WildTomato July 2019 by WildTomato

Nelson Tasman and Marlboroughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s magazine /

ISSUE 156 / JULY 2019 / $8.95

In pursuit of

environmental sustainability and ecological balance

Landscaping Golden Bay Hydro Search & Rescue Winter Fashion Turning Japanese Holden Acadia Master Mask Maker Fairfield House Wine Vintage

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Features Issue 156 / July 2019

Nelson Tasman and Marlborough’s magazine

22 Landscaping The value of landscaping comes to the fore not just in a home environment, but also in the wider world. Sadie Beckman explores its role in today’s challenging environments

32 Sustainability Alistair Hughes investigates ‘sustainable development’ in relation to business and how various practitioners are embracing it

40 Golden Bay hydro A revitalisation of four Golden Bay hydro stations augurs well for future sustainability, writes Shelley Grell

42 Search and rescue They are dedicated and there when we need them. Frank Nelson talks to the five regional rescue groups covering the top of the South Island

INTERVIEWS

18 Event Showcase Renée Lang sinks her teeth into a classic treat with a worldwide following, in the lead-up to New Zealand’s artisan pie awards

20 Local Connection Four decades have passed since Nelson’s stately Fairfield House was saved from the brink of demolition. Jacquetta Bell looks back at the project

86 My Education Ashley Penberth talks to Erika Galpin about how she went from living off the grid in Golden Bay to studying hairdressing at NMIT 4

Columns Issue 156 / July 2019

FASHION

49 A shadow of divine fashion Stylist Sonya Leusink Sladen and photographer Ishna Jacobs showcase light, shadows and fashion

54 Fashion Showcase Flatter your body shape says stylist Sonya Leusink Sladen

LIFE

56 My Home

Renovating an older farmhouse turned into a stunning remodel near Ngatimoti. Lynda Papesch reports

63 My Garden Wake up and smell the lavender writes Annabel Schuler

64 My Health GP Cindy de Villiers provides advice about the vagus nerve and the important role it plays in the body

66 My Kitchen A colourful and heart-warming beetroot curry from Madame Lu’s Kitchen

67 Dine Out Reviewer Hugo Sampson enjoys dining at Gramado’s in Blenheim

68 Wine Vintage 2019 is shaping up to produce some excellent wines, writes Lynda Papesch

69 Brews Reviewer Mark Preece catches up with brewer Martin Townshend

74 Motoring

81 Film

Reviewer Geoff Moffett discovers the new Holden Acadia to be a significant vehicle for the brand

Eddie Allnutt follows six antipodeans walking the Camino de Santiago in this month’s movie review Camino Skies

CULTURE

76 Art ACTIVE

70 Travel Sarah Nottage explores the hustle and bustle of Tokyo

72 Sports Tahunanui Domain has become a hive of activity for multi-cultural social volleyball games on Sunday afternoons. Phil Barnes explains more 6

John Cohen-Du Four talks to one of New Zealand’s leading mask makers, Karl Wulff

78 Books Renée Lang reviews some of the latest book releases

80 Music Reviewer Pete Rainey outlines a veritable feast of strings coming to Nelson Tasman

REGULARS

Editor’s letter & contributors 10 Noticeboard 12 Snapped 77 In the Gallery 82 Events

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G enratec M A S T E R

Y O U R

W O R L D

Editor's letter

few cold snaps let us know that winter is truly here, despite warmer than usual temperatures some days. We have climate change to thank for weather extremes and changes from the norm, and predictions are that it is just the beginning. Whether you believe in climate change or not, it is obvious the environment around us is changing and this needs addressing sooner rather than later. Landscape architects and designers are one group that works with the environment and for the environment. You can read more about that in the following pages. This month’s issue also takes a look at sustainability and what it means to various businesses and sectors. As with climate change, sustainability is becoming more inherent in all manner of practices as the world becomes increasingly aware of its impact now and for future generations. Few businesses can claim true 100 percent sustainability, but there are many initiatives to take to head down the right path and yes, some businesses are more sustainable than others. Read on. Embracing sustainability is not just for businesses however. For it to have any real chance, everyone needs to play their part. One example is supermarket shopping. Having replaced plastic bags with re-usable fabric bags and cardboard boxes is one step. Another is encouraging shoppers to use their own containers. A problem still to be actively addressed is the amount of packaging on some items. For instance many products are double or even triple wrapped. Certainly some of it is to ensure edibles are not tampered with, but you have to wonder if it is really necessary to put product into a bag, then a box, then a cellophane outer! Let’s think positively about this. Not everyone is in a position to completely embrace sustainability but if each person makes an effort to change just a few habits and practices, we will be much closer to achieving a better environment. Now settle in for a good read and don’t forget to pass your WildTomato forward. LYNDA PAPESCH

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, Sadie Beckman, Jacquetta Bell, Chelsea Chang, Elora Chang, Cindy de Villiers, John Cohen-Du Four, Maureen Dewar, Lisa Duncan, Erika Galpin, Shelley Grell, Alistair Hughes, Steve Hussey, Bob Irvine, Ishna Jacobs, Renée Lang, Sonya Leusink Sladen, Brent McGilvary, Geoff Moffett, Frank Nelson, Sarah Nottage, Mark Preece, Pete Rainey, Ray Salisbury, Hugo Sampson, Annabel Schuler, Laura Tucker, Karaena Vincent, Dominique White

Advertising executives Chrissie Sanders 027 540 2237 chrissie@wildtomato.co.nz Kaleigh Armitage 027 233 4068 kaleigh@wildtomato.co.nz Jo Hender 021 264 7559 jo@wildtomato.co.nz

Lead ad designer Patrick Connor production@wildtomato.co.nz

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

Publisher

Love local Award-winning bed & breakfast

ellbird Lodge, Kaiteriteri, owned by Anthea and Brian Harvey, is the 2019 Supreme B&B Business of the Year. The Bed & Breakfast Association New Zealand hosts the annual awards to honour, recognise, encourage and reward members who are the very best bed and breakfast properties in New Zealand. The award programme comprises three categories – Supreme B&B Business of the Year, Emerging B&B Business of the Year (open to those who have been operating two years or less) and B&B Host of the Year. Announcing the supreme award, judges said the Bellbird Lodge owners Brian and Anthea care for and about their guests. In their words, “it is not about what we think the guests want but what they actually want”. The 2019 Emerging B&B Business of the Year Award winner is Acacia Heights Gardens, Taupo, owned by Heather and David Bridson, while the Host of the Year Award winner is Morepork Riverside Lodge, Paihia, run by Barb and Paul Linton. Willows Green in Blenheim was highly commended in the emerging business category.

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 WildTomato magazine is subject to copyright in its entirety and its contents may not be reproduced in any form, either wholly or in part, without written permission. The opinions expressed in WildTomato magazine are not necessarily those of WildTomato Media Ltd or its principals.

Nelson Tasman and Marlborough’s magazine /

ISSUE 156 / JULY 2019 / $8.95

In pursuit of

environmental sustainability and ecological balance

Landscaping + Golden Bay Hydro + Search & Rescue + Winter Fashion + Turning Japanese + Holden Acadia + Master Mask Maker + Fairfield House + Wine Vintage

Cover design by Hester Janssen

Contributor spotlight KARAENA VINCENT

Photography I live in Te Tai-o-Aorere with my five exuberant children and our endlessly patient, tech support, Indian chef, ridiculously handsome, Mr Navtej Dhillon. Photography is my medium to honour relationships between people, valued objects, passions and environment. Light is my friend, no less so is darkness. These elements allow me to catch fleeting moments, tell a story, convey emotion and provoke further contemplation. Sensitively, I find the uniqueness of my subject to catch a glimpse of their inner world. This can be a subtle glimmer of emotion or with full powerful expression. I admire designers. I am drawn to composition and how colour, texture, sound and shape paint and impact our culture.

The acclaimed best seller.

Selling your home? Each week, over 859,000* avid readers nationwide seek out the Property Press. A true page turner with its standout gloss colours and ease to read, it’s no wonder Property Press is New Zealand’s favourite property magazine. Be seen where buyers are looking. Ask your Real Estate agent about Property Press.

A L I S TA I R H U G H E S

Sustainability feature (page 32) It has taken decades, but I’ve finally fulfilled a lifelong dream of moving to Golden Bay. Usually slightly better with deadlines, I’m a writer and graphic artist who spent many years with Fairfax Media, and am now a ‘pen for hire’. My love of words, graphics and classic film combined recently for my first book, Infogothic: An Unauthorised Graphic Guide to Hammer Horror, (Telos Publishing, UK). When not balancing a cat on my lap while at my keyboard, I’m usually out exploring, with adventurous new friends who’ve taken us under their wing. In this issue I talk to other locals who are fortunate enough to call this beautiful region home.

S H E L L EY G R E L L

Hydro feature (page 40 ) Everything is still new and exciting since we moved up from Canterbury the year before last. The decades of renovating our last home are finally over and we’re now in Pohara looking out over paradise. In addition to running my PR and marketing business and managing our Beau Vista holiday studio, I’m loving writing for WildTomato and GB Weekly. I’m also president of GB swimming club and am on the Nelson ITP committee. There’s never a dull moment and I’m meeting so many interesting people. Spare time is filled with family, friends, walks on the beach and being creative. Life is good.

Also available online at www.propertypress.co.nz

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

NOTICEBOARD

Congratulations to Nayland College

ayland College in Stoke is one of four finalists in this year’s Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards, in the Excellence in Leading category. The winner will be announced in September, with each category winner receiving $20,000 and a professional development opportunity. The Supreme Award winner will receive an additional $30,000 and an opportunity to represent New Zealand in an international education conference. The awards celebrate groups of teachers and educators working together, and with students, whānau and communities to deliver excellent outcomes for children and young people. Nayland College has been on a transformational pathway for the past five years, reflecting on leadership, attitude, values and entrenched systems and initiating a values-based approach to teaching and learning. The college has localised the curriculum and made a researchgrounded shift in its teaching practices which have transformed learning across the school. The result has been an increase in the school roll, retention of students in the senior years and significantly improved achievement levels, particularly for Māori students.

Sarau Winter Sale

hroughout the region, numerous community fundraising events are held annually. These fundraisers play a vital role in helping ensure the continuation of facilities such as the Moutere Hills Community Centre. On 27th and 28th July, the Sarau Winter Sale will be held at the centre, offering second-hand books and pre-loved clothing, plus a cosy café. The event runs from 11am to 3pm.

G I V E AWAY What the Fat? Is out now and WildTomato has two copies to give away.

hat the Fat? Recipes follows two internationally bestselling books, What the Fat?: Fat’s In, Sugar’s Out and What the Fast!, which collectively have sold over 90,000 copies around the world, and have now been published in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, China and Taiwan, as well as New Zealand. The latest book features more than 130 low-carb and keto-friendly recipes, bringing together the go-to, delicious and nutritious low-carb, healthy-fat meal ideas of co-authors Professor Grant Schofield, Dr Caryn Zinn and Chef Craig Rodger. To enter: Email your name, address, contact phone number and 50 words about why you’d like the book to: editor@ wildtomato.co.nz by 5pm Friday 12th July. Winners will be randomly selected and notified directly.

Setting sail for commemorative encounters

ovember this year marks the 250th anniversary of Captain James Cook’s first encounters in New Zealand. “Tuia 250 acknowledges the stories from those first onshore encounters between Māori and Europeans, both good and bad, so we can learn about our history in a balanced and respectful way,” says Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage chief executive Bernadette Cavanagh. Commemoration activities include a special voyage to specific landing sites around New Zealand in November. Tuia 250 vessels comprise the Haunui from Tāmaki Makaurau/ Fa’afaite Auckland, and Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti from Tauranga, the va’a moana Fa’afaite i te Ao Mā’ohi which joins from Pape’ete, Tahiti. Heritage vessels joining the flotilla on its arrival in Tōtaranui/Queen Charlotte Sound are the HMB Endeavour replica (pictured) from the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney and the Spirit of New Zealand. For more information about the exciting line-up of events visit www.tōtaranui250.co.nz

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SNAPPED

2 Celebrating restoration Fairfield House, Nelson P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y A N A G A L L O WAY

1. Ginny Ward, Paul Moreham & Jordan Freeman

2. Christopher Vine, Catherine Brosnahan & Janet Matheson 3. Dan Allan, Breeze Sonneland & Lisa Allan

4. Digby Shaw & Fleur Jackson 5. Brian & Jenny Pollock 6. Drew & Janet Matheson 7. Jordan Freeman & Avery Dash 8. Hayley Samuel & Prue Roborgh

SNAPPED

1 Marlborough Chamber of Commerce SME Business Showcase Marlborough Convention Centre PHOTOGRAPHY BY LISA DUNCAN

1. Hans Neilson, James Ryan, Harold & Michelle Chapman

4. Sophie Wilson & Dean Marshall

2. Alister & Sarah Twisleton & Chris Walbran

6. Ngaia Gill & Alla Kiroshka

3. Laura Loghry, Lynda Papesch & Jo Hender

5. Abby Scott & Anna Thomas 7. Helene Marchant & Heather Donachie 8. Bernie Cloete & Travis Dupreez

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SNAPPED

2 Yealands Classic Fighters Airshow Omaka Airfield, Marlborough P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y B R E N T M C G I LVA R Y

1. Pat Barbour, Karen Drummond & Ricky Park 2. Graeme Kay, Mark Casey & Peter Casey

3. Christine Kirkland, Samantha Read, Alice Entwistle & Dena Harley

4. Mike & Christina Harvey 5. Steve & Christine Jones 6. Trevor Burkhart & Brian Moore 7. Sophia Hayes & Tony Hammond 8. Jan Chisum

SNAPPED

1 27th Annual Wallace Art Awards 2019 Exhibition opening The Suter Art Gallery, Nelson P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y R AY S A L I S B U R Y

1. Maria Anderson, Richard Hewetson & Sophie Kelly

5. Pam Henson & Elly Van der Zwaag

2. Gill Starling, Kathaleen Bartha & James Taylor

6. Steve Galpin & Nicola Gibbons

3. Julie Catchpole, Marianne & Dr Gerrit van der Lingen

8. Annie Pokel & Sarah McClintock

4. Nils Pokel & Edith Bulle

7. Gavin Carter & Lisa Kitching 9. Karen & Barry Driver

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SNAPPED

2 Nelson Young Professionals Craft Beer Depot, Nelson PHOTOGRAPHY BY KARAENA VINCENT

1. Vanessa Johnson & Mai Pham 2. Christie Horne & Alan Brian

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7. Georgia Harnett & Emma Kittelty

4. Andrew Claridge, Emily Johnston & Lance Halkett

8. Reece Clements & Jamie Harvey

5. Happy Aquarian & Tiaan Viljoen

9. Claire Salmond & Amanda Burggraff

EVENT SHOWCASE

The not so humble pie Renée Lang sinks her teeth into a classic treat with a worldwide following.

ew Zealand’s most popular takeaway treat has been dubbed the ultimate in comfort food. Yes, we’re talking pies, and not particularly humble nowadays given the appearance of the artisan pie, which can be found in cafés nationwide. Consider those flakes of buttery pastry that dissolve in your mouth, then the pleasure of your tastebuds encountering the thick, savoury gravy packed full of tender cubes of meat. Don’t you just want to dash out right now and buy a pie? You’d certainly be in good company – according to recent statistics, the average Kiwi gobbles down 15 pies a year. Australians munch their way through 11 each, or more than 270 million annually. Then there’s the definition of a pie. Most of us would agree that the pies we buy over the counter usually comprise some kind of filling encased in pastry. It’s certainly come a long way since the ancient Egyptians made a form of pastry using oats and wheat to encase a honey filling. A few centuries later, in medieval England, thick pie crusts were used more as a baking receptacle for meat. The usually tough and inedible pastry was either thrown away or, some historians believe, used to feed the servants. 18

Sustenance for the mines

The famous Cornish pasty has an interesting history. It became particularly popular during the 17th and 18th centuries, especially with tin miners in the region as its shape and size made for an easy and tasty meal. But like its medieval forebear, the pasty pastry bore little resemblance to the delicious layers of flakiness we enjoy today. Rather, it was designed to protect and keep the contents – usually meat and potatoes – warm, so it was somewhat solid. The casing, or particularly the crimped edges, may even have been discarded and crumbled to appease rats that lived in the mines. Believe it or not, these rodents were not considered pests as they were usually the first to warn miners of an imminent cave-in or the presence of poison gas. Another theory

was that the pastry edge made a useful handhold to avoid dirty fingers making contact with the mouth. Then there’s the American version of a pie, which has little in common with our Kiwi savoury treat other than a pastry base. Americans favour sweet fillings – think blueberry pie, key lime pie, apple pie, pumpkin pie and so on. Pie-eaters come from all walks of life and are most definitely not confined to burly blokes wearing shorts and grubby t-shirts. In fact, some of the movers and shakers on the New Zealand food scene – Julie Biuso, Sean Connelly, Martin Bosley and Simon Gault, to name just a few – have lent their names to promoting the best pies produced in this country. They’ve judged the annual Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards, an event that started in 1996 with a small entry. Last year the awards attracted 5492 pies over 12 categories, and hailed from the Deep South to the Far North. The celebrity judge this year is Gareth Stewart, national executive chef of the Nourish Group, which owns 15 top restaurants across the country. Readers will also probably remember him from the New Zealand seasons of My Kitchen Rules, in which he was a judge. Gareth is a huge fan of the pie and can’t wait to sink his teeth into the job. “I’m pumped. I’m really looking forward to it,” he says. Although he was born in Britain and worked at several Michelin-starred restaurants, Gareth always had time for a good pie. When it comes to judging the Supreme Pie Awards, he says he’ll be “looking for the flavours of New Zealand regions and the personalities behind the pies from those places”. “There is something very honest about a pie and I think that’s what I love about them,” Gareth adds.

