Dunedin feature

A New Zealand Herald Commercial Publication

Thursday, January 21, 2016

What you don’t know about …

‘One of the world’s great small cities’

2 dunedinNZ.com Brought to you by

Otago: you’ve gotta go C

ome and visit the wildlife capital of New Zealand.

Enjoy heritage buildings. Discover why internationally acclaimed environmentalist David Bellamy describes the Otago Peninsula as “the finest example of ecotourism in the world”. Glimpse fine art or catch a quirky festival.

Dunedin i-Site and the Department of Conservation visitor information centres have opened a new joint space at the Octagon’s Civic Centre.

The centrally located, easy-to-find centre is a one-stop shop for visitors, cruise ship guests and locals looking to get out and about.

It is the first fully integrated i-Site and DoC visitors centre in New Zealand.

Every person who works at Dunedin i-Site is a local travel expert, helping find quality activities, attractions, a range of accommo-

dation, transport and more.

Their mission is to ensure visitors experience the latest and greatest Dunedin has to offer.

The i-Site centre provides a comprehensive, impartial information and booking service further afield than Dunedin and Otago.

Staff can advise about Southland and the Catlins, Fiordland, Queenstown, Canterbury, West Coast, Marlborough and New Zealand accommodation, activities, attractions and travel bookings.

DoC services include local and South Island track information, Great Walk information and bookings, hut tickets and annual passes, topographic and National Park maps, books, posters, brochures and merchandise.

Hunting permits will be available from the department at Conservation House, 77 Lower Stuart St.

What’s up at DoC, i-Site centre ■ DoC desk for information and bookings ■ Souvenirs (many NZ-made) ■ Maps (topographical, tourist and road maps) ■ Now in the Octagon, with the fastest free wifi in NZ ■ The Dunedin i-Site Visitor Centre is part of New Zealand’s official nationwide Visitor Information Network. Whatever you’re after, drop in and ask the friendly team of local travel experts.

■ i-Site and DoC services: weekdays 8.30am to 5.30pm, weekends 8.45am to 5.30pm.

PC002Newshole2

Experience the heritage and charm of Dunedin’s newest boutique hotel from $140 per night 1003 George Street, Dunedin Central dunedinbookings@gmail.com Ph 0272 333 288

dunedinNZ.com 3

’One of the world’s ’A hub of skills great small cities’ and talent’

D

unedin is different because it is not trying to be any other city, any other place.

A place of compelling contrasts, Dunedin contains a little bit of pretty much every part of our country.

Maori first settled here about 1650, and the influence of Scottish settlers in 1848 can still be seen in the city today. The Dunedin of the early 20th century, with its strong, regular rhythms of the Scottish diaspora, has melded into a much more complex weave, where no one culture clearly dominates.

We are renowned as a confident, competitive knowledge centre where enterprise and creativity support a productive and sustainable city. We have strong cultural and economic foundations on which to continue to build an even more prosperous city of opportunity.

Dunedin is the educational capital of New Zealand — the University of

Dunedin is different because it is not trying to be any other city, any other place

,,

Otago and Otago Polytechnic give the city a reputation for high quality education, innovation and research.

This is not surprising given our long history of liberal thinkers, social reformers and creative minds.

Our history is today is exemplified in the largest collection of heritage

W

buildings in the country, now resurrected and housing cutting-edge fashion, IT and architectural designers.

Dunedin recently became New Zealand’s first Gig City, giving us one gigabit per second broadband services. Visitors, residents and the city’s industries now have the opportunity to embrace the gig and embark on ways of learning, playing and conducting business which have only been imagined until now.

In developing our economy, we are mindful that we continue to provide a superb quality of life for the residents who choose to live, work or study here.

Dunedin has relatively economical housing, safe and supportive communities, stunning natural landscapes, an abundance of recreational opportunities, a thriving arts and culture scene, and worldclass facilities and venues the envy of much larger cities.

Our status as New Zealand’s only Unesco Creative City (Literature) emphasises our cultural strengths to an international market, not just for cultural tourists but also in attracting tertiary students and new residents by acknowledging what a creative powerhouse Dunedin is.

Dunedin is one of the world’s great small cities. I trust that whether you are looking to Dunedin for lifestyle, business or study reasons, you will feel welcomed and find a home.

Dave Cull Mayor of Dunedin

e love sharing our city with friends and family, and we welcome many of you throughout the year for business, gatherings and celebrations.

In this publication we open the door to the insider’s view of Dunedin, giving you a chance to explore new discoveries, old favourites and intriguing stories.

You will find compelling reasons to journey south, to visit us, to study, to do business, to live and work in our vibrant and distinctive city.

The Grow Dunedin Partnership brings together the city’s key partners — the Otago Chamber of Commerce, the Otago Southland Employers’ Association, Otago Polytechnic, the University of Otago, Ngai Tahu and the Dunedin City Council — to guide Dunedin’s economic future.

The partnership has created the Economic Development Strategy, which sets out a framework to achieve substantial economic growth by focusing on business vitality, alliances for innovation, linkages beyond our borders and Dunedin as a compelling destination and as a hub of skills and talent.

The strategy is succeeding − Dunedin is a confident commercial centre with a global focus and a strong emphasis on design and innovation, underpinned by cohesive business connections and a burgeoning talent pool.

The city is enriched by successful businesses that produce cutting-edge products and services selling into global markets over sustained periods.

Our team at Enterprise Dunedin works closely with local companies and organisations to give them the tools to expand and thrive.

We hope this publication inspires you to think about moving to Dunedin, setting up a business or investing here, studying or spending some time exploring our city.

Dunedin is a confident commercial centre with a global focus and a strong emphasis on design and innovation

,,

Our new website has a wealth of information and contact details for our team of expert advisors.

For further information and to keep up-to-date, visit www.DunedinNZ.com.

We look forward to welcoming you to Dunedin so you can experience the city’s charms for yourself.

John Christie Director, Enterprise Dunedin

Growing Dunedin The Grow Dunedin partnership was formed by the Dunedin City Council in 2010.

It is a small group of key economic partners who will help guide Dunedin’s economic future.

These are Dunedin City Council, Otago Chamber of Commerce, University of Otago, Otago Polytechnic, Ngai Tahu, Employers Otago Southland, Te Runanga o Otakou and Kati Huirapa Runaka Ki Puketeraki.

This is an NZME. Custom Publication.

Managing Editor Ewan McDonald ewan.mcdonald@nzme.co.nz Advertising Natasha Callister natasha.callister@nzme.co.nz Cover design Xanthe Williams

4 dunedinNZ.com

The Dunedin Sound, year-round

Dunedin: Midwinter Ball, Larnach Castle, June

E

Cadbury Chocolate Carnival, July

where everything’s

vent-rich Dunedin’s calendar bulges with colourful and diverse festivals, celebrations and sports fixtures that rouse a carnival atmosphere across the city that visitors are welcome to celebrate with the local community.

From the big stars to the hidden gems, the city is proud of its rich and internationally acclaimed events and striking local talent.

Boasting some of the country’s most impressive performance venues, the city offers extensive opportunities to take part in and enjoy the arts.

Long summer nights are perfect for immersing yourself in the city’s vibrant and accessible arts, theatre and cultural community.

Celebrating the city’s artistic vibe,

the Dunedin Fringe Festival attracts local and international guests alongside Chinese New Year festivities, while iD Dunedin Fashion Week brings together and profiles local and international fashion designers.

Those drawn to sport take advantage of the renowned Forsyth Barr covered stadium, home of Super Rugby champions the Highlanders, and an All Blacks v Wales test later this year.

The NZ Masters Games take place in and around the city’s extensive sporting facilities, and every year the Drive South Otago Rally is held in the region.

Dunedin has long been a magnet for musicians of all stripes, and home to some of the best live music venues in the country. The stellar summer programme of local, national and

international artists at Chick’s Hotel in Port Chalmers runs until March; there’s a shuttle service from the city centre.

The intimate Inch Bar hosts music and comedy, lubricated by fine ales, and 52Dundas is both the address of the New Edinburgh Folk Club.

The legendary Crown Hotel is the de facto home base for the local punk and metal scene, with the best jukebox in town between gigs.

Winter brings stargazing and the wonders of Puaka Matariki, the Maori New Year festival, and the Midwinter Carnival lantern parade, as well as the indulgence of the Dunedin Cadbury Chocolate Festival, where 75,000 sweets are raced down the world’s steepest street, Baldwin St. Inquiring minds meet to explore, explode and experiment at this year’s

International Science Festival, the Dunedin Art Festival will feature a vibrant programme in October and the New Zealand Young Writers Festival will again be held in Dunedin, Unesco City of Literature (see P13).

Throughout the year, events create opportunities to engage with Dunedin’s unique heritage: Olveston’s Historic Homes Edwardian Games, the Vogel St Party held in the revitalised Warehouse heritage precinct (see P29).

Heritage Festival events this year will include Industrial Heritage activities; a Winter Ball in Larnach Castle and the annual Regent Theatre 24-hour Book Sale — a booklover’s happy place set in stunning surroundings.

Be a part of something special while you are in Dunedin.

:Caption6 Vogel St Party, October

Chinese New Year celebrations, February

dunedinNZ.com 5

Midwinter Carnival, June

Wild Dunedin nature festival, April

happening in 2016 JANUARY 15-24 Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring 25 Robert Burns birthday celebrations 30-7 Feb Southern Trust New Zealand Masters Games FEBRUARY 8 Chinese New Year celebrations — Year of the Monkey 13 Thieves’ Alley Market Day 20-21 South Island Pipe Band Contests MARCH 3-13 March Fringe Festival

19-20 Armageddon Expo 12-20 iD Dunedin Fashion Week 21 Sol3Mio APRIL 8-10 Drive South Otago Rally 16-21 HMNZS Otago visit 22-24 Wild Dunedin nature festival 25 Anzac Day 30 Black Sabbath MAY 6-8 International Film Festival Autumn Events 3-19 June Puaka Matariki (Maori New Year) Festival

JUNE 10-11 Regent 24-hour Book Sale 19 Midwinter Carnival 21 Royal NZ Ballet, Wizard of Oz 25 All Blacks v Wales 29-6 July International Food Design Experience, Conference and Studio

21-24 NZ Young Writers Festival

JULY 8-16 NZ International Science Festival 16-22 Dunedin Cadbury Chocolate Carnival 21-22 Grease Arena Spectacular

OCTOBER 8 Vogel St Party

Super Rugby, All Blacks test, Forsyth Barr Stadium

AUGUST 4-21 NZ International Film Festival SEPTEMBER 30-9 Oct Dunedin Arts Festival

NOVEMBER Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival

Craft Food and Beer Festival, November

iD Dunedin Fashion Week, March

Dunedin Cadburyy Ch all Chocolate Carnival Join us for all things chocolate 16 – 22 July Dunedin gets a chocolate coating in July as people of all ages enjoy chocolaty fun at the 16th annual Dunedin Cadbury Chocolate Carnival.

With more than 50 irresiistible chocolate events over 7 days there will be something for everyone – including the e Cadbury Crunchie Train, chocolate tours, chocolate decorating, chocolate facials, and the famous Cadbury Jaffa Race. o to: For more information go

www.chocolatecarrnival.co.nz

Thee Cadbury World Experience (Tour & Café)) Ignite the senses with a trip to Cadbury World Dunedin!

Discover the magic of Cadbury when you join us on the Cadbury World 1-hour Experience.

