WildTomato October 2019 by WildTomato

Nelson Tasman and Marlborough’s magazine /

ISSUE 159 / OCTOBER 2019 / $8.95

Bumper biggest-ever REGISTERED MASTER BUILDERS HOUSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2019

Art & fashion

- Nelson’s 25th annual Arts Festival

Garden Marlborough Self-Publishing First Encounters Fashion Astrolabe Wines Nova Scotia Art Collector STEM Jester House Snapped

+ +

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We welcome Anna to our design team Studying at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology allowed me to have an insight into what the design world is about. Gaining my Diploma in Interior Design whilst being the youngest in my class allowed me to see the views of different ages which has given me the experience to work alongside any generation. My inspiration all started when I was in my younger teens working alongside my father who is a well-known designer in Nelson who has also done many kitchen projects with The Sellers Room. Anna Krammer Director of Residential Design 027 547 7033

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Nelson Tasman and Marlborough’s magazine

Features Issue 159 / October 2019

30 Nelson Arts Festival Celebrating the 25th anniversary of this iconic event, Frances Wilson looks back at past festivals

36 Self-publishing Renée Lang explores the options for self-publishing with successful authors

44 First Encounters Taking a step back 250 years, Shelley Grell explores the first encounters between Māori and Europeans

INTERVIEWS

12 My Big Idea Anne Rush explains how global movement Make/Shift Spaces is helping to re-invigorate and re-present vacant spaces in Nelson’s CBD

20 The Interview Absolute Wilderness founder Andrew MacDonald talks with Lynda Papesch

24 Event Showcase The annual Garden Marlborough event just keeps getting better, explains Brenda Webb

28 Local Connection STEM is a group of budding local writers who meet on the second Tuesday of every month to inspire each other. Ann Fellowes expands

86 My Education Jett Manson speaks to Jake Tranter about studying hospitality at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology 4

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Columns Issue 159 / October 2019

FASHION

49 Fashion to worship Stylist Sonya Leusink Sladen and photographer Ishna Jacobs headed to Christ Church Cathedral for this month’s artistic fashion shoot

55 Shoe of the Month Dress shoes are “on point” with high heels and tapered toes

56 Fashion showcase Sonya Leusink Sladen explains how to work towards great personal style

LIFE

58 My Home Brenda Webb explores a Scandinavian-influenced modern bach

64 Wellbeing Finding healthy snacks can be tricky. Emily Hope has some nutritious ideas

65 My Garden Garden tours would not exist without a great deal of work, writes Brenda Webb

66 Dine Out A quirky, family-friendly environment with good food appeals to Hugo Sampson

68 My Kitchen Caramelised fennel with herby new-season potatoes is a spring treat from Madame Lu’s Kitchen

70 Wine Sophie Preece checks out Marlborough-based Astrolabe Wines and finds it a family affair

71 Brews Beer aficionado Mark Preece takes a look back at what Captain James Cook would have been drinking 250 years ago 6

ACTIVE

78 Arts John Cohen-Du Four meets a Marlborough man who collects art for art’s sake

72 Travel Craig Sisterson explores Canada’s Unesco World Heritage fishing town of Lunenburg

80 Music Geoffrey Douglas, drummer for Nelson’s Medicine Woman band, believes in the therapeutic power of music. Angela Zame investigates

74 Sports Organisers are expecting a record number of entries for next month’s Nelson Half Marathon. More on that from Phil Barnes

81 Film Reviewer Eddie Allnutt discovers romance Argentinean-style in the movie Florianópolis Dream

75 Motoring The new Suzuki Jimny is a wee cracker, says reviewer Geoff Moffett

CULTURE

76 Books Some of the latest reads, complied by Renée Lang

77 Pukapuka Talks The literary component of this month’s 25th Nelson Arts Festival has been re-branded as it continues to grow. Renée Lang reports

REGULARS

Editor’s letter & contributors 10 Noticeboard 14 Snapped 79 In the Gallery 82 Events

Editor's letter

Editor

Manager

elcome to a new first for WildTomato. This is our biggest issue ever, and also our first ‘flip’ issue with two front covers; one leading into a special Registered Master Builders House of the Year feature and the other all your usual WildTomato sections and columns. That’s plenty of reading by the fire if we suffer another cold snap like last month or outside in the spring sunshine as the days become even warmer. Yes it’s time to head outdoors and make the most of the lifestyle afforded by living in the Top of the South. Nelson Tasman and Marlborough all have a huge diversity of ethnicity which has led to a vast creative, artistic population. Those that can, create – from ceramics to copper, graffiti art to gouache, and filigree to fresco secco – and those that cannot instead take enjoyment out of others’ works. Annually for more than two decades now, Nelson Tasman has been blessed with the Nelson Arts Festival, which this year celebrates a quarter century. Thanks to the generosity of the Nelson City Council and its sponsors – of which WildTomato is proud to be one – the arts festival brings an amazing array of international quality artisans to the Top of the South for everyone’s enjoyment. Many of the events are free, allowing all of us – young and old, rich and not so rich – the chance to partake in some culture. What are you waiting for? There’s still time to buy tickets for some of the shows although some are sold out already. Read on. And don’t be afraid to flip the magazine and check out the gold and category awardwinning homes featured. All tastes are catered for from beach baches to million-dollar-plus mansions. If it’s inspiration you’re looking for, then look no further. Today’s modern builds are a far cry from the homes in the regions when Europeans first encountered the Māori here 250 years ago, with wattle and daub featuring predominantly all those years ago. This month marks the anniversary of those first encounters with a series of celebrations around the country, including one in Picton. Turn the pages … As always, I hope you enjoy the issue. LYNDA PAPESCH

Love local Businesses are booming

elson Tasman is home to a multitude of small thriving entrepreneurial businesses. Among these are YUM and the Kombucha Brothers. YUM operates out of what was once a newspaper print press room, creating unique granola products, including a new coffee granola. A collaboration with local roastery Sublime, YUM’s new Coffee Deluxe Granola gives a morning caffeine hit with breakfast. YUM is all made by hand, in small batches, using the best organic ingredients such as Blenheim hazel nuts and Nelson honey. Another business making an impact is the Kombucha Bros, developed by former Nelson Craft Beer Depot entrepreneur Brandon Turnage. With a new brewery in Achilles Avenue, Kombucha Bros has a strong focus on healthy natural kombucha brews with a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic products.

Lynda Papesch 021 073 2786 lynda@wildtomato.co.nz Laura Loghry 027 378 0008 laura@wildtomato.co.nz

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

Contributors

Eddie Allnutt, Phil Barnes, Chelsea Chang, Elora Chang, John Cohen-Du Four, Jackie Cook, Maureen Dewar, Lisa Duncan, Shelley Grell, Emily Hope, Alistair Hughes, Steve Hussey, Bob Irvine, Ishna Jacobs, Renée Lang, Sonya Leusink Sladen, Aimee Macquet, Brent McGilvary, Geoff Moffett, Frank Nelson, Sarah Nottage, Mark Preece, Sophie Preece, Anne Rush, Hugo Sampson, Annabel Schuler, Craig Sisterson, Jim Tannock, Laura Tucker, Karaena Vincent, Brenda Webb, Dominique White, Frances Wilson, Angela Zame.

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

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.

Cover 1 (left): Photography by Ishna Jacobs and styled by Sonya Leusink Sladen. Cover 2 (right): Photography by Dominique White of Natural Charmer by Inhaus, the Supreme House of the Year 2019.

Contributor spotlight RENÉE LANG

Self-publishing feature (page 36) Books (page 76) Pukapuka Talks (page 77) An Aucklander now resident in Nelson, for the last 15 years I’ve run Renaissance Publishing, a small book publishing business specialising in non-fiction. Previously I worked for several well-known publishing houses including Penguin and New Holland. As an author I’ve written and contributed to various books, including Frommers New Zealand Guide (Frommers US), 101 Must-do Weekends and Auckland Harbour Bridge: 50 Years of a City Icon (both Random House NZ). I’ve also written for various Auckland-based magazines on a variety of subjects.

S H E L L EY G R E L L

First Encounters feature (Page 44) Writing the Tuia250 feature not only reminded me of my own journeys to England and New Zealand, but also my ancestors’ journeys to Trinidad where I was born. I read with surprise that my great-great-grandfather Robert Lechmere Guppy (who found and named the guppy fish) visited New Zealand before me. Shipwrecked here around 1856, Guppy lived with Māori for two years while mapping the Taupo region before returning to Trinidad. His Pākehā and Māori encounter was generations after Cook’s journey on the Endeavour and some 140 years before I settled here. We can’t change history, but we can decide what our shared future will be.

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B R E N DA W E B B

Event Showcase (page 24) My Garden (page 65) My Home (page 58) Returning to Marlborough after spending 12 years living and travelling overseas, made me appreciate just what a special place the Top of the South is. During our travels, mostly by yacht, we visited some wonderfully remote and exotic spots, but it’s pretty hard to beat the Marlborough Sounds on a good day. I’ve lived and breathed journalism all my life – starting out as a fresh faced 18-year-old on Auckland city newspapers and moving to Marlborough (and the Marlborough Express) in 1986. These days freelance journalism gives me the freedom to write about the things I’m passionate about.

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

NOTICEBOARD

Couture at the Cathedral

ildTomato and Morrison Square are proud to present the 4th annual fundraising fashion event, Couture at the Cathedral. Tickets are now on sale so be in quick. This fashion show and charity auction raises funds for the Nelson Regional Breast and Gynaecological Cancer Trust (nrbgct), having previously raised over $73,000 for the Trust. The fashion show, on October 16th from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, is set in Nelson’s iconic Christ Church Cathedral. Tickets are on sale from Morrison Square Centre Management Office (open Monday to Friday 9am4pm, located above the Morri St Cafe) or you can email nelson@morrisonsquare.co.nz.

We have four copies of the book Self-Publishing in New Zealand to give away ...

New arts festival director

he Nelson Arts Festival Trust has appointed Padma Naidu as its new festival director for 2020. She replaces Charlie Unwin who is moving to Dunedin at the conclusion of this year’s festival to be its festival director. “Charlie has presented eight, soon to be nine, high-quality festivals for Nelson. We will be sorry to say goodbye to Charlie but are very pleased to have found someone of Padma’s calibre to replace him,” Padma Naidu says Trust chair Brent Thawley. “Padma, currently the arts education manager of the Corban Estate Arts Centre in West Auckland, will bring her rich experience in arts management and community engagement to the festival,” says Brent. She is also a qualified architect, and this combined with her experience in the arts, is a great fit for the Trust’s strategy to make the festival more visible in the city and other community spaces and explore new ideas for existing and new locations. Padma has been a frequent visitor to Nelson for work and pleasure and is part of the team presenting Cultural Conversations at this month’s festival.

Where do you read yours? Gill and Baz Gardiner read their WildTomato outside the historic Mermaid Inn, Rye, East Sussex. The inn, which dates back to the 12th century, was rebuilt in 1420. Send your image to editor@wildtomato.co.nz ONLY JPG FILES ACCEPTED, MIN 1MB

G I V E AWAY

uthor Holly Dunn has written a book called Self-Publishing in New Zealand, an Independent Author’s Guide and WildTomato has four copies to give away, thanks to The Copy Press where she works. The Copy Press specialises in small to medium runs for self-published authors and Holly wrote the self-help guide to promote their services. 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 25th October. Winners will be randomly selected and notified directly.

Aviation Heritage Centre’s new exhibits

angerous Skies, the World War II exhibition at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre (OAHC) is re-opening to the public thanks to a team of talented volunteers and professionals working to bring new and inspirational stories of pilots and their machines to life. Jane Orphan, Omaka AHC director, says the main exhibition area now holds two additional aircraft, both originals and never seen before in Dangerous Skies. The first is a Messerschmitt Bf108 once owned and flown by a German ace and the second a Lockheed Hudson, an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft which has been suspended in a dramatic crash scene in the depths of a Pacific island jungle. Other spaces have been reconfigured to better highlight the incredible stories of WW2 and to increase visitor engagement.

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Photo: Tim Cuff

MY BIG IDEA

Re-vitalising empty shops Nelson artist Anne Rush is leading the charge to fill our empty retail spaces. She explains more. What is your big idea? Make/Shift Spaces is part of a global movement to reuse, re-invigorate and re-present vacant spaces in cities by generating opportunities for artists, creatives and community groups to fill spaces with vibrant installations and activity. Because all our spaces are temporary, Make/Shift Spaces is about short-term solutions with long-term effects. We’re working with property owners and the real estate industry to bring life and creativity into the city. We’re not aiming to fill every empty shop at once, but rather work on a progressive rollout, matching the right project with the right space. Our strategy is to challenge the perception of a city that has a decline in tenancies. We want to shine the focus on the really positive aspects of Nelson such as our diverse hospitality sector, café society, interesting buildings and the compact treefilled streets with a cathedral view. Above: Chair of Make/Shift Spaces Alison McAlpine, left, and General Manager Anne Rush 12

How did it evolve? It started with a conversation with Mayor Rachel Reese following negative publicity in the local media in mid-2018, around the decline of business activity in the central city. Nelson City Council commissioned research to investigate the feasibility of the idea of how to best use the empty spaces. The positive response from property owners and the community led to seed funding from NCC for an independent notfor-profit organisation to be set up. International research identified other cities with similar aspirations. The most striking example is Renew Newcastle in Australia, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2004. In 2008 the city was named by Lonely Planet as one of the 10 top cities in the world to visit. Within a decade they managed to redefine a declining postindustrial city into a place of enterprise, action and creativity!

Who is involved and who benefits? Make/Shift Spaces is an incorporated society, whose members have a passion for Nelson and the project. We have a group of pilot projects that we’re rolling out as vacant buildings become available. We’re open to all sorts of possibilities, but we have criteria and, of course, projects are determined by resources. Nelson has a ‘can do’ reputation for creative industries. We also need to tell

our stories of heritage and place, including those of mana whenua and our migrant communities. The benefits of Make/Shift Spaces are far-reaching – creative and community groups get access to a space, vacant buildings are revitalised, and overall, it makes for a more pleasant and engaging experience to walk around our city streets.

How do others become involved? Check out www.makeshiftspaces.nz. We have a selection committee who makes recommendations, matching properties to proposals. We have been incredibly impressed with the generosity of all manner of interested people and want to help make our city the best it can be. Make/ Shift Spaces is an experimental idea. We aim to lift the spirit of our city by filling the ‘missing teeth’ in that in-between space between tenants vacating and new tenants installing their business. Maybe we can be an incubator of new thinking that characterises the ‘smart little city’ we collectively aspire to be. The power to succeed lies with many stakeholders who are able to collaborate to make Nelson the best place to live, work and recreate in. Check us out around town, or at www.makeshiftspaces.nz for information on how to register properties and potential project ideas.

Snapped WildTomato goes out on the town…

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1. Zinnia Nichol Foster & Jay Clement 2. Debbie Lavery & Steve Howes 3. Eelco Boswijk 4. Sarah Nottage & Roz Speirs 5. Lynda Papesch, Laura Loghry, Chrissie Sanders, Kaleigh Armitage, Hester Janssen & Jo Hender

6. Nikki & James Barry 7. Sam Aish & Andi Waddington 8. Pete Coates & Nick Widley 9. Cameron Woods & Maria Gonzales 10. Scott Bradley & Catherine Griffin 11. James Rutherford & Andrew Clancey

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8. Mel Howieson & Taylor Frammartino

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SNAPPED

1 Master Builder Apprentice Awards Picâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Peanut Butter World, Nelson 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. Jess Deaker, Henry Leov, Lenny Basham & Lyndsey Cassidy 2. Margaret Richards, Tullia Hindmarsh-Walls, Jay & Stu Pope 3. Glenn Duncan, Kieren Mallon & Neville Ward

4. Laura Aylen & Molly MacDonald 5. Abraham Rood, Ken & Jo Anderson 6. Tanya Campbell & Aleisha McFadyen 7. Jess Boyne & Simon Rae 8. Al Columbus & Ben Coman

SNAPPED

Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast Regional Master Builders Awards Convention Centre, Blenheim P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y G AV I N H A D F I E L D

1. Darrell Trigg & Neil Hunt

5. Matt Williams & Dan Anderson

2. Russell Campbell, Justin & Cheryl Candish

6. Tony Latta & Brent Stewart

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8. Trevor Salter

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9. Kurtis Lee 10. Roger Townley

7. Tony Latta & Russell Bruce

6 9

SNAPPED

Tim’s Garden Services opening Gloucester Street, Nelson

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KARAENA VINCENT

1. Amber Watts, Emma O’Grady & Tim Morozgalski 2. Sam McGeady, Tom Marston & Hannah O’Malley

5. Ricky & Louise Holley 6. Jean Allan & Kaye Beattie 7. Ami Kennedy & Graham Allan

3. Steve & Bridgit Gibellini

8. Anna Wallace & Pamela Hall

4. Wendy Lane & Olly Dean

9. Simon McGuire & Pete Galloway

SNAPPED

1 Spring Exhibition opening 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. Peter Wise, Tim & Kirsty Skinner

6. Lynette Salisbury & Julie Catchpole

2. Melitta & Richard Hunt

7. Gabrielle & Kate Coote

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8. Adriana Isin-Tomic & Trish Kennedy

5. Francie Heathfield & Ronnie Martin

9. Catherine Carter & Larisse Hall

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INTERVIEW

Bon appetit in the backblocks Combining his love of nature, tramping and good food with his entrepreneurial nous, Andy MacDonald is on a mission to make the tastiest freeze-dried meals in the world. Lynda Papesch expands. P H O T O G R A P H Y B R E N T M C G I LVA R Y

Photo: Supplied

or as long as he can remember Andy MacDonald has loved nature. Photography and tramping came along later as he grew old enough to appreciate them, but the draw of the wilderness was there from the beginning. Even now it weaves its way through both his work and recreation. The driving force behind the Absolute Wilderness company, which produces freeze-dried food, also embraced his entrepreneurial side from an early age, with the result that now at age 31, he’s a seasoned and successful businessman, albeit one who prefers shorts and tramping boots to suits. Alongside Andy in the business are his father, Dr Grant MacDonald, who is an award-winning food scientist, dedicated

mountain biker, fly-fisherman and orienteer, plus world champion adventure-racer and event organiser Nathan Fa’avae. Andy boasts a degree in business design. Paired with his passion for food and the outdoors, that ultimately led to Absolute Wilderness. “Originally it started as an idea on a trip into the Kahurangi Wilderness Area in early April 2012,” he recalls. “There was a distinct lack of tasty freeze-dried meals available in New Zealand at that time.” So Andy and his father set about cooking, testing and refining their own range of meals until they had created a small selection of tasty options. One of their first customers was Nathan, who quickly picked up on the value of having lightweight meals that actually tasted like real food. Soon after, he became a partner in the business. Andy was born and raised in Nelson Tasman, attending Birchwood Primary School, Broadgreen Intermediate and then Nayland College. Growing up with super-fit parents set the template, and instilled in him a love of nature. “Growing up I sometimes saw it as forced marches and tramping trips, and from time to time even rebelled against the regime. That said, I always came back to nature,” he laughs. After college he headed to Auckland to study video-editing, and halfway through the course started his own video-production business. “I did that for six to eight months before realising it wasn’t right for me.”

“Dad had the freeze-drier and a good understanding of the process, and I had the drive and the money.” 20

“They’ve been enjoyed from the top of the French Alps to the deepest cave systems in New Zealand ...” Backing himself

Photo: Supplied

Still searching, Andy decided to study for a Bachelor of Business degree, majoring in design, at Auckland University of Technology. That was when he entered the AUT Venture Fund and won financial backing for a clothing company idea. (AUT Ventures has access to funding, investors and collaborators for early-stage capital raising, through to the late-stage commercialisation of projects.) Andy was a finalist in the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards, then entered the venture fund for a second time, winning $10,000 to kickstart Absolute Wilderness. At the time he’d been offered a well-paid corporate job, but decided instead to back himself. “I moved back to Nelson Tasman in 2011 to start the business and launched it in 2012. Dad had the freeze-drier and a good understanding of the process, and I had the drive and the money.” Mum Alison is also a keen supporter, but his father has the more hands-on role. Andy appreciates the collaboration. “He’s my mentor as well as my business partner and, of course, my dad.” At their Stoke factory, they “merge cutting-edge food science, intense outdoor testing and innovative ingredients to create freeze-dried meals that perform anywhere and always taste amazing”. They use ingredients like Marlborough saffron, Heilala Vanilla and sauvignon blanc wine to create meals so good their customers would be happy to eat them at home, let alone in the wilderness. Consumer-testing plays a major role in deciding which new products to produce. “We work with some of the world’s leading outdoor athletes and enthusiasts to fine-tune our meals. That’s why they’ve been enjoyed from the top of the French Alps to the deepest cave systems in New Zealand, and everywhere inbetween,” Andy explains. That user-centric approach to product design has not only led to tastier meals, but also helped to create innovative design features. “All our meals are 100% freeze-dried, which makes them ultra-lightweight and it means they rehydrate really fast.

Above: Clockwise - Andy in his work environment; with dad Grant during earlier times in the great outdoors Opposite page: From top - From an idea to reality: Andy enjoys tasty food no matter where he is; where it all began as an idea while tramping

“It’s my personal drive.” With that drive comes a lot of hard work. “It’s like the iceberg thing – people see only the tip of the iceberg, but there’s a whole lot more to it than that.” “We are also the only company in the world that completely vacuum-packs all of our meals. Although it may seem like a small detail, we found that customers weren’t just after superlightweight meals, they were also looking to save valuable space in their backpacks.”

Entrepreneurial streak

Andy’s always been entrepreneurial. “It’s my personal drive.” With that drive comes a lot of hard work. “It’s like the iceberg thing – people see only the tip of the iceberg, but there’s a whole lot more to it than that.” He believes in making the most of opportunities. “When I went to the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards in America, I met all these super-successful entrepreneurs and was able to learn a lot from them.” Mixing with successful American businesspeople made him realise how risk-averse people in New Zealand are, and also opened his eyes to what is possible. In terms of his company, he has a clear vision – to make the tastiest freeze-dried meals in the world. Absolute Wilderness already has a range of about 20 meals that change with the seasons and the availability of ingredients. It recently began exporting to Australia and the future looks bright for other international markets. Exporting more is the next big step in Andy’s game plan and with that in mind the company moved into a new factory last year, having struggled for several years to keep up with New Zealand demand. 21

Photo: Supplied

“For me personally it’s about finding new opportunities. We’ve just completed and will be working on more export markets, maybe more products and getting the word out.” That’s where Nathan comes into play as an international ‘brand ambassador’. “His knowledge, connections and drive are amazing,” says Andy. Moving back to Nelson Tasman to establish the business has been key to its success and growth, he believes. “Nelson Tasman is awesome – the outdoors is all on our doorstep. Sure it’s all available around Auckland too but it’s mostly hours away, not a few minutes. “Nelson Tasman also has a plentiful food source and many of the people who enjoy the great outdoors and use our products.” Andy describes himself as a ‘serial entrepreneur’. “I have lots of [good] ideas but personally I need to focus on one thing at a time, I have found. I see so many opportunities out there and have noticed that people who focus seem to do a lot better. “For me ultimately it’s all about taste. If we get that right the rest falls into place. “Making a great tasting meal is the single most important thing we do,” says Andy. “That’s why we don’t cut corners or make compromises. Every single one of our meals is handcrafted to be the tastiest freeze-dried meal you’ve ever tried.”