Above: Clockwise - Celebrity chef Gareth Stewart with (left) Tony Marshall, Bakels national sales manager, and (right) Brent Kersel, Bakels managing director; Rotorua baker Patrick Lim with a tray of his award-winning Roast Pork and Creamy Mushroom pies Opposite page: Clockwise - New Zealand’s 2018 Supreme Pie award winner, Patrick Lim’s Roast Pork and Creamy Mushroom pie, with its little pastry pig insignia; Cornish pasties

“There is something very honest about a pie and I think that’s what I love about them.” G A R E T H S T EWA RT, C E L E B R I T Y C H E F

So who has made a name for themselves in the competitive field of pies? The standout is Rotorua-based Patrick Lam, who at last count has won six Supreme Awards: 2018 (Gourmet Meat category – roast pork and creamy mushroom); 2016 (Bacon & Egg); 2010 (Bacon & Egg); 2009 (Gourmet Meat category – creamy bacon, mushroom and cheese); 2004 (Gourmet Meat – creamy bacon, mushroom and cheese); and 2003 (steak, mince and cheese). This year’s winners will be revealed on July 30 at a gala dinner in Auckland, attended by a who’s who of the hospitality world.

Gourmet and tradie

If you’re thinking the entries will all be conventional meat pies, think again. The categories cover a wide variety of classic and innovative fillings: Steak & Cheese, Mince & Gravy, Mince & Cheese, Bacon & Egg, Chicken & Vegetable, Gourmet Meat, Vegetarian, Café Boutique and Gourmet Fruit. There’s even a category for Commercial Wholesale pies and Potato-top pies. One of the differences in this year’s contest is the renaming of the Steak & Gravy Pie to the Truckie & Tradie Pie – a cheeky nod to the perceived pie-eater of yesteryear. 19

LOCAL CONNECTION

Celebrating 40 years - a labour of love Four decades have passed since Nelson’s stately Fairfield House was saved from the brink of demolition. Jacquetta Bell looks back at an integral slice of the region’s history. P H O T O G R A P H Y A N A G A L L O WAY

edding guests sipping champagne on the clipped lawn or corporates setting up the whiteboards for a seminar … few of Fairfield’s 20,000 guests each year would realise the elegant colonial villa was once a ruin, only just saved from demolition by a bunch of hippies. Concert venue, community centre, urban marae … today Fairfield House is beloved by many and has numerous functions in the community. Last month [8 June] it celebrated 40 years since a long-haired visionary moved in with the rats and the rubbish, determined to save the aging edifice. Within days he’d staged a picnic that proved he also had the community behind his rescue mission. Catherine Brosnahan is the manager and caretaker of Fairfield. She has been there since the very early days, and was married on the Fairfield lawn in 1981 to Alan Stanton, the Guardian of Old Fairfield and instigator of the Friends of Old Fairfield (FOOF). “Just before he died in 2014, Alan’s book Anything is Possible was published with a launch party here at Fairfield,” she says. 20

“He called the first chapter ‘A Crazy Idea’ and really, back at the beginning it did seem mad and sometimes insurmountable.”

Early history

The history of the house goes back to 1849 when Neil McVicar built a cottage and planted the trees that make the grounds such a landmark. The house as we know it took shape when members of the influential Atkinson family moved south to escape the Taranaki Land Wars in the 1860s. In 1872 they built the east wing, adding the main house in 1881. Jane Maria Atkinson was passionate about education for girls and ran night classes at Fairfield while working to help establish Nelson College for Girls. Arthur Atkinson built the observation tower on to the upstairs veranda to observe the Transit of Venus in 1882, was active in politics and an enthusiast for birds, spiders and Pacific languages. The Atkinson era ended in 1922 and Fairfield was owned by Nelson College until 1979. It was used as a classroom and boarding house, but by 1976 was described in the Nelson Evening Mail as ‘a forlorn ghost house, unfit for habitation’. Some of the heavy wooden doors, windows and the gracious bannister were sold off, and other parts were stolen by opportunists. Just as hope for the building was fading, in walked Alan. It was Friday 8 June 1979 when he put up a sign saying, ‘No more looting or demolition – this house is being restored for the people of Nelson.’ His picnic drew 60 people and Friends of Old Fairfield was formed. Alan was granted honorary caretaker status by the Nelson College Board, and the resurrection began.

Fairfield is now 150 years old, and seems to have an assured future as young people come to love the house and its gardens.

Its ownership is secure as a DOC Local Purpose Reserve, and the Friends of Old Fairfield live on as the management committee. Gaining support

In pink overalls the Resurrection Crew tackled everything from re-piling to prising old lino from the stairs. Cathy had bought their overalls second-hand but her efforts to dye them the red to match the window surrounds came out a much paler pink, as Alan relates in his book: “One could misconstrue this as some kind of publicity for gay rights … which was a burning issue at the time.” As Alan and The Friends gained credibility, the support of the wider community came through. Eight pairs of large French doors were quietly returned under cover of the night; but in the case of the front door, complete with its side windows, the return could be made publically as it had been bought fair and square from Nelson College. In the early 80s the baby boomers were out to change the world, and that ‘can do spirit’ fed into the project. It was also a time of rampant unemployment and work schemes that handily provided labour to tackle some of the bigger jobs on site. When faced with the Nelson City Council requirement that Fairfield needed 20 car parks, an appeal went out on local radio for plastic ice cream pottles. “Hundreds of them were left on the front veranda,” Catherine recalls. “We had to put up a sign saying ‘Stop! No More!’” Concrete was poured into every pottle and the 20 parks were ingeniously laid out in cobbles among the trees of the hillside garden.

Spiritual touchstone

Forty years from those early days and Fairfield is cemented as a lively part of Nelson’s cultural and community scene. Its ownership is secure as a DOC Local Purpose Reserve, and the Friends of Old Fairfield live on as the management committee. The co-chairs are Virginia Ward who negotiated Alan’s role as caretaker right back at the beginning, and Jamie Dean who was inspired to start his nursery business through supervising PEP crews on the Fairfield landscaping. Jamie values the community strength and inclusivity the house offers. “For years my wife Susie and I have attended weddings, birthdays and funerals at Fairfield. It’s now great to see the second generation coming through,” he says. “Our daughter has been a relieving caretaker, and Fleur Jackson is on the committee … her parents Miles and Margaret staged our very first concert in the gallery – the first room to be renovated in the otherwise derelict house.”

Above: Clockwise - Fairfield House is a popular events and wedding venue Below: From left - Dave Armour, Simon Field, Jan Armour, Alan Stanton,Catherine Brosnahan, Geoff Bracefield Opposite page: One of Nelson’s grand old ladies is still in fine form

Another long-term member, Burke Hunter says Nelson is fortunate to have Fairfield as a spiritual touchstone. It was a natural for a visit from the Dalai Lama when he was in Nelson in 1996. There are eight separate meditation groups meeting weekly in the house or adjacent Sanctuary; winter solstice has been celebrated on the meadow for many years and a Taize singing group meets every Sunday evening. “In our secular society it’s not easy for people to find a place where they are free to allow and honour their spiritual side,” says Burke. “For me and many others there are layers of significant events and a sense of place that give us a heart connection to Fairfield.” Fairfield is now 150 years old, and seems to have an assured future as young people come to love the house and its gardens. Take the 200 families who have been part of Nature Focus over its five years of weekly gatherings. Coordinator Belle Laird says up to 20 pre-schoolers and home-schoolers ‘run wild’ with no toys, structures or adults telling them what to do: “They just play in nature … we’re so lucky to have such a central place with that level of wildness for the children to explore.”

Photo: Supplied

A gathering place

It’s a long way from the night classes run by Maria Jane Atkinson, but totally in keeping with her vision, and that of the Friends. “When we rebuilt Fairfield it was never going to be a museum. It was always going to be a gathering place for all sorts of events, and one where education had an important place,” Catherine says. “Over the last 40 years, the people of Nelson have embraced Fairfield and used it for many of their significant life celebrations. The Friends of Old Fairfield acknowledge the many people who have made it what it is … a gathering place for all.” 21

Photo: Canopy Landscape Architects

Landscaping

Landscaping our environment Landscaping is fast assuming a more important role, not just for homes but also the wider environment. Sadie Beckman reports.

or many of us, home is a sanctuary – the place where we can escape the frenetic pace of life and relax. This applies increasingly to the environment around our patch, whether that’s a small urban pocket snatched in a sea of concrete, a sprawling countryside estate or anything in between. A seamless blend between the interior and exterior of a home is a fundamental way to get the most from your living space – a concept that can be roundly blamed for the repetitive phrase ‘indoor-outdoor flow’ found in many a real estate write-up. However, there is a reason for its clichéd frequency, which is the growing recognition people are gaining of the importance of the landscape around them, and how it can become part of a home. When talking landscaping let’s not forget also the bigger picture, or in this case the wider environment, which has an even more far-reaching impact than a backyard, a street frontage or even an urban street. The concept that a home extends beyond its walls and into its environment is just one fundamental of landscape architecture and design; another is looking at the environment holistically and creating a sense of space that reflects the needs and the environment. 22

Today’s landscape architects and designers tackle an extreme range of projects both in scope and scale, especially across the Top of the South where climate, geographical features and housing styles are so diverse.

Climate change

Add climate change into the mix and design can be even more challenging. With rising temperatures come predictions of increased air pollution, a longer and more intense allergy season, the spread of insect-borne diseases, more frequent and dangerous heatwaves and heavier rainstorms coupled with more flooding. Climate change is already affecting our climate, agriculture, native ecosystems, infrastructure, health and biosecurity and if left unchecked it will lead to broad social, economic and environmental impacts. Central and local government – and various public groups – are among those recognising the impacts and so too are landscape architects and designers. Planning and designing environments to cater for climate change in the years ahead – for small urban lots, a rural oasis or a commercial enterprise – is not easy, but the sooner the better

“... a community can have a common set of environmental goals that can be realised in small residential pieces while still ensuring unique individual outcomes for each place.” LU K E P O RT E R , C A N O P Y L A N D S C A P E A R C H I T E C T S

is the rule of thumb. While the beginning of a project may not seem like the time to think about the plantings you want in your garden, the layout of your outdoor space or even what trees are to be planted in local streets, it is actually a crucial time to work on a coordinated landscaping plan.

Photo: Canopy Landscape Architects

The same goes for the wider environment; one reason why the government is promoting the One Billion Trees Programme. This involves planting one billion trees by 2028 to deliver improved social, environmental and economic outcomes for New Zealand. Led by Te Uru Rākau (Forestry New Zealand) and funded by the Provincial Growth Fund, the programme will help (among other things) to optimise land use, mitigate climate change, protect the environment and support New Zealand’s transition to a low emissions economy. The government has allocated $120 million for the project, for direct grants to landowners – particularly farmers – to include trees on their farms, with emphasis on having two-thirds natives. Of course it is important to plant the right trees in the right places and this is where landscape architects and designers come to the fore, regardless of the scale of the project. Arguably, the most successful finished projects are those that integrate with their landscapes and environments thanks to clever designs that take into account the unique nature of their surroundings. The results are not only aesthetically appealing, but more efficient and functional because the end result works with the land, not against it. Luke Porter, director of Canopy Landscape Architects, a local Nelson studio now with offices in Christchurch, is a landscape architect who has been practising since 1999. He specialises in

Photo: New Vision Landscapes

Natives planting programme

Above: Clockwise - Olive Estate Lifestyle Village landscaping by New Vision Landscapes; rural landscaping from Canopy Landscape Architects Opposite page: Stylish urban design from Canopy Landscape Architects

The government has allocated $120 million for the project, for direct grants to landowners ... large-scale master-planning, urban design and residential landscape architecture. Landscaping, he says, can be thought of site specifically, while a broader consideration can be given to landscape context and environment. Local knowledge therefore can be very important for ensuring good outcomes. “As landscape architects we can explore creative solutions for clients, on projects that have a wide range of scales from residential homes to master-planned communities, always exploring the balance between refined, beautiful human spaces and the environment. When you think about it en masse, a community can have a common set of environmental goals that can be realised in small residential pieces while still ensuring unique individual outcomes for each place. You start to see that these small pieces become a unified landscape that defines the character of the place. “Through master-planning larger areas, we can look beyond individual site boundaries and create a unified theme that can frame sites, create high-quality streetscapes and different character areas within subdivisions that enhance amenity as well as managing storm water, wetlands and gullies.” 23

“Whether it’s refined outdoor rooms in your backyard, funky paths through a development or unique and interesting urban playgrounds in city centres – good design can re-engage people with landscapes.”

More often, Luke says, Canopy is hearing from clients that usable, meaningful landscapes are important to them. Edible gardens, fruit trees and architectural outdoor rooms are all popular requests. A recent example at Olive Estate in Richmond has included community gardens within the master plan. Raised edible garden beds and fruit tree orchards offer opportunities for community bonding while also providing food for people’s health. Opportunities for passive and active recreation through cycle and walk trails to create community connectivity and wellbeing are also frequently part of a landscape architect’s brief. Having a knowledge of the local landscape allows for these connections.

Getting outside

Residential sections are a significant investment. Designing and building a perfect home for the site is usually considered to be the most important part of the project. The rest of the site should be considered with the same passion and level of detail, says Luke. “Utilise every square metre of the site. Make sure you are getting the most out of what you have paid for.” Bringing about individuality for clients through creativity and expertise can be paired with large-scale considerations for a much wider environment, such as which plants belong in the wider area, how to attract the bird species native to that place and how to deal specifically with unique riparian areas, for example. “If you’re starting to apply some common objectives to a whole area, even a whole city like Nelson, there’s a unifying story in the background,” he says. Luke thinks that one of the challenges for the landscape architect is designing spaces that get people outside and into the landscape. “Whether it’s refined outdoor rooms in your backyard, funky paths through a development or unique and interesting urban playgrounds in city centres – good design can re-engage people with landscapes.”

Above: Clockwise - A compact outdoor space from Canopy Landscape Architects; living walls are proving popular especially for herbs 24

Photo: Canopy Landscape Architects

LU K E P O RT E R

These days it is recommended to have a landscaping plan and budget for any new-build home, and as a general rule to allow between 10 and 13 percent of the value of your home for its landscaping. Nelson landscape architect Olivia Bird, of OBD, has spent the best part of a decade working in her chosen field and believes that a landscaping plan is the key to interior and exterior home design being harmonious. She says that with so much development underway there is an increasing need for architectural landscaping in Nelson Tasman because of the nature of the region, its geography and diversity of landscape. These days it is recommended to have a landscaping plan and budget for any new-build home, and as a general rule to allow between 10 and 13 percent of the value of your home for its landscaping. This means for a $500,000 home you should set aside between $50,000 to $75,000 for landscaping. In some areas, covenants set the scene for landscaping, while there is also a percentage of new homeowners who subscribe to the Kiwi ethic of DIY. Olivia believes that having a landscaping plan is important from the get-go. She talks with potential clients about their budget, lifestyle and expectations, and also checks out the area to be landscaped, studying its orientation and talking about the client’s ideas. If the project is at an early-enough stage, this is the point at which she and the building architects have the opportunity to collaborate, bringing the landscape’s influence into the house plans.

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Low maintenance

Typically, once a concept is nailed down, the design is worked through to the point where the client is happy, then it is submitted for consent along with the architect’s plans. Some landscaping companies work the project through from start to finish while others bring in sub-contractors to carry out specific parts of projects. Olivia finds many clients requesting low maintenance gardens because they lead such busy lives. “Low maintenance doesn’t mean restricted,” she says. “There are many things you can still do to create quite a functional and entertaining space.” Trends she is working with currently include creating outdoor rooms with edible gardens or outdoor kitchens, designing vertical gardens for apartment dwellers and integrating technology into exterior spaces. Edibles link to another area of growth in landscaping – sustainability, and there appears to be an increased awareness about treading more lightly on the land, and often this comes back to the surroundings. Site plays a big part in what can be grown and what is suitable. Site suitability, lifestyle and budget are among the top things to consider when planning landscaping. Marlborough-based Kate Vavasour of Vavasour Landscaping agrees that having a plan and then budgeting for it early is key to ensuring a result that clients are happy with. “If your budget is limited, we recommend creating the areas that require planting and investing in trees and plants for these spaces,” she says. “This is especially important when it comes to trees as they can take time to get established and while a client is saving for the next phase of their plan the trees are happily establishing themselves in the landscape.” Points of access such as paths and driveways are also important to factor in early if the budget imposes constrictions, as they allow movement between areas in different weather situations. “An area can always have a temporary lawn laid, for example, which reduces dust and gives a useable space, with a view to decking or paving at a later stage.”

