WildTomato February 2018 by WildTomato

Nelson and Marlborough’s magazine / ISSUE

139 / FEBRUARY 2018 / $8.95

Our

rivers

rock!

How to keep it that way • current water health • works in progress • passionate people

Interview: Rhys Barrier The state of our rivers Biking Opera in the Park Boost your energy Edible gardens

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ealth empowerment coach Angela Cheruseo is passionate about helping busy and motivated people succeed in whatever field they choose. Being strategic and goal-focussed means she helps people get things moving instead of being stuck and frustrated. She is adamant that making a sustainable transition is often the missing link in people’s lives. “I love dealing with the psychology of it all also, plus give people the tools to help them reach and maintain their full potential,” she says.

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Art, Food, Music

Choice Home Funerals

Nelson and Marlborough’s magazine

Features Issue 139 / February 2018

26 Waterways – cleaning up our act Helen Murdoch investigates the state of our rivers and talks to passionate people about the great news, work needed and work in progress

32 Get on your bike Sadie Beckman presents a practical guide to getting out and about on two wheels including a training guide for events

40 Opera in the Park Frances Wilson profiles this popular event on the February calendar. This year the NZSO is back!

45 Feast for the senses

Featuring 40 wineries and 30 food tents, the Marlborough Food and Wine Festival is a lesson in good taste says Sophie Preece

INTERVIEWS

20 My Big Idea Leanne Pressman explains the exciting Festival of Ideas, set to hit NMIT campus in April

22 The Interview As part of our rivers focus Frank Nelson interviews Fish & Game’s Rhys Barrier

90 My Education Tracy Anderson catches up with Jordan Gillespie and finds out how the skills he learnt on NMIT’s engineering course have translated into the workplace 6

Columns

FASHION

49 Take me to the river Stylist Kelly Vercoe and photographer Ishna Jacobs spent an afternoon by the banks of the Matai

LIFE

58 My Home Brenda Webb throws the spotlight on a very colourful house in Tasman’s Ruby Bay, with an aesthetic inspired by New Mexico and France

66 Interiors Rebecca O’Fee has put together a nautical selection of homewares and reviews 2018 trends

68 My Garden Sophie Preece talks to Rachel Hutchinson about planting edibles in our flower gardens

70 Wellbeing Many of us feel like we don’t have enough energy. Our new columnist Emily Hope presents some easy tips on how you can boost yours

71 My History Joya Devine pens a potted family history in honour of the accomplishments of her Indian father

72 My Kitchen Heading to the river by chance? Pack this beautiful salad from Madame Lu’s

73 Dine Out Hugo Sampson reviews Le Café in Picton and reports a wholly positive experience

74 Wine Sophie Preece talks to Marcus Wright, winemaker at Lawson’s Dry Hills

75 Beer Mark Preece samples the beer and wine matches at Blenheim’s Grovetown Hotel ACTIVE

78 Travel Josie Stanford’s five reasons to join the Otago Goldfields Cavalcade for a true backcountry adventure

80 Daytrip Sophie Preece has a close encounter with stringrays when she checks out Lochmara Lodge’s new underwater observatory

83 Motoring Geoff Moffatt takes a test drive in the Hyundai Kona

CULTURE

84 Art John Cohen-Du Four looks at the variety of art and design offerings from Mapua’s Chocolate Dog

86 Books Tess Patrick reviews four extra special books that deserve to be on your bookshelf

87 Film

Michael Bortnick sees the drawn documentary, Loving Vincent

REGULARS

Ed’s letter & contributor focus 10 Events 12 Snapped 85 Gallery must-haves 7

Editor's letter

Love local

elcome to our February issue. Let’s talk about how much we love our rivers. In terms of enjoying time outdoors I’ve realised, having moved here from Auckland, how much of a treat it is to have the option of river or sea for swimming – it offers a true cool down of core temperature on a really hot day. Our rivers at the Top of the South are among the most swimmable in the country and that’s worth celebrating. Without mass dairy farming we are better off than many areas but modern life presents its own challenges and, these days, no river is immune. Helen Murdoch’s investigation into the true state of our waterways and Frank Nelson’s interview with Fish & Game’s Rhys Barrier both highlight waterways under pressure, strong local passion and a lot of work in progress across the region. We need to treasure our rivers and actively look after them. At a local level that means making sure we don’t pollute the land next to waterways, informing ourselves about the challenges and getting involved with community projects. This issue we’ve carried our rivers theme through to our fashion pages (page 49) and even our picnic-ready salad recipe (page 72). I don’t know about you but I feel summer is rollicking along apace and I have to remind myself to get out and about and attend some of the fabulous events we are so lucky to be treated to at this time of year. This month we’ve placed a spotlight on two not-to-be-missed events: Opera in the Park (page 40) and the Marlborough Food & Wine Festival (page 45). There’s still time to take part in our reader survey and be in the draw to win a $50 voucher for Jellyfish Restaurant and Bar in Mapua and one of three one-year subscriptions to WildTomato which will be drawn at the end of this month. I’d love to hear your views. And if you have feedback on a particular story we’ve run do drop me a line to josie@wildtomato.co.nz. Enjoy the issue and these delicious long summer days!

lease check out the local businesses who advertise in WildTomato. We depend on their support to bring you all your favourite content. Doing business and shopping local helps boost our economy and make the region stronger and stronger. This month I’m taking dips in the Matai, sea swimming at Cable Bay to soak in the view of the hills (working up to tackling the walkway!) and taking sunset walks at Tahunanui.

J O S I E S TA N F O R D

Editor

Design & art direction

Manager

Contributors

Josie Stanford 021 024 60085 josie@wildtomato.co.nz Laura Loghry 027 378 0008 laura@wildtomato.co.nz Cover photo by Tom Davies

Intern

Tess Patrick tess@wildtomato.co.nz

Lead ad designer

Patrick Connor production@wildtomato. co.nz

Annabelle Archibald and Lisa Noble design@wildtomato.co.nz Tracey Andersen, Jessica Bay, Sadie Beckman, Mike Bortnick, Richard Briggs, Chelsea Chang, Elora Chang, Tom Davies, Joya Devine, John Cohen-du Four, Ana Galloway, Emily Hope, Ishna Jacobs, Renee Lang, Geoff Moffett, Helen Murdoch, Frank Nelson, Rebecca O’Fee, Mark Preece, Sophie Preece, Pete Rainey, Tom Reilly, Ray Salisbury, Hugo

Sampson, Todd Starr, Maike van der Heide, Kelly Vercoe, Brenda Webb, Frances Wilson, Dominique White

Sales executives

Chrissie Sanders 027 540 2237 chrissie@wildtomato.co.nz Sara Booth 021 214 5219 sara@wildtomato.co.nz

Subscriptions

Publisher

Jack Martin WildTomato Media Ltd 258 Hardy Street Nelson 7010 PO Box 1901 Nelson 7040 info@wildtomato.co.nz wildtomato.co.nz Find us on: WildTomato/ @wildtomatomagazine

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Readership: 29,000

Read online at issuu.com/wildtomato

Source: Nielsen Consumer and Media Insights Survey (Q4 2016 - Q3 2017)

Contributor spotlight SADIE BECKMAN Biking (page 32)

aving the opportunity to creatively express myself as a writer and journalist, alongside experiencing new and interesting things is what makes me tick. I particularly enjoy feature and travel writing, and try to weave my work and home life together as often as possible by heading off on the road with my intrepid and tolerant family in tow! Researching and writing features often opens a window into an entirely new experience or subject area, and deepens your knowledge of others. It can be very inspiring! The cycling feature in this issue taught me a lot I didn’t know about seeing the world from a two-wheeled perspective.

TO M DAV I E S River photography (Cover and page 26)

cology has always been my passion, starting young with New Zealand’s native freshwater fish, and later moving towards our plethora of curious birds. I have found that the best way to help educate those around me on the wonders and undeniable importance of our natural world is to put it in their living rooms. I’ve been photographing every species I can find for three years now, and although I rarely get the time to do boots-on-ground conservation work, I do as much as I can from behind the lens. Working with WildTomato on this issue really brought my two passions together – the health and wellbeing of beautiful ecosystems and photography. I hope that it brings some muchneeded attention and understanding to the topic, and look forward to the people of Nelson leading the charge for change.

E M I LY H O P E Wellbeing (page 70)

fter working in public health and corporate nutrition in Auckland, I moved home to my family’s farm and orchard here in Marlborough where I live with my husband, our daughter Isabella and black lab. My nutrition philosophy is a holistic and nondiet approach to food, movement and wellbeing. I encourage people to focus on choosing whole, fresh and natural foods as often as they can to provide a range of nutrients that nourish the mind and the body. I aim to give you practical and sustainable ideas to support improved health and wellness. No diets involved EVER!

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EVENTS

What to do in February

Sat 3, 10, 17, 24 The Nelson Market The bustling Nelson Market transforms Montgomery Square into a vibrant showcase of regional arts, crafts, fashion, jewellery and local produce.

NELSON/TASMAN Find out more details on Nelson/Tasman summer events at itson.co.nz

Thurs 1 to Sat 4

Fri 2

Nelson Buskers Festival

Food Truck Fridays

The annual festival brings the best street performers from around the world to our corner of the country, impressing Nelson with free family street shows and ticketed shows for the adults in the evening. Bring some cash to show your appreciation for the performers! VARIOUS LOCATIONS

Thurs 1 to Wed 21 Time and Tide Exhibition Admire the glass works of Lynn Price and the ceramic works of Sue Scobie in this collaborative exhibition. All welcome to their opening Feb 1st, 5:30pm. PARKER GALLERY

Thurs 1 to March 11 The Cornish Collection

The best way to celebrate the first Friday of the month. Bring your family and enjoy an evening of tasty food, great beer and good company. There is always live music and an awesome playground for the kids. FOUNDERS HERITAGE PARK

Sat 3 to Sun 25 Summer Sounds at Awaroa Lodge With lunchtime and sundowner live music sessions every Saturday and some Sundays, it’s a great time to enjoy this stunning venue. Check the website (awaroa.co.nz) for artists and timing. AWAROA LODGE

Sat 3 Trafalgar Street Market Day

Drawing from the Suter’s significant collection of British modernist paintings, the exhibition examines our national and regional connections to Cornwall.

Join the city’s favourite retailers as they open their doors and hit the streets with some of the biggest sales you’ve ever seen. Local artisans, food trucks and entertainment will all be in attendance.

SUTER GALLERY

TRAFALGAR STREET

Nelson Buskers Festival

MONTGOMERY SQUARE

Sun 4, 11, 18, 25 Motueka Market Brighten your Motueka Sunday with this showcase of arts, crafts, food and drink, along with fresh local produce and entertainment. DECKS RESERVE CAR PARK

Thurs 15

Tues 6

Golden Bay Live Poets Present RikTheMost

International Kai Festival Get a taste of local and international flavours in celebration of Waitangi Day. There will be local families running kai and craft stalls, and entertainment from a diverse group of cultural performers. FOUNDERS HERITAGE PARK

Wed 7, 14, 21, 28 Nelson Farmers’ Market Rain or shine, the Farmers’ Market brings fresh local produce and products from throughout the Top of the South. Enjoy the new venue! MAITAI BOULEVARD

Sun 11 Dovedale Country Affair With offerings from local artisans and experiences of country life, this day out in Dovedale has entertainment and activities for the whole family. DOVEDALE DOMAIN

Sun 11 Esther Swift Esther travels the world extensively with her music making, writing songs about her homeland of Scotland, drawing on her folk roots and taking inspiration from nature and the people she meets along the way. FAIRFIELD HOUSE

Flora and Sean

RikTheMost is an international touring poet and poetry slam winner. There will also be live music and open mic poetry; don’t forget a gold coin for entry. MUSSEL INN

Sun 18 Nelson Wine & Food Festival Annual fundraiser from Richmond Rotary club to help projects and charities within the region. Enjoy another summer’s day out with food, wine and entertainment. MIDDLE EARTH VINEYARDS

Thurs 22 David Trubridge: Beauty Matters The Centre for Fine Woodworking presents a public lecture following David’s two-day masterclass at their school. THE SUTER THEATRE

Fri 23 Flora and Sean A New Zealand fiddle player and a Canadian guitar picker offer a fresh face for square-dancing and honky tonk tunes. PLAYHOUSE CAFÉ & THEATRE

Sat 24 Opera in the Park See page 40 for our spotlight on this not-to-be-missed event. SAXTON FIELD COMPLEX

MARLBOROUGH Find out more details about Marlborough summer events at marlborough4fun.co.nz

Sat 3

Fri 9

Healthy Bastards Bush Pilot Champs

Twilight Sounds Cruise

Run annually by the Marlborough Aero Club, Healthy Bastards is a premiere precision landing and STOL take-off and landing event showcasing thrilling skills for both pilots and spectators. The day will end in true summer fashion with a Kiwi BBQ and evening entertainment.

The legendary Marlborough Sounds dinner cruise combines fine wine, delicious foods and stunning scenery as a precursor to the weekend’s activities. Get in quick as tickets sell out fast!

OMAKA AIRFIELD

Sat 3, 10, 17, 24 Marlborough Artisan Market

PICTON MARINA

Sun 11

Sun 18

Sat 10

Kevin Bloody Wilson: Almost Awesome Tour

Summer Concert Series & More FM Beach Day

Marlborough Food & Wine Festival See page 45 for our spotlight on this wine-lovers’ extravaganza. BRANCOTT ESTATE

The market is back for the summer with fresh vegetables, crafty items and brunch on offer.

Sun 11

WYNEN STREET POCKET PARK

A day of easy listening music, foods and activities for the kids to settle you after Saturday’s adventures. Why not continue sampling the local delights?

Sun 4, 11, 18, 25 Marlborough Farmers’ Market Enjoy the taste of the freshest seasonal fruit, vegetables and produce that Marlborough has to offer. The Farmers’ Market is full of locally grown and sourced food, sold by the producer. A&P SHOWGROUNDS

Dog Point & Logan Brown Picnic

Wine & Food Wind Down

THE VINES VILLAGE

Sun 11 Summer Concert Series Enjoy the sounds of the Marlborough District Brass Band and The Maori Side Steps in a family friendly environment! POLLARD PARK

‘The world’s funniest Australian’ returns to New Zealand, providing belly laughs and singalongs. Seats are R18. ASB THEATRE MARLBOROUGH

Wed 14 Emerald Pools Walk

WHITES BAY

Join the Marlborough Tramping Club to explore the beautiful Pelorus River and its surrounding pools. With a 3km walk each way, a moderate level of fitness is required, but the secret swimming holes are well worth it! Meet at Horton Park.

Sat 24

PELORUS RIVER

Fri 16 Nuits Romantiques: Outdoor Cinema Partnering with the Alliance Française French Film Festival, Back to Burgundy will be screened at Clos Henri’s Sainte Solange Chapel. Tickets from the vineyard including a glass of wine and French cinema treats. In French with English subtitles. CLOS HENRI VINEYARD

Fri 16 to Sun 18

Emerald Pools Walk

Combined with the More FM Beach day, the second in the summer concert series allows you to enjoy the summer tunes of Ken Hippolite while soaking up some sunny beach vibes.

Dog Point & Logan Brown Picnic Enjoy an annual recreation of Kiwi picnic fare created by Steve Logan and Shaun Clouston from Wellington’s redeemed Logan Brown Restaurant, matched perfectly with local Dog Point Vineyard wines. DOG POINT VINEYARD

Sat 24 Summer Concert Series The last in Marlborough 4 Fun’s summer concert series sees Second Sunrise and Steve Wilbury providing entertainment to honour and celebrate the last days of summer! PICTON FORESHORE

Interislander Regatta & Pre-Nats

Sun 25

The optimists’ regatta and prenationals event will see sailors of all ages and skill sets buzzing about Shelly Beach! Join the yacht club if you’re a keen sailor, or bring some friends along.

Sport Tasman Marlborough’s ultimate adventure run for all abilities is back! Slip and slide through the mud in fancy dress or daggy clothes around the 1km course. You know you want to.

