WildTomato March 2019

Nelson Tasman and Marlborough’s magazine /

ISSUE 152 / MARCH 2019 / $8.95

Wedding trends ~ for lasting memories of your big day

+

+

Local Lodges Feast Marlborough Shine Hospice Fashion Ways With Wool Ford Raptor Mount Street Artists Harry’s Hawker House Re-visiting Malawi

+ +

+

+

+

T HE SE LLERS ROOM

FOR SMART RESIDENTIAL &

Kitchen DESIGN / BUILD

Residential & Commercial Joinery

Think THE SELLERS ROOM Design Team

Visit our showroom at 9 Echodale Place

Myles & Margarette Sellers

BATHROOMS • LAUNDRIES • STAIRS • WARDROBES • COMMERCIAL • FURNITURE

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

“

Anne Hunter 027 630 2811

“

Coming together is a beginning.

Keeping together is progress.

Working together is success.

– Henry Ford –

Debbie Cooper 021 0252 8294

Our boutique team is growing! We can now offer even more sellers and buyers the same values-based, exceptional level of service that our clients love. It is my pleasure to be welcoming Anne Hunter and Jacqui Miller to the DCRE team.

Jacqui Miller 027 327 3619

Trudee Clearwater 021 022 88912

Anne and Jacqui have been connecting the right people with the right homes for many years and are excited to be offering their skills and experience alongside Trudee and I.

YOU DESERVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF REAL ESTATE. debbiecooper.co.nz Debbie Cooper Real Estate Ltd (Licensed under the REAA 2008)

Features Issue 152 / March 2019

Nelson Tasman and Marlborough’s magazine

32 Wedding trends Sleek dresses, unique venues and recycled gold are just some of the current wedding trends, as Lynda Papesch explains

44 Lodges Lodges across the Top of the South offer all manner of accommodation and experiences, writes Sophie Preece

50 101 uses with wool Wool has for many decades played a major role in New Zealand’s economy. Sadie Hooper explores this valuable industry

32

54 Heritage Festival Nelson has a rich heritage embracing people, places and buildings. Lynda Papesch explores a slice of the region’s past

INTERVIEWS

12 My Big Idea Jo Menary from Shine, Char Jack from Edito and Jane Hopgood from Hopgood’s expand on their plans to raise funds for Nelson Hospice

12

20 The Interview Cawthron Foundation chairman and former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Morgan Williams talks to Cathie Bell

24 Local Connection Nelson Tramping Club newsletter editor Ray Salisbury explains why the hills are alive with the sound of hammers and helicopters

28 Event Showcase Three years after first appearing on New Zealand’s food festival calendar, Feast Marlborough is fast growing in reputation as an unmissable event for food lovers. Kat Pickford explains

98 My Education Tracey Andersen talks with Rachel Rees about how NMIT helped her develop her passion for writing 4

50

98

Columns Issue 152 / March 2019

FASHION

59 Dressing to impress Stylist Sonya Leusink Sladen and photographer Ishna Jacobs focus on fashion for special occasions

59

78

92

80

66 Fashion Showcase Fashion tips for dressing up, from Sonya Leusink Sladen LIFE

68 My Home Brenda Webb looks at a home with sweeping views over bush, beach and ocean

74 My Garden Lynda Papesch delves into droughttolerant plants

76 My Health GP Cindy de Villiers explores the extra-sensory benefits of nature

78 My Kitchen An aromatic mussel broth that makes the most of our region’s stunning seafood offerings, from Madame Lu’s Kitchen

79 Dine Out Reviewer Hugo Sampson enjoys great food and service at Harry’s Hawker House

80 Wine Cellaring wines for a few years before releasing them means Resurgence wines are very drinkable, writes Lynda Papesch

81 Brews Brew enthusiast Mark Preece visits 5 Tapped in Blenheim ACTIVE

82 Travel Annabel Schuler revisits her homeland in Malawi, six decades after she left 6

84 Sports A new walk/running race uses a pristine cycle trail to traverse railway history.

Phil Barnes reports

86 Motoring

92 Music Reviewer Pete Rainey has his say about night-time inner city noise

93 Film Daffodils can be compared to a flat white.

It’s very New Zealand, sweet at first then followed by bitter notes, says reviewer Eddie Allnutt

The Ford Raptor’s diesel is a twin-turbo and pumps out more horsepower and torque than its big-selling brother, says reviewer Geoff Moffett CULTURE

88 Books Renée Lang talks with award-winning author Brigid Lowry during her visit to Nelson and catches up with some recent books

90 Art John Cohen-Du Four finds a street full of artists mounting an exhibition

REGULARS

8

Editor’s letter & contributors 10 Noticeboard 12 My Big Idea 14 Snapped 91 In the Gallery 94 Events

Our award-winning designers are ready to inspire your 2019 project

2018 National & Regional Winners

Award-winning, custom-made joinery for residential & commercial projects

baysjoiner y.co.nz

7

Editor's letter

W

ow! Officially it is the start of autumn and we have chillier days ahead, or do we?

Summer has been a raft of fluctuating weather and temperatures with highs and lows so let’s hope it evens out a bit now, and that maybe we have some much-needed rain. Last month’s fires affected so many people yet also brought the community together in many ways. They were a timely reminder to be extra careful and vigilant during drier times.

This month we’re spoilt for choice with activities and things to do: concerts, festivals, sailing, swimming and fun runs; take your pick. Many of the activities bring people in from out of town and that is good for the economy, and on-going tourism.

Word of mouth spreads like ripples on a pond and that’s what we want to bring more people to our slice of paradise.

As you will have seen from our stunning cover, this month’s edition has a special focus on wedding trends, and my how things have changed! Casual and rustic are two trends rocking the wedding world, but don’t think for a minute that simplifies some of the planning. Read all about it from page 32 onwards.

We also take a look at some of the lodges in the Top of the South (possible honeymoon destinations), and the Nelson Heritage Festival which is on next month.

In Marlborough, planning is well underway for the annual Feast Marlborough (page 28) which is the same weekend as the iconic Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon on Saturday 11 May. In Blenheim this month is the inaugural 101 Ways with Wool Expo, which features pure New Zealand wool in all forms. The brainchild of Marlborough Provincial Rural Women NZ, the aim of the expo is to promote wool’s uses in addition to its natural and environmental qualities (page 50). Head along and check it out.

Lastly this month, thanks for all those lovely comments about my new photograph. I often wondered if people read the Editor’s letter and all your comments indicate that you do. Thanks also to the ladies at The Bodyshop Nelson for my makeup, and to photographer Karaena Vincent for making me look presentable. Enough about me, read on and enjoy.

LYNDA PAPESCH

Love local A worthy winner Seven years’ hard work has resulted in the Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon being a finalist in the New Zealand Events Association (NZEA) awards. The awards’ winners will be announced this month.

The half marathon is the only finalist from the Top of the South in the annual awards which recognise the ‘best of the best’ events throughout New Zealand.

“We’ve been working on growing and improving our event since we purchased it in 2011. We’re a family-owned and operated business and take great pleasure in seeing our entrants enjoy their day and trip to Marlborough. We love showing off this gorgeous place we’re lucky enough to call home,” says Vineyard Half co-owner Chris Shaw.

8

Editor

Lynda Papesch 021 073 2786 lynda@wildtomato.co.nz

Manager

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

Design & art direction Hester Janssen design@wildtomato.co.nz

Contributors

Eddie Allnutt, Phil Barnes, Cathie Bell, Chelsea Chang, Elora Chang, John Cohen-Du Four, Cindy de Villiers, Ana Galloway, George Guille, Sadie Hooper, Ishna Jacobs, Renée Lang, Sonya Leusink Sladen, Geoff Moffett, Paul Palmer, Kat Pickford, Mark Preece, Sophie Preece, Pete Rainey, Rachel Rees, Ray Salisbury, Hugo Sampson, Annabel Schuler, Karaena Vincent, Brenda Webb, Dominique White

Advertising executives Chrissie Sanders 027 540 2237 chrissie@wildtomato.co.nz Kaleigh Armitage 027 233 4068 kaleigh@wildtomato.co.nz

Lead ad designer

Patrick Connor production@wildtomato.co.nz

Subscriptions

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

Publisher

Jack Martin WildTomato Media Ltd The Boiler Room, 204 Hardy St, Nelson 7010 PO Box 1901 Nelson 7040 info@wildtomato.co.nz wildtomato.co.nz

Find us on:

WildTomato/ @wildtomatomagazine @_WildTomato

Read online at issuu.com/wildtomato

Cover photo by Ana Galloway Photography, featuring Asher and Olivia

Contributor spotlight K AT P I C K F O R D

Feast Marlborough feature (page 28) A former adventure guide who gave up my addiction to adrenaline on moving to Marlborough 10 years ago, I decided to pursue a lifelong passion for writing.

I have written about my 82-year-old neighbour ‘Lazarus’ who came back to life 15 minutes after being declared dead, Louie the plucky pukeko who travelled 80 kilometres to return to his human family, and a flight in a Fleet 16 bi-plane.

I am a mum of one currently working as a freelance writer for a number of publications across the Top of the South, and presently serving as a committee member of the Marlborough Book Festival.

ANNABEL SCHU LER

Travel (page 82) A journalist and a writer for too many years to count, I have discovered travel writing and wonder what took me so long.

On a recent trip to Africa I ran a blog for family and friends and received some good reviews so I was encouraged to expand it for a wider audience. One of the greatest thrills on the African trip was the chance to photograph some magnificent animals in the wild. That has whetted my appetite on the photography front too. Richmond is home nowadays and there cannot be a nicer place to return to when the travelling is done.

Selling your home?

Get maximum exposure with Property Press.

With over 859,000* 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.

Also available online at www.propertypress.co.nz

G EORG E GU ILLE

Photographer, videographer After riding around the world by motorcycle for seven years, from my tiny island of Sark, Channel Islands, to New Zealand, I am now thrilled to have called Nelson home for five years.

Launching George Guille Media in 2015 fulfils another lifelong dream; owning a photographic and videography production business consolidates previous years of experience working within the industry, a passion for people, their stories and the outdoors.

Whether the project requires smartening up with a tie, donning a set of crampons or a pair of sailing gloves, or abseiling off a waterfall, I will be there with my camera and equipment, offering a professional and refreshing approach for my clients.

*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

NOTICEBOARD

Congratulations super songwriters

N

elson’s Medicine Woman band wowed the judges to win the New Zealand section of the Woolworths Songwriters Festival. They represented New Zealand in the Trans-Tasman competition’s grand finals – won by Kieran Butler – in Sydney last month.

Medicine Woman delivers original soulful bluesy rock music that has audiences on their feet and moving. Well done and keep it coming.

New Zealand war graves restoration mission Photo: ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com

T

he RSA has teamed up with the newly established NZ Remembrance Army to clean and restore all of New Zealand’s war graves by December 2020. Tens of thousands of war graves lie scattered throughout New Zealand’s public cemeteries, marking the final resting place of many long-forgotten war heroes, with their headstones and plaques left in disrepair.

The New Zealand Remembrance Army, led by former Army Major Simon Strombom, says the need for the work to be done is now beyond urgent, and more help is needed. So far various RSAs, cadets, schools, ex and current forces personnel and corporates have all registered their willingness to be involved.

Strombom and the supporting RSA team can be contacted directly through the NZ Remembrance Army website or via rsa.org.nz/nz-remembrance-army

Two Rivers sponsors urban polo

M

arlborough wine producer Two Rivers has been painting polo fields pink in Singapore, Christchurch and Auckland at polo events last month and this month.

Sponsoring the Heineken Urban Polo events – a fusion of sport, music, wine and fashion – the company is showcasing its Two Rivers Isle of Beauty Rosé to the elite polo world. Visit urbanpolo.co.nz or tworivers.co.nz

Discovering your true self

Where do you read yours?

Scott Dodd reads his WildTomato at Chernobyl in the Ukraine.

Send your image to editor@wildtomato.co.nz ONLY JPG FILES ACCEPTED, MIN 1MB

10

I

nternational motivational teacher Jared Franks will hold a special two-day retreat in Nelson on 30 and 31 March to support anyone who wants to stop the search for happiness and be their own true friend. Franks has experienced a lifechanging awakening out of identification with thoughts, emotions and the body.

He says that from this awakening came a discovery of causeless happiness, freedom and love, a direct realisation of the self beyond form. The retreat will be held at NMIT Nelson, says organiser Anne Thoroughgood, and can take up to 30 people. Register at: lifework@xtra.co.nz

Get more

Outback from $44,990* +ORC

more.

so you can

3 YEAR SERVICE PLAN

NO ON-ROAD COSTS

FREE

XV from $34,990* +ORC

The Subaru Outback and XV have 2.0 all you need to get out and do 2.0 LITRE more this year. For a limited time, LITRE pay no on-road costs, get a free service plan which includes no servicing costs for 3 years or 50,000km, and a new tow bar* so you can take the toys away for a play.

Designers of Specialty Kitchens DSK (Designer Specialty Kitchens) formerly Dave Spence Kitchens has been providing bespoke high-quality kitchens, laundries and bathrooms to Nelson Tasman clients for the past 35 years. Our team of qualified experienced joiners and designers will work with you to design, manufacture and install your dream kitchen.

DSK offers a full service from design and manufacture to the installation of your dream kitchen Look before you buy, come into our showroom and check out our stylish fully functional working displays At DSK we use 3D design software to show you how your new kitchen will look DSK is proud to be locally owned and operated Call into our showroom and check out our range of cook and kitchenware from European manufacturer WMF

DSK (Designer Specialty Kitchens) 104 Tahunanui Drive, Nelson 0800 677 005 or call Andy on 021 223 8155 info@dsknelson.co.nz

dsknelson.co.nz 11

MY BIG IDEA

Shining a light on hospice Raising funds for Nelson Hospice is an ongoing labour of love for many local business people and philanthropists. In this issue Jo Menary from Shine, Char Jack from Edito and Jane Hopgood from Hopgood’s expand on their plans to combine their own creative passions to facilitate funds through a unique fashion show ‘Hailwood at Home’.

PHOTO BY DOMINIQUE WHITE

What is your big idea?

We are all fiercely passionate about our interests, and had the idea of working together to create an event that brought this passion together in a way to benefit From Left: Jo Menary, Char Jack and Jane Hopgood 12

our community. We felt that by combining our love of fashion, food and home, we could create a unique event.

‘Hailwood at Home’ is a garden party to be held at Jane’s beautiful home, with an autumn fashion preview from designer Adrian Hailwood, home staging by Char from Edito, and canapés provided by our finest restaurants.

We view this event as an opportunity for people to give to Hospice and receive a fabulous evening of entertainment in return. We are combining interests that are dear to our hearts for a cause that means so much to this region.

How does it work?

Hailwood at Home is to be held on 15 March, with entry by ticket only. All tickets have been sold to this event. The evening will combine food, fashion and furniture, with an auction and a prize

for the best dressed guest. We have been very well supported by local businesses so guests can expect an elegant and interesting event.

Who does it help?

All funds raised from ticket sales and the auction will be donated to the Nelson Tasman Hospice for the purpose of developing the gardens.

How can people become more involved?

We developed this concept after realising that combining our interests and energy could create something quite special. We would love to think there are other people out there who might think of doing something similar, combining ideas and sharing projects. It would be something special to see others in our community realising that by each of us giving a little, we can create a lot.

This is the start of something great.

Get the distinction your brand deserves. Contact us for more information on how we can create a high-end media presence for your business.

wildmedia.co.nz

Take your team to the next level with Intepeople • Recruitment • Human Resources • Temporary Staff • Employment Relations • Health and Safety • Executive Coaching

Nelson 546 8649 Whitby House, Buxton Square, Nelson

Marlborough 579 4794 We’ve moved! Now at 82 Seymour St, Blenheim (next to PC Media and the Chamber of Commerce)

Intepeople.co.nz 13

Snapped WildTomato goes out on the town…

1

3

2

UB40 concert Trafalgar Park, Nelson PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE GUILLE

1. Julie Pratt & Jessie Creedmore

6. Darryn & Rebecca Williams

2. Jose Kunzler & Noelle Hamilton

7. Butch & Jodi Goodwin

3. Ruby Vidgen, Layla & Graham Mahuika & Portia Ashby

8. Andrew & Sarah Bowron

4. Nick Kirby & Vicky Hawley Kirby

10. Thomas Mcfadyn & Matt MacDougall

5. Jihane & Chris Cramond

6

14

9. Fiona & Velenjani Dube

4

5

7

8

9

10

SNAPPED

1

2 Tasman Bay Cruising Club regatta Tasman Bay Yacht Club P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y R AY S A L I S B U R Y

1. Paul Davies, Jayne Evans & Nicci Wood 2. Lauren Feusahrenes, Rodney Keenan & Devon Feusahrenes

3

5. Herve Legoff & Beth Goodwin 6. Craig Duncan, Shelene Paraone & Henry Hogg

3. Sandy Morrison, F.B. Treds & Bob Duncan

7. Missy Hearfield & Des King-Turner

4. Vesna Wells & Craig Shearer

8. Nicky Jenkins & Paul Skelton

4

5

6

7

8

NCMA’s Celebration Series proudly presents

Michael Houstoun’s Farewell Nelson Concert Sunday 10th March | 3.30pm For more information and to buy tickets, visit ncma.nz /events

Celebration Series: every second Sunday of the month at 3.30pm from March until September 2019.

15

1

2

2

Richter City Rebels concert Fairfield House, Nelson PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE GUILLE

1. Corinna Gibbons-Lawrie, Nikki & Jennie Bate & Katy Marshall 2. Teagan Rosendahl, Annika Mcclatchy, Tamsin Baxendale, Hamish Mcclatchy & Will Fisher

5. Forrest Paynter & Mareike Ulfers 6. Lloyd Elston & Jessica Enlund 7. Jamie Anderson, Rachel Wallen & Hayley Coram

3. Catherine Brosnahan, Hannah Johnson & Anne-Sophie Heride

8. Alex Mackenzie, Ben Hall & Alice Baker

4. Clare Lutton & Harvey Mudford

9. Roger Douglass & Laura Papp

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

WIN a Season Pass to the GIANTS

visit /mikeperonelson Like our FB page, tag a friend and mention WildTomato

Terms and conditions apply

Scott & Devina Jackson P 03 539 0341 mikepero.co.nz

16

SNAPPED

1

2

Nelson Buskers Festival Boat House, Nelson PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE GUILLE

1. Kevin McClintock, Glenis Shaw, Keith Bradley & Preston Shaw 2. Lucy, Gina & Martin Vanner

3

5. Alan & Jeni Thornborough 6. Leigh Smart & Amy Strange

3. Maryanne Easton, Francine Thompson & Sally Battersby

7. Bronwen Griffiths & Jack Silke

4. Ruth & Mark French

8. Silver Starlets performing

4

5

6

7

8

Committed to Achieving the Best Results …

“

Shelley gave us faith in the selling process with her knowledge and she kept in touch frequently so we always knew what was happening. Shelley’s great personality and sense of humour made the stressful situation of selling our house more of an enjoyable experience. We would highly recommend her.

– Yvette Pearce-McManaway –

“

Licensed REA 2008

Shelley Carppe R E A L E STAT E

m: 027 358 5643 e: shelley.carppe@mikepero.com 17

2

1 Marlborough Wine & Food Festival Brancott Estate, Fairhall P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y PA U L PA L M E R

1. Brad Watson, Chelsea Hudson & Donna Watson 2. Jamie Marfell, Lucretia Faith, Tayzrym Beaumont & John Heath 3. Adena Teka, Andrea Boock, Mark Elkington, Vanessa & Mark Flood

4. Luke Bergman & Sam Neal 5. Loerke Theilgaard & Casper Soerensen 6. Craig & Tanya Harnett 7. Ramo Love & Brenda Chilvers 8. Sam & Vicky Baucke

4

5

6

7

18

3

8

SNAPPED

9 10 9. Todd & Pamela Blackwood, Anastasia Shumakova & Matt Goode

11

10. Charlotte White, Kaye Dowling, Jz Crow, Aimee Mason, Jen Bushby & Cath Ward 11. Paul McKenzie, Aaron Bissett & Hillary Hicks

12

13

14

15

12. Sarah Coveery, Amanda Johnson & Dean McLauchlin 13. Kirsty & Taylor Brooks & Josh Murphy 14. Mell & Glen Gibbons 15. Grace Owen & Tiana Kavaka 16. Sam Arnold & Lisa Cooney

16

When a disability makes even everyday activities a struggle, imagine how it must feel to sail off in a little yacht.

For people with disabilities, sailing with Sailability Nelson provides a unique sense of freedom and movement – life’s daily frustrations are forgotten.

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 around 30 minutes. Our sailing season commences in October and we will sail every second Sunday until mid-March.

Come on down and have a sail.

For this coming season we need help.

If you would like to become a Sailability Nelson volunteer, helper sailor, sponsor, or donor please contact John MacDuff, 0274 245 112 macduff@tasman.net

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

19

INTERVIEW

The call of nature: zoology, ecology & research

M

organ Williams’ third phase of life has brought him to Nelson, a return to the South Island after what he describes as a 16-year ‘overseas’ posting in Wellington.

Brought up on a dairy farm in North Canterbury, Morgan has worked in ecological sciences applied to primary industries as diverse as coconut plantations in the Pacific and hill and high country farming in New Zealand. All took him deeper into the relationship we have with our natural world and our impact on it and the way people and communities think, and increasingly worry about, that relationship.

Reflecting on his journey through life, Morgan seems very conscious of critical influences that have shaped it.

“Mum was a daughter of the Depression and when Dad suggested I return to the cows at 15 she said ‘No you stay at school’. Dad agreed and encouraged me to do subjects other than agriculture at Rangiora High School, namely engineering, science, geography and history. Those subjects and the experience of milking 80 cows full-time for six months when Dad was very ill spurred me on to the University of Canterbury and degrees in zoology and ecology.”

Photo:Tom Davies

Cawthron Foundation chairman and former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Morgan Williams and his wife Pam now call the Nelson Tasman region home. Cathie Bell looks back on his adventurous life.

There, in his third-year zoology course, he met his future wife, Pam. “We like to say we met over a dogfish dissection,” says Morgan. Whenever the actual star-struck moment happened, Morgan describes it as the beginning of another major influence that spanned 50 years last month – a life where two loves, lives, and careers have intertwined with children and a shared passion for driving change in education and environmental matters.

Overseas beckoned

Through his university years, Morgan’s interest in cars, sparked by a meeting with Bruce McLaren when Morgan was at high school, led him to build a copy of a Lotus 7 – much to his mother’s horror. Yes, most Kiwi blokes in their 70s will have had a petrol-head stage of life, but Morgan’s shaped his research career in a way he had not anticipated. It won him a place on an expedition to the Tokelau Islands in the summer of 1966/67 to study rat damage to coconuts – not because of his ecological experience but because of his ability to maintain outboard motors and repair equipment!

