Wild Tomato June 2017

Nelson and Marlborough’s magazine /

ISSUE 131 / JUNE 2017 / $8.95

HUNTING GAME Through the lens of a rifle scope and a camera

Interview Julie Catchpole 2017 Godzone

Rising Star Melissa Galloway

Naked Choir

Hyundai i20

Taking a cruise

Seared venison backstrap

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An interview with Nelson MP Nick Smith Q: What will be the defining issue in Nelson for Election 2017?

Nick: The economy. Nelson is prospering from National’s sound economic plan, with strong growth, record low unemployment and being rated as the top performing region in the country. Issues like education, health and housing are important but all of these require a successful economy so we can continue to fund improvements.

Q: The New Zealand Herald recently branded you as National’s greenest MP. Are you comfortable with the label?

Nick: I think of myself as a practical environmentalist. We do need to set aside protected areas for nature’s sake, that’s why I championed early in my career as MP for Tasman the Kahurangi National Park and why I have approved 18 marine reserves around New Zealand.

I want to see the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill in my name passed.

But I’m also a realist. Industries like fishing, forestry, horticulture and farming all have environmental impacts. My approach is to work with industry like the practical initiatives I have underway requiring stock to be fenced out of waterways, phasing out the use of HFCs in the refrigeration and air conditioning industries and my nationwide plan to tackle tyre waste.

Q: Housing has been challenging for the Government and you have been on the front line. What gains have there been in Nelson from your work?

Nick: The main solution is increasing supply. Home construction nationally has increased from 13,000 per year when I became Minister to now over 30,000 per year, with initiatives like the Housing Accords with councils, Special Housing Areas and changes to the Resource Management Act. Latest figures for the Nelson Region show we’re now consenting over 600 new homes a year, with the house building sector booming.

Another major piece of work has been the KiwiSaver HomeStart scheme to help first home buyers. This has provided grants of $3.5 million in Nelson and Tasman, helping 750 Nelsonians.

I’ve also been pushing hard to improve our existing housing stock, where the Healthy Homes Initiative has subsidised the insulation of 3100 homes in the region and I’ve also put a law change through Parliament requiring smoke alarms and insulation.

Another initiative has been facilitating new social housing with the Nelson/ Tasman Housing Trust and local emergency housing with the Salvation Army.

With wife Linley at Tahunanui

“Issues like education, health and housing are important but all of these require a successful economy so we can continue to fund improvements.”

Extending Kaharangi National Park.

Q: What are your priorities for Nelson around improving our health and social services?

Nick: I’m so pleased our Government has addressed the issue of our care workers being so poorly paid as this impacts on the quality of care for our some of our most vulnerable citizens.

This $2 billion nationwide deal will see 1000 caregivers in Nelson being fairly paid for this important work.

We’ve also made a priority of increasing our investment in core services like ambulance services. Our plan of increased funding for St John will include an additional 39 ambulance officers in the Nelson-Tasman region. We are also increasing the financial support for our lowest income families.

I am very excited about the Nelson Hospice’s plans for their new facilities, and I’ll be doing all I can to support their work in bringing this project to reality.

Q: You’ve been successful on major projects like the Stoke Bypass, Garin College and the major hospital upgrade. With our population growing, what support do you see for Nelson’s infrastructure needs?

Nick: This term my top priority has been the rollout of ultrafast broadband in which the Government has put $18 million into Nelson, and we now have over 15,000 connections.

I’ve also helped secure over $1 million in support for the feasibility stages of the Waimea Dam. For this project to progress, we will need to secure a major investment from the Crown Irrigation Company. I’m also pushing hard to progress the Southern Link Highway project. I’ve also been advocating for the Nelson Airport terminal upgrade that is now underway.

Q: Most MPs come from a background of law, farming or commerce in National, or a union or teaching background in Labour. Is an engineering and science background an asset or liability?

Nick: A bit of both. I am not as good on communications and can be a bit nerdy but the New Zealand Parliament has few technically qualified people. On issues like earthquakes, transport, water and building, decisions need to be made on the basis of good science.

“My focus is on getting results for Nelson.”

Q: A decade ago you set out a plan for the Government to support the community and council in upgrading the Theatre Royal, Suter Art Gallery and Nelson School of Music. What’s next?

Nick: It has been a tricky challenge securing the millions of dollars in Government grants to get these iconic facilities upgraded but so important for Nelson’s identity as an arts and culture centre.

My next challenge is our iconic Nelson Cathedral. It is now the most visited cathedral in New Zealand since the loss of the ChristChurch Cathedral. I have helped secure a $10 million fund for strengthening earthquake prone buildings across the country, and I want to work with the Anglican Church to help get it strengthened.

I am also an enthusiast for the trust advancing a fisheries museum and marine education centre on our waterfront. It is needed to lock in our status as New Zealand’s fishing capital and as a centre of excellence in the marine sciences.

Q: What progress have you made in improving Nelson’s environment and what’s next for you?

Nick: It was fantastic to take new Prime Minister Bill English on the Great Taste Cycleway and through the Spooner’s Tunnel over summer. I’ve worked closely with the local trust on continuing to expand this network, on expanding mountain bike access to the Heaphy Track and getting the Old Ghost Road Cycleway funded. The next step is working with Council on the Tahunanui and Haven Road sections.

I’ve helped support the cleanup of waterways in Stoke and Appleby with Government grants. A big project now under way is addressing the contamination in Port Nelson, with a $4.2 million environment grant from the Government.

It’s also been good supporting Project Janszoon in the Abel Tasman and the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary on these two nationally significant projects to restore our wildlife. I am regularly approached by Nelsonians with positive initiatives to improve our region and love getting behind such projects. My focus is on getting results for Nelson.

STRONG ECONOMY

• NZ economic growth 3%+ and amongst strongest in the world • Nelson economy rated top performing region by ASB • 100,000+ NZ job growth, average wages up by $10,000/yr

BETTER PUBLIC SERVICES

• Extra 1125 police - 24 for Tasman police district.

• $2 billion wage settlement for aged/disability care workers • Additional 50 doctors, 70 nurses at Nelson Marlborough DHB

INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE

• $20 million in rollout of broadband to 15,000 Nelson households • $7.5 million new seafood research facility at Port Nelson • Preliminary work on Waimea Community Dam & Southern Link

IMPROVING OUR ENVIRONMENT

• $4.2 million government grant to clean up the Nelson Haven • $6.2 million in government grants for cycleways in our region • Home insulation grants and new law requiring upgrades

Authorised by Nelson MP Hon. Dr Nick Smith, 544 Waimea Rd, Nelson. Minister for Building and Construction, Minister for the Environment

Nelson and Marlborough’s magazine

Features Issue 131 / June 2017 Photo: Craig Caigou

24 The Interview: Julie Catchpole

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A

rt enthusiast, wife, mother and keen hiker, Julie Catchpole is the face of Nelson’s refurbished Suter Art Gallery. Di O’Donnell talks to her about her drive, enthusiasm and inspiration

28 On the hunt

S

talking game is a way of life for many New Zealanders, and has been for generations. Mainly it’s for food, sometimes for sport, as Sadie Beckman discovers

34 Switching to cruise mode

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ecord numbers of cruise ships visited Picton and Nelson this past summer, giving tens of thousands of passengers a brief taste of the regions. Brenda Webb finds out more about this booming industry

40 Prancing with the stars

I

f ambition comes in a dynamic, petite and determined package, then Melissa Galloway has it in spades. Brenda Webb interviews the South Island’s leading dressage rider 6

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Photo: Dianna Robjohns

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Columns Issue 131 / June 2017

INTERVIEWS

22 My Big Idea Making Motueka then the rest of the world disposable cup free is the dream of Steph Fry, founder of the IdealCup

82 My Education After several major life changes, Stacey Fitzwilliam decided to gain new skills at NMIT in the area of business administration. Marion Jackson discovers how it has changed her life

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FASHION

ACTIVE

45 Fashion

66 Travel

Styling by Kelly Vercoe Photography by Ishna Jacobs

51 Shoe of the Month

Embracing embroidery and bright colourful patterned materials

LIFE

52 My Home

Renovating a landmark two-storey Allan St home was long and involved, but immensely rewarding for Nelsonians Alan and Nicky Mitchell, writes Brenda Webb

58 My Garden

Composting is easy and environmentally friendly, says Lynda Papesch

60 My Kitchen

Seared venison backstrap with lentil, beetroot and feta salad from the kitchen of chef Nicola Galloway

61 Dine Out

The New Street Steakhouse has highs and lows for reviewer Maxwell Flint

62 Wine

Not a good vintage for some, thanks to the weather says wine writer Phillip Reay

63 Beer

Mark Preece checks out the annual New World Beer and Cider Awards, learning that India pale ale is the fastest-growing sector in the brewing industry

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Living in Nepal, Matt Hayes finds, can be happy mayhem and also multi-hued

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68 Adventure

This year’s Godzone race was held in Queenstown and won by a team from the Top of the South. Annabelle Latz follows their fortunes

69 Boating

Sailing full blast into the future while earning an income is proving a blast for a young entrepreneurial couple, explains Steve Thomas

70 Motoring

With its butch good looks and red-and-black colour scheme, Hyundai’s newest little hatchback, the i20 Cross, has punters craning their heads into showrooms, says motoring writer Geoff Moffett

CULTURE

72 Arts

Recycling Readers Digest books is an outlet for Caroline della Porta’s creative juices, writes John Cohendu Four

61 78 Film

Even if you aren’t a car person, the film McLaren should captivate you anyway because it’s a great story about an unstoppable guy says Michael Bortnick

74 Books

REGULARS

76 Music

10 Editorial 12 Bits & Pieces 14 Events 16 Snapped 73 Gallery Must-Haves 78 Quiz & Trivia

A selection of local and new releases, compiled by Lynda Papesch

Music columnist Pete Rainey re-discovers a capella thanks to The Naked Choir

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Editorial

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Most hunters enjoy the scenery and wilderness aspect immensely, viewing any game caught as a bonus, and taking only what they can carry out to feed their families.

ith winter comes comfort food such as hearty stews and for some hunter/ gatherers tasty venison, succulent duck, wild pork and maybe even roast tahr. Duck shooting season opened last month while other game is hunted all year round. Since days long gone, New Zealanders have filled their freezers and graced their dinner tables with the spoils of the hunt, a sport which is not diminishing.

Hunting isn’t for everyone. There’s an old saying that if everyone had to catch and kill their own food, the world would have a lot more vegetarians. That may be true, however for many of those who do hunt it is not just about the thrill of the kill.

Most hunters enjoy the scenery and wilderness aspect immensely, viewing any game caught as a bonus, and taking only what they can carry out to feed their families.

This month WildTomato catches up with a few of those who stalk our wildlife with rifle and cameras.

If you enjoy a more relaxing lifestyle, check out the feature on cruising; an industry that is booming here and abroad. Cruise ships of all sizes regularly ply the waters around the Top of the South, adding valuable dollars to the tourism and retail industries. Having enjoyed cruises myself on both small and larger vessels, I can honestly say it’s a great way to travel, especially as a family or in a group. Read on.

Also in this month’s issue, WildTomato catches up with Suter Art Gallery director Julie Catchpole, who is a keen outdoors advocate as well as a passionate arts devotee.

A driving force behind the successful redevelopment of the Suter, Julie feels immensely privileged to have been part of the project, especially a gallery so wellloved by its community.

Still on the subject of arts we meet a Marlborough artisan who’s recycling Readers Digest covers into creative offerings, and music columnist Pete Rainey turns his spotlight on The Naked Choir. In Marlborough rising dressage star Melissa Galloway trots her way towards future glory, while on the travel pages we take a trip to Nepal. As usual there’s plenty to read in this month’s issue, including several profiles on local businesses.

Finally, don’t forget the Aronui Wines Dine Out Awards 2017 which are open for nominations and voting online now at wildtomato.co.nz. Voting closes mid-June and the winners will feature in our August issue.

Stay well, keep warm and enjoy!

LY N D A PA P E S C H

Editor

Sales Executives

Readership: 39,000

Manager

Thelma Sowman 021 371 880 thelma@wildtomato.co.nz

Publisher

Lynda Papesch 021 073 2786 editor@wildtomato.co.nz Laura Loghry 027 378 0008 laura@wildtomato.co.nz Wild Marlborough chamois by photographer/writer Matt Winter. wildnaturenewzealand.co.nz YouTube – ‘Back Country Focus’

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Design & art direction Floor van Lierop thisisthem.com

Chrissie Sanders 027 540 2237 chrissie@wildtomato.co.nz

Subscriptions

$75 for 12 issues wildtomato.co.nz/subscribe

Source: Nielsen Consumer and Media Insights Survey (Q3 2015 - Q2 2016) Jack Martin WildTomato Media Ltd Bridge St Collective 111 Bridge St Nelson 7010 PO Box 1901 Nelson 7040 info@wildtomato.co.nz wildtomato.co.nz

CONTRIBUTORS

Selling your home?

Sadie Beckman Klaas Breukel Feature Design

John Cohen -du Four Arts

Michael Bortnick Film

Patrick Connor Maureen Ad design Dewar Proofreading

Lyndsey Cassidy Ad design

Maxwell Flint Dine Out

Each week, 859,700* people read Property Press.

With a wealth of listings, gloss colour & easy reading, it’s no wonder Property Press is New Zealand’s favourite property magazine.

Be where buyers are already looking.

Ana Galloway Photography

Nicola Galloway Matt Hayes My Kitchen Travel

Marion Jackson My Education

Ask your real estate agent about Property Press.

Also available online at propertypress.co.nz

Ishna Jacobs Photography

Annabelle Latz Adventure

Floor van Lierop Geoff Moffett Design Motoring

Frank Nelson Di O'Donnell Business Profile Interview

Mark Preece Beer

Pete Rainey Music

Phillip Reay Wine

Kelly Vercoe Fashion

Amber Watts Ad design

Steve Thomas Boating

Alyssa Watson Brenda Webb Ad design My Home, Travel

*2,177 members of the HorizonPoll national panel, representing the New Zealand population 18+, responded to the survey between 27 June and 12 July 2016.

The sample is weighted on age, gender, employment status, education status and ethnicity. The survey has a maximum margin of error at a 95% confidence level of ±2.1% overall.

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BITS & PIECES

LETTERS

G I V EAWAY

Dear Editor, Brook Sanctuary is a bold adventure!

Remember the movies (and true history) about noble persons that save others from persecution and s annihilation? Remember how you thrilled that human could rise to selfless action?

We are seeing this same amazing grit and determination in the fruition of the Brook Sanctuary effort; from the remarkable vision and coordination of the founders, the broad community fundraising and now the fruition of a pest excluding fence around this

large pristine watershed.

We are a community that has risen to the challenge of our time. We have faced the overwhelming problem of our native and endemic species and drawn a line in the sand. On this bit of habitat, we will manage the pestilence of predators; on this bit of land we will even the odds for our cherished unique species; on this bit of land we will walk in a bit of New Zealand as it was before human contact. Here we will hear commonly the calls from the threatened species, tracks from the overhunted, and vistas of wildlife that would not survive without our help.

With the Brook Sanctuary, we are boldly standing up for a threatened heritage. Be proud, Nelson.

Jace Hobbs

WHERE DO YOU READ YOURS?

Tropical fruit flavoured chocolate

H

ogarth Chocolate has just released its new Fiji Bar, made with cocoa from the beautiful Matasawalevu farm on Vanua Levu, Fiji. A unique feature of Fiji Bar is the use of the Amelonado (Forastero) variety of cacao. Amelonado is not usually used in craft chocolate because makers mostly favour the notes of Trinitario and Criollo varieties. The Hogarth team was pleasantly surprised to find this chocolate exhibiting tropical fruit flavours over a strong chocolate base. The bar comes in a beautifully embossed wrapper with the colour inspired by the lagoon surrounding Vanua Levu.

We have a gift pack of four Hogarth Chocolate bars to give away. To enter the draw to win one, visit the WildTomato website at wildtomato.co.nz/competitions. This competition is open to New Zealand residents only.

SHORT STORY WINNERS

Wellington writer wins national fiction prize

T

Sarah Hunter enjoys reading her WildTomato magazine at the Pelican Bar off Treasure Beach in Jamaica, while holidaying with her husband Jon. The Pelican Bar is little more than a pile of sticks situated on a sand bar five miles off the coast.

SEND YOUR IMAGE TO EDITOR@WILDTOMATO.CO.NZ ONLY JPG FILES ACCEPTED, MIN.1MB

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he New Zealand short story genre is in fine form if the standard of entries in the 2017 Page & Blackmore Short Story Competition is anything to go by.

This year’s competition attracted a record 162 entries and was won by Wellington writer Vivienne Bailey with her story Samoa Dreaming. Jackie Cook of Riwaka was runner-up with her story When Martha Opens the Door, while third place went to Motueka-based writer Reade Moore’s story Watercolours.

The annual competition is organised by the Top of the South branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors, and the 10 top entries will be published in the anthology Horizons 3 in September.

