YOU - April 2018 by Ashburton Guardian

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YOU magazine is a complimentary supplement of the Ashburton Guardian

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you Welcome

Madeleine Sami’s new direction

The delightful Rose Austen-Falloon

Hints to stay well in winter

Some Mother’s Day special

Donna-Marie Lever entertains

TimeBank asks which season you are

Mamma Mia – get your dancing shoes ready

Does the pill cause depression?

Autumn gardening tips

Gardening giveaway worth $80

Take a trip to London

Who’s out and about this month?

PUBLISHER Ashburton Guardian Co Ltd 307-7900 l www.guardianonline.co.nz Material in YOU is copyright to the Ashburton Guardian and can not be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers

COVER PHOTO

Since moving home to New Zealand, after four years in LA, comedian, writer, director and actress, Madeleine Sami, is as busy as ever, and loving every minute of it. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Editorial contact

Winter smacked into us with a vengeance on Tuesday. I can only hope it’s not the end to any hot days, that would be just too abrupt. But on the bright side, it’s also time for us to recognise mums everywhere and celebrate and spoil one deserving mother. Presents and pampering will come her way and the only down side for us is choosing a winner, when there are so many amazing mums giving selflessly to their offspring and others every minute of every day. The YOU team loves mums, so if you have a divine parent, nominate her for our over $1500 worth of prizes. One lucky mum will get presents from Sparrows, Style Footwear, Vevo Hair & Beauty, Speights and Samantha Rose Flowers and that’s a pretty hot Mother’s Day treat. We look forward to your entries and, in the meantime, stay warm everyone and enjoy this month’s YOU! Cheers,

Lisa Fenwick

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Madeleine Sami Jackie van Beek (left) and aker Upperers. P4 Bre The ke teamed up to ma

Returning to the South Island has been like a home-coming for Rose Austen-Falloon. P8

WIN an awesom e $80 lawn care pa ck from Daltons!

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Lisa Fenwick• (03) 307-7929 • lisa.f@theguardian.co.nz

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Carmen Cole • (03) 307-7963 • carmen.c@theguardian.co.nz

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4 | YOU Magazine

As a comedian, writer, director, and actress, Madeleine Sami has become well versed in the art of juggling. Known for her roles on hit productions Super City, Sione’s Wedding and Eagle vs Shark, she learned a long time ago that the best way to work on challenging and interesting material, was to team up with friends and create it yourself. With a keen audience hungry for new content ready to tune in and an enviable list of collaborators, she’s clearly on to a winner. Her latest production, The Breaker Upperers, featuring a star-studded cast, has just had its world premiere at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Texas. She talks with YOU writer Megan Gnad about New Zealand’s unique brand of comedy, equality in entertainment, working with her buddy, Taika Waititi, and her new challenge, directing.

Both Madeleine Sami and her long-time collaborator, Jackie van Beek, wrote, directed and acted in the new Kiwi comedy, The Breaker Upperers. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

Actor Sami’s new direction

For four years, Madeleine Sami divided her life between the glittering lights of LA and her hometown in New Zealand. Meetings with agents and acting auditions were part of everyday life for the Kiwi comedian, working to get a break in Hollywood. While Madeleine waited for call-backs, she never stopped writing scripts with New Zealand audiences in mind, and, thankfully for us, it’s that work that’s brought her home. “I wanted to be there more, but was just being drawn back to New Zealand for work, which was a good thing,” Madeleine says. “I would go to the odd audition, but

psychologically found myself less and less interested. I just found it way more satisfying and more exciting writing work I knew I was going to be doing and that I cared about more.” Since returning home, Madeleine has found herself at the centre of a growing New Zealand comedy industry that is excited to produce a wider variety of Kiwi voices and viewpoints. Now, she can’t wait for audiences to see her new hit film The Breaker Upperers, which premieres in New Zealand on May 3. Both Madeleine and her long-time collaborator, Jackie van Beek, wrote, directed and acted in the comedy, which includes

cameos from much-loved stars and is executive produced by famed New Zealand director Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok, Boy) and Sir James Wallace. As excitement builds for the release, it’s all a dream come true for Madeleine. Returning home has provided the creative space for her work to shine, and, with an audience ready to consume smart, slick and dynamic new material, it seems the opportunities keep coming her way. The dream team Madeleine has become a familiar face on Kiwi television screens, popping up in everything from in-depth dramatic roles,

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Above – Friends for years, Madeleine and Jackie are helping change the way our unique brand of humour is delivered. Inset left – Madeleine in Super City and (inset right) in Boots and All.

to the more wacky and hilarious appearances. Her extensive TV acting credits include Outrageous Fortune, The Jaquie Brown Diaries and Jane Campion’s Top of the Lake. She created, co-wrote and starred in two seasons of critically-acclaimed New Zealand comedy Super City and was cast in its pilot which was produced by US network, ABC. As a film actor, Madeleine has starred in Sione’s Wedding and Sione’s Wedding Two, Taika Waititi’s Eagle vs Shark, What We Do in The Shadows, Slow West and she also directed the second season of the hit sketch comedy show Funny Girls. It’s no surprise then that she teamed up with Jackie van Beek, an actress and writer best known for her role in What We Do in the Shadows, and as the straight-talking Gloria in Australia’s popular Channel 7 drama, 800 Words.

Jackie has made seven award-winning short films produced in Australia, New Zealand and the UK that have played at numerous international festivals. Their collaboration has been a seamless meeting of the minds, built from a desire to create real roles that reflect society and break down barriers. Now they’re directing film projects together, they hope it opens the gate a little further for up-and-coming talent to realise their own dreams and produce unique content that needs to be told. “It feels like Jackie and I are leading the charge,” says Madeleine. “We didn’t do that on purpose, but if people are inspired by what we’ve done and women are inspired to get into film directing, or anything, that would be awesome to know we had some sort of part in that.” The Breaker Upperers Their latest film centres around two bitter and cynical friends, Mel (Madeleine Sami) and Jen (Jackie van Beek), who, 15 years ago, discovered they were being two-timed by the same man. They formed The Breaker Upperers, a small-time business breaking up couples for cash. Now they’re in their late-30s and business is booming. Aiming to keep their cynicism alive by

not getting emotionally involved with anybody else, their friendship is put to the test when they run into an old victim and Mel develops a conscience. Add in co-stars, James Rolleston (Boy), Australian actress Celia Pacquola and fresh acting school graduate, Ana Scotney, and allow the hilarity to ensue. The initial plot idea was sparked by Jackie in 2013, while reflecting on the conversations she’d had with friends about separating yourself from a broken relationship. She began to imagine a world where someone could do all the hard work for you. “She called me and said, ‘we should write a comedy’,” Madeleine explains. “We wanted to write something that we found funny, that we’d enjoy doing because we always knew we’d be the actors in it. Deciding to direct came later in the piece. We felt like we could do it and we couldn’t think of anyone else who would be able to get our sort of style.” Finding time to work on the script provided its own challenges, with Madeleine, at that time, living between Auckland and LA, and Jackie was busy shooting a film. Whenever they could, they’d make time to sit down together in a room to bounce ideas around and write, but often they’d send each other scripts and drafts online. continued over page

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Madeleine’s latest comedy, The Breaker Upperers, which has been executive produced by Taika Waititi, and Sir James Wallace, is already garnering rave reviews. It recently premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin, Texas.

From P5 “Because Jackie and I like to work in a collaborative way, we’d have readthroughs and workshops with our favourite comedians, who would add gags, and offer suggestions along the way. That was an obvious choice for us to keep the script alive. There’s a community of comedians in Auckland and Wellington who all go and work on each other’s stuff. “We all help each other out and want to make each other’s work the best as possible.” Classic cameos One of the most exciting parts of The Breaker Upperers is the extraordinary cameos, paraded as a who’s who of Kiwi comedic talent. Keep your eyes peeled for Rose Matafeo, Guy Montgomery, Jaquie Brown, Penny Ashton, Rima Te Wiata, Teuila Blakely, Oscar Kightley, Urzila Carlson, Lucy Lawless, and Jemaine Clement cast as a Tinder date. With limited time, they shot the film fast and factored in plenty of room for the cast to improvise. “We didn’t have a lot of time to muck around,” Madeleine says. “Lucy Lawless literally came in for half a day. There’s so much great talent, it’s awesome. All our friends inspire us.” One supporting character she says “re-

ally gets to shine, in terms of his comedy chops”, was James Rolleston, the break-out star of Boy, which remains New Zealand’s second highest grossing film at the local box office. Now, a young man, The Breaker Upperers marks his first project after a year of recovery following a tragic car accident in 2016. Producer Ainsley Gardiner said he was perfectly cast in a role that allowed James to explore a more playful skill set. “I was so excited to find that the role of Jordan had been written with James in mind. I felt grateful that I was able to be one of the people helping him to come back to acting after a really tough year.” Teaming up with Taika There’s no doubt that Taika Waititi is hot property in Hollywood right now, so when he executive produces a movie back home in New Zealand, you take notice. Known for directing feature films such as Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do in the Shadows, Boy and Eagle vs Shark, he brings an innovative approach to filmmaking and the way he connects with an audience. Madeleine and Taika go back a long way, having worked on each other’s projects for years, with Madeleine acting in small parts on Eagle vs Shark and Boy, and Taika directing the first series of Super City.