Following his master’s degree on an Antarctic sea bird, Morgan’s Tokelau experience landed him a job in Fiji as the country’s first vertebrate ecologist. He and Pam spent four years in Fiji as a newly-married couple. Morgan researched rat damage to coconut palms and ended up using the extensive research findings for a PhD at the University of Bath – a phase of his life he says provided many insights into the relationships between ecologies and economies and

Through his university years, Morgan’s interest in cars, sparked by a meeting with Bruce McLaren …

20

“Sorting out what the solutions are requires a systems approach and unpicking all the ecological, economic, political, policy and social elements at play.”

MORGAN WILLIAMS

the power of good science with more access to emerging computing power.

In the mid-1970s Pam and Morgan returned to Canterbury, New Zealand, where Morgan spent the next 20 years in ever-larger roles researching the impacts, economics and control of pests such as rabbit and possums. He says it was another ‘shaping the future’ part of his career, given that the impact of pests on farming systems are often deeply entwined with the way they are managed. “Sorting out what the solutions are requires a systems approach and unpicking all the ecological, economic, political, policy and social elements at play,” he says.

Morgan describes these years as very rewarding but sometimes very stressful. “Calls both by an environmental NGO to have me sacked and for my funding to be cut by a group of scientists not happy with my team’s recommendations can keep one awake at night – a time when Pam’s insights into human behaviour become crucial!”

In 1997 Morgan was appointed as New Zealand’s second Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, succeeding Helen Hughes – another person who Morgan describes as an influencer of his journey through life. Morgan spent ten years as Commissioner, a role that took him and Pam to Wellington.

He describes the role as “an extraordinary one with few similar offices anywhere in the world”. It’s an Officer of Parliament

Above: Clockwise: Nelson Mayor Rachel Reece accepting an NZ River Award from Morgan; Antarctica, Cape Bird 1967/68: Morgan collecting iceberg ice for drinking water; in the field on a cold day; studying McCormick’s skua territorial behaviour Opposite page: Morgan in the family vege patch; Morgan taking a kayak break at Delaware Bay, Nelson

role with its own Act, independent of the government of the day, and reporting to Parliament through the Speaker’s Committee.

Morgan says it has very wide powers of inquiry, but no powers of enforcement. “It’s just the power to ask hard questions and enlighten, that’s important and as Helen Hughes used to say it has ‘no teeth, but very powerful gums’.”

Growing for Good

The biggest inquiry of more than 50 during his tenure was the aheadof-its-time report, ‘Growing for Good’, looking at the sustainability of New Zealand agriculture. Morgan says it was a massive study for the PCE team in 2003/04 taking more than 12 months.

“It caused an enormous hue and cry. Farmer organisations were not happy but many meetings were held, all over New Zealand, to discuss the report and the Minister of Agriculture at the time, Jim Sutton, welcomed the findings and encouraged farmers to think hard about the issues it raised.

“That report is still being referred to – our new prime minister quoted it soon after she was elected as did current Minister for the Environment David Parker at the 2018 Cawthron Foundation River Awards. He highlighted how long it takes scene-setting studies on environmental impacts to become widely accepted by citizens and politicians.”

The major reason for Morgan and Pam leaving Wellington for Nelson was the wind, and the inability to have a decent garden. “During our 16 years in Wellington, my garden was reduced to a few 50-litre fish crates – that’s not really my style.”

Nelson’s proximity to Wellington was also important given family and friends there and ongoing commitments such as his role as chair of WWF NZ. The couple knew Nelson well, with friends and a relative here, and they started looking for an energy-efficient home, but ended up building one on a section they found a month before the first Christchurch earthquake.

21

“Cawthron really stands out in the New Zealand research community, because of the quality of its science and very good leadership from the Institute Board and its chief executive.”

MORGAN WILLIAMS

Their house is on an acre, with lots of fruit trees and a large vegetable garden, which is largely frost-free.

“It is the most rewarding gardening conditions I’ve ever had in my life. We can supply ourselves with many vegetables the whole year.”

22

Above: Pam and Morgan on the deck of their highly energy-efficient home in Hope Below: Pumpkins from the garden

Cawthron interest

Morgan says the Nelson region has a lot going for it. “As well as being the area best served by airlines outside the main centres, there are superb recreational opportunities for biking and kayaking, a great mix of people, and a lot of depth to it in terms of institutions, arts, music, including Cawthron Institute, the largest private research institution in New Zealand.”

Cawthron stands out, he says. “After moving here, I didn’t get involved in Cawthron early on although Pam did. The Cawthron Institute Trust Board was looking for someone with a strong education background, so she was appointed to the Board four years ago.

“The Trust Board decided to form a foundation to put more effort into Cawthron’s philanthropic activities and I became the chair. Cawthron really stands out in the New Zealand research community, because of the quality of its science and very good leadership from the Institute Board and its chief executive.”

Cawthron Institute is an innovative organisation working in critical marine, toxicological and fresh water areas, he says.

“There is an extraordinary range of people, from more than 30 countries.

“Cawthron attracts real talent. It has become a beacon that has diverse benefits to the whole regional community.

“There are more than 250 very diverse, very talented individuals embedded in the region. The value of that is not often understood. These people are interacting in the community, sports clubs, schools etc. – their influence and contributions are everywhere. Cawthron provides a rich, rewarding place to work, not just for the Nelson Tasman region but for New Zealand.”

No doubt Pam and Morgan Williams will continue to leave a lasting legacy in Nelson because of their service to organisations such as Cawthron. And let’s hope that the region’s climate returns the favour by helping their garden continue to bloom and grow.

JOIN US FOR AN EVENING WITH ST MARGARET’S COLLEGE AND CHRIST’S COLLEGE All alumni and families, past, present and future are welcome.

Meet Executive Principals, Diana Patchett and Garth Wynne to discover the latest updates and catch up with friends, old and new.

Wednesday 13 March 2019 The Vines, 193 Rapaura Road, Rapaura, Blenheim 6:00pm – 8:00pm www.stmargarets.school.nz www.christscollege.com

Your eyes say it all You can regain your confidence with Eyelid Surgery or Blepharoplasty Eyelid surgery is a procedure in which excess upper eyelid skin is removed and excess fat in the upper and lower eyelids is reduced.

Excess eyelid skin makes the lids feel heavy and applying make-up difficult. In some cases it can effect peripheral vision.

Blepharoplasty nowadays is carried out with local anaesthetic

supplemented by oral sedation. Most people find this very comfortable. The procedure is done as a day stay procedure at our day stay surgical facility. A return to work can be planned for 5 to 7 days.

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

We also offer the following procedures: Facelift and necklift | Breast augmentation, breast lift or reduction | Otoplasty (ears) | Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) Liposuction | Crow’s feet | Frown lines | Dermal fillers | Cosmetic/Medical tattooing; eyeliner, eyebrows, lips, areola/nipple

Level 2 - 105 Collingwood St (Collingwood Centre) P: 03 548 1909 | E: nelsonplasticsurgery@outlook.co.nz Visit nelsonplasticsurgery.co.nz for more information

23

Reviving heritage huts for future generations Nelson Tramping Club newsletter editor Ray Salisbury explains why the hills are alive … with the sound of hammers and helicopters.

A

thousand huts lie scattered like dice across the mountainous spine of Aotearoa, catering for keen trampers of all descriptions.

Tramping is more popular than rugby. According to a recent Sport NZ survey, walking is the number one outdoor activity that New Zealanders engage in, followed by gardening. Tramping is well ahead of team sports on the list. Indeed, 23 percent of adults go on a day tramp every year, while rugby has only six percent participation.

For many of us here in Aotearoa, ‘going bush’ is a rite of passage. Be it on a school trip, or through a youth organisation, we are introduced to the great outdoors. Some become avid hunters; some become keen fishermen; some become hardy trampers. And a few of us feel that staying in a mountain hut is as Kiwi as wearing jandals or eating pavlova.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) maintains a network of nearly 1000 backcountry huts and is responsible for almost one third of New Zealand’s land mass. Under-funding coupled with a rapid increase of tourists to our front country is putting pressure on DOC’s budget and priorities, hence it needing a hand from the wider community.

Enter the Nelson Tramping Club. Of the approximately 75 tramping clubs in New Zealand, Nelson is one of the oldest, established in 1934. The first patron was teacher Fred Gibbs, a friend of benefactor Thomas Cawthron. Gibbs’s enthusiastic drive and oversight resulted in several huts being erected in the mountain ranges northwest of Nelson, including the Flora and Salisbury Huts in the late 1920s.

Nelson Tramping Club (NTC) was founded during the Depression years, but the ambitious young members were anything but depressed. Their passion for exploration saw them leave a legacy of bush huts such as Rocks Hut near Dun 24

“… a few of us feel that staying in a mountain hut is as Kiwi as wearing jandals or eating pavlova.”

R AY S A L I S B U RY

Mountain (1935), and John Tait Hut in Nelson Lakes National Park (1948). Their first over-night foray was a failed attempt on Mount Arthur in 1934. The party sheltered from a relentless snowstorm inside Flora Hut. Little did they know that eight decades later their illustrious club would be renovating this same shelter.

Renovating Flora Hut

Fast forward to 2013, when DOC made $700,000 available to volunteer organisations for track and hut maintenance, via the Backcountry Trust, which is administered by the Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC). Here in Nelson, DOC approached NTC regarding the future of Flora Hut, sited on the threshold of Kahurangi National Park.

Today this rustic dwelling is an easy half hour stroll, but still has high historical value. While DOC wanted to retain its original character, NTC members wanted a memorial to member Ruth Hesselyn, who had died in a climbing accident. So, an informal agreement was signed between the tramping club and DOC. Then the hard work began.

In March 2013, the first working bee travelled to Flora Hut, repairing its corrugated iron roof, replacing the old lead nails which are toxic to kea.

Photo: Ray Salisbury

LOCAL CONNECTION

Photo: Marilyn Morris

Photo:Marilyn Morris

Photo: Ian Morris

Photo: Jim Davidson

In early 2015, three working bees were organised by club treasurer, Ian Morris. In February, the rusted gutters on each of the two chimneys were repaired. In March, 14 enthusiasts painted the exterior walls and lined the woodshed walls and soon after that a two-man team lined the eastern bunk room with plywood.

Silvano Lorandi, a qualified builder, found the work very fiddly. “To preserve the original character of the building, DOC required us to keep the rounded posts visible.”

Emigrating from Italy 15 years ago, Silvano was surprised at how wild and unpopulated New Zealand is. “All the huts in Italy have a permanent warden who cooks in a big kitchen. In Italian terms, our NZ huts would be called bivouacs.”

Ian Morris wrote, “It has been satisfying to have families with young children, even one baby, staying at the hut while we have been there. This hut is ideally situated for introducing boys and girls to the mountains. I have found participating in this project to be fun, sociable and satisfying.”

In February 2016, a team returned to line the western bunk room with plywood, thus ensuring that heat would be trapped inside the hut, effectively insulating the occupants from the freezing conditions outside.

In April, 12 volunteers made the finishing touches: polyurethaning the plywood panels, and painting interior woodwork. The twin open fireplaces were enhanced with galvanized hoods. To disperse wood smoke, wall vents were installed. Graeme Ferrier and Bob Janssen installed an ingenious water supply.

Pat Holland was club secretary at the time. He estimates the club spent 800-person hours over three years refurbishing Flora Hut. Suitably impressed, DOC asked if NTC was willing to assist with another hut rebuild.

Above: Clockwise: Flora Hut painters; Chris Louth paints the chimney at Flora Hut; building a new woodshed at Mt Fell Hut; Mt Fell Hut Opposite page: Arthur Range above John Reid Hut, Kahurangi National Park

Sited at 1000m altitude in Mt Richmond Forest Park, Mount Fell Hut comes with a superb view of Mt Fishtail.

Mount Fell Hut

Sited at 1000m altitude in Mt Richmond Forest Park, Mount Fell Hut comes with a superb view of Mt Fishtail. Trampers use this accommodation to explore the open tussock tops and the site of an ill-fated Kereru aircraft that crashed on the slopes of Johnston Peak on 7 May 1942. Five lives were lost in what was New Zealand’s first commercial airline disaster, including that of Nelson tramper Pamela Fell after whom Mt Fell is named.

Built in 1964 by the NZ Forest Service, the hut’s days were numbered until $10,000 renovation funding was secured from the Backcountry Trust. In June 2016, an air force helicopter lifted the ageing hut from its slip-prone site to a safer location.

NTC’s builder Silvano Lorandi was present and says, “It was interesting to work alongside army engineers, the air force, and DOC workers.”

25

Photo: Ray Salisbury

Photo: Shaun Barnett

During Labour Weekend 2016, materials and members were flown in from Wakefield by Reid Helicopters. Kate Krawczyk, the current president, remembers: “Everything was carefully weighed before being loaded on to the Squirrel. Effortlessly, it lifted off and swung east toward the Richmond Ranges. A fresh dusting of snow was evident on the higher peaks and ridgelines. Within 15 minutes we landed near the hut.”

Under the watchful eye of Silvano, his crew dug 900mm deep holes, then concreted each pile into position. The hut was manually leveraged along on to the new piles, using soap as a lubricant.

A support team arrived on foot, with aching lungs and bursting thighs. Treasurer Ian Morris recalls the hut building party carefully preparing a camp fire. “We enjoyed toasting marshmallows with evening mist swirling around us.”

A third expedition was made in February, led by former president, Lawrie Halkett. His party wiped down walls and did a stock take. In May, builder Bob Janssen erected a bespoke woodshed, and the job was complete.

John Reid Hut

Next on DOC’s never-ending to-do list were more huts needing a touch of TLC. The club chose to work on John Reid Hut, situated high on the Arthur Range in Kahurangi National Park. It is ideally positioned for trips along the tops to Mounts Patriarch, Sodom or Gomorrah. It boasts spectacular views over the Wangapeka valley to the Mount Owen massif. However, the NZFS S70 design was now drafty, dark and smoky, and the open fireplace hearth had subsided.

Built in 1963, this six-bunker was named after pioneering helicopter pilot John Reid. In 1963, John Reid made a daring flight to rescue an injured caver on Mt Owen. Then he flew in the kitset for his namesake hut – using the first heavy-lift chopper in the country.

Whilst Reid’s name was immortalized in the naming of this hut, aptly, now it was his grandson, Toby Reid, who ferried the trampers and building materials in his Eurocopter Squirrel AS350.

After a mountain of paperwork, another $10,000 grant was secured, and I joined Pat Holland and Silvano Lorandi on the first recce in October 2017. We hitchhiked in a helicopter; a five minute ride that lifted us from a lowly 280m to a lofty 1244m. We unloaded four heavy 25kg bags of cement for future use. Silvano and Pat Above: Left: Nelson Tramping Club members working on John Reid Hut Right: Silvano Lorandi & Pat Holland above John Reid Hut 26

… “the intangible outcomes are just as important as the fixed assets: the enhanced cooperative spirit within the club, within the outdoor community, and with DOC personnel. It is about people working together on common goals.”

PAT H O L L A N D

wasted no time in measuring the chimney, and deciding what needed to be fixed. After dark, I watched the Milky Way burn through a blackening sky.

That Nelson Anniversary weekend, 10 volunteers did the hard yakka, under the expert supervision of Silvano. Club secretary Michele Cunningham remembers how the chopper airlifted a 900kg cage crammed full of building materials and tools, then dropped it to the hut with uncanny precision. “Power tools were hooked up to a generator, and work was underway. We removed the old chimney, then installed a new wood burner and stainless steel bench top. The ceiling was lined, seats were replaced and the doorway re-piled. Riflemen flitted about and a morepork called from directly above as we went to bed. Leah Parker did a fantastic job with the catering.”

In March, five volunteers returned to paint the hut, led by Pat Holland. Bob the builder had prefabricated bespoke bunk ladders, which were installed.

Pat believes the hut should last another 50 years. He reckons that “the intangible outcomes are just as important as the fixed assets: the enhanced cooperative spirit within the club, within the wider outdoor community, and with DOC personnel. It is about people working together on common goals.”

Silvano was humbled by the participation of so many volunteers. “It was time to do extraordinary maintenance, before (the huts) deteriorate too much, and we lose them forever.”

The future of our local track and hut network is now looking bright. The big backyard beyond Nelson beckons those lovers of the outdoors with a keen sense of adventure.

If you want to visit these huts, check out the route information at: doc.govt.nz or contact the Nelson Tramping Club: nelsontrampingclub.org.nz

Love the Choice Summerset Richmond Ranges pre-selling* now!

Development of Summerset’s new village in Richmond is now underway. Its central location in a tranquil Hill Street setting offers beautiful views of the ranges. Once complete, our village will offer fantastic recreational facilities, a range of one bedroom serviced apartments, two and three bedroom villas and support up to hospital level care.

Visit us at our Sales Office!

Our first homes will be available late 2019 and we are pre-selling now. Call in any time to our Sales Office at Richmond Mall. We can take you through plans and pricing and answer any questions you may have.

Visit our Sales Office

*Licence to occupy

Open 7 days

To order your free information pack call 0800 SUMMER (786 637) or visit summerset.co.nz

SUM1377

Summerset Sales Office Richmond Mall, outside next to Bay Audiology

CAFÉ FOR SALE

Rare opportunity to own Nelson’s #1 voted café on Tripadvisor and be a part of New Zealand’s history.

MELROSE CAFE

This licensed 7-day-a-week establishment is famous for serving great locally roasted coffee, next level cakes, breakfast/lunch and bespoke high teas.

The café works alongside a popular event and wedding venue, also situated on the grounds, and holds the rights to all catering held on-site.

A long-term secure lease at very reasonable rates, set systems and procedures in place and customers rolling in, makes Melrose Café a unique and exciting opportunity.

Enquires to Jess via phone or email. jessica@melrosecafe.co.nz / 027 391 5904

Trade Me listing #1924736295

27

EVENT SHOWCASE

A feast to tantalise your tastebuds Three years after first appearing on New Zealand’s food festival calendar, Feast Marlborough is fast growing in reputation as an unmissable event for food lovers. Kat Pickford explains …

PHOTOGRAPHY RICHARD BRIGGS

C

elebrity chefs working with local culinary talent, preparing delicious meals featuring Marlborough produce in unique venues from the vineyards to the sea, ensure that Feast Marlborough celebrates the region’s people, produce and landscape.

The four-day food festival held May 9-12 (the same weekend as the perennially popular Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon), kicks off on Thursday night with the WK Gala Feast hosted by the talented team from the award-winning restaurant Arbour.

The celebration continues the following night at the Bayleys Friday Night Feast street party in central Blenheim, and continues throughout the weekend with a series of exclusive dining experiences in unique locations.

Once again, local restaurants will go head-to-head to create a signature dish that celebrates Marlborough food in the monthlong celebration of Rare Fare.

Feast Marlborough founder and passionate advocate of the region Chris Shaw is excited to take the event to the next level, after three years developing the concept and discovering what works.

“It’s been pretty exciting to find that people love the idea and actually want us, so now we can focus on growing into a really iconic, enduring event that people from around the world will travel for,” Chris says.

“People outside the region already know we’re a culinary powerhouse, and it’s about time we realised that too.”

28

Talented producers

The growth of Feast Marlborough seems to be on the same trajectory as the region’s burgeoning food industry, with many independent, passionate culinary producers taking the leap and turning their dreams into a business.

“Every year gets easier and easier in terms of attracting producers who want to take part,” Chris says.

“Now, instead of convincing people to be a part of it, they are coming to us with great ideas of what they want to do.

“We’ve a great group of talented people around, doing some great things with food; it’s exciting for the region and it’s exciting to see where we go to from here.”

Many food products produced in Marlborough are highly coveted by chefs in New Zealand and further afield.

“We’ve a great group of talented people around, doing some great things with food; it’s exciting for the region and it’s exciting to see where we go to from here.”

C H R I S S H AW

Think Ora King Salmon, Marlborough Green Shell mussels and Flaxbourne Pure lamb, all locally produced and shipped off overseas to be enjoyed in some of the best restaurants in culinary destinations around the world.

Then there’s the much loved Cranky Goat Cheese, darkly decadent Black Garlic from Marlborough Garlic, Thymebank’s micro salad and herb range and game meats from Premium Game.

While many of the products are consumed outside of Marlborough, most of these companies are locally owned and operated. They all hire locals and with the exception of a few, the profits stay within the region.

The growing group of devoted producers plays an important part in adding economic diversity to the region, while creating a colourful culinary scene bursting with stories.

Brothers and ardent foodies and outdoorsmen Darren and Nick Clifford bought the Marlborough-based game meat business, Premium Game, last year with the intention of increasing its product range and market.

The business has been around for more than 20 years, and now supplies wild meats including hare, rabbit, goat, venison, pork and tahr to restaurants and households around the country.

Game and garlic

This year, Premium Game will be featured in a number of Feast Marlborough events, including an exciting evening at Arbour

Above: Clockwise: Pocket Bar - organic winemakers; Allan Scott Family Winemakers Rare Fare 2018 winning dish; Chef Francis Nolan Below: Highfield TerraVin Restaurant Rare Fare 2018 winning dish Opposite page: The Friday Night Feast

Restaurant, where celebrity chef Mark Southon will work with local culinary star Bradley Hornby to create an innovative menu of the finest wild game.

Darren Clifford says Feast Marlborough is an appealing way to showcase their products to committed foodies, and show what can be done with game meats.

“We love what we do and love the idea of our products being served up on dinner tables around the country,” Darren says.

“Feast Marlborough absolutely ticks all the boxes for us, in terms of showcasing Marlborough products and the Marlborough story.”

Another local product lined up to get the star treatment is Marlborough Garlic’s alluring culinary product, Black Garlic.

Award-winning Waikato-born chef Ben Bayly will cook a special long lunch on Saturday 11, at Seresin’s Waterfall Bay restaurant in the Queen Charlotte Sound, featuring the lusciously sweet and umami flavour profiles of Black Garlic.

Marlborough Garlic chief executive John Murphy says he is excited to have Ben championing their product and is looking forward to seeing what he comes up with.

29

“Feast Marlborough absolutely ticks all the boxes for us, in terms of showcasing Marlborough products and the Marlborough story.”

.....

DA R R E N C L I F F O R D

“Black Garlic is so versatile, we say a good place to start is with cheese, but there’s so much more that can be done with it,” John says. .

“To have a chef with such a great reputation working with our , .� -· . ·.,, . ··... ·... product is really exciting, especially in such an amazing location. . :... �-�. ..... ..� ;, .. .., . .

“The great thing about Black Garlic is its mystique, it’s. �.._-,...� �: '. ·.•· ,. completely surprising and maybe even a little bit dangerous, so . .. . -, ·,.; �... "' . , . . J people can come along and expect to be surprised and delighted.”

..

..

)

;,

•

. ' "4.'"

�;,,,:-·

......

-�

,

.�

-·

. ·.,,

.

..

..