Highly commended were Sally Astridge (Nelson), Vivienne Bailey (Wellington), Wix Hutton (Nelson), Febriani Idrus (Wellington), Carolyn McKenzie (Thames), Christina O’Reilly (Palmerston North) and Shannon Savvas (Nelson).

PRESENTS THE

2017

Vote for your favourite cafĂŠ, bar or restaurant today wildtomato.co.nz/dineout voting ends 15 June 2017 13

EVENTS

JUNE EVENTS NELSON/TASMAN Fri 2

Wed 7, 14, 21, 28

Fri 16

Graeme James Highways Tour Nelson

Nelson Farmers’ Market

Italian Film Festival

Hitting the local scene again this winter is award-winning folk troubadour Graeme James, who last year released his debut original album ‘News from Nowhere’ to great acclaim. Door tickets will be sold from 9.30pm.

Rain or shine, the Farmers’ Market comes to Morrison Square bringing fresh local produce and products from throughout the Top of the South.

Paolo Rotondo and Renee Mark invite you to the opening night of the Cinema Italiano Festival in Nelson, featuring classic Audrey Hepburn in ‘Roman Holiday’. Ticketed event.

Starts 7.30pm.

MORRISON SQUARE

THE SUTER THEATRE

Fri 9 & Sun 11

Fri 26

Nelson Winter Harness Racing

Black Grace: As Night Falls

Two days of fun for all the family at the Nelson Harness Racing

A poetic ode to our troubled world, As Night Falls is Artistic Director Neil Ieremia’s latest full length work, beautifully set to the timeless and passionate sound of Antonio Vivaldi.

EAST STREET CAFE & BAR

Sat 3 Urzila Carlson

Da Vinci

Thurs 1 to Sun 13 Aug Da Vinci – Robots & Machines One of the first recorded designs of a humanoid robot was made by Leonardo da Vinci in around 1495 AD. Nelson Provincial Museum is showcasing Da Vinci’s genius with an interactive exhibition of some of his most groundbreaking technologies.

NELSON PROVINCIAL MUSEUM

Thurs 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Isel Twilight Market Stallholders from throughout the region offer delicious street food, fresh produce, quality crafts and live music.

ISEL PARK

Thurs 1, Fri 2 Andre Vegas Magic and Horror Show One of New Zealand’s best magicians brings his massive tricks to scare you and make you laugh. Show starts at 8pm.

THE PLAYHOUSE

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Best known as a regular on TV3’s hit panel show 7 Days, as well as appearing on Super City and Auckland Daze, comedian Urzila Carlson is a Kiwi favourite. Urzila has won Best Female Comedian five years consecutively, as well as TV3’s People’s Choice Award twice at the NZ International Comedy Festival.

THE TRAFALGAR CENTRE, NELSON

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 fresh local and organic produce.

MONTGOMERY SQUARE

Sat 3 to Sun 11 Founders Annual Book Fair Daily from 10am till 4.30pm, the annual Founders Book Fair begins Queen’s Birthday weekend, offering a huge variety of second-hand books, magazines, DVDs, vinyl records, puzzles and games for sale at bargain prices.

FOUNDERS HERITAGE PARK, NELSON

Club’s winter meeting, with 10 to 12 races each day, corporate hospitality, a lucky losing ticket competition and local food and beverages.

THEATRE ROYAL

RICHMOND PARK SHOWGROUNDS

Wed 14 Food For Thought A variety of wonderful and intriguing food talks from local food producers backed up with multi-cultural food from NMIT’s finest level 5 Culinary Arts students. Producers include Kono, Wangapeka Cheese, Pic’s Peanut Butter and Raeward Fresh. 6pm to 9pm.

THE TRAFALGAR CENTRE, NELSON

Daniel Müller-Schott

Wed 28 to Fri 30 The Pickle King Indian Ink Theatre Company presents the highly acclaimed The Pickle King, directed by co-author Justin Lewis, bringing to life the relationships at the Empire Hotel.

THEATRE ROYAL, NELSON

Fri 30 Nelson Midwinter Night Market The Midwinter Night Market is back again with a tasty line-up of stalls and eat-treats, along with a great selection of entertainment. Proceeds to the Jonah Project. Starts 4.30pm.

MORRISON SQUARE

MARLBOROUGH 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

Sun 4 Take Me Home The Music & Life of John Denver This popular show returns to New Zealand after a successful tour of Australia. Singer Bevan Gardiner, accompanied by international musicians, performs all the John Denver songs with such accuracy and feeling that if you close your eyes you will be effortlessly transported to the era of John Denver.

ASB THEATRE, BLENHEIM

between Taki Rua and Aotearoa Aerial Theatre Company, it combines theatre, aerial performance, contemporary dance, kapa haka, mau rākau and hip hop. Starts 7pm.

ASB THEATRE, BLENHEIM

Wed 7 Four Flat Whites in Italy Roger Hall’s hugely successful, sell-out hit comedy set in Venice, Rome and Tuscany as retiree librarians Alison and Adrian undertake a longawaited Italian trip with their wealthy neighbours.

Starts 8pm.

ASB THEATRE, BLENHEIM

Fri 9 Ladi6 and Parks Soundsystem Ladi6 has once again flipped the script to create the Royal Blue 3000 EP. The result is an adventurous vivid wash of copacetic synaesthesthetics, that revels in process disruption without sacrificing scrupulous songcraft.

THE YARD BAR, BLENHEIM

Sun 18 More FM Midwinter Swim

Italian Film Festival

Tues 6 Tiki Taane Mahuta After a stunning 2015 debut, the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu season of Tiki Taane Mahuta returns to tour Aotearoa in 2017, featuring live performance from the iconic Tiki Taane.

Presented in partnership

Starting at 12pm, the 2017 More FM Midwinter Swim is the perfect time to take a refreshing dip in the ocean and be in the hunt for some great prizes.

PICTON FORESHORE, LONDON QUAY

Tues 20 NZSO Schumann & Barber The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performs with guest soloist magnetic young

Urzila Carlson

German cellist Daniel MüllerSchott, known for his energetic and fearless style. Guest conductor is New York-born James Feddeck.

ASB THEATRE, BLENHEIM

Mon 26 to Wed 28 Organic & Biodynamic Winegrowing Conference An overwhelming success in its inaugural year, the Organic Winegrowers New Zealand conference brings together growers, winemakers and wine trade for practical seminars, marketing discussions and tastings.

ASB THEATRE, BLENHEIM

Thurs 29 Marlborough District Brass Band Road to China The sole New Zealand participant in the Shanghai International Music Festival, The Marlborough District Brass Band will be demonstrating the full range of its repertoire, with guest soloist Blenheim-based Welsh soprano Elin Tomos.

From 7.30pm.

Fri 30 to Sun 2 July Marlborough Home & Garden Show 2017 The Marlborough Home & Garden Show is packed with all the ideas and information that you need to transform your surroundings. See massive show-only specials, preview the hottest trends, enter the draw to win a fabulous show prize, source accessories for a new look, listen to free daily seminars, or simply turn up and prepare to be inspired. 10am to 5pm daily.

MARLBOROUGH LINES STADIUM 2000

ASB THEATRE, BLENHEIM

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Snapped WildTomato goes out on the town‌

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Friday Night Feast Marlborough Downtown, Blenheim P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y D AV I D J A M E S

1. Annie Leanne

7. Sander De Wildt

2. Huia Crosby, Maui De Wildt

8. Tania Collins, Sheena Haugh & Patsy Strachan

3. George & Dorthy Grundt 4. Martin Bosley & Maddy Roberge Boz 5. Wendy & Addison Florence 6. Midge McCleary & Dean Vitale

9. Katherine Nicholls 10. Mazlin Masoot, Sophie Kilworth & Rebecca Hill 11. Frances & Rory King 12. Facu Didde & Matias Cacciavillani

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S NA P P E D

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2 Makos sponsors get together The Vic Brew Bar, Nelson P HO T O G R A P H Y BY I S H NA JAC OB S

1. Stephanie Drewery & Jonathon Deans

6. Murray Sturgeon & Paul Barr

2. Paul Burt

8. Kent Gibbons

7. Keith Penny

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Nelson Preparatory School Mother’s Day Melrose House, Nelson P HO T O G R A P H Y BY I S H NA JAC OB S

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7. Kari Buckland

2. Tom Lynch

8. Louise O’Conelle

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S NA P P E D

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2 Da Vinci exhibition opening Provincial Museum, Nelson P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y A N A G A L L O WAY

1. Damian, Nicola, Ruairi & Ronan Moorhead 2. Micheal Musso, Emma Riddell, Francis Miccio & Carla Musso

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3. Justin & Gina Fletcher, Susan & Joe Rifichi 4. Anthony Genet 5. Judith Ritchie

6. Marion & Barry Dowler 7. Wayne Corey & Carl Christiansen 8. Sylvie Allred & Angela Craig 9. Olivia Hall 10. Darryl Gallagher & Jessie Bray Sharpin 11. Rachel Reese & Bill Dahlberg

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NZIA Architect Awards The Suter Art Gallery, Nelson P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y LY N D A PA P E S C H

1. Jason Gardiner &Richard Mabbott

5. Brent Doherty, David Wallace & Peter Cole

2. Laura Loghry & Andrew Irving 3. Justin Candish & Victoria Hall

6. Pam Gardiner & Stacey O’Connor

4. Chris Pyemont, Jordan Hirn & Simon Hall

8. Luke Porter & Alice Reid

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7. Rick Pearson & Julie Catchpole

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MY BIG IDEA

Photo by Tim Cuff

The response from our customers has been phenomenal. Around 70% of our daily regular customers choose to re-use.

We couldn’t find a suitable reusable cup product in the New Zealand market so we went about creating our own – the IdealCup. After moving to Motueka in 2014 we were determined to try and reduce our disposable cup waste by promoting ‘re-use’ instead of ‘one use’.

The response from our customers has been phenomenal. Around 70% of our daily regular customers choose to re-use.

We then saw a greater opportunity to promote ‘re-use’ to a wider audience.

We believe that with with passion, hard work, education and collaboration, we can ‘Make Motueka Disposable Cup Free’.

We announced the idea in March 2017 and it’s snowballed from there.

THE IDEALCUP

BY STEPH FRY, FOUNDER OF THE IDEALCUP

What is your Big Idea?

Make Motueka disposable cup free (then Nelson, then the rest of New Zealand and maybe, just maybe, the rest of the world)!

Why is this important?

Every year in New Zealand, at least 200 million disposable cups are chucked in landfill. Disposable coffee cups are not recyclable. (They contain a petrolderived plastic lining, which cannot be separated from the cardboard exterior.)

Even the more environmentally-friendly, biodegradable, compostable cups, which

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are ‘better’ as they have a corn starch lining, still need to be ‘commercially composted’ in order to breakdown effectively. These facilities are not available in most parts of New Zealand, so generally most disposable cups of all types, end up in landfill.

How did you get involved?

Since starting our coffee roasting business in 2004, we have endeavoured to operate as sustainably as possible.

We felt an obligation to try and reduce the number of ‘one use’ cups going to landfill.

How does the concept work?

Each café holds a bank of IdealCups on their coffee machine. The cups are reusable with a biodegradable, compostable takeaway lid. A customer pays a $10 ‘bond’ for the use of an IdealCup and gets their coffee in it.

The next day, the customer can return to the café, or any other participating café, hand over their dirty IdealCup and get their drink in a clean cup from the café’s bank of cups. And around and around it goes. My Big Idea is to roll this out to as many cafés in Motueka as possible, so no matter where the customer goes to get their daily coffee fix, they can get it in a reusable IdealCup and return their dirty cup at any café participating in what we call the CupCycling programme.

We hope to have it up and running with four cafes in June/July and from there, we’ll roll out to as many cafés as possible in the area.

This is about Motueka banding together to promote ‘re-use’ and working as a community to eliminate disposable cup waste going to landfill. You can join the movement at facebook.com/ MakeMotuekaDisposableCupFree.

Pop into Celcius Coffee Roastery 16 Old Wharf Road, Motueka or visit idealcup.co.nz to purchase online.

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Interview

J U L I E C A T C H P O L E

The heart behind art

Photo: Ishna Jacobs

The refurbished Suter Art Gallery has just won the People’s Choice title at the 2017 Nelson/Marlborough Architecture Awards – a fitting tribute to the dedication of its director, Julie Catchpole. Yet there’s more to her than art, Di O’Donnell discovers.

As

I walk on the boardwalk alongside The Suter, the chatter of café patrons entwines with birdsong. Pieces of sculpture sit amongst natural plantings, giving a sense of the vision of all those involved in the long project.

Entering the gallery, you find a lightfilled atrium showing glimpses of history in the original gable, and a large vista of the gardens. Carved Māori motifs on the posts extending down the foyer symbolise another connection that is important here.

During my visit a couple discuss an 24

artwork by Rita Angus, while another man stands in silence quietly contemplating the Colin McCahon before him. Feelings of calm and well-orchestrated order prevail in the public spaces, providing a pristine backdrop from which each individual painting seems to speak of its own story and inspiration.

There are no distractions as visitors contemplate the exhibition; a ‘mythical’ journey through history from Milk and Honey, The Promised Land and onto Exodus, reflecting more than 200 years of artistic impressions inspired by the

unique landscape of this region. By showing the connections formed with other lands, we find what has influenced artists who have either lived or visited here, and how their inspired vision has influenced the development of art in the region and nationally.

Our iconic heritage is displayed and then challenged by newer works seeking to provoke insights into another way of viewing our world. Director Julie Catchpole’s background and personality have combined to produce a unique vision for The Suter, which is

a strong sense of the environment and the influence of forward-thinking and revolutionary ideas expounding the true sense of New Zealand art.

Beyond a cream velvet rope are the stairs that lead to the hub of the building.

The workspace is crammed with work in progress, both art and management, which suggests the masterful juggling of many tasks. Desks fill the open space, a light-filled attic reflecting in its shape the garrets of artists from yesteryear. Here is the control tower from which Julie, a woman of vision and a true sense of adventure, transpires to bring about a world-class display of art.

She is dressed for work in practical checked trousers, a dark shirt and sensible black shoes. Her pretty bob and glasses frame and enhance her face and the almost mischievous glint in her eyes.

Julie points out the meeting room where she and others can take time out from the ongoing toil required to run such an institution. This room is also what Julie refers to as their library, where volumes of art books fill the long shelves.

Certainly, inspiration is brought to life here. Walking through the communal area, leftovers from a celebration fill tins, while a simple pottery bowl brimming with shiny apples is its own installation. This room opens onto what Julie calls their tree-house – a simple deck seeming to hang in the trees. Over the balustrade, a tree is full of nests where shags feed their greedy young.

You get an immediate sense of Julie’s interest in nature and the joy it brings her.

Warm and approachable, she offers coffee or tea as she empties the dishwasher.

Doing art at primary school ignited a lifetime passion, and led her first to Christchurch University’s Ilam Art School at age 18. Never having been to Christchurch before, Julie turned up on her first day knowing no-one. Her first winter in Christchurch was ‘unbelievably dismal’ – ‘weeks and weeks of a grey sky, one-storey high’.

Julie acknowledges wryly that it didn’t turn out that well – but in another way, it did. She changed to a BA and went on to complete an MA in Art History at Canterbury University, including Religious Studies, American Studies and the Classics. She found that her time at university opened her mind to the world of ideas, and that hunger for knowledge has never abated.

“You can be doing an exhibition about a topic, so you go and learn about that topic, in order to provide interpretation.

Then you seek out the artworks, thinking

of ways to present them, to try and get that understanding of what the artists are saying. What lies behind their creativity?

What is the artwork for the artist? What are they trying to open our eyes up to?”

Julie laughs as she says her eyes are still opening up to what’s out there in the art world.

She has worked in both art galleries and museums. Her first job was at the National Art Gallery in Wellington, which at that time was on the first floor of an old building in Buckle St, with the National Museum below. Julie gained the position through the old government PEP scheme of subsidised employment. For some

“I’m immensely privileged to be part of a project to redevelop a gallery, especially a gallery so well-loved by its community.”

“James really could work magic with what he put together. He could tell a story almost without labels. He’s been a very big influence on my approach.” The exhibitions James curated and the artists he brought in introduced Julie to ceramic arts, jewellery and other art forms.

She was taught the traditional European linear art history, but in choosing to do a thesis on the Christchurch group of artists known as Bloomsbury South, her research gave a grounding in NZ art history that ‘has paid off in dividends in terms of the jobs I’ve had in the art galleries’.

Julie says New Zealand didn’t celebrate itself so much academically in that era. Now universities are structured largely around the artistic expression of all cultures, and no longer assume the Western story of art is the principle we should follow.

She went on to become a museums’ liaison officer based at Auckland Museum,

Photo: Ishna Jacobs

organisations it was the only way they could afford to get extra staff. Julie says it was a wonderful way to get a foot in the door.

