. Far superior to solid hardwood, our engineered timber flooring is specifically made for the New Zealand environment, making it stronger and more durable than traditional timber. This means it can withstand the wear and tear of a busy household with children and pets, is less likely to scratch, dent, or warp, and enjoys longevity despite the sometimes-harsh New Zealand climate. Our varied collection suits most budgets and design preferences.

What’s the difference between solid timber and engineered timber?

Engineered wood has a wear layer/veneer of solid hardwood fixed to a multi-layered core of stable timber. This core backing is usually made from multiple layers of more readily available timber, such as plywood, that are glued together.

A solid wood floor on the other hand is 100% solid hardwood, meaning logs are milled and each plank manufactured from one single piece making it considerably more expensive than other flooring.

While there are many advantages of engineered wood over solid hardwood, the main one is engineered timber’s superior stability due to its multi-layered core. Engineered timber flooring is also more sustainable, using approximately one-third of the amount of slow-growing hardwood than solid wood of the same dimensions.

Can underfloor heating be installed under your flooring?

Yes, underfloor heating gets installed 1-2 months before the completion of the build.

Each species of wood differs in thermal properties. The natural properties of timber flooring cause it to retain the warmth and conducts it into the room, optimising the system’s efficiency. Engineered wood is best for underfloor heating as it

performs well with changes in floor temperature and moisture content.

Before installation, we recommend the timber flooring be left flat in the original unopened packaging in the areas it is to be installed for at least 48 hours prior. This allows the product to acclimatise to the room temperature and minimises the likelihood of any shrinkage or swelling.

At what stage of the work do I contact you regarding flooring?

Usually when mood boards are being created in the concept stage, clients will approach us for samples and recommended products that suit their project requirements.

Do you come to measure and quote?

We have an estimation service that measures plans and provide quotes. For renovations with no plans, we can send our approved installers to come out and measure for a quote.

Is it easy to take care of?

Simple cleaning is the main ingredient for keeping timber floors in tip-top shape. For regular weekly cleaning, engineered timber floors only require a quick vacuum and mop with a microfibre pad and wood floor cleaner.

How long would we expect the flooring to last?

The wear layer or veneer of engineered timber flooring varies in thickness and thus will affect the number of re-sands the flooring can have and ultimately how long it will last. Most engineered wood flooring has between a 2-6mm veneer of real wood, giving it a lifespan of at least 30-50 years.

Is there a guarantee with your flooring?

All our floors have a 25-year residential and 10-year commercial structural warranty. We also stand behind our coatings and if there is an obvious fault with the product then we will repair it.

93 Manchester Street,

a design doyenne

A few words with Lyzadie Renault , founder of LyZadie Design Studio.

Can you tell our readers about your journey as a product/ furniture designer?

I’ve always been inspired by the living heartbeat of Aotearoa –its sense of awe and adventure. It struck me first as an architect, and then as a product designer. Allowing myself to consider forms and functions in nature leads me to the heart of whatever I’m working on.

Do you mainly use NZ timber in your design?

Our sustainable designs use raw and natural rescued materials, and each piece is handcrafted in New Zealand. Luxury shouldn’t cost us the earth; we believe in giving back to our planet rather than taking from it.

New Zealand timber does feature heavily, but above all I look for materials that can operate in a circular economy. Where possible, the studio and our makers use resources that have already seen a life, and bring them out of the line-up for landfill into new, lasting designs.

We pride ourselves in providing transparency in that manufacture process. Sustainability is at the heart of what we do. To maintain both the high standards of the brand and the focus on the environment, the studio partners with makers with the same passion and commitment to these philosophies.

Did you feel at the time of going on this journey that there were not many women product/furniture designers?

I did, especially in New Zealand. But I have been encouraged by the growth in this area, and have been so supported in my journey. I think women have a unique take on furniture design,

perhaps with a non-linear view? Form and function combining to create an elegant simplicity that is nurturing in its outlook.

At what stage of our new house build would we ask for your advice?

I love to get involved at the conceptual stage of any build. There’s a quote from Monica Khemsurov and Jill Singer in their book, How to Live With Objects: A Modern Guide to More Meaningful Interiors: “… it’s the objects you surround yourself with that truly give your home its soul…” I couldn’t agree more. The soul of a place can be enriched not only by the objects it contains, but by the inspiration of those objects. Infused with your personal narrative, a space should speak to who you are, the way you live and how you fit within your world.

Do you come up with a concept of furniture design for each room?

It depends on the client. I work hard to interrogate the feeling my clients want from a particular piece or the design of a particular room, and that leads the concept drawings for us to take it further.

What do you love best about your job?

Seeing the journey of a new idea. I’m always struck by how much of the original inspiration – usually from a glimmer in nature – is able to come through, not necessarily in the form of a piece, but in the way it makes me and my clients feel. I don’t think it will ever get old.

lyzadiedesignstudio.com

1. BLACKTREEFERN Candelabra

2. DANCEOFGEOMETRY Candelabras sitting on the BLACKTREEFERN Round Dining Table

3. DANCEOFGEOMETRY Bookends

4. FLOW Dining Table and WHITECLOUD Light Pendant

5. BLACKTREEFERN Credenza

6. LETSWEAVE Round Dining Table

the real deal

Lisa Thorsen LLB/PGCert Law Consultant- real estate compliance Licensee salesperson

Lisa’s family has lived in St Heliers for five generations. She’s passionate about all aspects of property; her knowledge of agency and contract law and love of real estate compliance makes her the perfect person to contact when you’re selling, planning to sell or need advice around real estate compliance.

Have you practised as a lawyer?

Yes, in Auckland and Tauranga, and as a legal adviser in London doing relationship property, property and regulation and compliance.

Your background in law, real estate and real estate compliance must be a huge advantage for anyone wishing to sell their home?

Yes, I believe it is – for sellers and buyers. My 20 years’ experience means I can quickly recognise and address issues that require disclosure. My proven ability in sales gives me an appreciation of what’s involved in selling real estate and how it can sometimes be a bit of a minefield.

Can you tell us a little about your consultancy business and how real estate and your business make the perfect marriage?

I consult on real estate compliance matters for different clients; assisting them by reviewing property documents; and any other necessary documents and recommending how to address any issues with the property before it goes to market. I also consult on broader compliance matters, have my branch manager qualification, conduct training for REINZ and are an assessor for the Agent Level 6 Real Estate qualification.

For sellers and buyers, I’m able to pass on up-to-date information about real estate compliance as well as relevant insights into the local real estate market.

Tell us about Maguires One Team and your role there?

Maguires One Team is a unique group of salespeople with a culture not normally found in real estate. The team operates across six offices, and I’m based in St Heliers as a salesperson. I maintain a strong local and national network and assist people wanting to move within the area or further afield.

What’s your approach to educating clients about the importance of compliance?

I encourage them to go into the process with their eyes wide open and be ready to address any issues. Being a homeowner, I appreciate the hard work each owner puts into their valuable asset, and how proud they are of their houses. Sometimes however things are forgotten in the reno project for example and the work may not have building consent or a CCC or a previous owner did some unconsented work. It is here that I often advise on how to address this so that the owner can sell their home successfully. I pride myself on always being professional and trustworthy on every communication; every negotiation and every deal that I am involved with.

At what stage of our build do we contact you and/or if we are buying a home regarding compliance?

If you’re selling your home with a recent renovation, ensure all building work is signed off by your contractors and council. If you list your property with me, we’ll go through the necessary compliance checks and find solutions to any issues before you go to the market. We just need to plan ahead.

If you’re looking to buy a home, I can assist with what information you need and what questions to ask. Again, planning ahead is key.

For a Property Appraisal, simply scan this code.

Plymasters Techno Veneers add a sense of texture and luxury to any home. Italian-produced, flexible timber veneers transform the aesthetic appeal of any space. Available in three different designs: Milled, Wave and Rolled with a material backing. Two wood veneer finishes are available with Oak, American walnut and an MDF suitable to paint.

A common use of Plymasters Techno Veneers is to apply to curved applications or create custom-made, high-end cabinetry. Also, the perfect product to line walls with as the timber sheets come in an oversize of 3130mm x 1220mm. When fixing the flexible panels onto a wall (curved or flat), you can treat it like a wallpaper and use glue as an adhesive. Simple and easy!

At Continuous Group, we're all about rainwater systems.

That means we focus solely on fascia, spouting, downpipes & rainwater heads. We believe that installing a high-quality rainwater system requires specialist knowledge and experience ensuring the system fits perfectly with your build.

Our systems aren't like Lego pieces that snap together, our installers draw on decades of experience across thousands of jobs to ensure the installation is done right first time, don’t settle for anything

continuous.co.nz

less. Choose from a range of painted coil or lifelong copper, using Continuous Spouting for your next respout or new build project will ensure a rainwater system that is not only functional but meets even the most complex of designs.

wonderwall

How does Nu-Wall compare with other cladding products?

Because it’s lightweight and durable, and won’t rot, delaminate, or crack, Nu- Wall is the ideal cladding material. Also, the low maintenance requirements compared with other products in terms of painting and repairs and so forth means it is the most cost-effective option out there.

How long will Nu-Wall last, and what guarantees do you offer?

There is a Nu-Wall 100-year guarantee that the aluminium substrate will remain weather tight. The surface coatings have separate manufacturer warranties depending on the coating grade and against integrity and colour loss up to 25 years.

In what lengths is Nu-Wall available?

All Nu-Wall profiles can be supplied up to 6.5m long, with some profiles being able to be supplied longer—up to 8.3m in some cases. For many projects, profiles are supplied in custom lengths, calculated to minimise unusable waste.

Is Nu-Wall suitable for marine or harsh environments?

Absolutely. With a choice of baked powder coat or anodised finishes in several grades, Nu-Wall suits the toughest conditions. Remember that NuWall won’t rot, crack, or delaminate.

Is Nu-Wall resistant to impact damage?

Yes, with a buttressed wall thickness of 1.5mm, Nu-Wall is resistant to all but a determined attack. Rugby balls and the like will have no effect. Cricket balls could dent the surfaces.

What colours are available?

Nu-Wall comes in approximately 90 standard powder coat finishes, but that’s just the start. Just about any custom colour is available to match your taste or interior design.

What thermal properties does Nu-Wall have?

Like most cladding, Nu-Wall relies on the insulation in the walls to maintain the internal temperature. Corrugated iron roofs are the same, insulation is essential to create a comfortable temperature gradient.

Does Nu-Wall get hot in the sun?

Yes, it can. Like any metal surface the temperature can get hot, especially in summer. The insulation stops the heat entering the home just as the heat from a corrugated iron roof is insulated from inside the house.

Are there other applications for Nu-Wall?

Yes, Nu-Wall is used for soffits, counter fronts and cabinets, doors and screens,

and suspended ceilings. Also, sectional garage doors are offered in Nu-Wall by most garage door manufacturers in New Zealand.

Is Nu-Wall noisy in the rain?

No, the rain doesn’t have enough impact on a vertical surface to cause any noticeable noise.

If damage is done to my Nu-Wall cladding, such as a car backing into it, how is it repaired?

This can be answered in two ways. For a slight dent or scratch the repair can be done in a similar way to automotive panel beating – touch up paints are available and body fillers can be used on the cladding if necessary. Where serious damage has occurred and the panel is ripped, the wall can be disassembled from the soffit down and the damaged panels replaced. Nu-Wall is assembled using screws, not nails, so all undamaged products can be re-used without replacement.

from foundation to finish

WORDS— MILLY NOLAN

Each renovation or new build they undertake is approached with the same level of attention and care as if it were their own project. A level of service that is rare these days.

“The name for our business wasn’t chosen randomly,” says Nathan, co-founder, and director of Our Projects. “After years of working in the construction industry, my brother Ryan, and I, saw that there was a gap in the market for builders who really cared about the project from beginning-toend and who worked closely with the clients so that their needs and desires were met throughout the whole process. So, the name ‘Our Projects’ matches our intention to treat our clients’ projects as if they were our own.”

Hailing from the flat lands of the mighty Manawatu, brothers Nathan and Ryan come from multiple generations of 'farming tradesmen'. “Tradesmen that seem to enjoy the added stress of also being farmers,” says Nathan. Despite initially resisting their predetermined destiny, the pull to pick up the tools was too hard to resist, and both brothers ended up becoming builders after leaving school. “My dad ran a construction company so you could say it’s in our DNA,” adds Nathan. “Building homes for people is just second nature for us.”

For Ryan (co-founder and project manager of Our Projects), his early building years were spent in the lower half of the north island learning to build character homes, villa renovations, and undertaking light commercial work. He then travelled to the UK on his OE where he was able to further his skills working on loft conversions and historic buildings. For Nathan, the Global Financial Crisis in 2008 inspired him to take a break from building and embark on an electrical engineering course, which resulted in a job at KiwiRail, designing and project-managing the installation of control systems.

With building in Nathan’s blood, however, when Ryan returned to New Zealand, the brothers got talking about how things could be improved in the building industry. Together they brainstormed how they could build people’s dream homes in a way that met the client’s every need.

“We really felt that the building industry in New Zealand didn’t put enough emphasis on customer service – there was a level of communication and professionalism missing,” says Nathan. “The focus wasn’t around the client and builder relationship. People would hire a builder, have very little communication with them, have their house built, have numerous hiccups along the way, and then end up paying more than they expected and being disappointed. We were confident that we could turn this situation around by running a company that was instead almost like a partnership with the client. We wanted our clients to enjoy the journey of transforming or building their home from scratch, rather than fearing the journey.”

And so, in 2019, Our Projects was born – a building company with a point of

Founded by brothers Nathan and Ryan Strawbridge, Our Projects is an Auckland building company that truly lives up to its name.

difference. From initial consultation to final walk-through, the idea is that the team at Our Projects will keep the client in the loop every step of the way, providing their expert advice and guidance where and when its needed to ensure the end result is a success.

“When we take on our clients, we take on a level of ownership. We sit down together at the beginning of the project and discuss exactly what it is they want to achieve,” says Nathan. “We continue communicating the whole way through the project. We help our clients economise where they can, as well as offering different product solutions that we know will enhance the features of their house and their experience when living in it. Clients aren’t necessarily aware of what choices are out there and so this is something we really excel in.

“Another thing we pride ourselves on is having integrity. Sometimes it’s tough to kill people’s dreams when they think they can achieve a renovation within a certain budget, but we know they will thank us for being honest in the long run as we save them from having to go back to the bank to borrow more money.”

From large villa renovations to smaller bespoke builds, and multi-million dollar architectural masterpieces, and with a fabulous team of builders working for them, both Nathan and Ryan feel as if they have really found their feet with Our Projects. Working in construction was a calling that was never able to be ignored, but one that they were destined for. “It makes us feel so proud to be following in our dad’s footsteps and to be improving and building homes that people love, not only during the process of creating, but also living in.”

Right : Ardmore Road

Below : John Street

the essence of architecture

Most architectural magazines talk about product, the furniture, the light fittings, the artwork, and so on, which is totally understandable as they keep the magazine alive with advertising revenue, but it's not architectural design.

What makes the house or space feel good?

The answer to that question is hard to pin down as it’s dependant on many factors, including expectation, personal taste, and experience. But also orientation, proportion, scale, connection, and appropriate size.

While product is important, and we love it, they only dress the space and stamp it with the owner's personality. When the owner sells and takes the product, the empty space remains. So, the space must stand on its own.

WORDS

PAUL LEUSCHKE

I walk through a house at frame up stage to feel the space, the ease of walking through it, the views out, the sun and light coming in, the privacy. The house or space should feel good empty and unfinished.

Products tend to be fashion. Everchanging. They skip a generation and grandma’s chair is reimaged, slicker with a different colour hue. So modern. Currently arches are in, greys are out, patterned stone is in, steel joinery still in, I know because I looked through the latest Australian Belle magazine.

A good space only needs a refresh to reflect today’s living needs and the owner's personality, not a rebuild. Buying an older house designed by an architect will often give you good space with rooms in the right location and orientation, and a refresh is all that's needed.

paul@leuschkekahn.co.nz

021 894 895 leuschkekahn.co.nz

Vienna Woods your quality flooring experts located in Newmarket, has become the go-to location for designers and homeowners looking for truly beautiful timber flooring.

The 2023/24 collection has maintained Vienna Woods reputation for its depth and engrained quality, presenting an exciting and inspiring range, sourced from Europe. To see the new collection visit Vienna Woods showroom at 2 Roxburgh Street, Newmarket

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durable, high-quality

trust

your vision. hermpac.co.nz

shedding stereotypes

WORDS— JAMIE CHRISTIAN DESPLACES

It’s inspired by the Men’s Shed concept, a long-established, international charitable association which aims to bring men of all backgrounds and abilities together in workshops to socialise and contribute to their communities both through education and by building things.