)

.�

-�

;,

•

-·

.. ;, )

..

�;,,,:-·

.

;,

._-,

.. ..

. J

-� .. -� .. .

. ·.,,

.

;,

)

•

;,

)

•

.�

.

. ·.,, . -·'. "4.'" ··... ·...

. . '-. ..

......

-�

··... ·... . :... �-�. ..... ...�' ;,"4.'" .. .., . ......�;,,,:-· . . . �: , '-.�. ·.•·-· . �..··._-...·.,,,...·� ,. ... . .. . -, ·,.; � ... "' . :... �-�. ..... ..� ;, .-. . . , . . J .., . . . ' "4.'" ,. �: '-. ·.•· �.._-,...� ......�;,,,:-· . .. . -, ·,.; �... "' . , . . J ,

. ' "4.'"

. ·.,,

··... ·... �-�. ..� .- . . .., . . �. �: '-. ·.•· ...� ,. ·,.; �,... "'.� -· .

. :...

. ..• . -, . , .

··... ·... . :... �-�. ..... ..� ;, .. .., . . . �. �:MARLBOROUGH '-. ·.•· ._-,...� ,. . .. . -, ·,.; �... "' . , . . J .

,

�;,,,:-·

...... . :... �-�. ..... ..� ;, .. .., . .

MARLBOROUGH . �:

)

-�

;,

·.•· �. ...� ,. �... "'

. ..• . -, ·,.; . , .

._-,

MAY 9 12 2019 People who love the element of surprise will be thrilled toMARLBOROUGH learn much. ' "4.'"

MARLBOROUGH ......�;,,,:-· loved Marlborough restaurant Arbour is once again hosting the WK IT'S THE LAND OUR CONNECTION WITH IT. IT’S ALL ALLABOUT ABOUT THE L&AND & OUR Gala Feast, which kicks off the four-day festival on Thursday 9th May. MARLBOROUGH CONNECTION WITH IT. EVERYONE Arbour co-owner Liz Buttimore says the ‘magical’ evening to be FROM THE HUNTERS, GATHERS, FARMERS & GROWERS MARLBOROUGH ALONG THE FOOD CHAIN. FROM THE held at Spy Valley Wines in the Waihopai Valley will be a celebration JOIN US FOR A FOUR DAY FOOD EXTRAVAGANZA FEATURIN of Marlborough’s food, wine and culinary heroes.

HUNTERS, GATHERERS, FARMERS & FOOD & WINE & THE TALENTED PEOPLE & STORIES BEHIND “The format will be completely different to last year – instead GROWERS, TO THE FOOD LOVERS of a formal five-course meal, people can relax, mingle, dance and & CHEFS. JOIN US A & FOUR IT'S ALL ABOUT THEFOR LAND OURDAY CONNECTION W eat all night long in a truly magical setting,” Liz says.

FOOD FEATURING FEAST I MAYg BAYLEYS FRIDAY NIGHTTHE FEAST I MAY10 WK• GALAEXTRAVAGANZA FROM THE HUNTERS, GATHERS, FARMERS & G Dubbed Starlight Sessions, the event is held a couple of IT'Sin ALL ABOUT THE LAND & OUR CONNECTION WITH IT. EVERYONE AL REGION’S MOST OUTSTANDING FOOD MARLBOROUGH UNDERGROUND I MAY 11RARE FARE I APRIL 15 - MAY IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LAND & 12 OUR CONNECTION W lofty heated teepees festooned with fairy lights, housing a number JOIN US & FOR A FOUR DAY FOOD EXTRAVAGANZA F & WINE THE TALENTED PEOPLE & FROM THE HUNTERS, GATHERS, FARMERS & GROWERS, TO THE FO FROM THE HUNTERS, GATHERS, FARMERS & G of chill-out lounges and relaxed seating areas, bars, food tables, STORIES BEHIND IT ALL. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LAND & OUR CONNECTION WITH IT. EVERYONE ALONG THE FOO FOOD & WINE & THE TALENTED PEOPLE & STORIES FORFEATURING DETAILS DAYwww.feastmarlborough.nz FOOD EXTRAVAGANZA THE REGIO cooking demonstrations and all-night food. JOIN US FOR A FOUR VISIT JOIN US FOR A FOUR DAY FOOD EXTRAVAGANZA F IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LAND & OUR CONNECTION WITH FROM THE HUNTERS, GATHERS, FARMERS & GROWERS, TO THE FOOD LOVERS While revellers relax in cosy couches, or mingle in the FOOD & WINE & THE TALENTED PEOPLE & STORIES BEHIND IT ALL. FOOD & WINE & THE TALENTED PEOPLE & STORIES crowd, a series of KiwiJOIN acousticUS artists willAtake the stage, FROM THE HUNTERS, GATHERS, & GRO FOR FOUR DAY FOOD EXTRAVAGANZA THE FRIDAY REGION'S � FARMERS WK• GALA FEASTFEATURING I MAYg BAYLEYS NIGHT MOST FEAST I OUTS MAY1 Marlb AIR NEW ZEALAND� including Fly My Pretties singer songwriter Anna Coddington, JOIN US FOR A FOUR DAY FOOD EXTRAVAGANZA FEA FOOD & WINE & THE TALENTED PEOPLE & STORIES BEHIND IT ALL. MARLBOROUGH UNDERGROUND I MAY 1112 RARE FARE I APRI local songstress Sarah Brown, 2018 Smokefreerockquest winnerI MAYg BAYLEYS FRIDAY NIGHT FEAST I MAY10 WK• GALA FEAST GALA BAYLEYS FRIDAY NIGHT& FEAST I MAY1 WK• FOOD & FEAST WINE I &MAYg THE TALENTED PEOPLE STORIES BE Estella Romagnoli and Wellington musician Paul Saker-Norrish.

MARLBOROUGH I MAY 11- 12 RARE FARE I APRIL 15 - MAY 19 With so many tantalising taste adventures to experience, UNDERGROUND MARLBOROUGH UNDERGROUND I MAY 11- 12 RARE FARE I APRI VISITFEAST www.feastmarlborough.nz FOR DETAILS GALA FEAST MAYg BAYLEYS FRIDAY NIGHT I MAY10 WK• choosing which events to attend will no Idoubt be the IT’S ALL ABOUT IT’S THE ALL IT’S LAND ABOUT ALL& ABOUT OUR THE CONNECTION THE LAND LAND &GALA OUR & WITH OUR CONNECTION CONNECTION IT.I MAYg EVERYONE WITH WITH ALONG IT. EVERYONE IT.THE EVERYONE FOOD ALONG ALONG THE THE FOOD FOO FEAST BAYLEYS FRIDAY NIGHT FEAST I MAY10 WK• toughest part.

MARLBOROUGH UNDERGROUND I MAY 11- HUNTERS, 12 HUNTERS, RARE FARE I APRIL 15 -FARMERS MAY 19GROWERS, FROM CHAIN. FROM THE CHAIN. HUNTERS, CHAIN. FROM GATHERERS, THE THE FARMERS GATHERERS, GATHERERS, & GROWERS, FARMERS TO &THE &FOOD GROWERS, LOVERS TO THE TO&THE FOOD FOOD LOVERS LOVERS & Starlight sessions

MAY 9

MAY 9

MAY 9 2019 12MAY 9

12 2019

MAY 9

. J

12 2019

12 2019

12 2019

ll=Mi!=i�il

VISIT

www.feastmarlborough.nz FOR DETAILS

o-o-e I�

VISIT www.feastmarlborough.nz FOR MARLBOROUGH UNDERGROUND I MAY 1112DETAILS RARE FARE I APRIL 15 CHEFS. JOIN US CHEFS. FOR CHEFS. A FOUR JOINJOIN US DAYFOR US FOOD FOR A FOUR EXTRAVAGANZA A FOUR DAY DAY FOOD FOOD EXTRAVAGANZA FEATURING EXTRAVAGANZA THE FEATURING REGION’S FEATURING MOST THE THE REGION’S REGION’S MOST MO

ll=Mi!=i�il ll=Mi!=i�il

�

For more information about Feast Marlborough events or toOUTSTANDING purchase AIR NEW OUTSTANDING FOOD OUTSTANDING & WINE & FOOD THE FOOD TALENTED & WINE & WINE &PEOPLE THE & TALENTED THE & TALENTED STORIES PEOPLE BEHIND PEOPLE & STORIES ITZEALAND� &ALL. STORIES BEHIND BEHIND IT ALL. IT ALL. VISIT www.feastmarlborough.nz FOR DETAILS your tickets, head to their website: www.feastmarlborough.nz. � VISIT www.feastmarlborough.nz FOR DETAILS Marlborough � AIR NEW ZEALAND� AIR NEW ZEALAND� Keep up to date with all their latest news, competitions and giveaways � {) MARLB Marlborough on Facebook and Instagram: @feastmarlborough � � DISTRIC AIR NEW ZEALAND�

ll=Mi!=i�il

ll=Mi!=i�il

Above: A selection of Marlborough produce 30

ll=Mi!=i�il

I�

AIR NEW ZEALAND�

Proud to be a key sponsor of this year's Feast Marlborough.

BUSINESS ADVISORS dedicated to the success of our clients and community.

03 578 0180

Cnr Champion & Salisbury Roads, Richmond OPEN 7 DAYS 8am–6.30pm Ph: 03 544 0824 | raewardfresh.co.nz

31

Wedding Trends

I now pronounce you …

Marriage and civil unions are still seen as an ultimate form of commitment by two people, yet today’s ceremonies are vastly different to those of a decade ago. Lynda Papesch reports.

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

H

ere comes the bride is not top of the pops when it comes to contemporary wedding ceremonies. Indeed, it doesn’t even rate a note at many nuptials. Instead, brides and grooms – and brides and brides and grooms and grooms – are choosing to listen to birdsong, the murmur of waves on the beach or even the sound of farmyard animals.

Surprise is another sound being heard as happy couples choose to make their ceremonies unique. That includes hosting friends at a birthday party or backyard barbecue and then ‘SURPRISE, we’re getting married right now so please join us’.

Church weddings have dropped in popularity, in favour of a variety of venues that offer less formal alternatives and potentially cheaper deals. Gardens, beaches, boats and even planes have featured in Nelson Tasman Marlborough weddings as blissful couples put their stamp on their big day.

And of all this despite a drop in the number of couples tying the knot. Yes, despite a steadily rising population, New Zealand’s general marriage rate has dropped, according to Statistics NZ. In 1992, the marriage rate was 18.3 couples per 1000 people eligible to marry (or form a civil union as from 2005). By 2017 this had dropped substantially down to 10.9 couples.

That said, there are still plenty of couples – including gay proponents – who cement their relationships with a marriage or civil union ceremony.

32

Nelson-based marriage celebrant Rosemary Lelo (Nelson Nuptials) has been uniting couples for about nine years, and last month gave up her day job to be a full-time celebrant. Initially asked to be celebrant at a friend’s wedding, she took up the challenge and enjoyed it so much that now she’s hooked. “The penny dropped; this was something I could put all my speech and drama lessons and experience into, and something I really enjoy doing.”

A Nelson girl originally, she moved home four years ago and has not looked back, having recently performed her 200th wedding, at Fairfield House. The renovated historic house is a firm favourite with many of her past clients, as is Rabbit Island.

Other popular Nelson Tasman venues include Queens Gardens, Miyazu Gardens, Gardens of the World, Woodend Gardens, The

“Rustic is right on trend at present: country halls, hay bales for seating etc. Local firm GK Events Hire has even made covers for hay bales.”

R O S E M A RY L E L O , C E L E B R A N T

Wedding of Anna and Tom

Monaco Resort, Lancewood Villa and Appleby House. Family homes and gardens and local halls or buildings of significance also feature as venues, adds Rosemary.

“I love being an integral part of the ceremony and wedding planning. Having a professional celebrant can be key to setting the vibe/tone for the ceremony which is then carried on through to the reception.

“A professional on hand can also become essential if fire alarms take place mid-ceremony, such as the one I performed at the fire station.

“As a celebrant I have to be prepared for any circumstances.

For instance, I’d need good footwear to go hiking to perform a ceremony in the Grampians. And I performed a ceremony on the beach at Pohara in Golden Bay in crocheted sandals.”

For Rosemary, an integral part of being a celebrant is resonating with the wedding couples and fitting in with their vibe.

“They may want a rustic-style ceremony, or go boho, hippie, fancy dress or just casual and I need to fit in with that.

“Rustic is right on trend at present: country halls, hay bales for seating etc. Local firm GK Events Hire has even made covers for hay bales.”

Meaningful ceremonies

Another trend she has noticed is couples having the ceremony in one place and then travelling elsewhere for the reception. “I’m often asked for sea views at the ceremony, but the reception will be back in town.”

Cost is and isn’t a factor. “I’m having more people enquire about getting married on a week day. They also invite less people so it lowers the cost. Others plan a DIY wedding, but at the end of the day there are certain costs that have to be met for any wedding.”

On the theme of ‘surprise’ weddings, Rosemary says she officiated at one in Golden Bay at New Year. “The people have been going to the bay on holiday for many years. The day before they told their friends and family: ‘Tomorrow we are getting married’.

The wedding was casual, no stress and no gifts; it was all about the couple and the celebration.”

Many couples are looking for more meaningful ceremonies, with themes or aspects that are relevant to them and their families.

H O L L I E W E S T B R O O K , E V E N T S C O O R D I N ATO R

Events coordinator at the Grand Mercure Nelson Monaco Resort, Hollie Westbrook has seen a lot of weddings there during the last eight years. Lately it’s a numbers game, she says.

“Some couples opt for a week day just to get married on their lucky number day; and for others it will be a significant number (ie a 30th birthday). Next year – 2020 – is already shaping up to be a big year for weddings, just because of the numbers.”

Hollie agrees that rustic is a strong trend currently, along with fun weddings such as those featuring giant games from GK Events Hire. And at the Monaco Resort staff are finding that many weddings are being turned into family holidays.

“The bride for instance may have been overseas for a while but comes home to get married, and guests and family come for a few days before and/or stay a few days after the ceremony so they don’t just jam it all into one weekend. ”Similarly we are seeing more bride/bride and groom/groom couples moving from civil into more formal ceremonies.”

Many couples are looking for more meaningful ceremonies, with themes or aspects that are relevant to them and their families. “We had a bride who worked in the wood industry for instance, so she incorporated wood into her theme,” says Hollie.

Dresses, she says, are more simple styles and bridesmaids not necessarily decked out all in the same colour or even the same style. And the men: they’re a lot more casual now.

33

WEDDING DIRECTORY

Fairfield

HISTORIC HOUSE & GARDENS

NELSON TAILORS

MENSWEAR

The Men’s Wedding Specialist

The beautiful wedding venue in the heart of Nelson

Perfect fit for your occasion

So many romantic spaces in which to create your special day MEADOW

•

COURTYARD

BALLROOM

•

GALLERY

Ceremony | Photographs | Reception | Dancing FOR B O OKINGS AND FRIENDLY ADVICE

03 548 3640 | fairfieldnelson.org.nz

CUSTOM-MADE | HIRE | BUY 155 Trafalgar Street, Nelson (Opposite Westpac) | 03 548 7655 info@suithire.co.nz | suithire.co.nz

Oasis

You’re Invited

among the vines

A superb garden setting for weddings, special occasions and photo shoots

FRESH - FUN FABULOUS! Meet industry professionals in a relaxed, helpful space • Live music • Food & beverage carts • Kids’ corner • Man’s zone • Gown display PLUS all all the other service providers you need for your wedding.

Save the date

SATURDAY

MAY 4 2 0 1 9 11am – 3pm

Tickets from Eventbrite $10 per couple for early bird all early bird tickets get a goodie bag

$15 per couple on the door

For all queries please email nnweddingfair@gmail.com

The Headingly Centre, Headingly Lane, Lower Queen Street, Richmond, Nelson Hosted by Rosemary Lelo

34

Woodend Gardens

151 Rowley Cres, Grovetown, Blenheim P: 03 578 9070 | M: 021 618 695

woodendgardensgrovetown.co.nz

WEDDING DIRECTORY

Ethical GOLD R E S P O N S I B LY SOURCED FROM OUR OWN GOLD CLAIM

161 Trafalgar Street, Nelson 0800 GLEN JAMES | 0274 845 353 | 03 548 4523 info@glenjames.co.nz | glenjames.co.nz

create a

unique day with ...

STRETCH TENT HIRE

&

• Partly or fully enclosed options • Large range of sizes

• Quality furniture • Handcrafted games

• Premium product with premium service • Unparalleled ambience & style

• The Icicle Tricycle • Custom-made pieces

• Suitable for all types of weddings & events

• Eclectic styling items & props

flexitenz.com

gkeventshire.co.nz 35

“It’s about simple styling with dresses and attire, and stunning locations.”

Photo: Madame Lu’s Kitchen

T E R R I E V E R E T T, C E L E B R A N T

“So many of our lovely couples want to recreate a shared family-style meal, keeping it more casual and laid-back rather than very refined.”

E L O R A C H A N G , C AT E R E R

Photos: Wingit Photography, for The Dream Maker

Casual also applies to the food being served as weddings with buffet-style replace plated food, and menu options such as gluten-free, keto diet and vegan become popular, she adds.

Elora Chang, marketing director from Madame Lu’s Kitchen says she and sister Chelsea have really noticed over the last year or two that the style of food that wedding couples are enquiring about has had a bit of a swing around.

“So many of our lovely couples want to recreate a shared family-style meal, keeping it more casual and laid-back rather than very refined,” she says.

“This is a style of food we love to create, rustic and homely, that tastes as if it came from Mum’s kitchen. Couples are also favouring large styled grazing tables that create a focal point after the ceremony rather than nibbles passed around. And when it comes to the main, the idea of sharing plates down the centre of the table really creates a great family feel to a reception as well.”

36

The Dream Maker marriage celebrant Terri Everett specialises in destination events, elopements and boutique weddings. Terri started in 2011 with boat charters and taking wedding couples to out-of-the-way destinations and now finds that many of her clients are slightly older couples looking to celebrate their togetherness in a location that is really different.

“It’s about simple styling with dresses and attire, and stunning locations.”

Blended family weddings are also coming to the fore, she says.

“I’ve noticed a lot of older people either renewing their vows or getting married for the second time. Baby boomers for instance are starting to realise that they’re in a position to enjoy their lives, and some of them – because of life-changing situations – are making choices to renew their vows.”

Family dynamics

“Another growth definitely in the past five years is second marriages, including couples who have children from previous marriages.

I enjoy bringing the children into the celebration with a family bonding ceremony, where they welcome each other into a new family dynamic. I have seen children who have struggled with the whole idea really embracing this, being part of the ceremony and not leaving their old family behind but just adding to their story and accepting the other partner as their parent’s new beginning too.”

Terri works hard to find amazing locations and has married couples in local national parks and at Rainbow skifield as well as beaches. One couple opted for a helicopter charter to their venue, an aspect Terri is keen to expand on. “We have stunning scenic locations every bit as good as Queenstown and Wanaka so let’s make use of them.”

She says weddings locally are predominantly from September to April then taper off in winter, but she is hoping more couples will consider the colder months because of the flexibility they offer with cheaper accommodation and venue rates.

Her passion is to promote the region via weddings and tourism activities, even combining the two at times. In line with that, she’s soon to open Moonraker House at Split Apple Rock, combining accommodation with her celebrant and boutique elopement package.

Photos: Jens Hansen

Trends also change regularly with proposals and engagement rings.

Nelson jeweller Glen James says diamonds are still a girl’s best friend, however he’s also noticed a definite trend towards using alluvial gold and recycling pre-loved gold in wedding and engagement rings.

“People are using family gold such as their parents’ or grandparents’ wedding rings, and having that gold recycled into their own rings. The gold has sentimental meaning for them, using it saves them money, and also they know where the gold has come from; its provenance.

“People are also bringing in alluvial gold that has been in the family for a while. It may have been mined by a family member even, and in the Nelson Tasman Marlborough region.”

The demand for ethical gold is such that he’s now buying his own gold claim. “It’s good to be able to tell people where the gold comes from, and show them some photos.”

Unique ring designs

G L E N JA M E S , J EW E L L E R

buying an engagement ring is an easy and joyful occasion and to this end has created The Perfect Ring Guarantee. “There are many options out there of gifting raw materials, a makeshift ring etc, but nothing carries the same emotional impact of proposing with an actual diamond ring (that she may just love),” says Halfdan Hansen.

“For many, buying an engagement ring can be a very stressful process and there is a real fear when it comes to ‘getting it right’, but it need not be hard.

“The Perfect Ring Guarantee gives the customer and ring receiver the option to change the size, or even the style of the chosen ring, at no additional cost; even completely re-design it if they wish.

“They can propose with confidence, knowing that any changes their partner might want to make will be taken care of, and they’ll get the ring they’ve always wanted.”

Obviously, there are some terms and conditions, and the idea is not for everyone, but it will help remove the fear for some of those proposing and help them feel confident. A unique offer, it will also ensure brides are happy with their engagement rings, working with the talented staff at Jens Hansen to design their perfect ring if they’re not happy with what their partner selected.

Photos: Glen James

Demand is mainly for yellow gold, but rose gold is making a bit of a comeback, and white gold is still popular too, he says, although use of it has tapered off during the last five to six years.

Design-wise, women are opting for very individual styles that are unique to them, and also for more practical designs that they can wear every day; a ring that is theirs and theirs alone.

Glen makes hundreds of models of rings every year, taking great pride in producing styles that have personal meaning to those wearing them. He estimates 95 percent of engagement rings he makes feature diamonds, diamonds and more diamonds.

“Having rings custom-made is no more expensive than buying ready-made from a retail jewellery store. We can work to any budget and style to suit a client and ensure they have a ring to treasure.”

Nelson jewellery brand Jens Hansen wants to make sure

“People are also bringing in alluvial gold that has been in the family for a while. It may have been mined by a family member even, and in the Nelson Tasman Marlborough region.”

37

WEDDING DIRECTORY

COLLECTION 2019/20 Taking the stress out of your wedding day!

◊

PLANNING AND STYLING

◊

ON THE DAY COORDINATION

◊

SET UP AND PACK DOWN

◊

BAR SERVICES

◊

HIRE ITEMS

◊

HEN’S PARTY BOXES

Contact Rebecca O’Fee 027 469 8840 | events@ofeeinspo.com www.ofeeinspo.com

Exclusive all-purpose boutique accommodation for hire

N

estled in the native tree canopy, Moonraker House overlooks the iconic Split Apple Rock beach and the Nelson and Kaikoura ranges. It’s only a 50-minute drive from Nelson City and a short boat trip into the incredible Abel Tasman National Park directly off the beach.

Designed for intimate elopements, boutique events, fun family holidays and corporate and interest groups.

In-house event manager and NZ celebrant available.

You will feel serene in our stunning, purpose-built property, established to deliver an unforgettable visitor experience.

the

dream maker

Timeless, bespoke bridal gowns inspired by nature, freedom, light and happiness.