“He also helped out a bit on the writing, gave us notes on the script,” Madeleine says of his involvement in The Breaker Upperers. “I’d pop in and see him in the office and he was always really a great source of wisdom. He’s an experienced filmmaker, so gave a lot of great advice in terms of how we should go about directing.” Super proud of his recent achievements, Madeleine is especially thrilled by the way in which he has retained his own style in Hollywood. “It’s bizarre, it’s really exciting,” she says. “But, it’s your mate all of a sudden directing huge action films in America, it’s pretty surreal. “I was really proud he got to make that film, but he got to keep his personality in there. It’s definitely a Taika film and I felt very proud that he was able to, not only go into that machine and make that film, but also make a film that he would make. His personality is all over that film. “The fear is that you’d get sucked in and they take away any of your individuality, or uniqueness that you bring to your storytelling, but they didn’t do that with him. I just felt very proud.” One of the biggest points she took away from premiering the film at Austin’s SXSW Festival, was that Kiwi comedy is clearly translating to American audiences. “There’s definitely an appetite for New

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Madeleine and Jackie both act in The Breaker Upperers, appearing alongside co-stars, James Rolleston, Celia Pacquola, and Ana Scotney, plus an endless supply of famous guest cameos.

Zealand comedy and they ‘got it’, a lot more than I actually thought they would,” she says. “I think it’s our particular brand of New Zealand humour, it really characterises the New Zealand comedy character, which kind of is in our films because we’re Kiwis. I think Americans find it charming, which is nice, and I think we’re not a novelty anymore. “People actually are aware of our comedy because of Jemaine and Flight of the Conchords, and What We Do in the Shadows, and it’s cool. We’re not this mystery group of people that have a funny accent anymore, I think people understand us a lot better.” Trailblazer The opportunity to direct has been an important and exciting move for both Jackie and Madeleine. Madeleine’s quick to point out New Zealand’s history of great female directors, such as Jane Campion and Niki Caro, and it’s a legacy she’s proud to be delving into. “I think that coming in as an actor first, I just never thought of going into directing and it wasn’t until I started making my own work, I thought that I could do that. I started writing Super City, which was how I learnt to be a writer, and I was also sick of going up for bit parts, or the sidekick, and not being able to flex my acting muscles as much as I knew I could.

“I wanted to make my own work, and, I guess, from that it snowballed to, ‘you could be a director’. She now finds herself at an exciting turning point, where “more and more female directors are starting to put their hands up, saying, ‘yip, we’re here and we want to be a part of this, and it’s our time. It’s our turn now’ ”. “As a female director, you have a slightly different tone in presenting a story and a way of seeing female characters. I think people are excited for unique voices now and a unique perspective on things, and a female perspective, because it is different.” Madeleine is proud to champion multi-culturalism in her films and people from all walks of life, but she says she has always been proud of New Zealand when it comes to diversity. “I feel like we’re further ahead than a lot of places, in terms of women and culturally. I do think we make an effort for diversity here, I don’t think it’s perfect, but I do feel proud of the fact we really do try here. “I still think more needs to be done, (but) for the most part, I think we’re heading in the right direction.” The next generation Madeleine’s next major project is a spinoff film script she’s been writing for Super City character, Pasha, an ageing cheerlead-

er lured by fame. It’s now in the late stages of development and she’s excited to bring it to the screen, and an audience eagerly searching for unique content. For that reason, she’s proud to see young Kiwi comedians take hold of the reins and begin to forge their own careers and tell their own stories. “I think it’s more the access (to content) now. Whereas there was all this talent in New Zealand before, it took longer for it to get out. Now, people can put up a video and get three million views in an hour and you’re an overnight sensation. There’s amazing phenomenons in New Zealand at the moment, like Willie Waiirua (William “Waiirua” Cribb) – who we actually got as a cameo in the film – who’s done this crazy comedy thing on the internet. It’s about how accessible everything is now and that’s why a lot of New Zealand comedians are getting the recognition they deserve.” She says there’s a “plethora of comedy across the spectrum” for New Zealanders to embrace. “It’s exciting to see the next generation, female and male, coming out with a new kind of confidence,” Madeleine says. “They’re like, ‘Lorde is one of the biggest pop stars in the world, we can do anything!’ “I’m excited for what they’re going to put out in the future, as well as the old guard.”

8 | YOU Magazine

Standing beside our new MP

Throwing a sponge at her husband’s face, spending weekends with him at country shows and charity events, and trying to talk him out of adopting three stray kittens – it is all part and parcel of the new life of Rose Austen-Falloon. The wife of Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon talks to YOU writer Susan Sandys.

n a moving victory speech to about 90 supporters after winning the Rangitata seat in last year’s election, Andrew Falloon’s voice broke with emotion as he thanked his wife who had supported him throughout the tough campaign. “I’m so incredibly pleased to have her in my life,” said the 34-year-old new National Party MP. It is obvious he is madly in love with his wife and talking to Rose Falloon, it is easy to see why. The 35-year-old Rose, six months older than her husband of six years, is a delight to talk to, down-to-earth and with an infectious personality. She is from the Bay of Plenty originally, where she had an idyllic childhood, at Lake Rotoma. She attended a small school of just 60 pupils and her dad worked for the main employer of the area, Tasman pulp and paper mill. “It’s the type of place where you go out until past dark and your parents never worry about you, and every holidays you find another place in the bush to build a hut.” At the age of about nine her parents separated and she moved to Rotorua with her mum, attending a much bigger school where her classroom alone had about 36 pupils. Her mother worked as a radio journalist in the city and, at the age of 12, the pair moved to Wellington. They lived in an inner-city apartment and her mum worked as a union organiser, while Rose attended

the Wellington East Girls’ College. The school was near Government House and it was the perfect environment for the young Rose. She found her passion in debating and to this day remains strong

friends with her three fellow debating team members. “You have to be a special kind of a nerd to do that,” she says as she jokes about her interest in debating rather than sports,

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‘

I declared in 1990 that I was a National Party supporter to my mum, so she always called me her favourite Tory

Returning to the South Island has been like a home-coming for Rose Austen-Falloon.

the latter she says she could never do due to a lack of co-ordination. Through debating she became interested in politics and was Richard Prebble’s youth MP in 2000 at the age of 17. The youth MP role is an apolitical one and other youth MPs serving at the time included Chris Bishop, who is now the Hutt South MP. Perhaps one of the most surprising things about the Rangitata electorate first lady as it were, is that her family’s background is from the opposite end of the political spectrum to that which she is today aligned.

Not only was her mother a union organiser, but her grandmother Rosemary Michie (MBE) unsuccessfully stood twice for Labour at parliamentary elections, as well as undertaking district councillor and regional councillor roles in her home area of the Bay of Plenty. “I declared in 1990 that I was a National Party supporter to my mum, so she always called me her favourite Tory. Even at high school I was free trade,” Rose said. “We have a few political views around the table,” Rose said of her family upbringing. And this was something which continued to this day, particularly as she was

PHOTOS SUSAN SANDYS

now married to a National MP. “I think when you are so close to it, you can be more self-critical, so we have some real robust discussions. I think we all want what is just best for the country. “[But] they love Andrew,” she said of her family. Today she and Andrew live in Pleasant Point, where the couple moved to late last year from their previous home in Wellington. Rose had a successful career in the capital, but she has not so much left behind her high-powered life as brought it with her. continued over page

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Top – Hanging out at community events is a lot of fun, and there was a bonus on this day for Rose when St John confirmed her blood pressure was all good. Left and above – Rose primes her kitchen skills at a celebrity cook-off at Ashburton’s Emergency Services Day last month.

PHOTOS SUPPLIED

From P9 Rose was a principal adviser at the Ministry of Primary Industries, to the deputy-director general, sector partnerships and programmes, prior to accepting a role in the South Island, as general manager for the Mackenzie Country Trust. She is able to work from home and travels to the Mackenzie Basin where she consults with farmers, environmental groups, tourist operators and recreation groups on the Mackenzie vision. Moving to the South Island was a bit like a homecoming for Rose, as she had been here previously and always wanted to return. She and Andrew met in Christchurch many years earlier when studying at the University of Canterbury. While she began her geology degree at Victoria University, she had not liked it there and transferred to Canterbury. “Partly because I had lived in Wellington for so long, my friends who went to the South Island had all these fantastic stories.