Since its inception around 18 months ago, the WomenzShed has hosted over 30 workshops, attended by more than 200 women.

“This Community Shed does so much good for the men and probably saves the country millions in care homes as the guys have this amazing place where they can come and feel connected,” founder Nikki Moss tells Verve as the class busily measures and chops wood around us. “And I just felt that women should also be able to share the same opportunities.”

Even the buzz of multiple saws can’t drown out the obvious camaraderie; but it’s serious business, too. A woman rises from rummaging beneath her workbench and there are murmurs

about the men having either moved – or pinched! – some of their wood.

“Some of the women arrive having literally never picked up a hammer before,” Nikki continues. “We offer a range of workshops including an introductory course that covers basic woodworking skills, and even some metal working.”

Originally from the UK, Nikki’s father was a builder, and she was “mixing concrete and laying bricks by the time I was 10”. After uni, she enjoyed varied career and hobby paths that included home renovations, natural sciences, IT, lecturing, and the military. She now counts an NZ Certificate in Construction Trade Skills for carpentry as another string to her bow.

Mathilde Polmard is a WomenzShed instructor who studied architecture and design, and now boasts plenty of practical experience having built everything from cabinetry to tiny homes. “Some of the women just need that little bit of

A gang of gals in Sandringham has established a first-of-its-kind project, the WomenzShed , to hone their woodworking skills and build a bridge across the gender divide.

confidence and encouragement, especially when it comes to using power tools,” she says. “Men just don’t seem to have that same reservation. Being a women-only group means that they won’t feel stupid or judged if they make a mistake. Everyone’s in the same boat.”

A woman not lacking in such skills is Courtney Willan, who’s now well on her way to becoming a fully qualified carpenter – and WomenzShed instructor – having previously gained a bachelor’s in English and history and trained to be a teacher. “My partner and I attended a woodworking class and made a tea tray, and it was just so much fun,” she beams. “I've always been into arts and crafts, making costumes and things like that, and I just wondered about delving into the power tool side of things. Now I want to help other women upskill, and hopefully encourage others to get out in the field with me.”

Not all workshop attendees are necessarily looking at woodwork as a career, many are simply looking to learn new tricks and be less reliant on the blokes when it comes to putting together flat packs or hanging shelves in their homes. Nikki says that there is clearly a confidence gain that spills over into other areas of their lives as she proudly shows

off some bowls, a planter, and bait boxes that have been built by the group – the latter to be donated to DOC, Auckland Council, and the wildlife charities Urban Ark - Manawa Taiao and BirdCare Aotearoa. The WomenzShed recently also hosted a local Brownies group.

“Empowerment is definitely a word that comes up a lot,” says Mathilde. “Women want to acquire some practical skills that they don’t feel they’ve been given the opportunity to learn throughout their lives.”

The women have had plenty of support in the community, with tool donations coming from Bosch and The Block NZ.

“Practical skills aside, it’s also great for your mental health,” says Nikki. “You have to be present and focused when using these tools. Your mind clears of everything else. I like to think that we’re leading the field with what we’re doing. It’s been so popular. The workshops have sold out really quickly and so there’s obviously a great call for it.”

To find out more, and book a workshop, head to womenzshed.org.

ABOVE: COURTNEY, NIKKI AND MATHILDE

Togo turns 50

Designed by Michel Ducaroy in 1973, Ligne Roset’s iconic Togo sofa was a revolutionary seating concept that took the design world by storm. Its slouchy, wrinkled silhouette has captivated comfort-seekers and design-devotees for 50 years. Inspired by a humble tube of toothpaste, Ducaroy’s body-hugging, award-winning design is now one of the most collectable items in the world. To celebrate the 50th anniversary, two special editions are available from Ligne Roset Auckland for a limited time. See ligne.nz for more information.

ABOVE: Atom by Kvadrat - a strictly limited edition in three colourways available while stocks last

ABOVE: La Toile du Peintre by Pierre Frey - now on display and available to order until the end of this year

Describe your design style. Client-led and customised. I don’t have one style, but I do enjoy industrial aesthetics, art deco, and Hollywood glamour!

What services do you offer?

For residential renovations and new builds, we offer the full range of interior design services: spatial planning, kitchen and bathroom design, cabinetry design, furniture, accessories, window treatments, and all interior finishes.

Tell us about your fees?

It’s a combination of flat fees and hourly charging. After our initial meeting, I prepare a design proposal outlining the scope of work, deliverables, and fees. Also included here is the information on product purchasing and discounts. Communication is key so that there are no surprises.

Can you work within a budget?

Absolutely, the earlier we discuss the budget the better. We also involve tradespeople early on to discuss the expected cost. As we move through the design process, we remain focussed on the three pillars of design, budget, and timeframe. If we believe that the budget is too small, we can work to prioritise and maximise your investment.

Will there be regular updates?

We have scheduled in-person meeting

inside tips

A catch-up with interior designer, Nicola Manning .

as we move through the design process, for design presentations, feedback, and product/showroom visits. We also keep in touch regularly through email.

What’s your approach for clients with their own style?

A client’s home should be a reflection of them, not the latest trend. We use detailed client briefing sessions to really drill down into the details, guiding clients and suggesting new ideas. It’s good to push them to the edge of their comfort zone while honouring their vision for their home.

How do you prioritise functionality and practicality?

In our concept design stage, we use floor plans to work with our clients to create the best flow, layout, and functionality. Once that’s locked in, we layer on the visual aspects, illustrated through the elevations, 3D perspectives, and coloured renders.

Assessing the durability and practicality of materials and finishes of products is crucial. We need to use products which suit the requirements of our clients to enable a timeless, durable design.

How do you handle selecting and sourcing material and furniture?

In the concept stage, we create mood boards showing the direction of the materials and finishes, enabling us to

share our design vision with clients and to get feedback. In the developed design stage, we refine the selection of hard surfaces, fittings, soft finishes, and furniture. We then take our clients to see full-sized stone slabs, appliances, plumbing fittings, and furniture selections. Once finalised, everything is documented in a specification schedule.

We have developed strong relationships over the years with manufacturers and suppliers meaning we can offer clients access to a wide range of products – often discounted.

Do you mind working with existing furniture?

No, we often work with clients moving from a family home into a smaller place; or into a larger home as their family grows. We work together to select existing furniture pieces which will work both in terms of style and size. We may select new fabric to have furniture pieces recovered, or have furniture renovated and refinished.

Do you collaborate with contractors and other professionals?

Collaboration is a strong aspect of our service, and we work closely with architects, builders, and other tradespeople for the very best results.

setting the bar

Incorporating the likes of first-of-its-kind robotic welding technology, and advanced 3D CAD software, Design Production doesn’t just raise the bar when it comes to structural steel fabrication and architectural metalwork, it sets it. General manager Justin Groves tells Verve more.

How does Design Production’s structural steel enhance New Zealand residences’ longevity?

Steel is a great value-for-money material, and given the right corrosion protection, will outlive generations. Its stability and strength can really hold a home together no matter what the conditions. Stability can have a powerful influence on the materials connected to it. Less movement equals fewer longterm problems, and this can have many benefits on water tightness, for example. Usually, these steel structures are hidden from view, and taken for granted, but they play a vital role.

Tell us about Design Production’s unique metalwork when it comes to interiors?

We’re unique in the way we work with everything from carbon steels like mild steel and corten, to stainless steel, brass, copper, and aluminium. Without adding any coatings, these raw materials can be sanitised, polished, buffed, and acid aged to completely change the look, finish, and feel, to either complement the interior or stand out as a feature. There is nothing more honest and as raw as the material fulfilling its purpose in its natural state. And not only this, but adding strength where needed without adding bulk.

How does Design Production’s use of structural steel seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor spaces in New Zealand homes?

With all the natural beauty around us, a steel structure can open up bigger window and door spans to capture uninterrupted views. Working with your engineer, we can even custom-make heavy welded beams not available ex merchant to push the boundaries on sliding/stacking door spans to truly open up big distances not normally achievable without adding big bulkheads over door openings. This gives architects more freedom in design.

How does Design Production’s expertise in structural steel contribute to homes when it comes to withstanding New Zealand’s varied weather?

Durability is key for us. Our industry partners work backwards from your home location, to design a protective coating system in conjunction with the architect to achieve long lasting results. Steel expands and contracts with heat like many materials but with a thermal coefficient of 5.9 it’s very stable. This is important in environments where temperature fluctuation can play havoc on some materials.

When it comes to artworks and sculptures, how does Design Production's team collaborate to bring a client’s visions to life?

We have a team of highly experience CAD designers on staff. Working from a basic design we build what will become the finished item in a variety of 3D modelling software. We think of it as taking the design to hyperspace level where everything can be considered in the virtual world before the first piece of material is processed. We need to combine architecture, and engineering into a unified model that also considers buildability, coatings, and transportability. Access to the site and crane capacity is also factored in. We have an end-to-end service to cover this. When the final day comes for the finish product to be lifted into place there is no room or time for error, and this is where all the hours of CAD work and careful consideration pay off.

In what ways does Design Production's utilisation of structural steel add versatility and flexibility to New Zealand residential designs?

We like to think of steel fabrication as like the boundaries of the universe. There are no ends to the complexity and versatility that can be achieved. Spans and cantilevers not easily achieved with concrete and timber are where structural steel comes into play. Imagine what can be achieved when these constraints are removed, and you can have all sorts of possibilities. We feel lucky to work with clients and their architects that utilise the strength of structural steel to achieve some very impressive outcomes. We are very proud of the work we have done on these projects.

shades of clay

People-focused with 100% natural indoor air quality and constant, feel-good indoor temperatures all year round equals good health and living well.

Now that vision has become a reality; the building is a promise.

A Porotherm Clay Block building promises excellent return on value, energy efficiency, and lifecycle costs. The promise is delivered exclusively by building physics; solid walls and ceilings that serve as insulation and thermal mass, giving you much more for your money.

A true forever home lasting many, many generations.

There’s just no comparison

Chris and Robyn MacPherson of MacPherson Architecture Ltd have been designing high-end homes for over 25 years.

Frustrated by the overall poor quality of NZ building materials, poor performance, and the minimal Level 3 most homes are built to with only a 10-year warranty on the biggest financial and emotional investment of a lifetime, they believe solid clay block homes offer a real solution.

Feeling is believing. When you walk into a Porotherm building and close the door, you are in a world of your own. The difference is like night and day. It’s quiet, peaceful, fresh, and 100% natural with interior lime plasters.

There’s just nothing like it

Stellaria NZ Ltd was formed by Chris and Robyn to import

clay construction materials from their partner company, Wienerberger, Europe.

The New Cambridge Showhome

The new Porotherm Clay Block Showhome on 83 Swayne Rd, Cambridge, Waikato (not pictured) is a stunning showpiece of most of the products Chris and Robyn distribute throughout NZ.

Terca Clay facing bricks coupled with breathable plaster on the block finishes the exterior. The roof is Koramic clay roof tiles, and the exterior paving is the Penter pavers also produced by Wienerberger. Chris and Robyn import seven different building materials manufactured by Wienerberger.

The joinery is Internorm from Austria and Kitchen is by Zampieri, Italy. Breathable lime plaster interior walls.

Seeing is believing

The team at Stellaria NZ & MacPherson Architecture would love you to visit. For many of their special clients and professionals, Chris and Robyn have invited them to stay overnight in the showhome to experience the different living environment and enjoy a weekend in beautiful Cambridge.

“You just have to be in it and feel the walls. There is no way to truly describe how it feels until you know – and then you know,” says Robyn MacPherson of Stellaria.

stellaria.co.nz

It all started with a vision: the idea of a building with near-zero heating, cooling or ventilation required.

comfortably curated

As time passed, my grandfather conducted his legal practice from the property, making it not only a central point for our family but also for the broader community he served.

Time for some TLC (Scrubbing included)

The decision to undertake renovations at our property wasn’t an insouciant one. We needed to onboard a team that understood our vision.

Choosing Ben from Koel Construction was a simple decision for me since I've known him for years. I thought to myself, even if he doesn't do a great job or decides to disappear, at least I know where to find him.

Embracing Transformation

"Taking on this project was an eagerly embraced challenge. Kris and I have been friends for years. While the property had ample living space, it lacked proper flow. WORDS—

The house constructed by my grandparents nearly 30 years ago isn't overly expensive or ostentatious, but for my family, it has always been our cherished home.

Inadequate lighting in key areas and restricted movement turned it into a maze rather than a welcoming family home,” says Ben.

“Additionally, the family was adamant about retaining the original charm of the house, keeping it’s character in tact with a bespoke approach was key, this wasn’t a new build, it was a reinstatement.”

A customised approach was applied to every aspect of the project. Because of the properties age and condition, we had many challenges but Ben and his team were able to overcome these.

The Property

6 bedrooms.

4 bathrooms.

3 kitchens.

3 living spaces. Plus, a furry companion named Ziggy, who loves overseeing it all.

The Brief Infuse natural light. Create cosiness. Blend eclectic and elegant elements.

The Result

Because of the challenges involved, we decided to complete our reinstatement in stages.

We removed several walls within the property to welcome ample light, infusing the space with much-needed warmth and flow.

Key elements added introduced included a scalloped feature wall finished in a buttery Canterbury Clay shade from Resene, creating the illusion of heightened space.

For the kitchen we kept it clean and crisp with subtle gold accents.

"Previously, this kitchen felt more like a dungeon than a cooking haven. We stripped it down and focused on a simple, clean design, adding hints of brushed brass and gold," says Kris.

Elegant Emerald Touch

I am thrilled with how this turned out – rustic yet elegant, paying homage to a bathroom my grandfather had in the 70s, where green adorned every inch from floor to ceiling. Ben and the Koel team impeccably executed our vision, enhancing the space with thoughtful elements.

Conclusion

Our house renovation journey was a truly transformative experience that went beyond aesthetics. We are ecstatic about Koel and their exceptional work. As we embark on the second stage, we'll be sure to keep you all updated!

For more on design curatorsocial.com

For more on construction visit koelnz.com

Allium Interiors

alliuminteriors.co.nz

Allium Interiors is synonymous with excellence in the realm of interior design, providing a diverse range of services that redefine spaces and elevate living experiences.

With a deep commitment to transforming spaces into unique reflections of their occupants, Allium Interiors boasts a track record of creating harmonious and functional interiors that captivate the senses.

Their services encompass a spectrum of design elements, including spatial planning, colour consultation, furniture selection, lighting design, and much more. What sets Allium Interiors apart is their personalised approach – they understand that every client possesses a distinct vision and lifestyle, and they adeptly translate these aspirations into tangible design concepts.

Allium Interiors' team of seasoned professionals possesses a keen eye for

These beautiful shelves are offered in solid pine, oak, ash or rimu and every shelf is custom-made to client measurements and can be finished in a range of stains, lacquers or a simple-yet-stunning clear coat.

Custom sizing shelves can be purchased through their online store timberandlight.co.nz and general lead times are only two weeks with manufacturing all done in Auckland.

Every shelf comes with all the mounting hardware, including NZmade alloy brackets.

timberandlight.co.nz

detail, ensuring that each project receives undivided attention and a meticulous touch. From conceptualisation to execution, they curate designs that amalgamate aesthetics with functionality, resulting in spaces that tell a story and evoke emotions.

Collaboration lies at the heart of their process. They engage in a dynamic dialogue with clients, keeping them involved at every step while infusing their expertise to sculpt a coherent and captivating design narrative. This commitment to collaboration ensures that the final outcome not only meets but exceeds expectations.

In essence, Allium Interiors isn't just a design service; it's a creative journey that transforms spaces into living, breathing works of art, reflecting the unique essence of those who inhabit them.

The founders of Timber & Light express their obsession with quality and minimalism through their solid timber floating shelves.

the art of kitchen design

The kitchen sits at the very heart of every home. It is the space where the whole family gathers to cook, eat and relax – be it first thing in the morning over breakfast before school or work, in the evening for the family dinner, or at weekends entertaining with friends. It is the one room in the house you need to get right, whether building new or renovating.

When it comes to design and installation, the kitchen is also the most complex space in the home. Most kitchen installations will require up to a dozen or more separate trades and suppliers and will need precise project management to complete on budget and on time. And when it's finished, your new kitchen will have to serve many functions and look stunning – making its design crucial. It’s fair to say that your new kitchen can make or break your home, so ensuring every detail is perfectly executed from the outset is vital.

The team at Kitchens By Design has an impeccable reputation for designing and delivering beautiful kitchens spanning 30 years. It has also won over 70 National Kitchen and Bathroom (NKBA) Awards, making it the most awarded and trusted independent kitchen design company in New Zealand. In addition, Kitchens By Design has access to not only its own manufacturing facility, but also other high-end manufacturing facilities, meaning it can offer its clients a fully project-managed, concept-to-completion service.