Photo: Susie Williams for Vavasour Landscaping

OLIVIA BIRD, OBD

Photo: Susie Williams for Vavasour Landscaping

“Low maintenance doesn’t mean restricted.”

Above: Clockwise - Creative themes from Vavasour Landscaping; dining alfresco

As anyone who has built will know, she says, funds are often running low by the point of completion so there is not always a realistic amount left for landscaping. “As a very basic guide we recommend allowing at least 10 percent of the cost of the build for basic landscaping,” Kate says. “It is important to remember that in effect you are building another room that is used a lot and therefore it is worth the investment. Your house and land should be viewed as one and the connection between the two should be seamless.”

Adding value

When thinking landscaping also consider that it adds value to a property. Kerb appeal counts and so too does landscaping. A well-landscaped home has a significant price advantage over a home with no landscaping. This advantage may range from 5.5 percent to 12.7 percent depending on the type of landscaping and the home’s original value. That translates into an extra $16,500 to $38,100 in value on a $300,000 home. Vavasour Landscapes works on the principle that developing a home’s outdoor areas will help anchor it in its surroundings. Kate points out that if the new home is in a subdivision, developers may have removed existing trees and plantings, as well as the fact that there may be certain covenants in place. Having a landscape architect plan the way through will make for a significantly easier process and will actually save money through innovative ideas such as taking into account the shared spaces in a subdivision to complement a landscape plan. 26

digging vision digging your your vision designing yourvision vision designing your master planning commercial residential environmental management plans

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Photo: Susie Williams for Vavasour Landscaping

“Developers usually have a requirement to landscape and provide for green public spaces which is great,” she says. “Often these public spaces can be ‘borrowed’ for your own landscaping. We recommend engaging with a landscape architect or designer earlier rather than later in the build. This means that the whole team is working together to ensure the best result for the client and consideration is given to how the landscape is viewed from inside the house and how the two are connected.” The trend for outdoor rooms in the Top of the South is particularly prominent at the moment. “Our climate is quite changeable and in order to enjoy the outdoors to its maximum we need spaces that are protected from the wind, sun and rain that we can enjoy all year round,” she says. “These can include louvred roofing systems, outdoor flued fireplaces, outdoor kitchens and seating areas,” says Kate. An ongoing trend is the development of positive ecosystems in their landscaping to encourage biodiversity with insects and plants and manage waste in an environmentally sound manner.

Building a film

Photo: Barrier Reef Pools

A recent Society of Garden Designers conference gave a particularly illustrative comparison between building a house and landscaping. Building a house, attendees were told, is to

Above: Clockwise - Rural design from Vavasour Landscaping in Marlborough; New Vision Landscaping finds swimming pools installation growing in demand

build a static image, but building a garden is to build a film. The garden is ever-changing, growing and developing, with plot twists that create emotion. “We love to think that we are building something for clients that, depending on the time of year, has an ever-changing view and evokes feelings of wellbeing and connectedness to the environment,” Kate says. “Kiwis love to gather and share special times in the New Zealand landscape and we want to help them achieve this feeling in their own spaces.” Nelson Tasman landscaping company New Vision Landscapes carries out residential and commercial projects. Managing director Nigel Monk has been following trends since 2003 when he started his first business. Currently, he says, because section sizes are smaller and there is a rise in inner-city living, people are treating their gardens as extended living spaces and wanting outdoor fires, decking, pools etc. Both owners and investors have recognised the benefit of being able to use their outdoor space all year round and also recognise the value hard landscaping can add to a home. He also has had increased demand for easily maintainable gardens and has also noticed a dramatic increase in enquiries for artificial ‘turf’, due to the improved appearance and quality of what is available. Sub-tropical and native plantings are always popular lowmaintenance options, he adds, and so too is taking a leaf out of the Australian landscaping catalogue with swimming pools, living walls and outdoor kitchens, regardless of property size. Landscape architecture is so much more than choosing where to locate a patio and what plants to put in; it is linked to our intrinsic need as humans to put ourselves in an environment where we can simply be outdoors and become part of something that goes far beyond ourselves, our own four walls or even the fence around the edge of the section. As British historian Jenny Uglow put it; “We might think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it’s our garden that is really nurturing us.” The same may be said about our environment!

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s the American novelist Myron S Kaufmann once said, “Watching something grow is good for morale. It helps us believe in life.” Nigel Monk does more than just watch things grow. When Nigel speaks about New Vision Landscapes (NVL), it’s clear he is as passionate now about landscaping as the day he started in the industry 25 years ago. West Coaster Nigel moved to the Nelson region as a teenager. “I was the class clown and the teachers were quick to put me on a trades training programme,” he laughs. That placement proved fortuitous as Nigel started

at Colonial Landscapes where he discovered his passion for landscaping. He worked there for several years with a stint in the middle working overseas. On his return to Nelson he was determined to start his own business. Nigel Monk Landscapes was born in 2003. Back then, the business was a much leaner operation with Nigel its only employee for the first year. At that time, he also met his future business – and life – partner Angela McGrath, who he’s quick to acknowledge for her key role in the growth of the business. “If it wasn’t for her,” he says, “I wouldn’t be where I am now.” The company rebranded to New Vision Landscapes six years ago. “It was clear that the business was growing quickly and becoming more about the entire team’s skills, not just mine,” explains Nigel. Fast forward to the present day and the couple have 30 permanent staff and

recently welcomed a third partner, NVL’s business manager Claire McNutt. “Securing Claire’s financial skills long-term is essential in managing our rapid growth,” Nigel adds. These days Nigel’s managing-director role sees him mostly in the office, drawing landscape plans and meeting clients. “Nigel is the visible face of New Vision Landscapes; engaging with clients is what he does best,” says Angela, who is responsible for human resources and brand management.

Latest trends

Working directly with clients means Nigel’s up with the latest trends, of which there are plenty. These include smaller section sizes and more inner-city living, with people treating their gardens as extended living spaces and wanting outdoor fires, decking and pools etc. “The local market is now investing in hard landscaping and they’re seeing the benefit of being able to use their outdoor space all year round in our excellent climate,” notes Nigel. “Property investors are also seeing the value hard landscaping can add to a home.” Another landscaping trend taking off is easily maintainable gardens. Nigel has seen artificial ‘turf’ enquiries increase dramatically during the last year, especially with improved turf quality and appearance.

“The local market is now prepared to invest in hard landscaping and they’re seeing the benefit of being able to use their outdoor space all year round in our excellent climate.” Nigel Monk

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Luke enjoys the variety of work, the different people he meets on the job, and the difference that can be made in a short time to a property. “It’s not always doing the same thing; I meet and work with a wide variety of people.” This also includes the opportunity to regularly work with regional landscape architects such as Canopy and OBDesign on projects ranging from executive residential stunners through to large commercial contracts.

Commercial projects

Many clients are interested in NVL’s Barrier Reef pools with a MagnaPool™ system featuring a revolutionary blend of minerals for pool water ... Sub-tropical and native plantings are always popular low-maintenance options too, he adds. To ensure the business stays up-to-date with overseas trends, Nigel regularly attends landscape conferences and trade shows such as the 2018 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, 2018 Landscape Australia Conference and the 2019 Outdoor Living Expo in Melbourne. All were, in his opinion, worthwhile as he came back with many new ideas around designing and building functional outdoor living spaces. “Pools, living walls and outdoor kitchens are huge in Australia regardless of the section size,” Nigel observes.

Pool resources

NVL has its own ‘pool expert’ in the form of projects manager Shannon Helliwell who started in landscaping nearly 20 years ago, initially training under Nigel at another company. With NVL for 18 months now, Shannon is kept busy with larger developments such as Olive Estate Lifestyle Village (OELV) in Richmond, managing the landscape construction there. Lots of clients want swimming pools, he says. “Originally we contracted out the pool side of the landscaping to other companies, but now we provide the complete package ourselves – from dig-out to completion. Keeping the pool projects within NVL makes it much easier for our clients; they only have to deal with one person.” Above: Stunning Venice pool by Barrier Reef Pools Opposite page: Top - An ongoing NVL project is at Olive Estate Lifestyle Village in Richmond

Many clients are interested in NVL’s Barrier Reef pools with a MagnaPool™ system featuring a revolutionary blend of minerals for pool water that is healthier and more environmentally friendly than traditional saltwater and chlorine systems. NVL also uses Zodiac pumps, filters and other pool equipment for all its projects. “There’s nothing bad in the water so it can go straight back into other water,” explains Shannon, adding he’d like to see all pools become magna-pools. “There are benefits for the environment and the body; the magnesium minerals are good for the skin, bones, hair and general wellbeing as well as the environment.” Additionally, he says, a magna system can be retro-fitted to an existing pool. “It’s not a high cost to set up; initially there is a bit involved, but once it’s up and running it is easy.” Barrier Reef pools are constructed from sturdy fibreglass in a range of shapes and sizes, and can be installed (provided planning consent is through) within a week from dig-out to finish, he says.

Keeping projects ticking

Another key team member at NVL is operations manager Luke Thelin who looks after scheduling, budgets and resourcing. With NVL almost six years, Luke started in the landscaping business while still at school, working for his brother’s business. Nelson-born and bred, Luke first started at NVL and was involved with maintenance, but over the years has progressed up the ranks. “It’s a good company to work for; it’s rewarding for me and NVL also rewards its people for hard work.”

One of the latter includes Olive Estate Lifestyle Village (OELV); a sizeable, ongoing development that has raised NVL’s profile. “The OELV owners, the Nimmos, took a risk on NVL as we were unknowns in the commercial sector,” says Nigel. “The risk paid off. Canopy’s landscape design and NVL’s dedicated OELV landscape team have created a dream landscape project.” Another project that is special to the NVL team is the new Nelson Tasman Hospice, about which they are absolutely delighted and very proud to be associated with. “Working in with local contractors, who donated generously and gave their all, was fantastic,” Nigel notes. A large project coming up for NVL is ‘The Fields’ residential development in Lower Queen Street, Richmond. “We’re really looking forward to seeing how this project develops,” comments Nigel. “The interest in this development has been phenomenal.” Their clients’ ongoing delight in the work that NVL has done for them is something that Nigel values. Ninetynine percent of their work comes through repeats and referrals. “We work hard to upskill our staff and have tight recruitment controls in place,” Nigel explains. “It’s our team out representing the NVL brand every day.” Judging by the regular feedback Nigel receives and the quality of work being produced, NVL’s staff members are doing them proud. “Our clients appreciate that we are experts in landscaping; we don’t pretend to be anything else,” surmises Nigel.

Contact Ph 021 038 8030 www.nvl.co.nz

Sustainability

Eco-business good for business Alistair Hughes finds the winds of change blowing strongly towards sustainability.

“G

reed is good,” Michael Douglas snarled in the 1987 film Wall Street. His character, ruthless corporate raider Gordon Gekko, became a symbol of the decade where financial profit seemed to be all that mattered. When the global recession hit hard a couple of years later, companies paid the price of voracious short-term gain and realised ‘business as usual’ could no longer be sustained. Change was in the air. In 1992 the concept of ‘sustainable development’ was defined by the United Nations Brundtland Report as: “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” New Zealand’s Sustainable Business Council was formed in 1999 by a core group of businesses who believed corporations had wider social and environmental responsibilities, and who wanted to work together to fulfil them. Now with a membership of over 100, the Council provides support, training and networking for the business community to create a sustainable future. Communications manager Catherine Jeffcoate explains: “When we talk about sustainable business, what we mean is a business which can operate and continue to be profitable economically, but at the same time have the best possible impact on society and the environment.” She places sustainability in business into three categories: “Businesses making their everyday products more sustainable; businesses who have identified sustainability as a market niche and have designed products to meet that need; and businesses who are helping the first category to make their products or operations more sustainable.” With many larger corporates as clients, the Council encourages CEOs to show leadership in climate action, while helping in-house sustainability managers embed social and environmental principles within their organisation’s operation. The Sustainable Business Network has some overlap with the Council, but with a larger membership of generally smaller companies. Communications manager Fiona Stephenson has seen a heartening shift in attitude towards sustainability in business: “Whereas five to 10 years ago it might have been seen as a ‘something on the side which was nice to have’, there’s now growing recognition that sustainability is actually core to the whole operation of business.”

“I was working in a low socio-economic area and a nurse mentioned that some of the kids probably didn’t have a toothbrush.” NICKY FRANCIS, DENTIST

Combined with evidence that consumers are increasingly choosing to buy from organisations they perceive to be sustainable, Fiona sees business as the provider of solutions. The Network is putting its resources behind a number of initiatives, including restoring New Zealand’s waterways and cleaning up the Hauraki Gulf. “For us, it’s all about people and nature, which ties back to our purpose: Empowering business so people and nature prosper.” Rehabilitating the word ‘business’ and turning it into a force for good is taken even further by B Corporations, a global business community, (of which New Zealand has a growing membership) committed to meeting the highest standards of social and environmental purpose. B Corps’ goal is to use products, practices and profits to make a verifiable, positive impact for employees, communities and the environment. Essentially, it means applying sustainability to make the world a better place for everyone through the power of business. What would Gordon Gekko have thought of that?

Health and beauty products

The Network defines a sustainable business as one that ‘generates profit while improving societal and environmental conditions’. Nelson dentist Nicky Francis has found a way to help improve the wellbeing of the community, and the environment, but gives away her profits. Her company, Do Gooder, makes eco toothbrushes from sustainable bamboo, and donates them to children, for every one purchased on her website, dogooder.co.nz.

Above: Clockwise - Natural health products are on the rise; bamboo toothbrushes in colourful hues

“I was working in a low socio-economic area,” she says, “and a nurse mentioned that some of the kids probably didn’t have a toothbrush.” Confronted with shocking dental hygiene, Nicky started donating toothbrushes to children from her clinic. Then she became aware of the colossal amount of waste plastic generated in the name of dental hygiene. Unconfirmed estimates suggest that New Zealanders use up to eight million plastic toothbrushes a year, almost all made from nonbiodegradable polypropylene. Launching Do Gooder, Nicky used environmentally responsible bamboo to make her toothbrushes. The bristles are still nylon, however, because Nicky hasn’t yet found an effective biodegradable alternative. “You compromise, unfortunately, where necessary. You have to find the middle line and just do the best you can.” That sentiment is echoed by executive director Lucy Butler of Golden Bay natural health company HealthPost. She recently instigated a thorough analysis of more sustainable packaging, and found transitioning to paper was the best possible in terms of recycling, but still not entirely ideal due to the manufacturing and distribution processes involved. Lucy explained to customers: “These are the changes we’re making, however, we can’t give you a perfect solution. We’ve sincerely asked these questions and are doing the best we can.” The response from customers has been positive. HealthPost’s mission statement is ‘to have a lasting positive impact on the wellbeing of people and the planet’. The company is justifiably proud to have Australasia’s first natural health brand (called Biobalance) certified by B Corp, and is constantly looking to improve the ethical standards of its processes and products. “I don’t think there’s any neutral stance we can occupy,” says Lucy. “For me sustainability is actually making that positive difference and showing leadership, empowering people with transparent information and access to products with more integrity.” New Zealand sustainable fashion brand Kowtow is making waves in America. Lead designer Marilou Dadat explains: “It’s challenging to produce a collection and make sure everything we source is from a transparent supply chain.” 33

Clockwise: From top - Pre-loved clothing shops are booming; recycled fabric bags

She feels consumers can make better decisions too. “I don’t think we need a new wardrobe every winter and summer. By buying less we can make conscious choices about where a garment is from and what it is made of.” Natural fibres, she says, are renewable and biodegradable, and last. Actor Dame Helen Mirren sets a sustainable-fashion example worth following. Choosing not to pack clothes when travelling, she picks up outfits from charity shops at her destination. “On the way back to the airport, I have it all in a big bag and drop it off at another charity shop.”