I felt I was missing out on the student experience. You don’t really get that in Wellington,” she said. At Canterbury, she also took up summer school study towards a Bachelor of Arts. It was in one of these classes, on external relations of the European Union, that she met Andrew. He was sitting behind her and the pair had begun to argue about New Zealand and European politics. She said living here today gave her a sense of community she had never felt in the city. Her down time with Andrew is spent at school fairs, A&P shows and other functions and events. It’s a support role which can see her either rubbing shoulders with VIPs or doing something as zany as throwing a sponge at her husband’s face, as she had to do at the Tinwald School Fete last month. “There’s a real sense of community and when you go to things like Relay for Life, you just run into tonnes and tonnes of

people, there’s just a sense of everybody rallying together.” The couple ultimately plan to have children, but for now they are busy with three cats. When they moved into their new house just before Christmas, a slightly wet and skinny cat with a gash across one eye, came meowing at their door. They fed it and later that night looked outside to see three pairs of little eyes shining in the bushes. They soon realised the cat they had fed was a mother and those eyes belonged to her three kittens, so they put more food out. They were rewarded for their efforts the next morning with a dead rabbit on the doorstep. When it came time to consider adopting out the kittens, Andrew protested, saying “You can’t possibly separate them they have had had such a rough start in life.” He won the argument and today the couple has four cats.

Preparing for winter

Following on from last month’s autumn harvest article, Jane Logie utilises condiments as added nutrition and flavour.

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be a natural anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-microbial and antibiotic. The essential oils provide the immune-boosting properties found in cinnamon. Therefore cinnamon is commonly used in many cultures to naturally help fight infections and viruses. Buy as quills or powder which can be used in a variety of ways in drinks and dishes. Honey – Is considered to be one of the oldest sweeteners. Honey contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. Commonly honey contains vitamin C, iron and calcium. It has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, and is therefore utilised in natural remedies for respiratory infections, common colds and persistant coughs. It is also beneficial in boosting immunity to help combat allergies through regular ingestion. Buy local honey for the added immunity benefits to allergies. The more you utilise a variety of herbs, spices and condiments in your daily diet, the less you need to depend on medicines to keep you well and healthy. Food provides an easy way to get the building blocks of nutrition that your body needs to build, repair, and grow. Thinking about the nutrition that is found in your everyday food can be fun. What is in this chilli? How will it help to provide the nutrition I need to aid my health? When you start to think more like this, it can make cooking more fun and encourages you to cook with a variety of colours and flavours in your everyday meals, rather than just eating for fulfilment and to safe hunger. With the compliments of Jane Logie, a medicinal herbalist, clinical nutritionist and chef from Methven

NATURALLY YOU with Jane Logie

As the cooler months start to emerge and the summer nights have drawn to a close, thoughts of the winter months and cooler winter days, are not too far away. The leaves turning golden on the trees is a sure sign to stock your cupboards with a plentiful supply of food. Having the right herbs, spices, and condiments, are important to help to provide you with much-needed food nutrition that will provide the nutrients required to stay in tip-top health throughout the winter, when an array of bugs have their army out trying to cause mass destruction and ill-health throughout our communities. Foods to keep on-hand in the dry-store or freezer: Limes – Provide an excellent source of vitamin C, as well as a good source of folic acid, vitamin B6 and potassium. Nutritional benefits of limes do not differ from those of lemons. The high level of vitamin C is great to help support the immunity and is important to get daily doses, as the body does not make this vitamin. Continuous ill-health is an indicator that vitamin C consumption is low. When low in price, squeeze juice and add some lime zest into small ice cubes, then freeze and store in an air-tight container. Chillies – Chillies are a good source of vitamin C, B6, vitamin A, iron, copper and potassium. They are also good source of the B complex vitamins that the body needs to acquire daily from external sources. High in vitamin C they provide resistance against infectious agents, which in turn helps to boost immunity. Pop them in the freezer in an air-tight bag or container when the price is low and just cut the amount required. Garlic – Possess anti-viral, anti-bacteria and anti-fungal properties, allowing it to stand against all infections. Garlic also has the ability to boost immunity due to containing high levels of vitamin C. This is a great bulb that can be utilised in an array of dishes to get its important health benefits and can often give a dish more flavour. Hang in a cool, dark, dry place once harvested from your garden. Ginger – Is found to have iron, vitamin C and zinc, plus a variety of the B vitamins. Gingerol, the substance found in fresh ginger, is considered to help lower the risk of infections and inhibit the growth of a variety of different types of bacteria. Ginger is considered effective against respiratory infections and a diaphoretic that facilitates with the sweating process during infections. It’s great added to a lemon juice and honey drink, to help fight respiratory infections, colds and flu. Place in the freezer, and grate or slice the amount when needed, store in an air-tight bag or container. Cinnamon – Cinnamon is known as a spice. It is considered to

Recipe next page

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12 | YOU Magazine

Lemon and lime curd mini-pastry cakes

These sweet mini-cakes have been chosen as this month’s recipe to utilise the abundance of lemons that may have appeared on your lemon tree this season, and lime juice to give a little more zest, and flavour. Lemons and limes are high in vitamin C, this is a recipe to indulge in to get a good dose of vitamin C the decadent way, and can be served with a hot or cold, homemade honey-sweetened lemon drink. Recipe and photo by Jane Logie

1 packet of frozen sweet shortcrust pastry (square sheets x 4) Mini-muffin tray, 12 non-stick. Filling: 3 eggs 1/2 C caster sugar 3/4 C cream 1/2 C lemon juice 2T lime juice 1t lemon rind, zested 1/4 t lime rind, zested

– Preheat oven to 200°C, with the rack in middle of oven. – Take a sheet of pastry and let thaw for 5-10 minutes. – Lightly flour the board, roll the pastry square into a soft pliable ball, using a small amount of flour to stop the pastry

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from sticking when necessary. – Roll out to 2mm thick and use a 1/3 C measure upside down to get a round circle. – Place over each mini muffin mould, gently press in and around. Once the mini muffin tray is filled with pastry shells, set aside to rest, for 15 minutes. – Filling: Place all the filling ingredients into a bowl and gently whisk until all combined – sugar, eggs, cream, lemon juice, lime juice, lemon rind, lime rind. Set aside. – Prick each pastry shell three times and then place in the oven to cook for 5 minutes. – Turn the oven down to 160°C and wait until it’s at the right temperature. – Transfer filling into pastry shells, using a

Size 10 - s 26

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YOU Magazine | 13

tablespoon. Fill to the top of the pastry case and bake for a further 10 minutes in middle of oven, or until filling is just set to touch. – Cool pastry cakes and serve with fresh, or thawed raspberries on top. – Can be served warm or cold. – Makes 12 mini-cakes, but there’s plenty of leftover pastry and filling, so many

more can be made. Options: – For bigger lemon and lime mini-pastry cakes, you could use larger shallow pastry cake trays (the ones used for Christmas mince pies if you have them). For slightly bigger cakes, use a 1/2 C measure upside down. Make sure you set aside the pastry shells to rest for 15

minutes before baking. Increase the cooking time on pastry shells by two minutes with bases and two minutes with the filling. Prick the bases with a fork 5-6 times before cooking. – You can make your own shortcrust pastry in advance if you have the time. Store bought is just quicker.

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14 | YOU Magazine

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LOVES YOUR

mum Mum

Do you have an amazing mum?

To celebrate Mother’s Day, YOU magazine and our generous sponsors are again oﬀering over $1500 worth of gifts and services to one special mum. While each family celebrates Mother’s Day in their own way, we want to recognise and spoil a worthy mum even more this year. It may be that your mother works tirelessly as a volunteer, as well as being a super mum, or she may work many hours and still manage to be at every rugby game or school event. There are so many incredible mums in Mid Canterbury, in so many diﬀerent situations. They often don’t know or think they’re superstars, but we do!

OV WO E RT R H $

What she wins

• A bouquet of ﬂowers, worth $100 from Samantha Rose Flowers.

• $100 lunch for two (to be used on makeover day) from Speight’s Ale House.

• $100 makeover and manicure (to be used on makeover day) from Swish Skin & Beauty

PR IZ

• $300 voucher from Style Footwear

• $200 hair services voucher plus three take home hair care products. Total prize pack of $300 from Vivo Hair & Beauty • $500 voucher from Sparrows • Two tickets to see Mama Mia on Monday, May 22 valued at $59 each from Ashburton Trust Event Centre

High Tea Style Me Fashion Show brought to you by

Style Footwear Ltd

Mother’s Day

Sunday, May 13th at 2pm Trotts Garden, 371 Racecourse Rd, Ashburton

$35 a ticket

Includes entry, high tea and fashion show

Pop-up shops open after the show

keyblack.co.nz 27A Colombo Street Cashmere, Christchurch 03 337 1495

stylefootwear.co.nz 177 Burnett Street Ashburton 03 308 7620

YOU Magazine | 15

Nominate your mum What will happen

• The winning mum will be pampered and spoilt on Tuesday, May 1 and her makeover, story and photos will be showcased in our May edition of YOU.