The gallery later morphed into The Museum of New Zealand, or Te Papa as we more popularly know it. Working alongside artist and photography expert Peter Ireland, Julie helped in the cataloguing and rehousing of the photography collection.

“My first real exposure – forgive my pun – to photography as an art form. I’ve been interested ever since.”

From there Julie went on to a position at The Dowse in Lower Hutt, when James Mack was the director (1981-88). He had a wonderfully eclectic, broad approach in his interests and he could make anything visually interesting, says Julie.

covering Taupo to the top of the North Island. Julie spent two years providing advice to everything from heritage villages to large art galleries, including working with historic places in the Far North: “An astonishingly rich adventure. I met all sorts, including the little volunteer societies that operated out of Motat (Museum of Transport and Technology) and I was involved with the Waikato Museum moving to the banks of the Waikato River.”

Julie then moved to Palmerston North, where she was initially the director of the Manawatu Art Gallery. It combined with the Manawatu Museum and interactive science centre, and Julie was part of rebranding it to Te Manawa. She found it an interesting challenge because the ethos 25

Photo: John-Paul Pochin

TOP TO BOTTOM Julie with a Euan Macleod painting at the Suter; with Sir David Gascoigne and Nelson mayor Rachel Reese at the opening of the Suter last October; with husband Murray McRae on Mt Ruapehu, December 2015

Photo: John-Paul Pochin

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behind the science centre of ‘Hands on, minds on’ is clearly different from galleries and often the social history museum, she says, “as you don’t necessarily want the public’s hands on art pieces, though you do want their minds on”.

That’s not to say each part can’t learn from the other. Julie thinks science centres have contributed to the role of volunteers helping to connect visitors with exhibits.

Immersive installations and video can help to explain how something works or the principles behind it. Artists can likewise draw attention to something by focusing on the combination of all our senses, using sound, light effects, and even smell.

After living in Palmerston North for 17 years, where her son Callum was born in 1997, the family moved to Wellington.

Two days later Julie came to Nelson for the position at The Suter. Callum is now enrolled at Victoria University as a biomed student, and then in another twist of fate, Julie’s husband, Murray McRae, got a job as a lecturer at Massey, so now only Callum is living in Wellington while his parents commute when they can. Callum was a pupil at the Deidre Tarrant Dance School in ballet and is also a gifted writer and musician.

When asked about the constant separation from her family, Julie’s poignant reply is: “It has to work.” As for relaxation, she grins and says she’s forgotten how, and it’s something she needs to relearn. She enjoys sewing and other crafts. If she goes to the library, she will head to the adult’s

non-fiction and movies.

She met Murray through the Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club. Their shared love of the outdoors led them to explore many areas in the region during holidays visiting Murray’s parents, who used to live here. Julie’s busy life means she only occasionally finds the time to go tramping now – or ‘wheezing and gasping’ as she terms it with a laugh.

She has tramped in the Pelorus, Abel Tasman, Heaphy, Cobb Valley and Mt Arthur area, and not so long ago she went to Lake Angelus at the top of Rotoiti. She is particularly fond of the Pelorus River for its beautiful turquoise blue. For Julie, the area is full of astonishing and magical places and she feels very blessed.

As for her work, “I’m immensely privileged to be part of a project to redevelop a gallery, especially a gallery so well-loved by its community. You don’t get many opportunities in a career to be involved with a project of this size and to see it all the way through. It’s been fantastic since we opened. Visitors who come in are so positive in their reaction – delighted, thrilled, proud and want to bring anyone they know back. How good is that?

“There is something quite special in Nelson. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but the audience is so much more forthcoming in talking about what they enjoy, their reactions and what they don’t like. It’s been very good to get that feedback, and the interaction makes it all worthwhile.”

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Hunting

A HUNTING WE WILL GO Above: Hugh Cooper Below: Fraser Cooper (l), and Nick Rodgers Right: Mike Renner (l), and James Neal Photos by Fraser Cooper

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Stalking game is a way of life for many New Zealanders, and has been for generations. Mainly it’s for food, sometimes for sport, but as Sadie Beckman finds, for almost everyone who heads into the back-country or out on the water, hunting offers a chance to get in touch with our primal selves.

A

lmost 240,000 people held firearms licences in this country in 2014, twice as many in the South Island as in the North, although admittedly not all of them are hunters.

It does indicate though, in a population of four million, how much a part of life hunting is for many.

Generally, we’re a practical nation, and hunting and fishing mean bringing home food for the table and freezer, although trophy-hunting has a presence here too.

Whatever the motivation, for most bit is not just the thrill of the chase but also the opportunity to experience New Zealand’s beautiful wild areas up close.

Warren Plum, secretary of the Nelson Deerstalkers Association, gets as much satisfaction exploring as he does bagging a kill. He returned happy from a recent 12day hunt without firing a single shot.

“One of the wonderful aspects of hunting is the human desire to explore,” he says. “Mankind has always been driven to see what’s around the corner, and hunting provides the ability to still find places that few others have ever visited. Not road-like tracks, but some forgotten little valley that trampers rarely, if ever, visit.

“In more rugged country, particularly in the South Island, there are still ridges and steep faces that have probably had less than 100 people visit in all time,” Warren says. “It may have been flown over by a helicopter on venison recovery, but people actually on the ground would have been limited to hunters, and maybe a prospector in the early days, or a preEuropean Maori hunting party.”

Hunters are sometimes criticised for killing animals, but many would argue that knowing your food wasn’t factoryfarmed, that the animal had a wild life rather than a captive one, and that only what can be carried home is killed, is infinitely preferable.

As long as hunting methods remain on an individual scale, and hunters are both educated and respectful about what they do, the pastime can be sustainably practised. It is only when commercialism and money enter the picture that environments and habitats become threatened.

A private hunting paradise

M

arlborough arborist Leon Cresswell spends much of his life in the outdoors. While his family background didn’t include hunting, he ventured into it as a young man working in forestry, teaming up with co-workers who often

went out. Now his passion is so strong that he has collaborated with a group of friends to purchase a block of land on D’Urville Island specifically for hunting and fishing.

“She’s pretty rugged out there,” Leon says of the stunning 150 square kilometre island crowned with dense bush and surrounded by the emerald waters of the Marlborough Sounds.

The hunters will concentrate on deer and wild pigs, with Leon harbouring a particular interest in the latter, including training up pig-dogs. He has three, with a new puppy joining the ranks soon. He enjoys seeing the young dogs successfully doing what they’ve been trained to.

“It’s when they put in a really decent find,” he says, referring to the moment the dogs identify a good-sized pig. They can go

bringing home the bacon literally, as well as the rich, dark venison that comes from wild deer. He processes much of the meat himself, meaning the freezer is often full, although now that he has become a father, the hunting trips aren’t so frequent.

“Another few years, though, and we’ll be away,” he says of his young son. “If he wants to come out, of course.”

With a role model who is passionate and a block of private paradise to explore, it’s hard to imagine a young boy who wouldn’t.

Respect for your prey

N

elson jeweller Glen James often alternates his day job creating high

“If you’re in earshot when they first find the pig, it’s a really big buzz.”

LEON CRESSWELL

quite a long distance before they ‘strike’ it – or stop it in its tracks.

“If you’re in earshot when they first find the pig, it’s a really big buzz.

A decent one won’t squeal. It’s mainly a sort of a big dust-up and a lot of barking.

The dogs I use will mainly stand off and bark at the bigger ones – bail them – and then we sneak in there and we either shoot the pig while they’re bailing it, or I’ve got a dog I keep on a rope that’ll go in and hold it so we can get in and finish the pig off that way.”

Leon manages to get out hunting at least once or twice a week, not just on D’Urville, but in other areas all over the district, such as the Waihopai Valley,

end bling for his favourite recreational pursuit of hunting. He approaches hunting as an activity infused with value.

His philosophy is all about respect, which is why he will only ever shoot what he will use and nothing more, even if temptation presents itself.

A keen alpine hunter, Glen often heads above the bushline to altitudes of 1000m or more to hunt different varieties of deer, as well as chamois and tahr.

He believes in meticulous preparation, including appropriate equipment, as well as having the knowledge and experience to handle himself in the wilderness.

He likes to work out exactly where he 29

wants to be at sunrise, and then plans to start walking the correct number of hours earlier, ensuring he will be in that magical spot.

Glen says sunrise is a sweet-spot when it comes to hunting.

“There are lots of animals on the move. Everything is silent, and then there’s the dawn chorus, which can be very intense depending on where you are.”

Knowing the terrain, or being able to interpret the environment, is important too.

“You can be glassing [using binoculars] one to two kilometres away, see something, and then think, ‘How am I going to get to you without you seeing me?’” Smell is also a major consideration when it comes to deer in particular.

Their incredible olfactory abilities mean hunters must learn to read the wind patterns and directions.

Knowledge of the animals’ habits and routines is also important, Glen says.

Leon Cresswell; below: Leon with his hunting dogs and son Quin

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Chamois, for instance, often feed early then sit down mid-morning.

“If you know, you can wait until they sit down.”

When circumstances and skill align, and James makes a kill, he butchers it in situ, leaving bones and skin, and wrapping the meat in a pillowcase to bring out of the bush.

“You have to let it cool as fast as possible or it can go off,” he explains. The pillowcase keeps it clean.

An average deer yields 15-20kg of meat, which is quite an added weight to carry out. However, Glen reckons there is an inherent satisfaction in feeling that weight: “You know you’ve earned it.” By the time you add up the cost of equipment, time, skill and effort involved, it may well be cheaper to buy the meat, he admits, but that isn’t the point.

“I don’t do it for the kill. I do it because it gets me out there in the wild – away from my everyday job, from people,

phones, power. The hunter-gatherer thing, it’s in my DNA.” It also means Glen knows the exact provenance of the meat he and his family are eating, and he feels it’s much better than animals bred to be killed for a supermarket meat-tray.

“I’m an animal lover. I only shoot what I can take, and I don’t shoot it if I don’t need it.”

Hunting the sea

W

hile she doesn’t classify herself as a hunter exactly, Marlborough winemaker Susan Van Der Pol has been known to bag the odd meal although these days she prefers hunting underwater to in the hills on Stewart Island.

An avid diver and fisherwoman, she finds a busy lifestyle, often at the mercy of the grape harvest, means she doesn’t get out on the water as often as she’d like, but when she does she finds it both exhilarating and therapeutic.

Regular hunting trips to Stewart Island have also been part of her active recreational interests, although she admits to being ‘more of an observation hunter than an actual shooter’.

“I just lose patience in the bush. I prefer to sit there and admire the wildlife and marvel at the habitat.”

The same goes for underwater hunter/gatherer expeditions. Susan enjoys scuba diving, mainly for scallops, but doesn’t rate herself when it comes to catching crayfish. “I’m a bit, well, not chicken, but I’m a bit slow because I’m sitting there going, ‘Isn’t that pretty’ and then, ‘Oops, I missed it’.

“I’ve only managed to get three crayfish in my whole life.”

She says the sight of the prehistoriclooking creatures in their habitat is fascinating. “Whenever we’ve been hunting, or going out to look for crays, you see them in their natural environment and they’re so cool.”

Grabbing them is another matter, though. “They’re kind of in a black hole where they’ve been sitting, and it’s like, ‘I don’t know if I really want to stick my hand in there’,” she laughs.

“When I’m diving, I’m often looking all around me and at what the other divers are up to, while they are focused on their prey. That means I often see things that they don’t.”

She enjoys collecting paua and scallops. Paua doesn’t have to involve scuba gear, while scallop collecting does, unless you dredge.

“Seeing the damage that dredging

Photos this page: Glen James

“I’m an animal lover.

I only shoot what I can take.”

G L E N JA M E S

does to the seabed, I’m not comfortable with it,” Susan says. “Where the good scallops are, scuba’s the way to go.”

This year, the popular seafood delicacy was off-limits completely, to let habitats regenerate. Fishing is still on the agenda, but Susan and her husband have been madbusy, both in and out of work.

“I walk out, see the boat, and think ‘Damn it, I’ve got to go to work’,” she says. But when they do get out? “Blue cod’s always good out in the Queen Charlotte. But I guess it’s whatever’s swimming past.”

Business and pleasure sometimes mix, however.

The couple, who are both winemakers, have often taken some of the younger vineyard workers out on the boat, particularly if they’re from out of the area.

“With the wine industry, we’ve got a lot of new kids who come through. Half the pleasure for me is taking new people out into the Sounds, sharing the Queen Charlotte with them and saying, ‘This is where we live; this is Marlborough’.”

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Top: Basking in the scenery Below: Craig Caigou Photos: Matt Winter

Building life skills

V

arious aspects of hunting also provide a regular source of income for the local and national economy. From the supply of equipment - rifles, tramping gear etc - to more lucrative expeditions for overseas hunters, it is an industry that brings in big dollars annually.

Another side includes writing and photography, with keen demand for hunting books. There are now over 500 different hunting books by New Zealand authors. One such author is Tasman-based writer, Greig Caigou, who has been a columnist for NZ Hunter magazine for six years, gaining a reputation as a hunterphilosopher - the ‘thinking’ hunter! His last two books - Wild Horizon and The Heart of Hunting - were in that style.

For Greig, hunting is about connections to more natural rhythms and enjoying wild animals amongst the wild spaces between the cities.

Aside from the truly organic and healthful protein that is taken from these environments, Greig believes the challenges for a hunter-gatherer provide a rich environment for building life skills.

The learning is experiential, where the imperatives of shelter, warmth and food take on real meaning, especially when you’re carrying everything you need on your back.

“I learnt much through the ‘school of hunting’ … foundational life skills such as courage, problem-solving, risk-taking, resilience and managing myself, while the pure physicality of muscle-powered hunting adventures along with times of solo reflection are both equally good for the soul.”

Greig works as a lead facilitator at Outward Bound for professional courses, and for an international wilderness-based leadership programme and has enjoyed a long career in outdoor education because 32

of the value he sees in developing better people through challenging adventures.

Nowadays, he is becoming more of a minimalist in his style of hunting in order to preserve the essential wildness of a hunting pursuit. He reckons it’s very tempting in a growing industry for commercial interests to try and load up hunters with an ever-increasing amount of seemingly necessary stuff! He believes consumerism and ‘gadgetcraft’ is replacing some of the essence of what is attractive about hunting.

This contributes to making it more difficult for new or young hunters entering the sport, and especially for the growing number of young people and immigrants who don’t come from a rural background or have family who are hunters.

Greig felt it his duty to add to the pool of storytelling that he had been brought up on when he was a keen new hunter back in the 1970s. As such his early attempts at writing were more to record and recount his own hunting adventures.

“Very soon though I became more interested in the ‘why’ of hunting - how hunting has shaped human history and how it impacts us nowadays. The intrinsic

values of a hunting lifestyle became important to me, so my writing is not storytelling along the lines of ‘Joe and I went hunting’ but rather a call to a more thoughtful approach to the various themes and considerations that interconnect around hunting.”

Of course writing is just one medium to have a voice for hunting-related concerns and ethics. Nowadays, other media such as YouTube take prime place and self-filmed hunts attract big followings - some channels with subscribers numbered in the tens of thousands. There are also several dedicated TV series for hunters and fishers, while NZ social media forums draw more than 8000 registered users, with over a million posts across all manner of topics.

Greig has a presence in these spaces also as altogether this is how he can best advocate for both hunting lifestyles and for our wild habitats and animals. He also wants to advance the reputations of hunters amongst other users of the backcountry, noting their involvement in hut restoration, environmental and habitat conservation programmes, as well as the management of animal populations.

Greig says these are some of the best days for hunting free-ranging wild animals in untamed and exciting environments, where we all enjoy full access to public lands.

He believes we should cherish and guard such a rich heritage!

FISH & GAME NEW ZEALAND In New Zealand an organisation known as Fish & Game NZ manages, maintains and enhances sports fish and game birds and their habitats in the best long-term interests of present and future generations of anglers and hunters. Fish & Game NZ is everyone who buys a fishing or hunting licence; a ‘user pays, user says’ non-profit organisation that receives no government or taxpayer money.

Run by councils elected by the people who buy licences, Fish & Game NZ is involved in species management, habitat protection, negotiating and advocating access for licence holders, licensing, enforcing the regulations and maintaining public awareness.

Some things are meant to last FOREVER

No. 1 Bridge Street, Nelson 0800 GLEN JAMES | 0274 845 353 | +64 548 4523 info@glenjames.co.nz | glenjames.co.nz Leatham Valley. Photo credit Glen James

MAD E WITH PU R P OS E. MAD E TO LAST.

54 Market St, Blenheim Phone 0800 88 24 88 enquiries@thomass.co.nz www.thomass.co.nz

33

Cruise Industry

Photos left and right page : Dianna Robjohns

WHEN THE BIG BOAT COMES IN Record numbers of cruise ships visited Picton and Nelson this summer, giving tens of thousands of passengers a brief taste of the region.

Brenda Webb looks at the booming industry in the Top of the South.

