Wild Tomato November2017

Nelson and Marlborough’s magazine /

ISSUE 136 / NOVEMBER 2017 / $8.95

PORT NELSON

A BUMPER 100 PAGE ISSUE!

Upsizing and evolving with the times

Plant & Food Research

Downsizing

Lodge Accommodation

Babagatto Restaurant

South America

Summer Gardening

Awaroa Lodge Street Fashion

and showcase nelson present...

L.A.B. Chicago Smoke Shop Stellar The Warratahs Andrew Fagan & the People The Eastern Kemptones Hobnail Graeme James The Harris Brothers

10 acts. 1 day. a festival like no other JAN 6TH 2018 TRAFALGAR PARK TICKETS 1PM-10PM

more info at outoftheblue.nz | bar & catering | families welcome |

dbreweries

BREAKING NEW GROUND. SETTING NEW BENCHMARKS. Nina James SOLD

Nelson

95 Queens Road

SOLD

Nelson

80 Queens Road

SOLD

Nelson

6 Endeavour Street

For an award-winning agent contact Nina 021 293 7725 03 546 3575

nina.james@bayleys.co.nz www.bayleys.co.nz

VINING REALTY GROUP LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Nelson and Marlborough’s magazine

26

38

Features Issue 136 / November 2017

26 Port Nelson

A

major part of the region’s economy, Port Nelson is moving with the times.

Helen Murdoch reports

33 Plant & Food Research

33

A

new facility means cuttingedge research, Maike van der Heide discovers

38 Downsizing

B

uying a smaller home is not all downsizing involves, writes Sophie Preece

44 Lodge living

If

you’re looking for a spot of pampering, try a lodge, says Sadie Beckman

4

44

PAINT AND SPECIALITY FINISHES www.porterspaints.com

Wall: Interior Distemper in ‘Polo’ Drawer: Chalk EmulsionTM in ‘English Rose’ and ‘Nude’. Liquid Gold on trim.

AVAILABLE AT GUTHRIE BOWRON NELSON 45 Vanguard St, Nelson or call (03) 548 1114

www.guthriebowron.co.nz

5

Columns Issue 136 / November 2017

INTERVIEWS

82

20 My Big Idea Trustee Fran Jessup explains how the Employment Support Marlborough Trust is finding jobs

98 My Education NMIT creative writing graduate and budding journalist Becky Manawatu talks to Emma Pejkovic FASHION

53 Fashion Styling by Kelly Vercoe Photography by Ishna Jacobs LIFE

50 75

60 My Home Brenda Webb explores a home that is architectural, and stands out from the crowd

70 Interiors Feng shui tips from Rebecca O’Fee

72 My Garden Summer planting time is here, says Lynda Papesch

74 My Kitchen A slightly retro ricotta cake is a real showstopper from the kitchen of Sarah La Touche

75 Dine Out Babagatto is well worth a visit writes reviewer Hugo Sampson

76 Wine Visiting a cellar door can be a memorable experience, Sophie Preece reports

77 Beer Cider takes pride of place this month in Nelson, explains Mark Preece ACTIVE

80 Travel Amanda Radovanovich explores South America, taking in the sights in Peru and Brazil 6

60

53

82 Adventure A new cycle path from Picton to Christchurch lures Sophie Preece on a new adventure

84 Motoring Experience the wonderfully nimble handling of the new E Class Mercedes, writes Geoff Moffett

CULTURE

88 Arts Exciting new performances at Nelson’s Ghost Light Theatre,

by John Cohen-du-Four

90 Books Lynda Papesch collates a selection of the latest releases

92 Music Creative pursuits in schools are a must, writes Pete Rainey

93 Film The film Human Traces could well turn out to be a Kiwi cult classic, suggests reviewer Eddie Allnutt

REGULARS

8 Editorial 10 Bits & Pieces 12 Events 14 Snapped 89 Gallery Must-Haves 94 Quiz & Trivia

HIGH TEA & FASHION SHOW ON MORRISON

9 November 12.30-2.30pm Come and enjoy an afternoon of high tea, fun, fashion and discounted shopping at Morrison Square.

Tickets: $50 (Includes High Tea, Fashion Show, Goodie Bag and Charity Auction).

Tickets on sale from Morrison Square Centre Management Office (above the Morri St Café – open Mon-Fri 9am-4pm Tel: 03 548 9191).

Find us on Facebook!

nrbgct Fundraising for:

THE NELSON REGIONAL BREAST & GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER TRUST

Proudly bought to you by

7

Editorial

N

“Summer is a busy time for Port Nelson, which continues to go from strength to strength. Read more about this essential facet of the region’s economy in our main feature.”

ovember has arrived in fine style, with another bumper 100-page WildTomato. Already the shops have donned their Christmas finery, children are counting the days ‘til their big break and everyone is hoping for fine weather.

Be careful what you wish for. Fine weather elsewhere in the world – California and New South Wales, for instance – has brought fire, death and devastation.

We’ve also experienced some of the devastation that nature unleashes from time to time. Marlborough especially suffers dry summers and high fire danger, while Nelson/Tasman faces frequent water shortages.

Various solutions – water storage dams, not dropping cigarette butts out of car windows etc – might lessen possible threats, but despite all the care and attention in the world, disasters will still occur. Let’s hope for a nice summer this year.

Summer is a busy time for Port Nelson, which continues to go from strength to strength. Read more about this essential facet of the region’s economy in our main feature. Running concurrently is a feature about the stunning new Nelson Research Centre for Plant & Food Research, which opened in May. Purpose-built, it is the first stage of a development by Port Nelson Ltd to create a seafood precinct on the Akersten St peninsula to the north of the city.

And while the port is upsizing, many people are downsizing to fit more into their busy lives. Downsizing is not just about buying a smaller house, as Sophie Preece discovered. There’s an art to it and a raft of people and companies out there to provide help and advice, so read on.

Also in this issue our writers take a look at various accommodation lodges across the Top of the South, ranging from the luxurious to the newly revamped Awaroa Lodge. Motoring reviewer Geoff Moffett gets behind the wheel of the new E class Mercedes Benz, and this month’s My Home combines glamour, practicality and style with fabulous views.

The Nelson Arts Festival features on the Snapped pages, along with the annual Nelson Home and Garden Show, and the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

For ideas to restyle your home, check out the Interiors page, or if outside is more your domain, read about summer gardening preparations on the My Garden pages. Books galore, Bic Runga and the film Human Traces feature in the cultural section. If you’re seeking an adventure, check out the new Picton to Christchurch cycle trail, or plan a holiday to South America. There’s all that and so much more in the November issue so happy reading.

LY N D A PA P E S C H

Editor

Lynda Papesch +61 421 471 759 editor@wildtomato.co.nz

Manager

Laura Loghry 027 378 0008 laura@wildtomato.co.nz

Design & art direction Cover photo by Tim Cuff

8

Floor van Lierop thisisthem.com

Sales Executives

Publisher

Jack Martin Chrissie Sanders WildTomato Media Ltd 027 540 2237 chrissie@wildtomato.co.nz Bridge St Collective 111 Bridge St Nelson 7010 Sara Booth PO Box 1901 Nelson 7040 021 214 5219 info@wildtomato.co.nz sara@wildtomato.co.nz wildtomato.co.nz

Subscriptions

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

Readership: 33,000

Source: Nielsen Consumer and Media Insights Survey (Q4 2016 - Q2 2017)

CONTRIBUTORS

Selling your home?

Eddie Allnutt Film

Sadie Beckman Jessica Bay Features, Advertising Business Profile Design

Patrick Connor Ana Galloway Advertising Photography Design

Maike van der Heide Features

John Cohen -du Four Arts

Sarah La Touche My Kitchen

Get maximum exposure with Property Press.

With over 859,700* nationwide readers each week, you can be sure you're reaching the biggest pool of potential buyers.

Get in front of serious property hunters.

Ask your real estate agent about Property Press, New Zealand’s favourite property magazine.

Ishna Jacobs Photography

Floor van Lierop Geoff Moffett Design Motoring

Helen Murdoch Features

Frank Nelson Business Profile

Rebecca O'Fee Interiors

Emma Pejkovic My Education

Mark Preece Beer

Sophie Preece Wine, Adventure, Features

Amanda Radovanovich Travel

Pete Rainey Music

Hugo Sampson Dine Out

Kelly Vercoe Fashion

Alyssa Watson Brenda Webb Advertising Local Design Connections

Also available online at www.propertypress.co.nz

*Statistics from Horizon Research’s February 2017 survey, 2066 respondents aged 18+, weighted to represent the New Zealand national adult population. The survey has a maximum margin of error at a 95% confidence level of +2.2% overall.

9

BITS & PIECES

LETTER

CONGRATULATIONS

Dear Editor, After 10 years away we are back in Nelson and impressed with the very lively arts scene and the renovated arts facilities (The Theatre Royal, The Suter Art Gallery and The Nelson School of Music in 2018).

We have become avid readers of WildTomato magazine, (current and back issues) to help bring us up to speed with the myriad of activities going on in this amazing region. This is because WildTomato showcases the local community engaging in the arts as well as offering interesting articles by regular contributors on a variety of subjects. The magazine design is skilfully managed to showcase the finest Nelson produce in both the articles and the advertisements.

A class act WildTomato; I’m looking forward to devouring another one very soon!

Lucy Rainey

C O N S E R VAT I O N AWA R D S

Marlborough’s 2017 supreme business

W

ell done to the team at Simcox Construction, pictured, which won the supreme award at last month’s Marlborough Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

From left to right are: front row, Katie McNabb, Margaret Simcox, Margaret Parker, Michelle Simcox, Minnie Greig, Antony Clark, Russell Hopkins; back row, Ian McNabb, Stuart Parker, Natalie Brokenshire, Mike Greig, Jenny Hopkins. For more winners and grinners, check out our Snapped pages

FURTHER EDUCATION

Two local finalists vie for awards

Susannah Roddick standing, back right, at an NMIT course

N

Master’s degree a first for NMIT

elson/Tasman has two finalists in the 2017 WWF-New Zealand’s 2017 Conservation Innovation Awards. In all 35 finalists were selected from 47 entries nationwide.

Successful local finalists are Jeremy Stead of Nelson (pictured above, left) for his baleen filter to prevent microfibres from entering our oceans, and Christine Cleveland (pictured above, right), also Nelson, for her Eco-Zoning project. Winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony in Wellington on 22nd November.

The Conservation Innovation Awards reward innovative environmental game-changers. Designed to help innovators fast-track their ideas to development, the 2017 Awards cover three categories – Engaging Young People and Communities, Predator Free New Zealand 2050, and an Open Category. A prize package of $25,000 will be awarded to each category winner.

10

N

elson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) has introduced its first Master’s degree. Aimed at local business managers and owners, options comprise elective courses with direct application for industries such as aquaculture as well as Māori management and leadership papers. Part-time study options are also available.

Susannah Roddick, who has overseen the programme development, says the Māori management and leadership course is one of a number of electives which means the degree can be tailored to student needs. Others include ‘Finance for Managers’, ‘Risk Management and Decision Making’ and ‘Educational Change Management’.

The first intake will be in February next year.

PLAY GOLF AT WAAHI TAAKARO

Breast Augmentation Breast Lift or Reduction

Dr Greg Taylor offers surgery locally in Nelson.

We see patients preoperatively to discuss the procedure in detail.

Surgery is carried out as a day case under light general anaesthesia and takes less than two hours. An overnight stay in our local Manuka St Hospital is also an option if preferred.

Many people are able to return to work within a day or two.

We provide 24/7 post-op on call, and post-operative care indefinitely to ensure you’re well looked after.

Breast Augmentation | Fixed price offer: $10,700

We also offer the following procedures: Facelift and necklift | 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

A relaxed 9 hole course set in the lush Maitai Valley, just a ten minute drive from town.

Non-members and families welcome.

Equipment hire available.

Open 8.00am - 7.00pm 336 Maitai Valley Road, Nelson 7010 Phone 03 548 7301

nelson.govt.nz/golf

Appearance Medicine Cheena is available in both our Nelson and Richmond clinic’s 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

11

EVENTS

NOVEMBER EVENTS Show Me Shorts Film Festival

NELSON/TASMAN Wed 1 to Sun 12

Fri 3

Sun 5, 12, 19, 26

Lloyd Harwood Exhibition - The Black Hare & Other Curiosities

NPI Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2017

Motueka Market

Nelson-based artist Lloyd Harwood’s work is notable for its simplicity of form and intensity of hue.

This premier black-tie event will feature a line-up of top quality entertainment, including renowned journalist Mark Sainsbury as MC.

RED GALLERY

THE TRAFALGAR CENTRE

Wed 1 to Thurs 30

Sat 4

Great NZ Art + A Picasso

The New Zealand Cider Festival

This exciting exhibition includes works by Laurence Aberhart, Paul Dibble, Max Gimblett, Colin McCahon, Karl Maughan, Michael Smither, Pablo Picasso, John Pule and more.

CRAIG POTTON GALLERY

Wed 1,8,15, 22, 29 Nelson Farmers’ Market Rain or shine, the Farmers’ Market brings fresh local produce and products from throughout the Top of the South. Note new venue!

MAITAI BOULEVARD

Celebrate the diversity of cider in NZ at the 2nd New Zealand Cider Festival!

Sample both traditional and New World varieties from around the country in a relaxed and friendly festival environment.

FOUNDERS HERITAGE PARK

Sat 4 Acts of Oddi-tease A fusion of burlesque and theatrics, inspired by jazz age gypsies and jaded carnies the Carnivale of Delights is back for one night only, with ‘Acts of Oddi-tease’.

PARADOX

Sally Burton exhibition

Sat 4, 11, 18, 25 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

Sun 5 Village Fayre Craft stalls, food stalls, entertainment, ‘give it a go’ workshops and more.

A fundraiser for The Nelson Ark.

Arts, crafts, food and drink, along with fresh local produce and entertainment, 8am till 1pm.

DECKS RESERVE CAR PARK, MOTUEKA

Tues 7 Contrast

Sun 26

A double bill of exceptional new dance work from Footnote New Zealand Dance.

The Great Christmas Market

Fri 10

With over 90 different handmade crafts, Christmas nibbles and gift ideas.

10am to 4pm.

Super Scene

FOUNDERS HERITAGE PARK

THEATRE ROYAL

The People’s Republic of Improv presents a fastpaced, rip-roaring theatrical elimination show where the audience decides who remains.

GHOST LIGHT THEATRE

Sat 18 & Sun 19 NZHRA National Hot Rod Show Some of the best hot rods and street machines New Zealand has to offer. People’s choice vote. Starts 9am each day.

THE TRAFALGAR CENTRE

Sat 18 & Sun 19 Show Me Shorts Film Festival: The Sampler

Wed 1 to Wed Feb 28 The Halo Project Artist Paul Forrest’s exhibition of local birdlife will transform the museum. Proceeds go to the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary.

NELSON PROVINCIAL MUSEUM

Sat 4 to March 11 Sally Burton Exhibition Nelson artist Sally Burton presents a poignant exhibition examining the complex history and climactic moment that sparked the June 1843 Wairau Incident.

SUTER GALLERY

The screening includes eight of the top short films from Aotearoa and across the world, selected from over 2000 submissions.

SUTER GALLERY

Sat 25 & Sun 26 The Extravaganza Fair A unique style of market; food, musical entertainment, circus shows, performers, arts, crafts and interesting market stalls.

TAHUNANUI RECREATION RESERVE

THE HONEST LAWYER

Great NZ Art + A Picasso 12

MARLBOROUGH Fri 3

Wed 8 to Sun 12

Sat 11

Sun 19

Colliers Rural Grape Debate

Stones in his Pockets

Top of the South Film Festival

Show Me Shorts Film Festival: The Sampler

The best and most promising film makers from the top of the South Island region, plus some of New Zealand’s most promising actors, actresses, directors and editors, boasting some incredible on-screen performances.

‘The Sampler’ is a great way to sample what Show Me Shorts is all about. The screening includes eight of the top short films from Aotearoa and across the world.

Watch Marlborough winemakers battle it out with TV comedian Jeremy Corbett keeping them all in line.

CONVENTION CENTRE

Sat 4 The Big Bang The Marlborough Civic Orchestra presents ‘The Big Bang’ – A Top of the South Orchestral Extravaganza featuring nearly 100 musicians from Nelson, Marlborough and Golden Bay. ASB THEATRE MARLBOROUGH

Sat 4, 11, 18, 25 Marlborough Artisan Market The market is back for the summer with fresh vegetables, crafty items and brunch on offer.

WYNEN STREET POCKET PARK

Sun 5, 12, 19, 26 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

Irishmen Charlie and Jake are delighted to receive forty pounds a day plus all the lemon meringue pie they can get their hands on by being extras in a Hollywood blockbuster romanticising the Irish.

BOATHOUSE THEATRE

Thurs 9 to Sun 12 Nelmac Garden Marlborough Showcasing the best the region has to offer with garden tours, garden-themed workshops and social events. The festival culminates with the Stihl Shop Garden Fête in Seymour Square, with over 200 stall holders.

ASSORTED VENUES

ASB THEATRE

Sat 18 Lights over Marlborough The annual Whitney Street School fireworks display this year will include kapa haka, a silent auction and a huge choice of sideline activities and stalls, all preceding the fireworks display.

MARLBOROUGH A & P

Fri 10

SHOWGROUNDS

Craft Market Featuring locally-made crafts, unusual garden art, plants, clothing etc.

THE FORUM

Sat 18 Nanogirls Nanogirl, Dr Michelle Dickinson MNZM, and the Nanogirl Labs team bring their explosive live science and engineering theatre to show to Blenheim.

Shows at 1pm and 5pm.

Sat 18 Lochmara Lodge Half Marathon A boutique running event held on a course that is standout beautiful - beech trees, bellbirds and bays, it doesn’t get much better. Numbers strictly limited to 100 runners/ walkers and only those aged 14 years and over.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE TRACK

ASB THEATRE MARLBOROUGH

TOP TOWN CINEMA

Mon 20 Marlborough Sport Awards Five award categories with the winners all in the running for the Overall Sportsperson of the Year Award.

MARLBOROUGH CONVENTION CENTRE

Sat 25 Ocean Vine Hop An R18 festival combining local seafood, wine and beer, with celebrity chefs including Jax Hamilton. Live bands include Shane Cortese and the 8 Track Band, Jordan Luck Trio and Jason Kerrison.

POLLARD PARK

Sun 26 Marlborough Women’s Triathlon The 35th triathlon is open to all women from first-timers to experienced multisport athletes, starting with a run/ walk, leading into a cycle ride and finishing with a short swim.