Learn about the history of Cadbury and chocolate as you journey through time in our visitors centre.

Follow your guide to the Cadbury World Sensory Lab where chocolate comes to life, here you will learn about the chocolate making process, see chocolate being tempered and even get to create a little Marvellous Creation of your own.

The tour concludes with a sweet splash as you enjoy our unique Cadbury World chocolate fall.

Bookings are essential, so make your booking today!

www.cadburyworld.co.nz

Cadbury World Café Opened in 2014 our one of a kind café provides a delicious selection of food baked daily on site (savoury and sweet) and an impressive range of Specialty Hot Chocolates – where better to get a hot chocolate from than a chocolate factory!

Just a 2-minute walk from the Octagon and Choc-a-block with fun, a visit to Cadbury World Tours and Café is a must-do while in Dunedin.

8 dunedinNZ.com Brought to you by

Port Chalmers has a rich history but much more to offer today’s locals — and visitors

Historic harbour, modern haven

W

hen a town is one of the oldest European settlements in the country, and has been the hub of some of New Zealand’s most historic events, it could be forgiven for living in its past.

Take Port Chalmers.

The deepwater port at the entrance to Dunedin’s harbour was home to the first New Zealanders, served the next wave of immigrants as a sealing and whaling base, and welcomed the first Scottish settlers in the 1840s.

As Dunedin grew, so did its port.

During the Otago goldrush, 20 years later, it was the third largest port in Australia or New Zealand; in 1882 it farewelled our first exports of chilled meat, on a ship fittingly named Dunedin.

Later, the famed Antarctic explorers Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton waved goodbye to civilisation from its wharves.

Port Chalmers is still one of New Zealand’s major ports but the town is an artists’ and creative retreat, featuring an diverse culture of boutique jewellers, craft stores, painters, sculptors and musicians.

With plenty of vintage clothing stores, the seafarers museum, collectibles shops and restored furniture outlets, it’s an easy — and relaxed — place to spend a day, just 15 minutes drive from downtown Dunedin.

Port Chalmers and the surrounding suburbs of Careys Bay, Roseneath

and Sawyers Bay have a thriving arts and alternative lifestyle community.

One of the best-known residents was the late Ralph Hotere. Hotere’s studio was on land at the tip of Observation Point, the large bluff overlooking the container terminal.

Part of the bluff is now an awardwinning sculpture garden, organised

by Hotere and featuring works by him and other modern New Zealand sculptors, funded by Port Otago Ltd. For tourists on foot, cycle or driv-

P

ort Chalmers is the birthplace of New Zealand's modern export trade. It was here, in February 1882, that New Zealand's first cargo of frozen meat left for London in the refrigerated ship Dunedin. When the Dunedin arrived 98 days later, with the meat still in excellent condition, it heralded

ing, the surrounding bays are perfect for kayaking or rowing or hosted horse treks.

The natural deepwater port is an excellent salmon fishery.

Close to the town is the beautiful Lady Thorne Dell, famed for rhododendron and azalea plantings and native bushwalks rich with birdsong.

Perhaps the jewel in Port Chalmers’ environmental crown is the Cloud Forest — Orokonui Ecosanctuary.

To this day, Port Otago Limited and Port Chalmers remain at the forefront of New Zealand's export trade.

It is also one of New Zealand's major ports where cruise ships call between October and April each year.

SERVING A PRIMARY EXPORT REGION

Port Otago is already the deepest container port in the country at 13 metres (chart datum or low tide) and is unique in that it can operate at all stages of the tide. It has resource consent to deepen the shipping channel to a maximum of 15 metres for larger ships. The first milestone will be to deepen to 14 metres and this will be done in two stages, with deepening of the existing channel to 13.5 metres by the end of January 2016, and to 14 metres by December 2016.

These important infrastructural changes will ensure that Port Chalmers remains an integral link in the

angled towards fresh seafood, a long lunch has you feeling a world away from the hustle and bustle of innercity dining.

Protecting the natural beauty of Port Chalmers sits firmly in the heart of not just the locals but also the business community.

Port Otago Ltd has assisted with developing community facilities and significantly invested in the cycleways and walkways which frame the village.

the beginning of New Zealand's excellence in the handling of refrigerated cargo.

PORT OTAGO

Port Otago was the first port in New Zealand to begin deepening its shipping channel for the next generation of container shipping as part of a $30 million upgrade over the next two years. The infrastructural works programme, ‘Next Generation Port Otago’ will allow larger ships to access Port Chalmers while bolstering the port’s services to exporters.

Some 8.7km of predator-exclusion fence protects reintroduced native animals, including breeding pairs of very rare saddlebacks, tuatara and skinks. There are spectacular views of the valley’s 3sq km of regenerating bush, containing the tallest tree in New Zealand.

That much exploring is bound to leave you in need of refreshments.

Port Chalmers flagship eateries include Carey’s Bay Hotel, The Galley and The Portsider pub. With menus

international supply chain. Port Chalmers is the major gateway for cargo owners in the southern region and the Next Generation development will ensure service to shippers and shipping lines alike remains efficient and competitive.

In addition to meat, dairy and forestry, Port Otago handles significant exports of fish, apples, and other agriculturally based products. There is also a growing demand for processed timber produced from the sustainable pinus radiate plantations in Port Otago’s catchment. Port Otago is a full service port offering a comprehensive range of services for both shipping lines and cargo owners including warehousing at quayside. From pilot station to berth, Port Otago can handle all shipping requirements seamlessly.

Welcome to one of the most beautiful and unique destinations you will hope to find in New Zealand.

Established in 1874, the Carey’s Bay Historic Hotel was originally built as a hotel including a public bar and restaurant. Standing the test of time the hotel is still a truly Victorian pub with an excellent reputation for fresh seafood meals and friendly old fashioned hospitality.

Situated next to the township of Port rtt Chalmers on the banks of the beautiful Otago Harbour, a mere 15 minutes easy drive from the centre of Dunedin City, the hotel is well wort rth t a visit and is for many a cherished destination.

“The best pub in New Zealand” or “my favourite pub” is a comment we hear regularly. To our locals the hotel is fondly known as “The Bay Pub”.

General Enquiries +64 3 472 7890 • pol@portotago.co.nz www.portotago.co.nz

17 Macandrew Rd, Carey’s Bay Port Chalmers, Dunedin phone (03) 472 8022 info@careysbayhotel.co.nz www.careysbayhotel.co.nz

LARNACH CASTLE New Zealand’s only Castle

OPEN DAILY FROM 9AM • Award Winning Attraction • Accommodation options available • Garden of International Significance • Excellent collection of NZ Antiques • Café and Gift Shop

Phone 03 476 1616 Email: larnach@larnachcastle.co.nz www.larnachcastle.co.nz

10 dunedinNZ.com Brought to you by

Out of this universe There’s much more to see than stars and sky at Otago Museum’s planetarium

T

here can’t be too many places on this planet — in fact, in this universe — where you can be catapulted into space, dive into the ocean’s deepest trenches, run with dinosaurs, or shrink yourself small enough to investigate the inside of a cell.

At Otago Museum’s new Perpetual Guardian Planetarium, visitors can do all that, and more, without leaving their seats.

The world’s southernmost planetarium opened in December 2015, is the only fully 3D planetarium in Australia or New Zealand.

The museum’s in-house planetarium team has created the three 45-minute shows currently running in the planetarium — featuring the southern skies, Maori sky lore and our universe.

Amazing Universe, narrated by Mark Hadlow, takes viewers from Hooper’s Inlet on the Otago Peninsula through space and time to the outer reaches of the known universe.

Marama a-Whetu: Light of the Stars is an exploration of Maori myths and legends relating to the night sky. The show gives an overview of how Polynesian explorers navigated to Aotearoa and highlights significant astronomical features for all New Zealanders.

The Sky Tonight explores what the sky over Otago will look like later that night. Visitors will learn about stars, constellations and deep sky objects, and find out how best to view them.

“The planetarium is more than a place to explore space. It is a place where knowledge is shared and curiosity sparked, and that might lead to new ideas and enterprises in the years to come,” said Perpetual Guardian founder Andrew Barnes.

As well as becoming lead sponsor in October 2015, Perpetual Guardian has committed additional funds to assist schools from rural Otago areas and low-decile schools in engaging with the new facility through their Reach for the Star programme.

Leading into the planetarium is the

IMAGES: CHRIS SULLIVAN

Beautiful Science gallery, showcasing a world-first in laser interactive technology that offers another way to explore the nature of science.

Developed with Wellington-based Gibson Group, the gallery was inspired by the idea that curiosity is born out of awe and wonder.

Its 12 4.5m x 2m screens are activated by lasers. With a simple hand movement through the laser beams, visitors can scroll through vast, multi-layered digital canvases of each season.

Some 150 multimedia stories are layered into the huge canvases, so visitors can ‘dig down’ through the images to explore fascinating details.

The gallery includes more than 1200 media components from local, national and international suppliers.

One of the largest contributors of images is Otago Daily Times newspaper, which sourced content from their archives including everything from major weather events to significant moments in Otago’s history.

Dunedin-based factual television producer and film-makers NHNZ were also major contributors, as were NIWA, MetService and the Department of Conservation.

“The Beautiful Science gallery is a must-see.

“The more you explore the seasonal screens, the more you see,” says Otago Museum director Dr Ian Griffin.

“The museum is enormously proud of this new gallery, and the work the Gibson Group has done to create a brand new user experience.”

The planetarium and gallery are the newest additions to the museum’s science engagement spaces.

They join Discovery World, a hands-on, play-oriented science centre, and Tropical Forest, a lush, living gallery where visitors can meet exotic butterflies and other rainforest dwellers.

■ Perpetual Guardian Planetarium: Buy tickets from Otago Museum or at www.otagomusuem. nz/planetarium. Adult $10, child 4-18 years $7. Concession tickets for seniors, students and community card holders with ID $9.Combo passes covering a planetarium show and all-day pass to Discovery World Tropical Forest are available.

Join us for a Wildlife Cruise, Half Day Tour or Full Day Tour

Get closer to unique southern ocean animals!

Discover the natural beauty and rare wildlife of the Otago Peninsula.

WILDLIFE CRUISES & TOURS DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND

For more information and bookings:

www.wildlife.co.nz

ph:

0800 666 272

NZ FUR SEALS ALBATROSSES

Fantastic Wildlife Viewing

All aboard TAIERI GORGE RAILWAY, a spectacular train journey from Dunedin into the rugged Taieri River Gorge and return.

PENGUINS ut our Check o urs: newest to TURE RN NA SOUTHE SAFARI PHOTO & UR NER TO W SUNDO s) uin lue Peng

(B

Two of the world's great train trips Emmy Award-winning television series Great Scenic Railway Journeys described it as "one of the world's great train trips".

Alternatively, THE SEASIDER travels north from Dunedin on the Pacific Coastal main trunk line with spectacular ocean views.

20 Fryatt St, Dunedin -and-

Wellers Rock Wharf (Harington Point Road)

These are the perfect all-weather excursions with various options, including 90 minutes, half-day and all-day return journeys. Book online today.

phone 03-477-4449 | reserve@dunedinrailways.co.nz www.dunedinrailways.co.nz

STEWART

ISLAND 5 OR 6 DAY

ADVENTURE

Explore Stewart Island, known as Rakiura “the Land of Glowing Skies”

Take a 5 day South Island tour of the Catlins and Stewart Island with Iconic Tours NZ Ltd. Experience what New Zealand was like before people arrived, a lush sub-tropical paradise providing a haven for unique birdlife & marine mammals.