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WildTomato Christmas Party Melrose House, Nelson P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y R AY S A L I S B U R Y

1. Anthea Whitlock & Louis Picot 2. Vannessa Anderson & Hannah Straker 3. Ash & Lynn Crossland, Jen & Paul Richardson 4. Melissa Blackler, Julia Noble, Meagan Arnold-Kelly & Molley Heynekamp

5. Craig Allott 6. Sophie Scotson, Chrissie Sanders & Emma Waters 7. Amanda Raine & Ange Leonard 8. Mike Stanley, Helen Murdoch & John Cohen-Du Four 9. Tony Downing & Yvonne Bowater

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11 WildTomato Christmas Party Melrose House, Nelson P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y A N A G A L L O WAY

10. Kate Bradley, Debbie Cooper & Shan Gatrell

13. Jaime Higgins & Jess Bouchut

11. Jacqui Walters, John CohenDu Four & David Ross

14. Halfdan Hansen & Juliette Fox

12. Chris Bowater and Mark Chapman

15. Tess Patrick

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Out of the Blue Festival Trafalgar Park, Nelson P HO T O G R A P H Y BY I S H NA JAC OB S

1. Andrew Fagan

6. Boh Runga (Stellar)

2. Aaron Te One (Chicago Smoke Shop)

7. Ara Adams-Tamatea (L.A.B)

3. Catherine Griffin & Harry Tod-Smith

9. Lynn & Vahuhn Main

8. Matt Lawrey

4. Ingrid Penfold 5. The crowd enjoying the show

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S NA P P E D

2 Nelson Jazz Festival Various locations, Nelson P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y A N A G A L L O WAY

1. Sue Dunstan, Mildred Bayley & Mark Dunstan

6. Kim & Neil Anderson & Pam Balm

2. Grace & Ben Filiata

7. Polly & The Minstral Band

3. Sophie Ricketts & Band

8. Tobie-Antoine, Robert & Emilia Liebert

4. Piri Lin & Nono Yu 5. Jane Solly, Janey Gibbons & Alison Moore

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Fashion in the Field, Harness Races Richmond Showgrounds PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIQUE WHITE & CHRIS SMITH

1. Claire Scott, Pete Harris, Angela Leonard & Grant Kerr 2. Jemma Francis, Elizabeth Charleston & Julie Penman 3. Elizabeth Charleston, Ava James, James Glover, Carter Dean & Emma Silk-French 4. Chelsea Liew & Adam Mokhtar

6. Bex & Tony Pratt 7. Chrissie Sanders, Angela Leonard, Laura Loghry, Josie Stanford & Lynet Craig 8. Christina, Emily & Louisa Clifford 9. Susie & Antony Stevens and their children Beau & Fenna

5. Kellie & Craig Hamilton

Working alongside local businesses getting their

BRAND NOTICED

Call in and see Paul at 34 Bridge St, Nelson or phone 03 548 7233 nelson@embroidme.co.nz www.embroidme.co.nz 16

S NA P P E D

2 Bamboo Tiger opening Bridge Street, Nelson P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y T O M R E I L LY

1. Anna Wilcox, Ursula Harris & Damara Pearl

4. Justin Allen, Angela Clark & Kim-Marie Satherley

2. Vicki Smith, Pauline Esposito & Lyn Russell

5. Brent & Jacqueline Baxter

3. Wayne Clark, Leanne Clark & Grady Elliott

7. Julie & Harvey Pepperell

6. Mel Scott & Mitch Brian 8. Aloma Shearer & Donna Wells

145 Bridge Street, Nelson Wednesday to Sunday 5pm to late

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1. Dhara Stuart, Susan Wood, Alyson Hobbs & Ruth Copeland

4. Alison Macbeth & Alyson Hobbs

2. Robert Fekete, Eniko (Anni) Fekete, Richard Thomas, Alyson Hobbs, Angela Murton & Jules Hobbs

6. Sharon Patterson & Harriet Denim

3. Fionna Heiton, Rhona Aran, Jamie Aran & Durga Aran

5. Jo O’Reilly

7. Carleen Reich-Simko & Steve Reich-Simko

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27 TAPS POURING NELSON’S BEST CHOICE OF CRAFT

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S NA P P E D

2 Caffe Roma opening Church Street, Nelson P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y R AY S A L I S B U R Y

1. Lynette Salisbury, Sarah Holmes & Daniela Aristarco

4. Milly Kerei-keepa

2. Tom Beaumont, Charlotte Whalley, Lauren Williams & George Bayer

6. Rowan & Tom Davies

3. Sarah Holmes, Donald Everitt & Alison Finlayson

5. Mark & Suzanne Dunstan 7. Daniela & Yuri Aristarco with family

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MY BIG IDEA

A FESTIVAL OF IDEAS Educator Leanne Pressman explains how she and collaborator Caroline Hoar hope to stimulate young and not-so-young minds. P H O T O B Y R AY S A L I S B U R Y

What is an ‘ideas festival’? An interactive festival of workshops and experiences led by experts. Four age-groups are offered insights into developments, changes and opportunities for the next 10 years. The Ideas Festival has a real impact by generating authentic and long-lasting inspiration.

How long has it been in the works? What is your big idea? A three-day festival to excite and connect youth and the community with highprofile STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) innovators, entrepreneurs, plus creative artists and community groups who are doing amazing things to solve world problems.

How has it come about? Several years ago the Ministry of Education invited interested community members to come together and talk about innovative ways the community could help to guide Year 13 students. The Nelson-Tasman group pulled great ideas together but there was no follow-up Government funding for any of it, so we just started doing activities on our own. We use STEAM as our platform now (incorporating the creative arts). It’s new to New Zealand, but it’s been researched and used widely overseas. Then NMIT asked us to create a special festival for them that would be open to the whole community – a celebration of ideas and innovation and the future. 20

Caroline and I have been organising various events and classes around the region for the last 10 years.

Why is getting kids interested in science important? Life is all about science: farming, technology, medicine, transportation, pottery, wool-dying, cooking, hunting, sailing – it’s all science. Our children need to have the confidence and skills (as do their educators) to boldly experiment and freely create. Only about 5-6% of NZ tertiary school graduates are in STEM. Germany graduates 28%; China 46%.

Where does art come into it? Art helps STEM scientists to become more creative. Da Vinci was a great artistscientist. Einstein played music while thinking about scientific theories. All the great scientists have used the arts to help spur their creative problem-solving process. At the Ideas Festival, Science Communicator Siouxsie Wiles will lead painting sessions with bioluminescent bacteria. How cool is that?

Above: Young tech entrepreneur Will Hewitt, festival founders Caroline Hoar and Leanne Pressman and Grant McNeil of NMIT.

Who benefits? Everyone. This is about bringing together students, educators and the community to engage with what the future is going to look like and how we can help to shape it.

Who are the speakers? More than 50 from all over the country, including Melissa Marquez (aka Shark Girl) of the FINZ Initiative, Weta Workshop specialists, award-winning educational innovator Chris Clay, neurological researcher Meg Spriggs, and lots more.

What is the goal? To create a dynamic environment that sparks ‘Eureka’ moments as students see, touch, control and explore different experiments, new ideas, and meet likeminded peers and mentors.

What’s your long-term vision? That the Ideas Festival, and the personal connections made there, will help to create a vibrant, inquisitive community of leaders who have the STEAM skills to make Nelson-Tasman a sought-after place to work, live and play. The Ideas festival runs April 11-13 at the Nelson campus of NMIT.

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FIGHTING FOR OUR FISH

Intensive farming drains and pollutes our rivers, killing trout and salmon. Fish & Game manager Rhys Barrier is campaigning for more water in the waterways. He talks to Frank Nelson.

Photos of Rhys: Tom Davies

I N T E RV I E W

“New Zealand is one of the more blessed countries on the planet in terms of our available freshwater resources.” R H Y S BA R R I E R

he poor condition of many New Zealand rivers and streams has started to galvanise public opinion and prompt political action, with concerns ranging from the health risks facing swimmers to the contamination of freshwater wildlife habitats. Those concerns are certainly shared by Rhys Barrier, regional manager of the Nelson-Marlborough Fish & Game Council. Besides water quality, however, Rhys is worried about quantity. In a recent submission to the Marlborough District Council on the proposed Marlborough Environment Plan, he described low summer flows as “the most serious human-induced environmental issue currently facing all freshwater salmon [trout and salmon] fisheries within Marlborough”. Although changing climate patterns may play a part in declining water levels, Rhys sees rural irrigation as a major contributor to “artificially low summer flows”. He told the council that low rivers and streams can restrict fish food supplies and raise water temperatures to potentially fatal levels. “The elephant in the room, though, is climate change. You can argue and go to court and get all these minimum flows but then if summers are suddenly two or three degrees hotter, you might start getting fish populations tipping over. The Wairau and Motueka Rivers are already close to that limit, both quite often reaching 23 degrees in a normal summer.” The flipside of global warming seems to be an increase in storms and intense rainfall, leading to major flooding. This, says Rhys, can rip out spawning grounds and even bury adult fish under layers of gravel. Historically, regional councils managed the environment but also provided for regional growth, he says. “Those competing demands for water meant that often the drive for regional development trumped river flows.” Rhys sees those same pressures at work today as the Tasman and Marlborough unitary authorities try to balance all the commercial and environmental interests jockeying for a share of the limited water supply.

Getting the balance right When it comes to the new Marlborough Environment Plan, Fish & Game don’t believe the council has got the balance right. “The new plan, as notified, is looking to double the irrigation allocation on many rivers. We’re saying, ‘Hold on a minute … you’ve provided a water allocation plan but you haven’t properly provided for the rivers’ needs’. “The plan as it’s currently structured will severely damage some of those fisheries in the Rai and the Wairau. Ten years down the track, when all that water’s allocated, we’re going to have some rivers that are flat and unhealthy for most of the summer.” Rhys says other man-made events, such as wetland drainage and land-use changes, including the spread of urban development, may also diminish and degrade the country’s

Top left: Rhys measures the water clarity level in the Waimea River. Bottom left: This man-made wetland at Challies Island was formed by removal of gravel, a collaboration between Fish & Game, Tasman District Council and the Tasman Aggregate Users Group. Above: A recreational fisherman shows off his catch of a beautiful brown trout.

prized freshwater resource. Fish & Game is independently funded by licence fees from anglers and gamebird hunters. The organisation believes healthy rivers, streams and wetlands inevitably benefit native fish and wildlife – as well as New Zealanders who enjoy a range of outdoor recreational pursuits.

A watchdog role Fish & Game maintains a freshwater watchdog role, monitoring the state of rivers, smaller waterways and wetlands, while also seeking to influence public opinion and policymakers at local, regional and national levels. Apart from serious problems in the Buller and Gowan Rivers caused by didymo algae, Rhys is broadly satisfied with freshwater conditions across the Top of the South. “New Zealand is one of the more blessed countries on the planet in terms of our available freshwater resources,” he says. “The Nelson-Marlborough region offers the most diverse opportunities for angling and hunting of any of the 12 regional Fish & Game council areas in the country.” Rhys estimates there are well over 100 rivers of interest to anglers in the top of the South Island, plus many more tributaries and streams critically important for fish stocks and other wildlife. A number of the region’s rivers and lakes are ranked nationally significant for fishing, with the Wairau, Motueka and Buller catchments topping the list. Both the Buller and Motueka Rivers have Water Conservation Orders on them – the legal equivalent of a national park on a river – protecting their outstanding trout fisheries. “The Wairau gets twice the usage of any other catchment and is by far our No.1 ranking significant river. With 12,530 angler day-visits [in the year ending September 2015] it is easily the region’s most important sports fishery and is recognised as a nationally significant fishery.” Rhys says anglers in pursuit of brown trout, rainbow trout and salmon have made the Wairau the 10th most fished river in New Zealand with an international reputation for brown trout. The Nelson-Marlborough region enjoys a huge advantage in not having the intense dairy farming found in other areas, causing nitrate run-off that has significantly polluted waterways. 23

“The Wairau gets twice the usage of any other catchment and is by far our No.1 ranking significant river with 12,530 angler day-visits.” R H Y S BA R R I E R

Above: A fly fisherman in the lower Wairau River.

“Research shows that when you get more than 50 percent of a catchment in dairying, it creates major declines in fish stocks, not just among trout but also native species,” says Rhys. “Because Nelson-Marlborough has a lot of mountainous terrain and national parks, there are not many waterways that have more than 40 percent dairying, market gardening or other intensive land uses that leach a lot of nitrates.” While this region has nothing like the problems of Southland, Waikato or Taranaki, Rhys says nitrate levels are rising in the Rai catchment, between Nelson and Blenheim. However, he says even here the dairying intensity is relatively low so the amount of nitrate run-off actually benefits the fishery, helping to create a thriving habitat for trout and native fish.

Dairy conversion The problem with the recent boom in South Island dairying has been a lack of control, says Rhys, who argues that regional councils need to set catchment land-use limits to avoid the sort of mess found in places like Southland and the Waikato. “It all comes back to the scale and pace of dairy conversion in the South Island in the last 10 years. Less than 20 per cent in a catchment can be a very positive thing; once you get up towards 50 per cent it starts to tip over.” Rhys predicts growing pressure on farmers to adopt more sustainable and less water-intensive practices. While this is a challenge, he also sees it as an opportunity for farming to help safeguard the planet, our waterways and its own future. One way this is starting to happen is by landowners growing clover and other nitrogen fixers to build up humus in the soil. This so-called “regenerative farming” enables the soil to store more carbon and water, use less nitrates and yet become more productive. “Essentially the difference seems to be balancing and optimising the soil microbiology by using clover to fix nitrogen rather than piling on truckloads of urea,” Rhys says. “This has huge potential to help counter global warming by storing 24

carbon emissions in the soil and at the same time greatly improving soil quality.” Figures from the London-based Institute of Mechanical Engineers show it takes about 15,000 litres of water to produce a kilogram of beef, around 1000 litres for a litre of milk, and about 100 litres for a glass of wine. Eco-savvy consumers, alarmed at such profligate water use, are increasingly turning to natural meat and milk substitutes. At the same time, scientists are looking at ways to commercialise the production of synthetic meat, milk and even wine. “That’s a massive threat [to New Zealand’s traditional farming],” says Rhys. “Basically they can produce a steak that tastes, looks and smells like a normal beef steak for about $2 a kilogram and has about 20 percent of the environmental footprint of a pasture-raised cow.” With near-natural milk and wine also likely to be produced in a laboratory in the future, he says New Zealand farmers need to position themselves to meet the challenge posed by these seismic changes. Rhys believes New Zealand farmers can survive and thrive by producing premium-branded products grown in an accredited sustainable and environmentally sensitive way. “Ultimately that’s where our future lies.”

A MAN WHO HAS PAID HIS DUES

hys Barrier seems ideally qualified to keep a watchful eye on the health of hundreds of waterways across the Top of the South. • He has worked at Nelson-Marlborough Fish & Game for about 13 years, the last two-and-a-half as regional manager. Before that he was with the Department of Conservation for seven years, five as a freshwater technical support officer in Nelson, and two in Wellington co-ordinating the drafting of native freshwater fish recovery plans. • The 47-year-old’s CV also includes working for Niwa (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) as a freshwater science technician, and acting as an ecological restoration consultant for a number of regional councils. • Rhys, who grew up on a farm near Thames, earned a Master of Science degree from Waikato University, studying the habitat preference of black mudfish in Waikato swampland. • He now heads a team of two Fish & Game field officers in Nelson and one in Marlborough, plus an administrative manager at the organisation’s offices in Stoke.

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Environment

Waterways:

cleaning up our act The pollution of our rivers is a hot topic in New Zealand but without mass dairying, surely it’s a brighter story in the Top of the South? Helen Murdoch investigates the health of our beautiful rivers and streams and discovers a mixed bag of great news, work needed and work in progress. P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y T O M D AV I E S & M AT T W I N T E R

he upper South Island’s major rivers may be among the cleanest in the country for swimming – but this is no cause for complacency. The bush-clad gullies of the Top of the South’s conservation estates give our rivers’ headwaters a good clean start. Once waterways enter productive land and urban areas, however, the story can change. Hard stop-banks, the removal of waterside trees, water abstraction, straightened water courses, sediment, human sewage, stock access and nutrients, the removal of wetlands, bacterial and toxic runoff and leaching from roads, fields, homes and industry – all combine to take a toll. While some of our large rivers are under stress, urban creeks and lowland streams are carrying the highest burdens. Freshwater health is close to Debs Martin’s heart. The Top of the South’s Regional Manager for Forest and Bird says it is in the little streams where most freshwater problems lie.

“Sure, some of our big rivers – the Waimea, the Maitai and the Wairau – have issues.” But the small capillaries of water threading their way across the landscape and ultimately flowing into rivers or onto the coast, carry most of the load and have very little protection, says Debs. A recent national study shows three-quarters of the pollution flowing into freshwater catchments comes from small streams that are not required to be fenced off. The paper, led by Professor Richard McDowell for AgResearch-Invermay’s Environment Group, found small waterways provide essential habitat and breeding areas – yet can be treated like drains. Nutrient loads from smaller watercourses account for large proportions of contaminants in four regional catchments – including Nelson, the paper says. Under the Sustainable Dairying Water Accord all permanent streams wider than one metre and deeper than 30cm must be fenced. The rule does not cover other pastoral stock, like beef

“A passion close to my heart is coming up with a way to look after water quality and make a return, because that is where we get the big uptake.” DR ANNETTE LITHERLAND, LANDCARE TRUST

Clockwise from left: In the main our large rivers are clean and it is the tributaries where work is needed; nothing beats a river dip on a hot day; LandCare’s Dr Annette Litherland believes all landowners in a catchment need to work together to improve and maintain freshwater quality.

cattle. A Labour Party election policy is to have all intensively stocked land near waterways fenced with riparian setbacks within five years. Researchers acknowledge the challenges and costs of fencing small waterways and suggest it might be more costeffective to reduce nutrient and sediment losses through minimal tillage, precision fertiliser application and grazing gullies only in dry periods. Debs says the upper South’s three councils are working to address water quality and allocation issues. “Nelson City has been making a really important effort on the Maitai.’’ But she questioned councils using a collaborative community approach to solve allocation problems. “To leave decisions around the allocation of rivers to community processes is fraught. It’s not improving the state of our rivers. “There has been some clear science showing vested interest can hold up processes and skew them in different ways so positive outcomes do not occur.’’ Councils also tended to look to engineering solutions to

overcome poor management practices – where restoration could provide some of the solution, says Debs. For example, Tasman’s proposed $82.5 million Waimea Community Dam stems from an over-allocation problem, she says. “That’s challenging because the people who will pay for it are not going to be the people to whom the water was over-allocated many years ago.” Tasman ratepayers are responsible for a 50 per cent share of the first $3m in cost overruns and 100 per cent of spending over that.