It starts with great design

The foundation of any successful kitchen is an excellent design, which calls for a talented, experienced and qualified kitchen designer, of which Kitchens By Design has three. Because every space is unique, a cookie-cutter, one-size-fitsall approach doesn't work with kitchen design. A kitchen designer will take the time to understand your lifestyle, tastes and cooking habits. They will also consider all the practical aspects of your space, including layout, plumbing and any structural issues that may need to be resolved. They will then craft a design tailored to your specific needs, ensuring that your kitchen is visually pleasing and the perfect space to work in.

Form and function

The designers at Kitchens By Design understand the importance of an efficient workflow and placing appliances, workstations, and storage areas in strategic locations. This attention to detail ensures that your new kitchen will be a space where cooking is a joy rather than a chore. They are also constantly learning, updating their knowledge with the latest industry design trends, innovations, and technological advancements.

Save money, create space

Engaging a specialist Kitchen Designer involves consultation and some initial costs, but the results can often lead to long-term cost savings. Designers help you make informed decisions about materials, appliances, and layout choices,

preventing costly mistakes. Additionally, they can suggest energy-efficient appliances that contribute to reduced utility bills over time.

Maximising space is a hallmark of effective kitchen design and the designers at Kitchens By Design excel at this. They identify underutilised areas and transform them into clever storage solutions, incorporate space-saving furniture, and ensure that every inch of your new kitchen serves a purpose.

One-stop shop

As mentioned, the kitchen is the most complex space to build or renovate.

There are so many moving parts, and it involves more sub-trades than any other room in the house. That's why engaging an experienced team that can offer a complete design-build service is important – especially one with access to specialist cabinet makers and relationships with trusted sub-trades and installers that go back decades.

Finally, delays and overspends are the plague of many home projects. Having one company and one ‘go-to’ person to deal with who will project manage the entire process of your new kitchen is essential to avoid any unforeseen problems, thus avoiding budget and time blowouts.

If you are thinking about a new kitchen or bathroom, whether a renovation or for a brand-new build, give the team at Kitchens By Design a call. Better still, make an appointment to talk to one of the designers in person at their new showroom at 9 Melrose St, Newmarket, (09) 379 3084. For inspiration, take a look at their website at kitchensbydesign.co.nz

Yourspace Developments: creators of quality domestic and commercial cabinetry.

We offer designer kitchens and cabinetry for both domestic and commercial fitouts. Our Kiwi-owned and operated company specialises in producing modern kitchens and luxury cabinetry for your entire home or business. Our custom cabinetry is purposebuilt for all areas including new kitchen builds and renovations, bathrooms, bedrooms, and living spaces. On the commercial side, we have worked with some of Auckland’s top commercial design companies producing fitouts to the highest standard, ranging from small to medium size to meet all requirements and time frames.

All cabinetry is handbuilt in New Zealand using highly skilled tradespeople who deliver and install to the highest level of workmanship. We meet the highest quality requirements of design, durability, and functionality.

Call 0274 741173.

Discovering valuable storage space

malfidesign.com

Malfi Design

We are a staging and furniture package company based in Auckland, specialising in apartments, terrace houses, and smaller housing units. Our goal is always to curate warm, stylish staging or furniture packages to transform spaces to their full potential to deliver the greatest value for our clients.

If you’re after home staging for sale, we offer a range of options including full staging or partial staging packages. We also love to curate furniture packages, which is a service we provide to completely set up a property for rent, Airbnb or for owners to be able to move straight in. We can work within budgets and build together the perfect package for properties depending on clients’ needs and situation.

Instagram: @malfidesign

• THERMALS • ROMANS • AUSTRIANS

dynamic design

What sets Villeroy & Boch apart?

Villeroy & Boch have been pioneers in design, material selection and manufacturing since 1748, with family members still active in the company today. The craftsmanship of ceramic sanitaryware, tiles and tableware has been perfected over generations.

What elements make Villeroy & Boch a must-have for achieving a spa-like ambience?

The bathroom sanctuary is very important in a world that’s embracing ‘JOMO’ – the joy of missing out. Villeroy & Boch’s many award-winning designers – from a Sex Pistols’ album cover, to luxury goods, furniture, and kitchen appliances – mean that the products not only look good but will have great form and function for years, setting your sanctuary apart.

How can Villeroy & Boch help turn small bathrooms into spaces of stylish indulgence?

Compact basins and toilets save space but still have high design and function. Wall-hung toilets help declutter a room visually, too. Modern tapware ranges have options that are ultra sleek, but still serviceable and reliable.

What are the essential Villeroy & Boch products?

The novel Antao Collection of basins and toilets draws inspiration from nature with organic, soothing curves. Deep, comfortable Quaryl baths enable you to relax, luxuriate and de-stress.

Tell us about Villeroy & Boch’s commitment to sustainability Villeroy & Boch’s factories adopted new technologies early, allowing for energy reductions of 90% in the moulding process, without compromising on quality. They also work closely with organisations like EcoVadis and EMAS, which conduct the strictest environmental reviews.

What are the latest trends Villeroy & Boch has introduced?

The world is full of colour – as are Villeroy & Boch products! A kitchen must bring several disparate elements together – like refrigeration, cooking, preparation, and entertaining – so it needs to be efficient and durable. Kitchen taps like the Villeroy & Boch Modern Steel mixer blends robust performance with a high-end stainless-steel body, available in gun metal and matte black.

What should homeowners consider when embarking on a transformative journey with Chesters and Villeroy & Boch?

For best results, consider factors such as your project’s goals and how it will be used. Additionally, remember as people age, things like grab bars become more important and can be incorporated to ensure an integrated, coherent look. The Chesters team can help with this.

How does Villeroy & Boch encapsulate timeless glamour, and what are Chesters' tips to integrate these classics into modern spaces?

From Vincent van Gogh painting his friend Eugene Boch in 1888, to having an exclusive tile range installed on the Titanic, and early tableware designs for the 1930s Bauhaus movement, Villeroy & Boch has a rich history on the world stage.

Chesters’ showroom consultants will ensure you find a timeless piece that’s right for you. With nine showrooms throughout Auckland, experienced staff are available at your convenience, ensuring your bathrooms and kitchens don’t just have products, they have a name!

chesters.co.nz

The experts at Villeroy & Boch and Chesters reveal the latest trends in bathroom and kitchen design.

a to z of home & design

Architecture

The art and science of designing and constructing functional and visually appealing buildings and structures.

Bathroom Design

Involves planning and arranging bathroom layouts, selecting fixtures and materials, and taking into account factors such as space usage, storage options, lighting, and ventilation.

Construction

The fusion of innovation and craftsmanship, where imagination meets engineering to produce structures. It involves transforming conceptual designs into tangible formations, utilising various materials, techniques, and equipment.

Design

The artful blend of creativity, strategy, and imagination. It’s the process of envisioning, planning, and examining concepts to bring them to life. Design holds endless possibilities for creative formations.

Entryway

A traditional space that welcomes individuals into a home.

Fixtures

Elements that are attached or installed in a space that serves a specific function. Common types of fixtures include lighting, cabinets, windows, and doors.

Granite

Popular material used particularly in countertops and flooring. A natural stone known for its durability, strength, and aesthetics.

Home

A cherished space where security, comfort, and a sense of belonging are created. While the physical explanation of a home is as a place of residence, it’s is more than a structure, it provides a space for life to unfold.

Industrial Interior Design

A specific design style that embraces the beauty of raw and unfinished aesthetics, providing a unique and captivating style for those who fancy rugged charm.

Juxtaposition

The purposeful placement or combination of contrasting elements within a space that creates a sense of tension or harmony.

Kitchen Island

A freestanding surface located in the centre of the kitchen. Versatile and functional, it’s ever more popular in kitchen design.

Lighting

Plays a crucial role in home design, serving both functional and aesthetic purposes.

Minimalism

A design style that emphasises simplicity, clean lines, and an organisational environment.

Natural Light

Valued for its ability to enhance the ambiance and overall wellbeing of a space.

Open Concept

Refers to a layout that eliminates or minimises interior walls and partitions, to create a more open and fluid living space.

Projects

Various tasks or activities that are performed to improve, modify, or enhance a home.

Quality

Provides a visually appealing and comfortable living environment while enhancing long-term enjoyment for individuals.

Renovation

Bringing new life into space, improving, updating, or alerting an existing property. The purpose of home renovation is to rejuvenate and modernise a property by improving its overall quality, comfort, and appeal.

Sustainable Design

The process of creating living spaces that minimise negative environmental impacts while maximising energy efficiency.

Texture

Tactile or surface characteristics of materials, finishes, and furnishing in a space, that add depth and visual interest.

Uniformity

Concept of creating a cohesive and consistent visual aesthetic throughout a space.

Ventilation

A crucial aspect of home design that refers to the deliberate and effective change of indoor and outdoor air within a living space.

Window Treatments

While both practical and decorative, they serve purposes such as light control, privacy, insulation, and style.

Xeriscape

Landscaping technique that focuses on conserving water and creating a low-maintenance and sustainable outdoor environment.

Yorkstone

A popular choice in home design due to its appearance, durability, and versatility, often used for flooring, surfaces, accent walls, and outdoor paving.

Zoning

The process of dividing property or structure into specific areas with designated purposes or functions.

Choosing the Perfect Painter

Whether you've just completed a renovation or built a brand-new house, selecting the right painter is a decision that could greatly impact the final look and feel of your home. Here are some tips to help you choose.

Define Your Vision

It’s essential to have a clear understanding of the colour, finishes, and overall aesthetic you want for your home. Collect inspiration from magazines, online platforms, and other homes, so that you can communicate your ideas effectively to your painter.

Research and Recommendations

Seek recommendations from online review platforms, social media, and acquaintances who have had their homes recently painted.

Obtain Multiple Quotes

Ask at least three painters for written quotes. Never select a painter on price alone – the cheapest quote will seldom be the best value in the long run. If there is a wide variation in the quotes you receive, ask each painter to itemise the main expenses so that you can compare how the money is being spent. This will also give you an idea of the extra work that some painters are preparing to do that you may not have thought about.

Material and Paint Quality

Enquire about the types of paints and materials the painters intend to use. High-quality paints and materials, like those from Resene, contribute to a superior look and finish.

Resene offers a free Find-A-Painter service to help you make contact with professional painters. Simply complete a Find-A-Painter job sheet instore or if you’d like to do the finding yourself, check out the Resene Eco.Decorator listings online at ecodecorator.co.nz

Resene Eco.Decorators are a nationwide network of environmentally responsible, quality focused painting contractors, who are audited regularly so you can be confident that the painter is committed to a quality finish with a sustainable focus on your project.

achieving your (business) dream

often means that they don’t deal with the root cause of problems, nor do they plan for long-term success. They’re also often experts in their chosen field, but not necessarily in how to achieve business excellence.

What are the most common issues you find?

Cashflow is often the number one issue followed by simply not making a good enough return for the effort and time invested. People are attracted to go into business for themselves so they can be their own boss, earn more money, and have more time off. However, they can often become a slave to their business and what initially was a dream can sour into a daily grind.

How do you makes things better for them?

What do you do?

I work with SME – small to medium enterprises – business owners to help them improve and grow their businesses. Business advisors and coaches have been popular overseas for a long time and in recent years they have gained much more acceptance in New Zealand.

Why only SME Businesses?

In a smaller business, the owner tends to wear all the hats and spends most of their time just running the business. In other words, they end up working ‘in the business’ but not ‘on the business’. This

I work with the business owner to identify any major issues and quickly address them. It’s only then that we start to work on making the business better, and this is achieved through strategic planning which not only involves establishing the business vision, but also in finding out where they personally want to be in, say, five years’ time. One of the keys is to develop a habit of regularly working on the business, and we recommend this is done for a short time every week as this also creates momentum.

What’s the best part of your job?

Seeing business owners reduce their stress, enjoy their business, and eventually achieve their dreams. Most people tend to spend longer planning their annual holidays than planning their lives, so we help them change that. A dream is just that until you write it down and share it. Then it becomes something very powerful.

Verve chats with Peter Dean, associate and business management advisor at Prime Strategies Group, about how to how to make business dreams a sustainable reality.

Peter Dean – Associate/Business Management Advisor peter.dean@primestrategies.com

Rebecca Bailey Design

Rebecca Bailey's design philosophy encapsulates a harmonious blend of innovation, functionality, and aesthetic finesse.

With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of contemporary design trends, Rebecca has carved out a distinct niche in the world of interior and architectural design.

At the core of Rebecca's approach is a commitment to creating spaces that transcend the ordinary, infusing each project with a unique narrative that resonates with the client's vision. Her designs are a seamless marriage of form and function, where every element serves a purpose while exuding artistic brilliance. Bailey's work often showcases a remarkable ability to balance clean lines and a minimalist sensibility with warmth and comfort.

A hallmark of Rebecca's design journey is her dedication to sustainability. In an age where environmental consciousness is paramount, her projects embrace eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient solutions without compromising on elegance. This commitment not only reflects her ethical stance but also positions her designs at the vanguard of responsible and forward-thinking design practices.

www.weathermasterak.co.nz

@rebeccabaileydesign rebeccabaileydesign.co.nz

VeriShade XT Shades - A Stylish Statement

Take advantage of beautiful light control with Weathermaster® VeriShade XT . The individually curved fabric vanes feature an alternating light filtering and room darkening fabric panel. When opened, enjoy daytime privacy with a soft view.

For an in home consultation call Janene 021 274 7447

Rollershades - The traditional favourite for any home

Combine stylish fabrics with a range of operating systems to create contemporary designs that will look great and perform perfectly for years to come. Add motorised for ease of functionality either by remote, your mobile device or voice command.

Eclipse Polyresin Shutters - Insulation Benefits

Eclipse Shutters allow you to control solar energy entering your windows and doors. Their cellular construction and low conductivity traps air, creating a layer of insulation that greatly reduces heat exchange and achieving an R-value in excess of 0.5 when used in conjunction with Low E Double Glazing. Reflecting the sun during the summer and allowing it into your home in winter. Showroom 48E Lake Road,

(By appointment only)

Northcote

Describe Boston Wardrobes in a hashtag. #elevateyourspace

In your opinion, what are must-haves for a comprehensive wardrobe?

The basic components you need to consider are hanging space, shelving, drawers, and shoe space. There are lots of things to consider – for example, hanging space is the most versatile, and drawers add the most cost. Having said that, everyone has different storage needs, so my ideal wardrobe might look very different to yours! We design every wardrobe personalised to a customer's unique requirements.

Can you elaborate on the personalised approach of Boston's process?

Every single wardrobe is different – there are no pre-designed or pre-cut pieces. We sit down and listen to how people use their wardrobes, their current pain points, what they need to store, and the budget they are working with, and then we design each wardrobe based on those specific details.

At what point in the renovation or build process should people come to see you?

We would like to see people at the planning stage. Moving a door or wall slightly can be a saviour. Changing the size of the space slightly or the opening of the wardrobe area, which is so easy to do at the right time, is almost impossible to do once building is underway. Even the type of door that can be used might be impacted if we are not part of the plan, because after framing we can’t really change certain things.

space for style

How has wardrobe design changed in the last 10 years?

The nuts and bolts of a good wardrobe design haven’t changed all that much, but what we are seeing is people wanting to make wardrobes more of a feature of the room, or tied in with the overall interior, rather than something that needs to hide in the background. We’re seeing lots more colour and people getting creative with wallpapers and painted walls in the wardrobe space. We think that’s great – we want you to love your wardrobe every time you use it!

Which accessories and lighting do you recommend for a sleek, modern wardrobe?

A pull-out mirror is a great addition, and our hidden sectional jewellery drawers are crowd favourites. LED lighting strips really help to add glam and functionality to a wardrobe.

Which Boston Wardrobe collections are most requested these days and why?

For people with existing wardrobe space, you can’t beat our Flex range, which is the classic floor-mounted system – it’s available in infinite colours and finishes and you will not beat Boston quality. However, we’re seeing huge demand for our Viva systems at the moment, as they do not require existing wardrobe space and can be installed on any blank wall with minimum preparatory work.

What sets Boston Wardrobes apart from the other wardrobe companies?

Our Auckland showroom is best in class. It’s a 250sqm space that has continuously evolved over time. We have multiple, life-sized walk-ins, reach-ins and standalone wardrobes on display in various colours and finishes, as well as home storage solutions such as laundry and living room. Seeing and feeling the different options gives you a much better idea of what to expect. Every single one of our customers comments on how valuable the showroom visit is to their overall experience. Additionally, Boston has a rich 35-plus-year history in business, so we have proven you can rely on us to stand by our 10-year warranty and ongoing product support.

a warm embrace

Why choose Rinnai gas ducted heating?

If you own an older house, gas heating is a quick and efficient way to heat it.

What makes Rinnai gas ducted heating the best?