Small group fully guided tour. Start in Dunedin (with Queenstown or Christchurch options available) Tour price includes all guided transport,

return flights to/from Stewart Island, private accommodation (twin share), light refreshments/lunch included, and one feature attraction each day.

Attractions include: Ulva Island Bird Sanctuary guided tour, rare Yellow Eyed Penguin viewing, fishing charter, pelagic seabird cruise or Patterson Inlet Sea Kayak tour, Rakiura Track water taxi and shuttle for coastal day walk on Rakiura Track.

Small grooup paackaged tours availlablee thhis summer www.iconictours.co.nz • Ph. 03 471 2331 • Cell. 0272 78 58 65 • Free. 0800 840 729 • Email bookings@iconictours.co.nz Iconic Tours are based in Dunedin and specialise in small group personalised tours and private airport transport. See customers’ rave reviews on Tripadvisor and Facebook.

Other Iconic Tours – Dunedin Sights City Tour, Peninsula Tours, Cruise Ship Tours, Southland/Caitlins Tours, as well as a Private Airport Transfer Service.

dunedinNZ.com 13

City turns a new page with world honour

D

unedin’s best-known literary connection might be Scotland’s national poet, Robbie Burns. Apart from the famous statue, his nephew, Dr Thomas Burns, was one of the city’s founding fathers.

However the city has a long and rich literary history, recognised with the honour of New Zealand’s first Unesco City of Literature in 2014.

City of Literature status is one of seven designations within the Unesco Creative Cities Network. Others include gastronomy, design, music and film.

With the award, opportunities for international collaboration and partnerships have grown.

Dunedin-based writer and editor David Howard’s secured a writer’s residency in Prague this year, for writers connected to a Unesco City of Literature.

Emma Neale’s poem Little by Little has been showcased alongside other Cities of Literature poets in a street illumination project in Krakow, Poland.

Dunedin was the eleventh city to receive the honour, alongside Edinburgh, Melbourne, Prague, Norwich, Reykjavick, Krakow, Heidleberg, Dublin, Granada and Prague. Nine cities including Baghdad, Barcelona and Montevideo joined the network last month.

Over the year since Dunedin’s designation was confirmed, there have been invitations to attend international gatherings across the network, contributions to innovative international poetry projects, social media opportunities and residencies.

A “literature and light” themed Vogel St party in Dunedin in October became a celebration of poetry gathered from other cities of literature, as well as local writers. More than 10,000 people attended the celebration.

This year, there are a number of literarylinked festivals. Burns’ birthday, January 25, is celebrated with a performance by finalists in the

FRIDAY 25 | SATURDAY 26 SUNDAY 27 | MONDAY 28

MARCH

» EASTER 2016

Emma Neale: poetry showcased in Krakow.

Robert Burns’ Poetry and Robbie Rocks competitions, along with a Burns Supper.

In May, Dunedin’s Writers and Readers Festival features high-profile international and New Zealand writers. In the same month, the Regent 24-Hour Book Sale is the largest sale of secondhand books in New Zealand, and reputedly the largest in the southern hemisphere.

Two unique events are October’s Otago Festival of the Arts and Scienteller Festival.

The arts festival envelops Dunedin in a whirlwind of music, theatre, dance, comedy and literature, among other events.

ScienceTeller is a biennial event celebrating storytelling and science dedicated to documentary filmmaking, writing and other creative media. A feast of stories about science are told in original, entertaining and thought-provoking ways. The programme combines public screenings, events and workshops with international guests.

FREEPHONE: 0800 224 224

www.ticketdirect.co.nz

Featuring:

• Buchon Me-109 from the UK

• First public flight by the Martin Jetpack • USAF C-17 Globemaster Demo Team • Jet Racing featuring "Fastest female pilot at Reno" • NASA exhibition

www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com

■ See: cityofliterature.co.nz

Dunedin City Council is proud to support a thriving arts and culture scene

BRILLIANT SPACES & PLACES TO VISIT

TOITŪ OTAGO SETTLERS MUSEUM

DUNEDIN CHINESE GARDEN

DUNEDIN BOTANIC GARDEN

New Zealand’s oldest and most extensive social history museum, Toitū Otago Settlers Museum covers the history of the Otago Province from as early as the first Māori arrivals. Only 500m from the Octagon, Toitū OSM tells the story of Dunedin and the surrounding areas chronologically all the way to the present day.

Highlights include the Smith Portrait Gallery, with walls covered by paintings and daguerreotypes of the early settlers, a transport hall, an ICT section with the region’s first digital technology, and a broadcast history section.

Located in the heart of Dunedin, the Dunedin Chinese Garden is New Zealand’s only authentic Chinese Garden. As a Garden of National Significance it has a distinct character being designed using genuine Chinese materials and being crafted by a team of artisans from Dunedin’s sister city of Shanghai. The Garden features hand-made wooden buildings, tiles, bricks, lattice-work and hand-finished granite paving stones. It is a truly captivating cultural experience not to be missed.

Rated as a Garden of International Significance, the Dunedin Botanic Garden is the oldest in the country. It offers formal garden beds on flat land and naturalistic plant collections on a sun facing slope. Native birds can be seen in the aviary and the New Zealand native plant collection shows what makes our native flora and fauna so special. There is a café, and a winter garden glasshouse provides a tropical retreat. Get free food from the information centre to feed the friendly ducks.

www.toituosm.com

www.dunedinchinesegarden.com

www.dunedinbotanicgarden.co.nz

DUNEDIN PUBLIC ART GALLERY

DUNEDIN PUBLIC LIBRARIES

CITY POOLS

Located in the Octagon, the Dunedin Public Art Gallery was the first public art gallery in New Zealand when it was founded in 1884. It provides a muchneeded dose of aesthetic inspiration, with exhibitions rotating frequently and featuring a diverse mix of travelling (often international) shows interspersed with curated shows from its own collection. There are also frequent events such as film screenings, artist talks and guided tours.

Dunedin, a UNESCO Creative City of Literature, is a magnificent example of a small city where writers, books and literature thrive.

Moana Pool is located just up the hill from the Octagon and boasts an impressive range of swimming areas and fitness facilities. The kids will enjoy the two hydroslides along with the leisure pool and its rapid river and waves.

www.dunedin.art.museum

www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz

FREE WIFI

FREE WIFI

Known as the ‘living room of the city’, Dunedin Public Libraries is the heart of the community, offering free Wi-Fi, broadband internet, fantastic reads, great music, original artworks and much more. Be sure to visit the City Library’s Reed Gallery to view their heritage collections.

FREE WIFI

The only surviving salt water pool in Dunedin, the St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool, is an outdoor, 28degC pool at the end of St Clair beach. It is open daily from 1 October to 31 March. A café at the pool operates all year. www.dunedin.govt.nz/swimmingpools

DUNEDIN’S FINEST DINIING EXPERIENCE BACCHUS WINE BAR & RESTAURANT Bacchus Wine Bar and Restaurant has been operating for 24 years and has established itself as one of the premier dining restaurants in New Zealand and a must when in Dunedin.

With a strong focus on fine cuisine and sourcing wines to match, our Reserve List showcases the some of the best wines from around New Zealand, Australia, France and Italy.

1st Floor of 12 The Octagon, Dunedin Ph 03.474.0824 • E bacchuswinebar@xtra.co.nz www.bacchuswinebarrestaurant.co.nz

ETRUSCO AT THE SAVOY

Fully licensed + BYO Extensive cellar wine list Family owned and operated The Savoy Building 8A Moray Place - Dunedin www.etrusco.co.nz P 03 477 3737 Open 7 days - 5.30 pm till late

SCOTIA RESTAURANT & WHISKY BAR Scotia has a warm and welcoming feel and is a premium dining experience with a wee Scottish flavour weaving its way through the menu with old favourites like haggis, cullen skink – but importantly, there is definitely a taste to suit everyone.

The Doon Bar boasts a spectacular wine list, 6 craft beers on tap and a whisky collection that rivals few others, Scotia provides an inviting atmosphere in Dunedin’s iconic terrace houses just up from the Octagon.

SCOTIA RESTAURANT & WHISKY BAR 199 Upper Stuart Street, Dunedin P. 03 477 7704 • E. info@scotiadunedin.co.nz

FRENCH & ITALIAN CUISINE Gaslight Restaurant and Wine Bar offers fresh French and Italian cuisine in a quaint and intimate setting located only two blocks from The Octagon.

With hand-made pasta and authentic sauces made on site daily – Gaslight uses only the very best fresh ingredients to create a menu that is simply unique.

GASLIGHT DUNEDIN

Enjoy choosing from their extensive range of local and international wines, cocktails and beers.

On warmer days Gaslight offers a sheltered outdoor courtyard area to relax and unwind.

Stop by Gaslight for dinner, lunch or even just a coffee.

73 St Andrew Street • P. 03 447 7300 • gaslightdunedin.co.nz

Dunedin’s Best Craft Beer Restaurant 10 Clarendon St, Dunedin 03 4778773 ombrellos.com

Award wi i Ind

ci

Shahi Tandoor is the home of traditional Indian kebabs and curries cooked in charcoal fired clay pot ovens. We specialise in creating tantalising dishes that will drive your taste buds wild. Our che ef’s s always go out of their way to create i d allen in ts to traditional es.

Enj c

e c :

-2

e e n, r:

f’ oi

ec l

e

cken.

TAKEAWAY AVAILABLE

Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor 2013

Best Butter Chicken in Dunedin

by The Critic student magazine

Shahi Tandoor 351 George Street, Dunedin P. 03 4701597 www.shahitandoor.co.nz

Middle Eastern Flavours

Sila rki afé, Restaurant an nd Ta a i l t in nt at f e C an 7d a k or lu u c a d din nner. e s ciialii e i no just ke a s butt also wider id le Ea rn ish is for tr t entic p n .

Tu

T.

a

17 ain nt And dre Street Dun diin 7 69 • M. 4 . e ra . o.

Tr y out something new!

Korean BBQ is fun for everyone, marinated meats are brought to the table and grilled by the patrons themselves on our open grills making for great dinner conversation.

Of course, there are choices for every taste bud.

At Miga you are spoiled for choice from a large selection of delicious Korean and Japanese dishes.

Sit back and let the exploring begin.You can start by tasting a variety of traditional Korean side dishes that accompany every main free of charge.

Located just a 1 minute walk from Central Octagon our restaurant caters for 1 - 180 people our menu consists of Fresh Authentic Mexican Food, a wide variety of Margaritas & Cocktails all encaptured in a bright vibrant fiesta decorated restaurant. Great for groups, families work parties.

Like our Facebook page for Special Offers, Deals and Prizes!

We look forward to welcoming you for your next dining experience here at Miga

Miga Korean BBQ & Japanese Restaurant 4 Hanover St, Dunedin.

Ph 03 477 4770

Open Monday - Saturday Lunch 11:00am to 2:00pm Dinner 5:00pm to 11:30pm Sorr y closed Sundays

WHAT MAKES OUR PIES SO

VERY SPECIAL? Who Ate All The Pies has a policy of ‘slow & steady wins the race’ We will not compromise taste for speed. Our meats are seared to lock in the flavours, then slowly braised for 3-4 hours. Wholesome, quality ingredients, sourced from local growers and suppliers where possible, are added to create unique taste sensations to delight the palette.