Here’s how you enter

• Write us a small letter telling us why your awesome mum should win! • Provide a daytime phone number for both nominator and nominee. • Send us a recent photo of your mum. • Entries need to be in by Monday, April 23, 5pm.

Send all that to

• Email subs@theguardian.co.nz or • Mail Ashburton Guardian, PO Box 77, Ashburton 7740 or

yuM u LOVES YOUR mum m

Popular fashion

As well as popular fashion brands like Ketze-ke, Seduce, Zaﬁna, Betty Basic and Super Dry, Denim Den has a new range of jewellery – Pinch and Fold. This collection is crafted from only the highest of quality materials, hand forged by the most skilled craftsmen. The results are timeless pieces in both design and durability. Another perfect gift for Mother’s Day – locally made M.E. luxury soy candles. These have gorgeous scents that are inviting, fresh and comforting. Suz and Hannah would love

to help you ﬁnd the perfect outfit or gift for your mum this Mother’s Day. They also have gift vouchers for mums that enjoy time-out shopping. Advertising feature

Stylish gifts for your Mum

• Private Facebook message us /ashguardian

Rules and regulations and all that boring stuff

• Mum will need to be willing to have her story and photos published in YOU magazine. • She will need to be available from 8.30am to around 6pm on Tuesday, May 1 for her day of presents and pampering … and yes, she can bring a friend or family member with her. • No Guardian staﬀ or immediate family members can enter this competition. • Terms and conditions apply.

Clothing Co. Denim Den is a stylish fashion boutique in the heart of Ashburton 246 East Street • Ashburton • 03 308 5285

16 | YOU Magazine

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LOVES YOUR

mum Mum

Fashion we love

SPARROWS LemonTree Mila Star Jumper $179.90 Siren Mesh Tee $89.90

DENIM DEN Ketz-ke split top green $129

SPARROWS Ricochet Keaton Dress $259.90

DENIM DEN Ketz-ke queen tee orange $129 SPARROWS Yarra Trail - Yarra Foil Spot Print Jacket $179.90 Yarra Superstretch Pant $129.90

DENIM DEN Leo + Be Jamie dress $169

STYLE FOOTWEAR Fiona Black bag by Ziera $89.95

STYLE FOOTWEAR Arlo Boot by Ziera $289.95 STYLE FOOTWEAR Serenity Beige by Ziera $269.95

Denim Den 248 East Street Ashburton

Sparrows

176 East Street, Ashburton www.sparrows.co.nz

Style Footwear

177 Burnett Street, Ashburton facebook.com/stylefootwearashburton www.stylefootwear.co.nz

YOU Magazine | 17

yuM u LOVES YOUR mum m

Fashion we love

CHICAGO JOES Get Ready Wool Jacket $279.99

OH & CO COLLECTIVE Hanging out cardigan $99.99

CHICAGO JOES Battles Dungarees $179.99

OH & CO COLLECTIVE Eden dress $109.99

CHICAGO JOES Omen Ana Dress $139.99 Cable Knit Beanie $59.99

STEPPING OUT Champ “Abilena” $299

OH & CO COLLECTIVE Carina khaki duster $104.99

STEPPING OUT Bresley “Stella” $249

Stepping Out

194 East Street, Ashburton www.steppingout.co.nz

STEPPING OUT Minx “Aggie May” $229

Chicago Joes

The Arcade Tancred Street, Ashburton

Oh & Co Collective Website store only www.ohandcocollective.com

18 | YOU Magazine

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LOVES YOUR

mum Mum

Popular choice

Jewellery is a popular choice for Mother’s Day. At Time for Diamonds we have the exclusive range of Kat Gee X Kagi jewellery. Kat Gee X Kagi incorporates many diﬀerent styles from beads to modern layering. Rose gold is very on trend and features in the Kat Gee X Kagi jewellery. We are having a Kagi VIP in-store event on May 10, just in time for Mother’s Day. Our Kagi representative, Rachel will be in-store from 12 noon until 6.30pm to give advice on styling Kagi and show oﬀ the new range. We will have Kagi specials

on the day, with chances to win free Kagi jewellery and gift with purchase oﬀers. Join us for a glass of bubbles and check out the exclusive new range. Advertising feature

86 Tancred Street, Ashburton • Phone 03 308 6722

Retreat at its best

There are many reasons why visitors enjoy Lake Tekapo; a recent addition to this impressive list is Tekapo Wellness Retreats, an unforgettable holiday experience. Guests can enjoy yoga, whole-foods nutrition, meditation, relaxation and spa treatments. Founder, Penny Wilson has lived in Tekapo for nine years and is excited to combine her experience in nutrition and health with her love for the area. Tekapo has that aaaah eﬀect where the worries and demands of our regular lives melt away.

It is calming yet uplifting; a combination that allows retreat participants to feel refreshed and inspired to make positive changes as they return home. When we make space for wellness; magic happens. Another reason to visit Lake Tekapo in the stunning Mackenzie Basin. Advertising feature

YOU Magazine | 19

Make her day Mother’s Day is a chance to show your mum just how much you appreciate her. She’s done so much for you over the years, so isn’t it time you returned the favour? Say it with ﬂowers this Mother’s Day with a stunning bouquet from Flowers and Balloons. Want a longer lasting gift? Flowers and Balloons also

has a wonderful variety of giftware and plants. Peruse the shelves yourself or purchase a gift voucher and let your mum ﬁnd something that catches her eye. The expert team at Flowers and Balloons can help make your mum feel special this Mother’s Day. Advertising feature

yuM u LOVES YOUR mum m

Beauty therapy At Body Treats 4 U Day Spa, discover the world of beauty therapy and let us pamper your mum from head to toe. We oﬀer a range of luxurious facial treatments and body treats. We can create a tailor-made package or simply purchase a gift voucher and let your mum choose her own relaxing experience. We also have gift sets avail-

able, starting from as little as $30. The choices are endless … so get in touch with our team of experienced beauty therapists to book an appointment at Body Treats 4 U Day Spa. Gift vouchers may also be purchased online at www.bodytreats4u.co.nz Advertising feature

SAY IT WITH FLOWERS THIS MOTHER’S DAY Order online from the comfort of your home

Treat Mum this Mother’s Day with a gift set or gift voucher from Body Treats 4 U.

190 East Street, Ashburton

03 308 8945

www.ﬂowersandballoons.co.nz

256 Moore Street, Ashburton • Phone 308 0173 Monday: 9-4 • Tuesday - Thursday: 9-8 • Friday: 9-4 Saturday: by prior appointment

20 | YOU Magazine

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LOVES YOUR

mum Mum

Fashion we love

THE ALPACA STORE Pure Wild Skin Care Full Range Available

THE ALPACA STORE DMC Wool â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Baby Cashmere Merino Silk Was $17 Now $15 per ball inc. free pattern

THE ALPACA STORE TranzAlpine Organic Manuka Honey Lozenges From $14

UNIQUE FURNITURE Jack and Jill Seat $745 UNIQUE FURNITURE Macrocarpa Cape Cod Chair $325 UNIQUE FURNITURE Macrocarpa 2 seater park bench $445

HORNCASTLE Victorian Parlour Couch 2 Seater $545

HORNCASTLE Solid Kauri Bookcase $825

HORNCASTLE Victorian Mahogany Scotch Chest Was $1,725 NOW $1,250

HORNCASTLE ANTIQUES and fine furniture

76D Talbot Street, Geraldine Phone: 03 693 7363

ap.smith@xtra.co.nz 021 228 2761 ASHBURTON

03 307 2279 027 311 2844 www.uniquefurniture.co.nz sales@uniquefurniture.co.nz

YOU Magazine | 21

yuM u LOVES YOUR mum m

Fashion we love

MACROCRAFT Macrocarpa 1m High x 980 mm Bookcase $448

MACROCRAFT NZ Pine 3 Drawer Bedside $295 each

MACROCRAFT NZ Pine Single Headboard $132

FUSION GALLERY Mor products from $17.90

FUSION GALLERY ‘Calling Me Back’ Canvas by Kathryn Furniss $259

FUSION GALLERY Stellar & Gemma Earrings From $32.50

HEMINGWAY DESIGN Primary School Bag $39.00

HEMINGWAY DESIGN The Fendalton Tote Bag $69.00

macrocraft

HEMINGWAY DESIGN The Viaduct Clutch $35.00

103 SOUTH STREET ASHBURTON 03 308 0417

Mon – Fri 8am-5pm Sat 10-3pm www.macrocraftfurniture.co.nz

214 East Street, Ashburton Phone 03 308 5955 fusion.gallery@xtra.co.nz

SHOP ONLINE www.hemingway.design

22 | YOU Magazine

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LOVES YOUR

mum Mum

Say thanks

No matter how old you are, your mum is a very special person – on Mother’s Day make sure you celebrate her! Take the time to say thanks – and book in at Hotel Ashburton for our buﬀet lunch. From 12 noon to 2pm you can enjoy a delicious three course buﬀet lunch with a

complimentary beverage for mum on arrival. Why not arrive early or stay late and enjoy a stroll through our beautifully manicured gardens. Book now to secure your table. Advertising feature