Above: Adventure at aged 15 months Top right: Dad Grant is also his mentor and business partner 22

Photo: Supplied

“Nelson Tasman also has a plentiful food source and many of the people who enjoy the great outdoors and use our products.”

“For me ultimately it’s all about taste. If we get that right the rest falls into place. Making a great tasting meal is the single most important thing we do.” Having year-round access in Nelson Tasman to amazing fresh ingredients that each add to the incredible flavour of its meals, adds to the success story. A favourite is Tom Kha Gai, but there’s a huge variety to choose from – breakfast, lunch and dinner – plus snacks. From apples on creamed rice to banana porridge and boysenberries on yoghurt, to butter chicken, beef stroganoff and lamb stew; they make meals for all tastes. “We’ve worked with cavers, climbers and the world’s leading adventure racing team to craft our products since day one,” says Andy. It comes as no surprise then that six times Adventure Racing World Champion Nathan Fa’avae is a fan. In fact he’s the man who liked the product so much that he bought shares in the business. “I’ve lived, worked and raced in some of the remotest, wildest places on the planet. To survive, I need superior nutrition and quality food. Absolute Wilderness meals have been designed for the environments I’m in and the challenges I face; they’re enjoyable to eat and packed with energy,” says Nathan. His wealth of experience pushing the limits in the outdoors, Dr Grant MacDonald’s extensive food science expertise and Andy’s product design skills have all combined to create what is an award-winning range of meals that are ultra light, super tasty and full of awesome ingredients. Eat up!

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EVENT SHOWCASE

Perennial favourite blooming again Now starting its second quarter-century, Marlborough’s garden showcase is as fresh as ever, Brenda Webb reports. PHOTOGRAPHY RICHARD BRIGGS

lice Taylor grew up in a household where helping out in the community was second nature, so stepping onto the Rapaura Springs Garden Marlborough committee was an easy progression for the Blenheim woman. “I actually feel like I’ve been involved with the event for years. I remember Mum [Hilary Taylor] making sandwiches for morning and afternoon teas years ago. I also remember her being given a piece of No.8 wire to make something for the art auction. The event is a huge part of our community and my life.” Alice returned to Marlborough in 2015 after 25 years away from the province, drawn back by family. Having two children, she and partner Den Aitken wanted to be close to parents and live in a community-minded town. While away she had a number of roles. Interestingly, her first after university was in Vancouver working as volunteer 24

coordinator for the Fringe Festival. “I was responsible for 500 volunteers,” she says. “My aim was to provide incentive for these people to turn up without being paid. It’s a big thing to encourage people to turn up day after day and year after year to help out at typically non-profit events.” Alice feels the continuing success of Rapaura Springs Garden Marlborough is due, in no small part, to the generosity of spirit that abounds in Marlborough. “There is a really good feeling about the event, from the minute you walk in the door at the Blenheim Club and are welcomed like an old friend, through to the delicious home-made morning teas at the gardens – it’s all just a wonderful tying together of people from all walks of the community.” Giving back to that community through Garden Marlborough is enjoyable and rewarding, she adds. “The pillars of your life should be home, family and community, and I think it’s important to give to your community. You get such a feeling of fulfilment and it puts a lot of credit in your emotional bank.” On the diverse and interesting committee, where everyone has a specific role, Alice is involved with sponsorship and marketing, which entails getting the message out to people in a changing world of social media. She’s also helping out with the garden party. Alice is excited to be part of an event that has been part of her upbringing and says it’s astonishing that, 26 years on, the

“… it’s all just a wonderful tying together of people from all walks of the community.” A L I C E TAY L O R , C O M M I T T E E M E M B E R

“We seriously can’t thank the volunteers enough and many of them have said ‘yes’ so spontaneously year after year ...” K E R E N M I TC H E L L , C O M M I T T E E S TA LWA RT

committee can bring a stimulating and eclectic array of local and international speakers to Marlborough.

Keen to help

One of the key elements of the ongoing success of Garden Marlborough is the relative ease of attracting volunteers – people want to be involved and committee member Keren Mitchell rarely has trouble filling spaces. A long list of people have given their time to ensure the event is a success. Dozens of names spill from Keren’s lips – going back to the early days when local farmers such as Jim Loe volunteered as guides for the East Coast Tour. “They had a lot of fun at meetings preparing for the event,” she says. Jim’s son Kevin is now a second-generation guide on the East Coast Tour. For many years Chris Beattie ran the registration room with military precision and a dedicated group of women alongside. “Norma Robinson was also a stalwart and all the women would bounce off each other. Pat Jones continued on from Chris and themed the room exceptionally well. “Then there is Ritchie Gorman, a new generation with passion and enthusiasm; Tim Newsham, many, many years of guiding and chairing; Jo O’Connor, who has been very enthusiastic on the Sounds tour for a long time; and Helen Crowder, the meet-and-greet organiser at the front door who informs so diligently every year.” Other names include Dan Clouston, Pete Anderson and Liz Dillon. Leo McKendry, who was the mayor for the very first event, gladly gave his help and advice beyond the call of duty, says Keren. “We seriously can’t thank the volunteers enough and many of them have said ‘yes’ so spontaneously year after year – just another spoke in the wheel of the big Garden Marlborough family,” she says. “Many volunteers call in to offer their services as soon as the brochure is published.”

Above: Clockwise - Browsing at the garden fete; a myriad of stands offering all manner of gardening goods Opposite page: Peonies prove popular at the annual garden fete

“You are surrounded by all these amazing and bubbly people.” M A R G A R E T N EY L O N , B U S G U I D E

Rewards for long-time volunteer

Margaret Neylon has been one of those troupers since the inaugural event back in the 1990s. Her initial role was to meet and greet people at the workshops, introduce the speaker and make sure all was in order. “It was all very exciting and new and I just found it so rewarding,” she says. “The people running the event are a great team and it’s wonderful what they do for the community – and they have this great way of making you feel so special.” Over the years Margaret has had a variety of roles, most recently as a courier on garden tours. “You are surrounded by all these amazing and bubbly people. The people on the bus are here for a good time and it’s such a wonderful thing to be part of,” she says. “I’ve never struck anyone grumpy – they are all your new best friends.” Last year Margaret became even more involved when Rapaura Springs, the company she and husband John co-own, became the main and naming-rights sponsor. She plays down that role, preferring to fly ‘under the radar’, but admits that as a sponsor she sees how highly organised the committee and helpers are and what a well-oiled machine it is. “It’s all about a team effort and it’s a day I really look forward to.” Margaret hasn’t had any disasters during her time but recalls one funny incident at a garden where there was no step on the bus. The garden owner came to the rescue with a tin baby bath which, after 40 people stepping on and off, looked rather bent and battered. “The driver and I were embarrassed to take it back but when we did the garden owner roared with laughter, which pretty much sums up people’s attitudes.” 25

Global expertise flying in

Bloom in the Boom is the theme of this year’s Rapaura Springs Garden Marlborough. Fittingly, the feature workshop at the November 7-10 event is about beautiful blooms. Internationally recognised ‘Land Gardeners’ Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtauld run a thriving flower business based in Oxfordshire growing beautiful blooms for select London clients. The talented duo also design productive and beautiful gardens worldwide and have restored walled and historic gardens in England, France and Italy. Australian cannabis agronomist Thomas Forrest promises to deliver a fascinating workshop on the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal, nutraceutical and industrial hemp potential. His evening workshop will include a panel discussion with medically trained cannabis consultant Dr Graham Gulbransen and local GP Megan Bailey. Other topics covered in fast-filling workshops include landscape design, raw food, gin distilling, lawn care, plant section, native plants and seeds. The social highlight is always the garden party, taking place this year at Lynne and Rob Hammond’s spectacular Longfield, a large country garden inspired by the owners’ visits to Italian properties. The ever-popular garden tours will feature old favourites such as Winterhome, Barewood and Paripuma alongside seven new gardens. Sunday’s garden fete proved such a resounding success in Churchill Glade last year that it returns to the larger and shadier site in Pollard Park. President Tim Crawford says the mix of garden tours, workshops and social events has been a successful recipe over 25 years. A diverse committee, heeding input from the community and feedback from visitors, worked hard to keep the ingredients fresh. But the personal touches set Garden Marlborough apart, says Tim. “We have always strived to make everyone feel welcome. Guest speakers are personally met at the airport, all tours and workshops have a host, and owners always get on the bus to welcome visitors to their garden.” He acknowledges the help and support of all those who make the event happen. “Without sponsor and volunteer support our event would not be viable. We estimate that every year volunteers work more than 3000 hours, either directly or indirectly for organisations which provide services. “Garden Marlborough is like a growing tree, noticed from further afield every year and its roots reaching into all corners of the community.” Above: Popular garden tours 26

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LOCAL CONNECTION

Creativity nurtured and spurred Nelson’s Elma Turner Library regularly hosts a group of writers who are exploring new territory. By Ann Fellowes. P H O T O G R A P H Y B R E N T M C G I LVA R Y

olin Clough slaps a hand onto the table for emphasis. “That’s how he was,” he insists. “They were tough times, and he matched them.” Colin is reading out the first draft of a piece he’s writing on Ron Jorgensen, the notorious Bassett Rd machine-gun murderer, one of New Zealand’s hard-man criminals. “I knew him,” Colin says. “We were at sea together.” Around the table are 12 or so fellow writers. It’s a midwinter afternoon at Nelson’s Elma Turner Library, and STEM, the library’s writing group, is having its fortnightly session. The group are putting together another collection of short stories, 28

“There are lots of dark moments hidden away in our past, and maybe our present.” JA C K I E C O O K , W R I T E R

Nelson Noir – partly a local spin on the current vogue for moody, mean-streets storytelling; partly a self-conscious redress of the ‘nice Nelson’ promotional image. Group members believe that there are lots of hidden “dark moments”, both past and present, and that “not every thing about Nelson wins civic awards”. British migrant Jenny Dale, who writes as Isobel Sayer and has two novels awaiting publication with her London agent, has contributed a story on the notorious Murchison suicide-bomber of 1905 – considered the first such incident anywhere in the world. Jenny, an ex-police scenes of crime officer, has been up to the old courthouse in Murchison to visit the scene. “Atmospherics, not forensics,” she jokes. “It helps, though, to see where you’re setting the story.” STEM writers focus their interest on the local. They have two Nelson collections already published. Past/Present (2018) wraps stories around Nelson ‘street furniture’ – items you pass by and never question, like the eagles on the top of the old Tech building, now part of NMIT. Where did they come from? Why are they there? Doug Craig has re-imagined them as agents of vengeance; justice carriers of Norse legend. “Fiction, of course,” he explains, “but it gives them a new form of life.”

“Everyone who reads storybooks to their kids thinks they can write one, but it’s much, much harder than that.” E R I N P OW E L L , W R I T E R

Female pioneers spotlighted

A second collection, Working Away, Unseen (2019), examines the lives of lesser-known women connected with Nelson, like Sybil Lupp who won the first feature race at Tahunanui’s car racing in 1949, and Emmie Keoghan, who played the music for silent movies. Erin Powell has written about the Rapaura Wrens – the young women, some ex-Nelson College for Girls students, who decoded Japanese naval radio signals at Renwicktown during World War 2. “Our very own Bletchley Park,” she explains, and like the British codebreakers, “they weren’t allowed to talk about it. Not many people know, even today.” Erin has a new children’s picture book, Weka Haka, about little Maia, who goes to collect tomatoes from the garden and is terrorised by a rampant, fruit-marauding weka. “It’s such a difficult genre. Everyone who reads storybooks to their kids thinks they can write one, but it’s much, much harder than that.” She explains about language development and the structure of action in a children’s story. “Then there’s fitting the text to the illustrations ...”

A timely name

STEM was set up in 2016 to test community interest in an active, collaborative writing group. “The name’s an acronym,” explains convenor Jackie Cook, who originally approached the Elma Turner Library to support the idea. “It stands for ‘Second Tuesday Every Month’ – otherwise, I knew we’d all forget the meeting dates.” STEM has burgeoned. Richmond Library set up a group, and there is a linked cluster of writers now in the UK. “We sometimes adopt one another’s writing topics, and we’re building up a web-based collaboration.” Since last year there’s been a second monthly meeting, in the fourth week so no funky new acronym yet – but it helps in managing the group-writing projects. Everyone works away on their own writing, including biography, short fiction for magazines, anthologies or

Above: Clockwise - Bobby Besley; (from left) Christine Francis, John Ward, Lorelle Baxter Opposite page: From left - Chris Bentley, Lorelle Baxter, Eric Huckle and Jan Marsh

competitions, novels and family history. Marianne Castle has published an autobiographical piece on her career as a dog-trainer. Mary Bell Thornton, who uses STEM as a monthly writing-talk and test-reading stimulus, has had a book on her father’s 1950s world tour of art museums and galleries published by Cuba Press in Wellington – to great acclaim. It doesn’t really matter what you’re writing, members say – just that you’re producing. And if you aren’t, but want to, you soon will be.

Working to a deadline

STEM sets a monthly theme – “just that little bit of deadline pressure,” they explain. No shame if inspiration doesn’t strike – but it almost always does. Members read their pieces aloud to the group, which provides instant feedback and the valuable experience of seeing an audience react to your work. “Reading aloud is good practice with all writing,” they explain. “It cleans out your prose – shows you when and where you’re wasting time.” Two hours a month – four if you’re keen – gives writers a broad sweep of new ideas, and lets them experiment in ways they might not use, left to their own devices. Lorelle Baxter has evolved a storytelling technique using Japanese haiku poems. “I string them into a story sequence,” she explains. “I did it originally so I could jot ideas onto my phone, in a café or out shopping. It grew from there.” Now it’s a distinctive part of her work. “It creeps into all my stories.” Jan Marsh uses the work of Wellington author Brannavan Gnanalingam to build a dual-framed ‘then-and-now’ perspective as she writes on early conservationist Perrine Moncrieff. “The Abel Tasman National Park – which Perrine founded – has a history,” Jan points out. “It’s possible to walk its past as well as your own present.” A creative form of writing can capture that. John Ward is developing a new mixed, or fusion, genre, part Gothic, part historical – all with an erotic charge. “It’s not quite there yet,” he says, “but I know it’s on its way.” Curiously, it seems to have a lot to say about Nelson, and finds favour with STEM’s growing readership. As for the group generally, “Watch this space,” says Jackie Cook. “Four hours a month, coffee and cake, with interesting talk about writing. Behind that, lots of creativity that otherwise might remain unseen.” 29

Nelson Arts Festival

Arts showcase all grown up Since 1995 the Nelson Arts Festival has been a mainstay of our annual dose of creativity. Frances Wilson talks with the three festival directors – Annabel Norman, Sophie Kelly and Charlie Unwin – for a snapshot of 25 years from fringe to independence. P H O T O G R A P H Y S U P P L I E D B Y T H E N E L S O N A R T S F E S T I VA L

fter a few early test-runs, the first official Nelson Arts Festival took place in 1995. Annabel Norman was working part-time at the Arts Council as well as at WearableArt Awards at the time and pitched the idea of a festival to Nelson City Council as a fringe event to accompany the ‘Wearables’ (as they were affectionately known). The annual extravaganza was in its ninth year, gathering momentum and attracting an increasing number of both locals and visitors. This was before festivals were commonplace, although Nelson City Council did have its holiday and summer events programmes, so it took a bit of lobbying (especially to the finance department) but Annabel was determined, and lo and behold, the festival was born. 30

Looking at the programme, that first festival was suitably modest – although the Mask Parade had the rather jaunty title of Masque Parade – with most events obviously appealing to Wearables devotees: arts and craft tours, visual arts and the ‘Inaugural Tree Dressing Day’. Dame Suzie Moncrieff’s unique vision of WearableArt was buoyed by its army of volunteers, and the vast number of schoolkids who each year auditioned to be part of the show. What better outlet for these colourful and precocious littlies than to give them their own parade through the city? It was an instant hit. That first year also featured the Buskers Festival, which took a little more getting used to, with Annabel reminiscing that one of the first acts was aptly named ‘Other Side of the Street’ knowing that pedestrians would primly cross the road as an avoidance tactic.

“It was a huge opportunity for us to grow it into a real arts festival in its own right.” A N N A B E L N O R M A N O N C O M PA N I O N E V E N T W OW ’ S D E PA RT U R E

“We need to remember that Nelson Festival is about us, and celebrating and investing in our own community.” ANNABEL NORMAN

Annabel didn’t have an arts background, but she knew how to surround herself with expertise. When Kim Merry came along, his name and personality quickly became synonymous with the Mask Parade. He embraced a comprehensive approach towards what it should be – full of colour, movement, music and dance. Kim had spent his early years working and performing in Australia and Europe, honing his skills in mask-making, stilt-walking and street performance. Once home in Nelson, he developed the Lantern Festival and Teddy Bears’ Picnic – events that thrived on community participation. Kim injected an infectious energy into the festival and the parade, continuing to perform as well as curate, leading by example, and promoting a heady aura of inclusiveness. Nelsonians have always been quick with their can-do attitude, especially in being part of a creative project and upholding the arty reputation of our regional city. Wearables, through dogged determination, honed another skill crucial when supporting the arts – fostering a culture of ticket-buyers. Although the festival was initially community-focused with a predominance of free events, the Wearables had a growing number of out-of-town visitors, and so the festival began to cater to those looking for something to do on their other night in town: cabaret at The Boathouse, dance at Theatre Royal, music at the School of Music, theatre at The Suter, writers’ talks at Chez Eelco, big drawcards like The Topp Twins at Nelson College Hall, and even its own Fringe Festival – proof that it was now fully fledged. In 2002, the burgeoning popularity of book festivals was incorporated with Jacquetta Bell’s Readers and Writers programme. The Mask Parade went from strength to strength – a horde from Oamaru arrived one year with their giant masks and unicycles, stayed for a week and partied every night in 1903 Square. Another year, a massive effigy dubbed King Rat led the parade to the Carnivale in Trafalgar Park, where it was ceremoniously burned, much to the terror and screams of unsuspecting children.

Photo: Steve Hussey

Tapping the talent

Above: Clockwise - Mask Parade, 2018; Mask Parade, 2008; Carnivale, 2011, Annabel Norman, Sophie Kelly and Charlie Unwin Opposite page: Mask Parade, 2013

Photo: Frances Wilson

‘Teenage’ festival stands alone

Then, in 2005, the unexpected happened – the WearableArt Awards moved to Wellington. It was like the parents just up and left, leaving the teenager in the empty nest. The festival took a chance, flexed its wings, and expanded. “It was a huge opportunity for us to grow it into a real arts festival in its own right,” says Annabel. “That was when we started inviting the international shows.” WOW’s departure freed up some of the sponsors, who came on board with the festival, and then there was the audience, who had been schooled to buying a WOW ticket every year. “Suddenly, those people who had been buying WOW tickets for over $100 could go to three or four theatre shows for the same money.” 31

“Take the time to observe the festival ...” S O P H I E K E L LY ’ S A DV I C E TO

Throughout the years there have been moments of controversy and stress – nude acrobats swinging above the heads of befuddled audience members; inebriated teenagers sullying the Carnivale; bad weather delaying artists flying in; and the time the council got wind of a massive stone flaccid penis in a sculpture exhibition. Annabel challenged the authorities on their right to judge art, citing the likelihood of a newspaper headline ‘Council pulls penis’. They backed down and the sculpture went ahead. Nobody complained, teenagers loved it, and for Annabel, this incident confirmed the need to move the festival out of the council and into an independent trust. By then the festival team, now with Sophie Kelly as festival co-ordinator, were becoming more and more stretched – across the council’s many events as well as managing the growing festival – in budget, scale and scope of artists. At the same time, other regional festivals were taking place across New Zealand, although most were biennial. Annabel was instrumental in building a network and collegiality between the various directors. This meant the festivals could work together on ‘intel’, research, crew, and ultimately, if their dates coincided, on sharing the costs of national tours, as well as bringing international artists to New Zealand. This vital festival network is a fitting legacy to Annabel prior to her departure in 2011 and Sophie stepping into the top job. When Charlie Unwin joined the team as festival producer in 2011, the festival extended itself yet again when it coincided with the Rugby World Cup. With extra funding from a lottery grant, the programme featured the Piki Mai projections on the Cathedral and Church Steps, a First Rugby Game Re-enactment, extra market days and fan zones. Again, the festival continued to push its scope, and all the while ongoing reviews and consultations explored it becoming independent from the council, a process that would span 10 years.

The show goes on

Throughout all the discussions on how the festival should be managed, it still produced an incredible array of shows. All three directors can cite many highlights. For Annabel, it was The Butler, so successful she brought it back for a return season. Sophie cites Fault Lines, a dance piece from China, created in response to the earthquakes in Sichuan in 2008, and in Christchurch in 2011.

From top: Clockwise - That Bloody Woman, 2017 Nelson Arts Festival; Carnivale, 2013 32

Photo: Michael Smith

T H E N EW D I R E C TO R

Charlie’s favourite is That Bloody Woman, a major touring show that sparked fantastic feedback about its content (Kate Shepherd) as well as its format (rock’n’roll musical). He’s also proud of a show, If There’s Not Dancing at the Revolution, I’m Not Coming, which although it didn’t sell well, was important for its exploration of the treatment of women’s bodies in popular culture, he says. This is one of the joys of festivals – in amongst the glamour and pizazz of bigger shows at the bigger venues, there’s always a little gem, something only a festival would include in its programme, and something that is treasured by those who discover it. At the end of 2018, as part of its transition into being an independent body, the festival’s newly formed board called on the Nelson community for feedback on what direction it should take. The most popular topic was the Mask Parade – seen as Nelson’s point of difference, and as a community event that was too important to let go. The festival has always remained nimble, with seemingly mainstay elements becoming incredibly popular, and then running their course – the Sculpture Symposium, the Marquee in Albion Square, the Family Fun Day – but it appears the Mask Parade & Carnivale is here to stay. Charlie believes strongly in community involvement in the festival, not only using local artists in ticketed and free shows, but making sure a diverse range of events encourage involvement from an equally diverse group of people. The audience itself is in constant flux, of course. This year, for example, there’s a project that involves three recent Nelson communities – from Sri Lanka, Colombia and Bhutan. Charlie’s proud of the Carnivale, with its genuinely mixed crowd, and timed as the first big outdoor event of spring. He’s also committed to maintaining the inter-festival community, with an eye to establishing a more formal ‘New Zealand Festivals Association’. Festivals are unique in that they don’t compete – each has its own local audience (unlike arts organisations in the same city, who must compete against one another for ticket sales). Collegiality is crucial, especially in combining resources for developing new shows. Charlie will keep working on this in his new role as director at the Dunedin Arts Festival.