All you need to do is add your favourite vegetables to your plate to create a culinary meal. But if it’s fast and nourishing you are after, we make an individual pie ideal for the quick meal on the go.

Who Ate All The Pies is available at most leading supermarkets and delicatessens nationwide.

You can now order online, and have these delicious pies delivered straight to your door

whoateallthepies.co.nz

03 477 7560 • delsolnz@gmail.com • www.delsolnz.co.nz

BOOK

NOW!

16 dunedinNZ.com Brought to you by

Centre of attention

Unique in New Zealand, the Octagon is the beating heart of Dunedin. And with a new arrival in the inner-city precinct, that heartbeat has got stronger

,,

F

or anyone who wants proof that Dunedin’s not like other New Zealand cities, go no further than the main street.

Few of our towns boast Europeanstyle main squares: this is certainly the only one that doubles down on the idea and has an Octagon at its heart.

Just about everything that happens in Dunedin happens in the Octagon: people celebrate New Year, the city’s Christmas tree is lit there, it’s home to markets throughout the year.

For that, thank Charles Henry Kettle. In the mid-1840s he was hired by the New Zealand Company to survey the land around the flats and hills at the head of Otago Harbour and lay out a plan for the streets of a town.

His outline included an octagonal area with a street named Moray Place running around the outside. Inside would be a number of sections with a smaller octagon in the middle, marked as a reserve.

If he had known how much controversy that small reserve would cause, perhaps he would have had second thoughts.

“No other part of Dunedin City has been the subject of so much prolonged public debate as the Octagon,” wrote the city works director 145 years later.

From public outcries of disgust at its appearance and the need for change in the 19th century, to equally vehement outpourings of opposition to any alteration in the late 20th century, the space has always been a focus of attention in one way or another.

The reserve was sealed in law in 1854, only six years after organised European settlement began. The Anglicans had selected it as the site for their new church; there was a furore when the predominantly Pres-

When the sun goes down the Octagon comes alive.

What had become a sleepy hollow has returned to Charles Henry Kettle’s original vision of Dunedin’s premier gatheringplace

byterian community discovered that, and the new Provincial Council suggested the Church of England might like to look elsewhere.

During the late 1980s, another row arose when the city council wanted to renovate the area and close roads.

The public won; the new “old look” brought covered walkways, Edwardian-style streetlights and fittings giving an antique air, complementing the surrounding Victorian and Edwardian buildings but no roads were closed.

Dunedin residents and visitors were even bigger winners when the council opted to pave a plaza in the lower Octagon — that area became home to street performances and markets; around it, outdoor dining blossomed, and the Octagon is now a major hub for the city’s restaurant and cafe culture.

For 18 years one of the biggest names (if one of the shortest) in the precinct was Ra Bar. Andre Shi bought the legendary cafe-bar in October 2013 with a vision of creating an upmarket culinary experience far removed from the booze, steak and chips culture that bedevils many inner-city areas.

In the heart of the business district, right next to the famous Regent Theatre and near the Octagon markets, Shi opted for a fresh approach: a fusion menu served in a designer interior.

He spent 18 months planning and building his dream with the help of local architects, designers, builders and food and beverage consultants.

Much of the furniture was imported from international designers.

Ra was closed in mid-2015 and the completely rebuilt Vault 21 opened in November. The menu combines international street flavours with fresh local produce to create a mixture of shared plates and meals, crafted by

Andre Shi has realised his vision of an international-class restaurant.

executive head chef Greg Piner, who’s worked in top hotels and restaurants including the international awardwinning Blanket Bay Lodge at Queenstown. His food is complemented with a unique blend of roasted coffee, local craft beers and wines.

The 140-seat restaurant offers indoor, outdoor and private dining options — even heated seats to help deal with Dunedin’s winter temperatures.

In the same way as the council’s controversial renovation of 30 years ago revived the rundown Octagon, Vault 21 is playing its part in breathing new life into Dunedin’s restaurant and entertainment precinct.

After dark it transforms into a more casual atmosphere, often with live music.

When the sun goes down the Octagon comes alive. What had become a sleepy hollow has returned to Charles Henry Kettle’s original vision of Dunedin’s premier gathering-place.

dunedinNZ.com 17

Dunedin style

Those who love a vibrant shopping culture will love this city

,,

W

hile shoppers in most other New Zealand cities flock to malls, Dunedin — as in so many aspects of life — does it differently.

Its CBD is made up of eclectic shopping precincts, encouraging people to explore and discover a unique retail experience. Those who love a vibrant shopping culture will love this city.

George St’s “Edinburgh Way” stretch of boutiques featured a delicious mix of local fashion designers: Company of Strangers, NOM*d, BelleBird, design stores and iconic eateries such as Modaks.

Nearby Moray Place offers a bohemian experience including Estelle Flowers, Preservation Society, Guild, DADA vintage and Vull design store.

Around the corner, Lower Stuart St features more individual retail and cuisine venues: Finders Keepers boutique, Morning Magpie, Best Cafe´, Taste Merchants among them.

Edgy and distinctive, Dunedin is known for its designers and their creations — and shoppers are likely to meet the designer or artists in the store.

One of the must-sees is Mild Red. “Tough” and “elegant” don’t usually go together in fashion, but Donna Tulloch’s monochromatic designs embody both descriptions.

A favourite of locals and wellknown in both New Zealand and Australia, you’ll love this label if you enjoy making a statement with your outfits.

Her boutique is a creative oasis, with doors imported from Morocco, floating counter furniture and a concrete courtyard.

Dark and wittily sombre, NOM*d has created an iconic image on the New Zealand fashion landscape. The label’s designs, which reference traditional tailoring, are anchored by a utilitarian approach and the concept that clothes must, above all else, be wearable.

NOM*d’s stunning flagship store Plume on George St is a don’t-miss for lovers of trend-setting, distinctive international and local fashion. Its

From left to right: Mild Red has been a player on the NZ-Australia fashion scene for more than a decade; Charmaine Reveley’s Victoria dress and a Julian Danger outfit from their 2015 collections.

designs are stocked alongside Rick Owens, Comme des Garc¸ons, Y3, Y’s

by Yohji Yamamoto, Bernhard Willhelm, Zambesi, Jimmy D and more.

If you’d like to discover true couture, knowing you’ll be wearing a one-off piece created for you, Beau could be the place.

Nestled in a charming suburb, the studio houses fashion and a couture bridal label. With mastery in garment design and pattern-making, designer Natasha Postill creates exquisite and timeless pieces.

She has travelled and worked internationally over a decade to develop her signature style.

Postill describes her approach as that of a sculptor: “Draping and moulding textures with textiles to create beautiful garments and capturing her clients’ hearts and dreams.”

Be aware that Beau studio is open by appointment only.

Designer Amy-Rose Goulding also takes pride of place in Dunedin.

She gathers her influences from pop culture, art, music and film,

fuelled by the romantic power of youth and the discord between the worlds of urban sportswear, the street and rock culture.

Goulding creates her women’s collections under the brand moniker Julian Danger.

The label offers two distinct collections each season.

The fashion-focused Mainline offers mix-and-match youthful, edgy pieces, often in custom prints with the more sophisticated Classic Label offering a chic, timeless range in silk and wool.

The recent addition of leather bags and shoes has completed the Julian Danger offering of accessible, highquality designer fashion available across New Zealand.

Goulding has been manufacturing her garments in China since the label’s inception, working with a small, ethically sound and community-based factory.

Her label will appear on the iD Dunedin Fashion Show runway for the first time this year with her Winter 16 collection.

Blurring the line between classic feminine beauty and contemporary design, Charmaine Reveley is one of the city’s most-loved designers.

Reveley’s brand offers confident, ultra-feminine and effortless wearable style.

The label has become known for the use of exquisite fabrics, bold prints luxurious pieces as well as everyday staples.

Reveley’s flagship boutique in George St has a selection of the brand, alongside a handpicked range of New Zealand and international labels.

Plume, NOM*d’s flagship store.

Devoted to wellbeing Erban Spa is a boutique urban day spa specialising in massage & beauty therapies.

Erban spa is a boutique day spa based throughout New Zealand in Auckland, Wellington Christchurch, Dunedin and soon to open in Nelson. Escape the stresses of everyday life, in an oasis of calm with a New Zealand inspired organic menu featuring Antipodes organic skincare paired with a variety of spa packages and extensive treatment menu.

Indulge in a couples body bliss massage, hot stone therapy, organic chocolate facial, manicure or spa party. Pop in for express beauty, waxing and Environ prescriptive facials, no matter what you are in need Erban spa has something for everyone to ensure you unwind and relax! Gift vouchers available and redeemable throughout the country.

Exclusive Offer

Choose 3 treatments for just $99 usually $140

NZ HERA A LD

ZEN N PACKAGE

Express Massage Antipodes Mini Facial Spa Eye Trio Oriental Sole Foot Massage Express Manicure or Pedicure

erban spa devoted to well-being

Book online today www.erbanspa.co.nz AUCKLAND

I

WELLINGTON

I

CHRISTCHURCH

I

DUNEDIN

I

NELSON

dunedinNZ.com 19

Margarita Robertson, creative director of NOM*d, owner of Plume boutiques and Dunedin style icon.

Above, Robertson sitting with Alastair McKimm, fashion editor of iD magazine.

Below, with a NOM*d model at London Fashion Week 1998-9.

Bottom, at the Comme des Garcons summer 2015 collection.

Fashion icon’s life in style Gallery exhibition honours Margarita Robertson’s remarkable voyage from Dunedin to designer capitals of the world

A

new exhibition at Dunedin Public Art Gallery celebrates the style of Margarita Robertson — creative director of NOM*d, owner of Plume boutiques and Dunedin style icon — with a display of 12 looks drawn from her personal wardrobe.

As a buyer and designer, Robertson has for 33 years played a large part in choosing what well-dressed men and women in the South Island wear.

However, this exhibition — titled Margarita Robertson: 3.33.12 — focuses on a selection of the fashion choices she has made for herself.

It incorporates footage of the cities that influenced these choices and the fashion collections that many of the garments and accessories were selected from.

The pieces on display in this collaboration between the gallery and Robertson range from intellectual designers such as Comme Des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto, Rick Owens, Ann Demeulemeester and Martin Margiela to the more playful and creative Jean Paul Gaultier.

New Zealand design house Zambesi also features, as does Robertson’s own label, NOM*d.

Although much has been written about NOM*d and its encapsulation of the ‘Dunedin look’, this exhibition — co-curated by the gallery’s Tim

One thing that becomes very clear is Robertson’s remarkable ability to ‘be there’ when major fashion moments occur

Pollock — approaches Robertson’s aesthetic in a different manner.

It explores her own sense of style and gives the visitor an opportunity to see how this has changed over time.

Although it does not present looks that represent the whims and trends of seasonal fashion, iconic garments from specific fashion moments will be a high point.

Margiela’s extraordinary ‘flat’ collection — originally presented on life-sized, walking marionettes — is represented in a black sleeveless Mongolian lamb coat.

A Comme Des Garcons calico look from spring/summer 1983 — one of the first collections which drew the attention of bodyconscious Westerners to Japanese fashion — is also shown.