MARLBOROUGH LINES STADIUM

Nano Girl

Show Me Shorts Film Festival

13

goes out Snapped WildTomato on the town‌

1

That Bloody Woman Theatre Royal, Nelson

2 4

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y A N A G A L L O WAY

1. Molly Wilkin, Hayley Gibbs, Poppy Lingard, Lillie Prestidge & Casey Crocker 2. Susa Guhl, Chrissie Sanders, Laura Loghry, Pam Gardiner 3. Hannah Janssens, Flossie Van Dyke, Frances Riley, Renee Bignell & Annie Gilmour 4. Sandra McBride, Sherysh Morgan & Alice McBride

5. Justine Millar, Antony Suter & Sophie Mephan 6. Grant Kurnow, Kate Alexandra & Raewyn Dodd 7. Fran Scholefield, Lisa & Piper Gardener 8. Pat Lewis, Kate Coote & Valerie Schroeder 9. Lester Oakes & Dawn Marron

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Spring Getaway

2 nights for

the price of 1 info@zatori.co.nz or 0800 ZATORI

Offer November only. Selected rooms only 14

S NA P P E D

1

2

3

Lolo Lovina Neudorf Vineyards, Nelson P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y A N A G A L L O WAY

1. Amme Hiser

8. Cam Woods & Charlie Unwin

2. Stefan Stojcevski

9. Julia Hodgson, Claudia Meister, Sam Nevin & Jo Cheer

3. Holly D’Souza & Steve Schoenburg

10. Willow Sherwood and Marianne Hermsen-van Wanrooy

4. Sarah Bedak Radic 5. Hayley Kyte

5

4

6. Caroline Vine & Andrea Rush 7. Duncan Steel, Meg Evans & Jan Egglestone

6 9

10

11. Kath McGinty & Alan Carter 12. John Higglebottom, Kelli & Dave Phillips

7

8

11

12

Make a lasting change to your lifestyle.

Make your life easier - with the HD LASIK ® difference With over 20 years of experience Dr David Kent and his trusted team can give you visual freedom with the safety and accuracy of High Definition LASIK TM Phone or book online for your free laser assessment available in Christchurch and centres throughout the South Island Christchurch • Invercargill • Dunedin • Queenstown • Nelson

0800 4 LASIK 0800 45 27 45

Fendalton Eye Clinic 10 Otara St, Fendalton Christchurch Lasik.co.nz

15

1

Nelson Home & Garden show Saxton Stadium, Stoke

2

3 4

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y A N A G A L L O WAY

1. Holly Barnett & Georgia MacMillan

7. Hayden Roberts

2. Sarah Hedger & Tesh Randall 3. Halen Harris, Martin Hartley, Nick Smith & Tracey Nickolson 4. Darren Ward & Meika Inwood 5. Jade Smith 6. Sanne Maas & Nick Lane

8. Nicki Malcom, Julie Taylor & Shane Adamson 9. James Bradshaw & Bryce Senior 10. Morgan Tomlin, Leslie Bentley-Smith & Karina Tomlin

4

11. Kelly McLeod

6

7

8

9

10

11

Premium Nelson, national & international wines Open 7 days on Mapua Wharf

Unit 4, Shed 4, Mapua Wharf | 03 540 2580

16

5

S NA P P E D

1

2

3

House of Travel expo Headingly Centre, Richmond P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y A N A G A L L O WAY

1. Kevin Gill, Susan Gill, Gordon & Annette Dacombe

7. Amanda Radovanovich & Kylie Pauling

2. Brigitte Older & Tanya McMurtrie

8. Georgia Gregory, Aleisha McFadyen & Eileen Lane

3. Jane & Murray Nelson 4. Linda Dawe

4

5

6. Jillian Rooney, Gary Rooney & Philip Archer

6

9. Tom Svensen 10. Reece Scott

5. Kendal Tobeck

11. Marisa Lunai & Sarah McDonald

7

Get our lowdown on all the UK & 10 8 and be9in to win!

Europe 2018 deals

11

The best holidays are created together.

NATIONAL TRAVEL INDUSTRY AWARDS WINNER

Best Travel Agency Brand 2013 – 2017

224 QUEEN ST, RICHMOND 03 543 9760 256 TRAFALGAR ST, NELSON 03 546 8780

17

2 1

4

3

Marlborough Chamber Of Commerce Business Awards Marlborough Convention Centre, Blenheim PHOTOGRAPHY BY SUSIE WILLIAMS

1. Jodi Holland & John Leslie 2. Nicolene Pedersen & Debbie Carter

5

7. David Dew & Chris Borrie 8. Hellene Lamb, Angela Thibeault & Hannah Lamb

3. Phil Muir & Barry Taylor

9. Grant Kerr, Nita van Grinsven & Debbie Carter

4. Peter & Robyn McKinnel, Julie & Euan McLeish 5. Lisa Mortensen, Joe Sims, Iona Fraser & Adam Tyney 6. Paul Leslie & Toni Burke

10. Gerardine Haack, Jon Haack, Chris Roshford, Deidre Dunlop, & John Reuhman

6

8

Chrissie Sanders NELSON ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE

027 540 2237 | chrissie@wildtomato.co.nz

18

9

7

10 Call Chrissie to enhance your profile!

S NA P P E D

2

1

3

Tribe Shine Your Light Event Founders Park, Nelson P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y A N A G A L L O WAY

1. Maxine Lee, Alana Riley & Sharron Sendall

6. Grant Maxwell

2. Alison Macbeth, Caron Proctor, Sharron Sendall & Lizzie McLellan

5

4

Call Sara to boost your business!

3. Clare Flemming 4. Helen McDonnell 5. Paul Proctor

7. Michelle Anderson, Sarah & Lyndon Campbell 8. Scott & Raewyn Dodd 9. Tyler & Rebecca O’Fee 10. Kristin Paterson 11. Caron Proctor & Maria Ingram

6

7

8

9

10

11

Sara Booth ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE

021 214 5219 | sara@wildtomato.co.nz

19

MY BIG IDEA

EASING PEOPLE INTO NEW CAREERS The Employment Support Marlborough Trust assists people to kick-start a career.

Trustee Fran Jessup explains the set-up.

What is your big idea?

We are enthusiastic about helping local people – particularly young people – into employment by providing monetary grants.

How does it work?

Every time you shop at Custom Copy Ltd in Blenheim you are contributing to one of Marlborough’s successful charitable trusts. The copy centre is wholly owned by the Employment Support Marlborough Trust, with 100 percent of its profits used to help people into employment or to assist them to improve their employment skills.

The trust was established in 1987 to help the unemployed start their own businesses, and has evolved from there. Members of the trust are local people who have been in business and education and who know the region well. We cover the whole of Marlborough, from Picton to Kaikoura.

While funding is not given directly to applicants, it does pay for expenses that will help them improve their employment prospects. The current limit is $1500 per applicant.

Who benefits?

Our main focus is on grants for trade apprentices who are often on a minimum wage and unable to purchase their own tools or pay for their course or other associated fees. Every apprentice in their first year is eligible, and for subsequent years we apply hardship 20

Ryan Shearer is in his second year of a building apprenticeship with Hamish Ryan Construction Ltd. Ryan received a financial grant for his first-year fees from Employment Support Marlborough Trust. (Photo: Peter Burge)

criteria. We also support others where there is financial hardship and where a lack of funding is inhibiting their career prospects.

We have supported programmes such as Cactus Kids and Project K (encouragement for young people) and give scholarships to the Marlborough campus of Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. Among other things, we have also supported new initiatives at the local colleges, e.g. marine farming at Queen Charlotte College and forestry at Marlborough Boys’ College.

We are actively involved with the local business mentoring trust and support the annual graduation ceremony for apprentices and trade graduates from the Industry Training Organisations.

How do people get involved?

If you need financial help and meet our grant criteria, or have a project supporting employment, please get in touch. We will consider helping.

Our site employmentsupport.co.nz has information and grant application forms. Our manager of Custom Copy Ltd, Phil Elvy, has all the information about our grants and scholarships and the programmes we support.

If applicants have any queries they should call in to see him.

Custom Copy Ltd, 1 Main St, Blenheim (opposite NZ Post) Phone 03 578 0624 Email: custom.copy@xtra.co.nz

Shining a light on Inspired Nelson Women Tribe is devoted to the growth of all women in pursuit of their dreams.

NELSON PLASTIC SURGERY

EUROPEAN CHIROPODIST

Anni Eniko Fekete

Kathy Basalaj

K

I

athy is a micropigmentation specialist with over 27 years experience. Kathy uses state of the art equipment to implant specially designed colour pigments into the upper layers of the skin to correct natures imperfections and enhance facial features.

EYEBROWS - EYELINERLIPCOLOUR - MEDICAL TATTOOING for nipple/areola creation after breast reconstruction surgery.

Kathy also works with NZ’s leading plastic/reconstructive surgeon, Dr Greg Taylor and offers a range of cosmetic surgery procedures.

f you suffer cracked heels, corns, calluses, ingrown toenails or dead skin – it’s nice to know there is someone who can take care of it all.

Anni Eniko Fekete is an internationally qualified beautician, pedicurist (European chiropodist) and reflexologist. With 23 years’ experience, Anni can have your feet looking and feeling great again. Anni focuses on nail care, skin conditioning and the overall look and feel of your feet. “Feet that look and feel healthy are often less prone to common problems including corns, cracked heels and calluses.”

31 Oxford St, Richmond 2/105 Collingwood St, Nelson beautytherapyrichmond.co.nz 027 291 7077

designerpermanentmakeup.co.nz nelsonplasticsurgery.co.nz 03 548 1909

Visit www.yourtribe.net | Hook up with us on FB | Call Caron 021 145 7162 or email the team info@yourtribe.net Check out some of our members

Choice Home Funerals

You dream it. We create it. You live it.

• Nelson • Tasman • Marlborough Nelson - 03 548 8460 info@kennedyconstruction.co.nz www.kennedyconstruction.co.nz

EXPERTS in transforming space

ential ial?

Team

e Place

THE SELLERS ROOM Residential & Commercial Joinery

Freephone 0800 469 537 Phone 03 547 7144 Email msellers@thesellersroom.co.nz Address 9 Echodale Place, Stoke

www.thesellersroom.co.nz 22

It’s what’s

inside that counts

ANNUAL OUTDOOR

EXPO

HUGE SAVINGS IN-STORE NOW

9-5.30 Mon - Fri 10-4 Sat & Sun

43 Scott St, Blenheim 675 Main Rd, Stoke, Nelson

www.lynfords.co.nz

In partnership with

23

Olive Estate SHOWHOME OPEN!

Showhome times

NEW LIFE CHURCH

• Wed–Fri 1pm–3pm

• No appointments needed • On-site parking Otherwise feel free to call 0800 825 565 or email vanessa@integritycare.co.nz to arrange another time to come and view the showhome.

Vanessa Taylor, Sales Manager 24

SHOWHOME WENSLEY ROAD

• 37 Langdale Drive, Olive Estate (off Wensley Road, Richmond)

RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION

37

LANGDALE DRIVE

RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION

OLIVE ESTATE

www.oliveestate.co.nz Lo

d

yO

ll ca

e wn

Will’s Gully Walk

Port Nelson A regional asset central to the sustainable economic future of the Tasman District.

Jointly-owned by ratepayers, the Port provides the gateway to the fastest growing economy in the country. Our exports are consistently growing.

In Tasman’s case they reflect a healthy environment, innovative primary production and value add industries and attractive tourism offerings. All are prospering because of our combined quest for economic and environmental balance.

Demands for profitability and opportunity are tempered with the desire and necessity to be focused on the sustainability of our resources, the District’s businesses and the Council.

We are playing our part by investing in a secure water supply and other economic and community infrastructure just as the Port is looking to awardwinning green solutions.

Sustained success is only possible with a commitment to innovation. In turn, innovation is central to meeting demands of a constantly changing world economy and the growth the region is experiencing as a result.

As a Council we need to ensure the natural resources we enjoy now are available in a responsibly sustainable manner in the future. Likewise, we rely on the Port’s continued focus on future opportunities.

As the world continues to look to our District for unique experiences and opportunities, the Port continues to deliver Tasman to the world.

T h e R e g i o n ’s G a t e w a y t o t h e W o r l d

Tasman celebrating the shared success of the region 25

Port Nelson

PORT COMPANY

BY HELEN MURDOCH PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM CUFF

ANL Elinga guided through the cut by Port Nelson tugboats WH Parr & Toia 26

steaming ahead

P

ort Nelson is booming – and it’s not down to good luck. The company is three years into its biggest capital development for decades, spending $60 million on infrastructure, land, logistics and investment opportunities.

The work builds on a successful financial year to June in which revenue rose to $58.4m, net profit doubled and Nelson-Tasman’s shareholding councils split a multimillion-dollar dividend.

Chief executive Martin Byrne, who has guided the port’s operations for almost half of his 30-plus-year career in the maritime industry, says Port Nelson is an integral part of the community. ‘’We could not survive without the region. We are a facilitator, but the cargo comes from exporters.’’

The relationship is long-lived. Nelson was founded as a port town and was one of New Zealand’s largest coastal shipping ports by the 1860s.

Board chairman Philip Lough said the positive relationship between the port and the community benefits all parties and the wider region.

A profitable port generates wealth for the Top of the South, he says.

Fuel, seafood, pipfruit, cars, wine, cruise ships, cargo ships and super yachts, raw logs and timber, logistics and industry are among the players within the port’s 45ha footprint.

Nelson-born Martin Byrne says seafood is a mainstay.

“We are the biggest fishing port in Australasia, and all the fuel for the Top of the South comes through here. Forestry is important, whether it be raw logs, timbers or LVL [beams]. And wine has grown tremendously in the last five years, particularly from Marlborough.”

The port is always a busy place, and has become busier in recent years.

Growth planning, opportunities and challenges, earthquake resilience and international port security requirements are largely behind the $60m spend, which is funded entirely off the company’s balance sheet.

Anchor investments include the award-winning QuayConnect project.

Initially mooted by wine-bottler WineWorks Marlborough, the concept aimed to address the problem of trucks travelling from the port to the Marlborough bottling plant to deliver bottles, then returning empty, before travelling over empty again to collect wine for export.

WineWorks business innovation manager Jason Gluer said the company

The Port Nelson Pilot ascending the ANL Elinga

chose to approach Port Nelson because it was close and Auckland bottle manufacturer O-I Glass distributes its product through coastal shipping.

“Port Nelson was really good.

We were surprised how supportive the port has been through the whole process.

“After we had discussions they took ownership of the whole thing. That’s why we don’t have any input into QuayConnect, apart from being the customer.”

Jason says the port has been “superopen and really good to work with.”

The port’s new 13,000sq.m. Patterson Logistics Centre, named after former board chairman Nick Patterson, created the storage capacity for palletised glass bottles that are trucked to Marlborough, with full bottles of wine carried back on return journeys.

The initiative saved nearly 350,000 litres of fuel and 1602 tonnes of CO2equivalent in its first year. It won the Resilience to Climate Change category in this year’s Green Ribbon Awards, along with being a finalist in the Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards.

Work on the 9700sq.m. stage two of the logistics centre started in June.

Jason says WineWorks is now offering its customers the ability to send their wine anywhere in the world, using QuayConnect as the first step in the supply chain.

“What we are trying to do is consolidate the industry to get better rates for everyone.’’

Marlborough makes about 86 percent of New Zealand’s wine, the fifth-largest export commodity out of the country, and WineWorks Marlborough handles 6.5 to 7 million bottles of wine annually.

Jason predicts the wine logistics chain through Port Nelson will continue to grow.

“We also move things between our plants in Auckland, Hawkes Bay and Marlborough and we are looking to ask QuayConnect to load containers for us out of the Auckland plant.

By doing so they have ownership of the freight, which makes a single supply chain. It’s easier to do that with people we trust and have a good solid relationship with.”

He says the Kaikoura earthquake, which closed State Highway 1 to Christchurch and severely damaged Wellington’s CentrePort, underpinned the robust nature of the supply chain through Port Nelson.

“There was no real difference for our wine export customers in their exports so it was more or less business as usual. That is something we are proud of.’’

Martin Byrne says QuayConnect also helps to tick the environmental box for the wine industry, and the port.

“For some of the big buyers the 27

“We view Port Nelson very much as a Nelson-TasmanMarlborough entity.”

– M A RT I N B Y R N E , CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Stevedores loading a log vessel

environmental input is huge, and important if you have a good story to tell.”

Other port projects included the new powerful $8.6m tug Toia, which arrived last September, bringing greater pulling power for larger vessels and against tidal currents and strong winds.

In May the company moved into its new Vickerman St offices. The $7.5m Plant & Food Research building also opened that month. It is the first stage of the port company’s Akersten St marine and seafood precinct. Plant & Food holds a 2530 year lease.

The month beforehand the port opened its $3m all-weather maintenance workshop. It has also spent $4m on buying former roads from Nelson City Council for a new log storage area to concentrate the logs in one space.

“It’s an on-going project,” Martin says.

“We will spend another $3.5m over the next year knocking down buildings and on sealing to increase the log area.”

Work is due to start this month on the $8m remediation of the Caldwell Slip, half of 28

which is being funded by the Ministry for the Environment.

Martin says the next big project is rebuilding the 100-year-old Main Wharf North. Plans for the $12-15m project will be before the board in the middle of next year, with a possible start date in 2019.

And the port has been investing in huge reefer towers to enable containers to be stacked four high, which saves space as demand for containerisation increases, particularly from apple exporters.

Exports are the port’s bread and butter, and the work of exporting is opening doors to future business opportunities.

Philip Lough predicts logistics will feature more strongly in the port’s future.

“We do not just move cargo from a shed to a vessel. We are now part of the whole logistics chain and have the skills and capabilities that can be used in other industries as well.

There is always opportunity to find openings and work constructively with key partners. We just need smart people to

commercialise those opportunities.”

While the port’s focus is around key primary producers, the diverse range of exporters also means it is not overly exposed to downturns, he says.

Martin, who is also a Nelson Regional Development Agency board member, says tourism offers another opportunity for the port, which hosted seven cruise ships last season.

“Nelson will never be a destination for the very large ships because of their draught, but the smaller high-end ships could do very well.

“The challenge for tourism is finding a point of difference – ships go to a lot of places with great wine.”

Encouraging cruise vessels to anchor near Abel Tasman National Park and offer passengers day-trips into the park and to Nelson City are such ventures, he says.

The port’s investment property, which is largely used for log storage at present, can be developed and the company is keen to progress the seafood precinct in conjunction with industry.

Marlborough’s growth is also integral to Port Nelson.

“Apart from the rail ferries and the log ships, there is no container infrastructure there,’’ Martin says.

“We view Port Nelson very much as a Nelson-Tasman-Marlborough entity.

“There are huge amounts of cargo coming out of Tasman and plenty out of Marlborough.”

However, managing and developing the multi-functional port while keeping abreast of fluid local and global change has its challenges.

Philip says consolidation in international shipping has generated an increase in large vessels, which will be an issue with the port’s draught.

“Health and Safety is an issue all the time – we have a strong interest in making the port as safe an area as possible.

“And we always have a shortage of good, clever people, cash and land.”

Martin says reclamation would cost money and take many years because of the environmental challenges.

“So, we are operating in the footprint

SPECIALISTS IN SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS AND GPS LOCATION SOLUTIONS • Mobile and handheld radio

Thai with a twist NAHM.CO.NZ

• Installations, sales and repair • Digital mobile radio specialists • Extensive coverage options • Man Down/Lone Worker personnel safety solutions • GPS location solutions

108 Quarantine Road, Nelson Phone 03 547 8840

Turnkey solutions with the price locked in.

We’re a Design & Build specialist. Let’s talk full service, fixed price commerical and industrial construction.

Visit calderstewart.co.nz

29

we have and ensuring our layout planning is the best it can be.”

The recent 30 percent increase in log exports has put pressure on storage and created frustrations and truck delays.

