WildTomato August 2020 by WildTomato

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

ISSUE 167 / AUGUST 2020 / $8.95

Setting the scene - on a fashionable high at Falcon Brae

Sustainable Packaging Architectsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Advice Eco Village Couple Food Factory Opening Omaka Wings & Wheels Consumer Advocate Destination Marlborough Nelson Netball

OPEN DAYS

SHOWHOMES Open every Sunday 12.30 to 1.00

Blenheim, 1 Spencer Place $689,000

1 Piwakawaka Drive, Stoke SHOWHOMES

17 Rose Manor 1 Piwakawaka Drive, Blenheim Drive, Stoke 17 Rose Manor Drive, Blenheim

more choice.

Mike Greer Homes offers a great selection of Home and Land packages available throughout the Nelson Tasman and Marlborough region.

October Completion

Mike Greer Homes has over 25 years of experience building homes that are characterised by design innovation and quality workmanship. T he value of our specialist knowledge and attention to detail is evident in every home that we build.

If you're looking to buy or build a new home, come home to more with Dave Chambers 027 572 1958 dchambers@mikegreerhomes.co.nz Mike Greer Homes.

Homes For Sale

Montebello, 16 Hill Tops Way $929,000 Stag Ridge $785,000

2 August and 16 August 12.00 to 12.45

Lot 2

Mapua Inlets $859,000

Lot 64

completed 2020

more choice.

Montebello $799,000

Lot 57

Montebello $929,000

Lot 71

Mike Greer Homes offers a great selection of Home and Land packages available throughout the Nelson Tasman and Marlborough region. Mike Greer Homes has over 25 years of experience building homes that are characterised by design innovation and quality workmanship. T he value of our specialist knowledge and attention to detail is evident in every home that we build. The

Hilltopsregion, If you're looking to buy or build a new home in the Nelson Tasman come home to more with Mike Greer Homes.

Homes For Sale

Vanessa

Contact us Contact us Vanessa Clark 027 733 1409 vclark@mikegreerhomes.co.nz Vanessa Clark 027 733 1409 vclark@mikegreerhomes.co.nz Contact us Emma McCashin McCashin 021682 682787 787 emccashin@mikegreerhomes.co.nz emccashin@mikegreerhomes.co.nz Emma 021 Dave 027 Chambers 027 572 vclark@mikegreerhomes.co.nz 1958 dchambers@mikegreerhomes.co.nz Clark 733027 1409 Vanessa Clark 733 1409 vclark@mikegreerhomes.co.nz

Emma McCashin 021 682 787 Dave Chambers 027 572 1958

03 544 7873 mikegreerhomes.co.nz

under construction

emccashin@mikegreerhomes.co.nz dchambers@mikegreerhomes.co.nz

Stunning Views

Showhomes Showhome 1 Piwakawaka Drive, Stoke 1 Piwakawaka Drive, Stoke Showhomes Rose Manor Drive, Blenheim Open17 daily, 1pm-4pm

1 Piwakawaka Drive, Stoke 17 Rose Manor Drive, Blenheim

FOR AUGUST Motueka, 16 Kuini Place $699,000

SHOWHOMES 9 August and 23 August 11.30 to 12.00

1 Piwakawaka Drive, Stoke

SHOWHOMES

17 Rose Manor 1 Piwakawaka Drive, Blenheim Drive, Stoke 17 Rose Manor Drive, Blenheim

more choice.

Mike Greer Homes offers a great selection of Home and Land packages available throughout the Nelson Tasman and Marlborough region.

October Completion

If you're looking to buy or build a new home, come home to more with Jordan McConnochie 027 426 7951 jmcconnochie@mikegreerhomes.co.nz Mike Greer Homes.

Homes For Sale

Stag Ridge, Lot 1 $819,000 Stag Ridge $785,000

23 August 12.00 to 12.45

Lot 2

Mapua Inlets $859,000

Lot 64

completed 2020

more choice.

Montebello $799,000

Lot 57

Montebello $929,000

Lot 71

Hilltopsregion, If you're looking to buy or build a new home in the Nelson Tasman come home to more with Mike Greer Homes.

Homes For Sale

Emma

Contact us Contact us Vanessa Clark 027 733 1409 vclark@mikegreerhomes.co.nz Vanessa Clark 027 733 1409 vclark@mikegreerhomes.co.nz Contact us Emma McCashin McCashin 021682 682787 787 emccashin@mikegreerhomes.co.nz emccashin@mikegreerhomes.co.nz Emma 021 McCashin 021 682 787 emccashin@mikegreerhomes.co.nz Dave Chambers 027 572 1409 1958 dchambers@mikegreerhomes.co.nz Vanessa Clark 027 733 vclark@mikegreerhomes.co.nz

Emma McCashin 021 682 787 Dave Chambers 027 572 1958

03 544 7873 mikegreerhomes.co.nz

under construction

emccashin@mikegreerhomes.co.nz dchambers@mikegreerhomes.co.nz

Reserve Boundary

Showhomes Showhome 1 Piwakawaka Drive, Stoke 1 Piwakawaka Drive, Stoke Showhomes Rose Manor Drive, Blenheim Open17 daily, 1pm-4pm

1 Piwakawaka Drive, Stoke 17 Rose Manor Drive, Blenheim

Nelson Tasman and Marlborough’s magazine

Features Issue 167 / August 2020

28 Sustainable packaging More and more businesses are crossing to sustainable packaging and practices. Sarah Nottage looks at some of the local companies leading the way

32 Eco couple plan village A Golden Bay couple is well on the way to building their own eco village. Alistair Hughes tells us more

36 Working with architects Sadie Hooper explains why using an architect is good value for money

INTERVIEWS

12 My Big Idea The Life Education Trust plays a valuable role working with today’s schools. Sonya Hockley outlines what the trust does and why

20 The Interview Brenda Webb interviews retired consumer advocate Sue Chetwin

22 Local Connection It was inevitable Picton’s Grant Orchard would choose a career on the sea. Brenda Webb shines a light on why

24 Creative Endeavours A Nelson artist has created her own tropical paradise. Annabel Schuler visited her to check it out 4

DISCOVER NCG At NCG you are encouraged and supported to reach your dreams, both personally and academically. Year 9 electives for 2021 are Dance

Animal Care

Adventure Zone

Eco Warriors

Myths of the World

Food of the World

From Footage to Film

Musical Theatre

High Performance Sport

Self-care and Well-being

*Please note that electives are based on student choice so some may not proceed.

#ncgforwhanau

#ncgforboarding

#ncgforcreativity

#ncgforfun

#ncgforleadership

#ncgforsport

UNLEASH

your talents by participating in the Dance, High Performance Sports or Performance Arts.

LEARN

future-focused skills like communication, sustainability, giving back to the community and the world around us.

INVOLVE

yourself in one of the large number of sports and activities on offer; rowing, science club, netball, enviro club ...

Enrol now on-line

www.ncg.school.nz 5

Columns Issue 167 / August 2020

FASHION

43 A fashionable high Stylist Amy McLeod and photographer Aimee Jules head to Falcon Brae luxury villa high in the hills for this month’s fashion shoot

LIFE

50 My Home Perched on the hills above Stoke with spectacular sea and city views, this eye-catching, high-tech home celebrates life. Brenda Webb reports

56 Wellbeing Keep pumping with iron in your daily diet, writes Emily Hope

58 My Kitchen Two favourites – superb local coffee and chocolate – are combined in this beautiful banana cake recipe from Madame Lu’s Kitchen

59 Creative Chefs Michael McMeeken, executive chef at Stonefly Lodge and Falcon Brae Villa, sampled a diverse menu of famous chefs and restaurants before returning to New Zealand. Alistair Hughes catches up with him

60 Wine Sophie Preece finds that wine and ballet are well paired at Nautilus Wines

61 Brews Popular beer 8 Wired has its origins in Marlborough’s brewing history, writes Mark Preece

66 Sport Teenager Abbey Smale is scorching through sea and pool, Phil Barnes reports

62 Destination Marlborough Ivy Lynden finds out what locals believe to be the top 50 best things to do in sunny Marlborough 6

72 Art John Du Four catches up with an with award-winning Nelson installation artist, sculptor and painter, Josephine Cachemaille

68 Sports club profile Netball in the Nelson Tasman region has the largest number of participants in any Nelson sport. Nelson Netball Centre Incorporated’s manager Jared Lock and board member Leanne Cook explain more

69 Sports photo essay

74 Books Reviewer Renée Lang talks books with author (and entrepreneur) Pic Picot

76 Music Eddie Allnutt checks out a Nelson musician who amped it up in his lockdown bubble

The first of our new monthly sports photo pages features the Rival Blue Diamonds taking on Waimea College in the Senior 1 netball competition. Photography by Alex Mahrla

70 Motoring ACTIVE

CULTURE

Buyers of small SUVs are spoiled for choice and Hyundai has added to that happy dilemma with the launch of its latest vehicle, the Venue, says reviewer Geoff Moffett

REGULARS

Editor’s letter & contributors 10 Noticeboard 14 Snapped 78 Events

Editor's letter

Editor

CEO

ome of the practices adopted during the Covid-19 lockdown and various alert levels have either become a dim, distant memory or were not truly taken on board by some people. Lessons such as being nice to others. During lockdown people were encouraged to be nice to their neighbours, and to those carrying out essential services such as supermarket checkout operators. Why only a few specifics were singled out I don’t know, because really we should be nice to everyone. The ‘Golden Rule: Matthew 7:12’ in the Bible tells us to ‘do to others as you would have them do to you’ and that’s good advice whether you’re religious or not. I was brought up with the stricture that if you cannot say something nice, then don’t say anything, which is one of the reasons I was horrified to hear how some people in Nelson’s CBD are treating retail staff. One shop owner was stunned to be told by a female customer that ‘your hair looks f…ing awful’ while another was loudly berated by a man and compared to a Nazi! The first was bad enough; the second is criminal! Retail staff deserve to be treated with respect. If you as a customer jump out of the wrong side of the bed, then I suggest staying home instead of taking your anger out on unsuspecting and undeserving retail staff who usually operate on the understanding that the customer is always right! There’s no excuse for bad language, personal comments or hate speech anywhere. Retail staff are not public property and are there to provide a service so please be nice. That’s one Covid-19 lesson we all need to take on board indefinitely. Now to something nice. Across the Top of the South, locals have been taking the ‘shop local’ message to heart and embracing all that Nelson Tasman and Marlborough have to offer. One upside to Covid-19 is that many businesses have re-invented themselves and are reaping the rewards of New Zealanders wanting to give back. Restaurants, cafés, holiday destinations and accommodation providers are among those experiencing high turnover and not just during the recent school holidays. Increased business leads to more jobs, less unemployment and more disposable income filtering down into the local economy so it’s in all of our best interests to support local when and where you can. Rugby royalty Richie McCaw was among those to visit recently and now he’s helping spread the word about the secrets of Golden Bay to the rest of New Zealand. Go Richie! Don’t forget to take a break every now and then to catch up on what’s in your latest WildTomato. Kia kaha Nelson Tasman and Marlborough. LYNDA PAPESCH

eam Mako will take on Southland at Labour Weekend in October and to celebrate 100 years of Golden BayMotueka rugby the Mako players will wear a special commemorative jersey with brown and white hoops for that game.

Lisa Friis 021 0879 4411 lisa@wildtomato.co.nz

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

Contributors

Eddie Allnutt, Phil Barnes, Chelsea Chang, Elora Chang, Leanne Cook, John Du Four, Sonya Hockley, Sadie Hooper, Emily Hope, Alistair Hughes, Steve Hussey, Aimee Jules, Renée Lang, Michele Lines, Jared Lock, Ivy Lynden, Alex Mahrla, Brent McGilvary, Amy McLeod, Geoff Moffett, Frank Nelson, Sarah Nottage, Mark Preece, Sophie Preece, Ray Salisbury, Annabel Schuler, Adena Teka, Kyla Tinetti Beauty, Brenda Webb, Dominique White, Bianca Williams

Advertising manager Carrie Frew 021 190 7120 carrie@wildtomato.co.nz

Advertising executive Lisa-Jane Kerr 021 080 10633 lisajane@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 Read online at wildtomato.co.nz/read 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.

Love local Fins Up Team Mako!

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

WildTomato in conjunction with the Tasman Mako has a special jersey to give away so stay tuned. Details of how you can win the jersey and two tickets to the season’s opening game will be in our 14 August WildTomato e-Magazine. Visit: www.wildtomato.co.nz/e-mag

Cover photography by Aimee Jules and styled by Amy McLeod at Falcon Brae Villa WildTomato magazine is printed by Blue Star Group (New Zealand) Limited using, vegetable based inks and environmentally responsible paper. Printed on Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified stocks, papers made of Mixed Source pulp from Responsible Sources.

Contributor spotlight ANNABEL SCHU LER

Creative Endeavours (page 24) Gardening has always been an escape for me, especially back when I combined the role of busy community newspaper editor with growing hundreds of lavender plants to make a range of lavender-based products. Now I take life a little more sedately but still love to garden and to write. WildTomato allows me the opportunity to do both. I still follow gardening trends and add these to my trial-by-error gardening experiences. I believe gardening is good for the soul and writing about it is even better.

R u t h er f o r d

H E A LT H C A R E D AY S TAY S U R G E R Y

We welcome

Dr JANE STRANG drjanestrang.co.nz

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

Eco Couple (page 32) Creative Chef (page 59) Alistair established his own company, Shoreline Creative (shorelinecreative.co.nz), in 2018 and loves working from home, in beautiful Golden Bay. This involves balancing feature writing with illustration commissions (often with a cat on his lap). When office hours are over it’s time to head to the beach, or explore more of this stunning region by pedal and paddle. When not contributing to WildTomato Alistair creates illustrations for renowned local children’s authors, and is currently completing a book about the life of the snapper. Next up will be his own book (his second), which aims to bring New Zealand astronomy alive for younger readers.

GEOFF MOFFETT

Motoring (page 70) Grizzled veteran often describes journalists of my vintage. I prefer ‘mature and wise’, although perhaps the latter isn’t always the case. I go back to the days of typewriters, newsrooms befogged by cigarette smoke and the old Nelson Evening Mail editorial set-up with sub-editors separated from reporters by a hatch in the wall through which a cadet would deposit his ‘copy’ with trepidation. Newspapers are slowly dying in the digital, on-line age and everyone with a smart phone and Facebook or Twitter account is a reporter. Don’t get me started! I’m thankful to have worked when print media was king. Viva WildTomato!

Rutherford Healthcare, at 132 Collingwood Street, is Nelson’s only dedicated accredited day surgery facility and welcomes the addition of Dr Jane Strang who will expand its services to include colonoscopy, gastroscopy and other general surgical procedures. Rutherford Healthcare is well established and known for its provision of high-quality and reasonably priced surgical care and is currently installing top quality endoscopy equipment to enable Jane to lead this expansion of procedures provided. This exciting new service is available now through direct referral from your GP.

Ph: 027 541 0388 • office@tbms.co.nz

www.rutherfordhealthcare.co.nz 9

NOTICEBOARD

Nelson Arts Festival 2020 is happening

lanning for the 2020 Nelson Arts Festival has resumed, with a series of events sprinkled throughout the month of October, culminating in the iconic community celebration, the Mask Carnivale, on Friday 30th October. Working with the local arts and events community, the Nelson Arts Festival will take place under the banner of Ngā Toi Huatau – The Seasonal Arts, which kicked off with Matariki celebrations in July. The Nelson Arts Festival events will include theatre, music, comedy, dance, visual arts, spoken word performances and Pukapuka Talks featuring local authors and some guests from outside the region.

Kono adds craft brewery to kete of brands

Visit www.nelsonartsfestival.nz or search for Ngā Toi Huatau – The Seasonal Arts on Nelson

K Primarily Dance brings Nelson Smile Lines elson recently had worldclass dance being developed in its midst – Loughlan Prior (Choreographer in Residence at the Royal New Zealand Ballet) was in town to choreograph an intergenerational duet for ballerina Laura Saxon Jones and Lesley Bandy (Artistic Director, Primarily Dance). The work is named Smile Lines and is a sort of reflection – playful, emotional, quizzical, and yearning – of and between two generations of dancers. Smile Lines is part of a triple bill of highquality contemporary ballet that Primarily

Photo: Louis Edwards

Dance will be performing at arts festivals and on short tours to small centres that are not normally on the schedules of the RNZB and other dance companies. Visit: www.primarilydance.com

Songwriting competition

he International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has announced its 2020 panel of judges that includes iconic artists Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Bebe Rexha, Tom Waits, Cam, Arturo Sandoval, Linkin Park, Tanya Tucker and many more. Also included are record label executives from Capitol, Sony, Roc Nation, Atlantic, Warner, Verve and Glassnote. The competition covers all genres of contemporary music and gives away more than $150,000 in cash and merchandise split among 71 winners, with the Grand Prize comprised of $25,000 in cash plus additional prizes. The list of previous ISC winners includes many notable artists, including last year’s Grand Prize winner Tones And I with her song Dance Monkey as well as Vance Joy, Illenium, R.LUM.R., Gotye, Bastille, The Band Perry, Kehlani, Kimbra and Lindsey Stirling, among others. Visit www.songwritingcompetition.com

ono, the Māori family-owned food and beverage business, will be adding craft beer to its kete of brands when boutique beer brewery, Hop Federation, joins its whānau in early August. Hop Federation, based in Riwaka, will join other Kono brands – Tohu Wines, Kono Wines, Tutū cider, Annie’s fruit snacks, Kiwa oysters and Yellow Brick Road, a sustainable seafood supply business. Kono, which takes its name from a woven basket traditionally used to present food to guests, grows hops along with apples, pears and kiwifruit in Motueka, and grows, harvests, processes and exports greenshell mussels. Kono has been growing hops for over a decade now. Hop Federation was founded in 2013 by husband and wife team Simon and Nicki Nicholas, who, along with the three-person brewery team will all join Kono. To celebrate Hop Federation joining Kono, a special Hop Federation Kono Hazy IPA, with a label inspired by the Matariki star cluster, will be released.