021 159 1786

moonrakerhouse@gmail.com 027 526 8771

moonrakernz.com

38

laineehermsen.co.nz

WEDDING DIRECTORY

We love weddings!

Planning yours?

Wedding Showcase - Sat. 4 May 11 am - 3 pm Come along and discover what makes the Monaco Resort your perfect ceremony and reception venue choice.

events@monacoresort.co.nz P +64 3 547 0974 monacoresort.co.nz 6 Point Road, Monaco, Nelson

39

“Since Meghan Markle wed Prince Harry there’s been a switch to plain fabrics, lots with no lace, minimal detailing and sleek, draped fabrics.”

LAINEE HERMSEN, DESIGNER

At any wedding, the bride’s dress takes centre stage so it’s important to pick the right gown. Nelson-based bridal designer Lainee Hermsen has been in the business for more than a decade now, initially designing and making a dress for a friend.

Lainee studied fashion design in Christchurch and was making urban wear in Nelson when her friend asked her to make the first dress. Prior to that she had made all her own ball gowns and other clothing at high school. “For the first eight years, I designed and made one-off dresses from scratch, until the whole apparel industry changed with the advent of online shopping. I became swamped with alterations of badly-made overseas dresses. At the same time, because of the changes in supply and demand in New Zealand, the price of fabrics skyrocketed. Whereas previously I could design and make a lace wedding gown for around $3000, I was suddenly faced with paying $3000 for the lace alone.”

Photos: Lainee Hermsen

Lainee then switched to having her designs made overseas too, after she had checked out the quality of the production. “They’re still my custom designs, and I keep a close eye on their production.”

Most of her brides spend between $2000 and $5000 on their special dress, but some budget upwards of $10,000.

As for dress styles, she’s noticed a wide variety of trends since her early designing days. “When I first started in the early 2000s, it was still the tail end of the 1990s A-lines, strapless, lots of ruching and not too much showing off the figure. Now it’s the opposite for many brides. Dresses are much more figure-hugging.”

Royal weddings tend to influence wedding dress styles, she says. “After Kate Middleton’s wedding to Prince William it was all lace, lace, lace. Since Meghan Markle wed Prince Harry there’s been a switch to plain fabrics, lots with no lace, minimal detailing and sleek, draped fabrics.”

Lainee has also noticed a lot more ‘bling’ coming back into gowns, low backs, off-the-shoulder dresses and plunging necklines.

“Brides are showing off their shoulders and décolletage more.

40

Photo: Lainee Hermsen

Sleek dresses

“We’ve also been seeing a lot of two-tone dresses such as off-white with a nude layer underneath, slinkier, shiny fabrics, and more pops of colours like having a mustard-hued skirt. Lots of rustic colours are coming through, for instance rusty natural tones, mustards, neutrals and warm creams.

“Bridesmaids’ dresses are long past the stage where they’re matchy matchy! These days they can be different colours and even styles to suit the wearer.

“The first thing for brides (and bridesmaids) is to look at what styles suit their figure, and then their personality. From there I style to suit.”

Wedding of Hannah and Joe Wedding of Katherine and Jared

Local Wedding Shows

I

f you’re looking for inspiration, a venue or a celebrant, Nelson has two wedding fairs coming up, both on Saturday 4 May.

Nelson Nuptials Wedding Fair 11am till 3pm The Headingly Center 46/2 Headingly Lane, Richmond Everything you need under one roof, from celebrants to wedding dresses, style advisors and more, all keen to help ensure a smooth wedding day.

Grand Mercure Monaco Nelson Wedding Showcase 11am till 3pm The Monaco Resort 6 Point Road, Monaco An opportunity to check out the wedding and reception venues, meet the people and associated wedding suppliers, and take a tour of the hotel.

41

WEDDING DIRECTORY

U nforgettable Tipi Experiences

Wild Peaks hire amazing Nordic tipis perfect for weddings, corporate events, parties and festivals. Based at the top of the South Island, our tipis are an exciting alternative to the traditional marquee tent with an instant and natural wow factor.

wildpeaks.co.nz 42

Our tipis cater for up to 150 guests seated or 300 guests standing. Check out our website and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see how we can help you create your ultimate tipi celebration.

WEDDING DIRECTORY

Saxton Oval Pavilion enjoys stunning views, outdoor flow, and a light, modern space to style your way.

GET EVERYONE TOGETHER • Up to 169 guests • Commercial kitchen and bar

Tie the Knot among the vines of Marlborough

• PA and projection equipment Available from: $344.00 business event $500.00 private function

Our tailor-made wedding packages give you the option of a traditional or casual wedding all in a beautiful vineyard setting. Bride and groom stay free on the night of your wedding.

Talk to us about your perfect day

CONTACT: 03 538 0072 stadium@sporttasman.org.nz nelson.govt.nz/venues P: 03 572 5094 mvh.co.nz 190 Rapaura Road, Blenheim SPACE TO PLAY

43

Lodges

Enjoying good lodge-istics Whether you’re after a few simple days in paradise or a long weekend of luxury, the Top of the South is a lodge-ical choice when it comes to a room with a view. Sophie Preece looks at some of the idyllic options.

The Wellness: Zatori Collingwood, Golden Bay

T

racey Walker remembers visits to her grandmother in a beautifully situated rest home in Collingwood, never dreaming she would one day own it. But five years ago she returned to Golden Bay and saw huge potential in the iconic buildings, with their panoramic views of the estuary and ocean below.

Zatori has had a massive overhaul since, transformed into a beautiful lodge and wedding venue. However, its heritage of care, first as a midwifery and hospital, and then as a rest home, has continued in the health and wellbeing focus of Zatori, says Tracey.

Wellness doesn’t just mean the likes of yoga retreats – although they certainly happen, she says. “It’s also about enjoying a beautiful wine after a walk, or having a very private and plush bush-bath, built for two, on the cliff.” There’s also a wood-fired sauna, “with big doubleglazed windows to zen out and cloud- watch too”. The lodge has a wholefoods policy, and the restaurant makes the most of vegetables, eggs and fruit grown on site.

44

People arrive and their pulse slows down, Tracey says. “You come here and you truly relax.” Some sit and watch the weather come in over the estuary, mesmerised by the ebb and flow, while others set off bird watching or kayaking, to get in closer. It’s also a popular spot for bikers and walkers on the Heaphy Track, who stay before and after their mission, first preparing, then rewarding themselves, for the effort.

Lodgistics: Getting there – By car, 2321 Takaka-Collingwood Hwy Cost: From $60 to $399 in honeymoon suite. The price includes breakfast for luxury suites.

More: www.zatori.co.nz

The Retreat: Kimi Ora Kaiteriteri

E

ach day begins with a delicious breakfast in Kimi Ora’s restaurant, with its wide views across the golden sands and beautiful waters of Kaiteriteri. Bolstered by Bircher muesli,

It is a blissful experience further enhanced by an amazing array of dishes served at Kimi Ora’s vegetarian restaurant. free-range eggs, freshly baked grain bread and beautiful teapots of steaming herbal tea, guests can then head out for a ride in the mountain bike park, quite literally outside the front door.

Then it is a stroll through native bush to the beach, followed by waterfront coffee, another bike ride, a swim in the indoor pool and a soak in the outdoor hot tub, drenched with more views.

It is a blissful experience further enhanced by an amazing array of dishes served at Kimi Ora’s vegetarian restaurant.

After the perfect mix of effort and indolence, guests will sleep like a log in the comfy chalet, waking to bird song, a cup of tea and sunrise over Kaiteriteri, all from the comfort of bed. Kimi Ora’s founder Dietmar Glaser, originally from Germany, brought his passion for health and wellbeing with him when he moved to New Zealand in 1984. He has woven some sublime magic at Kimi Ora, and the price tag means it is not limited to a lucky few.

Lodgistics: Getting there – By car, veer left as you enter Kaiteriteri and expect a steep driveway. 99 Martin Farm Road Cost: From $199 to $329 All prices are for two people and include breakfast and use of facilities.

More: www.kimiora.com

The Eco: Split Apple Kaiteriteri

H

idden in the wild hills of Kaiteriteri lies a beautiful eco lodge like no other in the region. It sits overlooking the green mountains to the west and the azure Tasman Sea to the east, where incredible sunsets can be witnessed at the midpoint between land and sea. Here you will find breathtaking views all around.

Above left: A room with a view at Kimi Ora Right: Scenic delights at Split Apple Lodge Opposite: Zatori at Collingwood is nestled between hills and estuary

Split Apple Lodge, as it can be found today, was taken over in 2016 by owners Fran and Dan Huelsmeyer. Fleeing the stress of German corporate business, this energetic couple have created a slice of paradise to help like-minded travellers relax and unwind.

Every winter the couple undertake a new adventure to upgrade the lodge. Now with a steaming cedar wood spa, soon to have a European sauna and a pool, everyone will find something to like – even day spa treatments for non-lodge guests.

This latest addition to the Kaiteriteri hospitality market will provide the perfect getaway for every kind of globetrotter, whether you are seeking an outdoors adventure or simply a peaceful getaway, there is no better place than here at the Split Apple Lodge.

Lodgistics: Getting there – 370 Kaiteriteri Sandy Bay Road.

A short scenic drive from Kaiteriteri the road will take you up to the top of the Kaiteriteri-Sandy Bay Hill. After just three kilometres you’ll see the signs of Split Apple Lodge to your right. Alternatively, chose the Marahau Hill route which is equally long but less scenic. Keep right at the Sandy Bay Inlet and find Split Apple Lodge just 300m after the turnoff to Split Apple Rock Beach to your left.

Cost: $355 - $495 per night depending on room type and season, rates include breakfast, afternoon tea, welcome drink and SPA access. Local discounts available for all Nelson Tasman residents.

More: www.splitapplelodge.co.nz

The Après Adventure: Alpine Lodge St Arnaud

W

hether it’s a winter ski at Rainbow, a spring tramp in the Nelson Lakes National Park, a summer kayak and swim at Lake Rotoiti, or an autumn mountain bike ride at Teetotal Flats, St Arnaud is a place for adventure. And, because a luxury earned is a luxury enjoyed, it follows that St Arnaud is the perfect place for a lodge. The Alpine Lodge, with its warm welcome, delicious food, roaring open fire, restorative hot tub and massive mountain views is the perfect place to relive today’s adventures, and plan for tomorrow’s. The Alpine Lodge was opened in 1984 and taken over by Walter and Frederika Unterberger in 1988. In the decades since, it has been built up into a highly successful family-run business.

45

The Alpine philosophy is simple – to provide good food, matched with good service and comfortable accommodation ranging from backpackers to luxury studio rooms.

Lodgistics: Getting there – By car, central St Arnaud Cost: Check the website for a range of rates More: www.alpinelodge.co.nz

The Wilderness: Avon Valley Lodge Marlborough

L

iving off the land has never been so good. With a working sheep and beef farm on its steep rocky hills, a hunting block in the native bush beyond, and cool pristine rivers like honey to trout fishers, this is a place of very good food and very few food miles. Add 1000 beehives, old wild apple trees, rambles of berries and a vast garden of seasonal vegetables, and it’s easy to see why Avon Valley Lodge is earning a reputation for fabulous fare in a secluded location. Visitors eat at banquet tables under the exposed beams of the hunting lodge, with wide views of the valley, the Teme River and the stunning hills beyond. The lodge has two luxury suites, making a stay there a pretty exclusive affair. But owner Darren Clifford says they can entertain up to 100 people in corporate visits, with busloads of people coming in to do clay-bird and long-range shooting.

Darren and his brother Nick, both passionate foodies, have done much of the cooking until now, but after two years the lodge has become so busy that they are in the process of employing a full-time chef with an understanding of the connection between land and plate.

Lodgistics: Getting there – There are helipads for those who want one, but you can also drive in via the Waihopai Valley. Avon Valley will also organise a shuttle.

Cost: On application More: www.avonvalleysafaris.co.nz

Above: Clockwise: St Arnaud’s beloved Alpine Lodge; Furneaux Lodge is an iconic destination in the Marlborough Sounds; it’s not far from land to plate at Avon Valley Lodge

The Historic: Furneaux Lodge Endeavour Inlet, Marlborough Sounds

V

isitors to the beautiful Endeavour Inlet should say a little thank you to early conservationist Patrick Howden, who bought 1000 acres of native bush there in 1903 and built a holiday home at the edge of the sea. His son Captain Harry Howden inherited the property, and in 1937 made it a private scenic reserve, before bequeathing it to the people of New Zealand in 1961, on the condition that the forest and birds were protected.

Now Howden’s historic house is the charming centrepiece of Furneaux Lodge, sitting at the rise of long and lush lawn, so rare in the steep Marlborough Sounds. Native bush soars behind the lodge, enjoyed by walkers on the Queen Charlotte Track which passes just behind the property. Furneaux draws a diverse array of visitors, from international and domestic tourists staying in elegant suites, to boaties stopping for a drink and dinner on the veranda, as they have for decades. Walkers on the track frequently spend their first night at the lodge, opting for simplicity in the hikers’ cabins, or luxury in the studios.

This is an iconic landmark in the Marlborough Sounds, says Scott McKenzie, general manager of Furneaux’s new owner, the Marlborough Tour Company. “For such a long time it has been a focal point for boaties, locals, and domestic visitors.”

Lodgistics: Getting there – Boat, bike or foot, folks. No roads lead to Furneaux, but it is part of the wonderful Queen Charlotte Track and a great stop after the first day’s walk from Ship Cove.

Cost: Everything from luxury suites to self-catering cottages, as well as backpacker-style hiker cabins. $60 to $375 More: www.furneaux.co.nz

The Lux: Bay of Many Coves Arthurs Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound

W

ith five-star accommodation, fine dining, a heated pool, cedar hot tub, a day spa and priceless views, Bay of Many Coves takes out all the stops in ensuring you sink into an indolent existence, far from the madding crowd. Maintaining the bliss does mean some restrictions for those with children in tow, including limited restaurant hours for younger diners.

46

THE PERFECT PLACE to escape to whether it’s for celebrating a special occasion, just needing a night away or to explore all that the Tasman region has to offer.

At Kimi Ora Eco Resort you can relax, soak in the views and get away from the hustle and bustle. Treat yourself to one of our many beauty and massage treatments, dine in our vegetarian restaurant, laze around the spas and pools or get active with a bike ride exploring the famous Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park.

There is something for everyone!

99 Martin Farm Road, Kaiteriteri Phone 03 527 8027

kimiora.com Bookings are essential

Packages from just

$

95

per person Valid to 29 April 2019

47

Lodgistics: Getting there – Helicopter or water taxi from Picton. Whichever you choose, the journey through or above the beautiful Marlborough Sounds is a great way to start your break.

Cost: Based on two people twin share in a one-bedroom apartment, including full breakfast. $895.00 (low season) to $1595.00 (high season) More: www.bayofmanycoves.co.nz

The Sanctuary: Lochmara Lodge Lochmara Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound

W

hen Shayne and Louise Olsen bought a large sounds section in 1995, they called on memories, sketches and scribbled notes from years of travelling the world. Between them, they distilled the best of the hospitality they had loved, and poured it into their dream lodge.

What began as a simple, successful backpackers at the edge of the sea and the foot of a bush-clad slope, is now a beloved resort, restaurant and wildlife sanctuary, celebrating art, nature and community.

Head there to explore sculpture-filled bush tracks, an underwater observatory and a man-made reef that has resulted in an incredible influx of sea life. Meet kunekune pigs, pukeko and llama, and feed kakariki in the breeding programme and stingrays in the sea.

Earn an appetite on the kayaks and paddle boards, then seek sustenance at the waterfront bar and café. Or, if you’re in the mood for something quieter, choose brunch, books and beach before a massage, or an hour in Lochmara’s lovely bathhouse, where a pair of big tubs, steaming with oil-infused waters, look out over a stunning sea view.

“ ... at the edge of the sea and the foot of a bush-clad slope, is now a beloved resort ... ”

Above: Clockwise: Luxurious relaxation at Bay of Many Coves; simple pleasures at Hopewell Lodge; Lochmara Lodge is perfect for families

Lodgistics: Getting there – Boat, bike or foot. Lochmara is a fantastic 21km bike ride from Anakiwa, and just a few minutes by water taxi from Picton. If you are walking or biking the Queen Charlotte Track, it’s a good spot for your last night on the trail.

Cost: $130 to $250 More: www.lochmara.co.nz

The Chilled: Hopewell Lodge Double Bay, Kenepuru Sound

D

evotees of this secluded lodge would probably prefer its fabulousness was kept quiet, so I apologise for letting the cat out of the bag. Hopewell Lodge is tucked away in a far-flung corner of the Kenepuru Sound, nestled between bush and sea.

There are paddleboards, kayaks and bikes for those so inclined, but equal opportunities for those who want to do nothing but rock in a hammock and stare at the sea or stroll through the native bush before a hot tub looking over the sound. Owners Mike and Lynley describe it as ‘a little piece of heaven’ and everyone who goes seems to agree.

Hopewell has a reputation for its gourmet pizza and great coffee, but is mainly self-catering, so you need to stock up before you head in. The accommodation is simple and inexpensive, but still a treat, and family rooms mean you can take the kids along.

Lodgistics: Getting there – Car, water taxi, plane, boat or kayak.

Driving from Havelock or Picton takes about 2.5 hours.

Cost: Go budget in the backpackers, step up to a room and en suite, or spread out in the cottage. $45 to $260 More: www.hopewell.co.nz

Other local lodges to check out almyrawaterfrontlodge.co.nz, awaroalodge.co.nz, edenhouse.co.nz, motuekalodge.com, peloruslodge.com, ratanuilodge.com, splitapple.com, stoneflylodge.co.nz, themarlboroughlodge.co.nz, resurgence.co.nz, westhavenretreat.com

48

W T + B AY O F M A N Y C O V E S R E S O R T

A place to relax, escape the everyday and discover the exceptional B Y B R I G I T W E AV E R

T

ucked away in a tranquil corner of the Marlborough Sounds is a five-star luxury resort that epitomises the very best of New Zealand.

Set on gently rolling bus-clad hillside with the pristine waters of Queen Charlotte Sound lapping at the doorstep, this secluded and tranquil retreat is a sanctuary in every sense, surrounded by the timeless beauty of nature herself.

Located in the heart of New Zealand, with no road access, it is easily accessible via a spectacular 30-minute water ride from Picton or – for the privileged – a helicopter ride right to the front door.

Bay of Many Coves resort is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle where relaxation is encouraged and the very best service provided. One review from Trip Advisor sums it up: ‘This is the most amazing place we have ever stayed. The views, the food, the service were exceptional. It is the perfect place for a honeymoon. Absolute luxury set amongst complete natural beauty.

Enjoy sipping champagne over a five-star meal or kayaking with a baby seal.’

During autumn and winter Nelson and Marlborough locals can experience all the magnificence of the Bay of Many Coves resort, thanks to some affordable ‘off-peak’ packages allowing them the opportunity to enjoy this magnificent part of Marlborough.

General managers Graeme and Kim Smith say the resort remains fully booked throughout summer with many international guests enjoying the Marlborough weather, but as it quietens down in April it’s a perfect time for locals to

head out and explore their back yard.

The resort offers year-round activities including over six kilometres of private walking tracks that link to the internationally-renowned Queen Charlotte Track. “Our regenerating forests are full of native birdlife, and we have kayaks and paddleboards available to share the bay with our abundant marine life, including dolphins and seals,” says Graeme.

Tranquillity abounds

Those wanting a quiet escape can lie by the pool, enjoy top quality cuisine in the Foredeck Restaurant or sit on their private decks and soak up the sun. Better yet, relax at the blissful Mirutu Day Spa, which is now open 12 months of the year.

In the restaurant, chef Tom Weekes has re-created all of the menus to focus on the very best of locally sourced Marlborough seafood and New Zealand beef and lamb.

“With our world-class chefs close at hand, we are dedicated to creating a unique experience that is unforgettably yours,” Graeme adds.

“Wake up each morning in your apartment and look out from your own private balcony at the spectacular views over the water in this natural paradise.

We offer one-, two- or three-bedroom apartments, or the intimacy of our exclusive Kereru Suite.”

water’s edge – which now boasts a brand new menu, albeit retaining some old favourites like fresh battered blue cod and chips, or a kilogram of steamed green lipped mussels! Perhaps spend the whole day and enjoy a relaxing massage at the same time.

Ten complimentary moorings are provided for any local boaties who want to tie up and go ashore for a coffee, breakfast or lunch, and the café is open every day from 9am until 5pm. The resort cellar showcases the very best Marlborough wines as well as serving Taittinger champagne for that extra level of indulgence.

Dedicated to enhancing their legacy of care, more than 15,000 native trees have been planted on the 120-acre site which borders the Queen Charlotte Track, with work about to be undertaken which will open the Bay of Many Coves up for easy access to this great walk.

“Come along and enjoy this beautiful place and maybe you will then understand why Captain Cook chose this area as his most favoured anchorage whilst visiting New Zealand 250 years ago,” says Graeme.

Contact

Wine and dine in style

Even if not staying at the resort, visitors are encouraged to enjoy the fare on offer at The Bight Café – right on the

bayofmanycoves.co.nz Ph 03 579 9771

49

Ways with Wool

Being creative with wool This month Marlborough is hosting its inaugural 101 Ways with Wool Expo. Sadie Hooper looks at the versatility of wool and the role it plays in today’s economy.

PHOTOS COURTESY NZ MERINO

W

ool has long been regarded as a staple product in New Zealand’s economy, from shorn fleeces and sheepskins to valued-added products. The latter are endless, ranging from the usual – blankets, knitted garments, footwear, hats etc – to the unusual such as coffin liners and surfboards.

With that in mind, Marlborough Provincial Rural Women NZ decided it was time to promote its uses and its natural and environmental qualities. Coinciding with the swing against plastics about a year ago, the group, under the leadership of Melva Robb, formed the 101 Ways with Wool committee and started planning the Wool Expo. Joining the planning and creative team were the Marlborough Creative Fibre Guild, Marlborough Province Federated Farmers of NZ, the Marlborough A & P Association and local shearers.

Committee secretary Glenda Robb says some generous donations and offers of tents helped get the expo off the ground, while

Our country’s distinctive environment and farming practices have enabled wool growers to develop a range of unique systems that meet a wide variety of end-user demands. the Creative Fibre Guild is donating its time to run knitting, felting and spinning workshops on the Thursday along with Rural Women NZ. As well as the workshops, the expo – from March 21 to 23 at the Marlborough A & P Showgrounds in Maxwell Road, Blenheim – will showcase some unique wool products. Among the exhibitors will be Marlborough bridal designer Bernadette Thomas displaying a wedding dress made from merino lace, various woollen crafts from the Creative Fibre Guild and woollen garments made by Rural Women NZ - Marlborough province, and the public.