“When logs are on top of the cycle you need extra storage land, and when demand drops you have land sitting there – it’s a bit of a balance.

“All parties are trying to work with that,” Martin says.

Waimea Contract Carriers executive director Jenny McIntyre says the causes of log-truck delays are complex and involve the dynamics of storage, shipping schedules and the opening hours of the marshalling service.

“When Port Nelson builds the new log facility, which it is about to embark on, it will hopefully be three lanes and have increased space – that would help.

“It’s a solution that will take time.”

Based on the age classification of the region’s forests, Jenny predicts log exports across the port will continue to rise.

Dale Ewers, the chief executive of Moutere Logging and DC Equipment, says Port Nelson is extremely important to the region’s export forest and timber industry.

About 30 to 35 percent of the region’s forest cut is exported.

“Even though the NelsonMarlborough region has a higher percentage of domestic logs that get sawn for timber, the timber products go over the port as well.”

Dale says the region is unlikely to see an expansion in sawmill capacity, so any increase in forest cut would potentially see a parallel increase in log exports.

He strongly backs the issue of export log storage being addressed before volumes increase, and suggests off-site storage.

Heartland Fruit general manager Brendan Osbourne has no storage issues at Port Nelson. Like the region’s other pipfruit exporters, the company keeps its fruit in cool stores and ships to meet international buyers’ timetables.

Last year Heartland exported around 400 containers, each holding 1100 cartons of pipfruit.

“We have a good relationship with the port. We get on well. We have our ups and downs and we work through them.”

Brendan said Heartland, which was by no means the region’s largest exporter, moved to containerisation seven years ago to support its structured distribution programme.

While still early days, he predicts the 30

Linesman working with crew to bring a vessel alongside Main Wharf

PORT NELSON FIGURES IN THE YEAR TO JUNE 2017 Operating profit $22.8m ($18.3m in 2016) Net profit $10.8m ($5.3m in 2016) Revenue $58.4m ($45.5m)

coming season’s volumes will be similar to this year’s – “but who knows what Mother Nature will throw at us.”

Looking ahead 20 years, Philip Lough predicts the port will be bigger, safer, more efficient, employ more people and be deeply embedded with key customers and shippers.

And it will have operations functioning outside the current port area, possibly in logistics and with key primary producers.

Dividend to shareholders $6.5m ($4.8m) Container throughput 108,106 (96,497) Vessel visits 805 (down from 821) Log volume up 30% to 895,000 tonnes Pipfruit volume up 13% Employees 195 (up from 167) Return on average assets 7.3% (6.3%)

“The long-term plan is to make the best of the available business.”

Martin Byrne, who is also on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters NelsonTasman, recently stepped down as vicepresident of the International Association of Ports and Harbours. He has been an executive director of the association since 2011.

“There are only so many hours in the day, but I love this job. No two days are the same – and I can bring my dog to work.”

Building communities

with Port Nelson Limited

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 121 Bolt Road, Nelson 7011 Ph: 03 547 9789 E: info@fultonhogan.com W: fultonhogan.com

31

CREATE INSPIRING COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS ARCHITECTS INTERIOR DESIGNERS URBAN DESIGNERS

JERRAM TOCKER BARRON ARCHITECTS LTD Nelson Wellington Christchurch Auckland

www.jtbarchitects.co.nz

AWARD-WINNING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AWARD-WINNING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY ESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Congratulations to Port Nelson

Proud to & beFood theResearch main contractor of and Plant theomain contractor of The Suter ArtProud Galleryto Tebe Aratoi Whakatū

for their vision.

We are proud d to be the main contractor of Congratulations to The Suter for its vision.

Thank you to our The Suter Art Gallery Testaff, Aratoi o Whakatū subcontractors and the suppliers for their support in this project. to have been main r Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū Congratulations to The Suter for its vision. Thank you to our staff,

contractors for you to our and suppliers for their support in this project. ions to The Suter for its vision.subcontractors Thank staff, ctors and suppliersthis for their support in this project. project.

Excellence in

Aluminium Windows and Doors

NEW BUILDS • RENOVATIONS • SEISMIC STRENGTHENING 11 Nayland Road, Stoke l info@scotts.nz l 03 547 9469

www.scottconstruction.nz

NEW BUILDS • RENOVATIONS • SEISMIC STRENGTHENING 11 Nayland Road, Stoke l info@scotts.nz l 03 547 9469 SEISMIC STRENGTHENING info@scotts.nz www.scottconstruction.nz l 03 547 9469

ction.nz

Proud supplier for Food & Plant Research 03 547 5454 ӏ Brilliant Place, Stoke

NEW BUILDS • RENOVATIONS • SEISMIC STRENGTHENING 11 Nayland Road, Stoke l 03 547 9469 www.scottconstruction.nz l info@scotts.nz

32

nelson@designwindows.co.nz

www.designwindowsgroup.com

Plant & Food Research

Photo: Jason Mann Photography

PIONEERING & PRACTICAL SIDE BY SIDE Scientists at Plant & Food Research’s new facility in Port Nelson need only look out the window to see where their work brings results. Story by Maike van der Heide

A

view can make a big difference. Through the wall of glass that forms one side of their new building on Akersten St at Port Nelson, scientists at the Nelson Research Centre, a division of Plant & Food Research, catch glimpses of the region’s thriving fishing industry going about its business.

Vessels come in, catches are unloaded, gear is checked and cleaned. It may not sound like much, but Helen Mussely, General Manager of Science for the Seafood Technologies division, says the sight of the very industry their research benefits is inspiring.

“It feels like we’re in a good place – it suits us. The outlook reflects what we’re doing so that adds interest and works really well.”

On a more practical level, the new building, which opened in May, is also located next to the research centre’s fin-fish breeding facility, which opened in 2014.

The new building, designed by Jerram Tocker Barron Architects, was created in collaboration with Port Nelson Ltd as part of a seafood precinct development on the Akersten St peninsula.

Plant & Food used to be located on Wakefield Quay but

ABOVE: Main building elevation viewed from the Port on dusk highlighting the transparency of the building

after 25 years of growth – from three staff to 50 – the scale and direction of research had long outgrown the space. “People were poked away in back corridors and might not see each other for weeks,” says Helen.

“The Wakefield Quay building had evolved over many years, supporting work in quite specific areas, and you can’t expect an existing building to always be upgraded effectively, whereas in the building we’re in now, all our scientists had input and what we’ve ended up with is a facility that’s purposebuilt for us.”

Helen says one of the challenges facing the architect was to accommodate as many of the specific needs of each scientist as possible – “scientists can be quite particular” – which they did in conjunction with specialist laboratory designer LabWorks Architecture.

While some spaces were replaced ‘like-for-like’, they were carried over in a modern, thought-out way, becoming more pleasant and user-friendly, says Helen.

The result has been a welcome change for scientists not only from those inspiring Port Nelson views, but also for the open-plan design that welcomes collaboration both in terms of formal meetings in rooms that accommodate them all – quite a novelty after Wakefield Quay – right through to informal but useful hallway discussions.

At the official opening of the building, Nelson MP Nick Smith described it as the ‘ideas factory’, which Helen says reflects a facility that’s been designed specifically for their needs from the outset.

33

Photo: Ana Galloway

TOP: The main building wind lobby within the double height glazed curtain wall BELOW: Chemistry laboratories have views of both the haven to the north and the port to the south via the open plan workspaces

“We’ve got all this new living area and non-lab space and a cafeteria that can now fit more than 10 people in it, so that’s awesome as well. I think one of the advantages is not just for the people who work here, it’s for all the visitors onsite who can now find a good place to park up and work for the day and also bump into lots of people, rather than just seeing the people they came here to see.”

What goes on behind the glass walls is a broad and diverse range of important research not only for New Zealand’s seafood industry – what is caught, how it’s caught and processed for the best result – but increasingly for companies looking to use and develop specific elements of certain seafoods for niche, highvalue products.

Overall, says Helen, the team is working towards maximising the value New Zealand gets from its seafood resources.

“My group works right across the value chain in trying to support industry in achieving that, which can start with the fish we grow in the water – aquaculture.”

Research includes delving into the technology used within aquaculture and breeding work, as well as studies aimed at diversifying the species that New Zealand farms, beyond salmon and shellfish to include species such as blue cod, snapper and trevally.

Then there’s the wild harvest side of the value chain: the award-winning Primary Growth Partnership Precision Seafood Harvesting Project, a joint multimillion-dollar research venture between industry and government that is now entering its last 18 months.

The project, which Helen says her team is best known for, trials new fishing technology to replace traditional trawling equipment, and aims to land fish in better shape.

“Then we look at what happens with those animals once they’re out of the water – the post-harvest science; how you handle them.”

Finally, scientists are looking at the parts of the fish that would normally be sent to the fertiliser or fishmeal factory, but which could be used to create higher-value products.

34

“… the region punches well above its weight in terms of science, especially seafood and aquatic science.”

– H E L E N M U S S E LY, S C I E N T I S T

Photo: Ana Galloway

PROUD TO supply and lay tiles in THE PLANT & FOOD RESEARCH BUILDING

COMPLETE PLUMBING SERVICES

Proud to have worked on the Plant & Food Research building

NELSON TILE & SLATE CENTRE LTD est 1992

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS Domestic

55 Bolt Road Tahunanui Nelson 7011

Heating

Commercial

Repairs

40 Vanguard Street, Nelson

Ph: 03 548 7733

0800 PLUMBING ph 03 547 4532 www.timmillerplumbing.co.nz

PO Box 9022 Annesbrook Nelson 7044

OPEN - MON to FRI - 8am to 5pm SATURDAY from 10am to 2pm

2 hours’ FREE parking

Ruby Bay Joinery are proud to have worked on the Plant & Food Research building

Proud to have partnered with Scott Construction in the cabling of the Plant & Food Research building

We specialise in: •

Structured cabling systems

•

Surveillance and security

•

Wireless connectivity

•

Home theatre units

•

Phone systems

•

Smart home systems

•

Access control

•

Fibre optic solutions 03 541 0135 0800 835 872 18 Tokomaru Place, Wakatu Estate teltrac.co.nz

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

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

35

Photo: Jason Mann Photography

Photo: Ana Galloway

Photo: Jason Mann Photography

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: the impressive double height foyer and reception space; upper floor open plan collaborative and work spaces; the offices and labs are visually linked with a large central glazed wall; the double height entry curtain wall is braced with large LVL cross column

“We research marine extracts such as proteins and lipids, looking at what you can do with the skin of hoki, or the liver of another fish.”

Research is already headed beyond the baseline seafood industry, which presents all sorts of exciting opportunities, says Helen.

“The high-value products are being taken up by companies that often aren’t traditional seafood companies: SeaDragon, Lintbells (a company specialising in natural supplements for pets) – they’re not fishermen, there are no quotas or farms, but they are using the products that come from those fishing or aquaculture systems.”

Although much of Plant & Food’s ongoing research has carried over from Wakefield Quay, Helen says the ability to expand the team thanks to the new facilities means they can tap into highly specialised knowledge such as the genomics of certain fish species.

Plant & Food Research’s food safety work, including for the seafood sector, is based in Auckland, but Helen does not expect her group to be shifted away from its Nelson base.

“If Nelson wasn’t the right location it would have been clear quite a few years ago. We’ve got a number of the big fishing companies here. Marlborough is the heart of New Zealand aquaculture, so Nelson just makes sense. It makes some of our work easier in terms of access to raw materials to work on, but just being visible in the place that matters for our clients and our industry is important to us.

“We’ve got NIWA and the Cawthron Institute also in Nelson so the region punches well above its weight in terms of science, especially seafood and aquatic science. It’s a hub for scientists and technical staff, and is a great place to be around likeminded people.”

36

Photo: Ana Galloway

Business Lifestyle Kitchen

Our glass and glass systems have been used throughout this project, including our balustrades, internal partitions, mirrors and splashbacks.

We are honoured to have worked on the impressive Plant & Food Research building.

Bathroom

0800 367 452 0800 367 452

Call us for allCall your needs us for glass all your glass needs viridianglass.co.nz

www.aoteaelectric.co.nz Providing a full range of services to Residential, Commercial and Industrial Customers Phone: 03 547 5765 Email: nelson.service@aoteaelectric.co.nz

37

Downsizing

SMALL HOUSE, BIG LIFE A downsized ‘Kiwi dream’ is gaining traction in New Zealand as people realise a big house on a quarter-acre may not be achievable, sustainable or even desirable. Sophie Preece finds less is more.

C

raig Anderson loves flying, camping, cooking and boating, and is not so keen on vacuuming and paying the mortgage. So when he decided to build on his section at Koromiko, near Picton, he sought a smaller house and bigger life.

“I worked out if you have a big house you virtually double the size of the mortgage and double the cleaning and you never use it. It’s all in case someone comes to stay twice a year, which really doesn’t make any sense.”

Now he’s getting used to people driving down a little country road to check out his small-footprint, highimpact build, sitting on just 55 square metres. He’d planned a traditional small cottage on the site, but when he saw a Taieri River-mouth crib in a book on small New Zealand homes, he was won over by the sense of space afforded by the cathedral ceiling, mezzanine floor, and two walls of glass on the north and east faces.

Craig went to Dunedin architects Mason and Wales for the design and to Blenheim builder Dallas Mead for the work, then set about jettisoning ‘stuff ’ and planning nifty storage areas, office spaces and a kitchen that indulges his love of cooking, all within a few metres.

“It had to feel like it wasn’t small,” he says. The result is a canny trick of height and light, with beautiful spaces in a modest package.

Picton designer Bronwyn Duffy, of Max Architectural Design, says the 38

Photo: Black Rock Building

average house size in New Zealand has more than doubled since 1900, but she is seeing a renewed interest in living ‘simpler and smaller’. She often meets clients with small-house aspirations due to budget constraints, environmental concerns or simply because less house means more lawn.

“I am increasingly getting comments and more awareness that big is not better,” she says from her own 80sq.m. home near Waikawa. Smart design and realistic considerations can yield more space for backyard cricket, better quality fittings, and less of a mortgage weighing you down, she says.

With that in mind, some clients are dropping the second living area, which once seemed mandatory, she says. “That saves 36 square metres just like that.” Also dispensable are ‘Christmas bedrooms’, on hand for the occasional visitor.

“I guess my big thing is building for

what you actually need. So many people think, ‘I have to build four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two living areas and double-garaging, because that will help it sell one day’,” says Bronwyn. But ‘one day’ could be a long way off, and in the meantime, the house needs to fit the bill for your situation. “It’s very much having a look at yourself and your house before looking at what everyone else is doing.”

‘DREAM’ NO LONGER VIABLE Renée Williamson graduated from Victoria University’s School of Architecture and Design last year, having published her thesis on her AdAPTA home, a 10sq.m. house that could make home ownership achievable to more young New Zealanders. “It was, basically, how much could be removed and how much was necessary to live with, in terms of space and stuff,” she says from Nelson’s Arthouse Architects.

Photo: Black Rock Building

“The market is really desperate for smaller homes.”

– D I C O N N O L LY, R E A L E S TAT E A G E N T Photo: Black Rock Building

TIPS FOR BUILDING SMALLER Height and light can expand the feeling of space.

Bedrooms can comfortably be 3x3m, excluding wardrobes. Any smaller, and you’ll only get one single bed in.

Unlike the old desktop computers, laptops need very little space.

Consider a cupboard or nook instead of an office.

Photo: Rob Duff

The thesis notes that the ‘Kiwi dream’ of a standalone suburban home on a quarter-acre section is ‘no longer a viable, affordable or sustainable option’.

Statistics New Zealand data shows that of the 30,000 homes built in 2016, the average house size was 182m², compared with the 38,000 new homes built in 1974 with an average floor area of 110m², Renée says. “This increase in house sizes is not sustainable. Not only does it cost more to build larger, but there are high costs for infrastructure, additional amenities and the cost of extra suburban land.”

The young designer looked to research on traditional New Zealand baches and evidence that ‘refined living’ offers a better experience and connection to place. Renée concluded that New Zealand housing needs to shift to a downscaled model, ‘designed with specific focus on user experience and livability’.

While there’s not much call for

tiny houses at Arthouse, she says her research enables her to think about space and start a conversation with clients about whether they need all they think they do. However, smaller living isn’t for everyone, Renée admits. “You have to want to live with less … but for me, I value the space more than what the space is filled with. Good design and materiality can have such a big impact.”

In the past eight years lecturing at Auckland’s Unitec Department of Architecture, Min Hall has seen a significant rise in the number of students who are highly conscious of climate change and the state of the environment, ‘and are really interested in ‘small’ and smart things’.

Min, who practised in Nelson for three decades and was co-founder of Arthouse, says small houses appeal to her environmental ethic, including an abhorrence for waste. “I like the idea that

Cavity sliders cost more but save on space.

Walk-in wardrobes can be a waste of space. Consider one or two standard wardrobes for the master bedroom instead.

The smaller the house, the more the requirement for greater storage and less ‘stuff’.

Cutting seldom-used second living areas or guest bedrooms is an easy way to reduce size.

you have a small amount of completely enclosed, insulated space that you can control the environment in, but that it opens to bigger space, which can be the outside. It’s really more that idea of a hub or a core that you can expand from.”

As well as designing beautiful smaller houses, many of them baches, Min has designed some very large homes, used for quite short periods of the year.

“After a while the wastefulness of that bugged me, when there were a lot of people who did not have adequate space 39

“My big thing is building for what you actually need.”

– B R O N W Y N D U F F Y, DESIGNER

at all,” she says. “I think the idea of going small is in line with the overall attitude I have about the environment.”

Min has had a campervan for several years, and doesn’t miss any of her possessions while in its 2x3m space.

“That really brings it home to you about what you actually need.” On the flipside, “the luxury of space can be wonderful too,” she says, “so it’s trying to have small spaces that feel spacious still. To me that is always the architectural challenge.”

Going tall gives that sense of space on a small footprint, and getting light from up high will expand the room, says Min. That opportunity was certainly revealed in the design of houses in Golden Bay on a tree-covered section.

“You are in a forest really, so you just want to get the windows up as high as you possibly can to get the maximum light. It’s those sorts of things that become important.”

David Wallace, also of Arthouse, says there are still people who want bigger builds, but ‘there is a lot of interest in smaller houses’. For example, the firm is starting work on a 80-90sq.m. home for clients they designed a 240sq.m. house for three years ago. “It will be nice to work with clients we know well and refine what they can really have,” says David.

However, many of the people who express an interest in building small go on to present a wish-list that will not fit anywhere near 100sq.m., he says, “and it’s not easy for the client or us to bring that house size down.” For the clients it might require a mindset shift, and conversations such as, ‘Do we need the four bedrooms for when the children come home once a year or are we prepared for people to bunk down in an office space? Are we prepared to share a bathroom or not?’.

For the architects, there is the challenge of designing great spaces in a limited footprint, he says, “and a wonderful opportunity to say, ‘Let’s not build as much but build it well’.”

BUYERS LOOKING TO DOWNSIZE Janice Emery and Di Connolly, of Re/Max Elite in Nelson, say there is huge demand 40

SMALLER SECTIONS WITH GOOM LANDSCAPES Goom Landscapes designer Jessica Staples and plant guru Nigel Croton offer some top tips for small spaces.

Productive plants can look beautiful too – think lush rhubarb, kale and chard as foliage plants.