Rinnai, New Zealand’s leading gas appliance manufacturer and supplier, has purchased Brivis, who were Australasia’s foremost gas ducted heating supplier. The two companies combined make for a superior product, backed by an excellent parts and service network. Gas Appliance Specialists are Auckland’s approved and trained service centre. We carry spares and specialise in all Rinnai products.

Who are Gas Appliance Specialist?

Gas Appliance Specialists are the Rinnai Experts. We install, service and repair ONLY Rinnai and Brivis appliances so we know what we are doing. We carry spare parts and are fully trained and authorised by Rinnai to carry out all aspects of work on their products. We have access to all that factory knowledge.

Is gas running out?

The Climate Change Commission has not proposed a ban on new gas connections from 2025 but instead recommend the government sets a date, once a national energy strategy is developed and there is more clarity around the contribution future gases can make in decarbonising New Zealand’s energy supply. You can also be confident that you can use any natural gas or LPG appliances in your home for their expected lifetime. Modern

gas appliances are already able to run on a blend of natural gas and renewable hydrogen gas (up to 20%) or biogas. New compatible appliances will become widely available as we scale up towards a more renewable gas energy future. Rinnai is at the forefront of this exciting future.

Gas energy is here to stay, but it will be changing. What isn’t changing is the value and benefits you get living in a home energised by gas.

What if I already have another brand of gas ducted heating that needs a replacement? Can I change brands and why should I choose Rinnai?

Rinnai’s ducted heating systems can be adapted to work on any manufacturers’ ducting systems and by choosing Rinnai you can be assured of many years of service, reliability, and parts availability to come.

I like gas ducted heating, but it gets so hot in the summer. What are my options?

Rinnai’s modern ducted heating models are compatible with their add-on ICE systems. There are three to choose from depending on your ducted heating system size, these are 10kW, 13kW and 15kW. Give us a call to arrange a free quote.

Should I replace my gas ducted heating with a ducted heat pump?

We can help whichever way you choose to go. Gas Appliance Specialists are fully licensed and trained. We can provide you

with a Rinnai ducted heat pump solution for your house. If you’re not sure, we can help advise on which solution may be best for your property.

I have an existing ducted heating system, and get it serviced, but how do I get the dust and debris out of those long ducting tubes?

Gas Appliance Specialists always has a solution to your problem. One of our ducting team will visit your property to check the entire system for damage, and our duct cleaning machine will clean out your ducting from the heating appliance right through to your outlets. We finish off the service by deodorising your ducting with our environmentally friendly antibacterial spray leaving your house smelling lovely and fresh, and you in the knowledge that your air quality is greatly improved. Prices start from $499, plus GST.

What should I do next?

Gas Appliance Specialists cover the whole of auckland, so give us a call on 021 671 650 or 0800 030 098 or email us at office@gas2005.co.nz and one of our friendly staff will help you through the process.

oasis in the city

Verve editor Jude Mitchell shares her journey of converting an old workshop into a dream home.

When we purchased this property in 2009, we were right in the depths of the Global Financial Crisis!

We knew it was going to be hard, but we were determined that somehow, something would happen that would make it all fall into place.

Advertised as one bedroom, one bathroom, in Grey Lynn, the only truth of the listing was that it was in Grey Lynn – but there was no bedroom and no bathroom! It simply wasn’t habitable. But it came with a commercial building permit so we were able to start work on it pretty much immediately.

We needed to develop a concept that enabled us to evolve the commercial plan into a family home. So the design evolved into a home with two wings connected by a covered terrace. Our ensuite is set to the rear of the original workshop area.

There is a spacious loft above for storage. The family wing had three very large bedrooms, its own lounge, plus a full bathroom and a separate laundry.

We upgraded the roof and exposed trusses, added insulation and renewed the skylights which buildings like ours used to illuminate corners that otherwise would have been dim. We even repurposed the original roller door to retain the industrial connection. Heat pumps and a wood burner ensure that even in the middle of winter the place is cosy.

Yes, the covered terrace links the two wings but its real value is as a stunning space for entertaining and casual dining. The recent addition of and ‘out of the ground’ swimming pool, sun lounging deck and a stunning garden have completed our ‘Oasis in the City’.

The covered terrace links the two wings but its real value is as a stunning space for entertaining and casual dining.

coastal dream

Nestled upon an exposed yet picturesque stretch of shoreline in the Coromandel, the owners found themselves fortunate enough to build a small off-grid cabin.

They envisioned a simple, practical structure for off grid living with the ability to lock it and leave it for months on end if needed.

Accessing the building site was not so simple, as the access demanded traversing rugged terrain only navigable by a four-wheel-drive vehicle. This challenge, while daunting, was all part of the adventure, especially when the goal was to bring a new dwelling to life in such a remote locale.

The builder set up camp in close proximity to the construction site in an oversized tent as a workshop for equipment, tools, and materials.

The architectural journey began with sourcing secondhand windows and joinery; their particular dimensions served as the cornerstone around which the design unfolded. Practicality and resourcefulness dictated many choices. Central to the build was the decision to work with the dimensions of the stand ply sheet, so this approach translated into a cabin built to the specifications of exactly three ply sheets deep and five sheets wide. This eliminated

waste while embracing an efficiencydriven ethos. The roof panels were oversized sheets to increase the pitch in the roof.

Thoughtful design considerations led to the incorporation of storage drawers beneath the bed, providing a safeguard for blankets during winter hibernation.

Being so close to the beach does mean there is the task of sweeping becomes a small tribute paid daily.

Undoubtedly there were challenges, but remarkably, the cabin was built in the brief span of eight weeks.

waiheke dreaming

ISLAND RENOVATION

PHOTOGRAPHY: waihekeholidayhomes.co.nz

Rosemary and Phil Gormack walk us through the process and ups and downs of building their dream home on Waiheke.

What were the key factors you considered when you purchased your land on Waiheke Island?

The price – is it affordable? The aspect, which is northwest facing, and the excellent access. It’s a great area for house development, close to the bus stop, beaches, and town facilities.

Did local regulations impact land use and development in any way?

Yes, waste disposal requirements limited the size and location of the house. Determining factors are the slope of the land, the soil type, and the placement of disposal area. The other factor is resource consent for any building on Waiheke. There are no barriers, but it’s a prolonged process.

Was it necessary to get any special permits or approvals?

Resource consent, and permission from AT for a car deck development. Planting appropriately was also required on the road reserve, and also below the house.

On Waiheke, are there any specific zoning regulations or restrictions on building heights, setbacks, or architectural styles that one needs to be aware of during the design and construction phases?

Yes, the design needs to be compatible with the special character of the area –

think materials, colours, sympathetic design. Building above the ridgeline is also not allowed.

How did you go about selecting an architect?

We interviewed three architects and selected one with whom we had a strong affinity. We had seen examples of his work in an NZ magazine.

What sort of design aesthetic were you after and were you pleased with the result?

We wanted simple, uncluttered elegance with good quality finishings and easy maintenance. For it to be inviting to live in, with excellent utility for the beach and the house to be suitable for a large, multi-age family and also to provide a residence for the owners. And for it to maximise the location and capture the panoramic views – and stay within budget!

Can you outline the main steps involved from purchase of the land to moving in?

First came engaging with the architect to begin the concept design process. Once finalised, we obtained resource consent then undertook detailed design. Then, obtained building consent and contacted prospective builders and sought expressions of interest. Next, quotations and engaging with a builder. Then retain the architect to provide observation services including visiting the site regularly, providing daily advice when required and authorising payments.

The kitchen designer was engaged separately. Then, we completed all inspections, documentation and submitted for code compliance certification (CCC), before finally furnishing and occupying.

Can you provide insights into the types of materials and construction techniques that work best on Waiheke Island given its coastal climate and environmental considerations?

Cedar for matching the external environment. The steel structure allows for an open glass frontage. Huge barn doors open to allow a breezeway through the living area. Ribs form the downstairs ceiling/upstairs floor to give the house a slightly industrial look and supported polished concrete floors. Concrete floors absorb heat the during day and help with temperature control. The colour steel roof is low maintenance. The enclosed deck at the front provides another room without blocking the view. Stainless steel railing for durability.

Was it easy to manage the process whilst being based in Auckland as opposed to being on the island?

Yes, as the architect and the builder worked closely together and issues were dealt with by email, and we were also on the phone constantly. There were monthly on-island meetings as well.

Any local builders / contractors / artisans you would like to recommend?

Tom Rowe of Rowe Baetens Architects. Island 2000 provided a very professional service. Anton Forde was the sculptor who provided interior and exterior art. Barbara Garrett was the landscape consultant.

How long did the build take?

Approximately 15 months from starting on site to taking possession.

The highs?

Constant visits and seeing our dream take shape, then experiencing the pleasure of a brand-new home that meets all our requirements. Also, maintaining the huge pōhutukawa tree as an important part of our landscape.

For more on this stunning Waiheke Home visit waihekeholidayhomes.co.nz

Flowers That Bind

In the heart of New Zealand’s vibrant floristry scene, one name stands apart – Wild Poppies .

For 25 years, this family-run gem has epitomised excellence and meaningful connections. Founded by a group of dedicated women, Wild Poppies has transformed into an emblem of beauty and celebration, intricately woven into New Zealand’s cultural tapestry.

Fuelling this success is a close-knit team of skilled florists who have refined their craft over time. Their meticulousness transforms flowers into timeless works of art that embed unforgettable moments into people’s lives. From the outset, Wild Poppies has been part of Kiwis’ highs and lows, gracing weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and birthdays. Each bouquet captures the essence of the occasion, creating distinctive and cherished memories.

Not limited to joyous occasions, Wild Poppies also provides solace and support during moments of loss. Their compassionate approach to crafting condolence arrangements helps grieving individuals find solace and express affection for their departed loved ones. Despite the digital era, the enduring significance of flowers remains unaltered, offering genuine connections and profound experiences.

Wild Poppies embodies this sentiment, remaining a steadfast companion in New Zealand’s journey of celebration, mourning,

and heartfelt gifting. Their success is a fusion of steadfast values and a willingness to evolve. Adapting gracefully to industry trends, they infuse fresh ideas from new florists, ensuring they stay at the forefront.

Beyond their artistry, Wild Poppies champions eco-friendliness, responsibly sourcing flowers and minimising waste. This commitment aligns with their goal of being both beautiful and sustainable. Offering Auckland Same Day Delivery and Next Day Nationwide Delivery, Wild Poppies brings joy through flowers, gift boxes, and hampers. Their custom gifts are thoughtful tokens that span occasions, reminding us of the power of floristry in enriching lives.

As they commemorate a quarter-century of service, Wild Poppies stands as a testament to flowers’ enduring impact. Their legacy as artisans, their dedication, and their eco-consciousness highlight their importance in marking milestones, offering comfort, and conveying love. In a future brimming with potential, Wild Poppies remains an inspirational reminder of floristry’s timeless significance. Through every bouquet, they continue weaving beauty and joy into New Zealand’s story, one bloom at a time.

wildpoppies.co.nz

Crafting Dreams, Stitching Lives

Around 30 years ago, in a village nestled amidst Kenya’s rolling hills, Patricia Nightingale's vision led to the foundation of Kenana Knitters .

What began as a way to use local wool has evolved into a thriving enterprise that empowers more than 300 women. Through their handcrafted toys and garments, this heartwarming journey funds vital projects, high-protein meals, literacy, and health clinics; touching lives, one stitch at a time.

And the good news is that these special cuddly toys are now available in New Zealand. Verve sat down with Melinda of Kenya Kiwi Connection to find out more.

Kenana Knitters is known for its unique handcrafted toys. Could you tell us about the creative process that goes into making these toys?

Every toy is the brainchild of our founder and are based on the wants and needs of our customers. We create lots of little goodies representing African wildlife, farm animals, and since the growth into the Australian and New Zealand markets, lots of critters from down under.

How does the local Kenyan culture influence the design and production of these toys?

The beauty of the work that we offer the ladies is that it can be done from home, while walking, supervising children, and so on. It’s flexible work so our ladies are able to continue with their daily lives and not having to find outside childcare or stop their subsistence farms. Having animals is a key part of Kenyan culture, and the wool was often found to be a waste biproduct so now we have an additional income generating opportunity for local farmers who have sheep.

Kenana Knitters' products are now available in New Zealand because of your association with Kenana Down Under. Could you share your story and how these beautiful handmade toys made their way to our part of the world?

In 2011, Di Stitt, a Brisbane creative was in Kenya and visited Paddy and the ladies at Kenana Knitters. There was an opening for a distributor in Australia and New Zealand, and from, this Kenana Down Under was hatched. Through exhibiting at trade fairs in both Sydney and Melbourne, a few NZ stockists were gained along the way.

In 2021 Kenana Down Under was sold to Tanya Branch. Melinda moved to New Zealand from Kenya in early 2021, and KenyaKiwi Connection was born, with a view to showcasing some of Kenya’s wonderful, creative and sustainable art and craft. Melinda has a personal connection with Kenana with her sister Kerry having

worked there for many years, and now with her cousin’s daughter Melissa holding the reins, so it made sense to start there. Melinda works with KDU as the representative in NZ.

Sustainability and ethical practices are becoming increasingly important. How does Kenana Knitters prioritise these aspects in its production and distribution processes?

Absolutely. All our products are made from locally sourced natural fibres – our wool is bought directly from the local farmers in our area. Our organic cotton is bought directly from the ginnery in Tanzania (as organic cotton is not available in Kenya). Throughout the production process, we use ecofriendly, non-toxic chemicals and dyes, the wool dyed using plant dyes which are kind on the planet. Our ladies are paid per piece and the pricing is based on a fair wage, directly related to the amount of time it takes them to knit the items, and we provide them with the materials. Not only, do we provide them with fair and sustainable income, but this is a profit share business, so at the end of the calendar year the ladies earn extra income depending on the amount of time and work they have put in for the year. We provide our ladies with other benefits that would be otherwise inaccessible such as free health and wellbeing clinics, high protein meals, adult literacy education and so on.

Looking ahead, what are the aspirations and future plans for Kenya Kiwi Connection? How can people in New Zealand support and connect with this heart-warming initiative? With covid largely behind us, we hope that by working with organisations dedicated to empowering women in rural Kenya through sustainable income, like Kenana Knitters we can bring more products to the New Zealand market. We already have a few stockists here but we are always on the lookout for likeminded entrepreneurs to join us.

What has been your favourite product thus far?

Being a lover of all things Christmas, there is no going past the homespun wool spider reindeer and the organic cotton Christmas ornament range. These pieces never fail to bring a smile to my face, mind you none, of the critters ever fail in this regard!  The Safari Zebra range is also a huge favourite of mine.

Any new and exciting products in the pipeline?

Kenana Down Under recently exhibited at Life InStyle in Melbourne where some new products due to hit our shores in early 2024 were on display. In the homespun wool range, a delightful dinosaur family is joining the crew and we just saw a new sample from Kenana that may just lead to a very sweet panda in the organic cotton collection.

Dishy Birmingham

Back in 2021, my hometown of Birmingham –or Brum, as we Brummies like to call it – made headlines when Tom Cruise’s BMW X7 was stolen while he was there filming scenes for the seventh instalment of Mission Impossible.

On a brighter note, he also made local headlines following visits to Indian restaurant Asha’s, enjoying so many meals as to earn the nickname Tom ‘Two Tikkas’ Cruise.

Brummies aren’t usually bragging types, and even when we do it comes with a good side serving of self-deprecation. Having more canals than Venice is generally the most enduring – and endearing – boast, but it’s not strictly true, the city just has more miles of them (and they’re not quite as scenic). It’s also the setting of arguably the best British TV show of recent times, Peaky Blinders, but, alas, even that was predominantly filmed in other parts of England (and most of the accents are most certainly not very authentic).

Britain’s second city is, however, greener than its historical industrial reputation allows it credit for, boasting more trees than Paris (not sure who counted) and serving as the original inspiration for Tolkien’s Middle-earth (sorry, New Zealand. But you did do it better!). It’s also the hometown of one of Aotearoa’s favourite bands, UB40, and some say the birthplace of the balti curry (but that one’s up for debate, too); though without doubt, it is the curry capital of the UK – travel bible Rough Guides has listed eating a Birmingham balti as one of the 25 must-dos in Britian before you die.

Birmingham has long been one of the UK’s most diverse cities (the 2021 census revealed more than half the population to be made up of ethnic minorities, comprising 187 nationalities), and curry houses have been around since at least the mid-1940s when Bangladeshi immigrant Abdul Aziz began dishing up spiced meats and veggies with rice for professional types from a city centre cafe.

As for the humble balti, the Birmingham Balti Restaurant Association describes the home-cooking-inspired dish as “a British fusion of Kashmiri Pakistani recipes created in the 1970s by Birmingham’s new Mirpuri community” that first appeared in an area just southeast of the city centre that would

eventually become known as the Balti Triangle owing to its abundance of curry houses.