Marlborough Events Scenic Hotel Marlborough, Thursday 27th August •

Boarding Information - 3.30pm to 5.00pm Meet Headmaster Richard Dykes and Director of Boarding Samme Hippolite

•

Old Boys' Gathering with Mr Dykes - 5.00pm to 7.00pm Cash bar, nibbles provided

Nelson College offers the very best in boarding. With a welcoming family environment, our school has consistently high-level academic, sporting and leadership programmes.

Young men taking their place in the world boarding@nelsoncollege.school.nz

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

www.nelsoncollege.school.nz

MY BIG IDEA

Caravan classes help young pupils Helping children overcome life’s challenges is the driving force behind the Nelson Tasman Life Education Trust. Sonya Hockley explains. PHOTO DOMINIQUE WHITE

What is your big idea? Our Big Idea is education for life. Today’s children and adolescents face a lot of challenges, including obesity, substance abuse, maintaining mental health and wellbeing, staying safe online and bullying, among other health and social issues. For example, the effects of being overweight for a child could include low self-esteem, bullying, eating disorders, chronic ill health and even suicide. The decisions made as children can dramatically affect how they live their lives now and in the future; therefore Life Education Trust exists to promote the three philosophical principles that underpin all that we learn: • You are unique • The human body is magnificent • We need to support and respect each other Our programme is aimed to be proactive, engaging with children aged five to 13 years so that they can cope with the challenges they are currently facing and to create the foundations for the adults they will become. If you really want to know what Life Education is about, ask a young child about ‘Harold’ and see their face light up. Above: An unusual classroom setting with Ingrid Kemp, Senior Educator, Nelson Tasman Life Education Trust 12

How did it come about? Life Education was founded in New Zealand by Trevor Grice. Having grown up in state care, Trevor found there was a need for a programme to help support, equip and enable our youth to know that they are special and unique, their bodies are magnificent and that they – and we – need to have respect for one another. In 1987 Trevor read about and fell in love with the idea of Life Education. This was a programme developed by Ted and Margaret Noffs who started the concept in Australia. Having visited Australia to explore this more, Trevor established Life Education Trust NZ in 1988. In 2002 a need in the Nelson Tasman region for Life Education was recognised and our Regional Trust was formed and supported by patrons Roy and Renate Savage who had an affinity with the region. They gifted the mobile classroom and Life Education began for our youth.

Who is involved? They say ‘it takes a village to raise a child’; ‘He kainga hei whakatupu tamariki’. This is the Life Education village. Harold – our much-loved giraffe mascot – is a figurehead who teaches us to look up and forwards, not down at our bootlaces; someone whose spot pattern is as unique as every child. Schools – which join us in our passion and embrace and support the learning. The Regional Trust – a volunteer board that supports the delivery of Life Education to our region’s children and schools. A Life Education Educator – a qualified, registered teacher with an ‘X’ factor to engage with our children.

Life Education Trust National Service Centre – which provides us with the resources, tools and processes to govern and deliver Life Education to our region. The Community – people interested in supporting the children in our region as the money raised locally, stays local.

Who benefits? The children in our region benefit from Life Education learning in the schools into which we are invited. Life Education provides specialist learning and resources for the delivery of life skills, and this learning gives greater depth and diversity to the health curriculum for our children. The mobile classroom offers a unique and safe environment that provides exciting lifelong learning which children, principals and teachers value.

How do people become involved? To remain affordable to families, we need community support for fundraising. Eightysix percent of the running costs are from fundraising through the Trust so that a school’s contribution is kept low at 12 percent. Our Life Education Trust can be supported through sponsorship by companies or individuals, volunteering through fundraising events, contributing services, bequests in wills or becoming a trustee on the Board of Trustees. To find out how you can help Harold with our mission to reach every child in the Nelson Tasman region please contact us: Email: nelsontasman@lifeed.org.nz or phone: Michelle Fitzgerald, regional coordinator on 021 782 875. Visit: www.facebook.com/ HaroldNelsonTasman

Snapped WildTomato goes out on the town…

Food Factory Opening Pic’s Peanut Butter World, Stoke 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. Lucy Maxwell 2. Brian Olorenshaw 3. Fletcher Tabuteaus greets Pic Picot 4. Lou Smith, Nita Knight & Pip Jamieson

5. Talani Meikle & Fletcher Tabuteaus 6. Julie Bryant & Julie North 7. Kate Neame & Mark Goodfellow 8. Pic Picot & Melanie Nelson 9. Barney Thomas & Nita Knight

SNAPPED

2 Nelson Netball Spectators Saxton Fields, Stoke PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX MAHRLA

1. Gillian Morgan, Lauren & Kate Lesser

4. Karla Thurlow & Judy Totoro

2. Vikki Mark, Di Palmer & Marie Dale

6. Keyle Brown & Jacqui Ward

3. Silone Williams, Belinda Wheatley & Keshni Das

5. Jodianne & Sheree Peters 7. Kaye Tamarua & Rebekah Shepard 8. Marie & Daryl Homes

Imagine having a helping hand to lighten the load. Do your errands while you work or when you just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Arrange and meet home maintenance contractors Drive seniors/non-drivers to appointments or shopping Multi-stop shopping with one delivery Personalised pet walking, sitting & taxi ...... and so much more!

Done&Dusted Your On Call Helping Hand

Explore the possibilities on our website: www.donedusted.co.nz or call 021 060 2034

HOME & LIFE MANAGEMENT

PET WALKING & SITTING

HOME STYLING

OFFICE PA SUPPORT

EXPERIENCED EQUINE CARE

SNAPPED

Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Meet the Crew Nelson KIA Dealership, Rutherford Street

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. Carl Babe & John McIntyre 2. Alan Kirby, Howie Tims & Abbie Cook

5. Morgan Collis-Fisher & Colby Tyrell 6. Peter Walker & Jason Everett

3. Lorraine & Don Dowding & Claire Jenkins

7. Kai Kruse & Murray Sturgeon

4. Vonda & Kevin Nansett

9. Shelley & Stephen Fry

8. Terry Baxter & Paula Muddle

SNAPPED

2 Nelson Soccer Spectators Saxton Fields, Stoke PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX MARHLA

1. Yvonne Tye, Marion Lapwood, Danny Healy & Merv Lapwood

5. Christine Officer & Robyn Fenselau

2. Gretchen Sullivan, Kerry McNamara, Jarod Spencer & Alec Asquith

6. Cameron Burns & Mark Waweru

3. Sunshine & Margaret Hall

8. Brenda Halliwell & Vicki Shelling

4. Jim & Narinda Gallagher

7. Rachel & Jo Francios

RoCS HOME TO UNIQUE CUSTOM-MADE DESIGNS We are ready to work with you to create your next piece of bespoke jewellery Find our studio and workshop at 238a Queen St, Richmond | Ph 03 544 9293 | Visit www.rocs.co.nz | Follow us on 17

SNAPPED

1 Omaka Wings & Wheels Aviation Heritage Centre, Marlborough PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK NELSON

1. Jan FitzGerald & Colin Wilde

5. Elly & Murray White

2. Zuzana Podivinska & David Kopriva

6. Ruth & John Baker

3. Paula Theodore & Graeme Frew 4. Charmaine Cranswick & Matty Robin

7. Allan & Janice Benseman 8. Eddie & Alison Gallop

IT for real people by real people Technology on your terms

blueberryit.co.nz | 03 548 4923 18

8 PROUD WINNERS AT THE BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

SharePoint Solutions • Small Business Specialist VMware Partner • Microsoft Partner • HP Partner

SNAPPED

2 Sapori Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Italia Wine Tasting Winos, Blenheim PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADENA TEKA

1. Jessica Marston, Camille Horvath & Rebecca Jones

5. Priyanka Kulkarni & Aditya Shinde

2. Sheena Grey, Rick Wilson, Maria Mencattelli & Clive Macfarlane

6. Matt & Yohanna Ward

3. Donovan Perotin, Cecilia Sanguin & Luca Sala

8. Mike Henderson & Marge Scott

4. Allessandro Marcolin & Sergio Laboroi

9. Sandra Peck & Roderick McNicoll

7. John Baird & David Bamfield

9 Quench Restaurant & Bar is set up for dining, great new menu, locals welcome!

Mention this advert and get 10% OFF until the end of August.

www.marlboroughnz.co.nz 19

INTERVIEW

Fighting for ‘Everyman’ Consumer champion Sue Chetwin found her feet growing up in Blenheim, Brenda Webb reports. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

or Sue Chetwin, childhood memories of Marlborough include picking sun-ripened cherries and harvesting garlic in dusty paddocks. It also involved being on the Marlborough Girls’ College debating team and starting a school newspaper – activities that perhaps set her up for a long and successful career in journalism and, more recently, as high-profile CEO of Consumer New Zealand. Her role at Consumer saw her act as an advocate for the ordinary New Zealander, a role she describes as hugely rewarding. “In journalism you go into bat for people but don’t often see it right through. At Consumer we did the groundwork and often took it through to the Select Committee stage. We stuck with it until we could effect change,” she says. Sue left Consumer in February, and in doing so a whole new world of opportunities has opened for this driven high-achiever. But first she plans to finish her law degree – a year’s full-time study as well as carrying on with the boards she’s involved with. Retirement is not a word that figures in her vocabulary and that’s a good thing as she has far too much to offer to contemplate a life of leisure. This is not a lady who lunches. “I’ve always been driven – I can’t imagine not working,” she says. The Chetwin family moved to Marlborough from Christchurch in 1967 – Bob, June and their three daughters, Suzanne, Nicola and Cecily. Bob had clinched a role as a soil conservator with the then Marlborough Catchment Board. He stayed with the board until his retirement from his role as chief soil conservator. Sue went to Redwoodtown Primary, Bohally and Marlborough Girls’. She denies being a standout student, but the vocal advocate for Kiwis says she was probably remembered for being very noisy.

The Marlborough Express was the popular evening newspaper back then and several of its staff were influential in her career choice. Sue cites Harry Turvey and Hugh Lightwood as being family friends/mentors/writers who sparked her interest. “I was always pretty aware – I belonged to groups including HART (Halt All Racist Tours) in Blenheim. I think I’ve always been a girl who gets outraged and wants to see the world put to rights,” she says. “I’ve always been an advocate and that’s one of the reasons the Consumer job appealed as I saw it as a chance to really make a difference.”

Ink in her veins

Sue left Marlborough after college to study journalism at Wellington Polytechnic. She went on to a challenging, rewarding and highprofile career, first in daily newspapers, then Sunday newspapers, magazines and, more recently, at Consumer. She worked at Wellington’s Evening Post followed by stints on the Waikato Times and Sunday News. That led to an “exciting and amazing” opportunity working in London at the Sunday Times before she returned to work on Sunday papers in New Zealand, including the Sunday Star Times. Sue then moved to the Herald On Sunday, which she helped to set up. She also spent time on magazines, including the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, managing the editorial content – not a satisfying career move. “I didn’t like the magazine world. The whole massmarket appeal I felt was false and it was driven by big players, particularly in the cosmetic world. I would have late-night phone calls from people trying to sell a photo of a royal or a Shortland St star for the cover. I became disgruntled with that.”

“At Consumer we did the groundwork and often took it through to the Select Committee stage.” 20

“I recognise that news is tough and times are tough for mainstream media, but they still have a role to play.” Looking back, Sue feels she got out of daily/weekly journalism in time. “Things really have changed – we moaned about lack of resources back then but gosh, it must be so hard now. “I’ve been lucky to have worked in different aspects of journalism and have loved my time. Consumer came up at the right time for me and I have really enjoyed it – loved calling the shots and controlling things and not being answerable to a member of the Murdoch family or a paper with a big corporate ownership.”

A chance to move south

The Consumer job came up by chance. Her then partner (now husband) was based in Wellington with no intention of moving to Auckland. He tried to persuade Sue to move south but she refused to “until I had a really good job”. David Russell, then CEO of Consumer, was standing down about that time and Sue’s background, credentials and the ‘champion for the underdog’ resolve that surfaced during her college days made her a sitter for the role. While she was the face of the watchdog organisation – the feisty redhead who would front campaigns, be on the news constantly making people aware of their rights – she is quick to point out she was part of a team. “We had a team of writers – some journalists, some researchers and people constantly testing products. The organisation was much bigger than me. I was just the face of it; the frontperson of a great team.” Over the years Sue and her team have highlighted dozens of issues. “Ideas come from our team or members with problems – we had a fantastic source of ideas.” One of those was yearly surveys of the performance of service providers such as power companies, banks etc. She particularly enjoyed working on behalf of the ‘everyday’ person as well as the underdogs, including the victims of loan

Below: Climbing Mt Angelus, (from left) Sue Chetwin, friend Linda McCullagh, husband John Andrews and nephew Simon Marangon Opposite page: Clockwise from top - Sue Chetwin; Sue (middle) with sisters Cecily (left) and Nicola

sharks, for example. “I like to think we’ve made a difference. I hope we have made a difference.” Consumer’s focus has changed over time and today’s relevant issues revolve around climate change, environmental issues and data protection and privacy, according to Sue. “Previously Consumer’s emphasis was on which product is best for you but now we look at what is best for you and the planet. We look at the longevity, the repairability and also look at recycling and upcycling. “These days a lot of what we are doing is looking at the life of appliances and the consumer’s right to be able to repair them – not just throw them away when they break and buy new. People are often willing to spend a little extra to get a better and more sustainable or biodegradable product too.” Sue points at a two-year-old environmental survey that showed 44 percent of people took their own reusable bags when shopping – today that figure is up to 88 percent. “People are willing to make a difference.”

Who owns your data?

Data sharing is a big issue for the future, she says. “Who owns what, and when are you sharing information? That’s a whole new ball game.” Sue leaves Consumer in a healthy state. “We have a paid-for website that other media organisations would kill for, and more than 200,000 people who deal with it in some way, but of course you are always looking ahead and survival is the key.” While she grew up on daily newspapers, Sue doesn’t yearn for a return to the time when the local newspaper was full of local content and looked forward to by its subscribers as their main source of news. Like most people, she gets her news today from a mix of mainstream and social media. “While there is lots wrong with social media, mainstream media was never perfect either,” she says. “It’s amazing what the world sees through social media – the ‘Arab Spring’ is just one example. What’s the way forward? There are varying views and theories. I recognise that news is tough and times are tough for mainstream media, but they still have a role to play.” Every six weeks Sue flies from her home in Wellington to Blenheim to visit her dad who, at 91, is living a very active life. She loves returning to Marlborough, particularly getting out into the bush and, in winter, skiing at Rainbow, which she describes as a hidden gem. “I love the flight over from Wellington – seeing the Wither Hills and the vineyards. I have very fond memories but I am an urban girl at heart and cities are where I need to be.”

LOCAL CONNECTION

Heave ho and away we go! BY BRENDA WEBB | PHOTOS SUPPLIED

t was inevitable Picton’s Grant Orchard would choose a career on the sea. Born into a well-known Marlborough seafaring family – his late father Bill was a boat builder and fisherman while his uncle Gary runs a fishing and charter business out of Nopera Bay – Grant naturally gravitated towards boats and the sea. Initially they were fishing boats and his time working on them helped him develop a passion for the sea, although not necessarily one for commercial fishing. “I hated it,” he laughs, recalling his teenage days tuna fishing with his father. Today Grant still fishes – but on a recreational basis – and runs spring, summer and autumn charters on his own 13m launch, heading to the northern hemisphere in winters to work on superyachts. Grant’s love for his Marlborough Sounds backyard is reflected in the effort he has put into his charter venture on Katabatic; a boat started by his late father Bill. It has been a long and slow process, first finishing the boat and then getting the business up and running. Needless to say, Covid-19 hasn’t helped. The Orchard name is synonymous with boating in the Top of the South. For generations the Orchards have been involved in fishing, running mailboat or charter operations in the Sounds and now 42-year-old Grant has returned to his roots to do the same. 22

But Grant’s memories of his early introduction to sea life aren’t great. At 16 he went tuna fishing with his father Bill Orchard, earning such good money his father dropped his percentage rate. It wasn’t the drop in wages that forced him out – at the time Grant just didn’t like anything about the operation. “I hated it and decided I was going to be a chef – I didn’t want to be a fisherman or a boat builder,” he says. And so he headed off to get his chef’s qualifications and ended up in Melbourne working in various restaurants. But then he reached a point where he felt his career wasn’t tracking where he wanted it to. Feeling stuck in a rut he began thinking of other opportunities. About the same time, his father was diagnosed with bowel cancer and Grant returned home.