Use perennials and bulbs to highlight the seasons and to provide surprises as you watch for what’s about to pop up next.

Integrate storage into walls and furniture. Design in multiuse features, such as steps and low walls as seats.

Dwarf fruit trees – as small as 1.5m high - take up very little space in your garden. Consider multigrafts, with two varieties on one trunk.

Avoid busyness – limit your palette for both the hard and softscape.

Espalier fruit trees against fences and use productive fruiting hedges, such as cranberries and feijoas.

Pots can be great for citrus, herbs and vegetables.

Consider climbers like grapes, and vertical vegetables, like beans, tomatos and peas.

Don’t just look side to side when figuring out privacy, you may be looked down on too…use shade structures and vertical elements.

Goom Landscapes is coming to Nelmac Garden Marlborough this month, to run a lecture and workshops on landscaping. For more information go to gardenmarlborough.co.nz

Photo by CMG Studios for Goom Landscapes

for small houses in the region and very little on offer. Di says in the past 12 years, the growing retiree population has looked toward downsizing, and ‘the market is really desperate for smaller homes’. The duo are approached every day by people looking for modern, small and low-maintenance homes, and have been encouraging developers to consider that demand.

Over in Marlborough, builder David Wraight is tapping into the market for smaller homes with his transportable 100sq.m. cottages, which are built to high specs on his Kaituna site. “I started off building small cottages, and now I have come full circle back to it,” says David, who has a reputation in the region for his weatherboard villas and bungalows, all echoing traditional New Zealand architecture.

The small cottages have similar features to his villas, but save space by avoiding hallways, en-suites and walk-in wardrobes, while retaining laundries with plenty of storage, a relatively large kitchen and bathroom, and a second toilet.

David says when building onsite, a larger home can be more practical, because the subbies, scaffolding and other necessary resources are the same, regardless of the size of the house. By building them in his Kaituna shed, with two on the go at once, he can keep the cost per square metre at a similar rate to the larger counterparts. That means people with access to a low-cost section can have a realistically priced home, whether it’s their first one, or a step down the ladder from a larger, more mortgageladen property.

YOU’LL BE

SOLD

à la carte & set menus available functions up to 40 people fantastic views over The Cut

ON JANICE & DI

“Janice Emery and Di Connolly have been brilliant to work with for the sale of my house. Their professionalism and consideration of my needs was outstanding. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to others who may require their services”. B DAWSON “It was a great pleasure to work with Janice & Di during the sale of my house.

Their professionalism and courtesy were second to none. They are a delightful pair of women and I feel I was given superb service. I would heartily recommend them”. G FINNEGAN

YOUR MOVE We’ll make it happen

For real estate call Janice & Di

Nelson/Tasman Senior Specialists

Janice Emery 0274 470 805

Di Connolly 0274 306 518

RE/MAX Elite, 7 Haven Rd, Nelson 7010. www.remax.co.nz Phone: 03 548 7705 Fifeshire Realty Ltd, Licensed Under REAA 2008, Each Office Independently Owned & Operated

Mon to Fri 11.30 - late Sat & Sun 11.00 - late

341 Wakefield Quay, Nelson 03 546 6685 harbourlightbistro.co.nz

Christmas Gifts with Style Wedding Hats – Evening Bags – Jewellery Possum Merino Poncho/Jackets & Fashion Accessories NZ Art & Ceramics – Nautical – Décor – Crystal – Outdoor Gifts

HÖGLUND GLASSBLOWING STUDIO Free gift wrapping & free parking. Courier service. Like our

Facebook page ‘Sounds Reflection’ and get inspiration!

Open 7 days: Summer hours 9am to 5pm E info@soundsreflection.co.nz | P 03 572 9149 www.soundsreflection.co.nz or find us on

Visit us at the Sea Chest – 4 Boyces Road, on the corner of Rapaura Road, RD3 Blenheim. Accommodation at the Sea Cove Cottage next door, enquiries to Sounds Reflection Ltd.

Locally made by glass artists Ola and Marie Höglund and their family.

Makers of Nelson art glass and glass jewellery since 1982.

VISITORS WELCOME – OPEN DAILY 10 TO 5 The glassblowing schedule is always subject to change - please ring us to find out when you can watch glassblowing in action.

52 Lansdowne Road, Appleby, Richmond Ph 03 544 6500

www.hoglundartglass.com

41

Small spaces are a good place for great design. We asked Arthouse Architecture to tell us about a couple of local examples.

TWO TIDES OF PARA PARA INLET This small holiday house is nestled in to the edge of the estuary at Parapara. The clients asked for a Bach that was more like a hut than a holiday house and to make the most of the views across the inlet and into the adjacent wetland and bush areas. It is a very simple building with over height spaces in the living areas to create a feeling of spaciousness. Bi-folding shutters between one bedroom and living areas also add to the sense of openness in the small space and also provide another vista from the bedroom. The high level windows capture the early morning sun.

The living area opens out onto decks to the North and West. A mezzanine area sits over the bedrooms and provides spill over sleeping space and storage.

The clients love hearing how Book a Bach guests enjoy staying in their small Bach.

Completed: 2010 Architect: Arthouse Architects with Min Hall Contractors: Dari Harris Photographer: John-Paul Pochin

ABOVE : High ceilings give Two Tides at Para Para a greater sense of space RIGHT: The Tree House is a reminder that “less can be more�

TREE HOUSE A tree house is elevated. It is small. It is safe.

It is private. It is a place to look down from.

The journey to it is an adventure and it is within trees or a tree. With these thoughts in mind, a design evolved where the sleepout is raised as high as possible between two large trees. It is lifted up just high enough to slide a car underneath and store firewood. The treehouse comprises a lobby that doubles as a sleeping space, a bathroom and a larger sleeping space. This larger room is twisted and slightly raised to capture the view out to sea beyond the main Bach. With windows dropping right down to the floor it is a more a look out than a room. The sleepout incorporates timber framing, timber weatherboards, timber steps and palisade, built-in timber joinery, and plywood linings. This is a small piece of carefully created architecture that is in the trees and of the trees. Some of the Arthouse team stayed here recently and loved how the building has aged over the years, a great reminder that less can be more.

Completed: 2010 Architect: Arthouse Architects with Min Hall Contractors: Frank Byrne Photographer: Simon Devitt 42

0% interest,

subaru.co.nz

100% freedom.

WRX from $48,990* + ORC

it over 3 years

Levorg 2.0GT-S only $57,990*+ ORC

0%

Interest p.a.*

Legacy 3.6RS only $49,990* + ORC

Outback from $44,990* + ORC

Forester from $39,990* + ORC

You have the freedom to choose between legendary performance or legendary capability, because we’re offering monthly payments over 3 years at 0% interest, with a 25% deposit on these models. The only thing that’s limited is time, so get in quick.

Book a test drive today!

*Application fee of $350 applies. Prices include GST. Fixed interest rate of 0% p.a. WRX: Offer based on RRP of $48,990. Total amount payable $49,340. Levorg: Offer based on RRP of $57,990. Total amount payable $58,340. Legacy 3.6RS: Offer based on RRP of $49,990. Total amount payable $50,340. Outback: Offer based on RRP of $44,990. Total amount payable $45,340. Forester: Offer based on of RRP of $39,990. Total amount payable $40,340. This advertisement is for a credit agreement with BNZ. BNZ lending criteria, terms and conditions and fees apply. For further details, contact BNZ on 0800 236 777. Excludes lease, government and rental purchases, on-road costs & accessories. Each offer not available in conjunction with any other special, discount or promotional offer. Available at participating dealers only. Valid until 31.12.17 or while stocks last. Subaru reserves the right to vary, withdraw or extend this offer. See full terms and conditions online atPowered subaru.co.nz.by

www.nbmg.co.nz

Josh Chapman Nathan Ryder Mark Chapman Shane Green Dealer Principal Sales Consultant Sales Consultant Sales Consultant 021 243 5888 027 243 5777 027 628 3364 021 259 1010

Riviera Cantilever Umbrella

Experience world-class, resort quality shade under the finest cantilever umbrella available Nelson Shade Solutions are suppliers and installers of New Zealand’s leading cantilever umbrella the Riviera from Shade7. The Riviera has superior strength and durability. Made from corrosion resistant marine-grade aluminium. These umbrellas are not going to blow away in a gust of wind.

P: 03 544 6352 E: nelsonshade@xtra.co.nz

nelsonshadesolutions.co.nz 43

Lodges

The Top of the South is blessed with a swag of top-of-the-range tourism lodges. Sadie Beckman samples the luxury.

PAMPERED IN PARADISE

44

W

hen it comes to getting away from the madding crowd, the Top of the South is one of the best places in the country to do it.

Our beguiling countryside hosts some exquisite lodges, retreats and sanctuaries that entice locals and visitors alike.

From the stunning coastal scenery of Abel Tasman National Park and the Marlborough Sounds to the rolling hills and valleys of Nelson and Marlborough, there is something to satisfy everyone.

Luxury and relaxation are obviously top of the menu for many, but plenty of lodge-lovers revel in the chance to explore the great outdoors.

Their options include tramping what are arguably some of the most beautiful walking tracks in the world, kayaking across the emerald bays of the Abel Tasman, biking, hunting, fishing and much more besides.

If fly fishing is your thing, then the Nelson Lakes area in particular offers renowned waterways, a skip away from charming retreats nestled in idyllic locations.

Or if you prefer to stay put and make the most of your temporary slice of heaven, spa treatments and wellness options are on offer at many retreats and lodges, with massage, saunas, yoga and even dedicated meditation spaces at some.

Split Apple Retreat, between Kaiteriteri and Marahau, in the ridiculously beautiful Abel Tasman area, is one example of a destination that offers both indoor and outdoor activities, all centred on what owner Dr Lee Nelson describes as ‘luxury wellness’.

“We want guests to have both a top-notch luxury lodge experience combined with cutting-edge spa facilities and absolutely gourmet healthy food,” he says.

“Guests repeatedly tell us that our cuisine is unique.

They have had food of this quality that’s not healthy, and healthy food that misses the mark on taste, but never the combination at this level.”

Lee says Split Apple offers ‘thoughtful’ Asian-Mediterranean fusion cuisine where every ingredient has been selected for its positive contribution to health and wellness, cooked by his wife Pen, the retreat’s chef.

The retreat is well-placed for boat and helicopter trips, as well as access to those Abel Tasman walks, and it attracts ‘successful professional people’ of all ages, he says.

Location and sweeping views aside, people are drawn by the retreat’s collection of museum-quality Asian art, as well as a saltwater infinity swimming pool, Japanese spa bath, detoxifying FAR-infrared sauna, and curiously, the option to undertake ‘high-tech brain entrainment meditation’ in a specially built meditation theatre with customised reclining leather seats.

F

urther south at Orinoco, Edenhouse offers ‘understated luxury’ to its guests, say owner-operators Peter and Bobbie Martin.

The whole place, in fact, has been carefully designed down to the last bespoke detail, thanks to Bobbie’s training at the Inchbald School of Design and the English Gardening School in London, and with the house plus 3.2ha of landscaped gardens within the 20ha property, that’s a lot of design features.

The lodge itself boasts two luxurious suites in the main house, plus a beautifully appointed, private, two-bedroom cottage. Extra touches include pure Irish linen and a well-stocked fridge, all included in the price. The property even has its own spring water, and a heliport. If you prefer a reclusive getaway,

All photos this page and opposite: Split Apple Retreat

you can stay tucked away in your private quarters. Otherwise, guests are invited to make use of the shared spaces, which, as well as the gardens, include a sitting room, formal dining room, an artists’ studio, den and library. The rooms can be warmed by open fires, which add ambience during cooler times of the year.

This ethos of both communal and private options for guests harks back to the way things were done in the great houses of old, where people would gather to socialise for dinner, drinks or activities, and retire to their own quarters for privacy.

Quality staff are important too, and Bobbie says Edenhouse’s high standards carry through into their employment practices.

“We do not employ temporary or seasonal staff,” she says.

“We are fully committed to taking care of guests and are assisted by a team of 12 who all live in the local valley.”

(Labrador Chilli, who is listed on Edenhouse’s website as ‘Guest Liaison Officer’, probably bypassed the rigorous employment screening.)

W

hile Edenhouse has an English country house feel, Westhaven Retreat, near Collingwood in Golden Bay, describes itself as ‘luxury on the living, breathing edge of New Zealand wilderness’, an evocative statement that must be magnetic to visitors who want to experience the raw, wild beauty of Aotearoa without forgoing their creature comforts.

One point of difference here is that the retreat’s grounds are a massive 404ha – an entire peninsula, in fact, that guests are welcome to explore. Owners and hosts Monika and Bruno Stompe say Westhaven has been their ‘labour of love’.

“From every schist stone to the timber coffee tables, everything has been constructed by our family in New Zealand’s traditional colonial style,” Bruno says.

“It is the love of every detail and the challenge of a building that will match the most beautiful surroundings that has kept us going for 10 years. Finally, we can share our beautiful lodge and peninsula with our guests.”

Westhaven is tucked away on a ridgeline with panoramic views of Whanganui Inlet and Kahurangi National Park. The location is ideal for those seeking solitude and some serious proximity to nature.

Monika, Bruno and the Stompe family describe their approach as ‘good old-fashion family hospitality’, and besides that private peninsula, the lodge offers well-being treatments, a half-size Olympic swimming pool and a hydro spa.

45

All photos this page: Westhaven Lodge

“While these visitors want a high-quality, secluded destination and to enjoy a unique experience, they also want to get out and meet Kiwis.”

G ISELA PU RCELL , NELSON REG IONAL DEVELOPMENT AG ENCY

There is also a huge library of books in both English and German. Catering is included in the tariff, and for those who really like to arrive in style, the hosts offer transfers from the airport in a new Tesla X electric car, for the ultimate modern transport experience.

Monika says their philosophy for Westhaven is to seriously pamper guests so they can fully relax and recharge.

“This is the right place to come if you want to be luxuriously spoilt. I mean, really luxuriously spoilt,” she says.

O

ne of the oldest luxury lodges in the Nelson area is Lake Rotoroa Lodge, which was run as an exclusive fishing retreat attracting clientele from round the world.

These days it is in private hands, owned by the Talley family, although they do accept group bookings, especially corporate functions.

In Motueka, Stonefly Lodge offers luxury accommodation, fine cuisine and a remote location, ticking important boxes for many, but it is also near not just one, but three national parks, as well as having access to world-renowned rivers for some of New Zealand’s best fly fishing.

Hosts John and Kate Kerr say Stonefly, situated on 60ha of private forest, is ‘the complete package for visitors from around the world looking to experience fly fishing in New Zealand’, and their combined half-century of tourism and hospitality experience means guests are in the hands of people who know what they’re doing.

Another person who knows what he’s about is Felix Borenstein, host of Owen River Lodge just outside Murchison.

Often catering for international visitors, and centred mainly around fly fishing, the lodge does have other offerings, but it makes its position clear by defining them as ‘non-fishing activities’ on its website. To be fair though, it emphasises that non-fishing guests will also have a ‘sensational’ time, with inhouse well-being treatments and non-aquatic outdoor activities such as mountain biking, farm tours, walking and hiking.

But for those who come for the fishing, Felix recommends expert guidance.

“Due to the clarity of the water, the ‘canniness‘ of our brown trout, and the fact that these behemoths sparsely populate our rivers, we absolutely recommend you use the services of one of our highly experienced fishing guides,” he says. “Think about it: you’ve spent a lot of time and money getting to New Zealand.

Investing in the services of a fishing guide is a wise thing to do.

Time, after all, is one thing we can’t buy more of.”

46

47

Westhaven Lodge Split Apple Retreat

Split Apple Retreat

T

he Resurgence Luxury Eco Retreat, at Riwaka near Motueka, offers a relaxed, understated and highly professional service in stylish surroundings. Voted one of the world’s 25 best ecolodges by National Geographic Traveller magazine in 2013, it is set in 22ha of native bush, on the edge of two national parks in a setting that is pure New Zealand.

Accommodation is in six unique ‘Bush Suites’ and four boutique lodge rooms, all five-star standard with amazing views.

Boasting a pool, spa, gym and masseuse services, the luxury retreat offers fine dining of an international standard using fresh local produce. A child-free zone, it’s a haven for honeymooners, nature lovers, active couples and foodies.

Such lodges are a low-volume niche sector, yet they add a lot of value to the overall Nelson tourism market, says Gisela Purcell, International Marketing Manager for the Nelson Regional Development Agency.

“While these visitors want a high-quality, secluded destination and to enjoy a unique experience, they also want to get out and meet Kiwis,” she says. “They do tend to spend longer in each region and therefore spend more money than perhaps someone who is doing the entire country in a campervan in a week.”

So whatever activity you are looking for, from extreme pastimes full of adrenalin, to extreme relaxation, rejuvenation and the chance to recharge your batteries, there is a high-end option in the Top of the South.

While this level of quality doesn’t come cheap – some of the top lodges and retreats charge upwards of $2000 a night fully inclusive – Gisela says international visitors often see them as good value.

“They all vary in price and what they offer, but the one thing that is constant is the level of service. These places know that their clientele demand extremely special service and top-quality surroundings, and they can deliver that.”

Add to that the incredible geographical locations that many of these retreats and lodges enjoy, and you’ve got the recipe for something extraordinary.

48

Westhaven Lodge

L U X U RY LO D G E A N D W E L L N E S S R E T R E AT

S P LI T AP P LE RETREAT

www.splitapple.com 03 527 8377

Book your Christmas party Celebrate with fine food in Nelson’s most-experience awarded Cocktail Bar & Brasserie Enjoy a custom cocktail for the evening forGuests you will to share friends! be guidedwith along your the timeline of gin and learn of its rise and fall and rise again to a worldwide drink of choice for so many.

From the original Jenever (Holland) to modern contemporary gins from New Zealand.

Book your evening now at drinks@codandlobster.com

Private seated dining for groups up to 36 events@codandlobster.com 03 546 4300 300 Trafalgar Street, Nelson www.codandlobster.com 49

Awaroa Lodge

A BEAUTY BACK TO BEGUILE

BY BRENDA WEBB

T

he revamped and reinvigorated Awaroa Lodge is a ‘must visit’ place this summer. Nestled in spectacular Abel Tasman National Park, the lodge is a magical place to escape to, its lack of road access adding to its uniqueness.

These days, thanks to being back in local ownership, the lodge has been reinstated to its former glory.

Clare Davies, who runs Capstone Hotels and Resorts, which is in charge of the overall management, says the new owners have a passion for the area.

“The lodge had become tired and they wanted to return it to being an icon of the region,” she says. “They’ve invested in the common areas; it’s all painted, with new floorings and soft furnishings, and has a much lighter and brighter feel.

“The rooms have been upgraded and there has been a big effort put into the service team to make sure the service meets the expectations of visitors.”

Awaroa Lodge had its beginning in the 1980s when locals Jo and John Crawford sold pizzas, cheese scones and homemade lemon drink to track walkers.

The food was baked in an old wood-range in the bach they’d built on the property in the 1960s.

During summer, they’d put up a small sign on the coastal track, which ran through their private land.

Lonely Planet scouts heard about the venture and once it was written up, the popularity of the area soared. The idea of a tourism complex developed and the Crawfords, along with friend and neighbour Terry Knight, formed a business.