While there is no set balti ingredients list, there are some rules. Unlike the ghee and curry pastes used in much Indian cooking, a balti is made using vegetable oil, fresh ginger and garlic, and a selection of dry spices selected by the chef. The base is made from tomatoes or onions, and the meat (usually chicken or lamb) is also cooked off the bone. But most importantly, the meal must be cooked over a flame in a thinly pressed steel, flat bottomed ‘balti’ bowl (a bit like a mini wok) with two handles either side and offered to the diner, sizzling, in that same vessel, often beneath a sprinkling of coriander. The single portion serving is enjoyed with naan bread and is traditionally spiced at medium hot.

There is some dispute as to the true origins of the term balti. Some say that it’s a style of cooking that originated from the Baltistan region of Northern Pakistan. Others argue that it comes from the Urdu word for bucket, referencing the pot in which the dish is cooked and served. Andy Monro, author of The Essential Birmingham and Midlands Street Balti Guide and Going for Balti: The Story of Birmingham’s Signature Dish, simply describes the balti as “a Pakistani Brummie invention”.

Now such is its association with the city that in 2015, the ‘Birmingham balti’ was scheduled to be given protected name status by the EU – ranking it alongside the likes of Cornish pasties, champagne, and Parma ham – but Brexit put paid to that plan (Birmingham, ironically, did vote to leave the EU, by a margin of just 1%). Whatever its history, the dish – like those who created it – has long been well and truly embraced by Birmingham as its own, and no night out in the city is complete without someone uttering the immortal line “fancy a balti?” before it’s time to go home.

No night out in the city is complete without someone uttering the immortal line “fancy a balti?” before it’s time to go home.

Artwork available at emmabass.co.nz

Wine available at trinityhill.com and Glengarry Wine stores

A Fusion of Art and Nature

Introducing Emma Rosé, a captivating collaboration between artist Emma Bass and renowned Hawke’s Bay winery, Trinity Hill.

Both Emma and Trinity Hill share an appreciation of the beauty of nature, which shines through in Emma Rosé.

Emma Rosé’s label showcases Emma’s artwork, featuring roses from her father’s garden. The label represents the connections between art, nature and life cycles. Trinity Hill’s vines, like Emma's artwork, echos the natural cycle of life; fading after harvest, resting during winter, and rejuvenating in the spring.

This remarkable wine will be released on September 1st, priced at $34.99 per bottle. A portion of the sales from every bottle and Emma’s limited edition Trinity Hill artwork will contribute to the funding (of a new Hospice Cranford Hospice) in Hastings. Hawke’s Bay. Get ready to experience the harmony of flavours and the beauty of Emma Bass’s artwork with every sip of Emma Rosé.

The Pt Chev Beach Café Dish of the Month

Harissa Roasted Eggplant (GF/VEGAN) with Sundried Tomato Quinoa, Fried Cashews, Roasted Toum, Chilli Oil & Coriander

Tofu Dumplings with Spring Onion-Ginger Chilli Oil

Makes: 4 0 Dumplings

Prep time: 4 5 minutes

I don’t make them very often anymore because I’m lazy, but dumplings remain the ultimate Asian snack.

Feel free to make your own wrappers –because of the aforementioned laziness, I go for ready-made ones. I like wonton wrappers because they’re so slippery, but you can also use other wrappers or make

Ingredients

Chilli oil

3 spring onions thinly sliced into rings

1 garlic clove, grated

3cm piece of ginger, grated

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

½ teaspoon salt

25g gochugaru

200ml neutral oil

2 tablespoons black vinegar

1 tablespoon light soy sauce

Dumplings

400g Napa cabbage, sliced into wafer-thin strips

1 teaspoon salt

250g firm tofu, finely crumbled

1 tablespoon light soy sauce

1 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine

1 teaspoon sesame oil

white pepper

40 wonton wrappers (thawed)

Equipment

kitchen thermometer (optional)

plastic wrap

How to Fall in Love with Tofu by Emma de Thouars, published by Smith Street Books, distributed by Thames & Hudson Australia, RRP$45.00.

Food & Wine

gyoza with the filling. As long as you serve the dumplings with this fabulous chilli oil, little can go wrong. The sauce is about double what you need, but it’s also delicious on rice with a fried egg or noodles, or on cold silken tofu or tofu pudding with some crispies. The filling is also delicious on rice. Serve it cold, or fry it up in the pan with sesame seeds.

Method

Place the spring onion, garlic and ginger in a heatproof bowl. Add the sugar, salt and gochugaru.

Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat to 180°C. Test if the oil is hot enough by tossing a piece of spring onion in. If the oil immediately starts to sizzle, it’s ready. Pour the oil evenly over the ingredients in the bowl and stir. Let cool to room temperature, then add the black vinegar and soy sauce.

Place the cabbage in a large bowl and add the salt. Massage the salt into the cabbage for a few minutes, until the cabbage shrinks. Squeeze out the moisture. Transfer to a sieve, squeeze the cabbage again and let it drain. Place it back in the bowl and add the tofu, soy sauce, Shaoxing, sesame oil and a pinch of white pepper. Mix well.

Prepare a small bowl of water. Place a wonton wrapper on your hand and fill it with about 1 teaspoon of filling. Wet the edges of the sheet with your finger, fold the corners together and pinch to close. Place on a plastic wrap–covered cutting board, and repeat with the rest of the filling.

Agedashi Tofu

Serves: 3-4

Prep time: 3 0 minutes

Agedashi tofu is fried tofu served in a dashi-based broth.

The nice thing about this is that part of the crispy layer of the tofu gets a little soggy, and part stays crunchy. Normally this dish is served with katsuobushi, but recently I had a version at a ramen restaurant in which the shaved bonito

flakes were deep-fried with the tofu. This changes the taste completely and you get delicious, crispy layers. In addition, it looks very chic and takes no effort at all. I love that.

Ingredients

125ml (½ cup) dashi

2 tablespoons Japanese or light soy sauce

2 tablespoons mirin

½ tablespoon granulated sugar

30g fresh ginger

50g daikon radish

2 spring onions finely chopped

500g soft tofu, cut into 3cm cubes

50g cornflour (corn starch)

10g katsuobushi

neutral oil, for frying

How to Fall in Love with Tofu by Emma de Thouars, published by Smith Street Books, distributed by Thames & Hudson Australia, RRP$45.00.

Method

Stir the dashi, soy sauce, mirin and sugar in a saucepan over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.

Against my advice in the book’s introduction, peel the ginger. Normally this isn’t necessary, but because this recipe uses ginger that’s very finely grated and eaten raw, you don’t want any peel. Grate the ginger with the finest grater you have, and repeat with the radish. Rinse the spring onion under the cold tap; this makes it crisper.

Put the cornflour and katsuobushi in two different bowls, and season the cornflour with a pinch of salt. Dip the tofu in the cornflour first, then the katsuobushi. Wait a few moments for the cornflour to soak in a bit and repeat this process one more time: this way, you get an extra crispy and flaky layer. Heat a generous layer of neutral oil in a wok or frying pan over medium heat and fry the tofu for 6 minutes, until the katsuobushi is wonderfully crispy. Drain on a wire rack.

Divide the tofu between serving bowls and pour over the sauce. Place the ginger, radish and spring onion on top and serve. Eat quickly, otherwise the tofu will become soggy (though a little sogginess is tasty).

Make it vegan: omit the katsuobushi and make a vegan dashi with kombu and shallots, or with kombu and dried mushrooms, if you prefer.

Sauce tip: you can also buy readymade tsuyu sauce at Asian grocery stores. You can heat it up and pour it over the tofu, which saves you from making a sauce.

Eggplant tip: usually, while I’m at it, I double the sauce. Make slits in an eggplant (aubergine) and fry until done. Pour the sauce on top while the eggplant is still hot and refrigerate for a few hours for the perfect dish to serve with this tofu.

Korean Tofu Stew with Clams

Serves: 4

Prep time: 3 5 minutes

Waiting time: 1 hour

Jiigae is a spicy Korean stew that’s served in an earthenware pot, so that it still bubbles wonderfully on the table.

Basically you can make it with anything: kimchi, pork belly, vegetables, seafood and of course tofu. I’m always looking for an excuse to eat clams, so I added those here. And a few prawns (shrimp) and

dried anchovies. Everything is allowed. Mussels would be nice too, I think. For this dish I always use silken tofu, which is sometimes sold as a cylinder (similar to egg tofu). This stew is also delicious with homemade tofu if you have any leftovers.

Ingredients

400g clams or cockles

6 dried anchovies (see tip)

15g kombu

neutral oil, for frying

1 small onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

2 tablespoons gochugaru

2 tablespoons sesame oil

1 tablespoon Korean or light soy sauce

500g silken tofu, broken into large chunks

5 prawns (shrimp), peeled and deveined

100g enoki mushrooms

1 egg

1 spring onion finely chopped

How to Fall in Love with Tofu by Emma de Thouars, published by Smith Street Books, distributed by Thames & Hudson Australia, RRP$45.00.

Method

Put a few tablespoons of salt in a bowl of cold water and stir until the salt dissolves. Put the clams or cockles in the salt water and leave for 20 minutes to 1 hour. All the sand should settle to the bottom of the bowl. Remove the shells from the water and rinse in a sieve.

Meanwhile, place the anchovies and kombu in a saucepan with 750ml (3 cups) of water and bring to the boil. Put the lid on the pan, reduce the heat and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Strain the stock into a bowl and set aside.

Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a thick-bottomed earthenware pot or frying pan over medium–low heat and fry the onion and garlic for about 3 minutes, until fragrant. Add the gochugaru and sesame oil and fry for 30 seconds. Add the strained stock and soy sauce, and bring to the boil. Taste and season with salt.

Reduce the heat to medium–low and add the tofu, prawns and clams to the pot with the stock and place the enoki on top. Cover the pot and simmer for 3 minutes, until the shells have opened. Break the egg into the centre, and cook for a further 1 minute, until the egg whites have set. Sprinkle the spring onion over the stew and serve.

Make it vegetarian: leave out the anchovies, clams and prawns. Add extra mushrooms or some kimchi, if desired.

Anchovy tip: you can buy different types of dried anchovies; pick nice large ones to make stock with. Small anchovies will also work, just use a little more.

Pan tip: if you have an earthenware pot (clay pot or donabestyle pot), use that. They retain the heat well when you put them on the table. If not, use a frying pan or, if necessary, a wok.

Chocolate Custard with Sesame Tea Crumble

Serves: 4-6

Prep time: 15 minutes

Waiting time: 1 hour

The biggest reason I like tofu is that good tofu has a custard-like texture.

No wonder then that silken tofu is often used to make a delicious, creamy chocolate dessert. This dessert is often called chocolate mousse, but I think it looks more like firm custard. It has a very smooth texture, which is

Ingredients

Green Tea Powder

You can make green tea powder yourself by grinding your favourite green tea. I use longjing for this, but other green teas are fine too. If you don’t have a grinder, you can also use storebought matcha powder.

Custard

150g dark chocolate or

milk chocolate

300g silken tofu

2 tablespoons agave syrup or maple syrup

2g instant coffee

Crumble

60g cold butter, cubed

80g all-purpose flour

40g light brown sugar

1 tablespoon green tea powder

2 tablespoons black sesame seeds

Equipment

blender or immersion blender

How to Fall in Love with Tofu by Emma de Thouars, published by Smith Street Books, distributed by Thames & Hudson Australia, RRP$45.00. Food & Wine

exactly what I like. I use dark chocolate, coffee and not a lot of sweetener. As a result, the custard is somewhat bitter. I like that, but you can also add more agave or maple syrup, or use milk chocolate.

Method

For the custard, bring a little water to the boil in a pan. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set the bowl on top of the pan, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Melt the chocolate in the bowl.

Add the melted chocolate, silken tofu, agave syrup or maple syrup and coffee to a blender or the bowl of an immersion blender and puree. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180°C. Place the butter, flour, sugar, tea powder, sesame seeds and a pinch of salt in a bowl and squeeze/rub with your hands until crumbs of different sizes form. Place the crumbs on a baking paper–lined tray or baking dish and bake for about 25 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Toss halfway through. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Divide the custard between four to six bowls and spoon over the crumble. You can serve any left-over crumble with ice cream or yoghurt another time.

Food For Thought Taste & Drink

Wine columnist and connoisseur DENNIS KNILL gives his views on two of the best wines for the month.

Hawke’s Bay is renowned for its agriculture, fruit bowls, and combinations of good food and wine. It’s also one of our oldest wine regions, best known for its award-winning merlot, syrah, cabernet blends, and chardonnay. With over 100 vineyards Hawke’s Bay is our second largest winegrowing region, its warm, dry climate and diverse geography ideal for grapegrowing conditions in all corners of its multi-faced terrain.

Church Road is not only the engine room and one of the glamour estates, but also the site of one of the oldest wineries in New Zealand, and at the industry forefront thanks to Tom McDonald who blazed a trail with his Bordeaux-style reds. Established from humble beginnings in 1897, Church Road is now much more than an historic cellar door, it’s preserved in time with some of the best labels that money can buy.

’21

Exceptionally flavoursome this carefully balanced dark in the glass wine joins all the dots with its ripe intensity and complexity and gentle tannins that linger long in the mouth. Will age well with careful cellaring. Serve with beef, venison and lamb.

DENNIS and ROSAMUND KNILL

It may not feel like barbecue weather just yet, but as health-conscious consumers become more aware of the need for a balanced diet purveyors of smallgoods are on notice.

Beard Brothers, a family-owned specialty butcher, is meeting these challenges by expanding its selection of healthy eating gourmet sausages and patties that range from traditional beef, pork, venison, and chicken sausages to beef and pork patties to their latest innovation and everyone’s favourite: sausage rolls with crisp-flaky-puff pastry.

It all started from small beginnings in Hawke’s Bay, hometown of Rob Beard who grew up honing his hunting and cooking skills and with an understanding where food on the table comes from. Frustrated with the poor quality of sausages available, Rob decided to make his own the old-fashioned way using heritage recipes. Today, Beard Brothers, under Rob’s stewardship, is thriving and has claimed a number of culinary awards for their comprehensive range of specialty smallgoods. Sounds easy, but to source quality, grass-fed free-farmed meat from a trusted network of suppliers proved to be more than a challenge.

’21

Produced as a tribute to Tom McDonald, this powerful vintage of the century wine will not disappoint. Bursting in strength and structure with a long, elegant finish, this is premium syrah at its very best. Pair with beef, duck, pork, veal, venison, and game.

After countless tastings, Beard Brothers has developed an extensive variety of gourmet sausages and patties with an assortment that’s interesting and flavoursome and made to such a high standard that you’d be hard pressed to find a better equivalent. As well as the customary sausages, the diverse range includes pure beef, pork, venison, and chicken, and sausages blended with spiced apple, puha, cress, and bull dust. Boerewors – the original sausage of South Africa – are also winners and a must for the barbecue.

Beard Brothers Handcrafted Smallgoods, 116 Stoneycroft St, Hastings. Tel: 06 870 0818. beardbrothers.co.nz

Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Redstone syrah, RRP $120

Church Road TOM syrah, RRP $220

FESTIVAL of WINE, FOOD and MUSIC

SUNDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2023

Tickets on sale now via iTICKET!

Le Printemps

In Spring

Embrace bold colours and patterns, kimono-inspired boxy fits and play suits.

1. Gucci GG-jacquard tie-waist linen shirt dress 2. Sandy Liang Milano Bag in Red 3. Zimmermann Halcyon Playsuit

4. La DoubleJ San Carlo Geometric-Print

Silk-Twill Maxi Dress 5. Johanna Ortiz

Happy Mystery Geometric-Print Cotton

Kimono Dress 6. Johanna Ortiz

Sun Goddess Geometric-Print Linen

Maxi Dress 7. Nili Lotan Julien

Geometric-Print Silk Shirt 8. Jean Paul Gaultier Printed Body Flowers Long Sleeve Dress 9. Shushu/Tong Green

Floral Maxi Skirt 10. Sandy Liang

Petronas Skirt in Navy 11. La DoubleJ Column Dress 12. Shushu/Tong Blue

Mini Rose Pouch

Pictured

Summer Vibes

1. Hartleys Holly Dress Seafoam 2. Hartleys Paige Dress Nutmeg

3. Zebrano Roamer Midi Dress In Haze Gingham

Smooth Operator

Siren

It’s OK to be a little vain – ClearV™ your way to a vein-free complexion.

Real talk – we've all got our insecurities, but guess what? Life's too damn short to be held back by them! If you’ve started to notice spider veins and broken capillaries getting a little too obvious on your face (or anywhere on your body for that matter), it's time to give ‘em the zap.