Career change

Sitting in his father’s garage was the hull of a boat – a retirement project. Bill had built five other boats but this one was pretty special and when Grant realised his father’s health meant he wouldn’t see it through to fruition he decided to tackle it himself. Disillusioned with his cooking career, Grant saw it as the perfect time to return home and pick up the project. “I remember asking Dad what it would cost to finish it and the figure $200,000 was mentioned,” says Grant. “That was going to cover all the remaining work, I think.”

... the Orchards have been involved in fishing, running mailboat or charter operations in the Sounds and now 42-year-old Grant has returned to his roots to do the same.

Years of working on superyachts around the globe followed with Grant visiting some amazing places while financing his dream boat back in Picton. Grant told his dad he would take the project on and finish it and his great regret is that his father didn’t live to see launch day.

Chasing his dream

The late Bill Orchard did his boat building apprenticeship at the former Swanson yard in Blackwood Bay before changing to repair work on the foreshore where Picton’s rowing club is now based. He then moved to commercial fishing, building three large vessels. Grant did a pre-apprenticeship in wooden boat building in Melbourne and moved back home in August 2002 to tackle the project with the help of people who worked at Carey’s boatyard. With the Orchard family having so many contacts there was no shortage of skilled people to give help and advice. It soon became obvious that the project was larger than Grant could complete himself, and way more costly than that initial estimate by his dying father. A career on superyachts beckoned. “A friend told me about the superyacht industry and so I headed off to San Diego USA and got my first job. I would work the season to earn enough money to keep this project going, come home and help out and when I was broke, I would go back,” he says. Years of working on superyachts around the globe followed with Grant visiting some amazing places while financing his dream boat back in Picton. He did some of the work himself including sanding and dressing timber, but most was completed by experts while Grant was earning to pay the bills. “Basically, I dug myself a big hole and so had to keep working on superyachts to get out.” Katabatic has a distinct Orchard theme – the raised saloon interior features recycled rimu that came from veranda posts of an Orchard house that burned down, while the wheel has been a previous fixture on several Bill Orchard boats. The build took eight years with much of it carried out while Grant was offshore communicating with boat builders by emails. It proved to be a long-distance labour of love, but one Grant was determined to complete. Launch day in 2013 was a magical one, with friends and family in Picton to see Grant and his late father Bill’s dream realised. Many years, many hours and many dollars later, Katabatic plies the waters of the Queen Charlotte Sound with chef Grant at the helm having attained the marine certifications necessary. He runs a catch-and-cook operation – taking people out to discover the

Above: Clockwise - Katana at her launch in 1991; The heritage hull leaving Carey’s boatyard in 1993, from left, Brian Pickering, Grant Orchard, Bill Orchard and Alain Cairns; Sabre, launched in 1970 Opposite page: Katabatic, the boat Bill Orchard started building before he died and which son Grant completed

beauty of the Sounds, catching fish and cooking the catch on board. It’s a combination of his skills gained over many years.

Showing off The Sounds

A chance meeting with the manager at Bay of Many Coves Resort resulted in chartering opportunities out of that resort, but Grant also wants to aim at New Zealanders who perhaps haven’t had the chance to see their own backyard. “Tourists I take out are amazed at what we have here in the Queen Charlotte Sound,” he says. “I have always loved it here and during my time away I really missed the Sounds. I have sailed all around the world and nothing really compares – British Colombia comes close but the Sounds truly are special.” While Katabatic is capable of much faster speeds than the eight knots she usually cruises at, Grant is conscious of his carbon footprint and pays a voluntary tax to offset his carbon emissions, the money being used to plant native forests in New Zealand. Katabatic is a low-key operation with the emphasis on encouraging guests to fish for their lunch or dinner and participate as much or as little as they want. Grant often catches kahawhai or kingfish on a lure and free dives for paua and green-lipped mussels. Blue cod and gurnard are frequently caught as well and cooked simply with Grant believing the flavours should be allowed to shine through, although he is happy to do what the guests want. His main desire is to show off the Marlborough Sounds with their diverse scenery and colourful history. 23

C R E AT I V E E N D E AV O U R S

A calm oasis in suburbia

When they decided to embark on a tropical garden in frost-prone Nelson, Jewel and Wayne had to clear the 615sq m section. Jewel researched what would grow in the area but still add the tropical feel they wanted. She approached the task in the same way she has approached her art from an early age – lots of thorough research and experiments with various mediums.

BY ANNABEL SCHULER | PHOTOGRAPHY DOMINIQUE WHITE

Most of the existing plants on the section had to be dug up and relocated, including several pohutukawa which are now thriving in the Marlborough Sounds thanks to Wayne’s careful handling. There is very little in the garden, which has not been recycled or upcycled, from the pallet benches for seating to the cuttings which formed the basis of the garden. Jewel and Wayne have completed every job themselves with hours spent shovelling river stones, to digging out, then forming mounds of soil at just the right consistency to allow for good drainage. “The plants I grow must have roots which stay warm and dry in winter,” she says. “We needed to create microclimates which took a lot of trial and error and moving of plants. We made some mistakes at the start.” Now tamarillo plants elbow for space beside bromeliads, cordylines, canna, orchids and much more. That is another tip from Jewel – plant closely. Hailing from Myanmar, Persian Shield is generally a houseplant in New Zealand but it is a luscious, eyepopping purple shrub in Jewel’s protective garden. Halfway down the section on the left is an old shed built entirely by hand out of stone by a previous owner. This is pure gold in a tropical garden because it acts as a heat sink and nearby plants benefit from the warm energy it stores then radiates year-round. It also provides the perfect foil for palms, bromeliads and hibiscus in pots. One of the smartest things Jewel did, and still does, is to keep many of her plants in pots, as least until she is sure they will thrive in a certain place. The pots are disguised under a

ehind an ordinary fence, behind an ordinary house in Nelson lies a little piece of paradise – tropical paradise – created by a woman who believes our home should be a sanctuary, and hers certainly fits that description. A full-time artist for 10 years, Jewel Mathieson and her partner of 19 years, Wayne Prescott, moved onto a suburban section four years ago. They began to create a place where they, and their visitors, could experience ‘peace and calm’. One of Jewel’s favourite quotations is: “Build a life that you don’t need a holiday from.” Nelson-raised Jewel is not one to rush into anything and she always prepares thoroughly before adding a new dimension to her life. “I took a year-long evening business course before taking the leap to become a full-time artist,” she says. Before developing her tropical garden, she researched ‘cold climate’ tropical gardening exhaustively and she is now considered something of an expert in gardening circles with people calling on her for advice. She found the whole process of creating the garden was deliberately and emotionally driven – it is clear both head and heart are invested. Above: Artist Jewel Mathieson relaxing with her dog Nika Opposite page: Clockwise from top - Hibiscus heaven; chill-out space; one of Jewel’s paintings, titled Nikau Dream 24

Recycling and relocating

The seascapes are crafted in minute detail and reflect a love of the ocean. This is one of the reasons Jewel, and Wayne, moved back from Christchurch. Though Jewel still does not live close to a beach, she has found a way to bring it to her. layer of bark. Newcomers to the garden can be shifted around several times before they are settled in just the right spot. This also means delicate plants which cannot withstand frosts can be easily transported and placed under cover for the winter. “The plants have to be happy otherwise they simply look terrible,” she says. “If you spend time making sure that all of your plants look happy and healthy then it really doesn’t matter how you plant your garden, it is going to look great.” A self-taught artist, her one foray into formal study was a “disaster”, she says.

Self-taught

“I could create highly detailed, realistic works from a very young age but realism had fallen out of popularity and everyone wanted abstract art. Realism spoke to me and inspired me, not abstract art. Sadly, the tutors only wanted to see abstract art and didn’t appreciate my high-quality realistic drawings.” But Jewel stuck to her guns, left formal study behind, and for many years her highly detailed, intricate and realistic paintings have been much in demand.. Initially she taught herself to draw using graphite and then moved onto coloured pencils. “Because coloured pencils are such a technical medium and unforgiving of mistakes, I learned not to make mistakes and thankfully only ever had to bin and restart two portraits in my 10-year pet portrait career.” For many years Jewel made her living as a ‘pet portrait’ artist taking commissions and drawing mainly dogs. A frequent model now is Nika, a 13-year-old chocolate labrador-staffymastiff mix, rescued from the Christchurch SPCA when she was around eight weeks old.

Wolves too have fascinated Jewel from an early age, and she has self-published two books of her drawings, Born to Run (2012) about sled dog racing in New Zealand, and Indomitable Spirit (2017) about the working dogs of the frozen north. Her work has appeared in many other books. From animals she moved onto land- and seascapes – her work now hangs on walls in homes around the world..

Own beach

Jewel’s seascapes are crafted in minute detail and reflect a love of the ocean. This is one of the reasons she and Wayne moved back from Christchurch. Though Jewel still does not live close to a beach, she has found a way to bring it to her. Tucked into one sunny corner of the garden are boardwalk seats made comfy with bright cushions. In front is an area of real, golden, beach sand with a firepit in the centre. Many an evening is spent there sipping cider and nibbling on tapas. “The sand goes down about 20cm so you really can wriggle your toes in it,” she adds rather proudly. This woman is all about the detail. Jewel is never too busy to share her love of gardening and one aspiration is to introduce more people to developing their homes into sanctuaries to counterbalance busy lives. “Garden design, interior design aand some unique homeware creations will also step into the picture more as my vision unfolds in the coming years. I am also hoping to bring Wayne on-board a bit more to share his creativity in the future.” You can see more of Jewel’s artwork on: www.facebook.com/pg/ jewelmathiesonartist/photos 25

Sustainable Packaging

Investing in sustainability

Sustainability is such a huge topic it is impossible to cover it in a few pages, yet it is such an essential ongoing part of our lives and businesses that we all need to invest in it for the sake of our future. In this issue Sarah Nottage looks at some of the local companies doing their bit by using sustainable packaging. PHOTOGRAPHY STEVE HUSSEY

e took our children to the climate change strike at Christ Church Cathedral steps in Nelson last year. It was exciting listening to young people being vocal about a cause they are passionate about. Afterwards a group of college students ate their takeaway lunch using single-use forks, carried in a single-use plastic bag. Then they drove back to school. Our children noticed the contradiction. Being part of the strike was immediate and stirred emotion. Making your own lunch takes forward planning, time, and is a bit boring. Although we know that climate change is a huge threat, it isn’t always immediately obvious and therefore, not that exciting. However, if we understand the waste hierarchy, we can all make an impact. Waste management, recycling and prevention policies are significant tools in the fight against climate change (Kate O’Neill 2018, Explainer: The Plastic Waste Crisis is an Opportunity for the US to GET Serious About Recycling at Home). Take a ‘packaging tour’ through your local supermarket. In the fruit and vegetable section you’ll see numerous rolls of single-use plastic bags. Why are they still available? And my personal favourite – bananas. Although they have their own very effective natural packaging, some bunches are wrapped in soft plastic. Nori (seaweed) sheets are a healthy snack option, yet they win my ‘packaging excess’ prize – individually wrapped in soft plastic pouches, they sit on a plastic tray and have an outer layer of plastic. Today I saw a skip full of polystyrene packaging on a building site. Although polystyrene and PVCs are reportedly a small part of the plastic markets in New Zealand, they go straight to landfill. During the Covid-19 lockdown we saw the impact of the temporary suspension of recycling services in our region, with waste that would normally have been sent offshore going directly into landfill. However, we didn’t generate as much packaging waste overall, as the majority of waste comes from businesses and the construction industry, which were Below: The Rubbish Trip team at School Strike for Action, from left, Liam Prince and Hannah Blumhardt Opposite page: Emma Heke of Heke Homemade Herbals

There is currently no legislation requiring New Zealand businesses to implement a waste prevention/ reduction model. temporarily suspended. Our consumption habits changed out of necessity during lockdown; we bought in bulk, brewed our own coffee and prepared food based on what we had in the pantry. WasteMINZ’s chief executive Janine Brinsdon says that while the $1.5 billion infrastructure gap in New Zealand’s recycling system was already well known, Covid-19 highlighted the problem. A worldwide decrease in oil prices caused a drop in the offshore plastics and fibre markets. We don’t have capacity to process the harder-to-recycle plastics in New Zealand, and we can no longer send them offshore, therefore the material goes to landfill. This is why the Nelson City Council recently asked us to phase out plastic types 3, 4, 6 and 7. Previously seen as a ‘greener’ packaging alternative to plastic for certain products, paper and cardboard have become problematic now that overseas recycling markets have closed. David Stephenson, waste management leader at Tasman District Council says that in the South Island we don’t have sufficient fibre processing capacity to cope with what we consume.

Living waste free

Our current linear economy and ‘take-make-dispose’ packaging methods are massively wasteful, unsustainable and of major concern to the planet. Even if we’re perfect green consumers – reusing plastic bags, going vegan, refusing to fly – we’re stuck in an imperfect system that makes it impossible to stop adding to the problem. Hannah Blumhardt and Liam Prince from The Rubbish Trip live waste-free lives. They’ve accumulated only 7.5kg of waste between them in the past five and a half years. They travel throughout New Zealand educating the public on how and why to reduce household rubbish. They work tirelessly to influence governmental policy. Hannah and Liam support the concept of worldwide transition to a circular economy, as advocated by The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, experts in ‘building a framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design’. It is based on three principles: designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regeneration of natural systems. Hannah says; “The best packaging is no packaging or reusable packaging systems. It’s really important to move the conversation up the waste hierarchy and understand that reusable packaging is a good option, particularly when it’s done at scale and thoughtfully.” The Rubbish Trip has produced Regional Zero Waste Shopping Guides for locals and visitors throughout New Zealand. Hannah says, “Successful circular economies presuppose coordination, good data and shared purpose. New Zealand’s ad hoc, fragmented waste and recycling systems operating in an information void are anathema to circularity.” There is currently no legislation requiring New Zealand businesses to implement a waste prevention/reduction model. The government is introducing regulated product stewardship, which “helps put the responsibility for effective material and waste management on product manufacturers, importers, retailers and users, rather than on communities, councils, neighbourhoods and nature,” says Eugenie Sage, Associate Minister for the Environment. 27

Many small businesses in the Nelson/Tasman region are taking individual responsibility for their impact on the planet. One element of the solution is the identification and implementation of sustainable packaging solutions. However, the global linear economy and lack of packaging solution information and infrastructure in New Zealand makes the task very challenging. Although there are local companies offering sustainable packaging solutions and advice, the packaging is only manufactured overseas, potentially increasing its carbon footprint. However, these businesses are not giving up! Co-founders of sensitive skin care range Pure Peony, Dot Kettle and Georgia Richards, create remedial skincare products using peony root grown on their organic farm in Nelson. Their personal commitment to environmental sustainability motivated them to phase out plastic tubes for their skincare products. Following a customer survey, they decided to use glass containers where they could, however this wasn’t always practical due to risk of breakages in handbags and cross-contamination. They embarked on a research project for a cosmetic grade packaging alternative, which wasn’t easy. Dot says; “We found an Australian-based packaging manufacturer specialising in sugarcane, which is a high absorber of CO2 when it grows. Our sugarcane tubes are 100 percent recyclable, easy to use, there is no risk of contamination or deoxidisation, shelf life is maintained, and they aren’t petroleum based.”

“Until commercial businesses feel it (the impact of waste from packaging) in their pockets, nothing will change on a large scale.”

Pure recycling

Pure Peony also produces divine ‘body bars’ packaged in reusable aluminium tins which are alternatives to liquid soap, shampoo and conditioner. Dot says; “Every bar means one less plastic bottle in the environment. Whether it is recyclable plastic or not, they are still plastic. Every step is a significant step.” They estimate saving the creation of 68,000 plastic bottles in the past four years. Pure Peony has also redesigned the packaging for its product supply system, moving entirely away from plastic for online deliveries, using a combination of cardboard boxes, wood shavings and home-compostable zip lock bags for transporting products. The owners have also formally analysed the company’s carbon footprint, and are taking small, practical steps to reduce it, such as purchasing a hybrid vehicle.