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C

ruise ship days in Picton are crazy – just pop down to the town when a visiting liner is in port.

Cafés are crowded and tourist shops busy as hundreds, maybe thousands, of passengers take a closer look at attractions on offer.

The arrival of a large ship such as Ovation of the Seas last December can double the 5000-strong population of Picton.

Camera-toting tourists throng the foreshore and wander the streets ogling at real estate shop windows – “Hey hon, look at the price of that waterfront property” – or jump on buses to tour wineries, the Omaka Aviation Centre and Marlborough gardens.

Local businesses say spending varies from ship to ship depending on demographics and whether it’s the first port of call or the last for the vessel. Being the last often means foreign passengers are keen to spend the remainder of their Kiwi dollars.

Economic benefits aren’t necessarily widespread, though, with the accommodation and restaurant sectors obviously missing out. Cafés do well along with souvenir and gift shops,

“Every cruise ship customer is an advocate for how beautiful Picton and the Marlborough Sounds are.”

– J U L I E T G I B B O N S , TO U R O P E R ATO R

bus companies and small tourism operators who offer tailored day-trips for passengers.

Destination Marlborough general manager Tracy Johnston says cruise ship passengers certainly inject money into the economy but she acknowledges that not all sectors benefit, and says it is important to look at the big picture.

“The passengers are only here for a short time – perhaps four or five hours ashore – so it is a small window of opportunity to give them an impression of the region and ideally, give them a sense of intrigue to make them return,” she says.

While the cruise ships offer their own day-trips, many people come ashore to independently plan their day in Marlborough and book through the Picton Visitor Centre or online directly with local businesses, says Tracy.

Long-term, passengers might return as independent travellers, in which case all sectors, including accommodation providers, reap the benefits, she adds.

Cruise New Zealand estimates the value of the industry to the Marlborough region alone last year (35 cruise ships and about 72,000 passengers) was $13.6 million. This year 43 ships will visit with an estimated 75,000 people. Globally, the cruise ship sector is growing markedly, with 78 ships – a quarter of a million berths – on order in the next 10 years.

Cruise passengers are the third-largest holiday arrivals market into New Zealand, behind Australia and China. The industry generates direct spending and distributes the economic impact throughout the regions, according to a report by Cruise New Zealand.

The Ovation of the Seas, a regular sight this summer, is the largest ship to visit New Zealand and the fourth largest in the world. At 347m, its length meant Port Marlborough spent eight months and $1.6m preparing for its arrival.

Rhys Welborne, Manager of Business Delivery at Port Marlborough, says Marlborough is fortunate to be the deepest port in New Zealand but substantial work still needed to be done to accommodate the super-ship.

The money Port Marlborough spent preparing for the ship’s arrival demonstrates its commitment to being a primary destination for top-profile cruise vessels, he says.

“It’s important for everyone to be excited about cruise ships because the whole region benefits. The figures from Cruise NZ show economic benefits, and anecdotally it’s busy and prospering – and that’s not just Picton but the whole region.”

Wilderness Guides, an established adventure tourism operator on Picton’s vibrant waterfront, has developed innovative tours to cater for cruise ship visitors.

Without such custom, owner Juliet Gibbons says she and husband Steve would have been less confident about offering trips such as their 4WD outing to the top of nearby Gondola Hill.

“Picton without the cruise ships would be like milk without the cream on top. These are days when the town comes alive, and while not every tourism sector benefits on the day, the flow-on effects for local businesses servicing the sector and longer-term benefits are wide-reaching,” she says.

“Every cruise ship customer is an advocate for how beautiful Picton and the Marlborough Sounds are.”

For Norwegian Captain Henrik Loy, bringing the Ovation of the Seas into the Marlborough Sounds was the highlight of his brief time commanding the giant cruise-liner. “The scenery was absolutely stunning and it really is what cruising is all about.”

Rachael Brown, Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre Marketing Manager, says cruise ship days are their busiest and the centre is 35

Photo: Dianna Robjohns

‘stoked’ to be included on tour itineraries.

“It’s very good for us – the economic benefits are huge and we get very good feedback.” Likewise, wineries and cellar doors see more people through the doors, although not everyone spends due to restrictions on taking wine back to the ship.

John Rae, Hotel Director of Ovation of the Seas, says wine taken on board is confiscated and returned on disembarkation.

Many passengers on bus trips visit The Vines Village on Rapaura Rd, a complex with eight shops, including a café, cellar door and gift shop. Owner Jeff Fulton says spending varies from ship to ship.

“People are already paying a lot of money for the tour and don’t always want to spend more, but they will often have a coffee and a scone.” Jeff sees the value in having a complex able to cope with the number of people the cruise ships deliver into Marlborough. “We can handle them and offer them a beautiful setting with shops to browse. Their visits are definitely worth it to us.”

Stuart Miller, who with wife Robyn owns two businesses in the complex – Lilac Wine and Gourmet Collection – agrees.

“It’s absolutely wonderful having them visit, and they do spend money, particularly if we are the last stop and they want to use up their cash. The challenge for us is to provide the facilities as it can get busy here on cruise-ship days.”

Cruise ships don’t generally provision in Picton (the Ovation of the Seas took on supplies in Sydney with a top-up in Tauranga) but Tracy Johnston believes that could change in future.

“Port Marlborough and Destination Marlborough hosted a group from the Ovation ashore during their first visit, and took them to a cherry orchard. When she returned a second time the chef ordered 250kg of cherries from that orchard.”

While Picton welcomed 42 cruise ships this summer, Nelson hosted just seven, mainly high-end boutique vessels. The main reason for that disparity is that Picton is on the cruise ship trail, but Nelson is not.

Port Nelson Harbourmaster Dave Duncan says infrastructure has been provided to encourage cruise ships, but Nelson is a one-off destination for them.

“We’re off the beaten track, if you like,” he says. “Picton is very much in the centre for ships visiting Wellington and Napier, whereas it’s a full day’s steaming to get to us.”

36

“…they do spend money, particularly if we are the last stop and they want to use up their cash.”

– S T UA RT M I L L E R , S TO R E OW N E R

Photo: Port Nelson

Port Nelson is also tidal, which often doesn’t suit a cruise ship’s busy schedule. Most ships dock in the morning and leave early evening.

Dave says the economic spinoffs to the regions that attract cruise ships are huge, and the focus for Nelson has been on encouraging smaller boutique ships.

Gisella Purcell, International Marketing Manager for the Nelson Regional Development Agency, says the boutique ship market tends to attract a high-end passenger and Nelson is keen to boost that patronage.

“Passengers and crew spend money in the region and take part in on-shore excursions,” she adds. “There is also the money spent by the cruise company itself on supplies and port fees.”

Gisella says passengers often visit Abel Tasman National Park during their brief stay and helicopter companies are kept busy doing scenic flights over the region.

Like her Marlborough counterpart, she says spending on the day is not the only benefit. “There is also evidence to suggest that cruise passengers will return to their favourite places for a longer visit.”

Cruiseabout Nelson is the only cruise specialist store in the top of the South Island.

We do all types of cruising: River Family Ocean Luxury Adventure & Expedition All over the world.

We can also help with all your travel needs: Cruises Flights Resorts Tours Travel insurance & more!

Mention this feature and receive a bottle of sparkling wine when you pay a deposit on your next holiday.

33 Bridge Street, Nelson Call: 0800 22 11 15 Email: nelson@cruiseabout.co.nz

Rabbit Hill Vineyard and Cafe

1469 Motueka Valley Highway, Ngatimoti T: 03 526 8834 E: info@rabbithill.co.nz W: www.rabbithill.co.nz Friday bookings essential 5:30pm - 8:30pm Saturday - Sunday 11am - 4:00pm

Italian Chef | Tasty pasta | Wild game | Vineyard platters Enjoy the cosy ďŹ re inside the old Tobacco House or al fresco dining.

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Catering for all tastes

T

he cruise ship market used to be saturated with wealthy retirees or honeymooners – the ‘newlyweds and nearly dead’, as the wags dubbed it.

Today’s cruise ships, however, offer across-the-board appeal at a range of prices, with some specifically targeting certain age groups.

The Ovation of the Seas is child/ teenage friendly, with activities including ‘tube skydiving’, bumper cars, basketball courts, roller skating, surf simulator, climbing walls and swimming pools. There are also baby, toddler and youth programmes and a kids’ water park.

Kiwi couple Virginia Kelly and Ashley Chan chose the Ovation as their Christmas holiday ‘destination’ knowing their two teenagers would be well-entertained. It’s the family’s second cruise, after doing a Pacific voyage the previous year.

“We were sold on the concept,” says Ashley. “We backpacked through Europe in our young days and tired of all the hassle that involved. Here you just arrive, unpack your bags and that’s it. It’s so easy. You don’t have to think and everything is done for you.”

Virginia describes cruising as a ‘fantastic’ family holiday away from technology, and says both their children love it, with an endless programme of activities.

“There really is so much to do.

It’s a wonderful experience and the best thing is everything is included and you don’t need cash.”

38

A wide array of dining options also means growing teenagers are constantly satiated, she adds.

Economically, their two-week Sydney-to-Sydney cruise worked out about the same as a similar holiday on land staying at hotels, but without the hassle of finding restaurants or entertainment.

More and more people are following the Kelly/Chan’s footsteps, with many cruise ships themselves being seen as a ‘destination’.

Cruise specialist Trudy Geddes, from Blenheim’s House of Travel, says cruising has increased tenfold in recent years and it’s no longer the domain of retirees.

“That cliché has long gone.

These days there are cruise ships across the board, ranging from small specific-destination boutique cruise ships such as Alaskan Dream, to the family market, and even party ships for the younger set.” Ships such as the Ovation of the Seas offer so many activities that some passengers never feel the desire to leave the vessel, she says.

Cruising appeals because it is all-inclusive and each morning passengers wake up in a new destination, says Trudy. “It’s all done for you. You only have to unpack your bags.”

The key, from a travel agent’s perspective, is to match the client to the ship, which she says is fairly easy these days with a wide range to choose from.

TOP TO BOTTOM: The massive upper deck conservatory style pool/bar area on Ovation of the Seas; life on a giant cruise ship includes deck chairs, palm trees and pools; glitz and glamour is all part of cruising with interior fittings like a five star hotel; surf in the wavepool or simulate skydiving – options on Ovation of the Seas.

Photos: David Morgan

We work for you

Cnr Champion & Salisbury Roads, Richmond Mon - Fri 8am - 6:30pm | Sat/Sun 8am - 6pm Ph: 03 544 0824 | raewardfresh.co.nz

Welcoming Angus Jennings Manuka Street Hospital is proud to introduce Angus Jennings as one of our specialists at Nelson’s own world-class, community owned, boutique hospital.

Angus is a General Orthopaedic Surgeon who performs hip and knee joint replacement, knee sports surgery, and foot and ankle surgery including replacement.

Angus Jennings FRACS The Collingwood Centre, 105-111 Collingwood St, Nelson. Tel: 03 548 3455 Proudly supported by

Manuka Street Hospital www.manukastreet.org.nz

BAMFORD LAW LAWYERS

PROPERTY BUSINESS & ESTATES

Call Linda on 03 547 6050 www.bamfordlaw.co.nz 39

Rising Star

Prancing with the stars P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M A R K WAT S O N

If ambition comes in a dynamic, petite and determined package, then Melissa Galloway has it in spades. Brenda Webb discovers that the South Island’s leading dressage rider has the Olympics in her sights and, given her recent form, that’s a realistic target.

Melissa Galloway with her rising dressage star Windermere J’Obei W, Dressage Horse of the Year, level four 40

A

cracking end to the dressage season at the country’s top equestrian competition was fitting reward for hardworking Marlborough horsewoman Melissa Galloway, and proof she can foot it with the best.

At the prestigious Horse of the Year show in Gisborne in March, the 22-year-old topped off a great season by winning the level-four Dressage Horse of the Year title with Windermere J’Obei W, and finishing third overall in the level-eight competition on Zeilinger.

Unfortunately, Melissa had to withdraw her third horse, Windermere Johanson W, after he injured himself.

Dressage is a highly skilled form of riding in which precise movements are executed – it often looks like the horse is dancing. Competition begins at level one and goes up to level nine, which is Olympic and world championship level.

The Horse of the Year Show is the pinnacle for equestrians and Melissa was competing against the top dressage riders in the country. Her success is particularly noteworthy because of her exceptional talent at a young age.

“I’ve got a lot of goals – the Olympics is the main one,” she says. “Realistically, 2020 may be too soon. It’s under discussion but there is a huge commitment and lots to organise.”

Melissa has taken the eye of prominent dressage exponents, including the country’s highest qualified trainer, Andrea Raves, who has no doubt Melissa will make it to the Olympics. “She really is exceptional. I personally think she is one of the best riders in New Zealand. She has lots of feel and understanding for the horse – a gift that some people simply don’t have.”

Andrea began teaching Melissa 10 years ago and says that right from the start she stood out as a really good rider who took instruction well. She believes Melissa has the talent, horsepower and family support to reach the top of her sport overseas.

“She has a super team of horses, including a young horse quite capable of going to the Olympics.”

As a 17-year-old Melissa spent 12 months in Germany under master Hubertus Hufendick, who recognised her ability and soon put her on his good horses.

“He said I had a natural feeling for the horses,” says Melissa, who had to beg her mother to ask Hubertus to take her on in the first place as she was too shy. Experts say Melissa has an innate ability to absorb instruction and continue to train her horses without constant ‘eyes on the ground’.

Marlborough dressage rider and judge Janna Greene first noticed Melissa’s ‘unusual talents’ when she was a youngster, and has watched her go from strength to strength.

Her talent for interpreting trainers’ instructions and putting them into practice is testament to her dedication and attention to finer details, accompanied by mental and physical toughness, says Janna.

“She sounds like superwoman but in fact she works hard and leads a lifestyle conducive to being a top athlete, both mentally and physically. Her current team of horses are selfproduced and display a willingness and exuberance that is both refreshing and exciting to watch.”

Since devoting herself to the discipline of dressage, Melissa has won numerous championships throughout the country and several national titles. Earlier this year she was selected to go to Australia to ride at their under-25 championships, which she duly won despite being put on a horse that hadn’t competed at that level previously.

Two years ago, on Zeilinger, she won the level-four national title at the Horse of the Year. “It was the first time I’d won a national title so that was huge for me, but last season

was definitely my best. Zeilinger was level-eight North Island champion, J’Obei was level-four North Island champion and he won the World Dressage Challenge,” she says.

Despite such success on the local and national scene, Melissa remains completely modest and unfazed by her success, no doubt due to her equally down-to-earth parents, Tuamarina dairy farmers turned grape-growers Rodney and Anne Parkes.

Growing up on the family farm on the outskirts of Blenheim, Melissa and sister Sarah Parkes followed their mother’s footsteps down the horsey path, starting off on ponies when they were youngsters and going to the local Marshlands Pony Club.

Anne encouraged and supported them, but points out they were never pushed. “I never once had to ask them to muck out their paddocks,” she says. “In fact, it was me who would say, ‘You’ve ridden six days; your ponies need a day off’.”

Melissa is fortunate to have fantastic support from her parents, her husband Lachy Galloway and sister Sarah, all of whom travel to competitions when they can, acting as groom,

“She has lots of feel and understanding for the horse – a gift that some people simply don’t have.”

A N D R E A R AV E S , L E A D I N G T R A I N E R

41

LEFT: Melissa Galloway with her three stars (from left) – Windermere J’Obei W, Zeilinger and Windermere Johanson W ABOVE: A lap of honour for Melissa Galloway and her Dressage Horse of the Year level four, Windermere J’Obei W

“It was me who would say, ‘You’ve ridden six days; your ponies need a day off’.”

A N N E PA R K E S , M E L I S S A’ S M U M

driver and enthusiastic fan-club. “There is no way I could do it without them,” she says.

Anne says that support is rewarded by the results Melissa achieves, as well as her gratitude. “We certainly wouldn’t do it if they weren’t lovely people to be around who are appreciative and grateful for the opportunity we have given them.”

The entire family has a no-nonsense, hard-working ethic, and while competing at the top level can be expensive, the Parkes cannot be described as extravagant. No paid grooms here – the family do all the work themselves.

Even the horse-truck, a recent addition to team Parkes/ Galloway, is ‘ordinary’ compared to most, says Anne – but it beats camping in the horse float, which they did until recently.

Horses are either homebred or bought when others can’t cope with them. Melissa, who is a full-time rider and trainer, is happy to take on complicated horses that other people can’t ride.

“I just wait until the price gets lower and lower.”

Her eight-year-old Windermere Johanson W is a classic 42

example of a difficult horse with huge talent.

“I fell off him six times in the first six months, which was a bit tiring. Even now he still has a buck in him – I can’t take him for granted and have to be quite careful,” she says. “But he is amazingly athletic and very loose and soft. It’s often the difficult ones who are special.”