Products on show will include insulation, felted wool saddle blankets, floor rugs, blankets, pet mats, carded and combed wool both in natural and dyed colours, and wool carpet options.

A billion dollar industry

New Zealand enjoys a reputation for producing some of the finest quality wool in the world. Our country’s distinctive environment and farming practices have enabled wool growers to develop a range of unique systems that meet a wide variety of end-user demands.

Historically, wool was New Zealand’s main sheep-related export commodity, although recent years have seen a decline in that coupled with diversification into more valued-added 50

wool exports. Wool prices peaked in 1989 with an export value of $1.8 billion, but by 2011 this had fallen 60 percent, to $720 million.

New Zealand wool, especially merino, is highly valued for its whiteness, uniformity, soundness and relative freedom from dark fibres and vegetable matter contamination; qualities that translate into carpets, interior textiles and bedding and apparel products that exploit wool’s natural functionality and properties to produce stunning aesthetic and performance characteristics. Fine merino wool is used in a range of market segments from active outdoor wear to highend designer fashion.

New Zealand entrepreneurs and scientists are creating new business opportunities by using the traditional wool fibre in innovative ways. Examples include Snowy Peak’s Merinomink, which is a blend of possum fur and merino wool with a feel akin to cashmere. A second example, again using merino wool, is a company called Wool Yarns, which custom-produces knitting yarns to the specific requirements of several leading European fashion houses including Hermes, Armani and Chanel. Thirdly, AgResearch is producing a new lightweight, 100 percent wool fabric, without chemical treatment, which is the first wool textile in the world that is fully machine washable.

New Zealand entrepreneurs and scientists are creating new business opportunities by using the traditional wool fibre in innovative ways.

Above: Clockwise: Shearers in action; a familiar sight in spring; hand selecting the wool; meanwhile back at the farm Opposite page: Top: Sheep farming is an integral part of New Zealand’s primary production Bottom: Shearing crossbred sheep

Exploring new options

In October last year, Auckland-based company Lanaco announced that its new wool had been used to make a breathable filter for astronauts and is being trialed by NASA for use in space. The filter could be used on the Orion spacecraft, which is set to take off for deep space exploration in 2023. It would help astronauts breathe in the event of a fire on board.

One advantage of the filter – a version of which has already sold well in the Asian market – is that it is natural.

And due to hit the market in New Zealand around April/May is a new ‘Woolight’ range of surfboards, constructed using a wool composite. Kiwi entrepreneur Paul Barron has partnered with The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) to develop the new wool composite technology that could change the global market for New Zealand wool.

Barron has partnered with US based Firewire Surfboards, who have designed and manufactured the ‘Woolight’ surfboards to commercialise the technology at scale.

NZM and Barron have developed the wool technology and are investigating other market opportunities for the wool composite.

The technology is a new high-value market for New Zealand strong wool, at a time when the industry is struggling with low wool prices and looking for alternative markets. NZM chief executive John Brakenridge says the wool surfboards are the start of a movement and the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the wool composite technology.

51

When disposed of, natural wool fibre takes only a few years to decompose, and with a high nitrogen content, wool can even act as a fertilizer.

“While the first application of this technology is being used in surfboards, it has the potential to replace fibreglass in many other products such as boats, aircraft and furniture.

“The wool’s natural performance such as tensile strength means that products made with this new technology are lighter and more flexible than traditional fibreglass, while maintaining its strength,” he adds.

Why wool?

Since cavemen first donned animal skins, wool has been in demand for its warmth, yet it is a resource that is valued for much more too.

Natural and renewable – wool is grown not made; every

year sheep grow a new fleece. Wool products also use less energy than man-made fibres during manufacture.

Sunsafe – wool has naturally high UV protection.

Biodegradable – when disposed of, natural wool fibre takes

only a few years to decompose, and with a high nitrogen content, wool can even act as a fertiliser.

Breathable – wool’s natural structure allows it to absorb and release water vapour into the atmosphere, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer.

Non allergenic – wool is not known to cause allergy and does not promote the growth of bacteria. With microscopic scales, wool fibres can trap dust in the top layers until vacuumed away.

Durable and elastic – wool fibre can be bent 20,000 times

without breaking and still have the power to recover and return to its natural shape. Quality wool garments look good for longer.

Easy care – modern wool can be machine-washed; it retains a

small amount of natural oil, and wool fibre resists dirt and grease.

Multi-Climatic – wool acclimatises to its surroundings.

Naturally insulating – wool can insulate the home,

providing and retaining warmth and reducing energy costs.

Flame retardant – wool fibre has a higher ignition threshold than many other fibres and is flame retardant up to 600º C. It also produces less toxic fumes in a fire.

101 Ways with Wool Expo March 21 to 23 at Marlborough A & P Showgrounds, Blenheim

Above: Clockwise: Looking at a merino fibre spread; a flock of merino sheep, sorting wool in the shearing shed; merino rams 52

Facebook: 101 Ways with Wool Expo

Check out some of the local wool products at your fingertips here ...

Cruellas

Sounds Reflection Ltd

Maniototo Wool Ltd

t Cruellas we specialise in natural fibres, offering you a unique range of merino, possum, silk fibres and much more. We have the patterns and accessories you need to create something special in fibre. Our specialty yarns include New Zealand-made Spritzer hand-dyed pure merino, Aura Yarns alpaca merino, and possum blends. If you are looking for ready-made New Zealand knitwear we have Bay Road, Koru, Noble Wilde, McDonald and Possumdown garments in store.

We stock fibre for spinning and weaving, in lots of colours. For the little people in your life we now stock Boody Baby organic Bamboo baby wear.

ool has so many uses and Sounds Reflection offers a wide variety of gifts with style, made from wool. From cuddly children’s toys to knitted woollen clothing, crocheted throws, Aaran jerseys and felted goodies, we have something for all tastes. Our range includes art, Kiwiana, fashion, wedding hats and bags, men’s gifts, baby wear, toys, nautical themed gifts and home decor. We also have The Sea Cove Cottage, self-contained accommodation that sleeps six, in a peaceful garden setting along Rapaura’s golden mile. We’re proud to support the 101 Ways with Wool Expo. Keep updated by following us on Facebook.

love of knitting and spinning, combined with a passion for high-quality New Zealand wool, led to the establishment of Maniototo Wool Ltd in 2013. Today when you buy Maniototo Wool yarns you are assured of the very best locally made product the company can provide, says Mary Furness Weir, company yarn producer, designer and dyer. Maniototo selects the finer end of the mid micron fleeces farmed by the Duncan family near Ranfurly.

The wool is scoured in Timaru, made into a variety of different yarns in Christchurch, hand-dyed in batches and sold within New Zealand and overseas.

03 548 4016 cruellas.co.nz

03 572 9149 soundsreflection.co.nz

03 693 9767 maniototowool.co.nz

A

W

Cruellas

A

Sounds Reflection

Maniototo Wool

A STUNNING NZ birds and flowers summer range of shoulder and cosmetic bags, lunch bags and zip purses now in-store. These beautifully designed bags will make the PERFECT GIFT and travel accessory.

$

PRICED FROM

0 10.5

Supporting the

101 Ways with Wool Expo Let the experts lay it down CHECK OUT OUR NEW SUMMER RANGE AT

153 TRAFALGAR STREET, NELSON Open seven days | 9am - 5.30pm

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

4 First Lane, Blenheim 03 578 3199 david@blenheimcarpetcourt.co.nz carpetcourt.nz

53

Heritage Festival

Paying homage to a rich past Nelson-Tasman is a history-lover’s dream for people, places, buildings and stories, all of which play an important part in the upcoming Heritage Festival from 2 to 29 April.

Due to the early settlement of the region, we enjoy a wealth of heritage buildings.

Lynda Papesch explores the term heritage and how it applies to Nelson City.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIM CUFF

H

eritage (among other meanings) equates as a noun to something that is handed down from the past, as a tradition or a national heritage of honour, pride and courage. As an adjective it is about noting or relating to a product or a place that evokes a nostalgic sense of tradition or history.

Heritage Week has been a distinctive and popular event on Nelson’s calendar for many years, increasing to the point where last year it featured more than 40 individual events, over three exciting weeks.

This year it’s even bigger, running throughout most of April and once again shining a spotlight on a wide cross-section of the city’s unique heritage. With the support of Nelson City Council, individuals and community groups, many of the city’s heritage facilities will host a series of public events that celebrate their amazing history.

Three key elements

‘Fabric’, stories and culture are the three elements that best describe what historic heritage is, says the Department of 54

Conservation, which is entrusted with preserving the country’s heritage and enlightening others to help.

Fabric describes the physical remains that exist today – what you can see or touch. Fabric to Māori could be considered as tika (customary practice) and include artefacts such as greenstone adzes, flakes used by the moa-hunters, old bottles and objects left behind by early settlers, and even underwater relics.

Fabric also includes man-made features and plantings from the past such as Māori fortifications, gold-mining water tunnels, holes made by gumdiggers and trees planted by European settlers.

Buildings are also fabric, ranging in size from enormous government buildings, to large homesteads, and down to small huts, or even smaller castaway shelters. And don’t forget machinery and structures still standing in remote locations –

Our busy port, impressive marina and expansive recreation areas all sit upon progressive infill.

bits of rusty machinery left behind in the bush, or abandoned concrete fortifications.

Stories describe and explain our history; they are what you read, hear or watch, says DOC. Stories can be told in many different ways, explaining what happened in the past, the people involved, what events took place and why. For Māori, stories could be considered as kawa (traditional expressions).

Memories and oral traditions add colour and human interest to stories, as do visual records like drawings, photos, old movies and maps, giving us tantalising glimpses into the past that often make us want to find out more. Written records found in libraries, archives, museums and government departments help us to uncover more of the history behind the stories.

Culture describes the connection people have with historic places – what they feel, experience or do there. Our cultural experience is enriched by knowledge of the past. Culture to Māori could be considered as tangata whenua (identity). Often people will become involved with a conservation project because it has special meaning to them or their forebears, and they like the idea of creating a taonga or treasure that will be there for their children and many generations to come.

Hundreds of people take part nationally in heritage events, collect antiques and restore old machinery and buildings. They share this heritage with others. It is what they are interested in; what they spend their spare time doing. Some even practise traditional skills from our past, such as carving, weaving and working with old machinery. It all helps to keep our heritage alive.

Heritage sites and houses

Within the city, a number of key sites and properties – and even trees – are recognised as having heritage significance and are noted within the Nelson Resource Management Plan. Some are owned by the council and some by private groups or individuals.

Heritage sites include Church Hill (also known as Piki Mai), Matangi Awhio (Auckland Point), Botanics Reserve and the Centre of New Zealand, the Early Settlers Memorial, Wakefield Quay and Rocks Rd Chain, Isel House and Park, Broadgreen Historic House and Samuels Rose Garden, Queens Gardens, Albion Square, Anzac Park and the South St heritage precinct.

Due to Nelson’s early settlement, a wealth of heritage buildings exist, many of them constructed before 1860.

Some are protected and incorporated in the Nelson Resource Management Plan, and lots more are registered with the NZ Historic Places Trust. They include Bishop Suter Art Gallery, Nelson Centre of Musical Arts (School of Music), Bishop’s School, and grand houses such as Fairfield, Melrose and Warwick. Many are still in active use today.

Above: Clockwise: A Tasman Street heritage home; exploring Warwick House; cardboard creations at Founders Heritage Park Opposite page: Making a cardboard church at Founders Heritage Park

Heritage precincts

To date, seven residential heritage precincts have been identified: Alton St, the Dear Cottages, Elliott St, Fountain Place, Russell St, Seymour Ave and South St. Nelson-Tasman also has four cemeteries – Marsden, Hira, Wakapuaka and Seaview – that are maintained by the council, and from where keen enthusiasts can glean a lot of information about the past. Additionally, Nelson has several small historic graveyards, including Hallowell Cemetery, which now shows little evidence of its original use. A cemetery database helps to locate friends and family buried in Nelson, and online cemetery maps are also being developed.

The city also has several heritage walks such as the Church Hill Walk, with the Cathedral at the top. The first church was a tent erected when Bishop Selwyn visited in 1842. It was replaced with a simple converted wooden building purchased from the New Zealand Company.

The Anglican Church bought an acre of land at the summit of the hill in 1848, and in June 1850 the foundation stone of a church was laid. The new Christ Church was dedicated on December 14, 1851. A rapidly expanding congregation saw it enlarged in 1859 and again in 1866.

Other walks listed on the Nelson City Council website include:

Demon Drink Walk

Early Nelson was well-served with public houses, despite vigorous agitation for abstinence by the temperance movement. Patrons often had to travel long distances over difficult terrain so, as well as serving alcohol, hotels had accommodation and meals and were popular meeting places in the community. The first publicans’ licences were issued in Nelson in April 1842. This walk traces some historic Nelson pubs and other drink-related sites.

55

Above: Nelson Centre of Musical Arts Opposite page: Re-creating Lord Nelson

Dress Circle Walk

On the foothills of the Grampians, above the Cathedral, a pleasant, moderate hill walk can be enjoyed in ‘the Dress Circle’ of the city, featuring beautiful old houses among mature trees. Some are privately owned so it is viewing from the footpath only, but others – like Fairfield and Melrose – are public spaces, and even available for community hire.

Hidden Shoreline Walk

Reclamation has played an important part in Nelson’s history, greatly altering the shoreline of the 1840s (shown on this map).

Our busy port, impressive marina and expansive recreation areas all sit upon progressive infill. Early European settlers started reclamation in 1841. It continued over many years until eight hectares of land was reclaimed on either side of the Maitai River, forming the Rutherford and Trafalgar Parks.

Historic Wakefield Quay

Since the arrival of early settlers to Nelson, this stretch of seafront has witnessed the development of both a beautiful city and a prosperous region. This easy walk, created by the Nelson Historical Society, reveals local history while providing stunning views of Nelson’s sheltered harbour.

Source: Nelson.govt.nz/recreation

“The festival would not be the popular event that it is without the support of the community.”

GAILE NOONAN

56

Celebrate Nelson’s Heritage Festival

O

n 1 April 2019, Nelson’s Heritage Festival gets underway with an exciting programme of events to celebrate and share our city’s rich and varied past. Now in its ninth year, the festival has evolved from a week of activities, largely organised by Nelson City Council, to a true community event across the month of April involving many organisations and community groups.

Last year hundreds of locals and visitors enjoyed over 40 individual events celebrating Nelson’s unique stories, people and places.

Councillor and Community Services Committee chair Gaile Noonan says, “The festival would not be the popular event that it is without the support of the community. Many history buffs, theatre groups, artists, special interest groups and people in the community get involved to share their stories and the heritage of our wonderful city to create a more vibrant celebration.

“The variety and calibre of activities and entertainment last year was terrific and I would like to thank all the volunteers for their enthusiasm, commitment and time. You can be truly proud of what you achieved for visitors and locals alike. I’m really looking forward to this year’s event and encourage you to keep April in the forefront of your mind for the festival. You won’t want to miss it – the printing option looks great, interactive which is nice, and the Heritage Homes Tour always sells out quickly,” says councillor Noonan.

An interesting and diverse programme is coming together for this year’s event, with something for everyone. There are live performances, talks, tours and enjoyable activities at a range of locations on offer, including the Nelson Provincial Museum, Theatre Royal, Suter Art Gallery, libraries, Founders Heritage Park, heritage homes and more, with many events being privately run with support from the council.

Although the programme wasn’t finalised at the time of print, you may wish to note these featured events in your calendar.

An interesting and diverse programme is coming together for this year’s event, with something for everyone.

Lord Nelson Theatre Royal, 4-5 April, matinees and 7pm

Philip Simpson - Down the bay: a natural and cultural history of Abel Tasman National Park Elma Turner Library, 2-3pm

The author will talk about his authoritative account of Abel Tasman National Park. His book is a first account that provides a complete picture of the landforms of Abel Tasman, the beaches, the plants and animals, the Maori and European history and the coastal environment.

The Great Lego Print Day Founders Heritage Park, Armarie Room Printery, 15 April, 10am -12pm and 2-4pm A workshop for creative imaginations that mixes the old with the

Photo: Olivia Spink

Come face-to-face with the most stupidly-brave little chap in the history of naval warfare in this interactive and informative comedy.

Climb aboard and learn about the man this town is named after, on his perilous voyage to victory! There’ll be one arm, one eye, and one ... jolly good time, with solo actor Dan Allan as Horatio Nelson.

new … participants will use Lego tiles to build their own unique image. This will then be printed using the oldest heritage press in the printery, the 1860 Albion Press. This is a hands-on workshop – roll up your sleeves, get inky fingers and get to know other imaginative minds in this two- hour workshop.

Another popular event, returning for its second year, is the Cancer Society’s Heritage Homes Tour, where some of Nelson’s oldest homes open their doors to the public to raise funds for charity.

To find out more, keep an eye out for the events programme which will be in the council’s Our Nelson newsletter in the leadup to the festival, or online at itson.co.nz

1 - 30 APRIL 2019

A month of exciting events celebrating Nelson’s unique stories, people and places.

FOR EVENTS:

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

itson.co.nz

57

LATEST ARRIVALS From Annabel Cement/Metal $260.00

Ajorn Check/Black $189.90

Alegro French Navy $189.90

Abigail Nude $199.90

Super Black $210.00

weloveshoes.co.nz 2 GREAT LOCATIONS 245 Trafalgar St, Nelson 211 Queen St, Richmond

58

Dressing to impress P HO T O G R A P H E R , I S H NA JAC OB S S T Y L I S T , S O N YA L E U S I N K S L A D E N M O D E L , TA R V E R B O PA R A I HAIR, MICHELLE LINES M A K E - U P, J A D I E D E N B Y , PRICES PHARMACY WITH THANKS TO THE C H R I S T C H U R C H C AT H E D R A L , N E L S O N F O R O U R B E AU T I F U L S HO O T L O C AT ION A N D F R I E N DLY, G E N E R O U S H O S P I TA L I T Y

Dress and jewellery, Shine 59 Glasses, Kuske

Dress, Stacey Earrings and clutch, Trouble & Fox Rings, necklace and bracelet, Shine Shoes, Taylors…we love shoes Glasses, Kuske 60

Dress, Stacey Jewellery, Jens Hansen Clutch, Taylors…we love shoes Glasses, Kuske

61

Top and pants, Trouble & Fox Necklace, Shine All other jewellery, Jens Hansen

Jumpsuit and jewellery, Shine Shoes, Taylors…we love shoes Clutch, Trouble & Fox 63

Dress, Dotti Jewellery, Shine Shoes and clutch, Taylors…we love shoes

GUESS WHO’S GUESS TO WHOS COMING COMING TO SHINE?

SHINE?

IN STORE MARCH 2019

IN STORE MARCH 2019 253 HARDY STREET, NELSON (03) 548 4848 FACEBOOK.COM/SHINEDESIGNSTORE

Open 7 Days Monday to Friday 9am – 5.30pm Saturday 9am – 5pm Sunday & most public holidays 10am – 4pm Gift vouchers available from the Centre Management Office above Morri St Café

New Season Italian Fashion

- EST 1863 -

S UMME R H OURS : 10am - 4pm Thursday & Friday | 10am - 2pm Saturday or by appointment

SHOPPING & DINING PRECINCT

www.morrisonsquare.co.nz

205 Paton Road, Hope www.beaconhillestate.co.nz www.facebook.com/BeaconHillCountryStore 65

FA S H I O N S H OWC A S E

Dressing for the occasion B Y S O N YA L E U S I N K S L A D E N

I

don’t know if it’s just me, but I do find dressing up vaguely stressful. I think it’s partly because I do it so seldom; I’m unpractised, and my fancy clothes feel so unnatural. I also think that more formal occasions are, in themselves, more stressful. I struggle a little with small talk to strangers, and I always feel so self-conscious within myself.

All that said, I have over the years contemplated what ‘dressing for occasions’ is about. At least in theory, I know what I should be doing and wearing when it comes to dressing up.

Here, I have strung together some tips that I find most helpful. Perhaps you will too?

Accessorise Accessories are a fabulous way to transition plain or even daywear pieces into something evening or specialevent appropriate. An evening clutch, a statement necklace, a cocktail ring or five, a sparkly, bead-encrusted wrap, and an elegant evening watch, hat or fascinator are examples of accessories that can be transformative.

66

Ditch the day-bag I’m not a fashion-snob, but my pet hate is seeing a beautifully dressed woman arrive at the ‘do’ with a clunky day-bag.

It’s just … wrong! It spoils the look and reminds me of the saying ‘accessories speak louder than clothes’. This to say, plain clothes can look wonderful with the right accessories, while the most glorious designer dress, bought especially for that event, will look ridiculous with the wrong ones. Invest (in thought and money!) in your handbag, and all of the stylish eyes who see you will thank you for it!

garments can be worn at any time.

However, in my books, high-bling pieces do look most elegant at evening occasions, when we can pull out all the stops without hesitation.

Invest in your top layer Keep warm between venues with faux or vintage fur, a fine merino wrap or tuxedostyle blazer. Better still, search for an opera coat, satin kimono or silk-satin evening robe – while the occasions might be rare, the right choice will become a lifetime investment.

Mix-master your daywear Whether it’s your back, a shoulder, collarbone or cleavage, showing a little skin helps shift the mood of an outfit from day to night, work to play, or every-day to special occasion. Just make sure you show off something you’re proud of, and only reveal ‘one bit’ at any one time, to ensure you remain elegant.

If you are budget constrained, don’t feel you need to go out and buy anything new! I usually tackle special occasions by re-styling some of my daytime garments into occasion-appropriate ensembles. Use simple separates, such as tuxedo trousers, and pair with daytime pieces. Embellish with bling and skyscraper heels.

Add heels!

Celebrate your age!

Preferably something strappy, a pair of heels adds swagger to your step, sex appeal to your legs and length to your stature.

Train yourself to wear them well so that you stride, rather than stumble, when you walk.

Embrace your age, whatever it is. Dressing your age doesn’t mean dressing ‘old’ but it can mean editing the approach you took in your youth. Resist the temptation to show too much skin and respect the limits of an aging body. Instead, embrace your personal style and use fabulous textures like silks, brocades and fur, heirloom bling and refined elegance.

Reveal skin, just a little …

Bring the bling The fashion world will have us believe that sequined, lurex and beaded

“No-one ever regretted buying quality.”

OSCAR WILDE

HÖGLUND GLASS STUDIO & GALLERY Locally made blown glass and jewellery by artists Ola & Marie Höglund and their family.

Makers of Nelson art glass since 1982.

VISITORS WELCOME – OPEN DAILY 10 TO 5

52 Lansdowne Road, Appleby, Richmond Ph 03 544 6500

www.hoglundartglass.com

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

Phone: 03 544 1515

www.moxini.co.nz

Own the Moment

249 Queen St. Richmond

03 544 7737

sales@staceyclothing.co.nz StaceyClothing

staceyclothing staceyclothing.co.nz

67

An impressive sea change B Y B R E N D A W E B B | P H O T O G R A P H Y A N A G A L L O WAY

1

2

3

68

4

5

6

7

T

he owners of this impressive Split Apple Rock home, with panoramic views over Tasman Bay, were adamant it should not impact on the environment.