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nelsonartsfestival.nz 33

At the time of writing this article, the recruitment process for the new director is still in play, with the expectation that someone will be appointed prior to the 2019 festival. This is standard in festival circles, that an incoming director ‘ghosts’ the outgoing director, milling about in the background, hiding behind potted plants and using their best powers of osmosis to soak up as much information as possible about the festival staff, audiences, venues, local artists, local government, local arts bodies, sponsors, patrons and everything else, before they step into the role. When asked what advice the three former directors would give to the newbie, the most common theme was of listening to the community. “Nelson Arts Festival was born out of the Nelson community,” says Annabel. “We need to remember that Nelson Festival is about us and celebrating and investing in our own community.” “Take the time to observe the festival,” Sophie adds, “and take as much time as possible to get out into the community, to find things that are relevant and connect, and then balance that with things that will blow people’s minds.” Charlie agrees: “What sets Nelson apart from other festivals is the number of community projects and locals being involved in the festival. We get about 40,000 people attending free events each year, which is unheard of for other festivals. That’s definitely a strength.” In terms of advice, “Don’t be afraid to take a risk in programming,” says Charlie. “The festival is not only about the show, but also about how the audience is treated, from the moment they buy a ticket, right through to when they’re leaving the venue after the show, so that it becomes a positive experience that builds trust in the festival. “And don’t be afraid to ask for advice,” he concludes.

A light show like no other

When talking to all three directors, Piki Mai emerged as a common highlight. Annabel set it up, Sophie presented it, and for Charlie it was his first event in Nelson. Piki Mai epitomises what a festival can do – present a large-scale, high-quality event that appeals to a broad range of people, bringing them together in a transformed civic space, giving them a shared experience that can be remembered for years to come. 34

Photo: Creative Futures Photography

CHARLIE U NWIN

Photo: Nelson Mail

“We get about 40,000 people attending free events each year, which is unheard of for other festivals.”

Above: Clockwise - Kahurangi Children’s Performers, 2012 Nelson Arts Festival; The WonderWombs; Piki Mai, 2011 Nelson Arts Festival

Piki Mai is also a dream event for organisers – it really does attract audiences aged from 2 to 102, it’s free, created by locals, and it looks amazing in photos and video. Another clever aspect about Piki Mai, is that it is specific to Nelson (the projections tell the story of Nelson) but is equally enjoyable to those who have no knowledge of our city. It’s also on a 15-minute loop, which is a perfect length for an outdoor show on a cool spring evening. The return of Piki Mai had been bandied about for years, but it took a collaborative partnership with Light Nelson, as well as major finance from Pic’s Peanut Butter, to make it a reality. The show will certainly attract tens of thousands over the 11 nights, and is a perfect way to celebrate the festival’s 25th anniversary. Nelson Arts Festival, October 18-28. www.nelsonartsfestival.nz Pic’s Piki Mai, October 18-28, every night from dusk to midnight, on Nelson Cathedral and Church Steps.

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Self-Publishing

Getting into print: DIY or die? Professional NZ publishers turn out more than 2000 titles a year, yet it can be soul-destroying for unknown writers to break into the market. Renée Lang looks at the challenges of producing and publishing your own work.

ot so many years ago any mention of a self-published book would trigger a curled lip or a raised eyebrow. With good reason – many of these books were not wellwritten, poorly edited and often badly produced. Fast forward to the present and it appears that everybody’s doing it. Self-publishing is a growth industry, partly because the traditional publishing model has changed dramatically. To begin with, the number of bona fide book publishers in New Zealand has shrunk as companies merged or moved offshore. Fortunately, a number of indie publishers have sprung up in their wake, plus the university presses remain busy. But it’s still difficult to have a manuscript accepted for publication, so many writers apply the good old Kiwi No.8 wire approach and do it themselves. If you Google ‘self-publishing’ any number of options will invite you to find out more. Your local New Zealand Society of Authors can probably offer useful advice, or you can ask someone who’s actually done it.

“If you self-publish a book, it doesn’t mean you’re forever put into a box stamped ‘Untouchable – only losers live here’.” L A N A W E N DT YO U N G , AU T H O R

Self-publishing can be expensive. Equally it can be cheap so it pays to have a clear idea of what is involved and if the individual or business you’re dealing with has sufficient experience. Then there’s the issue of a perceived market. Young adult author Lana Wendt Young strongly believed in a need for books for teenage Pasifika kids, yet she was turned down by more than 30 publishers. So she self-published her enormously successful Telesa series. During a recent lecture presented by the New Zealand Book Council, Lana advised writers in the digital era to take a multi-media approach and, among other things, learn about indie publishing. “Recognise that (publishing) is not an either/or. If you self-publish a book, it doesn’t mean you’re forever put into a box stamped ‘Untouchable – only losers live here’.”

Know your target readership

Mary Egan, of Mary Egan Publishing which specialises in contract or self-publishing, has been involved in the book industry for close to 35 years and she has much to say on the subject of first-time authors (and even those with some publishing experience) who are looking to self-publish. “It breaks my heart to come across so many people who don’t understand what’s involved,” she says. Mary always tells her clients to “start with the end in mind” (i.e. know exactly who your book is aimed at and have a plan to get it into the hands of those readers). There’s no point in producing a book unless it has been well-edited, Mary adds. Too many people are unaware of the importance of this or are reluctant to spend the money on the services of a professional editor.

“It can be tough handing over your work to someone else and seeing hard-fought words and phrases cut ruthlessly, but that independent critical eye is invaluable.”

Photo: Supplied

J E N N I F E R A N D R EW E S , W R I T E R

Jennifer Andrewes

Photo: Karaena Vincent

“It comes down to people not knowing the value of a good editor because they don’t see the impact an editor can have on a manuscript. We won’t actually work with individuals or organisations who will not agree to a professional edit because there’s no point in us putting bells and whistles on it in terms of making it look good if the content is not up to scratch.” Organisations such as societies, trusts, schools (think fundraising cookbooks in particular) and even corporates are often keen to share information, be it a history or a marketing ploy or, in the case of the Auckland Botanical Society, a desire to share their expert knowledge with like-minded individuals. Dr Mike Wilcox, past president of the society, says that after being rejected by a number of commercial publishers who perceived the potential market as too niche, self-publishing was the way to go for him and his fellow enthusiasts in the society. “Self-publishing was a good option for us as we are a registered charity. For each book (the society has published three: A Natural History of Rangitoto, Auckland’s Remarkable Urban Forest and Seaweeds of Auckland) we sought and obtained substantial grant funding – which was forthcoming because the books were making a contribution to the environment, conservation and people’s understanding of Auckland’s nature.” That money helped to cover expenses, with net sales income going to the society’s fund for student research. As for the quality of the books, “The book production team we hired made things easy for us,” Mike says. “They attended to editing, layout, picture editing, map work, and printing.” The society chose to do the marketing themselves using a combination of a book-launch event, their website, newsletters, book reviews, a local newspaper article, YouTube, information sent to bookshops and talks about the books.

Naomi Arnold

Hospice goes it alone

Nelson Tasman Hospice recently made a foray into selfpublishing after commissioning writer and journalist Naomi Arnold to record their 30 years of history. Naomi’s previous books have all been published in the traditional model, but she was pleasantly surprised at the speed and efficiency with which a local printer produced At Home with Hospice. “They took on all the layout and design and recommended an editor to do some final checks. They were also quite onto it with deadlines. It was really different from my experience of working with a traditional publisher, where you become involved with either a copy or structural editor (or both). The printer did do an edit, but it wasn’t like the interactive relationship I’ve had in the past.” When Jennifer Andrewes made the decision to self-publish her travel book Parallel Lives: Four Seasons in the French Pyrenees, she was keen to use professional help, but liked the idea of retaining overall control “while still benefiting from professional expertise”, as she puts it. “It was great having everything I needed co-ordinated through one team. I also really saw the value of letting go and trusting the experts to know what is going to work best. It can be tough handing over your work to someone else and seeing hardfought words and phrases cut ruthlessly, but that independent critical eye is invaluable. “One thing I hadn’t really thought through was that, in selfpublishing, I was the publisher, and what that would mean in practical terms. Receiving the printed copies was just the start of the publishing process. If they weren’t to just sit in a stack in my hallway, I had to think about how to market, distribute and sell them – myself.” Marianne Castle, another local writer, also engaged the services of a local printer to produce her loosely styled memoir, Two Dogs and a Bone. Although she knew there would be “a lot of blood, sweat and tears involved”, she was more than ready for it. “I had heard how tough it was in the publishing industry these days, and how a lot of publishers are wary of taking on new authors, so I decided to do it myself. I didn’t want to have to wait a couple of years to see some action.” 37

“It was kind of an experiment in that if something doesn’t work it’s much easier to change it along the way, especially if you’re publishing on a print-on-demand basis.”

Marianne’s book is available at the local Paper Plus, vet clinics, local libraries and on Amazon. She’s also sold a number of copies through word-of-mouth but “I’ve still got lots more marketing to do yet”. And would she do it again? “Yes, definitely.” Holly Dunn is also Nelson-based and works part-time for a local printer The Copy Press that specialises in small to medium runs for self-published authors. She recently wrote a book, Selfpublishing in New Zealand, to promote their services. However, she has her own illustration and design business that led her in 2018 to self-publish Moth, a beautifully illustrated children’s book that has met with some critical success. One of the reasons for doing it herself was to cut the time it can take when going through the traditional channels. Having total creative freedom was another drawcard. “It was kind of an experiment in that if something doesn’t work it’s much easier to change it along the way, especially if you’re publishing on a print-on-demand basis.” Holly also had a good idea of what self-publishing would involve because of the nature of her part-time work. The marketing of her book, however, “was challenging, not just in the typical ways but because of what I call ‘writer’s fatigue’,” or putting a huge effort into creating a book then having to get it out into the world. “By the time you’ve launched it, you’re past it and onto the next thing.” Holly sees this as a problem for many self-published authors, and acknowledges there is more she could do to market the book.

Holly Dunn (left) & Kerry Sunderland

Dave MacManus from The Copy Press says they publish around 50 books annually. His advice is always try local first. “Lots of people find they don’t get treated well when they take their self-publishing offshore. Overcharging and poor work are common complaints we hear. We are happy to provide good information to help people avoid these costly mistake,” he adds.

Assemble a team

Teachers such as Kerry Sunderland, who offers the NMIT Writing and Contemporary Practice course, are well aware of what’s involved in self-publishing. This particular course focuses on how students can get their work out into the world, whether it be through self-publishing, a blog or other means such as featuring in NMIT’s literary journal. She also examines the role of crowdfunding. Kerry is the co-ordinator for the Page & Blackmore Pukapuka Talks, part of the Nelson Arts Festival which this year will include a session on self-publishing. “What I’m hoping to make really clear to people is that you can’t do it alone,” she says. “You have to team up with people who are really good at what they do, particularly professional editors and designers. It’s a team effort.”

Photo: Karaena Vincent

“What I’m hoping to make really clear to people is that you can’t do it alone.” K E R RY S U N D E R L A N D

Photo: Karaena Vincent

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With children’s books, the first thing Jo looks at is the quality of the illustrations – “the key to selling children’s books”.

Photo: Karaena Vincent

JO DIPPIE

Jo Dippie

So what do local bookshops make of the self-publishing trend? Jo Dippie, of Page and Blackmore, confesses to occasionally feeling less than positive when presented with local offerings. Apart from the importance of the look of the book, people don’t always realise how bookshops work in terms of discount structure, she says. And quite often authors are not registered for GST, which complicates matters. With children’s books, the first thing Jo looks at is the quality of the illustrations – “the key to selling children’s books”. Like Mary Egan, Jo understands the importance of professional editing and design and is reluctant to stock books that don’t meet her standards. This means she’ll buy just 10% of the children’s books she’s shown and about 40% of adult books (fiction and non-fiction).

Author groups

New Zealand Society of Authors

(PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa Home NZSA is the principal representative for the professional interests of writers. Protecting basic rights to freedom of expression, working to improve income and conditions, promoting New Zealand writing and literary culture. Developing and creating a community for writers. www.authors.org.nz

Quitting her day-job

Auckland writer Steff Green wrote and published her first paranormal romance novel online in total secret after her science fiction novels were turned down by a number of commercial publishers. She came close to having one accepted but the deal fell through at the last minute so she decided to go it alone, but this time writing a spicy romance – and focusing on online sales. Even her husband didn’t know what she was doing, but when the sales pattern settled into a steady 1000+ copies per month Steff recognised she’d tapped into a market hungry for more. Before long she’d added a few more titles, with each doing as well, if not better, than the previous. In February 2018 she resigned from her job and is now writing full-time. Readers can buy Steff’s books in digital or printed form. And even though most of her sales are for the e-books, like so many other successful self-published writers she knows the importance of professional editorial and design input. Steff recently ventured into the genre of children’s books when she and an illustrator friend co-published Only Freaks Turn Things Into Bones, which is about bullying. Initially crowdfunded, it has since been picked up by an Australian publisher. So, can you judge a book by its cover? According to industry experts, the answer is a resounding “yes”. 40

The Top of the South Branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors

Devoted to the interests of writers in the top of the south region of the South Island, this branch was established in 2005 and is managed by a small group of dedicated writers, including many from the Nelson Tasman region. www.topwriters.co.nz

SpecFicNZ

SpecFicNZ is the association for creators, writers and editors of speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy and horror) in or from New Zealand. The organisation was founded in March 2009 to foster a community focused on the promotion and proliferation of all aspects of the speculative fiction genre in this country. www.specfic.nz

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way to ensure its integrity remains from production right through to use. Packaging is, to put it simply, an experience in itself. Understanding this holistic concept is one of the reasons Bluestar is at the leading edge in packaging design and production in New Zealand. Not just packaging gurus, the company has expertise across all areas of print, with innovative, sustainable packaging design and production one of its mainstays. Bluestar has formed via the streamlining of multiple businesses specialising in different, related areas of the creative print industry. This multi-channel approach has resulted in a main umbrella business that has one of the best reputations, widest range of expertise and largest capabilities around. It deals with all aspects of print production including running some of the latest printing plant technologies available.

Complete package Sheet-fed offset printing, sheet-fed digital printing, high speed digital and wide-format printing, mail processing, campaign fulfilment and even nationwide storage and distribution are all included in Bluestar's repertoire, which is being expanded all the time with the latest in knowledge and equipment. Basically, whatever their customers need creating in terms of print product, no matter what size or how tricky, Bluestar will ace it. This applies to their packaging design and creation services too. Bluestar understands that producing, growing, creating or developing a product involves a lot of hard work, time and energy along with a real passion to share something special with the world. Visually presenting that product in packaging that is on-brand and on-message has a lot to do with getting potential customers to the point where they will actually choose to try it. Once that hurdle has been successfully crossed, and not before, the product then gets the opportunity to speak for itself, which is why it's so vital to get the packaging right. It is the gateway to selling a product, so allowing customers to play a real part in the process of developing the perfect packaging makes Above: It’s ‘peace of mind’ knowing that our cardboard is sourced from responsible sources — well-managed forests Opposite page: Clockwise - A snapshot of some of the packaging Bluestar designs and manufactures; a keen eye is kept on the production every step of the way

Bluestar is at the leading edge in packaging design and production in New Zealand. sure the end product they hold in their hand does justice to the time and thought that went into its production. It ensures the message being put across hits exactly the right note. Bluestar's sales director John Bannan, who has over three decades of experience and expertise in the printing industry, says the business has some proven techniques to make sure this happens. Tools such as nifty online software with 3D design elements that let customers see exactly what their packaging will look like before it is produced put the control in their hands, he says, whether bringing preexisting designs or utilising the expertise of the company's top design team to tell the visual story of their product.

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First Encounters

Shining a light on dual history

Controversy still dogs the early settlement of New Zealand, more than two centuries after the first Māori/ European encounters. Shelley Grell takes a look back and forward.

elson-Marlborough residents will soon be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience when a special flotilla sails through Tōtaranui (Queen Charlotte Sound) for a commemorative encounter during 21-25 November. Among the five vessels will be the spectacular HMB Endeavour replica that last visited New Zealand nearly 20 years ago from its home at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, and the Fa’afaite i te Ao Mā’ohi from Tahiti, a large double-hulled sailing canoe similar to those used in original voyages to New Zealand. The flotilla is part of the Tuia 250 commemorative programme acknowledging two-and-a-half centuries since the first meetings between Māori and Pākehā during the Endeavour’s 1769 voyage, under Captain James Cook, to Aotearoa New Zealand. Activities and events nationwide, led by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, salute this pivotal moment in our history and commemorate the feats of voyaging and navigation that shaped our nation. The dual-heritage flotilla is central to the programme in which waka, Polynesian va’a and heritage ships will sail to sites of ancient and cultural significance to Māori. These include four of Cook’s main landing sites: Tūranganui a Kiwa (Poverty Bay) in Gisborne, Whitianga (Mercury Bay) on the Coromandel, the Bay of Islands and Meretoto (Ship Cove), Marlborough. In our region, the commemorations will highlight the significance of the Meretoto (Ship Cove) landing site and Te Pokohiwi a Kupe (the Wairau Bar), now recognised as New Zealand’s most important archaeological site. 44

Good views from the shore

Chrissy Powlesland, general manager of the Tōtaranui 250 Trust organising the Marlborough events, says there will be plenty of opportunities for people to see the flotilla as it sails into Picton harbour on Friday 22 November. “Starting from 10am, the approach will take about one to two hours. Then there’ll be a community welcome with mihi whakatu, kapahaka, music and speeches. The mayor of Marlborough and a large contingent of 157 crew members from the five vessels will be there, including the Tahitian crew on the Fa’afaite, which is really special.” After the welcome and throughout the weekend, people will be allowed to board and look around the Endeavour replica and other vessels in the flotilla, including Fa’afaite, Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti from Tauranga, the Haunui from Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland). Events and activities throughout the weekend include educational and cultural exhibitions on the Picton foreshore, addressing themes of conservation, environment, navigation and voyaging. Along Picton’s High St from 3.30 to 7.30pm a food market will offer the best of Marlborough kai, from traditional Māori dishes to those of other cultures from around the region. Throughout Saturday, a stage on the foreshore will feature cultural performances until early evening, when the Interislander Light Show begins. This will be followed by a concert from Kiwi band Fly My Pretties – 15 of the country’s best musicians will take the stage. Chrissy says Fly My Pretties was invited because of the band’s cultural diversity and willingness to speak out on national issues.

“Exceptional feats of voyaging and navigation brought us all here.” C H R I S S Y P OW L E S L A N D

“We want to hold an event that encourages debate about the past, shines a light on the tangata whenua stories of our dual history, and provides an opportunity for real conversations about that journey,” she says.

Tupaia, unsung hero aboard Endeavour

At the heart of Tuia 250 is the challenge to take a deeper look at our history, to share seldom-heard accounts – both painful and remarkable – and to reflect on how we face the future together. The commemorations will be very different to the Britishstyle 200th anniversary ceremony that happened in Gisborne in 1969. Then, a 21-gun salute marked Cook’s landing, with international naval ships and a main-street parade featuring a giant head of Captain Cook. This year, Marlborough commemorations will recognise the importance of significant sites within Tōtaranui as a place favoured by Kupe and Cook. They will also recognise Tahitian priest and navigator Tupaia, who was a crucial communicator and diplomat with Māori. When Endeavour reached Meretoto in 1770, Māori warriors in four waka encircled the ship, throwing stones and verbally challenging the crew. Tupaia smoothed tensions as a translator and cultural go-between. He welcomed Topaa the rangatira (leader) on board with a hongi, which led to an historic meeting that sparked a relationship of learning and trading between the cultures. Topaa of Motuara was the only Māori identified by name in Cook’s journals during Endeavour’s visit to the Sounds. “Tupaia played a pivotal role in those first encounters,” Chrissy explains. “If it wasn’t for him things could have gone horribly wrong. It wasn’t a great start in Gisborne. The first encounters in Gisborne saw tragic loss of lives, but Tupaia could speak a dialect of te reo. “He was a seasoned diplomat and a great friend of Joseph Banks, and a really big part of the crew, but he’s been an unsung hero.” On nearby Motuara Island Cook placed the Union Jack and proclaimed British sovereignty over Te Waipounamu (South Island) in the name of King George III. He named Tōtaranui ‘Queen Charlotte Sound’. The Endeavour’s visits had huge consequences for Māori, of course. Accounts of the voyage enabled others to consider the Pacific for exploration and settlement. This eventually prompted the British to claim the country by right of discovery. On Thursday 21 November, a pōwhiri to the flotilla, led by tangata whenua iwi, will be held to acknowledge Meretoto as the site of first encounters.

Above: The Fa’afaite i te Ao Mā’ohi double-hulled canoe from Tahiti Opposite page: Touching the pouwhenua — Kupe and Te Wheke — at Mereto to are, from left, Raymond Smith — chair Tōtaranui 250 Trust — Ngāti Kuia, with fellow trustees John Hellstrom and Pete Jerram

Dual heritage, shared future

The aim of the Tuia 250 commemorations is to give all New Zealanders a chance to hold honest conversations about the past, the present, and to think about who we are as a nation and how we progress together. Chrissy Powlesland says: “The proposition for Tuia 250 is ‘dual heritage, shared future’, and the dual-heritage aspect is one where we are looking to elevate the iwi stories within the history of New Zealand. That connection goes back to Polynesia. The Polynesians had been navigating the South Pacific for thousands of years and it was a planned migration to New Zealand from Polynesia using the same technology. “I guess we’re trying not to continue to look down a European lens of celebrating Cook, but rather discovering our own history within. Exceptional feats of voyaging and navigation brought us all here.” He rae ki te rae, he ihu ki te ihu, te hau ka rere, te ha ka tau. A meeting of peoples, a mixing of cultures, a blending of heritage, a sharing of future. Tuiate mukatangataki uta. Weaving people together for a shared future.