ClearV™ eliminates those pesky blood vessels that are trying to bring down your vibe. From broken capillaries to stubborn spider veins – and even skin discolouration and rosacea –ClearV™ smooths things over and creates skin that's as flawless as a celeb's Insta feed.

Cancel the concealer. Put that beauty blender on the shelf, with ClearV™, you won’t have to spend another day fretting about coverage. Ditch the concealer and maxi dresses and flaunt a clearer complexion with confidence.

Bring out the laser! ClearV™ brings its A-game with targeted laser energy that lets you say "see-ya" to those visible veins. The best part? The results keep getting better with time. After 24-48 hours of initial redness, you'll notice your skin improving over the days and weeks that follow.

Business as usual. Not only is ClearV™ generally pain-free (yep, you heard that right), but it also has very little downtime, so you won’t have to schedule it around cocktails with your gals – you

can do both! For some, it's a one-anddone situation, while others might need up to three treatments for best results.

And, if you're all about supercharging your results, ClearV™ is perfectly paired with BBL® and ClearSilk™ technologies –#squadgoals for your skin!

Ready to bid your veins farewell? With ClearV™ as your secret weapon, you’ll be facing the world with a newfound confidence – no more letting your visible veins hold you back! Book your appointment at Clinic1 today.

clinic1.co.nz

red is a great colour on your lips – but on your cheeks, not so much.

Ice Hot

The doctors at Clinic 42 often get requests for pre-event spruce-ups and sadly this is when they tend to dissuade patients as time-pressured treatments are not ideal. This is where Fire and Ice is perfect as it’s a rejuvenating experience that combines a unique blend of intensive serums with a stimulating facial mask that leaves the skin positively glowing.

Designed to resurface the skin rapidly and safely, this professional treatment involves the combination of warming and cooling sensations that will leave your skin feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Without giving away too many secrets, the treatment involves a series of cleanses, an intensive resurfacing masque to heat up the skin, several serums to refine the skin texture, diminish the look of blemishes and the

appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and then the process is concluded by a rejuvenating masque to cool down. At each stage, a gentle massage helps you relax and stimulates circulation within the skin.

The entire treatment is designed to improve the texture and tone of your skin, while also reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

Taking only 45 minutes, this treatment bridges the gap between mild facial and invasive peel, leaving the skin with a lit from within effect that lasts for days with some patients feeling like they don’t even want to wear makeup.

Be sure, however, to keep up your daily SPF routine and reapply frequently. Mild enough to be suitable for all skin types, it’s recommended that you wait four weeks before repeating the Fire

and Ice facial. Usually, we would tell you how frequently to have a treatment but so far, we have had to hold back our staff members!

The doctors think this will be the perfect complement to the cosmetic treatments and medical peels available at the clinic and can’t wait to see how it’s received. I think it’s also going to make the ultimate gift this season as it’s suitable for all ages and stages of life, including dad this month—we can always work around those beards!

If you’re interested in finding out more about Fire and Ice or medical peels, visit our website at clinic42.co.nz . If you’d like to book an appointment to see one of our practitioners, you can do this online, or contact our reception team on 09 638 4242 or reception@clinic42.co.nz

While the name ‘Fire and Ice’ conjures up either an image of something quite extreme (or Bonnie Tyler), iS Clinical’s Fire and Ice Facial really does leave you red-carpetready to walk out the door.

OFF & ON’s Colour Bar

What started in 2008 with brows and wax has evolved into the home of essential beauty maintenance with OFF & ON now also offering laser treatments, semi-permanent makeup, injectables, dermal needling and more. This year, OFF & ON celebrates its 15-year anniversary and to mark this celebration, OFF & ON is set to unveil their latest innovation, the Colour Bar.

OFF & ON’s Colour Bar isn't just a service; it's an innovation in brow customisation. Recognising that colour is the unsung hero of the brow, OFF & ON is introducing a spectrum of possibilities through the Colour Bar. The heart of this innovation lies in the expertise of OFF & ON's highly skilled brow artists, armed with a diverse array of colour combinations. This expansive offering empowers them to tailor brow shades and brow systems to each client’s requirements and concerns.

With over 135 different customisations, you’ll never just be dark brown.

The concept behind the Colour Bar is rooted in a three-fold approach:

1. The Tint: Offering a balance between a natural look with extended longevity, the tint system is the perfect entry into colour that delicately enriches brow colour.

2. The Stain: Catering to those seeking fullness and symmetry, the stain system deeply tints brow hairs, ensuring a voluminous appearance that remains intact throughout daily activities.

3. The Henna: Harnessing the power of natural henna dye, this system provides temporary colour solutions, catering to both bold and subtle looks, suitable for all age groups.

The Colour Bar is a demonstration of OFF & ON's commitment to personalisation. Clients are invited to take the reins of their style and address their specific concerns whether it is grey hairs, fullness, symmetry or other. With 15 years of innovation, excellence, and clients coming back again and again, the Colour Bar stands as proof of OFF & ON's dedication and a new era of brow customisation.

Find more at offandon.co.nz

OFF & ON is the home of essential beauty maintenance services in the country with six stores nationwide, currently located in Newmarket, Takapuna, Britomart, Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch.

With over 135 different customisations, you’ll never just be dark brown.

Mercy’s Angels

Caring for a person in their last days of life is a privileged experience

Mercy Hospice, feels grateful for.

Debbie Stevens was filled with so much gratitude for the unwavering care that the volunteers, doctors, and nurses at Mercy Hospice gave her mother in her last few weeks of life, that a couple of years later she made the heartfelt decision to volunteer at the hospice as well – she wanted to extend the same experience to others who were navigating the closing chapters of their lives.

“The care my mum received while in hospice was the complete antithesis to the experience she'd had while in hospital – which is where she had been before being moved to Mercy,” says Debbie. “Mercy is like sliding into a comfortable glove for patients. They are surrounded by peaceful care in an environment that is free of beeping machines and bustling medics. We call it the ‘cloak of care’. We wrap this cloak around both the patient and their family and look after them as best as we can. We care for the whole person

– not just their physical needs, but also their emotional, spiritual, and social needs. The workers at hospice are often referred to as 'angels', and rightly so.”

Taken by the camaraderie and enjoyment that the hospice ‘drinks trolley’ brought to the patients and their visitors when it did its daily rounds at 4.30pm, Debbie took on the trolley role each Wednesday for 15 years. “The clink, clink, clink of the bottles and glasses as you push the drinks trolley down the hallway is one of the most anticipated times of day in the patient unit,” says Debbie. “Fully stocked with wine, spirits and soft drinks, the trolley is something for everyone to look forward to each day, bringing a sense of normality in what is otherwise a difficult time.”

During Debbie’s time volunteering at Mercy, she also drove patients to appointments and acted as a companion to some of them, and families, under hospice care.

and one that Debbie Stevens , volunteer coordinator at

WORDS— MILLY NOLAN

Earlier this year, Debbie moved into the important role of Volunteer Coordinator for Patient Care Services – overseeing the volunteers that have patient contact, while her colleague, Sue Campin, looks after the volunteers that work in the eight secondhand retail stores dotted around Auckland.

Providing a range of specialist community care and hospice services for people facing life-limiting illnesses, Mercy Hospice has up to 350 patients in the community under their care at any one time, and also has eight inpatient beds at Mercy Hospice, Ponsonby. All Mercy’s services are offered free to patients and their families within the Auckland district of Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand.

Vital to the success of the organisation, Mercy Hospice has over 520 volunteers who donate more than 61,000 hours of their time a year to help look after the patients. “The volunteers are an integral part of what we do,” says Debbie. “Mercy Hospice couldn’t run without them. Thanks to their energy and commitment, patients and families can enjoy support and connection that would otherwise not be possible.”

There are many areas in which volunteers can help. Some of the more popular roles include working in a Mercy Hospice retail store, running the trolley service (morning tea, afternoon tea and early evening drinks) in the patient unit, being a companion to patients or their families, being a driver for the patients to and from their appointments, as well as life story writers who help record the patients’ life stories, or help put together a memory box or other legacy that they may wish to leave their family.

“What is really interesting” says Debbie, “is that Mercy is actually, believe it or not, a very happy place to work. There’s always a lot of laughter because it’s our job to make people as happy as they can be when facing death. We are so much more than ‘just a place people go to die’. Every day something

happens at Mercy that makes me feel extremely fulfilled. I used to own an importing and wholesale business and looking back now it seems quite meaningless, to be honest, because now I'm actually making a difference to people's lives. Working here has shown me that we need to live every day the best we can because death is something that comes to each and every one of us, whether we want it to or not.”

Debbie’s advice for anyone interested in volunteering at Mercy Hospice is to “just do it”: “Don’t hesitate. It’s so rewarding. You get back twice what you give. It grounds you and it makes you realise how important your own life is and how small your problems are in comparison to someone who is facing the end of their life.”

Mercy Hospice receives only half of its funding from Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and the rest is raised by people in the community. Whether it is attending a Mercy fundraising event, volunteering, donating, or purchasing from the Mercy Hospice retail shops, there are many ways in which you can help bridge the gap in funding and support the wonderful work that Mercy does.

If anyone is interested in volunteering at Mercy Hospice, please contact Debbie at dstevens@mh.org.nz

Smoother & More Confident You!

Finesse Face and Body Clinic is proud to be the first truSculpt iD provider in New Zealand, as part of an exclusive partnership with Cutera.

TruSculpt iD is the latest technology available to permanently and non-invasively remove body fat. “We have been leaders in non-invasive cellulite and body contouring treatments in Auckland for 22 years,” says Sue Crake, owner of the Remuera Salon.

How does truSculpt iD work?

truSculpt iD uses a unique form of monopolar radio frequency energy that penetrates evenly and deeply and is able to treat deep into the entire fat pad - from skin to muscle. Once the applicators have been placed on target fatty areas, heat is dispersed evenly, causing irreparable damage to the fat cell walls which the body metabolises and removes permanently over the next 12 weeks. Real-time temperature control and monitoring sensors ensure a constant and therapeutic temperature is maintained for 10 minutes ensuring maximum fat disruption, resulting in 24% fat reduction with every treatment. Patient comfort is ensured through the highly engineered skin adhesives and temperature control which keeps the skin cooler than the underlying fat.

How is truSculpt iD treatment performed?

The initial consultation is performed to assess and discuss your concerns and desired aesthetic goals, then a tailored and customised treatment plan will be created. A total of six handpieces can be used per 15-minute treatment, and multiple areas can be treated on the same day. Once medical consent is completed skin adhesives are attached to the skin overlying the fat pocket followed by the handsfree applicators. The treatment area is wrapped in a cummerbund to minimise movement of handpieces during treatment. After 15 minutes of warmth is distributed into the tissue, the adhesives, handpieces and cummerbund are removed and the patient can return to normal activities.

How do I know if I am a candidate?

truSculpt iD is the latest in non-invasive fat removal procedures in minimising treatment time, maximising results and comfort whilst reducing downtime (there is none!). truSculpt iD is a great treatment for targeting stubborn fat pockets that are resistant to diet and exercise, or for a more global debulking option. truSculpt iD is not restricted by BMI or skin laxity concerns, making it a great alternative to cryotherapies. To learn more about if you’re a suitable candidate, book a free consultation with Sue at Finesse.

How many treatments will I need?

Your initial assessment and personal goals will determine the best course of treatment tailored to you, however patients will only require one treatment. Whether one or two treatments are required, all patients will see an effect at 12 weeks.

Is the treatment painful?

No! Patients report the treatment feels like getting into a hot bath. The heat at first can be a little intense, but just like a bath you become accustomed to the feeling and adjust to the treatment. There is no pain, no downtime and no massage required. Patients can return to normal activities immediately after with most patients only experiences some mild redness on the treatment zone which subsides in a couple of hours.

How long before I see my results?

Clients will begin to see a change in their silhouette from 6 – 8 weeks post treatment, but maximum results are achieved at week 12. Changes in skin quality, tone and texture are usually seen earlier. Each area can be treated once per 12-weeks but other areas can be treated before then.

TruSculpt ID Benefits

NZ MedSafe approved for permanent reduction of up to 24% fat (*shown through ultrasound clinical trials)

15-minute treatment (half the time, and twice the treatment area vs cryotherapies largest applicator)

No discomfort & No Downtime – resume normal activities immediately after Customisable and flexible treatment opportunities depending your body and goals

No BMI restrictions

Male & Female suited

Skin tightening – post partum suitability

Treatment areas: abdomen (upper, mid and lower), flanks (love handles), upper back fat, lower back fat, inner thighs, outer thighs, arms and under the chin.

Before 12 weeks after one treatment

Before 12 weeks after one treatment

Freedom from Nasty Bunions

Bunions are a progressive deformity and if not assessed early can lead to a crooked big toe, osteoarthritis, clawed toes and pain which affects your ability to walk freely or even wear your favourite shoes.

Surgery is not the only option.

Bunion surgery involves implanting metal roads and screws to straighten the big toe joint. However, surgeries often lead to complications including infection, scarring, pain and inability to walk for months. Many sufferers who have had surgery notice their bunions return, and often worse than before.

A less invasive treatment can help.

My name is Shaun McCann, owner of Corrective Foot Solutions. Over the past six years since we’ve opened the doors, we’ve helped hundreds of bunion patients get rid of their bunion pain, improve toe deviation, wear more shoes and lead an active lifestyle without surgery.

We use foot mobilisation therapy which is a gentle handson technique that corrects the cause of your bunion by working on the misalignments in the foot, as well as strengthening the weakened muscles around the joints.

“I only wish I had found you sooner!”

We believe that the sooner a bunion is treated, the better the correction.

Limited winter offer only $35 (usually $105)

Have an FMT podiatrist evaluate your bunion. Call between 5 – 29 September and here’s what you will get:

an in-depth consultation about your bunion

a complete hands-on joint assessment

gait analysis

answers all your probing questions

A non-invasive treatment is proving helpful for many bunion patients.

Elevate Your Skin

Dermal nutrition is often considered the last piece of the puzzle for ‘great skin’, but is it time to consider it the first piece?

As your largest organ, your skin reflects your life and overall health. A barrier to the outside world, it’s affected by what you consume, where you go, your overall health, and what you apply to it.

The feast of essential nutrients it needs daily to thrive, can be difficult to get because of modern food production and storage methods.

Dermal nutrition can be a minefield but here at Louise Gray Skin Care we like to keep things simple, so let’s take a look:

Best Supplement for Moisturising from Within

BESTOW BEAUTY’S BEAUTY OIL

Bestow Beauty Oil helps prevent skin congestion and spotty breakouts, even dissolving existing blockages caused by sticky, irritating sebum. This special oil blend improves the quality of skin sebum from deep within, providing a healing, anti-inflammatory, protective outer layer for your skin, keeping it youthful.

Best Supplement for Age Management

BESTOW COLLAGEN BOOST POWDER

With as low as 1,000 daltons* Bestow

Collagen Boost is New Zealand’s most bioavailable collagen. So, what are daltons? A dalton is a unit used to measure molecular weight –n this case, collagen peptides. The lower the number of daltons, the easier it is for your body to absorb and utilise. The collagen peptides in Bestow Collagen Boost have NZ’s lowest number of daltons. It also contains zinc (for collagen production) and vitamin C (essential for collagen and provides more than double your daily requirement).

Best Supplement for Longevity

SCIENTIFIC SUPPLEMENT CORE DUO

This duo is the perfect partner to the popular Scientific Skincare range One Truth 818 because not only is beauty skin deep, anti-ageing must come from within as well.

REPAIR helps keep your mind and body young. It uses all-natural ingredients that work together to activate telomerase to help lengthen telomeres, as well as the key natural ingredients that protect them from shortening.

ELIMINATE works in synchronicity with REPAIR. While keeping your telomeres as long as possible, there will be cells that develop critically short telomeres. Those cells can wreak havoc on neighbouring cells and create the

“waterfall effect” of ageing. ELIMINATE is designed to eliminate or shut off those cells that age your mind and body.

Best Supplement for Organic Skin Support

BESTOW BEAUTY’S BEAUTY FROM BENEATH

This food-based, skin-specific dietary supplement delivers a punch of vitamins and minerals from 100% certified organic plant sources.

Improving your skin on a cellular level, promoting a youthful and vital glow, ensuring your skin is supplied with the building blocks for good quality collagen and elastin production. Providing the perfect balance of B vitamins for skin health and overall energy, health, and wellbeing.

This list could go on and on as we outline the myriad skin conditions that we support with dermal nutrition. Time to supercharge your overall skin health? Book a consultation with the team at LGSC who can take you through tried and tested solutions for optimal results. *maximum 2,000 daltons.

Louise Gray Skin Care, Shop 2/224 Kepa Rd, Mission Bay 09 528 9010 louisegray.co.nz

The perfect setting for a destination event that is just far away enough to be private and secluded, yet close enough to Auckland to be easily accessible.