Spoil your mum Body n Beauty Worx and Mirror Image have become one. Di Thomas with her team of expert staﬀ have relocated to 278 Tancred Street, Ashburton. All beauty treatments available, facials, massages, pedicures, manicures, waxing, IPL, tanning, pamper

packages, and electrolysis. Four treatment rooms, including a couples room. Spoil mum this “Mothers Day” – Gift Vouchers can be purchased in store or online at bodynbeautyworx.co.nz. Advertising feature

Mother’s Day Special Offer

DINE OUT ON THIS MOTHER’S DAY Ask us about IPL Hair Removal and Facial Rejuvenation

Mother’s Day

Sunday, May 13

Treat the super woman in your life to a delicious lunch at Clearwater Restaurant on Mother’s Day. A specially created buffet menu is on offer, which includes a complimentary beverage for Mum. $45 per adult

Lunch

11 Racecourse Road Phone 03 307 8887 fb.com/HotelAshburton HotelAsh.co.nz

only $100

A: 278 Tancred Street, Ashburton P: 03 308 2266 E: bodynbeautyworx@gmail.com W: www.bodynbeautyworx.co.nz

Children 6–12 half price, 5 and under dine free Sunday, May 13

Bookings strongly recommended

One hour facial and Shellac Manicure

Phone 03 307 8887 STOCKISTS OF

YOU Magazine | 23

yuM u LOVES YOUR mum m

More thought Say I love you a diﬀerent way this Mother’s Day and pick the coloured ﬂower that best represents your relationship with your mum. Putting a little more thought into your gift this year lets your mum know that you really do think of her.  Red: I love you, respect and courage  Peach: Sweetness  Deep pink: Gratitude and

Treat your mum

appreciation  Orange: Fascination and pride  Yellow: Joy, happiness and true friendship What will you tell your mum with your gift this Mother’s Day? Let Samantha Rose Flowers help you choose. Order online in less than ﬁve minutes or call in and see us on Burnett Street. Advertising feature

What Mum wouldn’t want shoes for Mother’s Day? Treat your Mum to a gift voucher from Stepping Out in Ashburton. Looking for quality shoes that are stylish and comfortable? Look no further than Stepping Out – stockists of ECCO shoes. ECCO create shoes that are more comfortable, last longer and enable you to walk more naturally. Whether it be at work, home or play, ECCO

produce shoes that ﬁt your feet perfectly, with comfort straight out of the box – there’s no breaking in period needed with ECCO shoes thanks to their Freedom Fit. Stepping Out also stocks slippers, socks, handbags, clothing and jewellery. The team at Stepping Out can help you with the perfect gift for Mum – after all, one can never have too many shoes! Advertising feature

Mother‘ s Day ORDER ONLINE in less than 5 MINUTES

steppingout.co.nz • 03 308 1819 • 194 East St, Ashburton

24 | YOU Magazine

A BBQ in rural paradise

FARMY PRINCESS with DONNA-MARIE LEVER

It’s been a busy and very social month that has seen us back and forth from the farm to my homeland – the twinkly lights of Auckland city. A little taste of my old life was back on the menu and I lapped up every second! In fact, I was so inspired to channel my inner Nigella, I decided it was time for a bit of Auckland entertaining on the ranch. A dinner party! Given I now have a couple of actual friends here it seemed perfect to squeeze in a final BBQ of the season. I invited our guests, who accepted, but it wasn’t until the day arrived that I realised the garden was in need of a nip and tuck in the weed department. It’s ironic that while I cannot seem to grow a lush thriving vegetable garden, I can grow plantations of stinging nettle. There are also two green flax plants that have taken off and grown metres in the air ... far too big for the little planters they are in on the deck. Without my tool kit, I had to improvise, so was quite pleased with myself using the kitchen snips to trim, shape and cut the stringy flax into shape. Although a little sticky-uppy in the air, I was happy. Happy, until I gazed out at the

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horizon and realised a storm appeared to be incoming. I didn’t have a back-up plan … we were definitely having a BBQ. Then the farmer stepped in. Sometimes the farmer can truly surprise me ... he leapt into his ute, yelling that he ‘had it sorted’ out the window as he took off in a plume of dust. One hour later and he was back (… wait

Take Home Pie Packs SAupVE Mix & Match to From our great selection! $ .60 6 Bulk Buy not available SAupVtoE with Venison or Chicken $14.4 6

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for it) with an outdoor gas heater on the back of the ute. Right … It was now just 15 minutes until our guests arrived and the heater needed to be assembled. I can only assume he saw this as a challenge. In what resembled a speed yoga class, he navigated around the various pieces with success and with five minutes to spare – impressive. It was all going so well … too well. As he opened the newly-assembled contraption to put the gas bottle in, a wince could be heard echoing from the mountains. The tiniest of gasps. Then blood, blood everywhere. The farmer had literally taken a huge chunk of flesh off the top off his hand. While he administered his own first aid, I grabbed cloths and Spray and Wipe and started mopping up the blood. At that very moment – on hands and knees with blood on my own hands – I looked up and saw our guests pulling into the driveway. Somehow things just don’t always go smoothly for us! Thankfully a great night in rural paradise, despite the drama, but maybe next time eating out could be the way to go … TV reporter, journalist, mum and born and bred Aucklander Donna-Marie Lever talks about life after marrying a farmer and moving to rural Mid Canterbury

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YOU Magazine | 25

Natural skincare

Are you aware that your body absorbs up to 60 per cent of what you put on your skin? Therefore, it is so important to know what you are using, and natural skincare is the way to go. Natural products generally contain more active ingredients than high street brands, which may contain less than 10 per cent. A natural skin product is more likely to contain ingredients that actually feed your skin vital nutrients, getting to the very core of what skincare should actually be. Non-natural products can be packed with filler ingredients that are of no value to your skin, such as parabens, colourants, artificial fragrances, emulsifiers, and oils derived from petrochemicals. Synthetic chemicals, artificial colours and preservatives in skincare products and make-up can cause redness, irritation and breakouts. Many people are even allergic to chemicals commonly found in conventionally produced products. Synthetic fragrances are designed to cover up the smell

of other chemicals used in traditional health and beauty products. The eﬀect is that you have a chemical to cover up another chemical, and all those chemical smells can cause headaches and sensitivities in many people. Natural skin products smell like their natural ingredients, rather than a cocktail of chemicals. As the chill of autumn approaches, one of the most common complaints is dry, red or sore hands from the drop in temperature. This isn’t really surprising as your hands are often exposed to the elements, yet they are often neglected when it comes to skin care. A beautiful, natural product that is perfect for your skin this autumn is The Herb Farm Hand Cream. This easily-absorbed hand cream helps to soften and heal dry or cracked skin. It is the perfect natural solution for protecting and caring for your hard-working hands.

FREE HAND CREAM

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What is rosacea?

Rosacea (pronounced roh-zaysha) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that displays as erythema/red flushing, bumps, pimples, small visible blood vessels called telangiectasia and pustules may also be present. Some sufferers also experience an itching or burning sensation in the skin and around the eyes. If left untreated rosacea can escalate into advanced stages, with more severe symptoms such as thickened skin that can cause disfigurement and cause irritation and swelling of the eyes. Another symptom can include a red, enlarged nose, which can be wrongly attributed to excessive alcohol consumption. Rosacea is also a highly reactive and hyper-sensitive skin. Some common factors that both rosacea and hyper-sensitive skins share include hyper-vascularity, impaired barrier function and exposure to excessive amounts of chronic inflammation. This can be through UV exposure, stress/emotions, hormones and diet.

Rosacea on the face.