Other events: November 7 & 9, 8am to 5pm. Kupe to Cook: Rapaura Springs Garden Marlborough Tour.

November 16 to the end of January 2020, Millennium Public Art Gallery, Blenheim:

An exhibition of Tuia 250 Encounters-themed work created by Marlborough children at the Jarratt Create and Educate Primary Schools workshops. Details about Tuia 250 events can be found at: www.totaranui.co.nz

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

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

Ten tips to better style B Y S O N YA L E U S I N K S L A D E N

ainstream fashion media has a way of making us think that if we ‘just buy this’, or ‘look like that’ we will have great style. If only it were so easy! In truth, great style is ever so much more. It’s about effort, attitude and the little everyday habits that compound to shape us into women of great style. As psychologist and self-help writer Sean Covey notes, “We become what we repeatedly do.” In reflecting on this, I’ve drawn together a top-ten of the ‘little things’ or habits that I do or aim to improve on, and which may contribute to the continued development of great personal style.

Continually seek fresh ideas and inspiration: Great style doesn’t stand still. It evolves, and looks outwardly for continued improvement.

Take note of well-dressed women around you: While carefully styled fashion editorial and magazine images can inspire, sometimes the best inspiration can come from people you know. It’s real, and it’s honest.

Challenge yourself: From time to time try something new. There is nothing stylish about staid and dated style, however stylish it might have been some years back when you discovered it and realised it worked for you.

Care for your clothes: Treat your clothes as highly precious things, regardless of how much you paid for them. Not only will they look better on you but they will last longer, and you’ll be doing your bit for sustainability too!

Get up ten minutes earlier: It’s difficult to create a great, put-together look if you’re always rushing out the door. If you can relate to this – a hurried and not quite together sense of your own style – then give yourself a little more time each morning.

Plan and prepare: Nothing saves time and helps in achieving fantastic style the way planning and preparation does. 56

Regularly refine what you own with a view to only owning things that make you look and feel your very best. Have a handful of looks pre-prepared for the week ahead, and on a regular basis set aside an hour or two to ‘play’, trying out, experimenting and refining new looks.

Constantly edit: Regularly refine what you own with a view to only owning things that make you look and feel your very best. Over time, aim to replace ‘good enough’ with perfect, and ‘making do’ with feeling inspired.

Make health a priority: The most beautiful clothes in the world will not compensate for an unhealthy body, tired eyes, lack-lustre hair or a lack of energy. Great health on the other hand will add spark to any outfit, lessen the need for make-up and excessive hair products, and significantly contribute to your confidence and self-esteem.

Stand tall, and work on great posture: Related to great physical health, great posture is important. In simple terms, your clothes will look better when carried well on your body. Think about exuding strength and grace, rather than shuffling or stooping, as you go about your day.

Carry a comb: I couldn’t resist throwing this one in! Advice my mother gave me many years ago, but which still seems to matter and make a difference for me. These days the comb sits alongside lip gloss, hand cream, a mini vial of perfume, spare bobby pins, cotton buds and emergency mascara inside a little make-up bag that I always carry in my handbag. Try this and use the contents a couple of times each day as needed. Notice the effect a little self-care and grooming has on your appearance and selfesteem throughout the day.

kjole Dress in Style

NEW ROGUE LINEN

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SPRING STYLING

The Boulder Point Precinct, Hanmer Springs

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027 591 1832 | kjole.co.nz

Your new spring wardrobe is here!

Own the Moment 249 Queen St. Richmond

03 544 7737

sales@staceyclothing.co.nz

Image credit ELK

253 HARDY STREET, NELSON (03) 548 4848 FACEBOOK .COM/SH NEDES NSTORE

StaceyClothing

staceyclothing staceyclothing.co.nz

MY HOME

Scandi style at Kaiteriteri BY BRENDA WEBB | PHOTOGRAPHY DOMINIQUE WHITE

pending summers in Kaiteriteri catching up with South Island relatives was the impetus for an Auckland-based family to build this Scandinavian-influenced modern bach. It was also becoming increasingly difficult to book at the busy and popular local campground and with their precious holidays at risk the couple thought that it was time to establish a more permanent base in an area they both loved. The most compelling reason however was an aversion to camping. “My husband is really not huge on camping – he did it for five years then one day we went for a drive and saw this subdivision and picked a site,” says one of the owners. Originally from Christchurch, she grew up visiting the ever popular Kaiteriteri for summer holidays with her parents. With her South Island family, including a sister, numerous cousins and aunts and uncles, continuing that tradition and having very fond memories, she wanted to make it an annual pilgrimage. 1. White-washed walls in the open-plan kitchen and dining 2. Sliders opening to outdoor decking 3. Contemporary cabin bedroom 4. Sliding barn doors 5 Practical ‘bach’ sink 6. Soft neutral tones 7. Warm wooden tones and cool neutrals 8. Dark accents add pop

The bach feel was achieved with materials including heattreated and weathered New Zealand pine and shiplap timber on the outside and whitewashed ply interior walls …

“I guess it was for our son – we really wanted to create a summer holiday experience for him and allow him to have special times with his southern cousins. My sisters still go with their children and it’s just such a wonderful summer experience.” Their brief to architect Brad Beazley of Redbox Architects was for separate zones for adults and children and they wanted something unique. “We didn’t want to replicate another suburban home in a holiday destination. And with lots of family and young cousins coming and going we wanted our own private spaces.”

Linked cabins Brad was restricted to designing a 200sq m house on what he describes as a ‘unique site’. “It is one of the last in Kaiteriteri and is quite hidden. It was an inspiring site having the wetland backing onto it and it was flat.” Brad went for what he describes as a collection of cabins which are linked with see-through glass corridors. One is the owner’s master bedroom and en suite, which can be completely closed off, the second the son’s spacious bunkroom and a guest bedroom and the third the living area. The two bedrooms share a large bathroom in the main living pod where the toilet, shower room and vanity are cleverly separated so three people can use them at a time – privately and independently. Built by Jason Frater Builders Ltd, the bach feel was achieved with materials including heat-treated and weathered New Zealand pine and shiplap timber on the outside and whitewashed ply interior walls – avoiding gib board where possible. The owners love the result which has a distinct rustic/ Scandinavian feel with the whitewashed walls. They did away with a kitchen island to give a different look and feel and open up the kitchen area and make it ‘more like a bach’. “It’s simple beach living really with clean lines and natural products such as polished concrete with timber inlays – we didn’t want carpet except in our bedroom especially when you are coming from the beach.”

9. Linked cabins 10. Beachside bedroom 11. Striking wetlands views 12. Stylish shower 13. Luxe touches in the bathroom

Inspirational INTERIORS

We REDEFINE the POSSIBILITIES of full-house fit-outs Call us on 03 544 1878 or visit www.livingdesign.co.nz 149C Salisbury Road, Richmond Phone: 03 544 1515

www.moxini.co.nz

BUILDING OUTSIDE THE BOX 021 743 497 www.jasonfraterbuilders.co.nz info@jasonfraterbuilders.co.nz Building Beautiful Homes and Creative Spaces

A unique panelling system at the front means the entire front of the house can be closed off with a black timber screen to provide total privacy. A neutral colour scheme fits in with the polished concrete floors and black joinery. Indoor/outdoor flow is important in a holiday destination such as Kaiteriteri with long hot summers and plenty of outdoor living and entertaining. The deck space faces the wetland and the owners admit they didn’t appreciate that area when they first saw the site. “It’s a real buffer and is just beautiful – there are lots of birds including a white heron and weka and pukeko that have been quite hard on our plants!” Despite being close to the campground and the bustling beach, their section is totally quiet and peaceful, thanks in part to the wetland as well as the contour. “You get back here and you wouldn’t realise you were so close to such a busy place – that has been a real surprise for us.” The exterior of the bach is black with extensive use of timber such as the weathered pine for contrast. A unique panelling system at the front means the entire front of the house can be closed off with a black timber screen to provide total privacy. Windows have shutters which means the owners can go away on a hot day leaving windows open and know the house is secure. Initially the plan was to use the bach as a holiday place over summer but already they’ve spent Easter there and a week in July and were planning on heading back in September. “It is beautifully comfortable in winter once it warms up and we’ve got a good heat pump.”

14. Heat-treated, weathered NZ pine and shiplap timber exterior 15. Light and airy lounging around 16. High ceilings and plenty of natural light 17. Room with a view

You deserve a higher level of real estate. The mark of a good agent is the quality of the relationships and referrals that comes from doing what’s right, simply because it’s the right thing to do. You deserve integrity, ethics, honesty, attention to detail, dedication, friendly and approachable, but more than that understanding the power of having a confident negotiator at your back when you need it. With over 12 years in real estate and over 40 years in management I know what works. Want to learn more – contact me today!

Anne Hunter P: 027 630 2811 E: anne@debbiecooper.co.nz W: debbiecooper.co.nz Sales Associate. MREINZ. Debbie Cooper Real Estate Ltd (Licensed REAA 2008)

NELSON TILE & SLATE CENTRE

PROUD TO SUPPLY AND LAY TILES IN KAHU CLOSE

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

2 hours’ FREE parking

40 Vanguard Street, Nelson neltile@xtra.co.nz nelsontileandslate.co.nz Ph: 03 548 7733

WELLBEING

Wholesome snack ideas

• Homemade or store-bought quality bliss balls (look for those with natural and minimal ingredients such as those made from dates, nuts, seeds, coconut and cacao)

B Y E M I LY H O P E

• Raw vegetable sticks (carrot, cucumber, celery) with 1-2 tablespoons hummus

o snack or not to snack? In all honesty, it’s really up to you, the individual. If you find yourself hungry between meals, then a snack to keep you going is a great idea! If you find yourself too hungry and over-eating at meal times, then again enjoying a wholesome snack in between times may be helpful to keep hunger at bay. However, if you thrive on regular meals each day, don’t feel overly hungry or lacking energy in between meals, then you may not need to snack. Depending upon your schedule or plans each day, this may change throughout the week and that’s okay! If you are packing snacks to have on hand at work, on the road or even making snacks at home, here are 18 delicious and nutrient-packed ideas. • An apple cut in half and smeared with 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter

• Rice cakes topped with pesto and sliced tomato • Half an avocado drizzled with olive oil, flaky sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and lemon juice (eat with a spoon!) • Celery sticks filled with cottage cheese or peanut butter • A humble hard-boiled egg • Half a cup of Greek yoghurt muddled with some fresh or frozen berries • Simple smoothie: Blend 1 cup water or milk of choice with 1 frozen banana and 1/2 cup frozen blueberries • Simple protein smoothie: Blend 1 cup water or milk of choice with 1 sliced frozen banana and 1 serve of your favourite whey or quality pea protein

• One third cup of chia pudding mixed with a handful of your favourite nuts (see recipe)

• 1 cup shelled edamame beans (contains a whopping 17g of protein for satiety!)

Above: Blueberries and black chia seeds

• Grainy crackers topped with a slice of your favourite cheese and a dollop of pesto

If you find yourself hungry between meals, then a snack to keep you going is a great idea! • 1-2 Medjool dates, pitted and stuffed with 1/2 teaspoon of your favourite nut or seed butter (can add chopped nuts and desiccated coconut too) • 1 slice grainy or sourdough toast topped with peanut butter and sliced banana • A handful of last night’s leftovers (think leftover roasted vegetables and/or meat) • A handful of mixed nuts, seeds and dried fruit • Leftover rice and vegetables mixed with beaten egg (add in your favourite spices and a dash of tamari too) – cook in little fritters in an oiled pan • Simple chia pudding recipe: Stir the following ingredients together in a large jar and then store in the fridge for 3-4 hours or overnight until thick. - 1 can coconut milk - 4tbsp black chia seeds - 2tbsp pure maple syrup or honey - 1/2 cup desiccated coconut - Dash cinnamon www.hopenutrition.org.nz

Photo: __________________

MY GARDEN

Tweaking, tidying & fluffing BY BRENDA WEBB

any years ago I was asked if a local garden club could visit my garden in rural Marlborough. I’d developed a cottage garden around my old villa – loads of old roses in lush herbaceous borders, a beautiful wisteria flowering profusely along the veranda and some wonderful old trees giving balance and structure. It was not a show garden by any means – not even a particularly big garden; just a place where I loved to lose myself and could spend hours pottering. I felt I couldn’t say no but worked myself into a bit of lather in the days before – tweaking, tidying and needlessly fluffing. The garden visit came and went and my nerves proved totally unfounded. Those who visited appreciated the garden for what it was and were simply happy to be out in the countryside enjoying someone else’s hard work. As Rapaura Springs Garden Marlborough looms I think of all those amazing gardeners out there who are tirelessly pruning, mowing, trimming, tweaking and tidying – all to give

“There is no such thing as a low-maintenance garden.” SUE MONAHAN

pleasure to others. It’s a huge sacrifice and one they do for nothing other than a shared love of gardening. Sue Monahan is one of those tireless gardeners. Upton Oaks, a romantic country garden surrounding her and husband Dave’s beautiful Victorian villa, is a garden created with passion and flair. Despite the challenges of a very wet winter and spring you can guarantee the garden will be immaculately presented for Garden Marlborough. “I’ve learnt that people love seeing the big picture,” says Sue. “Our garden has a lot of garden rooms and is balanced with hard structures and I think people appreciate seeing the entirety of your vision rather than saying – ‘Oh look she’s got a weed there’.” Sue and Dave’s garden has lots of hedges and formal areas so it’s a ‘more precise’ garden and come Labour Weekend the work with hedge cutting begins in earnest. “We call it hard Labour Weekend because it’s when we cut the hedges – they are the bones of our garden.” Sue has no strict schedule for the garden – juggling the demands of running a homestay and the family business as well. “It just depends what is pressing on the day as to what gets my attention – but I do have a list a mile long of things to do,”

Above: Upton Oaks Knot Garden

she says. “There is no such thing as a lowmaintenance garden.”

Huge effort Out in the Awatere Valley Carolyn and Joe Ferraby have spent part of the winter redoing their woodland walk, battling with the wet and their clay soil. Their garden features flourishing herbaceous borders, masses of structures including brick walls, garden sheds and a pond all built by Joe with the centrepiece being the spectacular garden potager. “Late winter and spring are always busy times in the garden with splitting perennials, cutting back, pruning, mulching and feeding,” says Carolyn. “But once it is up and running, it’s just the dead heading and keeping it tidy. I don’t like seeing soil so everything is crowded which stops weeds.” Carolyn, who is a Garden Marlborough committee member, says the effort put in by gardeners for the event is huge and she appreciates enormously that so many people are happy to open their gardens. “Some of us have our gardens open to the public anyway but others open just for Garden Marlborough – it’s amazing because so many people just take it in their stride,” she says. “They do this for the community and Garden Marlborough wouldn’t happen without the gardens.” From early spring until the event Carolyn admits it’s ‘bottoms up’ in the garden. For most of those who open their garden to tours it is about sharing their piece of paradise with others. 65

DINE OUT

A great spot with friendly staff BY HUGO SAMPSON

Photo: Dominique White

ester House Café is an awardwinning, well-known Tasman institution. Once the only café between Richmond and Motueka, its imaginative and hard-working founders, Judy and Steve Richards, have built up a formidable local following with their quirky, family-friendly environment. In the height of the tourist season, the place is a Mecca for passing travellers, especially those with children who love all the special, playful features nestled in the pretty, restful gardens, like a magical tree house, a life-sized tiger for climbing and riding, and the famous tame eels, which you can feed if you feel inclined. Definitely the spot to channel your inner child, or let your little ones explore while you meander away the afternoon in the warm sunshine. We chose a glorious, sun-drenched, late winter’s day to visit, and while the place was clearly busy, and there was a stiff southerly blowing, our comfortable table on the terrace of the café was warm, restful and calm. It was great to peel off a few winter layers before settling in to enjoy a very tasty lunch. From a tempting range of mains we settled on the wild venison goulash bathing in a tasty tomato and paprika sauce, with potato dumplings and delicious homemade red cabbage kraut. I found the venison beautifully perfumed but not very gamey, which was only slightly disappointing. The venison itself was meltingly tender, and the sauce a delicious counterbalance for the plump, light dumplings.

This is a great spot with friendly staff, making for an enjoyable and memorable time for family and friends, young and old. Our other main was a twice baked, threecheese soufflé, which I can say without doubt, was the best soufflé I have eaten in years. The last beauty I ate was well over 10 years ago at Natalia Shamroth’s highly acclaimed The Engine Room in Northcote Point. Alas, I’ve suffered many poor imitations in the meantime. Jester’s is the real deal. Today’s creation was richly flavoured, perfectly seasoned, meltingly light and unctuous, just as a fabulous cheese soufflé ought to be. And to tick all the boxes, it came with a crisp, super-fresh, well-dressed green salad. Nothing else required. Full stop! I’ll be heading back for another, sooner rather than later. There’s a good little drinks list focusing on local to suit all ages and tastes to accompany your meal too. Jester’s also has a really good dessert card, something for everyone, so we

chose the lip-smackingly good appleblackcurrant shortcake with vanilla ice cream, and an equally good orange almond cake with yoghurt. Two Celsius short blacks kept us company before we reluctantly took our leave. Well done Jester House! This is a great spot with friendly staff, making for an enjoyable and memorable time for family and friends, young and old.

Jester House Café 320 Aporo Rd, Tasman, Ph: 03 526 6742. Opening Hours – 9.00am – 4.30pm, 7 days a week (closed public holidays except 2 January). Cost: $85.80 for two – two mains, two desserts, a dark beer, a cider and two short blacks.

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

Savour the Tastes of Spring Nothing says spring quite like new-season asparagus. Add some Arborio rice, a dash of white wine, a quality vegetable stock and you have the ingredients for a perfect spring risotto.

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

WT + DAN’S NITRO COFFEE

Riding the nitro coffee wave WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY STEVE HUSSEY

an you feel it? Surf, sand and sun. Summer tunes playing on a Bluetooth speaker. Mellow days, chilling at the beach or at the river with the whānau while sitting back enjoying a book. The conundrum is what is the perfect coffee for this summertime vibe? When the thermometer is in the mid-20s you don’t feel like fuelling up on a hot beverage, but neither do you want to imbibe an ‘iced coffee’ full of sugar, cream and yesterday’s espresso. You want a refreshing drink with that coffee hit. Hallelujah, there is now the solution to sourcing the best cold caffeine alternative. I’ve tried it and am converted. If you care about your crema, I think you will be too. Welcome to the world of Dan’s Nitro Coffee – an exciting new business in the Nelson Tasman region. Dan’s is bringing coldbrewed, nitrogen-infused coffee to a beach near you. In fact, anywhere summer is making itself known keep a watch out for the very funky wooden-panelled coffee cart.

Brainchild of Dan Farly, Slade Andrew and Adrian Curtis, Dan’s Nitro Coffee is a business that is big on funk, vibe and most importantly the best cold-brewed coffee you will find. Dan’s guarantee: that every coffee they serve will be identical to the one they served before; a chilled expression of smooth, delicious caffeine.

Enhanced flavour No doubt there will be sceptics among you. To be honest I was a little myself. Coffee is supposed to be piping hot isn’t it? Well sure, until now. Cold-brewed offers an entirely different coffee drinking experience. It is not an iced-coffee or a chilled-down version of a hot coffee. Cold-brewed coffee has never been heated. Instead, the coffee is fresh ground and then brewed for 18 to 24 hours to slowly extract the caffeine and flavour from the beans. Once brewed, it is transferred into kegs and infused with nitrogen to keep it perfectly stored and under pressure until poured into your cup. This gives it a frothy, effervescent texture and a smooth mouthfeel.

Dan’s guarantee: that every coffee they serve will be identical to the one they served before; a chilled expression of smooth, delicious caffeine.

Above: Slade Andrew serving Dan’s Nitro Coffee down at Tahunanui

For this reason, ingredients that are used to enhance the texture of coffee, such as milk, are typically not necessary. Cold-brewed coffee is lower in acidity (actually estimated to be about 67% less acidic than hot brew), which means enhanced flavour and aroma, much less bitterness and a hint of sweetness. If you usually add sugar to your coffee, cold-brewed nitro coffee may help you cut your sugar intake. Dan’s Nitro Coffee is just starting its journey with its first woody wagon making its appearance over the last few months. Now they’re also on the hunt for other coffee cart or café partners to supply their special brew of chill to. If you would like to ensure Dan’s Nitro Coffee is at your next event or if you think your customers would appreciate the best cold-brewed, nitrogeninfused coffee then drop them a line.

Contact Ph Slade 022 677 1268 www.facebook.com/woodywagonnelson

MY KITCHEN

Caramelised fennel with herby new-season potatoes With spring comes salads and new-season vegetables such as potatoes. BY MADAME LUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S KITCHEN

Serves 4 Salad Ingredients 3tbsp maple syrup 1 fennel bulb, cut into 1cm slices 3 medium size Packham pears, cut into matchsticks Juice of one lemon 2 cups baby spinach leaves 250-300gm of new-season baby potatoes, halved and parboiled 3tbsp olive oil 1/3 cup roasted walnuts, roughly chopped Handful of sugar snap peas (optional) Salt and pepper to taste Herby Dressing 1/2 cup of full fat, thick yogurt 2 cloves of garlic, crushed 1tbsp white wine vinegar 2tbsp chopped parsley 1tbsp chopped chives 1tbsp chopped dill Salt and pepper to taste Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180c fan bake and line a baking tray with baking paper.

2. In a medium size bowl, toss

the fennel slices with the maple syrup and a pinch of salt and spread out on the tray as one layer. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until

caramelised and softened. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

3. To make the dressing, combine all the

dressing ingredients in a small bowl and stir until well incorporated. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

4. In a separate bowl, toss the pear

matchsticks with the lemon juice to stop the pear from browning, add the caramelised fennel, spinach leaves, walnuts and sugar snap peas if using. Toss together and set aside.

5. Over a medium to high heat, preheat a small frypan and add the olive oil.

Once hot, transfer the parboiled potatoes into the pan with a pinch of salt. Move the potatoes around the pan every so often, allowing them to crisp up on all sides. Remove from heat when nice and golden.

6. To assemble the salad, pour the

dressing over the ingredients in the bowl that contains the pear, toss lightly to combine. Transfer to a serving platter and scatter the warm, crispy potatoes over the top.