Their brief to Marlborough architect Chris Nott made that clear, along with the desire for the house to have a beach house feel and look.

“We definitely wanted something that represented the vernacular – we wanted a feeling of having a house by the sea but how it sat on the landscape was very important to us, especially with our proximity to the Abel Tasman National Park,” say the owners.

“We wanted to ensure it would fit into the environment in a sympathetic way with minimum intervention on the surrounding landscape. We wanted to be in the middle of the bush.”

From the beach the house is almost hidden because of the way it is sited and because of ongoing regeneration, which is exactly what the owners wanted. They chose Nott as they’d seen his work and loved his originality and modernity.

1. Extensive use of glass results in a ‘see-through’ house 2. The tucked-away kitchen makes the most of the magnificent views 3. A quiet corner with native bush framing the view 4. Cedar meets corrugated iron meets decking timber 5 Solid timber joinery in the kitchen 6. Floating timber shelves are perfect for displaying collectibles 7. The open-plan living where the hanging fireplace dominates 8. The secluded back courtyard still has those stunning views

69

8

9

With sweeping views over bush, beach and ocean, the three-bedroom house features extensive doubleglazed windows and sliding doors to maximise them.

They were delighted with the materials he chose which reflect that ‘house-by-the-sea’ look. “The dark corrugated iron we love, and it’s softened by the use of cedar.”

With sweeping views over bush, beach and ocean, the three-bedroom house features extensive double-glazed windows and sliding doors to maximise them. A carefully planned and sheltered courtyard at the back of the house has views through to the sea meaning the owners can sit there on a windy day and still enjoy being outside.

The living areas are open-plan with the kitchen slightly around a corner so that it too encompasses the views.

“The end result is that the sink faces out to the water and the fact it’s a bit hidden suits me as I’m a messy cook.

We love that the kitchen is tucked away from the main living area. We are so pleased we had Klaus and Annett Todt from Living Design help us with the design of the kitchen and bathrooms.”

Photo: Supplied

10

70

11

9. Who wouldn't want to live here 10. The courtyard is perfect for al fresco dining 11. Warm wooden hues help the house blend in with its environment

Proudly built by

CNA

CHRIS NOTT ARCHITECTURE LTD

NEW ZEALAND'S MOST TRUSTED HOME BUILDER. AGAIN.

Providing economic, high-level architectural solutions for residential and commercial projects

195 Queen St, Richmond gjgardner.co.nz

Chris Nott 021 288 4932 chrisnottarchitecture.co.nz

Is your space totally organised?

Is your space totally organised?

We’ve got your decorating totally covered Proud Proud to to supply supply Bruce Bruce Design Design and and Build Build with with high quality high quality wardrobes wardrobes and and storage storage

TRANSFORM YOUR SPACE

Let our talented interior designers create attractive storage solutions to optimise your space.

Call us today.

your your space…more space…more space space your your space…more space…more space space

Showroom Showroom at at 22 Kidson Kidson Place, Place, Nelson Nelson

Showroom at 2 Kidson Place, Place, Nelson Nelson 03 547 respace.co.nz 03Showroom 547 1636 1636at 2||Kidson respace.co.nz

03 03 547 547 1636 1636 || respace.co.nz respace.co.nz

Call Aaron on 027 346 6305 E. info@totaldecorating.co.nz

totaldecorating.co.nz 71

12

13

14

Photo: Supplied

11

15

Centre stage in the living area is a hanging fireplace. The glass doors mean that it can be enjoyed from both inside and the courtyard.

The bedrooms are carpeted but the owners opted for polished concrete in the living areas, given their proximity to the beach and their dogs.

Underfloor heating provides extra heat as, after living in the UK for 20 years, the owners did not want to be cold.

With one of the owner’s parents living with them, a separate self-contained ‘treehouse’ was built which gives total independence. “It’s beautiful – it’s a mini house.”

A lot of research went into finishing touches with ergonomics being seen as more important than aesthetics. “It was not just form but function particularly, especially when it came to taps – I had no idea there was so much involved.”

Having just moved in, the owners are looking forward to winter to see how the house performs and don’t plan on installing curtains or blinds as they don’t want anything to compromise their views.

“There’s nothing quite like lying in bed and looking out to sea and seeing the moon reflecting on the water.”

16

12. Hot tub on the deck – perfect for late night soaks 13. The self-contained treehouse 14. Large decking areas extend the living areas 15. A bird's eye view 16. Clever design allows for ample storage 17. Light and airy in one of the bedrooms 72

17

180

50

Advanced Electrical

50

0800 54 55 15

270

dvanced Electrical

800 54 55 15

180

Advanced Electrical 0800of54 15 and air Proud installers the 55 electrical

B

conditioning on the Split Apple Rock home.

We bring an unrivalled depth of experience in the design, installation and programming of home technology systems.

We REDEFINE the POSSIBILITIES of full-house fit-outs Your ONE-STOP SHOP for all your electrical, AV and home automation needs

Call us on 03 544 1878 or visit livingdesign.co.nz

0800 545 515 • advanced-electrical.co.nz NELSON - BLENHEIM - CHRISTCHURCH - AUCKLAND

PlaceMakers are proud to be the main supplier for the Split Apple Rock home

Pleased to have provided the plumbing to another great G.J. Gardner home.

Plumbing

Bl The region’s leading timber and building materials supplier

Stoke Nelson Motueka 0800 807 845

Phone 03 544 8946

73

MY GARDEN

Beating the big dry Water restrictions and long dry periods take their toll on gardens, but smart planting will help alleviate that, writes Lynda Papesch.

W

e blamed the Aussies for the recent heatwave, but that didn’t help counter its effects. It’s easy for us to jump in the sea to cool off or refresh, but most plants – in gardens or pots – are reliant on being watered. Some more than others, which is where the more drought-resistant species come into play.

Canny gardeners need to factor climate and seasonal changes into their schedule and their plantings. This means knowing your garden, its soil composition and the various hot, shady and cooler areas, and choosing plants to suit.

Spending the time (and money) to have a landscaping plan mapped out might prove worth it in the long term as the ‘experts’ will have a handle on the latest drought-resistant plant species as well as those that are triedand-true. Plant breeders are always coming up with new options, and creating droughtresistant plants is at the top of their list.

74

When it comes to watering, set up a rain water barrel and recycle grey water to keep plants moist. Other ways of retaining moisture are to use ground-cover plants or mulch.

If you’re looking for planting tips then try some of these:

Canny gardeners need to factor climate and seasonal changes into their schedule and their plantings.

Silver foliage: Helichrysum, Brachyglottis, Cerastium, Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, Stachys, Teucrium, Santolina, Pachystegia (Marlborough rock daisy).

Texture: Flaxes, grasses and grass-

(Pohutukawa), Pittosporum, Olearia, Corokia, Banksia, Coprosma, Griselinia.

like - Cordyline, Lomandra, Phormium (Dwarf mountain flax), Libertia (NZ iris), Carex comans and Carex testacea (NZ tussock grasses).

Ground covers: Coprosma,

Herbs: Mediterranean herbs -

Trees and shrubs: Metrosideros

Muehlenbeckia, Grevillea, Osteospermum (Cape daisy), Ophiopogon (Mondo grass), Sedum, Hemerocallis (daylily), Stachys lanata (lamb’s ear) and Cerastium (snow in summer).

Succulents: Aeonium ‘Schwarzkopf’, Echeveria elegans, Aloe, Sedum.

Lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage, borage, oregano, marjoram.

Flowers: Nicotiana, Pelargonium (geraniums), Petunia (and calibrachoa), Tagetes (marigold), Achillea, Bergenia, Dianthus, Echinacea, Gaura, Kniphofia, Lychnis, Osteospermum, Penstemon, Phlomis, Sedum, Salvia, Sisyrinchium, Verbena.

WT+OBD

Transforming your landscape

BY R E N É E L A NG | P HO T O G R A P H Y I S H NA JAC OB S

O

livia Bird positively fizzes with enthusiasm as she describes how she feels about OBD, her landscape design business.

It’s clear that Olivia is passionate about her work and although she only established OBD a relatively short time ago, she already has an impressive portfolio of clients, both corporate and residential.

Locally born and bred, she spent some years working overseas before returning to New Zealand where she then gained her qualifications as a landscape architect at Lincoln University. But it was the lure of the climate and outdoor lifestyle in Nelson, along with strong family connections, that motivated her move back here.

She’s excited to see the amount of development that’s happening in the region, but feels strongly that it shouldn’t be at the cost of destroying the local landscape, hence her interest in preserving as much of it as possible.

“It’s really cool to work on projects with local people and, in the case of those from further afield, sharing local knowledge with them.”

As for setting up in business on her own, this was because of her desire to connect with people on a one-to-one basis, rather than operating within a larger corporate environment, where you can, as she says “become disconnected from people”. Also, working for herself, she particularly values the fact that it’s always easy for clients to contact her, which she believes has resulted in a healthy number of referrals from contractors and architects. “They can just pick up the phone to talk to me, particularly if they need to sort out a problem, rather than having to leave messages all the time as they would when dealing with a big firm.”

“It’s really cool to work on projects with local people and, in the case of those from further afield, sharing local knowledge with them.”

OLIVIA BIRD

Among her favourite commissions are high end residential builds, which she says are “really cool to work with, particularly some of those sited in the hills above Ruby Bay where the architecture has been well considered”.

In the case of new builds, experience has taught her that by simply studying the plans she can often see what will work best for the environment. Sometimes the client will have firm ideas on what they want, but which may not be suitable or even sympathetic to the environment, however Olivia is skilled at coming up with attractive alternatives.

Currently much of her work is coming from all the development activity in the Tasman region, especially when people discover they need resource consent not only for building, but for any landscape development. This requirement by TDC is not necessarily common knowledge, but a quick call to OBD will see Olivia working with

her clients to get that all-too-essential approval from council. “I do my best to juggle things to get it through as quickly as possible.” What this actually means is submitting the landscape plans at the same time as the building plans, a step that is, as mentioned earlier, not well known in the community. The reason behind this is to ensure the landscape is not unnecessarily compromised.

As Olivia notes, “You don’t want your neighbour putting up an ugly big fence without any consideration.”

Olivia enjoys breathing new life into outdoor spaces and existing gardens, whether it’s an extension or perhaps a whole new look.

Contact obdesign.co.nz 027 464 6694

75

M Y H E A LT H

Sensory & extra-sensory experiences of nature

BY CINDY DE VILLIERS, GP

M

uch has been reported recently about ‘wellness fads’ including those of meditation and forest bathing being taken up by Kate Middleton. I would like to make a plea that these are not fads but re-discovered ancient ways of life that modern science is remembering.

Think of the benefits of nature and an expansive view often pops into our mind’s eye. We love being somewhere where we can see the view and find ourselves automatically feeling better. Nature therapy is being increasingly studied for its health benefits. Hippocrates, who lived well before the time of high-density fast-paced modern life, extoled the virtues of ‘airs, waters and place’ for good health.

Fast forward to the last century when Theodore Roosevelt was sent to a ranch to work roping horses and experience the cure of ‘pleasant rural scenery’. Interestingly however, when subjects suffering from burnout compared an indoor simulated natural environment to an actual natural environment, while both were beneficial, they reported a ‘sense of being cut off from

nature’s sensory input’ and ‘a longing to be in real nature’.

So, what is it that we feel when we are in nature? It may not be a surprise to know that it is not just our traditional senses of sight, sound, smell, touch and taste that are soothed in nature. Scientists are now starting to explore the extra-sensory benefits of nature too. It appears that all the different types of inputs we receive from nature, e.g. sound and smell, work together in a cumulative manner. Here is a taster of some of the medical literature on this increasingly important subject.

Better mental health Natural sounds are considered the most complex types of sound and are said to improve a sense of calmness and serenity.

This is of course opposite to the effects of noise pollution we are increasingly exposed to.

While the effect of smell is less studied, natural odours are known to have effect on our mood and brain functioning, possibly through associations such as a fragrant garden reminding us of a pleasant time.

Touch, taking the form of animal

Scientists are now starting to explore the extra-sensory benefits of nature too. It appears that all the different types of inputs we receive from nature, e.g. sound and smell, work together in a cumulative manner.

petting or just getting your hands dirty in nature, is being considered as improving everything from learning to heart health.

Taste links us directly to nature. Even processed food currently starts in nature.

Studies have found that organic food tastes better than non-organic food and that those eating less processed foods experience better mental health. Growing food, perhaps the ultimate connection with nature, is known to improve happiness.

Furthermore, we may be exposed to beneficial bacteria in the soil, air and water.

Negative air ions are no longer the domain of ageing hippies! These are electrically charged air particles and are particularly dense in forests and around waterfalls but depleted in built-up areas.

Think of the feeling of the air after a thunderstorm. Thunder is one mechanism for charging the air. Negative ions are used as a treatment to improve mood and have shown promise in asthma and immunity.

Phytonicides are substances that plants emit and that we breathe in completely unaware of their presence. These substances are thought to be a crucial part of forestbathing. Phytonicides have been found (in rats, at least) to increase relaxation and prolong sleep. They also possibly improve immunity.

So, go out (without the MP3 player), hug, smell and listen to a tree and get your hands dirty. Your body will love you for it.

Registered medical guidance towards wellness using personalised health without treatment boundaries

Functional & Integrative Medicine Dr Cindy de Villiers Contact HEALTH FUNCTION today for more info

healthfunction.co.nz 76

Specialising in thyroid & autoimmune chronic conditions

DINE OUT

CHOKDEE

MELROSE HOUSE CAFÉ

KAI FUSIONZ

E

S

ituated in Nelson’s grandest historic home lies Melrose House Café. Boasting elegant yet uncomplicated cuisine the café caters to those with a notion for all things good in life. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and famous ‘High Tea’.

A visit to Nelson’s enchanting Melrose House Café is a must!

I

109 High Street, Motueka - 03 528 0318 83 Hardy Street, Nelson - 03 539 0282 chokdee.co.nz

Cnr of Brougham Street & Trafalgar Street, Nelson 03 548 9179 melrosecafe.co.nz

41 Halifax Street, Nelson 03 546 8118 info@kaifusionz.com kaifusionz.com

COD & LOBSTER BRASSERIE

FORD’S

CBD CAFÉ

S

it in our sunny courtyard and enjoy the best seafood from around New Zealand.

Meticulously mixed cocktails and fresh regional fare — including beef, lamb and venison. Our attention to detail will make your visit to Cod & Lobster unforgettable. Open for brunch, lunch dinner and tapas.

W

e offer relaxed and tasteful dining in the heart of Nelson city. Come and enjoy the fresh summer menu, created by our team of great chefs. Sit outside at our shady tables and soak up the atmosphere. Our breakfast, lunch and dinner menus have been lovingly crafted using fresh and locally sourced produce.

Contemporary New Zealand cuisine at its best.

S

300 Trafalgar Street, Nelson 03 546 4300 codandlobster.com

276 Trafalgar St, Nelson 03 546 9400 fordsnelson.co.nz

The Forum, Queen Street Blenheim 03 577 7300

xperience the exquisite and delicious flavours of Thailand. Our food is prepared from scratch, the traditional way, using only the freshest ingredients. We have something for everyone as we cater for a vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free diet, along with your choice of heat.

Takeaways available online at chokdee.co.nz

ndigenous catering Te Tau Ihu and Aotearoa.

Kai Fusionz Catering offers a unique balance of gourmet catering for all occasions. The very best local artisan products, exquisite game and seafood combined with our indigenous flair will get your taste buds critiquing. Kai Fusionz Catering - stepping outside the square.

ituated in the heart of Blenheim, we are open every day for breakfast and lunch.

We have a delicious range of chef-inspired cabinet food, breakfast and lunch menus.

Homemade pies, sweet treats and salads.

Delicious coffee. Recent winners of the Best Café 2018 - Marlborough.

77

MY KITCHEN

Aromatic mussel broth ...

The Top of the South is all about seafood. This broth makes the most of our region’s stunning offerings, combining fresh local mussels and tomatoes to easily create a taste sensation.

BY MADAME LU’S KITCHEN

Mussel broth with tomatoes, ginger and chilli | Serves 4 Ingredients 50ml olive oil 1 knob of ginger, grated 2 tbsp finely chopped garlic

1 lemongrass stick, finely chop white end only 1 coriander root, finely chopped 2 red chillies, finely chopped 1 can of coconut cream 1 can of tomatoes (or chopped fresh tomatoes) 1/2 cup of fish stock/water 3 tbsp fish sauce 2kg green lipped mussels, scrubbed and debearded Method:

1. Heat a large pan or wok over medium-high heat.

Add olive oil and fry off ginger, garlic, lemongrass, coriander root and chillies.

2. Pour in the coconut cream,

tomatoes, fish stock/water and add fish sauce.

3. Simmer on medium heat for 10

minutes. Add mussels and place lid on pan, shaking occasionally till mussels open.

4. Transfer to a bowl to serve. madamelus.co.nz

DINE OUT

Poised for stardom

BY HUGO SAMPSON

Photo: Dominique White

L

ong-time Nelson restaurateurs Matt and Tania Bouterey have done it again, this time with a slick and sassy take on Asian street food (at New Zealand prices), in the heart of Nelson’s lively dining district.

A Harry's Hawker House, you’ll be indulging in tasty, vibrant Asian plates, made with the freshest local ingredients from this beautiful region. It’s a thoughtful, creative and extremely wellexecuted menu, thanks to the Boutereys’ talented right-hand chef Riki Day. Our dining experience didn’t miss a beat I’m happy to say; from the highly personable and professional wait staff, to the succulent, lusciously presented dishes that arrived at our outdoor table in no time.

We dove straight in with a mix of plates. These included a sublime raw fish green curry, beans, broccoli and crispy crunchy rice cakes, which stole the show on all fronts for me.

Vying for a very close second was the salt and pepper squid with sprouts, bitter lime and pickled chilli; hot, fragrant, tender morsels of squid, topped with a delicious fresh salad. And the pan-fried red curry fish cakes were accompanied by melt-in-the-mouth, green-lipped mussels poached in coconut milk. I haven’t eaten such gratifying fish cakes in years.

It’s hard to hold back with Riki’s menu so we didn’t, adding a very good classic papaya salad with beans, tomatoes and sour spice dressing with the perfect amount of chilli, and the pad Thai rice rolls with a wonderfully sweet/sour tamarind sauce and candied, crunchy cashews.

It’s a thoughtful, creative and extremely well-executed menu ...

After a respectable pause we went completely overboard, ordering the only two desserts on the menu so far – lemongrass posset, mango cake with coconut crumble; and chocolate delice, with black cherries and a fabulous peanut satay ice cream.

As well as the casual main restaurant with its bustling, hawker-inspired atmosphere, you can also book the Chef’s Dining Area and Chef’s Table, where you’ll be treated to the chef’s choices of the day.

Or just pop in for a plate, with an inspired cocktail or two, reminiscent of Singapore

and old Shanghai. The selection of wines and beers is excellent. No doubt about it, HHH will become a regular for Nelsonians and visitors alike.

Harry’s Hawker House 296 Trafalgar St, Nelson.

Ph: 03 539 0905. Opening hours vary - please visit hawkerhouse.co.nz.

Cost: Excellent value at $158.00 for five plates, two desserts, two craft beers and two glasses of wine.

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

Prego banner Need a better dinner idea? – With quick, simple and delicious locked spot dinner ideas, you won't have to ask yourself again ...

'What shall we eat tonight?'

Nelson's Mediterranean Pantry In the giant seal & squid building, Buxton Square, Nelson

79

WINE

Riwaka’s wine resurgence Cellaring wines until they’re deemed ready for drinking is paying off for a boutique Riwaka wine producer, as Lynda Papesch explains.

Q

uality not quantity is the philosophy at Riwaka River Estate where Amber Robertson and Paul Miles and their family take a truly hands-on approach.

Their aim is to always produce fine wines that truly reflect their origins, in a manner which is both sustainable and in harmony with the environment.

That’s where the size of the Riwaka River Estate vineyard plays an important role.

Staying small and boutique, with an annual vintage production of around 4500 bottles only under its Resurgence label, allows each wine to be uniquely handcrafted and true to its own style.

Amber and Paul purchased Riwaka River Estate vineyard in 2008 and in the 10plus years since then, working on the old adage that good wine starts in the vineyard, have concentrated their efforts into growing perfect grapes. The result is uniquely styled wines with a subtle European influence, reflecting the limestone terroir which is unique to the vineyard.

One example is its sold-out international medal-winning 2017 sauvignon blanc. Luscious, with mouthfilling tropical flavours (think passionfruit), the wine tasted just as it smelled.

That’s important to Amber and Paul, who delay releasing their wines until they feel the time is right.

“We always wait until the wines are ready before we release them. It’s part of achieving the right combination of elements to be magically enabled in each bottle,” says Amber.

Currently the 2014 chardonnay, 2015 pinot noir and the now-ready 2018 sauvignon blanc are the main releases.

“We often find we are a few vintages behind everyone else putting our wine on the market, but we like them to be ready for drinking when they are released,” she adds.

All hands on deck Riwaka River Estate carries its quality ethos from viticulture to bottling and Above: Family time at the estate 80

“We always wait until the wines are ready before we release them. It’s part of achieving the right combination of elements to be magically enabled in each bottle.”

A M B E R R O B E RT S O N

every step in between. The regime starts in the vineyard where only three varietals – sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and pinot noir – are grown. Come harvest, the grapes are carefully selected and hand-picked.

“We try to make the best wine that we can by producing the best grapes that we can,” says Amber.

The last couple of years have been hard on grapegrowers in the Nelson Tasman region, especially with the advent in February last year of Cyclone Gita. Being small enabled Riwaka River Estate to better withstand the damage caused by the cyclone and bounce back quicker than many.

“One of the beauties of being small is that we are always up-to-date with our work and maintenance schedule and therefore better placed to come out of

those events with a more positive story.”

Between Amber, her mother Patricia and Paul, the family work the vineyard and run the cellar door. It’s all hands on deck at all times, says Amber, adding that the work day also includes tending the olive grove and overseeing hops grown on the property.

Add in boutique accommodation and you can see why they are always busy.

What they are drinking: Riwaka River Estate Resurgence Chardonnay 2014 Barrel fermented in French oak to a limited production of 1,900 bottles, this well rounded, opulent, layered, singlevineyard wine is peachy and slightly spicy with hints of butterscotch on the palette. Toasty notes add complexity and depth.

BREWS

Tapping into raw treats Vintage motorbikes, stuffed possum and stoat – Mark Preece discovers a brew bar with an edge.