Building products

Nelson painter Jonny Anderson is managing director of Pure Eco Painting, providing clients with ethically sourced, chemicalfree paint and timber oil options. “The products I use not only have no chemicals or VOC (volatile organic compounds) but also come with a warranty comparable to mainstream paint companies.” They are better for your health, he adds, especially for people with heightened sensitivity to chemicals. Jonny’s other main concern is for the environment. “Paint doesn’t have to be toxic,” he explains. “For hundreds of years paint was a simple concoction of chalk, clay, plant oils and tree resins. The products I use are completely safe for the environment.” Paul Brockie, with 19 years in the business and more than 15,000 customers, is one of New Zealand’s leading insulation experts. The mission statement of his Nelson-based company, Absolute Energy, is to create healthy, energy-efficient environments with the most technically advanced insulation solutions. Absolute Energy belongs to the Sustainable Business Network and is committed to recycling, conserving and using more sustainable products and practices. The ways they do this include promoting products that use recycled materials, encouraging the use of natural wool insulation and recycling wrapping and off-cuts. By its very nature, insulation conserves warmth and energy, and promotes better health. Although made from recycled materials, glass-fibre insulation has come under fire recently for

“Paint doesn’t have to be toxic.” J O N N Y A N D E R S O N , P U R E E C O PA I N T I N G

purported health risks. Prolonged exposure can certainly irritate eyes and skin, however, in 2001, the International Agency for Research on Cancer removed glass- and slag-wool fibres (components of fibreglass insulation) from its ‘possible carcinogenic substances’ list. Pink Batts also maintains that its product is ‘bio-soluble’, which will safely dissolve if inhaled. The ultimate renewable energy source plentiful in New Zealand is, of course, the sun. Photovoltaic panels and tubes are increasingly popular for homes and businesses. HealthPost uses 72 solar panels at its premises in sunny Golden Bay, with plans to install more as power requirements increase. Arny Ahnfeldt is the alternative energy installer for Nelson company Current Generation. As well as solar, he installs hydro (water-powered turbine) systems, for both off-grid and gridtied premises. Since 2012, when the cost of renewable energy technology started to drop significantly, he has seen a huge increase in demand. “Exponential is the word. Our business was operating on 10-15 percent renewable energy work – it’s now 80 percent.” Improvements in power storage technology have also contributed to this. Traditional lead-acid battery systems required regular maintenance, particularly in winter months. New lithium-ion units are maintenance-free and perform measurably better. “They are a game-changer,” says Arny. “And sustainably speaking, I know that the energy it takes to produce these systems is far out-stripped by the energy produced in their warrantied life.”

Sustainable services

Like many of us, Tracy Holdaway has serious concerns about single-use plastic bags. Unlike most people, however, she decided to do something about it. When she saw a market stall in Wellington sewing Boomerang Bags, Tracy immediately vowed to do the same in her home town of Blenheim, and contacted the founders in Australia for a start-up pack. Boomerang Bags was created in 2014 as a community-driven initiative, bringing groups of people together to sew reusable shopping bags from recycled fabric and making them freely available to supplant environmentally disastrous plastic bags. The movement has since spread to more than 800 communities worldwide, with at least four in the upper South Island. “I could see that this was a great idea,” says Tracy. That fabric no longer goes into landfill, and it is used to replace plastic.

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“I have three children, and grave concerns about whether they will be able to have food by the time they’re 30 because we are destroying the planet.” S A M M C S O R L EY, N AT U R O PAT H

In 15 months her small group of volunteers has already produced 1200 bags and their efforts saw them recently invited to the Marlborough Environmental Awards. Tracy was encouraged by what she saw there: “There’s so much happening – everyone is trying to create change. If we all do something, then hopefully we can make a real difference.” Nelson naturopath, herbalist and presenter Sam McSorley has found good reason to be committed to sustainability: “I have three children, and grave concerns about whether they will be able to have food by the time they’re 30 because we are destroying the planet. They are my motivation.”

From top: Clockwise - Fairtrade coffee; bamboo straws

Did you know …

ildTomato magazine is printed in Wellington by a print company that takes great pride in being as environmentally green as it can be. Format Print has achieved Enviro-mark Gold accreditation which is an Environmental Management System (EMS) with a planned approach to managing environmental impacts of the business. The inks on its offset presses are vegetable oil based. Format actually helped formulate the inks in the Format plant 20 years ago with an ink supplier and now they are industry standard.

Her clinic has chosen to offset its carbon footprint by planting fruit trees in central Africa through an organisation called Trees for the Future. Sam’s other business, a distribution company called ProHerb, has reduced flights by 40 percent and is working with Nicky Francis at Do Gooder to switch to more sustainable bamboo products. Catherine Jeffcoate, of the Sustainable Business Council, explains how even your latte can make a difference: “More and more cafés are using Fairtrade coffee, and will respond to consumer demand, so ask for it, and consider using Fairtrade coffee in your office tearoom as well.” Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand works directly with businesses, consumers and campaigners to secure a better deal for farmers and workers, which also helps to meet the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. Catherine also recommends looking for ways that businesses we support are aiding sustainability. New Zealand brand Ecostore has introduced refill stations for its products in stores across the country. This service reuses the plastic containers, and is available in select outlets in Nelson, Motueka, Takaka and Blenheim. Air New Zealand is exploring electric/hybrid aircraft technology and Countdown is reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its refrigeration systems. Catherine is encouraged by what she has seen: “SBC’s vision was about mainstreaming sustainability into New Zealand businesses, and we think we’ve made a lot of progress. So many CEOs are personally committed. They look at the planet, think of the future of their children, and they want to make a change.”

The aqueous coating on the cover of WildTomato is water-based, vegetable cellulose product used as a protective coating which is applied in-line on press. It is biodegradable and recyclable. Format Print is an FSC® certified print provider and is audited to ensure the Chain of Custody of FSC® certified stocks can be tracked from the forest where the trees are grown right through to the use in this printed publication.

WildTomato magazine uses vegetable based inks and environmentally responsible paper. Printed on Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified stocks, papers made of Mixed Source pulp from Responsible Sources.

TREES FOR TRAVEL

Climate change & how you can help!

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MAKE IT LAST

TREES FOR TRAVEL is a scheme to mitigate our travel emissions by planting trees into our QE2 National Trust Reserve here at Ngahere Hou. Not everyone has 40 acres of protected land in which to plant that many trees! So our group decided to help by donating to our ‘TREES FOR TRAVEL FUND’. This way we could keep planting our forest and at the same time could help others with the hopelessness of our changing climate. We’ve since planted well over a thousand trees from this fund. Now you can help too!

Contact us to add your donation to the fund – every dollar given goes directly into the trees at $10 per tree, or come and help us plant. Call Ian on 021 0224 1915 or info@ngaherehou.com Visit: www.ngaherehou.com

They breathe out … we breathe in, and everybody wins

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Working towards sustainability B Y LY N D A PA P E S C H

or years we have been brought up in a disposable society where appliances, cars, technology and homeware are often traded up every two years or so. Often they have deliberately not been made to last. Some, if treated carefully, will go the longer distance, but usually it comes down to making a smart choice in the first instance and/or disposing of the old in a sustainable manner. While business plays a vital role in working towards better sustainability, there are many things that individuals – young and old – can also do to help. Most remedies are simple and don’t require much effort, although a few may take a bit of getting used to. Here are some suggestions:

Reduce waste

Many of our environmental problems have been caused by us trashing our planet. By this I mean throwing away oceans of paper, plastics and other waste instead of recycling it. Food is the same. Kiwis send thousands of tonnes of food to the dump annually, when much of it could be eaten or composted. When it comes to food, re-usable storage helps reduce waste. Try washable beeswax wraps and metal containers with lids. Think before you trash is my advice. Can the leftover food be used for toasties, soups etc? Can that container be recycled? These are two questions to ask each and every day.

Re-use

Have you ever tallied up how many plastic yoghurt cartons you use in a year or plastic drink bottles? Ditching the plastic drink bottles in favour of a reusable option is one small change that will have a big impact. Try drinking tap water too. Nelson Tasman Marlborough has amazing drinking water that comes straight from the tap so why not try and enjoy. Alternatively you could invest in a water filter for the kitchen sink. Think about not using plastic straws. What’s wrong with drinking from a glass? If you must, it’s a small investment to jump to reusable stainless steel straws. 38

Conserve energy

An easy way to be more sustainable in the home is to reduce consumption of household energy. Turn off the lights and air conditioning when you leave the room, add in dimmer switches so you can control how bright the light is, and turn off power strips. Better yet, use lamps for ambient lighting. If you don’t already have one, install a dual-flushing toilet so you use minimal water, and make sure your home is properly insulated to keep heat in during winter and out in summer.

Lower carbon emissions

Walk or use a bicycle if you can. Not only does it reduce vehicle carbon emissions, it also saves money on fuel. If you need a bit of help, check out the E-bikes available. Try car sharing if you need to commute or hop on a bus if there’s a public transport service. Think about a hybrid vehicle.

Clean house

Home products and wares offer a lengthy list of options for heading down the sustainability path. From bamboo flooring to hemp curtains, bamboo toothbrushes to glass containers, think about product origins, longevity and re-use. Avoid plastic whenever possible ie laundry hampers can be woven wicker or sturdy canvas, storage containers can be glass or metal and cleaning cloths can be reusable rags instead of paper towels. Every little bit helps and the home is a great place to start.

Top tips:

• Shop at the weekly farmers’ markets for tasty farm-fresh produce, which is usually organic, non-GMO and comparatively priced • Grow your own vegetables, fruit and herbs • Compost food scraps or invest in a worm farm • Switch from plastic bags to reusable totes • Change to having bills emailed rather than posted

W T + P U R E E C O PA I N T I N G

Nelson Tasman’s sustainable, ecofriendly painter B Y F R A N K N E L S O N | P H O T O B R E N T M C G I LVA R Y

new decorating business in Nelson, Pure Eco Painting, offers the opportunity to live and work in much healthier surroundings just at a time when people are becoming increasingly aware of the need to safeguard their own health and the health of the planet. Owner Jonny Anderson says he uses only natural, chemical-free, environmentally safe paints and timber oils, which contain a host of natural ingredients such as chalk and china clay plus a number of tree and plant oils, resins, pigments and waxes. He also uses a completely natural mixture of vinegar and citrus to clean before painting. He says these products, sourced locally from the Natural House Company, in Motueka, and the Natural Paint Company, in Christchurch, are at least as good as, if not better than, traditional paints. They come in a full range of colours and finishes and carry comparable quality and performance guarantees. Jonny does interior and exterior work on homes plus offices, restaurants and other commercial spaces, providing clients across Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough with a healthy and sustainable decorating option. “Mainstream paint is jam-packed with

chemicals,” he says. “These paints are acrylic, which is plastic, and we know how particular we are about plastics these days! It doesn’t need to be that way. For hundreds of years paint was a simple concoction of chalk, clay, plant oils and tree resins. This notion we need all these chemicals to create a sound substrate is ridiculous.”

Above: Eco-friendly painter Jonny Anderson practises what he preaches

“Many paints give off harmful fumes from volatile organic compounds such as acetone, xylene and benzene. These are commonly found in our homes and are linked to some fairly serious health conditions, especially with regards to respiration, cognitive function and development.”

Locally born and bred

Jonny grew up in Spring Grove, near Wakefield. He studied at Waimea College before moving to Wellington where he completed his apprenticeship as a painter. During this time he worked on the two-year restoration project for Government House. After around five years in the capital he went to England, sharpening his decorating skills on residential and commercial jobs in central London, before returning to New Zealand to join the Christchurch earthquake rebuild. It was in Christchurch that he met his future wife Karen, a physiotherapist. More than a dozen years in the trade opened his eyes to the toxic nature of the products being used and made him aware there are equally good natural, healthy paints and timber oils. “I decided enough was enough, there must be another way to do this more sustainably.

More than a dozen years in the trade opened his eyes to the toxic nature of the products being used and made him aware there are equally good natural, healthy paints and timber oils.

No harmful chemicals

“Studies have shown that indoor environments tend to be up to 10 times more polluted than external environments … with all those toxins leaching from your painted surfaces.” He says many of these chemicals are also linked to cancer, as well as to a variety of other ailments like eye, nose and throat irritation, allergy problems, headaches, memory loss, nausea and more. Paint fumes and residues also damage air and water quality. “Pure Eco Painting is a service that provides clients the opportunity to use a highquality product, from a natural source and with no harmful chemicals. I’m using a product which is clearly safe for the environment, your health and your home.”

Contact Ph 021 206 2967 www.pure-ecopainting.nz

Photo: Shelley Grell

Renewable Hydro Energy

Tasman’s passion for hydro BY SHELLEY GRELL

lean renewable energy wouldn’t be the first common factor that comes to mind when considering asbestos, gold, iron and farming. Yet for an eclectic society of talented individuals living in an environment that wins hearts from all over the world, renewable energy is precisely what these old industries in Golden Bay share in common. The Cobb hydro and dam, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, was built in conjunction with work on an asbestos mine. The 90-year-old Pupu hydro uses a water race that was originally built to sluice for gold. Farm irrigation was the primary reason for starting the Waitui hydro scheme, and Onekaka hydro and dam once powered an iron and steel company. One by one these historic ventures have been rejuvenated and extended to deliver much needed renewable power generation for the region. Each scheme has been driven by passionate personalities who’ve had the perseverance to endure numerous and costly challenges, delays and compliance.

use of energy is combustion engines. Making them electric would increase demand by 40 percent on the system, which will not cope by several Waitaki schemes.” Costing $1.8m, Harwood’s Waitui hydro scheme meets most of the farm’s energy and irrigation needs. It also provides a passive 11.5 percent annual return in profit that is reinvested with plans to expand the farm’s efficient use and generation of renewable energy. “It’s worth it,” says Nigel. “But even hydro has challenges in dry years when demand is high and the lakes and rivers run low. New Zealanders aren’t keen on damming rivers, so there’s less support for hydro than other renewable options to meet electricity demand. But if there’s access to a viable water source and the right support, then it’s worth considering. “Government can’t build big hydro schemes for the 8c/KW that we managed to build ours for; it cost 22c/KW to build the Clyde power station in 1992. To create the cheap renewable energy we need, it makes more sense to incentivise operators to build their own schemes efficiently for the right price,” he says.

Interest in renewable energy has always been strong. We’re one of the leading countries in the OECD for renewable electricity penetration with 82 percent of our electricity coming from hydro, geothermal, wind and biomass. We have more electric vehicles in our region per capita and we do lots to reduce our impact on the environment. But it’s not enough. Councils are declaring climate emergencies, while New Zealand consults on a new target in line with the Zero Carbon Bill that will necessitate radical change to meet. Farmer Nigel Harwood recently extended his run-of-river hydro scheme in Upper Takaka to generate 1.85 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean electricity annually. He says, “New Zealand’s biggest Above: Clockwise - At 794m in altitude, the Cobb dam and spillway is almost 600m vertically above the power station; two-and-a-half kilometres of 1000ml pipe run from the intake to the Waitui hydro powerhouse 40

Photo: Nigel Harwood

Waitui hydro

Photo: Shelley Grell

Pupu hydro

Electrician Teri Goodall, aged 75 and still working, would agree. Together with the late hydro enthusiast and engineer, Jim Baird (who also rebuilt the Onekaka hydro), and several others, they formed the Pupu Hydro Society to restore the power station and set it up as an operating museum. It was a labour of love that took seven years and cost $330,000 to repair. “Jim could see potential in rebuilding the scheme and making a bit of money out of it. He was a perfectionist, a great tramper and hunter, and he used to visit Pupu regularly. You need people who are passionate and interested in these things. Otherwise it would die. “When Tasman Energy was formed it amalgamated Golden Bay Electric Power Board and Waimea Electric Power Board into one unit. Two of the three Golden Bay members on the board voted against permitting us to restore Pupu hydro. They said it was a pipe dream and that it would never go. Yes, we had to do a fair bit of work – more than we expected, but we never doubted it would work,” said Teri. Today the Pupu hydro walkway attracts more than 20,000 visitors a year and generates 1.8GWh annually which is sold on the spot-price electricity market. The money pays for maintenance and any excess profits go into Golden Bay community projects. The addition of ‘Jim’s road’ completed the popular circuit track that winds through native forest and includes a white-knuckle boardwalk alongside the historic water race. “We’re going to need a lot more energy generation to satisfy the advent of electric cars,” says Teri. “New Zealand still has a lot of untapped energy, but all the water is in the high ground owned by the Department of Conservation. Even if enthusiasm resurges for hydro, with the approval process taking three to four years, there’s no way we’re going to be able to keep up with demand from all the EVs.” Experts predict that by 2050 New Zealand’s electricity demand will double with the electrification of factories and vehicles, posing critical risks to the resilience and reliability of our electricity system. Above: Clockwise - Pupu hydro; at the junction of the Takaka and Cobb Rivers sits the Cobb power station with its two 4km long steel penstocks falling from the dam above

Photo: Jako Abrie

Experts predict that by 2050 New Zealand’s electricity demand will double with the electrification of factories and vehicles, posing critical risks to the resilience and reliability of our electricity system. Cobb hydro

The Cobb hydro has the highest hydraulic head in New Zealand and a powerful 600 metre fall from the dam to the turbines. With 30GWh of storage behind the dam the scheme has the resilience to optimise generation when wind and solar energy is not available. For this reason, the Cobb is one of the top four jewels in Trustpower’s crown, generating around 170GWh a year. Construction of the Cobb hydro was granted a government licence in desperate circumstances. In 1934, a decade before electricity began to flow at the Cobb, Nelson City Council was told its existing generation would fail to meet demand by the winter of 1937. A year later, the privately-owned Hume Pipe Company saved the day when its bid to build a hydro-electric power scheme on the Cobb River was given the nod thanks to support from the Council and Waimea and Golden Bay Electric Power Boards. But it wasn’t easy. Without modern machinery and methods, and in the most tortuous of terrains and working conditions, construction of the Cobb hydro took way longer than planned. Nine men died during construction and to this day, events and shenanigans continue to populate its formidable history book. John Brockway, who’s been Trustpower’s technical team leader at the Cobb since 2011 says, “Historically there’s been about 3-4 Cyclone Gita-level events where the road has been severely washed out. While such challenges are not new, it’s down to how you handle it.” He says about five people go off the road a year. This isn’t the least bit surprising when you drive the tight and gnarly single-lane road that hugs the Takaka River to the Cobb valley. “Working at the high and remote power station is not for everybody. There’s no coffee shop around,” he laughs. With just 30 minutes of winter sunlight a day to dry washing and little to lessen the remote isolation, life in the old Cobb village would have been challenging for worker families. “Everything you touch there’s a sense of the epic undertaking of the 22 years spent building this station and the means that they used to do it. I’m in awe of their tenacity in every respect, from the tunnelling and the spillway block, to the extraction of materials, and the mechanisms of putting in the jig line at the top. It’s one thing going up there in the cold for a visit, but to live in the construction camp day in day out would have been tough.” 41

Search & Rescue

Photo: Peter Hamill

Bush rescuers face a mixed blessing Technology is making it easier to find the lost or injured, but reducing field experience for volunteers, Frank Nelson reports.

ersonal emergency locator beacons are taking the ‘search’ out of Search and Rescue, says Gerry Tonkin, president of Motueka SAR, one of five regional rescue groups covering the top of the South Island. The beacons pinpoint a person’s whereabouts by transmitting GPS co-ordinates and are usually activated when someone is in serious trouble. A helicopter can lock in on the signals and quickly locate the person, but when a chopper can’t land because of dangerous terrain or some other reason, SAR rescuers make straight for the same spot to complete the rescue. Either way the high-tech gadget, roughly the size and shape of a cell phone, saves a lot of vital time and manpower. That may make the traditional function of Search and Rescue a little redundant, but you won’t hear any complaints from Gerry. Back in 1998 he played a key role in setting up the Nelson Area Locator Beacon Charitable Trust, which provides affordable access to PLBs from depots in Richmond, Stoke, Takaka, Collingwood, Motueka and even Westport. Gerry says that when the trust started beacons cost about $1000. That has now come down to around $300, but it’s still out of reach for many people, which is why the trust offers rental rates of $30 per week or $20 for a Friday-Monday weekend. And the savings are not just measured in time and money. “I reckon we’ve probably saved 100 lives since the trust started,” 42

“I reckon we’ve probably saved 100 lives since the trust started.” G E R RY TO N K I N , M O T U E K A S A R

says Gerry, who retired from the police two years ago and has been involved with SAR since 1981. “We’ve currently got 60 beacons so there’s no excuse for people not to hire one.”