The original Awaroa Lodge and Café was officially opened in 1992 and became a firm favourite in the park; a secluded haven for track walkers as well as those prepared to make the effort to fly or boat in for a visit.

The new owners have a strong vision of how the lodge should operate and are keen to focus on the eco-philosophy that the 50

Photos by Awaroa Lodge

lodge was well-known for.

The gardens have been rejuvenated, with the produce supplementing the fare in the busy restaurant, which is headed by executive chef Tim Hodge.

Awaroa Inlet received plenty of publicity last year when a pristine, privately-owned beach was bought through a Givealittle campaign. The crowdfunding effort was launched in January and

by February more than $2m had been pledged by 39,000-plus New Zealanders.

“It certainly put Awaroa Lodge on the map,” says Clare. She is hoping many of those people take the chance to visit ‘their’ patch of beach this summer.

“We really want to push the domestic market and make Awaroa Lodge accessible to locals, friends and family. They can take a cruise and have lunch there, go for a walk on that iconic walking track, and they can stay the night too. We will be doing packages aimed at locals.”

The lodge has a number of room types, ranging from standard through to superior. About 15 staff are employed at present but that number swells to nearly 30 over the busy season.

Staff live on-site, which provides a unique experience living and working in such a pristine environment.

Proud to have been involved in the refurbishment of Awaroa Lodge

Riwaka River Estate is situated in stunning surroundings with national parks and beautiful coastline close by.

The family-owned estate produces distinctive award-winning Resurgence wines, which reflect passion and unique terroir.

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

ORIGINAL KIWI WINES www.riwakariverestate.com

Phone: 03 544 1515

www.moxini.co.nz

Proud suppliers to Awaroa Lodge

Contact us for all your food service requirements

Phone: 03 547 5349 | order online: bidfood.co.nz

51

DANISH DESIGNER JEWELLERY

NEW COLLECTION Stand out with a symbiotic mix of raw femininity and minimal luxury. Dyrberg/Kern’s latest collection is in-store now!

255 Hardy Street, Nelson Ph: 03-548 4848

New Season Linen Clothing

Beautiful linen clothing, designed and created at Beacon Hill, Hope plus exclusive stockist of European fashion brands

- EST 1863 -

SUMMER HOURS: 10am - 4pm Thursday & Friday | 10am - 2pm Saturday or by appointment 205 Paton Road, Hope www.beaconhillestate.co.nz www.facebook.com/BeaconHillCountryStore

52

P HO T O G R A P H Y I S H NA JAC OB S S T Y L I N G K E L LY V E R C O E MODEL ELLA SMITH FROM HIGH LOW MODELS HAIR CHLOE FROM CARDELLS M A K E - U P K E L LY F R O M THE NEW BLAK

STREETS AHEAD IN FASHION

RVCA jumpsuit from Amazon Surf Elk handbag and Kami & Kindred necklace from Shine

Messop dress from Shine Kathryn Wilson shoes from Taylors‌we love shoes

Messop dress and Elk handbag from Shine

Lonely Hearts jumper from Trouble and Fox Element skirt from Amazon Surf

Coop dress from Trouble and Fox

The Fifth Label top from Trouble and Fox Julian Danger shorts from Shine

A C A D E M Y B R A N D • H U F F E R • V A N S • I L O V E U G LY • C R AT E SCOTCH & SODA • JUST ANOTHER FISHERMAN • BRIXTON S LY G U I L D • S T E L L A + G E M M A • M E A D O W L A R K • C O O P

SPRING ARRIVALS

L O N E LY • R U B Y • S TAT U S A N X I E T Y

Belle Scarpe RAVING Rose, Nude & White

$179.90

Bresley AVELYN Gold & Bone

$189.90

Belle Scarpe RUFFLE Nude

$199.90

Bresley DRISSLE

GST-FREE POSTAGE OVERSEAS FOR CHRISTMAS.

Pewter or Champagne distress

$189.90

Belle Scarpe RALI Navy or Nude

$189.90

Let Kiwi Originals take care of your overseas postage this year with our wide range of quality NZ themed clothing and gifts.

TWO GREAT LOCATIONS 245 Trafalgar St, Nelson • 211 Queen St, Richmond

www.weloveshoes.co.nz

153 TRAFALGAR ST, NELSON Open Monday to Saturday | 9am - 5pm

59

MY HOME

1 2

60

3

A standout success

BY BRENDA WEBB

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

R

achel and Lawrie Saunders dared to be different when planning their Atawhai home. They wanted it to stand out from the crowd and be distinct from other houses in the area.

The eye-catching home certainly does that and has already featured in several architectural awards. Most importantly, it has delighted its owners, who say it’s an ‘interesting design that really flows’ and they love living in it.

The Saunders’ four-page brief to Jeremy Smith, of Irving Smith Architects, covered specific details they wanted such as bedroom numbers, but they left the design entirely up to him, making it clear they didn’t want anything mainstream. “He gave us something completely different and we absolutely loved it from the minute we saw his concept drawings,” says Rachel.

The so-called ‘one-storey’ house appears to float over the sloping ground. While it has a lower and upper level, it is still one storey – a clever architectural feat that fulfils the owners’ requirement of having a completely separate area for visiting family and guests. It also makes the most of the site’s spectacular views from all areas.

“Jeremy asked us great questions about our lifestyle and what we wanted, and along with our brief, he came up with this style.”

The Saunders wanted generous living areas with indoor-outdoor flow. Their bedroom is in the ‘upper level’ so when they don’t have family or guests staying they live in their own private ‘apartment’. It is cleverly linked to the guest quarters by a study area.

Top of the list for the Saunders was a low-maintenance property so any materials requiring painting, staining or ongoing maintenance were out. When Jeremy came up with a grey Eterpan (fibre-cement board) cladding option the Saunders were delighted.

“We’ve used a lot of cedar trim and that is weathering nicely,” says Rachel. “There’s also a lot of negative detailing with dark and light greys, which adds texture.”

A neutral colour scheme was chosen for the interior, with colour accents coming from soft furnishings and art. Floors are a mix of semigloss Italian tiles in living and wet areas, and carpet in the bedrooms.

Ceilings in the living areas feature Tasmanian oak hush-panels that absorb and soften the harsh sounds often present in a house with hard surfaces.

Rachel describes the building process as seamless, and says she would happily do it again. “We were lucky with the team we had – Jason Gardiner Builders were the best to work with and the projectmanaging was brilliant,” she says.

“One of us was here most days – I like to be a bit nosy and poke around, and it was wonderful to see the progress.”

Rachel says using an architect resulted in a quality home with attention to detail. “It really does make all the difference – you get exactly what you want.”

The Saunders applied the same philosophy to their landscaping.

“We wanted the landscape to be something that was easy care and native mainly so we could attract the native birds. At the same time we also wanted the house to blend into the surrounding landscape so native seemed to be the way to go.

4 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

The eye-catching home makes full use of the sloping section A large picture window at the foot of the stairs allows the outdoors in Timber panelling adds warmth to the neutral colour scheme Spectacular views over Tasman Bay from all levels Landscaping, like the house, is designed to be low fuss

5

61

MY HOME

6 7 6.

A sleek, stylish and functional kitchen is the hub of the house

7.

Views and sun are maximised through extensive glazing to the north

8.

7

8

62

A snug corner where a large window allows the outdoors in

9

9.

Grooved timber ceiling panels add texture and warmth

Proud to have worked alongside Lawrie and Rachel Saunders in building their new home.

Phone us on 027 246 0870

www.jasongardinerbuilders.co.nz

THE SELLERS ROOM Proud to have worked with Lawrie and Rachel Saunders on their home.

Re s i d e n t i a l & C o m m e r c i a l J o i n e r y

Thinking new kitchen/residential project or even commercial?

Think THE SELLERS ROOM Design Team

Visit our Showroom at 9 Echodale Place

Myles & Margarette Sellers

It’s what’s

inside that counts

Freephone 0800 469 537 Phone 03 547 7144 Email msellers@thesellersroom.co.nz Address 9 Echodale Place, Stoke

www.thesellersroom.co.nz 63

MY HOME

11

10

12

13 14

10. Carefully placed artwork adds a splash of colour 11. Built in shelves allow special treasures and books to be displayed 12. Bathrooms are efficient and functional 13. Softly textured grey curtains and carpet add luxe to the bedroom 14. Eye-catching art and sleek Italian tiles in the entranceway 15. Light and airy with accessorising accents

15

64

Working with Jason Gardiner Builders & the Saunders Since our inception, insite has been recognized as an industry leader. We have placed ourselves at the forefront of aluminium window and door design, resulting in a portfolio that reflects our pursuit of excellence.

PROUD LIGHTING SUPPLIERS FOR THE SAUNDERS

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

Proud to lay it down for the Saunders home.

Come in and see the latest looks in flooring – from carpet, laminate and vinyl planks to tiles, timber and vinyl.

Nelson’s largest residential & commercial flooring store.

Nelson’s only Luxaflex Gallery store.

Regent Park 141 Quarantine Road, Nelson 03 547 3401 nelson@carpetcourt.nz carpetcourt.nz

insite

2 Braeburn Lane Stoke, Nelson 03 547 0562 insitenelson.co.nz

65

MY HOME

16

17 19

18 16.

17.

18.

19.

A sheltered outdoor area encompassing those panoramic views Uninterrupted views to the north Extensive decking provides ample outdoor living Natives feature predominantly in the garden

“Landscape architect Rory Langbridge came up with a great planting plan, and Nic Scott from Boons Garden Landscapes did the planting,” adds Rachel.

“It’s just perfect; all the plants love where they are so they’ve been well placed and have blossomed so that the house is already nestling nicely into the gardens.”

Rachel says lots of colour is evident throughout the garden from species such as red and white flowering manuka, different varieties of hebes, grasses and flaxes to attract the birds, and beautiful nikau palms sourced from the West Coast. “The kaka beaks love it here and there are lots of native flowers coming through.”

What makes the garden interesting, she says, are all the native flowers and their different flowering times, ensuring there is colour and birdlife all year long. “We’re really thrilled with the landscaping.”

66

INNOVATIVE DESIGN CREATING INSPIRATIONAL SPACE

Plan, design and manage open spaces including both natural and built environments. We work to provide innovative and aesthetically pleasing environments for people to enjoy, whilst ensuring that changes to the natural enviroment are appropriate, sensitive and sustainable.

RLLA Sharland Engineering are pleased to be associated with Jason Gardiner Builders Specialists in Structural Steelwork & Architectural Metalwork

P: 03 548 7507 95 Vickerman Street, Nelson E: admin@sharlands.co.nz

www.rlla.co.nz

03 546 8884

RORY LANGBRIDGE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

Integrating dreams with reality

NELSON’S LANDSCAPE SPECIALISTS - Landscape Design - Retaining Walls - Decking - Paving & Brick Work - Irrigation

- Pergolas - Planting - Garden Design - Garden Maintenance

G A R D E N

L A N D S C A P E S

boonsgarden@xtra.co.nz 027 429 2827 www.boonsgarden.co.nz

67

PROUD TO supply and lay tiles in THE SAUNDERS HOME

The Saunders home is a beautiful one.

Viridian Glass proudly supplied all of the glass and glass systems.

This includes the windows, showers, splashbacks and balustrades.

Lifestyle Kitchen NELSON TILE & SLATE CENTRE LTD est 1992 40 Vanguard Street, Nelson Ph: 03 548 7733

Bathroom

OPEN - MON to FRI - 8am to 5pm • SATURDAY from 10am to 2pm

2 hours’ FREE parking

0800 367 452 Call us for all your glass needs

viridianglass.co.nz

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

68

BUSINESS PROFILE

A hothouse of business

BY SADIE BECKMAN P HO T O I S H NA JAC OB S

H

otHouse is a community of creative professionals passionately curious about technology, innovation and contemporary culture.

Smart, innovative thinking lies behind this progressive company, a literal hothouse of clever ideas and expertise in memorable, meaningful brand design and marketing solutions across web and print.

Based in Nelson, with a strong presence in Wellington too, the company has become one of the region’s major players in the marketing arena.

Now, a new venture means a fresh look and direction for HotHouse, collaborating with other forward-thinkers to repurpose and revitalise a piece of Nelson’s history, gaining a new home along the way.

The Provincial Tavern building on Bridge Street, a heritage property, has now been completely refitted and restored, and is the stylish new premises for HotHouse’s Nelson operations, as well as accounting firm First Class, and popup-style eatery Jaks Island Espresso and Catering. The building now includes three beautifully fitted out accommodation units (the Provincial Apartments), available for short and long-term stays from next month.

HotHouse Creative Director and building co-owner Allan Innes-Walker is the source of much of the passion behind the new project, and says he is excited

about preserving the rich history of the former tavern, as well as bringing it into the 21st century.

He is confident the combination of talent housed there along with the growth and renewed interest in the surrounding neighbourhood, means people will want to visit and explore.

HotHouse itself is already a pretty effective drawcard, and Innes-Walker’s philosophy for the business is steadfast.

“We want to build real partnerships where we’re completely invested as a brand and communications partner,” he says.

“Running a business can be relent­ less - it’s our job to believe in them by doing great work.”

Innes-Walker also believes strongly in the dedicated and passionate business people he is sharing his new space with, all of whom complement each other in different ways.

“First Class is a nationwide accounting franchise that offers top-notch support for businesses,” he says.

“Their ethos and expertise will work in well with HotHouse. Having them run their country-wide operations from here is fantastic.”

He also rates Jaks Island highly, and that’s not just because they’re his co-tenants. In fact, he says, he’s been working his way through trying their gourmet sandwiches, which feature such delights as pork with coriander

and pineapple salsa, or roast beef with a chimichurri sauce.

“It’s gorgeous food and gorgeous coffee. The café is an urban style place, it’s not actually a pop-up, but it has that feel,” he explains.

“It just so happens that this particular café features award-winning chefs.”

Jaks Island is run by a collaboration of three women - Ali Slotemaker of Rabbit Island Coffee, a Mapua roasting company, and Jessie Verhoef and Kate Manley, both of whom are acclaimed local chefs.

They have designed Jaks Island as a ‘collaborative co-op style business, where community, environment, employee well-being and profit all have equal importance’ and offer outside catering as well as their in-house coffee and lunches.

Enthusiastic, ardent and highly skilled at what he does, Innes-Walker is rapt to have already built positive relationships with many clients within his own business, and established brand identities for them that deliver real results.

Now, in partnership with his new neighbours, and with new life breathed back into the old tavern, he has been part of creating a real destination for them too.

Contact hothouse.co.nz Phone: 03­545 7995

69

INTERIOR DESIGN

3

2 1

Interior designs

4

5

8

6

7

70

COMBINING COLOUR AND FENG SHUI

BY REBECCA O’FEE

I

love colour and here are some tips on how to use it in your home while incorporating feng shui - a Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing everyone with the environment - to ensure you get the best out of each colour.

Colour is an important aspect of interior spaces and it helps to invite health and wealth while also creating balance and harmony. The right colour choices not only enhance the design, decor and style of your home but they can also create meaning.

Colour feng shui is made up of five key elements; fire, earth, metal, water and wood. Each of these five elements rules a specific area of your home and every colour is linked to one of the elements.

Yellow: All shades of yellow symbolize harmony, positive changes and success. Yellow also has the ability to stimulate the brain, enhance creative growth and improve thinking and problem solving. (Great for an office or studio space!) Wall paint, wallpaper and styling items in yellow shades bring sunshine and energy, which warms spaces and creates happy moods. Just remember to think of nature, where yellows are muted and softened, muddied and dirty, not synthetic man-made colour.

Green: Currently one of the most popular decorating colours, green symbolizes nature and is the feng shui colour of fresh energy and regeneration. Green is nourishing to your health as it balances the whole body by bringing healing. When working with green it is important to use at least several different shades of green to maximise its energy effects.

Pink: Pink is the universal colour of love, which makes it a perfect feng shui colour to soften the energy in your home. The calming and delicate colours of pink are proven to have soothing effects on our behaviour and feelings.

The deeper the pink, the more passion and energy it radiates. You can use this beautiful colour almost anywhere in your home.

For more information on this, refer to a feng shui colour chart.

Rombo towels from Darby & Joan from $6.90 Brass tray from Moxini $129.00 Armstrong lamp from Lighthouse $1,377.00 Alarm clock from Darby & Joan $44.00 3 leg side table gold from Moxini $335.00 3 leg side table brass from Moxini $295.00 Aura jug from Darby & Joan $60.00 Timber & brass side table from Moxini $450.00 Vases from Moxini, tall $129.00, round $259.00 8. Ivy & Fig cushion cover from Darby & Joan $69.00 Dusky Pink cushion cover from Darby & Joan $39.00 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

new & vintage furniture / lighting / bedlinen / tableware table linen / cushions / throws / rugs / clocks We have what you need to make a house your home. unit 5 | Shed 4 | Mapua Wharf phone 03 540 3620 darby@darbyandjoan.co.nz

Rebecca O’Fee

71

MY GARDEN

Sun, soil and selection B Y LY N D A PA P E S C H

H

ere comes the sun, and with it plenty of good growing conditions for summer gardens. All the recent rain has left soil easier to dig/weed etc but at the same time it kick-started a few million unwanted weeds too.

Now is a good time to wander around your garden and decide what needs to be done to help it through the hotter months.

Summer is usually about planting, protecting and producing, and in each case that adds up to heaps of attention and/or clever planning.

Selecting appropriate plants goes a long way towards garden survival. In drought-prone areas there is no reason why many of the more hardy varieties cannot take pride of place. Mediterranean plants such as lavender are perfect for dry conditions, are easily established, fairly low-maintenance and they come in a huge array of colours. Think shades of purple, mauve, lilac, pink, white, cream and even multihued. Prune them regularly and lightly and they’ll perform admirably.

Of course, it takes a lot to beat natives for hardiness, shape and form. From grasses to flaxes, hebes and shrubs, there’s a native there for every garden situation. They’re low water users, plus many have lovely flowers (pink, white, mauve) and look great in mass plantings.

Other native plants such as manuka, coprosma, pohutukawa and karaka can survive with little watering, as can many of the more ‘fashionable’ structural plants like astelia, Poor Knight’s lily, cycads, yuccas and bird of paradise.

The latter add drama to the garden with their leaves, shape, and in some instances, their flowers.

Succulents are a no-brainer for surviving hot, dry environments as they store their own water.

As a general rule you should look out for any plant with grey-green leaves.

With flower varieties, classics are often the answer, mixing annuals and perennials. Fragrant blooms include roses, hydrangeas, fuchsias, dianthus, delphiniums, lilies, gladiolus, sweet peas, geraniums, cosmos and sunflowers, while popular planters include asters, chrysanthemums, dahlias, geraniums, gerberas, impatiens, marigolds, petunias and my favourite lobelia. With white and vibrant blue flowing options, lobelia is such a versatile plant in containers, hanging baskets and flowerbeds.

When initially preparing your garden – beds, pots, hanging baskets included – consider adding water-storing crystals to help during the drier months. A few go a long way.

And don’t forget that mulching around plants will help to lock in soil moisture content. Pea straw works a treat but so do lawn clippings and autumn leaves. I’ve even been known to use the contents of my beloved paper-shredder.