Healthy freshwater ‘vital’ Dr Annette Litherland, the upper South Island’s new LandCare Trust Regional Co-ordinator, says healthy freshwater is vital to the community and the economy. “We are going to be producing niche products into markets that want a really good story. The Top of the South has a good opportunity to organise itself in a way to create an amazing story. “To achieve this the goals need to be that every farmer – and I’m talking horticulturists, wine-growers, market gardeners, foresters and lifestylers, in combination with the meat and wool and dairy farmers – all need to be working together. And the story in each catchment has to be that the water quality is improving.” Enhancing catchment water quality demands huge investment, says Annette. “That money must have an economic payback. A passion close to my heart is coming up with a way to look after water quality and make a return, because that is where we get the big uptake.’’ One concept is groups of land-owners farming carbon credits 27

“There has been some clear science showing vested interest can hold up processes and skew them in different ways so positive outcomes do not occur.” D E B S M A RT I N

This page, clockwise from top: Debs Martin is calling for more protection for small capillary rivers that lead into our big rivers; current regulations require dairy cattle (not other pastoral stock such as beef cattle) to be fenced from most streams; a whole eco system depends on our actions.

by establishing 15m-wide riparian boundaries of exotic and native plantings, or planting riparian strips of manuka for honey production. “Primary industry generates most of the country’s income and can be a solution to the water quality issue,’’ says Annette.

Rivers scoring well The three councils across the Top of the South are all unitary authorities. They are required to both promote sustainable development and administer land use, subdivision, reserves, roads and aspects of resource management, including rivers and water allocation. The councils’ rivers rate highly on the Ministry for the Environment’s water quality swimming maps, with 99 per cent of Marlborough’s rivers scoring excellent, good or fair, Tasman scoring 98 per cent and Nelson City 100 per cent. Marlborough District Council is reviewing its 20-year-old water allocation framework through the draft Marlborough Environment Plan. Environmental Science and Monitoring Manager Alan Johnson says the message is that the district is generally fully allocated in most of its systems. The major Wairau Aquifer is not included in the plan, however. A long-term decline in well levels since the 1990s in the Rapaura/Renwick area has seen the launch of the joint Wairau Aquifer Project between researchers from the council, Lincoln Agritech and Germany’s Technical University of Dresden. So far it has been found that 95 percent of the aquifer’s water originates from the Wairau River. The river’s low-flow days have nearly doubled in the past 20 years and critical water levels could be reached more often in future. Long-term climate oscillations, or patterns, like the El Nino Southern Oscillation, and the recent negative Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation phase, are connected to the lower rainfalls. “Climate 28

change is a longer-term issue and, like other regions, we are still interpreting the effects of that,” says Alan. Marlborough does have pollution stress points. Nitrate and E. coli bacteria issues from dairying exist in the Rai, Pelorus, Kaituna and Tuamarina catchments. Ruminant bacteria, human sewage and recent infrastructure damage from the Kaikoura earthquake have caused the Doctors Creek-Taylor River catchment to be rated fair to poor. “We have a five-year project in place to look at enhancing that waterway,” says Alan. The combined project with the Ministry starts this year and will see $500,000 of monitoring and riparian management work in the upper catchment to stabilise the banks to reduce sedimentation and stock access. Alan says it is hard to predict what will happen with the effects of climate change, but some resilience has been built in through private industry’s construction of water storage dams, which store water in times of high flows. Like many regions Marlborough relies on its aquifers and rivers for water. “If you look at natural resources, water is number one in terms of life and why we look after it so well,” says Alan.

Above: a pied stilt feeding in the shallows. Left: Rivers in Nelson including the Matai score 100 per cent on the Ministry for the Environment’s water swimming quality maps.

Nelson streams health variable Jo Martin, Nelson City Council’s Environment and Science Team Leader, says the city’s streams have a short run from the ranges to the sea, and are generally in great health in the upper reaches. Lower down, where they flow through urban and industrial areas, water health can change. “They are mostly good, in some cases very good, and there are a couple which are not good and need more focus.” Water quality in Poorman’s Valley Stream has improved after years of attention by the community and local schools, she says. However, York Stream and Jenkins Stream are both in need of attention. “Everything that happens in a stream reflects what is happening on the land, particularly in urban areas,” says Jo. “As a council we need to talk to everybody. That’s what makes it particularly tricky, but it is very important to get the whole community on board.” Jo says the York Stream flows mostly through private land. “We don’t have control over what people do. There has to be a hearts-and-minds process encouraging people to understand and know and value their stream, and thus change the way they do things.” A whole-catchment approach is vital, Jo says. “When the sheer volume of activity, or a lot of development, combine, you can end up with negative effects that cause a problem.” The city’s Nelson Nature programme, started in 2016 to restore biodiversity, provides a wealth of information around strategies, forums, workshops and resources. The council also runs targeted community programmes that so far have focused on Stoke Stream, the Maitai River and, from April, the Wakapuaka catchment. “The key message is everything done on the land affects the waterways,” says Jo. 29

‘There has to be a hearts-and-minds process encouraging people to understand and know and value their stream, and thus change the way they do things.’ J O M A RT I N , N E L S O N C I T Y C O U N C I L

Land measures effective The communities of Tasman’s Aorere and Sherry Rivers have demonstrated how combined efforts on the land improve water quality across significant catchments. Yet high water temperature and low dissolved oxygen remain a widespread problem in many small lowland streams and are set to become worse with climate change, says Trevor James, Tasman District Council Environmental Resource Scientist. That said, “several community groups and individuals are doing some wonderful work to plant trees to shade streams”. Trevor says poor river water quality can be caused by many factors, such as fine sediment from poor earthworks design and management, water temperature and dissolved oxygen problems from lack of shading, and historic straightening of waterways and wetland removal. Bacteria sources such as farm winter-feed or stand-off pads, overflowing stock drinking troughs, poorly maintained stock races, domestic septic tank leaks and sewage spills also affect swimming water quality. The health of fish, eels and whitebait is affected by fine sediment, the excessive use of rock for river-bank protection, the removal of riparian trees, the re-shaping of banks and straightening of streams. 30

Top left: the bush of our conservation estates gives many of the Upper South’s waterways, such as Marlborough’s Timms Creek (pictured) a good clean start. Left: Clear water in the upper reaches of Nelson’s Matai River is good news. Above: Sedimentation and nutrient enrichment are major issues in Tasman’s Moutere Inlet.

Trevor says that while agricultural intensification and population growth can threaten water quality and river health, the legacy of modifying waterways, draining swamps, felling riparian trees and installing in-stream structures should not be under-estimated. One agricultural impact the council is studying is the high nitrate concentrations found in groundwater under parts of the Waimea Plains. The land, used for market gardening, orcharding and dairy farming, is so valuable it is being worked to higher levels, says Trevor. “The leaching rates from the various land uses on the plains are still not well understood. While it may be possible to reduce leaching rates to avoid adverse effects, we can’t get there until we know more about the source of the problem. We hope to get a Masters student to study this in the coming years.” He says that while Tasman has had some examples of poor dairy farming practices, like elsewhere, it is not as bad as some critics make out, and farming practices are generally improving. The council’s wetland mapping programme has effectively stopped the drainage of farm swamp areas.

Freshwater quality improving Rob Smith, the council’s Environmental Information Manager, says Tasman is on a good trajectory for improving its freshwater quality. “Sure, we have a few warts, but that is changing. “Sedimentation is probably one that is slow to change, but

with the new land development manual it is starting to be picked up. And there is still space for more learning in the urban setting.” One of the big pushes in the council’s present Long Term Plan is to focus on catchments rather than waterways, which Rob says is a logical move. Meanwhile the water allocations across the Waimea Plains have been set under the proposed Waimea Community Dam process. Community-led Fresh Water Land Advisory Groups in Takaka and Waimea are also looking at land use and allocation, plus nutrient use. “I think that is a really good way for that to be sorted, rather than the council walking in with heavy feet, because part of an enduring outcome is when all players understand what is happening and have ownership of it.” Rob says intensification of agriculture and population growth are not necessarily negative for waterways. “We just need to be better at managing risk.”

Find out more For council information on water quality and where to swim go to, Land, Air, Water Aotearoa at lawa.org.nz Stream health monitoring and assessment kits can be ordered from the NIWA website which also has a wealth of water quality information and advice, niwa.co.nz Search ‘Wairau Aquifer’ on marlborough.govt.nz Search ‘Waimea Community Dam project’ and check out the fresh water land advisory groups on tasman.govt.nz Search ‘Nelson nature’ on nelson.govt.nz

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Avanti Giro C1 Features: Carbon-fibre frame (with lifetime warranty), Shimano components. Cost: $1900. Comment: A great entry-level, carbon-fibre bike that provides a comfortable ride to anybody, whether just getting into road cycling or simply wanting a good mid-level bike to keep fit.

Avanti Inc 1 Features: Shimano components, sleek stylish design, built for speed. Cost: $999. Comment: A great bike for commuting to work or school, or ducking into town to run a few errands.

Scott Spark 960 Features: Adjustable front and rear suspension, lightweight alloy frame, adjustable seat dropper post. Cost: $3000. Comment: Mid-priced, full-suspension bike for all-round trail riding, with Shimano/ Rockshox components.

Biking

PEDALS TO THE METTLE Cycling is more than a hobby for many people – it’s a way of life. Sadie Beckman looks at how to get a piece of the action. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN INMAN

ew Zealanders are spoilt for choice with cycling, whether it be the adrenalin of mountain biking, the speed of road riding, or simply wanting to commute in a way that cuts costs and emissions while providing a daily exercise boost. Even if you aren’t too sure of your fitness, e-bikes are opening up the pastime to people who may not have otherwise taken to two wheels. Here are our top picks for bike-buying, routes to ride, events, how to train and more.

Getting started Choosing the right bike for you is crucial to reaping maximum enjoyment from cycling. Find a local bike shop with a good reputation and ask lots of questions. Do some research beforehand as components and frames vary by performance, weight and durability. Buy the highest-quality bike you can afford – it will pay you back in performance and comfort – and choose the bike that fits best, instead of the best deal. Mitchell Cooper, at Avantiplus Richmond, says bike-shop staff are trained to find the right frame size and seat height for customers. “We can also professionally fit the bike, measuring your proportions and flexibility and making adjustments to ensure you have the most comfortable and efficient ride possible based on the kind of riding you want to do.” Not all saddles are the same, so test-ride them, he says. “We’ll recommend a saddle if the one that comes with the bike is not right for you. You’ve got to give it a chance – say, a couple of weeks of cycling – and if it still doesn’t feel right, we’ll sort it.”

Left: Finding riding buddies will keep your training schedule on track. Above: You’ll soon be pulling tricks like the experts.

Recommended gear • Bike shorts – prevent sweat build-up and chafing.

Hybrid/e-bike Avanti Discovery E-Steps Features: Shimano mid-drive motor, step-through frame for ease of getting on and off the bike. Cost: $3500. Comment: One of the most popular entry/mid-level e-bikes. Equipped with a motor that gives 120km off one charge, with an easy-to-use display and control system.

Words: Mitchell Cooper, Photos: AvantiPlus.

• Jersey – lightweight and fast-drying, with back pockets to hold snacks, keys and other essentials. • Bike shoes and pedals – a clipless system increases power and efficiency. • Gloves – to prevent blisters and pressure pain from the handlebar, and protect hands in a fall. • Glasses – protection against bugs, dust, debris and sun. • Bell – an early-warning system for passing other cyclists or pedestrians. • Computer – to track your progress as you build fitness for the event. Apps such as Strava allow you to input your rides and share with others.

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Above and right: The views offered on trails in the area such as at Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park will make the effort well worth while.

Where to ride? From multi-day missions to leisurely meanders, our region has much to offer and plenty to see on two wheels.

Mountain biking Avantiplus Richmond store-owner Mike Anderson recommends the Heaphy Track and Old Ghost Road for multi-day rides. The Heaphy, in Kahurangi National Park, runs 80km between Collingwood and Karamea. Cycling the track is permitted between May 1 and November 30, with well-equipped huts along the way. The scenery is stunning but the weather can be changeable. (For details, go to www.heaphytrack.com) The Old Ghost Road is a re-incarnated miner’s road connecting the old dray road in the Lyell (Upper Buller Gorge) to the mighty Mokihinui River in the north. It traverses native forest, tussock, river flats and forgotten valleys and has been described as an 85km outdoor museum. Maintained by a volunteer trust, the trail also offers hut accommodation. (www. oldghostroad.org.nz) For single-day rides, Mike recommends the White’s Bay route near Blenheim (2-3 hours, a grade 4 descent); Nydia Bay near Havelock at Duncan Bay (about 5hr, single-track downhills, gnarly climbs and stunning views); and a new trail in Nelson called Te Ara Koa (1.5hr climb and 20min descent.) For a destination that packs everything in, try Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park. A comprehensive network of tracks set in 73ha of beautiful forest and conservation land on the edge of the Abel Tasman, the park caters for beginners through to experts. The park offers workshops, events and bike hire too. (www.kaiteriterimtbpark.org.nz) Lenny Allred, of Coppins Cycles in nearby Motueka, says the Kaiteriteri park, which the store sponsors, has done a huge amount for cycling in the region. “It’s opening up [cycling] so it’s not just a niche spot or just for the enthusiasts,” he says. “It’s a hugely popular place, and there’s a whole social side that goes alongside it.”

“Don’t try to do too much right away.” HAMISH FERGUSON, C YC L I N G C OA C H

Lenny says he is seeing more people out on their bikes, using cycleways and heading into town, and having a good set-up like the Kaiteriteri park helps riders to boost their skills. He also believes e-bikes are an important part of the mix, allowing those who may not have been biking for a variety of reasons to get out there and give it a try, and those who already cycle to travel bigger distances. “E-bikes are allowing people to get more adventurous. There are all shapes, sizes, dimensions and levels of assistance available now. These bikes allow people to go further, and do trails they may not have on a standard bike.” And Lenny’s answer to cycling purists who still feel that e-bikes are cheating? “It doesn’t matter as long as you’re out there enjoying it.”

Road biking routes Mike recommends Queen Charlotte Drive (Havelock to Picton), which has great scenery, but at more than 100km, riders need to be “pretty fit”. 35

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The Heslington Circuit near Brightwater is another great option, shorter and not as challenging, he says. Saxton Velodrome is a joint project between Tasman District and Nelson City Councils plus the Saxton Velodrome Trust. Due to open on February 13, this new feature on the biking scene offers a 7m-wide embanked track over 300m long. The banking angle ranges from 7 to 21.3 degrees. There is also an inner warmup track and beginners’ area, accessed by an underpass. The opening has been delayed as contractors strive to get the surface perfect – there is only one surface join, at the start/finish line.

Getting competitive If you want to take things up a notch, look at participating in an event. However, there’s more to cycling than just jumping on your bike and pedalling off. Technique, rather than how many kilometres you can clock up, will improve your efficiency, speed and how much you enjoy the day. Hamish Ferguson, at Roulston Coaching, a specialist cycletraining provider, says start off easy, at least two months ahead of the event. “Don’t try to do too much right away as the aim is to build fitness while you get used to the bike. Avoid big hills and overly ambitious routes in the first few weeks and remember that recovery is as important as riding to becoming a strong cyclist. Give your body time to rebuild after rides, and don’t worry if you’re having a bad day – just cut the ride short.” Riding with a friend or group helps to keep up the momentum. Bike shops and clubs can help with finding the right group for your level.

“E-bikes are allowing people to get more adventurous.” LENNY ALLRED, C O P P I N S C YC L E S

Incorporate rest time into your longer training days and soak up some of our stunning local scenery.

Keep track of your progress – times, temperature and wind conditions. The Strava app (free to download) is a great help. Regular nutritional snacks are also crucial to keeping those pedals turning. Hamish suggests eating natural, simple, nonprocessed foods, and in training try to avoid sports drinks and gels that give you a sugar rush but not sustained energy. If you’re riding for an hour or less, water should suffice. Depending on your size, you should eat seven to 10 grams of carbs every 15 minutes after the first 45min of riding. “Don’t fall into the ‘I’ll eat at the next intersection/hilltop/turn’ trap or you risk a low blood-sugar slump,” he says. Drink every 10 to 20 minutes, aiming for frequency over quantity, and down plenty of fluids well before setting out on a long ride so you start fully hydrated. The Marlborough Forrest Graperide website (see events) has some good advice and suggested training programmes.