When Rodney realised how talented his older daughter was, he switched from studying Friesian bloodlines to horse bloodlines. With Melissa’s expertise and knowledge and Rodney’s background in pedigree lines, they began a breeding programme using thoroughbred mares and imported warmblood semen.

Melissa has a team of four main-competition horses, with another handful of youngsters ‘coming on’.

Sadly, most of the horses bred at Windermere Warmbloods have been broken in, schooled, competed and sold by Melissa to fund her ongoing dressage campaign. Taking her talent and dreams offshore requires big money and Melissa is realistic enough to know that at least one of her precious team would have to be sold to fund that campaign.

With winter coming on the workload doesn’t ease off in the Parkes/Galloway household – the only thing that changes is a shortage of daylight hours for working horses. Young contenders, including the promising, just broken-in Windermere Zephora, will be prepared alongside the current team for a spring programme that starts in October.

Always top of Melissa’s mind, however, is making that Olympic dream a reality.

BUSINESS PROFILE

Top quality design, service and materials

BY BRENDA WEBB P HO T O I S H NA JAC OB S

D

ynamic husband and wife designing duo Myles and Margarette Sellers work closely with clients to create spectacular rooms whether it’s a kitchen, entertainment space or any other room you may have.

Their aptly named business, The Sellers Room, offers a full service from consult and design through to manufacture and installation of kitchens, bathrooms, laundries and even storage spaces for areas such as bedrooms and garages.

Their leading-edge showroom in Stoke is fully interactive and one of the most up-to-date and comprehensive in the Top of the South.

“It’s very much a touch and feel showroom,” explains Margarette. “We encourage people to come and have a look and see the very best that is available.”

The Sellers have been in the industry a long time and for them quality is crucial. They only offer and deal with top-of-the-range products, mainly because such items offer long-term value.

“We want to be able to stand behind our products and know that our suppliers will stand behind us,” says Margarette. “Therefore, we use products that we know will stand the test of time, and we’ve been around long enough to be able to have chosen those products knowing how good they are.”

The products they trust and use included Corian (they are certified Corian fabricators), Blum, The Laminex Group panels including CaesarStone, Granite and Hafele, and also their own lacquer finishes.

Margarette and Myles are knowledgeable and passionate about the products they recommend – to the point that they are prepared to happily stand behind them, but as Margarette points out, the beauty of using high quality is that breakdown of product rarely happens.

The couple are very much at the forefront of their business and chances are it’s their smiling faces you will see if you pop into the showroom.

They do all the initial consulting in-house and follow that up with on-site visits.

“We are very flexible – if people want us to come out at 8pm then that’s fine by us,” says Margarette.

Anyone thinking of renovating a kitchen, building a new house or perhaps just wanting to make better use of an existing space in their house is welcome to pop into The Sellers Room for a chat.

People are encouraged to bring their ideas along or allow the skilled team to come up with a design.

Transparency is important and

The Sellers Room will come up with an itemised quote always conscious of individual budgets.

Myles, a qualified joiner, has been in the industry since leaving school, having completed his apprenticeship locally. During his 35 years as a joiner/ designer including 30 years in business, his skillset has developed to the point where he prides himself on being able to ‘do anything’ and he particularly enjoys a challenge.

Margarette describes herself as having ‘creative flair’ and she enjoys working alongside Myles in the business, but is quick to acknowledge their back-up team, which includes Jane Helem who is a key member of the design team, with more than 20 years of interior design experience.

“Obviously we couldn’t achieve what we do without the amazing team we have working with us, and we are very proud of what we achieve.”

Contact thesellersroom.co.nz Phone: 03 547 7144

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Face & necklift surgery Facelift surgery is tailored to meet the varying needs of individuals.

At a preoperative consultation, your needs and expectations will be discussed, an assessment of the problem made and a solution suggested.

Patients are able to return to normal activities after three or four days.

We also offer the following procedures: Eyelid surgery | Rhinoplasty (nose) | Breast surgery Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) | Otoplasty (ears) Liposuction | Crow’s feet | Frown lines | Dermal fillers Cosmetic/Medical tattooing; eyeliner, eyebrows, lips, areola/nipple

Appearance Medicine Cheena will be assisting in our Nelson surgical clinic and available in our Richmond clinic offering personalised assessments and treatments.

Dermal fillers Frown & forehead lines Crow’s feet around eyes Payment programmes Contact Cheena on 027 255 2426

. . . .

Level 2 - 105 Collingwood St (The Collingwood Centre) Phone: 03 548 1909 Email: nelsonplasticsurgery@outlook.co.nz Visit nelsonplasticsurgery.co.nz for more information

TARGETING WINTER FASHION

Coop dress & Brixton hat from Trouble and Fox Elk cape from Shine

S T Y L I N G B Y K E L LY V E R C O E P HO T O G R A P H Y BY I S H NA JAC OB S M A K E - U P B Y K E L LY F R O M T H E N E W B L A K HAIR BY CHLOE FROM CARDELLS MODEL STEPHANIE TRENGROVE FROM HIGH LOW MODELS L O C AT I O N : S T O N E F LY L O D G E

Huffer skirt, Blak sweater, Brixton hat all from Trouble and Fox La Source vest from Shine Miss Wilson boots from Taylors … we love shoes

Liann Bellis coat from Shine Nineteen//46 sweater from Trouble and Fox Suzy Glam glasses from Kuske

Coop pant from Trouble and Fox Standard Issue jumper from Thomas’s Belle Scarpe shoes from Taylors … we love shoes La Source scarf and Dyrberg/Kern earrings from Shine Eyeworks glasses from Kuske

Ingrid Starnes pants and Wanoa Four jumper from Shine Brixton hat from Trouble and Fox

Portmans coat from Portmans Anne & Valentin glasses from Kuske Elk sweater from Shine Huffer beanie from Trouble and Fox EOS boots from Taylors … we love shoes Kate Sylvester pants from Thomas’s

S HOE OF T H E MON T H

Keeping it fresh

O

ne of the satisfying and exciting things about fashion is that there is always something new and fresh arriving on the scene. A recent development in footwear fashion is the inclusion of embroidery and bright colourful patterned materials. This is particularly welcome during the dull months of winter.

Its presence is showing in dress fashion styles and casuals as well.

This fun style is hot off the press and includes comfort features as well as up-to-the-mark materials.

If it matches your outfit, it will also work as a walker. This is a great opportunity to get into the swing … before spring!

SKECHERS ‘Hollywood Rose’ $159.90 from Taylors…we love shoes, Nelson and Richmond

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TWO GREAT LOCATIONS 245 Trafalgar St, Nelson 211 Queen St, Richmond www.weloveshoes.co.nz

MY HOME

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The landmark Allan St home can be clearly seen from the port Sunlit floors in the north facing living area The strategically placed schist fireplace is a feature The original timber staircase has been retained Kitchen style is influenced by crisp New England design

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MY HOME

5

Gracious lines, modern comforts

BY BRENDA WEBB P H O T O G R A P H Y A N A G A L L O WAY

R

enovating a landmark two-storey Allan St home was long and involved, but immensely rewarding for Nelsonians Alan and Nicky Mitchell.

The couple and their three daughters lived across the road from the gracious character house for nine years and had always admired it. When the opportunity to buy it came up in 2015 they didn’t hesitate, setting about a huge renovation that involved taking it back to the framing throughout.

“We have an affinity for the proportions of older houses,” says Nicky. “I’m very much into architecture and we felt this house deserved to be brought into the 21st century. It is an integral part of the Nelson landscape, having been built in 1941.”

Alan and Nicky were well aware of the major renovation work required, including rewiring and replumbing, but felt there were good bones to begin with. The only really nasty surprise involved having to replace two-thirds of the Welsh slate roof.

“We thought we were dealing with replacing a few broken slates but once the specialists from Christchurch took a closer look we could see we had a large problem on our hands,” says Nicky. “We decided to stick with the slate, despite the cost, and are thrilled with the result.” The interior layout of the house has stood the test of time so the Mitchells didn’t have to change much in the way of internal structure.

“It was built for the sun and the view, which is quite rare for

a house of that age,” says Nicky.

One of their key objectives for the refurbishment was that the house was warm and cosy. “I lived in Switzerland for 10 years and am accustomed to how the rest of the world lives, and I think it’s totally unacceptable that we live in these cold houses in New Zealand,” Nicky says.

As the house is big, running costs for any form of heating were kept in mind. A central heating system with radiators throughout was chosen. They run off a diesel boiler, which Nicky says is much more environmentally friendly than even the cleanest log burner and much cheaper than gas. Electricity costs have been cut with the combination of central heating and solar hot water.

New German profile uPVC windows from NK Windows in Christchurch were installed with low argon filled double-glazing.

They replaced the original timber windows which, as is typical of so many older houses, were full of gaps and draughty.

“These windows are the most thermally efficient available and being PVC they don’t have the problem of warping and cracking and ongoing maintenance that timber has.”

During renovations, carried out by Nelson company Jason Gardiner Builders, the kitchen and dining areas were opened up to allow for a more modern open-plan design.

Nicky’s flair for interior decorating shows inside, with an 53

MY HOME

6 6,8. Soothing blue wallpaper tones beautifully with the grey sofa and the striking artwork 7.

Textured wallpaper is used to great effect in the hallway 9.

A chandelier adds elegance to the sitting room 10. Timber entry doors and floors show off the 75 year old home’s original character

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Proud to have been the project managers for Nicky & Alan

Phone us on 027 246 0870

www.jasongardinerbuilders.co.nz

03 546 5029 . 027 206 2672 The Electric Company 2016 Ltd

FREE QUOTATION & DESIGN 8 Warren Place – Mapua – Nelson T: 03 540 2123 F: 03 540 2124 E: info@rubybayjoinery.co.nz

kitchens . wooden windows · wooden doors · stairs · balustrades · vanities · entertainment units wardrobes · interior cabinetry · benchtops · custom-made furniture · commercial

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MY HOME

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Stunning floral wallpaper makes a statement in the bedroom Function and style is to the fore in the bathroom Chic finishing touches add style and flair A wall hung vanity in black matches the cabinet Pale blue walls and a coordinated duvet cover in one of the bedrooms

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interesting mix of paint and wallpaper. “Wallpaper is a little bit more durable and with three children that was something we had to think about. It can take the odd bang and mark perhaps better than paint.” Decoration inspiration, especially in the kitchen, was taken from American-style homes in New England.

“We were aware that being an older house, we had to be a bit careful,” Nicky says. “The New England style is modern but not minimalist and I think it really suits this house. We feel we’ve retained much of the character. Our interior designer, Phil Krammer, really understood what we were trying to achieve and has done a phenomenal job tying everything together.

“The renovations were expensive but we love the neighbourhood and the house is large and sunny. We feel we have a very beautiful house for a family and we love it.”

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FABULOUS BEDLINEN

in store now

12 John Wesley Lane, Richmond (off Queen St, behind Avanti Plus)

Phone: 03 544 1515

www.decade.co.nz | Ph 03 546 8888

www.moxini.co.nz

NEW

Fittings

WARE

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bathroom

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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MY GARDEN

Composting well worth the effort B Y LY N D A PA P E S C H

N

othing is more satisfying than digging rich dark compost into the garden, unless of course it is making the compost yourself. Sure, it is cheap enough to buy, yet it is so easy to make and such a great way to recycle scraps, that why wouldn’t you? Diverting food scraps from the rubbish bin to a compost heap may reduce household waste by as much as 30 percent, and will also cut down on landfill.

Composting bins vary from my basic boxed off area in the garden to purpose-built layered mesh systems and storebought tumblers or bins. For smaller properties and families a tumbler may well be the solution. They cost about $250 and don’t take up much room. Waste goes in, the tumbler is regularly turned and in approximately 30 days out comes compost. Simple!

One of the best DIY systems I’ve seen was a series of framed graduated mesh squares, stacked one on top of other, with the largest mesh at the top, and the smallest at the bottom. The waste was tossed into the top and by the time it broke down and filtered through to the bottom, it was good to go. No tumbling, mixing or digging involved.

Think chicken wire for the top layer and don’t forget to water regularly. Compost should be moist not sodden.

Then there’s my style which is to toss it all in a heap, and regularly turn it over (with a garden fork), while adding plenty of water. Vegetable scraps, lawn clippings and even shredded paper all go in, and eventually compost comes out.

That said, I do divide the area into three sections with one for fresh scraps, one a work in progress and the last completed compost. An added bonus is the seedlings that regularly sprout – several avocado trees, silverbeet, pumpkins, tomatoes etc.

Garden soil may also be added to the compost, helping to mask the odour of rotting vegetation.

Plentiful reasons exist for composting; reasons such as organic compost being better for the environment than chemical fertilisers, and that microscopic organisms in compost help to aerate the soil, and deter plant disease.

Of course not all scraps and garden waste should be composted. Avoid meat, bones and fish scraps as these attract pests, and if composting garden weeds definitely don’t include oxalis bulbs and the like. Perennial weeds spread fast enough without help from nitrogen/carbon-rich compost. Certain green waste such as walnut skins and leaves should be avoided too. The former is chock full of arsenic, the latter don’t break down easily.

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TOP Compost heap showing the layers as they breakdown BELOW Home-made compost bins for various stages of the composting process

Remember that different materials decompose at different rates so you can speed up the process by chopping larger material into smaller pieces. Finally, try layering wet and dry materials, for example start with bare earth – to allow worms etc – into the compost, then put down a layer of small sticks or straw, followed by alternating layers of food scraps, leaves, cold wood ashes and green manure such as grass clippings.

Don’t forget to regularly turn your compost; this aerates the pile, adding essential oxygen.

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FRIDAY 30 JUNE • 4.30 - 8PM MORRISON SQUARE

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Some stores open until 8pm • Local art, craft & hot food, lots of entertainment, mulled apple juice and magical surprises!

59

MY KITCHEN

Serves 4 as a light meal Ingredients 400g venison backstrap or lamb fillet 1/2 ts salt 1 ts fennel seeds, crushed 3/4 cup French green lentils, ideally soaked overnight 1½ cups water or chicken stock 2 small roasted beetroot, peeled Handful flat leaf parsley, chopped 100g goat feta, crumbled Dressing 1 tbs pomegranate molasses (or extra balsamic) 1 tbs balsamic vinegar 1 ts honey 3 tbs extra virgin olive oil Salt and freshly cracked pepper

Seared venison backstrap with lentil, beetroot & feta salad B Y N I C O L A G A L L O WAY

Living in such a lush part of the country it is not uncommon that we are given the odd cut of wild venison from friends who like to hunt. Usually I make a curry or slow-cooked casserole with the lean meat.

But recently we were given some venison backstrap that is best cooked hot and fast and enjoyed medium rare. This is how I served it with a handful of complementary flavours to let this tender cut shine.

Lamb fillet could also be used for this recipe.

Directions: If possible remove the backstrap from the fridge an hour or so before cooking to come to room temperature for more even cooking. Rub the meat with the crushed fennel and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Heat the BBQ on a medium high heat, and once hot sear the backstrap, cooking for 2-3 minutes on all sides. Remove from the heat

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and rest for 10 minutes before cutting into 5mm slices.

Make the lentil salad. Drain and rinse the lentils and place in a saucepan with the water or stock and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 15-20 minutes until the lentils are tender but still holding their shape. Drain well in a sieve then tip into a bowl. Combine the dressing

ingredients in a mixing jug.

Chop the roasted beetroot into wedges and toss through the lentils along with the chopped parsley and dressing. Season to taste then spread the salad onto a serving platter, scatter with the feta and drape with the venison slices. Serve with crusty sourdough bread on the side to soak up the juices.

DINE OUT

Let down by the steak

BY MAXWELL FLINT

O

ccupying the same site as the previous aviation disaster, Hanger 58, is the New Street Steakhouse.

Confusingly, it is not exactly on New Street but is part of the Waka Bar on the corner of Collingwood and New. Thankfully they have taken out the more odious design aspects from Hanger 58, and with clever use of wooden screens, have managed to make it remarkably habitable.

Accompanying me to dinner was an old friend who was born in Nebraska, known then as the beef state. He has also worked in Japan and eaten the famous kobe beef, which the local wagu beef is trying to emulate. I was able to use my friend as my ‘steak aficionado’ and have him provide some knowledgeable feedback on the bovine offerings presented to us.

We decided to share a starter of chicken pâté with prosciutto and onion jam. This was a rustic dish. Large doorstop carvings of rye bread accompanied a ramekin of unset chicken pâté, sealed with a slab of herbed butter. The onion jam improved the ‘liquefaction’ of the pâté that I scooped onto the table-thick bread.

I saw no evidence of prosciutto.

My dinner guest ordered the First Light Wagu sirloin, a 200gm extravagance at $65. He chose sautéed potatoes, vegetables and a green peppercorn sauce to accompany it. The sautéed potatoes were whole, small, boiled examples, briefly introduced to a hot pan. They at least looked appetising, which is not a description one could say about the vegetables – a selection of roasted rootvegetables mixed with spinach that had the taste and consistency of aged-invalid

food liberated from a bain-marie.