Help much closer at hand

Technology is changing the face of SAR in other ways. For example, improved cell phone reception is increasingly helping rescuers to locate lost or injured people – or those suffering medical emergencies – in more remote areas. And, usually in urban districts, tracking pendants worn by people with conditions like dementia or Alzheimers mean they can be easily located using radio antenna if they wander from home or a care facility. As technology nibbles away at the role of SAR it also threatens to diminish the motivation and commitment of volunteers who must complete significant training while perhaps seeing less operational work in the field.

Photo: The late Charlie Dawson

The five SAR groups in the top of the South Island together have around 230 members, though significantly fewer active members ...

The downward trend in callouts is evident in Nelson, the largest group in the Top of the South region with about 75 members. Paul Bromell, chairman of Search and Rescue Nelson Incorporated, reports 36 callouts in 2017, 23 last year and just three up to May of this year. He’s not surprised. About 12 years ago he attended a training talk at which the speaker predicted how growing technology use would result in fewer and fewer callouts over the next decade. “We probably spend about 95 percent of our time training, to be honest,” says Paul, who makes a point of explaining those demands and a potential lack of fieldwork to new applicants. He says some people do lose their motivation after a while and stop coming to training.

Training opportunities more scarce

Dave Egan, chairman of Golden Bay Search and Rescue, recognises the paradox at work here: while SAR doesn’t want to see people getting lost, each callout offers a chance for volunteers to put all that training into practice.

Above: Clockwise - LandSAR and Police ready to work together; instruction time during an exercise; Dean Bryce, Rhyan Wardman, Jason Jones and Sean Crabb discuss strategies Opposite page: Sean Crabb waits for a Navy Seasprite helicopter during an exercise at the Branch River

“Some volunteers, depending on their availability, may not go on a search for three or four years. When a call comes in, they may be away, or sick, can’t leave work, or unable to go for some other reason.” Dave says SAR expects volunteers to police themselves honestly. “You don’t go into the field to become a casualty, so if you’re not feeling well or you’ve had a hell of a day at work, you need to say you’re not available. “If you’re not feeling 100 percent, then you’re not going to be able to give 100 percent. When you go out there, expectations are higher than ever before. Today we have skilled, highly-trained people and the pressure is on …” The five SAR groups in the top of the South Island together have around 230 members, though significantly fewer active members – lightheartedly defined as those likely to turn out for a search at 11pm on a rainy Sunday night. All those involved are volunteers, although the organisation prefers to call them ‘unpaid professionals’, a nod to the extraordinary skills and knowledge many bring to the job, and the intensive training they must all do.

Training extensive

Blenheim’s Shaun Crabb is chairman of the LandSAR Tasman Region, which covers Kaikoura, across the top of the South Island, and down the West Coast to Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, reaching as far south as Haast. He’s also the Marlborough group training officer. “We train people in a range of specific skills such as search techniques, search patterns, enabling them to look efficiently and effectively,” he says. Other skills include navigation – the use of maps, compass and GPS – safe river crossings and tracking lost or injured people by reading tell-tale signs out in the bush. 43

Photo: Kurt Davison

“We probably spend about 95 percent of our time training, to be honest.” PAU L B R O M E L L , N E L S O N S A R

The training programme usually takes between one and two years, depending on the candidate’s ability and enthusiasm. That includes half a dozen basic two-day courses plus 11 training nights each year. Volunteers are assessed as they go along and given field experience when ready. Shaun says field volunteers must be prepared to rough it outdoors in all weathers, for perhaps days at a time. They have to be physically fit, good team players – and a sense of humour is a big plus.

Peter Hamill, chairman of LandSAR Marlborough, says when the call goes out, searchers are expected to turn up with what’s called a 48-hour pack. “That means essentially you should be totally self-sustainable for 48 hours.” However, he says there are also critical behind-the-scenes jobs: radio operators maintaining communications, operational planners, incident management team members working from the police station, and others. “That’s all happening in the background, so you don’t have to be a mountain bushman to be able to do that,” says Peter. Similarly, volunteers are needed to drive searchers home after perhaps many hours, or even days, with little sleep. If a relief driver arrives with hot tea and home-baking, the recuperation has already begun. Besides being unpaid, volunteers have to provide much of their outdoor gear – boots, pack, sleeping bag, tent, GPS, stove and more – which Shaun says can cost about $5000. They also use their own vehicles though they can claim mileage, and they get police rations (‘rat-packs’) while on rescue operations. General expenses for SAR groups are covered by sources such as pub charities, city/district council and other grants, local fundraising, donations (often from grateful people who have been rescued), and some government money for training and essential equipment.

Photo: Lew Shaw

Harrowing tasks

Above: Clockwise - Aerial support; rescued! 44

Those who respond to callouts may face a number of situations. At the sad end of the scale are searches for those who have gone off with the intention of ending their lives. Also distressing are those who simply disappear and do not want to be found. On a more positive note, SAR members are on hand to help with natural disasters like the Kaikoura earthquake. They also assisted during last summer’s bushfire evacuations in the Nelson area, going door-to-door making sure residents had left. People with medical or mental conditions can also become lost or find themselves in difficulties. Most commonly, however, it’s those out tramping – including a significant number of

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Quick rescue a lifesaver

“Visitors to New Zealand tend to bite off more than they can chew.” PETER HAMILL , LANDSAR MARLBOROUG H

overseas tourists – who need rescuing after taking a wrong path, being caught out by a sudden weather change or the onset of darkness. “Visitors to New Zealand tend to bite off more than they can chew,” says Peter Hamill. “They see it’s a day walk and think ‘Oh good. I can go in my little flat shoes and tracky pants’. Then they find it’s steeper and harder and taking longer than they expected.” For people who find themselves in those frightening situations, nothing is so welcome as the sound of voices calling out their names, the sight of torches piercing the darkness, and the arrival of complete strangers offering first aid, food, a hot drink and a warm coat. And for the rescuers, nothing beats the satisfaction of bringing a person safely home and perhaps saving their life. Above: Garth Haylock, Peter Hamill, Kerry Lammas and John Erlich (from left) carry an injured patient to the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter during a rescue at the Emerald Pool, on the Pelorus River

Tips from the rescuers • Carry a locator beacon and don’t be afraid to use it in an emergency. Once the beacon is activated, stay put and wait. • Carry a cell phone. If you need help, the earlier you make the call, the earlier someone will arrive. • Let someone know where you’re going and when you are due back. • Check the weather. • Carry water. • Take warm clothing and waterproof clothing. • You should be seeing orange triangle track-markers about every five minutes. If you stray off the track, stop and try to find your way back.

erry Kingston, a highly experienced tramper from Golden Bay, says he wouldn’t be alive today if he hadn’t been found by Motueka Search and Rescue after a fall on Mt Lockett earlier this year. “I’m extremely grateful to Search and Rescue and everyone involved,” says the 74-year-old, who spent six weeks in Nelson Hospital and is still recovering from serious leg and head injuries. The accident happened in late January while he was exploring the Diamond Lake area in Kahurangi National Park. As he was coming down a bluff on Mt Lockett, a piece of rock broke off under his foot and sent him crashing downhill. Derry lost his pack and its contents spilled out, including a personal locator beacon and cell phone. Luckily, he had made firm arrangements to be picked up next day by his daughter. The alarm was raised when he failed to show the following morning. Derry was found ‘more dead than alive’ about 30 hours after the accident, says Motueka SAR president Gerry Tonkin. He said one of the first responders choppered in was Tania Jones, from Upper Moutere. A volunteer ambulance officer and member of Motueka SAR, she was quickly able to assess Derry’s serious condition and called in the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter with two paramedics. Gerry said that after all that time lying on the mountain in hot weather, Derry was badly sunburnt and dehydrated, and was covered in ants and flies. Derry cannot recall too much about what happened but the flies he does remember. “I had bleeding from a head wound and the flies just wouldn’t leave me alone,” he says. “They drove me crazy.”

Saved by his fitness

Derry agrees with others who believe the only reason he survived such a traumatic accident was because he was such a super-fit tramper and experienced outdoorsman. He has walked from Land’s End to John O’Groats in Britain (1400km) and spent six months walking the Appalachian Trail 3500km down the eastern United States. Last year he walked the 1000km Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia by himself. Closer to home he spent 14 years relocating cars for people walking the Heaphy Track, a business he sold only last year. He mostly drove vehicles from the Collingwood end to Karamea and then walked back along the 78km track – a journey he estimates he’s done more than 400 times. In the early days, when he was hungry for more business, he sometimes ran back along the track in a single day, though mostly he spent one night at a hut along the scenic route. Derry says he hopes to be able to continue his longdistance walking and exploring local mountains once he regains full fitness. In future, however, he’ll go with a companion and, in tricky places, keep the locator beacon on him instead of in the pack. “That’s the lesson I’ve learned.”

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

Dressing to suit your body shape B Y S O N YA L E U S I N K S L A D E N

o you remember the television programme ‘What Not to Wear’, with Trinny and Susannah? It was a reality television programme that delivered fashion makeovers for deserving ‘real’ women. Back then in the early 2000s, Trinny and Susannah popularised the idea that all women can look fabulous if they dress in a way that suits them. Their rules for dressing helped women make the most of imperfect bodies. I often reflect on the ‘What Not to Wear’ message, regularly applying the principles when I dress models or help clients. A few of Trinny and Susannah’s books still reside in my fashion bookshelf. And while their fame might have gone, their message still holds true: Women with style dress in a way that suits them, making the most of their figures. To address all of the theories, rules and principles here would be impossible! However, over time I have distilled down key principles that can make the biggest difference to how a woman dresses herself. They are simple to understand and remember, yet once mastered can make a huge difference for women of all shapes and sizes.

Accentuate the positive Great style begins with an honest appraisal of what’s good about your figure, and then making those things noticeable. To achieve this, fitted, tailored or even tight clothes should be worn on your ‘good bits’. Define them. Don’t hide them! And if appropriate, show skin on that area which you are proud of. If we only notice what’s great about you, it will give the illusion of a more perfect figure. Wear slim jeans or a short skirt if you have great legs. Keep your tops tailored and snug if your upper body is slim and neat. Define a nipped-in waistline with a belt, tie or tailoring if you have a curvy figure.

Disguise the negative The reverse of the above, disguising the negative means covering your not-so-good 54

If you successfully disguise your bad bits, we will not know that you have them. bits with looser, less-fitted clothing, a little baggy but without adding bulk. You can also use layers, patterns or details to distract the eye, and it pays to always avoid anything that clings tightly. If you successfully disguise your bad bits, we will not know that you have them. Are you challenged with a big bottom, hips and/or thighs? Avoid skinny jeans in favour of wide-legged ones and wear A-line skirts that make it impossible for us to know that you are heavy. Do you have a thick waist with a wee tummy? Keep your tops and shirts a little loose around your waistline and hips, leave the hem un-tucked, and choose an asymmetric or curved hemline so that we won’t have a clue about your challenging mid-section.

Balance loose with tight This tip is the logical follow-on from accentuating the positive and disguising the negative. It’s a rule that I encourage women to follow religiously, always ensuring that there is some mystery or untold story about the figure (loose) balanced with something revealed (tight). But it’s not just about the disguise of figure challenges … Balance is about creating an illusion, leaving something over to the imagination, but ensuring that the body is not entirely hidden. If you are wearing a fitted top, balance it with fuller pants. If you are wearing skinny jeans, make sure your top has some volume or looseness. Loose, flowing dress? Define the waistline with a belt or tie. Fitted dress? Boxy, baggy or oversized blazer.

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MY HOME

Contemporary country living B Y LY N D A PA P E S C H | P H O T O G R A P H Y D O M I N I Q U E W H I T E

move to the country to follow a long-held dream led to an amazing home renovation for a semi-retired Tasman couple. Now country life with all the mod-cons encapsulates the couple’s new lifestyle following their relocation from a large (and beautiful) home to a substantial acreage near Ngatimoti. The property came with a small understated home so one of the couple’s first projects was an extensive remodel and renovation to suit their needs. For help they turned to designer and project coordinator Phill Krammer of PK Design Nelson. “They wanted an expanded footprint taking into account the husband’s love of gardening and the outdoors. We started with a basic farmstead which was very small – none of their furniture fitted into it – and the design grew from there,” Phill explains.

1. Timber veneer and granite benchtops feature in the kitchen 2. A small purpose-built library area 3. Dining with a view 4. Floor to ceiling windows and doors enhance the views 5 Show trophy 6. Granite bench tops 7. Harihari schist surrounding the fireplace 8. Open-plan lounge with a high ceiling and plush pure wool carpet 57

Exterior cladding is a combination of plaster, cedar and Harihari schist from Westland Schist ... “Both the owners had expectations; they like nice things and were not prepared to compromise on quality. “It was a case of bringing it up to date, making it warm and comfortable and ultimately that meant changing the whole style of the existing house and expanding it.”

Complete upgrade Along with the re-design, Phill also made sure all the existing insulation, heating, plumbing and electrics were completely upgraded. The couple now has a charming 340 square metre, threebedroom-plus home, with two living spaces, two kitchens and three bathrooms, that blends seamlessly into its surroundings. The rebuild also incorporated an adjoining cottage containing a guest bedroom, bathroom, office and living. The extensive renovation was carried out by Glenn Grant Builders Ltd, with an array of local tradespeople and subbies involved. Exterior cladding is a combination of plaster, cedar and Harihari schist from Westland Schist, while at various points around the outside are lovely tiled patio areas. A substantial carport provides a covered private entry to the house. “It’s on a rise and slightly elevated so we designed it to enable the owners to enjoy all-day sun,” says Phill.

9. Easy indoor-outdoor access 10. One of three large bedrooms 11. Home-grown vegetables 58

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A huge bonus was the existing oak trees on the property which became an integral part of the continued landscaping, complemented by mature palms brought in by Buller Bay Palms on the West Coast. The end result overall is a home that is more in keeping with the size of the large property, and one that looks like it has stood the test of time rather than being a complete new-build.

A peek inside The tiled front entrance also features schist on the walls and leads into a sitting/dining area with stunning gloss tiles, then the kitchen. A homebody, the wife’s new kitchen comprises timber veneer with granite benchtops, all modern appliances and a full scullery. Double glass doors lead through to the main lounge with a high ceiling, plush pure wool carpet and an inset log burner. Cleverly built cupboards on one side of the fireplace open into a wood box with outside access for easy filling. Hidden audio, wool carpeting and tiled flooring are throughout the house. Leading off the main lounge is a small library area, while down the hall are two master-sized bedrooms with tile en-suite bathrooms; one for the owners and one for guests. Taking pride of place in the master en suite is a deep free-standing bath with Hansgrohe tapware. Off the other side of the kitchen, steps lead down into an access hall linking the main house to what was the original cottage. Now it includes a spacious laundry, office, roomy guest bedroom with tiled en suite and an additional living area. “This renovation was all about simplicity in living,” says Phill. “Thanks to the tradespeople and the quality of their work it is a great home, which will endure. The owners love it.”