Suggested training programme (Always consult a doctor or health professional before starting any new training regimen.) Week 1: Start with two 30min rides separated by a rest day, aiming to complete a 60min ride on the sixth day. (Cycle, rest, cycle, rest; rest, cycle, rest.) Week 2: Alternate the length of rides between 30 and 45min, building up to 60min on the sixth day with rest days between (maintaining a total of three cycling days). Add an extra loop or ride somewhere different – the aim is to enjoy your ride, exploring the surroundings. Use one rest day to go for a half-hour walk (hills are great) or do some gym weight training. (Cycle, rest, cycle, other; rest, cycle, cycle.) Weeks 3-4: As per week 2 except aim for a 75min ride on the last cycle day in week 3 and taper down to a 60min ride in week 4. 37

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Eco friendly, cost effective and without a doubt, possibly the most fun you will ever have on a bike! • Self-guided bike hire to visit the cellar doors of your choice

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Try using cycle days to practise eating and drinking on the move while keeping a straight line, breaking and cornering, riding out of the saddle for 10 pedal strokes (good for balance and acceleration) and testing control riding on gravel.

Week 6: Time to go hard and ramp up the duration with a 60, 75 and 120min ride on the three cycle days. Use the 75min ride for sprint intervals and the 120min ride to be as close to the 42km as possible. This is your pre-race practice so incorporate the food and drink you will use on the day. One rest day can be used for a half-hour walk or gym session. Week 7: In the week leading up to the event take it easier with just two cycle days of 45 and 25min durations, resting in between and on the day before the race. A 5min ride to tone up and check that the bike is running well can be done on this last rest day. Hamish says that while this is a good generic programme, the best results come from a schedule written specifically for you by a qualified coach. (Visit www.roulston.co.nz for details.) “But above all, the aim is to feel great and enjoy the ride. Cycling is a fantastic way to keep fit, see more of awesome New Zealand and meet some awesome people.” Other helpful training tips • You’ll ride most efficiently at 80-90 pedal revolutions per minute (rpm). Shift into an easier gear any time you’re about to slow down – before stop signs and ahead of climbs. • Stay seated on hill climbs, keeping the rpm high and your arms relaxed. Stand intermittently on long hill climbs, or for occasional bursts. • Descending a hill, keep hands closer to the brakes. Look ahead down the road and always brake before a corner, never in it, applying both brakes evenly. • In the bunch (group of riders), keep looking ahead at all times, keeping a check on riders beyond the one just in front of you. Signal any potholes or other hazards by both pointing and shouting, and try not to overlap wheels in the bunch. • Observe all traffic rules during road races. Stay to the left of the lane and make sure if you are at the front that you signal any upcoming turns as riders at the back may not see.

Photo: Marathon Photos

Weeks 5-6: Maintaining three cycle rides per week, cycle 4560min distances building up to 90min on the last cycle day in week 4. Start with 30-45min durations in week 5 and 90min on the last cycle day. Use the 60min cycle ride to incorporate some sprint intervals to build up stamina. Use a rest day in week 5 to go for a half-hour walk or gym training.

The Marlborough 42km Forrest GrapeRide held in April is a great event for first-time competitors.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Once your fitness builds and you get really enthused about biking you will be looking around for goals to work towards. The cycling calendar is full of scenic, challenging and fun events. Here are some popular choices around the country. Local: Coppermine Nelson, Saturday Feb 10. Mountain bike event with two courses to cater for ability levels, and categories for teams, pairs, individuals and e-bikes. (coppermine.co.nz) Forrest Graperide Marlborough (road event), Sat April 7. Multiple categories and distances. Qualifying event for UCI Gran Fondo World Series. (graperide.co.nz) Abel Tasman Cycle Challenge Nelson, mid-November. Rainbow Rage, Saturday March 24. Back after a hiatus, this popular event has categories for competition, adventure and social riding. It runs from St Arnaud to Hanmer Springs and is a 106km, gravel ride. (rainbowrage.co.nz)

National: Summer MTB Cup (mountain bike), Bay of Plenty, February 3. MTBNZ South Island XCO Championships (mountain bike), Canterbury, February 4.

Pre-ride checks

Gold Trail MTB Ride West Coast, February 4.

• Tyre pressure, brakes, chain, and the quick-releases on wheels.

2018 Oceania MTB Championships, Otago, February 9 to August 11.

• Tyres should be inflated to the level indicated on the sidewall. • Oil the chain every 160km, more in wet weather. • Ensure your bike is serviced once a year.

25th Tour De Beautiful Festival of Cycling (mountain and road biking), Hawkes Bay, Feb 10-11.

• Learn to fix a flat tyre – guides can be found online, and many bike shops offer free clinics.

Bluebridge Karapoti Classic (mountain bike) Wellington, February 17.

Ready? Get set, go

Moa 100K Taupo to Rotorua Flyer (road) Bay of Plenty, April 14.

Now that you’re armed with all this information about bikes to buy and how to train there’s only one thing left to do. Set yourself a goal and get on your bike.

(For more details, go to www.cyclingnewzealand.nz/events)

Opera in the Park

Picnicking to a superb soundtrack Nelson Opera in the Park is back to delight music-lovers. Frances Wilson talks to some of the key players, including pop legend Bic Runga, for their take on one of the region’s best-loved biennial events.

Bic Runga

A Event photos by Tim Cuff | Artist photos supplied

first-class orchestra, an excitable conductor, and three exceptional singers – 2018 Opera in the Park is going to be spectacular. The event has been a highlight on the Nelson calendar for two decades. It’s a treasured opportunity to see and hear some of New Zealand’s best performers, ranging over the years from Dame Kiri Te Kanawa to The Topp Twins, from Dave Dobbyn to Pene Pati. This year the concert moves from Trafalgar Park to Saxton Cricket Oval, and sees the welcome return of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to Nelson after a five-year hiatus. It will also be their only outdoor concert for 2018, making it their largest audience for any single concert. The orchestra will be lead by acclaimed New Zealand conductor Hamish McKeich, and joined by tenor Simon O’Neill and soprano Anna Leese, both of whom have international opera careers and are well-known to Opera in the Park audiences.

NZSO

Kiwi music legend Bic Runga, straight off the back of her 20th anniversary tour, will sing a selection of her own songs alongside some contemporary classics, accompanied by the might of the orchestra. Musical Director Pete Rainey knows exactly why Opera in the Park is such an ongoing success. “It’s the magic combination of a large-scale outdoor variety concert, in a casual setting, featuring a mix of classical and contemporary artists and repertoire.” Conductor Hamish McKeich is well aware that outdoor concerts have their specific challenges and rewards. “The main challenge is getting a good orchestral sound as obviously the audience spans a much larger area than an indoor concert,” he says. “But the rewards include a rapturous audience reception and fireworks at the end.” That’s definitely not something that happens inside a concert hall. Anna Leese cites microphones as a challenge – opera singers most often perform without them in opera theatres. And then there’s the weather, of course, although the event has never been

Simon O’Neill

“The rewards include a rapturous audience reception and fireworks at the end.” H A M I S H M C K E I C H , C O N D U C TO R

Anna Leese

cancelled. “And the wind,” Anna continues, “not only for getting hair stuck on your lippy for a close-up, but also because the orchestra’s music sheets get blown off the stands.” For 2018, Pete has selected a programme that will have broad appeal, from instantly recognisable film scores such as Star Wars and Jurassic Park, to well-known arias from La Bohème and Tosca, as well as Bic’s much-loved contemporary pop-songs. It’s also about using the setting to everyone’s advantage – the fact that most of the audience is seated on picnic rugs and tucking into tasty spreads makes for a much more relaxed atmosphere than an indoor venue. This also helps to break down some of the perceived barriers between an orchestra and its audience. For the performers, the energy of such a large crowd is palpable. “I can feel the energy onstage,” says Simon O’Neill. “After performing in opera houses and concert halls around the world, Nelson Opera in the Park really allows me to let my hair down.” 42

Bic Runga is also a fan of outdoor concerts. “It’s humbling when people know the words and have made the songs their own. It’s cool.” The 2018 line-up features lots of welcome returns – Hamish, Simon and Anna were all at 2010 Opera in the Park. It’s a first for Bic, although she has performed with orchestras on numerous occasions. “I made a live album with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in 2003, and we’re using a few of those same orchestral arrangements [for Opera in the Park],” she says. “Singing with an orchestra really is the best experience; to feel a whole orchestra swell together with you on stage. I think it might be the ultimate.” Bic recently performed a tour for her landmark album Drive, and will perform a number of singles from it. “It’s good to have these songs take on a new life with the orchestra 20 years on.” One of her greatest fans will be listening from the wings. “Bic Runga is a major idol of mine,” says Anna. “I listened to her music all the time as a teenager, and I’m so proud to be sharing a stage with her.” Some people will always be a little apprehensive about going to an opera concert, although they may be surprised by how much they already know. “We hear opera all the time in life,” says Simon. “Think of television commercials and film scores. It is just a matter of listening to it in its original form.” “Don’t be afraid,” Hamish adds. “It’s definitely not going to harm you. If anything, it may get you all excited.” Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese says that she’s looking forward to seeing the stage come alive with so many stars. “Opera in the Park is an event cherished by Nelsonians. We’re enormously excited to be hosting the NZSO and welcoming back our wonderful opera friends. To have Bic Runga joining them is the icing on the cake. Nelson is ready and waiting for a fabulous night of music and song.”

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Hamish McKeich

What’s your favourite thing about Nelson Opera in the Park? Hamish McKeich: The rapturous audience reception and fireworks at the end, even though I’m the only person with my back to them. Simon O’Neill: The Nelson audience is fantastic, the venue is fantastic and the city is fantastic. Anna Leese: Nelson audiences are very eclectic. Over the years these concerts have featured a really wide range of performances, and the Nelson audience appreciates ALL of it. Bic Runga: Playing outdoors in the summer with the sun going down is pretty great. I think this show is going to be a dream. Pete Rainey: I’m really chuffed to have the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for the concert.

Find out more For further information and updates, go to nelsonsummer.nz or ‘summerinnelson’ Facebook page. What: Opera in the Park When: Saturday February 24, 7.30-10pm. Gates open at 5.30pm Where: Saxton Cricket Oval, Stoke Cost: Adult $25, child (5-15) $5, child under 5 free (prices exclude TicketDirect service fee)

Celebrating 20 years of excellence in winemaking

www.tohuwines.co.nz 44

@tohuwines #tohutimes

Marlborough Wine & Food Festival

FEAST FOR THE SENSES With 40 wineries, 30 food tents, six bands and a new Culinary Pavilion, the 2018 Marlborough Wine & Food Festival is a lesson in good taste. Sophie Preece samples the fare. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHARD BRIGGS

mouthwatering line-up awaits foodies and fans of the grape at Marlborough’s showcase treat for the senses on February 10. Wine Marlborough Events Manager Georgie Leach says 2018’s Wine & Food Festival has a focus on food “because Marlborough is home to some of the best producers in the world”. The region’s wine is a perfect match to the salmon, clams, mussels and lamb grown and harvested in the Marlborough Sounds, Cloudy Bay coastline or Awatere high country, Georgie says. “We are so lucky to have beautiful produce grown right here, and even luckier that it all goes so well with Marlborough wines.” Acclaimed New Zealand and Australian chefs will be representing Regal Marlborough King Salmon, Cloudy Bay Clams, Kono mussels, and Flaxbourne Pure lamb in the Culinary Pavilion, with Wellington chef Martin Bosley running proceedings, says Georgie. “Each of the chefs will tell the stories of the amazing Marlborough produce they’re cooking with, while showing audiences how they prepare and cook it. Then people can head to the producers’ stalls to buy a taste of Marlborough, cooked by some of the best chefs in the world. What more could you want?” Renowned food writer Annabelle White will present New Zealand King Salmon’s Regal Marlborough Salmon in the

Pavilion, and has devised the dishes Regal will serve at its stall, offering sustenance to busy festival-goers. Meanwhile Ora King Salmon will be on offer in the VIP tent, where Liz and Bradley Hornby, of multi-award-winning vineyard restaurant Arbour, are set to spoil guests. Masterchef winners Karena and Kasey Bird will give audiences the lowdown on Kono mussels, assisted by winemaker Bruce Taylor, who will present the company’s Tohu wines alongside its seafood. Kono Chief Executive Rachel Taulelei says the festival is a highlight on Kono’s calendar. “Being at festivals gives us the opportunity to show manaakitanga [hospitality] and meet people directly,” she says. “We can share not only our produce, but also the stories and values that make Kono special. Love of the land and respect for the sea is core to who we are. Kaitiakitanga [guardianship] is the value that directs our business and our relationship with our environment.” Rachel says that with Kono’s kaimoana and wine sourced and produced in the Top of the South, “being part of a festival that celebrates this region makes perfect sense”. Georgie says a couple of smaller producers will be in the Pavilion as well, with Marlborough Garlic presenting its Garlic Noir, and The Taylor Pass Honey Company on-hand with its finest 45

“Each year we try to shine a light and showcase wines that people might not try.” G E O R G I E L E A C H , F E S T I VA L M A N A G E R

fare. “And Verve, organic farm florists from the Wairau Valley, will also talk about turning kitchen waste into compost to provide food for flowers.” Beyond the Culinary Pavilion, dozens of food tents will serve up everything from whitebait fritters, Kaikoura Cheese and Liam’s Hungarian fried bread, to Thai food from Auckland restaurant Saan. Georgie says there has been a lot of interest from beyond Marlborough, with people keen to get in on the festival’s foodie vibe. “The good word is spreading and a lot of people have contacted us because they want to join in.” Then, of course, there is the wine, with 40 companies pouring at this year’s festival, and three masterclasses looking at sub-regions, aromatics and pinot noir. Georgie says the masterclasses are a chance for people to hone their palates, learn about food matches (cheese with aromatics and chocolate with pinot) and get a taste for more than just Marlborough’s flagship wine. “We are lucky we make more than just amazing sauvignon blanc here in Marlborough. Sure, that’s what we’re known for, but we also make some sensational examples of many other varieties. Each year we try to shine a light and showcase wines that people might not try.” The festival is a big day out for Marlborough wine company Fromm, which has been involved for the past 25 years. Marketing and Sales Manager Adam Balasoglou says in the 46

quieter morning hours the Fromm stand is dominated by their connoisseur customer base, who like to linger over the reds the company is so well known for. Afternoon, however, brings a seachange in custom, with millennials clamouring to get their hands on the Riesling Spätlese, a German-style riesling that sold out within hours last year. A social-media buzz has built up around Fromm at the festival, and they poured more than three bottles of the riesling every two to three minutes last year. Some 8000 people are exposed to the best of Marlborough at the festival, but the event is about far more than the money made on the day. An economic impact report conducted after the 2015 event found it boosted Marlborough’s regional exports by $1.33 million, including $1.31m through expenditure by visitors on the likes of accommodation, food, transport and shopping. Samantha Young, Marlborough District Council Regional Events Advisor, says events like the festival bring widespread benefits to the whole region and are essential to drawing visitors to Marlborough. “Like our other premier regional events, the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival builds prosperity for the region,” she says. “It boosts both the economy and community pride, with the likes of accommodation, bars, cafés, restaurants, retailers, tour operators, supermarkets, fuel stations, transport providers, sports centres, galleries, volunteer groups, sponsors and infrastructure providers all directly benefiting from the increased number of out-of-town visitors.” The festival is also an important driver for tourism, with attendees likely to become long-term advocates for the region, Samantha says. “Marlborough is renowned for its fantastic food and wine and the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival highlights and celebrates this magnificently.”

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Our cafés and restaurants are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner until late. And why not pick up a great gift from our retailers? Morrison Square is your one-stop shop this Valentine’s Day.

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8pm Mon. 5th Feb.

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Ballroom Concert - $20 Enjoy the regular concerts and theatre or hire Fairfield for your very own celebration. gather@fairfieldnelson.org.nz | www.fairfieldnelson.org.nz

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S HOE OF T H E MON T H

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Going from strength to strength BY RENEE LANG P H O T O A N A G A L L O WAY

he Mike Pero brand is familiar to most of us, thanks to the high profile established by Mike Pero himself through extensive media coverage over recent years. Now well established in the Nelson region, it should be your first port of call when you’re thinking of buying a new home or require finance or insurance.

Finding Your Perfect Property The Nelson real estate franchise, which is now in its sixth year, takes the honours for opening the brand’s first official sales premises. Franchise owners Craig Hamilton and his wife, Kellie, haven’t let the grass grow under their feet, either. Now employing 14 licensed sales people, supported by six administrative staff members over three offices, Craig believes that his and Kellie’s success is largely due to a fair fee, their motivated and experienced staff and the high profile achieved by the marketing of the Mike Pero brand. “To be good at real estate,” says Craig, “you’ve just got to do the basics really well.” Another way of putting it comes from the founder of the brand, Mike Pero himself: “You say what you mean, and you mean what you say.” 56

This attitude results in a significant amount of repeat business, much of which Craig says is due to his hardworking and experienced staff. “They’re always happy to go the extra mile.”

"To be good at real estate, you’ve just got to do the basics really well." C R AI G HAM I LTO N

The variety of sales keeps everyone on the team interested and motivated. For example, on any given day any or all of the sales people could be dealing with selling lifestyle land from several major subdivisions, existing residential property ranging from modest suburban homes through to the ones so many of us just get to dream about (you know, those fabulous coastal properties that often fuel our purchase of Lotto tickets), or commercial properties for sale or lease that are handled by a dedicated commercial agent. Their clients vary enormously, too.