W

hen you step in the door of Haydn Mearns’ Blenheim brew bar, you’d best not expect the conventional. Behind its tall wooden doors, under the watchful gaze of a stuffed possum and stoat, 5 Tapped showcases Hayden’s passions, including vintage motorbikes and cars, coffee beans, grinders and machines, and beers sourced straight from the barrel.

The five brews on tap, which change weekly, are often one-off special releases from the brewers. Haydn, who has gathered an ever-increasing network of brewers, discovers new gems while they are still in the tank, grabbing the pick of the brews before they hit the shelves in the supermarkets.

“There's got to be 100 different beers that we’ve had through the place already,” he says.

Haydn and his wife and business partner Nikky Mearns established 5 Tapped a little over a year ago, seeing characterful potential in the old Elastrator and Tux dog biscuit factory sitting empty. Haydn had long needed a warehouse to house his hobbies, and a space for his brews and coffees, so bundled all into one.

They salvaged timber from demolition houses, and a long table from an old cobb cottage, with a plan to ‘recycle, scavenge and re-use’ their way into business. Locals jumped in to help, and the walls of 5 Tapped wear evidence of both the factories that came before.

“We’ve had lots of support from the locals, and those who frequent the bar often turn up with old memorabilia from the factories of yesteryear”, says Haydn, pointing out the cuff-links of Elastrator’s first employee, Doug Irvine, in a display cabinet, along with an ashtray from those days.

A little higher is ‘Possum Pete’, a stuffed reminder of the pest pies Haydn had hoped to serve, before being foiled by a lack of supply. The stuffed stoat, 'Cyril the Stoat Gobbler', takes his name from a beer they once had on tap. He also reminds Above: Clockwise: Pouring a pint; quirky memorabilia adorns the walls; publicans Nikky and Haydn Mearns

the couple of a stoat “that wreaked havoc in our Ward hen-house”, says Nikky.

Here’s a selection of the beers they’re tapping into:

“There's got to be 100 different beers that we’ve had through the place already.”

8-Wired’s Ghost Chips Session IPA, 1% ABV. They say: 'Aiming for 0.5%, we

H AY D N M E A R N S

got down to 1%. The beer is an East Coast Hazy IPA. It is very tasty.'

simple malt bill of ale malt and a touch of Carahell, designed to showcase the distinctive hop profile of Moutere, Pacifica and Motueka, with just a touch of Zythos for a real tropical hit.'

Baylands Brewery Woodrow Revenge Sour IPA, 6.5% ABV. They say: 'Two beers blended together with truckloads of hops. Tropical and citrus fruits with a mouth-puckering sour.'

Renaissance Brewery’s Oak-Aged Stonecutter, 7.0% ABV. They say: 'The threemonth oak age assists in the development of the beer and imparts a vanilla oaked flavour. The beer has characters of rum and raisin, melded with a smoky sweet peat palate and a hint of the oak flavours.'

Renaissance Brewery's Brut IPA, 6.5% ABV. They say: 'This dry, refresher of a beer was brewed with a relatively

Epic Brewing Company’s Epicurean Coffee and Fig Imperial Oatmeal Stout, 8.0% ABV. They say: 'Luscious oatmeal stout brewed with razor-sharp, cleaverchopped Turkish Lerida figs and matured on Kenyan Karen coffee beans expertly roasted by Kerry and Dan at Caffe L'affare in Wellington. This stout was conditioned on toasted coconut from the Philippines. Grab a scoop of Kohu Road vanilla ice cream, pour a couple of glasses and enjoy.'

81

T R AV E L

Retracing roots in the heart of Africa Six decades after she left, Annabel Schuler returns to Malawi to check out the old and the new.

W

hile Malawi does not grab headlines as one of the world’s ‘must do’ tourism destinations, it lives up to its emerging reputation as ‘the warm heart of Africa’.

This 118,480sq km country, previously known as Nyasaland, is bordered by Zambia to the north-west, Tanzania to the northeast and Mozambique to the south so it is completely landlocked and lies in the south-east of the continent.

A world-renowned geological fissure, the Great Rift Valley, runs through it making for some spectacular and diverse scenery with opportunities for mountain climbing, fresh water diving, hiking, mountain biking and a visual feast for photographers.

82

I was keen to revisit a tea estate where my family lived while my father worked as an engineer in the 1950s.

With a population of around 18 million people, Malawi is a poor country reliant largely on tea, coffee, sugar cane, potatoes and other agricultural products as the mainstays of its economy.

But it is working hard to promote itself as a viable tourist destination with visitors from other parts of Africa as well the United Kingdom and Europe.

Having been born in Malawi, I made the journey largely for sentimental reasons, returning after six decades. That aside, the country offers so much that is essentially Africa on a small, manageable scale and we approached it as any tourist would.

The cities are a dichotomy of rich and poor – the traders and the buyers. Open- air markets line the roads and the people wear bright traditional or European clothing with aplomb. The women ‘rock’ very bright chitenje, (pronounced chi-ten-jay), which are wrapped around the body at the waist or under the arms. These often reflect tribal designs although we saw one featuring big pink flamingos – just to show this little country is not out of touch with global trends.

During the 10 days we were there we wanted to see the old and the new. I was keen to revisit a tea estate where my family lived while my father worked as an engineer in the 1950s.

We chose Huntingdon House about an hour from the southern city of Blantyre and booked in for afternoon tea and a tea tasting.

Lake Malawi is the third largest body of water in Africa and is popular with tourists as well as being life-giving to the local people.

The whole experience resonated of the Malawi I knew when it was colonised by the British, but it is very clear that since independence the indigenous people are taking charge.

The road trip to Huntingdon House, which is nestled in endless rolling hills of tea plantations, provides a snapshot of Malawi today. We engaged a car with driver for all our road travel and our driver ‘Lockey’ was a fund of local knowledge and information. He also breezed through police checkpoints with a wave; the Malawian police keep a close eye out for any illicit drugs being transported or firearms to be used in ivory poaching.

Malawi is working hard to stamp out the illegal ivory trade and the brutal poaching practices which plague many parts of Africa.

One solution is to contain the targeted animals in game reserves and a day trip to the Majete Wildlife Reserve is another must-do.

It is one of several game reserves in Malawi and although it is still developing its full complement of animals, we were delighted with what we saw. We had barely settled into a safari jeep with the warning ‘DO NOT get out of the vehicle’ when we came upon a dazzle of zebras – and they were dazzling with their jaunty, symmetrical stripes. Like most of the creatures we saw, they almost posed for photographs and were not at all vehicle-shy.

Jewel in the crown Around the next corner we met a hippo ambling down to the Shire River; then an elephant, deer and monkeys. The highlight of the twohour tour was sighting a lone male rhino, who stayed tucked safely in a thicket of bush despite the best efforts of our brave guide to entice him closer. We were told that it is unusual to see rhino during the daylight hours now – they are evolving into night creatures to avoid poachers.

Cliché as it sounds, Lake Malawi, discovered by David Livingstone 150 years ago, truly is the jewel in the crown of this little country where it is known as The Lake of Stars. Lake Malawi is the third largest body of water in Africa and is popular with tourists as well as being lifegiving to the local people. There are many tourist lodges and camping spots around the lake and these sit alongside native villages where the men fish to feed their families and to trade in the nearby towns. Most of these villages welcome visitors in return for a small donation.

To travel Malawi’s roads you can self-drive or employ a driver and car which was always our preference. The budget option is to climb aboard one of the many, and I mean many, white vans which, packed to the gunnels, transport people, chickens, mangoes and goodness knows

Above: Clockwise: A lone elephant wandering in the Liwonde National Park; a white heron hitches a ride on a local hippopotamus Opposite page: Clockwise: Sunset Yoga at Lake Malawi; a village in Malawi

what else, from A to B. When we drove through a small township called Salima on our way to the lake, we were intrigued by the number of people who ride two-up on a taxi bicycle being ‘doubled’ as we called it as youngsters. Grave businessmen in suits clutching briefcases still managed to look dignified perched on the carrier of a rickety bike.

The Malawian people subsist on small plots of red earth clustered loosely around the villages. The plots produce basic commodities which are sold on roadside stalls. These include dried mice for those who like their protein crispy and rodent-shaped; the ubiquitous mangoes; and to provide the energy for most homes – charcoal.

The capital of Malawi is Lilongwe, which by small-country African standards is quite sophisticated and offers good shopping and diverse eateries. But the biggest asset Malawi has going for it is its people. They bestow upon visitors smiles, courtesy and a dignity which is present from the poorest roadside vendor to the staff at the lodges.

The Malawians appreciate it if you use a few simple words of their language and a ‘Muli bwanji’, ‘hello, how are you?’ or ‘thank you’ translated to ‘zikomo’ can take you a long way. They are very artistic and can carve, weave and paint beautifully. We purchased several souvenirs in craft co-operatives but if you really want to test your bargaining mettle stop at one of the roadside stalls and dicker over prices; you will win some and lose some then walk away exhausted, but everyone will still be smiling you can be sure of that.

83

SPORTS

Train, bike, biped – old route lives on A new walk/running race uses a pristine cycle trail to traverse railway history.

Phil Barnes reports.

Above: Athletics Nelson race organisers Stuart Hague, left, and Paul Meeson, discuss plans for their new race on the cycleway between Belgrove and Kohatu 84

Photo: Phil Barnes

A

thletics Nelson is wheeling out a cute piece of symmetry this month with a new offroad running and walking event that incorporates the former Spooners railway tunnel and a newly completed section of the Great Taste Trail to Kohatu Junction. The latest section of the cycleway, which was opened at Christmas, has received widespread praise for both the standard of its surface and the scenery it passes through.

The run/walk starts at Belgrove and heads south along the Great Taste Trail for 7km, climbing steadily before going through the 1352m tunnel and descending 8km to Kohatu.

Co-organiser Stuart Hague says several club members did a trial run on the new course in January and were impressed with its potential for a running and walking event. The main complication is that the course twice crosses State Highway 6 on its descent to Kohatu. Traffic travels fast on this road, so both crossings will be strictly marshalled, with competitors only allowed to cross when given clearance by officials, Stuart says.

Fellow organiser Paul Meeson says that for many years Waimea Harriers held a road race simply called Spooners after the range of hills it crossed over on the state highway between the Belgrove and Kohatu pubs. Like many road races in the district, this was eventually cancelled due to higher traffic volumes.

The new event effectively recreates the old race except competitors can enjoy the safety and scenery along the cycleway

Competitors can enjoy the safety and scenery along the cycleway and have the novelty of going through Spooners Tunnel, the longest unused railway tunnel in New Zealand. and have the novelty of going through Spooners Tunnel, the longest unused railway tunnel in New Zealand.

Variety spices up the run Paul says the club is always looking for new courses and is especially keen on anything a bit unusual. Holding a race that goes through the tunnel and includes an attractive new section of a cycle trail ticks those boxes.

Off-road multisport events are enjoying a surge in popularity due to the attractions of exploring the backcountry while avoiding roads. Both the surface and scenery along the new section of the trail has won widespread compliments, including from Tasman mayor Richard Kempthorne.

Nelson Tasman Cycle Trust manager Josh Aldridge says it is possibly the smoothest gravel cycle trail in the country.

The company contracted to build the trail, Higgins, used asphalt-paving machinery instead of the usual truck-and-digger

method. This made the surface smoother and safer as it does not have the rutting generally found on rural cycleways.

The trail follows the route of the former railway line between Nelson and Glenhope, which was controversially closed in 1955. Several historical features of the old railway remain along the track, such as bridge abutments and culverts.

The total distance for the run/walk is close to 16km. Entrants may do the entire race individually or as part of a two-person relay team, changing over at Spooners Tunnel. Paul says the distance of the event means it is geared towards runners and experienced walkers and “those wanting to take on the challenge”.

As Spooners Tunnel is not lit, competitors will need to take a torch.

The race takes place on Saturday 30 March, starting from the Belgrove carpark.

Walkers and slow runners set off at 2pm, with the other runners starting at 2.30pm.

The entry fee is $5.

It’s not what you SEE,

WE SUPPLY & FIT Warmup Undertile & Undercarpet heating

it’s how it makes

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

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

2 hours’ FREE parking

Book a FREE in-home design consultation

Curtains | Blinds | Shutters Automation

|

Accessories

We have over 150 FABRICS that can be ready for you in just 12 WORKING DAYS!*

curtainstudio.co.nz

0800 Curtains (0800 287 824)

85

MOTORING

Ford’s beast of a ute A two litre beast with astonishing grunt – at a price. Geoff Moffett samples the bar-raiser.

R

aptor – the name says it all. Ford’s new souped-up Ranger is a beast; a bolshie show-off. Bulging wheel arches and blacked-out grille make its Wildtrack brother look almost puny.

From the running board you’re up so high you get a better view than from most houses. But mechanically?

The specs list the engine at two litres.

Just two! How can this beasty Raptor live up to its name when its engine is an apparent come-down from Ranger’s 3.2-litre five-cylinder?

Well, here’s the surprise. The Raptor’s diesel is a twin-turbo and pumps out more horsepower and torque than its big-selling brother. Yes, Ford has played a trump card with its new ute – and buyers lusting after its macho charms can’t wait to trade in their old one or shift brands, even at $85k.

The Ranger, after all, has been the top-selling vehicle in New Zealand for four years straight. Toyota Corolla, eat your heart out. You can now have the Ranger with the 3.2-litre engine or optional biturbo 2-litre. If you’re not towing heavy trailers or boats, or putting big loads in the back, the smaller-engine version with its better fuel economy will appeal.

The Raptor’s look and size are imposing enough (and at 2.1m wide you’d better measure your garage before you buy one), but the performance is next-level. In another era this highriding bruiser with its 33-inch, all-terrain tyres would have a big V8 under the bonnet. Yet this apparently modest diesel, working through a super-smooth 10-speed transmission (based on the gearbox in the Mustang) produces 157kw and 500Nm of torque. That beats the Wildtrack 3.2 with its 147/470.

It’s not all about the mechanicals, though. We’re talking ride and off-road capability too. The Raptor’s re-engineered suspension has Fox Racing shock absorbers all-round, coil springs and a Watt’s linkage rear to soak up bumps that make less compliant Rangers 86

comparatively jittery. The Raptor stops better too, with big ventilated discs at the rear, instead of drums.

Rugged yet refined High ground clearance (283mm) and better approach- and departure-angle ride and 850mm water wading give the Raptor tremendous back-trail capability, with on-demand 4WD and six-mode terrain selector.

In the end, though, the Raptor will be used as a family car by many owners and it’s well up to that job. Like all Rangers, there’s stacks of head- and legroom front and back, a host of safety features (lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist among them), plus a good sound system with voice-control connection and entertainment and an 8-inch touchscreen.

Did I mention keyless entry, satnav and heated front seats? Speaking of which, these Raptor front seats are terrific, super-comfortable and bodyhugging. Sound insulation is excellent, and the ride is very civilised – although the turning circle isn’t great. The 10-speed transmission is a delight with its small gaps between ratios; smooth, seemingly intuitive and with a manual mode inviting frequent use that gives an engine blip on change-downs.

Claimed fuel consumption is good for a 2.3-tonne vehicle, but the carbon emissions from the four-cylinder Raptor

The Raptor’s diesel is a twinturbo and pumps out more horsepower and torque than its big-selling brother. diesel are not much better than the 3.2 Wildtrack. With four-door utes (mostly diesel) the most popular new-vehicle segment in New Zealand, it’s not a trend to please environmentalists.

At $85k, the Raptor is helping to stretch the price-band in the ute market to a level you’d not have contemplated a few years ago, but for a big truck this is an epic ride on- and off-road, and those with deep pockets and a lust for something different won’t be deterred.

Tech spec

Price:

Ford Ranger Raptor, from $84,990.

Power:

4-cylinder, 2-litre bi-turbo.

157kW @ 3750rpm; 500Nm @ 1750-2000rpm.

Fuel:

Combined cycle, 8.2l/100km.

Vehicle courtesy of MS Ford Nelson

R ES I DE N TI AL & C OMME RC I A L

Roof Spraying • Water Blasting Plasterboard Stopping • Commercial Work Wallpapering • Project Management Solid Plastering • Maintenance Programmes Rural Work • Insurance Work Moss Spraying • Wash-downs

FLY PLAY VIEW RIDE SKYWIRE / QUAD BIKES / HORSE TREKS LICENSED CAFÉ / ARGO / PAINTBALL

Phone 03 548 8383 shuttleworthpainters.co.nz NELSON’S ADVENTURE DESTINATION 15 minutes from Nelson city centre Open every day except Christmas Day

0800 157 300 - cablebayadventurepark.com

.

Building more of what matters

Nelson's own small house company, specialising in the design and construction of beautifully-crafted, multi-functional spaces and homes. We provide the market with a refreshing alternative, based on client focus, clever design and a premium build.

Secured business and personal loans www.fico.co.nz

022 365 3847 | office@spacecraftnz.com

spacecraftnz.com 87

AUTHOR PROFILE

Author revisits her Nelson roots Visiting Nelson brings back fond memories for an Australian-based author, writes Renée Lang.

A

lthough she wasn’t born here and hasn’t lived here for some years, Nelson will always be awardwinning writer Brigid Lowry’s ‘happy place’. Here over summer to visit longterm friends and to soak up the unique atmosphere offered by this part of the country, Brigid is happy to chat about the special pull Nelson exerts on her and what motivates her to keep on writing.

Events in her somewhat peripatetic life have certainly provided plenty of inspiration, starting with the colourful household in which she grew up. Her father, Bob Lowry, was an enormously creative Auckland-based printer who moved in the same circles as some of New Zealand’s greatest literary talents of the time including Allen Curnow, R A K Mason and Frank Sargeson.

When she was just 20 and having gained her teaching diploma, Brigid moved to Sydney and later joined a Buddhist community where she lived for seven years. Marriage followed and then she and her husband and infant son moved to Perth. A stint as a relieving teacher cured her of any desire to remain in the classroom and when her husband asked her what she really wanted to do, she told him she’d rather rob banks for a living than continue to teach in that particular school.

It was at this point that she decided to return to university and gain an arts degree, during which time she had several short stories and poems accepted for publication. Then an opportunity to write a story for teenage girls popped up and, eight books later (most of which were award-winners in their genre), it appeared that she’d found her milieu.

Along the way she and her Australian husband split up, but while still in Perth 88

“It’s a beautiful place to live, not just in a visual sense but the whole vibe, particularly the bookshops, makes Nelson a really creative place.” she met her second husband, who just happened to come from Nelson. Over the next few years they visited his home town a number of times, eventually deciding to move here, a decision that Brigid didn’t regret for a second, although she missed her now-adult son who had opted to remain in Perth.

During her nearly 10 years in Nelson, she taught creative writing at NMIT and was also awarded a couple of prestigious literary residencies: one in Dunedin and the other in Auckland.

Her popular guide to creative writing for teens (but which also appeals to many adult writers), Juicy Writing: Techniques

for Young Writers, was published during this time. However, when her second marriage came to an end after 23 years, she moved back across the Tasman to be near her son – and has called Perth home ever since.

It was about this time that she realised that if she was going to continue her writing career she really wanted to be writing for adults. Her memoir, Still Life with Teapot, published in 2016, was the result of that decision.

Currently she is exploring several other writing projects, but one thing is certain – she’ll be back in Nelson before too much longer.

BOOKS

A Mixed Offering BOOKS COMPILED BY RENÉE LANG

N

ow that those blissful days of summer are behind us, it’s time to crank up the brain cells and dip into some more challenging reading. Pick a sunny spot, lie back and relax with your favourite author, or try a new one for a change.

Here’s a mix of non-fiction, most of it local, to get things started.

Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand:

Elizabeth Lissaman:

New Zealand’s Pioneer Studio Potter

A Field Guide

Dylan van Winkel, Marleen Baling and Rod Hitchmough

Jane Vial with Steve Austin Available now, $59.90 Marlborough Museum

T

his fully illustrated biography of New Zealand’s pioneering woman studio potter traces the life and works of Elizabeth Lissaman and features over 100 images of her pottery. It’s a meticulously researched account, effectively a definitive biography and art history of arguably the country’s first independent, professional studio potter.

Lissaman designed, threw, decorated, fired and sold her first significant collection of pots in 1927 and went on to pot for almost 70 years. She is also known for her accessible practical textbook Pottery for Pleasure in Australia and New Zealand (1969), which has been reprinted five times, with editions sold in many other countries.

Available now, $49.99 Auckland University Press

V

isitors to New Zealand are often amazed at how few native mammals live here, but if they care to turn their attention to other species via this informative new field guide, their curiosity will be well rewarded. Covering tuatara, geckos, skinks, frogs, marine turtles and marine snakes, it’s the only photographic field guide to deal with all currently recognised species of reptiles and amphibians, all 123 of them illustrated in more than 400 photographs. The authoritative text includes names, description, distribution, variation and similar species, habitat and natural history. Fun fact: the term to cover all these species is herpetofauna.

Guardians of Aotearoa:

Becoming

Protecting New Zealand’s Legacies

Michelle Obama

Johanna Knox

Available now, $55.00 Viking

Available now, $59.99 David Bateman Ltd

I

n this handsome and substantial book, researcher and writer Johanna Knox tells the stories behind 39 New Zealanders, each of whom is passionate about what they do to help safeguard what they deem to be important in our part of the world and why they hold it dear. Some of the names will be familiar while others for various reasons do not have a public profile. What they all share, however, is a commitment to their belief, be it restoring waterways, nurturing arts, striving for equal access to health resources or some other form of action.

A

warm and wise memoir, this has been a popular read for many people over the holidays – and with good reason.

In Becoming, the former first lady – and the first AfricanAmerican to serve in that role – describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, in her own words and on her own terms. Her unerring honesty and lively wit confirms her status as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the US and around the world. All in all, it makes compelling reading, whatever your political colours.

89

ARTS

Mounting their own street exhibition

BY JOHN COHEN-DU FOUR PHOTO BY KARAENA VINCENT

S

ometimes things just fall into place.

Like when James Taylor and Gill Starling, owners of joint businesses The Framing Rooms and Quiet Dog Gallery in Wakatu Lane, realised they had the fruits for an exhibition in the very street where they’ve lived for the past 15 years.

“As Nelson’s newest gallery specialising in contemporary New Zealand art, we’re constantly thinking about new ideas for our exhibitions,” says James. “For this month’s show, however, there is no creative thematic link other than the simple fact that all are successful, established artists who happen to live in Mount Street.”

Gill explains that the idea was James’s: “It dawned on him that we knew all these artists living in our street – and that our gallery gave us the unique opportunity to gather them together in one place.”

“There’s this real sense of community in Mount Street,” says James, who is exhibiting under his artist name Stan Bowski. “Many have lived here for years and years. Brian Strong, our most senior artist and well known internationally, has been in the street for 45 years. We have nine different artists in total, presenting everything from representational art to full-on abstract.”