The steak was a thinnish slab of meat that would have been difficult to cook to the preferred medium-rare level because of its cut. Our waitress assured us it was super-tender and could be cut with a fork.

This may have been possible if the fork was razor-sharp on one side.

The peppercorn sauce looked exhausted, and gave as much lift to the steak as a dispirited ‘hurrah’.

I ordered the First Light Wagu rump at $45 for 300gm. I wanted it rare but was persuaded to have it medium-rare. What I got was medium. I complained that it was over-cooked, which wasn’t strictly correct as it was medium-well done around the edges and medium-rare in the middle.

This is usual for a thin-cut steak.

The wait staff immediately replaced it. In fact the staff were very good, in particular Di, the maître d’. She was attentive, informative and professional.

I also had the aforementioned deceased vegetables and fries. The fries were perhaps the best I have had for a long time – excellent. It may just have been the steak that didn’t work on the day.

I understand the real kobe beef is actually massaged every day. With this wagu beef the only thing massaged was my wallet, I thought.

The wine list is decent enough but a bit of work needs doing in the kitchen before this place can call itself a steakhouse worthy of feeding a knowledgeable Nebraskan.

New Street Stakehouse Cost: One starter and two mains, plus bottle of wine $170 Value for money: Food: Atmosphere: Service:

Prego Mediterranean Foods & Comida - two of Nelson’s finest ingredients in one location

Happy Hour? Heaven Hour!

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Two glasses of local wine or beer, a tasting plate of cheese to share and some good company.

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61

WINE

I

worked in a rather grand restaurant once where I made the terrible mistake of serving the wrong vintage of a bottle of wine to a guest. He benefited from my mistake, as the older vintage I served him was several hundred pounds more expensive than the one he ordered.

Why the difference in price? Because in terms of producing top-class wines, some years are fantastic and others are challenging. So what was the current vintage like in Marlborough and Nelson?

I rang around a number of respected winemakers and winery owners and asked how it has been. Cyclone Debbie did both Nelson and Marlborough some damage and I feared that the results wouldn’t be pleasant.

As everyone knows, this summer went AWOL. My vegetable garden has been a disaster. But what of the wineries?

Two major storms happened – Debbie and Cook, both bringing rain at the wrong time. Rain prior to harvest can swell the fruit and dilute flavours, or worse, introduce rot into the vineyard.

These events were on top of that lessthan-sterling summer. The sugar levels in the grapes were not at the optimum levels before most vineyard managers decided the fruit had to be picked. For vineyards that managed the vine canopies and optimised the ripening of the fruit while also reducing bunch concentration, thus helping to avoid rot, the early harvesting varieties didn’t fare too badly.

We are talking about pinot noir, chardonnay and, to a lesser degree, pinot gris. Yes, the sugar levels were down but so were the acids, meaning the fruit remained in balance. An upside of reduced sugar levels is that winemakers don’t have to struggle with high alcohol levels in their wines.

Some of the larger wineries that are quantity-driven may find this vintage difficult, especially for sauvignon blanc.

Increased bunch levels means flavour dilution, and the chance of rot may be heightened. As one vineyard owner told me, if a winemaker spent most of his or her time velcroed to the office chair and didn’t liaise closely with contract growers, then they probably received a nasty surprise, particularly in Marlborough with sauvignon blanc.

This is never going to be a great vintage, but not perhaps the disaster that others had predicted. My advice to the wine-drinking public is to look at some of the boutique quality-driven growers 62

Image: Tohu Wines

A harvest with challenges B Y P H I L L I P R E AY

and be prepared to step up from bargainbasement wines.

For the cheaper wines of the 2017 vintage, you will definitely get what you pay for. Pay a little bit more and search out those smaller wineries and you will find a marked difference in quality.

Both chardonnay and pinot noir have fared okay but the savvies will be a mixed bag. Overall, the harvest was a little less than last year. This was a mixed blessing for Marlborough as Kaikoura earthquake damage has reduced capacity in some wineries.

Nelson fared better than Marlborough but this was not a stellar vintage for either of the regions.

Image: Seifrieds Image: Seifrieds

"This is never going to be a great vintage, but perhaps not the disaster that others had predicted."

Seifried founder Herman Seifried

BEER

"It may be too huge for this fragile planet so enjoy this beer like it was the last one on Earth."

Dive into IPA heaven

BY MARK PREECE

I

ndia pale ale is the fastest-growing sector in the brewing industry, and the brews are just getting better.

The recent New World Beer & Cider Awards drew more than 70 entries, from 45 breweries in the ‘hotly contested’ IPA class, says Michael Donaldson, chair of the independent judges. “There are so many techniques to brewing an IPA: different ways to use hops, malt structure, bitter-sweet balance, level of alcohol. All of these create varied flavour profiles that the judges have to assess.”

The ‘technical excellence’ of Epic’s Armageddon IPA won the judges over for the second year running, says Michael.

“It’s now the benchmark for quality in the IPA category.”

He adds that with the local craft-

brewing industry growing strongly, there’s never been more competition for retail shelf-space. “These awards make gold-medal winners available in all New World stores nationwide. They help shoppers explore outside their comfort zone and give them the confidence to try the unfamiliar. When they choose a goldmedal beer or cider they can be sure it’s a very good drop.”

Go on – explore outside your comfort zone and try a brew from some of the class champions below: Epic’s Armageddon I.P.A., 6.7% ABV. They say: ‘In the beginning, there was nothing. Then an impish brewer piled a ludicrous amount of hops into a batch of beer. This zymurgical big bang is Epic Armageddon, an apocalyptic assault on

your preconceptions and taste buds.

It may be too huge for this fragile planet so enjoy this beer like it was the last one on Earth.’

Bach Brewing’s Driftwood Session Pale Ale, 5.0% ABV. They say: ‘Our newest beer, just released, is an easy-drinking and tasty pale ale.

Brewed with predominantly Riwaka hops from Nelson, and supported by a couple of American hop-stars, Amarillo and Citra, plus a handful of specialty malts from Gladfield Malt on Canterbury Plains, NZ.’ Good George’s Amber Ale, 3.7% ABV. They say: ‘Brewed with a classic English bitter in mind. This beer is about rich, caramel malts, balanced with a dash of colonial hops. The ‘hard worker’s’ beer – we’ll let you have a couple.’

Deep Creek’s Dusty Gringo India Brown Ale, 6.8% ABV. They say: ‘This beer represents the rugged edge of the Wild West cowboy. A swig of this tasty brew charges your senses with the aromas of a mountain range of malt, and a hop kick reminiscent of that trusty steed’s hoof. The floral and citrus flavours imparted from the Cascade, Amarillo and Centennial hops ride on a powerful chocolate malt base. A strong companion to explore the badlands.’

Sparks Brewing Outlander Extra Stout, 6.2% ABV. They say: ‘A dark and intensely roasty ale, with strong aromas of chocolate and coffee. The rich body is balanced with allNew Zealand hops added late in the boil, and a good layering of crystal malt leaves a hint of liquorice and an almost rum-like quality to the finish.’

63

BUSINESS PROFILE

“The expertise from the advisory panel has been priceless, with seven sets of eyes looking at our company.”

C R A I G H I N TO N , RV W O R L D , 2016 BUSINESS A C C E L E R ATO R W I N N E R

Business Accelerator Judges and Advisors: L to R: Rick Farr, Emma Thompson, Manoli Aerakis, Matt Peacey, Matt Stringer, Julie Baxendine, Conal Beban. Photo Ana Galloway

Business Accelerator competition boosts businesses

BY ANNABEL KEMPLEN

E

ntries are now open to the 2017 Top-of-the-South Business Accelerator competition that offers a $35,000 prize package of consultancy services from local business experts.

The Business Accelerator competition is the ideal opportunity for a Nelson or Marlborough business to realise its full growth potential, supported by a team of specialist advisors. The judging panel will be looking for evidence of success to date, opportunity for growth and the ability to leverage the expertise on offer. Entries are submitted online, with selected finalists then presenting their businesses to the judges.

The competition began in 2014 initiated by a group of leading local businesses as a way to help small and medium sized businesses from any sector or industry access the experience and tools needed to move forward and achieve growth.

Resident judges and advisors are Manoli Aerakis, partner at RWCA; Julie Baxendine, General Manager, Intepeople; Rick Farr, C&F Legal Director; Emma Thompson, Managing Director, etc communications ltd; Matt Stringer, ASB Bank Business Manager; entrepreneur 64

Guest Judge, Pic Picot, Founder Pic’s Peanut Butter. Photo Daniel Allen

Matthew Peacey, and Conal Beban, Regional Manager of Abbott Insurance Brokers Nelson Marlborough Ltd. Pic Picot of Pic’s Peanut Butter is the latest business name to join the qualified line-up of judges. Pic started his peanut butter business with a $10,000 concrete mixer and a tonne of peanuts and now exports internationally to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Britain and the United States.

Pic says he is looking forward to being this year’s Business Accelerator guest judge. “I love watching for trends and the changes that innovation is bringing around the world and particularly here in Nelson. I’ll be looking for scalable business models, firm objectives and people with absolute faith in the value of their proposed activity.”

Winning last year was a turning point for RV World, say owners Craig and Sharlee Hinton. RV World was the first, and is now the biggest, online store for parts and accessories for motorhomes and caravans in New Zealand.

“We’ve done a lot in the last year and achieved many of our business goals. The expertise from the advisory panel has been priceless, with seven sets of eyes looking at our company.”

Andrew Schwass from 2015 winning business Trail Journeys concurs about the value of the competition: “We have plans in place now that we wouldn’t have done or thought to do without the guidance of the Business Accelerator advisors.”

The $35,000 prize package includes pivotal business services of accounting, regulatory processes, law, business banking, commercial management, human resources, insurance and PR and marketing. The winner also has their own advisory ‘board’ for 12 months comprised of the Business Accelerator advisors: RWCA, Intepeople, ASB Bank, Abbott Insurance Brokers, C & F Legal, INNOVATE and etc communications.

Small-to-medium businesses in Nelson and Marlborough are invited to apply online by 5pm, Friday 30 June 2017.

Contact innovatenelson.com/ business-accelerator

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65

T R AV E L

Happy mayhem in the Himalayas T E X T A N D I M A G E S B Y M AT T H AY E S

I

leave my apartment on Sunday morning in a plain white t-shirt, unsure what the day will bring but hopeful that my shirt will be multi-coloured by sunset.

I’ve been living in Nepal for the past eight months, and this will be my first Holi in the country. The famous Hindu festival of colours, which marks the victory of the god Vishnu over the evil king Hiranyakashipu, is huge in India – but do Nepalis celebrate it with the same gusto?

At first, it doesn’t seem like it. I look around Bhaktapur’s Taumadhi Square for signs of activity, but not much seems to be happening. Old women, sitting cross-legged on hessian mats, sell bananas and cucumbers to passersby. Street dogs stretch out languidly on the sun-warmed flagstones, and the gnarled old mountain-goat that roams these parts wanders loftily from shop to shop.

Perched at the top of Nyatapola Temple’s steep steps, a few university students chat among themselves, and a mother snaps photos of her young son as he sits astride one of the mythical stone lions protecting the temple entrance. Slightly disappointed by all this normality, I climb to a rooftop restaurant overlooking the square, and order my usual breakfast of aloo paratha, a spicy potato-filled flatbread served with yoghurt.

As I look down on the placid scenes below, I hear what sounds like a protest march. Passionate shouts, coming from a nearby lane, grow louder as the marchers approach. Suddenly, several dozen young Nepalis in paint-spattered shirts enter the square, and with a great rallying cry, charge towards a group of tourists carrying expensive cameras. The tourists, fearing for their Nikons, scatter in all directions.

The festival has begun. I gulp down the rest of my paratha and run downstairs, hoping to join the action.

66

Not wanting to come on too strong, I amble past the group of troublemakers. Before long, a girl wearing a drenched ‘I Can’t Afford to Love NY’ t-shirt spots my temptingly clean clothes, and begins walking towards me. She very politely wipes a fingertip of purple gulal powder on my cheek, and then, flashing her disarming Kate Winslet smile, asks for a drink from my water bottle. But no sooner do I hand it over than she empties it over my head, and with a maniacal laugh, hurls her remaining fistful of gulal powder at me.

“Join us,” she implores. “We’re going to march again now.”

Our group continues down the narrow, brick-cobbled lanes of Bhaktapur’s old town. At the head of the pack, a young man shouts “Happy” at the top of his lungs, to which the ecstatic rejoinder is “Holi”. The chant sometimes breaks off into Nepali folk and pop songs.

Alerted by our racket, children station themselves at the windows and rooftops of medieval houses lining the way.

Bucketfuls of water rain down on us from above. Water balloons swish past us, tossed by culprits in alleyways, on passing motorbikes, or hiding behind Hindu shrines – where pious old men somehow continue to light candles and pray amid the commotion.

As we walk through Durbar Square, home to Bhaktapur’s former royal palace, we pass a group of 20-somethings who have already begun the second-most-popular Holi ritual: heavy drinking. What distinguishes them from any other huddle of drunken youths is that nearly all of them are playing madal drums or tambourines. In the middle of the circle, two leather-clad and cigarette-smoking dancers give a makeshift performance of what seems to represent a duel between man and lion.

Eventually we reach Siddha Pokhari, a 600-year-old man-

As we speed along a winding country road, past red brick kilns, yellow mustard fields and green rice paddies, I become aware of just how happy I am.

made lake surrounded by high walls and shade-giving trees.

Normally, it’s a tranquil spot where young people go for discreet rendezvous, but today it’s a venue for further chaos.

Throngs of people use the freezing lake-water to fill their balloons. When the sun sails behind clouds, everyone gets goosebumps and begins to shiver.

A little girl, having used her diminutive stature to remain unnoticed and unscathed herself, somehow manages to strike me in the face with a balloon from a distance of 10 metres. I run a few steps towards her, growling like a tiger with my arms outstretched, and it’s not without some gratification that I see her almost fall into the lake as she squeals and turns to flee.

A few local friends of mine arrive. They’ve arranged a trip to a nearby river, so I jump on the back of one of their motorbikes. As we speed along a winding country road, past red brick kilns, yellow mustard fields and green rice paddies, I become aware of just how happy I am.

The air, warmed by the sun and freshened by yesterday’s unseasonal rainfall, rushes across my face and dries my clothes and skin. The vague but pleasant sensation described

by John Updike in The Happiest I’ve Been, of being perpetually ‘picked up and carried somewhere’, is precisely what I feel during this entire day of Holi.

All through the fields, and in every street of every town, people of all ages are playing games. In some spots, boys line the road or lurk in trees, ready to ambush passing vehicles. In the far distance I see a group of children running down a slope, arms flailing crazily, chasing something I don’t have time to notice before my view is blocked by yet another fleeting scene.

The details on their own are little ones, but as always with travel, the accumulation of these small details, of minor scenes glimpsed in passing, ultimately morphs into an impression so strong that the corresponding emotion stays with you forever.

Life, as Horace acknowledges in his best odes, passes all too swiftly. We should therefore enjoy it while it lasts, and ‘whatever days fortune will give, count them as profit’. In any case, as a speeding motorcycle carries me to some unknown Himalayan river, I realise with satisfaction that my t-shirt has become multi-coloured.

When a disability makes even everyday activities a struggle imagine what it must feel like out here .

For people with disabilities, sailing provides a unique sense of freedom and movement – life’s daily frustrations are forgotten. Sailing pushes comfort zones and there are new risks to overcome. The sheer joy of sailing is immense for someone with a disability.

Sailability Nelson is one of ten active clubs across New Zealand, all of whom are part of a worldwide movement.

From the Nelson Yacht Club we sail two person Hansa yachts set up for any disability and any age. Each yacht has an experienced sailor helper and each sail is for around 30 minutes.

Our sailing season commences in October and we will sail every second Sunday until mid-March.

Please join us on a Sunday sail day and see what a difference we’re making. You are welcome to support us by becoming a volunteer, helper sailor, sponsor, or donor.

To discuss how you would like to help please contact John MacDuff: 0274 245 112. macduff@tasman.net

Join us to help disabled Nelsonians experience the freedom and joy of sailing. sailabilitynelson.org.nz

67

A DV E N T U R E

Team Virbac Animal Health headed for a win in the 2017 Godzone mixed pursuit section; teammates Anthony Oswald (left) and Brendan Hickman

Relentlessly forward to victory B Y A N N A B E L L E L AT Z PHOTOGRAPHY ALEX SOCCI

T

he pressure of defending a title always adds extra fuel to a race.

GODZone – ‘An adventure like no other’, as it’s been coined – was just that according to teammates Brendan Hickman and Anthony Oswald.

These adventure racers took it all in their dusty stride and gruelling pedal stroke.

Hailing from Ward and the Awatere Valley, Brendan and Anthony, Virbac Animal Health veterinarians based in Nelson and Taihape respectively, took top spot in last year’s pursuit section of GODZone. With new teammates Adam Stanyer and Tina Moore, they took top honours once again for 2017.