There are, of course, the first homebuyers, but there are also many older folk who may have been in their homes for quite a few years. Craig cites the case of an elderly couple currently in the process of selling their home, “and really enjoying the experience”, thanks to the agent’s professional and courteous approach.

Craig and Kellie Hamilton.

WT + MIKE PERO

The Nelson region is becoming increasingly attractive to out-of-towners, too. Some come from other parts of the world while more than a few have migrated from Christchurch and, in some cases, gone back again now that things have settled. Craig and his agents have been only too happy to assist in every way they can to minimise the disruption. Although the Mike Pero brand is so well known, Craig and his team play other roles in the community, one of which is being the naming rights sponsor for the Nelson Giants for the fourth consecutive year. Then there’s the Mike Pero Foundation, which contributes significant amounts of money – all raised through local sales – to worthy causes in the community. Perhaps the impressive success achieved by this local franchise can also be attributed to a prospective buyer’s or seller’s expectations of the brand, especially when you have, as Craig believes, some of the best and longestserving sales people around. “After all,” he says, “if you go to an out-of-town McDonald’s, you expect to have the same experience that you would have in a McDonald’s in your own part of the world.” Indeed, why should real estate be any different?

Financing Your Dream Home Did you know that the Mike Pero brand also encompasses a wide range of financial services? Scott Jackson and his wife Devina, who co-own the local Mike Pero Mortgage and Insurance franchise, have over 40 years of financial services experience behind them. Scott believes that a very good knowledge of the local market and an excellent understanding of the importance of people’s individual – and sometimes unique – circumstances both contribute greatly to the success of the brand. So what does a mortgage broker actually do? “I walk customers through the application process and advocate on their behalf to find the best deal for them,” says Scott. “I know the process well, so I understand what banks are looking for and I know which lender will provide the best solution for each client’s individual situation. I save my clients time and money and reduce the stress of arranging finance.” With a wide panel of lenders available to Mike Pero, obtaining a loan in more challenging situations, such as when you have only a small or gifted deposit, imperfect credit or unique

Scott and Devina Jackson have over 40 years of financial services experience.

sources of income, is also an option. “It’s the best job in the world,” says Scott, “because it’s so rewarding. We love helping people realise their home ownership dreams and Mike Pero has been helping clients in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough for over 14 years.”

“... it’s so rewarding. We love helping people realise their home ownership dreams …” S COT T JAC KS O N

The service doesn’t stop at helping secure a great finance deal either. Scott can also tailor a personal loan solution for a range of situations, such as buying a vehicle, going on holiday, renovating a home or to finance an upcoming wedding. Devina is an accredited insurance adviser and has access to a large number of insurance providers for life insurance, mortgage protection, income protection, disability and trauma and home and contents. They really are a one-stop shop! In addition, they are committed to being available to their clients at any time,

whether they are looking to buy their first home or to upgrade, want to purchase an investment property, or simply find a better deal. So, at what point should a prospective buyer contact Scott to discuss their financial scenario? Scott says it’s never too early as having an idea of how much you are likely to be able to borrow is an important part of the planning phase. However, if you tend to operate on a more impromptu basis, then that is OK, too. Scott has dealt with many hopeful buyers who have come to him with just a few days in which to organise their finance. Scott and Devina operate from their office in central Nelson, but using a service like Mike Pero Mortgages means that the broker, in this case, Scott, will come to your home if this suits you better, at a time that works for you.

Contact Craig Hamilton on 027 214 4851 Scott Jackson on 027 570 2709 mikepero.co.nz

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MY HOME

New Mexico textures and French flair An ex-pat is enticed to Ruby Bay by an impulse buy — which she reinvents with verve. 6

BY BRENDA WEBB PHOTOGRAPHY DOMINIQUE WHITE

ears of living and travelling overseas inspired Lynne Kohen when it came to rebuilding the sumptuous Ruby Bay home bought on a whim. The former Denton Winery took her eye while holidaying on a break from a fast-paced life in Los Angeles, so the former dairy farmer’s daughter from the Waikato has ended up settling in the South Island. “We fell in love with this place but we did embark on a serious rebuild – there is not much left of the original and we totally redeveloped the gardens,” says Lynne. The result is a colourful, vibrant house with eclectic furnishings, surrounded by a garden that Lynne describes as “barely contained chaos”. “It’s a lovely place to live. It’s private and quiet and a great place to entertain.” Inspiration for the interior, with its plaster walls, soft corners, curved ceilings and exposed rafters and beams, came mostly from New Mexico, an area Lynne and husband Jeffrey frequented while living in the States. Indeed, their vineyard is named Atalaya after a mountain near Santa Fe in New Mexico. Ruby Bay is a radical change of lifestyle for Lynne, who spent 19 years living and working overseas. “Living here feels special, particularly because I came from somewhere so different. Here

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Mexican furniture is a highlight in the main bedroom. Simple yet creative landscaping around the outdoor pool area. Neatly clipped hedges define garden borders. Rich colours and bold art feature in this colourful home. Wooden floors are dressed with oriental rugs. Softly rounded corners and curved ceilings create ambience. Books, vases, flowers, candles and collectibles pop up everywhere. Soft lemon walls, a full bookcase and comfy sofa beckons.

John Bampfylde: 64 27 325 1325 john.bampfylde@sothebysrealty.com

933 MATAKITAKI ROAD, MURCHISON

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY IN TASMAN

933 MATAKITAKI ROAD, MURCHISON Seeking seclusion in a spectacular wilderness location? Korimako, a luxury Artfully blending American Provence in influences, this extraordinary private residence eco-residence situated onand 34 hectares the stunning Matakitaki River Valley, is an sits on aSeeking six hectare haven ofin vines and gardens. Adobe-clad with reclaimed rimu floors, this dramatic seclusion a spectacular wilderness location? Korimako, a luxury exceptional proposition. With internationally renowned trout and kayaking rivers at home abounds with artisan a handcrafted study in colour and texture. An expansive eco-residence situated on detail; 34hugely hectares in thewith stunning Matakitaki River Valley, is an your doorstep, this region is popular fishermen, hunters and outdoor kitchen at theproposition. heart makesWith entertaining a delight, indoors ortrout out, and with kayaking leafy pagodas, saltwater exceptional renowned at adventurers alike. Currently setinternationally up as an exclusive accommodation lodge, itrivers would pool and a raised cedar spa. Nearby, a captivating guest house and gym provide more divine yourmake doorstep, this region is hugely popular fishermen, hunters and outdoor also an incredible holiday retreat or a with permanent home for someone who spaces to unwind and restore. set up as an exclusive accommodation lodge, it would adventurersquality alike. Currently appreciates and all that this remarkable environment offers. •also Secure gated entry • Three fireplaces make an incredible holiday retreat or a permanent home for someone who •appreciates Extensive quality garagingand andallworkshop Auxiliary kitchen that thisspace remarkable • environment offers.for easy entertaining • Central heating

• Town water supply and lake

Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ.

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Floor: 300 sq m | Land: 34.07 ha Land: 6.08 ha 4

Floor: 300 sq m | Land: $1,499,000 incl 34.07 GSTha NZD$3,250,000 nzsothebysrealty.com/NEL00096 nzsothebysrealty.com/NEL00297 $1,499,000 incl GST KYLIE TAIKATO-JONES: +64 152 8195 KYLIE TAIKATO: +64 21 15221 8195 nzsothebysrealty.com/NEL00096 kylie.taikato@sothebysrealty.com Kylie.Taikato-Jones@sothebysrealty.com KYLIE TAIKATO: +64 21 152 8195 JOHN BAMPFYLDE: +64 27 325 1325 kylie.taikato@sothebysrealty.com

john.bampfylde@sothebysrealty.com

Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ.

Ché Vincent Sculpture & garden artist

I see a lot of beauty in this world. Beauty in the patterns of growth and life and in the mechanisms of survival.

h ome coll ection by Lighthouse Nelson

022 318 9396 | chevincent.co.nz

65 Collingwood St, Nelson | (03) 548 4945 www.storeycollection.co.nz | www.lighthouselighting.co.nz

BEAUTY IN THE FORMS OF FUNCTION.

Call or email me to discover what I can create for you.

STOREY

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I have the mountains on one side, the vines on the other and the coast a few minutes away.” During the planning phase she wasn’t afraid to call in experts to help – Ché Vincent from the Riverside Community was asked to design the gardens and his initial concept painting still hangs in the house. “We asked him to envisage and paint the garden. He conjured up lots of colour and texture, walls and hedges and secret corners,” Lynne says. Likewise, fine-artist and tromp l’oeil painter Mike Ting was contacted for help when it came to selecting colours and painting the house, both interior and exterior. The warm and vibrant colours throughout were inspired by a coffee-table book of Provence interiors. 9. Every inch of rich red wall space is utilised in the office. 10. A welcoming bedroom with soothing blue bedcovers. 11. Colourful green tiles and an antique washstand in the bathroom. 12. Timber dominates in the homely country style kitchen. 61

CURTAINS | BLINDS | WALLPAPER | PAINT | FlOORING

February Wallpaper

SALE

Locally made blown glass and jewellery by artists Ola & Marie Höglund and their family. Makers of Nelson art glass since 1982. VISITORS WELCOME – OPEN DAILY 10 TO 5

HÖGLUND GLASSBLOWING STUDIO 52 Lansdowne Road, Appleby, Richmond Ph 03 544 6500

www.hoglundartglass.com

MOTUEKA - 123 High St, 7120 PH: 03 528 8986 | FAX: 03 528 8100 gbmotueka@xtra.co.nz

inspired

Nurajack Outdoor Tiling System

NELSON TILE & SLATE CENTRE 40 Vanguard Street, Nelson neltile@xtra.co.nz www.nelsontileandslate.co.nz

Ph: 03 548 7733 OPEN - MON to FRI - 8am to 5pm SATURDAY from 10am to 2pm

2 hours FREE parking

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“The colours in those houses are beautiful and frequently quite daring,” says Lynne. “Innately I think we all have a colour chart in our minds but we need a bit of help translating it to reality. Mike’s a gifted painter and he did a wonderful job of picking the right shades and ageing the rooms beautifully.” To complete the aged look, exposed rafters and beams were taken into the nearby paddock and waterblasted – then bashed with hammers. The separate, elegantly furnished guesthouse is described by Lynne as like an old cottage in Provence. “I imagined how it would look if a little old French lady lived there – the windows open and birds flying in and out and jasmine growing around the verandah.” Lynne constantly fills the house with treasures from her garden to make sure it is always warm and inviting. “I will often go for a walk down the road and come back with big armfuls of colourful berries or massive branches to put in pots around the house. I like bringing the outside in.” 13. Oversized armchairs in front of the fire create a cosy corner in the living room. 14. Pink hues and exposed beams in the Provence styled guesthouse. 15. A beautiful shade of green in the roomy bathroom. 16. The welcoming front entrance with double doors reminiscent of France. 63

How well do you know your people? Find out what is below the surface with Intepeople Psychometric Testing.

Develop your teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skills or gather in-depth insights into new recruits. Find out more at intepeople.co.nz

W T + S I G NAT U R E H O M E S

Customer service and satisfaction a priority for Signature Homes Nelson B Y M A I K E VA N D E R H E I D E

P HO T O I S H NA JAC OB S

rom polished concrete floors to bold tiling, new cladding products to generous glazing, modern home builders want modern features, and Signature Homes Nelson is here to deliver. The franchise owners, husband and wife team Simon and Jodie Bixley, say that the wants and needs of home owners are constantly changing, so keeping up with the latest trends while still offering quality products and designs that suit all budgets and styles is all part of their service. Simon says offering such a wide and versatile scope, where customers can create truly unique homes every time, puts Signature Homes Nelson into a ‘slightly different zone’. “It’s not a completely niche market, but we’re seen slightly differently because we do illustrate something different.” To give customers a visual example of the unique versatility they can expect in their design, Signature Homes Nelson recently opened a brand new, high-end four-bedroom show home in Richmond to complement their comparatively modest existing show home, which is right next door. Located at 55 Daelyn Drive, Simon says the new $750,000 house is the same

size as the older $370,000 show home, and allows customers to compare the variety of products and designs they can choose from to suit their particular budget. Personally helping customers pin down exactly what they want in their new home is all part of the service for Signature Homes Nelson’s team of 13, who aim to make the building process smooth and easy, while never compromising on quality. Simon has decades of experience in the construction industry and says in-depth knowledge of Nelson’s building scene proved invaluable when he and Jodie established the franchise in 2010. Engaging trusted local contractors and suppliers is key, he says. “We’re very lucky to have such a good bunch of trades and suppliers in our region who have stuck with us from the get-go to enable us to grow a business which is very successful, and we can hopefully pass those benefits to those trades and our clients. “We don’t like to rotate our trades and we’re not tendering our work and trying to make things cheaper. All our trades and suppliers know what we expect and we try and exceed our clients’ expectations.”

Signature Homes Nelson was named Franchise of the Year for 2016/17 and Simon says part of the secret to this success was building the business slowly and deliberately, with great emphasis on customer service and satisfaction. “We wanted to get our systems and processes right first. Building homes for people can be really tricky and to get it right on every occasion is difficult, but that’s what we strive to do.” Seven years on, and in the heat of the Tasman region’s building boom that shows no sign of cooling, Simon says Signature Homes Nelson’s focus on continuous improvement has not wavered. “We just want to make it better all the time. “We’re very thankful and grateful for the opportunity to build our clients’ homes and we take that responsibility very seriously because they’re investing a huge amount of money and emotion. All our staff respect that, and so do all our trades.”

Contact signature.co.nz 03 541 0317

A nautical home design will never go out of style. Create a relaxed, airy and chic atmosphere using ocean-inspired accessories and wooden elements. COMPILED BY REBECCA O’FEE

INTERIOR

DESIGN

7 8 9

| 1. Relaxed tote bag from Moxini, $69.90. | 2. Cane chair, $297; large stripe cushion, $95; blue linen cushion, $57, all from Moxini. | 3. Hammock from Moxini, $79.90. | 4. Palm Lamp Shade from Lighthouse Nelson, $199. | 5. Wooden fish from Moxini, $139. | 6. Cape Cod Rectangle Chest, from Lighthouse Nelson, $409 | 7. Small grey basket, $59.90; large grey basket, $69.90, both from Moxini. | 8. Check cushions, $89 each, from Moxini. | 9. Beanbag, $219; triangle cushion, $69, all from Moxini.

INTERIOR

Anything but Ordinary

Trends Is redecorating your home one of your new year’s resolutions? Here are some of the key 2018 interior design trends you should consider for your next home design project. BY REBECCA O’FEE

12 John Wesley Lane, Richmond

Ultra violet Pantone has named ultra violet as the 2018 colour of the year. Pink is still around but it’s morphing into violet, lavender and lilac hues. You would have seen lavender taking over the internet from the catwalks right through to home design. Violet is the colour of luxury and evokes imagination, creativity and spirituality.

(off Queen St, behind Avanti Plus)

Phone: 03 544 1515

www.moxini.co.nz

Statement floors This year will be all about statement floors. From bold-coloured geometric tiles to light-coloured herringbone-style hardwoods, expect to see statement flooring everywhere in 2018, especially in utility areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms. Coloured and decorative floors are also a great way to make a small room pop without adding clutter.

Earthy luxury As our lives become more frantic and reliant on technology, our desire to reconnect with nature and return to a simpler way of life is being echoed in the design and style of our homes. We will continue to see handmade ceramics dominate home accessories. Organic materials and traditional handcrafts will continue to gain momentum as the finer details are becoming more and more important.

Wallpapers Wallpapers are back. The perfect choice to add style, colour and texture to your home. Most wallpapers today are simple to hang, and are much easier to remove off the wall if you decide to try a new design. There is even such a thing as removable wallpaper, so what are you waiting for.

Rebecca O’Fee

We are seeing a big return to bright and clear colours. People are done with using greys and beiges. Make way for colour and pattern in 2018 but don’t forget to pair it with softer hues for some contrast and to keep your home feeling balanced. 67

MY GARDEN

Edible gardens BY SOPHIE PREECE

achel Hutchinson, who’s pretty partial to parsley among her annuals, says that keeping your edibles locked in the vege garden could be a wasted opportunity. “Any vegetable plant can go in your flower garden,” says the Marlborough District Council gardener, suggesting, for example, the structure and colour of green bean teepees, or the deep green and purple foliage of beetroot. The council’s public flower plots frequently include herbs and vegetables for a base colour, cashing in on the rich foliage and disease resistance often overlooked by home gardeners. In recent winters, huge mounds of triple curled parsley have provided the perfect foil to flowers, with the understated green background enhancing the pop of colour. Council gardeners have similarly used beetroot and rainbow silver beet with great success, although Rachel admits carrots were less of a hit. There is no need to limit yourself to such vege staples, with a plethora of options available, she says. The council’s potager garden at Pollard Park is packed to the rim with edible plants, ‘so people can see what you can do at home’. The silver leaves and yellow flowers of the curry plant thrive in one corner, while tangerine nasturtiums and sunshine yellow calendula flourish in another. Flowering oreganum is a beautiful and a bee-tempting bundle, as are the leeks that have been left to go to seed, displaying lush green trunks and fuzzy purple heads. Rachel says over time they have learned to let all the plants in the edible garden run the full course of their life, so the flowers feed the bees and attract other insects, and then naturally sow the next year’s seedlings. Karen Hall and Fiona Esplen of Marlborough’s Islington Garden Centre agree that the ornamental value of edibles is often overlooked, and point out the possibilities of flowering

“Any vegetable plant can go in your flower garden.” R A C H E L H U TC H I N S O N

From top, clockwise. Rachel Hutchinson is a passionate advocate for edibles; sweet oreganum is beloved by bees; freeze blue borage flowers in your ice tray and drop into your next gin and tonic; nasturtium is beautiful in the garden and on the side of a salad.

sage, ‘fluffy’ fronds of dill, bronze fennel and ornamental lettuces. “I think people who are doing a vegetable garden often add in flowers, but it doesn’t happen so much the other way around,” says Fiona, who grows food wherever she can on her small section. Strawberries can make great groundcover, Karen says, although if your space is wet, American cranberries might be a better option. Purple sage has a lovely blue flower and thyme makes for scented ground cover. And if you are after something a little more substantial, artichokes have great structure and a silver hue, and provide delicious edible globes or stunning lilac thistle heads, says Fiona. “They get quite large, looking like a big silver fountain in your garden bed.”