Rosacea is often misdiagnosed and mistreated as acne, because it shares similar characteristics such as papules and pustules. However they are different conditions and therefore require different treatment plans. What causes rosacea? The exact cause of rosacea is not yet known, it is thought defects in the immune system, nervous system and facial blood vessels, and the presence of microbes and demodex mites may contribute, genetic studies are being done. Although rosacea cannot be cured, with the correct treatment, diet and lifestyle choices, it can be managed effectively. Advertising feature

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26 | YOU Magazine

Which season are you in? Autumn is my favourite season. Our fruit trees are loaded with apples and pears and my garden has been overflowing with food – pumpkins, zucchinis, silverbeet, kale, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, blueberries and grapes. Nights descend more quickly and starry skies speak silently of mystery and wonder. Trees are varying shades of yellow, red and brown, then barren; an image of life and loss lining Walnut Avenue. Our summer sport took a punt and scheduled a test well into autumn and five days of surprisingly warm sunny days obliged with perfect blue skies and absorbing cricket giving us something to smile about. But I like even the suddenly cold, grey, blustery

ABOUT TIME with Kate White

days too as they give reason to get out that warm winter coat and scarf and the boots that haven’t seen the light since last winter. When it gets cold enough to light the fire for the first time, I savour a hot cuppa in front of the warm glow of the flames ... ah autumn, you are a treat! Nature’s changing seasons mirror our own, although never scheduled neatly in three-month cycles. I think we all go through ‘autumns’ in life. Times characterised by fruitfulness and abundance and times shaped by loss. After the exuberance and joy of summer with its warmth and long, light days, autumn seems tinted with melancholy. A time to take stock of the good, harvest and celebrate it and let go of the leaves we don’t need anymore. Maybe our lives, like the trees, are barren for a little while before we see what is new emerge. In that wondering and barrenness, in the holding on until the spring, it is helpful to have good people around us. Not everyone is blessed

It’s all about Ashburton… Heartland Design & Print is just down the road, and we have been for years. We know our clients and take pride in creating great printing and design results right here in Ashburton. P 03 308 9160 A 285 Havelock St, Ashburton E ashburton@heartlandprint.co.nz heartlandprint.co.nz

YOU Magazine | 27

Baldwin Street in Dunedin with stunning autumn colours.

with family and friends nearby and finding connections and people to walk through life with you is not always easy. The Mid Canterbury TimeBank is all about connecting people, giving people a chance to contribute to the lives of others and to belong to a community. For some of our members the TimeBank has become a lifeline, for others a nice addition to an already rich life. I’ve met some wonderful people through the Mid Canterbury TimeBank, people who are in all sorts of seasons of life. There are those who are learning to cope with long-term illness, changes in relationship status, loss of their spouse, re-

location to a new area, babies on the way, new life stages (like retirement), a new country to call home and the challenge of juggling jobs, kids and life in general. Common to all our members is the desire to help others and the willingness to be helped. Most, however, find the latter much harder! It is in opening up to others’ help – whether it be in the form of gardening, goal setting support or guitar lessons – that we allow others to meet us wherever we are. We don’t need to be masters of this life, never needing a hand. Allowing another to help us provides them with an opportunity to connect with others, feel valued for

the skills and time they contribute and of course enables them to earn time credits. It’s a win-win for them and for us. Reciprocity is what it’s all about in timebanking – giving and receiving. Consequently, a TimeBanker’s time credit balance should go up and down. There is no interest charged or penalties in place if a member goes below zero. We understand that there are seasons in life where we need to receive, other times when we have much to give. Whatever season of life you’re in at the moment, would being part of a TimeBank be beneficial for you? Feel free to contact me (coordinator@mctimebank.nz) if you’d like to know more.

The Lake House Bar and Restaurant is a stunning and exciting social space situated on the edge of Lake Hood. From casual dining during the day to sunset dinners over the lake in the evening. Perfect for special occasions - weddings, birthdays. Boardrooms and meeting spaces for presentations and conferences are also available. Open 7 days a week 10am to late | Lake Hood Drive, Lake Hood Phone 03 302 6064 or book online at www.lakehouselakehood.co.nz

28 | YOU Magazine

Above – The Mamma Mia cast lines up.

Digging the Dancing Queen

See that girl, watch that scene, digging the Dancing Queen! Choreographer (and dancing queen), Madison Thew-Keyworth, arrived in Ashburton last week and started straight into rehearsals for the upcoming production of Mamma Mia, set to open at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre on Friday, May 18. Madison is no stranger to the Ashburton theatre community, having choreographed Salute to Broadway in 2010 and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in 2011 for Variety Theatre. “I’m delighted to be returning to Ashburton. I was here for VTA’s Jubilee production of Salute to Broadway. So I’m thrilled to be returning to party again this year and share in the celebrations for the event centre!” Mamma Mia will be staged to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Ashburton Trust Event Centre. “I couldn’t think of a better show to pick for a celebration than Mamma Mia,” said

Ms Thew-Keyworth, “It’s such a fun show; one of those shows that you just cannot help but smile when watching! It’s a clever storyline woven throughout Abba’s greatest hits.” Needless to say, Madison assures us there will be fabulous dancing in the show as well. Memorable numbers for the show include Dancing Queen, Waterloo and, of course, the title track Mamma Mia. When asked which her favourite number was, Madison replied, “It’s so hard to choose! Each number contributes so much to the storyline and the energy of the show, it’s tricky to isolate just one. But I guess I personally really like Voulez Vous – it’s a great climatic end to act one with lots of energy, colour and pizazz.” Madison is no stranger to dancing and theatres, working fulltime as a director and choreographer between Australia and New Zealand. Mamma Mia will be her fourth show this year, before she returns to Australia to work on the Australian premiere of Disenchanted.

“It’s wonderful to be back in Ashburton. Everyone in the community is so welcoming – it feels like a second home.” Madison expressed her delight, not only at the hospitality of the crew and community, but also at the amazing talents and enthusiasm of the cast, which is rehearsing three days a week in preparation for opening night. “We have a busy schedule ahead of us,” Madison said, “but when you are working with a cast who are as dedicated and enthusiastic as the Mamma Mia cast, it makes your job so much easier and very, very enjoyable!” Mamma Mia opens at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre on Friday, May 18, with shows running daily through to Saturday, May 26. For more information and to purchase tickets, drop in and see the team at the Event Centre, or visit online at www. ateventcentre.co.nz

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BENNY ANDERSSON BJÃ&#x2013;RN ULVAEUS AND SOME SONGS WITH STIG ANDERSON

CATHERINE JOHNSON ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED BY JUDY CRAYMER BOOK BY

Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia). All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia

ON STAGE 18 - 26 MAY 2018 DIRECTED BY | ROGER FARR

MUSICAL DIRECTOR | RICHARD MARRETT

CHOREOGRAPHER | MADISON THEW-KEYWORTH

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM ASHBURTON TRUST EVENTS CENTRE OR ONLINE AT

30 | YOU Magazine

YOU Magazine | 31

The pill and depression link Six decades ago it was heralded as a revolution in reproductive freedom. And to this day, contraceptive pills slide off the production line and down the digestive tracts of around 200,000 everyday Kiwi women. But whether those little blister packs offer us total control over our bodies – or unwitting vulnerability to other complications – is the subject of modern debate. YOU writer Katie Todd speaks to women who have experienced depressive symptoms and other mental-health related effects while on the pill and asks experts what we actually know about the product’s safety. Are we putting ourselves at risk? Could those teeny coloured tablets ever be strong enough to cause depression? And should our doctors be doing more to warn us of the dangers?

osie (name changed for privacy) was 21 years old, in her second year studying at Victoria University in Wellington. Her grades were respectable, she’d settled into a warm and welcoming flat on Courtenay Place, her weekends were jampacked with fun and all around her were supportive friends. What she couldn’t understand was why she kept experiencing “serious lows” and drops in her self-esteem, having never experienced mood swings before. “I put on weight and beat myself up about it – something I didn’t usually care too much about. “I was rude and closed off to my parents and friends. Some lows I was able to pin-point to certain events or things that had happened, but quite often I was just moody, upset and really unpleasant to be around.” Rosie looked for answers in a number of places, with no success. Eventually, after hearing rumours that her contraceptive pill, AVA30, affected mood, she booked an appointment at the campus Student Health clinic. “But they said that there was no scientific evidence that it impacted mood and not

The stories

to go off it ... they said it would not be the reason I was feeling down.” Nevertheless, after a few weeks with no more luck Rosie decided to stop taking the pill. “I can honestly say the lift in mood was quite dramatic. “I was a lot less closed off … I was more pleasant to be around and I was more interested in exercise and eating well.” Quite simply, she said, she was back to her normal self. Having done research into her experience since and discovering that depression is a known common side-effect – acknowledged by the makers of AVA30 themselves and in fact warned in the product’s user guide – Rosie wishes her doctor had simply warned her beforehand, or taken her concerns more seriously. Rosie is not alone. A quick post on a Facebook page for Kiwi women generated over 200 messages in two days. It appears females of all ages have had similar experiences on AVA30 and a variety of other contraceptive pills. Alexandra from Golden Bay said that while on her pill she recalled being super emotional about everything. “I’d cry all the time over nothing and got

super stressed about nothing and couldn’t figure out what was wrong.” Amber from Auckland, said she suffered from extreme anxiety “to the point I was having panic attacks multiple times a day”. Melissa from Blenheim, said she simply became a “moody bitch”, Jemma from Mt Manganui said she fell into a “downwards spiral” and Rhiannon from Auckland became emotional to the point where “if someone so much as spoke to me in a slightly different voice I would completely break down”. Kayla from Auckland said she was feeling like a “completely different person”, and Caitlyn from Auckland said one pill she tried messed with her emotions “so much that I questioned my relationship and my reality”. Almost without exception, these girls say they were not warned of possible mood changes prior to taking their pill. Some simply chose to blame tiredness, work stress and their own bodies before considering their behaviour might be influenced by the pill. And others say they took the pill for years and only noticed they were feeling “vastly better than usual” after they came off it, or swapped pills, for other reasons. continued over page

32 | YOU Magazine

From P31 Twenty-six-year-old Aucklander Kate sums it up. “Everyone downplays or under explains the potential symptoms.”