O

ne thing that becomes very clear when viewing this exhibition is Robertson’s remarkable ability to ‘be there’ when major fashion moments occur — the revolutionary early Comme des Garcons collections to the joyous and celebratory presentations by Jean Paul Gaultier; from Margiela’s fashion-show-meets-art-happenings to Rick Owens’ extraordinary performance pieces. More recent are Vetements’ edgy and uber-cool collections.

The footage depicting a number of these fashion moments is a compelling aspect of the installation.

It is rare to view, in their entirety, the fashion shows and films from which many of the pieces were originally selected; particularly to see them close to the garments themselves.

Usually these films — especially those made before digital productions and the internet — were viewed only by those invited to the collections.

As well as adding context to the

items on display, they make extraordinary viewing as they are projected on mounds of icy ‘snow’ beneath the mannequins.

The installation also features multimedia displays depicting elements of three cities that have been an inspiration to Robertson in her working and private life: Paris, Tokyo and Dunedin.

This footage creates an oversized backdrop to the exhibition and was, in part, created especially by film-makers Max Bellamy, Richard Shaw and Laurent Soler.

While all three films create a strong impression of the cities, none approach their topic in a traditional way and they are markedly different from one another.

The film depicting Paris is shot from a train as it loops its way around the French capital.

Tokyo is filmed largely at shoe level, as many hundreds of thousands of the city’s inhabitants rush through the city centre.

Dunedin is approached in a quiet and poetic manner — offering tranquil street-scapes and moody vistas in marked contrast to the fast-paced life depicted in the other cities.

To complete the experience, a sound-scape has been designed to recreate the mood of attending an international fashion show.

Drawn from recordings made at many fashion shows and events, this will give the viewer a taste of life both backstage and front row on the fashion circuit.

The exhibition promises visitors insights into “3 cities, 33 years and 12 looks” from the wardrobe of Margarita Robertson.

■ Margarita Robertson: 3.33.12 March 18-April 17, 2016 Dunedin Public Art Gallery www.dunedin.art.museum

,,

20 dunedinNZ.com

Dal East’s mural of Haast’s Eagle on Dunedin’s Street Art Trail.

Other artists (below) include Pixel Pancho’s horse and rider, Dunedin artist Jon Thom’s portrait and ROA’s tuatara.

MAIN IMAGE CHRIS ALLAN

In the art of the city Street Art Trail lures thousands from around the world to revitalised downtown

E

xtinct for 600 years, the huge, ferocious eagle dives from the sky to its prey.

Haast’s eagle was no ordinary bird and nor is this: it is made of twisted wire and as it hits the ground it disintegrates, a jet trail of fragments flying behind.

A tuatara lolls on its back, chewing its own tail.

Mysterious figures play a pipe organ; instead of sending notes into the atmosphere, they release kakapo and takahe into the sky.

Waka and a steam-punk submarine emerge from a fish’s mouth.

Dunedin boasts New Zealand’s first public art gallery and art society.

These days, art has come out of the galleries and taken to the streets.

Two years ago, the city lured Belgian artist ROA to paint his unique tuatara in Bath St. The ripples widened when the UK’s Phlegm created a mythical creature with kakapo-like features in an alley opposite Rialto and embraced Vogel St’s watery history with his work showing a fish swallowing boats.

Locals demanded more and street artists started to request invitations.

The potential for a unique, worldclass street art trail in the city’s revitalised Warehouse Precinct was revealing itself to art fans and those keen on promoting and preserving its heritage buildings and areas.

A group of enthusiastic volunteers, Dunedin Street Art, gathered with the vision of inviting an exciting combination of world-famous artists and local artists keen to develop their skills in the public spotlight.

A Street Art Festival was held in October 2014, during which three international and six New Zealand artists painted 10 walls.

The collaborators committed to continuing to facilitate painting more walls around Dunedin.

After being inundated with inquiries for a guide to the art created for the festival, Dunedin Street Art has created a map, available to download or as a printed version at venues around the city.

Visitors and locals can experience these vibrant, whimsical artworks, exploring the city’s historic and creative hubs along the way.

Currently there are 25 walls in the trail and the walk takes around 90 minutes.

As well as 10,000+ followers on Dunedin Street Art’s Facebook page, more than 10,000 maps of the street art trail have been printed.

The works have garnered significant international attention, with some posts of Dunedin street art walls experiencing more than 100,000 shares around the world, raising the profile of the city as a hub for arts and culture.

It has become commonplace to see people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds out enjoying the trail, map in hand. It has broad appeal and the interest fostered through this work will have positive spin-off effects for all types of arts and creative endeavours in Dunedin.

The Street Art Trail defines the essence of the revitalised Warehouse Precinct: creativity and diversity; showcasing Dunedin’s connections with the world; yesterday and today; and heritage-led regeneration.

The precinct has been described as a newly rediscovered treasure.

Spanning the few blocks from the harbour to Princes St, from Queens

Gardens to the Oval, the former commercial heart of the city, its character buildings, slipped out of the public eye for many years.

Some buildings became derelict, others home to a variety of uses, and a few were demolished to create car parks.

Recently many have been strengthened, refurbished, repainted and valued once again. The council has promoted the former commercial buildings’ revival and improvements to the streetscape — including the street art trail. Its works are thoughtprovoking and tie into the history, the future, the buildings and the life of the precinct and Dunedin.

Apartment Accommodation Your home away from home

ROSLYN APARTMENTS

Why just have a hotel room when you can have your own one or two bedroom apartment?

• Spectacular views of our wonderful city • Free wifi and free parking • Free bottle of wine when you book direct and mention this advert

23 City Road, Roslyn Dunedin

477 6777

www.roslynapartments.co.nz

QUALITY MOTEL APARTMENTS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY George Street Motel Apartments are located in the heart of Dunedin’s CBD, the best location for convenience for your stay in Dunedin, and a perfect position just one block from the main retail/restaurant area. George Street Motel Apartments offer high quality, serviced 1-4 bedroom accommodation options. Well established in historic George Street, with a pleasant outlook towards the hills of North Dunedin, we are one of the closest motels to the Octagon, which is just a 5 minute walk away. Receive a 10% discount on direct bookings.

575 George Street, Dunedin 9016 Freephone 0800 109 333 | Phone: 03 477 9333 info@georgestreetmotel.co.nz | www.georgestreetmotel.co.nz

Enjoy Dunedin at

Aaron Lodge TOP 10 With a great location, modern facilities and amenities, the whole family is guaranteed a fun packed holiday at Aaron Lodge. Enjoy your stay with: • the heated swimming pool and spa pool • play a pétanque or a round of mini ‘Park Golf’ • utlise the playgrounds • cook a family meal at the BBQs • enjoy indoor bowls, table tennis, pool plus more

on Aa r

r id - You e g d Lo

eal Dunedin holiday a

ccom

moda tion

162 Kaikorai Valley Road, Dunedin Phone: 03 476 4725 Freephone: 0800 879 227

ACCOMMODATION PERFECTLY PLACED

At Quest, we understand that when you’re travelling, there’s nothing more valuable than great service. That’s why in each of our 150 locations, you’ll find owner managers on hand to provide superior business accommodation with all the creature comforts of home.

It starts with a warm welcome, but our friendly staff are committed to making your stay pleasant in all matter of ways. Not only will you receive the space and flexibility you need to do business, we’ll happily provide a wide range of services to take care of your everyday needs.

Whether you’re staying for a night or a month, Quest has everything you’ll need to feel like you never left home.

Situated in the heart of Dunedin’s vibrant business district, within close proximity to main street shopping precinct, which makes the convenience of staying and enjoying the city life less of a hassle!

Central City Dunedin provides an excellent variety of dining and entertainment, as well as being in

close walking distance towards Dunedin’s key companies and organisations.

Quest Dunedin offers 40 apartments consisting of studio apartments (3 wheelchair accessible apartments), one bedroom apartments, and two bedroom interconnecting apartments. Serviced daily or weekly excluding Sundays and public holidays. The entire property is smoke free. The features of our apartments accommodates your independent living style: Studios; microwave and cooking appliances, shared guest laundry, internet access, SKY television, direct dial phones with voicemail. One bedroom apartments also include a living/dining area, kitchenette (dishwasher, bench top hob) laundry. Limited undercover car parking is available (rates apply).

Our services include continental breakfast packs available, pantry shopping, charge back at a selection of local restaurants, valet dry cleaning and Qantas Frequent Flyer Points (with a minimum of 2 nights on corporate rates or above).

333 Cumberland Street, Dunedin

Samantha Cavanagh, Property Manager

Phone: 03 470 1725 • host@questdunedin.co.nz • www.questdunedin.co.nz

Welcome Home to Edgeley Come and stay at Edgeley - you may find you want to buy it!

For Sale by Tender

Welcome home to Edgeley! This is how you will feel when your hosts Janet and Alan Parker open their doors for you into their gorgeous home steeped in history. The grand entrance foyer will have you relaxed and ready to plan your adventure in Dunedin. Make your way up the wide staircase to your comfortable room and temporary home away from home.

The Emery Room offers queen bed with ensuite and both the Paterson Room and James Smith Room have queen and king single with external bathroom. All three rooms have furnishing fit for royalty.

Downstairs is the large formal dining room where breakfast is served to you daily and can be utilised as a quiet place to relax, read a book or up load your latest holiday photos.

Whichever room you are in you will feel like relaxing and enjoying the sea views while you take in the history of this grand home.

Originally named “Fairy Knowe”, and built as a farmhouse in the 1860s, Edgeley was re-designed in 1872 by Dunedin architect R.A. Lawson.

The house was built for James Smith, lawyer and business partner to William Larnach (of the famous Larnach Castle). During James Smith’s time here, Fairy Knowe was a working farm with livestock and orchards. In 1876 it was sold and eventually was bought by Dunedin

Closes 4pm Wednesday 10th February 2016 no prior offers

retail manager, William Emery who re-named it Edgeley.

Once you have explored the grounds and smelt the sea air you will want to discover the local attractions Dunedin has to offer. Here is where Janet and Alan can help you book tours and attractions specific to your interests. This could be Larnach Castle, The Royal Albatross Centre, Dunedin Botanic Gardens, Taieri Gorge Railway or because nothing is far in Dunedin you could plan an afternoon in town visiting the Railway Station, art gallery and museums, in-between experiencing good southern hospitality in Dunedin’s fine restaurants in the Octagon.

Janet and Alan have injected a breath of fresh air into Edgeley, developing it into the fine bed and breakfast it is today. They have loved opening their doors to many memorable people far and wide.

However, the decision has been made and this fine establishment could be yours! Janet and Alan are ready for their next adventure and to hand the reigns over to the next loving owner. This can be as a grand home with room for everyone and income coming from the adjoining units let full time. Or as a going concern if you would like to carry on the great reputation they have built for the bed and breakfast.

Enquire today to start your dream lifestyle in Dunedin!

Agent Ashley Braam M 022 369 3225 P 03 474 7064 ashley.braam@harcourts.co.nz

www.harcourts.co.nz

SCENIC HOTEL DUNEDIN CITY

SCENIC HOTEL SOUTHERN CROSS

Best Location & Finest Accommodation for Pleasure or Business The historic Scenic Hotel Southern Cross and the Scenic Hotel Dunedin City are perfectly located, just 2 blocks from the Octagon and are close to Speights Brewery, the Railway Station, Cadbury World and many other attractions. Within walking distance of each other, our hotels offer accommodation, conference facilities, dining options as well as assistance with booking your activities.