Beetroot leaves — Because they are red, purple, and dark, plant with something light and bright, in white or yellow, says Rachel. “Don’t put too much red with them – go for a contrast.”

W T + B A M F O R D L AW

Helping where it’s needed B Y M A I K E VA N D E R H E I D E P HO T O I S H NA JAC OB S

sing her law degree to help people when they need it most was what drew solicitor Tracy Sawtell into joining the team at Nelson’s Bamford Law. Tracy previously spent years working in highly specialised insurance litigation. She dealt with large insurance companies and big money matters in her home city of Adelaide, where she studied and was admitted to the bar, as well as in Sydney and London. But it was a desire to work with ordinary people face to face, rather than just paper, numbers and impersonal processes, that drove Tracy’s search for a role that would make a positive difference to others. In May last year, she found just that at Bamford Law. Her areas of law include family, employment, civil and immigration – anything, she says, apart from criminal law, which is the domain of firm principal and long-standing lawyer Tony Bamford and lawyer Tagan Lyall, and property law, which is handled by licensed conveyancer Linda Bamford. The shift to working with individuals has been very rewarding, says Tracy, who accepts both legal aid referrals and private clients. “I’m using my skills and experience to help people who really need it.” Employment and family law, particularly, often involve emotionally charged situations, says Tracy, which require not just her legal knowledge but good people skills as well. “In employment law, you’re dealing with people who have worked in an area and define themselves by this employment. When issues arise, it challenges their very identity, and that can be a very emotional time.” Family law, too, comes with challenging aspects such as disputes over children and relationship property and Tracy sometimes finds herself as a sounding board, where careful listening is necessary to the wider process of solving the legal issues at hand; “It takes time, patience and empathy to be able to do that. “You’ve got to keep your professional boundaries and make it clear what your role (as solicitor) is, but

Tracy Sawtell of Bamford Law

at that first meeting with somebody it’s very important to build that rapport and that trust.” Tracy, who has two children with her Nelson-born partner who brought her here eight years ago, credits her past professional experience as well as being widely travelled with developing the interpersonal skills required for the job. “I like to think that those experiences have opened my mind and made me more accepting. When you come out of law school you’ve got your law degree, but a degree and practising law aren’t the same thing. You can be book smart, and I like to think of myself as being that, but you also need to have the people skills to work alongside.” Happily ensconced at Bamford Law’s Monaco office, which in its peaceful, scenic coastal setting couldn’t

be further removed from the corporate offices of her past, Tracy says her colleagues make “a small team but a good team. Everyone works well together, and the support is there when you need it.” Tracy also travels to Nelson to meet clients who may not be able to come to Monaco in Bamford Law’s Nelson office near the courthouse. “My work is challenging and rewarding, and I see myself practising in these areas of law for many years to come.”

Contact bamfordlaw.co.nz Phone: 03 548 4847

WELLBEING

Four ways to boost your energy B Y E M I LY H O P E

nergy … it’s something we would all like more of, but how on earth do we create extra energy? The first thing you need to do is to check in with your body more often. Tune in and listen to what it’s trying to tell you. Our bodies are extremely clever and they will give you signs if there is anything that’s draining your energy.

1. Eat well … be well Nutrition is really all about the saying, ‘It’s what you do most of the time that impacts on your health, not what you do sometimes.’ So if every day you wake up too busy and stressed to enjoy a nourishing breakfast, yet you gulp back a strong coffee to get you going, it’s time to reassess your daily habits. Your body can only perform optimally if you provide it with the fuel it needs. Within the spectrum of nutrient-dense wholefoods (vegetables, fruits, quality-dairy foods, fibre-rice grains, free-range meats, eggs and nourishing fats such as nuts and seeds) it’s up to you to discover what foods work best for your body. By enjoying more nutritious foods, you are providing it with the nutrients needed to perform its vital functions, allowing you not only to survive but to thrive. A good daily intake of B-vitamins is critical. These allow us to create our energy currency (known as Adenosine Triphospate or ATP) and it is extremely difficult to feel energised without a sufficient intake. B-vitamins are found in a range of foods including, but not limited to, grains, nuts, seeds, dairy products, meat and green leafy vegetables.

2. How is coffee treating you? Do you wake up craving caffeine every morning? Does it give you a delightful buzz of energy or does it make your heart race and leave you feeling anxious? If coffee gives you a lovely amount of energy with no ill effects, then enjoy one (or two as a maximum!) in the morning so that your sleep is not negatively affected. However, if coffee makes you feel stressed or anxious it may be time to try something else with less caffeine.

3. Improve your sleep It’s very hard to have boundless energy without restorative rest. It wasn’t that long ago that we went to sleep when the sun went down and rose when it came up. Now our days, and more so our evenings, are filled with artificial lights, stimulants and a growing need to be contactable 24-7. All of these things negatively affect our sleep either by making it harder for us drift off, or by impacting the quality of our sleep. To improve your sleep try avoiding caffeine in the afternoon, reducing alcohol by aiming

to have three to four alcohol-free nights each week, making sure your room is dark and cool and turning off your devices at least an hour before bed. Reducing screen time helps to increase the production of a hormone called melatonin which helps us to fall asleep and then stay asleep.

4. Move your body We weren’t created to sit for long periods, either at a desk, on the couch or in a vehicle, so incorporate as much movement into your day as you can. The most important thing is to find an exercise you enjoy! This could be walking, dancing, gardening, hiking, swimming, playing with your children, building or strength-based exercises. The point here is that movement increases energy levels! Next time you feel tired and stressed midafternoon, rather than reaching for sugary treats or another coffee, try a quick power walk followed by a glass of water. Emily runs Hope Nutrition in Blenheim. (hopenutrition.org.nz, 027 256 9178)

M Y H I S T O RY

Courage and determination inspire Joya Devine is a freelance writer who has lived in Nelson for several decades. She is of part-Indian and part-British descent. The following is her brief family history and how they came to settle in New Zealand.

Left: A young Joya with her brother, parents and grandmother on their terrace in Assam, India. Above: Salil, age 67, when he was working at Wairau Hospital in Blenheim. Right: Salil and Eileen on their wedding day.

oday, as I ponder the death of my Indian grandfather, I can almost hear the mine blast that killed him in Dhanbad. He was India’s first-ever coal mining manager of Indian, rather than British, descent. The accident happened three months before my father (Salil Roy Chowdhury) was born in 1928. His family of seven promptly had to shift from pleasant accommodation to cramped living quarters. As Salil grew up he and his four siblings were all determined to do well in life, despite their tragic loss. To add to their woes, their mother became severely sight-impaired. Yet she still managed to make things with her hands. As a child I looked forward gifts in the post; my favourite was a colourful handsewn doll with a painted clay face that I still treasure today. The family moved to Delhi and I recall Dad telling me about how he studied late into the night on his dimly-lit bunk bed. It paid off – he began to excel in maths and science, later gaining a BSc (Hons) before studying medicine. He was then accepted into the Royal College of Surgeons in London. The overcoming spirit of Salil’s family had begun to reap rewards. One of his brothers became an aircraft engineer and won the Rajiv Ghandi award for his contribution to

aerospace. and his oldest brother scaled the ranks of All India Radio. My mother, Dorothy Eileen Johnson, equally had a tough start. Brought up in the south east of London, Mum was aged 10 when World War Two broke out. Then in 1940 her brother Kenneth (aged 12) who was moved to Surrey, fell gravely ill with pneumonia. It was November and the air raids were in full swing. The family promptly caught a train, a dangerous mission, but he died before they reached the hospital. Mum said Kenneth loved meccano, jigsaws and Morse code. In her 20s Eileen trained as a nurse and met Salil while working on a night shift at Brooke General hospital. The Russian Cossack choir were performing in London so Dad decided to ask Mum out, to which she jokingly replied “If you wear a red tie”. He took it seriously and wore one, much to her amusement. On their next date Mum recalls eating very hot curry after watching a live performance of Ravji Krishna playing the sitar. Mum’s father initially didn’t approve of their cross-cultural relationship, and neither did one of her friends. But it was the late 1950s and many people had begun to accept mixed marriages. After gaining his FRCS, Salil’s first job as a fully trained doctor was in a

quaint mining town called Margerita in Assam, India. With two preschoolers (including myself ) in tow, the family arrived soon after the Indo-Chinese border conflict had ended in 1962. We moved into a lovely wooden bungalow overlooking verdant tea-gardens (a perk of Dad’s new job, along with a bevy of servants!). Such luxury was a far cry from her humble upbringing, yet my mother’s health began to decline. So the family packed up and moved back to Britain in 1964. Then Salil spotted a job vacancy on a surgeon’s noticeboard for a position in Taranaki for which he applied and was accepted. My parents set sail on the Italian liner, the Archilles Lauros in 1966, with three small children, three large trunks and 300 pounds, to begin their new life in New Zealand. I recall my parents playing lots of scrabble on the six-week journey. It’s one of my favourite pastimes today. In 1981 my parents made the move from north to south when Salil (who became known as ‘Roy’) took up a surgeon’s role at Wairau Hospital. My husband and I soon followed, shifting to Nelson in 1988. It’s been over two years since my Dad passed away (aged 87); I will never forget his big broad smile and genuine kindness, his love of cricket and fishing, and his dedication to career, friends and family. (In loving memory of Salil Roy Chowdhury (1927-2015) FRCS I FRACS) 71

MY KITCHEN

Crispy Cos Caesar with coconut bacon & free range eggs Picnics are plentiful during the summer months but the lovely ol’ sandwich really does tire after a while. A fresh, crispy salad can be as good as if not better than a simple sammy and this re-worked wholefood style Caesar ticks all the boxes. Plus, there isn’t a tub of mayo in sight! BY MADAME LU’S

Ingredients

1. Preheat oven to 180⁰C.

Salad 1 ½ tbsp tamari 1 tbsp liquid smoke 2 tbsp maple syrup 1 ½ cups of coconut chips 6 free range eggs ½ sourdough breadstick, broken into chunks 2 small cos lettuces, roughly chopped 1 tomato, cut into segments ½ red onion, thinly sliced 100g pecorino cheese, shaved 3 tbsp olive oil sea salt to taste 2 tbsp capers

2. To make the coconut bacon,

Dressing 5 heaped tbsp natural yoghurt (thick is best) ½ tsp wholegrain mustard juice of ½ lemon 2 tsp worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp white wine vinegar 2 tbsp olive oil

combine the tamari, liquid smoke and maple syrup in a bowl then add the coconut chips. Mix to coat well. Spread out on a lined baking tray.

3. Bake for 14 minutes, watching carefully so it doesn’t burn.

4. To boil the eggs, place the eggs in

a medium-size pot and submerge the eggs under cold water. Heat the water on high heat until you get a rolling boil the turn off. Leave the pot on the element and cover. Allow to sit for 12 minutes then strain the water from the pot. Run the eggs under cool water to stop cooking process. Peel and chop each egg into in half.

5. To make the croutons, toss the

bread with the olive oil and a good pinch of salt. Spread on a lined baking tray and bake for 20 minutes until crispy and dry.

6. To make the dressing, combine

all ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously to combine.

7. To assemble the salad, combine

the eggs, cos, tomato, red onion, pecorino, croutons, capers and coconut bacon with the dressing and toss to combine.

8. Transfer to a serving plate.

Note: Feel free to toss through a handful of cooked shredded chicken too, making the salad an evening meal in itself. madamelus.co.nz

DINE OUT

Le Café, Picton Nestled on Picton’s waterfront next door to Diversion Art Gallery, Le Café is something of an institution. If you’re local, or in the know, it is one of the best spots to dine in the Marlborough region. BY HUGO SAMPSON

Photo: Richard Briggs

e Café started out back in 1995 as a small eatery in Picton’s main street. Founded by Swiss chef Alain Hauswirth, it was the first café in Picton, then a somewhat sleepy spot, with a proper coffee machine. The food had a distinct European twist. I recall excellent deli sandwiches made with moist, flavoursome black bread. Peter Schonï, another Swiss with a background in fine dining, joined the team in the late nineties. Luckily for us, the place quickly became known as a Kiwi haunt for international chefs, and Schonï’s food philosophy and passion for training locals who show promise, are legend. Eventually, he became the owner in 2000 after moving the establishment to the waterfront, doubling its dining capacity, and raising the bar significantly. Nowadays, a visit to Le Café not only includes a view to die for, but like all successful small-town businesses, it offers its clientele anything from very fine coffee to thoughtfully crafted meals. In addition, there is a fascinating wine list, including some succulent ‘hard to find’ cellared wines, craft beers and even a good cigar if you like that sort of thing. The food is fresh, local, and unashamedly ‘in season’. As the menu states, they ‘stubbornly insist on cooking to order’, and there are no fries in sight.

Everything is made from scratch – breads, pastries, sorbets and ice creams. Its small menu is ever-changing, (don’t be surprised if the fish of the day switches mid service according to availability and freshness), and scrumptiously good. This dogged commitment to excellence stretches to Peter’s signature, ‘Whole Wild Caught Cook Strait Paua on Lemon Risotto’. The paua, kept fresh in tanks, is cooked simply in butter, seasoned perfectly, tasting just like the melt-inthe-mouth Makara paua I ate as a nipper. Irresistible! Their classic caramelised walnut tart is standout and so popular it’s rarely off the menu. But the list of seasonal sorbets and ice creams will have your eyes watering and widening too – chilli

chocolate gelato, elderflower sorbet, quince ice cream, and feijoa, just some of the tempting flavours depending on the season. My plum ice cream with its perfect sweet-tart finish left me greedily contemplating another scoop. Chapeau au chef! You’re a legend.

Le Café, London Quay, Picton. Cost: $209.00 for three entrées, four mains, and two desserts, plus $134.00 for two bottles of very good wine. Value for money: Food: Atmosphere: Service:

Prego & Comida - two of Nelson’s finest ingredients in one location. Buxton Square, Nelson Gluten-Free Ingredients

Prego banner – locked spot

Gluten-free pizza base mix, chocolate muffin & pancake mixes. Gluten-free pastas and gnocchi, gluten-free lasagne, free-range gluten-free pork sausages.

MEDITERRANEAN FOODS In the giant seal & squid building, Buxton Square, Nelson

WINE

Celebrating winning wines and vineyard milestones BY SOPHIE PREECE

oss Lawson, a sheep shearing, possum hunting, pioneering Marlborough grape grower, had probably never heard of gewürztraminer when he planted vines on his Alabama Rd sheep farm in 1980. In fact, with the closest established vineyard 10km away, he and his wife Barbara had no proof that vines would thrive at all, says Lawson’s Dry Hills winemaker Marcus Wright. But nearly 40 years on, Lawson’s home block, at the foot of Marlborough’s tinder dry Wither Hills, remains exclusively planted in gewürztraminer which, it turns out, was the perfect variety for the clay soils. Evidence for that lies in its sublime lychee and rose petal characters, and in the serious gongs it brings home, including the champion gewürztraminer trophies at the recent Air New Zealand Wine Awards and the Marlborough Wine Show last year. That’s no great surprise to a company with a cellar door wall entirely covered in wine awards, and a part-time employee whose main task is to apply the subsequent stickers to bottles. Late last year she was kept very busy with

the gewürztraminer’s gold medals and trophies, the riesling trophy at the Sydney Top 100 and the number one rating for the 2016 sauvignon blanc in the summer Cuisine magazine. Right now though, the wine they’re celebrating at Lawson’s Dry Hills is a blend created to mark 25 years since Barbara and Ross set up their wine label, taking another step into the unknown. Ranu, Māori for ‘to mix’, is pinot gris, riesling and gewürztraminer, picked in single bins from the home and Waihopai Valley vineyards in a single day, then whole bunch pressed together. Marcus used one puncheon, one barrel and wild fermented to get ‘a really nice integration of fruit flavours’. With a tiny bottling run, the wine had to be something special, he says. “We are certainly not the first people to do it, but we have a great reputation for those three varieties.” With close to 30 different wines in the Lawson’s range, including four in pinot gris alone, he admits the small crew chooses a complicated path. “But if we made two or three, it would be pretty boring.”