From top: Clockwise - Emma Heke of Heke Homemade Herbals; Pure Peony products Opposite page: Clockwise from top - Sublime Coffee Roasters; customer Alicia Rocha being served at The Pantry Door; Better Packaging incentive

EMMA HEKE

Leading by example

A six-month trip filming eco-entrepreneurs motivated Emma Heke, founder of Heke Homemade Herbals, to establish a business that enhanced, rather than ruined the planet. “Suddenly, I was inspired to leap out of bed. I ripped up the lawn in my steep, terraced garden and began growing organic, affordable, delicious herbal teas.” Emma has found a niche in the health market, and is on the way to achieving her goal of a zero-waste packaging system. She supplies her teas to bulk-food stores across New Zealand in customer-provided reusable bulk bags. By supplying to refilleries such as the Be Free Grocer in Palmerston North, the only waste that needs to be sorted is the business-to-business waste, as customers bring their own container for her teas. Emma says that she spent an extraordinary amount of time researching the best compostable packaging options. She originally sourced small, industrially compostable packets from America, where she bulk ordered (25,000) to minimise the carbon footprint. Since Covid-19 a shortage of the corn/sugar materials required for the barrier film has forced her to review her packaging options again. Emma recognises that she is in the minority in New Zealand when it comes to making environmentally sustainable business choices. “I’m a little person battling away doing the best I can with the options that are available. Until commercial businesses feel it (the impact of waste from packaging) in their pockets, nothing will change on a large scale. A whole country can be mobilised, but that requires radical action.”

All compostable

From their coffee bean bags, wholesale bags and takeaway cups and lids to the inks used on the packaging, every item produced by Sublime Coffee Roasters in Nelson is compostable. They also encourage customers to refill their own coffee bean containers. Environmental sustainability has always been at the heart of their family-owned business, say owners Emma and Dan Hennah. 28

“It is important to us that we remain authentic and transparent. We spent 15 months researching, questioning and trialling to achieve a successful zero waste compostable system, which wasn’t easy, but very worthwhile.” Sublime Coffee Roasters partner with Ecoware Food Packaging for their compostable packaging. A vital element in their zero-waste approach is providing a composting solution – completing the waste circle. To achieve this, they team up with industrial composter Greenwaste to Zero in Richmond.

Sublime Coffee Roasters partner with Ecoware Food Packaging for their compostable packaging.

Use refillable containers

The Pantry Door in Stoke offers bulk whole foods, herbs and spices, olive oil, free-range eggs and a variety of health and home products. Wendy Payne and Ian Richardson recently moved from Wellington to run the shop and are passionate about health and wellbeing. Ian is a regular Ironman and ultraendurance competitor, and recently transitioned to a plantbased, wholefoods diet. “His energy lasted much longer when he competed in Ironman last March after eliminating meat from his diet,” says Wendy. With an emphasis on refilling and package-free goods, the couple’s business encourages customers to bring their own refill containers from home. If they don’t remember, they have plenty of spare jars. The couple are excited to start sourcing even more locally produced goods. Wendy says; “It’s important for us to know the stories behind our products and suppliers. We are excited to share those stories with our customers.” Wendy has noticed that the biggest waste generated from the business is via their product deliveries. “Although we try to recycle where possible, some products arrive in plastic bags, which we need to review.”

Chemical-free

The previous owner of The Pantry Door, Phillipa Ashton is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to living a truly sustainable, chemical-free lifestyle. For her, packaging is only a symptom or ‘a pimple on the head’ of the ‘take-make-dispose’ approach that many Westerners currently choose. With her husband Pat, she raised eight children on a small farm in Motupiko. Out of necessity, Phillipa became an expert at strategically feeding her family, and over the years has seen the positive health results of putting time and effort into preparing good-quality food. 29

Photo: Supplied

This had unexpected financial benefits, including never spending money on medical bills or prescriptions – “We just didn’t get sick.” Phillipa says, “Beans aren’t cheap if you eat them from tins. But if you soak and cook them in a stockpot then freeze them, you can scoop them free-flow, like peas.” This method also reduces packaging and waste. Phillipa has always shared her knowledge and encouraged people towards healthier, sustainable lifestyles, but is very aware of the multiplicity of pressures associated with daily urban life. She has launched ‘Ethically Urban’ in partnership with her daughter who is a nutritionist. They will be offering solutionfocused, seasonal workshops from Phillipa’s home in Stoke, to support and encourage people to live more sustainable lifestyles within an urban setting. Perhaps there are ways to incorporate our

As so eloquently expressed by the Dalai Lama; “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” Covid-19 lockdown food preparation habits into our busy lives after all, at the same time as reducing our reliance on packaging.

Leading by inspiration

Another local producer embracing sustainable packing is the Tasman Bay Food Co. which makes its Dr. Feelgood range of flavoured frozen pops with ‘no weird stuff’ and uses 100 percent home-compostable packaging. This month the company, which also produces Juicies and Zesti, opened its new Dr. Feelgood pop-making factory in Brightwater. “The support we have received from people buying and supporting local has made us confident that this investment, even in today’s economic climate, will be worthwhile,” says a company spokesperson. Individuals and businesses can take responsibility as citizens, just as much, if not more so, than as consumers (and waste producers). Be inspired by our local businesses who continue to work towards a more sustainable, circular economy. As so eloquently expressed by the Dalai Lama; “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” From top: Clockwise - Heke Homemade teas; managing director of Tasman Bay Food Co. Marina Hirst Tristram and founder of Dr. Feelgood Craig ‘Jacks’ Jackson; customer Alicia Rocha refilling her tea container at The Pantry Door

Nelson Packaging are specialists at sourcing and supplying your businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s packaging needs. We have over 28 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience and can assist businesses of all sizes and shapes; large commercial operations, retail, industrial, food manufacturing, small business and more. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re focusing on sustainability and environmentally friendly products, we can help you. We have a range of landfill compostable products available and are continually working with our customers and manufacturers to develop more products. We are working really hard to replace all single use plastics with more sustainable options and currently have a range of trays, bags, etc available in store. This year we introduced 100% recycled fibre trays for our fruit and vege customers which have been a great success. Contact us today and talk to our sustainability champion to discuss how we can help you. 03 548 5459 or service@nelpack.co.nz

www.nelpack.co.nz

Eco Exponents

Living in a f ield of dreams Backing their beliefs with tangible actions, a Golden Bay couple talk to Alistair Hughes and explain how they came to be building an ecovillage. PHOTOGRAPHY CARRIE DOBBS

Before New Zealand became a reality for them both, they tried living lightly in another land first.

iv and Graeme Scott believe in living lightly on the land. When they met in the mid-2000s, their first home together was his caravan, in an orchard, in Somerset in the southwest of the UK. “I was a city girl,” recounts Liv, “but when Graeme described how he lived, I realised that was what was missing in my life. Within two months, I had quit my career, my flat, my everything and moved in with him.” It was to be the first step in a journey which has led to their recent purchase of a 14.5-hectare tract of land in Takaka, with their business partner Simone Woodland, to establish an entire ecovillage. Many more people will soon also be living lightly upon this particular piece of earth, the realisation. Graeme resumes the story which brought them here: “I was already determined to come to New Zealand, after visiting in 2002. I had hitched to Nelson, worked on farms applepicking in Motueka, and then discovered Golden Bay. I drove over the hill and knew, wow, this is my place.” Returning to Britain, Graeme was working as a theatrical performer when he met Liv. “I was rehearsing (for the English National Opera production of The Magic Flute) when this beautiful woman with pink and purple hair ran past the door.” Liv was working as a fashion make-up artist. “I did London Fashion Week, fashion shoots and shows. Our first date was Graeme taking me around backstage at the Royal Opera, and I watched him on stage.” Before New Zealand became a reality for them both, they tried living lightly in another land first. “We went and lived in Canada for a year and I learnt how to be a log home builder,” explains Graeme. “Liv and I lived in an RV and the Canadians thought we were crazy Poms. I welded a gas bottle wood stove, and put this funky flue through the skylight. It was minus 40 outside and we were feeding that fire with so much wood.”

On the move

Back in England, Graeme and Liv utilised the skills they’d gained in the Great White North, setting up an eco-sustainable business called Lightfoot Log Buildings. Graeme built straw bale houses, a small log cabin and developed an aptitude for English timber framing. “So then we came here to decide if this is where we really wanted to live,’ says Liv. “We returned to Golden Bay, were here a week and it felt like we were home. That was it.” Above: From top - The couple in one of their tiny homes; setting up for the popular Living Wood Fair Opposite page: Graeme and Liv making their mark

Liv and Graeme’s permanent move took a further three years. To gain their visa, they settled in Brighton and Graeme helped with the Christchurch earthquake rebuild. “I was used to building twee straw bale and timber houses,” he laughs. “I arrived in Christchurch and was told: ‘Here’s your nail gun, boy, here’s some four-by-twos, here’s some concrete, now get on with it’.” An advantage of this intense period was gaining valuable knowledge of the New Zealand Building Code. The visa finally arrived and Liv and Graeme moved to Golden Bay within a matter of weeks. The couple integrated into local life quickly, establishing the popular Living Wood Fair and a timber framing school called Golden Frames.

New direction

It was at this point that designer and architect Simone entered the picture. Also from England, she and her partner Joe first came to Golden Bay on holiday seven years ago, and it had the same effect on them as on Graeme and Liv. “I wanted to settle here because of all the amazing things that are going on, including the Living Wood Fair. I was talking about wanting to build a tiny house village, and everyone I met said: ‘You need to talk to Liv and Graeme’.” 33

Liv and Graeme Scott remain committed to their original belief; to live lightly on our earth regardless of which side of the world that might be. Residents will maintain independent incomes and lifestyles, with shared amenities and resources so everyone can benefit, including the environment.

Community-based approach

Simone emphasises their community-based approach. “What makes us different from other developers is we’re not looking at this as just for the people who will live there, but as something for Golden Bay. There will be a public space that would be a resource for the whole of the local community. We’ve been talking with the schools about an outdoor amphitheatre space, with a little stage.” “We’re also talking about workshop spaces for jewellers and silversmiths, adds Graeme, “and small offices with affordable rent. A large communal space in the centre can facilitate music, conferences and yoga.” Planting on their new land will be a top priority, and Graeme is very enthusiastic about the benefits. “Trees will improve the biodynamics of the soil, and fruit will be arriving within five years. People will be able to grow veggies on their allotments, increasing the biodiversity after so many years of it being a paddock.” No one is under any illusion that the next practical steps may not necessarily be easy, but Graeme and Liv see advantages for everyone. “With councils all over the country acknowledging a climate emergency, we can facilitate a move towards a more environmentally conscious building movement. One of our core values is to be true stewards of the land, and we really want to work with the council to create something that works for everybody.” From a caravan home in an English orchard to planning an entire ecovillage in Takaka, Liv and Graeme Scott remain committed to their original belief; to live lightly on our earth regardless of which side of the world they might be. Simone, Liv and Graeme merged their businesses into Tiny Lifestyle, a company combining all of their skills and experience to create affordable, sustainably and traditionally built tiny structures. Together they designed the Rameka, a 10m2 handcrafted tiny home, using toxin-free, naturally resistant timber. Its unique, flat-pack design keeps transport costs down and Tiny Lifestyle even runs timber frame joinery courses so that purchasers can become more fully involved in the construction. “It was important for us to have an example of the kind of home we wanted to build before announcing that we were going to create a whole village,” says Simone. “We always talk about this being more like ‘Phase 2’ of the business, and we received a lot of interest.” And then came their ‘field of dreams’: the ideally suited block of land which Liv, Simone and Graeme successfully outbid other developers for at the beginning of the year. The village to be established here is envisaged as a permanent co-housing community of smaller-sized homes. Above: From top clockwise - Enjoying their chosen lifestyle in Golden Bay 34

Looking to build? DESIGN MARLBOROUGH SPECIALISE IN PROVIDING ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES – RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

• Residential New Builds • Alterations & Additions • • Commercial Design • Staff Facilities • • Building & Construction Consulting •

www.designmarlborough.co.nz

Photo: Jason Mann

Architects

Creating inspirational builds with architects

Many home builders and building companies recognise the value of using an architect to ensure their dreams become reality. Sadie Hooper checks out the benefits of working with a professional architect.

rguably the largest purchase anyone makes during their lifetime, a house can be just that or it can be much more, for instance a forever home. Often helping to create the latter will be a professional architect, either hired privately or as part of a building company package. In Aotearoa, the term â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;architectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; can only be used by registered professionals and there are two umbrella groups for architects. One is Te KÄ hui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) and the other is Architectural Designers NZ (ADNZ). The majority of New Zealand architects are members of NZIA, which is a professional body supporting its members and promoting outstanding practice in architecture. The NZIA has around 4000 members. Approximately 50 percent are registered architects working in New Zealand, with the balance of membership made up of New Zealand architects working overseas, architectural graduates, architecture students, teachers of architecture and retired architects. Above: Nelson Airport Terminal 36

The Institute was first established in 1905. In 1963, it was reformed under The Architects Act, with functions split between the NZIA, the professional organisation for architects, and what is now known as the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB), which undertakes regulatory functions. Later, the Institute became an incorporated society. The NZIA represents more than 90 percent of all registered architects in New Zealand and is committed to promoting and celebrating outstanding architecture and to creating greater awareness of the values and benefits well-designed buildings and public spaces can bring to our cities and towns. Members have access to an expansive range of training programmes, upskilling, documentation, contract and agreement forms, and updates on new building legislation and codes and a quality management programme. The NZIA is responsible for encouraging excellence in New Zealand architecture, and strives to ensure its member architects uphold the philosophies and values of architecture

and design, and work to create an exciting, innovative and sustainable build environment in New Zealand. NZIA architects have access to ongoing professional development and training opportunities and support in policy developments and practice issues, and projects come under regular peer scrutiny with the annual NZIA awards, the latest results of which were announced in mid-July. Winning architects in the 2020 awards across Nelson Tasman and Marlborough were Jerram Tocker Barron Architects, redbox architects 2017 and Arthouse Architects. Several projects which used Wellington and Auckland architects also won awards.

What is an architect?

The term architect has a specific, legal definition. By law, a person may call themselves an architect only if they are ‘registered’ as such by the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB). The NZRAB is a statutory body that sets and supervises professional standards. It determines whether graduates, architects who have been trained and who might be registered overseas, and people with other relevant qualifications and experience are entitled to call themselves ‘architects’ in New Zealand. If the NZRAB decides a person meets the criteria for registration, that person may legally call him- or herself an architect. If the NZRAB decides a person does not meet the criteria for registration, that person may not legally call themselves an architect. You can find out whether a person is an architect by going to the NZRAB website and checking the list of all New Zealandregistered architects. Note that the NZIA and NZRAB are different entities. The NZIA is an organisation representing New Zealand architects (and architecture students and graduates). The NZRAB is the statutory body charged with upholding professional standards.

What does an architect do?

An architect’s work is driven by technical skill, practical understanding, analytical ability and creative flair. They work, with you, to help transform environments for the better. Architects design a range of structures, including houses, apartment buildings, schools, libraries and commercial buildings.

NZIA architects have access to ongoing professional development and training opportunities and support in policy developments and practice issues, and projects come under regular peer scrutiny with the annual NZIA awards ... Some architects are generalists, working across a range of projects of different types and scales, while others are specialists, designing for healthcare, education or the workplace. Some architects specialise in heritage, others undertake work in the public realm, designing bridges or public transport networks and shared open spaces. No matter where or what they work on, architects are concerned with the ways buildings integrate with the environment within which they sit. An architect’s work is essentially driven by four fundamental elements: technical skill, practical understanding, analytical ability and creativity.

Winning projects

The 2020 NZIA Awards shortlist included all the winners (see below) plus several other amazing local projects. These were: • Housing category: Elliott Architects for the Ruby Bay Home; Hamish Shaw Architects and Canopy Landscape Architects for the Corner House • Hospitality category: Elipse Architecture and Gensler for the Air New Zealand Nelson Airport lounge • Public Architecture category: Jerram Tocker Barron Architects for the Stoke Community and Sports Centre Next month’s issue will feature more about some of the winning and shortlisted projects.

LOCAL 2020 WINNERS WERE: Nelson Airport Terminal Studio of Pacific Architecture, Wellington, Commercial Architecture Award Pic’s Peanut Butter World Jerram Tocker Barron Architects, Commercial Architecture and Best Colour Award St Joseph’s School, Nelson, New Classroom Block Create Architects, Education Award

Axe House Architecture Plus, Housing Award Kaiteriteri Family Bach redbox architects 2017, Housing Award Vineyard House Arthouse Architects, Housing Award

Saltwater Creek Bridge Jerram Tocker Barron Architects, Public Architecture Award

Queens Garden Toilet Block Jerram Tocker Barron Architects, Small Project Architecture Award

The Quays Studio of Pacific Architecture, Public Architecture Award

Picot Bach Mitchell Stout Dodd Architects, Small Project Architecture Award

Betts Apartments Arthouse Architects, Housing Multi-unit Award

Photo: Oliver Weber Photography Photo: Thomas Seear-Budd

Photo: Jason Mann

Photo: Dominique White

Photo: Kate McPherson Photo: Sarah Rowlands

Why use an architect?