To book call 0800 NZ OWNED (69 69 63) or book online at scenichotelgroup.co.nz

SOUTHERN WIDE REAL ESTATE

SRM Realty Ltd, REAA 2008, 21 Macandrew Road, Dunedin 9054 p 03 466 3105 f 03 456 3105 e dunedin@southernwide.co.nz

HEATHFIELD, GLADSTONE ROAD, MOSGIEL

WANT TO BUILD IN 2016!

131 GLADSTONE ROAD, EAST TAIERI

TITLE ISSUED EXECUTIVE HOME

VIEW BY APPOINTMENT

VIEW BY APPOINTMENT

THE HEATHFIELD DIFFERENCE - Heathfield sections are spacious in size, all over 1000m2 (some up to half an acre) - Brilliant buying from $159,000! - These amazing sections are north facing and elevated with superb views and sunshine all day long - Title has been issued for all these sections and they are ready to build!

See heathfield.net.co.nz for further details.

WINNING LAYOUT & EFFORTLESS LIVING - Multiple living areas filled with natural light. The kitchen boasts generous bench spaces, butler's pantry & is central to the entire downstairs area. 4 generous bedrooms, 2 ensuites & family bathroom, media room, double garaging & OSP. On a 3,348m2 site, within a short commute to Dunedin City, on bus route to local & city secondary schools.

RUSSELL LUNDY 027 438 8312

Web Ref SWDU608

3B 1A 1C

Looking for a modern built home then you should consider Waihola. Relax after a hard day’s work watching the sun set over the horizon as you take in the breath taking views over Lake Waihola. Built in 2010 this 3 bedroom home offers you the luxuries of a new home - insulated & double glazed, open plan living opening onto an expansive deck area, large bathroom & generous laundry area.

DONNA TISDALL 027 919 5334

Web Ref SWDU949

RUSSELL LUNDY p 03 4663105 m 027 438 8312

ALISON KEAN p 03 466 3105 m 027 489 5665

RAY KEAN p 03 466 3105 m 027 435 7478

KATE CROY p 03 466 3105 m 021 993 083

RAY KEAN 027 435 7478

247 MAIN SOUTH ROAD, EAST TAIERI

OFFERS OVER $280,000 "KING OF THE CASTLE"

VIEW BY APPOINTMENT

4B 3A 2C

ALISON KEAN 027 489 5665

Web Ref SWDU952

8 TITRI ROAD, WAIHOLA

VALUE FOR MONEY

BY NEGOTIATION

BY NEGOTIATION

VIEW BY APPOINTMENT

Large 432m2 home - open plan area with modern kitchen, sunny dining & living areas. Spacious separate lounge - all offering stunning views. Large games room or additional living room. 4 genuine double bedrooms - master with dressing room & ensuite. Family bathroom, office, large laundry, with heaps of storage. 3 toilets, plus triple garage. Lockable 4-bay shed, with its own shower & toilet.

RAY KEAN 027 435 7478

Web Ref SWDR0934

BILL MILLER p 03 466 3105 m 021 167 9369

4B 3A 3C

DONNA TISDALL p 03 466 3105 m 027 919 5334

DAVE TEMPLE p 03 476 1941 m 027 477 0833

ALISON KEAN 027 489 5665

MARTIN GEORGE p 03 466 3105 m 027 404 6951

dunedinNZ.com 25

Home to the southern hemisphere’s first girls’ public secondary school, Dunedin offers powerful pathways to higher learning.

Otago: a class above From fashion to science, arts to architecture, Dunedin’s students take on the world

I

f you can make it there, you can make it anywhere, they say about New York. And, perhaps, Washington. Fact is, to make it in either city it might pay to be educated in Dunedin.

Take Duncan Chambers-Watson.

The 25-year-old fashion designer who made the cut for the hit US TV show Project Runway learned his trade at Otago Polytechnic.

Or Fenella France, entrusted by Americans with restoring their most beloved icon, the original StarSpangled Banner. Heading heritage preservation for the Library of Congress, France also discovered secrets in Thomas Jefferson’s handwriting, edited by Presidents John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, in the Declaration of Independence.

Where did she pick up her skills?

As a textile-science lecturer and postgraduate research manager at the University of Otago.

Any way you turn, you can discover successful people who did their tertiary studies in Dunedin. And it holds true for an astonishing variety of disciplines — fashion, management, construction — as well as its university’s famous academies of medicine, dentistry, law, education and physical education.

Many former Dunedin students are making their mark around the world. Recent media stories have featured diverse achievers who trained in the city: the graduate in stonemasonry (yes, the polytechnic does have a stonemasonry course at its Cromwell campus) now manufacturing pizza ovens; Jessica Young, the champion harness racer who earned a bachelor of pharmacy; Rugby 7s skipper DJ Forbes gained his bachelor’s degree in applied management and is now studying for a master’s “while trying to make it to the Olympic Rugby 7s in Rio”.

Forbes was awarded his degree from Capable NZ, an innovative Otago Polytechnic division that enables students to have the knowledge and experience people they’ve gained through their lives and careers formally assessed and count towards

DJ Forbes, Rugby 7s skipper and bachelor of applied management; below, Project Runway star Duncan Chambers-Watson.

a qualification.

The common thread for all these students is: they chose to train in a city renowned for quality education, student culture, friendliness and an incredible natural environment.

Ask anyone who’s invested more than a semester there, and they’ll tell you Dunedin’s strong and supportive social environment helps nurture lasting friendships.

An incredible range of music, entertainment, festivals and events means there’s always something to enjoy together. The city is home to countless cafes, restaurants, arts and cultural venues, shopping and is the gateway to a stunning natural world.

With a population of 120,000, Dunedin may no longer be one the country’s four largest cities but without a doubt it has some of the best civic facilities and infrastructure.

Student-friendly Dunedin boasts the youngest population in New Zealand — 45 per cent of those people are aged under 30.

They’re a happy bunch too — a staggering 84 per cent rate their quality of life as good or extremely good.

Dunedin also has the country’s highest concentration of locals with postgraduate qualifications. More than 36 per cent of residents have achieved some form of higher learning.

There’s a fair amount of academic history. Dunedin is where learning

began in New Zealand: our first university, first art school and the first girls’ high school in the southern hemisphere were all founded here.

It remains a leader in global learning trends, offering an exceptional education and extraordinary experiences to students from around New Zealand and the world.

Like our Project Runway star. As Otago Polytechnic’s fashion course head, Dr Margo Barton, said of Duncan: “He’s not afraid to take risks, while also having a great sense of what seems crazy, but just might work.”

Sounds like a typical Dunedin scarfie!

Dunedin in a textbook Schools Since opening the southern hemisphere’s first girls’ public secondary school in 1871, the city has offered the best in college education with powerful pathways to higher learning for generations of students.

Helping young students achieve full potential, these schools ensure they learn and grow in a safe and secure environment.

Tertiary Dunedin’s world-ranked institutions make it a landmark study destination and a global source of knowledge and expertise. It’s home to a worldranked university (pictured), an institute of technology with top course completion rates, renowned research programmes, an extraordinary range of study-related opportunities and New Zealand’s most lively student culture.

Career training Dunedin’s specialised providers deliver world leading skills-based education in areas ranging from aviation and dive instruction to travel and tourism.

English English language learning comes easily in Dunedin, where more people speak English as their first language than any other city in New Zealand. It is the perfect place to learn English or improve your abilities with the support of our schools, higher education institutions and specialist English language providers.

With our roots in Dunedin, the city with New Zealand’s proudest and richest educational history, we provide inspiring, career-focused education.

Find out how Otago Polytechnic can support your business and career.

Innovation for your business

Every year, our staff and students solve real business problems in ground-breaking and creative ways.

Recent innovations include an app that allows TradeMe users to buy and sell business services, and an electrocardiography simulator used in the training of veterinarians.

Contact us to find out how our expertise can assist you.

Embrace sustainability Our dedication to sustainability informs how we teach, behave as an organisation and extend our influence into the community.

Become work-ready

Gain the skills you need for a career you’ll love, in a city that’s built around education.

Through the Centre of Sustainable Practice, we work with businesses and communities to innovate and grow. www.addingsustainablevalue.co.nz

CAPABLE NZ Valuing your experience

Turn your experience into a qualification

Do you have years of experience, but few qualifications? Or would you like to develop a workplace learning programme for your business?

Capable NZ at Otago Polytechnic values the prior learning of individuals who want to become qualified, and support the workplaces that employ them.

“Capable NZ was very easy to work with – and the results speak for themselves. In the last four years that we’ve worked with Capable NZ, the growth we’ve seen in our senior leaders has been phenomenal. They now understand their role better within the organisation and are able to connect more effectively with everyone around them.”

James Coddington – CEO NZSki

> > > > >

Health, Community & Education Creative Media Trades & Technology Hospitality

> > > > >

Study Dunedin style

Renowned Dunedin fashion programmes come to Auckland

Dunedin is known for its edgy style. Now, designers in the City of Sails will have the opportunity to learn from Otago Polytechnic’s approach to fashion, with postgraduate fashion and design programmes to be offered at the Polytechnic’s Queen Street campus from mid-2016.

GRADUATE PROFILE

“When I saw the ad for Otago Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Culinary Arts something clicked. I knew it wasn’t just about learning how to be a chef, it was business design with food as the medium, and that really appealed to me.”

These include New Zealand’s first dedicated programmes in accessory design and the growing discipline of fashion communication, focusing on the world of fashion media and promotions.

Business, Tourism & IT Beauty, Hairdressing & Massage Therapy Natural Sciences Sport & Adventure Bridging options

Penelope Baldwin Bachelor of Culinary Arts

AUCKLAND CAMPUS

CENTRAL CAMPUS

DUNEDIN CAMPUS

0800 762 786 www.op.ac.nz info@op.ac.nz

125 Years of

1993

OUSA History

The Education Action Group organise a huge fees protest outside the

OUSA - Providing support, representation and service to Otago Students' for 125 years.

Registry. Students even try to get OUSA to ban police from campus.

20 May 1890 The Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) is established to provide students with a platform for bringing issues to the University Council. The Association would help run socials and organise activities at Capping time. Membership is optional and costs one shilling.

1925 Critic is first published

2020

2010

2000

1990

1980

1970

1960

1950

1940

1930

1920

1910

1900

1890

2011 The Bill to enact Voluntary Student Membership passed despite OUSA President Logan Edgar spending 42 hours in a cage to protest.

1984 Radio One

1919

91FM begins

1960

The ‘Sextet’ is established after

The Students’ Union building opens.

broadcasting

a group of students begin singing comical lyrics in six-part harmony at the official Capping ceremony.

www.ousa.org.nz

Otago Boys’ High School

Best for Boys since 1863

Otago Boys’ High School believes in the power of young men. We believe that when the right academic, sporting and cultural opportunities are placed alongside a school-wide culture of high expectation and expert classroom teacher practice, young men thrive.

School House, our 150 bed hostel is perfect for students wanting to take the opportunity for a fantastic boys education.

2015 Highlights include:

• The best scholarship results for boys in Otago/Southland • Top 4 1stXV Rugby Finalists • 1st XI Gillette Cup Cricket Finalists • Choir performance at the International Music Festival in Shanghai

Dunedin

Get back to what’s important Thinking about making the move to Dunedin?

The Settlers can make this easier for you, with guidance and expertise.