The research

Researchers and countless studies have attempted to shed light on the relationship between contraceptive pills and mental health issues, but have been unable to explain the connection. In 2016, the University of Copenhagen released the most comprehensive study yet – tracking one million Danish women over 13 years, and finding all types of hormonal contraceptives positively associated with a diagnosis of depression and subsequent use of antidepressants. They concluded that women taking the combined oral contraceptive were 23 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with depression and those using progestin-only pills were 34 per cent more likely. Teens in the study were found to have the greatest risk of depression, with an 80 per cent increase when taking the combined pill. However, as the findings hit headlines around the world and some women celebrated the research we’ve been waiting for, other professionals advised wariness around the results. One was Professor Johannes Bitzer, President of the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health. He said the Danish study did not necessarily prove that the pill causeed depression – firstly, because women already develop higher rates of depression than men, as the researchers had acknowledged. “The lifetime prevalence of depression is about twice as high in women as in men … nevertheless, before puberty, girls are found to be equally or less depressed than boys,” the report recognised. Blitzer also drew attention to conflicting studies, claiming the publication lacked a more critical discussion of other studies that reached different or conflicting results. For instance, he said, a 2013 study in the US indicated a protective effect of hormonal contraception with respect to affective disorders. Another US study – this time including women who already have a history of depression – found women who used combined hormonal contraceptives were significantly less depressed than the women who did not. In February this year another researcher, Dr Brett Worly at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre, released

Where to get support w

Lifeline: 0800 543-354

w Suicide Crisis Helpline:

0508 828-865 0508 TAUTOKO

w Depression Helpline: 0800 111-757 w Samaritans: 0800 726-666 w Youthline: 0800 376-633

or email talk@youthline.co.nz

w Healthline: 0800 611-116

‘

From the doctors’ perspective the whole situation is mildly complicated – Dr Christine Roke

a similar report that examined 30 years of studies about the pill and depression. All studies considered, he concluded that there was no strong correlation between birth control methods and depression. However, he acknowledged his investigation did not take into account other mood changes and urged that more quali-

ty research was still needed. British author and health activist Holly Grigg-Spall coined the term pillsplaining to describe the way the medical community dismissed research findings like those of the University of Copenhagen, which she saw as completely valid. “It’s apparently acceptable to blame women’s depression on the fact that

YOU Magazine | 33

they’re women, but it’s not OK to claim a powerful medication formulated from synthetic hormones could be at fault,” she said. “That the burden of avoiding unwanted pregnancy falls to us [women], regardless of the burden that might have on our health and wellbeing, is nothing short of sexism.”

The doctors’ defence

With so many uncertainties around the pill’s safety and so many testimonies stacking up against it – some females even describing how it ruined their life – an obvious onus falls on those with the power to sign off prescriptions.

Even if no causation can be proven, shouldn’t doctors at least be doing more to warn their patients about the risk? But speaking with Family Planning national medical adviser Dr Christine Roke and New Zealand Medical Association chairwoman Dr Kate Baddock, the answer appears to be no. From the doctors’ perspective the whole situation is mildly complicated, Dr Roke said. And as various considerations stack up it’s actually tricky to know what to say to individual women, they said. Firstly, citing different evidence to the link to depression, Dr Roke said it seems that a vast majority of people are not going to be affected by possible moodrelated side-effects. And drawing too much attention to those possible side-effects could cause more harm than good. “There have been studies that show if you tell people about those kinds of side-effects they can actually notice it a bit more … We call it the ‘nocebo’ effect – like placebo but the opposite, because it can be harmful.” A further issue raised by Dr Baddock is the retention rate of those sitting in the doctor’s room. “Patients tend to remember about 30 per cent of what doctors tell them. “When they’re being prescribed the contraceptive pill the thing they are most likely to be focusing on – and most likely to remember – is how to actually take it properly, not so much potential side-effects,” she explained. And while she claims it’s “rare for a doctor not to mention some side-effects”, particularly if they are aware of a family history risk, she said the comments can easily be glossed over. Then comes a number of other complicating factors. Dr Baddock said it takes about three cycles of the pill to fully adjust and early mood fluctuations may not necessarily persist. “So it’s best if you don’t chop and change pills frequently.” The majority of those who take the pill are teenagers, primarily concerned with avoiding pregnancy and it can be hard to differentiate between teenage PMS mood changes and those that could be caused by the progestogen component of the pill. In other words, it’s the perfect storm, she said. Finally, pills like Yazmin, which are known to reduce those kinds of side-effects for certain people are not funded by the government. continued over page

34 | YOU Magazine

‘

When they’re being prescribed the contraceptive pill the thing they are most likely to be focusing on – and most likely to remember – is how to actually take it properly, not so much potential side-effects – Dr Kate Baddock

From P33 “Therein lies a problem”, Dr Baddock said. A quick check reveals three months of Yazmin will cost women around $87 for three months – that’s almost a dollar a day more than AVA.

So what can we do?

It’s a confusing time to be a woman seeking a contraceptive pill prescription and weighing up the risks. On one hand, studies like the one in Denmark – whether valid or questionable – have raised the irrefutable concern that associations between the use of hormonal contraception and mood disturbances remain inadequately addressed. And as author Grigg-Spall said, if it’s true that the side-effects completely out-

weigh the risk of an unwanted pregnancy then “why bother researching the side-effects at all?” Depression has been identified as the most common predictor for stopping taking the pill, yet more quality scientific research is needed on the complex subject before it is recognised by the medical community. Then, on the other hand, it’s now easier and cheaper than ever to be prescribed contraceptive pills in New Zealand. Since November, Kiwi pharmacists have been able to directly sell certain contraceptive pills over the counter, with only one doctor’s prescription required every three years for some women. Other organisations are also pushing for nurses to be able to prescribe the pills. More than a dozen progestogen-containing pills will cost consumers just $5 per prescription, because they qualify for government subsidies under the New

Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule. Contraceptive pills are the safest and most effective way to avoid pregnancy, according to Medsafe – and they’re not changing in a hurry. But wherever you stand, one thing’s for sure. It’s time to get talking. What to do if you’re taking the contraceptive pill and feeling down is something that draws a unanimous response from both Dr Baddock and Dr Roke. “I would hope they would go back and speak to their doctor,” Dr Baddock said. “And it is important for doctors to take it seriously if they come back,” Dr Roke said. And what we need to do to support the mental health of our friends, families, partners and sisters, is something that Rosie’s sure of. It’s time to get the word out there, begin talking loudly and acknowledge the serious mental health risks, she said. “People need to be aware!”

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36 | YOU Magazine

Ashburton Pre-Schools’ Directory

Ashburton Kindergarten

Education for children

2 - 5 year olds

www.ashburtonkindergartens.org.nz

03 308 3779

Ashburton Kindergartens are a group of not for profit professional kindergartens, spread throughout the Ashburton community that provides quality education for 2 to 5-year-olds. We provide a high quality programme which is taught by professional teachers, who are all qualified and involved in ongoing professional development that leads the way in early childhood education. We base our programme on the early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki, which is an inclusive approach to your child’s development. Your child will benefit from a wealth of experience and play resources whilst in a safe and secure, clean and

Providing quality early childhood education and care for the preschool-aged children of our community; based on Christian values and principles.

Phone us today on 03 308 2325 8 Eton Street, Ashburton

comfortable environment. At kindergarten we view all children/ tamariki as competent, capable learners.

They are:

• Encouraged to solve problems and make choices that have meaningful outcomes for themselves. • Have time, resources and space necessary for them to discover and extend their play, and the play of others. • Are supported to become responsible for themselves and their belongings. • Are encouraged and supported to learn from each other. • Where their interests, skills and knowl-

We are open 8.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday

edge are at the forefront of extending individual programme plans. • Where literacy, mathematics, science and technology are weaved throughout the programme. • Where they learn strategies and solutions to work with and alongside others to support life-long learning. We have five kindergartens located around the district: Allenton, Tinwald/ Aubrey Mason, Hampstead, Thomas Street and Netherby/Merle Leask. For more information please check out our website www.ashburtonkindergartens. org.nz Advertising feature

ENQUIRE EARLY TO SECURE A SPACE

www.phoenixpreschool.co.nz

1-3 Redhaven Rise, Ashbuurton

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www.steppingstones.net.nz

03 307 2088

38| YOU Magazine

April’s autumn garden tasks Days are becoming shorter, temperatures are dropping and leaves are beginning to turn; all signs autumn is well under way. It’s a busy time in the garden with plenty of tasks that need doing before winter sets in – but be sure to take time to stop and admire the beautiful colours the season brings. Flower garden: – Summer displays are almost finished, so keep dead-heading those blooms you wish to prolong. Winter flowering annuals brighten up even the dreariest of winters. Start planting out now, but ensure you prepare the soil well beforehand, as per above. Winter annuals include: alyssum, aquilegia, calendulas, cineraria, cornflowers, lobelia, nemesia, pansy, lupins (South Island), snapdragons, statice, stock, sweet peas, sweet william and violas.