72

If you are watering then early morning is considered an ideal time. Remember too that a good soak every few days is better than a light watering every day.

Grey-water is perfect for watering plants during shortages.

Now is an ideal time to plant a summer vegetable garden.

Good soil preparation is essential, digging compost, blood-andbone, slow-release fertilisers and water-storing crystals into the mix. If making a new garden, consider a raised bed. It may take more filling but will be easier on your back for weeding and tending etc. A layer of larger rocks at the bottom, with a layer of gravel, then topsoil will ensure easy drainage.

Grow plants from seed or buy ready-sprouted from plant shops. Select healthy looking specimens, not droopy ones.

Summer crops include lots of salad ingredients such as capsicums, courgettes, cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuces, along with herbs like basil, chives, parsley and thyme. Many of these may be planted together or companion-planted in pots and flower gardens.

Even if you have no room, a large pot will suffice for salad goodies or herbs. For me summer means radishes, sprouted in a container for easy care and picking.

Young vegetables need to be checked regularly so pests and diseases can be swiftly dealt to, and weeds banished. Weeds compete for water so pull them fast.

Likewise, harvesting any produce regularly will encourage quicker growth, just as deadheading flowers does.

Garden gurus suggest applying fertiliser every four or

LEFT PAGE TOP TO BOTOM: Pohutukawa can survive with very little water; mulching is key to maintain enough moisture in the soil for plants to thrive in summer THIS PAGE: Raised garden beds make for easy harvesting by young and old

so weeks during key growing times, and there are plenty of specially blended options for specific crops available along with general all-purpose options.

Nothing beats summer fruit, warm and fresh off the tree, vine or plant. Strawberries are an easy one to grow. They don’t take much room, thrive with watering, and the more you pick the quicker they reproduce. Children especially love harvesting fruit fresh off the vine, not to mention sugar snap peas in the vegetable garden.

An excellent future project is to plant a fruit tree or two or three. Maybe even a little nut tree! Dig them in deep, stake for straight growth and wait for future crops. One advantage of many modern cultivars is that they are very disease resistant.

Some come in dwarf varieties if you’re short on space, while others have two varieties grafted on to one trunk.

If you have mature trees, again harvest fruit regularly to obtain the best crop. Thin crops by one to two thirds for larger fruit.

Having a garden is time consuming at times, and may be expensive depending on your plantings, but when it comes to fruit and vegetables it’s a great feeling to walk down and harvest your own. Somehow they even taste better.

Photos this page: Floor van Lierop

73

MY KITCHEN

Nothing is more decadent than a really good slice of cake, and this sumptuous, slightly retro ricotta cake is no exception. Dense, moist and packed with flavour, it makes a showstopping dinner-party dessert for grown-ups, or a special-occasion cake for Christmas, birthday parties and just about any other celebration. Swap the almond meal for ground hazelnuts, use chopped candied walnuts if you prefer, or add some drunken prunes for a twist. Whatever you do, don’t skimp on the liqueur, and try to source a locally-made ricotta.

Serves 8-10

Italian ricotta cake

BY SARAH LA TOUCHE

Photo: Denis La Touche

For the crust

Method

375g white spelt flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 150g brown sugar 125g almond meal Zest of 1 medium-sized lemon 1 No.7 egg, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla essence 250g very cold unsalted butter, grated or cubed

Line a 23cm-round spring-form cake tin with a single sheet of cooking foil, pressing it securely into the sides and bottom. Butter the foil well and put to one side.

For the filling 800g ricotta 85g toasted hazelnuts, chopped roughly 60g dark bitter chocolate (70% minimum), chopped roughly 1/2 cup Amaretti biscuits, roughly crushed 185g castor sugar 30ml Frangelico, Amaretto, cognac or rum Icing sugar to decorate

74

Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Make the crust first by combining the flour, baking powder, sugar, almond meal, lemon zest, beaten egg and vanilla essence in a large bowl. Rub in the butter until the mixture begins to resemble breadcrumbs. Be careful not to overwork the mixture. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

In another bowl, prepare the filling by gently combining the ricotta, toasted and chopped hazelnuts, chocolate, crumbled biscuits, castor sugar and liqueur.

Press half the chilled crust mixture into the base of the prepared cake tin.

Cover with the ricotta filling, then gently spoon over the remaining crust mixture, spreading it evenly.

Bake in the pre-heated oven for 50 minutes to one hour, or until the cake has risen slightly and is lightly golden on top.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the tin. Better still, make the day before it’s needed and refrigerate overnight. When ready, remove from the tin and peel off the cooking foil.

Dust lightly with icing sugar and decorate with edible spring flowers such as borage, viola and calendula petals if desired. Serve sliced with a spoonful of crème fraîche, or fresh whipped cream.

DINE OUT

A little piece of Italy

BY HUGO SAMPSON

E

very city needs an authentic Italian restaurant, and Nelson is no exception. Walking into Babagatto, on Morrison Square, is like walking into a slice of Italy. The cheerful atmosphere is comfortable and unpretentious. The welcome is 100 percent Italian.

Owner Raffaello Sirri hails from Emilia Romagna, one of Italy’s great gastronomic regions, so he knows a thing about good food, which means you’re in good hands. And it’s clear his chef Gianluca knows what he’s about too.

We arrived quite early on a quiet Wednesday evening in late winter.

Raffaello greeted us with a warm smile and good-humoured banter, making us feel immediately at ease despite being the first diners in the restaurant.

“Sit where you wish,” he told us, so we chose an appealing table by the window at the front. Nothing was too much trouble as he described the menu in detail, pouring us a glass of Sicilian red ($9).

By the time we got our Bruschetta Dello Chef ($15) – generous portions of sourdough, one topped with gorgeously creamy porcini mushrooms and a dash of truffle oil, the other, tangy cherry tomatoes tossed in fresh basil, olive oil and sea salt – the restaurant was filling fast. I took this as a nod to the excellent, fresh food and agreeable bustle and bonhomie that pervade this address.

Our mains, a superbly constructed

Photo: Ana Galloway

Lasagna Al Ragu Bolognese ($25), for my dining partner, who considers himself something of a connoisseur of lasagna, definitely got the nod of approval, and for me, exquisitely tasty, tender Seppie Coi Piselli E Polenta (braised squid with peas on polenta) at $25. I haven’t eaten squid that tender since I was last in Italy two years ago.

It’s worth mentioning that all the pasta is made fresh on the premises, so if you’re after a delicious bowl of pasta, this is definitely the spot.

I’m not sure how we managed to find room for dessert but I’m glad we did.

I chose a delectably moist, impeccable Tiramisu ($13), while my companion went all out for the Tortino Al Cioccolato E Crema Pasticcera (chocolate molten lava

cake with custard), $15, which was eyewateringly good.

Babagatto is a fine example of an excellent trattoria where you find genuine warmth and hospitality. Authentic Italian flavours are guaranteed. The wine selection is small, well-priced and unashamedly Italian. It is definitely like walking into a little piece of Italy.

Babagatto Cost: Bruschetta for two, two mains, two desserts and four glasses of wine, $129 Value for money: Food: Atmosphere: Service:

Prego & Comida - two of Nelson’s finest ingredients in one location. Buxton Square, Nelson Beaujolais Nouveau 2017

Prego banner — locked spot

Celebrate this classic French wine­ making tradition with Will Brunnel from wine importers Maison Vauron. Thursday 16th November.

Three classic French dishes and a glass of the new Beaujolais ­ $55

Restaurant

Café & Restaurant Bookings at comida.co.nz or 03 546 7964

75

WINE

Tourists become evangelists

BY SOPHIE PREECE

“T

his is almost a pilgrimage. We are worshipping at the altar of Marlborough sauvignon blanc.” The comment from a guest on an Explore Marlborough tour last summer is not extraordinary, says guide and company founder Karen Walshe, who is used to meeting devotees of the region’s flagship wine. “The people who come here are people who drink and love Marlborough sauvignon.”

They might arrive as ‘brand fans’ with a single-minded sauvignon focus, but they often leave as evangelists for the region at large, including its people, places, pinots and aromatics, says Karen. “Often the aromatics come away as their favourite wines.”

Jo Hill, co-owner of Wine Tours by Bike, agrees that Marlborough sauvignon blanc may be the calling card, delivered to palates in Britain, the US or Australia, but her guests are ‘continually blown away’ by their experience at cellar doors, discovering syrah, pinot noir, pinot gris and riesling they didn’t associate with the region.

Jo and husband Steve love the challenge of surprising their guests with unexpected wines from boutique wineries.

Almost every cycling guest returns with bottles, or has ordered a case to be sent home, and many find out the distributor details so they can get the wines again. “Invariably they don’t leave with sauvignons – they come away having found something else,” says Jo. Nearly a quarter of New Zealand’s international visitors call at wineries, vineyards and cellar doors, according to research from Tourism New Zealand. And those visitors spend more, stay longer, and visit more regions than the average international holidaymaker. Better yet, many of them come from the major markets for our wine industry exports, says grape grower Tracy Johnston, who was until recently general manager of Destination Marlborough and is the newest member of the Wine Marlborough board. “We have this opportunity to develop real, lifelong-loyal customers through our visitor strategy and our wine export strategy.”

She wants to see wine tourism opportunities better marketed, enticing more visitors to spend more time at

Cellar door experiences help create brand fans. Photo supplied by MarlboroughNZ.com

Marlborough cellar doors, restaurants and wineries, by developing visitor experiences that can be sold through travel distribution channels. “So we are securing a visitor’s time in their New Zealand itinerary before they even arrive in the country, not leaving it to chance.”

New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) is also keen to embrace the opportunities in wine tourism, and has developed a ‘visit’ section on its nzwine.com site, with more than 450 wine experiences. That allows people to search wine regions using a Google map tool, or to filter listings by region and experience types, with Sip, Dine, Stay and Play all on offer.

NZW Global Marketing Director Chris Yorke agrees the opportunity is as much in exporting wine as it is in importing tourists. “Wine tourists have tripled in the past five years and exports have done very well over that period. It’s sort of chicken and egg, but they have seen our wine and come and visited us, and we know that the tourists who visit our wineries will be our most loyal customers when they go back home.”

“Wine tourists have tripled in the past five years and exports have done very well over that period ” – C H R I S YO R K E

Book your private Christmas party now, for up to 24 guests!

214 HARDY ST, NELSON | 03 548 0088 | CASADELVINO.CO.NZ 76

BEER

Cider made like Champagne

BY MARK PREECE

T

he first step to good cider is great apples, say Sophie and Mark McGill, who make the deliciously dry Abel Méthode Cider from a selection of heritage and cider varieties.

The Nelson couple source locallygrown heritage varieties Cox’s Orange Pippin and Sturmer Pippin, as well as a small selection of cider varieties for their cider, which is made in small quantities from hand-harvested, tree-ripened apples and pears and then fermented in the bottle, like Champagne.

Sourcing heritage fruit can be a challenge as these old varieties are generally being pulled out in favour of the new, modern culinary varieties that are easier to grow and crop better, says Sophie. “But the result is worth the effort, with the heritage fruit offering less sugar and much more flavour than their modern counterparts. With our cider, all the sugar is fermented, resulting in much drier cider with natural fruit expression. And just like wine has the different grapes that impart different flavours, apples also impart specific flavours on cider.”

The McGills, who are finalists in the 2017 New Zealand Food Awards, began cider making in a garage-style project in 2008, knowing they wanted a unique product with little resemblance to the sweet, mass-produced varieties many associate with cider.

Abel cider is made once a year, with fermentation starting around February, bottling in spring and about 6-12 months in the bottle for bottle fermentation and maturation, before release the following year. Mark says it’s a moving target depending on the vintage conditions.

The McGills are not the only ones

to see a place for boutique cider amid shelves of wine and craft beer, and Nelson now produces 60% of New Zealand’s cider. To get a taste for what’s on offer head along to the New Zealand Cider Festival in Nelson on November 4.

Abel Méthode Cider, 6.5% ABV. They say: ‘Crafted by us in small quantities from 100% apples and pears. We hand-harvest tree-ripened fruit, crush it and then ferment it with skins, stalks, pips and all until dry. It is then bottle-fermented, which helps to maximise fruit aromatics and flavour.’

The Mussel Inn’s Apple Roughy, 5.0% ABV. They say: ‘Almost dry, 100% apple cider. A great mix of Sturmers, Grannies and other apples from our own orchard and around the ’hood. Handpressed at the Mussel Inn once a year.’

Rochdale’s Cider with Ginger & Lime, 4.0% ABV. They say: ‘Everyone knows that gingers are the life of any good shindig, and our Ginger & Lime Cider is the guest of honour. Starting with a traditional cider base, made from the juiciest tree-ripened apples imaginable, we then add an infusion of ginger and lime, resulting in a sophisticated brew that’s sure to have your taste buds dancing the night away.’

Kono’s Tutū Cider, 5.0% ABV. They say: ‘Made from 100% Nelson Fuji apples, this cider has good straw colour with a light green hue. The palate is of fresh, crisp apples with a well-balanced residual sweetness. The carbonation adds lightness and freshness to the palate.

Overall the cider shows off the use of ripe Nelson apples in a bottle and would be a good pairing with mussel, salmon and pork dishes.’

Sophie and Mark McGill (Photo: David James)

77

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

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

New Zealand Tour

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.

FERIO SAXOPHONE QUARTET

Jose Banuls

Huw Wiggin

Ellie McMurray

Shevaughan Beere

A compelling, musically varied programme by this sensational UK quartet. Classic formality to blended barbershop smoothness with works from Bach to Reinhart.

Wednesday 15 November 2017 - 7.30pm All Saints Church - Vanguard Street, Nelson

Tickets: Adults $30 - Students $5 - Families $60 Available from: Theatre Royal Nelson - I-Site - Richmond Mall www.ticketdirect.co.nz - Lemon Tree Lane, Strawbridge Square, Stoke Meet the musicians and share complimentary refreshments after the concert

To benefit:

78

sailabilitynelson.org.nz

BUSINESS PROFILE

Standing up for the vulnerable

BY FRANK NELSON

A

woman in what is still generally a male-dominated field in the legal profession, Nelson criminal lawyer Tagan Lyall often represents those who struggle with complex life and personal challenges. She has developed a loyal client base of her own over a relatively short period. Her tenacity and evident passion for the case she is handling are strengths that people facing often serious charges really value.

An associate at Bamford Law in Nelson, she gets satisfaction helping people often when they are at their most vulnerable. “That’s what attracted me to defence work,” she explains.

“People are entitled to a lawyer and it’s an important right that everyone has quality legal representation.”

Developing a mutual trust with a client is essential. “I’m their lawyer and they have to trust me to do the best for them. I make sure they see that in the way I work on their case.

“When I started in Nelson I was the only woman doing criminal defence work,” says Tagan, even though the majority of law students are women. “However, there are more female lawyers coming through now in Nelson which is great.

“People don’t end up in the criminal court necessarily because they are awful people but often because of what they’ve been through and stupid decisions they have made. I try and get them to talk to me as my knowing them better helps their defence and may provide material that mitigates what they have done.”

A mere three years into her career as a criminal defence lawyer with Bamford Law, Tagan helped create New Zealand legal history in 2015 as part of the team that successfully defended one of three men facing charges in this country’s first human trafficking trial.

Last year she was back in the High Court again, helping to defend a 17-yearold man accused of murder. He was instead convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Although such high-profile cases are rare in Nelson, Tagan has made the most of the experiences while also appearing in the more customary surroundings of Nelson’s District Court. Here, in jury trials and the numerous other hearings in that

Tagan Lyall of Bamford Law (Photo: Ishna Jacobs)

court, she regularly represents clients facing charges for offences ranging from assaults, drugs and dishonesty, to domestic violence, drink-driving and, occasionally, sexual offending.

She also has been involved in Family Court cases involving child custody and domestic violence, and obtaining or defending protection orders.

Initially she found appearing in court before a judge or jury, with members of the public, the media, law enforcement and others watching, a little nerveracking. A background in theatrics helped. “I think court is just like another type of performance really. Confidence improves the more you do and learning

from your own mistakes is one of the best ways of developing court room skills.

“Also of help has been working with the firm principal Tony Bamford, a respected and highly experienced criminal lawyer. We often work as a team and we have other support staff who are engaged in trial preparation work which makes the task easier and more rewarding.”

Contact bamfordlaw.co.nz Phone: 027 725 1884

79

T R AV E L

This photo and opposite page: Indigenous people in the Lake Titicaca region

Peru – the power to entrance B Y A M A N D A R A D O VA N O V I C H

O Machu Picchu

Colca Canyon

80

verflowing with beauty, culture and history, South America is an amazingly diverse destination unlike any other. Whether you are in Brazil or Peru, I guarantee you this fiery sense of exploration can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

South America is rich with lush rainforests, bone-dry deserts and mammoth icy-blue glaciers, setting the stage for unbelievable adventures.

The people are passionate and patriotic, whether it be about their local sport or their national staples. Expect truly welcoming locals whose attitudes shine bright and warm. Residents express their happiness and passion through their music and food.

Graeme and Shirley did a 17-day tour taking in the ‘Iconic Wonders of Peru’, including an Amazon cruise. Here’s what they say: “We started the trip admiring the World Heritage-listed historic centre of the city of Lima. The architecture was beautiful and we even visited the lavish Casa Aliaga, the oldest colonial house in Latin America, built in 1535. We relaxed at the end of the day with the popular Pisco Sour drink.

“We flew to Cusco and travelled to the Sacred Valley, marvelling at the wonderful sights and culture. From here, we visited the markets of Pisac, a hilltop handcrafts village. It was wonderful to see all the beautifully woven handcrafts, and so colourful too – it seemed familiar as you commonly see pictures of their woven work.

“Afterwards, we were able to view the ruins of Pisac. We were fortunate enough to enjoy a typical Andean home-cooked meal here – a great additional experience. We also visited the salt mines of

South America Booking now for 2018.

Maras and found that since pre-Inca times, salt has been obtained here by evaporating salty water from a subterranean stream.

“We boarded the Vistadome train and soaked up the magnificent Andean landscapes on the rail journey to World Heritage-listed Machu Picchu, located some 2400m above sea level. It is a sight to behold – one of the New Seven Wonders of the World – and we heard the history of the Lost City of the Incas from our guide. Some of the group visited it again the following morning to see the sunrise.

“Next stop is set on the border of Peru and Bolivia. Lake Titicaca is the highest-altitude lake in the world. We cruised over the lake to the home of the Uros people – a group of more than 40 man-made islands created from floating reeds. We got an insight into the Uros’ unique way of life, and experienced the scenery that characterises the region. It is an astounding sight.

“We loved the town of Quito and enjoyed wandering the historic Old Town. The people were so friendly and their hospitality was always on show. This was our stop-off before heading on our Amazon cruise.

“The boat was inviting and the crew were fantastic, looking after our every need. We visited the Sani Warmi Kichwa Interpretation Centre to gain insight into Amazonian lifestyles along the Napo River. We heard from a group of Kichwa women who spoke of their customs, cuisine and everyday life. We also got to see an observation tower that’s been built against a giant kapok tree. From the top of the tower, we absorbed the sweeping views over treetops to the beauty of the Amazon. It was mesmerisingly beautiful and everything you would expect of the Amazonian jungle”.

The best holidays are created together.