The other artists include: Blake Twigden, who’s spent much of his Above: James and Gill with their gallery’s ‘Quiet Dog’, a Lloyd Harwood creation 90

“We know there are lots of other areas in Nelson Tasman with their own pockets of fascination.”

JA M E S TAY L O R

professional career in Australia and is internationally recognised for his bird and wildlife paintings; Candy Clarke, who creates her paintings on acrylic and papier mache; Jo Kinross, known for her textile creations; and her partner, painter David Ryan, who has years of exhibitions behind him in Australia and NZ. There’s also: Nic Foster, professional painter and project manager for Art Expo Nelson; Lloyd Harwood, painter and sculptor, and community art manager for Arts Council Nelson; Stan Bowski (James), exhibiting his minimalist and abstract work; and painter/ photographer Steve Webster, the newest Mount Street resident having only moved from Cable Bay in 2018.

A few nights after the 12 March exhibition starts, Quiet Dog Gallery is hosting a Mount Street Opening Party (16 March) for locals to join in the creative celebration of their home base.

“All of the works are for sale,” says James, “but many might be snapped up by other Mount Street locals. There are a lot of art lovers living up here.”

“We all love this little hill in the middle of Nelson, with a street that doesn’t really go anywhere. It is very much its own

enclave, private and peaceful,” says Gill.

“It’s close enough to the city vibe, but still slightly apart. The thing about Mount Street is people don’t tend to leave once they’ve found it. Some have even moved up to three times since arriving, but only to other houses in the street.”

“We know there are lots of other areas in Nelson Tasman with their own pockets of fascination,” says James.

“Maybe one street has a collection of musicians? Or another might have potters? We like to think this exhibition sows seeds for other neighbourhoods to consider how they might come together and unleash their own group creativity to the public.”

Gill adds: “For our exhibition we’re featuring a framed symbol, one that we actually found in the middle of Mount Street – a tyre-flattened tube of Cobalt Blue paint. We think it sums things up rather nicely.”

‘In The Street Where We Live’, 12 March – 6 April, Quiet Dog Gallery, Wakatu Lane, Nelson. quietdoggallery.co.nz.

IN THE GALLERY

March’s top creative picks Accessorising - room decor, jewellery, clothing etc - is a tried and true means of quickly changing a look, and reflecting personal taste. Here are some of our top picks from local galleries ...

1

2

4 3

1. Jens Hansen, Handcrafted Platinum and Cushion Cut Diamond Halo, jenshansen.co.nz, POA 2. Peter Geen, Tonga Island - Abel Tasman National Park, acrylic on canvas, 650mm x 400mm, EarthSea Gallery, Clifton, Golden Bay, 03 525 7007, earthseagallery.com 3. Roz Speirs, River Rocks, fused glass bowl, Art@203 Gallery, Nelson, 027 500 5528, clarityglass.co.nz, $195 4. Catherine Cattarach, Eryngium Gigantium, photograph on ACM, Red Gallery, Nelson, 03 548 2170, redartgallery.com, $640 5. Charisse Papworth, Into the Blue, inks on paper, Forest Fusion, Mapua Wharf, 022 091 8380, forestfusion.com 6. Jo Kinross, Flux, 2019, mixed media, 370mm x 200mm, Quiet Dog Gallery, Nelson, 03 548 3991, quietdoggallery.co.nz

5

6

91

Photo: George Guille

MUSIC

Time to face the music

BY PETE RAINEY

T

he Hardy Street Sprig and Fern is a cornerstone of Nelson’s evergrowing hospitality strip.

The revitalization of this business sector is exciting and there seems to be a wealth of new bars and eateries opening regularly, many with significant investment in fit-out.

Lee Fern has been running the bar for over seven years, buying the business and establishing himself as a genial, well-liked host. Having worked as a professional musician for many years it was inevitable that live music at ‘the Sprig’ was to become an important part of the bar’s DNA. In early January Lee posted on social media that after being served with a second 72 hour abatement notice in two weeks following a noise complaint from a neighbour, he was no longer going to book live music acts.

The post attracted 400 comments and 700 reactions, generating an almost unanimous feeling of sadness that this popular venue was going to stop hosting live music.

I spoke to Lee and surprisingly he doesn’t blame the complainant and is happy to adapt his business to protect his licence and avoid fines. He does reflect that the process by which the Nelson City Council monitors noise levels in bars is subjective, relying on a visit 92

by a contracted security guard, who makes a decision from the kerb outside the venue, without using any monitoring equipment apart from his or her ears.

Although council staff members have been in touch, he doesn’t see any solution to the issue, and for now the bar will remain free of live music.

Over the years this issue has come and gone, and the council’s response has been varied.

Undoubtedly there’s mounting pressure on accommodation in Nelson, and a growing number of inner city residents.

Intensification is good, and I have long maintained that altering the planning laws to encourage CBD building owners to develop residential opportunities would be transformative for our city.

However, if any long-term changes were to be made it would be wise to try and include a general recognition that if you choose to live in a city, there is some expectation that you will need to be generally tolerant of the trappings that come with that – bars with music, late night patrons, early morning revelry, and the sound of bottles being tipped into a skip at dawn. After all we all want a vibrant city.

There is no question that limits need to be drawn as to how loud and how late live music should be allowed, and Lee Fern recognises that. He maintains that the best person to do that should be the experienced bar owner, who monitors the activity weekin week-out, not a security guard who does so every now and then, depending on wind conditions or whether it’s raining or not.

“We need to recognise that night life is a crucial part of any global city, it’s not a hedonistic and criminal activity.”

S Y D N EY C I T Y C O U N C I L L O R J E S S S C U L LY

The City of Sydney council has a grant system that supports live music venues in their efforts to implement soundproofing measures. There is recognition of the importance of live music.

City councilor Jess Scully speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald said, “We need to recognise that night life is a crucial part of any global city, it’s not a hedonistic and criminal activity,” she said.

“Sydneysiders deserve to be treated like adults ... and night life is an important part of the offering for tourists and international students, and an attractor for technology and knowledge-economy talent.” She added, “The best thing you can do to support night life is to go out.”

Since September last year, the council has given out $850,000 in grants to 40 venues, with a focus on soundproofing and better equipment, so nightlife and residents can co-exist.

Perhaps our city council should consider doing the same thing – working with bars to put in place measures to protect live music in our city; celebrating music, not calibrating noise.

FILM

The flat white of the movie world

BY EDDIE ALLNUTT

Daffodils Drama, Musical Starring Rose McIver, George Mason, Kimbra and Mark Mitchinson Directed by David Stubbs and written by Rochelle Bright 1h 33min Rated M

D

affodils can be compared to a flat white. It’s very New Zealand, sweet at first then followed by bitter notes. This drama, biopic and awaited Kiwi musical is based on an acclaimed stage play that’s written by Rochelle Bright who took inspiration from her own parents’ relationship. It’s a romance that begins one evening at a lake surrounded by daffodils in a park in Hamilton when a city boy meets a country girl, as Bright’s parents did in the 1960s. Coincidently, it’s the exact spot where her grandparents met 20 years earlier.

George Mason (Home & Away, Go Girls) and Rose McIver (iZombie, The Lovely Bones) play the part of lovers, Eric and Rose. Their journey is a potpourri of all the quintessential Kiwi stuff that relationships encounter – meeting the folks, the big OE, first house, break-ups, daring rescues, ankle-biters, misunderstandings, separation and death. Let’s not forget the mother-in-law either, eh? It’s the simplicity of the story, with its subtle complications, which has a devastating final outcome that many of us, and our parents, have experienced that helps us relate to this film. On top of this, there’s the power of music.

The sounds we grew up with resonate strong feelings and help us to understand the protagonists’ emotions. Kiwi classic anthems such as Bic Runga’s Drive, Th’ Dudes Bliss and The Swingers’ Counting the Beat feature and that’s just a small slice of this nostalgic collection. We also hear the late Modfather in a comical scene at Eric’s workplace, a record store.

The role is a challenging one for Mason and McIver, as they not only have to act but test the vocal cords too. Their voices turn out to be one of the highlights, with contemporary, quirky twists that are quite brilliant and gel perfectly with the particular scene. For example, when a bombshell is dropped on Eric, thus dumbfounded and speechless, Dave Dobbyn’s Language kicks in.

Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Kimbra plays Maise the daughter of Eric and Rose. Maise narrates the story as she’s told things by her dad in his final days. You’ll hear her haunting vocals and see her natural talent as an actor in her premier.

Mark Mitchinson as Barry performs a deceitful family member and he’s ideal for these darker roles.

Although it’s not an easy time for a homegrown musical after the successes of Hollywood hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody and a Star is Born, Wellington-born director David Stubbs, who’s best known for teen titles Reservoir Hill and Girl vs Boy, has given us plenty of local appeal with the possibility of Daffodils reaching a more global audience in the future.

And just like a flat white, it should be left to stand for a while to let the velvety foam thicken to give it texture and further flavour. Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya.

One language, a world of emotions 13th - 27th of MARCH

Selected Highlights:

THE TROUBLE WITH YOU | EN LIBERTÉ!

Opening Night “Endearingly French and undeniably funny”

ASTERIX: The Secret of the Magic Potion “A small delight as enjoyable as it is true to its origins”

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER: Freak and Chic “A homage to Gaultier’s life and to his friends”

TWO IS A FAMILY | DEMAIN TOUT COMMENCE “Leaves you with a palpable sense of hope and joy”

A full schedule of screening times for each day is listed online at statecinemas.co.nz (Suter page).

Suter Theatre: 208 Bridge Street, Nelson www.statecinemas.co.nz 93

EVENTS

Regular Markets

Nelson Tasman Sunday 3 Play the Cawthron Fundraiser

Every Saturday morning

A wonderful opportunity to play the Cawthron Organ and raise funds to ensure its future at the same time!

You’ll get 10 minutes of play for $20. Call, email or visit NCMA on Nile Street to book your slot. From 3pm to 5pm.

MONTGOMERY SQUARE

The Nelson Market 8am to 1pm Every Sunday Motueka Market 8am to 1pm DECKS RESERVE CAR PARK

Every Wednesday Nelson Farmers’ Market 8.30am to 1.30pm

NELSON CENTRE OF MUSICAL ARTS

KIRBY LANE

MARCH Saturday 2 Fly My Pretties - John Butler Trio Award-winning Australian artist John Butler is joined by L.A.B and TrinityRoots, with special guests Fly My Pretties making their first appearance in Nelson in over two years. Barnaby Weir will lead a 15-strong cast of some of New Zealand’s finest vocalists and musicians. Doors open 2pm.

Sunday 10 Michael Houston Concert A chance to hear Michael Houston’s final concert in Nelson before his retirement.

Part of NCMA’s Celebration Series on Sunday afternoons during autumn and winter.

Performances featuring local and national musicians every second Sunday from March until September. Starts 3.30pm.

NELSON SCHOOL OF MUSIC AUDITORIUM, NCMA

TRAFALGAR CENTRE, NELSON

Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 New Zealand Antique and Classic Boat Show Hardy clinkers, classic yachts, sleek cedar kayaks, veteran jet boats and meticulous replica steamboats … hours of effort from ‘blokes in sheds’ will be on display on land and water. From 9am both days; races from 1pm.

LAKE ROTOITI, NELSON LAKES

Thursday 14 March & Saturday 16 March 88 Pianos I Have Known

by Jan Preston Jan Preston is a knockout boogie pianist with a rich resonant voice who has captured audiences around the world with her originality, her energy, and her sparkling charm and gentle wit.

MUSSEL INN, ONEKAKA - THURSDAY 14, 7PM TO 10.30PM &THE PLAYHOUSE, TASMAN - SATURDAY 16, 6PM TO 11PM

Wednesday 13 to Wednesday 27

venues, and suitable for all ages.

From 6.30pm both evenings.

The French Film Festival NZ

THEATRE ROYAL, NELSON

The second largest film festival in New Zealand showcases 30 international films. Various times.

Visit frenchfilmfestival.co.nz THE SUTER, NELSON

Saturday 16 March Bryan Adams - Shine A Light Tour Canadian pop-rocker Bryan Adams is joined by special guests Dave Dobbyn and The Jordan Luck Band for his Nelson concert.

Get ready to rock with all three playing the songs that made them famous, and many more.

From 7.30pm to 11pm.

TRAFALGAR PARK, NELSON

Friday 22 & Saturday 23 Tutus On Tour 2019 The Royal New Zealand Ballet dancers perform classical favourites and contemporary works, tailor-made for intimate

Saturday 2 – Saturday 9 Nelson Beer Week 2019 (NBW) NBW is a chance for beer aficionados and craft beer newcomers to explore new beer experiences by attending fun and educational beer-related events across Nelson-Tasman.

Events include; special beer and food matchings, beers in a hop garden, live music, beer talks, meet the brewers, brewery tours and more.

ASSORTED TIMES AND VENUES

94

Saturday 9 MarchFest 2019 Coinciding with Nelson’s 3rd annual beer week, the iconic Marchfest craft beer and music festival is back.

Highlights include 10 of the best Top of the South brews, five specially selected NZ wide brews, a new tasting bar and live music including Newtown Rocksteady and legendary Kiwi rockers The Narcs! From 12pm to 9.30pm.

FOUNDERS HERITAGE PARK

Friday 29 Angus & Julia Stone, Jack River & Bic Runga Award-winning Australian folk rock/indie duo Angus and Julia Stone headline the Harvest Moon concert series across Nelson, Napier and New Plymouth. Australian producer and multi-instrumentalist Jack River will make her debut appearance alongside New Zealand favourite Bic Runga.

From 6pm till 10.30pm.

THE TRAFALGAR CENTRE, NELSON

Sunday 31 Sport Tasman Muddy Buddy Adventure Run A family-friendly event and a day of fancy dress, muddy fun, rain or shine, running/ slithering around in the estuary mud around a fun course. From 11.30am.

TASMAN SCHOOL

EVENTS

Regular Markets Photo: Courtesy Sanfords Ltd

Marlborough Saturday 16 Havelock Mussel & Seafood Festival 2019 Aotearoa reggae–rock legends Katchafire headline the entertainment line-up, supported by Marlborough’s own A Minor Thing and Nelson kings of swing Sun City Soul. TV chef Annabel Langbein is all set to tantalise your taste buds for the first time, along with festival favourites Chris Fortune and Paulie Hooton. 10am to 6pm.

Every Saturday for the summer Marlborough Artisan Market summer hours 9am-1pm THE QUAYS, HIGH STREET, BLENHEIM

Every Sunday Marlborough Farmers’ Market 9am - 12pm A&P SHOWGROUNDS

HAVELOCK DOMAIN, HAVELOCK

MARCH Saturday 2 Dog Point Classic Kiwi Picnic The Dog Point Classic Kiwi Picnic is a casual and relaxing day set among the vines and olives of Dog Point Vineyard. Enjoy picnic fare created

by Bradley Hornby and Liz Buttimore from Marlborough’s Arbour Restaurant, superbly matched to Dog Point Vineyard wines. Ticket only event. From 12pm to 5pm.

together, locate and complete 10 mystery challenges; racing the clock and all the other family teams with the fastest and luckiest crowned XRACE champion. 6pm to 9pm.

RIVERSIDE AMPHITHEATRE, BLENHEIM

Friday 8 International Women’s Day Breakfast

NZHL XRACE

A breakfast for the community with guest speaker Grainne Moss, Chief Executive, Oranga Tamariki-Mimistry for Children, to commemorate International Women’s Day. 6.45am to 9am.

A mystery adventure race where a parent and child (aged 6-14) race

MARLBOROUGH CONVENTION CENTRE, BLENHEIM

DOG POINT VINEYARD, RENWICK

Thursday 7

Friday 8 March

(Sunday). Wear solid footwear and bring gardening gloves, sunscreen and water.

Framingham 2019 Harvest Concert A celebration of the upcoming harvest season, this is the ninth consecutive annual concert.

This year’s line-up includes Racing (Ed + Sven ex The Checks), Christchurch lads Salad Boys, Marlborough locals Atom Flight, and David Weir! Limited tickets. 6.30pm to 11pm.

FRAMINGHAM WINES, RENWICK

Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 Massive Marlborough Clean-Up: Rarangi & Picton Join in and celebrate Seaweek by cleaning up the beaches at Rarangi (Saturday) and Picton

An exhibition of new works including Molesworth collection, botanical studies, photographic canvases and a new print release

by Joanna Dudson Scott. Gallery Open Hours - 11am to 3pm Wed Mon (Closed Tuesday).

Saturday 16 Mockingbird A comedy about mental health based on the true stories of four generations of women and their devilish alter egos, Mockingbird is a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of postnatal distress, which affects approximately one in seven women and many men every year.

Starts 7.30pm.

101 Ways with Wool Expo

PICTON LITTLE THEATRE, PICTON

Saturday 30 Forrest Graperide Photo: NZ Merino

MARLBOROUGH A&P SHOWGROUNDS, BLENHEIM

Monday 11 to Sunday 31 Joanna Dudson Scott Exhibition

DUDSON SCOTT GALLERY, SH6, RENWICK

Tuesday 21 to Saturday 23 An Expo showcasing 100 percent natural wool, arranged by Marlborough Provincial Rural Women NZ with assistance from farmers, shearers and wool classers, the Fibre Guild and lots of others. Everything from sheep to fleece, shearing to spinning and weaving down to the finished garments.

Competitions, tutorials and demonstrations. Assorted times from mid-morning each day.

RARANGI COMMUNITY HALL, RARANGI - 10AM TO 2PM & SATURDAY PICTON FORESHORE - 10AM TO 12PM SUNDAY

The biggest one-day cycle event in the South Island, with beautiful scenery, outstanding company, fantastic food, quality wine and a cracker of a bike ride. 6am to 5pm.

FORREST ESTATE WINERY, RENWICK

95

180

DIRECTORY

50

Advanced Electrical

50

0800 54 55 15

270

Advanced Electrical 270

0800 54 55 15

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

A

‘A LIFE OF PABLO’

Advanced Electrical 0800 515 0800545 54 55 15

180

YOUR ONE-STOP ELECTRICAL SHOP

B

Home Control Control4 & C-Bus approved installers

Shares the Latino perspective on life.

Heat Pumps | PV Solar

www.freshfm.net

Listen Wednesdays at 6 pm

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

Tracy Sawtell

Security | AV Design & Installation

We’ll be your rock

Cyclovac Systems | Lighting Design

stevensorchard.co.nz | 03 547 6991

NELSON - BLENHEIM CHRISTCHURCH - AUCKLAND

Designed & made

by Oliver Höglund.

SEE US FOR ALL YOUR FURNITURE & KITCHEN REFINISHING Cnr Champion & Salisbury Roads, Richmond

43 Parkers Rd, Tahunanui Ph 03 548 5259

mckenziepaint.co.nz

Höglund Glassblowing Studio 52 Lansdowne Rd, Appleby

www.soktas.co

OPEN 7 DAYS - 8am–6.30pm Ph: 03 544 0824 raewardfresh.co.nz

www.hoglundartglass.com

For all your real estate needs....

Bo Mansfield 027 540 2060

CARING NATURALLY

Natural skin and body care handcrafted in Nelson

‘Go with Jo’ 021 264 7559 VINING REALTY GROUP LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Find us at the Nelson Market every Saturday or visit

www.threegems.co.nz

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

ONE STYLE OF BOUQUET DAILY FRESH FROM LOCAL SUPPLIERS THREE SIZES AVAILABLE FREE SAME-DAY DELIVERY TO THE NELSON REGION e: info@thanksabunchbouquets.com w: thanksabunchbouquets.com

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

96

DIRECTORY

“No-one ever regretted buying quality.”

OSCAR WILDE

A land of rugged beauty

12 John Wesley Lane, Richmond

that rewards the

adventurous soul

(off Queen St, behind Avanti Plus)

Ph: 03 544 1515 www.moxini.co.nz

Secluded without being isolated Avon Valley Lodge is the perfect corporate venue less than an hour from Blenheim and Picton.

Avon Valley Lodge provides a great location for business and corporate functions. Catered with equipment to present and display seminars and workshops, this venue creates a unique ambience for your next business function.

Ideal to showcase Marlborough to visitors by using the lodge for business then pairing with the opportunity to have a shot on The Governor’s Rest sporting clay target course or a scenic tour of the Upper Avon Farms in the Avon Valley.

With such an idyllic location contact us to provide you with your venue options.

avonvalleysafaris.co.nz

Suzie Brosnahan

CELEBRANT Bringing together moments to treasure

I aim to create and professionally deliver a ceremony personal to you, giving you a lasting memory to treasure. bookings@sayyesenterprises.co.nz Ph. 027 378 8277 /suziebrosnahancelebrant

TAKING CARE OF YOU THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH Come and talk to us at our show home at 55 Fairose Drive in Richmond.

Phone: 03 544 2434

peterrayhomes.co.nz

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

pedicure & reflexology 97

M Y E D U C AT I O N

Poetic

wisdom Tracey Andersen (57) completed the New Zealand Diploma in Writing for Creative Industries last year. She shares with Rachel Rees how NMIT helped her develop her passion for writing.

PHOTO BY DOMINIQUE WHITE

Why did you choose the creative writing programme?

I was a case manager at Work and Income for 20 years. On my 20-year anniversary, my sisters and I all quit our jobs and went into business together. One day we were sitting at our desks talking about what we wished we could do, for ourselves, and for me it was writing. They said, “Go and see if you can get on a writing course.” So I did. I’ve been writing short stories since I was a teenager. I had quite a turbulent childhood. I kept a record of it and it became a habit of writing, but I didn’t recognise it as a passion then.

Did those early themes in your life come through in your writing?

Yes. It’s been therapeutic, for lack of a better word. I’ve faced many demons.

I actually had an idea for a short film when I first started the programme. I’d been writing it for over 20 years. But I found my niche in poetry.

It sounds like your NMIT tutors provided a nice environment for you to learn in.

They had no problems pushing me out of my comfort zone, but I felt really safe doing it. Kerry Sunderland is a hard task master, but she doesn’t expect you to do anything she wouldn’t do, and she breaks everything down so that it’s not so scary. Tony Etchells, he’s next level – a bloody good screenwriting tutor. We’re blessed having that calibre of tuition.

You needed tech support on some occasions. What was your experience with Learner Services like?

They were great. I felt a bit silly about that because there’s no excuse not to be technically in the know. It’s not just for young people. But asking for support wasn’t difficult. The staff in Learner Services helped me do my PowerPoint presentation and formatting, and I received help with folio stuff, and my podcast. They were fabulous.

What are your plans now?

I’m looking forward now, not back. I’m still in business with my sisters. I’m excited to have my first ever academic record.

I’ve set up a really nice writing station for myself, somewhere I like to go, and I’m excited about what might be ahead.

I think it’ll be poetry and a blog. It’s been divine timing and a divine time in my life.

You can read an example of Tracey’s poetry online in Kiss Me Hardy, a Nelson literary and arts journal.