Here are a few to look out for this summer. Lawson’s Dry Hills Gewürztraminer 2016: This wine won the trophy at the recent Air New Zealand Wine Awards, amid a myriad of other accolades. “It’s fairly exuberant,” says Marcus. “It really does jump out of the glass. It’s classic rose petal/lychee. The soils are clay and quite heavy, and give a lovely rich mouth feel without having to have too much sugar.” Lawson’s Dry Hills Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2016: Five stars and the number one spot in the latest Cuisine Magazine tasting. A 30% wild ferment and 15% barrel ferment made it more textural, says Marcus. “It is slightly left field of normal Marlborough sauvignon blanc.” It’s a great wine with food, he adds. “Go seafood, straight out of the Marlborough Sounds.” Lawson’s Dry Hills Reserve Pinot Noir 2015: “It’s a big, round, rich wine, but still elegant,” says Marcus of the pinot noir, which comes from the Chaytors Road and Waihopai vineyards. Small batch fermentation, hand-plunging and aging in French oak have created an ‘absolutely lovely’ wine.

We have an extensive range of premium Nelson region wines, along with select national and international labels. Wine tastings and take-home bottle sales available.

Visit us at Mapua Wharf. Open 7 days. Phone 03 540 2580

Rimu Wine Bar

BEER

Guest brewers to hit Grovetown BY MARK PREECE

ore than 140 years since the Big Bush Brewing Company set up shop in Grovetown, it’s about to get a new lease of life. Grovetown Hotel owners Chinami Harada and Damian Johnson are launching their new microbrewery this month, on the same site, with the same name and plenty of nods to traditional brewing, says Damian. “The Big Bush Brewing Company; since 1875. We are going to mill our grain with our waterwheel and the tanks are lagged with old totara fence posts. It’s all an old school look but a modern turnkey set up.” The ‘guest brewer facility’ is a novel take on craft brewing, with beer makers from around the country invited to come and set down their own 1000 litre brews. “We’ll have the brewers come in here for three days to stay with us, work in the bar, and do a bit of a tap takeover to profile themselves in the local community.” All the beers will be sold on the premises, so there’ll be no bottling or distribution to worry about, just crafting good brews, refining great food matching, holding insightful brew workshops and sharing talents from all corners of this country. The couple have transported some heritage hops from Tua Marina to grow on site, and most of the beers will be made from Top of the South hops, rather than more modern imported varieties. Next month Damian and Chinami will also kick off stage two of the hotel’s landscaping project, with plans for a Japanese garden and a petting zoo, along

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Chinami Harada and Damian Johnson, with their children, and five Japanese tapas are matched with New Zealand craft beers.

with wide beds of greens and herbs to supply the kitchen which serves sublime Japanese small plates. They whipped up these tapa/brew matches for our Sunday lunch, starting with the lightest beer for the most delicate dish, and working up to the heavier textured bites and brews. All were delicious, and served with a fantastic family atmosphere. Ebi Fry – A light crunchy panko crust gives way to big Japanese tiger prawns, delivered from Tokyo each week, in a delicately decadent tapa. The Ebi Fry, served with a tangy Kewpie mayo, is elegantly matched with a McLeod’s Longboarder Lager, which won the trophy for Best International Lager at the 2017 Brewers’ Guild of New Zealand Awards. The pub’s perfectly balanced pork dumplings are quickly devoured and long remembered by a loyal following of Grovetown regulars. They’re even better when matched with Outlier Cartel’s lightly sour pale ale, barrel- aged and

Nelson and Marlborough’s

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unfiltered. So yum. As we move into the Japanese style springs rolls, the ante is upped on both texture and flavour, from the crisp crunch of the deep-fried pastry to the tangle of vermicelli, vegetables and meats inside. We dip these in a sweet chilli sauce and wash them down with Marlborough’s own Renaissance Discovery American Pale Ale, which offers a similarly intense palate hit with its enticing back of malt. The Yakitori – a delightful meet of savoury and sweet delivered via chargrilled chicken – is matched with the Renaissance Voyager IPA, bringing a hoppy bite to the party. We finish (somewhat reluctantly) with Japanese-style meatballs in a sweet and sour sauce, with a mouth-coating texture and dominating flavour that needs a beer of equal muscle. Damian serves it with the multi award-winning Renaissance Elemental Porter, an indulgent brew of chocolate and malt, along with hops to cleanse the palate.

ISSUE 137 / DECEMBER 2017 / $8.95

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100 PAGES

Summer loving

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Inn and Rachel Taulelei Mussel Interview: Kerensa Johnston festivals Building a house Summer Medical cannabis debate

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Mark Rawson Interview

Paddle Steaming

Santa Movie

Brook Sanctuary Co-Housing

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an artistic feast for young & old

Plant & Food Research

Downsizing

Babagatto Restaurant

South America

Lodge Accommodation Summer Gardening

Awaroa Lodge Street Fashion

Mr Tourism Marlborough Burger Culture

New Wines

Skiing Mt Cheeseman

Going Nuts Fashion

Farmers' Markets

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W T + N E L S O N TA S M A N A I R

Promoting our region with a passion BY SADIE BECKMAN

nyone lucky enough to have clapped eyes on it knows that the Nelson-Tasman region is stunning – that’s a given. But to really, truly gain an intimate perspective on this insanely beautiful place, try experiencing it with Nelson Tasman Air, and discover what mind-blowing actually means. This collaborative company of passionate, experienced aviators is at the leading edge of air adventure experiences, redefining and refreshing their industry while inspiring others to celebrate, protect and love Nelson and Tasman as much as they do. Providing unique opportunities to see parts of the region many can only imagine, Nelson Tasman Air offers pretty much anything you can do with helicopter or fixed-wing plane. Scenic tours, drop offs for tramping, hunting or luxury lodge stays, Abel Tasman packages, even having a go at flying a chopper yourself. If you can do it from the air, this group of enthusiastic aviators can probably sort it for you. Never mind a limo, you could take things to a whole new level in wedding transport, arriving at the ceremony by air or heading out on a photography trip somewhere completely unique. Imagine the kind of experience 76

where not only are you viewing some of the most stunning scenic vistas around, but your pilot can use his local connections, pull a couple of strings and land on a back-country farm for an incredible photo opportunity.

“Our goal is to do good for the region and to make experiences for locals, travellers and adventurers that are truly remarkable.” C E O B E N WALLAC E

Ultimate Abel Tasman daytrip For a truly memorable experience in the Abel Tasman National Park, try a fly-walkcruise package where you can be dropped at Awaroa Lodge by helicopter, walk to idyllic Bark Bay, then kayak the next stretch before being picked up again. No bags, no pressure, no hassle. CEO Ben Wallace says packages, either one or multi-day or can be customised and are surprisingly affordable. “A very important core value for us is to provide high quality air experiences at accessible prices,” he says.

“Classic examples are scenic flights starting as low as $99 and the luxury version of a helicopter scenic from $299. A full day fly, walk and cruise package for as little as $399, and a full day’s kayaking and lunch is still only $599.” Whatever you choose, there is no need to be restricted by roads. Once airborne it’s easy to see how there is so much more to the Top of the South than you can see from the ground. “Often, to find those incredible, remote locations, you’d have to tramp for days laden with gear, yet with Nelson Tasman Air you can find yourself in a whole other world just minutes away.” Nelson Tasman Air operates out of Motueka, where they are an integral part of an airport which already features world-class training with Nelson Aviation College and Skydive Abel Tasman.

The Hangar Round Cafe The company has even created a whole new hub at the Aerodrome including a Cafe container. “We really see our location as one of the best to take a rest and have a coffee, small snack, ice cream or drink and enjoy the action at the Aerodrome,” says Ben. “This place is the perfect spot to hang out, not only for tourists but locals too, bringing variety to the

existing cafe scene in Motueka away from the main road. The cafe is aptly named Hangar Round – so come hang out!” Ben says the company brings a fresh collaborative mindset, modern highquality aircraft, ‘out of the ordinary’ scenic tours, and personalised travel solutions. “We are big on collaboration – the backstory of our company is all about passionate professionals coming together to offer something unique,” he says.

Creative collaboration “We are working with water taxi, kayaking, skydiving and other tourism and hospitality operators in the region to put together packages. The variety of tours and hands-on experiences offered is unprecedented for the area.” He says seeing the region from above and experiencing some of the most remarkable and iconic destinations in the country is a perspective-changing and eyeopening experience, and one he believes will inspire people to care about it. “We love this region, and our famous national parks. We believe the more people who see this region as intimately as we offer it, the more they will want to celebrate it and protect it,” he explains. “We cheer on our locals as much as our visitors to come up and fall in love with Nelson Tasman.” Ben says Nelson Tasman Air is sharing the love with those they work alongside in the tourism sector too. “Our goal is to do good for the region, and to make experiences for locals, travellers and adventurers that are truly remarkable.”

THE CREW: Claire Reweti, Ben Wallace, Andrew Gillatt, Ross Troughton, Penny Mackay and John Newman. The best way to truly see the Nelson Tasman region is from the air and the dedicated team at Nelson Tasman Air can tailor a trip to your needs. Or simply book lots of affordable tours and adventures online.

Top-notch pilots Local aviator and Nelson Tasman Air pilot Andrew Gillat agrees. With more than three decades of flight experience behind him, Andrew comes from a family of aviators that included his father and grandparents. “Flying must be in the genes,” he says. “As a boy I would go off to the airport with my dad, always hopeful that a spare seat would come up. “One summer’s day, when I was 10 years old, I went tramping and had my first ride in a helicopter, which kicked off a passion for them. I would work all week then head off to the airport for flying lessons in the weekends.” Now, 30 years later, Andrew is proud to be part of a company that is as enthusiastic about flying as he is. “We have a great team,” he says, “Led by true masters with passion for aviation, tourism and business.” Nelson Tasman Air really is a ‘onestop shop’ for aviation experiences, Ben

says. “We are simple, easy and friendly to deal with. We’re passionate locals and industry experts. We’re a professional and well-organised company that takes safety and comfort very seriously.” However, despite being serious and extremely meticulous about the important, practical aspects of aviation, Ben says the Nelson Tasman Air team are ‘dreamers’ – although the kind that make dreams actually happen. “We are all about helping people escape the ordinary and experience the amazing,” he says. “We have plans afoot that will excite all visitors to our stunning region. “If you want to ‘do amazing’, come and see us.”

Contact 0508 223 5247 nelsontasmanair.co.nz

T R AV E L

The ride of your life

Photo: Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust

If you’re looking for something special to add to your summer adventure calendar, join this year’s Goldfields Cavalcade in Otago and Southland – or even just spectate, says Josie Stanford. Here’s five reasons why.

The Goldfields Cavalcade is a uniquely Kiwi annual expedition. Launched by the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust in 1991 to promote and preserve the goldmining heritage of Otago, the event has gone from strength to strength. This year you can choose from nine week-long trails for horse-riders, wagoners, walkers and, for the first time, cyclists. This highlight on the South Island calendar is an addictive blend of all-weathers challenge, unmatched camaraderie and admirable horsemanship, played out against a backdrop of some of the most scenic vistas New Zealand has to offer. The event offers an unrivalled opportunity to step out of the trappings of modern life, travel across otherwise inaccessible backcountry and imagine how life was for the early pioneers. The trails, usually in Central Otago, have been sneaking into Southland here and there. This year the Cavalcade is a chance to explore the stunning Catlins, with all routes leading to Owaka.

2. For the love of horses Riding for a full week through challenging countryside – with back-up, accommodation and catering sorted – equals a real chance to bond with your horse. Riders talk of the satisfaction that comes from long days in the saddle. If you don’t have a horse you can hire one, or go without and experience the Cavalcade as a passenger on a heavy wagon. In 2010 I travelled with long-time Cavalcaders Stu and Jennie McLaren. Watching and helping with the horses was an eye-opener. Rigging a team of five or six horses is an art in itself – harder than rigging a yacht, a fellow passenger observed. Travelling this way is a special experience – bone-shaking 78

Photo: Josie Stanford

1. The sheer experience of it

at times, and slow, but you notice so much more of the scenery. You’re lulled into peace by the rattling and clinking, and you really get that feeling of retracing the steps of the early settlers. If horses are not your bag, you don’t have to miss out. Join one of the walking trail or this year, there is a bike trail too.

3. Camaraderie and sense of family The social aspect of the event is huge. Each trail has up to 70 participants. Once you’ve done a cavalcade you find yourself return year after year which enhances the sense of family. (Many riders have done upward of 10 trails, a few have done all 25). Everyone is friendly and eager to help one another enjoy the trip. Kiwi ingenuity is always called for at some point in the trail. Evenings are full of hijinks, singalongs and story-telling, and sleep comes easily after a few beers and a long day. The sure

Photo: Josie Stanford

W I N T E R AT

Clockwise from left: Stunning coastline on the way to Nugget Point and on to Owaka, this year’s final destination; there are always colourful characters – Bill Potts travels his horse in one side of the truck and his piano in the other; the true meaning of getting away from it all.

sign of a good event is when the ‘go-fers’ and cooks flock to it. Twice I’ve sampled the cooked breakfasts and daily roasts of fundraisers for the Strath Taieri School camp, and they seem to get as much out of the trip as trail participants. The constant laughs and pranks, the ancient woolshed, the Cavalcaders and their horses, the smell and feel of the high country, the weather and the job at hand – these are all food for the soul, and for those who need it, therapy for the heart.

WE ARE OPEN YEAR ROUND, VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR PACKAGES, OFFERS AND EVENTS. ‘ART RETREATS AT AWAROA’ COMING SOON WWW.AWAROALODGE.CO.NZ P. +64 3 528 8758 INFO@AWAROALODGE.CO.NZ

4. Getting into the backcountry Thanks to support from landowners who allow access across their stations, the Cavalcade offers the rare privilege of getting into country that would otherwise only be seen by musterers. I’ve had some of my biggest riding days in the event. One year the enviably spry Bill Dagg (then 81 years old) led us on a 32km adventure, climbing to about 1066m, round the Arrow face high above Arrowtown. There are moments with nothing more than a sheep track under your horse’s feet and the mountain dropping sharply away to one side – a true test of trust. This year all trails, some starting in Otago and some in Southland, offer the stunning native forests and rugged coastline of the Catlins before converging on Owaka, the furthest south the Cavalcade has ever finished. The Owaka community has a strong associated with the Otago Goldfields Trust – local farmer Marty Miller has completed all 25 Cavalcades. Fellow locals John Burgess and Winston Parks have been trail bosses and wranglers for many years, and all three are part of the committee helping to find the most scenic routes to the host town.

5. The joy of the final parade Each year a different town enjoys the economic benefit of being the Cavalcaders’ destination with a jubilant parade, hoe-down and dinner. Crowds line the streets to see the Cavalcade roll into town, with many holidaymakers joining or planning their trip around the occasion. Spectators at this year’s parade in Owaka will see the walkers and cyclists head in first, followed by about 500 horses of every colour, shape and size – from the tiniest Shetland pony to big Clydesdales – and wagons of all descriptions. Don’t miss it! The 2018 Otago Goldfields Cavalcade runs from February 24 to March 6. Find out more at cavalcade.co.nz.

Vintage 2018 proudly crafted in the vineyard www.blackenbrook.co.nz

‘Reef boat’ spotlights a damaged world Sophie Preece discovers a Marlborough Sounds lodge determined to repair its bay and convert a new generation into appreciating and understanding the marine environment.

may never leap from the Lochmara rope-swing again, knowing better what lurks below. It’s not what I saw through the glass belly of Lochmara’s new underwater observatory, including the flitting schools of mullet, the pulsing bodies of jellyfish and alien-like nudibranchs, along with a charming colony of orange anemone, opening and closing in unison. It’s not the bevy of stingrays I met at the edge of the sea as they slid up to visitors to take fish snacks and a scratch on the belly. It’s not the carpet sharks, crayfish or even the two conga eels that have taken up residence since Lochmara created this hospitable reef in Queen Charlotte Sound, exponentially increasing the habitat and inhabitants of Lochmara Bay. On the contrary, seeing this burgeoning underwater life is heartening and exciting in a corner of the world where fish stocks are badly damaged and the natural flora and fauna of the seabed, including seaweeds, slugs, worms and anemones, seems to be diminishing daily. No, it’s the thought of a large barracuda – mentioned but not seen – that may cause me to think twice about a summer plunge 80

Photography: yetisteps.com

DAY T R I P

from Lochmara’s famous rope-swing. But I certainly don’t regret her visits here either. The Reef Boat Project is the latest in Lochmara Lodge’s environmental efforts over the past 20 years, which include trails through native bush, a kakariki breeding partnership with the Department of Conservation, and a wildlife recovery programme that sees injured or ill animals left at Lochmara for rehabilitation and care. This latest move has been a long time coming, says owner Shayne Olson, who wants to expand into a research and education facility, including a nursery for snapper fingerlings to be grown in safety then released into the sound. When the Marlborough Sounds Wildlife Recovery Trust started talking about the reef project 15 years ago, the response from local and national agencies was, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it”, says Shayne, who was a paua diver before he became a lodge owner. “Now people’s attitudes have changed. It is broken and people want to help fix it. They want to catch fish again and they want to learn more about their environment and they want to educate their kids.”