7. Serve immediately. madamelus.co.nz

DINE OUT

HARBOUR LIGHT BISTRO

COD & LOBSTER BRASSERIE

CBD CAFÉ

ocally owned and based on the waterfront. Enjoy fresh seafood and delicious dishes, made from quality ingredients sourced from the local region.With breathtaking views coupled with exceptional food, wine and service, this is a dining experience you won’t want to miss.

it in our sunny courtyard and enjoy the best seafood from around New Zealand. Meticulously mixed cocktails and fresh regional fare — including beef, lamb and venison. Our attention to detail will make your visit to Cod & Lobster unforgettable. Open for brunch, lunch dinner and tapas.

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

300 Trafalgar Street, Nelson 03 546 4300 www.codandlobster.com

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

KAI FUSIONZ

THE BOATHOUSE NELSON

CHOKDEE

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.

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

326 Wakefield Quay, Nelson 03 548 7646 info@theboathousenelson.co.nz www.theboathousenelson.co.nz

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

ituated over the sea on the picturesque Nelson Haven, The Boathouse is a whole lot more than a historic building. Full of history and a big part of the community, the venue also opens its doors as a café, music venue, club, community hall and function venue.

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.

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

WINE

Keeping it in the family at Astrolabe BY SOPHIE PREECE

Above: Simon and Jane with their daughters Arabella, front, and Libby, back 70

Photo: Jim Tannock

hen Simon and Jane Waghorn forged a part-time wine label in the mid-1990s, they were thinking of creative freedom not a generational legacy. But 23 years later, Astrolabe Wines is truly a family affair, with two daughters in key roles and full ownership in Waghorn hands. Youngest daughter Arabella was four years old when the family moved to Marlborough in 1995, and Simon became winemaker for Whitehaven Wines. She and her big sisters Meg and Libby spent their childhoods playing amid tanks and forklifts at the winery, occasionally donning togs to crush grapes. A year after they arrived, Jane and Simon started Astrolabe with some university friends, satisfying their appetite for risk while allowing Simon autonomy with his vines and wines, on the side from his day job. It proved a good path, and by 2009 Astrolabe was a full-time role for them both. However, it wasn’t until 2017 that Jane, now general manager, asked her three daughters about succession. For Arabella, who joined Astrolabe after graduating from a printmaking degree, deciding to live in a beautiful place and work in a vibrant industry was a simple decision. “For my generation there has been a shift in values. We used to think of being ready to work in the big city and have corporate lives ... but that kind of lifestyle – of more, more, more – is not the dream for everyone.” For her, following wines from vineyard to market is all the ‘more’ she needs. This vintage Arabella worked alongside Simon, finessing her understanding of the company’s vineyard sites and stylistic vision, in an apprenticeship that will see her brand-manager role evolve. That’s an ‘old-school’ process akin to European wine traditions, where families pass down

“Our girls have grown up in the wine industry. It is so exciting to have them stepping up and committing to our business.” JA N E WA G H O R N

philosophy and knowledge, says Arabella, who cannot think of a better mentor than her father. Meanwhile, corporate lawyer Libby, now operations manager at Astrolabe, has just moved back to Blenheim with her husband Pete and three young children. As three-year-old Mac walks in with a freshly dug carrot from Jane’s garden, Libby admits that her decision to return was motivated by the desire to offer her kids a taste of the upbringing she had. Meg and her husband are wed to roles in the public sector, but invested in the company through a family trust, says Jane, who loves having a team so intrinsically linked with the values of the company. “Our girls have grown up in the wine industry. It is so exciting to have them stepping up and committing to our business.”

Wines to Try: Astrolabe Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Simon is passionate about this wine, which is crafted from 30 parcels from the Wairau and Awatere Valleys, and the Kekerengu Coast, and made to his own unique style. “Putting this wine together is a combination of everything I have learned in making and tasting wine,” he says.

Astrolabe Taihoa Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2017 This is other end of the sauvignon spectrum, made from a single Kekerengu vineyard, run under organic principles and cropped low to create a tiny amount of wine, which is barrel fermented with wild yeast, then aged in French oak, resulting in texture and complexity and age-worthiness, says Simon.

BREWS

Yo ho ho and a mug of beer We all need an excuse to have another beer – but Captain James Cook’s ‘we drink it to avoid scurvy’ sure takes some beating. With Tuia 250 celebrations underway, Mark Preece decides to research the first brews to be made on New Zealand’s shores.

irst stop – contact Paul and Caroline McGurk, owners of the Wigram Brewing Company, one of New Zealand’s oldest independent breweries. Wigram still brew a spruce beer true to the original recipe used by Cook, and it’s no stranger to winning gold, just like Cook’s original beer – he was awarded a gold medal from the Royal Society when he returned to England for a report on the positive effects of brewing and his crew’s health. Early maritime explorers who spent significant periods at sea were often ravaged by scurvy because of the lack of vitamin C from fresh vegetables. It was thought that the malt wort in beer prevented scurvy, so early sailors would stock up before heading off on their maritime adventures – to the tune of one gallon of beer per person per day. Cook, who also subscribed to this theory, proceeded to make beer a vital part of his seagoing voyages. During his initial 1769 Endeavour visit to New Zealand, he was reputed to have taken some 5,500 litres of beer with him from England. However, it was on his 1773 visit that “Captain Cook first brewed beer in Fiordland”, says Paul. Cook used molasses to start the fermentation, adding the leaves of the rimu tree which are said to resemble those of the American black spruce (hence the name spruce beer), “and we have stayed true to Cook’s

original recipe, with a couple of minor tweaks,” says Paul. “We still use the same ingredients, however have swapped out the astringent molasses for treacle, as we figure the sugar refining process was not invented until 1812, so molasses more likely resembled treacle.” Back in 1773, Cook avoided the astringent flavours by adding mānuka leaves to the boil and according to the legend the beer was ‘laid down for four days before being let loose on his men’. I’m guessing it did not taste that good, as one crewman reputably mixed it with rum and brown sugar. Science later debunked beer’s vitamin C theory. It’s well known that plant materials – such as spruce – are naturally rich the antioxidants, and in Cook’s case, probably accounted for the misleading observations beer was having on the development of scurvy. And for the record, Paul and Caroline have had

It was thought that the malt wort in beer prevented scurvy, so early sailors would stock up before heading off on their maritime adventures …

Crop and Food research at Lincoln University test their spruce beer, and the science shows that the vitamin C content is two to five times more than standard beer. Go on, hide your vegetables under your fork and conduct your own experiment on warding off scurvy by trying some of the brews below:

Wigram Brewing Company’s Spruce Beer, 5.0% ABV. They say: Captain James Cook brewed using molasses with mānuka and rimu foliage in his beers. The same ingredients are used in our version of this ale. A dark copper colour and clean distinctive spicy finish.

The Mussel Inn’s Captain Cooker, 4.0% ABV. They say: Our version is an amber, all malt beer, flavoured with the freshly picked tips of the mānuka tree and locally grown New Zealand organic hop varieties. Cook’s original recipe used molasses instead of malt, and also used rimu along with the mānuka. We’ve tried that – and it wasn’t so nice.

Splashes of colour mask dark deeds On the Atlantic coast of Canada, the Unesco World Heritage fishing town of Lunenburg is a vibrant showcase of adventure, history – and hauntings. BY CRAIG SISTERSON

he eye-catching hues of Lunenburg’s wooden buildings are now muted. Daylight has vanished and our stroll through the old town and up the hill is lit solely by streetlights and the lanterns we clutch. Our tour, speckled with local stories from guide Ashlee Feener, culminates fittingly among the gravestones as it has been a night of macabre history. The Lunenburg Academy looms behind us, an imposing French-style building standing sentinel at the town’s highest point, as it has done since the late 19th century. In the gloom it shimmers with Stephen King-esque atmosphere. Built atop Gallows Hill, where occasional hangings drew crowds in the town’s early decades, and surrounded on three sides by graveyards, it’s no surprise that the building – among others – is said to contain a ghost or two. The roll call includes a little boy who reads contentedly, then vanishes. A hand reaches up from beneath the school bathroom, built on the very spot where two Boutilier brothers met the noose in 1791. Spirits abound in a town where folklore and superstition have entwined with everyday life for centuries, which is unsurprising, really, given Lunenburg’s maritime nature, as well as its peculiar beginnings and quirky history.

“Fishermen and sailors were very superstitious people,” Ashlee explains on our Haunted Lunenburg tour. The sea could provide a good living, but also untimely death. A modern memorial down at the wharf, shaped like a compass rose, names more than 600 local fishermen who sailed and never returned.

Above: The bright red buildings of Lunenburg’s former fish processing plant now house fascinating tales and history in the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic

Out-of-work fishermen would journey to the French settlements off Newfoundland to procure booze, then return south.

Opposite page: Clockwise - The UNESCO frescoes on King Street; grey skies can’t dim Lunenburg’s colour from the sea; built in Lunenburg in 1938, the Theresa E. Connor is now flagship of the Fisheries Museum and Canada’s oldest saltbank schooner 72

Maritime superstitions Lunenburg has a similar population to Wakefield, less than half of Picton. Ashlee, an eighth-generation ‘Lunenburger’ whose lineage traces to founding families, shares plenty of seafaring superstitions and other local stories as we wander the Old Town. Never wear grey mittens on a ship (too akin to undertakers’ gloves); spit if you see a crow by itself (to ward off bad luck). Even the town’s colourful wooden buildings – dozens survive from the 18th and 19th centuries – were built with seafaring and superstition in mind. Ashlee points out a bigger window on some houses, big enough for a coffin (bad luck to bring it through the front door for a wake). Similarities between front and back facades are meant to confuse the Devil, who could only come in the back door. Larger houses feature harbour-facing ‘widow’s watch’ windows, from which anxious wives could await fishermen’s returns.

Photo: Gianmarco Pastorello / Shutterstock.com

T R AV E L

Sailing the bay

Photo: Craig Sisterson

Earlier in the day, after I’d arrived in town on the hop-on, hop-off Alternative Routes scenic shuttle from Halifax and a few hours before I joined Ashlee and other travellers for the Haunted Lunenburg tour, I took a sail out around the harbour on the Eastern Star, a 48ft (14.6m) wooden ketch – about a third the length of the Bluenose. Salt spray, taut sails, cutting through the waves – exhilarating. On the way out of the harbour we pass a low-lying boat with no windows or mast. Our skipper tells us local distillery Ironworks has started barrel-ageing its rum on the waves. It’s a nod to pirate life, when captains discovered late-voyage rum tasted better, the motion of the ocean accelerating the effect of the barrels on the booze. Lunenburg has a long association with the spirit. During Prohibition, the town became a hub for rum-running. Out-ofwork fishermen would journey to the French settlements off Newfoundland to procure booze, then return south. Chicago gangster Al Capone even visited Lunenburg.

Photo: Craig Sisterson

As schooners returned to the safe harbour after weeks or months at fishing grounds catching and salting giant cod, families would hope for flags flying at full mast, not half. While the heyday of the cod fishery has passed, Lunenburg is still a maritime town. Fresh shellfish are available at the wharf, where the large Fisheries Museum sits like a bright red beacon. Tied up nearby is the Bluenose II, a replica of a legendary 1920s fishing schooner that became a Canadian icon when it outraced the best American vessels for 17 years straight. Lunenburgers say the cheapest local souvenir you can find costs 10 cents – Bluenose has been commemorated on the Canadian dime for 80 years.

Bright colours were traditional back in the 1800s, when fishermen would use leftover boat paint on their houses. As the Eastern Star rounds the headland and turns back towards town, I get a small sense of what returning sailors may have seen. The buildings are an artist’s palette of colours: purple, teal, red, bright green, mustard, various shades of blue from eggshell to royal, slate grey, burnt orange. Later, Ashlee tells us that the bright colours were traditional back in the 1800s, when fishermen would use leftover boat paint on their houses. (Bright shades were often cheaper than blander hues and were easily identifiable from a distance.) The tradition has only been resurrected in the new millennium. In 1995, Unesco made Lunenburg one of only three urban areas in North America to gain World Heritage status, calling it the best surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement, and an excellent example of the community and culture of Atlantic fishing. At the time, the well-preserved historic wooden buildings were mainly white with black trim, but in 2007 the owners of the Mariner King Inn decided to repaint their 1830s-era properties in bright colours, reflecting how they would have originally looked. King St was nicknamed the ‘Unesco fresco’, and other historic property owners soon joined in. An old tradition, newly rediscovered. Lunenburg is full of surprises like that. For a British colonial town that’s lived and breathed fishing for more than two centuries, I’m jolted when Ashlee reveals the founding families were mainly German, with some French and Swiss, and were farmers not fishermen. The colonial government thought ‘foreign Protestants’ would make better settlers than their own British citizens. When the rocky soil proved unsuitable for farming, the settlers adapted to become some of the finest Atlantic fishermen and worldclass shipbuilders within a generation or two. Nowadays, Lunenburg is a vibrant, charming place in daytime, welcoming the bustle of day trippers while balancing history and modern adventures. By night it’s quieter, reflective – and if you’re wandering the streets with Ashlee, perhaps a little spooky. The next morning, I wake far too early ahead of my sea-kayaking adventure – blame jetlag – so I take a wander by a beach. A solitary crow rustles its wings. I smile, and spit. 73

SPORTS

Running for a cause BY PHIL BARNES

Above: Stephanie Rumble, third from left, with other runners raising funds for a worthy cause 74

Photo: Supplied

rganisers are expecting a record number of entries for the Nelson Half Marathon taking place on 3rd November. Organiser Stu Hague says the event, now in its 39th year, attracted a record 650 entrants last year, and early entries indicate they are on track to break the 700 mark this year. The event, officially called The Nelson Half – a Festival of Running and Walking, has become the biggest running and walking event in Nelson and Marlborough. Race options include a half marathon, 10km, 5km and a 2.5km fun run/walk. Stu says the half marathon and 10km races start early enough to enable competitors to be back in time to watch or even run with their children taking part in the 2.5km fun run. He is delighted with the number of early entrants to the event. “We already have a lot of out-oftowners who have entered including four or five from Australia. Whether they are here on holiday anyway I don’t know.” He says that due to issues with the Saxton Field athletics track being renewed and a one day cricket international between New Zealand and England at Saxton Field taking place on 5th November, the main base for the event this year will be at the Nelson Suburbs clubrooms instead of the Saxton Athletics Pavilion. The event includes an attractive array of spot prizes including a four-day cruise from Auckland to Napier on a P and O cruise liner. The festival of running has also become a significant charity fundraiser. Those taking part can nominate a school of their choice and $10 of their entry fee will be donated to that school. Stu says they have raised $10,500 for local schools in the last two years. “It’s our way of encouraging the young ones to get into running.”

“So the money I raise will be used to fund vital research projects and medical grants to help improve the survival rate of people diagnosed with breast cancer in New Zealand.” STEPHANIE RU MBLE

Another person combining running with raising funds for charity is fashion stylist and coach Stephanie Rumble. Stephanie is running a half marathon each month this year with the aim of raising funds for Breast Cancer New Zealand. She says she ran seven half marathons last year and as this was basically just for her own pleasure, she decided this year she would run for a worthy cause. She says eight women a day are diagnosed with breast cancer in New Zealand.

Vital research “So the money I raise will be used to fund vital research projects and medical grants to help improve the survival rate of people diagnosed with breast cancer in New Zealand. It will also help support Kiwi women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer through services such as counselling and rehabilitation programmes.” She is dressing in pink for the event and already has one friend who will also be competing and helping with the cause. She says anyone else who wants to take part and join her is welcome and she

can provide pink breast cancer tee-shirts for them.

Best foot forward Stephanie, who has a best half marathon time of 1hr 33m set 15 years ago, is currently running most races in the low 1hr 40m mark. She says she is encouraging people to run as it’s good for both physical and mental health and helps keep people in touch with nature. “All the research shows that being in touch with nature is good for your mental health. “I chose this charity as I have a few friends and clients who have suffered this terrible disease and I wanted to help progress research into better treatments and a possible cure. I challenge as many people as possible to wear pink, drum up support and raise money for this awesome cause.” She says people do not have to run with her in the race but simply be part of the event. Anyone wishing to contact Stephanie can go to her Take Action Page and click on the link www./takeaction.org.nz/page/ stephanierumblespage She hopes to raise $5000 by the end of the year.

MOTORING

Jimny – Suzuki’s wee cracker BY GEOFF MOFFETT

uzuki dealers around the country have a First-World problem – too many people want to buy the cuteas-hell little four-wheel-drive Jimny Sierra. You want one? Join the six-month queue. It looks like a mini Hummer or Jeep – a pint-sized bruiser with off-road attitude. The Jimny is unique, a tough, ladder-chassis machine with high- and low-ratio 4WD – a similar set-up to the first mini Suzuki off-roader introduced in 1970 and the first Jimny in 1998. This fourth-iteration three-door is, though, 45mm wider and 40mm taller than the most recent one but still has a ‘slimmer’s special’ 1100kg curb weight. It looks pugnacious and ready for anything with its upright, boxy stance – a poor-man’s Mercedes G-wagon and with almost cultish credentials. Its extended, squared-off, black plastic wheel arches, chunky side-mirrors and no-nonsense black grille are telling you it wants to get down and dirty off the bitumen. The Jimny can go serious places with its 210mm ground clearance and ultrashort wheelbase, giving it approach and departure angles of 37 and 49 degrees. If that means nothing to you, I can tell you that puts the wee Suzuki in rarefied rockclimbing company.

It looks pugnacious and ready for anything with its upright, boxy stance ...

While the Jimny may be flying out the showroom doors, you can bet most of its new owners won’t go anywhere near a hillside track or a stony riverbed. They’ll all be posing around town. And more’s the pity, because this Suzy has excellent mountain-goat credentials. It deserves to show its stuff off-road.

Quirky charm In many ways, the Jimny is an automotive throwback with its body bolted to a rigid chassis, beam axles, the distinct mechanical noises from the transmission and a ride that’s reminiscent of 50-year-old Land Rovers. Yes, the little Suzy now has coil springs to make travel a little more civilised, but it’s still somewhat antique in a charming way, and that, to me, is part of its character – what makes the Jimny stand out. It’s a car you’ll learn to love for its quirks. So, what of its around-town and open-road performance? Not bad, you’d have to say. The new 1.5-litre petrol engine produces a modest 75kW, delivered through the rear wheels via a five-speed manual or four-speed auto. In an age where every gearbox seems to have between seven and 11 speeds, that’s old-fashioned but it still gets along nicely enough, if with a bit of bounce from its short wheelbase and rigid chassis. It’ll cruise at 100km/h decently enough, even if you have to rev it hard to make rapid progress. Its distinctive look-at-me appearance – particularly those with a two-tone paint

job – is attracting a lot of young buyers and even some older ones, all yearning for something different. The Jimny is certainly that, even on the inside, where the cockpit looks simple and uncluttered. Don’t be fooled though. The Suzy is packed with equipment like lane-departure warning, weaving alert, brake assist and hill-descent control, and features like touchscreen infotainment, satnav, voice-activated controls and cruise control and speed limiter. In a homogenised automotive world, the Jimny is a welcome rarity – a car that stands out. Many think the six or more months it takes to get their hands on one is well worth the wait.

Tech spec

Price:

Suzuki Jimny Sierra. From $26,990 (manual); $28,500 (auto); $29,000 (two-tone auto).

Power:

4-cylinder, 1462cc petrol; 70kW @ 6000rpm, 130Nm @ 4000rpm. Four-speed auto or five-speed manual.

Carbon emissions: 146-15 Fuel: Combined cycle, 6.4l/100km, 6.9l auto. Vehicle courtesy of Nelson Bays Suzuki 75

BOOKS

October reading suggestions COMPILED BY RENÉE LANG

The Warehouse Rob Hart Available now, $37 Penguin Random House

Self-publishing the way to go BY RENÉE LANG

ike many locals, Chrissie Ward spend her first years in Nelson and then went off on her OE before returning to the region in the late 1990s. Her time on the other side of the world included a 13-year stint living in a croft in the Shetland Islands, where “the winters were so long and the days were so short that I decided to start writing”, she recalls. Some of her short stories were accepted for publication in British magazines so that on her return to New Zealand she had already amassed a writing portfolio. The next step in her writing career was to edit a collection of her grandfather’s letters, written while he was serving in World War I. Hard to read because they’d been written in pencil on lined paper – “they’d been through the wars literally” – Chrissie transcribed them into readable form and was delighted when HarperCollins, the first publisher to which she submitted the collection, snapped them up and published them for ANZAC Day in 2000. As one of the early members of the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) Top of the South branch, which was founded in 2005, Chrissie enjoyed the company of other writers and was inspired to write her next book. This one was an illustrated collection of customised letter boxes, with photographs by Véronique Cornille and published by New Holland with the gift market in mind. Curious Kiwi Creatures, an informative introduction for children to some of New Zealand’s amazing animals, including ancient reptiles, creepy crawlies, birds and fish, illustrated by Polly Rabbits, came next. So what does Chrissie think of the local writing scene? “Nelson is packed with writers; it seems as if just about every second person is writing a book these days. Self-publishing appears to be the way to go, especially since it’s not known as ‘vanity publishing’ any longer.” Chrissie also notes that the popularity of the self-publishing movement has meant that a lot of interesting books are now available; books that may not previously have seen the light of day, due to the “dwindling number of commercial publishers”. She’s very clear that there’s more to writing than creating a blockbuster whose movie rights are immediately snapped up. “Writing is good for the soul and a lot of people just need to do it; it’s a way to express their creativity.” The Top of the South branch of NZSA welcomes new members. To find out more, visit www.topwriters.co.nz Above: Author Chrissie Ward 76

ost dads appreciate a good thriller and this one, which anticipates a time when gun violence, climate change and unemployment have made the US a nightmare country, will keep him turning the pages until the wee hours. At its heart is the story of an online retail giant that will go to any lengths to amass power.

High Adventure Mike Allsop Available now, $36.99 Allen & Unwin

his Aucklander and father of three makes a habit of climbing mountains and going on various adventures with his children in his efforts to strike a balance between thrills and family. He’s taken on some pretty amazing challenges to prove they’re possible, and by writing about them has created a very readable account of his philosophy that “if you believe you can, you will”.

OMD: Change the World by Changing One Meal a Day

Suzy Amis Cameron Available now, $36.99 Allen & Unwin

ot all of us are ready to give up eating meat but Suzy Cameron, wife of film director James Cameron, argues that we can boost energy, live healthier lives and heal the earth by swapping one meat-and-dairy-based meal for one plant-based meal every day. She’s even included 50 recipes to make the changeover easier.