Creating your own building is a challenging but immensely rewarding journey. An architect is a valuable partner, providing conceptual and practical support that will make sure your project meets your needs. By choosing to engage with an architect you are choosing to tap into a wealth of technical knowledge, skill and creativity. Modern architectural practice is steeped in history but uses cutting-edge technology and procedures to create buildings that will endure and reward you well into the future. Good architecture is about responding to the needs of people and the environment. The decisions architects make can have farreaching effects. Buildings designed today will not only impact on today’s communities, but also on generations to come. In fact, every architect has a social responsibility to design buildings that not only consider the needs and enjoyment of the client, but also take into account the specifics of the site and surrounding environment and community. New Zealand architects are highly trained and passionate about their work. They uphold longstanding traditions of creativity, innovation and professional excellence. They also use the latest technology to craft enduring buildings that will reward those who use them well into the future. A good architect adds value to a project. An architect’s training, well-honed creative skills and broad technical knowledge allows From top: Clockwise - Pic’s Peanut Butter World; St Joseph’s School, Nelson, New Classroom Block; Axe House; Kaiteriteri Family Bach; Vineyard House; Betts Apartments 38

them to design buildings that can be integrated into the built and natural environments at every scale and budget. The architect’s role is to guide their client through design, planning and construction, to bring value for money through design and to provide peace of mind.

Choosing an architect

A good working relationship with an architect is the vital ingredient for building project success. When selecting an architect you should allow plenty of time for research so that the architect you choose has a design approach and practice philosophy that suits you. Personal recommendations are invaluable when choosing an architect. If your friends have used one, talk to them about their experiences. Their insights into the design and build process could help you plan your project. Look online for things you like; architects’ websites often have comprehensive portfolios of work. Social media can also be helpful; many architects are on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Instagram. Their accounts can help provide insights into the types of work they undertake – and construction photos can help you become more familiar with the stages of design and the building process. The NZIA has a ‘Find an Architect’ tool so people can research architects in their region. When you have made a shortlist of architects whose work you like, touch base with them and discuss your project. Talk about your objectives and ask about their range of services, typical fees and how and when payments are made. Once you have decided who you want to work with, it’s time to begin an in-depth conversation.

Proud to have worked on the Ruby Bay home We offer Nelson Tasman the best audio visual experience & services Design, sales & installation Home cinema Multi-zone audio & visual Media streaming Home wireless network Automated lighting, blinds & awnings

14 Elms Street, Wakatu Estate, Nelson | sales@theaudiophile.nz | 03 544 0473 SHOWROOM OPEN â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mon to Fri 8:30am to 5:00pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Other times are available by prior arrangement

Shop online with free delivery @ www.theaudiophile.nz

Photo: Virginia Woolf

Photo: Jason Mann

Photo: Lucas K Doolan. Studio Millspace Photo: Supplied

Formed in 1966, Architectural Designers New Zealand (ADNZ) is a leading professional body for architects and architectural designers. Start preparing a brief, a wish list that should encompass both specific requirements and aspirations. Be prepared to answer a lot of questions – the design will be the result of the information you provide. Typical questions will be about your motivations. Why are you embarking on this project? What are your expectations and what is your approximate budget? What are the ‘must-haves’? Stylistically, what do you like and dislike? You can ask your architect to write a reverse brief – their understanding of your needs – to make sure you’re on the same page. Amend and clarify this document – but don’t hurry. Getting it right from the start saves time and helps ensure the project’s progression is smooth. Over the succeeding weeks, the brief generally evolves as you and your architect focus on how you will use a space now and into the future. At the briefing stage, you should also have a clear understanding of your budget. Get feedback on this – your architect won’t be able to give you an exact cost but he or she should be able to provide a rough estimate based on past experience. It’s important you have a realistic idea of what you can achieve. If you don’t, your architect can help adjust your brief and maximise the design to suit. Depending on the type of project and the site, it’s also worth remembering there may also be a need for engineers or surveyors to become involved, which can affect the overall cost. Architects are responsible for building design but are often involved throughout the duration of the project, handling project management and administration right through to interior or landscape design, defect checks and handover. 40

At the start of any project, before any drawings or specifications are prepared, you and your architect will define, in writing, the exact nature of the architect’s involvement. Your architect will outline the services they offer and seek an indication of how you want to engage them. Once you have decided, you will sign an Agreement for Architect’s Services that will outline the scope of work and services, how fees and costs are charged and any special considerations.

Architectural Designers NZ

Formed in 1966, Architectural Designers New Zealand (ADNZ) is a leading professional body for architects and architectural designers. A community of design professionals who share a passion for design and connecting people with architecture, the ADNZ offers support, guidance, training, promotion and networking events to its members who are located the length and breadth of the country. The ADNZ considers its members to be strong champions of New Zealand design and architecture. Members are specialists in building design and construction, undertake residential and commercial projects, hold recognised professional qualifications or relevant experience, undertake compulsory professional development, have professional indemnity insurance and adhere to competency standards plus a code of ethics. All members of ADNZ are independently skills-assessed and held accountable to ADNZ’s high industry standards. This is a rigorous and thorough process and confirms that ADNZ members represent quality, competency and peace of mind. To retain membership, members must meet and maintain a set number of Continued Professional Development (CPD) points, ensuring that they are up to date with the latest technology and techniques. Visit www.nzia.co.nz/connect/working-with-an-architect and www.adnz.org.nz

From top: Clockwise - Saltwater Creek Bridge; The Quays; Queens Garden Toilet Block; Picot Bach

AWARD-WINNING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Proud to have developed and delivered the Betts Apartments

Committed to engaging and sustainable design for

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • RETAIL

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

P: 022 082 8633 www.bartonarchitecture.co.nz

Made in Nelson

HÖGLUND GLASS STUDIO & GALLERY Locally made blown glass and jewellery by artists Ola & Marie Höglund and their family. Makers of Nelson art glass since 1982.

VISITORS WELCOME – OPEN DAILY 10 TO 4 52 Lansdowne Road, Appleby, Richmond • Ph 03 544 6500

www.hoglundartglass.com ™

The exclusive dealer for Compass Pools New Zealand for the Top of the South Family-owned and operated for over 50 years. Aquanort – your local pool and spa specialists.

12 Timandra Place, Blenheim T 03 578 5928 norton@aquanort.co.nz | www.aquanort.co.nz

Local boutique shopping at 191 Hardy St, Nelson. Ph: 03 970 0232 or shop online www.louisedouglas.com

Fashion on high PHOTOGRAPHER, AIMEE JULES S T Y L I S T, A M Y MC L E OD MODEL, BIANCA WILLIAMS OF PORTFOLIO MODELS HAIR, MICHELE LINES HAIR DESIGNER M A K E - U P, K Y L A T I N E T T I B E A U T Y A H U G E T H A N K Y O U T O S T O N E F LY L O D G E F O R T H E U S E O F FA L C O N B R A E V I L L A FOR THE PHOTO SHOOT

Dress, Palm Boutique Shoes, Taylorsâ&#x20AC;¦we love shoes Earrings, bangles and rings, Louise Douglas Jewellery

Top, skirt, bag, bangle, necklace and earrings, Shine Shoes, Taylorsâ&#x20AC;Śwe love shoes 44

Top, Palm Boutique Suit pant and blazer, Hartleys Ring, bangles and necklace, RoCS

Top, jacket and skirt, Hartleys Boots, Taylorsâ&#x20AC;Śwe love shoes Necklace and rings, RoCS 46

Top, skirt and blazer, Palm Boutique Shoes, Taylors â&#x20AC;¦we love shoes Earrings, necklaces and rings, RoCS

Dress, Robyn Reynolds Jacket, Hartleys Boots, Taylorsâ&#x20AC;Śwe love shoes Earrings, necklace and leather bracelets, Louise Douglas Jewellery

4b Kotua Place, Stoke

www.jellicoe.co.nz

Proud stockists of LOLA LEE Shop 8, Dowsons Arcade, Montgomery Sq, Nelson Call 03 548 0258 • www.vibehairandbeauty.co.nz

Robyn Reynolds Boutique Women’s Clothing Classic shapes & personalised fits Designed & made in Nelson

LATEST FROM EUROPE Tate Mod - Denim Milled Also available in Clay $179.90

Sempre Di 200 Sigaro Suede $299

Ample - Hot Pink Also available in Black $179.90

Sempre Di 900 Black Suede $299

Pointer - Tangerine Suede $169.90

weloveshoes.co.nz

NEW LOCATION – 12 Church St, Nelson www.robynreynolds.co.nz

2 GREAT LOCATIONS 245 Trafalgar St, Nelson 211 Queen St, Richmond

MY HOME

Careful planning creates hilltop beauty

B Y B R E N D A W E B B | P H O T O G R A P H Y D AV I D C H A D W I C K

erched on the hills above Stoke with spectacular sea and city views, this eye-catching, high-tech home was built to a brief of stimulating selfawareness and celebrating life. The owners bought the section 15 years ago at a time when there were only two houses in the street. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were the first to buy and last to build,â&#x20AC;? says the owner. Taking time meant the design, particularly the floorplan and materials, all had very careful consideration with the panoramic views in particular being top consideration. Right from the start the views were key with the owners not wanting any industrial outlook or interference from overhead powerlines, and likewise wanting their house to nestle and blend into the hillside. Once the site was selected the owners invited redbox Architects to come up with a design. That design consists of two 45-degree wings. The 240sq m house is split into several levels which was partly dictated by the steep site and partly by the ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; interpretation of how having different rooms on varying levels represents distinctive elements.

1. Perched high above Nelson with panoramic views 2. Soothing neutral colours dominate throughout 3. Polished timber floors in the living room 4. Sleek dark cabinetry in the kitchen 5. The welcoming entry area 6. Varying levels of the living areas linked with timber steps 7. Accoya timber (pressure treated pine) on the exterior entry

The owners gained inspiration from the work of psychologist Carl Jung for the design ...

Inspirational The build process was fluid and done level by level which enabled fine tuning of the design as each level was completed. “Consideration was then given to how the spaces and volumes would relate to each other, and as desirable new features were identified several variations to the building consent were obtained,” says the owner. The owners gained inspiration from the work of psychologist Carl Jung for the design with the multiple levels of the house a representation of his model of the human personality. For example, the upper two levels consist of a garage, workshop, entry lobby, office and toilet, therefore most closely linked to the outside world and are for creating and going forth. The middle two levels are the lounge, music studio and dining where use is the sharing of ideas, concepts, food and appreciation of the arts. The lower two levels are representations of the deepest and most intimate aspects of the human personality and are for renewal of the spirit through sleeping and cleansing. “Extending from the lowest level the garden descends in a series of terraces and these are a representation of our ancestors – those who have gone before and to whom we owe a debt of gratitude,” says the owner. “All these spaces are designed to engender a sense of safety where, at our most vulnerable, we can be sensitive to the deepest part of our psyche.”

8. The tiered house makes the most of the steeply sloping site 9. A light and sunny north-facing bedroom 10. Spectacular outdoor living areas with panoramic views 52

S OL A R T H E RM O DY N A M I C H O T WAT E R • Reliable hot water 24/7 • All year, all weather THE WAY TEST SMAR

AT T O HTEE R WA

• Uses clean renewable energy • Up to 85% savings in water heating year after year • Maintenance free • Future proofs your home • Domestic and commercial

Working with our region’s award-winning builders Since our inception, insite has been recognised as an industry leader. We have placed ourselves at the forefront of aluminium window and door design, resulting in a portfolio that reflects our pursuit of excellence.

Proud to supply solar thermodynamic domestic hot water and underfloor heat source for 31 Citrus Lane.

03 540 3003 info@taec.co.nz

WWW.TAEC.CO.NZ

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

insite

With such astonishing views large windows and stacking bifold doors were integral to the design, along with several sheltered outdoor entertaining areas. 11

The house is designed and built as a series of spaces rather than designated single-use rooms and such versatility allows for them to be interchangeable. For example, as the owners’ needs change over time the music studio and office could convert to bedrooms. The layout overall mirrors the human body’s chakras or energy centres, interpreted in a practical and logical design, says the owner. With the house being on a prominent hillside position aesthetics were important, particularly cladding, therefore natural timber and concrete were chosen. Copper tinted vertically aligned Accoya timber (pressuretreated pine) blends beautifully with the landscape.

Neutral colours Comfort was important so walls are much thicker than building code to provide good insulation. Heating is through underfloor heating and a gas fire in the main lounge. Hot water and underfloor heating is supplied by a thermodynamic system provided by The Alternative Energy Company. This consists of refrigerant-filled roof panels which can extract heat even from snow, so they work on the coldest and greyest days and even at night. The internal colour scheme has been kept neutral so as not to distract from the spectacular views with the striking charcoal kitchen a focal point. Floors are polished eucalypt (spotted gum). With such astonishing views large windows and stacking bifold doors were integral to the design, along with several sheltered outdoor entertaining areas.

A smart house The house is equipped with a KNS Smart System installed by Ease Integration which can be activated via a phone app from anywhere in the world, or by voice, iPad and physical panels. This system is fully programmable and can detect someone approaching, lower the bollards, open the garage door, lower blinds, turn lights and heating off and on and even start the owner’s choice of music. The house was built as a family home and was many years in the planning. The owners are delighted with the finished product saying it is beautifully warm, has tremendous views, is in a great neighbourhood and very quiet. “We couldn’t ask for more from an urban home.”

11. Large windows provide sun and views in the bedroom 12. Textured tiles feature in the bathroom 13. A simple and stylish bathroom 14. The separate garage features Accoya timber 54

Holiday at home?

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s create it.

Award-winning garden design James Wheatley 021 528603 | info@landform.co.nz | www.landform.co.nz

WELLBEING

Adding iron to your diet B Y E M I LY H O P E

ron: What is it? Who needs it? And what happens if you’re not getting enough? Iron is an essential mineral needed for optimal health and wellbeing. It has three main roles within the body, including:

1. Carrying oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.

2. Supporting optimal immunity. Interestingly, the cells that help us to fight infections require adequate amounts of iron.

… one in 14 women is low in iron and over a third of girls aged 15-18 years do not meet their daily iron needs.

3. Producing energy! The internal process involved in releasing energy from the food that we eat requires iron.

While iron is needed by everyone throughout life, there are certain life stages that require higher amounts. These are: • Infants, children and adolescents due to rapid growth • Pregnant women due to increased blood volume as well as needing extra to build baby’s iron stores • Females who are menstruating. Blood loss is a major determinant of iron status. Those that have regular blood loss will have higher iron needs to cover this loss. • Athletes and very active people who have higher energy and nutrient requirements due to high training loads. Despite the importance of iron for optimal health, many people do not get enough. The last national nutrition survey here in New Zealand revealed that levels of iron deficiency have more than doubled over the last 12 years. Worryingly, eight out of 10 toddlers don’t meet their recommended daily intake of iron, 14 percent of our children under two are deficient, one in 14 women is low in iron and over a third of girls aged 15-18 years do not meet their daily iron needs. Above: Iron rich baked beef pasta 56

There are many symptoms that could indicate you may be low in iron: • • • • •

Feeling lethargic or tired Easily irritable Susceptible to illnesses/infection Feeling the cold easily Having trouble concentrating

If you identify with any of the above symptoms, you could potentially be low in iron. To find out for certain, you would need to see your doctor and organise a blood test. One way in which you can prevent iron deficiency or not getting enough is to enjoy a wide variety of iron-rich foods in both meals and snacks. Iron is found in both animal and plant foods. The predominant form of iron found in animal foods is called haem iron. Haem iron tends to be more efficiently absorbed by the body (around 25 percent) and its bioavailability is less affected by other factors. Non-haem iron is found in both animal and plant foods but is not absorbed as efficiently as haem iron (only about five percent is absorbed by the body). Its bioavailability tends to be more influenced by other foods eaten at the same time as well as the iron status of an individual. Rich food sources of haem include red meat such as beef and lamb, mussels and other seafood, organ meats and dark poultry meat. Non-haem iron can be found in foods such as dried fruit, eggs, vegetables, bread, legumes and cereals. There are many practical things you can do to maximise iron absorption.

These include:

1. Eating plenty of vitamin C-rich foods with your meals. Vitamin C helps the body to absorb non-haem iron non efficiently. Spaghetti bolognese is a perfect example of this working!

2. Enjoying a combination of animal and plant foods. When you eat these together the non-haem iron is made more bioavailable to the body by up to four times.

3. Aiming to enjoy red meat which is a rich source of haem iron a few times each week. Remember plant foods for optimal health too!