Dunedin is a city that allows you to live well. A picturesque city with hillside suburbs in a harbour setting. A characterful CBD with a vibrant shopping, eating, and entertainment hub. A thriving arts community and unrivalled sporting facilities. A passion for heritage and a future-focussed aspiration. Walk, cycle, or drive – everything is just minutes away and you won’t waste hours a week sitting in traffic.

Dunedin offers you:

For a slice of school life check out our Facebook page -https://www.facebook.com/OtagoBoysHighSchool For all enquiries please email school.sec@obhs.school.nz or phone 03 477 5527.

Picturesque location Great housing Supportive community Proximity to the great outdoors New Zealand’s first GigCity More time with family Quality education opportunities Contact the Settlers for more information thesettlers.co.nz Anne Bond 021 802 200 Hamish Saxton 021 410 832

28 dunedinNZ.com Brought to you by

Down Under — and on top of the world

‘When people talk about Dunedin, they often talk about proximity — about how close the beach or the mountains are to the city — without saying why it’s important.

ADInstruments is a global company started in Dunedin nearly 30 years ago by Michael Macknight. It’s a world leader in data acquisition systems for the life sciences in research and tertiary education. Today, ADInstruments employs more than 200 people globally and its hardware and software is used in all of the world’s top 100 universities as well as hundreds of research organisations. Head office is in Dunedin — the largest of the offices — and employs approximately 75 people. Two of their Dunedin-based team share their perspectives of living in the city and working at ADInstruments.

Alexandra Sides scientific content developer

O

ur customers can be studying heart function in Arctic fish to understand climate change, or recording isolated muscle movements for stroke rehabilitation but the common need is the same: trustworthy hardware and software that gives the scientist the power to do what they need to do.

Hearing the stories of the discoveries made by our customers is really rewarding — it’s what I love most about my job as a writer, and it’s a great feeling to see how far our impact can reach from Dunedin.

We focus a lot on agility — both in the way we work and the way we think — and we have a team who solve problems in creative, lean ways, for really smart people, all over the world.

Earlier this year we had some scientists in Switzerland who wanted to measure emotional responses to virtual environments, and needed to mesh their virtual city with our software to monitor heart rate and sweat response. A team member explored their problem, wrote them some connecting code and had it to them within a day.

That’s the benefit of being in Dunedin — we get amazing graduates from the university who are great software engineers but have also been exposed to the med schools, humanities, music, psychology — all the other departments that are so strong here in Otago. Nothing fazes them.

Whenever a researcher needs to do something a little bit off the wall, the team embraces it.

When you run a business in a big city, you can get distracted by competitors and start making comparative judgements of your progress.

Here we have that little bit of breathing space that lets us focus energy

Rua Haszard and Alexandra Sides of ADInstruments.

on what matters — which for us, isn’t immediately about being the best data acquisition company in the world, it’s about building the world’s best data acquisition and analysis tools.

That’s a huge difference in mindset. I mean, ultimately if you achieve the second point you can achieve the first but it’s about having your priorities right.

I’ve always wanted to do something that would have a positive impact.

I’ve lived and worked in Australia and Europe so it’s funny that the opportunity to really challenge myself, and to work for a global company in a meaningful industry, was back where I started.

There’s no reason for a business not to go as far as it can anymore.

We can aim to be good, truly good,

not ‘good, for Dunedin’, or ‘good, for New Zealand’ but good on a world scale.

Good, period. We don’t need to qualify it.

Rua Haszard user experience coordinator

W

hen people talk about Dunedin, they often talk about proximity — about how close the beach or the mountains are to the city — without saying why it’s important.

But it makes a huge difference to leave work at the end of the day and have the rest of your life right there in front of you.

It doesn’t take planning to go and do what you love, whether it’s playing music in the city or heading up into the hills — it just isn’t a big deal.

‘But it makes a huge difference to leave work at the end of the day and have the rest of your life right there in front of you.’

My kids can walk to school or bike to the park. I can walk to work.

I feel that you can’t separate the accessibility of everything from the benefits of running a business here, because it affects how people approach all aspects of life, including work.

If you are under a lot of stress or if life is difficult, you can end up taking a conservative, almost defensive, approach to problem-solving.

If the stakes are perceived to be too high then companies can try to make changes without risk, in a slow, incremental way.

That’s a slow death in software development. In our industry, if you aren’t trying new things and moving fast then you become less and less relevant every day.

Our leadership team have created an atmosphere to bring out creativity — it’s a top-down mindset.

Playing with ideas, failing fast and enjoying the feeling of risk is really encouraged. Hack weeks mean every team member gets used to making decisions and freely innovating.

I love it because you don’t end up with a team that do what they are told, instead you have a team of capable individuals, responsibility is devolved, ideas can come from anyone and be acted on.

This allows us to move faster and turn quickly in response to customer needs or new technology.

I believe the creative impulse for a writer or a musician is the same as for a developer or a user experience designer.

Dunedin’s artistic and cultural heritage is all around us here and I think we’re making people see that the digital environment is a new space for creativity, it’s part of the same culture.

dunedinNZ.com 29

Unloved warehouses, offices find new life in exciting revival of historic business district

Workaday past is city’s future D

By Michael Findlay

eep in a turreted Scottish baronial drill hall, Ian Taylor’s Animation Research Ltd produces immersive 3D experiences. At the other end of the city in a Renaissance revival wool store, AD Instruments makes new tools for science research and education.

The reuse of these buildings has sparked new interest in Dunedin’s heritage architecture.

It’s no longer simply a pleasing part of the urban environment; it’s become an important asset for the city’s economic and cultural future.

Auckland is justifiably proud of its Britomart and Wynyard quarters where historic commercial buildings and new developments have become a new destination to both work and leisure.

To see whole blocks undergoing a similar transformation, walk from Dunedin’s Octagon down Princes St towards Queens Garden and head for Vogel St, where the partnership between the Dunedin City Council and building owners is emerging.

Dunedin is still a city of churches, town halls and public spaces.

The Municipal Chambers and St Paul’s Cathedral (1915) stand over Robbie Burns’ shoulder and the tree-lined avenue that runs along the city’s spine.

The Dunedin Railway Station (1907), a Flemish Renaissance cloth hall uplifted from Bruges, sits at the base of Stuart St with the Gothic Law Courts (1902) and deceptively innocent-looking prison side-by-side on the opposite corner.

High up on a bluff is the soaring Gothic spire of R A Lawson’s First Church (1873), sited above the old port to raise the spirits of Scots settlers making their way up the harbour after their long voyage.

Many houses built by the city’s merchants, including Olveston (1907) and Larnach’s Castle (1874), overlook the city from the surrounding hills.

High St, like its namesake in Edinburgh,

sweeps up a central ridge from the railway station.

The early business centre expanded in the blocks to the south, laid out on the reclaimed harbour.

Banks and insurance offices, department stores, hotels and theatres quickly filled any gaps.

As the sea walls moved further out, buildings that had fronted the harbour became surrounded by later structures. The names of Wharf, Water, Bond and Jetty streets tell the story of a city’s commercial development.

The old government precinct was filled by the Chief Post Office (1936), a vast granite block of modern classical formality now transformed into hotel, spa and commercial spaces.

Guests, residents and workers in the newly refurbished buildings bring new opportunities with them.

A great, disused department store on Princes St now houses Van Brandenburg Architects, cafes, offices and creative studios.

The city’s other main green space, Queen’s Garden, is framed by a solid wall of Victorian financial buildings including the French Renaissance head office of the New Zealand Insurance Company (1885).

Any 19th-century building engineered to store wool and grain has the mass and strength to be a good candidate for strengthening and the revitalised buildings along Vogel St are rewarding their new owners’ faith.

Not all are presented in their full Victorian finery, as the desire to modernise led to a number being stripped of their facades decades ago, but even these plainer structures reveal their handsome side when sympathetically overhauled.

Long known as a heritage destination in New Zealand, Dunedin is starting to use these buildings again and the city is being revitalised as a smart place to live, work and enjoy a rich urban experience. The annual Vogel St Party draws thousands to the area where many of the buildings are open to view.

Left, Robbie Burns’ statue. Centre, the Theomin family commissioned London architect Ernest George to design Olveston. Right, the Security Building, Stuart St.

members | reputation | results

Dunedin’s new gold is: knowledge, innovation, tourism and technology Dunedin has five significant advantages: • A strong knowledge base • A growing pool of creative and high-tech enterprises and talent • High quality amenities • Cohesive community and whanau • A great lifestyle Dunedin is recognised for innovation, a high investment in research and development and strong research networks. It has a reputation for being a launch pad for businesses moving into global markets.

Dunedin

A great place to work and live

0800 424 968 | www.otagochamber.co.nz

Helping shape New Zealand.

We are looking for an experienced Resource Management Solicitor who is keen to join our progressive Dunedin team.

Working alongside our nationally recognised partners throughout New Zealand you will have a unique opportunity to advance your career as you become involved in all aspects of our busy practice, including natural resources and development (particularly energy, mining, infrastructure, water and industry), district plan development, governance for councils, compliance and policy advice.

Apply now: www.andersonlloyd.co.nz/carreers

andersonlloyd.co.nz Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown

Apply now: www.andersonlloyd.co.nz/carreers

30 dunedinNZ.com Brought to you by

Just the tickets

You can say ‘I was there’ — because this Dunedin-based firm got you into the stadium

T

housands of Kiwis flew 20,000km to see Richie McCaw lift the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham in October. Their tickets, from Dunedin.

A year before, nearly 3.5 million people from 202 countries watched 64 matches played across Brazil in the Fifa World Cup played across Brazil. And then there are the past Olympic Games . . .

Fact is, if you’ve been to a concert, show, expo or sports match in the past 20 years, you’ve probably clicked the Checkout button that takes you to venues or promoters relying on the Fortress Group, a New Zealand-owned and operated specialty software house.

According to founder and CEO Matthew Davey, the story began in

early 1999. “We perceived a need in the ticketing industry for a software system that would enable a venue to control its own ticketing and customer relationship management.

“Traditionally, the big companies have taken ticketing away from a venue, resulting in a loss of operational control, reduced flexibility and the elimination of a valuable revenue source.

“The subsequent monopoly exploited venues, promoters and customers alike, leaving everyone out of pocket and with little choice in service — until now.”

The Fortress team believed there had to be a better way. “We’ve gone to great lengths to design a system that is reshaping the ticketing industry. Our software and business model

provide an avenue for venues to retain control over the important aspects of their operations, build knowledge about their customers and keep ticketing revenue in the local economy.

“We have used the latest programming tools and internet technologies to deliver a software system that is robust, fun to work with and simply light years ahead of the competition.”

Many Kiwis will have dealt with TicketDirect, the company’s premier division. It’s an alliance of more than 100 independent New Zealand venues that have come together to give customers and promoters a flexible, friendly and affordable ticketing service. Cutting-edge technology allows the venues to control their own ticketing operations through the

New Zealand-based 0800 call centre and internet sales website.

Now the largest ticketing company in New Zealand, TicketDirect also operates in Australia, Asia, Canada and Fiji with further plans for international expansion. It sells more than five million tickets a year.

Recently, Fortress bought both Dash Tickets and 1-night.co.nz. A pair of Wellington start-ups, these companies have cut through the festival, concert and youth markets giving a strong rounding to TicketDirect’s core sports offering.

Dash expanded internationally with the launch of Dash Australia and now runs some of the largest events in Australasia with the Royal Melbourne Show selling more than 500,000 tickets across 10 days.