12. The exterior with plaster, cedar and schist cladding 13. Spacious bedrooms open to the outdoors 14. A well-planned dressing room with wardrobe on one side and en suite on the other 15. Bathroom luxury with a free-standing tub and Hansgrohe tapware 60

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MY GARDEN

Lovely lavender has a variety of uses BY ANNABEL SCHULER

hat do Cleopatra and Florence Nightingale have in common? Not a lot you would think but history tells us that they were both avid users of one of the most ancient of herbs – lavender. Cleopatra used it as a perfume to seduce men while Nurse Nightingale used the essence as a disinfectant in hospitals during the Crimean war. Lavender is grown for its perfume, its oil and its vibrant flowers and is equally at home in the alpine schist landscapes of Central Otago and the gardens and pots of almost every New Zealand gardener. While it is grown commercially for its oil, domestically lavender falls into three useful areas. The first is French lavender, Lavendula dentata candicans, which flowers almost all year round brightening any garden with its mid-blue flowers and small Above: Dried lavender flowers and fresh bouquet

Lavender likes to be pruned and does best when taken back by about one third each year. grey-ish leaves which have serrated edges. It is best left to its own devices to encourage bees and butterflies or you can pick and dry it to scent linen and keep moths out of woollens and wardrobes. Give it a gentle pruning after each flush of flowers to hold the shape. The angustifolia (English) lavenders are much favoured for their ‘mounds’ of leaves and the long-stemmed stalks which are topped with tidy, cone-shaped flowers. These cultivars are grown commercially for their oil but they look spectacular in high summer with their long stems waving in the breeze and emitting their perfume. If you prune them after the first flush of blooms you should get a second crop. The third collection of garden lavenders is called ‘stoechas’ and you will see them on sale now. These are not so good for drying due to their bulkier flowers and rabbit-ear petals but regular dead-heading will ensure flowers from spring to autumn.

Easy care Lavender is easy-care if you remember to do two things: one is to replicate the limestone hills of Spain and France, from

which they hail, and give each plant a small handful of garden lime around the dripline each year. The other key is pruning. Lavender likes to be pruned and does best when taken back by about one third each year. If left, the plants become woody and leggy and lose their form. Lavender multi-tasks like few other plants. The oil can be used in a burner or diffuser. It can be diluted to use as a natural antiseptic; added to a carrier such as almond oil to use on the body or to drizzle into a bath; or, if you make your own cleaning products add a few drops of oil for its fragrance and antibacterial qualities. The essence of lavender is highly concentrated so be careful when using it especially in cooking but it makes a delightful addition to shortbread and muffins. Dried lavender repels most insects and brings lingering scents of summer into the linen cupboard in the depths of winter. So, do not consign lavender to the compost bin as a penchant of ‘old ladies’; plant it, pick it, dry it, groom it and it will give you pleasure year after year. 63

M Y H E A LT H

Looking after your vagus nerve: The great wandering protector of the body BY CINDY DE VILLIERS, GP

ollowing on from my last column about Heart Rate Variability (HRV), let’s explore an important contributor to HRV – the vagus nerve. There is a lot of buzz about the vagus nerve and a growing amount of research into stimulating the vagus nerve to treat everything from epilepsy and depression to asthma and constipation. Vagus means wandering and this nerve wanders all over the body and has been said to be the most important nerve in the body. This is not surprising as it works in both directions, carrying information not only from the brain to the rest of the body, importantly the digestive tract and heart, but it also sends information back from the heart and gut to the brain. Your heart and gut literally talk to your brain and vice versa. In fact, the processing of emotions is thought to occur via the vagus nerve between your heart, brain and gut, literally manifesting the terms ‘GutFeeling & Heartache’. The messages from the brain via the vagus nerves are part of the parasympathetic (rest and digest) system regulating unconscious functions such as digestion and heart function. If the parasympathetic system is not working optimally or the opposite sympathetic

system is constantly stimulated, the HRV goes down, contributing to chronic unwellness. Vagus nerve dysfunction is associated with conditions such as heart disease, depression, anxiety, migraines, bowel issues and inflammatory conditions. Common associations of vagal nerve dysfunction (and by implication sympathetic dominance) are irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, anxiety, poor sleep, inflammatory disorders and possibly even diabetes and obesity.

Try some of these While researchers are looking at electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve, there are other ways to do this and most of these are fun!

1. 2.

Singing – in the shower by yourself, or with a group. Meditation – in particular lovingkindness meditation where participants felt connected to others. Reciting a mantra or rosary prayer six times a minute. It is possible that the rhythmic nature of the recitation is important. The OM chant has specifically been shown to stimulate the vagus nerve. (Yes, there is a scientific paper exploring this!)

There is a lot of buzz about the vagus nerve and a growing amount of research into stimulating the vagus nerve to treat everything from epilepsy and depression to asthma and constipation.

5. Gargling and gagging. It is suggested

6. 7.

8. 9. 10.

that you brush the back of your tongue to initiate a gag reflex. Do this a few times each day. Laughing, especially with your friends. Cold exposure – e.g. www.wimhofmethod.com – make sure you check with your doctor first on this one! Exercise in moderation. Yoga stands out as particularly effective in stimulating the vagus nerve. Qi gong and tai chi.

If you feel that your sympathetic fight, flight or freeze system is dominant and want to bring some rest into your body, support your vagus nerve. I suggest choosing one or two fun things that you can do each day and make them part of your daily routine. If you really want to see how you are doing, track your Heart Rate Variability using apps.

What if there is more?

Exploring health optimisation with a medical reset Find out at

www.healthfunction.co.nz 64

DINE OUT

JELLYFISH RESTAURANT & BAR

KAI FUSIONZ

CHOKDEE

Shed 1, Mapua Wharf, Mapua 03 540 2028 www.jellyfishmapua.co.nz

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

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

TWELVE TREES AT ALLAN SCOTT

CBD CAFÉ

GRAMADO’S

pen 7 days, year round, a winter lunch at Twelve Trees at Allan Scott Family Winemakers is highly recommended. Choose a table by the window, or by the fire, in our cosy vineyard restaurant and enjoy seasonal cuisine by executive chef, Maree Connolly, matched with your favourite Allan Scott Wine.

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.

229 Jacksons Road, RD3, Blenheim 03 572 7123 www.allanscott.com

The Forum, Queen Street, Blenheim 03 577 7300 www.cbdcafe.nz

74 Main Street, Blenheim 03 579 1192 www.gramadosrestaurant.com

pectacular waterfront dining for any small or large group. Special occasions, breakfast, lunch or dinner. Jellyfish Restaurant & Bar is located on the wharf in Mapua, with the finest seasonal food from land and sea, a selection of fantastic wines and outstanding customer service. Come on in and enjoy our stunning location in paradise.

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.

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

he true essence of a great dining experience requires a few key elements; the gathering of good people, a willingness to share and an environment of celebration. Combining this belief with the simplicity of Brazilian cuisine is what sets Gramado’s Restaurant apart. Beautiful food — great wine — better people. Join us for dinner and experience Gramado’s.

MY KITCHEN

Earthy beetroot curry As our market produce changes from a bright bunch of colours to earthier tones, we make the most of our winter vegetables. This month, we simmer beautiful spices with beetroot to deepen the savoury notes and balance out the sweetness of the beets. BY MADAME LUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S KITCHEN

Serves 4 Ingredients 1 large beetroot, cut into batons 2tsp curry powder 1tsp chilli powder 1 1/2tsp sea salt 1tsp turmeric powder 1tsp black pepper 2 green chillies, deseeded, roughly chopped 1 red onion, roughly chopped 1 tomato, roughly chopped 4 bunches of curry leaves 1 pinch of fenugreek seeds 1tsp mustard seeds, yellow 2 garlic cloves, crushed 400ml coconut milk Method

1. Bring a large saucepan to a medium heat.

2. Add all the ingredients and

cook until softened, approx. 25 minutes.

3. Taste and season if need be. 4. Serve warm. madamelus.co.nz

DINE OUT

Memorable meal at Gramado’s Hugo Sampson dines at a Blenheim restaurant that has firmly cemented its reputation for amazing food and great service.

Photo: Lisa Duncan

ramado’s has been working its Brazilian fusion magic so successfully for seven years that it now seems wise to book ahead. When we visited on a cold, damp Thursday night in late May the Blenheim eatery was so busy several disappointed customers had to be turned away. Two groups, including one with several children, filled around half the restaurant. When the lights suddenly went out, a sparkling disco ball sprang to life and owner Saulo Camillo Nunes, a born showman, paraded in with a candle-lit cake to lead the birthday singing. If the night’s riotous activity and extra traffic caught the good-natured staff off balance, there was no sign of it. The greetings were warm and friendly, the service timely and attentive, and the food truly amazing. Our server, Morgana Smith, is also a chef and has previously worked in the Gramado’s kitchen, so was the perfect person to walk us through the varied, intricate and sometimes exotic menu. We shared two entrees. Escondidinho is often likened to shepherd’s pie but this was something far more special. Gramado’s regularly changes the baked pie fillings and we were treated to crab meat and prawns in coconut cream sauce, with dashes of Brazilian dende oil, capsicum and chilli, all nestling under a delicious duvet of cheese and mashed cassava. Soup of the day was another star … a rich, creamy pumpkin and organic carrot,

laced with Kikorangi blue cheese and served with chunky toasted ciabatta. The blue cheese is intended to add only a delicate flavour but if you’re a cheeseaholic like me, and you ask, they will crank up the volume!

Brazilian/New Zealand fusion Gramado’s offers a remarkable range of drinks. We opened with two on-tap IPAs, locally-made Renaissance Voyagers. To match our mains we decided to support the local economy and enjoyed generous pourings of the Starborough pinot gris and a Spy Valley sauvignon blanc. The pan-fried orange roughy, moist, full of flavour and flecked with a light herb panko, came with a tasty fresh salad, fries (or roasted vegetables if preferred) and a distinctive tartare sauce embellished with finely chopped carrots and capers. Across the table the chicken mignon was a huge hit … tender breast encased in manuka bacon, served in a rich, creamy white wine and tarragon sauce, accompanied by a garden salad and rosemary potatoes. Gramado’s offers mouth-watering desserts including the adventurous

Chocolate Volcano, a concoction of cake, fruit and ice cream spiced with a dash of Dragon’s Fury chilli sauce, one of the hottest in a restaurant which loves its chillies. We shared Brazilian carrot cake made with raw carrots and coconut. It was delicious and not quite as healthy as it sounds thanks to generous dollops of cream and vanilla ice cream, all marooned in a small lake of home-made hot chocolate sauce. We finished a memorable night with a coffee – Brazilian, of course, though the beans are roasted in Blenheim – which came with a lone Jaffa. Brazilian/New Zealand fusion to the very end!

Gramado’s Restaurant and Bar 74 Main St, Blenheim. Ph: 03 579 1192. Visit: www.gramadosrestaurant.com Open: Tuesday - Saturday, 4pm until late Cost: $156 for two entrees, two mains and one dessert, two craft beers, two wines and a coffee.

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

Winter is Risotto Season Prego banner – Arborio rice, a good low-sodium stock and locked spot pungent porcini and Neudorf Mushrooms, mix through some creamy Gorgonzola cheese and top with tangy Parmigiano-Reggiano. Perfect!

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

Photo: Chocolate Dog Photography

WINE

Saluting a good vintage B Y LY N D A PA P E S C H

arvest is well and truly over for Nelson Tasman and Marlborough’s wine industry and the best is yet to come as the savvies, chardies, pinots and montys slowly come to fruition. Good wines start in the vineyard and so long as the viticulturists have done their job, the winemakers will have good grapes to work with. Unless, of course, the weather takes its toll! The last three years have been very difficult for the industry because of the weather’s capriciousness. This year is different with winemakers across the regions predicting their best vintage in several years, despite droughts, soaring temperatures and rain. In Nelson Tasman the 2019 vintage was one of extremes, leading to excellent outcomes, says Rimu Grove owner/ winemaker Patrick Stowe. “An early spring with early flowering followed by a hot dry summer culminated in the earliest harvest ever for most winegrowers in the region. The warm dry weather resulted in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees numerous times Above: Katerina tends to the pinot noir during havest 2019 at Rimu Grove 68

during the summer months, which meant that physiological ripeness was achieved early.” The lead-up to harvest was not without some problems such as a small amount of powdery mildew early on, but this was dealt to quickly ensuring no lasting influence on the grapes. Drought conditions during the summer surprisingly did not affect the older vines such as in the Moutere, due in part to having deep root systems and clay soils, says Patrick.

Predictions positive “Overall the yields were close to average or better for most varieties, with great fruit ripeness and balanced pH and acids. “The resulting wines exhibit good balance, fruit concentration and varietal expression at this point. There is a quiet optimism amongst the winemakers for one of the best vintages we’ve seen in a while!” Other winemakers echo his optimism, commenting on good fruit concentrations, strong colour such as in the pinots noir and the full

“There is a quiet optimism amongst the winemakers for one of the best vintages we’ve seen in a while!” PAT R I C K S TOW E

ripeness of many harder skin varieties like montepulciano. Marlborough’s vintage was similar with excellent results predicted despite rain during harvest. Hot weather ripened grapes early resulting in harvest starting in mid-February, a week to 10 days earlier than usual. Some crops such as pinot noir were down in Marlborough this year, but overall the vintage has been deemed a huge success. Fruit was initially described by winemakers in Marlborough as ‘pristine’ and ‘jam-packed’ with flavour, and in the words of one expert, “right up there with some of the best we have ever seen”. The race is on now to bring out the first of the new release wines, with cash cow sauvignon blanc leading the way. In Marlborough the annual sauvignon blanc yacht race will celebrate the new release of the region’s most-produced aromatic, while in Nelson Tasman, the annual New Release Wine Tasting will be held on 24 September at The Boathouse from 5pm to 7pm.

BREWS

Dedicated to brewing BY MARK PREECE

rewing beer never gets old for Martin Townshend; “It’s awesome,” says the man behind Townshend brewery, as he fine-tunes a red rye IPA and some barrelaged beers for winter. Plenty of his brews never get old either, with a selection of beers intended to be drunk fresh, off the tap at Toad Hall in Motueka – the café in front of his brewery – or dispatched in small batches to popular outlets like Nelson’s The Free House or the Moutere Inn. “Many of our beers are quite heavily hopped on the aroma and flavour front,” Martin says. “If you leave them in the back of the beer fridge for 6-12 months they’re still fine – but they are even better when drunk fresh.” Townshend sells kegs and bottles to popular free houses, while riggers tend to go mainly to retail, also offering a fresh option. Riggers have a stigma attached to them – and Townshend is changing that. “We need to educate the public that for us, it’s all about freshness. For example, a rigger filled on Monday, dispatched on Tuesday and sold that week, is like ordering a pint straight from the tap.” Martin moved his one-man brewery from Upper Moutere to Toad Hall over a year ago and has never looked back. There are new staff joining the team, and production is set to double again this year. “Now the Toad’s customers can enjoy great food and one of our beers fresh from the tap,” says Martin. “All that and they get to watch where great beer’s brewed.” Since the move to Toad Hall next to the Nelson Great Taste Trail, his business has tapped into the region’s rising visitor numbers. “Sales have really increased due to the great support from Toad Hall,” he says. As well as his new Rhode Ireland Red Rye IPA, Martin is ‘playing around’ with the award-winning Oldham’s Tap, which he has been making for several years, using fresh hops from Colin Hawkins’ farm in Tapawera added to the brew within three hours of harvest. Townshend has now come up with a recipe using the same dry hop variety which is available year-round, “and this year we will start releasing this Above: Martin Townshend where great beer is brewed

Martin moved his one-man brewery from Upper Moutere to Toad Hall over a year ago and has never looked back. heavily hopped Riwaka pilsner as part of our permanent range from July,” he says. “Our milk stout has been so popular that we will bottle it and make it a permanent addition to our range.” Here’s a selection of Townshend’s range:

Black Arrow Pilsner, 5% ABV. They say: A crisp pilsner with depth begging to be explored, its fruitiness balanced by UK Target hops.

Aotearoa Pale Ale, 5% ABV. They say: A long white cloud of fresh flavours, it’s ‘Kiwi as’. This massively hoppy aromatic pale ale contains deliciously local hops for a Kiwi version of the ever-popular IPA. It is also quenchingly bitter, while still having great balance and mouthfeel.

Sutton Hoo, 4.7% ABV. They say: An American amber ale with a treasure trove or flavours waiting to be discovered.

Blitzgreig American IPA, 6.5% ABV. They say: A USA-style beer, with big hop in-your-face flavour. Made as an annual release for the Malthouse West Coast IPA Challenge. It is an opportunity to celebrate and show our appreciation. Assertive, brash and loud. A US of A amber-coloured ale using American hops.