4. Drinking tea and coffee between meals rather than with a meal. The tannins in tea (and coffee too) can bind to iron in food and prevent the body from absorbing it efficiently. As a guide, drink tea or coffee at least an hour either side of meals. This year, World Iron Awareness Week runs from August 24 to August 30. It sets to raise awareness of the importance of iron for the body, how you can recognise signs that you may not be getting enough and most importantly, what you can do to ensure you are getting enough iron through the food that you choose to eat! For more information, please visit www.ironweek.co.nz . www.hopenutrition.org.nz

Breast Surgery Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift and Reduction Breast surgery can improve your self-confidence by enlarging breasts, restoring breast size and shape after pregnancy or weight loss, correcting symmetry and Level 2 - 105 Collingwood Street reshaping disproportionately large breasts. P: 03 548 1909 | E: nelsonplasticsurgery@outlook.co.nz Visitwhich nelsonplasticsurgery.co.nz for more Please contact us to discuss surgery is best for youinformation

We also offer the following procedures: Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) • Facelift and neck lift Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) • Otoplasty (ears) Liposuction • Skin cancers • Skincare treatment

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

LOWER QUEEN STREET SPECIALISTS EXTRA ROOMS AVAILABLE

The highly successful and high-profile Lower Queen Street Health Centre now has extra specialist rooms available. These are available for sessional or full-time lease on a short-term or long-term basis. These rooms have been fitted out to a top quality and have a shared reception and waiting area in a common managed suite. The suite also has a modern procedure room available on a sessional basis. The rooms are ideal for medical specialists and other health professionals, but are also well suited to professionals outside the health sector. Expressions of interest to Janette Haunch 027 881 3481 – office@lqsspecialists.co.nz

MY KITCHEN

Espresso and chocolate banana cakes Our love for superb local coffee found its way into these beautiful banana cakes, made with spelt flour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an ancient whole grain. Add this to your winter weekend baking list; your family will love you for it. BY MADAME LUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S KITCHEN

Serves 4 Ingredients 1/4 cup good quality olive oil 1/4 cup maple syrup 1 egg 1 1/2 medium bananas, mashed 3tbsp espresso coffee 1/2tsp cinnamon 1/4 cup good quality dark chocolate, roughly chopped 1/2tsp baking soda 3/4 cup wholemeal spelt flour Method

1. Preheat oven to 180c fan bake and grease a nine-hole mini cake tin pan or four mini loaf tins.

2. Whisk together the olive oil and maple syrup until well incorporated.

3. Add the egg, mashed bananas and

espresso coffee and stir until combined with the maple syrup and olive oil.

4. Add the cinnamon, chocolate and baking soda and stir through with the liquids.

5. Lastly, lightly fold through the flour and be careful not to overmix.

6. Transfer to greased mini cake tins or loaf tins.

7. Bake for half an hour or until cooked through.

8. Serve warm with mascarpone. www.madamelus.co.nz 58

C R E AT I V E C H E F

International experience combined with local products B Y A L I S TA I R H U G H E S

ichael McMeeken, executive chef at Stonefly Lodge and Falcon Brae Villa, sampled a full and diverse menu of world-famous chefs and restaurants to develop and perfect his skills, before returning to New Zealand. The boy from Southland, who originally considered a career in architecture, had his life changed forever when he enrolled in a cooking course instead. “I loved it and started working in cafés and restaurants after that.” Michael’s new-found passion saw him progress from the local campus cafeteria to Auckland’s prestigious O’Connell St Bistro. “It was a very intense kitchen and I learned very fast; my first real trial by fire in the kitchen.” When the sous chef loaned Michael The French Laundry Cookbook by chef Thomas Keller, the world of international cuisine opened up for him. “I completely changed my focus and decided that I needed to get to America, and I needed to work with Keller.” With typical Kiwi spontaneity, Michael made his way to The French Laundry restaurant in San Francisco’s Napa Valley, only to be told that he needed more experience. A ‘plan B’ was needed fast, so he eventually found himself in New York. ‘If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere’ as the song goes, and a successful interview with renowned chef Daniel Boulud proved to be an important turning point. Above: Executive chef Michael McMeeken

“I tried to learn as much as I could and Home again worked 100-plus hours a week. I just lived Having finally reached that peak, he decided and breathed the whole kitchen life.” to move to Nelson with his American It was while Michael was pondering his partner and new son, to be near family. Now next step that a colleague mentioned Gordon home, Michael found his career was to reach Ramsay, and he decided that London was yet another pivotal point when he responded venue like no other! Falcon where he wanted to be. Michael work-trialledA wedding to a chef vacancy at Stonefly Lodge.Brae Villa is perched on 360-degree views over the surrounding mountains at Ramsay’s famous Petrus restaurant at the “The kind of food that we do here works and the majes Luxury accommodation and dining facilities, ideal for small intim end of 2003, and was awarded a full-time perfectly with my training – in every part of the occasions. Secured gate access and helipad provide for a very exc position soon afterwards. kitchen. For a five-course dinner, you need to “That was another level above, again, as be able to produce desserts equally as exciting you can imagine,” he laughs. as your canapés, your starters or your main “Essentially, what you see on TV is what course. It is a great challenge and an exciting you get with Gordon; when he comes into opportunity, I’m thoroughly enjoying it.” the kitchen you know he’s there.” After a 20 year international career, After four years Michael returned to Michael still describes his own style as New York, his original ambition to work ever-evolving. with Thomas Keller never forgotten. By now, “I believe it’s based on my Keller had established his three-Michelin philosophy of cooking. Fresh, locally star restaurant Per se, and after another work sourced ingredients, from the surrounding trial Michael’s dream was finally fulfilled. forests, and our own on-site gardens, are “It was exactly what I thought it would always going to be the heroes on the dish. I be, the pinnacle of my career. I set myself just use the techniques I’ve learnt to make that goal and got there.” it unique.”

N EWEST LUXURY W VEN UE IN THE REG

NEWEST LUXURY WEDDING VENUE IN THE REGION

Ph: 03 522 447 E: info@falconb www.falconbra Special ‘RECOVERY PACKAGES’ available for locals and New Zealand residents.

Indulge – You deserve it! Ph: 03 522 4479 E: info@falconbraevilla.co.nz

www.falconbraevilla.co.nz

Ph: 03 522 4479 E: info@falconbraevilla.co.nz www.falconbraevilla.co.nz

Special ‘RECOVERY PACKAGES’ available for locals and New Zealand residents.

Indulge – You deserve it!

Photo: Jessica Jones

WINE

Bubbles and the ballet BY SOPHIE PREECE

inemaking requires the right amount of science, with the right amount of art, says Clive Jones, who seldom regrets packing in a job as a chemist to satisfy an intrigue with wine. That was the early 1990s, and by 1998 Clive was winemaker at Nautilus Estate in Marlborough, when the company had a shareholding in a contract winery along with two winery staff, an office, a house and two vineyards. In the 22 years since, the family-owned company has built two facilities – a pinot cellar and white winery – and expanded to six estate vineyards over 80 hectares, while remaining a small, and highly respected player. It’s never been boring, says Clive. “There’s always been something on the horizon that is interesting to get your teeth into.” But some things haven’t changed, with several contract growers who’ve been on the books for more than 20 years, and Above: Ballerina Antonia Hewitt en pointe in the Nautilus Estate barrel room 60

three who have grown for Nautilus for a quarter of a century. Clive has watched the New Zealand wine industry mature and gain confidence over the years, while being schooled by every season. “In this business you go through the same cycle every year – through harvest, fermentation, blending, bottling, promotion, sales and marketing. But every year is different and every year you learn something,” he says. Those lessons have helped Nautilus wines become known for a level of restraint and elegance, “which is what we like”, says Clive. “We don’t make big brash showy wines.” These days he sees winemaking as a craft, balancing technique and flair. “If you take a purely scientific approach to winemaking, the wines will be boring. But if you take a purely artistic approach it is likely to be haphazard.” It’s a little like the Royal New Zealand Ballet, which Nautilus sponsors. “When you look at ballet there’s a lot of rigour and precision. But ultimately it’s an interpretation.”

Clive’s picks: Nautilus Marlborough Cuvee NV. A wine Nautilus is famous for, and the company is “tremendously proud of”, says Clive of the Nautilus Cuvee. “It’s won just about every accolade it can.” Pinot noir

“When you look at ballet there’s a lot of rigour and precision. But ultimately it’s an interpretation.” CLIVE JONES

makes up 75 percent of the blend, with chardonnay a quarter slice of the Cuvee, giving it a unique composition, says Clive. “Our house style has always been a pinotdominant blend.” It has a minimum of 36 months on yeast lees, which is double the minimum requirement. “The pinot noir gives it structure and the time of yeast lees gives it complexity.” The panel behind the just-released New Zealand Fine Wines list is certainly impressed, once again placing the Cuvee among New Zealand’s top wines.

Nautilus Chardonnay 2018. This sits ‘under the radar’ in the Nautilus portfolio but it’s the wine most Nautilus staff have in the fridge at all times, says Clive. The main portion of grapes for the wine comes from the company’s Renwick vineyard, and has done so since 1989. Grapes are hand-picked, pressed direct to barrel and fermented with indigenous yeast, creating a modern style of chardonnay with complexity and freshness, says Clive.

BREWS

Brewer started out in Blenheim BY MARK PREECE

or me, winter means bracing tramps to alpine ridges, mountain bike rides on muddy trails, and evenings by a roaring fire, savouring a rich, dark brew. So it was good to see a strong Marlborough result at the New World Beer & Cider Awards stout and porter winners’ section, with Renaissance and 8 Wired taking gold, alongside Gisborne’s Sunshine Brewing. Renaissance is a Blenheim success story, of course, but 8 Wired was also born here. Søren Eriksen had been homebrewing for a few years when he joined Renaissance in 2008, working for a year as an intern before stepping up to brewer. “In my spare time, they generously let us rent tank space from them, and so contract brewing enabled 8 Wired to begin,” he says. “I had a good time down there,” Søren adds. “But Monique, my wife, has family up north, and once we had kids, we decided to move the operation up here.” Its production brewery is now located in Warkworth, where it also packages its beer for distribution. Søren recently opened a taproom in Matakana, which also doubles as the barrel-ageing room. “We believe it’s the biggest barrelageing programme in the southern

hemisphere,” Søren says. The room caters for around 200 barrels of beer, “and allows us to take our sour beer programme to another level”. But I’m more interested in his award-winning iStout, which he’s been brewing for at least 10 years. “At 10% ABV, it’s the perfect winter warmer,” he says, and I’d have to agree.

Top brewers New World Beer & Cider Awards Chair of Judges Michael Donaldson says the winning list exemplifies what the local brewing industry has to offer, and the country’s beer and cider lovers have plenty to get excited about. “These awards are open to entries from all over

“We believe it’s one of the biggest barrel-ageing programmes in the southern hemisphere.” S Ø R E N E R I KS E N

From top: Clockwise - Søren Eriksen working his magic to brew 8 Wired

the world, but New Zealand brewers proved their might once again. Almost all the Top 30 winners are New Zealandmade and owned, being crafted in all corners of the country by some of our best brewing talents.” All the Top 30 beers and ciders are now available nationwide through New World supermarkets, providing a welltimed boost for the winning businesses and a great opportunity for shoppers to support local. Here are a few deep dark brews you’ll want to shine a light on this winter:

8 Wired iStout, 10% ABV. They say: The ‘i’ might be lower case, but beware – this is a capital beer. Brimming with luscious roasted coffee and chocolate malt flavours, iStout is balanced by a brisk bitterness and bold hoppy freshness. As with all our beers, this beer is a very modern interpretation of this classic style.

Renaissance Elemental Porter, 6% ABV. They say: Originally the beer of choice for workers in London’s produce markets, Elemental Porter is brewed in the modern ‘robust’ style; a rich full-bodied brew with hints of chocolate which gives way to a cleansing hop-driven finish.

Sunshine Brewing Stout, 5.0% ABV. They say: Velvety blend of chocolate, coffee and vanilla, a bittersweet flavour that demands to be savoured.

D E S T I NAT I O N M A R L B O R O U G H

Fun, food & adventure for the whole family The multitude of amazing attractions and activities across the Top of the South provide so many exciting opportunities for day trips, long weekends and extended holidays, especially in Marlborough. Ivy Lynden passes on a few suggestions.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY MARLBOROUGHNZ

he name alone conjures up visions of wining, dining, exploring and relaxing. I’m talking about marvellous Marlborough with its award-winning wineries, easy-access waterways, relaxed artisan vibe and close proximity. Whether you reside in Nelson Tasman or in Marlborough, exploring the region has never been easier with so many willing hosts and special deals on offer, plus numerous free activities. If you live in Marlborough, you’re already there with many of the activities and places less than an hour’s drive from the main centre of Blenheim. From Nelson to Blenheim allow 90 minutes’ travel time, although there’s plenty to see and do on the way so it could easily fill a day. An ice cream in Rai Valley, brunch or lunch in Havelock (the green shell mussel capital of New Zealand), a spot of wine tasting on the way down Rapaura’s Golden Mile, chocolate treats from Makana Confections and much more besides, before you even reach Blenheim. Marlborough’s tourism organisation recently carried out a survey of locals to determine what they thought were the province’s top attractions. Ideas flooded in and were whittled down to the top 50 must-dos. I couldn’t have put it better myself.

If you live in Marlborough, you’re already there with many of the activities and places less than an hour’s drive from the main centre of Blenheim. 62

In no particular order, the top 50 to check out or do are: 1. Mountain bike one of the trails at the Wither Hills Farm Park 2. Do a day or multi-day walk on the Queen Charlotte Track 3. Hire bikes, pick up a wine map and tour cellar doors 4. Visit, stay or play at Lochmara Lodge 5. Tackle the Link Pathway between Havelock and Picton 6. Visit the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre WWI and WWII exhibitions

Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre

Photo: Rod Bardsley

Queen Chalotte Track

Brancott Estate

Havelock mussels

Bay of Many Coves Resort

7. Mountain bike the Queen Charlotte Track (in season)

15. Walk from Shelley Beach to Bobs Bay

8. Visit boat-only access parts of the Sounds on a mail

16. Go dolphin and seal spotting in the Marlborough Sounds

boat cruise

9. Do the circle loop track and then do some bombs at Pelorus

17. Mountain bike up the Snout Track and check out the views over Picton and the Marlborough Sounds

River Scenic Reserve

10. Camp the night at Marfells Beach conservation campsite 11. Do the Greenshellâ&#x201E;˘ Mussel Cruise in Havelock and taste the

18. Grab your mates or the family and stay in a holiday home or lodge in a secluded bay in the Sounds

19. Tackle a climb up Mt Vernon and Mt Stokes

delicious Marlborough mussels

12. Water taxi to visit Ship Cove/Meretoto and Motuara Island 13. Walk the 3.8km circle Grovetown Lagoon track 14. Walk up Victoria Domain and the Snout Track and take in the spectacular views

Nydia Track, Pelorus Sound

20. View Marlborough from a scenic flight with Pelorus Air 21. Get a pie from the Burleigh, try them all to find your favourite 22. Eat Greenshellâ&#x201E;˘ Mussels in Havelock 23. Take a guided wine tasting around the Marlborough wineries

Forrest Estate

Punga Cove

Kayaking the Marlborough Sounds

Fishing in The Sounds

24. Watch the tide turn at d’Urville Island and French Pass

33. Head to the farmers’ market in Blenheim and try local produce

25. Take a country track like the Emerald Pools at

34. Eat dumplings by the outdoor fire at Grovetown Hotel

Pelorus River

26. Cruise the Marlborough Sounds by boat

35. Enjoy a wine tasting and the swinging chairs at Cloudy Bay Wines

27. Climb the Tirohanga Track and take in the views of Picton

36. Do the walk from Rarangi Beach to Monkey Bay

28. Visit the boutique shops and cafés around Picton

37. Have lunch at a seaside resort

29. Visit Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary

38. Walk on one of the many Wither Hills walking tracks

30. Stay at Punga Cove and eat pizza at the Boatshed Cafe & Bar

39. Catch a fish in the Marlborough Sounds

31. Stay at d’Urville Island Wilderness Resort

40. Get delicious strawberries from Hedgerows Strawberries

32. Take a guided sea kayak trip in the Marlborough Sounds and

41. Visit Makana Chocolate Factory for some

explore the many secluded bays

Cougar Line, Marlborough Tour Company

delicious goodies

Cloudy Bay winery

Photo: BareKiwi

Photo: Mike Heydon

Kaipupu Point

Winery lunch

GRAND RE-OPENING - MONDAY 3 AUGUST 2020 -

CBD Café is re-opening with a NEW name, CBD Eatery and a NEW larger location. A bright, modern food and dining experience awaits and the menu includes all the same CBD food favourites, plus more! Owners Mike & Tania Godsall also want to thank the local community for the amazing support during this period of renovation. They look forward to once again serving Marlborough with exceptional customer service and fresh food made with love, that will truly satisfy, delight and inspire. See you there for breakfast from 7am, Monday 3rd August, 2020

E-Ko Tours

42. Visit Seumus’ Irish Bar in Picton for dinner and a beer 43. Visit Return to Eden Gallery for some local arts and crafts 44. Try from a selection of 80+ wines on tap at The Wine Station 45. Explore the Edwin Fox Museum for some maritime history

ew Our pnot s

41 Queen Street, Blenheim Phone 03 577 7300 or find us on

THE EDWIN FOX Ship & Museum

46. Visit Blumine Island in the Queen Charlotte Sound 47. Water taxi to Mistletoe Bay and walk up the Onahau Lookout 48. Take a cruise to spot wildlife in the Marlborough Sounds

A great all-weather activity Open daily from 9am • Dunbar Wharf, Picton Foreshore

49. Have fish and chips on the Picton Foreshore

03 573 6868 • info@edwinfoxship.nz

50. Visit a winery restaurant for a long relaxing lunch

Photo: Mike Heydon

For more visit: www.marlboroughnz.com/brilliantbackyard

www.edwinfoxsociety.com

/EdwinFoxMaritimeMuseum

Open daily from 10 - 4 FREE on Saturdays 26 Arthur Baker Place, Blenheim 03 578 1712 www.marlboroughmuseum.org.nz Picton foreshore

Photo: Dominique White

SPORTS

Water is her world BY PHIL BARNES

ixteen-year-old swimmer Abbey Smale has enjoyed an outstanding year, winning several major events. The Garin College student won the New Zealand 16 open-water championships in January. The 7.5km race was one of two qualifying events for the world junior championships scheduled in August. Abbey was also overall winner in the national Banana Boat Ocean Swim Series both in age group and in the open women’s divisions, and placed fourth overall among both men and women. Races were held on Auckland’s North Shore, in Wellington, Akaroa and Nelson – and she won every time. She also took out the Port Nelson Sea Swim Series for the second year running.