From the biggest rock acts to the Bluff Oyster Festival and the Royal NZ Ballet, the Fortress Group caters for all tickets and all tastes.

dunedinNZ.com 31 Brought to you by

Leading Edge Commercial savvy joins scientific know-how at a world-leading cancer research firm.

Not having to battle with Auckland traffic or northern house prices is a bonus

W

hen a top job called, Brent Pownall moved his family from Auckland to Dunedin in 2013.

He often returns north on business — and every trip reminds him why he now prefers living in the south.

“I certainly don’t miss the Auckland traffic or parking,” he says.

“Dunedin is a vibrant city and has a lot to offer. There’s cheaper housing, no traffic jams, there’s Otago University, really good schools — with no zoning — and a lot less rain than Auckland.”

On top of that Pownall, the commercial director of cancer diagnostics firm Pacific Edge, enjoys “the beautiful scenery and outdoors of Central Otago right on our doorstep”.

The firm also lured David Darling and his family from the Bay of Plenty to become its CEO in 2003, and other staff have also been attracted south.

Plenty of former Otago University students stay in the city to take up the various internships and job opportunities the growing company offers.

Despite only being formed in 2001, Pacific Edge has made great strides specialising in the discovery and commercialisation of diagnostic technology for early detection and management of cancer.

It has made the progressive decision to move from a research and development company to one that makes products based on the genes that define different types of cancers.

Core technologies include the latest molecular biology techniques, gene expression analysis and signature development, proprietary biobanks for validation, clinical trials and data, and proprietary analytical software.

The firm still invests heavily in R&D with a large portion of its staff being involved in product development. It is this link to research, the foundation of this innovative techno-

Brent Pownall, commercial director of Pacific Edge. The graphic shows opportunities for the Dunedin firm’s Cxbladder products.

logy company, that gave rise to its Dunedin location.

There is no shortage of bright and talented people coming out of Otago University, or high-quality postgraduate researchers continuing their studies there.

While the initial plan was for the firm to rely on strategic partners for the commercialisation and marketing of its products, it has so far developed and taken three commercial products into the market itself.

The heart of the company’s current commercial products is Cxbladder, used for the diagnosis and management of bladder cancer via a non-invasive urine test.

“Pacific Edge is a great company, and our products make a real difference to people with bladder cancer,” says Pownall.

Pacific Edge now has a sales team as well as accredited testing laboratories both in the US — one of its major

markets — and Dunedin.

Aside from the company’s technology and products it is its people — people with a diverse range of academic and commercial backgrounds — that make the difference.

The firm’s Dunedin-based staff come from many parts of the globe to enjoy challenging work and top facilities in a refreshing location.

While New Zealand is its home market and an important place to develop and prove new products, the

lucrative market opportunities are in the US and Asia.

From that perspective it doesn’t matter whether you’re in Dunedin or Auckland, you are still a long flight away from your customer.

The 90-minute flight from Dunedin to Auckland is still a reasonably short hop when compared to flying or travelling within the US — and is about the same amount of time many people in Auckland spend travelling to and from work.

From Otago to Points North.

NOW BUILDING IN AUCKLAND

In the world of construction, your reputation as a builder is one of your most important assets. In the case of Calder Stewart, that got its start as a builder in 1955 Milton, this reputation was earned through successful projects completed for Otago farmers. Fast forward some 60 years, this reputation has grown well beyond the region and into the commercial and industrial construction markets. Today, with our

COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • RURAL

expansion into the North Island, more and more companies have chosen us as their preferred builder. That’s because of our track record as a design and build specialist - that speaks for itself - and our team’s ability to turn around construction projects under tight deadlines. By leveraging our vertically integrated precast concrete, structural steel, and roofing companies, we offer clients total confidence in quality of materials, pricing and project delivery. And that’s why they trust us with their business - just like our newest client, Ports of Auckland.

Damon Brown

North Island Regional Manager

0800 333 670 www.calderstewart.co.nz

ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY DUNEDIN ARTIST

JOHN TOOMER

A professional artist for over 25 years, John’s work is now held in many private and corporate collections across New Zealand and overseas. John is renowned for his highly detailed paintings of old buildings, moody skies, and landscapes from around the lower South Island. Commission work is available upon request. Further examples of his work can be found on the website. Also featured is Alice Toomer, John’s daughter, an acclaimed up and coming young artist.

See www.toomerart.com for artwork examples and contact details

CAREYS BAY

Richard Taylor 0274728077 www.careysbayslipways.co.nz careysbayaccounts@yahoo.co.nz

SLIPWAYS

BOAT BUILDERS & ENGINEERS

e t s i l n e e b r e v e N

he open mark t n o e r o f et d be

3 external, 2 internal slipways 600sq mt workshop area 2 wharfs, large office space, parking Experienced and dedicated staff Financials available for serious buyers

FREEHOLD WATERFRONT SITE

Boatyard and business premises – a going concern

34 dunedinNZ.com Brought to you by

Dunedin is a great place to grow a family and a business, say Paul and Eloise McGrath (pictured).

It’s working for families Safe, friendly, balanced: the southern way of life works for couples like this

H

amish McGrath was introduced to the family business at a fairly young age: he was just two days old when mum Eloise took him into see dad Paul at their Mosgiel office.

It’s a pretty good example of why the couple — and many young entrepreneurs like them — choose Dunedin to set up their home and working life.

“Balance,” Eloise says. “As long as we have a balance in our lives, it will work.”

Paul grew up in Dunedin and, although Eloise originally came from the UK, she had family roots in the city.

“I love the community feel you get here,” she says. “It is a lovely safe place to bring up a family.”

Paul agrees: “Dunedin is a great place to grow a family and a business.

People here love to support local. In Dunedin everything depends on word-of-mouth recommendations, and that has really helped us grow our business.”

Founding and growing that business has been a five-year round-trip for the McGraths, from Dunedin to Perth and home again.

After working as a benchtop fabricator in Dunedin for more than a decade, Paul decided to move to Perth in 2010 to seek new opportunities, as many Kiwis do.

He soon found his niche, managing

a solid surface plant for a small business and working closely with the CEO. This gave him invaluable experience in running a business.

Within a short time, Paul had built himself a solid reputation around Western Australia as a master craftsman.

Following the birth of their second child, Paul and Eloise weighed up whether to put down roots in Perth, but felt the pull of a better life for their children back home in Dunedin.

They moved back in early 2013 and set up McGrath Benchtop Solutions Ltd in Mosgiel.

Like most businesses, getting the name of the business known was somewhat slow, and a new learning experience for the young family.

But after the first six months things started picking up. In a community like Dunedin, reputation is everything.

“For a new business to succeed, not only do you need to have the highest quality products, you need excellent workmanship — and customer service is key,” Eloise says.

The business supplies builders, joiners, as well as homeowners: 90 per cent benchtops and 10 per cent commercial projects such as Dunedin Airport, the University of Otago and shopping malls.

“We have probably serviced over 200 homes in Dunedin alone in the

past year,” Paul explains, “but being based in Dunedin has a far wider reach than just the city. We are able to service all of Central Otago, and Southland.”

After a year in business, they were able to hire their first employee, Tony McFelin, who has seen the business grow and has been able to grow with it. Paul has rewarded him with a management role as the company takes on more employees.

The couple attribute customer service as fundamental to their success.

“When supplying a customer

directly, we often receive an email, phone call, or even photos of their new benchtops, thanking us for the job done, that they love the result and stating we have exceeded their expectations.

“This is always welcomed, as it gives us a great sense of satisfaction to know we are bringing a valuable service to the local community,” Paul says.

And that’s why young Hamish came to see dad at work. “Family is everything, it would be great to take time off with the family, but deadlines are deadlines,” Paul laughs.

Word-of-mouth is crucial to growing a business in a community like Dunedin, says benchtop manufacturer Paul McGrath.

GETTING AHEAD WITH THE GIG

GigCity

Nectar Cafe Steve Calvert

ALL ABOUT THE GIG WHAT IS THE GIG?

The Gig is Ultra Fast Broadband (UFB) at its fastest. It’s capable of delivering peak download speeds of up to one gigabit per second (1Gbps). At home it means faster downloads of movies, music and data, at work faster file sharing, download and upload speeds, increased innovation and better services. It’s a first for the Southern Hemisphere but you will find this technology in a few other cities around the world such as Singapore and Chattanooga.

HOW DOES IT BENEFIT DUNEDIN?

Dunedin won the Gigatown competition in November 2014, it was then that the hard work began. Since February over 3000 people have signed up to take advantage of the Gig. Chair of the Trust behind GigCity, John Gallaher, says that this is an exciting phase for Dunedin and believes it’s a game changer for the southern city.

“Dunedin now has one of the fastest public Wi-Fi networks in the country and that’s just the beginning. We expect to expand the availability of Gigabit Wi-Fi to other sites around the city.”

GIGCITY BENEFITS

° Gigabit connectivity - a special 1Gbps UFB service available at entry level broadband prices.

° The Gig-Start Fund - a $200,000 fund provided by Chorus and Alcatel Lucent

to support entrepreneurs and innovators taking new services to market over the gigabit fibre connection in GigCity.

° A GigCity Community Fund - a $500,000 fund provided by Chorus.

Organisations in the Dunedin community can apply for funding to kick start community related developments that showcase how gigabit infrastructure and UFB can be activated for social good.

° The prize also includes a CO STARTERS programme series run by Co Lab,

an incubator for creative business ideas in Chattanooga, Tennessee, US. Designed to turn business ideas into action, CO STARTERS provides Dunedin with an internationally accredited start up programme for businesses.

Q: What attracted you to upgrade to gigabit fibre?

A: My IT supplier suggested I offer ‘the Gig’ and made it all possible. It was easy for me and right now in Dunedin it’s the same price as standard UFB, so the choice to upgrade was easy!

Q: Would you recommend gigabit fibre?

A: Absolutely! It makes perfect sense for someone like me whose operation is focused on business people.

Everyone expects WiFi these days and it’s great when it’s fast and free to our customers. It’s the way the world works and something my customers take for granted.

CycleWorld Matt Dunstan

Q: How has improved connectivity over fibre broadband changed your business?

A: We wouldn’t be able to offer the same level of customer service without the Gig – well if we tried to it would cause us a lot of headaches and there would be paper everywhere!

Q: What would you say to other businesses considering connecting to a gigabit fibre broadband?

A: I can’t recommend it highly enough, its essential!

We wouldn’t be able to provide the level of service we do without it.

GIG FACTS Fastest public Wi-Fi in the country through the Octagon Wi-Fi project

2nd

Highest uptake of fibre since Febuary 2O15

$2OOK

Available for local start-up businesses Fastest average broadband speed in NZ at 92 Mbps

TracMap David Glen

Q: Is having the Gig helping you to generate more revenue?

A: It certainly is, at the moment we are looking at a 20% improvement and potentially more going forward.

Q: How has the Gig made your business more efficient?

A: Now we are able to deliver online training and tutorial materials to customers as opposed to relying on printed documentation, saving time and money.

Win an amazing trip to the 2016 iD Dunedin Fashion Week

Prize includes: Two Air NZ return flights from Auckland to Dunedin, two nights stay at Distinction Hotel, two VIP tickets to the iD Emerging Awards and iD Fashion Show, and airport transfers in a classic jaguar!

Enter here: www.facebook.com/DunedinNZ