Townshend Keystone Milk Stout, 5.5% ABV. They say: Rich and chocolatey with a touch of sweetness on the finish with plenty of roast barley flavour. Dark and delicious. Brewed for my wife, who has helped me every step of the way and is a big fan of dark beers. 69

T R AV E L

Insane and delightful The hectic and serene contrasts of Japan charm Sarah Nottage. PHOTOGRAPHY STEVE HUSSEY

he 12-hour flight from Auckland to Narita Airport, Tokyo, equates to two movies, two meals and two naps – the kind of day that dreams are made of. Arriving in Tokyo is like stepping into an alternate universe or a virtual reality computer game where additional points are scored for dodging eye and body contact. In a city with a population density of 6200 people per square kilometre (compared with about 10 in Nelson/Marlborough), the Japanese values of mutual respect, conformity and a distaste for confrontation, combined with an efficiency of individual and collective movement and excellent infrastructure, are immediately obvious and entirely necessary. The throng of bodies (3.7 million people pass through Shinjuku train station daily) initially appears to be chaotic, but is actually a beautifully orchestrated flow of humanity within the framework of extreme urban density, where the buildings, adorned with a neon forest of ever-changing advertising, ascend into the sky in a seemingly limitless fashion. We were visiting Japan because Steve Hussey had been chosen to represent New Zealand in the World Photographic Cup in Yokohama, so we seized the chance to briefly explore this mystical, beautiful country over eight days. On our first night we stayed in Above: Clockwise - Shinobazunoike Bentendo Temple is reflected in the Shinobazu Pond, Tokyo; Sarah cycles past one of the many temples of Kyoto Opposite Page : Clockwise – Orizuru (origami cranes) decorate a temple; Sarah frozen in the bustle of Tokyo nightlife; the impressive National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno, Tokyo; a lion stands sentinel at a shrine in Arashiyama, Kyoto 70

Shinjuku. Had we read the guidebook, we would have learnt this is Tokyo’s red-light district. Thirsty, we wandered into a bar where Steve was offered a package of drinks and sensual delights.

Be prepared to wing it How did we end up in a brothel? We hadn’t read the guidebook and we couldn’t read the signs. Notwithstanding this experience, my advice is, don’t read the guidebook. There is nothing better than being a bumbling alien, ordering strange dishes at restaurants or walking down the wrong street, safe in the knowledge that you will eventually be okay. There are so many hidden alleyways, shops, cafés and restaurants that it is fun to ramble; to look up, sideways and backwards. As my friend who spent three years living in Japan says, “Ju-nin-to-iro,” – “To each their own.”

Since working at Miyazu Restaurant in Nelson, I have been fascinated by both the aesthetic and gustatory qualities of Japanese cooking. Abiding by the Confucian teaching ‘Hara hachi bun me’ or ‘Leave a little bit of room in your stomach after a meal’, is not easy. From elaborately presented bento boxes, rich and meaty ramen broth with noodles just waiting to be slurped, and refreshing sushi and sashimi, each meal deserves contemplation prior to consumption, for they are all works of delicious edible art. Tricky at first, Japan’s rail system is incredibly efficient once you get used to it. If you are unsure, just ask. As my friend Tracy describes, “Many locals go from sour to sweet with one ‘Ohayo gozaimasu’.” (Hello). We visited a myriad of contrasting sights by hopping on the Yamanote Line; from the insane youth-fashion boutiques of Harajuko (where I found my beloved rhinestone-encrusted top) to tranquil Meiji Park. We witnessed the craziness of Shibuya Crossing, where up to 3000 people cross at one time. Obtaining an elevated photo required James Bond-esque stealthy manoeuvres past security guards up to the 25th floor of a hotel. A 230m-high observation deck is being built and is due to open prior to the 2020 Olympic Games, where you will be able to take in views across the city to Mount Fuji on a clear day. We spent a day in Ueno, home to some of Tokyo’s finest art galleries and museums. I have never been moved more deeply by art, bursting into tears standing in front of Monet’s Water Lilies at the National Museum for Western Art. The painting drew me in, as though I was submerged in the water. I felt peaceful, which was exactly where I needed to be at that moment. Where else in the world can you see works by Renoir, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Picasso, Cezanne, Goya and Rembrandt under one roof without the crowds? Surrounded by moats and towering stone walls, Emperor Akihoto and his family reside at the Imperial Palace. Although the inner grounds are only open to the public twice a year, strolling through the thousands of impeccably manicured pine trees in the outer garden is a delight. We found many parks and gardens in Tokyo; carefully landscaped havens of peace nestled within an overstimulating, over-populated city.

Rocketed to Kyoto We took the Shinkansen bullet train (which lives up to its name) from Tokyo to Kyoto. On first appearances Kyoto is a concrete jungle, but exploring the city on bikes hired from a highheeled, bespectacled Japanese hipster, we were captivated by the ornate temples, narrow cobbled lanes and funky cafés. We cycled along the winding Philosopher’s Path adjacent to a canal,

We took the Shinkansen bullet train (which lives up to its name) from Tokyo to Kyoto. past boutiques and cherry blossom trees, stopping for regular refreshment along the way. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is a place of exquisitely arranged natural beauty. Despite the hordes of tourists, the wide pathways gave us the space to gaze up at the mass of gently swaying electricgreen bamboo; to glimpse shafts of sunlight projected through the densely packed grove; to hear the bamboo whisper the secrets of a thousand years. In contrast to this place of natural beauty is a forest of extraordinary human-made beauty, the ‘Kimono Forest’. Artist Yasumichi Morita has installed 600 cylindrical pillars decorated with brightly coloured kimono textiles beside the Arashiyama train station. Our favourite Kyoto experience was at a small Buddhist temple. Noticing our arrival, one of the monks rapidly shuffled away, appearing with the temple’s Human Relations Representative and ‘how to pray’ instructions written in English. Noticing Steve’s All Blacks cap and frustrated with her lack of conversational English, she disappeared, returning with another couple of monks, whom she said had ‘good English’. They had two English words: ‘All’ and ‘Blacks’. Through innumerable raised eyebrows, smiles and pats on the back, we managed to convey mutual warmth and respect, promising to return on our next visit to Japan with a few extra All Blacks caps. 71

SPORTS

Having a ball at the beach BY PHIL BARNES

Six-person games He says although they are playing on sand they do not play much of the two-a-side form of beach volleyball. “It would mean too many people would be waiting around to get a game. “We play on a full-size court as you would for the six-person game. And we don’t allow more than six people from each side on the court at any one time. “Any more than that and people get confused about where they need to stand Above: Organiser Uli Rainbow with players warming up for the start of a Sunday volleyball session at Tahunanui Domain 72

Photo: Phil Barnes

ahunanui Domain has become a hive of activity for multi-cultural social volleyball games on Sunday afternoons. The games attract players from all levels. However, the weekly event is not simply about volleyball. It has become a wonderful tool to help welcome and integrate new arrivals into the community. Organiser Uli Rainbow first started arranging volleyball games at the sandbased volleyball courts at the back of the Beach Cafe on Tahunanui Domain several years ago. He says there used to be just one court available for volleyball, but last year the Nelson City Council cleared further space between the sand dunes and the domain. This meant there is now sufficient space to put up nets for four courts at any one time. Uli and partner Sueli Arenhardt provide their own equipment including volleyballs, nets, a mallet and rope to mark the lines of the court, replacing the equipment when required. However last year, to help with the group volleyball initiative, the Nelson City Council erected permanent nets on two of the courts. On the occasions when there are sufficient players to use more than two courts, then Uli and Sueli also put up their own nets. Uli says the numbers turning up vary depending on the weather and the time of year. “But we generally average between 20 to 30 people, which is often enough to get three games of volleyball running at once.”

“… it is a wonderful way for newcomers to Nelson to make new friends and contacts.” U L I R A I N B OW

and they have to wait too long before they get a touch of the ball. “It actually works best when we have three or four on each side. That way people get into the game and have plenty of action. “But the idea is that anyone is welcome to just come along and join in.” Uli says the social aspect of the volleyball games means that as well giving people the chance to play and improve, it is a wonderful way for newcomers to Nelson to make new friends and contacts. “We have Asians, Argentinians, Colombians, French and Germans who come regularly as well as Kiwis.” To further encourage the social side of the games, Uli, who works as a disc jockey, provides music which is often Spanish- or Latin-themed, at the games. “I usually bring a speaker down with me and get some music going.” Along with Sueli he sometimes also organises a barbecue after the games.

Group football too Uli also organises a group football match at 6pm on Mondays, which also take place on the Tahunanui Domain. “It is organised on a similar basis to volleyball in that anyone is welcome to join in. “We don’t like it to become too serious or competitive.”

Uli says they changed the venue several times over the years but eventually the council offered them the use of floodlights at Tahunanui Domain which means they can play at the same time and place all year round. “We average between 12 and 20 players each week including several female players. It’s very friendly, relaxed and social and we are keen to keep it that way.” As with volleyball, many of those who turn up to play football are new migrants, some of whom speak no English. He says there have been many instances when backpackers have joined the volleyball or football games and have then hung around to have a barbecue and listen to some music. “They have become friends with others in the group and this has caused them to stay on in Nelson for a while when they would otherwise have left. “Sueli speaks four languages and is particularly good at helping new arrivals integrate into the community. Through volleyball or football, people become friends and it is like they become our extended family.” Anyone interested in playing volleyball should meet from 3pm on Sundays during wintertime and 4pm in summer. People can also keep in contact via the group’s Facebook page: Tahuna Volleyball Fun.

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MOTORING

Holden 7-seater born in the USA BY GEOFF MOFFETT

ven the name sounds big and important …. Acadia with allusions to the Greek ‘arcadian’ utopia. Holden’s new SUV is a significant vehicle for the brand, its headline attraction and an attractive addition to the seven-seat market. Aussie in name only these days, the Acadia is all-US of A-made, direct from Spring Hill, Tennessee. In the USA, it’s sold as a mid-size GMC Acadia but gets the Holden badge here. And for us, it’s on the large size at nearly five-metres long and, with the third row of seats, a car for the bigger family. While there’s a certain brash American feel to the new Holden, it’s no bad thing. The big SUV is handsome with a can’t-miss presence. The bluff front with its pouting grille is aggressive and the Acadia, in top line LTZ-V form, stands tall on 20-inch wheels. With the LT and LTZ, you have three specification choices, all with the V6 3.6-litre petrol producing 231kW of power and 367Nm. Equipment levels are outstanding. All models have pedestrian and bicycle detection with autonomous emergency braking, forward collision alert (with a buzz in your seat to warn you), lane keep assist with lane departure warning, blind side and rear cross traffic alert. The camera setup is excellent with a close-up view of the tow ball for idiot-proof trailer connection (with overhead camera on the LTZ-V).

Clever drive system The top spec extras include leather seats, powered in the front – heated and cooled too – hands-free tailgate, adaptive cruise control and eight-speaker Bose sound. The mechanical tech is top class. In highway cruising, the engine management system deactivates two of its six cylinders and the clever drive system reverts the AWD car to FWD – and that adds up to fuel savings. Around town, though, the V6 is thirstier. While the Acadia range has had suspension settings adapted for local use (less wallow and sharper steering), you also get adaptive suspension on the LTZ-V which adjusts the Acadia’s ride to suit different road conditions. Stepping into the cabin is easy, despite the apparent size of the vehicle, and the space is impressive, including great legroom in the second row. The quickfolding third row seats are also better than most in this seven-seat category. The cabin is good quality with soft-touch plastics and excellent seat support. Where other makers are moving to turbo-charged four-cylinder engines, Holden has the naturally aspirated V6. With the nine-speed trans, it’s a real strawberries and cream combo, heaps of power matched with seamless changes. On the road, then, the Acadia is impressive. It handles with surprising nimbleness for a two-tonner and you can

With the nine-speed trans, it’s a real strawberries and cream combo, heaps of power matched with seamless changes. 74

quickly whisk past dawdling traffic. It soaks up bumps and there’s little body sway. The car always feels composed. It’s quiet, too, making it easy to hear the carry-on in the back row. The front seats are extremely comfortable and supportive, there’s good storage and USB connectors throughout (including fast charge for tablets), an eight-inch screen which really does respond easily to touch and a similarly good voice activation system that was smart enough to understand when I corrected a street address entry. The big SUV is a great cruiser, saving fuel when it deactivates two of the six cylinders under light load. Around town, though, the V6 is a bit thirstier. At the top end, the LTZ-V with all its equipment is more than a match for most rivals and very well-priced.

Tech spec Price:

LT 2WD, $49,990, AWD $53,990; LTZ 2WD $55,990, AWD $59,990; LTZ-V AWD $71,990

Power:

3.6 litre V6 petrol, 231kW @ 6,600rpm, 367Nm @ 5000rpm. Nine-speed automatic transmission

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2WD, 8.9 litres/100km combined, AWD, 9.3 litres/100km

Vehicle courtesy of Nelson Bays Holden

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ARTS

The man behind the mask BY JOHN COHEN-DU FOUR

Anonymity Having a free-thinking definition of art and making anything out of nothing explains a lot about Karl’s personal creative journey. He completed a performing arts course with Donna Chapman, where he learned not to be scared of public performance, but to embrace it. He was also introduced to the theatrical discipline of mask. “I appreciated its anonymity,” he says. “You could really let your inner characters emerge.” His mentoring continued in a Polytech art course run by the late Kim Merry, doyen of Nelson community festivities, including the Masked Parade. Kim had studied mask-making in Europe and Africa, and undertook commissions for many New Zealand theatre productions. He gave Karl the ideal grounding to develop his own brand of the art form. Above: Karl Wulff in his workshop creating 76

Photo: Dominique White

aving once co-founded a theatre company specialising in mask and puppetry, I appreciate masks – both their making and performance. So I was excited to recently talk masks and more with one of New Zealand’s leading exponents of the craft, Karl Wulff. Karl is senior tutor at Nelson’s Community Art Works in Achilles Avenue, a creative hub offering open access to the arts, with materials, support and guidance for all, especially those of mixed ability. “We’re here,” says Karl, “because we recognise that every single person is an artist. They deserve validation and support to access their creativity. “I began here some 18 years ago. I discovered I got on really well with our students and could help them create whatever they wanted to. Art isn’t defined by what people tell you it is, it’s whatever you want to make. “Growing up in a home with very little money, I’d developed a particular creative skill – I could make anything out of nothing. This has always resonated with the needs of the group.”

“When I put on a mask for performance, I close my eyes. When I open them, I’ve stepped into someone else, I’m a different character.” KARL WU LFF

Kim’s urging led to Karl’s first parade performance. “I slipped in unofficially as a dog in a harness,” he says. In Karl’s creative hands, it wasn’t just any dog. He smiles: “It was an evil jester dog. “When I put on a mask for performance, I close my eyes. When I open them, I’ve stepped into someone else, I’m a different character.”

Diversity In the early 2000s Karl developed an interest in fire performance. He soon became a regular masked fire performer at the Luminate Festival. Karl remembers his first ‘official entry’ in the Masked Parade: “The theme was ‘nautical adventure’ – my mask featured a 3D representation of Nelson’s flagship, Victory. It won the individual section,” he recalls. “A mask’s comfort is critical,” he says. “You can be in it for hours. Often I’ll create masks on a cast of the performer’s face to ensure a perfect fit.” Fast forward to today and Karl’s life is endlessly creative. As well as

tutoring at Community Art Works, he gets commissions to make masks and film props. He performs with fire, and creates interactive stilt characters for performance on flexible Skyrunner jumping stilts. He also formed Fusion Clown Company with his partner Ruby O’Sullivan, providing roaming clown characters for big events like last year’s Light Nelson Festival, where Karl devised roaming characters in black Edwardian costume festooned in programmed LED lighting. Karl has a strong personal philosophy when it comes to creative cooperation: “You shouldn’t hold on to information. Sharing is what creativity is all about. It’s what leads to progression.” He thinks for a moment, then adds: “The world needs a lot of progression right now.”

For further information phone Community Art Works on 03 545 9976

IN THE GALLERY

Julyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top creative picks Treat yourself this winter with something special from our local galleries and artisans.

1. Jens Hansen, Legacy Collection 2019 Portrait Earrings, sterling silver, www.jenshansen.co.nz, $790 2. Charisse Papworth, Autumn Inspiration, acrylic inks, 600 x 900mm, Forest Fusion, Mapua Wharf, 022 091 8380, www.forestfusion.com 3. Darryl Frost, Necklace, 850 x 900mm, Frost and Fire Gallery, 107 Harley Road, Tasman, 021 983 808, www.frostandfire.co.nz, $5,000 4. Ian Hamlin, Into the West, West Coast, oil on canvas, 320 x 750mm, www.ianhamlin.co, $4,250 5. Sophie Holt and Lot Brandt, If you want me to stay, clay, 420mm tall, base: 240 x 200mm, Quiet Dog Gallery, Nelson, 03 548 3991, www.quietdoggallery.co.nz

BOOKS

Books to relax with Here are three great reads that could have you burning the midnight oil – compiled by Renée Lang.