Above: Abbey Smale Opposite page: Abbey, centre, takes the winner’s podium 66

Abbey had shown signs of her potential the year before when she won the Nelson leg of the Banana Boat Ocean Swim – the only race in the series she entered. In the pool, meanwhile, she won two NZ titles, which resulted in selection for three national training camps. In any normal year such success would have resulted in her competing internationally. Fate has not been on her side, however. She was a strong contender for the world junior championships in the Seychelles in August, but they were cancelled due to the corona virus pandemic. Natural calamity had also intervened last December when Abbey travelled to Sydney with the New Zealand team to compete in an openwater race in Sydney. They had a training swim the night before – then smoke rolled in from the Australian bushfires. Event cancelled.

Abbey says that by the morning of the race the smoke had become so bad most swimmers were suffering from headaches. The Kiwis returned home on the first available flights.

Strict coaching regime Such cancellations are incredibly frustrating for a swimmer such as Abbey after her huge commitment to training – currently a daunting 22 hours a week, meaning 4.30am wake-up calls. She is under the tutelage of coach Daniel Bell, who swam for New Zealand in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics as well as the 2010 Commonwealth Games, where he won a silver medal in the 100m backstroke. On weekdays Abbey swims with the Tasman senior training squad from 5.15–7.15am, and on Saturdays from 5–7am. This is followed by an hour of gym work. She also trains four

“For our last two years in Motueka we needed to get up at 4am in order to get ready and get to Richmond in time for training.” M A R K S M A L E , A B B EY ’ S DA D

afternoons a week including a 90-minute swim followed by some running or what she terms ‘dry land work’, which mainly involves exercises in the gym. Abbey, currently in Year 12 at Garin, has to juggle all this training around her schoolwork. She plans to continue at school next year and then hopes to study sport and recreation at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.

Despite the huge workload Abbey shows no obvious sign of fatigue. She says she manages to juggle sport and academic work without any major problems. “The teachers have been really good as they know I’m training, but I manage to keep up with the work.” Her father Mark, who also takes part in the Port Nelson Sea Swim Series as well as being a competitive mountain biker, says Abbey’s training schedule has become slightly easier to manage since the family moved from Motueka to Richmond three years ago. “For our last two years in Motueka we needed to get up at 4am in order to get ready and get to Richmond in time for training.” Like so many athletes, Abbey struggled to maintain her high standards of fitness during lockdown. Not only were the swimming pools closed but under Level Four restrictions people weren’t allowed to swim in the sea. “Our coach sent us dry land programmes to work on, but I still lost a lot of fitness.”

Photo: Pete Gibbs

A juggling act

When the country moved to Level Three, sea swims were on again – but by then the water had become unpleasantly cold. When Abbey and the rest of her squad were finally back in the pool again after a two-month break, “it felt strange”, she says. So what motivates her to train so hard? Abbey says she’s loved the water since taking part in a water safety course as a three-year-old. She gradually developed a passion for swimming,

With no chance of competing overseas due to international border closures, Abbey has had to adapt her plans. On the horizon are the national 880m and 1500m championships later this year in Auckland.

which became competitive six years ago when living in Motueka. “I joined the Motueka Swimming Club and took part in Friday night races, and also enjoyed swimming with the school.” That passion became far more serious about three years ago and she started targeting specific goals.

Looking ahead With no chance of competing overseas due to international border closures, Abbey has had to adapt her plans. On the horizon are the national 880m and 1500m championships later this year in Auckland. Longerterm, she is targeting further selection for the New Zealand swimming team and development camps.

W IN ELL N M EL A SO DE N Windows and Doors Supplied and Installed 113 Bolt Rd, Tahunanui, Nelson • Ph: 03 547 9649 • philip@rylocknelson.co.nz • www.rylocknelson.co.nz

SPORTS CLUBS

Hitting the netball courts

Photo: Alex Mahrla

Drawing players from as far afield as Golden Bay, netball in the Nelson Tasman region has the largest number of participants in any Nelson sport. Nelson Netball Centre Incorporated’s manager Jared Lock and board member Leanne Cook expand on the subject. What is the purpose of your group? Nelson Netball focuses on the delivery of netball and netball-related activities within the Nelson region. We cater for both females and males. We are a communityfocused organisation with the primary purpose of ‘Achieving Quality Netball Experiences Together’. Netball in Nelson was first played as women’s outdoor basketball in 1933 at Nelson College for Girls, with the team wearing gym slips and stockings. In 1953 Nelson Outdoor Basketball Association moved to courts at Para Para Road. From there the game grew both in numbers and in quality. Nelson Netball is now based at Sports House in Stoke and accommodates 47 schools and clubs. We are fortunate to have a state-ofthe-art five-court indoor stadium alongside our 13 quality outdoor netball courts.

How many members do you have? Including players, coaches, umpires, technical officials, managers and volunteers – 2500 plus. Aside from the standard netball competition, we run summer twilight and winter social leagues. These leagues provide for mixed teams and are run in Above: Rival Blue Diamonds v Waimea College netball game

the off- season. We also encourage and promote pathways for all our players through development programmes and representative opportunities. Coaches, managers, umpires and technical officials are also supported in their respective areas. We couldn’t be prouder of our netball community here in Nelson. Nelson Netball has worked alongside Netball Mainland and Netball New Zealand in hosting Tactix games, the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Super Club Competition, Nelson’s first Silver Ferns test match as well as New Zealand Secondary Schools, South Island Secondary Schools as well as other various regional and national tournaments. We have worked hard to ensure that netball is more accessible to more people this year with our latest initiative of the ‘Re-Use Your Shoes’ campaign where goodquality used shoes are recycled and passed on to players in need.

• Russell’s Curtains & Blinds Club & College Competition (Year 9 – Adults)

What age groups/ levels do you play at?

• Walking Netball, (Tuesday mornings 10.45am)

• Mother Earth futureFERNS (Year 1 – Year 8)

Visit www.nelsonnetball.co.nz

Open 7am to 7pm for all your rehab needs Call 548 1221 132 Collingwood Street, Nelson

• NBS Premier Netball Competition – College/Club (Top six teams in Nelson) • Walking Netball – all ages

When and where is netball played? • NBS Premier Netball Competition, Thursday evenings (6.15–8-30pm) at Saxton Stadium • Russell’s Curtains & Blinds Club & College Competition, Saturday (9.00am –4.00pm) inside the stadium and on the outdoor courts • Mother Earth futureFERNS Years 1–4, Tuesday/Wednesday (after school) Mother Earth futureFERNS Years 5–8, (Saturdays)

Photos by Alex Mahrla of the Rival Blue Diamonds v Waimea College netball game

P H O T O G R A P H I C E S S AY

MOTORING

New Venue will turn heads BY GEOFF MOFFETT

uyers of small SUVs are spoiled for choice and Hyundai has added to that happy dilemma with the launch of its latest vehicle, the Venue. At a starting price of $30k, it will hit the sweet spot for many new buyers. The Venue sticks to the basics; no turbocharged engine, no 7- or 8-speed gearbox, let alone a CVT (continuously variable transmission). And there are no engine options, no diesel, and no 4WD variant. Perhaps it’s this very simplicity – combined with an appealing presence – that is attracting buyers. One of the drawcards of this small SUV is its colour choices. Instead of the usual silver/grey/black/white/blue, there are stand-out colours such as Acid Yellow, Fiery Red, Denim and Lava Orange. With the Elite you get two-tone choices. Crusaders fans will go for Fiery Red with Phantom Black, but 10 other striking combinations are available. The Venue offers two choices; the Entry (yes, it is actually called that) for $29,990 and the Elite for another $4k. The mechanicals are the same: a 1.6-litre petrol engine with six-speed auto transmission and front-wheel drive.

Crusaders fans will go for Fiery Red with Phantom Black, but 10 other striking combinations are available. 70

The Entry gives you Hyundai’s ‘SmartSense’ safety package, including forward collision avoidance assist, lanekeeping system and driving aids such as rear-view camera, an electronic stability control suite and tyre-pressure monitoring.

Competent drive Each model has an eight-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and iPod compatibility. For the extra $4k, the Elite packs in blind spot-collision and rear cross-traffic alerts, ‘smart proximity’ key entry and lock, an uprated sound system and heated steering wheel, plus a beefed-up appearance with 17-inch (versus 15) alloys, front-grille inserts and better lighting, including LED rear and running lights. The static bending front lights are great for ‘seeing’ corner kerbs or a dark driveway entrance. Both models also offer – curiously for a two-wheel, front-drive vehicle – traction mode choices for snow, mud and sand. You also have three drive modes: comfort, eco and sport. The cabin is decently set up, especially with the premium cloth seats in the Elite, and there’s good headroom. The Venue has hit the ‘cool’ button with the metallic white or silver dash and console trim inside, which may not be to everyone’s taste. A big selling point for

the Venue, like other compact SUVs, is the easy entry and exit. Rear seats fold in a 60/40 split. On the road, the Venue is a very competent drive, with enough performance from the 90kw engine for a car that weighs a modest 1165kg. The Venue scored a four-star ANCAP safety rating. Overall fuel economy is an acceptable 7.2 l/100km. The Venue has stiff competition at this vehicle size and price point but will attract its fair share of buyers, particularly with that smart appearance.

Tech specs

Price:

$29,990 Venue Entry, $33,990 Elite

Power:

Four-cylinder, 1.6-litre, 16-valve overhead-cam petrol non-turbo, 90kw @ 6300rpm, 151Nm @ 4850rpm

Fuel:

Combined-cycle 7.2 l/100km

Carbon emissions:

165g/km

Vehicle courtesy of Bowater Hyundai

The all-new

T-Cross

The T-Cross range from

34,240

YEAR

WARRANTY

*Excludes on-road costs

ARTS

Lockdown FORCES at play BY JOHN DU FOUR | PHOTO DOMINIQUE WHITE

ne unexpected result of Covid-19 lockdowns the world over has been an unprecedented outpouring of human creativity. In the hands of dedicated career artists it has become a showcase of responses – as with award-winning Nelson installation artist, sculptor and painter, Josephine Cachemaille. Josephine is one of New Zealand’s most intriguing practitioners, with multiple national art prizes to her name. Through numerous solo and public exhibitions, and works held in significant collections nationally and internationally, she has explored her unashamedly anthropomorphic relationship with materials and objects. “My relationship to my materials is very real. They’re my people,” she says. “I’m totally driven by curiosity. I don’t like mastery. I respect it in others, but for me it means my materials don’t talk anymore. “Being blatantly anthropomorphic allows the ‘beingness’ of things,” she explains. “It’s my rejection of ruthless academic rigour – I push back against rules, allow intentional breaches. Art enables me to grant validity to everything. It allows for endless stories.” Nelson itself has played a role. “I was born and grew up here,” Josephine says. Above: Artist Josephine Cachemaille with her pyrite work For Protection II 72

“Nelson has always attracted New Agers and alternative thinkers, and my art practice plays with curiosity, magical thinking and scepticism.”

Iron pyrite glowing with personality Her most recent exhibition, FORCES, with Arden Bar & Kitchen during July, was the result of Josephine using lockdown to explore the intriguing visual and emotional possibilities within the cuboid forms of iron pyrite. “I’m drawn to pyrite,” she says. “It has weird shapes I’ve explored on and off for years. I research images, then mix aspects of these to create my own versions.” Josephine equates her painting technique to monoprinting, applying and removing wet black paint from a white and gold ground. “I pull and stretch this, using cloths to keep it loose yet tight at the same time. I want to capture all the personhood carried in the pyrite forms.” Reflecting hope and fear, the paintings have titles like For Energy, For Confidence, and For Protection. “These works always test my mettle,” says Josephine. “Some days were a joy, with the crystal clusters virtually painting themselves. Others were a struggle, where I had to wrestle the perspectives, tones and textures into shapes.”

The reflective quality of the material comes to the fore in these compelling paintings. Some of the shapes feel light, even slippery, while others seem tough and resistant – “shapeshifters”, Josephine calls them, “with the capacity to recede and flatten, then quicken and glow”. It’s a profound metaphor for the times in which they were created. “Making these pieces was meditative, quiet and solitary,” says Josephine. “Lockdown gave me the rare opportunity to slow down, rest and reflect.” It also necessitated her using a makeshift home studio in a small, confined space under her house – forcing Josephine to eschew her often considerably more expansive installation practices in favour of smaller painted works. FORCES was an exhibition which ultimately bore out the fascinating variety of forces at play in one artist’s response to lockdown. “I create narratives,” says Josephine. “Viewers bring their own experiences to works. I don’t seek to be mysterious for mystery’s sake. I just think we can all understand narratives, make them relevant to our own lives.” Having represented New Zealand at the 2019 Beijing Biennale, there’s no telling where Josephine’s anthropomorphic output will take her next. What emerges, however, will surely be the result of her endless dialogue with and compassion for the stories her materials hold and need to share.

GALLERIES

Your local Gallery Showcase Your local Gallery Showcase is sponsored by WildTomato as its way to support and encourage our local artisans and galleries. Contact info@wildtomato.co.nz to be featured.

CRAIG POTTON GALLERY + STORE

LLOYD HARWOOD RED GALLERY

RUSSEL PAPWORTH FOREST FUSION

255 Hardy Street, Nelson 03 548 9554 | www.craigpottongallery.co.nz

1 Bridge Street, Nelson 03 548 2170 | www.redartgallery.com

Coolstore 3 Mapua Wharf, 1 Aranui Road, Mapua 03 540 2961 | www.forestfusion.com

HÃ&#x2013;GLUND ART GLASS GLASSBLOWING STUDIO

JENS HANSEN GOLD & SILVERSMITH

ROZ SPEIRS WALL TO WALL ART

52 Lansdowne Road, Appleby, Richmond 03 544 6500 | www.hoglundartglass.com

320 Trafalgar Square, Nelson 03 548 0640 | www.jenshansen.co.nz

112 Bridge Street, Nelson 027 500 5528 | www.clarityglass.co.nz

NIKKI ROMNEY SALIGIA ART GALLERY

RICK EDMONDS THE GALLERY HAVELOCK

THE DIVERSION GALLERY

31 Trafalgar Street, Nelson 021 0824 6111 | www.saligia.org

60 Main Road, Havelock 03 574 2821 | www.thegalleryhavelock.com

10 London Quay, Picton Waterfront 027 440 8121 | www.thediversion.co.nz

BEN PEARCE THE SUTER ART GALLERY

RENATE VON PETERDORFF CERAMICS BY RENATE

DAVID TRUBRIDGE RARE CREATIONS

208 Bridge Street, Nelson 03 548 4699 | www.thesuter.org.nz

810A Queen Charlotte Drive, RD1, Picton 021 124 1779 | www.ceramicsbyrenate.co.nz

152 Mapua Drive, RD1, Upper Moutere, Nelson 03 540 2225 | www.rarecreations.co.nz 73

BOOKS

Great reading to hunker down with ... COMPILED BY RENÉE LANG

Ephemera Tina Shaw Available now, $29.99 Cloud Ink Press Pic Picot

The Rough with the Smooth BY RENÉE LANG

ou’d have to have been living under a rock if you are resident in the Top of the South and haven’t heard of Pic’s Peanut Butter. It’s one of the region’s highest profile products, especially now that Pic’s Peanut Butter World has opened – it’s the place to go if you want to know all manner of things about peanuts, plus you can actually see the stuff being made. But what of Pic himself? Well, the good news is that later this year he is publishing what might be loosely called a memoir in which he shares some of his life adventures, particularly the ones that have brought him to this point. “You do stuff and you learn from it,” he points out. “And a lot of the disparate skills I’ve picked up along the way have proved to be very useful.” The memoir will not be Pic’s first book; some years ago he published a guide to charter boats in New Zealand. After that particular exercise came to a natural end, he moved on to a number of other ventures which eventually brought him back to Nelson. Fast forward to the present day and Pic says the main reason for writing the new book is the interest shown by visitors to Pic’s Peanut Butter World to know more about him. There is similar interest shown by the many and varied audiences he addresses at his guest speaker gigs, which take place fairly often these days. However, given his legally blind status, writing the book has not been an easy process. “It’s actually been very challenging,” he says. “When I write something I then have to use a text reader to read it back to me and I’m forever zooming in and out trying to find the keyboard so I can make any changes.” Cross-referencing is also a nightmare for him because of the difficulty in being able to find what he’s looking for. So more power to Pic. That kind of commitment and discipline is indeed something for the rest of us to aspire to. Let’s give him the last word: “I don’t think we make mistakes in our lives; we do what we do and the only reason for calling something a mistake is if you decide you’ve got an unhappy life and you want to blame it on something. So you blame it on that mistake you made back in your past and then you convince yourself that if you hadn’t done that particular thing, then this and that would have happened and you’d be a happy person now.” 74

more prescient novel you could not imagine – after an international meltdown, New Zealand, along with the rest of the world, has shut down. No electricity, no broadband, and people are in survival mode – at least until somebody turns the lights on again. Inspired by Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, this postapocalyptic – and partly comedic – novel reveals things are not always what they seem.