The perfect setting for your next event!

Located on

Putting New Zealander’s First

Passionate about championing change, New Zealand First candidate for Epsom, Tanya Unkovich , is paving the path towards a better New Zealand.

Tanya Unkovich may be a newcomer to the world of politics, but she believes every facet of her life has been a preparation for the journey she is embarking upon – a journey to ignite positive change and reshape New Zealand’s trajectory. “I am here to hear the people of New Zealand,” she asserts. “My goal is to empower them instead of creating a community of dependency. I want to empower people to stand up and make something of their lives.”

Steering her path from a finance career, Tanya has for the last 30 years worked as a world-leading life and business coach. She has become a seasoned public speaker and the author of four published books. As a specialist in overcoming adversity and mastering resilience, Tanya’s expertise has been helping people see a way forward after suffering a major challenge or devastating loss. “Drawing from my own experiences – with eating issues and body dysmorphia when I was younger, as well as the grief of losing my husband to cancer - I’ve made it my life’s mission to assist those who are feeling stuck and who have lost their purpose. Whether it’s due to food issues, addiction or hardship, I equip them with tools that can transform their pain and struggles into hope and fulfilment.” Though committed to elevating the lives of others, Tanya had never thought about entering politics until a few years ago when a conversation about New Zealand’s political landscape resonated deeply. “Something inside of me just clicked and

I knew it was my calling,” Tanya recounts. “I shared my idea with my husband that very night, and he wholeheartedly supported it. The following day, I phoned my brother, and his response affirmed what he had anticipated all along – that I was destined for this.”

Initially casting a gaze over her political alignment, Tanya realised that despite being an “intelligent woman”, she had been ticking boxes each election without fully comprehending the policies behind her choices. In 2022, attending a New Zealand First conference marked a turning point. “From their policies to the people and to the prayer that was offered by Shane Jones before we sat down for dinner – it all resonated, and I knew that New Zealand First was the right party for me.”

Stepping into the upcoming general election fray, Tanya is vying for the Epsom electorate – a community she’s called home since 2005. “Our objective first and foremost, is to ensure the Right Honourable Winston Peters returns to Parliament this year,” she declares. “At 78, he could be putting his feet up, but it’s killing him to see what is happening in our country right now. He refuses to tolerate division, imposed ideologies, and the burgeoning racism. New Zealand First is dedicated to rejuvenating education and dismantling indoctrination by removing gender ideology from the curriculum, especially for our primary school children.

The party is committed to fulfilling St John’s requirements and ensuring adequate funding for Plunket and aged care facilities. Winston has and will continue to champion important causes such as Gumboot Friday. His dedication to standing up for all Kiwis commands our respect. True public service revolves around the people – not personal popularity or self-interest and this is what New Zealand First stands for.”

With fervent conviction, Tanya believes that New Zealand’s course is teetering on a precipice and urgently requires a new direction. “Our nation needs us now more than ever, for we are currently deeply divided,” she says. “New Zealand First embodies commonsense, reverting to grassroot foundations. I will be advocating for the youth and for our seniors. I will stand up and fight for our democracy and unity among our people. I will put all New Zealanders first by asking what they want and then delivering.”

Tanya’s personal passion and motivation to serve also intertwine a critical issue - mental health. “The current government earmarked $1.9 billion for mental health, but where has it gone?” she asks. “Our youth are suffering from anxiety and depression in unprecedented numbers. A six-month waitlist for public therapy prevails unless you are self-harming – is that the path we want for our youth? Executives burdened with stress and the elderly who are cast

aside also warrant attention. We need more resources and more awareness. There’s so much shaming and labelling in this country and it’s exacerbating the mental decline of our people. We must unite as a nation rather than separate and divide like we did during the pandemic – mostly because of the rules forced upon us.”

In the face of the question of whether change is feasible in New Zealand, Tanya resolutely replies: “That's the very reason I am stepping into politics – I never relinquish hope. You don't need a degree in political science to grasp the essence of uniting humanity, extending forgiveness, or rekindling unity. If you are there to stand up and truly serve the people, then you will hear the people - this is the essence of democracy. It's not about doing what you believe is best for the people and subtly assuming control over their thoughts and actions. It's about empowering them to think autonomously. My aim, alongside New Zealand First, is to achieve just that.”

nzfirst.nz

THENEWX5

Songs for All Seasons

WORDS— JAMIE CHRISTIAN DESPLACES

The torture of a police officer in Quentin Tarantino’s debut film, Reservoir Dogs, is one of the most iconic scenes in movie history.

PICTURED: Karyn with Kiwi composer Lukasz Buda at the Warner Bros Mix Stage in Burbank Ca

Though many artists would cut off their own ear to have their music grace a Tarantino flick today, back in the early 90s he was an unknown moviemaker lacking the studio and financial clout to secure whichever songs he pleased. The director was even told that he’d have to use soundalikes for his debut’s soundtrack, but he’d written that scene with that song specifically in mind. So desperate was Tarantino to secure the rights to ‘Stuck in the Middle’ he even offered to pay up to US$10,000 out of his own pocket.

“He wanted all of these 70s songs, but was told that he couldn’t have them,” music supervisor Karyn Rachtman recalls in a sit-down with Verve . “And that’s where I came in – I promised that I’d get him those songs.”

A Hollywood producer friend, Stacey Sher, had already given Karyn the heads up about this new director that was going to be the next big thing, and she admits that her mind as blown upon reading the script. Karyn approached Stealers Wheels bandmembers Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan, who were originally

reluctant owing to the film’s violence, until she persuaded them that it would be an homage to their song, “like ‘Singing in the Rain’ in A Clockwork Orange ”. It sealed the deal. Tarantino asked how he could repay Karyn, and she said he could hire her as his music supervisor, which he did. “I think everybody that was involved in that movie was grateful to have their music appear.”

Karyn then worked on Pulp Fiction – another film noted as much for its soundtrack as its iconic scenes. I ask if she had an inkling at the time that the movies were going to have such cultural impact. “We knew after Reservoir Dogs that Quentin Tarantino was extremely cool and that we were on to something, but didn’t know what it was going to do,” she recalls. “I was also fairly new to the business.” As well as their love of music, Karyn and the director bonded over their love of board games – and some of her collection even appeared in Pulp Fiction’s overdose scene.

The music supervisor’s next major project was Boogie Nights (“we knew that movie was going to be pretty iconic”),

A significant part of what makes the scene so memorable is that the violence plays out to one of the coolest, grooviest tunes in music history: Stuck in the Middle with You by Stealers Wheels. And it very nearly didn’t happen.

and after a vice president role at Capitol Records, she worked with Baz Luhman on Romeo & Juliet and Moulin Rouge . Other notable projects include Basketball Diaries, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, Clueless, Get Shorty, The Rugrats Movie and Reality Bites. It’s some resume. Hailed by LA Weekly as among “the most influential music supervisors of all time”, soundtracks Karyn has overseen have shifted more than 75 million units around the world. She has mingled with many a screen and music icon, but meeting David Bowie, she reveals, was especially magical.

“Nowadays if you need to show a film to an artist you can just send a link with a secure password, but this was back in the day when you had to physically show them,” she says. “So, I was sent to Bermuda to show him a scene from The Rugrats Movie and Iman made me lunch and we walked and talked, and he was amazing. One of the loveliest people ever. He even gave me one of his paintings. A highlight of my life, for sure.”

Unable to hold a note or play an instrument (“I just have a good ear!”), Karyn developed her obsession for music through her father’s “incredible record collection”. A chance encounter with a music supervisor while working at a New York clothes store in her late teens set her down her career path, but not before she’d discovered another love: that of Aotearoa New Zealand, also thanks to her father who temporarily moved here in the late 70s.

Karyn briefly attended Takapuna Grammar and visited regularly over the years. In 2019, she made the move permanent, commenting that of all of her LA friends that threatened to

leave the US if Trump got elected, she was the only one who did. Her son, Arlo, has now made the move, too.

“I have really great friends here. I love the scenery. I love the music scene. I love how it’s so worldly yet so small – though sometimes that does bug me! People care more about others here. And it’s less corrupt.”

Her music supervision company, Mind Your Music, continues to work on film, TV, advertising, and gaming projects in the US, but now with an office in Auckland, Karyn is excited to promote local talent. She was the music supervisor on the soon-to-bereleased Kiwi movie, Uproar, starring Julian Dennison and Rhys Darby, set in 1981 during the time of the Springbok tour protests. Plus, Karyn has created SyncPosium, “a conference and workshop to uplift and promote Kiwi musical talent to the screen industry abroad”, and is in the process of compiling a Screen Music Directory for Auckland.

“I’m also currently working on some animated US musicals in which nearly all the music is being created and produced in New Zealand,” she adds. “There’s so much talent here. A lot of productions have come over to film over the years, but I believe I’m the first to come solely for music. It’s a dream come true.”

The Art of September

Spring has sprung and rumour has it we are in for a divine summer, so enjoy this month with all of its push and pull, get your annuals in the ground and check out these shows!

CURATED BY AIMÉE RALFINI

IMAGE: GENEVIEVE PINI - TELESIA PINI / MISS PINI (ARCHIVAL IMAGE OF ARTIST'S MOTHER), 2023 DILOHANA LEKAMGE COURTESY OF FRESH GALLERY ŌTARA

FRESH GALLERY ŌTARA

The Strength of Skilled Hands

Artists’ Ofa Filoialii, Genevieve Pini, and Ioana Schwalger

On until 9 September

The Strength of Skilled Hands is a collaborative exhibition by three Pacific artists from Tāmaki Makaurau; Ofa Filoialii, Genevieve Pini, and Ioana Schwalger. Through their use of various mediums such as textiles, printmaking, painting, and photography, these artists explore the process of creating art, drawing from the skills passed down through generations.

5/46 Fair Mall, Ōtara, Auckland. facebook.com/FreshGalleryOtara

ANNA MILES GALLERY

Angiosperm Whale

Johanna Pegler

On until 14 September

The mysterious paintings of Pegler feature unsung aspects of the artist’s local Whanganui landscape. Inhabited by multitudinous flocks of tiny brushstrokes her work has the effect of slowing time.

10/30 Upper Queen St. annamilesgallery.com

STUDIO ONE TOI TŪ

The Eternal Casey Carsel

On until 21 September

Jewish text and textile artist Casey Carsel asks: what has their community worked against all odds, to carry through the difficult journey from 4,000 years ago to today? And what of it should Carsel embrace at this juncture?

1 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby. studioone.org.nz

MELANIE ROGER GALLERY

Salad

Erica Van Zon

On until 23 September

In Salad, Erica van Zon makes the mundane a bit more magical through her harmonious blend of hand embroidery, beading and photography. No stranger to a cobbled-together or expertly executed salad, van Zon is a master forager and her keen eye spies ingredients in the world around her.

444 Karangahape Rd, Newton. melanierogergallery.com

SANDERSON CONTEMPORARY

Unfurling

Liam Gerrard

On until 24 September

Unfurling will present a new body of work by the artist; including three large-scale moths and a cluster of roses sighted in Haggerston Park, London. Gerrard is known for the exquisite, meticulous detail with which he paints and draws. Notions of the passing of time are made apparent not only through his subject matter and its life cycle but also within these processes the artist employs.

Osborne Lane, 2 Kent Street, Newmarket. sanderson.co.nz

TAUTAI

Good Hair Day

Bai Buliruarua, Māia Piata Rose Week, Nââwié Tutugoro, Karlin Morrison Raju and Peter Wing Seeto.

On until 23 September

Curator Luisa Tora presents five contemporary Moana artists in an exhibition that explores cultural and personal connections to hair. Good Hair Day concepts across photography, embroidery, illustration, and sculpture.

Level 1, 300 Karangahape Road. tautai.org

FÖENANDER GALLERIES

Material/Object

Michael Dell & Chauncey Flay

7 – 24 September

The presentation features a suite of new works by Michael Dell and Chuancey Flay, two critically acclaimed artists known for their attention to material and surface, which shift between modes of representation and abstraction.

Pop Up Space: 1 Bowen Avenue (Auckland CBD). foenandergalleries.co.nz

BERGMAN GALLERY

Kindred

Alison Leauanae and Linda Va'aelua

7 – 30 September

Kindred speaks to the familial relationships and connections to ancestral homelands for sisters Linda Va’aelua and Alison Leauanae. This body of work is an exploration of the artists’ mixed Samoan, Scottish and English heritage through abstracted motif, using non-traditional materials.

2 Newton Road, Karangahape End. bergmangallery.com

Worldwide Without the Web

And just like any other addiction, numerous studies have shown too much time spent online can lead to an array of mental health issues such as depression, stress, and anxiety. Overseas and NZ studies have shown we average up to six hours a day on our devices – outside of work and school requirements! – with YouTube and social media serving as the most tempting time thieves.

Research by tech care company Asurion found phone use in the US to have quadrupled since 2019, with the average user checking their screens over 350 times a day. 2021 became the year we officially spent more time reading professional emails than our personal ones, which may have been influenced by the pandemic, but it is a habit that’s stuck – UK research concluded more than half of adults use screens more often than pre-covid.

Even the original ‘digital natives’ Gen Z have realised the extent of the problem leading to an increase in the purchase of ‘dumb phones’ – old-school phones on which you can text but not TikTok – in an attempt to reduce their time online.

Little wonder, then, that digital detox holidays are also on the rise and though – deserts, rainforests, and oceans aside – there are few unconnected corners of the world, it is still possible to take a much-needed break from the web. Disconnecting will not only benefit your wellbeing, but ensure you feel far more connected to your destination, and if you’re really lucky, you might even get lost, for a while, too…

Finland

Positioned in the Eastern Gulf of Finland, off the coast of Hamina, the island national park of Ulko-Tammio is looking to become the world's first phone-free tourist zone. The island has no human inhabitants but plenty of feathered ones which can be viewed via the many walking trails and a watchtower, along with rare plants, and beautiful shorelines. Though there is a mobile network on the island, a trial was run this (northern hemisphere) summer asking visitors to stay off their smartphones.

“We want to urge holidaymakers to stop and genuinely enjoy the islands,” says Mats Selin of the Visit Kotka-Hamina tourism board. “This is a great initiative that could be implemented in other nature and recreational destinations, too.”

Chile

Without doubt one of the most spectacular destinations on the list – and the planet – Tierra Patagonia springs from the edge of the Torres del Paine National Park. In the southernmost

From doom scrolling to social media updating to checking work emails outside of office hours, many of us have such a problematic relationship with our digital devices, sacrificing so much of our time and mental energy to them, that if they were a substance, we’d be checking into rehab.

reaches of Chile, these glacial and mountainous lands are part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve popular with nature and adventure enthusiasts. The resort, on a bluff at the edge of Lake Sarmiento, is every bit as spectacular and luxurious as its surrounds demand, with no TVs, phones or internet connections available outside of its common areas.

Italy

Another island entry, Ischia just off Italy’s Amalfi Coast, hosts Albergo il Monastero which affords visitors the chance to stay in refurbished rooms that served as the cells of nuns between the 16th and 18th centuries – and whose stone walls are so thick that Wi-Fi signals are unable to penetrate. Positioned high on a rocky outcrop above the sparking waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the hotel is reached via a lift carved into a cliff, and its grounds are home to fragrant orchards and vegetable and herb gardens. The ultimate switched-off, spiritual holiday.

Namibia

Who needs signal when you’ve got safari? Named after the Hoanib River – one of the few to not disappear during the dry season – the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is a “true desert oasis”. Powered entirely by solar, luxurious Scandinavian-inspired tent accommodation overlooks lands patrolled by elephants, lions, and giraffes, with sand dunes and mountains looming over its ancient plains. The ‘skeleton’ part of the name refers to the shipwrecks and animal skulls that line the nearby shoreline.

Sweden

Such is the isolation of the hotel Fabriken Furillen on an untamed peninsula in the northeast of the island of Gotland that it can only be reached by plane or boat…. followed by a 45-km drive. The sustainable dwelling is famed for its brutalist shell that overlooks an equally stark-yet-spectacular landscape of limestone crags, forgotten beaches,

and even an abandoned quarry, all beneath big, big skies The interior dwellings, however, are the epitome of Scandinavian warmth and cosiness, filled with fur skins and open fires – and for those seeking a true digital detox, their Hermit Cabin is off-grid and Wi-Fifree and only available for a minimum of three nights.

Australia

Just across the ditch, deep within Gold Coast’s Currumbin Valley, Australia’s original health and wellness retreat is a phone-, laptop-, alcohol-, nicotine-, and caffeine-free digital detox destination set on a 150-hectare haven. Offering the “Rolls Royce of wellness packages”, the aptly named Eden Health Retreat is renowned for its luxurious lodgings, wellness workshops, and yoga and meditation sessions. The sustainably minded resort is also surrounded by a network of breathtaking hikes and bushwalks, perhaps best enjoyed knowing that a massage and spa treatment awaits at the end of the trek.