Photo: Karaena Vincent

BOOKS

Kerry Sunderland

A weekend full of words BY RENÉE LANG

elsonians are in for a treat this month with the advent of the 25th Nelson Arts Festival that kicks off on 18 October. Along with an impressive array of performers of every stripe, the literary component (previously known as Readers and Writers) has been part of the festival almost since its inception, growing in significance each year thanks to the terrific job carried out by those involved in chairing and coordinating the programme. Local bookseller Page & Blackmore has been sponsoring the event since 2009 and this year they – and coordinator Kerry Sunderland – are delighted to announce a change of name: Page & Blackmore Pukapuka Talks. Starting on the Friday of Labour Weekend, this year’s event is crammed with what Kerry describes as “a hearty balance of fiction, poetry, memoir and narrative non-fiction from some of Aotearoa’s very best established and emerging authors”. These include Witi Ihimaera, Elizabeth Knox, Stephanie Johnson, playwright Renée and a host

of exciting younger writers – all up 23 of them. Eleven of the events will take place in the Granary Café and then there’s the two-part Publishing’s New Frontiers evening at NMIT that will focus on self-publishing. Traditionally the readers and writers sessions have been held over two weekends, effectively bookending the main event, but this year Kerry and the team decided that holding it over one weekend rather than two would mean that out-of-town participants would be much more likely to stay for the whole four days. “It’s very easy getting authors to come to Nelson,” says Kerry. “Everyone wants to have a holiday here.” She’s also hoping that running it over one weekend will make it extra appealing, not just to the “very loyal local audience” but to people outside the region who might see the festival as a great reason to visit Nelson at this time. So who makes up the local audience? Kerry identifies them as mostly women over the age of 55, but she’s delighted to see the number of men who come along to the Thinking Brunches, which are also popular with those people regularly engaged with the community. Kerry is particularly excited to welcome back James Russell (author of the best-selling self-published Dragon Brothers trilogy), whose appearance

“It’s very easy getting authors to come to Nelson. Everyone wants to have a holiday here.” K E R RY S U N D E R L A N D

last year was so very popular. This time James is here, with the support of the New Zealand Book Council, to visit a number of schools, however he’ll also now be appearing on the Publishing’s New Frontiers panel on the evening of Thursday 24th October. Witi Ihimaera’s presence on the first day of the programme is, Kerry is happy to admit, something of a coup as it will be the first official event to follow the publication of his new book, Native Son. “He’s our drawcard for local people who could be tempted to take that day off,” says Kerry. But if you can’t take that day off, there are plenty of other must-see writers, especially local ones such as Christine Leunens and Naomi Arnold. So if you haven’t already booked for this weekend of fabulous stories and storytelling, do so now without delay as door sales will only be available for events not already sold out. Visit www.nelsonartsfestival.nz

Photo: Lisa Duncan

ARTS

Top of the South’s best kept art secret ... spread the word!

“You never own a painting – it’s on loan to you. When you die, you don’t take it with you.” MARK STEVENSON

BY JOHN COHEN-DU FOUR

few months back I had the opportunity to join a tour organised through Friends of the Suter to visit the Stevenson Collection in Picton. For most of you, and I must confess I include myself here, I’m betting your first response will be something like: ‘The who collection? in ... Picton???’ Yep – unbeknownst to me and to many others, 15 High Street, Picton is home to one of New Zealand’s foremost private contemporary art collections, the 35-year-old love child of Mark and Bernadette Stevenson. It’s an astounding assembly of over four hundred predominantly New Zealand and Australian works of modern art – a collection so worthy it currently has pieces on loan to Auckland Art Gallery and Porirua’s Pataka Art + Museum. “I like to think of our collection as Picton’s Te Papa – which, after all, means house of treasures,” says Mark. “It’s here simply because this is where we live. And now that I’m retired, I have the opportunity to share it with others.” Mark is unapologetic that his zeal for collecting contemporary art has followed Above: Mark with just some of the four hundred artworks making up the Stevenson Collection 78

no conscious process of curation. It came about simply because he allowed what he terms his ‘all-consuming passion’ to grow unfettered from hobby into lifelong pursuit. “A lot of people over the years have encouraged me to specialise, but I’m eclectic,” he says. “I like a range of pieces.” It’s this refreshingly free and diverse sweep of artists, mediums and styles that makes walking through the gallery something of a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory arts experience. No sooner have your eyes alighted on a shimmering, densely textured Andre Hemer piece, than they are suddenly, teasingly smitten with a flattened banana carton by Glen Hayward carved entirely from a single piece of customwood. Around one corner you’ll discover a Daniel Unverricht night-time street scene every bit as achingly desolate as any Edward Hopper masterpiece, before you find yourself face to face with the light relief of a humorously surreal John Kelly cow painting. The scope is stunning, from such wellknowns as McCahon, Hodgkins, Moffit, Hammond, Hotere, to exciting new-finds – for me, anyway – like Richard Lewer, Edward Bullmore, Emily Hartly-Skudder, Seung Yui Oh and so many more.

“My strong preference is to buy through dealers,” explains Mark, “not at auction. Then I know the artists are financially rewarded. Equally, I won’t deal with artists directly because that cuts out the dealer. I see the two as mutually supportive – I like keeping things on an ethical basis.” Perhaps the best thing about visiting the collection is Mark himself. His love for his works is infectious and the stories he shares, his many asides and anecdotes, make for a truly entertaining and memorable visit. “As a collector I have to enjoy the art,” he says. “It has to move me, stir me in some way. How visitors respond is totally up to them. I just want them to experience the pieces – art is about allowing it to impact upon you.” Visiting the Stevenson Collection is free. The gallery is open for public viewing on most Sundays between 1.30 and 2.30pm, or through informal visits arranged with Mark on 027 444 3891. “We’ve lived with these pieces,” says Mark, “they’ve graced our homes for many years, been a part of the fabric of our lives. Now, we’re just thrilled to make them available to all.” For further information and to check on updated opening times, go to The Stevenson Collection on Facebook.

IN THE GALLERY

October’s top creative picks If you’re looking for something artistic to make a statement then look no further than the talented artisans in the Top of the South. Here are some of this month’s must-have artworks.

1. Roz Speirs, Winter Blues, fused glass, Wall to Wall Art, 112 Bridge St, Nelson, 027 500 5528, www.clarityglass.co.nz, $495 2. Ian Hamlin, Turning on the Light, oil on canvas, 600 x 600mm, www.ianhamlin.co, $3,500 3. Fleur Woods, Soma (detail), 20 x 20cm, stitching on linen, Quiet Dog Gallery, Nelson, 03 548 3991, www.quietdoggallery.co.nz 4. Russel Papworth, Contemporary Fish Sculpture, Forest Fusion, Mapua Wharf, 022 0918 380, www.forestfusion.com 5. Jens Hansen, Classic Gemstone Ring in Yellow Gold with London Blue Topaz (9JW233), www.jenshansen.co.nz, $1,990

4 5

Geoffrey Douglas

Making medicinal music BY ANGELA ZAME

eoffrey Douglas, drummer for Nelson’s Medicine Woman band, believes in the therapeutic power of music. During jam nights at Liquid Bar in Bridge St, both musicians and audiences are “literally bathing in sound”, he says. “Our brain lights up, the past and future disappear – we’re just in the moment. I see how, particularly since developing my skills as a drummer, the crowd really appreciates it. They’re literally moved. That’s why music is medicine. “Medicine Woman has the same ethos. It’s a skill to share; it’s healing; it’s transformative.” The band – Cher Hunter (lead vocals), Darryn Hunter (bass guitar), Daryl ‘Chaos’ Thompson (lead guitar) and Geoffrey – launch their debut album, Head Heart & Gut, this month. The ‘Southern rock’-style Medicine Woman already has five Spotify singles, including the catchy Set Us Free, and last month won Nelson’s Titans of Tunes music contest. 80

“Being on the cusp of releasing our first album is a great accomplishment, not just as a drummer and backing singer, but as a producer,” says Geoffrey, who completed the Diploma in Arts and Media (Contemporary Music) at NMIT in 2014, and whose busy life mostly involves producing other musicians’ recordings. “I’m like the student who didn’t go away,” he says. Geoffrey also volunteers as studio manager for NMIT’s music programme. A life-size photo of his smiling face adorns the Johnny Cash Room on Nile St. He’s also a regular at Wednesday and Thursday jam nights. Geoffrey began performing at Liquid while developing as a ‘medicinal’ producer of music during his second year at NMIT. Music is “medicine for the soul”, he explains. “I’ve called my record label Wizard of Light Ore Productions. The ore refers to ‘mining’ the inner creative light out of myself, through every note sung and stroke drummed. I then share this with others in the hope of inspiring the same for their own musical productions.”

Long gestation

Geoffrey’s personal album, AmphibiYarns, has been seven years in the making. He plans to release it next year. “They’re songs I’ve written, produced the music for

“Our brain lights up, the past and future disappear – we’re just in the moment.” G E O F F R EY D O U G L A S H A I L S T H E P OW E R O F M U S I C

and sing myself. It’s a solo project loosely based on the idea of growing up. Mostly they’re about love.” He is completing the Diploma in Writing for Creative Industries course at NMIT to strengthen his songwriting. Poetry uses few words to say more, he says. Writing also assists the design process and album production. “I’m fastidious with my drum strokes. Words on websites require the same.” Geoffrey says a good recording producer needs particular skills. He sets the studio up as ‘a sacred space’. “The more I can encourage the artist to let loose, to let out their best performance, that’s what makes a great recording – its key. All else follows on from that.” His ultimate aim is to produce a song for a movie soundtrack. As for the future generally, “We’ve just got to put our best intentions into the music and really trust in the universe. Then the seed will grow.”

Photo: Brent McGilvary

MUSIC

FILM

Fancy some argy-bargy? BY EDDIE ALLNUTT

Florianópolis Dream

lorianópolis in Brazil is nicknamed ‘Ilha da Magia’, but will the magic of the island be enough to reunite a couple amid a trial separation? The protagonists are Pedro (Gustavo Garzón) and Lucrecia (Mercedes Morán) who have recently split but they wonder if a getaway to ‘Floripa’ will rekindle the flame. They head off from Buenos Aries in a rusty Renault with their two teenage kids, Flor and Julian, who can’t be far away from leaving home, on what could be their last family holiday. Although the travel distance would be similar to driving the length of New Zealand, we only see the last miles so it’s not a roadie. After a few hiccups, the Argentines arrive in paradise and rent a cabana from Brazilian Marco (Marco Ricca) and Larisa (Andréa Beltrão) who they befriended during the journey. As it happens, the Brazilians are in a similar circumstance in their relationship and also have a teenage son, César. This sets things up for some possible romance tinged with argy-bargy. After all, gregarious Marco isn’t afraid to parade in his Speedos or apply peroxide to highlight his handsomeness. It’s worth noting that Florianópolis Dream is hard to categorise and if you don’t have symptoms of cinephilia, you may find it slow and even bordering on boring. It doesn’t follow any strong narrative and an espresso would certainly raise your blood pressure higher. It’s not a comedy, however there are a few chuckles to be had, thanks to the dry humour of Pedro and the effervescence of Marco. Yes, there’s romance but it’s not going to drag you away like one of the island’s rips. What Argentine director and co-writer Ana Katz (A Stray Girlfriend) has done is to focus on the nuances of life. She centres on the simple things that should be cherished and in many ways, it’s refreshing, relaxing and unique. This movie is allowed to breathe like an uncorked Malbec. Both Pedro and Lucrecia work as psychoanalysts so you may wonder if they really can switch off from their work. There’s realistic dialogue – in Spanish and Portuguese with English subtitles - but the story is also told by silence and subtle clues. Gustavo Garzón and Mercedes Morán play their parts seamlessly while their characters develop naturally throughout. Nothing is forced and a little is more. The same applies to the rest of the small cast, which interestingly includes Garzón’s actual son Joaquin and Morán’s daughter Manuela Martinez, as the siblings. The cinematography of Gustavo Biazzi works in tandem with the delicate moods in the film and although the scenery is idyllic, it doesn’t portray it as an advertisement for the next overcrowded hotspot. Floripa is surrounded by fables, and legend has it that the boulders off the beach of Praia de Itaguaçu were once witches before they were turned to stone.

THE PLACE T O BE FOR

LABOUR WE

E K E N D!

DAY TIME

PAGE & BLACKMORE PUKAPUKA TALKS TO FEED THE BRAIN Novels, memoirs, poetry and ideas galore

Photo © Bernie Butler

Drama Directed by Ana Katz Starring Gustavo Garzón, Mercedes Morán, Andréa Beltrão, Marco Ricca 1h 46min Rated M

NIGHT TIME

MUSIC AND DANCING TO GET BODIES MOVING Blues, alt-country, surf-rock plus great local bands

nelsonartsfestival.nz

EVENTS

Regular Markets

Nelson Tasman Saturday 12 & Sunday 13

Every Saturday morning

Show Me Shorts Film Festival

The Nelson Market 8am to 1pm

The Show Me Shorts Film Festival connects New Zealanders with short films. This year’s sampler programme includes eight films featuring a lost donkey, a stolen moon buggy, a history lesson, a hijacked car, and a reluctant gnome. Well-known local actors Alison Bruce, Miriama McDowell and Jeffrey Thomas feature in the films along with singer-songwriter Finn Andrews and Hollywood stars Jason Schwartzman and Jake Johnson.

MONTGOMERY SQUARE

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

Monty’s Market 8am to 1pm MONTGOMERY SQUARE

Every Wednesday Nelson Farmers’ Market 8.30am to 1.30pm

PICTON – ENDEAVOUR PARK 12 OCT, 1PM & 6.30PM NELSON – SUTER GALLERY 12 & 13 OCT, 7.30PM

KIRBY LANE

OCTOBER

Friday 4

Tuesday 1 to Sunday 27

The best way to get into your Friday morning! Get your groove on, get active and pumped for the day ahead. Drop in any time between 6 and 9am.

Latin America and Spain Film Festival 2019 Bienvenidos, for the first time in Nelson, this film festival aims to bring audiences closer to the history, culture and social developments of Latin America and Spain, through the work of each country’s fascinating film industry. Check details at: www.lasffnz.co.nz VICTORY COMMUNITY CENTRE, NELSON

Tuesday 1 Oct to Sunday 24 November

Nelson Dawn Silent Disco

KIRBY LANE, NELSON

Sunday 6 Bloom – Flower and Garden Festival 2019 Enjoy Bloom – Nelson’s Flower and Garden festival. Food, garden stalls, heritage, guided tours and music with special guest speaker Ruud Kleinpaste. A fun day out for all. 11am - 3pm. ISEL HOUSE AND PARK, STOKE

Kura Pounamu

Sunday 6

An exhibition of more than 200 pounamu greenstone treasures presented by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Kura Pounamu tells the story of this most precious of stones.

Over 20 shops set up to explore as a ‘living museum’! Victorian

THE NELSON PROVINCIAL MUSEUM, PUPURI TAONGA O TE TAI AO

Thursday 3 James Reid Songbook Tour Singer/songwriter James Reid - the man behind some of New Zealand’s most beloved songs – brings a stripped-back acoustic approach to The Feelers classics and new solo material. Starts 8pm. THE PLAYHOUSE, TASMAN

Willow Bank Heritage Village Open Day

café, 1950s style burger bar, dolls’ museum, puppet theatre, photography studio, costume shop and more. 10am to 3pm. 79 WAKEFIELD-KOHATU HIGHWAY

Friday 18 to Monday 28 2019 Nelson Arts Festival The Nelson Arts Festival welcomes in spring each year with a programme jam-packed with fabulous events. The 2019 Festival sees shows coming all the way from such far-flung places as Germany, Scotland, the USA and even Nelson! There’s theatre, dance, circus, music, writers’ talks, comedy, korero, visual arts, community and family events – even a show for babies. Check out the full programme on the website. www.nelsonartsfestival.nz VARIOUS VENUES

Wednesday 16 Couture at the Cathedral Enjoy the lastest fashion in a fabulous setting while raising funds for nrbgct. Catch up with friends and see what top labels are trending this season, all in a fabulous setting. Tickets are on sale from Morrison Square Centre Management Office, located above the Morri St Cafe or you can email: nelson@morrisonsquare.co.nz. Starts 6.30pm. CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL, NELSON

Friday 18 to Monday 28 PIC’S Piki Mai Piki Mai, an abstract audio-visual artwork, creates a wondrous illusion through large-scale projection and lighting, and tells the story of Nelson in a visually spectacular way. Dusk to midnight. NELSON’S CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL AND THE CHURCH STEPS

Saturday 26 to Monday 28 Aorere Enduro with Specialized The Aorere Enduro 2019 is a three-day mountain bike event that is part of the Asia Pacific Continental Enduro Series. Watch the riders in action, with a Fanzone set up on course. 9am. MAITAI CRICKET GROUND, NELSON

EVENTS

Regular Markets

Marlborough

Every Saturday Artisan Market 9am to 2pm

Loved Ones Wedding Fair Loved Ones is a bespoke wedding fair offering inspiration and support for everything nuptials. The perfect outlet for creative engaged couples to gain inspiration and connect with wedding professionals who aim to help create their perfect wedding day. 11am to 3pm.

QUAYS, BLENHEIM

Every Sunday Marlborough Farmers’ Market 9am - 12pm The Sunday Marlborough Farmers’ Market is based on supporting local, fresh and seasonal produce and products. Everything has been picked, grown, farmed, fished, produced and made by the people selling it at the market.

THE VINES VILLAGE, BLENHEIM

A&P SHOWGROUNDS

OCTOBER Wednesday 2 to Saturday 5 2019 Black Hawk National Dog Show Attend the 2019 Black Hawk National Dog Show and meet over 1000 pedigree dogs. 9am start. MARLBOROUGH LINES STADIUM 2000

Friday 4 Hugo Del Mar sings Gershwin with Special Guests International sensation Hugo del Mar and Friends present a night of much-loved favourites by George Gershwin in Old Tua Marina Church with its incredible acoustics. From 6pm. BRAYSHAW HERITAGE PARK, BLENHEIM

Friday 11 Elizabeth Lissaman Celebration Birthday Lecture Lecture by Jane Vial – ‘Stylish: Elizabeth Lissaman and New Zealand Art Deco’. Marlboroughborn Lissaman potted continuously for almost 70 years until 1990, spanning much of New Zealand’s 20th-century studio pottery movement. 5pm. MARLBOROUGH MUSEUM, BLENHEIM

come and chat about your next holiday idea! 11am to 2pm. MARLBOROUGH CONVENTION CENTRE, BLENHEIM

Sunday 13 A Festival of Beer 2019 Enjoy a classic afternoon of both sessionable and craft beers from Golden Mile Brewing and other Marlborough breweries, with some fantastic food to match. Plus live local sounds – what a combo! 12pm to 5pm.

Saturday 12

THE VINES VILLAGE, BLENHEIM

Global Travel Showcase

Friday 18 to Sunday 20

Join helloworld Travel Blenheim as we host Marlborough’s biggest and most comprehensive travel showcase of the year! Be it sports, events, boutique touring, river or ocean cruising or eco-adventures,

Top of the South Kizomba & Bachata Festival Salsa Groove are very excited to present the first Kizomba & Bachata festival in the Top of the South. Prepare for a weekend of inspiring Latin dance workshops,

great night parties, fun animation dances, amazing performances and social dancing. Starts 9pm Fri. HARLEQUINS RUGBY CLUB, LANSDOWNE PARK, BLENHEIM

Saturday 19 Ladies Night Ladies, girlfriends, friends and family, Ladies Night out has something amazing for you. Shop till you drop with amazing businesses all in one space. There will be something for everyone. 6pm to 9pm. MARLBOROUGH CONVENTION CENTRE, BLENHEIM

Monday 21 Entrepreneur Social – Frank Witowski Serial start-up entrepreneur takes on cycling’s global players. Join us for an evening of great networking, inspiration and support with guest speaker Frank Witowski of Hybrid Bikes. 5pm to 7pm. THE WINE STATION, BLENHEIM

Friday 25 Mr Red Light – Nelson Arts Festival in Blenheim From the award-winning team behind Te Pō, Spirit House and 360, Mr Red Light uses everything from pathos to slapstick to dig into the meaning of life. Suddenly the pie shop is a place where anything can happen. 8pm. ASB THEATRE MARLBOROUGH

Thursday 31 Adam Hattaway and the Haunters Album Release Tour You may not yet know about Adam Hattaway and the Haunters, but the band from Christchurch is here to change that, announcing their album Crying Lessons and an eight-date release tour. The sound is less indie rock than before, and more soul-tinged rock ‘n’ roll. 8pm. THE PLANT, BLENHEIM

DIRECTORY

Inspirational INTERIORS

Cnr Champion & Salisbury Roads, Richmond

149C Salisbury Road, Richmond

OPEN 7 DAYS 8am–6.30pm

Ph: 03 544 1515

Ph: 03 544 0824 raewardfresh.co.nz

www.moxini.co.nz

Specialising in Conveyancing, Family Law, Wills & Estates P: 03 578 7361 E: office@mccarthylaw.co.nz 1 Russell Terrace, Blenheim

Stockists of Magnolia Pearl, La Bottega Di Brunella & Beacon Hill’s Closet STORE HOURS Thursday & Friday 10am-4pm Saturday 10am-2pm 205 PATON ROAD, HOPE

facebook.com/beaconhillcountrystore

@beaconhillstore

YOUR HOLIDAY HOME in the best hands & earning

MAXIMUM RETURNS

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

Download the Access Internet Radio App Listen anywhere at any time

Thousands of shows and podcasts for free

www.freshfm.net Nelson-Tasman 104.8 • Nelson Central City 107.2 • Takaka 95.0 • Blenheim 88.9

027 296 8345 nelsonbaysholidayhomes.co.nz

M Y E D U C AT I O N

Serving up learning Jett Manson graduated with a New Zealand Certificate in Food and Beverage Service (Level 4) last year and now works full-time at River Kitchen in Nelson. He speaks to Jake Tranter about studying hospitality at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. PHOTO BY DOMINIQUE WHITE

Why did you decide to go into hospitality? It’s a job you can do anywhere in the world. Every place needs it, because every-one eats. Wherever there are restaurants, cafés or bars, there’s a job. I get along well with people, so that definitely helped too.

What did you learn at NMIT that’s come in handy in the industry? Some of the things I knew already, but it’s different being told to do something than it is to understand why. I learnt it’s important to be honest about your mistakes. For example, if you do a brilliant night of service for a table but mess up one thing, then that’s what they are going to remember. But it’s impossible to never make a mistake, so you have to learn how you can recover from it and be open with the customer, rather than trying to hide it. Also, the industry experience really helped with, well, the industry. A large part of the course was getting you ready for the real world, so we served at Nelson Giants’ games, which were hectic and good fun. We also worked for catering companies, did weddings, lots of things. This was important because you almost want to put on a show when serving, so confidence is key.