224 QUEEN ST, RICHMOND I 03 543 9760 256 TRAFALGAR ST, NELSON I 03 546 8780

81

A DV E N T U R E

Photo by Miles Holden

Popular trails

BY SOPHIE PREECE

ABOVE: Cycle Trails, including this one alongside Canterbury’s Lake Pukaki have become a huge attraction in New Zealand BELOW: Marlborough’s vineyards and cellar doors will be a ‘hero’ of the Coastal Pacific Trail

Photo by Mike Heydon

82

W

ine and food, local communities, and Kaikoura’s ‘magnificent coastline’ are three drawcards that can be leveraged in the launch of the proposed Coastal Pacific Trail, says a new feasibility study.

The TRC Tourism report, commissioned by the Marlborough District Council, says a cycle trail from Picton to Kaikoura, with ‘side-loops’ along the way, could be a great experience that will appeal to families and leisure-riders.

However, to be successful the Coastal Pacific Trail will need a strong brand that can compete with the many rides now on offer, the report says. Great trails leverage ‘hero experiences’, and this one has three standout attractions.

The excellent reputation of Marlborough wines and associated foods, and the opportunity to cycle in and around the vineyards and cellar doors, is the first. “Marlborough wineries must be incorporated as part of the positioning and journey to leverage this asset,” the authors say.

The coastline between Ward and Kaikoura is the second ‘hero element’, with the opportunity to incorporate wildlife viewing into the ride. The third asset is the potential to develop experiences in the communities on the trail route, including Picton, Blenheim, Seddon, Ward and Kekerengu. “Opportunities to connect with the local community, stay in local accommodation and be shown the local experiences and hospitality abound.”

The report says the development of the Coastal Pacific Trail will have “substantial positive economic benefits for the region during the construction phase and operations phase, with the opportunity for between 45 and 88 fulltime local jobs, with the majority in accommodation, food and beverage, retail and recreation services. The overall capital cost to build the trail is estimated at $8.95 million, but it could earn between $67.726 million and $131.69 million over the next 20 years,” says the report.

Marlborough Mayor John Leggett says the trail should deliver a much-needed economic boost to the East Coast of Marlborough, bringing new visitors and job opportunities. “The trail could work alongside our existing tourism attractions – Marlborough’s wineries and our magnificent coastline down to Kaikoura – and provide new opportunities for visitors, such as new rural experiences and local accommodation along the way.” It might be the single biggest benefit to come out of the November 2016 earthquake, he says.

“From a difficult and traumatic event, it is fantastic to see a visionary idea come to fruition, with such wide support from the community.”

Pip Todhunter certainly sees enormous opportunity in the trail, and the business it could bring to the glamping accommodation she and husband Simon run on their Kekerengu farm. The earthquake hollowed out their bookings last summer, with people too fearful to come during the aftershocks, then inhibited by the road destroyed by landslides. “Most of our clientele were from Christchurch and we have lost that,” says Pip. The Coastal Pacific Trail could easily make up the shortfall, and the Todhunters plan to make the most of it. They may create bike tracks across their farm to the Clarence River so that guests from their Canopy Camping site, with its luxury tents and panoramic views, can add a side trip to the main route. And Pip, who has a degree in tourism, anticipates their season could extend beyond its present summer months if the trail becomes popular. “If there are people cycling past, I think we’ll open it right through … obviously we’ll see what the demand is.”

The report says development of the trail from Picton to Kaikoura is likely to take between three to six years, with plenty of challenges along the way. They include land access negotiations, river crossings, and discussions with KiwiRail and others on options such as ‘hop-on, hop-off’, letting riders load their bikes and gear onto a train for some sections of the ride.

The main trail may be some way off,

“The 23 Great Rides in the New Zealand Cycle Trail had an estimated 1.3 million users in 2015, 86.5% of whom were domestic visitors.”

C OA S TA L PA C I F I C T R A I L FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT

but there are already two loops off the main spine that have ‘great potential’ and could help to create marketing opportunities in the early stages of the initiative. The first is the Yealands Estate White Road loop from Seddon, and the second the Saltworks loop from Ward.

The most achievable parts of the main trail are likely to include the Okiwi Bay to Mangamaunu ride, which is to be funded as part of the SH1 rebuild, and from Kaikoura to Clarence as a priority project, says the report.

Mayor Leggett says there are many challenges to address before the trail is up and running, and the council is looking at a ‘multi-year’ programme of work.

“Funding will need to be found and many physical and infrastructure challenges will need to be overcome. However, these are not insurmountable.”

He says part of the trail can probably open before the whole thing is complete.

“It’s a bit of a jigsaw that will need a great deal of co-ordination between different parties to achieve its ultimate goal. I’m confident that the many agencies and individuals involved can work together to achieve it, and it will become a great addition to the Marlborough and Kaikoura tourism industries.”

Kaikoura’s stunning coastline will be an asset to the Coastal Pacific Trail (Photo: Sara Orme)

83

MOTORING

In the new E class Mercedes Benz, technology announces itself in full widescreen colour – but that’s just the start of what’s in store in this latest iteration of the renowned mid-size German sedan.

Mercedes’ tech marvel

BY GEOFF MOFFETT

T

he ‘mid-size’ description is highly relative given this is a car not far short of five metres long and two metres wide. But it feels anything but imposing, snugged up inside its cosseting cabin and discovering its wonderfully nimble handling.

This is the 10th iteration of what can loosely be called the mid-size M-B although the ‘E’ nomenclature was first used in the W124 model 25 years ago.

Like its forebears, this E class is a trendsetter and, again, like its earlier siblings, it has inherited a lot of the technology and pleasures from its big ‘S class’ brother. The most obvious difference in the new E is the twin 12.3inch screens; one for the infotainment system, the other for the instrument panel. Like two super-size tablets lined up on their sides, this high-resolution display makes for a dash like no other, unless you’ve got $200K-plus to spend on the S. You can configure the ‘virtual’ instrument panel in several ways and the Command system enables umpteen settings for the car itself. Set aside an hour or three to make sense of all the electronic choices.

That’s just the side show, however.

The new E’s star turn is the so-called ‘Drive Pilot’, the M-B technology that turns the E into as close to a self-driving car as it’s possible to have without putting your hands in your pockets. Yes, the car will drive itself to a large extent, although for less than two minutes when the auto systems decide that a human should take over. But it’s Mercedes’ way of getting us more used to the driverless future. The car can keep its distance from a vehicle in front, steer itself between lane markings and help you change lane and then brake the car to a standstill if you ignore a potential crash.

But really the E class is too much fun to let computers make all the choices, although Mercedes’ description of it as the most intelligent business saloon is apt. I drove the E220d, a two-litre turbocharged diesel. It’s wonderfully torquey in the diesel way – except in 84

“Revert to Comfort and you’ll loaf on highways, with the engine daintily sipping fuel and sounding very civilised.”

Comfort or Eco mode when it will have you in 6th gear around town, making for annoyingly delayed response to a stab of the right foot. In Sport+ mode, though, with damper settings tying down the car and throttle and gear inputs tuned up for go, it’s a terrific thing to drive. Revert to Comfort and you’ll loaf on highways, with the engine daintily sipping fuel and sounding very civilised.

The cabin is magnificent, with wonderfully supportive seats – in M-B’s Artico artificial leather, and fully electric.

The upright dash with its superbly clear navigation and rear camera screen, aerotype air vents, and black ash wood-look topped by stitched ‘leather’, is handsome, and little things like the knurled vent nobs that click like precision instruments make the E class cabin an event, even for a run to the dairy.

From outside, the car is just as good to behold, with its sinuous body highlighted, for me, by how the rear window seamlessly swoops from roofline to boot.

E class models range from the twolitre E200 petrol at $100k to more than $220k for the awesome AMG V8 S. For motoring that makes you feel like a king, it’s an experience worth the price.

Tech spec Model: Price:

Mercedes Benz E220d $103,900. Also, E200 petrol twolitre ($99,900), E300 ($120,900), E350E hybrid ($143,500), 350d ($147,900), E400 ($151,900), E43 AMG ($168,900), E63 AMG ($199,900), E63 S AMG ($229,900). Sedan, coupe and cabriolet versions.

Power: 220d, 143kw/400Nm. Others from E200 petrol (135kw/300Nm) to E300 (180kw/370Nm), E350d (190kw/620Nm), E400 bi-turbo (245kw/4809Nm), AMG E43 (295kw/520Nm), AMG E63 (420kw/750Nm), AMG E63 S (450kw/850Nm). All 9spd transmission.

Fuel use: 4.1l/100km combined (220d), 6.4l/100 (E200), 7.1l/100 (E300), 2.4l/100 (E350E), 5.6l/100 (E350d), 8.4l/100 (E400), 8.4l/100km AMG E43, 9.3l/100 (AMG E63, E63 S).

Vehicle courtesy of Houston Prestige Nelson

TOP of the

SOUTH

Dealers for Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Mitsubishi With DEALERSHIPS and SERVICING in Nelson and Blenheim

What are you waiting for?

BLENHEIM: 42 Scott Street, Ph: 03 577 2240 | NELSON: 168 Rutherford Street, Ph: 03 548 8204 | houstons.co.nz

Contact Houston Motor Group for a test drive on 03 548 8204

How well do you know your people?

Find out what is below the surface with Intepeople Psychometric Testing.

Develop your team’s skills or gather in-depth insights into new recruits.

Find out more at intepeople.co.nz

85

BUSINESS PROFILE

Nelson Forests’ logging drivers

look back with pleasure

BY JOHN COHEN-DU FOUR

T

his year (2017) saw the retirement of two of Nelson Forests’ longestserving drivers – Gary Gardiner of Waimea Contract Carriers and Pete Friend from Stuart Drummond Transport.

With a combined total of 94 years on the road, there’s not a lot these two haven’t seen. And while many changes have come and gone, one thing has never wavered: their infectious love for a life behind the wheel.

Gary first hit the road as a 20-yearold in the mid-1960s. “I cut my teeth with Sollys in Collingwood. They had a fleet of Bedfords and I drove every one of them.”

In the 1970s Gary began driving for Irvines. “They were different times back then,” he laughs. “Like when the rail was out – we’d put in 18 to 20-hour days! I once did a run from Nelson to Christchurch, to Blenheim, to Christchurch, to Invercargill and back again to Christchurch.”

In 1981 Gary switched to timber. “I love the outdoors – carting logs seemed a pretty good idea.” He drove with Radiata Transport for the NZ Forest Service, mainly carrying native beech.

“I worked for TNL, then Peter Gibbons.

In 1998 I went to Waimea Contract Carriers and never looked back,” Gary says.

With an impressive 50 years of experience, Gary has a unique perspective on how the industry has developed. “The biggest changes have been with the quality of the trucks 86

themselves. Innovations such as higher stanchions, with no extension or pop-up pins. It kept drivers off the back of trucks.”

Gary recalls an industry-wide consultation process that brought further health and safety improvements, like the shift to lighter chains that were easier to throw over. Another change was the move from twitches to winches. “Winches gave us tighter, safer loads with less risk of losing logs.”

From a pure driving perspective, the greatest changes Gary recalls were in horsepower and suspension. “Horsepower effectively doubled. We needed that grunt – it allowed bigger payloads, and made it

easier for us to get out of the forest tracks.”

Meanwhile, improved truck and cab suspension was a welcome development.

“In those early Kenworths and Mercedes, with their rigid seats and cabs,” Gary chuckles, “you used to put your jersey underneath you.”

Gary retired in April: “But I’m still doing the odd stint for Waimea, like taking empty trucks for their CoFs.” What does he miss most about a working life spent on the road and in the bush? “I just love driving. Looking at the countryside, the scenery. My favourite stretch was the ‘peeler run’ to the Coast.

I’d take peeler logs to Greymouth and

The fleet of Bedfords at Sollys in the 1960s

fetch export or chip logs back to Nelson.

“It was an all-day shift – one load down, one load back.” Gary smiles. “In the wet, it’s a whole lot better than changing loads four to six times. That’s why we wore shorts – I still do! – legs dry quicker than wet pants.”

Meanwhile, Peter Friend’s first working experience was as a 15-year-old in 1970, felling trees, before switching to a sawmill where he drove a forklift and loader.

He liked the driving and three years later took to a life on the road, starting with local contractor Edgar Snow. “He managed to have me sit as many licences as he could. I got them all, except bus and taxi.” Peter laughs. “It was the only time in my life I swotted!”

Peter drove for W E Wilkes Ltd for eight years, before moving on to Mytton Bros, where he travelled all over Nelson and the West Coast hauling mainly native logs.

After a move to Port Transport for a six-year stint, Peter was champing at the bit to become an owner-driver. “I took the plunge. Mortgaged my house, borrowing at 26.5% interest! It was a hell of a lot to take on. But H Baigent & Sons really helped by giving me a five-year contract with right of renewal. It was the security I needed.”

Peter paid them back big time, hauling for Baigents for a total of 25 years, where he built up a reputation for improving his personal health and safety measures, like fitting scales to his rig to stop the loader from overloading his truck. “It maximised my on-highway loads, and protected the forest roads from being unnecessarily churned up.

“When Tom Broderick from Baigents heard about this, he immediately gave me a 5% rate increase, and offered it to

ABOVE Proud Peter with some well-earned recognition ABOVE LEFT Gary in front of his last Waimea truck, his beloved Scania

all drivers to encourage them to make the outlay to fit scales. He understood that our investing in the best gear and best practice promoted safety in the forest.”

Times were changing. In the mid1990s the industry began swinging away from owner-operators, and by 2004–5 Peter was the very last in the region.

He finished off contracted to Nelson Management Ltd (NML*) through Stuart Drummond Transport, who immediately took him back on the payroll, where he happily remained until his retirement

this year.

Peter reckons NML has been the best company he’s ever worked for. “They’re sticklers when it comes to health and safety,” he says. “Like reducing driving times to reduce fatigue and error. And keeping their skid sites clean to reduce the chance of slips.

“NML’s roads are so well maintained, and their regular servicing of gear is stringent. At Kaituna Mill they even insist drivers remain in their trucks until they’re fully unloaded. It’s all about keeping people safe – after all, everyone wants to get home at night.”

Peter will miss his life behind the wheel, but not the early starts. “Over the last five years I’ve been up at 3am every day, five days a week, on the road by 4:30.” He smiles broadly. “Folk reckoned when I fired up, I was Rai Valley’s alarm clock!”

*[NML: Nelson Management Ltd is the management company for Nelson Forests’ 78,000 hectares of forest in the Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough regions]

Contact Peter’s favourite, his Western Star ‘Star Lady’

nelsonforests.co.nz

87

ARTS

Charles Anderson, Laura Irish, Ishna Jacobs and Daniel Moon, managers of Ghost Light Theatre and Bridge Street Studios

Theatrical magic in a small black box

BY JOHN COHEN-DU FOUR

T

he latest addition to Nelson’s theatrical scene also happens to be one of the smallest, but its size is crucial to its aim of providing exciting new performance opportunities.

Ghost Light Theatre opened its doors on Bridge St in August, and has enjoyed immediate and steady use – testament to an idea whose time has come.

Founder/director Laura Irish explains the intriguing name: “A ghost light is the light left on onstage when the space is empty and dark. It’s for safety, so cast and crew can find their way when the theatre is unoccupied.

“I like that symbolism – a light shining out in the darkness, illuminating the honesty, bravery and acceptance found in the performing arts.”

88

A regular actor and associate of Nelson’s former Body in Space troupe, Laura had been thinking for some time about how the city could have that rare thing: a small, dedicated, flexible and affordable rehearsal/performance space.

“It’s what writers, directors and performers the world over pray they can find.”

And while Nelson has established theatres such as the Theatre Royal and Nelson Musical Theatre, putting on even a small show is expensive and risky. Cast, crew, sets, rehearsals, final performances – all demand time, energy and finances.

“So it’s a case of ‘small is beautiful’,” says Laura. “We looked at the possibility of the proposed container mall next to The Kitchen in Bridge St, but that project stalled and we were back to square one.

“Then Ishna Jacobs and Daniel Moon offered us part of their amazing new space upstairs at 146 Bridge St. It was originally a dance hall from the 1920s-40s, then the Martha Washington sewing factory from the 1960s until this year, when Ishna and Daniel took it over to create the Bridge Street Studios artists’ collective. So we’re building on quite a colourful past.”

That colour looks set to continue.

The theatre is a 10x10m black-box space seating up to 80 people, and has a green-

room/backstage area.

“We’re a charitable trust operating on a risk-share basis with our artists,” says Laura. “All we require from performances is a small $70 maintenance fee and 20 percent of the ticketing revenue. Artists can then rely on receiving all the rest.

“We unashamedly want Ghost Light Theatre to be somewhere anyone can venture without intimidation – a space that embraces the community with experiences that make us laugh, cry and question. We want to be a showcase and testing ground for local and national works that try things a little differently; experiment and push boundaries.”

To date the theatre has featured a nine-week acting course for youths, and another for adults, as well as a sing/ dance course and even a West African dancing course.

The People’s Republic of Improv puts on fortnightly performances, and in December Auckland comedian Louise Beuvink takes the stage. In January Birdlife Productions present a delightful family-friendly show with puppetry, comedy, masks and magic.

Small is beautiful, indeed.

For more information visit ghostlight.nz

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

2

1

3 1

Russel Papworth, stainless steel garden mobile, Forest Fusion, Mapua Wharf, 03 540 2961, forestfusion.com

2

OLE LYNGGAARD COPENHAGEN exclusive to Jens Hansen in Nelson, Leaves Ring in sterling silver, jenshansen.co.nz, $715

3

Bruce Hamlin, Cloudy Day, Golden Bay, acrylic on board, Atkins Gallery, Nelson, 03 545 6010 atkinsgallery.nz

4

Lloyd Harwood, The Black Hare, painted wood, Red Gallery, Nelson, 03 548 2170, redartgallery.com, $1250

5

Roz Speirs, Autumn Sunburst, fused glass sculpture, Art @ 203, Nelson, 027 500 5528, $495

6

Bill Burke, Lindis Pass, oil on canvas, 1200mm x 900mm, Bill Burke Gallery, 03 546 6793, billburke.co.nz

7

Jane Smith, Pool Day with Sinead. digital painting, chocolatedog.co.nz 03 540 2007, $240

8

Jane Riley, Kaikoura Coastline, oil on canvas, Detour Gallery, Blenheim, detourgallery.nz, 021 254 2489, $595

4 6

5

7

8

89

MUSIC

Performance spurs all learning

BY PETE RAINEY

I

read an article on the Guardian website recently that outlined how a primary school in England had turned round some dismal statistics about its students’ results by immersing them in music lessons and performance opportunities.

The kids lapped it up and the resulting change in achievement was nothing short of astounding.

I find stories like this very encouraging but at the same time quite alarming as this should be the norm in all schools. We should be immersing our kids in creative pursuits, and giving them the tools that help them to express themselves.

I wonder if our appalling rates of self-harm among young people have anything to do with the gradual phasing out of the arts in our junior schools, the lessened emphasis on creativity in our curriculum, and the mindless obsession with measuring kids’ success against national standards.

Our music, art, dance and drama teachers in our intermediate and secondary schools are very special people. They are trained to provide a focus on creativity. That they do so in what are often trying circumstances is truly amazing. I also applaud our primary teachers, who do a fantastic job of trying to foster creativity in a curriculum that makes it hard for them to do just that.