What's On in September

(m)ORPHEUS

6-10 September

ASB Waterfront Theatre

How far would you go to save everything you love? Orpheus is struggling after the loss of his wife Eurydice, and appeals to the gods to let him rescue her from the underworld. They agree but with a complicated condition attached. This dance-opera collision combines the rich storytelling traditions of the Pacific with themes from Greek tragedies.

a sbwaterfronttheatre.co.nz

THE ROCK 2000

8 September

Spark Arena

Calling all rock fans! Journey through an epic set of rock tunes - chosen by the listeners. With 2000 of the highest-ranked rock tunes of all time voted down to the top 20. Featuring live performances from Jimmy Barnes, Racing!, Volts and DJ Kane Hawkins.

ticketmaster.co.nz

SYNTHONY: IN THE BEGINNING

15-16 September

Auckland Town Hall

Synthony is bringing it back to where it all started six years ago with this comparatively intimate show. Squeezing their festival-level set-up into the Town Hall for an epic and nostalgic night. Picture a 60-piece orchestra, DJs, vocalists and an incredible light show working together in exhilarating ‘synthony’ to play the biggest dance albums.

aucklandlive.co.nz

SWITZERLAND

19 September

– 7 October

ASB Waterfront Theatre

Patricia Highsmith, the author of The Talented Mr Ripley, usually writes psychological thrillers, now she’s living one. In the midst of enjoying her reclusive and enigmatic life in retirement, a shadowy publisher tracks Highsmith down, thus setting the premise for this wittily meta match of creative cat and mouse.

atc.co.nz

TOY STORY

IN CONCERT

23 September

Aotea Centre

Experience the beloved Toy Story in a whole new way, as Auckland Philharmonia performs the soundtrack live alongside a screening of the Pixar film – essentially, bringing another element of it to life! This is a fantastic treat for fans of all ages.

ticketmaster.co.nz

DISNEY PRINCESS: THE CONCERT

26 September

Kiri te Kawana Theatre

The Broadway-packed cast will perform over 30 songs from the films, including ‘Let It Go’, ‘A Whole New World’, and ‘Colours of the Wind’. Paired with stunning costumes, iconic animations and theatrical effects to create a truly immersive experience. Attendees are encouraged to dress up!

ticketmaster.co.nz

AUCKLAND NIGHT MARKETS

Sundays 4pm-11pm

North Wharf

Feeling peckish, or not sure what to grab for dinner? The night markets are packed with myriad tasty options from around the world. Wynyard Quarter has plenty of beautiful spots to enjoy your meal with a view, and the market is sheltered, so you’re covered if it rains.

Box Office

A HAUNTING IN VENICE

14 September

A Haunting in Venice is set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows' Eve and is a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrated sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world's most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.

STYLE BENDER

28 September

An intimate look at Israel Adesanya, the Nigerian-born, New Zealandbased MMA champion, which goes beyond the ring and delves deep into an unlikely fighter's journey. Exploring themes including masculinity, bullying and the healing power of dance, this is a poignant examination of the complex, electrifying and sometimes controversial personality known as 'The Last Stylebender.'

IT LIVES INSIDE

21 September

From the producers of Get Out. Sam (Megan Suri, Never Have I Ever) is desperate to fit in at school, rejecting her Indian culture and family to be like everyone else. When a mythological demonic spirit latches onto her former best friend, she must come to terms with her heritage in order to defeat it.

LA DÉGUSTATION / THE TASTING

28 September

Jacques is divorced and runs a small winery, on the verge of bankruptcy. Hortense, determined not to end up single and involved in the association, walks into his store one day and decides to sign up for a tasting workshop.

UPROAR

5 October

UPROAR is a story about connection and finding your place in the world. It is the story of 17-year-old Josh Waaka (Julian Dennison). Set in Dunedin in 1981, a rugby-obsessed country is divided over the arrival of the South African Springboks team, sparking nationwide protests. Under pressure from home and school to conform, Josh, who has never felt like he fits in anywhere, is inspired by the protests to find his own voice. A sequence of events sees Josh embrace his community and follow his heart to his whakapapa (Māori heritage), which brings him and his whānau on a journey towards healing.

A magnificent romantic comedy with endearing characters, perfectly interpreted by Isabelle Carré and Bernard Campan. Pleasant and harmonious dosage of love, humour, sadness, joy, tenderness. A eulogy to life with all the pleasures it gives us and its sufferings too, according to one's life choices.

ABOVE: STYLE BENDER

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Nestled in the heart of Mt Eden you’ll find beautifully designed one-bedroom apartments from $620,000 and modern two-bedroom apartments from $790,000, with two-plus bedroom apartments also available. Featuring designer kitchens, enclosable balconies and spacious open-plan layouts, our apartments are perfect for regular visits from friends and family.

Just a five minute drive to all the best parts of central Auckland, you can spend your time visiting popular eateries, parks and galleries and come home to the security of your modern apartment. Experience the peace of mind that comes with maintenance-free living, and the assurance that your Weekly Fees are fixed for life.

Enjoy the lifestyle you love, as you always have, at Eden Village. Fixed weekly fee for life - Guaranteed.

To learn more, call Rachel on 0800 333 688 today.

Your Next Day Trip Destination: Matakana Village

With the new motorway, your journey to this artisanal haven is not only swift but scenic. Dive into a world where boutique shops meet delightful dining and cultural experiences. Whether you're in the mood for independent art galleries, gourmet treats, or riverside relaxation, Matakana Village promises a captivating day trip that feels a world away. Treat yourself to a spontaneous escape — any day of the week.

2 Matakana Valley Road, Matakana

Come cycling

Great multiday adventures for everyone. Two day fantastic rides.

Long weekends and our awesome One Day Wonders. Lake Dunstan shuttles and bike hire.

www.matakanavillage.co.nz

The freesias are starting to pop up, the bees are buzzing once more, and new life is emerging all around us – spring has officially sprung! Take advantage of the soft soil and sunny days; get out in the garden and embrace this exciting season.

Veggies

Get your garden ready for spring growth by clearing away those pesky weeds –they'll only be a bigger hassle next month. Sow seeds! Plant carrot and parsnip directly into your beds. Sow tomato, zucchini, cucumber, basil, eggplant, chilli, and capsicum into seedling trays indoors and place in a warm, sunny spot.

Fruit

As fruit trees start to produce new foliage in preparation for the upcoming

season, feed them with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster. Get citrus, peaches, plums, nectarines, apples, and pears planted into the ground. If you have limited space, try planting dwarf citrus in large pots. Now is the time to plant strawberries for Christmas pavlova.

Flowers

Refresh your pots by replacing finished winter annuals with spring annuals such as snapdragons, petunias, and marigolds. Plant lavender in a sunny spot with Living Earth Garden Mix in the ground or Tui Pot Power in pots.

Trees and Shrubs

Find a sunny spot with well-draining soil to plant roses and feed existing ones with Kings Rose Food for their upcoming growth spurt. Mulch around fruit trees,

Our Plant Doctors

shrubs, and hedging to retain moisture as the weather warms.

Indoor Plants

Spring is the perfect time to repot indoor plants that have outgrown their pots. If your indoor plants have been stretching towards the light, give them a little turn each week to correct the lean, and fertilise with Kings Liquid House Plant Food.

General Tasks

Prepare trellises and netting for climbing peas, beans, pumpkins, cucumbers, and melons. Sharpen up your gardening tools and replace worn-out tools and gloves to get ready for the growing season.

For more gardening tips, pop into your local Kings, or visit kings.co.nz .

On the Bookshelf

Curious and engaging – books that are something a little different.

DOGS WITH STORIES

Mardo

El-Noor

For fans of Annie Leibovitz or Norman Rockwell, this limited-edition photography book has stunningly styled, hyper-realistic photography of dog owners and their furry pets in a handsome hardback that would look great on any coffee table. Four years in the making, this exceptional book is a musthave for dog lovers and those interested in interior design. A quirky book from a talented local creative.

Beatnik Publishing, RRP $79.99

GARLIC, OLIVE OIL + EVERYTHING ELSE

Daen

Lia

For Mediterranean dishes that are something a little different, this beautifully presented book is in sections ‘Garlic,’ ‘Olive Oil’, ‘Butter’ and other delicious essentials. From the only bolognese recipe you will ever need to the crumbed chicken that broke the internet, these recipes will up your cooking game. Accessible recipes with bold flavours and fresh ingredients, they bring a youthful, modern twist to old classics.

Plum, RRP $49.99

OUR LAND IN COLOUR

Jock

Phillips and Brendan Graham

Aotearoa New Zealand’s history is transformed from black and white to glorious colour in this magnificent collection of photographs, painstakingly altered by colourist Brendan Graham, with a fascinating commentary by awardwinning historian Jock Phillips. Each of the 200 images reminds us of who we were and where we have come from, with history that’s brought brilliantly to life.

HarperCollins, RRP $55.00

RENTAL PERSON WHO DOES NOTHING: A MEMOIR

Shoji

Morimoto

In this unique memoir, Morimoto rents himself out to do nothing. Sitting with a client undergoing surgery, accompanying a client to her favourite restaurant, travelling with someone on their morning commute. It’s an intriguing exploration of relationships, jobs, human psychology and finding meaning in the modern world. Morimoto has a delightful writing style that makes this book an absolute gem –and one that has inspired a Japanese TV series.

Picador, RRP $37.99

WORDS — KAREN MCMILLAN , bestselling author karenm.co.nz | nzbooklovers.co.nz

Summerset St Johns selling off plans now*

Summerset St Johns is excited to announce our second release of homes are selling off plans now.* This includes the most sought after premium and penthouse apartments, which offer incredible uninterrupted views out towards Rangitoto and the city.

Once complete, the village will offer a range of sophisticated retirement residences, enviable resort style facilities, and Summerset’s renowned continuum of care. All designed with luxury in mind and to help you get the most out of your retirement years. Set in the heart of the eastern suburbs, this is a location you can be proud to call home.

Visit our show suite today and get a taste of the Summerset St Johns experience.

Visit our sales suite today

Open Monday to Saturday, 10am - 4pm

Summerset St Johns sales suite

400 Remuera Road, Remuera

09 950 7982 | stjohns.sales@summerset.co.nz

2019-2023

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Wills Month - September 2023

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aucklandfoundation.org.nz

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Lucy's Corner

Is your family trust still serving a purpose?

With the introduction of the Trusts Act 2019 (the Trusts Act) bringing many changes to trust law, many people are considering whether a trust is still right for them. Here are 3 questions to consider when evaluating whether your trust is a useful asset planning tool.

Why did you establish the trust?

Did you establish your trust decades ago when you owned a business and wanted to protect your assets from creditors? You may have been told that forming a trust would protect your assets if you need rest home care or if you enter into a relationship.

It is important to assess whether the reasons you established the trust still exist or are still valid reasons for having a trust.

Are you aware of the provisions of the Trusts Act?

If you are a trustee of your trust or someone else’s trust it is important that you are familiar with Trusts Act and your duties as a trustee. There are now mandatory and default duties that trustees must carry out. These are set out in the Trusts Act but may have been modified by the Trust Deed. Your trust may still be a useful tool but you may need to make some amendments or upskill yourself to ensure you are complying with the Trust Act.

Are you comfortable with providing trust information to beneficiaries?

The Trust Act creates a presumption that “basic trust information” be disclosed to all beneficiaries of the trust. “Basic information” includes; the fact that a person is a beneficiary of the trust, the name and contact details of the trustee, and the right of the beneficiary to request a copy of the terms of the trust or trust information. Beneficiaries can also request financial information.

It used to be common practice to include a large number of potential beneficiaries in a trust deed. Many of our clients are surprised to learn that their trust deed include the spouses of children and grandchildren as discretionary beneficiaries.

There are many factors that your legal advisor will consider when advising you on whether your trust is right for you. If you would like an assessment of your trust, contact us to book an appointment with one of the team at Dawsons Lawyers.

Oppenheimer - R

I’m very interested in history, so greatly anticipated Oppenheimer’s release. The film follows the life of Robert J Oppenheimer from a flailing medical student to the revered leader of the development of atomic weaponry in the US; depicting the scientist’s side of the story while not freeing him of blame.

The movie’s portrayal of the Trinity Test, the first detonation of an atomic bomb in history, was captivating. I had previously only read descriptions of the event, but seeing it played out was another matter entirely, filled with tension and terrible moments of suspense that showed the enormity of the event.

In contrast to Greta Gerwig’s Barbie , released on the same day, there is a distinct lack of strong female characters in the film –and it isn’t as if there weren’t women involved in the Manhattan Project, but Oppenheimer does not feature them. It also shows an entirely American perspective of the event, which makes some sense, however, it felt wrong to not explore the massive impact the atomic bombs had on Japan.

Oppenheimer features shots of roiling, writhing fire paired with a deep and ominous rumbling that left me frozen and transfixed with both amazement and fear. The dropping of the atomic bombs is so integral to international relations, the nature of modern warfare, and the development of science, and this film captures it in breathtaking detail.

4/5 stars

Instagram: @lucykennedyreviews

Claire Endean Director – Dawsons Lawyers dawsonslawyers.co.nz

This month Verve’s star teen reviewer LUCY KENNEDY examines Oppenheimer

IMAGE: OPPENHEIMER

Horoscopes

You might thoroughly enjoy the work you do or the services you provide. There can be increased respect for your work and efforts.

Career matters fly along rather smoothly. Ambitions to improve your standing, security, and comfort levels are increasing. You might find that you achieve the most or are the most motivated through your involvement with a group or team.

You may find yourself in the position to defend your values, possessions, or money. This energy might also translate in more positive terms – you could be working exceptionally hard at making your life better. This period can bring surprising, revealing, or startling feelings to the surface or events to your life. There could be a sudden decision to break out on your own, or into a new relationship.

You can be very contemplative this month. You’ll benefit greatly from actively seeking out ways to heal and destress. There can be a significant realisation of responsibility, or a sense of joy in committing to someone or something. You might gain insight into an old issue, and this pushes you forward. New opportunities can emerge that turn your attention behind the scenes.

This is a potentially active relationship month. You’re very focused on connecting on all sorts of levels and quite successful at it. You’re also quite willing to take care of others. Shared finances can become tricky to handle so do what you can to straighten out debt, as well as ownership and joint money matters in a logical way. This can be a passionate, revealing time.

You’re in a period of reflection and preparation, so take things as slowly as you can. Sacrifices may need to be made when it comes to your relationships – you are required to be sympathetic and helpful now. Acknowledging and resolving problems with family or people you live with can be in focus. Look for the root of issues instead of seeking out cosmetic fixes.

AQUARIUS

20 January –18 February

Your competitive, enterprising nature comes to the fore, and you readily throw yourself into pursuing your goals. This can be a time of increased activity in your career, and you may also feel a strong desire to take the lead and act independently. Willingness to take emotional “risks” in the second half of the month can bring interesting experiences into your world.

GEMINI

21 May –20 June

The biggest area of passion and possible upheaval this month is likely to involve your private world, family life, and home matters. You’re ambitious about these things now, desiring to make deep changes that will last. Someone who’s in the position to help further your goals, promote you, or help you find a direction can take special interest in you. Express your faith in yourself now for best results.

PISCES

19 February –20 March

You are exuding much charm and positive energy that won’t go unnoticed. Communications of all kinds are emphasised, but especially those involving creative contacts, children, and romantic interests, and they are generally favourable. You’re mentally wired, and you want to put ideas into action. You’re more conscientious as a result and take pride in solving problems, acquiring or honing skills, and taking care of business.

CANCER

21 June –22 July

This is a great month for picking up new practical skills, finding new work, or throwing more of yourself into your current job. It’s also a fine time for improving your daily habits and health. As confident and energetic as you feel, however, avoid taking on too many new projects, as you’re likely to feel their weight in the last week of the month.

ARIES

21 March –19 April

This month, you get a big taste of positive energy. It’s particularly strong for useful advice and the power of teaming up and combining your talents with someone. You might find yourself drawn to push the usual boundaries, which can be profound in healthy ways, but could lead you down the wrong path if you’re not mindful of your limits.

LEO 23 July –22 August

It’s an inventive and creative time but you might also feel like a whirlwind. There can be a significant realisation of responsibility, or a sense of joy in committing to someone or something. The last week of the month is particularly strong for ideas and plans surrounding work and health. You get along well with the people with whom you share your day.

TAURUS

20 April –20 May

This is a good time for reaching out to others, sharing ideas, writing, and scoping out various prospects and ideas. Your ideas or work may gain some recognition now. Putting your feelers out makes a lot of sense this month. There could also be a major revelation about your finances, a love relationship, or friendship. You’re likely to feel more in your element on a romantic level.