Was there anything in particular you found challenging? Probably managing time, but that’s more because of my personality. I prefer to achieve things at my own pace, so I had to think, how could I make things easier for myself? For example, when you’re making cocktails, you might be making four or five different ones at a time. So if they all include ice, don’t do the ice one at a time. Do them all at once, you know? Work smarter, not harder.

Do you have any advice for future students looking to study hospitality? Yes, definitely. Learn how you learn. Some people absorb information by

reading, some watching and others by doing things. The class was arranged into readers, watchers and ‘do-ers’ so everyone could learn to the best of their ability. Also, spend some time managing your time and be self-aware. I knew I wasn’t the best I could be, so then everything’s an opportunity. Local businesses will come to NMIT and ask if they have good students for their job openings, so if you show you’re enthusiastic about the programme you’ll be recommended. So, most importantly, be proactive and put your hand up for everything in and out of the programme. You’ll be surprised with what you learn, the people you meet and the connections you make.

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Intepeople.co.nz 88

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

ISSUE 159 / OCTOBER 2019 / $8.95

Registered Master Builders

House of the Year 2019 Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast Region

Supreme Winners Gold Awards Category Awards Craftsmanship Award Kitchen Award Interiors Award Bathroom Award Outdoor Living Award

design build enjoy

We design and build QUALITY HOMES to an award-winning standard Russell and his team at Inhaus will build you more than just a house â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they will build you a home. We realise that building a home is a major financial and emotional investment, and that a trusting relationship between building companies and clients is essential. Our team work hard to make your building experience enjoyable and we deliver the highest quality that your home deserves.

Call Russell on: 021 756 755

Email: russell@inhaus.co.nz

Multi National Award Winner - Russell Campbell

Visit us at: www.inhaus.co.nz

At Hunt Construction we don't just build structures, we take ideas from paper and turn them into reality. With over 30 years of experience in large commercial, architectural houses, renovation and historic restorations, you can be assured your project is in safe hands. Our vision is to see ideas come to life, by producing high-quality projects that our clients and future generations can be proud of.

021 541 290 | www.huntconstruction.co.nz

design.build.excellence

DELIGHTED TO BE 2019 REGISTERED MASTER BUILDERS HOUSE OF THE YEAR GOLD RESERVE AWARD WINNERS At Contemporary Homes we pride ourselves on designing and building quality bespoke homes. We build specifically for you, your family and your lifestyle, using sustainable building principles.

design.build.excellence

melissa@contemporaryhomes.nz | 021 855 481 paul@contemporaryhomes.nz | 021 412 422 jacob@contemporaryhomes.nz | 022 639 0812

contemporaryhomes.nz 4

Photo: Dominique White

Master Builders

Exceptional standard of entries

House of the Year C O M P I L E D B Y LY N D A PA P E S C H

ntries in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards set such a high standard that the vast majority won gold medals. Of the 27 entries, six scored silver medals and all the rest gold. The Supreme House of the Year Award went to Inhaus Developments for a beautifully crafted home at Richmond, and Hunt Construction won the Supreme Renovation of the Year award for the revival of a 1960s Marlborough home. Lifestyle Awards went to houses built by Scott Construction and Roger Kenning Builders. Gold awards went to Inhaus Developments, Hunt Construction, Mainland Homes (2001) Nelson, Kennedy Construction, Roger Kenning Builders, Dan Anderson Building, Salter Builders, Roger Townley Construction, Bruce Design & Build, Peter Ray Homes Blenheim, Jennian Homes Nelson Bays, Glenroy Housing Marlborough, Contemporary Homes 2010 LTD, Scott Construction, Mike Greer Homes Nelson and Stonewood Homes Nelson.

Awards convenor Karen Maddocks says the gold success rate is a stand-out achievement, and the local builders are to be commended for setting such a high standard. The results of the regional competition were revealed at a gala dinner in Blenheim in early August. Overall there were 21 gold award winners from the Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast region and these will now be judged against gold award winners from around the country to find the National Top 100 gold award finalists. Since these awards several of the homes have also won gold at a national level.

About the Registered Master Builders 2019 House of the Year

The competition is divided into two parts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the first is at a regional level, the second is at a national level. Gold, silver and bronze award winners are determined using a points-based system. These award winners were announced at 10 regional events held throughout New Zealand during July and August. 5

“… a stand-out achievement.” LIFESTYLE AWA R D S

K A R E N M A D D O C KS

The top 100 homes from the regions will be re-judged by a panel of national judges, who will determine the overall national winners, which will be announced at the national event in Auckland on 23rd November.

How they are judged

All category entrants in each region are judged by the same panel of two judges, for example a New Home up to $450,000 in Nelson was judged by the same two people that judged all other categories in Nelson Tasman, Marlborough and the West Coast. The judges go through each property and decide on the score against the set criteria for its category.

Each property is judged against a scorecard of 2000 points (1300 Workmanship and 700 Design, Style and Functionality). Multi-unit properties are separately judged (1100 Workmanship and 900 Design, Style, Functionality and General Consideration). Properties are then awarded either gold, silver, bronze or no award depending on points scored. Gold awards are for properties that score 1800 points or more, silver for 1650 to 1799 points, and bronze equates to scores between 1500 and 1649 points. For more information about the competition, visit www.houseoftheyear.co.nz.

Craftsmanship Award – Scott Construction

Kitchen Award – Scott Construction

Outdoor Living Award – Scott Construction

Interior Design Award – Scott Construction

Bathroom Award

– Roger Kenning Builders

2019 GOLD WINNING HOMES Absolute Pleasure Mainland Homes (2001) Nelson PlaceMakers New Home $450,000 - $600,000

A Feast for the Eyes Dan Anderson Building

Carters New Home $1 million - $1.5 million

A Fine Vintage Hunt Construction Renovation up to $500,000

Best on the Block Scott Construction Master Build 10-Year Guarantee Multi-Unit

Altus Windows New Home $750,000 - $1 million

Elevated Impression Contemporary Homes Nelson 2010 LTD GIB Show Home

Family Favourite Roger Townley Construction Altus Windows New Home $750,000 - $1 million

Go with the Flow Scott Construction Builder’s Own Home

Dark Horse Peter Ray Homes Blenheim

Grand Plan Stonewood Homes Nelson

Volume Group Housing New Home $450,000 - $750,000

Volume Group Housing New Home up to $450,000

Dark Vision Kennedy Construction

Natural Charmer Inhaus

New Home $1.5 million - $2 million

Decked Out Salter Builders

New Home $600,000 - $750,000

Outward Bound Mike Greer Homes Nelson

Small Plan, Big Heart Glenroy Housing Marlborough

Volume Group Housing New Home up to $450,000

New Home up to $450,000

Positive Outlook Bruce Design & Build PlaceMakers New Home $450,000 - $600,000

Rise & Shine Bruce Design & Build Altus Windows New Home $750,000 - $1 million

Seaside Sanctuary Peter Ray Homes Blenheim Altus Windows New Home $750,000 - $1 million

Sitting Pretty Jennian Homes Nelson Bays New Home up to $450,000

Swimming in Space Mike Greer Homes Nelson Builder’s Own Home

Twice as Nice Jennian Homes West Coast PlaceMakers New Home $450,000 - $600,000

View from the Top Roger Kenning Builders New Home $1.5 million - $2 million

NELSON’S MOST AWARDED BUILDER

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Jennian Homes Nelson Bays 8 Champion Road, Richmond, Nelson P 03 544 4390 E nelson@jennian.co.nz www.jennian.co.nz

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Jennian Homes Nelson Bays 8 Champion Road, Richmond, Nelson P 03 544 4390 E nelson@jennian.co.nz

GOLD AWARD

Jennian Homes Nelson Bays 8 Champion Road, Richmond, Nelson P 03 544 4390 E nelson@jennian.co.nz jennian.co.nz

GOLD AWARD

Builders Ho ter us as

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Or call into their design studio at 8 Champion Road for inspiration and to see how they can help you design and build your dream home.

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Pop in and meet one of our experienced consultants at our Richmond display home to help you start your journey. They are at 2 Malone Crescent off Berryfield Drive, Lower Queen Street, Richmond. Open seven days from 1-4pm.

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Jennian Homes Nelson Bays specialise in design and build. They pride themselves on delivering the home you’ve always wanted and will work with you to create a home that reflects your personality and suits your lifestyle.

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Year on year Jennian Homes Nelson Bays continue to be awarded for their clients’ homes, through the Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards. They are proud to be Nelson’s most awarded builder.

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Jennian Homes continue to set the bar in design and build.

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2019 S I LV E R WINNING HOMES Dynamic Style Jennian Homes Marlborough GIB Show Home

Entertain with Style Mike Greer Homes Marlborough GIB Show Home

Leisure to Meet You Stonewood Homes Nelson New Home up to $450,000

Lifestyle writ Large Stonewood Homes Nelson

PlaceMakers New Home $450,000 - $600,000

Natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bounty Mike Greer Homes West Coast

Volume Group Housing New Home $450,000 - $750,000

Sun-soaked Stunner Jennian Homes Nelson Bays

Volume Group Housing New Home $450,000 - $750,000

Clockwise: From top left Dynamic Style; Entertain with Style; Leisure to Meet You; Lifestyle writ Large; Natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bounty; Sun-soaked Stunner

Proud winners at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Master Builders House of the Year awards.

This stunning home was the WINNER of Volume/Group Housing New Home up to $450,000. It also is a Gold Reserve Finalist and is off to the Nationals in November.

This home won GOLD in the Builderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Own Home category. Contact us Emma McCashin 021 682 787 emccashin@mikegreerhomes.co.nz Vanessa Clark 027 733 1409 vclark@mikegreerhomes.co.nz

03 544 7873 mikegreerhomes.co.nz

Showhome 5 Village Lane, Montebello, Nelson Open daily, 1pm - 4pm

Table of Contents

Issue 159 / October 2019

GOLD AWARD-WINNING HOUSES

13 Natural Charmer 15 A Fine Vintage 17 Best on the Block 19 Decked Out

21 Elevated Impression 23 Family Favourite 25 Go with the Flow 27 Seaside Sanctuary 29 Sitting Pretty 31 Swimming in Space 33 View from the Top 35 Absolute Pleasure & Dark Horse 37 Dark Vision & Grand Plan 39 Positive Outlook & Rise & Shine 41 A Feast for the Eyes & Outward Bound 43 Small Plan, Big Heart & Twice as Nice 10

CREATE BEAUTIFUL HOM ES ARCHITECTS INTERIOR DESIGNERS URBAN DESIGNERS

JERRAM TOCKER BARRON ARCHITECTS LTD Nelson Wellington Christchurch Auckland

www.jtbarchitects.co.nz

Embrace the Marlborough lifestyle with a luxurious, designer pool or spa

Congratulations to all the award-winning entries in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House of the Year.

Scott Gearry 021 311 153 | 03 544 5700 scott.gearry@raywhite.com Excalibre Real Estate Richmond Ltd (Licensed: REAA 2008)

Brumwell Painting • Exterior/interior

• Renovations

• Airless spraying • Waterblasting

• Fully qualified tradespeople

• New builds

• Obligation-free quote

Call Adam

027 671 8417 or 544 9415 www.adambrumwellpainting.co.nz

Proud to have worked with InHaus on the award-winning Natural Charmer home CELEBRATING OVER 30 YEARS IN BUSINESS

Tel: 03 544 4052 hello@paulmorris.co.nz

Proud to work with InHaus on the Natural Charmer home OBLIGATION-FREE MEASURE & QUOTE LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED NEW ROOFS & RE-ROOFS WALL CLADDING

4 Barros Place, Richmond P: 027 436 9501 E: geoff@roofingtasman.co.nz www.roofingtasman.co.nz

PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE INHAUS ON THIS AWARD-WINNING HOME quality kitchens • vanities • custom furniture timber joinery • shop fittings and counters stairs and pre-hung doors 38 Beach Road, Richmond p: 03 544 1789 m: 027 249 7551 e: prestigejoinery@xtra.co.nz www.prestigejoinery.net.nz

Natural Charmer RICHMOND Inhaus New Home $600,000 - $750,000 Supreme House of the Year Award, Gold Award, Category Winner PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIQUE WHITE

his exquisite Richmond home won the Supreme House of the Year award at this year’s Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Registered Master Builders 2019 House of the Year competition. The beautifully crafted home also won a gold award in addition to winning the New Home $600,000 - $750,000 category for the same build by Inhaus. Judges described it as an ‘exquisite home’, built with a fine eye for precision. “The incredible detailing in this home is a testament to the high level of workmanship. “The home has beautifully crafted interior plywood subdividers and ceiling panelling throughout. The cedar weatherboarding frames the impressive views to the surrounding landscape. All these features set this home well above the competition.” “The level of perfection shown throughout the house makes Inhaus more than deserving of the Supreme Award,” judges said. The exterior is clad in a mixture of vertical cedar, complemented by dark roofing and trim. A bright yellow door leads into a spacious modern family home that makes the most of open-plan design.

Plywood adds style

The open-format kitchen/dining/family room features easy indoor-outdoor flow. Outside, the louvre roof system, spa and decking enhance alfresco entertaining. Inside, a double-sided gas fire is clad in negative-detail ply panels. A separate media room is another space to enjoy cosy nights. The bedrooms all enjoy the modern look of feature ply panelling. The master suite boasts a walk-in wardrobe and en suite. Both the en suite and the family bathroom are fully tiled with generously proportioned showers. The garage and storeroom, also lined in plywood for style and durability, deliver optimal functionality for modern family life. Off the garage, a separate office with its own entrance enables the owners to work from home.

“The level of perfection shown throughout the house makes Inhaus more than deserving of the Supreme Award.” JUDGES

SIMPLYJOINERY F I N E T I M B ERC R A F T ARCHITECTURAL | RESIDENTIAL | COMMERCIAL

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Proud to work with Hunt Construction to install the plumbing and gas for A Fine Vintage 75 Litchfield Street, Blenheim 027 481 9808

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A Fine Vintage SPRINGLANDS Hunt Construction Renovation up to $500,000 Supreme Renovation of the Year Award, Gold Award, Category Winner PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

“A

worthy winner, built by master craftsmen,” was the judges’ take on the Supreme Renovation of the Year. Originally built in the 1960s, this house has had many alterations and additions over time. This latest renovation involved reworking the interior and exterior spaces. This ultimately provided a modernised home, all while retaining a familiar charm from the past. “This was a challenging renovation for the team. Extensive structural concrete and steelwork was required, and the owners lived in the home throughout the entire 12-month construction period,” the judges reported. “Despite these challenges, the owners were richly rewarded by seeing their ideas come to life throughout the build. “Neil Hunt’s team has provided outstanding solutions that have enabled this beautifully crafted home to be brought up to date.”

Cohesive flow

The Blenheim house has been transformed into a cohesive home that’s overflowing with warmth and character. An addition to the dining area has created an inviting space for entertaining friends or simply gathering as a family at the end of the day. This space is framed by a number of glazed cedar doors, fostering flow to the timber decks and incredible alfresco set-up. The existing kitchen was also opened up to create a more free-flowing connection with the living spaces. A fireplace provides warming ambience in the small lounge area. Existing joinery was stripped back and refinished. A mismatch of rooms was demolished around the staircase, making way for a standout feature – the fully glazed and well-stocked cellar. The front of the home has been re-clad in cedar. A steel and cedar structure, with glass, now covers the area in front of the entrance and garage. Considered alterations and improvements have transformed this into a warm and lively family home.

“Neil Hunt’s team has provided outstanding solutions that have enabled this beautifully crafted home to be brought up to date.” JUDGES

ROOFING AWARD-WINNING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL AWARD-WINNING RESIDENTIAL ANDCONSTRUCTION COMPANYWINDOWS COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LOUVRETEC

Great to take home 3 awards for Best on the Block

Proud to be the main contractor of The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū Congratulations to The Suter for its vision. Thank you to our staff, subcontractors and suppliers for their support in this project.

Congratulations to our clients in the 2019 House of the Year awards •

Scott Construction

•

Mike Greer Homes

•

Dan Anderson Building

Agents of

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

NELSON 41 Venice Place 03 538 0824

ww.scottconstruction.nz

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • CIVIL 11 Nayland Road, Stoke l 03 547 9469 www.scottconstruction.co.nz l info@scotts.nz

BLENHEIM 35 Kinross Street 03 577 7720

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Best on the Block STOKE Scott Construction Master Build 10-Year Guarantee Multi-Unit Gold Award, Category Winner PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

his development comprises eight high-end architecturally designed two and three-bedroom units constructed in Stoke and completed in March 2019. Each townhouse has generous open-plan kitchens, dining and living rooms, with attached internal access garaging. All sophisticated style and sun-drenched luxury, inside ďŹ&#x201A;ows to fantastic north-facing outdoor areas each with landscape designed gardens with privacy fencing and patios.

Contemporary soul

The townhouses are constructed on a Cupolex concrete floor pod system, which provides increased levels of insulation. The exterior elements are defined by using a mix of Rockcote Integra plaster cladding and architectural cedar weatherboards to provide an engaging mix of texture and colour. Dark aluminium windows and doors add to the contrasts. Interior features include heat pumps for heating and cooling, tiled bathrooms and glazed showers, plus designer kitchens with Fisher and Paykel appliances. Indoors the scene is set with cool hues, natural light and open-plan living. Sleek white cabinetry pops in the kitchens. The contemporary architecture has real soul and is relatable in terms of how residents want to live now. The street appeal, amenities and proximity to community facilities have all contributed to the success of this development.

Special housing project

The land is part of a Gazetted Special Housing Area, thereby benefitting from the Housing Accords legislation which is designed to increase housing supply. The Urban Design Panel complimented the design for its built form, use of materials and textures, and balance between hard and soft landscaping.

The contemporary architecture has real soul and is relatable in terms of how residents want to live now. 17

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Decked Out TAHUNANUI Salter Builders Altus Windows New Home $750,000 - $1 million Gold Award, Category Winner PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

rom its unassuming covered entry, this contemporary family home opens to reveal extensive indoor-outdoor living with sweeping views of Tasman Bay in Nelson. The wonderful open-plan heart of the home features extensive solid American oak floors, which highlight the modern kitchen design. Neutral interior colours enhance the warm timber features. Thanks to an easy indoor-outdoor connection, the living spaces flow to extensive exposed and sheltered decks. This home is designed to be enjoyed throughout the seasons. Provisions have been made for a covered pool area to be added in future. A solid American oak stairway with feature recessed handrail and hidden LED lighting invites you to explore the upper level. Here, the three bedrooms enjoy optimum sun and views, with access to a shared balcony. Flooring is also solid American white oak.

Clever positioning

The central bedroom is a shape-shifter, designed to serve as either a guest room or living area for teens in the future. Three cleverly positioned sliding doors allow this upstairs room to be closed off and turned into the third bedroom or left open to create an extra living area. The bedrooms are serviced by two fully tiled bathrooms with walk-in showers. Another clever feature is two hidden doors, which are part of the negative detail ply walls. Looking just like the other wall panels, they open at a touch, leading into an office.

Subtle solar

A full bank of solar panels on the roof promises economical living. Thanks to the design of the house and the placement of the panels, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re neatly tucked out of the line of sight from most angles. Ducted central heating provides another happy surprise underfoot with floor mounted grills on both levels, while an inbuilt open-flame style gas fire adds extra warmth when needed.

This home is designed to be enjoyed throughout the seasons. 19

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Elevated Impression MARSDEN PARK Contemporary Homes 2010 LTD GIB Show Home Gold Award, Category Winner PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL ALLEN

tep up to a new level of living. This elevated Nelson property commands panoramic views across a reserve to the bush-clad hills of Nelsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Marsden Valley. Sneak peaks to the sea and Rabbit Island are a happy surprise. Designed especially for the site, the long, lean architecturally-inspired abode champions crisp contemporary lines. The single storey home comprises three bedrooms, two living areas and 2.3 bathrooms across 254sq m. Masterfully crafted and exquisitely detailed, this display home is bathed in sunshine. A palette of black and white, with accents of cedar, creates a striking exterior look. James Hardie Linea weatherboards, a Rockcote Integra plaster system and strategically placed cedar screens have been used to good effect in the design. Subtle landscaping and views across the reserve help create a rural feel in suburbia.

Dream kitchen

Inside the clean contemporary lines are enhanced by a neutral colour scheme, offset with white, black and cedar accents. Polished concrete floors flow throughout the kitchen/dining and living areas while tiles set the scene in the bathrooms. The entertainerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen is a dream come true. The large central Caesarstone island makes this the heart of family life, a fantastic space to gather and interact. Cedar touches soften the black and white theme, while nodding to the exterior. Strategically positioned off the kitchen, the breakfast patio sets the scene for relaxed mornings outdoors. The evening alfresco deck beckons as the sun goes down. Relax with a cocktail or fire up the barbecue for dinner with views. Back inside, a series of cedar interior doors between the kitchen and dining area, allow them to be shut off into small rooms if desired. The lounge features a double sided fire, with back-toback televisions above each fireplace. Elsewhere in the bedroom zone, all the rooms have sliders opening on to their own patio to make the most of the views and the outdoors.

Designed especially for the site, the long, lean architecturallyinspired abode champions crisp contemporary lines. 21

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Family Favourite FAIRHALL Roger Townley Construction Altus Windows New Home $750,000 - $1 million Gold Award PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

roudly modern, this four-bedroom, three-bathroom home stands out from the crowd in Marlborough. The owners wanted something contemporary and comfortable for two, but also with a family-friendly feel for when their grandchildren visit. This 370sq m design does just that. Polished concrete flooring creates a sleek look that draws you from the entry into the light-filled open-plan living space. Underfloor heating warms winter feet. On a steep site overlooking vineyards and the Richmond ranges, the house is spread over five floor levels with an openplan layout designed around entertaining. Natural products such as heated polished concrete floors, solid oak steps and ply ceilings add warmth and ambience.

Comfort and flexibility

Entry is via a boardwalk through a native garden. Inside a high-rafted entry with a feature window overlooks a courtyard. Steps lead down from the entry into the spacious kitchen, dining and living areas which also have high-rafted ceilings lined with dressed ply and black negative detail. Skylights above the kitchen let in light and allow ventilation. The well-appointed kitchen and dining space and a chic yet comfortable family area, flow into a large wraparound deck, accessed via a massive external corner stacker. The extended roofline forms a covered open-air oasis with integrated pizza oven, large benchtop and barbecue. A separate lounge provides added comfort and flexibility for family life. There’s another family-friendly surprise in the central solid oak staircase. LED strip lighting gives each tread a floating effect, but unlike your typical floating staircase, there’s still room for hidden storage underneath. The master bedroom includes a double-sided walk-in wardrobe, tiled en suite with walk-in shower and a freestanding bath overlooking a pond. Two guest bedrooms sharing a tiled en suite on the level below can be accessed via a lift or stairs. Other key features include a wine cellar and a cosy media room.