Clockwise from main image: The reef boat observatory is already a popular addition to Lochmara’s conservation efforts; a presentation video gives an idea of what might be seen underwater; a touch tank affords an up close and personal with starfish, baby crays, hermit crabs and paua; scavenger hunt sheets allow children to tick off what they have seen.

Photography: yetisteps.com

DAY T R I P

Those kids might end up looking at jobs in local industries, including salmon and mussel farming, or with the science agencies that work in the Marlborough Sounds. “All you have to do is engage them,” says Shayne. “I have seen it – when a kid gets to touch a stingray, their whole life changes. I am not exaggerating. They say ‘This is so cool’ and they might go on to something better.” When welcoming supporting businesses to the facility last month, Shayne said the reef boat was only the beginning. “This is stage one. If we can get consent to develop the next stage, it will only get better and better.” Then the trust will activate a threeyear agreement with Plant & Food Research, which will supply 50,000 tiny snapper to the project each year. Ultimately, the trust wants to breed them on-site, taking a fish recovery programme from go to whoa to help restore balance to the sounds. Into the future, they also hope the hatchery and nursery will boost blue cod stocks. “We want to build up a research and education centre so it’s not just a fish hatchery. It’s somewhere the kids can come and learn about this environment,” Shayne says. “What we are trying to create is something that I think is well overdue.” When he was a kid he would catch snapper all day long “for the sake of it and because we could”, Shayne told the supporters at the opening. “We would take them all home and give them to the neighbours. But we have moved on. Fishing is something we all cherish and like to do, but we need to realise the way we do it now is not sustainable.”

“People want to help fix it. They want to catch fish again, learn more about their environment and educate their kids.” S H AY N E O L S O N , L O D G E OW N E R

The project is about working with community, industry, iwi and tourists to create a Marlborough Sounds that everyone can be proud of, he says. “We are hoping to get some fish back in the sounds and I think that’s a goal that can be achieved with the technology and science and everything that is available to us now.” Not ones to dream small, the trust’s team would also love to see more marine reserves in the sounds. Kiah Greenland, one of two marine scientists managing the reef project, says it’s been a terrific initiative to be a part of for the last year. “The biodiversity is constantly changing and thriving, and it’s great to be able to showcase this to guests as to what a marine environment can look like with minimal human disturbance.” Seeing the natural recovery already taking place in the reserve, from the highly visible anemone to the barracuda lurking somewhere just beyond, it’s clear to see that Lochmara is already well on the way. 81

The All New Kona.

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BE READY FOR SUMMER with this stunning range of hot/cold drink bottles in bright Kiwi colours and designs. Perfect for the school bag or weekends outdoors. Lightweight, durable and available in five colours from Kiwi Originals.

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MOTORING

Catchy Kona surfs SUV wave BY GEOFF MOFFETT

ar makers cashing in on the SUV rage are looking for new ways to broaden their appeal, with the compact segment the latest target. Up to now, Hyundai has been missing out to the likes of Toyota, Ford, Mazda and Honda with only larger models like Tucson and Santa Fe to offer. But now it has the Kona, a compact, funky-looking small SUV to match its catchy Hawaiian-themed name. With better than one in every three new cars sold in NZ these days an SUV, it’s essential to be able to offer wide choice and Hyundai dealers now have a new string to their showroom bow. With its wheel-at-each-corner and chunky styling, muscular wheel arches and a cheeky grin from its high, slimline daytime running lights, the Kona has real street appeal. Hyundai is pushing the ‘urban adventure’ theme for the car by offering two and four-wheel drive options in a sixspeed, 2-litre petrol and a more powerful (albeit smaller) 1.6-litre turbo-charged petrol engine matched to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. The whole range is meant to appeal to style-conscious buyers with a choice of 17 colour combinations, including the very smart white with black-painted roof model I drove – although you can have tangerine or acid yellow if you really want to stand out. The Kona has surprising space for a 4165mm long car (1143 litre boot space with the seats down). One of the big improvements in cars in the last few years is the safety equipment that’s included as standard. The Kona is at the top of the pack here for small cars, packing in blind-spot collision warning, forward collision system that brakes automatically, lane-keeping assist and rear cross-traffic collision alert. That’s an impressive list and all part of the technology move to prepare for the coming age of self-driving. Based on the successful i30 hatch platform, the Kona will appeal to town buyers who still want to have comfort and a bit of performance on the open road, and the $31,990 starting price is competitive

buying. For this, you’ll get auto headlights, Bluetooth and voice recognition, remote and keyless entry, a 7-inch touch screen as well as all the safety devices. The Elite models also have electric and heated front leather seats, auto wipers, auto dipping headlights, heated door mirrors and cordless phone charging, and driver-attention alert if the car senses you are getting drowsy behind the wheel. Another great Elite feature is the head-up display, a unit which pops up out of the dash. While the touch screen is colour, there’s no sat nav; Hyundai figures you can use your apple or android connection for navigation. The 2-litre petrol engine is fine for all-round motoring, delivering enough power in a lightweight body. But for more enthusiastic drivers, the turbo-charged 1.6-litre engine is the pick; matched to its dual-clutch transmission and multi-link rear suspension with this spec, you also

have four-wheel-drive either on demand or full-time. With the Kona, Hyundai is now able to capture a part of the market it was missing out on and for buyers becoming familiar with the strong reputation the Korean car maker is forging in New Zealand, it represents another welcome choice in the small SUV category.

Tech spec Price:

2-litre 2WD, 6-speed $31,990 (Elite, $36,990); 1.6-litre turbo AWD, 7-speed $36,990 (Elite, $41,990) Power: 2-litre, 110kw @ 4500rpm, 180Nm @ 4500rpm; 1.6-litre turbo, 130kw @5500, 265Nm @ 1500-4500 rpm Fuel: 7.2l/100km (2-litre), 6.1l/100km (1.6-litre) combined cycle Vehicle courtesy of Bowater Hyundai. 83

ARTS

One-stop business design in Mapua

utting on, just for a moment, my career hat of advertising creative director, as well as WildTomato arts writer, there are two points I’d like to make about the use of art and design in the world of business and advertising. Firstly, it is utterly essential – pictures really do paint a thousand words and they offer the only way to quickly and concisely convey a myriad of details; everything from brand linkage to product information to emotional connection. Secondly – one usually must shop around to assemble a selection of quality operators capable of meeting the multiple design requirements of most modern businesses, large or small. This is where Chocolate Dog Studio comes into the picture. Operating out of Mapua, husband and wife team Jane and Neil Smith pack such a diverse creative offering that they make a reality of the phrase ‘one-stop design shop’. Jane is the graphic designer, covering everything from branding design to logo freshen-ups, illustration work and digital painting to location maps, even website design. Neil is the photographer, shooting products, people and landscapes. Jane explains Chocolate Dog’s wide scope: “My background as a graphic designer in London ad agencies in the 90s offered me a richly diverse training ground. And what I appreciate about 84

being here is how I get to exercise all my design disciplines. “It’s actually the earliest stages that I truly love, the conceptualising, the coming to grips with a business’s particular needs, core values, strengths and opportunities, and how they see themselves in the market – and then working out the best way to visually treat this.” In the decade that Chocolate Dog – named for their Labrador Monty – have operated, they have noticed several industry changes. “Probably the biggest change,” says Jane, “and this has really worked in our favour, is the ability nowadays to work from your home environment. Not being office-bound allows us to work whenever we’re feeling at our best, when the ideas are really flowing. It actually makes us more productive. “Also, I’ve upskilled a lot on the website front. What really effective web design must do today is reflect a good thought process: how do you include just the right amount of information? How do you work your way through it? How do you make it a pleasure to use? It’s about putting out nuanced information. “And because a lot of our work is in tourism, beautiful visual hooks are extremely important,” says Jane. “This is where Neil’s photography particularly comes into its own. It’s his passion, he lives and breathes it. His first love is landscape photography, but he’s equally

Photo: Claire van der Merwe

BY JOHN COHEN-DU FOUR

Top: Neil was commissioned by Wine Nelson at last year’s Aromatics Symposium in Mapua. Above: Jane’s tui painting, one of 14 New Zealand-themed watercolours for Finndieloo.

fascinated by people and has a real knack of capturing their essence.” Jane and Neil have focused primarily on the needs of local businesses in Mapua and the Moutere Hills, and in Golden Bay – a decision they’ve never regretted. “This area is an amazing environment in which to be creative,” says Jane. “So much inspirational beauty is right at hand. I’m a sea person, Neil loves mountains – here we’re in a setting that readily offers us both.” Further information: chocolatedog.co.nz and on Facebook.

In the Gallery If you’re a bit of an art collector you’re certainly living in the right place. The Top of the South boasts a well of high-quality galleries featuring creative superstars. Check out this month’s pick of must-have artworks.

7 1 | Bill Burke, Garden Flowers, oil on canvas, 1200mm x 1060mm, Bill Burke Gallery, 03 546 6793, billburke.co.nz 2 | Lynn Price, Near and Far II, fused glass on panel, 450mm x 450mm, Parker Gallery, Nelson, 03 539 4280, parkergallery.nz, $900 3 | Roz Speirs, Autumn Gold, fused glass platter, Art @ 203, Nelson, 027 500 5528, $245 4 | Russel Papworth, Sailing sculpture, Forest Fusion, Mapua wharf 03 540 2961, forestfusion.com 5 | Jens Hansen, Legacy Collection 9ct Gold High Setting with Faceted Peridot Ring, jenshansen.co.nz, $1,999 6 | Candy Clarke, Crazy House, acrylic on canvas, 700mm x 700mm, Red Gallery, Nelson, 03 548 2170, redartgallery.com, $1250 7 | Jane Riley, Southern Alps, Oil on canvas Atkins Gallery, Nelson, 03 545 6010, atkinsgallery.nz, $1395

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BOOKS

Something special for your bookcase B Y T E S S PAT R I C K

The Sun and Her Flowers Written by Rupi Kaur Published by Simon & Schuster UK

In memory of a lifetime’s dedication A Place for the Heart Written by Peta Carey, with a foreword by Sir Peter Jackson Published by Potton & Burton

elebrating the life and work of photographer and film location scout Dave Comer, this beautifully bound collection of stories and photographs should be taking pride of place on your coffee table this year. Touchingly written as a tribute by his wife, Peta, A Place for the Heart offers a ‘moving insight into one man’s lifelong connection and understanding of the New Zealand wilderness’. Dave played a significant role in capturing New Zealand’s beauty for the world to see. He is often referred to as ‘the man who made Middle Earth’, for his central role in finding the locations used in the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit trilogies. This web of anecdotes and images are collaged together and leave a lasting impression on whoever opens the front cover.

Journey through our landscapes

Aotearoa: The New Zealand Experience Published by Potton & Burton

his book presents the New Zealand traveller with a collection that closely mirrors their experience in New Zealand. Using the best of contemporary digital photography, Aotearoa: The New Zealand Experience showcases both the extraordinary landscapes that draw people to this country, and the fantastic opportunities that visitors have to enjoy themselves and experience what these islands have to offer. All the key hotspots, from Auckland, Rotorua and the North Island volcanoes to Milford Sound, the Southern Lakes and Aoraki Mount Cook, are well covered with stunning, bright imagery that brilliantly captures what it is like to experience New Zealand nature. 86

A new lease on love poetry

he much-awaited follow-up to her first collection of poetry, Rupi Kaur’s The Sun and Her Flowers is an ultimate summer read. This book of 256 pages of poems and illustrations captures the raw essence of love in all forms. The poems reflect the life cycle of a flower, and the stages of wilting, falling, rooting, rising and blooming. Her words tackle tales of grief, trauma and healing, breathing a new life into the way we absorb poetry. Some poems may challenge your thinking around social issues, others may resonate with your own experience. This book is the best companion for a spot of reading at the beach, on your lunch break, or while you’re grabbing your morning coffee – there’s guaranteed to be at least one verse that will spark something inside of you. Kaur’s poetry was discovered on Instagram, building a religious following of 1.8 million people, and she currently is travelling the world giving readings, talks and workshops.

The real Christopher Robin

Goodbye Christopher Robin: A. A. Milne and the Making of Winnie-the-Pooh Written by Ann Thwaite Published by Pan Macmillan

his story behind a generations-old tale of a boy and his toys lends a new meaning to the books we all grew up with. Following rave reviews from the recent film, this rendition of Goodbye Christopher Robin tells unforgivingly the tale of the complex father and son relationship that inspired the characters behind Winnie-the-Pooh. While A. A. Milne was a successful playwright, journalist and poet in his own right, the series of children’s stories propelled him to a success that neither he, nor his family, was prepared for. Moments of laughter are coupled with memories of heartbreak, and revealing glimpses into the life of the real Christopher Robin. The previously published memoir has been re-imagined by Thwaite over two decades after the death of the real Christopher Robin, and provides a level of intimate insight that’s impossible to grasp from the film.

FILM

Loving Vincent BY MICHAEL BORTNICK

Loving Vincent Animation, Biography Directed by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman 94 minutes

don’t know much about art, but I know what I like. And that’s van Gogh. What little I know includes the fact that, although he was named as the father of modern painting, creating over 800 works in just eight years, oddly only one was sold to the public during his life. He drew from an unusual sense of reality, using vibrant colours, animated and alive. They say he lopped off an ear for a woman and later committed suicide. But that could be hearsay. Something about him draws us in. Now there is a film about Vincent that actually IS drawn in. Loving Vincent is a documentary and also the world’s first fully-painted animation feature. Each of the film’s 65,000 frames is an oil painting on canvas, using the same technique as van Gogh, created by a team of 120 painters. The work has resulted in a

total of 853 different oil paintings. This entirely unique presentation makes this film a ‘must-see’. But there is also a fairly interesting story beginning with the attempt to deliver a letter and ending in a mystery that has been discussed for years. Did van Gogh commit suicide or was he murdered? A year after the artist’s death, Postman Roulin, who is voiced wonderfully by Chris O’Dowd, gets his slacker son, Armand, to hand deliver a final letter from van Gogh to some worthy recipient. During this quest, Armand meets many of the people who not only knew Vincent, but were also models and inspirations for his art. Armand turns out to be quite the detective as he delves deeper and deeper into the events surrounding the artist’s final week and eventual death. Soon we all want to discover whodunit. Loving Vincent has a storyline that can be a tad tiresome and dialogue which is basic and unchallenging. However, the animation style is what steals the film and makes the viewing an almost psychedelic experience. Make sure you stay for the final credits because, along with a beautiful song, this may be one of the best features of the film.

Here’s a selection of other animated motion pictures for adults you might look to view.

My Life as a Zucchini After losing his mother, a young boy is sent to a foster home with other orphans, and here begins to learn the meaning of trust and true love.

Plague Dogs Two dogs escape from a laboratory and are hunted as possible carriers of the bubonic plague.

Persepolis A precocious and outspoken Iranian girl grows up during the Islamic Revolution.

Pink Floyd: The Wall A confined and troubled rock star descends into madness amid his physical and social isolation. Michael Bortnick has left the theatre to draw a nice warm bath.

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Putting his best foot forward P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y A N A G A L L O WAY

After completing a pre-trade engineering qualification at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology last year, Jordan Gillespie was offered a full-time apprenticeship at Trinder Engineering. He is now working with a team that builds specialised forestry harvesting equipment that is sold worldwide. Jordan has always been mechanically minded and decided at school that he wanted to be a mechanical engineer, even though he was told that his math ability would hold him back. Jordan talks to Tracey Andersen about commencing his journey toward the career he’s always wanted. Jordan, when did you realise that mechanical engineering was the career path for you? I was brought up with a racing, go-carting and mechanical background. From a young age I was always helping to fix things, but as I got older, I realised that I also liked to build things. Engineering is something that I have wanted to do since school, despite being told by a teacher that my math ability would stop me. It just made me try harder. I needed level 1 NCEA to do the pre-trade engineering course at NMIT, which has a work experience component of two days a week. So, I got to work as a trades’ assistant at Trinder as part of that work experience. And then this year I was offered a full-time apprenticeship. I still do block courses throughout the year and a night class once a week at NMIT.

Did the course push you out of your comfort zone and how are you supported? The course prepared me for doing the practical and theory work but entering the Trinder Engineering environment was a little bit scary to start with. It’s a big team of over 90 staff but I was, and still am, really encouraged and supported. I have become a part of the project and development team and we are building specialised forestry harvesting equipment that is being sold here and overseas in the forestry industry. Anything that increases health and safety in this field is important. It’s rewarding and exciting to be a part of that. The on-going support I get from Gordan, the training coordinator, Jeremy and Dryden from NMIT, Nathan my supervisor and my teammates is awesome. If I have a question, I just have to ask.

What advice do you have for anyone considering a career in mechanical engineering?

What are your long-term goals?

Put your best foot forward. Enjoy doing it because otherwise why would you? Give it a good go. You get heaps of support and being a part of a team that builds state-of-the-art equipment is rewarding. There is room to advance in this trade.

I’d like to stay here at Trinder. It’s a great place to work and I can work my way up. I’d like to advance in my career, work hard and repay the company for all the support it has shown me.

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