Standing on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in February, at the start line of a journey that would cover 360km of southern terrain, they were sure as heck going to put up a fight to win. With little idea about the quality of the 14 other teams in their section, a successful campaign relied on careful planning.

“The race was all about being competitive: good preparation, a well68

organised support crew, quick transitions, RMF, (relentless forward motion) and minimal sleep,” says Anthony.

For three days and 13 hours this team trekked, mountain biked, kayaked, ‘gorgeered’, rafted and abseiled their way around the land and in the waters surrounding Queenstown.

Hitting the top of the climbs – in particular the trek up Mt Crichton – rafting the Skippers Canyon and mountain biking into Halfway Bay were just some of the highlights.

“Especially the last paddle for our team – Lake Wakatipu was like glass,” says Brendan. “We were in a drag race and had to give it our all, mentally and physically.” The course to victory wasn’t plain sailing. Anthony broke his derailleur just 50 metres into the first mountain bike, but thankfully it was downhill into Queenstown, where they got themselves sorted.

The team were in a solid first position at the final trek, but bluffs and dubious ridgelines posed challenges and meant very slow-going. They thought they’d lost

their lead to second-placed team Best Foot Forward, which included a local link in Marlborough-born, Queenstown-based Kate Baxter.

“Walking into transition at Kingston after that trek, thinking we had blown our lead, only to find out we were still 30 minutes ahead, was a real highlight,” says Anthony.

Brendan adds: “Crossing the finish line after that was quite emotional for our entire team. Our support crew and families had been riding an emotional rollercoaster with us throughout the last day.”

For Adam, a Nelson-based vet, this was his first adventure race. Although his knee gave him some solid gyp, he loved his adventure, and encourages anyone to have a go. “There are so many things you can’t predict … but that’s what makes it special. Once you have done this race – sure, you will hit some highs and lows – you will never forget the journey that you made as a team.” Virbac Animal Health raised nearly $4000 for Starship Hospital, a recipient particularly close to the heart of Anthony. His young daughter Pippa underwent open-heart surgery when she was just five days old. She’s now a healthy five-year-old.

“Starship is such an amazing place, and my wife Charlotte and I have always wanted to give something back,” says Anthony.

The team paid tribute to their support crew: “Thank you so much for being so energetic, positive and making sure we had fast transitions,” says Brendan. “Chris Royds, Kevin Graham, Kieran Hickman and Brad Moore deserve huge accolades as they did superbly. They went with minimal sleep, lots of curveballs and pressure to get it right, which they did.”

B OAT I N G

A dream job funded online

BY STEVE THOMAS

R

eality check. A recent Facebook post I clicked on recently shows that we’ve moved from the information age to the idea age.

Jobs are on the way out. Embracing entrepreneurship will be the only way to feed our families in the near-future.

Blimey. A quick google of ‘entrepreneur’ ensued. “A person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.”

That’s me! Relief flowed through my veins until I realised profit is an important element to this.

While I’m still recovering, a shining example of entrepreneurship pops up on my Facebook newsfeed: Sailing La Vagabonde, featuring two enterprising Aussies, Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu.

The young lovebirds met in the Greek Islands three years ago. Elayna was working for a travel company and Riley had just bought a 43ft Beneteau yacht. It seems neither had a clue about how to sail nor how much money a boat costs to run.

A short time after a whirlwind decision to go sailing together, they are nearly broke. Elayna unearths a brandnew Canon G1X Powershot camera from Riley’s stash of boat gear and starts filming some of their adventures. She then uploads content onto YouTube, mainly so friends and family can see what they are up to.

Thing is, before long, they have a growing list of YouTube subscribers demanding more and more videos – 250,000 fans to be exact, with well over three million views per month.

The finance problem remains: how to

monetise these entertaining adventures?

Solved. A few subscribers suggest the two join up to Patreon, a crowd-funding website. The concept allows creative people from all walks of life to basically fund their craft. Subscribers donate X amount of dollars per movie, comic book, painting, whatever it is, out of the kindness of their own hearts.

Sailing La Vagabonde now has around 1500 ‘patrons’, generating US$10,000 per video episode. Episode 85 has just been released – you do the maths.

But it’s not all about money. It’s a way to fund a lifestyle that most of us only dream about. Not surprisingly, marketers have latched on to this concept pretty quickly.

After gaining confidence sailing down to New Zealand late last year, our

intrepid Aussies dreamed of a bigger boat. A catamaran would be just dandy.

They approached world-renowned French company Outremer with a plan.

It went something like this: “We don’t have any cash but will you guys give us one of your new $1 million-plus catamarans? We’ll sail it around the world and continue our adventures. We can sort of pay you off over time.”

Crazy? Maybe so, but the marketing guys quickly jump aboard. What better way to promote their brand to an audience craving to live their own dreams. Here’s a couple of young kids living theirs and sharing it with the world.

Marketing heaven.

My advice (if you should choose to accept it); watch a few episodes of Sailing La Vagabonde on YouTube. It’s the future coming at you full-blast.

Yacht, Launch and Commercial Vessel Sales Your first port of call!

nzboatsales.com 69

MOTORING

Hyundai’s baby SUV

BY GEOFF MOFFETT

W

ith its butch good looks and red-and-black colour scheme, Hyundai’s newest little hatchback, the i20 Cross, has punters craning their heads into showrooms.

The South Korean maker’s small car now comes in ‘Cross’ and ‘Hatch’ versions. The big difference is the more impressive look of the Cross, which Hyundai is gently marketing as a baby SUV. That makes sense, with the Cross sitting higher by 20mm on 17-inch (vs 16-inch) alloy wheels and looking more muscly with its black wheel arches and side-skirt mouldings, roof rails, nudge bar and skid plates front and rear.

The i20 will certainly have high-$20k buyers adding it to their comparison list. The decently equipped little car also has rain-sensing wipers and headlights, keyless entry and Bluetooth, tyre pressure monitoring, A/C glovebox cooling, lane departure warning, heated and electrically folding

mirrors, and cornering lights.

You’ve got a reversing camera, too, although it’s pretty small – located in the rear-view mirror – and a central information screen matched with a rather old-fashioned looking digital readout. Other controls are plain and simple, which is no bad thing, and the seats are comfortable and supportive.

There’s good space inside (326 litres of luggage space and with 60-40 rear folding seats) and all drivers will like the easy entry and exit from the seats.

On the road, the little Hyundai is a pleasant drive but you will need to mash the accelerator to get spritely performance – I don’t think the Hayden Paddon rally-driving allusions in the car’s marketing are entirely apt. The i20 comes with a non-turbo 1.4-litre engine producing just 74kw of power. Added to that it drives through a four-speed automatic transmission, which is a bit of a flashback to earlier days.

“You will need to mash the accelerator to get spritely performance – I don’t think the Hayden Paddon rally-driving allusions in the car’s marketing are entirely apt.”

Now, there’s no need to go speeding about our roads but the lack of oomph can be telling when you need to overtake or are heading up hills. You can maximise performance by using the manual gear mode available.

Left to its own devices, however, the little engine is uncomplaining and will deliver good fuel economy. That will be quite enough for lots of buyers unconcerned by power figures but who want to sit up higher at the wheel – SUV-style – and pootle about town.

Although the four-speed gearbox seems antiquated in these days where six speeds is almost a starting point, you actually don’t seem to be missing an extra gear or two out on the road.

The car certainly handles well with direct steering, and Hyundai makes much of the fact that it’s built with extensive use of ultra-high-strength steel, which helps in body rigidity and, therefore, in keeping the i20 planted on the road. It cruises quietly with a solid feel. The warning device that beeps the instant you creep out of your lane is a terrific safety feature you’d never have found on such a small car even a year or two ago.

The Hyundai has stiff competition in the small-car market, but the baby-SUV good looks of the i20 Cross will win its share of buyers, even if performance isn’t top of the class.

Tech spec

Model reviewed: Hyundai i20 Cross Price: $27,990 (Hatch $24,990) Power: 4-cylinder, 1396cc, four-speed auto; 74kw @ 6000rpm, 134NM @ 3500rpm Fuel economy: 6.7l/100km Vehicle supplied by Bowater Hyundai 70

RSP

The all-new i20 Cross

$ 27,990 +ORC’s

Imagine all the benefits of a small car combined with the rugged off road presence of a Kiwi family wagon. Featuring a strong, fluidic exterior design coupled with superior technology and an efficient engine, the all new i20 Cross is built to make every day an adventure.

Bowater Hyundai 106 Rutherford Street, Nelson 03 545 8032 | www.bowaterhyundai.co.nz

Imagine all the benefits of a small car combined with the rugged off road presence of a Kiwi family wagon.

Featuring a strong, fluidic exterior design coupled with superior technology and an efficient engine, the all new i20 Cross is built to make every day an adventure.

Bowater Hyundai 106 Rutherford Street, Nelson 03 545 8032 | www.bowaterhyundai.co.nz

10,990

25,990

$

2016 Renault Captur

When you are 12,990 about 17,990 serious property

Finance Example: $2000 deposit which could include your trade in. Then just $40* per week for 60 months and a final payment of $2000 and the car is all yours to keep.

1.2 TURBO petrol 6 x speed auto heated leather seats

$

2007 Hyundai Sonata

2.0 diesel auto

2012 Isuzu D-MAX LS 3.0 diesel auto 4WD

2014 Mitsi Lancer GSR

Finance Example: $5000 deposit which could include your trade in. Then just $50* per week for 60 months and a final payment of $5000 and the car is all yours to keep.

38,990

$

2008 Toyota Highlander 3.5 petrol auto AWD Limited

Finance Example: $5000 deposit which could include your trade in. Then just $99.84* per week for 60 months and a final payment of $5000 and the car is all yours to keep.

26,990

$

Auto

$

27,990

$

2004 Honda Accord EURO L

NZ new, 2.4 auto heated leather seats, electric glass sunroof

$

2014 Hyundai ix35 2.0 petrol auto 2WD

Finance Example: $5000 deposit which could include your trade in. Then just $94.96* per week for 60 months and a final payment of $5000 and the car is all yours to keep.

41,990

44,990

$

2016 Hyundai Tucson 1.6 petrol TURBO AWD Elite leather seats

Ross Prangnell 021 583 085

$

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Elite Leather 7 x seats 2.4 petrol auto

Finance Example: $10000 deposit which could include your trade in. Then just $143* per week for 60 months and a final payment of $10000 and the car is all yours to keep.

31,990

$

2013 Holden Commodore Calais-V Auto

Finance Example: $7000 deposit which could include your trade in. Then just $103.64* per week for 60 months and a final payment of $7000 and the car is all yours to keep.

30,990

$

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 diesel auto AWD elite 7 x leather seats

47,990

$

LE PIC SAMP

2014 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 diesel auto AWD Elite 7 x leather seats

Finance Example: $10000 deposit which could include your trade in. Then just $158.14* per week for 60 months and a final payment of $10000 and the car is all yours to keep.

Finance Terms and Conditions. All finance offers are subject to normal lending criteria. *Quotes based on 9.95% + standard doc fees. Total amount payable under finance term can be calculated by multiplying the payment by 260 and adding the final payment if mentioned.

03 548 7705 | www.remax.co.nz Fifeshire Realty Ltd, Licensed Under REAA 2008. Each office independently owned and operated.

DOING MORE FROM

FOR SALE TO SOLD

CH-7623022AA

Call the award-winning RE /MAX Elite Team

That’s the sign of a RE/MAX agent

71

ARTS

W

ith the annual Founders Book Fair in full swing this month, from the 3rd to the 11th, the region’s book lovers will once again descend on the historic park.

Among them will be award-winning Picton illustrator, artist and art educator Caroline della Porta, with her own very singular idea about what she will do with her finds.

“Part of my English childhood was the 1960s-70s Readers Digest Condensed Books, with their printed cardboard covers. They are so distinctive, right down to the paper they’re printed on, the inks used in their illustrations, the lithographic printing process. Nowadays they have a real retro look that I find very intriguing.”

Visiting the Book Fair over the years, Caroline rediscovered these books and realised their dated, seemingly redundant nature meant they were increasingly destined for landfill. So she began collecting them, with no particular aim in mind.

She tore off and saved the covers – “To my mind, they are little artworks in their own right” – along with the illustrations from inside.

“I recalled from my art school days back in England studying the work of Tom Phillips, who reinvented ‘found’ text by drawing, painting and collaging over book pages, leaving some of the original text to show through. You might say he was doing a form of artistic upcycling.”

So Caroline took her Founders Park gems and began playing about. “I used the old covers as canvas backgrounds, and covered them in part with assorted 72

Book Fair a creative goldmine for artist

BY JOHN COHEN-DU FOUR

cut-out illustrations. Then I started adding paint here and there.”

In going through the books, Caroline found that certain lines in the original text seemed rich with storytelling possibilities – “Sometimes they just stand out on a page” – so she began collecting these too.

“Then everything just seemed to come together,” she says. “The cardboard covers gave the new mini-artworks their dimension and backdrop, while the

varied composition of layered collage and painted elements created new visual narratives, which were brought to further life with strips of text. Each piece was like a single frame in a movie; a wee graphic novel. They took on lives of their own.”

Caroline sees her creations as unique collaborations, “between myself in discovering and appropriating the material, and whoever were the original illustrators and writers. It’s like a creative joint effort – made over time.”

The series of works, which Caroline entitled Cover-ups, are sold as individual pieces, each inviting viewers into their enigmatic scenarios.

“People determine for themselves what is being revealed in the stories.

There’s a Stepford Wives kind of look and feel to the books’ original illustrations, so I like to juxtapose these with text that plays on more modern feminist notions.

It creates strangely revealing scenes where surreal fantasies can emerge.

And whimsy.”

Cover-ups works are available from the Suter Art Gallery store. To learn more about Caroline’s work go to cdpillustration. wordpress.com.

G A L L E RY M U S T- H AV E S

2

1

3 1.

Wind Rider Buller’s Albatross Southern Ocean, Collin Wynn, acrylic, Detour Gallery, Blenheim, detourgallery.nz, 021 254 2489, $9,200

2. Charisse Papworth, stainless steel pendant, Forest Fusion, Mapua wharf, 03 540 2961, forestfusion.com 3. Custom made 9 carat yellow gold and amethyst ring, from Benjamin Black Goldsmiths, 176 Bridge Street, Nelson, 03 546 9137, benjaminblack.co.nz

4

4. Kathaleen Bartha, Jewel in the Crown, Atkins Gallery, Nelson, 03 545 6010, atkinsgallery.nz

5

5. Bill Burke, Cardrona Hotel, Central Otago, oil, 1120 x 900mm, Bill Burke Gallery, Nelson, 03 546 6793, billburke.co.nz 6. Jane Smith, SoufflĂŠe, oil on canvas, commissions from $240, Chocolate Dog Studio, Mapua, chocolatedogstudio.nz, 03 540 2007

6

73

BOOKS

“Homegrown Kitchen is a book for people who love to cook from scratch (fresh food) without spending hours in the kitchen.”

OTHER RECENT RELEASES

Local, fresh and inspirational food C O M P I L E D B Y LY N D A PA P E S C H

N

elson chef/author Nicola Galloway’s latest book Homegrown Kitchen is a complete guide to eating well for those who love to cook fresh food.

Beginning with a comprehensive section on the kitchen essentials, including sourdough bread, home preserving and fermentation, the book is then divided into breakfast, lunch and main meal chapters, followed by a chapter on indulgent sweet treats.

Inspired by her large garden, Nicola creates food in rhythm with the changing seasons, with fresh homegrown and local produce forming the base of her recipes.

With a young family, her food focus is on simple and delicious family-friendly recipes using pantry staples that are packed with nutrients. Nicola also has a particular interest in healthful traditional cooking techniques, such as sourdough bread and fermentation, and simplifying them so they can fit into our busy modern lives. Those who’ve tried her latest recipes say the instructions are easy to follow and the recipes work well.

A collection of over 100 real food recipes, this is a book for people who love 74

to cook from scratch (fresh food) without spending hours in the kitchen. This is the only cookbook you will need to eat well.

Nicola planned her latest book for some time, but last year decided it was time to sit down and complete it.

“I put my head down and wrote and photographed it.

“I’ve taken what I’ve learned from those years of cooking and teaching other people how to cook, and I’ve heard what other people say about time being a big factor. I’ve tried to simplify my recipes as much as I can.”

Nicola writes and photographs the popular, award-winning food blog Homegrown Kitchen, and is the author of three cookbooks including Feeding Little Tummies. She is WildTomato’s My Kitchen columnist, regularly contributes recipes to magazines, is a trained chef with a nutrition diploma, and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for eating well.

Homegrown Kitchen Nicola Galloway Potton & Burton

International travel authority Lonely Planet has worked with a worldwide network of beer-loving travel writers (and well-travelled beer journalists) to select great taprooms and bars in the finest breweries that thirsty travellers can visit in more than 30 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

Lonely Planet’s Global Beer Tour Lonely Planet

Wind on the Withers is a collection of photography and poetry celebrating the Withers, from familiar scenes to unexpected detail. The poetry includes a wide range of styles with everything from haiku to an obvious tribute to Bob Dylan.