Tooth and Veil: The

Life and Times of the New Zealand Dental Nurse Noel O’Hare Available now, $49.99 Massey University Press

ands up all who remember the ‘murder house’ from their school days. Established nearly 100 years ago, the School Dental Service was a social experiment unique to New Zealand which during this time gave access to affordable dental care to many children. Read all about it in this fascinating history of the young women at the forefront of that experiment.

Jacinda Ardern Michelle Duff Available now, $32.99 Allen & Unwin

ow in paperback, this biography of New Zealand’s youngest female prime minister, who took office under three years ago, covers much of what she has had to deal with in that short time. Unprecedented events include the Christchurch terror attack, the Whakaari (White Island) volcanic eruption and, of course, a pregnancy in the first few months of office.

subaru.co.nz/eboxer

ONLY

$99* PER WEEK

Keep NZ beautiful. Then go see it. The new Subaru e-Boxer Hybrid doesn’t just handle our environment. It handles it with care. That’s because our legendary All-Wheel Drive, its all-terrain capabilities, and the Boxer engine’s low centre of gravity, all help you take on any terrain. While the Hybrid engine gives you greater fuel efficiency and treads more lightly on this beautiful place we call home.

TEST DRIVE & SECURE YOURS TODAY

Limited production available in 2020, so act quick.

Two e-Boxer models, the Subaru XV only $42,490* and Forester from $47,490*, are available to secure online now. But with limited production available, and great financing through our Accelerator Programme, fortune favours the quick. with

*Subaru XV Sport e-Boxer Hybrid: RRP $42,490 with weekly payments of $99.00, a deposit of $10,500 and Guaranteed Future Value Payment of $22,944.60. Total loan amount of $38,074.38. Subaru Forester Sport e-Boxer Hybrid: offer based on RRP $47,490 with weekly payments of $99.00, a deposit of $13,250 and Guaranteed Future Value of $25,644.60. Total loan amount of $40,840.91. A fixed interest rate of 6.99% p.a. applies. Subaru Accelerator Programme offers a 3-year term & total mileage of up to 45,000kms. At the end of the term, you can choose to retain the car, by paying the Guaranteed Future Value, trade it or return it (subject to T&Cs and excess charges). Subaru Accelerator Programme is provided by Heartland Bank Limited. Lending Criteria, T&Cs and fees apply, including a $262 establishment fee and $10.35 PPSR fee. All prices include GST. Offer not available in conjunction with any other special, discount or promotional offer. Offer excludes on-road costs, lease, government and rental purchases & accessories. Valid until 30 September 2020 or while stocks last. Subaru reserves the right to vary, withdraw or extend this offer, which is only available at participating dealers only. Find out more at www.subaru.co.nz/offers. Alternative payment terms can be determined on request.

Life will go on long after Money

July 11

Ben Pearce

November 23

2020

The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū

Photo: Andrea Papai

MUSIC

The lockdown sessions BY EDDIE ALLNUTT

hen on foot you notice more, and it was during a Nelson South saunter that I discovered an incognito recording studio. I’d still be thinking it was a garage today if it hadn’t been for that soulful sound filtering through that made me pause. Sounds familiarly awesome, I thought. Hey, it’s not Dobbyn in there, is it? No way, The Boss? Can’t be Cat? By chance Neil Finn? What about all four jamming as the new Wilburys? When the strumming and vocals finished I knocked on the door to be welcomed into Hummingbird Studio by Bryce Wastney, a local muso who’s shared the stage with some of the best including Guy Sebastian, Paul Ubana Jones, Anna Coddington and Marlon Williams. He’s also a man who didn’t get the bubble blues. In fact, Wastney found Level Four a time to amp it up. Besides once being a high school design tech teacher in South Auckland, he’s also a qualified boat builder, and he used his skills to transform his 1920s garage with ivy snaking through the roof and a door that opened and closed like a Above: Bryce Wastney in his studio 76

squeezebox to a sweet-sounding studio. Wastney says, “I’m thinking, she’s got concrete walls, and floor, that are thick and deep – which means great natural acoustics …” Wastney soon realised that folks were quite stressed in the surreal days leading up to and during lockdown, and people were hanging out for something real, something local, and something feel-good so he came up with a plan: “I thought, why not do a Facebook live gig?” Of course it came with its challenges. He adds, “I hardly ever get nervous and I’ve been a professional musician for 15 years, but man, singing to a little screen on a phone is something else! Is it recording? Post as an event or invite people to like the page? Lengthways or sideways? Online groupies? Does it sound muddy? She’s a different beast.”

Connecting via sharing Even though a relatively short gig – about 30 minutes – Wastney sat down on the studio sofa afterwards, exhausted. However, he didn’t get much of a breather as his phone started wildly buzzing and pinging with many positive comments and likes. Such was the feedback that he went on to perform another four gigs over lockdown and the audience just grew. “I received many requests; my originals, Beatles, Kings of Leon. Someone from Reefton wanted a Dylan song. A lady from Taranaki was so impressed she sent me a $500 donation towards the studio. I’d never met this person but isn’t it amazing

“I thought, why not do a Facebook live gig?” B R Y C E WA S T N E Y

that someone saw the value and thought, if we don’t support this, we mightn’t have live music.” Wastney found lockdown a stage where he further realised the value of connection via sharing and playing music. It gave him more time in Hummingbird to work on a new demo and write songs, which he feels are some of his best and will feature on his fourth album. He plays Hearts on Fire, a ballad that came out of the lockdown sessions which has a great hook. Another result from the sessions was playing his piano. “I wanted to mix it up a bit and play my songs on my new Yamaha piano. This piano, when it’s going through my PA system, sounds as good as any full- sized grand piano I’ve ever played. It’s got that magic rumble,” Wastney says. His guitar is a Tommy Emanuel signature model made by Maton that he bought in Sydney in 2003 when busking the streets there to gain musical confidence. “It’s got a monster tone. You need that extra bottom end when you’re playing solo so you get that rich and full sound.” He also tells me that it’s had an Interislander shipping container land on it and has probably soaked up more beer than a coaster.

LAUNCHES

3 AUG

2020

“Jacqui has been so helpful and professional selling our house quickly and efficiently at a great price for us. We valued her input and recommendations for advertising and viewings which all went smoothly. Jacqui explained the process clearly and got us the results we wanted making the sale as stress-free as possible. I would happily recommend her for anyone thinking of selling or buying their property.”

WHERE TO GET A BEECARD

• BeeCard.co.nz • Nelson City and Tasman District Council Customer Service Centres • Nelson, Stoke and Richmond Public Libraries • SBL Bus Depot, Bridge St, Nelson

– SALLY AND MARC BARRON

Free cards available 6 July to 31 October.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Visit BeeCard.co.nz, call 03 546 0200 or visit us at the locations above.

OUR NEW CASHLESS TRAVEL CARD LOAD MONEY ONLINE OR IN PERSON

GET OUR CHEAPEST FARES

jacqui@debbiecooper.co.nz

BEECARD.CO.NZ

Jacqui Miller • 027 327 3619

Debbie Cooper Real Estate Ltd (Licensed under the REAA 2008)

EVENTS

Regular Markets

Nelson Tasman Saturday 15

Every Saturday morning

Inspire Modern Jive Saturday Night Dance Party

The Nelson Market 8am to 1pm

Dance the night away with a wide range of fun, easy-to-dance-to music. Due to the smooth and simple footwork, it can be danced to a diverse range of music from old classics to today’s hits. Modern jive takes influence from many dance styles including jive, salsa, tango, ballroom and rock and roll. 7.30pm to 11.pm.

MONTGOMERY SQUARE

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

Every Sunday Monty’s Market 8am to 1pm

MOTUEKA MEMORIAL HALL, MOTUEKA

MONTGOMERY SQUARE

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER Saturday 1 to Saturday 8 Wāhine Immerse yourself in the personal stories of five Māori women who present a series of unique meditations on being a woman in Māori culture. Wāhine (The Woven Women) is a touring multi-media arts initiative that gives a voice to women around the world. Through personalised sound stories and photography portraits, immersive exhibitions are created where communities can come together. 10am to 4pm.

Every Wednesday Nelson Farmers’ Market 8.30am to 1.30pm

performers. Immerse yourself in live classical, jazz and vocal music. Thurs 6 Phoenix Piano Trio – Original atmospheric music for piano, violin and cello. Thurs 13 Raffaele Bandoli – trumpet jazz from the classic American songbook repertoire. Thurs 20 Mosaic Choir – world music. Thurs 27 Yid-Ee Goh and Friends – Beethoven’s String Quartet and Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E flat major. Thurs 3 Sept Erica Sim, Allison Cormack and Anne Shearer – New Zealand Art Songs. 1pm.

Friday 14 to Saturday 22

NELSON CENTRE OF MUSICAL ARTS, NELSON

MAITAI DAM, NELSON

The Bay Landscapes Nelson Fringe Festival The Nelson Fringe Festival is a tantalisingly boutique experience. An edgy programme of 31 shows from all over New Zealand rolls out over one week, in one intimate venue. Clever improvisors create nostalgia, the Bamboo Cutter tells his tale and we journey through a live Joni Mitchell album. Comedy, theatre, puppetry, music and much more – all bursting to life this year at the NCMA.

KIRBY LANE

Saturday 29 Dun Run Rugged but runnable – up into the ‘Backwoods of Nelson’ and along the sub-alpine mineral belt. Sweeping views out to a glittering Tasman Bay await you as you descend New Zealand’s first railway line to the finish. 7am to 1pm.

Monday 10 to Sunday 30

Saturday 22

Saturday 28 & Sunday 30

TAKAKA

Five Artists Four Walls Exhibition

Richmond Sprig & Fern 10k Fun Run & Walk

Sarau Winter Sale

Saturday 1 to 31 October

Works by five new members of the Nelson Suter Art Society feature in this joint exhibition at the McKee Gallery. Called Five Artists Four Walls, the collective works range from marine art through to photography.

Fun run and walk around urban Richmond, the second of four 10km from local Sprig & Fern taverns. Everyone and all abilities welcome. Registration and event briefing from 1:30pm. More info at www.waimeaharriers.nz.

Our huge Upper Moutere Book Sale raising funds for the Sarau Community Trust is accompanied by a pre-loved clothing sale in aid of Country Kids pre-school. Our cosy on-site café offers wonderful home-made fare, and gentle entertainment. 11am to 3pm.

RICHMOND SPRIG & FERN TAVERN, RICHMOND

MOUTERE HILLS COMMUNITY CENTRE, UPPER MOUTERE

GOLDEN BAY MUSEUM,

A Passage to Nelson - Unpacking the Past Exhibition at Broadgreen House charting the Buxton family’s 19th-century journey to Nelson and displaying items that the early immigrants brought with them. Showcasing fashion and costume. Broadgreen House is Nelson’s iconic cob cottage and historic home, outfitted with beautiful period furnishings, art and costume. 11am to 3pm. BROADGREEN HISTORIC HOUSE, STOKE

Thursday 6, 13, 20, 27 & September 3 NCMA Lunchtime Concerts Joining us on stage for our lunchtime concerts will be a range of local and national 78

SUTER ART GALLERY

Saturday 22 Nelson Nuptials Wedding Fair 2020 You might be feeling a bit overwhelmed by all this wedding planning business. You might not know where to start. Together, the vendors at the fair can help you make your dream wedding happen. The all-important food and beverage carts – to fuel you on the day or to hire for your wedding! Celebrants, invitation specialists, hair and make-up experts. 11am to 3pm. HEADINGLY CENTRE, RICHMOND

EVENTS

Regular Markets Photo: Richard Briggs

Marlborough Saturday August 1 to Sunday September 20 Marlborough Art & Wine Fair Marlborough is world renowned as a celebrated wine region, and also boasts an incredible amount of artistic and creative talent. Wine and art converge into The Marlborough Art & Wine Fair – a celebration of our best art and wine. The Fair is a collaborative exhibition of 24 leading artists from Marlborough featuring paintings, ceramic art, sculptures, and photographic art. Four artists will exhibit their work every two weeks, and each group of artists will be aligned with a local charity that will benefit from a percentage of every purchase. 11am to 6pm. THE WINE STATION, BLENHEIM

Sunday 23

Thursday 6

Marlborough Thermette Society Winter Gathering

Daylight Atheist An instant hit when it premiered, Tom Scott’s wonderfully inventive and fiercely funny play is a stirring portrait of his father, a deeply flawed yet charismatic bloke. 7pm. PICTON LITTLE THEATRE, PICTON

Saturday 8 Saturday Latin Social Night Join us for a fun night of Latin music and dancing, hosted by Salsa Groove Marlborough. Bring your dance shoes and get ready to move-n-groove the night away to the rhythms of salsa, bachata, cha cha, merengue, rueda de casino, zouk and kizomba! 8:30pm. DOLCE BAR & RESTAURANT, BLENHEIM

Family boil-up and bonfire on the riverbed at the Wairau River 500 metres downstream from the Firth Industries site on State Highway 1. Bring a love of friendship, food to share, a cup and a chair. It’s not necessary to have a thermette. Dogs, and wood for the fire, welcome. 2:00pm. WAIRAU RIVER, BLENHEIM

Friday 21 Mason, London & Joass Three songwriters argue over headline billing, playing order, and whose shout it is, while talking about themselves and playing their self-selected ’Greatest Hits’. Wayne Mason, Rob Joass and Andrew London are ‘mates on the road rolling out top quality songwriting

Sunday 16 38th Woodbourne Half Marathon & Fun Runs The half marathon course encompasses some of the region’s vineyards and consists of both sealed and unsealed road. The fun run course is completely off road and suitable for children and buggies. Entry on the day only. Half marathon, 9am, 5km/10km fun run/walk 10:15am. Registration opens 7:30am and closes 30 minutes prior to event start. WOODBOURNE COMMUNITY CENTRE, WOODBOURNE

QUAYS, BLENHEIM

Every Sunday Marlborough Farmers’ Market 9am to 12pm

Gerard Verkaaik

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER

Every Saturday Artisan Market 9am to 2pm

and musicianship, with lashings of irony and humour’, according to the East Auckland Times. 8pm to 10pm. PICTON LITTLE THEATRE, PICTON

Friday 28 to Sunday 30 Marlborough Home and Garden Show The Home & Garden Show is all about ideas, inspiration and exclusive show specials. Be thrilled by the variety, amazed by the innovations and impressed by the expert advice. Save with exclusive show specials, preview the latest trends for indoors and out, enter the draw to win a fabulous show prize, source accessories for a new look, listen and ask questions at the ‘Ask an Expert’ sessions, or simply turn up and prepare to be inspired. Better still, it’s all under the one roof! 10am to 5pm (4pm Sunday). MARLBOROUGH LINES STADIUM 2000, BLENHEIM

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. A&P SHOWGROUNDS

Sunday 30 Random Directions, Blenheim Film Project The Random Directions Film Project is an annual Blenheim-based Film Project created to encourage year-round film making, inspire new ideas and challenge the status quo for Marlborough movie makers and creatives. This year we will be screening 18 short films made right here in Marlborough by Marlborough film- makers. Random Directions was created to showcase ALL locally made movies and film-makers on an equal level; from first timers, weekend warriors or experienced film-makers, we are here to celebrate ALL films – the good, the bad and the ugly! So grab a ticket and prepare yourself for some funfilled, quirky, random films. 7.30pm. EVENT CINEMAS, BLENHEIM

Thursday 3 September Marlborough H & S Expo 2020 Building Capability Building Capability is so much more than just training. Capability is anything an organisation does well that drives meaningful results, in our case builds health and safety results. This event is focused on helping organisations in their health and safety journey by providing them with insight on how to build leaders, health and safety representatives and workers health and safety capability. 9am to 3pm. MARLBOROUGH CONVENTION CENTRE, BLENHEIM