The open layout is designed around entertaining, with a wellappointed kitchen and dining space and a chic yet comfortable family area … 23

AWARD-WINNING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL AWARD-WINNING RESIDENTIAL ANDCONSTRUCTION COMPANY

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Great to take home 7 awards for Go with the Flow

Proud to be the main contractor of The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū

Excellence in Aluminium Windows & Doors

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

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

ww.scottconstruction.nz

Proud to be associated with Scott Construction, congratulations on the Go with the Flow home. Also proud to work with Roger Townley Construction and Jennian Homes on their award-winning homes.

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • CIVIL 11 Nayland Road, Stoke l 03 547 9469 www.scottconstruction.co.nz l info@scotts.nz

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Delighted to have designed and supplied bathroom fitouts, timber flooring and interior tiles for the Go with the Flow home.

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‘Best on the Block’

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Explore these homes further in our website project gallery

Tiles • Bathroomware • Tapware • Timber Flooring surfacedesign.nz | 68 Achilles Ave | NELSON 03 546 7832

Go with the Flow NELSON Scott Construction Builder’s Own Home Gold Award, Category Winner, FloorPride Interior Design Local Lifestyle Award, Craftmanship Award, Outdoor Living Award, Heart of the Home Kitchen Award PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

acing north, this modern monopitch central city residence boasts clean lines and generous proportions. Its large family living spaces open to all-day sun. Set on 206sq m, the home is stacked over three levels with an impressive sculptural staircase providing vertical connection and flow. The centre spine of the staircase was installed in two parts with horizontal staggered joins in American white oak, making the final fit look seamless.

Separate family levels

The five bedrooms, three bathrooms and three living areas have been crafted with care and precision. The central storey features the main open-plan living space, which connects naturally to groundlevel outdoor options. The dining deck, with louvre roof insert plus a swimming pool, makes an ideal space for entertaining. The master bedroom and second lounge are also sited on the mid-floor with access to a north-facing deck. Upstairs contains children’s bedrooms and an informal lounge, while the lowest level houses the garage, storage, a rumpus room and separate apartment-style living. Extensive glazing complements the contemporary exterior cladding of cedar, zinc and aluminium. Multiple timber finishes and materials create warmth and cohesion throughout the elegant interiors.

Multi-award-winner

The excellent workmanship in this home earned Scott Construction the coveted Craftsmanship Award, as well as the Kitchen Award, the Outdoor Living Award and the Interior Design Award. Judges noted that Scott Construction had combined its construction expertise and craft with the creative design from the architect to build a family home that provides an exciting series of spaces to live in as the family grows. The kitchen utilises light and dark American white oak, with Caesarstone benchtops throughout. Black granite undermounts the sink, all while incorporating LED task and feature lights. “It complements the beautifully crafted family home, providing the perfect balance of flow and practicality. It provides seamless integration between the kitchen space and large scullery with a strong relationship to the greater indoor and outdoor living areas beyond,” judges said. They were also impressed with the exterior landscaping, off-street parking, the retaining walls and permeable black steel fences ensuring a balance between gorgeous views and the homeowner’s privacy. 25

Experience award-winning excellence Proud to work with Peter Ray Homes to install the plumbing and gas for the Seaside Sanctuary

Come and talk to us at our show home at 194 Taylor Pass Road, Blenheim 75 Litchfield Street, Blenheim 027 481 9808

Phone: 03 579 2368 | peterrayhomes.co.nz

Working with our regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awardwinning builders InHaus | Stonewood Homes Peter Ray Homes | Dan Anderson Building

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Seaside Sanctuary RARANGI Peter Ray Homes, Blenheim Altus Windows New Home $750,000 - $1 million Gold Award PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

ea views glimpsed from the meandering driveway hint at the hidden treasure to come. At last this impressive modern monopitch home is revealed, centre-stage on its Rarangi site, just 15 minutes northwest of Blenheim. The single-level stunner boasts three bedrooms and two bathrooms, just metres from the beachfront. Large windows and sliding doors embrace sea views of Cloudy Bay, across to Wellington and the distant hills to the south. Designed by Christchurch firm Gravity Architecture for retiring business owners, the 264sq m residence provides a fitting escape from the city, but with all the comfort and convenience of modern life.

Indoor/outdoor living

The exterior comprises Rockcote Integra and James Hardie Linea weatherboard, with honed concrete block. Outdoor living areas have been smartly planned and landscaped, taking sea breezes into consideration. An alfresco dining space is thoughtfully tucked away, yet still well connected to the pool area. Outside and inside, this home perfectly reflects the ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new lifestyle and tastes, while accommodating those they hold dear. The fully equipped kitchen and pantry are well positioned for refreshments, whether the owners are entertaining in the living room, dining room or around the swimming pool. Stacker doors under the verandahs open for easy outside access, while another stand-out climate control feature is retractable Louvretec sun/shade systems on either side of the living areas. Winter warmth comes from a sleek gas fire insert, offset by large windows and stunning views. Warm timber hues flow throughout the kitchen, dining and entry areas. Bathrooms are simply yet elegantly styled in soft hues and extensive tiling creates a feeling of luxury. The tiles are carried through into the laundry for a cohesive look.

â&#x20AC;Ś for retiring business owners, the 264sq m residence provides a fitting escape from the city, but with all the comfort and convenience of modern life. 27

Beautiful, quality kitchens.

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Proud to be associated with Jennian Homes, congratulations on the Sitting Pretty home. Also proud to work with Roger Townley Construction and Scott Construction on their award-winning homes. 03 547 5454 | Brilliant Place, Stoke, Nelson nelson@designwindows.co.nz

designwindowsgroup.com 28

Sitting Pretty RICHMOND Jennian Homes Nelson Bays New Home up to $450,000 Gold Award PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

itting on a generous section in Richmond, this home is designed for easy family living and is situated to make the most of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous sunshine. Boasting four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and three large living areas, there is no shortage of room here, inside and out. On the exterior, warm brown hues with contrasting cedar feature panels make this single-story house stand out from the crowd, while inside the interior is light and bright, thanks to a neutral design palette, high ceilings and generous windows allowing plenty of natural light in. High cathedral ceilings in the living areas and the open-plan layout add a real sense of space, further enhanced by easy indoor/outdoor flow.

Stream-lined and functional

Glossy white joinery brightens up the well-equipped kitchen and provides plenty of storage. The large central island with pendant lighting creates a communal focal point in the open-plan living zone, perfect for relaxed family meals or completing homework while waiting for dinner. A stream-lined office nook adds to the functionality of the living area, and during the colder months a freestanding wood burner in the main lounge keeps everything cosy. This central area also features sliding doors opening out to the private backyard. The result is seamless indoor-outdoor flow with plenty of room for entertaining.

Room for everyone

The master bedroom suite includes a spa-like en suite, generous built-in wardrobes, access to a private deck and large windows creating a light-filled retreat from the rest of the house. This residence has room for everyone, including a spacious two-car garage, and will easily remain a haven for its family in the years to come.

This residence has room for everyone and will easily remain a haven for its family in the years to come. 29

PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE AWARD-WINNING BUILDERS

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Swimming in Space REDWOOD VALLEY Mike Greer Homes Nelson Builderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Own Home Gold Award PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

uxuriating in semi-rural surrounds, this generously proportioned five-bedroom, two bathroom home near Nelson captures all-day sun and views over Redwood Valley. The 297sq m single-level design (plus 19.2sq m pool shed) provides plenty of options for relaxing inside and out. The large in-ground swimming pool and pool house are the focal point of alfresco living, along with an outdoor room comprising bar, barbecue and fireplace. Summer with family is a breeze in this beautifully landscaped setting. Constructed mainly out of James Hardie Stria vertical weatherboard panelling, the home also has feature areas of cedar weatherboards and honed concrete blocks, large sliding stacker doors, and generously sized aluminium windows. Inside a cool neutral palette sets the scene for open-plan living, contrasting whites and off-whites with the warmth of wood and wooden veneers. Thanks to high raking ceilings in the lounge, living area, kitchen, dining space and master bedroom, the interior enjoys a grand architectural feel. High windows provide additional light and create a wellventilated atmosphere at the touch of a button. Generous and cunningly positioned aluminium joinery units maximise solar gain and exposed, polished concrete flooring harnesses the sun streaming in through low-emissivity glass. Wood burners, a gas fire and a heat pump provide plenty of heating and cooling power. The polished concrete floors run from the main entry through the kitchen, dining and living areas. The kitchen includes a Caesarstone bench and light oak accents contrasting with white woodwork. A feature dividing the dining and living rooms is a glass fish tank set amid award-winning joinery, which creates a beautiful and calming ambience. Yes, you could say things are going swimmingly around here. Another stand-out feature in the kitchen, dining and main living areas is the ceilings, comprising dark painted plaster board clad with MDF mouldings of different widths and thicknesses painted in white. Tile bathrooms and plenty of indoor/outdoor flow complete the home.

Thanks to high raking ceilings in the lounge, living area, kitchen, dining space and master bedroom, the interior enjoys a grand architectural feel. 31

www.rogerkenningbuilders.co.nz

We have a reputation for producing highquality residential and commercial builds with a friendly, professional service. Our expertise covers a wide range of building projects for all types of budgets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether you need a simple renovation or a top-end, new home build.

398 Riwaka-Kaiteriteri Road Motueka E: admin@rogerkenningbuilders.co.nz M: 027 457 0361 P: 03 527-8474 (after hours)

L E B R AT I N G

28 YEARS IN

LOCALS SUPPORTING LOCALS

PROUD TO BE PART OF A WINNING TEAM

BUSINESS

MOTUEKA 03 528 6250 NELSON 03 541 8200

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View from the Top LITTLE KAITERITERI Roger Kenning Builders New Home $1.5 million - $2 million Gold Award, Category Winner, Plumbing World Bathroom Award PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

ll clean lines and cool, coastal appeal, this architecturally designed build sits proudly on the hill overlooking Little Kaiteriteri beach. Rising to two levels to make the most of its site and outlook, huge windows, glazed doors and spacious alfresco areas showcase the views. Sunlight spills into the luxurious interior living spaces. The exterior features a mix of cedar and plaster cladding. A circular schist feature wall adds a pleasing point of difference. Black and white are the key colours inside, with splashes of other hues adding interest throughout. Extensive tiling adds a decadent feel. An internal lift and a feature floating staircase link the two levels of this three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a 386sq m floor plan thoughtfully designed to suit the owner’s lifestyle. The most-used spaces – main living room, kitchen, dining space and restful master retreat – are all situated on the top level for easy living. The media room, guest wing, laundry and garage all reside on the lower level. Both floors enjoy great indoor-outdoor flow.

Bathroom award

View from the top also won the bathroom award. The main bathrooms feature magnificent floor-to-ceiling white marble tiles and a sleek, free-standing bath positioned to make the most of stunning views across to Little Kaiteriteri beach. Black, twin, cut-glass bowls which rest on top of a stylish black wall-hung vanity are an elegant addition. These features are complemented by lighting, quality fittings and a space which perfectly completes this en suite, judges noted. “This en-suite bathroom showcases a consistent craft and finish, which has been executed to perfection by the Roger Kenning team throughout.”

An internal lift and a feature floating staircase link the two levels of this three-bedroom, twobathroom home with a 386sq m floor plan thoughtfully designed to suit the owner’s lifestyle 33

Congratulations to Mainland Homes for their award-winning build. We bring an unrivalled depth of experience in the design, installation and programming of home technology systems.

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Experience award-winning excellence Proud to work with Peter Ray Homes to install the plumbing and gas for the Dark Horse

Come and talk to us at our show home at 194 Taylor Pass Road, Blenheim

Phone: 03 579 2368 | peterrayhomes.co.nz 34

75 Litchfield Street, Blenheim 027 481 9808

Absolute Pleasure STOKE Mainland Homes (2001) Nelson PlaceMakers New Home $450,000 - $600,000 Gold Award PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

ituated on an elevated site, this two-bedroom-plus-office abode makes great use of its section, offering workable gardens and great views. Extremely functional on the inside, it has been designed to serve the ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifestyle with ease. The two bedrooms are positioned at separate ends of the house for ultimate privacy, while the office captures the pleasant outlook, and can easily be turned into a third bedroom in the future. Sloping ceilings create a feeling of airy, open space in the carpeted lounge, where a fireplace provides appealing warmth and ambience in winter. Electronically operated high windows allow the home to keep a cool head in summer. Open-format living/dining/kitchen spaces spill onto decks framed with glass balustrades. Unobstructed views form a relaxing backdrop for outdoor entertaining and relaxation.

Dark Horse WITHERLEA Peter Ray Homes Blenheim Volume Group Housing New Home $450,000 - $750,000 Gold Award, Category Winner P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M AT T C R O A D

lack random-sized cedar cladding belies the cool and bright interiors that lie behind the super-glossy plasma front door in this four-bedroom home. The 330sq m design maximises the sun and views of the Wither Hills and was designed for family life with the kitchen central to the open living areas. A vaulted skylight, window seat and a stacked-block feature wall with inset gas fire are standout features of this social space. A second lounge and outdoor living area with spa pool provide options for leisure and relaxation. A second vaulted skylight forms a halo over the freestanding bath in the main bathroom, where a central wall conceals the fully tiled shower and toilet. The master bedroom boasts an en suite plus a walk-in robe. 35

Your Dream, Our Team

“Authentic architecture,

We enjoyed working with the owners on their complete house fit-out

beautifully crafted, awardwinning construction” – says it all!

“Kennedy Construction is a very approachable, friendly and professional family company and we would be delighted to recommend them to any potential customer looking for a quality-build home at a competitive price, by a respected local builder.”

Happy home owners Anthony and Jutta Blake

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

www.kennedyconstruction.co.nz

Phone 03 548 8460

Dark Vision ATAWHAI Kennedy Construction New Home $1.5 million - $2 million Gold Award P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y K AT E M A C P H E R S O N

ositioned for a panoramic view of sparkling Tasman Bay and the Western Ranges, this black-garbed winner features immense windows and sliding doors to draw in natural light. The kitchen’s central island functions as another piece of furniture in the open-plan living space upstairs. An entertainers’ space, it combines oak veneer finished with a natural-touch matte lacquer playing off high-gloss white. Passive solar comes via Italian tiles, which also create a cohesive look.

Modern ambience

Living and dining are neatly divided by a gas fireplace which creates inviting modern ambience, while the master suite – situated in the private south wing – includes an en suite overlooking a Japanese garden. Downstairs two guest bedrooms and a bespoke sauna complete the picture.

Grand Plan MAPUA Stonewood Homes Nelson Volume Group Housing New Home up to $450,000 Gold Award PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

perfect match for the owners’ section, this design boasts four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a double garage, formal lounge, sun-loving open-plan area and a patio for entertaining. Sitting pretty at 232sq m, the house is positioned for allday rays, with views to the sea and Nelson’s Western Ranges. Weatherboard and honed concrete create superb street presence, while modern monopitch roofing enhances the architectural feel. Inside, over-height doors and ceilings foster a spacious feel throughout. Stone benchtops flow from the entertainer’s kitchen into the well-designed scullery, and home comforts abound, from the fireplace to the master en suite’s double shower and a stand-alone bath in the main bathroom. 37

CLADDING OF CHOICE ON 4 GOLD MEDAL HOMES

Dark Vision Kennedy Construction $1.5m - $2m A Feast for the Eyes Dan Anderson $1m - $1.5m Rise & Shine Bruce Design & Build $750k - $1m Positive Outlook Bruce Design & Build $450k - $600k

www.flashclad.co.nz I nelson@flashclad.co.nz

Decorating with chemical-free products.

Nelson Tasmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sustainable & eco-friendly painting company. Residential & Commercial - Exterior & Interior Jonny Anderson Qualified Painter Phone: 03 545 0373 or 021 206 2967 Email: info@pure-ecopainting.nz Website: www.pure-ecopainting.nz

Positive Outlook STOKE Bruce Design & Build PlaceMakers New Home $450,000 - $600,000 Gold Award PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

xpertly arranged on tricky terrain, this two-storey build makes the most of available space. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms and three separate living spaces deliver affordable luxury on 238sq m. Floor-to-ceiling glass encourages flow to the deck and allows an outlook over the surrounding rooftops. The merging of close and distant views creates a satisfying sense of space. Daylight angles played a significant role in the design of the house. Sunshine graces the open-plan space creating a warm and bright environment. The kitchen is well-oriented to the views and thoughtfully connected to the dining area and main lounge.

Textured exterior

Exterior cedar screens complement the lines of the wide vertical cladding to the upper volumes. Masonry stack bond veneer provides texture and a grounding effect on the lower levels.

Rise & Shine RUBY BAY Bruce Design & Build Altus Windows New Home $750,000 - $1 million Gold Award PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

leverly crafted on tricky terrain, this contemporary Ruby Bay residence commands views over Tasman Bay towards Nelson. The home rises to nine metres off the ground at its highest point, to make the most of the outlook. Massive windows frame the scenery and draw in sunlight at every turn. The exterior Flashclad aluminium cladding is powdercoated coal dust, which complements the surrounding native bush. Detailed recesses of stained cedar provide eye-catching texture and depth.

Special effects

Detailing to the interiors, including in the entertainerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen and two inviting bathrooms, is of a very high standard. The finishing on the timber deck, where its face meets the glass balustrade, deserves special attention â&#x20AC;&#x201C; if you can tear your eyes away from the view. 39

8c Nile Street, Nelson

W www.redboxarchitects.co.nz

P 03 548 8461

MOTUEKA CURTAINS | BLINDS | WALLPAPER | PAINT | FLOORING

Proud to have worked with Mike Greer on the awardwinning Outward Bound home CELEBRATING OVER 30 YEARS IN BUSINESS

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

Tel: 03 544 4052 hello@paulmorris.co.nz

A Feast for the Eyes MONACO Dan Anderson Building Carter’s New Home $1 - $1.5 million Gold Award, Category Winner P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y D AV I D C H A D W I C K

elaxing in their modern new home with 270-degree views, the owners couldn’t be happier with their decision to demolish their existing abode and start afresh. The clients’ brief to Redbox Architects was for a lowmaintenance seaside home, giving a sense of being permanently on holiday while keeping the pleasurable touches of a home. Spread over three levels, the multi-faceted design enjoys incredible solar gain and estuary, ocean and mountain views. The home is equipped with a platform lift from the garage level, and has direct en suite access from all the bedrooms. The mid-floor features a light-filled main entry, connecting the office, extra guest bedroom and bathroom to the gorgeous main living area. The kitchen and dining open on to an expansive deck. Ultimate luxury awaits in the peaceful master retreat – the home’s crowning glory on the top floor.

Outward Bound STOKE Mike Greer Homes Nelson Volume Group Housing New Home up to $450,000 Gold Award, Category Winner PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

et against a hilly backdrop, this three-bedroom, gable home is made for easy outdoor living. Its large open-plan area flows effortlessly onto expansive kwila decking. Large windows harness the sun’s light and warmth. The designer kitchen is central to both the alfresco area and the pergola; highly functional with ample bench space for food preparation and a walk-in pantry for storage. The lounge’s vaulted ceiling creates a great sense of space, giving the feeling of an intimate separate area. The two bathrooms are well appointed. The main bathroom boasts a tiled walk-in shower. Decor is simple yet stylish throughout, with crisp white walls, wood-look flooring and understated grey carpet. Exterior cladding features of cedar and schist help the home blend into the natural surrounds. 41

NEW HOMES & RENOVATIONS

Phone us on 027 246 0870

www.jasongardinerbuilders.co.nz

www.architecturemapua.co.nz simonewenk@xtra.co.nz

021 1049 039

www.mypod.nz landon@mypod.nz 022 1607 086

Small Plan, Big Heart THOMSONS FORD ROAD, MARLBOROUGH Glenroy Housing Marlborough New Home up to $450,000 Gold Award, Category Winner PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

ust pushing 90sq m, this space-savvy set-up delivers big on solar gain. High ceilings and clerestories draw sunshine into the open-plan living space. Timber posts and beams offer structural integrity and appeal while corrugated zinc alloy cladding provides an update on the traditional New Zealand farm cottage. The home has numerous features designed for the rural Marlborough environment. The entry foyer with linoleum floor leads to a concealed laundry wet area. The galley kitchen includes a stable back door for cross ventilation. There’s also earthquake-proof open shelves and a food safe with custom ventilated shelving. Keeping true to the design aesthetic, multiple barn doors span the living area, concealing the bathroom, bedroom and study.

Twice as Nice WESTPORT Jennian Homes West Coast PlaceMakers New Home $450,000 - $600,000 Gold Award, Category Winner PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MOSES

his West Coast wonder was designed and built with space, entertaining and stunning scenery in mind. An incredible 220sq m of decking provides a generous extension of the 222sq m interior, designed to strike a balance between indoor and outdoor living. Refined relaxation is the focus in this elegantly styled home, in which every window captures a private native-bush view or the panoramic vista up the mighty Buller Gorge. The heritage kitchen, complete with cedar shelves and brass downlights, serves up classic style in a fresh and modern way. The hallway leads to four bedrooms and a secluded alfresco area. Two bathrooms include a master en suite. A combination of black profiled metal cladding, stained cedar weatherboards and schist stonework exist harmoniously with the river and bush backdrop. Attractive timber screens complement the home’s cladding while cleverly concealing this rural property’s rainwater collection services. 43

Looking for the right builder for you? For a quality Marlborough builder and access to the peace of mind of the Master Build 10-Year Guarantee, choose a Registered Master Builder.

Andrew Pope Homes

Haack Construction

Robinson Construction

Black Rock Building

Hamish Ryan Construction

Roger Hogg Builders

Bob Kitson Builder

Hunt Construction

Roger Townley Construction

Clarke Construction

J C Bates Building

Scott Construction Marlborough

G J Gardner Homes (Marlborough)

Jennian Homes Marlborough

Smith & Sons Marlborough Sounds

George Guthrie Construction

John Thompson Builders

Smith & Sons Renovations & Extensions

Glenroy Housing

Ken Anderson Building Mike Greer Homes Marlborough Peter Ray Homes Blenheim R L A Construction

Sounds Builders T & D Construction Co True-Vision Construction

RJ Ross Construction

Versatile Homes & Buildings Blenheim

Rob Blick Building

Waterfront Construction

Congratulations to all the entrants from the region. For more information and builder contact details visit: masterbuilder.org.nz/checkyourbuilder

Building a Better New Zealand