In the vege garden: – If you haven’t prepared your winter vegetable garden, then get it under way. Add in plenty of compost to the existing soil and blood and bone as a base fertiliser. To stop winter veges from getting water-logged, ensure you slightly raise the area you are planting in so water can drain easily. – By planting winter vegetables now, they will have enough time to become well established before the onset of the cold, wet, winter weather. You can sow your own seeds into seed trays indoors or directly into the garden, depending on the vegetable. Veges to plant in April include: Broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce (all types), onions, peas, radish, spinach, swedes and turnips. Always stagger your plantings (every 2-3 weeks) so that all of your vegetables do not mature at the same time and instead provide crops throughout the season. If space is an issue, many varieties can be grown in pots or containers – just be sure to use good quality potting mix.

Bulbs: – Although main bulb planting months are usually February and March, it is still possible to plant in early April, especially as garden centres often have great deals to clear stock. Bulbs grow best in an open, sunny position in well-drained, fertile soil. Add compost to lighten ‘heavy’ soil if this is an issue. Plant bulbs in clusters for a more pronounced flowering effect. Remember to label where you plant your new bulbs so that you do not forget and accidentally dig them up! Roses: – The autumn display of many roses can be quite spectacular after the hot dry months of summer. If you provide a little TLC, some varieties like Iceberg will continue flowering through till July in warmer areas of the country. Remove any dead flowers and fallen leaves as they will no doubt contain black spot and rust. Apply compost and a light dressing of rose fertiliser around your rose bushes to improve the organic matter in the soil and help suppress weeds which tend to almost pop up overnight this time of year.

Lovely lawns: – April is a safe month for sowing a new lawn or renovating/repairing an existing one. For new lawns, success relies on thorough preparation. If bringing new topsoil on to your property, make sure it is good quality as new weeds can be brought in with imported topsoil. Ensure you new lawn is well drained, considering wet winter months. Check you have the correct grass variety for your site and if you are unsure, talk to local experts at your garden centre for advice. Sow seed evenly and be prepared to over-sow in a few weeks’ time where the germination of the grass seed has been patchy. – With existing lawns, apply a lawn fertiliser now and water it thoroughly after application. Mow regularly to help develop a strong thatch. Clippings can go into the compost bin – little and often only. For more information and expert advice, check out our How to Grow Guides www. daltons.co.nz/home-gardening/how-toguides

YOU Magazine | 39

Tree woes

Daltons Lawn Care prize pack

We have a Daltons Premium Lawn care pack valued at over $80 to give away which contains 1 x Daltons Premium Lawn Fertiliser, 1 x Daltons Lawn Patching Gold, 1 x Daltons Premium Lawn Soil, including a pair of comfortable, versatile Red Back gardening gloves from Omni Products www.omniproducts.co.nz. Everything you need to care for your lawn!

Wayne Pannett is this month’s winner with the following question: We have a wedding cake tree which was planted January, 2017, and hasn’t thrived. The first tier of branches are fine and have come out as they should, but the second tier grows weak pale looking leaves which drop off, it also hasn’t grown a third tier since we have had it. It is in an area of full sun, but shade around 3pm, good drainage and no competition. We have tried some tree fertiliser on it to no avail and it gets watered in the summer. It is a little bit of a mystery as to why your wedding cake tree (Cornus controversa Variegata or Dogwood) has not developed the second and third tier properly. However, we have suggested a few possible reasons. A tree’s healthy development is often related to the root structure. It is possible that the roots of your tree are compacted by a claypan or some other impediment in the soil that is impeding the development of an extensive root system. If this is the case, we would suggest applying gypsum throughout the drip line (directly under the outer circumference of the branches of the tree) in an attempt to encourage healthy root growth. It is also possible that your tree had a poor root system when purchased – twisted roots, or it was very root bound in the growing container. This can often lead to poor growth and later development of an ill-formed branching system and limp leaves. It is hard to overcome these problems, however, fertilising in spring/early summer and applying compost to the root zone can be beneficial. If the tree has not developed significantly over the next growing season, sadly we would recommend its removal and try again with a new specimen in a different location in your garden. For more information and expert advice, check out our How to Grow Guides www.daltons.co.nz/home-gardening/how-to-guides

Be in to win

Email goodies@theguardian.co.nz with Daltons

Lawn Care prize pack in the subject heading, or write to Lawn Care prize pack giveaway, Box 77, Ashburton.

• • •

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:

You must provide a gardening question for the Daltons experts to answer. Please include your address and phone number in email and letter options! Giveaway entries must be received by 9am, April 27. For more information on Daltons products visit www.daltons.co.nz

All questions supplied are entered into the draw to win a Daltons prize pack, but the Guardian reserves the right to choose which questions and answers will be published. Daltons post the prize to our lucky winner.

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YOU Magazine | 41

Make the most of my time

DESTINATION with Anna Schmack

Last month I was lucky enough to wing my way to England. It had been a while since I had been to London and I was keen to make the most of my time, seeing as much as I could. We had a pre-arranged arrival transfer in London Heathrow – fantastic to have someone waiting for you with a sign when you have come all the way from the other side of the world! The Original Tour of London by Hop on Hop off bus was a great way to get your bearings around this fantastic city. However once you have this under control, the quickest way to get around is definitely the Underground. We had an Oyster Card preloaded with GBP15 so we could just walk straight in and not have to worry about buying this. You can then add money to it easily as you need it. London is a melting pot of cultures, deliciously illustrated in the city’s diverse culinary scene. The Borough Markets, open during the day, is a great place to experience this. There are pubs around every corner, some of which have been licensed since the 1600’s and many dating back further. Of course there are Michelin star restaurants too if that’s in your budget. The View From the Shard, offers unpar-

Above – Leeds Castle.

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you and you need a bit of space, you can take one of the many day trips available out of London. We chose to head to Kent via Greenwich. The sun came out as we visited the beautiful Leeds Castle which has had many owners over the past 1000 years. The latest was Lady Baillie who restored it and made it a home until her death in the 70’s. She gifted it to the people of England so we can all enjoy it. We then carried on to the UNESCO World Heritage cathedral city of Canterbury and learnt about the rich, and sometimes murderous history on a guided tour, before we headed back to London for another fabulous pub feed. So much to see – so little time! Advertising feature

alleled views of the city – best enjoyed with a glass of Moet. The Tower of London is also worth a visit – but make sure you allow plenty of time. Another attraction I really enjoyed was The London Dungeon. You will take a trip through London’s darkest history in a fun, but sometimes scary way. A discount was available booking this through your Hop on Hop oﬀ operator, or in advance before you depart New Zealand. Realistically two places a day is the most you can do justice to – and you will be exhausted after that. A nice way to ﬁnish an evening is to see one of the many shows available in London – we were lucky enough to go to Wicked. Of course if the city gets too much for

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42| YOU Magazine

OUT AND ABOUT @ the Rakaia Community Centre Hall Sporting success was recognised at the Rakaia Sports Awards Evening held earlier this month at the Rakaia Community Centre Hall. Above – Audrey Cromie (left) and Noreen Smith.

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Above – Kay Perrett and Scott Martlew.

Above – Mark Ellis. Above – Jenny and Mark Holmes.

Above – Mandy Hurst. Right – John Hough and Noreen Smith. Below – Mark Hanrahan (left) and Hugh Copland.

Above – Paul (left) and David Whittaker. Below (from left) – Jane Cornelius, Anne Honeywell and Audrey Cromie.

YOU Magazine | 43

OUT AND ABOUT @ the Dubliner and Kelly’s

Above – Pete and Lara Harrison.

Things turned a little green for St Patrick’s Day at the Dubliner in Methven and Kelly’s Bar and Café in Ashburton last month so Guardian photographer Robyn Hood popped along to see what all the fuss was about.

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Above (from left) – Elise Manning, Karen Manning and Vicky Pluck.

Right – Susan Urquhart (left) and Nardia Leath. 170318-RH-102

Above – Chris O’Malley (left) and Scott Martlew.

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Above (from left) – Darcy Taylor, Joe Keepa, Giberto Bernes and Jay Vijayakumar. Left – Scott and Sharon Darby.

Above (from left) – Craig and Helena Dunlea and Scott Martlew.

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