Wind on the Withers Christopher Cookson Copypress

BUSINESS PROFILE

Committed to the region

BY FRANK NELSON PHOTO FRANK NELSON

J

ohnston Associates South, a firm of chartered accountants with almost two dozen staff in the top of the South Island, has spent nearly 10 years putting down some deep roots in Nelson.

Now they’re looking for significant growth in Marlborough too.

“The Nelson business is doing very well and we found we had a lot of Marlborough-based clients,” said Ben Halliday, the firm’s business development manager. “And a lot of potential clients were saying how great it would be if the company had an office in Blenheim.”

So just over a year ago, Johnston Associates opened a small office tucked away on Maxwell Road; however, the company is now raising its profile with a move into larger, more prominent premises at 12 Main Street. “The new office is built for future growth,” Ben said.

The four Blenheim-based staff – Ben, Rob Rowe, Frances Mazzanti and Adrian Ferris – have just shifted into 115 square metres of office space above AMI Insurance, next door to Blenheim’s police station.

“People want to see that you’re committed to the region. They want to be able to pop in, drop things off, pick things up, come in and sign something,” says Ben. “So much of our business is face-to-face.

Nelson-based Brad McNeill (left) paid an early visit to the new Blenheim office of Johnston Associates South where he is pictured with three members of the Blenheim team – from left, Ben Halliday, Rob Rowe and Adrian Ferris. Ben says the larger premises will enable the company to grow in Marlborough.

“We don’t just post out your completed annual accounts. We like to sit down with our clients. We want to talk about how your business is doing, how do you want to grow, your goals and how can we help you. A lot of what we do is really around consulting and advisory. We get in front of our clients and we help them.”

One way the firm does that is by bringing staff with specific skills and experience over from Nelson. “A lot of my Nelson colleagues are over here almost every other day,” says Ben. “That was the other critical factor with the new office, being able to have ‘hot desks’ where they can meet clients and work.”

“It’s an exciting time to be in Nelson and Marlborough because their economies are doing so well.”

The business advisory team assists clients with a wide range of issues including cash-flow forecasting, valuations, debt structuring, risk management, company structures, tax planning, transfer pricing and succession planning.

Ben says many staff members also have first-hand knowledge of the

Marlborough industries their clients are working in. For example, he was formerly CEO of a contract winery and owns a vineyard.

Similarly, Havelock-based Dean Steele, the company’s founding partner, has experience in hospitality, owning the Havelock Motel and previously owning the popular Slip Inn Café.

Johnston Associates is also keen to expand its support for the Marlborough community, building on projects such as its sponsorship of both the Tasman Makos and the Tasman Makos Women’s rugby team: “That’s really lifted our brand profile,” Ben said.

“We’d be one of the fastest growing accounting firms in the Top of the South and we’re upping our commitment to the region. It’s an exciting time to be in Nelson and Marlborough because their economies are doing so well. The wine industry, marine farming, horticulture, forestry, farming, tourism … there’s a lot going on.”

Contact jacalsouthisland.nz Phone: 03 548 7437

75

MUSIC

Nelson entrant the Split Apple Rockers. Photo TVNZ

Singing ‘naked’ is tricky

BY PETE RAINEY

O

ne definition of a musical chord is ‘a harmonic set of pitches consisting of two or more (usually three) notes also called pitches, heard or sounded simultaneously’.

Many musical genres take delight in stacking up way more than three notes to twist and manipulate the listener or performer’s experience.

Essentially, however, when a bunch of musicians play together – whether it’s a choir, an orchestra, a band or any group – the relationship between the different notes or pitches produced by the individual musicians creates and sets the intonation of the performance.

At the very least, the complex relationships between different notes that have developed over hundreds of years allow us, the listener or performer, to experience a performance that is to our ears ‘in tune’ (or not).

It is possible on instruments that produce more than one note at a time, like a guitar or a piano, for a single musician to produce chords.

When a choir sings a cappella, or unaccompanied, it becomes more difficult because there is no instrument to help guide the intonation of the singers – they must control their voices and listen to one another to stay in tune.

A cappella is Italian for ‘in the manner of the chapel’. This is music (specifically group or solo singing) without instrumental accompaniment.

Even though historically vocal parts could have been 76

doubled by instruments, the term is now generally accepted to mean unaccompanied vocal music and is enjoying phenomenal popularity worldwide.

This is due in part to the BBC 2 series The Naked Choir, which debuted in September 2015. It was presented by choirmaster Gareth Malone and featured amateur choirs singing exclusively a cappella music. More than 400 choirs auditioned to take part in the first British series.

TVNZ has picked up on this new-found popularity by commissioning a local series of The Naked Choir. Our version is hosted by Wellington singer Jeff Hunkin, who grew up in a musical household in Tawa, and is an experienced singer, being part of The Musical Island Boys, who came first in the 2014 International Barbershop Singing Convention in Las Vegas.

I’m not sure how many choirs applied to take part in the New Zealand version, but on viewing the first programme it was quite apparent this was going to be a small-group exercise, not necessarily a choir competition.

The challenge of live TV performance certainly shows how tricky it is to sing a cappella effectively, and there were lots of intonation issues with the groups performing.

Plenty of evidence suggests that singing in choirs is very good for your brain, especially as you get older. Singing in an a cappella choir obviously extends that brain workout even further. I look forward to hearing more performances.

The Naked Choir is on TVNZ 1 at 8.30pm on Sundays

FILM

McLaren Documentary Directed by Roger Donaldson 92 minutes

BY MICHAEL BORTNICK

“L

ife is measured in achievement, not in years alone.”

– Bruce McLaren I got a speeding ticket once, apparently for going 61 in a 50km/hr zone.

The crime happened somewhere near Nelson. Certainly you all heard about it.

So, there goes 80 bucks.

Like most people, I enjoy being behind the wheel. I like a sporty car and I select them for how cool they look and if the colour matches my favourite scarf.

That’s where my auto awareness stops. Anything that happens under that bonnet is a mystery. For all I know, there is a giant hamster on a wheel making it go.

So, in blissful ignorance, I had zero acquaintance with a Kiwi fellow named Bruce McLaren. That has all changed after viewing a wonderfully-made New Zealand documentary, McLaren, directed by Roger Donaldson, famous for his work on The World’s Fastest Indian.

Being one of the most fascinating figures in motorsport history, McLaren is the perfect subject for a documentary.

As a nine-year-old in Auckland, he was diagnosed with Perthes disease in his hip, which left one leg shorter than the other. As treatment, he spent two years in a traction contraption made entirely of No.8 wire. From that time on, he walked with a limp.

His parents, Les and Ruth McLaren, literally lived off the smell of an oily rag as they owned a service station and workshop in Remuera.

During his formative years, Bruce spent his free hours hanging around the workshop, where he developed his passion

Honouring a Kiwi legend for racing. Old footage depicts his constant smile, enthusiasm and positive outlook.

McLaren swiftly went on to become one of the biggest names in the racing industry when, aged just 22, he became the youngest driver to win a Grand Prix. Then he won at Monaco, Le Mans and a host of Can-Am races.

Arguably, however, he was more important as a designer. What Bruce achieved, assisted by a small band of hardworking and dedicated Kiwis, is incredible.

Their accomplishments create a story that transcends motor racing and is relevant to anyone who sets out on a path despite the impediments, complications and challenges in their way.

As every Kiwi seems to know, McLaren died in a tragic accident at age 32.

A short life lived to its absolute fullest.

In the film, old friends and co-workers have nothing but praise for Bruce. They are joined by race drivers, from Mario Andretti to Jackie Stewart. Even though McLaren died nearly 50 years ago, they all are still wiping tears off their cheeks.

McLaren’s wife Patty also appears, but sadly, she died before the film was released.

Even if you aren’t a car person, the film should captivate you anyway because it’s a great story about a guy who was pretty unstoppable.

Bruce McLaren certainly sits in the New Zealand pantheon alongside Sir Ed Hillary, Sir Peter Snell and Phar Lap. Michael Bortnick has left the theatre to feed his hamster.

0800 000 525 0800 000 525

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www.mikepero.com www.mikepero.com www.mikepero.com 77

QUIZ

Crossword

Across 01. Vicious 05. Increased in size 07. Prepared 08. Turn over 09. Paper quantity 10. Shopping mall 11. Draw forth 13. Udder tip 14. Bicycle for two 18. Blush 21. Yoked beasts 22. South American parrots 24. Absurd 25. Burrowing mammal 26. No longer here 27. Return (of symptoms) 28. Invites 29. Type of wasp

Sudoku

Down 01. Quietest 02. Meat jelly 03. Burst 04. Spanish bullfighter 05. Rotated 06. Originate 12. Chill 15. Nervously tense 16. Ballerinas 17. King or queen 19. Chapter in history 20. Most inquisitive 22. Incense resin 23. Large roll of tobacco

Every number from 1 to 9 must appear in: Each of the nine horizontal rows Each of the nine vertical columns Each of the nine 3x3 boxes

Wordfind U E H P M O I R T E D C R A J

Last month’s solutions CROSSWORD

Remember no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

SUDOKU

D U N V E N O T R E D A M E D

E T J R N R B S N O I S N E P

I S X X G S V R E F A C M B E

F T N R O O Y W I J U U L I S

F K T D L P P A N D S D S B S

E A N Z U Z O T W E G R I L A

L I S A O S R M E H E E E I N

T T J J B E R D P T G F S O R

O E D Q E T O E N I T I I T A

W T S S D R H I T B D H H H P

E U Y R S C A G A I S O C E T

R L V A I P Y N I A R F U Q N

E C Y V O F K C F R W W W U O

I L G O B O R O U G H S H E M

Find all the words listed hidden in the grid of letters. They can be found in straight lines up, down, forwards, backwards or diagonally.

Theme: PARISIAN TOUR

ARC DE TRIOMPHE BIBLIOTHEQUE BOIS DE BOULOGNE BOROUGHS BRIDGES CAFE EIFFEL TOWER ELYSEE FASHION HIGHWAYS LEFT BANK LUTETIA MONTPARNASSE MUSEE D’ORSAY NOTRE DAME PAINTERS PENSIONS POMPIDOU RIGHT BANK WRITERS

Anagram WORDFIND ANAGRAM Stapler, Photocopier, Telephone, Computer, Calculator Mystery word: PRINTER

V A L I G H T A E P I V A

S Q S F L Q S E I P P U G

D U A D A R O C K S F R G

M A D A S G T S Q A D E F

A R A S S U R R E T L I F

K I F N R C H A R C O A L

L U S E G N E D V R U P R

T M T W A E N L E E R L N

O D N E G A L T O W L Y E

L A A D T F A F A P K N O

O W L S P E G T I O D I N

X E P Q H H E C P S B A S

A Q B W U R H W L K H W T

Unscramble the letters of the phrases to make five words relating to the theme, each starting with the given letter. The letters in the shaded squares will spell out another word relating to the theme. This is the mystery keyword.

LOG RAIL ZAP NICE HEM SOME MART OUTRAN NAG IN A TRAM

78

G C M O T

Theme: PRIMATES

Lifestyle/ Business Nelson Rare opportunity to secure an income and lifestyle in one of New Zealand’s most sought after locations.

Vinpro Nelson supports Nelson’s award-winning wine growers with a variety of quality professional services including static bottling, mobile bottling, temperature-smoothed warehousing and distribution.

Vinpro operates for only 4 months (approx. 110 working days) of the year leaving plenty of time to do the things you love.

Features: • Highly successful business • Operates 4 months/year • Only local wine company to offer full wine logistics • Strong relationships with vineyard owners • Growing client base • Largest customer prepared to sign up for 5 years • Specialised equipment

Thai with a twist NAHM.CO.NZ

Lydia’s Cafe

OPEN FROM 6AM FOR BREAKFAST

• Option to lease storage/warehouse

For more information please contact:

Greg Day, Vinpro Nelson (03) 546 5321 or 021 227 7669 greg@kahurangiwine.com

Licensed Cafe | Parking at the rear | Serving excellent food and coffee 265 Queen St, Richmond | Phone 544 1020

79

graphic design motion graphics & art direction

022 079 0550 info@anagalloway.co.nz www.anagalloway.co.nz

Ball Season Beauty Hair + Makeup + Nail packages available.

03 545 74 25 | hello@glitterandblush.co.nz www.glitterandblush.co.nz Based at Hair In The City, Nelson

THE NEW BLAK HAIRSTYLIST | MAKE UP ARTIST | FASHION STYLIST kelly.v@hotmail.co.nz | 0279625126

118 Bridge Street, Nelson cardells.co.nz • 03 548 1505

Nelson-Tasman 104.8 • Nelson Central City 107.2 Takaka 95.0 • Blenheim 88.9 NORTH ISLAND

Food Glorious Food SEDDON

Marlborough

SOUTH ISLAND

Picton Blenheim SEDDON

Kaikoura

80

Join Bob Saunders on his food journey with guests, recipes and tales of travel.

Nelson-Tasman 104.8 • Nelson Central City 107.2 Takaka 95.0 • Blenheim 88.9

www.freshfm.net

All requyi our Clien reme Inclu nts..t. Gifting d Per es Gift W

Anything but

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son ra Bran alised Ca pping and ded M rd Appa ercha re ndise Wine l & and G ift Bo xes

Maree Boyce 021 685 919 Michelle Robinson 027 510 6488 12 John Wesley Lane, Richmond (off Queen St, behind Avanti Plus)

recogniseandreward.co.nz

Phone: 03 544 1515

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Designed & made

by Oliver Höglund.

ONE STYLE OF BOUQUET DAILY | 3 SIZES AVAILABLE | FREE SAME DAY DELIVERY TO THE NELSON REGION

Höglund Glassblowing Studio 52 Lansdowne Rd, Appleby

Cnr Champion & Salisbury Roads, Richmond Mon - Fri 8am - 6:30pm | Sat/Sun 8am - 6pm Ph: 03 544 0824 | raewardfresh.co.nz

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- EST 1863 -

205 Paton Road, Hope www.beaconhillestate.co.nz www.facebook.com/BeaconHillCountryStore

Relax and pamper yourself at Elliott Cottage Skin & Beauty Therapy

Art Gallery 67 Market St, Blenheim 7201 t: 021 254 2489 t: 021 120 1717 e: info@detourgallery.co.nz www.detourgallery.co.nz

Store Hours: 10am - 4pm Thursday & Friday 10am - 2pm 1st & 2nd Saturday of the month or by appointment

Rimu Wine Bar curating new zealand’s creative visual arts

Detour Ahead.

discover a world of creative imagination in the heart of blenheim’s cbd

New Winter Clothing Range In Store Now

Fine wines, craft beers, premium spirits OPEN DAILY | MAPUA WHARF | P 03 540 2580 81

M Y E D U C AT I O N

After several major life changes, Stacey Fitzwilliam decided to gain new skills in the area of business administration.

Three years on, her life has changed in more ways than she could have imagined.

Thanks to her desire to make a new start, and the support on her learning journey that she received from NMIT, Stacey is ready to take on the world.

BY M A R ION JAC K S ON PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER BURGE

What led you to choose to study business administration?

I saw an article in the newspaper about the Level 2 business administration course at NMIT. It targeted stay-at-home mothers, which interested me. I had just recently gone through a separation and was looking to gain some new skills.What I liked was that business administration could lead to many other opportunities for employment. I completed the Level 2 and Level 3 courses last year and am currently studying the Level 4 course this year.

What do you enjoy about studying at NMIT? Meeting the people at NMIT, the students and tutors. The tutors are amazing and incredibly helpful. Nothing is ever too much trouble for them and you feel they really want you to succeed.

I understand you left school early.

Has this presented any extra challenges with your studies?

I left school when I was 13 years old due to severe bullying. When I first started at NMIT I was very worried that I wouldn’t be capable of completing the courses, but as I said, the tutors are so supportive that I really haven’t had an issue. I feel like the situation with my lack of schooling has actually been a positive, as after being able to successfully complete the first course, I’ve gained a lot of confidence to try new things and move forward in other parts of my life.

have a wide range of skills. These days they need to have good communication skills, be able to use computers and a range of software. And they’ve got to be customer-focused.

What do you think makes a good administrator?

Someone who is friendly and able to think on their feet. They’ll be well-organised and

What one piece of advice would you give a person wanting to study business administration at NMIT? Just go for it. So many good things

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New start has opened doors

BY EDDIE ALLNUTT

P H O T O A N A G A L L O WAY

can happen when you put yourself out there.

What would be your dream business administrator job?

I’m currently doing administrative work experience at SBA – Small Business Accounting. This would be my dream job as it incorporates all my administrative skills with my love of numbers.

What is your next step in life?

Open doors through study

Check out your options nmit.ac.nz/applynow

0800 788 391 You’ll be so glad you did

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