My first job as a secondary school music teacher was at a lower-decile high school in one of the poorer southern suburbs in Christchurch. Thanks to a principal and board of trustees who were supportive of music, facilities were improved and the students responded.

They did so at a time when the music curriculum was changing, with a new emphasis on performance and a ready acceptance of contemporary music.

It was a delight to teach Boh Runga, and her younger sister Pearl, both of whom had fantastic voices and a real passion for performance. I remember 90

Bic Runga (photo: Steve Dykes)

meeting their younger sister Bic, who ended up going to a different high school, but who obviously had the same passion for performing.

I met Bic again a year or two later when she took to the stage at Rockquest in 1990 in a band covering Dave Dobbyn’s Slice of Heaven, and then returned in 1993 in the duo Love Soup, which took national honours.

The rest, as they say, is history. Bic moved to Auckland in 1994 to write and perform, signing to Sony in late 1995 and releasing the single Drive. She won her first APRA Silver Scroll with Drive in 1996.

Bic has toured extensively both in New Zealand and overseas, and has penned many more hit songs, as well as receiving more than 20 Tui awards at the New Zealand Music Awards, plus the New

Zealand Order of Merit in 2006.

She is currently touring the country to mark the 20th anniversary of her debut album Drive. Regarded as one of the most iconic albums in New Zealand history, it secured Album of the Year at the NZ Music Awards in 1998, after going platinum seven times.

Sadly, the anniversary tour won’t be coming to Nelson, but I’m thrilled to say that I have booked Bic for Nelson Opera in the Park next February at Trafalgar Park.

Come along and enjoy her amazing voice and iconic songs, with full orchestral backing from the equally renowned New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Nelson Opera in the Park, featuring Bic Runga and the NZSO Trafalgar Park, February 24, 2018

FILM

Human Traces Director-writer: Nic Gorman Stars: Sophie Henderson, Mark Mitchinson, Vinnie Bennett Drama, thriller 1hr 27min

91 Trafalgar Street, Nelson - Ph: 548 3885

Movies Screening in November

Moody, classy and homegrown

BY EDDIE ALLNUTT

B

est to rug up for this Kiwi psycho-thriller because there’s no way you’re going to shelter from its icy squalls.

Human Traces is about Glenn and Sarah, married scientists who are stationed on sub-Antarctic Perseverance Island to help protect its delicate ecosystem. Glenn is a bit of a misanthropist so the seclusion of the place suits him just fine.

He has at least 20 years on Sarah and they seem content enough until a young green-eyed rookie conservationist called Pete arrives – on a rare boat visit – to tip the balance.

Even before Pete’s arrival, Perseverance and Glenn had their share of pest problems but now Glenn starts to smell a rat and does a little gnawing around of his own to see what he can discover. And discover he does.

Sarah can see that their daily grind of hand-broadcasting poison isn’t enough and the big guns need to be radioed in for the mother of all drops. Glenn won’t have a bar of it. He seems the sort of chap who recently voted for TOP, as he’s also triggering a trophic cascade by trapping the feral cats, which are the rabbits’ top predator.

What’s great about Human Traces is that the story is told through the three main characters in three different parts. For example, you’re scratching your head and questioning what’s going on with Glenn through Sarah’s eyes, only for it to be answered by Pete in his perspective. The film provides organised confusion and fisherman’s knot twists.

Apart from a few cameos, it’s all about the main three and their acting is excellent. Mark Mitchinson is brilliant as burly Glenn, the king of the island with a grudge on his shoulder about humanity. His suspicions and paranoia, along with his steely looks, make him my pick. Handsome Vinnie Bennett is top-notch and plays a character you just can’t work out – exactly what’s needed to build drama. Sophie Henderson, sexy in her Swanny and under a survival blanket, plays to a tee both the tease and freaked-out bushwoman in godforsaken isolation.

Director and writer Nic Gorman (Here Be Monsters) should earn plenty of praise for this work and we should be on the lookout for his next one. Human Traces feels like it could have a sequel rolling in the hills, though it’s probably not going to happen.

Fictional Perseverance Island (actually filmed on the mainland) is barren and rugged as. The tussock plains that lead to sheer cliff drops and heavy waves that pound the rocks add to the film‘s mood amid uncertainty and suspense. It’s very New Zealand and this flick could well turn out to be a Kiwi cult classic.

BAD MOMS 2

2 Nov • TBC | TBC Under-appreciated moms rebel against the challenges of Christmas. As if creating the perfect holiday for their families isn’t hard enough, they’ll have to do it while hosting and entertaining their own respective mothers when they visit.

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

9 Nov • TBC | TBC A lavish trip through Europe quickly unfolds into a race against time to solve a murder aboard a train. Everyone’s a suspect when Detective Hercule Poirot arrives to interrogate all passengers.

JUSTICE LEAGUE

16 Nov • TBC | 3hrs Inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists newfound ally Diana Prince to face an even greater threat.

Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to recruit a team to stand against this newly awakened enemy.

MOLLY’S GAME

23 Nov • TBC | 2hrs 30min The true story of a beautiful, young, Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons.

For more information, go to our website:

www.statecinemas.co.nz

91

BOOKS

The key to living a happier, more positive life

A Cancer: The Best of Both Worlds: An holistic approach to cancer treatment

By Julia Davidson

Coping with cancer and its treatments

W

hen Julia Davidson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, she knew she would use an holistic approach to fight it. The Marlborough medical herbalist had studied at the Bristol Cancer Clinic which promoted a combination of orthodox treatment and complementary therapies and has worked with cancer sufferers for decades.

Following her own cancer diagnosis, Davidson prepared herself for nine gruelling hours of surgery. She believes her healthy food regime and nutrients combined with visualisations and meditation enabled her to leave hospital after just a few days. She says a similar regime during chemotherapy enabled her to keep working with minimal nausea.

“I am sharing my story, as while some details may be different, every cancer patient experiences similar things to what I have experienced. With this book I hope to offer people something which can help them without overwhelming them at a very difficult time.”

Cancer: The Best of Both Worlds offers advice and suggestions about what to expect and how to cope through the cancer journey.

Davidson includes recipes and suggestions for people undergoing cancer treatment and wishing to improve their diet for ongoing good health.

The book will be available from juliasherbalhealth.co.nz, and Paper Plus, Blenheim. All profits will be donated to help women with breast cancer.

“I am sharing my story, as while some details may be different, every cancer patient experiences similar things to what I have experienced.”

– J U L I A DAV I D S O N

92

uthor Anne McCormack encourages readers to shift mindset in her new book.

The New Zealand-based author has released a book which features several profound and realistic approaches to developing one’s intuition. Peacock Dreaming: The Wisdom of Flowers is a self-help book aimed at readers through all walks of life, no matter the situation one is currently in.

Featuring vibrant photos of peacocks, flowers and plants from the South Island of New Zealand, Peacock Dreaming encourages readers to meditate, take a break and shift one’s mind into a more positive mindset. McCormack speaks on the influence of the peacocks and shares several pieces of wisdom regarding how to live a happier, more positive life. From Trust to Commitment and Connectedness to Patience, McCormack has shared inspirational writings for people through all walks of life.

McCormack hopes readers will find out they are not alone in what they think or feel, and that it’s perfectly normal to feel any emotion in any given moment. “During a time of turmoil throughout the world, my mission is to reach as many people as I possibly can,” the author said.

“I want to remind people that taking a mental break from negativity and stress is key to working through any of life’s issues.”

Featuring lively photos of New Zealand, Peacock Dreaming reminds readers to take a step back and focus on the positive things in life.

Peacock Dreaming: The Wisdom of Flowers

By Anne McCormack Balboa Press Online Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

BOOKS

Actionpacked with adventure

Atlas of Adventure Lonely Planet

Don’t just walk on the wild side, but climb, ski, mountain bike, canoe, surf and even skydive with Lonely Planet’s Atlas of Adventure, published last month.

Atlas of Adventure is an action-packed showcase of the best outdoor experiences in more than 150 countries across the globe. Featuring inspiring photography, maps, interviews and expert authors, it’s the ultimate introduction to a thrilling new world of adventure.

“We tracked down our most adventure-loving experts, wherever they happened to be, and asked them to share their tips for the best places to experience thrilling outdoor activities,” Lonely Planet explains.

“This book is the result: an alphabetically ordered romp around the globe, highlighting the best outdoor pursuits you can enjoy in each country,” Lonely Planet says. “We’ll take you climbing in Thailand, mountain biking in America and sailing along the south coast of Britain. “We’ve included everywhere it’s currently feasible to set your intrepid foot,” Lonely Planet adds, “exploring the less trafficked corners of popular spots and venturing to far-flung places you may never have previously considered visiting.”

Lonely Planet devotes 12 pages of its Atlas of Adventure to New Zealand’s outdoor activities. “The land of the long white cloud is also a country of endless trails, boundless beaches, charging rivers and epic horizons, punctuated by imposing peaks,” the book says. “Whether you consider yourself a tramping-camping trailblazer, someone who gets their kicks in the saddle or with a paddle, a climber, skier or aspiring expedition zorb pilot – this is the country to come to in order to push your ability and ambition to the limit.”

OTHER RECENT RELEASES

High Country Stations of Lake Tekapo Mary Hobbs Potton & Burton

More Tales from Kahurangi Stories Gerard Hindmarsh Potton & Burton

The Tart Tin Matt Cross Potton & Burton

My Mother’s Kitchen Compiled by Christian Kasper Potton & Burton

A

F

S

I

uthor Mary Hobbs, a long-time resident of the Mackenzie Country, has unravelled the history of eight stations from around Lake Tekapo. Using both old accounts and interviews with current station holders and many others with connections to these stations, she has assembled a set of stories that capture the flavour and character of a unique part of rural New Zealand.

ollowing on from the success of Kahurangi Calling, this sequel volume of stories from the Northwest Nelson backcountry is a compelling blend of natural and social history. Gerard Hindmarsh tells the stories of the fascinating characters who have travelled and lived here including early explorers, gold miners, tussock top graziers, early forest rangers, trampers and other adventurers.

ixty favourite recipes from one of Dunedin’s best-kept secrets, the beloved Tart Tin. In this delightful cookbook, you will discover recipes from throughout Matt’s career as a professional chef and he will guide you through the creation of treats that he’s famed for selling at the Otago Farmers’ Market.

n this book is an extremely impressive line-up of over 70 New Zealand chefs, cooks, bakers, writers and foodies who share the stories and recipes from their own mothers’ kitchens, the food that they remember and which triggers all the best memories of early family life.

This is a very special New Zealand cookbook to enjoy and share.

93

QUIZ

Crossword

Across 01. Dog parasites 07. Monuments seen from the Nile 08. Ox stomach 10. Improve the flow of 12. Pragmatists 14. Huge 16. Drama 17. Fiddled with thumbs 20. Comic portrait 23. Remove errors from 24. Impertinent 25. Composition

Sudoku

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

Down 01. Male parent 02. Swiss mountains 03. Variety 04. Incapacitates 05. Likewise 06. Upward climb 09. Moral standard 11. Section of writing 13. Pull by rope 15. Love deeply 16. Outdoor meal 18. Lethal 19. Corrosive fluids 21. Army vehicle 22. Ostrich-like birds

Wordfind Y E R O H S E Z E G L I B

Last month’s solutions CROSSWORD

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

SUDOKU

C R U D D E R S E A T K Z

Z R S N C K W O B P C D S

P I A R E Z A S T O O T O

A V I E M R C I D B E R N

D E L T S A D G S N O R G

D R I S N E S H V T E A R

L S U O W D A T W T E O T

E B E H L N V S A W H E X

T H E N G O N W D C E Z R

U E Z A I P A X N N D R M

L A K E M L C A H S I F C

E U I C R U I S E J R W R

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: At sea

ANCHOR BEAM BILGE BOAT BOW CANOE CANVAS CREW CRUISE DOCK FISH KEEL LAKE LINES MAST NETS OARS PADDLE POND RIDE RIVER ROPE

RUDDER SAIL SEAT SHORE SIGHTS STEER STERN TIDE WATER WHEEL WIND

Anagram WORDFIND ANAGRAM Stethoscope, Vaccine, Prescription, Nurse, Appointment Mystery word: PATIENT

S S J I V P E E P H O L E

W P Q V N H I I C G E Y B

I S D R A W T U O O C P G

N C U N C D A H U N N A N

G G D Q O S D R H W A I I

P L Z U N F H C D C R N D

E A B R C O N U A S T T I

K L R Q E E D T T Q N E L

E F J T R T C M L T E D S

I N Q F T H T L I I I S L

C L K P I K X U E Y A N O

S T A I N E D B H L L Z G

T U O Y A W Q S G S R G D

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.

ADD NAIL LIAR OUT LATE OLD ROMAN TROW A VERB ICONIC HOP

94

Theme: DISNEY FILMS

Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank.

Give a man a bank and he can rob the whole world.

Untitled, 1976 Colin McCahon

LAURENCE ABERHART I PAUL DIBBLE I MAX GIMBLETT I BILL HAMMOND I COLIN McCAHON I KARL MAUGHAN REUBEN PATERSON I PABLO PICASSO I JOHN PULE I MICHAEL SMITHER I JOHN WALSH I GORDON WALTERS

GREAT NEW ZEALAND ART A PICASSO Craig Potton Gallery + Store in association with Gow Langsford Gallery proudly present an exhibition of:

20 October - 30 November 2017 CRAIG POTTON GALLERY, 255 HARDY STREET, NELSON

www.fico.co.nz

FIND US ON

111 BRIDGE STREET PH. 03 548 9877

“

I started to attend the meet-ups that the Collective ran and before I knew it, my network grew

NELSON'S FINEST CO-WORKING SPACE

quickly. Galen was a huge help to me.

”

- NICK IPPOLITO

“

..having a place to go to work each day, with friendly faces, fast Internet, great coffee and a good vibe.

- KAREN BROWN

”

WWW.BRIDGESTREET.CO.NZ 95

D I R E C T O RY

Designed & made

by Oliver Höglund.

ONE STYLE OF BOUQUET DAILY | 3 SIZES AVAILABLE |

graphic design motion graphics & art direction

FREE SAME DAY DELIVERY TO THE NELSON REGION e: info@thanksabunchbouquets.com w: thanksabunchbouquets.com

Höglund Glassblowing Studio 52 Lansdowne Rd, Appleby

www.soktas.co

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

THE SELLERS ROOM Re s i d e n t i a l & C o m m e r c i a l J o i n e r y

Thinking new kitchen/residential project or even commercial?

Think THE SELLERS ROOM Design Team

Relax and pamper yourself at Elliott Cottage Skin & Beauty Therapy

Visit our Showroom at 9 Echodale Place, Stoke

Freephone 0800 469 537 msellers@thesellersroom.co.nz Myles & Margarette Sellers

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

www.thesellersroom.co.nz

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

You never know what music you’ll hear on Musical Montage Musical Montage with Dagmar Nelson-Tasman 104.8 • Nelson Central City 107.2 Takaka 95.0 • Blenheim 88.9

96

www.freshfm.net

D I R E C T O RY

Anything but

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

Ph: 03 544 1515

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

www.moxini.co.nz

223 HARDY ST, NELSON PH 546 8623 WWW.623.CO.NZ

CAFE

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

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

BAR

ATKINS GALLERY Contemporary art from Nelson and beyond Shop 8, 34 Bridge Street, Dowson’s Arcade

T: 03-545-6010 M: 021-842-481 E: linda@atkinsgallery.nz W: www.atkinsgallery.nz Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm | Saturday 10am to 2pm.

Christ

LET TH

curating new zealand’s creative visual arts

Detour Ahead.

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

RESTAURANT

mas is

co

ming.

Get u E COUNT .. st D Come o do your OWN BEG Christ see us mas g IN for: • Aw ifting ar • Bra ding your e nd m • Gift ed merch ployees an s • Win for corpora dise & app arel te c e & gift boxes lients Maree Boyce 021 685 919 Michelle Robinson 027 510 6488

recogniseandreward.co.nz

97

M Y E D U C AT I O N

A book deal & dream job

Tell us about your book and how it felt getting a publishing deal.

My novel, Pluck, is a New Zealand story about two boys and their troubled family; about being isolated, wanting to love and wanting love, and the violence those feelings can cause. Getting the publishing deal was like finally being heard after a period of isolation.

I am grateful to Mākaro Press for seeing the story – intentionally fragmented, like its characters – as whole. Publication will be early 2019.

Why did you enrol in the Diploma in Writing for the Creative Industries at NMIT and how did it help you get the book written?

I had written the first draft of Pluck alone, and I was ready to be around like-minded people. Mostly, I just wanted to learn.

The course helped me complete the novel because it compelled me to look at it, and work harder on it. It was inspiring to be with others who were interested in stories.

You were based on the West Coast while studying at NMIT. How did you make this work for you?

The content and resources are online so it was easy to make it work. I enjoyed coming to class when I could, though. My tutor was really supportive. Plus, if people want something to work, most often it will.

How did the Diploma prepare you for your first journalism job?

I have never loved to wake up and go to work each day as much as I do now. The course sharpened my skills, and increased the confidence I needed for the job. Having a qualification to back up the stubborn belief that I could write played a big part in my applying for the job in the first place.

What advice would you give to emerging writers, especially about overcoming ‘writer’s block’?

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y A N A G A L L O WAY

Becky Manawatu always believed she was a writer and never gave up on the idea. After completing the Diploma in Writing for Creative Industries at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology last year, she has signed a publishing deal for her first novel and now writes for Westport’s local newspaper, The News. Becky talks with current Creative student Emma Pejkovic.

98

Just write – an oldie, I know, but that’s all you need to do. I don’t believe in ‘writer’s block’.

That is just another word for ‘ego’. It’s either your ego feeling cool, and oh-so-beautifully tortured, using the words ‘writer’s block’, or your ego not feeling cool about writing crap.

To get past it, just be okay with the fact that sometimes your writing will be crap. Don’t become a ‘tortured writer’, that’s boring.

Becky blogs at myownwaka.wordpress.com

Read Skye’s story online

Read Liam’s story online

APPLY NOW

Study at NMIT

FOR FEB 2018

You’ll be so glad you did

0800 788 391

Read Levi’s story online

nmit.ac.nz/applynow

Read Rachel’s story online

Programmes available in: Aquaculture, Aviation Engineering, Computing, Conservation, Maritime, Viticulture and Winemaking, Adventure Tourism, Business, Information Technology, Arts and Design, Nursing, Health, Fitness, Ma-ori Studies, Automotive, Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Construction, Social Work, Counselling, Supervision, Cookery, Hospitality, Business Administration, Interior Design, Retail, Writing, Contemporary Music, Hairdressing, Beauty and Body Therapy, English Language, Horticulture, Vocational Skills. Or take a Bridging Programme to help you into your future study.

LIKE NO OTHER

Our extraordinary brand is expanding.

Call in confidence to discuss how your horizon could too.

Unrivalled expertise. Premium service. Extraordinary results.

Simone Henbrey, Sales Manager Nelson and Marlborough M +64 21 135 7339 | Nelson P +64 3 539 0216 | Marlborough P +64 3 577 1790 Shop 1, 295 Trafalgar Street, Nelson | 3 Maxwell Road, Blenheim

nzsothebysrealty.com