The Unreliable People Rosetta Allan Available now, $38.00 Penguin Random House

Dog-gone good BY RENÉE LANG

ane Goodall says it best: “You cannot share your life with a dog and not know perfectly well that animals have personalities, minds and feelings.” Writer and sculptor Marianne Castle agrees with Goodall’s sentiment 100 percent, even though she came to developing a serious relationship with the canine species later rather than earlier. That’s not to say she disliked dogs; more that she was an adult before a four-footed companion became an important part of her life. However, once committed, she quickly became aware that training plays a huge part in how a dog develops and she then became determined to learn as much as she possibly could about the process. Fast-forward more than 30 years and Marianne has just published her first book, Two Dogs One Bone, effectively a cleverly disguised memoir that tells the story of her life – albeit and completely understandably with a heavy emphasis on the dogs she has known and worked with – since growing up in the bosom of her family in Motueka. A number of short stories and a play, subsequently performed at Nelson College, preceded the book, the seeds of which had been percolating in her mind for some time even before completing a Diploma in Writing through Whitireia Polytechnic in 2006. One of the reasons she decided to write this book was to inform people of the changes in dog training over the last few decades. These days, reputable trainers are well aware that a reward-based system, ie positive reinforcement, will bring about the desired result but it hasn’t always been so; in fact many trainers used to employ punishment to get the animal to do what they wanted. But Two Dogs One Bone is not a dog-training manual. Far from it, in fact. It’s mostly a good-natured series of anecdotes that make enjoyable reading. Marianne’s other passion in life is working with clay, something she’s enjoyed for many years and now that she has her own kiln she puts it to good use. An unrelated injury means she can no longer work with dogs, and so these days she finds the satisfaction she obtains from sculpting is pretty well equal to her passion for writing.

One of the reasons she decided to write this book was to inform people of the changes in dog training over the last few decades. Above: Author Marianne Castle 78

ho knew that Koreans started migrating to what is now Russian territory back in the 1860s, although close to 180,000 of them were later transported to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan under Stalin’s rule and subsequently became known as Koryo-Saram. This multi-layered novel essentially follows two Koryo-Saram women, whose stories intersect in completely unexpected ways.

Loving Sylvie Elizabeth Smither Available now, $36.99 Allen & Unwin

ne of New Zealand’s best-known poets, multi-awarded Elizabeth Smither once again turns her hand to fiction in this account of three intergenerational women. One of them lives in Auckland, another in Paris and the third in Melbourne and as the narrative shifts between the point of view of each character, we come to understand and sympathise with the relationships between them.

Ask Again, Yes Mary Beth Keane Available now, $37.00 Penguin Random House

he reason behind such an intriguing title doesn’t become clear until close to the end, which is mildly frustrating, but the fact that it’s a well-written family saga soon takes precedence. Dealing with the long-term and wide-ranging consequences of the actions of a seriously dysfunctional key character, the book weaves its way to a satisfying ending.

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MUSIC

A veritable feast of strings BY PETE RAINEY

Eight weeks of string concerts There is a veritable feast of string concerts heading our way over the next eight weeks in the Nelson School of Music Auditorium at the NCMA. This kicks off with the NZ Guitar Quartet on Sunday 7 July. Recently returned from concerts in Australia, China, Mexico and the USA, the NZGQ is building an international reputation that transcends borders both geographically and stylistically. Their performances of classical, contemporary and world music continue to engage audiences from all walks of life. This is part of an extensive NZ tour, which will be followed a few days later on Friday 12 July by the NZTrio for their first concert in Nelson. This is a newly reformed Above: NZTrio 2019 line-up, from left Ashley Brown, Somi Kim, Amalia Hall 80

Photo: Supplied

love playing the violin, and from time to time its bigger sibling the viola. I started lessons at the Nelson School of Music over 50 years ago and with the help of excellent teachers (Dora Alack, Dawn Oaten and Elizabeth Rogers), persistent and supportive parents, and a smidge of natural ability, I achieved enough that the knack of playing has never really disappeared. More often than not now, I play jazz with my gypsy music mates in the band Django Schmango, but I have recently enjoyed playing viola with the NCMA Chamber Orchestra. Playing a string instrument in the violin family is challenging for everyone who tries. As the great Israeli/American violinist Itzhak Perlman said: “If you put your hand on the piano, you play a note. It’s in tune. But if you put it on a violin maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. You have to figure it out.” Essentially this means that on a violin or similar instrument there is ample opportunity to play out of tune (because your fingers can go anywhere), whereas with most other instruments there is a mechanism that generally gives you a helpful advantage to play in tune – whether that be a valve, a fret, or a key of some kind.

ensemble in which founding member and cellist Ashley Brown formally welcomes two Kiwi musicians as permanent members to the group – violinist Amalia Hall and pianist Somi Kim. Amalia is an internationally acclaimed soloist and concertmaster of Orchestra Wellington, and Somi is a versatile pianist based in London, in demand as a duo partner and as an official pianist for many prestigious summer academies and international competitions in Europe. The trio brings a programme rich with musical storytelling about empires and superpowers and the fundamental forces that shape Aotearoa – our land, our population, our society. The following Sunday, 14 July, part of the NCMA Celebration Series sees the Emanon Duo perform at the NCMA, featuring NSO concertmaster John Thomson and pianist Monica Chang playing music to celebrate Bastille Day.

Local and international musicians The Nelson Symphony Orchestra under the baton of guest conductor and NCMA director James Donaldson performs a programme of New Zealand music on July 27, and just a few weeks later the NCMA Chamber Orchestra directed once again by New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s assistant concertmaster, violinist Donald

Their performances of classical, contemporary and world music continue to engage audiences from all walks of life. Armstrong delivers a programme with a distinct Italian flavour on Sunday the 11th of August. On Wednesday 14 August, enter a world of secrets and hidden messages with the captivating Te Kōtī Trio and one of the most dynamic violists of her generation, American Jennifer Stumm. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, with the Berlin Philharmonie and in London’s Wigmore Hall, and is currently International Chair of Viola Studies at the Royal College of Music, London. An old friend of Nelson audiences Yid Ee Goh returns with his violin and pianist Lisa Chou to perform on Sunday 8 September, 3:30pm for the final concert in the NCMA’s Celebration Series with a programme including a Handel sonata, Beethoven sonata no. 6, Douglas Lilburn’s Salutes to Seven Poets and the Schumann violin sonata. A stunning line-up of concerts, all in the fabulous Nelson School of Music Auditorium with tickets available online at Ticketdirect or at the venue – the NCMA.

FILM

A walk on the wild side BY EDDIE ALLNUTT

91 Trafalgar Street, Nelson - Ph: 548 3885 Camino Skies Documentary Directed by Fergus Grady and Noel Smyth Starring Srb Father Manny Domingo, Neill Le Roux and Sue Morris 1hour 20mins Rating TBC

amino Skies follows six antipodeans walking the Camino de Santiago. There’s Sue who’s as tough as the boots she’s wearing; Terry and Mark, family members, who share Kiwi banter while doing it for a cause; Claude who says, “The Camino is life,” with all its up and downs and she’s magnetised to it for the second time. There’s also Cheryl who never would have made it if it wasn’t for Ozzy’s octaves, and finally Julie, who’s had it rough lately. These rucksack-wearing Kiwis and Aussies don’t mind stopping at the taverns along the way and fair enough too as it does come across as hard slog. After all, it’s almost 15 times longer than the Abel Tasman Coastal Track. This doco fits plenty into the hour-twenty and you don’t get bored. However, you may feel something is missing, like some background information into how the group was formed and their actual starting point. You may also find it slightly on the dry side even though they trudge through rain, mud and snow. But, saying this, it still manages to connect you closely to the characters. The camera follows their boots and poles as if you are walking alongside them to hear their stories and reasons for doing the graft. You see them grow and learn from each other and there’s always a hug on hand when needed. Do be warned, you could be digging into your pockets for tissues. Along with the heartfelt connections you make, Camino Skies also has the capability of tempting you to do the trail yourself, and that could be a life changer. People do the Camino for different reasons; some for spiritual or religious growth, some for emotional catharsis, and some for the challenge of pushing their limits. Padre Manny Domingo, from a pueblo along the way, says, “The experience of the Camino gives us the strength to go on.” No shortcuts with these six pilgrims either, they are in it for the long haul, not just doing the last 100 kilometres as many opt for. The Camino offers different routes and there are enough clues to suggest it’s the popular 800 kilometre ‘French Way’, from St Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Directors and producers Furgus Grady and Noel Smyth bring us into the lives of these pilgrims. There are no scripted rehearsals and they manage to capture them at their weakest, rawest moments. Cinematographer, Noel Smyth, adequately shoots the idiosyncrasies of the quaint villages and the open beauty of the rolling plains with their scattered vineyards and mountain backdrops. Local music is all part of the Camino and it makes for an organic soundtrack. One muso has a voice as gravelly as the trail as he strums rumba-style like the Gypsy Kings while another does a soulful cover of Gracias A La Vida which stirs the emotions of Julie from New Zealand to make one of the most poignant moments of the film.

Movies Screening in JULY BOOKSMART

M | 1hr 55min Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever lead this end-of-highschool comedy as two pals who seek to become trendy rulebreakers, believing it’ll help them survive college. This marks the feature directorial debut of actor Olivia Wilde.

THE LION KING

Rating TBC | Runtime TBC The Jungle Book director Jon Favreau helms this CG-animated re-imagining of the 1994 Walt Disney classic. Score composer Hans Zimmer and song writer Elton John both return to re-work the original compositions.

OPHELIA

M | 1hr 56min Something is rotten in medieval-era Denmark, where political intrigue swirls around the imperial court like dark magic. Amid it all, the queen’s brightest lady-in-waiting, Ophelia, finds herself drawn to Hamlet, the elusive crown prince.

For more information, go to our website:

www.statecinemas.co.nz

EVENTS

Regular Markets

Nelson Tasman Friday 5 & Saturday 6

Every Saturday morning

Hobnail – Boots And All Tour

The Nelson Market 8am to 1pm

After 25 years of making music and countless hours of hard, but fun, slog, Hobnail proudly present ‘Boots And All’ – their 25th anniversary tour, following the June 28 release of their latest album. From 8pm.

MONTGOMERY SQUARE

Every Sunday Motueka Market 8am to 1pm DECKS RESERVE CAR PARK

Every Wednesday Nelson Farmers’ Market 8.30am to 1.30pm

THE BOATHOUSE, NELSON - FRIDAY 5, MUSSEL INN, ONEKAKA - SATURDAY 6

JULY Thursday 4 Meet New Zealand’s Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year Meet 17-year-old Cameron McGeorge, an award-winning NZ photographer whose work is included in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. With a passion for aerial and time lapse, Cameron will present his work and explain how the images were captured. From 12.30pm to 1.30pm. THE NELSON PROVINCIAL MUSEUM, NELSON

KIRBY LANE

Their performances of classical, contemporary and world music continue to engage audiences from all walks of life, exploring a diverse range of genres. Starts 3.30pm.

fantasy music. Yes, Mexican fantasy music, performed on a plethora of instruments by Finn and Tam Scholes, Alistair Deverick and Oliver Emmitt.

NELSON CENTRE OF MUSICAL ARTS

MUSSEL INN, ONEKAKA, 8PM - SATURDAY 13 PICTON LITTLE THEATRE, PICTON - 7.30PM SATURDAY 27

Friday 12 NZTrio: Tectonic Shift Join NZTrio for their first concert in Nelson and a programme rich with musical storytelling about empires and superpowers and the fundamental forces that shape Aotearoa – our land, our population, our society. From 7:30pm. NELSON CENTRE OF MUSICAL ARTS

Friday 5 to Sunday 7

Saturday 13 & Saturday 27

Pop-up Globe Tour

Carnivorous Plant Society

Pop-up Globe visits Nelson for six shows, performing their critically acclaimed productions of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Measure for Measure. Both productions will feature stunning bespoke Jacobean costumes, a specially-designed touring set and a highly-experienced cast of local and international actors. Various times. THEATRE ROYAL, NELSON

Sunday 7 New Zealand Guitar Quartet The New Zealand Guitar Quartet brings an infectious energy to the stage! Besides Owen Moriarty, Jane Curry and John Couch, the quartet has a new member, internationally acclaimed guitarist Vladimir Gorbach. 82

Band leader/multi-instrumentalist/ genius Finn Scholes has penned custom-made animation as a backdrop to this highly acclaimed band’s performance of Mexican

Sunday 21 Pretty Crafty Winter Market An indoor market with handcrafted goods created by talented local crafts people. A big range of goods including jewellery, clothing, skincare, dog accessories, children’s accessories and wall art. 10am to 2.30pm. STOKE MEMORIAL HALL, STOKE

Tuesday 23 Bird-related treasures Join Hamuera Robb as he introduces you to some of the Māori taonga in his care at the Nelson Provincial Museum. A special focus will be on birds and feathers, and traditional kākahu. 5.30pm to 6.50pm. NELSON PROVINCIAL MUSEUM, NELSON

Friday 26 Charity mid-winter Xmas party Get together, sing carols, eat Xmas dinner and dance the night away, all while raising funds for Nelson Tasman Hospice and Nelson

Marlborough Rescue Helicopter. From 6pm to 11.30pm. THE PLAYHOUSE CAFE, MAPUA

Saturday 27 Nelson Symphony Orchestra presents Aotearoa Showcase A programme of New Zealand pieces including: Ko te tatai whetu, with three young soloists and guest conductor James Donaldson. Starts 7.30pm. NELSON CENTRE OF MUSICAL ARTS, NELSON

Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 Sarau Winter Sale Two days of second-hand books and pre-loved clothes bargains in this fundraiser for the Moutere Hills Community Centre and the local Country Kids. The Cosy Café will also be operating. From 11am to 3pm. MOUTERE HILLS COMMUNITY CENTRE, UPPER MOUTERE

EVENTS

Regular Markets

Marlborough

Every Sunday Marlborough Farmers’ Market 9am - 12pm

Friday 5 to Sunday 7 Marlborough Book Festival

The Sunday Marlborough Farmers’ Market is based on supporting local, fresh and seasonal produce and products. Everything at the market has been picked, grown, farmed, fished, produced and made by the people selling it at the market.

A literary feast spanning three days and nights. Featured authors include Nelson’s own Naomi Arnold along with Laurie Murdoch (pictured), Grahame Sydney, Kate de Goldi, Owen Marshall and Shayne Carter.

A&P SHOWGROUNDS

VARIOUS VENUES, MARLBOROUGH

JULY Friday 5 to Sunday 7 Marlborough Home & Garden Show The Home & Garden Show is all about ideas, inspiration and exclusive show specials. ‘Ask an Expert’ sessions, or simply turn up and prepare to be inspired. 10am to 5pm daily. MARLBOROUGH LINES STADIUM 2000, BLENHEIM

Saturday 6 Black Swan, White Swan Step into the shadows to witness one man’s struggle with love and betrayal as the Royal New

Zealand Ballet presents Mário Radačovský’s Black Swan, White Swan, a daring retelling of ballet’s most enduring classic, Swan Lake. Starts 7.30pm. ASB THEATRE MARLBOROUGH, BLENHEIM

QUEEN CHARLOTTE COLLEGE, PICTON - SUNDAY 7 AUNTSFIELD ESTATE, BLENHEIM - SUNDAY 21

Sunday 7 & Sunday 21

Friday 12

Bikefit 2019 Cyclocross Marlborough Series

Winter Evening Dining Series

Marlborough’s eighth Cyclocross Series hosted over six Sundays this winter. While the courses are largely flat, weaving and meandering around a spectatorfriendly loop, a number of obstacles such as barriers to hurdle, slopes (or stairs) to climb carrying or pushing your bike, short sharp pinch climbs, off-

Twelve Trees Vineyard Restaurant will open for dinner on the second Friday of the month over winter. Executive chef Maree Connolly is planning a delicious a la carte menu which will change each month, matched with your favourite Allan Scott wines. From 6pm.

Sunday 14 Bastille Day celebrations Help celebrate France’s national day in style while raising funds for the Creative Kids Trust, a local charity supporting vulnerable children to grow through the arts. A family event with a French atmosphere, French food, fine wines and a little rustic French music as well. From 11am to 3pm. CLOS HENRI, STATE HIGHWAY 63, BLENHEIM

camber slopes, grassy paddocks and hopefully muddy conditions to ride through test the skills and resolve of participants. 11.30am to 3pm.

ALLAN SCOTT FAMILY WINES, JACKSONS ROAD

Saturday 13 NZ String Quartet: National Tour 2019 Wonderful works full of captivating melodies and rhythmic poise by Mozart, Haydn, Ravel, Dvořák, Janáček, Shostakovich and Chinese composer Gao Ping. 1pm & 5pm start times. CLOUDY BAY VINEYARD, JACKSONS ROAD

Saturday 20 Bride of the Year The Beavertown Blenheim Lions Bride of the Year is on again with 25 brides set to take centre stage. All proceeds will be donated to Crossroads Marlborough Trust and other local charities. Starts 7.30pm. ASB THEATRE MARLBOROUGH, BLENHEIM

Sunday 28 Best of Broadway: Cole Porter & Beyond Marlborough Singers present a concert featuring all the wellknown songs from your favourite Broadway shows, including Les Misérables, West Side Story, Paint Your Wagon and medleys from Cole Porter and Rodgers & Hammerstein. From 4pm to 5.30pm. WESLEY CENTRE, BLENHEIM